Category: Disney Parks

PHOTOS – The Holidays Start to Arrive and Nighttime Returns to Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date November 2, 2020

We’ve become accustomed to Magic Kingdom being all decked out for Christmas as soon as the sun rises on November 1 in recent years. What we weren’t expecting was to see Animal Kingdom begin its holiday decorations so soon, and to be the lucky recipient of the first Holiday Exclusive treat. Last year marked the first year that Disney’s Animal Kingdom was decked out with holiday decorations in every section of the park. It will be interesting to see how much of that is brought back for the 2020 holiday season.

We’ll definitely be back to scope out the decorations once they are fully on display. For now, we hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the decorations that we spotted yesterday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

All photos were taken by Ivonne on our team, @servoisnaked on Twitter and Instagram.

Merry Menagerie Luminaries at Discovery Island

Lights Starting to Go Up at Dinoland USA

Another gift we received yesterday is the return of Pandora – World of Avatar, at night. With the time change yesterday, guests who visit during days with extended hours at Animal Kingdom (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays primarily) will be treated to the other worldly night setting offered at Pandora.

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World for the holiday season? Become a TouringPlans Subscriber so you can give yourself the gift of avoiding long lines. Many of our users save 2-3 hours on an average day in the parks. You’ll have more time to enjoy the holiday cheer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and throughout Walt Disney World.

Did you get a chance to the new holiday decorations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom last year? What’s your favorite part?

The post PHOTOS – The Holidays Start to Arrive and Nighttime Returns to Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Christmas, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Trip Planning, disney christmas, walt disney world christmas decorations

Tags christmas, disney christmas, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Trip Planning, walt disney world christmas decorations

Disney Food Disney Parks

REVIEW – The First Holiday Exclusive Treat at Walt Disney World Has Arrived

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date November 2, 2020

The clock struck midnight on November 1, 2020 and for many it marked the beginning of the holiday season. Disney’s Animal Kingdom may not have the classic Christmas decorations that just arrived at Magic Kingdom, but it does have the first Holiday Exclusive treat of 2020. The Autumn Tree of Life cupcake just debuted at Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus. Here’s what we think of it.

The Autumn Tree of Life Cupcake may have an autumn theme, but it is listed as a Holiday Exclusive treat on the menu and when looking at the mobile order option. It is a pumpkin cupcake with cinnamon buttercream on top, and garnished with a white chocolate tree of life, and fondant pumpkins. Inside is a delightful toffee cheesecake filling. The pumpkin cupcake is very similar to the Pumpkin Cupcake that was available for Halloween. But the extra toppings and fillings in this cupcake elevate it. This is definitely a great way to prepare for the holiday season and we can’t wait to try more holiday treats as they debut this year.

Although it is not a Holiday Exclusive, you may be wondering about the Warm Caramel Chocolate Brownie listed in the mobile ordering above. We tried it on a previous visit and were disappointed it was not gooey on the inside. But, if you need a brownie fix, it will satisfy.

Do you prefer fall flavors or winter flavors like gingerbread and peppermint? Would you try this cupcake?

The post REVIEW – The First Holiday Exclusive Treat at Walt Disney World Has Arrived appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Christmas, Dining, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Snacks, animal kingdom snacks, disney christmas, disney cupcake

Tags animal kingdom snacks, christmas, dining, disney christmas, disney cupcake, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Snacks

Disney Parks

Is Now the Best Time to Bring Your Own Food to Disney World?

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date November 2, 2020

Like all theme parks, Disney World has a litany of prohibited items – things you can’t bring into the parks – but luckily, most food items are not on that list.

Is Now the Best Time to Bring Your Own Food to Disney World? — Closed restaurants mean there are more outdoor tables open.

With limited exceptions you’re welcome to bring food and beverages with you into the parks. If you’ve never brought your own food to the Disney World theme parks before, or only brought a modest amount of snacks, now may be the time you want to seriously consider bringing your own meals into the parks. Here’s why:

Park entrance procedures have changed: Prior to the pandemic, every guests bag was fully hand searched. If you brought, say, a large backpack filled with sandwiches, fruit, and other substantial eats, you’d have to go through a lengthy process of having a security guard see or feel all your items. In the last few weeks, the parks have transitioned to a more streamlined walk-through system, like of like at the airport, minus the part about putting your bags on the conveyor belt. Only a few items now have to be removed from your bag for scanning, notably umbrellas, making it much less cumbersome to tote multiple bags of food into the parks.
There are fewer restaurants open: Many restaurants in the theme parks are still shuttered due to coronavirus. This means that your favorite items might not be available, possibly making bring-your-own a more attractive option.
Quick service waits are trending longer: Depending on when you visit (weekends and holidays are worse), you may encounter longer waits to get at ready-access food or open mobile order windows that are a hour or more later than you want to eat. If you bring your own food, you can always dine on your schedule.
Outdoor table availability is high: When you bring your own food, sometimes the struggle is figuring out where you can comfortably eat. But with some restaurants currently closed, their outdoor seating is now up for grabs. For example, when Casey’s Corner is open, it can be a real challenge to find seating near the Hub, but with Casey’s closed, their tables are often open.
Disney quick service prices are, well, pricey: Buying a bottle of water in the parks will set you back $3.50. A single apple costs $2.29. Most in-park hamburgers cost between $10 and $13. Adding an order of fries sets you back an additional $4.50. Multiply that by several family members and you’re looking at a significant outlay of funds for a basic meal. Bringing your own can save you big time.
If you bring your own food, you reduce the number of people you’re interacting with in the parks: Everyone working in the WDW food service wears masks, so the risk of COVID contamination there is minimal, but for some folks, any reduction of contact with others is a win.

Have you ever brought meals into the Disney World theme parks? What have your experiences been?

The post Is Now the Best Time to Bring Your Own Food to Disney World? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Walt Disney World (FL), food, saving money

Tags dining, food, saving money, Walt Disney World (FL)

Disney Parks

A Busy, But Not Overwhelming Day at Walt Disney World – Wait Times for Sunday, November 1, 2020

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date November 1, 2020

Crowds were among the largest of the week at the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT today, while the Studios and Animal Kingdom were slower compared to other days in the past month. As part of our ongoing research, we counted 500 guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom today, and 482 of them (96%) were following Disney’s mask guidelines. Let’s do the numbers.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had an average wait time today of 36 minutes. Its 7-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. And Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had an average wait time today of 54 minutes. Its 7-day average is 48 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 60 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month.

Two Magic Kingdom attractions had their highest average posted wait times of the week on Sunday:

Splash Mountain had an average wait time today of 56 minutes. Its 7-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times at Splash today, and the actual wait averaged 73% of the posted wait time.
Space Mountain had an average wait time today of 42 minutes. Its 7-day average is 27 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #16 for the past month.

Secondary attractions had average wait times for the week:

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had an average wait time today of 29 minutes. Its 7-day average is 23 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 31 minutes, so today ranks #18 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today at Buzz, and the actual wait averaged 80% of the posted wait time.
Jungle Cruise had an average wait time today of 39 minutes. Its 7-day average is 34 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 41 minutes, so today ranks #22 for the past month.
Pirates of the Caribbean had an average wait time today of 40 minutes. Its 7-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #2 for this week. Its 30-day average is 47 minutes, so today ranks #24 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 79% of the posted wait time.
The Haunted Mansion had an average wait time today of 38 minutes. Its 7-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 44 minutes, so today ranks #23 for the past month. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 86% of the posted wait time. So that means the average actual wait time today was about 32 minutes.

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Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Let’s start in Pandora. Avatar Flight of Passage had an average wait time today of 67 minutes. Its 7-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 63 minutes, so today ranks #13 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 81% of the posted wait time. And Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 45 minutes. Its 7-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 46 minutes, so today ranks #14 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today at Na’vi, and the actual wait averaged 92% of the posted wait time.

Posted wait times at Kilimanjaro Safaris continue to be about twice your actual wait. Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time today of 24 minutes. Its 7-day average is 16 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #9 for the past month. We received 9 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 48% of the posted wait time. So with the average posted wait time today being 24 minutes, the average actual time spent in line was around 12 minutes.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain had an average wait time today of 40 minutes. Its 7-day average is 22 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 32 minutes, so today ranks #7 for the past month. We received 9 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 65% of the posted wait time.

Kali River Rapids had an average wait time today of 35 minutes. Its 7-day average is 15 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #4 for the past month.

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Like Kilimanjaro Safaris over at Animal Kingdom, posted wait times at Toy Story Mania! seem to be consistently inflated as well. TSM had an average wait time today of 24 minutes. Its 7-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 30 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 34% of the posted wait time, which means the average actual wait time today was under 10 minutes.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith had an average wait time today of 43 minutes. Its 7-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #4 for this week. Its 30-day average is 52 minutes, so today ranks #27 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 80% of the posted wait time.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror had an average wait time today of 40 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 48 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 61 minutes, so today ranks #189 for the past year. We received 9 actual wait times at Tower today, and the actual wait averaged 74% of the posted wait time.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 64 minutes. Its 7-day average is 70 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 81 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run had an average wait time today of 49 minutes. Its 7-day average is 50 minutes, so today ranks #3 for this week. Its 30-day average is 59 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month.

Rise of the Resistance ran well today until just before 2 p.m., when boarding groups were paused for almost an hour. Once things resumed, however, Rise ran well again. That’s great to see.

EPCOT Wait Times

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 70 minutes. Its 7-day average is 53 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 64 minutes, so today ranks #7 for the past month. And Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros had an average wait time today of 14 minutes. Its 7-day average is 7 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 10 minutes, so today ranks #4 for the past month.

Soarin’ had an average wait time today of 45 minutes. Its 7-day average is 25 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 37 minutes, so today ranks #8 for the past month. We received 7 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 81% of the posted wait time.

Living with the Land had an average wait time today of 14 minutes. Its 7-day average is 11 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #11 for the past month. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 34% of the posted wait time.

Spaceship Earth had an average wait time today of 23 minutes. Its 7-day average is 14 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 19 minutes, so today ranks #9 for the past month. We received 6 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 58% of the posted wait time.

Test Track had an average wait time today of 61 minutes. Its 7-day average is 49 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 64 minutes, so today ranks #17 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 58 minutes, so today ranks #86 for the past year.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends had an average wait time today of 13 minutes. Its 7-day average is 9 minutes, so today ranks #1 for this week. Its 30-day average is 13 minutes, so today ranks #12 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 17 minutes, so today ranks #156 for the past year.

The post A Busy, But Not Overwhelming Day at Walt Disney World – Wait Times for Sunday, November 1, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Observations, Walt Disney World (FL), disney crowds, disney wait times, epcot wait times, magic kingdom wait times

Tags disney crowds, disney wait times, epcot wait times, magic kingdom wait times, Observations, Walt Disney World (FL)

Disney Parks Other

Top Four “First Rides” for a Child’s First Magic Kingdom Visit

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date November 1, 2020

The first trip to Walt Disney World can be such a magical experience. Seeing the castle for the first time. First time seeing Mickey Mouse. And, of course, going on your first Disney ride. Although any ride can be a good option, picking a “first ride” that will be something you can remember for years to come can take a bit of thought. If this is your child’s first time at any sort of amusement park, although Space Mountain is a classic, it may not be a good first choice for building happy memories. A young child might not be quite as excited to ride Haunted Mansion as you are to show it to them. Here’s our top four “First Ride” choices for a Magic Kingdom visit, in no particular order.

Dumbo, the Flying Elephant

From strictly a ride perspective, Dumbo is your everyday roadside carnival spinner ride. Yet this spinner ride has such an iconic presence in Disney Parks and has been a staple in many promotional advertisements for years that for some, it just feels like the ride that says “Welcome to Disney”. It is a ride for all ages. If your child is a little nervous, just “fly” low to the ground. Want a bit more excitement? Fly higher, with amazing views of Fantasyland.

It’s a Small World

Odds are good that a child may have some passing familiarity with It’s a Small World before they ever arrive at Walt Disney World. But even if they’ve never heard that cheerful song before, a combination of a slow-moving ride with bright colors and adorable characters is sure to please most kids. It is a classic for a reason.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Peter Pan’s Flight may be the quintessential Disney dark ride in Fantasyland. Even though it is an incredibly short ride, the amount of effective storytelling shoehorned into that small space and short time is amazing. People of all ages love that feeling of flying up and away over London and all the way to Neverland. It is sure to make an impression on a child seeing it for the first time.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Combining epic storytelling, stunning effects, and even a mild drop for some first-timer thrills, Pirates of the Caribbean is an excellent choice for a child’s first ride. Even if your child isn’t familiar with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies that have permeated the attraction, they’ll quickly be drawn into the storyline and will probably be sporting a hearty arrr for hours after they have left the ride.

The post Top Four “First Rides” for a Child’s First Magic Kingdom Visit appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: kids, Walt Disney World (FL), first attractions

Tags first attractions, kids, Walt Disney World (FL)