Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1201

SATURDAY SIX: Top Six Reasons to Visit Downtown Disney in its Current State

By Derek Burgan

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at the Top Six Reasons to Visit Downtown Disney in its Current State. There is a lot of construction going on right now at Downtown Disney as the area is being converted over to Disney Springs. “A lot” may actually be an understatement as there is work being done in every single area of Downtown Disney: the parking lots, West Side, Pleasure Island, and the Marketplace. Parking can be – at best – inconvenient and – at worst – something that can trigger even the most peaceful person to go “Michael Douglas in Falling Down.” Construction walls are everywhere. However, there are still some very good reasons to overcome these obstacles and spend a day or evening there, and today we are going to count down the top six.

# 6 – Raglan Road

Raglan Road (photo by Brandon Glover)

Bangers & Booze – Guinness & onion bangers on mash, topped with caramelized onions & beef stew ($20) – Photo by Brandon Glover

Raglan Road (photo by Brandon Glover)

 

Raglan Road  is an Irish pub and restaurant located in Pleasure Island that ranks among the best dining experiences in all of WDW when it comes to atmosphere. Like almost all the sit down venues in Downtown Disney (DTD), Raglan Road is deceptively large with  several areas to eat or drink both inside and outside. Evenings include live Irish music and even Celtic dancers making their way around the main dining room. Food wise the must-trys are the Dalkey Duo appetizer (beer battered sausages served in extremely unique way) and the Bangers & Booze, hands down the best “bangers and mash” plate in Orlando. Be sure to check out Cookes of Dublin located directly next door to Raglan Road for more Irish pub food choices along with the insane Doh-Bar (a Snickers bar deep fried in donut batter.)

 

# 5 – AMC Dine-In Theater

AMC Dine-in Theatres (photo by Brandon Glover)

MacGuffins bar at AMC Dine-In Theatres. If I’m going to see Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I may need two of these.

 

Movie theaters have been hit hard by people being able to recreate a decent experience at home with big screen high resolution TVs and surround sound systems, but there is still something to be said about seeing a movie with a crowd. The jokes in comedies seem to be funnier and nothing at home can replicate seeing an action or adventure film on a 30 foot (or taller) screen. I’ve been to several movie theaters across Florida who offer in-theater dining and the AMC Dine-In Fork & Screen at Downtown Disney is the best. First, guests get to pick out their seats ahead of time, which is something I wish I could do in every movie theater. Second, each theater is set up with “tables” seating four guests, with each seat having a button that allows them to discreetly call the server at any time. Third, the menu is actually good. Along with the traditional movie snacks like Popcorn and M&Ms there is a full bar along with appetizers and entrees that rise WAY above the food you would find in any regular movie theater. My personal favorite selections are the parmesan fries and the Margherita pizzetta. Want a refill on your popcorn or soda? No reason to leave your seat and miss part of the movie, just call your server.

The AMC theaters at DTD has 24 screens, but only 6 of them are dedicated to Fork & Screen. If you are taking children, I would recommend just doing the regular side of the theater (entrance by Splitsville), but if you are having a date night or going with friends, a movie theater with a full bar that brings alcohol to you is the way to go.  Trust me, watching a movie like Into The Storm is much more enjoyable after a couple mixed drinks…

 

# 4 – T-Rex Cafe

T-REX Cafe (photo by Brandon Glover)

T-REX Cafe (photo by Mike Sperduto)

 

T-REX Cafe has several faults. The food is not particularly great (in fact this is the only sit down restaurant at DTD where the menu of the AMC Fork & Screen would compare favorably to) and some of the outrageous prices are going to make your vacation savings go extinct. That said, T-REX is an experience like no other and on a scale of 1 to 10 is an “11″ if you are bringing kids. There are several gorgeous aquariums in the bar area,  a couple dining areas with giant animatronic dinosaurs, and one “ice cavern” room, which changes colors throughout your meal.  Like the Rainforest Cafe and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in CityWalk, there is a show element in the restaurant where several times per hour a “meteor shower” occurs and the Dinosaurs react all around you. Along with an archeological dig area and a Build-a-Dino plush factory, the entire restaurant is sensory overload for the younger set.  Best bets for food include the Paleozoic chicken sandwich and the Chocolate Extinction dessert. Above all, T-REX is an experience, and one you can’t get back at home.

 

# 3 – World of Disney

World of Disney (photo by Brandon Glover)

World of Disney (photo by Brandon Glover)

Anna and Elsa shoe ornaments at World of Disney

 

As someone who does monthly photo reports of the Disney Outlet Stores, I see a lot of Disney merchandise and nowhere on property can you see more of it in one place than the World of Disney. Located in the Marketplace, World of Disney has 12 separate rooms filled with pretty much every type of Disney related merchandise you can imagine. Pins, DVDs, luggage, shirts, dolls, Mickey ears, kitchen utensils…. you name it and this store has it. The World of Disney has the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique  along with a very cool “magic mirror” in which little girls can see themselves dressed up as various Disney princesses. Automobile accessories (including Dole Whip and Turkey Leg air fresheners,) Vinylmation, and pretty much every Disney plush you can imagine. Browsing World of Disney is a blast.

Here’s a tip if you are bringing a princess to DTD. At 2PM every day there is a “Pretty Princes Parade” that starts at the World of Disney and works its way through the Marketplace ending at the Carousel. Many children from the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will be a part of this, but Disney encourages all small children to join in. This is free and at the end of the parade each child gets a free ride on the Carousel.

 

#2  - Splitsville

Splitsville (photo by Brandon Glover)

Live music at Splitsville

 

I was a huge fan of the old Virgin Megastore in DTD. A giant building selling nothing but music CDs, DVDs, magazines and books.  I was crushed when it closed, but looking back I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.  Even I had a hard time justifying some of the prices they charged and mostly used my time there as a way to discover new things and then go buy it elsewhere for a more reasonable price. The temporary replacements for the store included Ridemakerz (an entire store dedicated to radio controlled cars) and a Princess Diana exhibit you had to pay to walk through (I swear I’m not making that one up.) It seemed unimaginable that someone could come in and take over the giant footprint of the Virgin Megastore and make something as cool, but lo and behold at the end of 2012 Splitsville came to DTD.

A fresh take on the bowling experience, Splitsville has 30 lanes but separates them into small groups on both the first and second floors.  The venue has five full bars, a sushi bar, and a ton of indoor and outdoor seating with a menu that has something for pretty much everyone. Vegans and vegetarians are probably better off eating the actual menu at T-REX, but there there are several options for them and others with dietary restrictions like Gluten-free. The pizza is the second best on Disney property behind Via Napoli and the sushi is among the best around as well. Who would think a bowling alley would have good sushi? Live music, tons of TVs, Coke Freestyle machines…as Stan Lee would say, Not a hoax! Not an imaginary story! This one truly has it all!

If you want to see more of Splitsville, check out: Disney Dining: Splitsville at Downtown Disney.

 

# 1 – Marketplace C0-0p

Marketplace Co-Op

Some people have fine china, but these are the plates I bring out for people I like

Jungle Cruise inspired items at Marketplace Co-Op (photo by Brandon Glover)

Adventureland merchandise at Marketplace Co-Op (photo by Brandon Glover)

 

Oh Marketplace Co-Op, where have you been all my life?! The newest addition to Downtown Disney is also the best as the Co-0p has some of the coolest Disney merchandise you will find anywhere.  The Co-op is a large building that has several smaller stores inside. These include: Beautifully Disney (beauty accessories), Cherry Tree Lane (women’s scarves, bags, jewelry), D-Tech on Demand (personalized phone cases), The Trophy Room (sports apparel and collectibles), Zoey and Pickles (various items for young women and tweens) and Disney Centerpiece (featuring Disney parks inspired merchandise, a/k/a THE GREATEST DISNEY STORE OF ALL TIME.) You can shop around the entire area and purchase all your items at one store when you are finished. Each store has their own registers and Cast Members, but the whole area feels wide open and welcoming.

The home decor items in Disney Centerpiece brought back a lot of wonderful Disney memories. There were products featuring Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, the Jungle Cruise, and the Haunted Mansion.  There were incredible reproductions of signage including one for the Enchanted Tiki Room that I wanted to buy immediately and place in my man cave and another one for Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano which made me appreciate that Disney wasn’t forgetting the clearly insane demographic.

On my most recent visit there was a selection of items from Anaheim’s Downtown Disney WonderGround Gallery. There were art prints and related merchandise with stunning pieces from several artists, including one of my all time favorites, J Scott Campbell. I absolutely love walking through the Marketplace Co-Op and the area is billed as a “testing ground”  for new Disney stores and products, so here’s to seeing more of this around “the World.”

Some of the items of the Marketplace Co-Op are available online, which you can check out by clicking HERE.

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba

Cirque du Soleil tent at Downtown Disney (photo by Brandon Glover)

 

Like the Blue Man Group in Universal’s CityWalk,  La Nouba is show that is impossible to compare to anything else and you should go into both  spectacles knowing as little as possible. Despite the high ticket price, the various performers of La Nouba are going to have you picking your jaw up off the floor watching them perform their artistry. Acrobats, gymnasts, bicyclists, and even jump ropers perform elaborate acts that are just stunning to watch unfold before your eyes.  I have seen La Nouba on several occasions over the years and each time the same act on the show ends up taking my breath away. It is different performers each time, but there are four young girls who come out, each holding two sticks with a long line of string connecting them.They each manipulate the sticks and string to toss up diabolos. The girls run, jump, and flip around the stage all while tossing up diabolos and making sure they never hit the ground. It’s amazing to watch. If you’ve never gone to La Nouba, see it. While it has had very few changes in over 15  years, eventually the show is going to have to be overhauled and you’ll miss out.

There is one other thing that I can highly recommend at Downtown Disney but was ruled ineligible for this list, the extremely popular Earl of Sandwich. A great place that you should definitely go out of your way to try if on Disney property, Earl didn’t make the cut because there are several locations in Florida, including one in a turnpike rest area close by to Orlando. Splitsville has two other locations in Florida (Miami and Tampa) but they are nothing like the DTD version.

So there you have it: the Top Six Reasons to Visit Downtown Disney in its Current State. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the SATURDAY SIX, where we are going to head back over to Universal. 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 Mike Sperduto and crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their invaluable assistance in this article.

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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of August 8, 2014

By Rikki Niblett

In Case You Missed It!

It’s already back to school time! I myself have enjoyed a little back to school shopping and stocked up on lots of fun new Disney notebooks and pens. There’s something about new school supplies, even for those of us who aren’t taking classes.

This week I bring you informative articles about Duffy the Disney Bear, and how Orlando tourism has been doing extremely well lately, plus more!

In Case You Missed It – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors

 

Coffee lovers! Joffrey’s has released nine new coffee blends all inspired by different Disney restaurants. They include coffees from California Grill, Tusker House, Steakhouse 55, and more! I’m super excited to try these new blends!

Good news for Orlando tourism. According to the Orlando Sentinel, hotel occupancy is the highest it has been since 2005 in the Orlando area overall.

For those who utilize the Orlando International Airport, a couple of the original people-movers, which transport guests around the airport, are being retired and new versions will be replacing them. These are always a favorite of mine when I fly into MCO; they always symbolize the beginning of my vacation, so I’m glad to see they are getting some love.

Disney released their corporate earnings this week and one very interesting piece of news came out from it. While we’ve known for some time that Disney is working on a new Star Wars expansion, we have so far been in the dark as to when this something will be announced.  During the earnings call, Bob Iger mentioned that they will be sharing the details of the expansion at some point next year. To find out more about the released Disney earnings, Time shared the details.

Have you ever wondered how Duffy the Disney Bear came to existence and how, while it was originally conceived as a flop, ended up becoming super popular? This article explains the intriguing back story.

Are you someone who visits the Festival Center during Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival or the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and wishes it was the Wonders of Life again? One of the attractions in the pavilion was Cranium Command. If you miss it or never got to see it, make sure to read this post.

For those sailing in the Fall of 2015 on the Disney Dream, it appears that the ship’s dry dock dates have been extended. I’m certainly curious to see what changes will be made to the ship.

We are almost one year out from the 2015 D23 Expo and tickets will go on sale next week. Disney In Depth reflects back to the 2013 Expo and what he hopes will take place during the 2015 convention.

For those who have been watching “Girl Meets World,” it has been renewed for a second season. Are you enjoying the show? I have been!

Have you seen Guardians of the Galaxy yet? If so, did you catch these 10 Easter eggs?

A while back, a video of the Australian cast of The Lion King singing on a plane went viral. Well recently making the rounds is a video of the Broadway cast of The Lion King singing “Circle of Life” on the subway.  How cool!

 

In Case We Missed It

 

What did we miss? Attach your idea to a Darth Vader Backpack (gotta get awesome back to school stuff!) and send them to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.

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Hidden Details of Hollywood Studios

By Savannah Sanders

There are many reasons why the Disney Parks stand apart from other theme parks around the world, but one of the biggest has to be Disney’s incredible attention to detail. You can see the extra mile in the form of details just about everywhere on Disney property, from attractions to parade costumes to resorts to transportation to even the bathrooms! Personally, I love the details. They are not only appealing to the eye and fun to find, but almost always meaningful to the history of an attraction or to the story the Imagineers are trying to tell. For today’s post, let’s take a look at the hidden details of Hollywood Studios!

Casablanca Crate at Hollywood Studios

Near Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner at Hollywood Studios, look for a stack of wooden crates near the water. If you take a closer look, you may recognize who the crates are being shipped to and where they have been shipped from! This crate is being sent to Rick Blaine at Rick’s Cafe Americain in Casablanca, Morocco! Sound familiar? We also found crates being sent to a Scarlett O’Hara at Tara and even one belonging to a Charles Foster Kane! Few guests know about these particular hidden details and it’s really easy to walk right past them, so keep your eyes open.

Details around Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Outside of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular area are remnants of an archaeological excavation with a dig site, a jeep, crates belonging to the college where Indy was a professor, and a worktable that looks like someone has been been using. It also appears that someone left a familiar fedora behind too. Wonder who that could be?

Carthay Circle Theater at Hollywood Studios

On Hollywood Studios’ Sunset Boulevard, there is a store facing the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror that’s more significant than many might realize. This store is actually a replica of the famous Carthay Circle Theater in Hollywood that hosted the premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs back in 1937, which was the beginning of Disney’s success. It’s a hidden detail in plain sight!

At the rear of the park are the Streets of America, exterior sets designed to look like downtown streets from New York or San Francisco. They are great places to snap a few photos, but I always suggest directing your camera to the windows, alleys, and fire escapes as they are brimming with details which make this area more realistic and fun! If you visit the Streets of America around Christmastime, you may discover that the different fire escapes and residences have put their own individual spin on holiday decorating, which is definitely worth seeing!

I love exploring the Muppets area of the park, especially the neighboring shops where it appears that the Muppets have run rampant and use to store their stuff! One of my favorite details? A bull horn hanging from the ceiling that has been painted red and actually sports the horns of a bull! Get it? Bull horn. Yeah, it’s cheesy.

Animation Courtyard Archway

Have you ever noticed the arch leading into Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios? It’s covered in intricate carvings of Hollywood life, such as directors and actors, spotlights and camera men, and even animators! In fact, if you take the time to get a close-up look at the arches, you may find a few familiar faces, like Donald and Goofy!

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Details

Anyone who has ever been in the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror knows that queue is incredible! There is so much to see in the dusty, creepy hotel lobby, that you have to visit time and time again to see it all; but there’s one hidden detail you may not find unless you are sent to the library to the left, as opposed to the library to the right. If you do get sent to the left, look behind you to see an example of the Hollywood Hotel’s former extravagance, these vintage, albeit dusty, perfumes and accessories on display.

Tin Toy Little Golden Book

Speaking of awesome queues, Toy Story Midway Mania‘s is one of the best on Disney property. While kids will love being surrounded by giant board games and crayons, adults are sure to feel a bit of nostalgia seeing some classic toys of their youth. One of my favorite details has to be the giant Little Golden Books; but there’s one that you probably didn’t own as a kid. This book has the Tin Toy on the cover, a character in one of Pixar’s original shorts!

Villains in Vogue

Villains in Vogue is a popular stop at Hollywood Studios. In addition to selling some Disney Villains themed merch, it’s also a yummy bakery! One of my personal favorite hidden details is actually the handle of the Villains in Vogue door. They look like the shell Ursula used to capture Ariel’s voice in The Little Mermaid!

So these are a just a few of the many hidden details to be discovered at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Which of these have you found? Do you have a favorite?

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Surviving the Magic – Keeping Kids Entertained while Waiting in Line at Disney World

By Kristi Fredericks

Copyright DisneyWorldEnthusiast.com

“Picture if you will”…you arrive in Disney World ready to make some special memories with your kids. You have visions of smiles and laughter in your head. Then the doubts slowly creep in. Will these smiles turn to tears and tantrums once your angels see the lines? One thing that everyone can expect to do while in Disney World is to wait in lines. There are queues for everything including restaurants, shows, shopping, transportation, attractions and even restrooms. Depending on the time of year that you visit and whether or not you have a touring plan, your waits could be long and grueling or short and painless. Let’s hope for the second option, but just in case you find yourself stuck in a long queue, here are some helpful tips to keep your kids entertained and yourself sane while waiting in line at Disney World.

Before You Start

I confess that before I had my own kids, I had absolutely no understanding of children. So the first time I traveled to Disney World with my kids, I was clueless that waiting in line would be a big issue. Before you leave home, you might want to prep your kids for the waiting experience. The next time you are in a long queue to buy the latest video game or to play laser tag, point out that this is what it is like waiting in line at Disney World. Yes, you do have to wait your turn, but it is so worth it!


Before you get in a long line, make sure your children are ready. Waiting in line with a child that desperately needs a restroom is not fun. This might seem like a no-brainer to you experienced parents, but as a new mom and especially during the transition from diapers to potty-trained, it wasn’t something that automatically occurred to me.


If at all possible, try to keep your wait times to a minimum. Get to the park before rope drop, follow a touring plan and use FastPass+. Just these three simple things will shave hours off your wait times each day!

Having fun in The Haunted Mansion interactive queue! Copyright DisneyWorldEnthusiast.com

Helpful Tips

Disney is helping us out by now creating some interactive queues. These lines are equipped with games and diversions to keep you and your kids distracted while you wait. You will find these at several attractions throughout the parks such as The Haunted Mansion, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Test Track just to name a few.


Why not have your kids eat breakfast or their snack while waiting in line? Use our Lines app to find a nearby treat, pick one up and head for the queue. This is one of our favorite ways to pass the time, because it also an efficient time saver.


My family loves to play games so this is a great option for us. We like being in the “Disney bubble” so we do things like who can name the most Disney movies, characters or attractions. As my kids have gotten older, we now do Disney trivia that my dad always researches before each trip.


Another fun option to pass the time is searching for hidden Mickeys. You can just search on your own to see who can be the first to spot one or you can consult a hidden Mickey book and play it more like a scavenger hunt.


If all else fails, you can always turn to electronics. Disney has some great free apps that you can download like Frozen Free Fall or Nemo’s Reef that can keep your children occupied while you wait.

Hopefully, with these few simple tips, you and your family can pass the time and have some fun while waiting in line at Disney World!

Do you have any additional ways to keep kids entertained while they wait? Please leave a comment!

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Disneyland Hotel: The Happiest Hotel on Earth Tour

By Natalie Reinert

Disney World resort tours are common at Disney Deluxe Resorts, highlighting their immersive themes and design elements. Some feature unique collections of artwork, some thoughtful tributes to architectural movements in history. But none of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels offer such a Disney-specific historical experience as The Happiest Hotel on Earth Tour at the Disneyland Hotel.

A tiny selection from the massive case of tags, trinkets, and photos in the Convention Center at Disneyland Hotel.

The Disneyland Hotel, after all, has one simple theme: Disneyland Nostalgia. The Walt Disney Company turned three 1970s-era glass towers into a one-of-a-kind collection space for Disneyland concept art and vintage Disney photos, plus displays filled with maps, tickets, and trinkets. And just like at the theme parks, every design element, from the wallpaper inside to the trees outside, has been specially created to heighten the theme and create total immersion.

The Happiest Hotel on Earth Tour helps guests see the stories being told by the towers and the central pool area. Within and without the Adventure, Fantasy, and Frontier towers, Disney fans will find tributes to three of the four opening-day lands from Disneyland. And out on the pool deck, you’ll find the fourth — Tomorrowland.

The tour guides explain the history of the resort that started out as Jack Wrather’s little hotel in the orange grove and, along the way, the history of Disneyland Park.

We all met at the Disneyland map mural that is the centerpiece of the Disneyland Hotel main lobby. I’d left the family out at the pool, and the only other tour participants were a couple from northern California. So although the tour guide handed out the usual earpieces/transmitters that are part of most Disney tours, they really weren’t necessary — it was nearly a one-on-one experience. This was fantastic for questions and getting deeper into subjects that aren’t necessarily on the tour.

Starting at the Disneyland map, the tour guide challenged us to figure out what year the map was from, using the attractions marked “under construction” as a guide. Once we started getting into in-depth conversations about World’s Fair dates and attractions, I knew this tour was perfect for Disney history fans like myself.

Jungle Cruise maquettes in the Adventure Tower at Disneyland Hotel

Tower by tower, we explored the theming and decoration that went into the different areas of the hotel. In the Adventure Tower, shrouded by palms and tropical foliage, we inspected the Jungle Cruise maquettes, cast from the original clay maquettes used by Imagineering to design animatronic animals.

In the Frontier Tower, we admired cactus and waited for an eruption from Old Unfaithful, based on the geyser from the old Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland… and the geyser lived up to its name, never once spouting. (I did catch it later.) We also found an ingenious tribute to Horseshoe Falls, which once cascaded in front of the Frontier Tower, and explored the attraction models inside the main lobby.

Walking the grounds, the tour guides pointed out remnants of Disneyland Hotel attractions of the past, such as a water show and a long-gone sand-bottom beach. We learned about the massive renovation Disney undertook upon purchasing the hotel, transforming a central marina into the tropical gardens and pools that the hotel boasts today.

Back in the Fantasy Tower, which houses the main lobby, we took a look at the Disneyland concept art and the Mary Blair-influenced designs on everything from the merchandise shop to the carpeting. Standing before a print of the original Disneyland ABC proposal map from Herb Ryman and Walt Disney’s infamous “lost weekend,” we took a few moments to discuss the astonishing rise of the company that brought us all together in that hotel that afternoon. It was a satisfying ending to a tour that brings to life the nostalgia and history of a hotel dedicated to Disneyland’s roots.

The tour spends some time looking around the celebrity photos in Steakhouse 55, including this one of Walt and Shirley Temple.

This tour is an essential for any Disney fan. Just being at Disneyland Hotel is an experience in Disneyland nostalgia, but to be able to discuss it with the tour guides was a wonderful chance to swap Disney lore and hear more about Walt and his team. The small tour group size meant there was plenty of time for extra questions as we walked. Because I used to work at the Polynesian, I wanted to know more about the obvious influence that the Polynesian Resort had on Disneyland Hotel, and we had a great conversation which isn’t part of the tour spiel–so be sure to ask!

The Disneyland Hotel Happiest Hotel on Earth Tour typically takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 PM and lasts about one hour. It is free for Disneyland Resort hotel guests, including Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel guests – register with Guest Services to ensure a spot.

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Say Y.E.S. to Disney

By KimT

My kids are always trying to convince me of the educational merits of activities they enjoy, like video games. At some point, I know they will try to convince me that visiting Walt Disney World is an educational experience. They will actually be right. The Disney Y.E.S. program, which stands for the Disney Youth Education Series, offers accredited educational opportunities. These programs run at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland for students ages 5 through 18. Topics range from arts and humanities, leadership and career development to natural and physical sciences. The Disney Y.E.S. program also offers discounted Disney tickets to its attendees. 

Most programs last 2½ to 3 hours, are accredited, and designed to reinforce classroom lessons. They meet in the theme parks and sometimes start before the parks open. The classes teach lessons and then apply the lessons to real world examples and more specifically, examples at the Disney parks. The Properties of Motion Physics Lab in Disneyland takes the students behind the scenes of roller coasters (California Screamin’ and the Twilight Zone of Terror) and discusses Newton’s Laws of Motion and the science behind how the rides work. After discussing factors that influence the roller coaster and its design process, students build their own roller coasters for hands-on experiments that test the relationships between physics and their favorite Disney attractions. Of course students get to ride the roller coasters as well.

The Y.E.S. program offers a wide variety of class topics. In addition to physics, the science classes include chemistry, wildlife conservation, animal behavior, and marine biology. Liberal arts classes offer topics on American history, California history, animation history, photography, and designing a Disney story. Leadership and career building classes practice teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Disney Youth Education Series Registration

The Disney Y.E.S. programs are typically set up for groups, but individual enrollment is also a possibility. If you have a group of 10 or more students and are associated with an organization like a school, church, or Girl Scout troop, then you will need to register your group online. Disney must review the registration before you buy tickets. Registration includes a list of students planning to attend. Once Disney has reviewed your registration, they will contact you about purchasing ticket packages. Disney recommends submitting the registration at least six weeks in advance of your arrival. However, since programs are subject to availability, it is best to submit your registration as early as possible. You may submit it up to a year in advance. Group programs are available year-round. Chaperones are required. For Disney World programs, there may be up to one chaperone for every five students. Disneyland programs allow one chaperone for every ten students.

What if you do not have a group of 10 students? You can attend programs through the individual enrollment program. You may register as few as one student or as many as 9 students and you do not need to be associated with an organization. The number of parents/chaperones cannot exceed the number of students registered, except in the case of a single child and two parents. Students 14 and under must have a parent/chaperone. Students 15 and older must be signed in by an adult and the adult is required to remain at the park during the program. Individual enrollment programs are only offered January – February and June – October. You may purchase your tickets through the Disney Youth Programs website.

Pricing

Not only does the Y.E.S. program fall under the category of educational, but you can also purchase tickets at a reduced cost. The Y.E.S. program tuition is sold with park admission as a package. For Y.E.S. programs at Disney World, the park admission passes range from 3 to 8 days. One-day ticket options are only available to Florida residents. Three options of packages are available – the Starter Packages, Park Hopper Packages, or Premium packages. Each package includes one Disney Y.E.S. program class. The Starter Package gives access to all four Disney World parks, but only allows admission to one park per day. The Park Hopper package provides access all four Disney World parks with the option to visit multiple parks on the same day. The Premium package is the Park Hopper package plus access to the Disney water parks, Disney miniature golf courses, Disney Quest, and the ESPN sports complex. Here is how prices compare for park admission with the Y.E.S. program individual enrollment versus regular park admission through the Disney website. The biggest discount is for the child attending the Y.E.S. program. In some cases there is no discount and there is actually an increase of a few dollars.

Standard Admission Prices

Standard 3 day pass (ages 3 – 9): $255.00; with Park Hopper option: $304.00

Standard 3 day pass (ages 10 +) : $274.00; with Park Hopper option: $324.00

Y.E.S. Program Admission Prices

3 day pass plus one Y.E.S. class (Ages 5 – 17): $184.15 (28% discount for ages 3-9, 33% discount for ages 10 – 17)

with Park Hopper option: $208.44 (31% discount for ages 3-9, 55% discount for ages 10 – 17)

3 day pass for child not attending Y.E.S. (Ages 3 – 9), such as a younger sibling: $248.06 (3% discount)

with Park Hopper option: $308.03 (Increase)

3 days pass for adult attending Y.E.S. (Ages 18+): $269.03 (2% discount)

with Park Hopper option: $331.87 (Increase)

3 days pass for Adult NOT attending Y.E.S. (Ages 18+): $266.34 (3% discount)

with Park Hopper option: $326.33 (Increase)

A real case scenario would be if my husband took our 10 year old to a class and I took our 6 year old to a class and we purchased a three day Y.E.S. Park Hopper package. Our total would be $1080.62. However, if we purchased a regular three day Park Hopper package (not through the Y.E.S. program), our total would be $1276. That is almost $200 in savings plus a fun education experience.

Participation in the scheduled Y.E.S. program is required keep the discounted tickets. Technically Disney can void the discount packages if a student does not attend the Y.E.S. program.

There are a few additional items to consider. Students must be residents of the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico. Disney Y.E.S. packages are completely separate from Disney packages, which means you can stay on or off Disney property. The purchase of Disney Y.E.S. packages cannot be combined with resort or Disney Dining Plan packages. Of course you can make two separate purchases and utilize them at the same time. For example, you could make one purchase of a resort stay with (or without) dining, but get your park tickets through the Disney Y.E.S. program. Disney Dining Plans are always purchased in conjunction with a resort package and based on your number of nights booked. Disney will book resort rooms as a group if you are booking 10 or more rooms.

If students (and chaperones) wish to attend more than one program, additional program options are available for $34.00 per person per program. This is true for both group and individual programs.

I was not very familiar with the Disney Y.E.S. program before I started researching it, but I am seriously considering it for my next trip to Disney World.

 

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Frozen Summer Fun: Should You Book The Premium Package?

By Kylene Hamulak

Frozen Summer Fun Premium Package Credentials

To continue cashing in on Frozen mania, Disney announced earlier this summer that Walt Disney World would be offering special events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a “Frozen Summer Fun” event running from July 5 to September 1, 2014. Also announced was a Premium Package, which includes a dessert party and priority access to some of the events. The premium package sold out quickly. Don’t worry about getting left out in the cold though – Disney added more dates for both Summer Fun and the premium package – extending summer to September 28 and adding the premium package to the following weekends: September 5 – 7; September 12 – 14; September 19 – 21; and September 26 – 28, 2014. Interestingly, the price for the package has also increased with the new dates – to $69 for adults, and $39 for children. The following is a review from earlier this summer, before the price increase. Call (407) 939-1939 to book. Official information about the event is on Disney’s web site.

TouringPlans bloggers Kylene Hamulak and Julia Mascardo both booked the package separately and attended on different days. Kylene also had the opportunity to experience all of Frozen Summer Fun on a different day without the Premium Package. Here are their impressions.

Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome Parade Viewing

Check-in for the event is located at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner at 10:30 AM. At that time you receive a badge on a lanyard for the day and are able to select your time for the First Time in Forever Frozen Sing-a-Long. Once everyone has been checked in, you are allowed to enter the parade viewing area, at the end of Hollywood Boulevard in front of the stage. Unlimited free bottled water, bottled soft drinks, and frozen treats (Mickey Bars and Frozen Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade Cups) are available. The parade lasts less than 10 minutes, with a brief stage show halfway through the parade route.

Frozen Summer Fun Royal Welcome – Kristoff, general seating, photo credit Kylene Hamulak

Julia: I hate camping out early for a parade on a hot day, so I thought that this would be a great way to avoid that. Unfortunately, we still ended up camped out – just in the priority seating area. The frozen treats and bottled drinks were helpful, as sitting on the pavement without any shade was pretty brutal. Unfortunately, if you are going to get the Mickey Bars, expect to be covered in chocolate as it melts everywhere. (Or do what we did, and bring wet wipes!) The other disappointing thing was that there is a “kid’s seating” area in the front where a child can be accompanied by one parent. The other parent will have to stand in the back. The viewing location was excellent, however, and when Elsa pointed to my daughter’s Frozen shirt and said “I love that shirt!”, I teared up a bit…or a lot.

Kylene: Like Julia, I was looking forward to reserved parade viewing, and I was disappointed that the package wasn’t quite as convenient as I had hoped. We don’t mind waiting for parades if it means getting a clear, unobstructed view, but, as Julia noted, the reserved area has very limited “front row” seating. While the event officially begins at 10:30, we were told to check in at 10:00 AM. Wouldn’t you know, when we walked to the area at 9:45 AM, guests were already checked in and seated along the rope. In contrast, the day we enjoyed the event without the package, we found space – front row – directly across from the reserved seating at about 10:30 AM.

Moral of the story: You’ll still need to arrive early.

Frozen Summer Fun Royal Welcome, photo credit Kylene Hamulak

Unfortunately, the procession lasted just over three minutes for us (literally – I have the entire thing on video) before a huge Florida thunderstorm arrived. There was no stage show, and they rushed through Anna and Elsa’s arrival to get the cast under cover. Cast Members gave some guests vouchers for free popcorn as they hurried for cover, but it seemed to depend on who you happened to run by, and there was no other compensation. While Disney is clear that there are no refunds for weather, it would be nice for them to offer something in place of missing almost the entire event. There is no meet ‘n greet associated with this event, but we would’ve appreciated some sort of character experience for premium package holders once the event was cancelled. Popcorn doesn’t quite have the effect on a Frozen fan that seeing Elsa does.

 

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-Long Celebration

A half-hour indoor show combining a sing-a-long of many of the most popular songs in Frozen interspersed with a retelling of the movie by the always-amusing Royal Historians of Arendelle.

Frozen Sing Along with Premium Package Seating – photo credit Kylene Hamulak

Julia: I knew this is what my daughter would love most of all. The show was better than I expected. The comedic interludes done by the Historians were fantastic. Having the Premium Package meant not rushing to get the time we wanted, walking in 5 minutes before the show started with no wait, and being seated in the third row. Really wonderful experience and a great perk for the Premium Package.

Kylene: Agreed – we loved this show as well! Once again, however, we found that our non-premium experience was very comparable to the package. We booked the package with this in mind, assuming it would allow us to save hours of waiting to get into a show. Once they began distributing tickets for standby entry to a particular show, however, the value was somewhat decreased. While package holders are seated in rows three and four, there are only a couple of bad areas to sit in the entire theater. We were seated in row three, with rows one and two reserved for handicapped guests. Unfortunately, about ten minutes before the show was to begin, the seats were filled with latecomers who did not require accessible seating. Per the Cast Members we asked, they were simply standby guests who arrived late, and they were now sitting in front of those of us who paid for the premium package. While it’s only a row or two, if you’re unlucky and short like me (or a child), having a giant head in front of you can change your experience. With that being said, we have heard that in other shows, the first two rows were reserved for groups in need of accessible seating only – if they weren’t filled for that particular show, they were left empty.

It’s also worth noting that, even though we checked in for the Royal Welcome prior to 10:00 AM, the 12:30 PM sing-along was already unavailable, so even with the package, we did not get our first choice of shows. On our non-premium day, we got passes for an early afternoon show. We joined the queue about a half hour before show time and were seated towards the back, but certainly not with a bad view.

 

Frozen Summer Fun Dessert Party, outdoor set up – photo credit Kylene Hamulak

Dance and Dessert Party

Beginning at 5:30 PM, a live DJ spins dance tunes including some remixes of Frozen songs. With the Premium Package, you get a dessert party with unlimited drinks (including specialty alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, and bottled soda and water), a chocolate fondue station, and unlimited miniature versions of the desserts sold at Wandering Oaken’s Funland.

Julia: There was a light drizzle in the area, and so our dessert party was moved inside the Disney Jr. building. That worked better for us, as it was quieter than it would have been in front of the stage during the dance party. What we heard of the dance party made it sound like it was a lot of fun, and we might go back to do it some other weekend. As far as the desserts go, I have done other Disney dessert parties before, and the selection at this one was the best I’ve ever been to. I’m not much of a drinker, but I did enjoy one cocktail and really enjoyed the non-alcoholic blueberry lemonade. I tried most of the desserts, but the Olaf carrot cake cupcake was amazing. We also took bottled drinks with us from the party and one of us may have also taken a dessert home to get through the next day’s deadline. For me, I would have paid the $59 fee for just this dessert party and not felt like I had wasted money.

Frozen Dessert Party treats – photo credit Kylene Hamulak

Kylene: Like Julia, the rain moved us indoors for our dessert party, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and set up of the event. Great care was taken to present everything with the Frozen theme, including the names of foods and drinks. The desserts were delicious, but you can only eat just so many decadent foods – and I’m not sure that it was $59 worth for us. They let us in just after 8:30 PM, and we were relocated to the fireworks area at just after 9:00 PM, so we had about a half hour to sample everything. We were also encouraged to take drinks and desserts with us as we moved outside – it was nice to have a hot cup of tea to wash down all the sugar.

Without the package, we enjoyed the dance party from the area near Keystone Clothiers on Hollywood Boulevard. It was a fun mix of music and Frozen references, but we didn’t miss much by having our party indoors instead of outside.

 

Frozen Fireworks Spectacular

Most would agree that no one does fireworks better than Disney. Set to the music of Frozen, this fireworks show also includes live action segues on the main stage.

Julia: Truthfully, the reserved location wasn’t the best to really see the fireworks themselves, but it was the best location for seeing the stage show that went with it. However, knowing that we didn’t have to camp out on Hollywood Boulevard shoulder-to-shoulder with our squirmy four-year-old child and could let her run around and even dance and twirl during the fireworks made the less-than-ideal location for the fireworks perfect for us. Because we’re local, we’ll be back again to see it from a better vantage point for the fireworks because this fireworks show is one of the best that I’ve seen.

Frozen Summer Fun Fireworks – general access

Kylene: Because the reserved area really is ideal for the stage show, we enjoyed the fireworks from our non-premium spot on a different night. While in the reserved corral, we did disperse to catch the fireworks from different spots that were less obstructed by the stage, and it was actually nice to be able to move right back towards a good view once the action moved back to the stage.

For our non-premium night, we grabbed some pavement in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard to enjoy the dance party about a half hour before the fireworks were scheduled to begin, and I’m really glad we got to see it from two places. There are large screens to show the action on the stage, so you don’t miss a thing even if you’re standing closer to the park entrance. If you’re booking the premium package, it’s worth spending two evenings in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to get this view in addition to the reserved one. As Julia said, the fireworks show is one of the best, and the music and “snow” really make it a special experience.

 

In addition to the events included with the Premium Package, the Frozen Summer Fun event also has some new attractions.

Oaken’s Frozen Funland

Meet Olaf and other Frozen characters with the Aurasma app on your phone!

Attractions in this building include opportunities to ice skate (for an additional fee), build a snowman, take enhanced pictures with the Aurasma app, purchase desserts and hot chocolate, and watch an ice skating show.

Julia: I moved to Florida from Maryland so I wouldn’t have to build a snowman (and certainly not out of crushed ice)! Ice skating was also something that I really didn’t gel with. The ice skating show was good, but nothing extraordinary. Sadly what I liked most of all was the music for the Zamboni driver. Seriously, that needs to be my ringtone. Glad we went in there, and no desire to do it again. Truthfully, I would have liked there to be an ice skating voucher with the Premium Package. I wouldn’t have used it, and it wouldn’t have cost Disney anything to provide, but it would have been “value added” for someone out there.

Kylene: I appreciated Oaken’s for what it is, and I suspect there are some warm-weather families who are quite delighted at the prospect of enjoying all things winter! We live in Connecticut, so we weren’t quite in that demographic, but it was a fun place to visit. We spent most of our time trying to get the Aurasma app to work with our phones to take some fun photos. Tip: If you can’t get the app to capture your moment, ask someone who looks like she’s between the ages of 12 and 18 for help. Cast Members were pretty clueless, but the young guests can figure out your technology for you!

 

Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post

Your one-stop shop for all things Frozen, including special Frozen MagicBands.

Julia: They have some cool merchandise (pun intended), and I did get my daughter an Elsa MagicBand. It’s not as neat as the experience of Darth’s Mall, however. It really just is a temporary store and nothing more. Thankfully we never had to wait to go in, and hearing the Cast Members at the registers saying “Yoo hoo” to signal the next person in line was really amusing.

Kylene: I was on the prowl for Frozen merchandise throughout the resort, and I did find this to be the best selection on property. If you’re not looking to open your wallet for your Frozen-obsessed kid, don’t go in – you WILL end up buying something. I also liked the “Sauna” door, although I think it would’ve been even funnier as an exit to the Florida sauna outside!

 

Overall Impression

“Snow” falls on Hollywood Boulevard during Frozen Summer Fun

Julia: As we walked out through the snowfall on Hollywood Boulevard, my first thought was that I wanted to book it again. (Maybe it’s the party talking or the chocolate fondue?) If I did it again, I’d probably skip the parade itself (but pick up the free goodies), but I would take advantage of all the other parts of the Premium Package. All total, I probably broke even when it came to food and drink consumed for the cost of the event, but it was really nice knowing that everything was all taken care of – I could show up right before the event if I wanted to and not wait for anything. That level of convenience really is priceless to me.

Kylene: I had the opposite impression, actually. I was happy we did it, but our family wouldn’t consider booking again. Maybe it’s because the rain spoiled one of our events, but we just didn’t feel like the package gave us enough of a premium experience. Except for the dessert party, we experienced all other aspects of Frozen Summer Fun in a comparable way, as we found ourselves waiting even with the package – we were just entertained with food as we did it. It’s also worth taking note that, as previously mentioned, Disney does not offer any refunds for weather related cancellation, and there are no guarantees that any aspect of the outdoor events will take place. With the summer weather, this means both the Royal Welcome and the fireworks stage show can frequently be at risk. It’s a big investment to make if it ends up basically being cupcakes and cookies for a family.

Whether the Premium Package is an option for your family or not, the Frozen Summer Fun events are definite must-dos, especially for fans of the film. Check out the recently updated Disney’s Hollywood Studios Touring Plans to help make the most of your visit. Even if you don’t have Elsa-obsessed kids or know any of the words for the sing along, the fireworks and atmosphere for this limited-time offering are not to be missed!

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Frozen Summer Fun Event Extended at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

Frozen mania appears to be continuing and because of that, the Frozen Summer Fun event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been extended. The event was originally supposed to end on September 1; however, today Disney officially extended the event through September 28.

Most of the entertainment will continue as on previous dates; however, from September 5-28, the Frozen Fireworks Spectacular will be presented on only Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Guests will still be able to enjoy Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome, featuring both the mini-parade and the short presentation on the Sorcerer’s Hat Stage, welcoming the visiting princesses. The welcome takes place at 11:00 a.m.

Also, guests should not miss For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, a comedic retelling of the story of Frozen, which occurs at various times throughout the day in the Premiere Theater.  Make sure to head over to the theater and grab a ticket from a Cast Member ahead of time to guarantee a seat for the show.

Of course, if you are looking for merchandise, you’ll want to head back to Soundstage One, located between Toy Story Midway Mania and the Studios Backlot Tour, where Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post (Yoo hoo!) is featured. Guests can also grab snacks, play in snow in the “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” play area, or go ice skating (for a fee.)

Finally, for those who love dance parties, each night at the Sorcerer’s Hat Stage, a DJ will spin tunes, plus a live band will perform at the Coolest Summer Ever Dance Party.

In addition, the Frozen Summer Fun Premium Package will be returning for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. With the package, guests will have a reserved location for viewing Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome, a reserved seat for For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, as well as experience a dessert party and a reserved viewing area for the Frozen Fireworks Spectacular.

Who else is as excited as I am that this event has been extended?

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Visiting Disney with an Infant

By Angela Dahlgren

Princess Aurora and her Twin

After getting pregnant, I’ll admit I was worried that visiting Disney World with a baby would prove too difficult. However, after bringing my daughter Annie at 11 weeks old, I realized that with a little more planning, we could still have an amazing time. With that said, allow me to share my tips and tricks for bringing an infant to Disney.

Top Tips for Visiting Disney with an Infant

- You can check your car seat and stroller for free with most airlines. It’s your choice if you want to check them at the desk or the gate. The employees don’t usually mind either way. It’s a good idea to put a name tag on your stroller (unless someone has a better stroller than you…then you might want to “accidentally” walk off with theirs – I did say I would give you tips and tricks, didn’t I?).

- Most airlines will let people with children board first, giving you extra time to get situated without the crowd. Take note that the airlines will not let you sit in an exit row if traveling with an infant, so keep that in mind when booking your seat.

- To avoid popping ears, nurse/feed baby when the plane takes off and lands. If baby isn’t hungry, try a pacifier. The sucking motion will prevent those ears from hurting and spare the ears of passengers next to you should baby fuss.

- A parent’s worst fear when flying is a crying baby. Try scheduling your flight during a time when your child would normally be sleeping. If that doesn’t work out, there are only so many things you can do because at the end of the day, babies cry. Think of it this way, the crying will bother you much more than it will bother fellow passengers…at least that’s what I tell myself!

This changing pad is PERFECT for on the go!

- When changing baby on a plane, you have two choices:

Make your seat a make-shift changing station (ask whoever is sitting by you if this is okay first).
Change baby in the airplane bathroom (In this case, consider undressing your baby beforehand to make things go a bit faster).

- Be flexible. Things will not go exactly as planned and that’s okay! Annie had a blowout right when the plane started to descend. I wrapped her in a blanket and the minute we landed, all I had to say was “blowout” and people were more than happy to let me exit the plane first. (Side Bar: Even if your child doesn’t have a blowout, it might be a good way to get off the plane faster…I know, I’m terrible.)

- If you’re using Disney transportation, a car seat is not required for your child. For both the Magical Express and onsite buses, boats, and monorails, you can just hold baby on your lap. You may, however, have to fold up the stroller like we did.

- Before you pack up the portable crib, see if you can request one at your hotel. Disney hotels will provide a crib, but I would suggest bringing your own sheets.

If your baby is sleeping in a bassinet, it may be more beneficial (sleep-wise) to just bring it along. We took the legs off ours, brought only the top part of the bassinet and just placed it in the crib. It worked beautifully.

- Start prepping baby for noise before hand. A baby who needs silence to sleep will not do well at the parks. While he or she is napping at home, make some noise! Vacuum, start the dishwasher, turn on music, etc. Get them used to noise so they’ll be more likely to sleep during your park visits.

- Think about how you’ll want to carry your baby at the parks. We brought both a stroller and a baby carrier. Annie was comfortable in the stroller but absolutely loved facing out in the baby carrier. She was in awe watching people bustling about and seeing thousands of twinkling lights during the Main Street Electrical Parade!

- Not only does each park provide several baby changing stations but also a baby care center. This center provides you with all the amenities of home, including high chairs, a kitchen, and even a microwave. In addition, baby necessities are available for purchase, though the prices are high.

- Try to limit how long you keep baby in the sun. Remember, infants can’t regulate their body temperature. Make sure to keep the baby hydrated with extra feedings and frequently check the back of his/her neck to make sure she is not getting too hot.

- You’d be surprised by how many attractions are baby-friendly. The dark, indoor rides were a great way to cool Annie off and allow her to enjoy a nice doze. She was a big fan of Mickey’s PhilharMagic!

- Take advantage of those extra hands! We went to the parks with family, and they were a LIFESAVER! Having extra help allowed my husband and I to enjoy thrill rides and have some time to explore on our own. We were so grateful to have them and they were just as grateful to have some time alone with Annie.

- Finally, here is my list of baby ‘must-haves’ when visiting the theme parks

Photo Op Case and Point: A ‘mini’ Minnie!

Sun hat
Light-weight blanket
Sun screen
2 extra pairs of clothes (You never know!)
Plastic baggies for blow outs
Nursing cover (Doubles as a blankie in a bind)
Bottle of water
Formula
Hand sanitizer
Extra pacifiers (If your baby uses them)
Baby jacket for night time
Changing pad
Diapers
Wipes (So many uses for these!)
Camera
Disney costume – Okay, so maybe this isn’t a necessity, but they provide some ridiculously cute photo ops.

How was your experience visiting Disney with an infant? Any other tips you’d recommend? If you have further questions, leave a comment or let me know on Twitter @AngelaDahlgren

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Pirates of the Caribbean Back Row Roped Off – How Does That Affect Wait Times?

By Fred Hazelton

Pirates of the Caribbean Closes Rear Row

Guy Selga, our trusty Disneyland in-park guru has confirmed that the queue leading guests to the back row of the Pirates of the Caribbean loading area is unavailable to guests. How does that affect the wait time?

Let’s say, on average, a Pirates of the Caribbean ride vehicle accommodates 20 guests including 2 adults in the back row. So, we can assume that on average, this new procedure means that Pirates will operate at 90% of its usual capacity (18 out of 20 = 90%). So what is the impact on the amount of time that guests will wait in line? Well, if you are like me you say that a 10% reduction in capacity should mean a 10% increase to the wait time. But that doesn’t work. Why not?

The capacity of an attraction and the amount of time you wait in line are inversely proportional. If capacity goes up, wait time goes down. If capacity goes down, wait time goes up. So, in our example, the Pirates ride vehicle went from holding 20 guests to 18 guests or 18/20ths (90%) of its usual capacity. The change in wait time is therefore 20/18ths of the normal wait time or 11% longer.

Hunh? a 10% reduction in capacity means an 11% increase in wait time?

When Capacity Changes, What Happens to Wait Time?

Yes. Let’s look at a different example. Suppose the Magic Kingdom’s Dumbo: The Flying Elephant has a mechanical problem and only one of the Dumbos is working. That represents a 50% reduction in capacity. Makes sense. Would we expect to wait 50% longer in line because of the mechanical problem? No. We’d expect our wait to double, or be 100% longer than usual.

Same goes for an attraction like Tower of Terror. If one of the three elevator shafts becomes inoperational, that represents a change of two-thirds (2/3) the original capacity. To get the effect on wait time we flip it around and get three-halfs (3/2) the wait time or a 50% longer wait. If we are in line with an expected wait time of 60 minutes when one elevator shaft is shut down, our wait immediately jumps to 90 minutes.

In practice, the wait time at Pirates of the Caribbean may not change that much because the math comes with a lot of assumptions. Cast members may be able to make up the difference by seating guests more tightly in the other rows or by increasing efforts to match odd numbered groups together. Or perhaps that rear row isn’t used as often as we think and the impact will be negligible. No adjustments will be made to our estimates of wait time until we can observe the impact of the new procedure for a few days.

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