Now, for those who don’t know, at Savi’s Workshop, Guests come into contact with the Gathers, who will help guide you as you will have the opportunity to build a one-of-a-kind lightsaber and bring it to life through the power of a kyber crystal. Guests who build their own lightsabers have the ability to choose from one of four themes:
Peace and Justice – Utilize salvaged scraps of fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in Republic-era lightsaber designs that honor the galaxy’s former guardians.
Power and Control – Objects used in this lightsaber style are rumored remnants from the Sith home world and abandoned temples.
Elemental Nature – Craft a lightsaber from components that come from the Force, such as Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones or Rancor teeth.
Protection and Defense – This lightsaber includes mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect a lightsaber’s wielder with the ancient wellspring of the Force.
Of course, due to physical distancing, the experience will be slightly different, as the capacity of the location will be reduced. Due to this, advanced reservations are highly recommended and will be available beginning on September 16 via Disneyworld.com or the My Disney Experience mobile app. In order to make a reservation for Savi’s Workshop, you must have a prior valid Disney Parks Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walk-up availability may be available, should you not be able to make a reservation and you can also stop by the shop to check on the day of your visit.
Now that our new Lines 2.0 app has launched, we’d like to show you some of the features you’ll be sure to enjoy on your next visit. Today, we’re looking at the Attractions feature, available by clicking the Parks icon at the bottom of your app screen.
Think of the Parks screen as a portable guidebook, Zagat-style review system, and concierge wait time advisor all in one. At the top, you can click the link to easily switch between parks.
Once you’ve selected the theme park of your choice, you’ll see an alphabetical listing of attractions that you can scroll through. This offers a brief description of the attraction, ratings from survey data, Disney’s posted wait time, and our data-driven expected wait time. For some attractions, wait times are consistent throughout the day, so there isn’t one time that is better than another for when to ride. For others, even doing something else for an hour can reduce your time waiting in line. Lines 2.0 offers suggestions about whether you should ride now, ride any time (because wait times won’t increase or decrease substantially for the rest of the day), or wait to ride. As a local who often shows up at the parks without a specific plan in mind, I use this feature a lot–I simply look at what is recommended to ride and then pick the attraction that has the most appeal for me.
The green icon in the upper left of each attraction entry allows you to add wait times to our ever-growing database of data points. When you click on the icon, you can opt to either enter a posted wait time or time your wait as you wait in line. You can also indicate that a ride is currently closed.
Clicking on a specific attraction brings up additional information, including COVID-related safety measures, expected and posted wait times, recommendations of ride now or wait, and the chart of wait times for the day.
it’s a small world
Scrolling down, you can open a list of submitted wait times from users just like you in the parks.
Jungle Cruise
Although we share overall attraction ratings, not all age groups would rate an attraction the same. Your toddler may not be quite as thrilled with the Haunted Mansion as you are, and the teen in your group may not find the Barnstormer to be their dream attraction. In the ratings section, you can see ratings broken down by age group. See if you can guess which of these ratings goes with which attraction. One is Haunted Mansion, one is The Hall of Presidents, and one is Winnie the Pooh.
Below that, you can open up a list of accessibility and other information, and a detailed description of the attraction.
Having all this information at your fingertips, along with tools to minimize your time in line can make for a much more relaxing vacation. Keep watching the TouringPlans blog for more information about features that you can find in Lines 2.0.
What do you think of the features on the Parks screen? Are there any features you love? Got ideas for new features? Let us know in the comments.
There are more and more indications that Disneyland may be opening again sooner than later (there are several reports indicating an increase in activity at the parks), so we’re going to go back into Disneyland Park to help get you ready. For this “Better Know an Attraction” deep dive, we’re going to take a look at what is the first roller coaster for a lot of youngsters, Gadget’s Go Coaster in Mickey’s Toontown. Read on for more!
What is Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is a roller coaster attraction intended primarily for children based upon Gadget Hackwrench from Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers.
Photo: Disney
Where is Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is located at the very back of the park in Mickey’s Toontown. From the castle, you’ll head to the right through Fantasyland, past it’s a small world, and then back and to the left once you enter Mickey’s Toontown.
Gadget’s Go Coaster History
Gadget’s Go Coaster opened on January 24, 1993, and has been operating in essentially the same form ever since. A version of the attraction was opened at Tokyo Disneyland in 1996.
What You Need to Know About the Gadget’s Go Coaster Queue
The queue for Gadget’s Go Coaster is a winding path through and among the coaster track, in an area themed to the Chip ‘n Dale universe, and in particular Gadget and her workshop and inventions. A significant amount of the queue is outdoors and unshaded. It cannot accommodate wheelchairs or ECVs, so guests using them will be directed to enter through the exit for boarding.
What is the Ride Experience Like for Gadget’s Go Coaster?
In a word, brief. The attraction as a whole is only about a minute long, and all but 20 seconds of that time is spent going up the lift hill and braking at the end of the ride. The ride is twisty and turn-y, but not particularly fast. It can be a bit jerky, especially for adults, but it’s designed primarily for children, and is not very intense. It’s a great attraction to test your child’s appetite for Disneyland’s more intense roller coasters.
What are the Ride Vehicles Like for Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster features vehicles that look like acorns. They technically accommodate up to two guests per row, but they are intended for an adult and a child, so two adults may find it to be an uncomfortable fit. There are no inversions, so the only restraint is a lap bar that you’ll pull down yourself.
What You Need to Know About Accessibility for Gadget’s Go Coaster
Guests do need to be able to transfer into the ride vehicle to be able to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster. Guests in wheelchairs and ECVs should enter through the exit where you will be directed by a cast member for further boarding instructions.
What You Need to Know About Health and Safety Warnings for Gadget’s Go Coaster
Disneyland warns guests that, “[e]xpectant mothers should not ride.”
What are the Height Restrictions for Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Guests need to be 35″ or taller to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster. Guests under 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.
Does Gadget’s Go CoasterOffer FastPass?
No.
Does Weather Affect Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is outdoors, so extreme weather can shut it down. It will generally continue to run in the rain, but lightning or heavy rain can result in it being closed until the weather passes.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Experience Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is a minor attraction, but it is popular among the smaller set and loads slowly, so it can generate large lines that persist throughout the day. The first 30 minutes that Toontown is open is the best time to target, or right at the end of the day. Expected wait times on a crowd-level basis are noted here, but be sure to check out the expected wait time for the date you intend to be there.
Do you take your little ones to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster? Do you enjoy it yourself? Let us know in the comments!
During “normal” times, you all but need a PhD to understand all the permutations of Disney World tickets. One strange result of pandemic-era changes to park practices is that buying park tickets is, at least for trips taking place in 2020, (a little) simpler to understand. Here’s what you need to know today.
The world of Disney theme park ticketing is a little different in 2020.
I’m planning to visit Walt Disney World in 2020. Can I buy tickets now?
Yes. While there was a pause on ticket sales earlier this year, Disney World tickets are now being sold.
What kind of tickets are available right now?
Currently, the only type of ticket available for purchase for visits during 2020 is a Standard Theme Park Ticket.
What does that mean?
Standard theme park tickets entitle you to enter one of Disney World’s four main theme parks (Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios) per day. That’s it.
How much do Standard Theme Park Tickets cost?
The price varies depending on two factors, date of ticket first use and number of days worth of tickets you’re buying. The lowest price ticket for an adult costs $109 (plus tax) for a one-day admission during the lowest demand season.
The highest price one day ticket for an adult costs $159 (plus tax) for admission during peak holiday season.
So I have to pay that much for every day of my trip?
No, not exactly. If you buy a ticket for more days of entry, the price per day goes down. For example, a 7-day theme park ticket in low season costs about $472 per adult, or about $67 per day. The longer you stay, the more your price per day goes down.
How many days of tickets can I buy at a time?
For trips during 2020, the largest ticket Disney sells is a 7-day ticket. In the “before” times, you could buy longer tickets (up to 10 days or annual passes).
How do I know how much my tickets will cost?
You’ll need to go to the Disney World website, go to the “Parks & Tickets” menu and select “theme park tickets.” From there you’ll be prompted to select your ticket start date and the number of ticket days you desire. Then you’ll be quoted a price. You can also do this via the My Disney Experience app on your smart device.
Are there lower prices for children?
Yes, kids ages 3-9 pay a slightly lower rate, a few dollars less per day. Note that children become “adults” for ticketing purposes at age 10.
Little ones under the age of three do not need an admission ticket. They get in free.
Are there discounts for senior citizens?
No, sorry. There are no discounts for seniors.
Are there ANY discounts on Disney theme park tickets?
There are a handful of reputable WDW ticket wholesalers offering modest discounts on park admission. Among them are: Official Ticket Center, Undercover Tourist, Tripster, Boardwalk Ticketing, Maple Leaf Tickets, and Park Savers.
TouringPlans has a tool that lets you search all of these at once. Go to our Ticket Price Comparison tool for more information.
I thought Disney World tickets cost the same amount no matter when you traveled.
That was once the case, but it has not been true in a while.
If you haven’t been to WDW in the past decade, you can pretty much forget everything you once knew about Disney ticketing. The old “no expiration” tickets were fully discontinued in 2015, with some steps toward discontinuation several years before that. From 2013-2015, one-day tickets to the Magic Kingdom cost more than one-day tickets to the other theme parks. In 2016, Disney moved to the tiered pricing model for one-day tickets, with different prices on different days. In 2018, started tiered pricing for multi-day tickets. It’s been a journey.
If I buy a three-day park ticket, do I have to use the ticket on consecutive days?
No. All tickets now start on the date of first purchase. They’re good for the number of days you’ve paid for, plus a small buffer. For example, you have up to five days to use your three park admissions. The buffer days allow you take breaks from the parks during your trip to, for example, spend the day hanging out at the pool or visiting other area attractions.
What happens if I end up skipping my trip and don’t start using my ticket?
Per the Disney website, “After expiration date, the price paid for a wholly unused ticket can be applied to the purchase of a new ticket with an equal or higher price.”
If I decide never to visit WDW, can I get a full refund on a ticket I’ve purchased?
No. You can make changes to a ticket, but they are non-refundable.
What kind of changes could I make to a WDW ticket? How do I make them?
You can change the start date of your ticket or the number of days of your ticket.
Make changes to your tickets prior to midnight (Eastern time) of the day before your ticket’s first valid use date. After your first valid ticket date, you can use the My Disney Experience app to add additional days to an eligible ticket or to add ticket options (most of which are not available for visits in 2020). There’s no change fee to modify, but an additional cost applies for dates with higher ticket prices.
Can I get a refund if I change to a visit date at a cheaper time of year?
Unfortunately not. No refund or credit is given for changes from dates with higher prices to dates with lower prices.
Is a theme park ticket all I need to enter the parks?
In pre-pandemic times, all you needed to enter the Disney theme parks was a valid admission ticket. That’s not true today. Currently, you need a theme park reservation in addition to your park ticket.
What’s a theme park reservation?
Pretty much what it sounds like. Much like making a reservation for a popular restaurant, you need to put yourself on the “list” of people with permission to enter the park.
Is there an additional charge to make a theme park reservation?
No. Having a park ticket gives you the right to make a park reservation (pending availability). There’s no additional fee associated with this step.
Are park reservations hard to get?
Not in general, not right now, but there are some days when some Disney theme parks are fully booked.
How can I tell if the park I want to visit is available?
Use the My Disney Experience app or Disney World website and and look for the Availability Calendar. This will show you which parks are open for reservations on which dates. For example, in the photo below all parks are available on September 14, but on September 13 Disney’s Hollywood Studios is not available for reservations. If you didn’t already have a reservation, you could not visit Hollywood Studios on that date. Also note that the availability is slightly different for guests staying onsite at Disney resort hotels and for guests staying elsewhere. There is somewhat more availability for resort guests.
If you want to make reservations for more than yourself, you’ll need to have your friends/family linked to your Disney World account.
Is it possible that I could buy a theme park ticket, but that there would be no reservations available for the park I want to visit, or for any parks at all?
Theoretically yes, this could happen. (Though again, there is currently broad availability for the remainder of 2020.) Before buying a ticket, you should absolutely check the Availability Calendar to assess whether the parks you want are available. Then, as soon as you have your ticket and linked it to your Disney account, you should make reservations for your preferred parks/dates. You can later tinker with your reservations (pending availability), but you want lock in your reservations as soon as possible.
Can I add park hopping to my DisneyWorld ticket?
Disney veterans know that “park hopping” is visiting more than one of Disney’s four main theme parks in one day. Pre-pandemic, guest wishing to park hop would need to buy the popular Park Hopper add-on for their standard theme park ticket. Park hopping is unavailable in 2020. There is no park hopper upgrade available for tickets purchased for 2020 visits. (You can buy Park Hoppers for 2021 visits, though it’s currently unclear how reservations for park hopping will be necessary and if so, how they might work.)
Can I buy the water park ticket supplement?
The WDW water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) are currently closed. You cannot buy single or multi-day water park tickets for 2020, nor can you buy a water park supplement, which would allow you to visit the water parks in addition to the theme parks, for a standard ticket for visits in 2020.
Can I buy a ticket to an after hours party?
Not currently. Disney announced that there would be no Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events in 2020, so obviously there are no tickets available this year.
Are there any supplements I can add to my standard theme park ticket?
There is still the Memory Maker option available. Memory Maker is a photo service that allows you to download pictures taken in the parks on some rides and by PhotoPass photographers stationed in the parks.
Is adding the Memory Maker option worth it?
“Worth it” is in the eye of the beholder. However, in general, the more people in your party and the longer your visit, the more likely you are to enjoy having the Memory Maker. However, there is one giant caveat in 2020 – you MUST be wearing a mask for all photos. If that will diminish your enjoyment of the pictures, then maybe you want to skip the Memory Maker this time.
Do I need a ticket to visit Disney Springs?
Nope. There is no form of admission required to visit the Disney Springs shopping/dining/entertainment area.
You might need a ticket or reservation for a particular activity or venue at Disney Springs (such as buying a ticket to a movie or making a reservation for a restaurant), but you don’t need to buy any ticket to walk around, shop, or eat at quick service venues.
Have you purchased a Walt Disney World theme park ticket for a visit in 2020? Do you want to? What other questions do you have?
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: discounts, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Admission and Tickets, park reservations, theme park tickets, tickets
The holiday spirit isn’t cancelled at Walt Disney World this year, however things may appear a little different than they have in the past. This year, the holiday season will take place from November 6 through December 30 and there will be festive décor, special merchandise, seasonal food & beverage offerings, as well as entertainment offerings all across Walt Disney World Resort. The holidays will not only be celebrated at all four Walt Disney World theme parks, but also at Disney Springs too!
Let’s talk about the giant elephant in the room though. Of course, due to the nature of things, a few staples of the holiday season will not be taking place this year. Mainly, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Castle Dream Lights at the Magic Kingdom and Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. There will still be other great holiday offerings that will be available though. So, let’s see what this year’s merriment will entail.
First, at the Magic Kingdom, in place of the Castle Dream Lights and A Frozen Holiday Wish (which is where Elsa lights up the castle in icicles), the castle will showcase special projections that will give a colorful backdrop. The appearance of the castle will be transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation. The Magic Kingdom will also include special character cavalcades with Christmas friends on festive floats in their holiday finest. Plus you might see Gingerbread Men, Elves and Reindeer, and the Toy Soldiers who will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through the Magic Kingdom.
Moving over to EPCOT, the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays will continue, granted, they will be scaled down a bit. This festival will start later in the holiday season, on November 27. Here, the Holiday kitchens will return around World Showcase promenade. In addition, inside World ShowPlace will be the musical group JOYFUL!, who present a journey through R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will bring their incredible musical stylings to the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special holiday concert.
Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Minnie’s Holiday Dine will be taking place at Hollywood & Vine starting November 6 which will include Santa Goofy, as well as characters in their holiday finest. No word on if the Sunset Seasons Greetings projections will be shown on the Tower of Terror this year.
Poor Disney’s Animal Kingdom….they park finally got a great holiday celebration last year and this year, once again, it seems that they aren’t going to have much in the way of the holidays. The one thing that has been announced is that Guests will be able to see festive flotillas with characters along the waterways. I do hope that they will at least be able to do some of the holiday decor and entertainment, in at least some way, that they introduced last year.
Moving over to Disney Springs, the festivities will definitely be merry and bright! It appears that the Christmas Tree Trail will be available for Guests, just in a different way, with the elaborately decorated trees spread throughout Disney Springs. In addition, in the evening, Guests visiting areas within Town Center, West Side and The Landing will encounter a magical snowfall. Oh and Jock Lindsey’s will once again become Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar complete with delightful holiday décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.
The resorts will still be getting in on the fun too, but again, not in the same ways. the lobbies will be decorated with trees and other festive flourishes. Unfortunately though, the popular gingerbread displays will not be occurring at the resorts, including Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Beach Club, and more.
So, as you can see, this year, while the holidays at Walt Disney World will be different, they will still be just as festive as ever.
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Holidays, News, Walt Disney World (FL), Christmas, Disney Springs, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, walt disney world
