Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1224

Epcot IllumiNations: Is It Worth Your FastPass+?

By Daisy Lauren

There’s something wildly appealing about special viewing for fireworks. Whenever we travel to Disneyland we always book packages that include exclusive spots to see the evening finales. But even as a local I was excited to see what FastPass+ viewing for IllumiNations would offer. Most of all I wanted to know if it was really worth burning one of your valuable tier one FastPass+ choices. So this week I set out to find out if IllumiNations is really worth your FastPass+.

I arrived on a Wednesday night around 7:15pm to very low crowds. Looking at the photo on the left, you can tell the park was pretty empty. My FastPass+ window for arrival was set between 8:35pm – 8:55pm. I had some time to kill, so I hopped a ride on Spaceship Earth with no wait before taking a leisurely walk back to the World Showcase.

Along the way I formulated a plan to try something completely new to me. You’ll have to forgive me if I take a little detour from the subject at hand, but have you tried a cronut? I hadn’t, and now I’m sad I waited so long! They’re available at Refreshment Port on your way to Canada when entering the World Showcase. Half donut, half croissant – but all delicious! You really have to try one the next time you’re here. You’ll be glad you did!

After finishing my snack I decided to find this FastPass+ viewing area. I lucked out because I was already in Canada. The entrance is on the right hand side of the Port of Entry gift shop you see when first entering that side of World Showcase. That’s where my luck ended, because at just a little after 8:00pm the line already stretched pretty far!

In addition to the line pictured above there were people camped out on benches and planters all around, obviously waiting for the area to open up. I have to admit, I was shocked to see this group lined up 30 minutes before they were allowed in and almost a full hour before the fireworks! After roaming around a while, I confirmed there was a ton of space still available right on the water all around the World Showcase Lagoon. By 8:25pm the line had more than doubled (photo below), even though water front viewing was available all over the place!

Finally, it was time to head into the viewing area. It’s a nice space, and they don’t seem to book enough people into it to make it feel overly cramped. Below is a video so you can see what it’s like. This is the area adjacent to the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party.

So what’s the verdict? Unless you desperately want this particular view, I don’t see any benefit to booking a FastPass+ for IllumiNations. There are lots of great places to watch IllumiNations all over the park, and you can certainly get a front row view if you’re willing to wait for an hour like some people did for FastPass+ viewing.

I hope this helps you when making your FastPass+ choices!  Have you tried this viewing area for IllumiNations? What did you think? Do you want to eat a cronut? (Sung to the tune of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”) Please let us know in the comments below and as always thanks for reading and commenting!

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What Each Disney Dining Plan Component Costs For 2014

By Len Testa

[Update: Our statistician Fred Hazelton suggested we post the computed costs of dining plan components from previous years, to show how prices have gone up. Prices from 2012 are now included in the Results section.]

Last week we did a presentation to Furman University math students on the math and science behind a Walt Disney World vacation. (You can see my presentation to the class here.)

One of the things we discussed was how you could use a system of linear equations to determine the value of each component in Disney’s dining plans. And then I realized that I hadn’t run the numbers for 2014. So here they are. (If you want to follow along in Excel, here’s the spreadsheet. You’ll need to load Excel’s Solver add-in.)

Disney has 3 versions of its dining plan:

The Standard Plan, with 1 quick-service meal, 1 table-service meal, and 1 snack per person per night of your stay, plus a refillable mug good for the length of your stay, for $60.64 per night
The Quick Service Plan, with 2 quick-service meals and 1 snack per person per night, plus a refillable mug, for $41.99 per night
The Deluxe Dining Plan, with 3 meals at any combination of quick-service and table-service locations, 2 snacks, and 1 refillable mug, for $109.53 per night

A first attempt at modeling the Standard and Quick Service plans as math equations might look like this:

Version 1
(Standard Plan) 1Q + 1T + 1S + 1M = $60.64
(Quick Service) 2Q + 0T + 1S + 1M = $41.99

 

In English, the first line says that the cost of one quick-service meal (Q) plus the cost of one table-service meal (T), plus the cost of one snack (S), plus the cost of one refillable mug (M) is $60.64. The second line is similar, and reflects the fact that there are zero table-service meals.

But we need to tweak those equations a little bit. You’ll notice that the equations refer to the per-night cost of the quick-service, table-service, and snack components, but the mug is one per stay. Thus, cost of the mug should be spread out over every night of your stay.

That requires us to make an assumption as to how many nights are in the average Disney World hotel stay. Let’s say it’s 4 nights. In that case, you’re really  using 1/4th of the mug’s cost each night, so the equations should look like this:

Version 2
(Standard Plan) 1Q + 1T + 1S + 0.25M = $60.64
(Quick Service) 2Q + 0T + 1S + 0.25M = $41.99

 

Now the equations more accurately reflect the amortized cost of the refillable mug, and every variable is expressed in per-night costs.

Next we’ve got to add an equation for the Deluxe Dining Plan. The tricky part here is that the Deluxe Plan’s 3 meals can be in any combination of quick-service and table-service restaurants, so we have to make an assumption about how many times we’re likely to eat at each per day.

Let’s make a starting assumption that if you’re buying the Deluxe Plan, you’re really interested in eating at Disney, and more specifically, at sit-down restaurants at least 2 times per day.  (This is a safe assumption, since there are other dining plans for people who want to visit sit-down restaurants 0 or 1 times per day. If you wanted fewer than 2 sit-down meals per day, you could just choose one of the other plans.)

One of the things I decided to do in Excel was let Solver try to figure out the right ratio of counter-service and table-service meals in the Deluxe Dining Plan. In my runs, Solver generated reasonable results with around 0.5 counter-service meals and 2.5 table-service meals per day. That’s one counter-service meal every other day. That seems like a lot of food, but keep in mind that if that’s not what people want, they’d choose other dining plans.

Here’s the updated version with the Deluxe Plan and its assumptions:

Version 3
(Standard Plan)   1Q +   1T + 1S + 0.25M = $60.64
(Quick Service)   2Q +   0T + 1S + 0.25M = $41.99
(Deluxe Plan)   0.5Q + 2.5T + 2S + 0.25M = $109.53

 

Next, it helps to give solver a set of constraints about the various costs. Examples of constraints include:

Snacks cost less than counter-service meals
Counter-service meals cost less than table service meals
Snacks cost more than $1 and less than $7
The value of the refillable mug is at least $3 but not more than $18 (because that’s what a length-of-stay mug costs at retail)
A counter-service meal costs at least $5 and less than $25

These kinds of constraint guides Solver towards a reasonable answer. You can see all of the constraints I used in the spreadsheet.

The next step is to run Solver a few times with different random starting values for Q, T, S, and M. Why? I’m not exactly sure, other than Solver picks a point in the search space to start looking for valid solutions, and random prices decreases the chances of Solver getting stuck.

Results

Solver came back with several solutions whose values of Q, T, S, and M got to within $0.01 of the exact price of the Standard and Quick-Service dining plans, and within $1.40 of the Deluxe Plan.  Using these values of each component in the plan, the total error for pricing every plan was between $0.01 and $1.50:

Each counter service meal is worth $14.75 to $18.07 [in 2012: $14.60]

Each table service meal is worth $33.50 to $36.72 [in 2012: $33.15]

Every snack is worth $4.24 to $4.50 [in 2012: $4.18]

The refillable mug is worth $8 to $12 [in 2012: $8]

How to Use These Numbers

You can use these numbers to determine whether a dining plan is right for you. Take a look at our Walt Disney World restaurant menus and ask yourself whether you’d spend between $14.75 and $18.07 for a quick-service meal, or $4.24 to $4.50 for a snack, or around $33 to $37 for a sit-down meal.

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Lake Louisa State Park – A Trip To The Mouse Like A Country Bear

By Fred Hazelton

Morning view from Pine Point, Lake Louisa State Park, FL

With all of the Disney Theme Parks, not to mention Universal Studios, SeaWorld and all the water parks, what is your favorite Central Florida attraction?

Ask Bob Sehlinger, creator of the Unofficial Guides and you might expect his response to be “Expedition Everest” or “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” when he coyly responds “Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest.” Bob’s first publications were guide books for canoeing and kayaking the white waters of Kentucky, so it is no surprise that the natural wonders of Florida hold a place in his heart alongside the world class theme parks.

The park opens at 8:00am and closes at sunset. Guests of the campsites can access after hours with an entry code

Day guests can use all the facilities, including the freshwater beach, suitable for swimming

So the question becomes, is it possible to do both? Experience the mind-melting hi-tech thrills and soak up the tranquility of the Florida landscape, all in a single trip? Lake Louisa State Park is a 4,372 acre oasis of gently rolling hills located twenty minutes from the edge of Walt Disney World property. Besides Lake Louisa, the park encompasses several other small lakes perfect for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and even swimming – just not where it says “no swimming, alligators.” The hiking trails are extensive, including an equestrian loop with a primitive equestrian camping site. Two other primitive camping sites are available, as well, for $5.50 per night. So of course, I had to try it!

Lake Louisa’s Trails are flat and well-groomed although sand-based, which makes for sluggish walking

Twenty-five miles of hiking and equestrian trails loop and intersect around the park

So I stuffed the tent, sleeping bag, Mickey ears, and trail mix into the backpack, and off I went. The three-quarter mile trek to Pine Point was worth every step. Next to Big Creek, the luxury accommodations at Pine Point that feature a picnic table, a fire pit, and…well, that’s it. I suppose it is not about what is there, but what isn’t. No city lights, no cars, no people. For those looking to escape from the hustle and bustle, it is hard to imagine a better place. On my first day I was able to ride Space Mountain during the day and sleep under the stars at night.

Basecamp at Wilderness Point, a 3/4-mile hike in from the main road

For the less adventurous Lake Louisa State Park offers family cabins. Rustic but not too rustic, the cabins overlook Lake Dixie and offer two bedroom accommodations for up to six people. All the supplies are provided, including a fully stocked kitchen and a fireplace that operates seasonally. The cabins are clean, comfortable, and well-suited for a family of 5 or 6 but feature no televisions or telephones, which you may either find refreshing or frightening. Relax, most families travel with their own entertainment devices nowadays, anyway, and I never lost cell signal at anytime throughout the park. From the boat launch area across from the cabins on Dixie Lake you can see Disney’s fireworks in the distance. At $120 per night, these cabins are a real value.

Family cabins overlook Lake Dixie

Guests who choose Lake Louisa State Park as home base for their Disney trip appreciate the quiet respite from a rugged day of park hopping. Try to settle down your kids at 11pm at a hotel when a cheer-leading squad is rehearsing by the pool, and you’ll appreciate the remoteness, too!

Driving to Walt Disney World from the park is simple: go south on Highway 27 and then east on Highway 192 (West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway). I drove to the Transportation and Transit Center in 30 minutes. The park offers a campsite, as well, with 60 full-facility sites for RVs or tents at $25 per night. Check out http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakelouisa/ for more information.

Hazy morning view along the Bronson Trail

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What To Do When You Forget Your Memory Card At Disneyland

By Guy Selga Jr.

Last Tuesday I arrived at Disneyland’s Mickey & Friends Parking Structure with my camera at my side. My main goal that day was to take pictures and talk about my time in the park for our Observations series of posts. As I walked from my car to the tram loading area I started my ritual of going through my last minute mental checklist to make sure I have everything I’d need for my day in the parks. Cell phone? Check. Keys, wallet, annual pass? Got all those. After I went through my list I look down at my camera and I got the feeling that something wasn’t right. I stop in my tracks and reluctantly held my camera in my hand as the feeling of dread starts to take over, almost like when you pour yourself a bowl of cereal in the morning and then realize the milk in the fridge has gone sour. I flipped open the memory card slot on the side of my camera and realized that I forgot to take my memory card to Disneyland. I instantly remembered that I left it in my computer at home after I cleared it off for the day. Obviously this isn’t a huge problem for me because I only live 20 minutes away. But what if I was on vacation and a plane ride separated me from my house? I decided to take advantage of my forgetfulness and use this experience as blog post fodder.

The east Best Buy kiosk was missing in action.

I quickly made a plan in my head of spots on and off resort property to check for memory cards. My first idea was to head to the eastern end of Downtown Disney to check the Best Buy kiosk located near Earl of Sandwich. I make my way to the east side of Downtown Disney and realize the Best Buy kiosk was missing. I don’t know if it was down for refurbishment or removed permanently, but either way it didn’t help me.

Next I walked back to the west side of Downtown Disney, near the World of Disney store. The Best Buy kiosk in this location was still there! My eyes quickly scanned through the available items. I thought, “Why would anyone buy an iPod at Downtown Disney?” as I went through the available  items. Phone cables, headphones, MP3 players, iPads, and other expensive gadgets were in the machine, but no memory cards were to be found.

Since I was right outside one of its entrances, my next stop was World of Disney. There are a lot of items in this store, but unless they’re hidden away somewhere, I didn’t see any memory cards. At this point my time was running short; I had planned to meet with my co-worker David, who was in town with his family. Because we planned to meet in DCA, I walked back through Downtown Disney and entered through Grand Californian Hotel‘s entrance. Before heading in to DCA, I stopped in Grand Californian’s gift shop, Acorns Gifts & Goods. This is a pretty small store, so I was able to quickly find a memory card on a sales rack located behind the cash register. The memory card in stock was a 4GB Lexar SD Card. There was no visible price listed, so the cast member scanned it for me. I hate to say this, but I’m so used to Disney price gouging that I feared the worst. I fully expected the memory card to be $40, but to my surprise it rang up as $13.95 (before tax and any annual pass discounts).

Downtown Disney’s other Best Buy kiosk.

This could have been the end of the story: $13.95 is not a lot in the grand scheme of a vacation that potentially costs thousands of dollars. But I did want to check other stores in the parks and a couple outside of Disney property. After my lunch with David I walked over to Kingswell Camera Shop on Buena Vista Street in DCA. The same memory card that I had found earlier Acorn was also available here for the same price of $13.95. Same goes for the Main Street Photo Supply Co. over in Disneyland.

Memory Cards in stock at DCA’s Kingswell Camera Shop.

But let’s say you do have some extra time, or you want to save a couple of bucks. There are other options near the parks that have better memory cards for less money. The Target store located on Harbor Boulevard, located a little over 2 miles away from the parks, has a SanDisk 16GB SD card in stock for $9.99. It also has many other memory card types and sizes, as well as groceries if you want to save money on food. If you want to drive a little further and have an even larger selection of memory cards, there is a Best Buy located about 2.5 miles from Disneyland Resort. There you can find this Sandisk 8GB SD High Quailty Card, as well as many others. The bottom line is if you forget a memory card and your vacation time is precious (whose isn’t?), you can get a new card at multiple locations on or off Disney property for an affordable price.

Oh and if you’re curious, the same memory card sold at multiple stores in the Disneyland Resort for $13.95 can be found on Amazon for $5.95.

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SATURDAY SIX: Six Reasons Animal Kingdom is NOT a Half Day Park

By Derek Burgan

Earlier this year at the SATURDAY SIX we did an article looking at six things we wish theme park fans would stop complaining about. One of those complaints was that Animal Kingdom is a half day park. We gave our reasoning for why this isn’t true, but we wanted to get an expert opinion on this controversial subject. We reached out to Michael McBride of JamboEveryone.com and the Radio Harambe podcast, two of the best resources on the Animal Kingdom park. So today we are proud to present Six Reasons Animal Kingdom is NOT a Half Day Park. Take it away Mike…

It drives me crazy when people call Animal Kingdom a half day park. Yeah, I know, it’s a common observation, but still I know those people are missing out on a lot that the park has to offer. Yes, Animal Kingdom has fewer “rides” than the other parks. But there is so much more to a park then plopping down in an omnimover or coaster. The meaning of the word attraction is a lot broader than that. So when people say that Animal Kingdom is a half day park, they are not enjoying the shows, the trails, or the entertainment offerings that this place does so well. Those people skip Flights of Wonder, don’t bother with Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and have no idea what a Burudika is.

To be fair, Animal Kingdom is a different kind of park. It’s not really conducive to hustling from one attraction to the next as fast as your feet can take you. It’s a park that needs to be lingered over and meandered through. Rivers of Light will surely be a game changer, much like World of Color was at Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort. When that comes, guests will stick around to see the nighttime closing event, but that does not mean Animal Kingdom is a half day park now. It’s not. And here are 6 reasons why.

6 – Wilderness Explorers

Channel your inner Russell and try Wilderness Explorers (photo by Brandon Glover)

Wilderness Explorers is so stinkin’ great! Imagine that you are Russell from Up (I often do, but that’s a separate issue) and you need to earn badges. Now imagine, just for a moment, that you need to earn over 30 badges. Yes, 30! That’s this game. I have spent a lot of time discussing the little things that set this park apart from the rest. What do you do when some of your party are Disney touring commandos? Play this game. It has you delve into the little places of the park. For example, it is the best way to discovery Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which is often skipped. I think Planet Watch, alone, is a strong reason that Animal Kingdom is not a half day park. Alas, this is a list of six, so I am jamming that into this entry. This is true throughout the park. One badge takes you into a little side path along the Discovery River, and another takes you to little traveled section of DinoLand U.S.A. And the Explorers game is also a fun way to work your way through the town of Harambe in Africa and Maharajah Jungle Trek. 

A Wilderness Explorer is a friend to all, be a plant or fish or tiny mole! (photo by Brandon Glover)

(Read more about the Wilderness Explorers by clicking here.)

5 – Nightlife

Expedition Everest at night (photo by Jeff Kyle)

Grab a Tusker Lager at the Dawa bar and finish out a day at Animal Kingdom by listening to Burudika (photo by Brandon Glover)

I have said it before and will say it again: Animal Kingdom in the evening is a different kind of place, mysterious and dark. It’s simply beautiful. DinoLand U.S.A., Harambe, Serka Zong, and Anandapur all take on a very different feel. Remember before when I mentioned Burudika? The group typically plays a set during the last half hour the park is open. There simply is no better way to spend that time then by grabbing a cocktail at the Dawa Bar (my personal choice would be the sugar cane mojito) and watching this band play. I think it is the best live performance “street” group in any of the parks. And speaking of bars, the Dawa is a great place to hang out for awhile at any time of the day. And so is the bar at the Yak & Yeti Restaurant. That particular establishment is chuck full of Asian artifacts taken from, well, Asia, and it is awesomely themed. It is small (I’ll call it quaint) but generally is very quiet towards the end of the day. 

4 – The Food 

Malaysian Seafood Curry at Yak & Yeti (photo by Brandon Glover)

If you are looking for the same ol’ burgers, hot dogs and chicken fingers, you’ll need to look elsewhere. (photo by Brandon Glover)

I know, when it comes to food, Epcot is the place to be. I get it, but I think Animal Kingdom comes in second in that race – especially for counter service. I like to eat a lot of meals here. Tamu Tamu, Restaurantosaurus, and Flame Tree Barbecue are all better than any quick service spot at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. The two full service spots are also unique and quite good. Those, of course, are Tusker House and Yak & Yeti. I sure as heck don’t count Rainforest Cafe! The food at this park is a little bit different from your run-of-the-mill hot dogs and funnel cakes. You will want to eat lunch and dinner here, and, hey, that’s a whole day right there.

3 – Re-rides

Kilimanjaro Safaris (photo by Brandon Glover)

Ankole Cattle as seen on the Kilimanjaro Safaris (photo by Brandon Glover)

Why is Kilimanjaro Safaris such a great ride? Well, you can ride three times in a day, and it will be different each time. The best times to ride are first thing in the morning and right before the ride shuts down. So rope drop it, then make sure you have FastPass+ for the last hour the ride is operational. It will likely be very different. The animals tend to be more active when they first go on exhibit. But they can also be quite active towards the end of the day as supper time draws near. Plus, the safari landscape as the sun goes down is great! This animal viewing plan also applies to the animal trails. Check out Pangani Forest Exploration Trail right before it closes, and you will see the bachelor group of gorilla males all excited. But it’s not just the animals. After dark, Expedition Everest becomes a different ride. Animal Kingdom has a lot of outdoor attractions, and this leads to a very different feel at night. The park, itself, transforms into a mysterious and dark place, and that’s true for those attractions, as well. Everest, Kali River Rapids, and Primeval Whirl are so different!

2 – Shows 

Anchor, Bruce, and Chum from Finding Nemo – The Musical (photo by Jeff Kyle)

Festival of the Lion King (photo by Brandon Glover)

Ladies, gentleman, children of all ages, Animal Kingdom has without a doubt the three best stage shows on property. While the shows at Hollywood Studios suffer from aging and/or general suckiness, the ones at Animal Kingdom are different in every way. What I dislike more than anything else about theme park stage shows is when they are just Cliff Notes versions of the Disney animated movie they are based on. Yeah, I’m looking at you, Beauty and the Beast. The ones at Animal Kingdom are not that. Festival of the Lion King is not just a retelling of the movie. Far from it. It’s essentially a revue themed around The Lion King. Finding Nemo – the Musical is an abbreviated retelling of the movie but with puppets. Plus, this version is a musical, and the music is great. Flights of Wonder is simply the best way for a zoo to present birds. While many zoos have a bigger collection of birds, they are often presented in cages or exhibits where you really can’t see them strut their stuff by flying. Not so at Disney: you either see them in the large aviaries where there is plenty of room to fly, or at this show, where you can see large birds like hawks and cranes pass right over your head. It’s impressive! You need to check out all three of these shows, which goes a long way to “filling out a day.” But those aren’t the only shows; Animal Kingdom has plenty of smaller acts. My personal favorite is the Burudika Band, which typically plays a few sets each afternoon over in Harambe. There are also other terrific musical performances like Viva Gaia and Chakrandi, both of which are worth some time.

1 – Trails

A meerkat seen on the Pagani Forest trail (photo by Mike Sperduto)

Photo by Brandon Glover

Among the most overlooked things about Animal Kingdom are the animal trails. People seem to skip them a lot. They are not attractions in the classic sense of the word, but they should be. I know the thinking: “Hey, we have a zoo at home, so what’s the point?” These trails are amazing examples of storytelling and theming. Disney fans love the back stories behind attractions, and the two main trails, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek, are prime examples of this. The tale of the maharajahs is played out in the artwork along the Asian trail, so take the time and look at it. And it’s not just the two main trails that are worth some time, but also the smaller ones. Guests tend to skip right over The Oasis; you shouldn’t. They also don’t even know about the trails up and around the Tree of Life. Did you know there were kangaroos back there? Did you know there were porcupines behind the Tree? The places are always nice and quiet, too. Enjoy the serenity for as long as you want. 

Not one of the Six Reasons….

So there you have it: Six Reasons Animal Kingdom is NOT a Half Day Park. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six, where we grab our broomstick and take a look at Diagon Alley. 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, Mike Sperduto, Jeff Kyle, and crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their assistance with this article. I’d also like to send a special shout out again to Safari Mike of JamboEveryone.com. It is inspiring to see someone celebrate everything about Animal Kingdom with such love and enthusiasm and the site joins Matt Hochberg’s StudiosCentral.com as my favorite park-centric sites. Now if only we can convince someone to take an interest in Epcot or the Magic Kingdom….

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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of May 30, 2014

By Rikki Niblett

Are you ready to let “the Course Be With You?” If you missed out on all the excitement this week, Disney announced a brand new half marathon themed around Star Wars! This awesome new race will take place at Disneyland, from January 15 – 18, 2015. Now the question remains…who shall you dress as? There are so many delightful choices.

If you missed any other fun news goodies, guess what? I’ve got them for you all right here!

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

Monday was, of course, Memorial Day, and Jim Hill had a fantastic article all about how President Reagan had a unique second inauguration at Epcot back on Memorial Day 1985.

I love Disney history, and Jack Spence from AllEars is starting a really great series all about Tomorrowland. Here’s the first installment. (We have seven more to go, and I can’t wait to read each one.)

A funny, tongue-in-cheek article was released by the Orlando Sentinel all about “The 7 Deadly Sins of Theme-Park Visitors.” While kind of silly, it shares things that everyone should keep in mind when visiting a theme park, including my least favorite practice of using the full size iPad as a camera/video recorder. (I’m already short, and then you hold a giant iPad up in front of me!? Stinks to be me. Please, for the sake of those behind you, try not to do this. A sincere thank you from short people everywhere.)

If you’ve been on either the Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy, you will agree with USA Today. It has named Remy as one of the best specialty restaurants aboard a cruise ship.

While there is unfortunately no Pixar movie being released this year (boo!), there is a silver lining in that there will be two released next year. Variety shared information about the first release, called Inside Out, which is slated for theaters June 19, 2015. It seems like an intriguing premise, and also…strangely familiar. (Hello Cranium Command!)

In more animation news, here’s another story about how Frozen will just not quit! This week Frozen overtook Iron Man 3, which means it is now the 5th highest grossing movie ever. It’s crazy to think about!

Who else is excited for Maleficent? It debuts in theaters today, and for those who want to take the experience to the next level, a brand new multi-touch book was released for iBooks. I downloaded it already, and it looks fantastic! There are videos, fun facts, amazing photo galleries, and much more. The e-book discusses the character that we all know and love from Sleeping Beauty and how she transitioned into the character that we’ll see on the big screen brought to life by Angelina Jolie. I strongly suggest that you download this FREE read: it is well worth it. (P.S.: Disney, please keep releasing these! These efforts keep getting better.)

In Case We Missed It

What did we miss? Send your idea attached to Maleficent movie tickets 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 May 30, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Walt Disney World Newsworthy Notes – 5/30/14

By Rikki Niblett

It’s the time again! A few newsworthy pieces have come across my desk from all around The World that I thought you all should know. Here are the fun details:

Downtown Disney is continuing down the path of refreshing the stores that are available for guests. Today, the second Starbucks location, which is located on the West Side, has officially opened. It is a full service location with indoor seating, unlike the other new Marketplace Starbucks kiosk that also recently opened. The new store features a covered patio overlooking the waterfront, a cozy fireplace, plus a Human Connection Wall, which is a large touch-screen monitor that allows guests to use their fingers to draw images. The location also features the new Clover Bar, which serves special reserve coffees that are brewed to order. This new full-scale Starbucks store is located next door to Bongos Cuban Cafe.
Speaking of Downtown Disney, I mentioned previously that a World Cup soccer store was opening soon on the West Side. I can report that it is now officially open. The pop-up shop, located where BLINK by Wet Seal previously sat, is officially called United World Soccer and will sell gear, accessories, and more.
At the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland will have a brief refurbishment, taking place September 8 – 19, reopening on September 20.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, poor Donald just keeps moving around. He was originally found on the Cretaceous Trail in Dinoland U.S.A., but recently moved to the Character Landing spot where he met alongside Daisy (in a location that was originally supposed to be FastPass+ ONLY, but that idea either got axed or put on hold). Now it seems that Donald is moving again…back to the Cretaceous Trail beginning on June 1. Daisy will continue to meet at the Character Landing, which is found across from Flame Tree Barbecue.
Can you believe it? Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is 25 years old?! (It feels like yesterday when I learned all about it opening on one of the Easter Day Parades…but I digress.) To celebrate this monumental occasion, which takes place on June 1, Disney is throwing the park a party, and we’re all invited. Guests will be able to take part in the fun, mostly by eating. A special cupcake will be available on June 1 for free for those who purchase an adult entree at either Typhoon Tilly’s or Leaning Palms. There will be specialty anniversary cocktails available for purchase at Let’s Go Slurpin’. And at Lowtide Lou’s two specialty waffles will be sold: a chicken and waffles combo, as well as a chocolate chip waffle with fruit. The waffles will be available until August 1. In addition, for those who want to party by performing some wicked awesome dance moves, a DJ will be on hand on the clock tower. Happy Anniversary Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon!



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Star Wars Weekends: A Special Edition Observations Post

By Morgan Crutchfield

Walt Disney World has really ramped up the offerings at Star Wars Weekends this year with new experiences, characters, and celebrity shows. If you’ve never been to Star Wars Weekends, there’s a lot you don’t want to miss and a lot to know before you come. But what’s a day on the ground look like? We went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday, May 25 to show you.

First, a little background. Star Wars Weekends are celebrated on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through June 15 at Hollywood Studios. The festivities include a Star Wars themed parade and fireworks show, special character appearances by stars from the movies and television shows, and even special dining. The park fills quickly on these days and it’s often really hot. If you’re looking to meet lots of characters and get a bunch of photos, get there early. Our trip started around 10:30 a.m. at the gates. The lines weren’t terrible, but that’s likely because most people were already in and seated to wait for the “Legends of the Force” Motorcade and Celebrity Welcome.

The Hollywood Studios Gates at around 10:45 a.m.

Our first stop was the Star Wars Weekends special information tent to get the custom map with show, merchandise, and character information. When I snapped this picture I didn’t realize how funny it was. This Cast Member appears to be SUPER into Star Wars.

Star Wars Weekends Information Tent

By the time we arrived, the streets were already pretty jammed with people waiting for the Motorcade. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at the front of the park and travels to the Star Wars Weekends events stage (at the big hat).

Crowds gather to watch the Motorcade

We purchased Feel the Force event tickets, which got us access to a special parade viewing area as well as all-you-can-drink soda and water (necessary!). Feel the Force is sold out for this year, but look for it to come back next year. It’s well worth the price of admission and includes not only special parade viewing, but also a dessert party later in the evening and special Symphony in the Stars fireworks viewing as well. We got some great views of the motorcade.

Storm Trooper Brigade from the 501st Legion Fan Recreation Organization

More awesomeness from the 501st

Jedi Mickey makes an appearance in the Motorcade

Star Wars Celebrity Host James Arnold Taylor waves to the crowd.

The parade stops at the stage and the characters go up to do a full cast photo op. The celebrity guests then return to their vehicles and go back down the parade path, so if you miss them the first time, don’t worry. If the sunlight in these pictures isn’t indication enough, it was hot. As in surface-of-the-sun hot. Hollywood Studios has tons of sun-soaking pavement and not a lot of shade. Make sure you wear and bring plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of water if you’re planning on doing an entire day. I’m not above bringing an umbrella for instant shade, either.

In addition to the parade, there are character meet and greets throughout the park for characters like Disney Pals as Star Wars Stars and Rebel Alliance Members. Check your guide for times and locations for these meet and greets, and get to the park early if you plan on making it to many of them, as the lines get pretty long.

Jedi Mickey and Leia Minnie meet and greet guests.

Chewbacca is ready for photos at his meet and greet.

When people ask me what my biggest tips for Star Wars Weekends are, number one is hydration and number two is having a plan for meals. We were good to go for the first goal, but failed miserably at the second. My plan had been to grab a salad at the Brown Derby’s new(ish) outdoor lounge, but a pop-up thunderstorm shut that plan, as well as most of the food locations on that side of the park, down. We ended up sharing chicken nuggets at Rosie’s All-American and a lot was left to be desired. It is now and will forever be my recommendation that you make dining reservations in the park or at the Epcot resorts for at least a couple of meals on Star Wars Weekends days. It’s a time and sanity saver when the weather throws a wrench in fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants plans.

After dinner we headed back to the hat to check out DJ Lobot’s 7 p.m. dance party and the completely awesome Millenium Falcon lighting rig suspended above the event stage. I’m not a big dance party fan, but there’s something a little existential about hearing the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego theme song set to house beats.

DJ Lobot, Dance Party Pro

Milennium Falcon lighting rig.

For those of you who haven’t heard, the Hyperspace Hoopla show has been replaced with a Star Wars pre-show and Symphony in the Stars Fireworks Spectacular. The show begins at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during Star Wars Weekends. We watched from in front of the hat to see what it would be like, but there are certainly better locations including around Echo Lake and even outside the park at the entrance.

Hat or traffic cone? You decide.

I’m not a giant Star Wars fan, but the bursts timed to the score of the movies was fantastic and something that really shouldn’t be missed. Star Wars Weekends festivities are included with the price of admission at Hollywood Studios and are a must-do.  I’ll leave you with the last thing I remember doing – taking a shot of the exit – before I went home and collapsed into bed. The heat really drains you, so be careful out there! Until next time, keep it magical!

 

 

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Personalized Souvenirs of Walt Disney World

By Daisy Lauren

As a child with a strange name I longed to find personalized key chains and pencils when souvenir hunting.  Even though it was never there, I always hunted through the racks hoping against hope that one day my name would magically appear.  Maybe that’s why I’ve scoured Walt Disney World to find the best personalized souvenirs to remember your trip!  If you too have a weird name then have no fear, we’ve got you covered.

Mickey Ears to fit every style!

Mickey Ears: This is an easy one, but anyone can get their name embroidered on a pair of Mickey Ears.  They’ve also lightened up on the policies about what can be put on ears these days.  I’ll never forget a few years ago when a cast member actually said she had to see my drivers license to put my name on my hat!  Locations are available to personalize hats in all four parks and Downtown Disney.  Remember, now that fancier fonts available you normally have to come back later in the day to pick up your hat.

Parasols: While this option can get pricey fast, what little girl doesn’t want one of these?  Not only can they be personalized with names but I’ve even seen art work from Frozen starting to appear on these cute, little umbrellas.  Several colors are available.  Be sure to stop by early in the day to allow time for the paint to dry on your unique and personalized work of art.  You can find these for sale in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom and France in Epcot.

Engraved Glasses: This one is mostly just for adults, but this was my favorite souvenir from my last trip to Disneyland.  If you can’t find your name already on a coffee mug you can stop by and have it engraved onto a glass.  They have wine glasses, champagne flutes, mugs, tumblers, steins, and more.  Even better the other slide comes etched with a Disney character.  However, one thing to note is that the characters are pre-etched in the glass.  So you have to choose the glass style and character from the inventory available.  I use my glass all the time to remind me of my trip.  If you’d like to purchase one in the Magic Kingdom you can find them on Main Street.

Free Buttons: At Guest Services in any of the Disney Parks you can pickup various pins to commemorate your trip and tell others that you’re celebrating.  Birthday buttons are most common but styles are available for most occasions and completely free!  When you stop by a cast member will offer to write your name on the pin for you or offer you a marker to write it yourself.  I always let the cast member do it for me.  They see a lot of these and always have extra magical touches to add!  (Not to mention I have awful handwriting!)

Some of the leather goods available

Leather Goods: At several locations throughout the parks you can now personalize leather bracelets and key chains.  The cost of the item you choose includes free engraving.  There’s a large variety of styles and colors to choose from so you can be sure your souvenir will be unique!

Christmas Ornaments: This one is a classic, but always worth mentioning.  At Christmas stores in Disney World you’re able to choose ornaments to be personalized with whatever message you’d like.  This could be a family name, something you’re celebrating, or anything else.  Beware, the wait gets quite long for these around the holidays so get there on the first day of your trip or plan to have it mailed home.

Carved Rings: I’ve never actually purchased one of these rings (unlike just about everything else on the list) but I always wanted one as a teenager.  Not only can a skilled carver put your name or initials into a ring, they can also carve other shapes like hearts.  Not bad for a sterling silver souvenir that starts around $20!  You can find these offered in Mexico in Epcot and in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom.

Caricatures: These are found all over the parks and I highly recommend them!  Not only can your caricature include your name but also just about anything else you tell the artist about yourself!  These start around $20 per person for a completely original and personalized memory of your trip.  I’ve heard people say they didn’t want to stop for one of these because of the wasted time.  I suggest you grab a cool drink and take a 20 – 30 minute break with these guys.  You can’t beat the results!

Kidcot: Okay, it says it’s supposed to be for kids but I’ve taken part because it’s so much fun!  Where else can you visit eleven different countries and have them write your name for you in their native language?  Add in a few adult beverages along the way and I dare you to find anything more fun!  Sure, three of the languages are English but it’s about the experience, right?  (See aforementioned adult beverages)  At the end you’ll have a Duffy or Perry the Platypus full of memories!

Of course, if you’ve planned ahead you can always order from the Disney Personalized Store.  They sure didn’t have that when I was a kid!  But we had Darkwing Duck, so I suppose it all evens out in the end.

Can you think of other personalized souvenirs I’ve missed?  What is your weird name?  Have you purchased any of the above items?  What did you think?  I hope you’ll let us know in the comments below.  As always thanks so much for reading!

 

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Festival of the Lion King Returns June 1 to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

Who else is excited about this news?

Festival of the Lion King will officially debut at the brand new Harambe Theater on this Sunday, June 1!

The show has moved to the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom from its previous location in Camp Minnie-Mickey. (Camp Minnie-Mickey is currently the construction site of the upcoming Avatarland, slated to open in 2017.) The theater can be found just over the bridge to Africa, right behind the Dawa Bar and Tusker House.

In addition to this new theater, rumors indicate that Disney has built a brand new gift shop in the area, which should be called Mariya’s Souvenirs.

The show, Festival of the Lion King, tells the tale of the movie, The Lion King, utilizing song, dance, acrobats, puppetry, and more. Festival of the Lion King will be performed daily, and FastPass+ reservations will be available.

The new Harambe Theater will also be utilized for the upcoming Harambe Nights hard-ticket event, which will feature an all new, 55-minute show, “The Lion King: Concert in the Wild.”  The show will be a never-before-seen take on the The Lion King, with a celebrity narrator, choir, orchestra, and dancers.  Harambe Nights begins on June 7 and takes place every Saturday evening through August 9.

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