Author: touringplans.com

In this post we continue to highlight our Magic Kingdom touring plans plans that have been updated to reflect the many closures and modifications due to social distancing rules. In this post I’ll walk you through our Magic Kingdom Unofficial Guide Adult One-Day Touring Plan. This plan is our standard one-day adult touring plans that features attractions that rated highest in our surveys with adults. No character meet and greets or stage shows are included due to these attractions being closed out of caution for the current pandemic. This plan requires a lot of walking and some backtracking to avoid lines, but arriving early and having a brisk pace should save you at least an hour waiting in line. On to the plan!

STEPS
1) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Start the plan with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a rollercoaster geared to older grade-school kids, but it ranks highly with all age groups in our surveys. There are no loops, inversions, or rolls in the track, and no massive hills or steep drops; rather, your ride vehicle’s seats swing side-to-side as you go through turns.
2) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Take a voyage to the Hundred Acre Wood on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Ride a Hunny Pot through the pages of a huge picture book into the Hundred Acre Wood, where you encounter Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo as they contend with a blustery day. There’s even a dream sequence with Heffalumps and Woozles.
3) Jungle Cruise Head to Adventureland for a trip on the Jungle Cruise. Jungle Cruise is an outdoor group boat ride through some of the world’s best-known simulated tropical waterways. You’ll pass through forest and jungle populated entirely by animatronic animals while your skipper comically narrates your journey.
4) Pirates of the Caribbean In Adventureland, ride Pirates of the Caribbean. A slow moving boat ride through a series of sets that depict a pirate raid on an island settlement, from bombardment of the fortress to debauchery after the victory. Arguably one of the most influential theme park attractions ever created. It ranks high with all age groups.
5) Splash Mountain Go Frontierland and ride Splash Mountain. The log ride covers more than half a mile, splashing through swamps, caves, and backwoods bayous before climaxing in a five-story plunge and Br’er Rabbit’s triumphant return home. More than 100 Audio-Animatronic characters, including Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Bear, and Br’er Fox, regale riders with songs, including “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
6) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Roller coaster through and around a Disney “mountain.” The idea is that you’re on a runaway mine train during the Gold Rush. We put this coaster at about a 5 on a scary scale of 10—it has tight turns rather than big hills or drops, and no loops or upside-down parts.
7) Peter Pan’s Flight Go to Fantasyland and ride Peter Pan’s Flight. Peter Pan’s Flight is superbly designed and absolutely delightful, combining beloved Disney characters, beautiful effects, and charming music. Embark on a relaxing trip in a “flying pirate ship” over old London and thence to Never Land, where Peter saves Wendy from walking the plank and Captain Hook rehearses for Dancing with the Stars on the snout of the ubiquitous crocodile.
8) Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid Go see Ariel on Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid. Guests board a clamshell-shaped ride vehicle running along a continuously moving track (similar to Haunted Mansion‘s). Then the ride “descends” under water (which is just a lighting effect), past Ariel’s grotto and on to King Triton’s undersea kingdom.  You’ll love the air conditioning on this one.
9) Rest Eat lunch. Grab some lunch in Fantasyland at Pinocchio Village Haus, or make a detour to Pecos Bill in Frontierland.
10) “it’s a small world” Take a cruise on “it’s a small world.” Small boats carry you on a tour around the world, with singing and dancing dolls showcasing the dress and culture of each nation represented.
11) The Haunted Mansion In Liberty Square, see The Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion serves up some of the Magic Kingdom’s best visual effects. “Doom Buggies” on a conveyor belt transport you through the house from parlor to attic, then through a graveyard. Haunted Mansion is a classic Disney attraction and we consider it a must do.
12) The Hall of Presidents Watch the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square…. or skip this one. The Hall of Presidents combines a widescreen theater presentation of key highlights and milestones in the political history of the United States with a short stage show featuring life-size animatronic replicas of every US president. The figures’ physical resemblances and costumes are masterful.
13) Country Bear Jamboree Head over to Frontierland and watch my personal favorite, Country Bear Jamboree. A charming cast of animatronic bears sings and stomps through a series of country and Western songs. On the plus side, it’s an air-conditioned refuge on hot days, and the remix of “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” and “Ole Slew Foot” is genius. They don’t make them like this anymore.
14) Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room See Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland. Back-to-back-to-back animatronic extravaganzas? Sounds like heaven to us. This show, conceived by Walt Disney, stars four singing, wisecracking mechanical parrots: José, Fritz, Michael, and Pierre. The quartet performs songs arranged in styles from the 1940s to the 1960s, accompanied by dozens of other birds, plants, and tikis that come to life all around you.
15) Swiss Family Treehouse If you have time, experience the Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland. An immense replica of the Swiss Family Robinson’s arboreal abode. Don’t do Swiss Family Treehouse unless you’re prepared to climb stairs. For your effort you’ll be rewarded with some wonderful bird’s-eye views of the Magic Kingdom.
16) Mickey’s PhilharMagic Go back to Fantasyland and watch Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a 3-D film with an odd collection of Disney characters, mixing Mickey and Donald with Simba and Ariel as well as Jasmine and Aladdin. Presented in a theater large enough to accommodate a 150-foot-wide screen, the movie is augmented by an arsenal of special effects built into the theater. PhilharMagic ranks high with all ages.
17) Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover Take a relaxing ride on Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. A once-unique prototype of a linear-induction-powered mass-transit system, the PeopleMover’s tramlike cars carry riders on a leisurely tour of Tomorrowland, including a peek inside Space Mountain. In ancient times, the attraction was called the WEDway PeopleMover (“WED” being the initials of one Walter Elias Disney).
18) Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress See Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a four-act play offering a nostalgic look at how electricity and technology changed the lives of an animatronic family during the 20th century. Although the last scene needs updating, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is the only attraction in the park that display Walt’s optimistic vision of a better future through technology and industry. If you’re interested in the man behind the mouse, this show is a must-see.
19) Rest Eat dinner. Since you’re in Tomorrowland try out Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.
20) Space Mountain Strap in a rocket and ride Space Mountain. Totally enclosed in a mammoth futuristic structure, Space Mountain has always been the Magic Kingdom’s most popular attraction. The theme is a space flight through dark recesses of the galaxy. Effects are superb, and the ride is the fastest and wildest in the Magic Kingdom. This is one of Magic Kingdom’s most popular rides.
21) Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Help defeat Emperor Zurg on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Another ride system similar to Haunted Mansion. Here you’ll move along a track in slow moving spaceships. Each car is equipped with two laser cannons and two scorekeeping displays, enabling you to compete with your riding partner. A joystick allows you to spin the car to line up the various targets. Each time you pull the trigger, you release a red laser beam that you can see hitting or missing the target.

There’s no FastPass+ being offered at this time so you’ll have to do only stand-by lines. Don’t forget, you can customize and optimize this or any of our other touring plans using our personalized touring plans creator on the site or in our mobile app, Lines. Be sure to check out our other touring plans that will help you save time and money in Walt Disney World.

The post Magic Kingdom Unofficial Guide Adult One-Day Touring Plan Updated for COVID-19 Closures appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), touring plan

We’re here with a series of quick posts, “Disney in a Minute,” bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!

What is a standby line?

Disney normally has three types of lines (or queues) for their attractions: a FastPass+ line, a single rider line, and a standby line.

The FastPass+ line is for people with ride reservation slots. Single rider is for people willing to split up from others in their party and fill in otherwise empty spots in ride vehicles.

Standby is simply getting in line and waiting.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FastPass system and the single rider option are on hiatus, leaving standby as the only way to experience any attraction at Walt Disney World. If you want to ride, you’re going standby, and you’re going to have to wait.

When the parks initially reopened, waits were short. Those days have passed, with headliner attractions now routinely posting standby times of over an hour. With standby as the only option and longer lines, now more than ever you’ll want to have a good touring plan to help you manage your day.

Note that Disney is normally fastidious about using consistent nomenclature; however, there is uncharacteristic inconsistency on signage related to this concept. They use “standby,” “stand by,” and “stand-by” to describe waiting in line. The photos below show two competing versions, steps away from each other at EPCOT’s Test Track, as well as the third version at the Monsters Inc show at Magic Kingdom.

Also, during the pandemic, be on the lookout for standby lines that aren’t in normal places. The queues for Disney World attractions currently have markers on the pavement approximately every six feet, indicating where guests should stand to wait. This added distance has made standby lines take up vastly more physical space than usual. The new standard practice is to have cast member stationed with a “start of line” signpost where the standby line begins. This might be the equivalent of several city blocks away from the attraction itself. If it’s not obvious where to go, ask any cast member.

The post Disney in a Minute: What is a Standby Line? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), disney in a minute

Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues to see an increase in attendance compared to when it first reopened. Our Crowd Calendar has Hollywood Studios at a level 2 or 3 for most of October. With this higher attendance, compared to the significantly low attendance when Walt Disney World first reopened, changes are necessary to accommodate the additional people.

• For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration has reopened
• Keystone Clothiers has reopened
• Backlot Express has extended hours
• Additional dividers added to Tower of Terror ride vehicles

The most significant change is the reopening of For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. This show is by far the most popular show at the park. It is great to have a show that can accommodate about 1,000 people per show (though seating is reduced for physical distancing). The challenge is, this show is in a completely enclosed theater and the performers sing in many parts of the show, and they are not wearing masks. Some guests may not be comfortable with this–our team wasn’t.

If you do decide to experience For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, know that it is not necessary to get there much more than fifteen minutes before show time. The preshow area is outside, on a downward incline, with markers for distancing. Standing near the doors in the preshow area just means you’ll be the first to enter a row and will therefore need to move all the down the row, or at least as far as instructed by the Cast Members. If you prefer to sit toward the middle of the row then stay toward the middle of the preshow. The back rows of this theater actually have good views due to the incline and stage setup.

Our team noticed during their visit this week that additional dividers were added to Tower of Terror ride vehicles. We’re not sure of the reason for this. We have seen Universal Orlando begun to fill every row of the ride vehicles of some of their roller coasters. This increases the hourly capacity of the ride and reduces the amount of time in line, where guests can be stationary off and on. We’ll keep an eye on Tower of Terror and other attractions to see if any operational changes are made.

We’re in the parks every day to bring you the most up-to-date information. Become a TouringPlans Subscriber so you can have access to all of our tools and resources, including our Lines app.

When’s the next time you’ll be dropping into Disney’s Hollywood Studios? 

The post This Week’s Changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Dos and Don’ts, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, News, Observations, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, hollywood studios attractions, hollywood studios shows

Today’s wait times at the Magic Kingdom were a bit more accurate than they’ve been, with actual wait times averaging 71% of the posted wait time.  That is, if the posted wait time at, say, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was 60 minutes, your real wait in line was around 42 minutes.  That 71% is pretty close to the park’s typical average of around 80%, and it’s much more accurate than the low 50s percentages we’ve seen recently.  When the actual wait is close to 50% of the posted wait, then the posted wait is showing essentially double the amount of time you’re really going to wait.

Here’s EPCOT‘s wait times for today:

It’ll be interesting to see which attraction has the highest waits when Frozen Ever After shuts down briefly in November (November 2-6).

No matter what happens, you can be prepared to adjust to anything in the parks with a TouringPlans subscription and our Lines app. We let you know accurate wait times in real time so you can make the most of your day at the parks.

Here’s the wait time chart for Hollywood Studios for today:

No surprise that Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway continues to be popular.  We said might be the sleeper hit for the park, and it looks like it is.

Finally, here’s today’s waits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom’s wait times continue to be the most accurate of any Disney World theme park:

The post Magic Kingdom Wait Times a Little More Accurate Today – October 7, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

We’re here with a series of quick posts, “Disney in a Minute,” bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!

What is a Split Stay?

“Split Stay” is Disney-speak that means staying in two or more different hotels during one vacation. More than other vacation destinations, breaking your Disney visit into two hotel locations is relatively common.

Walt Disney World is so vast, with so many accommodation options, that making a final decision about where to stay can be quite a task. Some folks find the decision so challenging that they skip making a final call altogether and instead decide to divide their stay between two or more hotels.

There are a number of reasons why you might consider bunking at two or more hotels during your Disney World visit:

• Availability. You may have your heart set on a particular hotel, but rooms there are not available for your entire vacation.
• Budgetary constraints. You have deluxe tastes, but not a deluxe wallet. You can satisfy both needs by staying at one more and one less expensive hotel during your trip.
• Attractiveness of multiple hotels. You may simply like the location or amenities of more than one hotel. You can sample them all with a split stay.
• Proximity to attractions. It can be much easier to get to an early opening at Hollywood Studios if you’re staying at one of the hotels that’s walkable from that park. Similarly, any of the hotels on the monorail line provide easy access to Magic Kingdom. A hotel switch can help you from a pure convenience standpoint.
• Change in your party composition. If part of your vacation is alone and part is with the in-laws, you may have different resort priorities for each leg of the trip.
• Arrival/departure time. If you’re arriving at WDW late at night, you can economize a bit, by staying at a lesser resort for your first “sleep only” night.
• Business at one hotel, vacation at another. Some guests may arrive at WDW for a conference, wedding, or other programed event, but stay on longer for vacation time. Different hotels may suit these different purposes.

For more thoughts on split stays, check in with Savannah’s post. And for more information on Disney hotels, visit touringplans.com and our Disney World hotel room view maps.

Improve your Disney planning tools with a TouringPlans subscription. Read more here.

The post Disney in a Minute: What is a Split Stay? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Resorts, Walt Disney World (FL), split stay