Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1258

January 27, 2014

A Glimpse at the Outdoor Kitchens for Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchen

©Disney

Last year, at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, Disney introduced the Garden Marketplaces, which offered up small bites of delectable treats and beverages with a focus on fresh ingredients. For 2014, they will be returning under a new name – Outdoor Kitchens.

The booths are similar to what you would see at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival booths. This year, there will be eleven kitchens total, all found around the World Showcase Promenade.

Quite a few booths will be returning from last year, such as the Florida Fresh booth and The Smokehouse. There is also a handful of new stops, including Urban Farm Eats.

Here is the full list of all the Outdoor Kitchens that will be featured during this year’s festival:

Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico Pavilion)

Enjoy flavors like savory tacos and fruity cocktails.

Lotus House (China Pavilion)

Dine on a variety of Chinese cuisine, like popular street foods and pearl tapioca bubble tea.

Florida Fresh (Germany Pavilion)

Savor fresh Florida ingredients that are grown and produced locally.

Primavera Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)

Sample some of this country’s many flavors like caprese, manicotti, torte di ricotta and Italian wines.

The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews (American Adventure Pavilion)

Celebrate the truly American tradition of barbeque, paired with craft brews from across the country.

Hanami (Japan Pavilion)

Hanami is a traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers. Take in the gorgeousness while enjoying delicate bites and refreshing beverages.

Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco Pavilion)

Discover the tastes on North African spices which will be paired with fresh ingredients, as well as Moroccan beer and wine.

Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion)

Indulge your senses in France’s most magnificent culinary masterpieces.

Buttercup Cottage (United Kingdom Pavilion)

Delight in afternoon tea offerings and fresh garden flavors.

Pineapple Promenade (Canada Pavilion)

Eat up (quite literally) as you try all kinds of treats featuring delicious and juicy pineapples.

Urban Farm Eats

Taste treats from this booth’s all natural menu, with dishes that have been cultivated entirely from the soil.

Specific menus have not yet been released, but we’ll keep you posted when they are!

The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is scheduled to run from March 5 – May 18, 2014.

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Published on January 27, 2014 17:31

Walt Disney World Crowd Report – January 19 to January 25, 2014

By Fred Hazelton

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Our expectation that Martin Luther King Jr. holiday crowds would flatten out by Wednesday turned out to be correct last week. The parks stayed at or below average most of the week after the holiday with only a few exceptions. Predictions were accurate within our expectations although Tower of Terror at The Studios showed possible signs of operational issues. We have seen that during periods of low attendance Tower of Terror might shut down one elevator shaft thereby inflating the posted wait times.

Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up day-to-day.

The Walt Disney World Crowd Report

January 19, 2014 to January 25, 2014

Sunday, January 19, 2014

As predicted, crowds on Sunday represented the peak of the Holiday weekend with a resort-wide level ’8′ on our scale. Magic Kingdom was the only park that didn’t reach a level ’8′ even though it hosted Extra Magic Hour Evening. It was a ’7′ thanks to slightly lower than expected waits at most attractions. Even The Studios hit a level ’8′ despite our prediction of ’5′ although Star Tours and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster both had wait times higher than expected.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Crowds faded slightly on Holiday Monday compared to the weekend. Resort-wide we observed a level ’7′ on our scale. Magic Kingdom and Epcot were a ’6′ while The Studios hit one level higher (7) and Animal Kingdom, which hosted Extra Magic Hour morning, one level higher still (8). We predicted a level ’6′ at Animal Kingdom but it was higher than expected wait times at Kilimanjaro Safaris (57 minutes, we predicted 44) and Kali River Rapids (17 minutes, we predicted 11) that pushed the park level up two notches.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Tuesday’s crowds were significantly lighter as the Holiday rush subsided. The Studios hit lower than expected wait times with a park level ’3′, we predicted ’6′. Elsewhere, our predictions were accurate within 1 index level including a resort-wide level ’4′, we predicted ’5′. Magic Kingdom was a ’6′ (predicted ’5′), Epcot a ’5′ (predicted ’6′) and Animal Kingdom a ’3′ as predicted. Interestingly, Tower of Terror peaked 20 minutes higher than we predicted although all other attractions at The Studios were lower than expected. This may be an indication that only one of Tower of Terror’s elevator shafts was operational for part of the day.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Lower than average crowds continued on Wednesday including a level ’3′ at Magic Kingdom (we predicted ’5′). The resort-wide crowd level was a ’4′ as predicted while at the other parks we saw ’4′s all-around as well. For reference, the level ’3′ at Magic Kingdom included a 42-minute average at Peter Pan’s Flight, a 31-minute average at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and a 7-minute average at Pirates of the Caribbean. Be careful when you see a low crowd level on our scale, it doesn’t mean that the parks are empty, only that the wait times are below average. In some cases, those averages can be very high.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

We expected a dip in resort-wide crowds on Thursday that didn’t quite happen although we did have below average wait times at Epcot, The Studios and Animal Kingdom as predicted. We predicted Magic Kingdom to have the highest level while it hosted Extra Magic Hour morning which turned out correct (level ’5′). Both Epcot (3) and The Studios (4) came in two levels higher than predicted. Again, Tower of Terror had much higher than expected wait times (71 minutes, predicted 29) making us suspicious that one shaft may have been affected.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Our predictions of ’3′ at The Studios and Animal Kingdom were accurate on Friday. The Magic Kingdom was a ’4′, two levels lower than predicted while Epcot came in one level higher than predicted (5). Resort-wide we saw no park reach a level above average so the lower crowds of late January seem to be continuing.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Only Animal Kingdom peaked above average on Saturday with a level ’6′ (we predicted ’4′). Magic Kingdom (predicted ’6′) and The Studios (predicted ’3′) both reached a level ’5′ on our scale while Epcot stayed below average at a level ’4′, as predicted. Tower of Terror did have an average posted time higher than expected but not significantly so. We expected an average of 26 minutes but observed an average of 36.

What to Expect This Week

January 26 to February 1, 2014

Late January continues to be a perennial low for Walt Disney World crowds. The first holiday bump in attendance is complete and we expect below average wait times until the next bump in attendance which will arrive mid-February. The NFL’s Super Bowl weekend is being hosted in the North East so we expect crowds at Disney parks to be unaffected.

To see Walt Disney World Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar. Crowd Calendar Example

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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Published on January 27, 2014 14:39

FastPass+ Testing To Begin For Annual Passholders

By Rikki Niblett

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©Disney

Annual Passholders have been waiting (some patiently, most impatiently) for the day when FastPass+ testing for them would begin. It appears that AP holders will now have this opportunity, beginning in the next few weeks. This test is very limited, and Passholders will be selected at random to participate.

The test will allow Annual Passholders to test MyMagic+ by making advance FastPass+ reservations, using My Disney Experience, and customizing MagicBands.

Like other tests, the Passholders who are selected for the trial will be able to make 3 FastPass+ reservations at a single park per day. Those testing the system will be able to make FastPass+ selections by using either the My Disney Experience app or by stopping at a FastPass+ kiosk. Passholders will be able to make up to seven days of FastPass+ selections over a continuous 60 day time period.

In addition, participating Passholders will receive a discount card. This card must be used (along with a photo ID) to receive a Passholder discounts. Cards will either be black or gold. The gold card indicates complimentary parking is included. The black card indicates that the guest has no complimentary parking.

Once selected for the program, Annual Passholders should then have the ability to customize and order MagicBands and be able to use them in the parks.

A roll out for all Annual Passholders is expected to take place within the coming months. For more information, visit the Passholder information page.

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Published on January 27, 2014 08:54

Where To Find The Cheapest Disney World Tickets

By Len Testa

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Every night we check the price of Disney World tickets sold by Disney and the most popular discount Disney ticket wholesalers Undercover Tourist, The Official Ticket Center, Kissimmee Guest Services, Maple Leaf Tickets, and Orlando Fun Tickets.

We use these prices in our Least Expensive Ticket Calculator, a search engine for Disney World tickets, that we’ve programmed to find you the cheapest Disney admission for whatever you want to do. For example, the Calculator knows that if you only want to visit a Disney water park once, a 1-day admission to the water park is usually cheaper than the Water Park Fun and More add-on.

The Ticket Calculator’s job is to hide the complexity of reading hundreds of vendor prices and admission options. The Ticket Calculator also takes into account sales tax and shipping, which some vendors don’t show until the last step in the checkout process, so it’s a true apples-to-apples comparison between all the vendors.

Sometimes it’s useful to see in one chart which vendors are selling the cheapest Disney World tickets. The images below show who’s got the cheapest Disney World tickets for adults and children ages 3-9, for 1 to 10 days of admission, including all combinations of Disney’s Park Hopper, Water Park Fun and More, and No Expiration options. (Sorry about the table formatting – did the best I could.)

A couple of things stand out:

If you’re going to Disney World for 1 or 2 days, then your best option is to buy your tickets directly from Disney. No ticket wholesaler is going to beat Disney’s prices. (The 1-day ticket price shown is for the Magic Kingdom. Admission to the other parks is slightly less expensive, and still cheaper from Disney than anywhere else.)
For Disney World tickets of 3 or more days, however, you’ll always save money buying from a ticket wholesaler.
The Official Ticket Center sells the cheapest tickets for 58 of the 64 different Disney World admission options of 3+ days. Orlando Fun Tickets offers the best deals on 10-day Disney World tickets with the add-on options. And Undercover Tourist is competitive with some 4- and 6-day ticket options.

Prices are for 1 of the ticket type shown. Because some vendors add shipping costs to each order, the vendor who’s got the cheapest cost for 1 ticket may not be the least expensive option for 2 or more tickets. Use the Least Expensive Ticket Calculator if you’re buying more than one ticket.

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Published on January 27, 2014 04:51

Trip Planning 101: Celebrating at Disney World

By Erin Foster

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Your birthday! Your anniversary! Your graduation! Your retirement! Your recovery! Your promotion! Your reunion! Your return from service! Your new baby! Your college acceptance! Your big win! Your engagement! Your honeymoon! Your new job!

Those are just a few of the reasons people celebrate. And they’re also some of the reasons people celebrate at Walt Disney World.

When I answer questions for the Disney Park Moms Panel, one of the most frequently asked types of questions is, “I’m celebrating X event at Walt Disney World. What can I do to make it special?” Indeed, celebrating is so much a part of the Disney zeitgeist, that they even made “What Will You Celebrate?” the focus of Walt Disney World’s primary marketing theme in 2009 and 2010.

So what’s the answer? How can you make a celebration special at Walt Disney World?

MAYBE THE TRIP IS THE CELEBRATION

Please consider that you need not jump through any magical hoops to make a Disney celebration special. A trip to Walt Disney World is special all by itself. Space Mountain and a hug from Mickey! Seriously, life really can’t get much better than that. If you’re celebrating something for a child or a first-time guest, just walking through the front gates of the Magic Kingdom will make them feel on top of the world. Indeed, for a sensitive or easily overwhelmed youngster, a fancy to-do may be counterproductive, resulting in tears all around.

OK, MAYBE YOU WANT A JUST LITTLE BIT OF SPECIAL ATTENTION

Disney has long offered free buttons to guests as a way to publicly proclaim that they’re having a special day. These buttons are available at the guest relations offices at each park. Additionally, they usually have a supply at the hotel check-in desks and at general ticket sales windows. (Please be aware that the free buttons are NOT the same thing as the for-purchase trading pins.)

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The “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It” parade at the Magic Kingdom acknowledges the great number of guests who are celebrating something at Walt Disney World.

Buttons come in may styles and periodically change, but currently the easiest to find are:

First Visit
Happy Birthday
I’m Celebrating (with a blank to fill in the occasion)
Happy Anniversary
Family Reunion
Just Engaged
Happily Ever After.

These buttons don’t confer any special priorities, but they do let cast members and other guests know that you’re having a special day. You’ll likely get lots of extra smiles. Tom Bricker gives more great insight into birthday buttons in the post Celebrating Your Birthday at Disney.

If you want to take things up one notch further, you should make a point to tell EVERY cast member you encounter that it’s your special day, this includes cast you speak to when making room and dining reservations. Nothing is guaranteed (really, I mean it), but it’s not uncommon for birthday or anniversary celebrants to get small perks like free cupcake at dinner, a commemorative certificate, or a balloon in your room.

My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary at Walt Disney World last summer. We received a gift basket from the Disney Vacation Club in our room (which was booked using our DVC points), two glasses of champagne at Victoria & Albert’s, two glasses of champagne at Citrico’s, and a free berry cobbler dessert at Artist Point. At V&A’s and Citrico’s our menus were printed with our names and an anniversary greeting.

This is likely a high average response from Disney to a guest’s celebration. I’ve heard of guests in similar situations who received nothing and others who have received room upgrades, comped meals, and featured roles in parades. Again, the key is to tell everyone about your special day (especially any reservationist), expect nothing, and be pleasantly surprised if some love comes your way.

We got a special dessert message on our anniversary.

IT’S NOT A PARTY WITHOUT A CAKE?

Your first instinct when planning a celebration is to order a cake. If that’s what you want to do, Disney has a special hotline set up for just this purpose. A cake hotline. Why does this not exist in the real world? To order, call 407-827-CAKE (407-827-2253). Vegan, gluten-free, and other allergy-friendly cakes may be ordered through the BabyCakes NYC outpost at Downtown Disney.

Not to be a killjoy, but I’m going to ask you to think out of the box with me for a minute here and say maybe you don’t actually want or need a cake, even for a birthday. This goes double if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan. Here’s my thinking … First, there are desserts at Walt Disney World that are far more delicious and delightful than a plain old slab of cake. I’d rather have crepes from Chefs de France, ‘Smores from the ’50s Prime Time Diner, or the bread pudding at ‘Ohana. Slip your server a birthday candle and they’ll bring it out singing. Also, if you’re on the Dining Plan, your meal comes with dessert. Do you want cake on top of that? The answer may be yes, but I’m asking you to think about it.

My point is, do something different. Try to conquer the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream. Have Dole Whip for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sample every kind of fudge at the Main Street Confectionery. The more off-the-wall your sweet treat is, the more your special someone will remember the celebration.

We ordered a birthday cake, but never ate it. It was just too much food.

DECORATE YOUR ROOM

A great way to add oomph to your celebration is to decorate your hotel room. You can do this with streamers and balloons brought from home. When my family spent our first Christmas at Walt Disney World, I purchased several small artificial trees at Target, and we brought them on the trip and decorated them at the hotel together. Some guests also decorate the outside of their hotel room door. I’m personally not a fan of this, but it doesn’t bother most others.

If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer you can enlist the help of the Disney Floral and Gift team. These dreammakers can be found online or at 407-WDW-GIFT. They have a number of room decorating packages available. They can also customize a basket for you. If you have something very specific in mind, get on the phone and speak to someone directly.

NEXT STEPS

Beyond these basics, the best way to “plus up” a Disney trip to make it a Disney CELEBRATION trip is to take an honest assessment of the person or event you’re celebrating. For example, my family celebrated my twins’ sixth birthday at Walt Disney World. At the time, the were relatively indifferent to many of the rides at WDW, but were completely obsessed with meeting the characters. To make their day extra special, we booked not one, not two, but three character meals for that day: breakfast at the Crystal Palace, lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table, and dinner at Chef Mickey’s. Obviously this was faaaar more food than we needed to consume, but it was the very best thing their first grade minds could imagine, so we indulged. And seven years later, they still talk about it.

Just because “women like spas,” or “men like sports,” doesn’t mean that’s what you should automatically turn to for your celebration indulgence. Take the time to talk with your special someone about what their wildest dreams are. If the celebration is meant to be a surprise, you can be oblique about this, or enlist a trusted friend to do some sleuthing for you. For example, if my husband sent me to a Disney spa for my birthday, I might feel awkward or uncomfortable, but if he brought me a bouquet of those fancy Mickey balloons they sell on Main Street (something I’ve always wanted but never had), I might possibly faint from bliss. This is truly at time when it’s the thought that counts.

Some guests decorate the door to their room when they’re celebrating.

To get your thought process rolling, below are some ideas about activities you can add to your Walt Disney World vacation that will increase the celebration factor. Please note that while some of these ideas are quite expensive (tours, private events), many of them are inexpensive (personalized Mickey ears), or even free (watch Wishes from the beach).

ROMANTIC CELEBRATIONS

On your honeymoon, proposing, celebrating an anniversary? Here are some ideas to put the romance in your trip:

Take a horse-drawn carriage ride at Port Orleans or Fort Wilderness.
Have the Disney Florist send two dozen red roses to your room.
Book a dinner at the posh Victoria & Albert’s restaurant.
Order in room service, then place the do-not-disturb sign on your door.
Grab a blanket or extra towels and watch the Wishes fireworks presentation from the beach at the Contemporary.
Book a private fireworks cruise.
Snuggle into an arcade photo booth for some mid-kiss portraits.
Win your sweetie a prize at Animal Kingdom’s Fossil Fun Games in DinoLand, U.S.A.
Enjoy a couple’s massage.
Go for a midnight swim in your resort’s Quiet Pool.
Sit in the backseat of a car with a fancy drink and watch campy movie clips at the Sci-Fi Dine-In.
Drop the kids at a Disney child-care center and sneak back to your room for some alone time.
Take the Characters in Flight balloon ride at Downtown Disney to get a bird’s eye view of the world. (Just don’t drop the ring if you’re proposing.)
Arrange a vow renewal with Disney Weddings.
Offer to let your sweetie sleep in, while you take the kiddos to the park.

Even some thing small, like Magic Kingdom balloons, can add a festive air to a celebration.

ADULT FUN CELEBRATIONS

Celebrating a milestone birthday, college graduation, or military retirement? Here are some ideas for adults looking to celebrate:

Drink around the World Showcase at Epcot.
Spend a day at the Saratoga Springs Resort spa.
Take a backstage tour at the Magic Kingdom.
Book a suite or stay in a nicer resort than you usually do.
Dine in a Signature Restaurant.
Invite a surprise guest.
Create a special Touring Plan, using only the guest of honor’s favorite rides.
Plan a shopping spree.
Stay at the park until the very end.
Go parasailing or waterskiing at the Contemporary.
Get tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba at Downtown Disney.

CHILD FUN CELEBRATIONS

Is your child celebrating a birthday, straight-As on her report card, or scoring the winning goal? Here are some ideas for kids looking to celebrate:

Maybe a celebration calls for a stay in an extra special hotel.

Book three character meals in one day.
Get a makeover at the Bibidi Bobbidi Boutique or the Pirate’s League.
Go to the Downtown Disney AMC theater and let your child create the ultimate custom Coke Freestyle beverage.
Go on a candy crawl through Epcot.
Ride Space Mountain ten times in a row.
Meet your child’s favorite character, every day of the trip.
Go on a pirate cruise.
Have tea with Sleeping Beauty.
Take the Wild Africa Trek (one of the few backstage experiences open to children).
Start a pin or Vinylmation collection and spend the trip trading.
Let the child choose the day’s itinerary.
Put a present under your child’s pillow to find when he wakes up.
Try to find all the hidden Mickeys at the Magic Kingdom.

CELEBRATING WITH A GROUP

Having a family reunion? Bachelorette weekend? Team getaway? Here are some ideas for getting the whole gang in on the party:

Go to the Hanes Design-A-Tee Store at Downtown Disney and get matching shirts for everyone.
Have dinner at the Hoop Dee Doo Revue – the ultimate in festive dining.
Bowl a few frames at Splitsville.
Arrange for a private IllumiNations dessert party.
Get a private cabana at a resort pool or water park.
Conquer the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream.
Have the ultimate mini-golf tournament.
Spend a sing-along evening at Jellyrolls on the BoardWalk. They’ll play all your favorite songs.
Get personalized Mickey Ears for the gang.
Have a Disney Fine Art Photography session for the entire group.
Make a Disney “goody bag” for everyone in your group.
Participate in a Run Disney race together.
Create a Disney trivia scavenger hunt. Have a friendly competition among members of your group.

Celebration acknowledgement may change as MagicBands become more prevalent.

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BRING?

With the advent of NextGen technology in the parks, it may become easier for cast members to identify guests marking special celebrations at Walt Disney World. With every park admission, FastPass+ scan, or merchandise payment with your MagicBand, Disney cast may be alerted to your celebration status. And the rumors have long been that as the system evolves, your MagicBand will allow you to interact with attractions. Perhaps audioanimatronic Abe Lincoln will wish you a happy birthday in the Hall of Presidents or maybe Push the Talking Trashcan will congratulate you on your big win, before you even start talking to him.

WHEN CAN WE CELEBRATE?

There’s an old adage that says its perfectly fine to celebrate your birthday at Walt Disney World as long as it’s within six months of your birthday. (And it’s always six months away from your birthday, give or take.)

Believe it or not, Disney really doesn’t care if your birthday or anniversary is on the exact day that you happen to be celebrating in the parks. Work and school schedules don’t always completely mesh with vacation time or birth dates; they get it. They really just want you go on your trip and create memories where you associate Disney travel with happy times. Don’t abuse the system by telling cast members it’s your birthday during every month of the year, but no worries if your birthday was during the week and you couldn’t get to the parks until the weekend. Or if you graduated in May and you’re celebrating in June. Or if Grandma and Grandpa’s 50th wedding anniversary was in October but the extended family couldn’t arrange to be together to celebrate until Thanksgiving. It’s OK tell Disney that you’re celebrating your special day (because you are) even if it doesn’t happen to exactly be the date of the celebration.

OWN YOUR CELEBRATION

Overall, it doesn’t really matter what you do to celebrate as long as it’s heartfelt and joyful. But those giant Mickey balloons sure would be festive wouldn’t they? Not that I’m hinting or anything :-)

What special celebrations have you had at Walt Disney World? What milestones have you marked in the parks? Have you found a unique or innovative way to celebrate? Let us know in the comments below.

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Published on January 27, 2014 03:00

January 26, 2014

In the Parks with Morgan: The Fireworks Trifecta

By Morgan Crutchfield

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Hey, everyone! Welcome to the newly renamed series with me, Morgan. While I’ll still be doing regular Observations posts, my post about winter costumes got great feedback from you, and I thought it might be fun to do a series of posts about the fun and sometimes off-the-wall things I find out about or in the parks. I’m calling this series “In the Parks with Morgan,” and I hope you enjoy it.

Last week the stars – or the entertainment schedules, whichever – aligned, making the perfect night to try to see all three Walt Disney World fireworks shows in their entirety in one night. There are lots of avid Disney fans out there who create challenges like this for themselves, and I thought it would be fun to start with a fairly easy one to see if it was doable. I love fireworks, so with a 7:00 p.m. Fantasmic!, a 9:00 p.m. IllumiNations, and a 10:00 p.m. Wishes on the books, I bundled up my kid and joined a friend to tackle what I like to call the “Fireworks Trifecta” or the “Triple-Banger.”

Before I let you in on whether we made it or not, I should note that there’s no way you should ever attempt this on a crowded or even semi-crowded night, as it just isn’t logistically possible. I wasn’t fretting over making it from Hollywood Studios to Epcot in time for IllumiNations, but the jump from Epcot to Magic Kingdom had me worried.

We started at Hollywood Studios for the 7 p.m. Fantasmic! We lined up early for standby and were seated just a couple rows back, right of center. While I loved the location for photos, being in the spray zone is no fun when those misters start up and you find yourself cold and damp. It was in the low 40′s/upper 30′s when we tried the Triple-Banger, and our seating at Fantasmic left much to be desired. But we got the show in and got a couple of good photos (notice the winter outfits on the characters!).

After the show we walked at a very brisk pace to the boat, where we huddled together for warmth and rode all the way to Epcot. Normally, impatient as I am with some things, I would have gotten off at one of the resorts and walked the rest of the way, but my hands were pretty cold even in gloves.

We knew that getting from Epcot to Magic Kingdom after IllumiNations and in time to see Wishes was going to be tough, so we planned our Illuminations viewing strategy over cronuts and boozy hot chocolate. If you haven’t had a cronut or a hot chocolate with Godiva Caramel Liqueur, I highly recommend both. If you have no plans to run several miles in the same day and don’t want to be clinging to the ceiling, I’d try them separately. Both can be found at Refreshment Port at the entrance to Epcot’s World Showcase.

Ultimately, we decided to watch IllumiNations from the stage in front of the Fountain of Nations. The spot left something to be desired when it came to getting the narrative that IllumiNations is famous for, but it also let us beat the crowds to the monorail. I stood next to a family that had never seen the show before, and it was nice to be able to experience that first with them. Here are a few photos I took. The vantage point actually turned out to be pretty cool.

As soon as those final fireworks boomed out, so did we. We grabbed cameras and bags and speed-walked to the Epcot monorail station. We JUST missed a train and had to wait for another, putting us dangerously close to the end of our window to make it to the Magic Kingdom. But the challenge is to see the fireworks shows, and so, with time constraints on my hands, I created a loophole.

When the Epcot monorail doors opened to the Transportation and Ticket Center platform, we had about 17 minutes to get to Magic Kingdom, get through the touch points, and get into the park and set up to catch Wishes. Not only would it be a stretch, but it would be a near impossibility given the way my legs weren’t moving in the cold. I have seen photos of the Magic Kingdom from Transportation and Ticket, and I knew that it provided an incredibly unique vantage, and so I created a challenge cheat: we watched wishes from the ferry dock. What does that look like? Well, quite simply, it’s stunning.

After 33 years of coming to Walt Disney World, I love finding new ways to see things. And while technically I didn’t make all three shows INSIDE the parks that they hail from, the night was totally worth seeing Wishes from this new perspective and saying that I gave the Triple-Banger a shot. I hope you enjoyed the photos that came from our efforts and until next time, keep it magical. ~M

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Published on January 26, 2014 10:00

January 25, 2014

SATURDAY SIX: Six Things We’re Excited About in Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

By Derek Burgan

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This week’s SATURDAY SIX looks at Six Things We’re Excited About in Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. This week was a big week for Harry Potter fans as Universal had its long awaited webcast featuring details of the upcoming Diagon Alley expansion in Universal Studios Florida, and the resort is having a weekend long Celebration of Harry Potter. We’ve been following Seth Kubersky’s PotterWatch series of articles for a while now, and we’re about to explode with excitement. So today we’re counting down six things that just can’t get here fast enough….

# 6 – Knockturn Alley

It’s very rare to have sections of theme parks dedicated to “the bad guys,” but we at the Saturday Six can’t get enough of them. We love meeting Gaston and enjoying a LeFou’s Brew in New Fantasyland, while over at Universal’s Islands of Adventure we like walking through Villain’s Alley at Marvel Superhero Island to see all the little details (and to ride Dr. Doom’s Fearfall). While very few details have been given out about Knockturn Alley (which we saw in the films Chamber of Secrets and Half Blood Prince), we’re looking forward to an experience at Borgin and Burkes, a store specializing in items related to the Dark Arts. We’re also hoping that various items related to Dark Magic will be for sale, including Death Eater masks, cursed necklaces, horcruxes, and skulls of creatures from the Potter universe. This is Universal Creative’s chance to take creepiness to an “11,” and we hope they go all the way with it.

Borgin and Burkes store of Dark Magic, as envisioned by J.K. Rowling’s Pottermoret

# 5 – The Leaky Cauldron

We can’t wait to see The Leaky Cauldron because of how blown away we were when we first saw The Three Broomsticks. On the recent Disney Dish with Jim Hill, Jim talked about how happy Stuart Craig (production designer of the Harry Potter films) was at being able to fully realize this restaurant. If you’ve watched any behind-the-scenes feature on the Potter DVDs, you would see how much work is put into making the sets seem “real,” much of which the audience will never even see. For places like The Leaky Cauldron, the only sets that are built for the movie are the ones that will be seen on camera, but for the theme park they get to build the entire restaurant. Just as Pumpkin Fizz is one of the “secrets” of the Three Broomsticks, we expect the Leaky Cauldron to also have exclusive food and drink options you can’t get anywhere else. Warm butterbeer anyone?

The Leaky Cauldron as seen in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

# 4 – The Stores!!

If you like to spend money, then you’re in luck as Diagon Alley is going to have store after store that will make you scream SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes - a three story tall joke shop that will sell the Umbridge on a Unicycle that we saw in Half Blood Prince and the Decoy Detonator from Deathly Hallows Part One. Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions - your one stop shop for wizard clothing. Scribbulus - a magical Staples. Magical Menagerie - where young (and young at heart) wizards and witches can pick up their favorite animal in plush form. Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment- pretty much everything that you can’t get at the other stores, including time turners, hour glasses, and maybe even a pensive. And how could we forget Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, a place that is going to give the new Cold Stone Creamery in CityWalk a run for its money when it comes to ice cream

As a sports fan, I’m looking forward to Quality Quidditch Supplies, which will sell various brooms, bludger bats, and golden snitches, along with merchandise from specific quidditch teams in the Potter universe. A Chudley Cannons hat? A Puddlemore United shirt? A Bulgaria jersey? SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

Florean Fortescue’s in Diagon Alley concept art (courtesy of the Universal Orlando Resort)

Did You Know? Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream was available in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Village in Islands of Adventure

# 3 – The London Waterfront

In the last several years Universal has been doing an unbelievably great job at taking the weaknesses of their Universal Studios Florida park and turning them into strengths. A couple years ago dining at USF wasn’t something many people went out of their way for, and the International Film and Food Festival was possibly one of the least themed and least interesting food courts this side of an All-Star Resort. Now the entire area has been transformed into Fast Food Boulevard and Duff Gardens and rivals Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom for overall theming and dining experience. BOG is at one end of the spectrum, and the Simpsons-themed venues at the other, but they both succeed spectacularly for what they are. Another one of USF’s trouble spots was a large, unthemed lagoon with pretty much nothing for guests to enjoy. Now it has Springfield USA, a terrific nighttime show with Cinematic Spectacular, and soon will have a crowning achievement with a recreation of several iconic London locations that will be used to “hide” Diagon Alley from the muggle world. By the end of this year the USF lagoon area will be transformed from a place that had nothing going on around it to being one of the greatest places in any theme park in Orlando. Now that’s something.

The London Waterfront of Universal Studios Florida (courtesy of the Universal Orlando Resort)

# 2 – Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts

Where do we even start? The entrance to this newest E-Ticket will be a stunning recreation of Gringotts Wizarding Bank from the Harry Potter films, with one exception: it’s going to have a fire breathing dragon on top. Why? Because they can, that’s why. Inside we’re going to have a ground-breaking attraction, but there will be so many details and extras (like a currency exchange place where we can finally get our hands on knuts, sickles, and galleons) that it may even put Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey to shame. Inconceivable! Or is it?

The first weenie in theme park history that BREATHES FIRE

# 1 – Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station

In a land full of game changers, this is the ultimate game changer. The first attraction ever to go from one theme park to another. Rumored to have randomized experiences offering over 400 different variations (granted, many of these could be very slight variations, like which hologram character you see in Star Tours – The Adventure Continues, but it’s still amazing). The outside of the Hogwarts Express already looks perfect. We caught a glimpse of the inside of the train during the webcast when Ivanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood from the Potter films) and Theirry Coup (Senior Vice President of Universal Creative) sat down in one of the cars. The King’s Cross facade already looks jaw-droopingly good on the outside, and those who have been inside say we’re about to get our minds blown. Trains have been an important part of the theme park experience since the very beginning thanks to Walt Disney, but in 2014 Universal could possibly be making the Hogwarts Express train experience the best ride in the park.

Harry Potter: Excuse me, Sir. Can you tell me where I might find Platform 9 ¾?
Trainmaster: 9 ¾? Think you’re being funny, do ya?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

So there you have it: Six Things We’re Excited About in Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six, where we’ll be looking at some theme park complaints we believe people need to shut up about.. 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 Morgan Crutchfield and Universal NOW!’s Brandon Glover for their assistance with this article.

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SATURDAY SIX: Six Things We’re Excited About in Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley 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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Published on January 25, 2014 06:19

January 24, 2014

In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of January 24, 2014

By TouringPlans.com

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Flower Power Concert Performers Announced For Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

By Rikki Niblett

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Flower Power Concert Series at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

©Disney

Who doesn’t enjoy taking in performances of artists from the 60s and 70s (who, let’s face it, at this point are in their 60s and 70s)? Well, during the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, you’ll be able to enjoy some of the great bands of yesteryear during the Flower Power Concert Series that takes place at the America Gardens Theatre. (Last year, I was able to enjoy a bit of Peter Noone’s performance…who I’m not gonna lie…was actually kind of rockin’ it on stage. I could tell that he was having a blast!)

There are a couple of new acts for the festival this year, including Gary Lewis and The Playboys and the Alan Parsons Live Project.

The artists for this year include:

March 7-9 The Guess Who “American Woman”
March 14-16 Gary Lewis and The Playboys “This Diamond Ring”
March 21-23 The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
March 28-30 The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer in the City”
April 4-6 Paul Revere & The Raiders “Good Thing”
April 11-13 Village People “Y.M.C.A”
April 18-20 The Grass Roots “Midnight Confessions”
April 25-27 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VII, I Am”
May 2-4 Starship starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
May 9-11 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats “The Twist”
May 16-18 Alan Parsons Live Project “Eye in the Sky”

The concerts take place at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Festival. Do keep in mind that the lineup is subject to change without notice. The concerts are included with your Epcot admission.

In addition, returning this year will be HGTV and DIY stars who will give designer presentations on how to improve your home and garden; fantastic topiaries, including a new one themed after Kermit and Miss Piggy; the famous butterfly garden, and the Marketplace Booths, which this year have been renamed Outdoor Kitchens.

The 2014 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is scheduled to run from March 5 – May 18. For additional information about this festival, make sure to visit www.epcotinspring.com.

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Published on January 24, 2014 10:12

A Trip Around The World: Japan

By Daisy Lauren

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It’s hard to believe we’ve already passed the halfway mark on our world tour! For those keeping track at home, we’ve visited: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, and America. Next up is the beautiful land of Japan. I always like to begin with a striking image, so I’ll start with the large Torii Gate that marks the pavilion on the World Showcase Lagoon. This bright red arch is visible from all around the lagoon, and it’s the prettiest thing on the water (especially at sunset).

But really when you walk into Japan from America, the first thing you’ll see is the tiny Kabuki Cafe. It’s the little building on the left in the photo below. Don’t be fooled by the size – there is a whole lot of awesome in this little package. Not only are there sushi, ice cream, and beer (which are all excellent separately, but we don’t recommend them together) – there is also kakigori!! “What is kakigori?” you ask? It’s shaved ice with with sweet, fruity flavoring added. This is one of my favorite treats on a hot summer night, and at only $3.75 it won’t break the bank.

Past this you’ll see the Goju-No-To. The sign out front reads: “The Goju-No-To, or Five Story Pagoda traditionally represents the five elements from which Buddhists believe all things in the universe are produced. In ascending order, the elements are earth, water, fire, wind, and sky. Similar in design to the Horyuji Temple in Nara, this Goju-No-To stands nearly 83 feet tall. It is a true monument to the skills and accomplishments of early Japanese architects.” However, most people will know this building as the home of Matsuriza Taiko Drummers.

Behind this building is an amazing garden with a koi pond and footpaths. It’s a lovely, quiet place to visit. I’m sure my photos can’t do it justice, but please take a few minutes to stroll through the next time you visit. The garden stretches back through the entire pavilion.

As you continue on through the garden, you will eventually see Katsura Grill. This is a quick service restaurant that looks a bit like a Japanese Tea House tucked away in the back of the garden. Even though the food (see the menu) is mostly forgettable you can’t beat the view. The photo below shows a couple of the tables. In the evenings the lanterns light up making this spot a little extra magical.

Below is a photo of the indoor dining room for Katsura Grill. While it is tough to see in the photo below the view is beautiful in this restaurant looking out through Japan. There is also a pretty hidden bathroom up in the gardens behind this restaurant. It isn’t glamorous – but I was able to sneak in even on New Years Even with a minimal wait!

Okay – one last random garden photo just because it really is so pretty!

If you keep walking through the gardens past the restaurant, you’ll come to this back exit. It will lead you to the rest of Japan. I want to stop here and take a moment to point out that one of the reasons I love the Japan pavilion is that the people are amazing! When I was taking photos for this article, I took some time in the garden taking photos and went into the closed restaurant. A Japanese cast member walked clear from the other side of the pavilion to welcome me to Japan and make sure I wasn’t lost. They are truly the kindest and most welcoming people!

If you take a close look at the wooden gates above, you’ll have a good understanding of where I’m standing to take the below photo. This is the view looking inside those large gates and across the moat.

Tucked just inside these gates are two matching samurai warrior statues. They are very large – I would guess 12 feet tall! More shocking is the fact that I don’t think I ever noticed them before stopping to look while taking these photos. I can’t imagine how many times I’ve walked by these huge figures without really looking at them!

Once you have passed the samurai warriors and the bridge over the moat, you enter the below building. It has entrances to the Spirited Beast exhibit, the gift shop, and a Kidcot station pictured below.

Below is the logo for Spirited Beasts, which opened in 2010 in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery. The gallery features art from manga and anime. I like this display because it’s often one of the only ones in World Showcase where the children teach their parents! In the other lands I hear parents explaining a lot of things… but kids know their Japanese animated characters!

Here is a quick look inside the building. It is pretty large and air-conditioned, so it can be a nice hideout on a hot day. However, noise really travels in this building for some reason, so just one loud kid can ruin the space. It’s worth taking a few minutes to walk through if anyone is a fan of Japanese animation.

The next stop on the tour is Mitsukoshi – the enormous department store in Japan. If you can believe it, this retail space takes up 10,000 square feet! This international chain opened its first store in 1673! Epcot boasts the only North American location.

The shop has a little bit of everything. When you enter this door you will first find Japanese candy and other food items. We went through a period of trying pre-packaged foods from all the different lands, and I decided Japan had the best candy, hands down! They also have some super sugary sodas that are tasty in small doses.

To the left inside this door is a sake bar with tons of different flavors to taste. They even have carbonated sake! If you find something you love, they are all available for purchase by the bottle, too! This is a great little hiding spot for a drink, especially if you are waiting on dinner reservations for one of the restaurants in Japan.

The other thing featured in this room is pottery! There are tons of mugs, cups, bowls, tea sets, etc. They are all very unique. One of my all time favorite mugs came from this room. If you are looking for something unique to take back from your trip, check out this shop!

The next room over has all the kitschy Japanese things like painted fans, everything with Japanese characters on it, lucky cats, and other cheap souvenirs.

That leads into another room with beautiful cards, bonsai trees, incense, and so much more. If you’re anything like me you could spend a lot of time exploring in this store!!

Connected to this room is an actual kimono shop! Has anyone actually done a kimono fitting here? If so, would you tell us about your experience in the comments below? I’ve never tried it!

As much as I would like to keep going through all the details of this store – take a look at the below image. This store is so, so big. It would be impossible to include it all. I’ll hit a couple more highlights below, but I hope you’re sold that you’ll have to take a look next time you’re in Epcot.

Below is the Pick-A-Pearl station located inside the store. I’ve done this a few times, and it’s very fun and provides a unique souvenir for less than $20. The settings can get pricey on top of that, so be careful. I’ve seen lots of people purchase a pearl cage on eBay in advance of their trip so they don’t incur any extra fees to enjoy their “treasure.” Someone actually got two pearls in a single oyster while I was taking photos!

Marking the other entrance of the store, all the way on the other side of the pavilion, is Hello Kitty paradise. There is seriously nowhere else you can find this much Sanrio! They even had pink footie pajamas in adult sizes. If there is anything from the Sanrio universe you are looking for, this is where to find it!

Backtracking a little bit, we’ve basically just walked around the entire pavilion indoors, but there is also an open courtyard in the middle. There you will find this little building that houses a small outdoor bar. Inside you will find Japanese beers, plum wine, sake, cocktails, and soda. Of course, if you are looking for sake, head to the indoor bar inside the shop for a much better selection!

Also in this area are a couple of carts with souvenir items. The stock seems to change pretty frequently, but it’s worth noting that they’re there with a smattering of what’s in the huge gift shop.

Stepping back out towards the World Showcase Lagoon, you can see the full scale of the building where we exited the gift shop. This building is called The Shishinden. The sign in front of this building reads: “The Great Hall of Ceremonies, or Shishinden, inspired this elegant structure. Originally part of the Gosho Imperial Palace in Kyoto, The Shishinden was built in 794. It is said to be one of the first true styles of Japanese architecture.”

This is a look up the stairs of The Shishinden. Up these stairs is where you will find Tokyo Dining and Teppan E do. Both of these restaurants are outstanding! I’ve never had anything but the best food and service at each. The view of IllumiNations is also pretty stellar from the second story patio.

Here is one last photo looking back at the land with The Shishinden and Goju-No-To in one shot together. I just can’t get over the beautiful gardens in Japan!

If you take a look at the railing on the left in the above photo, it encloses the zen garden pictured below. I can’t wait for Flower & Garden Festiva, when bonsai trees are also normally added in this area.

As you exit Japan you will walk into this scenic garden area that doubles as a smoking section. Just beyond this, you will find yourself in the land of Morocco.

And that will finish up our little tour of Japan. Did you learn anything new about the land, or did it just really make you want to go shopping? Please let me know in the comments below. As always I thank you for reading and hope you’ll join me next time to tour Morocco.

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