Author: touringplans.com

Although we are not expecting a massive increase in wait times this weekend, with the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday on Monday, things are getting a little busier today. We expect wait times to increase over the weekend and after a very slow few days this week, today brings an uptick in wait times in some of the parks.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios our team observed just 6 out of 500 guests that were not wearing their masks in accordance with Disney’s guidelines. That means 99% of observed guests were wearing this masks correctly. Let’s take a look at today’s average posted wait times and actual wait time data.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Magic Kingdom saw the greatest increase in wait times today, compared to the rest of the week, for the four theme parks. And wait times really picked up after park hopping hours after 2:00 p.m.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had an average wait time today of 49 minutes. Its 7-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 46% of the posted wait time.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had an average wait time today of 35 minutes. Its 7-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #21 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 52% of the posted wait time.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant had an average wait time today of 12 minutes. Its 7-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 17 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #123 for the past year.

“it’s a small world” had an average wait time today of 37 minutes. Its 7-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 35 minutes, so today ranks #115 for the past year.

Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 33 minutes. Its 7-day average is 29 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 41 minutes, so today ranks #23 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 63% of the posted wait time.

Pirates of the Caribbean had an average wait time today of 48 minutes. Its 7-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #19 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #106 for the past year. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 93% of the posted wait time.

Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 48 minutes. Its 7-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 57 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. We received 8 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 69% of the posted wait time.

The Haunted Mansion had an average wait time today of 21 minutes. Its 7-day average is 17 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 72% of the posted wait time.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 62 minutes. Its 7-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 78 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 71 minutes, so today ranks #122 for the past year.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid had an average wait time today of 22 minutes. Its 7-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #135 for the past year.

EPCOT Wait Times

Another very quiet day at EPCOT, though right now the main attraction is the Festival of the Arts. Test Track had the highest wait times today, racing ahead of Frozen Ever After.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros had an average wait time today of 5 minutes. Its 7-day average is 6 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #226 for the past year. We miss you Donald Duck.

Journey Into Imagination With Figment had an average wait time today of 5 minutes. Its 7-day average is 7 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 18 minutes, so today ranks #30 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #244 for the past year.

Spaceship Earth had an average wait time today of 13 minutes. Its 7-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #161 for the past year.

Test Track had an average wait time today of 46 minutes. Its 7-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 70 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #129 for the past year.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends had an average wait time today of 13 minutes. Its 7-day average is 8 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #9 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 14 minutes, so today ranks #105 for the past year.

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 25 minutes. Its 7-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #20 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #218 for the past year.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Today’s wait times at Hollywood Studios rank at number 28 out of the past 30 days. A rare day for Slinky Dog Dash to have the longest average wait time instead of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Muppet*Vision 3D had an average wait time today of 27 minutes. Its 7-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 16 minutes, so today ranks #32 for the past year.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue had an average wait time today of 31 minutes. Its 7-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 47% of the posted wait time.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror had an average wait time today of 50 minutes. Its 7-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 66 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 83% of the posted wait time.

Slinky Dog Dash had an average wait time today of 53 minutes. Its 7-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 65 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 55% of the posted wait time.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 40 minutes. Its 7-day average is 40 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 46 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 75% of the posted wait time.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run had an average wait time today of 51 minutes. Its 7-day average is 47 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 67 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 88% of the posted wait time.

Rise of the Resistance started the day out great, but around 11:30 a.m. until about 1:00 p.m. had some interruptions. Ever since it has been running behind pace of the past 7 days for Boarding Groups.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Yet another day in which Na’vi River Journey has a longer wait than Avatar Flight of Passage – so weird. Kali River Rapids is still under refurbishment. Although today had a slight increase in wait times, it is still ranked just 27 out of the past 30 days.

DINOSAUR had an average wait time today of 19 minutes. Its 7-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 140% of the posted wait time.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain had an average wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 18 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 11 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 57% of the posted wait time, which means the actual wait was just about five minutes – wow!

Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 16 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 40% of the posted wait time.

Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 39 minutes. Its 7-day average is 46 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #167 for the past year.

Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 33 minutes. Its 7-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 63 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 94% of the posted wait time.

The post Holiday Weekend Traffic Starting to Arrive – Disney World Wait Times for Friday, January 15, 2021 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Attractions, Observations, Trip Planning, disney crowds, disney wait times

If you want a hand-crafted margarita while at Disney Springs, Dockside Margaritas should be on your list. This margarita bar is great for a margarita to toast your Walt Disney World vacation, and has a delightful citrus-stand theme. Throughout the year there is usually a seasonal margarita on the menu. Right now the seasonal margarita is a Blood Orange Margarita. I stopped in this week to give it a try.

Each of the margaritas at Dockside Margaritas is bursting with flavor. Most are available on the rocks, which is my personal preference, but some are available frozen if you desire. You’ll find lots of fruity flavors, and a few cocktails on the menu – mostly made with rum, plus a small selection of beer and wine.

Our readers give this waterside bar a 94% thumbs up rating and it is ranked number 37 out of 168 Walt Disney World bars. During the pre-COVID days there was often live entertainment in the relaxing outdoor lounge area. Currently the live entertainment is extremely limited.

The seasonal margaritas at Dockside Margaritas tend to follow the flavor of the season. During the holiday season there was the Feliz Navidad Margarita. Now in the winter months there is the Blood Orange Margarita. After all, citrus season is at its peak during the winter in Florida. This Blood Orange Margarita is a lovely balance of sweet and tart. It is made with Patron Silver Tequila, Grand Mariner, Blood Orange flavor, Lime Juice, and Sweet and Sour mix.

The Sweet and Sour mix was a little heavy for my taste. I would have preferred more fresh lime juice and a splash of orange juice. Still, the Blood Orange Margarita had a nice citrus flavor and helped to brighten a dreary wintry day.

It is $16.00 which is typical for the margaritas here, and with tip it came to close to $20, which was a little hard to swallow, but thankfully the drink went down easy.

The bartender asked if I wanted salt or sugar and I asked him what he felt would go better with this particular margarita. He went with salt, and I think it was the best call. It helped to brighten the margarita and cut the thickness of the Sweet and Sour mix. After a few sips I muddled the orange garnish which helped to cut the thickness as well.

Although this Blood Orange Margarita isn’t the best margarita at Walt Disney World, it certainly satisfied and would be something I would order again. It fits the winter season and helps to brighten the post-holiday slump.

Have you been to Dockside Margaritas? Do you like to try the seasonal margarita or stick with an old favorite?

The post REVIEW – Dockside Margarita’s Latest Seasonal Margarita is a Florida Classic appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Adults, Disney Springs, Drinking, disney drinks, disney springs bars, disney springs margaritas, Dockside Margaritas

Our Lines app (iOS / Android) now supports optimizing touring plans and timing waits in line when guests are admitted to Walt Disney World parks before official opening. So if the Magic Kingdom’s official opening time is 9 a.m., and you’re let into the park at 8:15 a.m., Lines will make wait-time predictions, update your touring plan, and accept your wait-in-line times before 9 a.m.  With this change, you’ll be able to experience even more attractions with less time in line.

The hard part of building this new feature was to determine exactly when a park opens.  Because the actual opening time changes from day to day, and isn’t guaranteed to happen before the official opening time, there’s nothing on the Disney website or My Disney Experience app to indicate that a park has opened early.  In fact, the My Disney Experience app only begins to show attraction wait times once a park has opened officially.

The good news is that many hundreds of people use our Lines app in Disney World’s parks every day.  Because of you, we’re able to crowdsource a solution to the problem of knowing when a park has opened.  We’ve added a new “Is the park open early?” prompt to our touring plans and park pages.  It looks something like this on a touring plan:

Tap the “Open Early” button to let Lines (and the Lines community) know that the park is open early.

The “Open Early” button will be displayed starting an hour before official opening.  It’ll disappear automatically once we’re able to confirm with enough Lines users (or our in-park staff) that the park is actually open, or at official opening time (whichever comes first).

This new Open Early feature will work with Disney’s newly announced Early Theme Park Entry program when Disney rolls that out later in 2021.  And Open Early will be part of the next version of Lines for Universal Orlando and Disneyland, too, when we release updates for those apps later this year.

About Lines by TouringPlans.com

Lines is the highest-rated Disney World app in the Apple App Store and Google Play.  It’s the only Disney World app to show actual wait-in-line times along with Disney’s posted wait times.  With Lines’ computer-optimized touring plans, it’s possible to save up to four hours per day in lines at Walt Disney World.

 

The post Lines App Supports Pre-Opening Touring Plans and Wait Times appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Lines 2.0, Walt Disney World (FL), lines 2.0, Lines 2.0 app

One of the best places to grab a snack or lunch with seasonal flavors at The Daily Poutine at Disney Springs. This poutine stand has a few staples on the menu, but there is usually a seasonal plate of poutine as well. During the holiday season there was the Gobbler Poutine. Now for the chilly winter months, (yes, it does get chilly in Orlando) there is the Butter Chicken Poutine. When I saw this on the menu I just had to make a trip to Disney Springs, as I love Butter Chicken.

For those unfamiliar, Butter Chicken is a dish originated in Indian with braised chicken thighs in a savory sauce full of warm spices and flavor. Usually it is made with onion, cream, tomato, unsalted butter, mustard spice, garlic, ginger, salt, paprika, cardamom, and sometimes additional spices. Commonly it is served with basmati rice, and many folks enjoy some naan bread beside it.

I soon learned that this exact style of poutine is popular in parts of Canada. Poutine has all kind of variations but the key is generally to use thick cut fries topped with a sauce or gravy, a protein, and a cheese. I’ve encountered some thin fries topped with all kinds of things being named poutine, in fact EPCOT is guilty of this, but most poutine fans prefer thick cut fries. The thick cut fries have a fluffier inside which soaks up the gravy and toppings. Such is the case with the delightful Butter Chicken Poutine at Disney Springs.

The sauce is described on the sign at The Daily Poutine as a Tomato Curry sauce, which is a good way to introduce someone to the flavors. The chicken thighs were minced real small making it possible for each and every forkful to have the sauce, some chicken, and some of the paneer cheese.  The sauce and cheese was plentiful, covering practically every single fry. Each bite had all the flavors I desired. The warm spices were not spicy, they’re cozy and comforting.

Paneer cheese is an Indian cheese that is not aged and does not melt. It is light in flavor and has a thick texture that is not heavy. It is a great accompaniment to lighten this plate of poutine.

I shamelessly ate every single morsel. And there was no one I was sharing this poutine with. If you are not familiar with Butter Chicken, this is a fun way to be introduced to the flavors. Butter chicken is a popular “starter” dish for many trying Indian flavors for the first time. For $9.99 there is enough for two people if you wish to share it, but if you’re like me, you may prefer to keep it all to yourself.

The Daily Poutine is located near the World of Disney store at Disney Springs. It is a walk-up kiosk with outdoor seating only. Mobile ordering is not available. Our readers give it an 85% thumbs up rating and rank it 63 out of 106 quick dining options at Walt Disney World.

Have you ever dined at The Daily Poutine? What’s your favorite style of poutine?

The post REVIEW – Butter Chicken Poutine at The Daily Poutine is Good to the Last Bite appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Dining, Disney Springs, Snacks, disney springs dining, disney springs snacks

The Disney merchandise machine keeps on churning in 2021. In this Downtown Disney update we’ll take a look at new arrivals at Disneyland Resort, including Lunar New Year apparel, Disney dogs merchandise, and what we consider to be an early contender for the worst Disney shirt of 2021.

Disney California Adventure’s annual Lunar Near Year celebration is obviously canceled due to the pandemic and theme park closures, but that didn’t stop the merchandise (which is designed and produced months or years in advance).

This children’s hooded sweatshirt is very cute.

A different Lunar New Year shirt design for the ladies.

Lunar New Year mouse ear headband for $29.99.

This Lunar New Year spirit jersey can be yours for $74.99.

A ton of 2021 merchandise is now available. This is just a small selection of items to commemorate what will hopefully be a much better year than the last.

If you’re curious about how busy Downtown Disney and Buena Vista street is during weekdays, the answer is not at all. Obviously this is during work and school time, but if you’re looking for ways to shop and walk around without coming in to contact with very many people this is the way to do it.

Heading over to the Disney Home store we see a selection of lovely aprons ($34.99) and dishtowels ($19.99).

Orange Bird is a resident of Walt Disney World but it items always seem to find their way over to the west coast as well.

Very nice Enchanted Tiki Room towel and apron.

This dishtowel has a map of Disneyland with a fun retro-inspired look.

I sure hope these themed spatulas are more practical than they look.

These sponges that look like Disney ride vehicles and Sleeping Beauty Castle are great, but I’m curious how they would look after a couple days of use in an actual kitchen.

These oven mitts are reasonably priced at $14.99 each.

I’m not sure if this blanket is new or not, but it has a nice and simple design along with some great colors.

A potholder with Drizella from Cinderella for $19.99. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing this in one of Derek’s Disney outlet reports sooner rather than later.

A variety of Disney dog and cat merchandise has been trickling in over the past month or so. My peroneal favorite is this squeaky monorail chew toy.

Picture frames to show off all the good girls and boys out there.

Disney dog and cat magnets.

Shockingly, this isn’t the worst Disney shirt in this post!

Here it is! Possibly the worst Disney shirt you’ll see all year, and we’re only halfway through January.

That’s it for this update. If you’re a fan of either of the shirts in this post I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. 

The post PHOTOS: Lunar New Year Merch, Disney Dogs Stuff, and the Worst Disney Shirt Arrive at Disneyland Resort appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Disneyland (CA), Downtown Disney, disneyland merchandise