Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1188
September 9, 2014
Apple Pay to be Utilized at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Did you happen to catch Apple’s announcements today? Whether you caught them live or relived the event through social media like I did, it seems like Apple is introducing a great line of new products. Now I know you’re asking….Rikki…what does this have to do with Disney? Well, I’m getting there.
You see, today Apple released information about a brand new payment system called “Apple Pay.” Apple Pay will allow people to use their phones to pay for things; payments take place with just a single touch, with no need to open an app. You’ll simply swipe your phone (which of course, has been linked with a credit card) and place your finger on the Touch ID sensor. Once you hear the beep, you’re good!
Again…where am I going with this?
Well, Apple let us know that Disney will be one of the companies that will accept this new form of payment. The system will begin its roll out in October, and guests who own an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus will be able to utilize this new technology at Walt Disney World, as well as at Disney Stores. This new app will be useful when paying for food and merchandise and should be fully available by Christmas.
For those who missed the announcement made this afternoon, you can find out more about Apple Pay and see what the excitement is all about.
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Observations from Downtown Disney (Fit2Run, Theme Park Tagalongs, New Bridge to Saratoga Springs, Construction Walls)
By Derek Burgan
Time to head back to Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district, Downtown Disney (DTD). In my last several photo reports of DtD I have skipped over just how many construction walls have popped up all over the place, so today we’re going to get up close and personal with those, as well as a new bridge connecting DTD to the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. We’ll also check out the Fit2Run store on the West Side, look at some new merchandise at World of Disney, artwork at Art of Disney, collectibles at D-Sreet and give a full report on whether or not Theme Park Tagalongs actually do what they say they do (as I had my doubts when I first saw them). So sit back and get ready to take a tour through the construction capital of the world (and don’t forget that clicking on any picture will bring up the full size version). Ready? Well let’s get to it!
All roads lead to more walls.
We’ll actually start off in the parking lot on the West Side, where some Disney Springs signage has shown up in the form of parking signs. In DTD there are very few actual references to the upcoming transition to Disney Springs, so it’s neat to see the transformation getting more concrete.
At 6PM this spot is turned over to valet.
Small snack to start off the day at The Smokehouse quick service located in front of the House of Blues
The Smokehouse (photo by Brandon Glover)
Got the pulled pork sandwich that is served with a side of house made cole slaw. This was fantastic ($9.99).
Pulled pork and cole slaw from The Smokehouse. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Fit2Run is a nationwide chain catering to runners; its DTD branch is located in the West Side between DisneyQuest and Splitsville. Not a bad store to have at DTD, considering the boom in runDisney events down here in Florida. Lots of sneakers, shirts, shorts, and other running accessories.
Fit2Run at Downtown Disney.
Fit2Run
Fit2Run.
Fit2Run
Now that D-Street is focusing mostly on non-Vinlymation toys and collectibles, I find myself stopping in on every trip. I thought these “steam punk” inspired pieces looked fantastic. Steep at $95 each, but they look sharp.
Daisy Duck at D-Street (photo by Brandon Glover)
Donald Duck at D-Sreet (photo by Brandon Glover)
Goofy at D-Street (photo by Brandon Glover)
Pluto AT-AT at D-Street (photo by Brandon Glover)
The Haunted Mansion Vinylmation series has been out for a little while now, and the Mickey and Minnie versions aren’t that bad at all. These are $24.95 each and come with two Vinyls: a Butler Mickey (or Maid Minnie), along with a blind box character.
Haunted Mansion vinylmation at D-Street..
Across from D-Street is this very strange section of overhead track which makes little sense unless it is just being used for decoration. The picture following explains where this piece is in relation to the upcoming Food Truck Park area. Since the picture has been taken, the walls have come down, and foliage has been added to the elevated area.
West Side at Downtown Disney
As you see in the background, the Food Truck Park will have a second level walkway/dining area, and this stand-alone piece outside D-Street matches that look exactly. #story
In the background is Starbucks, followed by the upcoming Food Truck Park, and then Bongos Cuban Cafe.
Right past this area we approach the walls surrounding Planet Hollywood. They go for as far as the eye can see.
Planet Hollywood kiosk.
When parking is full at DTD, guests are encouraged to go to the overflow parking available at several locations across the street. One of these locations is Team Disney. There are shuttles that will bring you to DTD, or - if you’re crazy - you can walk it.
There’s a bridge to nowhere in Alaska and a walkway to nowhere at Downtown Disney.
This ad for the AMC Dine-In Theatres on one of the construction waslls caught my eye because it shows an experience that is not the one you get at DTD’s Fork & Screen theaters. The set-up inside the AMC has one long table serving four guests seated next to each other. It also has seats that are further back than the ones in these photos.
Ad for AMC Dine-In Theatres at Downtown Disney.
This picture doesn’t really help much when it comes to seeing what the Fork & Screen is like at the DtD AMC movie theaters, but it is one of my favorite ways to see a movie on the big screen. They have a full bar, a terrific menu (for a movie theater), and the servers will get you whatever you need whenever you ask (such as refills for soda and popcorn).
The “All Carb” meal at AMC’s Fork & Screen experience. Parmesan fries, milk shake, and pretzel sticks. You have to love any place that gives you the “extra” milkshake on the side.
Pretty much the entirety of Pleasure Island is behind construction walls. The walkway that takes you around the entire area dumps you out here, next to Raglan Road.
Exiting construction around Pleasure Island. Directly to the right would be Raglan Road.
Next to Raglan Road is one of my personal favorite counter service restaurants on Disney property, Cookes of Dublin. The construction walls will guide you to Portobello Country Italian Trattoria and Fulton’s Crab House.
On the left of this photo is Cookes of Dublin.
The walls take a quick break in front Portobello….
But then pick right back up in front of T-REX Cafe.
To the right of this photo is the entrance to T-Rex Cafe.
I stopped into T-Rex Cafe and am happy to report that the first tank that cracked several months ago has been completely fixed, and the fish have returned.
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.
Concept art for the upcoming – and desperately needed – parking garage for Disney Springs.
Once we pass T-REX, this is the corridor that will lead you to the Lego and World of Disney stores.
Straight ahead is World of Disney with the Lego store on our left. To the right was the former home of BabycakesNYC and Pollo Campero.
The LEGO displays in front of the LEGO store are worth going out of your way to see. Very impressive stuff.
This is much cooler in person.
Snow White and Dopey at the Lego store.
Construction walls block off one of the former exits to the LEGO Store.
Wall at end of Lego Store.
Let’s take a quick run into the World of Disney store. The “mini-character” hats are apparently quite popular in Japan. They are $21.95 each. Each has a big head that you wear, and then the character’s body dangles on your neck. I think like Duffy the Bear this may be one fad they won’t translate as well over here.
“Mini body” character hats ($21.95)
I couldn’t get anyone to actually wear one, so here is a picture of a mannequin wearing one in a display at the Everything Pop! gift store at the Pop Century Resort.
To me it looks like that mannequin is wearing the carcass of Donald Duck.
Once again, very little Frozen merchandise at World of Disney, but this Animator’s Collection Kristoff doll arrived. This is one version of the Disney dolls that I enjoy a lot, and I wouldn’t mind seeing comic books or animated films done in this style.
Animator’s Collection Kristoff at World of Disney. ($29.95)
Time for the Theme Park Tagalongs scientific experiment! I was intrigued by the concept of Theme Park Tagalongs when I first saw them, although I doubted that they would actually work. The Tagalongs come with two pieces: a figure and a magnetic base. You place the base under your shirt and then put the figure on top of it on the outside the shirt, so that the figure is resting on your shoulder.
First I had to buy some Tagalongs. In previous articles I have showed pictures of the Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Jiminy Cricket Tagalongs along with the wonderful Angel & Devil Donald Duck set. Here are some of the other Tagalongs available.
Tinker Bell and Pascal Tagalongs.
Yoda and Agent P Tagalongs.
The Pascal Tagalong was purchased and a top secret double blind case study was performed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. First we opened up the package….
Exhibit A: The Pascal Tagalong’s two pieces.
Then we placed the Pascal Tagalong on the volunteer’s shoulder.
Exhibit B: Pascal Tagalong placed on shoulder.
And then we performed the experiment…
I can’t believe it. THEY ACTUALLY WORK! I now believe the Theme Park Tagalongs to be one of the greatest pieces of merchandise Disney has ever created. I bought the Jiminy Cricket and Donald Duck set and now will be keeping my eyes open for characters I want to see like Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy, Heimlich from A Bug’s Life, and Mushu from Mulan.
While I’m recovering from my mind being blown, here’s a picture of the only Tsum Tsums that were available. These were at Once Upon a Toy and were pretty big. There were no small Tsum Tsums available at any store in Downtown Disney, and word is there will not be any for a while. I’m hoping that’s true, because I don’t want to write the words “Tsum Tsums” for the rest of 2014.
Large size Tsum Tsums.
A quick stop at Goofy’s Candy Co. to get a Goofy Glacier. For all intents and purposes a Goofy Glacier is a slurpee, just much more expensive. I got a pink lemonade version in the souvenir Olaf cup for $8.99. Gold does not cost as much per ounce.
Pink Lemonade Goofy Glacier in souvenir Olaf cup. ($9.58 after tax)
Next stop, a brief look into Art of Disney store, where there was a display in the front focusing on Beauty and the Beast artwork
“It’s called a book” – Annick Blaudet. Giclee on canvas. ($495)
Gaston and LeFou statue. ($95)
Presented without commentary.
“Dinosaurs” by Steve Adams. Giclee on canvas. ($375)
I can not get enough Scrooge McDuck pieces.
“McDuck’s Steam Power Time Travel Sedan” by Mark Page. Limited edition giclee. ($375)
We’ll finish up this week with a look at the new bridge that connects the Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. There is a boat dock located off this bridge that will bring you to the Pleasure Island and West Side boat docks, as well as to the Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter resorts.
Bridge to Saratoga Springs.
Dock in the middle of the new bridge.
I couldn’t leave without getting one of my favorite Disney collectibles: a pressed penny. This Downtown Disney penny is probably one you should think about getting before it is removed for a Disney Springs penny (or, more likely, and Anna or Elsa penny).
Pressed penny machine in Downtown Disney’s Marketplace.
We finished our day with a meal at Bongo’s Cuban Cafe, which I have already blogged about. It was a very nice surprise after being completely disappointed walking into the main House of Blues restaurant.
Bongos famous fried rice. (photo by Brandon Glover)
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Observations from Downtown Disney (Fit2Run, Theme Park Tagalongs, New Bridge to Saratoga Springs, Construction Walls) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney Cruise Line Vancouver Hotel Compare/Contrast
By Erin Foster
Touring Plans blogger Kristi Fredericks and I have been sharing some of our excursion experiences (dog sledding in Juneau, trains in Skagway) on our Disney Cruise Line voyage to Alaska this summer. Now it’s time to cover our respective pre-cruise stays in Vancouver.
Both Kristi and I chose to book our pre-cruise hotels through Disney. Kristi stayed at the Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront. By the time I booked, the Waterfront was filled, so they placed me at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport location. Here’s the scoop on what we experienced.
THE FAIRMONT WATERFRONT
Location: Located directly across the street from Canada Place Terminal. Walking distance to Gastown, the seawall and Stanley Park.
Physical Address: 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3L5
Phone: 604-691-1991
Number of Rooms: 489 guest rooms
Room Types: Standard, Specialty and Suites all with city or harbor views
Concierge Available: Fairmont Gold located on the 8th and 9th floors. Includes concierge services, private check in/check out, exclusive lounge and terrace access, complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, evening bar and canapés, beverages throughout the day and wireless internet access.
Room Rates: Starting at $399CAN
Room Amenities Included: 24 hour in room dining, in room safe, wireless internet, stocked mini-bar, bathrobes, flat screen TV, in room movies, tea and coffee maker, iron and ironing board, alarm clock and hair dryer
Optional Room Amenities (available upon request in certain rooms): connecting rooms, rollaway bed, microwave, mini fridge, special needs equipment and humidifier
Hotel Amenities: bell services, concierge services, Disney Cruise Line desk, food court, small shopping mall, business center, fitness room, steam rooms, outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, rooftop garden, restaurant and lounge
Family Features: Family suites are available. Kids age 5 and under eat free off the children’s menu and kids ages 6 to 11 eat for half price off the regular menu. Babysitting services are available and should be reserved at least 12 hours in advance. Special in room amenities for children can be requested such as step stools, kid’s robes, potties, highchairs, cribs and Diaper Genies.
Transportation from Airport: Transfers are available through Disney Cruise Line. The Fairmont Waterfront is about a 30 minute drive from Vancouver International Airport. It can also easily be reached by The Canada Line Skytrain. The Waterfront Station is a 5 minute walk from the hotel and the ride takes about 25 minutes. Trains run every 8 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day. The fare is $8.75CAN one way.
Parking: Valet parking is available for $46CAN per night. Self parking is $44CAN per night. Complimentary parking is available for electric cars and well as discounted valet parking for hybrids. Long term cruise parking is also available.
Special Tips: In order to have complimentary wireless internet during your stay, sign up for the Fairmont’s President Club (it is free) before you leave home.
Kristi’s experience at The Fairmont Waterfront:
My night at The Fairmont Waterfront began with a day of travel. That morning, my family and I took a three hour non-stop flight from Denver to Vancouver. Once we arrived, we spent about an hour clearing customs and retrieving our bags. We had set up our ground transportation with Disney Cruise Line well in advance of our trip. The only information that we had received in our paperwork was that someone would meet us at baggage claim. I called Disney Cruise Line directly to find out exactly how the ground transfers would work and they told me that the person meeting us at baggage claim would have all of the details for our entire itinerary. Since we were arriving the day before our cruise, I didn’t worry too much about the uncertainty. But after we had waited several minutes at baggage claim and no one came to meet us, I started to get nervous. I left my husband, kids and luggage behind while I set out to find someone with information. Fairly quickly, I was able to locate a helpful airport employee who explained that Disney Cruise Line representatives meet travelers near the exit at a greeting area outside of baggage claim. So I gathered my family and our luggage and we headed out to find the greeting area. After five minutes of following signs and dragging our bags through various hallways, we entered into a large, open space. Sure enough, there was our Disney Cruise Line driver waiting patiently for us holding up a tablet with our name on it. Feeling relieved that the difficult travel part of the day was over; we left the airport following our driver.
Imagine our surprise when we arrived outside and found a stretch limousine waiting for us! Disney Cruise Line explains that you could be traveling from the airport to your destination in any number of vehicles (cab, van, bus or car), but I never expected an actual limo. My boys had never ridden in one before, so they were beyond excited. A short 35 minutes later, we pulled up to The Fairmont Waterfront. The hotel looked very clean and sleek on the outside, so we were eager to check out the inside as well. Our driver helped us unload our bags and the bellman explained that when we were ready to leave the next morning for our cruise, to call them before 11:00am to handle the luggage.
We grabbed our bags and off we went to the check in desk. As luck would have it, they had a room ready for us. The front desk staff was very kind and welcoming. It must have been noted on our reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary, because we were given certificates for a free glass of champagne and certificates for free cookies and milk for our boys in order to celebrate. It was such a nice and unexpected surprise! We then made our way to our room on the eleventh floor. We had booked a standard room with a city view, so we were expecting it to be very basic. However, our room more than exceeded all of our expectations. It was spacious, clean, well maintained and furnished beautifully. Not to mention, the city view was spectacular and the beds were amazingly comfortable.
We spent the evening exploring the hotel and surrounding area. When we arrived back to our room, we had a letter from the Disney Cruise Line Representative letting us know they would be meeting at 11:00am the next day to walk everyone over to the terminal or we were free to walk over on our own. Tired from a long day of travel, we settled in to our pillow top beds for a good night’s sleep anticipating tomorrow’s big day. The next morning, we had some delicious Tim Horton’s donuts at the food court in the hotel as well as some Starbucks coffee. After breakfast, we returned to the room to call Bell Services to arrange for our baggage pickup. They arrived moments later to check our paperwork, insuring that we had all of our necessary documents readily accessible in order to board the ship, as well as retrieve our luggage. We then checked out of the hotel and walked directly across the street to the terminal.
Our experience at The Fairmont Waterfront was outstanding! The hotel was gorgeous, the room was immaculate, the staff was courteous and you couldn’t ask for a more convenient location. Without a doubt, I would recommend this as a perfect place to spend the night before a Disney Cruise out of Vancouver.
Limo ride from the airport to the Fairmont Waterfront.
Fairmont Waterfront exterior.
Fairmont Waterfront room.
Fairmont Waterfront bathroom.
Tim Horton’s treats at the Fairmont Waterfront food court.
Fairmont Waterfront rooftop pool.
View from the sea wall – walking distance from the Fairmont Waterfront
THE FAIRMONT AIRPORT
Location: Located within the Vancouver airport. You can be at the counter for some airlines within about 30 seconds of leaving the hotel proper.
Physical Address: 3111 Grant McConachie Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7B 0A6
Phone: 604-207-5200
Number of Rooms: 392 guest rooms
Room Types: Standard, Specialty and Suites. Most rooms have views of runways or airside operations.
Concierge Available: Fairmont Gold located on the 14h floors. Includes concierge services, complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, evening bar and canapés, beverages throughout the day, wireless internet access, and two hours of Fairmont boardroom access, pending availability.
Room Rates: Starting at $319CAN. Day rates are also available for guests with long layovers or late flights.
Room Amenities Included: In room dining, in room safe, wireless internet, stocked mini-bar, bathrobes, flat screen TV, in room movies, tea and coffee maker, iron and ironing board, alarm clock and hair dryer
Optional Room Amenities (available upon request in certain rooms): connecting rooms, crib, rollaway bed, electrical outlet adaptors, special needs equipment, fan, and humidifier
Hotel Amenities: bell services, concierge services, Disney Cruise Line desk, business center, fitness room, pool, restaurant and lounge, laundry services, and fish freezer. Additionally, all services of the airport, including food options and shops, are steps away.
Family Features: Kids age 5 and under eat free off the children’s menu and kids ages 6 to 11 eat for half price off the regular menu. Babysitting services are available and should be reserved at least 12 hours in advance. Special in room amenities for children can be requested such as step stools, kid’s robes, potties, highchairs, cribs and Diaper Genies.
Transportation to the Port: Transfers are available through Disney Cruise Line. The Fairmont Waterfront is about a 30 minute drive from Vancouver International Airport. It can also easily be reached by The Canada Line Skytrain. The YVR Station is a 5 minute walk from the hotel and the ride takes about 25 minutes. Trains run every 8 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day. The fare is $8.75CAN one way.
Parking: The Fairmont Vancouver Airport is a tenant of the Airport and therefore the airport parking rates apply. Valet parking: $28.50/night, with in-and-out privileges. Self parking: $15.00/night.
Special Tips: In order to have complimentary wireless internet during your stay, sign up for the Fairmont’s President Club (it is free) before you leave home.
Erin’s Experience at the Fairmont Airport
Honestly, I hadn’t done much research on the hotel prior to our trip. We stayed here simply because our travel agent booked it through Disney for us. (Usually I do more personal investigation, but we were in a particularly busy time of family activity, so I was happy to outsource this time.) Given my near complete lack of preparation regarding the hotel, I didn’t really know what to expect other than the Fairmont name which is typically a good sign.
After a 6+ hour flight from New York, my husband, daughter, and I went through baggage claim and customs in about 45 minutes. When we left the customs area, we immediately saw a Disney representative holding up a Disney Cruise sign. We spoke to her, assuming that even the airport hotel was a shuttle ride away, and learned that the hotel (much like the Hyatt at Orlando International) is directly accessible from inside the main terminal. The representative directed us to the hotel entrance which was about a five minute walk from customs.
At the hotel, we were warmly welcomed by the front desk staff and given our room key as well as an instructional sheet from Disney Cruise Line. The instructions were clear and told us everything we needed to do the next morning for our transfer to the port.
The room itself was large (411 square feet) and well appointed with two queen beds, a spacious bathroom with a separate space for the toilet, and all the amenities you’d expect from a top notch business hotel. My main concern when I realized just how integrated the hotel was to the airport was that the plane noise would be problematic for sleep. This ended up being a complete non-issue. The windows were 100% soundproof. Despite the fact that we could watch planes loading from our window, I never heard a single aircraft noise.
I had assumed that we’d take a cab into town, but while cabs were readily available (it’s a major airport), they were unnecessary. The Canada Line public transit system which serves the airport is just outside the hotel, accessible by a marked walkway. The trains are inexpensive, clean, reliable and easy to navigate. I’m a New York would rank the Vancouver public transit system several large notches about the NYC subway system in terms of usability. After check in, we took the Canada Line into town and visited the Granville Market area, the Canada Place region (at the Port), a bit of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and did some shopping at Pacific Center and on fashionable Robson Street. Being slightly removed from town barely felt like an inconvenience.
In addition to all the services at the hotel, we had easy access to everything in the airport. At the end of a long day of travel and sightseeing, we were happy to get a meal at the airport food court which was inexpensive and more casual than the restaurants inside the hotel proper.
We had requested a hotel to port transfer through Disney, mostly because we had lots of luggage. The next day, we left our luggage for the DCL porter as was instructed on our information sheet. We checked in with a Disney Cruise Line representative and were on a bus to the port right on time. If you were traveling light, it would be incredibly easy and inexpensive to take the Canada Line transit directly to the port.
I’d certainly stay at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport again. The Airport location would be a particularly a good selection if you’re arriving quite late on the day before your sailing. This would also be nice choice for a guest on their way home from a cruise. If you’ve elected to stay in Vancouver for a bit after your sailing and have an early flight out in the morning, the Fairmont Airport would be an extremely convenient place to sleep.
Entrance to the Fairmont from inside the YVR terminal
Spacious Fairmont Airport lobby
Fairmont Airport room
Fairmont Airport bathroom
View from our Fairmont Airport room
Disney Cruise Line transfer instructions
Have you stayed at either of these locations? Have you have Disney Cruise Line book your pre-Alaska hotel stay? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below.
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10 Reasons DINKs Would Enjoy Disney Cruise Line
I know what some of you are thinking. “Are you sure DINKs would enjoy Disney Cruise Line?” Wait. That wasn’t it? Oh, you’re wondering what a DINK is! Well that’s easy. A Dink is a Double Income No Kids family (and let me immediately apologize if there is another, inappropriate meaning that I am too old or naïve to know). It’s obvious why the first two letters in that acronym would like a Disney cruise. They have more money! But the second two letters may throw you off a little. For many couples without kids, Disney isn’t the first cruise line they would consider (or maybe even a cruise line they would consider at all!) when planning a cruise. Well they should! Because Disney cruises are fun for everyone, even adults with no kids. My disclaimer here is as follows: yes, I know there are lots of other great cruise lines and yes, I know there are good reasons to sail on those other cruise lines. What I am trying to say here is – don’t rule Disney out just because you don’t have kids. There are reasons people love it after all.
1. Adult-Only Pools – When you picture a pool on a family cruise line, you are probably picturing a pool full of screaming, playing, splashing children. Well, you will find those on every Disney ship! The good news is you will also find a pool that is blissfully free of children – the adult only pool. There are certain times of day when it can get crowded, but it’s all adults. Many cruise lines do not have adult-only pools, but Disney recognized there would be times where the adults would want a calmer setting than swimming children afford. The Magic and Wonder have a long rectangular adult pool for swimming with wide shallow ledges on the side, perfect for lounging in water that’s only a few inches deep. There are also two hot tubs adjacent to the pool for adults to enjoy. The Dream and Fantasy have a pool divided into three circular sections. One is rimmed with seats, one is deeper water, and one is only a few inches deep for sunning. There’s a bar on one side of that last circle as well. Additionally, both ships have infinity hot tubs. The Fantasy also has Satellite Falls which is a small wading-type pool built with a waterfall feature. Trust me, even on a crowded day, they’re 1000 times more peaceful than the kid’s pool.
2. Adult-Only Café – All four ships have an adult-only café called Cove Café near the adult pools. It’s a great place to relax and order your favorite specialty coffee and baked treats. The coffee and alcohol are an additional charge, but the snacks are not! There are magazine and books to enjoy while you relax as well. It’s a great little spot!
3. Adult-Only Excursions – Disney doesn’t forget about the adults when it comes to excursions. While there are excellent family excursions which adults are welcome on (and even some excursions with kid-focused activities), several ports also have excursions designed only for adults. Not only will there be activities on these excursions that children couldn’t have participated in even if they were there, but many adults will also greatly appreciate that their fellow companions on these excursions are all adults, which may contribute to a sense of peacefulness on excursions involving long transport times, like bus rides. If you need a break from children, take an adult-only excursion!
4. Adult-Only Beach – Disney’s amazing private island, Castaway Cay, is the highlight of many cruises. The family beach, kids’ splash areas, game pavilion, snorkeling lagoon, all of it is great! But there’s an adult-only haven on the other side of the island called Serenity Bay. It’s a long walk or a quick set of tram rides from the ship. The beach is beautiful and there are chairs, umbrellas, cabanas, roaming bartenders, everything adults might enjoy. There’s also a restaurant there so you don’t have to make your way back to the family beaches when you get hungry or thirsty. As a bonus, there are often treats for the adults at lunch that the restaurants on the family beach don’t have. Like steak!!
5. Adult-Only Nightclubs – The nightclubs onboard the ships are open to all guests much of the time, but at night, they are adult only! The late evenings are filled with great activities geared towards adults. The variety acts, while not usually over the top racy, are definitely adult themed once the kids are banned. Match Your Mate is a Newlywed Game-type show which is usually hilarious, and you wouldn’t want your children anywhere near when the couples onstage start oversharing. After the nightly shows, stick around for themed dance parties, karaoke, and more fun!
6. Adult-Only Restaurants – For the most peaceful of meals, the adult-only restaurants are the place you want to be. That’s not just because of the lack of children; they’re excellent restaurants. Remy, on the Dream and Fantasy, is a first class dining experience some people will be shocked to find on a family cruise line. It’s about as classy as high dining gets. Choose from one of two tasting menus developed by renowned chefs, or customize a combination of the two. It’s course after course of amazing food. Palo on all four ships is one of our favorite restaurants anywhere. Brunch is divine, and I hear they’re testing new additions to the menu on current sailings. The filet at dinner is one of the best I’ve ever had. Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the highlights of dinner is dessert! There are several great options but everyone needs to try the chocolate soufflé at least once in their life. Maybe 5 or 6 times.
7. Vacation With Friends and their Kids – Maybe you are DINKS who are surrounded by friends or family with children! Maybe you would enjoy vacationing with said friends, but they enjoy vacationing with their children! And hey, maybe you enjoy their kids too sometimes! A cruise where guests of all ages can have a great time may be the perfect answer. Odds are good that once the children get a glimpse of the kid’s clubs they’re going to want to spend at least a little bit of time there, probably a lot. That’s the perfect time for the rest of you to enjoy some adult-only time. Or maybe the other family wants to spend the entire cruise with the children! That’s understandable! The good news is, you can spend time with them too, and still have enough other activities to entertain yourself when you want to split up! We often travel with family grandparents who, while they love their grandkids and want to spend time with them, also enjoy some vacation time without little ones around. Disney cruises are perfect for us.
8. BYOB and Alcohol Tastings– Disney’s bring your own alcohol policy certainly wasn’t made for children! Adults who enjoy adult beverages and don’t want to spend a decent percentage of their vacation budget on purchasing those beverages will appreciate being able to bring their own alcohol onboard. The only real rule on quantity is that it must be able to fit into your carry-on, and that carry-on cannot be a hard sided cooler. There are multiple alcohol tasting opportunities onboard as well. Even the shortest sailings tend to have Mixology classes, wine tastings, beer tastings, etc. They’re an additional cost, but the price is actually pretty good considering what you get in return!
9. Adult Seminars – On most cruises, Disney has some fun activities onboard meant only for adults. The Art of Entertaining is a series of cooking, napkin folding, and other things to help with your at home entertaining. Or your at home eating. The Navigator Series sessions are hosted by bridge officers who demonstrate navigational techniques and customs. Bingo, Disney’s version of onboard gambling which Kristi Fredericks wrote about recently, is great fun! Children are allowed but only adults can win, so even if they’re there, at least they’re not competition! We’ve seen lots of other fun adult-only activities pop up over the years so always check your Navigator for options!
10. Excellent Spa – All four ships have a beautiful Spa. On the Disney Wonder it’s Vista Spa and Salon, and Senses Spa and Salon on the other three. Senses also includes a teen-only spa called Chill Spa. Lucky them! There are many of your typical salon services like massages, couples massages, aromatherapy, saunas, acupuncture, etc., as well as a full-service salon and fitness center. The state of the art fitness center gives you the chance to work out with a view. There are classes as well as most of the equipment you would find in any nice gym at home. The Rainforest Room in the spa is a popular adult haven on all four ships with a sauna, steam shower, and wonderful heated tile chairs. If you’re looking to get away from just about anything, this is the place to be.
So are you a DINK? Or even a SINK? Are you an adult without kids that has tried a Disney Cruise? Do you agree? Are there any other reasons I missed?
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10 Reasons DINKs Would Enjoy Disney Cruise Line is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
What to Expect from 2014′s Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland
Mickey’s Halloween Party is a special extra-ticket event held select nights at at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, during the Halloween season. The party includes a special fireworks show featuring a fly-by of Zero (instead of Tinker Bell), a costumed character cavalcade, trick-or-treating, dance parties, and more.
Mickey’s Halloween Party takes place in Disneyland on select nights in the fall, typically running from late-September until Halloween. In 2014, the party dates are September 26, 30, October 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31.
Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are now on sale.
What time is the Party?
Officially the Party runs from 6 pm on some nights and 7 pm on others. The party runs until 11 pm or 12 am, depending on the night. Guests with valid Halloween party tickets may enter the park up to three hours prior to the event’s start time.
Will I need a special ticket to get into the Party?
Yes. Admission requires buying a separate ticket just for this event. It’s not included in any regular theme park tickets or annual passports.
How much do the Party tickets cost?
There’s a range of pricing, including discounts for buying in advance. The official Disney website lists the following prices:
Event Dates
Advanced Purchase Price per Person
Advanced Purchase Price for Annual Passholders
Day of Event Purchase Price
Friday, September 26, 2014 — 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Sold Out
Sold Out
Sold Out
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$63.00
$56.00
$70.00
Friday, October 3, 2014 — 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Sold Out
Sold Out
Sold Out
Monday, October 6, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$63.00
$56.00
$70.00
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$63.00
$56.00
$70.00
Friday, October 10, 2014 — 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
$70.00
$70.00
$70.00
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$63.00
$56.00
$70.00
Friday, October 17, 2014 — 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
$70.00
$70.00
$70.00
Monday, October 20, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$63.00
$56.00
$70.00
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m.
$63.00
$63.00
$70.00
Friday, October 24, 2014 — 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
$70.00
$70.00
$70.00
Monday, October 27, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$63.00
$63.00
$70.00
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 — 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$70.00
$70.00
$70.00
Friday, October 31, 2014 — 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
$77.00
$77.00
$77.00
I don’t have a Park Hopper, can I still buy a Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket?
You sure can. Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are totally separate from regular park admission media. If you have a one day, one park ticket, you’re welcome to visit DCA in the morning and then Mickey’s Halloween Party in the evening using a Party ticket. This would not count as a “Park Hop.”
I see that there’s a discount for early ticket purchase, but do I need to purchase tickets early if I’m not sure about attending the party?
Same-day tickets may be available for some parties on the day of the event, but you should absolutely buy your tickets in advance if you’d like to attend. A limited number of tickets is available for each party. The event does typically sell out on October weekends.
Entrance to the park is done through turnstiles labeled with ‘Special Event Ticket’
Depending on what time you arrive at Disneyland, some or all of the entrance turnstiles will be dedicated to Party admission. Look for the signs indicating where to go. When you enter the park with a Halloween Party ticket, a cast member will place a plastic wristband on your arm and hand you a plastic candy collection bag. Also be sure to grab a map/schedule on the way in.
I’m not going to Mickey’s Halloween Party, but I will be in Disneyland during a day when the Party is held. Will they kick me out of the park when the Party starts?
No one will forcibly remove you from the park, but beginning at around 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm (depending on when the party starts) cast members will set up moving checkpoints for wristbands. If you’re not wearing a wristband, then you’ll be directed toward the park exit. Wristband checks occur periodically at the attractions.
I’ll be visiting Disneyland in the afternoon and also attending Mickey’s Halloween Party. Do I have to leave the park at some point?
No. Beginning in late afternoon, several stations will be set up inside the park to distribute wristbands to Party guests who are already inside. Stop by one of the stations; they’ll scan your ticket, give you a wristband, and you can be back to the fun in no time.
It’s a Halloween Party – does that mean costumes?
Costumes are NOT required to attend the Party, but many guests do add to the fun by getting dressed up. There are a few restrictions on costumes (more on that in a sec), but there is no requirement that costumes be Disney-related. Many guests choose to give a nod to Disney in their dress-up (Mouseketeers and pirates are popular choices), but you’ll also see plenty of non-Disney superheros on hand.
Costumes range from just a Halloween-themed tee or pirate eye patch to full on Haunted Mansion ghosts. The choice is really up to you. Personally, I love seeing other guests dressed creatively.
What types of costume restrictions are there?
The goal for costumes is being fun and creative, not frightening. You’ll be asked to change or leave if your costume is too scary or grotesque.
The official language on the tickets states:
Halloween costumes should NOT:
Obstruct the guest’s view or interfere with their ability to board/unload from attractions and/or the the Disneyland Resort transportation system (including monorails, parking lot trams, and buses).
Drag on the ground.
Contain sharp or pointed objects or material that may accidentally strike another guest.
Be offensive to other guests.
Contain any weapons which resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
Additionally, the main Disneyland website contains the following language about general costuming issues:
Attire that is not appropriate for the theme parks (and which may result in refusal of admittance) includes but is not limited to:
Masks may be worn, but they must not obstruct vision and eyes must be visible at all times.
Masks may be worn, but they must not obstruct vision and eyes must be visible at all times.
Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics.
Excessively torn clothing.
Clothing which, by nature, exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment.
Objectionable tattoos.
Guests who dress like Disney Characters may not pose for pictures or sign autographs.
Any other costume tips?
Autumn temperatures at Disneyland are still quite warm. Particularly for the earlier parties, you might encounter temperatures well into the 80s. This is not the time for fuzzy bear suits or full body armor. Think more along the lines of hula skirts and baseball jerseys for maximum comfort.
The Disney powers-that-be like to restrict adult costumes to the Party itself. If you’re coming directly from your hotel to the Party, then you’re fine wearing your costume on a bus or monorail. If you’re coming from elsewhere, then your best bet is to change into costume once you’re at Disneyland. If you don’t want to carry your street clothes around, Mickey’s Halloween Party is a great time to invest in a locker rental.
What is the crowd situation like during the party?
When I attended the party last year, I was surprised at how busy the party was. I’ve personally found the lines for the rides to be quite short during the Party; however other aspects of the event can feel quite intense crowd-wise. Think of party nights as a regular busy day at the park, or a 6 or 7 on the crowd calendar. I found it impossible to do everything. With so many meet and greets, candy stations, fireworks, and the cavalcade, I did not ride any attractions when I attended the Party. There just wasn’t enough time.
Now that you’ve got the business out of the way, can you tell me what there is to do at the Party?
On to the fun stuff! The Halloween Party has several components:
Rides
Trick or treating
Halloween-themed character cavalcade
Halloween-themed fireworks
Character dance parties
Special character meet and greet opportunities
Villains meet and greet
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy
Are all the rides open during the Party?
Well, not every last one, but most of the rides are fully operational during the Party. In 2013, the following rides were not available to Party guests: Tarzan’s Tree House, Casey Junior, Storybook Land Canal Boats, and Innoventions. Plus all of Mickey’s Toontown is closed during the Halloween party.
Should I go on rides during the Party?
This depends on your priorities. The ride wait times during the Party are usually minimal. If your main goal for the Party is to get some quality Indiana Jones Adventure time in, then by all means ride on. Disneyland does offer two special Halloween attractions (Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday), but these are NOT exclusive to Mickey’s Halloween Party, and they can attract hefty wait times.
What’s the Trick or Treating like?
Every guest of the Party, children and adults, will be given a trick or treat bag upon entering the park. You’re also welcome to bring your own bag if that’s more your speed. There will be eight treat stations scattered throughout the park. These are noted on the Mickey’s Halloween Party map and can be found in the park by looking for the special large Halloween-themed “lamp posts.”
As you walk through the park, stop by the treat stations, and cast members will add candy to your bag. There are dozens of types of candy available, including everything from off-brand candy corn to name brand mini candy bars. Typically guests report receiving an even mix of sugar-based (Dots, US Smarties, lollipops, Twizzlers, etc.) and chocolate-based (mini Hershey bars, M&Ms, Tootsie Rolls, etc.) candy. Many of the stations will have an alternative treat, such as boxed raisins, to give to guests with food allergies. Be sure to ask the cast members at the trick or treat stations if you have alternative treat needs.
There is no limit to the candy collection. You’re welcome to hit the treat lines as often as you wish. If you’ve got a candy-mad child in your group, this may be his idea of heaven. Here are some things to think about before you invest too much of your time on candy collection:
If you’re trying to maintain healthfulness, do you really want to come home with pounds of candy?
If simply having candy is your goal, it’s more cost effective to go to the supermarket and just buy the kinds you like.
What’s the opportunity cost of spending time trick or treating? Will you miss out on other party activities?
Do you come from a culture that does not trick or treat? If so, the novelty of this experience may outweigh other considerations.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the candy distribution cast members become more generous as the evening wears on. You may get a bigger haul if you visit the lines later in the Party.
Other than candy, what are my food options during the Party?
There are no table service restaurants seating guests once the Party starts. However, if you’re seated at a table service before the start of the Party, you’ll be allowed to finish your meal at a normal pace. You won’t be rushed out.
There are a number of counter service venues open during the Party. In recent years these have included: The Plaza Inn, Jolly Holiday Bakery, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, Refreshment Corner, Royal Street Veranda, Bengal Barbecue, The Golden Horseshoe, Stage Door Cafe, and Tomorrowland Terrace. These spots give you a range of options from sweets to salads. Check out the restaurant menus for specifics.
It seems silly to me to use a substantial percentage of your valuable Party time for a full meal. To take best advantage of the Halloween offerings, consume your sit-down protein before the party starts. A 5:30 p.m. dinner at Carnation Cafe or Cafe Orleans is a great way to fortify yourself for the long night ahead.
Tell me about the parade.
Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade starts near “it’s a small world” at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. As with all parades, depending on where you’re situated on the parade route, it could take 15 minutes or more for the parade to pass your location. The exact parade route is noted on the Mickey’s Halloween Party park map.
Crowds will begin lining up along the route about 30 minutes before the start of the parade. Keep in mind that Disney doesn’t call this a parade: it is a “cavalcade.” What’s the difference? This is not a full blown parade: it features only three floats, and most of the characters walk the parade route.
A special “Halloween Screams” fireworks show is run at 9:30 pm. The show lasts about 12 minutes. Good vantage points can be had anywhere along Main Street, but the best is in the hub. You’ll want to get as close as possible to Sleeping Beauty Castle to see Jack Skellington’s ghost dog reindeer, Zero, fly by on the zip line Tinker Bell uses during the usual fireworks.
The actual fireworks in the sky are fairly standard for Disney, but the music and narration take on a decidedly spooky tone. The show is hosted by Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas. There is audio from the Haunted Mansion attraction (Grim Grinning Ghosts). The castle itself is primarily bathed in blues and greens. If you like fireworks, by all means have at it. If you have a child who is fearful of loud noise or creepy tones, then hop on a ride during the fireworks and skip this part. Personally, I think this is one of the best fireworks shows Disney has ever produced; it is not to be missed. Seeing Zero fly around the castle is amazing.
What is a “dance party”?
This year there is one dance party located in Tomorrowland Terrace called “Monsters U Dance Party.”
During the dance parties, DJs spin dance tunes and characters are available to boogie with guests. If you’re not shy, it’s possible to get in some time dancing with the characters. Beware that the volume can be quite intense and keep an eye on the kiddos. It’s confusing with lots of mood lighting and other guests trying to get time to boogie.
Can I meet characters during the party?
Absolutely! Not only can you meet characters, but many of them will be wearing Halloween costumes themselves. The following list is from the 2013 Mickey’s Halloween Party, but we expect them to be the same this year. This list will be updated at a later date with any changes:
Friends from Aladdin – Aladdin’s Oasis
Jack & Sally – French Market
Winnie the Pooh & Friends – Critter Country
Disney Pirate Pals (Captain Jack Sparrow, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Mr. Smee) – Pirate Wharf (Frontierland Dock)
Mickey and Minnie – Big Thunder Rance
Donald, Goofy, and Pluto – Piratepalooza (Rancho Del Zocalo), Frontierland
Disney Villains (Malificent, Evil Queen, Hades, Lady Tremain, Wicked Step Sisters, Dr. Facilier, Jafar, Queen of Hearts, and Cruella de Vil) - Town Square, Main Street USA
Disney Princesses – Fantasy Faire
Disney Fairies – Pixie Hollow
Phineas & Ferb – Innoventions
Toy Story Pals – Big Thunder Rance
Merida – Near It’s a Small World
Star Wars Storm Troopers – Near Little Green Men Store Command, Tomorrowland
The lines for the character greetings, particularly Jack and Sally, can become very long, very fast. Even at the start of the Party, you may face wait times of an hour or more. If character photo opportunities are important to you, but sure to factor wait times into your planning.
What’s new this year?
As of right now, nothing new has been announced for this year’s Halloween party. We’ll update this section at a later date if we find anything out.
How might weather impact the Halloween party?
Tickets are non-refundable and the Party goes on rain or shine, even if there’s lots and lots and lots of rain. Some of the Party activities may be postponed, curtailed, or cancelled, but the Party itself will continue. But let’s be honest: it never rains in Southern California.
Is there any special Party merchandise?
Of course there is. Disney will sell Halloween-themed merchandise throughout the parks and hotels from late August until early November. There will also be some items sold exclusively at the Parties. Typically this will include several styles of tee shirts, trading pins, and a Vinylmation. Since the exclusive merchandise only appears during the Party, you can usually find it at or near the registers where the cast members can most easily keep control of it. Try the Emporium for best selection.
How do I know what’s right for me?
The first step is deciding what your priorities are. Are you there to meet characters? Do you want to focus on the unique entertainment? Is collecting a year’s worth of candy your main objective? Do you want ride time with low lines? Each of these scenarios needs a different touring strategy. Once you have have your priorities set, it’s easy to choose a plan.
What tips do you have if meeting characters is my main goal?
Almost every single Halloween party character is available during regular park hours, including the “fab five” in their special Halloween costumes. If meeting characters is your main goal you might want to hunt them down before the party officially starts. Remember, Disney will allow you to enter the party up to three hours prior to the start of the event.If you do want meet characters before the party starts, the main draw will be Jack & Sally and the Disney Villains. During the day, Jack & Sally can be found near the left side of the Haunted Mansion Holiday entrance. The Disney Villains can be found in Big Thunder Ranch.
Photo © Disney
Is Mickey’s Halloween Party worth it?
Personally, I strongly dislike extra ticket events. I think they are a waste of money and exist only as cash grab on behalf of Disney. Almost everything offered for the Halloween Party is also part of a regular park admission, minus the fireworks, character cavalcade, dance parties, and candy. Is this worth almost $70+ to you? To maximize the return on your dollar, think about:
Being present for the entire event. Think of it this way: if you pay $70 for your ticket and you stay for a full five hours, you’re spending $14 per hour for your entertainment. If you only stay for three hours, then you’re spending $23 per hour for your entertainment.
You’ll have the most “Halloweenish” experience if you focus on events/activities that are unique to the Party. Big Thunder Mountain is the same Big Thunder Mountain with or without a Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket. The Halloween Screams fireworks can only be seen at the Party.
The lines for the trick or treating are rarely long, particularly later in the evening. Try working in your candy collection when you see a short line on the way to another activity.
While some guests will line up for the fireworks 45 minutes or more before start time, to me this is a waste of quality touring time. (And time is money.) Unless you absolutely must be right up front, you can arrive for the parade just a few minutes in advance.
Multitask when possible. If you’ve got to wait around for a parade to start, use this time for your food consumption.
More information, including ticket options, can be found on the official Disneyland website.
2013 party map showing candy trails and live entertainment. Click to enlarge.
Pictures from the 2013 Mickey’s Halloween Party
Even the hub gets a Halloween treatment with character pumpkins and seasonal flowers.
Mike and Sulley lead the Monsters U dance party
Even it’s a small world gets in on the spooky decorations
Piratepalooza is home to a candy trail as well as photo opportunities with Goofy, Donald, and Pluto.
All of the characters in Piratepalooza are in their pirate gear
Halloween Screams Fireworks Spectacular is the highlight of the entire event.
One of the few floats in Mickey’s Costume Cavalcade.
Even the princesses have to walk (Er, dance. Um? Dance/walk) in the parade.
Seeing bears dance in tutus never gets old.
Pumpkin-man-scarecrow-stiltwalker-guys.
One of them gave me “the point.”
The final float of Mickey’s Costume Cavalcade contains the fab five characters.
Donald in a Stormtrooper disguise. This also never gets old.
One of my favorite live entertainment offerings from the party, the Cadaver Dans! They are the Dapper Dans dressed like ghosts. They sing halloween-related songs as they float along the Rivers of America.
Speaking of Rivers of America, the entire river is covered in an eerie layer of fog.
Main Street USA is covered in spooky lighting during the party.
Some lighting effects are synced up with the music. Such as these heffalumps and woozles.
A hidden gem of the party: Near the end of the night all of the villains walk out to the train station and say “Get out, go home, this is our kingdom now and we are going to party all night!”
They literally point to the door as they tell you to leave.
Cast members hand out trick or treat bags as soon as you enter the park.
These cast members are stationed throughout the park checking guests wristbands. Anyone without a wristband is asked to leave.
These Mickey pumpkin lamps are found throughout the park.
Jack Skellington and Sally have a special themed backdrop during Mickey’s Halloween Party.
One of the most amazing features of the Halloween Screams fireworks is Zero. He flies around the castle using the same wire used for Tinker Bell during the park’s regular fireworks. 
A scene from Halloween Screams.
So happy haunters, are you planning to attend Mickey’s Halloween Party this year? What are you looking forward to most? What do you usually skip during the party? What are your touring strategies? Let us know in the comments below.
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What to Expect from 2014′s Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
September 8, 2014
Disneyland Resort Crowd Report – August 31 to September 6, 2014
Other than Labor Day Monday when both parks hit a level ’6′ on our scale, last week was a great week for Disneyland Resort guests to experience low wait times. Disney California Adventure, in particular saw average posted times among the lowest you will see all year.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the TouringPlans.com Disneyland Resort Crowd Report:
Disneyland Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
3
Sunday of the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend brought in thousands of runners but wait times in the parks remained well below yearly averages, as predicted. Only Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice in Wonderland had wait times higher than a level ’5′ on our scale. Most had a level ’1′ or ’2′.
Disney California Adventure
3
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
6
Labor Day Monday surprised us with wait times a few index points higher than expected. Waits at Big Thunder Mountain were double what we predicted (13 minutes) and Splash Mountain, at 64 minutes, was a ’10′.
Disney California Adventure
4
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
1
3
Wait times at Disney California Adventure went drastically lower on Tuesday including single digit average wait times at Grizzly River Run (8 minutes, predicted 16), California Screamin’ (16 minutes, predicted 19) and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (6 minutes, predicted 11).
Disney California Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
1
2
Wait times at Disneyland Park were very close to a ’1′ on our scale. If it wasn’t for a 19 minute wait at Mickey’s House and 8 minutes at it’s a small world it would have been a ’1′ across both both parks.
Disney California Adventure
1
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
1
2
Mickey’s House (24 minutes) and Alice in Wonderland (25 minutes) pushed waits up slightly higher than the ’1′ we predicted on Thursday. Still, a very slow day at both parks.
Disney California Adventure
1
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
2
Once again, very low crowds at both parks with Disneyland having slightly higher crowds than Disney California Adventure. Friday represents the fourth day in a row with a crowd level ’1′ at Disney California Adventure.
Disney California Adventure
1
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
3
For the first time since Labor Day, wait times at both parks were slightly higher than predicted although not by much. Indiana Jones hit a 28 minute average (predicted 26) while Tower of Terror saw an average posted wait of 17 minutes (predicted 13).
Disney California Adventure
1
2
What to Expect This Week
September 7 to September 13, 2014
How Crowded is Disneyland Resort?
The second week of September is a great week to visit the Disneyland Resort. Crowds are lighter with most schools in session and summer vacations concluded for most families.
To see Disneyland Resort Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disneyland Resort Crowd Report – August 31 to September 6, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report – August 31 to September 6, 2014
Wait times at Universal Orlando skewed lower than expected last week although not significantly so. We correctly predicted the crowd level within one index level every day with only one exception. The week after Labor Day, like at Disney World, is the single slowest week of the year at Universal Orlando. If you can handle the hot summer temperatures you will experience near empty touring conditions.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the TouringPlans.com Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report:
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
5
4
Sunday’s crowds were one level lower than predicted at both Universal parks. This includes a 56 minute average posted time at Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (predicted 75) and 46 at Transformers: The Ride-3D (predicted 52).
Islands of Adventure
4
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
3
2
Of all the national holidays of the year Labor Day has the lowest crowds. Even lower than usual this year with average waits like 5 minutes at Dragon Challenge (predicted 6) and 13 minutes at Revenge of the Mummy (predicted 8).
Islands of Adventure
3
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
2
Tuesdays crowds were similarly light. The only headliner resort wide to see an average wait time higher than 20 minutes was Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem at 32 minutes and even that was 10 minutes lower than predicted.
Islands of Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
1
Wait times tended low again on Wednesday with only a few attractions reaching levels above ’1′ on our scale. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey saw an average posted wait of 17 minutes.
Islands of Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
2
No change on Thursday, low crowds across the board as predicted.
Islands of Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
2
3
The Studios level ’3′ on Friday was the first park to reach a level above ’2′ since Labor Day. Revenge of the Mummy skewed higher than expected (13 minutes, predicted 9) but many others tended lower like Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (28 minutes, predicted 42).
Islands of Adventure
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
3
3
A clean sweep for our predictions on Saturday, level ’3′s across the resort.
Islands of Adventure
3
3
What to Expect This Week
September 7 to September 13, 2014
How Crowded is Universal Orlando Resort?
The second week of September is a great week to visit the Universal Orlando Resort. Crowds are lighter with most schools in session and summer vacations concluded for most families.
To see Universal Orlando Resort Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report – August 31 to September 6, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney Dining: Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney
By Derek Burgan
Recently I was at Downtown Disney and had planned to go to the House of Blues to do a photo report. Unfortunately, when photographer Brandon Glover and I got to the restaurant they told us it would be a ten minute wait. This was in the middle of a weekday and the House of Blues was – at best – 30% full. There were even two parties ahead of us waiting to get a table. Acting on principal alone, the thought of waiting 10 minutes to get a table in an empty restaurant with so many other choices nearby seemed beyond ridiculous, so we left to try another venue. A couple steps down from House of Blues lies Bongos Cuban Cafe, so we decided to check it out since neither one of us had ever tried it before.
Bongos Cuban Cafe (photo by Brandon Glover)
Bongos has an impressive presence in Downtown Disney’s West Side. A large white building surrounded by palm trees, there are elements all around the venue to take in including an actual set of bongos in the front, a water feature on the side, and a gigantic white pineapple in the back.
Bongos at Bongos.
Water feature at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
Backside of Bongos Cuban Cafe.
There is a lot of seating both inside and outside of Bongos, including an outdoor bar area. There is also a second floor, but that was closed off during this afternoon. It was extremely quiet on the afternoon we went. (Ed. – I have been when it’s busy, and the place is LOUD.)
Outdoor bar at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
As with other Downtown Disney restaurants like Raglan Road and Paradiso 37, Bongos can be very lively at night with live music going on. During the afternoon it was much quieter.
Live music at Bongos Cuban Cafe in the evening.
Upstairs at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
The seating downstairs is wide open, and there are a lot of ceiling fans, so the restaurant felt comfortable despite it being nearly a thousand degrees outside (give or take 5 degrees). The indoor bar had seats seemed like actual bongos, while the tables had high backed seats that looked liked leaves. Like Splitsville, Bongos is deceptively huge inside.
Inside bar at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
For drinks we got the Havana Punch ($9.00). This drink is made with Bacardi Limon, Bacardi “O”, and orange, pineapple, and cranberry juices. Very tasty drink and quite strong.
Havana Punch at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
As a fan of souvenir glasses, I was drawn to the giant Corona, which you could get served in a Bongos glass to take home ($14.95). The bottle itself is 24 ounces, which is only double the size of an average 12 ounce bottle but seemed enormous. Even though I live in South Florida, I have never tried Cuban food despite a large amount of restaurants from West Palm Beach to Miami, so now you have a better understanding of why I made such a ridiculous decision ordering a Corona instead of a mojito. Then again, on my trip last year to Jamaica I chose Miller Lite over Red Stripe, so ‘Murica runs deep within me.
Corona and souvenir glass at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
For appetizers we got the Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Bites. This was cooked perfectly, and the meat was extremely tender. The serving size was pretty large, as there were several more pieces of meat underneath the onions you see in the picture. I would definitely order it again, as the flavor was wonderful ($10.00).
Fried pork bits at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
An order of Classic Cuban Garlic Toast complemented the pork bites. There was more of a garlic taste in the pork bites than in the bread ($3.00).
Garlic toast at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
Our first entree was Bongos Famous Fried Rice: fried rice with pork, shrimp, beef, chicken, and vegetables served with sweet plantains. This was absolutely fantastic and a must-get if you go to Bongos. The serving size could be a bit bigger for the price, but what you get is fantastic ($17.00).
Bongos fried rice at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
The other plate was much more pedestrian: Chicken Bites. These are deep-fired chicken bites marinated in Cuban mojo and served with sweet plantains and white rice. The mojo marinated pork appetizer was much more flavorful than the chicken in this dish. The plantains were good, and I did enjoy the small cup of black bean soup that came on the side ($14.0o).
Chicken bites at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
If you spend enough money on a camera, you can even make plantains look good.
Black bean soup at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
It seems like pretty much every restaurant at Downtown Disney has a large gift shop, and Bongos is no exception. What was surprising was the amount of autographed Gloria Estefan CDs that were available. I thought this was a nice touch.
Bongos Cuban Cafe gift shop.
Bongos Cuban Cafe gift shop.
Gloria Estefan signed CD at Bongos Cuban Cafe.
Bongos Cuban Cafe.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I guess I have to thank House of Blues for sending me over to Bongos, as it probably would have been a long time before I tried the restaurant on my own. I do not consider myself the adventurous type when it comes to food, and I am more than happy to go back to places like Splitsville, Cookes of Dublin, and even (don’t laugh) Planet Hollywood to try more dishes. However, everything at Bongos ranged from decent to very good, so I would have no problem coming back to try some different items. I still have to get that mojito, and while I’m there I wouldn’t mind trying the Cuban Fried Rice and Bongos Famous Fried Shredded Beef. Bongos does seem to have an extraordinary amount of “famous” items on the menu. Although, to be fair, I can’t complain until one isn’t fantastic, and Bongos Famous Fried Rice was exceptional.
All photos in this article are courtesy of Brandon Glover.
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Disney Dining: Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney World Crowd Report – August 31 to September 6, 2014
There are two weeks a year where we can be certain about crowds at Disney World. We know December 28 through January 1 will be extremely crowded and we know that the week after Labor Day will be extremely light. Even we were surprised how low the crowds were last week. We expected that Fastpass+ would help moderate wait times across the resort but we still saw some of the lowest average wait times of the year.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on the Touringplans.com Disney World Crowd Report:
Walt Disney World Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
3
Unofficially the last weekend day of summer, Sunday saw relatively low wait times as predicted. In fact, wait times stayed lower than history would suggest – perhaps a foreshadow of low waits to come the rest of the week. Despite a late closing plus Extra Magic Hour evening, Magic Kingdom saw no attraction higher than a ’5′ on our scale.
Epcot
3
3
Hollywood Studios
5
4
Animal Kingdom
5
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
1
1
A rare level ’1′ at Magic Kingdom on Labor Day Monday, especially rare for a national holiday although it was the first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party which we know keeps wait times low during the day.
Epcot
4
1
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
3
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
1
Tuesday began a four-day stretch of remarkably low crowds across the resort. No park would reach a crowd level above ’1′ until the weekend.
Epcot
2
1
Hollywood Studios
2
1
Animal Kingdom
3
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
1
To give you an idea of what a crowd level ’1′ looks like here are some average posted wait times from Wednesday: Space Mountain 24 minutes, Soarin’ 38, Toy Story Midway Mania 37 and Expedition Everest 7 minutes.
Epcot
2
1
Hollywood Studios
2
1
Animal Kingdom
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
1
Extra Magic Hour morning at Magic Kingdom wasn’t enough to keep wait times above a level ’1′. Peter Pan’s Flight had the highest wait time, by far, at 28 minutes (predicted 40).
Epcot
1
1
Hollywood Studios
1
1
Animal Kingdom
2
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
1
1
A crowd level ’1′ is most rare at Epcot but this week saw several such days. Test Track and Soarin’ averaged 43 and 34 minutes respectively, as low as you will see in the next 365 days.
Epcot
3
1
Hollywood Studios
3
1
Animal Kingdom
1
1
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
1
1
Animal Kingdom pushed up to a level ’2′ on Saturday, the first park to do so since Monday. We saw average posted times of 17 minutes at Expedition Everest (predicted 12) and 22 minutes at Kali River Rapids (predicted 24).
Epcot
2
1
Hollywood Studios
3
1
Animal Kingdom
2
2
What to Expect This Week
September 7 to 13, 2014
How Crowded is Walt Disney World?
Summer is over and crowds across the resort will be at their lowest point of the year. We don’t expect wait times to start to increase until mid-September.
To see Walt Disney World Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disney World Crowd Report – August 31 to September 6, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disneyland Resort Rolls Out Resort-wide Dining Price Increases
Last week Disney rolled out dining price increases throughout Disneyland Resort. Most entrees were increased by 50 cents, while some items such as Plaza Inn’s Pot Roast, wen’t up by as much as $1.
Some notable price increases include:
Large Fountain Soda, resort-wide – $3.69 (up from $3.49)
Corn Dog, Little Red Wagon and Corn Dog Castle – $7.69 (up from $6.69)
Cheeseburger with fries, from Tomorrowland Terrace, Taste Pilots Grill, and others – $9.99 (up from $9.49)
Chicken Breast Nuggets, Golden Horseshoe and Stage Door Cafe – $9.49 (up from $8.99)
Whole Fruit, Disneyland fruit carts – $1.99 (up from $1.79)
Single scoop of ice cream, Gibson Girl and Clarabelle’s - $4.19 (up from $3.99)
Turkey Leg, resort-wide – $9.99 (up from $9.79)
Beef Skewers, Bengal Barbecue – $4.49 (up from $4.19)
There are dozens of other price increases so I won’t bore you by listing them all here. Our Disneyland dining menu database has been updated so be sure to check it out if you’re curious about a specific menu item going up in price.
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Disneyland Resort Rolls Out Resort-wide Dining Price Increases 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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