Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to feed lions or how about introducing a new baby hippo to its “bloat”? You’ll get a chance on September 25 on Disney+ with the series premiere of “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” which showcases everything you’d like to know about our animals and animal care team. Here’s a look at the show’s brand-new trailer.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” is an original eight-episode docuseries from National Geographic that gives viewers an all-encompassing backstage pass to explore the magic of nature within Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT.
Anala, the Sumatran tiger, near a camera log.
Expect to see an unprecedented look at some of the most intriguing animals on the planet and how we care for them at Disney. I know you’ll be impressed by the animals you see in the series, but I think what you’ll really walk away with is a love and appreciation for our animal care experts who have formed remarkable bonds with the 5,000-plus animals who call Walt Disney World Resort, “home.” I’m extremely proud of our animal care team and love how their passion and skill shine through this series.
Keeper Mel Hall cares for Cassanova, an Abyssinian Ground Hornbill.
So, set aside time on Friday, September 25 to enjoy the premiere of the “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” on Disney+, with new episodes dropping each Friday for the eight-episode run of the series. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom production team and keeper Lori Kurdziel observe lions Kinsey and Dakari.
Now, for those who don’t know, at Savi’s Workshop, Guests come into contact with the Gathers, who will help guide you as you will have the opportunity to build a one-of-a-kind lightsaber and bring it to life through the power of a kyber crystal. Guests who build their own lightsabers have the ability to choose from one of four themes:
Peace and Justice – Utilize salvaged scraps of fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in Republic-era lightsaber designs that honor the galaxy’s former guardians.
Power and Control – Objects used in this lightsaber style are rumored remnants from the Sith home world and abandoned temples.
Elemental Nature – Craft a lightsaber from components that come from the Force, such as Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones or Rancor teeth.
Protection and Defense – This lightsaber includes mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect a lightsaber’s wielder with the ancient wellspring of the Force.
Of course, due to physical distancing, the experience will be slightly different, as the capacity of the location will be reduced. Due to this, advanced reservations are highly recommended and will be available beginning on September 16 via Disneyworld.com or the My Disney Experience mobile app. In order to make a reservation for Savi’s Workshop, you must have a prior valid Disney Parks Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walk-up availability may be available, should you not be able to make a reservation and you can also stop by the shop to check on the day of your visit.
Now that our new Lines 2.0 app has launched, we’d like to show you some of the features you’ll be sure to enjoy on your next visit. Today, we’re looking at the Attractions feature, available by clicking the Parks icon at the bottom of your app screen.
Think of the Parks screen as a portable guidebook, Zagat-style review system, and concierge wait time advisor all in one. At the top, you can click the link to easily switch between parks.
Once you’ve selected the theme park of your choice, you’ll see an alphabetical listing of attractions that you can scroll through. This offers a brief description of the attraction, ratings from survey data, Disney’s posted wait time, and our data-driven expected wait time. For some attractions, wait times are consistent throughout the day, so there isn’t one time that is better than another for when to ride. For others, even doing something else for an hour can reduce your time waiting in line. Lines 2.0 offers suggestions about whether you should ride now, ride any time (because wait times won’t increase or decrease substantially for the rest of the day), or wait to ride. As a local who often shows up at the parks without a specific plan in mind, I use this feature a lot–I simply look at what is recommended to ride and then pick the attraction that has the most appeal for me.
The green icon in the upper left of each attraction entry allows you to add wait times to our ever-growing database of data points. When you click on the icon, you can opt to either enter a posted wait time or time your wait as you wait in line. You can also indicate that a ride is currently closed.
Clicking on a specific attraction brings up additional information, including COVID-related safety measures, expected and posted wait times, recommendations of ride now or wait, and the chart of wait times for the day.
it’s a small world
Scrolling down, you can open a list of submitted wait times from users just like you in the parks.
Jungle Cruise
Although we share overall attraction ratings, not all age groups would rate an attraction the same. Your toddler may not be quite as thrilled with the Haunted Mansion as you are, and the teen in your group may not find the Barnstormer to be their dream attraction. In the ratings section, you can see ratings broken down by age group. See if you can guess which of these ratings goes with which attraction. One is Haunted Mansion, one is The Hall of Presidents, and one is Winnie the Pooh.
Below that, you can open up a list of accessibility and other information, and a detailed description of the attraction.
Having all this information at your fingertips, along with tools to minimize your time in line can make for a much more relaxing vacation. Keep watching the TouringPlans blog for more information about features that you can find in Lines 2.0.
What do you think of the features on the Parks screen? Are there any features you love? Got ideas for new features? Let us know in the comments.
Savi’s Workshop is packed with unusual parts and whimsical pieces collected from the far reaches of the galaxy. Under the mystical Gatherers’ guidance, you construct a one-of-a-kind lightsaber and bring it to life through the power of a kyber crystal. You can build your lightsaber along one of the following themes:
Peace and Justice – Utilize salvaged scraps of fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in Republic-era lightsaber designs that honor the galaxy’s former guardians.
Power and Control – Originally forged by warriors from the dark side, objects used in this lightsaber style are rumored remnants from the Sith home world and abandoned temples.
Elemental Nature – Craft a lightsaber from special components born from the Force, such as Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones or Rancor teeth.
Protection and Defense – Incorporate hilt materials bearing mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect a lightsaber’s wielder with the ancient wellspring of the Force.
For those who may have visited the shop in the past, you’ll notice the experience will be slightly adjusted. For instance, capacity will be reduced to allow for physical distancing between guests in accordance with the park’s guidelines during its phased reopening.
Advanced reservations (highly recommended) for Savi’s Workshop will open Sept. 16 via Disneyworld.com or the My Disney Experience mobile app; you can also stop by the shop to check for walk-up availability on the day of your visit. You must have a valid Disney Parks Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios prior to making a reservation for Savi’s Workshop.
From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com Filed Under: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, DHS, WDW
There are more and more indications that Disneyland may be opening again sooner than later (there are several reports indicating an increase in activity at the parks), so we’re going to go back into Disneyland Park to help get you ready. For this “Better Know an Attraction” deep dive, we’re going to take a look at what is the first roller coaster for a lot of youngsters, Gadget’s Go Coaster in Mickey’s Toontown. Read on for more!
What is Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is a roller coaster attraction intended primarily for children based upon Gadget Hackwrench from Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers.
Photo: Disney
Where is Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is located at the very back of the park in Mickey’s Toontown. From the castle, you’ll head to the right through Fantasyland, past it’s a small world, and then back and to the left once you enter Mickey’s Toontown.
Gadget’s Go Coaster History
Gadget’s Go Coaster opened on January 24, 1993, and has been operating in essentially the same form ever since. A version of the attraction was opened at Tokyo Disneyland in 1996.
What You Need to Know About the Gadget’s Go Coaster Queue
The queue for Gadget’s Go Coaster is a winding path through and among the coaster track, in an area themed to the Chip ‘n Dale universe, and in particular Gadget and her workshop and inventions. A significant amount of the queue is outdoors and unshaded. It cannot accommodate wheelchairs or ECVs, so guests using them will be directed to enter through the exit for boarding.
What is the Ride Experience Like for Gadget’s Go Coaster?
In a word, brief. The attraction as a whole is only about a minute long, and all but 20 seconds of that time is spent going up the lift hill and braking at the end of the ride. The ride is twisty and turn-y, but not particularly fast. It can be a bit jerky, especially for adults, but it’s designed primarily for children, and is not very intense. It’s a great attraction to test your child’s appetite for Disneyland’s more intense roller coasters.
What are the Ride Vehicles Like for Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster features vehicles that look like acorns. They technically accommodate up to two guests per row, but they are intended for an adult and a child, so two adults may find it to be an uncomfortable fit. There are no inversions, so the only restraint is a lap bar that you’ll pull down yourself.
What You Need to Know About Accessibility for Gadget’s Go Coaster
Guests do need to be able to transfer into the ride vehicle to be able to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster. Guests in wheelchairs and ECVs should enter through the exit where you will be directed by a cast member for further boarding instructions.
What You Need to Know About Health and Safety Warnings for Gadget’s Go Coaster
Disneyland warns guests that, “[e]xpectant mothers should not ride.”
What are the Height Restrictions for Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Guests need to be 35″ or taller to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster. Guests under 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.
Does Gadget’s Go CoasterOffer FastPass?
No.
Does Weather Affect Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is outdoors, so extreme weather can shut it down. It will generally continue to run in the rain, but lightning or heavy rain can result in it being closed until the weather passes.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Experience Gadget’s Go Coaster?
Gadget’s Go Coaster is a minor attraction, but it is popular among the smaller set and loads slowly, so it can generate large lines that persist throughout the day. The first 30 minutes that Toontown is open is the best time to target, or right at the end of the day. Expected wait times on a crowd-level basis are noted here, but be sure to check out the expected wait time for the date you intend to be there.
Do you take your little ones to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster? Do you enjoy it yourself? Let us know in the comments!
