Category — q. Reviews

Welcome to those of you joining me from Capturing Magical Memories and those of you just hopping aboard!

I am the 5th stop on this month’s Magical Blogorail Teal. Enjoy the ride as this month we talk about Disney-themed Halloween costumes…and in my post, it’s all in the context of a review of Mickey’s Not-So Scary Halloween Party!

MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (“MNSSHP”) is a special, separately ticketed party that happens on certain nights every September, October and early November in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

(See this for more on logistics–Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates, tickets, etc.)

At the party you will find un-crowded rides, a special parade (shown twice!), special fireworks, trick-or-treating, dance parties…and a ton of guests in costumes!

COSTUMES AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Costumes are not required, and not everyone wear them, as you can see in the image above. It’s of a group in line to get pictures taken in front of Cinderella’s Castle.

The most common costumes I saw in my September 2013 visit to MNSSHP were princess costumes and pirate costumes, and after that Marvel costumes. Lots of Disney themed costumes!

Whole families dressed as pirates were not uncommon–the whispers on the buses were such choices were made because “it’s all we could get dad to wear…”

But more curious costumes were not uncommon. I think the black outfits above were costumes…although perhaps the group was going clubbing after MNSSHP…

I saw a couple of fun get-ups in the smoking area near the Tomorrowland Terrace–this one…

…and this couple.

And this party in Adventureland proved a Disney theme was not required!

THE PARADE, FIREWORKS, DANCE PARTIES AND TRICK-OR-TREATS AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

MNSSHP has a special set of Halloween-themed activities.

For example, the parade–Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade–is seen only at MNSSHP.

It starts with ducks…

…and mice…

…but then shortly shifts to my favorite part, Haunted-Mansion themed dancing gravediggers and ghouls.

These are followed by Disney villains, but the parade returns to “not-so-scary” at the end, with candy!

These kids really liked the parade.

There’s two showings of the parade, with spectacular Halloween-themed fireworks between.

You can also find in both Liberty Square and Tomorrowland dance parties featuring Disney characters–the shot above is from “Woody’s Happy Harvest Roundup” at the Diamond Horseshoe in Liberty Square.

Character meet-n-greets are all over the place–with both common and unusual characters–and there’s also a ton of trick or treat locations…both of which raise an issue.

STRATEGY AND RIDES AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

All the major rides are open, and many minor rides as well. Most have very short waits. In my September 2013 visit, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder had 10 minute waits, and Enchanted Tales with Belle just 30 minutes. (That’s me on the right, defending Belle.)

The trick-or-treat spots and character greetings, on the other hand, have pretty long lines.

So the best approach is to skip the character greetings and trick-or-treats–or delay them until after the second parade–and spend the first part of the evening on rides.

Do rides through the first parade (that is, til about 8.45 if the first parade is at 8.15p) and then watch Celebrate the Magic, the wonderful fireworks show Happy Hallowishes, and the second showing of the parade.

Some families will be worn out by now.  If yours has energy left, keep going with with more rides, or trick-or-treating!

I struggle with whether or not this party is worth the money for first-time family visitors who may never return.

It’s quite expensive–more than $200, and even over $300 on some dates (prices vary by date and whether or not you buy in advance) for a family of four.  And it’s just a five hour show (7p to midnight)–though Disney unofficially lets you in starting at 4p.

Yet the fireworks are the best Disney World offers, the parade is a hoot, the rides have short lines…and the costumes are fun!

My overall take is that for first-timers this time and money is better spent elsewhere, but that’s a really close call, and for sure I’d recommend it to returning visitors! But enough with the pirates costumes already dad, OK?

And Happy Halloween, everyone!

MORE ON DISNEY-THEMED COSTUMES FROM MAGICAL BLOGORAIL TEAL

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Teal this month. Our next loop will be on October 22nd with an all new theme.

Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Teal loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard!

1st Stop ~ The Many Adventures of a Disney Lovin’ Spectrum Mom
2nd Stop ~  Disney with Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
3rd Stop ~ The Disney Kids
4th Stop ~ Capturing Magical Memories
Final Stop ~ yourfirstvisit.net

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For the  first page of this review of Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, click here.

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

When you enter Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, you are greeted by a red carpet–because you are an All-Star!

This brings you to the arrival building called Stadium Hall, with a lobby where you check in, and can buy tickets and makes reservations.

In the same building is the gift shop…

…and the food court, refurbed in 2013 but still too small.

Between the lobby and food court is a wall with images of sports heroes.

And outside the lobby is where you catch the buses to the theme parks, water parks, and Downtown Disney.

Nestled among the accommodations buildings you’ll find two pools.

THE POOLS AT DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

This review continues here.

MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort overview and summary
• Accommodations and theming at All-Star Sports
• A photo tour of a standard room at All-Star Sports
• Amenities at All-Star Sports
• The pools at All-Star Sports

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!

For the  first page of this review of Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, click here.

PHOTO TOUR OF A STANDARD ROOM AT DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

Note: a room refurb project has begun at All-Star Sports. This will yield queen bed rooms similar to those in All-Star Music and All-Star Movies.  For a photo tour of one of these rooms, see this.

Building 10 (in the Touchdown area) is complete, and Buildings 7 (Touchdown) and 9 (Grand Slam) are being worked on.

This photo tour covers an un-refurbed room.

Rooms at All-Star Sports are entered from an outside corridor, with the bedroom space first, and the divided bath and closet at the back.

On one side you’ll find two full beds with a small table between.

The beds from the back of the room.

Here’s a closer view of one of the beds.

Between the beds is this small bedside table, with storage below…

…and also in a drawer, with plenty of room for your important books.

The art on the wall between the bed area and bath is the only material theming in the room. The top one is from the Center Court area, the lower from Grandstand.

The other side of the room has the rest of the basic furnishings.

Here’s’ the TV side from the back of the room.

You’ll find a small table and pair of chairs and a dresser with a small TV above and a mini-fridge on the side.

Here’s a closer view of the drawers…

…and of the mini-fridge, with scaling objects inside.

Between the dresser and the bath is the space where you’ll find the connecting door if your room has one, and a coat rack on the wall.  This is the part of the room you’d put a crib or such.

The bath is divided into two parts, separated by a wall and door.  The sink area is open to the rest of the room, but has a curtain (at the right) for privacy/light control.

Also in this space is the clothes hanging area, iron, luggage rack, and safe.

The other half of the bath includes the toilet and tub/shower combo.

Here’s the tub with the shower curtain partially pulled.

Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, like standard rooms in the other Disney World value resorts, are about as basic–and as small–as they get.  But the All-Stars in particular are the least expensive way to get Disney-owned accommodations for a family of four.

AMENITIES AND DINING AT DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

This review continues here.

MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort overview and summary
• Accommodations and theming at All-Star Sports
• A photo tour of a standard room at All-Star Sports
• Amenities at All-Star Sports
• The pools at All-Star Sports

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!

The Value Resorts   Art of Animation    Pop Century    Movies    Sports    Music

OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT

Among my 150+ stays in Walt Disney World resort hotels, I’ve stayed at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort multiple times, most recently in May 2017.

These stays confirms that for those who can’t afford a deluxe resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is the fourth best place to stay among the value resorts (the best value resort choice is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort).

[Read more →]

I thought that last year’s version of the Unofficial Guide was the best Disney World guidebook in a decade…and this year’s is even better!

REVIEW OF THE 2014 VERSION OF THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 is the annual revision to and update of the long standing leader among Walt Disney World guides. It was released in early August, and I read it almost cover to cover on my resort-hopping visit in mid-August.

The 2014 edition maintained the key improvements in usability that characterized the 2013 edition–nicely re-organized material on the Hollywood Studios and Universal parks, and a much more detailed table of contents–and added even more improvements.

As co-author Len Testa said in his blog post about what’s different in the 2104 version, “the front half of the book was edited and reorganized to ensure important topics are covered completely in a single section, instead of over several chapters.” This is another usability improvement, as it reduces the chance you’ll miss a key point if you don’t read every chapter.

Among many other new features in 2014 is an extended discussion MyDisneyExperience.com, of what Fastpass+ might look like, and how the second part of the Wizarding World–to open at Universal Orlando in 2014–will likely work.

These last two are necessarily somewhat speculative–and I sympathize with the Unofficial Guide team for having to go out on a limb now over developments that might not be fully clear until well into 2014–or even later, in the case of Fastpass+.

At least based on my limited knowledge, these sections track well to the best understandings of how these things will unfold, and don’t go in for much “maybe this maybe that.”

I guess one possible exception is the qualifiers in the page excerpted to the right, about how under Fastpass+ the best rides might eventually be allocated partly based on where you stay.

But if I had to make the call about sharing this possibly versus suppressing it in the chance–or with the hope–that it won’t happen…well, I’d publish it too.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 is not for those who like their material brief and uncomplicated.  Disney World is vast, and the choices to be made in fact are complex.  The Unofficial Guide covers all of it in all its complexity.  This helps for better decisions–but not easier ones!

SOME MINOR NITS, CAVILS, TYPOS, AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE 2014 UNOFFICIAL GUIDE

While the traditional suites at Disney World deluxe resorts (and at Coronado Springs) are indeed excluded from most discounts, the Family Suites at Art of Animation and All-Star Music are typically in the deals. (110)

I’ve been campaigning for years that TUG should label Coronado Springs as a “centrally located” resort (the link explains the logic of this)—and this year, Len emailed me that in fact they were doing so—as you can see at the top of 119.  However, mid-way through 119, Coronado Springs is included in the resorts labeled as “not centrally located…” and it is un-mentioned on the “Unofficial Tip” about centrally located resorts on the left bottom of 118

The floor-plan material that’s on 122-125 gets better every year, but I still see some issues with it:

• I don’t know why standard Jambo House rooms are labeled as holding 2-5 people.  Four people is the max in standard rooms at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and while there are some 2 person rooms, there are king rooms at other deluxes (like the Polynesian) which are shown simply at their standard capacity (in the case of the Polynesian, 5), rather than with a range.  AKL rooms should be labeled the same as Wilderness Lodge rooms—“Rooms accommodate 4 guests, pus one child under age 3 in a crib.”
• The note (about DVC capacity) at the bottom of 123 so far as I can tell is totally correct—a nice development compared to prior years.  However, some of the studio floor plans have lost their detail—e.g. Old Key West, Bay Lake Tower, and BoardWalk Villas.
• Len was kind enough to give me a heads up ahead of time that he didn’t agree with my critique of last year’s Art of Animation Family Suites floor plan.  I had objected to showing the dining table chairs scattered about the suite, and Len noted that both in his suite and in Bob’s suite that that’s what they saw. I can’t argue with that—you have to write what you see.  But I’ve now stayed in the Family Suites three times, and here’s the layout of the dining table chairs what I saw when I entered the rooms on three different occasions:
• Finding Nemo, from June 2012
• Cars, from August 2013
• Lion King, also from August 2013
• Regardless of this point (which tells you more about how Disney geeks obsess over things than about what you will actually find in your own room), there’s a floor plan typo in the Art of Animation.  The dining table is shown as a sofa…
• Some other nits related to these floor plan pages: The floor plan for Coronado Springs should show a desk rather than a two person table, and no room air conditioner below the window; There’s more difference in the use of space in the All-Stars and AofA versus Pop Century than the plans imply—there’s more open space by the door in the All-Stars and Little Mermaid rooms, and more by the bath in the other two; The different scales with which the value resort standard rooms are displayed might mislead some; I continue to insist—but won’t be able to prove until I stay in both on the same visit (update: proved, see this)—that Pop Century and Little Mermaid rooms are the exact same size. (Why: because two of three Little Mermaid buildings were built the same time as Pop was…)

On 133, it would be great if the Moderates all had two queens, but that’s not true for Caribbean Beach among the traditional moderates—nor of course at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness.

The second sentence in the first full para on 134 (“At Disney’s Value…resorts…and Disney Vacation Club Resorts…each room’s exterior door opens into the great outdoors” was true a long time ago, but has not been true at the DVC resorts since the BoardWalk Villas opened in 1996, and not true at the values since the Family Suites at Art of Animation opened last year.

On 136, on-line check has been available beginning 60 days before check-in for a while, and this oughta be emphasized.

The sentence beginning the last para on 150 has lost its verb, and needs an “are.”

Shades of Green has two buildings, one three stories and one five—not “one three-story building” (154)

In my view, the five person capacity of the Alligator Bayou rooms at Port Orleans Riverside deserves more emphasis than it gets on 180—since these are the only traditional moderate rooms (at the moment—I hear rumors about Caribbean Beach) that can fit five.  On the same page, the fifth sleeping spot is now a murphy bed, not a “trundle bed.”

In the discussion of the layout of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the map has been rotated, but not the references to it, e.g. Ostrich Trail is now on the right of the map on page 184, not the left as noted at the bottom of 185.

I’m not keen on the intro material on the All-Stars (198), which is written a little bit as though these are the only value resorts, just as the material on the Family Suites at All-Star Music (192) is written as though Art of Animation doesn’t exist. I also think the portion of the comment on 191 that says “our room was about 1 mile from the bus stop” should either be suppressed or addressed in the text, as it gives a factually incorrect opinion.  No room at the All-Stars is more than a thousand feet or so from the bus stops, and it’s not even a mile from the beginning of Sports to the end of Movies.

I really don’t like the first couple of sentences in the second para about Art of Animation on 197: “Like Pop Century, Art of Animation consists of four-story buildings and exterior-facing rooms…However, most of Animation’s accommodations are suites similar to those at Disney’s All-Star Resorts.”  While the para goes on to mostly correct itself, I’d revise it so that it begins with something like the current third sentence (‘[Art of Animation] has 864 standard rooms and 1,120 suites”) and then goes on with something like “The standard rooms are similar to those at Pop Century—in four-story buildings, with exterior corridors.  The Family Suites have some similarities to those in All-Star Music, but with different floor plans and interior corridors.”

I’m not liking the second part of the first sentence in the next para, either. It currently reads “Art of Animation suites are…the result of combining two value rooms into one suite.”  True of the family suites in All-Star Music, but not of Art of Animation, where these suites were designed from the ground up, with only the exterior envelope of the building carried over from prior work at Pop Century.

Some other minor points…

• The left side of the image at the top right on 322 cuts off the text at the right margin beside it
• The first sentence of the material introducing the Advance Reservations (#9 on page 351) is confusing—especially the material following the “moreover,” which is both redundant and not entirely true.
• The sentence ending the Akershus material at the bottom of 353 needs to be updated a bit to reflect the opening of the “castles” of New Fantasyland…

Hefty, long, missing photos, and with, as detailed above, some errors…even so, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 is by far the best Walt Disney World guidebook you can buy!

(Disclosure: As noted here, since summer 2011 I’ve had a business relationship with TouringPlans.com, part of the Unofficial Guide intergalactic empire.)

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, see this.

THE CARS FAMILY SUITES AT DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT

(Note: this photo-tour of a Cars Family Suite at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a supplement to the full photo tour of a Finding Nemo Family Suites that’s here. At that link you’ll find a floor plan, and also much more detail on such items as bed dimensions, actual storage space, etc.)

The three types of Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort–Cars, viewed here, Finding Nemo, and Lion King–have almost identical floor plans, varying only here and there in minor furnishings.

A refurb currently in process is shifting the floors to wood laminate, and the queen bed in the separate bedroom to a platform bed–which adds storage underneath. I’ll have updated images later in 2020.

You enter the Cars Family Suites from the dining room, with the dining room table and access to the master bedroom on one side…

…and access to the second bath, mini-kitchen and living room on the other.

The dining table improbably folds down into a bed. Note the darling sleepy Mater on the headboard–a larger image is at the top of the page.

Beyond the dining area, through a door, you’ll find the master bedroom with a queen bed on one side. The master bedroom in Cars is the most lightly themed of those in the Art of Animation Family Suites.

Here’s the other side of the master bedroom.

Accessible from the master bedroom is the master bath, with fun car-wash theming around the sink (well, I think it’s fun)…

…and a simple large shower.

The second bath is accessible from the open part of the Family Suite, and is divided into a sink area–also car-wash themed…

…and separate space with a toilet and tub. Note the silly shower curtain.

One side of the living room has the couch and mini-kitchen.

Here’s another view of the couch–note the auto-themed upholstery…

…and here’s the couch folded out into a bed.

The biggest difference between the Cars Family Suites and the other two types at Art of Animation is the coffee table. This actually matters…

In the Finding Nemo and Lion King Family Suites (Lion King is shown above), you won’t find a single coffee table, but rather two small round ones that also can serve as stools, so that the room can seat six.  The stools can also be dragged over to the dining room table so that it can hold around it 6 as well.

In Cars, instead you’ll find this amoeba-shaped single table with a map of Radiator Springs.

You can still seat six in the living room, if you grab two chairs from the dining room and pull them in. Moreover, this table appeared sturdy enough to serve as a bench at the dining room table…but not quite so flexibly as the little stools in the other suites.  But if you break it you buy it!

Also on this side of the main living space you’ll find the mini-kitchen.  Note the garage/shop theming…

…which is also picked up on the opposite TV-side wall, where you’ll find the second hanging rod in the suite, TV and dresser storage, and a chair.

I really like the wall art in these rooms…

Personally, my favorite decor among the Family Suite options at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is that of this Cars room. But that doesn’t really matter. If your kids love all of these movies, they will love all of these rooms!

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT

This review continues here!

MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT

• Overview of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• The Little Mermaid Area and Rooms
• Photo Tour of a Little Mermaid Room
• Overview of the Family Suites Areas
• Accommodations in the Family Suites
• Photo Tour of a Finding Nemo Family Suite (plus bed dimensions, storage, etc)
• Photo Tour of a Lion King Family Suite
• Photo Tour of a Cars Family Suite
• Amenities at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• The Pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!