If you’re going to be in Florida during the summer you’re absolutely going to need rain gear, or at least a rain jacket. Thankfully, there is a brand-new summer-themed rain jacket available at World of Disney. This jacket has a clear base with bright yellow and pink colors.
The pattern features ice cream treats, tropical beverages, and flamingos. In fact, there are two flamingos kissing that make a heart shape, and there is a flamingo upside down with a Mickey ears hat, that resembles the flamingos in “Fantasia 2000”.
Disney Summer Fun Rain JacketDisney Summer Fun Rain Jacket
It is $54.99. Will you brighten your rainy summer days with this jacket?
You know, given the fact that I report the news stories here, it’s not often when I’m down in Walt Disney World and get surprised by something that Disney does. However, this weekend, when I was visiting Disney Springs, imagine my surprise when after parking in the Lime Garage and after getting my temperature checked, I got funneled into walking through a brand new security scanner before entering the shopping and dining district.
My first surprise moment was the fact that they were, in fact, scanning Guests, because that’s not something that typically happens at Disney Springs. My second surprise was when I was asked to step off to the side, where I was asked to dump out the contents of my bag so that they could see into the bottom. A security Cast Member then looked inside and then felt the remaining contents of my bag to make sure there were no weapons inside. Finally, I was wanded front and back with a security wand to make sure that I wasn’t concealing anything on my person. After that, I was free to go into Disney Springs.
The other people in my party were not carrying bags and were not asked to stop for security. I was caught off guard, so I didn’t see if some people with bags were walking through, but I suspect they were because I believe I remembered seeing that there was only a couple of tables for Guests to have their bags checked.
After doing some research, I found out that the new security system that was being tested was from Evolv Technology and I believe that I walked through the Evolv Express. Here is how that particular system works:
According to the company:
Evolv Express is the first no-stop weapons-screening system built to automatically screen groups of people as they walk through without slowing or stopping. Express screens visitors individually or together, while automatically differentiating weapons from personal items. It is the fastest weapons-screening system on the market, consistently screening 60 people every minute for firearms and other threats. That’s 3,600 people per hour – 10X faster than a traditional checkpoint system.
Should Disney decide to employ this new screening system, I believe this would be a game changer. There are multiple reasons why I believe employing this new screening system is a good idea.
Of course, the main reason I believe this is being tested is because of this new COVID world we live in. (Though, I don’t know why they wouldn’t have put this technology in place when the new entryways into the parks were introduced in the first place, but I digress.)
With this new system, it means that Guests don’t have to be backed up in those HUGE lines to wait at bag check. They simply walk right through without stopping. We’ve all been in that incredibly long bag check line before, so we know how hard it would be to social distance those lines.
Next, it means that unless there is something in your bag or on your person that really needs to be checked out, you won’t have to have your bag checked by another person. Again, very helpful when you don’t want to be in a situation where a security Cast Member checks the bag of the person in front of you, then has to put on new gloves, then check your bag, then stop and put on new gloves, then check the bag of the person behind you. If the lines were awfully backed up before, imagine how terrible they would be with that new process due to enhanced safety measures that would need to be put in place due to coronavirus.
Finally, right now, with the way security is in the park, once you have your bag checked, you also, more than likely, will still need to go through the metal detectors. At least that’s how it’s been in my experience. With Evolv Express, everything seemed to be done with ease.
While I’m sure that this new technology is being tested for the parks, I also hope that it will continue to be used at Disney Springs. I’ve always felt a little uneasy knowing that Disney wasn’t checking Guests here, even though they did have Security officers placed all around the shopping and dining district.
Overall, I found that the use of this new way of screening Guests was easy and efficient and should this be the way Disney goes, it will make getting into the parks that much quicker, which I think we all would agree would be welcome.
From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: News, Walt Disney World (FL), coronavirus, Disney Springs, security, Security Scanners, walt disney world
Voyage aboard a finely appointed yacht with a touch of Disney magic. Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts are wonderfully seaside-themed resorts that neighbor each other, and share some amenities. Disney’s Yacht Club brings a sophisticated air to the seashore. Polished brass, well-oiled wood floors, rich blue tones; the decor is bold and refined, without being stuffy. With one of the best pools on Disney property and a long list of great features, Disney’s Yacht Club receives high marks.
Location
The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are part of the EPCOT Resorts area. It is smack dab in between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can walk to either theme park, walk to neighboring resorts, and have access to over 15 resort restaurants. Disney’s Fantasia Gardens mini golf is a reasonable walk from this resort too. This resort area is one of the most loved areas in which to stay at Walt Disney World. It can be hard to pick a favorite out of the hotels in this neighborhood.
Yacht Club from Crescent Lake
Rooms
Disney’s Yacht Club has regular hotel rooms and suites. The interior of the rooms and suites are full of nautical themes and decor. Dark blue curtains and blue accents on the headboards are complimented by soft cream furnishings and dark woods. Polished brass continues the nautical feel. The rooms have deluxe features, including quite a bit of shelving and storage.
Elegant wall art inspired by sailing, ships, and other nautical themes adorn the walls. There aren’t many Disney touches, even subtle ones. Most rooms have two queen beds, though one king bed is available in select rooms. Some rooms also have a daybed in them.
There are three view types: Standard, Garden / Woods views, and Water views. Speaking of views, you can use the awesome TouringPlans Room Finder to help you narrow down the exact room location you would like. You can plug in your preferences and find rooms that match your needs. Then when you make your reservations and check in you can request your desired rooms. This tool is free to use.
TouringPlans Room Finder Yacht Club
Tour a water view room, that overlooks Crescent Lake, in our video:
Club Level
The Regatta Club Lounge at Yacht Club is as not as highbrow as the name implies. There isn’t much to the seating area, no outstanding features. A balcony adds to the amenities of the lounge itself. Regular rooms, as well as suites, are available to stay in as part of the Club Level experience. Club Level rooms include: evening turndown, secured key access to the Club Level lounge (serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily), complimentary newspapers in Club Level lounge, and health club access.
Dining
One of the biggest advantages of Disney’s Yacht Club is the variety of dining options. Not only does Yacht Club have its own variety of dining, but right next door Disney’s Beach Club does as well. Plus, you can easily get to the dining at Disney’s Boardwalk as well as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels.
Just off the Yacht Club lobby is Ale and Compass Lounge, which went through a big transformation not too long ago. A great beverage menu, with light bites, is offered from lunch time until 10:00 p.m. For a full dining experience, the Ale and Compass Restaurant has become very popular following its transformation, and a variety of grab-and-go items are available too.
The signature dining restaurant at Yacht Club is the Yachtsman Steakhouse. One of the most elevated dining experiences at any Disney resort, you’re sure to have a fantastic dinner here.
When you’re splashing the day away at Stormalong Bay, you can visit Hurricane Hanna’s Grill for great food and poolside drinks. Hurricane Hanna’s is popular with many Disney fans thanks to its beautiful views and great menu. In-room dining is also available.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Securing dining reservations at popular full service restaurants like Yachtman Steakhouse can be frustrating and time consuming. You can use the TouringPlans Reservation Finder to help you secure dining reservations and save time. Simply select your desired restaurant, then plug in your desired date and time or meal period, select to be notified either via email or text message, and voila! This incredible tool is available with or without a TouringPlans paid subscription, but you do need to create, or have, a TouringPlans login.
Pools
This nautical-themed resort is home to two pools – one quiet pool and one feature pool that is the envy of all other Disney resort pools. The themed feature pool is Stormalong Bay and it has three great features that make it the most sought-after pool experience at a Disney resort. First, there’s the sandy beach that leads into the water itself. Then, there’s the waterslide that starts off at the top of a shipwreck. But arguably best of all is the lazy river. This feature pool sits right in between Beach and Yacht Club, and is available to guests of both hotels, and absolutely no one else.
Stormalong Bay
Recreation
Being in a beach and boardwalk themed area, there are lots of ways to have fun here. Go for a blissful run, jog, or walk around the entire boardwalk and even up to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Head down to the marina to rent a variety of watercraft and enjoy Crescent Lake. There’s even volleyball and tennis courts, fishing excursions, nightly campfires, and movies under the stars. And don’t forget, Disney’s Fantasia Mini-Golf is within walking distance too. There’s so much to do!
Transportation
There are three modes of transportation at this resort. Being so close to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there is a delightful boat transportation that is shared with the neighboring resorts. It takes less time to walk to the theme parks, but if you’re looking to save your energy and rest your legs then the boat transportation is a very attractive feature.
You can also walk to the EPCOT Disney Skyliner station just outside the park gate and head to Disney’s Caribbean Beach station then transfer to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Yacht Club is less than a five-minute walk from the Skyliner station. For the other theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, there is continuous bus transportation. One main bus station is located out front of the lobby.
Convention Center
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort offers meeting and event space. You’ll often find conventions and weddings at this resort.
Other Information
Come tour both Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club, in our video:
We sure ran through a lot of information about Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, so here’s a handy-dandy infographic that sums it all up:
It seems imagination knows no bounds when it comes to creative Disney phone case designs. At World of Disney at Disney Springs we discovered a Mickey Waffle phone case. The back of your phone will appear to be a tasty pair of freshly buttered Mickey Waffles, thanks to the oversized case. The ears of the waffles extend beyond the frame of the phone.
This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at reasons we love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA! With the theme parks in Florida beginning to re-open from an unprecedented closure, we felt it was time to celebrate what draws us all to these wonderful places. Our first stop is a park celebrating its 30-year anniversary: Universal Studios Florida (USF).
# 6 – Dining
Forget rides, one of the biggest transformations that USF has had over the course of the last decade is in the area of food. There was a time when you could make a case that USF dining was hands down the worst at any Disney or Universal park, and now it has become one of the best thanks to the introduction of several unique and highly themed quick service venues throughout the park. From the great tasting and healthy options at Today Cafe to the hilariously and maybe a bit unhealthy options at Fast Food Boulevard (we’re looking in your direction The Clogger), there is something for everyone.
Today Cafe. (photo by Michael Carelli)Today Cafe. (photo by Alicia Stella)Today Cafe. (photo by Hedgehog’s Corner)Finnegan’s. (photo by Michael Carelli)Finnegan’s fish and chips. (photo by Michael Carelli)Finnegan’s webb burger. (photo by Megan Stump)Louie’s.A cheese pie from Louie’s. Attention Disney fans. This may come as a shock, but it turns out not all theme park quick service pizza has to be bad. Who knew?Mel’s Drive-In. (photo by Michael Carelli)Leaky Cauldron. (photo by Brandon Glover)Leaky Cauldron. (photo by Brandon Glover)Krusty Burger, part of Fast Food Blvd. (photo by Brandon Glover)Krusty Burger menu. (photo by Brandon Glover)The Clogger (photo by Brandon Glover)Themed napkins.Monsters Cafe. (photo by Michael Carelli)We have the meats. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)Monsters Cafe sides (Photo from Brian Carey)Lombard’s Seafood Grille. (photo by Michael Carelli)More themed napkins. We are truly #blessed. (photo by Brandon Glover)
# 5 – Photo Ops
In an Instagram world, pictures are becoming an even bigger part of the theme park experience. For the first-time visitor – or longtime seasoned theme park veteran – USF has a bunch of locations, characters, and other photo-ops that are going to make you stop in your tracks and get out the camera. In fact, it starts off right as you are approaching the park. Located directly in front of Universal Studio Florida’s entrance is the spinning Universal globe. The iconic globe is just perfect for photos from several different areas (including the bridge leading to CityWalk). Make sure that any camera rookies in your party don’t have an itchy trigger finger and be sure they wait for the “Universal” logo to turn around and frame the shot.
Universal Globe. (photo by Mike Sperduto)USF Arch. (photo by Brandon Glover)Jaws. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)Scooby Gang.Optimus Prime. (photo by Michael Carelli)Back to the Future‘s Doc Brown. (photo by Hunter Underwood)BTTF’s Delorean.Shrek. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Knight Bus conductor. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Hashtag. (photo by Hunter Underwood)
# 4 – The Shows
The most underrated aspect of Universal parks are the shows. Trust me, I get it. For years I avoided the Horror Make-Up Show thinking I wouldn’t like it. Personally I’m not a big fan of horror movies and “make up” isn’t that high on my list either. Once I was finally dragged into the theater and watched the show, I had a moment straight out of Arrested Development; realizing I had made a huge mistake taking a pass on the show for so many years. Turns out it is a fascinating look into the make-up (and special effects) of horror films and is absolutely hilarious. There are two hosts of the live show, and they spend much more time on “funny” rather than “scary.” They also throw in a whole bunch of pop-culture references for the crowd to enjoy. I could not recommend the show any higher and for me it is just as enjoyable as the big budget shows at Disney like Finding Nemo: The Musical or Festival of the Lion King.
Horror Make Up Show. (photo by Michael Carelli)Beetlejuice, making sure guests are properly following social distancing rules.. (photo by Megan Stump)Horror Make-Up Show. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Horror Make-Up Show. (photo by Hunter Underwood)
Enjoy live music? USF is gonna rock your world with several wonderful acts located throughout the park.
The Beat Builders. (photo by Michael Carelli)
Another moment of full transparency. I’m not a fan of the Blues Brothers film. I love Dan Aykryod and John Belushi, but the movie does nothing for me, so for a long time I had zero interest in seeing this live show.
Boy, what a mistake that was.
The Blues Brothers Show has energy and every Team Member I have seen play the characters of Jake and Elwood Blues seem to nail it each time. Each set they are accompanied by the singing waitress Mable and a sax player appropriately named Jazz. These two also bring it, every performance. The songs are for the most part well known (Gimmie Some Lovin’, Jailhouse Rock, Respect, and the headliner Soul Man), but it’s how the characters seem to channel their movie counterparts which makes this a must watch show. The show is so good it overcomes several of the things that I’m generally not a big fan of in theme parks, including 1) live music, 2) standing, and 3) no shade. Don’t be a fool like me and keep putting off this show during your touring of the park. The Blues Brothers play several times throughout the day, and you can fit a performance into your schedule. It will be worth it.
Blues Brothers.Blues Brothers. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Blues Brothers. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Blues Brothers. (photo by Hunter Underwood)
Over in Diagon Alley we have Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees belting out wizarding world tunes in a show that has quickly become one of the best live acts in theme park history. The character of Celestina Warbeck was one that was only mentioned briefly in the Potter books (J.K. Rowling has since gone on to write a small historical essay on Celestina for Pottermore), but Universal Creative took that small piece of coal and pressed hard enough to produce a true diamond.
Banshee. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Celestina. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Diagon Alley continues its theme park show dominance with the live performances of the Tales of Beedle the Bard. The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts (WADA), a roaming street troupe, performs hourly in Diagon Alley to recreate the tales from Wizarding World’s equivalent of Aesop’s fables. Using Michael Curry puppets (Finding Nemo: The Musical, Tapestry of Nations, many Olympic performances), WADA brings to life the morality plays central to the Wizarding World.
The Tale of Three Brothers is a parable about the power of wishes and instant gratification (and the basis of the Deathly Hallows), while The Fountain of Fair Fortune is an inspirational tale about the rewards of overcoming one’s hardships and setbacks. Performances from the talented, comedic cast celebrate the many types of dramatic personas to create a real personality that melds with the stories. This unique style adds style and texture to an already realized world. Another highest possible recommendation.
Tales of Beedle the Bard. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)
# 3 – The Events
I mentioned my own trepidation about trying the Horror Make-Up Show, and I had the same fears about Halloween Horror Nights. For me, it was AMC’s The Walking Dead which got me through the door. Since that time, American Horror Story, Stranger Things, and Ghostbusters have been gateways to get casual fans to experience the event. Once you try HHN, you are almost sure to get hooked. While HHN is a separate hard ticket USF’s Mardi Gras and Christmas events are both included with park admission.
Halloween Horror Nights. (photo by Michael Carelli)HHN scareactor. (photo by Michael Carelli)HHN scareactor. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mel’s DIE-IN. (photo by Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog)Killer Klowns merchandise. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by @bioreconstruct)Christmas. (photo by Michael Carelli)Christmas. (photo by Mike Sperduto)
# 2 – The Attractions
One could make the case that USF was years ahead of its time. When it opened, USF’s concept of “ride the movies” was a stark contrast to what Disney had done with EPCOT several years earlier. As we all know, almost all theme park rides today are built with an Intellectual Property attached.
Rip Ride Rockit. (photo by Michael Carelli)Rip Ride Rockit.E.T. Adventure queue. (photo by Travis Terrell)Botanicus. (photo by Travis Terrell)E.T. (photo by Mike Sperduto)Escape From Gringotts.Transformers: The Ride 3D. (photo by Mike Sperduto)Social distancing in place.Revenge of the Mummy. (photo by Michael Carelli)Men In Black: Alien Attack. (photo by Michael Carelli)Men In Black: Alien Attack. (photo by Brandon Glover)The Simpsons Ride. (photo by Brandon Glover)Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl.(photo by @HateToFly)
# 1 – The Theming
For the longest time, the biggest knock against Universal parks was they were “just a collection of rides.” No matter how good the rides were, the level of immersion just wasn’t the same compared to other world class theme parks. Universal could have been considered a poor man’s Walt Disney World or a rich man’s Six Flags. However, to quote Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A Changin‘. Universal had already changed the game with the introduction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Viillage, but Diagon Alley took theming to the next level. With the London waterfront area outside leading into a jaw-dropping reveal of Diagon Alley inside.
London. (photo by Michael Carelli)London. (photo by Michael Carelli)The wonder of walking into Diagon Alley. (photo by Megan Stump)Diagon Alley.Diagon Alley.(photo by Michael Carelli)Fire! (photo by Mike Sperduto)Knockturn Alley. (photo by Michael Carelli)
The New York area of USF is a good example of how Universal is “fixing” some of its previous – for lack of a better word – “mistakes.” Replacing the Twister attraction was one based around The Tonight Show. This allowed Universal to create a facade that fits much more in line with the other New York theming in the area.
New York. (photo by Brandon Glover)Rip Ride Rockit passes through New York. (photo by Michael Carelli)Sting Alley. (photo by Michael Carelli)
As theme park fans, we are generally used to concept art being an “interpretation” of what we will actually see. Often times the finished result has huge differences from the concept art. However, over at Universal, the concept art is almost always spot-on, even to the tiniest detail. The transformation of the area of USF that became Springfield USA, is nothing short of phenomenal. If you are a fan of The Simpsons tv show, it’s a dream come true.
Springfield USA Concept Art.
Honorable Mention – The Merch!
Generic merchandise is a Nay Nay when it comes to Universal, as the park routinely delivers fantastic merchandise!
USF mask. (photo by @bioreconstruct)Chocolate frog. (photo by Hedgehog’s Corner)Bort keychain. This is referencing a fantastic moment from The Simpsons show when they visit a theme park and Bart can’t find his name on merchandise. Instead, he finds “Bort.”Jaws metal earth. (photo by hedgehogscorner)Hello Kitty/Jaws mashup. (photo by @HedgehogsCorner)Evac figure.I’ve always loved this plush based on a target in the Men In Black: Alien Attack ride.
Double Secret Honorable Mention – THE HISTORY
Just as Universal Studios Florida opened not long after EPCOT, both parks share another similar trait: extinct attractions which theme park fandom still clamor for. While Disney fanboys miss the days of Horizons, World of Motion, and Universe of Energy, the Universal stans want to bring back rides based around King Kong, Back to the Future, and Jaws.
Original logo, with E.T. art by Drew Struzan.You may be familiar with Drew Struzan’s work in the movie poster industry with his well known drawings for Indiana Jones, The Goonies, and Back to the Future.Doc Brown in Back to the Future: The Ride.DeLorean ride vehicle in Back to the Future: The Ride.Jaws.Jaws.Kongfrontation.Kongfrontation.
So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).
If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following:
GREAT MOMENTS IN THEME PARK HISTORY (CRUDELY DRAWN): For those who don’t know the backstory: when Universal was preparing to build USF in Orlando, it reached out to other movie companies to partner with. One of the companies they had a meeting with was Paramount, who at the time was led by Michael Eisner. Shortly thereafter, Eisner took a job with Disney and fast tracked Disney’s MGM Studios, a move clearly intended to cut the legs out from under the Universal park before it could gain a foothold in the marketplace. Eisner denies ever being at the meeting with Paramount, but everyone else at the meeting says he was there. Common sense tells you it wouldn’t make sense for a person in his position not to be there.
From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Halloween, Saturday Six, Universal Orlando Resort, saturday six
