Author: touringplans.com

• Disney Skyliner – This brand new Disney transportation system has no major impacts. It is one party per gondola, which isn’t too different than how the gondolas have been running aside from peak times of the day. Due to reduced attendance and occupancy at Walt Disney World, and no park hopping, we aren’t seeing significant delays or long wait times for the Skyliner system.

• Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat –  As you board you’ll notice physical distancing dots placed on the ground. One party of around five people per dot maximum is permitted. So if you’re a party of two you will get your own dot. Each ferry boat takes approximately 60 groups per load.  During peak times you can expect some delays and wait times.
• Resort Water Taxis – The resort water taxis follow a similar system except they use bench seating. One party per bench, no combining of parties on the same bench. Each bench or row is staggered. Benches next to each other will have one bench available with the neighboring bench unavailable, and the bench behind will be unavailable too. No standing is allowed. During peak times you can expect some delays and wait times.
• Friendships at EPCOT – These boats follow the same protocols as the resort water taxis: staggered rows, one party per bench. No standing is allowed. During peak times you can expect some delays and wait times. We’ve seen some guests enjoy private cruises aboard the Friendship due to low attendance during certain days and times of day.

• Monorail – The original Disney transportation icon is popular, but now has significantly reduced capacity. Two parties per compartment, which equals four parties per car. One party per bench. No standing. There is also a clear barrier between compartments that are back to back in the middle of the car. Currently, at the time of writing this post, only Express and Resort Monorail loops are running, which means there is no monorail running between EPCOT and the Transportation and Ticket Center.

• Buses – Disney buses are the most common way to get around. Buses have been impacted the most, besides the monorail. There is no standing allowed and just six groups per bus. There are partitions on the bus.
• Minnie Vans  – currently unavailable.
• Parking Lot Trams – currently unavailable.

For practically all modes of Disney transportation guests are staggered on the platforms or loading areas. This helps with distancing as well as to pre-assign each party to a numbered spot inside the bus or boat.

To help simplify this information about Disney transportation, we’ve put together this infographic:

What’s your favorite mode of Disney transportation?

The post The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation with New Safety Protocols appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Transportation, Trip Planning, disney boats, disney monorail, disney reopening, Disney Transportation

At Main Street Emporium our team spotted a new Baby Disney onesie costume that will make your ow little child look as cute as The Child from the Disney+ hit show The Mandalorian. It has fleece details like the clothing worn by The Child, and also features the large, adorable face of The Child itself as a hat.

It is $24.99 and also available at shopDisney online.

Is The Child the Way to your heart?

The post You Can Dress Your Child as THE Child With This New Onesie Costume appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Magic Kingdom, Merchandise, Star Wars, star wars baby, the child mandalorian

Last month Disney surprisingly announced the flight delay of the next installment in the Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Collection. The Peter Pan’s Flight Collection was grounded while Disney put together its free MerchPass offering.

The Disney MerchPass is their attempted solution for the aggravation that comes whenever a popular special edition item is released causing website issues and lots of guests not able to get the item they want. It’s not a perfect solution, but then again nothing aside from having enough for everyone who wants one would make everyone happy – in which case the item would no longer be so special.

The MerchPass for the Peter Pan’s Flight set for Main Attraction Minnie Mouse will open on July 27 at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET)  and be open for signups through  July 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT. You can learn more here.

The products included in this line include a special Minnie Mouse doll, backpack, mug, ears, and pin set.

Will you be signing up for a MerchPass chance at this next release in the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction collection? Let us know if you have any luck being selected.

The post Peter Pan’s Flight Installment of Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Collection Will Be Offered With MerchPass appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Merchandise, limited edition disney, minnie mouse main attraction, Peter Pan’s Flight

Welcome to another midsummer week in Central Florida! We just had a yo-yo week, as rain accompanied the slow transit of a tropical wave across the peninsula and then stuck around for its development into a hurricane over the Gulf. After a few days of drying out once Hurricane Hanna moved over Texas, things are about to get back to normal… half-sunny, half-stormy, and all hot! And, is there more tropical weather on the horizon? It’s that time of year…

This week, a low-level boundary ridge is going to swing through the peninsula, helping moisture build and giving that sea breeze plenty to play with as it moves inland each day. Later in the week, the Atlantic ridge sets up over Lake Okeechobee, giving us a southwest flow which means hot mornings and the chance of increased storms over the interior of Central Florida.

This Week’s Weather at Walt Disney World

For the rest of Sunday, expect a healthy coverage of thunderstorms in the area, with boundary collisions between adjacent storms building new areas of heavy rain and lightning through the evening. Storms could stick around until late night.

On Monday, some clouds could accompany the transition of this low pressure boundary, possibly bringing some morning rain. If the clouds stick around through midday, this could inhibit the build of afternoon storms. However, a burst of energy is expected in the evening. Storms that develop should track northeast along the boundary. Late clearing will leave us with a low around 74.

Tuesday, the winds will still be out of the southwest, giving us about a fifty percent chance of afternoon storms which push towards the east coast in the evening. High will be around 93, low 75.

Wednesday through Friday, the Atlantic ridge hangs out in South Florida through Friday, and the late week forecast appears to be similar for each day with mid 90s for highs and high 70s for lows, and about a 50% chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms each day. Some models suggest higher rain chances late in the week and some suggest lower rain chances later in the week, so we’re going down the middle on this one.

For next weekend, it will be a question of whether the Atlantic ridge holds on with its drying action, or if a trough develops off the southeast coast, pulling in deeper moisture. Whether we see extra sunshine or extra storms, expect highs in the mid 90s, typical for late July in Central Florida.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Hurricane Hanna was last week’s surprise. That tropical wave that was just starting to make its way into South Florida last weekend wasn’t on anyone’s charts as a potential tropical cyclone, but here we are on Sunday and she’s still a tropical storm! It just goes to show you what the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico can do now that we’re deep into summertime temperatures.

Will we have any surprises this week? Right now, there’s just one tropical wave worthy of attention, according to the National Hurricane Center. This is way out in the Atlantic right now, about a thousand miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. Remember the Cape Verde Islands — that’s the region off the coast of Africa which typically produces strong storms in August and September.

This system has a strong chance of development, with a chance of forming into a tropical depression placed at 60 percent through Tuesday, and 90 percent through Thursday. By Thursday, it should be near the Lesser Antilles, although it’s still too soon to say whether it will affect the Windward or Leeward Islands.

Will this system curve towards the southeastern United States? Long-range model data this morning would indicate yes… but here’s the thing: you shouldn’t worry about long-range model data! Forecast models looking more than three days into the future are highly volatile, and only get less accurate when land masses enter the picture. It will be at best late in the week before we see if ensembles — the collection of many forecasts — line up with reasonable agreement for the three- to five-day forecast anywhere near the U.S.

As we enter the busiest months of the hurricane season, it’s important to remember to wait and not get tied up in long-range forecasts. Preparation doesn’t call for panic, and we’re given a fantastic amount of time to check our travel arrangements, our pantries, and our battery supplies before a storm threatens.

The post This Week in Walt Disney World Weather — July 26, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), Weather, weather

You’re going on vacation to Walt Disney World! The only problem? You’re not sure which attractions are right for you and your kiddos and you have questions. Which attractions are too intense for little ones? What rides do I really need a FastPass+ reservation for? What’s the disability access like for certain attractions? We’re answering all those questions and more in our Everything You Need to Know attraction series with today’s focus on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at the Magic Kingdom.

What is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh?

This sweet dark ride whisks guests into the pages of a Winnie the Pooh storybook to experience moments from the classic 1977 Disney film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Where is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh?

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is located in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom across from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and near the Mad Tea Party.

What is the History of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh?

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened on June 5, 1999, replacing Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, an original opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom.

According to Imagineer Kevin Rafferty, voice actor Paul Winchell gave his final performance as Tigger for this attraction. Imagineers also paid tribute to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. During the scene in Owl’s house, there is framed picture on the wall just as you enter the room of Mr. Toad handing over a deed to Owl. Also look for a picture of Pooh and Mole.

In 2010, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh received an interactive queue where guests could play in Rabbit’s garden and play with a digital hunny board.

What You Need to Know About the Experience

Once aboard a hunny pot, guests enter the pages of a Winnie the Pooh storybook and ride through scenes from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh film such as the blustery day, meeting Tigger, Pooh’s Heffalump and Woozle dream, the flood, and finally Pooh getting to enjoy some hunny!

This attraction is a gentle dark ride but is unique in that the ride vehicle hunny pots gently move up and down at one point to simulate bouncing along with Tigger.

Note: The sounds of the thunderstorm and the Heffalumps and Woozles may startle some young children.

What You Need to Know About the Queue for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Guests enter The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh queue next to Pooh’s home with Mr. Sanders above the door. The first part of this queue winds through interactive elements and is mostly outdoors. The rest of the queue is mostly covered and consists of series of switchbacks dotted with Winnie the Pooh book pages.

What You Need to Know About the Ride Vehicles for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Aboard The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, guests ride in an oversized hunny pot! There are two rows per hunny pot with a capacity of 2 to 3 guests per row. Cast members will load two adults plus one small child, or one adult plus two small children. Larger adults can be seated in their own row; this is rarely necessary.

Guests sit on a hard bench with a back. There is a single pull-down lap bar for all riders in each row. Guests will need to step over a moderate (about 12″) wall to enter the hunny pot.

What You Need to Know About Accessibility

Guests must transfer to a standard wheelchair to experience this attraction. There is a wheelchair capable hunny pot.

What You Need to Know About Health and Safety Advisories

There are no health or safety advisories for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

What You Need to Know About the Height Restrictions for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

There is no height requirement for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh! Every member of the family can enjoy this attraction together.

What You Need to Know About FastPass+ for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh offers FastPass+. However, the wait for this attraction isn’t as long as other Magic Kingdom attractions and may not need to be your top FastPass+ priority.

Note: FastPass+ is currently not available at any of the Walt Disney World parks as of July 2020. 

Does Weather Affect The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh?

Since The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is an indoor attraction, inclement weather won’t impact the ride’s operation.

What’s the Best Time of Day to Experience The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh?

For the shortest wait, try to ride before 10:00 A.M. or in the 2 hours before park closing.

This chart shows you roughly how long you’ll wait for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh when you visit on a day with a given Magic Kingdom Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average “peak” wait time (that is, how long the line will be at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it’s the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Wait Times.

Did I answer all of your questions about The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh? Is this attraction at the top of your family’s vacation to-do list? Let us know in the comments.

The post Everything You Need to Know About The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Attractions, Disney Dark Rides, disney world, Fantasyland, mr. toad’s wild ride, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, walt disney world, Winnie the Pooh