Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1181
October 1, 2014
Disney Cruise Line Changes Its Cancellation Policy
By Len Testa
The Disney Cruise Line has changed its cancellation policy for sailings booked starting today. The updated policy includes new restrictions on cruises that include major U.S. holidays, plus changes to concierge and suite staterooms. Thank you to Sue Pisaturo of Small World Vacations for the heads up on this news.
MOST CRUISE RESERVATIONS REQUIRE A DEPOSIT equal to 20% of the cruise’s price (not including taxes) for each passenger age 3 and older on that reservation. Some DCL promotions, such as booking a follow-up cruise while you’re already on a current cruise, require only a 10% deposit. Booking a future cruise while you’re on the ship almost always includes an onboard credit for the cruise you’re booking too.
DCL’s full cancellation policy can be found online at the DCL website; click “Terms and Conditions” at the bottom of the home page. You can cancel a reservation in writing or by phone; also, moving the date of your cruise or changing the name of someone on your reservation is considered a cancellation.
If your cruise starts or ends in the United States and your cruise is fewer than 10 days long, your refund amount depends on the kind of stateroom you’ve booked, your cruise dates, and how much advance notice you give Disney. The following table summarizes the criteria used for bookings made on or after October 1, 2014:
Suites and Concierge Staterooms
If You Cancel This Many Days Before Start of Cruise
DCL Charges This For Cancellation
90 days or more
Your entire deposit (typically 20%)
56 to 89 days
50% of vacation price, per person
30 to 55 days
75% of vacation price, per person
29 days or fewer
100% of vacation price, per person
For staterooms that are not suites or in the concierge section, a “holiday” cancellation policy is used if your sailing starts or ends in the United States, is fewer than 10 days long, and includes these U.S. holiday dates:
January 1
July 4
Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November)
December 25
The holiday cancellation policy for these sailings is:
Holiday Cancellation Policy
(Excludes suites and concierge staterooms)
If You Cancel This Many Days Before Start of Cruise
DCL Charges This For Cancellation
65 to 89 days
Your entire deposit (typically 20%)
43 to 64 days
50% of vacation price, per person
15 to 42 days
75% of vacation price, per person
14 days or fewer
100% of vacation price, per person
The non-holiday cancellation policy is less restrictive:
Standard Cancellation Policy
(Excludes suites and concierge staterooms)
If You Cancel This Many Days Before Start of Cruise
DCL Charges This For Cancellation
45 to 74 days
Your entire deposit (typically 20%)
30 to 44 days
50% of vacation price, per person
15 to 29 days
75% of vacation price, per person
14 days or fewer
100% of vacation price, per person
If your cruise starts and ends outside the United States or lasts 10 days or more, the cancellation terms are as follows:
Sailings Outside the U.S. or 10+ Days In Length
If You Cancel This Many Days Before Start of Cruise
DCL Charges This For Cancellation
56+ days (suites and concierge rooms)-and-56-119 days (other than suites and concierge rooms)
Your entire deposit (typically 20%)
30 to 55 days
50% of vacation price, per person
15 to 29 days
75% of vacation price, per person
14 days or fewer
100% of vacation price, per person
If you booked a cruise prior to Oct. 1, 2014, the cancellation fees will be based on the schedule listed on your original confirmation, unless the sailing date or vacation package is modified.
Finally, cruises booked with “restricted rate” discount code (IGT, OGT, VGT) are always non-refundable and non-transferable; you forfeit 100% of the cruise fee if you don’t sail.
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PHOTO REPORT: Atrium Club Level at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
By Derek Burgan
Recently I had family staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for a week, and I joined them for one night to check out the Atrium Club Level experience. I have stayed Club Level at several of the Universal hotels, including the Royal Pacific Resort and Portofino Bay, and have always enjoyed it, so it was time to see what Disney provides. I’ve priced out options at staying Club Level at the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge before, but eventually get scared off by the price and ended up booking a room at value resorts like Art of Animation or Pop Century. For this stay I booked a Club Level room with the Special Offer: Passholder Room Offer for Late Summer discount. The total was $616.79 for one night. Was it worth the cost? Let’s check it out….
View from the shared area of the Atrium Club Level.
I was definitely impressed by the entire Contemporary experience as a whole. After arriving at the guard gate, we were directed to front of the hotel where the valets and bell service greeted us by name. Afterwards we were met by a concierge Cast Member with an iPad by the front door, and she took us straight up to the 12th floor, where the Atrium Club Level is. There are two Club Level floors at the Contemporary: the Atrium level with standard rooms on the 12th floor and the Tower level on the 14th floor, which also has guest suites.
A member of the Atrium concierge staff met us at the elevator on the 12th floor and first walked us over to the lounge area to see the view of the Magic Kingdom (see photo above). There is no denying this was stunning. I then went back with him to the desks by the elevator to start my check in procedure.
Check in desk at the Atrium Club Level.
We were given a customized packet that included a map of the Contemporary, the times guide for the lounge food and drink offerings, a tip sheet on MyMagic+, the Contemporary newsletter for September, and a printed out sheet that contained all of our FastPass+ reservations. The print out of the FastPass+ reservations was pretty cool, and that sheet also would have had any on-site Advance Dining Reservations if we had made any. I’ve stayed onsite at Disney many times and have not seen this before.
Packet of information from the Contemporary.
The Room.
After staying at Pop Century recently, the first thing that stood out to me walking into my room at the Contemporary was how big it seemed. The two main differences I could spot between our room on the Atrium Club Level and my family’s room on the seventh floor was that one of our pillows had a Mickey Mouse design on it and our TV had a DVD player connected to it. Other than that, the two rooms seemed exactly the same.
Guest room on Atrium Club Level.
Towel art.
The desk area was nice, if compact, and it’s hard to complain about lack of available outlets in the room, considering the hotel was built over 40 years ago, long before each guest had 15 things to plug in. I thought the rooms looked great, and they definitely had a certain asthetic value.
Desk area in guest room on Atrium Club Level.
The bathrooms were spacious, and while the dual sinks looked incredible, they were not very practical. The design of the sinks made it so that water stayed in them for a while. The sinks were probably the most “kid friendly” part of the room: they enjoyed splashing around in them.
Bathroom sinks are great if you are under 10. Over 10? Not as much. They look fantastic, though.
The bathrooms did have a box with a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, along with another one containing a shower cap. This was a great touch because I invariably always forget my toothbrush at home and end up going downstairs to the lobby at midnight to ask if they have any available.
Toothbrush, toothpaste, and shower cap. Gratis.
Our room was only a couple doors down from the Atrium lounge, so the view was pretty much the same: absolutely spectacular.
View from guest room on Atrium Club Level, looking at Magic Kingdom.
View from guest room on Atrium Club Level, looking at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
View from guest room on Atrium Club Level. Looking Disney’s Polynesian Resort Village.
The room my family had on the seventh floor was on the same side of the Contemporary as our room, but it was a couple more rooms away from the center of the building than ours. The view is still incredible, though.
View from 6th floor guest room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, looking at Magic Kingdom.
After we return from the parks that night, there were Contemporary-branded mints on our bed. That was a great surprise.
Mints from Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Besides Magic Kingdom fireworks, we also had a great view from the room of the Electrical Water Pageant. This is one of my all time favorite things at Disney.
Electrical Water Pageant as seen from the Contemporary.
Electrical Water Pageant as seen from the Contemporary.
One last thing before we get to the lounge offerings: the room service menu for the Contemporary is surprisingly large. There were breakfast, lunch/dinner, dessert, overnight, and alcohol options. 10 pages worth! One thing that caught our eye was on the Special Occasion Amenities page. We got the Contemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail. One of our Disney icons done in white chocolate served with gourmet truffles ($45.00). This is hands-down one of the coolest things I have ever seen at any hotel. It’s hard to see in the pictures, but on the plate is a picture of the Contemporary resort that I thought was stenciled on; it turns out it was also chocolate. Absolutely amazing!
Contemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail.
Contemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail.
The Atrium Club Level Lounge
In stark contrast to the bedroom, the biggest surprise I had when seeing the lounge area was how small it was. To be fair, I am comparing it to the Club Level lounge offerings at the Universal hotels, which are much bigger. There is a slanted wall dividing two common areas. One side has all the food and drinks, along with a couple tables. The other side has a bunch of more tables, couches, and a flat screen TV.
Next to the food counters there was a smaller table designed with children in mind, along with another flat screen TV that was constantly playing either Disney channel cartoons or the in-house Must Do Disney loop with Stacey J. There was nothing else for children.
This TV was always playing either Disney channel cartoons, or the Disney Must Dos.
The Club Level concierge Cast Memers are available from 7:00AM – 10:00PM daily, and you can also communicate with them via text message. I tried the texting feature, and it worked flawlessly. The food and beverage offerings are broken down into four groupings throughout the day, with coffee selections being available the entire time. We’ll now go through some of the snack offerings…
Coffee (6:30AM – 10:00PM)
Continental Breakfast (7:00AM – 10:30AM)
Breakfast was probably the most satisfying overall, as there were more than enough selections for everyone.
The chocolate milk is small bottles of Nesquik.
Where are the donuts?!!!
I was hoping these were coffee cake muffins, but they were apple muffins.
Cereal.
Steel cut oatmeal.
Lite Bites (11:30AM – 4:00PM)
The early afternoon selections – including cookies and gummy bears – were definitely geared towards kids, which I found a little strange because nothing else on the Atrium Club Level seemed to be designed with kids in mind. I did enjoy the yogurt covered pretzels, but it would be hard to justify these options being a lunch alternative for a family.
Cookies, goldfish, and gummy bears.
Potato chips.
Cookies, assorted nuts, yogurt covered pretzels, and fruit.
Contemporary Flavors (5:00PM – 7:00PM)
The “dinner” options were definitely a step up, with a mix of vegetables, cheese and crackers, rolls, and some cooked foods. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich option was interesting as you had small cups with a mixture of pb&j in them and slices of bread nearby. I thought it was visually interesting, but maybe it just doesn’t take all that much to impress me.
Ranch dressing and hummus to dip the various vegetables in.
Cheese and crackers.
Cups of peanut butter and jelly on the left, slices of bread on the right.
These vegetable spring rolls were very good.
Wine selections.
Bud Light, Heineken, Sam Adams and Yeungling are added to the fridge.
Cordials and Desserts (8:00PM – 10:00PM)
High marks for creativity here. While the serving sizes were pretty small, you could get as much as you wanted of anything, and all the choices were terrific. I loved the presentation of the apples slices and caramel, and you can’t go wrong with dessert shots.
Apple slices and cups of caramel.
Oreo mint shot.
Chocolate-covered strawberry shot.
Cupcakes.
Atrium Club Level Strengths:
The View – The Atrium Club Level has two sides: Theme Park View, and Bay Lake View. Bay Lake View basically has you overlooking the Bay Lake Tower DVC property, but Theme Park View provides true magic. It’s jaw dropping.
The Check-In Process – This was by far and away the most personal and easiest check-in procedure I have ever had at any hotel. The valets and everyone greeting us by name throughout were nice touches.
Turndown Service – Coming back from the park to find the bed made up and the chocolates by the pillows was great.
Free Parking – All Disney-owned hotels offer free parking, but this is worth pointing out to people who stay at Universal or other off-site hotels, many of which charge for parking.
Concierge Staff – This group of men and women were incredible across the board. Even the texting service worked exceptional. As a surprise for my family, I had pre-ordered some cupcakes and a cake from Babycakes NYC, and the staff kept it in a refrigerator until delivering it to our room. The cupcakes were for my girlfriend, who is vegan, and the cake was for the kids with us who were going to Cinderella’s Royal Table the next morning. They were both a big hit, and the kids were excited that Cinderella baked a cake for them.
Cupcakes from Babycakes NYC.
A cake from Babycakes NYC.
While Babycakes NYC was formerly located in Downtown Disney; it is now off property but creates desserts for many locations across Walt Disney World property and can deliver items to anyone staying on-site at WDW. You contact them online by clicking here or by calling 1-407-938-9044.
Atrium Club Level Weaknesses -
Not Exactly “Kid Friendly” – The Contemporary is a great place for kids, with a fun pool and Chef Mickey’s, but there isn’t much for kids of any age in the club level rooms or the lounge. The club levels at the Universal hotels have games and toys for kids to play with, along with a TV. The Contemporary just had a TV, and the only people who could watch it for all intents and purposes were the ones at the small table in front of it.
The Bathroom Sinks and Vanity Area – This look great but are really poor in a practical sense. If you want to pour your coffee or soda out in to the sink you will also have to spend a bit of time to get it all down the drain. There is also very little space in-between the sinks to put anything.
The Beds Were “OK” at Best – In my mind the Contemporary should have a world class mattress compared to a place like Pop Century, and instead I would say they are almost exactly the same. The overall room looked fantastic, and the bed was comfortable enough, but the mattress, itself, felt cheap.
The Overall Selection of Food and Beverage in Lounge Was Minimal – The presentation was unique, and some of the items were really good, especially the desserts, but overall it’s hard to find value in the food and beverage options. While your family could definitely put together a breakfast in the morning, you are going to have to find a different place for lunch and dinner, even if you stop by the lounge for snacks. We found ourselves going down to Contempo Cafe to get food and then returning back up to the lounge to eat it in front of the gorgeous view of the Magic Kingdom.
While I would consider the lounge in general to be small, it was never packed with people at any of the times I was there. When any of the food items started to run low, the staff was quick to replace them with more.
FINAL THOUGHTS – I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but everything that I loved about it you can get in a cheaper priced room and just skip the Atrium Club Level amenities. I’ll be doing an article on the overall Contemporary experience, and there are some very compelling reasons to stay here despite the insanely high price tag. The walk over to the Magic Kingdom was much shorter than I thought it would be and is about the same walking time as it is from Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort to Islands of Adventure. I probably saw the monorail come in and out of the Contemporary 40 times just in the one day I was there, and it never got old. The arcade was huge. The gift shops were tremendous. Being able to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant from the hotel was fantastic. Is it worth $615 (after tax) for one night? No, but I’m not thinking $300-$400 for a regular standard room with a theme park view is crazy anymore. The Contemporary was special, and now when I price out the Polynesian or Animal Kingdom Lodge, my chances of saying “Yes” to the price just went way up.
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PHOTO REPORT: Atrium Club Level at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney Cruise Line For People Who Hate Cruises
A few years ago, before I went on my first Disney Cruise Line sailing, I could never imagine myself as a cruise person. Maybe “hate” is too strong of a word, but for years I had no desire to vacation on a floating germ filled petri dish of doom…uh…I mean…lovely cruise ship. But then as time passed by, I began to get a little curious. My parents are avid cruisers and they would share their photos and stories of great adventures. My boys even started talking about how fun it would be if we went on a cruise…especially a Disney Cruise Line vacation!
Now I’m a huge fan of all things Disney…characters, movies, clothes, theme parks, you name it…could Mickey Mouse and my love of Disney really change my mind about cruising? Read on to find out!
Let me begin by saying that I am not as neurotic as this post is going to make me sound (at least I hope I’m not), but a cruise is where nearly every fear, issue and insecurity I have comes together to form the “perfect storm.” Please don’t judge! 
I’m a germaphobe.
I wasn’t always this way, but after having a baby that was sick all of the time, I became the poster child for Purell. Seriously, I should own stock in this company. How on earth was I going to overcome my paranoia about someone in my family getting sick and get on a cruise ship? Well, I did some research. Did you know in over ten years, Disney Cruise Line hasn’t had a major illness outbreak on any of their ships? They’re also rated one of the cleanest cruise lines in business. Once I was onboard, I was also relieved to see crew members were constantly cleaning and handing out wipes.
I’m a picky eater.
Picky is actually an understatement. I would venture to guess that I am one of the most finicky eaters around. I have a couple of minor food allergies (shellfish and bony fish), a special diet that I have to follow because of kidney stones (no dark greens, beans, nuts or berries) and even more foods that I simply don’t like. When I’m at home, I can easily cook for myself without inconveniencing anyone else. But with all of the gourmet meals and set menus onboard the ship, I was concerned that there wouldn’t be anything for me to eat or that I would end up being extremely high-maintenance for our servers. Once I was onboard, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had plenty of food options. There are buffets, counter service restaurants and room service with lots of selections that I could choose from. Even at the more formal dinners each night, I was able to order off a combination of the children’s menu as well as the adult menu in order to have a full meal. Our Disney Cruise Line servers were extraordinarily accommodating and even offered suggestions of what they thought might work for me without ever making me feel like I was being an imposition.
I’m claustrophobic.
When I was a young kid, my best friend told me a story about her Great Uncle that played the organ for a funeral home. One afternoon, he was playing at a service and as the funeral director started to close the casket, they noticed that the person inside was breathing. That’s right…BREATHING…almost buried ALIVE! Granted my friend may have just been kidding me (although she swore it was true), that story made a lasting impression on me. As soon as I heard it, I became mildly claustrophobic and have been ever since…crazy, I know. Recognizing that cruise ships have the reputation of being very confining, I was nervous about how I was going to handle the close quarters. The good news…Disney Cruise Line has some of the largest staterooms in the industry. The bad news…they still aren’t very big. For the most part, I was comfortable in our room and on the ship as a whole. Once in a while, I would start to get a little anxious when we had all of our luggage out and there was no place to move around. I felt much better when we got everything stowed away and I could again move freely around our stateroom and out onto our verandah.
I get motion sickness.
I can ride every thrill ride and roller coaster known to man with no problems at all, but as soon as you put me in the backseat of a car or on a boat, I’m instantly motion sick. Armed with Dramamine, Seabands and an optimistic attitude, I boarded the ship. Luckily, the seas were calm during our voyage and I had no problems. I wore my Seabands around the clock and took Dramamine every night just in case.
I don’t like to make commitments.
In my every day life, I can be resistant to making a commitment. I don’t like that feeling of pressure. Lucky for me there are only three commitments that you have to keep during the cruise…being on the ship before it leaves port, the emergency drill on the first afternoon, and disembarking from the ship the last morning. Now you do have set times for dinner and shows, but no one says that you have to go them. If you skip your predetermined time, you miss out, but it is entirely up to you. I love that!
I don’t drink (much).
I’m not much of a drinker, so I wondered if that was going to effect what there was for me to do. Is the ship filled with clubs and lots of drinking? The answer is yes and no. Yes, there are lots of lounges and the liquor is plentiful if that is what you are looking for. But, no, if you are like me and all groggy from Dramamine, there are many alternatives. One of the places I really enjoyed was the family lounge and all of their tasty non-alcoholic “mocktails.”
I’m afraid of water.
I really don’t like water. For the longest time, I had never met anyone as uncomfortable with water as me until a few years ago. I was taking a non-stop flight returning from a wonderful Hawaii vacation back to Denver. Mentally, I was preparing myself for a difficult, long, nerve-wracking flight over the ocean. It was an overnight flight and my assigned seat was in the crowded center section of the plane. To top it off, I had purchased a ukulele for my little boy and it wouldn’t fit under my seat or in the overhead bin, so I was looking at holding it all night long. (Insert your favorite Airplane movie joke here!) My stomach was hurting, my head was pounding and my hands were clammy, when I noticed something going on a few rows ahead of me. The man sitting in the aisle seat was surrounded by flight attendants. I was starting to getting even more nervous, until I figured out what was happening. The flight attendants pulled out one of those bright yellow life vests from under the seat, patiently explained to the passenger how to use it, helped him put it on and fasten it. This poor, terrified man wore that life vest (not inflated, of course) the entire seven hour flight! That night I realized I was not alone and if this man can face his fear of water, so can I. Years later when it was time to board the cruise ship, I thought of the gentleman on my Hawaii flight and summoned all of my courage. And guess what? After a few hours, I felt much more comfortable, and I didn’t even put on my life vest once! Although, I did make sure we had them, but that is just being responsible, right?
I’m a worrywart.
You all are really getting to know me better by now, so it should be no surprise to you, that I can be a worrywart. What if the ship sinks? What if my kids get sick? The list goes on and on. After more research, I felt confident in knowing that Disney Cruise Line has a very good safety record. Out of all of these latest cruise ships disasters that have been in the news, none of them have occurred on a Disney ship. And as far as getting sick goes, they do have medical personnel right on the ship. Like my boys’ doctor always says “A sick day on a Disney vacation is still better than a well day at school to a kid!”
I’m more comfortable eating dinner with just my family.
Sometimes at the end of a long and busy day, I just want to relax and be with my family. The thought of dinner at 8:15pm with complete strangers when my family is tired and hungry just doesn’t sound appealing to me. I asked my travel agent about this and she told me that it can be noted on your reservation that you would like to have a table for just your traveling party, but it can’t be guaranteed. We have been making that request on all of our Disney Cruise Line reservations and they have always been able to accommodate it.
I don’t like being bored.
I love to always be busy doing something and cannot stand being bored. The idea of sitting around lounging on the beach or by the pool makes me crazy. I was very concerned that I might go stir-crazy on the ship. What on earth was I going to do all day…especially the days that we were going to be at sea? Before I even got onboard the ship, Disney Cruise Line crew members handed me a Personal Navigator. This trusty guide gave me a timeline showing all the activities that were available on the ship. There were so many fun and interesting things to do that I was never once bored.
This now concludes my free therapy session! So what did I learn? All of my fears and insecurities about taking a cruise were really for nothing. The things that I wasted time and energy worrying about never happened. Did Mickey Mouse and my love for Disney change my mind about cruising? They actually did. What I love so much about the Disney Cruise Line are the Disney touches…the characters, the music, the shows, the activities and more. Would I enjoy a cruise on any other line? I’m not so sure, but with four ships and plenty of ports, I think I will just stick with the Disney Cruise Line!
Still not convinced? For more information about Disney Cruise Line, be sure to check out all of the coverage here at TouringPlans or consider purchasing The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line.
What about you? Do you love cruises or hate them? What are your thoughts on the Disney Cruise Line and cruising in general? Please leave a comment!
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September 30, 2014
TouringPlans #Everywhere – Meet Schedules
Have you ever wanted a chance to hang with TouringPlans staff in locations throughout the globe? Sunday, October 12, is your opportunity. This is the day of TouringPlans #Everywhere. We will have our people posted at every Disney location in the world on the same day, blogging and tweeting for your reading pleasure. And we’d love to see you while we’re at it.
Here is where everyone will be available. All times are local. DCL meet ups may change due to what’s happening on the ship that day – watch Twitter for updates.
If possible, please RSVP via email to the person who’ll be there so we’ll have an idea what to expect:
Meet Up Locations
Europe
Disneyland Paris – meet Brad Huber (developer and Saints fan) at 3:00 pm at the Market House Deli on Main Street in Disneyland Park. Email brad@touringplans.com.
Disney Cruise Line
Magic – meet Seth Kubersky (blogger and Wizarding World stalker) at the AquaDunk at 1:30 pm. Email seth@touringplans.com.
Wonder - meet Derek Burgan (blogger and famous podcaster) for shuffleboard – time TBA. Email derek@touringplans.com.
Dream – meet David Davies (developer and task master) at Vista Cafe to eat one of everything in the dessert case at 3:00 pm (before the lifeboat drill). Email david@touringplans.com.
Fantasy – meet Fred Hazelton (statistician and token Canadian) at the Buena Vista Theatre at the closest show time to 3 pm for popcorn and snacks. Email fred@touringplans.com.
Florida
Walt Disney World – meet Steve Bloom (statistician and seadog) in Adventureland for a Dole Whip and a try at the Pirate’s Adventure game. Meet at 3 pm at Aloha Isle. Email steve@touringplans.com.
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort – meet Daisy Lauren (blogger and Jiko fan) in the Community Hall at 10 am for crafts and games. Email daisylauren@touringplans.com.
South Carolina
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort – meet Laurel Stewart and Len Testa (writers and useless overhead) at the Live Oak Lounge in the main building for billiards and drinks at 2 pm. Email laurel@touringplans.com.
California
Disneyland – meet Brian McNichols (analyst and cocktail specialist) in Disneyland Park Town Square at 7 pm for a walk and talk about the differences between Disneyland Park and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Email brian@touringplans.com.
Hawaii
Aulani – meet Gerelyn Reaves (customer service and the one who keeps us in line) at the Wailana Poolside Lounge at 8:30 pm for drinks and talk. Email gerelyn@touringplans.com.
Asia
Tokyo Disneyland – meet Guy Selga (researcher and Omnibus aficionado) Pecos Bills Cafe in Westernland at 1 pm for snacks and sodas. Email guy@touringplans.com.
Disneyland Hong Kong – meet Sarah Kelleth (developer and bon vivant) at Mystic Manor at 11 am for a ride on what’s thought to be Disney’s best attraction. Email sarah@touringplans.com.
Look for us in the red TouringPlans t-shirts.
Can’t make it to a meet?
Follow us on Twitter that weekend for 24 hours of content from sunrise in Paris to sunset in Hong Kong. #Everywhere.
Read our previous articles about all the big travel plans - http://blog.touringplans.com/tag/everywhere/.
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The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! September 2014 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store
By Derek Burgan
It’s the end of September and the streets of Orlando are still wet from the constant rain during the month. Or maybe it’s the tears of the fans of Off Kilter, Mo’Rockin, Spirit of America, or the World Showcase Players, all of whom performed their last shows this week. We also saw the closure of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the first attraction in recent memory whose demise was met with almost unanimous support from theme park fandom. Oh, and we also had the start of a little something called the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which has at least two items this year (a Duffy bear wearing a chef’s outfit and a new shirt featuring Figment) that we just may be covering in this article sooner than later.
With that out of the way, who is ready to hit the outlets?! Remember, you can click on any picture to see it in full size (although that’s actually more of a warning than a reminder.)
A water bottle filled with so many rare characters it should be sold during a hard ticket event.
First up is this aluminum bottle that blew my mind the longer I looked it at. So many great characters. Mary Poppins. Figment. Lightning McQueen (in scale with the other characters to boot!) Marie from the Aristocats. Russell from Up. Pete’s Dragon. Mushu. Eve. The Rescuers. This cup is amazing. Originally $9.95, it was now reduced to $4.99 and you better believe I bought this.
Mr. Toad?!!
Merlin from The Sword in the Stone.
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts Of Life…
Speaking of Duffy the Disney Bear, you may remember the Aulani Duffy doll we saw back in July. Well check out this new iPhone case that has arrived. Originally $34.95 this was $4.99. Bought it. I think sometimes I buy things just to prove to myself I didn’t imagine them down the road. Is there a Duffy Polynesian Village Resort iPhone case? Duffy Pop Century? Duffy Port Orleans French Quarter? I want them all.
This is one iPhone case you want to bend in half. Or burn.
Aulani merchandise actually had a large section this month including this scrapbook. Originally $35, now $14.99.
Aulani scrapbook.
These Aulani ceramic cups were originally $20, reduced to $7.99. I bought one of these as well. Either outlet store merchandise is getting much better or I am mainlining pixie dust because now I can’t spend less than $100 when I go to the stores. That’s $100 after 50-80% off. At this rate I’ll be collecting those $400 Disney figurines one day. Forget the Outlets, if you need me I’ll be the Arribas Bros. store at Downtown Disney.
Aulani cups.
This Aulani notebook I did not get.
Nothing says the understated beauty of Aulani like a personal journey that looks like it came out of
Greg Brady’s apartment when he was Johnny Bravo.
Aulani post-it notes, now $2.99.
A sticky note pad when you want to write a note but don’t have much to say.
I almost had to rub my eyes seeing this next one. I believe this is the first piece of Frozen merchandise that has ever hit the outlets. The catch? It’s full price. $29.95. No discount. There are about 10 items in the store which offer no discount, almost all of them being food items or coloring books.
The rarest of all birds, Frozen merchandise at the Outlets.
I liked this sign because I think there was maybe a total of five shirts.
Another really sharp set of shot glasses toothpick holders featuring the four park icons. Originally $24.95, now $10.99 and of course I got this.
Disney is driving me to drink, but in a good way this time.
A photo frame from the Be Our Guest Restaurant. I got this because my family had a great time when we went. Originally $29.95, now $10.99.
I have a couple action figures in front of my picture frame to simulate the guests being turned away for lunch.
These goblets are also to represent Be Our Guest Restaurant, or maybe the home of the Yellow King from True Detective. Originally $24.95, now $12.99.
Who exactly was the audience for these? Twitter user Drunk@Disney?
Let’s go to something more cheerful. This Minnie Mouse plush is a must for anyone who likes Marie from the Aristocats.
Then there is this Minnie-as-Cinderella.
This rabbit plush is from the Sophia the First cartoon.
I had to Google who this rabbit was. At first I thought he was from Watership Down.
Sparky from Frankenweenie. Originally $16.95, now $6.99.
Lots of Disney Babies still available. Originally $22.95, now $12.99
It was neat seeing a character from Hercules here with Pegasus.
Remember last month we had the two foot tall Stitch? This month smaller ones have joined him.
This is what happens when you get them wet. They multiply. Oh wait, wrong movie.
They still have some of these awful Mickey Mouse-as-Iron Man plush. Captain America probably would have been a better character to start these mash-ups with..
A couple more pieces of Marvel merchandise made their way to the store including this Hulk shirt. Originally $32.00, now $15.99. 1) Who was buying this shirt for $32?! 2) When I see “Hulk Rules” there’s only one shirt I think of.
That’s gimmick infringement, brutha.
Captain America and Disney coffee cups. $5.99 each.
In August I did a photo tour of Downtown Disney and saw this RIDICULOUS kitchen set with used Minnie Mouse and the phrase “Desperate Housewife.” I don’t think anyone would accuse me of ever being a prude, but this is just absurd from a character integrity standpoint. Originally $16.99, now $8.99.
The fact that at least, what, a dozen people had to approve that Minnie Mouse/Desperate Housewife set is just incomprehensible.
Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on Disney, when I went to create a shirt for our Universal Social Club I also gravitated towards the most inappropriate show possible.
This shirt is not available to purchase at the Disney Outlet Store. It can only be obtaining by “patching in.” – Club President Derek Burgan
Some more Chevrolet t-shirts arrived, I’m assuming straight form the Test Track gift shop. Is Synergy the name of this car?! I think they designed these shirts to make the ride seem better in comparison. Bravo Disney. Bravo.
Smooth finish. WHAAAAAAAT?!
If you stare at this shirt long enough you’ll be able to figure out what’s on it. And if you do figure it out let me know what it is. I gave up after 10 minutes.
I kind of like this one, although it seems like it came from a Disney store in 1978. Originally $49.95, now $19.99. I bought this for my girlfriend.
“What’s this pocket for? You put your weed in it.“
Another unfathomable shirt, this one for kids. I’m not a big “What Would Walt Think?” think type of guy but I’d be hard pressed to believe he’d be proud of this shirt. Originally $32.95, now $14.99.
If you are buying this shirt for your small child you get deserve whatever you get.
A rare Wilderness Lodge appearance at the outlets. Originally $31.95, now $14.99. That’s right, the Tinker Bell shirt above originally cost more than this adult sweatshirt. Mind blowing.
The following shirts were originally $24.95, reduced to $12.99. I have to say, I don’t mind these soccer ones at all.
This Mickey shirt was originally $21.95, now $9.99.
More of this please.
I think we may have covered this Oswald the lucky rabbit shirt before but it sill makes me amazed every time I walk by it. Maybe it’s just me. Originally $21.95, now $9.99.
This is pretty much the exact shirt someone who was against America would design, right?
I really loved this shirt. Originally $24.99, now $12.95.
I love that there is a carnotaurus on this shirt for the sole purpose to troll Matt Hochberg, host of the WDW Today podcast.
These Splash Mountain photo frames look spectacular and have been around for a while. Originally $26.95, now $14.99.
These Splash Mountain frames are new. Originally $16.95, now $5.99. That’s a great deal. This looks sharp.
A Mickey head photo frame. Originally $16.95, now $8.99.
A park icon photo frame. Originally $26.95, now $14.99.
Artwork from the bottle which started off the report has been moved around to form this photo frame. Originally $26.95, now $14.99.
Good news, Duffy the Disney Bear made the cut. Exactly how is Nemo riding the Monorail?! #story
Here’s a bunch of magenta and keychains.
Including this one for, I think, Minnie Mouse.
Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.
No strange enough for you? How about Disney branded DUCT TAPE.
Minnie Mouse themed Duct Tape. I’ve lived long enough to see it all.
Some bookmarks for when you are reading the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2015 (maybe keep page 10 bookmarked, just sayin‘…)
Goofy eating a turkey leg. Of course.
Speaking of Goofy, here is a couple souvenir Goofy Glaciers cups. Goofy Glaciers are Disney’s version of Slurpees, and I got a pink lemonade one in an Olaf themed cup earlier this month at Downtown Disney. These were $1.99 each and as a fan of souvenir cups, I got one.
I didn’t get one of these travel mugs but they were really cool. The handle was really nice. Originally $19.95, these were just $6.99. One of the best deals in the store.
Anyone looking for a Chewbacca flashlight whose light comes out the mouth?
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Speaking of Star Wars, this Goofy-as-C3P0 comes with a limited edition pin and was $59.99. It was labeled as a “Medium Figurine” and I’m terrified of how big the large one is.
I’m just a couple weeks away from my first ever Disney Cruse so it was nice to see this Steamboat Willie inspired Christmas shirt from the Disney Cruise Line. Originally $21.95, now $6.99.
I liked this Christmas shirt as well. Originally $29.95, now $13.99.
Speaking of Christmas, if you remember last month I regretted not picking up a set of ornaments that featured Disney transportation vehicles. I was going to pick them up this trip, but alas they were all gone. There was this Matchbox Disney Bus from 2013 though.
“And the upcoming fifth gate will be focused on Disney’s villains….”
Let’s take a look at some pins, shall we? First up is this one for the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Here’s a bunch of Disney characters inside letters. Kind of strange.
Oh yeah, Darkwing Duck. More Disney Afternoon merchandise please.
Here’s a pin of a weird looking skateboard with actual wheels. Pin aficionados, I just have one question: why for?
Here’s a pin set from an alternate universe in which Mickey, Donald, and Goofy were characters on Jersey Shore. Originally $29.95, now $14.99.
This pin caught my eye. It’s a Mickey head design using buttons.
And then I noticed a whole bunch of them, all slightly different from each other. Were there people that had to complete a full set of stuff like this?!
Here’s pins based on Vinylmations, a whole new level of insanity.
Now here’s a Vinylmation I can get behind, the Park Starz series. This is the only Vinylmation series where the artists aren’t handcuffed by the Mickey Mold and can do whatever they want. This set came with two characters and was originally $49.95, reduced down to $9.99. I bought this as I try to get a Park Starz figure every time a series comes out. I want to collect them and then I see they cost $17.95 each and end up just buying one a year.
SPECIAL BONUS!!!! We are going to try something out this month and if you enjoy it please let us know in the comments. At the end of every article I explain that there are two Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando and over the course of the last year I have tried my best to alternate between the two of them to give you, Dear Reader, a sense of each of them. However, to be honest I found myself going to the one closer to Universal much more often because, well, I enjoy going to Universal after battling the outlets. However, I was contacted by Daisy Lauren, of Daisy’s Best Week Ever fame (a weekly article focusing on the WDW parks that you all should be reading) and she offered to stop by the outlets closer to Disney and send us some pictures. So the following is what she found this month:
Looks like my store wasn’t the only one bursting with photo frames, these Haunted Mansion inspired ones were originally $26.95, now $10.99.
999 Pieces of unsold merchandise Happy Haunts.
Disney themed ice buckets. Originally $19.95, now $9.99.
Rebrand these as official Disney Ice Bucket Challenge buckets and you can sell them out at $39.95 a piece.
A wall of pillow pets. I actually got a family member of mine the Cheshire Cat one about a year ago. These are huge in size and look fantastic. Originally $32.95, now $14.99.
Flower & Garden Duffy Bears, originally $35, now $9.99.
These princess dolls were originally $29.95, now $12.95.
And finally, Precious Moments dolls. Originally $49.95, now $29.95. Last year I was in Once Upon A Toy at Downtown Disney and caught my first glimpse of the Precious Moments collection. This Jasmine doll could be the first of many more to come.
I would like to personally thank Daisy for having the strength to battle the crowds and parking situation at the outlets near Disney to provide this coverage for us. Be sure to check out Daisy’s Best Week Ever series on the blog and follow her TouringPlans #Everywhere adventure as she goes to the Vero Beach DVC property.
Let’s take one last look at the outlet store closer to Universal to go out with a bang. I’m going to need some help figuring out exactly what it is. Is it supposed to be a scaled down version of a human Minnie Mouse outfit?
And yet people still wonder why I need a whole box of Uni-som to fall asleep at night.
DJ Pauly D meets Mickey Mouse. I’ll be right back, need to go throw up.
There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821). For this edition of MMM, we went to the location near Universal.
Previous editions of Magic, Memories and Merch: July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014, and August 2014.
If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog, the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast, and you can follow your humble author on Twitter (@derekbugan).
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The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! September 2014 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
TouringPlans #Everywhere: I’m Going to Hong Kong!
When it comes to planning a Disney vacation, I have a somewhat odd perspective – I’m American, but spend most of the year in Tokyo for my husband’s job. Good News: Tokyo Disney visits! Also Good News: for my TouringPlans Everywhere trip, I’m headed to Hong Kong Disneyland!
…and I know nothing about Hong Kong. Go go planning skills!
Transportation
As close as it relatively is to Japan, I’ve never been to Hong Kong or the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort before, so I’m excited to get to make the trip. I’m also excited not to have to make a 12-hour plane ride to do it! If you’re coming from the States or, really, anywhere that isn’t Japan, I agree with Tom Bricker – Hong Kong Disney should probably be combined with either a Disney trip to Tokyo Disney Resort, or a general Hong Kong trip. (Do check out Tom’s articles on Hong Kong Disneyland and planning – very helpful!) Hong Kong Disney has only one park, and that has many attractions that exist in other parks around the world, so make it a Disney bonus, not the sole attraction.
Hong Kong seems to have a good public transportation system, but I’m impatient, and it looks like taxis are pretty cheap (around $20 for the airport to Disney) so I’ll likely be taking one to the resort, and certainly on the way back to make sure I get there on time.
Cost
More good news! Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is actually one of the cheaper Disney options (minus the cost of airfare if you’re coming from the States, that is). Keeping in mind that I’m used to prices in Tokyo, I found hotels, dining and even park tickets to be very reasonable and in some cases downright cheap for a Disney park. The US dollar does pretty well against the Hong Kong dollar, which also helps a lot.
Hotels and the Park
On to the fun stuff! There are two Hong Kong Disneyland Resort official hotels – the aptly named Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. Disneyland Hotel looks basically like the Grand Floridian and just as nice (but relatively cheaper, yay!), while Disney’s Hollywood Hotel is slightly cheaper and a unique experience. I’ll be staying a few days in both. The prices are decent enough that I’m not considering an off-site hotel – besides, if you go all the way to Hong Kong, you may as well stay on site, right?
A few interesting things when I went to book tickets – first, they offer only a 1 or 2 day ticket (unless you buy an annual pass). I considered getting the pass just for the discounts (there are many, depending on which level of pass you get), but I did the math, and for my little trip it wouldn’t be quite worth it. If I end up loving the resort, I may get one on my next trip – the different levels offer all kinds of perks, especially on your birthday.
The second interesting thing was that when I booked my hotel, I couldn’t actually buy tickets for my trip. Tickets were available online, but they had an expiration date which was before my trip started. I had to wait a few months before they started selling tickets with an expiration date far enough out that I’d actually be able to use them before they expired. Make sure you check the date, or just buy at the hotel when you get there.
Things seem pretty relaxed in Hong Kong Disney! Looking at the park hours, most days it doesn’t even open until 10:30am! (I get to sleep in! Whoo hoo!) There are a number of days with super short hours too – the park often closes around 7:30pm. Because of the special Halloween festivities (apparently it’s pretty huge there), while I’m there the park will usually be open until 11pm – that sounds good, but I suspect that means the lines will be considerably longer as well. Oh well, maybe everyone will head to the haunted houses…which I, scaredy cat that I am, will be staying well clear of – rumor has it that they are “real” scary and not just “Disney” scary.
Attractions
Speaking of cool things to do, I’m super excited to finally get to try out Mystic Manor, of course! I’m also looking forward to the new Paint the Night parade, which is starting just before I get there. You can buy a paintbrush toy to change the colors of the lights on the floats as they go by! Fun!
I’m also looking forward to the Grizzly Gulch Mine Train and plan to check out some of the play areas with my 3-year-old daughter. I’ve heard that Hong Kong is great for character meet and greets, as well, which I know she will love.
Like I said above, there’s a fair number of attractions that exist in other parks as well, so things like the Winnie the Pooh ride or Buzz Lightyear probably won’t be a priority for me, though I’ll catch them if I have time.
Dining
Although I haven’t done a ton of planning for dining, I do plan to do a high tea! That’s something I love to do in Walt Disney World, so I’m looking forward to comparing the Hong Kong Disneyland versions. Other than that, I’ll probably be eating a lot of counter service meals based on where I am when I’m hungry. My family doesn’t eat much meat and my daughter is straight up vegetarian, so I’ll be interested to see what is available to us. If anyone has any snacks I shouldn’t miss, let me know!
Gadgets and Electricity
My Japanese phone should work in Hong Kong, and I believe my American iPhone will too, though international rates are a bear. Wi-Fi is available on the island, in general (cool!), and in the hotels, but may not be accessible in the park, itself.
Note! Hong Kong electricity uses about 220 volts…so if you’re coming from the US and used to 110V, you WILL need a transformer for most outlets to prevent frying your hair dryer, etc. Some hotels have “low voltage” outlets to accommodate this, but you will likely need an outlet converter for these, as well, because most outlets use the UK (or sometimes Indian) 3-pronged outlet style (that’s type G or M). My plan is to use a cheap converter for my laptop (which can already handle 220V) and charge via USB from that for various gadgets.
I am of course greatly looking forward to the trip! I’ll be wearing my TouringPlans t-shirt there on Sunday, October 12 – if you’re going to be there as well, come meet up with me! I’d love to hear about your adventures in Hong Kong – or post below if you have tips to share right now! Thanks, and hope to see you there!
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TouringPlans #Everywhere: I’m going to Disneyland… Paris!
By Brad Huber
Back in April, we announced a full day of Disney park coverage around the globe. I was lucky enough to get assigned to Disneyland Paris, aka “that place you go for a day when you need a break from Paris.” The park formerly known as Euro Disney gets a bad rap for its re-themed off-the-shelf carnival rides and boring cuisine (in a country known for inventing fine dining). But it also receives a ton of praise for having more exciting versions of other Disney Park roller coasters, like Space Mountain. I’ve also heard great things about the new Ratatouille ride. It seems like it has really been improving since Disney took a renewed interest in how this non-Disney owned park was being run back in 2012, and since our own Unofficial Guide to Paris was last published in 2010, it will be interesting to see exactly what’s improved in the last 4 years.
Planning
First and foremost, you need a passport. I have one, but it expires in November, and several people told me that even though my passport would technically be valid, some places won’t allow you to travel with a passport expiring within a few months. So if you are like me and took your first international trip 9 years and 9 months ago, renew your passport as soon as possible. It usually takes 4-8 weeks to arrive.
The biggest part for us was deciding what to do in Europe. No one goes to Europe just to go to Disneyland Paris (DLP), because it seems like an awful waste to go all the way there and just spend a few days in a Disney park. The choices for us were narrowed down to southern Europe (Italy and Spain) or northern Europe (London and Dublin). We decided to go with northern Europe: my wife loves British TV and has wanted to go to Ireland her whole life, and I am a huge beer nerd, so Belgium is the promised land. There’s also a super convenient high speed rail that goes from Disneyland Paris to Brussels, which sealed the deal. So we decided to investigate how to best do a European vacation in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London, and Dublin. Step one was convincing the boss that I needed three weeks to do this assignment properly. He was amazingly receptive, so it was on to step two.
Booking Airfare
Many people told me to check out bing.com’s Fare Tracker. Unfortunately, if you’re not departing from a major city, it doesn’t seem to do a great job. New Orleans may be a major travel destination, but it isn’t big enough as a departure location for Bing. I like using Hipmunk.com‘s flight and hotel searching. Flight searching is cool, because it shows you all available flights with relevant visual cues to quickly compare total flight time, layover time, etc. For New Orleans to Paris, over the course of watching prices for a few months, flight prices ranged from $1,100-$1,300 per person, and 11 hours to 16 hours total travel time. So once we found a flight plan that was 11 hours, and $1,150, we decided to book it.
Booking Disneyland Paris
This was where things got weird. Looking at prices on Disneyland Paris’s English site, booking a 4-night trip in DLP was actually $200 cheaper than a 2-night stay. I suppose this is to convince people to stay longer (given the resort’s reputation as a 2-day park, at most), and it worked. A 4-night stay in the 4-star Hotel New York New York was barely more expensive than a 2-night stay in any 3-star hotel. Our travel agent verified that 4 nights was indeed cheaper. We also decided to go with the Half-Board Meal Plan Plus, which gives us one table service meal and one tea time treat (Ed. – the “Tea Time Treat” verbiage is the best!). Looking at menu prices, the meal plan here still seems like a decent enough value.
Booking Everywhere else
We used a combination of Hipmunk, Rick Steve’s guides to Paris, and Amsterdam, and Belgium, and Hotels.com to book hotels in each place. Some personal circumstances led to us not booking hotels until super late (like, 2 weeks ago, for our trip that’s in 10 days). I would not recommend that at all. For Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin, we are staying outside the cities, because those were the only places we could find rooms bigger than 12 sq meters (or 130 sq ft) and less than $200/night. In all places, there are subway/tram stops right outside the hotel, though, and as someone who has made extensive use of the NYC subway system, I am very comfortable sacrificing location in exchange for saving money and using public transit. Our Brussels “hotel” is actually a two room guest house in a converted convent a block from the Manneken Pis (which is exactly what it sounds like), and three blocks from the best beer bar in the best beer country. And luckily in London, we have some friends we can stay with. But if there is a lesson here, it’s book early. Which should be a no-brainer to anyone, really.
Things to Remember When Going to Europe
You’ll need Euros. We bank with CapitalOne, and they said it would take 2-3 days to get some Euros, but if we ordered over $250 worth, there was no extra fee (Rick Steve advises against this, because usually you won’t get a good exchange rate; I’ll find out Monday and report back). If we use our debit cards for transactions, there’s no extra fee. But if we use our debit card at an ATM, it’s a 3% fee, with a $2 international ATM fee, plus whatever local bank ATM fees get charged (which could still come out to a better exchange rate than other methods of exchanging currency) . We were told our MasterCard debit cards might not be as widely accepted in Europe as they are here, so always have some cash on hand. Oh, and always call your bank to alert them of when and where you are traveling to avoid having your card turned off.
Also, electrical outlets have different voltages and plugs. Many modern day electrical devices like MacBooks have a voltage regulator built in to the charger, in which case you just need a plug adapter (for our trip, we needed to buy a multiple adapter kit since the UK and the rest of Europe use different outlets from each other). If you have things like camera battery chargers, or other items you’re not sure about having a voltage regulator, this converter will handle most small electrical devices, like laptops, phones, etc., and has the added feature of coming with all plug adapters and 4 built in USB chargers (great for my wife and me, who each have smart phones and Kindles). The one issue is high-wattage devices, like hair dryers. The voltage converter I linked to doesnt handle hair dryers. And one of the hotels we booked doesn’t provide hair dryers. And trying to find high-wattage voltage converters on Amazon was becoming tedious, so instead we just decided to buy a dual-voltage travel hair dryer. We can flip the switch from 110V to 220V, plug it in to the aforementioned plug adapters, and bypass the voltage converter altogether.
Etiquette…foreign countries have different etiquette than we do. Sadly, I am saving this area for a last minute cram session on the flight over. Though I do know Parisians are generally polite as long as you say “Bonjour” with a smile before asking if they speak English; otherwise, you’re viewed as rude.
Touring Plans Meet Up! In Disneyland Paris!!!
If you ever wanted to meet one of the web developers and request all sorts of new features for the web site or Lines app, now is your chance! On October 12, at 3:00 pm at the Market House Deli on Main Street, we will be buying nutella-filled brioche (or any snack item really) for all who want to show up and chat! Why brioche? Well, I’m from New Orleans, the Paris of America, where our unofficial motto is Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler, or “Let the good times roll.” And a brioche is sort of like a roll…. so at this meet up, we will be serving what I call “Good Times Rolls”. Is this a terrible terrible pun? Yes. If you can come up with something better, feel free to tell me in person, while snacking on some free treats!
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September 29, 2014
Menu Monday: Vegan in Prime Time
My dish! Cute plate!
There has been one thing holding me back from ever dining at 50′s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Fear (capital F). I am made so completely anxious and nervous by any type of crowd participation, that the fear of being told to get my elbows off the table, or to clear my plate has kept me away from this DHS mainstay. Even when I heard tell of vegan meatballs on the menu, I kept my distance to avoid any playful interaction that might await me.
The few times I have visited DHS in recent months, I have always looked longingly at 50′s Prime Time Cafe. I knew the decor and theming of the restaurant was right up my alley (starburst clocks! Danish-made end tables!), and those vegan meatballs were an actual menu item. Still, I stayed away, until very recently when I decided it was time to face my fear.
I sucked it up, and walked inside, sheepishly being prepared to be yelled at by my server for not holding my fork properly. It was a rainy night at DHS, so the Tune In Lounge was crowded but I love the atmosphere in there anyway. When the hostess called, or yelled my party’s name, we followed her to a table in a room that is themed just how I’d love my whole apartment to look, perfectly 50′s.
Much to my surprise, the server gave me no guff at all, about anything, not even when I asked if the Spaghetti and Meatless Meatballs (on the menu as Sissy’s Vegetarian Favorite Multigrain Spaghetti) was vegan. He got the chef from the kitchen, who was also really really nice, and the chef confirmed the dish was, in fact, vegan and he even said he could make me a vegan milkshake. What the what!? A vegan milkshake? At a Disney Park? Yes please!
The entree arrived, looking delicious, and the portion was huge! It tasted amazing. The pasta was well cooked, the sauce was particularly tomato-ey without being too salty, the meatless meatballs were fantastic, and there were even some mushrooms hidden on my 50′s inspired boomerang plate! The entree was very worth the $16.99, and offered too much food for me to finish.
Though I barely had the ability to eat another bite, when someone says “vegan milkshake” I can’t help but nod my head with an affirmative ‘yes.’ I was torn between two options, plain vanilla (to be safe and boring), or peanut butter and jelly. It was the jelly that made me wary, but then our server promised the shake wouldn’t have a jelly taste to it, and the choice was clear. Oh my god. I’m so happy I opted for the PB&J. It was essentially a peanut butter shake, and heaven in a cup. I will brave any Frozen-themed singalong to venture back to 50′s Prime Time for this shake.
Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, I suggest giving this dish, or at least the vegan PB&J shake a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Emily Woesthoff is the General Manager of BabycakesNYC – Orlando. Babycakes supplies vegan, gluten-free baked goods to Walt Disney World resorts and parks, and can be ordered for delivery in the Orlando area for your special occasion.
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Crowd-Free Quick Service Restaurants
Crowds are probably the biggest complaint you hear at Walt Disney World; and throughout most of the year, crowds are pretty much unavoidable whether you’re in line for an attraction or to board the Monorail or even to dine at a restaurant. For me, a line out of the door at the nearest park quick service restaurant is the worst! This is especially true when I’ve burned off all the calories from my Gaston’s Tavern Cinnamon Roll eight or nine spins on Pirates of the Caribbean ago. So after much trial and error during my trips to the parks and resorts, I have compiled a list of crowd-free quick service restaurants which offer short lines even during the busier times at Disney World. Take a look!
The BoardWalk Bakery
Tortuga Tavern – Only open seasonally, I can’t say that Tortuga Tavern never gets crowded; however, it is known for shorter lines and lower crowds than its next door restaurant, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn. When lunch rolls around, ignore the line out the door for Pecos Bill’s and make your way over to Tortuga.
Gasparilla Island Grill – The Grand Floridian’s quick service restaurant is one of my personal favorite retreats. This is where I usually go for lunch after spending the morning at the Magic Kingdom; and as many times I’ve visited, I have rarely experienced a crowd. The Gasparilla Island Grill is an airy, spacious restaurant with a great selection of flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, and desserts, as well as gourmet cupcakes! If the weather is nice, I like to head outside for the outdoor seating which offers a view of the resort’s marina and the tip of Cinderella Castle in the distance. So if you’re looking to escape the lines for some fresh variety, this is where you should go.
Sunshine Tree Terrace – Aloha Isle is the big favorite at the Magic Kingdom for frosty tropical treats, particularly Dole Whips. Although, if you’ve been to Aloha Isle lately, you know that lines can get ridiculously long! To avoid the lines and crowds, check out Sunshine Tree Terrace, which can be found tucked behind The Magic Carpets of Aladdin in Adventureland. Sunshine Tree Terrace is famous for its popular Citrus Swirl and the Orange Bird! See if you can find him when you visit!
BoardWalk Bakery – The BoardWalk Bakery is so much more than just a bakery, although their Strawberry Cupcake is one of my favorite Disney World treats. This quick service restaurant has a yummy menu featuring an assortment of sandwiches, an iceberg wedge, a soup of the day, and more. Everything I’ve ever had at the BoardWalk Bakery has been delicious and there’s rarely a wait!
Trails To Go – Did you know that Fort Wilderness’ Trail’s End has a to-go counter? It’s one of my newest discoveries and one I can’t wait to take advantage of again soon. I know Trail’s End isn’t technically a quick service restaurant, but the fact the to-go menu is reasonably priced and offers a quick meal makes it an unofficial quick service destination in my book. So what can you get here? How about biscuits and gravy for breakfast, or a barbecue sandwich for lunch, or sweet tea for my fellow southerners? So skip the lines outside Trail’s End and the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and check out Trails To Go!
The Diamond Horseshoe
The Mara – Animal Kingdom Lodge’s food court is unique in that it offers popular dishes, but also a few African-style menu items, as well. The Mara‘s spacious seating usually means few lines and less crowds when you’re ready to chow down. The Mara also features a colorful mural of animals in the dining area, and it’s right across the way from the resort’s Uzima Springs Pool.
Diamond Horseshoe – Found between the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland and Liberty Square is The Diamond Horseshoe. It’s only open seasonally; but during one of my trips this past June, when it was really really busy, I discovered that very few guests had found their way into the Diamond Horseshoe. To be honest, the menu here didn’t really impress me; but the balcony seating, icy A/C, and the old-fashioned setting made it one of my new favorite escapes from the hustle bustle.
Columbia Harbour House – Another Magic Kingdom quick service restaurant, Columbia Harbour House can be found in Liberty Square and offers a tasty seafood menu. My personal favorite? The New England Clam Chowder. Now Columbia Harbour House is very popular and can get crowded, but hear me out! One of the best things about this quick service restaurant is that it has a second level that few guests know about. This means that you can enjoy a meal without people bumping into you while you eat or having to race to grab that empty, albeit dirty, table before that other family gets there first. So while you may have to wait in line for your food, you can escape the crowds by dining upstairs.
I can’t guarantee that each of these quick service restaurants will be crowd-free when you visit; but I can say that they typically receive fewer guests than others and have been less crowded during my trips. Do you have any crowd-free restaurants at Disney World to share?
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Walt Disney World Monorail Schedule Changes Again
The Walt Disney World Resort once again has an updated monorail schedule. All three monorail loops are being impacted. The updated schedule is as follows:
Magic Kingdom Resort Beam – 7:00 a.m. to one hour after the park closes
Magic Kingdom Express Beam – 8:30 a.m. to 1 hour after the park closes
Epcot Beam – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. or 1 hour after Magic Kingdom closes, whichever is earlier
During times when the monorail will not be running, additional watercraft and buses will be available to transport guests.
As a reminder, the Walt Disney World Resort monorails are currently undergoing an update where they are adding an automated operating system. The schedule began changing at the beginning of the summer and was updated again at the beginning of September.
This current schedule is in effect until further notice.
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Walt Disney World Monorail Schedule Changes Again is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
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