Observations – Page 3 – A Blog About Disney Stuff

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.

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.

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

In the middle of April, I mused about what Walt Disney World will be like when it reopens. Many others did as well, so I put together some of those theories in a post. You can imagine we received a lot of feedback on our “What Will Walt Disney World Be Like When It Reopens?” post. Now that Disney Springs has partially reopened, we get a glimpse of the “new normal” being practiced at Walt Disney World.

So let’s take a look at the theories we discussed in our post last month to see what came true and what hasn’t. It is important to note that procedures and policies will change as the situation evolves. It should also be noted that Walt Disney World and all major Orlando area businesses have been working very closely with local and state agencies throughout this process.

Health and safety signage at Disney Springs

Reduced Capacity of the Disney Theme Parks – TRUE

Although the theme parks have not opened yet, Disney Springs is indeed at a reduced capacity. The only places to park are the Orange and Lime garages; all surface parking lots are closed. Once the garages are full, no additional parking will be opened up. Pedestrians can still enter, and while the capacity of Disney Springs is not being monitored and “shut off” at some point, having parking reduced to only two garages definitely reduces the capacity. Entryways are reduced to the following locations: Orange and Lime garages, along with the Hotel Plaza Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge and the rideshare location. In accordance with the State of Florida, restaurants are at 50% capacity for indoor seating, and all tables (both inside and outside) must be at least six feet (two meters) apart.

COVID-19 Warning posted at Orange Garage Disney Springs

Controlled Directional Flow Throughout Disney Property – TRUE

Although not the case everywhere you turn at Disney Springs, there are quite a few areas with directional arrows. These areas are generally small spaces, like bridges, and all high-traffic areas. Like going to a grocery store nowadays, the directional flow is meant to help with social distancing. As someone who frequented Disney Springs a lot in the “Before Time” I rather appreciate this practice. There are Cast Members, most of which hail from the Kids’ Activities and Recreation department, whose new sole purpose is to help guests practice social distancing – may Tinker Bell grace them with plenty of pixie dust.

Directional signage at bridge at Disney Springs

All Hands Off Deck and Cleaning Stations – TRUE

Just as we saw in the last few days before the mid-March closure of the parks, hand washing stations as well as hand sanitizer stations are placed throughout Disney Springs. Disney Parks around the world are known for their cleanliness and the hard working Custodial Cast who make it happen every day. These invaluable Cast Members are working harder than ever with even more stringent practices and frequent sanitation measures.

Hand sanitizer station at signage at Disney Springs

Health and safety signage at Disney Springs restrooms

Health and safety signage and handwashing station at Disney Springs

Flaps removed from trash cans at Disney Springs

Required Masks and Temperature Screening – TRUE

This is the most talked about measure of all. Guests who wish to enter Disney Springs must have a face covering on at all times, aside from when seated at a table for dining. Additionally, guests will have their temperature scanned at the entrance to Disney Springs; each entryway has a scanning station set up. This temperature screening is conducted by one of the biggest healthcare and hospital companies in Florida: AdventHealth.

If anyone in a guest’s party scans with a temperature of 100.4 or more they will be retested a second time. If they still present a higher temperature, they are given the option to wait in a tent for a few minutes to see if another scan shows a better temperature. You can imagine this practice itself has received lots of comments. All Cast Members and managers are wearing marks and subject to a health screening prior to the start of their shift.

Temperature screening by AdventHealth at Disney Springs

Temperature screening by AdventHealth and holding tent at Disney Springs

By Reservation Only – FALSE

While Disney Springs itself is not by reservation only, it is advised that you make reservations at the restaurant at which you desire to eat – though not all restaurants accept reservations at the moment. Currently only third-party-operated restaurants are open, and some of them do accept reservations via OpenTable. At the time of writing this post, dining reservations were not available for Disney owned and operated restaurants at Disney Springs. Worth noting, a dining reservation does not guarantee access to Disney Springs, should the parking garages close at capacity.

Line for dining at The Boathouse at Disney Springs

While Disney Springs does give us a good indicator of some of the practices that will be in place once the theme parks open, we will not know for sure until Disney makes their announcements what other practices will be put into play. Shanghai Disneyland has opened with modified practices, but even those practices could be different for the domestic parks, which may be based on whatever new health and safety advisements are out at the time.

Designated Days for Each Theme Park – TBD
Reduced Shows, Attractions, and Character Experiences – TBD
Restricting Access to Resort Hotels – TBD

Each of us has our own experience during this time. As an Orlando native, and someone who used to frequent Walt Disney World multiple times a month, it is difficult to stay away right now. Both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando have posted signs in multiple places, as well as verbiage on their websites. On Disney Springs’ website it reads: “An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and Guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.”

I fight an internal battle every single day, wanting to return to both Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk. Both destinations are working very, very hard to keep things as safe as possible. I truly commend both companies for their hard work and dedication to the matter. As someone who has certain health factors to be mindful of, now is not the time for me personally to return to either of these places (the pictures included in this post were provided by another wonderful member of the TouringPlans team). Those that choose to visit, I hope have a wonderful and safe time.

The post Fact Check: What Is Disney Springs Like Now That It Has Reopened? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Dos and Don’ts, Observations, Trip Planning, disney covid, disney springs reopening, walt disney world reopening