Categories
Disney Parks Other

planDisney Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Familia! A word that means so much to all. At planDisney the word family stirs up reflections of festivities, time spent together and yes, magical memories created at Walt Disney World Resort. As the panel joins in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage month, we are reminded of the importance of family, especially when it comes to forming new memories at the most magical place on earth.

Join us as we take a quick trip down memory lane with Desiree who comes from a family of 14 from Peru. Meal time was bonding time in her home, and there was never a Sunday dinner missed at her mama’s home. She and her family also share a connection through travel, which includes the entire family, to Walt Disney World Resort. Thanks to her father who fulfilled his dream of an education in America and his hard work ethic, Desiree was introduced to Walt Disney World at the young age of three. She, and her entire family, immediately fell in love with the magic of all things Disney.

To create these momentous memories with your family, planning is key. Not sure where to begin to assure everyone in your party enjoys the time spent together? No worries at all because with tips from those in the know, planDisney panelists can make it easier, and dare we say a great deal of fun, to plan your next Disney trip.

planDisney Travel Tips for Traveling with a Large Family:

Plan ahead advises Yael. She recommends guests have a plan each day and for each park. By doing this everyone, from little ones to grandparents, can enjoy and maximize their time. 

Go at your own pace is Clara’s top tip. She believes the ability to tailor the day to whatever makes it fun and relaxing for each member of your travel party will pay off in the end with a much more enjoyable vacation for all!

Try splitting up during the day is Andres go-to tip. By dividing up your party, everyone is able to conquer their must do’s. Teenagers can enjoy the thrills of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, while preschoolers, and even mom and dad, can enjoy such attractions at Dumbo the Flying Elephant and “it’s a small world.”

And when the day of fun is drawing to a close, Malanie says make sure everyone gathers together for dinner. She states her family loves to sit down at their favorite dining location and everyone is able to recap their day.

Whether your family will be celebrating with us during Hispanic Heritage Month, or you are beginning to plan for a future trip, planDisney is here to answer all your Disney vacation planning questions. Visit us today to receive a personalized answer from one of our knowledgeable panelists.

Panelists have received/will receive a Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort or Disney Cruise Line® vacation for panelist and up to three family members and/or park tickets for their planDisney panel participation. The views expressed on plandisneypanel.com are those of the panelists, who are independent contractors. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Disney Destinations, its affiliates, its management, its agents or its employees and have not been reviewed or approved by Disney Destinations prior to posting.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Categories
Other

What Is Visiting Disney Springs Like Right Now?

We’ve spent a good amount of time showing you what it is like at Walt Disney World. With lots of COVID-19 precautions visiting Walt Disney World right now is unlike any other time before it. Things are different inside Disney Springs too. So let’s take a look at what to expect at Orlando’s largest shopping and dining destination.

Weekends have always been busy at Disney Springs. Now that regular travel is reduced and Florida residents make up the lion’s share of visitors at Walt Disney World, you can expect a dramatic difference in crowds on the weekend. Based on our observations this weekend at Disney Springs here are some of our top tips.

  1. Visit early in the morning.
  2. Make dining reservations.
  3. Get familiar with shops ahead of time and make a plan for which ones are must-dos.
  4. Walk near the water.
  5. Take breaks.

Most shops at Disney Springs open at 10:00 a.m. The parking structures and parking lots open well in advance and you are welcome to walk around while waiting for the shops to open. Most restaurants and dining locations open by 11:00 a.m. Disney Springs is very much an afternoon and evening destination, so you can get a leg up by getting there early.

Extended Queue for World of Disney Store at Disney Springs

There are so many great dining options at Disney Springs. Some of the highest-rated restaurants at Walt Disney World are here at Disney Springs. Two favorites of our readers are Homecomin’ by Chef Art Smith and Jaleo by Chef José Andrés. Both are highly rated from over 500,000 surveys completed by our readers. On our site you can view ratings for all Walt Disney World restaurants. You can also use our Reservation Finder tool to help secure those hard-to-find reservations. This tool is free to use, but becoming a TouringPlans Subscriber is a great way to say “thanks” for the tools and resources we offer.

Homecomin’ 1981 Salad

There are over 150 shops at Disney Springs. Some favorites are World of Disney, the Marketplace Co-Op – which includes the popular Dress Shoppe, the LEGO Store, and UNIQLO. It’s a good idea to browse the list of Disney Springs shops ahead of time and select which ones you absolutely must visit. These shops can get really busy on the weekends and there is reduced capacity due to COVID-19 precautions.

Line for LEGO Store

During our trip this weekend there was a 15-minute wait just to get into World of Disney. We’ve seen this happen quite often on busy weekends. Capacity inside stores is reduced to allow for safe distancing. There are also designated entrances and exits at many stores. You’ll want to be prepared for a little extra walking and paying attention to signs.

Extended Queue for World of Disney Store at Disney Springs

Walkways can get crowded on weekends. I have found that if I stay near the waterline, walking along the lake, there are less people, and prettier views. It is also a good idea to take breaks if you are making a full day of visiting Disney Springs, just like you would at a theme park.

Disney Springs West Side

There are quite a few things in the works at Disney Springs too. A local favorite bakery is coming to Disney Springs. Gideon’s Bakeshop has cookies and cakes unlike anything you’ve seen or tasted elsewhere. Gideon’s has been operating at East End Market, a great local hangout if you’re ever looking to explore one of Orlando’s coolest neighborhoods. Gideon’s cookies are dense, and more like a cake or fudge than a traditional cookie. Most locals slice the cookies into fourths and share or save some for later. No official opening date for Gideon’s Disney Springs has been announced, but it should be opening very soon.

Gideon’s Bakeshop Coming to The Landing at Disney Springs

Over at Disney Springs West Side you’ll find lots of construction, more than any other portion of Disney Springs. Beatrix is a fresh concept coming to the spot where Bongo’s Cuban Cafe used to be. Sadly there is no sign of progress at this site. We could not see any building frame in place so it looks like it will be a long while before Beatrix actually comes into existence.

Beatrix Coming to Disney Springs West Side

Around the corner, between Splitsville and the AMC Theater, you can see things are progressing well at Everglazed. This cold brew coffee and doughnut shop replaces the Pop Gallery. It will be nice to have a breakfast option on this side of Disney Springs.

Everglazed Coming to Disney Springs West Side

 

Also over on the West Side, the M&Ms Store continues its construction work.

Sadly, two attractions at Disney Springs West Side remain closed for the foreseeable future. The poor unfortunate NBA Experience barely got its footing and then it shut down as part of the March 2020 COVID-19 shut down. It has not reopened due to the hands-on nature of its attractions. Despite Disney’s involvement in the NBA Playoffs and Finals, there is no reopening date.

NBA Experience Closed at Disney Springs

Just a few buildings away, the beautiful Cirque du Soleil theater remains shuttered. An incredible new show themed around Disney animation was set to debut in Spring 2020. In fact, a media preview of the show took place at the beginning of March this year. The future of this show is unclear at this point.

Cirque Du Soleil Closed

Despite all the construction at West Side, and the weekend crowds, now is a fun time to visit Disney Springs. Fall festive decor and treats abound, and the holiday season is on its way. Just get there early and plan ahead.

Have you been to Disney Springs lately? What are your favorite things to do at Disney Springs?

 

 

The post What Is Visiting Disney Springs Like Right Now? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Dos and Don’ts, Observations, Trip Planning, disney covid, disney crowds, disney reopening, disney springs dining, disney springs shops

Categories
Other

Where Can You Get Quick Food at Disney World Without Using Mobile Order?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walt Disney World had added a mobile-order feature to many of its quick service dining venues. Though mobile order was available, you’d still see lines, sometimes long lines, at the walk-up order counters.

Where Can You Get Quick Food at Disney World Without Using Mobile Order?
You can get quick service food at the Magic Kingdom’s Friar’s Nook without using mobile order.

Now during the pandemic, if a quick service venue has mobile order capability, it’s a near mandate that guests use that method to obtain food. At most locations, there are cast members stationed at the doors who won’t let you enter the restaurant unless you have a notification on your mobile device that you’ve made a mobile order and that the order is complete and ready for pickup.

I was a fan of mobile order pre-pandemic and am fully onboard with the safety aspect of it now. But doing some eavesdropping in the parks this week, I’ve observed that not everyone wants to mobile order their food. Some of the reasons I’ve heard are:

  • Preference for using cash rather than electronic payment
  • Not having a mobile device on hand
  • Not wanting to download the MyDisneyExperience app
  • Fear of using an unfamiliar technology
  • Desire to ask questions of someone inside the restaurant prior to ordering
  • Desire for immediate access to food without waiting for a mobile order window to open.

While there are certainly workarounds for some of these issues, when you’re hangry sometimes you just want what you want. For those folks, there are places at Walt Disney World where you can get quick food via the old fashioned method of standing in line and ordering in person, bypassing the mobile order process.

Here are the places in the Walt Disney World theme parks, that are open during the COVID-19 pandemic, where you can get quick food without a reservation or placing a mobile order:

All Parks

  • Ice Cream Carts
  • Popcorn Carts

Magic Kingdom

  • Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
  • The Friar’s Nook
  • Gaston’s Tavern
  • Liberty Square Market
  • Lunching Pad
  • Main Street Bakery
  • Sleepy Hollow
  • Storybook Treats
  • Sunshine Tree Terrace
  • Westward Ho

Epcot

  • Food & Wine Festival booths
  • Choza de Margarita
  • Cool Wash
  • Crepes de Chefs de France
  • Fife & Drum Tavern
  • Funnel Cake Booth
  • Gelati
  • Joy of Tea
  • Kabuki Cafe
  • Katsura Grill
  • Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
  • La Cantina de San Angel
  • L’Artisan des Glaces
  • Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie
  • Les Vins de Chefs de France
  • Refreshment Port
  • Refreshment Outpost
  • Yorkshire Fish Shop

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Anaheim Produce
  • Hollywood Scoops
  • Trolley Car Cafe

Animal Kingdom

  • Anandapur Ice Cream Cart
  • Creature Comforts
  • Dino-Bite Snacks
  • Drinkwallah
  • Harambe Fruit Market
  • Isle of Java
  • Pongu Pongu
  • Tamu Tamu Refreshments
  • Thirsty River
  • Trilo-Bites
  • Yak & Yeti Local Food

A quick look at these lists shows that you’ll have the most options at Epcot and the fewest at Hollywood Studios.

Also note that many of the available non-mobile-order quick service options are primarily snack or dessert places. During the Food & Wine Festival, Epcot is the exception to this; you can get savory dishes and protein at most of the Festival booths.

Where Can You Get Quick Food at Disney World Without Using Mobile Order?

The post Where Can You Get Quick Food at Disney World Without Using Mobile Order? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

Categories
Other

Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020

I hope all of you had a happy Canadian Thanksgiving.  And a huge thanks to all of the TouringPlans folks who submitted over 225 actual wait times in Walt Disney World on October 12!  Here’s how the day looked.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

The Magic Kingdom was busy on Monday, with the park’s secondary attractions all posting strong wait times:

  • Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 35 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month.
  • “it’s a small world” had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 36 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #2 for the past month.
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had an average wait time today of 42 minutes. Its 7-day average is 32 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month.

The park’s “mountains” were busier than average, but most didn’t hit the highs of the past few days:

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had an average wait time today of 51 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #4 for the past month.
  • Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 53 minutes. Its 7-day average is 47 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 36 minutes, so today ranks #5 for the past month.
  • Splash Mountain had an average wait time today of 78 minutes. Its 7-day average is 71 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 57 minutes, so today ranks #3 for the past month.
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 69 minutes. Its 7-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 53 minutes, so today ranks #2 for the past month.

Actual wait times at the Magic Kingdom were around 65% of the posted waits, so a 45-minute posted wait at Pirates of the Caribbean would’ve resulted in a 30 minute actual wait.

Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020

EPCOT Wait Times

It was the slowest day of the week over at EPCOT, and actual wait times were barely half of the posted waits.  Wait times were strong at Frozen Ever After, which had an average wait time today of 63 minutes. Its 7-day average is 67 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Test Track had an average wait time today of 63 minutes, while Soarin’ had an average wait time today of 50 minutes.

Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

A mixed bag over at the Studios. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average day today – wait times averaged around 82 minutes, just over its 7-day average of 81 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 84 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month.  Slinky Dog Dash was comparatively busier – it had an average wait time today of 79 minutes. Its 7-day average is 69 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 63 minutes, so today ranks #1 for the past month.

Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

And a relatively slow day at Animal Kingdom, too.  Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain had an average wait time today of 36 minutes. Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 58 minutes, slightly below its weekly average.  And actual wait times were about 2/3rds of the posted wait times throughout the park.

 

Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020

Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020

The post Here Were the Wait Times at Walt Disney World on Monday, October 12, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

Categories
Disney Parks Other

#DisneyMagicMoments: Check Out Hauntingly Beautiful Views of Disney’s Mansions and Manors from Around the World

As days shorten in fall, creeping shadows and eerie night skies can create mesmerizing views at Disney Mansions and Manors around the world!  Whether it’s the chilling Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris or the ghostly Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World Resort, each estate offers its own enchanting beauty. 

With Halloween approaching, our friends from across the globe scared up a few favorite hauntings to begin the week. Take a look at some “Mansions and Manors” magic: 

#DisneyMagicMoments: Check Out Hauntingly Beautiful Views of Disney’s Mansions and Manors from Around the World Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris

Our special look at Mansions and Manors begins at Disneyland Paris where an otherworldly sky frames up Phantom Manor in a most uncanny way.  Tucked away in a corner of Frontierland, this dilapidated house has frightful secrets to discover – if you dare to enter! 

#DisneyMagicMoments: Check Out Hauntingly Beautiful Views of Disney’s Mansions and Manors from Around the World Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park

At Walt Disney World Resort, the darkness of night ushers in hair-raising experiences at the Haunted Mansion.  Beware of hitchhikers – phantom pranksters inside may just follow you home. 

#DisneyMagicMoments: Check Out Hauntingly Beautiful Views of Disney’s Mansions and Manors from Around the World Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park

Moonbeams illuminated the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Resort in a past view, delivering a bewitching glow for all happy haunts.  

#DisneyMagicMoments: Check Out Hauntingly Beautiful Views of Disney’s Mansions and Manors from Around the World Haunted Mansion at Tokyo Disneyland

At Tokyo Disney Resort, an overcast sky delivers a delightfully dreadful view of the ominous gothic mansion – haunted by 999 ghosts, goblins, and ghouls.

#DisneyMagicMoments: Check Out Hauntingly Beautiful Views of Disney’s Mansions and Manors from Around the World Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland

And a shadowy night at Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland sets the stage for the estate’s exotic artifacts from around the world to come to life right before your eyes.  

We hope you enjoyed this special look at the hauntingly beautiful Mansions and Manors of Disney Parks.  Be sure to check back for more Disney Halloween surprises by visiting our new “Everything Halloween” page.  

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort, DLR, Halloween, Haunted Mansion, Photography, Tokyo Disney Resort, WDW