Tag: Walt Disney World (FL)

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Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world”

You’re going on vacation to Walt Disney World! The only problem? You’re not sure which attractions are right for you and your kiddos and you have questions. Which attractions are too intense for little ones? What rides do I really need a FastPass+ reservation for? What’s the disability access like for certain attractions? We’re answering all those questions and more in our Everything You Need to Know attraction series with today’s focus on “it’s a small world” at the Magic Kingdom!

What is “it’s a small world?”

Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world” Guests embark on a tour around the world aboard this classic, family-friendly boat ride where dolls representing different areas of the world sing that famous (infamous?) ear worm “It’s a Small World (After All)”.

Where is “it’s a small world?”

Guests can find “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom across the way from Peter Pan’s Flight.

What is the History of “it’s a small world?”

The original “it’s a small world” was sort of a last-minute attraction for UNICEF at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. Its signature song was created by the Sherman Brothers who are known for their work on Mary Poppins and other theme park songs like “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” and “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room.” Disney artist Mary Blair is responsible for the attraction’s distinct color palette and style. She also designed the Grand Canyon Concourse mural at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world”
The classic façade of it’s a small world at Disneyland

Following its run at the New York World’s Fair, “it’s a small world” moved to the Disneyland park where it debuted on May 28, 1966. Another version of “it’s a small world” was created for Walt Disney World and opened with the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.

What You Need to Know About the Queue for “it’s a small world”

While guests have a view of the boats and the attraction’s signature backdrop, the queue is primarily a series of switchbacks leading downwards towards the loading dock.

What is the Ride Experience Like for “it’s a small world”?

This attraction is a gentle 10-minute boat ride down the Seven Seas Waterway and through various rooms filled with whimsical, colorful scenes and dancing and singing dolls in traditional costumes. There are no dips or drops. This ride is about what there is to see and its timeless message of peace.

The finale room boasts a sparkling white palette and brings the dolls from the different corners of the world together to truly show that it is a small world.

What are the Ride Vehicles Like for “it’s a small world”?

Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world” Guests aboard the boats for “it’s a small world” sit on hard benches with a back. There are five rows per boat with a capacity of 2 to 4 guests per row depending on size. There are no safety restraints due to the tame nature of this attraction.

Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world” There is a wheelchair accessible boat. Wheelchair users may remain seated to board and ride but ECV users must transfer to a standard wheelchair.

What You Need to Know About Accessibility

Guests must take a step over a small wall and then down a moderate step to enter the boat.

What You Need to Know About Health and Safety Advisories

There are no health or safety advisories.

What are the Height Requirements?

There are no height requirements for “it’s a small world.” Every member of the family can enjoy this attraction together!

Does “it’s a small world” offer FastPass+?

Yes, but the wait is usually 30 minutes or less so a FastPass+ is rarely needed.

Does Weather Affect “it’s a small world”?

Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world” A June storm pops over World Drive as a rainy afternoon gets started.

Since “it’s a small world” is an indoor attraction, inclement weather will not impact the ride’s operation.

What’s the Best Time of Day to Experience “it’s a small world”?

Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world” its a small world This chart shows you roughly how long you’ll wait for “it’s a small world” when you visit on a day with a given Magic Kingdom Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average “peak” wait time (that is, how long the line will be at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it’s the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see “it’s a small world” Wait Times.

Did I answer all of your questions about “it’s a small world”? Is this attraction at the top of your family’s vacation to-do list? Let us know in the comments.

The post Everything You Need to Know About “it’s a small world” appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Attractions, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Attractions, Disney Parks, disney world, Disneyland, Fantasyland, FastPass+, Its a Small World, walt disney world

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Disney News Disney Parks

Disney Springs Testing New Security Scanners

You know, given the fact that I report the news stories here, it’s not often when I’m down in Walt Disney World and get surprised by something that Disney does. However, this weekend, when I was visiting Disney Springs, imagine my surprise when after parking in the Lime Garage and after getting my temperature checked, I got funneled into walking through a brand new security scanner before entering the shopping and dining district.

My first surprise moment was the fact that they were, in fact, scanning Guests, because that’s not something that typically happens at Disney Springs. My second surprise was when I was asked to step off to the side, where I was asked to dump out the contents of my bag so that they could see into the bottom. A security Cast Member then looked inside and then felt the remaining contents of my bag to make sure there were no weapons inside. Finally, I was wanded front and back with a security wand to make sure that I wasn’t concealing anything on my person. After that, I was free to go into Disney Springs.

The other people in my party were not carrying bags and were not asked to stop for security. I was caught off guard, so I didn’t see if some people with bags were walking through, but I suspect they were because I believe I remembered seeing that there was only a couple of tables for Guests to have their bags checked.

After doing some research, I found out that the new security system that was being tested was from Evolv Technology and I believe that I walked through the Evolv Express. Here is how that particular system works:

According to the company:

Evolv Express is the first no-stop weapons-screening system built to automatically screen groups of people as they walk through without slowing or stopping. Express screens visitors individually or together, while automatically differentiating weapons from personal items. It is the fastest weapons-screening system on the market, consistently screening 60 people every minute for firearms and other threats. That’s 3,600 people per hour – 10X faster than a traditional checkpoint system.

Should Disney decide to employ this new screening system, I believe this would be a game changer. There are multiple reasons why I believe employing this new screening system is a good idea.

Of course, the main reason I believe this is being tested is because of this new COVID world we live in. (Though, I don’t know why they wouldn’t have put this technology in place when the new entryways into the parks were introduced in the first place, but I digress.)

With this new system, it means that Guests don’t have to be backed up in those HUGE lines to wait at bag check. They simply walk right through without stopping. We’ve all been in that incredibly long bag check line before, so we know how hard it would be to social distance those lines.

Next, it means that unless there is something in your bag or on your person that really needs to be checked out, you won’t have to have your bag checked by another person. Again, very helpful when you don’t want to be in a situation where a security Cast Member checks the bag of the person in front of you, then has to put on new gloves, then check your bag, then stop and put on new gloves, then check the bag of the person behind you. If the lines were awfully backed up before, imagine how terrible they would be with that new process due to enhanced safety measures that would need to be put in place due to coronavirus.

Finally, right now, with the way security is in the park, once you have your bag checked, you also, more than likely, will still need to go through the metal detectors. At least that’s how it’s been in my experience. With Evolv Express, everything seemed to be done with ease.

While I’m sure that this new technology is being tested for the parks, I also hope that it will continue to be used at Disney Springs. I’ve always felt a little uneasy knowing that Disney wasn’t checking Guests here, even though they did have Security officers placed all around the shopping and dining district.

Overall, I found that the use of this new way of screening Guests was easy and efficient and should this be the way Disney goes, it will make getting into the parks that much quicker, which I think we all would agree would be welcome.

The post Disney Springs Testing New Security Scanners appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: News, Walt Disney World (FL), coronavirus, Disney Springs, security, Security Scanners, walt disney world

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Disney News Disney Parks

Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Officially Reopening June 17 at Disney Springs

Announced in the way only Chef Art Smith could, Homecomin’ at Disney Springs will be back with its moonshine magic & fried chicken fantasticness beginning on Wednesday June 17. The entire Homecomin’ crew, is excited to reopen their doors.

Moonshine magic & fried chicken fantasticness returns Wednesday June 17 from @DisneySprings! @ChefArtSmith & our entire Homecomin’ team can’t wait to see you!

 Reservations: https://t.co/RF4NAz4szd pic.twitter.com/25HbX3wPTH

— Homecomin’ (@HomecominFL) June 11, 2020

In addition, Chef also let us know that the new Shine Bar and Social Porch will be available beginning on the 17th too!

For those who haven’t been to Homecomin’ yet, you don’t know what you’re missing! The fried chicken is fantastic, the mac and cheese is the best, and their brunch is one of my favorites!

Guests will be able to make reservations here. Do it quick because I can guarantee now that it’s back open, Art Smith’s Homecomin’ will be a hard reservation to get!

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Springs, homecomin

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Disney Food Disney Movies Disney Parks

Is This the End of Character Autographs?

We now have some solid answers to at least some of the questions about new procedures when Walt Disney World reopens in July. Among the changes are an initial near halt of character dining and character meet and greets. You’re not going to be able to get one-on-one interaction with Mickey for a while.

Is This the End of Character Autographs?
Pre-printed character signatures at Storybook Dining.

But what will happen when character greetings resume?

At Disney theme parks, when guests have met characters in the past, there were three possible types of interaction: a pure hello and chat, getting a photo with a character, or getting a character autograph. (Virtually no one just says hi – that mostly applies to Yacht Club conventioneers who accidentally wind up at the Cape May Cafe character breakfast.) Most guests pose for a quick photo with the character and a significant subset also asks for an autograph, which takes much longer.

While Disney-branded autograph books are still readily available, there were some signs, even pre-pandemic, that Disney had been gradually trying to slow the pace of autograph collection. For example, some physically capable characters, such as Kylo Ren, did not offer autograph signing at their meet and greets. (Yes, he’s a bad guy, but other villains have signed in the past.) And the Artist Point Storybook Dining character meal offered guests a pre-printed card with images of character signatures rather than having the characters on site actually sign things.

Why was this happening? The logical answer is that autographs slow things down. You can stand next to Mickey, have a hug, and pose for a photo in a few seconds. Guests with autograph books, and particularly families with several books, take much longer. Despite character attendants’ best efforts, there is always some opening books, searching for the right page, positioning the pen properly in a giant gloved hand, and so on. While Disney undoubtably makes a nice profit on autograph book sales, they were also facing guest dissatisfaction over time spent waiting in lines. And perhaps more importantly, when you magnify this slow-down by four or five characters meeting guests at a typical meal, you’re slowing the pace of table turnover by several minutes, likely forfeiting far more income than might be earned on the sale of an autograph book.

In addition to this financial factor, new pandemic-related safety protocols will likely include a stark reduction in opportunities to touch things. When characters sign autographs, they’re passing a book and pen back and forth between themselves and the guest, and often between an attendant as well, dozens of times per hour – those books are portable high-touch surfaces. Many characters wear gloves, but some of the face characters do not. That’s many more opportunities to pick up germs rather than simply standing for a picture.

My guess is that when meet and greets do resume, many, if not all, of the characters will stop signing autographs. Once guests become accustomed to that, I wonder whether the practice will return.

And here’s the usual caveat: I have no insider information, I’m just speculating about possible park changes.

What do you think might happen? Do you like gathering character signatures? Would you be sad to see this practice discontinued?

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), autographs, character autographs, meet and greet

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

Disney Details on Enhanced Cleaning Procedures

As a follow-up to the recent announcement about how Disney Resort hotels will have enhanced cleaning procedures upon reopening, we’re finally getting details on what that will entail.

Specifically, Disney will focus on 11 target areas:

  1. Door handles, pulls and knobs
  2. Light switches and controls
  3. Closet amenities (such as the in-room safe)
  4. Beverage area
  5. Bathroom fixtures and surfaces
  6. Bathroom amenities
  7. Thermostat and electric controls
  8. Bedding
  9. Electronic devices (including the germ magnet TV remote)
  10. Hard surfaces and flooring
  11. Cleaned and wrapped amenities

This enhanced cleaning will occur before you check in to your room. During your stay, you will get a light cleaning service (removal of trash/replenishment of towels).

Here’s an infographic from Disney showing their target area focus.

Disney Details on Enhanced Cleaning Procedures

What are your thoughts on these new procedures? Let us know in the comments.

The post Disney Details on Enhanced Cleaning Procedures appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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