Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1230

Get to Know Your Disney World Times Guide

By Erin Foster

In the land of Disney Park information, the park map gets all the glory. It’s colorful, glossy, and practically throws itself at you when you enter the park. But I’m here to champion the unsung hero of park particulars: The Times Guide.

The Times Guide is a free supplement to the park map, giving details about restaurant, event, and attraction schedules, as well as daily planning tips. The Times Guides are updated and replaced at least weekly, sometimes more often during holiday weeks or if something unique is happening such as a park anniversary or special guest appearance.

There are at least five different Times Guides that will be floating around at any given time – one macro Guide for all of Walt Disney World, plus individual Guides for each of the four main theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Additionally, you may find a dedicated Times Guide for Downtown Disney or, again, a supplement if there is a unique or special event happening.

You can find the macro all-parks guide in a stand on the front and concierge desks of the Disney resort hotels. You’ll also likely be given one when you check into your Disney hotel. The park Times Guides are always located next to the maps in the display racks at the front of the parks. You can also find them scattered around the parks in stands at some food/merchandise register locations and at the Guest Relations offices. You shouldn’t have any problem finding one, but if you miss them just ask and a cast member should be able to find you one quickly.

For all Times Guides, there is information printed on the front and the back of the document, so be sure to check both sides.

Disney is quite good about making sure that only current Guides are out for display, but you may want to give a glance at the top of your guide just to double check that you’re looking at the right week. The Guides usually cover a Sunday to Saturday time span. If you’re staying from one week into the next, you’ll need to pick up a new Guide to have accurate information.

THE ALL PARKS TIMES GUIDE

There’s a lot of data packed into this little 4″x9″ space!

Some particular things to note:

The park hours are not the same for each day of the week. Be sure you’re looking at the right day’s information.
The macro Times Guide includes the resort and express monorail hours for that week. If you’re looking to use the monorail to get to rope drop at Epcot or the Magic Kingdom, an early tour, or an early character meal at the Magic Kingdom or a monorail resort, pay particular attention to this information. (See #1) Strangely, this information is not mentioned on the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Times Guides.
The major parade and fireworks times are listed. (See #2)
Extra Magic hour times are noted. These times are for Disney World resort guests only.

Macro Times Guide, front

Sample Macro Times Guide, back

MAGIC KINGDOM TIMES GUIDE

The park-specific Times Guides obviously go into more detail about the timing of specific in-park events. It seems straightforward, but there is some language you may want to give extra attention.

The Guide may give information about parade routes. This can help with your planning in where to sit/stand for the parade, as well as giving you hints about how to plan you meal and FastPass+ reservation times. In the example below, note that the Festival of Fantasy Parade and the Main Street Electrical Parade do not start in the same place. If you’re at the end of a parade route, it could take 15-20 minutes before the parade gets to your spot. (Thus the origin of the infamous “What time does the 3:00 parade start” question.)
Some characters appear “intermittently.” Often this means that they will not be present during parade times, but other interruptions may exist as well. If you’re walking across the park to meet a specific character, it may be worth asking a cast member exactly what “intermittently” means on the day of your visit.
Some character appearance listings are vague. What does “out of this world friends” or “Disney friends” mean? If you want to know in advance, ask a guest relations cast member to interpret for you.
Note that this Easter week Times Guide mentions appearances by the Easter Bunny. During holiday or event weeks, keep an eye for bonus characters like this.
Many attractions run at non-standard hours. It’s worth taking a glance at this section of the Times Guide if you’d like to visit a second or third tier attraction at the beginning or end of the day.
Many restaurants also have unique hours. Of particular note is the schedule for Be Our Guest. It often opens quite early in the day, make it a late breakfast stop for greatly reduced lines.
Keep an eye out for additions like the Diamond Horseshoe. This quick service location is typically only open during the busiest park weeks. Not everyone knows it’s there, so this may be a good option.

Sample Magic Kingdom Times Guide, front

Sample Magic Kingdom Times Guide, back

EPCOT TIMES GUIDE

As with the Magic Kingdom Times Guide, the Epcot Guide will note attractions and restaurants with non-standard hours. Also look for call-outs about new events (the Dessert Party) or special appearances (Flower Power Concerts). If you’re at Epcot during a special event such as the Flower & Garden or Food & Wine Festivals, there will generally be a separate guide booklet or addendum expanded details about the offerings. These will typically also be located with the maps near both park entrances. If you don’t see it, be sure to ask.

The Epcot Guide covers character greeting times slightly differently than the MK Guide. (Why? Who knows?) Rather than stating that some characters appear intermittently, here the characters are given specific appearance times. This sounds great, except that only a start time is given for each meet & greet. Sure Belle shows up at 11:00am, that much is clear, but how long does she stay? 15 minutes? 30 minutes? More? Less? The answer may vary depending on the weather, crowd levels, and a number of other factors. If one of these character greetings is a must-do for you, stop by Guest Relations and get more details.

Also note the fine print on the bottom of the front page of this, and all, Times Guides. “Park hours and information is subject to change without notice.” This warning is particularly important at Epcot because many of the character greetings and World Showcase entertainment takes place outdoors. If you’re visiting during inclement weather, ask a cast member if you don’t spot what you’re looking for right away. There may simply be a venue change, not a cancellation.

Sample Epcot Times Guide, front

Sample Epcot Times Guide, back

ANIMAL KINGDOM TIMES GUIDE

Much is similar here to the other parks’ guides: special restaurant and attraction hours, show times, and both timed and intermittent character appearances. Here too there are mysterious character classifications. What does “Canine Pals” mean? Or “Wilderness Explorer Friends”? Why do they say “The #1 Duck” instead of mentioning Donald by name? Is some other duck gunning for position? I have so many questions. If you do too, be sure to ask a cast member to interpret.

Also note the mention of the Gardens Kiosk. The Animal Kingdom is the only WDW park with a dedicated food allergy resource venue. This is fantastic, but be aware that it’s not open in the evening.

Sample Animal Kingdom Times Guide, front

Sample Animal Kingdom Times Guide, back

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS TIMES GUIDES

Again, the same type of information is covered as for the other parks. Pay particular attention to the fact that Fantasmic is performed once on some evenings and twice on others. It’s almost always easier to get into the second show on nights where there are two.

The restaurant closing times are particularly variable at DHS. During a seven-day week, there are four different closing times for Pizza Planet.

Another interesting tidbit is the inclusion of a phone number for American Idol Experience audition information. If it’s late in the day and you’re just getting a yen to perform, give a call before heading over. Also important is the note that youngsters must be present in order to register for the Jedi Training Academy. Mom or Dad can run ahead to get a spot in line, but the rest of the crew needs to be not far behind.

A helpful addition to the DHS version of the Times Guide is the notation of performance durations. Understanding that Little Mermaid show is much shorter than the Lights, Motors, Action show can aid in planning.

At DHS, only one of the character greeting opportunities has a moderately cryptic name: “Stars of Disney Junior.” While that nomenclature certainly gives the essence of the experience, when it comes to the preschool audience of Disney Junior, specificity can be mission critical for a family. If your son NEEDS to meet pirate Jake and he encounters Princess Sofia instead, full-scale meltdown may ensue. Be sure to ask Guest Relations or a character handler for specifics of the schedule. This is one area where you don’t want to mess around.

Sample DHS Times Guide, front

Sample DHS Times Guide, back

OTHER GUIDES

As I mentioned, I have occasionally seen a Downtown Disney version of the Times Guide, and there are often “special editions” for holidays or big events. Keep an eye out for these for informational purposes as well as for their status as collectables.

Also be aware that there are sometimes folded versions of the Times Guides. For example, this All Parks Times Guide during a recent marathon weekend opened up to reveal bus transportation information for runners and spectators. If you encounter something like this, take a good look at the fine print. For example, this Guide includes important information about use of the Epcot International Gateway and shows that some resorts have multiple pickup areas while others have just one.

Inside of Sample All Parks Guide during runDisney event.

PRINT VS. ELECTRONIC

Of course, much of the information contained in the Times Guides is available through the TouringPlans Lines app, as well as through Disney World’s official My Disney Experience app. I will use the times information from both those sources if I already have the app open, but sometimes I find it easier to just glance at a slip of paper, particularly if I want to compare hours without clicking around. I also find that the Times Guide can be easier for older adults and younger kids to process. Another benefit of the paper Times Guide is that it makes a nice addition to a scrapbook page – providing temporal context for a visit.

Are you a fan of the Times Guide? Do you use it when you’re in the parks? Do you prefer to get your information electronically? Do you have an personal Times Guide tips? Let us know in the commments below.

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SATURDAY SIX: Top Six Theme Park Water Rides in Orlando

By Derek Burgan

This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers the Top Six Theme Park Water Rides in Orlando. Water rides at the parks, you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. We here at the Saturday Six happen to love them and are glad we have so many great ones to choose from in Orlando. These rides can be just the thing to cool you off on one of those Florida days where it feels like you are walking on the surface of the sun, and as a side benefit they can be incredibly fun! Today we are going to look at the top six and we’ll start with…

# 6 – Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (Islands of Adventure)

Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls (photo by Brandon Glover)

Located in Toon Lagoon in Islands of Adventure, Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls is based on the old Jay Ward cartoons which – like many of the characters in Toon Lagoon – have been mostly lost to time. This is unfortunate as many of Ward’s creations (Aesop’s Fables, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Peabody and Sherman) were years ahead of their time containing sophisticated humor and satire that children and adults could enjoy. While Ripsaw Falls is filled with the trademark humor (and puns) of the cartoon it is based on, thanks to budget and time constraints when it was built  it doesn’t have the “wow” factor of animatronics or the immersive scenery that some other rides on this list brings to the table. What it does have is an amazing facade, several decent drops and one great one at the end. The final drop of Ripsaw Falls can hang with any flume ride, but Ripsaw Falls doesn’t end there….

Once guests go down the intense final drop, most assume that they’ve been through the worst and the ride is over. But no, this is where the fun really begins. As the logs circle around back to the unload station, they travel under a bridge. This bridge connects Toon Lagoon to Jurassic Park and is quite large. For a quarter, guests on the bridge have an opportunity to trigger one of the dozen water cannons aimed directly at the guests on Ripsaw Falls. It can not be expressed in mere words how fun this is (for the guests on the bridge, at least) and seeing the look of surprise from the unsuspecting riders as they get one final blast of water is almost worth the price of admission to Universal itself.

Water Cannons at Ripsaw Falls (photo by Brandon Glover)

On a hot day at IOA I have three tips for guests. Drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and bring lots of quarters to soak Ripsaw Falls riders.

# 5 – Journey to Atlantis (SeaWorld)

Journey to Atlantis (photo by Maureen Deal)

Like much of SeaWorld, Journey to Atlantis doesn’t get as much attention as its counterparts in Disney and Universal but the park’s first ever thrill ride is a lot of fun and has a little bit of a coaster element mixed in. Inside the elaborately themed temple, riders get a dark ride experience before heading outside for the flume ride drops and surprising roller coaster track near the end. Like Ripsaw Falls, the inside portions could use a bit of updating but the overall thrill of Journey to Atlantis is still there and the attraction has ride elements that separate it from any of its competition.

# 4 – Jurassic Park River Adventure (IOA)

Jurassic Park River Adventure (photo by Mike Sperduto)

With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter dominating discussion of Islands of Adventure since the land opened in 2010 and Marvel Superhero Island getting renewed interest thanks the incredible success of the Marvel movies like The Avengers and Captain America: Winter Soldier, lost in the shuffle is the land dedicated to Jurassic Park. An amazingly themed area that includes one of the park’s best “weenies” in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, Orlando’s greatest children’s play area in Camp Jurassic, and of course the E-Ticket of the Jurassic Park River Adventure, Jurassic Park is not to be missed.

JP River Adventure starts off with guests taking a leisurely boat tour through Jurassic Park, even passing through the iconic large gates. On your tour you see several large animatronic dinosaurs before “something goes terribly wrong” and you find yourself right in the middle of raptor attack. It’s during the second half of the ride when the tension gets amped up, highlighted by the incredible T-Rex animatronic and the huge drop to cap off the ride.

The animatronic T-Rex in Jurassic Park River Adventure (photo by Jeff Kyle)

Another recommendation? Consider having lunch at Thunder Falls Terrace. It has large indoor and outdoor seating area that faces the big drop of Jurassic Park River Adventure, so you can see (and the hear the screams of) the guests as they plunge down into the water. It also has a menu that contains many of the menu items found at the Three Broomsticks, so your family can enjoy something beyond the normal theme park burgers, chicken strips and pizza.

# 3 –  Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids (photo by Tom Bricker)

The rides up to now get you wet, but the next two on the list are more than likely going to get you soaked. Kali River Rapids at the Animal Kingdom is not a whitewater rafting ride, it’s a STORY rafting ride (sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) On a serious note, Walt Disney Imagineering has done an incredible job creating an enviornment that is gorgeous, starting in the queue itself. Once inside the raft you go through an Asian rain forrest (passing by temples, waterfalls, bamboo and all,) float by the evils of greedy logging companies, and finish back in the lush vista of Anandapur after a thrilling drop.. If Kali Rapids has a fault it’s the ride is just too short and definitely could be well served to be a bit longer. A beautiful experience.

# 2 – Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (IOA)

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (photo by Mike Sperduto)

Up until now, we would strongly recommend storing anything you don’t want to get wet in a locker or give to a friend/family member to keep safe, but can understand if you wanted to risk it by taking on the ride.  Popeye & Blutos Bilgerat Barges? If you take something on this ride it’s getting wet, no ifs, ands, or buts. It is impossible to walk off Bilge Rat Barges without getting drenched.

The theming of Bilge Rate Barges is whimsical and fits right into the “straight out of the funny pages” land of Toon Lagoon.  Between the drops, waterfalls, and ability for guests not on the ride to spray you with water cannons (like Ripsaw Falls) AND have water dumped on you from a shower head, every person in the raft is gonna feel like they just went swimming after exiting the ride. Bilge Rat’s length (it’s a nice long trip) and some hilarious surprises during the ride would make this # 1 on just about any water ride’s list. The problem is that  THIS list contains not just one of the best water rides in the theme park history, but one of the best rides period….

# 1 – Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)

Splash Mountain (photo by Mike Sperduto)

What else needs to be said? It’s Splash Mountain. You love it. I love it. What’s NOT to love about it? Rock work? Gorgeous. Animatronics? Tons of ‘em. Soundtrack? Amazing. Length of ride? Only Ellen’s Energy Adventure seems longer, but the difference is you don’t want Splash to stop! Drop at the end? Not only thrilling but can give you a wonderful view of the Magic Kingdom.

Splash Mountain is everything a theme park ride should be. It takes the log flume ride that we’ve all done a million times at every amusement park we’ve ever been to and turned the dial up to an 11. The word “story” is comically overused in theme parks, especially in Orlando, but this ride truly tells a story that you will adore. Guests do not need to have watched the film it is based on (and good luck anyway because Disney has Song of the South burred so far in the vault we’ll see the fat-shaming Habit Heroes attraction come back before that film is released) to enjoy every minute. The tale of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear is told to use within the ride and we get a clear beginning, middle, and end.  The finale itself is one of my favorite ends to any ride in Orlando.

So there you have it: the Top Six Theme Park Water Rides in Orlando. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six, where we are going to cash in our 30 day A.A. chip and look at the Top Six Theme Park Bars. 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, Tom Bricker, Jeff Kyle of Daily Disney Photo, and crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their assistance with this article. I would also like to send a big thank you to Maureen Deal and recommend everyone to check out her site Autism at the Parks. An invaluable guide for anyone who tours theme parks with a loved one with a developmental disability, Maureen’s site is filled with tips, advice, and trip reports to help prepare you in order to have the smoothest experience possible.

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Good Deals on 3- to 6-Day Disney World Park Hopper Tickets

By Len Testa

Our Least Expensive Ticket Calculator is a free online search tool for finding the best discounts on Disney World tickets. Earlier this week we added ParkSavers.com to the list of authorized Disney ticket wholesalers, which includes Disney.com, Undercover Tourist, The Official Ticket Center, Kissimmee Guest Services, Maple Leaf Tickets, and Orlando Fun Tickets.

Every ticket vendor has a “sweet spot,” where they try to be the cheapest vendor for a particular kind of ticket.  For example, Disney is the cheapest place to find 1- and 2-day tickets, while The Official Ticket Center goes after 4- to 6-day Magic Your Way base tickets.

From their prices, it looks like ParkSavers is trying to be super competitive on 3- to 6-day Magic Your Way park hoppers.  Their 5-day hoppers are currently priced around $47 per person less than Disney, including shipping. That’s a good deal, if you don’t already have tickets.

FYI: We’re not affiliates of ParkSavers.com and don’t have a business relationship of any kind with any vendor listed in the ticket calculator. 

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Pictures and Video of DCA’s Newly Refurbished Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure

By Guy Selga Jr.

Disney California Adventure’s The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure has been closed since March 30, 2014, for refurbishment. Rumors circulated online about new lighting in the Under the Sea section of the ride. The attraction soft opened to guests earlier today, and we were there to confirm the changes and capture video of the newly updated ride.

For those unfamiliar with the ride in its previous form, here are some comparison pictures. The original version of the ride is on the top and the updated version is on the bottom.

The first change that can be seen on the ride is after the you go “under water” and see Ariel above your clam. Previously the rocks around the screen where empty, now there are a number of seahorses and fish looking down at you.

 This change  is very subtle, but I noticed Ariel’s hair is a bit more shiny in the new version of the ride. Other than that, this part of the attraction looks unchanged.

 Right before you enter the Under the Sea scene, it’s easy to notice the lighting differences. Notice before how the fish where shiny and even reflect the overhead lighting. Now the fish are painted and lit with a black light. Also notice King Triton’s castle has been added to the wall above.

 Entering Under the Sea you can see where the bulk of changes took place. The colors in this entire room have a nice pop to them.

 Sebastian and his lobster friends. I think the new lighting gives the ride a more classic Disney dark ride feel than it had before.

 You can really see the difference in lighting and colors here.

 Forgive the darkness of the bottom picture but this is roughly the same spot as the top. You can see that some random fish have been added. Fish like these little guys have been added throughout the Under the Sea scene.

The Kiss the Girl section of the ride has remained mostly unchanged but Ariel now has “real” hair as opposed to the previous molded rubber (that is rubber, right?).

 Another shot of Ariel with her new hair.

The rest of the ride remains unchanged. I think overall the entire attraction looks great, and the new additions add a lot to the experience. Leave a comment in the section below and let us know what you think about the changes. Walt Disney World fans, do you want these changes to appear in the Magic Kingdom version of the ride?

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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of May 9, 2014

By Rikki Niblett

While you’ve been busy shopping for your mother or the mother figure in your life (remember, this weekend is Mother’s Day), I’ve been busy finding all the interesting reads I could pack into this article! What are they? Take a look!

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

FastPass+ usage has increased by 40% over Legacy FASTPASS. Read more about this story in the Orlando Sentinel.

This past week, Disney reported its earnings, which were obviously exceptional, thanks in large part to the success of Frozen. Read more about the higher than expect profits here.

If you are a Walt Disney World fan, you have probably heard about the Little Orange Bird. If you don’t know who he is, here is the backstory on his existence. And when you head over to Sunshine Tree Terrace the next time for a Citrus Swirl, be sure to say hi for me!

This week I ran across a fantastic podcast that I must be included in your rotation! Called WDFM Podcast, it’s from the Walt Disney Family Museum! This monthly show is dedicated to further Walt Disney’s story and features interviews with people who knew or admire him.

his monthly podcast will endeavor to further Walt’s story. From interviews with people who knew or admire him—such as Disney Legends, animators, Imagineers, and more – See more at: http://www.waltdisney.org/podcast#sth...
his monthly podcast will endeavor to further Walt’s story. From interviews with people who knew or admire him—such as Disney Legends, animators, Imagineers, and more – See more at: http://www.waltdisney.org/podcast#sth...

If you are a fan of Pixar movies, you’ll know the story behind A113. If you haven’t heard of it, here’s the full story. (Along with some other places you’ll find the infamous letter and numbers.)

Star Wars Day (May the Fourth), was this week and Bob Iger had a little fun with everyone’s favorite Wookie!

The world lost an icon with the passing of Bob Hoskins, who was famous for many roles, but for Disney, he was famous for playing Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. His influence on this movie was huge. He will be missed.

If you are a fan of ABC shows, you know that now is the time of year where some shows get the pick up for the next season and some get the axe. Here’s the list of pick ups, along with new shows premiering next season and which shows will not be returning. Which shows are you excited about seeing next year or which ones will you miss that got cancelled?

Thinking about taking a cruise? Digital Journal shares “Five Cost-Saving Cruise Tips for Families.” (My favorite tip is getting the Spa Pass. (Known as the Rainforest Room aboard Disney Cruise Line. It really is like getting the spa experience for a minimal price, without paying for the super expensive spa treatments. Who doesn’t love taking advantage of a hot tub that looks over the water or those fantastic heated chairs?!)

Are you as excited as I am for Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort to open? We have three peeks at this new area. The first was a peek for a contest that the Today Show is hosting. Here, Al Roker discusses a brand new sweepstakes, which starts May 13, where guests can win a chance to be on hand for the opening day ceremony of Diagon Alley. (No official opening date has been announced just yet, but I would expect it to be announced very soon.) To enter, you’ll need to watch the Today Show and entering the code word mentioned on the show, at the sweepstakes website.

The second and third were videos released by Universal themselves. The first one shows the goblins up close, including one of the goblins (named Bogrod) who was instrumental in what took place during the Gringotts scene featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2. Holy wow does he look realistic! The goblins are a part of the queue of the new attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts. In the last video that Universal released, it showed behind the scenes of the Hogwarts Express. It will be so exciting to step foot into this infamous train.

 

In Case We Missed It

What did we miss? Send your idea attached to a copy of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and send both to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.

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2014 Eat to the Beat Concert Series Artists Announced

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

The 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is rapidly approaching, especially when you consider the extended festival dates announced for this year. (For those who have missed it, the Epcot Food & Wine Festival will run for an unprecedented 53 days, starting a week earlier than normal on September 19 and lasting until November 10.)

Part of this popular festival is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, where popular bands and solo artists perform nightly. (Of course, once again, I will miss seeing Hanson…my tween self is very sad.)

Each year sees a number of new artists performing, and this year’s series brings Jo Dee Messina, Los Lonely Boys, and Fuel, all for the first time.

The schedule for this year’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series is:

Sept 19-21 – Jo Dee Messina
Sept. 22-23 – The Pointer Sisters
Sept. 24-25 – Rick Springfield
Sept. 26-27 – Christopher Cross
Sept. 28-29 – Hanson
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – Air Supply
Oct. 3-5 – Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
Oct. 6-8 – Sugar Ray
Oct. 9-10 – Fuel
Oct. 11-12 – Sister Hazel
Oct. 13-14 – TBD
Oct. 15-16 – Billy Ocean
Oct. 17-19 – Night Ranger
Oct. 20-22 – Smash Mouth
Oct. 23-24 – Jim Brickman
Oct. 25-26 – Los Lonely Boys
Oct. 27-28 – Wilson Phillips
Oct. 29-31 – Dennis DeYoung, original member of Styx
Nov. 1-2 – 38 Special
Nov. 3-5 – Boyz II Men
Nov. 6-7 – David Cook
Nov. 8-10 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

These concerts are always a lot of fun, and you can tell the performers are excited to be on stage here. Do keep in mind that this schedule (and list of artists) is subject to change.

The performances take place at the America Gardens Theatre, found in the American Adventure Pavilion. Concert times are 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm, and the show is included with your park admission.

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Least Crowded Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2014 Dates

By Brian McNichols

Last year I wrote about what we expected to be the least crowded Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties. It proved to be a very popular topic, so here I am again to review the information from last year and give you an even better projection for 2014. Make sure you check out our dedicated page for a complete list of dates as well as a thorough description of what the Halloween party is.

In short, if you’re looking for the best 2014 Halloween Party to attend, we recommend Tuesday, September 16, 2014. Last year we recommended the equivalent party, Tuesday, September 17, 2013, and it turned out to be the party with the lowest wait times by our calculation.

If that date isn’t in your plans, any of the non-Sunday September dates will be good choices, followed by any Tuesday in October. As you may guess from the above, Tuesday is the best day to attend a party. Last year Sunday ended up being the day with the highest in-party attraction wait times, although even then our adjusted average was 11.6 minutes per attraction, so not too shabby.

As it was in 2012, Halloween night was deceivingly high in our ‘best day’ rankings in 2013. October 31st is a very popular party day and often reaches party capacity (which is still much lower than full park capacity). We suspect the low wait times are a result of many guests spending their time meeting characters, trick-or-treating, and securing the best spots for the parades rather than riding rides.

In 2014 Halloween falls on a Friday night. For the past two years parties were held on the Friday after Halloween, November 2, 2012 and November 1, 2013, both of which were among the highest wait times. All that is just a long-winded way of saying that you should avoid the October 31, 2014 party if you want to avoid the crowds.

If you are considering other dates, here are our predicted rankings of attraction wait times at each of the 2014 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties.

[Please note that the military discount ends following the September 28 party. The Advance Annual Pass and Disney Vacation Club discounts end following the October 21 party, but are also not available for the parties on October 10 or 17.]

 

Party Date
Attraction Wait Times Rank
Advance Purchase Price for an Adult Ticket
Notes


Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Lowest Wait Times
$66.03



Tuesday, September 9, 2014
2
$66.03



Friday , September 12, 2014
3
$66.03



Sunday, September 28, 2014
4
$66.03



Monday, September 1, 2014
5 (Estimated)
$66.03
“Estimated” because we do not have any previous data. Disney has never held a Halloween party this early.


Friday, October 3, 2014
6
$71.36



Tuesday, September 23, 2014
7
$66.03



Thursday, October 30, 2014
8
$75.62
Crowds will be heavy for character meets and parades.


Tuesday, October 28, 2014
9
$71.36
Sold out 1 day in advance in 2013. Crowds will be heavy for character meets and parades.


Thursday, October 2, 2014
10
$71.36



Tuesday, October 21, 2014
11
$71.36



Friday, September 26, 2014
12
$66.03
Sold out 1 day in advance in 2013.


Monday, October 13, 2014
13
$71.36
Sold out 1 day in advance in 2013.


Friday, September 19, 2014
14
$66.03



Sunday, September 14, 2014
15 (Estimated)
$66.03
“Estimated” because there is no equivalent 2013 date


Thursday, October 16, 2014
16
$71.36
Sold out 2 days in advance in 2013.


Friday, October 31, 2014
17
$82.01
Sold out 27 days in advance in 2013. Crowds will be heavy for character meets and parades.


Sunday, October 26, 2014
18
$71.36



Firday, October 17, 2014
19
$71.36



Sunday, September 21, 2014
20
$66.03



Sunday, October 5, 2014
21
$71.36



Thursday, October 9, 2014
22
$71.36
Sold out 1 day in advance in 2013.


Friday, October 24, 2014
23
$75.62



Sunday, October 19, 2014
24
$71.36



Thursday, October 23, 2014
25
$71.36



Friday, October 10, 2014
Highest Wait Times
$75.62
Sold out 1 day in advance in 2013.

 

To determine all of the above, we looked at posted wait times from key attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, and The Barnstormer. We narrowed it down to times between 7pm and midnight, which is when the park is limited to party guests. Some quick notes about our research:

Our wait times only include attractions−not character meet and greets, special shows, or parades. The characters, in particular, often have long lines, especially for rare characters like the Seven Dwarfs. Regardless of which party you attend, some of the character lines will be long. If those are a must do, do them as early in the evening as possible.
In general the wait times during the Halloween parties are quite low, averaging only about 10 minutes. If there are any attractions that you have really been wanting to do, experiencing them during the Halloween party might just be the time.

Looking for more information? Erin Foster wrote an amazing overview of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that will help you whether this is your first trip or your 100th (and if it’s your 100th, you might have a problem…being too awesome). There is also a wonderful recap of 2013′s Halloween Party available for even more Halloweenieness (that made up word is even a stretch for me).

If you consider yourself handy with the camera, or if you simply want better pictures, you can’t go wrong with Tom Bricker’s tips on photographing the Halloween party.

Now that you are armed with the most powerful weapon…knowledge, you can plan your 2014 trip to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This blog post will help you find all of the party dates and prices.

Hopefully this analysis will help you choose the best Halloween Party to attend. Make sure to check back here later, where we’ll soon be breaking down Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, as well.

 

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Least Crowded Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2014 Dates is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ Advice and Ride Testing Observations

By Seth Kubersky

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train making a test run in the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland (photos by Seth Kubersky)

As you may have heard, during the first few days in May, Walt Disney World allowed select media to preview the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in New Fantasyland, and announced a May 28 official opening date for the attraction. Public soft openings are expected some time in the next few weeks, but for now the only people riding the family-friendly coaster during operating hours are employees involved with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train testing and training. On the Monday after the media preview, Touring Plans stats guru Fred Hazelton and I paid a visit to the Magic Kingdom. There, we had the opportuninity to observe the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train making training and testing runs, as the attraction cycled spordically — both with and without riders — over the course of several hours. In addition, we have some advice on securing coveted Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ reservations, as well as an update on using four or more FastPass+ appointments in one day.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Testing Observations

Let’s start with some scenic shots of the Mine Train, and the mind-blowing quantity of rockwork and landscaping that went into the area surrounding it.

Ok, so the foreground may not be that scenic, but look at that backdrop!

 

Since we at Touring Plans love numbers, I timed the trains to get a rough idea of rider capacity. Be advised that these estimates are based on testing and training cycles, and may not be indicative of how the ride will operate on or after opening day.

With what appeared to be three trains in operation and no riders, the shortest time observed between dispatches was 48 seconds, with an average dispatch interval of 1 minute.
With riders, the shortest dispatch interval observed was approximately 1 minute, 45 seconds. However, I didn’t observe enough consecutive occupied trains to accurately compute an average interval.
Each train consists of 5 cars with 4 seats per car, for a total of 20 passengers.

If operators can dispatch a full train every 60 seconds, the ride will have a throughput capacity of 1200 riders per hour. For comparison’s sake, that’s more than Peter Pan’s Flight, but significantly less than Space Mountain or Haunted Mansion.

 

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ Information

No matter what the eventual capacity is exactly, the standby line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is likely to be epic all summer long. Luckily, anyone who has registered with My Disney Experience can book FastPass+ reservations for the ride from May 28 to the end of their reservation window (60 days for resort guests, 30 days for everyone else).

The FastPass+ system actually crashed on the day Mine Train reservations were released, reportedly collapsing under the strain of 50,000 requests. However, the servers were resuscitated, and it’s now possible to secure Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ bookings for a wide range of days. I personally was able to book for 9:45 a.m. on the attraction’s opening day, and during prime hours on several subsequent days during that opening week.

Here are some hints on booking Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ reservations for yourself:

Use the mydisneyexperience.com website, not the iOS or Android app. You can access the website using your phone or table’s browser, if you like.
The iOS app in particular is not updated yet for the Mine Train, making it impossible to book the attraction through it.
After you book Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ through the website, it should appear in your app. But the attraction does not yet appear properly on the map and has temporarily disappeared from my display at random times.
Beware adjusting editing your Mine Train reservation via the app, especialy if you are managing accounts for multiple users. I accidentally deleted one of my party’s reservations, and when I recovered it by copying another, the time changed.

Rolling 4th FastPass+ Update

While at the Magic Kingdom, I also had my first opportunity to try out the rolling 4th FastPass+, which grants you a 4th (or 5th, or 6th…) ride reservation after your first three have all been used or expired.

The additional FastPass+ times must be retrieved from a kisok, so I headed to the service center in Storybook Circus, where I was one of only 2 customers.

The system worked as advertised (except for the kisoks’ typically unresponsive touch screens) and I was pleasantly surprised by the options, with all the park’s E-Tickets still available at 2:45 p.m. on a moderately crowded day (6/10 on our crowd calendar).

Festival of Fantasy parade reserved viewing was even listed as still available, but The system wouldn’t let me select it, possibly because the return window had already opened.

I ended up taking a Space Mountain FastPass+ for 2 hours in the future, which is fairly close to what I would have expected in similar circumstances under the old paper FastPass system.

It’s important to note that the new 4th FastPass is not subject to restrictions on tiers or park-hopping, meaning that you can switch parks and use a kiosk there to book any open FastPass+ in that park, even the “top tier” attractions in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot like Toy Story Mania or Soarin’. For that reason, some guests have requested the ability to pre-book fewer than 3 FastPass+ times.

The system insists on giving everyone 3 reservations, whether they want them all or not, but some users have reported success with deleting two FastPass+ times through the website (another feature not available in the app) and then booking a 4th FastPass+ immediately after using their remaining reservation. Fair warning: it is possible to accidentally delete your entire day’s FastPass+ itinerary, and the attractions you originally wanted may no longer be available, so exploit this loophole at your own risk.

 

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Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FastPass+ Advice and Ride Testing Observations is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom To End May 31

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

It was announced earlier this year that Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom would be ending its almost 13 year run. We now know that the last performance of the parade will take place on May 31.

The parade is ending due to the large amount of construction taking place in the park that will interfere with the parade route, as well as some of the guest viewing areas.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade was a fun showcase of Disney characters, music, and animal puppets.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is currently going through a substantial enhancement, with Festival of the Lion King debuting this June, a new night time extravaganza called Rivers of Light announced, and the Avatar-themed land set to debut in 2017.

There are no plans for a new parade for the park at the present time.

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PotterWatch: Piccadilly Circus Fountain Installed, Today Show Harry Potter Sweepstakes, and More.

By Seth Kubersky

The Piccadilly Circus fountain has arrived at Universal’s Wizarding World (photos by Seth Kubersky)

Orlando experienced some wild weather last week, but the torrential rain didn’t stop progress on Diagon Alley, as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando accelerates towards rumored soft openings at the end of this month. In today’s edition of PotterWatch, we feature the installation of the famous Piccadilly Circus Fountain in front of the the London Waterfront, and a new Today Show Harry Potter Sweepstakes starting next week.

 

Piccadilly Circus Fountain

The final major component of the London Waterfront, as featured in published concept art of the area, arrived recently, as a stunning replica of the Piccadilly Circus fountain was mounted in front of the Wyndham’s Theatre facade.

The fountain appears to be a museum-quality copy of the famous Shaftesbury Memorial and Statue of Anteros (usually misidentified as his winged twin Eros, a.k.a. Cupid).

 

While I was taking photos from across the lagoon, jets of water began spouting from the fountain at impressive heights.

 

But by the time I got close enough to capture video, the spraying had ceased, and a worker was on a lift adjusting it.

 

London Waterfront and Diagon Alley Progress

Smaller details are progressing all along the London Waterfront, with much more work occuring in Diagon Alley behind the facade.

 

The wooded berm’s forest is still a work in progress, but the Gringotts show building should eventually be largely concealed.

 

The newly installed lampposts are made of cast iron, and look amazingly authentic in person.

 

The former Amity Island restrooms, which were originally themed to the Jaws ride, are now being repainted in a shade of brown.

 

Zonko’s Window

Zonko’s interior may have been eaten up by Honeyduke’s candy shop, but it will remain in spirit thanks to these newly modified windows, featuring “no-heat” fireworks.

 

The explosive backdrop is clearly designed to animate using simple spinning patterns. Most likely, this will be activated by the interactive wands I’ve previously reported on.

 

The display appears to be computer-printed at a relatively low resolution, and is (to me) of noticeably less exacting quality than the area’s original windows.

 

Hogsmeade Station

Take a look at progress on Hogsmeade Station and its entry building at the transition to Hogsmeade.

 

The metallic patterning applied to the tower of Sindbad‘s stadium is reminiscent of water towers seen along railroads in the UK.

 

There was no work being done on this wall and berm during my visit.

 

However, the large stones I spotted behind Thunder Falls Terrace on a prior visit were no longer visible. Could they be destined to live here?

 

Today Show Harry Potter Sweepstakes

Tune into NBC’s Today Show next week for “clues” to entering a sweepstakes that could take you to Universal Orlando and the Wizarding World. You can register to enter on this website, then watch the show starting the morning of May 13.

An observant Orlando United forum member posted this schedule showing when the sweepstake “clues” may be broadcast, but since it’s a live show things are subject to change:

Tuesday, May 13: (7-9 a.m.) L.A. Reid talks about new Michael Jackson album: Xscape. Suze Orman on Today. Harry Potter Clue. The Voice on Today. Emma Roberts talks about Palo Alto. Dolly Parton performs on Today Plaza.

Wednesday, May 14: (7-9 a.m.) Modern day prom dilemmas. Harry Potter Clue. The Voice on Today. James Franco and Gia Coppola talk about Palo Alto. Mark Bittman talks about book: VB6. Lily Allen performs on Today Plaza.

Thursday, May 15: (7-9 a.m.) Kip and Mona Lisa Harding talk about new book: The Brainy Bunch: The Harding Family’s Method to College Ready by Age Twelve. Harry Potter Clue. The Voice on Today. Maya Rudolph on Today. Ricky Martin performs on Today Plaza.

Friday, May 16: (7-9 a.m.) Bryan Cranston talks about Godzilla. Harry Potter Clue. Heidi Klum talks about America’s Got Talent. Mariah Carey performs on Today Plaza.

These segments will include footage featuring Al Roker recorded during a recent video shoot at the resort, as revealed in this promotional clip, which also provides our first look at the animatronic goblins in the Gringotts lobby:

 

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PotterWatch: Piccadilly Circus Fountain Installed, Today Show Harry Potter Sweepstakes, and More. is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.