Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1194
August 26, 2014
Disney World Ticket Scams
Disclaimer: While I am a Cast Member, I do not speak for the Walt Disney Company. The following information is based on my own experience and does not necessarily reflect the Walt Disney Company’s policies. Please see the Walt Disney World website for official rules and regulations regarding ticket use.
I’m always on the hunt for a bargain, and I’m willing to take some risks to get one–my recent purchase of clearance yogurt comes to mind. However, Walt Disney World tickets are not the purchase to mess with. I work as a vacation planner (read: ticket seller) at the Transportation and Ticket Center, and I’ve witnessed the many ways guests have tried to game the system to avoid paying full price for tickets. Here’s a quick list of the most frequent Disney World ticket scams and why you should avoid them:
Beware “Cheap Tickets.” They’re especially scary at night. Photo by Maddi Higgins
Used Tickets
Somebody bought a 7-day ticket, only used 5 of the days. Why not hand those two days off to somebody else and get a little extra cash? Then you can pick up those extra days at Cheep Ticketz on 192 for a major discount.
Why you shouldn’t try it:
The only way to know if a ticket has any entitlements left is through Disney. So when you stop at Tickets ‘R Us on 192, you’ll have to take their word that there are any days left on the ticket. You also have no idea if the person who originally purchased the ticket also got the No Expiration option; if not, the days on the ticket expired 14 days after first use. The biometric scanning information is connected to the ticket, so if you have a different finger than the original user, you will not get through the touch point. So unless your used ticket comes with the chopped-off index finger of the original owner, you won’t have much luck getting into the parks.
Military Tickets
Disney offers special prices for military members and their friends and family; it’s one of the best ticket deals available. Military members are each entitled to six tickets at the special pricing. Unfortunately, a great deal attracts unscrupulous people who try to game the system.
Why you shouldn’t try it:
To redeem the military tickets, you will need a valid (read: non-expired) military ID showing that you are either a military member or a military spouse. Children of military members, veterans without a military ID, and civilian contractors are not eligible to purchase or activate military tickets. Military members are eligible for six tickets during the promotion period—that’s six tickets per military member, not each for the member and spouse. The ticketing system tracks the number of tickets allotted to each military member, so a military member will not be able to redeem more than six.
Cast Member Complimentary Tickets
A (redacted) cast member complimentary ticket. Photo by Maddi Higgins
Cast Members receive complimentary tickets to give to friends or family members. Cast Members print these tickets from their Disney employee accounts and give them away. These tickets are brought to the vacation planning booths and converted into one-day park hoppers.
Why you shouldn’t try it:
Cast members are not allowed to sell these tickets. If the tickets are sold, that cast member will punished, if not fired. But what do you care? You’re still getting cheap tickets! Maybe, but maybe not. Cast members are able to print the complimentary tickets as many times as they want, but they can only be used once. When you buy a complimentary ticket, you have no way of knowing if the ticket has been used or not. I once had a family try to redeem complimentary tickets, only to find that their tickets were all copies of a single ticket, forcing the family to buy the whole family tickets again. Do not expect any sympathy from Guest Relations; you will be told to talk to the cast member who gave you the tickets.
Please also keep in mind your fellow vacationers. Once, I had a family whose complimentary tickets were stolen (presumably by an employee at their non-Disney hotel), copied, sold, and used before they were able to activate them. Not only did somebody illegally purchase the tickets, but somebody else’s vacation was ruined.
Florida Resident Tickets
As Walt Disney World’s most loyal customers, Florida residents have to opportunity to buy specially priced multi-day tickets and annual passes. This opportunity is particularly appealing to those who are not, in fact, residents of Florida.
Why you shouldn’t try it:
Get a cheap “massage” and “tickets.” Photo by Maddi Higgins
You will need Florida identification to buy a Florida resident ticket. Acceptable forms of identification include a Florida state-issued ID, a military ID based in Florida, a mortgage statement, a utility bill, proof of homeowner’s or vehicle insurance, or mail from a government or financial institution. Not your student ID, not your spouse’s ID, not your library card, not your country club card (note: I have seen all of these attempted). You will also need a photo ID to match with any non-ID proof of residence, though the photo ID does not have to be a Florida ID. I saw a woman smack her husband’s license out of his hand and say, “He didn’t bring it” to avoid showing a New York license. There’s no need for that; we just need to match the name to the face. It’s OK if you haven’t switched your license yet.
Bottom Line
There a simple rule to avoiding Disney World ticket scams: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stick with the Walt Disney World website or the TouringPlans ticket calculator to make sure your tickets are legit.
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August 25, 2014
Menu Monday: Top Places to Find Ice Cream
By Lisa Gilmore
In Florida, summer seems to last until October. Unless you have a personal flurry, like Olaf, you will quickly find yourself looking for ways to stay cool. In addition to ducking into some of the air conditioned attractions around Walt Disney World, a sure-fire way to cool off and satisfy your snack cravings is to enjoy a cool, refreshing treat. Let’s explore some of the top ten places to find ice cream in Walt Disney World. (Prices listed are current as of post date.)
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow.
Sleepy Hollow (Magic Kingdom): Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is a quaint window at the entrance to Liberty Square, just off the hub. You’ll know it from the aroma of funnel cake wafting through the air, beckoning you to come closer. But don’t be seduced by the funnel cake, there are giant ice cream sandwiches to be had here! The ice cream cookie sandwich is probably one of best bargains if you’re using a Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit. And at $4.19, I’d argue it’s a bargain paying out of pocket, as well. You get two full-sized, giant, homemade chocolate chip cookies (often still warm from the oven), and squished between them is a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s large enough to share, but why would want to?! It’s that darned yummy!
Aloha Isle (Magic Kingdom): Home of the infamous Dole Whip. It’s never too late to join this cult following. You can be a purist, and just get this delicious pineapple ice cream in a cup for only $3.79, or be a bit of deviant, and get the Dole Whip Float (for $4.49) with your choice of flavored ice cream in a sea of pineapple juice. The crisp citrus flavor keeps this tangy treat light and refreshing without being too rich or decadent. And since it’s fruit, it must be healthy, right?
Cast member assembling a Croque Glace.
L’Artisan des Glaces (Epcot): Refined palates looking for an international flare will enjoy this charming ice cream shop in the France Pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase. In fact, the ice cream (or gelato, if you prefer) is so good, even the not-so-refined palates will find something they like. This is the spot to try a mature ice cream treat. The Croque Glaceau ($6.10) is a French take on the ice cream sandwich, choose any flavor ice cream in a warm brioche with chocolate or raspberry sauce. Or, if you’re over 21, try the ice cream martini ($11.50). Two scoops of your choice of ice cream topped with Grand Marnier, vodka, or rum; what a delicious adult treat.
Dinosaur Gertie’s (Hollywood Studios): You can’t miss it. It’s that giant dinosaur in Hollywood Studios. Unfortunately, it’s only open seasonally, but that makes getting a treat from there so much more of a treat (see what I did there?). Dinosaur Gertie’s sells standard ice cream fare, but a waffle cone ($3.99) filled with swirl soft serve tastes so much better when you buy it from a dinosaur.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop (Downtown Disney): These are meals disguised as ice cream. I always have a hard time choosing which sundae to get, then once I’ve ordered, I have a hard time sharing it (because it’s just so tasty), and then once I eat more any human being should, I always have hard time walking out of there (rolling out of there is more accurate). As a self-proclaimed peanut butter addict, I usually can’t get past the Gold Rush Sundae ($9.49) which just oozes with melted peanut butter, but their shakes are just as decadent. It’s just so hard to pick a favorite here!
Frozen Treat Cart (Various Locations): No Disney World vacation is complete without a Mickey shaped ice cream treat. Some favor the ice cream sandwich variety, I personally prefer the Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream bar ($3.75), but there really is no wrong answer here. You can find these carts at any Disney park, so a Mickey-shaped ice cream is never far away.
Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars and other ice cream treats can be found at ice carts in all of the parks.
Gelato Cart (Epcot): No one does gelato like the Italians, and this cart in the Italy Pavilion of World Showcase proves that point. You can just get a little light treat here, and save your appetite and pennies. Or you can truly indulge yourself. If you chose the latter, then I fully recommend the Coppa Delizia ($9.75). This is an Italian twist on strawberries and cream. You get three flavors of gelato: strawberry, fior di latte, cookies and cream, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, whole strawberries. No better way to tour World Showcase than with an ice cream buzz.
The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (Magic Kingdom): After you absorb the charm of this turn-of-the-century ice cream shop, you’ll notice how the prices won’t absorb you. This spot is probably one of the more reasonable places to get the sundae you’re craving without depleting your finances. In addition to the traditional sundaes, floats, and scoops, you’ll also find the new Mickey’s Kitchen Sink Sundae (not to be confused with the Beaches & Cream option). You’ll get three scoops of ice cream — chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry — topped with three toppings — hot fudge, strawberry, and caramel. The whole thing is covered in whipped cream, chocolate and peanut butter chips, and cherries. With a hefty price of $23, this is a tall order for one person, but probably one of the better snacking bargains if you share it among a family of three or four.
No Way Jose Sundae at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (Beach Club Resort): Home of the legendary Kitchen Sink Sundae ($28.99), this snack is often found on any Disney veteran’s “bucket list”. I confess, I’ve haven’t tried this one yet, I can’t seem to tear myself away from the No Way Jose sundae ($8.49) (melted peanut butter and peanut butter morsels!!). This charming soda shop is a great place to take a break from the crowded parks, have a cool treat, and people watch.
Kabuki Café (Epcot): Ok, not technically “ice cream” Kakigori ($3.75) is a shaved ice frozen treat from Japan and is good enough to make the list. Kabuki Café does offer some ice cream options, like the increasingly popular Green Tea ice cream. It’s refreshing without being overly sweet or rich. But the tangerine kakigori is the show-stopper here. If you can’t decide on a flavor, you can get the “rainbow” option, where the cast members coat the finely shaved ice in cherry, melon and tangerine syrup.
Which spots are your favorite to find a cool ice cream snack? Have you tried all of these? What else should add to the list? Comment below to let us know your favorite ice cream treats!
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Menu Monday: Best Disneyland Candy – Candy Palace vs. Trolley Treats
The surprisingly understated sign of Candy Palace, at Disneyland
Disneyland candy. It’s a tradition, right up there with corn dogs and churros. From elaborate candy apples to house-made toffee, Disneyland serves up some of the most toothsome sugary treats in the theme park business. But where’s the best spot to get it? Do you opt for the original in Disneyland’s Candy Palace, or head over to Disney California Adventure for the sweets at Trolley Treats? I tried both, checking out the selection, atmosphere, and amenities at each location, to help you acquire the best sugar buzz on Disneyland property.
Disneyland traditionalists will argue for the Candy Palace. This Main Street, U.S.A., institution has been dishing out the treats for nearly sixty years, after all. In 2012, the Candy Palace was expanded, increasing display space as well as the iconic show kitchen, where guests can watch candy chefs dip caramel apples and roll candy canes (in season). The new Candy Palace would replace the vintage red-and-white striped, carnival-ish decor with pastel stained glass, Victorian chandeliers, and patterned mosaic tile floors — a true palace with decorations that evoke sweets in every flourish. In the displays you’ll find everything from Goofy’s Candy Co. bagged candy ($3.95+) to deluxe gourmet apples decorated to look like Disney characters ($9.99 – $12.99).
English Toffee Construction in Progress: the show kitchen at Disneyland’s Candy Palace.
Disneyland makes a big deal out of its house-made candy, and guests can call in and listen to a pre-recorded message listing the candy that will be made in the show kitchen at Candy Palace that week. (Call 714-781-0112.) During my visit, they were making English toffee every other day, peanut clusters the others. Whether it’s in the show kitchen or not, you’ll also find freshly made peanut brittle, fudge ($4.39/piece), and other confections in the shop daily. Keep in mind that quite a few non-themed items in the candy cases, such as the chocolate peanut butter sandwiches, aren’t made at Disneyland. If you want house-made, ask a Cast Member, or stick to the apples, fresh fruit dipped in chocolate, and the items that come wrapped with “Made Fresh with Magic” stickers, such as the peanut brittle and toffee.
My first Candy Palace experience came on an English Toffee day in the kitchen. Never a huge English toffee fan, I decided to swing in and go for it as we were leaving the park for the evening. Once I’d glanced inside, though, I wished I’d gotten the candy for breakfast instead. The shop, not large to begin with, was bursting at the seams with July crowds. We ordered a block of toffee ($4.99 from the case, plastic-wrapped also available), and hustled out as fast as we could.
The toffee itself, though, more than made up for the drama of buying it. English toffee is a crunchy concoction of butter and sugar which I always tend to get stuck in my teeth, so it’s never been high on my list. But this toffee was all crunch and no sticky — hard enough to crack cleanly, rich buttery flavor, and completely robed in milk chocolate and almonds. Almonds and chocolate fly everywhere — maybe don’t eat it on your white hotel duvet. It’s plenty big enough to share with a friend, although I didn’t want to share once I’d had a taste.
All in all, I was a firm believer in toffee after the Disneyland experience. I just didn’t want to buy it there.
Candy Palace at Disneyland: show kitchen, displays of chocolate dipped treats and gourmet apples, and the house-made candy wrapped and ready to go – note the yellow sticker for items made in-house.
But just across the esplanade, a second candy shop beckons — one with essentially the same candy in the cases, but with a modern design that handles the crowds a bit more efficiently. Trolley Treats, at Disney California Adventure, offers the same over-the-top candy apple creations, Disneyland specialties like flavored fudge and peanut brittle, and a full line of things-dipped-in-chocolate as Candy Palace. The dark wood and sepia tones of the Mission-style buildings at this curve of Buena Vista Street are offset with light-hearted stained glass that gives Trolley Treats that fun Victorian candy-shop feel, just in a smaller dose than at the Candy Palace.
The toffee and other items being made in the kitchen were exactly the same as the ones at Disneyland, so no loss in flavor there. (I know. I tasted them for you. You’re very welcome.)
Same candy, same offerings, so which candy shop wins?
Candy Palace gets points for whimsy, as well as being the original (although heavily refurbished). The penny arcade games scattered through the store are fun, the updated decor is perfect Main Street USA Victorian, the atmosphere is festive. Which is a good thing, until it’s too festive. On crowded evenings the benches meant to help children peer into the penny movies are occupied by tired people who are in no hurry to move, and the narrow aisles become a crush of shoppers browsing at their own slow pace. Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is attached through an interior door, but offers no seating or relief from the crowds once you’ve purchased your sweets.
Trolley Treats offers nearly the same display cases as Candy Palace – but with more ample space for shopping. Clarabelle’s Hand-scooped Ice Cream is adjacent, as is Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe.
Trolley Treats, meanwhile, exalts in wide modern aisles — room for everyone. Even when it is crowded, since it isn’t half arcade/half candy shop, there aren’t frequent pauses in the shopping shuffle while the person ahead of you pauses to admire a Victorian game. It’s all very beautiful, but it’s all very functional as well.
Trolley Treats also opens onto several seating areas, including the vast dining hall of Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, once you pass through Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream. You can also step outside and find seating along Carthay Circle.
Candy Palace and Trolley Treats feel like perfect examples of a key difference in atmosphere between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure: the first one offers incomparable charm, but sees a few more people than its design can comfortably handle on the busiest of days. The second will always feel like the new kid on the block, but with all those wide-open spaces, it can feel like the perfect relief from a jam-packed visit to Disneyland. It’s still a wonderful piece of Disney design, it’s just a little roomier.
For the claustrophobe in me, Trolley Treats is the clear choice. Room to browse, a place to sit, the same house-made candies and treats as the much busier and tighter Candy Palace in Disneyland.
Oh, and — try the toffee.
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Menu Monday: Best Disneyland Candy – Candy Palace vs. Trolley Treats 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 17 to 23, 2014
Our prediction that summer crowds would dwindle starting last week seems to be well timed. We saw some low crowd levels at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom last week that we haven’t seen since May. Lots of ‘4’s, ‘5’s and ‘6’s elsewhere with only a few minor surprises. Guests using our crowd calendar to plan late August trips will be very happy with the moderate crowds we observed.
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
6
5
We considered Sunday to be the de facto end of the summer break for Disney World guests and the moderate crowds seem to agree. Only Animal Kingdom, which hosted Extra Magic Hour morning hit a level ‘6’ but the average posted time at Expedition Everest was only 25 minutes.
Epcot
4
5
Hollywood Studios
6
5
Animal Kingdom
6
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
7
Magic Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios edged a little higher on Monday but crowds were mysterious at the Studios. We saw Toy Story Mania hit an average of 91 minutes (a ’10’ on our scale) while Tower of Terror only averaged 41 minutes ( a ‘1’ on our scale). Animal Kingdom was a stark contrast with the lowest crowd level by far, as predicted.
Epcot
4
5
Hollywood Studios
5
8
Animal Kingdom
3
3
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
7
On Tuesday, it was Magic Kingdom that stood out with most attractions showing average wait times higher than expected. Splash Mountain averaged 49 minutes (predicted 34), Jungle Cruise 36 (predicted 23) while Big Thunder Mountain Railroad averaged 33 minutes, only one minute lower than the 34 minutes we predicted.
Epcot
7
6
Hollywood Studios
5
5
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
5
Crowds at Magic Kingdom and The Studios settled nicely on Wednesday while Epcot’s wait times went up. Again, average waits at Spaceship Earth are up significantly with an average posted wait of 24 minutes, a ’10’ on our scale while Test Track was way down, averaging a mere 54 minutes, a ‘1’ for that attraction.
Epcot
3
6
Hollywood Studios
5
5
Animal Kingdom
6
8
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
5
No park hit a level above ‘5’ on Thursday, a sure sign that summer crowds are dwindling. Magic Kingdom hosted Extra Magic Hour morning but only Splash Mountain averaged a posted time above 50 minutes. Our predictions for Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion were all within a couple minutes of what we observed.
Epcot
4
5
Hollywood Studios
4
5
Animal Kingdom
3
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
4
Animal Kingdom’s level ‘2’ on Friday was the lowest level we’ve seen at any park all summer. We almost didn’t believe our prediction of a level ‘2’ but the predictions were right, including a 19 minute average at Expedition Everest and a 16 minute average at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Crowds seemed mostly focussed at Epcot and The Studios where we saw ‘6’s, both two levels higher than expected.
Epcot
4
6
Hollywood Studios
4
6
Animal Kingdom
2
2
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
4
3
Saturday’s ‘3’ at Magic Kingdom was the lowest we’ve seen at that park all summer as well. Only Peter Pan’s Flight (40 minutes) and Space Mountain (43 minutes) reached average posted times in the 40s while most other attractions averaged posted waits in the 20s.
Epcot
4
6
Hollywood Studios
5
3
Animal Kingdom
4
4
What to Expect This Week
Aug 24 to 30, 2014
How Crowded is Disney World?
Now that summer crowds have left, fall crowds have begun and we enter the single best time of the year to avoid crowds at Disney World. The heat will remain but we’ll see average wait times at some attractions reach their lowest point of the past 365 days. Labor Day weekend will bring a small bump in attendance but not enough to push crowds above average for the year.
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 17 to 23, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
New Villains’ Sinister Soiree Added to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
©Disney
Guests who are looking to add more treats to their Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party experience can participate in the “Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover of Cinderella Castle” Dessert Party. The event will include many perks, including a preferred viewing area for the 8:15 p.m. “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Parade,” a preferred viewing spot for “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks extravaganza, as well as a special dessert party at Cinderella’s Royal Table, hosted by Lady Tremaine. The restaurant will be transformed into a villainous atmosphere, with a piano player and haunting solos from Cinderella’s evil step-mother. The dessert party will include over-the-top desserts and non-alcoholic beverages, plus an autograph card and a souvenir Maleficent Dragon cup.
To check in for the event, guests must visit the Will Call booth outside the main entrance of the Magic Kingdom between 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Guests may begin checking in at the parade and fireworks viewing area, located in the central plaza by the Castle Forecourt Stage starting at 7:30 p.m. where they’ll receive wristband identification, which must be presented to enter the preferred viewing areas and Cinderella’s Royal Table. The dessert soiree will take place at either 10:15 p.m. or 11:45 p.m., depending on the day. It will take place at both 10:15 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. on September 1, 9 and 12 and at 10:15 p.m. only on September 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28 and October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31.
The cost is $99 per person (ages 3 and up), plus tax (gratuity is included). Admission to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is required and not included in the price of the event. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 939-5262.
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Universal Orlando Early Park Admission Changes Starting September 2
Big changes are coming in September to Universal Orlando’s Early Park Admission perk (Photo by Seth Kubersky)
As the summer season comes to a close, we’ve gotten word of some upcoming changes to Universal Orlando Early Park Admission policies that are scheduled to go into effect early next month.
While no details have been officially announced, we’ve confirmed this information with guest service leads at both parks, and we believe the following modifications will be made to Universal Orlando’s early park admission perk (otherwise known as “early entry” or “early admission”) offered to guests at the resort’s four on-site hotels.
We will be on hand to report on the new procedures, and we will update the information on our Early Park Admission page as policy changes develop.
Early Park Admission General Information
Universal Orlando offers admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas at Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade) and/or Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) one hour before regular park opening. This perk is given for free to all guests staying at a Universal Resort Hotel. Guests with certain types of “vacation packages” (most commonly sold by Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations and involving both accommodations at a Universal partner hotel and theme park admission) are also allowed in early.
The turnstiles to the park(s) participating in early entry should open approximately 90 minutes before the official opening time. Both hotel and day guests will be admitted to the park, and each eligible guest will need to show his or her own room key to pass beyond the park’s entry plaza during the early admission hour. Guests not eligible for early admission will be held in an alternative area to await the official opening time.
During early park admission, all of the attractions, shops, and restaurants in the Wizarding World should be open, along with a couple of select attractions outside the Harry Potter areas. Early entry is by far the best time to ride Escape from Gringotts without waiting over an hour in the standby queue. However, if the attraction is not operational when early entry begins, skip Gringotts and try again late in the day; by the time it begins running in the morning, there will be a huge backlog of riders.
Peak Season Early Park Admission
During busier times of the year, Universal offers early park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas at both Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade) and Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) on every morning. Universal only guarantees early admission to one park per day, but both were open daily through Summer 2014.
The following attractions should be available when both parks are open for early entry:
Universal Studios Florida
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Ollivanders Wand Shop (Diagon Alley)
Hogwarts Express (King’s Cross Station)
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Islands of Adventure
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Flight of the Hippogriff
Dragon Challenge
Ollivanders Wand Shop (Hogsmeade)
Hogwarts Express (Hogsmeade Station)
The Cat in the Hat
The Hogwarts Express is available during early entry for transport between the parks, and it requires a park-to-park ticket. When both parks open at the same time, the Hogwarts Express will begin running when early entry starts. When one park opens later than the other, the train will not begin operating until the front gate of the second park has opened, approximately 30 minutes before its early entry hour begins. Therefore, if USF opens second, the first wave of guests entering that park from the front gate will always arrive at Diagon Alley and Gringotts ahead of those traveling from IoA on the first train.
Off-Peak Early Park Admission
Effective Tuesday, September 2, 2014, only Universal Studios Florida’s front gates (and not those at Islands of Adventure) will admit eligible guests for early park admission during the off season. Despicable Me and the Diagon Alley attractions will be open at USF during early entry.
In addition, guests with park-to-park tickets may also take the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station to Islands of Adventure to enjoy attractions in The Wizarding World of Harry Pottery – Hogsmeade during the early admission hour. There will be no way to enter IoA during early entry with a single-park ticket.
There is no announced date as to when the “off season” for early park admission will end, but it seems safe to assume that two-park early entry will return for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.
Annual Passholders
During certain times of year, Universal Orlando has historically allowed its Annual Passholders to enjoy some form of Early Park Admission. In September of 2014, Annual Passholders can enter Universal Studios Florida early on weekdays only. Check Universal’s Annual Passholder website for current promotions.
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Menu Monday: Snacks Around the World Showcase – France
By Katie McNair
It’s time to continue to make our way around the World Showcase, sampling packaged snacks that we generally wouldn’t try in our daily lives. If you have been following along, we have already hit Japan, Canada, and United Kingdom, trying snacks from a lollipop to chips. There’s more to discover, so let’s head to France to find a French snack to sample!
It’s a great day to look for snacks!
Before we go, since we’re on a snacking challenge, let’s make sure we remember the rules:
Snack Rules
No snacks over $10; preferably less than $5
As unusual as possible
Something I personally would eat
Chip can be found in France during the Flower & Garden Festival
France has some very pretty views, including a pretty section decorative bushes and a gazebo. While the streets of France can be very hectic, this area tends to be much more peaceful and calm, giving you a spot to escape the crowd for a moment if you need to, and offers plenty of shade.
During the Easter Egg hunt at Epcot, Minnie Mouse was “hidden” in the maze of bushes.
France is well known for having multiple delicious dining options, including L’Artisan des Glaces, an ice cream parlor, Chefs de France, a restaurant with nouvelle French cuisine , Les Halles Boulangerie & Pâtisserie, an amazing French bakery, and the signature dining restaurant, Monsieur Paul. In addition to the restaurants and the shops we will be checking for snacks, the pavilion is also home to an attraction called Impressions de France. Impressions de France is a movie that covers 5 screens, giving you an immersive look at the French countryside and culture, all set to a fantastic French musical score. The attraction hasn’t changed since the park’s opening, but in some ways, that’s a good thing, as the film really is good.
This unassuming place hides amazing baked goods.
While we are primarily concerned with pre-packaged snacks that we can take with us, it’s always worth a quick detour into Les Halles to see what sounds good on a particular day, though generally it’s more tricky to decide since everything sounds good. Something worth remembering is that, while the rest of the World Showcase opens at 11 a.m., Les Halles opens with the park, so you can run over here for a peaceful and amazing breakfast pastry or coffee to start your day of touring right.
This is called a frangipane, and is an almond-filled puff pastry. It can alternately be called a little bit of heaven.
After enjoying a break for a frangipane, I turned back to the shop in France to see what could be found to sample in the way of French snacks. There are multiple shops in France, and they carry a wide range of French products including perfumes, wines, French soaps, and various cooking implements.
Pretty little shop in France.
Heading inside, I quickly find the small section that has edible goods. There isn’t a large variety available, and what is there is pricy.
Jams and individual chocolates.
After reviewing my choices, I am faced with my first true quandary on the Snack Challenge: what I wanted to get is above my self-imposed budget for one packaged snack. I needed to decide if I would rather get just something that didn’t really appeal to me just to get something, or spend a bit more and get something I expected to enjoy.
Cookies, candies, and jams, ranging in price from $6.95-$14.95
I decide to go ahead and splurge and get the honey candy. While it is undeniably above $10, it wasn’t much over at $12.95, and I reason I saved quite a bit in Canada by purchasing a lollipop that only cost $2.95.
Lavender Honey Drops, costing $12.95
At least that’s what I am telling myself! Since many of the snacks in France are pricy (for example, a piece of nougat with nuts that cost $6.95) I might as well get something that I could enjoy for a longer period of time. Hard candy keeps well, and it would make a very nice gift to bring home to a pet sitter or the person who checked the mail for you.
This is a good sized piece of candy.
Once home, I opened the candy and pulled one out. It smelled quite odd, but once I tasted it, it was good, and did taste like honey. There was no odd taste to match the smell, which I appreciated. It dissolved like hard candy usually does, but in the middle was a thick liquid of pure honey. Once again, I found something I could enjoy and I would wish to get again once this is gone.
So, what do you think about the snack situation in France? Have you tried either the frangipane or the Boules de Miel before? Let me know what you think in the comments, and check back soon to see what snacks are to be tried next!
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August 24, 2014
Potty Mouth: Best Restrooms in Disney California Adventure
By Ray
Photo- Ray Castillo Jr.
Now that we, here at TouringPlans, have already highlighted the best restrooms throughout Walt Disney World and Disneyland, it is now time to show some love to Disney California Adventure. While I was visiting my family and friends in Southern California this summer, I had the opportunity to go to the Disneyland Resort to have some fun and do a bit of “research” to find out which Disney California Adventure restrooms are the best. To make my list, I looked for two things: cleanliness of that particular restroom and how much traffic it gets. The cleaner and less crowded, the better. Now, without further ado, I present to you the best restrooms in Disney California Adventure.
Buena Vista Street
There is a set of restrooms that you can use right before entering Disney California Adventure. They are located close to the bus stop drop off/pick-up area in the front of the Disneyland Resort. These are great to use before going into any of the parks or leaving for the day to head back to your hotel.
There is also a restroom that is hidden right when you enter Disney California Adventure. Head to the left, next to the guest relations area. That is where you will this quiet set of restrooms.
Paradise Pier
There are only two restrooms I suggest using while in Paradise Pier. The first set of restrooms are hidden between Goofy’s Sky School and Paradise Garden Grill. These restrooms do see some traffic during lunch and dinner time but they do not get crowded.
Enter Ariel’s Grotto and head down the staircase is where you will find the restrooms.
The next set of restrooms is located inside Ariel’s Grotto. These are great to use because you can also get a little air conditioned break at the same time. Ariel’s Grotto does close at 10 pm, so you will not be able to use them anytime after.
Pacific Wharf
There is a huge set of restrooms in Pacific Wharf, located right next to The Lucky Fortune Cookery. These restrooms do see some traffic, but they contain such a large number of stalls that you will not even notice.
Hollywood Land
This set of restrooms is located near the Monster Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue! attraction and does not get used that often. They do see a bit of congestion when Disney’s Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular stage show gets out, but any time after that they are great to use. However, the best time to use these restrooms is during the evening. It is a complete dead zone, even while the Mad T Party is going on.
Here is how to get to the Grand Californian restrooms from Disney California Adventure.
Grizzly Peak (Sort Of)
Now these are my favorite restrooms to use in either Disney California Adventure or Disneyland. They are located in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, but any California Adventure guest has access to them. The restrooms here are very clean, have nice toilet paper, and the hand soap will not leave your hands feeling like sandpaper. To reach these restrooms you will need to head over to the Grizzly Peak area of the park. Right before getting to the entrance to Grizzly River Run, there is an entrance/exit to Disney’s Grand Californian. Head through the pathway, exit California Adventure (get your hand stamped), and make the first left. Once you make a left turn, you will see a sign for the restrooms. These restrooms are right next to White Water Snacks, which is one of my favorite places to eat throughout the Disneyland Resort. Once you are finished, head back the way you came and reenter California Adventure. Do not worry: it sounds a lot harder than it actually is, and it is well worth the trip.
Below is a map of all the restrooms at Disney California Adventure; the ones that I have highlighted in this post are circled in red.
What are some of your favorite restrooms to use in Disney California Adventure? Which ones should people avoid?
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Magic Kingdom AtMousePhere: The Music of Adventureland
By Claire Nat
Do you hear the sound of drums?
When people say that they are going on an adventure and want you to help them put a playlist together, what songs would you add? Would it be full of somber, slow, quiet, soothing music? Some smooth jazz, perhaps? Absolutely not! The soundtrack would be full of high-energy, quick-paced, fun music.
That fun music can take a variety of forms. Maybe your adventure soundtrack would be upbeat piano music. Maybe it would be full of international flair. Or maybe it would just be full of drums and other percussion.
Adventureland in Magic Kingdom Park has a lot of different styles in its boundaries – from jungles to desert to the Caribbean coast. But any way you slice it, Adventureland means fun. And fun is what you hear in the background music surrounding the area. Let’s go break down the fun together!
Fun with Percussion
The main music heard in Adventureland is created by a variety of percussion instruments. Much of the loop is music by one group: the Balafon Marimba Ensemble. In doing research for this article, I found that many of the songs in the Adventureland loop are done by this group – and most of my favorite songs! Marimba is a fabulous instrument, and they do a fantastic job getting as much out of it as possible.
Some of the songs included in the loop are “I Already Have a Husband,” “Nhamo,” “Caderas,” “Taireva (I Already Told You),” “Temerina,” and “Nhimutimu.” All of these songs can be bought on one CD, released in 2005.
Another music group, Guem & Zaka, performs more of the entrance music into Adventureland. Their specialty includes all kinds of unpitched drums. Instead of having a melodic flow, these pieces usually build up, adding new instruments and more complicated rhythms as it goes along. Mixing the unpitched drums of Guem & Zaka with the pitched marimba sounds of Balafon Marimba Ensemble provides a great ebb and flow as you enter the park.
Songs from Guem & Zaka include “La Girafe, Mambo,” “L’Abeille,” “Afrique Tango,” and “Le Serpent.” It isn’t sold in many places, since it was recorded and released in France in the late 1970′s, but you can still get it through third-party sellers.
Thanks to MagicMusic.Net for its information.
Fun with Soundtracks
Outside of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction, music taken from the movies is heard. Both are intended to get you in the mood of that attraction that you’re going to experience. For The Magic Carpet of Aladdin, the main themes found in Aladdin are modified from a full orchestra (that would have been used for the movie) to instruments that would be used in a Middle Eastern setting.
The music around the Agrabah Bazaar does have some additional tracks, as well, taken from the Farah Dance Orchestra and their album The World’s a Stage – Music of the Far East. I couldn’t find the specific album that was mentioned by ParkTunes.com, but the Farah Dance Orchestra does have additional albums on Amazon.
However, when you go past the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the music heard there can be found directly from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I have always been a huge fan of the scores by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer, so hearing these incredibly swashbuckling themes immediately gets me into a pirate kind of mood. They didn’t have to change anything about it.
Fun with Tiki Statues
If you have kids, you have undoubtedly stopped at the tiki statues placed outside of The Jungle Cruise attraction for a bit of splashing around. Why? The tiki statues are timed to spit out streams of water from their mouths onto unsuspecting children (and adults!), and they have a cute percussion song that is played around their area. It lasts just one minute, but it is incredibly catchy. Sometimes it seems like the water is timed to the music, and other times it just seems like it is being random. Either way, it’s a ball to watch and listen!
Anywhere you walk in Adventureland will take you to a different world, and the music will help take you there, too. I am more of a fan of the land-wide soundtracks, but it’s harder to find in Adventureland nowadays thanks to the eclectic nature of the land. However, the music that they do have still manages to inspire fun in every adventurer that travels through!
Take a listen to some Adventureland music as we enter the land!
Which section of Adventureland music do you prefer? Have you ever been sprayed by the camel or the tiki statues by accident because you’re lost in the music? Do you love percussion music as much as I do? Comment below! Next time the AtMousePhere will be exploring Frontierland!
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August 23, 2014
Crowd Calendar 4 Launched for Universal Orlando and Disneyland Resort
New Crowd Calendar methodology arrives at Universal Orlando Resort
The methodology used for the TouringPlans.com Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar since November 2013 takes over the Universal Orlando and Disneyland Resort crowd calendars starting today. Crowd Calendar 4 has worked well for Disney World so we are confident it will perform equally well for Universal and Disneyland. See below for a synopsis of how the calendar has performed since November 2013. When we predict the crowd level (between ’1′ and ’10′) we see that about 95% of the time the actual crowd will be within two index points, and about three-quarters (3/4) of the time within one.
Disney World Crowd Calendar Error Results since November 2013
We at TouringPlans.com are not usually ones to tout our own greatness but when it comes to the crowd calendar we are proud of how it has performed over the years. We are flattered by the onslaught of other competing calendars that have popped up since we first launched ours in 2004. Of course, as “numbers” people we track them and compare to our own. We are proud to say that the accuracy of our calendar outperforms them all. If you look at all the predictions out there for what the wait times will be ours is the closest to what actually happened 75% of the time. If this were a toothpaste commercial 3 out of 4 dentists would prefer TouringPlans.com. Here’s a table of how our estimates of average posted times performed in the last 30 days.
Average error (in minutes) over the last 30 days
Predicting Average Posted Times At Disney World Attractions
TouringPlans.com
Nearest Competitor
ANALYSIS
Walt Disney World (Overall)
9
13
Magic Kingdom
9
11
Accuracy is essential and we get closer than anyone else. Four minutes might not seem like much but remember, that is the average error per attraction. Most TouringPlans.com subscribers visit 15 to 20 attractions per day so over a typical day the cumulative difference will be an hour or more.
Epcot
8
13
Hollywood Studios
11
16
Animal Kingdom
9
12
Crowd Calendar 4 – A Synopsis
Here’s a quick refresher for what makes the new crowd calendar new. To read a complete description, check out this post.
Crowd Calendar 4 uses the average posted time at key attractions between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. It still uses a ’1′ to ’10′ scale but no decimal points. You are likely to see more ’4′s, ’5′s and ’6′s and fewer ’1′s and ’10′s. The fact is, most days at Universal Orlando Resort and Disneyland Resort, like Walt Disney World fall into those middle categories. Days that fall into the extreme categories are becoming less frequent, especially at the low end of the scale.
The new calendar means improvements to our attraction level estimates in Lines too. Here are the key attractions that we use for the calendars. These are the attractions that relate the best to crowds in the park.
Crowd Calendar 4 – Key Attractions
Disneyland
Disney California Adventure
Universal Studios
Islands of Adventure
Alice in Wonderland
Astro Orbitor
Autopia
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Dumbo The Flying Elephant
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Gadget’s Go Coaster
Haunted Mansion
Indiana Jones Adventure
it’s a small world
Jungle Cruise
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Mickey’s House
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!
Tower of Terror
Soarin’ Over California
Radiator Springs Racers
Mater’s Jamboree
Luigi’s Tires
Grizzly River Run
California Screamin’
Mickey’s Fun Wheel – Swinging
Toy Story Midway Mania
Goofy’s Sky School
Disaster!
E.T. Adventure
Men in Black Alien Attack
Revenge of the Mummy
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Shrek 4-D
The Simpsons Ride
Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
Dispicable Me
Transformers: The Ride-3D
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Dr. Doom’s Fearfall
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
Dragon Challenge
High in the Sky Seuss Trolley
Incredible Hulk Coaster
Jurassic Park River Adventure
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Storm Force Acceleration
The Cat in the Hat
Flight of the Hippogriff
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
We have two favourite parts of Crowd Calendar 4. First, it means that the calendar is more stable over time so changes to the numbers are much less frequent. Second, it is much easier to measure what happened and to compare to what we predicted. Watch for the weekly Disneyland and Universal Crowd Reports where we summarize what happened and how our predictions performed.
New Crowd Calendar methodology arrives at Disneyland Resort
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