Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1275
November 19, 2013
Ask Jim Hill Ep 15 – What Was Michael Eisner’s Biggest Failure At Disney?
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Jim answers a viewer question about Michael Eisner’s biggest failure at Disney. Also, will Walt Disney Imagineering have a post-EPCOT Center scale set of layoffs after Shanghai Disneyland opens? Find out what Jim Hill and Len Testa think in this week’s episode.
New episodes are posted every Tuesday, so be sure to subscribe on YouTube!
If you would like to download an audio version of Ask Jim Hill, Episodes 1 – 9 are now available on iTunes.
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Ask Jim Hill Ep 15 – What Was Michael Eisner’s Biggest Failure At Disney? is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Observations from Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World: November 12 and 13
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Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2013, and Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Weather: Tuesday – High 79°F, Low 57°F. Wednesday – High 64°F, Low 64°F
I decided to write this post over two days to show how the weather changes this time of year and to get as many of the holiday decorations as possible. Tuesday was blustery but warm during the day and gave us the first chilly night of the season. Wednesday was a little dreary but still pleasant enough to wear shorts. Packng for this time of year can be confusing, but a jacket and some kind of pants and long-sleeved shirt can be necessary as the sun starts to set around 5:30 on any given day.
First and foremost, it should be noted that the construction in and around Downtown Disney as the Disney Springs project moves forward is prevalent and, when it comes to parking, a pretty major pain. Where it used to be more convenient to drive to DTD from some resorts and park, that’s no longer the case. I recommend taking resort transportation when possible and using the new valet service adjacent to Cirque du Soleil if you’re in a hurry.
Downtown Disney parking lots are now a maze of construction walls and cones.
When I went to Downtown Disney on Tuesday, the West Side’s decorations had been completed, but the Marketplace was still in process. I think the work that Holiday Services does in a matter of hours to transform the parks is just incredible; by Wednesday, everything was up! I parked in Lot M in front of Cirque du Soleil, which – since Sunday – had been taken from Fall/Halloween decorations to Christmas cheer. The giant wreath looks a little out of proportion during the day, but when lit at night is a fun addition.
Disney Quest received a new paint job fairly recently, and the dichromatic facade is much more in keeping with the rest of the West Side’s feel.
Decorations around the West Side have a fun retro feel to them. They’re not as over-the-top as some holiday decorations around the parks, but they add some festive overtones to an area that can sometimes feel disjointed.
House of Blues will be adding a counter-service location specializing in barbecue in the near future, giving the West Side another new quick-service option in addition to the food trucks said to be rolling in soon.
Also new to the shopping lineup on the West Side is Fit2Run, an apparel, footwear, and general gear store for the runner.
Described on its site as a “runner’s superstore,” the chain location features a club membership ($30 per year) that gives its members fairly significant discounts on shoes and gear. There’s a wide variety of shoe brands, including some of the harder-to-find like Brooks and Saucony, as well as some specialty running clothing lines that I don’t see often like Roxy. The store offers foot mapping and specialized fitting, and has a wide selection of running nutrition in gels, chews, and other formats with a big selection of flavors. In all, it could easily be a one-stop shop for the runDisney runner.
Down the way, just across from the Harley Davidson shop, construction is proceeding on the new Starbucks location, currently slated to be complete in Spring of 2014. The construction wall announcement includes a nice concept drawing of what looks to be a fairly large location. I know there are some detractors, but I have to say I’ve really enjoyed my Pumpkin Spice Lattes in the parks.
And, though the weather wasn’t great, I tried to get at least one “just fun to look at” photo. Here, the Characters in Flight Balloon is ready to launch.
Just past the Characters in Flight kiosk is the newly opened pedestrian bridge that bypasses Pleasure Island, taking guests from the West Side to the Marketplace. The pathway is wide, nicely lit, and scenic, with the construction walls displaying concept art of the Disney Springs renovation.
The bypass bridge takes you on a short, pleasant walk to the Marketplace, a welcome detour from the chaos that can be Pleasure Island.
In the Marketplace, World of Disney has been fully decorated outside with the more traditional Christmas trimmings and illuminated deer topiaries placed in various plantings around the property. Santa’s Chalet is up, and Santa will begin meeting and greeting on November 15. The schedule at the Chalet is as follows:
November 15 – November 28, 2013, from 5:00-10:00pm (Santa Claus)
November 29 – December 24, 2013, from 12:00-10:00pm (Santa Claus)
December 25 – December 29, 2013, from 3:00-10:00pm (Santa Goofy)
The tree is up just across from Once Upon a Toy, and it’s shiny and bright. I’m a big proponent of the icy colors.
There’s not too much new at the Marketplace, but there’s something to be said for constancy in some cases. If you haven’t had a chance to see the Lava Lounge at Rainforest Cafe, give it a shot. The lounge is left of the restaurant’s main entrance, just under a fully functioning pyrotechnic volcano that “erupts” on the hour during daylight hours and every half hour at night. Don’t stand too close to this one if you’re wearing a lot of hairspray.
The lounge, itself, is outdoors but is covered. It features bartop and hightop table seating with a special appetizer-based menu exclusive to the lounge. You can also order off the restaurant’s full menu.
I had the crab dip and was thoroughly impressed with the creamy texture and varied tastes from the crab, corn, and tomato in the mix. It had a stronger mayonnaise component than some crab dips, but I liked the balance. It was served piping hot and was all-around an excellent dish, though the price for the meal was (as is typical of Rainforest) fairly steep with two appetizers and two alcoholic beverages topping out at almost sixty dollars with tip for two people. On a side note, if you’re at the lounge and bartender Dave is around, ask him to make you his apple pie drink. It’s a frozen drink that’s really rather impressive, and if you’re into sweets, it really hits the spot.
While Tuesday was pleasant if not cloudy, Wednesday brought winds to the area that closed the watercraft on the Seven Seas Lagoon and put a little bit of chill in the air. Thursday was warm again, reinforcing the idea that packing for this time of year should encompass just about any condition that might occur here just in case.
Downtown Disney will ramp up its seasonal celebrations soon, so stay tuned for more posts. Until then, keep it magical.
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November 18, 2013
Sid Cahuenga’s at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Has Closed
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©StudiosCentral
Sid Cahuengas One Of A Kind Shop, found at the main entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has now closed. The location will be converted into a full fledged MyMagic+ Service Center. (Previously, the front porch of the shop had been taken over by MyMagic+ consoles.)
According to Sam Gennawey (from the Hollywood Boulevard page):
To the left of the park entrance is Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind shop, an example of the California Bungalow and inspired by the true story of the Janes House, in which a homeowner on Hollywood Boulevard held out against commercial development and a shopping mall just built around him.
The eccentric shop was famous for selling unique merchandise that included celebrity autographs, memorabilia, artwork, movie posters, movie and television props, costumes, and the like. (The location even had the jacket that Bert wore from Mary Poppins.) Most of it was quite expensive, given the Hollywood ties to the merchandise, but these were items that could only be purchased there.
The shop was also famous for the trivia board that could be found outside, asking various trivia questions, some relating to Disney lore and some not. If guests had all the answers, they could go inside and receive a certificate.
The good news is that the merchandise is still available and can be found in the AFI Showcase found at the end of the Studio Backlot Tour. The bad news is that we lose part of the original back-story of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
When looking at the My Disney Experience app today, the location has already been pulled from the map.
For more information about the details and back-story of this now former shop, check out StudiosCentral.com.
No blue indicator noting the store, nor is it listed
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Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Worth The Cost?
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Visiting Disney World during the holidays is definitely a magical experience in itself, but once you add in seasonal offerings like special holiday decorations, entertainment and even winter-themed food and beverage, being swept into the spirit of the season is unavoidable – even in the warm Florida sun!
One of the most popular holiday events, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, takes places on select November and December nights and offers guests a chance to experience a true winter wonderland, with an array of special shows, character appearances, fireworks display and complimentary holiday treats – all complemented by lower crowds (check out this post to plan for the least busiest parties), and, if you’re lucky, a chance of snow flurries on Main Street. As a “hard ticket” event, it does require separate admission (see this post for official dates, pricing and discount information) and takes place after regular operating hours, much like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which occurs earlier in the fall.
Unlike that party, however, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party does feature some entertainment offerings that become available to “day guests” of the Magic Kingdom later in the season, such as Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and the popular fireworks display, Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season, which take the place of the regular Celebrate a Dream Come True parade and Wishes – A Magical Gathering of Disney Dream fireworks, from December 21-31.
When’s the party?
November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, and 22
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20
While the festivities officially kick off at 7 PM (also the “closing time” for day guests), a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party allows entry starting at 4 PM. Since the party runs through midnight, using early entry may allow for 8 full hours of fun – and surprising value, as the costliest party ticket for an adult costs $71 – broken down into 8 hours, that places each hour at less than $10. Contrast that with a regular Magic Kingdom one-day ticket at $95!
Of course, your mileage may vary, and depending on your vacation schedule/length, adding another day to your ticket could be a better value, and checking out a different park that night could be a good fit. Check out the least expensive ticket calculator to weigh your options.
What is so special about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?
What’s a Christmas Party without the Big Guy himself?
Erin Foster wrote a fantastic write-up about what to expect from the party here, but here’s the quick version – it’s Magic Kingdom all dressed up for Christmas, complete with special parades, snow, and - if that’s not your cup of tea, this might be - shorter attraction waits for the attractions that are open during the party.
What attractions are open?
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (don’t miss out on the special card available only at parties; pick it up at the Magic Kingdom Firehouse and the location behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe)
Swiss Family Treehouse
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Jingle Cruise (new for 2013)
Jungle Cruise – Now 100 percent more jingly!
Pirates of the Caribbean
A Pirate’s Adventure – Treasures of the Seven Seas
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world” (this attraction will be down for refurbishment 12/2/13 to 12/12/13)
Peter Pan’s Flight
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Princess Fairytale Hall
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mad Tea Party
Dumbo The Flying Elephant
The Barnstormer
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
Ariel’s Grotto
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Tomorrowland Speedway
Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Stitch’s Great Escape
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
What entertainment is available?
“Celebrate the Season” show
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
Celebrate the Magic
Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season (fireworks)
“A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show”
“Celebrate the Season” Show
Character Dance Parties (Woody’s Hootin’ Hollerin’ Holiday Open House in the Diamond Horseshoe and Club Tinsel at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe)
What restaurants are open?
Main Street Bakery
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
Pecos Bill Tell Tale Inn and Cafe (until 11 PM)
Westward Ho
Frontierland Turkey Leg Cart (until 11 PM)
Frontierland Churro Wagon (until 11 PM)
Sleepy Hollow
Liberty Square Market (until 9 PM)
Friar’s Nook (until 9 PM)
Storybook Treats
Gaston’s Tavern
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
The Lunching Pad
Are there Touring Plans for the parties?
Yes! If you want to meet characters, we’ve posted two “character meet-and-greet” touring plans for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party here on the blog.
The following are Premium Touring Plans (require membership to TouringPlans.com):
Magic Kingdom Christmas Party Touring Plan for Parents (Focus on Party Activities)
Magic Kingdom Christmas Party Touring Plan for Adults
Magic Kingdom Christmas Party Touring Plan for Parents (Focus on Attractions)
Do I need a Touring Plan for these parties?
Utilizing a Touring Plan may increase the value of your experience if you were looking to accomplish as many things as possible in one evening.
What other special things should I know about these parties?
Free always tastes better, right?
Event specific merchandise (including apparel and a special trading pin) is available for purchase at the Emporium, Frontier Trading Post, Heritage House, Big Top Souvenirs and Mickey’s Star Traders.
Complimentary Holiday Treats (yes, something FREE at Walt Disney World) – are available at The Crystal Palace, Sunshine Tree Terrace, Tortuga Tavern, Columbia Harbor House, Pinocchio Village Haus, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe and the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. The traditional offerings are Hot Cocoa and Sugar Cookies, but Apple Slices and Apple Juice may also be requested.
Special Disney Character Appearances – are offered around the park, often with hard-to-find or rare characters decked out in their Holiday best – a perfect opportunity for family Christmas card photos?
Meeting characters at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, 2013.
So…is it worth it?
Cost-wise, it is an individual decision, but in general, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party offers a bounty of fun for party-goers of all ages, no matter the attendee’s focus.
—
Have you ever attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? What tips did I miss?
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Details About Spice Road Table – A New Moroccan Restaurant in Epcot
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©Disney
It was announced early this year that a brand new restaurant called Spice Road Table was coming to the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot. Today, Disney shared a few details about what guests can look forward to when when the restaurant officially opens.
This new table service dining establishment is located on the World Showcase Lagoon along the water’s edge, making it the perfect location for catching IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The restaurant will feature an outdoor terrace with seating for 120 guests. There will also be some indoor seating, enough for 60 guests.
The restaurant’s inspiration is drawn from outdoor cafes found along the Mediterranean. In addition, stretching along the front of the building will be a collection of shops in the colorful style of a Moroccan “souk,” or marketplace.
Diners here will be able to enjoy a wide variety of small plates that serve up unique flavors. Menu items will include: garlic jumbo shrimp in a spicy chile pepper sauce; harissa chicken drumettes; mussels with preserved lemons and tomato sauce; a Mediterranean omelet with sausage, potatoes and caramelized onion; and Moroccan merguez sausage with a tomato salad.
While the restaurant doesn’t have an official opening date as of yet, the original information indicated that Spice Table Road would be open by the end of the 2013.
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Photo Gallery: Sid Cahuenga’s One-Of-A-Kind Shop Now MyMagic+ Service Center
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Welcome to Sid Cahuenga’s One-Of-a-Kind MyMagic+ service center.
As Rikki Niblett reported earlier today, Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind Antiques and Curious shop at Walt Disney World‘s Disney Hollywood Studios is no longer a retail location, and as of today (Monday, November 18 2013) it has been converted into a MyMagic+ guest service center.
Instead of the screen-worn costumes and signed photographs that have filled the shop since the park opened (as the Disney/MGM Studios) you will find a dozen iPads running the MyDisneyExperience app, and a couple cast members happy to attempt to adjust your FastPass+ reservations or solve similar issues.
A few pieces of memorabilia are still on display, but you’ll be sent to Mickey’s of Hollywood for assistance if you try purchasing one.
The popular trivia board is still here, at least for the time being…
…as is Sid’s signature truck.
Overnight, most of the shop’s memorabilia was moved to the gift shop at the AFI Showcase, which guests pass through as they exit the Backlot Tram Tour.
The costumes that used to be for sale at Sid Cahuenga’s are conspicuously absent; a salesperson informed me they were in storage until manequins arrive for displaying them.
Incidentally, a cast member informed me that this tip board will disappear in the future, as guests can use their smartphones to get wait times.
Certainly, very few guests purchased the expensive autographs and authentic props offered at Sid Cahuenga’s, so it couldn’t have been a big revenue generator. But more importantly, Sid’s lent charm and character to that area of the park, and was always worth a few minutes of browsing at the end of a day at Disney Hollywood Studios.
So, say “so long” to Sid as another small corner of quirky Disney history disappears, and say “hello” to more MagicBands.
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Walt Disney World Crowd Report November 10 to 16, 2013
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Generally, crowds last week came in lower than expected with no park reaching higher than a level ’6′ on our scale. We were within 2 index points 86% of the time last week and within 1 index point 61% of the time.
Based on Average Posted Wait Time Between 10am and 5pm
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party season arrived at the Magic Kingdom this week, which means savvy planners who don’t mind the shortened park hours can experience low wait times during the day.
We expect this coming week to be the last few days of the pre-Thanksgiving lull. Large crowds will begin on Saturday or Sunday. To see Walt Disney World Crowd Predictions for Thanksgiving week or any other week, check the Crowd Calendar.
The Walt Disney World Crowd Report – November 10 to 16, 2013
The final day of Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend and the final weekend of Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival brought in typical weekend crowds for November. Resort wide wait times came in lower than expected at ’5′ mostly caused by a surprising level ’4′ at The Studios. We predicted a ’7′.
Veteran’s Day crowds were lower than normal, we predicted a resort-wide ’6′ which ended up two points too high. Again, Studios crowds were the biggest culprit with wait times only reaching a level ’4′. Our estimates were too high at every park but only by 1 point at the Magic Kingdom.
Resort-wide our predictions hit ’3′ as expected however we underpredicted Magic Kingdom by 2 points (’5′ vs a ’3′) and overpredicted Epcot by 2 (’1′ vs a ’3′). At Magic Kingdom, it was Jungle Cruise and Buzz Lightyear that came in busier than expected. The average posted times at these two attractions were about double what we predicted.
Wait times were low at all parks as predicted with no park reaching a level higher than ’3′. Only the Animal Kingdom showed wait times higher than predicted but only by one index point, at a level ’3′ up from the predicted ’2′.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returned to Magic Kingdom for the first time of the season on Thursday. As predicted, daytime crowds hit a level ’3′ both at the Magic Kingdom and resort-wide. Animal Kingdom hit a level ’5′ while The Studios remained low at a level ’1′ – we predicted a level ’3′ at both. Kilimanjaro Safaris was a big contributor to Animal Kingdom’s level ’5′. It reached an average posted wait of 56 minutes which would represent a ’9′ out of 10 on our scale.
Lowest wait times of the week resort-wide with no park exceeding a level ’3′. We correctly predicted each park within ’1′ index point. Another day of low waits at Magic Kingdom during the day thanks to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party scheduled for Friday evening.
A very surprising resort-wide ’2′ on Saturday, we predicted a ’4′. The Studios reached a level ’3′ as predicted but all other parks came in lower than expected. Significantly so at the Magic Kingdom where our prediction of ’6′ proved three points too high. Other than Winnie the Pooh and Jungle Cruise where our predictions were within 1 index point, average wait times at the attractions ended up about half of what we predicted. Space Mountain for example, had an average posted wait time of 26 minutes. This is quite low, especially for a Saturday.
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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Cast Couture: Costumes of the Magic Kingdom
By Daisy Lauren
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Recently, I was strolling through the Magic Kingdom, and I spotted the new Fantasyland costumes that the cast were wearing near Princess Fairytale Hall. I was totally in love – everyone looked like royalty! That gave me an idea to take a look at more of the costumes of the Magic Kingdom and share them with you here. Housekeeping first: 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. I was planning to crop out all the faces but everyone looks so neat and pretty! It seemed like a shame to miss all those smiles. Now, let’s get started with Main Street, U.S.A.
When you first enter the Magic Kingdom on the left hand side I’m sure you’ll remember the smell of fresh popped, buttery popcorn. I never paid attention to the costume of the person working that cart but the day I was researching this article she just happened to be in front of the cart. It was so sunny that day I don’t think the photo does the outfit justice – but she totally caught my eye! The costume is really adorable with light blue and pink plaid, not to mention that sassy hat. Moving along down Main Street you’ll notice more muted plaid costumes in the shops that seem appropriate for the time period of the land.
Moving on to Fantasyland I bet you can easily guess which one of these three costumes is the older style (the middle one). The new costumes for this land really are gorgeous, but I do still like the older ones, too. Starting on the left this costume is seen directly behind the castle for the attractions operated in that area. The middle costume is getting harder to find. In this case I spotted it at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Shop. The green costume on the right is often seen with a straw hat to guard against the sun and is currently the most common costume in the land. There is also a tan color variation for male cast members. Fantasyland has the largest variety of costumes in the Magic Kingdom because you also have to count the super fun costumes over in Storybook Circus.
I think I’ve decided if I ever had the chance to work in the Magic Kingdom I’d choose this area. Who wouldn’t want to wear the chunky neck tie on the right to work? Of course, the costume on the left is for Dumbo in its new location. It was a chilly morning, so most everyone was wearing jackets, but on the back side of this costume are “tails” like a circus ringmaster would have. Every detail of this land really feels like the circus has come to town! Pictured below are the royal costumes of the new Be Our Guest restaurant. The rich purple looks great in this regal setting!
Next up is Tomorrowland with its “futuristic” costumes that are starting to somehow look retro. I don’t mean to pick on Tomorrowland – I know I was hard on it in my details post. Is it just me? Are they not starting to look a little bit 80′s (especially the one pictured left)? I do like the clean color palate of grey and black, though!
Taking a look at Adventureland there are some fun costumes! Most of the land is filled with pirates, but you also see a lot of this costume on the right. I’m not sure what to call this one? It almost looks like medical scrubs but with a tribal pattern on them. Note that the hat is not part of the uniform – just a cast member who was having a great time greeting guests as they entered the land!
The final stops on our tour will be Frontierland and Liberty Square. I combined them because with a few exceptions the costumes are similar. The costume on the left is one I see very often. The middle is one of my favorites in the park. This cast member was in front of The Country Bear Jamboree and gets bonus points for her mad lasso skills! Of course, the far right photo is in front of The Haunted Mansion. This is a very famous costume, but I can’t imagine wearing it in the heat of summer. The only thing worse must be the hundreds of people asking if it’s hot wearing the costume!
With that we conclude another tour around the Magic Kingdom! Of course, there are plenty of costumes that I have missed here as it would just be impossible to include them all. Did I miss your favorite? What do you think of some of the new costumes at the Magic Kingdom? Would you like to see more costumes from Disney World? Please let us know in the comments below and, as always, thanks for reading! 
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November 17, 2013
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Testing New Fastpass+ Configuration
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©Disney
It was recently rolled out at Epcot, but now it appears that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is testing a new FastPass+ configuration that features two “groups” of attractions.
The trial will work like Epcot’s version, where guests still have the opportunity to reserve three FastPass+ options for the day. However, with the new FastPass+ method, guests are able to choose ONE attraction from Column A (mostly headliners) and TWO attractions from Column B (mostly secondary attractions).
The attractions are as follows:
Column A (Choose ONE option)
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
Fantasmic!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Toy Story Mania!
Column B (Choose TWO options)
Disney Junior – Live on Stage
The Great Movie Ride
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
Muppet*Vision 3D
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Keep in mind, if you have already made your FastPass+ reservations, DO NOT change them. Otherwise, you will have to use this new method for choosing your attraction options. And please keep in mind that this is currently only a test.
For more information about the new FastPass+ system, make sure to read Erin Foster’s fantastic article explaining everything you’ll need to know about how the process works.
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Video: Red Oven Pizza Bakery Now Open in Universal Orlando CityWalk
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Opening day at Red Oven Pizza Bakery
Stormy Central Florida skies couldn’t keep Orlando from welcoming a little piece of Italy to town today (Saturday, November 16, 2013), as the new Red Oven Pizza Bakery opened at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk. The new quick-casual al fresco restaurant replaced Pastamore’s counter-service market, and offers a new moderately priced alternative for upscale pizza and salads at Universal Orlando.
This afternoon we were among the establishment’s first day of paying customers, and returned with the following footage to give you a first look. We’ll return to Red Oven Pizza Bakery soon for a full review, but our first impressions were very positive. All the ingredients — which include house-sliced prosciutto and hand-pulled mozzarella — tasted fresh, and the pizza crust had the perfect amount of chew and char.
Check out our Red Oven Pizza Bakery opening day video, and check back in the near future for a full review.
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