A Blog About Disney Stuff

Our latest Universal Crowd Calendar update was incomplete. We have now updated the dates that were missed. For a description of the latest update check out this post. If you had created a touring plan for a future date after the previous update there is no need to redo it – it should already include the latest wait time predictions, even for those dates that were missed.

To see what Universal crowds will be like on your next visit subscribe here and check out the Universal Crowd Calendar.

The post Universal Crowd Calendar Additional Updates For October appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Crowd Blog, Universal Orlando Resort, Crowd Calendar

 

Walt Disney World crowds were lower today as compared to the recent holiday weekend, but the parks were still busier than they were a month ago.  Let’s, as the kids say, do the numbers.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Wait times were lower than they’ve been at the Magic Kingdom’s mountains. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 67 minutes. Its 7-day average is 65 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week.  Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 52 minutes, good for #3 over the past week.  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had an average wait of 41 minutes, #4 for the week and #19 for the past month – good day to go on BTMRR.  Its neighbor, Splash Mountain, was the busiest mountain today with an average wait time 77 minutes, also #4 for this week.

Other notable attractions include Jungle Cruise, which had an average wait time today of 50 minutes – that’s good for #1 this week and over the past month.  Tip your skippers well.  And The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh had an average wait time today of 31 minutes, near the top for the week and month.

Our Lines app received 121 actual waits from the Magic Kingdom today.  Those actual waits in line averaged just under 70% of the posted wait time, so a 40-minute posted wait at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin would’ve been a 28-minute actual wait.

EPCOT Wait Times

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 62 minutes. Its 7-day average is 69 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week.  That 62-minute average is also good for #8 over the past month.  Test Track had an average wait time today of 55 minutes, well below its 7-day average of 72 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week.  And Soarin’ had an average wait time today of 34 minutes. Its 7-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week.

Actual waits in line at EPCOT averaged around 66% of the posted waits. If you got in line for a 15-minute posted wait at Spaceship Earth, your actual wait in line was probably closer to 10 minutes.

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

It was a comparatively busy day over at Hollywood Studios.  Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 87 minutes. Its 7-day average is 81 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 84 minutes, so today ranks #8 for the past month. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run had an average wait time today of 66 minutes. Its 7-day average is 60 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #7 for the past month.

To put some of those wait times into pre-pandemic perspective, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run’s average wait of 66 minutes barely makes the top 100 highest average wait times for the past year – it’s #96 and the parks have been re-opened for around 90 days.

Toy Story Mania!’s average wait was 35 minutes today. Its 7-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 29 minutes, meaning today ranks #3 for the past month.  And Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster had an average wait time today of 55 minutes, good for #2 on the week and #5 for the past month.

Actual waits in line at the Studios were around 70% of posted wait times, so a posted wait of 30 minutes at Alien Swirling Saucers would’ve meant an actual wait of around 21 minutes in line.

Also, we’ve added real-time Rise of the Resistance boarding group data to the site, showing when each boarding group is called throughout the day.  The gray lines indicate the range of times each boarding group has been called over the past 7 days, while the blue lines represent today’s boarding groups. Here’s a sample from today:

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Also busy was Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time today of 28 minutes. Its 7-day average is 21 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month. Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 68 minutes. Its 7-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 46 minutes, so today ranks #3 for the past month.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain had an average wait time today of 33 minutes. Its 7-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 26 minutes, so today ranks #7 for the past month.  And actual wait times at the park averaged around 70% of the posted wait times: a posted wait of 50 minutes at Na’vi River Journey would’ve meant an actual wait in line of around 35 minutes.

That’s a lot of wait times, isn’t it? If you’d like to be ahead of the curve and know which attractions are best to visit at what time of the day then become a TouringPlans Subscriber and use our Lines app.

The post Studios, Animal Kingdom, MK Busy But Not Terrible – Walt Disney World Wait Times for Tuesday, October 13, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

Just outside the entrance to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is Baseline Taphouse. This little lounge has been open for about three years and continues to be a favorite among Disney fans. Its location is hallowed ground and although its menu is limited, the bites at Baseline are so good you could make a meal of them.

Baseline Taphouse has a hipster California feel, meant to represent the tap houses in urban, hip neighborhoods in the area. The lounge jazz covers of popular music of the 1980s and 1990s fills the air. A long list of California craft beer makes it tempting for a flight or a tall pour. Wines on tap are high quality. And a few cocktails on tap rival many of the cocktails available throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Prior to being Baseline Taphouse, this cozy venue was the Writer’s Stop, which served coffee and baked goods, and sold Disney books and kitchen ware. Writer’s Stop had a cute little sitting area with a TV playing Disney classics which eventually became a marketing loop video instead. Now that this location has become Baseline there is limited interior seating, and a large walk-up bar for drinks and bites. The decor pays homage to the Writer’s Stop as well as the life of being a writer in show business. There are also touches that indicate Baseline’s backstory as Figueroa Printing Company, a small print house that had ties to the Walt Disney Studios.

Our readers rate Baseline with a 95% thumbs up and a ranking of number 8 of 59 similar options at Walt Disney World. The beverage selection is great, they even have two craft, non-alcoholic drinks. The food pairs perfectly with craft beer and wine. If you enjoy visiting your local brewery back home you’re sure to enjoy the menu at Baseline Taphouse.

Our team stopped in to see how things are at Baseline now that places like it are so valued right now. Its walk-up-only bar and outdoor seating make it a popular choice as many guests prefer to dine outside right now. Ivonne selected the popular Bavarian Pretzel and also tried out the Coffee Rubbed Rib-eye Steak Puff. The Bavarian Pretzel is served with Beer-Cheese Fondue and Spicy Mustard for $9.00. We lovingly call it the Len Testa special since our beloved Len loves Disney pretzels so much. This massive Bavarian Pretzel is usually soft and warm, and the Beer-Cheese Fondue is irresistible. I love alternating between the Beer-Cheese and the Spicy Mustard while sipping on a craft IPA.

Side note: Check out the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway paper that the pretzel is served on!

The Coffee-Rubbed Rib-Eye Steak Puff is a nice option if you crave something more than just luscious carbs. The coffee-rubbed aspect of the rib-eye was lacking during our team’s visit. The Olive Salad that accompanies the Steak Puff is good, though you obviously need to enjoy olives to be able to like this side. The Bavarian Pretzel is the more popular choice, and for good reason. This Steak Puff was satisfying and could be shared among two people, but it was not as good as other options on the menu. It’s a decent value at $11.00.

Due to limited capacity, there are not as many tables in the immediate outdoor dining area as normal. Additional tables have been added just outside the normal dining area. Most of these tables are high tops for standing only. For many Disney fans, Baseline is a must-do. It’s a lovely area and a great place to stop for a bite before or after visiting Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

If you love pretzels, or have a different favorite food, you can search for specific food items across Walt Disney World with our Menu Finder. It is free to use, but we would love to have you as a TouringPlans Subscriber so you can have access to all of our tools and resources.

Have you stopped in at Baseline yet? Do you have a favorite item on the menu?

The post REVIEW: Baseline Taphouse Has Bites So Good You Could Make a Meal of Them appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Dos and Don’ts, Drinking, Galaxy’s Edge, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, baseline taphouse, disney covid, disney reopening, disney’s hollywood studios dining, hollywood studios bars, hollywood studios drinks, hollywood studios snacks

There are so many wonderful fall-flavored treats to enjoy at Disney Springs right now. Earlier this month we reviewed some of the edible Halloween treats available at Disney Springs. Now it’s time to review some of the seasonal drinks currently available at Disney Springs. There’s some great options here, especially if you’re not into Pumpkin Spice.

Here’s how our field research team ranks these seasonal sips at Disney Springs. After this research trip they had quite the sugar high, so if you’re thinking of tackling all five of these drinks in one trip make sure to have a drinking buddy with you and drink lots of water too.

1. Peach Bourbon Lemonade at Polite Pig (contains alcohol) – This frozen cocktail claims our number one spot because it is refreshing and strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tart. This seasonal drink was introduced in April 2019 and has stuck around because of its popularity, so perhaps it shouldn’t be considered seasonal anymore? Whatever the case, we dig it!

2. Caramel Apple Delight at Starbucks Disney Springs West Side – This refreshing drink has gotten lots of attention. If you want to know what sipping a caramel apple is like, as opposed to eating one, this drink accomplishes exactly that. Lots of fall-flavored treats can be heavy, but this Caramel Apple Delight is refreshing without losing the warm and cozy autumn apple flavor. This is one of our favorite seasonal Starbucks creations yet!

3. Apple-y Fall at Starbucks Disney Springs Marketplace – It’s pretty clever that the two Disney Springs Starbucks locations each have their own seasonal drinks. Over at the Marketplace location, near World of Disney, you can fall deep into apple flavors with the Apple-y Fall. This blended drink is super sweet and not as refreshing as the Caramel Apple Delight at the West Side location. Our field researcher describes it as “drinking an apple fritter.” This is not necessarily a bad thing, just be prepared for lots of sweetness.

4. Jack O’ Lantern Float at Vivoli il Gelato – A hidden gem at The Landing at Disney Springs is Vivoli il Gelato. This specialty gelato shop offers authentic Italian gelato in a variety of flavors, and has some incredible creations. There’s usually a seasonal offering or two and right now you can sip on the Jack O’ Lantern Float. This float is picture perfect and a great option for anyone who wants a fall seasonal treat, but without the fall flavors. This float is made of vanilla gelato and Fanta orange soda served in an adorable Jack O’ Lantern cup with whipped cream and green sprinkles.

5. Bourbon Cream Float at Polite Pig (contains alcohol) – We were expected this creamy cocktail to rank higher on our list, and if you’re a fan of Bourbon you may find it ranks higher in your own personal list. This Bourbon Cream Float is essentially a root beer float but with warmer flavors.

Disney Springs is a great place to visit to enjoy seasonal treats at Walt Disney World. Do you have a favorite Disney Springs spot?

The post REVIEW: Here’s How We Rank These Five Fall Drinks at Disney Springs appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Dos and Don’ts, Drinking, Snacks, disney springs drinks, disney springs halloween, drinking at disney springs