A Blog About Disney Stuff

This Crowd Calendar update is an update through May 2021. The slight delay in publishing this month’s update due to us wanting to review the crowds during Thanksgiving and allow the statistical models to learn from what a major holiday is like in 2020.

On November 16, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that Walt Disney World’s capacity was raised from 25% to 35%. We do not expect another increase in attendance in 2020. We don’t expect the crowds in December will be any higher than what we saw in November. With COVID cases still going up, it is unlikely that more people will be traveling to theme parks. Florida is unlikely to restrict travel, but other states and CDC may recommend not to travel.

To handle the higher capacity Disney made some operational changes. Disney added Plexiglas between rows at Rise of the Resistance and Mickey’s & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. On other attractions, Disney started loading more ride vehicles. The Haunted Mansion and Mickey’s & Minnie’s Runaway Railway wait times show the biggest decrease in wait times. Rise of the Resistance is loading more boarding groups per day.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Disney crowd levels will not return to normal levels until a vaccine is widely available. The initial distribution of a vaccine is going to go to First Responders, the elderly, and other high-risk populations. Summer will be likely the earliest Disney will see the return to normal. This means that the first half of 2021 is going to look more like 2020 than 2019. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 18, 2021), Presidents Day (February 15, 2021), Mardi Gras (February 16, 2021), Easter (April 4, 2021), and spring break are going to have a muted effect on crowds in 2021.

As always, we will be keeping a close watch on what is going on at the parks and will update the crowd calendar as needed.

Have any questions about the Crowd Calendar update? Feel free to leave them in the comments.

The post December 2020 – WDW Crowd Calendar Update appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Crowd Calendar, Walt Disney World (FL)

Haul out the holly,
as well as the chocolate, pretzels, peppermint, candy and oh yes, waffles, to
create these amazing Disney themed holiday “charcuterie” boards. Santa may not
leave your house when he gets a peek at the boards #DisneyCreator at Home, Ginny
Phillips of Making Main Street, has created!

This mom of three
has pulled out all the festive ideas and holiday magic to create sweet and
savory boards perfect for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning! Put on those matching
PJs, turn up your Disney holiday playlist and get ready for some merry good
fun!

Magical Christmas Eve Hot Chocolate Board

While some may have visions of sugar plums on Christmas Eve, you will only have visions of delectable hot cocoa filled with chocolate Mickey bombs with this creative board. Not sure how to make your own chocolate Mickey bomb? No worries! Ginny has supplied your elf crew with simple step-by-step directions on how to make this board!

Christmas Morning Mickey Waffle Board

Your family will come bounding down the hall on Christmas morning when the air is filled with the delectable smell of Mickey waffles. The presents might have to wait when they see this holiday extravaganza laid out for breakfast. Ginny has included some of her favorite topping choices for her board, but the limit on your ideas is as high as the star on top of the tree! If the Mickey Waffle Maker is on your Christmas list, make sure you ask to open that gift a day early!

Are you already envisioning your Disney themed holiday
board inspired by Ginny? If so, we want to see them! When you create your
magical board, be sure to share and use the hashtags #DisneyMagicMoments and #DisneyHolidayMoments.
Check back for more of these #DisneyCreators at Home stories on our “Everything Holidays” section on the Disney Parks Blog.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

‘Tis the season for giving! The celebration of Disney and Make-A-Wish® working together for 40 years to grant life-changing wishes continues with the debut of the latest collection of Disney Parks Wishables. Themed to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction, the adorable new series features the original wish granter himself: Genie! This collection is available NOW at select Disney Parks around the world, the Disney store and online at shopDisney.com and is the perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays! 

This Disney Parks Wishables is the final collection in the trio of product this fall that began with the debut of the popular Wishes Come True Blue color collection and last month’s lovable Mickey Mouse plush, which unlocked donations to Make-A-Wish! I’m excited to announce that as of today, sales from these two merchandise offerings have unlocked a total donation of $591,100 to Make-A-Wish so far, and we’re not done yet… 

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Disney will donate 100 percent of the purchase price from the sales of the Disney Parks Wishables: Magic Carpets of Aladdin series to Make-A-Wish to grant more life-changing wishes. 

That’s right, the Disney Parks Wishables: Magic Carpets of Aladdin series is the first-ever product collection from Disney Parks with 100 percent of the purchase price from each sale being donated to a charitable organization, and just in time for the holiday season! 

In the spirit of giving, we also launched a very special edition of Play Disney Parks trivia celebrating the magic of wishes! Don’t forget to check out the app to play now through Friday and stay tuned to the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps later today, where we’ll be sharing even more about Disney and Make-A-Wish!* 

So join us in giving back this holiday season with The Wishes Come True Blue color collection, Mickey Mouse vintage holiday plush and the latest Disney Parks Wishables: Magic Carpets of Aladdin series. All available now at shopDisney.com with select products available at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney stores in North America. To learn more, visit http://wish.org/disney. 

Available for iPhone® and Android^TM smartphones. 

Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Some app features require separate theme park admission. 

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Community Outreach, Merchandise

More quick service options have become available at Walt Disney World in recent weeks. Among them is Lotus Blossom Café at EPCOT. This quick service restaurant inside the China Pavilion isn’t a shining star in the galaxy that is dining options at EPCOT, but it is a solid choice for familiar food. Our team revisited this location to see if its standard Chinese-inspired fare still blooms.

At Lotus Blossom Cafe, you’ll find simple choices and familiar Chinese fare. The café is entirely open-air which is very important for lots of guests right now. The lobby area is at the center to walk-up and place your order. Then there are two open-air and covered dining areas to either side of the lobby. Mobile ordering is not available at this location.

The menu at Lotus Blossom has been reduced, with the entrees being cut from six options to three. Our team selected the Orange Chicken Combo, which is a whopping $13.50, but does come with steamed rice, egg roll and steamed broccoli. This is a generous platter and could be shared by two people if they wanted to have room to explore other international cuisine. The orange chicken was crispy and the sauce had the right balance of sweet and sour. The egg roll is fantastic, as it is the same as what’s served at Joy of Tea. The broccoli, unfortunately, was cold and crunchy.

We have listings and ratings for all Walt Disney World restaurants, and our readers give Lotus Blossom Café an 82% thumbs up rating, which is below average. It is ranked number 73 out of 107 quick service options. As you can see there are plenty of better options out there, but if you want simple food with flavors you may be familiar with, then this is a good pick.

Are you glad Lotus Blossom Cafe has reopened? What’s your favorite spot for a quick meal at EPCOT?

The post REVIEW – Lotus Blossom Cafe Returns to EPCOT appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Dining, Epcot, disney dining, epcot dining, Epcot Restaurants

It’s the most wonderful time of year to visit Walt Disney World Resort, as the holiday season is in full swing across our Resort hotels. Whether you’re staying with us on vacation or just stopping by for the day, these fantastic locales are merry and bright with yuletide décor that enhances the stories they tell. 

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From iconic Christmas trees to festive flourishes of garland adorning the front entrances and more, our resorts have decked their halls in celebration of the season for a fun holiday atmosphere. For instance, you can’t miss the massive and magnificent tree outside Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Or you can gaze in wonder at the tree stretching into the upper reaches of the soaring lobby at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Traditional tunes and holiday melodies fill the air in the classic setting of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, as a talented pianist performs live music most afternoons and evenings in the lobby. And while you’re visiting one of these magical places, you may just spot a favorite Disney pal taking in the sights, as well.

The tinsel and trimmings make our resorts a wonderful way to check some names off your holiday shopping list, too. You’ll find great gift ideas for family and friends, especially anyone looking for an ornament from their favorite home away from home at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Resort gift shops offer exclusive pieces you can only find here! 

When it’s time to take a break from your merry-making, treat your taste buds with jolly specialties across our resorts. Holiday flavors of eggnog, peppermint, pumpkin, chocolate and more dance across the dessert menus at all our resorts throughout the season. May I suggest any of the following tasty morsels: 

The triple-chocolate Happy Holidays Grand Cake Pop from Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

A Christmas Candy Drop from Le Petit Café at Disney’s Riviera Resort, filled with milk chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge, hazelnut custard and cherry reduction. 

Plant-based macarons available at The Artist’s Palette inside Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. 

Cookie Trees featuring stacks of vanilla cookies decorated with royal icing, mini-pearls and snow sugar, along with a delightful miniature Gingerbread Carousel with hidden Mickeys and a sugar replica of this year’s gingerbread pin from Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort. 

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And speaking of sweets, our pastry chefs cooked up some holiday cheer this year for gingerbread fans with a lineup of delicious cookies, kits and more. Highlights include a classic Gingerbread Mickey available at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort’s BoardWalk Bakery and the Contemporary Gingerbread House Kit from the Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

You’ll find all sorts of other special gingerbread items available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. If you aren’t staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, a dining reservation may be required to park at the resort. Depending on the location’s capacity, guests without reservations may be redirected to park nearby and walk, or take Walt Disney World Transportation to the resort. 

To learn more about the celebrations happening all season long across Walt Disney World, check out our festive roundup here. And be sure to follow along with us here on the Disney Parks Blog as we bring you even more #DisneyMagicMoments from this holiday season! 

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort, Holidays, WDW