Author: touringplans.com

All four Disney World Parks are now open and crowd levels can be described in one word. Low. Every day has been a crowd level ‘1’ at each park (except yesterday when EPCOT edged up to a level ‘2’). We think those low crowds are going to continue until significantly more admission reservations are offered. We don’t have a lot of wait time data since the reopening but because the parks have fixed attendance the wait time patterns look similar every day. So, we are updating the Disney World Crowd Calendar.

What’s On This Update

Attraction wait time forecasts for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are first, then Epcot and Hollywood Studios will be updated on Friday. However, the Crowd Calendar for all four parks will be updated now. You will see crowd level ‘1’s predicted every day though July and August. If you have a Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom touring plan scheduled for a day in July or August it would be a good idea to re-optimize it now. For EPCOT and Hollywood Studios plans, you should re-optimize on Saturday. Our testing shows that despite the low wait times you can still save 45 minutes of standing in line by following an optimized plan. Not only that, but by definition, an optimized touring plan is also optimal for social distancing. Follow the plan and you will minimize your exposure to bottlenecks and crowded queues.

We are tracking the availability of ticket reservations multiple times a day, so if we see more reservations available that may indicate an increase in a park’s attendance cap. In that case, another Crowd Calendar update will be in order.

Wait Time Patterns

We expected to see spikes in posted wait time during attraction vehicle cleanings which are scheduled throughout the day. However, it doesn’t appear that those spikes have occurred. We do see spikes in actual wait times though, so if you get in line and it isn’t moving it is likely because the vehicles are being cleaned. This adds between 7 and 15 minutes to your wait, depending on the attraction.

New Models

Since the wait time patterns are so different since the reopening we have new models to forecast the wait times. These new models use only what we have observed since July 11. They are a lot simpler than the usual models because the wait time patterns don’t vary much day to day. We are watching closely for changes though, if we see something we will let you know.

Have any questions for the stats team? Let us know in the comments.

The post Disney World Crowd Calendar Update – July 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Crowd Blog, Walt Disney World (FL), Crowd Calendar

The Disney Loungefly backpacks certainly get lots of attention. But, the smaller version wristlets offer just as much cute character as the backpacks, with a smaller price tag. The wristlets can sometimes be more convenient since you can readily access them instead of having to take them off your back.

We spotted a few new characters available as a Loungefly wristlet at Main Street Jewelers in Magic Kingdom. Mike Wazowski, a Toy Story Alien, polka dot and sequin Minnie Mouse inspired, and Stitch designs are available here as well as a few other designs on shopDisney online. Each one costs $40.00 and has convenient features like a belt loop so you can wear it on your hip, and a detachable wrist strap with clasp.

Do you prefer the Loungefly backpacks or the wristlets?

The post New Disney Loungefly Wristlets Add a Touch of Character to Your Day appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Magic Kingdom, Merchandise, disney loungefly, loungefly wristlet, monsters inc, stitch, Toy Story

I may be a writer, but the pictures our field team captured at EPCOT on a recent weeknight visit have me almost at a loss for words. To say visiting Walt Disney World right now is unlike any other time in our lives is an understatement. While not every park is empty every day, we are finding that during weekday evenings the parks are a lot less attended on the weekends, much more so than usual. That gave the opportunity for some wonderful photos on a recent evening.

Take a look at these captivating photos from Christina Harrison on our team.

What’s your favorite pavilion at EPCOT?

 

The post PHOTOS: An Evening at a Quiet World Showcase in EPCOT appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Epcot, In the Parks, epcot at night, epcot food and wine festival

Visiting Walt Disney World now is a whole new experience. There are some positive changes that guests are now experiencing inside Walt Disney World’s theme parks, besides the extensive health and sanitizing measures. In fact, some of the changes are ones that many Disney fans hope become permanent.

Character Cavalcades

Let’s face it, it is nice when you meet your favorite Disney character and you get to have a personalized interaction with them, but sometimes the interactions can be rushed, and sometimes it means waiting in a long line.

Parades are usually quite the spectacle. But they require waiting along the parade route in the hot sun, on the hard concrete. Many times you have to defend your territory from late arriving guests who might encroach on your space. Clearly, such scenarios are problematic now. So Disney, and other theme parks, developed a solution with their impromptu character cavalcades.

At Magic Kingdom we’ve seen the Winnie the Pooh characters taking a ride on the trolley along Main Street USA. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom practically everyone has fallen in love with the characters on themed boats sailing the Discovery River. The characters appearing on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in themed convertibles give me nostalgic Superstar Parade vibes. These new ways of presenting Disney characters are fun, popular, and in a way, more accessible that traditional meet and greets or parades.

QR Code Menus and Mobile Ordering

I have been a big fan of using Disney’s mobile ordering system. I often will pull up the app while waiting in line for a ride or when en route from one experience to the next so I can order my food and pay right from my phone. I’ve never had a long wait once I have checked in on my phone to pick up my food order. The only negative experience I’ve had with Disney’s mobile ordering is some nasty looks as I swiftly skate past the line to order and snatch up my food from the mobile order window. Disney has put an emphasis on mobile ordering and I am here for it!

Now at table service restaurants in the parks and other locations, guests are asked to use their phone to scan a QR code to pull up the menu. This has been a popular practice in restaurants around the country. I think this is a great way to present a menu in a way that is easier to read for many guests. Those will vision challenges often struggle with dim lighting in restaurants and with overly themed fonts. QR code menus allow for guests to view the menu in a way that suits their needs. It also saves on paper and other resources.

Hand Sanitizer Everywhere and Sanitizing Rides

Before COVID-19 I did not care for hand sanitizer. But now, I am all about it – and I am sure I am not alone. While every guest is welcome to bring their own hand sanitizer, and I probably will once I finally return to the parks, it is so great that Disney and the other theme parks have it practically everywhere for free.

At the entrance and exit of every ride you’ll find sanitizer dispensers. You’ll also notice the cast members wiping down and sanitizing the vehicles throughout the day. I am sure many of us would be pretty okay with these practices sticking around from now on. I’d love to see the theme parks, and other businesses, take this a step further and use a sanitizing mist. There are companies who make sanitizing “tunnels” for guests to walk through to have their temperature checked and be misted with sanitizer. I’d totally welcome these being added to Disney property.

Designated Entrances and Exits

I try hard not to get annoyed, but it irks me when I am trying to enter or exit a building and there’s a bottleneck because of traffic flow. Now, Disney and other theme parks have implemented designated entrances and exits for many of their buildings. This allows for better physical distancing. It hopefully allows for better traffic flow too. I would not mind if this practice stuck around to allow for better traffic flow in and out of buildings.

Final Thoughts

It’s not always easy accepting the reality we are in. But out of every adverse situation there can be opportunities for positive change. Perhaps the theme parks will emerge with a renewed commitment to health, safety, and operational ease. I’d be remiss if I did not mention the mixed emotions many of us are experiencing right now. And I absolutely must recognize the Cast Members, Team Members, Managers, and more that are working in Orlando’s theme parks to keep them safe and fun.

Is there a new practice you’ve seen implemented that you’d like to be made permanent? Let us know in the comments.

 

The post New Practices at Walt Disney World We Wish Would Become Permanent appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: In the Parks, Observations, Trip Planning, Disney Characters, disney guidelines, disney protocols, disney reopening

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

On Friday, the CDC extended the No Sail Order through September 30. And that brings us the latest in cruise cancellations. The newest cancelled sailings are:
Disney Dream
September 18, 2020 – 3-Night Bahamian
September 21, 2020 – 4-Night Bahamian
September 25, 2020 – 3-Night Bahamian
September 28, 2020 – 4-Night Bahamian
Disney Fantasy
September 19, 2020 – 5-Night Western Caribbean
September 24, 2020 – 5-Night Bahamian
September 29, 2020 – 4-Night Bahamian
Disney Wonder
September 18, 2020 – 5-Night Baja
September 23, 2020 – 4-Night Baja
September 27, 2020 – 7-Night Mexican Riviera

The October 2, 2020 Disney Dream is also showing as being unbookable. Since the Dream is scheduled for a dry dock refurb this fall, the next bookable sailing on the Dream is November 1.

The Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany is due to shut down for 6 weeks – yet another result of COVID-19 difficulties. While there’s no official word, the expectation is that the completion of the Disney Wish will not meet the January 2022 expectation. Booooo! Bummer, but she will certainly be worth the wait!

Weekly Specials

There are some great new offers this week – including a number of options for travel between Christmas and the New Year! 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 July 21, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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