Author: touringplans.com

Holders of the Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket only have a few days left to decide what to do with the remaining days on their ticket media.

Let’s backpedal first, shall we?

The Discover Disney ticket was available for Florida residents to purchase back in January 2020, giving Florida residents the ability to visit the parks for three or four days for under $200 through June 30, 2020. Then in the spring COVID-19 hit, the parks closed, and everyone’s tickets were frozen. Most Disney passes were extended to December but since the Discover Disney tickets were only going to be valid until June 30, their expiration was only extended to September 30 and this restriction remains in place. Thus, if you have one of these tickets laying around, you only have a few days left to decide what to do with it.

Originally, in our springtime naivety, Disney offered a special deal for folks who had vacations planned for the closure period. This deal included free dining and guests with Discover Disney tickets were given the option to transfer their ticket money to a Disney gift card for use in purchasing this package deal (since the package would require the purchase of theme park tickets to go along with it). This option became invalid once Disney did away with the Dining Plan for the time being, leaving guests with these options.

Option 1: Use It

This is definitely the easiest . . . assuming you can find yourself a park reservation.

Option 2: Apply It Towards Another Ticket Purchase

If you would like to upgrade your ticket to something else, you can apply the money you paid for your Discover Disney ticket to another ticket purchase.

Option 3: Apply It to a Disney Gift Card

While the special free dining package is no longer an option, Disney would be thrilled to have you keep your money in house and convert their ticket purchase into a Disney gift card for use on a future vacation. I suppose this makes sense if you’ve already spent your vacation savings and want to make sure you keep using it for a vacation instead of, say, accidentally using it to buy a pet tiger or pay your electric bill. From a financial perspective, however, it probably makes more sense to . . .

Option 4: Get a Refund

Yes, Disney does recognize the unusual circumstances people were placed in here and will simply refund your money . . .which, all things considered, is probably the most prudent thing to do. Then you can choose to spend your money wherever and however you see fit, be it at Walt Disney World or not.

But What If You Already Used Some of the Ticket?

So what if your ticket is partially used? Do you need to use it up or lose it? No, you do not. While most Disney tickets start down to the road to expiration after your first use, this particular ticket can be partially refunded. Once again, in light of the exigent circumstances. It will simply be prorated based on how many days were used.

What if it’s after September 30, 2020?

Let’s ignore the fact that you’re showing up late to the party and embrace the fact that you showed up at all. Don’t worry. Your money is not forever gone into Mickey’s pockets. Disney will leave the remaining value of the ticket in your account indefinitely and it can be used towards a future ticket or vacation purchase. Disney will not, however, guarantee that the money can be refunded to you beyond the end of 2020, meaning you may be locked into using it with Disney.

So how do I do it?

If you are using the ticket or decide to just leave it in your account, you don’t need to do anything. If you decide to get a refund, gift card, or apply the value towards another purchase, just give Disney’s reservations center a call at 1-407-W-DISNEY (1-407-934-7639). Be prepared for longer-than-usual waits. My hold time was estimated at twenty minutes (with no FastPass available!). Fun fact: Disney’s pre-recorded spiel also proudly proclaims that it’s “easier than ever to celebrate life’s special moments in 2020” which is a bold-faced lie. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of fun to be had to Walt Disney World, in spite of pandemic restrictions, so get out there and use that ticket if you can. But if that’s not a comfortable option to you right now, at least Disney has your back.

Trying to figure out the best bang for your buck when it comes to tickets? Use the TouringPlans Ticket Price Comparison tool. 

The post What To Do If Your Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket is Expiring appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), Florida Resident ticket discount, tickets

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 Queue?

If you plan a trip or travel to Walt Disney World, you’re almost certain to encounter the word “queue” (pronounced like “cue” or the letter “Q”). More common in British parlance, a queue is what most Americans would, in other circumstances, call a line – as in a line of people standing in a row waiting for something. If you said, “The queue for Space Mountain starts on the left,” or “The line for Space Mountain starts on the left,” and you’d be making synonymous statements.

Queue can be noun (as in “The queue is forming now”) or a verb (as in “Queue to the right for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train”). The phrase “queue line” is redundant–choose one word or the other, but not both.

Because the world of theme park planning is rarely straightforward, you will also encounter the term “virtual queue” when you’re at the Disney parks. A virtual queue is a line, but not a physical one. You are most likely to encounter virtual queuing when attempting to experience the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Demand is so high for this relatively new experience that a physical queue might stretch fully through the park and require wait times in excess of several hours. To avoid the bottlenecks and bellyaching this would inevitably create, a virtual queue system is in place. At an appointed time (often 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) guests log into the My Disney Experience app in the park and ask for a place in electronic “line” for the ride. The app will keep you apprised of your place in the queue, though you may move freely around the park, shopping, dining, and experiencing other attractions until your turn comes.

Let us know what Disney topics you think need just a bit more explanation.

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

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), disney virtual queue, queue

Saving money on your Walt Disney World vacation is huge and this fall, Disney Springs has a fantastic way to save 20% at select restaurants during the weekday (Monday through Thursday) at more than 20 different dining establishments.

Here are the options of where you can dine and save:

• Blaze Pizza: Enjoy 20% off with the purchase of a pizza and a drink
• Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’: 20% off Shrimp & Grits
• City Works Eatery & Pour House: 20% off the Tex Mex Mac ‘n Cheese
• D-Luxe Burger: 20% off non-alcoholic Artisanal Shakes
• The Edison: 20% off the Queen Cut Prime Rib
• Enzo’s Hideaway: 20% off Dolce Vita – Charcuterie board
• Frontera Cocina: 20% off of select dishes and the Sparkling Margarita – Dishes include the Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Garlicky Mushroom and Eggplant Tacos, and Cochinita Pibil
• Haagen Dazs: 20% off any Dazzlers Sundae (Three (3) maximum per transaction)
• Hot Diggity Dogs and Mac & Cheese Disney Food Trucks: 20% off any purchase
• Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company: 20% off of the Fall-favorite Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Cold Brew (also available in Nitro Brew)
• Maria & Enzo’s: 20% off Pollo Alla Parmigiana
• Morimoto Asia: 20% off Peking Duck Ramen
• Paradiso 37: 20% off of any appetizer
• Pizza Ponte: 20% off of the Big Roman Pizza Slice – With tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese
• Planet Hollywood: Receive a 20% discount on your entire bill
• Polite Pig: 20% off Spiced Pork Rinds
• Splitsville Luxury Lanes: 20% off Loaded Fries
• Sunshine Churros: Get 20% off your entire purchase
• Starbucks: 20% off all merchandise and retail coffee
• Wetzel’s Pretzels: 20% off Cinnamon Bitz
• Wolfgang Puck Express: 20% off all Hand-Crafted Gourmet Pizzas

One thing to keep in mind – you must mention “Weekdays at Disney Springs” in order to be able to get this discount.

To make reservations or to find out more, visit the official Disney Springs website.

The post Select Disney Springs Restaurants Offering 20% Off Weekday Dining This Fall appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, News, dining, saving money

In news that is sad, but is also not surprising, both the 2021 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January and the 2021 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February have been cancelled at the Walt Disney World Resort and will instead be run virtually.

Disney says that they have based this decision on the “unique circumstances of hosting a road race experience on this scale under the current environment.”

Participants who registered for the event will have the option of receiving a full refund for the race or converting their existing registration to the new virtual event that can be completed from home. Those who participate in the virtual race will receive a medal for each distance they complete and a race shirt. Registered participants will receive an email beginning September 23 with instructions on how to choose which option they will prefer and will need to make their decision before October 7.

For those runners who select the refund option, they will receive a refund back to their original form of payment, or if their original form of payment isn’t available, they will be refunded via check or a Digital Disney Gift Card.

More details can be found on runDisney’s website.

With the move to a virtual race for both weekends, this will likely decrease crowds that descend on the parks normally on these weekends. Were you planning on running one of these two races? If so, are you going to still consider visiting that weekend anyway? Or will you be skipping visiting the Resort?

The post It’s Official! 2021 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend To Be Run Virtually appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: News, runDisney, Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Quick-service dining at Magic Kingdom is still somewhat limited. With favorites like Casey’s Corner and Columbia Harbour House currently closed (not to mention “seasonal” closures like Tomorrowland Terrace), lunch options aren’t what they used to be. Recently, we paid a visit to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom to see if it is a better option than, say, Pinnochio Village Haus. Pecos Bill offers mobile ordering, and we were happy to take advantage of that.

One of the highlights of Pecos Bill was the toppings bar, a veritable cornucopia of meal enhancements. This was an option for families looking to split an entree or for people with hearty appetites to get some additional food for no additional cost. With that now on hiatus (#ThanksCOVID), some items come with their own miniature version with select ingredients. For example, we ordered the Beef Nachos and were given a variety of individually portioned toppings on the side.

Although that’s a decent amount of toppings, if you want more, it never hurts to ask. (We haven’t seen people turned down when asking for more.) Yes, it’s not the same as the toppings bar, but it is a sufficient solution to these different times.

Based on more than half a million survey data responses for dining in the past few years, Pecos Bill rates a 86% thumbs up rating and ranks at #45 in Walt Disney World, earning it a solid B rating. The portion size is medium-large, and the menu is Tex-Mex inspired cuisine.

Our beef nachos were exactly what you’d expect–chips, a generous portion of seasoned ground beef, and a large dollop of creamy queso. It’s a meal that could be split for a light eater or for a quick snack. At $11, the price doesn’t feel unreasonable for what you get.

Overall, with limited dining options at Magic Kingdom, Pecos Bill is one of your better choices–even without the toppings bar.

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The post Is Pecos Bill a Good Value Without Its Toppings Bar? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Walt Disney World (FL), Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Cafe