Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1256
February 5, 2014
Frozen Meet And Greet News
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©Disney
With the huge success of Frozen, it’s obvious that people want to meet with Anna and Elsa. This popular meet and greet, found at the Princess Plass in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, has seen typical waits of 2-3 hours.
The last we heard, this meet and greet had been extended to last until January 31. Obviously, we are now in February, and the sisters are still meeting guests. The duo should continue to be located in the pavilion for the foreseeable future. (Though when looking at My Disney Experience, it appears that they are currently only scheduled out for a week at a time.)
Speaking of their schedule, according to Disney, their meet and greet times are changing. Starting on February 9, Anna and Elsa will be greeting guests starting at 9 a.m. and meeting up until 6 p.m. Hopefully this move will help with the two hour plus line. Previously the girls’ schedule would start at 11:00 a.m. The rest of their schedule was: 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 5:50 p.m., and 6:50 p.m. With this new schedule change, it now appears that Anna and Elsa will be meeting on a continuous basis. Be sure to check a Times Guide or the My Disney Experience app in case things change.
If your child really wants to see these characters, I suggest entering the park at opening (“rope drop”) and heading straight back to the Norway Pavilion.
We’ll keep you posted whenever we find out more about this extremely popular meet and greet.
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Disneyland Annual Passholder Sing Along Under the Stars Events Start Feb 5
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Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree (seen here with holiday decor) will host Disneyland Annual Passholder Sing Along Under The Stars in February.
Drive-in movie theaters are sadly a distant memory in most of America, and the majority of us can’t jump on a Disney cruise just to watch a flick while floating in the pool. But this month, Disneyland Annual Passholders have a unique interactive opportunity to experience a Disney “second golden age” classic outdoors under the Anaheim night sky, thanks to February’s Disneyland Annual Passholder Sing Along Under The Stars screenings at Frontierland’s Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.
Each week, a different animated musical film is shown, accompanied by hosted trivia and (of course) sing-along sections. Passholders even get free popcorn, coffee, and cocoa! The venue opens at 5:30 p.m., and the film starts at 6:30 p.m.. Space is limited, so secure a wristband by presenting your valid annual pass after 2 p.m. on the day of at Westward Ho! in Frontierland.
Here’s the schedule:
Beauty and the Beast: February 5 and 6, 2014
The Little Mermaid: February 12 and 13, 2014
Aladdin: February 19 and 20, 2014
The Lion King: February 26, 2014
It’s worth noting that events like these, which were formerly promoted under 2013′s “Limited Time Magic” banner, seem to have outlived that marketing campaign. You can find all the fine print on the Disneyland website.
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Celebrating Valentine’s Day at Walt Disney World
By Daisy Lauren
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It’s that time of year when the most magical place on Earth becomes the most romantic! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite ways to celebrate, starting with the simple and leading up to the more extravagant. Just in case you don’t make it all the way to the end, I want to wish you a very happy February 14 in advance! 
All photos from http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgif...
Picture Perfect: Anyone who has read my stuff before knows that I’m into photography in a big way. So I’m sure it isn’t surprising that taking pictures is high on my list. What better (and affordable) way to celebrate than to spend a day taking photos together with your favorite characters?
Light up the night: Call me a dork, but I swoon when my hubby buys me one of the light up toys that come out on carts in the parks after dark. Sneak off and buy your girls a light up rose – she just might love it!
Seaside Stroll: Ok, so it isn’t really the sea! But you can stroll around the Seven Seas Lagoon. Add in some fireworks from the Polynesian beach, and you have a recipe for romance!
Late night dip: Imagine heading back after a long day at Disney and taking a relaxing dip in the hotel Jacuzzi with your loved one. Great for sore muscles and bubbly snuggling!
A ride through the park: How about a horse drawn carriage ride through Port Orleans Riverside or the Fort Wilderness Campground? The cost is $64 per carriage, and it’s up to you if you want to share it with anyone other than your Valentine!
Dinner and a movie: Sounds too easy, right? But this is under one roof! At the AMC Dine In movie theater at Downtown Disney you can order refreshing drinks, yummy meals, and delectable desserts all from your movie theater seats. It can get busy, though. Be sure to order your tickets online in advance!
All photos from http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgif...
Order something sweet: Cakes are available for delivery at your Disney resort, or if you are staying off property you can order one to be picked up at the BoardWalk Bakery. If you don’t want a full cake, BabyCakes cupcakes are available at Downtown Disney, and they’re delicious!
Table for two: Of course, romantic dinners will be served all over Disney World! Jiko is our personal favorite, where we have spent many anniversaries and birthdays. High marks also go to San Angel Inn, Narcoossee’s, California Grill, and Artist Point. Be sure to make your reservations in advance!
Flowers for the lady: All kinds of gifts are available through the Disney Florist. This service is available at all Walt Disney World hotels and even some offsite properties. Be sure to ask if they can deliver to your location.
Run away with the circus: If you haven’t seen Cirque Du Soleil yet, then Valentine’s Day is as good an excuse as any! This is an amazing show that is 100% worth the hefty ticket price!
Culinary Indulgence: Victoria and Albert’s remains the only 5 diamond restaurant in Orlando – with the price tag to match! I’ve never been because my husband isn’t a foodie. I can’t imagine asking the chef for chicken fingers! If you and your loved one enjoy the finer things, this might be the treat for you!
All Photos from http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgif...
Shady Afternoon: Several of the Disney resorts rent out cabanas around the pool. They are available for full or half days and include a mini fridge of non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. If you and your sweetie like to hang out by the pool, this could be your perfect way to celebrate!
A Floating View: An IllumiNations Cruise is an amazing way to celebrate any occasion! You get a lovely boat ride and a better than front row view of the show. Also included are drinks and snacks!
A day of pampering: There are several spas all over Disney World that offer every service you could dream of, including couples massages! If I’m being honest, this isn’t my idea of fun, but I know several people that say the Disney spas are divine and worth the price.
I hope that if you were stuck thinking of what to do for Valentine’s Day this year that maybe you found an idea here. Did I miss your idea on my list? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below! I hope everyone has the best Valentine’s Day ever!
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February 4, 2014
The Ziti Sisters To Leave Epcot
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©Disney
The Ziti Sisters, a musical and comedy group that can be found in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion, will perform their final show on February 22.
The Sisters’ show is about 25 minutes in length and features audience participation in many of the dance performances, as well as in their skits. The show takes place in the main courtyard, and guests are able to recognize the Sisters because they all wear red dresses.
The Ziti Sisters’ remaining showtimes are on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. (These are, of course, subject to change.) Make sure to pick up a Times Guide or check Lines for exact showtimes.
Currently, there are no immediate plans to replace this show.
Have you ever caught The Ziti Sisters?
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Complete Guide to Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2014
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Universal Studios Mardi Gras Grand Celebration starts on Feb 8, 2014.
Today we tackle one of my favorite theme park topics: the annual Universal Studios Mardi Gras Grand Celebration. Universal’s Mardi Gras holds a special place in my heart because, back in the late 1990s when I worked in Universal Studios Florida’s entertainment department, I was a talent supervisor for the parade, and got to walk with it nightly. (I’ll never get “Iko Iko” or “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” out of my skull.) So I’m thrilled to share Touring Plans’ complete guide to Universal’s bead laden baccanalia, bringing you all the info you need to laissez les bons temps rouler!
Background
Mardi Gras originated in the religious observation of “Fat Tuesday” (the literal translation of the name), which is the day before “Ash Wednesday” on the Catholic calendar, and the start of Lent’s 40 days of dietary restrictions. People would bid “farewell to flesh” with a “carnivale” where they would indulge in the meat and drink they were about to forswear. Mardi Gras is the New Orleans, Louisiana, variation on this tradition — which is echoed in other cities from Venice, Italy to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Over the centuries, the religious significance has been stripped away, and most Mardi Gras revelers attend for strictly secular reasons — namely, epic quantities of booze, beads, and bare breasts. About 20 years ago, Universal took a look at the festivities and said, “This will make a fine family friendly event,” and amazingly it is — minus the bare breasts, of course. But that doesn’t mean it’s inauthentic; much as Universal partnered with Macy’s for its holiday parade, Universal engages Blaine Kern Studios, the same company that’s been building floats for the real deal since 1947, to create the park’s parade platforms. And musicians and recipes imported from the Big Easy add to the French Quarter feel. Of course, the real Bourbon Street doesn’t have concerts from big-name recording artists after each parade, much less a high-speed roller coaster cruising by in the background.
Schedule
For 2014, the Universal Studios Mardi Gras celebration has expanded to epic proportions, running all the way from February 8 (a week before the New Orleans parades step off), and not ending until May 31, nearly three months after the actual Mardi Gras holiday. But don’t show up expecting the party on just any night in that range; there are only parades and concerts on the following select nights:
Friday Nights: March 14, 21, 28
Saturday Nights: February 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 19; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Sunday Night: February 16
Admission
Unlike some other evening theme park events (like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights or Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Party), every night of Mardi Gras is free! Well, not exactly free (TANSTAAFL), but at least included in any valid form of of admission, including all levels of annual passes — even Power Passes that would otherwise be blocked out during spring break (April 12 & 19). There are also Florida Resident discounts available, including a $69 online-only Mardi Gras ticket for admission after 5 p.m.
Mardi Gras Parade
The parade is naturally the centerpiece of the Mardi Gras party, and Universal’s version has all the color and crazy characters of the original (only much more compact). Floats are updated every year with new themes, and the inspiration for 2014′s additions is Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days. But you can always count on the massive “King Gator” float making, along with other favorites like the multi-story Riverboat, to roll down Universal’s boulevards. The floats are each accompanied by dozens of strolling performers and stilt walkers, while costumed revelers ride upon them tossing colorful plastic beads to the crowds below.
Here’s a complete video of the 2013 Mardi Gras parade:
This year’s parade steps off from the Esoteric gate near the Horror Makeup Show, circles counter-clockwise past Music Plaza Stage, and exits the park near Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue:
The parade lasts around 25 minutes and generally begins around 7:15 p.m. Times may vary with operating hours, so check the park map for details. You can find good viewing anywhere along the parade route, and unless you insist on standing right up front, there’s no need to save your spot more than 10 or 15 minutes in advance.
Special reserved viewing areas are also available for Annual Passholders (near Mel’s Drive-In), American Express cardholders (near Finnegan’s), guests with disabilities (near Macy’s in New York), and young “Lil’ Jesters” and their families (near Terminator 2: 3-D).
If you really want to get in on the action, it’s possible to volunteer as a bead-tossing float rider. Annual Passholders can sign up for themselves and a guest online; you must RSVP at least one week in advance. American Express Cardholders who purchased their tickets with an AmEx can sign up to ride 90 minutes before each parade in KidZone. (This perk was available in 2013, but details for 2014 are not yet available). All riders must be at least 18 years old (or accompanied by an adult) and 48″ tall; space is limited and availability is not guaranteed.
Mardi Gras Concerts
Every event night, after the parade concludes at approximately 8:00 p.m., a big-name concert kicks off on Music Plaza Stage underneath the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster.
Lifehouse opening the 2013 Universal Studios Mardi Gras concert series.
Here’s the 2014 Universal Studios Mardi Gras concert lineup:
FEB 8 DAUGHTRY
FEB 15 BARENAKED LADIES
FEB 16 THOMAS RHETT
FEB 22 ROBIN THICKE
MAR 1 COLLECTIVE SOUL
MAR 8 PRINCE ROYCE
MAR 14 CODY SIMPSON
MAR 15 FOREIGNER
MAR 21 A GREAT BIG WORLD
MAR 22 GAVIN DEGRAW
MAR 28 TO BE ANNOUNCED
MAR 29 WEEZER
APR 5 SKILLET
APR 12 LYNYRD SKYNYRD
APR 19 KOOL & THE GANG
MAY 3 NELLY
MAY 10 THE WANTED
MAY 17 TO BE ANNOUNCED
MAY 24
CHER LLOYD
MAY 31 HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS
The concerts are standing-room only and first-come/first-served; crowds can be enormous, and folks sometimes start lining up shortly after park opening for the hottest acts. There is no extra-cost VIP area available, but there is an ADA accessible viewing section near the TWISTER restrooms. Large video screens broadcast the stage to those standing in the far back, so consider watching from the New York Battery Park area if you aren’t an uber-fan of the artist. And after the concert concludes, the Universal Cinematic Spectacular show lights up the central lagoon (approximately 10:00 p.m., see park map for details).
French Quarter Food and Fun
Chef Steve Jayson and his culinary team pride themselves on the authentic N’awlins flavors they bring to the French Quarter Courtyard, an area of temporary food and beverage booths set up in New York that opens at 4:00 p.m. each Mardi Gras event night.
Here’s a video interview from last year with Chef Jayson explaining his creole and Cajun culinary creations, which include jambalaya, gumbo, and beignets:
You can eat to the beat and enjoy live blues and zydeco musicians direct from Louisiana on the French Quarter stage. Universal started this tradition a decade ago to support New Orleans artists in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This year’s lineup is as follows:
FEB 8 REMEDY KREWE
FEB 15-16 SOUL PROJECT
FEB 22 ROCKIN’ JAKE
MAR 1 BIG AL & THE HEAVYWEIGHTS
MAR 8 DADDY MACK BLUES BAND
MAR 14-15 MISSISSIPPI RAIL COMPANY
MAR 21-22 THE BIG EASY PLAYBOYS
MAR 28-29 DIRTY BOURBON RIVER SHOW
APR 5 JOHN LISI AND DELT FUNK
APR 12 BETH MCKEE & THE SLIDERS
APR 19 GRAVY MAY 3CHRIS O’LEARY
MAY 10 T BIRD & THE BREAKS
MAY 17 GRADY CHAMPION
MAY 24 CHA WA
MAY 31 NAUGHTY PROFESSOR
CityWalk After Party
If you don’t want to stop the fun after the park shuts down, CityWalk’s seven clubs offer free admission to all park ticket-holders (including annual Passholders) after every Mardi Gras concert.
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February 3, 2014
PotterWatch: Diagon Alley Peep Holes and Celebration Recap
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Diagon Alley peep holes, Celebration videos, and Gringotts rumors in the latest PotterWatch report
It’s been just over a week since Universal Orlando‘s big Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley webcast reveal, but there are still plenty of surprises in store. For this edition of PotterWatch, we’ll take a look through the new Diagon Alley peep holes that Universal considerately cut in the London Waterfront’s construction wall, plus a look back at the recent Celebration of Harry Potter event via some exclusive video. Finally, we’ll finish up with a few hot new Gringotts rumors.
Diagon Alley Peep Holes
With major construction complete on Diagon Alley’s London Waterfront facade, and the scaffolding recently removed, I had feared there wouldn’t be much left to see in terms of exterior progress on the project.
Fortunately, Universal kindly added some Diagon Alley peep holes, cleverly themed as iconic red British Telecom phone booths, so that we can observe continued construction on the area that will serve as portal to the new Wizarding World expansion.
The view through the Diagon Alley peep hole near San Francisco.
Leicester Square Station has its signage.
Here’s the view from the second peep hole near Fear Factor Live:
A Celebration of Harry Potter Video Recap
Last week’s Celebration of Harry Potter fan event packed the parks with robe-clad wizards eager to hear from the stars and designers behind the beloved series. In case you weren’t able to attend our missed our live-tweeting coverage, here’s a video recap of some of the weekend’s highlights:
Celebration of Harry Potter Tribute show with film stars
Wand Dueling Choreography Master Class with Paul Harris
Rumor Round-Up
This week, fellow Touring Plans correspondent Derek Burgan and I joined the Orlando United podcast to talk Wizarding World rumors with HateToFly and the rest of the OU crew. Here’s a couple juicy highlights, just in case you don’t have time to listen to the entire epic 2 1/4 hour show:
There will NOT be any actual fire effects or animatronic dragons inside the Gringotts ride.
Knockturn Alley may include interactive window effects (like a skeleton that falls apart and can be reassembled one bone at a time) triggered by new electronic wands.
During the Gringotts ride, your vehicle will be attacked by giant trolls (not goblins, as erroneously reported on another website) that will shake your car.
The Gringotts ride climax (“scene 7″) features a 360-degree video dome, Kuka robotic arms, and a tire-driven launch.
There is at least one more store located in Diagon Alley (between the ice cream shop and the north train station) that has not yet been revealed.
Subscribe to our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar to get the best Universal Orlando wait-time data and touring plans, and check back soon for the next Wizarding World of Harry Potter construction update!
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Seahawks MVP Malcolm Smith is “Going To Disney World”
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©Disney
I think we all knew early on while watching the big game last night, that a Seahawks player would be heading to Walt Disney World, but the question at the time was who. Linebacker Malcolm Smith was honored as MVP of the game and he continued the tradition of shouting “I’m Going To Disney World” for the cameras after Seattle’s big win.
If you are in Walt Disney World today, you’ll be able to catch Malcolm Smith at the Magic Kingdom during a special parade in his honor. For those who want to experience this momentous occasion and cheer on a Seahawks win, the parade is scheduled to kick off on Main Street U.S.A. at 2 p.m. (Of course, that is subject to change.)
A few fun facts about this year’s famous commercial. This is the first time ever a defensive player has ever starred in the famous commercial. Also, the spot features a brand new track of “When You Wish Upon A Star” which was recorded by Idina Menzel (the voice of Elsa in Frozen). She becomes the first contemporary artist to perform the song in the Disney Parks Super Bowl ad.
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Walt Disney World Crowd Report – January 26 to February 1, 2014
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Our predictions performed very well this week with no predictions missing by more than 2 index points. Crowds were very light with the resort-wide numbers staying below average all week as predicted until Saturday when we saw a level ’5′.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up day-to-day.
The Crowd Report
The Walt Disney World Crowd Report
January 26, 2014 to February 1, 2014
Magic Kingdom had the highest crowd level of the four parks on Sunday although it stayed at a level ’5′ on our scale. Pirates of the Caribbean was the only surprise at the flagship park with a 24-minute average posted time, 5 minutes higher than expected. Big Thunder was less crowded than expected with only a 35-minute average. Epcot and The Studios came in as the least crowded parks at a level ’3′ while Animal Kingdom was in the middle with a level ’4′.
Animal Kingdom reached a level ’2′ on Monday and that was the only crowd level that wasn’t a ’3′. Resort-wide we had a ’3′ as well as at Magic Kingdom, Epcot and The Studios. Our predictions were all accurate within 1-index level except for Epcot where we had predicted a ’1′. Most of the park was a level ’1′ but Mission: Space (Green) had posted times that averaged 23 minutes between 10am and 5pm, much higher than normal for an off-season day. If you visited Epcot on Monday you should have been able to tour very efficiently.
Three (3) was the number of the day on Tuesday as well with all crowd levels coming in at a level ’3′, this time including Animal Kingdom. The only attractions that averaged higher than our predictions were Test Track at Epcot (58 minutes, predicted 30) and Tower of Terror (26 minutes, predicted 18).
In retrospect, Wednesday’s crowd levels may have been the least crowded day of the last 12 months. We predicted ’1′s and ’2′s across the resort and that is exactly what happened. In fact, all parks were a level ’1′ with Epcot as the only exception, a level ’2′. A resort-wide level ’1′ is a relatively rare event on our Crowd Calendar, normally reserved for low crowds of September, early January or days with particularly poor weather. Wednesday’s Extra Magic Hour morning at Animal Kingdom was so un-crowded that no attraction averaged posted times more than 15 minutes!
Despite Thursday’s cool temperatures, crowds were slightly more crowded than Wednesday. Still very much below average however, with no level reaching higher than ’2′. Animal Kingdom stayed at a level ’1′ again and even the Extra Magic Hour morning at Magic Kingdom wasn’t enough to push average posted times above 40 minutes (Peter Pan’s Flight – 40 minutes). Space Mountain averaged 16 minutes and Big Thunder 23 minutes.
Crowds started to build on Friday as predicted, with Magic Kingdom averaging posted times high enough for a level ’6′ on our scale. Epcot was the second most crowded park at a level ’4′ while The Studios and Animal Kingdom remained uncrowded at a level ’2′. Toy Story Mania averaged 63 minutes on Friday, one of the lowest averages you’ll see all year at that attraction.
Saturday brought the highest resort-wide crowd level of the week, a level ’5′ on our scale with the highest wait times of the week for Animal Kingdom (6), The Studios (5) and Magic Kingdom (5). Saturday was the only day this week where we missed two predictions by more than one level. We predicted a 4 at Animal Kingdom and a 3 at The Studios.
What to Expect This Week
February 2 to 8, 2014
Presidents Day week at Walt Disney World will bring large crowds to the resort, starting around Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 14th. Between now and then we expect the low crowds to continue with ’1′s, ’2′s and ’3′s dominating the calendar in the first half of February.
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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February 2, 2014
Should You Stay Off Property At Disney World?
By Daisy Lauren
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Where to stay during your Disney World vacation is a long debated topic with no right or wrong answer. Before moving here I was a 100% Disney purist, horrified at even the thought of stepping foot off Disney property. But after moving to Orlando and working in the travel industry I realized there are some excellent options if you are brave enough to venture off property. Today I’m outlining some things to think about before choosing to stay off property on your next trip.
Beware “scheduled” transportation: Many properties in Kissimmee and throughout Lake Buena Vista offer what they call scheduled shuttles to the parks. What they don’t tell you is that this is often a single shuttle in the morning and evening to each park, meaning that you likely will have to arrive late or leave early to make this one shuttle. The shuttle is also commonly shared with other hotels and crammed, packed full. Be sure that you understand the shuttle service offered prior to booking if you’ll need transportation to the parks.
Believe me – you don’t want to walk from here!
You cannot walk: I know this seems pretty obvious but I can tell you from working in hotels that it’s common for guests to think they can just walk to Disney from offsite hotels. This is because hotels advertise their distance to “Disney’s Maingate”. By definition a maingate is the arch that you drive under to enter Disney property… which can be miles from an actual Disney park! There is not a single non-Disney hotel where you can walk to a park.
Renting a car: Personally, I can’t imagine staying off property without renting a car (or using your personal car if you’re driving to get here). The shuttles offered by offsite hotels have never worked for me and I need the freedom to come and go as I please. The cost of renting this car should be weighed with the cost of an onsite room at Disney. Also, remember that if you don’t have an annual pass you will have to pay for parking when staying off Disney property. That really adds up at a minimum of $15 a day!
Transit time: The time to get back and forth to your hotel can be longer when staying off property. However, I’ve found this evens out when you have a car. The time that you would be standing around waiting for a bus is the time you spend driving a little further.
Load up on freebies: A big plus of staying off property are all the included services that you have to pay for at a Disney hotel. Look for bonuses like free breakfast, happy hours, welcome gifts, lobby snacks, manager receptions, and Wi-Fi.
Watch out for extra charges: However, the good comes with the bad. Watch out for resort fees, parking fees, safe fees, or even cleaning fees or pool heat charges with vacation rentals.
Visiting other parks: If you plan to visit other attractions while in the Orlando area it can be nice to stay somewhere more central. Of course, everyone thinks of SeaWorld and Universal Orlando but there are also tons of other things to do. You’re only an hour from the Kennedy Space Center, LEGOLAND Florida, and you can’t forget Gatorland! With driving a little further you can visit Busch Gardens Tampa. Having a car is a must for this as taxi fees mount quickly and public transportation in Florida is pretty terrible.
Where’s the magic: An undeniable downside is that to stay off property you have to leave the Disney bubble and enter the real world at the end of the day. With the creation of Disney’s Magical Express you never have to experience that when staying on Disney property. You really have to weigh the value of that vs. savings and other amenities.
The pool at the Hyatt Grand Cypress
Photo Credit: http://grandcypress.hyatt.com/
Oh, but those amenities: I have found that off property hotels offer more and prices are normally 50% less. This is especially true with vacation home rentals where you can have all the comforts of home plus your very own pool! It sounds too good to be true, but there are thousands of homes for rent in the area at nearly the same cost as an on site hotel room. Doing a quick online shop I found a very nice two bedroom condo at Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club for $75 less per night than the Dolphin at Walt Disney World. Knowing both properties well, I can tell you the condo is a much better value!
Staying together: Another option in a larger vacation rental is several families staying together in a one home. This further reduces the cost and gives everyone more time together. But then again, I suppose that can be the down side too! 
The things you can’t buy: However, by staying offsite you give up Extra Magic Hours. While these can be hit or miss there are other benefits you might miss more. The theming of Disney hotels completely blows away other hotels in the area. Package delivery is also exclusively available to onsite guests to deliver your purchases back to your room. While the value is questionable, Disney Dining Plans are also only available to onsite guests.
But you can still visit: Remember even when you stay off property you are always welcome to visit your favorite resorts. We love resort hopping to try different restaurants or to check out the decor. This is especially fun around the holidays. While there are limits (you certainly can’t go for a dip in the pool) there are still plenty of fun things offered at the on site hotels that you can enjoy.
Don’t forget your furry friends: Some vacations aren’t complete without our pets and sadly Disney doesn’t offer a single pet friendly hotel. (I’m omitting the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds because camping isn’t really a hotel.) Be sure to check out your off property options if you plan to bring your best friend. Of course, Disney does offer Best Friends Pet Care which I have personally toured and the facility is flawless. I’d even let my very spoiled pooches stay there!
So there are some of the things to consider before venturing off property at Disney World. Did I miss anything that you’d like to add? Did I point out something you might not have thought of yet? Do you have any questions or would you like more information on anything? Please let me know in the comments – I’d love to help! As always thanks so much for reading!
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February 1, 2014
10 Reasons to Book Your Disney Cruise Early
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Well, the rumors are strong right now that the release of the rest of 2015 Disney Cruise Line itineraries is imminent. There’s no predicting what lies in the minds of Disney executives, but there is a precedent for this. The summer and fall itineraries for 2014 came out the second week of February in 2013. And, the summer itineraries for 2013 came out the last week of January in 2012. So it’s time folks!
The million-dollar question for cruisers is – book now or wait? Well, Touring Plans has created an ingenious tool to help you decide – the Fare Tracker! The Fare Tracker tracks historical prices of itineraries and dates. Were the prices lowest on the first day of booking, or was there a last minute sale? Did the prices stay the same? Or go up faster than Carl’s house once it was attached to the balloons in Up? If you are currently eyeing a specific itinerary and date, go look at what happened to the prices of a similar cruise over the last few years. You may feel like you can wait a while! But if you’re torn on booking early, here are some reasons you may want to consider it.
1. Good Prices – After just a few minutes of checking out the Fare Tracker, you’ll see that some prices are almost certainly going up. New itineraries, holiday sailings, and summer sailings are good examples. Some cruises go up hundreds of dollars from opening-day prices, sometimes in a matter of hours on opening day. If your cruise is predicted to go up, you should seriously consider booking the day, no the moment, it’s released for booking.
2. Connecting Rooms Are Available – It’s not surprising that on a family-oriented cruise line, connecting rooms are in high demand. And all rooms do not connect! The classic ships were not built with nearly enough connecting rooms and they frequently disappear quickly on opening day. Disney recognized their mistake and built the Dream and Fantasy with more connecting rooms. They also added some doors to make more rooms connect on the Magic during its re-imagineering this fall. Still, they are a limited supply. If connecting rooms are important, or essential if you’re splitting up your immediate family, book early!
3. “Secret” Categories Are Available – What goes faster than connecting rooms? Secret rooms! Of course there’s no secret that they’re there, but you may not know that they’re better than advertised! As I discussed in a previous blog post, the Magic and Wonder both have some oceanview rooms that are categorized as inside rooms because of obstructions. Some of the rooms classified as navigator rooms are actually normal, open verandahs with slight obstructions. Since these secret rooms aren’t well kept secrets, they book up quickly. Get them fast!
4. More Availability in All Categories – Forget connecting rooms and secret rooms, booking early gives you the best selection of any category. If you’re after a specific category or location, this is your chance. Maybe you would like a mini-suite oceanview room on the Dream and Fantasy like some category 8A’s are laid out? Maybe you want the huge verandahs many 5E’s have? Act quick!
5. Main Dining – Main (early) dining always fills up more quickly than late dining. I’m very hesitant to use words like always, but trust me. Always. I have never tried to book late dining and found it full and had to go with early. Main dining is almost always full at some point before sailing. If you booked late and want early dining, don’t give up! The waitlist frequently works (or you can often change your dining time once onboard the ship if you ask early). But if you want to be sure to get it, book earlier rather than later.
6. Payments – Are you a spender or a saver? If you’re a saver, you probably don’t need #6. I’m sure you will diligently save your money and be all ready to pay it off when your final payment date comes. For the spenders out there, (yes dear, I’m looking in the mirror) having more time to pay it off may be a good idea. Disney only requires a deposit and the final payment, but you can make as many payments in between as you would like. If you (or your spouse) are afraid you’ll spend the vacation money as quickly as you make it, book a cruise far in the future and make some intermediate payments! If you need to, tell your travel agent to make a payment every month! Don’t leave it up to your own (spending) hands!
7. You May Still Be Able to Get Specials – Booking early doesn’t necessarily rule you out from all specials. Before you are in the penalty phase of booking (usually 75 days out depending on the itinerary), everything is changeable. If a special like Kids Sail Free comes out and you aren’t in penalty, you can switch over. If you’re in it, sometimes you can cancel and rebook and still save money. Currently, some discounts can be applied to existing reservations no matter how close they are. For example, Florida-Resident Rates can be applied at any point, even after final payment. So even if you book, keep watching!
8. If the Rate Should Go Down You Can Adjust – Rarely, very rarely, the price of a cruise will go down. Usually it’s because Disney over anticipates demand for a sailing and raises the prices too quickly. If something like that should happen, you should be able to adjust your price (but don’t expect Disney to call you offering a lower price, you will have to keep watching the prices).
9. Some Cruises Do Sell Out – Some cruises really do sell out. Actually, most sell out by sailing time, but some sell out really early. If you are set on a date, especially during a popular time, don’t risk it. Book it!
10. You aren’t Locked In – The good news is, you aren’t taking a huge risk by booking early. If you aren’t booking concierge or a special sailing (e.g. an inaugural sailing), your deposit is completely refundable until you enter that penalty phase! If your plans change, you can cancel or rebook! You’re not locked in!
So how about you? Are you planning on booking on opening day?
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