Touring Plans

Walt Disney World at Christmas Time

/ Vanessa / Leave a comment

How do you make the most magical place on earth even more magical? Go during a holiday celebration of course!

It has been a decade since I visited Walt Disney World resorts during the holiday season, but the memories are still very fresh in my mind. It was a special and magical last minute trip that I would recommend to anyone as a return visitor.

The first question when visiting during the holiday season is when will the parks and resorts be decorated? The answer varies, but usually by the second week in November, as that is when the Magic Kingdom begins hosting their special Christmas afterhours event. This year it’s called Disney Very Merriest After Hours. More on that later. The decorations last through the end of the year.

Crowd calendars are very important this time of year as some days are the busiest in the park the entire year. However, there are a lot of pockets of lower crowds during November and December which make for great weeks to visit. Check out this crowd calendar for more.

Magic Kingdom

The decorations during the holiday season are most notable in Magic Kingdom. Main Street, USA is just beautiful. Some rides have Christmas theme overlays including the famous Jungle Cruise that transforms into the Jingle Cruise. Ride at night to enjoy the lights. A few other rides include a holiday overlay including Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.

Typically Cinderella castle gets a iced overlay of beautiful white lights. The lights are usually illuminated with some fanfare with Elsa. It’s a cute little show at the castle stage worth catching. However, due to the 50th Anniversary Celebration these decorations will not return in 2021. My best guess is that they return in 2023. There is usually a holiday themed end of day fireworks display, which also may take a backseat to the 50th Anniversary Celebration this year.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours occurs in the Magic Kingdom after it closes to day guests, running from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Ticket holders are let into the parks at 7 p.m. however, and no Magic Kingdom ticket, outside of the pricey event ticket, is required. Included in the event is holiday festivities, character greetings, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, holiday attraction overlays, and more. Also Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade will occur which is notable since all parades have ceased operation since the pandemic began. This parade also may occur during Christmas week for regular Magic Kingdom guests.

EPCOT

EPCOT also gets dressed up for the holidays as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Small huts around World Showcase offer seasonal snacks and treats from around the world. My favorite thing out of the huts on last visit was getting gingerbread from a giant life sized gingerbread house in the American Pavilion. So fun! Holiday Storytellers also make a special appearance, most of whom are each country’s version of Santa Claus. There are two other special performances. Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season begins at the end of the November and runs through December. Its future in 2021 and beyond is uncertain. The other show is Candlelight Processional which is confirmed to be returning in 2021. I had the pleasure of attending this at my last holiday visit. This is a choral, Christian based show. It’s not for everyone, but we enjoyed it. I would recommend getting a dinner package as we did, so you don’t end up spending hours in line queuing up for it.

Hollywood Studios

In Hollywood Studios projections and some oversized baubles decorate the park. But the big highlight here is a special holiday themed character dining at Hollywood and Vine called Minnie’s Holiday Dine which gets good reviews. The end of day fireworks show also gets a holiday update, but what happens in 2021 is anyone’s guess.

Animal Kingdom

In Animal Kingdom, holiday displays have always been muted, outside of the spectacular and huge Christmas tree at the entrance. A few years ago, however, Disney upped their game and the park was transformed into a celebration of winter. There are hand-crafted holiday decorations including colorful, animal-inspired luminaries on the rooftops, wireframe bird-shaped lanterns, and themed garland. But the real highlight appears to be a new puppet menagerie in which performers intermingle with guests with winter themed animal puppets. The puppets did not appear in 2020 and it is unclear whether they will appear in 2021 or beyond. (I hope so!)

Disney Springs

Disney Springs, a Disney owned outdoor mall and entertainment complex, features a wonderful Christmas tree stroll which showcases trees themed around Disney characters. Because this is a mall, expect it to be very crowded on weekends. Best times to avoid crowds are Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The hours of 6 to 8 p.m. are busiest.

Disney Hotels and Resorts

Perhaps my favorite thing to do though during the holidays is visiting all the Disney resorts and their spectacular decorations. Touring hotels may sound silly until you realize all the modes of transportation you take and the extent of theming and decorations they have. Plus, they have excellent restaurants on their own. Gigantic Christmas trees, seasonal trees and so much gingerbread. All of this without paying a park ticket. For a full breakdown on how best to make a whole day (or two!) out of touring the resorts (and you should!) check out this excellent guide at the Disney Tourist Blog.

Walt Disney World Touring Plan: Hollywood Studios updated with Genie+

/ Vanessa / Leave a comment

Please note: Walt Disney World operations continue to be in a state of flux. For recommendations about visiting Walt Disney World right now please visit WDW Prep School.

Although a visit to Walt Disney World is a vacation, it’s like no other vacation you’ve ever taken. Considering the expense, the last thing you want to do is spend your days waiting in lines. Having a solid touring plan for each park is a must. That way you can prioritize your “must sees” and get the most bang for your buck.

That said, if you are someone who likes to go with the flow and be more casual about planning, Disney’s new free Genie tool will help. Or you can use the excellent TouringPlans system which costs $18 for full features for a year. In essence for either system you put in your “to do” list and it optimizes your plans based on walking, wait times, and real time crowds. I seriously cannot endorse TouringPlans enough and wouldn’t go on a Walt Disney World trip without it. Their app’s wait time accuracy is unmatched, whereas Disney’s free wait time system is often wrong.

Generally, avoid lines means arriving at the parks early. Being there at park opening aka “rope drop” allows you to squeeze in some top attractions before lines build. Conversely, you can usually get on some high demand rides with minimal wait very late in the day right before closing, or during fireworks presentations. These tactics are tried and true regardless of what system is currently in place for Disney park guests. Please note that many parks open upwards of 45 minutes ahead of the posted time, and if you stay on property you can enjoy an additional half hour early entry to any park each day. That means an even more early arrival (I know, groan).

In Hollywood Studios there are six attractions that can garner long lines:

  • Tower of Terror
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad

To avoid the lines you can use a strategy of early arrival/late day boarding, Genie+ and premium Lightening Lane.

For early arrival and/or late night strategy consider the following:

Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror

or

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad

or

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Included in the new Genie+ pass system which costs $15 per person per day is:

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
  • Disney Jr. Dance Party
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – Returning December 19, 2021
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
  • Toy Story Mania!

The two premium top tier attractions that are priced separately on a surge pricing basis are:

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Special Note on Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

This new area remains wildly popular, and although you no longer have to reserve a time to actually visit it (thank goodness), it is a good idea to plan, especially if it’s a priority for you.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance remains a ridiculously in demand experience. To attempt to get a spot for a boarding group for free try at 7 a.m. via the MyDisney Experience app. New slots open up again at 1 p.m. but you must be in the park to register for the 1 p.m. release. If you are unsuccessful, this is one case where it’s worth the premium fee to skip the line and experience the attraction. Wait times can easily soar to upwards of two hours.

Once you secure your Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance, do non-attraction experiences first thing in the morning including building a lightsaber (fee), building a droid (fee), visiting the Cantina, and shopping. Please note you can reserve a time slot for both droid and lightsaber building to avoid the lines. These fill up quickly so reserve ahead of time. In addition, shopping can get jammed. Using the mobile app will help you check out faster.

Take photos and explore the area a bit, following along with the Play Disney App, an interactive game based app, as you go. Then jump into line for Smugglers Run, but be prepared for a wait unless you sprung for the line skipping Genie+ system. When your boarding group is called, take a spin on Rise of the Resistance.

The rest of your day can unfold in however you like. Use your planning apps for the best experience. One attraction of note: Frozen Sing – a – long has been reportedly filling quickly and thus better to catch earlier, rather than later in the day. Also noteworthy both Rock n Rollercoaster and Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run offer single rider lanes which always go quicker than regular standby lanes if you are willing to go alone.

Here’s a full round up of the attractions at Hollywood Studios:

  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Star Tours – 4D flight simulator (moving room – bumpy but not crazy) A family favorite.
  • Muppet Vision 3D – 4D theater show with 3D glasses
  • Frozen Sing A Long – Fun Frozen show with slapstick comedy. Snow at the end. We always enjoy it. 
  • Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad – fun cartoon themed dark ride
  • Toy Story Mania – interactive laser gun game ride
  • Slinky Dog Dash – mild, family friendly roller coaster
  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Rockin’ Rollercoaster – inverted thrilling coaster in the dark
  • Tower of Terror – freefall ride.

Shows:

Beauty and the Beast – Lovely live show with great singing and dancing

Indiana Jones Stunt Show – fun shows behind the scenes look at movie making. Lots of fire and explosions. Currently slated to return by end of 2021.

End of Day show – Fantasmic is on hiatus (and is speculated it may not return). World of Animation fireworks display is every night at the Chinese Theater.

Walt Disney World Touring Plan: Magic Kingdom updated with Genie+

/ Vanessa / Leave a comment

Please note: Walt Disney World operations continue to be in a state of flux. For recommendations about visiting Walt Disney World right now please visit WDW Prep School.

Although a visit to Walt Disney World is a vacation, it’s like no other vacation you’ve ever taken. Considering the expense, the last thing you want to do is spend your days waiting in lines. Having a solid touring plan for each park is a must. That way you can prioritize your “must sees” and get the most bang for your buck.

That said, if you are someone who likes to go with the flow and be more casual about planning, Disney’s new free Genie tool will help. Or you can use the excellent TouringPlans system which costs $18 for full features for a year. In essence for either system you put in your “to do” list and it optimizes your plans based on walking, wait times, and real time crowds. I seriously cannot endorse TouringPlans enough and wouldn’t go on a Walt Disney World trip without it. Their app’s wait time accuracy is unmatched, whereas Disney’s free wait time system is often wrong.

Magic Kingdom, and its iconic castle, is what most think of when they think of Walt Disney World. And for good reason. There are few places that are as steeped in magic and fantasy as this place. The park is massive, and I strongly recommend two full days at this park.

There are several attractions here that garner long lines. They are:

  • Seven Dwarves Mine Train
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Splash Mountain
  • Space Mountain
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • It’s a small world.
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Astro Orbitor
  • Tomorrowland Speedway

As you can see, it’s a long list. Magic Kingdom is one place it may make sense to spring for the premium line skipping pass called Genie+, especially on busy days.

The Genie+ pass system, which costs $15 per person per day includes:

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Splash Mountain
  • The Barnstormer
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

This pass however, will not include two headline attractions. These two attractions will be a separate cost to skip lines and be on a surge based pricing system. They are:

  • Seven Dwarves Mine Train
  • Space Mountain

For an early morning arrival/late night strategy I would consider:

Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean

or

Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion

or

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain

or

Space Mountain

You could also try your chances with Seven Dwarves Mine Train, but this may be a case where it’s worth the one off fee, especially if you don’t purchase the Genie+ pass. Remember, I suggest two days at this park, so you will have two opportunities to take advantage of short lines. There is a lot of ground to cover in this park so a plan is a must, otherwise you end up criss-crossing the massive park and waiting in lines for no reason. Keep a list in mind of must-dos in your family and make them a priority. I’ve been to the parks several times and still have not ridden everything simply because although fine, there are other attractions that take priority for me.

In addition, a good strategy is to go early, stay through mid day, and then take a break during the afternoon when the heat and the crowds are the worst. Take a nap. Rest and relax. Return at dinner and stay until the early hours of the next day.

Here’s a full roundup of the attractions at Magic Kingdom:

Rides are listed clockwise around the park.

  • The Flying Carpets – tame circular ride
  • The Tiki Room – a classic animatronic bird show – you either love it or hate it. (We love it.)
  • Jungle Cruise – hilarious boat ride with corny jokes
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – dark boat ride with mild flume
  • Haunted Mansion – slow moving dark ride. Intro goes black with screaming and can be frightening.
  • Hall of Presidents – Animatronic show of speeches – go if you need a rest
  • Thunder Mountain Railroad – mild roller track coaster
  • Splash Mountain – long flume ride – big drop.
  • Country Bear Jamboree – Enjoyable, hokey animatronic bear show.
  • It’s a Small World – Classic boat ride with annoying music
  • Peter Pan’s Flight – Flying ships above a dark ride display
  • Royal Carousel – historic carousel originally from NJ. Find the horse with the gold tassel – that’s Cinderella’s.
  • Mickey’s Philharmagic – 4-D Show with 3D glasses
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle – Audience helps tell the tale of Beauty and the Beast with Belle. Great facetime with Belle if you have a Belle fan, otherwise not a must do. Currently on hiatus
  • 7 Dwarves Mine Train – A very brief mild but fun roller coaster
  • Adventures with Winnie the Pooh – cute car that very mildy “bounces” and rocks along with the characters.
  • Journey with the Little Mermaid – Ride a shell car under the sea.
  • The Barnstormer – mild kiddie coaster
  • Dumbo – classic flying elephant
  • Tomorrowland Speedway – drive a car around the track. Always popular but not a fav of ours.
  • Astro Orbiter – another flying in a circle
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Shoot laser guns to win points while riding in a car. 
  • Tomorrowland People Mover – go in a small car for a tour of Tomorrowland. Mild and often lame, it’s a fav of ours – takes you through Space Mountain. They will allow you to stay on with sleeping children for several go arounds. 
  • Carousel of Progress – animatronic show that talks about history. Transitions with a catchy song.
  • Monsters Inc Laugh Floor – Animated character interacts live with audience
  • Space Mountain – indoor dark roller coaster ride

Shows/Parades:

  • Move It! Shake It! – Held twice daily where guests dance with characters. On hiatus.
  • Festival of Fantasy Parade – on hiatus – will it return?
  • Castle Show – Held several times daily. On hiatus.
  • End of Day show – Disney’s Enchantment. Fireworks coupled with music and castle projections. Amazing – don’t miss 

Walt Disney World Touring Plan: EPCOT updated with Genie+

/ Vanessa / Leave a comment

Please note: Walt Disney World operations continue to be in a state of flux. For recommendations about visiting Walt Disney World right now please visit WDW Prep School.

Although a visit to Walt Disney World is a vacation, it’s like no other vacation you’ve ever taken. Considering the expense, the last thing you want to do is spend your days waiting in lines. Having a solid touring plan for each park is a must. That way you can prioritize your “must sees” and get the most bang for your buck.

That said, if you are someone who likes to go with the flow and be more casual about planning, Disney’s new free Genie tool will help. Or you can use the excellent TouringPlans system which costs $18 for full features for a year. In essence for either system you put in your “to do” list and it optimizes your plans based on walking, wait times, and real time crowds. I seriously cannot endorse TouringPlans enough and wouldn’t go on a Walt Disney World trip without it. Their app’s wait time accuracy is unmatched, whereas Disney’s free wait time system is often wrong.

Generally, avoid lines means arriving at the parks early. Being there at park opening aka “rope drop” allows you to squeeze in some top attractions before lines build. Conversely, you can usually get on some high demand rides with minimal wait very late in the day right before closing, or during fireworks presentations. These tactics are tried and true regardless of what system is currently in place for Disney park guests. Please note that many parks open upwards of 45 minutes ahead of the posted time, and if you stay on property you can enjoy an additional half hour early entry to any park each day. That means an even more early arrival (I know, groan).

EPCOT is my favorite park, and is currently undergoing a serious makeover and expansion. I like to think of the park in two. The first being the front which is very ride focused, and the second being the World Showcase in the rear of the park. The former is what most think of when they are looking to do amusement park attractions, and the latter showcases different countries around the world with music, food, shopping and other cultural highlights.

There are only a few attractions that garner long wait times in EPCOT. They are:

  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Soarin’ Around the World

Living with the Land and Gran Fiesta Tour can also get long, but in my experience it’s just a matter of timing. I’ve ridden both several times in a row late at night. Spaceship Earth, since it’s the first ride everyone sees, is very busy in the morning. However, by mid afternoon there rarely is a long wait. Hit it on the way out of the park.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a brand new attraction that opened in October 2021. Just like any new ride, expect major delays. I experienced this myself when Frozen Ever After opened.

To cut down on wait times, Disney has implemented a virtual queue strategy. Essentially, you put your slot in line virtually and come to the attraction when your time slot is called. Virtual queues have usually opened day of via the MyDisney Experience App at 7 a.m. EPCOT, like all parks, will be implementing the new Genie+ premium line jumping feature.

Attractions included in the Genie+ pass program at a cost of $15 per person, per day include:

  • Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Journey into Imagination with Figment
  • Living with the Land
  • Mission: SPACE – Green
  • Mission: SPACE – Orange
  • Soarin’
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Turtle Talk with Crush

In addition, two top tier attractions not included in the pass you will be able to purchase a line skipping option that is based on surge pricing.They are:

  • Frozen Ever After
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

My recommendation is attempt to get in the virtual queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure when it becomes available via the My Disney Experience App at 7 a.m. or try again at 1 p.m. If you are unsuccessful, spring for the line jumping pass on this one. Upon park opening I would head directly to Frozen Ever After. It is a hike – at the rear of the park. If you have zero interest in this ride do Test Track or Soarin’ Around the World instead. The rest in my opinion can be managed throughout the day with use of TouringPlans or the Genie app. It’s also noteworthy to mention that Test track offers a single rider line, which if you are willing to ride alone can significantly shorten your wait time on this ride.

Here’s a full round up of attractions at EPCOT:

  • Spaceship Earth – Slow moving dark ride that takes you up in the golf ball. A family favorite.
  • The Seas with Nemo and Friends – Go under water in a clamshell and visit with Nemo and real fish.
  • Aquariums in the Seas
  • Turtle Talk with Crush – Interactive animated Crush the turtle tells jokes and give educational facts to the audience.
  • Living with the Land – Ride a boat and learn about agriculture by going through greenhouses. My daughter absolutely loves this and we went on it three times at last visit, but it’s boring to some.
  • Soarin’ Around the World – Flight simulator. Takes you up 3 stories. Pretty mild thrills.
  • Mission to Mars – Space flight simulator. Intense.
  • Test Track – Hop in a car that takes you through vehicle testing ending with a 60 mph curve. Mildly thrilling. 
  • Journey to Imagination with Figment – an EPCOT classic
  • World Showcase – Visit countries from around the world, most experiences open at 11, but rides open earlier. You may want to purchase a passport which allows you to go up to cast members, who are from the respective countries, who will sign and stamp your passport and tell you about their culture/language. There is also a free color a Bear project for small children.
  • Frozen Ever After – A boat ride to Arendale. Mild backwards flume. 
  • Grand Fiesta Tour – A boat ride following Donald and his friends in Mexico 
  • American Experience – Animatronic historical show – good nap/rest spot
  • Several other displays and films in world showcase – all skippable.
  • Take time to explore the pavilions and shop. One key experience is to pick a pearl in Japan. It is done with much fanfare.

Shows:

Voices of Liberty – Excellent singers at the entrance to American Experience

Various cultural performances – Chinese acrobats, drummers in Japan – great if you catch them

End of Day – HarmoniUS shown on the lagoon.

Walt Disney World Touring Plans: Animal Kingdom updated with Genie+

/ Vanessa / Leave a comment

Please note: Walt Disney World operations continue to be in a state of flux. For recommendations about visiting Walt Disney World right now please visit WDW Prep School.

Although a visit to Walt Disney World is a vacation, it’s like no other vacation you’ve ever taken. Considering the expense, the last thing you want to do is spend your days waiting in lines. Having a solid touring plan for each park is a must. That way you can prioritize your “must sees” and get the most bang for your buck.

That said, if you are someone who likes to go with the flow and be more casual about planning, Disney’s new free Genie tool will help. Or you can use the excellent TouringPlans system which costs $18 for full features for a year. In essence for either system you put in your “to do” list and it optimizes your plans based on walking, wait times, and real time crowds. I seriously cannot endorse TouringPlans enough and wouldn’t go on a Walt Disney World trip without it. Their app’s wait time accuracy is unmatched, whereas Disney’s free wait time system is often wrong.

Generally, avoid lines means arriving at the parks early. Being there at park opening aka “rope drop” allows you to squeeze in some top attractions before lines build. Conversely, you can usually get on some high demand rides with minimal wait very late in the day right before closing, or during fireworks presentations. These tactics are tried and true regardless of what system is currently in place for Disney park guests. Please note that many parks open upwards of 45 minutes ahead of the posted time, and if you stay on property you can enjoy an additional half hour early entry to any park each day. That means an even more early arrival (I know, groan).

Animal Kingdom is probably my least favorite park. And that’s not to say it’s bad – it isn’t. It’s just an entirely different sort of experience. The highlights here are live animals, not rides. And the lush vegetation makes the park the hottest of the four. It also can make it extremely confusing to navigate. I’ve gotten lost in the park more times than I can count.

There are only a few attractions that garner a long wait here. They are:

  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Expedition Everest
  • Avatar Flight of Passage
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • Dinosaur

In my opinion you have two options at rope drope. One option is to head directly back to Kilamanjaro Safaris, which is a great idea since being one of the first vehicles through in the day pretty much gaurantees a very close animal encounter. On last visit we were stopped for quite a while because a giraffe was blocking the way. So fun.

The second option is to head directly to the Pandora area and ride either Avatar Flight of Passage or Na’vi River Journey. This was very new at last visit and I was unable to ride Flight of Passage as a result. The Na’vi River Journey was a very cool spectacle.

Included in the $15 per person per day Genie+ System is:

  • Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King
  • DINOSAUR
  • Feathered Friends in Flight!
  • It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Naʻvi River Journey
  • The Animation Experience

The two top tier attractions not included in the pass, but instead will have a one off fee are:

  • Avatar: Flight of Passage
  • Expedition Everest

My initial reaction is to spring for the surge pricing on Avatar: Flight of Passage, and take your chances with the rest. It’s also noteworthy to mention that Expedition Everest offers a single rider line, which if you are willing to ride alone can significantly shorten your wait time on this ride.

One thing that’s nice about Animal Kingdom is that it is more at your own pace. Much of what do here is seeing the animals themselves. I would advise seeing what you can early or later in the day. At peak heat the animals are smartly napping. Don’t forget about the excellent shows here as well.

Full attraction roundup:

  • Kilamanjaro Safaris – Go out in an open air animal safari in a Jeep. Best done in the morning when animals are most active.
  • Gorilla Walk
  • Bird Walk
  • Tiger Walk
  • Na’Vi River Journey – boat ride through Pandora at night
  • Avatar: Flight of Passage – mild thrill ride
  • Take time to explore the interactive features of Pandora – touch the plants.
  • Expedition Everest
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Triceratops Spin – Circular flying dinosaur
  • It’s Tough to Be a Bug – 4D show with 3D glasses in the Tree of Life
  • If you have time: Rafiki’s Planet Watch – barnyard petting zoo – train to it and back – easily an hour long excursion

Shows:

  • The Lion King – Amazing musical production – do not miss. Shoot for a later in the day show.
  • Nemo the Musical – Closed. To be replaced with a new Nemo themed show.
  • Feathered Friends in Flight – A fun bird show (birds often flight overhead)

Adding Magical Experiences: Spa Appointments for Kids and More at Walt Disney World

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This experience allows your child to get absolutely pampered. Hair, nails, basic make up – the works, and glitter. So. Much. Glitter.

This extremely popular experience is available in the castle at Magic Kingdom (hardest to get and often runs behind), Disney Springs and the Grand Floridian Resort.

We sprung for this for my daughter’s first park experience. There are several package levels starting at $75 on up to more than $450. (yikes!) You can also do a photo package after your little one is dressed up.

We booked my daughter at Disney Springs, which offered at the time a Princess parade for all salon guests for the day. This honestly is what my daughter enjoyed most. Right in the front of the parade with a banner waving to her adoring fans. It also included a free ride on the carousel there. I am not sure if any of this is still included as this was before the redevelopment of the area. We also did the photo shoot because for this trip, we sprung for the photo pass and these photos were included.

To save money, we bought a dress ahead of time. I purchased it at the Disney store on sale. The boutique offers exclusive versions of princess dresses, but my daughter didn’t care. A new dress was a new dress as far as she was concerned. The overall experience was pleasant and the salon attendants aka fairy godmothers kept it fun, but honestly my daughter just wasn’t that into it. It’s not something I would do again. That said, I would absolutely recommend having your child dress up in the parks at least one day as she received special treatment all day when she did so, which added a lot of magic to our trip.

The second salon experience called The Pirates League. Located in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom this salon was something that was much less known, (and less expensive!) but something my daughter enjoyed much more. And it was open to adults. Sadly, perhaps for these reasons, it closed in 2020, but I am hoping something equivalent becomes available. My daughter got a mermaid makeup application which was very unique. The theming of this salon was fantastic, and really felt like you were right in the middle of Pirates of the Caribbean. In addition, the pirate attendants were great and really hammed it up. At the end you did some initiation and found a treasure. It was a lot of fun, and my daughter absolutely loved it.

There are other more limited spa experiences for both kids and adults available at the Grand Floridian.

Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

/ Vanessa / Leave a comment

On October 2, 2021 the Magic Kingdom celebrated 50 years of operation. Walt Disney World Resorts are incorporating special offerings, events and attractions as part of the celebration. Some seem to be regular updates that just coincided with the anniversary, and others seem anniversary specific. In any event, these special offerings will be available on a rolling basis throughout the celebration slated to last 18 months. I will update this post on new offerings and related developments.

50th Anniversary Glow Ups

The iconic symbols of each park – the castle in the Magic Kingdom, the ball in EPCOT, the Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios, and the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom – all are getting a 50th Anniversary overlay including light projections Disney is calling Beacons of Magic. In some instances, the transformation was more dramatic like with the castle which got a new color paint, and ribbons added to the spires. The ball in EPCOT is especially beautiful with an enhanced LED light display. I call it a win.

There is also a smattering of decoration here and there throughout the parks like retro posters in the tunnels at Magic Kingdom.

New Shows

The Magic Kingdom and EPCOT both launched brand new end of day shows with music, pyrotechnics and light projections. Magic Kingdom’s is entitled Enchantment and features original music. The castle serves as the centerpiece for projections. In EPCOT it’s HarmoniUS which uses a barge system to display LEDs and fountains. Images portray an international vibe with signature Disney branding and original music.

Animal Kingdom launched KiteTails, a new daytime offering in the lagoon. However, this show at writing has been plagued with errors to an almost comical proportions and may be short lived.

Outside the parks in Disney Springs, Cirque Du Soleil’s new show, Drawn to Life, will make it’s debut in November 2021. I saw the last show there, and am looking forward to seeing this new one.

New Rides

The much anticipated Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT’s France Pavilion opened as part of the 50th celebration on October 2, 2021. Because it is an in demand experience, Disney World is currently operating it with a virtual queue. In it riders occupy a vehicle that looks like a mouse and experience the world from a mouse’s point of view.

Signature Song

The 50th Anniversary has a signature theme song which is featured prominently throughout the parks including in shows and cavalcades.

Statues

There are 50 golden character statues that have been placed among all four parks. These statues are rumored to have an interactive, augmented reality sort of element to them that work with premium MagicBands and apps. This interactive component has not launched yet.

Food

Of course there’s a food element. Throughout Magic Kingdom some classic dishes from 1971 have been brought back for an encore. There also are some signature cocktails honoring rides past. Mostly, however, the 50th Anniversary theming has been added to desserts in decoration. There are more than 150 different new food offerings in all.

Merchandise

There has been a ton of new merchandise launched for the 50th Anniversary including pins, ornaments, apparel, toys and sippers. At the moment, these items are the hottest ticket in town. However, I anticipate after a few months go by these items will be readily available.

Characters

Mickey and Minnie and the gang of course have special outfits on for the occasion. You can meet Mickey in his new digs at Hollywood Studios.

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.