A Blog About Disney Stuff

One of the best features of most Disney resort hotels is the feature pool. Every Disney resort has a feature pool with theming and recreation. It is highly recommended that you plan in some time to enjoy your resort’s pool if you’re going to spend the money to stay at a Disney resort. Everyone needs some actual relaxation time on their vacation.

But like everything else in Walt Disney World, some things have changed due to COVID-19 safety precautions. It is still a wonderful experience to spend some time around the pool. Your pool experience shouldn’t be impacted all that much, but it is good to know what’s different ahead of time.

• Masks are required
• Masks can be removed while eating, drinking, and swimming
• Lounge chairs cannot be moved as they are spaced six feet apart for safety
• Recreational activities are reduced, but still offered
•  Outdoor movies near the pools are now every other night
• Sanitizing wipes canisters are placed at the pool’s main entrance
• Pool towels are still available

Masks are required in the pool area. They need to be worn when ordering food and drinks, and when roaming the pool area. While eating, drinking, or swimming they can be removed. While I spent some time at Disney’s Old Key West pool area and Saratoga Springs pool area, many guests were wearing masks while sitting in lounge chairs. I did not see any Cast Members ask guests who were not wearing masks while seated to put their mask on. If you choose not to wear your mask and you are not eating, drinking, or swimming Disney Cast Members could ask you to put a mask on or leave the area.

Lounge chairs and tables with chairs are set up six feet or more apart. It is asked that all guests leave the chairs as they are, in order to maintain this distance. Upon entering the pool areas of Old Key West and Saratoga Springs I noticed a canister of sanitizing wipes with a sign indicating that they are for use on surfaces. It might be a good idea to wipe down whatever chairs you choose to use.

One of the best features of Disney resort hotel pools is the amount of recreational activities offered. While some hands-on activities are temporarily on hold, other favorite activities like poolside trivia are offered.  The recreation Cast Members keep their distance from guests and wear their masks. Outdoor movies are now offered every other night. Be sure to check the schedule.

Pool towels are still provided at designated areas. Some pools have designated entrances and exits so be sure to keep an eye out and take a deep breath if, like me, you walk to an entrance that is now a marked exit and you have to walk back the other way. All in all, Disney pools are still a wonderful place to relax. Like everything else there are some changes, but in the end they are there for good reason, and don’t take away from the fun.

Do you usually plan some pool time in your vacation? Do you have a favorite Disney resort pool?

The post What Are Disney’s Resort Hotel Pools Like With COVID-19 Safety Precautions? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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Filed Under: Observations, Resorts, disney covid, disney hotels, disney on site hotels, Disney Pools, disney reopening

There are so many delightful Christmas and holiday treats this year at Magic Kingdom. We’ve practically tried all of them, and already have some favorites. The Let It Snow Chocolate Taco and the Pistachio Chai Tea Float are two highlights. But, there’s one that caught our eye that we just had to try.

Belle’s Enchanted Christmas Tree dessert is available at Gaston’s Tavern. It was hard to pass up the legendary Cinnamon Roll, but in the interest of research, our team selected the brightly colored holiday treat. Belle’s Enchanted Christmas Tree is a little Christmas tree shaped tower made of almond macarons each in descending sizes, that are stacked with cranberry-orange filling in between each bright green macaron. It is a visual delight.

Our team did not enjoy the taste overall. Neither the almond flavor of the macarons, nor the cranberry-orange flavor came through as strong as hoped. The artificial coloring’s fake taste got in the way of the festive flavors. For $5.49 it is a fun visual treat, but will most likely leave you disappointed in the taste. If you’re going to head to Gaston’s Tavern, we recommend the classic Cinnamon Roll instead.

Have you tried any of the holiday treats at Magic Kingdom this year? Do you have a favorite?

The post REVIEW – Belle’s Enchanted Christmas Tree Dessert is All Beauty, Less Substance appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Christmas, Dining, Magic Kingdom, Snacks, beauty and the beast, disney christmas, disney desserts, Disney Snacks, magic kingdom christmas, magic kingdom dining

This week the Disney resort hotels have begun to receive their holiday decorations and it has put us in great spirits. This year is a little disappointing in that the gingerbread displays across many of the deluxe resorts are not on display this year. This is to help with safety precautions and deter crowds, so it is certainly understandable. Many of the resorts, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Grand Floridian are still charming and whimsical with their Christmas trees and decorations. There is one resort, however, that is missing that extra holiday magic this year.

Disney’s Contemporary is one of the least themed resorts on Disney property. Being a modern-styled resort, there’s less overt touches of whimsy. This is especially true with their holiday decorations which are simple modern decorations without any creative theme. Without the gingerbread display, the lack of special theming in the holiday décor is very evident this year.

While the decorations are quite plain compared to the other deluxe resorts, there is a little extra décor at Fantasia Gifts on the Grand Canyon Concourse level. And, there is a special Gingerbread Contemporary Resort Kit you can purchase to build your own tasty version of the Contemporary, complete with white chocolate monorails and other fun details.

There are also three different Christmas cookies available for purchase at Contempo Café. So, while the Contemporary is lacking in holiday magic and whimsy compared to the other nearby resorts, there’s still some charm to be found.

Have you ever visited Disney’s Contemporary during the holidays? Do you have a favorite Disney resort during the holiday season?

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Filed Under: Christmas, Photos and Video, Resorts, disney christmas, disney holiday decorations, disney on site hotels, Disney Resorts, Disney’s Contemporary Resort

For years, thrill rides have been the name of the theme park game. In fact, before COVID-19, construction was well underway at Walt Disney World for two new coasters – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle Run for the Magic Kingdom. However, not everyone loves coasters or thrill rides. In fact, there are many Disney guests out there who feel sudden drops, dizzying heights, and high speeds are anything but magical.

So for my fellow Disney ride chickens, I’ve created a ranking system to help you know what to expect and maybe what to avoid when compiling your Hollywood Studios touring plan.

I’m breaking down the different elements of a ride that may be a little scary or extreme, such as drops, height, darkness, and speed. I’m also using a simple 1 to 3 scale with 1 being less intense and a 3 being the most intense.

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an interactive simulator where guests perform functions act as either pilots, gunners, or engineers aboard the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy! Before boarding the six-person cockpit, guests receive their roles which they will perform during the flight much like EPCOT’s Mission: SPACE.

How well a guest performs their role impacts the overall success of the mission. But don’t worry! Hondo Ohnaka who owns the whole operation is there to help guests along and many of the buttons and switches light up when needed.

Motion Sickness: 1 (if that)

So… Smugglers Run is a simulator meaning there are no actual drops, heights, or high speeds. But whenever a simulator is involved, we have to talk about motion sickness. Generally speaking, most guests don’t have motion sickness issues with Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. I think it helps that you have to look away from the screen and focus on actual tasks. Also, the whole ride experience is smoother and a lot less jittery than Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a high-speed indoor roller coaster where guests board a coaster resembling a super-stretch limo to race across town for an Aerosmith concert. The coaster launches guests from 0 to 57 mph in less than three seconds and straight into an inversion which pulls 5 gs! Guests continue rocketing through a dark Los Angeles to the tunes of Aerosmith and are sent through another loop and a corkscrew before arriving at the concert.

Darkness Rating: 2.5

Much like Space Mountain, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster takes place in the dark; but due to its neon lights and illuminated signs scattered through the ride space, it’s not as dark as Space Mountain.

Motion Sickness: 3

Due to multiple inversions and a few dips, this is definitely an attraction those prone to motion sickness should carefully consider.

Speed Rating: 3

Even though Test Track is technically the fastest attraction at Walt Disney World, it only reaches that top speed of 65 mph for a moment. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, however, literally launches you from 0 to 57 mph in less than three seconds so it feels faster and stays fast!

Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is a mild outdoor coaster designed to look as if Andy constructed it in his backyard using his new Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Playkit and Slinky Dog as the coaster’s train.

Drop Rating: 2

Yes, there are drops on Slinky Dog Dash, but they’re very smooth and not nearly as stomach-dropping as other attractions around Walt Disney World. Plus, the tone of this ride is very lighthearted and geared more towards families than thrills.

Height Rating: 3

Slinky Dog Dash is rare in that it has an elevated, exposed track offering an aerial view of Toy Story Land. Some sections of track are seriously high off the ground which may alarm some guests. However, I will say that it’s somehow not as scary as it looks. Whether it’s the smoothness of the ride, the ride vehicles themselves, or the attraction’s overall feel, Slinky Dog Dash’s height isn’t as alarming as it might look from the ground.

Speed Rating: 1.5

Slinky Dog Dash reaches a top speed of 40 mph. But keep in mind, the ride slows down considerably at points and even stops completely at others. Therefore, it doesn’t maintain its top speed throughout the experience.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is a 3-D flight simulator attraction where guests embark on an adventure to familiar locales and with familiar characters from the Star Wars Saga. The ride film for this attraction features more than 50 combinations so who you see and where you’ll go is completely randomized and in 3-D!

Motion Sickness Rating: 3

This simulator is definitely on the rough side and may cause motion sickness. Be prepared to lean, slide, and tilt with the screen as your ship flies through space and dodges blaster fire.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a free-fall drop ride within a story and setting inspired by The Twilight Zone television series.

Darkness Rating: 3

There are moments of total, pitch-black darkness in addition to dimly lit (and scary!) scenes. If you’re uncomfortable in the dark apart from the eerie premise, you want to skip this one.

Drop Rating: 3

This ride is all about the drops! And yes, that’s drops and not drop. While other freefall theme park attractions drop you once, Tower of Terror drops you repetitively and the drops vary in their intensity! For those who hate the feeling of losing their stomach, this is NOT the attraction for you.

Height Rating: 2

If drops are involved, heights are obviously a ride component we need to discuss. Yes, you are up high; but for most of the ride, you’re in an enclosed elevator shaft and can’t see down. The doors of the elevator open at times allowing you a super quick view of the park from up high; but again, these moments are brief.

Are you a ride chicken when it comes to Disney attractions? Which Hollywood Studios ride would you recommend for guests looking to avoid thrills?

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From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Attractions, Hollywood Studios, disney world, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, hollywood studios, hollywood studios attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, ride chickens, Rise of the Resistance, Rock n Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Tours, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Land, walt disney world

Today I’m digging back in to my stash of Disney News Magazines from the 80s and 90s to bring you five vintage theme park recipes from Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland. If you’re not aware, I’ve written several posts with vintage ads from the old Disney News issues, including my personal favorite, one entirely made up entirely of ads for ancient rental cars. I’m very excited to share with you these old recipes, as this feature was a staple of the magazine for many years. Each month the staff would pick an a restaurant from one of the Disney parks around the world and highlight an item from the menu with some history and instructions about how to prepare it for yourself. How cool is that?

#1: Mickey Mouse Pancakes – River Belle Terrace – Disneyland 

Starting off with an all time classic Disneyland food, which is still served in the park to this day, the iconic Mickey Mouse Pancake. According to this post by Jason Schultz, the earliest mention of the Mickey Mouse Pancake being sold in Disneyland was summer of 1975. As far as I’m aware it consistently been available since then, although it has switched restaurateurs in recent years. Its former home for decades was River Belle Terrace, which was a quick service restaurant up until 2015. The pancake was then briefly moved to Rancho Del Zocalo before landing at Red Rose Taverne, where it’s available for $9.49. If you’re familiar with the Mickey Mouse Pancake you can look at the page from Disney News and see it hasn’t changed one bit. Mickey Mouse Pancakes are still served with a pineapple mouth, cherry nose, and blueberry eyes. This is a nostalgic breakfast for millions of Disneyland visitors over the years, so it’s safe to say it’s not going anywhere any time soon.

#2: Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake – 50’s Prime Time Cafe – Walt Disney World

LOOK AT THAT HUGE PILE OF FRIES. Sorry, got distracted. Anyway, if anyone knows one thing about 50’s Prime Time Cafe, it’s that they have a peanut butter and jelly shake. As this scan from right after Disney-MGM Studios opened shows, it’s been on the menu since day one. That’s an impressive 31-year run so far. Earlier this year Disney posted their official recipe for the shake on Disney Parks Blog. Let’s see how it matches up to the one listed on the page:

2020 Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons jelly (strawberry or grape)
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup milk

1989 Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 oz. creamy peanut butter (2.8 tablespoons)
• 1 1/4 oz grape jelly (2.8 tablespoons)
• 8 oz vanilla ice cream (1 cup)
• 4 oz. milk (half a cup)

It looks like the 1989 version had slightly more peanut butter, jelly, ice cream, and milk, as well as additional toppings like chocolate shavings. Fascinating.

#3: Filet de Porc Saute’ aux Pruneaux – Blue Bayou Restaurant – Tokyo Disneyland

French food exploded in popularity in Japan in the 1960s, so it’s no surprise that Tokyo Disneyland has offered this style of food for most of its existence. The park’s Blue Bayou Restaurant is almost an exact copy of the location found in Disneyland, but what I find more interesting is that chef Shigetaka Hirayama traveled to the U.S. in 1980 to train at the original Disneyland in preparation for Tokyo Disneyland’s opening. I’d love to hear more about this person’s story, but I can’t find any mention of his time at Disney. Anyway, this recipe sounds delicious! I can’t imagine many readers tried to replicate this one at home but I sure hope they did.

#4: Cinema Sundae – Town Square Cafe – Disneyland

Here’s an extinct Disney food item from an extinct Disney restaurant. Town Square Cafe was a restaurant located on Main Street, U.S.A. where the Disney Showcase shop currently is. The restaurant started out as Maxwell Coffee House, and then Town Square Cafe 1976 to 1978. It then became American Egg House 1978 to 1983 (the cash register booth inside the current store used to be the egg cooking station). Town Square Cafe returned in the same spot in 1983 and ran until 1992. Stuff From the Park posted this menu from 1987, and you can see nothing too exciting was offered here. Just the usual burgers and salads. You can also see the price of a Cinema Sundae was $2.50. Not bad!

#5: New England Clam Chowder – Liberty Tree Tavern – Walt Disney World

I really enjoy clam chowder but the thought of slurpring down a bowl of hot heavy cream-based soup and then walking around Magic Kingdom with that Florida sun pounding down on me is giving the shivers. With that being said, Liberty Tree Tavern is currently a solid dining location and the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is wonderful. Clam chowder isn’t on the menu anymore, as is anything else in the picture above but it still looks like a good spread of food.

Check out my other posts with even more vintage Disney News Magazine content:

5 Gloriously 90s Ads from the Fall 1990 Disney News Magazine

Even More Vintage 90s Disney Magazine Ads!

9 Must Have Items from the 1988 Disney Spring/Summer Catalog

Top 7 Vintage Disney Ads of Ancient Rental Cars Sitting In Disneyland and WDW

 

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From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Disneyland (CA), Just For Fun, Walt Disney World (FL), recipe