Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1143
February 3, 2015
Be Our Guest Restaurant To Accept Reservations for Lunch
It’s official! There is going to be a change with the way lunch is handled at Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom. The New Fantasyland dining establishment will no longer offer FastPass+ reservations. Instead, beginning on February 25, all Guests will be able to make their dining reservation for the counter service lunch option by visiting www.mydisneyexperience.com or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.
Once a Guest has made a reservation, they will have the option to pre-order their meals through their My Disney Experience account. A link will be provided via the Guest’s confirmation email or the pre-order option can be accessed through a Guest’s My Disney Experience profile under “My Reservations.” Guests will have the option to pre-order their dining selections anywhere from 30 days to 5 minutes prior to their reservation.Do keep in mind that pre-ordering your meal is not mandatory and Guests will still have the option to place their order upon arrival at a kiosk found inside the restaurant.
For those wishing to dine here at dinner, the restaurant will continue to offer a table service option and guests will need to make an Advanced Dining Reservation.
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How Two Disney World Vacations That Cost the Same Can Feel Completely Different? or Where’s Goldilocks When You Need Her?
By Erin Foster
Len Testa recently did an analysis of the different ways the same party size can choose to allocate the same amount of money on a Walt Disney World vacation, yet arrive at very different trips. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth a look.
Staying for four nights at a value resort might feel like a splurge or like an affront, depending on your profile.
Len examined the quantitative aspects of expenditures on the core costs of food, lodging, and park tickets, noting how choices like deluxe vs. value resort, onsite vs. offsite hotels, and table service vs. counter service meals can change your vacation within a fixed budget. I’m here to look at the qualitative impact of those choices beyond the bottom line, considering how two vacations which cost exactly the same can feel entirely different.
For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to look at Len’s hypothetical trip for two adults (two people over the age of nine, or two people over the age of nine plus a child under the age of three) which costs $1,500, but you can apply the same principles to any price point or party size. Running the numbers, Len found that two adults can spend $1,500 on core costs in some of the following ways:
Budget option: Six days theme park admission, 6 nights in a budget level off-site motel, 6 counter service breakfasts, 6 counter service lunches, 6 counter service dinners
Value option: Four days theme park admission, 4 nights in a Disney value level resort, 4 counter service breakfasts, 4 counter service lunches, 4 counter service dinners
Moderate option: Four days theme park admission, 3 nights in a Disney moderate level resort, 4 counter service breakfasts, 4 counter service lunches, 4 counter service dinners
Deluxe option: Three days theme park admission, 2 nights in a Disney deluxe level resort, 3 counter service breakfasts, 3 counter service lunches, 3 counter service dinners
If access to Disney perks like early entry and included MagicBands is important to you, then your vacation will feel better or worse depending on your budget allocation choices.
WHAT ARE YOUR VACATION MOTIVATIONS?
When you’re deciding which of these options is right for your needs, the first thing you have to do it determine WHY you’re going on vacation and then specifically why are you going on a Disney vacation. While the answer may seem obvious, just saying “because I want to go on vacation” is circular logic. Some of the possible answers to the “Why am I going on vacation?” question include:
To occupy my child during his vacation week as possible.
To escape for the weekend, getting away from the kids.
To spend time away from the cold climate at home.
To get away from my routine.
To feel pampered.
To relax.
To experience as many rides and attractions at Walt Disney World as possible.
To celebrate.
To have a once in a lifetime experience.
To impress a reluctant traveler.
Those are just a few of the possible motivations for vacation travel. You can find more ideas about why people travel to Walt Disney World in our post How Well Does Disney World Meet Vacation Needs? Your reasons for travel should inform your budget allocation choices.
Other factors to consider when deciding how to distribute your vacation budget are your own personality and demographic profile. For example:
What level of vacation travel are you used to? Posh? Roughing it? Something in between?
Is the vacation expense something you’ve struggled to save for? Or is it a common or relatively insignificant expense?
Are you traveling with anyone with special needs, a small child, or an older adult? Comfort and access to services might be more significant to certain categories of guests.
Will you be returning to Walt Disney World soon or will this be your one and only visit?
Do you like being with your travel companion/s?
Do you mind doing chores like driving or cooking during vacation?
Do you crave new experiences and/or new foods? Or do you prefer to stick with the familiar?
What is your average/typical vacation expense? Has your financial position changed recently?
The same person might embody any of these diverse attributes at various life stages. For example, if you’re on a wedding gift honeymoon trip, your vacation motivations will be very different than if you’re young cash-strapped parents on their first vacation with a preschooler. But it’s your current demographic and personality profile that will influence your opinion of the various vacation configurations, even when the vacations are at the same price point.
More thoughts related to this can be found in our post Is It Worth It?
YOUR VACATION MOTIVATIONS INFLUENCE HOW DIFFERENT BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FEEL
Now let’s go back to the $1,500 trip and see how the four options listed might FEEL different to different people depending on their vacation motivations and personal profile.
In the BUDGET OPTION above, you’re staying for the longest amount of time and you’re staying at an offsite motel. Some divergent observations about a long, offsite stay might be:
I will definitely need a car when staying offsite. If I’m flying to Orlando, the expense of a rental car will add to my final expense tally. VS: We’re driving to Orlando, so we’ll just need a bit more gas if we’re staying offsite.
I like having the control that comes with having access to a vehicle. VS: I dislike driving at home, I wish I didn’t have to fight traffic or worry about getting lost while I’m on vacation.
I’m missing out on the unique themeing elements present at the Disney resorts. VS: I’m glad to have a chance to break out of the Disney bubble; it can be overwhelming at times.
With more days in the parks, I’m able to check more rides and attractions off my to-do list. VS: I’m just doing this trip to check if off my kids’ to-do list, why do I have to be here so long?
We’re only going to be sleeping at the hotel; I’m proud that I’ve made the sound financial decision to economize on lodging. VS: I love hanging out at a fancy hotel; I miss that atmosphere when I stay at economy lodgings.
We’re theme park commandos who go, go, go from sunup to sundown. VS: I need a nap during the day, taking the car offsite to nap is less convenient that going back to a nearby onsite hotel.
I can sleep anywhere. VS: My back is bad, I need a great mattress.
I’ve saved for this trip forever and I want to make it last as long as possible; we may never be able to do it again. VS: I’ll be back later this year; I don’t need to do it all this time.
I’m using a Touring Plan and I don’t need meal reservations, so I won’t miss those perks of a Disney stay. VS: Without access to Early Entry or FastPass+ selections 60 days in advance, I feel like I’m missing out on key touring and planning tools.
If I’m staying offsite, I won’t be as tempted by the food offerings in the parks. VS: Since I’m staying offsite, I’ll sometimes be eating at the same boring fast food restaurants I have access to at home.
New foods are the reason to travel; I’m excited to eat at as many new places as possible. VS: I like the comfort of knowing that by staying offsite I’ll have access to the familiar favorites that I know and love.
I don’t travel often; I’m happy to have any time off. VS: I travel all the time for work and usually stay in deluxe hotels; this really seems like slumming.
In the VALUE OPTION, you’ve got two fewer days in the parks than with the budget option, but you’re staying on Disney property rather than offsite. In addition to some of the dichotomies mentioned above, feelings about the value stay might be:
A room is a room is a room; why am I paying more to be on property when I could have the equivalent room offsite for less money? VS: I’m thrilled to be in the Disney bubble; I love that my kid gets to play around all the colorful themed elements.
I love that I can use Disney’s transportation options; not having to drive anywhere is a big break for me. VS: I hate not having control of my time when I don’t have a car.
I wish that we had a few more days to revisit some of our favorite attractions. VS: I’m glad we don’t have to stay longer; this trip is just the right amount of time.
In the MODERATE OPTION, you’ve got a better onsite hotel and the same number of park days as the value stay, but one less night at the hotel. You’re leaving the area at the end of your last park day to drive or fly home. In addition to some of the feelings in the above categories, you might add:
The difference between value and moderate amenities is negligible to me; it’s silly to pay for more than I need. VS: My tween adores the hotel pool slide; I’m so glad our hotel pool has some extra play elements.
When we’re done with park touring, I want to get out of Dodge and start heading for home. VS: I’m exhausted after all this park touring; I wish we could get a good night’s sleep and leave in the morning when we’re fresh.
It’s just me and my partner, having a few extra square feet of floor space doesn’t really matter. VS: It’s me and my partner and our baby, having a few extra feet of floor space for the Pack N’ Play makes a big difference.
I’m traveling with a platonic friend; we’re each sleeping in our own bed, so the bed size doesn’t really matter. VS: I’m traveling with my partner, we like to sleep in the same bed; the value resort double beds are just too small for us; I’m glad we have a queen bed at this moderate level resort.
In the DELUXE OPTION, you’ve got a still better onsite hotel, one less day in the parks, and you’re leaving at the end of your last park day to drive or fly home. In addition to some of the feelings in the above categories, you might add:
Because we only have three days of park admission, we’re going to have to skip one park entirely; I’m so disappointed. VS: Eh, whatever; we’ll be back soon and we’ll get to the Animal Kingdom next time.
I feel out of place and overwhelmed in these luxe surroundings. VS: Being in luxe surroundings makes me feel special.
Spending money on a fancy hotel is frivolous. VS: When I’m on vacation, I want to have the best of everything.
I want to spend my time in the sun, sipping drinks at the pool. VS: I want to do as much as possible in the parks.
As you can see, the same $1,500 Disney World vacation can be too much, not enough, or just right, depending on where you choose to allocate your expenditures. Unfortunately, we don’t have Baby Bear’s sage analysis of which allocation profile is the one that’s “just right” for you.
Depending on who you are, that offsite option might be a huge splurge and feel like the trip of a lifetime, or it could make you feel like you’re missing out on the really good vacation.
It may be fairly straightforward to look at your family’s budget and say, “I have $1,500 to spend on a trip” this month/quarter/year/etc. But don’t forget to take the more challenging, soul-searching next step to determine your personal value criteria, and thus determine which budget distribution option is just right for your needs.
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How Two Disney World Vacations That Cost the Same Can Feel Completely Different? or Where’s Goldilocks When You Need Her? is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
New Disney Cruise Line Cancellation and Final Payment Policy
©Disney
Disney Cruise Line has notified travel agents of changes to its cancellation and final payment policy. The policy goes into effect for guests who book a new cruise March 3, 2015, or later, or who change a modify and existing reservation after that date. What was once summed up in two bullet points on Disney’s site is now a bit more complicated. TouringPlans has tried to make it a little easier to grasp. All cruises require a deposit of 20% of the vacation cost to book except cruises booked while onboard, which only require a 10% deposit.
What hasn’t changed:
Categories IGT, OGT, and VGT are still non-refundable, non-transferrable, and must be paid in full at the time of booking. These are restricted rates that Disney used to fill the last few cabins on its cruises. For Concierge (OOV, OOT, OOS, and OOR) level staterooms, all deposits are non-refundable.
What has changed:
Nearly everything else.
Disney has also changed its holiday (any cruise that includes Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and July 4 – but not Easter, New Year’s Eve, or Christmas Eve) policies and calls out 6, 7, 8, and 9-night cruises into a separate policy category. Note that the latter category includes all cruises on the Fantasy.
Some notes: Alaska cruises are non-U.S. because they embark and debark from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Southern Caribbean cruises out of San Juan and the San Juan to Miami cruise are U.S. cruises. Panama Canal cruises and trans-Atlantic cruises embark and/or debark from U.S. ports, but are longer than 10 nights.
Final Payment Due Dates for Disney Cruise Line
Final payment for cruises, which were were 75 days out before for cruises less than 10 nights (U.S. Port) and non-holiday or concierge, 90 for holiday and concierge, 120 for cruises of 10 nights or longer or non U.S. port, and 150 for concierge on cruises of 10 nights or longer or non U.S. port are now:
U.S. ports – 1 to 9 nights (embark or debark)
1 to 5 night cruises
Non-holiday category 4 to 11 – 75 days
All holiday and all concierge category OOV, OOT, OOS, and OOR – 90 days
6 to 9 night cruises
Non-holiday category 4 – 11: 90 days
Holiday category 4 – 11: 105 days
All concierge category OOV, OOT, OOS, and OOR – 90 days
Any 10 night or longer cruise and any cruise that embarks or debarks from a non-U.S. port
Category 4 – 11: 120 days
Concierge category OOV, OOT, OOS, and OOR: 150 days
Disney Cruise Line Cancellation Fees
Disney’s previous policy allowed you to cancel up to 14 days before any cruise and receive at least a partial refund and allowed you to cancel anytime up to final payment date for a full refund including your deposit (non concierge). This is no longer the case.
If you’re changing your cruise from one sailing to another date and you’re within the cancellation fee window, Disney considers this a cancellation and rebooking. You can move your concierge deposit to another cruise if you’re more than 90 days from sailing (or 150 on cruises longer than 10 days or non U.S. port), but even if you change categories from concierge to regular, your deposit is still non-refundable.
Here are the cancellation fees:
All concierge category bookings regardless of cruise length or ports:
29 to 0 days from sailing: lose 100% of the cost of your cruise
55 to 30 days from sailing: lose 75% of the cost of your cruise
89 to 56 days from sailing: lose 50% of the cost of your cruise
90+ days from sailing: lose your deposit
1 to 5 night non-holiday cruises that embark or debark from a U.S. port (non-concierge)
14 to 0 days from sailing: lose 100% of the cost of your cruise
29 to 15 days from sailing: lose 75% of the cost of your cruise
44 to 30 days from sailing: lose 50% of the cost of your cruise
45 to 74 days from sailing: lose your deposit
75+ days from sailing: full refund including deposit
1 to 5 night holiday cruises that embark or debark from a U.S. port (non-concierge)
14 to 0 days from sailing: lose 100% of the cost of your cruise
42 to 15 days from sailing: lose 75% of the cost of your cruise
64 to 43 days from sailing: lose 50% of the cost of your cruise
89 to 65 days from sailing: lose your deposit
90+ days from sailing: full refund including deposit
6 to 9 night non-holiday cruises that embark or debark from a U.S. port (non-concierge)
14 to 0 days from sailing: lose 100% of the cost of your cruise
29 to 15 days from sailing: lose 75% of the cost of your cruise
55 to 30 days from sailing: lose 50% of the cost of your cruise
89 to 56 days from sailing: lose your deposit
90+ days from sailing: full refund including deposit
6 to 9 night holiday cruises that embark or debark from a U.S. port (non-concierge)
14 to 0 days from sailing: lose 100% of the cost of your cruise
42 to 15 days from sailing: lose 75% of the cost of your cruise
74 to 43 days from sailing: lose 50% of the cost of your cruise
104 to 75 days from sailing: lose your deposit
105+ days from sailing: full refund including deposit
Any 10 night or longer cruise and any cruise that embarks or debarks from a non-U.S. port (non-concierge)
14 to 0 days from sailing: lose 100% of the cost of your cruise
29 to 15 days from sailing: lose 75% of the cost of your cruise
55 to 30 days from sailing: lose 50% of the cost of your cruise
119 to 56 days from sailing: lose your deposit
120+ days from sailing: full refund including deposit
Big thanks to Tammy Whiting of Storybook Destinations and Sue Pisaturo of Small World Vacations who both mailed us this change and HUGE thanks to Tammy for proofreading.
Like our DCL coverage? Consider subscribing to TouringPlans or buy the latest edition of the Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line by Len Testa, Erin Foster, and myself.
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New Disney Cruise Line Cancellation and Final Payment Policy is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disneyland Resort Crowd Calendar Report – January 25 to 31, 2015
Last week our Disneyland Crowd Calendar predicted each day exactly right until Friday and Saturday arrived when we saw a spike in wait times at both parks. Saturday was particularly busy at Disney California Adventure, a level ‘8’ on our scale which is very high for a Saturday in January. It appears that the closure of Condor Flats (which includes Soarin’ Over California and Grizzly River Run) may be pushing guests towards Tower of Terror and California Screamin’ more than usual on weekends.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the TouringPlans.com Disneyland Resort Crowd Report:
Disneyland Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
5
4
Sunday’s average waits at Tower of Terror (58 minutes, predicted 25) and California Screamin’ (26 minutes, predicted 15) are one of the signs that Condor Flats’ closure is having an effect.
Disney California Adventure
6
7
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
2
Monday’s wait times quickly returned to levels that we’d expect to see in late January. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster averaged only 7 minutes and Jungle Cruise only 13.
Disney California Adventure
3
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
2
Tuesday’s wait times took another step lower at both parks which means averages like 17 minutes at Tower of Terror and 13 at California Screamin’ – quite a contrast to what we’ve been seeing on weekends.
Disney California Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
1
2
More ‘1’s and ‘2’s on Wednesday with similarly low wait times. Dumbo averaged 9 minutes (predicted 14), 15 minutes at Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (predicted 14).
Disney California Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
3
Crowd calendar predictions missed by one level at each park on Thursday – one level low at Disneyland Park and one too high at Disney California Adventure. Notable waits were 27 minutes at Alice In Wonderland and 26 minutes at Toy Story Midway Mania.
Disney California Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
4
5
Friday’s crowds showed a significant bump in attendance compared to the rest of the week. By comparison with Thursday we saw average waits like 33 at Alice in Wonderland and 37 at Toy Story Midway Mania.
Disney California Adventure
4
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
5
7
A bigger bump in wait times occurred on Saturday, at both parks. Average wait times at Disneyland were 10 to 18 minutes higher than they had been during the week. At Disney California Adventure, the difference was 12 to 20 minutes.
Disney California Adventure
4
8
What to Expect This Week
February 1 to 7, 2015
How Crowded is Disneyland?
The first week of February is one of our favorite weeks to visit Disneyland Resort. Weather is usually nice and crowds are manageable. Beware that the first week week of February quickly gives way to Presidents Day which is one of the busiest weeks of the year.
To see Disneyland Resort Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disneyland Resort Crowd Calendar Report – January 25 to 31, 2015 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney World Crowd Calendar Report – January 25 to 31, 2015
Disney’s Hollywood Studios were much busier than expected last Wednesday, mostly due to some technical issues with Tower of Terror. The issues increased wait times at Tower of Terror and nearby Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Other than that, our crowd calendar did very well all week, missing only twice by more than two index levels.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the Touringplans.com Disney World Crowd Calendar Report:
Walt Disney World Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
5
4
The calendar predicted all four parks would be within one of the middle point on our scale. That turned out to be correct. We saw average waits like 26 minutes at Pirates of the Caribbean, 69 at Soarin’, 29 at Star Tours and 40 minutes at Expedition Everest.
Epcot
4
4
Hollywood Studios
5
6
Animal Kingdom
5
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
2
Monday’s crowd calendar hit the mark at three of the parks while the Magic Kingdom’s wait times translated to a level ‘2’, two lower than expected. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Pirates of the Caribbean were most notably different from our predictions.
Epcot
5
5
Hollywood Studios
2
2
Animal Kingdom
4
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
2
5
A slow day at Animal Kingdom as predicted but Magic Kingdom saw wait times higher than expected on Tuesday, the only miss at that park for the week. The average wait at Peter Pan’s Flight was 78 minutes (predicted 46).
Epcot
3
2
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
2
2
Wednesday at Hollywood Studios was the other surprise of the week but solely due to a malfunction at Tower of Terror that pushed its wait to double the norm. That pushed wait times higher at other headliners as well, like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Star Tours.
Epcot
3
2
Hollywood Studios
2
6
Animal Kingdom
3
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
2
1
Thursdays numbers represent one of the least crowded days you will likely see all year. No park managed a crowd level above ‘3’ and only Epcot reached that level. Space Mountain averaged a paltry 21 minutes while Test Track had the highest waits with a 66 minute average.
Epcot
3
3
Hollywood Studios
3
2
Animal Kingdom
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
5
All parks were more crowded on Friday (although Epcot had the same level). the level ‘5’ at Animal Kingdom included a 29 minute average wait at Kilimanjaro Safaris and a 36 minute average at Expedition Everest.
Epcot
3
3
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
2
5
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
6
Saturday was the busiest day of the week but not as busy as an average Saturday throughout the year. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad averaged 42 minutes (predicted 38), Mission Space: Orange 15 (17), Star Tours 33 (29) and Dinosaur averaged 23 minutes (predicted 26).
Epcot
4
4
Hollywood Studios
4
5
Animal Kingdom
5
6
What to Expect This Week
February 1 to 7, 2015
How Crowded is Disney World?
We suggested that Animal Kingdom (and other parks) might extend the official hours currently published for February in this post and changes were indeed announced. Check the Crowd Calendar for the latest official park hours. February crowds numbers are higher than January but slow days can still be found if you avoid Presidents Day and Mardi Gras.
To see Walt Disney World Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disney World Crowd Calendar Report – January 25 to 31, 2015 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Calendar Report – January 25 to 31, 2015
The Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar predicted ‘2’s, ‘3’s and ‘4’s last week and that is exactly what we saw. However each day we seemed to miss by one. Wait times jumped around between the three levels with the only exception being Monday at Universal Studios Park. ‘A Celebration of Harry Potter’ event occurred on Friday and Saturday but wait times were not adversely affected.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the TouringPlans.com Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report:
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
4
Islands of Adventure saw wait times slightly lower than usual on Sunday, especially at the water rides. We saw average posted times of 6 minutes at Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (predicted 23) and at Jurassic Park River Adventure (predicted 26).
Islands of Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
3
5
Other than Saturday, Monday’s crowd level at Universal Studios was the largest we saw all week. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit led the way with a 44 minute average wait.
Islands of Adventure
2
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
3
Tuesday’s crowd levels were both lower than average, as predicted. We saw a 11 minute average at Men In Black (predicted 15) and a 23 minute average at The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (predicted 22).
Islands of Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
3
More ‘3’s and ‘2’s on Wednesday. As is usually the case the longest average wait at The Studios was at Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem – 47 minutes (predicted 44).
Islands of Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
3
Islands of Adventure saw a small bump, moving up to a level ‘3’ on Thursday while The Studios stayed at a level ‘3’ for the third day in a row.
Islands of Adventure
2
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
4
It’s no coincidence that events like “A Celebration of Harry Potter” occur during times of the year when our crowd calendar predicts below average levels. Universal wants to attract visitors during a normally low season. But as you can see, wait times were not affected last Friday.
Islands of Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
5
Slightly higher crowds than expected on Saturday but well within the normal range that we would expect for a Saturday in January. Revenge of the Mummy averaged 24 minutes (predicted 25) and Hulk averaged 32 (predicted 29).
Islands of Adventure
3
4
What to Expect This Week
February 1 to 7, 2015
How Crowded is Universal?
Avoiding large crowds in February is as easy as avoiding Presidents Day and Mardi Gras. Do that and you may find some of the most pleasant touring conditions of the year.
To see Universal Orlando Resort Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Calendar Report – January 25 to 31, 2015 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
February 2, 2015
Be Our Guest Restaurant Lunch FastPass Test to End
It’s been one of the hardest things to get when planning a Walt Disney World vacation. People have been clamoring for it since the day it opened. The Be Our Guest Restaurant Lunch FastPass+ reservation has been just bonkers to try to obtain, as Guests have hoped to have that elusive chance to dine at the New Fantasyland counter service offering. (I know…I was one of the lucky ones who was able to obtain one on a recent trip!)
However, it would appear that changes are coming, as now the testing phase is seemingly coming to an end. According to the Be Our Guest Restaurant FastPass+ website, on February 24, the lunch testing will be over and Guests are instructed that beginning February 25, they should log onto www.mydisneyexperience.com for more information.
The question remains though, what does all this mean? There have been several theories floating around. They include that the lunch reservations will go all FastPass+ and that all Guests will be able to make their reservations via My Disney Experience, not just those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel; the restaurant could be going all standby; or could it be going the all Advanced Dining Reservation route instead; and finally, the popular rumor is that breakfast is coming to Be Our Guest Restaurant very soon and this move may have something to do with that.
Keep in mind that no matter what change does occur, Guests looking to dine here at dinner will still need to obtain an Advanced Dining Reservation.
One thing is for sure…something is happening. I’ll be ready to share the full details with you as soon as I find them out!
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Port Orleans Riverside Royal Room Review
Royal Room Letter from Tiana
Of all the Walt Disney World resorts, Port Orleans Riverside is the resort that I have stayed at the most. I first fell in love with the place back when it was originally called Dixie Landings; and while I’m still a little bitter over the name change, this particular resort has continued to charm me year after year. But just when I though I couldn’t love this resort anymore, I had the opportunity to stay in one of its Royal Rooms, special resort rooms themed after popular Disney Royals! So check out my Port Orleans Riverside Royal Room Review to see if this room option might be something you would consider for your next vacation to Disney World!
About Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans Riverside is the sister resort to Port Orleans French Quarter. The French Quarter is themed around New Orleans, but Riverside features the elegance of the Old South with white-columned mansions, a bustling river port, and backwoods, bayou charm.
Port Orleans Riverside belongs to the moderate category of Disney World Resorts. Basically, that means it’s not the most expensive and luxurious, but it’s not the cheapest either. However, unlike other Moderate Resorts, Riverside offers two themed sections and three different room styles.
Port Orleans Riverside
The first section is called Alligator Bayou. The rooms here are a little sampling of the Louisiana bayou with log furniture and charming, rustic touches, and are tucked into the more wooded areas of the resort grounds. The other section of Riverside is known as Magnolia Bend, where rooms are housed in plantation-style mansions and have a more refined feel. These mansions are lined along the trimmed banks of the Sassagoula River.
Port Orleans Riverside is home to two different restaurants, Boatwrights Dining Hall and the Riverside Mill Food Court. The Riverside Mill is my favorite food court at Disney World. It’s huge! There’s a giant water wheel just outside the windows and the different food stations offer some delicious fare, including a create-your-own pasta bar. Riverside and the French Quarter are both very close to Downtown Disney, and taking a boat from the resort to this popular shopping area is relaxing and a great reprieve from the crowded, chaotic Disney buses!
About Royal Rooms
by Disney
The story behind these rooms is that Princess Tiana had invited the Disney Princes and Princesses to Riverside. Of course, they had a wonderful time together; and so, the princesses gave Tiana some special gifts. Royal Rooms are special themed rooms where you too can stay in luxury, just like a Disney Princess, and see these gifts for yourself.
Royal Rooms have the same standard amenities of all Disney moderate resorts including a hair dryer, free WiFi service, an in-room safe, iron and ironing board, coffee maker, and telephone with voice mail. Also, Royal Rooms offer two queen beds and a variety of views and locations to choose from.
I have wanted to stay in a Royal Room ever since Disney first announced their construction; and when I was was planning another trip to Disney World awhile back, I learned that Riverside had several Royal Rooms open during my vacation dates. Now Royal Rooms tend to be more expensive, but Disney was offering a room discount and the Royal Rooms were included. I quickly did a little number crunching; and when I discovered that I could stay in one of these rooms and still be within budget, I could have screamed for joy! So I booked my room for my family and tried to contain myself until it was time for my vacation.
Location
Riverside’s Oak Manor
My Royal Room was located in Oak Manor of Magnolia Bend, the more refined section of Port Orleans Riverside. Magnolia Bend has names for the different mansions which contain guest rooms. When you book your own Royal Room, you will often have the option of which view you would prefer, such as a Pool View or Standard View, etc. Your choice will effect the location of your room and the selections often vary in cost. Check our hotel room view finder to see where the different Royal Rooms are at Riverside and see how to request the one that works best for you.
I chose a Standard View for my budget’s sake, and because I was more interested of what I was going to see inside my room instead of out this time around; but a concern that many guests have has to do with distance. A long trek from your room to the resort’s main buildings and transportation can really put a damper on some guests’ vacations. My family and I found that Oak Manor was relatively close to the main resort buildings. It was a few minutes walk and a bridge crossing away; and while it may not have been as close as some other rooms at Riverside, it wasn’t as far as others and the river and grounds were so pretty!
Riverside Oak Manor Fountain
A Royal Banner
The actual location of Oak Manor was rather picturesque too. The building sits at the far end of a trimmed shaded courtyard with a fountain just a few feet from the stairs. Beyond the courtyard was a glittering blue view of the Sassagoula River and the passing boats!
During our stay, this courtyard was where Riverside hosted its Movies Under the Stars, where the resort played Disney Movies on a large screen for the guests to come and watch in the evening hours. Also, the light posts lining the courtyard paths featured banners with swords from the Disney Princes or crowns from the Disney Princesses!
Inside Royal Rooms
Royal room at Port Orleans Riverside
So when I first walked into my Royal Room, I was immediately blown away. The space was so well done and truly looked fit for a royal. Right away I started picking out little details and references to the Disney Princesses, and I noticed that pretty much everything in the room had been designed to go with the theme. Even the television was set into a gold swirl frame that matched the room’s design. Now I’ve stayed in one of the Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and have seen some the themed decor of the rooms at the Art of Animation Resort; but for me, Port Orleans Riverside’s Royal Rooms are the most impressive.
Riverside Royal Room Bed
Now it’s important to note that Royal Rooms are the same size and layout as other Riverside and Moderate Resort rooms. What you’re really paying for with a Royal Room is the theme and design. But hey, the theme and design are pretty amazing, don’t you think?
Let’s start with the beds, shall we? The top of the headboard has a T for Tiana, and the gold flower accent right above the pillows looks like a Magnolia, the perfect Southern touch for this particular resort. Oh! Did I mention that the headboard is also magical? If you push a button on the side, lightning bugs flicker and glow over the bayou and fireworks shoot up into the sky! By the way, could that one star on the headboard be Evangeline from Disney’s Princess and the Frog?
The bedspread pattern was covered with little crowns for each Disney Princess. Disney is no longer using full bedspreads, but rather long patterned strips laying across the foot of the bed. Still, the crown pattern is still on these strips and it’s fun to match each crown to the corresponding princess.
So about about the gifts that the other princesses left Princess Tiana?
Who’s up for a magic carpet ride?
The first gift was right under my feet. It’s the magic carpet from Disney’s Aladdin. It’s actually part of the room’s carpet, so you don’t have to worry about tripping over it.
Royal Room Footstool from Beauty and the Beast
This little bench is supposed to be the footstool from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!
Royal Room window and curtains
These curtains look like they belong in Cinderella’s Castle, don’t they? So elegant! Also, I can personally testify that when they are drawn closed, they block out all sunlight for those of us who want to sleep in while on vacation. So rest assured that the Florida sunshine won’t interrupt your beauty sleep.
Disney thinks of everything, don’t they?
Even these usually ugly units have had a royal makeover!
Royal Room Prince Banner #1
As in every Moderate Resort room, there is a a nightstand, a dresser, and a small table and two chairs for quick snacks, writing postcards, or serving as a work space. The letter from Tiana is actually part of the surface of the table here. Up above the table are banners showcasing silhouettes of the Disney Princes. They even included Eugene Fitzherbert (a.k.a Flynn Ryder) from Disney’s Tangled.
Royal Room Prince Banner #2
In case you’re wondering, Prince Adam in the above banner is the real name of the Beast from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. It’s not a well-known fact, especially since the Beast is what you see around the parks, but I’m glad Disney is being accurate in the Royal Rooms for other Disney Nerds like myself.
Royal Room light fixture and a Hidden Mickey!
I have to show a close-up of the light fixture hanging over the table. It’s gold and has the prettiest pattern. It even includes a few Hidden Mickeys!
A gift from Cinderella
This gift appears to be from Cinderella. I personally wish that Cinderella would have had a better representation in the Royal Rooms than this. I would have liked to see her glass slipper or something like that.
Snow White’s addition to the Royal Room
This picture is most certainly a gift from Snow White. The carved, dark wood frame contains little woodland creatures and even Snow White’s initials. Also, look at the background of this picture. Do you see where the princesses are? It’s Riverside!
There are several other framed pictures of the princesses and Tiana enjoying Riverside on the walls of the Royal Room. As an adult, I thought it was interesting that Disney took the princesses out of their respective worlds and put them into a physical Disney World Resort for the story line of these rooms. It’s something you don’t see often; but I liked it, and I believe kids will be extra excited believing that this resort is a place that their favorite princesses stayed and played too.
It’s Pascal and Ray!
When exploring your Royal Room room, be sure to look up. Around the top of the room, you will find this border which features an array of Disney Princess sidekicks.
Inside the Royal Room Bathroom
View of the Royal Room Bathroom
So the bathroom area was perfectly lovely and there was no shortage of details in this space either. However, as I said about the room itself, the layout and size of the bathroom is the same as what you will find in other Riverside rooms and Moderate Resorts. It can be cramped, but the curtains can be pulled for privacy and I always appreciate a double sink. It helps when you’re trying to get more than one person ready for the day at the same time.
There isn’t much counter space, but there is a small shelf running under the double mirrors for your things and a shelf underneath the sink too.
Royal Room Faucet
Also, be sure to look carefully at the light fixture above the mirrors. There are large sparking gems in between the lights!
My favorite thing in the whole bathroom are the faucets. They look like Aladdin’s Magic Lamp! It’s a big hit with young and old.
Royal Room Shower Curtain
The closed-off section of the bathroom includes both the toilet and a shower and bath combo, with a little bit of space to spare. I do wish Moderate Resorts offered larger bathroom space. I’ve stayed at Disney’s All-Star Sports and Pop Century Resort several times; and while Moderate Resorts bathrooms are known to be a little bigger, I really don’t see much difference. But still, the Royal Room details are alive and well here too, particularly in the shower curtain which is covered with a pattern of gems and little items from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. And yes, that is a Dinglehopper!
So that is a Port Orleans Riverside Royal Room. What do you think? Personally, I loved my Royal Room. I love little details and references to Disney movies, so this was perfect for me. Although, if I had booked the room looking for a more spacious, luxurious experience at Riverside, I would’ve been disappointed. As I’ve said, you’re paying for design, not space, when you book this room option.
One thing in particular that surprised me about my Royal Room was the color scheme.When I think of a princess-themed room, I think of pinks, purples, glitter, and eye rolls from dads and little pirates in training. Instead, I found mostly royal blues and golds and dark woods that was much more regal and classy than sparkly. Disney seems to have managed a balance between enchanting little princesses and appealing to adults, which means that everyone in the family can feel comfortable and enjoy a Royal Room.
I would most definitely recommend a Port Orleans Riverside Royal Room to others. My family and I were able to enjoy all the benefits of my favorite Moderate Resort, but with extra-magical surroundings that only made our trip all the more memorable. But what do you think? Have you ever stayed in a Royal Room? What was your experience?
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First Look Inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Starbucks
Sometimes you just get lucky. (Ask any New England Patriots’ fan.) On Sunday afternoon, after a quick stroll around Crescent Lake, I stopped in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to grab a quick drink and check on the hat demolition before heading home. As I walked down Hollywood Boulevard, my husband said “Do you smell….coffee?” Sure enough, there was a small crowd outside The Trolley Car Cafe, the new Starbucks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Outside, a cast member was handing vouchers to anyone passing by for a free pastry or drink for their soft opening. Score!
The Trolley Car Cafe is now in soft opening. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
The Trolley Car Cafe seems to attract less negative attention than the similar facility in the Magic Kingdom, and part of it may be because of how well this location fits with the decor of Hollywood Boulevard. From the neon sign outside to the finishing touches inside, it really feels like what a Starbucks would feel like if it was in the golden age of Hollywood. Truth told, unless you are looking for a Starbucks, you could completely miss this location.
The outdoor signage fits well with the theme of Hollywood Boulevard and doesn’t scream “Starbucks”. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
While the voucher we were handed was clearly for a cast member and Imagineer preview (of which I am neither), the soft opening was clearly open to anyone walking by. Although people were being ushered in a few at a time, we had no wait to get inside. The first thing that I noted is that there really isn’t any good stroller parking outside, and we were told to bring our daughter inside, stroller and all.
When you first enter, the store is divided in half by a pastry counter, with each side having several registers. A cast member directed us towards the side with fewer people, and then it was essentially a free-for-all to grab a register. Drink orders placed, we then moved out of the way and had time to take in the scenery.
The decor is designed with somewhat of an industrial feel, with cargo boxes on the catwalks above the registers and trolley car power lines and control panels mounted on the back walls.
Your menu is exactly what you would expect from Starbucks. No surprises there. What did surprise me is that there is no seating inside. Once you get your food or beverage, if you want a place to sit and eat it, you’re probably going to mooch some seating space from Starring Rolls Bakery. This immediately begs the question for me, in the breakfast hour (when this site is likely to get the highest throughput), will Starring Rolls continue to serve breakfast? While I sincerely hope so, I have a feeling that some bean counters (pun intended) are getting paid some money to figure out whether it is desirable to keep both locations open for breakfast.
The inside of The Trolley Car Cafe is designed to get you in and out as quickly as possible. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
The cast members were extremely efficient and polite, and while it is clear they are still working out the kinks (my husband’s iced coffee was ready in less than five minutes, but my iced tea ordered at the same time took twice as long), I think that this will be a quick stop for many people in the morning.
No word on when this location will fully open, and no sign of the Starbucks mugs that are quickly becoming hot commodities. But if you are in the Studios and smell the scent of coffee wafting down Hollywood Boulevard, you might be lucky enough to be one of the first people to try out The Trolley Car Cafe.
Cast Member costumes have old-style Hollywood charm. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Even with the industrial feel, the lighting is warm and welcoming. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
The menu is typical Starbucks fare. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Vouchers for a free beverage or pastry were being handed out late Sunday afternoon for a short period of time. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Many of the unique decor touches are high above your head. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
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Menu Monday: 50’s Prime Time Cafe
During my last Disney World vacation with my boys, we enjoyed several tasty table service meals. In case you missed it, we dined at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, ESPN Club and Rainforest Café in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When we headed over for a day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we planned an advanced dining reservation (ADR) for one of our favorite spots – 50’s Prime Time Café. Known for its classic comfort food, vintage atmosphere and lively banter, we were really looking forward to our lunch at 50’s Prime Time Café plus a fun filled day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Our Day Begins
Just like every day of this vacation, we woke up early and grabbed a quick breakfast at Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation before heading off to the bus stop. Although this resort only has one bus stop and it is often very busy, they seem to have a limitless supply of buses, because we never had to wait for more than about 5 minutes. Once on board, it was standing room only for the short drive to Hollywood Studios.
Fun at the Park
We were soon off the bus, through security and waiting in line to enter the Park. We always like to arrive before rope drop with our touring plan in hand ready to go as soon as the park opens. On the schedule for this day was The Great Movie Ride, a 9am-10am Fastpass+ for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, followed by a 10am-11am Fastpass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania before heading to our 11am ADR at 50’s Prime Time Café. After lunch we had a 12:05pm-1:05pm Fastpass+ reserved for Star Tours. We planned to end our day with a stop at the Animation Academy before heading for an evening in Magic Kingdom. This was going to be a lot to fit in just a few hours, but with the smaller size of Hollywood Studios and the fact that we walk quickly, we were optimistic. Once we were through the entrance, we made our way down the street and around the Sorcerer’s Hat (for the last time) to the line for The Great Movie Ride. 
As luck would have it, the wait was short and we were on the attraction quickly. While not our favorite, we usually ride this attraction every time we visit, because it is one that we can all experience together. My youngest son still covers his eyes through the Alien section and both of my boys are not fans of the live-action gun fight scene. Living in a suburb of Denver, 15 minutes from Columbine High School and 20 minutes from the Aurora theatre, my kids have grown up very nervous about these types of scenarios. It often makes me wonder if this part of the attraction makes anyone else feel uncomfortable. I’m excited to see the changes once The Great Movie Ride is reimagined later this year and I hope that it makes it a more family friendly attraction. After we exited The Great Movie Ride, we made our way to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror for our 9am-10am Fastpass+. 
A quick look at the clock and we were checking in for our Fastpass+ at 9:45am with plenty of time to spare. This is another tricky one for my family. My boys are still a little spooked by the premise of the ride and the preshow, but they love the actual attraction and the drops. On this occasion, everyone powered through the scary parts and we all left the Tower of Terror having had an exhilarating time surviving seven drops! 
Our last stop before lunch was Toy Story Midway Mania for our 10am-11am Fastpass+. Things were continuing to run smoothly with our touring plan and we arrived at 10:20am. For whatever reason, there were very few people in the Fastpass+ line and we were shootin’ our way through the carnival games in no time. I’m proud to say that despite my total ineptitude for video games, I emerged victorious and had the highest score in our car. After depositing our stylish 3D glasses in the bin, we exited the attraction with 20 minutes until our 11am ADR at 50’s Prime Time Café.
Lunchtime at 50’s Prime Time Café
We arrived at the restaurant and met up with grandma and grandpa just as people were beginning to line up in anticipation of the doors opening. They opened promptly at 11:00am and began checking groups in for their reservations. In a matter minutes our ADR was confirmed and we were directed to the “living room” to wait for our name to be called. The waiting area seems very spacious upon first glance, but can fill up quickly at peak meal times. One thing that we have noticed with 50’s Prime Time Café is that despite having an ADR, we’ve always had to wait (sometimes 30 minutes or more) to be seated. So if you decide to dine there, be sure to plan for a lengthy meal just in case. My boys were entertained watching clips of old sitcoms on the vintage TVs while my parents and I relaxed and perused a menu. Then over the din, we heard what we had been so eagerly waiting for “Fredericks’ Family, it’s time for lunch!”
Our server guided us to our table in a deserted section of the restaurant and left us to look over the menu. The menu at 50’s Prime Time Café is not large and includes your good old-fashioned comfort foods. It didn’t take us long to make up our minds and we were ready to order when our server returned. My youngest son chose the chicken pot pie from the kids’ menu, my oldest son and I decided to split some French fries and beer-battered onion rings in the hopes to have room for dessert, grandma went with Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken, and grandpa selected Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie. After we had placed our order and received our beverages, we enthusiastically awaited what was to come next. My boys love when the servers really get into the story of the restaurant and play along with the diners. During past meals, grandma was sent to a time out that required her to stand in the corner and my husband had to sing “I’m a Little Tea Pot” in the middle of the restaurant. But my favorite of all was when grandpa didn’t finish his green beans. They were returned to him as his dessert covered with whipped cream and sprinkles, and a bite was even fed to him by our server. It was hilarious and had our entire dining room laughing! Sadly, today was not going to be one of those days. Our server was polite, but all business – no funny anecdotes to share from this dining experience. Our food was soon delivered and we started to dig in.
My youngest son was not impressed with his chicken pot pie so he shared the French fries and onion rings we had ordered. Grandpa on the other hand loved his chicken pot pie. I think it was more of problem with my youngest son’s pickiness rather than quality. The pot pie was more “gourmet” in nature with puffed pastry instead of crust, thick chicken gravy, and large chunks of chicken and vegetables rather than smaller diced bites. Those of us sharing the fries and onion rings felt that they were average. The fries were the exactly the same as what you would get at any Disney World counter service restaurant. The onion rings had a nicely seasoned batter, but were slightly on the greasy side. Grandma had the best meal at the table, raving that the chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and still moist on the inside. It even reminded her of her mother’s fried chicken – a family favorite. Next up was dessert.
My youngest son went with the Ice Cream Sundae from the kids’ menu, my oldest son chose the 50’s Boston Cream Parfait, and I decided on a Hot Fudge Sundae. I’m happy to report that there were no complaints about any of the desserts. The kids’ ice cream sundae was covered in chocolate and decorated with adorable Mickey Mouse sprinkles. The 50’s Boston Cream Parfait consisted of delicious layers of vanilla ice cream, pound cake, and chocolate fudge topped with whipped cream and a strawberry. And my classic hot fudge sundae was made with vanilla ice cream, mounds of hot fudge and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. They were all scrumptious and our favorite part of the meal.
Wrapping Up Our Time at Hollywood Studios
After polishing off our desserts, we checked the time and discovered it was after 12:30pm. We quickly paid our bill and said good-bye to grandma and grandpa as we made our way through the crowded “living room” to the exit. Back outside, we quickly walked across the Park to Star Tours hoping to arrive before our Fastpass+ window closed. Luck was on our side and we arrived just before 1:00pm with five minutes to spare. Although I’m not a Star Wars fan (she says as she ducks to avoid a devastating light saber blow), I do love this attraction. 
Our last stop before leaving Hollywood Studios was at the Animation Academy to learn to draw a character. On this day, we tried our hand at drawing Flynn Rider from Tangled. About five minutes in, my youngest son decided to abandon his Flynn drawing and instead follow the pictures on the wall to create a portrait of Mickey Mouse. If you haven’t tried this before, I highly recommend it. You don’t have to be an artist and it is a fun way to create a free souvenir. All-in-all, we had a wonderful time at Hollywood Studios.
50’s Prime Time Café Facts
If you are planning a visit to the 50’s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, here are the important details that you’ll need to know.
This location serves lunch and dinner. The restaurant is generally open beginning at 11:00am and stops seating at park closing. (subject to change)
50’s Prime Time Cafe does require park admission. It is located inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios near Echo Lake.
You can make advanced dining reservations by clicking here.
If you are unable to secure a reservation or choose not to, you can dine at the Tune-In Lounge which is the bar located in the “living room” waiting area of 50’s Prime Time Café. They serve the complete restaurant menu as well as offering a full bar.
50’s Prime Time Cafe offers a 20% Tables in Wonderland discount and also accepts the Disney Dining Plan. (subject to change)
Have you dined at 50’s Prime Time Cafe? What was your experience?
Please leave a comment!
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