Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1170
November 6, 2014
A Frozen Holiday Wish Debuts at Magic Kingdom (With Video)
Cinderella Castle with Holiday Lights. Photo – Laurel Stewart
This holiday season (and by “holiday season,” we, and Disney, mean the last two months of the year as soon as the Halloween decorations come down), the ceremony that illuminates Cinderella Castle’s “Dream Lights” has been reworked as A Frozen Holiday Wish. In prior years Cinderella and Fairy Godmother lit the castle in a show called, “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish.” The beautifully lit castle is a spectacle that makes seeing a huge crane in all your photos from the early fall and mid-winter mostly worth it.
This year the honors are done by Frozen‘s Elsa, with assistance from her sister Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf the Snowman. Lest you think Elsa just goes around lighting random castles, she does ask permission (from the crowd) first. SPOILER: The crowd says, “Yes”. The gist of the new show is that everyone wishes for snow at Christmas starting November 5. If only there were someone around who could create snow on demand….
While it sounds like I’m mocking the show, if you can get past the cheesiness of the storyline, it’s fun and pretty. The build-up to the lighting does seem to go on a little long, but the combination of castle projections and sparkling lights is very nice. My complaint is about the logistics of seeing the show. A Frozen Holiday Wish is wedged in with Dream Along with Mickey, Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It!, and/or an evening parade, which makes the hub – already crowded due to construction – really tight. Unless you really want to see Anna and Elsa on the castle stage, watch from a distance or risk getting boxed in and having to sit through Dream Along with Mickey.
Our video of the actual lighting is on YouTube. If you do a search you should find it from all angles, as it seems every blogger in Orlando, including yours truly, was there to get it online first. Or if you’re visiting this holiday season, check your Times Guide and see it in person. The show is scheduled at 6:15PM and 7:30PM on nights without special events. On nights with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (like tomorrow, Friday, November 7), it is scheduled for 6:15PM during normal park hours and 8:00PM during the separately-ticketed party.
Video from TouringPlans (apologies for the amateurish portrait orientation – it’s the only way to get the whole castle from close in):
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
A Frozen Holiday Wish Debuts at Magic Kingdom (With Video) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: November 6, 2014
By Daisy Lauren
Hi, Everyone! Welcome to the Best Week Ever here at Walt Disney World
! This week we’re visiting Epcot for a quick update and an awesome concert. Then we’re heading to Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios for more fun. Let’s get going!
The weather could not have been more perfect this weekend. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the air was cool and crisp. It was even cold in the evenings! If you take a look at the photo on the left you’ll notice the fountain in front of Spaceship Earth isn’t working. It actually hasn’t been for a while. Our joke has been it’s the mosquito breeding exhibit. 
Hopefully they’re able to repair it soon.
Want to see more exciting updates like this from around Disney World? Click to read more!
Walking through Future World I was so struck by the bright, blue sky. It’s so seldom that we don’t have a sky full of clouds. It reminded me of the kind of skies you find in Disneyland. For anyone not familiar, the photo below is of an area just between Spaceship Earth and the Fountain of Nations.
The real reason we’d stopped into Epcot was to see Dennis DeYoung. I wasn’t terribly familiar with him but my hubby insisted on seeing him. Wow, what a show! I think he might be the best performer yet during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series! We immediately decided to see all the concerts that night. The view of World Showcase Lagoon is very pretty from the waiting area for the American Gardens Theatre.
Here is just a short clip from one of the concerts. Dennis seemed to be having a lot of fun and was very engaged with fans. I saw him sign several autographs during then show in addition to the one during the video below.
After a night full of concerts there wasn’t much time for anything else, but Spaceship Earth looked even prettier on the way out!
Switching over to Animal Kingdom, this park is being slowly taken over by walls. It’s a little concerning that they haven’t mentioned what’s actually happening here because it feels like half the park is hiding behind construction walls. In addition to these below (at the park entrance) there are tons in Asia and Africa.
Speaking of Africa, on my way there I stopped into this gift shop and noticed a stunning view I’d been ignoring. Can you believe the detail just in a gift shop roof? The details in Animal Kingdom are amazing and I truly believe the park as a whole is underrated. Of course, this would make more sense a little closer to It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Just before entering Africa I noticed the enclosure I’d mentioned a few weeks ago has in fact become the new home for the cotton top tamarin. I actually think this is a little sad. Before they were on an island and while they were contained it gave the illusion that they weren’t trapped. Now they are truly inside an enclosure with what looks like wire mesh holding them in.
On the Kilimanjaro Safari you could tell that it was cold because the normal animals you see were mostly hiding. I assume they were somewhere warm and out of the wind. The black rhino was out pacing and oddly, several hippos were out of the water grazing. It must have been a little chilly to swim!
Several elephants were out and not bother by the cooler temperature. The big cats were not cooperating with me at all! Normally I’m able to get a decent photo of one of them if I ride a couple of times. Well, they were sprawled out napping in the sun every ride this weekend. Check out that lazy kitty!
While we were wandering around trying to decide what to do next we caught a whiff of something amazing and followed our noses. We ended up at the Royal Anandapur Tea Company looking at their long list of yummy loose leaf teas. I decided to try the green apple iced tea and it was wonderful! My hubby tried the honey vanilla rooibos hot tea and it smelled amazing! This was a great treat on a cool day.
Of course, we stopped in to see Flights of Wonder and the show was excellent. Several of the birds were misbehaving a bit and missing their marks. I wonder if it had to do with the chilly weather?
I decided to try out the 240 frames per second slow motion on my iPhone. I always think it’s amazing when the doves fly in and this really captured it.
Next we stopped by to see the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Apparently the tigers had heard about my bad luck with the lions earlier in the day and decided to help me out. 
There were several broken pumpkins around that I assume they’d played with to celebrate Halloween and few days before.
The bird house at the end of the Maharajah Jungle Trek is my favorite part. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rushed right here at park opening. The birds are socialized and as long as you’re quiet they’ll come right up to you. However, this late in the day it was very full and very loud meaning that most the birds were hiding up in the trees.
It was already well after lunch time at this point and I still wanted to hit the Disney’s Hollywood Studios before calling it a day so I headed toward the exit. I noticed even more new Christmas merchandise! Keep an eye out – I’ll have a post on Christmas goodies coming out tomorrow. (Sorry for the delay – I had it in when promised but with so many excellent writers on staff it took a little while to get scheduled.)
Also, if the original food magnets weren’t enough for you there are now even more! The down side is they are still $12.95. But can you really put a price on having a Mickey waffle on your fridge?
New Walt Disney World merchandise is also turning up. (Pictured left. Remember, you can click on any photo to see it larger) The odd thing is that this new merchandise doesn’t have a year listed on it. I’ve seen very limited items that actually say 2015. I wonder if Disney is getting away from dated merchandise in favor of something more generic? Also, the first Made With Magic items have started to appear in the parks. So far I’ve only seen the Minnie Mouse ears at $25. I’m holding out for a magic wand!
Next we hopped over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow. As you may have heard, it’s closing on November 6th and I wanted to get video for you before it’s gone forever. It was just after 3pm and I walked up ready to wait however long it took. As I approached the cast member handed me a sheet of paper telling me to come back at 7pm and explained there is no standby line. Wow, just no answer other than we’ll see you in four hours for this ten minute long show? I can see why it’s closing….
Undeterred, we walked over by the Frozen Sing-A-Long and were once again told without a FastPass+ we were out of luck and were sent to a FastPass+ kiosk. There they told us that four hours before closing the entire PARK was out of FastPasses and many shows would already be filling their last seating at that time. When we asked what we were supposed to do they suggested The Magic of Disney Animation or Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.
I think anyone reading knows that I stay very positive about these things and generally don’t have a bad thing to say about Disney, but what a disappointment! It’s a very dark time at the Studios, my friends. Unless you have your Fastpasses I would suggest you don’t bother. I saw many, many frustrated people trying to figure out some way to spend their time. The line at guest relations was so long I didn’t bother getting in it.
The silver lining is that this is still Frozen central! I noticed a new Christmas themed Olaf ($13.95) and a new Frozen Jim Shore figure ($65).
With nothing much to fill the next several hours we didn’t make it to see Jack Sparrow. I know there have to be big plans for this park, but I just wish they’d let us in on the secret. Today it just feels like it’s slowly going out of business one attraction at a time without giving anything back. Next on the list to possibly go: this hat?
One things for sure, eventually this park will be getting a Starbucks and that is one line worth waiting in.
That’s everything for this week. Now let’s see what you can expect if you’re visiting next week.
Crowd Calendar: Crowds don’t look terrible except for one spike on the 9th. Be sure to keep an eye on party dates and plan accordingly.
Weather: The weather should be great with high in the mid 70′s and lows in the 50′s.
Remember: November 10th is the last day of the Food & Wine Festival. Expect extra crowds at Epcot as everyone stops by one last time.
Here’s my top tip for this week: You can’t trust Florida weather! This is the time of year where the forecast changes drastically and often. It’s a good idea to come prepared with light clothing but also some cold weather gear, just in case. If you find yourself freezing without a coat it’s worth paying for a cab ride to the Orlando Premium Outlets. There you can get a quality coat for less than the price of a Disney sweatshirt.
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!
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: November 6, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
November 5, 2014
Frequently Asked Questions About Disney Cruise Line Photos
By Erin Foster
Whenever you visit a Disney theme park, you can expect to find photographers available to take your picture at key spots during your vacation. The same is true when you travel on Disney Cruise Line. Here’s what you need to know about Disney Cruise Line photo packages and options.
Does photography on the Disney Cruise Line ships work the same as PhotoPass or Memory Maker at Walt Disney World?
While there are some similarities, there are many differences as well. The first thing to note is that the shipboard photography and the parks photography are run by different vendors. The pricing structure is completely different. There’s no such thing as an all-in-one photo package for guests doing Land & Sea vacations. If you’re traveling to WDW and on DCL, you’ll have to purchase photos from each half of your vacation separately.
Who is the vendor for my cruise pictures?
Disney partners with MyCruisePhotos.com for on board photography services. If you have issues after your cruise has ended (your CD didn’t work or you want to make a post-cruise purchase, for example), MyCruisePhotos.com are the folks you’ll need to contact.
Do I have to have my photo taken while on a Disney Cruise?
The only photo you absolutely must haven taken when sailing on a Disney cruise is your pre-boarding identification picture. This is the photo that cast members will see when you scan your stateroom key when reboarding the ship in port. Other than that, no photo is mandatory. If you hate being photographed, or are 100% certain that you will never buy a photo, then feel free to wave off the photographers.
That being said, there may be some situations where it’s simply easier to smile and say cheese rather than go into a lengthy explanation about why you think your hair looks frightening when exposed to salt water.
Shutters hours vary daily.
Is there a charge for photos on the ship?
Just like in the parks, there’s no charge for them to take your photo. There are charges if you want to keep your photo. More info on that in a bit.
Are there character photo opportunities on the ships?
Of course there are! (It’s Disney, what did you expect.) Character meet & greet photo opportunities are listed in your daily Personal Navigator, on the downloadable Navigator app, and on video screens around the ship’s lobby.
The character photo process is essentially the same on the ships as it is in the Disney theme parks. Guests form a queue to meet the character. When it’s your turn, you approach the character, pose, and the photographer takes your picture. The photographer will scan your Key To The World card (your stateroom key) to link your photo to your stateroom account.
Do all character photo opportunities work that way?
The vast majority do, but there are a few twists you’ll want to be aware of.
Many sailings offer a character meal, typically breakfast, at which there will be a photographer. Also keep a lookout for possible “ticketed” character greetings. During 2014, Disney Cruise Line began offering timed tickets for meeting select characters. Primarily these were for the uber-popular Frozen gals, Anna & Elsa, but some other characters were tested as well. The tickets were free, but they were only available for a few hours on sail away day. During my most recent DCL voyage, there were nearly a dozen random opportunities to meet Mickey Mouse, but if you wanted to meet Anna & Elsa you absolutely had to obtain a ticket on the first day or you were out of luck. If there are any characters you absolutely must meet, be sure to check your Day-1 Navigator to make sure you’re not missing a ticket opportunity.
Photo viewing area on the Dream.
Are there photographers available at other locations?
Yes. You’ll begin encountering photographers even before you board. Expect to find photographers in the embarkation port terminal. They’ll be stationed in front of DCL logoed backdrops. You will also likely find a character photo opportunity as you board. As soon as you’ve checked in and have your Key To The World card in hand, you can begin having your vacation documented.
On many cruise nights, you’ll find at least a few stations for “Professional Portrait Photography.” These are either staged photos opportunities in a dramatic setting (the lobby atrium stairs) or staged photo opportunities with a Sears-Portrait-Studio-style fabric backdrop. Backdrops range from inoffensive and nondescript solid colors, to in-your-face (literally) photos of the ships.
Photographers will visit also every restaurant on the ship on select nights. This usually includes formal night and pirate night (if there is one), plus additional nights on longer sailings. They’ll stop by each table and will take as many shots as you want. Feel free to ask for group and individual pictures.
Is there anyone besides a character that I can take a photo with?
On most sailings, there will be an opportunity to have your photo taken with the ship’s captain. Check your Navigator for times. I’ve done this, but I’m not really sure why. The whole captain-as-celebrity thing just makes me feel nostalgic for watching Gavin MacLeod as the Love Boat’s Captain Stubing when I was in Middle School. (Seriously, how old am I?)
On some longer sailings, such as ocean crossings, there may be a minor celebrity guest on the sailing who will be available for photos.
Are there any places off the ship where I’ll find ship photographers?
Weather permitting, there will be at least a few photographers available when the DCL ships dock at Castaway Cay. On rare occasion, you may find a DCL photographer stationed outside the ship in another port. For example, during a Mediterranean voyage, I encountered DCL photographers on shore when disembarking at Villefranche and Civitavecchia.
Photos are taken during meals? Won’t we get lots of gross half eaten food in the shots?
The photographers are quite good at capturing faces without getting a lot of visual noise in the shot. They’ll often tell you to move some glasses to reduce clutter in the frame.
Most of the DCL photos also come with a non-removable border which can cover many of the distractions at the table.
I really can’t get the photo without the cheesy DCL border?
After you buy a download, you could try to crop out some of the Disneyfication of your picture, but there’s no way to buy a virgin copy.
Folders holding photo prints.
Will the ship photographers take pictures with my camera?
Often, but not always. During the character greeting photo ops, there is typically an assistant available who will be happy to use your camera to take a few shots. In my personal experience, they often don’t take much care to compose the shot well. They’ll get the job done, but it may not be pretty.
The photographers doing Professional Portrait Photography are usually on their own and are less amenable to using your equipment instead of theirs.
Are all photographers equally good?
Most sailings will have fewer than a dozen main photographers on board. You tend to see them over and over again, at character greetings, at meals, at portrait sessions, etc. After a while you can get a sense of their personalities and how they work.
The photographers are generally all competent. With the character photos, you’re not really going to have a choice about photographers; you get what you get. And your photo with Mickey is going to turn out just fine no matter who takes it.
With the Professional Portrait Photography, you can somewhat pick and choose which photograph to go with. Hang out in the lobby atrium for a while and you can see how each photographer interacts with different guests. Some are great with little kids, some are better staging large groups, etc. As with any visual medium, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to view the work of the different photographers on board and make your own assessment of their work.
Several simultaneous character photo shoots.
How do I do that?
Each ship has a photo store called Shutters. Any photos taken during your Disney cruise will be available to view at Shutters just a few hours after they are taken.
There are two ways to see your pictures at Shutters. You can scan your Key to the World card at any of several video terminals to see a slideshow of all the photos taken to date. Additionally, each stateroom will be assigned a specific physical folder which will be stored in a library-like bookcase. Photos are printed daily and stored in the folder. You’re welcome to look at these physical prints or the on-screen version.
By looking at the previously taken photos, you can make an assessment about the skill of particular photographers. During my voyage to Alaska on the Wonder this summer, my 18 year old daughter decided that photographer Justin had a good eye and insisted that we pose for him whenever possible. Or maybe it was just that he was cute and charming. In any case, we ended up getting or picture taken by Justin at least a dozen times.
Do they take photos throughout the voyage?
They’ll stop taking pictures early on the last full day of your cruise. Until then, you’ll have many opportunities for photos throughout your trip.
Setting up for some “Professional Portrait Photography”
I don’t want to waste time during my vacation. Can I pre-order my cruise photos?
Yes. You can do this by following this link and selecting your cruise date. However, I wouldn’t recommend that you do this. Unlike pre-ordering WDW park photos, there is no financial incentive to prepurchase your pictures. Ordering them on board takes less than a minute. And there’s always a chance that you’ll find that don’t want photos at all. For example, if you were to become ill and spend much of your trip in your cabin, you might not have any photos you want to keep, but with preordering you’ve already paid. It’s really just easier to wait until you’re on the ship.
Do the on board photographers have any cool technology tricks?
Well, in addition to scanning your Key to the World card to link photos to your account, the photographers may also use facial recognition software. For example, during the Tracy Arm glacier viewing day of that Alaskan cruise, all the photographers were out on the deck taking photos of guests with the mountains and glacier in the background. At no point were we asked for our Key card on this day, yet all our pictures were successfully placed in our stateroom folder. It’s pretty nifty, and slightly creepy.
Mid-2014 photo pricing for a 7-night cruise.
I want to buy some photos. What’s it going to cost me.
There are a number of price points.
If you just want a print or two, you can buy these individually. 8 x 10 prints cost $20.95. 6 x 8 prints cost $14.95. A package of 10 prints (either size) or 10 digital downloads costs $149.95. Twenty prints or downloads is $249.95.
If you want all your photos, you can get them on digitally on a CD for $349.95 for a 7-night cruise. To get all your prints to go along with the CD, add another $100. Cruises of fewer than 7-nights are priced slightly less for the CD. Long Transatlantic or Panama Canal crossings are priced slightly higher.
The digital offers are only available per stateroom.
Please be aware that prices change somewhat frequently. There are also sometimes different prices for different size photo print packages. The rates here are what I encountered in mid-2014.
I’m traveling with a large group booked in several staterooms, does this mean I have to pay multiple times for a CD?
Well, theoretically yes. You can sometimes work around this by having just the keys from one stateroom scanned when you have photos taken. This might take a bit of planning and coordination to accomplish, but it can obviously be a big money saver.
There may also be unadvertised specials for things like family reunions. For example, you may find that a second stateroom’s unlimited CD is 50% off if you’ve got multiple families traveling together. Speak to a desk agent at Shutters about possible price breaks.
I have teens and they’re staying in a second stateroom. Will I really have to pay twice for our family photos?
No. (Whew!) Children under age 21 staying in a separate stateroom can be included in their parents’ package. To make this happen, speak to a desk agent at Shutters while on board.
DCL borders come affixed to nearly every photo. You can’t remove them.
This all seems pretty pricey. Is it worth it?
Ah, the “is it worth it” question. This is always so hard to answer.
If you’re on a 12-night voyage for a family reunion and have a thousand photos taken, then getting the CD package is probably worth it. If you’re a honeymooning couple who never leaves their cabin on a 3-night cruise, then it may not be. You’ve really got to do the math and evaluate what makes sense for your unique situation and budget.
Is there a limit to the number of photos that can be included on a CD?
There is no limit to the number of pictures you can get in the one package. If you’re with a group on a long cruise, you really may have thousands of pictures.
If you think you’re going to end up buying the CD, then it makes sense to put your face in front of the DCL cameras as often as possible. On trips where we’re getting the photo package, my family makes a game of seeing how many different photo opportunities we can take advantage of in a single day.
I want one of the smaller packages, but I’m having trouble deciding which photos to select. Help!
No worries, you have some time to decide.
When you buy the 10 or 20 print download package, you’re actually given a CD with software and heavily watermarked versions of all your photos. When you get home you can view at the previews at length and then decide which are the 10 or 20 you like best. The software will allow you just “unlock” the number that you’ve paid for.
I’m booked on back to back cruises. Do I have to pay for two separate photo packages?
If you’re sailing back to back voyages and purchase an unlimited CD for the first trip, there are often discounts of up to 50% for the purchase of an unlimited CD for the second trip. Speak to an agent at Shutters about your options.
You may also purchase stock photos of the ship and of characters.
I’m having my wedding on the ship. Are these photos included in an unlimited CD package?
Different price structures apply for special events such as weddings and quinceneras, as well as for groups of 20 or more people. Again, speak to your event planner or an agent at Shutters.
Are there any other photo products to buy?
Photo books are $149.95.
Shutters will also often sell individual prints of the ship or of the characters in voyage-specific costumes. Expect to pay about $20 each for these. Shutter may also sell CDs of Disney stock photography of the ship, characters, or key sights at the ports.
I didn’t buy photos on the ship, but now I’m having non-buyers remorse. Is there any way to get access to my pictures after I’m home?
Try contacting MyCruisePhotos.com. There’s no guarantee that they can get you your cruise pictures. (Really!) But I have heard anecdotal evidence that some folks have had luck with this up to about a month after sailing.
What rights do I have to my photos?
There’s a whole lot of legal mumbo jumbo that goes along with your photo purchase.
The short version is that you have the rights to the pictures for personal use, but you’re not supposed to sell them. Making holiday cards to send to your pals is fine. Blowing up a photo of the ship and selling it at your holiday festival is probably not OK. But I’m not a lawyer, so if you have questions, you should consult with an expert about the fine print.
How do I take possession of my pictures?
If you’re just buying an individual print or two, you can take the print from your on board folder and pay for it at the Shutters desk.
If you’re getting a CD or photo book, you have to pick this up yourself at Shutters on the morning that your cruise ends. Signs will be posted about Shutters’ hours that morning (typically 7:00-9:00am), but they often will open much earlier than that. If you have an early flight home or are planning to do Express Walk-Off, then you should plan to be at Shutters well before the posted opening time.
What have your experiences been with shipboard photography? Do you have any tips to share? Let us know in the comments below.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Frequently Asked Questions About Disney Cruise Line Photos is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney World’s Harmony Barber Shop – A Magical First Haircut
By John Scanlan
Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A.
When planning our most recent Walt Disney World trip, we knew the crown jewel would be the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for our two daughters. It was something we had anxiously waited for and now it was finally going to happen. But, as we sat contemplating our other activities, my one year old son played on the floor in front of us. Not born bald, yet not born with the flowing locks some other children escape with, he was looking a bit shaggy for the first time. Though allowing him to cultivate a perfectly feathered mane of epic proportions entered my brain, I quickly yielded to my wife’s suggestion: as Disney fans, what better way to enhance our upcoming trip than to get our son’s first haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A.?
We had stopped into the Barber Shop on one previous occasion, just to check it out. Located at the beginning of Main Street, near where the Festival of Fantasy parade exits and around the corner from the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom stop in the firehouse, it is a small space with only four barber chairs and limited seating to wait. At that time—which was early May—we could hardly peak our heads in the door due to the number of people waiting for a trim. With this in mind, I went ahead and made an advanced reservation. I knew the day we would be in Magic Kingdom was a day it had a 7:00 PM closure, so I tried to make a reservation for as late as possible, thinking we could stop by for the haircut on our way out of the park. Unfortunately, the latest reservation available was for 5:15 PM. It would have to do.
We arrived around 5:00 PM and were surprised to find only one other customer in the Barber Shop, and they were just finishing up. Now, we did go during one of the slowest times of the year—early September—so I’m not really sure if the norm is closer to when we stopped by in May, or this occasion. To be safe, like most things, I would recommend making a reservation. For reservations, call 1-407-WDW-PLAY (393-7529).
There is definetly an old time feel at the Harmony Barber Shop.
Don’t let the barber shop stereotype deter you—it was an all female staff cutting hair that day, and they offer cuts for both men and women, boys and girls. Adult cuts will cost $19.00, while children cost $15.00. An added option for children is the First Haircut package, which includes a cut and comes with complimentary Mickey ears that read “My First Haircut” on the back. The cost was $18.00, which I felt was a great value as the cost to get our daughter’s first haircuts at our local Cartoon Cuts was $17.99 and obviously did not include a set of Mickey ears.
Though excited for our son to get his first haircut, we were concerned that he would not make it an enjoyable experience for anyone within earshot. He had already had two breakdowns earlier that day, and dinner time was inching dangerously close. We warned our barber that things may not go smoothly, to which she smiled and reassured us everything would be fine. She whipped out a few Mickey Mouse and Cars toys, which did well to distract him for most of his cut. She was very gentle with him, clearly having been in this situation numerous times before. After the first few snips our barber stopped to gather the cut locks and hand them over to us to commemorate the event. She quickly went back to work and before we knew it, it was all over. He had not only behaved, but was reluctant to relinquish his thrown—and new toys. While our son was still seated in the barber’s chair–and distracted–our barber presented him with his commemorative Mickey ears, and gently put them on his head. We were also given a certificate of recognition for his first haircut. The haircut took approximately 10 minutes and our bill was exactly $18.00 (ed. – Disney’s web site lists this package at $19). TIP: You can pay for your haircut via credit card, but if you want to leave a tip for your barber you will need to have cash handy as you will not be able to add it on to the total amount charged.
The finishing touch on your child’s first haircut.
All in all…it was a haircut. It’s not the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, nor is it the Pirates League. I actually thought the Harmony Barber Shop could have been themed a little better, to be honest. I probably would not take the time out of my vacation to get my own haircut there, but that speaks more to my feelings on how precious time is while at Walt Disney World. That said, I felt this was a truly great value for a unique Walt Disney World memory. The haircut was good, and the Cast Members were very attentive to my son. The milestone in my son’s life, though small, was enhanced for us by knowing it came on Main Street, U.S.A.
The details
Call 407-WDW-PLAY for reservations. Walk-ins are also accepted but expect a wait.
Kids’ (12 and under) cuts – $15, adults’ cuts – $19, My First Haircut package – $19, all plus gratuity and tax. Colored gels and hair glitter are available for an extra charge.
These are cuts only, no shampoo.
There is a $10 charge for no-shows for reservations if you don’t cancel 24 hours ahead of time.
The hours for Harmony Barber Shop are not posted online and do vary, but are generally 9 or 10 AM to 5 or 6PM.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Disney World’s Harmony Barber Shop – A Magical First Haircut is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
November 4, 2014
Video: Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party (Full Show)
Watch the full video of Magic Kingdom’s new Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! street party (Photo & video by Seth Kubersky)
Are you ready to move, shake, dance, and/or play your way through Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? If so, a brand-new…make that “sorta-new”…street show is ready to help you do just that. Recently, the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! mini-parade sailed off into the sunset, but its retirement was short-lived. As Daisy Lauren reported in her “Best Week Ever” column, a suspiciously similar new street party started running on October 24th under the name Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It!, and we have a full video of the entire show posted below, so you can see for yourself how much has (and has not) changed since its last incarnation:
As you can see, the parade floats are essentially unchanged, aside from some newly-installed video screens, and fresh characters and costumes. There is also a new theme song called “Party Up!,” but the big twist comes near the party’s end, when guests vote (by making noise) for one of three current pop songs to be played. As a final gimmick, guests are encouraged to post selfies to social media using the hashtag #MoveItShakeItPics in order to see their smiling faces shown on the floats’ video screens.
Like its predecessor, the new Move It! Shake It! street party isn’t really worth going out of your way for, especially if you plan on seeing the park’s superior Festival of Fantasy of Main Street Electrical parades. However, it packs a surprising amount of upbeat energy into 20 minutes, and provides great opportunities for audience interaction, perfect for little ones needing to dance their wiggles away.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Video: Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party (Full Show) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney World Planning Challenges: Jedi Training Academy—A Guide to Being Part of the Show
Jedi Training Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Photos by Sarah Graffam)
Jedi Training Academy is one of the most interactive and exciting experiences for kids ages 4-12 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. However, despite the show’s many years of popularity, Disney doesn’t offer FastPass+ to become a Jedi Training Academy participant or any other way to sign up in advance. The result is that participating in Jedi Training Academy requires more planning than many other experiences at Disney World.
During the approximately 20-minute show, children train with a Jedi master and then test their lightsaber skills against the dark side. Following are some basics about the show as well as some tips to help your child become part of the action.
Jedi Training Academy takes place on an outdoor stage to the left of the entrance to Star Tours several times each day. Recent schedules have 13-15 shows per day starting at 9:20 AM and going as late as 8 PM, with the higher number of shows on the weekends. At most times of the year, approximately 12 kids typically participate in each show, culminating in a face-off with Darth Vader. (During Star Wars Weekends and other busy times, the number of kids in the show can be higher and some may battle Darth Maul.)
Participating kids (or “potential Padawans,” as these young Jedi in training are called at the start of the show) become part of the action by donning brown robes and receiving training lightsabers. After a Jedi master teaches them a set of basic lightsaber moves, they see stormtroopers in action up close before witnessing a dramatic entrance by Darth Vader. After each gets a turn battling Vader, they all banish him from the stage using the Force. All participants then receive a Jedi training diploma.
The Cast Members in this show bring a lot of charisma to the stage, making it fun for both kids and adults. Comic relief from both the Jedi master and stormtroopers contrasts with the commands of Darth Vader and the otherworldly voice of Yoda at the end of the show pronouncing the participants to be Padawans.
Besides the action-packed fun, another good reason for Jedi Training Academy’s popularity is that it provides a great opportunity for parents to take photos and video. In addition, a Disney PhotoPass photographer is on hand to take multiple photos during the show. Before the show, the photographer will hand a card to parents with participating kids; the card provides access to all the pictures from the show. You can access all of these photos when you get home using the number on the back of the card. Tips: If you take the card to a PhotoPass location in the parks, you can narrow down the multiple photos to just those you want. Also, when you receive the card, immediately take a picture of the number on the back so you can’t lose it.
All of these features make it easy to see why Jedi Training Academy is so popular and why the limited number of shows each day can fill up quickly, even before the first hour. So if you think this is an experience that your child would enjoy and given that signups are day-of only, how can you plan for it to be part of your day at Hollywood Studios?
Here are the tips that you need to know before you go:
Jedi Training Academy is for children 4 – 12.
Signups for the show begin as soon as Hollywood Studios opens (even on days with morning Extra Magic Hours). An effective strategy is to get to the park early enough to be at the front of the line at the tapstiles. This way, you will be at the front of the pack heading over to sign up. Arriving 30-45 minutes before official park opening should put you in a good position on most days. (To ensure a timely arrival at the park, check out my recent article on managing your Disney morning.)
Very important: It is mandatory that each child who wants to participate be there at signup. The Cast Member will ask them a few questions to ensure they will be able to follow instructions during the show.
Once you and your child are through the tapstiles, immediately head to the signups at ABC Sound Studio. To get there, stay to the left side of Hollywood Boulevard and then pass by Echo Lake. Sometimes there are Cast Members with lightsabers indicating the way, and there is usually a Cast Member with a sign when you get there.
When you are offered a show time, you may be able to ask for a different time that works better with the rest of your day. Before the day you are visiting the park, you can take a look at Disney Hollywood Studios showtimes to see the schedule for Jedi Training Academy on specific dates. This way, you will know ahead of time which show times work with your other plans such as FastPass+ or dining reservations. Even so, plan to be flexible in case your choices are limited or the Cast Member can offer only one time; my personal experience is that Cast Members are willing to work around a dining reservation if possible.Although the sign up process can be quick, it can take a bit longer depending on where you are in the line and how busy a day it is at the park. To be safe, you may want to assume you won’t be done with the signup for 20-30 minutes; if you are done sooner, you’ll be ahead of the game.
In addition to the time needed for signing up in the morning, participants are asked to report for their show 30 minutes prior to show time.
If you are using one of the our personalized touring plans, you won’t be able to input the time of your show in advance. However, you can account for the time needed to sign up by setting your touring plan to start 15-30 minutes after park opening. Also, if you are not in the first show, you can account for being asked to report 30 minutes prior to show time by using the “Add Break” option if needed.
Following these tips should garner your child a spot in one of the day’s shows. Allowing enough time to sign up and participate will smooth the process. The popularity and longevity of Jedi Training Academy indicate that making an effort to participate is well worth it for many kids and their parents.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Disney World Planning Challenges: Jedi Training Academy—A Guide to Being Part of the Show is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
New Holiday Fun for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
©Disney
Guess what? The Holidays start this week at Walt Disney World, which means that beginning this week, on Friday, November 7 to be exact, is the first night of many for the Magic Kingdom hard-ticket event, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Each year, Disney adds new fun for guests to experience and this year brings a number of great new experiences for guests to enjoy.
First, we will see new characters in this year’s “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime” Parade. Not only are Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph being added to the mix of holiday merriment, but it wouldn’t be a party now without being able to see Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf from Frozen, too!
Speaking of getting to see your favorite characters, one of the biggest aspects of these type of events are the meet and greets. This year, guests will have the chance to meet Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Scrooge McDuck, and Santa Goofy who are all dressed for the occasion in Storybook Circus located in New Fantasyland! Also in Storybook Circus and new for this year, guests will also have the chance to meet Jack Skellington, who will be dressed as “Sandy Claws.” Be prepared, I expect this meet and greet to be extremely popular, with very long lines.
In addition, it wouldn’t be a hard-ticket event without a dance party…well…two to be exact. This year, guests in Tomorrowland looking to get funky can head to Cosmic Ray’s for “Club Tinsel.” Here, you’ll find Phineas and Ferb getting the party started. Over in Frontierland, guests can take part in the “Holiday Hootenanny!” at the Diamond Horseshoe. Guests will be able to dance with Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar, and Clara Cluck, and The Country Bears.
For those looking to get into the Holiday spirit, there really is no better way than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which takes place on select nights from November 7 through December 19.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
New Holiday Fun for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report – October 26 to November 1, 2014
Even less crowded than the week before, last week at Universal was a good week for crowds. We saw park levels in the bottom half of our scale all week.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the TouringPlans.com Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report:
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
3
3
Low crowds at both parks means that average wait times stayed below 30 minutes at most attractions. Sunday brought averages like 17 minutes at Disaster (predicted 13) and 11 minutes at Hulk.
Islands of Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
3
2
Not much difference on Monday with both parks showing low average wait times. We saw 19 minutes at Rip Ride Rockit (as predicted) and 19 at Forbidden Journey (predicted 26).
Islands of Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
3
More ’2′s and ’3′ on Tuesday, more average waits in the 20 to 30 minute range. Only Despicable Me (42) and Flight of the Hippogriff (37) managed wait times higher than 30 minutes.
Islands of Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
2
Even lower waits on Wednesday, the lowest of the week it turns out. Islands of Adventure saw single digit averages at Doctor Doom, Dragon Challenge, Hulk and many others.
Islands of Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
3
3
Thursday saw equally low crowds across both parks. Transformers: The Ride-3D hit 32 minutes but other than that, waits were minimal.
Islands of Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
4
Happy Halloween at Universal! The busiest day of the week so far at The Studios but still reasonably low average wait times. Perfectly manageable for guests arriving in the morning.
Islands of Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
5
A stark contrast in the crowd levels at each park on Saturday. We saw the highest crowd level of the week at The Studios but Islands of Adventure had wait times at the lowest level on our scale.
Islands of Adventure
3
1
What to Expect This Week
November 2 to September 8, 2014
How crowded is Universal Orlando Resort?
Halloween is over and November has begun. Crowds will continue to be light throughout the first three weeks of November but will increase substantially near Thanksgiving.
To see Universal Orlando Resort Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report – October 26 to November 1, 2014 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 – October 26 to November 1, 2014
Crowd predictions performed well last week at Walt Disney World with only one of our park level estimates missing by more than two index levels. Halloween crowds were lighter than year’s past although wait times did spike for some attractions on certain days.
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
2
4
’4′s and ’5′s across the resort on Sunday with most predictions within normal error ranges. Magic Kingdom was slightly busier than a normal Party day in late October but attractions like Big Thunder Mountain had reasonable average waits (33 minutes, predicted 32).
Epcot
5
4
Hollywood Studios
4
5
Animal Kingdom
4
5
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
5
6
Magic Kingdom guests took advantage of the longer park hours on Monday, pushing wait times a little higher than the day before. Meanwhile, all three other parks averaged wait times that hit the lowest third on our scale.
Epcot
5
3
Hollywood Studios
4
3
Animal Kingdom
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
2
2
Tuesday’s crowd at Magic Kingdom was the lowest of the week with average wait times like 15 minutes at Buzz Lightyear (predicted 21) and 19 at Pirates of the Caribbean (predicted 18).
Epcot
5
4
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
3
5
Wednesday’s crowd level was a ’1′ at Animal Kingdom, the lowest at that park since September. We saw averages of 12 minutes at Dinosaur (predicted 25) and 13 at Expedition Everest (predicted 24).
Epcot
5
4
Hollywood Studios
4
3
Animal Kingdom
3
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
2
For the second day of the week, no park had a crowd level above ’4′. Thursday’s average wait times were 41 minutes at Peter Pan’s Flight (as predicted) and 19 at Kilimanjaro Safaris (predicted 22).
Epcot
6
4
Hollywood Studios
4
3
Animal Kingdom
3
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
4
Happy Halloween! We would not have been surprised if a Friday Halloween brought larger crowds than usual for October 31 but wait times actually stayed below expectations across the resort.
Epcot
6
3
Hollywood Studios
4
4
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
5
Saturday’s wait times were the highest of the week, by far. All headliners at Animal Kingdom averaged waits higher than 25 minutes.
Epcot
5
4
Hollywood Studios
5
5
Animal Kingdom
4
6
What to Expect This Week
November 2 to 8, 2014
How Crowded is Walt Disney World?
Halloween is over, November has begun. We don’t expect crowds to be significantly large until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Temperatures will be cooler and the parks will be pleasant for touring.
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.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Disney World Crowd Report – October 26 to November 1, 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 – October 26 to November 1, 2014
Last week, our Disneyland crowd predictions performed very well, with only one prediction missing by more than 1 index level. Crowds were low during the week and busier on the weekends, as usual. We might have expected a busier Halloween crowd given that this year Halloween fell on a Friday but wait times remained reasonable.
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
6
7
Sunday’s crowd would turn out to be the busiest of the week, by far. We saw a 58 minute average wait time at Space Mountain (predicted 50).
Disney California Adventure
5
5
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
4
4
Mickey’s Halloween Party drew a crowd level ’4′ on Monday, as predicted. Average waits included 26 minutes at Alice in Wonderland (predicted 22) and 33 at Indiana Jones Adventure (predicted 26).
Disney California Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
4
Tuesdays numbers were within normal ranges although we missed Disneyland low and DCA high. Estimates were only slightly off though, we didn’t miss any major attraction by more than 10 minutes.
Disney California Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
3
Wednesday’s crowds brought more of the same that we saw in the first part of the week, low wait times. Disney California Adventure saw very low waits like 17 minutes at Toy Story Midway Mania (predicted 26).
Disney California Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
3
Thursday’s crowd was a repeat of Wednesday. We saw average wait times under 30 minutes for most of the headliners at both parks.
Disney California Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
4
4
Happy Halloween at Disneyland! We sometimes see a spike in crowds on the day of Halloween so we may have expected a crowd level higher than a ’4′ this year since it fell on Friday. Wait times were modest however, like 19 minutes at Big Thunder Mountain (predicted 16).
Disney California Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
5
5
We hit the mark on both predictions Saturday thanks to attraction level estimates that were within 8 minutes at most headliners. Saturday saw the biggest crowds since the previous Sunday.
Disney California Adventure
4
4
What to Expect This Week
November 2 to 8, 2014
How Crowded is Disneyland Resort?
Halloween is over and November has begun. We don’t expect to see significant crowds at Disneyland until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Until then, enjoy relaxed touring at both parks.
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.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest • Print
Disneyland Resort Crowd Report – October 26 to November 1, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Bob Sehlinger's Blog
- Bob Sehlinger's profile
- 30 followers
