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Whether you’re visiting Magic Kingdom for the first time, or an experienced Disney veteran, it can be tempting to just “wing it.” Going in without a plan is okay, but we want to show you how much time you can save with a plan, and how smooth your day can be. Two members of our field research team went into Magic Kingdom on Saturday, October 10, 2020 – one of the busiest days we’ve seen at Magic Kingdom since reopening. Our own Chrissy “Crispy” and Erin went head to head, Chrissy using a one day Magic Kingdom TouringPlan, and Erin going in without a plan.

Not only did Chrissy save lots of time, her experience was less frustrating. Erin approached her visit to Magic Kingdom much in the way a guest who had never been to Walt Disney World might approach their visit. Let’s take a look at their experiences and the lessons learned along the way.

Arriving to Magic Kingdom

Erin arrived at the Saratoga Springs Congress Park bus stop at 7:57 a.m. The TV monitor at the stop said that the Magic Kingdom buses started running at 8:30. A bus pulled up two minutes later at 7:59, and the bus arrived at Magic Kingdom at 8:21 a.m. She went through temperature check and security and was in the park at 8:27 a.m. 

With Magic Kingdom published opening time being 9:00 a.m, Erin ordered a coffee at the Main Street Bakery Starbucks and sat to drink it. It is important to note that guests must be stationary while eating and drinking as part of the COVID-19 safety precautions.

Chrissy arrived at the Ticket and Transportation Center at 7:55 a.m. After parking and walking to the TTC, her temperature screening was at 8:07 a.m. She took the monorail and tapped into Magic Kingdom’s entrance at 8:19 a.m.

How much time was saved by using a Touring Plan?

Chrissy and Erin spent all day in Magic Kingdom. The goal was to experience the same 18 attractions. Chrissy followed a one-day TouringPlan, with a focus on minimizing wait times. Erin approached the park as many new visitors do: starting in one side of the park and riding attractions in order of how they are physically located in the park. She started in Tomorrowland and worked her way around the entire park over to Adventureland.

Although the published opening time was 9:00 a.m., the “rope drop” occurred around 8:40 a.m. Chrissy headed to her first attraction straight away, whereas “first timer” Erin was not aware this would happen and enjoyed her coffee at Starbucks. We recommend having breakfast before you get to the park if your objective is to get in as many rides as possible. The challenge with this is that Disney does not always “drop the rope” before official park opening. Generally if the park is forecasted to have higher attendance, as was the case yesterday, then they often do open a few areas like Fantasyland and Tomorrowland a little early. Our Lines app will show you the estimated crowd levels.

Another factor that can impact wait times are the extra cleaning procedures of certain attractions. All ride vehicles are given a sanitizing regularly throughout the day. For omni-moving rides like Peter Pan’s Flight and it’s a small world, the ride loading is temporarily stopped so all ride vehicles can be empty and cleaned. This can cause an addition 5 minutes or so in waiting, but certainly worth the extra safety.

It is important to remember that with the reduction in snack options and counter service dining locations in Magic Kingdom, that all dining options are busier than normal. Make use of the ratings and rankings we have for all Walt Disney World restaurants in our Lines app, that way you can view the best places to eat. (Hint, Pinocchio’s Village Haus is one of the lowest rated options in all of Walt Disney World–sorry Erin!) Once you’ve selected where you want to eat, use mobile ordering in the MyDisneyExperience app to place your order while waiting in line to save time.

Key Differences in Using a TouringPlan Versus Not Using a Plan

• Chrissy was able to complete all 18 attractions on the Touring Plan.  Erin completed 14 attractions. 
• Erin’s missed attractions were Country Bear Jamboree, Swiss Family Treehouse, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid. She finished her last attraction with only 15 minutes left before Magic Kingdom closed. Chrissy finished her last attraction, Space Mountain, with nearly 40 minutes left in park operation.
• These missed attractions would have added about an additional hour and a half of wait time to Erin’s visit, which was already an 11-hour day.
• Being on a Touring Plan allowed Chrissy to take a dinner break.  Erin did not.
• Neither team member spent any time browsing in shops, getting snacks, or any other diversions. 
• Touring Plans can be customized. You can build your own plan with only the attractions you want to visit. And you can balance minimizing wait times with minimizing how much walking you will do.

Using a TouringPlan gave Chrissy the ability to ride 4 additional attractions, have an additional 40-minute break, and finish her evening with 40 minutes left before park closing That means she got to experience more rides with nearly two hours to spare!

If you’re curious about yesterday’s actual wait times, we have them on our website. We’re in the parks daily so we can provide accurate data. Become a TouringPlans Subscriber so you can maximize your time in the parks just like Chrissy did.

The post Visiting Magic Kingdom: Without or Without a Touring Plan appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Dos and Don’ts, In the Parks, Magic Kingdom, Trip Planning, disney magic kingdom, Magic Kingdom Attractions, magic kingdom tips, magic kingdom wait times

Today we’re taking a look at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios One-Day Touring Plan, which is our standard one-day plan for the park. This is the version of the plan that reflects the changes for social distancing rules and closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan includes all major rides, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

STEPS
1) Star Tours: The Adventures Continue Ride Star Tours or Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run first, whichever your priority is. Based on the Star Wars saga, this was Disney’s first modern simulator ride. Guests ride in a flight simulator modeled after those used for training pilots and astronauts, experiencing dips, turns, twists, and climbs. The ride film, projected in high-definition 3-D, has more than 50 combinations of opening and ending scenes, including clips from the newer Star Wars films. You could ride Star Tours all day without seeing the same scenes twice.
2) Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Take flight on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Smugglers Run lets guests fly Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon, the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” Guests approaching the attraction will see a life-size Millennium Falcon parked outside the spaceport. On board each rider is assigned his or her own station— a pilot and copilot up front to steer around obstacles and activate the hyperdrive, two gunners in the middle to shoot down enemy fighters, and a pair of engineers in the rear to repair the ship when the pilots and gunners mess up—and computer-generated scenery is projected on an ultra-HD dome outside the windshield.
3) Eat Lunch Grab lunch in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The Ronto Wraps at Ronto Roasters are delicious. For a bigger selection of food there’s Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo where you can dine on Endorian Fried Chicken Tip Yip, Batuuan Beef Pot Roast, and more.
4) Muppet*Vision 3D   See MuppetVision 3D. Muppet*Vision 3-D provides a total sensory experience, with wacky 3-D action augmented by auditory, visual, and tactile special effects. If you’re tired and hot, this zany show will make you feel brand-new. Arrive early to enjoy the hilarious video preshow.
5) Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Experience Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Rise of the Resistance is an innovative attempt to integrate at least four different ride experiences— trackless vehicles, a motion simulator, walk-through environments, and even an elevator drop—into one of Disney’s longest attractions ever. Note: To ride you must join a Boarding Group that will be “called” at a later time that day, when you are allowed to get into line and wait. This is analogous to a same-day FastPass+ for an unknown time window. Use the My Disney Experience app to join a Boarding Group. Eventually you’ll receive a push notification or see that your Boarding Group is “now boarding” via in-park status screens. You must do this first thing in the morning when the park opens, or when a secondary Boarding Group signup opens at 2:00 p.m.
6) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Ride the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is an attraction for fans of high-speed thrill rides. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s loops, corkscrews, and drops make Space Mountain seem like It’s a Small World. The launch goes from 0 to 57 mph in less than 3 seconds. When you enter the first loop, you’ll be pulling 5 g’s—2 more than astronauts used to experience at liftoff on a space shuttle.
7) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Experience Tower of Terror. The Tower of Terror is a different species of Disney thrill ride, though it borrows elements of The Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom. The story is that you’re touring a once-famous Hollywood hotel gone to ruin. The Tower of Terror is a whopper at 13-plus-stories tall. The climax occurs when the elevator reaches the top floor—the 13th, of course—and the cable snaps.
8) Toy Story Mania! Go back to Toy Story Land and ride Toy Story Mania! This is an interactive shooting gallery much like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, but in Toy Story Mania!, your ride vehicle passes through a totally virtual midway, with booths offering such games as ring tossing and ball throwing. You use a cannon on your ride vehicle to play as you move along from screen to screen. Unlike the laser guns in Buzz Lightyear, however, the pull-string cannons in Toy Story Mania! take advantage of CG image technology to toss rings, shoot balls, even throw eggs and pies. Each game booth is manned by a Toy Story character who is right beside you in 3-D glory, cheering you on. In addition to 3-D imagery, you experience vehicle motion, wind, and water spray. Ride only if the posted wait time is at an acceptable length. If not, save it for the very end of the day.
9) Eat Dinner Eat dinner. If you’re in the mood for a table service meal try Hollywood Brown Derby or 50’s Prime Time Cafe.
10) Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The Runaway Railway ride places you in the center of one of the modern Mickey Mouse cartoons. The premise is, of course, that you’re on an out-of-control railroad car, courtesy of Goofy. You careen, gently, through ten large, cartoon show scenes, from tropical islands, to cities, to out-of-control factories. In each scene, Mickey and Minnie attempt to save you from disaster, with mixed results. Runaway Railway will have high waits for the whole day. Unless you arrive early and are one of the first people in the park we recommend riding as late in the day as possible.
11) Slinky Dog Dash Head to Toy Story Land and ride Slinky Dog Dash. Slinky Dog Dash is a long outdoor children’s roller coaster designed to look as if Andy built it out of Tinkertoys. The trains are themed to Toy Story’s Slinky Dog. As for intensity, it’s something along the lines of the Magic Kingdom’s Barnstormer or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train— lots of turns, dips, and hills but no loops or high-speed curves—and not nearly as rough as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This ride ranks high with all ages.

There’s no FastPass+ being offered at this time so you’ll have to do only stand-by lines. Don’t forget, you can customize and optimize this or any of our other touring plans using our personalized touring plans creator on the site or in our mobile app, Lines. Be sure to check out our other touring plans that will help you save time and money in Walt Disney World.

The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios One-Day Touring Plan Updated for COVID-19 Closures appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), touring plan

Do you like to have a few indulgences when you’re on vacation? Disney Parks can make you feel like a kid in a candy store, literally; not just with all the wonderful attractions, but the delightful treats as well. A classic Disney theme park indulgence are the massive caramel apples available at many candy shops on Walt Disney World property.

These delightful caramel apples are always beautifully decorated. If you’re visiting during Halloween season or the winter holidays these apples are a must. There’s always a variety of seasonal designs. Most of these apples are tart green and covered in a thick layer of caramel. Then there’s a layer of chocolate, decorations, and adornments to crown it all.

These massive confections can be difficult to eat. We decided it would be fun to weigh these big treats. In the spirit of the season our team purchased two Halloween themed apples, Jack Skellington and a Minnie Mouse Witch apple. The Jack Skellington one was adorned with black and white chocolate to resemble Jack’s face. It weighed in at 10.3 ounces, or 0.64 lbs. The Minnie Mouse Witch apple was a more elaborate with a chocolate coating, chocolate covered marshmallows for ears, candy coated chocolate pieces to resemble Minnie’s signature polka dots, and a candy witch hat. This one weighed in at 12.7 ounces, or 0.79 lbs – so close to a full pound!

Each caramel apple is $10.99, which seems like a lot. It can easily satisfy the sweet tooth of a group of 2-3 people, however. I checked a few online shops that ship specialty caramel apples and prices of comparable sized apples range from $9 – $16.99. Annual passholders currently receive 30% off, other discounts are available too.

Before COVID-19 you could ask Cast Members to slice up the apple to make it easier to eat and to share. Our field team will report back soon as to if this is currently still an option.

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Have you ever indulged in one of the caramel apples at Disney? Do you have a favorite sweet treat?

The post Just How Big Are Disney’s Caramel Apples? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Halloween, In the Parks, Just For Fun, Snacks, disney desserts, Disney Snacks, Disney Treats

As attendance increases at Disney’s Hollywood Studios it is important to have a variety of dining options available. Thankfully, Disney’s Hollywood Studios already has more quick service dining options currently open than Magic Kingdom. And, the hours of one of the original quick service locations are now extended. Our team revisited Backlot Express this week and it is good reminder of solid menu offered here.

Our readers have submitted over 500,000 surveys over the past few years and give Backlot Express a 85% thumbs up rating, ranking it number 50 out of 109 quick service options at Walt Disney World. This middle-of-the-pack rating doesn’t make it a blockbuster success, but if your family prefers burgers, sandwiches, and salads, it is a solid choice.

Mobile ordering is available at this location which is very helpful, and there are customization option available. There is ample seating both inside and at an outdoor area with an overhead covering, providing some great shade.

This quick service dining location is unique for its props and decor. Back when Disney’s Hollywood Studios was Disney-MGM Studios this was one of the original dining locations. The decor and props throughout the dining area speak to these original days of when the park’s focus was on the inner workings of the television and movie industry. Sadly, very few of the original props remain, but the decor still evokes 1989 MGM.

The menu at Backlot Express is full of approachable and familiar fare like burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Many items are elevated with specialty toppings like Pepper Jack Cheese. There is also the Two Suns Hummus which is a nice platter for a plant-based lunch or to share as a healthful snack.

Our team selected the Backlot Burger. This specialty burger offers so much more than the standard Disney quick service burger. This something extra is indicated in the price of $13.99, but the serving is pretty large and the 1/3 lb Angus beef burger is loaded with barbecued pulled pork, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. The brioche bun holds this big pile of tasty food together, and you can have apple slices or french fries as the side. Pro tip – if you go with french fries use them to catch any pulled pork that falls off your burger–voila, you’ve got toppings for your fries.

If you’re looking for more creative, flavorful fare you may want to consider Docking Bay 7 inside Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. But, if you prefer the classics then Backlot Express is a solid pick. If you like being in the know about Walt Disney World and other Disney destinations then become a TouringPlans Subscriber. You’ll have access to all our resources and tools.

Which is your favorite place to grab lunch inside Hollywood Studios?

The post REVIEW: Backlot Express Serves Up Quick Food and Nostalgia appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Dos and Don’ts, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, Observations, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, eating at disney’s hollywood studios, hollywood studios dining

This morning I got an email survey from Walt Disney World. Because the questions sometimes telegraph new procedures or attractions, I complete every Disney survey I receive. This one happened to be unremarkable; I clicked the boxes I was supposed to click.

And then I got to the demographic questions.

One of the demographic questions Disney ALWAYS asks in its online questionnaires is “How many times have you visited Walt Disney World?” Every time I encounter this, I stumble. I want to look the survey designer in the eye and ask them, “What do you mean by visit? Please define your terms. What counts as a ‘visit’ to Walt Disney World?”

Here are some of the many ways I’ve experienced Walt Disney World:

• A pre-cruise overnight hotel stay where I didn’t enter a theme park.
• A two-hour stop in a theme park on my way to another destination.
• An stay in an off-site hotel where I experienced several Central Florida attractions, one of which was a brief stop in a Disney theme park.
• A three-day trip where I stayed on WDW property, visited several Disney hotels, but never went in a theme park.
• A weekend at a Disney World hotel and a three-hour pop into a theme park.
• A five-day stay where I visited all four theme parks.
• A weekend stay where I only went to Disney Springs.
• A trip where I went to the Disney theme parks for two days, then went on a four-day Disney cruise, then went to the parks for two more days.
• A week long stay where I went to all four theme parks, a water park, and Disney Springs.
• A two-week stay where I briefly entered the theme parks but spent several hours at all of the Disney-owned resort hotels.
• A three-week stay where I went to each of the theme parks multiple times, but only visited my own resort.

Do all of these things count as a “visit”? Do any of them count as more than one visit?

In addition to my own situation, there are other even more complicated versions of “What is a visit?” For example, I have several friends who are former cast members or have participated in the Disney College Program. Does their time working at WDW count as multiple visits? Or are only vacations “visits”?

What about people who live in Central Florida? What if they just grab dinner at a Disney resort hotel, is that a visit? What if they go to the theme parks regularly, but have never set foot in a Disney hotel?

When thinking about this topic, I sometimes circle back to the Castaway Club at Disney Cruise Line. For the purposes of Castaway status, all cruises hold the same weight. A Caribbean three-nighter in the least expensive inside cabin has the same impact on your status as does an 11-night cruise through Europe in a concierge stateroom. If DCL thinks all cruises are equal, does this mean that Disney World thinks all visits are equal?

I know there’s not a real answer here. And I know it doesn’t really matter. I assume that the Disney survey folks are mostly trying to gauge whether you’re a newbie or a loyal customer. But still, I’m curious. What counts as a “visit” to Walt Disney World in your mind? Standard week-long vacations or something else?

Let us know in the comments.

The post What Do You Count as a Visit to Disney World? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Just For Fun, Walt Disney World (FL), just for fun