Category: Other

Universal Orlando Resort has shared that their water theme park, Universal’s Volcano Bay, will be temporarily closing beginning November 2. The resort has shared that this is a seasonal closure and the park is expected to reopen on or before March 1, 2021.

During the seasonal closure, there will be routine annual maintenance performed on several attractions and areas of the park.

Universal Orlando Resort will be working with those who have already purchased tickets to visit Volcano Bay during this time. In addition, for those who are Universal Orlando Passholders who have purchased the three park pass, they will be given an additional two months of use on their passes. This will occur automatically and there is no action that will be required on behalf of the Guest.

For those looking to purchase Volcano Bay tickets, they will remain on sale for those who wish to visit the park before the closure on November 2. Tickets will also still be available for those looking to purchase for visits beginning March 1, 2021.

The post Guests Won’t Be Able to Visit Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay This Winter appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: News, Universal Orlando Resort, Volcano Bay

For the first time that I can recall, Disney is allowing guests to wear costumes inside Magic Kingdom during the day. With the cancellation of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Disney has added lots of Halloween fun at Magic Kingdom this year. If you’re thinking of heading to Magic Kingdom to celebrate spooky season, it’s a good idea to review their costume guidelines. Costumes during the day are allowed at Magic Kingdom through October 31, 2020.

You can review Disney’s official guidelines on their website, but let’s break it down into a simple list. It is important to note, Disney reserves the right to refuse admission or ask that a guest change their attire if it is perceived to be inappropriate and / or unsafe.

• Costumes must be family-friendly.
• Costume should not impede a guest’s ability to move safely.
• No sharp objects or objects that could strike a Guest or Cast Member.
• Costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
• Decorative masks (other than approved facial coverings) can only be worn by Guests 13 and under, but eyes must be able to be seen and provide unobstructed views.
• Masks (other than approved facial coverings for COVID-19 safety) cannot be worn by any Guest 14 years of age or older.

Don’t get spooked by crowds and long lines. Become a TouringPlans Subscriber and you’ll have access to all our treats, including all the features of our Lines app.

Are you planning on heading to Magic Kingdom in costume this year?

 

The post What Are Disney’s Costume Guidelines for Guests? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Halloween, In the Parks, Magic Kingdom, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), disney costume guidelines, disney costume policy, disney halloween, magic kingdom halloween

Scary new deals and a frightening coaster announced for Universal Orlando in this month’s Around the Universe. Let us dive in!

Jurassic World VelociCoaster

Opening summer 2021 in Islands of Adventure, Jurassic World VelociCoaster puts guests in the middle of a pack of Velociraptors. The new roller coaster will feature two launches, a max speed of 70 mph, four inversions, and 12 seconds of air time. Unlike Hulk or Rock’n’ Roller Coaster, which use over the shoulder restraints, VelociCoaster will use lapbars to creates a less restricted ride experience. We expect VelociCoaster will quickly become one of the most thrilling coasters in Orlando when it opens next year.

Daytime Halloween Event

Trick or Treat! Universal’s celebrating Halloween differently this year with a new daytime Halloween event. The new event takes place in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure parks. Families with young children will find the under-12 trick or treating in Islands of Adventure their speed. Adults and horror fans will scream with joy at experiencing Revenge of the Tooth Fairy and Universal Monsters Bride of Frankenstein Lives! haunted houses in Universal Studios Florida.

Find all our complete thoughts with tips and touring plans in our review!

Discounts and Deals

Starting this week Universal offers a new ticket deal for all guests and extended the popular Buy A Day, Go Every Day ticket for Florida residents.

• Buy 2-Day, 2-Park Ticket, Receive 3 Days Free – Starting at $243.99 plux tax for adults
• Save 30% on Universal Express Pass (Annual Passholders only)
• Annual Passholder Resort Discounts – Dates Now Through November 1
  • Endless Summer Surfside – Standard rooms starting $74 a night plus tax
  • Cabana Bay Beach Resort – Standard rooms starting $79 a night plus tax
  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Standard rooms starting at $169 a night plus tax
  • Hard Rock Hotel – Standard rooms starting at $189 a night plus tax
• Buy A Day, Go Every Day Through December 24 – $164.00 per guest plus tax (FL residents only)
• Save Up To $100 On Select Annual Passes (FL residents only)

Refurbishments and Closures

The following attractions are closed due to COVID-19. At this time there are no dates for reopening unless otherwise listed.

• Fievel’s Playground
• Curious George Goes to Town
• A Day in the Park with Barney
• Fear Factor Live
• Fast & Furious: Supercharged
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – Closed weekdays
• Camp Jurassic
• If I Ran the Zoo
• Jurassic Discovery Center
• Me Ship, The Olive
• Poseidon’s Fury
• Storm Force Acceleration

Leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

The post Around the Universe – Discount and News for October 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: discounts, News, Universal Orlando Resort, VelociCoaster

Yesterday we rejoiced in the anniversaries of Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Understandably, there was not much fanfare given the state of things in the world. Still, our team enjoyed being in EPCOT, revisiting some of the few sites that still hold those original EPCOT vibes.

EPCOT has changed dramatically and sadly it is in a state of limbo. Construction for a massive revamp of the park is nearly halted thanks to COVID-19 and the massive financial impact it has caused.  Bluntly, it is not an easy park to be in, especially at Future World. But, there’s still lots of EPCOT magic to enjoy.

At Future World West you can experience three pavilions that still carry some retro EPCOT feelings. The Seas with Nemo and Friends has changed the look of what was The Living Seas. It was the first major attraction at Walt Disney World to receive a massive Intellectual Property overlay, adding in Disney characters to what was a scientific pavilion.  Still, once inside you can see remnants of Seabase Alpha, and you can still marvel at the second largest aquarium in the country.

Over at The Land Pavilion, the exterior is almost exactly that same as it’s been since it opened. Although the steep hill to enter is annoying, the mosaic tile wall along the entrance is beautiful, and it is a creative building layout. The interior carries a lot of the same feeling as it always has, but with modern touches.

Aboard Living With The Land, a cherished boat ride, you can spot a tribute to EPCOT’s opening year. That’s one of my favorite touches throughout Walt Disney World, displaying the opening year and other important dates throughout attractions.

The final pavilion in Future World West, The Imagination Pavilion, is home to one of the biggest controversies of the park. Many Disney fans lament the removal of the original Imagination attraction. Though Journey Into Imagination with Figment does have a few tributes to the original attraction, nothing will fill the hole in our hearts.

What was the World of Motion attraction is now Test Track. This attraction has a modern looking entrance, and has seen its share of revamps over the years.

It is good to note that weekdays continue to be a lot less busy than weekends at EPCOT. We’ve seen weekday attendance pick up at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, but at EPCOT we’ve not seen as much of an increase during the week.

Our Lines App uses real time data to show Expected Wait Times compared to Disney’s Posted Wait Times. At around 2:00 p.m. yesterday the average expected wait time was around 17 – 20 minutes.

Did you ever visit EPCOT Center in the early years? What is your favorite EPCOT attraction?

The post PHOTOS: Celebrating EPCOT’s Anniversary by Revisiting Memories of the Original Park appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Epcot, In the Parks, Observations, Photos and Video, disney reopening, epcot anniversary, Epcot Construction, epcot photos, epcot tips