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July 2020 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar Update

On July 11, Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will reopen after a four-month hiatus, but park operations will look a lot different. Disney announced several measures intended to control park attendance and increase physical distancing. You can read about all the changes here. Epcot and Hollywood Studios will open a few days later, on July 15.

We are updating the Disney World Crowd Calendar to reflect what we know about attraction wait times in the parks once they reopen. Remember that the calendar is based on standby wait times for key attractions during the busiest part of the day; it is not based on park attendance figures. This methodology will continue. As always, but even more than usual, the crowd calendar is subject to change.

Crowd levels are dropping significantly on most days as a result of this update. This is a result of the assumptions we have made about park operations when they reopen. Here is a summary of those factors and how the attraction wait times might be affected.

No FastPass+, Standby Only

Depending on the attraction, as much as 80% of a ride’s capacity can be used for FastPass+ guests. Obviously, this greatly increases the wait time for those in the standby line. Now that FastPass+ is suspended, 100% of the ride’s capacity will be used for standby guests.

Result: Large Decrease in Standby Wait Times

Limited Attendance

In the past, on an average day at the Magic Kingdom, somewhere between 30,000 and 45,000 guests would enter the park. On a night when the park hosts an evening party (e.g., Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party), that number is limited to something close to 15,000, depending on the event and the number of tickets sold. We know a lot about what the wait times look like during when attendance is limited and FastPass+ is not available. We expect the wait times to look more like party nights than average days, but that is yet to be seen.

Result: Decrease in Standby Wait Times

Spacing on Attraction Vehicles

In order to maximize physical distancing and cleaning, some attractions may be loaded with gaps or spaces. This will greatly reduce the attraction’s capacity per hour. In some cases, it may reduce it by as much as 50%. We have seen wait times affected by ride capacity before. Remember in 2014 when a guest injury on Pirates of the Caribbean led to the closure of the vehicle’s back row? Wait times went up. We have also recorded many days when Soarin’ and Tower of Terror operated with a portion of the ride closed. Wait times go up then, too.

Result: Large Increase in Standby Wait Times

Virtual Queues Without Posted Times

Disney World has made no announcement about using virtual queues when the parks reopen, but Shanghai Disneyland employed them when it reopened in May. If virtual queues are a part of the new park procedures at Disney World, that may make it difficult to measure the wait times. Let us cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, it’s a wild card.

Result: Unknown

So, the no-FastPass+ and attraction spacing changes cancel each other out, leaving us with a decrease in standby times due to limited attendance. This crowd calendar update reflects that decrease. Crowd levels are dropping to the 1-5 range most days between now and Thanksgiving 2020.

I think it is a pretty good bet that guests will experience wait times similar to those during an evening party.

We don’t know how long these park procedures will last, and we don’t know how much demand there is for theme park touring with a mask in the heat of a Florida summer. Of course, we will be revisiting these crowd levels on a regular basis between now and July 11 as new information arises. Once we observe a few days of wait time data, more adjustments may be made.

2021

This update does not include days in 2021. With so many unknowns about park operations and the COVID-19 virus, we are not going to try to guess what next year will look like at this time. The next update will include 2021 predictions.

Do you have questions for the Crowd Calendar team? Let us know in the comments.

The post July 2020 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar Update appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

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Choosing an NBA Team Based on Which Disney World Hotel They Should Stay In

The National Basketball Association is going to Disney World! Have a favorite team and want to know what hotel I think they should stay in? Have a favorite hotel and want to know what team to root for? Great!

Starting in late-July, the NBA will be finishing their regular season and playoffs at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex on Disney property in Orlando. This week more information was leaked about how this would work and the format is expected to be ratified on Thursday afternoon. I’ll explain a little bit about how the schedule will work, but the main point of writing this is based on an ESPN article that claimed (among other ridiculous asks) that some top-seeded teams want to be able to pick which Disney World Resort hotel they get to stay in.

I’ll start by saying that this will not happen. Never. No chance. That said, it is incredibly fun to think about… so I did. Although rather than let the teams pick, I assigned a hotel based on what I think of the team and the hotel.

Before we get there, let me give a brief rundown of what’s going on with the basketball. If you don’t care, feel free to skip ahead. It’s going to get nerdy in here.

The NBA will bring 22 of their 30 teams to Orlando, leaving home the 8 worst from the 2/3 of the season that they managed to play before shutting down. Those 22 teams will each play 8 “regular season” games before the playoffs start. Sixteen teams make the playoffs in the NBA, playing in best-of-7-game series until a winner is determined.

Now here comes the complications: The 16 playoff teams are split evenly between the Eastern and Western conferences. The NBA, however, has decided to bring the 22 teams with the best records, regardless of conference. Therefore, they are bringing 9 Eastern Conference teams and 13 Western. That means there will likely be a tougher fight to get into those top-8 playoff teams in the West (although that’s not new).

Where it gets even more complicated is what happens if, after the 8 regular season games, the team in 9th place is less than 4 wins behind the team in 8th place. If that is the case, those two teams will play a mini-playoff where, if the 9th place team wins twice in a row, they make the playoffs. The team in 8th only has to win once. This is not how it’s usually done and hurts my brain.

So, each of the 22 teams will play 8 games. Sixteen of those will get to the playoffs. One will be the NBA champion. Not a fan? Great, let’s get you a team.

I have ordered the teams here in reverse order of record, so the best are at the top, as are the best hotels. If you want a team that can win the title, I would suggest choosing from the top half of this list (probably the top few).

Milwaukee Bucks – Polynesian Village Resort

The best team so far in the 2019-20 season gets, in my opinion, the best hotel at Disney World. The reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (call him Giannis, pronounced YON-iss, or the Greek Freek) deserves to relax on the beach. Besides, the Bucks have two brothers on their roster who are far-and-away the biggest theme park fans in the league: Brook and Robin Lopez.

The Lopez’ are 7-foot-tall twins who can be seen at most Disney-related openings and closings. I personally have seen them a few times and they showed up in tuxedos for the closing of the Great Movie Ride. Not only will Brook and Robin appreciate the Poly, Robin wanted it.

Los Angeles Lakers – Grand Floridian Resort

The Lakers are the flagship team of the NBA so they get the flagship resort. In this case they also happen to be a very good team led by LeBron James, one of the best basketball players ever. The Lakers have had some down seasons from their most recent title in 2010, but they seem to be back now.

Personally, I find the Grand Floridian a little boring, but it’s all about the show and that fits the Lakers. The Lakers are also Guy Selga’s favorite team, and I never want to anger Guy Selga.

Toronto Raptors – Contemporary Resort

A very nice hotel with very nice rooms. Just not quite as exciting as its Seven Seas Lagoon neighbors. The Raptors are a good team. They were a great team last year when they won the championship, but Kawhi Leonard left to go to the next team on the list. Even so, people forget about the Raptors.

I gave them the Contemporary because I also forget about it a lot. It’s one of the very few WDW hotels I’ve never stayed in. I have been to a Raptors game though, so maybe this is falling apart already.

Los Angeles Clippers – Boardwalk Inn Resort

Oh, the Clippers. They’ve had some fun teams, they’ve had some good teams, but they’ve mostly been living in the shadow of the Lakers. That might change now though, because superstar Kawhi Leonard moved back home to LA after his title in Toronto and is now pushing the Clippers higher than they’ve ever been.

They get the Boardwalk because it also can get overlooked in favor of its Beachy and Yachty sister resorts, but it’s top quality too. Besides, the owner of the Clippers, Microsoft billionaire Steve Ballmer, is… intense. I can only imagine him singing along at Jellyrolls.

via GIPHY

Boston Celtics – Kidani Village Resort

The Boston Celtics are a good team that I never quite trust. They have a lot of good players, a good coach, and a potential star in young Jason Tatum, but I’ve never been totally sold by them yet. I gave them Kidani Village for similar reasons.

I love Animal Kingdom Lodge and I should love Kidani too. The rooms are really nice, the lobby is pretty, and they have one of my favorite restaurants in Sanaa. Yet, I can’t seem to get over the flaws like the lack of Quick Service. I think it’s more me than that hotel or the Celtics, but here we are anyway.

Denver Nuggets – Yacht Club Resort

The Nuggets are an up-and-coming team with some real talent led by their center, Nikola Jokic, who is a very good scorer, an exceptional passer, and has the slightly doughy body I can relate to.

I assign them the Yacht Club because I really like it. The refurbished rooms are really nice, the location is great, and the pool is the best. That said, it’s not quite the best. Like the Nuggets.

Utah Jazz – Beach Club Resort

Much like the Nuggets above, the Jazz are a team still trying to get to the end of the road. I gave the Beach Club to the Jazz because I think of them as an older team (because my brain still pictures John Stockton and Karl Malone 30 years ago). Beach Club is a hotel I love, but the rooms are looking a little dated, like my memories of the 90s Jazz.

Of course, both the Beach Club and the Jazz are very good. The Jazz have a very good, very young star in Donovan Mitchell and the Beach Club has the best pool at Disney World. How are those similar? I don’t know, I’m stretching here.

Miami Heat – Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort

Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most unique hotels in the world. It has beautiful, African-inspired architecture, a stunning savanna, and great dining options. I will always enjoy being there.

The Miami Heat are the team that are basically the opposite of the Celtics for me, I always enjoy them for reasons I can’t explain. They have a very prickly superstar in Jimmy Butler and a great young center with an equally great name in Bam Adebayo. They haven’t been great since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade left, but I find myself rooting for them anyway. Much like Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can come at me with reasons all day, but I’ll never admit they’re not a good time.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Old Key West Resort

I’m baffled by Old Key West. It’s been there for a long time and I always thought of it as more of a retirement community than a hotel. I like the tropics fine, but wouldn’t go to a Jimmy Buffet concert. Yet, the resort, and the huge rooms, are wonderful. Against all of my expectations.

The Oklahoma City Thunder used to have Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook all on the same team. All 3 have won the MVP of the league, only the last one while still on the Thunder. None of them are still on the team. Yet here we are, watching a team led by a 35-year-old Chris Paul that is still in the playoffs. Against all of my expectations.

Houston Rockets – Bay Lake Tower

Two of the three MVPs I just named, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, have both ended up on the Rockets. Houston is also the team that most stringently uses statistical theories to construct their game plan. Even so, they haven’t quite fit together well enough to get to a championship. Without going into too many nerdy details, they also play a style that is not the most aesthetically pleasing.

Bay Lake Tower is my definition of not quite fitting in and not the most aesthetically pleasing. I like staying there, mostly for the location, and I love the Top of the World Lounge, but it just doesn’t quite look right to me. Neither to do the Rockets.

Indiana Pacers – Saratoga Springs Resort

Saratoga Springs is a perfectly nice resort but it’s hard to think of anything in particular that stands out about it. I can’t think of a better way to describe the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers have a star in Victor Oladipo, but he had just come back from a year-long ruptured quad injury. Even without him, Indiana managed to stay relevant, but only the biggest of basketball fans seem to notice.

Philadelphia 76ers – Riviera Resort

Disney Vacation ClubI don’t really have a favorite NBA team, I just like the sport. That said, I do live in Pennsylvania so I always have a soft spot for the Sixers and I love their trash-talking 7-footer Joel Embiid, who is one of the league’s best players when he’s not injured. The problem is that the players on the 76ers don’t quite work great together and they’re getting so expensive that it’s hard to do anything else.

I haven’t stayed at the Riviera yet, but its status as very expensive and yet not quite having the same advantages of other DVC resorts leads me to classify it as very nice, but disappointing. Sadly, I think this will be a good comparison to the Sixers.

Dallas Mavericks – Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

My first comparison to a Moderate Resort shows you where we are on the list. That said, Dallas is one of my favorite teams to watch because they have two young, dynamic stars. The 24-year-old, 7’3″ Latvian, Kristaps Porzingis was traded from the New York Knicks last year and paired with the 21-year-old Slovenian, Luka Doncic. Luka is legitimately one of my favorite players and is on the road to a future MVP.

Port Orleans – Riverside is not in the top tier of resorts, but I’ve never regretted spending time there. It’s beautiful and there are some fun things to do. Pretty and fun… welcome to the Dallas Mavericks.

Memphis Grizzlies – Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge

Yes, Reflections doesn’t technically exist yet. It is under construction on the shores of Bay Lake and won’t open until at least 2021. We don’t know exactly what it will be yet.

The Memphis Grizzlies are currently hanging on to the 8th seed in the Western Conference (meaning they would make the playoffs). They are a very young team led by electric rookie Ja Morant and the 20-year-old Jaren Jackson, Jr. and they have the potential to be great in the future. Right now, however, it’s all speculation.

Brooklyn Nets – Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge is often overlooked for its neighbors on Seven Seas Lagoon, but it’s really nice. I like the Wilderness Lodge a lot and find it a great resort to spend time at.

The Nets have been overshadowed by the New York Knicks forever. It doesn’t matter how bad the Knicks are, they are the story. That may have changed last summer when two massive free agents–Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving–chose the Nets over the Knicks. Of course, Durant will not play until next season after tearing his Achilles tendon in 2019 and Irving had shoulder surgery in February that ended his season. We won’t know if the Nets can overcome their rivals until next season, but I know Wilderness Lodge can be great right now.

Bonus: New York Knicks – Fort Wilderness Campground

The Knicks are not in the top 22 teams, so they won’t be coming to Orlando. They still wanted in, however, and were under the impression that they were picking Wilderness Lodge, but actually signed on to Fort Wilderness Campground. They are still confident that it is the best resort and will lead them to many titles.

Orlando Magic – Pop Century Resort

The Orlando Magic play their home games about 15 miles from Disney World. Even so, they will have to move into the “bubble” during the end of the season. They’d rather just stay off property (in their own homes), but they’re at least going to get a nice value room. Pop Century has some really nice rooms. They’ll be fine.

Portland Trail Blazers – Caribbean Beach Resort

Caribbean Beach is the oldest of the moderates. Always good, never quite great. The Blazers fit that perfectly: they have been very good for a long time, never quite great. Damian Lillard is an amazing player, and is trying to drag the team to the top, much like the recent lobby refurbishment helped make Caribbean Beach better. Even so, it’s hard to break into that top tier.

New Orleans Pelicans – Coronado Springs Resort

Coronado Springs was always a decent resort, but it was hard to get too excited about it. Then the Gran Destino tower was built and added some nicer rooms, a flashier presence, and some more great dining options. Now it’s a Moderate-plus (or a Deluxe-minus maybe) hotel.

The New Orleans Pelicans were just kind of there. Then they got the number one pick in last year’s draft and got Zion Williamson, one of the most dynamic tanks of a man that you’ll ever see. The Pelicans have a little work to do to get into the playoffs, but it’s not out of reach. Zion’s a player you have to see at least once, and Gran Destino is a hotel you have to try once.

Sacramento Kings – All-Star Movies Resort

The All-Star Resorts have always been my least favorite. I’ve been very happy to see that Movies (and now Music) are getting the nice rooms like Pop Century has. It still might be my least favorite, but at least it’s better and easier to recommend.

The Sacramento Kings have been making bad decisions for about 20 years and that has led to some bad basketball. But they have a very good point guard in De’Aaron Fox and occasionally win games now. At least it’s better.

San Antonio Spurs – Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

French Quarter is my favorite Moderate Resort and, frankly, this year’s Spurs don’t deserve the comparison. This is a history assignment because the Spurs have been great for a very long time, in fact they look likely to finally end their 22-year playoff run this season.

I respect the Spurs and their coach Gregg Popovich so much that I still gave them a nice place to stay. Of course, they have a very slim chance of making the playoffs so they won’t stay there long.

Phoenix Suns – Art of Animation Resort

Art of Animation has really nice pieces, like good themed areas and a very good food court, but it is still a Value. The Phoenix Suns have Devin Booker, an excellent scorer, but they’re still not going to make the playoffs. Sorry Suns.

Washington Wizards – All-Star Sports Resort

The Wizards have the worst record of all 22 teams, but they still have an outside chance of catching the Orlando Magic for 8th place in the Eastern Conference. That said, they’re not very good even with the injured John Wall and the very good Bradley Beal on the team. They get All-Star Sports just because.

Do you agree with these placements? What team would you put where? Which team do you think will take it all at the end of this tournament? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

The post Choosing an NBA Team Based on Which Disney World Hotel They Should Stay In appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Just For Fun, Walt Disney World (FL), NBA

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The Most Magical Mouse Ears EVER Have Arrived at Disney Springs

If you want a little extra magic in your life, look no further than these Minnie Mouse Unicorn Mouse Ears. You can find these magical mouse ears at shopDisney online and at World of Disney at Disney Springs.

Minnie Mouse Unicorn Mouse Ears
Minnie Mouse Unicorn Mouse Ears
Minnie Mouse Unicorn Mouse Ears

The ears themselves are full of sparkly sequins. A shiny multicolored unicorn horn stands at the top, and a colorful veil falls down the back. These ears are overflowing with magic, and priced at $29.99.

Will you add some magic to your life with these Minnie Mouse Unicorn Mouse Ears?

The post The Most Magical Mouse Ears EVER Have Arrived at Disney Springs appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), disney mouse ears, Minnie Ears

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Disney Springs to Close Early Due to Orange County Curfew

Due to a curfew that was put in place by Orange County that there be no one out past 10:00 p.m., Disney Springs, which is the current only Disney offering that is available for Guests to visit, will be closing early for the temporary time being.

According to the Disney Springs website,

To comply with Orange County’s 10 p.m. curfew, effective today, Sunday, May 31 and until further notice, we are closing Disney Springs at 7 p.m., allowing cast members, operating participant employees and guests time to return home.

As of right now, there is currently no end date for this curfew.

The shopping and dining district only recently reopened on May 20, after being closed for two months due to the coronavirus.

The post Disney Springs to Close Early Due to Orange County Curfew appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

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The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! – Disney Outlet Store Update for May 2020

Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!, the longest running monthly look at the still closed Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando.

Here’s the current look at the Disney Character Warehouse located off Vineland Ave.  The outlets that the store is a part of has re-opened, but Disney is one of the few stores that has remained closed.

Disney Character Warehouse. (photo by Blog Mickey)

A peek inside the window shows discounted items waiting for customers, not unlike the Islands of Misfit Toys waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Disney Character Warehouse. (photo by @Blog_Mickey)

This look through the window shows us the cash registers at the front of the store. For those who have been to both the Disney Outlet Stores on Vineland and International Drive, it also shows how much bigger the Vineland location is overall.

Disney Character Warehouse. (photo by (photo by Blog Mickey))

While Disney recently re-opened The World of Disney at Disney Springs, they have yet to make any announcement on what the future of the Disney Outlet Stores will be. I have a good feeling though, because we are already seeing reports of some next level bonkers items being sold in Disney Springs, and that junk has to go somewhere once it sits on the shelves for too long. The World of Disney (and the Disney theme parks) are the supply chain for the Disney Outlets, so knock on wood we’ll get some news soon. I personally would have thought the Disney Outlet Stores would already be open by now, but at this point I would guess the chances of a June opening are at best 50/50, and if I had to put money down I would say re-opening comes shortly after the theme parks open in July.

THAT SAID, some stuff still happened this month in a new phrase I will dub OUTLET ADJACENT. Longtime readers of this fine blog series have seen me write about the infamous gas station that is located on Vineland Ave, near to the Outlets. For years this gas station was selling gas at $5.99 a gallon, several dollars higher than anyone else in Florida. Keep in mind that $5.99 was for the cheap stuff, premium gas was priced even higher. In a shocking move earlier this year, the price actually WENT UP to $6.99 a gallon. There has a been a lot of “rumor and innuendo” over why the gas station does this. Some speculate that it is just to take advantage of tourists not paying attention, or for business men and women using a corporate card where they can just write off the expense. Others say that the owners of the gas station were more interested in the convenience store that is attached it, and begrudging sold the gas because they were contractually obligated to. Who knows if we’ll ever get the real story.

However, earlier in May we got an even bigger surprise.

THE GAS DROPPED DOWN TO $1.89!!

Vineland Ave gas station. (photo by Jammin’ Julia Mascardo)

Keep in mind, this new price was even lower than the $2.00 per gallon I was paying for at my local gas station. Just a jaw-dropping development. We haven’t seen a price drop this fast and this shockingly since the Beanie Bears Futures market in the late 1990s.

Vineland Ave gas station. (photo by Julia Mascardo)

Even more interesting is that the premium gas option was just 10 cents more than the regular unleaded gas (normally it was a dollar more per gallon.)

By the end of the month, the price ticked up 10 cents a gallon, but still more than reasonable. There were also several posts on social media of people seeing “sign holders” at nearby intersections holding up advertisements for the Mexas Tacos restaurant which is part of this gas station plaza (and presumably owned by the same people). If I were a betting man, I would say the price of gas dropped so much because the amount of foot traffic in the convenience store and restaurant became almost non-existent.

Vineland Ave gas station. (photo by @Schmoofy)

So, the Disney Outlet Stores are closed. What’s Disney doing with all their junk? Turns out they are positing it at shopDisney.com (which had a REALLY BAD month public relations wise as the website was shut down multiple times by eBay pirates scooping up limited edition items). On one of my last days at EPCOT in March, I saw this INSANE Spring Break shirt at the make-shift MouseGear store. I knew right then I would absolutely have to pick the shirt up when it went to the Outlets. This looks like some “3 for $10” shirt you’d see for sale on the Jersey shore.  However, the shirt went on clearance over at Disney’s own website (although the discount was pretty much eliminated once you factor in shipping). My hope is that when the Disney Outlet Stores re-open, some manager has a box of these shirts still sitting in the back of their car so I can get my hands on one at the price they should be price at ($2.99).

Speaking of ShopDisney, who saw THIS coming?!

S

Here’s a glamour shot of the castle sculpture in its normal home in Disney Springs. Keep in mind that while no discounts apply, if you use your Disney Chase Visa credit card, you will earn $375 in Disney Rewards. This won’t even come close to paying for the tax on the Dumbest Thing You Ever Bought, but at least you’ll have a good story at parties.

Even Cinderella couldn’t afford this castle. (photo by Brandon Glover)

People exploring the ShopDisney site ran across some of the same type of bonkers items that Outlet Report readers are used to seeing.

I wanted to close this month with looking at some items that I’ve bought at the Disney Outlets along with purchases made by fellow TouringPlans author Julia Mascardo. When it comes to the phrase “bring balance to the Force,” Julia and I personify it. She prides herself on being a minimalist, constantly looking for ways to de-clutter her home. I have multiple Tsum Tsum adventure calendar boxes…from the same year.

One thing I have to buy are items which are so CRAZY that I am drawn to them in a way like Harry Potter was drawn to Voldermort’s horcruxes. Case in point, this Animal Kingdom 20th anniversary baseball cap that originally cost $75. The hat itself came in it’s own box.

The inside of the box was lined with a print.

I love when stuff like this comes with a “certificate” which means about as much in the Real World as McLovin’s fake ID. How great is “Edition Size: Limited Release.” WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! Limited to what? 20? 75? 100? 1000? A million?

The front bill of the hat was legitimately made out of wood. It’s crazy. I love it.

I like that the tag inside isn’t something generic.

But at this price it better not be. I can’t imagine how many they actually sold of these at Full Retail. P.T. Barnum’s phrase of “there’s a sucker born every minute” doesn’t even account for this. I bought this for $19.99 at the Outlets, which is still about $10 too much, but I had to have it.

My next favorite hat purchase was this NBA Experience one. This hat was originally sold for $50, which is just plain bonkers. $50 for a baseball cap from a place No One Went To. This is like if Quibi tried to sell $50 hats today. The hat was reduced to $15.99 at the Outlets.

Here’s the side profile of the hat. You would think they would have made the hat so that the grey are starts at the end of the bill, for a more cleaner look. You would be wrong.

I like that the graphic on the side has a pair of “Mickey hands” holding a basketball.

What’s super cool about the hat is that the air holes at the top are in the shape of a Mickey head. That’s awesome.

Turning the hat upside down, the inside has a list of the things you can do at NBA Experience.

It’s hard to get across how RIDICULOUS the size of this tag on the right is. By far and away the biggest tag I have seen stitched into any hat that I’ve seen in my life, and I’m sure that I’ve seen and wore thousands of baseball caps.

This is what happens every time I wear it. The tag sticks out the side and I look like an idiot.

Bacini – the official dog of DisTwitter – is also not a fan.

Now let’s check out some of Julia Mascardo’s Disney Outlet Store purchases from over the years. First up is one of my all-time favorite items. The Devil/Angel Donald Duck Tagalongs. I also bought these when they were at the Outlets. The Disney Tagalongs was a series that was only made for a brief amount of time. In theory, they allowed guests to have a character walk around with them while in the parks. The line of Tagalongs had characters including Jiminy Cricket, Tinker Bell, and Stitch. The Donald Duck set was a two pack, and – in my mind – brilliant.

Years later, I still don’t understand how these Tagalongs work, even after doing a scientific experiment.

While I love ridiculous Disney hats, Julia is more drawn to artwork that she can display on her walls, such as this wonderful EPCOT Food & Wine print.

Hard to deny the beauty of this artwork based on the carousel.

This Stand-By Entrance timer magnet was part of a kitchen accessories line. I also bought one at the Outlets. Like Julia, I never actually used it for its intended purposes, but I still think it was a great product concept.

There are a lot of people in the Disney community who collect “plates.” I remember growing up seeing advertisements for things where you would get a different Disney-themed plate sent every month. Your parents’ version of LootCrate basically. You don’t see collectible plates around as much lately (or at least I don’t). This particular plate below has a wonderful Old Timey Florida feel to it.

This couch pillow looks like it came from someplace like the Grand Floridian. I’ve picked several pillows like this over years at the Outlets, including one based on the Enchanted Tiki Room, one for the Little Orange Bird, and several Christmas themed designs.

Look at this, my arch-nemesis Metal Earth. There are some items which show up at the Disney Outlet Stores that make no sense, including Metal Earth kits based on NASA ships, but the one below has some actual ties to Disney. Apparently Walt Disney himself was inspired by the Newschwanstein Castle in Germany.

Speaking of Disney, you can also see Neuschwanstein Castle in the current Soarin’ Around the World attraction in EPCOT.

I’m 90% sure that the real castle doesn’t bend like this in Germany.

Other not-as-Disney-connected versions showed up at the Disney Outlets as well, like the Himeji Castle.

Like many, Julia is a big fan of Emperor’s New Groove, so she’s one of the five people who bought one of the PatcheD sets.

There have been some GREAT Disney-themed luggage tags available at the Outlets over the years, including these two below.

While StellaLou and Shellie May have never been available at the Disney Outlets in Orlando (several versions of Duffy have been there though), all the outfits below were bought there.

I want to thank Julia for sending me pictures of what she’s bought at the Outlets over the years, and would love to hear what y’all have got yourselves. The Good, the Bad, and – most importantly – THE UGLY! Feel free to post in the comments below, or send me a picture (Derek @ TouringPlans.com)

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH! (hopefully AT the Outlets…)

NOT THAT IT MATTERS, BUT…There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821). They do not ship. There are items at the Outlets that you can buy both in Disney stores along with the Shop Disney Parks app, but you will be paying full retail for the items. For our CALIFORNIA OUTLET trips, @ChristelaMcC goes to the Las Americas outlet in San Diego. It is located right off the last U.S. exit.

I often get asked “which store is better?” That depends. Vineland is close to Walt Disney World, while the I-Drive location is a hop, skip, and jump away from the Universal Orlando Resort. The Vineland Disney Outlet Store is much, MUCH bigger than the I-Drive location. However, the Vineland outlets in general are much, MUCH busier than I-Drive. Each have their pros and cons, and ultimately they carry much of the same items. For a Disney Outlet Store FAQ, check out this SATURDAY SIX Presents: Everything You Wanted To Know About The Disney Outlet Stores (But Were Afraid To Ask)

2013: July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2014: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2015: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2016: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2017: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2018: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2019: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2020: Jan| Feb | March | April

Very Special Editions & Milestones: Tribute to O.O.G.; Four Year Anniversary Special; First Pandora Items; Five Year Anniversary Special & Outlet Hall of Fame; Major Changes Come to the Outlets; Camera Hat

We also did an edition of Magic, Memories, and Junk for a non-Disney owned Outlet Store, and for you merch addicts like myself, you may also enjoy a look at the official Disney merchandise available on the Disney Cruise Line, Castaway Cay, and at the Orlando International Airport. Want to see our favorite WDW resort-specific merchandise? Well, CLICK HERE!

If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog and you can follow your humble author on Twitter (@derekbugan).

Penalty for Sushi’s attempt at gimmick infringement–we do NOT need an official cat of DisTwitter!

The post The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! – Disney Outlet Store Update for May 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Magic, Memories, and Merch, Walt Disney World (FL), outlet report