A Blog About Disney Stuff

We’re expecting this weekend to be one of the busiest, if not the busiest, weekend since Walt Disney World reopened in July. You’ve got a cauldron full of trouble when you mix Halloween on a Saturday, turning our clocks back an hour to gain an extra hour of rest Saturday night, and pent-up demand for celebrating a special occasion at Disney.

Here’s a look at the hours for this weekend. Magic Kingdom’s hours look nearly “normal”, back to the longer days before COVID-19. Disney’s Hollywood Studios hours have remained the same, which is curious since it has the longest wait times. However, with yesterday’s big news about being able to attempt to secure a boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance without having to physically be in the park, starting on November 3, maybe Disney is anticipating some locals to cancel their park pass for this weekend and wait until the new system rolls out.

The weather is forecasted to be very pleasant, for the first time in a while, so expect lots of Florida residents flocking to any park they can get into, in order to enjoy the weather. Disney Springs is bound to be extremely busy too.

	Magic Kingdom	EPCOT	Hollywood Studios	Animal Kingdom
Fri, 10/30	9 am – 8 pm	11 am – 9 pm	10 am – 7 pm	8 am – 6 pm
Sat, 10/31	9 am – 9 pm	11 am – 10 pm	10 am – 7 pm	7 am – 6 pm
Sun, 11/01	9 am – 8 pm	11 am – 9 pm	10 am – 7 pm	8 am – 6 pm

Earlier this week, Steve on our team shared some tips for this Halloween weekend at Walt Disney World. Now that our field team has seen some of the preparations in the parks, let’s add a few more tips to the list.

Touring Tips

• Arrive early; take advantage of the parks opening their gates 30-60 minutes before official park opening time.
• Take advantage of the longer park hours, and take a midday break.
• Use a Touring Plan.
• Avoid peak dining times.
• Use Disney’s Mobile Ordering, while you’re waiting in line for a ride, and check in to pick up your order when you’re done with the ride.
• If you’d like to see the character cavalcades, here are our tips for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.
• Use the Relaxation Stations marked on the park map, in each park, to take a break.
• Be prepared to be outside, no matter what park you’re in, due to physical distancing and extended queues.
• Fuel yourself with sugary Halloween treats – this is your last chance before gingerbread and peppermint move in.

Touring Tips for Magic Kingdom

• Magic Kingdom is going to be slammed on Halloween, perhaps the busiest day we’ve ever seen since reopening.
• If you are attending in costume, which is only allowed at Magic Kingdom, bring a change of clothes just in case.
• Read more of our tips for dressing in costume at Magic Kingdom.
• If you’d like to see the characters, here are our tips for Magic Kingdom’s character cavalcades.
• More dining locations have opened in recent weeks, but expect very long lines at all dining options.
• Table service dining offers less crowds and a less hectic dining experience. Use our Reservation Finder for help with last-minute reservations.

No matter where you go at Walt Disney World this weekend, please follow all safety precautions and Cast Member instructions. Bringing extra masks will make wearing one all day a little easier. Physical distancing goes well in the queues, but it may take extra effort when walking around in the parks. It’s going to be pretty tricky this weekend, but if you plan ahead and set expectations it can be a treat.

The post What To Expect at Walt Disney World for Halloween Weekend appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Halloween, Trip Planning, disney covid-19, disney crowds, disney halloween, disney halloween weekends, disney reopening, Disney Tips

I’m a big fan of super hero movies and absolutely love it when groups of heroes come together to tackle a worthy cause. These types of scenes actually play out in my day-to-day life. I’m incredibly proud to work with some real-life super heroes – experts on Disney’s animal care team who come together at a moment’s notice to care for the 5,000+ animals at Walt Disney World Resort. “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” shows viewers something I get to witness firsthand – an excellent team springing into action to do what’s best for the animals in their care. To say this team is passionate about their work is putting it lightly. They are fully devoted to providing outstanding care for our animals – and the way in which they do it hopefully inspires others to want to do the same. 

This week’s episode, “Peri’s Prickly Pregnancy,” shows how teamwork is essential for success when providing care for an animal’s health and well-being. While some of this work occurs in our park’s state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, the magic extends beyond those four walls – it requires around the clock care – on land, in the water and even in the air.

Dr. Deidre, our veterinary operations manager, has spent 20 years on our team, and we often talk about how teamwork with a holistic approach to animal health care is what makes working at Disney special. You’ll see that dynamic shine through in this week’s episode of our show, as the team provides care for pregnant prehensile-tailed porcupine Peri, and her porcupette. It takes a lot of relationship building and trust to get an animal to participate in their own medical care – our team is on point with this, and the work isn’t as prickly as you might imagine.

Care for Peri starts with animal keepers, like Ashley, who observe and monitor her daily, provide a balanced diet from our nutrition team and train with Peri so she’ll participate in her own care. Ashley has a special bond with Peri that goes all the way back to Ashley’s first day with our team. Peri was the first animal Ashley got to work with at Disney, and the two of them just clicked.

Veterinary hospital manager Shelley also has a unique relationship with Peri. She trained Peri to voluntarily participate in ultrasounds and did such an incredible job that the Conservation Station animal care team felt it was fitting to name Peri’s baby after Shelley! Thanks to the prep work done by the team, veterinarians, like Dr. Natalie and Dr. Diedre can easily examine Peri and her baby and use their decades of veterinary training and medical expertise to see mom and baby are developing well on track and thriving.

Curious to learn more? Keep your eyes on Dr. Mark’s Instagram account (@DrMarkAtDisney) for a special #AskDrMark series on animal health care in the coming days. And the learning doesn’t stop here. This week’s activity page includes a lot of fun facts about several of the animals in our care, from steenbok to manatees, and it’s a great guide to keep handy whenever you tune into Disney+ to watch more of “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” now streaming.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Animals, DAK, Video, WDW

This week, see what Dani and Shannon have to say about the loss of equity performers at Walt Disney World and what Joe thinks about the first house announced for 2021’s Halloween Horror Nights.

What We’re Talking About – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors

My heart and everyone else’s broke this week with the news that 720 performers were let go from Walt Disney World this week.

Shannon shared It makes me very sad!  I really love the entertainers and have hopes for their return.

Dani stated The loss of entertainment is not surprising, but it still stings. There is so much talent, including the technicians and others behind the scenes, and to see that talent removed from Disney is devastating. And it is disappointing since other theme parks have found ways to keep a lot of their entertainment.

I definitely agree with Dani…while we think mostly of just the performers, the behind the scenes talent should also not be forgotten. Let us know your thoughts and share your favorite Cast Member stories in the comments.

The Actors’ Equity Association has released a statement about equity performers who are being laid off at Disney World.

Tying into the whole loss of Cast Members, Elizabeth Warren is not happy with Bob Chapek’s response to her request asking why the executive salaries got restore, but many Cast Members are being laid off. In her response to Chapek, she stated “Disney won’t answer my questions because it has no good answers. The company said it was simply unfeasible to keep paying workers yet had no explanation for how it was feasible to restore senior executive pay.” Thoughts?

Get ready to be welcomed back to at least one Disney entity in California! The Walt Disney Family Museum will be able to reopen soon! Have you ever visited?

Disney is making inclusivity even more attainable with a brand new line of merchandise options. Learn about this new line of adaptive and sensory-friendly products which are bringing the magic in new ways. This is awesome!

Ever wanted to see Olaf share the story of the Star Wars prequels? Well, Josh Gad delivered this week. I didn’t know I needed this….but now…I know I do.

Halloween Horror Nights is my jam and I missed it dearly this year. (Yes, even a professed chicken can enjoy HHN!) So this week, they announced what the first house for 2021 will be in this awesome behind the scenes video. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like to experience a house and wanted to see what makes up building a house, this video is for you. (Note…it’s kind of gory).

Joe, who loves HHN, states This is the earliest we’ve ever seen a preview of the next HHN and I am so excited. This house looks terrifying (in the best way) and the creative execution of the concept is inspired. Is it September 2021 yet?

The post What We’re Talking About: Laid Off Equity Performers, Halloween Horror Nights 2021, and More appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: In Case You Missed It, What We’re Talking About

Thursday was another mild day of crowds across Walt Disney World, with all four parks’ posted wait times near their 30-day low averages. There’s usually a lull right before a very busy period, and that’s exactly what we saw today. Enjoy these low wait times because things are about to get busy this Halloween weekend.

Also, we counted 483 of 500 people (97%) in EPCOT’s World Showcase yesterday wearing their masks in full compliance with Disney’s guidelines.  Okay, let’s do the numbers.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Here’s something you don’t see every day: We received 5 actual wait times today at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and the actual wait averaged 103% of the posted wait time (it’s usually much lower than that – the park averaged 80% overall today). 7DMT had an average posted wait time today of 42 minutes, 12 lower than its 7-day average of 54 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 60 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month.

Splash Mountain had an average posted wait time today of 39 minutes. Its 7-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 91% of the posted wait time.

As you can see, weekdays are the way to go. If you’ve got to visit during a busy weekend, have a special tool at your side. Subscribe today and get our Lines app too.

 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had an average wait time today of 26 minutes, 20 under its 7-day average of 46 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 9 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 72% of the posted wait time.

It was a nice leisurely day at Jungle Cruise had an average wait time today of 26 minutes, 10 less than its 7-day average of 36 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 41 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today at Jungle Cruise, and the actual wait averaged 56% of the posted wait time.

As spooky season begins to wind down, The Haunted Mansion had an average wait time today of 33 minutes. Its 7-day average is 43 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 57% of the posted wait time.

Peter Pan’s Flight had an average wait time today of 23 minutes. Its 7-day average is 32 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 78% of the posted wait time.

Pirates of the Caribbean had an average wait time today of 30 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 48 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 82% of the posted wait time.

EPCOT Wait Times

Soarin’ had an average posted wait time today of 10 minutes. Its 7-day average is 33 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 36 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 147% of the posted wait time (holy cow!), which is not good.

Test Track had an average wait time today of 39 minutes. Its 7-day average is 59 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 46% of the posted wait time.  I mean, if you average out the actual percentages for Soarin’ and Test Track together, you get close to 100%? Just looking for something positive to take out of those two numbers.

Spaceship Earth had an average wait time today of 11 minutes. Its 7-day average is 17 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month.

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 47 minutes. Its 7-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 63 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month.

And Journey Into Imagination With Figment had an average wait time today of 7 minutes, half of its 7-day average of 14 minutes; today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month.

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

I’m starting with It’s Tough to Be a Bug because we never do that, and it reminds me of Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train.  It’s Tough to Be a Bug! had an average wait time today of 12 minutes. Its 7-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month.

DINOSAUR had an average wait time today of 15 minutes, 13 below its 7-day average of 28 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #25 for the past month. TriceraTop Spin had an average wait time today of 5 minutes. Its 7-day average is 6 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 6 minutes, so today ranks #7 for the past month.

Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 40 minutes (#3 week / #21 month / #168 year). And Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 42 minutes (#4 week / #24 month / #175 year).

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster had an average wait time today of 38 minutes. Its 7-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 91% of the posted wait time.  Next door, Tower of Terror had an average wait time today of 36 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 92% of the posted wait time.

In Toy Story Land:

• Toy Story Mania had an average wait time today of 23 minutes. Its 7-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 11 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 37% of the posted wait time (!).
• Slinky Dog Dash had an average wait time today of 50 minutes. Its 7-day average is 62 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 68 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month.
• Alien Swirling Saucers had an average wait time today of 18 minutes. Its 7-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 61 minutes, 15 fewer than its 7-day average of 76 minutes (#6 week / #29 month). We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 91% of the posted wait time.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 56 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 59 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today at Falcon, and the actual wait averaged 105% of the posted wait time.

Rise of the Resistance ran really well today – it looks like they’re ramping up capacity, which is a good sign that more  people will be able to ride Disney World’s best ride soon.

The post Mild Crowds Again! – Walt Disney World Wait Times for Thursday, October 29, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), disney crowds, disney wait times, walt disney world wait times