Tag Archives: Disney

Changes at Disney Since We Were Last There

13 Friday Apr 2018

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Prior to this trip, we were last in Walt Disney World in October 2015.  Obviously there have been some big changes – Frozen Ever After, Pandora, etc. – that I’ll cover in individual blog posts, but there have also been some minor changes that are worth noting.  Both are positive.

First, the bus depots at the parks have been expanded.  This seems to mean that buses are less often shared between resorts.  (It was an observation.  Nobody could actually tell me this with certainty.)  What it certainly means is that the buses are less crowded.  Only once did I not get on the first bus that arrived and that was because I had sleeping children with me and we would have had to stand.  I opted to wait so we could have the first choice of seats.  Frankly, very few of the buses we were on had anyone standing, except by choice.

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The second big change worth mentioning is to the Rider Swap option.  For those who are not aware, Rider Swap enables a party to split in two for a ride so that an adult can stay with the non-riding small children, but not have to wait in the full line twice.  It used to be that at the entrance you were offered a paper card that entitled three riders (the waiting adult + two companions) onto the ride later in the day.  You still get that paper card eventually, and it still allows three riders, but it is a bit different.  And, we goofed it up the first time so here goes.

Instead of getting the paper card at the entrance (FastPass+ or regular line), you will be given a lanyard.  The party entering the ride keeps the lanyard and turns it in to the second attendant (normally where the FastPass+ line meets the regular line) exchanging it for the paper card.  At this point they are deep in the bowels of the ride.  They go on the ride.  After they exit they give the card to the waiting adult who then goes through the FastPass+ line.  I suspect they may have had an issue with folks collecting Rider Swap cards so they could go through the FastPass+ line, but not actually choosing to go on the ride that first time through the regular line.  They are still super nice about giving them out, the waiting party just has to be visible to the attendants at the entrance – you don’t necessarily need to fight all the way there with your stroller and/or small children.

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I had been warned that if you had fast passes initially all members would need to scan theirs to get a rider swap, but that was not the case on our trip.  So, if you have small children you can still get an extra ride from time to time if you get there are the beginning of the fast pass window so that a second group can get in during the same fast pass window.  The paper cards themselves are now dated to expire any time from the same day to a week plus out.  I don’t know if that varies by ride/park or if it is somewhat random based on when you ask vs when they last happened to run the cards for that ride, because the paper cards are ride specific.

Once you figure it out (do not leave the lanyard with the waiting party!), its a perfectly fine system.  And, if it prevents some folks from gaming the system to get in more rides (thereby choking up the FastPass+ lines), I’m all for it.

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Walt Disney World 2018 – New to Me Rides

06 Friday Apr 2018

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Readers will know that we have been to Walt Disney World before.  But, I have often been pregnant, and always with small children, so there are a number of rides I have never been on.  While we still had children not big/old enough to go on all of the rides, I was not pregnant so I took the opportunity to go on both some of my favorites I have not been on recently (eg. Big Thunder Mountain) and many I had never been on.

I still have not made it onto Splash Mountain or the Kali River Rapids.  I prefer water rides when it is very warm.  It was nice, but not super warm, and because we cannot all go on those rides together my going on them means it takes a big chunk of the day.  So, I passed in favor of other things.

The Pandora rides were new for all of us.  I wrote about them in my Pandora post.  To summarize our feedback on the rides:

  • Na’vi River Journey is a good ride and I appreciate that it is family friendly.  But, I’m not sure it is worth a fast pass for us.  When we were there the lines were running around an hour, so the fast pass was nice to have.  But, as the years go by hopefully these will go down.
  • Avatar Flights of Passage is a fabulous ride, maybe the best at Disney currently, and well worth a fast pass.  Lines were over four hours and as long as six when we were there.  Again, hopefully these will go down as the years go by, but right now you are getting serious bang for your buck using a fast pass here.

Staying in Animal Kingdom, I was also able to go on Everest and Dinosaur for the first times.

  • Everest is great – as real a roller coaster as you can get at Disney.  Because there are only two to a seat anyway, its a good ride to use the single rider option if your group is all tall enough to ride alone (ours was not).  I am definitely looking forward to riding this one again.
  • I quite enjoyed Dinosaur.  However, it is not for everyone.  First warning: the height limit is very low but that does not take the “scare factor” into account.  I would not recommend this ride for young children even if they meet the height limit, elementary age is a good starting point.  Second, it does rock you around quite a bit, but not in a classic roller coaster or motion sickness inducing way.  It’s more like Star Tours, but on a track.  I was hoping to go on this again before we left, but it didn’t make the cut.

There were two new to us rides in Epcot, both relative new to everyone and therefore having long lines.

  • We all loved Frozen Ever After.  As a family we agreed it was better than the Na’vi River Journey, and we have seen neither Frozen nor Avatar.  We did have fast passes, but we were able to get on two additional times because the line was quite short.  So, this may or may not be on your fast pass list, depending on the interests of your party.  I would use a fast pass if you have a true Frozen fan (you can always go extra times if the line is short) or if you are looking for a great ride for the entire family to enjoy together.
  • We also enjoyed the new Soarin’.  Everyone went, including the five year old.  If your child meets the height limit, take them.  You can grab a fast pass, or just walk for it first thing in the morning.  Because it has relatively high capacity it takes some time for the lines to build.  We walked for it no problem with a stroller.  It is not as spectacular as Avatar Flights of Passage, but that also means it does not present problems for people who might get motion-sick.  The ride refresh made it feel new and more interesting as we had seen the previous version more than once.

There were two new-to-me rides in Hollywood Studios; the older kids had been on both before.

  • I loved the Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster.  I enjoyed the music and I appreciated that the dark made it feel less like you were just being knocked around like a typical roller coaster.  In fact, those who get mild motion sickness should consider this one.  It has a similar feel to Space Mountain.  I’d go on this one repeatedly, if possible.
  • On the other hand, while I’m glad I went on the Tower of Terror once, I don’t need to go again.  It was fine, but not really fun, in my opinion.  If I was part of a big group, I would join them.  But, I’m not using a fast pass or otherwise pushing my group to go.

The only new-to-me ride I went on in the Magic Kingdom was the Dwarf Mine Train.  It was fun, a sort of tamed down version of Big Thunder Mountain.  I also appreciated the theme-ing, which was well executed throughout.  The lines were still quite long for a ride that has been out for a number of years so you may want to use a fast pass here.  If you get in for Extra Magic hours, you might be able to walk for it, but expect it to fill quickly and stay full all day.

I’m glad I had the chance to go on so many new rides.  While I don’t feel the need to go on Tower of Terror again, I did appreciate all of the rides and understand why they are crowd favorites.

Walt Disney World 2018 – Pandora

30 Friday Mar 2018

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This was our first visit to Pandora as it had not yet opened when we were last in Florida.  Because Pandora is still relatively new, we opted for two days in Animal Kingdom so that we could get Fast Passes to both Pandora rides.  This turned out to be a good idea as even the Na’vi River Journey line was over an hour.  The line for Avatar Flight of Passage was at least four and sometimes six hours!

Next time I would not feel the need to use a fast pass for Na’vi River Journey.  It’s not a bad ride, but there are a few reasons.  First, I expect the lines in Pandora to decrease with time and it will be at least two years before we are back.  Second, I suspect if you kept an eye on the app you could find a time with a relatively short line; forty-five minutes would be reasonable.  Third, it was not our favorite indoor boat ride and, because one cannot book Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey fast passes on the same day, it would require a second day in Animal Kingdom which we probably won’t do next time.  Of the two new family boat rides (both with movies we have not seen), we strongly preferred Frozen Ever After in Epcot to Na’vi River Journey in Animal Kingdom.  We’ll use our extra day next time in Hollywood Studios after Star Wars and Toy Story lands open.  We only spent one day there this year since so much of it was closed.

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Avatar Flight of Passage is fabulous!  It is like a modern, more intense Soarin’.  People who get motion sick should keep this in mind.  Even without seeing the movie it was a great experience that we would have been happy to go on multiple times.  We were able to appreciate both the unique ride motion and the graphics/storyline.

Another great addition to Animal Kingdom in Pandora is Satu’li Canteen.  The menu is a bit daunting when you first look at it.  But, between all of us we tried most everything, in many combinations, and everyone came out happy.  We will definitely be back.  It was substantially less crowded than any other Disney quick service restaurant we experienced.  I also appreciated that, while you were not allowed to claim your seat until you had your food, the lines were wide enough for double strollers and large groups.  Plus, tables were reserved for parties of six or larger, which can be very hard to find throughout Disney.

The only bad thing we found in Pandora was the Night Blossom drink.  We all found it to be far too sweet and generally just not good.

Even if you do not choose to ride anything in Pandora, it is worth a visit.  The scenery is spectacular and not something you see every day. And, Satu’li Canteen is worth the hike all the way in.

The Disney Dining Plan – 2018 Update

23 Friday Mar 2018

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I last wrote about the Disney Dining Plan in 2015 (and most of those points are still valid).  To recap, I’m referring to the standard dining plan which is one table credit and one quick service credit per night of your stay, plus snacks.

My complaint in 2015 was that there were too many desserts – one with every meal.  Now, thankfully, desserts are no longer included with the quick service meals.  Instead they’ve increased the snack credits per day from one to two.  We found this to be a ridiculous number of snacks, but still a better option than desserts we didn’t eat.

There are a few reasons this is a better option:

  • Disney meals are big so eating a dessert afterwards is not always possible.
  • Most quick service restaurants only offer one or maybe two dessert options.  You might just not like them.
  • If you want dessert, you can now use a snack credit for one at the quick service restaurants thereby getting exactly what you would have under the old system.
  • It opens up the whole range of snack options for whenever or whatever you wish to eat during your stay.

That said, it does have some downsides also.

First, two snacks per day is a lot, especially if you consider that you’re probably not actually in the parks one “day.”  (Disney counts “days” as the number of nights you are staying so if you fly in one evening and out early another morning you will have one table service credit, one quick service credit, and two snacks that need using.)

Second, like Disney meals, Disney snacks can be pretty large.

As in the past, we purchased a few items – mostly milk for breakfast and bottled water – from a grocery delivery service.  With the new number of snacks, I would recommend using your snack credits for bottled water in the parks instead.  It’s not the most bang for your buck in the snack department, but you will have plenty.  Note that if you are fine drinking Florida tap water, you can get it free in any quick service restaurant.

The second significant change to the Disney Dining Plan for 2018 is that now all meals (quick and table service) include one alcoholic or specialty beverage, if such are available at that location.  Note that quick service restaurants in the Magic Kingdom do not serve alcohol.

There are pros and cons to this.  The most obvious con is that Disney charges adult meals to anyone 10+; clearly those under twenty-one cannot purchase alcohol.  I’m not sure there are any specialty beverages that come close in price.  On the plus side, it is nice to have a drink included with table service meals.

Finally, I do have two requests for Disney regarding the meal plan.

  1. Juice boxes are available as a snack credit in all of the quick service restaurants.  However, they are not available at the ubiquitous drink/ice cream stands.  This should change.  Kids should not be forced to choose between soda and water (in large bottles) when juice boxes are available on property.  And, adults should not have to stand in long restaurant lines to get such a simple item.  Make them available at the carts!
  2. Figure out how to process meal credits, snack credits, and cash in a single transaction at quick service restaurants.  Note: online ordering through the app wasn’t quite rolled out when we went so it may be that this option solves this problem.  Somehow table service restaurants can take a single order and break it into meal credits and cash.  It is a real pain to all parties involved (including those waiting in line behind) to have to complete three transactions to get meals, snacks, and cash items in the quick service lines.  And, just about everyone has this issue eventually as their party runs out of meal credits at the end of their stay.

In summary, we still like the Dining Plan, and probably view the two changes as a net positive.  But, figure out if it is best for your group.  Make sure you will use your meal credits.  Make table service dining reservations; they are almost always necessary.  Paying for a few extra meals is better than paying for meals you don’t use.

Travel Extras – Disney

15 Thursday Feb 2018

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Like the other posts in this series, there will be no pictures.  Unlike the other posts, this isn’t so much about the hotel as much as it is about things you might not think to bring to enjoy your vacation.

I recommend reading the Family Hotels post also as many of those suggestions would be relevant to a theme park.  This post is written assuming you are staying on Disney property, so the Kitchen and VRBO information would be less relevant, but you can apply those to your specific situation as appropriate.

So, lets dive right in train of thought style.

If you have children, you will want a stroller.  I recommend a stroller for children through at least age 6, which may be much older than they would normally ride in a stroller at home.  But, Disney is huge and a tired, grumpy child will be no fun for the group.  Plus, the place is really pretty stroller friendly and it offers a built in base for your stuff.

We usually bring our own, but we have rented the Disney strollers also.  The kids found them comfortable and the double can fit three in a pinch, which is handy.  Some people like to buy a balloon to mark their stroller (they tend to get moved) so it is easier to find.  Our regular stroller is orange, which makes it reasonably easy to spot.  But, if you have a black stroller or are using a Disney stroller it is a good idea to tie a bright scarf or such around the handle so you can quickly differentiate it.

The unfortunate second topic is germs/illness.  Disney does a good job cleaning and is generally much neater than other amusement parks.  But, there are still thousands of people touching everything and you probably have small children who cannot be convinced not to touch.  Plus, because it is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many, it is very hard to skip a day in the park even if you really should for illness.  Therefore, hand sanitizer and wipes are your friend.  I recommend a large supply of both and using them after every ride.

Another trick for preventing the spread of germs is to bring a sharpie to label the caps and bottles of all group drinks.  This way you know exactly whose is whose and are much less likely to share germs among your group.

Disney does allow you to bring a soft sided cooler into the park, which if you are clever can store food for the entire day.  Even if you do not do that, I recommend bringing a bottle of water for each person in your party (labeled with that sharpie).  Most days it is hot.  Even if you have the dining plan, which now has about a million snack credits, it seems wasteful to use a snack credit on a bottle of water.  The exception is to get a truly cold drink, which your stroller-stored water bottles might not be by afternoon.  There are grocery services which will deliver to your Disney hotel, especially if you order in advance.  Ordering by the case will be much less expensive than buying single bottles from Disney.

Continuing with the weather theme, you will be outside all day so sunscreen is a must.  You will want to purchase this at home and bring it as Disney sunscreen is also expensive.

Another thing to consider if you have small children is what will happen if they are separated from you.  I recommend safety bracelets.  These are custom printed (we put both adults cell phone numbers on them), waterproof bracelets that are pretty difficult for the child to remove on their own.  Your child will probably be wearing a Magic Band (more on that later), but the bracelets will allow any adult to help them, not just a Disney staff member.  This is particularly helpful in places like Tom Sawyer’s Island where staff members can be few and far between and places to get lost are many.

Now back to those Magic Bands.  If you are staying on Disney property every member of your party will get one.  If you are using Disney transportation from the airport, you will need them on to board the bus, so put them in your carry-on luggage.  You will also need your transportation paperwork.  And, do not lose your transportation paperwork as you need to present it to the driver on the return trip to the airport also.  Finally, if you are using Disney transportation they will provide you with luggage tags so you do not need to claim your bags at the airport.  Note, that your bags may arrive at the hotel much later than you so pack swimsuits, pajamas, or anything else you want use in the first few hours in your carry-on luggage.

A few final thoughts.  I prefer to bring printed copies of our itinerary rather than rely exclusively on the app.  This is especially helpful if you can’t get a signal at some point or if your phone gets low on battery.  Some people also like to bring a portable charger.

So, keep all this in mind next time you pack for a Disney vacation.  Hopefully it will point out some things you may not have thought of.

Disney with Kids – Disney with Strollers

20 Thursday Apr 2017

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Today is the last of a six part Disney with Kids series.  I hope you enjoyed the practical stuff, and found some new info.

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I wrote an overview of our experiences at Disney, as well as about the Fast Pass System (twice), our hotel, and the Meal Plan before.

The 2017 Disney with Kids series:
Disney while Pregnant
The Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Disney with Strollers

Disney Stroller Basics

In my opinion, strollers are a necessary part of the Disney experience for anyone six and under.  Even if your child gave up the stroller years ago, there are big advantages to having one at Disney.  First, and foremost, there is a lot of walking.  I cannot say that enough.  Your small child will get tired.  And, you might be tired too.  They can get some variety being carried, but nobody wants to do that all day.

A stroller also gives you a place to put things.  For example, you will want water for everyone in your party.  You might want snacks, sunscreen, sweatshirts, dry shoes (hello Kali River Rapids), guide books, park maps, or other items.  You might purchase items in the park (though, make everyone’s life easier if you have those items sent to your on-property hotel or the park pickup location if you are staying off property).  While there is always a chance of theft, we have never had anything stolen from our stroller.

The first thing you need to understand at Disney is that your stroller will rarely be where you left it.  If you do not leave it in a designated stroller parking area, a Disney employee will move it to the closest one.  Depending on where you are, this may not be obvious.  Do not assume your stroller has been taken; ask a Disney employee where stroller parking is.  If you do leave your stroller in stroller parking, it will still move.  Disney staff are constantly rearranging strollers to pack more in.  Or, it might be moved by a fellow guest needing access to their stroller.  If you can’t find yours ask.

Many people choose to flag their stroller with a balloon.  Personally, we have not found this to be necessary, even when using a Disney stroller.  That being said, even our orange stroller has been tricky to spot in the inevitable ocean of strollers so if this would be stressful for you, a balloon might help.

If you enter a building, you will generally need to leave your stroller outside.  This is true for most restaurants, even the quick service ones.  It is also true for most of the shops as they just aren’t spacious enough inside.  I’ll try to point out the few exceptions to this on a park by park basis.

Your Stroller (or outside rental) vs a Disney Stroller

This is a common question.  You can run the numbers, but you should also consider the pros and cons of both options.  We have done both; it highly depends on your needs.

Disney strollers

Contrary to what you may read, my children have never found these strollers uncomfortable.  The doubles are reasonably easy to steer and have plenty of storage.  They are neither lighter nor heavier than typical double strollers.  I assume the singles are similar, but we haven’t used those.  We have brought our double stroller and rented one from Disney to hold all the kids when we had many little ones.

Disney strollers are picked up and dropped off inside your park each day.  So, you do not have them on the bus/boat/monorail or through security.  If you ride the train around the Magic Kingdom you will leave them at your boarding point and pick up a new one when you disembark.  Remember to take your name card and belongings with you.  The disadvantage of this is that you are less able to race for a ride to start the day as you will be waiting in line to pick up your stroller.  You can send one person to pick up the stroller while those who want to ride go ahead.  I recommend this approach even if the rest of the group waits outside as the stroller pick up and drop off areas are somewhat small and can be congested.

Your own (or outside rental) stroller

Your stroller will be with you all the way from your car or hotel.  This means you will have it on Disney transportation and through Disney security and ticketing.

Your stroller must fold in an umbrella fashion to go on Disney buses, parking lot trams, and the Magic Kingdom train.  Sorry, the big Bob-type joggers don’t work well.  Essentially, it needs to fit like a single person, or in the case of the buses, fit under the seat.  Because even double umbrella strollers will fit under most seats on the buses, I prefer using my own stroller.  This way, you can roll your smallest children all the way to the park, and your sleepy children home at the end of the day.  The stroller will need to be unpacked and folded, but it still dramatically reduces the amount of carrying you will be doing.  For the parking lot tram, it may make sense to walk with the stroller while the non-strolling members of your party take the tram.  Many times I have arrived at our car at about the same time this way.

The stroller does not need to be folded to go on the monorail or boats.  However, the monorail compartments are small and usually jammed full.  If you have a stroller it is much easier to take a boat across the lagoon to your car or Magic Kingdom resort.  You do not have to cross the lagoon if you are using the Disney buses.

Disney security is pretty stroller friendly.  Specifically, you do not need to remove your children from the stroller for either the bag check or Magic Band stations.  You will need to remove any bags from underneath.

Park by Park

Magic Kingdom

As you might expect, the Magic Kingdom is full of strollers.  But, there are obstacles.  First, you will find Main Street USA is narrow and has real curbs.  You must also watch for the trolley tracks, which can easily catch a wheel.

Strollers can go on the Liberty Square Riverboat, but they cannot go on Tom Sawyer’s Island. If you choose to take the Walt Disney World Railroad, you will bring your stroller, but leave a Disney stroller behind and pick up a new one when you disembark.  During the parade, the boardwalk is the only way to move between Frontierland and Liberty Square (rest of Magic Kingdom).  While this is technically possible with a stroller, I do not recommend trying to enter or leave Adventureland or Frontierland during the parade.  It is just too congested and too many access points are closed.  Plan your day around the parade schedule.

The only buildings you might be able to bring a stroller in in the Magic Kingdom are Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and Starlight Ray’s Cosmic Cafe.  Even then, probably only at off hours.  Both can be crowded, especially at dinner when dining options in the Magic Kingdom are limited.

Epcot

Counter-intuitively, Epcot is the most stroller friendly park at Walt Disney World.  The walking paths are largely open and smooth, and the crowds are not as packed in as other parks.  You don’t even need to fold your stroller to take a boat across the lake.

Unlike the other parks, strollers can go in many of the buildings.  You can explore Project Tomorrow and Innoventions in FutureWorld East. You can go in Imageworks, the Land Pavilion, and the Seas Pavilion in FutureWorld West.  In the Land Pavilion you can go to the Sunshine Seasons food court with your stroller.

In the World Showcase, you will find opportunities for al fresco dining.  You can also take your stroller in the Circle-Vision films inside the China and Canada pavilions.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom doesn’t have the curbs and trolley tracks of Magic Kingdom.  But, the walkways are similarly narrow, if not more so, and they are both hillier and bumpier.  That being said, Animal Kingdom is likely to be your most relaxing day so definitely take advantages of all the paths through the animal viewing areas.  They are all stroller accessible.  You can even take your stroller (not a Disney one) on the Wildlife Express Train.

Stroller parking does seem to be farther from the attractions.  In many cases this is because it is at the exit of the attraction and you have to walk back to the beginning.  At Kilimanjaro Safaris, you will hand your stroller to a cast member who will bring it to the stroller parking area.

I don’t believe any of the buildings in Animal Kingdom are stroller friendly.  But, most of the dining is al fresco and spacious enough to accommodate strollers.

Hollywood Studios

Despite being much newer, Hollywood has many of the same stroller problems as the Magic Kingdom.  Namely, curbs and narrow streets.  Therefore, it is not as stroller friendly as one would think.  Sunset Boulevard is shockingly narrow, especially with the vendor carts, and has actual curbs (as many Disney “streets” do, unfortunately).  It is also easy to get stuck in the Center Stage area also as it is mostly accessed by stairs.

Be prepared to walk/stand in line with your normally stroller bound children for the rides.  Stroller parking is clustered and therefore not really near anything.  Unlike other parks, it can sometimes be covered, which is nice on rainy days.  And, because the shows are rather long, they all have some level of line so your small children will be free or carried more often than at the other parks.

The only building you can go in with a stroller is Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.  Frankly, though, unless you’re looking for stroller friendly AC, it’s not worth the time.

Summary

If you are traveling with kids (for admission purposes Disney kids are under 10), you will probably want a stroller.  This does not limit what you can do.  If you don’t need it much, use it as a home base.  In most parks, you can leave the stroller in one parking area and do multiple attractions around it.  If you would normally leave a baby/toddler in it all the time, realize that to experience most parks you will need to take them out.  Disney definitely tries to accommodate strollers.

 

Disney with Kids – Hollywood Studios

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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First, a disclaimer, which will be at the top of each park review.  There are plenty of websites that will give you the top rides or restaurants in each park.  So, I will cover three topics for each park: over-rated attractions, under-rated attractions, and nap strategies.

The 2017 Disney with Kids series:
Disney while Pregnant
The Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Disney with Strollers

Overview of Hollywood Studios

If you’re going to skip a park on a Disney visit with young children, it should be Hollywood Studios.  It’s not that its a bad park.  It’s that so much of it is geared towards elementary and up.  Young kids will have a lot of time on their hands.

For a newer park, it is not as stroller friendly as one would think.  Sunset Boulevard is shockingly narrow, especially with the vendor carts, and has actual curbs (as many Disney “streets” do, unfortunately).  Thankfully, it largely goes to attractions young children won’t visit, including the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror.  There is a shady waiting area near these rides though, so if you make it through the crowd it is a reasonable place to pass some time with the non-riders in your group.  Fantasmic is also at the end of this road; we’ve never been.  One of the large theaters is about halfway down if Live Shows are of interest.

It is also easy to get stuck in the Center Stage area also as it is mostly accessed by stairs.

Over-rated Attractions

Young Star Wars fans may be interested in Jedi Training, which is offered for ages 4-12.  It is cute.  But, you and your child must race to the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost first thing in the morning to register in person.  This can take a very long time – think an hour plus.  And, you may not be able to get a time slot that doesn’t conflict with your Fast Pass/Meal timeslots for the day.  With many of the attractions in Hollywood Studios being around 30 minutes, and only happening a few times a day, adding a random chunk of time at the last minute can really throw off your plans.  Get your Star Wars fix by going on Star Tours as many times as possible.

Instead, I’d recommend making a bee-line to Toy Story Mania, which will have a very long line later in the day.  Note:  Toy Story Mania has been closed for technical problems for significant chunks of the day each time we’ve been there.  If you have a Fast Pass, they will honor that if the ride reopens, or you can use it on another ride.  But, trying to go first thing in the morning also gets you in before the ride breaks down.

 

 

Under-rated Attractions

Everyone who is tall enough should ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  I know this is a bigger name attraction with Fast Pass, but a lot of people are scared of the name.  It moves around a lot, but if you can handle the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, you can handle the Tower of Terror.  The set design in the lead-up to the ride is fabulous.

Everyone should go on The Great Movie Ride.  You should not need to use a Fast Pass for this one; there are better Fast Pass options for all ages.  Spoiler Alert: With the exception of some fake gunfire and the Alien, this is a pretty tame ride.  Adults will enjoy seeing bits from famous movies and there’s still enough going on the keep the attention of the little ones who don’t really know what they’re looking at.

Nap Strategies

Napping is a bit of an issue.  First, if all the kids in your party still nap, this probably isn’t the park for you.  Get your Frozen fix over at Epcot.

The only show quiet and comfy enough for napping is Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  But, its only 17 minutes long so just as they get settled you’re off again.  There are plenty of smooth paths and shady areas if they will nap in the stroller.

Hollywood Studios is largely geared towards an older audience.  The height restrictions are taller and on most rides.  Small children will be largely limited to Theater shows.  To get those in you will need to check the schedules in advance and plan your day as each show is roughly 30 minutes and may only happen 2-6 times.  The shows are also very loud, which doesn’t work for all kids.  But, they are generally good so if one looks right for your party, definitely put it in your vacation plan.

 

Disney with Kids – Animal Kingdom

06 Thursday Apr 2017

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First, a disclaimer, which will be at the top of each park review.  There are plenty of websites that will give you the top rides or restaurants in each park.  So, I will cover three topics for each park: over-rated attractions, under-rated attractions, and nap strategies.

The 2017 Disney with Kids series:
Disney while Pregnant
The Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Disney with StrollersDisney with Strollers

Overview of Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is one of the newer parks.  It is a great change of pace from the Magic Kingdom.  It feels like there is more space (though you find out quickly the main paths are still quite narrow).  It is shady, less hectic, and just generally more relaxing.  Plus, Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other parks so it forces you to have a big of a slower day.  Consider a day in Animal Kingdom to recharge instead of taking a day off.

Over-rated Attractions

It’s Tough to Be a Bug! is a Fast Past attraction, but its definitely not what I would use my Fast Passes for in Animal Kingdom.  The description on the brochure says “Some creepy crawly moments in the dark.”  They are not kidding!  While the show is ok when the lights are on, the dark and creepy crawlies make this an unfriendly show for adults and kids alike.  Steer clear!

DINOSAUR is a good ride and one I definitely recommend for older elementary on up.  However, its height restriction of 40″ implies younger kids can ride.  They technically can, but this might be the scariest ride in all of Walt Disney World.  If you choose to take a preschooler or early elementary child on this ride be prepared for some seriously scary moments with the dinosaur animatronics.

Finding Nemo – The Musical is well executed.  However, don’t use your Fast Pass here unless you have a Nemo loving child in your group.  And, if your children are not fans of Nemo or unfamiliar with the story this may not be your best choice.  The musical covers the entire plot very quickly which can be confusing to those who haven’t seen the movie.  It also spends a high percentage of its time on the sadder/scarier parts of the story for plot development, which can be hard on a young viewer.

 

Under-rated Attractions

My top recommendation in Animal Kingdom is to use your time to explore the animal trails.  Even if you live near a large, well populated zoo, the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Africa are well worth your time.  If you do all of the animal explorations (and you should) there is more in Animal Kingdom than you can do in one day.  It takes about a day and a half to see everything.  Or cull some of my over-rated attractions off your list to fit in the good stuff.

Flame Tree Barbecue is a not-to-be missed stop in Animal Kingdom.  The excellent food provides a welcome respite from the so-so hamburgers and chicken nuggets found at so many of the quick service restaurants throughout the parks.  Also, grab some onion rings or other sides on the menu as they are very good and can count as snacks for those of you on the meal plan – ask the cashier about that option.  There is usually plenty of seating, but it is a big spread out so you may have to head a bit farther in than you realize.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris and Festival of the Lion King are our family’s must see attractions in Animal Kingdom.  If you are not using your Fast Passes for the thrill rides (Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids can have very long lines without Fast Passes), use them here.  Otherwise, head for Kilimanjaro Safaris first thing in the morning to stay ahead of the line.  You can also check the app for wait times during the day also, but Animal Kingdom is big enough that you will prefer to make an organized loop vs criss-crossing the park to go to and from rides.  A Fast Pass for the Lion King gets you closer to the action, but the theater offers good seats for everyone so just jump in line if you don’t have a fast pass.

 

Nap Strategies

 

Animal Kingdom does not have built in nap options.  But, it is much quieter and shadier than the other parks.  It also generally opens earlier and closes earlier.  Treat Animal Kingdom as a relaxing day.  If you have young children who still nap, you will not be racing for the big name rides.

If you can get there promptly at opening, the timing generally works to hit the Kilimanjaro Safaris and then go directly to the Festival of the Lion King.  From there, explore the animal trails and you take a relaxing loop around the Discovery River.  Head in a clockwise direction and you will end up in DinoLand U.S.A. where you can ride the TriceraTop Spin and then play in The Boneyard until they run out of energy.

If you choose to head counter clockwise, just realize that not all the seats at the Festival of the Lion King have backs so you may end of supporting your sleepy child.  That being said, that show is a good way to end your day also.

Note than Animal Kingdom is a long way from any resorts, even those in the Animal Kingdom area.  This, combined with its relatively short open hours, make it the least favorable park for returning to your hotel for a rest during the day.  However, if your child will sleep in the stroller, the miles of shaded walking trails make it a good place to keep the rest of the party entertained.

 

 

Disney with Kids – Epcot

30 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Travel

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First, a disclaimer, which will be at the top of each park review.  There are plenty of websites that will give you the top rides or restaurants in each park.  So, I will cover three topics for each park: over-rated attractions, under-rated attractions, and nap strategies.

The 2017 Disney with Kids series:
Disney while Pregnant
The Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Disney with Strollers

Overview of Epcot

Epcot is one the original parks and on the monorail, but often associated with adults.  Disney has been adding more kid-oriented rides in an effort to appeal more to families, but I don’t know what effect it is having.  All that being said, it is one of the boys’ favorite parks.  They love the rides and they love the food.  Food is a big part of Epcot and definitely something not to be missed.  Assuming you spend an entire day, you will have plenty of time for both a sit down lunch and a sit down dinner.  It is a good opportunity to use those meal plan credits.

Over-rated Attractions

I’m not sure Journey into Imagination with Figment is over-rated as much as it is terrible.  And, one can waste a Fast Pass on it!  The ride takes you through a number of rooms demonstrating elements of the five senses.  The trouble is, it is dark and you are startled; it’s just not fun for kids or adults.  ImageWorks, where the ride ends up, is fun.  But, if you want to see it just go in directly and skip the ride itself.

Turtle Talk with Crush is a cute show, especially for the preschool set, but don’t use your Fast Pass here.  You will get in and all the kids are invited to the front to watch anyway.

Under-rated Attractions

I’m not sure everyone realizes there are rides on the World Showcase side of Epcot (though Frozen Ever After has probably educated most of those who were unaware).  Gran Fiesta Tour Staring the Three Caballeros in the Mexico pavilion is an underappreciated gem.  It rarely has a line, is a good length, and is fun for the whole family who can appreciate Donald Duck and Co.’s antics from different perspectives.

Living with the Land is a must ride attraction for our entire family.  There’s no need to use a Fast Pass as you can often walk right on, especially in the morning.  It can get more crowded around lunch as it is adjacent to a food court.  The kids appreciate all the different plants, the different styles of growing, and spotting the hidden Mickeys.

My third recommendation is Spaceship Earth.  Who doesn’t want to go in the giant golf ball!  Like the Carousel of Progress, the ride is a bit out dated.  But, the story is good and can be understood by even the smallest children.  And, it moves quickly enough to keep their attention.  Plus, the slow ups, downs, and spins are just fun.  The line can vary throughout the day so use a Fast Pass if you have an extra, or just check with the App or the signs throughout the park to see the current status.  You shouldn’t have to wait long if you’re flexible on when.

Nap Strategies

Epcot has many large, air conditioned buildings that you can stroll through if your child falls asleep in their stroller.  While large, Epcot is less tiring for children.  There is less sensory overload than the Magic Kingdom, almost all the attractions are indoors and therefore air conditioned, and even most of the lines are inside.  It’s a lot of walking for the non-stroller folks and therefore one of the most tiring parks for those who have recently outgrown the stroller.  There are fewer go-to nap attractions here.

My first choice is The American Adventure as it appeals the least to small children, but is reasonably dark with auditorium seating.  The downside is that it is on the far side of the lake and you don’t want to be criss-crossing Epcot if you can avoid it.  However, if you’ve just had lunch in the World Showcase, it is a good choice.

Back in Future World, Ellen’s Energy Adventure offers 45 minutes of seated, air conditioned calm.  The seats do move (in large blocks), and there are animatronic dinosaurs to draw the attention of the young ones, but there’s not a whole lot of over stimulation.

Epcot can be a relaxing day with young children.  Things are generally calmer and more spread out.  So, even if it is the park most likely to be open late, another option would be to forgo the nap and book an early dinner.  None of the restaurants are surprised to find a child asleep at the table.

Disney with Kids – The Magic Kingdom

23 Thursday Mar 2017

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First, a disclaimer, which will be at the top of each park review.  There are plenty of websites that will give you the top rides or restaurants in each park.  So, I will cover three topics for each park: over-rated attractions, under-rated attractions, and nap strategies.

The 2017 Disney with Kids series:
Disney while Pregnant
The Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Disney with Strollers

Overview of the Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom is the park most people associate with Disney and probably visit first.  It has something for everyone and many opportunities to see well-known characters.  Plan to get there early one day to see the park opening show with the train overlooking the ticket plaza.  The closer you can get the better, but it the show can be seen reasonably well from fairly far back.  As with most of the parks, after you pass through the gates, walk directly and promptly to your favorite attraction to get an extra ride in before the line builds.  The Magic Kingdom offers the opportunity to take the train to the opposite side of the park.  I don’t think this would be faster than walking.

Over-rated Attractions

Hands down the most over-rated ride in the Magic Kingdom (if judged by wait times) is the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.  The idea is cute – ride around in a big honey pot to see friends from the books.  But, unless the line is under 15 minutes don’t waste your time.  And, don’t waste a Fast Pass.  The honey pots are jerky and feel much older than other similar rides at Disney.  The ride also stops frequently and therefore takes much longer than anticipated.  If you’re looking for a pre-school friendly ride in that area of the Magic Kingdom, Peter Pan (also long lines but worth a Fast Pass) and It’s a Small World (Fast Pass rarely needed) are better options.

The Astro Orbiter is not a bad ride.  But, the wait takes an eternity that the ride doesn’t make up for.  Kids have an especially hard time with the process – groupings, alternating elevators, and an additional wait when you get to the top.  It also is more dizzying than it looks, making it not the best choice for everyone.

Under-rated Attractions

All three of these rides have been around for decades.  But, they still stand up to the power house modern rides.  Since none of them have lines, its easy to fit them in between your Fast Pass destinations.  They are all worth your time.

My favorite under-rated attraction is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. These are four person cars on a flat, horizontal track, continuously traveling above Tommorowland. There’s never a line, it is reasonably long, and it has just enough curves, darkness, movement to be interesting for older children while not scaring the younger ones.  Note that it will go pitch black in one section and there are no seatbelts.  So, if you have little ones inclined to move about you may want to be on the same seat so you can keep in touch with them, literally, in the dark.  The ride goes through Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin as well as outside so you get the full Tomorrowland experience.

My second recommendation is Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.  While a very simple ride, it is enjoyable for all ages.  Each room shows a portrait of life at a different era of the 20th century and through a calendar year.  The boys still talk about it and sing the song.  It’s indoors in auditorium seating so it provides a good, air conditioned respite from the rest of the park.  There’s no line so the only wait is for the batch of seats to become available.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is my final recommendation.  At face value, singing birds may not seem like the most exciting thing in the Magic Kingdom.  But, it is so much fun.  It is indoors, so shady and air conditioned.  There are benches to sit on so it gives your feet a rest.  The songs are catchy and the show, while kitchy, is enjoyable for all ages.

Nap Strategies

Unfortunately, the Magic Kingdom is logistically the most difficult park to get in and out of.  So, the often suggested strategy of returning to your hotel room for naps will take a huge chunk out of your day.  Even if one is staying at the Contemporary, which is within walking distance, there is still the full length of Main Street USA to walk just to get to or from the attractions.  If walking is not an option, you have to take the Monorail or Water Taxi across the lagoon to your car, or one of the shuttle buses or boats to your hotel.  All this takes time.

Thankfully, the Magic Kingdom has a few good air conditioned napping options that improve upon a shady place to park the stroller under a tree (though, those exist too).  Note, you will need to remove your child from their stroller before entering any of these attractions.

First choice, hands down, is Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.  I wrote about it above as an under-rated ride.  It is also a great place for a nap.  It is air conditioned with dim lights and relatively repetitive, calm music.  The seats are padded theater style so very comfortable.  The theater rotates a few times to move from scene to scene which is like a rocking motion.  And, the ride is relatively long.  Even adults fall asleep here (though its a shame to miss the show.)

Another option is the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square.  This 22 minute show is also air conditioned with theater seats.  The theater doesn’t move and the sound is mostly talking vs music.  But, it is cool, dark, and comfortable.  The show, while interesting, is also less appealing to the younger set.  Unfortunately, it also seems to attract an older set who can be snipey about small children interrupting while they try to listen to the history lesson.  Personally, in a child-oriented theme park I think some quiet questions are to be expected.

If you don’t want to stay in one place while your child naps in their stroller in the shade, board the Liberty Square Riverboat.  You probably won’t get a bench and there’s no air conditioning.  But, its a relaxing ride with plenty of shade and reasonably quiet.  Travel the full circle, hope for a nap, and get off to continue with the attractions.

I hope that gives you some outside the box ideas for your next trip to the Magic Kingdom.