Author: touringplans.com

I’ll be real honest here: I miss Disneyland. I miss the sights, the sounds, the smells, and just the whole energy of the place. There’s something about walking down Main Street U.S.A. with that super-charming castle drawing me in that’s good for the soul, and knowing that it’s not even an option right now kinda stings.

With that in mind, it got me to thinking: there IS another Disney resort that IS open, and it’s got a lot of the same attractions. Also, we’re all about creating touring plans here at TouringPlans, so why not try to take a day and approximate a day at Disneyland by doing all of the Disneyland attractions that exist in some form at Walt Disney World? Would it serve as a reasonable substitute for the real thing while we wait for Disneyland to reopen? And would it be possible to do everything in one day? Let’s find out!

First and foremost, an acknowledgement: The attractions at Walt Disney World that also exist at Disneyland are spread across three parks in Orlando (all of the parks except for Animal Kingdom have an attraction that you can find at one of the two Disneyland Resort parks), and as we all know, park hopping is currently not permitted. There are 17 Disneyland attractions at Magic Kingdom, however, and considering the very low crowds we’re seeing these days, you can very easily knock them out in a day. Here’s a public custom plan I’ve created that identifies the attractions and shows how it will play out — and it still leaves ample time to experience other Disneyland staples, like grabbing a corn dog, or taking in a show by the Dapper Dans.

With that said, we embrace challenge here, so we’re going to take a look at this as if park hopping was still a thing and see if it’s possible to knock them all out under current operating hours and conditions. Again, most of the attractions we need to hit are at Magic Kingdom, and that park opens an hour earlier at 9 a.m., but a few of the biggies are at Hollywood Studios, including the toughest get of them all, Rise of the Resistance. Moreover, a boarding group is required to do Rise, and they are only available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so we need to physically be at Studios at one of those times for this to work. I’ve run the plans in several different ways, and the reality is that starting at Magic Kingdom and doing everything there first puts you at Hollywood Studios too late in the day to get a boarding pass. On the other hand, if you use the later start at Hollywood Studios and begin your day there, it’s very unlikely that you’ll get done in time to get back to Magic Kingdom and do what you need to do there before the 7 p.m. close.

With that in mind, I’m going to suggest something that seems to be the opposite of the efficiency we strive for here at Touring Plans, and that is doing a lot of park hopping to try to make this happen. We’re going to start at Magic Kingdom, do as much as we can before hopping over to Hollywood Studios to get a 2 pm boarding pass for Rise, popping over to Epcot to check the Soarin’ box when we can, and then scrambling back to Magic Kingdom to round out the day. Even then, it’s going to be tough, but this isn’t a leisurely day at the park–it’s a fantastical attempt to recreate the Disneyland experience in Orlando in a day, and we’re going to have to do some gymnastics to even have a chance. It’s going to be a challenge regardless — albeit a fun challenge — but this gives us our best shot.

So, here’s the plan: we’ll be at Magic Kingdom for park opening, and will take advantage of the early part of the day to knock out as many attractions as possible before about 1 p.m.-ish. Here’s how our software shows the morning playing out:

For a little bonus injection of Disneyland, make sure you take note of Mr. Toad passing the deed to Owl when you’re on Winnie the Pooh!

Anyway, this has us wrapping up the first leg right around 1, because it’s absolutely critical that we have time to make our way over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios by 2 p.m. to grab a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance. The boarding group thing is obviously a huge wildcard here, but we’re going to assume for the purposes of this exercise that we get one within a couple of hours and can squeeze it in before 4 and then work the other attractions around it — the wait times noted below shouldn’t dramatically change during this window.

At some point during the afternoon, we’re going to need to make our way to Epcot to experience Soarin’. Ideally, we’ll be able to get a boarding group and knock out the things at Studios seriatim and then bounce to Epcot to knock that out en route back to the Magic Kingdom. If, however, things really go sideways with the boarding group — for example, you get one after 4 p.m. — it might be necessary to immediately go to Epcot to experience Soarin’ first (expected wait — 16-23 minutes) and then circle back to the Studios. The goal is to wrap up the four Studios attractions, plus Soarin’, in three and a half hours, returning to Magic Kingdom by 5:30.  This leaves us 90 minutes to finish the last 4 attractions, 3 of which are headliners. Given the crowds we’re seeing right now, however, it should be doable.

So, like most completist challenges, this Disneyland-in-a-day at Walt Disney World challenge isn’t going to be easy, especially on account of the shortened hours, and a little bit of bad luck could scuttle the effort, but it’s completely doable. And I know, I know, some of the Disneyland versions of these attractions are different (or, ahem, clearly better) so it’s not exactly the “same,” but I would 100% love to give it a try right now. There are far worse ways to spend a day.

What do you think? What do you think would be the most noticeable difference? Do you think it would feel enough like a Disneyland trip to scratch that itch? Let us know in the comments!

 

The post A Day at Disneyland… At Walt Disney World appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Disneyland (CA), Just For Fun, Magic Kingdom, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), Disneyland, Ultimate Touring Plan

If you like to have some Disney magic wherever you go, consider picking up a shoulder buddy. These little plush dolls attach to your clothing with magnets so they can sit on your shoulder. At Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Emporium our team found some new shoulder buddies including Mushu, Bruni, Groot, a Porg, and Remy. Each one is $9.99.

Over at EPCOT, at Mouse Gear, our team found FIGMENT! Just like Dreamfinder, you can have Figment come along with you on all your adventures. He too is $9.99.

You can also find a Pascal shoulder plush on shopDisney online. A few weeks about you could also find The Child as a shoulder plush on shopDisney online, but it appears to be sold out.

Would you have one of these tag-alongs with you on your next trip to Walt Disney World?

The post New Disney Shoulder Buddies Arrive at Magic Kingdom and shopDisney Online appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Merchandise, disney plush, groot, mushu, remy

In part 1 of this blog post series, I described the masks to be included in our in-park mask testing. In part 2 of this blog post series, I did some at-home performance testing.

Let me first apologize for the delay in putting this blog post together.  We have had 8 people wearing masks in the parks since mid-July.

Since the parks have opened Disney has refined their face covering rules:

All face coverings (whether disposable or reusable) must:

• Be made with at least 2 layers of breathable material
• Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin
• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Be secured with ties or ear loops and allow the Guest to remain hands-free

At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas, and face coverings containing valves, mesh material, or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings.

Neck Gaiters

We tested the Neck Gaiters in the parks before they were banned. The extra fabric made them hotter than other options. They all supposedly have a cooling effect if they are activated with water, but a wet gaiter is not easy to breathe through. We are not disappointed that gaiters are banned.

Disposable Masks

In general disposable masks are lighter than the reusable masks. We include the StringKing face mask in our test. The StringKing mask was Len Testa’s favorite mask. We also tested an inexpensive drug store disposable mask. The drug store mask was the only mask we tested that I would not wear in the parks. The drug store mask felt like wearing a piece of plastic cellophane.

Mask Features

Size does matter. Rachel is 5′ 5″ and found most masks too large. Any mask that was available in a smaller size was her preference. Sam is 6′ 3″ and found most masks too small. The rest of us were under 6′ and were fine with the mask sizes.

People wearing glasses found masks would make their glasses fog up. Masks with an adjustable nose tab helped to avoid fogging.

Adjustable ear loops were a nice feature on the Athleta masks. I prefer a behind the head strap, but it is not common on most masks. There are some options on the internet to add a strap that connects the ear straps together to make a head strap.

100% cotton vs synthetic – The masks we tested were either 100% cotton, cotton blend, or a Poly/Lycra blend. The synthetic masks did a better job of wicking away moister. The cotton masks absorbed some sweat.

Testing Results

Best overall mask: Eliel Face Masks

The Eliel mask was the preferred reusable mask for everyone. The masks come in small and large sizes. Masks come in white, black, or “fun pack.” Five masks for $50 with free shipping. Available here.

Best Disposable: StringKing 3-Layer Face Mask

If you prefer a disposable mask, make sure it is breathable. The StringKing is both lightweight and comfortable. Box of 50 masks for $38 + $12 Shipping. Available here.

Honorable Mention: Athleta Athletic Face Masks

The Athleta was my wife’s and daughter’s second choice. Athleta now has a “Made to Move” option that looks very appealing. Five masks for $30 with free shipping. Available here.

All the other face masks we tested were all viable masks to wear in the parks.

 VTER Cotton Breathing Mask

VTER masks are made with a blend of 35% cotton and 65% polyester that blocks dust, dirt, and pollen while also absorbing excess moisture. Available at amazon.com, 5 for $20 Arrived in 5 days.

Onzie Mindful Mask

Activewear brand Onzie repurposed its performance fabric into a form-fitting face mask that allows airflow and wicks away moisture to keep the environment under your mask comfortable. 2 for $24 -15% WELCOME +$8.50 shipping. Available here.

Purple Face Mask

The sleep company Purple created a soft mask with moisture-wicking Breeze mesh. Comes in two sizes. 2 for $20 with free shipping. Available here.

Thompson Tee

Thompson Tee uses premium breathable, soft cotton for their masks. Masks come in adult and kids sizes in white or black. Made in the U.S.A. Two for $5.99 + Free Shipping Available here.

Kini Bands

Soft stretch face masks. Wicking and breathable. Made in the U.S.A. $14.99 -1.49 (KINI-10 10% off) + $ 3.18 shipping. Available here.

 

Have you found a preferred brand of mask for your daily use or theme park travel? Let us know your preferences in the comments.

The post Testing Out Face Coverings for Your Vacation (Part 3) appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

Disney just gets more and more creative with mouse ears each month. At a recent drop into Disney’s Hollywood Studios our team found some gorgeous Tower of Terror mouse ears by Loungefly. And over at Magic Kingdom they got their hands on some mouse ears inspired by Mickey Mouse’s iconic gloves.

The Tower of Terror mouse ears by Loungefly have the dark, rich burgundy and gold colors scene in the costumes at the ride, as well as a dangling tassel, and the Loungefly emblem on one side of the headband. These designer ears are $34.99 and do not appear to be available at shopDisney online.

Over at Magic Kingdom we spotted some mouse ears that aren’t ears at all, but are plush Mickey Mouse gloves. These silly ears are $24.99 and also do not appear to be available on shopDisney online.

You can, however, find new Minnie Mouse Witch Halloween mouse ears for $27.99 on shopDisney online. There’s also a new Minnie Mouse Sequined Ear Headband with a bow and plastic ears filled with confetti for $29.99 at shopDisney.

 

Which of these mouse ear headbands is your favorite?

The post You’ll Want to Get Your Hands on These New Mouse Ears at Walt Disney World appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Merchandise, loungefly disney, Mouse Ears, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

These days I feel a bit like a bouncing ball in a big game. If you feel the same, maybe it is time to think of taking advantage of some Hotwire hidden Hot Rate deals for Disney’s Pop Century Resort!

Once there, you can pretend you are in the world’s largest game of foosball. (Wait, what is a “foos”, anyway?)

With a little detective work over on Hotwire, you can find a nice drop of hidden Hot Rate rooms at Pop for $75 to $89 in both August and September. We haven’t seen rates like that for Pop since some Priceline Express deals dropped for a few weeks in Spring, 2019.

For comparison, I checked one of the $79 deal days: the regular Hotwire and Disney direct rates were both $170, while Undercover Tourist had Pop for $160. The Disney Annual Pass rate for the day was $119, which is still pretty nice these days.

To help you find them, I’ll quickly run through a few techniques to identify the resort, then I’ll add some deal calendars so you can see them all at a glance.

Just like Priceline Express, I always suggest you sort search by price from low to high so you can compare similar rated resorts to each other. You’ll also want to use the search filters to limit results to 3-star and 4-star resorts.

When you’ve gotten the feel of searching on Hotwire you might also want to select the “Hot Rate” tab to only see the hidden deals. But, some people may like to keep “All Hotels” selected so they can compare non-hidden deals right alongside the hidden ones.

Finally, you want to limit things to just the Bonnet Creek and Disney Springs areas, which is where all of the Disney resorts are located. (Remember, there are also other hotels in these spots too, so finding deals there is no guarantee it will be a Disney resort. You’ll want to compare all the factors.)

You can use the Areas drop down in the search filter bar, but I find that a little annoying to use because it is a large pop up menu.

An easier way is to simply click on Bonnet Creek and Disney Springs in the map.

In our Pop Century example, we’re looking for a 3-star resort in Bonnet Creek. When searching hidden deals, some reconnaissance is a good way to help you in the process.

So, I suggest you visit Pop Century’s Hotwire page, where among other things you learn that it is rated 4.3/5 by guests.

Well, whaddya know, there’s a deal right here in the search I just ran!

Now, from much clickety-clicking I have learned that right now on Hotwire there are actually three 3-star resorts in Bonnet Creek that have a 4.3 guest rating. In addition to Pop, the others are Art of Animation and All-Star Sports.

So, we need some more data to bring our possibilities down. If you click “Which hotel can I get?” on the right side of the deal, it will open a window below with additional info.

In non-Disney deals deals you’ll also often see the number of reviews it has – but only rarely appears on Disney resorts. But, the Overview section here will tell you some more detailed guest ratings at the resort – usually the four items shown below.

Guess what? If you listened to my suggestion to go reconnoiter (I have never typed that word before in my life) Pop’s Hotwire page, you’ll find that those sub-guest ratings look pretty familiar.

Now, you might notice there can be a little wiggle-room in these guest reviews – sometimes the hidden deal will have a Room cleanliness rating of 4.4 while the resort’s page is 4.5, as we do above. This is likely due to new reviews that haven’t synced up within the system. Still – it is usually fairly obvious which resort is which since we are comparing an overall rating and 4-sub-ratings.

To really help you feel confident in your decision that this is, indeed, a Pop Century deal I’ll assign you some self-study: head over to the Art of Animation and All-Star Sports pages and compare their guest-ratings to the hidden deal as well.

The last tool in the comparison toolbox is the number of guest reviews that have been left for a resort. This one is a little more loosey-goosey (foosey loosey?) lately. Hotwire uses Expedia’s review system on their resort pages and over the last few months many of the review counts have swung wildly around, like me trying to aim the Buzz Lightyear ride vehicle at Zurg while eating a churro.

So, I suggest you use reviews in a pinch to help break a tie, but be wary. Just yesterday I noticed that the Swan had almost 2,800 LESS reviews than the last time I checked! A head scratcher.

Having said that, I’ll offer one last tip: even though Disney resort deals don’t always have reviews listed on Hot Rate deal – when you click on it to show the full listing, it often has the reviews listed as a range. In this Pop Century deal, you can see if the Hot-Rate deal review range compares to those listed on regular deal for the resort. (Yes, 1,287 is between 1,000 and 1,500.)

 

Now that we’ve finished our quick class on Hot Rate resort identification – here are the Pop Century deals out there in August and September.

If you’re looking for a good deal – these are among the best out there now. If you’ve booked one and/or know exactly what a foos is – let us know in the comments!

The post Hotwire Deals: Pop On Over For A Visit appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: discounts, Resorts, Saving Money, Walt Disney World (FL), hotwire