Author: touringplans.com

Frequent Walt Disney World visitors usually have the dining system down. They know how to make reservations, when to make reservations, where to eat, what to eat, and what the the procedures are when they arrive at the restaurant. Enter Coronavirus and all that hard-won learning is no longer applicable.

Here are the new things you need to know regarding dining at Disney World.

1. No Dining Plan

While the Disney Dining Plan was not right for everyone, a significant number of Disney World guests are devotees, swearing that it helps them plan, budget, and save money on vacation dining.

During the pandemic, Disney has discontinued the Dining Plan. There is no word on when, or if, it will return. Nor do we know if there will be changes to the plan if it returns.

2. Restaurant Hours Have Changed

Many Walt Disney World restaurant hours have been altered during the pandemic. Before getting your heart set on having a particular meal at a particular location, be sure to check the DisneyWorld.com website for current hours.

For example, if your favorite in-park dinner was Animal Kingdom’s Tiffins, then you’ll need to rethink your plans. Now that Animal Kingdom will be routinely closing as early as 5:00 p.m., dinner is no longer at option at that location.

3. Mobile Order May Be Required

Several years ago, Disney began rolling out a mobile order option at some, but not all, quick-service restaurants on property. Mobile order is now all but required at all quick-service locations. Access this via the MyDisneyExperience app on your mobile device.

4. No Character Meals

Well, that’s not entirely true. There is a bit of kinda, sorta character dining at some of the restaurants. For example, at Topolino’s at the new Riviera Resort, there is a “socially distant character breakfast.” Costumed “fur” characters stroll through the dining room, wave, and dance, but they will not stop at individual tables to sign autographs or pose for photos.

5. No Dinner Shows

Aerosol-spewing song and dance do not mix well with dining. The Spirit of Aloha and my family’s must-do The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue are currently shuttered.

6. No Buffets

A few of Disney World’s many typically buffet-style restaurants are open, but their menus have changed. For example, Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort has stopped serving its giant buffet and now offers platters of food brought to individual tables, to be served family style. You can get more of any item, but you have to ask for it.

Other buffet restaurants, such as the Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace, are currently closed.

7. Your Favorite Restaurant May Not Be Open

As I just mentioned, many of Disney dining’s stalwart institutions such as Crystal Palace are temporarily non-operational. Others on the wounded list include Casey’s Corner, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Columbia Harbour House, the Friar’s Nook, and similarly lengthy lists in the other theme parks; all the dessert parties; and of course all the restaurants located in the hotels that are currently closed.

8. Your Favorite Item May Not Be On the Menu

Most Disney restaurants have streamlined their menus, serving a smaller selection of items. For example, I dined at Tiffins for lunch in November 2019. At that time, the menu listed 10 appetizer choices and 9 entree choices. The menu has now been whittled down to 6 appetizers and 6 entrees.

Expect similar parings across the board.

9. You Can’t Walk and Snack

This is a big one — the days of munching on popcorn as you stroll from ride to ride are now paused. Disney has mandated that all food must be consumed while you are in a stationary position, not while you are walking or otherwise moving about. You can still get your Mickey bar or Dole Whip, but you have to stay in one place while you consume it.

10. You May Need a Health Check to Dine

All guests are subject to a temperature check when entering the theme parks, a de facto pre-dining health check. Additionally, there are now temperature screenings before you can dine at many of the restaurants in the Disney resort hotels.

11. Condiment Stations are Different

A key draw of some Disney World quick service restaurants, such as Cosmic Ray’s or Pecos Bill’s, was their bountiful “topping bars” where you could serve yourself a variety of sides and condiments to personalized and embellish your burger or nachos. The serve-yourself aspect of these places is now diminished, with things like the endless ketchup pump replaced by single serve packets.

Additionally, other self-serve food items, such as soda dispensers, may be full-service only.

12. The Reservation Process is Different

In pre-COVID days, guests could make dining reservations up 180 days in advance. The current time frame is up to 60 days in advance.

13. You Need a Park Reservation AND a Restaurant Reservation for Many In-Park Dining Experiences

All visitors currently need a reservation to enter the theme parks. You likely also need a reservation if you want to dine at a popular in-park restaurant such as, say, Be Our Guest. Neither reservation alone will get you in the restaurant.

14. You Can’t Park Hop to Dine

Park Hopping, the practice of visiting two theme parks in one day, is currently discontinued. For years, my family’s preferred touring style was to visit Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom in the morning and then hop to Epcot in the evening, specifically to take advantage of the bounty of restaurants there. This may be the time to branch out and revisit some of the forgotten gems in the other parks.

15. Reservations May Be Required to Dine at a Hotel Other than Your Own

Pre-pandemic, you could pop into any Disney resort hotel, walk up to the restaurant podium and, pending availability, be seated to dine. Currently reservations are required to dine at hotels other than your own.

16. Your Menu May Look Different

With the aim of reducing the number of high-touch surfaces you encounter, Disney has put away the multi-page, leather-bound menus previously offered at many locations, in favor of QR code electronic menus or disposable paper menus. If you’re not familiar with QR readers, now may be the time to learn.

17. You Must Have a Mask on Hand

While guest are obviously not required to wear a mask when physically eating (ewwww), you will need to wear a mask when you enter and exit Disney dining venues. If you’re at a full-service restaurant, it’s also polite to wear it when you’re placing your order or otherwise interacting with your server when you’re not actively eating.

18. Cashless Payment is Preferred

Disney is encouraging guests, whenever possible, to refrain from using cash as a payment method in the restaurants, or anywhere else at Walt Disney World. Bring a credit card, debit card, Disney gift card, MagicBand linked to a Disney hotel account, or a form of electronic payment such as Apple Pay.

How do you feel about these temporary changes? Do they impact your decision to visit Disney World right now?

The post 18 Ways Dining at Disney World is Different in the Pandemic appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), coronavirus, COVID-19, disney coronavirus

The Walt Disney World Resort has a brand new way for Guests to be able to dine! Since the return of Guests to the parks back in July, Guests who are looking to dine only had two options – Mobile Ordering or making a reservation ahead of time. Since Disney is heavily promoting minimizing contact with Cast Members, the ability to check for walk-up availability in person has definitely been a sticking point.

Now, Disney is introducing the brand new Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist. This new capability can be found in the My Disney Experience app and it allows Guests the opportunity to quickly view current wait times, as well as any potential dining availability at participating Disney-owned, table service restaurants. By using the app, Guests are able to add themselves to the waitlist with ease without needing to interact with a Cast Member.

How does it work? When Guests click to search for dining reservations on the app, you’ll now see the “Now” option when searching by time for same day availability.

As of right now, the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist is only available at a few select restaurants, including Topolino’s Terrace, Kona, Sanaa, and Whispering Canyon Cafe, but it is expected to be rolled out to more restaurants in the near future. In addition, this option is only available for parties of seven or less. Parties of eight or more will still need to check at the restaurant podium to see about availability.

Keep in mind that it does seem that the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist is still in a testing phase.

The post Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist Available in the My Disney Experience App appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, News, Walt Disney World (FL), disney dining, Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist, walt disney world

Ever since The Dress Shop opened at Disney Springs it has become increasingly difficult to resist the precious dresses that are available there. The two latest dresses we’ve found at The Dress Shop have wonderful details that you’ve just got to see – especially if you’re a fan of Minnie Mouse or The Haunted Mansion.

Up first is the Minnie Mouse dress. The base of the dress is black, with the skirt being a bold black and white polka dot pattern, a red band around the waist and a red and black polka dot cape-style collar with a black button. On the skirt, in the lower left side, is Minnie Mouse embroidered in a fashionable style. Minnie’s signature autograph is embroidered on the back right shoulder.

There’s also a new Haunted Mansion dress with a teal blue bodice and black patterned skirt. The pattern contains cartoon-style characters and scenes from The Haunted Mansion. A black sash ties around the waist, but the best detail of all is on the back right shoulder: the famous singing busts are embroidered along the back – so neat!

Both dresses are $128.00 and do not appear to be available on shopDisney online just yet.

Although the above dresses aren’t online yet, I found two new dresses that are online and are equally as tempting. The Hollywood Tower of Terror Halter Dress has the iconic burgundy, black, and gold colors, with The Hollywood Hotel logo embroidered on the back right side of the halter.

There is also the Oogie Boogie Dress for The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is basically Oogie Boogie’s song come to life with black and bright green, with the words “Oogie Boogie” embroidered on the back left shoulder.

Each dress is $128, both online and in store where available.

Which one of these new dresses is your favorite?

The post You’ve GOT to See the Detail of These New Disney Dresses appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Merchandise, haunted mansion dress, minnie mouse merchandise, nightmare before christmas dress, tower of terror dress

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel to Coronavirus hotspots, including Florida.

In a statement on Tuesday, August 18, De Blasio reiterated his commitment to protecting the low COVID case count in the City. He specifically asked residents to refrain from visiting a list of 35 U.S. states and territories that are currently experiencing high levels of Coronavirus.

The New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tri-state region continues to require anyone arriving in the area from a high-COVID spot to quarantine in place for 14 days upon arrival. This latest statement is a step further, with De Blasio specifically asking New Yorkers not to visit states such as Florida that are currently experiencing Coronavirus outbreaks.

De Blasio told the New York Times, “If you have a choice in travel, don’t go where the problem is.”

In addition to the previously announced COVID checkpoints such as airport arrivals, New York hotels and short-term home rentals will now require visitors to complete a Coronavirus tracking form before getting a room.

If you’re from the greater New York area, will De Blasio’s statement impact your decision to visit Walt Disney World?

The post New York Mayor Asks Residents Not to Visit Florida and Other Virus Hotspots appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), coronavirus, COVID-19

Yes, it is true that wait times are at all-time lows at Orlando’s theme parks right now, but sometimes the posted wait times are not accurate. And some days are busier than others. We’ve also found that overall wait times are longer at Universal Orlando theme parks, compared to Walt Disney World. But just when we were starting to see a pattern, Universal Orlando temporarily closed some of their attractions, which has had an impact on wait time data. On top of that, Universal offered Florida residents a deal so amazing that thousands took advantage of it: Unlimited admission between now and Christmas for the price of a single day!

More importantly, during our visit we experienced multiple instances in which the posted wait times were significantly higher than what our Lines app showed as Expected Wait Times, and what our team actually experienced. Would Universal inflate their posted wait times to sell more Express Passes? Is it a way to discourage people from getting in line to control for social distancing? Or is there another reason? The question is, how should you plan your day if Universal’s Posted Wait Times aren’t all that accurate?

We will not just look at posted wait times, but rather dig into the expected wait times calculated in our Lines app, as well as the actual wait times experienced by members of our field research team. We have found after multiple visit that our Lines app is much more accurate than the posted wait times which allows the app to optimize which attractions to go to and when.

Actual Wait Times at Universal Studios Florida on August 15, 2020

Universal Orlando’s theme parks do not require reservations, but there is limited capacity. It has been a rare occurrence that we’ve seen Universal’s park reach whatever their limited capacity is. Like the Disney parks, hours have been reduced compared to previous seasons.

Universal Studios Florida is open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Recently posted wait times at Universal’s theme parks have been higher than Walt Disney World’s in most cases. One contributing factor to this is that Universal Orlando is continuing the use of Express Pass whereas Disney is not currently offering FastPass+.

Our team visited Universal Studios Florida on Saturday, August 15, 2020. At 9:15 a.m., just after park opening, the posted wait times for most attractions averaged 20 minutes. However, about one hour later posted wait times jumped to about 65 minutes. And yet, our Lines app showed expected wait times that were about 20 minutes less than what was posted. And the cherry on top is that our team experienced actual wait times that were 40 – 50 minutes less than what Universal posted! That’s right – as usual the Lines estimate was more accurate than the posted time.

While it is a nice surprise to wait nearly one hour less than the posted wait time of any attraction, it can really mess up someone’s planning if they don’t have the right tools. Let’s dig into the posted, expected, and actual wait times so you can see what we mean. Expected Wait Times below are the wait times expected based on data calculated in our Lines app. Any Actual Wait Times below are from people actually waiting in line and riding.

 

• Transformers the Ride 
  • 10:00 a.m.
  • Posted Wait Time 50 / Expected 45 / Actual 38
• Men in Black: Alien Attack
  • 10:45 a.m.
  • Posted Wait Time 65 / Expected 14 / Actual 17
• The Simpsons Ride
  • 11:45 am
  • Posted 65 / Expected 42/ Actual 8
• E.T. The Ride
  • 12:40 p.m.
  • Posted 55 / Expected 60 / Actual 29
• Hogwarts Express
  • 2:45 p.m.
  • Posted 105 /Expected 82 / Actual 67

Overall, our Lines app had expected wait times within 15 minutes of the posted wait times. However, there were two big anomalies with Men in Black and The Simpsons Ride. Universal’s posted wait times were off by 50 minutes or more in those instances.

Someone not using our Lines app would have anticipated waiting 340 minutes for the five rides listed above. Using the Lines app and seeing the Expected Wait Times, you can see where wait times are reporting to be much less than the Posted wait times and adjust your day accordingly. In total our field team waited 159 minutes for the above five rides, compared to 340 minutes of posted wait times — in other words Universal’s Posted Wait Times were double the Actual Wait Times our team experienced.

All in all, it appears that Saturday was a busier day than anticipated by Universal, because that afternoon Universal unexpectedly extended park operating hours by an extra hour. We have not seen this happen since the parks reopened in June.

On our site you can view graphs with observed wait times compared to expected wait times for any past days. Anytime you see a green dot, that is an actual wait time submitted by a Lines app user, or a Liner as we affectionately call them.

As I was pulling together this information I became curious about previous weekends at Universal Studios Florida. Something to consider when looking at recent Universal Studios Florida’s wait times is that last week on August 9, 2020, four attractions became temporarily closed for the foreseeable future: A Day in the Park with Barney, Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl, Fast and Furious: Supercharged, and Fear Factor Live!

These attractions are not major attention grabbers, but losing these four attractions at once does impact overall capacity. Every little bit helps in giving people a place to go and spend some time. Without those extra four attractions it is reasonable to think wait times at the remaining attractions will be impacted. And when you look at the data of the three Saturdays prior to this change, versus the this past Saturday being the first one after the change, you can see an increase in observed wait times nearly across the board.

The closure of the four attractions may not be the main reason for the increased wait times at Universal Studios Florida this weekend, but it is easy to see a change in the wait times that followed the closure. To try and prove this theory one way or the other, I looked at August 8, 2020 – the final day the four attractions were still in operation, versus August 9, 2020 the first day the four attractions became temporarily closed. There is not a large scale difference in wait times across the board from one day to the next, but there is a fair amount.

What impacts you the most here is that Universal’s posted wait times are significantly higher than the Actual Wait Times and Expected Wait Times calculated in our Lines app. Using the Lines app can help you plan accordingly so you will know how to plan your time in the parks for less stress.

What do you think of this wait time data? Have you been to Universal Orlando? How was your experience?

The post What’s Causing Universal’s Posted Wait Times To Be So High and Inaccurate? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, Trip Planning, Universal Orlando Resort, universal orlando attractions, universal orlando crowd levels, universal orlando wait times