Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1229
May 15, 2014
Summer Vacation Schedules
By Steve Bloom
The crowd levels at the Disney theme parks are highly correlated with school schedules. Most school systems have similar national holidays, but other breaks can very significantly. For the past few years I have been doing a blog post talking about spring break. Since Easter moves around the calendar year to year spring break dates can change significantly. Summer break is less variable year to year, but there is variation between school districts. The general recommendation for a summer trip is to go early or late to avoid the highest crowds. I’m here to help quantify what early and late summer means. Traditionally summer break is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but most schools are only out a portion of this three month span.
Below is a chart showing the percent of students in school, between June 1 and October 1, 2014. We compute a different statistic for Disney World and Disneyland; weighting the data base on schools’ population and location.
Percent of students in school
Most schools are on break between the end of June, and the middle of August. If your child’s school schedule differs from the overall trend you can avoid the peak summer crowds.
Just a reminder that school schedules is just one component that goes into the Touring Plans Crowd Calendars. Disney has their tactics to bump up attendance. There are hotel discounts for both early and late summer. For early summer there is the 24-hour Rock Your Disney Side event on May 23, and Hollywood Studios has Star Wars Weekends May 16 – June 15, 2014.
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Going to Disney Solo
By Daisy Lauren
It can feel this scary to go to Disney alone!
When I was recently approached about heading to Los Angeles for a business I trip all I heard in my head was, “You’re going to Disneyland!” I couldn’t wait to tell my hubby and get our flights booked. You can imagine how deflated I was when the dates fell over a period that he couldn’t join me. At first, I was sad that I would be so close to Disneyland and not visiting the happiest place on Earth. Then I realized, I visit Disney World several times a month all by myself. Why not do the same for the west coast? I figured if I thought twice about doing Disney on my own then most of you would too. So with that in mind here are the best things about traveling alone on your next Disney vacation and why you should give it a try!
What to ride next? Anything I want! Often when traveling with friends and family compromises have to be made to keep everyone happy. When you’re on your own there’s a very short list of people to keep content! Want to ride something that your family hates? No problem! Want to sleep in or stay out late? Sounds great! In my case, that means a lot of time taking photos with no pressure to go faster because someone it bored.
Single rider lines are the only lines. Several of the most popular attractions host single rider lines to help fill single seats left open by odd sized groups. When traveling with a group you have to make the choice to split up to save time using these lines. However, when it’s just you there’s no reason not to take advantage of these time saving queues!
The speed of one. If you’ve never been to Disney on your own I can’t tell you how much faster you can move through crowds by yourself! One of the biggest challenges when navigating the parks is keeping your party together. Imagine just being able to breeze along without having to worry if you’ve lost someone! I can scurry through the parks twice as fast when it’s just me. Or would you rather mosey? There is nobody to hurry you along when you’re there alone.
Sleep? I don’t need no stinkin’ sleep! My hubby is a napper, and a person that likes to sleep in late, and a person that likes to go to bed early. Me, on the other hand, would skip a night or two of sleep if it meant more Disney. I’m excited to get to Disneyland before opening without the battle and stay until the stars come out. Similarly, I’ve decided to try one of the off property hotels that are walking distance to Disneyland. My other half always wants to stay on property but I’m not so picky and happy to save the cost difference! Since there’s no need to compromise with myself these were all easy decisions.
One word: Shopping! Ladies, did you hear that? It’s the sound of slowly browsing through every shop on Disney property. If that alone isn’t enough to get you to try a solo trip I don’t know what will! :)
One is the cheapest number. Okay, and the loneliest. But on a positive note one admission ticket is cheaper than two or more. It’s a great time to try tours or other experiences that the rest of your party might not enjoy as much as you would. Look for those things that your normal traveling party would never do and go for it! When else will you get another chance to do it any cheaper?
Make some new friends. You might not want to be “that person” but I’ve made great friends just from striking up a conversation in the parks. If you’re shy then chatting with cast members is a great place to start. They’re all very welcoming and helpful. I still correspond with a cast member I made friends with when visiting Disneyland Paris. The love of Disney is universal so don’t be scared to meet someone knew when you’re one your own.
Share with a friend. This is where you guys come in! I’m very thankful to be able to share my Disney World experiences with you guys. It motivates me to go out on my own on a night I might have spent on the couch. I have to admit, it helped me decide to tackle Disneyland on my own because I knew I could share it with you! So I can tell you from experience, sharing your trip with others will help you have an even better time!
Have you even tried visiting Disney by yourself? Would you ever try a solo trip? Do you have another reason it’s great to travel alone that I didn’t include above? I hope you’ll share with us in the comments below! As always thanks so much for reading!
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May 14, 2014
Disney World Crowd Report – May 4 to 10, 2014
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Overall the crowds we observed in the parks edged slightly higher than expected last week. Especially on Sunday when a three day stretch of heavy rain finally came to an end. Guests who stayed in to wait out the bad weather took full advantage of Sunday’s blue skies. Our predictions for the rest of week also tended to be on the low side although not significantly.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week:
Disney World Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
5
7
Our underprediciton on Sunday is less due to a poor estimate of crowds than to a break in the weather. The three days previous were washed out for most of the day, keeping guests anxiously waiting out the storms. Once the clouds cleared on Sunday, the crowds poured in and wait times went up.
Epcot
3
5
Hollywood Studios
2
6
Animal Kingdom
5
8
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
6
Our predictions hit the mark at all four parks on Monday. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom were the only two parks to hit above average wait times.
Epcot
4
4
Hollywood Studios
3
3
Animal Kingdom
6
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
5
6
Wait times on Tuesday fell in line with predictions as well with no park missing the mark by more than one index level. The Studios was a particularly good choice with Toy Story Mania reaching an average posted wait of only 52 minutes, the only attraction in the park that averaged above 40. The Great Movie ride at a 7 minute average was a walk-on all day.
Epcot
3
4
Hollywood Studios
2
1
Animal Kingdom
5
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
4
The resort-wide crowd level ’3′ as predicted on Wednesday brought low wait times across all parks. No core attraction at the Magic Kingdom averaged a posted wait higher than 44 minutes. Even the perennial 3-hour wait to meet Anna & Elsa dipped below 180 minutes for a time.
Epcot
2
3
Hollywood Studios
2
1
Animal Kingdom
4
5
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
3
5
Crowds at the Kingdoms (Magic and Animal) peaked higher than our predictions on Thursday. Mostly due to higher than expected waits at Pirates of the Caribbean (21 minutes, predicted 10) and Kilimanjaro Safaris (46 minutes, predicted 20). Jungle Cruise and Kali River Rapids also had higher average wait times than we predicted.
Epcot
2
3
Hollywood Studios
2
1
Animal Kingdom
4
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
5
6
Epcot was the surprise of the day on Friday. We had predicted a crowd level ’3′ but wait times at Soarin’ (75 minutes) and Spaceship Earth (21 minutes) pushed the park wide number three index points higher. Test Track had an average posted wait time of 71 minutes however, which was actually lower than the 83 minutes we predicted.
Epcot
3
6
Hollywood Studios
2
2
Animal Kingdom
4
5
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
5
With the exception of Primeval Whirl, every attraction at Animal Kingdom came in with average posted times higher than predicted on Saturday. The warm weather pushed Kali River Rapids wait times (52 minute average) much higher than predicted (33 minutes). Wait times were moderate for a Saturday as predicted elsewhere around the resort however, with no other park missing by more than one index level.
Epcot
3
5
Hollywood Studios
3
4
Animal Kingdom
4
7
What to Expect This Week
April 26 to May 3, 2014
May is a great time to visit Walt Disney World if you are not fond of crowds, especially early May. We don’t expect crowds to rise significantly above average until late May. Watch out for Star Wars Weekends and Memorial Day, otherwise touring is generally relaxed. Note that Magic Kingdom is open for 24 hours on May 23.
To see Walt Disney World Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disney World Crowd Report – May 4 to 10, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Media Preview To Be Held June 17-20
Breaking news! A friendly FedEx owl from Universal Orlando dropped off a parcel this morning containing an invitation to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley media preview, scheduled for June 17-20. Here’s a look at the lovely package, which included tickets for the Hogwarts Express and a “gold” bar from Gringotts bank:
The Diagon Alley media preview being held June 17-20 implies that the official grand opening may occur on Friday, June 20th (since they would want media present to capture the crazy crowds) or immediately after. But the invitation does not explicitly say “grand opening,” so it is possible Universal could pull a Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and keep the public out for some time after the press. Keep an eye on our PotterWatch series for more information as it becomes available!
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Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Media Preview To Be Held June 17-20 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley media preview to be held June 17-20
Breaking news! A friendly FedEx owl from Universal Orlando dropped off a parcel this morning containing an invitation to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley media preview, scheduled for June 17-20. Here’s a look at the lovely package, which included tickets for the Hogwarts Express and a “gold” bar from Gringotts bank:
The Diagon Alley media preview being held June 17-20 implies that the official grand opening may occur on Friday, June 20th (since they would want media present to capture the crazy crowds) or immediately after. But the invitation does not explicitly say “grand opening,” so it is possible Universal could pull a Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and keep the public out for some time after the press. Keep an eye on our PotterWatch series for more information as it becomes available!
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Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley media preview to be held June 17-20 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney’s Polynesian Resort Guests to Receive Blizzard Beach Tickets During Pool Rehab
©Disney
I’ve previously mentioned that Disney’s Polynesian Resort’s Nanea Volcano Pool and Slide will be closing for a lengthy refurbishment starting at the end of July. To make up for this matter, Disney has started informing guests staying at this resort that while the feature pool is closed, they will receive one free admission to Blizzard Beach Water Park, per member of their party. In addition, transportation will also be provided to a dedicated check-in location, where Polynesian Resort guests will receive their tickets and towels at the water park, themed after a ski resort on the meltdown.
For guests staying at the resort who do not wish to visit Blizzard Beach, the Polynesian’s quiet pool will remain open for guests to visit.
While official dates have not yet been announced for this refurbishment work of the Volcano Pool, the rumored closure date appears to be sometime around July 28. It is rumored that during the refurbishment work, the volcano will be removed and that a hot tub will be included, alongside additional work.
The pool refurbishment is just another step in the full-on rehab of Disney’s Polynesian Resort that is currently taking place. Currently, Captain Cook’s, a quick service dining location, is closed until sometime in July; the Polynesian’s lobby is being re-worked, with the removal of the large waterfall; and the children’s activity center will reopen on June 17 and will now be known as Club Disney, instead of The Neverland Club. In 2015, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto lounge will be added, plus, work is being done to add Disney Vacation Club units to the resort and the resort will be reverting back to it’s original name, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
The pool’s rehab work is expected to continue until early 2015.
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Universal CityWalk’s Antojitos Now Serving Lunch
Antojitos at Universal CityWalk is now serving lunch. (photos by Seth Kubersky)
If you’ve read my review from earlier in the year, you know that I’m a big fan of Antojitos Authentic Mexican restaurant at Universal Orlando CityWalk. The only problem is that the venue didn’t open its doors until 5 p.m., dashing any plans for a noontime tequila spree. Thankfully, as of today Antojitos lunch service is now available daily from 11 a.m., with exclusive lunch special entrees available from opening until 3 p.m.
Note that the downstairs level — inside and outside, as well as the main bar — is open for lunch, while the Antojitos Up area remains closed until the dinner hours. In addition to the lunch specials, the entire standard downstairs dinner and drink menu is available.
Antojitos lunch special menu.
I was among the restaurant’s first lunch patrons today, and tried one of the new Antojitos lunch specials. The Yucatan Pasta consisted of a generous portion of penne pasta mixed with pieces of grilled chicken, corn, and green peas, blended with a mildly spicy cream sauce.
Though not exactly what I’d think of when I hear “authentic Mexican,” the dish was delicious with well-balanced spices, and was more than I could eat in a single meal (yay doggie bags). Plus, you can’t beat unlimited house-made chips and salsa!
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PotterWatch: Diagon Alley Update, Hogsmeade Stones, and Gringotts Details
Welcome back to the ever-widening Wizarding World! In today’s edition PotterWatch, we’ve got frest photos from earlier this week of progress on Diagon Alley’s London Waterfront, the newly installed Hogsmeade stones outside the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and breaking news direct from Universal Orlando with eagerly awaited Gringotts details.
Diagon Alley Update
Let’s begin with a stroll along the Diagon Alley London Waterfront construction zone.
First, a look at progress on the wooded berm that will conceal backstage areas.
Nearby, the old Amity bathrooms have been entirely repained brown.
A string of lights has been added between the newly installed lampposts along the waterfront. Shortly after this photo was taken, globes were attached to the top of the posts.
A look at various details in the London area, including the fountain we detailed in the last PotterWatch:
This appears to be the sign marking the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron.
A final paroramic picture of the Diagon Alley exterior.
Between Fear Factor Live and Men In Black, the service animal relief area is being redeveloped. The infrastructure being added may support ticket kiosks for Diagon Alley crowd control.
From across the park, you can glimpse hardware peeking over the skyline behind King’s Cross station, that will soon hold the fire-breathing dragon perching atop Gringotts bank.
Also visible in the park was the Hogwarts Express, which was parked in a prominent location behind Beetlejuice’s theatre.
Hogsmeade Stones
The big news over in Islands of Adventure is the installation of the Hogsmeade stones in Lost Continent outside the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These rocks, which were previously spotted in the expansion pad behind Jurassic Park, resemble rocks seen in the third film during the scene where Hermione punches Draco.
Progress also continues on the Hogsmeade Station, which will lead guests to the Hogwarts Express train.
Gringotts Details
In the early hours of Tuesday, May 13, Universal Orlando released new Gringotts details, finally confirming long-rumored information on Diagon Alley’s signature “multi-dimensional” roller coaster. You can find the details here in Derek Burgan’s report on the reveal, or visit Universal’s webpage devoted to the new ride.
A few previously rumored tidbits confirmed by today’s announcement:
The ride will have a 42″ minimum height requirement.
3-D glasses will be worn during the ride.
Vehicles will hold 12 passengers each.
The ride time will be approximately 4 minutes.
Finally, here is the official announcement video, including behind-the-scene insights from the attraction’s creators:
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PotterWatch: Diagon Alley Update, Hogsmeade Stones, and Gringotts Details is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
TouringPlans #Everywhere – Who’s Going Where
Hi guys. It’s been awhile since we announced TouringPlans #Everywhere, our October 12 & 13 events to kick off all the new content we’re bringing online. Here is the line up:
Domestic parks:
Walt Disney World – Steve Bloom
Disneyland – Brian McNichols
Domestic resorts:
Vero Beach Resort – Morgan Crutchfield
Hilton Head Resort – Laurel Stewart and Len Testa
Aulani Resort and Spa – Gerelyn Reaves
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Fantasy – 7 night Western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral – Oct 11 – 18 – Fred Hazelton
Disney Magic – 7 night Southern Caribbean out of San Juan, Puerto Rice – Oct 11 – 18 – Seth Kubersky
Disney Dream – 4 night Bahamas out of Port Canaveral – Oct 12 – 16 – David Davies
Disney Wonder – 6 night Western Caribbean out of Miami – Oct 11 – 17 – Derek Burgan
International parks:
Disneyland Resort Paris – Brad Huber
Disneyland Tokyo Resort – Guy Selga
Disneyland Hong Kong Resort – Sarah Kelleth
We even have a special email address for questions about the event – everywhere at touringplans dot com.
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May 13, 2014
May 7, 2014: Magic Kingdom and the Fourth Fastpass+
By Daisy Lauren
Hi Everyone! Hope you’re ready for a report full of pixie dust! I’d originally planned on doing a post about May the 4th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios but it seems like everyone has been talking about that this week. Instead I decided to take you on a fun filled night at the Magic Kingdom. Let’s get started! Of course, Mickey was there to greet me before I even arrived to the park…
I decided to take some video as we rolled into the Magic Kingdom Monorail station. Unfortunately, it’s complete with authentic kid finger prints on the glass. No matter where I moved around the window was just covered.
I skipped taking a photo down Main Street in favor of something a little different. (More on that later). But guys – it was HOT out there. My thermometer read 91 degrees when I parked my car. Spring is over so it’s the time of year to shop your way down Main Street in the air conditioning! Check out these goodies. I love stopping in the Confectionery just for the smell alone! Yum! 
Okay – one more and I promise I’ll stop making you hungry. Have you tried this popcorn? It tastes like fruity pebbles. We don’t get it often because it’s so high calorie but, wow, is it great!
Next I had a little top secret work to take care of in the Jewelry shop. A friend of mine had asked me to go help him get a watch for his wife. She kept talking about one she had years ago and he wanted to replace it for her birthday. I thought you all might like to see what the watch situation looks like on Main Street.
So can you keep a secret? This is the one she’s getting. I hope she loves it! I went on a quest to replace my childhood watch a couple years ago and I was so excited to have it back. Hopefully she’ll feel the same way.
And now, instead of the typical photo down Main Street, I give you… the back side of the castle! (Like the back side of water! Aren’t I clever? I crack me up!!) I think often people are so busy running they don’t look up and see how lovely the castle is from the Fantasyland side. This is the view from the Sword in the Stone.
I didn’t just come this way to show you the back side of the castle, though. It was after 6:20pm and time to cash in my first fastpass+ of the night. I was surprised I was able to get a fastpass for Peter Pan’s Flight on short notice. It seems like guests are gobbling up things like parade and fireworks viewing instead of rides. I’m glad I was able to get on because I think I’ve finally nailed the perfect camera settings for this VERY hard to photograph ride! I’ll let you be the judge:
Next I had to take a look at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I knew that they wouldn’t be letting people on it but you have to hold out hope for these things! The cast members out front were so nice and helpful. They didn’t have any information to share but I have my fastpasses booked for after it opens. I’m so ready to ride it already!
I decided to find a good spot to get some video for you guys. On the way I found this lone shoe perched on top of a fence post. Now, I always tell people not to do this. An item left randomly on top of something in the park is unlikely to find it’s way back to it’s owner. A better idea is to turn it into a cast member so it can go to Lost & Found. But this was so cute. I couldn’t help imagining a little prince going around the Magic Kingdom trying this shoe on all the little princesses.
Here is that video I was talking about. It isn’t anything special but listen closely. One thing I didn’t realize about this ride is that you can hear Heigh Ho from the outside. It’s starting to feel real that this ride is finally almost open, I can hear it!!
Next I was very excited to cash in my 7:20pm fastpass to see Enchanted Tales with Belle. This isn’t a show I watch often but it had been a while and I was very due for a visit. The standby line was 40 minutes but I was inside enjoying the show in less that 10 minutes!
After this I had a gap in between fastpasses so I decided to head over to Tomorrowland to see what fun I could find. I meant to tell you guys about this sooner, but check out these hats. I thought these were only available in Japan! They have Donald, Goofy, and Mickey so far. When Daisy arrives on the shelf you know who will be the first to own one! 
Next I stopped by the Astro Orbiter because I hadn’t ridden it in a while. But the wait was a long, sweaty 15 minutes. I vowed to come back when the sun and the temperature went down. Since I was right next door I hopped on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. I was all by myself for several car lengths. I think people thought the ride was closed because there wasn’t a line!
Here is a quick shot of the sun starting to sink a bit in the sky. It was very warm today until it was completely dark. I would guess the temperature was in the high 80′s even at this point in the night.
As hot as it was I decided to grab a treat to cool off. I originally planned to head to Storybook Treats but they were closing just as I walked up. I decided to head to Cheshire Cafe instead for a lemonade slush. It ended up being a great choice. I think ice cream would have been too heavy in the heat but this light, tart drink really hit the spot. At $3.99 it was a bargain considering how much it cooled me off!
I still had about twenty minutes to kill before my next fastpass window opened so I found a nice spot in Fantasyland to relax and take a break. The sun was sinking down behind the castle walls filling the entire sky with pink and blue. I can’t be the only one that thinks of the fairies fighting over Aurora’s dress looking at this.. right?
Finally my 8:20pm window opened up and I was able to ride The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh! I just love this ride. It’s hard for me to go to the park and skip it. At Disneyland it almost never has a wait so we can ride it over and over. Here at Walt Disney World it is pretty much a fastpass only experience!
After this I bolted to the nearest fastpass kiosk to see about adding my fourth experience for the day. It ends up it was very easy and just about everything in the park was available. I chose Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid with a window starting at 9:15pm. I learned that if I wanted to add an extra experience after I used that fastpass I would just need to stop by another kiosk. It sounds like you can have as many as you want once you use them. Also, I could change the fourth fastpass from my phone once it had been given to me at a kiosk. Lastly, you have to consume all three of your original fastpasses (or allow them to expire) before you can get fastpasses in another park in the same day. It’s not a perfect system but I wanted to share what I learned.
If you thought that made your head spin check out this HD video of the Mad Tea Party! With just a 5 minute wait I couldn’t resist a quick spin.
Next I decided to make good on the promise I made myself to ride the Astro Orbiter. This is one I don’t ride often because my hubby isn’t wild about heights. I know a lot of people have that same fear so I wanted to show you what the view looks like from the boarding platform.
Personally, I love this ride! I’m sharing the below photo because I thought it was too pretty not to share. However, I don’t know the people in this photo. I didn’t intentionally take a photo of them but it just sort of worked out that way. I almost approached them to offer a copy but it just sounded too weird. (Hi – you don’t know me but I was taking photos of you with my enormous camera) So if the universe ever leads these beautiful people here – leave me a comment so I can share full resolution copies with you!
Next I looked down at my watch and realized that it was a school night and I should really try to exit the park before the fireworks but time was running short. I decided to run for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid to use that fourth fastpass then see how my time was holding.
After my trip under the sea there was just 25 minutes until Wishes. I packed up the camera and power walked my way to the front. If I didn’t make it out in roughly 10 minutes then I would need to watch the fireworks from Main Street. As you can see from the photo below my feet didn’t fail me! I was at the Transportation and Ticket Center with time to spare. The view below is from the ferry boat dock. You can’t beat the crowd and the music is piped in. Just what the doctor ordered if you need to make a speedy exit after the show.
That’s all for tonight. I hope you had a great time! Any requests for next time? What rides do you like that the rest of your family avoids? Teacups – hot or not? Let us know the answers to these or anything else in the comments below. As always thanks so much for reading and commenting!
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