Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1189
September 8, 2014
Menu Monday: Snacks Around the World Showcase – Germany
By Katie McNair
Spaceship Earth! © Disney
Welcome once again to Menu Monday, where we explore what packaged edibles Disney offers. We are traveling around the World Showcase, stopping in at each country to give an interesting and unusual (and hopefully tasty!) snack a try. We have already visited Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, and France. Today we are checking out what snacks are available in Germany. Before we get started heading around the Showcase, let’s remember the rules:
Snack Rules
No snacks over $10; preferably less than $5
As unusual as possible
Something I personally would eat
Let’s go find some snacks from Germany!
The plaza in the Germany Pavilion
The Germany pavilion in the World Showcase is gorgeous, simply put. The architecture looks like it comes straight out of a fairy tale, with tons of small decorative touches that draw the eye. The buildings wouldn’t look out of place in a village surrounding a castle, with fun and colorful signs and varying architectural styles adding up to a charming whole.
Pretty details are everywhere
Various shops are scattered about the plaza, including a toy shop, a place to buy steins, a crystal shop, and a Christmas shop. There are also two restaurants, a counter service called Sommerfest, and a buffet restaurant called Biergarten, as well as a walk-up Bier Stand. The stand serves beer, pretzels, and wine. Try the Riesling; it’s delicious!
St. George slaying the dragon. Or trying to, at least.
Make sure you play the Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure in Germany, as the interactive elements in Germany are not to be missed. Several elements are quite fun to watch, and, while I won’t spoil it for you, I always hang around for a while to get to see one in particular repeated by several players.
Three knights guard the pavilion’s courtyard.
Three knights guard the plaza from on high, always keeping a silent vigil. Check out the intricate details on each individual, unique knight, and look at the gorgeous windows behind them.
Karamell-Kuche (Caramel Kitchen) is not to be missed!
A relatively recent addition (added late 2010) to the Germany pavilion is the Karamell-Küche. This tiny shop contains amazing things combined with genuine Werther’s caramel. The smell alone is worth stopping in there, and as an added bonus, they are frequently giving out samples of caramel popcorn.
Display case inside Karamell-Kuche, prices ranging from $3.99 for a small piece of caramel to $9.99 for a deluxe caramel apple.
Your options for a tasty caramel snack include caramel apples, cookies topped with caramel ribbons, plain caramels, and the ridiculously tasty marshmallow and caramel swirl (my favorite, and a steal at $3.99).
Toffifay is readily available in the United States, but it’s quite good, and is available as a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
You can get Toffifay on the Disney Dining Plans as a snack credit, but the bagged popcorn is not included.
Tins full of caramels ($19.95) and caramel popcorn in varying sizes.
There are tins filled with Werther’s Original in several varieties, for $19.95 each. These could easily make for a easy take home gift, if a bit pricy.
Chocolate filled with liquor… yum!
Once you get out of the caramel shop (if you can!), there’s not a whole lot of snack options in Germany, but there are a few. There is a basket of flavored potato sticks, called Pomsticks, in sour cream flavor.
Sour cream potato sticks, $2.95.
Since I didn’t want to get something fresh from the caramel shop (even though it was hard to resist!) I quickly narrowed it down to getting a strange flavor of potato chips.
Naturals Mild Paprika Chips! $3.95
The brand is Lorenz (which also makes the potato sticks) and came in Mild Paprika flavor. The price was right at only $3.95, and the portion size was perfect for one person to enjoy.
The nutritional information, in English and German.
The chips were reasonably low calorie for what they are (junk food), and the company seems to be quite proud of the purity of their ingredients.
How the Naturals chips are made, including the oil used.
Notice that the skins are left on, which makes them different than many of the traditional chips.
Tons of flavor!
The chips were nicely coated by the paprika spice, with lots of coloring and were a good size. They were quite crunchy and seemed like kettle cooked chips, even though they didn’t seem that thick. The flavor was very interesting, but I honestly am not sure if I enjoyed it. While it had a good flavor and a nice saltiness to it, the spice was so unfamiliar I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. It was salty, but it was also a little sweet at the same time. It’s not my new favorite flavor, but I did eat the entire bag, so I must not have hated it! I think I am going to have to try it again and see if I can decide how I feel for sure.
So, what do you think? Do you think that you would like to try the paprika chips? Or maybe the caramel? Let me know!
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Menu Monday: Downtown Disney Breakfast Options
With all the construction going on for the future of Disney Springs, it is very tempting to stay away. Between limited parking, confusing mazes of walls everywhere, and the challenge of even finding what entrance is open to drive in, the whole experience can be a bit stressful, especially later in the afternoon and evening times. Yet, there is a wonderful reason to find your way in – and at a time when parking is easy to find and crowds are low: Breakfast!
Downtown Disney may not be the first thought for many people when they think breakfast, but there are actually more Downtown Disney breakfast options than there are in some of the theme parks. Here’s a sampling of what you can find.
Starbucks: Even for people who aren’t fans of the siren’s coffee song, Starbucks can still be a viable breakfast choice. With two locations to choose from at Downtown Disney, you have the option to grab a drink and go (at the Marketplace) or sit down to have a breakfast sandwich with your beverage of choice (at the West Side). My recommendation is the Bacon and Gouda Artisan Breakfast Sandwich. On the plus side, if you’ve been to Starbucks, you know what to expect from the menu. On the down side, if you’re looking for something that you can’t get back home, this would not be the option for you.
Goofy’s Candy Company: I know what you’re thinking—candy for breakfast? Well, you are on vacation, and if Bill Cosby can justify chocolate cake for breakfast, where’s the harm in a crispy rice treat or a caramel apple as a breakfast nosh? Okay, maybe that won’t fly with most people, but if what you want is a quick pastry and cup of coffee that isn’t from Starbucks (or if the line at Starbucks is intimidating), Goofy’s Candy Company has you covered. There are standard pastries and muffins, plus coffee with flavored syrups, espresso, cappuccino, tea, cocoa, and more. (And if you still want that pretzel stick dipped in chocolate and rolled in Butterfingers for breakfast, no one is going to judge.)
It is easy to miss the sign advertising breakfast at Goofy’s Candy Company. (Photo by Julia Mascardo.)
The cheddar omelet at Earl of Sandwich is a bargain at $5. (Photo by Julia Mascardo.)
Earl of Sandwich: Breakfast at Earl of Sandwich is my choice for best breakfast bargain at Downtown Disney. In addition to hot breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and cold offerings such as yogurt parfaits and fruit, there are omelet meals. For $5, I was able to get a cheddar omelet (which was the size of a three-egg omelet and incredibly light and fluffy) with a side of breakfast potatoes and half a bagel. Even better, I was able to use my annual pass discount, too!
Wolfgang Puck Express: If you have a little more time to spare, Wolfgang Puck Express provides amazing food at a reasonable price. In addition to standard breakfast fare (such as waffles, pancakes, omelets, and more), the Breakfast Pizza is simply amazing. Hidden back next to Disney’s Days of Christmas on the Marketplace side of Downtown Disney, this restaurant is halfway between a quick service and table service restaurant. You place your order at the counter, get your drinks and find a seat inside or outside, and then your meal is brought to you when it is ready.
Bacon, eggs, and cheese on a fresh pizza crust: A perfect pizza for breakfast at Wolfgang Puck Express. (Photo by Julia Mascardo.)
House of Blues: Only available on Sunday at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, the Gospel Brunch at House of Blues is more than just a meal, but the meal is worth a trip by itself. Breakfast offerings in the all-you-can-eat buffet include made-to-order omelets, jambalaya, and House of Blues’ famous chicken and waffles. But the real reason why this meal is so popular is the exceptional gospel concert featuring songs selected by producer and gospel artist Kirk Franklin and performed by talented regional gospel performers.
An added benefit of breakfast at Downtown Disney is the ease in finding parking for a morning shopping break. If you arrive before 10 AM, you will have no problems finding a parking space, even down at the Marketplace. That still gives you plenty of time to grab breakfast, do a bit of shopping, and head out before it gets too crazy down there. Hopefully when Disney Springs opens, the craziness will be reduced, but the wonderful breakfast options will remain.
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Menu Monday: Trials and Tribulations of an Amateur ‘Disney’ Chef
As some of you know, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be starting September 19th and running through November 10th. In honor of this event (and the fact that I will be attending for the first time), I decided to put my culinary skills to the test.
The Challenge: Recreate three popular recipes found at Walt Disney World.
The Line Up:
Mushroom Risotto – Epcot: Le Cellier Steak House
Royal Poulet – Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table (is this still featured on the menu?)
Beignets – Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
While browsing through endless Disney recipes, I searched for stimulating dishes I wouldn’t normally make at home – Dishes that were a step up from my usual dinner options. After making my selections, I grabbed my shopping list and made my way to the grocery store. While perusing the aisles, I was feeling both confident and ambitious. I had watched enough Food Network to know that the perfect risotto should only take 18 minutes (according to my girl, Rachel Ray) and that making beignet dough would not only be simple but glamorous. I mean, come on. Have you ever seen Giada make a mess? Never!
With Gusteau’s philosophy that, “anyone can cook,” (Ratatouille reference right here!) I drove home from the store with an optimistic attitude and ingredients in tow. I was positive I had everything I needed.
Silky smooth Mushroom Risotto
First up: Mushroom Risotto. I first tried this gem back in February and couldn’t get enough of it. The fact that I am NOT a mushroom fan made this all the more unbelievable. Could I do it justice? I would try!
Oh my goodness! This recipe should come with the disclaimer: May leave arm sore and useless the day after. I went in knowing stirring would be involved, but nothing could have prepared me for this. I would also like to state that in my case, this risotto in no way took 18 minutes to prepare. (Rachel, I don’t know how you do it!) Try 30 minutes of constant stirring. Whining aside, the risotto was a home run. It had a buttery, creamy texture and was silky smooth. It had delicious flavor and was 100% worth the energy exerted. (Just thinking about it now makes my mouth water.) I would definitely recommend giving this a try…just make sure you have an Olympic athlete stir for you.
Next on my list: the Royal Poulet. Having never tried nor tasted this at the park, I had no comparison. I went in completely blind. The tomato pesto called for sun dried tomatoes so while at the store, I had the choice between sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, or dehydrated ones meant to top off a salad. I chose the dehydrated ones because they were a dollar cheaper. WRONG DECISION. The pesto came out dry and chunky. As the pesto was the base for the entire dish, it was a costly mistake. I tried to remedy the situation by adding more oil to the pesto, but to no avail. Upon trying the end result, I’ll admit it was tasty, but incredibly dry. It was a rookie mistake and when preparing this recipe at home, I would suggest paying the extra money to get tomatoes packed in oil.
Royal Poulet fit for a King or Queen!
Finally, it was time to re-create those delicious beignets I had first tried years ago at Port Orleans. Channeling Princess Tiana and her world class beignet-making skills, I was off to a great start. Yeast? Check. Eggs? Check. Sugar? Che…..where was the sugar? I swear I remembered seeing it before I went to the store! I went back to my pantry and rummaged through the shelves singing to myself, “…just a half…cup…of sug-ARR makes the beign-eeeets taste sweet!”
Nothing. No sugar. I was in the middle of making this grand meal. I couldn’t just run out and grab some sugar. What was a girl to do? Take lemons and make lemonade of course! I recalled buying a box of Truvia for guests who came to visit a month ago. I pulled out the box, took a deep breath and proceeded to open 27 individual packs of Truvia to use as a sugar substitute. Would my beignets taste the same? I didn’t know, but I was too deep into the journey to turn back now. I continued bravely onward.
The recipe instructed the help of a hand mixer to blend my ingredients together. However, mine was NOT up to the task. I could not figure out why the recipe would suggest using a hand mixer to blend together such a thick dough! Then I looked at the recipe a little closer. Angela’s selective reading strikes again! I was to mix the other ingredients together and THEN add the flour WITHOUT the mixer. I’m going to blame the recipe and say that this was NOT my fault. They did not specify to mix the flour by spoon or hand. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Speaking of sticking, as I began to kneed the dough, it was SO sticky. As I tried to remove dough off of one hand, it got stuck to the other. No matter what I did, I could not get this dough off my hands! I was on the verge of a panic attack when I thought to add more flour. One problem….my hands were too sticky to grab the flour and I was home alone without any help. I thought about taking a picture but as I had no hands, I’ll just leave the look of terror on my face to the imagination. I used my forearms to pour more flour in and conditions greatly improved.
Fluffy Beignets
Authors note: Be sure to read the fine print before embarking on your culinary journey. After mixing my beignet ingredients, I found out that I had made enough dough to fry FIVE DOZEN beignets. *sigh*…live and learn.
Annoyed, tired and messy, I was quite pleased to put the dough in the refrigerator over night so we both could chill out. The next morning, I opened the fridge to grab my foe, the dough. I rolled it out, cut it into squares and heated up my oil. I hesitantly dropped a square of dough into the pot and waited.
The dough puffed up beautifully. It was working! I was making beignets! Since I most likely heated my oil too hot, they only took about 5 seconds to turn a nice golden brown (The recipe said 2-3 minutes.) I topped my beignets off with powdered sugar and took a bite. With my Truvia sugar substitute, it tasted a bit like sweet pizza dough, but was still delicious. Success!
I had done it. I had completed my challenge. I had re-created three Disney recipes without managing to cut off a finger or start anything on fire. Sure, there were trials and tribulations along the way, but as I cleaned the kitchen I thought to myself, “What Disney recipe should I try next?”
Have you ever tried re-creating a Disney recipe? What were your favorites? Would you like me to write about future cooking endeavors? Let me know in the comments!
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September 7, 2014
The Disney Dazzle: Cinderella’s Royal Table
We’re back for another Disney Dazzling story! If you want to read about my magical time meeting Mickey Mouse, click here.
I experienced breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table* in early 2014. Reservations had been made the previous fall, and the anticipation had been building ever since. Not only would I be visiting Magic Kingdom, but I was going to meet five of my childhood idols. My inner five-year-old was rejoicing at the opportunity!
We walked down Main Street, U.S.A., and the closer we got to the castle, the faster I walked. I’m pretty sure I was sprinting those last few yards, trying to quickly close the distance between the castle and myself.
The entrance to the restaurant is next to Fantasyland. As I walked through the castle tunnel, I noticed five beautiful mosaic murals depicting Cinderella’s fairy tale. Fun Fact: These murals were made with over 300,000 pieces of Italian glass, and some contain sterling silver and even 14-karat gold. They were sure a ‘gem’ to look at! (bu dum, chee!)
How majestic!
Upon notifying the hostess of our arrival, we waited outside only a few minutes before being ushered into the castle. We walked through a gothic archway and entered the beautiful entry hall. The medieval-inspired hall had antique-looking tapestries covering the marble walls, while aged light fixtures made the space glow. I saw several coat of arms high above, and wooden benches lined the walls. As I walked further in, I saw none other than Cinderella herself greeting guests. My mind began to wonder as I waited in line: Would I be able to give her a hug? Would she let me live in the castle with her? If she asked, I would surely say, “Yes,” even if it meant having Gus and Jaq as roommates. When it was our turn, she smiled and signed my autograph book while asking us about our morning. She graciously accepted my hug (Hugging a princess, check that off my bucket list!), and a Disney photographer took our picture. There were other photo opportunities following our time with Cinderella. I recall a throne chair, suit of armor, and an old fireplace. We took a picture of our baby daughter in the fireplace (don’t worry, it wasn’t lit), and, luckily, she didn’t get any soot on her dress.
Since the restaurant was on the second floor, there was both an elevator and staircase to use. As my mother suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis, we were very grateful for the elevator. It allowed her to join in the fun. While some in my party took the elevator with Mom, my husband and I opted to explore the staircase. I will warn you that it is very steep and circular, so I would suggest the elevator should your knees or other conditions affect you. When walking up the stairs, a beautiful stained glass window of Cinderella illuminated our path. As we walked a little further, we found ourselves overlooking the entry hall and could see other guests posing with Cinderella.
The staircase brought us directly into the dining hall. The space had very high ceilings with different flags and coat of arms hanging from it. The Gothic archways were again present and several more tall stained glass windows decorated the room. I looked out the windows and saw a view of the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (how fitting!) among other attractions in Fantasyland. We were greeted by another host and escorted to a table in the back of the room. We were seated in an elevated section of the room so we had a great view of the entire dining hall.
Mickey Muffins!
The menu artwork was extraordinary. It was a beautiful stained glass image of Cinderella and the Prince. I turned it over, and there were six entrees to choose from. Selections included Baked Quiche, Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast, and Steak and Eggs. I chose the Traditional Breakfast comprised of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes. Too see the rest of the menu, click here. Pastry delicacies were brought to the table, along with our beverages. In true Disney fashion, the muffins were shaped like Mickey’s head. I swear this made them taste better! I think I may need to get my own Mickey muffin mold. Anyone want to grab one for me?
As we munched on pastries, a Cast Member brought our photo with Cinderella to the table. (The image is included in the price of the meal and was a very nice perk.) In addition, each prince and princess (i.e., child eating) was given a ‘wishing star’ and his or her choice of a magic wand or sword. Why? Well, we’ll get to that later. The Cast Member must have seen the disappointed look on my face as my table was bypassed because he stopped and gave me one as well.
Throughout the meal, a different princess was given a grand introduction and gracefully stepped into the room. You will also experience this if you dine at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot. Each Princess roamed around the room, stopping at every table to greet those waiting anxiously to see her. I sat and observed them as they enchanted the children. Each princess would kneel down to give hugs and special attention to each little one. I saw Aurora blush while one little boy kissed her on the cheek. Ariel was keen on showing everyone her shoes because she had exchanged her flipper for human legs. Jasmine was explaining to one little girl that genies come in all shapes and sizes, while Snow White spoke kindly of the seven precious men in her life. I wondered where Belle was at first but figured she was still locked up in Beast’s castle.
Lips red as the rose…even on a forehead.
All of the ladies were just lovely to meet. Aurora knelt beside our baby girl, Annie, to admire her dress. She was so flattered that Annie was dressed just like her! I questioned Jasmine on Aladdin’s whereabouts, to which she responded he was probably in the market place with Abu. Ariel and I discussed her beautiful eye make up and whether it was waterproof. Then there was Snow White. She was absolutely gaga over the baby! She kept stroking Annie’s little cheeks and talking to her in a soft sweet voice. She told Annie that she was even smaller than the dwarfs! Before she left our table, she planted a big kiss on Annie’s forehead, leaving a bright red lipstick kiss mark.
To our surprise, there was a special wishing ceremony. Remember those magic wands and swords? An overhead announcement told us to close our eyes and wave them over our wishing star. As the guests were waving their wands, Ariel was walking around, encouraging everyone to join in. She suddenly stopped and looked at my mom. She said, “Now, where’s YOUR wand?” My mom replied that she didn’t have one because she wasn’t a princess! She walked away for a moment and came back with a wand for my mom. Ariel looked at her sweetly and said, “Here, anyone can be a princess.” I looked in my mom’s eyes as she looked at Ariel, and though she is a grandma, there was still that child-like twinkle in her eyes as she received her wand. Her eyes were full of wonder and joy as she happily waved her wand over her wishing star. Together, the whole room said the magic words, “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!” With that, the entire room started to sparkle and glitter with twinkling lights. It was a special touch, and the kids around the room were absolutely elated with the magic they performed.
Make a wish!
As we finished our meal, the princesses left to allow the Cast Members to reset for the next wave of guests. We took our wishing stars, Cinderella photograph, and wands and made our way out of the dining hall. We all walked out with full tummies and a feeling of delight, never feeling rushed for a moment. From the twinkling lights and Mickey-shaped muffins to the kiss on our daughter’s forehead and Ariel bringing my mom a wand, Disney managed to make the experience special and prove that anyone can be treated like royalty in the Magic Kingdom.
Have you enjoyed a meal at Cinderella’s Royal Banquet Hall? Please share your memory in the comments!
*Pricing for breakfast is $58.15 for ages 10 and up, and $35.86 for ages 3-9. Tables in Wonderland may be used except during certain blackout dates.
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Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Come to Epcot
The location of the EV charging stations is clearly marked with a sign. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Since its opening, one focus of Epcot has been to showcase new technologies. Keeping in line with that mission, Epcot has added some technology that may be unfamiliar to many people, but certainly is being touted as technology of the future. But you won’t find this technology inside Epcot – it is located in the parking lot.
Along the first row of the Journey parking lot, Epcot now has two Electric Vehicle charging stations (each with plugs for two vehicles). This service is provided (for a fee) by ChargePoint.
Prior to the opening of this station, options to charge electric cars have been limited at Walt Disney World. According to the PlugShare site, the only other reported options for charging an EV were wall outlets at Fort Wilderness Cabins (likely installed to charge golf carts), a reported wall outlet available at the Contemporary (available only if you ask around, but not marked as such), another wall outlet available from valet at the Dolphin hotel upon request, a dedicated but unmarked charging outlet at the BoardWalk (which means that if someone has already parked in that parking space, you are out of luck), and an unapproved outlet at Caribbean Beach that only is powered at night (and not likely sanctioned by Disney). Many of these workarounds were unreliable and users reported that they often provided an incomplete charge.
Electric vehicle charging stations have been available at Disneyland Resort since early 2014 – in fact, according to the DisneyParks Blog, the Disneyland Resort has “one of the largest collections of public EV charging stations in Southern California.” While EV usage in Florida is considerably less than in California, sales of electric vehicles continue to rise across the nation, spurring the demand for charging stations.
While four charging ports at Epcot pale in comparison to the thirty charging ports at Disneyland, the fact that EV charging facilities are now available at Walt Disney World is a positive step forward. Although I have not witnessed any drivers using the EV stations on my trips to Epcot, I feel confident that as EV usage increases, there will be demand for these charging stations in the future.
To charge your vehicle at Epcot, notify the parking attendants that you need to use the changing station, and you will be directed to the first row of the Journey lot. From there, pull in a designated EV space, attach the plug to your car, and follow the on-screen directions on the ChargePoint console to begin the charging process.
Two EV plugs are located in each charging station. Two charging stations are available at Epcot. (Photo by Julia Mascardo)
Rates are 35 cents/kWh, with a minimum $1.50 purchase. (Remember, you do have to pay for parking at Epcot to make use of this service). ChargePoint accounts are accepted, as are major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) if they have an RFID chip. You can also pay and track your charging status through the ChargePoint. More information is available at www.chargepoint.com.
If I had to make predictions, I expect that charging stations will be available in the new parking structure when Disney Springs open, and if demand is there, charging stations will become available at the other Walt Disney World theme parks. (Having EV charging stations at Animal Kingdom does seem like a good fit with the environmentalism theme!) In the meantime, it is great to see this technology having a place at Epcot, and I do hope to see it in use by EV users on one of my next visits.
Have you brought an EV to the Walt Disney World resort? What has been your experience? Do you think that the price and availability is sufficient or should it be expanded? Or do you think that this is just a fad and a waste of parking space? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
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September 6, 2014
SATURDAY SIX: Six Reasons to Check Out Disney’s Pop Century Resort
By Derek Burgan
This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Six Reasons to Check Out Disney’s Pop Century Resort. One of Disney’s Value Resorts, Pop Century has a level of theming that makes it stand out compared to the other lower priced hotel offerings at the All Star resorts as well as dedicated bus transportation to the parks and Downtown Disney. The entire resort is themed around pop culture icons from the latter half of the twentieth century, with the wings of the hotel dedicated to the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Each wing has elements from their particular decade throughout the area. If it sounds cheesy, that’s because it is cheesy, but it’s a good kind of cheesy way and one that can bring back a lot of memories for every family. At the very least Pop Century is great for an afternoon of “resort hopping” to see some of the things they offer that you can’t find at any other Disney resort, starting with…
# 6 – The Lobby is a Wonderful Trip Back Through Time
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
While the check-in desks inside Classic Hall are the same that you will see in many theme park hotels, the walls opposite check in are filled with shadow boxes containing items from the 1950s through the 1990s. This is a wall that will have various generations of every family seeing an item and instantly remembering where they were in life when that was popular. Elvis, the Moon landing, Dobie Gillis (with Maynard G Krebs), the Beach Boys, Star Wars, Mork & Mindy, Jane Fonda’s workout book, Trivial Pursuit, He-Man, Go-Bots, Smurfs, and so much more are in this area.
A “Where’s the Beef?” plate in Disney’s Pop Century Resort. If this isn’t reason enough to at least look around, I don’t know what is.
The Simpsons, The X-Files, Wayne & Garth from Saturday Night Live and The Sopranos (?!) all at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
# 6A – THERE ARE FREE ARCADE GAMES IN THE LOBBY!
While Mom or Dad check in, everyone else can lounge around in this waiting area. It plays Disney Channel on a TV and has free video games
If these games were Ms. Pac Man, Spy Hunger, Joust, and Track & Field, I would never leave this room
This is not a drill people. There are free video games inside the Pop Century Lobby. Video games are popular now, more than any time in history, but Pop Century celebrates how big arcade games were in the pre-Nintendo era of household gaming. Set on free play, the two machines inside Classic Hall have two games on each. One has Space Invaders and Qix, the other has Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. All four of these games were HUGE back in the day and it’s a blast to play them again.
# 5 – Fast Forward Arcade
Fast Forward Arcade at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Speaking of video games, Pop Century also has a world class arcade to have some fun in that has a gigantic cross section of games including your standard arcade games, driving simulators, air hockey, and various games of skill to win tickets (which you can exchange for prizes.) Highlights include more old school arcade games (including Galaga) along with basketball, football, and baseball games which make it easy to have competitions with your friends and family.
Carnival style games at Fast Forward Arcade.
Baseball, football, and basketball games at Fast Forward Arcade.
# 4 – The Food and Snacks at Everything Pop!
The King Cupcake at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Like Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at the Magic Kingdom, the Everything Pop! food court at Pop Century is split up into several sections, so while one area may have slices of pizza, another one will have burgers. Like the Bayliner Diner at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, along with your standard food options Everything Pop! has several choices to echo the theming of yesteryear. These include “comfort food” entrees such as chicken pot pie, pot roast, and meatloaf. Our favorite? Sloppy Joes! Where Everything Pop! goes above and beyond is in the snack department. Not only are there milkshakes available, but here is where you will find tie-dye cheesecake and the incredible King Cupcake. Dedicated to the “King” Elvis Presley, this cupcake contains all the elements Elvis used in his favorite sandwich combined with a chocolate cupcake. Inside the cupcake is a dollop of banana custard, while on top of the cupcake is peanut butter icing, candied bacon, and chocolate drizzle. Run, don’t walk, to try this one.
Tie-Dye Cheesecake at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
BabycakesNYC at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
# 3 – Larger Than Life Disney Characters
Roger Rabbit of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? fame.
If you enjoy getting pictures of Disney characters, Pop Century just may be the resort for you. Not only is there a great photo-op with Goofy outside of Classic Hall, but you will also find characters such as Roger Rabbit and Baloo the Bear standing at almost four stories tall throughout the resort.
Tramp from Lady and the Tramp
Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book
# 2 – Larger Than Life EVERYTHING
If you heart skips a beat seeing this Big Wheel, you grew up in the 70s and early 80s
You’ve seen the Disney characters, but throughout the resort there are also gigantic versions of various pop culture items from the 20th Century. Foosball players, a Big Wheel, a tub of Play-Doh, and even Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are among the large icon figures you will discover in each wing. Across each building you will also find phrases from each era along with various items, such as transistor radios and Pac-Man. The outside stairwells for each building are also covered by four story tall props including bowling pins, 8 track tapes, and yo-yos. The “90s” building has three different types of retro cell phones hiding stairs behind them.
Kids, every time your parents give you grief about “LOL” or “prolly” just remind them of the words they tried to add to the American lexicon that never went anywhere
The backs of these even have the storage compartments. The devil is in the details.
Yes, cell phones that couldn’t send emojis actually existed.
# 1 – The Walk Around Hour Glass Lake
Signage around the walkway as you travel through the latter half of the twentieth century
Pop Century was originally conceived to have two separate areas. The first section, the Classic Years, was completed and is what we know as Pop today. A second section, the Legendary Years, was going to be built across Hourglass Lake and the two resorts would be connected by Generation Gap Bridge. The Legendary Years would have focused on the 1900s through the 1940s and what I wouldn’t do to see how Disney would have handled the Great Depression and World War II. As we know, the Legendary Years was never built and instead that area was eventually used for Art of Animation.
One of the strengths of both Pop Century and Art of Animation is being able to take advantage of Hourglass Lake between them and take a gingerly walk (or prepare for a runDisney race) around the entire area via large walkways. On Pop Century’s half of the walkway there are signs along the way that highlight major events of various years. Staying at Pop Century allows you to get a great value when it staying on-site at Disney, but it also gives you the ability to easily walk over and enjoy the fantastic Landscape of Flavors food court at Art of Animation along with some of AoA’s outstanding theming including Radiator Springs from the movie Cars.
A walk around Hourglass Lake
Disney’s Pop Century Resort, as seen from Art of Animation (photo by Brandon Glover)
HONORABLE MENTION: A View of Frozen Summer Fun LIVE! Fireworks
Frozen Summer Fun Live! Fireworks seen from Disney’s Pop Century Resort. They are exploding behind Art of Animation and reflecting off Hourglass Lake
Being able to see the highlights of the Frozen Summer Fun Live! fireworks show from Pop Century was a nice surprise and believe it or not one of the best viewing areas was inside the Computer Pool located by the 1990s wing of the resort. You can also see the fireworks from along the jogging trail bordering Hourglass Lake and from the outdoor breezeways on various buildings facing Art of Animation (the higher up the better.)
So there you have it: Six Reasons to Check Out Disney’s Pop Century Resort. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the SATURDAY SIX, where we are going to take a peek at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.
Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their invaluable assistance in this article.
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SATURDAY SIX: Six Reasons to Check Out Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
September 5, 2014
Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report – August 24 to 30, 2014
Welcome to the Universal Orlando Resort Crowd Report! Here we take a look at how our crowd predictions performed the previous week and take a brief look at the week to come.
Last week, no park reached wait times higher than a level ’5′ on our scale and most days stayed around a ’3′ or ’4′. Predictions tended to be high rather than low which is consistent with what we observed at Disney World last week. An early return to school for some school districts is pulling the annual September lull in attendance a week earlier than usual.
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
4
4
Our predictions for attractions at Islands of Adventure were high by an average of 3 to 10 minutes. However, we correctly predicted most attractions at Universal Studios.
Islands of Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
5
Another slow day at Islands of Adventure on Monday. Only Ripsaw Falls (35 minutes) and Spider-Man saw wait times above a level 2 on our scale.
Islands of Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
5
4
Crowds remained low on Tuesday including a 23 minute average posted wait at Forbidden Journey and a 25 minute average at Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket.
Islands of Adventure
5
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
3
Low waits at Islands of Adventure again on Wednesday. No attraction reached an average posted time above 40 minutes (Ripsaw Falls).
Islands of Adventure
5
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
3
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem averaged 44 minutes (predicted 54) on Thursday but otherwise wait times were low.
Islands of Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
4
3
Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure and Dragon Challenge were among the Islands of Adventure attractions that had an single-digit average posted wait on Friday.
Islands of Adventure
4
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Universal Studios
5
5
We under-predicted Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket (49 minutes, predicted 37) but every other prediction was within 5 minutes of what we observed on Saturday.
Islands of Adventure
4
3
What to Expect This Week
August 31 to September 6, 2014
How Crowded is Universal Orlando Resort?
The first week of September is typically 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 24 to 30, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of September 5, 2014
In Case You Missed It!
I love a short week! I’m sure you do too. While most short weeks tend to move slower to me, I feel like this one went by so fast!
Of course, with the start of September, we start with the fun of Fall with many of my favorite restaurants bringing out the Fall-themed food. It’s a pumpkin lovers dream! I’ve already bought and enjoyed some great pumpkin-flavored treats! We also get the beginning of Fall activities at the Disney Parks too, which is undoubtedly my favorite season at Disney! Which season is your favorite in the parks? Let me know.
This week, I’m sharing some great Disney movie Easter Eggs, how The Haunted Mansion’s effects work, and more! Let’s dive in!
In Case You Missed It – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors
Here’s a look at the Master Plan of Epcot from the 1977 Walt Disney Productions Annual Report. It is always so fun to see what could have been and how things matched up.
Have you ever wondered about the corporate sponsorships at Epcot? Forbes has a introspective look on Disney’s relationship with Siemens and why it works so well for both companies.
If you have ever wanted to know how some of the special effects work in The Haunted Mansion, you need to read this article from Gizmodo. It’s a two part article that looks at the secret tech behind the popular attraction.
As many would expect, the news that some of the acts leaving Epcot has been met with a lot of outrage. The Orlando Sentinel shares the story of those who are upset that Off Kilter. Will you miss the popular Celtic band?
Disney hides some pretty great Easter Eggs in their movies. Some of them I knew and some I didn’t. Which one is your favorite?
Disney was named as one of the Top 20 Brands with the Most Loyal Followers. I would absolutely agree! The love we have of the company is unlike most other companies. (I mean how many other companies have blogs, podcasts, message forums, and more all dedicated to talking about and speculating about them?)
Who will you likely see ringing your doorbell this Halloween? I’ll let you take a guess. Will your kids be dressing as Anna, Elsa, or Olaf? Or another Disney entity? (Though they weren’t mentioned, who’s going as Star-Lord or Groot? Seems to me like Guardians costumes may likely be popular this year…)
If you are curious about the upcoming movie, Tomorrowland, you may want to consider heading to D23′s Destination D event November 22 and 23 at Walt Disney World. During the event will be an exclusive look at the secretive film.
I’m not sure how you could miss the news, but in case you did…there will be a brand new Frozen Short called “Frozen Fever” coming out Spring 2015! The plot revolves around Anna’s birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are planning on throwing her a party, but of course, something goes wrong. If you missed the announcement live, which aired during “The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Classic” on ABC this week, here’s the special.
I already love a volcano! Check out this preview of a volcano looking for love, which is the concept of Pixar’s newest short that will run ahead of Inside Out.
In Case We Missed It
What did we miss? Attach your ideas to this awesome Star-Lord costume and send them to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.
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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of September 5, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disneyland Resort Crowd Report – August 24 to 30, 2014
Welcome to the Disneyland Resort Crowd Report! Here we take a look at how our crowd predictions performed the previous week and take a brief look at the week to come.
Last week, no park reached wait times higher than a level ’5′ on our scale and most days stayed around a ’2′ or ’3′. That means posted wait times averaged 10 to 30 minutes at most attractions. We are still seeing some attention at the newly refurbished Alice in Wonderland. If that is an important part of your trip to Disneyland you may want to move that attraction earlier in your touring plan.
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
4
3
Disney California Adventure saw wait times lower than usual on Sunday, including an average posted time of 20 minutes at Soarin’ Over California (predicted 22). Although, Radiator Springs Racers wait times were high as usual (62 minute average, predicted 67).
Disney California Adventure
5
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
3
Predictions hit the mark at both parks on Monday. Average posted time at Space Mountain was 26 minutes, we predicted 25.
Disney California Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
3
Another level ’3′ for Disneyland on Tuesday with no attraction reaching an average posted time above 34 minutes (Peter Pan’s Flight) while many attractions hit the lowest level on our scale at DCA including California Screamin’ (5 minutes) and Radiator Springs Racers (47 minutes).
Disney California Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
2
Our predictions were one level too high at both parks on Wednesday. Standout attractions were Alice in Wonderland (26 minutes, predicted 23) and Grizzly River Run (25 minutes, predicted 29).
Disney California Adventure
3
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
2
Level ’2′ across the board on Thursday with no attraction averaging a posted time higher than 35 minutes other than Radiator Springs at 49 minutes.
Disney California Adventure
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
2
4
Wait times jumped slightly higher on Friday driven by increases at Big Thunder Mountain (23 minutes, predicted 13) and Soarin’ Over California (30 minutes, predicted 23).
Disney California Adventure
2
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Disneyland Park
3
5
Weekend crowds pushed many attractions one level higher on our scale on Saturday. Alice in Wonderland continues to draw attention after its July refurbishment. We saw an average posted time of 33 minutes there which represents a ’10′ on our scale for Alice.
Disney California Adventure
3
4
What to Expect This Week
August 31 to September 6, 2014
How Crowded is Disneyland Resort?
The first week of September is typically 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 24 to 30, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Cabanas, Casabellas, and More at Disney’s Aulani: When a Lazy River Is Not Lazy Enough
Interior of an Aulani cabana (photos by Sarah Graffam)
When guests of Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii are looking to experience even more luxury beyond the resort’s beautiful rooms and grounds, they can consider booking one of the premium seating options found in several locations among the various pools, whirlpools, winding lazy river, and play areas of Aulani’s Waikolohe Valley.
Whether renting one of these upgraded seating options is worth the price is a highly individual decision based on factors such as budget, how much time you are likely to spend enjoying the premium seating, the ages and interests of people in your party, and what other activities are planned during your stay. If you are considering splurging, read on for details about prices, what is included, locations, and views for each option.
Aulani casabellas
One benefit to note before looking at each option individually . . . all of them guarantee your party a home base for a day at Aulani’s extremely popular pool and beach area. The resort’s pool complex has proven to be so popular that it was expanded only two years after the resort opened, and many guests claim poolside lounge chairs early in the day. Knowing that you have a guaranteed seat will give you one more reason to savor that cup of Kona coffee on your balcony before heading to the pool.
View from inside a Ka Maka Grotto cabana
The Options in Brief
Aulani’s premium seating options currently include six casabellas on the beach, two casabellas on Ama Ama’s upper veranda and three on the lower veranda, one executive lanai, and eight cabanas. (Note that the number and locations of some of these options have changed from time to time.)
All premium seating guests can order food and drinks from Aulani’s Poolside Menu and of course visit any of the quick service locations in Waikolohe Valley. Cabanas have a dedicated Cabana Dining Menu that has a more upscale presentation, but its offerings are virtually identical to those on the Poolside Menu.
Casabellas
These two-seat loungers have an awning and a small table surface between the chairs. They can be found in two locations:
Beachside casabellas
Six beachside casabellas are located on a grassy area directly fronting Ko Olina beach. They rent for $45 per day, from 8 AM to 5 PM. To get back to Aulani’s pool area, guests must cross a walkway, go through Aulani’s gate, and up some stairs. It’s a bit of a walk to the pool, but if you want to be right on the beach and are looking for the least expensive way to enjoy some upgraded seating, the beachside casabellas could be perfect for you.
Five Ama Ama casabellas located on the veranda in front of Aulani’s Ama Ama restaurant overlook the beach. Each level of the veranda rents as a unit, and the price per day for the two casabellas on Ama Ama’s upper veranda (accommodating four people total) is $90, while the price for the three casabellas on Ama Ama’s lower veranda (accommodating six people total) is $135. The hours for these casabellas are 9 AM to 6 PM. The Ama Ama casabellas are at the farthest end of the veranda and so are also a bit of a walk to the pool area. However, they are very private (I had to ask where they were after looking around a bit). The veranda decking can get hot in the sun, but that seems like a small price to pay if you are looking for a day of quiet and relaxation at a reasonable price.
View from Ama Ama veranda casabellas
Ama Ama veranda casabellas
While the Ama Ama casabellas can be reserved in advance, the beachside casabellas can be rented only on the same day by visiting Makiki Joe’s on the beach starting at 8 AM. Also, guests can check if there has been a cancellation for the Ama Ama casabellas on the same day by visiting Rainbow Reef snorkel lagoon (near the Menehune Bridge play area) starting at 8 AM. If you are planning to enjoy the Ama Ama casabellas, it is worth reserving them in advance—more on the need for advance reservations later.
Executive Lanai
At the opposite end of the Ama Ama veranda from the veranda casabellas, closer to the main pool area, is one executive lanai. This lanai is spacious, with two casabellas (each seating two people), two chairs with a table and umbrella, and two lounge chairs with an umbrella. The setup allows for eight people to relax (six people in the lounge chairs and two at the table and chairs). The executive lanai can be reserved in advance from 9 AM to 6 PM for $275.
Executive lanai
View from executive lanai
The executive lanai has a locking drawer/cabinet and includes bottles of water and delivery of a fruit platter. It has no electricity and so does not include a refrigerator. As with the Ama Ama casabellas, the decking of the lanai can get hot in the sun. Also, it is located next to a gate and stairs that lead from Aulani’s pool area to the beach, so foot traffic could be an issue for some people. Still, the lanai offers far more personal space than sitting in the regular lounge chairs around the pool, and it seats more people than the more expensive cabanas.
Cabanas
Aulani’s eight cabanas each accommodate six guests, with two chairs, a loveseat, and a table inside the cabana and two lounge chairs outside. The cabanas, which can be reserved in advance from 9 AM to 6 PM, are the highest-priced premium seating option, at $325 per day. They are located in three areas:
Menehune Bridge cabanas view
Menehune Bridge cabanas
The busy (and noisy) Menehune Bridge play area is home to two cabanas. The location of these cabanas would appear to target young families who appreciate being able to keep an eye on their little ones while still achieving some level of relaxation in a cabana. These are also the cabanas closest to the lazy river and water slides.
The Ka Maka Grotto has three cabanas that are a short distance from the main pool and a bit further away from the lazy river and water slides. In fact, the last cabana in the row is next to a stone wall separating Aulani from the Marriott hotel next door. Still, they offer a respite from the action and are close to the family infinity pool.
The Wailana Pool has three cabanas. These cabanas are situated at Aulani’s adults-only pool and so are not an option for families with children younger than age 18. The Wailana Pool is very quiet, and these cabanas are at the quietest end of that pool. So if you are looking for quiet in an adults-only area, these cabanas are for you.
Ka Maka Grotto cabanas view
Ka Maka Grotto cabanas
By renting a cabana, you will enjoy several additional amenities that do not come with the other premium seating options. Like the executive lanai, cabanas have a locking drawer, but they also include a refrigerator stocked with water, ceiling fan, and flat-panel TV. Along with the fruit plate that comes with the executive lanai, Disney Vacation Club members renting cabanas receive a complimentary dessert tray. The fruit plate is served around 11 AM, and the dessert tray arrives around 3-4 PM.
We rented one of the Ka Maka Grotto cabanas for two days and were quite happy with the location and service both times. A placard welcoming the “Graffam Ohana” when we arrived was a nice touch. Our server appeared frequently to ask if we wanted to order more drinks or food. In addition, other Cast Members came around a few times to provide new towels. We had the middle cabana of the three, which I thought would feel less private, but letting down the canvas sides not only provided sufficient privacy but also some noise abatement.
Wailana Pool cabanas view
Wailana Pool cabanas
Premium Seating Tips
Check in for the veranda casabellas, the executive lanai, and cabanas is at the Rainbow Reef snorkel lagoon at 9 AM. The policy is that a no-show by 10 AM is considered a cancellation, though I observed parties arriving later than that time.
Poolside servers will keep a running tab of any food or drinks you order during the day. You can add a tip to the bill.
Although rentals can be up to 6 PM, poolside service ends at 5 PM and servers make a last call around 4:30 PM.
Disney Vacation Club members receive a 10% discount for all beach rentals, which include casabellas and the executive lanai, as well as for the cabanas.
During the week I spent at Aulani in August, I checked several times to see if there were any veranda casabellas or cabanas or the executive lanai available to reserve in the next few days. In all instances, they were already booked, and I heard more than one guest wish they had booked an additional day ahead of time. If you think you might want to enjoy premium pool seating during your stay, I recommend that you reserve it as soon as possible. The cancellation policy is generous enough for you to make a decision just before or when you arrive. I was notified that my cabana rental could be cancelled up to 12 hours in advance. This way, after experiencing one day of luxury, you won’t be disappointed if there is no more availability during your stay. Also, requests for specific cabanas or cabana areas are granted based on the order in which cabanas are reserved.
Like many people visiting Aulani, you will likely find that experiencing the pools, water slides, and lazy river of the Waikolohe Valley is a focus of your visit. The resort’s various premium seating options offer an excellent way to enhance your vacation.
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Cabanas, Casabellas, and More at Disney’s Aulani: When a Lazy River Is Not Lazy Enough 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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