Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1150
January 13, 2015
Disney World Crowd Calendar Report – January 4 to 10, 2015
Usually, the extremely high wait times we see between Christmas and New Years Day fade slowly once we reach the middle of the next week after the holiday. This year it appears the vast majority of guests left the resort by Sunday, January 4. You can see how our estimates for Sunday and Monday ended up clearly too high, compared to what we observed in the parks, especially at Disney Hollywood Studios.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the 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
7
5
Considering that 38% of school districts did not return to session until January 6 or later the wait times on Sunday were remarkably low, even with the cooler weather. We typically consider the Sunday after New Years Day to be a continuation of the Christmas Holiday – perhaps that will change.
Epcot
7
4
Hollywood Studios
8
3
Animal Kingdom
7
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
8
6
Monday’s crowd was actually slightly higher than Sunday’s but still substantially lower than history would suggest. We saw wait times like 50 minutes at Big Thunder Mountain and 37 at Pirates of the Caribbean.
Epcot
7
5
Hollywood Studios
8
5
Animal Kingdom
5
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
5
Tuesday was the first day that our models predicted wait times would return to off-season levels, two days late as it turned out. Wait times still lagged at The Studios though, with average posted waits like 17 minutes at Star Tours (predicted 31) and 12 minutes at Great Movie Ride (predicted 20).
Epcot
5
6
Hollywood Studios
6
3
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
3
Wednesday’s wait times were the lowest across all four parks since December 23. Space Mountain averaged 40 minutes (predicted 46), Test Track 54 (56), Toy Story Mania 80 (70) and Expedition Everest 35 minutes (predicted 26).
Epcot
5
3
Hollywood Studios
6
4
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
4
More low wait times on Thursday, partially due to the cold weather across Central Florida. For the second day in a row, no park managed a crowd level above ‘4’.
Epcot
4
3
Hollywood Studios
6
3
Animal Kingdom
3
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
3
Again, no park reached a level higher than ‘4’ on Friday and the ‘2’ at Animal Kingdom was the lowest level we have seen at any park since mid-December.
Epcot
4
3
Hollywood Studios
4
4
Animal Kingdom
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
5
The Walt Disney World Marathon brings in thousands of runners and their families to the resort in early January but as you can see, the wait times remain relatively low across all four parks.
Epcot
4
3
Hollywood Studios
5
3
Animal Kingdom
5
4
What to Expect This Week
January 11 to 17, 2015
How Crowded is Disney World?
Mid January brings some of the slowest crowds of the year but it also brings the coolest weather. Add a few layers and enjoy some of the shortest lines of the year.
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 4 to 10, 2015 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
January 12, 2015
Menu Monday – Give Me Liberty Tree or Give Me Death…
By Amy Farkas
©homeiswherethemouseis
Hold on right here! I am not so sure about this whole death bit. I mean, eating at the Liberty Tree Tavern is a highlight of this foodie’s day. However, I’m not going to put ANY meal up against the likes of serious things like liberty. I am pretty certain that Patrick Henry would not find the humor in this play on words of his famous quote from 1775 regarding the Revolutionary War. But then again, he had never eaten at the Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch, had he?
Note: Liberty Tree Tavern is slated to go down for an extended refurb from July to November.
Location: Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
Meals: Lunch (11:30-3:00) and Dinner (4:00 – varies with park closing)
Reservations: Highly encouraged
Accepts: Disney Dining Plan (1 credit), Tables in Wonderland
What to Expect
The Liberty Tree Tavern is an 18th century home, with low exposed ceiling beams, colonial period art adorning the walls, and dark wood tables. It is divided into different rooms reflecting famous figures from the Revolutionary period such as Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. The servers are all dressed in colonial style outfits.
Upon arrival check in at the desk and if available, grab a seat by the fireplace and wait for your name to be called. There is a small bench and table here with crayons and coloring papers to keep the young ones (or kids at heart like ourselves) busy while they wait. While in this area, be sure to look around for Hidden Mickeys! Soon the town crier will call your party by saying something to the likes of “…the Farkas family of the territory of Ohio”, and you will be seated.
Bring on the Food
So many choices
Lunch at the Liberty Tree is seriously one of my favorite places to nosh while in the Magic Kingdom, possibly on all of park property. Unlike their dinner menu, which is the Patriot’s Platter and served family style, the lunch menu has a nice variety of individual options. I eat family style every day of the week when at home. When I go out to eat, I don’t want to “pass the potatoes” per see. I want my own portions of food on my own plate.
Whether you are hungry for salad, pasta, a cheeseburger, or for much heavier faire such as pot roast or the traditional turkey dinner, the Liberty Tree has something for you. We have eaten here before and don’t have a bad thing to say about any of our previous selections (the crab and lobster dip is heavenly). On this particular day I ordered the Colony Salad and my husband got the Pilgrim’s Feast, which is the traditional turkey dinner. It seemed to take a little longer than normal for our food to arrive, but in the meanwhile our waitress was sure to keep our iced teas refilled, and we made idle chit chat with the couple beside us.
Thanksgiving Everyday! ©eatingwdw.com
The Pilgrim’s Feast ($16.99) was as tasty as it normally is. The sliced turkey was moist and “real”, not that turkey loaf stuff you can buy in the frozen section of the grocery store. The mashed potatoes and gravy was lump free, just the way we like them. The green beans were cooked perfectly, not lightly steamed and not cooked to mush. The portion size is average. You certainly didn’t walk away hungry, but there was not any left on my husband’s plate either. Everything was warm and didn’t appear to have sat under heat lamps in the kitchen. Another A+ meal selection at the Liberty Tree.
Colony Salad ©recipesofdisney
My entrée ended up not being one of my favorites, but still ranking pretty high. The Colony Salad ($14.99) consists of field greens, dried cranberries, apples, pecans, cheddar, grilled chicken and a honey-shallot vinaigrette. The taste of the salad was good, as everything paired together nicely in the bowl. The problem for me was the temperature. As expected, the salad itself was cool. The surprising part on my behalf was that the chicken was refrigerator cool as well. I like my chicken warm, even when on my salad. I ended up pushing the chicken to the side and thoroughly enjoying the rest of the salad.
YUMMM ©DisneyFoodBlog
We ended the meal with the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake ($7.49), one of our favorites here. This vanilla cake has a toffee filling, caramel sauce, and a large mound of vanilla ice cream on the top. It is very decadent and can satisfy even the largest of sweet tooth in your bunch. You should plan on sharing with at least one other person in your party. Although it is lick the plate clean scrumptious, it is just too large to eat by yourself after you have just had a very satisfying meal.
To Recap
Overall, it was another recommendable lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern. The décor fits perfectly in the early American Liberty Square location. The cast members are all friendly and attentive. The menu allows for different palates to be satisfied. The portion sizes are not skimpy, and in relation to the price, are spot on. The quality of the food has not disappointed this couple as of yet, and we will continue to frequent the location on each of our visits.
What has been your lunch experience at the Liberty Tree? Do you have a favorite menu selection? I’d love to hear about it.
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Disney Dining: Photo Report of the Fantasy Fare Food Truck at Downtown Disney
By Derek Burgan
The Downtown Disney Food Tuck Park opened in late November of last year, after a lengthy delay. It opened under a new name, Exposition Park, and it does not have the elevated seating which was shown in the early concept art. Exposition Park is located in DTD’s West Side, directly next to Bongo’s Cuban Cafe. The trucks you will find at the park vary by the day, but you will generally find 2-4 of Disney’s own trucks, and an occasional third party vendor (such as the Yum Yum Cupcake Truck, which has also been seen at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.) While we were there, Exposition Park had three food trucks available, Namaste Cafe (based around foods from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge), World Showcase of Flavors (foods from Epcot), and Fantasy Fare. Superstar Catering, which features items from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, was parked in the Marketplace next to the World of Disney Store.
Fantasy Fare food truck at Downtown Disney. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Exposition Park at Downtown Disney.
Exposition Park at Downtown Disney.
While the other trucks are based around individual parks, Fantasy Fare features items “from Magic Kingdoms around the world.”
Fantasy Fare. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Menu at Fantasy Fare food truck.
The first items is Sticky Chicken and Waffles. This was inspired by the waffle sandwiches available at Sleepy Hollow in WDW’s Magic Kingdom. I have to admit this was one of the best tasting foods I have ever had on Disney property. I loved it. The dish involves two small waffles, and two chicken tenders, but it is the sauces that take is over the top. The sweet and spicy thai sauce and cream taste incredible when combined with the chicken waffles.
Sticky Chicken and Waffles at Fantasy Fare food truck. (photo by Brandon Glover)
The Hand-Dipped Corn Dog comes to us via California’s Disneyland Resort. I’ve only had a corn dog at Walt Disney Wolrd once, and it was from a cart outside of Aladdin’s Magic Carpets in Adventureland. It was, at best, unremarkable. Apparently the Disneyland corn dogs are much better their Florida litter mates, although I can not confirm or deny that. I will say that the hand-dipped corn dog from Fantasy Fare was good, but I’m not sure if I had a blind taste test if I could tell the difference between it and any other corn dog. The house made chips it came with were the true surprise. I’m usually down on places that serve chips over fries, but Disney surprising does house-made chips extremely well, and these were no exception.
Hand-dipped corn dog with house made chips. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Next up is the Grilled Ham & Cheese. This dish used to be called the Croque Monsieur when the food truck itself debuted in 2013, but the name was changed because we Americans are complete dumb dumbs. This also comes from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, at Be Our Guest Restaurant. This was really good for a grilled cheese sandwich, as the multi-grain bread was tasty and they include a sizable amount of ham. It also comes with house-made chips.
Grilled ham & cheese sandwich at Fantasy Fare food truck. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Last, and certainly least, are the Chicken Nuggets. These are inspired by every single restaurant at every single Magic Kingdom in the world. These can only possibly be here for the families who have the kid who outright refuses to eat anything but chicken nuggets. To get these at a Food Truck is equivalent to going to Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival and eating at the Electric Umbrella. The dish comes with house-made chips, and while there is only ketchup and mustard as condiments outside of the food truck, you can ask for honey mustard, bbq, and some other sauces available inside the truck.
Chicken nuggets at Fantasy Fare food truck. (photo by Brandon Glover)
There are a decent amount of drinks available.
Drink selection at Fantasy Fare foot truck. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Here is the Shock Top Shockolate Wheat brew. This had a strong smell of cocoa and vanilla, and was nowhere near as strong as it looked. Was expected something along the lines of Duff Dry or Wizard’s Brew from Universal, but it was much lighter in taste.
Shock Top Shockolate Wheat. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Fantasy Fare food truck with Bongo’s Cuban Cafe in the background.
Exposition Park at Downtown Disney.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: Fantasy Fare was a nice surprise. The Sticky Chicken & Waffles were absolutely terrific, the Ham & Cheese was beyond your average Walt Disney World counter service sandwich, and there are probably fans of Disneyland’s hand-dipped corn dogs that will make the trip to Exposition Park just for that. The quality definitely has me looking forward to trying out more of the Disney Food Trucks, as I was not expecting anything nearly as good as what we got. In the Disney pricing scale, the prices are a little steep for the serving sizes, but not outrageously high. I’m more bewildered than ever at what took so long to open this area, considering there was nothing there before. (I’m pretty certain Universal built Transformers: The Ride 3D in less time, and they had to demolish a soundstage before even starting that.) Because you can’t actually go on top of the elevated high line structure, the only thing it is good for is some shade (and you have to wonder how many people a day walk into it while staring at their phones,) but all in all Exposition Park is a solid addition to Downtown Disney.
More Disney Dining articles:
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom
Bongo’s Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney
Splitsville at Downtown Disney
Iconic Snacks of the Magic Kingdom
Outrageous Food Items at Walt Disney World
Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.
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Disney Dining: Photo Report of the Fantasy Fare Food Truck at Downtown Disney is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras 2015 Concert Line Up
Mardi Gras at Universal.
©Universal
Universal has released its 2015 Mardi Gras Concert line up. All 16 concerts are held at the Universal Music Plaza Stage and are included with admission to Universal Studios Florida park. The outdoor stage is located along between the Despicable Me and TWISTER attractions. Concerts are held rain or shine, and viewing spots (there are no seats) are secured on a first-come, first-served basis. There is an ADA viewing located at the far right side of the stage.
The schedule is:
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras 2015
February 7 – Olivia Newton-John
February 14 – Jessie J
February 15 – Barenaked Ladies
February 21 – Kelly Clarkson
February 28 – Heart
March 7 – Trace Adkins
March 13 – still to be announced
March 14 – Styx
March 15 – American Authors
March 20 – Becky G
March 21 – Yandel
March 22 – The B-52s
March 28 – still to be announced
April 4 – The All-American Rejects
April 11 – The Band Perry
April 18 – Trey Songz
Dates for Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida are included in Universal’s current vacation package offerings. Contact Universal or your travel agent for more information.
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Menu Monday – Progressive Dinner 2: Crescent Lake Dining
You don’t have to be a Disney expert to know that the week between Christmas and New Year’s is the most crowded of the whole year. Yet it constantly surprises me seeing how many people seem shocked that on days when parks can close at capacity, getting a last-minute dining reservation (or heaven forbid, a walk-up!) is difficult or impossible. Not a year goes by that I don’t hear someone complaining about restaurants with no availability. (The winner this year goes to an exasperated father who, in a raised voice, announced to no one in particular how magical it was that Mickey Mouse had decided that his whole family was going to starve for Christmas.)
With no firm plans to visit the parks, but lovely weather and a desire to get out and walk around, it seemed like the perfect time to revisit our Progressive Dinner – this time around Crescent Lake.
An evening stroll around Crescent Lake is the perfect backdrop for a Progressive Dinner. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Crescent Lake, the resort area in between the back of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios contains several resorts: Yacht Club, Beach Club, BoardWalk, and, off on a side inlet, the Swan and Dolphin hotels. While our Monorail Loop resort dinner did require taking the monorail (or, theoretically, a boat) to get from some resorts to others, the entire Crescent Lake loop can be walked, or it can be navigated by using the Friendship boats. With temperatures in the upper 70s and low humidity (and a need to burn some calories), walking was our mode of transportation. We parked at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and took the walking path over to the Yacht Club.
Although there are five hotels compared to the Monorail Loop’s three, making a progressive dinner to hit all five would be difficult. There are no counter service restaurants at the Yacht Club, and while there are technically two at the Beach Club, the assortment of food wasn’t as appealing to us as the Monorail Loop ones.
Because the Yacht and Beach Club share a lot of facilities (the pool, their boat launch, and their bus service), we grouped them together as one resort. Likewise, due to the lack of counter service options at the Swan, we grouped the Swan and Dolphin together. Here’s how our meal played out.
Appetizers: Yacht Club and Beach Club.
While you can theoretically grab a sandwich to split at Hurricane Hanna’s or at the Beach Club Marketplace as an appetizer, your best options for appetizers are found at the lounges. For ambiance, I love the Crew’s Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club. With booths along the side of the lounge, it is very comfortable to come in for a light snack. At 4 PM on the Sunday after Christmas, the place was almost empty. Truth told, the menu is so amazing that we could have eaten a whole meal there and been quite satisfied. The three of us (myself, husband, and four-year-old daughter) split an order of Buttermilk-fried rock shrimp and House-cut truffle fries. Make sure you eat the slaw that comes with the fried shrimp – it is basically a creamy coleslaw with cucumbers and tart apples, and it is incredibly good. It was a bit warm to walk from the Studios to the Yacht Club, so we went with some iced tea, but your standard bar menu is available there. If you’re looking for a good assortment of potent potables, however, you’ll want to wait a few stops. Similar menus with good appetizer options are available at the Ale and Compass (Yacht Club) or at Martha’s Vineyard (Beach Club).
Truffle fries and fried shrimp may not be the healthiest meal, but it sure is tasty! (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Alternate: Main Course at the Yacht Club and Beach Club.
Hurricane Hanna’s or Beach Club Marketplace offer sandwiches that can make a suitable main course, but I’d still recommend the bar/lounges at these resorts. For a real splurge, try the Taste of Cape May over at Martha’s Vineyard (snow crab, clams, mussels, potatoes, and corn on the cob in a Sambuca broth).
Alternate: Dessert at the Yacht Club and Beach Club.
The first option that comes to mind is grabbing some sort of ice cream concoction from the Beaches and Cream walk-up window, and it is a good one. But if you aren’t feeling the need for ice cream, you can get most of the items found at the BoardWalk Bakery at the Beach Club Marketplace. Another, more hidden, option is to ask the different lounges what desserts they have to offer. They don’t always appear on the menu, but the servers are more than willing to help. For example, on our day at the Crew’s Cup, they had different flavors of gelato, a chocolate hazelnut ganache cake, and a key lime cheesecake.
Main Course: BoardWalk.
If “fried” is one of your primary food groups, the BoardWalk has you covered. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
While the Yacht Club and Beach Club have limited options for a quick bite, the BoardWalk has many options available. If you are looking for sandwiches, BoardWalk Bakery is the best option. Down at Leaping Horse Libations, you have similar food, but generally with shorter lines if the Bakery is crowded. And if you’re looking for something from the fried food group, BoardWalk to Go has you covered.
We actually weren’t all that hungry, thanks to the amazing appetizer at the Yacht Club, so our “main course” was just a slice of pizza from the BoardWalk Pizza Window. It hit the spot, and dining on the BoardWalk while the sunset filled the skies is its own slice of paradise.
Alternate: Appetizer at BoardWalk.
If your idea of a good appetizer is anything that comes in a fried coating, the BoardWalk has you covered. The biggest selection of appetizer-like foods is at BoardWalk to Go, but you can also grab a soft pretzel from BoardWalk Joe’s or even a funnel cake. Who said appetizers had to be savory?
Alternate: Dessert at BoardWalk.
It probably goes without saying, but if your dessert course brings you here, the BoardWalk Bakery is a great choice, with cupcakes, brownies, pastries, and more. If you are still craving an ice cream finish to your meal, for a different assortment of pre-packaged baked goods, or if you just want a hunk of fudge to finish the meal, check out the selections at Seashore Sweets.
Unless you have no sweet tooth whatsoever, there is something at Seashore Sweets for you. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Dessert Course: Swan and Dolphin.
I’ll let you all in on a little secret — the more time I spend visiting the Swan and Dolphin hotels, the more they become my favorite resort hotels to visit on property. This is especially true when it comes to dining options. And although a majority of the dining at the Swan and Dolphin is in their sit-down restaurants, it is still possible to find progressive dinner options. We debated about doing a walk-up at bluezoo for dessert, as they have not only impressive desserts, but a kids’ dessert that is the most unique one anywhere at Disney (a chocolate “boat” filled with vanilla ice cream, sailing on a sea made of blue jello, with a chocolate island surrounded by hazelnut “sand” — it is a work of art). In the end, the siren’s song of The Fountain caught our attention. The Fountain has a sit-down restaurant area, but also has a small ice cream to-go counter off to the side. If it can be made with ice cream, they probably have it. For years, I have heard people sing the praises of the PB&J shake, and since I figured that my daughter wasn’t going to eat all of her vanilla soft-serve, my husband and I would split the shake. If we didn’t like it, no big loss. For some reason, the idea of a peanut butter and (strawberry) jelly shake just didn’t sound appealing to me all these years. Well, call me a believer. The combination of richness and a hint of sweetness — yes, it is life-changing. (And yes, we ate the whole thing.)
Yes, the PB&J shake really is as good as its legendary following. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Alternate: Appetizer at Swan and Dolphin.
Although not a counter service restaurant, if sushi is up your alley, there is nothing wrong with stopping by Kimonos to grab a couple rolls for an appetizer course. (And the sushi there is my favorite on Disney property.) For standard appetizer options, you’ll want to grab a table at The Fountain. The onion rings and the pretzel bites are our personal favorites. Other options are available at the Cabana Bar at the Dolphin.
Alternate: Main Course at Swan and Dolphin.
The lounge area at bluezoo provides some wonderful seafood main course selections. For a wider range of foods, either grab a burger from The Fountain (or my favorite, the lamb gyro) or swing back to Picabu for everything from tacos to lasagna. If you just want a quick sandwich, you can also try the Splash Terrace bar at the Swan.
Extra Credit: Drinks at the Swan and Dolphin.
Most bars at Walt Disney World have their standard bar menu, and possibly a couple specialty drinks of the house. The bars at the Swan and Dolphin, however, have an amazing assortment of potent potables. But for the fact that I was stuffed from the PB&J shake dessert course (and still needed to walk back to the Studios), I could have easily found a half dozen drinks to choose from. Top on my list to try are the Havana Raspberryslide (Rum, Chambord, Raspberries, and Vanilla Ice Cream) at the Dolphin and the Deconstructed Piña Colada or the Ginger Raspberry Mojito at the Swan. And if you’re looking for something that isn’t quite so sweet, the menus there have you covered.
All in all, doing a progressive dinner at Crescent Lake was logistically easier because of the ability to walk from resort to resort, but felt like it took a lot more planning. It also was a meal where your best bet is to go with someone that you feel comfortable splitting a course here or there. By splitting two appetizers and two desserts for the three of us, plus three slices of pizza, our bill came to around $59, or $20 per person, which is quite a bargain for the quality of dinner that we had. In addition, we didn’t need any sort of reservations and had no wait at all during the busiest weekend of the year. The Progressive Dinner plan offers a great way to sample different food, see different sights, and not have to worry about figuring out reservations in advance. And just maybe you can justify that extra bit of dessert by going for another lap around the lake, too. With so many options to choose from, I can say with certainty that Mickey doesn’t want you to starve for Christmas…or any other time of year.
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January 11, 2015
Hollywood Studios AtMousePhere: The Music of the Animation Courtyard
By Claire Nat
The word animation usually take us back to our childhood, and for most of us Disney fans, we think of our favorite Disney animated movies: Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, or The Lion King. At Walt Disney World we are immersed into those environments thanks to fantastical buildings, character meet-and-greets, and fun attractions.
Only in Disney’s Hollywood Studios do we see what it takes to put those animated movies together, and that takes us to our next destination in our AtMousePhere tour: the Animation Courtyard.
The music here can be heard behind the Animation Archway and down Mickey Avenue until it meets up with Pixar Place. The area around Disney Junior – Live on Stage! has its own music around the entrance to that attraction based on the shows that are inside. Closer to Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream you’ll find music familiar to anyone who enjoyed Disney animated features of the 1990s.
You can find the loop here, courtesy of Disney Dreaming:
A Bug’s Life Suite - from A Bug’s Life (music by Randy Newman)
While the movie is not one of the most iconic of the Pixar movies, the music is fantastic for this area. It’s not blasting in your ears as you mosey down the courtyard, but just a pleasant sensation that wafts over the crowds.
Into the Sunlight – from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (music by Alan Menken)
If I asked you about one piece from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, you’d probably pick something like “Topsy Turvy” and maybe not this piece. But this isn’t about the song to which people will sing along. Instead, it’s the piece that helps make a mood.
Main Titles – from The Little Mermaid (music by Alan Menken)
I absolutely adore this piece, especially for it’s swell from the simple melody that Ariel sings to get her legs into the beautiful fanfare of “Part of Your World.” Don’t tell me you can’t see those mermaids emerging from the ocean during this song.
R.I.P.
Overture – from The Jungle Book (music by George Bruns)
This is one of the few places you’ll find a bass flute introduce a theme (found at 9:19 in the loop above), but it does it splendidly. I only need to hear a few bars of this song to know that it’s from The Jungle Book. From a list of Disney movies that are from the last quarter of the twentieth century, this one stands out as a song not found in any other park that can stand the test of time.
Suite – from Mulan (music by Jerry Goldsmith)
This suite brings out all the main themes of Mulan as well as some of its most famous songs, like “Reflection.” This is ambience music with a hint of recognizability. Walt Disney World is great for that!
Transformation – from Beauty and the Beast (music by Alan Menken)
Of all soundtrack pieces, this one can still make me cry without any dialogue involved. The sounds of tragedy can make the happiest person feel sad, but when the Beast makes his transformation from monster to man, it’s so uplifting that a fist must be pumped into the air.
These pieces are great for this area because they are completely different from what you’d expect. I love that they don’t pick the singalong pieces like “I Wanna Be Like You” or “A Whole New World.” Instead, they give some appreciation to the composers of the score music of the animated movies. I certainly wouldn’t mind if they expanded this list to more of my favorites, like “Campfire” from Tangled or “It Has a Ribbon” from Lady and the Tramp or even “Wreck-It Ralph” from Wreck-It Ralph!
What songs would you suggest for this area? Do you think it’s time for a makeover of the music? Comment below!
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January 9, 2015
In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of January 9, 2015
In Case You Missed It!
Hello! Live from Walt Disney World as I’m here cheering on runners for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. (Oh…and I ran myself too.) It’s really such a great atmosphere, being here for Marathon Weekend and there’s really something special about cheering for everyone. I’ve got a Mickey glove to dole out high fives, a cowbell, and posters featuring words of support! Of course, the hardest part is always that wake up call; 3:00 every morning starts to wear on you pretty quickly. All I can say is thank god for Starbucks!
This week, I challenge you to watch the viral video of Gaston schooling a park guest, take a visit to Dizzneeland with me, and much more!
Oh and if you see me in the parks or on the course this weekend, make sure to say hi!
In Case You Missed It – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors
Welcome to Dizzneeland – The Happiest Hell on Earth…if you watch The Simpsons, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you missed this week’s fun poke at Disney, catch it here. Also, don’t forget to add the Country Storm Trooper Jamboree into your Touring Plans! It seems like a can’t miss attraction.
Viral Video of the Week: It seems like the hot thing to do right now is to go toe-to-toe with Gaston. Previously we saw the video of the little girl putting the Disney Villain in his place. Now, a park-goer attempts to challenge Gaston to a push-up contest. In a second video released this week, Gaston was challenged to an arm wrestling contest. Seriously…how awesome is Gaston?! I think I’m going to have to put meeting him on my trip to-do list.
If you’re looking to save in advance for your Disney vacation, did you know that there is a new way to so? It’s called the Disney Vacation Account and it’s kind of like those old Christmas clubs that banks used to have. Yahoo shares the details of this new option.
Did you hear about the waves Disney is making in the television industry? If you missed it, make sure you read this article from Gizmodo. It could be the best thing to happen to television’s future, according to them.
Disneyland…be prepared. MyMagic+ is headed your way. (PS: there’s this guy named Len Testa quoted in this article…I feel like that name should ring a bell. 
)
When I heard about the casting of Paul Rudd (a favorite of mine since the Clueless days), in a Marvel film as an action hero I was like…huh…well now, get your first glimpse of him in Ant Man. I’m now a bit more cautiously optimistic.
Heading to Wizarding World soon? Here’s some fantastic details that you may not know exist!
In Case We Missed It
What did we miss? Attach your ideas to the Epcot Spaceship Earth mug or the Animal Kingdom Tree of Life Mug (which I mention because they are on sale right now!) and send them to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.
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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of January 9, 2015 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Planning Tips for Your Disney Cruise
Dreaming of a Disney Cruise?
Photo – Laurel Stewart
Greetings from chilly North Carolina! The cold was so bad yesterday that it killed my car battery. My reaction (other than to buy a new battery) was to think of all the places I’d rather be than here. Naturally, one of the first ones that came to me was on a Disney Cruise.
I’m lucky enough that at this point, after 13 cruises, I can pack and prepare for a trip in my sleep. And I’ve learned a few things along the way. Everyone knows about preparing your travel documents, like passports and birth certificates, doing your online check-in, and booking your Port Adventures before cruising. But what about all the little things that come with preparing to be on a ship, somewhat isolated from things like unlimited free Internet and Target? This is my list of things I do before cruising to reduce surprises the day before I pack for a Disney Cruise:
Find out sooner rather than later if your swimsuit still fits. Photo – Laurel Stewart
Clothing and Packing:
3 weeks out – if you’re cruising in February and the last time you wore your swimsuit was August, try it on now. Same thing for shorts. If you need to buy new clothes, this leaves you time to find something.
3 weeks out – are you participating in formal night? Round up your clothes now – men and women. Men – you can rent a tux through Cruiseline Formalwear that will be delivered to your stateroom. We’ve used this and were happy with the service. (Note: just don’t leave your Fitbit attached to the pants when you give them back. Right, Len?) Ladies – post holidays is a great time to find marked down festive dresses and pantsuits. Or, if you don’t want to commit, try a rental service like Rent The Runway. Because of inconsistencies in women’s clothing sizes, I’d recommend sticking with a brand you’re familiar with or leaving plenty of time to switch items if something doesn’t fit as expected. If you live in a larger city, consignment shops are also a great way to find dressy clothing in nearly new condition.
2 weeks out or more – are you participating in Pirate Night or does your cruise fall during the Halloween or Christmas cruises? If you plan to dress the part, figure out what you’ll be wearing and order it if needed. If you don’t want to pack these things, you’ll find a few options in the onboard gift shops – particularly for Pirate Night – that will do the trick, but many families go all out on these nights.
1 week out – take anything items to the dry cleaner that you’ll need onboard.
After you’ve packed – if you’re flying, weigh your bag before leaving home. You don’t want to be the travelers redistributing your unmentionables on the airport floor to get under the checked bag weight limit.
Pack your carry aboard – put any valuables, things that can’t be replaces, and items you need in the first 24 hours onboard in a separate bag. I’ve never had a bag delayed when cruising, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Include a change of clothes.
Personal Care:
2 weeks out – schedule any haircuts, manicures, or waxing you’ll want before your cruise. As someone with short hair, I can tell you that a cut that’s on the edge of needing a trim 2 days before a cruise will be driving you crazy by the end of a 7-nighter. And I prefer to see my usual stylists rather than trust the people in the spa for a cut.
Are you prone to motion sickness – get your Dramamine, SeaBand, or preferred prevention method and start taking it one day before boarding. Remember, these are for prevention, and won’t do much for you if you’re already feeling the effects of the sea.
Prescription medicines – make sure you have enough medicine on hand to get you through the cruise and then some. You never know what’s going to happen and it’s far easier to have your prescriptions with you than to attempt to get a refill if your travel is interrupted. If you’ll be needing a refill immediately upon returning home – take care of that before leaving too if you can.
Important Information
Electronics and Cameras:
3 weeks out – find out about your mobile carriers international options so you’re not surprised by a large bill after your cruise.
One week out – get up to date on all your mobile apps and download the Disney Cruise Line app from the iTunes or Google Play store.
A few days out – make sure you have all the music, movies, books, and magazines you’ll want on your mobile device for your cruise. You pay by the megabyte while onboard, and it’s slower than you’re used to, so do it now for your sanity and wallet.
A few days out – locate all your extra chargers and batteries. Start getting things charged up.
If you’re using a stand alone camera – get all your old vacation photos off your memory card and start with empty ones for your trip. If you use your phone as a camera, check your capacity. If you tend to take a lot of videos or photos, you may need to clear some space for your new photos.
Day of boarding – turn off all automatic updates and syncing. Seth Kubersky has more information about this in his article with tips for first-time Disney Cruise Line cruisers.
I love this 5-port USB charger for my stateroom. It makes keeping up with the assortment of devices I travel with so much easier without fighting for electric outlets.
I also love this portable battery – with the Disney Cruise Line app, I find myself using my phone’s Wi-Fi constantly during the day, and this is a good way to get some extra juice without running back to the room or camping out at Cove Cafe.
Sundries and Shopping:
If you plan to buy duty-free items while cruising, price them before boarding. This way you’ll know if that bottle of perfume or whiskey is a deal or not. Don’t forget to include your local taxes, which may not be reflected in the shelf prices.
If you’re planning to BYOB onboard, and you’re arriving buy car – buy your hooch now (unless you live in a high-tax state) and make sure it’s packed in your carry aboard bag. If you’re arriving by air, you’ll need to buy once you’ve arrived. Disney allows cruisers to bring aboard as much beverages (alcoholic or not) as they can carry themselves. Beverages are not allowed in checked bags brought aboard by the porters.
You’re about to be away for awhile. Ladies, is there anything you need to buy now rather than depend on the gift shop for? There is a much greater, and cheaper, selection of feminine products at your local Target than in the onboard gift shop. Trust me.
Don’t forget the sunscreen. You should be wearing it every day anyway, but just in case make sure you have enough for everyone in your party. Disney only carries Coppertone onboard, and while the price is actually reasonable, it’s not the brand I prefer so I bring more than I think I’ll need.
Any snacks that you can’t live without? No one goes hungry on a Disney Cruise, but if you’re partial to starting your day with a certain snack bar or almonds or what have you, bring some aboard.
So what are your tips? Share them here and they may end up in the next edition of a certain book on Disney Cruise Line. Like our Disney Cruise content? Consider subscribing to it on TouringPlans for even more information and to support our research costs.
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Relocating To Florida: Part One – Weather and Finances
We’re gearing up for another frigid Winter here in Minnesota. My nose would be longer than Pinocchio’s if I didn’t admit there were some days I thought to myself, “Man, it would be nice to just move and live at Disney World!”
Now, the odds of me living at Disney are very slim, but hypothetically, if I DID decide to move to the sunshine state, how would I go about this?
I did the research, and enlisted the help of two amazing women, who have gone through the relocation process, in an effort to make this series as informative as possible. I played the part of investigative reporter to interview Julia Mascardo (who relocated from Maryland) and Natalie Reinert (moved in December from New York City). Let’s see what these ladies had to say about relocating to Florida!
Weather
Vacationing in the Florida weather is one thing, but living in it year round is another. Read on as I discuss Florida’s weather conditions with Julia and Natalie.
Should the extreme Florida weather (hurricanes, high summer temps, rain) influence your decision to relocate?
Julia: I think as long as someone has had some experience with the weather in the summer down here (on vacation or whatever), they can handle the rest of the year with ease. In the summer, weather is a toss-up in terms of temperature between here and there: it is equally as hot in the DC area as it is in Florida, just without the benefit of the 4 PM thunderstorm that blasts out the heat and humidity.
Natalie: Some people struggle with the lack of seasons. I like our seasons: we have the rainy season and the dry season. But I do find that I forget what time of year it actually is. Like, it will be March and I pause and try to remember if it’s fall or spring. But that might be a personal thing.
Julia: Basically, if you’re a normal working person, you are indoors working during the heat of the day and usually the storm showers are done before the evening commute. The weather is a great thing to gripe about, but it doesn’t affect life down here the way that snow affects life up north. As my husband likes to say, no matter how hot it gets, you don’t have to shovel or plow heat!
Natalie: A lot of people are intimidated by hurricanes. I’m really more concerned with tornadoes than hurricanes. But a hurricane can be a big financial hit even if the storm doesn’t do much damage, because you have to stock up on groceries, fill the cars with gas, etc., with just a few day’s notice. In 2004 we had several hurricanes just a few weeks apart, and it was really expensive just in terms of buying canned goods, gas, putting cash in wallets, even evacuating in one case.
We do get an extreme variety of weather here, including wildfires, and new residents should study up on Florida’s ecology and understand (and learn to protect) our unique state.
Money Matters
No matter the age, finances play a huge role in planning your future move. If you will be retiring in Florida, you will be going from a steady income to none. Do you plan on getting a part time job or using your retirement savings? If you are still in the work force, you will need time to figure out the job situation.
Below are some websites to help you compare the cost of living in Florida versus your current city or town.
What are the financial benefits and disadvantages of living in Florida?
Julia: Groceries are cheaper, not only because of price (which is only about 5-10% cheaper), but because I’m not driving an hour round trip to go to a grocery store I like. Walking the quarter of a mile to Publix works for me in terms of price and health.
Natalie: Last night I did a dance in the middle of Target because I bought a box of Special K for $2.50, and in NYC it would be $5.79. End of discussion. Since we came from NYC, some of our bills went up (electricity) and some went down (groceries, drastically), but I think we might come out ahead. Although we relied on NYC public transit, our transportation costs were still pretty high, so if we keep it to one car for as long as we can, that will pretty much even out.
Julia: Fuel is about 10-15 cents per gallon cheaper, and the distances we drive are less. Less driving means less wear and tear on the cars. We do some travel on toll roads every now and then, but the tolls are a lot less than in Maryland. We save 10-40% on “basic living” bills (utilities, Internet/phone, mortgage/rent, etc.), and we no longer pay for pest control service (included) or a home security system until we get into our new home, so those bills are gone (at around $100/month, it adds up).
Natalie: Rent is less here in Florida, for a lot more space. We’ll continue to rent in order to avoid the upkeep on a house, which can be pretty steep in a place with such violent weather extremes.
Julia: Another benefit is that there’s no state income tax in Florida. It also means I don’t have to pay someone to do my state income tax! Sales tax is 0.5% higher in our county in FL (or 1% higher the next county over), but as we don’t go shopping like we used to, it’s not a major impact.
Natalie: Florida resident discounts are also a huge perk. There are a decent number of places in Florida that offer resident discounts, especially in the tourist zones. Whether it’s a cruise or theme park tickets, you stand to save so much money just by having a Florida address.
Julia: As for disadvantages, our insurance rates went up slightly. In general, it is just a trade off here and there. The biggest expense we found, if you aren’t prepared for it, is registering your car in the state. If you have purchased a car in the past six months, you will have to pay sales tax on the full price of the car when you arrive. Even without that, registering our cars was a pretty hefty price.
Also, the process to get a car registered here is a bit quirky. First, you have to have a Florida driver’s license. Then, you need to obtain car insurance in the state of Florida. After those two tasks are completed, then you can get your plates.
If you don’t make an appointment for the driver’s license and for the registration, each visit can take around three hours if you arrive when they open. After waiting to get a driver’s license, we learned that you absolutely must make a reservation unless you have days to spend at the tax collector’s office (which is where you go for a driver’s license).
These websites are great resources to help you obtain a Florida driver’s license and vehicle registration:
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
How long did it take you or your spouse to find a job in FL?
Julia: As a freelance editor, my job moved with me, but my husband needed a local job. Going through IT contractor firms, he was able to secure a short-term contract within six weeks. However, he had already been laying the ground work by applying for jobs six months before we moved. Having a Florida address does open doors for employment, but you still have to really know your skills and do your research to find companies that can use your talents.
Natalie: Originally my husband transferred within his company, so we haven’t run up against this particular issue.
Julia: The job bit is probably the biggest challenge for most people. It’s very difficult to get a job down here without an address in Florida, but it is very difficult for most people to get an address in Florida without a job to move down for. If you’re in a professional career, having local recruiters can be a great way to get you an in. Heck, getting a job down here could be its own small book!
Did you consider working in a theme park?
Julia: My husband joked that if he couldn’t get an IT job, he’d just sell popcorn on Main Street, U.S.A. and be quite happy. In the end, his dream job was to work in IT for Disney. After a lot of perseverance while working a short-term contract elsewhere, he got an opportunity to become an IT contractor with Disney approximately seven months after we arrived.
Natalie: Since I worked for Walt Disney World before, that was a big part of moving back to the Orlando area for me. I’m very passionate about working for the Walt Disney Company in some capacity, and so I intend to do that again. Originally, I started as a front-line Cast Member, hired during one of the annual spring job fairs, and moved into management. Now I’m still exploring roles for the best fit for my current career path.
That’s all for Part One! What financial considers do you have when considering a big move? Share them in the comments. See you next time for Part Two where we’ll discuss the housing situation and the Disney distance !
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Relocating To Florida: Part One – Weather and Finances is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
January 8, 2015
Disney California Adventure’s Condor Flats Is Being Re-themed to be a Part of Grizzly Peak
Condor Flats is a land in Disney California Adventure. Correction, it was a land. Yesterday the land’s flagship (and only) ride, Soarin’ Over California closed for a five month refurbishment. With Soarin’ closed Disney has closed the entire land for refurbishment and re-themeing. Construction walls around the land have revealed that Condor Flats’ new identity is “Grizzly Peak Airfield,” which means Soarin’ Over California, Taste Pilots’ Grill and the Fly ‘n’ Buy store will all be a part of Grizzly Peak.
Let’s recap, Condor Flats is history, Disney California Adventure now has one less land (7 instead of 8), and Grizzly Peak now has 2 rides instead of 1.
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Disney California Adventure’s Condor Flats Is Being Re-themed to be a Part of Grizzly Peak is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
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