Author: touringplans.com

Crowds haven’t been bad, but that humidity! School may be back in session for many kids, but make no mistake, it’s still summer in Florida!

On a recent weekday, we wandered around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here’s some of the sights that we saw. . . .

What would you ride first at Hollywood Studios on a day like this? Let us know in the comments.

The post In the Parks: This Week at Disney’s Hollywood Studios appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), in the parks

Any of us who are fortunate enough to write about Orlando’s theme parks are often asked “is it safe?’ Safety is such an important factor and I personally am very conscientious about painting a realistic picture without saying “Yes, it is safe” or “No, it isn’t.” I feel safety can be relative to one’s comfort and tolerance.

I personally feel safe at Walt Disney World, but with certain extra measures taken by me. It takes a lot of personal responsibility to create the feeling of being safe, depending on your comfort level. We have multiple members on our team who have visited Walt Disney World many times in the past month, and they are still comfortable doing so. I myself have only visited twice, but do have plans to visit this week.

Walt Disney World has been open for just over one month. Are the stringent safety measures still holding up? Let’s examine some observations from our field team’s recent visits. A note of reference, the photos in this post are from the past 7 – 10 days.

Physical Distancing is Dependent on Floor Markers

Major theme parks have learned that large crowds need visual cues to direct them. This is true with physical distancing. Wherever markers are visible, such as markings on the floor showing where to stand, compliance is good. Are there occasions in which guests miss the mark? Of course, but our team has witnessed Cast Members doing a good job of directing guests.

Physical distancing can become a problem when an attraction’s line extends beyond the physical queue and lacks distancing markers. It can also be an issue on walkways, especially in narrow areas. My suggestion, if this is a concern for you, is to be aware and adjust where you are walking, or your speed to allow you to create the space you need.

I also feel the arrival experience and each park’s main street area is rough for physical distancing. Perhaps it is because people haven’t dispersed throughout the park yet. Just something to be aware of.

Mask Compliance is Strong

Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World made their mask policy even more stringent a few weeks ago. Face coverings with exhalation valves, with mesh, or without the ability to be fully secured, like a bandanna or neck gaiter, are no longer allowed. This enhancement to the policy made me very happy, and proved to me their continued commitment to safety.

During my visit in mid July I did notice a very small amount of guests who did not have a mask covering their nose, and it did make me uncomfortable for a moment, but that occurrence was rare. Also at the parking lot many guests are still getting ready for their day in the park as they walk toward the entrance, and therefore do not have their mask on yet. Furthermore, without the markings, physical distancing can be an issue in the parking lots. This is something to be aware of if you have strong concerns about masks and distancing, like me.

Our field team who has visited a fair amount in the past two weeks reports that mask compliance continues to be strong. Compliance is assisted by Cast Members and park leadership who continue to enforce the policy.

Overall Cleanliness is Excellent

Over the past month of visiting the parks since the reopening, our field team feels Disney has stepped up their cleaning and sanitizing so that it is near constant. Nearly everywhere you look at any given moment you’ll probably see at least one Cast Member cleaning and sanitizing.

Personally, I still bring my own hand sanitizer wherever I go these days, including the theme parks. Disney does have lots of hand sanitizing stations around the park, but there are still moments I experienced when I was thankful I had my own spray.

Final Thoughts

Disney has always made safety its top priority. In internal training there are the four keys, which are Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. The order is important. Without safety none of the rest can happen or even matter. In the end, the concept of safety is relative. But, Disney certainly is continuing to do all it can to ensure the safest environment possible.

If you have significant concerns about safety, you will need to be very aware of those around you. I am not too keen on doing anything indoors, for example, so I plan my visit around outdoor activities. You may find yourself needing to move on to a different area on occasion due to physical distancing or mask compliance, but it is rare. In the end, Disney and Universal are both doing a strong job in maintaining their safety procedures, though our team does feel Disney is doing a better job at this point. Our team commends the hard work of all the front line Cast Members and Team Members for upholding these important practices.

Have any questions about COVID-19 safety at the parks? Let us know in the comments.

The post How Are Disney’s Safety Measures Holding Up After the First Month of Its Reopening? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, In the Parks, Magic Kingdom, Trip Planning, disney cleanliness, disney covid, disney reopening, disney safety

Today lets travel back to the magical year of 1988. Crocodile Dundee II is the fourth highest-grossing movie of the year. In music, Milli Vanilli releases their first single, Girl You Know It’s True. On the Disney side of things, the Disney Spring/Summer Catalog hits newsstands. While I’m almost 100% certain it’s not fondly remembered by anyone, there’s still some good stuff in here. Lets take a look at the must have items from the 1988 Disney Spring/Summer Catalog.

This cover is great but doesn’t scream 1980s yet. It also shows what a frugal guy Mickey is. He has all the money in the world but will still stop and pick wild flowers for him and Minnie’s picnic date.

Before we move on lets take a look at the top right corner of the cover. Only Disney could have gotten away charging TWO DOLLARS for 23 page catalog! Adjusted for inflation that’s $4.38.

You don’t really see many licensed outdoor faucets these days (and believe me I’ve looked).

#5 Disney Home Videos (in VHS and BETA) – Price $14.95 to $74.95

#4 and #3 Aerobic Wear and Mousercise Record or Tape – Price $16.95-$18.95 and $7.95

Back in the 80’s it was mandatory that everyone who worked out must do so while looking like a total fool. That’s where this aerobic wear comes in. As for the Mousercise record, it contains classic songs such as “Ducks Dance Too.” You can view the infomercial on YouTube.

The post 9 Must Have Items From The 1988 Disney Spring/Summer Catalog appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Just For Fun, Merchandise, 1980s, just for fun

Sponsored by Storybook Destinations

Ahoy, mateys! I’m Heather, and I’ll be bringing you the up and coming on all things Disney Cruise Line. Welcome back again this week. Let’s see what’s new in the DCL world!

What’s New

As cruising resumes in select locations around the world, it’s hard not to watch with both a hopeful yet watchful eye, to see what might be in store for us once the Disney fleet is back in the water. Thus brings this recent cautionary tale: guests on an MSC ship in the Mediterranean committed a big no-no, and they paid the price! The family was booked on an official MSC port excursion in Naples, but they chose to leave the group to explore on their own. Sounds okay, right? Nope. When they returned to the ship, they were denied boarding for disregarding the rule that guests must stay with the guided group at all times.

MSC mandates that all guests who wish to explore the ports of call must do so only with an official port excursion; this is being done to maintain a “bubble” to help reduce risk and contact. So we can’t help but wonder if this model will make it’s way to other cruise lines once they resume sailing. And, if it does, would it change the way you do things? Would you embrace DCL-only excursions? Would you be more likely to stay onboard? Or maybe even wait until you’re able to explore on your own once again? Tell me your thoughts in the comments!

Moving along a similar wavelength, it looks like Disney is prepping to lure guests back to the Bahamas. DCL recently struck a deal to bring guests on an exclusive port adventure to Pearl Island. White sand beaches and stunning blue waters in a private setting just a hop, skip, and ferry from the Nassau pier? I know I am all in!

Weekly Specials

Most every week of the year, Disney Cruise Line releases special offers for Florida Residents and U.S. Military Personnel.  There are also frequently IGT/OGT/VGT rates available for all guests to book.  These offers are extremely limited in availability, and all come with certain restrictions, but the prices are amazing! You can book these online, on the phone, or with your travel agent. These are the current offers available this week:

Thanks to Scott Sanders of The Disney Cruise Line Blog for assistance on this article. “Sea” you next week

The Disney Cruise Line Update is brought to you by Storybook Destinations. Storybook Destinations specializes in Disney travel, is consistently highly rated by our readers, and is owned by our own blogger extraordinaire, Tammy Whiting. Storybook also offers free subscriptions to TouringPlans to clients with qualified bookings.

The post Disney Cruise Line News and Specials — Week of August 25, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, disney cruise line

It’s a whole new world of vacation planning these days; but thankfuly, it’s still the same magical Walt Disney World we know and love despite Disney’s new implementation of health and safety measures. Still, certain elements of your vacation are different than you remember, particularly when it comes to your Disney Resort experience. So to know what to expect from a Disney Resort experience during COVID-19, here’s what you need to know about a Disney Resort stay right now.

Not All of the Resorts Have Reopened

Even though Walt Disney World is open, the same can’t be said of all the Disney World Resorts. When Walt Disney World initially reopened, only the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Resorts reopened. While guests could (and still can) visit the lobbies and some pools of the Deluxe Resorts, only their DVC villas were accommodating stays. Some Deluxe Resorts with their standard rooms have reopened since then; but these are few and far between.

At the time of writing, the following are the only Disney Resort hotels that are open and accepting reservations:

• Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas at Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Guests staying looking to book the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa should know that a significant portion of the resort and its amenities are currently behind tall blue walls for the sake of the NBA Orlando Bubble.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is currently scheduled to reopen August 24, while Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa won’t reopen until September 21. In addition, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort reopens October 4, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort reopens October 14, and finally Disney’s Art of Animation is scheduled to reopen November 1. Meanwhile, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and BoardWalk Inn are to remain closed until further notice.

Disney still says future reopening dates are subject to change and guests’ reservations could still be modified to other Disney Resort hotels if needed. Other Disney Resorts that are not listed have no reopening scheduled at this time.

Everything Closes Early

Since reopening, the four Walt Disney World Parks have had shorter operating hours than usual due to our current global situation. Disney then recently announced that operating hours would be shortened even more.

But the parks aren’t the only locations on Disney World property that are closing early. Resort dining used to close around 11:00 p.m., with lounges closing later. The Grand Floridian’s Gasparilla Island Grill and the Polynesian’s Capt. Cook’s were even open 24 hours. However, that’s no longer the case.

Most resort dining, including the food courts and private in-room dining, are currently closing at 10:00 p.m. Personally, I never thought I would find myself eating dinner out of a vending machine at the Polynesian after an evening check-in, but here we are.

In addition, the stores at the resort also close early and times vary by store. At the Grand Floridian Resort, Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries closes at 10:00 p.m. while M. Mouse Mercantile closes at 9:00 p.m. It’s definitely something to note in case you need to pick something up at the end of the day.

Transportation is Limited

Speaking of early closures, Disney transportation also shuts down earlier these days. The monorail still runs 30 minutes prior to park opening and until one hour after park closing; and the buses between the Disney Resort hotels and the parks begin 45 minutes before opening and end an hour after closing.

But here’s where it can be problematic for both resort and non-resort guests.

If the Magic Kingdom closes at 7 p.m., and guests booked a dinner reservation at the Contemporary Resort’s The Wave of American Flavors that doesn’t conclude until after 8 p.m., they’re stranded at that resort if they’re relying on Disney transportation. Again, speaking from experience, I shelled out $15 for a Lyft just to get from the Contemporary Resort to the Polynesian Resort at 8:30 p.m. simply because the resort was no longer offering transportation.

Also, water taxi transportation to and from resorts is currently only available from the Polynesian Village Resort, the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Those staying at the Grand Floridian Resort will need to rely upon the monorail system to reach the Magic Kingdom for the time being.

Finally, transportation coupled with social distancing measures is a very different experience. All of Disney’s modes of transportation are operating with limited capacity.

So far, this hasn’t had a huge impact since the crowds have been low. Still, there have been instances where guests haven’t been able to board the Monorail, bus, or boat at their resort since only a limited amount of people can be accommodated in their designated, isolated sections.

The Disney Park Pass Reservation System is Required

Nowadays, having a park ticket isn’t enough to enter one of Walt Disney World’s four parks; and for the time being, park hopping is a thing of the past. In order to manage attendance, Disney requires guests with tickets to reserve their entry to the park using the Disney Park Pass reservation system.

Currently the number of theme park reservation days you can hold at one time are dependent on your vacation plans. For instance, Annual Passholders can make a park pass reservation for up to 3 days at a time. Meanwhile, existing ticket holders can make park pass reservations for the number of days of their valid theme park admission.

However, Disney Resort and other select hotel guests can make park reservations (one park per day) for dates during their stay for the number of days they have valid park admission.

Note: Resort guests have had little too to no trouble securing a park reservation in comparison to existing ticket holders and especially Annual Passholders.

Extra Park Pass Info:

• If you booked a vacation package, ticket eligibility is tied to your package travel dates. To make a park reservation for a different date, be sure to modify your vacation package dates.
• Park Pass reservations are currently available through September 26, 2021.
• Both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required for each person in your party ages 3 and up.

Have you experienced the Disney Resort hotels during these unprecedented times? Are you planning to book a stay at a Disney Resort in the future? 

The post What You Need to Know About a Disney Resort Stay Right Now Part I appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Resorts, Transportation, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), Deluxe resorts, Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Resorts, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Value Resorts, disney world, DVC, DVC Villas, Moderate Resorts, value resorts, walt disney world, Walt Disney World Resorts