Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1187

Why You Should Choose the Magic Kingdom’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour

By Savannah Sanders

For those of us looking to learn more about the Disney magic, or for a whole new way to experience the parks, Disney offers a variety of tours to enjoy. For example, there’s Epcot’s Behind the Seeds Tour, Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek, and the big favorite, Backstage Magic, where you enjoy a backstage look of all four parks! However, my personal favorite tour has to be the Magic Kingdom‘s Keys to the Kingdom Tour, a five hour behind-the-scenes peek of the most magical park of them all; and for anyone looking to splurge on a tour, it’s my top pick. Why? Read on to see why you should choose the Magic Kingdom’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour.

Earpiece guests use during the tour in order to hear even in crowded places

1. Utilidors

So this is one of the Keys to the Kingdom’s biggest draws, so I’m starting with it! Yes, the Keys to the Kingdom Tour allows you the opportunity to check out the legendary Utilidors, the Magic Kingdom’s tunnels that run underneath the park. Now before your imagination runs off, let me be clear. These tunnels are not something you would see in an Indiana Jones film. These tunnels are technically the first floor of the park, as the Magic Kingdom is actually built on the second level; and these tunnels are where offices and utilities are located, as well as wardrobe for Cast Members. Also, the purpose of the Utilidors is to allow Cast Members to get from one side of the park to the other without breaking theme. You see, Disney is all about the details and putting on a show, and having a Cast Member dressed in Liberty Square garb wouldn’t look right in Tomorrowland, would it? Also, you should know that you only get to see a small portion of the Utilidors during the tour; but even so, it’s still awesome! Also during the tour, you will get a chance to venture backstage to see some park attractions and buildings from behind the scenes. During my tour, my guide took our group to see the warehouse where they store the parade floats. It was just as memorable as the Utilidors!

Keys to the Kingdom Tour Guide

2. In-Depth Tour Experience

A tour that takes place at the Magic Kingdom alone is a big plus for several reasons. First of all, the Magic Kingdom’s variety of themed lands, and the fact that it has the most attractions, means you’re going to see and learn a lot of different things in one convenient location. Secondly, the Magic Kingdom is the oldest park and its original design came from the mind of Walt Disney himself. If you’re a Disney historian, rest assured that there’s an abundance of interesting Disney history to learn while touring the Magic Kingdom and you will gain a greater appreciation for Walt and Roy as well. Lastly, unlike the Backstage Magic Tour (which is awesome in its own right), where you visit four parks in a day, you get so much more than just an overview of information when you experience the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. You also don’t have to take into encounter travel time from park to park.

 

3. Secrets

Who doesn’t like a good secret? Well, on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, you learn a lot of Disney secrets, such as what Cast Members really go through, how different attractions came to be and how they are maintained, how Disney handles all of the trash accumulated during the day, and that what you see in the park looks very different when behind the scenes. I would tell you more, but that would ruin some of the best moments of the tour and some may not want the magic ruined for them. If you take this tour, I encourage you to keep some of these Disney secrets to yourself and encourage others to take the tour if they really want to know what goes on behind the scenes.

Our tour group’s own private Jungle Cruise ride!

4. Bang for Your Buck

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour is currently offered at 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 9:30 AM every morning at $79.00 per person, plus the cost of park admission. While this may sound a little pricey, it’s actually pretty reasonable for a five hour tour at the resort’s most popular park, plus lunch at a Magic Kingdom counter service restaurant. A little souvenir exclusive to the tour is included as well!

5. Skip the Lines

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour grants guests the chance to experience a few classic attractions without waiting in line! Not only was that cool, but armed with new knowledge from my tour guide, I experienced my wait-free attractions with new eyes!

6. An Empty Magic Kingdom

The tour is currently offered at 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 9:30 AM and participating guests are encouraged to arrive at the Main Street, U.S.A. Chamber of Commerce at least 15 minutes before the tour begins. If you choose to take the tour at 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM, you have the unique opportunity of walking into a completely empty Magic Kingdom park! On the date of my tour, I arrived a little earlier than required and ventured up Main Street, U.S.A. for some rare, crowd-free photos of Cinderella Castle. All you have to do when you arrive at the park is locate the tour entrance at the turnstiles, let the Cast Member know you have booked a tour, and then you are free to go inside. It’s incredible!

A few other things you should know about the Keys to the Kingdom Tour…

The Magic Kingdom’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour is a five hour walking tour and takes place almost entirely outdoors, so be sure to dress accordingly. You should know that cameras, video cameras, and phones are prohibited throughout the duration of the tour, unless otherwise stated by your guide, and especially while in the Utilidors. Also, only guests 16 years and older are allowed to experience the tour and a photo ID is required. If you’re interested in taking the tour, be sure to note that only a certain number of slots are available each day so it’s best to book in advance. Lastly, when taking the tour, you will be provided with an earpiece so that you can clearly hear your tour guide and the information they are sharing at all times. It may not seem necessary at first; but trust me, when the park fills up or if you’re towards the back of the group when walking, you will be glad you have it so you can hear all that’s being said! I should also mention that Disney could change this tour anytime and without warning, so my experience could be different from yours. It’s just something to keep in mind.

So those are my reasons why you should choose the Magic Kingdom’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour. Do you agree? Have you ever experienced the Keys to the Kingdom Tour? What’s your thoughts?

 

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Don’t Sweat It: Tips for Flattering Photos in WDW

By Lisa Gilmore

We all love going to Walt Disney World for special time with our loved ones, premium customer service, and classic Disney attractions. All of these experiences culminate in lifelong memories, and there is no better way to keep those memories alive than with a simple photo or video. And Disney makes it look so easy! We’ve all seen the commercials of the perfect family, Mom, Dad, and 2.5 kids joyfully skipping along Main Street with photo-shop perfected smiles and iconic Mickey balloon in tow. Disney even tries to help facilitate making this a reality for your family with PhotoPass photographers around every corner and plenty of little “Kodak” photo signs to let you know when you might stumble across the perfect photo opportunity.

©Disney

But I imagine many of fellow Disney travelers end up with same anticlimactic photo-viewing experience that I have.  Somehow, meticulously coifed hair ends up in a sweaty ponytail, cherub-cheeked, smiling tots are actually red-faced and bleared-eyed, outfits you spent weeks planning, designing and coordinating are disheveled, sweat/water-spotted, and perhaps even stained from that early character breakfast. Even the PhotoPass pictures are lackluster. No matter how fancy camera technology gets, they capture the Castle and atmosphere almost magically, but somehow, it also captures your humidity-frizzed hair and that annoyed look from your teen who can’t believe you made him stop for another picture.

In effort to help us all have vacation pictures we want to display in our homes, offices and on social media, here are some tips that can help you and your family have that nearly perfect “Kodak moment”.

Rope Drop Ain’t Just for Attractions

Let’s face it, we usually all look a little fresher and happier in the morning, before the heat of the day saps the energy out of us. Any Touring Plan user will tell you how important Rope Drop is, but it’s not just for those who want to avoid long lines at the attractions. For great pictures with fewer people in the background and for pictures while you’re still “shower-fresh,” try to make Rope Drop. This usually also means shorter lines for PhotoPass photographers as everyone else rushes to their favorite attraction. To get in even earlier, make a dining reservation in a park before it opens. If you get there before your reservation, you may have some extra time before breakfast for some really great pictures before your hair feels that humidity frizz or little Sally drops strawberry jam on her shirt.

Things to Bring in Parks

Having a beauty emergency kit with you when you in the parks can be super helpful to primp on the fly for when that photo opp materializes.

Travel brush, compact, Tide To Go, tinted lip gloss and a moist washcloth (in ziplock) are essential for your Park Beauty Kit

Travel Size Hair Brush. These are available at any “big box” discount store, usually for only $1-$2, and being purse-sized makes it easy to pack or store in your backpack. It seems like a simple no-brainer, but it’s amazing how handy it is to whip out this little brush after your latest ride on Test Track  or Tower of Terror. It’s also a good idea to give your hair and your family’s a quick little brushing before the camera snaps to make sure everyone looks their salon best.

Tide To Go. I hardly go anywhere without this this pen-sized stain-fighting marvel. I keep one in my car, one in my purse, and one in my office (I tend to be a bit clumsy and uncoordinated, so I prepare for it!). These little miracle workers are great for getting out little stains on the go so everyone looks sparkling clean in their pictures.

Baby Wipes/Wash Clothes. Baby wipes or damp wash cloth in a ziplock are great items to have handy to wipe the sweat and grime off your face throughout the day. Not only do they help you feel refreshed and clean throughout a potentially sweaty Florida day, but they help minimize the flushed-face look in your pictures.

Blotting Papers. If you’re hoping to maintain the integrity of your morning make-up application, try blotting papers. Touch up anytime with the convenience of blotting papers. They are designed to remove shine, dirt, oil, and perspiration from the skin while unclogging pores for a clearer, matte complexion.

Compact Powder. It only takes a few rides on Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids to cool you down and obliterate your make-up. It also only takes a half of a lap around World Showcase to sweat all of your make-up off. To help keep yourself looking a bit less “shiny” and more polished, be sure to wipe down your face and apply some quick powder. This can really help minimize the appearance of a red, shiny face.

Tinted Lip Gloss. This little difference maker is worth its weigh in gold (maybe even more). A quick gloss application before the camera flash and you’ll always look more polished. Just be cautious if you apply before giving Mickey a kiss, I’m sure Minnie won’t take too kindly to seeing your lip-prints on his nose.

Before You Leave the Room

There are some great ways to prepare for your pictures before you even leave your resort.

Oil-free Sunscreen/SPF Foundation. Make sure it absorbs quickly and matches your skin tone. Having the proper protection from the sun will help you stay photo-ready throughout your vacation.

Waterproof Mascara. Waterproof eyeliner, shadow, mascara, and under-eye concealer help prevent eye makeup from running or smearing in the heat. Want extra insurance? Use color on the top lids only and dust translucent powder along your lower lash line. This means you’ll need to be sure to bring a good make-up remover with you, but at least you can be confident that your make-up will survive Splash Mountain.

Early Breakfast dining reservation gets “2 thumbs up” for great pictures!

Anti-Frizz Hair Care Products. It seems like every hair care line has its own anti-frizz or frizz-control product. Which one is actually best, is subjective and honestly depends on your preference of product and texture of hair. I use Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Aerosol Hair Spray. I spray it directly to my hairbrush and then run it through my hair, so it coats each strand without creating the “helmet” effect. There are several different serums available as well, and Moroccan oil, which I’ve read great reviews on. The key is to try it before your vacation to see how it works with your hair.

Embrace the Wave. If you don’t want to fight the humidity, try using a sea salt or “beach” spray. This can help you style your hair and embrace the natural waves or curls that the Florida humidity can induce. It can help give volume to fine hair and texture, even if you want to pull it up into a messy bun.

Hair Styling Tools. Ionic hair dryers and straightening irons are also helpful tools to pack. Blowing out frizzy hair can feel like an exercise in futility unless you’re armed with the right tool. Using a compact ionic blow-dryer emits a negative charge that helps smooth the hair’s cuticle. Bonus: Once hair’s super dry, blast it with the cool shot to lock it all in. Combine these tools with the proper hair products, you’ll be set to face the day without having to resort to a pony tail.

Diverse Hairstyles. It may be too hot to have your hair down throughout your vacation, but you may also not want a week’s worth of pictures of you wearing a ponytail. Try some new hairstyles that can keep your hair off your neck and back, but also give you a fun look. Elsa’s braid is all the rage with Disneybounders, why not give it a try? A sock bun is also a quick, easy, and fashionable way to pull up your hair. Peruse YouTube for some great tutorials to help you master these styles before your next vacation.

Hats. It’s not just as a last resort for your untamed mane. Wearing a cute hat can be fashionable and functional. And it’s just hard to resist a cute set of Mouse ears!

You don’t have to be restricted to hats and ponytails anymore!

What are your tips for staying stylish in the parks? Share them in the comments below!

 

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DisneyBounding: What is it?

By Ray

Brian DisneyBounding as Mickey Mouse.

One of my favorite things to do as a child was to dress up and pretend to be my favorite superhero: Batman. Fighting crime and saving the world was what I did in my spare time. That is why when I go to a Disneyland, and see children dressed up as their favorite Disney characters, I get a little jealous. Who doesn’t want to pretend to be someone else for an entire day? Children get to dress up, as their favorite character, and take a photos with that character, but how about us adults? Is there a way for fun us to join in the fun as well? Well, there is a way and it is called DisneyBounding.

To put it simply, DisneyBounding is when you style yourself as your favorite Disney character using normal everyday clothes. This is not really “dressing up” but it is the closest you will be able to get while inside a Disney theme park. Leslie Kay is widely regarded as the creator of DisneyBounding. She has always been a huge fan of Disney and fashion, so she decided to mix the two together. On her personal blog, she started matching and creating the outfits to Bound with (to Bound is to dress up similar to a Disney character). Ever since the creation of DisneyBounding, the popularity has been growing.

Sarah and Leo are Bounding as Bernard and Bianca (Dapper style) from ‘The Rescuers’.

Even though Disney theme parks (Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort) have a dress code that guests must follow, DisneyBounding does not break any of these codes. The reason that Disney theme parks have a dress code is so that guest and cast member can be told apart. So, DisneyBounding is the prefect way to get away, so to speak, with dressing up as your favorite Disney character and not getting into trouble while in the parks.

Now that you know what DisneyBounding is, I bet you are wondering where can I get ideas to do this? Well, there are two websites that I recommend visiting for your DisneyBound needs. The first suggestion is Pinterest and search the keywords “Disney Bounding” or “Disney Bound”. There is a huge collection of different DisneyBounding outfits and ideas posted on Pinterest. Another website I suggest, of course, is Leslie Kay’s blog. Here website has an amazing collection of different Bounding ideas, and there is a great community there where you can meet other DisneyBounding fans as well. Kay’s website even post dates of events where you can meet other Bounding fans in Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Dressing up and pretending to be a superhero was something I use to love doing all the time as a child. Now that I am an adult, I find it hard to pretend as much anymore. This is the reason I love Disney theme parks so much. Every time I walk into Disney theme park, it does not matter if I have been there hundreds of times, I feel like I am my seven year old self again; experiencing the park for the first time. I love being an adult but there is nothing better than feeling like a kid again. To many people, DisneyBounding brings alive the fun and playful child hiding inside themselves. Disney parks are a magical place and whatever you can do to make your experience more enjoyable, do it. Why should we let the kids have all the fun? Happy bounding!

Here are some examples of DisneyBounding ideas from Leslie Kay’s blog.

I would like to thank Sarah and Brian for letting me use their photos for this article. You can find more of Sarah’s Bounding and Disney adventures at her YouTube channel and Brian’s at his Twitter page.

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#TBT: Disneyland’s Light Magic

By Claire Nat

photo courtesy of Werner Weiss for Yesterland.com

Throwback Thursday

Quick! Name three Disney Park nighttime spectaculars!

Main Street Electrical Parade!

Fantasmic!

Light Magic!

…wait. What was that last one?

“Light Magic?”

Many of you might be scratching your heads at the last nighttime spectacular mentioned here. Light Magic wasn’t a parade, wasn’t based on any Disney movie, and wasn’t very liked at all. That’s why the show only lasted 15 weeks in the summer of 1997 despite being heavily promoted for a year.

Yet, when you watch Light Magic, you can see elements of Disney Parks parades from the new millenium appearing in its earliest forms. And if you listen, you can hear one of my favorite Disney Parks soundtracks of all time. Let’s look back at Light Magic.

Before reading further, take some time to see what Light Magic looked like:

A Brief History

Disneyland Park had been riding high with its incredible nighttime parade, The Main Street Electrical Parade. It had been marching down Main Street, U.S.A., for almost 25 years, and was beloved by many. But in 1996 the folks at Disney decided to retire the parade and introduce a new show called Light Magic, which would premiere in the summer of 1997.

The show wasn’t a parade, but alternated between Main Street, U.S.A., and the Small World corridor at different times in the night. The music would start, the floats would roll out at the beginning and stop at specific locations, the characters would get out and do a 15-minute dance (there was a LOT of dancing), and then everything would roll away.

Unfortunately, the planning stages were not structured properly, according to former Imagineer Bob Gurr, and the Annual Pass preview night was a huge disaster on May 13, bringing about negative word-of-mouth reviews.

photo courtesy of Allen Huffman for Yesterland.com

The reasons why the summer spectacular failed are easy to see in the video above: the floats were so far from each other that if you were stuck in between them, you couldn’t see anything; there were too many generic pixies and not enough actual Disney characters; and the video projections were difficult to view. The show went away after Labor Day weekend, never to return.

View more pictures and historical information at Yesterland.com.

Borrowed for Light Magic

When I watched this video, I noticed several elements that were likely taken from other Disney shows. The projection of Disney movie scenes in a montage form were used very successfully in Fantasmic! The song from The Main Street Electrical Parade – “Baroque Hoedown” – was placed at the end of the show.

Unfortunately, while these aspects were used well in their original forms, they did not translate that well into Light Magic. When “Baroque Hoedown” played, I’m sure many people just wished they were watching The Main Street Electrical Parade instead.

Borrowed from Light Magic

However, there were many elements that were taken from Light Magic that were used in many parades and shows following it.

For example, there is a portion in Light Magic where the characters got people from the audience and danced around with them. This may not have started with Light Magic, but it certainly has continued in shows like The Festival of the Lion King and Disney’s Magical Moments parade. (I remember watching my 7-year-old brother get picked to be in both those shows and being very jealous.)

The stopped floats were also something that began at this time (in 1996 with the Magic Kindgom’s Remember the Magic parade and in Disneyland with Light Magic) and still is used in the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party. The floats are taller and better spaced now, allowing for decent viewing from all over the Hub.

Light Magic originally was going to feature Tinker Bell flying over all the floats and being the master of ceremonies, but that idea was abandoned. However, Tinker Bell and her fairy friends still live on in (get this!) Pixie Hollow. The fairies definitely look better than the pixies ever did.

If I really wanted to be picky, I could also mention that several characters play instruments in the show – horns and drums – and how parades like Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and the Festival of Fantasy parade also incorporated instruments with great success.

The best part of Light Magic

In my never-ending search for Disney Parks music, I stumbled upon the soundtrack for Light Magic and fell in love. That’s what caused me to start researching this little-known show and discover its “Light Tragic” past. I was very disappointed to hear the bad rap it had, even though many of the technical complaints were probably justified.

photo courtesy of Allen Huffman for Yesterland.com

I was disappointed because I loved the music so much. Celtic music is one of my favorite styles of music (my hometown has a Celtic Festival every year, so I’m accustomed to Celtic music), and I adore how instruments like uilleann pipes and tin whistles are incorporated into the main theme (“Dream Our Dream”) and more familiar Disney songs like “Little April Shower” and “Be Our Guest.”

Not only is the music great, the choreography that goes with it is not your standard Disney choreography. The step-dancing done by all the characters (even the fur characters) is fun to watch. Not only do they dance, they dance for a long time! It’s not a 3-minute loop of dancing, either, like most parades nowadays.

Bring it back?

I hesitate to demand that this show be brought back, since we already have some great parades on both coasts of the United States at the moment. But what about a castle show, using the fantastic musical score and bringing in even more Disney magic through projection screens and fireworks? Take out the pixies and leave that dreamlike atmosphere with obligatory Disney movie clips, and I would be sold.

Let’s face it: the music of Light Magic is (in my opinion) better than most of the original themes introduced since IllumiNations. (But let’s save that tangent for another blog post, shall we?)

The idea of Light Magic was a good one, but the execution was sloppy, and the fact that it replaced the most popular Disney parade of all time guaranteed it for failure. But it is amazing to see how many elements of that show are used today in the parks, and my hope is that the wonderful musical themes can be revived and enjoyed by new generations of Disney fans.

The pixies, however, can stay in storage.

 

Had you heard of Light Magic before this post? What did you think of what you saw? Did you fall in love with the music as much as I did? Were you one of the few Disneyland visitors who saw Light Magic in 1997? Comment below!

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Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: September 11, 2014

By Daisy Lauren

Hi, Everyone! Welcome to the Best Week Ever here at Tokyo Disney Resort?!? That’s right! Last week I had the incredible good fortune to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams by visiting Tokyo. The city was amazing, but, of course, I couldn’t come near a new Disney park without a lengthy visit. I thought rather than skipping my weekly update that you’d like to come with me. I took thousands of photos, and there’s no way I could share them all in a single post. However, this is just to whet your whistle as Guy will be visiting next month. So let’s get started with these amazing parks!

 

A few days before we left I had this knot in my gut. I’d built these parks up as my ultimate dream for as long as I could remember. How could they possibly meet my impossible expectations? I had no need to worry. The simple answer was that these parks blew away every hope I’d ever had. Even the airport and transportation experience were a pleasure. Once we arrived at the hotel, this bus was my first taste of Disney. How can you not love this??!

After a two minute bus ride we’d arrived at the monorail station and were whisked away to the parks. Theyre is a charge for the monorail in Tokyo, but fees are minimal. I’d happily pay for the monorail here in the U.S.A. if they could be so clean and timely.  (Not to mention adorable!) Later in the week a monorail was decorated inside and out for the Halloween season.

I’d heard about the crowds at the Tokyo parks, but I don’t think I really understood until we arrived a few minutes before opening and saw the scene below. These were only a fraction of the lines below us. In Tokyo, guests start arriving long before the park opens. To get a decent spot in line, we had to get there 90 minutes early! Locals are very prepared, bringing snacks, mats to sit on, and things to keep themselves entertained. Ironically, many of those waiting the longest dash in to grab a spot for a parade or show… then they wait some more!

Here is the early morning scene when entering Tokyo DisneySea. Note all the cast members holding signs asking people not to run. If you can believe it, the running is even worse for the first few people entering the park. The day I took this video we’d only arrived about 60 minutes before the park opened, so the worst had already passed. I don’t know that I could rope drop these parks if I were a local. It’s a lot of work to beat the crowd!

But once you’re in, you’ve never seen a more beautiful theme park. I kept turning corners and just stopping when I saw something new. Before I left, someone told me that Tokyo makes our parks look like Six Flags. I dismissed the comment thinking it wasn’t possible. After just a few hours, I knew it was completely true: Tokyo Disney Parks make Orlando look like Chuck E Cheese!

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the parks was everyone’s unwavering love for Duffy. I know it isn’t a popular opinion in the states, but I really like Duffy! Everywhere I turned in Tokyo DisneySea, there was someone carrying Duffy or his friends Shellie May and Gelatoni. (And, yes, I brought the whole family home.) It was too hot to carry around my camera and Duffy this trip, but next time I’m excited to use the shelf below.

You can also meet Duffy and Shellie May in the park. Believe it or not, people wait for over an hour to snap a photo with their beloved bears. Think of that the next time you walk by him in Epcot with no line! Below is a photo of Shellie May I just happened to snap as she walked towards me. A second later she was mobbed by teenage girls! The photo of Duffy below was taken during his stage show. (Yes, you read that right.) I waited 30 minutes to buy the required food to watch Duffy’s show. And that was a short wait!

 

I also got caught up in the Halloween frenzy for Duffy costumes. I’d vowed not to wait in line to buy overpriced clothes for a doll… but the best laid plans, right? When I saw a line that said 11:00 – 11:45 we decided to invest 45 minutes and see what we could get. After being in line for about 40 minutes, we were almost to the front of the store. Anticipation was mounting as the clerk came to us and… asked for our ticket. It ends up we’d misunderstood the Japanese sign. There was a FASTPASS distribution somewhere in the park, and we’d gotten in line without the magic ticket. The clerk only spoke Japanese but came back with a notebook. Written in English it said all tickets were distributed but that we could get in the standby line, which would start entering the store at 2pm. She then directed me to a HUGE line. Wow, they really love their Duffy over there! Incidentally, we gave up on it, but came across the costumes just hanging up in stores a few days later.

Aside from my Duffy woes, the parks were amazing for Halloween! If you ever thought we decorate and celebrate well in Orlando, then you won’t believe the effort put in at the Toyko parks. Not only are there free seasonal shows added at both parks, there are also detailed decorations and special merchandise exclusive to each park. My skeleton friends below are one of the things I had looked forward to the most. I always thought they looked amazing in photos, but they are even more impressive in person! There were no fewer than 50 of them dressed in different costumes!

 

Below is one of the decorations added at Tokyo Disneyland. If I understood correctly, these change each year. This year was a carnival theme with Mickey and Minnie riding a carousel and the scene below. The decorations didn’t stop on Main Street: they were spread through most of the park. It was incredible and makes our standard decorations look pretty sad!

Another tradition that Tokyo Disneyland embraces is Haunted Mansion Holiday.  I’m a huge fan of this attraction and wish so much that they’d allow the overlay here at Magic Kingdom. I’ve always heard that they can’t justify closing the ride for 6 weeks a year because people travel from all over the world to come here. It’s a shame because I suspect ours would look very much like this since the rides are nearly identical. I liked the Tokyo version even more than Disneyland’s in California!

 

Look how bright and crisp everything looks. I know I’m just a huge fan of dark rides in general, but Tokyo does an amazing job. Of course, lines are spectacularly long to go along with that. We ran here first thing in the morning after being in line at the gates for nearly 90 minutes. We were able to grab a FASTPASS and then ride without wait. By the time we exited the line was an hour! All the thrill rides had an even longer wait.

Maybe the longest line in the park was for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. While this isn’t a thrill ride it might just be the best dark ride of all time. I linked to YouTube so you can watch a video if you haven’t yet. There isn’t anything else like it and, yes, the room really bounces along with Tigger! Below was my favorite photo from the entire trip. The ride changes every time depending which car you’re in and where you are seated. It was just dumb luck that I managed to get this shot. I bet I could ride a hundred more times and never get the chance again.

Here are another couple popular rides. If you can believe it, Peter Pan is not the busiest dark ride in the park. A local explained to me that Disney wasn’t as popular back when the older movies were big and that locals are much more bonded to Pixar characters. That makes sense, because Monsters Inc. Ride and Go Seek was wildly popular and always had a massive line. If I can be honest, I really liked the version in California more. That might be because I care more about photos than “playing along” with the game during the ride.

 

In general, all of their rides seemed brighter, better maintained, and cleaner. Animatronics also moved with such fluidity! It makes me wonder why we can’t get a little more of that in our parks. Jack Sparrow looked so real and was just mere feet from our boat. It felt like you could reach out and touch him!

 

I also got a kick out of how different Teddy Bearra looked from her blonde furred US counterpart.  She’s still my favorite part of the show, though. Does anyone else remember when they used to change out the seasonal shows at the Country Bear Jamboree? In Tokyo they were performing the Summer Vacation Hoedown! I loved seeing it again. As a side note, the Japanese do not know how a “howdy” works. When I loudly said “howdy” back, it was obvious I’d interrupted their spiel.  Oops…

The Country Bear Jamboree was just the start of the shows, though. Can you believe they had daytime and nighttime shows going all all over both parks? Sadly, Legends of Mythica had its last performance while I was there. The photo on the left is from one of its last showings. Is it wrong that I’m hoping its retirement could mean it is coming to Epcot? We could really use that kind of awesome in the U.S.A.! Pictured below right is Minnie Oh Minnie. This was so high energy it was tiring just to watch. I’ve linked to YouTube if you haven’t seen it. It’s worth a few minutes to see the kind of entertainment offered in Tokyo, and there was lots more I didn’t have room to include!

 

We can’t talk about Tokyo Disney without talking about the incredibly unique snacks. We had so many things we enjoyed, but the cutest was alien mochi. I hunted for these and wanted with all my heart to love them, but when I sunk my teeth in… eeewww! It was just squishy, chewy mush – Not my thing at all. However, the popcorn totally lived up to expectations! We tried every flavor and came home with three popcorn buckets. Buckets there come with a long strap that you can hang around your neck like a feed bag. Unexpectedly, soy sauce was our favorite flavor!

 

On a final note, Tokyo Disneyland also has a quietly marked set of doors tucked into Main Street. It would be easy to walk by and not even notice them. But inside is a Club 33, just like at Disneyland! The only difference is that this one seems a little more exclusive. If you go hunting for information, you won’t find nearly as much content as its Anaheim counterpart. I confirmed that even when you search in Japanese, information is scarce.

I had the incredible honor of entering those doors. As someone who has been to both clubs, there is no comparison. The Tokyo experience felt much more restricted and private. There were only two other tables occupied. At the conclusion of our meal, someone explained to us that they respectfully ask that we keep our experience private. The club is special because the members respect its secrecy. They asked that we not share club logos, costumes, or anything easily identifiable. So below is a photo of my main course and some beautiful flowers. Just a peek, to respect that request.

 

And with that it’s time to say goodbye to Tokyo Disney Resort. Here’s one last look at the Aquasphere as the sun sets on this amazing vacation that I’m lucky enough to be able to share with you.

Have you been to Tokyo Disney Resort? What did you think of the parks? Do you have any questions about my trip? What was your favorite favorite Halloween decoration above? Please let us know in the comments below and as always thank you for reading and commenting! :) 

Next week we’ll be back at Walt Disney World.  I’m wishing all of you the Best Week Ever, until next time!

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Another Note on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

By Bob Whitten

Oh No!

Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss

I have one rule in life – no coasting of the roller variety. Regular coasting is perfectly acceptable, of course, but that’s the extent of things. So far, this rule has been fairly easy to follow, which keeps the butterflies from wreaking their unholy havoc in my stomach and also gives me a great sense of accomplishment most days. It would give greater satisfaction if I could manage to work these minor victories into polite conversation, but I lack that gift.

One of the drawbacks to this rule is that I know next to nothing about proper inertial positioning when it comes to these stomach-churning, coastery experiences.

Recently, I posted an article about Disney World’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in which I gave it a very mild rating. It was July when we partook of the little miners’ offering, so I was not able to give it the multiple rides required for proper scientific testing.

Armed with my ignorance and full of confidence—two things that often go hand-in-hand—we once again audibled our touring plan and decided to  risk Disney’s Running of the Bills (and the Petes, the Georges, and the rest) in order to work in an additional Mine Train ride before our FastPass+ reservation. Unlike the last time, I entered the queue cheerily and without trepidation. I smiled at everyone I passed; I even almost played with the many little diversions scattered along our way.

Then we loaded our train. Car number 8. It is a number that will be forever burned into my memory, seared there by those accursed and soon-to-be very angry butterflies. I quickly perceived something was wrong on the first drop when my stomach leapt free of its moorings and promptly slapped me across the face, indignant of my foolish, foolish arrogance. By the time we reached the little guys’ cave of gems and we began our ascent, my “Oh no!” in echo to Doc’s “Heigh-ho!” was loud, full-bodied, and lacked any of the humor of my previous trip. I was joined of course, by my chorus of butterflies. It was a nausemagical moment.

I thought perhaps it was my imagination, but my wife experienced more thrills this time, as well, not that I found anything I experienced particularly thrilling.

After we departed, shaken and disturbed, and quite frankly confused by the stark differences in my experiences, I debated whether or not I would have anything else to do with Snow White’s little friends ever again. They were definitely no longer invited to game night at our house. Briefly I even debated whether or not I was going to slug one of them if they crossed my path—except for Dopey, I don’t suppose any of this was his fault. But Doc . . .. That of course, would have depended on whether or not I could keep from curling up in the fetal position at the sight of him, which was also a possibility.

My wife and I returned to our touring plan and found ourselves ahead of schedule. We squeezed in some additional attractions and soon we had reached the time of our Mine Train FastPass+ reservation. My wife assumed that after the last experience, I would prefer to conveniently “forget” about the reservation and move on to other fun, and in truth we almost let the window on the reservation close, but I needed to answer the question of why the two experiences were so disparate. Plus, I had no considerable lack of guilt for recommending this attraction to my fellow chickens. So, we returned for our second encounter.

Third Time’s The Churn?

This time I requested a car at the front, which – despite the line – the cast members readily accommodated. In fact, there appears to be a little waiting area specifically set aside for such requests. Soon we were back on the train, but this time in car number 1. At the first drop, I immediately knew I had made the right choice and learned a valuable lesson about inertial positioning of coaster of the roller kind. The angry butterflies, so riled up and fluttery an hour earlier, were now quiet, and I could at long last sing “Heigh-ho!” when prompted by my old friend Doc. I’m sure glad I didn’t slug him!

Although this comes as no surprise to the experienced thrill rider and probably even to most chickens, if you are like me, ASK TO BE PLACED AT OR NEAR THE FRONT. I cannot stress this enough. The difference between the front and the back on even something as innocuous as the Mine Train is significant and may determine how well you enjoy the rest of your day.

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Putt Putting Around the World (Walt Disney World, That Is!)

By Amy Farkas

On our last trip to Disney World we decided to utilize one of our Magic Your Way perks: the free round of miniature golf. There are two mini golf courses on Disney property: Fantasia Gardens near the Swan Resort and Winter Summerland near Blizzard Beach water park. We opted for Winter Summerland since last year we gave Fantasia Gardens a whirl.

Mini Golf at a Glance

Price: The costs for one round are $14.00 per adult and $12.00 per child (aged 3 to 9). Vouchers for play are included in some Magic Your Way vacation packages, and Annual Passholders and DVC members are eligible for discounts. There is often a discount for replaying. The price is slightly less than at Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk, but, to be fair, that course is much newer (and nicer).

Hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily

Transportation: Free parking is available if you choose to drive yourself. For Disney transportation, take a bus to Blizzard Beach for Winter Summerland. For Fantasia Gardens, take a bus to the Walt Disney World Swan; Fantasia Gardens is located across Epcot Resorts Boulevard from the Swan, near the tennis courts shared by the Swan and Dolphin hotels. Note that Blizzard Beach closes for maintenance for most of January, February, and March, so bus service will not be available then. Ask at your hotel if there are options for arriving by Disney Transportation.

Food: Each course offers snacks like sodas, chips, and ice cream novelties. There are picnic tables available.

A “snow castle” at Winter Summerland

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

Address: 1548 West Buena Vista Drive, Bay Lake, Florida 34787

The back story of Winter Summerland is that it is Santa’s permanent summer retreat. There are two courses that you can choose from: Summer and Winter. Summer is beach-themed with a winter twist. It has fun summer music playing. The winter course is decked out with Santa’s elves, igloos, sleighs, and all the things you would expect to see at the North Pole. It even has classic Christmas music playing and strings of the old C9 bulbs hanging around the course. We opted for the winter course since Christmas is our favorite holiday.

The final hole (shared between the winter and summer sides) at Winter Summerland is delightful, but we won’t spoil it for you.

Each of the 18 holes is unique and worthy of time spent enjoying the details. On the first half of the course we had a large party in front of us and no one behind, so we could do just that. The holes are generally par 3; they were not too complex for children but were still engaging for us adults. It took us about an hour to complete the 18 holes.

You may get wet!

Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf

Address: 1205 Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32836

As mentioned above, the year before we tried out Fantasia Gardens. You can easily get there by bus, boat, or a leisurely stroll from the BoardWalk, Beach Club, or Yacht Club resorts. If you’re feeling spry and full of energy after some time at the parks, you can even walk or take the boat there from Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Fantasia Gardens consists of two 18-hole courses. The Gardens course is themed after the classic movie Fantasia, and it is fun for the whole family. The Fairways course is more of a “real” golf adventure, which was certainly above my skill level. We chose the Gardens course.

Keep your eyes on those brooms!

Although each hole’s theming was very detailed and challenging, including water sprays for good shots, this course ended up not being my favorite. There simply is no shade from that hot Florida sun, which makes for one cranky mini golf player. I don’t know if that was the reason or if I simply was having a bad day, but making par on this course seemed impossible. I’m not sure small children would enjoy it. In fact, the day we were there, there were only adults playing. But, it was an enjoyable break from the crowds, nonetheless.

I recommend going here in the evening time, when the sun isn’t baking you to a crisp. I imagine that the lighting on the Fantasia sculptures would really set it off, making it much more aesthetically appealing. And afterwards, you could stroll over to the BoardWalk for some after-hours entertainment and beverages.

Have you completed either of the mini golf courses at Disney World? Which is your favorite? Leave your comments below!

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Universal Orlando Sapphire Falls Resort Opening in 2016

By Seth Kubersky

Only a few months after opening the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Orlando has announced that its fifth on-site hotel will be called the Sapphire Falls Resort and will open in summer 2016.

Universal’s latest Loews-branded hotel will sport a Caribbean theme and contain 1000 rooms, 77 of which will be suites. Landscaping will feature a tropical lagoon and large waterfall. The new resort is located between the Royal Pacific Resort and Cabana Bay Beach Resort, on the south side of Hollywood Way just east of Adventure Way.

Disney World Play Areas for Toddlers

By Natalie Reinert

Kids need time for free play, even on a Disney vacation, just as surely as parents need to sit down and relax. Disney World play areas are elaborate and fun, but it’s hard to relax when children have so much room to roam–not to mention they’re usually hot, sweaty places. Animal Kingdom’s offering, The Boneyard? Might as well be in the actual desert digging up real dinosaur bones. Disney’s Hollywood Studios‘ play area, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure? Blades of grass really don’t provide much shade, even when you’re ant-sized. And the sprawling size of these areas means sitting down and relaxing is out of the question when your little explorer is on the go.

The dimly lit observation area at The Seas pavilion is an ideal place to relax, while the fish do the entertaining.

I brought up a toddler with Walt Disney World as our backyard, and finding spots for him to play at the parks and resorts was much more fun than sitting at the tiny playground at our apartment complex. These are a few of our favorite places that let a kid shake off the structure of a theme park day, while the parents can put up their feet and relax for a few minutes.

Epcot – The Seas With Nemo and Friends. Although this pavilion opens with an dark ride attraction, its massive saltwater aquariums can be enjoyed at a slower pace–or no pace at all. Toddlers tend to love the circular observation area which juts into the main tank, and it’s often sparsely populated. This means you can settle down for a while and enjoy the dim light and air conditioning, while the little one makes fish faces through the glass. Don’t forget that you can enter The Seas through the merchandise location, bypassing the ride–just bear left as you approach the pavilion, and go through the sliding glass doors. This makes it an even more enticing attraction when all you want to do is relax for a little while without standing in another queue.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn – the lawn. Just behind the hotel stairway down to the Boardwalk entertainment area, a wide grassy lawn with inviting benches beckons tired parents with revved-up kids. Sit back with ice cream or a refreshing drink from Seashore Sweets and let your toddler run on the grass without worrying about little knees scraped by the sidewalk. This is a great spot to make new friends–my son has joined pick-up football games, played along with girls practicing their gymnastics, and just plain run around like a crazy person while we adults relax on a park bench.

Water play areas such as this one n Fantasyland can absorb children for hours. Bring a change of clothes! Photo: Disney

Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom – water play areas. At each of these parks, you’ll find splash zones with fountains and plenty of opportunities to get soaking wet. Water play areas are pretty much irresistible for little kids, and usually an unwelcome surprise for parents who didn’t expect them. When our son was little, I always threw water shoes and a change of clothes into my park bag. Sometimes, an evening visit to Epcot consisted of dinner, Spaceship Earth, and a half hour kicking back on a bench while Calvin played in the water play area along the walkway to World Showcase. Plenty of fun for one night, right?

Magic Kingdom – the Dumbo waiting area. I’ll always miss the short-lived Winnie-the-Pooh playground, (replaced by Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) but this works as well. At the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction in Fantasyland, you can pick up a pager that signals when it’s your turn to queue up for the next elephant, and spend the waiting time in an air-conditioned circus tent, complete with an elaborate circus-themed play area for children. What happens if you just ignore your buzzer and let the kids keep on playing while you soak up some cool air? Probably nothing but a delayed elephant ride, and the free-play time is priceless–for everyone involved.

No, it’s not baby jail – he has trains to watch! The model railroad in World Showcase fascinates small train fans. Note the little red caboose in the background.

Epcot – Germany’s model railroad. “The Romantic Road,” the sign calls it, and it’s love at first sight for tiny train fanatics. The model railroad, located just south of the Germany pavilion in World Showcase, is an elaborate set-up that climbs up a terraced hillside, with several pathways criss-crossing the landscape. Although the railroad area lacks a good place to sit, a parent with a train-crazy toddler can lean on the railing, sip a German beer, and let the trains work their magic. My son’s devotion to the train was such that we actually had to structure our walks around World Showcase to avoid it if we had actual plans for the day–he would happily spend hours running back and forth, watching the little trains make their way through towns, tunnels, and forests.

Those are a few of my favorite spots to give kids non-structured playtime. How about yours? Let us know in the comments!

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Touringplans #Everywhere – Cruising for Larger Families and Families With Special Needs

By Fred Hazelton

We’ll take seats for five please

I’m excited to announce that our assignment is the 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise aboard Disney’s ship, Fantasy. The mission: to plan the trip and write about it to help others plan their own Disney Cruise Line adventures and learn from our mistakes. You’ve seen my colleagues write about their trips to Disney destinations in California, Tokyo and everywhere in between so I will write about the aspects of our trip that make it unique.

The world was built for a family of four – especially when you travel

My brother-in-law used to say this, having experienced life with a wife and three kids. Cars, hotels and restaurants are designed for parties of 4. He was right. The Hazelton/Brazeau group is a party of five so one of our first struggles in the planning process was to pick a stateroom that would accommodate us. It’s me, Fred, my two sons Bram (age 13), Alec (age 11), my wife Chantale (age censored) and her son Matice (age 9). The most economical of Disney’s stateroom options for a family of five are the Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms that sleep 5 (category 8) or two adjoining Standard Inside Staterooms that sleep 4 (category 11). Although a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah was a hundred dollars less than two adjoining inside staterooms, we chose to get the two rooms. Our feeling was that with the age of the kids, the negligible cost difference and having the second bathroom made it the smarter choice for us. Plus, if the kids need an escape from us or we need an escape from them, having the second stateroom provides a nice separator.

Alec (left) and Matice

Alec was born with spina bifida & hydrocephalus and although ambulatory, does have some mobility issues. We are interested to see how easy or difficult it will be for him to manoeuvre around the ship, especially if the seas are rough. Our choices of Port Adventures may be limited as well, to those excursions that don’t involve a lot of walking. Beach days, Jeep tours and boat excursions will be a lot better for us than climbing ruins or walking tours. He’s an easygoing kid though, so he will likely be just as happy to spend the week alternating between the buffet and the Edge Club.

 

Stay tuned for more about our trip and the other Touringplans #Everywhere trips, the planning, the during and the aftermath.

[Our cruise departs on October 11th, 2014 from Port Canaveral. If you happen to be sailing on that cruise with us, please let us know.]

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Touringplans #Everywhere – Cruising for Larger Families and Families With Special Needs is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.