DisneyDawgs

Author: Mark Plante

  • The End of an Era: A Valediction for “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth”

    The End of an Era: A Valediction for “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth”

    After a celebrated two-decade residency at Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon, the curtain is set to fall on one of the park’s most iconic and defining spectacles. “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” which premiered on October 1, 1999, to inaugurate the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration, will conclude its nightly run on September 30, 2019.

    While its 1988 predecessor, simply titled “IllumiNations,” first established the tradition of a nighttime spectacular, “Reflections of Earth” has defined the Epcot experience for a generation. Its conclusion marks a pivotal moment in the park’s announced, large-scale transformation. Beginning October 1, 2019, a new, temporary nighttime show titled “Epcot Forever” will debut, serving as an interim production that pays homage to the park’s rich musical history.

    The Show’s Thematic Structure

    “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” is far more than a 12-minute pyrotechnic display; it is a sophisticated, tripartite narrative presenting a symbolic story of our planet. The show’s three distinct movements are:

    1. Chaos: Representing the fiery and explosive creation of the planet, this segment is driven by intense fireworks and powerful flames.
    2. Order: The chaos subsides as the massive “Earth Globe” glides to the center of the lagoon. This movement showcases the history of humanity and the diversity of our civilizations.
    3. Meaning: The globe opens like a lotus flower to reveal a final “Unity Torch.” This climax, set to the soaring anthem “We Go On,” serves as a powerful message of global unity and a hopeful future.

    This entire multimedia symphony is set to a stirring, award-winning orchestral score composed by Gavin Greenaway.

    Technological Innovation

    A centerpiece of the show’s technological achievement is the “Earth Globe.” This 28-foot-diameter sphere was a groundbreaking feat of engineering upon its debut: the world’s first spherical video display system. Featuring 15,000 internal LED clusters, the globe serves as the show’s visual nucleus, displaying a continuous tapestry of images depicting humanity and the natural world. This innovation, combined with choreographed high-pressure water fountains, lasers, and perimeter fireworks, created an immersive 360-degree experience.

    Looking to the Future

    While the impending retirement of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” is a bittersweet milestone for countless Epcot visitors, it signals the dawn of a new era. The forthcoming temporary show and the permanent, technologically advanced spectacular planned to debut in 2020 are integral components of Epcot’s ambitious revitalization.

    Although we bid farewell to this beloved production, the core message of unity and inspiration it championed for twenty years is expected to remain central to the park’s future identity.

  • Dealing With the Crowds at Disney World

    Crowds… If you’ve ever been to any of the Disney parks, you have had to deal with the huge crowds that are in the parks.

    In the past, there were times of the year where the crowds were not as bad.  This was called the off-season.  The off-season was mainly mid-January through mid-February and late August into the first week of October.  During this time the parks were not as crazy as say Christmas week or Spring Break. You would be able to get on attractions fairly quick.

    Unfortunately, the off-season does not exist anymore.  Whether April, December or January you are going to face an obscene amount of people in the parks at any given time.  Even more so now in this era of Disney unveiling a new land or attraction every year or so.

    So how do you deal with crowds and still be able to enjoy a vacation at Disney World?  Below is a list that we have compiled through our experience and from other Disney Bloggers and Message Boards.

    Our Tips

    1. Rope Drop – Get to the parks early.  Rope Drop is the official opening time of the park. Yes, in some areas of the parks, they actually drop a rope to let people in.  Once you have entered the park, head to the very furthest ride from the entrance as quickly as possible. (Magic Kingdom – Thunder Mountain. Epcot – Soarin or Test Track.  Animal Kingdom – Pandora. and Hollywood Studios – Rock n Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror). You will most-likely encounter a very short wait to get on that ride. Most people will try to ride the attractions closest to the entrance.
    2. Extra Magic Hours – If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, check to see if there are “Extra Magic Hours”.  Extra Magic Hours are usually rotated throughout the four parks. They are where guests staying at WDW hotels are allowed in the park before the general public.  EMH are usually 1-2 hours before or after normal park operation.
    3. FastPass+ – WDW parks offer free FastPasses which are basically a reservation for a certain time at a specific attraction.  Your FastPass will allow you to skip the “standby” line for that attraction saving having to wait in some cases over an hour.  You may select 3 FastPasses at the beginning of the day and once you have used those three, you may select additional attractions based on availability.  A benefit to staying at a WDW Resort is that you are able to select your FastPasses up to 60 days before your visit (30 days if you are staying off-site.). Fastpasses for the most popular attractions do run out quickly, so reserve them as soon as you can.
    4. Food – Ordering food anywhere in the parks can be time consuming.  Try to eat at off hours (lunch at 2PM, supper at 8PM, etc), crowds will be much later at those times.  WDW has recently introduced Mobile Ordering through the MyDisney app on your phone.  This program allows you to order and pay for your food ahead of time and, for the most part, it is ready for you to pick up when you enter the Quick Service Restaurant.

    Dealing With the Crowds

    Like we said, no matter when you visit a WDW park, there are going to be crowds.  Here some personal tips for you.

      1. Get Plenty of Sleep: Make sure that you get as much sleep as you can.  You will be walking miles and miles in the Florida heat and humidity.  That alone will take a toll on any unrested individual.  Now add in crowds and you could make yourself miserable very quickly.
      2. Comfortable Shoes: Believe it or not, your shoes could make or break your vacation.  Trust me, if your feet are not happy, you will not be happy and like we said earlier, you will be walking your entire visit to the Park.  I suggest that a light pair of broken in sneakers will make your vacation.  If you are buying new shoes for your trip, make sure to give plenty of time to break them in before you hit the parks.
      3. Take Breaks: The Florida heat and humidity can make you very sick if you do not take care of yourself during your visit.  Even during January and February the parks can get quite warm.  If you are coming from a climate that has 6 feet of snow on the ground and sub-zero temperatures, even a 70°day can knock you for a loop.  Make sure to every now and then duck into one of the air conditioned shops for a few minutes or find a table in one of the quick-serve restaurants and take 5 and get a cold drink and/or snack to recharge you batteries.  Your body will thank you later on in the evening.

    Like we said, no matter when you go to Disney World, there are going to be crowds.  Hopefully the tips that we gave can help ward off some of the frustration that comes with them.  Let us know if you have any tips or tricks that you have for dealing with the crowds.

    We hope that you have a fun and memorable visit to the parks.

  • NBA Experience Opens at Disney Springs

    Without much fanfare or hoopla as with other experiences on the Disney properties, the NBA Experience is now open in Disney Springs.

    The NBA Experience is an interactive basketball experience for guests where they can test their basketball skills.

    The NBA Experience takes over the space formerly occupied by Disney Quest which was an interactive arcade that dates back to Downtown Disney.

    Below is what is offered at the NBA Experience:

    Dunk! – Challenge Your Skills “Above the Rim”
    Step up and demonstrate the dunking skills you’ve only dreamed of until now. And bring your game face for a photo op that’s sure to impress.

    Shoot! – Beat the Clock, Bring Home the Win
    Live out your basketball dreams in this innovative experience. Step on the court, where you’ll be guided through a sequence of shots, with a virtual crowd cheering you on. Feel the thrill of making the game-winning basket!

    Dribble – Bounce that B-Ball… “Show-off”
    Grab a ball, hit the court and let the coach take you through the drills to assess your basketball-handling skills. This challenge is designed for a wide range of ages and skill levels—from novice to expert.

    Slingshot – Score, Score, Score!
    Take your game to new heights in this next-level shooting challenge. Using a large slingshot, you’ll try to shoot the ball through hoops set at varying heights. Pay close attention—as the game progresses, the scoring changes!

    Arcade Area
    Test your hand-eye coordination at a variety of arcade games:

    • B-Ball Games Up-Close and Personal: Beat the clock with a perfect shot as your basketball skills are put to the test in this spin on classic basketball arcade games.
    • Pop-A-Shot: Fans young and old can try their hand at a series of Pop-A-Shot arcade games that include static hoops and hoops that move side to side.
    • NBA 2K, NBA Live and NBA Playgrounds: Test your skills in the digital arena with the latest immersive video games of the NBA—featuring some favorite venues!

    Combine – Stand out from the Crowd
    Explore the science behind the sport as you put your skills to the test through a series of Combine drills. You’ll get real-time feedback on your performance to see how you measure up to an NBA or WNBA player.

    Draft – The Number One Pick is… You!
    One of the biggest moments in a player’s life is the day they’re drafted into the league. Now, it’s your turn to experience this incredible moment.

    Players – Inside the Player Sanctuary
    Enter the off-court sanctuary of the locker room, where you can explore current team rosters, records and highlights from the season.

    Trophy Moments in Hall of Champions
    Have your own championship moment with a league MVP trophy to hold high and proud for a thrilling photo op. You’ll be surrounded by photos and video clips from some of the greatest championship moments in NBA history—so you’ll be immersed in the feeling of victory.

    Combine – Stand out from the Crowd
    Explore the science behind the sport as you put your skills to the test through a series of Combine drills. You’ll get real-time feedback on your performance to see how you measure up to an NBA or WNBA player.

    Trivia – Get your Brain in the Game
    Test your knowledge of the NBA and all of its leagues—past and present—in a competitive game of trivia. The heat is on as you compete against up to 24 other players, as well as the clock.

    Champions – That Winning Feeling
    Relive the NBA and WNBA’s rich history in the Hall of Champions, from buzzer-beaters to championship victories. The history of these organizations is at your fingertips—so you can follow the journeys of legends whose names have been etched into NBA immortality.

    Replay – Be the Ref!
    Championships are made not only by super-human player abilities and razor-sharp coaching acumen, but also by the split-second decision-making of officials. All it takes is one call to shift a team’s momentum and be the difference between a win and a loss; those who go home with a championship trophy, and those who just go home.

    Do you have what it takes to make the right call? Correct calls will earn points and, more importantly, bragging rights among fellow “couch refs!”

    Theaters
    The NBA Experience is home to 2 custom-made theaters showing new, short films that will draw you into the world of the fan and the player. Here, you’ll be connected to the game through immersive storytelling and unique visual and audio methods.

    Draft – The Number One Pick is… You!
    One of the biggest moments in a player’s life is the day they’re drafted into the league. Now, it’s your turn to experience this incredible moment.

    Players – Inside the Player Sanctuary
    Enter the off-court sanctuary of the locker room, where you can explore current team rosters, records and highlights from the season.

    Trophy Moments in Hall of Champions
    Have your own championship moment with a league MVP trophy to hold high and proud for a thrilling photo op. You’ll be surrounded by photos and video clips from some of the greatest championship moments in NBA history—so you’ll be immersed in the feeling of victory.

  • Top Five Disney World Vloggers

    For those of you that may not be aware, Vlogging or  Video Blogging of Disney has become very popular for those that love the parks and those that may be planning a trip to Disney.  Disney Vlogging is a win-win situation for both the Creator and Disney.  The creator is able to earn income and exposure by giving information about the parks and Disney gets free exposure for their parks and products.

    DisneyDawgs does have a YouTube Channel where we post videos regarding the parks but not to the expertise or in depth video of the professional Disney Vloggers.

    Below we have compiled a list of our top 5 favorite (in no specific order) Disney Vloggers.

    Resort TV1

    https://www.youtube.com/user/jnnelson79

    Resort TV1 are Disney Vloggers that excel at live-streaming events from the parks.  Whether it is Illuminations at Epcot or a stroll through Magic Kingdom the quality of the video that they live-stream is crystal clear and their commentary is second to none.  The interaction they have with fans that stop them and say hi during their streams adds to the friendliness of their videos.  Me and my pups started watching the live streams from the parks that they broadcast every Friday night at 6PM EST about 18 months ago and instantly enjoyed their content ever since.

    DFB Guide

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnpWedLQdHpZqhgTLdB9Yyg

    The Disney Food Blog on YouTube is a must for those that love Disney, are veteran Disney Park visitors or are planning their 1st trip to Orlando.  Their series of both Vlogs and Blogs have an incredible amount of information that will save you both time and money.  The videos are hosted by AJ and she will guide you Disney planning with her warm and comforting voice.  The wealth of information that this channel shares with its viewers is priceless.  AJ will mainly guide you through the marriot of food options that there are when you visit Disney and when the best times are to visit for your greatest savings.  This may be a good vlog for adults to watch because AJ always finds the best alcoholic beverages in Disney 😀

    Big Fat Panda

    https://www.youtube.com/user/thebigfatpanda

    Big Fat Panda is a Disney Vlog that has just about everything Disney in it, along with some skits and funny commentary.  BFP has been around for quite a while and his vlogs never disappoint.  Whether the opening of a new ride or sitting down with other Disney creators to discuss some Disney information or rumors.  Take a look at this interesting vlog.

     

    Paging Mr. Morrow

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCscn2aSpMrS2U_mf7OF-UwQ

    Paging Mr. Morrow is a funny, zanny vlog featuring a husband and wife team that travels through the Disney Parks offering their unique observations and options of Disney rides, shops, etc.  This vlog offers some incredible POV ride videos that are very high-quality.  Paging Mr. Morrow is a vlog to watch when you just want to enjoy the sites of the Disney Parks along with some very humorous commentary.

     

    Tim Tracker

    https://www.youtube.com/user/TheTimTracker

    The Tim Tracker has to be one of the most popular Disney Vlogs on YouTube today.  Tim Tracker is not only a Disney Vlog, he does videos on all of the Orlando area attractions.  The biggest time of year for his vlog is during Universal Studios “Halloween Horror Nights”.  This channel started out as a daily vlog channel and kindof morphed into a Disney Vlog.  Today, Tim is often visiting many of the new Disney attractions, hotels and even Disney Cruise Line on the invitation of Disney themselves.  Although for some of the latest videos Disney has paid both him and his wife’s bill, I still feel as though he is giving an honest opinion in the video.

     

    There are currently hundreds, if not thousands of Disney Vlogs on YouTube currently.  This venue offers viewers information of every angle of the Disney Parks to help their viewers save time, money and have an enjoyable vacation.

  • Disney Skyliner Opening Announced

    © Courtesy Walt Disney Co.

    The Disney Skyliner Gondolas that everyone has been watching grow right before our eyes has announced an opening date.

    The Gondolas have been built as an additional form of transportation between Hollywood Studios and Epcot to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort (opening in December, 2019).

    Disney Bloggers have been reporting on the progress of the construction since groundbreaking (see our report here) and now the 2 year long project is nearing completion.

    The gondolas are decorated with various Disney characters, films and rides such as Mickey Mouse, Haunted Mansion, Finding Dory and more.

    Disney Park’s Blog is reporting that the gondolas will begin operation and transport guests on September 29, 2019.

  • Rabies Alert for Epcot

    The Florida Department of Health in Orange county has issued a rabies alert for a two mile radius of where a where a feral cat was caught and determined to have rabies.

    A spokesman for Disney World confirmed that two Disney Cast Members had been scratched by the cat.  This occurred in an office building’s parking lot outside of Epcot itself.

    The Florida Department of Health believes that it is likely that the cat may have infected other wild animals in the woods around Epcot.

    The Florida Department of Health warns is scratched or bitten by an infected animal, you will want to see immediate medical care.  Rabies is easy to treat if care is administered immediately.  Though, without treatment, it can be fatal.

  • New Disney World Buses

    Disney World is currently testing six new buses at Magic Kingdom.  The new buses have both wifi and charging ports. They are said to be a little larger than the current buses.

    Although there is no official word from Disney on when they will be put in full service, they have been seen on test runs transporting guests from the Magic Kingdom to the TTA.

    The six buses are brightly colored and wrapped in classic Disney Characters.

    • Mickey
    • Minnie
    • Goofy
    • Pluto
    • Donald
    • Daisy

     

  • Gran Destino Tower is Open

    The Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is officially open.  With a “soft” opening on July 10th for media, the resort officially opens today to the public.

    Gran Destino Tower is a convention hotel at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.  Coronado Springs has always been a convention resort.  It boasts two featured restaurants and several large halls that have held many company and athletic meetings over the years.

    The main issue with Coronado Springs is it’s size.  This resort is almost the same size (area-wise) as the Magic Kingdom.  Having to walk from one end of the resort was a great inconvenience for those there for a convention.  Not to mention the Florida heat or tropical rain showers.

    The 15 story tower contains 545 rooms, including several Executive Suits.  The Tower was built with Mexican, Spanish and Soutwestern USA styles in mind.  The landscape around the building is beautiful and there is also a covered/air conditioned walkway for The Gran Destino to the conference centers to keep guests cool and dry.

    Rooftop views are breathtaking.  You have a clear panoramic view of Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.  Firework viewing from the roof is spectacular.

    Along with the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, three new bridges were built to crossing Lago Dorado so that guests will be able to walk over the lake, rather than around it.  This will mean lest walking for visitors to get to the new restaurants or to bring the kids to the Dig Site pool.

    Having stayed at Coronado Springs with my family several years ago, I have to agree that the resort is huge.  So adding the bridges is a definate plus for those staying on the other side of the resort or those wanting to go to the pool.  I can also see why this resort is for an older, convention-type crowd.  After a day in the parks, having another 15-20 minute walk with toddlers from the parking lot to your room can be life-draining.

  • Trip Planning – Our 1st Fail

    It is kind of disheartening when the very first thing I try to do in planning our 2020 trip to Orlando falls through.

    Let me set the stage.  We usually plan our vacations roughly six months in advance and what we do is based on the cost of airfare.  You see, we live in Rhode Island and our main airport is located in Providence [PVD] (Warwick, RI to be exact, but that’s another story for another time.).  The only carriers located here that fly into Orlando [MCO] or Tampa[TPA] are Delta, American, Frontier, United, Southwest and JetBlue.  United, Delta and American Airlines are very expensive to fly out of PVD with roundtrip fares averaging about $900 per a person (there are four of us).  Frontier Airlines is fairly new to Rhode Island and what I have read about them, not too dependable.  That leaves us Southwest and JetBlue Airlines to get our flights.

    Of the two airlines, I prefer Southwest for flying to Orlando from Providence.  Although both carriers provide direct flights, JetBlue’s fares are slightly higher with only two scheduled flights per day to and from Orlando and JetBlue also charges for luggage where Southwest offers anywhere from 10-15 flights a day, both ways and luggage is included within the cost of your ticket.

    With that being said, we have two windows of opportunity for vacation in 2020… February or April school vacations. I have two teenaged daughters that are in high school and my wife is an elementary school teacher so our vacations, as I said, are based on the 2020 school calendars.

    Also, this year will most-likely be the last time that we all visit Disney as a family.  My oldest daughter will be graduating high school in June and will be moving away to college in the fall.  College and grade school vacations do not line up.

    OK… So we are hoping to go in February this year, but we cannot make any further plans because both Southwest and JetBlue have not announced their flights for February and beyond as of yet (Southwest is booking through early January and JetBlue through the week before we would be leaving in February.).

    After checking through Google a few weeks ago, Southwest announced that they would be opening flights for January – March, 2020 on July 10, 2019.  I was excited that I was actually going to be able to begin the planning of our 2020 vacation.  The cost of the airline tickets with affect what we are able to do and where we are able to go for the rest of the vacation.  I was glad that I would at least get the ball rolling.

    Well, yesterday was July 10, 2019 and when I went onto Southwest’s website at http://www.southwest.com and tried to search for tickets, they were still only accepting reservations through January 5th.  What? REALLY??? I tried again today, July 11, 2019 and, nope, they are still only accepting through January 5th.

    Come on Southwest!  It is not like I went to some Travel Blogger’s site to get this information.  I got it directly from your website www.southwest.com.

    Well, I guess that I will continue to search and watch to see when JetBlue will start accepting reservations for the third week in February, 2020 and see who has the better price.  My daughters were a little disappointed last night, as was I, due to the fact that once we have the plane tickets, we strategically plan the rest of the vacation as a family.  When we sit at the kitchen table to figure where we are going on certain days, it can get more intense than a NFL team’s war room on draft day.

    My plans are now put on hold, which to be honest is not a major disaster in the grand scheme of life.  But, Southwest, I would have expected better from you than to put out incorrect information that would mislead your customers.

  • Planning a trip to Disney World

    Hey everyone, we are starting out a new Blog here. We are going to chronicle the steps that we go through for planning our 2019 trip to Disney World in Orlando Florida.

    We will go through all of the steps that we take from planning hotel rooms, airfare, Planning meals, And more.

    We are planning on visiting the Orlando area in either February or April 2019. The first step that we usually do is purchase airfare. This step usually does not take place until the airlines that we take from the region that we live in, Rhode Island, open up purchase date. The two airlines that we mainly use to fly from Providence Rhode Island to Orlando Florida are JetBlue and Southwest airlines. Southwest airlines will be opening purchase dates for February starting on July 10.

    We will share with you the steps that we take in the tips and tricks that we have learned over the years that will save you lots of money for a trip to Disney World in Orlando. Our budget for this year is $5000. That will include hotel, car rental, tickets to the parks, And food while we were down there. Do you to Disney World resorts charging for parking, we will most likely not be staying in a Disney world resort hotel.

    Although we have always stayed at a Disney resort hotel, in particular pop century, The cost of staying for a night with the additional cost of parking our rental car has made it not worth it. In addition, the benefits of staying at one of the Disney world resort have slowly been dwindling away. We would stay at pop century due to the fact number one, you did not have to pay to park at any of the amusement parks. Resort transportation, buses, etc. meet staying late at the parks more convenient if you’re part of our party wanted to stay and others want to go back to the resort.

    Extra magic hours were one of the big draws for us staying at a Walt Disney World resort, but late night hours for extra magic hours are no longer offered. The majority of extra magic hours are from 7 AM until 8 AM which does not work for my family, we are not early risers.

    So follow this blog and see the steps that we use to book our 2019 Disney World vacation. If you have any questions comments or tips that you would like to give us please feel free and we will respond to let you know if we use them.

    Thanks again, and if you have any tips ahead of time, please send them to info@disneydawgs.com.