Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1243
March 25, 2014
Walt Disney World Crowd Report – March 16 to 22, 2014
Last week our predictions performed well again, hitting the mark more than missing it. There were a couple days where a park prediction missed by two index levels but never more than that except during a stormy St Patrick’s Day Monday.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up day-to-day last week.
The Crowd Report, March 16-22, 2014
The Walt Disney World Crowd Report
March 16, 2014 to March 22, 2014
With the exception of a slightly higher than expected crowd at The Studios, Sunday crowds were as predicted around the resort. Resort-wide our prediction of a level ’6′ was accurate. Despite the Extra Magic Hour evening which kept the Magic Kingdom open until 2:00 am for resort guests, crowds stayed one level below our prediction of ’8′ at the flagship park. Wait times at The Studios translated to a level ’6′ on our scale, we predicted a ’4′. We did however correctly predict (within 3 minutes) the average wait times at the super headliners Tower of Terror (46 minutes) and Toy Story Mania (78 minutes).
Sláinte! Crowds gathered all day at Downtown Disney’s Raglan Road Irish Pub to celebrate St Patrick’s Day but rainy weather kept crowds at the parks lower than expected. Especially at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom where actual crowds came in two and three levels lower than predicted, respectively. Only The Studios had a crowd level higher than predicted (a ’6′, predicted ’5′) which is not surprising given that park hosted Extra Magic Hour evening after the storms had subsided.
Animal Kingdom bounced back strong from the rainy crowd level ’3′ on Monday with a remarkable crowd level ’9′ on Tuesday. This high crowd level was two levels higher than predicted, mostly due to higher than expected wait times at Dinosaur (42 minutes) and Kilimanjaro Safaris (78 minutes). The rest of the parks were as predicted including the resort-wide crowd level of ’7′.
Our prediction of a crowd level ’7′ at The Studios and Animal Kingdom proved two levels too high for the former and two levels too low for the latter. This balanced out overall though, with a resort-wide crowd level ’7′ (we predicted ’6′). The wait times at Animal Kingdom’s Dinosaur were the biggest difference compared to our predictions, it had an average posted wait of 36 minutes, we predicted 23.
Our prediction of a crowd level ’7′ at Animal Kingdom was accurate on Thursday and our other predictions were all within two including our prediction of a crowd level ’7′ at Magic Kingdom on a day that it hosted Extra Magic Hour morning (it was an ’8′).
Three of our five predictions on Friday ended up spot-on, including our prediction of a crowd level ’7′ at Magic Kingdom, ’6′ at Animal Kingdom and a resort-wide crowd level of ’6′. The Studios was slightly less crowded than expected at a level ’4′, we predicted ’6′. All three headliners at The Studios had average posted wait times at least 10 minutes lower than predicted.
Again, our predictions proved accurate on Saturday with a resort-wide ’6′ (predicted ’7′), a ’6′ at Magic Kingdom (predicted ’7′), a ’7′ at Epcot (predicted ’5′), a ’5′ at The Studios (predicted ’7′) and a ’6′ at Animal Kingdom (predicted ’6′). Most surprising at Epcot on Saturday was the 29-minute average posted time at Spaceship Earth. This would be a clear 10 out of 10 for that attraction.
What to Expect This Week
March 23 to 29, 2014
The start of spring break is upon us and crowds around Walt Disney World will increase accordingly. We still like March as a time of year to visit however. The weather is nice and although crowds are larger than January and February they are easily manageable with a good touring plan. With a late Easter this year we don’t expect to see the same Easter rush that we would expect historically.
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.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Walt Disney World Crowd Report – March 16 to 22, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Observations from the Magic Kingdom: Saturday, March 15, 2014
There’s so much going on in the Magic Kingdom right now that I’ll just jump right in. You may have heard about the Festival of Fantasy Parade that started on March 9. And it’s so spectacular that I gave it a whole post here. Take some time to give it a read if you’re coming for FOF in the near future, or just look at the pictures if you can’t get to World any time soon.
Recently, Disney announced that it was starting major a major revamp of the “hub,” the Magic Kingdom’s center section, so that the park would better handle crowds during peak season, parades, and fireworks shows. Construction has already begun, and if you’re coming to the Kingdom in the next year, be ready to see a park very different from the one you may be used to. First, you’re going to notice cranes (sometimes up to three at once) and the refurbishment going on at the castle.
The turrets and the facings on the castle are also currently being painted a silver color, which is a primer underlay for the usual blue. The blue will return, but in the meantime the silver makes for an interesting look. You’re also going to see multiple scrims (tarps) on buildings that are being refurbished like the one above.
Because the changes to the hub require that new concrete be laid for walkways and seating areas, the moats around the castle and Main Street, U.S.A., have been drained.
The sights around these ex-waterways aren’t the prettiest, and it’s going to ruin some pictures that you may have taken previously. Also departing are some familiar landmarks like the Rose Garden and the Swan Boat Dock. 
The construction also involves a lot of walkway tear-up, so you’ll see construction walls and tarp covers in quite a few places. Disney got funny with the one below, printing the fence cover with the eponymous planters that tend to go up when they’re trying poorly to hide something that’s coming.
While it sounds like (and really is) a lot of not-so-pleasant change, there are things that have already undergone construction that are looking much better. The fencing has been removed from the courtyard between Casey’s Corner and The Crystal Palace and the walkway widened, and the outcome is a much more open area.
Eventually, the hub will look like the concept drawing below and will likely be a much more pleasant place to be when the Kingdom gets crowded. Changes are expected to be complete by 2015.
Photo Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company
But there are other things going on around the park, too, and not all of them are unpleasant. The #INCREDIBLESsuperdanceparty (daily in Tomorrowland starting at 5 p.m.) has taken some flak for its hashtagged name, but the night we were there the party was jumping, and the characters were in close interaction with the guests. The music made for a fun ride around the PeopleMover track, though I’m sure some would not appreciate the disruption in what for many is a peaceful break in the day.
If you’ve never ridden the PeopleMover around sunset, give it a try and see if you can’t snap some photos. It’s gorgeous up there.
In snack news, Cheshire Cafe across from Mad Tea Party has some new cake cups. If you haven’t tried these, they’re a lot less messy and, in my opinion, a lot more tasty than a regular cupcake. They’re layers of cake and frosting with fun decorations. The two new varieties are marble cake with cute white chocolate bunny ears and a candy daisy, and a strawberry shortcake version with a candy Queen of Hearts playing card. Cake cups can be purchased with a snack credit, should be shared to avoid sugar coma, and should always be consumed with a cold milk standby.
Over in Fantasyland, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is nearing completion. Landscaping has been added, and construction walls have been removed around the attraction. The ride has been testing with empty cars for several weeks, and the opening date has been announced as May 2. There are rumors that soft openings will begin around April 20, but take that with a grain of salt, as all rumors should be taken. I’ve included multiple pictures of the ride to hopefully give you all the details you’re looking for.
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train height requirement has been announced as being significantly lower than the other coasters in the Kingdom at 38 inches, indicating that this ride will be a little more tame than originally predicted.
For those of you who are big “it’s a small world” fans, the ride celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this month, and a special website with fun activities has been created for the festivities. Check it out at SmallWorld50.com.
I’ll leave you with a shot of Princess Fairytale Hall, which in less than a month will be getting two new princesses, Anna and Elsa from Frozen. Check here for more details on that arrival, and until next time, keep it magical! ~M
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Observations from the Magic Kingdom: Saturday, March 15, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
March 24, 2014
Kouzzina at Disney’s BoardWalk to Close in September
©Disney
Kouzzina by Cat Cora will be closing its doors at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort permanently in September. Its last day of operation is September 30.
This celebrity chef-run, Greek-inspired restaurant serves delicious and unique items including Spanakopita (spinach pie), cinnamon-stewed chicken, fisherman’s stew, and traditional whole fish. There is also a great breakfast menu, featuring turkey/sweet potato hash, Greek yogurt with fresh berries, and spinach, tomato, and feta scrambled eggs.
A new restaurant will open in its place sometime in late 2014.
If you would like to make a reservation before it officially closes, you may do so by visiting the Disney dining website or calling (407) WDW-DINE.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Kouzzina at Disney’s BoardWalk to Close in September is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney Cruise Line Pirate Night FAQ
By Erin Foster
Ahoy mateys! If you’re going a Disney Cruise, then you’re almost certainly going to encounter a “Pirate Night” during your voyage. Here’s what you need to know to keep the scurvy at bay.
There will be a Pirate Night on most Disney Cruise Line sailings.
Is there a pirate night on every Disney Cruise?
Not all, but most of them. There are pirate nights on nearly all Caribbean and Mediterranean voyages. In 2013, the Alaskan cruises replaced Pirate Night with a Pixar Night, but they have had Pirate evenings in the past.
What happens during Pirate Night?
There are three main elements to Pirate Night: a themed party, themed food, and costumes.
Party? Did someone say party?
The party is really more of a performance, with a bit of “clap along with me” interactivity to keep you involved. This will happen on deck, by the main pool area. Expect to see the Disney pirate version of go-go dancers strategically stationed at points around the deck. I think of them as the sassy wench equivalent of bar mitzvah dance facilitators. Up on stage, you’ll get a show with characters (Mickey, Goofy, and the other usual suspects) trying to thwart Captain Hook’s diabolical plot to take over the ship. And there’s music – loud, loud music.
Typical Pirate Night Menu. Click to enlarge.
The highlight of the event is a brief fireworks show off the side of the ship (weather permitting). Disney is the only cruise line allowed to do this, and it really is cool to see fireworks set off in the middle of the ocean.
It’s good silly fun, but if you’re an adult with a character aversion or a child with sensory processing issues, you might want to skip the party.
What does pirate food consist of?
Your pirate dinner will take place in one of the standard three rotational restaurants, whichever one you happen to be scheduled for that night. The servers will wear pirate costumes, say Arrrrrgh a lot, and likely tell some corny pirate jokes (many of which are pretty funny).
Pirate dance facilitator on deck.
The food will be basically the same as the other DCL food, but with cute pirate names. For example, instead of saying “short ribs,” the menu will say “Captain Jack Sparrow’s short ribs.” There will be a Caribbean flavor element to a few of the dishes, such as rum cake or chicken with jerk spice seasoning. This will happen even if you’re not sailing in the Caribbean.
There may also be a pirate-themed late night snack mini-meal available at the ship’s main buffet restaurant. Again, look for Caribbean flavors, and possibly giant turkey legs.
Costumes? What does that mean? Do I have to dress up? Do I have to bring a lot of extra stuff with me?
This was my area of biggest concern when I first learned about Pirate Night, but there’s no need to worry. While the cast members on board will all be wearing some form of pirate costume, there’s no obligation for guests to dress up. However, if you do want to play along, there are many ways to do so.
Your stateroom attendant will give everyone in your party a pirate-themed bandana. For many guests, wearing this is their only nod to the evening’s theme.
During Pirate Night, the on board gift shops will set out more than the usual selection of pirate paraphernalia. This will include Hook hooks, eye patches, faux swords, and the like. Much of this is sized for children, but some can be appropriated by adults as well.
If you really want to play along, you’re welcome to bring your booty of costume treasure with you. A small subset of guests will wear full pirate regalia, complete with puffy shirts, leather hip boots, and stuffed shoulder-sitting parrots.
I think I’d like to dress up. Any ideas?
You can visit almost any costume store to buy a wide range of pirate garb, from inexpensive plastic hats, to elaborate hand-made outfits worthy of any swashbuckling Renaissance fair.
But if you’re not in the mood to pirate purchase, it’s easy to improvise an outfit from items in your closet. Start with black pants or shirt and a white top. Then tie a red scarf or sash around your waist and you’re good to go. Black vests and boots can add an extra special touch. And don’t forget to go heavy on the eye makeup for that just-pillaged-and-plundered look.
There will be pirate-themed backdrops in the lobby atrium. The photographers on board will be happy to capture your pirate scowl to show the folks back home.
So saucy sailors, what’s your take on Pirate Night? Do you dress up? Do you have any costume tips? Do you have a favorite spot to watch the party or fireworks? Let us know in the comments below.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Disney Cruise Line Pirate Night FAQ is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
March 23, 2014
Spring Break 2014 Crowds at Walt Disney World
By Steve Bloom
The spring crowd levels at Disney World vary from year to year. The variation is driven by when Easter is and how schools plan their spring breaks. Different school districts use different rules when scheduling their spring breaks. Some school districts have a fixed week each year, and others adjust spring break based on Easter and Passover. Some school districts have the Friday before and/or the Monday after Easter off. When Easter is early, the spring break season is early and short. This causes the crowd levels to be higher, but for only a short time period. When Easter is late, the spring break season is spread out and has less effect on crowd levels. In 2014, Easter is late (April 20), so the spring break season is spread out. Once Easter is over, so are the spring crowds.
Crowd levels are inversely related to the percentage of children in school: when most schools are on a break, high wait times are found in the parks. We track the school schedules for the 100 largest school districts, and these schedules go into our Crowd Calendar models. The chart below shows the percentage of students in session and how the numbers change year to year.
Schools in Session 2011-2014
Another thing that is going to lower the crowd levels is the snow fall from winter. Many school system lost school days and are having to make up the snow days. Some are choosing to shorten or cancel their spring breaks or Easter breaks. The chart above does not include the effect of schools’ make-up days.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Spring Break 2014 Crowds at Walt Disney World is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Time Traveling: The American Idol Experience
By Daisy Lauren
Wow – it’s been a while since we’ve been time traveling, hasn’t it? Finally, the other day, while I was walking through Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I felt the past calling out from The American Idol Experience. I remembered the other two great shows that lived there before and wanted to share them with you. Before we get started, it’s a good idea to point out that these are mostly my memories. I do tend to prefer the sugary sweet things in life, and I fondly remember my past at Disney. If you remember it differently, please leave your comments below! I’d love to hear what everyone else thought about these old shows.
Doug Live!
If you stepped into a time machine and traveled back to March of 1999, you’d find Doug Live! performed several times a day in this theater. I’ve heard the show described as “nightmarish,” but it was one of my all time favorites. Doug was a Nickelodeon cartoon until Disney purchased the show’s production company in 1996. The cartoon hit the air waves in 1991 and focused on a young, awkward teenage boy and his dog. That was right around the time I was a young, awkward, not quite teenage girl with a cat. You can see how I became a fan! The stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was energetic, bright, and full of memorable situations from the cartoon. At the beginning of each show, a host would come out and select adults to perform later in the show as Doug’s favorite band, The Beets. Two seats were reserved in the front row for the actors to sit in during the “concert”. The show was staged in a very creative way, and huge projection walls were used to transport you through the story. If you never saw this show, it’s easy to find on YouTube. It’s worth taking a look at this very short-lived piece of Disney history. Doug Live! closed abruptly in May of 2001, leaving this theater vacant for nearly eight years. I heard several rumors as to why it closed with short notice, but I’m not sure any of them are credible. In any case, this is a show I still miss and hope many of you had a chance to enjoy!
Superstar Television
Going back further in time you’d find yourself in 1989, and Superstar Television would be one of the absolute must see attractions in the park. This show took guests and made them the stars of popular television shows using green screen technology. The show was a journey through time, starting with the very early days of television and the morning news. then going though a standard programming day that ended with modern late night shows. I can remember standing in line for this very popular show and being very impressed that people really looked like they were in TV shows. It’s laughable now, looking back at it! But don’t take my word for it, check out this high quality video. (Speaking of laughable, check out the hair on the host!) The show really gets started about four minutes into that video in case you want to get right to the good stuff. Superstar Television performed its last show in 1999. I remember this was one of the first attractions whose closing made me was genuinely sad. Since guests were used in the show, every performance was a little different. I’m glad there’s at least one video out there preserving this long lost attraction.
So what do you remember from these pieces of Disney history? Did you ever get to see these shows? Do they sound like fun? Also, what would you like to see next for the American Idol theater? Personally, I have a Princess and the Frog stage show perfected in my mind. It would be so pretty in that theater! What are your ideas? I can’t wait to hear what you all have to say. Thanks so much for reading!
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Time Traveling: The American Idol Experience is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
March 22, 2014
Join The Egg-Stravaganza Egg Hunt at Epcot from April 10-20
©Disney
Last year during Limited Time Magic, Disney introduced the Egg-stravganza Egg Hunt. As Guy has already mentioned, it will be returning to Disneyland, but what we didn’t know was that is was also coming back to Epcot.
From April 10-20, guests will be able to search for hidden eggs that are themed after Disney characters all around the park in World Showcase.
Here’s how it works. Guests can purchase a map for $4.95, plus tax, then take to the park to search for hidden eggs. You’ll then be able to record the finds by placing the right character sticker in the matching location on the map. Once you do that, you’ll be able to return the map at the redemption spot, Disney Traders, and will be able to pick up a special surprise.
Maps can be purchased at Heritage Manor (at the American Adventure Pavilion), Disney Traders, the International Gateway, Pin Central, and Port of Entry.
Here’s a glimpse of what it will look like and where eggs will be located:
©Disney
It’s a fun game that I’m glad to see they’re bringing back. Great activity for all ages, for sure! If you would like to see what it was like last year at Disneyland, check out this post. It will give you a clue as to what to expect this year, too. Good luck and happy hunting!
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
Join The Egg-Stravaganza Egg Hunt at Epcot from April 10-20 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
More Adventures with Disney World Annual Passholder Advance FastPass+: DHS & DAK Edition
Welcome back to the continuing saga of Walt Disney World’s recent roll-out of Annual Passholder Advance FastPass+ privileges to the general public. As explained in our last episode, all WDW annual passholders should now be able to make up to 7 days of FastPass+ reservations within the next 30 days through the My Disney Experience website and apps. Last time, we looked at how I set up my first week of FastPass+ selections, and saw how my first intinerary turned out at Epcot (TLDR: not perfect, but pretty good).
For this followup, follow me to Walt Disney World two least-popular parks for examples of how advance FastPass+ may (or may not) work to your advantage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios FastPass+
Much like my day at Epcot, I arrived at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios parking lot a little after 1:00 p.m.
While waiting for the tram, I logged into my MDE account to confirm the FastPass+ returns times I has chosen a few days earlier, check current standby times, and see what other options were still available at that time of day.
Upon entering the park, I walked straight up Sunset Boulevard to my first destination: The Hollywood Tower Hotel.
The posted wait for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was 20 minutes. With FastPass+, my total wait until entering the elevator, including the preshow video in the library, was just over 4 minutes.
Upon exiting, I noticed that the old FASTPASS shelter has been converted to FastPass+ assistance kiosks.
Next door, the down side of FastPass+ can be seen, as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster‘s often-short single rider line was inundated in guests who might have used a FastPass+ instead, if not for the tier system. I waited just over 30 minutes to board as a single rider, versus a 45 minute posted standby queue. Without the tier restrictions, you might chose to use FastPass+ here rather than Tower of Terror or Star Tours, but currently that would preclude obtaining a more-valuable Toy Story Mania or Fantasmic! reservation.
While waiting, I noticed that there were still same-day FastPass+ times available for top attractions like Toy Story Mania.
Intermission time! For lunch, I paid my first visit to the Brown Derby Lounge. This al fresco annex to the indoor table service restaurant has its own exclusive cocktails and small-plate menu, but you can also order from the full Hollywood Brown Derby menu. Best of all, you don’t need an ADR to eat here — just decent weather and a little patience.
The lounge patio is open seating, and I initially had trouble getting the attention of a server. Eventually, my waitress turned things around with pleasant (if not especially prompt) service.
The bourbon-based Jack Diamond cocktail I ordered hit the spot with classic Hollywood style; it also packed a punch, being nearly all liquor aside from the cherry.
My meal of mussels wasn’t as successful. Dubbed “big ones,” the shellfish were of a good size, though far from the largest I’ve seen, and the butter-based broth they were boiled in was heavenly. But nearly half the bivalves in my bowl failed to open their shells during cooking, which any chef will tell you is a sure warning sign not to ingest.
The kitchen thanked me for alerting them to the issue and graciously compensated me on my bill. But next time I’m at the Brown Derby, I’ll stick to the Cobb salad…
Now back to our regularly scheduled attractions. My first post-lunch appointment was at Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. FastPass+ turned the 30 minute posted wait into under ten.
The Star Tours FastPass+ scanners have customized sound effects.
Since I had some time to kill before my final FastPass+ appointment, I stopped in for my umpteenth viewing of MuppetVision 3D. There was no difference between standby and FastPass+ here, making it an amazingly inefficient use of someone’s reservation.
Finally, I finished my DHS vist at Toy Story Mania. Much like Soarin’, I am very rarely at the park at rope drop, and am therefore usually unable to ride this attraction in Disney World because of the absurd standby queue it attracts (unlike its less-crowded California sibling). With my FastPass+ reservation, I was happily exacerbating my carpal tunnel syndrome in pursuit of a stuffed beaver after only ten minutes, instead of the 80 posted above the standby entrance.
Final tally: I took in all four of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ must-do E-Tickets, plus my personal favorite theater show and a table-service meal, in almost exactly three hours.
Disney’s Animal Kindgdom FastPass+
I made my third day of reservations for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a park at which I rarely made much use of FASTPASS in the past. Again, I arrived at the park around 1:00 p.m. (are you sensing a pattern yet?) and walked into waiting for the next show of It’s Tough to Be a Bug — another spectacularly silly spot to squander one of your 3 precious FastPass+ opportunities.
My Animal Kingdom FastPast+ reservations for the afternoon.
Don’t waste a FastPass+ going to the right of this sign!
The Tree of Life (and the Nets of Death).
Upon exiting the Tree of Life theater, I hiked briskly through Asia and Africa to my first FastPass+ appointment at Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Posted standby wait: 20 minutes. Actual FastPass+ wait: 6 minutes.
An unruly giraffe stretched my safari out to nearly twice its normal length, but I got some great close encounters with the fauna, including uncommonly clear sightings of monkeys and the male lion.
The safari whetted my appetite for wildlife, so I strolled through the Pangani Forest to say hello to the adorably ugly naked mole rats, as well as the family of gorillas.
African cultural display near the meerkat area in Pangani Forest.
At this point, it was time to meet up with Len Testa and Laurel Stewart, who were in town for the week doing research. We had some fun attempting to communicate with Russell and Dug’s “Bark-o-lator” at the pair’s meet & greet near the ITTBAB theater entrance.
It was past time for lunch, so I took one for the Touring Plans team and ordered the buffalo chicken waffle sandwich now being offered at Trilo-Bites near the gateway to DinoLand U.S.A.
I’m normally a sucker for chicken and waffle sandwiches, but the combination of pungent bleu cheese dressing and spicy-sour buffalo chicken seasoning overwhelmed the slight sweetness of the freshly-baked waffles, resulting in a sickly contrast of flavors. I suggest holding out for Cletus‘ at Simpsons’ Fast Food Boulevard instead.
Far too quickly after finishing my meal, it was time to hustle to the Himalayas before my Expedition Everest return window closed.
As it turns out, I was about 5 minutes late for my FastPass+ appointment, but my pass registered with no problem, thanks to an unpublicized 15 minute grace period automatically built in to every reservation.
Since I always make time for my feathered friends, I stopped for a duck selfie on my way to my last attraction
.
Quick: which one is the cartoon character?
My final FastPass+ of the day was also my first “epic fail” experience with the system. When I arrived at DINOSAUR, the standby wait was posted as 40 minutes.
Unfortunately, I found myself waiting over 25 minutes in the FastPass+ return line, as the attraction appeared to be processing far fewer guests per hour than the mechanically-similar Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland does.
I noticed numerous ride vehicles dispatched with half-empty rows; it’s a shame Walt Disney World can’t devise a way to offer single rider access at this attraction as Disneyland does for Indy.
When I finally made it back from the Cretaceous period, I was a little behind my intended itinerary. But I still managed to enjoy every Animal Kingdom E-Ticket that doesn’t get you soaked, a show, an animal exhibit, and some indigestion, all within a 3½ hour span.
Final Thoughts
I was a self-admitted skeptic of FastPass+ plus before annual passholders had the ability to make advance reservations, but now I’m becoming a believer. Unlike out-of-town visitors who attend a park from rope-drop to closing, local resident annual passholders like myself often like to drop into Disney for a few hours in the afternoon.
Under the old FASTPASS, top attractions were often sold out before I even arrived, or those that were left were too late int the day for me to use. FastPass+ seems tailor-made for guests like me, who can now show up minutes before our scheduled appointments, and experience three E-Tickets in as many hours with minimal waiting.
Even if you aren’t a hit-and-run visitor like myself, you can still take advantage of my technique if you purchase a parkhopper. Make FastPass+ reservations for one park in early/mid afternoon, when queues will be at their peak. Then visit a different park at rope drop, experiencing the top attractions there with short standby lines, and leaving for the second park where you have reservations when waits begin to build.
Come back soon as I explore using annual passholder advance FastPass+ reservations at the Magic Kingdom, including the new Festival of Fantasy parade. In the mean time, leave your comments and questions on FastPass+ below!
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
More Adventures with Disney World Annual Passholder Advance FastPass+: DHS & DAK Edition is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
SATURDAY SIX: Our Six Favorite Jokes in Universal’s Springfield U.S.A.
By Derek Burgan
Contrary to popular belief, this is not a sign for the FP+ kiosks at WDW
This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers Our Six Favorite Jokes in Universal’s Springfield U.S.A. Universal Studios Florida has received a lot of attention over the past two years. The park fixed many of its most glaring weaknesses by adding a new daytime parade, a nighttime spectacular, a new E-Ticket in Transformers: The Ride 3D, an incredible family ride in Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, and of course will shortly be debuting the first ever park-to-park attraction with the Hogwarts Express that will travel to what could possibly be the most immersive land in the history of theme parks with Diagon Alley (keep up to date on all the Potter construction with Seth Kubersky’s PotterWatch articles.)
And while all of this is no less than exciting, throughout all these developments one area of the park has quietly become one of our favorite places in Orlando: Springfield U.S.A. The Simpsons Ride has been a favorite of many since its debut in 2008, with the television show’s trademark sarcastic wit taking its aim at the world of theme parks. Now the area is a completely developed land with a second attraction, a Photo Connect opportunity, elaborately themed carnival games, an outdoor bar in Duff Gardens, and some of the best quick service food items in any theme park including Fast Food Boulevard, Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck, and Lard Lad Donuts.
But what makes Springfield U.S.A. stand out is the clever use of jokes and humor throughout the entire land. Today we’re going to look at our six favorite bits.
# 6 – Kwik-E-Mart Merchandise Signs
The Kwik E Mart says what we’ve all been thinking since 1971
When you step into the Kwik-E-Mart, the gift store for The Simpsons Ride, you would be best served by walking around and noticing all the details throughout the store. Our favorite gags are the clever signs above some of the merchandise saying things like, “C’mon, if you ran a store I’d buy your junk!, “Satisfaction begrudgingly guaranteed,” and “Today’s merchandise at tomorrow’s prices!”
# 5 – The Fast Food Boulevard Menus
Regular readers of the Saturday Six know how much we love Fast Food Boulevard. Incredibly, Universal took its worst quick service location with the old International Food & Film Festival and turned it into its best. But today we’re not looking at the number of unique food items. Instead, we’re taking a look at the menu descriptions, themselves. Written by actual Simpsons screenwriters, these menus include items like the Heat Lamp Dog, Chicken Arms (instead of chicken wings), and The Frying Dutchman’s own Clam Chowd-arr.
# 4 – Krustyland’s Carnival Games
Carnival games at theme parks are a hot-button issue for many hardcore fans. Whether its the games at Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. or the ones throughout both of Universal’s parks, there are many cries from guests that these “games of skill” don’t fit and belong in amusement parks like Six Flags. Regardless of how you feel about carnival games, it’s impossible to believe it could ever been done better than what has been done in Springfield U.S.A., where the games have been incorporated into the Krustyland facade of The Simpsons Ride. The prizes are Simpsons themed products you can’t buy in any store (including Duff Beer baseball jerseys and Spider-Pig plush dolls). And best of all, the games even mock you for playing with signs all but saying they are a rip-off.
# 3 – Simpsons Couch Gag
If your family members are anything like mine, they like buying photos during their theme park vacation and are invariably shocked when they see the price-per-photo. There’s a reason Disney can market its Memory Maker photo package (and Universal its Photo Connect Star Card package) as a savings despite the relatively high price. The new Simpsons Couch Gag Photo Connect Experience takes a swipe at these very same prices. One sign has “Professionally shot souvenir photos” with shot crossed out and replaced with priced while another sign proclaims, “Pictures are worth a thousand words,” but has in small print, words extra. Small details, but brilliant.
# 2 – Kwik-E-Mart Register
For long-time Simpsons fans like myself, this joke is for you. Referencing a sign seen briefly in a classic episode of The Simpsons (“Homer and Apu“), this Do Not Accept Checks From sign is located by the register of the Kwik-E-Mart.
# 1 – Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl Queue
I love everything about the new Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl attraction. Everything. There are hilarious ads in the queue. There are videos playing with classic moments from the Simpsons television show involving Kang & Kodos. The safety spiel before the ride is great. The comments made during and after the ride by Kodos are hilarious. The ride itself has interactive elements, and even the story of the attraction is that you are begin recruited to destroy Earth. This is one spinner ride that has just as much enjoyment for adults as it does for little children.
My favorite jokes of the ride are the jabs made at attraction queues, which have taken on a new relevance now that Disney has implemented FastPass+. No one likes lines in a theme park, but Springfield U.S.A. is the only place where guests are outright mocked for standing in a long queue. Ironically enough, Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl rarely has a long queue.
So there you have it: Our Six Favorite Jokes in Springfield U.S.A. These great gags are just the tip of the iceberg when you enter this great land, and be sure to keep your eyes open for other incredibly jokes that make fun of Disney attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and even the Hall of Presidents. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six, where we will look at Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival. 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 and Brandon Glover for their assistance with this article.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
SATURDAY SIX: Our Six Favorite Jokes in Universal’s Springfield U.S.A. is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
March 21, 2014
In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of March 21, 2014
It’s Time to Play the Music
It’s Time to Light the Lights
It’s Time to Meet the Muppets
On The Muppet Show Tonight
It’s here!!! Today is the day to see Muppets Most Wanted! Who’s going? I am!
While you’re waiting to see this new premiere, likely sometime this weekend, I’ve got some great articles to read. Let me know your favorite article in the comments!
In Case You Missed It – Disney News and Rumors
We’ve seen the beautiful work that’s taken place with the costumes that have been created for the new Disney Festival of Fantasy parade at the Magic Kingdom. In this interview with Mirena Rada, a costume designer for the parade, we learn “What Really Goes into a Disney Parade Costume.” It really is incredible the amount of work that went into these costumes…like the fact that to coral found in The Little Mermaid unit was baked for 16 hours!
It’s been all over the news. I’m sure you have probably seen it by now, but in case you haven’t, one of the fish tanks at T-REX Restaurant in Florida’s Downtown Disney broke on Monday evening, and water came gushing out of it. If you’ve missed the reports, here’s a video story of the crazy events. (When I said I wanted seafood tonight for dinner, I didn’t mean I wanted it to come pouring out onto my plate from this fish tank I’m currently sitting under…haha!)
Nostalgic for the “good old days’? Take a look at “29 Things You’ll Never See At Disney World Again.” I miss the Empty Nest and Golden Girls houses.
Oh my gosh! Best ever! To celebrate their movie, Muppets Most Wanted, The Muppets have started their own Instagram account. These are classic! How did I not know this existed earlier?
Also, this week, People included an article where kids interviewed the Muppets, and they asked some very thought provoking questions.
Disney held its shareholder meeting this week and part of the big news was more information about Star Wars: Episode VII. Apparently it’s going to begin filming in May, and the story line will be set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. It will follow a trio of new young leads, along with some very familiar faces. Variety shares more about this epic saga.
Also announced at the shareholders meeting is that they’ll be working on Cars 3 and The Incredibles 2! Find out more. Which one are you more excited about?
Speaking of Pixar movies…have you ever wonder what goes into creating one? In this fantastic excerpt from the book Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull, you’ll get to see just a little bit about how the magic truly happens and how small suggestions can change a movie for the better. It could just be the key to Pixar’s success.
This really was a big week for movie news…because this week the trailer for Maleficent came out, too. Make sure to check it out. I have to admit, this movie seems kind of interesting. And I wasn’t originally interested before.
In Case We Missed It
What did we miss? Send your idea attached to both Frozen and Saving Mr. Banks (both on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download now!) and send both to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.
• Facebook • Twitter • Google Plus • Pinterest
In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of March 21, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Bob Sehlinger's Blog
- Bob Sehlinger's profile
- 30 followers
