A Fond Farewell

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Muppet Vision 3D Closing

You can’t get in the way of progress. Unfortunately for us Muppets fans, that means we are losing our iconic attraction. Disney recently announced Muppet Vision 3D is closing. The area of Grand Avenue in Hollywood Studios will be rethemed into  Monsters, Inc. I have thoughts.

I love the Muppets. I understand they are now more cult classic than pop culture. I have to at least say Disney tried to resurrect them. There were two new Muppets movies that were mildly successful.  There was a sitcom on ABC that didn’t work and multiple Disney+ shows that couldn’t gain traction. I think after these (yelp) failures, Disney decided to move on from the Muppets.

Grand Avenue in Hollywood Studios is also home to two restaurants. Mama Melrose’s and Muppets themed PizzazRizzo will be remodeled. There are also Muppets styled restrooms that are pretty nice as restrooms go. Closing those will impact the necessities on that side of Hollywood Studios.

Muppet Vision 3D has had numerous updates to Muppet Theater in the recent years. Those seem a little short sighted now. But the performance has not changed. I’m going to miss it. I love the pre-show with Gonzo. Waldorf and Statler are wonderful. Kids who aren’t necessarily familiar with the Muppets are still wildly entertained by the show. And the nostalgia factor is off the charts. I’ll miss Bean, Fozzie with the RC pie, the fireworks, the explosions, Beaker and Dr. Honeydew, Sam Eagle’s salute to all nations, but mostly America and I’ll miss all the rest.

Coming Soon

The choice of building a new land based on Monsters, Inc is puzzling. While the initial reports of a new coaster and a Monsters takeover of Muppet Theater are intriguing, I am not sure the characters have the draw to anchor a new land. Maybe I’m wrong. I love getting my kids to enjoy the Muppets. Perhaps there is a new generation getting their kids into Monsters.  I also wonder what this means for Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom.

Disney has also confirmed that the Muppets will takeover the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. I have seen a lot of negative responses to the news and I do not understand why. Aerosmith doesn’t have any Disney connection and I’m excited to see the transformation. That ride could use a makeover as the entrance and queue are dated. The draw is the roller coaster. Nobody is only there because of Aerosmith.

How we beat the crowds

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When planning your vacation to Walt Disney World, there are certain expectations.  It is going to be memorable and enjoyable.  But it is going to be expensive and crowded. The most expensive times are also the most crowded. Side note, all associated expenses for travel are highest at the busiest times, like flights and other transportation modes. It’s obvious then that you can save time and money by visiting Walt Disney World during quiet times. This is anytime schools are generally in session.

So many people

When our children were much younger and not in school, we were easily able to follow this plan. We would go to Walt Disney World in October or early November and the crowds were light. We then tried a trip during February vacation. It was still so much fun. But it was super crowded.  Flights were at least double what they usually cost. We made another trip in August.  It was less crowded than a vacation week. But it was terribly hot. There was a weird weather pattern that year. It only rained one day we were there. But it was hot all day and night. It is very weird to have the temperature still well above 90 degrees at night.

We made the decision for our family that our kids can miss a few days or even a week of school in order to go on a fun family vacation.  This might not be the right decision for everyone, but it works for us. A vacation to Walt Disney World is an investment in family bonding, memory making and a contribution to everyone’s well being. For us, that is worth a week of missing school.

How many days do you need at Disney World

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Planning a Disney World Vacation can be a little scary and overwhelming. There are many things to consider and many, many options. One of the first things to decide is how long to stay for. I always prefer longer stays, but it is not always in the budget. So here are the basics.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is the easiest park to discuss. This is definitely a one day park. It can even be less than a full day. In just one day, guests can enjoy nearly every ride and attraction, and also visit all the animal exhibits. I usually plan on a night at the resort pool after a day at Animal Kingdom. The park closes earliest of all parks and there is just the right amount of time to finish off the day with some swimming. This guideline is true for families with children of all ages.

Time at EPCOT is dependent on the ages of the children in the family. There is not too much to do for families with exclusively young children. EPCOT would definitely be only a one day adventure. If time was short, EPCOT is the park I would skip until the kids are older. With older kids, which is what I have now, we spend the better part of 2 days at EPCOT. World Showcase is now enjoyable with them as they like learning about the other countries and trying new foods. Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy are thrill rides that they love.

Hollywood Studios is a park that can be experienced all in one day. There a fun things for young children, like Disney Junior Play and Dance. Then there are the thrill rides that the older kids love, like Tower of Terror and Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land have so much to keep guests of all ages busy. So while one day is enough to feel like you saw everything, the attractions are so good you will want to do it all over again.

Finally, we get to Magic Kingdom. Here, there are just so many classic attractions. No matter the ages of the kids, or adults, you really want to spend 2 days at Magic Kingdom. And why wouldn’t you, Magic Kingdom really is the happiest place on earth. The experiences throughout the different lands are so unique magical, you will not want to leave.

What does it add up to…

So we have 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day or less at EPCOT, 1 or 2 days at Hollywood Studios and 2 days at Magic Kingdom. So when planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, you really should be looking at staying at least 4 nights and 5 days. There are some planning tricks to help maximize your time. Carefully decide which park to go to on the the day of your arrival. If you get in early enough, there may be enough time to see everything at EPCOT or count that as your second day at Animal Kingdom. I also recommend considering adding the park hopping feature. This will allow you to visit 2 parks in one day. So maybe you will go early to Animal Kingdom and finish the day at Hollywood Studios to ride Tower of Terror again.

An exciting future

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It is time for Disney World to push into the future. The last major expansion was the opening of Animal Kingdom in 1998. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some amazing improvements and new attractions, but there must be more done.

Tron Lightcycle/Run

Walt Disney World was the ultimate vacation destination for decades. But it is a changing world. The entertainment industry is very different today.  The difference is options. There is so much competition in the field that to be successful requires much more effort and greatness. I think Disney is starting to finally learn this as their movie releases have been struggling. They can’t just expect success because of the Disney name.

The Competition Heats Up

Universal Studios has been working hard on cutting into Disney World’s visitors. Universal recently released an update on their new theme park, Epic Universe.

Credit: Universal Studios

This new theme park is going to attract a lot of attention. That is going to take people away from Walt Disney World. I am hoping this will push Disney into bigger growth and development.

A Story of Misplaced Anger

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Walt Disney World is the happiest place on earth. It is only called that because it is entirely true. There are 4 theme parks and millions of visitors each year. It is an amazing destination full of awe and wonder. But that doesn’t mean it is all magic all the time. There are certainly times when things get stressful and families snap at each other.

Magic Kingdom

Setting the Stage

We were at Magic Kingdom on Saturday in early October of 2006. We were there all day and we had tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party. The temperature was above average for the time of the year. It was very, very crowded. It was early afternoon and we had Fast Passes (remember those) for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. The standby wait time wasn’t too bad. It was probably about 40 minutes. As we entered the Fast Pass return queue, we noticed the standby line seemed pretty long. It also looked to be moving pretty slow. Even the line we were in was moving slower than it should have been. So it was a little annoying. At least for us it was a little annoying. It was apparently much more annoying for people in the stand by line who probably ended up waiting over an hour and a good 20 minutes over the posted wait time. We would soon find out it was about to push one woman over her breaking point.

Just Why

After almost 10 minutes to get through the Fast Pass return queue, we made it to the ride entrance. The attendant was a college aged girl. She stopped a woman and her children who were next in the standby line to allow more Fast Pass holders through. The woman then erupted on the attendant. She just started screaming at her that she had been waiting too long, the Fast Pass system is unfair and she should not have been stopped. I mean the woman was really screaming at her. The poor attendant was just trying to get her to calm down while another attendant was calling for help, I suppose. As I walked by this woman I told her to stop yelling at the attendant, as she is only doing her best and should not be the target of her rage. The woman only paused briefly to look at me as my wife quickly ushered me away.

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin – 2018

The morale of this short story is to always remember Walt Disney World is a magical place and we must all do our part to keep it that way.

Lunch at Space 220

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Another Wonderful Choice

If there is one advantage that EPCOT has over all other parks at Walt Disney World, it is that the food options are incredible. There are so many restaurants to choose from and they are also unique and distinct. There are also the food stands around World Showcase. Especially during festivals, guests can find plenty to eat without even going to a restaurant. On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, we were able to finally visit Space 220.

A new experience

Space 220 was originally going to open during Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. The anniversary plans were seriously derailed by the Covid 19 pandemic. So instead of what may have been, Space 220 opened with little fanfare or excitement. But reservations were still hard to secure. I tried to book a table unsuccessfully on several trips. I learned there is a way to get seat at the bar by waiting at the entrance to the restaurant. But it can be long and there is no real way for Disney World to provide an accurate wait time.

Space 220 also includes the restaurant and the lounge, which are basically considered two different establishments. The lounge is located by the bar and allows smaller tables and a smaller menu of basically appetizers. The Space 220 Restaurant features an expensive pre-fixe menu. My reservation was for lunch, mainly because it was easier to get. I wasn’t thrilled with such a big meal for lunch. We did really want to try this place so we did what we could. I figured part of the cost was the experience. And we were not disappointed.

Out of This World

My spoiler free review of the seating experience is that it is awesome. The travel to the space station is wonderful. The dining hall is amazing. It is sleek and modern. It looks, feels and even sounds like you are in space.

The service and the food are wonderfully Disney. The wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable and great. The food was obviously amazing. The drinks were fun. The kids loved it. We all loved it.

I would definitely recommend the Space 220 Lounge over the restaurant for most people. The lounge gets you the same experience, but it would be a quicker to get back to the park and wouldn’t require a large meal. But for anyone looking for a top notch dining experience, the Space 220 Restaurant will surely be delightful.

An Unwelcomed Lull

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I am not happy right now. I have somehow made a series or grave errors. I have not been to Walt Disney World in almost 3 months. And I have no upcoming plans to return. Like I said I am not happy.

I don’t know how this happened. I have been travelling to Walt Disney World at least once a year for the last 5 years. I have made multiple annual trips a few times in that span. But somehow right now, I don’t have anything on the schedule. I don’t even have any plans to make plans to go to Disney World. It is very depressing.

Many things have prevented me from making vacation plans at Walt Disney World. I have foolishly allowed other commitments to interfere with a necessary trip to my favorite destination. And despite having 2 amazing vacations in 2023 at Walt Disney World, I feel like I haven’t been there in forever. Walt Disney World holds that powerful draw for the people who love it (borderline obsession and addiction). As soon as I leave, I need to go back. I miss the feel of Main Street in Magic Kingdom. I miss the music as I enter my happy place. I miss the thrill of securing a virtual queue. I miss planning my vacation. I miss picking restaurants and creating my schedule. I miss the anticipation of how my next Walt Disney World Vacation will be unique and memorable.

I know this complaint will sound silly (or offensive) to those people that don’t get it. But for the audience that lives and breathes Walt Disney World, I know you feel my pain. I am not without hope, however. With 2024 approaching, I am hoping that the turn will bring new opportunities. I may not be able to pull together a long and adventurous extended vacation. I am still optimistic that there will be a chance for a quick escape to the happiest place on earth.

Toy Story Mania is a Blast

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There are two main reasons why Walt Disney World is the best family theme park in the world. Walt Disney has the greatest collection of characters and intellectual property. Walt Disney also has the resources, imagination and desire to create amazing theme park rides. Walt Disney World is so much more than just rollercoasters. With four distinct theme parks, the possibilities are endless. This variety include simulators, experiences, wonderful restaurants, live animals and so much more. In Hollywood Studios, Toy Story Mania is an exceptionally fun ride for the whole family.

All Toys on Deck

Toy Story Mania is a virtual shooting gallery. It is appropriate for everyone in the family. This common theme is one of the amazing ways Walt Disney World truly brings families together. There are many of these rides and adventures that families can experience together. Not many amusement parks have attractions that appeal to everyone. The wait time for Toy Story Mania is usually less than 40 minutes. In slower times, it is often under 20 minutes. The queue is indoors so everyone will stay cool and dry. It is also heavily decorated with toys and games that are fun to look at and talk about. Mr. Potato Head entertains guests in line with some funny antics. I can not stress enough how great it is to have everyone in the family able to enjoy this attraction.

The Competition

My family can get pretty competitive on Toy Story Mania. The games are really fun to play. It is a shooting game, but it is super kid friendly. The games include breaking plates and popping balloons. The game is scored accurately and the technology used is unsurprisingly advanced. My secret tip for a higher score. If you have a younger child under 10, sit with them because you will have an opportunity to hit more targets.

Toy Story Mania is a fun ride for everyone in the family. A trip to Walt Disney World is more than a vacation. It is a memory making machine where families can come together and create shared experiences.

Park Hopping Adventure

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On my last trip to Walt Disney World, something unexpected happened. We didn’t plan for it ahead of time. It kind of just happened. But it was really fun and I’m actually really proud of it. We went to three different parks in the same day, and even had time to swim at the resort. This was our 3rd day at Walt Disney World. We were staying at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. We were only able to get around so easily because of the resort’s great transportation options and location in close proximity to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. We had park reservations at EPCOT and began the day there.

Park 1: EPCOT

We started the day by taking a Friendship Boat from Boardwalk to EPCOT. When you take a boat to EPCOT, you enter the park at International Gateway, where the Disney Skyliner is. This gets you into the park between France and England. We were in EPCOT the night before exploring the World Showcase, so we went over to Journey into Imagination with Figment. We continued on to SeaBase, the aquarium in World Nature. We were on our way then to an early lunch at Space 220. We didn’t really have a plan for the rest of the day. We then saw we were able to get a Lightning Lane reservation for TRON Lightcycle/Run. Because of the ease of travel to Magic Kingdom from EPCOT on the monorail, we decided to head over there after lunch. Well, we rode Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind before we left.

Park 2: Magic Kingdom

We took the monorail to Magic Kingdom, and headed directly over to TRON. We breezed through the Lightning Lane. It was our first time on TRON so we were really excited. The queue onto the ride is great at building anticipation. The ride is amazing, though unusually short for Walt Disney World. When we got out, we didn’t have any more reservations for rides or dining. It was really hot at almost 100 degrees. We then came up with the plan for the rest of the night. We would go back to the resort for pool time and a light dinner. Then we would go to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic.

Park 3: Hollywood Studios

We had never gone to a park so late that we were just going for a night time show. But we thought it was a good idea. We didn’t have to take time out of our next day at Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic, which left more time for rides. So we got to Hollywood Studios a little before 8 pm for the 9 pm show. We went right to Fantasmic and got in early, and got great seats. We watched it in awe (as usual) and headed back to Boardwalk as we started the day, on a Friendship Boat.

A week at Disney’s Boardwalk Villas

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Disney’s Boardwalk is categorized as a Deluxe Resort and it certainly delivers. There are so many unique offerings I highly recommend staying here. We rented vacation points from a Disney Vacation Club third party website. You can read here for a post on how we did it. I was going to title this post as a review of the resort, but there was so much left unexplored, I can’t call it a full review.

First off, let’s talk about why we decided to stay here. The location is perfect. The hotel is within walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and both parks are also accessible by boat. It’s also a short bus ride to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Bus travel is definitely the least fun way to get around Disney World. With better options like a boat ride, the monorail and the Sky Liner, I really don’t want to be on a bus. Another reason we selected Boardwalk was because we have seen it from the Sky Liner and it just looks so fun. An added bonus is that being a Deluxe Resort, we were able to take advantage of extended hours at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. The weather was also very hot, so having a quick way back to the resort allowed us a chance to recover for a bit before park hopping. We did that a few times and it didn’t feel at all like we were missing out on anything.

Boardwalk has so much to experience, we barely scratched the surface in a 6 night stay. We spent most of the days in one of the parks. But several nights we came back to a bustling entertainment venue. There are street performers on the Boardwalk with crowds watching. Then there is Jelly Rolls, which is a piano bar, Atlantic Dance Club and more places to grab a drink. We really were overwhelmed by the options. Late night food was served at the Boardwalk Deli and Pizza Window. Then there are 3 table service restaurants, Flying Fish, Big River Grille, and Trattoria al Forno. I kind of wish we ate at one of those places, but we just didn’t have the time.

Fantasia mini golf is also within walking distance. We really wanted to do this, but it was so hot all week we just could not get there.

The pool at Boardwalk is amazing. It’s large, there is a hot tub, and a large water slide the kids absolutely loved. We didn’t use the fitness center, but it looked solid with cardio equipment and weights including kettle bells. We stayed in a DVC villa room, which had a queen bed, queen pull out sofa and a wall pull down that is big enough for an older child.