Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1155
December 23, 2014
Disney World Crowd Report – December 14 to 20, 2014
Crowds at Walt Disney World stayed flatter than usual last week. All five weekdays stayed at a level ‘4’ across the resort. No park reached a level higher than ‘6’ on our scale during the week. Predictions did very well last week with most park level predictions hitting the mark within one index level. Only one crowd level came in more than two levels higher than predicted (Animal Kingdom on Sunday).
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week:
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
3
4
Only Animal Kingdom broke through the middle point of our scale on Sunday. Wait times were within 9 minutes of average across all four parks with few exceptions.
Epcot
4
5
Hollywood Studios
4
4
Animal Kingdom
3
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
6
Magic Kingdom was the park to reach a level above the midpoint on Monday thanks to the fact that no Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was scheduled and the park closed at midnight. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad averaged 43 minutes (predicted 42).
Epcot
5
3
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
2
Magic Kingdom did host a Christmas Party on Tuesday and the wait times reflected the shortened hours. Pirates of the Caribbean averaged 22 minutes (predicted 19).
Epcot
4
4
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
6
Animal Kingdom dipped to a level ‘2’ on Wednesday, three levels lower than we expected. Guests saw wait time averages like 17 minutes at Dinosaur (predicted 34).
Epcot
5
3
Hollywood Studios
4
4
Animal Kingdom
5
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
3
Another day of shortened hours on Thursday at Magic Kingdom. Posted wait times were 25 minutes at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (predicted 24) and 42 at Jungle Cruise (predicted 36).
Epcot
4
5
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
4
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
3
Epcot was the busiest park as we predicted with wait time averages such as 76 minutes at Soarin’ (predicted 80) and 81 at Test Track (predicted 73).
Epcot
5
6
Hollywood Studios
4
5
Animal Kingdom
3
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
7
Magic Kingdom continued its trend of large crowds on Saturdays in November and December. Saturday’s Magic Kingdom crowd was the only one all week to reach a level above ‘6’. Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 74 minutes (predicted 65).
Epcot
7
6
Hollywood Studios
6
4
Animal Kingdom
5
5
What to Expect This Week
December 21 to 27, 2014
How Crowded is Walt Disney World?
This week is the first week of Christmas crowds at Disney World. Wait times will build steeply starting on Tuesday and remaining high until January 2. Guests wishing to brave the parks this week will need patience, good touring plans and reliable alarm clocks.
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 Report – December 14 to 20, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disneyland Resort Crowd Report – December 14 to 20, 2014
Our predictions hit the mark almost exactly on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week and Saturday was the only significant surprise. Disneyland continues to be more crowded than normal on Saturdays this fall.
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
7
Sevens at both parks on Sunday. The higher park levels seemed to be attributable to only a few attractions with higher than expected waits. Alice in Wonderland with a 39 minute average posted time (predicted 28) continues to be popular since its latest refurbishment.
Disney California Adventure
6
7
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
5
7
Monday’s crowd at Disneyland Park was similar to Sunday’s while Disney California Adventure was lower, as predicted. Radiator Springs averaged 74 minutes (predicted 73).
Disney California Adventure
4
5
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
4
3
Wait times dipped significantly lower on Tuesday. Radiator Springs Racers averaged 63 minutes, 11 minutes lower than a day before.
Disney California Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
4
4
Level ‘4’s as both parks on Wednesday as predicted. No attraction level predictions missed by more than a few minutes.
Disney California Adventure
4
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
5
5
Another day with perfect predictions at both parks. Wait times continue to be significantly lower during the week in December than they are on weekends.
Disney California Adventure
4
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
5
5
More middle-of-the-road crowd levels again on Friday, the third day in a row. Space Mountain averaged 42 minutes (predicted 45).
Disney California Adventure
4
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
7
10
A remarkable level ’10’ again on a Saturday in December at Disneyland Park. Even Disney California Adventure saw wait times two points higher on our scale than history would suggest.
Disney California Adventure
5
7
What to Expect This Week
December 21 to 27, 2014
How Crowded is Disneyland Resort?
This week is the first week of Christmas level crowds at Disneyland Resort. Guests can expect long lines all day starting early in the morning and continuing until park close. Parks may even reach capacity.
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 Report – December 14 to 20, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
December 22, 2014
25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 22: “Carl’s Combo” at Rose & Crown
By Derek Burgan
The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.
Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!
DAY TWENTY TWO: “Carl’s Combo” at Rose & Crown (Epcot)
A “Carl’s Combo” (half Bass Ale followed by half Bass Ale) at Rose & Crown. (photo by Brandon Glover)
One of our absolute favorite places to get a drink at Walt Disney World is at the Rose & Crown pub in Epcot’s World Showcase. With a terrific atmosphere and several of our favorite brews on tap, Rose & Crown is the perfect spot for a quick pint and an order of fish and chips. One of the things that separates World Showcase from any other environment in the Orlando theme parks is that the Cast Members are from the specific countries, giving guests authentic interactions with different cultures. While service at Rose & Crown is terrific across the board, bartender Carl is a standout and one of the most memorable CMs on property. With a warm smile, great conversation, and how-did-he-do-that bar tricks, Carl gives just about every guest a magical moment so we are nominating today’s drink in honor of him with Carl’s Combo. On the menu, you’ll find it listed as the Grand Imperial Pint, but longtime Rose & Crown guests know this half Bass Ale/half Stella Artois by its rightful name, Carl’s Combo.
Also worth going out of your way to try is the Ales, Lagers, and Stouts Imperial Sampler. With Bass Ale, Harp, Boddingtons English Pub Ale, Strongbow Cider, and Guinness Stout, this is one of the best values for beer drinkers at WDW. A great location, a great atmosphere, a great staff, and a great bar menu… you just can’t go wrong at Rose & Crown.
The Imperial Sampler at Rose & Crown. Worth rope-dropping World Showcase for. (photo by Brandon Glover)
The Macallan Flight at Rose & Crown. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Rose & Crown. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Rose & Crown. (photo by Brandon Glover)
PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:
DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz
DAY TWO: Grand Marnier Slush at Epcot
DAY THREE: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern
DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line
DAY FIVE: Mai Tai at Emeri’s Tchoup Chop
DAY SIX: Avocado Margarita at La Cava del Tequila
DAY SEVEN: Pumpkin Fizz at the Three Broomsticks
DAY EIGHT: Old Fashioned at Belle Vue Lounge
DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge
DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron
DAY TWELVE: Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar
DAY THIRTEEN: Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road
DAY FOURTEEN: Hog’s Head Brew at the Hog’s Head
DAY FIFTEEN: Burnt Orange at Todd English’s bluezoo
DAY SIXTEEN: Fishy Green Ale at Fountain of Fair Fortune
DAY SEVENTEEN: Balsamic Grand at Palo
DAY EIGHTEEN: Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish
DAY NINETEEN: La Fin du Monde at Epcot
DAY TWENTY: Dragon Scale at the Hopping Pot
DAY TWENTY ONE: Maelstrom Margarita at La Cava del Tequila
See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan
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.
*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.
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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 22: “Carl’s Combo” at Rose & Crown is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Menu Monday: Infant Friendly Dining at Walt Disney World
One of the (many) reasons I love Walt Disney World is because the parks are so family friendly. There are some vacation destinations where bringing a baby would be impossible. At Disney, even the dining is suitable for all ages.
Having a young one of my own, I know the insecurities that come with bringing an infant to a restaurant.
Will she get fussy? What if she cries? How will I entertain her?
Quick service dining is one thing, but enjoying a nice sit-down meal is quite another. So with that in mind, i’ve provided a list of my favorite infant-friendly restaurants within the four parks.
Note: When making your dining reservation, be sure to include your child into the final number. Disney counts per spot at the table, not just who is eating.
Biergarten – Epcot’s World Showcase: Germany
This is a great restaurant for several reasons. If your baby is eating solids and you plan on sharing, the buffet will provide plenty for you to choose from. The space is huge, so if baby gets fussy, walk around the outskirts and point out the lights shining from within the houses. See if he can spot the moon! When he’s sitting in his high chair, give him a good view of the polka band. If he’s a party animal, bring him down to the dance floor to boogie. It will tire him out and hopefully result in a good night’s sleep.
Another perk of the loud music is if your little one does cry, there’s no worry about being a bother because the band will drown him out anyway. One thing I will suggest is if you’re worried about harming his hearing, see if you can schedule the meal around the bands break time.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre – Hollywood Studios: Commissary Lane
Baby is used to the car anyway, so you might as well eat in one. The atmosphere here is dark and cozy with a beautiful starry twilight view. Some of the cars have a table and chairs layout, so don’t worry about how you will slide baby into the booth-type seating. The big screen is full of fun campy clips that will hopefully draw baby’s attention away long enough for you to take a bite or two out of your burger. Just be sure to hide that chocolate milkshake before she turns her head back to you. You may end up having to share.
Teppan Edo – Epcot’s World Showcase: Japan
If you’ve read my review, you’ll know i’m a huge fan of Teppan Edo. This place provides fun dinner entertainment your baby will love. I brought my daughter here when she was three months old. I was initially worried she wouldn’t make it through the meal without shedding a tear or two, but that was not the case at all. The chef made funny sounds to grab her attention while he flipped his tools and pepper shakers. When the chef started putting together the onion volcano, he made a mini Mickey head out of the smallest onions. As the volcano started to erupt with steam, my daughter’s eyes shined bright and she smiled. With plenty of people and cooking excitement to watch, your little one will have plenty to keep her busy.
Be Our Guest – Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland
The space may be a little tight, but it definitely shouldn’t deter you from coming here with your wee one. The staff is so good about letting you explore the different rooms, so grab your little Chip and hop to it! Watch the snow fall outside, see the petals feather down from the enchanted rose. If your baby is extra brave, stand in line to meet the Beast!
For lunch, you can order your meal at the kiosk and watch the servers rush with their dining carts from table to table. However, I know there is an option to order online prior to your reservation date so you don’t have to wait as long. With a tired baby, that may be a good thing!
Rainforest Cafe – Animal Kingdom: Oasis
Talk about sensory overload! This is the perfect place to practice those animal sounds with your baby. Walk around, point out the jungle animals, and make the corresponding sound. If you’re not up to performing your best animal impressions, don’t worry: the animals come to life every few minutes. Just watch out for the swinging monkeys! Bring her over to the fruit tower and name each fruit. Hear the thunder boom and watch the lightening flicker. If baby just can’t sit still in her chair, bring her around the gift shop. Beware: Those big angelic eyes may result in you purchasing a soft stuffed animal. This is why my baby girl now has two Mickeys and three Minnie Mouse friends at home. Do as I say, not as I do.
Coral Reef – Epcot: Future World
I brought my daughter here when she was 10 months old and it was a wonderful experience. The restaurant has a calm and relaxing atmosphere to wind baby down from all the excitement in the park. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce baby to different textures. Let her feel the shell-themed lights, the tile backsplash, the walls, your mashed potatoes….whoops. Where are the napkins? Take a moment throughout the meal to bring her up close to the sea life. Point out the large sea turtle. Watch the fish swim about. There is so much beauty to share with your baby. Cherish these moments together. They fly by all too quickly.
Have you brought your baby to any of these restaurants? How did it go? Let me know if you’d like me to do a series on infant-friendly restaurants outside of the parks.
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Menu Monday: Infant Friendly Dining at Walt Disney World is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
December 21, 2014
Pictures and Video: Frozen Freeze the Night Dance Party at Disney California Adventure
You’re in Disney California Adventure, you’ve spent the day watching the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration stage show, meeting Anna and Elsa at Character Close-Up: Anna & Elsa Royal Welcome, seeing Olaf the friendly snowman, and browsing the variety of Frozen merchandise in the various shops around the resort. But now it’s nighttime, you think to yourself “How do also experience things related to Frozen after the sun is down?” Disney has your back with Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party. It’s a dance party, the fourth one in fact, to hit DCA (after Glow Fest, ElecTRONica, and Mad T Party). But this time it’s a bit more family friendly, that basically means less booze, but there’s still some booze. The show starts daily at 6 PM with an introduction from the hosts C.C. and Feren who assure you “It’s the coolest place to be.” What else does Freeze the Night feature? Let’s take a look at the pictures and video below:
One of the highlights is the Marshmallow meet and greet. He seemed to be very popular.
Guests enter the area through these archways.
The Ice Box bar features non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
Most of the set pieces have been reused from the Mad T Party. The stage is mostly unchanged.
This area projects a snow on the ground. After walking through it you can see a footprint left on the ground.
House of Ice is the second bar in Frozen Fun. The menu is pretty much the same as The Ice Box.
The second stage features performers creating ice sculptures throughout the night.
Besides the show featured in the video above, the main stage is home to the house DJ known as DJ Chill.
See our previous blog posts for more information about Frozen Fun at Disney California Adventure:
Pictures: Frozen Fun (partially) Premieres at Disney California Adventure
Pictures: Olaf Meet and Greet Premieres at Disney California Adventure
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Pictures and Video: Frozen Freeze the Night Dance Party at Disney California Adventure is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 21: Maelstrom Margarita at La Cava del Tequila
By Derek Burgan
The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.
Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!
DAY TWENTY ONE: Maelstrom Margarita at La Cava del Tequila (Epcot)
You are the not the first to drink this, nor will you be the last. Maelstrom Margarita at La Cava del Tequila. (photo by Brandon Glover)
One of the biggest stories of the theme park year was Maelstrom being shut down to make room for a ride based on the movie Frozen. News of the change became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter with guests from across the globe posting their own #SaveMaelstrom pics. Opening in July of 1988, many WDW guests have never known an Epcot without Maelstrom. Norway’s neighbor in World Showcase is Mexico, home of La Cava del Tequila. Paying tribute to the beloved attraction, La Cava unveiled the Maelstrom Margarita. This new drink is one of the few bright spots of this entire ordeal, so let’s raise a toast to one of the most unique rides in Disney history. Here’s to the Vikings, trolls, polar bears, oil rigs, and even the six minute Spirit of Norway film most of us walked by without watching. You are all in our hearts forever, and shall not be forgotten.
Ingredients: Premium Ambhar Tequila blanco, mango puree, orange liquor, and agave nectar. Served with blueberries, habanero peppers, basil and Tajin chili powder on the rim. (The rumored secret ingredient of a dash of tears from a Disney fanboy has not been confirmed.)
Related Article: The 2014 Inaugural WDW Turkeys of the Year (featuring Maelstrom’s conversion to Frozen)
Be sure to follow La Cava del Tequila on Twitter and tell them how much you want the Maelstrom Margarita to stay on the menu for the next 26 years.
Maelstrom Margarita. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Maelstrom Margarita. (photo by Brandon Glover)
#NeverForget (photo by Brandon Glover)
Not everyone has their own engraved La Cava shot glass….
PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:
DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz
DAY TWO: Grand Marnier Slush at Epcot
DAY THREE: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern
DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line
DAY FIVE: Mai Tai at Emeri’s Tchoup Chop
DAY SIX: Avocado Margarita at La Cava del Tequila
DAY SEVEN: Pumpkin Fizz at the Three Broomsticks
DAY EIGHT: Old Fashioned at Belle Vue Lounge
DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge
DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron
DAY TWELVE: Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar
DAY THIRTEEN: Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road
DAY FOURTEEN: Hog’s Head Brew at the Hog’s Head
DAY FIFTEEN: Burnt Orange at Todd English’s bluezoo
DAY SIXTEEN: Fishy Green Ale at Fountain of Fair Fortune
DAY SEVENTEEN: Balsamic Grand at Palo
DAY EIGHTEEN: Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish
DAY NINETEEN: La Fin du Monde at Epcot
DAY TWENTY: Dragon Scale at the Hopping Pot
See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan
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.
*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.
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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 21: Maelstrom Margarita at La Cava del Tequila is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Cast Member Chronicles: Melissa’s Disney College Program Experience
Melissa is a friend of mine who completed the Disney College Program in January 2013. She had nothing but wonderful things to say about it, so I decided to pick her brain and ask her to share the experience with all of you. For more information about this program, check out my girl Trista’s post here.
Okay ready? Let’s get started!
Walt Disney World has always held a special place in Melissa’s heart. Growing up, her family made several visits and each time was as spectacular as the last. She first heard about the Disney College Program (or DCP as I will refer to it) from her older sister, who had spent a semester there years previously. With her love of Disney blazing like a hunka hunk of burning love, she made the easy decision to apply.
In the Fall of 2012, she began the application process. Step one involved filling out a general application, mostly requesting education and work experience. There was also a section where she was asked to rate different job roles on a 1 to 5 interest scale. Melissa had experience in the restaurant business, so she felt Food and Beverage would be the best fit. From there, things moved very quickly. Step two was a mere two days later, when a representative from Disney requested an online interview. A few days after that, Melissa had a phone interview. One week later, she was a future employee and student of the Disney College Program!
She flew from frigid Wisconsin to sunny Florida in the Spring of 2013, two days before the start of the program. She stayed at a Disney resort (Pop Century, her favorite) and took a taxi to the check-in point at Vista Way. Check-in included completing necessary paperwork, finding out work and room assignments and receiving important information for the days ahead. As for her job role, Melissa had gotten her wish: she would, indeed, be working in Food and Beverage. She would be a part of the Outdoor Vending crew at Epcot, rotating between the African Outpost, Pineapple Promenade, Refreshment Port and different ice cream carts in Future World and the World Showcase.
The day after check-in, she attended Disney University. First was Traditions. This was essentially a four-hour class providing new Cast Members with history, culture and other information regarding the Walt Disney Company. Following this was classroom work where she not only learned specific information regarding her role, but was also taught Disney’s four key basics: Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency. These are guidelines Disney expects all Cast Members to take to heart to ensure a positive guest experience and is something she still hasn’t forgotten.
Although Disney University was fascinating, Melissa couldn’t wait to leave behind the classroom and computer labs to start her job. A full eight days after her arrival to Orlando, it was finally her first day of work. Dressed in her costume with a shiny new name tag on her shirt, she was ready.
All suited up and ready to go!
Melissa arrived at the African Outpost in the World Showcase with a smile on her face and butterflies fluttering about in her stomach. She was so excited and couldn’t wait to jump right in! Her trainer showed her around, pointed out equipment she would be using and tasks she would be performing. At first chance, Melissa offered to run the register, having practiced at Disney University. She stood in front of the machine, greeted the guest with a smile and asked how she could help them.
“Hi, I’ll have a Yuengling.”
“…….?”
For those of you who don’t know (and I sure didn’t), a Yuengling is a beer brewed in Pennsylvania that is very popular at the African Outpost. Melissa had NO idea what the guest was talking about and, needless to say, felt very silly on her first day of work.
Fortunately, Melissa was a fast learner. She excelled at her job and was soon promoted to cart stocker and general teller, the latter being similar to a shift supervisor. She absolutely loved her job! When I asked her about any magical moments she witnessed, she explained that it wasn’t one big moment, but dozens of little things every single day. Seeing small children eat their very first Mickey bar was quite a treat for her. She would watch chocolate and ice cream melt down their chin with that first bite, soon to be followed by a sticky grin and eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
She also realized that it really is a small world after all. Since her name tag said she was from Wisconsin, she would frequently meet guests who lived only an hour away from her hometown. Not only did she see her dental hygienist at Epcot, but while talking with a different guest one day, they discovered Melissa had graduated high school with this girls brother!
I asked her if she ever people-watched when she had downtime. “All the time!,” she told me. She said besides witnessing the frequent looks of confusions from guests reading the Epcot map, she constantly saw looks of amazement. Many of the guests had never been to the World Showcase and couldn’t believe how big it was. The amazement only continued with the first bursts of Illuminations. As guests watched in awe at the amazing fireworks display, Melissa sang along and watched with equal enthrallment. It’s a performance that to this day, she still can’t get enough of.
Days turned into months and soon her semester was over. Thankfully, this was not the end for Melissa. Disney often offers an extension to students of the DCP, asking if they would like to stay longer. Students are given about two weeks to think it over and respond. When Melissa started the program, she had no intention of extending. However, she soon realized how much she loved working at Walt Disney World and how badly she wanted to stay. When Melissa originally applied, she planned to spend her very last semester in college doing the Disney College Program. Because she was now a college graduate and done with school, she decided to accept the extension.
Melissa not only extended another semester, but stayed with the DCP for an entire year! When I asked if she considered changing job roles, she said that because of her great coworkers and wonderful job, she opted to stay at Epcot. I asked her to tell me her favorite parts of the program. She said it was spending all day at Epcot. When she was younger, it was never a park she was interested in. After working there and learning so much about it, she fell in love. Although she appreciated the discounts and unlimited park access, her very favorite part was meeting new friends. Since the program, she has visited her former roommates and kept in contact with several coworkers. Oh, and her least favorite part you may ask? The day she had to leave! (well, that and working in wet clothes when it rained.)
It’s been almost a year since she completed the Disney College Program and not a day goes by where she doesn’t think about her incredible year with the Walt Disney Company. Her time at Disney made such an impact that it set Melissa down an unexpected career path. This past fall, she made the decision to return to college and obtain a degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management. She hopes to return for a professional internship at Walt Disney World in the Fall of 2015 and stay on as a manager in Food and Beverage. I wish her the very best of luck and wait for the day I hear the words come out of her mouth, “Dreams do come true!”
Do you know someone who has done the Disney College Program? How was their experience? Let me know in the comments!
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Cast Member Chronicles: Melissa’s Disney College Program Experience is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
December 20, 2014
Pictures: Frozen Fun (partially) Premieres at Disney California Adventure
Frozen Fun has invaded Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure. Mad T Party and Muppet*Vision 3D have been retired in favor of Disney’s newest crop of characters. Frozen Fun doesn’t officially start at Disney California Adventure until Janurary 7, 2015, but some of it did open today in what Disney calls a “sneak peak.” So far only the Olaf meet and greet (but not Olaf’s Snow Fest), Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome meet and greet, and Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party have begun daily operation. On to the pictures:
Frozen Fun banners can be seen at the front entrance of Disney California Adventure. The actual Frozen Fun area is located inside Hollywood Land.
As you approach the Frozen Fun area you’ll notice many reused props from the recently retired Mad T Party. They pretty much just repainted them to make them look “frosty.”
Many more pictures after the jump.
Long attraction name warning: the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is not open yet . It replaces Muppet*Vision 3D, which Disney says is just on hiatus. I have my doubts that it will be back. All traces of the show have been removed from the outside, including signage and queue props.
Olaf’s Snow Fest is also not open yet. When it does open it will feature an Olaf meet and greet, as well as an area where guests can play in real snow.
Olaf is meeting outside until his building opens. I posted about his meet and greet earlier today.
Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post is so far the only place selling Frozen merchandise in the area. This replaces the small store that was selling Muppets merchandise.
The stage originally used for Mad T Party has been converted to a stage for “Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party.”
It wouldn’t be a DCA dance party without a bar. This incarnation is called The Ice Box.
A look at The Ice Box’s menu.
The Animation building has received a few Frozen Fun attractions as well.
Character Close-Up: Anna & Elsa Royal Welcome is now the home of the Frozen sisters. They have moved out of their Disneyland location and in to the Animation Building. Like their Disneyland location, this meet and greet is FASTPASS only. Distribution takes place to the left of the Animation building’s entrance.
The coveted Anna & Elsa FASTPASS ticket.
The Animation Academy has switched from a rotating schedule of classic Disney and Pixar characters to an all-Olaf-all-the-time schedule.
Heading back in to the Frozen Fun area we see this food truck that appeared all the way back in the Glow Fest days has now been converted to a Frozen theme.
This… giant metal triangle thing (I’m not sure what to call) is also from Mad T Party but has been given a Frozen theme. It’s not yet clear what, if anything, this area will be used for.
The other bar area formally used for ElecTRONica and Mad T Party is also not open yet.
We’ll have more information on Frozen Fun as it develops.
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Pictures and Video: Frozen’s Arendelle Castle added to Storybook Land at Disneyland
Breaking news: Frozen is a popular movie. I know, shocking, right? Disney has added elements from the popular film to one of the most beloved attractions in Disneyland‘s history. Luckily, it turned out really nice. I know some people are suffering from a bit of Frozen overload, but Storybook Land is an all time classic, and it’s nice to see it get a little love. Arendelle did replace the windmills from the 1937 film The Old Mill, and while it is a bummer to lose them, it at least makes the ride a little bit more relevant to younger generations. That will make the ride more popular, which will then cause more people to experience this wonderful attraction. On to the video and pictures:
Arendelle is immediately visible after you exit Monstro at the beginning of the ride.
More pictures after the jump:
Approaching Arendelle from the side.
You can see Elsa’s snow castle in the hills above.
Arendelle castle.
Arendelle harbor.
A view from the right side.
Wandering Oken’s Trading Post is right next door.
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Pictures: Olaf Meet and Greet Premieres at Disney California Adventure
Before he was just a cartoon character, a digitally created image on the screens of our TVs, phones, and computers. Not any more. Now you can meet Olaf the snowman in the flesh, er snow, at Disney California Adventure. It’s part of the Frozen Fun promotion going on now until May. Later in January he’ll have a dedicated meet and greet spot inside Olaf’s Snow Fest, but for now he’s meeting and greeting outside under the sun. I hope he doesn’t melt! (ahem is this thing on?) Today I braved a brutally cold Southern California winter morning where temperatures hovered around 60 degrees to bring you these pictures. You’re welcome internet.
There he is! As you can see, Olaf has a wide range of motions. He can hold his arms out!
He can cross his arms!
He can hold out his arms again! It’s Olaf the snowman!
Olaf currently is meeting and greeting outside of this building. It’s to the left of Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue.
Be sure to take a selfie with him like I did. He love it.
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