Nicki Elson's Blog, page 38
April 23, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: U
U is for: Universe of Energy
I guess this attraction qualifies as my dorky favorite. You know, one of those rides that's not, like, great and it's totally dated, but for some reason you love it? My tip today has two parts. First is a warning that Ellen's Energy Adventure, the attraction in the Universe of Energy pavilion, is 45 minutes long. That's really long---longer than most of the shows---so plan accordingly.
Also, if your kids dig dinosaurs but are too young for the Dinosaur! ride in Animal Kingdom, Ellen's Energy Adventure makes an excellent mild-mannered alternative. You just have to put up with a bit of education.
Disney World TriviaName the three other celebrities in the opening movie with Ellen DeGeneres.
Bonus Question:If they were to ever redo the opening movie for this ride, which cast of characters from a currently popular TV show do I think should totally be in it?(Think about it...science...theories...c'mon, you can do this!)
I guess this attraction qualifies as my dorky favorite. You know, one of those rides that's not, like, great and it's totally dated, but for some reason you love it? My tip today has two parts. First is a warning that Ellen's Energy Adventure, the attraction in the Universe of Energy pavilion, is 45 minutes long. That's really long---longer than most of the shows---so plan accordingly.Also, if your kids dig dinosaurs but are too young for the Dinosaur! ride in Animal Kingdom, Ellen's Energy Adventure makes an excellent mild-mannered alternative. You just have to put up with a bit of education.
Disney World TriviaName the three other celebrities in the opening movie with Ellen DeGeneres.
Bonus Question:If they were to ever redo the opening movie for this ride, which cast of characters from a currently popular TV show do I think should totally be in it?(Think about it...science...theories...c'mon, you can do this!)
April 22, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: T
Is it just me or is it not April 23? WTF Blogger? Nice new "scheduling" system. I see it's working great. *mini-rant over. for the full version come to my house, haha*
T is for: Toy Story Mania
It is indeed a mania. The almost four-year-old attraction at Disney World's Hollywood Studios is currently the most popular attraction in all four theme parks. Why that's the case is still a mystery to me---I mean, it's an adorable ride, but not nearly worth the 130 minute waits we saw for it. Yet park visitors flock to Toy Story Mania and Fastpasses disappear early.I was so surprised when we picked up our Fastpasses before 10am and our window didn't start until 2:30 that afternoon. Then when we went to use them, the Fastpass wait was over 20 minutes. That's absurd! Not only is it against my principles to wait that long in the freaking Fastpass lane, we had an early dinner reservation at Epcot and had to skeedaddle. The fun thing about the situation was that we got to bestow a little Disney magic on a random family of four when we handed them the coveted Toy Story Mania passes on our way out of Hollywood Studios.
So my T tip is that if you're determined to ride Toy Story Mania, arrive at Hollywood Studios before opening (as per tip A) and when the ropes drop go to Toy Story Mania, go directly to Toy Story Mania...and be prepared to move along the streets herd-of-cattlelike.
Mr. Potato Head will entertain you while you waitDisney World TriviaName the two actors who played a role in one of the 80s TV Shows featured in my A to Z posts last year AND voiced a character in all three Toy Story movies.
April 20, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: S
S is for: Schedules
If you like to plan ahead (who, me?) you're going to love this link:
Walt Disney World Live Entertainment
Each week it's updated with Disney World's schedules for shows, character greetings, parades, fireworks, dates of special events, and even those little street performances that feel so random.
Just click on a park at the top of the site's screen and the World is yours.
Disney World Trivia
In what months does Disney's Hollywood Studios host Star Wars weekends?
If you like to plan ahead (who, me?) you're going to love this link:Walt Disney World Live Entertainment
Each week it's updated with Disney World's schedules for shows, character greetings, parades, fireworks, dates of special events, and even those little street performances that feel so random.
Just click on a park at the top of the site's screen and the World is yours.
Disney World Trivia
In what months does Disney's Hollywood Studios host Star Wars weekends?
April 19, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: R
R is for: Rapunzel
Rapunzel is Disney's newest princess and the highest in demand for photo ops. Lines to see her get outrageously long so if your little one (or not-so-little one as was the case with me) has her heart set on standing next to the long-haired vixen, get in line as soon as you can after park opening. And be warned---these princesses must have a powerful union, because it seems 'Punzel gets a break every 15 minutes or so, dragging out the wait time.
Currently the place to meet Rapunzel---and apparently Flynn too, although he wasn't there the day we went---is at the Magic Kingdom in Fairytale Gardens, at the rear of Cinderella's castle on the Tomorrowland side. With the new Fantasyland partial openings, I imagine character greetings will get switched around so the best thing to do is grab a park map with an event insert to see where & when she's stationed that day...or you can tune in tomorrow for the Disney World planning tip of the century. ;)
Disney World Trivia
What kind of animal is Rapunzel's pet? And for a bonus point, what's his name?
Rapunzel is Disney's newest princess and the highest in demand for photo ops. Lines to see her get outrageously long so if your little one (or not-so-little one as was the case with me) has her heart set on standing next to the long-haired vixen, get in line as soon as you can after park opening. And be warned---these princesses must have a powerful union, because it seems 'Punzel gets a break every 15 minutes or so, dragging out the wait time. Currently the place to meet Rapunzel---and apparently Flynn too, although he wasn't there the day we went---is at the Magic Kingdom in Fairytale Gardens, at the rear of Cinderella's castle on the Tomorrowland side. With the new Fantasyland partial openings, I imagine character greetings will get switched around so the best thing to do is grab a park map with an event insert to see where & when she's stationed that day...or you can tune in tomorrow for the Disney World planning tip of the century. ;)
Disney World Trivia
What kind of animal is Rapunzel's pet? And for a bonus point, what's his name?
April 18, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: Q
Q is for: Quench your thirst - for FREE!
Tucked away near Innoventions West is Club Cool where you can grab a sampler cup and taste Coca-Cola products from around the world. You help yourself at a multitude of dispenser stations. It's a great place to cool off, and for us it provided a dry, sunshiney atmosphere on a very rainy day.
The toughest thing about the place is finding it, so here's a map to help out. Club Cool is directly to the right of the fountains (in the same building as 13 on the opposite end of the curved awning).
Disney World Trivia(Visitors to the Coke museum in Hotlanta can also play along)What's the name of Coca-Cola's wickedly bitter Italian soda?
Tucked away near Innoventions West is Club Cool where you can grab a sampler cup and taste Coca-Cola products from around the world. You help yourself at a multitude of dispenser stations. It's a great place to cool off, and for us it provided a dry, sunshiney atmosphere on a very rainy day.
The toughest thing about the place is finding it, so here's a map to help out. Club Cool is directly to the right of the fountains (in the same building as 13 on the opposite end of the curved awning).
Disney World Trivia(Visitors to the Coke museum in Hotlanta can also play along)What's the name of Coca-Cola's wickedly bitter Italian soda?
April 17, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: P
P is for: Ponchos
You're not too cool for a plastic poncho. Not when you're at Disney World and the rains cometh. You might think your more fashion conscious raincoat-of-choice will work just as well, but it won't.
It won't be as convenient for whipping on & off as you go in and out of buildings, or as lightweight and easy to shove into a remote corner of your backpack to carry with you just in case. And it certainly won't cover the hulking aforementioned backpack the way these close cousins of the common garbage bag will.
Many will tell you to buy a cheap Wal~Mart version ahead of time, but that's not the way I roll. When I succumb to the poncho, I go full force---overpriced and Mickey emblazoned.
Disney World Trivia
The most drenched my family got this last trip was in the World Showcase at Epcot---because there's no shelter to be had when country hopping. Can you name all eleven countries represented in Disney World's World Showcase pavilions?
You're not too cool for a plastic poncho. Not when you're at Disney World and the rains cometh. You might think your more fashion conscious raincoat-of-choice will work just as well, but it won't.
It won't be as convenient for whipping on & off as you go in and out of buildings, or as lightweight and easy to shove into a remote corner of your backpack to carry with you just in case. And it certainly won't cover the hulking aforementioned backpack the way these close cousins of the common garbage bag will. Many will tell you to buy a cheap Wal~Mart version ahead of time, but that's not the way I roll. When I succumb to the poncho, I go full force---overpriced and Mickey emblazoned.
Disney World Trivia
The most drenched my family got this last trip was in the World Showcase at Epcot---because there's no shelter to be had when country hopping. Can you name all eleven countries represented in Disney World's World Showcase pavilions?
April 16, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: O
O is for: Over land Or sea
People who stay at Boardwalk or Yacht & Beach Clubs probably already know this, but I didn't until my last trip to Disney World---you can walk, yes walk, from Hollywood Studios to the Boardwalk and Epcot. OR you can take a boat. Either way, allow for a leisurely 30-45 minute commute between Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Below is a map that shows the walking path in pink and the boat docks as red dots. The boat stops at all the dots so it's a bit slow going, but nice if you want to get off your feet for a little while with fun scenery along the way. Next time I want to try the walking path---looks like it goes right along the Boardwalk, so that could be a perfect stop for lunch before completing the path to Epcot.
Perhaps the most fun thing about taking boat or path versus the bus is that you enter Epcot at what feels like a secret backdoor entrance---the International Gateway, right between the UK and France. Ooh la la!
For this tip, I must once again thank my mother, who is following along with these posts and submitting her trivia guesses via e-mail (don't be discouraged or anything, but at the moment she is kicking all of your sorry bums).
Disney World TriviaIncluding the two water parks, name the six parks on Walt Disney World property in the order in which they opened.
People who stay at Boardwalk or Yacht & Beach Clubs probably already know this, but I didn't until my last trip to Disney World---you can walk, yes walk, from Hollywood Studios to the Boardwalk and Epcot. OR you can take a boat. Either way, allow for a leisurely 30-45 minute commute between Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Below is a map that shows the walking path in pink and the boat docks as red dots. The boat stops at all the dots so it's a bit slow going, but nice if you want to get off your feet for a little while with fun scenery along the way. Next time I want to try the walking path---looks like it goes right along the Boardwalk, so that could be a perfect stop for lunch before completing the path to Epcot.
Perhaps the most fun thing about taking boat or path versus the bus is that you enter Epcot at what feels like a secret backdoor entrance---the International Gateway, right between the UK and France. Ooh la la!
For this tip, I must once again thank my mother, who is following along with these posts and submitting her trivia guesses via e-mail (don't be discouraged or anything, but at the moment she is kicking all of your sorry bums).
Disney World TriviaIncluding the two water parks, name the six parks on Walt Disney World property in the order in which they opened.
April 15, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: N
N is for: Nom-noms
While it's true that I tend to be a bit...er, thrifty would be the nice word for it, the primary reason I recommend packing easy snacks to keep in your hotel room isn't to save money but rather for convenience. Adhering to Tip A, "Arrive at the parks before opening," doesn't leave you with much time in the morning, so it's great to be able to grab a granola bar or Pop-Tart while you get ready.
Having a light bite in the morning is a double bonus because you'll be hungry for an early lunch in the parks, thus avoiding the lunch crowd.
Throw a few snackies and bottles of water into your backpack too because it's much easier to reach in there for refreshment rather than wait on the hot pavement in the perpetually long lines at the snack stands. Disney is the master of crowd control and does a marvelous job of keeping lines moving at the attractions, but their snack stand efficiency could use some work---the few times we waited for a beverage or ice cream, snack stand service was blood-vessel-poppingly sloooow.
Ahh, but some places are worth the wait, like Storybook Treats in Fantasyland at The Magic Kingdom. Sundae's, cones, shakes & malts in a charming spot.
Disney World TriviaHow many chocolate covered Mickey Mouse ice cream bars are sold every year at Walt Disney World?(The closest guess(es) will get the point.)
While it's true that I tend to be a bit...er, thrifty would be the nice word for it, the primary reason I recommend packing easy snacks to keep in your hotel room isn't to save money but rather for convenience. Adhering to Tip A, "Arrive at the parks before opening," doesn't leave you with much time in the morning, so it's great to be able to grab a granola bar or Pop-Tart while you get ready.Having a light bite in the morning is a double bonus because you'll be hungry for an early lunch in the parks, thus avoiding the lunch crowd.
Throw a few snackies and bottles of water into your backpack too because it's much easier to reach in there for refreshment rather than wait on the hot pavement in the perpetually long lines at the snack stands. Disney is the master of crowd control and does a marvelous job of keeping lines moving at the attractions, but their snack stand efficiency could use some work---the few times we waited for a beverage or ice cream, snack stand service was blood-vessel-poppingly sloooow.
Ahh, but some places are worth the wait, like Storybook Treats in Fantasyland at The Magic Kingdom. Sundae's, cones, shakes & malts in a charming spot.
Disney World TriviaHow many chocolate covered Mickey Mouse ice cream bars are sold every year at Walt Disney World?(The closest guess(es) will get the point.)
April 13, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: M
M is for: Maps & Menus
Today I've got more links for you. :)
FREE customized maps Select the attractions you're interested in and order some really nice maps (for free!) with your chosen attractions highlighted. It's a super fun "pre-game" moment when they arrive in the mail.
Interactive Online Maps You can zoom and click on any item for a picture and description. Click on a park and select "Go to Map" to get to that park's map.
The Menus!
allears.net regularly updates detailed menus of all the venues at Disney World, including quick service restaurants and snack stands. So if you've got special dietary requirements or just want to make sure ahead of time that picky eaters will be able to find something they like, this is the place to go.
Disney World TriviaWe're getting Nicki specific on this one (answer can be found in earlier A to Z 2012 posts, and just a reminder that there will be a prize for whoever answers the most trivia questions correctly by May 1. :)). What Magic Kingdom restaurant did I say "actually has a fairly interesting menu for a fast food place"?
Happy Half-Way Day!
Today I've got more links for you. :)
FREE customized maps Select the attractions you're interested in and order some really nice maps (for free!) with your chosen attractions highlighted. It's a super fun "pre-game" moment when they arrive in the mail.
Interactive Online Maps You can zoom and click on any item for a picture and description. Click on a park and select "Go to Map" to get to that park's map.
The Menus!
allears.net regularly updates detailed menus of all the venues at Disney World, including quick service restaurants and snack stands. So if you've got special dietary requirements or just want to make sure ahead of time that picky eaters will be able to find something they like, this is the place to go.
Disney World TriviaWe're getting Nicki specific on this one (answer can be found in earlier A to Z 2012 posts, and just a reminder that there will be a prize for whoever answers the most trivia questions correctly by May 1. :)). What Magic Kingdom restaurant did I say "actually has a fairly interesting menu for a fast food place"?
Happy Half-Way Day!
April 11, 2012
A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: K
K is for: Kick Back at Your Resort
While I'm not a proponent of trekking back to your resort in the middle of a park day, I do recommend designating whole or half days as resort days. Disney puts a tremendous amount of thought and detail into everything, including their resort grounds, so it would be a shame not to allow time to explore them.
As you've surmised by now, I don't like to overdo it. I need my chillax time. So in addition to avoiding the parks on arrival day, my family sleeps in one morning and hangs at the pool before hitting the parks late afternoon. And I don't think we stayed at the parks until closing once during this last trip, opting instead to get out ahead of the mob and go for a quiet stroll, swim, or drink back at the ranch.
Caribbean Beach: a/k/a "The Ranch"
Disney World TriviaWhat new Walt Disney World hotel is slated to open in 2012?
While I'm not a proponent of trekking back to your resort in the middle of a park day, I do recommend designating whole or half days as resort days. Disney puts a tremendous amount of thought and detail into everything, including their resort grounds, so it would be a shame not to allow time to explore them. As you've surmised by now, I don't like to overdo it. I need my chillax time. So in addition to avoiding the parks on arrival day, my family sleeps in one morning and hangs at the pool before hitting the parks late afternoon. And I don't think we stayed at the parks until closing once during this last trip, opting instead to get out ahead of the mob and go for a quiet stroll, swim, or drink back at the ranch.
Caribbean Beach: a/k/a "The Ranch"Disney World TriviaWhat new Walt Disney World hotel is slated to open in 2012?
