DisneyDawgs

Tag: waltdisneyworldresort

  • Planning a Disney World Trip

    Planning a Disney World Trip

    Planning a vacation to Disney World in Orlando can be an exciting and magical experience for families, couples, and friends alike. With so much to see and do, it’s essential to plan ahead to make the most of your trip. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore transportation options, ticket choices, and hotel accommodations both on and off Disney property to help you plan the perfect Disney vacation.

    Transportation to Disney World

    Air Travel

    If you’re traveling from out of state or internationally, flying to Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a convenient option. From there, you can choose various transportation methods to reach Disney World, including:

    Driving

    For those driving to Disney World or renting a car during their stay, there are several major highways that lead to the resort area, including Interstate 4 (I-4) and State Road 417 (SR 417). Disney World is well signposted, making it relatively easy to navigate.

    Ticket Options

    Disney Theme Park Tickets

    Disney World offers a variety of ticket options to suit different preferences and budgets:

    • Single-Day Tickets: Ideal for those with limited time or specific park preferences.
    • Multi-Day Tickets: Provide access to one theme park per day for multiple days, allowing you to explore each park at your leisure.
    • Park Hopper Option: This add-on allows you to visit multiple parks on the same day, giving you flexibility and the ability to experience more attractions.
    • Annual Passes: Perfect for frequent visitors or those planning multiple trips within a year, offering unlimited access to the parks with additional perks and discounts.

    Other Ticket Considerations

    • Water Park and Sports Option: Add-on tickets for Disney’s water parks and other recreational activities.
    • Memory Maker: A package that includes unlimited digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos and videos.

    Accommodations

    On Disney Property

    Staying at a Disney Resort hotel offers numerous benefits, including proximity to the parks, transportation options, and immersive themes. Here are some popular Disney Resort categories:

    • Deluxe Resorts: Offering upscale amenities, spacious rooms, and convenient access to the parks, these resorts provide a luxurious experience.
    • Moderate Resorts: Combining affordability with themed environments and recreational facilities, moderate resorts are ideal for families and budget-conscious travelers.
    • Value Resorts: Budget-friendly options with themed décor, family-friendly amenities, and convenient transportation to the parks.

    Off Disney Property

    If you prefer to stay off Disney property, Orlando has a wide range of hotels and vacation rentals to choose from. Some benefits of staying off-site include potentially lower rates, more diverse dining options, and the opportunity to explore other attractions in the area. Options include:

    • Hotels: Choose from budget-friendly hotels to luxury accommodations near Disney World, often offering shuttle services to the parks.
    • Vacation Rentals: Consider renting a vacation home, condo, or villa for added space and amenities, suitable for larger groups or extended stays.

    Conclusion

    Planning a vacation to Disney World involves careful consideration of transportation, ticket options, and accommodations to create a memorable and enjoyable experience. Whether you prefer the convenience of staying on Disney property or the flexibility of off-site accommodations, Orlando offers something for every type of traveler. Start planning your magical Disney adventure today!

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

    Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

    Hold on to your Stetsons, folks, because we’re about to take a wild ride through the dusty canyons of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

    Hold on to your Stetsons, folks, because we’re about to take a wild ride through the dusty canyons of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

    This iconic runaway mine train coaster at Magic Kingdom in Disney World, Florida, is more than just a thrill ride; it’s a legendary escape into the heart of a gold-rush gone bust. So buckle up, partners, as we delve into the history, secrets, and hair-raising fun of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

    From Dynamite to Disney: A Blast from the Past

    Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened its rusty gates on September 22, 1980, as part of the grand opening of Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. Imagine the throngs of excited adventurers lining up to be the first to hurtle through the abandoned Thunder Mesa Mining Company!

    But the story goes back even further. The mountain itself is themed after Tumbleweed, a once-booming mining town that met its demise when a greedy prospector struck a vein of fool’s gold instead of the real deal. Legends say the town is haunted by the ghosts of disgruntled miners, adding an extra layer of spooktacular fun to the ride.

    Trivia Tidbits to Impress Your Posse

    • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is actually longer than its Disneyland counterpart, clocking in at a spine-tingling 2,889 feet!
    • Look closely as you race through the mineshaft – you might spot hidden geysers erupting along the tracks!
    • The iconic laughing skull you see near the end of the ride belonged to a real Imagineer, Marc Davis, who worked on the attraction. Talk about leaving your mark!
    • Keep an ear out for the ghostly yodeling echoing through the canyons – it’s said to be the lament of the restless miners.
    • Did you know there’s a hidden “chicken exit” near the loading area? It’s for those who, well, get a little cold feet before the big plunge.

    A Thrill Ride for All Ages

    Big Thunder Mountain Railroad might pack a punch, but it’s suitable for thrill-seekers of all ages. The coaster zips along at a max speed of 36 mph, offering plenty of twists, turns, and drops to keep your heart racing. But it’s not all about adrenaline; the detailed Western setting, complete with rickety mine carts and geysers spewing “volcanic mud,” brings the Wild West to life in a charmingly spooky way.

    So, whether you’re a seasoned thrill-seeker or a wide-eyed adventurer, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad promises an unforgettable journey through the heart of Tumbleweed. Just remember to hold on tight, scream if you must, and most importantly, have a blast!

    Ready to experience the legend for yourself? Hop aboard Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on your next visit to Magic Kingdom and prepare to be swept away on a rollicking adventure through the Wild West!

    P.S. Don’t forget to grab a pair of cowboy ears before you set off – they’re the perfect accessory for channeling your inner gunslinger!

    Have you ever ridden Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? What’s your favorite part of the ride? Share your wildest Wild West memories in the comments below!

    I hope this blog post satisfies your Big Thunder Mountain Railroad cravings! Let me know if you have any other Disney World-related questions. Until next time, happy trails!

  • Disney World Has Updated Its Mask Policy

    Starting May 15, masks are no longer required in common areas and pool decks

  • Disney to Announce ReOpening Plans

    Disney World officials have announced a press conference scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, May 27th to announce plans that have been submitted to Florida Government and Health officials on their plans to reopen Disney World.

    Follow DisneyDawgs for a recap of the press conference and what the specific plans for the parks will be.

  • Disney Trip Update

    Universal Orlando has announced an opening date!

    Now the waiting game for those of us that have Disney vacations scheduled for this Summer begins.  We originally had scheduled our vacation for April, but Covid-19 took care of that.  Beginning of May it was looking as though Disney would be reopening the parks in Orlando sometime in the beginning of June, so we rebooked our vacation for the last week of July.  So with the Universal Orlando announcement last week of an opening date, we were hopeful that Disney would follow, but nothing.  With Disney Springs opening 3rd party resturaunts and stores on May 20th we thought there would be an announcement, but nothing.  We thought with Disney opening Disney stores in Disney Springs on May 27th there would be an announcement, but nothing.

    As of the time of this post, Disney has cancelled all reservations up until June 15th and with the smaller theme parks in the Orlando area opening this past week (Gatorland and Fun Spot) we are assuming that Disney Parks will open on or around June 15th.  We understand that Disney World will take a little longer to open than the other parks in the Orlando area, including Universal, due to the share size of Disney.  There are so many working parts that they need to get perfect in order to open during the pandemic.  If one thing goes wrong and an outbreak is traced back to one of the Disney Parks, the damage could be unrecoverable.  Remember a few years ago when a Mumps outbreak was traced back to Disneyland? The bad PR toward the Disney Corporation took months to recover from, even though the outbreak was not Disneyland’s fault.

    I am quite sure that Disney is crossing its T’s and dotting its I’s to make sure that they are doing everything possible to keep their Guests and Castmembers are safe as possible from the Covid-19 virus.

    Our Vacation

    That being said, we are still waiting for word on when the parks are going to open and when we can start to book FastPasses and Dinner Reservations.  We would also like information on whether the NBA will be playing the remainder of their games and playoffs at the Disney World of Sports Complex near Pop Century and Art of Animation.  We would also like to know if the rumor that the players will be housed in the Disney Resort Buildings and how that would effect those of us whom had reservations for months in those buildings.

    Even with this, as long as the virus is held in check, my family is still planning on visiting Disney World at the end of July.  We have a couple of celebrations that will be well overdue to celebrate.

    If the virus does not behave or if there is a spike of Covid-19 cases in Orange and Osceola Counties, then we will be forced to, out of abundance of caution, cancel our Disney Vacation once again.

    Check out our Vlog regarding our July Disney Vacation with several other factors that are giving us optimism that the Disney World Theme Parks in Florida are very close to opening.

     

    Check out our Blog regarding rebooking our trip from April until July HERE

  • Tearjerker from “At Home with Olaf”

    Nope, this didn’t get me misty…  Someone must be cutting onions here.

    A new video released by DisneyMagicMoments.com under “At Home with Olaf” will make you want to grab some tissues.

    A very touching song for our times that we are going through right now.

  • Shanghai Disneyland reopens with anti-virus controls

    Visitors with face masks entered Shanghai Disneyland this morning for the first time since January 25th.  Nearly five months after the Disney park closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China, guests were welcomed back into the park, with conditions.

    All guests must wear face masks and have their temperatures taken at the park’s security entrance.  Social distancing will be enforced within the parks and extra staff was hired and will be constantly wiping down and sanitizing all surfaces of the park.  As of right now, the park will be operating at a maximum of 30% of capacity.  Many hand-washing and sanitizing stations have been installed for guests to use.

    It is believed that the Disney Corporation will monitor the information coming out of the Shanghai, China park and use the strategies that work on their other parks throughout the work.  Disney has already announced that 3rd party restaurants will be allowed to open on May 20th, with very strict rules and regulations to limit large crowds.

    Disney, and the rest of the world, will be monitoring to see if the opening of Shanghai Disneyland causes another wide-scale outbreak in the area.  If it does, everyone is back at square one until a reliable vaccine is developed.  If an increase does not occur, then we will most-likely see other entertainment and sports venues start to very slowly open their businesses back up to customers.

    As a huge fan of Disney, we here at DisneyDawgs are crossing our fingers and hoping with all of our being that this quite be the beginning of the end of this pandemic that has brought to world to a standstill.

  • Planning a Disney Trip… Take Two

    DisneyDawgs is in the process of re-booking our 2020 Disney World Vacation and we are crossing our fingers that this one will happen.

    Our first attempt to get to Orlando was thwarted by the COVID-19 virus and cancelled and we thought that our last change at a family vacation was taken from us.  But, Disney has announced plans for reopening the parks in stages and we are taking a guess that the first stage will take place on or around June 1, 2020.  There will be strict distancing guidelines with only 50% of normal capacity allowed within the parks and extreme changes on how Castmembers and Guests interact.  If all goes well, phase two will loosen up on some restrictions and allow parks 75% of capacity.

    After reviewing the guidelines and the estimates of the transmission of the virus after June 1 we decided that the first week of August would allow us the safest and fullest Disney experience that we could have this Summer.

    Before re-booking even crossed our minds, we currently have Southwest ticket credits and 6 day Magic Your Way tickets for the four members of my family that we would loose if we do not use them… Well over $3,000.  So we are booking for August.  Don’t get me wrong, if it is not safe for my family to travel from Rhode Island to Orlando in August, I will cancel the trip in a heartbeat.  My family’s health and well-being is the most important thing.  To be honest, I would not be surprised if the parks are not open at all this Summer.

    Well, hoping for the best, this is what we have done so far…

    AIRLINE TICKETS

    Our original flights from Rhode Island (PVD) to Orlando (MCO) and back home were cancelled in early April.  This gave us a credit for the price of the flights to be used at a later time.  A little heads up for anyone booking flights with Southwest Airlines, if you choose and pay for the Early Boarding Option ($25 ticket) and you cancel your flight, you do not get that money back either as a refund or a credit. So keep that in mind if you are thinking of purchasing this option when flying with Southwest Airlines and you are not 100% sure that you will be on that flight.

    So we used the credit and now we have flights books from Rhode Island to Florida.  We fully know that if we do have to cancel our trip that we will again be credited for the amount of the tickets only with a limited time to use those funds.

    HOTEL ROOM

    Undercover TouristFor our original trip, we booked our hotel and tickets through Undercover Tourist.  We saved almost $600 booking through them over going directly through Disney.  My family has been using Undercover Tourist now for over ten years to purchase our park tickets and have never had any problems.  When Disney closed, I was worried because we did not purchase through Disney and thought that it was going to be a hassle to cancel the reservations.  It was quite the opposite.  I sent an email to Undercover Tourist asking what needed to be done.  This was just after Disney closed down and I thought that it was going to take a few days to get a response… Nope, within an hour I had a response letting me know that there was nothing that needed to be done and that we should receive a credit on our next bank statement, which we did.  Undercover Tourist emailed me again to confirm that the credit was issued and to thank us for using them.

    With the great customer service that we received from Undercover Tourist, how could we not use them again to book our hotel room.  I also found out that Disney’s All-Star Resort has suites…  My family has been going to Disney for fifteen years now and never knew that…  You have to understand, I have two daughters.  My oldest will be 18 at the time of the trip and my peanut will be 16, they are both quite tall (over 5’9″) and not the little girls like when we started going to Disney World.  I knew that having them both sleep in the same bed this year, as we always did, would not work.  It would have resulted in two miserable pups (have you dealt with two teenaged girls that did not have enough sleep, enough said), which would have resulted in one major miserable Papa Dawg. We decided to spend the extra money and get the suite.  Through Undercover Tourist, the suite was not that much more per night than the what we paid for the original room and viewing a video on YouTube, they look quite nice and roomy.  If we do go on this vacation, I will do a full review of the room and let you know if I think that it was worth the extra cost.

    TICKETS

    Our park tickets have already been purchased and are non-refundable so we will be using them for when we go down in August.  The only issue that I think that we will have is that the tickets were purchased to be used April 15 through April 20.  We are now going down in August and I think that there is a price difference between April and August, but I am not sure what I will need to do for this.  I will try call the WDW-DISNEY phone number and see if they can give me any guidance on this issue.

     

     

    CAR RENTAL

    I will begin looking into car rental prices shortly.  Prices for rentals are quite high right now, I think due to the State of Florida discussing starting to reopen the economy as early as May 4th.  When to rent a car in Orlando is quite a gamble.  You have to really keep an eye on the trends at the parks and if there is anything special going on in the Orlando Metro area.  This is a little different.  I think if people are hesitant going to the parks this Summer, prices will drop as they did in late March and early April.  But if people flock to Central Florida, the price of renting a car could be astronomical.  I am guessing that I test the waters sometime around the second week of June

    WHAT’S NEXT?

    What’s next?  That is a really good question.  I guess that it is based on what the COVID-19 virus does this Summer.  If the outbreaks dissipate like all of the government models suggest they will, then it is full steam ahead and we hope to have a great vacation.  If not, then we will be right back where we started and I will be cancelling the above reservations again.  I hope the latter is not true.

    Second to the deaths and illness that 2020 has brought us is the disappointment and confinement that everyone has faced for the past eight weeks.  The cancellation of the remainder of the school year has been disheartening for students, let alone the High School Seniors that have lost their Proms, Senior Activities and Graduations.  Setting up and booking the airline and hotel room last night helped my pups forget about what is going on in the world, even if it was only for about and hour.

    This is where DisneyDawg stands on another attempt to visit Disney World in Orlando.  I will keep you up to date on any steps that are taken or any news regarding the opening of the parks.

    Thank you for taking the time to read this post.  May you and your families stay safe and healthy through these extraordinary circumstances.

     

  • When Will It Be Safe To Go To Disney World?

    Well, it has been quite a year so far. Obviously our Disney trip that was scheduled for April 14 through April 21st was cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic that we are currently in the middle of right now. My family was quite disappointed due to the fact that this would have most-likely been our last family vacation.

    This trip was two-fold. It was celebrating my oldest pup graduating from high school as her school’s Salutatorian and it was also to celebrate me and my wife’s 20th Anniversary. For these we had dining reservations at the 50’s Primetime Cafe, Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White and the big one that my pups have always wanted to do… Cinderella’s Royal Table!!! My oldest pup has wanted to do this since she was 6. We also had great Fast-passes, the coup de gras was for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway which had opened on March 4th. Along with that the typical Thunder, Space and Splash Mountains and Slinky Dog Dash.  But due to the virus, the parks have closed and all reservations and FastPasses were cancelled.

    It was very disappointing at first, but you have to understand that we do not give up that easy.  It looks like there may be a light at the end of the tunnel with the COVID-19 outbreak.  Daily cases and deaths have been lowering for the past week, as predicted, and it looks like some of the states are starting to open back up.  The state in which I live, Rhode Island, will be lifting the “Stay at Home” order on May 9th and gradually loosening restrictions where it is possible that by the beginning of July, all restrictions could be lifted if everything goes well.  Knowing that the Northeastern portion of the United States was the hardest hit with the COVID-19 outbreak leads us to believe that it is possible that Florida would be along the same timeline, which has given us optimism for later this Summer.

    Looking at how bad the Orlando and Florida economy is right now as a result of all the theme parks closing, along with the decline of new cases of COVID-19 throughout the country, I would not be surprised to see Disney World in Orlando to start “waking up” in early June.  I could see Disney gradually opening some of the hotels and Disney Springs to limited guests at first.  If that goes well, then I could see restaurants opening next, followed by the remaining hotels and some attractions such as golf courses.  If all goes well, I could see the parks opening one at a time by mid July.  Possibly starting with Magic Kingdom, then Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.  I think that Epcot will be the last park to open due to the fact that it may take a while to staff the countries in the World Showcase.  Taking a guess, I would assume that Epcot would be around the first week of August at the extreme earliest.  
    When and if this scenario does happen, the amount of guests that are allowed in the park will be extremely limited (25% of normal) with masks and temperature readings required to enter any of the Disney properties.  WDW News reported yesterday that Remote Checkin will be required for hotel rooms.  Others have reported that Standby lines will be eliminated and you will need to use a virtual queue to gain access to rides and attractions, which Disney had been using before the shutdown for Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studio.  
    All of these scenarios are dependent on the rate of spread of COVID-19 tremendously slowing down, if not stopping and when the State of Florida reopens and allows the theme parks to reopen.  Right now, it is wait and see.

    I am confident that the virus is going to slow down rapidly this Spring to the point where it may be very minimal by the beginning of Summer.  Believing this, I think that I may restart the planning process for my family’s 2020 Disney Vacation for mid August.  I believe that the majority of Disney attractions will be back in operation and that if we do not book early enough, we may not be able to get into the parks due to reduced admissions to the park.  I am not foolish enough to take my family into a situation that I do not believe is safe, so, even if the parks are open in August, and I don’t believe that it is safe we will cancel… again and hope for something towards the end of the calendar year.

    Thanks for taking the time to check into DisneyDawgs.  We will bring you any information that becomes available regarding the opening of the parks and Disney itself.

  • April DisneyWorld Vacation —- CANCELLED!

    THIS SUCKS!!!

    Sorry, but there is not other way to put it.

    A trip that we have been planning for almost 18 months has been wiped out.

    I had the unadmiral task this morning of cancelling our flights and our car rental for what was supposed to be our last family Disney trip.  My oldest daughter is heading off to college in September and with her little sister still in high school and my wife being a teacher, our vacations will no longer line up.  So this was going to be the last time that we all went to Disney World as a family.  We had reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table, something that my daughter has been dreaming of since she was 5.  We had FastPasses for all the new rides, including Mickey’s Runaway Railroad.  All of this is gone as of right now.

    Disney is still planning on opening the parks on April, 1.  I think that is an extreme long-shot at best, more on the line that they are dreaming.  Even if the parks were open during the time that we were supposed to go, both my girl’s and wife’s April vacation has been cancelled here in Rhode Island (as well as pretty much everywhere else.), so there would be no way to go.

    I know that these are unprecedented times with the Covid-19 virus, and the fact that we had to cancel a vacation is a minuscule issue. I truly understand the scope of this pandemic and how many lives have been lost, but I still feel the disappointment that my daughters are feeling and there is nothing that I am able to do about it.

    I am hopeful that the reports of late April for this virus to start dying down are correct and the world can get back to some form of normalcy.

    There is still a very slim shot that we may be able to go in July, definitely crossing our fingers.

  • Disney delays the release of the Live Action “Mulan”

    Due to concerns of the Coronaviris, Disney Studios has announced that it is delaying the release of the live-action version of Mulan.

    The movie was originally slated to open nation-wide on March 26. This delayed opening is among many Hollywood releases that have been delayed do to the current world-wide situation.

    Although no release date was mentioned, rumors are hinting at a mid-May release to coincide with the Summer Blockbuster Season.

    Check back with DisneyDawgs and we will let you know as soon as information is released.

     

  • Disney Cruiseline, Walt Disney World Resorts and Disneyland CLOSED!!!

    For the first time in the history of the parks, both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland in California and the Disney Cruise Line will be temporarily suspending operations this weekend.

    Due to the Coronavirus, both parks and the cruise line will suspend public operations on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Disney Springs and ALL Disney Resorts will be cleared of visitors.  Disney is reporting that there have been no reports of the Coronavirus at any of the properties and that they are suspending operations due to overwhelming public safety concerns.

    Some reports are claiming that this shutdown will last until March 30, 2020 at the earliest, although there is no confirmation from Disney on that date.

    Here at DisneyDawgs, we will keep you updated with the latest information as soon as it is available.

    Below is the official statement from the Disney Company regarding the closures.

    Disney Statement regarding Park/Cruiseline Closures
    Disney Statement regarding Park/Cruiseline Closures