Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1209

Renting a Sea Raycer: Is It Worth It?

By Savannah Sanders

Renting a Sea Raycer at one of the Disney World Resorts has been on my to-do list for years, but the hardest thing about having so many things to do at the Disney World Resort is that there are just so many things to do! But a few weeks ago, I finally carved out some time courtesy of a Personalized Touring Plan to do a little cruising to see if it’s worth it. Here’s what I found out.

The Fort Wilderness Marina

First of all, a Sea Raycer is a small, two person watercraft guests can rent at the Disney World Resort marinas. I personally chose the marina at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground because I wanted to cruise around the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake to get a view of the Deluxe Resorts and the Magic Kingdom from the water. You can rent a Sea Raycer from the marina at the Yacht and Beach Club, but there isn’t as much to see, in my opinion.

The rental rates for a Sea Raycer are pretty reasonable at $32 per 30 minutes, $40 per 45 minutes, and $45 for 60 minutes. There’s also a 30% discount for passholders, which I gladly took advantage of! I also had to sign a waiver, show my driver’s license, and was warned that Sea Raycers are not known for speed. In fact, you’re looking at top speeds of around 20 mph. I was also informed that have two adults riding in a Sea Raycer, as opposed to driving solo or with a small child, will slow you down even more.

After getting my free life jacket, as it is a requirement for all drivers and passengers to wear a life jacket at all times, I was given a brief tutorial on how to operate a Sea Raycer by a friendly Cast Member, shown a map of Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, was informed a few basic rules, and then was free to head out into open waters!

Sea Raycers

Now, Sea Raycers are small and you do sit close to the water, but surprisingly there’s quite a bit of leg room. I discovered pretty early that steering was a little difficult and that these boats are truly short on speed, but I was enjoying the freedom to zip at will through the Magic Kingdom waters.

One of the opportunities that a Sea Raycer affords, and that I was especially looking forward to, was getting to head over to the Magic Kingdom to see it from the water. I had also brought my camera along and was hoping to get a few pictures. (Although, for fellow photographers, I should note that you can catch some spray from the lake since you are so close to the water, so protect your cameras!)

The Magic Kingdom

For me, it was great seeing the Magic Kingdom from a different view point and all the activity at the gates; and even from my low vantage point, I could still see Cinderella Castle in the distance and the Main Street, U.S.A., Train Station. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get very close, as the water around the park is very busy with all of the boats picking up and dropping off guests. In the end, I personally preferred buzzing around the resorts instead.

Driving past the Contemporary, I got a great view of the Contemporary’s Bay Lake Tower and the Monorail sliding overhead. Also, across the lake at the Polynesian Resort, I got a close-up look at the construction of the new Disney Vacation Club rooms. They look awesome, by the way, and I’m already trying to figure out how I can get myself into one when they open!

The Grand Floridian Villas

I really should mention that there are a lot of boat patrols on Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, and they are very particular about enforcing no wake zones and controlling traffic. If you rent a Sea Raycer or any other boats at Disney World, be sure to cooperate and remember that they are there to keep all guests safe.

Now of all the resorts on Disney property, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is probably my favorite. It’s stunning from the entrance, and it’s rustic cavernous lobby is breathtaking, but you don’t always get to see it from the water. It truly looks like you’re on a lake at a National Park instead of Central Florida when you see it from your Sea Raycer.

I also couldn’t resist zipping over to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. It looks like a postcard regardless of where you’re at; but from my Sea Raycer, I got a great close-up look at the new Grand Floridian Villas!

At this point, I was getting close to my 30 minute limit, but I was in for another surprise. As I approached Fort Wilderness to dock, I got a great view of River Country, Disney’s original water park, which closed in 1994. If you remember this park from back in the day, definitely make a point to check it out from your Sea Raycer. A lot of it is still intact.

Now back to the original question: Is Renting a Sea Raycer Worth It? Based on my little voyage, I would say that it depends. I think it’s a good activity if you have school-age kids and are looking for something beyond the parks to do, or if you’re into photography and want a whole new way to capture the resorts and Magic Kingdom. I would most definitely recommend a Sea Raycer to families with pre-teens eligible to drive a Sea Raycer themselves. Sometimes finding activities for this particular age group can be difficult, and the independence and safety that a Sea Raycer offers are sure to create an experience both you and they will enjoy. Plus, it won’t break the bank!

View of the Monorail

However, for adults and those with older teens in tow, you may want to skip renting a Sea Raycer for another activity or upgrade to something with a little more size and speed!

A few more things I found out… You can only rent a Sea Raycer from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You may also want to prepare to get wet. I only caught a little spray, but others who have rented a Sea Raycer have gotten nearly drenched from other boats. Also, I rented my Sea Raycer for the shortest time allotment, which was 30 minutes. I wasn’t sure if that would be long enough, but I saw every resort and the Magic Kingdom easily within that time frame. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, wear sunscreen! I got more sun in my thirty minutes driving a Sea Raycer than I did my entire vacation, and it’s very easy to burn when you’re on the water.

So what do you think? Have you ever rented a Sea Raycer at Disney World? What was your experience?

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Review of DCA’s New Disney California Story Tour

By Guy Selga Jr.

Three things are for sure in life, death, taxes and Disney theme parks having guided tours. Disney California Adventure now has a tour to call its own, but is it worth the $109 asking price? Read on and I will help you decide.

I’m not surprised DCA hasn’t had a tour up until now. Before the park’s billion dollar refurbishment was completed in 2012, there wasn’t much fodder for a Disney tour. Maybe they could have went through and pointed out all the puns (Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream, get it?). But there weren’t many Disney references to go through and talk about. But now that Buena Vista Street exists as the park’s entrance area, there are Disney references every couple of feet. The tour takes advantage of this and starts off at DCA’s flag pole. Immediately the tour guide starts going through all the references, tributes and gags that are tied to Walt and the company’s history. There are so many references on Buena Vista Street that it wouldn’t be practical to point out all of them. But they still manage to cram a lot of information in to this portion of the tour. For fans of Walt Disney, and the history of the company in general, this will be the most interesting part of the tour.

After making several stops at points on Buena Vista Street, the group pauses for a moment in front of Carthay Circle Restaurant and gets a brief introduction to the building and its significance to Disney history (for those who don’t know, the original building is where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937). After that, our tour group was taken inside the 1901 Lounge. This lounge is usually exclusive to Club 33 members, but the tour enters in the morning before it is open to its usual clients. The walls inside 1901 are filled with vintage photos of Walt and his animators. One of the highlights is the wall of caricatures of the likenesses of Walt’s “Nine Old Men” group of animators. If you’ve already been inside 1901, then this part of the tour is no big deal. Especially considering you don’t stay long (the tour takes you through in about 15 minutes) and there are no pictures allowed. This is especially strange because pictures are usually allowed when you visit with a member, and pictures are also admitted when taking the Adventures by Disney tour that takes you through the club. If you’ve never been inside 1901 before this will be a good, but short, highlight of the tour.

Our guide share stories about the never built Rock Candy Mountain

From here the group is led to Condor Flats. Our guide gave us a brief explanation on the inspiration of the land (it was inspired by Edwards Air Force Base in California). We were also told the story you’ve probably heard a hundred times about how Soarin’ Over California was based on a erector set model by Imagineer Mark Sumner. After this, our group was taken to the front of Soarin’s line and immediately loaded front row center.

Before the tour began, each person in our group was provided with a headset and receiver. The tour guide talks in to a microphone and his or her voice is directly transmitted in to the group’s head sets. If you’ve ever taken a guided tour before you know that these head sets aren’t the most comfortable things in the world. But you have to get used to it because they’re crucial for clearly hearing the tour guide. The head sets are also used for transmitting voice clips from Walt Disney himself. After our ride on Soarin’, we walked through the Grizzly Peak area of the park while another voice clip of Walt played. After this we stopped near a Grizzly River Run and the guide shared a few facts about the land. This portion of the tour also includes a 15 minute rest stop where we were able to rest our feet or use a bathroom. At this point we were about one hour and fifteen minutes in to the tour.

The next stop was Paradise Park, where our guide gave us information on the inspirations behind the attractions in Paradise Pier. He shared some tidbits about The Little Mermaid and the importance the film had to the renaissance of Disney animation in the 90s. This part of the tour was short, which is strange considering Paradise Pier is the biggest land in the park.

Next up was a stop in Cars Land. We gathered at the beginning of Route 66 to hear a sound clip from John Lasseter about the story of Cars. Our tour guide told us how the land was originally planned as simply “Car Land” but then Pixar released Cars and those original plans were used as inspiration for the Cars Land we know today. Our group then skipped the line and were loaded on to Radiator Springs Racers.

After a brief stop in Bug’s Land, we were taken in to Hollywood Land. Our guide pointed out the Red Car Trolley and told us about the real life inspirations behind all the buildings that are in this area of the park. The group was then taken in to the animation building where we got to attend a class at Animation Academy. If you’ve never experienced this before, you are given a pencil and a sheet of paper and a artist will teach a class on how to draw a Disney character. I thought it was a bit strange for something like this to be on the tour. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun and other people in our group seemed to enjoy it. But I expect something a little but more special or unique to be on a tour that costs over $100. Animation Academy is a regular park attraction that runs from the park’s opening to closing, and while the group is given the front row of the theater, it doesn’t usually require a lot of waiting.

Our tour included a stop in Animation Academy where we were instructed on how to draw Jack Skellington.

After Animation Academy our guide led us further down Hollywood Land and back on to Buena Vista Street. We were taken in to the lobby of Carthay Circle Restaurant where we were told about the premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and given a bit more information on the history of the building itself. After this our tour was wrapped up and we were invited into Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe and given our lunch. This lunch is included in the price of the tour and includes entree, dessert and beverage. The food is simply not good at Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe (you can watch a review I did of one of their sandwiches), which is a shame considering DCA has a lot of good quick service dining options. Besides the food, lunch was nice because at this point you get a chance to chat with your tour guide and the other members of the tour. Our guide Steven was very friendly and knowledgeable. He made sure to give everyone in our group a good amount of face to face time. You never really know if Disney cast members are genuinely interested in what you have to say but Steven seemed like he was. Overall he was a nice guy that could easily hold a conversation with each person in the group. After lunch I looked at my clock and it was just past 1:30 PM. Overall it lasted just about three and a half hours.

So is the tour worth $109 (or $87 if you use an Annual Pass discount)? That depends on what you want out of it. If you just want to have access to rides or shows then it may not be worth your time or money. The tour only takes you on to Soarin’ Over California, Radiator Springs Racers and Animation Academy. There is also no backstage access on this tour, which I know a lot of people care about. But this tour may be for you if you’re a Disney, or more specifically Walt Disney, history junkie. However I will say all of the information on the tour can be found in the Imagineering Field Guide to Disney California Adventure book that was released a few months back. Thankfully the tour is never cheesy, it appropriately pays respect to Walt Disney and his legacy, as well as the many other people that made it all possible.

Have you taken the Disney California Story tour? Are you planning on taking it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

You are given a few dining options at the beginning of the tour.

 

The tour begins in a new guest lounge located at Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.

Each tour guest is given a headset and receiver which play the tour guide’s voice and audio clips from Walt Disney.

Lunch is provided at the end of the tour.

It wouldn’t be a Disney tour without an exclusive pin.

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Best Sweet Treats at Disney World

By Bob Whitten

There’s more where these came from

Sugar. Sweet treats are made of this. There are times when it seems to me the whole of Walt Disney World itself was made of it. A word of caution; however inviting the great wall of honey at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh may appear, please don’t lick it. Sure, it may seem like a good idea, but there are plenty of better options available, and besides, it’s not really all that sweet. If anything, the flavor hints faintly of grime and germs. If that’s your idea of a treat, who am I to disagree?

Finding something sweet to eat at Walt Disney World is not a difficult task, but it can be daunting if you’re intent on finding that perfect treat. I’ve traveled Disney World and the Seven Seas Lagoon and the sheer volume of goodies on offer is overwhelming, to be sure. In my explorations, I’ve found that pretty much everybody is searching for something sweet.They’ve certainly come to the right place. One need not take more than a few steps in any park without spying some tantalizing confection in the quivering hand of a giddy park guest, or from a myriad of cleverly-disguised gingerbread houses beckoning you to come inside. Fortunately, whether you discover that special goody, or wicked witch, your sweet tooth can take comfort in knowing that even the least-inspiring treat still packs enough sweet to satisfy it. Treats are something Disney does well, even those times when they don’t especially.

Best Walt Disney World Sweets
Magic Kingdom

The true legend of Sleepy Hollow

It seems I always start at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. That’s probably because it is my first treat of the day, and often my only one. The Funnel Cake, even when coated in a snowy layer of powdered sugar, isn’t the sweetest treat on my list, and that may be why it’s one of my favorites. I’m convinced some treats want to use you for their own amusements, turning you wrong-side out with their amplified sweetness. This snack, however, isn’t one of them. Additionally, it’s large enough for two people to share, while you rest and recuperate from a hard morning’s Tour or, as a reward for surviving the morning’s harrowingly happy rope drop.

For the “health conscious,” Sleepy Hollow also offers the Nutella and Fruit Waffle Sandwich, although you may think of this more as breakfast. Just about anything, however, is a treat with Nutella on it, except perhaps Stitch’s Great Escape. First of all, they won’t let you take it on the attraction, and second . . .. Still, as breakfasts go, it’s better for you than Smarties cereal.

They don’t call this the Kitchen Sink for nothing. Actually, they do. The water pressure is awful.

Some treats want to be used by you in a desperate attempt for approval. It’s not exactly fair to call the cloyingly cute Kitchen Sink at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street a treat or a snack. This thing is more of a meal. Granted, it’s a meal only if your four food groups consist of the fruit, whipped, sauce, and of course, sugar groups. If that’s the case, then you will certainly get your daily allowance here. My wife calls it the “Cutie-patootie Mickey Pants” which has a certain ring to it, although after a long day at the park, that ring may be coming from ears filled with chocolate and whipped cream. It was definitely not looking so cute by the time we neared the end, although I was starting to feel a little “patootie.”

There is some controversy over the Cinnamon Roll at Gaston’s Tavern. It’s more or less the same cinnamon roll you used to get at the Main Street Bakery, but now with a maple glaze, which is incidentally the way I prefer my controversies. Who doesn’t like a warm cinnamon roll, even if it’s a little different?

I wouldn’t recommend washing it down with the apple cider and marshmallow-flavored LeFou’s Brew, however, as some treats want to abuse your taste buds, apparently. When added to a cinnamon roll, this one will short-circuit your sense of taste. In fact, LeFou’s Brew is so sweet, it may affect your ability to see color as well.

Another good standby treat for just about everyone is ice cream. I’m a sucker for mint chocolate chip, and the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor offers it in simpler forms than as part of the intimidating Kitchen Sink. You can get it in either a cup or a cone or a cone in a cup, complete with ears of the mousy persuasion. It’s only because they have my favorite flavor that I mention it. The ice cream itself is basically the same stuff you’ll find in any grocery store, and while it’s not bad, it’s certainly not great. Fortunately the setting is special, even if the treat isn’t especially, and that can go a long way towards coloring our impressions of things. Besides, it’s still ice cream.

Ice cream in Florida—particularly in a cone—is a tricky situation to navigate. It’s not a bad idea to find a place to sit and enjoy your treat, as the sun and heat will wreak havoc on your frozen goodness—unless you’re impervious to ice cream headaches—which happens to be one of my super powers.

Epcot

A little taste of Paris

Epcot is for me the most difficult of the parks—not because sweet treats are hard to come by, but because they are so plentiful as to be very nearly overwhelming. The best thing to do is relax, take a deep breath, and try not to over-think things. There are so many wonderful choices—from fun to refined. If you’re a fan of sweets and are intent on entering some form of a sweets-induced coma, you could do a lot worse than to drift away into that blissful dream-state that is the French pavilion. With their patisserie, ice cream shop and crepes stand, you really need go no farther than there. If, however, you can tear yourself away from France, there are in fact many other options available to you.

 

School Bread

The School Bread at Kringla Bakeri og Kafe gets a lot of press. It looks like a large, fancy doughnut about to burst with goodness but it’s anything but. I found the bread a little dry and it wasn’t as sweet as I anticipated, which is usually a good thing. The dryness of the bread, however, detracted more from the experience than the lack of overwhelming sweetness helped. There was a slight hint of cardamom that finishes each bite, and I liked that very much. It’s not a taste I get very often, and it makes the bread stand out a bit. Many, many people like it, so from that perspective, it’s probably still worth a try. But I would personally rather have any number of other treats found at Epcot. I like the weirdly wonderful world of Norway, so we do spend time here and having a snack isn’t a bad idea.

The Mousse au Chocolat at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie is the way chocolate mousse should be. It is thick, rich, chocolaty and moist, which is something I can’t say about all mousses. There’s also a lot of it, so it may be something you consider sharing, unless doing so threatens to cause you and your friend or friends to cross spoons. You may not put an eye out or do serious injury to one another, but you will look ridiculous.

Shaken, not stirred

At L’Artisan des Glaces Artisan Ice Cream & Sorbet, you will find the Ice Cream Martini, which is your choice of 16 ice cream flavors floating in Grand Marnier, Clement Rhum, or Whipped Cream flavored Epic Vodka. Ordering this treat will make you feel like James Bond. You know, had he worked for MI31, the little-known department of ice cream intelligence.

Caramel lovers adore Karamell-Küche in the Germany Pavilion. Whether pretzels, crisped rice, strawberries, grapes or more, if it can be submerged in a vat of caramel, chances are you can find it here. At least now we know where to find the Hat Box Ghost.

Animal Kingdom

At Tamu Tamu Refreshments just inside the Africa area of Animal Kingdom, you can now find everyone’s favorite soft serve, pineapple-flavored, frozen dessert, the Dole Whip, although here it’s known simply as Pineapple Soft Serve. There’s a reason it’s everyone’s favorite soft serve, pineapple-flavored, frozen dessert. It’s light, refreshing, and really reasonably-priced, not like that second-favorite soft serve, pineapple-flavored, frozen dessert. Also, unlike the Dole Whip at the Magic Kingdom, you can make this treat adult by adding dark rum or coconut rum. It was either that or put little beards on them.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The Carrot Cake Cookie at The Writer’s Stop is a really well-thought-out, and executed dessert. It’s a carrot cake cookie with cream cheese icing in the middle, although my wife, who has a bone fide sweet tooth, thought it may have been too sweet. Of course, it was right after she had lost onstage at the American Idol Experience and that may have influenced her opinion. That could be the reason she initially said it tasted like defeat.

The Napoleon at Starring Rolls Café is one of my wife’s favorites. There is also one available at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie, but she thinks this one is better. Creamy and sweet without being overly-sweet, with a nice texture from the puff pastry, this treat alone is almost worth the trip to Hollywood Studios.

Conclusion

Of course no rundown of sweet treats at Disney World would be complete without at least a mention of Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar. They are easy to find, being more plentiful and pervasive than Disney Vacation Club kiosks. It may be your basic chocolate-covered ice cream on a stick, but it is iconic nevertheless.

This is just the tip of an otherwise very large, very sweet icecreamberg. There are easily more delectable comestibles at Disney World than there are strollers gathered around Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel, awaiting the day of the Great Stroller Reckoning. It’s impossible to eat or even taste everything in one visit or even several, and not recommended if you want to enjoy/remember the rest of your vacation. Although it may seem by virtue of their sweet goodness that some treats want to be abused by you, pace yourself, and don’t despair at the intimidating challenge before you. Simply hold your head up, and keep moving on, more treats await.

What are your favorite treats? Let me know in the comments below.

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Magic Kingdom AtMousePhere: Tomorrowland Music

By Claire Nat

Tomorrowland is so different from the other lands – it holds a special place in my heart.

One of the most incredible aspects of Walt Disney World music is the way it captures the essence of the land. For one minute, you’re imagining yourself with a top hat or parasol walking right down the middle of Main Street,  U.S.A. The next, you want to be on a mighty steed galloping through Fantasyland. And after that, you’re picturing yourself in a coonskin cap strolling through Frontierland.

My favorite bit of Magic Kindgom music, however, has to be the Tomorrowland loop. Before I started listening to Walt Disney World music online, I could still remember bits of that music in my head from time to time. Even though the music of the future isn’t as easy to pinpoint as music from the turn of the century, it still pulls you into that atmosphere.

Strap in folks; we’re ready for blast-off!

To truly immerse yourself in Tomorrowland, click on the video below, courtesy of Disney Dreaming on YouTube, before continuing: 

Tomorrowland Music Loop

The Unique Nostalgia Music

In almost every other area of Magic Kingdom park,  many pieces of music are taken from movies. As we saw in the Main Street, U.S.A. loop, several of the pieces were from movie musicals set in the early 20th century. Other lands arrange or compose music that closely matches the area’s setting, like the rollicking drums of Adventureland.

This current version of Tomorrowland actually has quite a few cues from retired attractions. The very first song heard on this loop is a remixed version of “Miracles from Molecules,” the catchy 1960′s tune composed for the Disneyland ride Adventures Thru Inner Space. This ride ran from 1967-1985 in Disneyland, shrinking people down to the size of a molecule.

“Now is the Time” is a song that was composed for the Carousel of Progress when it moved from Disneyland to Magic Kindgom park in 1975. The sponsor of the ride – General Electric – wanted people to not dwell on tomorrow (the original song was “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which also appears in the Tomorrowland loop at 18:36), but buy the new appliances of today. As a result, the song sung as people leave the attraction ended up being one that reminded them that the best time of your life is happening right now! This song disappeared after the Carousel of Progress was refurbished in 1993, and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” reappeared. Some people might have nostalgia for that song that only was in the attraction for 10 years, but the song can still be heard in Tomorrowland!

Astro Orbiter

“If You Had Wings” was a song originally sung by Buddy Baker on the attraction If You Had Wings. That appeared in Magic Kingdom park from 1972-1987 and took riders on a trip to various locations that happened to be on the flightpath of Eastern Airlines, the attraction’s sponsor. The song can be heard at 29:21 in the loop.

And finally, “Seize the Day” was originally used by “sponsor” X-S Tech for the attraction ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, found at Magic Kindgom park from 1994-2003. I loved all the music that was found in Alien Encounter (you can hear it at 15:30), and I was glad to be able to ride the attraction before it closed. Gladly, some of the song elements survive to this day.

The Movie Cue

There is one piece of music that was taken from a movie. “Strange Things” appeared in Toy Story and was sung by Randy Newman. This instrumental version was likely included due to the addition of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin to Tomorrowland. It was a song that fit more into the atmosphere of Tomorrowland, instead of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” You can hear it in the loop at 7:04.

The Original Spacey Music

Not every selection of music that is heard can be drawn from a retired attraction or movie. In between the more familiar tracks of music, original music can be heard. This music – and the arrangements of the more familiar pieces – was composed by Dan Foliart. Foliart is a television music composer, and is known for his instrumental and title tracks to TV shows like Home Improvement, 7th Heaven, Roseanne, and Bosom Buddies. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

One of my favorite pieces of original Foliart music is actually my favorite piece in all of the Magic Kingdom’s background music. It is found from 12:35-15:30. Go ahead – click on that section right now.

This was the section of music that I could hear in my head randomly on any given day. The rapid pace of the synthesizers is the section that always gets me excited. Between the main theme is an interlude that starts at 13:44. This interlude leads to the best two seconds of the entire loop at 14:13 – a bridge that seamlessly brings you back to the main theme of the song.

(Sorry – music nerd moment there!)

I found the song titles on a blog called Timekeeper’s Blog, and that song is called “Liquid Space,” which happens to be found on a poster for the attraction The Submarine Voyage found in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland from 1959-1998. The poster says “Explore Uncharted Seas! Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space.”

The Effects

The entrance to Tomorrowland – where the music is out of this world!

Throughout the music there are many different sound effects inserted in strategic locations in the music. These effects can hearken back to the 1950′s sci-fi television shows or even more recent children’s shows set in space. The effects are clearly found in the music, and I am reminded of Ben Burtt when I hear the random bleeps or bloops. (Burtt was the sound designer for the Star Wars films and voiced WALL-E.)

Not only are there effects inserted into the soundtrack itself, there are also the great sounds that can be heard in and around Tomorrowland! Whether it’s the mechanical sounds of the arms that lift the Astro Orbiter’s ships or the smooth hum of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover units passing by, all the extra sounds of Tomorrowland actually blend with the soundtrack – something that’s hard to do with the random mechanical sounds in Adventureland, for example.

 

As you can see, I have many opinions on the music of Tomorrowland, and could listen to the soundtrack for hours. It is a fine addition to the land music in Walt Disney World!

What do you think of the Tomorrowland music loop? Does it make you pine for Adventures Thru Inner Space or crave for the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter? Which Carousel of Progress song do you prefer? Comment below!

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10 Things You’ll Want To Know About a Vacation at Disney’s Aulani Resort

By Tammy Whiting

Aloha! This week I’ve got Disney’s Aulani Resort on the brain! Why, you ask? Because I spent a glorious week there recently. I’ve been to Hawaii before, and there’s a reason people call it paradise. And let me assure you, Aulani does its part to live up to that. It’s an absolutely stunning resort, and that trip was one of the most relaxing vacations we’ve ever had. I highly recommend a visit. And if you do get a chance to stay there, here are ten things that may help you experience the magic even more.

1. It’s Disney With a Light Touch – Aulani is absolutely a Disney resort. And that’s a good thing. It’s also a Disney resort with one of the lightest touches you’ll find. Sure, you’ll have the opportunity to see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and friends decked out in Hawaiian garb, but they’re in an environment that truly feels authentic to the island. Because at Aulani, the central themes are the islands of Hawaii, its people, and their culture. Need examples? The interactive game at the resort isn’t a Phineas and Ferb adventure, it’s based on Menehune, a mythological Hawaiian people. Although there are hidden Mickeys to be found, there are actual hidden Menehune statues all over the resort. The collage of photographs behind the front desk is made up of individual photos taken by Hawaiian students across the islands. Additionally, the lobby is breathtaking and open air like you find in resorts all over Hawaii, and it has a grand 360-degree mural which tells the history of Hawaii. Even the pools aren’t Mickey shaped; they’re free form, most with gorgeous views of the ocean and lagoon the resort is situated on. Finally, in a fun touch that my family really enjoyed, the elevators play classic Disney songs using Hawaiian-style music and lyrics in the Hawaiian language. Have fun guessing which song is being played!

2. The Rooms Are Gorgeous – Gorgeous is a word you use a lot at Aulani. It’s just the word which keeps coming to mind! The rooms there are really, really pretty and comfortable. Just what you want a hotel room to be. The views vary widely. The garden views are nothing to write home about, but the pool and ocean views are spectacular. One word of caution about the rooms, however. The doors in the one-bedroom villas are inadequate for privacy. They are really more like shutters and block no sound at all. You can’t see people once the door is shut, but sound wise they may as well be in the room with you. This was the one poor design choice we noticed in the entire resort.

3. Chairs Can be Saved, but Only for an Hour – Chairs by the pools and beach are prime real estate, as you can imagine. At Aulani, the pools and beach and sun and lush greenery are the real stars. You (and most of your fellow Aulani guests) will definitely spend a lot of time in the chairs near the pool or beach, so it’s good to know what the policy is for saving chairs. Not surprisingly, my husband saw people saving chairs as early as 7:30 am at Aulani as he was heading out for a morning jog. Now that may rankle some of us, but the Disney policy allows for it for a limited amount of time. Here is what we took away regarding Aulani’s chair saving policy. To start with, it is actually enforced by cast members! So what does that mean exactly? Does that mean you have nowhere to leave your things if you want to swim? Not at all. What it does mean is you can’t put a pair of flip flops and a few towels on six chairs in a row in the morning and then spend your day swimming and not using them and expect them to still be there when you get back after lunch. The chair saving policy is that any belongings on chairs left unattended for one hour (when chairs are at a premium) will be moved. The cast members really do enforce this. These dedicated chair attendants watch the chairs, and if no one has been seen for a little while, they go and fold a towel and place it on the back of the chair. That’s key. A folded towel on the back of a chair means that chair is on the clock. The chair attendant then takes note of what time the towel was folded, and if that towel hasn’t moved an hour later, the belongings on the chair are moved to a nearby towel hut. We saw it happen, and we inherited the chairs. So, if you are looking for chairs and having a hard time find what you need, just ask one of the chair attendants. They’ll let you know which ones are about to open up and help you find some. From what we saw, it’s actually an efficient system.

4. Great Dining Options On and Offsite – Aulani does have some great dining options, and you don’t have to leave the Disney bubble for food if you don’t want to. ‘Ama‘Ama is an upscale beachside restaurant with seafood, steak, and pasta options. Makahiki is the buffet restaurant with character breakfasts every morning. There are also several quick-service type options on the beach and around the pool area. There’s even a shave ice stand that stays busy from opening until close. If you’re looking to spend a little less money (it’s Hawaii, not much is cheap), there’s a small but nice shopping center basically across the street. In this shopping center there is a great sit down restaurant named Monkeypod Kitchen, which you should probably make reservations for because it seemed always to be packed! We really enjoyed our dinner there. Another evening, we had pizza and delicious garlic rolls at Pizza Corner in the same shopping center. There is a Mexican place called Just Tacos, which actually serves a lot more than “just” tacos. There’s also Hawaiian barbeque, an ice cream shop (expensive, but yummy), and several little boutique shops. If you just want to stock up on some essentials like milk and snacks, there’s also an ABC Store called Island Country Market, which has those and so much more, including counter-service meals. Just this past week Aulani also opened a self serve Dole Whip stand! Now if that’s not exciting, I don’t know what is!

5. There are Lots of Great Side Trips on Oahu – It wouldn’t be hard to spend a full week in Aulani and never feel the need to step off property, but there are so many wonderful things to see and do in Hawaii, you should probably consider some side trips. Aulani offers some official excursions with options such as hiking, horseback riding, and local sightseeing. Renting a car is another option to give you more freedom. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial are very moving and something every American should see at least once. Tickets are first-come-first-served, and in the summer they do run out early. Downtown Waikiki is full of shopping (and tourists) if that floats your boat. I’d definitely recommend a trip to the North Shore to see the sea turtles and surfers! Don’t forget to stop at Matsumoto for cheap and delicious shave ice. Or go see the incredible Polynesian Cultural Center (pricey, but very unique and worth the money). There are also all kinds of beautiful (and free!) hikes around.  And what trip to Hawaii (or Disney) is complete without pineapples? You need to visit the Dole Plantation! There are beautiful pineapples, Dole Whips (the biggest draw for me), a maze, a train ride, it’s a fun place! Definitely worth a trip!

6. There are Daily Navigators! – Okay, they’re not called Navigators. Navigators are a daily newsletter Disney Cruise Line leaves in your room every night listing the next day’s activities. We love sitting down every night on a cruise and planning what we want to do the next day. Well, Aulani has them, too! There they are called the daily ‘Iwa. We dubbed them Iwagators. The Iwagators list character times, movies on the lawn times, teen activities, excursions, restaurant hours, and more. They aren’t always in your room (usually not at all in the DVC villas), so just stop by the front desk at night and ask for one if you don’t get it.

7. Parking is Expensive (If You Have to Pay for It) – Parking at Aulani is crazy expensive: $35 a day. That’s a lot of money, but having a car does give you added freedom to explore Oahu. If you’re a DVC member staying on points, self-parking is free. Guests paying cash to stay in a room and day visitors, however, have to pay (with some validation available for day guests). A silver lining to this high parking price if you have to pay is that valet parking costs the same as self-parking (understanding the tip will be extra). If you are considering renting a car, take the price of parking into account. There is an Alamo car rental location on site, so it may be possible to only rent a car as needed. Also, Aulani sometimes offers free transfers from the airport as a special (this is not the norm, however). In fact, they are running such a special now, so you may not need a car if you’re not planning on leaving the resort.

8. The Cast Members are Disney Friendly – The cast members definitely live up to highest Disney standards of friendliness and service. Frankly, we were blown away at the Aloha spirit which infused all the Aulani cast members. It was simply superb. Personally, I have always found park cast members to be very friendly, but it’s the cruise line crew members who usually blow me away. I think the crew members on Disney cruises are exactly what Walt would have wanted. Everyone from your dining servers to the maintenance workers in the hallways go out of their way to make you feel welcome and appreciated. We felt like the Aulani cast members were on par with that. They were so friendly and welcoming. It was a great environment.

9. The Kids’ Clubs Are Free – In another similarity to the cruise line, the children’s programming is complimentary for potty-trained guests ages 3-12. While there are some premium activities that cost extra, a day at Aunty’s Beach House (as the kid’s club is named) is jam packed with activities designed to entertain young guests. There are arts and crafts, Disney movies, hula lessons, scavenger hunts and more! Check your Iwagator (sorry, can’t help it) for a schedule.

10. The Time Change Can be Rough – A word of warning, the time change can wreak havoc on your schedule. We came from the Pacific time zone and the time change during Daylight Savings is three hours. From the East Coast that’s six hours! And from Europe, it’s even worse (way worse, actually). We woke up at 6 in the morning and were ready for bed at 9. Of course that worked great for our teenagers who were actually stirring by 9 am! If you’re coming from the East Coast and you’ve got the time you really should consider a stop at Disneyland on the way! You know just for time adjustment purposes…

There are so many other things to say about Aulani, but as is my way, I can’t go beyond the ten points above. So, I’ll wait until next time to talk about Aunty—the ultimate Aulani personality because she doesn’t feel like a character, she feels like your family. I don’t have time to talk to you about how she teaches you about Hawaii and seems like your long-lost Hawaiian aunt! I also don’t have time to talk about the free shows and programs which Aulani puts on around the resort, or the free DVDs (for DVC members) you can check out each night (although strangely, they didn’t have Lilo and Stitch!). I didn’t even get to the award winning spa! Or the snorkeling lagoon or lazy river where we spent so much time!! Ack!

Does it sound amazing? It should! Have you been? What are some of your favorite things?

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10 Things You’ll Want To Know About a Vacation at Disney’s Aulani Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Taking Disney World by Storm

By Thomas Cook

First of all, I am not a meteorologist. I don’t even play one on TV.

That being said, I have thirty years of experience in Orlando weather, including doing extensive research on hurricanes.

The 2014 hurricane season has begun, and the year marks the tenth anniversary of Orlando’s “Year of Three Hurricanes”. In this article, I’ll cover the issue of hurricanes and Orlando’s famous thunderstorms as well as how to avoid them and vacation around them.

Orlando street view the morning after Hurricane Charley in 2004. Photo by Thomas Cook

Officially known as “tropical cyclones” but colloquially as hurricanes, the massive summer storms are one of the most powerful and dangerous natural events on earth. The amount of energy released in one day by an average cyclone in producing rain (which is 400 times greater than the wind energy) is equal to the yearly energy production of the U.S.

So you’re thinking hurricanes and Florida go hand-in-hand like Vermont and snow, right? Well, sort of. Florida is a big state. Not only in terms of square miles, but it’s long. For instance, it takes 12 hours to drive from Key West to Pensacola.

Of course, every mile is a potential hurricane target, but Walt Disney World is only some 40 miles square. Additionally it’s in the center of the state, relatively far from the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. This means every time your local news tells about a hurricane in Florida, it’s unlikely to be passing close to Disney world.

The U.S. government started regular tracking of tropical cyclones in 1851. Looking at those statistics gives excellent news: The frequency of a hurricane passing through the Walt Disney World area in any year is 1 in 10. A 10% chance each year is all local have to worry about. Want even better news? If you’re visiting for a week or two, you have an even smaller chance of having to deal with one of nature’s super storms.

We’ll look at the statistics in a moment, but first let’s have a quick primer. As mentioned before, the scientific name for these storms is tropical cyclone. That’s because when talking about them, one can be referring to hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions. At least it’s all rather simple. It’s all about sustained wind speed:

Tropical depression: Winds under 38 mph; 62 km/h
Tropical storm: Winds between 39-73 mph; 63-118 km/h
Category 1 hurricane: Winds between 74-95 mph; 119-153 km/h
Category 2 hurricane: Winds between 96-110 mph; 154-177 km/h
Category 3 hurricane: Winds between 111-129 mph; 178-208 km/h
Category 4 hurricane: Winds between 130-156 mph; 209-251 km/h
Category 5 hurricane: Winds over 157 mph; 252 km/h

Tropical cyclones are “born” in the latitudes just north and south of the Equator. Officially, tropical cyclone season is between June 1 and November 30, so there is little chance of a storm during the other six months. Winds, currents and especially warm water temperatures combine to create a storm that has a rapid rotation which is counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere (this is caused by the Coriolis force, the same effect that determines the direction of rotation of your flushing toilet).

Cyclones that concern Florida form in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa or in the Caribbean. A cyclone’s directional movement can be anywhere from stationary to around 50 mph; 80 km/h, though 10 mph; 16 km/h is a more normal speed. They can maintain their speed over land, though significant landmasses typically weaken the intensity of storms. For instance, a category 3 hurricane hitting Florida will often lose more than 50% of its energy as it crosses the peninsula.

Cyclones are dangerous for several reasons. Coastal communities have to worry about storm surge: winds pushing waves to immense size which can batter buildings and cause flooding. General flooding is also an issue, since a large storm can drop twenty-five or more inches of rain in only a few hours. There are high winds, which can destroy buildings and knock out power lines. While lightning activity is not prevalent in cyclones, it’s possible and an even more potential concern in larger storms is the creation of destructive tornadoes.

As terrible as that sounds, in reality, central Florida is better situated than most of the state. There’s no need to worry about storm surge. Flooding isn’t a worry either: Orlando is 85 feet above sea level and there are several hundred lakes in the area that can absorb an insane amount of precipitation. Even after the three hurricanes ten years ago there wasn’t hazardous flooding. High winds are an issue, but every powerful storm that has passed through Orlando was slowed down by the land to lessen the potential for damage.

And once again, it’s very unlikely for Walt Disney World visitors to have to deal with a cyclone. Since 1852, central Florida has been directly hit by a category 1 or higher cyclone 17 times. On average, that’s one every 9.5 years. I’ve looked at every storm track, the intensity of each storm and the proximity of the center (“eye”) of the storm in relation to Orlando. So let’s get down to brass tacks:

A two week trip is 1/12 of the 6 month hurricane season.
The chance of a dangerous cyclone in each hurricane season is 1/10.
The chance of a dangerous cyclone hitting Walt Disney World while you’re visiting is about 1/120 (well under 1%).
The chance of encountering a mild to moderate storm, one that shouldn’t cause many problems, is only 3%.

To be complete, we should talk about safety and preparedness just in case. Here are my suggestions:

If you plan a trip during summer, the first thing is check for the possibility of cyclones in the area before you leave. Literally, this is something to do less than a week before. If one is approaching, you might want to think about postponing if you can. The National Hurricane Center collects all information about cyclones and will
give you the latest information. (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/)
If a cyclone does appear to be heading your way, look to the front desk of your hotel for advice. They should have a contingency plan. Listen and follow their directions. They can advise you about when to take cover and when it’s safe to visit the parks, etc.
Depending on the severity and proximity of the storm, each theme park will decide whether to stay open or close. Once again check with your hotel, they should have the latest information.
If a cyclone is going to hit, get back to your hotel. If you’re camping, speak to the campground staff, they may have to direct you to a nearby hotel or one of the area’s shelters.
Make sure you have some food and especially water in your hotel room in case you’re stuck there. After a cyclone, don’t trust drinking tap water until you have an all clear from management.
Watch the TV for news and try to stay away from windows. Hotels are built strong enough to withstand most high winds, but the picture windows in every room are vulnerable.
The electricity may go out, so remember to charge batteries for phones, etc. before the storm hits.
This one is very important: In powerful cyclones, the eye is a great doughnut-hole area that is eerily calm. People think this is a good time to go out and take a look around. Unfortunately, some are electrocuted by stepping in standing water that has a downed, but still live, power line touching it. It is also still very possible to be hit by debris. Think about it, how far do you suppose a 2×4 will fly if launched in a 100 mph wind? There’s nothing safe about the cyclone’s eye.
After the storm has passed, check in with the hotel staff and wait until they give you the all-clear to go outside and look around. Don’t step in water and avoid walking under trees. Trust me; don’t be in a hurry to check out the damage. It will all be there for several days afterwards.

Large tree uprooted lifting truck – the aftermath of Hurricane Charley in 2004. Photo by Thomas Cook

Florida has two seasons. June through September is our “wet” season, while October through May is the “dry”. That’s not to say we don’t get rain in the winter, but it’s summer when Florida develops its remarkable cycle of afternoon thunderstorms.

Lightning Capital of the U.S.

Yes, that’s been said over and over again. People may think it’s something that central Florida chose to call itself, but nobody living here thinks lightning is a wonderful. It’s dangerous and something we live with. A guest asked me the other day, “What’s the big deal about lightning?” I answered, “Several hundred million volts of energy travelling at 100,000 miles an hour.”

Look at the map showing the frequency of thunderstorms created by the National Weather Service. See the red oval with the number 100? Walt Disney World is located just to its north.

The average number of thunderstorm days per year. Map provided by the United States Weather Service.

Florida thunderstorms develop because of a high level of moisture (humidity) and warm air (over 90F/32C) colliding with cool air (primarily from the Gulf of Mexico). Storms can appear out of nowhere and there’s no need for considerable clouds to produce rain and lightning. There are countless days every summer with drenching rain while the sun shines.

The rain is mostly an annoyance. Like I mentioned before, flooding in the area isn’t a problem. Walt Disney World has been designed to take advantage of Florida’s lakes and sandy soil for remarkable drainage.

On the other hand, lightning is very much something to worry about. It’s unpredictable, which is why all of Florida’s theme parks and attractions take it especially seriously. Part of the proof of their measures is that only a handful of guests and staff have ever been hurt by lightning in the parks. Doing some research, one can find only a couple incidents, both related to water parks. Occurring at Busch Garden’s Adventure Island and SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove, they show that it is almost certainly the connection with water that increases the chance of injury.

In 2011, Discovery Cove, the exclusive “day-spa” where guests can swim with a dolphin, had an incident where three guests and five employees were injured by lightning. Tragically, that same year Adventure Island witnessed the death of a lifeguard working in one of its pools.

This cannot be stressed too strongly: Lightning is dangerous and unpredictable. If you’re outside during a storm, especially if you can see lightning, take cover. Please ignore the guests who keep walking about; if you notice very few cast members outside, even if it’s not raining, that tells you that lightning is nearby.

Each theme park company has state-of-the-art lightning systems. For instance, every building is covered with lightning rods. Generally, guests don’t become aware of these systems until they find that an outside attraction or show is closed. The parks track the proximity of lightning. Lightning strikes within a certain radius cause pools and water play areas to close; outside attractions to shut down; parades and shows to be postponed or cancelled; outside vendors to close up and take cover.

Rainbow over Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom during a typical summer afternoon thunderstorm. Photo by Thomas Cook

Chances are, if you’re doing a Walt Disney World vacation between June and September you’ll have to deal with Florida’s liquid sunshine and daytime light shows. The easiest thing to do is assume that every day, roughly from 3:00-6:00 PM there will be a storm, so go ahead and plan for it.

Schedule flights to avoid afternoon arrival or departure. That will lessen delays.
Pack compact umbrellas and quick dry shirts. Avoid buying ponchos, they’re uncomfortably hot, flimsy, don’t work very well and prove to everyone you failed to plan ahead.
If you visit a water park, do it in the morning and early afternoon.
When visiting parks with many outside activities such as the shows at SeaWorld or animal attractions at Animal Kingdom or Busch Gardens, focus on those activities in the morning and save the afternoon for inside pursuits.
Considering the crowds during the summer, heading to the parks for rope drop is already a good idea. Leave the afternoon for shopping, relaxing and dining either in the parks or at your hotel.
In the afternoon don’t get in pools and avoid small boats or fishing (three times more people get struck by lightning while fishing than while golfing).
Listen to cast members about taking cover. They’re not required to tell you of lightning, so if they do, there’s a good reason.
Understand that if an attraction has been closed down, it’s for your safety as well as the cast members.
If you’re in a car during a thunderstorm, wait there. It’s safer than running across a giant parking lot.
Focus on attractions that are not only indoors but have queues that are covered.
Know that nine times out of ten, the storms dissipate by early evening, leaving a cooler and fresher night ready for all sorts of fun.

I hope this article helps. Too many times I’ve heard people talking about hurricanes as if that’s a reason to avoid Florida in the summer. I’ve also seen too many people completely unprepared for the inevitable thunderstorms. With some basic planning and creativity, anyone can take Walt Disney World by storm!

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I’m a Big Kid Now: A Guide to Your First Disney Trip Without Parents

By Maddi Higgins

Dedicated blog readers may recall Erin Foster’s article “Spring Break at Disney World – Teens’ First No-Parent Trip,” outlining her teen daughter and friends’ first Disney trip without parents. Though now I’m (supposedly) a real adult—I just graduated in May–it wasn’t long ago that I was a teen taking my first Disney trip without parents. My first winter break in college, I went to Walt Disney World with my boyfriend and two other friends. Two years later, I went for my 21st birthday with my three younger siblings. So for any teens or young adults out there planning your first parent-free trip, here’s a quick guide into your first clumsy steps into Disney adulthood.

Peter Pan may never grow up, but my siblings and I had to for our first Disney trip without parents.

Why a Disney Trip Without Parents?

Walt Disney World is the safest place to go for your first no-parent trip. The crime rate is essentially zero and every single cast member is trained to help you stay safe. It’s also one of the best options for fun. All through college, I never found the MTV Spring Break-style college trip terribly appealing. I enjoy the occasional beverage, but I can only “WOOOO!” for a few hours before I’m bored. Walt Disney World has an infinite number of activities and it’s impossible to get bored. I had been planning my family’s trips for years, so I felt comfortable planning my own trip.

Assembling the Team

Due to our genetic similarities and shared upbringing, my siblings and I know each other quite well and knew we would get along during our trip. We are all Disney experts who have similar interests and goals for a Walt Disney World trip, and a unanimous acknowledgment of me as the leader. When I went with my friends and boyfriend, they all knew I was the resident Disney expert and were happy to follow my plans. I had been friends with all of them since the third grade, and my boyfriend and I had been together for over two years, so we were confident in our ability to deal with each other for a few days. Their most important quality was their enthusiasm for Disney fun.

Age Limits

You’re going to need at least one person to be 18 or older by the first day of your trip. No hotel, on or off Disney property, will let somebody younger than 18 check in without an adult. Many off-property hotels have a minimum check-in age of 21, but Disney’s age limit is only 18.

If you’re looking to rent a car for your trip, Fox Rent-A-Car will allow drivers 19 or older to rent a car. Drivers under 25 are charged $14.00 per day on top of the base rental price. You can also use a debit card to pay for the car rental as long as you have the full rental charges, plus $150, available in your account.

Since Walt Disney World is a family park, nearly all locations are open to all ages. The only locations that require you to be 21 or older to visit are Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall, both located on Disney’s Boardwalk. Any other locations will allow those under 21 to enter, though there may be restrictions about sitting at the bar areas.

Grown-up Packing List

When you’re the actual adult in the group, you’re going to need to have actual adult things with you that you may not have thought about with your parents taking care of everything.

A state-issued I.D.
Flight information
Cash for tips (see a past blog post with tipping info here)
Credit or debit cards
Reservation information
The My Disney Experience app

Money Saving Tips

We all know college students have no money, and I was (read: am) no exception. So we took severe lengths to save money on our trips.

Rent DVC points. It’s a controversial position, but I am a big fan of renting DVC points. It gave us access to a larger room to squeeze ourselves all in and access to a kitchenette. The kitchenette is directly related to the next tip…
Pack food. We took full advantage of Southwest’s free luggage policy to bring giant suitcases filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwich ingredients, canned foods, cereal bars, and any other food we could fit. We had the occasional dinner out and bought some snacks, but we saved tons of money on meals by packing lunch for days at the parks.
Arrive early and leave late. With just three nights in a hotel, we had four full days in the parks by arriving on the earliest possible flight, dropping off luggage, and heading straight to the parks on the first day. On the last day, we dropped off our luggage at bell services, went to the parks, and took the latest possible flight home.

Was Walt Disney World your first trip without parents? How did it go? What advice do you have for first timers? Let us know in the comments.

Please welcome Maddi Higgins to the TouringPlans blog team. Maddi is current at Walt Disney World as part of the Disney College Program.

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SATURDAY SIX: Top Six New Drinks in Universal’s Diagon Alley

By Derek Burgan

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Top Six New Drinks in Universal’s Diagon Alley. The original plan for this week was to take a look at the top six options for food and drink in the newest addition to the Wizarding World, but after reaching out to a blue panel commission to tabulate the results we came to one realization: that mission was truly impossible. There are so many new foods, snacks, and drinks within Diagon Alley and each person seems to have a different favorite. So we’re going to take a page from Bill O’Reilly’s playbook by throwing out the previous plan and we’ll do it live! We’re gonna break down our favorites in each category over the course of the next three weeks and we’ll start off with our favorite beverages…

A murderer’s row of drink if there ever was one. (photo by Brandon Glover)

# 6 – Tongue Tying Lemon Squash

Tongue Tying Lemon Squash (photo by Brandon Glover)

Our list begins with the Tongue Tying Lemon Squash. Think of the lemonades you get freshly made at your local fair or farmer’s market and imagine more lemon being used along with a hint of vanilla. The taste is very tart, but this drink has already become the best lemonade on property. ($4.79 at the The Hopping Pot)

# 5 – Peachtree Fizzing Tea

Peachtree Fizzing Tea (photo by Brandon Glover)

Peachtree Fizzing Tea. Like a Pumpkin Fizz over at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmade, the Fizzing Tea is a carbonated beverage. Peach flavored and with a hint of ginger. It reminded us of a peach cobbler and wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet. ($4.79 at the Leaky Cauldron)

 

# 4 – Wizard’s Brew

Wizard’s Brew (photo by Brandon Glover0

Fans of Duff Dry over in Springfield U.S.A. will more than likely enjoy Wizard’s Brew as it is a very dark stout with notes of coffee and chocolate. Not for everyone, this can be an especially strong drink (thankfully not bitter) and is another exclusive brew made for Universal by the Florida Beer Company, who previously had brewed Hog’s Head Ale, Duff, Duff Lite, and Duff Dry for the parks. ($7/75 at The Hopping Pot)

 

# 3- Fishy Green Ale

Fishy Green Ale (photo by Brandon Glover)

One of the most unique and original drinks created for the area was Fishy Green Ale. Like the original Butterbeer and then the Flaming Moe in Springfield, Universal has created a theme park signature drink that is like no other. The drink itself is green in color with a creamy mint taste along with some hints of cinnamon. At the bottom of the drink are plump blueberry “fish eggs.” The Fishy Green Ale comes with a bigger straw than the other drinks to be able to suck these “eggs” up and they almost explode in your mouth. Like the Wizard’s Brew, the non-alcoholic Fishy Green Ale is not for everyone, but those who enjoy it are going to love it. ($4.99 at the Fountain of Fair Fortunre)

 

# 2 – Dragon Scale

The beer taps for Dragon Scale and Wizard’s Brew at the Fountain of Fair Fortune (photo by Brandon Glover)

Dragon Scale brew (photo by Brandon Glover)

Dragon Scale is a lager more along the lines of the exclusive Hog’s Head Ale in Hogsmeade and regular Duff Beer in Springfield. An equivalent Muggle beer would be close to Killian’s. Like the Hog’s Head beer, the tap for Dragon Scale is incredibly designed. For us, a highlight of Diagon Alley on a hot day is grabbing an ice cold Dragon Scale and then walking outside to enjoy it while the Gringotts dragon roars and spews fire. ($7.75 at the Fountain of Fair Fortune)

 

# 1 – Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice

Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice (photo by Brandon Glover)

Possibly the biggest surprise of all the new drinks is Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice. Slightly carbonated, this orange drink has a hint of vanilla along with cinnamon and sugar on the rim. This combo on the rim of the cup is one of the greatest breakthroughs in the last 20 years of drink technology. Like a Blue Moon beer, this non-alcoholic drink is topped with an orange slice. It may not have the fanfare of other Potter-themed drinks, but for our money the refreshing Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice tops the list. ($4.79 at the Leaky Cauldron)

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Gillywater

There are two magic tricks with each sale of Gillywater. The first magically makes water something you want to actually drink and the other makes $8.25 disappear from your wallet (photo by Brandon Glover)

Various elixirs to add to your Gillywater (photo by Brandon Glover)

The details within the Eternelle’s drink station is your typical WWOHP next level amazing variety (photo by Brandon Glover)

With Gillywater Universal has almost done the impossible. They have created a bottle of flavored water that guests will gladly line up and pay over $8 for. In a world of overpriced Fiji and Vitamin Water this pricepoint is like breaking the 4 minute mile. What helps is the emotional connection that guests have with Gillywater from its various mentions in the Potter books and films. There is also the insanely great theming of the stand which sells Gillywater and the elixirs to mix in, Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment in Carkitt Market.

In many ways Gillywater is similar to the chocolate frog that debuted with the opening of Hogsmeade in 2010. It may be a bit pricey, but Universal made the experience itself memorable and tied to a moment that fans remember from the books or movies. For Gillywater, Romilda Vane tried to get Harry Potter to drink some Gillywater mixed with a love potion in Half Blood Prince.

So there you have it: the Top Six New Drinks in Universal’s Diagon Alley. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the SATURDAY SIX, where we are going to look at our favorite foods, so get ready to read a rave review over the Banger Pub Style Sandwich from the Leaky Cauldron. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for his invaluable assistance in this article. I would also like to thank hand models Meg (one of the founding members of #PotterWatch, her story of which you can listen on the latest episode of Pakscope podcast), @saidthelion, @mimi0987, @elevnage, Universal park icon @hatetofly, Disney super fan @Trygve and Gregory Ryan. Greg is one of the contributors to the Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast. UUOP just celebrated their 100th episode and I would like to congratulate them on being one of the best Universal-centered audio in the world.

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SATURDAY SIX: Top Six New Drinks in Universal’s Diagon Alley is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Incorporating Disney into Everyday Life

By Angela Dahlgren

Recently, fellow blogger, Daisy Lauren, posted tips to beating your post-Disney blues. Inspired by her article, I have compiled a list of ways to keep the Disney magic flowing once you return home. Keep track of how many you’ve done and put your total in the comments!

Here we gooooooo….. (Peter Pan reference anyone? Yes? No? Okay, let’s move on.)

How cute are these salt and pepper shakers?

Ways To Bring Disney into Everyday Life

Look at photos from past Disney trips – Great way to relive those magical moments.


Read Disney-related books – I’m currently reading this Walt Disney biography.


Get cookin’ with kitchen tools and Disney recipes


Start running! – Prepare yourself for a future runDisney event.


Buy a piggy bank to fill up for your next trip – We have a Cinderella one!


Follow a Disney related blog (*cough* TouringPlans *cough*)


Hydrate yourself with a snazzy Disney water bottle, tumbler or travel mug


Take Disney-related quizzes found on the internet – Spoiler: I’m Princess Aurora.


Host a Disney-themed party or celebration – My daughter’s first birthday party: Princess or Minnie themed? Decisions. Decisions.

Insert Princess here

Instead of making a birthday cake with Barbie in the middle, use a Disney princess doll


Sign up to receive a free Disney vacation planning DVD – Guilty of this.


Enter different sweepstakes to win a Disney vacation – Also guilty of this…has anyone actually won one of these?!


Whip out the crayons and use a coloring book – Great stress reliever and fun activity to do with the kids.


Join a message board and bask in your love of all things Disney


Lady and the Tramp themed dinner and a movie – “…and we calllll it belllllla nooootte.”


Dress like your favorite character – I see a lot of Disney clothing at Target, but Disney products are everywhere.

The force is strong with these ones.

Decorate the house with Disney home merchandise – Artwork and bed sheets and bobble heads, oh my!


Consider a Disney Visa credit card – Select your favorite Disney image and swipe away!


Bake using Disney cookie cutters – We have Star Wars ones…still counts as Disney-related though, right?


Decorate school notebooks with pictures and stickers


“Pay” a visit to the Disney store website


Enjoy the music– Pandora, piano sheet music, sing-alongs (Who remembers those Disney Sing-Along Songs movies?)


Make a Disney DIY– Check out this board I found on Pinterest for some great ideas!


Buy a Disney frame to put your favorite photos in – There are Disney frames to match any theme or celebration.


Check out Etsy for some unique Disney gift ideas


Watch the films – You can download Disney Movies Anywhere and enter in your Disney digital copy codes. Voilà! Watch them anywhere!

So what’s your number? Mine is 20. How do YOU enjoy Disney at home? Let me know in the comments!

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New Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Touring Plans

By Seth Kubersky

Massive crowds await inside the Gringotts bank. Be prepared with our new Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley touring plans! (Photos by Seth Kubersky)

It’s been a little over a week since the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, and Universal Studios Florida‘s blockbuster new attraction continues to attract astoundingly oversized crowds. While you won’t find the massive queue clogging park walkways that accompanied the opening of the original Wizarding World in Islands of Adventure, thanks to greatly improved crowd control procedures, guests are still waiting upwards of 5 hours on a daily basis just to Escape from Gringotts. While the new “multidimensional” thrill machine is certainly a marvel, we here at Touring Plans are congenitally allergic to advising any of our readers to invest half their vacation day in any one attraction, at the expense of experiencing everything else that Universal has to offer. In that spirt, we offer our newly updated Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Touring Plans, along with a comprehensive commentary with everything you need to know in order to open your magical bank account with a bare minimum (relatively speaking) of waiting.

The following Diagon Alley touring plans are based on first-hand observations conducted during pre-opening media previews, soft openings, and daily operations during grand opening week. The plans were optimized based on a peak day (9.5 out of 10 on our crowd calendar) and may need modification once off-season arrives with shorter hours. As operational patterns evolve, we’ll continue to update our plans for maximum efficiency.

These plans will also shortly be available as premium plans on TouringPlans.com and in our Lines app, so subscribers will be able to copy and edit them at will. Be aware that our system is not yet able to properly account for the queuing and return time tickets required to enter Diagon Alley, and may therefore return inappropriate results for that area’s attractions; for the moment, we recommend editing the attraction order manually through our website, and using “evaluate” instead of “optimize” for Diagon Alley plans.

Wizarding World Admission Procedures

After a rocky first summer, in which Islands of Adventure was swamped with long queues of guests waiting to enter the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal instituted a series of crowd control gambits to manage the masses of eager Muggles. Over time, as the initial onslaught slaked, Hogsmeade’s entry procedures were refined down to two basic systems:

Hogsmeade Normal Operations

On most days, there is no wait to access The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade. Guests can enter at will through either The Lost Continent or Jurassic Park.

Hogsmeade Peak Operations

On very busy days, once the Wizarding World reaches maximum occupancy (reportedly 4,000 guests), the entrance at Lost Continent is closed off, and the bridge to Jurassic Park becomes exit only. Guests wishing to circumnavigate the park are directed across another bridge directly connecting Lost Continent to Jurassic Park. Guests wishing to enter Hogsmeade may choose one of two options:

Return Time Tickets

Near the Discovery Center in Jurassic Park, in the old queue for the former Triceratops Trail attraction, you’ll find a bank of touchscreen kiosks used to dispense return time tickets. Select the number of guests in your party (up to 9) and pick from one of the two offered hour-long return time windows, typically starting 2 hours apart (e.g., “10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.”) The machine dispenses a ticket (resembling Walt Disney World’s old paper FastPasses) with your return time printed on it. Return to the Lost Continent entrance into Hogsmeade at the appointed time, and you typically will be admitted with little delay. Note that (unlike FastPass) you do not need to scan an admission ticket to receive a time, and only one member of your party needs be present to retrieve a ticket.

Sample return time ticket for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Standby

If guests do not wish to take a return time ticket, or all tickets have been distributed for the day, they can wait in a standby line that is established near the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. Because new guests are admitted to the Wizarding World only as others vacate, this line can move very slowly. The standby line is only offered on the most crowded days, and has not been needed during Diagon Alley’s debut season.

 

Diagon Alley Entry Procedures

On slow days, you may be enter the London area in front of Diagon Alley from either end without restriction, but those days are likely to be few and far between for the foreseeable future. Even after the initial surge of attendance dies down — which may take many weeks or months — on a day of average attendance we still expect you will experience at least a short wait before passing through the magical wall into Diagon Alley, even if arriving immediately after opening. At all but the slowest times, guests may only enter London via the gateway nearest Fear Factor Live, with the end closest to King’s Cross normally reserved for exiting guests only.

On crowded days, the standby wait simply to enter the London area has been estimated at up to six hours in the mornings, with a queue (complete with snack vendors and giant screens showing the NBC “Making Of Diagon Alley” special in and endless loop) stretching backstage behind the MEN IN BLACK and Fear Factor Live attractions.

Diagon Alley maximum capacity is reported to be as much as double that of Hogsmeade, but it will still fill up quickly even during times of moderate attendance. That is thanks in large part to the Early Entry offered for guests at all Universal onsite hotels (including the ginormous new Cabana Bay Beach Resort) as well as offsite guests purchasing special packages through Universal Vacations.

The typical daily pattern of admission operations at Diagon Alley is as follows:

USF park turnstiles open at least 90 minutes prior to official park opening. Early Entry guests are permitted to walk towards Despicable Me and held near Shrek. Day guests are directed down Hollywood and held near the Horror Makeup Show.
Early Entry guests are walked through KidZone and Springfield towards MEN IN BLACK, then queued to enter the London area near Fear Factor Live. Guests are gradually released into London, with the first guests entering Diagon Alley and queuing for Gringotts just as the early entry hour begins. The last of the Early Entry guests to arrive may not enter Diagon Alley until the hour is almost over.
Around the official opening time, day guests are walked through KidZone and Springfield towards MEN IN BLACK, and queued near Fear Factor live behind any remaining Early Entry guests. As the queue grows throughout the morning, arriving guests may be directed to join it through backstage gates between MEN IN BLACK and Fear Factor Live, or MEN IN BLACK and The Simpsons Ride; look for employees holding large blue directional signs in the World Expo area.
As soon as Diagon Alley reaches maximum capacity, which should be shortly after opening on peak days, the return time kiosks between MEN IN BLACK and Fear Factor Live will be activated. The kiosks operate identically to the ones described above, and there is rarely more than a minute wait to access them. Guests with a valid return time ticket report directly to the gateway into the London Waterfront next to the Grimmauld Place facade, bypassing the standby queue near Fear Factor Live. Typically return ticket holders will then enter with no delay, but at certain times a return queue can stretch along the waterfront embankment towards King’s Cross station; don’t worry, it should move quickly.
Even on the busiest days, return ticket distribution ceases in mid-afternoon, and the standby line dwindles shortly thereafter. On almost any day, you should be able to enter London unimpeded. For this reason, we strongly recommend that unless you can be among the first into Diagon Alley during early entry, save the area until the end of your day.

 

Be aware that the above is only a discussion of getting into Diagon Alley. Once inside, you will find that Gringotts has a combination of elaborate interior queues and pedestrian outdoor switchbacks capable of corralling over 4,000 riders. There are also be queues (interior and exterior) established for all the shops, eateries, and other experiences. And Universal Express, which usually whisks users past queues, is useless for all the new Wizarding World attractions. In short, as the Mummy down the street says, your wait to enter Diagon Alley “is only the beginning!”

It’s also important to note that if you exit the London area for any reason, you will have to rinse and repeat one of the previous procedures before reentering.

 

You can try to enter Diagon Alley after the park opens and face a queue like this…

…or you can follow our plan to wait until late afternoon and just waltz in.

 

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts Operations

Most guests upon entering Diagon Alley will stop and stare at the fire-breathing dragon at the top of the street, then sprint towards it to jump in the line for Escape from Gringotts, the area’s signature E-Ticket. In the ride’s early days of operations, wait times have leapt to two hours within minutes of the Early Entry guests’ arrival, and risen to 300 or more minutes by mid-morning; on the busiest days, wait times up to 450 minutes (7 1/2 hours!!!) have been posted.

 

Gringotts waits range from long but reasonable…

…to absolutely ridonculous.

These absurdly long waits reflect the intense popularity of the new attraction, which is more accessible than Forbidden Journey to guests unable or unwilling to brave more intense thrill rides, compounded by capacity limitations which should hopefully prove temporary. On opening day, the attraction was operating with only 3 vehicle trains, and a theoretical hourly capacity of only about 700 riders. A week later, the attraction was running 5 trains and moving almost 1000 guests per hour; eventually, it should be able to run 9 trains simultaneously for a healthy maximum hourly throughput of over 2000 riders.

As fantastic as the ride is (and it rates as “5 stars/not to be missed” in our book) no mere attraction could live up to a 5+ hour wait. Until capacity improves and crowds die down, if you want to ride Gringotts without wasting half of your very expensive park day in a single queue, you only have two options:

Be among the very first guests to arrive for Early Entry, and get in line for Gringotts as soon as the doors open. As long as you are among the first few hundred inside Diagon Alley, you should be in and out of Gringotts before Early Entry ends. Be warned that this plan can backfire if overnight maintenance issues delay the ride’s opening. If employees inform you that the ride is not yet running when Early Entry begins, don’t bother getting in the queue; instead, check back later in the day.
If you are not eligible for Early Entry, or are eligible but unable to arrive at least an hour before it begins, don’t even bother with Diagon Alley until later in the day. Experience the rest of the park’s attractions, then visit Diagon Alley in the late afternoon, when you should be able to enter London without a standby wait or return ticket. The Gringotts queue tends to shorten starting around 5 p.m. Don’t wait too long, however, because if the total wait exceeds the operating hours remaining in the day, the Gringotts queue may close to new riders as early as 3 hours before park closing.

A final trick for reducing your Gringotts wait is to use the “single rider queue,” which is typically about 25% of the standby wait. Note that the singles line bypasses all of the queue elements used to set up the story, including the preshow elevator simulation, and is therefore strongly discouraged for first-time riders. In addition, the singles line may be closed intermittently when it reaches maximum capacity; usually it reopens after a half hour or so, once the line has diminished.

 

Hogwarts Express Operations

The wildcard in creating a Wizarding World touring plan is the Hogwarts Express. Both an attraction and inter-park transportation, the magical train takes guests on journey between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, with virtual windows and in-car effects enhancing the ride. The best news is that, thanks to a combination higher-than-anticipated capacity and lower-than-expected demand, waits for the Hogwarts Express have been far lower than we initially feared, with posted times hovering at or below 20 minutes during most of the day. Here are some important things to keep in mind about the Hogwarts Express:

A park-to-park ticket or annual pass is mandatory to ride the Hogwarts Express. Guests with single-park tickets are able to upgrade their admission at ticket booths located at each train depot.
All Hogwarts Express rides are one-way only. If you wish to return to the park you departed from, you will be required to exit the train station and re-queue before re-boarding.
There is no minimum height requirement or safety restraints on the train, and personal strollers and motorized wheelchairs may be brought on board. Rental strollers must be dropped off and exchanged for new ones at the train station exit.
At peak times, Universal has plans to restrict guests to one one-way train trip per day, with those wishing to re-ride consigned to a secondary queue with twice the wait of the standard line. However, wait times for the train have proved much lower than expected, so this re-ride policy has not yet been enforced.

Most importantly, the Hogwarts Express loads and disembarks outside of the Wizarding World, and is not technically inside Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. While the King’s Cross train station is part of the same London facade as the entrance to Diagon Alley, there is no direct access from the train to Diagon Alley (or vice versa).

That means that guests wanting to ride the Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure do not have to first queue to enter Diagon Alley; there is a separate entrance through King’s Cross. Conversely, guests disembarking the train in King’s Cross will exit into the London area near the border with San Francisco, and need to get in line or retrieve a ticket if they wish to enter Diagon Alley. Likewise, on peak days if timed tickets are required to enter Hogsmeade, guests arriving at Hogsmeade Station will not be able to walk straight into the village without first waiting.

In short, if you thought you’d be clever and get a jump on the crowds outside Diagon Alley by taking the train in from Hogsmeade, fuggedaboutit. On the other hand, if you have a park-to-park ticket and want to take the ride, but aren’t uber-passionate about Potter lore, the Hogsmeade side usually has noticeably shorter waits than the London station, which has the amazing wall walk-through photo-op at Platform 9 3/4 to slow the line.

Because the Hogwarts Express rarely exceeds half an hour between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, we suggest park-to-park passholders take the trip any time after they have experienced the park’s other top attractions. However, we have noted that the wait times tend to rise as evening approaches, so don’t wait too late in the day before riding.

 

Universal Studios Florida Diagon Alley Touring Plan for Early Entry

For visitors whose top touring priority is Harry Potter (or anyone who wants to experience Gringotts with less than a 2 hour wait), our #1 suggestion is to stay at an onsite hotel in order to secure early entry into the Wizarding World. This perk, which allows you inside select areas of the parks an hour before the general public, is worth its weight in goblin gold, especially since Universal Express passes (given free to guests of the 3 upscale onsite properties) aren’t valid for the Forbidden Journey or any new Diagon Alley attractions. It is also possible to book an offsite hotel package through Universal Vacations that includes early entry, but you’ll pay a premium for the privilege, and have to contend with getting to the resort early enough to make it worthwhile.

Early Entry is available to all eligible guests every morning at both parks, with no restrictions (at this time) on which hotel guests can get into Diagon Alley on any given day. The only attractions operating during the Entry Entry hours are the Wizarding World rides (including the Hogwarts Express), plus Despicable Me at USF and Cat in the Hat at IoA.

As a result, a substantial proportion of the guests in Universal’s 4000 hotel rooms descend upon Diagon Alley and Gringotts as soon as the gates open. Therefore, if you want to participate in Early Entry, you must be on a bus or boat as soon as the resort transportation begins operating, 2 hours prior to official park opening.

Note that this plan is designed for guests without Express passes, such as those staying at Cabana Bay. It therefore requires a lot of “bouncing around” and criss-crossing the park in order to stay ahead of the building standby queues. Guests staying at the three luxury hotels with free Express access will be able to deviate freely from the touring plan after completing the early entry steps, and should encounter minimal waits at most attractions.

Here is our touring plan for guests eligible to enter Diagon Alley early:

Secure your park admission at least the day before your visit, either online or at your hotel’s ticket sales desk.
Be waiting for the first bus or boat from your hotel, which should depart 120 minutes before the published public opening time. If you are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel it is quickest to walk via the path from the main pool.
Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 110 minutes before the published public opening time, or 50 minutes before early entry begins.
Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue; ask a team member if you’re unsure which ones will be open.
Once admitted to the park, proceed straight past Despicable Me, showing your hotel room key card to the employees stationed there. You will be held near the Shrek attraction, then walked through World Expo to the queue outside Fear Factor Live. Be cautious while walking; barricades near Simpsons and MEN IN BLACK serve as “pinch points” and can be hard to see through the moving crowd until you are pushed up against them.
Enter London through the gateway outside Grimmauld Place, and approach the entrance to Diagon Alley, disguised as the Leicester Square subway station.
Once inside Diagon Alley, if Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is operating, get in line for the ride. You may be diverted to the right through Carkitt Market to avoid congesting the main thoroughfare; otherwise, make a beeline for the bank below the fire-breathing dragon.
By the time you exit Gringotts, Early Entry should be nearly over. Exit Diagon Alley towards King’s Cross Station, then cross through San Francisco towards the front of the park.
Get to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit just as the park is officially opening and be among the first to ride it.
Exit Rockit to the left towards New York and ride Revenge of the Mummy.
After exiting the Mummy, walk towards the lagoon and follow it counter-clockwise to Springfield. Experience The Simpsons Ride.
Turn right upon leaving The Simpsons and ride MEN IN BLACK.
Cross the waterfront past London back to San Francisco and see Disaster! If you are on track you should be able to catch the first tour of the day.
Exit Disaster! to the right and ride Transformers.
Walk past Mel’s Drive-In and cut through the Garden of Allah villas to experience the E.T. Adventure.
Retrace your steps and continue past Shrek to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This should be the worst wait your face of the day, but it isn’t much better minutes after opening, and won’t drop significantly until closing time.
Take a break for an early lunch. Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield is your best bet for counter-service, or try Finnegan’s in New York for a sit-down meal for not much more money.
After lunch see the first Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mashup of the day.
Cross through New York and experience Twister.
See the next available performances of Animal Actors and the Horror Makeup Show.
Between the shows, see Shrek 4-D.
Experience Terminator 2/3-D in Hollywood.
You should be able to complete the above steps between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. At that point, you should be able to freely enter Diagon Alley without a wait.
Return to Diagon Alley and explore the shops and sites, starting with Olivander’s Wand Shop, and wait for the show inside. The experience is virtually identical to the annex found in Hogsmeade, but there are three performance spaces so the line should moves at triple the pace; you should rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a show. After the show, purchase an interactive wand if you want to play with the magical effects hidden around the Wizarding World.
At a shop in Carkitt Market you can exchange your Muggle money for Wizarding bank notes, which may be spent throughout the resort. The interactive animatronic goblin in the queue makes this literally the world’s most entertaining and elaborate cash grab; the wait here is usually around 15 minutes.
Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein. Be sure to look at the map that came with your interactive wand under the blacklight in here to discover hidden messages.
Browse the other shops in Diagon Alley, starting with Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, Magical Menagerie, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. There may be queues for most of the stores, but you should be able to enter Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies at any time, since it serves as the exit to Gringotts.
Be on the lookout for two live shows performing throughout the day. One is a musical appearance by magical jazz songstress Celestina Warbeck; the other is a reenactment of the “Three Brothers” fable from The Tales of Beedle the Bard (as seen in the seventh film), retold with Michael Curry-designed puppets. Showtimes are not posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour on the hour and half.
Have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Eat an early meal to avoid crowds, but even at peak times the line moves swiftly.
If you want ice cream for dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market, or the specialty beers and non-alcoholic cocktails at the Fountain of Fair Fortune and Hopping Pot.
If you want another ride on Gringotts, get in the single rider queue before it closes for the night. This may happen as early as 2 or 3 hours before park closing, depending on how long the standby queue is.
Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit into London. Chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his shrunken heads on your way out of Diagon Alley. Also look for Kreacher in the window of 12 Grimmauld Place, and dial 62442 (MAGIC) in the red telephone booth.
Revisit any attractions outside Diagon Alley that you skipped earlier or wish to repeat.
Find a spot along the lagoon to watch the Cinematic Spectacular show five or ten minutes before the performances. Good vantage points can be found near London, Beetlejuice, Transformers, and in Central Park.

 

Universal Studios Florida Diagon Alley Touring Plan for General Admission

Diagon Alley will already be full of early entrants no matter what time offsite guests arrive. Early birds without Early Entry should therefore avoid the herd heading to queue outside London, and instead take advantage of lower waits in the rest of the park while saving Potter for the evening.

Note that this plan is designed for guests without Express passes. It therefore requires a lot of “bouncing around” and criss-crossing the park in order to stay ahead of the building standby queues. Guests who purchase Express access will be able to deviate freely from the touring plan after completing the early entry steps, and should encounter minimal waits at most attractions.

Secure your admission ticket before arriving at the resort, preferably online. If you purchased tickets though universal’s website, you may use a credit card to retrieve your tickets from the automated will-call kiosks outside the entrance. Whatever you do, don’t waste time on the morning of your visit lining up at the ticket booths.
Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 30 to 45 minutes before the published public opening time. Leave at least 15 to 20 minutes to park your car and walk through CityWalk from the parking garage.
Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue.
Once admitted to the park, the majority of day guests will turn right down Hollywood Boulevard to await entry to Diagon Alley. Instead, proceed straight past Despicable Me and ride Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket as soon as the attraction opens.
Exit Rockit to the left towards New York and ride Revenge of the Mummy.
After exiting the Mummy, walk towards the lagoon and follow it counter-clockwise to Springfield. Experience The Simpsons Ride.
Turn right upon leaving The Simpsons and ride MEN IN BLACK.
Cross the waterfront past London back to San Francisco and see Disaster! If you are on track you should be able to catch the first tour of the day.
Exit Disaster! to the right and ride Transformers.
Walk past Mel’s Drive-In and cut through the Gardens of Allah buildings to experience the E.T. Adventure.
Retrace your steps and continue past Shrek to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This should be the worst wait your face of the day, but it isn’t much better minutes after opening, and won’t drop significantly until closing time.
Take a break for an early lunch. Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield is your best bet for counter-service, or try Finnegan’s in New York for a sit-down meal for not much more money.
After lunch see the first Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mashup of the day.
Cross through New York and experience Twister.
See the next available performances of Animal Actors and the Horror Makeup Show.
Between the shows, see Shrek 4-D.
Experience Terminator 2/3-D in Hollywood.
You should be able to complete the above steps between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. At that point, you should be able to freely enter Diagon Alley without a wait.
Visit Diagon Alley and explore the shops and sites, starting with Olivander’s Wand Shop, and wait for the show inside. The experience is virtually identical to the annex found in Hogsmeade, but there are three performance spaces so the line should moves at triple the pace; you should rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a show. After the show, purchase an interactive wand if you want to play with the magical effects hidden around the Wizarding World.
At a shop in Carkitt Market you can exchange your Muggle money for Wizarding bank notes, which may be spent throughout the resort. The interactive animatronic goblin in the queue makes this literally the world’s most entertaining and elaborate cash grab; the wait here is usually around 15 minutes.
Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein. Be sure to look at the map that came with your interactive wand under the blacklight in here to discover hidden messages.
Browse the other shops in Diagon Alley, starting with Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, Magical Menagerie, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. There may be queues for most of the stores, but you should be able to enter Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies at any time, since it serves as the exit to Gringotts.
Be on the lookout for two live shows performing throughout the day. One is a musical appearance by magical jazz songstress Celestina Warbeck; the other is a reenactment of the “Three Brothers” fable from The Tales of Beedle the Bard (as seen in the seventh film), retold with Michael Curry-designed puppets. Showtimes are not posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour on the hour and half.
Have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Eat an early meal to avoid crowds, but even at peak times the line moves swiftly.
If you want ice cream for dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market, or the specialty beers and non-alcoholic cocktails at the Fountain of Fair Fortune and Hopping Pot.
Step into the Gringotts queue before it closes for the night. This may happen as early as 2 or 3 hours before park closing, depending on how long the standby queue is. If this is your first trip through the bank, be sure to experience the entire standby queue; otherwise, use single riders if available.
Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit into London. Chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his shrunken heads on your way out of Diagon Alley. Also look for Kreacher in the window of 12 Grimmauld Place, and dial 62442 (MAGIC) in the red telephone booth.
Revisit any attractions outside Diagon Alley that you skipped earlier or wish to repeat.
Find a spot along the lagoon to watch the Cinematic Spectacular show five or ten minutes before the performances. Good vantage points can be found near London, Beetlejuice, Transformers, and in Central Park.

Check back soon for the second part in this series, featuring our most frequently requested touring plans: comprehensive two-park plans covering the entire Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

 

 

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