Monthly Archives: November 2022

Magic Kingdom Fireworks are Totally Worth It

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There are some things that Walt Disney World does better than anybody else.  There are 4 distinct and amazing amusement parks and 2 water parks. Planning vacations to Walt Disney World takes months and it never stops.  There are always more decisions to be made and choices to be considered.  And in the end, not all plans are carried out. Sometimes it is a ride that just doesn’t make it into the day. And sometimes days fizzle out and the night time spectaculars get skipped. But here is why you maybe shouldn’t skip Magic Kingdom Fireworks.

Magic Kingdom

I understand why the plans for catching the Magic Kingdom fireworks can get scrapped. Days at Walt Disney World can be long. Very long. The fireworks are pretty late in the day and sometimes people just get too tired. The idea of the fireworks can itself also be very daunting. There is going to be a large crowd. It is going to be nuts trying to leave. You have to find a spot and stay there in the crowd waiting for the show. I get that some people won’t want to do that. It’s much easier to duck out before the fiireworks, and beat the rush to the resort. And it’s just fireworks. Everyone has seen them before. But you haven’t experienced the Disney magic of this night time spectacular.

Walt Disney World usually changes the Magic Kingdom fireworks annually.  There is a theme that often accompanies the ongoing theme throughout Walt Disney World. And every year they seem to get more and more advanced. Unsurprisingly,  the current theme celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.

Magic Kingdom fireworks are an event. It is amazing Disney World can produce them night after night. The fireworks are beautiful over the backdrop of Magic Kingdom.  Cinderella’s Castle is lit up with movie scenes, characters and synchronized lights. The excitement of the crowd creates a shared experience of wonder and joy. Any feelings of angst or worry are melted away. The excitement will carry your family all the way back to the resort and beyond. And of course, your children will absolutely love the fireworks and will talk about them with such exuberance, you will be so glad you stuck it out. Well until they inevitably fall asleep on the way back.

A couple packing tips

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Packing for vacation can be cumbersome and stressful. But I like to consider packing as part of the vacation and treat it as such. It should be fun and exciting. And a vacation to Walt Disney World is going to be fun. And yet there is so much to think about planning that even packing is a part of the process. But there are a few tips that I have learned over the years.

We always have a backpack in the park. It has gotten smaller as the kids have grown up, but it is still a necessity. We will put our reusable water bottles and snacks for the day in there. We also put some small toys and fidgets for the kids to occupy them in line, and a phone charger.

I pack snacks and breakfast bars in my suitcase. Having these items are convenient and they save money and time inside the park. Also once the snacks are consumed, there will be room in the suitcase for souvenirs.

It takes up alot of room in the suitcase, but we bring an extra pair of sneakers for everyone. Sometimes the rain will get so heavy, so fast that your sneakers will get really, really wet. We have had to dry sneakers with a hair dryer, and that process is horrible. It takes forever with a group of four, and the room will smell for days. This is especially true in the summer months, because it will rain. The last time we went to Walt Disney World in August, it rained almost every day. One of the days was a washout after about 3 pm and we tried to make it work. But our sneakers paid the price.

Rainy day at Hollywood Studios

A sweatshirt is usually not needed, but it sometimes can be in the cooler months. We will wear or bring the sweatshirt for the flight and then just have it in the room if we need it. We won’t bring it to the park every day, but only if the weather forecast calls for it.

Is the Walt Disney Company actually in trouble?

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It seems everything in the media now is written with a negative perspective. It apparently is the greatest form of click bait. And right now, Walt Disney is the target of much disdain. It seems like there is an endless stream of criticism.  People are reportedly ubhappy about prices, annoyed with decisions and upset about the direction of the company. A less than stellar earnings report has fueled the flames of contempt. Previous blog posts have touched on this topic. So why is Disney everyone’s favorite target of complaint?

There is no simple answer to this question.  It may be as simple as human nature to attack the company that is on top. Disney is an entertainment giant and has a massive following.  People want to read all about it, the good and the bad. But is the bad all that it is made out to be?

EPCOT

Many of the complaints I see about Walt Disney World focus on two things that seem to be in conflict.  The price is too high, and it is too crowded. Simple supply and demand will dictate the market for travel to Walt Disney World. If you consider the supply is the finite number of guests that can fit in parks and resorts, then the price will have to increase with the intense demand from vacationers. The criticism on price is something I don’t understand and I honestly find it annoying. Again if the price was much lower, there would be even more demand and it would be harder to find resorts and park reservations. The experiences provided at Walt Disney World are second to none. Yes, the cost is high, but what guests actually get for price of admission is essentially priceless.

The fact is that Walt Disney is a business much like many others. There are costs, profits, losses, boards and shareholders. The entertainment landscape is changing with streaming services and the way people consume media. Universal Studios is becoming a bigger competitor. And obviously Disney is not immune to the rising costs of inflation. But Walt Disney has an amazing catalog of characters from Frozen and Marvel, to Star Wars and Mickey Mouse. They will always have that advantage.

All of these inputs into the decision making process have resulted in changes to Walt Disney’s operations. So if they need ways to increase revenue, I can understand that. I can also see why they may need to cut costs by other means, including layoffs. I always have the option to decide if the product is worth what it costs as the consumer. So when I see these stories that predict financial ruin for Walt Disney, I do the smart thing and don’t click.

A Disney World and Universal Studios Cold War?

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Walt Disney World is constantly a work in progress. There are new rides under construction, other rides being refurbished, and sadly others being closed. This has been going on forever. I am not sure if it is my imagination, but it seems to me this process has been escalating recently. The 50th anniversary began in October of 2021. Covid-19 derailed many of the ambitious plan, but it still brought about many changes. Some of the rides that have opened, or should have opened, are some of the most advanced and exciting rides ever to be built at Walt Disney World. These rides include Ratatouille, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tron Lightcycle/ Run. These are some major rides. This might be the biggest expansion ever undertaken at Walt Disney World.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

It makes me wonder why Walt Disney World is seemingly improving so aggressively. At the same time, thanks to demand for Harry Potter World, Universal Studios Orlando has seen such a large increase in attendance, it has become more competitive with Walt Disney World. Universal Studios Orlando has recently made many additions including new resorts and their water park, Volcano Bay.

Now for the main event. Universal Studios is building an entirely new theme park. Details are scarce and rumors are plentiful. Some sure things are that the park will include Super Mario Land and more Harry Potter attractions. Epic Universe, as it is called, will also be massive. This will certainly force Walt Disney World to continue to expand and provide bigger and better entertainment. The market dynamics and the spirit of competition will invariably benefit guests to Walt Disney World for years to come.

Wilderness Explorers at Animal Kingdom

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Walt Disney World is a massive resort destination for family fun. There are four distinct parks, including Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. Each park has its own unique theme and feel. Animal Kingdom is a combination of a zoo and a theme park. Animal Kingdom is the largest park and is like a walk through nature. It is amazing how walking from Asia to Africa feels like you are being transported across continents.

There is a fun adventure waiting within Animal Kingdom that many people are completely unaware of. It is called Wilderness Explorers. It is a completely free program where kids receive a guide book full of information and activities. Kids can then complete challenges throughout Animal Kingdom. They earn stickers at each challenge location that they add to their guidebooks.

My children absolutely loved Wilderness Explorers. They had something fun to talk about throughout our day at Animal Kingdom. They kept busy with the books while waiting and lines and during other down times. They were so excited to be completing challenges and felt real accomplishment when they finished the program. The guidebooks themselves are great souvenirs. The Disney Cast members that work for the Wilderness Explorers program are obviously amazing. They are energetic and enthusiastic and really are happy to work with the children.

It might seem like a silly thing or something extra that will get in the way of the plans of the day. But Wilderness Explorers is so enjoyable and only enhances the experience at Animal Kingdom.

We miss the Disney Dining Plan

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The Covid19 pandemic caused so many rippling effects throught Walt Disney World. While much is back to normal, Disney also used the pandemic pause as a reset in several ways. One thing that has yet to return is the Disney Dining plan.

Hollywood Studios

What is the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining plan is pre-purchased meal plan. There are a few different options, and the names of them are a little confusing. The plans give each guest an allotment of meal options each day. Guests also get a reusable resort drink bottle.

I recommend the Disney Dining Plan, which as it’s name implies I guess is the standard plan. This gives each guest one table service meal, one quick service meal and two snacks per day. This is my ideal Disney Dining strategy. I like the one sit down meal each day to relax, regroup and revitalize. I like the quick service meal to complement that as a fast grab and go, because I don’t want to spend too much time in one day on eating.

The complete options offered are:

  • Quick Service Dining Plan
    • 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks per night
  • Disney Dining Plan
    • 1 table service, 1 quick service and 2 snacks per night
  • Disney Dining Plus
    • 2 combined meals, both can be table service or quick, 2 snacks per night
  • Disney Deluxe Dining Plan
    • 3 combined meals, 2 snacks per night

So what does that all mean. Table service restaurants are basically sit down meals with a waiter. Quick service meals are cafeteria type places where you grab your food and go. Snacks can be non alcoholic drinks, or most other food items. Each meal allotted includes a dessert and a drink. Table service meals include one alcoholic beverage too.

Other points to consider

Thie dining plan provides each allotment per night of your vacation. They are all given upon arrival. So you can use an extra snack or meal on a day when you need it. A quick service meal can be converted to 2 snacks if the need arises. The meal plan is for everyone over 3. Kids under 3 can order their own food, or have a few bites off other plates. Some more expensive restaurants, like Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, take table service meals. The system works amazingly (no surprise) and it is easy to keep track of.

So why do I love the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining Plan lets vacationers pay ahead of time for almost all of their food. I truly miss that. It is wonderful to arrive at Disney World knowing you have already paid for almost all of your vacation. It also limits the amount you spend, because you know ahead of time what you have available to you that is already paid for. Now, since you are paying for all your food, I find I spend more frivolous.

Disney has repeatedly said the Dining Plan was returning. However, there is still no timeline available.