A Blog About Disney Stuff

Tuesday brought a break from some of the higher wait times we’ve seen in Walt Disney World, since its reopening.  Today’s waits at the Magic Kingdom, for example, ranked only as high as #21 out of the last 30 days, and Animal Kingdom and EPCOT ranked #16 and #19 respectively.  We received 154 actual wait times today across Walt Disney World.  Let’s do the numbers.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Starting in Fantasyland, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 58 minutes. Its 7-day average is 67 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 59 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month.  The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh had an average wait time today of 21 minutes (#6 week / #25 month), and Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 30 minutes  (#5 week / #22 month); Peter Pan’s actual wait averaged 87% of the posted wait time, which is good accuracy.

Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 33 minutes, good for #6 this week and #20 for the month (and #169 for the year). We received 9 actual wait times at Space Mountain today, and the actual wait averaged 67% of the posted wait time.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had an average wait time today of 27 minutes (#6 for the week / #19 month / #155 year).

Pirates of the Caribbean had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 51 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 41 minutes, so today ranks #129 for the past year. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 84% of the posted wait time.

Over in Liberty Square, Haunted Mansion had an average wait time of 42 minutes. Its 7-day average is 50 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #20 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #144 for the past year. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 75% of the posted wait time.

Actual wait times in the Magic Kingdom today averaged 73% of the posted wait, so a posted wait of 60 minutes at Splash Mountain would’ve been an actual wait of around 44 minutes.

Actual waits in line average under 20 minutes with our Walt Disney World touring plans.  Subscribe today and get our Lines app too.

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

The fabulous Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 88 minutes. Its 7-day average is 83 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 84 minutes, so today ranks #8 for the past month.

In Toy Story Land, Toy Story Mania! had an average posted wait time today of 30 minutes, #3 for the week, #12 for the month, and #160 for the year. We received 16 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 42% of the posted wait time.  That’s a really large difference between posted and actual waits, and it’s happened a couple of times recently at TSM.

Slinky Dog Dash had an average wait time today of 71 minutes, #3 for the week, #10 for the past month and #139 for the year. We received 6 actual wait times at Slinky today, and the actual wait averaged 74% of the posted wait time. And Alien Swirling Saucers had an average wait time today of 26 minutes (#7 / #16 / #162).

 

Boarding groups at Rise of the Resistance got started a little later today than the past few days – around 10:30 a.m. – but ran well most of the rest of the day,  There appears to be a scheduled pause around 3 p.m. today, possibly for cleaning. Other than that, it was a much better day than yesterday.

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Expedition Everest had an average wait time today of 25 minutes. Its 7-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 47 minutes, so today ranks #174 for the past year. We received 11 actual wait times today at Everest, and the actual wait averaged 62% of the posted wait time.

Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time today of 21 minutes, #5 for the week, #15 for the month, and #166 for the past year. We received 15 actual wait times today for the Safaris, and the actual wait averaged 53% of the posted wait time.

Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 74 minutes. Its 7-day average is 86 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 57 minutes, so today ranks #5 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 104 minutes, so today ranks #153 for the past year. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait to ride a dragon averaged 89% of the posted wait time.

We got 43 actual wait times at Animal Kingdom today, and they averaged 74% of the posted wait times. So a posted wait time of 40 minutes at Na’Vi River Journey would’ve meant an actual wait of 30 minutes.

EPCOT Wait Times

Test Track’s average wait time today of 52 minutes was 21 minutes below its 7-day average. Its 30-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #115 for the past year.

Every day is a great day to go on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, but today was especially great because it had an average wait time today of 5 minutes. That’s the lowest average wait for the past week and past month.  Its 365-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #205 for the past year.

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 56 minutes. Its 7-day average is 73 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #147 for the past year.

And the always fun Living with the Land had an average wait time today of 13 minutes. Its 7-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 12 minutes, so today ranks #13 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #141 for the past year. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 53% of the posted wait time. Quinoa for everyone!

Actual wait times at EPCOT averaged 57% of the posted wait today, which is low by historical standards (it’s typically around 70-80%).  That means that a posted wait of 15 minutes at Spaceship Earth was a 9-minute actual wait.

The post A Midweek Break From The Crowds – Walt Disney World Wait Times for Tuesday, October 20, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

Just when Floridians and Orlando area vacationers alike are hoping for pleasant fall weather, Florida decides to be a soggy, rainy mess. This can be par for the course in the fall season, and Ivonne on our team experienced a very rainy day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios yesterday. It got us thinking that it would be good to share some tips for a rainy day at Hollywood Studios.

• Download a weather app that alerts you before rain arrives. Ivonne likes Dark Sky and reports that it was pretty accurate during her visit.
• Getting ahead of the rain means you can get to an indoor attraction, a shop, or grab a bite to eat and stay dry before the rain begins.
• Look at the weather forecast ahead of time and if rain is in it, save the theater attractions like Muppet Vision 3-D for when it rains.
• Use our Lines app to see Expected Wait Times compared to Disney’s Posted Wait Times so you can find an indoor attraction with a low wait.

Here’s some suggestions for indoor attractions to head to at each section of the park so you know where to head to so you can stay dry.

• Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster are both indoor attractions, but can have queues that currently extended outdoors due to physical distancing. (Sunset Boulevard)
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is not a blockbuster show, but a decent option for something easy to get into for shelter. (Sunset Boulevard)
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, is a great attraction for all ages, but can have a queue that currently extends outdoors due to physical distancing. (Center Stage)
• For the First Time in Forever Frozen Sing-a-long is a great indoor show, but the line can extend outside, and show times vary. (Center Stage)
• Disney Junior Play and Dance, only go this if you have a toddler or preschooler, trust me. (Animation Courtyard)
• Walt Disney Presents, a walk through exhibit about Walt Disney, truly one of the easiest and best things to do on a rainy day (Animation Courtyard)
• Toy Story Mania, this is a great choice for a fun ride away from the rain, and usually the line does not extended outside for long (Toy Story Land)
• Vacation Fun – Animated Short with Mickey and Minnie, probably the easiest and most fun way to get inside from the rain without a wait (Echo Lake)
• Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, a great way to experience some Star Wars fun inside without the long waits of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (Echo Lake)
• Muppet Vision 3-D, due to limited capacity the wait can get long so check out Lines app for the Expected Wait Time (Grand Avenue)
• Millnneum Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, even if you’ve ridden this attraction before, heading here in the rain will keep you dry and its a different experience each time (Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge)

Other indoor options include shops or grabbing something quick to eat or drink inside, here are some highlights:

• Red Trolley Cafe, Starbucks on Hollywood Boulevard
• Tune In Lounge at 50’s Prime Time Cafe (Echo Lake)
• Backlot Express (Echo Lake)
• Build Your Own Lightsaber at Tatooine Traders (Echo Lake)
• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge)

What are you some of your rainy day tips for Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

The post Tips for a Rainy Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Dos and Don’ts, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, Disney Tips, disney world entertainment, hollywood studios rides, hollywood studios shows

Today, the state of California shared their update on just when theme parks could reopen. The much anticipated guidelines are there to provide a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. There are four different tiers that asses a county’s risk level. Disneyland can reopen when their county hits a Yellow tier level. When the area does hit that level, capacity must be limited to 25% based on operating capacity.

Currently, the Disneyland Resort is in an area with a Red Tier. Needless to say, the resort won’t be reopening any time soon, it would appear.

The guidelines from today’s event break out safety tips such as ventilation, cleaning and disinfection protocols; physical distancing guidelines; considerations for admission, entry, and security; considerations for attractions and dining; as well as considerations for performances, interactive exhibits, and events.

The full list of guidelines can be found here.

 

The post Just When Can Disneyland Reopen? California Shares Details on Theme Park Reopening Plans appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disneyland (CA), News, COVID-19, Disneyland

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has one of the most diverse dining options of any Walt Disney World theme park, second to EPCOT of course. Although a few of the quick service options at Animal Kingdom are temporarily closed, namely Pizzafari and Harambe Market, there’s still lots of great options. Ivonne on our field team had lunch at one of Animal Kingdom’s often overlooked options: the Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes. The quick service restaurant is located in the Asia section of the park, and it has some pros and cons.

The Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes is a walk up quick service location, right next to the full service Yak and Yeti Restaurant. Both of these locations are operated by Landry’s Restaurants, which also operates the Rainforest Cafe at the front of the park. Mobile ordering is not available here since it is a third party location. Only outdoor seating is offered which makes it a great options for anyone who prefers to eat outside right now, though it can be tough to find spots in the shade. Our readers have submitted over 500,000 surveys in the past few years and have given Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes a 90% thumbs up rating which is great! It ranks as number 24 out of 108 quick service options at Walt Disney World.

The food is very different than most of Disney’s quick service restaurants. The menu at Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes highlights Asian flavors with a casual, American-influence. There’s a gourmet Kobe beef hot dog that you can have plain, Bahn Mi style, or topped with kimchi, as well as a Kobe beef cheeseburger, as well as Sweet and Sour Pork, and a great vegetarian dish, the Vegetable Tikka Marsala. The pricing is on par with Disney’s owned counter service locations, though the prices of the Kobe burger and Kobe hot dog do reflect the upgraded quality.

Ivonne selected the Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich, with Fried Chicken Breast, Kimchi Slaw, and Honey Heat Sauce. If you’re not familiar with kimchi, it is a spicy pickled cabbage, a very popular condiment in Korean and other similar cuisines. Normally, Korean fried chicken is very crispy. This chicken was not as crispy as expected, but the slaw added some crispness and a bright flavor, while the honey heat sauce was true to its name. It was an enjoyable sandwich for $13.99 and on par with most other quick service sandwiches available in the park.

If you like to be in the know about the best places to eat at Walt Disney World, then order up a subscription and join us. You’ll get access to all our tools, including our Lines app which enables you to view Expected Wait Times compared to Disney’s Posted Wait Times plus listings for all Walt Disney World restaurants, with ratings and menus.

What’s your favorite place to eat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Have you dined at Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes before?

 

The post REVIEW: Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes Brings Quick Asian Flavors At Decent Prices appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, In the Parks, animal kingdom dining, animal kingdom restaurants, disney dining, disney reopening

Select Disney resort restaurants are now offering mobile order that you can pick up and carry back to your resort to enjoy in the comfort of your own room. And although any of these choices are a good option, some stand out more than others when it comes to certain meals. Here’s our picks for what and when to do carry out from Disney resort restaurants offering to-go mobile ordering.

Breakfast: Kona Cafe

Would I be able to show my face at Disney if I didn’t suggest this as an ideal to-go option? Yes, Tonga Toast gets all the love here, but my go-to are the Macadamia Nut Pancakes. There’s also a unique plant-based Loco Moco as a unique breakfast offering, and make sure to wash it all down with Liliko’i (aka POG) juice or a really good cup of coffee.

Lunch: The Wave. . . . of American Flavors

For a middle-of-the-day meal, lighter flavors are a plus. With The Wave’s focus on seasonal, fresh foods, lunch here is a great light option. On the appetizers, try the Cauliflower Taco, with a zesty zip from the salsa verde. On the entrees, the soup, salad, and sandwich combo provides a tasty and filling meal, but not one that will make you feel stuffed. If you’re staying at a DVC resort, save the soup for a late night snack! Not feeling like a healthy meal? They make a really good burger, too.

Dinner: Olivia’s Cafe

After a day at Disney, having a hearty meal to leisurely nosh on in your hotel room can help get you in the mood for a good night’s sleep. The name of the game at Olivia’s is comfort food. Starting off with the Conch Fritters is almost mandatory, and the Southernmost Fried Chicken or the Slow-Cooked Prime Rib are incredible. Looking for something a little lighter? The West Indian Tofu and Coconut Curry packs a lot of flavor into a fairly light dish.

Snack: Sanaa

Yes, the food is good at Sanaa for a meal — but let’s be real, the primary draw is that amazing bread service. Getting it to have as an evening snack is a wonderful way to end the day. Pro tip: Order the kid’s Butter Chicken with two sides of fruit cup. The Butter Chicken ends up being another amazing dipping sauce to go with the bread, and the fruit cups provide a quick breakfast for the next day.

 

The post Disney’s Resort Restaurant To-Go Mobile Order Options Rated appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Walt Disney World (FL), kona cafe, Mobile Order, Olivia’s Cafe, Sanaa, The Wave… of American Flvaors