Author: touringplans.com

There’s been some concern about wait times and crowds increasing in recent weeks. Although we have seen some very busy days, midweek continues to be a sweet spot. Today’s wait times are a great example of a slower Wednesday at Walt Disney World. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Let’s start with the wildest ride in the wilderness, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad which had an average wait time today of 39 minutes. Its 7-day average is 48 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #160 for the past year.

Another mountain in the Magic Kingdom mountain range, Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 26 minutes. Its 7-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #183 for the past year. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 43% of the posted wait time.

Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 25 minutes. Its 7-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 35 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #198 for the past year. Who can remember a day during any recent time before COVID-19 that Peter Pan’s Flight had a 25 minute wait? Certainly it is a rare occurrence.

It’s spooky season so a trip to socialize with some grim grinning ghosts sounds nice. The Haunted Mansion had an average wait time today of 33 minutes. Its 7-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #176 for the past year. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 55% of the posted wait time. It’s a nice Halloween treat to have an actual wait time that’s 55% of Disney’s posted wait time.

It’s always fun to pay a visit to the Hundred Acre Wood. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh had an average wait time today of 18 minutes. Its 7-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #197 for the past year.

Today it took half the average 7-day wait time to make a splash at Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, which had an average wait time today of 17 minutes. Its 7-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #161 for the past year.

EPCOT Wait Times

Weekends have been quite busy at EPCOT, but weekdays are usually a breeze. The iconic Spaceship Earth had an average wait time today of 16 minutes. Its 7-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 18 minutes, so today ranks #13 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #158 for the past year.

COVID-19 precautions have reduced the capacity at Soarin’ which had an average wait time today of 30 minutes. Its 30-day average is 35 minutes, so today ranks #15 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 40 minutes, so today ranks #164 for the past year.

It’s nice to know it’s pretty easy to visit our friend Figment. Journey Into Imagination With Figment had an average wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 20 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 14 minutes, so today ranks #16 for the past month.

Sometimes Test Track can have a bumpy ride, but today it had an average wait time today of 49 minutes. Its 7-day average is 71 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #20 for the past month.

And of course, the ride with the longest wait time, Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 57 minutes. Its 7-day average is 71 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month.

Get actual wait times that are more accurate than Disney’s posted wait times, with our Walt Disney World touring plans.  Subscribe today and get our Lines app.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Everyone seems to be excited to head to Hollywood, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios often has the highest wait times of the four Walt Disney World. Today is no exception with the average wait here was 50 minutes versus 25 minutes at the other three parks. While the other parks had some of their lowest wait times today compared to other recent periods, Hollywood Studios had some of the highest wait times for the past seven days. In fact, every attraction at this park had their highest wait times today compared to the 7-day average, the only two exceptions being Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Alien Swirling Saucers.

Theater based attractions have reduced capacity, leading to longer wait times, such as at Muppet*Vision 3D which had an average wait time today of 34 minutes. Its 7-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 84% of the posted wait time.

Another number one day was had at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith had an average wait time today of 56 minutes. Its 7-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #7 for the past month.

A great spooky attraction for this time of year, or otherwise, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror had an average wait time today of 54 minutes. Its 7-day average is 53 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #6 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #119 for the past year. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 62% of the posted wait time.

Slinky Dog Dash had an average wait time today of 76 minutes. Its 7-day average is 70 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 67 minutes, so today ranks #2 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 76 minutes, so today ranks #116 for the past year. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 98% of the posted wait time.

And the busiest attraction is the newest, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 91 minutes. Its 7-day average is 84 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 84 minutes, so today ranks #2 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 70 minutes, so today ranks #12 for the past year.

Boarding groups at Rise of the Resistance started off well – and then around 10:30 a.m. there was a disturbance in the Force. It did not get back and running in the fight against the New Order until two hours later, around 12:30 p.m. This could have contributed to the higher wait times across the park, too.

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

If you’re looking for a nice and easy going park then Disney’s Animal Kingdom should be your pick. Most of the attractions there had fairly low wait times compared to the 7-day average. Though, Avatar Flight of Passage continues to soar with high wait times, today’s wait time of 69 minutes is relatively low. Its 7-day average is 87 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #9 for the past month. We received 13 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 66% of the posted wait time.

Just around the Pandora riverbend, Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 39 minutes. Its 7-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 87% of the posted wait time.

It just wouldn’t be a visit to Animal Kingdom without a journey aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris which had an average wait time today of 18 minutes. Its 7-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 365-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #179 for the past year. We received 8 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 67% of the posted wait time.

Today was a good time to roar like a DINOSAUR which had an average wait time today of 23 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #165 for the past year. We received 12 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 81% of the posted wait time.

As hard as we try to bring fall to Florida, the temperatures are still warm enough for a splash at Kali River Rapids which had an average wait time today of 11 minutes. Its 7-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #136 for the past year.

 

The post Nice and Easy Day With Less Crowds – Walt Disney World Wait Times for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Walt Disney World (FL), disney covid-19, disney reopening, walt disney world crowds, walt disney world wait times

It is, hands down, my favorite EPCOT festival, but this year, there will be a twist. The Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts will be taking place from mid-January through mid-February. The official dates are January 8 through February 22.

Of course, it won’t be the same as the festival has been in the past, like the Disney on Broadway concert series, but the Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts will certainly offer fun for the whole family.

Guests will be able to experience the following activities:

• There will be 15 Food Studios serving culinary art that will be found around World Showcase
• Explore and purchase Disney and other invited artists work that is on display around World Showcase Lagoon
• Take part in special photo locations that can be found scattered around the park
• Participate in a paint-by-number mural
• Watch visiting artists create magic right before your eyes
• Catch performances by favorite EPCOT musical artists Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
• Join a scavenger hunt as you search for Figment around World Showcase
• Shop for festival-exclusive merchandise

More details about what Guests will be able to experience during the Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts will be released soon and we’ll make sure to share those details with you as we learn them.

The post Get Ready to Get Artistic! The 2021 Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts is Returning appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Epcot, Festivals, News, Epcot Festival of the Arts

Sometimes it feels like Disney’s Animal Kingdom gets the short end of the stick when it comes to Halloween. It’s tough to fit some spooky fun into a theme park that’s all about the animal world. But, there are a few Halloween treats available that are worth paying attention to.

Each Walt Disney World theme park has a sweet shop or bakery of some kind. Zuri’s Sweet Shop is easy to miss if you’re not familiar with it, as it is located in Harambe Village. A selection of the standard Disney seasonal treats is available here. We’ve tried practically every Halloween treat at Walt Disney World by now (our field team is ready to move on to gingerbread at this point). But, Halloween sweets at Animal Kingdom haven’t been as widely available.

Yesterday, Ivonne on our team decided she could stomach some more Halloween goodies and ordered the Mummy Mouse Crisped Rice Treat and the Pumpkin Cupcake. The Crisped Rice Treat is coated in white chocolate and is Instagram worthy. It is sugary sweet and is a tasty option if you’ve had your fill of pumpkin spice by now. For $5.49 it’s an okay value.

Speaking of pumpkin, the Pumpkin Cupcake is the perfect sweet treat if you’re still craving fall flavors. It’s perfectly pumpkin in every way with yummy cream cheese frosting on top. Of the two treats, we’d lean toward the pumpkin cupcake if you’re looking for something that is truly a festive fall treat.

While inside Zuri’s Sweet Shop we noticed that packaged crisped rice treats had made their triumphant return! These sweet snacks had been missing from Walt Disney World since reopening due to supply chain issues thanks to COVID-19.

Over at Discovery Island, a quick service favorite, Flame Tree BBQ, offers a Halloween specialty beverage that looks spooky and tastes sweet. The Spooky Apple Punch is, in fact, a little too sweet. A simple combination of Sprite and Granny Smith Apple Syrup, is “plussed” with a rock candy straw, gummy worm, and sugar-lime rim. This is definitely a fun presentation, and may be very apple-ling for kids, but it was too sweet for our field team.

With the Poisoned Apple Glow Cube (available in red or green) the drink is $9.99, and without it, it is $5.99.

There is also the Rotten Apple which is a combination of Angry Orchard Hard Cider and Fireball Whisky. A popular combination at many establishments, in fact, Universal Orlando has their own version year-round at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This cocktail may be popular with some folks, but it was not tempting for our field research team.

We have listings of all the Walt Disney World restaurants, with ratings, on our site and in our Lines app so you can know the best places to grab the best bites. Become a TouringPlans Subscriber so can have all our tools and resources and your finger tips.

 

The post REVIEW: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Halloween Eats and Drinks appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Halloween, Snacks, disney animal kingdom snacks, disney halloween

Disney has announced that they will soon be adding another Disney Value Resort to the reopening roster at the Walt Disney World Resort! Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will be reopening officially on February 9, 2021! This will be the third Value Resort to reopen, with Disney’s Pop Century currently reopen and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort reopening on November 1.

The Walt Disney World Resort hotels that are currently open (or have reopening dates) are as follows:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – November 1, 2020
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – February 9, 2021
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Summer 2021

 

Future reopening dates of Disney Resort hotels are subject to change and reservations could still be modified to other Disney Resort hotels if needed.

The post Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort to Welcome Back Guests Soon appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: News, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

Let’s face it – not everyone in your group is going to want to ride all the same rides together. Some may be into thrills, while others not. So there may be times when a part of your group goes on a ride while the other part needs to either wait for you or meet up with you later.

If you want to stick with your party, but not ride the ride, you can! Enjoy the queue together, as many are well themed. While in line, browse our Lines app to check out ratings for all the restaurants in the park. Place your lunch, snack, or dinner order through mobile ordering in the MyDisneyExperience app so your food will be ready when you’re done. Then when it’s time to board the ride just let the Cast Member know you’d rather not ride and they’ll show you where you can wait for your party.

Here’s how to find the exits of some of the most popular Magic Kingdom rides so you know where you can meet your party later.

• Big Thunder Mountain exit – Located to the right of the entrance and around the back curve of the mountain. There’s benches near the exit, as well as along the river a few steps from the exit.
• Space Mountain exit – Leads into the gift shop, of course. However, if you’d like you can go through the queue with your party, the Cast Member can point out where to wait, where it’s indoors, cool, and has benches. Otherwise, there are some benches outside to the far right of the entrance, as well as restrooms, that make a good spot to meet your party when they’re done.

• Splash Mountain exit – Here you have one of the best exit areas in Magic Kingdom. It is a little hard to find if you are unfamiliar so don’t be afraid to ask a Cast Member. Just behind the entrance to the ride is a shaded courtyard and in the far right corner of this courtyard is a small play area for little park goers who are too short to ride Splash Mountain. There’s a fair amount of benches and decent shade. Please note, the play areas at Walt Disney World are temporarily closed as a COVID-19 precaution.
• Haunted Mansion exit – Not everyone is into socializing with grim grinning ghosts, and sadly there’s no waiting area immediately near the exit of the Haunted Mansion. There’s an outdoor seating area near the Liberty Square Market which sells snacks, or there is some seating near the Liberty Belle Riverboat.
• Pirates of the Caribbean exit – Sometimes the pirate’s life isn’t for everyone. This ride exits into the merchandise shop that is immediately to the right of the ride entrance. There isn’t much seating immediately near the exit, but there are some benches along the walkway in the nearby vicinity.
• Astro-Orbiter exit – This ride exits at the entrance area and there are plenty of benches in the immediate area.
• Goofy’s Barnstormer exit – This ride exits near its entrance, there are a few benches nearby, or the Casey Jr. Splash Area is a fun place to wait.
• Mad Tea Party exit – The ride also exits near its entrance. There are some benches that line the fence of the Tomorrowland Speedway, which make for a fun view while your party goes for a spin.

Have you ever enjoyed some quiet time while waiting for your party? Or do you prefer to stay on-the-go?

The post Where Are the Exits for the Most Popular Rides at Magic Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Dos and Don’ts, Magic Kingdom, Magic Kingdom Attractions, magic kingdom rides, magic kingdom tips