We’re here with a series of quick posts, “Disney in a Minute,” bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!
What is Pool Hopping?
The Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani pool has a great water play area for kids.
“Pool Hopping” is Disney fan lingo that describes using a pool at a Disney resort other than the one where you’re staying – Disney itself uses the term “Complimentary Alternative Pool Use.” For example, if you are staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs resort for a long time, you might decide to pool hop to Disney’s Old Key West resort for a change of pace, or pool hop to Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge because of their superior water play zone for kids.
For regular guests, the opportunity to pool hop is limited. It’s easy to hop between the All-Star Resorts pools if you’re staying at, for example, All-Star Sports, or to hop to the pool at Port Orleans French Quarter if you’re staying at Port Orleans Riverside, but most of the bigger/better pools have gates that can only be opened with a MagicBand coded to that resort.
If you’re a member of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC), Disney’s version of a timeshare program, you have more options. DVC members can generally use the pools at the resorts that have DVC villa-style rooms, though there are a host of restrictions and blackout windows during most holidays. Be sure to check the DVC Member website for the current rules.
Let us know what Disney topics you think need just a bit more explanation.
The popular Walt Disney World performer announced on his Facebook page today that Disney had let him go. In the post, Yehaa Bob stated:
And that’s how it ends, not with a bang but a whimper. I’ve just learned that my act will not be returning to Disney. I made so many friends of the last 23 years, it was a great time, we had a lot of laughs together. I’ll be continuing my Sunday shows for now. I’ll keep you posted, I’m still digesting all of this-
For those who never caught Bob’s show, he performed Wednesday through Saturday nights, and involved the crowd in a comedy, musical, sing-a-long experience. Yehaa Bob performed twice per night and the show was so popular that every seat was typically full well before showtime.
Perhaps most impressive though, (which is saying something because his musical talent was impressive) was Bob’s memory which he displays by recalling the names and places of residence of the audience members he speaks to prior to the show. (And trust me….he would keep calling on you, all night!)
Right now, as Bob stated in his posts, Guests can catch him performing live on his Facebook page on Sunday evenings. So, for those who would like to catch some of the fun that was had at lounge, you can get a glimpse of it there.
No matter what, your hair will still look great Bob!
STATEMENT FROM JOSH D’AMARO, CHAIRMAN, DISNEY PARKS, EXPERIENCES AND PRODUCTS (DPEP)
In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic – exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen – we have made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce at our Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels, having kept non-working Cast Members on furlough since April, while paying healthcare benefits. Approximately 28,000 domestic employees will be affected, of which about 67% are part-time. We are talking with impacted employees as well as to the unions on next steps for union-represented Cast Members.
Over the past several months, we’ve been forced to make a number of necessary adjustments to our business, and as difficult as this decision is today, we believe that the steps we are taking will enable us to emerge a more effective and efficient operation when we return to normal. Our Cast Members have always been key to our success, playing a valued and important role in delivering a world-class experience, and we look forward to providing opportunities where we can for them to return.
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Forward-Looking Statements
Certain portions of this communication may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our workforce plans; the future effectiveness and efficiency of our operations; the future resumption of prior operations of our business; and other statements that are not historical in nature. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including restructuring or strategic initiatives or other business decisions, as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including:
changes in domestic and global economic conditions, competitive conditions and consumer preferences;
adverse weather conditions or natural disasters;
health concerns;
international, regulatory, political, or military developments;
technological developments; and
labor markets and activities;
each such risk includes the current and future impacts of, and is amplified by, COVID-19 and related mitigation efforts. Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2019, Forms 10-Q and subsequent reports.
If you love live entertainment at Walt Disney World, you’ve probably been looking forward to the return of live shows at Walt Disney World. While Disney is gearing up to bring back some of its more popular live shows, this comes at a cost. One of those losses is the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra. While they were given a temporary home at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that time is coming to an end. Our team popped into the Theater of the Stars to watch the orchestra perform in the Disney Society Orchestra and Friends show to bid them farewell.
Theater of the Stars – Disney Society Orchestra ShowtimesTheater of the Stars – Disney Society Orchestra
Over the past year or so we’ve seen Disney cutting ties with lots of their long-time contracted musicians and bands. One can assume this is due to budget concerns. But as the Disney parks reopened we saw a select number of musical acts resume at outdoor venues. The Disney Society Orchestra and Friends opened in August at the Theater of the Stars, which is normally home to “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.” With the lack of live shows at Walt Disney World during this reopening, it was a welcome addition. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been one of the busier parks and having a venue open that can handle a few hundred people should help with lines and crowds, plus it is nice to sit and take a break while being entertained. This theater is one of the few original venues to the park, bringing some nice nostalgic vibes with it.
Theater of the Stars EntranceTheater of the Stars Entrance
During our visit today we noticed the theater was not well attended. It is an outdoor, open-air theater, and while the hot Florida weather is becoming more mild, it’s still on the warm side. The show itself is not meant to be a spectacle. It is meant to showcase the skills of the Disney Society Orchestra (which is really the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra) and give guests a chance to enjoy some live Disney music, with an appearance of some Disney friends. It’s a simple show. The orchestra played Disney hits like “You Got a Friend in Me,” “Under the Sea,” “Cantina Band (Star Wars),” “The Muppet Show” and, naturally, songs from “Beauty and the Beast.”
Theater of the Stars – Disney Society OrchestraTheater of the Stars – Disney Society Orchestra Finale
Disney has announced the return of select live shows including the popular “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” which will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on October 5, 2020. This is good news for adding a little more capacity to the park, and to have some of Disney’s talent performers back to work. And of course, countless families flock to anything from “Frozen.” But it is sad that it comes at the loss of the talented musicians that make up the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra. It is also a shame that an outdoor venue, which many would deem to be a safer environment, is going “dark” again, while an indoor theater is opening up.
As more entertainment options become available at Walt Disney World and capacity changes, we’ll continue to be in the parks bringing you up-to-date information and resources. The best resource you can have during these changing times at Disney is to become a TouringPlans Subscriber and make use of our Lines app, which uses real-time data to provide Expected Wait Times compared to Disney’s Posted Wait Times.
Have you ever enjoyed the soothing sounds of the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra? Do you enjoy live music at Walt Disney World?
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, Live Entertainment, News, Observations, Trip Planning, disney closures, disney covid, disney entertainment, disney live music, disney reopening, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Buffets all across the country are a thing of the past. Disney no longer offers any buffets, opting for family-style service instead. Chances are it will be this way for a long time coming. So what is it like to eat at Chef Mickey’s, one of Walt Disney World’s most well-known character dining experiences without the characters and buffet? Well, that depends on who you ask. If you’re a guest without kids or who doesn’t care for the characters, then it’s great! But, if you’re dining with children it can be a disappointment. Let’s take a look at what our team experienced at Chef Mickey’s this week.
Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary 2020
Our readers have submitted over 500,000 surveys over the years, and we have ratings and rankings for all Walt Disney World restaurants on our site. Chef Mickey’s is a middle-of-the-pack dining option according to our readers. It has earned a 85% thumbs up rating and is ranked 55 out of 103 full-service restaurants at Disney. A lot of the mediocre ratings can be attributed to the price. Character dining at Disney usually runs from $55 – $75, but now at Chef Mickey’s breakfast is $25 for adults and $14.00 for children age 3-9 (plus tax and gratuity).
Chef Mickey’s Breakfast Eggs and Potatoes
Chef Mickey’s is currently only open for breakfast, from 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The menu is almost exactly the same as what was offered during the breakfast buffet, except everything is served in family-style platters. When you arrive and are seated your server will explain what is on the menu, and may ask if you wish to have them bring out everything, or only certain items. Whatever you decide to dine on is all-you-care-to-eat. Your server will gladly bring out additional servings of any of the items.
Chef Mickey’s Breakfast FruitChef Mickey’s Breakfast Lox and Cream CheeseChef Mickey’s Breakfast Meat and Cheese
Items available include:
Scrambled Eggs
Sausage Links
Bacon
Roasted Kielbasa
Mickey Waffles
Potato-Cheese Casserole
Honey-glazed Slow-roasted Pit Ham
Mini Pancakes and Syrup
French Toast Sticks
Tater Bites
Fruits Of The Season
Mini Yogurt Parfaits
Smoked Salmon with Accompaniments
Assorted Cold Cuts and Cheeses
The quality of the food is about the same as the quality offered during the days of the buffet. Everything is flavorful and plentiful, the meat a little oversalted and the waffles, pancakes, and french toast were a little chewy. This is often the case with food prepared in mass quantity sitting under heat lamps waiting to be served. Still, it was a hearty, satisfying breakfast.
Chef Mickey’s Breakfast MeatsChef Mickey’s Breakfast PastriesChef Mickey’s Waffles Pancakes and French Toast
The lack of characters does take away from the atmosphere a little, however, there is still the grand, awe-inspiring atrium of the Contemporary to revel in. Plus, the iconic monorail passes by overhead throughout your dining experience. It’s tough to beat a breakfast with a view of the beloved monorail.
Our team observed a fair amount of families with kids dining at Chef Mickey’s despite the lack of characters, but with reduced crowds, it was actually fairly quiet. Reservations are accepted, and recommended here, though lots of same-day spots are available during this phase.
Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary 2020 – Yogurt
You can review ratings, rankings, and tips for all Walt Disney World dining locations on our website and in our Lines app. Stuff yourself with delicious Disney food and helpful Disney tips and information by becoming a TouringPlans Subscriber.
Have you eaten at any buffets turned family-style lately? Will you visit Chef Mickey’s anytime soon?
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Dining, Dos and Don’ts, kids, Magic Kingdom, Observations, Resorts, Chef Mickey’s, disney breakfast, disney buffet, disney dining, disney resort hotels
