Author: touringplans.com

We’re about to enter another holiday weekend and it’s already starting to show at Walt Disney World. Our team visited EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom yesterday and saw a visible increase in attendance. What we’re seeing so far mirrors the crowd levels we have in this weekend’s Crowd Calendar.

We’ve only encountered one other holiday weekend since Walt Disney World reopened. That weekend was Labor Day and at the time it was the busiest weekend we had seen since reopening. Since that time we have seen capacity and attendance increase at the parks. Tomorrow we are expecting a crowd level of 5 at Magic Kingdom and crowd level of 6 at EPCOT. This is shaping up to be the busiest weekend we’ve seen since the reopening.

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom the increased holiday weekend attendance increase coupled with physical distancing showed longer extended queues than we typically see. During midday the queue for Flight of Passage extended down the main walkway of Pandora. The average actual wait time for Flight of Passage yesterday was around 57 minutes. We are expecting attendance to pick up more over Saturday and Sunday of this weekend.

Over at EPCOT yesterday we noticed an uptick in attendance there too. This is not surprising, again since we are headed into a holiday weekend. Wait times were not significantly higher than other recent weekdays, but still enough of an uptick to be noticeable. Our teams are in the parks daily so we can tell when things are picking up, even just a little. Frozen Ever After’s average actual wait time yesterday was about 61 minutes.

One of the really unique things about our Lines App is that it shows Expected Wait Times, using real-time data. These Expected Wait Times are more accurate than Disney’s Posted Wait Times, making it possible for you to better plan your day, and maximize your time. This tool is important and helpful no matter when you visit, especially with there being limited attractions and entertainment in the parks right now.

We are seeing that theater-style attractions like Mickey’s PhilharMagic at Magic Kingdom and MuppetVision 3-D at Hollywood Studios are having their highest wait times of the year. If a theater attraction is on your must-do list you may want to visit it earlier in the morning. Due to capacity restrictions we are seeing wait times lengthen throughout the day. Use our Lines App to see which attractions are best to do right away and which ones you should wait until later in the day–even just an hour later can make a difference.

Social distancing and mask compliance continue to go well. However, if you do visit on a busy holiday weekend such as this one it does take some extra diligence to maintain distancing. Take breaks, get lunch shortly after 11:00 a.m. or wait until 2:00 p.m. or later. Regardless of when you eat, use mobile ordering. Sign up to become a TouringPlans Subscriber so you have all the know-how at your fingertips.

Have you ever visited Walt Disney World on a busy holiday weekend?

 

The post PHOTOS: Columbus Day Weekend Crowds Are Starting To Arrive – And Wait Times Are Increasing appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Epcot, In the Parks, Observations, Trip Planning, disney covid, disney crowds, disney reopening, disney wait times, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This week, see what Dani has to say about the layoff of thousands of Cast Members, we find out why you need to see this new artwork that’s found in the Disneyland Resort, and what Joe thinks of how the VelociCoaster will change the Orlando area, plus more.

What We’re Talking About – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors

It’s been an interesting back and forth. Right now, California Governor Gavin Newsom says that Disneyland and the other theme parks in the area are not going to be opening at any time soon. The governor is waiting until they see more stability in terms of the data that is coming in.

James has some thoughts: As someone looking forward to planning a trip to Disneyland upon its reopening, this news is a real disappointment, and my heart breaks for the thousands of cast members that still aren’t able to return to work as a result of the continued closure. With that said, I’ve been tracking this pretty closely, and it’s not particularly surprising given the blueprint California established for reopening businesses in the state. The way it’s structured, large theme parks like Disneyland would necessarily be among the last businesses to reopen in the absence of an exception being made. With THAT said, however, there’s an rising amount of increasingly public pressure being exerted for just such an exception, so we’ll have to see in the days and weeks ahead if that gains any traction.

The big discussion this week. I mean this is the news you’ve been waiting for….the age old question has been answered by the voice of Goofy himself, Bill Farmer….is Goofy a dog?

However, another odd bit came out from this article that has Natalie questioning things. She said: Farmer’s revelation that Goofy is not only NOT a dog but that he may have been involved with Jessica Rabbit is a bombshell I wasn’t prepared for, even in 2020. 

Jamie Foxx, returning as Electro in the next Spider-man film? But a different Electro than he previously portrayed? Is this all true? According to the Hollywood Reporter, it seems that would be the case. Would you like to see this character brought back in the new version of Spider-man?

Oh and speaking of Spider-man news….Benedict Cumberbatch is also slated to be in the film, as Doctor Strange.

Well this is stinking adorable. Combining Halloween and the Child is the greatest idea ever! Learn how to make a pumpkin themed after Baby Yoda!  I know what I’m doing this year!

This is definitely an interesting development. Universal is hoping to break ground a new affordable housing community in Orange County sometime in 2022.

Dani shares her thoughts about this potentially happening: I am happy to hear about the affordable housing. It is necessary in the attractions area, no doubt. It is important to remember the relationships that theme parks build with the local government. Last year Orange County commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a plan to give $125 million to Universal Orlando to build a new road.

This week, Universal laid off a number of their Team Members. Trust me when I say that my heart goes out to all the Team Members who were impacted.

The post What We’re Talking About: Disneyland Not Reopening Yet, Is Goofy a Dog, Universal Orlando’s New Housing Project, and More appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: In Case You Missed It

Here’s a quick look at the wait times across Walt Disney World for today, Thursday, October 8, 2020.  Over at the Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Astro Orbiter had their highest wait times of the week.  The most surprising thing, though, was at Mickey’s PhilharMagic, which had an average wait time of 27 minutes today. Not only is that the highest average wait of the week, it looks like it’s the highest average wait we have for the month … and the past year!

The high waits for those attractions were balanced out by relatively low waits at attractions such as Tomorrowland Speedway (next-lowest waits of the week and the month), Peter Pan’s Flight (#4 for the week), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (22 minutes, #4 for the week), and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (58 minutes, #3 for the week).

EPCOT Wait Times

The accuracy of posted wait times continues to improve over at EPCOT, with actual wait times sitting at around 70% of the posted wait times.  Attractions that were relatively busy today include Gran Fiesta Tour, Spaceship Earth, and Mission: Space (both Orange and Green). In fact, Mission: Space Green’s average wait time of 20 minutes today was the highest all month, and #36 over the past year.

 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wait Times

The headline story here has to be the 27-minute average wait posted over at MuppetVision 3D.  This attraction averages a posted wait of around 12 minutes, making today’s number the highest average wait of the past year.  The return of live shows such as the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage can’t come fast enough for the Studios, especially if it wants to increase capacity for the holidays.

The good news is that waits were relatively low for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (73 minutes, #6 for the week), Slinky Dog Dash (68 minutes, #5 for the week), Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (60 minutes, #5 for the week), and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (47 minutes, #6 for the week). Also, your actual wait in line was only around 60% of the posted wait shown at the rides.

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Today was relatively uneventful over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Flight of Passage’s average wait of 57 minutes was #7 for the month, and Kali River Rapids’ average wait of 27 minutes was #4 for the past month. That was balanced out by 17-minute waits over at Kilimanjaro Safaris (#19 for the past month) and 24 minutes at Expedition Everest (#12 for the past month).

The post Today’s Wait Times: A Sign of the Apocalypse? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), wait times

Fueling yourself with the right food and drinks can make your time at Walt Disney World more enjoyable. If you’re looking for healthful snacks for yourself or your kids, look to the kids’ menu at many counter service locations across Walt Disney World.

On the kids’ menu you can find the Kids’ Disney Check Meals, which indicate a meal put together to meet a variety of health and nutritional needs. One such meal, is actually a snack pack. Let’s face it, many kids prefer to snack than to eat a meal. The Kids’ Power Pack available at many counter service locations at Walt Disney World is great option for kids who want to snack throughout the day, and adults too. Some of the included items, like the Dannon Yogurt Smoothie need to be refrigerated or put in a cooler, but others can get in your backpack and go along with you throughout the day.

The Power Pack comes with Dannon Danimals Smoothie, Apple Wedges, Baby Carrots, Cheddar Crackers, Apple-Cinnamon Snack Bar, and Choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Dasani Water. Minute Maid Juice Box, Small Nesquick Chocolate Milk, or Cookie substituted upon request. It is $6.19 which isn’t too bad considering you get five snacks and a small beverage. It is also available through mobile ordering at participating locations.

If you’re looking for locations that offer the Power Pack, just head to our Menu Search on our website or the Lines app. There you can search for practically any food item you wish and our site will show which locations have that item on their menu. You don’t have to be a TouringPlans Subscriber to access it, but if you’d like to say “thank you” for the research we do and want access to all our tools then sign up.

What’s your favorite Disney snack?

The post Looking for Healthful Snacks at Walt Disney World? Go to the Kids’ Menu appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, kids, Snacks, Disney food, disney healthy eating, disney kids, Disney Snacks

Downtown Disney has been a popular destination for many people in the LA/OC area, so much so the parking lot and shopping district regularly close to new visitors for hours at a time. To add capacity to the area a new store has opened. Located in Stage 17, which is actually inside Disney California Adventure, the Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop features an assortment of merchandise from World of Disney, Disney Home, and The Disney Dress Shop.

The entrance is located to the left of Disney California Adventure. A queue is set up where the line for the Disneyland Resort ticket booths are usually located.

Signs advertising the Backlot Premiere Shop are impossible to miss. They’re everywhere in Downtown Disney.

Social distancing markers themed to the Hollywood Backlot. This is SO 2020.

Walking in to the Backlot Premiere Shop you’ll find yourself in an area that is usually off limits to guests. This is behind the PhilharMagic and Buena Vista Street buildings.

A red carpet awaits visitors who enter the new shop.

Inside the Backlot Premiere Shop is merchandise from the aforementioned shops found in Downtown Disney.

Haunted Mansion fans will find a lot of merchandise to choose from.

Most of items found in the shop are Halloween related.

A whole wall of Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise.

It wouldn’t be 2020 without a huge selection of face masks.

There’s a few items that are usually sold inside Disney California Adventure, such as these assortment of Guardians of the Galaxy items.

Baby Yoda shoulder plush and face masks.

An army of cast members and cash registers are ready to check you out.

This was fun. On the way out you can spot a bit of Disney California Adventure history. This was part of the sign when the building was used for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! attraction in the early 2000s.

Will you be stopping by the Backlot Premiere Shop to check it out? Let me know in the comments below.

The post PHOTOS: Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop Opens at Downtown Disney appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disneyland (CA), Merchandise, Downtown Disney