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Breaking Down the New Genie System at Walt Disney World

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Update: Disney Resorts announced the new system will be launching on October 19, 2021 and released new details. This post has been updated.

A few months ago Walt Disney World sent shockwaves through Disney fans by announcing the retirement of the free FastPass+ attraction system, and the introduction of a new Genie system including a paid line skipping program. What that entails remains to be seen, with a launch set for October 19, 2021. In this post, I will attempt to breakdown what the new system is and what it means for your Disney World vacation planning.

Disney World has slowly introduced new technology over the years, the biggest of which was the MagicBand, a system that allows you to use a bracelet for admission, to check in for reservations, and pay for items in the parks and other Disney properties. The app that partners with the MagicBand is called My Disney Experience. This app allows you to see a map of the park, check and make reservations, check wait times, and order food ahead of time. This app’s next feature is called Genie. This upgrade should offer everything listed plus some sort of augmented reality features.

In addition it will offer a service called Genie+. Genie+ is a $15 a day per ticket upgrade line skipping privilege that will work on approximately 40 attractions across the parks. These attractions were previously part of the FastPass+ system including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

There are also two top tier attractions in each park that will not be included in this pass system, but an additional premium line skipping program that will work with surge pricing model. Cost is thus, TBD, but these top tier attractions include:

  • Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom
  • Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (which currently has a virtual queue) in EPCOT
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (which recently canned their virtual queue option) and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad in Hollywood Studios
  • Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom

Both line skipping programs will use “Lightning Lanes” that were previously FastPass+ line queues.

Is it worth it?

Is it worth these upgrades? On the surface, time is money when it comes to Disney parks and I am always oriented towards reducing line waiting. However, I can see a scenario where if you plan well enough with a strategy of going at lower crowd times you may not need the Genie+ system, outside of perhaps the top tier attractions. Thinking back to my lower crowd dummy day in Magic Kingdom in November via the TouringPlans system, the only attraction that reached an unacceptable hour long wait was Seven Dwarves Mine Train. A few others had a half hour wait, which is still longer than I would like, however, it could be combined with a snack break, making it tolerable. Thus in this scenario, I can see springing for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train and skipping the rest of the Genie+ experience.

In the past, other ways to skip lines and get premium access and seating included dining experiences. My family has booked off time dining to gain free access to the famous Candlelight Processional. We also have paid for the dessert buffet at Magic Kingdom to have great seats for Magic Kingdom Fireworks. Many have used the same strategy for great seats for Hollywood Studio’s night show Fantasmic which is currently on hiatus. Strategies like this can save you hours of waiting and gain you prime seats.

One other item to note on dining, is that for quick service, or take away restaurants, you can now order ahead for pick up via the app. This convenient feature was not available when we visited the parks before, and though we often didn’t wait too terribly long for food, it’s a nice feature to shave off a few precious minutes here and there.

How does it work?

So how will this new Genie+ system work? Many are skeptical (including myself) of the rollout, as systems as large and complex as this tend to be rocky, and Disney IT doesn’t exactly have a smooth reputation. However, those of us familiar with the FastPass+ system have a whole new system to learn.

For starters, if you opt for the Genie+ pass with the 40 attractions, you will have theoretically unlimited access to the attractions. You can purchase ahead of time for the length of your entire stay, but most will purchase per day beginning at midnight. Attraction reservations can be made each day of beginning at 7 a.m. for Disney hotel guests. All others will be able to access the system at park opening each day. Selections can be made one at a time. Times cannot be selected, and instead you will be given the first available time. You will not be able to book any additional attractions until you check into your first, or 120 minutes have passed.

Those of us used to the FastPass+ system where you could pick the time and select three attractions at once will have a lot of adjusting to do. I certainly am not keen that they automatically give you the first available time, and would much rather reserve a specific time that fits my plan and schedule for the day. In theory the system will work around your plans to see a show at a specific time. Perhaps if you had your entire itinerary in the Genie app conflicts can be avoided, but that is making visits less flexible, when the entire promotion around the app is flexibility. I have a feeling there will be a lot of tweaks to the system over the next year.

When it comes to the two top tier attractions in each park, guests can only purchase one Genie+ pass per attraction per day. In other words, you will not be able to book the Lighting Lane twice for Seven Dwarves Mine Train.This seems like a temporary restriction to me that may lift as they system rolls out.

Bottom Line

In all, as a Disney fan I’m a bit perturbed to have to pay for a privilege that was previously included in my guest experience, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with ticket price hikes, but at the same time it is on track with industry trends. If your family opts for the Genie+ upgrade it could add considerable cost to your trip. It may all come down to personal preference and how you like to experience the parks. We like the flexibility of the parkhopper passes, and others think it’s a great waste of money. It’s all up to you. For me, I remain cautiously optimistic about the new system. Time will tell.

Beyond Rides: Walt Disney World Entertainment Offerings Part 2

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Yesterday I discussed how devastating the pandemic was for Walt Disney World park entertainment. Massive layoffs, and safety requirements have resulted in an uneven and stilted park experience. I touched on each park’s signature events as well as character experiences. Today I want to talk about the rest of the park offerings – parades and other shows.

Parades

Parades have become another victim of the pandemic in the world of Disney and in this case, I believe its more of a business decision, than a safety one. As I noted above, some of the evening shows have returned, but the parades haven’t. Why? Probably because parades require a lot of entertainment staff to run.

Magic Kingdom

In Magic Kingdom there were a few regular parades. The first was Festival of Fantasy which was a spectacular, puppet based parade with dancing and was an absolute fan favorite. I continue to hear grumblings from guests wondering when it will return. I agree, it would be a shame to see this parade be a victim of the pandemic or budget cuts. It was amazing with excellent costumes and choreography. Will it return? Time will tell.

The second most famous parade at Magic Kingdom was a nighttime light show parade. Originally it was the Main Street Electrical Parade, and then later with updated equipment SpectroMagic! It was a stellar and dazzling show which last ran in 2016, and I’m glad I got to see it. There is a lot of speculation about a return to a nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, but taking a purely business view there is no argument for it since the park is already packed for the end of day fireworks display. I think this may be a case of it being lost to Disney history.

The last genre of parades at Magic Kingdom generally fall into what I would call a generic character parade. Basically the main goal being that guests see as many characters as possible, with some not even offering meet and greets in the parks. I would bet my house this type of parade returns. How TBD, but there are a few ideas. In the past, one format was a dance party format where the characters actually stopped and guests could dance with them. We did this with my daughter and it was an absolute delight. This is a simple endeavor and likely a less expensive option. The second is along the lines of Celebrate a Dream Come True, which was a float based character parade with a uniting theme. This did incorporate more fanfare and dancers than the simple dance party parade, so it may be a delayed endeavor. The existence of these parades seems directly coupled with minor classic character based shows that pop up in front of the castle throughout the day in Magic Kingdom, as I think they use the same cast members to run. My best guess is they will both return in Spring of 2022 likely with a 50th Anniversary theme.

One more add to parades in Magic Kingdom are the seasonal offering parades which are part of their after hour special events. These parades are Halloween and Christmas themed respectively, and are returning this year for their events.

EPCOT

EPCOT has not had a parade for many years, and I don’t anticipate one returning. EPCOT is currently undergoing a several year make over however, so I suppose anything is possible.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has not had a parade since 2014 when it retired Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade. This parade was a festive one that was based around puppets and percussion. It was enjoyable. However, the park is very narrow and basically shut down traffic for the whole park during the parade. I don’t foresee any sort of parade element returning to this park.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has never really been known for its parades. There have been a few show lived ones over the years to highlight the popular thing at the time like Frozen or Star Wars. The longest lived most recent parade was Stars and Motor Cars, a character focused parade that was revamped a few times for anniversary celebrations. I don’t anticipate any new parades for this park unless again it’s a marketing focused highlight.

Other shows

My last category here are other shows in the parks. Some are fan favorites, and are do not miss. Others are more focused on your specific tastes and age.

Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a 3D interactive movie. And it’s here to stay as it just underwent a recent update that included music from the movie Coco. There are a few other “shows” that consist of animatronic characters and to my knowledge all are open including the classic Tiki Room, Country Bear Jamboree and the Hall of Presidents with the recent inclusion of President Joe Biden.

I mentioned earlier about short daytime character based shows in front of the castle. These are still suspended as far as I can tell, but I would expect them to return.

Enchanted Tales with Belle is an audience interactive show that is a must for any Belle fan. It is currently shut down, and because of the nature of the show I don’t anticipate it opening until Spring 2022 at the earliest.

Lastly, The Dapper Dans, a barbershop quartet can be seen wandering Main Street USA. They are a Disney fan favorite.

EPCOT

The entertainment charm of EPCOT for me is the various cultural shows in World Showcase including bellydancers, drummers and acrobats. At writing, some are performing and others have yet to return. The Music of Mexico, Matsuriza (Japanese drumming) are currently available as well as the excellent Voices of Liberty in the American Pavilion. I have heard rumors that much of the international performers and cast members have not been able to come to or remain in the United States due to the pandemic. For me, as an epic EPCOT fan, this is a huge highlight of any trip and a true loss. I hope this is resolved and these cast members return soon.

Finally, American Experience is another one of those animatronic shows, as is The Carousel of Progress. Both are operating. Neither is a must, but both provide a good place to take a break in air conditioning.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has several shows, some of which are open. A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King has re-opened and is a must see. Sadly, I watched the premier and many of the original elements that required specialized talents are missing including the acrobatic monkeys and the flying element of the birds. I suspect budget cuts, but I hope this is a temporary change. Still an excellent show to watch.

Finding Nemo The Musical an excellent production with puppets and original score remains closed. I was sad to learn that it will not be returning. However, my mood brightened when I learned they intend to revamp it. My best guess? Much of the cast was original from when it premiered and they will be replaced, instead opting for a whole new cast and show that incorporates elements from Finding Dory. Premier date TBD.

Feathered Friends in Flight! is an educational and entertaining bird show. Many skip this but it’s something, in its older iterations, that my family has always enjoyed. It runs a few times during the day and is open.

I already mentioned the new kite show called Disney KiteTails! that is open but experiencing multiple issues at the moment. It’s a brief 10 minutes and may make for a good mid-day break, though I don’t recall much shade there and it could be very hot.

Lastly the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe are always great. I don’t see evidence of them on the Disney website, so at writing they don’t seem to present. I hope they return.

Hollywood Studios

Beauty and the Beast Live! on Stage is a fan favorite and recently returned to Hollywood Studios. As has the comical and entertaining For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration. I would recommend seeing both unless you aren’t a princess fan.

For those with little ones, Disney Junior show is occurring multiple times a day with an emphasis on dancing with characters.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a puppet based and live action experience. It has its fans, but has become quite dated over the years and I don’t anticipate it opening again.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is just as described, and a lot of fun, but currently remains closed. It has been reported that the cast has been called back and there is an anticipated opening in late 2021.

TL/DR

In all, although more is opening, there is still a lot missing from the Walt Disney World Parks in the entertainment category including two end of day shows and most character experiences. For me, it’s enough to hold out visiting until things return to “normal” and hope that the parks don’t permanently close some of my favorites.

Beyond Rides: Walt Disney World Entertainment Part 1

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One of the most difficult things during the pandemic park re-opening is the lack of entertainment offerings. Some of it is practical, for safety measures. Others seem to be offline indefinitely due to business decisions. There were massive layoffs during the park shutdown and they have not brought back many of the cast members. For this reason, I would caution against a park visit at this time until at least more of these offerings have returned. Here are some of my favorite entertainment highlights and their current or predicted status in each park.

Character Experiences

Character meet and greets as well as character dining have been suspended. This to me is one of the most heartbreaking park casualties of the pandemic. Character experiences are some my most treasured memories and I honestly can’t imagine a trip without them. From my daughter comparing her wings to Tink’s, to a restaurant wide Princess parade these are some of my most magical park moments.

What Disney has offered instead is a sort of socially distanced wave scenario from balconies as well as character cavalcades, basically a small parade where characters walk down the street. They are brief with little fanfare. Good in a pinch, but not exactly an adequate replacement.

It’s not a matter of if, but when these experiences will return. At writing, the virus has mercifully begun to wain and I am optimistic for a return of character interaction in the Spring of 2022.

Signature Shows

Each park has and end of day nighttime spectacular to cap off your visit. Each is unique from display to medium, making each one a must see.

Magic Kingdom

In Magic Kingdom there is the fireworks at the castle. On October 1, 2021 Walt Disney World premiered their new 50th Anniversary Celebration fireworks show called Disney Enchantment. Using a number of projections on the castle and surrounding spires, as well as Main Street USA buildings, the show combines music, pyrotechnics and images to dazzle crowds. Die hard Disney fans have given the new show a mixed review, with many citing that a historical celebration should give a nod to Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse – neither of whom appear in the show – but I think most guests will enjoy the display. This show will presumably be in place for 18 months during the 50th Anniversary Celebration which places it all the way through 2023.

EPCOT

In EPCOT, they launched a soft opening of a new nighttime spectacular called HarmoniUS that takes place in the World Showcase Lagoon. Reception to this show has been universally warm, and having watched the live stream myself it is indeed, impressive. The show uses large floating barges with LED screens and fountains, along with pyrotechnics and music to celebrate all the cultures and continents in the World Showcase. In my humble opinion, it is a worthy replacement to the much beloved IllumiNations show.

Animal Kingdom

In Animal Kingdom, Rivers of Light is a nighttime show also on water using a series of boats, and fountains that are utilized as screens. Combining lights and music it’s truly a spectacular display that I saw myself and loved it. This show has not returned since re-opening however, and it was recently announced it is being discontinued. My best guess is there is a new show in development, unless Disney has entirely given up on their nighttime experiment at Animal Kingdom that seemed to have never really taken off. In the meantime, they are offering guests a short ten minute daytime kite based show in the same venue called Disney KiteTails for the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Unfortunately, the show is off to a rocky start with kite entanglements and wave runner accidents. Watch this space. At writing there is no evening show at Animal Kingdom.

Hollywood Studios

Which brings me to the final park, Hollywood Studios. On our last visit Hollywood Studios was offering not just one, but two separate nighttime shows. The first is Fantasmic, which was really Walt Disney World’s first attempt of combining water and storytelling. It’s a Disney classic and remained in high demand ever since its premiere in 1998. This makes it the most dated of all the nighttime shows. Since it is not expected to return until 2022 at the earliest, I think it’s safe to say it will return with some updates, if it returns at all. Seems logical after this prolonged, multi-year shutdown to re-imagine the show into something else that better reflects the direction that the park is now going, which was entirely different in 1998.

The second show was a pyrotechnic spectacular with projections on the Chinese Theater that was Star Wars themed. This was always intended to be a short lived show, but I’m glad I got to see it. The new pyrotechnic show is entitled Wonderful World of Animation which premiered in 2019 and returned in August 2021. It combines animation from both Disney and Pixar with music and pyrotechnics.

Tomorrow I will continue this discussion including parades and other shows.

The FastPass System at Walt Disney World is No More – Now What?

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The FastPass System, a skip the line service at Walt Disney World resort which let you book attractions ahead of time for free literally saved my trips. We hate waiting in line, and using the interactive FastPass system, coupled with the excellent TouringPlans app, helped us maximize our time. So much so in fact, we never waited more than 20 minutes for any given attraction. Is this even possible with the new line system? Let’s find out.

To first find out what the TouringPlans system would do for me I created a dummy trip for November 2021. This system uses real time and predictive data based on historic trends to maximize your time in the parks. It allows you to add and subtract any attraction, reservation or pit stop, and arranges your schedule to reduce wait times. This system even reacts in real time while you are in the parks, and has seriously saved us so much time and headache over our last few trips. I can’t recommend it enough.

Putting in a number of things, the system spit out a decent itinerary, but included several attractions with waits upwards of an hour, with a half dozen or so in the half hour range on a day when lower crowds are expected. This is exactly what I want to avoid. In addition, many attractions and parades remain closed indefinitely due to Covid-19. It’s one of the reasons I am planning a trip in late 2022, in hopes that most of that will be resolved by then.

To manage crowds, Disney World has put in place a park reservation system. What does that mean? In order to enter a park you must reserve the park ahead of time. For planners like me, this is a minor inconvenience, but it’s something to take note of as it is in effect until at least the beginning of 2023. Guests report that unless you are going during peak travel times, you are unlikely to run into a park that is fully booked. You can check park availability here. It’s important to book these reservations as early as possible, as the entire system including dining reservations depends on whether you are reserved in the park that day.

It seems that the first and last hours in the parks remain the least crowded and the best times to squeeze in some of those signature attractions. Extra Magic Hours are sadly, gone, but those who stay on property will enjoy an extra half hour in the morning for entry in all four parks. Those in Deluxe resorts or higher will enjoy an additional two hours on select evenings. How valuable this is remains to be seen.

Guests report that lines tend to equalize by mid-day, and indeed that is what the TouringPlans system indicated as well. Problem is, even in these circumstances some lines remain long at a half hour or more. Weekends are noticeably more crowded now and most trip planners suggest avoiding them altogether, in addition to holidays.

To solve some lines, Disney is offering their new Genie system, that seems to work similarly to the interactive TouringPlans system that I know and love. However, the line estimations provided by Disney Parks are notoriously off, and that system seems to not have been improved, leading to inaccurate planning. Still, you can pay a premium for what they are calling Genie+ and skip the lines similar to the original free FastPass System. Is this worth it? I’m not sure. But I intend to find out.

As of writing the new Genie system is still not launched, though the official word is “fall 2021.” For a full updated discussion on the system check out this post on the Disney Tourist Blog.

Planning a Trip for 2022

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It’s been a long time since I have been fully immersed in all things Disney and so much has changed. There have been park closures, ride shut downs, show cancellations, massive layoffs and more thanks to the pandemic. But, as we look towards 2022, the future looks brighter than ever for DisneyParks, as Disney World celebrates its 50th anniversary with all sorts of new offerings for guests.

This is why I am toying with a visit next year. My family of three has not been to the parks since the opening of the fantastic Star Wars area. Since my husband in a HUGE Star Wars fan, it seems almost criminal that we haven’t gone. I am considering a visit during November or December, when the parks are decorated for the Holiday season. The last time we visited during this time it was just my husband and I and we had a wonderful time. There were many special events, all of which were included with admission. I am a Christmas fanatic so it seems only fitting to visit then.

Because so much time has passed, almost 10 years since our last holiday visit, and 5 since our last visit to the parks, I feel like I’m starting from scratch. So I thought I would have you all follow along with me as we plan our next big Disney adventure. Let’s get going.

Can You Save on a Last Minute Disney Trip?

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So many people plan for a long time for their Disney vacations – and they should. It’s a large expense especially for families and with many others going, it can be difficult to get reservations for dining and attractions that you prefer. So what happens when you decide to plan a trip last minute?

Well, my family recently found out when we threw a Walt Disney World trip together in less than a month. The sudden rush was due to a number of reasons, but namely it was due to my husband changing jobs. We had a small window time to take a vacation, and didn’t have much time to research. Since we had meticulously planned our previous trip, and I have consistently followed along with the changes in the parks, a trip to Walt Disney World ended up being an easy plug and play solution. Continue reading →

How I Paid for my Disney Vacation

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It’s all fine and dandy to read savings tips on how to pay for a trip, but without real numbers it’s sometimes difficult to understand so I wanted to lay out how my family of three – two adults and a toddler – paid for our 8 day trip to Disneyworld in April 2016.

First off, we put down a $200 deposit immediately upon our dates opening up (the minimum required for booking and totally refundable), and stayed flexible. This allowed our travel agent to easily take advantage of new promotions, while remaining in the hotel room we wanted. We ended up changing our touring plans three times, ultimately saving 15% off our hotel stay, and receiving one day free with the purchase of our 4 day park tickets.

Our total cost for tickets and hotel room is: $2126.67

I chipped away at that number – which is nearly twice what my family normally pays for a week’s vacation – a number of ways.

Continue reading →

Prepping for Disney: What to Pack

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Packing for a Disney trip brings up some unique challenges. Here are a few key items you should bring.

  1. A cinch backpack to get through security more quickly. All bags and wallets are searched – the fewer pockets the better.
  2. A cellphone charger and cable. Disney app is great until your cell battery is dead. Be prepared.
  3. Sunscreen/hat/sunglasses
  4. Change of clothes (especially socks)
  5. Swimsuit
  6. Refillable beverage containers. Water is free and readily available in any park. Drinking a lot in the hot Florida weather is very important.
  7. Rain gear. Ponchos are a great idea for that famous Florida afternoon shower. Also a good solution for wet rides. We bought ours at Dollar Tree, but if you’re expecting a lot of rain you may want to upgrade to a sturdier option. A stroller cover or an umbrella may be a good option for guests in wheelchairs.
  8. Hand held or stroller fans are a great idea. If you want a misting fan, bite the bullet and get the one in the parks. I hear great feedback on them, and if they malfunction or break they will replace them.
  9. A pad for the stroller that will help keep little ones cool.
  10. A FrogTogg towel which cools as it dries.
  11. Something for characters to autograph. Autograph books are the classic way to capture characters’ autographs. They are cheaper and readily available on ebay, as well as the Disney store. But if you want to be more unique you can bring something else for characters to sign. For us we are bringing a large canvas letter of our daughter’s first name so we can hang it on the wall when we return. Others bring bags, pillow cases, or even photo mats to sign. Another idea is to bring a storybook and have the character sign where their story is in the book.
  12. Glowing and light up items for nighttime activities. This is a great pro tip. Bringing these items at home – mostly from the dollar store – will save you a LOT of money. Bring some to share and you’ll be a hero.
  13. Good walking shoes. Leave the flip flops at home. You will be walking several miles at Walt Disney World by no stretch of the imagination. You need something with support. Bringing an extra pair and switching every other day will help keep your feet comfortable and dry.
  14. Snacks. I’ve been on the hunt for Disney themed snacks for a while. I found boxes of cookies at Dollar Tree that were Disney branded. I found packs of freeze dried apples on Amazon. And applesauce pouches and Mickey shaped veggie chips at Target.
  15. Cleaned pennies and quarters. My daughter absolutely loves pressed pennies. There are MANY of these machines throughout the parks so I knew this needed to be part of our experience. It makes for a great cheap souvenir too. I cleaned the pennies and then stacked them in a mini M&Ms container which seems like they made just for this task. Pennies are also great to carry to throw in various wishing wells and fountains throughout the parks.
  16. Things to occupy kids during travel. Coloring books, and a loaded up tablet will keep kids occupied. Don’t forget snacks, favorite toys, change of clothes and diaper needs.
  17. Things to occupy kids during line waiting. Looking for hidden Mickeys will only take you so far. I picked up this eye spy sort of game at Target. I also plan on taking a small container of bubbles.
  18. Necklace for a pearl from Japan. Picking an oyster and finding a pearl inside in Japan is one my cherished childhood memories of Walt Disney World. The necklaces available to contain your pearl are quite pricey. Thankfully, you can purchase a similar necklace on etsy for much less. Saved me quite a bit.
  19. Princess dress. If you are bringing small children, dress up items are a must. The parks do sell these items, most exclusive to the parks which means a lot more money. Priced at more than $100 in some cases, I knew I had to bring along some dress up. I ended up stalking the sales at the Disney store and got two dresses (Elsa and Rapunzel) for $50 total. High quality dresses can also be found at JCPenney. Dressing up ensures your children will be treated like the special royalty they are, but always keep comfort in mind.

Ask r/WaltDisneyWorld: Where do you find respite in the parks?

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I’m a member of Reddit (aka the front page of the internet) which allows people to share information and converse around common interests. A great Reddit group is the topic r/WaltDisneyWorld. Whenever I can’t find an answer to a specific question I ask them and they give me their honest answers.

So today’s question is: Where in the parks do you find respite?

With their ever growing popularity, the parks can get super crowded, even during slower shoulder seasons, and sometimes we just need a break. Whether you have a small napping child, want to relax yourself, or literally recharge (your phone that is) here are a few good places. Continue reading →