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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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Disney Parks Other

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

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

Dumbo The Flying Elephant
©Disney

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

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Disney Parks Other

PHOTOS – Saying Farewell to Halloween at Magic Kingdom

Farewell, Halloween 2020, you certainly were the most unique Halloweens of my adulthood. It’s been nice celebrating Halloween at Magic Kingdom for well over a month. But yesterday marked the end of Halloween at Walt Disney World, and some of the holiday season has started to sprinkle in. Our field research team, and Len himself, were at Magic Kingdom yesterday and we’d like to share with you some of our favorite photos from yesterday’s visit.

We loved having the Cadaver Dans performing what is normally their show reserved for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in recent weeks. It’s been a real treat. And it’s been fun seeing guests wear costumes during the day. Yesterday was the last day costumes could be worn by guests at Magic Kingdom and boy did we see some great costumes! But first, Len needs his traditional pretzel breakfast!

Len and His Traditional Pretzel Breakfast
2020 Dumpster Fire Costumes by KellyKillPack
Madam Leota Costume by MissVYG


It was a little slow in the morning at Magic Kingdom, but as soon as lunch time hit we saw the crowds we’ve been expecting this weekend. We also saw the arrival of poinsettias in Main Street Town Square as Christmas décor gets ready to move in.

Magic Kingdom on Halloween 2020
Pirates of the Caribbean Extended Queue Halloween 2020
Big Thunder Mountain on Halloween 2020
Poinsettias Moving in on Halloween 2020

Which holiday season do you like the best, Spooky Season or the Christmas and Winter Holiday Season?

The post PHOTOS – Saying Farewell to Halloween at Magic Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Halloween, In the Parks, Walt Disney World (FL), disney crowds, disney halloween, disney halloween costumes

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

New York Updates Florida Travel Rules, Makes Travel More Accessible

The pocket of East Coast states, notably New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have had severe quarantine restrictions in place since early summer.

Under the previous rule, anyone visiting a high-COVID state, such as Florida, and then returning to the New York tri-state area, would have to quarantine for a full two weeks upon their return. For New York area residents, this made travel to Walt Disney World wholly impractical, effectively prohibiting a timely return to work or school after a Disney trip.

Beginning on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, this policy has been overhauled. While New York and environs now continue to discourage travel to hotspots, there is now an alternative to the 14-day quarantine.

The new rules state that all travelers from non-neighboring states planning to stay in New York for more than 24 hours will now be required to quarantine for at least three days and then test negative for COVID-19 and present proof of a negative test before leaving quarantine.

People who choose not to obtain a COVID test will still be required to adhere to the 14-day quarantine.

For many New Yorkers, this will move holiday travel to Walt Disney World back into the realm of possibility.

Will this change in procedures change your winter travel plans? Let us know in the comments.

The post New York Updates Florida Travel Rules, Makes Travel More Accessible appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), COVID-19

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Disney Parks

Sights from a Late October Day at Magic Kingdom

Recently, our team was in the parks for some touring plan testing at Magic Kingdom. Here’s some of the sights they saw during their day.

We’re in the parks every day to make sure you have the best tools for an easy, stress-free vacation at Walt Disney World. Want to make the most of what we have to offer? Become a TouringPlans subscriber today.

The post Sights from a Late October Day at Magic Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), in the parks