Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1178

Disney World’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique-A Dad’s Perspective

By John Scanlan

Worth every penny.

Living close to Walt Disney World, our trips are usually short ones. We have always opted for frequent, short visits, rather than infrequent, extended stays. This year was going to be different, however. We had the trip to end all trips planned. We were set for the first week of September, in hopes of taking advantage of low crowds and free dining. We were also going to splurge on a few things we had yet to do in our years as Disney enthusiasts, and one of those things—the one we were most excited about—was taking our four and six year old daughters to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. After years of watching them gawk longingly at little Princesses walking up and down Main Street, U.S.A. it was finally going to be their turn.

Then, as the best laid plans of mice and men often do, things changed. Nothing earthshattering, yet the budget for our once mammoth trip was sudden smaller. Much smaller. Things would have to be cut, and as my wife and I began witling away, we both knew what the biggest piece of the pie was. Still, we couldn’t bring ourselves to do it. Instead, we decided to cut our trip down to two nights, downgrade our hotel to All-Star Sports, and just be otherwise thrifty where we could. Sure, I debated on if this was the right decision in the weeks leading up to our stay. For reassurance I consulted our daughters on which they would prefer—a longer trip or to keep their appointments at the Boutique—and both were certain they wanted their royal makeovers. In truth—as much as I wanted to spend the extra time on Disney property—I was glad they had stuck with the Boutique. There was no assurance we would be able to take them in the future if they passed on it now, and though my oldest was only six, I feared this would be the last opportunity she would have to really enjoy the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience before she outgrew it. And the last opportunity we would have to enjoy her enjoying it.

Of the two locations for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique—one at Downtown Disney Marketplace and one inside Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom—we had chosen the Magic Kingdom location. Our appointment was set for 9:10 AM and we arrived at the gate around 8:30 AM that morning. Appointments for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are treated similarly to dining reservations in that you are cautioned to arrive fifteen to thirty minutes early, and you will be allowed into Magic Kingdom before the park opens if needed to meet that requirement. However, what we were actually told upon arrival at the gate was that, though Magic Kingdom was not scheduled to officially open until 9:00 AM on that day, they would be allowing all guests in at 8:45 AM, and so if your reservation was for 9:05 AM or later, you were told to wait and enter with everyone else. Any reservations prior to 9:05 AM were sent to the park entrance closest to the monorail where a Cast Member would check you in and allow you to enter early for your reservation. Being that our reservation was for 9:10 AM we waited and entered with everyone else, however, we still had plenty of time to get to Cinderella’s Castle in advance of our scheduled time. TIP: Reservations are a must for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, especially for the Magic Kingdom location. The early morning times will generally fill up first as a lot of people will pair a makeover at the Boutique with breakfast at neighboring Cinderella’s Royal Table, so I would strongly recommend making reservations when they first become available six months in advance. Also, if you do have a reservation for prior to the official opening of Magic Kingdom, make sure you have the reservation number with you. Unlike dining reservations, Boutique reservations do not get linked to your Magic Band and can not be seen by a Cast Member simply by scanning them.

Your child will receive their invitation upon check-in.

The first thing we discovered upon entering the Boutique was that it was very small. The second was that it was very busy. As was our plan, crowds during our stay were very light. At EPCOT we waited 10 minutes in the standby line for Soarin’ at 11:00 AM. At Magic Kingdom, we parked in the first row of the Heroes parking lot. The wait times for Splash, Big Thunder, and Space Mountains rarely got above 10 minutes, and never above 20. Yet there was hardly enough room to move in the Boutique waiting area, and there was definitely no available seating. Nevertheless, we were greeted warmly by the Cast Member at the check-in area and asked which package our Princesses would be requiring.

There are 4 packages for girls at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and even 1 package for boys. The Coach Package includes hairstyling, shimmering make-up and face gem, and a princess sash and tote. It costs $54.95, plus tax. The Crown Package includes everything in the Coach Package and adds nail polish. For the Crown Package you will pay $59.95, plus tax. Next up is the Courtyard Package, which includes all of the previously mentioned items and adds a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique t-shirt and a trendy tutu. The Courtyard package costs $94.95, plus tax. Lastly, the Castle Package has all the items of both the Crown and Coach Package, plus a complete costume of the Disney Princess of your choice, and a photo package containing one 6” x 8” photo and four 4” x 6” photos in a princess-themed holder. The Castle Package comes in at $194.95, plus tax. There is also a package listed for boys called the Knight Package. It includes hairstyling with gel, a mighty sword and shield, and confetti.

As for my girls, we had actually had this discussion prior to leaving for our trip. Sure, going with the cheapest package probably could have provided us with the funds for at least one more night at our All-Star Sports accommodations, but I knew not allowing our 4 year old the ability to pick out and wear a princess costume would be torturous for her. The whole thing wouldn’t have been nearly as special to her if she was unable to wear the fancy gown. Even though I was crying inside, I smiled at the Cast Member and told her we would be requiring two Castle Packages.

The available princess costumes will be hanging in the waiting area for your child to choose from.

Next she directed us to the back wall of the waiting area that was displayed with all the Disney Princess costumes they had available that particular day. At times certain costumes do sell out and become unavailable, but on this particular day it appeared everything was in stock. Our choices were: Belle(Beauty and the Beast), Aurora(Sleeping Beauty), Anna(Frozen), Elsa(Frozen), Merida(Brave), Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine(Aladdin), Rapunzel(Tangled), Tinkerbell, and Tiana(Princess and the Frog). My 4 year old daughter chose Belle, while my 6 year old daughter chose Aurora. After the decisions were made, the Cast Member whisked us to a dressing room in the back of the Boutique. Inside, both costumes were hanging up, and both girls were given a crown and a large plastic wand. Each wand and crown is uniquely themed to each princess. Aurora’s crown was made of a hard plastic, was pink, and had her picture in the center. Belle’s crown was a bendable plastic, was yellow, and also had her picture in the center. Likewise, Aurora’s wand was pink with her picture on it and a heart at the top, while Belle’s was yellow with her picture on it and a rose at the top. Both wands also lit up with the push of a button. After changing into their costumes and ensuring they fit correctly, we were brought back to the waiting area until it was our turn.

The “salon” room itself was rather small, with all the Fairy Godmother-In-Training work stations set up along the wall forming a horseshoe around the room. In the center of the room was a long couch for parents to sit on while watching their princesses-to-be. The backing to this couch does go up quite high, forming a barrier in the center of the room. Our concern was that our girls would be split up making it impossible for us to be able to enjoy each one separately, however, we were assured that, while typically the girls will not go in consecutive order, they would not be separated either (meaning that they would be seated next to, or close by one another, as availability allowed).

Fairy-Godmothers-In-Training hard at work.

Our four year old was seated first, about twenty minutes after our appointment was scheduled to begin. Shortly after her makeover began, our six year old was seated in the chair next to her. TIP: If the shoulder straps on your child’s costume are too big ask your Fairy-Godmother-In-Training to adjust them. This was the case with my four year old, and her Fairy-Godmother-In-Training was able to adjust it with a small, clear rubber band.

After the costume adjustment, the first decision that needs to be made is a hair style, of which there are 4 to choose from. TIP: The Fairy-Godmother-In-Training may show pictures of the different hairstyles to your child to choose, not to you. If you have a certain style in mind, or if you want to be the one to make the decision, tell her as your child sits down.

My wife chose to have each girl’s hair put into a bun and each girl also had a small metal tiara tucked securely atop their head, and their own Hidden Mickey—a small metal Mickey clipped into the back of their hair. If this is a hairstyle you are considering please do not be concerned about the bun coming undone or your child’s hair being mussed throughout a day of thrill rides. With the tightness of the bun and the amount of product used to hold it, I am fairly certain hurricane force winds couldn’t break a strand free.

After their hair was done, their nails and makeup was next. Each girl got to choose their own eye shadow and nail polish color, as well as which sparkling face gem (sticker) would be placed on their cheek. TIP: This will be stressed when making the appointment, but ensure your child does not have any nail polish on already at the time of their appointment. The Fairy-Godmother-In-Training will not take it off in order to put new nail polish on.

The makeover ended in a very special way as the Fairy-Godmother-In-Training waved her magic wand over each girl, said the magic words of “Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boo”, and sprinkled pixie dust over their newly styled hair. As a parent, what comes next may be the most important part of all. The big reveal. During their makeover, your child has been facing away from the mirror the whole time and has no idea how princess-like they look. Ensure you have your camera ready, your hand steady, and your eyes dry as they are spun around to gaze at their royal selves for the first time. Their reaction will be priceless (though Disney makes a good effort to quantify it on your final bill).

Eye shadow applied in the color of your child’s choosing.

With the makeover complete, our little ones emerged from their throwns invigorated and anxious to strut their stuff around the park. Their Fairy-Godmother-In-Training last act was to pin a princess sash over their costume and hand them a small tote containing—not only the left over eye shadow and nail polish—but the colors they didn’t choose as well. All in all, each makeover took roughly twenty five minutes. Next up was royal photo shoot at Castle Couture, which was just to the left as we exited Cinderella’s Castle.

Once in Castle Coiture there is a small picture studio where we gave our Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique receipt to a Cast Member working there. Once our package was verified we were ready to get started. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the photo session. I had assumed it would be a few quick shutter snaps and we’d be sent on our way, but instead it was very professional and well done. We had photos taken of our girls together and separately and the whole process took about fifteen minutes. We were fortunate that when we arrived the people ahead of us were just finishing up, however, when we left there was a line of about four families so there is a possibility you could be waiting for some time. Once the photos were complete we were told to return in about a half hour to choose which ones we wanted. Upon our return we had approximately thirty photos on a monitor to look through in order to choose the best ones. And, again, this can take some time, so if you have four families a head of you in line again be prepared to wait maybe as much as forty five minutes. All in all our experience with the photo session was very good, and I was very pleased with the photos we received, however, there were a few discrepancies that I found between what was advertised in the Castle Package description and what was actually received. The description on the Walt Disney World website promised one 6” x 8” picture and four 4” x 6” pictures in a princess themed holder for each girl. What we received was one 6” x 8” and two 4” x 6” pictures in a princess folder for each girl. The description of a “princess themed holder” is rather ambiguous and I guess, technically, the folder is a holder and was, indeed, princess themed, but the picture total could be an issue. Unfortunately, I did not catch this discrepancy until we were back home so it is unknown to me if this was an error on the part of the Cast Member who told us that we could only choose two 6” x 8” pictures, or if this is an error on the website. Life goes on.

No makeover is complete without a little Pixie Dust.

Now, for the bill. The total amount tendered for services rendered was…gulp…$415.25. Of that $415.25, $129.90 was for the costumes ($64.95 apiece). $35.90 was for the crowns ($17.95 apiece). $39.90 was for the wands ($19.95 apiece). The pictures were valued at $26.90 ($13.45 apiece) but were applied as a credit to the total. We knew what the total would be prior to paying, so there was no shock at the cash register, but as I read the itemized receipt a few things stood out to me. First, the photos—regardless of if we were shorted on them or not—I thought were an exceptional value. I’m sure their cost was worked into the final amount somehow despite the receipt saying otherwise, but they were of excellent quality. Each had a nice, glossy finish, were touched up to remove any blemishes, and cropped perfectly. I would expect to pay $30.00 to $40.00 for these pictures anywhere else, so I was pleasantly surprised such fine quality photos were included in our package. Next, I thought the costumes were a fairly good value. Trust me on this one. I have a daughter who becomes no less than three different princesses a day. My chief fatherly duty is Velcro fastener. Believe me when I say that these were more dresses than costumes. They seemed much sturdier than the dresses we have purchased at Walmart or Toys-R-Us and I have no concern that they will last for quite some time. The $64.95 price tag on them can be debated, but it is entirely possible that they could be worn for Halloween, which would help recoup some of that cost.

When everything was said and done, I reflected on if I had any regret or buyer’s remorse. Was the experience worth the extremely high price? Though my wife and I had agreed that this would be the only time our girls would experience the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, without doubt or qualification I knew the answer was yes. Absolutely, yes. As you would expect from Disney Cast Members, the Fairy-Godmothers-In-Training we had were excellent. They played their parts to perfection and made each girl feel as if they were the center of their own fairytale. The pride and excitement they felt while sitting in those Boutique chairs only grew as the day wore on with every person who smiled at them as they walked through Magic Kingdom. They were special in the most special place on earth, and I could see how much that meant to them. As we settled in to bed that night, the only light coming from the classic Disney cartoons playing on the television, I heard my six year old say softly—to no one in particular—“I can’t believe we got to go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.” I knew then that it was worth every penny.

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Memento Mori: A Hauntingly Good Time

By Daisy Lauren

Hello all you guys and ghouls! Just in time for Halloween, a new gift shop has opened right in front of The Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom. To be precise Mementi Mori, opened on October 6, and we were there to check out all the new goodies so we could share them with you.

If you plan on stopping by, be aware that you might encounter a line just to enter the newest store in the Magic Kingdom! At roughly 7pm the line stretched nearly to Fantasyland and took just shy of 20 minutes to wait through. Once inside, the tiny shop was crammed wall to wall with people. Luckily, everyone inside was a fellow fan of the ride, and everyone was pretty civil. 

 

So want to see what horrors are inside this creepy shop? You’ll have to read more to see!

Just inside the shop are a couple displays of art work. You can tell that the shop just opened today because many items simply didn’t have price tags. You’ll also have to forgive the photos not being up to my normal quality. As soon as I got in the door I handed my big camera off to the hubby, realizing I’d need to switch to something smaller to get any photos around the crowd. While you can’t tell from my photos, it was PACKED in here!

 

Here are another few art pieces. If you’re a fan of The Haunted Mansion plaque pictured below right, then check out Guy’s video on it here.

 

There are some seriously fun hats that I’ve never seen before in this new store. The one pictured on the right is $39.95 and really is a top hat! It is large enough to fit an adult, so I imagine these will be popular!

 

Pictured below left is a pen inside a coffin box. While it very much feels like plastic, it’s pretty nice for $29.95 and drool worthy for the mansion lover in your life. The tin signs on the right are fun too!

 

One of my favorite things from the shop was the bride plush below left. It was pricey at $21.95, but it warmed my heart to already see so many little girls carrying them around! Below right are hitchhiking ghost figures that I haven’t seen anywhere before!

 

Pictured below left is a pack of notepads. I don’t think I could get away with these in the office, but I like them! Below right is a postcard of the changing painting before you enter the stretching room. As you move it to different angles, it changes just like it does as you wait to enter on the ride. There is also an angle where it says, “The Haunted Mansion.” It’s a steal at $1.95 and another item I haven’t seen anywhere else!

 

Pictured below left is a luggage tag, and below right is a key chain. They really did it right in this shop and finally have given us all the merchandise we’ve been waiting for. There is a limit of 6 items per guest, and I saw people really having to pick and choose to make it.

 

Of course, there’s a lot for the pin lover in your life! I loved the thick lanyard pictured far left. It isn’t really from the Mansion, but it had that look and feel. The mystery pin boxes are $14.95 each but come with two pins each. Remember, passholders do get a discount in the shop!

 

Below left are ornaments of the singing busts that we’ve seen before. Below right was an adorable plush of the hitchhiking ghosts. It looks like their hands are connected and they come in sets of three, but I couldn’t get close enough to get all the details!

 

Below left are the infamous magic bands. Since these are a special edition you have to tie them to an account at the time of purchase. Below right is a thick sheet of magnets. They were really nice quality and very bright!

 

Here are the ghost host shirts live and in person! I don’t think they’re terribly flattering, but they were selling as quickly as they could get them out on the shelves!

 

Below are brand new haunted mansion makeup and accessories. There was also a headband that looked like the ones the maids wear in the haunted mansion, but they had just sold out of those. It sounded like it was one of the only items they’d run out of so far. The cast members were doing an excellent job stocking the shelves despite the crowds.

 

Below left are themed neck ties. Like many items in the store they didn’t have price tags, but rather a sign in front of them. I anticipate the price will go up quickly if they sell. (They are already priced higher than the Disney Store online.) Below right is a ghost host baseball cap.

 

Phone cases were available for the iPhone 5s and 6, starting at $36.95. They also had these awesome mugs, pictured right.

 

Proving that spooky can be fashionable is this gorgeous t-shirt on the left. I’m also a big fan of this fun, floppy hat on the right featuring the hitchhiking ghosts. The colors were really beautiful on this hat. They picture doesn’t do it justice.

 

For the kitchen you can pick up this lovely apron for $29.95. There were also lots of new plates and bowls. Everything was very nice quality and even better than the pictures.

 

Below left is a tea towel featuring one of the stretching room paintings. Below right is the new mirror. This was the only item I didn’t really “get.” Nothing about it felt like the haunted mansion to me. Maybe I’m missing something?

 

Overall, I’m delighted with Memento Mori. It isn’t full of generic items you can just get anywhere else. Disney really hit a home run with giving Mansion fans exactly what they want! Remember, if you can’t make it to the parks, some items are available for order here, and you can always call Walt Disney World Merchandise Guest Services at 877-560-6477. Memento Mori is store number 2140.

So what’s your favorite item? Are you excited to stop by on your next trip? Do you have any questions that we can help with? Please let us know in the comments below, and as always thanks for reading and commenting! 

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Toy Story Mania Testing FastPass+ Only Option This Week

By Rikki Niblett

For those who are visiting Walt Disney World this week and will be making a stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be aware that if you want to ride Toy Story Midway Mania, you must obtain a FastPass+ reservation in order to do so.

Currently the attraction is testing a situation where is no standby line. To ride, guests must make a FastPass+ reservation via the My Disney Experience website or app or by using one of the FastPass+ kiosks located in the park. Disney has said that it is adding additional FastPass+ reservations to the system for guests, so if you don’t currently have a reservation for the attraction, you should check to see if one is available.

This test will take place through Thursday, October 9. The regular standby line will return for guests to be able to use alongside FastPass+ on Friday, October 10. Previously Soarin’ and Princess Fairytale Hall – Meet Anna and Elsa have tested this “FastPass+ Only” configuration.

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The Disney Dazzle: Wishes Fireworks Cruise

By Angela Dahlgren

Mom and Dad sharing a special moment

Today, I’m going to share my experience attending the Wishes Fireworks Cruise. I first went on this cruise in 2011 and again in September 2014. This most recent time, it was a birthday surprise for my dad. If you know me personally, you will understand just how hard it is for me to keep a secret. The cruise can be booked as early as 180 days in advance, but mine was booked about 90 days beforehand. That’s 90 whole days I had to keep my lips zipped…I barely made it! After a fun day at the parks and a delicious dinner at The Brown Derby (Yes, he was spoiled rotten!), we arrived at the Contemporary. We led my confused dad through the lobby and outside to the marina. He had no clue what this birthday surprise could be!

Birthday Surprise!

We walked up the marina at precisely 9:00 p.m. and were greeted by Captain Rich. He explained that he would be taking us on a nighttime pontoon tour around Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. As we approached the boat, my dad broke out in a huge smile. The pontoon had been decorated with balloons and a huge banner reading, “Happy Birthday!” Upon finding a spot on the boat, Captain Rick offered us an assortment of beverages and snacks. What a treat! Now, there were ten of us and I must say, there was plenty of room. No one felt cramped on this 25 foot boat, and we were all comfy cozy as we left the dock and began our adventure.

As he drove us around Bay Lake, Captain Rich filled our minds with Disney history and trivia. At one point, we passed a tree littered with white shoes! When I inquired about this, Rich informed us that after captains retire, they head over to this tree and toss their white shoes into the branches. Close to the tree was the abandoned River Country water park. As Rick shined his flashlight on the ghost town, it was an eerie and spooky sight to behold. When we passed Wilderness Lodge, Rich told us to look closely. The builders designed the outside of the lodge to look like the face of a bear. Hint: The top two triangle-shaped windows are the eyes and the one below is the nose.

Terrible Quality, but look! Snacks!

As we entered Seven Seas Lagoon, it was time for my dad’s next surprise. At the time I booked the cruise, I had also ordered a cake. The cake was delivered ahead of time and hidden from sight until this moment. My husband walked up to my dad with the cake and we all sang Happy Birthday. As we cut and ate the cake, Rich continued to steer the boat. He suddenly stopped and directed our attention to the right. Mere yards away from us was…the Electric Water Pageant! It was so exciting to witness the colorful lights and gleeful music while Rich ticked off facts such as how long the pageant had been running (since 1971) and how many captains were needed to steer the floats (Four). It was so unexpected and only added to the excitement of what was to come.

After the show, we traveled farther into the Lagoon, passing the Grand Floridian, and construction central – the Polynesian. Captain Rich pointed out the DVC villas at the Polynesian and showed us the private splash pool at each one. He also told us about the homes and condos on Disney property for purchase…a vacation home next the the Magic Kingdom? Yes, please!

Amongst all the friendly chatter and Disney facts, I hardly noticed that our boat was slowing down. I turned my head and directly in front of me was a perfect view of Cinderella Castle. Rich turned our attention to the castle and switched the radio on. With that, the Wishes fireworks show began. The audio came through the radio speakers, and we heard the familiar, “Star light, staarrr bright. First star I see tonight,” as white lights filled the air. If there ever was a perfect view to watch Wishes, this is it. Sitting on a boat, surrounded by loved ones, with a cool breeze on my face and joy in my heart. It was a beautiful show and we all may have shed a tear or two, although the men on board will never admit it!

Electric Water Pageant

Following the brilliant spectacle, we headed back to the Contemporary. As I sat by my dad, he looked at me, his face radiating with happiness and said, “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.” Disney provided us the opportunity to personalize a relaxing and intimate birthday celebration full of Disney trivia and several magical surprises. We left behind our everyday stress and responsibilities and continued forward with a special memory to hold onto forever.

For those of you who are interested in your own fireworks cruise, allow me to break it down for you.

Basic Wishes Cruise ($292.88) includes:

Room for up to eight people
Captain (included in cost)
Beverages and snacks
Opportunity for Private Dining (additional food that can be delivered, such as our cake)

Premium Wishes Cruise ($346.13) includes:

Room for up to ten people
Captain (included in cost)
Beverages and snacks
Opportunity for Private Dining
Wishes Audio music

Spoiler: My dad’s name is Tom!

Other information and tips

The entire experience lasts about 1.5 hours
The boat departs 30 minutes prior to the Fireworks show
Birthday decorations are an additional $25.00
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance
I would strongly suggest arriving 30 minutes before your scheduled time
To make reservations, call 407-WDW-PLAY

Have you attended a specialty cruise? What was it like? Share your story in the comments!

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New Canadian Lumberjack Show Debuts at Epcot

By Rikki Niblett

This weekend, I was walking around Epcot and was able to catch one of the first shows of the all new Canadian Lumberjack Show located on the Mill Stage at the Canada Pavilion. The new live entertainment offering lasts for about 15 minutes or so, and while I was there for what’s still considered to be a preview, the show seems to be what we all suspected it would be: a traditional log competition show.

The show started with introductions; there are two teams, a red team and a blue team, and, yes, they are wearing flannel indicating who’s who.

The show starts with axe throwing, where the participants take a large axe and throw it at a target, getting points based on how close they get it to the bulls-eye.

 

The next competition involves traditional log sawing with hand-held cross-cut saws. The winner is whomever finishes first.

 

The third event is called hot-saw racing, and it involves chainsaws. Keep in mind these chainsaws are extremely loud, so if you’ve got those with sensitive ears in your group, make sure they cover their ears or bring ear plugs.

 

The final event is the underhand chop, where they chop a piece of wood in half by standing on the log and swinging the axe in between their legs. Wood flies everywhere during this event, and while they do keep guests pretty far away from the stage for safety, just be aware that chunks of wood could potentially fly pretty darn far.

The host tries to keep things light with jokes, and he also does explain what is going on, teaching guests about the different techniques being displayed. I did learn a thing or two about sawing; however, I will say the show overall was just ok. I am not someone who is bitter about Off Kilter going away, and I really did give this show a full chance, so that is not clouding my assessment of the show. During the show I caught, it was clear that there were still some kinks being worked out, and I could see nerves were playing a part, too. The guys who put on this show are clearly trying, working hard to perform the different acts that are a part of the competition, and they are likely well aware that quite a few guests are not going to like them clearly based on principle, so for that I give them credit for the valiant effort that they are putting forth. But, honestly, this is a show that I think most guests will catch as they are walking past and not something that I think guests will make an effort to see (unless they really like lumberjack shows).

Do keep in mind that for the next week or so, this show is in soft-opening mode, so things may change a bit as we move forward.

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What To Do The Night Before Your Disney Alaska Cruise

By Kristi Fredericks

Just in case you haven’t been following along, let me take a moment to catch you up! Fellow TouringPlans Blogger Erin Foster and I went on an amazing Disney Alaska Cruise this summer with our families. We had an incredible time aboard the Disney Wonder and in Alaska experiencing some fantastic Port Adventures like dog sledding, the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, and viewing the Misty Fjords National Monument by float plane.

Before we set off on our exciting voyage, we each spent the night in Vancouver; Erin and her family at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport and my family at the Fairmont Waterfront. My family arrived early on the day before our Disney Alaska Cruise so we had some time to check out Vancouver. Please read on to find out all about our adventures exploring Canada Place, walking the Sea Wall and touring Gastown!

Directly across the street from the Fairmont Waterfront is Canada Place; the Vancouver cruise terminal. We thought that it would be the perfect place to start exploring. We spent lots of time wandering around the outside areas of the terminal. There were so many fun things to check out like interesting photo opportunities, historical information and entertaining things to try. One of the best things we found at the terminal was FlyOver Canada. It is basically Epcot’s Soarin’ set in Canada. Of course, as soon as we spotted it, we knew we had to ride it. The attraction was terrific! It is expensive, $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids, but it includes a spectacular preshow and then a ride that is equally as good as Soarin’ and twice as long.

After we were finished investigating Canada Place, we headed off for a walk along the Sea Wall. The Sea Wall is a 22 kilometer (about 13 1/2 mile) paved path along Vancouver’s waterfront. It is divided into two sides; one for walkers and joggers and the other for bicycles. We spent about two hours walking from Canada Place to Stanley Park and back. We thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful stroll and stunning scenery. For a little change of pace, here are some of the black and white photos I took along the way.

By this time we were all starting to get hungry and tired, so we decided to make our way to Gastown. This historic area is said to be to the birthplace of Vancouver. With its quaint shops, beautiful flowers and cobblestone streets, it was an excellent place to end our night. We had a delicious dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory, did some souvenir shopping at Hudson House Trading Company and checked out the famous Gastown Steam Clock.

So if you ever find yourself in Vancouver the night before a Disney Alaska Cruise, be sure to check out Canada Place, the Sea Wall and Gastown for a fabulous fun-filled evening!

Do you have any favorite places to visit in Vancouver that are walking distance from the cruise terminal? If so, please leave a comment, we would love to hear about them!

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The Haunted Mansion Gift Shop Now Open

By Rikki Niblett

The brand new Haunted Mansion gift shop, known as Memento Mori, is now officially open after a few days of soft openings.

The shop, which can be found in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom, right outside The Haunted Mansion‘s exit in the location formerly occupied by The Yankee Trader shop, offers up some fantastic Haunted Mansion-themed merchandise. Items include things like housewares, accessories, souvenirs, clothing, artwork, and more. In addition, there is a unique photo experience where a guest’s face is transformed into a spectral image using holographic techniques.

The shop’s decor is inspired by the infamous Madam Leota, with great nods to the attraction found inside.

Guests who won’t be at the Magic Kingdom any time soon can order some of the items online, so that the next time you are preparing for a swinging wake, you’ll be all ready to go.

The shop is really a fabulous addition, and those who are fans of The Haunted Mansion will certainly not want to miss out.

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TouringPlans #Everywhere: I’m Going on my First Disney Cruise Aboard the Disney Wonder!

By Derek Burgan

Over the past few weeks and months you’ve probably read several articles on the upcoming big October event - TouringPlans #Everywhere. If not, here’s the skinny: during Columbus Day weekend, TouringPlans is sending its staff across the world to Disney destinations in order to collect content, meet our subscribers, and if we can squeeze it in, have some fun, too. Brian McNichols, my cohost of the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast, is going to Disneyland. Gerelyn Reaves is going to the Aulani resort in Hawaii. Guy Selga is going to Tokyo Disneyland. And I’ll be going to the Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando. Just kidding, I’ll actually be taking my first ever trip on the Disney Cruise Line aboard the Disney Wonder.

Spoiler Alert: This is NOT the Disney Wonder, this is the Disney Dream.

Last year was the first time I had ever gone on a cruise, and it was with the Royal Caribbean line. Despite hearing nothing but glowing reviews of cruises from friends, families, and co-workers, I never saw the appeal compared to just going on a land-based vacation. My mother and grandmother, who got me addicted to theme parks in the first place by taking me to Disney World and Universal Studios Florida as a child, switched over to only doing cruises about 10 years ago and had tried for years to convince me to go on one with them. I eventually went, kicking and screaming of course, and came to the shocking conclusion that it turns out I like cruises.

Scratch that. I love cruises.

When TouringPlans assigned me the Disney Wonder cruise as part of the #Everywhere promotion I was definitely excited but, believe it or not, my girlfriend? Not so much. Even though she loved the Royal Caribbean cruise as much as I did, she was very wary of a Disney Cruise. She’s definitely not a “theme park person” and only tolerates going to Disney or Universal if we are taking children in our family. Her idea of a perfect day at Universal is not visiting Diagon Alley or riding the Hogwarts Express; it’s sitting poolside at the Royal Pacific Resort sipping a drink from the Bula Bar. She had four main concerns:

The ship would be overrun with children.
There won’t be much for adults to do on the ship.
There won’t be much for her to eat onboard (she is vegan).
Walking through the ship will be like walking through the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney.

Whereas my main concerns were:

She won’t be happy, and when she’s not happy, I’m not happy.
See number 1.
See number 2.
Unlike our Royal Caribbean cruise, which left out of Port Canaveral, our Disney Wonder Cruise is leaving out of Miami. We are are Florida residents who live almost smack dab in the middle of Port Canaveral and Miami on the eastern coast. The two hour drive to Port Canaveral is passing through what 90% of what Florida is, a bunch of flat space with nothing going on. It couldn’t have been easier. Heading to Miami takes us to the other part of Florida, the part involving the eighth largest metropolitan area in the United States. For those who don’t live in a major metropolitan area, driving in Miami can make rush hour on I-4 in Orlando seem as laid back as Driving Miss Daisy.

Solving the concerns.

Between the Port of Miami’s website and TouringPlans.com breakdown of where the Disney Cruise Line lies in said port, I feel like the drive shouldn’t be too bad. We will be driving straight from our house to the DCL’s parking garage, so the next thing to look at is whether there are there any events going on in Miami that weekend that could sidetrack my plans. How many people arrive at the theme parks only to discover there are no fireworks at the Magic Kingdom for day guests because it’s a MNSSHP nigh,t or don’t even think to look to see if their favorite attraction may be down for refurbishment during their trip? A quick look at Miami events for Columbus Day weekend showed most major events happening at night, so I should be safe.

We have been spending a lot of time reading up on the Disney Cruise Line at the TouringPlans site proper, The Disney Cruise Line Blog, and various articles on the TouringPlans blog. While skeptical, my girlfriend now feels more confident that walking through the ship won’t be like navigating through a Toys R Us on Black Friday. Our experiences at Walt Disney World’s restaurants, including Be Our Guest, also assure her that the ship will accommodate her dietary restrictions. Being a vegan can be a challenge in the theme park world, so knowing that she’ll be able to eat something other than a “garden salad” relieves a lot of stress. Food wise, I knew I’d be okay once I read Scott Sanders’ article on Disney Cruise Line pizza.

Photo by Seth Kubersky

One nice surprise was receiving the Disney Cruise Line info booklet that arrived about a month before our sail date. Seth Kubersky recently wrote a great article covering the booklet, and it was the first time we realized that our ship would be celebrating Halloween during our cruise. We had just experienced Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom and had a great time, so the fact that we would get to experience another version of a “Disney Halloween” is exciting.

Ports of Call.

Our ship will be making three stops: Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Castaway Cay. As luck would have it, the Royal Caribbean cruise we took last year also stopped at Grand Cayman and Cozumel, so we know what to expect at both places and are looking forward to a return. On our last trip we booked an excursion at Grand Cayman that brought us out to Stingray City while for Cozumel we took a tour of the Mayan ruins. Both were really fun.

For this trip we booked a trip to Boatswain’s Adventure Marine Park for Grand Cayman and a Dune Buggy Tour for Cozumel. I booked both excursions directly through the Disney Cruise Line because for the Royal Caribbean cruise I booked all of my excursions through a third party and, even though everything went perfectly, I was constantly scared that something would happen and we wouldn’t make it back to the ship before it left.

Lucha libre masks in Cozumel, Mexico.

Boatswain’s Adventure Marine Park was chosen primarily because it allows us to have some contact with marine life. The park is billed as “teeming” with wildlife that you are allowed to get up close and personal with, which is right up our alley. We are an animal loving household to be sure, with pets ranking higher on the depth chart than at least one of the residents (yours truly,) and we can’t wait to snorkel in the lagoon and see the marine life. The Dune Buggy experience just sounded fun and something we would never do back here in Florida. It also allowed us to hedge our bets as it involves spending time at several beaches, so we’ll find something to enjoy no matter what.

However, no matter how much fun driving a dune buggy may turn out to be, that’s not what is my priority on this trip. I have been looking forward to returning to Cozumel ever since I left last year. I loved everything about our day spent there, but realized quickly that I didn’t bring nearly enough money with me on the trip. I’m not a big shopper, but when I’m in a port in which almost every store offers wrestling masks and there are also different versions of Doritos and Kit Kats available that we don’t have here in the States I basically have to be pinched in order to be assured that I’m not dreaming. In some ways it was like being on the Buy n Large ship from Wall-E as they even had larger bottles of Coca Cola than we have in Florida. Some people would wisely see these items as an unnecessary health risk. I see them as an opportunity. Oh yes, I’ll be making it rain in Cozumel, and possibly be going into a diabetic coma in the process.

Exotic Kit Kat flavors available in Cozumel, Mexico.

Apparently there is other stuff to do in Cozumel besides buying wrestling masks and candy bars. Or so they say.

 

CASTAWAY CAY.

Another biggie on our personal must-do list is Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. Royal Caribbean also has its own private island, Labadee, that was wonderful. Living in southern Florida we are spoiled by good beaches, so it takes something special to make us take notice and these areas accomplish that. Instead of making major plans for Castaway Cay we decided to play it easy, with focusing on spending time at the adults-only Serenity Beach and make a call based on how we feel that day if we want to rent bicycles or do something like parasailing.

Castaway Cay, taken on October 4, 2014 by Drunk@Disney, who also was on a Disney Wonder cruise.

 

 TouringPlans #Everywhere.

As I stated at the beginning, this trip is part of the TouringPlans #Everywhere promotion and on Sunday, October 12, the entire staff will be live tweeting and blogging from across the world, including Yours Truly. We will also be holding unofficial meets at every single location. Yes, this is your chance to get a Len Testa autograph at the Hilton Head DVC, a rare meet ‘n’ greet opportunity with Seth Kubersky on the Disney Magic, or get that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask Guy Selga in Tokyo Disneyland about his lifelong dream to be a Dapper Dan. Me? I’ll be on the shuffleboard court (or whatever they call them) on the Disney Wonder’s Deck 4 at 2PM and would like to welcome any and all TouringPlans readers to come by and say hi. I’ll have some nice freebies to give away, and maybe you can even explain to me how to actually play shuffleboard as I just made up my own rules on the Royal Caribbean cruise (although under my scoring, I won every game, so I’m kinda partial to it.) Reach me anytime at derek@touringplans.com to let me know if you can make it.

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Walt Disney World Discounts for 2014 and Early 2015 to be Released to the General Public Thursday

By Laurel Stewart

On the heels of the Disney Visa cardholder discounts released this morning, we hear resort discounts will be available to the general public starting Thursday. As far as we know, the discounts are the same as the Disney Visa discounts and are as follows. The discount can be applied to previous bookings if there is availability. Call your travel agent or Disney for more information.

If you’d like to get email notifications for discounts and other news pertinent to your trip dates, use our Trip Planning Dashboard.

As always, thanks to our friends at Small World Vacations for the info.

Stay Play Dine Discounted Magic Your Way Packages 

Booking Dates - 10/6/14 – 12/29/14

Travel Dates

12/14/14 – 12/20/14
1/5/15  - 3/7/15.
Not all dates and resorts available. Subject to availability

Disney Value Resorts – Magic Your Way with Quick Service Dining Package Required

Disney Moderate, Deluxes and Deluxe Vacation Villa Resorts– Magic Your Way Plus Dine Package Required

Excludes: Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation, Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Bay Lake  Tower, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campsites, Disney’s Polynesian Villas, 3 bedroom Villas at Disney’s Deluxe Vacation Villa Resorts

Stay, Play and Dine Discount Requires a 3 night stay with at least 2 days of tickets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Room Discount - Tickets and Dining Can be Added

Booking 10/6/14 -12/29/14

Travel 1/5/15 – 3/28/15

Excludes Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Grand Floridian Villas, Disney’s Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campsites, Disney’s Polynesian Villas, all 3 bedroom villas at Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts

Discount Savings on Room Only:

Disney Value Resorts (except Disney’s All Star Movies as listed below)

15% weekend
20% weekday

Disney’s All Star Movies

10% weekend
15%weekday

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Disney’s Moderate Resorts (except as listed below)

25% weekdays
20% weekends

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter 

10% weekend
15% weekday

Disney’s Coronado Springs Suites

10% weekday and weekend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Disney Deluxe Resorts (unless listed below)

30% weekday and weekend

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Savannah View and Club Level

20% weekday and weekend

Disney Deluxe Resort Suites

10% weekday and weekend

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Disney Deluxe Vacation Villas -

Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Beach Club Villas and BoardWalk Villas 30% weekday and weekend
Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 20%

All Discounts are not guaranteed and are subject to limited availability.

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You Can Take the Teacher Out of the Classroom…Educational Integration at WDW

By Claire Nat

The Seas with Nemo and Friends has more than just the clammobiles!

I have, on a few occasions, had children in my classroom take trips to Walt Disney World during the school year. I will assign them the homework they missed, and then wish that I was going too!

In October, I’m going to be going to Walt Disney World myself during a short fall break, and I know I am going to feel excited to leave schoolwork behind for a couple of days. However, I also know that when I get into the theme parks, I am going to find myself reverting to Teacher Mode as I walk around.

How can families go into the Disney Parks and have some educational experiences mixed in with their magical vacation? It doesn’t take much, and it can be a lot of fun! If your child comes back to the classroom with a bunch of educational information from their trip, I guarantee their teacher will be thrilled. (I know I would!)

Here are some great ways to integrate education at the Disney Parks:

Take a trip to The Seas (with Nemo and Friends)

While many of the original EPCOT Center “edutainment” ideas have been replaced or renovated, the aquarium area of The Seas with Nemo and Friends in Epcot still is one of the largest around, with a huge amount of marine life on display. Families can watch scientists perform experiments and view videos on the sea creatures they are watching. Make sure to view all the exhibits to get the most out of this area that most people tend to walk past or just glance at while they go to the next attraction.

School Subject Integration: Science, Biology

Enjoy Conservation Station

Something that most people decide to skip is the train at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and Conservation Station. But if you’ve got some time, this is a great place to watch veterinarians at work on exotic animals of the theme park. You can view farm animals up close, view the newest additions to the Animal Kingdom in the hatchery, and maybe even watch an operation of one of the animals. The best part of this area is that the exhibits and experiences are always changing, depending on what the animals need. The worst part of this area is that the exibits and experiences are always changing, and sometimes there isn’t anything going on. Regardless, the cast members strive to keep you interested and will provide all sorts of information!

School Subject Integration: Science, Biology

Inside the Animation Academy

Attend an art class at the Animation Academy

If your child enjoys doodling, then the Animation Academy is the place to go. If you go to The Magic of Disney Animation building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and keep walking all the way past the meet and greet characters, you come upon a queue for the Animation Academy. I highly recommend this attraction, which is a drawing class with an animation instructor. The character you draw is usually recommended by the group, and the pose is always different – which means you never draw the same thing twice. You draw in a dimly lit room with Hollywood Studios paper, a backlit, raised desk, and a pencil with no eraser.

Depending on the instructor, you always are learning more and more information about animating and the history of Disney animation. In my two experiences I have done Donald and a Toy Story martian, and I’ve been very pleased with my work, even though I’m not an artist in the slightest!

School Subject Integration: Art

Go aboard the Liberty Belle Riverboat

I could take the easy route and mention the Hall of Presidents in Magic Kindgom Park or the American Adventure in Epcot, but I am going to go slightly off center with this integration choice. Located in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom park, the Liberty Belle Riverboat takes you on a circle tour around Tom Sawyer Island and gives great views of Frontierland and Liberty Square.

Why is this my choice for an educational experience? If you listen to the audio guides (Horace Bixby and Samuel Clemens), you can hear about the history of riverboats on the Mississippi River, why the leadsman sings out “marks” (to reveal the depth of the water), and facts about Samuel Clemens – AKA Mark Twain. The sayings that Clemens says in the attraction weren’t all actually said by him, but they give tourists an idea of his personality.

The one problem you might encounter is that the attraction also talks about fictional areas, like Chick-a-pin Hill and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Keep that in mind. But if your child enjoys boats, just walking around the riverboat should be a fun experience, too.

School Subject Integration: Social Studies, History

Travel around the World Showcase

While Disney characters have entered World Showcase in Epcot in recent years, there is still a lot of educational experiences to be found.

View amazing art in the Japanese pavilion.
Witness gorgeous architecture in the Norway pavilion’s chapel.
Listen to great Mexican music by Mariachi Cobre in the Mexico pavilion.
Take a historical tour of China with the “Reflections of China” film.
And much, much more! Each pavilion incorporates art, music, cuisine, and history into the pavilions somwhere.

Touch the instruments and let the music come to life!

Let the tourists pass you while you’re playing Haunted Mansion instruments

I really enjoy the outdoor queue at the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom park, mostly because of the organ and other instruments playing “Grim Grinning Ghosts” when you touch them. The front section is a great way to review real musical instruments and their sounds: which have high sounds, which have low sounds, different sections of instruments, and rhythms.

On the other side, there are some odd instruments that can’t be found in a normal orchestra. Talk to your kids about what inspired those instruments, how they would be played, and why they are a perfect fit for the Haunted Mansion. I often let people pass me by while I touch these instruments and let them play over and over again!

School Subject Integration: Music

Take a Disney behind-the scenes tour

Some tours are exclusive to adults, but others – like the Steam Train tour, the Behind the Seeds tour, the Seas Aqua tour, and the Wild Africa Trek tour can be experienced by children and adults. This is a great way to add some more education to the trip without your children even knowing that they are actually - gasp! – learning something!

There are also tours and guides at the Disney resorts, so if you’re staying at one of those (or just touring around the resorts), make sure to ask for any special presentations being made that day.

School Subject Integration: All sorts!

 

Do you have any more Disney Parks attractions or areas that would be great for educational experiences with your kids? Have you ever created an educational day at Disney with your own children? Let us know in the comments below!

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You Can Take the Teacher Out of the Classroom…Educational Integration at WDW is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.