Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1222
June 8, 2014
Kongstruction: T-Rex Photo Op Relocated
As PotterWatch construction updates wind down, our Kongstruction coverage will begin increasing to keep pace with progress on Project 340, the yet-unannounced King Kong attraction going into the area behind Thunder Falls Terrace in Islands of Adventure‘s Jurassic Park. This week, let’s check out the newly relocated T-Rex photo op, as well as some earth moving on the construction site.
Project 340 Earthmoving
First, here are a few photos of the current state of the Project 340 lands, located between the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant and Toon Lagoon:
Photos by Seth Kubersky
T-Rex Photo Op Relocated
As reported in our last Kongstruction update, the T-Rex photo op long located near Thunder Falls Terrace was recently removed, and temporarily stored backstage.
Now, the T-Rex and accompanying vehicle have been relocated to a new spot near the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, outside Burger Digs.
At the time these photos were taken, the automated camera system has not yet been reinstalled.
With apologies to Dr. Hammond, it appears they “spared every expense” in relocating the T-Rex, and left the dino’s absent back half badly exposed. Hopefully some additional camouflage will be added to obscure these supports by the time this update is published.
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PotterWatch: Diagon Alley Interactive Entertainment Confirmed & Photo Update
Our PotterWatch updates are coming fast and furious, as the finishing touches are put on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley prior to its media unveiling in under two weeks. For this edition, we have the usual photo updates of progress along the London Waterfront in Universal Studios Florida, and Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure. Plus, there’s finally official confirmation on some Diagon Alley interactive entertainment experiences that we’ve previously shared rumors of. Finally, we’re sharing some fantastic new footage of some Harry Potter film stars exploring the new attractions, showing off our best sneak peak so far of this spectacular expansion
London Waterfront Photo Update
Here’s a quick look at the latest progress along the London Waterfront, which serves as the facade in front of Diagon Alley:
Water is flowing in the fountain!
The Diagon Alley return time kiosks I previously reported on have now been deactivated. You’ll have to wait until it opens to get your own ticket.
Shortly after these photos were taken, the dragon’s second wing was attached.
The Gringotts dragon with both wings attached (photo by @AmusementBuzz)
This is the Disaster extended queue where Halloween Horror Nights mazes are usually set up. The new temporary switchbacks may be preparation for Hogwarts Express crowds.
Interestingly, I stayed in the park past closing time, and when the usual rock soundtrack that plays through speakers in this area (a holdover from the Amity Island days) was shut down, I could faintly hear Harry Potter film scores being broadcast inside Diagon Alley. I assume the Muggle music in the London area will be adjusted to be more geographically appropriate, and will mask the Potter themes until you pass through the brick wall.
Hogsmeade Station
No major changes were made in this area since my last update, which leads me to believe it is nearly complete.
Team Members in Hogwarts Express uniforms could be glimpsed inside the ticketing building.
Diagon Alley Interactive Entertainment
A press release and blog post from Universal recently confirmed and clarified several long-rumored elements of Diagon Alley interactive entertainment. The newly verified attractions are:
The Knight Bus conductor is a live actor who will interact with guests and the talking shrunken heads (an actor-controlled animatronic puppet) hanging from his vehicle’s mirror.
Images courtesy Universal Orlando
Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees perform “The Singing Sorceress” in Carkitt Market, a swinging jazz show with song titles penned by J.K.Rowiling herself, and lyrics based on her Pottermore writing.
The Tales of Beedle The Bard, also in Carkitt Market, will tell two wizarding fables — “The Fountain of Fair Fortune” and “The Tale of the Three Brothers” (as featured in the seventh film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1”) — with puppets designed by Michael Curry (Broadway’s The Lion King, Finding Nemo The Musical).
Finally, an actor-controlled animatronic goblin outside Gringotts will greet guests wishing to exchange their Muggle money for gobilin bank notes, which will be spendable throughout the parks.
Harry Potter Actors Inside Diagon Alley
Three of the screen actors who played the Weasley siblings — James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) — “took over” Universal Orlando’s social media channels on June 5, posting images of themselves enjoying the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley on Instagram and Twitter.
The best footage to come out of the publicity stunt was this offical video, showing the cast exploring the new additions. It gives us our best look yet at the interiors of several shops and restaurants, and even a clear perspective on the magical brick wall entryway (though I don’t believe it is shown with its final effects operating):
Better yet, check out this extended version of the above footage, posted by UOLeaker:
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June 7, 2014
TouringPlans #Everywhere: I’m cruising the Southern Caribbean on the Disney Magic from Puerto Rico
I’m taking a TouringPlans #Everywhere trip on the Disney Magic!
¡Hola mis amigos! As you may have already heard, the TouringPlans team will be spreading out all over the Mickey-loving world for next October’s #Everywhere project, and I was lucky enough to be selected to sail the Southern Caribbean on the Disney Magic out of Puerto Rico. I’m excited because this trip represents a few firsts for me. I’ve cruised previously with other companies, but am a Disney Cruise Line virgin, so I can’t wait to see if their legendary reputation for service actually exceeds my less-than-perfect prior experiences with their competitors. Also, this will be my first time cruising from a departure point other than Port Canaveral (which is an easy drive from my home), necessitating air travel and a hotel stay. This post is my first entry in a brief series explaining how I’m approaching these issues, in hopes of helping any readers out there who may be contemplating a similar itinerary someday!
Disney Magic Southern Caribbean Itinerary
The Disney Magic, which was extensively refurbished last year, spent the summer of 2014 sailing around the Mediterranean, and will cruise the eastern and western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral from Halloween through next spring. But the 7-night cruise I’m on is somewhat unique, and calls for a different kind of introduction…It is one of only 4 scheduled Southern Caribbean itineraries departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. (This port is also visited by the Disney Fantasy during some of its 7-Night Eastern Caribbean cruises.)
Here’s a breakdown of the ports I’ll be visiting on my trip, which departs on October 11:
Day
Date
Port
Ashore
Onboard
Saturday
11-Oct-2014
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico
9:30 PM
Sunday
12-Oct-2014
AT SEA
Monday
13-Oct-2014
St. John’s, ANTIGUA
7:00 AM
4:45 PM
Tuesday
14-Oct-2014
Castries, ST LUCIA
7:15 AM
4:45 PM
Wednesday
15-Oct-2014
St. George’s, GRENADA
7:00 AM
4:45 PM
Thursday
16-Oct-2014
Bridgetown, BARBADOS
7:00 AM
4:45 PM
Friday
17-Oct-2014
Bassaterre, ST KITTS
12:00 PM
5:30 PM
Saturday
17-Oct-2014
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico
7:00 AM
Travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico
My prior cruise embarkation experiences have involved throwing some bags in my car and driving less than an hour to the east of my home. This time, I’ll be flying from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in San Juan.
I’ve been told that flights to Puerto Rico can fill up and increase in price as the departure date approaches, so I secured my flights way back in February. After using Kayak to survey available flights, I found the best deal on a non-stop direct flight from JetBlue, which is a lucky thing since I love their seat-back televisions and free snack selection. The return flight leaves around 11:45 a.m., which is perfect for the 7 a.m. disembarkation. But the arriving flight lands at 4 p.m., which is late in the day for an embarkation.
Since the boat doesn’t leave port in Puerto Rico until 9:30 p.m., it would be theoretically possible to fly in the same day and still make it on board in time. But since I’m always cautious to the point of cynicism about scheduled arrival times whenever traveling outside the continental United States, and I want to have plenty of time to enjoy the boat on embarkation day, I decided to play it safe and fly in the day before my cruise begins. That gives me a extra night in San Juan before the cruise, which leads me to…
Lodging in San Juan, Puerto Rico
For a place to stay on the night before my cruise, I was initially intending to stay at the Sheraton Old San Juan. The property was recommended to me by TouringPlans reader and San Juan native Karen B. Ricardo Figueroa, a suggestion echoed by several others on cruise web forums. The chief selling point of the Sheraton is its location within walking distance of most of the cruise ports, which would save me the cost of a cab ride to the ship.
However, thanks to an alert from Scott Sanders of the invaluable Disney Cruise Blog, I discovered that our cruise would not be departing from the conveniently located complex in Old San Juan, but rather from the Pan American Pier on Isla Grande to the south.
As a result, I’ve settled on the Hilton Caribe, which is among the closest hotels to the airport and pier, and the property where Disney itself places guests who book their pre-cruise lodging through them. The Hilton also has a beach, which should be nice for some sunbathing since our cruise doesn’t visit Castaway Cay (my only disappointment with our itinerary).
Reading online reviews of the hotel on TripAdvisor and similar sites, I saw mixed reviews of its upkeep and service standards, but that may be attributable to the unrealistically exacting standards some American travelers judge foreign destinations by. If I do experience any horror stories, I’ll be sure to share them.
One thing to beware of is that the rate you initially see online for a San Juan hotel may inflate exponentially once local taxes and resort fees are tacked on. My one-night stay for $189 ballooned to nearly $243 after all the mandatory extras were added up!
Coming Soon: Shore Excursions and Dining
My first Disney Cruise Line welcome folder…but hopefully not my last!
One of the exciting things about my itinerary is that I will be the first TouringPlans team member to review shore excursions at most of the ports of call. Because we are first-time Disney cruisers, we aren’t eligible to book excursions until late July, but I’ve already been examining the options, and am narrowing down a short list of experiences for my wife and I to explore. I’m probably going to tackle the more adventurous activities (like zip-lines and jungle hikes) while she will relax with cultural and culinary tours.
Likewise, my favorite part of any cruise is eating, especially in table-service dining rooms, though I hear Cabanas on the Disney Magic is a better than average buffet. We were able to request late seating at the time our cruise was booked (we normally eat dinner after 8 at home anyway, and we’re hoping the demographic may be slightly older for the second seating) but we can’t book any optional eating activities — like Palo — until next month. Even so, I’ve been examining the menus for the Magic’s main dining rooms, and salivating over all the dishes I’m dying to try.
What excursions and meals are you most interested in hearing more about? Let us know in the comments below!
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SATURDAY SIX: Six Reasons We Can’t Wait for Diagon Alley to Open
By Derek Burgan
This week’s SATURDAY SIX looks at Six Reasons We Can’t Wait for Diagon Alley to Open. It seems every day something comes along which whets our appetite even more for the new Harry Potter themed land coming to Universal Studios Florida. In just the past few days we’ve gotten a Disney Dish with Jim Hill episode that covered the new food items coming to the Leaky Cauldron, three of the Weasley clan taking a look into Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, and Seth Kubersky’s preliminary touring plans for Diagon Alley. With the media preview taking place June 17-20, it’s safe to say we’ll be walking around the wizarding shopping area very shortly. Here’s what we are really excited about experiencing after the most recent developments:
# 6 – The DRAGON
Ukrainian Ironbelly atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank (photo by HateToFly)
Sitting high atop Gringotts Bank (already the tallest building inside Diagon Alley) is the half-blind Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon that we all remember from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. Besides its immense size, the attention to detail on the dragon is staggering. You can see the marks around its neck where chains tore into its skin, holes in its wings, and an overall aura of authenticity that almost has you feeling for this tragic character even in its menacing pose. While it is still not completely known how much (if any) movement the dragon will have, the gas lines have been installed, and soon it will breathe fire.
The Gringotts dragon can be seen from far away in the park, but we can’t wait to get up close and personal with this beast!
# 5 – Wizard Currency Exchange
“Your Disney Dollars are no good here. Good day, Sir. I SAID GOOD DAY!” (photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Close Up)
Theme park guests have had Disney Dollars since the late 1980s, and Universal will now have its own currency exchange at Gringotts bank. Here we will be able to exchange our Muggle currency for Wizarding bank notes, which can be used to purchase items in the Wizarding World (or anywhere else in the park) or saved as a souvenir. The currency exchange inside Diagon Alley will be manned by an audio-animatronic bank teller who is expected to interact with guests using a system either similar to what Disney uses for the talking Mickey at Town Square Theater (with pre-recorded lines) or using a live actor off scene, as the Mystic Fountain works at Islands of Adventure. Add this one to the Must Do list.
# 4 – Butterbeer Ice Cream
George, Fred, and Ginny Weasley (actors Oliver and James Phelps, and Bonnie Wright of the Harry Potter movies) enjoying Butterbeer ice cream in front of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour (photo courtesy of Universal)
More than 20 new flavors are coming to Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor, including Earl Grey and lavender, chocolate chili, clotted cream, apple crumble, sticky toffee pudding, strawberry and peanut butter, salted caramel Blondie, chocolate and raspberry, and orange marmalade. However, this week the bomb was dropped that Butterbeer ice cream will also be available. Now we love Butterbeer, with frozen being our favorite (although warm Butterbeer knocked our socks off earlier this year at Universal’s A Celebration of Harry Potter), but Butterbeer soft serve on a hot Florida day? Step aside Dole Whip, there’s a new sheriff in town.
Diagon Alley is filled with unique food and beverage items that you won’t find anywhere else at the Universal Orlando Resort. Whether it’s Cottage Pie at the Leaky Cauldron, Wizard’s Brew at the Hopping Pot, or the various elixirs in Horizont Alley that you can add to Gillywater, bring an empty stomach (and a full wallet) when you arrive.
# 3 – The Tale of Three Brothers
Photo courtesy of Orlando Universal Close Up
One of my personal favorite parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I was the creative way the film told the story of The Tale of the Three Brothers from Beedle the Bard. Guests of Diagon Alley will see this story brought to life as a troupe of four performers from the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts use scenic pieces, props, and puppetry fabricated by Emmy-award-winning designer Michael Curry to tell the tale of how the Deathly Hallows ended up in the hands of three brothers after they cheated death.
Another story from Beedle the Bard, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, will also be acted out. I’ve got high hopes for both of these new shows because over at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade there are two live shows that I enjoy, the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally. While neither show is worth planning your day around, both completely understand the “world” that the Potter films take place. With a bigger budget and source material containing more depth of story, the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts shows should have huge appeal to Potter fan.
The Hogwarts Frog Choir at Hogsmeade Village (photo by Brandon Glover)
# 2 – The London Waterfront
The London Waterfront at night (photo by HateToFly)
The Shaftesbury memorial fountain and the Knight Bus, two great photo ops in the London Waterfront area (photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Close Up)
With Springfield U.S.A. and the London Waterfront, Universal has turned its lagoon area into a true highlight of the park. Absolutely gorgeous recreations of King’s Cross station, Leicester Square, Wyndham’s Theatre, and 12 Grimmauld Place are the first things you will notice, but throughout the entire area are little touches meant to replicate the feel of London along with various props like the Knight Bus straight out of the Potter films.
The more I go to all theme parks the more I find myself seeing fewer shows, riding fewer rides, and instead taking more time to enjoy the environment. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy strolling through World Showcase in Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I now think that I’ll be spending more of my time going to Duff Gardens and then walking over to the Shaftesbury memorial fountain in London to admire the work on the statue of Eros rather than at the other end of Universal Studios riding Transformers or Revenge of the Mummy.
# 1 – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Part of the queue for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. THE QUEUE. (photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)
Bill Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange are two of the characters in this scene from Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (photo courtesy of the Universal Orlando Resort)
From all accounts, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts looks to create an experience from beginning to end that is even more memorable than Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, something I would have thought impossible to accomplish. The Gringotts Bank queue is said to be as detailed as Hogwarts Castle with even more interactive features and the ride itself brings guests right back into the action of the Deathly Hallows Part II. Characters that we loved (Bill Weasley) and hated (Bellatrix Lestrange) will be along for a brand new Potter story that will tie into the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermoine making their escape from the Lestrange vault.
Kreacher peeking out at 12 Grimmauld Place (photo by HateToFly)
So there you have it: Six Reasons We Can’t Wait for Diagon Alley to Open. To be fair, we could have made this the Top 60 Reasons because there is so much to do and see that we are dying to finally experience. Carkitt Market. The interactive wand experiences. The Hogwarts Express. Potter themed Photo Connect experiences. The various shops of Diagon Alley including Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. The “brick opening” entrance from London to Diagon. For the first time, women wand keepers at Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. However, despite all that awesomeness we may be most excited by the one bit of the new area that Universal seems to be holding extremely close to the vest… Knockturn Alley. An area devoted to dark magic and a store – Borgin and Burkes – that will offer Death Eater masks, robes, and other items used by the villains of the Potter Universe? Take our money, please!
See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six, where we grab our broomstick and take a look at the Harambe Nights event at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 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 Disney Blogger Extraordinaire Morgan Crutchfield, HateToFly, and crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their assistance with this article. I encourage any fan of universal to check out HateToFly’s podcast Orlando United Radio. HateToFly, along with cohosts Drew and Brian, provides excellent commentary and discussion on Universal news and rumors.
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June 6, 2014
Marketplace Co-Op Now Open at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney
It’s open!
Do you hear that sound? It’s my wallet crying. You see, today at Walt Disney World the all new Marketplace Co-Op store opened on the Marketplace side of Downtown Disney. This new shop is home to six different specialty boutiques all under one roof. The store’s purpose is to be a testing ground for new Disney retail concepts, shops, and products, although it also appears it will sell some unique items that you can only get by stopping inside.
When guests enter they see a main common area with the shops forking off of the main area. There are six different shops that guests can choose to visit, each one selling rare and exclusive merchandise. Each boutique has a different theme, selling merchandise that fits that particular theme.
First, and perhaps my favorite, is Disney Centerpiece. This store specializes in kitchen and housewares. Centerpiece’s merchandise features bowls, plates, signs, pillows, etc., all with a Disney flair. (For example, one of the most popular items is an Orange Bird pillow.)
The Trophy Room specializes in sports memorabilia with a vintage look. Common items sold here are hats, shirts, and collectibles.
Cherry Tree Lane focuses on selling accessories such as purses, jewelery, and scarves. This is be the place to go if you are looking to buy a Dooney & Bourke or Vera Bradley purse. The store is named after the Banks’ residence in Mary Poppins.
D-Tech on Demand is another place where I will be spending all my money. This store offers cell phone cases that can be custom-made, along with pre-made options, including limited edition cases. The shop also sells other fun Disney-themed electronics.
Beautifully Disney offers guests make-up and beauty selections with a Disney theme. The store also sells fragrances, bath products, and other beauty items.
Finally we have Zoey and Pickles, which is where your teen or tween girl will want to visit. This shop features clothing and accessories galore, with the latest trends in mind.
The Marketplace Co-Op can be found in the location of the former Team Mickey store, between Once Upon a Toy and World of Disney. The shop is open from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Sunday – Thursday, and from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. It is a must-stop on my visits to Downtown Disney, for sure!
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PotterWatch: Preliminary Diagon Alley Touring Plans
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley is nearly ready — but are you? (Photos by Seth Kubersky)
With only two weeks to go before the worldwide media descends upon Universal Orlando for its unveiling of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, we already know plenty of things about the experience that awaits behind Universal Studios Florida‘s imposing new London Waterfront. We know about the E-ticket “multi-sensory thrill ride” inside the dragon-topped Gringotts bank; we know about the Hogwarts Express train that will transport guests to the original Wizarding World in Islands of Adventure; we know the names of that will line this magical shopping mall; we even know the varieties of pie (Seafood! Steak and Guinness!) and ice cream (Chocolate chili! Butterbeer!) you’ll be able to eat. So it’s no wonder that many of our subscribers have requested Diagon Alley touring plans to prepare them for their upcoming vacations. Unfortunately, we still lack two pieces of data vital to providing our usual expert advice: when we can get inside, and how long we’ll wait once we get there.
Through a combination of inside information, experience observing Universal’s operations since Potter arrived, and some educated guesses, we’ve devised the following preliminary Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley touring plans, along with a summary of our surmises about how the area will operate. Be aware that much of this is based on unofficial intel, and is subject to change before, during, and after the grand opening of the attraction.
Diagon Alley Opening Date…or Dates?
The fact that Universal Orlando has not yet (as of this writing) announced an official opening date for Diagon Alley is disquieting, but not disastrous. It is possible that Universal is delaying or downplaying the opening date, in order to disperse the massive crowds that accompanied the first Wizarding World’s grand opening in 2010 (see below).
There are a few dates that we know for sure:
The VIP and Media preview will be held June 17-20. Media is scheduled to be inside Diagon Alley on the evening of the 18th and the morning of the 19th.
Universal is currently selling vacation packages that include early entry to Diagon Alley and breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron, starting June 29.
Logically, the official public opening should be somewhere between those dates, with recent online rumors pointing to June 26. One might assume that Universal would want to have the public grand opening while the media is present, in order to have them document the crowds. However, it appears (much like with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train media preview) that the event may be used to promote the expansion, with an official public opening occurring some time after.
Diagon Alley Technical Rehearsal (Soft Opening)
“Soft Openings” — or “Technical Rehearsals” in Universal lingo — are unannounced opportunities for park guests to experience a new attraction ahead of its official opening. Its purpose is not so much to please the fans, but to give the team members an opportunity to practice operations with live bodies, hopefully working out the bugs before the grand opening arrives.
Technical rehearsals may start at any time without warning, and stop again just as swiftly. There is absolutely no guarantee of getting in, or if you do, getting to experience anything, so don’t go running to guest services for a refund if the rides go down. It is very typical to have team members loudly telling you there there is no possibility of the attraction opening, and advising you to go elsewhere in the park, until seconds before they allow you entry. (Don’t be mad at the front-line employees for lying, they only know what their supervisors tell them).
Despite those trials, perseverance can pay off; I got into the original Wizarding World weeks before it officially opened, but suffered through days of fruitless standing outside the entrance before gaining admission. Note that this is only recommended for local annual passholders with too much time on their hands, and NOT advised for anyone burning valuable vacation time.
If Diagon Alley had followed the same opening schedule as Hogsmeade, we would have expected soft openings to have started by now. We do know that employees have already experienced “mock service” inside the shops and restaurants, as well as team member previews of the Hogwarts Express train. However, we’ve also heard they have yet to get the signature Gringotts ride to work up to optimal capacity, which has led some to speculate that the area might soft open without that attraction in operation. It is worth noting that Universal did not conduct public technical rehearsals of Hogsmeade in 2010 unless the Forbidden Journey ride inside Hogwarts castle was operational.
Soft openings were previously rumored to begin on Saturday, June 7. However, recent scuttlebutt has them pushed back a week to June 14, mere days before the media arrives. If soft openings do start before the media event, they are almost certain to cease until the VIPs have vamoosed.
If and when soft openings do start, we’ll let you know first via Twitter using the #PotterWatch hashtag.
Attending Diagon Alley on Opening Day
To those considering experiencing Diagon Alley’s grand opening (whenever that may be) in person, we have one word of advice: Don’t. Seriously, just don’t. According to the Orlando Sentinel, when the first Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened on June 18, 2010:
The lines formed early after Universal opened its parking garage at 5:30 a.m. Within 30 minutes, more than 5,000 guests were at the turnstiles. They were then queued up in a long, snaking fashion through several “lands” of the park and out into Universal CityWalk.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening day crowds fill CityWalk outside Islands of Adventure on June 18, 2010 (photo by Orlando Sentinel)
Come on, look at that craziness. Do you really want to be in the middle of that? Your first visit to Diagon Alley will probably be a much more pleasant experience if it doesn’t come at the expense of a five-plus hour wait just to enter the park. Those are Frozen meet & greet-type times we’re talking about, people!
Plus, even if the grand opening does happen during the media event, the public will likely have little to no opportunity to see (much less interact with) any stars or celebrities. And if the grand opening happens later in the month, don’t count on a ton of hoopla or free goodies for the general guest.
Of course, there’s a certain excitement in being present for a premiere, and we’re sure some of our readers won’t be dissuaded by logic. If you are nuts enough to try to attend Diagon Alley’s opening day, here’s some advice:
CityWalk will shut down after 2 a.m. the night before the grand opening, and all guests will be swept out of the parking garage. There are several all-night eateries in the Kirkman Road/Major Boulevard area were you can wait until the garage reopens.
Better yet, get a hotel room on property.
Plan on getting to the gates of Universal Studios Florida around 5 a.m. The earlier the better!
Stay observant and watch more movement among the team members. Be aware of multiple lines forming, and feel free to ask an employee where you should be standing.
Be prepared for a long, hard wait. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and backup batteries for your cell phone.
Diagon Alley 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 has slaked somewhat, 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
Outside the Sindbad stunt show theater in Lost Continent 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 offered return time windows; 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.
A sample Wizarding World return time ticket.
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.
From observing how Universal has handled Hogsmeade operationally, we can predict how they may manage the masses at Diagon Alley. However, there is a magical twist that will make entering the newest Wizarding World a much different experience. Though we can’t reveal how it will work, every guest entering Diagon Alley will pass through the moving brick wall behind The Leaky Cauldron, just as Harry did in the first book. That means only one way into the area (though there will be multiple exits) and a sure-fire standby line to get in on even the slowest days.
With that in mind, here is how Universal may handle Diagon Alley entry:
Diagon Alley Normal Operations
Once the initial surge of attendance dies down — which may take many weeks or months — on a day of average attendance, we expect you will still experience at least a short wait before passing through the magical wall into Diagon Alley, even if arriving soon after opening. On more crowded days, the standby wait will surely be substantial; luckily, the London Waterfront facades are rumored to conceal hours worth of air-conditioned queueing space.
Diagon Alley maximum capacity is reported to be as much as double that of Hogsmeade, but we estimate it will still fill up quickly even during times of moderate attendance. That is thanks in 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. Once that occupancy limit is reached, return time ticket kiosks located between Men In Black and Fear Factor Live will be made available. The kiosks operate identically to the ones described above. Guests with a valid return time ticket report to the gateway into the London Waterfront closest to Fear Factor Live, next to the Grimmauld Place facade. They will then be directed to a (hopefully) short queue before entering Diagon Alley.
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 3 1/2 hours worth of riders. There will 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 important to note that if you exit Diagon Alley for any reason, you will have to rinse and repeat one of the previous procedures before reentering.
Diagon Alley Peak Operations
Take everything stated above, and multiply it by a billion. On peak capacity days — which in 2014 will likely run from opening until the fall, and again through the holidays — the return ticket kiosks will likely be operational from the minute the park opens, and should be your first destination. Return times should start at 30-45 minutes after retrieval at rope drop, and increase through mid-morning until they are 5 or more hours in the future.
Tickets may run out entirely by mid-afternoon, though guests willing to endure the epic standby line should always be able to enter, especially late in the day. If there is still an overflow of guests (as expected on opening day), they could be herded into the Fear Factor Live stadium, or organized in temporary backstage queues like those used during Halloween Horror Nights.
If you arrive on a peak day and see an endless line of people in black robes and pointy hats snaking along the lagoon, we suggest going to Finnegan’s Bar and ordering a stiff drink (followed by a bottle of water) before queuing up. If they argue that it’s only 9 a.m., tell ‘em we sent ya.
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 with take guests on journey between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, with virtual windows and in-car effects enhancing the ride. 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 will be 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 and requeue before reboarding.
There is no minimum height requirement or safety restraints on the train, but some oversized strollers or motorized wheelchairs may be prohibited for size reasons.
While the combined hourly rider capacity of both trains equals that of a typical E-Ticket ride, only half that number will be able to pass though each station. As a result we expect the waits for the Hogwarts Express to be as long or longer than that for Gringotts.
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 will 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 when 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 uberpassionate about Potter lore, the Hogsmeade side is expected to have noticeably shorter waits than the London station, which has the amazing (but operationally restrictive) wall walk-through at Platform 9 3/4 to slow the line.
Finally, we’ve received word that guests will given boarding priority for their first one-way trip on the Hogwarts Express, but will be relegated to an even slower secondary standby line for subsequent rides. How exactly this will be handled — Once per day or per vacation? A separate pass or tied to your admission? — is still a mystery wrapped in an enigma stuffed inside a chocolate frog…
Preliminary Diagon Alley Touring Plan for Early Entry
If you’ve made it this far (2500 words and counting!) you’re probably anxious for us to boil this information overload down to some practical advice. For the TMI/TL;DR crowd, 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.
One unknown at this time is which Wizarding World will be available early on any given day. Universal team members have reported that both parks will participate in early entry every day, but the fine print on Universal hotel reservations indicate that only one park (of Universal’s choosing) will be available on each day. One possible scenario is that the four onsite hotels will alternate or rotate between the two parks, so that everyone doesn’t flock to Diagon Alley daily, leaving Hogsmeade empty. If that happens, it is unlikely that the Hogwarts Express would operate during early entry, because it would allow guests to cross over into the opposite attraction. If you are only booking one night onsite with the intention of using early entry at Diagon Alley, be sure to ask which Wizarding World you will be allowed into early during your stay.
Here is our preliminary 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.
Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 90 to 105 minutes before the published public opening time, or 30 to 45 minutes before early entry begins. If staying onsite, leave 5 to 15 minutes walking time, or 10 to 20 minutes for water taxi or bus transfer.
Line up at the rightmost available turnstile; ask a team member if you’re unsure which ones will be open.
Once admitted to the park, proceed to the right towards the Studio Audience Center, then pass the restrooms and lockers to your left. Make a right onto Hollywood Boulevard and walk past Terminator 2/3D towards Mel’s Drive-In. Cut across Mel’s parking lot towards Transformers, then hug the lagoon to the right and follow it through San Francisco to the London Waterfront.
Approach the entrance to Diagon Alley, disguised as the Leicester Square subway station. You will have to queue to enter Diagon Alley, but should not need a timed return ticket during the early entry hour.
Once inside Diagon Alley, head straight up the main drag towards the fire-breathing dragon. If Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is operating, get in line for the ride. A single rider line is available, but it skips most of the exquisite effects-filled queue, so you should go standby on your first visit.
If you are unable to experience a moderate family-friendly roller coaster with mild drops and simulator-style movements, you should still ask if a non-riding “bank tour” is offered so that you can experience the Gringotts queue.
At a window outside Gringotts, 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; expect the line to move glacially slow.
Find the queue for 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 move at triple the pace.
Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein.
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.
If you want to have breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron, you can book it with your vacation package or through your onsite hotel’s ticket desk. Book your reservation for as late in the morning as possible in order to make the most of the less-crowded early hours.
If you want ice cream for breakfast, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s as soon as it opens, as the queue will grow quickly. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market.
Speaking of Carkitt Market, 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 two fables from The Tales of Beedle the Bard, told with Michael Curry-designed puppets reminiscent of the “Three Brothers” scene from the seventh film. Showtimes may not be posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour.
Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, either exit to the right if you want to take the Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure; or turn left towards Fear Factor Live and retrieve a timed return ticket if you plan to visit Diagon Alley again in the afternoon. Before leaving the London waterfront, be sure to stop by the Knight Bus and watch its conductor kibitz with the talking shrunken heads hanging from his mirror.
If you are remaining in Universal Studios Florida, pick up one of our standard one-day touring plans, starting with Despicable Me, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Transformers The Ride 3-D. Guests with Universal Express will be able to breeze through the plan. Those without Express may find Despicable Me’s standby wait prohibitive, and wish to save it for late in the day, but waits for the park’s other major rides are expected to decrease as guests gravitate towards Diagon Alley. The exception may be the nearby MIB and Simpsons attractions, which could see some spillover attendance.
After you complete your touring plan, consider returning to Diagon Alley in the last hour that the park is open, when crowds should be lighter and the lighting should be spectacular.
Preliminary Diagon Alley Touring Plan for General Admission
For the majority of guests, Diagon Alley will already be full of early entrants no matter what time they arrive. Even so, offsite early birds with a good touring plan will still have an advantage over those who stroll in hours after rope drop, especially during peak season.
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 60 to 90 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 rightmost available turnstile; ask a team member if you’re unsure which ones will be open.
Once admitted to the park, proceed to the right towards the Studio Audience Center, then pass the restrooms and lockers to your left. Make a right onto Hollywood Boulevard and walk past Terminator 2/3D and the Horror Makeup Show towards KidZone. Continue left past Animal Actors through the Simpsons area, walk to Men In Black, and find the timed return ticket kiosks between MIB and Fear Factor Live.
Retrieve a timed return ticket for Diagon Alley entry. Chose the earliest available time slot offered by the kiosk. Remember that you don’t need your admission passes or other members of your party to use the ticket kiosk.
While waiting for your return ticket to activate, you have two options. A) If your return time is three or more hours in the future, and you have a park-to-park pass, take the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross to Islands of Adventure. Use a touring plan there until it’s time for you Diagon Alley appointment, leaving at least 20-25 minutes to walk back from the other park. B) If your Diagon Alley return time is less than three hours away, or you don’t have a park-to-park ticket, follow one of our Universal Studios Florida touring plans until your return window approaches. Guests without Express may find Despicable Me’s standby wait prohibitive, and wish to save it for late in the day, but waits for the park’s other major rides are expected to decrease as guests gravitate towards Diagon Alley. The exception may be the nearby MIB and Simpsons attractions, which could see some spillover attendance.
When your return time arrives (or immediately upon entry if by some miracle attendance is so slow the kiosks are not in use) enter the London area through the gateway closest to Fear Factor Live, next to the Grimmauld Place facade. You will be directed to (hopefully) brief queue before entering Diagon Alley through the magical moving bricks.
Once inside Diagon Alley, head straight up the main drag towards the fire-breathing dragon. If Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is operating, get in line for the ride. A single rider line is available, but it skips most of the exquisite effects-filled queue, so you should go standby on your first visit.
If you are unable to experience a moderate family-friendly roller coaster with mild drops and simulator-style movements, you should still ask if a non-riding “bank tour” is offered so that you can experience the Gringotts queue.
At a window outside Gringotts, 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; expect the line to move glacially slow.
Find the queue for 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 move at triple the pace.
Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein.
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.
Breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron may be restricted to onsite guests and pre-purchased vacation package holders, but anyone can eat lunch or dinner there without a reservation. Seating capacity is limited, so minimize your wait by eating before 11:30 a.m., between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., or after 8 p.m..
For dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s, but be warned that the wait may be quite long for most of the day. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market.
Speaking of Carkitt Market, 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 two fables from The Tales of Beedle the Bard, told with Michael Curry-designed puppets reminiscent of the “Three Brothers” scene from the seventh film. Showtimes may not be posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour.
Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit to the right if you want to take the Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure (if you didn’t do so earlier); or turn left towards Fear Factor Live and retrieve another timed return ticket if you plan to visit Diagon Alley again in the afternoon. Before leaving the London waterfront, be sure to stop by the Knight Bus and watch its conductor kibitz with the talking shrunken heads hanging from his mirror.
If you are remaining in Universal Studios Florida, continue following your touring plan from where you left off earlier. If crowds are heavy, focus on shows and walk-through attractions during the middle of the day, saving the popular rides for after the masses start departing en masse.
After you complete your touring plan, consider returning to Diagon Alley in the last hour that the park is open, when crowds should be lighter and the lighting should be spectacular.
One Final Twist: Interactive Wands
Observant readers may have noted that we compiled this guide without any reference to one major rumored component of the Wizarding World expansion: interactive wand. We have it on good (if unofficial) authority that magic wands embedded with electronic sensors will be sold in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, that will enable their buyers to activate hidden special effects throughout the Wizarding Worlds with a flick of their wrist.
It sounds like an amazing concept, but at this time we have absolutely no idea how it will be handled from an operational perspective, or even if it will premiere with the rest of the Diagon Alley attractions. If not priced and managed properly, its easy to imagine this magical experience degenerating into long lines of guests blocking traffic as the flail frustratedly at facade windows.
When more details about the interactive wand experience (including what its official name is, and how much it will cost) we will update our touring plans. But until we have more reliable reports on how and when you’ll be able to experience this facet of the Wizarding World, we’ll focus on the parts we know will be generally available on opening day. From what’s we’ve seen so far, that should be more than enough to make even Professor Snape smile.
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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of June 6, 2014
Summer vacations are starting, and everyone’s getting excited!
In all the excitement, you might have missed something. No need to worry! I’ve got the details for you! (P.S.: make sure you packed the sunscreen!)
In Case You Missed It – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors
James Cameron has shed a few new details on the upcoming Avatarland. First, the name…it’s likely to be called, “Pandora: Land of Avatar,” though keep in mind, that could still change. In addition, Mr. Cameron mentioned that the anamatronics are going to be unreal; they are supposed to be extremely advanced. about what’s slated for this new land that is currently being built at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
USA Today shared its Top 10 Best Rides and Attractions at Walt Disney World. While there wasn’t really one mentioned that surprised me, though maybe the fact that Splash Mountain wasn’t included does surprise me a bit, it was a good list and made some good points. Which attraction would be number one on your “best of” list?
I am a bad Disney fan. I do not remember Horizons. I have no clue if I went on it as a kid. There is not one single scene that sticks out to me. However, I have good news. For those who either don’t remember (like me) or just want to take a stroll down memory lane again, I came across this incredible, restored video of the attraction. After watching it, for the first time ever, I can now say I “rode” Horizons, or at least I’ll now be able to have memories of what it once was. It is obviously not as cool as seeing it in person, but at least I now have a frame of reference. 
Want to take the hardest Disney quiz ever? Here it is. I did spectacularly…poorly. Whoops. Well, to look at the bright side, at least I learned some stuff. (I feel like my Disney fandom is being tested here…I don’t remember Horizons, failed this quiz…ack!)
Disney CEO Bob Iger was recently named as one of Fortune’s Top Tech Visionaries. He’s listed among many prominent tech folks; find out why.
Ok….so apparently Beauty and the Beast is now going to be made into a live action version. Hmmm…..
This week, the Themed Entertainment Association released the numbers (that is, its estimates) of the world’s top theme park’s based off of attendance. As comes as no surprise, Disney took the number one spot, with the Magic Kingdom seeing an estimated 18.6 million visitors in 2013. In the United States, Universal Studios Florida took quite a good jump, increasing attendance by 14%. Here’s a look a the full report, if you would like to see it.
For those who are excited about Diagon Alley, among of the big components of the land are the unique food offerings that will be available. Recently Universal shared some of the items we’ll get to try! I cannot wait to dig in to the Cottage Pie from Leaky Cauldron, followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream from Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour. Of course, I’ll need to wash it down with a Butterbeer. In addition, The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill recently spoke with Jim about trying some of these delights. Check out Episode 59!
In Case We Missed It
What did we miss? Send your idea attached to these cute Mickey and Minnie Flip Flops and send both to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.
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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of June 6, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
June 5, 2014
“Villains Unleashed” New Hard-Ticketed Event Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
©Disney
Update #3 – Unavailability of tickets appears to have been temporary; some have reported successfully purchasing tickets by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.
Update #2 – This event has sold out.
Updated at 2:30 p.m.: Disney has officially announced the event. Official details are included.
Last year, for Limited Time Magic, Disney’s Hollywood Studios held a special one-night event called “Unleash the Villains on Friday, September 13. It was incredibly popular, with people clamoring to get in and waits for character meet and greets that were hours long. (Almost rivaling the current wait times to meet Anna and Elsa in Princess Fairytale Hall.)
After the large popularity of last year’s event, and fitting with the trend of special hard-ticketed events in the parks (such as Harambe Nights and the Epcot After Hours Wind Down), Disney has decided to host an all new villains-themed party called “Villains Unleashed” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The event is scheduled to take on Saturday, August 23, from 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. and tickets are now on sale for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members.
Tickets cost:
Adults (Ages 10+): $67 in advance/$71 day of event
Children (Ages 3-9): $62 in advance/$66 day of event
To purchase tickets, call (407) WDW-PLAY. Tickets are not currently available online. For those who are not AP holders or DVC Members, tickets will go on sale for the general public beginning June 9.
The event will include a record number of 50 villains on hand. In addition, there will be special shows, like “Hades Hangout & Dance Party,” featuring DJ Igg Nite and the Underworld Dancers and “Oogie Boogie’s Variety Show,” which will take place at the Theatre of the Stars. There will also be villain meet and greets; a Star Wars villain zone; the “Villainy in the Skies” fireworks show, utilizing Glow with the Show ears; a villain-themed Fantasmic! pre-show; “Ex-Scream” makeovers–face painting to look like your favorite villain; specialty food and beverages; unique merchandise and more. In addition, many of your favorite attractions will be open, and it’s rumored that there may be some attraction ride-alongs with villains. Guests may also choose to dress in costume as their favorite Disney Villain.
This sounds like a spectacularly villainous event!
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52 Disney World Souvenirs Under $5
By Erin Foster
Sometimes you’re at Disney World and you treat yourself to that awesome Dooney & Bourke bag, diamond Mickey pendant, or custom Disney artwork. Huzzah and glad tidings to your good fortune!
But there will also be times when those big budget items are just not in the cards. There may be many situations where you need to buy something at Disney World, but don’t want to break the bank. A few of these reasons might include:
You need to placate a child. Don’t judge, we’ve all resorted to the occasional bribe.
You need to bring a token gift to someone at home. For example, the neighbor kid who watered your plants merits just a little something.
You’ve have to bring a bunch of small somethings to a group. For example, everyone in your child’s preschool class gets a small gift. Or you’re getting favors for a party.
You’re on an extremely strict budget, but you want just a little something to commenorate your trip.
You’re participating in a Secret Santa or similar gift exchange or game with a small expenditure limit.
It’s all too easy to find expensive Disney souvenirs at the parks, but finding little trinkets can often be a challenge. Here’s a photo tour of some ideas for small purchases in the Disney parks. Each of the 52 items pictured below has been available for less than $5.00 during the past six months.
Merchandise items and pricing can obviously change, but some guidelines to consider when looking for cheap treats include:
Consider getting consumables for the folks at home. Your dog walker might not want a Mickey key chain (especially if she’s never been to Disney World), but she might enjoy some Mickey cookies. Eating is better than trashing.
The “impulse buy” bins near the registers are a good source of cheap swag.
Small kids are often enticed by quantity rather than quality. A few small things might be as good, or better, than one large thing for a child in collector mode.
A child who wants to spend just a few dollars of his own money on a souvenir may need to be pointed to items in the correct price range.
The stores in the Epcot World Showcase countries often have unique trinkets. If you don’t need your souvenir to say “Disney,” this is a great place to look. The Japan pavilion has some particularly wacky items.
Some small purchases can double as an activity as well as a souvenir. For example, pressed pennies and photo booth shots are things to do AND things to take home.
Remember that not everything you take home has to cost money. There are many items available for free at Disney World which can function as great souvenirs. Celebration buttons and coloring pages are just two of the many examples of this.
And onto the photo tour of souvenirs costing under $5.00:
So folks, what’s your favorite tiny treat or trinket? Do you often have a need to buy just a little something in the parks? Do you typically have buyers remorse on small purchases? Let us know in the comments below.
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Observations: June 1, 2014 Lion King Reopening
By Daisy Lauren
Jambo Everyone! Welcome to our look at the very blustery opening day of the Festival of the Lion King. When fastpass+ were released just a couple days before I jumped at the chance to see this show return after a six month closure. Unfortunately, I was only able to reserve the last show of the day. Around 1pm I couldn’t wait any longer and decided to head to the park and attempt to get into the 2pm show through the standby line even though it was drizzling outside. The new theater looks great and fits in perfectly with the rest of Harambe.
I arrived at the theater at 1:45pm and hopped in the line. It wasn’t as long as I’d expected but I noticed people were only trickling in a few at a time. When I was closer to the podium I was advised that only standing room was available for the show. I didn’t remember this from the old theater so I decided to check it out for you guys. Basically, they are allowing guests to stand on the staircases around the seating areas and at the very back of the theater. I was pushed off to one side so my photos didn’t turn out at all. The below photo will give you an idea what this view is like. Full disclosure: this is an older photo from the previous theater.
Frankly, the view isn’t very good and being crammed together isn’t comfortable. If you have the option of going to a different show time I would skip standing room. When I emerged from the theater the rain was falling a little harder so I headed over to Flights of Wonder. I hadn’t tried this show in the rain before so I was curious if it would be different. Ultimately, some things were cut but it was still worth doing in the rain. Check out the crane below in the Karate Crane Stance!
After the show something happened I’d never seen before. The trainer came out and asked people to stay and help with training a bird. Apparently, they were having trouble with this bird getting confused and landing on audience members rather than completing the behavior! We all settled into our seats and waited while they played the show opening music. A beautiful pink bird popped out of the wall and started to fly across the stage until something spooked him. The poor bird squawked, floundered, and looked like he might just fall out of the air before landing back on the trainer. Everything was set for him to try again and he completed the behavior perfectly the second time. I really hope we’ll see him in the show in the future and it was so neat to be invited participate in an extra activity.
Unfortunately, after the show it was still raining. In Florida we don’t commonly get rain that just falls all day. Often we see a violent rain storm and then get back to sunshine! Because I expected the rain to pass quickly I hadn’t followed my normal rain plan and only had an umbrella with me. Begrudgingly, I stopped by Flame Tree Barbecue for a snack and some relief from the storm. You can tell it was raining because even on a Saturday all the outdoor seating was empty.
After a bit of waiting the rain finally let up and I was able to snap a lovely photo of Expedition Everest before deciding to go wait in line for the Kilimanjaro Safaris.
The posted wait time was 30 minutes but I was in my seat in just 25 minutes. While I was waiting in line the rain began to gently fall again. This time I didn’t mind since I was under cover and the animals normally love wet weather. This proved to be the case as we started out our safari the animals were all out enjoying the shower.
I even managed to get a good photo of the sable antelope! If you can believe it, in all my hundreds of safaris this is the one animal that I’ve never managed to get on film. Even during the Wild Africa Trek this guy eluded me. They always seem to be far away from the trucks but the rain had lured them out! So here you are – the impossible to photograph sable antelope!
As we continued on it looked like every single giraffe was out and enjoying a snack! I’ve always told people Animal Kingdom is a great park to visit in the rain and this is why. I was so glad I’d waited in the standby line for this experience!
But then, out of nowhere, the crazy storm I’d been waiting for all day appeared. I’m used to seeing heavy rain approach like a curtain, but this rain just started falling without warning. As you can see from the video below it spooked the giraffes and they all started running. At the very beginning of the video you can see one giraffe falling. It looks like it slipped and I started my video when he had two feet in the air. You can hear our driver say he’s going to call it in. (Also, please forgive my slow focusing!)
I wish I had more to share from this safari but it started raining sideways and I couldn’t let my camera get soaked. True to form, the elephants were all swimming in their pools when we got to them. Oddly, the big cats were also very active in the rain. By the time our safari ended I was completely soaked! (read: umbrellas are useless in Florida rain) Ironically, I had a fastpass+ window that had just opened for Kilimanjaro Safaris. I figured I was already soaked so why not? Anyway, I wanted to check on the giraffes and make sure they were still in one piece! As you can see from the below they were doing just fine after their shower.
They white rhinos were also out enjoying all the fresh mud that was generated from the storm. About this time the rain stopped completely.
I didn’t crop this photo so you could get a look at the storm that soaked me in the background. After playing in the rain all three lions were conched out.
After two safaris I was very ready to finally see Festival of the Lion King. I decided to go be the first person in line for the Fastpass+ queue. When they stopped accepting fastpasses for the 6pm show at 5:50pm I asked if I could start the line and was assigned a place to stand. However, when I finally scanned my Magic Band 30 minutes later I received the flashing blue ring of death!! My stomach dropped to my feet. It was the last show of the day and I had my heart set on bringing you some great coverage! Luckily the cast member confirmed they’d had some opening day issues and let me proceed. After another 20 minutes we were allowed into the theater. The show is even better than you remember it!
I wanted to bring you a mix of photos and videos during the show, but the tumbling monkeys are definitely better presented by video!
The costumes all looked as good as new and the performers were at their absolute best!
The theater looks identical and the show is exactly as you remember it. I’ve seen a few people disappointed that upgrades weren’t made but I’m just happy they didn’t cut anything! Your favorite performers are even back in the show.
I’d heard from a few cast members that the roof of the building is taller but that didn’t seem to be the case.
The audience participation during “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” is still my favorite part of the show. Please forgive the loud clapping and cast member that kept jumping in front of my camera.
I could share a hundred more photos but here are a last couple favorites. It’s so obvious that the cast are proud to be a part of this show. They all looked so happy to be back!
Of course, I had to film the finale for you! Please forgive the moment when things go a little dark. A tumbling monkey need a high five… and who am I to deny that?? (Stay tuned until the end for Simba!)
I hope you enjoyed visiting Animal Kingdom on a rainy day with me. Remember to make a rain plan for your trip! Does anyone have any questions or requests for a future observations post? Please let us know in the comments below. I always love to hear from you!
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Observations: June 1, 2014 Lion King Reopening is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
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