Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1159
December 11, 2014
The Spirit of Frozen In Every Day Life
Angela as a Disney Princess…hmm, I like the sound of that!
Frozen is huge. It’s bigger than Elsa’s ice castle. Or her abominable snow-monster body guard. And people won’t be “letting it go” any time soon.
So, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! Here are some ways to keep that Frozen spirit alive and with you every day.
Make Up
This post gave me an excuse to play with my make up for the first time in forever, so here is a look inspired by Elsa. All you need is some purple and pink eye shadow. Apply the purple all over the lid. From there, add a darker pink to the crease and blend. If you’re feeling crazy, add some glitter and fake eye lashes like I did. In order to do the side-by-side comparison justice, I had to perform a bit of photoshop magic to make me appear porcelain and blue-eyed. These things don’t come naturally!
Top: Snowy Arendelle Bottom: Olaf-Inspired
Nails
I tried at least four times to draw a snow flake on my nails for you all. Unfortunately, my hand is about as steady as a three-legged Sven. Although I didn’t color completely in the lines, here are two nail looks I created. For snowy Arendelle nails, paint your nails a light blue color. After the paint has dried, take a tooth pick and dot polish on the nails, alternating between white and silver. To achieve my Olaf-inspired nails, paint your nails white and use a q-tip to dot them with a black polish. Top with glitter if you like and there you have it!
Clothes
This one is pretty easy. To get into the Frozen spirit, dress for the cold! Hats, gloves, scarves. This is an eternal Winter we’re talking about! If you want a taste, come to Minnesota in January. To avoid those outrageous prices at Oaken’s Trading Post, i’ll gladly loan you the appropriate snow attire. Seriously though, if you want to Disney Bound Frozen style, check out this Pinterest board. There’s fashion for everyone, from Anna to the Duke of Weasel..I mean, Weselton.
A messy Anna braid. As she was busy chasing after her sister, I highly doubt she had a brush handy.
Hair
Since it’s the holiday season, this would be a fun look to try at a party. Take some tinsel (you know, those thin strips of shiny foil you can decorate your tree with) and attach it to a bobby pin. Take said bobby pin and clip into your hair. As you can see in the photo, I put the pin in and braided the tinsel into my hair. Not only will the tinsel appear more subtle, but it will look like Anna’s strip of silvery white hair without the dye or hair chalk.
Personality
You don’t have to play dress up or apply make up to get into the Frozen mood. Your attitude can play a huge role! You can take attributes of the different characters and apply them to your own life. Anna is an eternal optimist. Her spunky, caring and energetic personality is something to be admired. To maintain a positive attitude like Anna, I try to write in a gratitude journal or compliment someone every day. Although Elsa was controlled and fearful for some time, she finally let down her guard to reveal a warm and playful personality. She reminds me to never take life too seriously, have fun and always stay young at heart.
How about it? Would you try any of these looks out? What ideas do you have? Let me know in the comments!
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Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: December 11, 2014
By Daisy Lauren
Hi, Everyone! Welcome to the Best Week Ever here at Walt Disney World
! This week we’re visiting the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and even checking into a Little Mermaid room. Then we’re stopping by Downtown Disney, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground, and finishing off at the Magic Kingdom. There is oh so much fun this week – so let’s get going! 
The decorations at Art of Animation might surprise you! I know I wasn’t expecting a white Christmas tree with every color of the rainbow wrapped around it! But the design couldn’t be more fitting for this bright and happy hotel. Want to see more decorations and a Little Mermaid room? Be sure to click to read more below.
If you looked a little closer at that tree above, you’d notice lovely sketches all over of your favorite Disney animated characters. I actually had to excuse myself because other families were trying to take photos in front of the tree but I was entranced, staring through my camera lens taking shots like the one below left. (oops!). On the below right is a look behind the check in desk at the big wreaths that line the wall.
So am I the only one that grew up with The Little Mermaid? I was psyched to see this room and hop inside one of my favorite movies. Now, before we even get that far I should admit that getting inside this room took two trips to guest services and nearly 45 minutes. I’d promised to update on how Magic Bands are functioning and my answer is a solid… meh. They are great when they work, but on our first day we wasted nearly two hours working on errors with our bands. I wonder if they will ever really get these working? What have your experiences been? Please let me know in the comments below.
Once we finally made it inside, the room looked just like one at Pop Century just with a cuter decor. There were all kinds of little details in the room to make it feel like a Little Mermaid suite. Even the inside of the shower looked like Ariel’s cave where she kept her treasures. Overall, if you have a little one that loves this movie you couldn’t pick a better place to stay.
If you’d like a full walking tour of the room you can check it out here.
Over at Downtown Disney, here is a daytime look of the old Adventurers Club. I’d posted a night time view last week but thought this showed more detail. Of everything going on at the new Disney Springs I’m most excited to see how this will shape up. I hope they put something amazing here that makes it worth closing the club so many years ago.
Also at Downtown Disney, 2015 merchandise has officially hit everywhere. (And 2014 merchandise has officially hit the outlets!) I’m not sure I really love the new design. We’ll have to see if they come out with some better stuff!
Ghirardelli has also gotten into the holiday spirit with peppermint bark lining the walls of their tiny store location. They’ve also been using it as the free chocolate they hand out, so be sure to stop by if you’re visiting! Another piece of advice, Ghirardelli is for chocolate and not for coffee! The lines were super long at Starbucks this weekend so we decided to try a mocha at Ghirardelli, which was an awful mistake! The iced coffee pictured below right might as well have been a milkshake! It was so heavy and sweet. Delicious if that’s what you’re looking for, but shocking if you were hoping for coffee. 
Below is another view that is finally back to normal. There has been construction in the background for months so I was happy to see it put back together. Hopefully the walkway they’ve been building over the lake will be open soon!
Hopping over the Disney’s Hollywood Studios you’ll see the location of more FastPass+ woes. We had a terrible time with our passes matching up to bands and ended up in Guest Services so long that we missed some of the FastPass+ reservations we’d made. Are we the only ones that consistently have an issue with the bands not matching up to the correct ticket? To make up for it we were given Fastpass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania. We asked to confirm they added me in addition to my family since I’m not on the room reservation and they assured us they did. However, when I scanned my band there was nothing for me. 
The nice cast member let me ride after explaining the situation but it really is frustrating. It seems like Disney is purposely making it difficult for onsite guests to travel with their offsite friends and family. Are we the only ones?
Next we stopped into ABC Commissary, which I only mention it because their ever changing menu is really good at the moment! Below is a photo of the salmon and quinoa salad that was a healthy option and completely delicious! At just shy of $12 I thought it was a great value and something I would stop by for again. It can be really tough to find good food options in the parks so here’s a winner for you.
Of course, any calories saved I immediately blew on an Anna cupcake over at the Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Frozen Snowground. The Anna cupcake is chocolate with buttercream frosting and the Elsa is vanilla with the same frosting. This was the best cupcake I’ve had at Disney in a while and it’s going to be tough to walk by them in the future! I also found the new Frozen makeup in the trading post (below left). It’s so overpriced, but still tempting!
I also noticed a couple large figurines of Christmas Minnie and Mickey this week. Seems like they would make such pretty decorations. I’m always careful about calling something new unless I’m sure, but these didn’t look familiar to me.
Next I stopped over at the Fort Wilderness Campground, which is one of my favorite hidden gems on Disney property. I’m hoping to get over there for a holiday wagon ride before the season ends. The campers really do an amazing job with their decorations so it would be fun to ride through. But this particular day I was there for lunch at Trail’s End Restaurant. What is Trail’s End you ask? Well read on…
For breakfast and dinner Trail’s End is an equally amazing buffet, but for lunch they have a fabulous menu and a relaxed atmosphere. This is not a detour for someone that only gets to go to Disney once in a while. But if you’re a Disney veteran and haven’t tried it I highly recommend stopping by, especially on a crowded day. Below left if the BLT Flatbread for $13.99 and below right is Chicken and Waffles at $15.49, and yes everything was as good as it looks!
The best part about the Campground is that it’s an easy boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom. With the park open until midnight on December 8th I had braced myself for crowds. However, when we showed up it was noticeably slow and easy to walk down Main Street. With temperatures in the 50′s and a misty rain falling I think the weather was the reason we had an oddly slow night at the park.
One strange thing I noticed was that my favorite clock on Main Street was covered by a wreath on both sides. I was guessing reasons why and we all decided it must have been because of the parade filming. They wouldn’t want a clock to give away that the parade wasn’t happening in real time!
We likely would have been scared off by the strange weather too, but we had FastPass+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Or rather, they had Fastpass+, when I scanned my Magic Band I was told mine was for Splash Mountain even though we were all grouped together in the app. For anyone planning to travel with someone not in their Disney hotel room – be prepared for challenges with FastPass+! Of course, that was worked out quickly and I was able to ride but it’s so grating to be constantly singled out from my visiting family. That aside, I filmed the bast part for you guys:
I’d report more on the FastPass+ saga from the rest of the night but we didn’t really need them. Even though Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid posted a 10 minute wait we were able to just walk on which was the story for most of the night. That’s very uncommon for this time of year and further proves my point that rainy days are the best days to visit.
We did secure a FastPass+ for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh just to see if it would work and oddly, it was the one time mine didn’t give me trouble. It seems like it’s only the “hard to get” attractions that I get blocked from even when it shows I’m booked in the app. Is anyone else having similar trouble? I wonder if this is the start to onsite perks?
I could include so many photos from around the Magic Kingdom on Monday night. We were able to walk onto most rides but my camera a hidden mostly in my bag because of the steady rain. The line was so short for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin that we almost rode it twice! As a side note, we decided to wait in the standby queue for Peter Pan’s Flight because we all wanted to see the new enhanced queue. But after a 20min wait we realized the new queue is closed! I wonder if they are adding interactive elements?
Lastly, as you exit the Frozen meet and greet at Magic Kingdom you’re now greeted by Frozen Minnie. She’s very pretty but I can’t be the only one getting tired of seeing the movie absolutely everywhere. I actually really liked the film, but I need a break. What do you think about Frozen fever taking over all things Disney?
That’s everything for this week. Now let’s see what you can expect if you’re visiting next week.
Crowd Calendar: Crowds are looking good this week, just be sure to plan to allow extra time for seasonal events.
Weather: Highs are in the 60s to 70s but lows are dipping down into the 30s! I think this might be winter, ya’ll!
Remember: Rainy days can be great park days! Don’t be scared to get out there and take advantage. Just be sure you bring the right rain gear.
Here’s my top tip for this week: Give Fort Wilderness a chance! If you haven’t stopped by then you might be surprised. You can find more information here.
Do you have any news I missed or any requests for coverage next week? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading! I’m wishing all of you the Best Week Ever, until next time!
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Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: December 11, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
December 10, 2014
The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
©Disney
Due to the busy holiday season, Disney brings out special entertainment offerings to entertain guests. One of the more popular offerings each year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special.
The holiday-themed show will feature hilarious improvisational comedy (a la, the former Comedy Warehouse at Pleasure Island or the TV show, Whose Line Is It Anyway? It’s the same premise). The show is completely interactive, and sometimes guests will be asked to participate in the hijinks. During the show, the live performers will field suggestions from the crowd, obtaining help composing funny Christmas songs, putting their own spin on classic stories, and creating hilarious scenarios. The entire act will be festive and family-friendly. One of the best part is that due to the improvisational nature, the show is different each time. These performers are extremely witty, quick, and talented.
The show takes place in the Superstar Television Theater (the former home of the American Idol Experience) from December 20 to January 4. The show lasts 20 minutes and show times are scheduled at 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. daily, with the exception of New Year’s Eve, when show times are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m, 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m, and 8:00 p.m. Showtimes are, of course, subject to change.
The show is sure to be a rip-roaring time for the whole family!
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What’s in a Name: Walt Disney World Roads
I never used to think much about Walt Disney World roads. I simply followed the purple signs and got from one place to another or relied on Disney transportation. Once I became a local resident, suddenly road names were important to help me figure out how to get from point A to point B on and off property. At that point, I realized I how many roads had names that sounded like they must have a story behind them.
Some roads, like Epcot Center Drive or World Drive are pretty obvious where they got their inspiration. Other roads, like Dopey Drive back in the distribution center district, are both obvious for their inspiration, and fun names for roads in general. Besides those, there are quite a few road names that may not be obvious but, like many things Disney, have wonderful stories behind them.
Three guesses which theme park Savannah Circle East can be found at. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Also known as US Highway 192. If you are staying off property, chances are you are probably very familiar with this road. It is named after Irlo Overstreet Bronson, Sr., a politician and rancher who owned a lot of property in the Disney area. His grandparents had moved from North Carolina to Florida in a two-wheeled ox cart in the 1860s and accumulated large amount of cattle ranchland. As the family ranches were passed from generation to generation, Irlo’s father (George W. Bronson) had more than 50,000 acres. Irlo added more land, but eventually sold 8380 acres for around $100 an acre to Disney, much to the ire of his family. Some say that he sold it at such a low price because he recognized that this would build a better future for Central Florida, but whether that was his actual motivation or just some rewriting of history is the subject of opinion and debate. Regardless, the sale of the ranch lands did allow for the development for Walt Disney World, and so Irlo Bronson’s name is memorialized in the highway running along the south side of property.
Osceola Parkway
Going from Animal Kingdom Lodge east off property to become a toll road, Osceola Parkway is named after a Creek-Scots/Irish/English warrior of the Seminole tribe of Florida during the Second Seminole War. Born as Billy Powell in Alabama, he was given his adult name Osceola (Asi-yahola, a combination of the name for a ceremonial drink made from the yaupon holly and the word meaning “shout”) when his mother, a Creek woman, took him to Florida to join the Seminole tribe in 1814. Osceola led skirmishes against the United States, was staunchly opposed to slavery (as one of his two wives was African American), and eventually was captured and died of quinsy in 1838. He was buried at Fort Moultrie with military honors.
Bonnet Creek Parkway
While you are driving around the center of property, if you go over a small creek or canal, odds are good that you have just crossed Bonnet Creek (or some waterway that feeds into or allows for runoff from Bonnet Creek). Bonnet Creek Parkway, which stretches from Buena Vista Drive to Vista Boulevard goes past the side of Old Key West and in front of the Port Orleans resorts and runs roughly parallel to Bonnet Creek. According to the US Geological Survey, Bonnet Creek has a drainage area of 44.7 square miles and is regulated by automatic gates upstream since October 1968. It also provides some wonderful scenery among all the roads on property.
Beautiful Bonnet Creek. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Sherberth Road
One of the most difficult road names to track down is Sherberth Road, known as the “back exit from property” just before you get to Animal Kingdom Lodge. This road takes you out to 192 but allows you to avoid some of the more congested parts. Sherberth Road is named after Wesley and Alma Sherberth. During World War II, Wesley Sherberth reached the rank of Lt. Commander and commanded the USS Medea, an Artemis Class Attack Cargo Ship in the Pacific Theater. Alma also served during the war, retiring as a Lt. Commander in the Navy Nurse Corps. Alma and Wesley moved to Kissimmee in the early 1960s and purchased land for a cattle and citrus farm in that area. Wesley died shortly thereafter, and Alma eventually sold the property to become part of Walt Disney World. Alma died in 2010 at the ripe old age of 95.
Chelonia Parkway
When Backstage Lane crosses Buena Vista Drive, it becomes Chelonia Parkway, which takes you back to the Bonnet Creek Resort area. If you are familiar with biological classification, you might know what “Chelonia” refers to. If not, Chelonia is just the fancy scientific name for the order of turtles and tortoises. But Chelonia Parkway sounds a lot more fancy and exotic than Turtle Parkway, right?
Floridian Way
Extending from World Drive, past the Grand Floridian, and along the west side of the Magic Kingdom, the road known as Floridian Way used to be called Asian Way. At one time, the section of land where the Grand Floridian now stands was going to be home to a Thailand-themed hotel, and so the road running beside it was appropriately named Asian Way. When the Asian Resort never materialized, and the Grand Floridian was slated to take its place, the road was renamed Floridian Way to make sense in the new landscape.
Woodpecker Lane
This is a “blink and you’ll miss it” road that comes off of Epcot Center Drive and goes around the Epcot parking lot to connect to cast parking behind Epcot. To me, this has one of the best back stories of roads on property. When Epcot was being built, it was discovered that the endangered red-cockheaded woodpecker was living in some of the pine trees where the Epcot parking lot was to be located. An area of the parking lot was set aside for the woodpeckers (who promptly flew off, never to be seen on property again), and the road was named Woodpecker Lane to commemorate their presence.
(Although they haven’t been seen at Epcot, you might catch a glimpse of the woodpeckers at the Disney Wilderness Preserve, described here on pages 14-15.)
Overpass Road
Overpass Road. It’s an overpass — with a road. It’s a road — that is an overpass. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
I had to include this road because it is my favorite road on property. It starts backstage at Epcot behind Test Track and goes up and over Epcot Center Drive and Bonnet Creek to connect to Bonnet Creek Parkway. It’s a road. It’s an overpass. It is Overpass Road. For some reason, that cracks me up every time.
There are many more roads with interesting stories all around property. Want to hear more stories? Got ideas for ones that you want to learn more about? Feel free to suggest ideas in the comments!
Not easy to find on any map, this sign hides a very special street name — WED Way. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
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Disney World Planning Challenges: Business Conferences—Tips for Squeezing in Some Magic
Although attending a business conference at or near Walt Disney World isn’t quite the same as taking a vacation trip, it’s still a wish come true for a Disney enthusiast. Several strategies can help you get your Disney fix around a conference schedule. In fact, a business trip to the World can be an excellent opportunity to experience the park in some new and exciting ways.
Balancing Your Time
The first priority in planning time for fun while at a conference at Disney World is figuring out how to balance work and leisure time. Consider arriving in Orlando a day before the conference or giving yourself an extra day after the conference ends. Being creative with the overall time frame of your trip can give you a free half-day or more to enjoy Disney. Once the conference starts, plan to make a quick exit at the end of the day and spend the afternoon or evening at leisure.
Mix It Up—Spending Time In and Out of the Parks
Downtown Disney’s West Side, including the AMC Dine-In Theatres (photo by Brandon Glover)
With the limited number of hours you’ll be able to spend in the parks (unless you’re lucky enough to have an Annual Pass), it doesn’t make sense to purchase park tickets for every day of your trip. Instead, a business trip can be a chance to experience some of Disney’s offerings outside of the parks such as at Downtown Disney and Disney’s BoardWalk.
If your hotel is located near Downtown Disney or you have access to Disney transportation (current construction at Downtown Disney makes traffic and parking a challenge), Downtown Disney can be a great non-park destination. It has lots of dining options and an even wider variety of merchandise than can be found at the parks, and don’t forget about its AMC Dine-In Theatres where you can enjoy both dinner and a movie.
Another option is to use Downtown Disney as a launch point and take a relaxing boat ride to the Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter resorts for a stroll around the grounds or enjoy some piano entertainment by YeeHaw Bob at Port Orleans Riverside’s River Roost Lounge. Other possible non-park activities include golf, mini-golf, and resort hopping.
If you decide to go into a park on a conference day, you will likely be limited to late afternoon and evening activities. You can definitely have fun experiencing a few favorite rides or in-park restaurants. Use our personalized touring plan tool to create a plan specific to the hours you’ll be in the park, schedule your three allotted FastPass+ reservations to start when you enter the park, and make a dining reservation for the time of park closing. When you’re done eating, you’ll have the pleasure of strolling through a mostly empty park on your way to the exit.
Plan to enjoy nighttime entertainment like the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (photo by Sarah Graffam)
A good strategy to get some more value out of your ticket is to target a specific experience or event depending on the time of year you’re visiting. Options include Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (mid-September to mid-November), Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (March to May), and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (November to early January). Or you could purchase a party ticket for Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (September-October) or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (November to December); party tickets cost less than a full-day ticket and allow you to enter Magic Kingdom starting at 4 PM, perfect timing after a long day at a conference.
Ask About Ticket Discounts
Some conferences offer Disney’s special meeting/convention tickets to attendees, their guests, and family members. Options include discounted tickets for after 2 PM or after 4 PM as well as discounted multiday tickets. If you don’t hear about these tickets from your conference organizers ahead of time, definitely check in with them before or at the conference to see if they’re available. More information can be found at www.disneyconventiontickets.com/.
The Joys of Solo Travel
A trip for a business conference can be a unique opportunity to experience the World as a solo traveler. Enjoy the freedom of going where you want when you want, focusing on your personal favorite attractions, and consulting only yourself when changing plans on the fly. And don’t forget to enjoy watching the families around you to remind you of the good times at Disney World with your own family.
Dining solo is another opportunity to experience Disney World from a different perspective. I’ve had a wonderful experience dining solo at Epcot’s Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria; the Cast Members went out of their way to make me feel comfortable, giving me a table with a great view, asking about my trip, and suggesting menu items. Or instead of reserving meals, consider walking up for some appetizers or drinks at one of the Disney World’s many bars and lounges such as Victoria Falls Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Wave Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot. Keep in mind that park tickets aren’t needed for any of the bars or lounges at the resort hotels.
Better availability of FastPass+ may be another benefit of solo travel because you will be searching for FastPass+ reservations for one instead of a group.
For more tips on traveling solo in Disney World, see Claire Nat’s article.
Enjoy Some Time with Colleagues
Enjoy the details in Epcot’s World Showcase like the torii gate in Japan (Photo by Sarah Graffam)
If you happen to have colleagues traveling with you, see if they’re up for taking a relaxed pace through the parks after conference hours. Plan to ride a few attractions with shorter lines and then have dinner. The same bars and lounges mentioned above for solo travelers can be a great experience with friends from work.
If you are usually at the World with young kids, take this opportunity to explore the details of Epcot’s World Showcase countries with people who are likely more willing to go at a leisurely pace. Strolling Disney’s BoardWalk and experiencing its entertainment, shops, and dining is another memorable option to enjoy with work friends and doesn’t require a park ticket. (Parking at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn may be limited to guests of that resort or those with a dining reservation at one of the BoardWalk restaurants, especially during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival.)
Disney’s BoardWalk offers several dining and entertainment options (photo by Sarah Graffam)
Getting Around—Transportation Options
How you get around the World during a business trip depends on factors such as your hotel location, whether your hotel is on or off Disney property, and how much time you plan to spend in the parks. If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, you may decide to forgo a car and use Disney transportation, including complimentary Magical Express Service from the airport. If your hotel is off-property, your options for getting around Disney World include renting a car or using taxi services.
This choice may be determined by researching car rental rates and comparing them with how much you might spend on taxis. Taxi rides within Disney property are typically $20 or less; ask for an approximate rate before you get into the taxi. Tip: If taking a taxi to Magic Kingdom, you can avoid the ferry or monorail trip from the Magic Kingdom/Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) parking lot by asking your taxi driver to drop you off at Disney’s Contemporary Resort; from there, it’s a 10-minute walk directly to the Magic Kingdom.
Combining a Business and Family Trip
Avoid breaking the bad news to your spouse and children that you’ll be going to Disney World without them by combining business and pleasure. A business conference is a great opportunity to sneak in a family vacation with some of your air and hotel expenses already paid, plus you may be able to take advantage of the above-mentioned ticket discounts. Your family can join you during the conference or, even better, you can extend your stay on the back or front end of your trip.
Packing Considerations
When packing for a trip combining business and pleasure, it’s still possible to pack light. A good strategy is to pack a suit with one or two shirts as well as one other pair of pants or a skirt for the conference. Then stick with business casual tops or dresses that can be accessorized for a more formal look or be worn in the parks. As well, shorts or casual skirts are a must for warmer Florida days. In addition to shoes suitable for business attire, be sure to pack comfortable shoes for the many miles you could be trekking around the World. And don’t forget to pack socks that go with both business and casual wear.
(Ed. - Special thanks to Brandon Glover for his photo. If we had to schedule a conference trip, we’d always include Brandon and might even let him enjoy the parks instead of taking our silly photos.)
Have you been lucky enough to attend a conference at or near Disney World? Where you able to successfully combine business and pleasure? Did you fly solo or enjoy time with colleagues? Please share if you have any other tips for your fellow business travelers.
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December 9, 2014
Taste of Hollywood To Go Packages Returning for Holiday Season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
©Disney
The busy holiday season is rapidly approaching, and over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios there is a great option for guests to have the chance to grab a quick meal, as well as a reserved seating for Fantasmic!
The Taste of Hollywood To Go Winter Fantasmic! Package Meals are pre-packaged offerings that are available from December 24 through 31. There will be five different picnic-style choices that guests can choose from. They are:
Golden fried chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sweet corn and carrots and warm apple crisp
Veggie sandwich made with ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers, with quinoa salad, and chocolate cake
California and tuna sushi roll with avocado, orange and tomato salad, ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers and a spicy pecan chocolate cluster
shrimp salad with fresh pita, ginger-marinated tomato and cucumbers, and mandarin orange cheesecake
cold-cut roast beef with creamy horseradish, potato salad, grilled asparagus and chocolate cake
In addition, there will be two kids options:
turkey and American cheese wrap with apples and carrots with Ranch dip, strawberry yogurt and a seven-layer cookie bar
strawberry yogurt, apple wedges, carrot sticks, Goldfish crackers, and an organic apple and cinnamon oatmeal bar
Pre-purchased meals will cost $16.99 for adults or $5.49 for kids ages 3-9. If a guest is using the Disney Dining Plan, it will count as one quick service entitlement.
The pick up location will be at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Guests will also get a reserved viewing ticket for Fantasmic at a preferred location, and you will need your Taste To Go receipt for access.Though you will be guaranteed to receive a spot, do keep in mind that reserved viewing is first come, first served, so make sure to arrive early!
If you would like to make a reservation, call (407) WDW-DINE.
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Guests Can Now Purchase Tickets Through My Disney Experience App
Disney has now made it even easier to purchase tickets. Through an app update, guests can choose to purchase them through the My Disney Experience app.
And trust me when I say it is so easy to do! Simply tap on the giant circle with the + sign. Pictorial options will pop up, allowing you to easily make FastPass+ reservations, make dining reservations or add any extras. Of course, the final option allows guests to purchase tickets.
From there, a screen will pop up allowing you to decide how many tickets you need (from 1 to 10 days) and how many days you need.
You then get to select whether you want the Park Hopper Option or not.
After that, you’ll need to assign your tickets to the individual person from your “Family and Friends List” and confirm the purchase, paying for them. See, easy!
Tickets are only available for residents of the United States and Canada and can only be purchased in U.S. dollars.
The new apps are available for both Android and iOS.
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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 9: PBR in a Paper Bag at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
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 NINE: PBR in a Paper Bag at Cabana Bay’s Atomic Tonic
Pabst Blue Ribbon and its paper bag koozie. (photo by Brandon Glover)
No one is going to mistake a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for top shelf alcohol, but in a working man’s terms, it gets the job done. We love the new Loews Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal, and one of the many surprises of the retro-themed hotel was discovering a paper bag koozie for PBR at the Atomic Tonic pool side bar. Cabana Bay is the new standard for what a “value” resort can be, so we have no problem popping the top of a 16 ounce can of American’s “value” beer and enjoying the Orlando weather.
The insulated paper bag koozie. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Drink up! (photo by Brandon Glover)
Atomic Tonic poolside bar at Loews Cabana Bay Beach Resort. (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 the Belle Vue Lounge
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 9: PBR in a Paper Bag at Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
What’s the Strangest Thing Sold at Epcot?
By Erin Foster
There’s plenty to love about shopping at Epcot’s World Showcase. I can’t get enough of the cheery Japanese candy, friendly German Christmas ornaments, or cheeky British tee shirts. And then there are the World Showcase merchandise items that leave me scratching my head. These are the things that leave me thinking, “Who approved that addition to the merchandise list?” “What is the demographic profile of the typical buyer?” and “Has anyone actually ever purchased this item at Epcot before?”
So that you can be as perplexed as I am, here’s a tour of just a few of Epcot’s oddities.
MEXICO
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with vanilla extract. I have several bottles in my pantry standing ready to be called into service for holiday baking. But who goes to a theme park and decides that’s what they’re going to bring home?
My Mexico runner up is the classic giant sombrero. I love these and have posed for many a photo with them. The kitsch value cannot be underestimated. However, these are actual items for sale. I’ve heard that people buy them, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why.
NORWAY
Most of the Norway merchandise makes sense to me. I’ve even been know to buy a jar of lingonberry jam or two when I knew that I wouldn’t be getting to Ikea for a while to replenish my stock. (Swedish Ikea and Epcot Norway being the primary purveyors of all things lingonberry.) The one item that most puzzles me is deodorant in Norway’s signature Laila scent. Perfume = fine. Deodorant = extra fine. Combining the two and selling it for $22 = hmmmmmm?
CHINA
At first glance, China seems like it might be a full scale vendor of unusual items, but most of the merchandise there is either on point (silk robes) or innocuously inexpensive (plastic toys). The category that most gives me pause is the huge selection of statuary, some of which is strangely large, some which is strangely expensive, and some of which is vaguely offensive.
I do happen to enjoy the pet clothing sold in the China pavilion. If you’ve even had the yen to dress your dog as a panda for Halloween (or any other occasion), then you can find what you need here. On a meta level, the I HEART DOG socks for dogs do not disappoint. Who is loving “DOG”? The dog? The owner? If it’s the owner, then why is the dog wearing the socks? Is the proclamation of love for all dogs, or one in particular? So many questions.
GERMANY
Not surprisingly, the Germany pavilion is replete with drinking paraphernalia. The shelves are filled with an astonishing assortment of wines and steins. So while the stein below makes perfect thematic sense, it’s a bit confusing from a brand perspective. One usually sees Mickey’s smiling mug adorning juice boxes, not vessels designed to hold Meister Bräu. I’m not sure Disney really thought this one through.
ITALY
I’m giving Italy a pass. The Italians appear to be too classy to sell embarrassing merchandise. The Italy pavilion is the land of Prada perfume and Fendi bags. While a theme park wouldn’t be the first place most folks would think to buy these items, I certainly wouldn’t turn down either if I were given them as a gift. The most unique items sold in Italy are the handmade Comedia dell’Arte masks. While these are not my personal style, I can see where a collection of them would make a nice display in a certain style of home.
Ben fatto, Italia. Ben fatto.
USA
Most the merchandise in the America pavilion is somewhat generically “Yay America.” You’ve got your Old Glory based pillows, tees, and jewelry. And then there’s the bottled tomato sauce. Again, I use this near commodity item on the regular, but who goes on vacation thinking that the one thing they’ve got to bring home to grandma is a jar of the same pasta sauce they could buy at Wegmans. Do cast members buy it on their way home when they realize they don’t have anything planned for dinner for the kiddos?
Another odd foodstuff sold at the American pavilion (as well as at a few other WDW locations) is moonshine. If you want to enjoy your firewater, who am I to judge, but it does seem a bit stereotypically yokum to sell moonshine in the USA while France, Italy, and even Germany sell lovely selections of fine wines. They couldn’t find a California vineyard to promote?
JAPAN
Japan is the true epicenter of Epcot oddities. The entire store is filled with things that practically guaranteed to make the TSA detain you. (I’m talking to you giant swords and exotic weaponry.) On the tamer side, you have bonsai trees. They’re perfectly lovely, but how do you get it home? Forget trying to take it on a plane without destroying it, even an Orlando local would likely find it annoying to shlep back to his car parked in the Discover lot.
Bonus item #1: Cellulite waist wraps. Maybe people buy these after eating one too many kaki goris?
Bonus item #2: Ramen noodles. For the tourist on a budget?
Bonus item #3: Totes bags of ennui. This bag seems like a cute way to transport little Susie’s tap shoes to dance class, but what’s up with the depressing text?
MOROCCO
Like many of the countries, Morocco sells a selection of what once may have been exotic grocery items, most of which are now found in my local Stop & Shop. Are there places in America where you can’t buy a dented box of cous cous, making the Epcot purchase a necessity?
Bonus item #1: Coconut hair cream.
Bonus item #2: Rugs. Clearly there’s nothing peculiar about buying a rug. But in a theme park?
FRANCE
France almost gets the same pass as Italy. Most of the French merchandise consists of tasteful kitchenware, luxury cosmetics, and obligatory replica Eiffel Towers. France does, however, let a few questionable items on their shelves, chief among them a collectible Napolean (not the edible kind). Perhaps these are purchased by European history teachers looking to decorate their classrooms?
UNITED KINGDOM
The Brits can proudly take their place among the countries offering oddball grocery items. I enjoy a pickled onion in my Gibson, but I can’t picture the guest who’s buying pickled onions at Epcot, particularly when you can get them at virtually every supermarket in America. Is there are true difference among brands? And kippers … because you never know when you’ll need some tinned fish to fuel your journey around the park.
CANADA
Canada shows remarkable restraint in its merchandising. Maple syrup and Tim Horton’s coffee play prominent roles here (but again, who buys this stuff in a theme park?). Their only real nod to odd is shown in their selection of Goat Mountain brand bath products. This Canadian company (also strangely featured in the American Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom) sells soaps, lotions, and lip balms with “humorously” icky names like Sasquatch Sweat, Moose Spit, and Beaver Butt. I guess I don’t have the right funny bone for this.
Have you ever purchased any of these items? What are you favorite oddball Epcot merchandise finds? Would you buy groceries at a theme park? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below.
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What’s the Strangest Thing Sold at Epcot? is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney World Crowd Report – November 30 to December 6, 2014
After a busy week of Thanksgiving crowds the week before, last week saw a return to a mix of low and moderate crowds across Walt Disney World Resort, as expected. Some parks, some times of the day still saw relatively high wait times but they were the exception, not the overall trend. Overall, last week was a good week to visit the resort. On December 5th, the crowd calendar was updated to reflect recent trends.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the Touringplans.com Disney World Crowd 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
4
2
On December 5th we updated the crowd calendar reflect the latest trends that we have measured around the resort. A few days too late for Animal Kingdom as it turned out. While at Epcot and Hollywood Studios we saw predictions that pretty much hit the mark, including 14 minutes at Living with the Land and 22 minutes at Spaceship Earth (predicted 22).
Epcot
4
4
Hollywood Studios
6
5
Animal Kingdom
8
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
7
Another slow day at Animal Kingdom on Monday with no attraction reaching an average posted time above 16 minutes. Meanwhile Magic Kingdom surprised us with wait times a few points higher than expected. Pirates of the Caribbean hit an average posted time of 42 minutes, a ’10′ out of ’10′ for that attraction.
Epcot
2
4
Hollywood Studios
4
4
Animal Kingdom
5
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
2
Very low crowds resort-wide on Tuesday, as predicted. In fact, the lowest we’ve seen since September. By contrast, Pirates averaged 15 minutes, while we saw averages of 3 minutes at Mission: Space (Green), 14 at Star Tours and 12 at Dinosaur.
Epcot
3
3
Hollywood Studios
4
2
Animal Kingdom
4
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
5
Another decent day for wait times on Wednesday with no park managing a crowd level above ’5′. We saw an exact match at Toy Story Midway Mania where we predicted an average of 61 minutes.
Epcot
4
3
Hollywood Studios
3
3
Animal Kingdom
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
2
Extra Magic Hour morning at Magic Kingdom plus a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on Thursday brought low wait times at that park. Averages as low as 18 minutes at Jungle Cruise and 17 at Space Mountain were about as low as they get for those two attractions.
Epcot
3
3
Hollywood Studios
3
3
Animal Kingdom
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
2
Another Party at Magic Kingdom on Friday and another day of low wait times. Friday brought a little bump in waits at Epcot and Hollywood Studios which had been been fairly quiet all week. Spaceship Earth averaged 23 minutes (predicted 19) while Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster hit 53, 20 minutes higher than history would suggest.
Epcot
4
6
Hollywood Studios
3
6
Animal Kingdom
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
8
One key impetus for our crowd calendar update was the high waits we’ve observed at Magic Kingdom on Saturdays this fall. Wedged between Party evenings on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Saturdays with Extra Magic Hour evenings have brought very high waits. Animal Kingdom reached a crowd level above ’2′ for the first time all week.
Epcot
5
5
Hollywood Studios
6
5
Animal Kingdom
4
5
What to Expect This Week
December 7 to 13, 2014
How Crowded is Disney World?
Watch out for the Christmas Day Parade taping at Magic Kingdom this week. Although wait times are low, Main Street will be quite congested. Wait times elsewhere around the resort will be moderate at worst but avoid Saturdays at Magic Kingdom if possible.
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 – November 30 to December 6, 2014 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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