Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1216

Pro Tips: Low and No Cost Ways to Improve Your Disney Vacation

By Laurel Stewart

Last time, I brought you quick tips. This time, we’re talking pro tips. Maybe you’ve been to Walt Disney World a few times now and are ready to plus your experience. Presumably, you’re already subscribed to TouringPlans.com and are saving time and money by using tools like our mobile app, Crowd Calendar, and customizable touring plans. If not, why not? Anyway, read on for some ideas to start with for enhance other areas of your vacation. Here are some of our Walt Disney World tips:

Note: Any product we recommend is one we have used and purchased with our own money. We haven’t received compensation of any kind (no money, no freebies) for mentions in this article. 

Pro Tip 1 – Enhance Your Accommodations

This doesn’t mean bring your scented candle and special blanky with you. One, candles in a hotel room are a fire hazard. And two, bag fees are high enough without bringing extra stuff with you. No, what I mean is get the same or better accommodations for less. You could sleep four to a room at Pop Century. Or you could get more space by either renting a house off site from a company like All Star Vacation Homes or renting onsite from a Disney Vacation Club broker such as David’s Vacation Club rentals. If you really want to go pro, consider an Owner’s Locker (though you probably won’t keep a laser printer in yours like we do for our TouringPlans mobile office).

Pro Tip 2 – Eat Fewer, Better Table Service Meals

It could be that you skip three or four regular table service meals for one blow out dinner at Victoria & Albert’s. Or two buffets for a dinner at signature restaurant. Either way, you’re getting away from the frankly homogenous offerings of most the Disney restaurants and having a meal that’s a bit more special. If you really need a character to visit you overly mashed potatoes, bring a plush and perform a guignol for your kids from behind a chair - it’s cheaper.

Consider Diagon Alley instead of Main St. USA. ©Universal

Pro Tip 3 – Visit Universal

OK, you can breathe now. I’m not saying skip Disney. But if Derek Burgan‘s and Seth Kubersky‘s articles and tweets don’t have you excited about what’s going on across town at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, you’re not paying attention. Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley are eons ahead of what Disney did with New Fantasyland. And Universal’s hotels and food are far less expensive than similar Mouse offerings.

Pro Tip 4 – Explore the Resorts

Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge have fantastic free and low-cost tours available in the afternoons. And Fort Wilderness during Halloween and Christmas is a sight to behold. In fact, Fort Wilderness any time of year (except in the deepest heat of summer) is worth a visit to check out the Tri Circle D Ranch and the Settlement area. Take a boat over from Magic Kingdom and stay for lunch or dinner at Trail’s End.

Pro Tip 5 – Visit a Water Park or Play Mini Golf

If you have been to Walt Disney World a few times now, but haven’t visited Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, or Fantasia Gardens, try to make time for it next trip. These are super fun and have the great theming you’re used to seeing at the parks. Use our ticket calculator to find the best admission prices for your trip.

Lightning McQueen was not a Chevy Aveo. ©Disney

Pro Tip 6 – Rent a Car

There are car rentals available in Orlando for less than the cost to rent a double stroller in the theme parks, and driving around Walt Disney World isn’t difficult (just follow the purple signs). We totally get that this may not be in the budget for everyone. But if you’re staying at a resort with multiple bus stops or one main stop that resembles a cattle chute, once you get a feel for the freedom that not always depending on Disney transportation gets you, you may not go back. (As an aside, we always recommend taking Disney transit to Magic Kingdom and any time you’ll be drinking.) Check Mousesavers.com for the latest car rental deals.

Pro Tip 7 – Consider Adding on a Cruise

How about instead of a week at Walt Disney World, you split your week with a 3- or 4- night cruise out of Port Canaveral? Cruises for two adults in an inside cabin can be very reasonable (for Disney), and why not take advantage of splitting the transportation costs since you’re already in Central Florida? The good thing about the cruise is that once your fare is paid, your meals and most of your entertainment is already included. If you look at what you’d be paying for your hotel, meals, and park admission, you may be surprised to see that cruising doesn’t seem like a bad deal.

Pro Tip 8 – Visit at a Different Time of Year

If you always visit Walt Disney World in the summer, you’re missing out on special events and lower crowds. If you’re a fan of visiting at Christmas, have you considered Halloween? Disney is masterful at scheduling events throughout the year to keep attendance up. If you haven’t checked out the Flower & Garden Festival or Food & Wine, give it a shot.

Pro Tip 9 – Travel with Someone New – Or No One at All

If you always travel with your family, plan a girls’ (or boys’) trip and enjoy all the fun for adults Walt Disney World offers. Or meet your new best (Disney) friend by using our Lines Chat to find who’s traveling at the save time you are. Finally, don’t underestimate solo travel. There’s a lot to be said for not having to answer to anyone’s whims but your own on a trip. A bonus is that splitting the costs may allow you to improve your hotel experience (see tip one).

It’s like trying to make the Frozen Meet and Greet at rope drop, but with medals.

Pro Tip 10 – Run for It! Or Book a Tour

This is a tough one. runDisney race fees go up every year, so it’s not what I’d call a low-cost option. But if you’re looking for a new way to enjoy your vacation, get or stay in shape, and meet a whole community of fellow fans, there’s not a much better option than to sign up for a race. Another thing to try is one of the huge variety of tours offered at Walt Disney World – they run from the very reasonably priced Behind the Seeds to the all-day Backstage Magic.

So what do you think? How do you plus up your trips to Walt Disney World? Talk about it in the comments.

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The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! June 2014 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store

By Derek Burgan

Welcome to the one year anniversary of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! When I pitched the idea of a monthly photo report of the Disney Outlet Store to the Powers That Be, I was told it couldn’t be done. That it wouldn’t be done. And now after reading a year’s worth of articles from your humble author, most agree that it shouldn’t have been done. But without it, how would you – Dear Reader – be able to experience the wonder of Mickey’s Personal Disney Assistant, A print of Daisy Duck in the style of Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring painting, or a shirt with Darth Maul getting a rainbow painted on his face? It’s schadenfreude writ large, and I want to thank each and every one of you for being along the journey with me. Now let’s hit the outlet!

Walt Disney famously said “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse-stache.” Or something like that. I’m not good with quotes. Originally $3.95, these are now $1.99.

I’m sure you’re all shocked, SHOCKED to see these make their way to the outlet.

There was a ton of Flower & Garden Festival merchandise this month, including these lawn gnomes. The gnome riding the snail ones reminded me of the racing snail in the movie The Neverending Story.

I really enjoyed these artistic ladybugs and got a couple for our garden at home.

These Flower & Garden reusable tote bags came in a set of three for $2.99 (originally $12.95). One bag had a Minnie Mouse topiary, one had Mickey, and the other had Donald.

Maybe I’m watching too many movies, but this floppy straw hat with Mickey ears reminded me of the pith helmet that Dark Helmet wears in Spaceballs, and I have no idea why. Originally $34.95, this was $12.99.

These cute Flower and Garden ball caps $8.99, marked down from $24.95.

I’m not a big fan of these photo-montage shirts. Originally $24.95, now $8.99.

However, I did like this one with the Mickey lawn company on the back. Also $8.99 marked down from $24.95.

Flower and Garden magnets. This is pretty much the exact same design they had for last year’s festival. Although next year I will give a standing ovation if they just reuse the exact same photos and just switch the order around again. That, or just use a sharpie and cross out 2014 and write 2015. Either way would work for me.

Is it me or does this Donald Duck windchime look demonic? Originally only $11.95, now $8.99.

More lawn gnomes. Maybe I’m crazy, but wouldn’t a natural tie-in be lawn dwarfs? Especially with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opening up this year!

Very artistic lawn sticks. I actually bought the blue bird one in front. Various prices, the bird was $8.99.

An Easter Egg themed map of Epcot’s World Showcase. These were just $0.99, and I bought several. I love maps of every park and wish there more of them that you could buy.

I believe these assorted character eggs were also used for various Easter related activities at Epcot and other places at WDW this year.

Another addition to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster bad merchandise collection. RnR Coaster is a first ballot Hall of Famer in The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! pantheon of awful merchandise. Apparently the boys at Aerosmith sign off on items even George Lucas would think twice about. Originally $36.95, now $19.99.

These may be the greatest shirts I have ever seen in my entire life. If you look closely at the picture, you’ll see that the moon is cracked for some reason. Has to be some weird reference to the Three Wolf Tee, right?

 

I am now going to spend hours coming up with an elaborately back story for this shirt, one where the asteroid that hit Earth actually hit the moon and cracked it, allowing dinosaurs to continue living in a world in which the oceans were all screwed up. Someone call James Cameron! I think I just cracked the spine on the Avatar sequel scripts!

Really good looking Lightning McQueen and Mater plush for $4.99, marked down from $16.99. Very high quality.

TONS of Doc McStuffins plush were at the outlet. This was a first.

Lambie, Stuffy, and Hallie. The fact that I knew the names of all three of these without having to research them tells you everything you need to know about my life.

Last month Animal from The Muppets made his debut at the Outlets, and this month Fozzie Bear joins him.

I think these “Fairy Tale Beginnings” dolls are awful looking compared to some of the other princess collections that are out there (my favorite is the Animator’s Collection). Originally $16.95, these were all $6.95, and they had pretty much everyone but Anna and Elsa.

 

Lots of Mickey and Minnie Mouse plush. I don’t get the draw of the black and white plush at all.

I was shocked, SHOCKED to see this “Beware of the Yeti” shirt. Didn’t it just come out? Now $9.99, marked down from $21.95, and I grabbed one of these.

Another Mickey Mouse shirt that looks like it must have been tied into one of the new Mickey Mouse shorts on the Disney Channel, similar to the Yeti one above. I can’t help but think of Universal’s Red Oven Pizza Bakery seeing that bike, though.

I wish I could have been at the meeting when someone pitched this shirt idea. It’s not horrendous, but there is nothing about it that I can see making someone want to buy it at full price ($36.95!!). There are usually hundreds of shirts at the outlets, and many of them are similar to this one in that there is nothing insane about them (like the dinosaur one), but there is nothing good about them either. They are just there. This particular one is now $14.99.

It seems each month a different World Showcase shirt from Epcot’s 30th anniversary goes into the rotation.

A Jessica Rabbit shirt. $12.99, marked down from $24.95.

Speaking of Who Framed Roger Rabbit shirts, check this out. Roger’s Piano Bar and Nightclub shirt. HOW GREAT IS THIS?!!  $14.99, marked down from $24.95. I don’t understand how they couldn’t be selling these by the truckload at the new Marketplace Co-op store. I love everything about it.

This St. Patrick’s Day shirt was originally $32.95, but now it is $14.99. The “2014″ on it should bring that price down to $4.99. Seriously, who is buying this in the summer at $15 a pop? The same people who bought a Journey Into Imagination Christmas shirt that shipped in February, I guess.

I liked seeing resort merch, and this Animal Kingdom Lodge shirt was marked down to $12.99 (from $24.95)

Meanwhile this Animal Kingdom Lodge hoodie was originally $49.95 but is now $24.99.

And speaking of the Animal Kingdom, how awesome are these shot glasses featuring Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, and Expedition Everest?! Originally $24.95, these were marked down to $10.99, and you better believe I bought them, especially after the article Six Reasons Animal Kingdom is NOT a Half Day Park.

Originally $24.95, this Canadian Mickey bag is now $9.99.

Coldstream Guard magnets. $2.99 each.

Epcot’s Rose & Crown shirt. Originally $21.95, now $14.99. Rose & Crown did quite well on my list of the Top Six Theme Park Bars.

Wrought iron puzzles. $10.99 each. The puzzle I couldn’t figure out is where in WDW these were originally sold. Is there an Amish pavilion in World Showcase I don’t know about?

Mickey Mouse and Disneyland tins for $1.99 each.

It’s a little known fact that TouringPlans’ own Guy Selga uses one of  these to hold all his unused FASTPASSes to Luigi’s Flying Tires.

Soarin’ Over California coffee mugs. $5.95. Whey can’t we ever get Indiana Jones, Radiator Springs Racers, or Haunted Mansion Holiday merchandise?!!!

Epcot fanboys would have loved this month pin selections.

They must have found a warehouse full of unsold Epcot 30th Anniversary merchandise.

 

 

Donald and Daisy Duck in Pirates of the Caribbean garb.

This Splash Mountain pin almost looks like one Universal would use for Halloween Horror Nights. If everything blue were red, it would legitimately look like Donald, Goofy and Mickey were being murdered by some haunted mountain.

Epcot 30th Anniversary lanyard.  I bought one for $2.99.

While not discounted, MagicBands and their related merchandise are taking up a larger area of the store.

These CoverBands aren’t even remotely good looking. How does this happen with the resources Disney has available?!

Typhoon Lagoon beach towel. All beach towels are $9.99 (originally $19.95).

Mickey winter hat and gloves. $4.99 each. When I took this picture, I believe the weather at the time in Orlando was 100 degrees with 300% humidity.

Does the State of Florida have the death penalty? If not it should be implemented for whomever designed this Vinylmation Mickey Ears. $3.99. I’m gonna be lenient with whoever buys one. Life without parole.

I cannot make heads or tails of this Disney California Adventure vinylmation. Is it supposed to be a red car trolley? This is one of those rare vinylmations that isn’t $4.99; it’s only $3.99. It’s weird that there are even levels within bad vinylmations, almost like Police Academy sequels and Ernest P. Worrell movies.

I ended the day by seeing one of the coolest pieces of art I have ever seen at the Disney Outlet Stores. Check out this canvas artwork of the Festival of Fantasy parade. Unfortunately you can’t buy it, they are dropped off by the Disney parks people to give outlet employees a talking point in order to help sell park tickets (and MagicBands, etc.). I thought this was gorgeous and would love to have it hanging on the wall of my man cave.

Here’a quick little story for those of you interested in my travels to provide you with this Pulitzer Razzie-award nominated material each and every month. My drive to Orlando is via the Florida turnpike, where every 40 miles or so there is a large rest area. Once you get within 100 miles of Orlando, the rest areas have displays with brochures of all the theme parks and tourist attractions of Orlando. The vending machines also have a whole bunch of Disney-related toys.

There are at least 20 vending machines, all offering different items (about half were dedicated to Disney with the other half including brands like Hello Kitty, Spongebob, and the NFL), but what I loved was seeing these voodoo dolls featuring DC Comics characters.

This I had to try. Tokens are $2 each, or 3 for $5. Hit the jackpot. These are wonderful.

Reading this caption just gave you more entertainment than two hours of the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern film. You’re welcome.

There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821). For this edition of MMM, we went to the location near Universal.

Previous editions of Magic, Memories and Merch: July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, and May 2014.

If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog, as well as the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

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The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! June 2014 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

SATURDAY SIX: Top Six Photo Ops at Universal

By Derek Burgan

This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers the Top Six Photo Ops at Universal. Previously we have covered our favorite Photo Connect experiences at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, but this week we are going to look at the six must-get photos when we walk around the parks. For first time visitors, these are the locations that are going to make you stop in your tracks and get out the camera. Some are iconic, others are breathtaking, but all are memorable and should be considered for your vacation scrapbook. Let’s start off by heading into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Village….

# 6 – Hogwarts Express and Conductor (Islands of Adventure)

Muggles stepping foot into Hogsmeade Village for the first time are going to love the great photo op with the Hogwarts Express and interacting with the train’s conductor. Holding his enchanted pocket watch, the conductor is the go-to person with any question on Hogsmeade as he is always well versed on Potter-lore and everything within this magical land.

Hogwarts Express (photo by Brandon Glover)

# 5 – Jurassic Park Entrance (IOA)

It may be hard to believe for younger readers who have seen it all thanks to CGI-filled movies and televise shows, but back in the summer of 1993 the world was transfixed by Jurassic Park and how Steven Spielberg seemed to bring dinosaurs to life. The film was filled with jaw-dropping moments, but one of the most memorable was the huge gates leading to Jurassic Park for guests on the jeep tour. Universal has created the feel of that moment when you walk into the land from either Toon Lagoon or the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

“What have they got in there, King Kong?” – Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park entrance at night is equally as impressive (photo by Brandon Glover)

# 4 – Back to the Future’s DeLorean (Universal Studios Florida)

One of the greatest and most recognizable automobiles in movie history, the DeLorean from Back to the Future immediately brings a smile to our face every time we pass by it (along with more than a bit of lament for the old BTTF: The Ride.) The movie will be 30 years old next year but this car is as cool as ever.

“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” – Doc Brown, Back to the Future (photo by Brandon Glover)

# 3 – JAWS (USF)

Matt Hoooper: “That’s a twenty footer.”

Quint: “Twenty-five. Three tons of him.”

- JAWS

Despite Diagon Alley displaced this great white from his former home in Amity (“Bruce” can now be found in the nearby San Francisco area of the park, next to the fantastic bar, Chez Alcatraz), guests still line up to get a chance to take their picture with one of the all time greatest “monsters” in movie history.

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” – Chief Brody, Jaws (photo by Brandon Glover)

THIS WAS NO BOATING ACCIDENT!

 

# 2 – The Universal Globe (USF)

Located directly in front of Universal Studio Florida’s entrance is the spinning Universal globe that is just perfect for photos from several different areas (including the bridge leading to CityWalk.) Make sure that any camera rookies in your party don’t have an itchy trigger finger and wait for the “Universal” logo to turn around and frame your shot.

The Universal globe (photo by Mike Sperduto)

 

# 1 – Hogwarts Castle (IOA)

Hogwarts Castle is going to make an impression on guests even before they arrive at Universal Orlando Resort as it is so large and majestic that it can be seen from far away. When entering Islands of Adventure and reaching the end of Port of Entry, Hogwarts stands out in the distance, drawing guests like flies to a bug zapper. Upon entering the gates of Hogsmeade Village itself, the castle begins to loom larger and larger until you finally stand in front of it and take in all its beauty. Awe-inspiring.

Upon entering Hogsmeade village you begin to see Hogwarts in the background. Your heart begins to flutter. (photo by Mike Sperduto)

Hogwarts Castle iPhoto by Brandon Glover)

“It’s… it’s… it’s indescribably beautiful!” – Mr. Parker, A Christmas Story (photo by HateToFly)

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Lard Lad (USF)

We at the SATURDAY SIX offices still can’t believe this actually exists, but are so happy it does.

“Mmmmmmm, donuts.” – Homer Simpson (photo by Brandon Glover)

 

DOUBLE SECRET HONORABLE MENTION: Optimus Prime (USF)

We couldn’t forget the fearless leader of the autobots, especially on a week when Transformers: Age of Extinction is released. Optimus Prime, standing tall in his full glory at the entrance to Transformers: the Ride 3-D, is incredibly detailed and absolutely huge (although, believe it or not, actually shorter than Lard Lad and his gigantic donut.) Prime’s heroic pose even started a viral movement called “Priming,” where guests take their picture in front of him in the exact same pose. Try it out, it’s fun!

Autobots, roll out! (photo by Mike Sperduto)

Day or night, Optimus is standing tall (photo by HateToFly)

 

So there you have it: the Top Six Photo Ops at Universal. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six, where we are going to look at a special Saturday Six dedicated to the Fourth of July and AMERICA! If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

Special thanks to Mike Sperduto, HateToFly, and crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their assistance in this article. For Universal fans, be sure to check out HateToFly, along with his co-hosts Brian and Drew, on the Orlando United Radio podcast. OU Radio is an invaluable resource for top notch discussion on Universal news and rumors with three guys who clearly enjoy talking theme parks with each other.

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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of June 27, 2014

By Rikki Niblett

In Case You Missed It!

Do you have World Cup fever? While you were busy cheering on your favorite teams, I found some fun stuff for you to catch up on!

Let me know your favorite in the comments!

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

 

Are you a fan of Fantasy Football? If so, consider attending the inaugural ESPN Fantasy Football Convention, where guests will have unprecedented access to ESPN Fantasy Experts, experience an exclusive Tailgate Party, sit in on a live broadcast of Fantasy Football Now on ESPN2, and more! While it’s a lot costly ($641.00 per person-based on double occupancy), it does sound like a once in a lifetime experience.

I came across this intriguing article about the history for building AudioAnamatronics. I always find it so fascinating to learn this kind of stuff.

Thinking about cruising with a baby? Disney Cruise Line was named by USA Today as one of the best cruise lines to take an infant or toddler on.

In “what the heck did I just see” news…apparently Pearl Jam performed a bit of “Let It Go” at a recent concert….so…there’s that…Also…I found this video parodying “Do You Want To Build a Snowman” featuring Star Wars characters…this is a weird week for Frozen stuff…

The more I hear about the upcoming Pixar movie, Inside Out, the more excited I get. This article, from Vulture talks about “What Pixar’s New Movie Will Mean To Girls.”

For those of you who grew up in the 90s, one of the best shows (that has currently achieved cult status, as of late) is “Boy Meets World.” Well tonight, on the Disney Channel, “Girl Meets World” premieres. This is officially your reminder to set your DVRs! Welcome back to TV, Cory and Topanga! (Why do I have a feeling this show is going to be watched by more adults than any other age group?)

Jimmy Fallon had Pitbull on his show in Orlando last week and for those who missed this epic giant Duff Beer pong game, here it is in all it’s glory!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley’s opening day is rapidly approaching (11 days and counting…not that I’m excited or anything.) Being based off the Harry Potter books, one would expect that there would be a ton of hidden gems found inside this new area of the park. Of course, that assumption would be correct. The media got a sneak peek of the area last week and I found not one, but two articles featuring hidden details. (There are a couple of repeats in the articles, but for the most part, good information to know for fans.) Of course, if you want to be completely spoiler-free, then don’t click on the links. For more Harry Potter info, get ready, because fellow TouringPlans blogger Seth Kubersky is set to release a bunch of great articles all about this new area next week! I can’t wait to read them!

Speaking of Harry Potter, there will be a really cool special airing on NBC on Monday evening (June 30) all about the construction, as well as behind the scenes looks at Diagon Alley, hosted by Meredith Viera. If you are excited about this new land, you are going to want to catch this hour long special called “Harry Potter: The Making of Diagon Alley.”

 

In Case We Missed It

What did we miss? Send your idea attached to this Mickey Mouse Soccer Tee and send both to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.

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More Potty Talk: Best Disneyland Restrooms

By Ray

Going to Disneyland, you expect to wait in lines for everything (hopefully not long if you are using our touring plans!), but there is one place you should not have to wait in line: the restroom. Disneyland restroom lines can be just can hectic as waiting in a line at an attraction. Today, I am here to show you the best Disneyland restrooms, where you can actually take a break from the craziness that can be Disneyland. 

Please welcome Ray Castillo, Jr. to the TouringPlans blog team. Ray is from Long Beach, CA, and currently lives in Seattle. He is a collector of Disneyland  memorabilia, especially pieces from the 80s and 90s. I bet Ray and Guy Selga would have fun comparing who has the best collection of Disneyland Pogs.

Main Street, U.S.A.

There are two sets of restrooms located on Main Street, U.S.A., that are great to use:

The first is between Carnation Cafe and Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor. They do not get much traffic because you cannot really see them. You have to walk all the way back, on the left hand side, to find them.
The second set of restrooms is right before you exit Disneyland. These are located right behind the visitor kiosk near City Hall. These restrooms are perfect to use when you entering or leaving Disneyland. They are small, but you will not be waiting, and it is quiet.

The Tomorrowland restrooms are great before getting on or off the Disneyland Railroad.

Tomorrowland

Nestled between Innoventions and Autopia are the Tomrrowland Depot restrooms. They are right across the entrance to Autopia. This is a very low traffic area, so you will not have any problem getting in and out of these restrooms.

Frontierland

In Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, you will find these restrooms tucked away from guests. The restrooms are not big, but because not many people use them, you will not wait at all to use a stall. However, this area of the park does close after dark, so you will not be able to use it then. This is a great restroom to use while you are making your way to or from Frontierland.

Critter Country

These restrooms are located below the serving and main dining area on the lower level area of Hungry Bear Restaurant. This location is among the best in the park, not because it is so quiet and peaceful, but rather because the restrooms are huge. This is also a great spot to head after you have gotten soaked on Splash Mountain and need a place to dry off. The huge sitting area, which is great place to take a rest from your Disneyland adventure, is another benefit of this location.

Once you pass The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, make a left, and you will find yourself at the only restrooms in Critter Country.

Adventureland

Adventureland can be an adventure to get through, and it is one of the most congested places in the park. But there is a restroom there I bet many of you have never even seen before. This restroom is in Aladdin’s Oasis, which is located right between the exit of the Enchanted Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise. This is, hands down, the best restroom in Disneyland. It is hidden from everyone, but it is only accessible when Aladdin’s Oasis is open, which is usually during the morning and early afternoon.

 

Below is a map of all the restrooms in Disneyland, but the ones I have highlighted in this post are circled in red.

I would love to hear what your favorite Disneyland restrooms are in Disneyland. How about restrooms that guests should avoid? Leave a comment below and share! If you are interested in more potty talk, Sarah has shared her hidden restrooms to use throughout Disney World.

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Frozen Summer Fun-Live Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

If you are a fan of Frozen, have I got a great new experience for you! Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be presenting a brand new summer-long special event called Frozen Summer Fun – Live. This fun-filled event is scheduled to last from July 5 through September 1 and is slated to feature:

Olaf on Summer Vacation: Olaf will chime in throughout the day to keep everyone updated on all his adventures. In addition, you can snag your very own Take-Along Olaf (which will be available in locations around the park) so he can join you on your summer vacation. Be sure to tag and share Olaf via social media sites with the hashtag #OlafSummerVacation because they may potentially be selected to appear as part of the fireworks spectacular.
Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome: Each day, at 11:00 a.m. a Frozen mini-parade will take place. Anna and Elsa will make their way down Hollywood Boulevard in a horse-drawn sleigh. Kristoff will be there, too, joined by a flurry of skaters, skiers, ice cutters and more! The procession will end in a special moment at the Sorcerer’s Hat Stage to officially welcome the visiting royalty.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: This fun event will take place inside the Premiere Theater, where Anna and Elsa join the Royal Historians of Arendelle for a comedic retelling of the unique history of their Kingdom, filled with delightful, sing-along moments from Frozen. This will be a 20-minute show that will be presented multiple times each day.
Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post & Frozen Funland:  Inside Soundstage One, Oaken has created a Frozen Funland filled with a frozen pond with ice skating demonstrations, a “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” kids’ play area, ice artisans carving gorgeous works of ice art from frozen blocks, Frozen merchandise for sale, and special Frozen-inspired food and beverage offerings (like hot cocoa). Guests will also be able to take pictures with the film’s animated characters in a virtual setting and then be able to share them via social media.
“Coolest Summer Ever” Dance Party: Starting at 5:30 p.m. each day, head for the Sorcerer’s Hat Stage, where a DJ will spin tunes and a live band will perform with rock and roll hits, as well as a Frozen medley.
Frozen Fireworks Spectacular: At 9:45 p.m. join Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf at the Sorcerer’s Hat Stage for a grand finale featuring an awe-inspiring fireworks display set to the music of Frozen!

I have to say, this sounds like it will be a LOT of fun! (Honestly, I am seriously plotting how to get in an extra trip scheduled for August…my husband is going to kill me.) What part sounds like it would be the most fun to you?

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Walt Disney World Changes Park Hours and Extra Magic Hours For Several Dates Through 2014

By Rikki Niblett

Changes are a taking place! If you have a trip to Walt Disney World scheduled from starting anywhere from July 13 through the remainder of the year, you may want to double check park hours and Extra Magic Hour offerings, as both of these will be changing at most the the theme parks. Here’s what you need to know:

Magic Kingdom: On many days, the park’s operating hours have been extended. In addition, Evening Extra Magic Hours have been moved to different days. (Most of the time, the change is that Evening Extra Magic Hours have been added on Saturday evenings; they will no longer take place on Sunday or Monday evenings.) Also, additional Main Street Electrical Parade performances have been added.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: On many days, the park’s operating hours have been extended. There are also changes to Extra Magic Hour days. Plus, additional Fantasmic! shows have been added.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: On many days, the park’s operating hours have been extended. In addition, Morning Extra Magic Hours have changed; they will now take place for the most part on Sundays, with a few exceptions.

Epcot: Has seen no changes. Its park hours will remain consistent with before.

If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World in the next six months, be sure to check out the Crowd Calendar for the latest updates.

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Walt Disney World Changes Park Hours and Extra Magic Hours For Several Dates Through 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Review of Disneyland Single Rider Lines

By Adam Britten

Matterhorn Bobsleds Single Rider Pass

Single rider lines at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure park can be a very effective way to save time in your touring day at Disneyland Resort. Additionally, they offer another perspective of your favorite attractions through their designated queues. Being a single rider usually means you are placed with another group of guests, which can also lead to fun conversations and even potential new friends with a shared interest in Disney parks. Single rider lines are currently available at the following Disneyland Resort Attractions:

California Screamin’
Goofy’s Sky School
Grizzly River Run
Indiana Jones Adventure
Radiator Springs Racers
Soarin’ Over California
Splash Mountain

For all of these attractions besides Radiator Springs Racers, you’ll need to ask a Cast Member at the front of the attraction queue for a single rider pass and then be instructed where to go. Below, I have broken down the experience using the single rider line at each of these attractions.

TouringPlans is happy to welcome Disneyland blogger Adam Britten to our team. Adam lives in Orange County and has written for The Disney Blog, USA Today, the Huffington Post, and many other online publications. As if this wasn’t enough, Adam is also active with RunDisney races. If we didn’t feel so lucky to have him writing for us, we might hate him a little.

Radiator Springs Racers: This attraction was built with an entirely separate single rider queue that goes all the way until the loading platform. This way, you’re in a separate line but you still get to experience the theming and magnificent views that the standby queue offers. Single riders are placed whenever one of the cars of six is not completely full, so you’re most likely to join a group of five or groups of two and three who have been placed together.

As you might expect, this is one of the most popular single rider lines. This is partly because many guests elect to break up their group into single riders in order to avoid the very long standby line. From my experience, the wait can range anywhere from 5-30 minutes on average. Just like with FASTPASS and standby for this attraction, the shortest waits are in the morning.

California Screamin’: After entering a separate queue to the left of the standby line, you’ll ride a series of elevators that will take you to the loading platform. Since rows are only two guests each, you’ll most likely encounter the need for a single rider when the standby queue has odd-numbered groups of guests. I personally find that this line only takes about 10 minutes on average, but I’ve waited at least 20 on rare occasions.

Goofy’s Sky School: For this attraction, you’ll enter a separate line to the left of the FASTPASS and standby lines. Cars seat four guests in this attraction, so as a single rider, a group of three will be your best friend.

Grizzly River Run. Photo copyright Tom Bricker.

Grizzly River Run: This attraction’s single rider line will actually have you walking through the exit queue in order to reach the loading platform. The rafts seat six to eight people, so multiple single riders might be placed with a medium sized group.

Soarin’ Over California: Instead of a separate queue or walking through the exit, you will enter through the FASTPASS queue of this attraction. You’ll then join the standby line before the Cast Member directs you to your ride vehicle. Since you’re merging in with the standby guests, you won’t need to wait until a single seat opens up. But you will need to wait with in the same line as all other guests for the last portion of the queue. Because of this, Soarin’ is one of my least favorite single rider lines.

Matterhorn Bobsleds: The single rider line is placed near the Fantasyland exit for this ride. Because the design of the standby queue features a switchback right at the point where the Cast Member directing guests is standing, they often make an effort to search for parties of two or three to fill any gaps left by larger groups before asking a single rider to join.

You’ll likely only get to board the attraction when a group of five joins, or when the standby line is filled with larger parties. This can really make the wait for the single rider line longer than it may appear. However, it’s still a much shorter wait than the standby line, especially because the single rider line for this attraction is poorly marked, and not even advertised on Disneyland.com’s list of attractions with single rider lines.

Indiana Jones Adventure: After getting your single rider pass for this attraction, you’ll be walk through the exit until you’ll find a Cast Member who you’ll hand your pass to and be directed to a single rider queue. You’ll still watch the safety video with the rest of the guests, but then you can hand in your single rider pass and take a special elevator to the boarding area. Since rows in the vehicles accommodate four guests, groups of three will most likely open a seat for single riders.

Splash Mountain: Here you will also walk through the attraction’s exit until you reach the loading platform. Logs usually seat six to seven guests, so you should have no problem being added to a slightly smaller group.

There you have it! Single rider lines can be an excellent way to reduce attraction wait times by a large percent, or almost entirely if you use them at the right time of day or if crowds are low. And unlike the FASTPASS system, there is no time restriction placed on when you can board your next single rider attraction. So if you wanted, you could ride some of your favorite attractions over and over with minimal waits, or bounce between single rider attractions and experience many attractions in a short amount of time.

Which attraction do you most enjoy using single rider on? Or, is there an attraction at Disneyland Resort that you wish would add a single rider line? Let us know in the comments!

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Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: June 26, 2014

By Daisy Lauren

Hi everyone! Welcome to the Best Week Ever here at Walt Disney World! This week we’re starting somewhere a little unconventional, an overpass leaving Disney property! This sunset was too amazing not to share, and this is truly how it looked. I just snapped the photo out my car window with a typical point and shoot camera. No editing wizardry here! Any week that starts like this has to be a good one, right?

Next, let’s head to Animal Kingdom for the bulk of our updates this week. First up is the new Macaw Fly Over. I didn’t go into this expecting a lot, but we totally loved the show. I’d go out of my way to see it. While it’s over quickly, it’s amazing to see all of those lovely birds flying together. I know my video can’t do it justice, but if you’ve never clicked on one of my videos this is the one to start with! Make sure you check this out on your next visit.

The other new show starting at Animal Kingdom this week is It All Started With A Mouse. I was set up to film this one too, but I realized quickly that I should have sat in the back to film. The performers walk up and down the aisles frequently, which left the video a bit motion sickness-inducing to watch. I thought I’d include photos of a few of the animals instead. Why did it have to be snakes??

The highlight of the show is when a kunekune pig creates a painting with a little help from the audience. This little guy totally steals the show. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to steal. While I’m happy to see something new in the parks and have this space put to use, the show isn’t that great. It’s loosely held together with a few old videos of Walt Disney, but for the most part the show is very skippable. That isn’t to say it’s bad, it’s just not as good as everything else in the park.

The show takes place four times a day at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. If you happen to be back at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, then it’s worth 20 minutes to say you’ve seen it. The show also featured a macaw, porcupine, skunk, vulture, and other animals not pictured here. There were also several rats used in the show! (I’m a big fan of rats and have had them as pets in the past. I loved seeing them featured here and not villainized.)

Back at the front of the park, the times board is now completely walled off. When I heard Disney Outfitters was expanding, I didn’t realize this was the space it was moving into. I guess we’re supposed to get wait times from our phones now, but that often doesn’t work well. I guess time will tell if this change sticks.

Not news related, but I grabbed a few awesome shots on the Kilimanjaro Safaris this weekend that I wanted to share. My driver pointed out a fact that I’d never heard before. (That’s saying a lot… I’ve been on a ton of safaris!) One way you can tell a reticulated giraffe from other kinds is that they’re white from the knees down. You can see what I’m talking about in the photo below. Neat, huh?

Also, I had a rare male lion sighting! Or should I say, a rarely seen awake male lion spotting?

After the safari, on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, I spotted a baby pygmy goose. I wanted to get a photo to share with you, but something kept getting in my way. I couldn’t tell what it was though my viewfinder, so I just focused on it to see the culprit. The result was the photo below. A very unhappy mommy pygmy goose kept jumping in front of my lens! You can see the baby blurred out in the background. What a good mama!!

Okay, last photo from Animal Kingdom. I’d never seen the meerkats get fed until this last weekend. The animal keeper pictured has the patience of a saint! She’d put a tiny bit of food on the tongs and lowered it ever so slowly near the hole. Then three little heads would pop out nervously and look, sniff, then pop back in the hole. Maybe one out of every ten tries one of the meerkats would actually take a little food. I’m sure the crowd that had gathered to root them on didn’t help!

Next we’re heading to Epcot, where I tried my first coconut frozen yogurt, now offered at Refreshment Outpost. Wow, was this excellent! Totally worth a try the next time you’re out wandering the World Showcase. They also sell pineapple frozen yogurt or the two swirled together!    

The cart in front of Germany was behind construction walls last week, and it looks like they did some work to slightly enclose the booth. I imagine this will help keep the booth functional during our torrential summer rains.

This is another one that I’m not sure is new, or just new to me. But now there’s a beautiful projection that paints over the Mayan Calendar Replica (Thanks, Scott!) at the entrance of the Mexico pavilion. I can confirm that it’s a projection because my hubby couldn’t help jumping in front of it and doing a little dance for the crowd!

Next, as promised, I finally managed to get over to a Sounds Like Summer Concert! Here’s a video of the grand finale from the show. It’s great that Epcot puts on these concerts. Even though they are cover bands, it’s so nice to be able to grab a cold beer and go watch a show!

Heading over to the Magic Kingdom, there’s just one little bit of news to share, but it’s a doozy! Now, if you’ve read my observations post, then you already know this; if not, brace yourself! The Astro Orbiter is GONE! It’s under refurbishment, but wow! You can find all the latest refurbishment information here.

Filed under biggest let down of the week is Trucks on the Town at Downtown Disney West Side. Take a look at the below photo of trying to get into the parking lot. It should have been a red flag when at 6pm the traffic was backed up all the way to Bonnet Creek.

Once we finally got into the parking lot, it took us 45 minutes to find a parking spot! It was unreal! If you’re planning to head to Downtown Disney any time after 11am, I strongly recommend parking somewhere off site and taking Disney transportation. One note: the only bus stop at the moment is all the way down near Disney’s Days of Christmas.  If you’re looking to go to the West Side, you might want to catch a boat from Port Orleans or Old Key West.

After we’d spent nearly an hour fighting to get to the event, we finally walked up to the food trucks. But what did we find but more crowds!? The lines for each truck were easily 20-40 people deep, with confusing lines that snaked in all directions. Not only that, but there were very few restrooms available, leaving the available ones to have lines just as long. Add to that the fact that a huge storm was moving in, and we decided to just give up and go to Olive Garden. If Disney does this again, I hope it will be more organized!

Let’s end with a little shopping update! The Park Starz series 3 is now available in the parks, so I had to try my luck! My first try was at Epcot, and I got the barker bird.

At Animal Kingdom I was even luckier and scored Trixie! (Ok, I cheated and rattled the box.  Her big bottom is kinda easy to find.) At $18.95 these are overpriced, but I normally splurge on a couple of them when a new series comes out.

Of course, I might have to try for a third this time since Dreamfinder is still out there! That wraps up our news from last week.  If you’re heading to Disney World next week, here’s a look at what you can expect:

Crowd Calendar: It looks like we’ll be getting a little break in the crowds leading up to July 4th. It sure isn’t September, but it isn’t the wild summer crowds we’ve been having lately.

Weather: We’re settling into our normal pattern of bone-melting heat and afternoon showers. Come prepared for heat, rain, and lots of fun!  Remember the parks are best after the rain so pack to brave the storm.

This week Disney’s Hollywood Studios unveiled the Rock Your Summer Side dance party. The action all takes place at the Sorcerer’s Hat Stage nightly from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Guests will be able to rock their summer side until August 22. I’m looking forward to sharing this new event with you next week!  

It’s never too soon to start planning for July 4th! You can get all the latest information here.

Here’s my top tip for this week: Air conditioning is something almost impossible to find at Animal Kingdom. If you find yourself getting too hot, head over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. This spot is never crowded and always icy cold! Not to mention, there are some interesting displays to explore while you cool off.

Do you have any news I missed or any requests for coverage next week? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading! I’m wishing all of you the Best Week Ever, until next time!

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Disney Parks Celebrity Encounters

By Lisa Gilmore

Disney Parks are swarmed with celebrities, from world-famous mice to royalty. Most of them have scheduled times you meet them, get their autograph and take tons of pictures with them. But what do you do when you notice a celebrity in the Parks that isn’t on the Times Guide?

It may have happened to you. You’re waiting patiently in line for one of Disney’s great attractions when you realize that you vaguely recognize a person standing behind you. And then it hits you: You don’t actually know this person – you just saw him/her in the latest hit movie! It’s so out of context, your brain needed a minute to make the connection. So, what now? Before you go over and start hounding someone famous for an autograph, stop and think before you act. Remember, they are there for the same reason you are: to enjoy a Disney vacation with their family; they’re not walking the red carpet to promote their celebrity status. Try to imagine how you would feel if someone came up to you and started bugging you. That’s what you might actually be doing if you gush, ask for an autograph or try to initiate a conversation with someone who is actually a total stranger.

Hugh Jackman recently visited Walt Disney World with his family and posted this shot on his Instagram. Can you guess what movie project he’s working on?

Recently, I had the great fortune of sharing the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train experience with Hugh Jackman and his family. It took me a couple of moments to realize why this man was familiar. Once the wheels in my brain made the connection, I was faced with a decision: what do I do, now? Leap across the row of seats between us to smother him in kisses? Whip out my camera and act like a one-woman crazed paparazzi? Shriek in girlish delight? As much as this handsome, Tony-hosting, adamantium-claw-sporting Aussie causes me to swoon, I kept my cool. Before the ride swooped us into world of the dwarves’ mine, Hugh turned around and made eye-contact. I smiled and nodded, a silent admission that I recognized him, and he returned my courtesy with his own stomach-flipping grin. After enjoying the attraction together, we exited the ride vehicle. I could’ve asked for a photo, an autograph, a hug, but as I saw him with his family, I knew the last I’d want to do is disrupt his time with his daughters and wife. I smiled at him one last time and he smiled back and I walked away (immediately texting everyone I knew!). It was a special memory for me, and I like to think that by not making a spectacle, I helped him have a special memory, too.

Here is a guideline of some do’s and don’ts for when you might encounter celebrities on a Disney vacation.

DO

Mariah Carey and her celebrity husband, Nick Cannon, are frequent guests at the Disney Parks on both coasts.

Do maintain composure. Yes, they may be as charming in person as they are on screen, but keep it together, and hold your inner screaming fan in check.
Do be courteous and conscientious of their privacy. This can be especially true when they’re with their families.
Do make small talk. If you run into a celebrity at the valet stand, bar, or in line, and if it seems appropriate, you can make small talk (about the weather, the food you just ate, etc.). The trick is to only do it if it feels natural.
Do give praise. If you have a chance to chat, it’s perfectly acceptable to let a celebrity know that you truly appreciate their work or body of work. Just don’t overdo it.
Do take a deep breath and remember that celebrities are people, too. Most of the time they just want a moment with those they are close to.

DON’T

Don’t interrupt celebrities while they’re eating, no matter whom they are with or if they are alone.
Don’t actively follow (i.e. stalk) a celebrity throughout the parks, and especially leave them alone if they head to the restroom!
Don’t ask celebrities any personal questions, try to slip them a script or piece of your own work, or make negative or questioning comments about their careers or projects.
Don’t stare – enough said.
Don’t shout their name across a crowd to get their attention. They may be hoping for a bit of anonymity while on vacation with their family.
Don’t take pictures or video of celebrities without their permission.

If you really must have an autograph, and the individual has indicated that they’d be willing, ask politely, for an autograph or a photo. (Don’t forget to have your own pen and paper handy, if seeking an autograph.). This situation requires common sense and discretion. Be sure that you make this request in the right moment: not during their meal and not if you are interrupting their time with their family/friends. Finally, whether or not you approach the star, remember your manners and be respectful of their privacy. Don’t take it personally if they don’t want to sign autographs or pose for a picture. Say “Thanks!” when they are able to take the time to sign something for you or stand still long enough for you to snap a photo. Let them get on with their lives, as you get on with yours — and know that now you have a great memory and something cool to brag about to your friends.

So what about you? Have you had any celebrity encounters in the Disney Parks? Share your experience in the comments below!

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