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Next Week (December 20 Through December 28, 2014) at Walt Disney World
DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: DECEMBER 20 TO DECEMBER 28, 2014
The material below details operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.
The same stuff is in the image, but organized by park, not by topic. For more on December 2014 at Walt Disney World, click here.
Note that typos happen, and schedules change! If something seems odd, or if you want to double check, use the calendar links near the bottom to get the latest official Disney World scoop.
OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/20-12/28/2014
The Magic Kingdom will be open 8a-1a all week
Epcot will be open from 9a-9.30p 12/20 through 12/15, and 8a-10.30p 12/26 through 12/28
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-9p 12/20 through 12/23, and 8a-10p 12/24 through 12/28
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 8a-6p 12/20, 8a-8p 12/21 through 12/26, 8a-9p 12/27, and 8a-8p 12/28
EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/20-12/28/2014
Saturday 12/20 Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: Magic Kingdom
Sunday 12/21 Morning: Magic Kingdom, Epcot Evening: Magic Kingdom
Monday 12/22 Morning: Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios Evening: none
Tuesday 12/23 Morning: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Evening: Epcot
Wednesday 12/24 Morning: Magic Kingdom Evening: Hollywood Studios
Thursday 12/25 Morning: Magic Kingdom Evening: Epcot
Friday 12/26 Morning: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Evening: Magic Kingdom
Saturday 12/27 Morning: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Evening: Hollywood Studios
Sunday 12/28 Morning: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Evening: none
PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/20-12/28/2014
The Magic Kingdom:
- Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: noon and 3.30p every day
- Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 10.15p and 12.15a every day
FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/20-12/28/2014
Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 9p every night
Illuminations at Epcot: 9.30p 12/20 through 12/25; 10.30p 12/26 through 12/28
Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 6.30 and 8p 12/20 through 12/23; 6.30,8 and 10p 12/24 through 12/28
SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/20-12/28/2014
See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.
LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/20-12/28/2014
See this for forecasts.
DISCLAIMER
Everything is subject to change and typos! Check the Disney Calendars for updates and official schedules. These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
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December 19, 2014 No Comments
Amenities at Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando
(For the first page of this review of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, see this.)
AMENITIES AT UNIVERSAL’S CABANA BAY BEACH RESORT
Most amenities at Cabana Bay other than the pools are in the main central area.
You check in at a multistory, light-filled lobby.
Ticket and dining help is here as well.
Check in parking is right outside–the last time you will park for free here.
There’s also a display of vintage cars in keeping with the 60s roadside hotel theme.
Further down this direction is the single bus stop. Bus service was frequent and quick during my visit, but you can also walk to the Universal parks.
Back in the main lobby, you’ll also find there a fun bar. Each of the two pools has a bar as well.
One side of the lobby opens to the Cabana Pool Courtyard and the family suites there. The other side has the rest of the amenities here.
First you’ll find a gift shop, adequate for souvenirs but with little other stock–sundries, food, etc.
Next is a real Starbucks, popular with those heading to early entry at the parks.
And next is the Bayliner Diner food court and dining area. The dining area is massive and not particularly delightful, and has themed but dull material playing on hard-to-see large TVs.
The food court itself is better than most at Disney World moderates and values, with the exception of that at Art of Animation. Among other features it has a salad bar that I like as a nice change of pace. (Many Disney hotel food courts have a “build your own” salad offering; introverts prefer a salad bar.)
Some menu shots from the various food stations in the food court (as always on this site, click them to enlarge them):
There’s more amenities upstairs, including…
…a bowling alley with a limited-menu sit-down restaurant…
…and a huge gym–among the Disney values and moderates, only Coronado Springs has a gym.
And each courtyard has a wonderful pool complex.
THE POOLS AT UNIVERSAL’S CABANA BAY BEACH RESORT
This review continues here!!
PAGES: Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next
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December 18, 2014 No Comments
Review: The Copper Creek Springs Pool at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
For the first page of this review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, click here.
THE COPPER CREEK SPRINGS POOL AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
The main pool at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the Copper Creek Springs Pool (formerly the Silver Creek Springs pool).
Themed as a spring-fed mountain tarn, it is one of the best pools among the Disney World deluxe resorts.
The Copper Creek Springs pool is one of two pools at the Wilderness Lodge–the second, perhaps even better for adults but not as much fun for kids, is the Boulder Ridge Cove pool.
The Copper Creek Springs pool is nestled among the two arms of the main Wilderness Lodge. On the map, it is circled in yellow, and Boulder Ridge Cove is circled in red.
The pool is themed to find its water source in the Copper Creek Spring in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge.
The creek makes its way outside…
…over a waterfall…
…and to the pool area.
Inside you’ll find one stretch fed by the creek.
The pool then curves around…
…to the slide area.
The counter service Roaring Fork is convenient to the northwest part of the pool, and at the southeast end and around the corner, you’ll find the new Geyser Point bar and grill…
…with more counter service offerings…
…and a refillable mug station.
(The old Trout Pass Bar is being converted into a salon, the “Salon by the Springs.”)
You’ll find two hot tubs.
The hot tubs are thematically linked to the geysers and hot springs behind them…
…but fencing added in 2014 divides the walkways among these into two, one inside the fence and one (on the right in the image) outside the fence.
Back in the corner here is the kids water play area.
Another view of the water play area.
The pool in the evening…
…and at night.
The falls in the morning mist…either very arty, or the worst shot I’ve ever published–and that’s saying something!
Kids will prefer the Copper Creek Springs pool for its slide, afternoon games, and water play area. But adults might like the second pool here, the Boulder Ridge Cove pool, even more.
THE BOULDER RIDGE COVE POOL AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
This review continues here!
MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
- Overview and summary of DIsney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Theming and accommodations at the Wilderness Lodge
- A photo tour of a standard room at the Wilderness Lodge
- Amenities at the Wilderness Lodge
- The main Copper Creek Springs pool at the Wilderness Lodge
- The new Boulder Ridge Cove pool at the Wilderness Lodge
- Dining at the Wilderness Lodge
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 160+ stays in them
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December 17, 2014 No Comments
Anna and Elsa and The easy Guide 2015
Yesterday Anna and Elsa got to see The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015, as a follow up to their highly successful visit with the 2014 edition.
This time Elsa greeted first, and really got into the book, making a point to memorize the title.
Next was Anna, who was not so excited as she was last time (when she read aloud from it!–see the photo at the bottom of the page)…
The results:
Save dozens of hours in line, thousands of dollars, and vast regrets by using The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015 from Theme Park Press to plan your next Walt Disney World visit.
From the renowned authors of the Number 1 bestselling best-reviewed Disney World guidebook in history, The easy Guide 2015 takes you by the hand through all the key Disney World decisions—some that you probably didn’t even know you had to make—in the simplest, most straightforward, and shortest way possible.
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December 15, 2014 2 Comments
July 2015 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: JULY 2015 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews July 2015 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.
Because pretty much every US school kid is on break in July, July overall is the most crowded month at Walt Disney World.
Prices begin the month OK at the deluxes and moderates, and high at the values. Moderate and value prices stay at this level all month, but at the deluxes prices drop to low levels on July 12.
Weather is miserably hot and humid all month long.
There are no good weeks in July, but the later the visit the better–especially if you are staying in a deluxe.
JULY 2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Trips that include the Fourth of July will see the highest crowds of the month. Crowds improve slightly after, but all of July is rough, as pretty much all US schoolkids are out of school.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 6/27 has a crowd rating of 10/higher, the week beginning 7/4 11 highest, and the rest of July 9/high.
See this for more on 2015 crowds at Disney World.
JULY 2015 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July 2015 prices begin 50% higher than the lowest of the year at the values, 15% higher than the lowest of the year at the moderates, and 12% higher at the deluxes. They stay at this level throughout the month at the values and moderates, but drop to near the lowest of the year at the deluxes on July 12.
See this for more on 2015 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
JULY 2015 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for July 2015. See this for more.
JULY 2015 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July weather is hot and humid, with afternoon storms common.
The hurricane season officially begins June 1, but hurricanes a rarely a threat until mid-August..
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more on temperatures.
JULY 2015 SPECIAL EVENTS
Disney World celebrates the 4th of July at several parks–and on July 3rd as well! On Friday, July 4, 2015, the Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show “Celebrate America” at 9p. On Saturday, July 4, 2015
- The Magic Kingdom has the same show at the same time–“Celebrate America” at 9p
- Epcot’s Illuminations has a special holiday ending added, and
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a special 4th of July fireworks presentation at 10.15p
For more on the Fourth of July at Disney World, see this.
JULY 2015 OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Park operating hours vary by the day, and sometimes change without notice. It is rare for hours to be shorter than Disney has publicized, but Disney may lengthen them in response to unanticipated crowds.
The best way to keep up with operating hours is to check Disney’s official calendars, usually available six months in advance.
These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR JULY 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
Click the image for a calendar view of 2015 weeks (when open, keep clicking to enlarge.)
- 6/27/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Higher crowds. Crowd ranking=10. Week ranking=39. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/4/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Highest crowds crowds. Crowd ranking=11. Week ranking=42. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/11/2015 Moderate to higher prices at values and moderates. Lower prices at deluxes. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=33. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/18/2015 Moderate to higher prices at values and moderates. Lowest prices at deluxes. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=32. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/25/2015 Moderate to higher prices at values and moderates. Lowest prices at deluxes. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=31. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2015 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2016 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2015 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2016 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
Want a second opinion? Then check out my book lol.
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December 14, 2014 No Comments
The Fourth of July 2015 at Walt Disney World
THE 4th OF JULY 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney World celebrates the 4th of July at several parks–and on July 3rd as well!
On Friday, July 3, 2015, the Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show “Celebrate America” at 10p.
On Saturday, July 4, 2015
- The Magic Kingdom has the same show at the same time–“Celebrate America” at 10p
- Epcot’s Illuminations has a special holiday ending added, and is shifted from its normal 9p time to 10p, and
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a special 4th of July fireworks presentation at 10.15p
Moreover, the normal Friday and Saturday evening Extra Magic Hours at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom are swapped, with MK having them Friday the 3rd and Epcot Saturday the 4th.
Those following this site’s FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary for Walt Disney World will be at the Magic Kingdom both days, and have the evening of the 3rd off. Sensible people might swap these two evenings, seeing the Magic Kingdom fireworks July 3rd… but both nights will be wildly crowded.
FOURTH OF JULY CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July is the most consistently crowded month at Disney World, and in the month, visits that include the 4th of July see the highest crowds.
July is the most crowded month because every US schoolkid on a typical (that is, not year-round) calendar has the entire month off. This is not true of either June or August. Within July, many parents gravitate towards the week of the 4th for their vacations, because since the 4th is a holiday, they need to take one fewer vacation day to get a week off.
And people want to see fireworks on the 4th…so the Disney World parks offering fireworks on the 4th of July will be packed!
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December 14, 2014 23 Comments
