Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1271

The Legacy Of FASTPASS Distribution Rates

By Fred Hazelton

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The rate at which an attraction distributes FASTPASSes is a big deal to guests of Disney theme parks. It is also a big deal to the Stats Team here at TouringPlans.com. Not just because we use it ourselves all the time but because it can be a great indicator of crowds at the parks. Fall 2013 has seen systematic changes to some of the FASTPASS Distribution rates. In some cases, drastic changes. With the launch of FastPass+ it was not clear how the distribution of Legacy FASTPASS (the old way) would be affected. Let’s take a look.

Before we look, let’s clear up what we mean by a FASTPASS Distribution Rate. Let’s check our Big Book of Stats Team Definitions for an explanation:

The FASTPASS Distribution Rate is the ratio between the minutes until the FASTPASS window opens and minutes of real time. So, a FASTPASS Distribution Rate equal to 3.0 means that for every minute that ticks by on your watch the FASTPASS return window increases by 3 minutes. The higher the ratio, the sooner the FASTPASSes sell out.

Comparing FASTPASS Rates in Fall 2012 and Fall 2013

 

Peter Pan’s Flight

We see that FASTPASS distribution rates at Peter Pan’s Flight increased significantly in the Fall of 2013 reaching levels more than double that of Fall 2012. However, Peter Pan’s Flight was closed for maintenance during October and early November so it is not clear whether the increase is due to a change in Fastpass distribution rates or due to an increase in guest demand. Many attractions that come back online after a refurbishment experience a boost in traffic. So let’s look at some other attractions.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at the Studios has clearly been shelling out FASTPASSes at a higher rate than in years past. Last year, the FASTPASS distribution rate only rose above average a handful of times during the fall but this year it stayed well above average almost every day in October and November. The distribution rate was at least 50% higher in 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.

Soarin’

The pattern continues at Epcot’s Soarin’. In the case of this headliner, the increase is even more dramatic. Soarin’ FASTPASS rates reached 10.0 or higher several times this Fall. These are rates that we rarely see except during super busy times like Christmas or Easter. A ratio of 10.0 would mean for every minute that goes by on the clock, the FASTPASS window increases by 10 minutes. So, if it takes you 6 minutes to check out the FASTPASS Return display, get your park admission out of your fanny pack, line up and get a FASTPASS, by the time you actually receive it the return window will be an hour later than when you read the display.

Toy Story Mania

The busiest FASTPASS machines at Walt Disney World have always been at the Studios’ Toy Story Mania. Low hourly capacity and high guest demand make the perfect combination for high FASTPASS distribution rates. Toy Story Mania’s historical average is 3.8, the highest average of all attractions but it has also experienced the most significant increase in rates this fall, even reaching four times the average! This is remarkable. At these rates, the daily allotment of FASTPASSes are completely distributed by 10:00 am, or earlier.

 

These increases in FASTPASS Distribution Rate are significant. They are clearly not within the normal ups and downs. This is not surprising to anyone who has been in the parks in the last ten weeks. Long lines at the FASTPASS queues and quick sell-outs are the stories of FASTPASS booths this fall. The only question is whether this pattern will continue with the ongoing roll-out of FastPass+ and MagicBands. For that we shall have to wait and see.

 

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PotterWatch 2.0: Hogwarts Express testing begins at Universal Orlando

By Seth Kubersky

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Slow-speed Hogwarts Express testing has begun at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter (photo by Seth Kubersky)

Exciting news, Harry Potter fans: Hogwarts Express testing has commenced at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Resort! The iconic Hogwarts Express trains, which were lifted onto their elevated rails in late October, began slow-speed movement tests over the weekend.

It will still be many months before guests get to ride the Hogwarts Express attraction, which is expected to officially debut in June 2014. When complete, the Hogwarts Express will provide transportation between the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley expansion in Universal Studios Florida, and the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure.

Ordinarily, the Touring Plans team would be the first to bring you footage of the Hogwarts Express testing, but this time our friends at Orlando Attractions Magazine have beat us to the punch (blame our post-Thanksgivukha turkey & latke hangovers). Check out their video below, which also includes some shots of the London Waterfront construction, and check back here often for further PotterWatch progress updates on Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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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Disney Tourist Manners: How Bad Is It?

By Erin Foster

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We all have opinions about proper theme park etiquette.

THIS is the way you should behave in public. THAT behavior is inappropriate. Can you believe he did THAT?

But while some tourist infractions are universally reviled, other perceived transgressions may simply be stylistic matters or mutable cultural differences. And as with any opinion-based topic, there’s bound to be a substantial gray area. What slightly miffs one person might absolutely horrify another. In the interest of promoting discussion, here are some commonly mentioned theme park infractions and my personal assessment of their level of severity.

I’m going to rank items on a scale of 1-5.

1 = Perfectly fine. No bother at all.
2 = Mildly annoying.
3 = Pretty yucky.
4 = Bad. This is really no way to behave.
5 = Really super bad. Just stop now, you’re embarrassing yourself and those around you.

Stopping in the middle of a walkway.

What’s the issue?: You’re lost and need to consult your park map. Instead of pulling over to the side, you stop in the middle of a walkway to get your bearings.

My rating: 2 to 3, depending on the crowd level.

My rationale: When you stop with no warning in the middle of a walkway, the folks behind you have to stop short or possibly run into you, or possible have others run into them. If the park crowds are low, it’s relatively easy for the folks behind you to course correct. If park crowds are high, someone’s going to get hurt.

Taking flash photos during an attraction.

What’s the issue?: You want to commemorate your experience. The ride is dark. You use your flash to take a photo.

My rating: 3 if it’s a standard dark ride. 5 if it’s an attraction with live human performers.

My rationale: If the attraction has no prohibition against general photography and you’re able to take shots without flash (It’s a Small World, for example), be my guest. However, if it’s a ride that takes place primarily in the dark (Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion) your flash will take other guests out of the immersive experience of the attraction as well as exposing machinery or other backstage elements that are meant to be hidden. Plus, flash photos rarely come out well, making your intrusion on the experience of others all for naught. If you’re taking flash photos during a show which involves human performers (like Finding Nemo The Musical), not only are you bothering other guests, you’re providing a distraction to the performers that could result in physical injury.

I’m glad you’re happy, but there’s no need to cheer about it.

Talking during an attraction.

What’s the issue?: The show’s going on and you’re yapping with your companions or yammering on your cell phone.

My rating: 1 to 4, depending on the circumstances.

My rationale: I think we can all give a pass to a parent who quietly whispers “look at the giraffe” to a toddler during It’s A Small World. And “look at the giraffe” can be downright helpful on Kilimanjaro Safari. Comments like these are innocuous and related to the situation at hand. However, anything that takes other guests out of the environment is a big no-no. It may be your 50th time on the Carousel of Progress, but it could be someone else’s first. They don’t want to hear your singing. And no one, I mean no one, wants to hear half of a cell phone conversation during an attraction at Disney World.

Changing you baby’s diaper on a park bench.

What’s the issue?: Your little one needs a change so you decide to take care of business on the nearest flat surface.

My rating: Ewwwwww – 5.

My rationale: There are changing tables in nearly every rest room, male and female, at Walt Disney World. There are dozens of restrooms in every theme park. Take three extra seconds and head to the bathroom to change the nappy. You’ll keep the spread of diaper-related mess and germs to a contained area and you’ll have access to water for proper clean-up.

Hotel doors are public space. Should they be decorated?

Saying it’s your birthday when it’s not.

What’s the issue?: You can’t make it to Walt Disney World on your actual birth date, but you want to celebrate your big event at the parks. Wear the birthday button and celebrate on an alternate day.

My rating: 1. Have fun!

My rationale: Disney makes it quite clear that if you’re celebrating, they’re celebrating. Those birthday buttons and occasional free cupcakes are a marketing tool for Disney. They make people happy; happy people spend more money; happy people tell their friends about their happy times at the parks. Don’t abuse the system by having 10 or 12 birthdays a year, but if you are legitimately celebrating something, feel free to do so whenever seems most appropriate.

Bringing a young child to a signature restaurant.

What’s the issue?: Signature restaurants serve gourmet food at gourmet prices. Is this the place for tiny tots?

My rating: 1. Go ahead and take the whole family.

My rationale: With the exception of Victoria & Albert’s, anyone is welcome at any Disney restaurant at any time. You’ll see babies, toddlers, and preschoolers dining with their families at signature restaurants throughout the World. That being said, you should be cognizant that signature meals can be expensive. Some folks may be there for their one vacation splurge or on an important date night. If you are bringing a little one to a signature meal, try to make it an early seating and be prepared to step outside for a bit if the child gets fussy.

I don’t want to look at your half-chewed food any more than you do.

Forcing your child to go on a ride.

What’s the issue?: The rest of the family wants to go on Space Mountain but little Bobby doesn’t. He’s crying and you’re telling him to get on that ride, or else.

My rating: I want to say 5, but I’m going with 3-4 because it’s your kid and I don’t know the whole story.

My rationale: Childhood fears can be real and quite intense. Forcing your child to experience an attraction he’s not yet ready for can inflict psychological damage and mar your child’s trust. Additionally, no one else on the ride wants to hear your child cry while they’re trying to have a good time. Maybe there’s something going on I don’t know about (he’s crying because he dropped his ice cream, not because he hates Space Mountain), but actually forcing your child onto a ride is bad news.

Feeding the birds.

What’s the issue?: In addition to Donald, there are plenty of avian ducks, and gulls, and egrets that make Walt Disney World their home. Maybe they’d like some popcorn?

My rating: 4.

My rationale: The food served at the parks is designed for people, not birds. Chances are whatever you’re tossing to the ducks has too much salt and not enough nutrients for their metabolism. You may be doing them physical harm. Also, feeding the birds makes them aggressive (I’ve been dive-bombed by a gull at The Boardwalk who had eyes on my funnel cake) and possibly contributes to disease by causing them to excrete in human areas.

Participating in group cheers or chants in the park.

What’s the issue?: We’re here with a tour group, cheer group, or sports team. YAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

My rating: 4.

My rationale: I’m glad you’re happy, really I am. But I want to be on my vacation, not yours. When 200 people march through the parks cheering at the top of their lungs, it detracts from my ability to talk to my own family. Keep the noise to normal conversational levels.

Tipping is expected at table service restaurants.

Decorating your hotel room door/window.

What’s the issue?: I’m celebrating and I want to tell the world by decorating my hotel room door.

My rating: 3.

My rationale: To me, this is the visual equivalent of cheering in the parks. I’m glad you’re happy, but I don’t need your celebration to be my celebration. If I’ve paid gobs of money to see a particular type of decor at my hotel, I don’t want my sight line interrupted by incongruous clutter.

Leaving your used room service tray in the hall.

What’s the issue?: You’re done with your room service meal. You want it out of the room so you don’t have to look at the scraps any more.

My rating: 2.

My rationale: I get it, the protocol really is to put your tray in the hall when you’re done with your room service meal, but I don’t want to look at your half-chewed sandwich any more than you do. At least put a napkin over the plate.

Talking the hotel room hallways.

What’s the issue?: You’re chatting with your family, planning your day while you walk from your room to the elevator.

My rating: 4.

My rationale: This may seem harsh, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been woken by other guests chatting outside my hotel room door. The very nature of hotels means that people are coming from all over to rest and relax. If someone is from another time zone, their sleep hours may be different from yours. Maybe it’s taken hours for them to get the baby settled in a new environment. Maybe vacation is the only time they get to sleep late. Respect your fellow travelers and save the chat until you’re outdoors.

Not tipping your table service waiter.

What’s the issue?: What??? I’m supposed to tip my waiter 15%? Prices here are crazy, there’s no way I’m adding 15% on top of that.

My rating: 5.

My rationale: Look, you may not like it. It may not be the custom in your home country, but tipping 15-20% is standard practice at US table service restaurants. That’s just the way it is. Stiffing your waiter is wrong, and a “well, it’s not like where I’m from” argument isn’t going to fly.

Using R-rated language.

What’s the issue?: This place is @#$%^&*, ya know.

My rating: 5.

My rationale: I have no problem with your off-color language if you’re in adult company on your home turf. I’ll talk blue myself in appropriate circumstances, but dude, you’re at Disney World. There are little kids everywhere, even at the sports bar, even at the gourmet restaurants. Keep your chatter to PG levels, please.

Not having your camera ready during a character meet & greet.

What’s the issue?: Hey Mickey! Wait, where’s my camera? Ooops, gotta take of the lens cap. Is this thing on?

My rating: 3.

My rationale: While it seems like this might be only a level-2 infraction, I’m going to give it a 3 because lots of dilly-dallying means that fewer people will get to have time with the character. Picture something like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Line to see the Seven Dwarfs can easily be an hour long (or more, but let’s go with an hour). If eight people in the line take an unnecessary 15 seconds with the Dwarfs, then the two people at the end of the line probably won’t be able to get their photo op. Help out another guest by getting your camera ready ahead of your time.

OK folks, it’s discussion time. Let me know (nicely) what I got wrong. What would you rank differently? Are there other park infractions that merit ranking? Tell us what’s on your mind.

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Disney’s All-Star Resorts To Test Only Providing MagicBands to Guests

By Rikki Niblett

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©Disney

The first test recently rolled out at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, but now Disney is ready to start a new version of this testing at all three of Disney’s All-Star Resorts. As part of the MyMagic+ assessment, upon check in at one of these three resorts, guests will be issued only a MagicBand for use throughout their stay at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The schedule for roll out is as follows:

Disney’s All-Star Sports – already receiving only MagicBands
Disney’s All-Star Music – December 4
Disney’s All-Star Movies – December 6

Any guest checking in on or after these dates will be issued only a MagicBand and not a separate Key To The World card/room key.

The testing procedure will continue as it has at Disney’s Pop Century. Guests will still be able to continue engaging in MyMagic+ testing in the same manner as any other resort guest. MagicBands will give guests access to all hotel and park activities, such as touch to pay, PhotoPass, touch to enter, and FastPass+. If guests did not customize and receive MagicBands prior to their vacations, they will be provided with a gray colored version at check in.

If a guest would prefer, a RF-enabled Key To The World card can be issued on request. This card will work in the same way the MagicBand would. One thing to note is that these Key To The World cards will not allow guests to obtain Legacy FASTPASS tickets as the magnetic strip on the back will be inactive. Guests who wish to utilize FastPass+ during their vacation may do so using the My Disney Experience app, visiting Guest Relations, or stopping at a MyMagic+ kiosk.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort will continue with its test, as well.

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Disney’s All Star Resorts To Test Only Providing MagicBands to Guests

By Rikki Niblett

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©Disney

The first test recently rolled out at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, but it seems that Disney is ready to start a new version of this testing at all three of Disney’s All Star Resorts.  As part of the MyMagic+ assessment, upon check in at one of these three resorts, guests will only be issued a MagicBand for use throughout their stay at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The schedule for roll out is as follows:

Disney’s All Star Sports – already only receiving MagicBands
Disney’s All Star Music – December 4
Disney’s All Star Movies – December 6

Any guest checking in on or after these dates will only be issued MagicBands.

The testing procedure will continue as it has been at Disney’s Pop Century. Guests will still be able to continue to engage in MyMagic+ testing in the same manner as any other resort guest. The MagicBand will give guests access to all hotel and park activities, such as touch to pay, PhotoPass, touch to enter, and FastPass+. If guests did not customize and receive MagicBands prior to their vacation, they will be provided with a gray colored version at check in.

If a guest would prefer, a RF-enabled Key To The World card can be issued instead. This card will work in the same way the MagicBand would. one thing to note is that these Key To The World cards will not allow guests to obtain Legacy FASTPASS tickets as the magnetic strip on the back will be inactive. Guests who wish to utilize FastPass+ during their vacation may do so using the My Disney Experience app, visiting Guest Relations, or stopping at a MyMagic+ kiosk.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort will continue with their test as well.

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Ask Jim Hill Ep 17 – Disney Theme Park Memorabilia Part 1

By Guy Selga Jr.

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Join Len Testa and Jim Hill as they discus various pieces of Disney theme park memorabilia. It’s art 1 of a 3 part special edition of Ask Jim Hill! In this episode the guys discuss memorabilia related to the infamous Walt Disney World birthday cake castle, early artwork and plans for Disney California Adventure, and more!

New episodes are posted every Tuesday, so be sure to subscribe on YouTube!

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A Trip Around The World: Mexico

By Daisy Lauren

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Today is the first in a new series taking a grand tour around the World Showcase in Epcot. I’m always curious when folks enter this section of the park if they head right towards Canada or if they go left towards Mexico. As a kid we always went to the left under the assumption that the average day guest went right on instinct. (Not to mention the rides were to the left!) So it only made sense for me to start our tour with the lovely land of Mexico.

I always like to start these posts with a photo that really encompasses the land. You can see the detail of the main show building in the below photo. Modeled after an Aztec Temple, there are intricate details on every inch of this building. (Remember – you can click any photo to see a larger image)

But getting back to the beginning – when you first enter the land on your right there is a counter service restaurant before you reach the main show building. I have eaten at La Cantina de San Angel several times, and they make mean nachos! The seating is all outdoors, which can make it tough temperature wise during the summer months.

However, you can’t beat the view! The main reason I threw my fisheye lens in my bag was for this shot – and it still doesn’t really capture this epic view. You can see the entire World Showcase from this one spot. It is worth strolling in just to take a look.

Heading back towards the temple pictured at the top of the page you’ll notice these heavy door handles when you enter the building. Details like this are all over the World Showcase and show the thought that went into creating the different lands.

Once inside you’ll see a large open room that looks like it could be the inside of that temple. It is a bit darker inside, but I lightened the photo to make it easier to see. Around the room are different displays of art and life in Mexico.

In the photo above you’ll notice a large round piece in the middle of the room. The below photo is a closer look at the center of that feature.

On the other side of this large piece is a Kidcot station. This is one of the busiest stations, as most people wander in to ride Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballero. I took this photo just as the pavilion was opening, and you can see there is already a line.

Just past this Kidcot station you’ll enter the Plaza De Los Amigos. Under this archway are a beautiful night sky and a festive Mexican market brimming with all sorts of goods.

Below is the view looking down onto the market before entering. The entire area is one of the most beautiful in all of Epcot. To enter you have your choice of heading down ramps either to the right or the left of the fountain.

Here is the view down the right ramp heading down into the market.

There are so many items throughout this pavilion to purchase, including hand painted carvings, Mexican blankets, tequila, and so much more. The below photo just shows a small selection of the items offered. Does anyone else remember when they used to sell paper flowers here? I wonder why they stopped?

Below is a distant look at a cart in the pavilion. These are though the entire center area selling various Mexican goods.

Below are the signs for the three businesses that line the walls of this pavilion. The top two are a Mexican silver store and a Arribas Brothers location. The third sign is maybe the busiest bar in all of Epcot! La Cava Del Tequila stays busy from opening to close and often has a line snaked outside its door!

Of course, below is the sign that marks the entrance of Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballero. This ride was changed from the more traditional El Rio del Tiempo back in 2007. I’m personally a big fan of the change and almost never skip this ride when heading to Epcot. The ride seldom has a line, which is nice!

All the way at the end of the pavilion is San Angel Inn. This is our equivalent of Blue Bayou found in Disneyland. Guests look on at another Aztec Temple in the distance while boats lazily drift by from the ride dock.

Here is a closer look at the dining room. While it is worth visiting for this stunning view, I’ve never heard anyone rave about the food, and my personal experiences have been less than stellar. The dining room is very tightly packed, and the food just wasn’t anything special. It is a shame, as this could be an amazing place! Your mileage may vary, of course!

Heading back outside as you exit you’ll notice a little alcove just past the temple. This large area is used for character meet and greets (or just neat family photos). As you can see from the photo below, it is set back a bit, giving it enough room to really look tropical and isolated back there.

Past this to the right you will see La Hacienda de San Angel. This is the most recent addition to Mexico and an excellent table service restaurant. The food isn’t typical Mexican fare, and keep in mind it can be pricey. However, it might be worth it for the excellent view of IllumiNations!

Just past this you will find an outdoor Mexican market selling a small selection of the Mexican goods found inside the temple. There is also a small cart for a ring carver set up in this area.

Past this is the last, but certainly not least thing to see in Mexico – the Margarita Stand! This stand is open year round, selling some excellent margaritas and shots. Especially the frozen choices can be very refreshing on a hot day!

And that concludes our tour of Mexico. I hope you’ll join me to tour Norway! Did you have fun visiting this land? Did I miss your favorite detail? Please let me know in the comments below, and as always thanks for reading!

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Cast Couture: Costumes of Epcot’s World Showcase

By Daisy Lauren

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Thanks to your comments on my recent post about the costumes of the Magic Kingdom, I decided to take this idea around the world. As always, if you’re a cast member pictured here and you’d prefer that I not use your image please leave a comment below and I will remove your photo. But I’m sure everyone will agree all the ladies of the World Showcase look beautiful!! Let’s get started with Mexico.

I almost didn’t ask to take this photo. It was a little awkward since I had to lean over the rail of the walkway and ask her to get up from her work. But I saw the opportunity for framing the photo with all of her hand painted art, which was lovely. I love the vibrant and relaxed costumes in Mexico! You’ll notice that I only took photos of the ladies in this one. That is because especially around the World Showcase I think the girls have the better costumes. Maybe I can go back and visit the guys if anyone has interest?

In Norway the costumes are certainly a bit more tailored. For some reason this costume always makes me think of Christmas! Does anyone else agree? These outfits certainly fit in with the heavy, rich woods of the Norway pavilion. They are beautiful but I don’t know that I would want to be wearing them in our brutal Florida summers! (Of course, I doubt they have that problem in the real Norway!)

The China costumes are not my personal favorite. They seem a little generic. Of course, they are unisex costumes, so I suppose they have to be. The cast member below looks great – but I always tend to think that if I could wear a certain costume. I don’t think I could pull this one off! No to mention it’s yellow, but I can understand that since yellow is the most prestigious color in Chinese culture.

Moving on to Germany – I think this is my favorite costume of the bunch. Who wouldn’t want to wear this adorable outfit? The colors are great; the photo doesn’t do it justice. In the pristine setting of the little shops in Germany, it looked like it was right out of the pages of a storybook!

Italy boasts several very open stores which normally is lovely with a little air conditioning in the buildings. Unfortunately, the day I visited (11/24) was a bit chilly so everyone was wearing coats. However, I think the coats fit well with the costumes and make them look modern. The deep red color of the fabric is beautiful and fits in perfectly with the bright colors of Italy.

The costumes in America changed in that last year. If you miss the old ones you can still find them at The Hall of Presidents over at the Magic Kingdom. Personally, I prefer the new one pictured below. With the patriotic colors and embroidered eagle they are perfect for our land!

In Japan I found several different costumes. They all seemed to be similar but varied in color. I decided to feature the one with the deepest blue colors. Doesn’t this almost look like something high fashion you could wear out? What a pretty outfit to wear while working the Kidcot station!

There is more yellow in Morocco but I love this comfortable looking costume! It really fits well with the shop where it is found. Of course, Morocco like other lands features a few different costumes but I decided to keep it simple and feature my favorite. I don’t know that I could wear this one but the cast member below sure looks great in it! Would you want to wear this to work?

In France I had to hunt a little to find a cast member in a costume! Many of the shops in this land are outsourced so I saw a lot of folks wearing all black. It was worth the hunt, though! The skirt for this costume is epic and pairs perfectly with the crisp white shirt. Take a closer look and notice the puffy upper sleeves of the shirt. This is really a great costume with great details!

In the United Kingdom you’ll find these lightly colored dresses with delicate flowers. They are so pretty and fit in well within the land. I wonder how difficult they are to keep clean, though. They are the lightest colored costumes I’ve found around the World Showcase. Luckily, cast members don’t have to worry about that since all the costumes are washed on premises. (You can see all about that on the UnDISCOVERed Future World Tour)

Canada features a heavy, plaid shirt with an almost bronze colored skirt. While my picture cuts off you’ll notice the tops of a heavy boot. These are almost always seen in the Canada pavilion. This costume is in stark contrast to most of the World Showcase, and I love them for being so different.

So there are the costumes of the World Showcase! Which one is your favorite? What costumes would you like to see next? Please let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you. As always, thanks for reading!

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Observations from the Universal Orlando Resort for November 27, 2013 (Christmas decorations, construction, Red Oven Pizza Bakery)

By Derek Burgan

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Hogwarts Express, the first ever attraction that travels between two separate theme parks

Time for a trip to the Universal Orlando Resort. Seth Kubersky covered the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley in his photo update earlier this week, so check out the first edition of his PotterWatch 2.0 for construction updates, rumors, and pictures.

Universal still has not released on any dates on when  the Potter area will open, but we may have been given a little bit of a hint earlier this week thanks to an interview with Loews hotels chairman Jonathan Tisch. While talking to CNBC (which you can watch here), Tisch said that the upcoming 1,800 room Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal would be:

“The largest hotel under construction in the world outside of China. Phase One will open April 1, 600 rooms. The rest of the hotel by June, when Harry Potter 2 opens.” – Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotels Chairman

On the Universal website, Cabana Bay is having “preview pricing” that ends on June 14, 2014. That’s another red flag that they expect demand to go up in June. Here’s an example of what type of savings you can get for a Family Suite at Universal compared to Disney. I booked out a room from April 12-18 for 2 adults and 2 children at both Cabana Bay and Disney’s Art of Animation resort. The cheapest room at Cabana Bay was $232.00 a night, compared to the cheapest room at AoA at $498.76. After taxes, this particular week at Cabana Bay would cost a family $1572.06, while AoA would cost $2992.53.

Speaking of construction, work in CityWalk continues for the venue which is replacing the former Latin Quarter. This new restaurant will be bordering Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and looks to have a large facade. I’ve heard a couple different rumors of replacements and one of them – Don Quixote’s – could be using this large structure to support a windmill prop.

The former home of Latin Quarter

Let’s begin our journey into the parks with a stop at Universal Studios Florida. The iconic archway now has the Macy’s Holiday parade banner. Considering how early Disney starts its Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it’s surprising that Universal waits until the first week of December to start the Macy’s parade at USF and Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure.  Although with the amount of people who think Christmas music on the radio before Thanksgiving is too soon, maybe Universal’s delay is refreshing.

I found a nice surprise in the gift shops: Minion Uni-Minis are back in stocks. Hopefully for the holiday season we’ll see a Grinch show up soon.

Minion Uni-Mini ($12.95)

This merchandise location across from Despicable Me Minion Mayhem  is not fully stocked with Christmas related items.

All of Gramercy Park is decorated, and you can see the scale of the giant Christmas tree in front of the Macy’s facade in the background.

Gramercy Park in the New York section of Universal Studios Florida

There are decorations throughout USF, on many of the buildings, light posts, and pretty much every place you can imagine (sorry, no Santa hat on Optimus Prime – I looked!).

Holiday decorations throughout USF

Because of the upcoming Macy’s Holiday Parade, the statue of Lew Wasserman has been removed.  The statue is taken away to prevent any of the Macy’s balloons coming into contact with it.

The Lew Wasserman statue has been removed from its home in front of Starbucks

Here’s a closer look at the statue base – and plaque – that the Wasserman statue sits on top of.

The San Francisco Pastry Co. and Studio Sweets shops have added some Christmas themed snacks to their inventory, including these gingerbread men.

 

One of the things many people don’t realize at USF is that walking by this phone outside of the Kwik-E-Mart causes it to ring. When you pick up the receiver, you will hear one of Springfield’s citizens talking to you. I’ve heard several variations in the past, including Chief Wiggum putting out an A.P.B. on a donut, but this time I had the master phone prankster himself, Bart Simpson. Bart said, “This telephone is your god. Bow before me and deposit fifty cents!” The voice of Marge Simpson then came on and shouted, “Bart!” This was my favorite Simpsons phone experience by far and reminded me of the humor used in Kang & Kodos’ Hurl ‘n’ Twirl.

If you hear this phone ringing by the Kwik-E-Mart, pick it up!

Inside the Kwik-E-Mart there were some new plushes, including this great Dancing Homer one. Bartman, Itchy, Scratchy, Santa’s Little Helper and the three eyed fish rounded out the small size plush.

Dancing Homer and Bartman plush

Some constructions walls were put up between Animal Actors on Location and Fast Food Boulevard. This construction looks to be removing some flag poles that were part of the old International Food and Film Festival dining location, along with improvement to the walkway (similar to the improvement made to the street next to Transformers: The Ride-3D earlier this year). The DeLorean  from Back to the Future was also removed to give people more walking space while these walls are up.

Pardon our Pixie Dust!

Time to head over to Islands of Adventure.

Port of Entry, the best “Main Street” at any North American theme park.

Many people don’t realize that in the Port of Entry Christmas Shoppe you can build your own “Christmas Village” collection with Grinch and Whoville themed buildings and characters. It can be pricey, but it’s definitely a cool looking set with some very unique looking figures and buildings.

Create your own “Grinch Village” this Christmas season

The outdoor menu at Confisco Grille has been converted to a digital display. It alternates between menu descriptions and gorgeous looking “ads” for the the food items. This is a HUGE improvement over what was there before.

The new digital menu at Confisco Grille. Be sure to check out Brandon Glover’s review of the Backwater Bar, which is part of Confisco Grille.

As expected, Seuss Landing is covered in Grinchmas themed decorations. These take an already sensory-overload themed area to the next level. It’s amazing.

Decorations are everywhere on the island.

Assorted Grinchmas decorations in Seuss Landing

Over in Jurassic Park I noticed this walking sticks for the first time. At $49.95 they are reasonably priced for the what you get, and I can see some appeal to fans of JP.

Walking Sticks (canes) available at Jurassic Park

Well, not all of them…

The perfect gag gift for your grandfather or Mike Scopa this Christmas.

Over in Toon Lagoon, I stopped into Comic Strip Cafe and saw something pretty neat. One of the walls of the restaurant borders the lockers that people use for Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. On the Comic Strip Cafe side they have a neat mural showing the “inside” of the lockers and have some neat references including park icon Woody Woodpecker, Beetle Bailey, The Cat in the Hat, Spider-Man, Dagwood, and the Blue Man Group. There’s even a clever nod to Finding Nemo.

Great tributes to other UOR properties, including Spider-Man, The Cat in the Hat, and the Blue Man Group

Over in Marvel Superhero Island, the characters were out and about, with Captain America having the biggest line I have ever seen him have. Maybe all these people have seen the awesome Winter Soldier trailer.

About half the line to see Captain America

Before I left it was time to try the Red Oven Pizza Bakery in CityWalk. Seth Kubersky visited Red Oven on the day it opened and had very positive things to say about it. I consider myself a fan of pizza in the way many others would consider themselves fans of “breathing” or “sleeping,” so to say I’ve been looking forward to this day for a while is an understatement.

I thought the inside of Red Oven was clean and sharp looking, but I’m not sure it’s the most intuitive of designs in terms of customer flow. You order at a register on the far left on the restaurant. On the right hand side are the chefs making pizzas. The menu is printed on pizza peels all along the restaurant at the top. Now, granted I’m an idiot, but I walked directly over to the register and then had to turn around to look at the menu and choose what I wanted to order.

Red Oven Pizza Bakery

After ordering,  you are given a number to put on your table so the food and drinks can be delivered. There are several tables outside, as well as a wooden bar area that faces the large Red Oven, itself. I sat in one of the bar seats.

 

I ordered the Big Eye Pepperoni pizza (San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, and large pepperoni) for $13.00 and a Caprese Salad (Vine ripened tomatoes, fresh hand pulled mozzarella, organic grown Harvill Farms basil and organic first pressed extra virgin olive oil) for $11.00.

Big Eye Pepperoni pizza at Red Oven Pizza Bakery

Caprese Salad at Red Oven Pizza Bakery

This immediately became my favorite pizza on property (although Sal’s Market Deli at the Loews Portofino Bay is no slouch). You can taste the quality of ingredients in both the pizza and salad. There is no place within USF or IOA that can touch this pizza, and the price is great.

The bar areas that border the lagoon in CityWalk already offer delivery of pizza from Red Oven, and I’m hearing the Loews on-site hotels will soon offer have delivery, as well.

Menu for Shoreline, one of the outdoor bars bordering the CityWalk lagoon

That wraps up my day at Universal. See ya next time!

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Observations from the Universal Orlando Resort for November 27, 2013 (Christmas decorations, construction, Red Oven Pizza Bakery) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Observations from the Universal Orlando Resort for November 27th, 2013 (Christmas decorations, construction, Red Oven Pizza Bakery)

By Derek Burgan

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Hogwarts Express, the first ever attraction that travels between two separate theme parks

Time for a trip to the Universal Orlando Resort. Seth Kubersky covered the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley in his photo update earlier this week, so check out the first edition of his PotterWatch 2.0 for construction updates, rumors, and pictures.

While Universal still has not released on any dates on when  the Potter area will open, but we may have been given a little bit of a hint earlier this week thanks to an interview with Loews hotels chairman Jonathan Tisch. While talking to CNBC (which you can watch here), Tisch said that the upcoming 1,800 room Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal would be:

“The largest hotel under construction in the world outside of China. Phase one will open April 1st, 600 rooms. The rest of the hotel by June, when Harry Potter 2 opens.” – Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotels Chairman

On the Universal website, Cabana Bay is having “preview pricing” that ends on June 14, 2014. That’s another red flag that they expect demand to go up in June. Here’s an example of what type of savings you can get for a Family Suite at Universal compared to Disney. I booked out a room from April 12th through April 18th for 2 adults and 2 children at both Cabana Bay and Disney’s Art of Animation resort. The cheapest room at Cabana Bay was $232.00 a night compared to the cheapest room at AoA being $498.76. After taxes, this particular week at Cabana Bay would cost a family $1572.06 while A0A would cost $2992.53.

Speaking of construction, work in CityWalk continues for the venue which is replacing the former Latin Quarter. This new restaurant will be bordering Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and looks to have a large facade. I’ve heard a couple different rumors of replacements and one of them – Don Quixote’s – could be using this large structure to support a windmill prop.

The former home of Latin Quarter

Let’s begin our journey into the parks with a stop to Universal Studios Florida. The iconic archway now has the Macy’s Holiday parade banner. Considering how early Disney starts its Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it’s surprising that Universal waits until the first week of December to start the Macy’s parade at USF and Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure.  Although with the amount of people who think Christmas music on the radio before Thanksgiving is too soon, maybe Universal’s delay is refreshing.

Found a nice surprise in the gift shops. Minion Uni-Minis are back in stocks. Hopefully for the holiday season we’ll see a Grinch show up soon.

Minion Uni-Mini ($12.95)

This merchandise location across from Despicable Me Minion Mayhem  is not fully stocked with Christmas related items.

All of Gramercy Park is decorated, and you can see the scale of the giant Chrismtas tree in front of the RH Macy’s facade in the background.

Gramercy Park in the New York section of Universal Studios Florida

There are decorations throughout USF, on many of the buildings, light posts, and pretty much every place you can imagine (sorry, no santa hat on Optimus Prime, I looked)

Holiday decorations throughout USF

Because of the upcoming Macy’s Holiday Parade, the statue of Lew Wasserman has been removed.  The statue is taken away to prevent any of the Macy’s balloons coming into contact with it.

The Lew Wasserman statue has been removed from it’s home in front of Starbucks

Here’s a closer look at the statue base – and plaque – that the Wasserman statue sits on top of.

The San Francisco Pastry Co and Studio Sweets shops have added some Christmas themed snacks to their inventory, including these gingerbread men.

 

One of the things many people don’t realize at USF is that walking by this phone outside of the Kwik-E-Mart causes it to ring. When you pick up the receiver, you will hear one of Springfield’s citizens talking to you. I’ve heard several variations in the past, including Chief Wiggum putting out an A.P.B. on a donut, but this time I had the master phone prankster himself, Bart Simpson. Bart said, “This telephone is your god. Bow before me and deposit fifty cents!” The voice of Marge Simpson then came on and shouted, “Bart!” This was my favorite Simpsons phone experience by far and reminded me of the humor used in Kang & Kodos Hurl n’ Twirl.

If you hear this phone ringing by the Kwik-E-Mart, pick it up!

Inside the Kwik-E-Mart there were some new plushes, including this great Dancing Homer one. Bartman, Itchy, Scratchy, Santa’s Little Helper and the three eyed fish rounded out the small size plush.

Dancing Homer and Bartman plush

There was some constructions walls put up between the area of Animal Actors on Location and Fast Food Blvd. This construction looks to be removing some flag polls that were part of the old International Food and Film Festival dining location along with improvement to the walkway (similar to the improvement made to the street next to Transformers: The Ride 3D earlier this year.) The DeLorean  from Back to the Future was also removed to give people more walking space while these walls were up.

Pardon our Pixie Dust!

Time to head over to Islands of Adventure.

Port of Entry, the best “Main Street” at any North American theme park.

Many people don’t realize that in the Port of Entry Christmas Shoppe you can build your own “Christmas Village” collection with Grinch and Who-ville themed buildings and characters. It can be pricey, but it’s definitely a cool looking set with some very unique looking figures and buildings.

Create your own “Grinch Village” this Christmas season

The outdoor menu at Confisco Grille has been converted into a digital display. It alternates between menu descriptions and gorgeous looking “ads” for the the food items. This is a HUGE improvement over what was there before.

The new digital menu at Confisco Grille. Be sure to check out Brandon Glover’s review of the Backwater Bar, which is part of Confisco Grille.

As expected, Seuss Landing is covered in Grinchmas themed decorations. These take an already sensory-overload themed area to the next level. It’s amazing.

Decorations are everywhere on the island.

Assorted Grinchmas decorations in Seuss Landing

Over in Jurassic Park I noticed this walking sticks for the first time. At $49.95 they are reasonably priced for the what you get, and I can see some appeal to fans of JP.

Walking Sticks (canes) available at Jurassic Park

Well, not all of them…

The perfect gag gift for your grandfather or Mike Scopa this Christmas.

Over in Toon Lagoon, I stopped into Comic Strip Cafe and saw something pretty neat. One of the walls of the restaurant borders the lockers that people use for Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. On the Comic Strip Cafe side they have a neat mural showing the “inside” of the lockers and have some neat references including park icon Woody Woodpecker, Beetle Baily, The Cat in the Hat, Spider-Man, Dagwood, and the Blue Man Group. There’s even a clever nod to Finding Nemo.

Great tributes to other UOR properties including Spider-Man, the Cat in the Hat and the Blue Man Group

Over in Marvel Superhero Island, the characters were out and about with Captain America having the biggest line I have ever seen him have. Maybe all these people have seen the awesome Winter Soldier trailer.

About half the line to see Captain America

Before I left it was time to try the Red Oven Pizza Bakery in CityWalk. Seth Kubersky visited Red Oven on the day it opened and had very positive things to say about it. I consider myself a fan of pizza in the way many others would consider themselves fans of “breathing” or “sleeping,” so to say I’ve been looking forward to this day for a while is an understatement.

I thought the inside of Red Oven was clean and sharp looking, but I’m not sure it’s the most intuitive of designs in terms of customer flow. You order at a register on the far left on the restaurant. On the right hand side is the chefs making pizzas. The menu is printed on pizza peels all along the restaurant at the top. Now, granted I’m an idiot, but I walked directly over to the register and then had to turn around and look to see what I wanted to order.

Red Oven Pizza Bakery

After ordering,  you are given a number to put on your table so the food and drinks can be delivered. There are several tables outside as well as a wooden bar area that faces the large Red Oven itself. I sat on the on of the bar seats.

 

I ordered the Big Eye Pepperoni pizza (San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, and large pepperoni) for $13.00 and a Caprese Salad (Vine ripened tomatoes, fresh hand pulled mozzarella, organic grown Harvill Farms basil and organic first pressed extra virgin olive oil) for $11.00.

Big Eye Pepperoni pizza at Red Oven Pizza Bakery

Caprese Salad at Red Oven Pizza Bakery

This immediately became my favorite pizza on property (although Sal’s Market Deli at the Loews Portofino Bay is no slouch). You can taste the quality of ingredients in both the pizza and salad. There is no place within USF or IOA that can touch this pizza and the price is great.

Already the bar areas that border the lagoon in CityWalk offer Red Oven pizza to be delivered and I’m hearing the Loews on-site hotels will also be able to have delivery as well.

Menu for Shoreline, one of the outdoor bars bordering the CityWalk lagoon

That wraps up my day at Universal. See ya next time!

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Observations from the Universal Orlando Resort for November 27th, 2013 (Christmas decorations, construction, Red Oven Pizza Bakery) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.