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Disney Guides Disney Parks Other

How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s

Not too long ago we posted a guide on how to navigate Walt Disney World by foot. One of our awesome readers pointed out that Disney’s Coronado Springs is walkable to Winter Summerland mini-golf and Disney’s Blizzard Beach, as well as the McDonald’s near Osceola Parkway. Ivonne on our team kindly obliged to embark on said walk. With photos and tips, here’s how to walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s.

How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s
Disney’s Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower
How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s
No sidewalk coming and going at Coronado Springs

First, let’s start off with the big challenge this walk presents. There is no sidewalk leading out of Disney’s Coronado Springs. When you walk towards the front entrance of the resort there is no sidewalk, so you’ll need to be very careful and aware as you walk on the road leading in and out of the resort. Please pay attention, and look and listen for traffic (insert stern mother voice here).

How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s
Coronado Springs Entrance

There is, thankfully, a pedestrian crosswalk from the entrance to the resort to cross Buena Vista Drive, which you will need to do in order to reach the sidewalk. Once you have crossed Buena Vista Drive, turn right to walk on the sidewalk along Buena Vista Drive and head towards Blizzard Beach and Winter Summerland. It generally takes 15 minutes to walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Winter Summerland.

How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s
Sidewalk along Buena Vista Drive, from Coronado Springs to Winter Summerland (and Blizzard Beach)
How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s
Winter Summerland from sidewalk

If you wish to continue on to McDonald’s continue to follow the sidewalk. You will come to an intersection with an overpass for Osceola Parkway. Continue along the crosswalk to go under the overpass and you’ll see the McDonald’s just a few more steps away. It generally takes about 10 more minutes from Winter Summerland to the McDonald’s.

How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s
Sidewalk along Buena Vista Drive at Osceola Parkway

It is important to note that the McDonald’s does not have any seating available right now. That’s right, this brand new, state-of-the-art McDonald’s has closed all of its seating for the time being. Only its drive-thru is open.

Going beyond the McDonald’s, the sidewalk continues over to the currently closed All-Star Resorts.

Have you stayed at Coronado Springs Resort? Would you walk to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, or McDonald’s?

How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s

The post How to Walk from Disney’s Coronado Springs to Blizzard Beach, Winter Summerland, and McDonald’s appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Dining, Dos and Don’ts, Resorts, Transportation, disney mcdonald’s, disney mini golf, disney on site hotels, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

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Disney Guides Disney Parks

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Just moments ago, registration for Disney World’s Special Annual Passholder Preview Event went LIVE!

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Main Street, U.S.A.

And even though the event has already filled up, we’re back to share all the important details you’ll need to know if you’re going!

Previously, Disney World announced July 9th and July 10th as the dates of its Annual Passholder previews at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom giving APs an opportunity to visit the parks BEFORE they reopened to the general public on July 11th and 15th.

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Passholder Entrance

Weekday Select, Theme Park Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Premier Passholders were all eligible to register for the AP previews, and we learned a few new SUPER-important details when we snagged out spots today!

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Magic Kingdom

You Needed to Choose…

Annual Passholders could only register for ONE day (either July 9th or 10th) and ONE park (either Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom) meaning you COULDN’T attend both previews. Registration was fairly simple. Guests selected the day and park they would like to attend the preview for, attached guests, and then confirmed. Keep in mind, you couldn’t make modifications after registering.

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Spots Were Limited

Even though reservations to attend the Special Annual Passholder Preview Event are required, spots were limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. You needed to have an activated annual pass for AP preview registration and if you wished to bring a guest, they also needed to have an active annual pass.

Note: once you added a guest to your reservation, the system would not allow them to register themselves for the Annual Passholder preview.

What You’ll Need to Bring

If you were able to snag a spot to one of the Annual Passholder preview, do note that each person must bring their Annual Pass and a government-issued photo ID with them. You’ll also need to bring a copy of your confirmation page.

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Screenshot from Disney World’s Website

Passholders should expect to receive additional emails from Disney for their reservation 3 to 5 days prior to the event and if guests are planning on staying at a Disney Resort hotel, regular Disney transportation will not be available. Guests will need to provide their own transportation to and from the theme parks.

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the Disney World Annual Passholder Previews!

Disney World’s Bus System Will Not Be Fully Operational During AP Previews

Keep in mind, you will need to bring your own face covering which must be worn by everyone (ages 2 and up) at all times, except when dining or swimming.

And while Disney World has released some details about which restaurants, shops, and attractions will be open starting July 11th, some experiences may be limited or modified during the Annual Passholder previews.

Did you register to attend one of the Special Annual Passholder Preview Events? Let us know which park you’ll be heading to in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney News, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, annual pass, Annual Passholder, annual passholder preview, buses won’t be running, copy of your confirmation page, Disney World, disney’s animal kingdom, face coverings, filled up, important details, mandatory, must provide own transportation, photo id, register, required, sold out, special annual passholder preview event, transportation

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Disney Parks Other

Changes to Disney World Transportation When Walt Disney World Opens Next Month

Here are the changes to Disney World Transportation when Walt Disney World reopens next month:

Transportation & Parking

Complimentary Resort Transportation

Before the theme parks reopen, bus transportation will be available between your Disney Resort hotel and Disney Springs area. When the theme parks reopen, complimentary transportation will also be provided between your Disney Resort hotel and Disney theme parks.

Transportation will operate with physical distancing measures in place, reducing capacity. As a result, you may experience delays.

Minnie Van Service

Minnie Van Service will not be available during the initial reopening period.

Parking

Self-parking at hotels will be available. Valet service is temporarily unavailable, with the exception of Guests with disabilities who may require parking assistance. A valid disability parking permit is required. Parking fees apply for Disney Resort hotel Guests.

For other changes coming to Disney World next month click the links below.

Source Walt Disney World website

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Parks & Resorts, Transportation, Walt Disney World, disney transportation, Minnie Van service, Self Parking

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Disney Guides Disney Parks Other

Disney World Has a “Season” You Didn’t Know About! Here’s What It Is and How To Plan For It!

While most of us are just regular people who like to enjoy a nice time at Disney World to relax and unwind, there is another group of super-human athletes that come to Disney to COMPETE!

It’s Mickey!

We’re talking about football players and cheer squads (along with their entourages!) which can sometimes flood Disney World Resort with THOUSANDS of peppy peeps!

If you’re not a cheerleader or proud cheer parent, you probably don’t have a clue when these major sporting events are held, or how they could impact your trip to Disney World! That’s why we want to give you a quick rundown on when these cheerleading championships typically take place — and what you can expect if your vacation dates coincide with Disney World’s Football and Cheer Season!

December

Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships

While several cheer competitions are held from January to May at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, one of the biggest youth sporting events actually takes place in December.

Pop Warner Merch

Last year, Pop Warner ran from December 7 to December 14 and brought athletes from over 64 national football teams and 400 cheer squads to Orlando to compete. Trust us when we say things can get a little hectic if Pop Warner catches you off guard! Disney even makes a special line of Pop Warner merch for the participants!

Learn more about the impact Pop Warner can have on your vacation plans here!

April – May

Numerous Cheer Championships

The next batch of major cheer tourneys crops up in springtime with the USASF Cheerleading Worlds happening in late April as well as the International Cheerleading Union World Championships (ICU).

Minnie Stops By to Lead a Cheer

The Summit, which is the last All-Star competition of the season, normally takes place in early May along with the D2 Summit typically held right after. All of these championships bring in lots of kids and spectators, so let’s explore how this might affect your vacation as a non-participant!

Check out what else could possibly come to Wide World of Sports this year!

Crowd Levels at the Disney World Theme Parks During Cheer Events

At the Beginning of the Competition

So, there’s good news and bad news. Here’s the good news first: these highly-trained athletes are here mainly for one thing and one thing only — to compete. Everything else (even Mickey Mouse!) is pretty much secondary.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Many cheer coaches won’t even allow their teams to visit the theme parks until AFTER they’re eliminated from the competition, so you might not really experience anything out of the ordinary until the first few days are over.

Check out our tips for avoiding crowds at Disney World here!

Towards the Middle and the End of the Competition

Once teams start dropping out, THEN you’ll start to see kids showing up at the parks. And once these championships are over, many teams make a point of staying an extra day or two to blow off a little of that competitive steam. Cheerleaders tend to travel in packs, so you’ll probably see some large groups of ’em (look for the BIG cheer hairbows!), but all in all, we’ve never found crowds to be THAT bad.

Magic Kingdom Sign

As long as you’ve got your FastPasses booked well in advance, you should be fine with normal to slightly above normal crowd levels (and noise levels) for a few days of your trip.

Check out some of the BIGGEST time-wasters at Disney World (and tips for how to avoid them) here!

Possible Closures

And for the Worlds Competition (the one in April), Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically holds a private after-hours party for cheer squads, meaning regular park guests will get the boot a few hours early. This is usually posted in advance on the displayed park hours, so you can plan around it — but be sure to be looking for it!

All in all, you really shouldn’t feel too much of a crunch at the parks. Now Disney World’s hotels, on the other hand, are a different story altogether.

Disney World Resorts During Cheer Events

Disney World resorts are where things start to get a little more noticeable.

All-Star Sports

Since each cheer squad is comprised of several members who often need to stay at the same hotel so they can practice, you might find yourself in the middle of an impromptu pep rally if you’re not careful!

Disney World’s Value Resorts

Cheerleaders will often stay on property at Disney World with Value Resorts being a popular option. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, (not surprisingly) Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort tend to book up with these groups during the competitive season.

This Makes a Great Cheer Practice Spot, so Be Ready!

These groups can be found practicing on the hotel grounds at times, so if you find yourself at one of these hotels, be prepared for a little (okay, a lot) of extra energy and noise at the resort! Also, during those first few days of competition, the practices can be EARLY. So…we guess you won’t be missing Rope Drop after all?

See how some of these resorts celebrate Disney World’s Cheer Season here!

Disney World’s Moderate Resorts

While Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a moderate resort, it’s conveniently located near ESPN Wide World of Sports and many convention-goers choose it for its extra amenities.

Gran Destino Tower

If you’re staying at any of these resorts we’ve just mentioned, you’re more likely to see groups of pre-teens and teens stunting or training in common areas. They usually aren’t too rowdy, but you could hear cheering or music, which depending on your level of tolerance, might encourage you to stay elsewhere.

Learn more about Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort here!

Disney Springs During Cheer Events

You might find Disney Springs to be a little more bustling during the cheer comps, especially in the evening when the groups are looking to enjoy some retail therapy and do some carbo-loading for the big day ahead. Shops might be a bit busier while restaurants tend to book up more quickly.

Kate Spade X Minnie Mouse Collection

If you’d rather not deal with the extra crowds, do Disney Springs earlier in the day while the kids are still competing.

Click here to check out ALL of the Disney Springs restaurants!

Transportation During Cheer Events

Many of the cheerleaders use Disney World’s ground transportation. This means you might experience some delays on your end due to the increased demand for buses.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

You might also end up on a bus filled with cheerleaders or have to wait for another bus since an entire cheer squad just filled up a bus that’s heading to or from the parks.

Incredibles Bus

Check out these ten simple tips that will make your Disney World vacation WAY easier!

Either way, we think it’s still pretty manageable to go to Disney World during Cheer Season as long as you manage your expectations and know what you’re getting into. We’ve been at Disney World many times during cheer competitions and have worked around the crowds with relative ease.

Magic Kingdom

There might be some craziness, crowds, or extra noisiness at times, but for many of these youngsters, competing in a national championship at Disney World signifies a major athletic achievement in their young lives.

To learn more about some of the transportation options Disney World has to offer, click here!

In the end, we ALL have something we hope to gain from going to Disney World, whether it’s a shiny cheer trophy or just a Mickey Pretzel! Thankfully neither are mutually-exclusive and we can all make some special Disney World memories that will last a lifetime whether we’re in it to win it or just have a relaxing vacation!

Have you ever visited Disney World during Cheer Season? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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  3. DFB Video: How to Master the Disney Dining Plan

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: All-Star Resorts, Animal Kingdom, Art of Animation, Coronado Springs Resort, Disney Springs, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Pop Century Resort, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, aoviding crowds, April, buses, championships, cheer season, cheerleaders, cheerleading, competitions, competitive season, crowd levels, d2 summit, december, Disney World, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, International Cheerleading Union World Championships, large gatherings, large groups, major sporting events, May, pop warner, popular resorts with cheerleaders, private parties, resorts, the summit, tournaments, transportation, USASF Cheerleading Worlds

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Disney News Disney Parks

Monorails have started running again at Walt Disney World

Monorails

The monorails are operating once again at Walt Disney World! It’s been over two months since we’ve seen the monorail system running on Disney grounds. Even though we don’t have a reopening date scheduled for Walt Disney World yet, it appears the work crew is testing the monorails with maintenance runs to have them prepared for guests in the future.

You can check out these photos a visitor, Girl Meets Disney World, took of the monorail when it was running yesterday.

And the highway in the sky has returned!!!! So happy to see some rails out on the beams!❤️?❤️?❤️Disney transportation…

Posted by Girl Meets Disney World on Thursday, May 21, 2020

Others have seen the monorail system running and shared their photos on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

 

Starting to run monorails today. #waltdisneyworld #monorail #castmember

A post shared by Sam- Disney World Travel Agent (@sammy_disney_cast_member) on May 21, 2020 at 6:11pm PDT

The monorail is a beloved mode of transportation on the Walt Disney World property. It’s used to transport guests at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) to either Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

So far, Disney has not yet confirmed a reopening date. Universal Studios Orlando submitted their reopening plans to the Orange County Task Force with intent to open to the public on June 5th. However, the Walt Disney Company plans to submit their reopening plan next week, which means we should have a better idea of when Walt Disney World will reopen once they send it in to the Orange County Task Force.

Source: Girl Meets Disney World

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Parks & Resorts, Rides, Transportation, Walt Disney World, Disney Monorail, Disney World, monorail, TTC