Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1245
March 18, 2014
“2014 Egg-Stravaganza” Easter Egg Hunt Coming to Disneyland
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This year Disneyland Resort is returning the popular Easter egg hunt that was first introduced during last year’s Limited Time Magic promotion. The hunt will be expanded to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Guests who purchase the $4.95 map can hunt for eggs with Disney characters on them, when they are found a sticker is placed on the map. This event will run April 10 to April 20, 2014.
Disney’s official description:
Search for special hidden “eggs” themed to Disney characters at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Have fun exploring the parks hunting for “eggs” that portray Disney characters! Record your discoveries by placing the corresponding sticker on the specially themed Egg-Stravaganza map to represent that location. Maps and stickers can be purchased for $4.95, plus tax at select merchandise locations.
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Festival of Fantasy Page Updated
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Our Festival of Fantasy page has been updated with touring tips and a parade description. The new “3 o’clock” parade debuted on Sunday, March 9, with a huge cast of performers and floats and music that pay tribute to parades past and parks around the word. It is performed daily at 3 p.m. at the Magic Kingdom, weather permitting, starting in Frontierland and ending beside the Fire Station on Main Street, U.S.A.
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Four Seasons Orlando Announces Dining Concepts Under New Executive Chef
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Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World is in full preparation mode for its August opening and has just introduced its Executive Chef as well as several dining concepts. Chef Fabrizio Schenardi has joined the resort’s opening team and will oversee the culinary operations for the five on-property restaurants as well as in-room dining and catering culinary operations. Schenardi has worked for the Pelagia Trattoria at Tampa Hotel International Plaza; the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa in Dana Point, California; Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Los Angeles, California; and numerous other fine properties around the world. He is from Rivoli, Italy, and speaks English, Italian, French and Spanish. He received his Culinary Arts Diploma from the Instituto Alberghiero Ravizza in Torino, Italy and specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
What kind of dining will Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World and Chef Schenardi bring guests? Five concepts covering everything from a world-class steakhouse to family-style Italian have been announced.
Capa
The resort’s dining crown jewel will be the 17th-floor rooftop steakhouse and bar, Capa, featuring Spanish influenced cuisine in a romantic setting. Capa’s diverse offerings will range from freshly shucked oysters and Florida seafood to incredible small plates and expertly grilled cuts. An open kitchen and wood-burning grill will allow diners to get close to the action, while those dining on the outdoor terrace will enjoy views of the nightly fireworks at Walt Disney World. Spanish for a matador’s red cape, Capa will feature an interior of black and white with bold crimson accents. An abstract painting conveying the movement of dust as it rises during the matador’s performance will hang near the bar and six traditional matador jackets will flank the entrance to the private dining room while a flowing red art installation travels across the ceiling. Capa, serving dinner only, will open in September 2014.
Ravello
Named for the Italian seaside town situated above the Amalfi coast, modern Italian cuisine will be the specialty at Ravello, the all-day dining restaurant at Four Seasons Orlando. Breakfast offerings will include an omelet station and traditional breakfast favorites while dinner will feature fresh pizza and bread from the wood-burning oven, regionally influenced Italian specialties, and the open kitchen’s pasta bar. Ravello will offer a “Goofy & Pals” Disney Character Breakfast on Thursdays and Saturdays, and select Tuesdays during peak school break periods. Reservations for both Ravello and Capa will be available in the Walt Disney World Dining system, with booking going live some time in July, about a month before the August opening.
Plancha
Whether taking a break from hitting the links or seeking a serene retreat guests who discover Plancha will delight in its fresh, boldly flavored Cuban-American cuisine. Located at the Golf Clubhouse, Plancha - Cuban for grill – offers a picturesque lakeside setting. Signature dishes such as the Cubana sandwich, empanadas and chorizo burger feature authentic tastes of Cuba, and vibrant cocktails from the Mojito to the Hemingway Daiquiri are sure to please. Plancha will open in September 2014.
Lickety Split
For guests on the go, Lickety-Split will provide delicious quick bites throughout the day. Café lattes and breakfast pastries, savory quick bites, gelato, and more will be offered at the colorful dining venue.
PB&G
The Pool Bar and Grill will feature a lively, fun and casual atmosphere with premium American barbecue dishes, fresh salads, frozen cocktails and mocktails, and extensive kids’ and teens’ menus with lots of healthy options. This smokehouse and rotisserie will serve up pulled pork, rotisserie chicken, smoked brisket and house-made hot dogs and burgers with plenty of Southern charm. Brightly painted picnic tables, teak floorboards, and whimsical lighting elements such as lanterns and stringed lights will give the space a fun vibe.
Stay tuned to the Touring Plans Blog for updates on Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World!
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The Adventures by Disney Supplement to Disney Cruise Line: What You Need to Know
By Erin Foster
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You probably know about Disney Cruise Line (DCL). And you might know about Adventures by Disney (AbD). But did you know that you can combine them into one completely over-the-top travel experience? Here’s what you need to know…
What does “Adventures by Disney Supplement” mean?
On most cruises, you select your port excursions on an ad hoc basis, choosing the bits and pieces that seem most interesting and/or affordable. With the Adventures by Disney supplement, your excursions are pre-selected by AbD experts to give a well-rounded overview of the opportunities at each location. The AbD supplement also gives you the constant guidance and expertise of two Disney-trained guides during all portions of the cruise.
Our AbD guides gave us coins to throw in Trevi Fountain.
Is this available on every cruise?
No. Currently the AbD supplement is being offered on the 5, 7, 9 and 13 night 2014 Mediterranean voyages on the Disney Magic. In the past, the AbD supplement has been offered on Alaska sailings on the Wonder.
Have you done this?
Yes, I’ve been on several regular DCL voyages, and several standard AbD trips, as well as one DCL trip with the AbD supplement. Ours was a 7-night Med cruise originating in Barcelona and stopping in Villefranche, France (Monaco); La Spezia, Italy (Florence); Civiatavecchia, Italy (Rome); Naples, Italy; and Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Additionally, we purchased the “Barcelona Escape” three-day, pre-cruise AbD package, which is only available to guests sailing with DCL.
What will I get with Adventures by Disney that I won’t get by booking regular excursions?
In addition to the actual AbD excursions (trip to the Roman Coliseum, for example), there are a number of benefits to the AbD package:
Continuity of Guides: When you book individual excursions on your own, you’ll have a different guide for each event. Some may be good, some may be meh, but none of them will get to know you. With the AbD supplement, in addition to having local expert guides at each location, you’ll also have two Disney guides who remain with you throughout the entire voyage. This allows them to get to know you and your individual needs. For example, if you have a medical issue, you won’t have to re-explain it over and over again. You’ll also develop a personal connection due to the opportunity for extended conversation and interaction. I’ve been on six AbD trips so far and have maintained personal contact with guides on four of them, even years later.
Continuity of Guests: In addition to having the same guides throughout your voyage, you’ll have the same guests with you as well. Again, this allows for more extended conversation and interaction. When I’ve done ad hoc excursions, I’ve rarely gotten to know the other travelers on anything more than the most superficial level. I’ve made real friends on AbD trips.
Ratio of Guides to Guests: The maximum number of guests allowed to participate in an AbD supplement is 40. Often fewer than this will be enrolled, which means that your absolute maximum guest to guide ratio is 20/1. If you factor in the constant influx of local guides and helpers, the ratio is really more like 10/1. On regular excursions, a typical ratio is 30/1. You’re simply getting more personal attention with AbD.
Quality Control: If DCL is offering an excursion on its website, then it will certainly have been vetted to some extent; however, with the AbD excursions, you’re getting the creme de la creme. You simply will not be stuck with a bad driver or a guide with questionable translation skills. If something does go wrong, the Disney guides have the initiative and ability to remediate in a way that third party guides simply cannot.
Excursions Not Offered Elsewhere: There is some general overlap on regular DCL excursions and the AbD excursions. If you’re stopping in Civiatavecchia, you can visit the Roman Coliseum with or without AbD. However, some opportunities, such as a day at a family farm near Naples, a chance to make your own gelato, or a private boat tour of Capri, are only available via AbD, not to the general public.
Safety: Not surprisingly, Disney takes guest safety seriously. When on an AbD excursion, the buses will have seatbelts, the driver credentials will have been checked, and extra security will have been hired whenever there is even a hint of danger. For example, during a visit to Rome with DCL/AbD, we had the two Disney guides, a local guide, and two plain clothes security guys whose job it was to continually survey the group and protect us from pickpockets. Extra measures such as this may or may not be taken on a privately-booked excursion. AbD will even pick you up at the airport and bring you to the ship or your hotel, eliminating the need for any potentially suspicious middlemen.
Time/Energy Balance: When booking on your own, it’s more than possible to plan to do too much (being active to the point of exhaustion) or too little (missing out on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities or sitting around bored). AbD has done lots of research and testing to make sure that your trip is well balanced.
Comfort Extras: The AbD guides are there to make sure you’re comfortable. They always have ample snacks and bottled water. They’ve got hand sanitizer at every meal. When it’s hot they’re prepared with fans and misters. They’ve got a supply over the counter medications and sunscreen. They’re trained to troubleshoot – on one AbD trip the guide noticed before I did that my oldest daughter was not feeling well. The guide got her electrolyte tablets and a quiet place to rest, fending off more serious illness. And most importantly (in my mind anyway), they know where there are ample clean bathrooms at every stop.
Magical Extras: On an AbD trip, there a little extra every day. For example, at the Trevi Fountain, the guides immediately handed us coins with which to make a wish. They got us postcards at key sites and mailed them for us so that we’d get the international postmark and pretty stamps. If it’s your birthday, you’ll be feted within an inch of your life. You also get pins of the day throughout the voyage. The AbD guides function as personal photographers. They’ll use your camera and theirs to take hundreds of pictures during the trip. Photos taken during all the excursion are included, as well as all the pictures taken on board the ship by the PhotoPass photographers. Usually the surprises are small, but they’re always charming.
Food Extras: The majority of your meals are included with AbD excursions. This may not be case with self-booked activities. Typically, the meals you will experience with AbD will be MUCH nicer than those on a standard excursion. For example, when we stopped in Monaco we lunched atop the poshy posh posh Hotel Fairmont Monte Carlo with a view of the harbor – incredible food with an insane view. Additionally, the guides will routinely do things like stop and buy ice cream for the group if you pass a cute shop, or pass out an assortment of the local treats on the bus ride home. Also, a special private dinner at Palo is typically included with the AbD package. When I dined at Palo with AbD we had an expanded menu, extra courses, and lots of adult beverages “on the mouse.”
Tips: All mid-trip gratuities are covered during your excursions. You won’t need to tip any drivers, waiters, or other excursion staff during your trip. However, you will need (and want) to tip your AbD guides at the end.
Priority on the Ship: The AbD group is given priority over other guests going on excursions. For example, the AbD group will be guaranteed a spot on the first tender out in the morning. The AbD group is also the only one that has the ability to hold the ship’s departure. If you’re on a regular excursion and your bus breaks down, the ship will leave without you. If you’re on an AbD excursion and your bus breaks down, they’ll find you alternate transportation to the port and wait until you get there.
This private boat tour of Capri is only available to AbD guests.
Won’t I miss the flexibility of choosing my own excursions?
Possibly. If you have very specific plan for how you want to see the ports, then AbD may not be for you. For example, during the Villefranche stop, AbD visits Monaco and Eze. However, there are other, non-AbD, port excursion that visit Nice and Cannes. If it’s been your life dream to see the site of the film festival, then no amount of extra guide attention is going to make the AbD itinerary OK.
What happens if I don’t want to do all the activities?
While the vast majority of guests participating in the AbD supplement will do all the AbD activities, it is possible to switch out a few if you really have your heart set on something. For example, during the Naples port stop, the AbD trip does not visit Pompeii (though we did drive by). During my DCL/AbD voyage, one family loved almost everything about the AbD itinerary but was desperate to see Pompeii. On that day, they chose to book a regular DCL excursion and meet up with the group back at the ship.
What happens on days at sea?
Days at sea are less structured than days in port. During sea days there will typically be just one or two planned group activities, which are optional. The rest of the time you’re free to enjoy the regular amenities of the ship. However, your AbD guides will still be available at all times to offer advice and answer questions.
AbD lunch at the Fairmont Monte Carlo.
Is Disney “In Your Face” During the AbD excursions?
Not really, certainly not to the extent that it’s in your face on the ship. The only Disney influence (other than the guides’ training) that you have during the AbD excursions is that they’re likely to show you a Disney film if you happen to have a long bus ride as part of the excursion. That’s really it. On the flip side, the guides can help you with Disney-related stuff if you want it. For example, my DCL/AbD guides learned that I am a Disney geek. They made a point to tell me where the Disney store was in Florence, but they weren’t pushing this onto other guests.
Are there any people who might want to consider the AbD supplement more strongly than others?
The AbD supplements are open to everyone (assuming that your kids meet the minimum age requirement). My own pretty textbook family (two parents, three tweenage kids) had a wonderful experience. However, there are some categories of guests who might find the AbD supplement particularly appealing:
Singles: If you’re traveling alone, you might enjoy the extra measure of attention and safety of having dedicated guides and specific group looking out for you.
Single parents: Again, having dedicated guides and a specific group means that there are extra eyes looking out for your kids. This takes away some of the pressure to be “on” 24/7.
The Stressed: If you’re overwhelmed with work/life and want to be ON VACATION while you’re on vacation, then AbD may be for you. One woman on my DCL/AbD trip like to say that AbD allowed her to “check her brain at the door” and focus on enjoying the sights and enjoying the kids without having to worry about anything.
The Non-Planner: If you like going on trips, but don’t enjoy the detailed planning of trips, then AbD may be the way to go. You don’t have to weigh options, or spend hours online, or get on the phone. They do it all for you.
The guides function as your personal PhotoPass photographers, so you can all be the picture.
What’s up with the pricing?
Honestly, it’s not cheap. You will be paying a premium over booking excursions on your own. However, in my opinion, you also get more. I’ve been on standard excursions that were just OK, rarely does this happen with AbD. There are also occasional ways to economize. For example, some guests will use a travel agent who gives on board credits. Some guests will book through Costco Travel which gives Costco rebate vouchers. We paid for some of our trip using Disney Vacation Club points.
Do I need trip insurance?
Only you can make that call based on your own needs and financial position. However, I will say that I did purchased trip insurance for my DCL/AbD combined trip. For me, it was just too much of an investment to leave unprotected. As it turned out, we did use the insurance on that trip. Due to a major storm in the Eastern US, our flight home was delayed, cancelled, and then cancelled again. The insurance ended up covering almost all our expenses while we stayed in Europe for a few extra days. (You feel sorry for me, I know.)
Have you ever combined AbD with DCL? Did you find it worth the price? Is this something you would consider doing in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
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March 16, 2014
Walt Disney World Crowd Report – March 9 to 15, 2014
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Last week our predictions performed very well, hitting the mark more than missing it. Several days last week we saw our park level prediction hit the mark in three of the four parks. No prediction missed by more than two index points. This is encouraging especially because we felt a little nervous about our predictions last week given the higher than normal percentage of schools out of session for Spring Break. If you visited the parks this week while your child was out of school consider yourself lucky, we’ve seen busier weeks than this during the same week in the past.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up day-to-day last week.
The Crowd Report
The Walt Disney World Crowd Report
March 9, 2014 to March 15, 2014
Our predictions on Sunday hit the mark resort-wide (5) at Magic Kingdom (6) and Epcot (5). We only missed by one at The Studios (’3′, predicted ’4′) and Animal Kingdom (’5′, predicted 4). Our accuracy at Magic Kingdom was impressive given that the 1:00 am closing and 3:00 am Extra Magic Hour closing would normally draw a crowd level at least as high as an ’8′.
We correctly predicted Magic Kingdom’s crowds again on Monday (7) although resort-wide we predicted a level ’6′ and it was a level ’7′. Epcot, The Studios and Animal Kingdom all saw crowds larger than expected although no park exceeded our prediction by more than 2 index levels. Epcot was a ’7′ (we predicted ’5′), The Studios a ’6′ (we predicted ’5′) and Animal Kingdom was a ’6′ (we predicted ’4′).
Predictions were bang-on more often than not on Tuesday as well. Our resort-wide prediction (6), Magic Kingdom (7), Epcot (6) and The Studios (5) all hit the mark. Animal Kingdom was the only exception with a ’7′, two levels higher than our prediction. Animal Kingdom has been steadily more crowded than expected the last few weeks so we are currently taking a closer look to see if we can determine why.
Epcot and The Studios stayed moderate on Wednesday as predicted with level ’5′s at both parks. In fact, ’5′ was the number across the board at all parks as well as resort-wide. At Magic Kingdom most attractions had moderate average posted times except for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh which proved less popular than normal at a 22-minute average.
We correctly predicted that Magic Kingdom would increase to an ’8′ on Thursday. Elsewhere we were fairly accurate as well with each of our park estimates accurate within 2 index points. Epcot was a ’7′ (we predicted ’5′), The Studios a ’5′, (we predicted ’6′) and Animal Kingdom was an ’8′ (we predicted ’7′).
Our predictions were spot on again on Friday for the resort-wide number (6), Magic Kingdom (7), Epcot (6) and Animal Kingdom (7). On Friday, The Studios was the exception where crowds underwhelmed at a level ’4′ on our scale despite our prediction of ’6′.
On Saturday Magic Kingdom was a ’6′ (we predicted ’7′), Epcot was a ’5′ (we predicted ’4′), The Studios was a ’5′ (we predicted ’6′) and Animal Kingdom was a ’6′ (we predicted ’5′). With a resort-wide level of ’6′ (we predicted ’5′) that means that all our predictions missed by exactly one index level.
What to Expect This Week
March 16 to 22, 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. Other than at Downtown Disney’s Raglan Road, St. Patrick’s Day has little effect on the resort.
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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Safety First: First Aid Locations at Walt Disney World
By Daisy Lauren
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First Aid at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Nobody wants to think that about ending up ill or injured while at the happiest place on Earth. I know I didn’t anticipate it when it happened to me several years ago. Even though I wasn’t the one on a stretcher, it didn’t make the situation any less frightening. While at first aid I realized that I’d never set foot in the building until I urgently needed help. I imagine most people don’t even think about first aid in the parks until they are in a similar circumstance. Since that first visit I’ve made sure that I’m familiar with Disney World’s first aid locations and the services they offer. Today I thought I’d share a little information with everyone in the hope that you never need to use it!
So what is offered at first aid? The honest answer is that very little is offered medically at first aid stations in the parks. What you can expect are over the counter drugs and remedies. This might be a common request like a band-aid, or something less common like contact lens solution or a contact lens case. If you find yourself needing something, it’s a fair bet they might have it at first aid. Even better, anything offered there is given free of charge. I’m certainly not suggesting that you should use first aid as your personal convenience shop! But if you’ve forgotten something you really need to enjoy your time at the parks, you should stop by and see if they can help.
But I’m hurt – what good is first aid? First aid also has a nurse on staff who can begin the triage process if needed and call for emergency assistance. Since Disney has its own Reedy Creek Fire Department respond, an ambulance normally arrives in less than seven minutes. If your situation isn’t quite this urgent, first aid can assist with setting up an appointment with local urgent care clinics. Disney provides complimentary transportation to and from these appointments. These clinics offer common services you’d normally find at an emergency room. Think broken bones and cuts requiring stitches. But they can also help with a case of the sniffles, bug bites, and just about anything else. Even better, they are able to fill prescriptions on-site so you can get back to your vacation.
Here’s where you can find first aid in each park.
Magic Kingdom: Between Casey’s Corner and The Crystal Palace just off Main Street in the direction of Adventureland
Epcot: Odyssey Center, which is the building with restrooms between Test Track and the Mexico Pavilion
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Between Guest Services and Sid Cahuenga’s, near the entrance
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Behind the MyMagic+ Service Center in Discovery Island, near the bridge to Africa
Typhoon Lagoon: Just behind Leaning Palms
Blizzard Beach: Beside Lottawatta Lodge
Waiting Room at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
How about help coming to you? If you’re staying on property at a Disney resort, an in-room medical visit can be arranged by calling the front desk at any time, day or night.
Any cast member can help. If you’re seriously ill, remember you don’t need to make it all the way to first aid. Any cast member can get you the medical help that you need. Don’t be shy asking for assistance!
I hope this information is helpful for anyone visiting Disney World. Do you have any tips here that I’ve missed? Do you have a story about visiting first aid and how they were able to help you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Thanks so much for reading, and stay safe out there!
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March 15, 2014
Photo Gallery: Sneak Peek at new CityWalk Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks Coffee
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The new CityWalk Cold Stone Creamery is now open, and Starbucks is coming soon. (Photos by Seth Kubersky)
Universal Orlando’s overhaul of its eateries accelerates this week as the new CityWalk Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks Coffee locations open to the public. Over the weekend, I was invited behind the barrier to check out the new new franchise locations.
CityWalk Cold Stone Creamery
First, I sampled Cold Stone Creamery, which features hard-packed ice cream customized with “mix ins” and blended on the namesake cold stone.
This location sports unique hardwood decor and a custom-built counter with recessed topping containers.
You can use a Universal Dining Plan snack credit to purchase a “like it” small-sized cup.
The kid’s-sized ‘coffee lovers’ combo I sampled was superb, with rich coffee ice cream and chunks of toffee in a chocolate-dipped waffle bowl; if I weren’t lactose intolerant, I would have eaten two!
CityWalk Starbucks Coffee
Next, I stepped next door into the new CityWalk Starbucks Coffee location, which is quite a visual departure from the ordinary original one upstairs.
The new location is festooned with industrial equipment — like chunky factory-style light fixtures and iron table bases — and furniture fashioned from reclaimed wood.
There will be indoor and covered outdoor seating, Wi-Fi and power connections, and a multitude of ordering stations to keep the line flowing. One thing it won’t have, at least at first, is any hot food, though there will be a small pastry case.
Cold Stone Creamery is now open to the public every day, and Starbucks should open its doors on Friday, March 14.
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SATURDAY SIX: Six Reasons We Love the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy Parade
By Derek Burgan
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This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers Six Reasons We Love the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy Parade. Making its debut on March 9, 2014, the new “3 o’clock parade” at the Magic Kingdom sets the bar for Walt Disney World daytime parades. With elaborate floats, stunning costumes, and filled with many of our favorite Disney characters, the Festival of Fantasy Parade immediately joins the list of all time great Disney parades including Mickey’s Boo to You!, SpectroMagic, Tapestry of Nations, and Mickey’s Soundsational Parade. It is going to be hard to cut the list down, but today we’re presenting six of our favorite things about Festival of Fantasy…
# 6 – Anna and Elsa
Anna and Elsa
Frozen is not just a hit, it’s a certified smash and fresh off huge wins at the Academy Awards for Best Animation Feature and Best Song (for “Let it Go“). The main characters of the film – sisters Anna and Elsa – were added to the Princess Garden Float with their snowman friend Olaf. Disney reacting this fast to a character’s popularity is almost unprecedented but definitely needed after seeing the huge lines Anna and Elsa were drawing to their meet-and-greet at Epcot’s Norway pavilion. In fact, not long after putting Anna and Elsa into the Festival of Fantasy parade, Disney also announced the pair would be relocated to Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom.
# 5 – The Raven
The level of detail in the walk-around characters of Festival of Fantasy needs to be seen to be believed and our favorite character of them all is The Raven. Part of the spectacular Maleficent unit, the ravens are a stark contrast to the normal colorful and cheerful characters we associate with Disney parades but are nonetheless right in line with the steampunk look and design of the incredible dragon float.
There are not enough words to describe how great the overall dancers and walk-around characters are throughout the entire parade. Whether it’s classic Disney characters like Jiminy Cricket and Prince Phillip or new designs such as men dressed as Sea Horses and the “coral girls” in the Little Mermaid unit, the Festival of Fantasy is a visual treat from beginning to end.
Figaro and Cleo from the former Celebrate a Dream Come True parade (photo courtesy of Attractions Magazine)
# 4 – A Nod to Parades Past and Present
There’s nothing better than when Disney pays homage to its history when it debuts new shows or attractions. For example, there’s small references to Mr. Toad (from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride) in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and a hidden Nautilus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) in the queue for Under the Sea: Voyage of the Little Mermaid. While small, these nods to the previous attractions help expand the Disney mythology. The Celebrate a Dream Come True parade came to an end earlier in 2014, but there is a small tribute to that parade with the inclusion of Figaro and Cleo.
Also, while Festival of Fantasy is largely comprised of new floats, two of them were brought over from Japan. That’s right, both the Princess Garden Float and the Monstro (Pinocchio) Float were a part of the Jubilation Parade from Tokyo Disneyland.
# 3 – The Tangled Float
It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite float, but we’re going to do it anyway. The Tangled float is – in a word – fun. The design itself is spectacular, Rapunzel herself is a hoot, and the ruffians swinging about on the float bring a new level of excitement. This float is also the only place you can see Flynn Rider in the Magic Kingdom outside of special ticketed events.
# 2 – The Dragon!
Your move Gringott’s….
A fire breathing dragon in the Magic Kingdom. ‘Nuff said.
# 1 – The Sheer Size of it All
The Monstro Float
What we loved most about the Festival of Fantasy parade is just the overwhelming size of everything. From the amount of performers (nearly 100) to the actual size of the floats (Maleficent stretches over 50 feet, Mickey’s balloon in the finale is 32 feet high) this is one parade that will continue to have you picking your jaw up off the floor. It has pretty much everything you could ever ask for in a parade. Insanely detailed floats. A ton of walk around characters. Great music. And like all great Disney parades it ends with a wonderful appearance by Mickey Mouse himself.
So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy Parade. 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.
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March 14, 2014
In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of March 14, 2014
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In Case You Missed It!
Have you been watching the new Disney Festival of Fantasy footage with as much fervor as I have been? If so, here is some other fun you may have missed seeing this week! Lots of great stuff! Let me know your favorite in the comments!
In Case You Missed It – Disney News and Rumors
This fantastic excerpt called “Reaching My Autistic Son Through Disney” is a must read. It’s all about how Disney movies gave an autistic boy his voice. There are no words…just read.
Disney has made Fortune’s List of the World’s Most Admired Companies! Check out to see where it ranks and why.
Are you excited about the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? WESH shared the must try items found at the Outdoor Kitchens for this year’s Festival. (I also learned that according to executive chef, Jens Dahlmann, the Piggylicious bacon cupcake’s original name was going to be mancake….I think they made the right choice in changing that one.)
Disneyland being overrun by gangs? It’s not what you think. Unique social clubs are taking to the streets (like Main Street U.S.A.) And these clubs are more than welcoming. It’s an interesting look at a growing phenomenon.
Did you know that a helicopter flew over Disneyland late Wednesday night. Rumor has it, it may be related to a new addition to Soarin’ Over California. Intriguing. Guess we’ll have to wait to see what comes from this.
You guys have seen this, right? Dreamfinder is coming back! Ok…maybe not in the same form as once before, but thanks to Marvel and the new comic book series “Disney Kingdoms” we will get to see Dreamfinder in some form once again. Take a look! (Please oh please be popular enough to influence a refresh of the attraction with Dreamfinder back again…hey…a girl can dream, right? Also…I may have to start reading comic books…)
Have you got the entrepreneurial desire? I came across this interesting article called “5 Magical Tips Walt Disney Can Teach Entrepreneurs About Marketing.” It talks about how you can use aspects found in Disneyland to enhance your own business. There are some great tips that can really help.
We are one week out from Muppets Most Wanted. This week, Variety took a look at the resurgence of the lovable franchise and how they became a force in today’s society, yet again. (And thank God for Jason Segal’s role in that!)
If you grew up in the 90s, you remember when TV shows like “Family Matters,” “Roseanne,” “Boy Meets World,” and “Full House” filmed at Walt Disney World. (And thanks to constant re-runs, I was recently able to catch all of these episodes again!) Recently, it seems that some ABC shows are potentially getting back to that tradition. In 2012, we saw “Modern Family” at Disneyland, and this year, on “The Middle’” it appears they will be taking a trip to Walt Disney World. (I don’t watch this show, but I will be watching this episode for sure.)
Comcast doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Hear why they are super excited for what’s to come, starting this summer at Universal Orlando. The company also feels as though they have a lot of room to grow. (Especially if rumors are to be believed that they are already rapidly planning their next expansion projects to follow on the heels of Diagon Alley.) This article is a fascinating look at their mindset.
Happy St. Patrick’s Weekend! With the festivities taking place all around, how cool would it be to make and wear these ears? Darn it! Why am I not more crafty?
In Case We Missed It
What did we miss? Send your idea attached to the complete series of “Boy Meets World” (seriously…how awesome was this show? Also…cannot wait for the new “Girl Meets World” that’s going to air on Disney Channel this summer.) and send both to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.
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In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of March 14, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Photo Update: Universal Orlando’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Garden Bridge Construction
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Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Garden Bridge is under construction (photos by Seth Kubersky)
Last month, I brought you pre-construction photos of the pedestrian path that guests of the Cabana Bay Beach Resort will use to walk from Universal Orlando‘s newest hotel to CityWalk and the theme parks. Since then, I’ve received exciting new details on designs for the Cabana Bay Beach Resort Garden Walk, which will eventually supercede the existing sidewalks in the area.
The walking path on the north (westbound) side of Hollywood Way will have to serve temporarily for guests unwilling to take the provided shuttles buses during the hotel’s initial opening phase. The walk, which I documented in a video, is entirely navigable at this time with the exception of a crosswalk and traffic signal at the final intersection, which could be easily added before Cabana Bay’s first guests arrive at the end of March.
There are additional survey markers in this area since my last visit, but no other signs of major construction.
It’s a much different story on the south (eastbound) side of the street, were major work is already well under way on the permanent Cabana Bay Beach Resort Garden Bridge and path. This was the more ambitious of the two concepts for an elevated pedestrian connector, and appears to be the one they are currently building.
According to blueprints provided to me by an anonymous source, the Garden Bridge seen in this rendering will cross over Adventure Way, taking guests from near the entrance to Cabana Bay to a new garden path that will eventually connect with the exisiting Royal Pacific Resort walking path.
Universal will need to provide a way for guests walking along Hollywood Way to safely traverse the driveway of the Pacifica Ballroom, and the canal bridge near the Royal Pacific will be rebuilt to accomodate pedestrians near the point where the two paths merge.
Finally, a few new final tidbits of Cabana Bay information:
Parking will be only $10 per car per night, but there is no valet available.
Check-in time is 4:00 p.m.; check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
The fitness center will be themed to 20th-century fitness icon Jack LaLanne, including memorabilia and vintage workout shows on the televisions.
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Photo Update: Universal Orlando’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Garden Bridge Construction is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
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