Whether you are a long-time Walt Disney World guest looking to switch theme parks on your next trip or you are visiting Orlando for the first time, planning a visit to Universal Orlando Resort poses a lot of questions. This article covers your options for Universal Orlando tickets at theme parks, water parks, and shows.
Overview
Universal Orlando Resort comprises two theme parks and one water park, each requiring an admission ticket to enter. Tickets are valid for only one guest and are assigned to a person at the point of sale – fingerprint scans are used to validate the person entering the park is the ticket owner. Tickets bought for Walt Disney World (or other Orlando area attractions) are not valid at Universal Orlando Resort, and vice versa.
Single-day tickets to Universal Orlando’s two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, start at $109 per adult plus tax. Prices vary based on projected attendance with higher attendance days costing more; visit Universal Orlando’s site for the ticket price calendar.
Multiday Tickets
If you are visiting for more than one day, consider purchasing a multi-day ticket. These tickets are valid for more than one day at a discounted per-day rate. Ticket pricing is based on a rolling average of the dates the ticket is valid, usually the number of days the ticket is for plus a buffer window of two to four days. Any days not used on a multiday ticket are forfeit after that ticket window has elapsed.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort.
Similar to Disney’s “Park Hopper” option, the multi-park add-on grants guests the ability to visit more than one park per day and ride the Hogwarts Express. The multi-park ticket add-on is priced based on the number of days your ticket is valid with the cost per day reducing based on the length of your visit.
Universal sells single-day tickets to its water park, Volcano Bay, starting at $80 per adult plus tax. Pricing varies depending on the day of the visit. For guests visiting more than one day, a Volcano Bay add-on is available for multi-day tickets for an additional cost.
Annual Passes
If you are a local or plan on visiting more than six days during a year, consider purchasing an Annual Pass. Valid for a full year, Annual Passes start at $309 per adult plus tax and include discounts on food and beverage, hotel rooms, event tickets, and merchandise. Higher-level passes include free parking, free valet parking, free Halloween Horror Nights tickets, and free Express access after 4:00 p.m.
Travel Agent – Our TouringPlans Travel Agents will find the best deal for you including Annual Pass options, multi-day tickets, and more.
Online – Universal Orlando and Undercover Tourist sell tickets online that are discounted from the cost at the theme park. Tickets can be printed out at home or picked up at Will Call.
Hotel – All Universal hotels, and most in the surrounding area, sell theme park tickets at vacation counters.
At The Parks – Each park features ticket windows with sales staff. These tickets are usually more expensive than purchasing beforehand online plus you miss out on critical early morning touring time.
Which Ticket Should I Purchase?
When choosing which tickets to purchase ask yourself the following questions:
How Many Days Do I Have to Tour? No vacation is infinite and most visists are paired up with another Orlando area destination or activity. Determine how many days you will spend at the resort and purchase a corresponding ticket. We suggest one full day per park plus an additional day if you are a Potter-head to explore the area’s offerings.
What is MyBudget? Tickets are one of the most expensive items to purchase during a vacation; trimming options like Volcano Bay might save you some money.
Will I Be Returning Within a Year? If so, consider an Annual Pass.
Will I Be Staying On Site? Consider looking at an Annual Pass. Check for AP discounts on hotel rooms and factor in discounts on food, beverage, and merchandise. Upgrading from a multi-day ticket to an Annual Pass could save you hundreds of dollars in discounts alone.
Do you have questions about Universal Orlando Resort? Leave your questions and comments below!
One of the down sides of any EPCOT festival is the price of the food and beverages. It is easy to get carried away trying tasting plates of international cuisine, and thus overspend. In hopes of helping you enjoy the festival without wreaking terror on your budget, Chrissy on our field team and our friend Chef Todd set off into EPCOT on a $50 challenge.
Each person needed to stay within a $50 budget and needed to select two items from the following categories: meat, vegetable or plant-based, seafood, and desserts. Chef Todd, being a chef, had the freedom to color outside these lines should he desire. In addition, they had very specific criteria about what would be a successful purchase.
Chrissy: Must taste good and be enough to share with a hungry 2nd grader
Chef Todd: Focus on quality–is the item what is advertised, and is it well prepared and delicious
Chrissy’s Picks: Total, $48.25
Chef Todd’s picks: Total, $54.20
Meat Category
Kālua Pork at Mele Kalikimaka $5.25 – This dish is a great balance between smoky, salty, and sweet. It is a hit with Chrissy and other members of our team and should be on your must-do list.
Chorizo Tostada at Los Posadas $9.25 -This dish can eat up the bulk of your budget, but it’s worth it. There are perfect bites of several flavors with each forkful. It’s enough for two people to share or one greedy person to enjoy.
Chorizo Tostada at Los Posadas
Dinde Forestiere, Pommes Dauphine at Le Marche De Noel Holiday Kitchen $6.95 – Turkey during the holidays may be cliche, but this dish is worth the redundancy. The turkey was cooked perfectly. The Mushroom bacon veloute would have made you a hero at you holiday party, according to Chef Todd. Pommes Dauphine are a mix of potato puree and choux paste and fried to puffy glory.
Red-stewed Beef Rice Bowl at Shanghai Kitchen $9.50 – This one has our team at a crossroads. Chef Todd loves it; others on our team feel the high price tag may not be worth it. Braised beef in a red chile brown sauce that is full of lip-sticking gelatin. The sticky rice soaked up all the goodness. If you wish to keep the purse strings a little tight the Curry Chicken Rice Bowl at this booth is a good bet at $8.00.
Shanghai Holiday Kitchen
Duck Confit and Dumplings at Festival Favorites $8.00 – In typical Chef Todd fashion, the rules are broken to allow this extra entry. This dish in as a supreme value, and delicious. A full leg quarter of duck for under $10.
Vegetable / Plant-Based Category
Potato Latkes at L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen at $3.75 – Perfectly cooked and flavorful these latkes have a lovely bit of little dill cream popped on top. They are also available with smoked salmon.
Potato Latkes
Cheese Fondue at Bavaria Holiday Kitchen $8.75 – This comforting dish of warm cheese, bread, and vegetables is a hit with everyone on our team. Even my picky niece, who only ate mac and cheese and chicken fingers for the first 17 years of life, demands her own and we don’t argue. It’s good even when it cools off a bit and the cheese isn’t as runny.
Seafood Category
Blackened Sea Bass at Festival Favorites $7.00 – The price point is reasonable for a decent portion of fish. The pan-sear results in a nice, spicy crust. Not too much as to overpower the delicate filet. Toothy cheddar grits and a few hunks of fried okra make this Cajun classic a winner.
Chirashi Sushi Tree
Chirashi Sushi Tree at Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen $6.00 – Any sushi lover will appreciate and enjoy this affordable, delicate dish. They say we eat with our eyes first and this one certainly delights.
New Year Celebration Sobaat Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen $7.50 -What a good way to bring on some good will for the new year. The chewy buckwheat noodles are slurpable, so, in these unprecedented times, our team does not recommend sharing. A crispy little tempura shrimp garnishes this bowl, which added a nice touch.
Desserts Category
We saved the most important category for last – the sweets! We’ve previously put together a list of the best desserts at the festival, but the four picks below highlight the best values in the dessert category.
Maple Buche de Noel at Yukon Kitchen $4.50 – This is a lovely blend of sweet maple and chocolate, and the serving is very generous. We’ve been concerned that the serving size may end up being reduced, but so far, so good.
Maple Buche de Noel
Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake at American Holiday Table $4.25 – A great treat for anyone who loves traditional holiday flavors of pumpkin or gingerbread. Chef Todd states this is a stunning dessert, simply irresistible.
Dulce de Leche Churros at Las Posadas $5.50 – Churros are ubiquitous in The World. The standard churros in the parks can sometimes be stale. But these are fresh, crunchy out, fluffy fluffy in. A river of dulce de leche down the center guilds the lily.
Sfenj at Sapphire Holiday Kitchen $6.00 – These crispy little fried donuts are piped full of a magical cinnamon pastry cream. A little chocolate drizzle and some powdered sugar to make you cough finishes the top. Chef Todd believes in moderation and states he would limit himself to 25 – 50 of these.
Do you enjoy dining around during EPCOT’s festivals? How do you stay on budget?
This week’s SATURDAY SIX is our annual look at What We Lost From the Theme Park World this past year. We all took a lot of hits in 2020 and the theme parks were no exception. We’ll begin without any pithy banter and just rip the band-aid off by beginning our somber list with…
# 6 – Rivers of Light
“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find you get what you need…” – The Rolling Stones
If the year 2020 could be summed up in one Disney nighttime spectacular, it would be Rivers of Light; something that started off bad and somehow got worse. The “idea” of Rivers of Light was a great one. Animal Kingdom is one of the greatest theme parks in the world. The park has a unique concept and is filled with wonderful attractions, great shows, and must-see animal exhibits. However, once the sun went down, Animal Kingdom was lacking. Because of the live animals throughout the park, a traditional nighttime spectacular filled with loud fireworks was out of the question.
When Disney opened Pandora: The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, it planned to also introduce several other offerings which would enhance the guest experience at night. One of the elements of the new nighttime plans was the water show Rivers of Light. Designed for a new waterside seating area built directly in front of Expedition Everest, the show was billed as an exciting mix of water features, fire, original music, floating lanterns, projection mapping, boats, live performers, and even incorporating Animal Kingdom’s park icon – the Tree of Life.
Unfortunately, in a company known for delays, Rivers of Light was really delayed. Behind the scenes there was “rumor and innuendo” suggesting the company was having some major problems with the new technology that would be used in the show, with some suggesting that one of Rivers of Light’s amazing Lotus Flower floats actually sank after hitting another element in the show. After a media preview of the show in early 2016, Rivers of Light was immediately shuttered and replaced with a temporary show based on the live action Jungle Book movie.
Almost a year later, Rivers of Light returned to the park with a version that was completely retooled, this time without some of the former features of the show (most noticeably, the floating lanterns). Despite being highly anticipated by guests, the overall reaction by many was “meh.” Rivers of Light was just missing something. The water screens never worked quite right, and despite having one of the best soundtracks for any show at WDW, it just didn’t have the memorable wow factor that is found in many other Disney signature shows. The following year found budget cuts removing the live performers. Generally speaking, that doesn’t improve any show, and the same can be said for Rivers of Light. The show was originally designed to be free of traditional Disney characters, but when the low guest ratings from guests came in, a “We Are One” update was shoehorned in that featured footage from The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Bambi, and more. Shockingly, this quick-fix did not make the show that much better at all.
In July, Disney made the somewhat shocking announcement that Rivers of Light would not be returning to the parks once they reopened from the coronavirus shutdown. Shocking in the sense that you know a ton of money was put into developing Rivers of Light, and it’s not like Disney to cut bait on something they are so heavily invested in.
Rivers of Light. (photo by Brandon Glover)Rivers of Light. (photo by Brandon Glover)Rivers of Light. (photo by Brandon Glover)Rivers of Light. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Burgan Fine Art had a little fun with the oft-reported problems with the show.
Everything said, Rivers of Light DID have a lot of great stuff going for it. The soundtrack was amazing. The lotus flower popcorn bucket that came out in support of the show is one of the best Disney has ever done. Funnily enough, the show was so delayed that the popcorn bucket came to the parks months before people saw what the lotus flower bucket design was based on.
Rivers of Light also had some great themed souvenir cups. They were in the shape of lanterns and – like the lotus flower popcorn bucket – lit up. For whatever reason, these are also some of the only Disney popcorn buckets and souvenir cups that made their way to our beloved Disney Outlet Stores.
The lotus flower drink topper looked great, much better than almost any other drink topper Disney has tried to sell as an upcharge.
When Disney made the announcement that Rivers of Light would not be coming back to Animal Kingdom, it also said that the park would not be reopening Primeval Whirl in Dinoland USA. For me personally, Primeval Whirl was my least favorite attraction in all of Walt Disney World. The constant jarring of the coaster vehicle just hurt.
The “backstory” of Primeval Whirl is that it is Chester and Hester’s take on what guests experience in the nearby Dinosaur attraction, and here we have scientists working on the time travel machine.
“Welcome to a magical journey through my mouth.” – Krusty the Clown, The Simpsons Ride
One of Disney’s most iconic pool designs is located at the Boardwalk Resort, and what’s most amazing about the pool’s most well-known feature is that it’s, well, creepy. Guests using the pool’s large slide find themselves coming out of the mouth of a clown. It’s important to remember that the era of which the Boardwalk Resort is themed to was a much simpler time. Back in the 1920s and ’30s, clowns were just clowns. In more recent years, clowns have been transformed into killers such as Pennywise in Stephen King’s It, mocked like the Insane Clown Posse (“magnets, how do they work?“) or generally seen as something suspicious. That said, even if clowns were still just clowns, this is weird.
Boardwalk Inn and its infamous clownComing through the clown’s mouth. (photo by Disney Photography Icon Tom Bricker)
Despite it being generally regarded as something ridiculous, the creepy clown pool has become an institution at Disney, so it was definitely a surprise when the following photos were shown on social media.
Right now the pool slide exit is covered, and Disney has confirmed that something new will be replacing it. Many presume that the new element will include some sort of Disney intellectual property.
Artist SonderQuest, whose art we proudly featured in the annual Theme Park Turkey of the Year Awards, also did a wonderful drawing commemorating the creepy clown pool (along with a bonus even creepier nanny chair).
After the last few years, it didn’t seem like there was anything left for EPCOT to get rid of. Nay Nay. Disney found some more stuff.
First up, Electric Umbrella served its last meal in February. In a park well known for great dining, Electric Umbrella would probably be near dead last in many guests list on Where To Eat at EPCOT. The menu itself was uninspired, serving the same burgers and flatbreads you can get at many places across Disney property. The restaurant did have a great spot in Future World, a lot of seating, and I’m always a sucker for neon lighting.
Not only is the venue gone, but the guy holding the ring? We’ll get to him shortly…
Bye bye, Pin Central. With a rather iconic look for what amounts to a oversized Disney pin kiosk, Pin Central was a hotbed for Disney pin trading for years. The canopy structure extending out from Pin Central is artistically a great design, and combined with the neon lighting at night made Pin Central one of the coolest looking shopping experiences in the park. Over the years, pin trading has died down in the parks, and much of this area was converted over to selling generic EPCOT merchandise, but there was a time when Pin Central was THE place to go for Disney pin collectors.
This is one that kids would probably notice well before adults, but at night some of the pavement in Future World took on new life thanks to a fiber optic lighting package. In an area in-between Spaceship Earth and Innoventions Plaza, some of the pavement tiles had tiny lights that sparkle, making for a magical appearance. Meanwhile, over by Innoventions West, there were larger sections of pavement completely lit up with designs which would “move” and change colors. Don’t feel bad if you’ve been to EPCOT 1,000 times and never noticed any of these lights, as most guests didn’t even come near this area on their late night dash out of the park. Like the canopy design for Pin Central, the fiber-optic lights were a small touch, but were everything we love about EPCOT in design.
EPCOT lights. (photo by @bioreconstruct)EPCOT lights. (photo by @bioreconstruct)The perfect setting for any photo. (photo by TouringPlans’ own @servoisnaked)Just a gorgeous area in EPCOT. (photo by Ryan Pastorino)
# 2 – The Void at Disney Springs
“I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.” – Obi-wan Kenobi, Star Wars
I am not a huge fan of Virtual Reality gaming. In fact my first experience with VR was on a Legoland coaster. (This is of course completely discounting all the horrible “VR” such as Aladdin’s Magic Carpet at DisneyQuest.) Like 3-D movies, I’ve always thought VR was a neat gimmick, but nothing that special. After doing The Void at Disney Springs, specifically Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, I’m 100% convinced VR is the future of the entertainment industry. Guests were outfitted with a special helmet and backpack, then literally walked into another world. I could not believe what I was experiencing. As a rebel spy, you were transported to the lava planet Mustafar and as God as my witness it feels like you are there. One of my favorite parts of the entire experience is that it doesn’t “dumb itself down” and all but made you figure things out on your own during the journey. You also had the smart aleck droid K-2SO (from Rogue One) along the experience, giving suggestions and funny comments about your ability in the game (or lack thereof). At several points you got to shoot at attacking Storm Troopers and at the end even got a small taste of Darth Vader. It was everything the 10 year old me wanted and then some. A literal dream come true. After we finished, all I could think about was doing it again. The cost was $29.95 per person, and while the actual gameplay was only about 7-10 minutes long, it was worth every single penny.
The Void at Disney Springs. (photo by Brandon Glover)Cassian Andor from Rogue One gives us our mission.The Void signage removed. (photo by @ThrillGeek)
# 1 – @DrunkATdisney
No one saw this one coming. In late August, I noticed the following on my Twitter app.
For those who don’t know, @DrunkAtdisney was one of the most popular accounts in all of “DisTwitter.” The brainchild of Dan Miller (coauthor of the best selling and wildly popular Drinking at Disney book), the guy affectionately known “Drunky” on Twitter was popular with pretty much everyone. Amassing over 25,000 followers, Drunky put the work in keeping people entertained. In fact, he would tweet more before 7 a. m. than most people tweeted the whole day (or, to be honest, any given month). The tweets were always good natured, and many sparked a conversation within the fanbase.
Twitter has some weird rules though, and once – without thinking twice – Drunky posted a reply that he assumed would be taken as a joke. For context, there is a famous moment in the show The Office, which has Michael Scott whispering to his arch-nemesis Toby “I’ll kill you.” The moment came during Toby’s exit interview, and everything about the scene was a perfect summary of the long running tension between the two characters. The moment has been captured in GIF form, and is used approximately a million times a day on Twitter.
Drunky didn’t use the GIF however, instead he chose to type out the phrase “I’ll kill you.” Keep in mind that this was written in a joking way during a conversation between friends. However, that specific phrase being written out triggered an automatic flag on Twitter’s end, causing them to immediately shut down Drunky’s account.
Here is what Drunky saw on his end when logging into Twitter.
I posted about Drunky being banned, and across the board people were shocked. Immediately there were hundreds, if not thousands, of responses of people wondering how this could happened. The best part though? Well, apparently Drunky has many followers outside the United States. When a person from Asia retweeted my original post about Drunky being banned, they had people replying to them in other languages. Using various translator apps allowed us to see how “Drunk at Disney” was translated, including Overseas park drinker man account.
Even better was Overseas Park Drinking Old Man Account.
Now you can see why all the couples who have to use a translator app to communicate on 90 Day Fiancé never seem to work out.
DisTwitter being DisTwitter, we of course treated this news with the respect and dignity it deserved…by spending the next four months busting Drunky’s balls.
@DrunkAtdisney The frogs at the Royal Pacific entrance bridge are calling for you to come back. (Or, I’ve had too much holiday punch.) pic.twitter.com/1WT7K8bqlw
The DisTwitter version of Guess Who? has Drunky’s suspended account as a card on the lower right.
Within this small game board are many people you have seen mentioned in the SATURDAY SIX over the years, including Disney Photo Icon Tom Bricker, @bioreconstruct, @Schmoofy from this year’s Turkeys of the Year Awards and even Robin Lopez, the single best thing about the NBA Bubble at WDW (photo by Kathleen Hill)
Speaking of people on the DisTwitter Guess Who? board, here’s @SuperWeenieHtJr making an astute observation.
So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Looks Back at What We Lost From the Theme Parks in 2020!See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).
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Regular SAT SIX readers know how much we love our four legged companions. A first ballot Hall of Famer in theme park pets was Spencer. A regular visitor to both Universal and Disney, Spencer was a world class cuddler and the best damn friend a person could have. You will be missed buddy.
Spencer at Sapphire Falls Resort. (photo by @CraftyAshley)Spencer at a Fort Wilderness cabin. (photo by @CraftyAshley)
Happy National App Day! These daily wait time posts speak to the heart of our focus at TouringPlans: using data analysis to help you plan a better vacation. So before we get into today’s wait times, it would behoove me on behalf of our team to share a heartfelt thank you. To our Liners and our readers, we appreciate you!
Now, today being Friday we expected crowds and wait times to increase, and although there is an increase today, it’s not as dramatic as we’ll expect in the next two days. Let’s do the numbers.
I’m feeling a musical mood, maybe it’s the news of the Ratatouille TikTok musical. But whatever the reason, let’s highlight attractions that have great music.
Magic Kingdom Wait Times
We have to start with the attraction with the most memorable song. “it’s a small world” had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 40 minutes, so today ranks #11 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #50 for the past year.
This 3-D attraction is all about music, Mickey’s PhilharMagic 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 21 minutes, so today ranks #2 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 14 minutes, so today ranks #2 for the past year.
“You Can Fly” is such a magical song. Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 38 minutes. Its 7-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 36 minutes, so today ranks #14 for the past month. We received 8 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 70% of the posted wait time.
One of the best attraction songs there is, “Yo Ho A Pirate’s Life,” Pirates of the Caribbean had an average wait time today of 50 minutes. Its 7-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 46 minutes, so today ranks #8 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #79 for the past year. We received 9 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 111% of the posted wait time.
Soon we’ll be singing a different tune on Splash Mountain which had an average wait time today of 49 minutes. Its 7-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 69% of the posted wait time.
Another amazing song, “Grim Grinning Ghosts” can be heard on The Haunted Mansion which had an average wait time today of 28 minutes. Its 7-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #8 for the past month. We received 8 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 37% of the posted wait time, which means the actual average wait was around 10 minutes
Full of fun music, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh had an average wait time today of 31 minutes. Its 7-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 51% of the posted wait time.
Hi ho, hi ho, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 70 minutes. Its 7-day average is 68 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 69 minutes, so today ranks #12 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 86% of the posted wait time.
Sing along with “Under the Sea” aboard Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid which had an average wait time today of 26 minutes. Its 7-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #8 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #103 for the past year.
EPCOT Wait Times
It wouldn’t be a fiesta without great music. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros had an average wait time today of 6 minutes. Its 7-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 9 minutes, so today ranks #23 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #184 for the past year.
Although the classic song is missing, it still has a catchy tune. Journey Into Imagination With Figment had an average wait time today of 19 minutes. Its 7-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 18 minutes, so today ranks #12 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #83 for the past year.
“In The Big Blue World,” The Seas with Nemo & Friends had an average wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 16 minutes, so today ranks #157 for the past year.
Home of one of the most well know songs of our time, “Let It Go,” Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 79 minutes. Its 7-day average is 80 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 74 minutes, so today ranks #10 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 59 minutes, so today ranks #39 for the past year.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wait Times
“It’s time to play the music,” Muppet*Vision 3D had an average wait time today of 23 minutes. Its 7-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 17 minutes, so today ranks #6 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #6 for the past year.
Full of rockin’ music, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith had an average wait time today of 28 minutes. Its 7-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 51% of the posted wait time.
You’ve got a friend in me, Toy Story Mania! had an average wait time today of 21 minutes. Its 7-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 55% of the posted wait time.
Slinky Dog Dash had an average wait time today of 49 minutes. Its 7-day average is 70 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 70 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 48% of the posted wait time.
Nothing can’t stop the catchy tune of “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” from getting in your head. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 53 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 54 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. We received 11 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 60% of the posted wait time.
Rise of the Resistance is having another good day, recovering from some rough days this past week. And when Rise is having a good day, we see a positive impact on wait times across the entire park.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In hindsight, the musical theme for today’s post is tough to accomplish with Animal Kingdom, but bear with me.
If you’re familiar with the history of this attraction’s Yeti, you’ll swear you hear disco music on this ride. Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain had an average wait time today of 24 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #21 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 45% of the posted wait time.
Does anyone else miss the African radio music that used to play in the elephant viewing area of the safari? Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time today of 37 minutes. Its 7-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #96 for the past year.
Sing it with me, “we’re pollinators!!” It’s Tough to Be a Bug! had an average wait time today of 30 minutes. Its 7-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 18 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past year.
The river song of this attraction is so soothing. Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 59 minutes. Its 7-day average is 59 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #6 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #103 for the past year.
After riding this attraction, you’re sure to sing its praises. Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 63 minutes. Its 7-day average is 65 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 67 minutes, so today ranks #12 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 72% of the posted wait time, the actual average wait time was around 45 minutes.
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What is it about a cocktail, beer, or wine flight that is so fun? For the holidays you can enjoy a Hot Cocoa Flight at Hollywood Studios. This sweet flight has been offered for a few years and it has become a favorite tradition among many Disney fans.
You can mobile order the Hot Cocoa Flight at many of the counter service locations in the park. Our team ordered theirs at ABC Commissary which has become a surprise hit for us in 2020.
Hot Chocolate Flight at Hollywood StudiosHot Chocolate Flight at Hollywood Studios
Three versions of boozy hot chocolate are placed on a little plastic platter. There’s hot chocolate with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Stoli Vanil Vodka, and Red Stag by Jim Bean. Each tasting size cup is topped with whipped cream. Each one is very sweet and decadent. My personal favorite is the Red Stag because of the decadent blend of chocolate and cherry.
The hot cocoa itself is just basic Disney quick service, nothing impressive on its own. But the cordials and the whipped cream make it special.
Have you ever tried the Hot Cocoa Flight? Which of the flavors is your favorite?
