A Blog About Disney Stuff

It was a beautiful day in Central Florida, and no surprise that people were flocking to theme parks. How busy was it?

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

“it’s a small world” had an average wait time today of 52 minutes. Its 7-day average is 36 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 36 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 32 minutes, so today ranks #11 for the past year.

Compare that with Space Mountain at an average wait time today of 56 minutes. (Its 7-day average is 40 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. So yes, busy–but not “small world” busy?)  We received 4 actual wait times today for Space Mountain, and the actual wait averaged 60% of the posted wait time, so there was certainly some wait time inflation going on.

Also over in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had an average wait time today of 41 minutes. Its 7-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week and #2 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 61% of the posted wait time.

In all, average wait times today were also #1 for the week for Astro Orbiter (37 minutes), Big Thunder (55 minutes), Dumbo (21 minutes), Mad Tea Party (20 minutes), Mickey’s PhilharMagic (31 minutes), Peter Pan (43 minutes), Splash Mountain (82 minutes), Barnstormer (29 minutes), Haunted Mansion (55 minutes), Magic Carpets of Aladdin (15 minutes), Winnie the Pooh (30 minutes), Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (69 minutes), and Little Mermaid (31 minutes).

Moral of the story — if the weather is nice and it’s a Saturday, Magic Kingdom is not the place to avoid crowds.

EPCOT Wait Times

Over at EPCOT, wait times are much more reasonable, even though (like Magic Kingdom) many attractions hit their highest average wait times of the week.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros had an average wait time today of 8 minutes (which puts it at #6 for the week). Although most other attractions were #1 for the week, wait times still weren’t horrible compared with Magic Kingdom. For instance, average wait times for Living With the Land was 17 minutes (3 minutes above the 14-minute seven-day average) and Spaceship Earth saw 28 minutes.

Taking a look at the headliners, all had their biggest average wait times of the week: Soarin’ (57 minutes), Test Track (85 minutes), and Frozen Ever After (70 minutes) could have eaten up most of your early part of the day. Looking at the average wait times, it did seem that there was a noticeable EPCOT exodus as the day wore on.

If you’ve got to visit during a busy weekend, have a special tool at your side. Subscribe today and get our Lines app too.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Looking for where to avoid the crowds? Hollywood Studios was quiet compared with other days this week, although wait times tend to be higher there due to the lack of things to do.

The only attractions to hit number one for the week were MuppetVision 3D (average wait of 30 minutes) and Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy (22 minutes).

Actuals compared to posted wait times were fairly good as well.  We received 5 actual wait times today for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and the actual wait averaged 76% of the posted wait time. Star Tours actual wait averaged 78% and Tower of Terror averaged 89%. At the other end of the spectrum, Toy Story Mania! had an average posted wait time today of 31 minutes–with 15 actual wait times today, the actual wait averaged 36% of the posted wait time.

If you were trying to have a pleasant ride on Disney’s newest attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 78 minutes. Its 7-day average is 87 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week.

Here’s how Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group data looked for today.

 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wait Times

And finally, over at Animal Kingdom, like Magic Kingdom, waits were the highest of the week today.

DINOSAUR had an average wait time today of 48 minutes. Its 7-day average is 32 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 83% of the posted wait time.

This one will have you squirming in your seats — literally! It’s Tough to Be a Bug! had an average wait time today of 28 minutes. Not only is that the #1 for the week and for the month, its  365-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past year.

Other attractions hitting #1 for the average wait times of the week include Expedition Everest (45 minutes), Kali River Rapids (39 minutes), and Na’vi River Journey (62 minutes).

It wasn’t too bad of a day to take a ride on a banshee. Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 78 minutes. With a  7-day average is 72 minutes, today was only the second busiest day of the week. (Some of you enjoyed riding today — We received 8 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 74% of the posted wait time.)

The trick for Animal Kingdom is, with its early opening time, arrive as early in the day as possible. Average wait times will increase and stay constant until its early closing time.

 

 

The post Yes, It Was Busy at Disney (It’s Saturday After All) — Walt Disney World Wait Times Saturday, October 24, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), wait times

Seeing some of your favorite Disney characters is very different right now. Character cavalcades roll through the streets of Magic Kingdom throughout the day, giving you a chance to see some Disney characters from a safe distance. The appearances of the different cavalcades are not on a published schedule, so it can be a little nerve-wracking to wonder when you can catch your favorite characters.

We’ve got some tips to hopefully make it easier for you to see your favorites.

• Music plays over the park’s sound system as each cavalcade comes through, so if you hear a change in the park’s music then head along the parade route.
• The cavalcades follow the same route as the parade, starting in Frontierland, curving through Liberty Square, in front of Cinderella Castle, and finally up Main Street U.S.A.
• Be aware and maintain physical distancing from other groups.
• The appearances are not scheduled, but they seem to be every hour. It takes about fifteen minutes for each cavalcade to cross through the route.
• There are multiple character cavalcades, which change during Halloween, and presumably the upcoming holiday season. Mickey Mouse and friends, and the Disney Princesses are two staples.
• The horse-drawn trolley on Main Street USA gets in on the action in the morning with Winnie the Pooh and friends. It starts near the fire station and ends at Cinderella Castle.

In my opinion, it is best to just go about your day and enjoy the Magic Kingdom without worrying about the cavalcades. Chances are you will see multiple appearances throughout your day. If you’re really into the character appearances, or just need a break, consider grabbing a seat in Liberty Square or in the hub near Cinderella Castle to sit for a spell. Chances are at least one, if not more, cavalcades will come by.

Liberty Square and Frontierland have more shade than the Castle Hub and Main Street U.S.A. And Frontierland can get a little cramped with the extended queues of Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain spilling into the walkways.

Maximize your day at Magic Kingdom and avoid long lines by becoming a TouringPlans Subscriber. You’ll gain access to our Lines app where you can use pre-made plans to tour the park in the most efficient way possible, or build your own plan. Plus, you’ll be able to see Expected Wait Times versus Disney’s Posted Wait Times. With the time you’ll save you’ll have more time to enjoy special moments like the character cavalcades.

Have you seen any of the character cavalcades yet? Where’s your favorite place to watch them?

The post Tips for Viewing the Character Cavalcades at Magic Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Magic Kingdom, Trip Planning, characters at magic kingdom, magic kingdom parade, magic kingdom tips

Paddlefish is one of the very few Walt Disney World restaurants I had not yet tried, always falling off my radar in favor of tried and true options like Homecomin’ or Raglan Road when looking for something in the Disney Springs area. When those were not available for a last minute walk-up for an outdoor table, we landed at the seafood venue, located on the waterfront of the Landing section.

Determined to avoid indoor dining during the pandemic, my husband and I were thrilled when our request to be seated outside meant that we were placed on the restaurant’s rooftop, with sweeping views of Disney Springs and Saratoga Springs.

The tables were appropriately socially distant, and in a lovely touch, the hostess gave us paper envelopes to place our masks in while dining, so that we didn’t have to rest them directly on the table.

I started with a “Captain Handsome” cocktail of Cathead vodka, fresh raspberries, framboise, and thyme, which was light and refreshing on a muggy evening. My husband, Jeff, drinks Diet Coke at all times. Our server did a great job of making sure his glass was never empty.

I started with a Caesar salad, which was standard for a Caesar salad, and exactly what I was in the mood for.

Jeff ordered the more substantial Ahi Poke appetizer, billed as “sweet black soy, avocado, cucumber pickle, tortilla chips. The light dressing on the fish nicely enhanced the natural flavor. The chips were dusted with a sweet chili spice (we asked for more of those).

For entrees, Jeff opted for the Stuffed Cod (shrimp and scallop corn bread stuffing, asparagus, and red potatoes with a mustard cream sauce). The neutral fish was a willing canvas for the mustard and corn bread acid/sweet combo.

I decided on the Shrimp Pasta (linguine, Florida rock shrimp, asparagus, tomato, and crab broth). This was liberally scented with garlic and contained a generous portion of succulent rock shrimp.

Both of our entrees were on the lighter side, which was exactly what we wanted given the outdoor Florida location. (Though we did split an Ghirardelli ice cream on the way out of Disney Springs because we’re on vacation dammit.)

The food was lovely, but the view from the Paddlefish roof deck made the meal extra special. Watching the lights come on over Disney Springs felt particularly special given the COVID-era absence of evening light displays at Disney World.

Remember, if you’re having trouble finding a reservation at Paddlefish, or any WDW restaurant, the TouringPlans Reservation Finder can help you find the slot you need.

Have you dined at Paddlefish? What are your thoughts about this lesser-mentioned restaurant?

The post REVIEW: Outdoor Dining at Paddlefish appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Walt Disney World (FL), Paddlefish

Whether you are a long-time Walt Disney World guest or visiting Orlando for the first time, planning a visit to Universal Orlando Resort poses a lot of questions. In this article, we will discuss the Universal hotel tiers, their pros and cons, and amenities. In future articles, we will dive into each individual hotel and help you choose a resort.

Resort Basics

Universal Orlando offers seven on-site hotels priced from under $100 to over $500 per night. Universal’s advertised pricing on their website is based on a five-night stay; the longer you stay on property the bigger the discount.

Universal’s hotels are operated by Loews Hotels, a luxury hotel company that operates hotels around the USA. Universal’s properties are modern, clean, well lit, and feature on-site security. Speaking of safety, all resorts have automatically locking side doors, monitored front entrances, room safes, and locked gated access to resort amenities.

All on-site resorts include the following benefits:

• Early Park Admission
• Resort-wide complimentary transportation – bus, boat (where available), and a resort-to-resort shuttle
• Room key charging around the resorts and theme parks
• Club-t0-club access at CityWalk
• Resort-wide package delivery to the hotel
• On-site dining
• Pools and pool bars
• Fitness Centers (yes, even Value Resorts)
• Game Rooms
• On-site Universal Studio Stores

Premier resorts also feature these additional benefits:

• Unlimited Express Pass
• Priority dining at select Universal sit-down restaurants
• Sit-down dining at the resorts
• Club Level rooms and concierge service

A deposit of one night is taken at booking; the remainder is due at the time of check-in. Cancelations five nights or more before check-in will receive a full refund; cancelations four days or less forfeit the deposit amount.

Finally, overnight parking is not free – parking fees range from $15 to $28 per night depending on the resort.

Premier Hotels

Equivalent to Disney’s Deluxe Magic Kingdom monorail hotels, Premier hotels are the top tier at Universal and are rated four diamonds by AAA. These hotels offer high-quality textiles, large rooms, sit-down restaurants, lounges, spas, and luxurious amenities. Prices start in the mid-to-high $200s to $500 during peak season per night for standard rooms based on a five-night stay.

There are three Premier Hotels:

1. Loews Portofino Bay Resort – Italian ambiance in the middle of Central Florida.
2. Hard Rock Hotel – A little rock’n’roll attitude in a Southern California-inspired setting.
3. Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Lush South Pacific islands-themed resort.

Pros:

• The most luxurious hotels at Universal Orlando
• Unlimited Express Pass included with each room, up to five guests
• 5-10 minute walk to the parks, all feature boat transportation
• A complete resort feel with elaborate pools, special events, entertainment, and unique dining

Cons:

• Cost – rates run from mid $200s up to and over $500 per night depending on the time of year

Preferred Hotels

Preferred is equivalent to something like Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club. Amenities are similar to Premier hotels except they lack Unlimited Express Passes and are not rated four diamonds by AAA. Prices for standard rooms start in the high $100s to low $300s for a five-night stay.

There is one Preferred Hotel:

1. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – Caribbean-themed resort inspired by rum production and Jamaican waterfalls.

Pros:

• Premier amenities at a lower price
• Covered access to conference rooms at Loews Royal Pacific
• Boat and bus transportation to the parks

Cons:

• No Unlimted Express Pass
• Longer walk to the parks

Prime Value Hotels

Prime Value are equivalent to Disney’s moderate resorts and offer unique amenities at a low price. Standard rooms start in the low $100s to mid $200s per night for a five-night stay. Do not be fooled by the name of the resorts, they are still run by Loews.

There are two Prime Value hotels:

1. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort – kitschy mid-century design of Atlantic seaboard motels with modern hotel luxuries, including an on-site bowling alley.
2. Universal’s Aventura Hotel – sleek, contemporary high rise hotel inspired by Miami skyscrapers with high-tech rooms.

Pros:

• Closest walks to Volcano Bay
• Each resort has unique features not available at other resorts

Cons:

• No Express Pass
• Sacrifices textile and furnishing quality for lower prices
• Longest walks to the theme parks
• No boat access to the theme parks

Value Hotels

Universal’s Value category are equitable to Disney’s All-Star Resorts: high value, low frill hotels. Standard rooms start under $100 per night with a five-night stay. Like Prime Value these resorts are operated by Loews.

There is one Value hotel complex:

1. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Surfside and Dockside offer a laid-back California beach vibe with surf- and pier-inspired design.

Pros:

• The cheapest on-site rooms
• Low priced food and drink options

Cons:

• No Express Pass
• Minimal frills or extras – bare-bones rooms
• No walking or boat access to the parks, just buses
• Fewest amenities of the resort options

Do you have questions about which Universal hotel to stay at? Leave your questions and comments below!

The post Universal Orlando Resort for Newbies – Universal Hotels Overview appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Universal Orlando Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Aventura Hotel, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal’s Endless Summer Resort