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Disney World can get BUSY, you guys (two hours for Peter Pan’s Flight is sometimes a norm in the summer). And while each family has a method to the madness on what they’d like to do their vacation, a lot of people don’t realize exactly how important it is to visit the parks in the morning.

Even though being an early riser many not be your forté, we’re telling you that these things in Disney World are worth waking up for!

Rope Drop

When you’re feeling adventurous (like the kind of bravery where you’re SET on conquering all of the rides in a park), you’re going to want to make sure you’re up and at ’em early! Since many of the crowds will start to pick up as the day goes on in Disney World, rope dropping a park is a helpful way to take advantage of fewer wait times in the morning.

Rope dropping means that you arrive ready to go right when the park opens, and it’s literally named after the practice of cast members dropping a rope that has been held up to keep guests from entering the land before it opens.

If you’re looking to get a lot done in one day, those first few hours in the morning are practically essential to get on multiple rides before people start flocking to them from mid-morning through the afternoon.

When you make sure you’re at the parks early for rope drop, it gives you the chance to be one of the first few people on attractions (Flight of Passage will have a shorter wait time first thing in the morning opposed to 2 PM).

Rope dropping also gives guests have the opportunity to tackle significantly more rides than they would be able to after the parks have been open for a few hours.

You could even knock out all of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland by noon if you get through the rides you want to do quickly. Just make sure to grab some coffee before you head to the parks because that extra caffeine is pretty necessary to start your day off ride-hopping! ;D

Don’t know how to Rope Drop? Check out our full guide on how you can do it like a pro!

Trolley Show

If you’re not going to Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning, you’re SLEEPING on the Main Street Trolley Show! Each morning at 8:20AM, 9:15AM, 10:10AM, and noon daily, the Citizens of Main Street band together to welcome guests into the parks. So, if you’re not in the parks before the afternoon, you’re definitely not going to catch the show.

The performance is populated with colorful outfits and some of that ragtime pizazz that Walt’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri, so lovingly inspired! The Citizens of Main Street dance to a song about all of Magic Kingdom and how wonderful Main Street, U.S.A. is. Plus, you might recognize the mix of the classic Hello, Dolly! music that Disney uses throughout its parks and in WALL-E.

Since the Festival of Fantasy parade doesn’t start until the afternoon, the Trolley Show is a great way to kick off your morning.

While you might need a break from riding all the attractions or your kiddos want to sit down to have some ice cream for a moment, the Citizens of Main Street can entertain guests of all ages with their high energy and cheer!

You’ve never done these four things in Disney World, but you need to!

Main Street Vehicles

We are sure that everyone has at least once been VERY excited to see the horses out in Magic Kingdom (they’re just so sweet). But, did you know that you can actually ride ALL the Main Street vehicles when you’re visiting?

Magic Kingdom is home to a horse-drawn carriage, trolley, jitney, omnibus, and a fire engine that will take guests on a one-way ride down Main Street. While you’re riding, it kind of feels like you’re part of a Disney parade since you can wave at all the guests passing by (is this what being famous is like??).

The Main Street vehicles stop during the Trolley Show and other entertainment throughout the day, and they usually end their runs sometime in the early afternoon. So, if you really want to say you had the magical experience of riding a horse-drawn carriage in Disney World, you’ll want to visit in the morning!

On top of the awesome photo-op you can take of your family and friends, you can also stop by to listen to the Dapper Dans who perform close to the trolley station.

And, if those harmonies don’t make you feel like you’re in the Most Magical Place on Earth, we don’t know what else will!

Watch the Dapper Dans perform for you at home while you’re away from the Disney Parks!

First Pitch at Casey’s Corner

Oh, Casey’s — how we miss your wonderful corn dog nuggets and plastic cheese. While Casey’s Corner is a Disney World staple already, the quick-service location also hosts a “First Pitch” many mornings to open up the restaurant.

Casey’s will let the first two children in line throw a first pitch to a Cast Member to ring in the day!

After they throw the baseballs, the kids will receive a free brownie (the equivalent of a Home Run, honestly) as Cast Members sing a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Although Disney is full of surprises for your family to enjoy, the First Pitch is a unique experience for your little one to have when they’re visiting.

Besides, they’ll be super excited that they got a free brownie out of it (and that means you can have a little bit of it too ;D)!

We bet you didn’t know you could do these cool things in Disney World!

Welcome Show

As Magic Kingdom welcomes guests to the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy, you can start your morning off in the most Disney way possible with the “Let the Magic Begin” show! Many of your favorite characters like Mickey, the Disney Princesses, and more will gather on stage to officially open all the lands for the guests to visit.

The Fairy Godmother even helps to bring some morning magic to the Kingdom by creating a small number of fireworks at the end of the show. Since fireworks are usually shown in the evening during Happily Ever After, it’s a special occasion to be able to see them during the daytime!

Although your kids will love being able to wave to all their favorite characters, it’s also a reminder to everyone of what Disney does best — entertainment.

Should you reschedule your Disney trip for 2021? Here’s what we think!

Boarding Passes!!!

Do we really even need to go into this one anymore at this point?? Hollywood Studios Rope Drop is essential if you’re going to be one of the guests scrambling to get a Boarding Pass for the newest Disney blockbuster ride, Rise of the Resistance, in the morning.

Since the attraction assigns boarding groups on a first-come/ first-serve basis, being there early is the key to making sure you ride the gem of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

There are only a certain amount of boarding groups per day, so you may not receive a pass if you wait until later in the day to go. Instead of sleeping in (even though it sounds GREAT), you don’t want to miss the opportunity of getting a Boarding Pass for earlier in the day to get on the ride more quickly.

And, since the early bird gets the (space alien) worm, you can also ride other rides around the park and come back when your boarding group is called. If you play your cards right, you might even be able to ride Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash back-to-back!

This is EVERYTHING you need to know about getting a Boarding Pass for Rise of the Resistance!

We get that feeling of wanting to chill out in bed after spending some seriously long days in the parks. But, make sure to plan accordingly if you want to do some of these activities in the parks (go back to your hotel early the day before, make sure you’re well-rested, etc.). You’ll thank us later after you’ve gotten up early to explore Disney World!

Take a look at the 6 good things that might come out of the Disney World closures!

What are some of your favorite things to do in the mornings in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, Disney News, disney parks, Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, Boarding Passes, casey’s corner, Disney, disney news, Disney World, Disney World reopening, first pitch, let the magic begin, main street trolley show, main street vehicles, morning, rope drop, Star Wars Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, trolley show, welcome show

It is now more important than ever for theme park guests to utilize their cell phones while visiting the parks. With theme parks around the word adjusting their operations due to COVID-19, guests are having to adapt how they visit the parks as well. Shanghai Disneyland has launched a new virtual queue system called Standby Pass. This new system may give us some ideas of how visiting the domestic Disney parks may change in reflection of COVID-19 precautions. Let’s dive in to how the Shanghai Disneyland virtual queue system works.

Theme park admission required

Much like Walt Disney World’s FastPass+ system, visitors must have admission to the parks before being able to using the Disney Standby Pass system.

Virtual Queue is not the same as a FastPass

A Disney Standby Pass, which is a virtual queue, is not the same as having a FastPass. The purpose of the virtual queue is to reduce the amount of physical queue space being occupied by guests, which would make it difficult for social distancing. Disney Standby Passes will be released daily through the Shanghai Disneyland app on an hourly basis.

There are limitations on the amount of Standby Passes released, and they are on a first-come, first-served basis. The last Standby Passes will be distributed approximately two hours before the park closes each day.

Once the Standby Pass window that you’ve selected becomes valid, you must wait the posted wait time in the Standby line. In the first image below, only people with a valid Standby Pass for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train would be allowed into the queue, at which time they would expect to have a 5-minute wait with appropriate social distancing in the queue area. Without a Standby Pass, you would not be permitted to enter the queue.

Must be physically present in the park

Only guests inside the park can open the Shanghai Disneyland app to secure Disney Standby Passes. You must physically in the park, with each member of your party being in the park too. The Standby Passes are available for free with paid admission, unlike the Disney Premier Access (similar to Disneyland’s MaxPass–a paid FastPass system).

Using the Shanghai Disneyland app to acquire a Disney Standby Pass requires you to scan your park ticket’s QR code. You will also need to make sure your party is linked together in the app. The Standby Pass will be issued as an one-hour window. Once you confirm the selection you can go about your day in the park as you await your one-hour window to arrive.

Entering the attraction with a Standby Pass

Once the one-hour window has arrived for the Standby Pass, head to the attraction’s Disney Standby Pass return entrance. Disney Cast Members will scan each park ticket to verify the Disney Standby Pass. There is also a QR code in the app that can be scanned. The Disney Standby Pass is only valid for the specific return window on the date issued.

Once you’ve entered the Standby Entrance you will need to wait the posted wait time; the Standby Pass is not like a FastPass.

Disney Standby Pass Test Expanded to More Attractions

The first test of the Disney Standby Pass began at the beginning of June. At the time the only attraction that offered Disney Standby Pass was The Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. Now the test has been expanded to two additional attractions. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Disney Color-Fest are now part of the test.

It is especially interesting to see a show, Disney Color-Fest, included in the test. Shows are usually not a good use of a virtual queue system. A shows present a different set of social distancing challenges than rides do. This could be a solution to some of the show-specific challenges with social distancing.

Simple Summary of the Disney Standby Pass Steps

1. Download the Shanghai Disneyland app
2. Enter the park and open the app and select “Get Standby Pass”
3. Scan the QR code on the ticket
4. Create a party in the app by linking everyone else’s tickets
5. Select the attraction your want
6. Confirm selection
7. Go to Standby entrance of the attraction at designated time with QR code that will generate in the app or the QR code on your park ticket

You may recognize this process from that of the Virtual Queue that was in use for Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is also similar to the Virtual Queue that is currently in use at Universal Orlando. We’ll see what the future holds for this type of system at Walt Disney World.

The post Shanghai Disneyland’s New Standby Pass System Expands To More Attractions appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Shanghai Disney Resort, disney virtual queue, Shanghai Disneyland

Today, Disney characters and cast members welcomed guests back as the gates of Hong Kong Disneyland reopened once again. The resort introduced a number of enhanced health and safety measures, as well as social distancing guidelines so that guests can continue to #BelieveInMagic and embark on their magical journey.

Prior to the park’s reopening earlier today, a special celebration moment hosted by Stephanie Young, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, took place along Main Street, U.S.A. overlooking the iconic castle. Beloved Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy joined her to mark the park’s official reopening, complete with joyous fanfare and celebration.

Excited fans who entered the park for the first time in months were treated to a special surprise, when both Stephanie Young and Melody Leung, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s Ambassador, welcomed them warmly at the gates, to start the magical morning in true Disney style.

“I am grateful for the support of the incredible Hong Kong community, commitment of medical staff and dedication of our cast members who managed through this challenging time,” Young said. “The health and safety of our guests and cast members continue to be at the forefront of our minds, and our cast members have been working tirelessly to put all the necessary measures in place for guests to enjoy a magical visit.”

The reopening of Hong Kong Disneyland demonstrates a deliberate approach with new and enhanced health and safety measures, reflecting the guidance of health and government authorities. The park has instituted new measures and procedures, such as operating with limited attendance and required advance reservations, accommodating social distancing in queues, restaurants, attraction vehicles and other facilities throughout the park, and implementing increased frequency of cleaning and sanitization.

“The construction continues as the Castle of Magical Dreams, scheduled to launch in late 2020, enters its final stage of transformation. The Castle will stand as a shining beacon of courage, hope, and possibility, which we will forever hold dear to our heart,” added Young.

Enjoy Disney magic in a fun way

Disney magic can be found all around the park with attractions and shows open to guests once again. Guests should be on the lookout for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, accompanied by their closest pals. Throughout the park, guests should have their camera ready, because new surprises from our Disney friends might be around the corner!

The fun continues with food and beverage offerings, as well as merchandise products to welcome back our guests and help them create fond memories to celebrate their magical return.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Hong Kong, Disneyland, HK DL, hong kong disneyland

Good news Tiki fans! The incredibly popular Golden Girls Geeki Tiki Mugs are now available as adorable Muglets! These extra cute versions of the Tiki Mugs we all fell in love with have been officially announced by Toynk.com! The set from Beeline Creative is now available for pre-order, and releasing in July!

Golden Girls Geeki Tiki Mugs Mini Muglet Set

The Golden Girls Geeki Tikis Mini Muglet Set is can only be found at Toynk.com! This sassy set of Tiki mugs has been transformed into 4 mini muglets that kick up the cuteness factor 100%. The cheek set features the much-loved characters Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia in a fun and hilarious tiki-style fashion.

Each muglet is made from the quality ceramic we have come to know and love from Beeline Creative. Each mug also has its own unique color and is highly detailed. You can see the fully sculpted details around the entirety of each much! They also hold up to 2oz of liquid. The new set also pairs perfectly with the popular standard-sized Golden Girls Ceramic Geeki Tikis Mug Set we fell in love with in March.

The Golden Girls Geeki Tikis Mini Muglet Set will be arriving in July 2020 and is now available for pre-order on Toynk.com!

What do you think of these sassy new Golden Girls Geeki Tiki muglets?

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Shop, Souvenirs & Collectibles, Geeki TIki, Geeki Tikis, Golden Girls, Golden Girls Geeki Tiki, Golden Girls Mini Muglets, Golden Girls Tiki Mugs, The Golden Girls, Tiki Mug, Tiki Mugs, Toynk