Category: Other

We found low crowds throughout Walt Disney World today. Things are quieting down before a busy Thanksgiving travel period, and today’s weather was rough. Lots of rain fell all over Florida today and is expected most of the week. We received more than 100 actual wait times from our Lines app users. Let’s do the numbers!

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Going alphabetically through the lands today for a little variation.  In Adventureland, Pirates of the Caribbean had an average wait time today of 38 minutes. Its 7-day average is 41 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month.

Jungle Cruise had an average wait time today of 36 minutes. Its 7-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 41 minutes, so today ranks #23 for the past month.  We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 80% of the posted wait time. That’s right around where Disney wants it to be.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin had an average wait time today of 11 minutes. Its 7-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #23 for the past month

In Fantasyland, Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 27 minutes. Its 7-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month.  And Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 51 minutes. Its 7-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 75% of the posted wait time.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid had an average wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. And Dumbo the Flying Elephant had an average wait time today of 9 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 #18 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #165 for the past year.

“it’s a small world” had an average wait time today of 35 minutes. Its 7-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month.

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In Frontierland, Splash Mountain had an average wait time today of 36 minutes. Its 7-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 54% of the posted wait time. And Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #15 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 68% of the posted wait time.

The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square had an average wait time today of 20 minutes. Its 7-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 41% of the posted wait time.

Over in Tomorrowland, Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 27 minutes. Its 7-day average is 32 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 98% of the posted wait time. And Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had an average wait time today of 24 minutes. Its 7-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month.

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Yesterday’s average wait time at Animal Kingdom was 41 minutes. Today? It was 18 minutes – what a difference! Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time today of 11 minutes. Its 7-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month.  We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 47% of the posted wait time.

Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 36 minutes. Its 7-day average is 48 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 47 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 75% of the posted wait time.

Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 34 minutes. Its 7-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 63 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 79% of the posted wait time.

DINOSAUR had an average wait time today of 20 minutes. Its 7-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #23 for the past month.

Expedition Everest had an average wait time today of 21 minutes. Its 7-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month.

Kali River Rapids had an average wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 20 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month.

EPCOT Wait Times

Yesterday’s average wait time at EPCOT was 35 minutes. Whereas today it was just 20 minutes. Living with the Land had an average wait time today of 11 minutes. Its 7-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #183 for the past year.

Mission: SPACE Orange had an average wait time today of 15 minutes. Its 7-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #215 for the past year.

Soarin’ had an average wait time today of 27 minutes. Its 7-day average is 35 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #168 for the past year.

Spaceship Earth had an average wait time today of 12 minutes. Its 7-day average is 18 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #176 for the past year.

Test Track had an average wait time today of 53 minutes. Its 7-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #109 for the past year.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends had an average wait time today of 6 minutes. Its 7-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 17 minutes, so today ranks #233 for the past year.

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 61 minutes. Its 7-day average is 82 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 66 minutes, so today ranks #16 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #121 for the past year.

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 84 minutes. Its 7-day average is 78 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 79 minutes, so today ranks #9 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 71 minutes, so today ranks #31 for the past year. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 74% of the posted wait time.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster had an average wait time today of 45 minutes. Its 7-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue had an average wait time today of 22 minutes. Its 7-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 64% of the posted wait time.

Tower of Terror 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 49 minutes, so today ranks #11 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 74% of the posted wait time.

Toy Story Mania had an average wait time today of 22 minutes. Its 7-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #30 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 54% of the posted wait time.

Slinky Dog Dash had an average wait time today of 81 minutes. Its 7-day average is 66 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 67 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 75 minutes, so today ranks #91 for the past year.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run had an average wait time today of 60 minutes. Its 7-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #15 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 81% of the posted wait time.

Rise of the Resistance ran pretty well this morning, then had a couple of lapses.  The first delay in calling new boarding groups happened from just after 11 a.m. today, and lasted until just before noon – so a little less than an hour’s lag.  The second delay seems to have started around 4:15 p.m. and was still happening as I was writing this.  That’s not good.  Hopefully they’ll get it back on track soon.

 

The post Low Crowds All Around – Disney World Wait Times for Monday, November 9, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), disney best time to visit, disney covid, disney crowds, disney reopening, disney wait times

For several years now, Disney Springs has been home to the Christmas Tree Trail, an area in the Marketplace starting at Earl of Sandwich and going behind many buildings near where the old bus loop used to be. My family has gone every year and loved the experience — artificial snow, festive music, beautifully decorated themed trees. One thing we did not love was how crowded it was in there. When we went last year, it was a 20 minute line to get in, and then you shuffled along with a mass of people to catch a glimpse of trees as you made your way through the winding path. Needless to say, that kind of crowd wasn’t going to work in the new reality of 2020’s social distancing necessity. Rather than cancel the event altogether, Disney changed it from a Christmas Tree Trail, going along a single location, to the Christmas Tree Stroll. Trees are spread out all around Disney Springs.

A map shows the locations of all the trees with stickers so you can identify which tree you find at each location. Maps are free and can be obtained at locations around Disney Springs including House of Blues, Art of Disney, Welcome Center, and Marketplace Co-Op. Once you’ve completed the map, return to those locations for a special free gift.

We’re not going to tell you where all the trees are — what’s the fun in that! — but we will show you pictures of the trees that you’ll see, for people who may not be able to make it down this year to participate on their own.

 

 

And here’s the final award that you get after completing the stroll.

The post Christmas Tree Stroll: Proof that Some Things ARE Better in 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail, Holidays

Walt Disney World’s newest attraction debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on March 4, and allows guests the sensation of riding through the new Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts.

Guests board engineer Goofy’s train for a ride around the park where Mickey and Minnie are headed for a picnic. But, as so often happens in a Disney attraction, things go wrong. All of the train cars separate with Goofy completely unaware, and guests cruise through cartoon show scenes that are a blend of traditional and three-dimensional scenes and video projections with Mickey and Minnie in pursuit to save the day!

1. Different Ride Experiences

Even though you will probably want to enjoy Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway again and again anyhow, the attraction does offer multiple ride experiences encouraging repeat rideability!

For instance, after Goofy’s train cars separate and function as trackless vehicles, the route that you travel through each show scene room will differ. So your second ride may allow you to see something different than you did during your first. There’s also an additional plot playing out through the ride involving Pluto that most guests miss their first time, not to mention the vast number of details and Hidden Mickeys packed in each scene.

2. Family-Friendly Ride Experience

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the park for the newest Disney World attractions such as Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, and the uber-popular Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. But among these new attractions and the park’s classic staples, the number of attractions without height requirements and ideal for the whole family are few and far between.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a smooth, gentle ride experience with no height requirement or health or safety warnings. There is one scene where a screen is used to simulate going over a waterfall, but there is no sensation of free fall. There’s also no sudden movements or sharp turns, dips, or drops making it the perfect attraction for the entire family.

3. Homages to Disney History

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway show building originally housed The Great Movie Ride which closed in 2017. There is a tribute to the former attraction within the ride, but it’s only the start. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is packed full of other homages to Disney history. For instance, the name Iwerks and Uwerks Waterworks water treatment plant is a tribute to Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, and the 1401 Flower Shop is a nod to the address for Walt Disney Imagineering’s headquarters in California.

Imagineers also used sound effects from Disney shorts dating from the 1930s, and Disney Legend Jimmy Macdonald’s original sound equipment was used to create new sound effects for the attraction. They even used the “Steamboat Willie” whistle for the whistle on Goofy’s train.

4. It’s Better Than You Expect

Let’s just say there were (and are!) a considerable number of fans who felt The Great Movie Ride should’ve survived. Also, while the idea of a Mickey and Minnie attraction was intriguing, and arguably long overdue, could it really be anything but a kiddie ride?

Yes. Yes, it could. Even though your ride vehicle doesn’t move at high speeds or plunge guests down drops, the sensation of moving through vivid, three-dimensional scenes that are seemingly alive is thrilling all on its own. The technology and effects also feel fresh and new but grounded in animation as opposed to leaning too heavily on screens.

However, do take note that the style of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and their world is different from what many Disney fans are used to. That’s because this attraction was inspired by the Paul Rudish Mickey Mouse shorts whose style is very different than the Mickey Mouse seen on park merch and around the park. Some love it; others not so much. It’s just something to be aware of.

5. Attraction-Exclusive Character & Song

We’ve got Trader Sam and the Ghost Host and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” and “it’s a small world,” and now Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway has given us Chuuby and “Nothing Can Stop Us Now.”

Chuuby is an orange and white bird created just for this attraction and makes his appearance both at the beginning and end of the ride. Look for him entertaining guests above the train tunnel.

The song “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” was created for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and is a serious earworm! While heavily featured in the ride’s preshow (which is currently suspended due to our current global situation), you will still hear it throughout the experience.

Is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway on your to-do list? Let us know in the comments!

The post Five Things You Should Know About Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Attractions, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Attractions, disney world, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, hollywood studios attractions, mickey and minnie, mickey and minnie cartoon shorts, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, walt disney world

We’re big fans of the seasonal chocolate piñatas at The Ganachery at Disney Springs. The current holiday specialty is the Santa Mickey piñata, and like all others before it, it is a real show-stopper of a treat.

A dark chocolate hollow sphere is decorated with a Santa hat, Mickey ears, and embellishments to look like Santa’s coat and belt. Like all good piñatas, there’s more fun to be had inside. When you crack it open, the inside is filled with chocolate-covered marshmallow treats. The price for the piñata is $28.

Are you a fan of the chocolate piñatas or other treats at The Ganachery? Think it is worth the $28? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

 

The post The Santa Piñata at The Ganachery Is a Holiday Treat! appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Disney Springs, Walt Disney World (FL), The Ganachery

While there is no shortage of tasty treats available in EPCOT’s World Showcase area, for many folks the winner in this area is a combination found along the walkway in the France pavilion.

Take a look along the waterway in EPCOT near France and you’ll see a pair of green booths. If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to pass these by in favor of the ubiquitous Festival kiosks or more substantial restaurants, but if you’re in the mood for a classic, reliable, and delicious snack, look no further.

As you face the water, the booth on the left features wines and French-inspired cocktails and the booth on the right features warm crepes.

The crepes booth, Crepes de Chefs de France, offers cold drinks, coffee, and Kronenbourg beer and, you guessed it, crepes. The crepes are available in a plain butter and sugar version, as well as embellished varieties with chocolate sauce, homemade hazelnut/chocolate spread (like Nutella), strawberry preserves, premium ice cream, or soft serve ice cream. I know from personal experience that they’ll be happy to hook you up with a combo if you ask nicely. Um, chocolate AND strawberry, yes please.

The drinks booth, Les Vins des Chefs de France, offers several French wines (priced from $7.00 to $15.00 per glass), champagne, and Kronenbourg. But the most popular selections here are the three frozen slush options: orange (Grand Marnier, Grey Goose Orange, and orange juice), citron (Grey Goose Citron and lemonade), and Le Geant Slush (either of the above topped with a Grand Marnier or Gray Goose Citron shot). The basic slushes are $11.50 each, the plussed-up variation is $18.25.

Either booth is a worthy stop during a World Showcase stroll, but if you’re feeling tres Français, you should visit both. The slushes refresh and the crepes are the perfect size for a snack, light enough not to weigh you down in the Florida heat, but substantial enough to stave off hunger pangs while taking a lap around the countries. Bon appetit!

Do you have a favorite snack in the France pavilion? What’s your favorite drink and crepe combo? Let us know in the comments.

The post Crepes & Drinks, an Iconic Snack in EPCOT’s France Pavilion appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Dining, Epcot, Walt Disney World (FL), France Pavilion