Excitement for Disney Springs

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Michael Luongo

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. EPCOT is actually an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The theme here is clear throughout EPCOT, with a focus on science, planet Earth and Space. Hollywood Studios, especially with the new additions of Star Wars: Galaxy Edge and Toy Story Land, is where the movies come alive. Animal Kingdom is a combination of a zoo and a theme park. Magic Kingdom is the “happiest place on Earth”. By itself, it is home to six different lands that bring wonder and joy to children and adults. There is even more fun to be had at the two waterparks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. But what about Disney Springs?\

I have been going to Walt Disney World with my children for over 10 years. I have not gone to Disney Springs since 2013. There is just too much to do with little kids and there is not enough time. Now that they are older I think it is finally time to make our return to Disney Springs. We are now 10 days away from our vacation and I am surprised by how excited I am to visit Disney Springs. We are trying something a little different this trip. We usually fly to Orlando early and make it to our first park around midday. This time we are flying out early afternoon and will be going to Disney Springs that first night. I got a reservation at T-Rex Dinner which I have been hoping to visit for some time now.

We are excited to walk around Disney Springs and take in all the sights. We have purposely not looked much into what we will do there and we are excited for an unplanned night of leisure. There are so many shops and places to stop for a snack and a drink. There seems to be live music everywhere and everything Disney. I think it is going to be a great start to set the stage for an awesome week.

Disney Announced New Hollywood Studios Christmas Event

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Walt Disney World is the most magical place on earth. During the holiday season, the magic intensifies immensely. There is no better time to be in Walt Disney World. However, this is no secret, and the crowds are massive and it is usually as busy as it gets. If you accept that challenge, it will be well worth it to visit Walt Disney World for the holidays.

Jollywood Nights

Walt Disney World announced an entirely new special event taking place at Hollywood Studios. It will be called Jollywood Nights. The event seems to play on the history of Hollywood. I love this selection of the theme. Hollywood Studios has moved away from some of its history by adding Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Anyone who visited Hollywood Studios (or the old MGM Studios) in the early 2000s and 2010s may remember there was much more of a glitz and glamour feel to the park. Disney’s website uses phrases like “Glitz & Glitter” and “Dapper Decor”. It also seems that this party will be more adult friendly than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party over at Magic Kingdom. I am so excited for this event. I am tempted to impulse book a reservation now. I think this event will be especially ideal for a quick adults only trip to Walt Disney World.

The available dates have been released and the time is from 8:30 pm – 12:30 am. Tickets will go on sale July 6, but guests who already have resort reservations can get tickets June 23.

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Takeaways from the Galactic Starcruiser

Posted on May 28, 2023 by Michael Luongo

So Walt Disney World has announced the closure of the Galactic Starcruiser Resort. The final adventures have been booked, and the experience will end in September of this year. Very briefly, the Starcruiser was an ambitious project by Disney. It was an entirely immersive resort experience. Guests would arrive at the resort for a 2 night stay. During their time, they would be able to remain completely inside the Star Wars universe. There was transportation directly to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios. For an ultimate Star Wars fanatic, there was nothing else like it in the universe.

What Happened

Walt Disney World recently announced that the Starcruiser will permanently close in September. The cost of the experience proved to be too high, while the demand was too low. Disneyay have overestimated how many Star Wars fans would be willing to pay for the resort. Star Wars may not be the franchise they’re looking for. I wouldn’t think it was. The recent trilogy did not live up to expectations. And I think the success of the Marvel movies also damaged the Star Wars brand. As Marvel rose, Star Wars fell.

Not All Is Lost

The Galactic Starcruiser was a risky and ambitious project. Those are great components of creativity and innovation. Those are things that make Disney great. They are always moving forward and pushing through limits. We want Disney to keep doing that. Disney executives also have a lot to learn from this project. There were things I’m sure that worked well, and things they would not repeat. They tried something that had never been done before, and can use those lessons learned for future endeavors.

A few days after the initial announcement of the closure, it was revealed that closing the resort was a tax write off thay would save Disney hundreds of millions of dollars. It is unclear at this time what will happen to the actual building of the resort. I don’t know if it has to be torn down for the write off, or if it can be repurposed.

Walt Disney World has the BEST employees

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Michael Luongo

There are many, many things that separate Walt Disney World from other theme parks. Walt Disney World is home to so many beloved characters and the universe of story telling is unmatched. With 4 distinct and unique theme parks, 2 water parks, and a shopping/dining/entertainment complex, Walt Disney World is a magnificent vacation resort destination. But what really makes the biggest difference are the employees.

Firstly, Walt Disney World has absolute world class performers. There are so many amazing actors, comedians, singers and dancers. There are acrobats, gymnasts, and animal trainers. There are so many more specialists that it is actually astounding. EPCOT employs people from all around the world to showcase their culture.

What this post is truly about, though, are the countless cast members that cheerfully interact with thousands of people. These are the people at the park entrance, ride operators, bartenders and waitresses. They are so awesome. It is amazing there are so many cast members that obviously love what they are doing. In the above picture, the bartender at Oga’s Cantina offered to take a picture of us. She then took the selfie with us in the background. It was so fun she was great.

The difference is really noticeable. I have been to many amusement parks and nobody anywhere can do what Disney does. The cast members are so helpful, engaging and happy. I strongly suggest you take notice of this on your next trip to Walt Disney World. Interact with them and thank them for what they do. Keep the Magic strong.

Disney Dining Plan Returns and a look towards 2024

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Michael Luongo

The Disney Dining Plan is finally back!!! Missing since the start of the Covid pandemic, the Dining Plan returns in January 2024. Check out why I missed it so much here.

The Disney Dining Plan allows guests to budget their dining expenses. Every time I used it, I pretty much didn’t pay for any food while I was in the parks. You know how many meals and how many snacks you have each day, and if you stick to the plan, you won’t end up going overboard on food. I found when I did have the Dining Plan, it was easy to refrain from excessive purchases.

Big News Under the Radar

The return of the Disney Dining plan wasn’t the only jaw dropping information included in Disney’s recent 2024 announcements. Without admittedly providing any details, Walt Disney World acknowledged that Disney Genie Plus needs some changes. Disney reportedly will make Disney Genie simpler, and allow for more planning and purchases before the day of the visit. That is amazing news. I do enjoy Disney Genie Plus, but as Disney (responsibly) admits, using it takes away from the experiences enjoying a day in the theme park. It takes a lot of time and attention to plan the next reservation. When this is done every few hours, it can seem like you are on your phone a little too much.

My Best Animal Kingdom Advice

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Animal Kingdom is certainly the most unique park at Walt Disney World. It really is astonishing that Disney was able to combine a world class amusement park with what is essentially a wonderful zoo. All of this is accomplished without guests being aware of any of the effort behind the scenes to care for the animals.

Animal Kingdom is the largest park by area, and it feels it. It is a long walk from one side of the park to the other. Then there are the walking trails to see the animal exhibits. Animal Kingdom has diverse (and bulky) vegetation throughout the park that can make navigation more difficult, especially for new visitors. There are also less rides than at the other parks. All of this has the combined effect of making planning your day at Animal Kingdom much more important.

The Must See Attractions

Based on popularity and wait times (and not personal preference), the biggest attractions at Animal Kingdom are Avatar: Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, Festival of the Lion King, Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest and Dinosaur. So the plan must be to find the best way to get to all those attractions, without making the day so hectic that it takes away from the enjoyment.

The Plan that Works for Me

I have a plan that I have worked through over multiple visits to Walt Disney World that gets me the results I want. I usually don’t purchase Genie Plus for Animal Kingdom, because there are just too few attractions to use it on. If you really want to get on Avatar: Flight of Passage, you can book a Lightning Lane reservation for that ride alone (more on timing later). The most important part of the plan is to arrive early at Animal Kingdom. I want to be there at least 20 minutes before the park opens. Now this is usually pretty early in the morning because Animal Kingdom is often the first park to open. But you need to get there early and get in at rope drop.

Now mostly everyone heads over to Pandora when Animal Kingdom opens. So I go the other way and I can ride Dinosaur and Expedition Everest (once or twice even) without any wait. Next it is on to Kilimanjaro Safari, and then Festival of the Lion King. By then it will be around 11 am. Then it’s either a light lunch or snack, or right over to Pandora. If I have made a Lightning Lane reservation for Avatar, I will hop on, and have the rest of the day to relax and see the animals. Otherwise, I will get in line and wait. The queue is interesting, and the wait is most often less than posted. I am not a huge fan of the Avatar movies, so I don’t wiat for Na’vi River Journey. But if you want to experience it, the ride is beautiful.

Should you buy Disney Genie Plus???

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Walt Disney World is certainly a popular vacation destination. There are four distinct parks, including Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. No other vacation involves so much planning and offers such a diverse list of activities. Every vacation to Walt Disney World is unique on its own. Being so popular (and so amazing), means that the cost of the vacation is expensive. And that is just the start. It goes up from expensive to pretty much astronomical. Therefore, budget decisions must be made. Things to decide on include resorts, dining, souvenirs, and other extras. Then there is Disney Genie Plus. It costs can vary by day, but expect about $15 per person per day, which can easily add up to a major expense. Disney Genie Plus allows users to make reservations (the old Fast Pass) for some rides throughout the day. So The question remains, should you purchase Disney Genie Plus.

The Definitive Answer to the Question

The simple answer is YES. You need Disney Genie Plus. They way to think about Disney Genie Plus is that however it works out, it is really amazing to skip major lines on at least some attractions. It actually makes a big difference (especially for the kids) to get on a ride without a long wait. It makes for a nice break from the lines and makes them more bearable when you get back in one.

But the complicated answer is you don’t need it every day. Disney Genie Plus works best at Magic Kingdom. Because there are so many rides, you can get the most amount of reservations. The other parks have much more limited options, and it becomes less valuable. Animal Kingdom really has the least benefit and it can probably be avoided. Especially if you can get there early and rope drop. Hollywood Studios is so busy and the reservations go so fast, it is also a struggle to use Disney Genie Plus. But even if it only gets you a few rides, it can make a difference as Hollywood Studios usually has the longest waits. EPCOT is the second best park for using Disney Genie Plus. There are surprisingly a large amount of quality rides to book and they are some pretty great ones (Soarin’, Frozen Ever After, Test Track).

It’s All a Matter of Preference

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Michael Luongo

It is important to remember when planning a vacation to Walt Disney World that there are no wrong answers. There are so many different things to do that every trip to Disney World can be unique. So when planning your next vacation, always consider your own preference and what your family likes to do. While there are some attractions that are universally beloved (or despised), most people have widely varying opinions. Don’t rely too heavily on reviews and other sources. Make sure you experience everything once for yourself. Within my own family, we have many disputes between our favorite rides. We even disagree on which parks we like best.

Consider also why you are taking this vacation. Most likely it is to build family memories and provide an amazing experience for your children. So think about what they like to do. We have a child that absolutely loves animals. We therefore like to spend more time at Animal Kingdom than we normally would.

All Things Beauty and the Beast

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Walt Disney World is home to the most beloved characters in the world. Heroes, villains, animals, princesses, toys, the list goes on and on. Walt Disney World certainly maximizes the appeal of these characters in rides, shows, performances and greetings. One movie that certainly has left its mark on Walt Disney World is Beauty and the Beast. There are attractions in 3 of the 4 parks, with the exception being Animal Kingdom.

Hollywood Studios

Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is a professional production of the beloved movie. It runs about 20 to 25 minutes and contains all the classic songs and scenes. It is really wonderful. The show is played in a covered theatre on Sunset Boulevard. Showtimes are usually every hour, so there are plenty of chances to catch it. I highly recommend this show as it really is dazzling.

Magic Kingdom

Located in Fantasy Land, Be Our Guest is an amazing dining experience. It is a signature (think expensive) restaurant with a prefix menu. Patrons are able to dine inside Beast’s Castle and meet Beast. Walt Disney World unsurprisingly built the castle exquisitely to the finest detail. There are performance aspects to the dinner, and you can even take a look at the rose in the glass. The menu is expensive and the food is definitely high end, so this might not be for everyone. I’m not much of an eater myself, but for the experience alone we needed to try.

EPCOT

Located in (where else) France, there is an underappreciated attraction called Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. We really only stumbled upon it one day to get out of the rain. Again, it shouldn’t surprise me that even a small show tucked away in EPCOT contains Disney magic to delight fans. I won’t give anything away, but you should definitely seek out a time to see this show.

Why I love Tommorrowland Transit Authority People Mover

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Magic Kingdom is the happiest place on earth. It really is. Thrill rides, beloved characters and iconic attractions bring back adoring guests year after year. Theming at Walt Disney World, and especially within Magic Kingdom, is something that helps Disney World rise above other amusement parks. Other Disney parks come close, but nothing quite catches this phenomenon like Magic Kingdom. Tomorrowland just feels different than Fantasyland and Fronteirland. It really is amazing. Magic Kingdom is the best.

There are so many rides in Magic Kingdom, that it wouldn’t be possible to experience them all in one day. Especially with little children, there is a certain limit of how much can be done. Little ones don’t do very well waiting in lines. Although Disney designs most rides to accommodate even the smallest guests, the thrill rides to have a minimum height requirement. And that leaves families scrambling sometimes trying to decide what to do. Here I will pitch one of my favorite attractions, Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover.

The People Mover is an elevated open air tram that travels around Tomorrowland in basically a tour of the attractions. The ride is slow moving and relaxing, but does sometimes seem to be cruising a little faster. It winds its way through rides like Space Mountain and is narrated with fun facts. Guests can get fun views of Magic Kingdom as they wind their way through Tomorrowland.

Vacations to Walt Disney World are about making family memories. Most rides and shows can be experienced by almost everyone in the family. Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover can truly be enjoyed by everybody. The ride is entertaining, long and enjoyable. The wait is never too long. The trams allow families to sit facing each other so they can really connect and converse. It is calm enough for people who don’t want a thrill, while also being fun enough for kids seeking a ride. I can’t describe the joy I feel while zooming around Tomorrowland with my favorite people.

Disney By Dads

Ideas for planning your Disney World Vacation

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