What about Water Parks

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Walt Disney World is home to four distinct world class amusement parks. There are so many rides, attractions and dining options that planning can be overwhelming. Each day needs to be planned out, especially now with the Disney Park Reservation System. Planning can (and should) be exciting when considering new rides and attractions at each park. There is an inordinate amount of news constantly surrounding the four parks. But what about the water parks.

Walt Disney World contains two separate water parks. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have distinct themes and different attractions. This purpose of this post is not to get into details about each park, but to encourage vacationers to consider a day at one of these locations. If your kids are anything like my kids, they absolutely love playing in the water. Like really love it. And these water parks are so different than the theme parks, it takes your vacation on a totally different direction. Also unlike the theme parks, you would not spend a whole day in a water park. It is a really fun excursion that can be completed by lunch time. Then it is a trip to the resort to change and then off to another park for the rest of the day.

There is very little excitement within the online community for Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. I am not exactly sure why. I guess that most people overwhelmingly prefer the other amusement parks. And I guess it is hard to compare one of these water parks to Magic Kingdom. But it really is like comparing apples to oranges. I get that Walt Disney World Vacations only last for a short time and going to a water park may seem like a waste of time. But it is really enjoyable for the kids and they get to have a little more freedom. They don’t have to be rushed to rides and wait in long lines. In the water parks they get to run and splash and play.

The added expense for the water park option can certainly be a deterrent. I already would recommend getting the park hopper option on almost all vacations. Adding in the water park option as well can make the cost per person per day increase a fairly significant amount. The cost per day actually decreases over time, so longer stays make the water park option slightly more affordable. It is easy enough to compare these prices on the Walt Disney website and see what works for you.

A Few Tips for a Short Trip

Posted on September 19, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Vacations to Walt Disney World have so many variations. There are so many things to do and decisions to be made. Some families prefer a relaxing vacation with maximum time hanging out by the pool, while others arrive early at the park and stay all day. Many vacationers stay a week or more and still leave wanting more. There are also families that might only stay for a few days because of a number of factors including budgeting and time constraints. A short trip can seem even more overwhelming because there is the added stress of feeling rushed to get everything done. Here are some ideas to relieve stress and enjoy your vacation.

The most important thing to remember when visiting Walt Disney World is that it is supposed to be fun. It seems simple, and kind of stupid, but it is still something to remember. Even with all the planning and considerations ahead of time, there WILL be bumps in the road. This is especially true for short trips where you will inevitably be trying to squeeze everything in. There have been times when I wanted to make a showtime, and just didn’t make it for one reason or another.

Dining reservations might be hard to come by. The dining reservation system opens when your vacation is 60 days away from the first day. So during a long stay, you can book the last days before many other people. The inverse is also true, that during a short stay, many people have already made their reservations by the time you are able to make yours. That means you have to accept that you will likely not get your top choices. And don’t feel like you need to sit down and eat every meal. I usually only do one table service meal anyway. On a short trip, it would be wise to only sit at a restaurant you really want, and not settle for anything.

It might be worth it to purchase the park hopper option on a short trip. The park hopper allows guests to go to 2 parks in one day. This way, you will at least be able to visit all the parks. A great benefit of this is that each park has their own hours, and generally Epcot and Magic Kingdom are open the latest. Also Animal Kingdom usually opens the earliest and you can really hit most of the attractions in half of a day. This allows you to start at an early park and then go to another that’s open later and really maximize your time. And to save money if you plan to park hop on the back end of the trip, you cab add that option after you used your base ticket the first few days. Something to remember is that Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are very close to each other and you can even walk from one to the other in about 20 minutes.

Finally, prioritize the attractions you definitely want to do. With a little luck you should be able to do everything you want at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. But, assume you won’t have time to do all of the major attractions in one day at Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. And you won’t want to spend so much time in lines you can’t really enjoy the Disney experience. So make sure to hit attractions that don’t have long waits. And again, don’t rush around trying to do everything. Just enjoy what the vacation brings you.

Construction Update: Tron Lightcycle/ Run

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Disney D23 Expo concluded this past weekend. As usual, there was so much news coming out of this event it can get overwhelming. Disney announced a ton of new movies and Disney+ shows. There were also many Disney Parks updates around the globe. By far the long awaited news that got my interest was the Tron Lightcycle/ Run update.

Tron Lightcycle/ Run is an innovative roller coaster under construction at Magic Kingdom. And it has been under construction forever. It was supposed to open for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021. Unfortunately, the COVID19 pandemic derailed those plans. Construction started before the pandemic, so anyone that has visited Magic Kingdom over the last few years has seen the construction ongoing. It has been progressing at a snail’s pace. Tron Lightcycle/ Run will bring a much needed world class thrill ride to Magic Kingdom to help push Walt Disney World into the future.

And while construction has been under way, Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed, as it passes under or through the construction zone. So hopefully the Railroad will be opening again soon. Because I do miss that ride around Magic Kingdom.

This news is, however, met with some disappointment. Tron Lightcycle/ Run has been seen to be in operation recently with theories of ride testing circulating the online community. It seemed as though the ride was closely approaching an opening date. Selfishly, I was hoping it would be complete by my next trip to Walt Disney World this January.

Attraction Profile: Mickey’s Philharmagic

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is consistently one of the busiest amusement parks in the world. Undoubtedly one of the most congested areas of Magic Kingdom is Fantasyland. It is also the biggest section of Magic Kingdom and connects Tomorrowland to Liberty Square behind Cinderella’s Castle There also isn’t much shade and it gets very hot. There is everything here that Magic Kingdom has to offer. Great rides, popular characters, signature dining, quick service restaurants and wonderful attractions. It can be difficult to navigate and certainly gets overwhelming. There are so many decisions to be made. And they need to be made quick, as wait times fluctuate rapidly. One decision we never regret is to make sure we head into Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a gorgeous production. Guests enter the theater for an orchestra performance. Through some hijinks, Donald Duck ends up on a musical adventure through some of the greatest Disney movie musical numbers. This show is an absolute must for any fan of Disney music. You will find yourself singing along and dancing in your seat. It is wildly entertaining.

Mickey’s Philharmagic also offers a great benefit that many of the attractions at Walt Disney World share. They provide a cool place to have a seat while enjoying the show. The queue is almost entirely inside and the wait is almost never more than 15 minutes. All together it can be a solid break of about 20 minutes to a half hour.

A Quick Hit on Character Dining

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Michael Luongo

There are many planning considerations for a Walt Disney World vacation. With four unique theme parks, exciting rides and beautiful shows, the planning is certainly continuous. Still nothing might require more thought than planning meals. Under no other circumstances do people plan meal times and restaurants 60 days in advance.

Well one easy way to narrow it down, is to plan on some character dining. If you have your heart set on world class meals, look elsewhere. But for this Disney Dad, we are on vacation in Walt Disney World for reasons just like this. Kids absolutely love having the characters come by their dinner. And the pictures are wonderful. And their faces are so cute and they are so excited. Those memories are what Disney Dads strive to capture.

You might read reviews for these character experiences that they are expensive or that the food isn’t great. Well yes they are pricey and the food is probably about average. But the experience can’t be beat.

Magic Kingdom
- Crystal Palace
- Be Our Guest
EPCOT
- Garden Grill
- Akershus
Hollywood Studios
- Hollywood & Vine
Animal Kingdom
- Tusker House

Best and worst rides at Magic Kingdom

Posted on August 7, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is a massive amusement park. There are so many iconic attractions that it is not possible to get to everything in one day. There are some rides that are universally accepted as the best of the best. Everything else can be a matter of personal taste. I will give you a few ideas here that I hope can help you decide what might be best for you if there just isn’t enough time. These are all tough choices to make, as there really are so many classic rides.

Best of the Best

These are the attractions that you should make sure to experience. Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain are all top picks here. They are fantastic rides and well worth the wait. Mickey’s Philharmagic is a fun adventure through the music of Disney Movies. Peter Pan’s Flight often has a long line but the ride does justify the wait. Even though the characters are dated, children love the ride through the sky.

Things that can be skipped

I honestly do not like typing this. But there are several rides at Magic Kingdom that just aren’t worth the wait. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is so dated that it is just not that enjoyable. Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios is such a better ride. Tomorrowland Speedway has a slow moving line that is entirely in the sun. There is often a strong odor from the engines of the cars. The ride itself is just ok. It’s a Small World is iconic and classic and boring (yikes). It is something to experience once at some point, but I wouldn’t miss out on other rides for it. Jungle Cruise is in the same boat (pun intended). These rides certainly appeal to many people, but I have found that many others just don’t like them. Lastly, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a fun little coaster, but the wait is often so long that it is just disappointing. Again bested by Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash is much better.

Everything Else

There are still plenty of rides left over and choices to be made. These rides should be considered based on available wait times and personal preference. This list is not exhaustive but includes Pirates of the Caribbean, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Haunted Mansion

The Mountains of Magic Kingdom

Posted on July 31, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is one of the most visited amusement parks in the world. It is ever changing with new and innovative attractions. But for many fans, Magic Kingdom was built on the three mountains. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

These three mountain rides are classic Disney rides. They are thoroughly enjoyable. They are long rides and are totally worth the wait. Disney made rides that accommodate small children while at the same time provide a thrilling experience for all ages. And it is nearly impossible to pick which ride is your favorite.

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain is a traditional log ride that Disney elevated into an icon. While the theming is changing to Princess and the Frog, I am sure the ride itself will remain almost the same. There are various little drops and lifts throughout the ride that keeps building the anticipation. And that famous drop that everyone can see from Frontierland looks so scary but is so fun. So Disney again perfected that part of the ride. Kids especially build a healthy anxiety for the drop which culminates in inevitable laughter and a splash of water. So for anyone hesitant to enjoy this experience, the drop isn’t bad at all and most of the time most of the riders don’t get too wet.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

This coaster is a major thrill ride that lets kids that are at least 40 inches tall get in on the fun. It really is great. Kids are laughing and screaming the whole time. This ride should be avoided for people with motion sickness. It is fast and does seem like an out of control railroad. Guests slide and move and lean in the car as the coaster careens down the mountain. The ride is much longer than most roller coasters. It also provides amazing views of Magic Kingdom.

Space Mountain

Unlike the other two mountains, Space Mountain is made for bigger kids and the minimum height requirement is 44 inches. The ride is much faster and much scarier. It is mostly in darkness, with limited lights and flashes. The ride car is somewhat unusual, as it fits 3 guests in a single line in the rocket themed car. It certainly causes some anxiety for parents as they can’t sit next to their kids to make sure they are safe. That is something parents should prepare for because it can be a bit stressful to put your kid in alone in front of you. But the ride is totally worth it. Like Thunder Mountain, the ride is longer than most roller coasters. The photos Disney takes of the passengers on their mission to space are also some of the best of any ride.

Drop the Rope

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Some Walt Disney World vacation tips are more impactful than others. One of the most important tricks implemented by veteran Disney Dads is the rope drop.

The term rope drop means entering an amusement park right when they open. At Walt Disney World rope drop is an event in and of itself. It seems the secret is out. There is a line to get through security and then another line to get through the gates. The only way to effectively rope drop at Walt Disney World is to get there early. Really early. And that distinction makes all the difference. If you don’t arrive early enough, you will not get into the park with enough time to beat the initial crowds. We try to get there at least 30 minutes before park opens. That’s enough time to get off the bus or other transport and get to the front of the park 15 to 20 minutes before open. And that 15 minutes is crucial. If you don’t make it in before that initial rush, then you practically lose most of the advantage of the rope drop. It may seem trivial, but that 15 or 20 minutes makes all the difference. For example, with an 8:30 park open we will get there at 8. Usually we will then be through the gates and in the park right around 830, because they do open the gates a few minutes early. If we were to arrive at 8:30, we might not get through the gates until after 9. So we just lost a half hour in a sparsely populated Disney World. Even worse, if we arrived around 9, it would probably take close to an hour to actually get into the park.

When we get into whatever park we are going to, we have a plan for which rides we are going on. It will obviously be one that will have a long line later in the day. We also consider which ride we might have a lightning lane reservation for first, because we don’t want to miss it by trying to start on the other side of the park. So just like the rest of your Disney Vacation, you need a plan, and it needs to be flexible. Usually we can go to 2 attractions back to back with little wait time. This is especially true for resort guests who currently can enjoy a half hour early admittance. Some of the most popular rides attract a massive crowd immediately. One such ride is Avatar: Flight of Passage. Pretty much everyone rope dropping Animal Kingdom goes there. So if you are not one of the first in line, it might be something to avoid. I have seen waits up to 45 minutes as soon as the park opens. We usually go the other way in Animal Kingdom. We can ride Dinosaur and Expedition Everest both without any wait.

Walt Disney World parks do not empty out early like some other amusement parks. You can not hope to ride Space Mountain multiple times in a row at the end of the night. The wait times decline, but never is there no wait. That makes the rope drop so much more important. It gives guests their best chance to enjoy a ride or two with an amazingly short wait.

Dress for Success

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Planning a vacation to Walt Disney World can be challenging and there is certainly much to think about. Park reservations, dining reservations and park hours are all things to consider. But Disney Dads know that getting everybody’s clothing together is one of the most fun planning ritual.

We made a regrettable mistake on our very first vacation to Walt Disney World. We did not pack Disney attire and just wore common shirts. Sadly we didn’t know any better. We didn’t know that wearing Disney themed clothes enhanced the magic so much. Don’t follow in our footsteps. Everything is better in Disney clothes. The characters interact with you more. The pictures are amazing.

There is one more way to take the magic to the next level. Matching shirts for the whole family. Yes that’s right. You may be hesitant and it may sound unusual, and you may think “we aren’t those people”. But it is so much fun to be those people.

You must try Sleepy Hollow

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Sleepy Hollow is a not so hidden anymore gem in Magic Kingdom. It is located in Liberty Square just outside Cinderella’s Castle. They sell breakfast snacks all day. The funnel cake is unbelievable. Even when the line is long, it moves quickly. There are tables available to sit and eat outside.

Waffles with Fruit, Funnel Cake, Sweet & Spicy Chicken, and Chips

After breakfast hours, Sleepy Hollow has additional items. There are freshly made chips and a delicious sweet and spicy chicken waffle sandwich. Guests can also get a corn dog or a turkey leg.

Sleepy Hollow is a great spot to grab a quick meal. It is much less expensive and faster than other quick service options. The breakfast foods are so tasty and fulfilling. They also satisfy my sweet tooth. The table area in Liberty Square is lively and the scenery is gorgeous.

Sleepy Hollow is easy to walk past in the hustle through Magic Kingdom. It is a bit of a hole in the wall in Liberty Square and not enough people know what they are missing. We often rope drop a few rides and then head over for breakfast.

Disney By Dads

Ideas for planning your Disney World Vacation

Category Archives: Magic Kingdom