Category — w. Most Recent Stuff
Introduction to The Value Resorts at Walt Disney World
The Value Resorts Art of Animation Pop Century Movies Sports Music
OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S VALUE RESORTS
I’ve stayed at Disney’s Value Resorts more than 30 times since I opened this site.
These stays confirm the order in which the value resorts are recommended.
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is number one among the values.
- After Art of Animation, the rank is, in order, Pop Century, All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All-Star Music.
You can have a wonderful visit at any Walt Disney World resort hotel.
However, this site recommends that first time visitors to Walt Disney World who can afford it should stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, a deluxe resort, and that those who can’t should stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value resort.
THE VALUE RESORTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
There are currently 5 value resorts at Walt Disney World:
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, opened in April 1994
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, opened in November 1994
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, opened in January 1999
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort, opened in December 2003
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, opened in May 2012
The value resorts are the most recent resort class to have opened at Walt Disney World.
They were preceded by the deluxe class, open at Disney World’s own opening, the moderate class, which first opened in 1986, and the Disney Vacation Club resort class, first opened in 1991. See this for what you get by Disney World price class.
In the case of its launch of both the moderates and the values, Disney was concerned not only to successfully compete with off-site hotels (not hard, and devastatingly successful) but also to not lose revenue from guests trading down from the next higher resort price class.
Hence it tried to make pretty sharp lines between resort classes.
The sharp lines at the values–their most distinctively different features–are their larger than life statues of toys, Disney characters, and such, their absence of coffeemakers (except in refurbed rooms in Pop Century and All-Star Movies, and, soon, All-Star Music), and their just barely life-sized rooms.
You may never stay in a two-bed hotel room smaller than the rooms in the value resorts.
Standard rooms at the value resorts have ~260 square feet.
While this may not seem like much less than the moderates space of 314 square feet, almost all of the difference is in the living space.
The living space of the values is about 80% as big as that of the moderates. Most of this missing space comes from the part of the room you are in when you aren’t in bed!
Some of this is from a narrower room, but most is from a shorter room.
These rooms are fine for first time family visitors who can’t afford a deluxe, as they won’t be spending much time in them other than sleeping.
I can’t recommend them for returning visitors–who are more likely to spend more time goofing off in or near their rooms–unless they have stayed in a value before and hence know exactly what they are in for, or their kids are really little, or their party size is only 3 people.
Most standard value resort rooms have two full beds. However, refurbed rooms at Pop Century and All-Star Movies have queens! All-Star Music has now begun this refurb, which I imagine will yield similar amenities in its refurbed rooms.
Refurbed room at All-Star Movies with the second queen folded up
For more on comparative room sizes, see this.
The family suites at All-Star Music and at Art of Animation are a different story.
They sleep six in two connected spaces the size of two standard rooms, and are quite comfortable. Art of Animation has more comfortable beds, while Music suites are more flexible. Music suites are also much less expensive.
Living Area Cars Family Suite at Art of Animation
Compared to staying off-site, the value resorts are distinguished by their higher kid appeal, their convenience, and their access to certain key perks that off-site hotels can’t provide.
Kid Appeal. Several of the deluxe resorts–notably, the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Polynesian Resort–have spectacular kid appeal. None of the moderates do.
All of the value resorts–Disney’s All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, and All-Star Movies, and its Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts–have terrific kid appeal.
This appeal comes from the approach to theming they all share: bright and vibrant exteriors, framing much larger than life objects of interest to kids.
These objects reinforce that these resorts were designed for the sake of kids…and not necessarily for adults!
Prices vary over the course of the year, but Art of Animation rooms are always the most expensive, and the All-Stars the least expensive.
Room basics are about the same except for refurbed Pop Century and All-Star Movies rooms (and soon All-Star Music)–you are paying more at Pop Century and Art of Animation for a more central location, and at Art of Animation for deeper and more pervasive Disney theming. Bus service is a little better at Pop and Art of Animation, as they don’t share buses as the All-Stars at times do. The new Disney Skyliner has its only stop among the values at Art of Animation and Pop Century, making them even better choices.
Detailed reviews of each option can be found at the links; the hotels are listed in order of how strongly I recommend them.
Standard 4-person rooms:
- Art of Animation
- Pop Century (with queen beds)
- All-Star Movies (with queen beds)
- All-Star Sports
- All-Star Music
Six-person “Family Suites”
The long-time travel agent partner of this site, Kelly, can book your Disney vacation into one of these value resorts–or any other Disney World option! Contact her using the form below.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 18, 2014 12 Comments
Fun with the All-Star Buses
My bus work is quite respected in some quarters, but it can get out of date.
I had heard that the All-Stars were sharing buses much less frequently than they used to. If true, this would be a big deal, as it would make Music and especially Movies more convenient.
So last week I spent a couple of hours sitting at the bus stop at All-Star Sports, tracking buses and whether at the end of the road they turned left (and hence straight on to a park) or right and thus on to share at Music, and then Movies.
I tested during a high-demand period for buses, from a little after 10a to a little after 11a, and also during a low-demand period, from around 2.30 til around 3.30p. I tracked 67 total buses, and here’s the scoop:
- Magic Kingdom buses (as expected) were never shared–all 11 of these went straight on to MK
- Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney buses were always shared–all 16 that I saw went on to Music
- All other park buses in the afternoon were shared–the 23 buses to Epcot, AK or HS all turned right to go on to Music
- All other park buses in the morning were very rarely shared–of the 17 buses to Epcot, AK or HS, all but four went straight to the parks. The four shared with Music and Movies (two HS, one AK, one Epcot) were all in the later (slower) part of my observation period
I will sit at Sports again for a couple of hours on my December trip and grab some more data–but these experimental findings alone are enough for me to have changed the lingo in the reviews of these resorts.
It’s changed from something like “Other than the busiest times of the year, these resorts share buses except to the Magic Kingdom” to something like “During slower periods, these resorts may share buses (except to the Magic Kingdom).”
The practical consequence is that All-Star Movies becomes an even better choice among the All-Stars. It already has the best theming and food court among them, and the ding on it has always been “buses full by the time they get there.” Maybe now not so much.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 17, 2014 6 Comments
June 2015 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: JUNE 2015 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews June 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.
If you must go to Disney World in the summer, the beginning of June is your best choice for a first visit.
Crowds, while not good, are lower then than most of the rest of the summer, prices are OK–except at the value resorts–and the full weight of summer weather is not yet in place.
(The end of August is the next best choice. Prices and crowds are much better, but you are not only in peak summer then, but also the peak of the hurricane season.)
Crowds build over June, peaking the week that includes the 4th of July (a Saturday in 2015, so the most crowded June week is that beginning June 27).
Moreover, Star Wars Weekends look to continue through June 14 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, leading to massive crowds there on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the 14th.
JUNE 2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
June crowds begin at the moderate-plus level, but as more and more kids get out of school, they quickly build to high levels, and peak at the end of the month, because of crowds drawn by the 4th of July holiday.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 5/30 has a crowd rating of 7/moderate plus, the week beginning 6/6 8/high-minus, the next two weeks 9/high, and the week beginning 6/27 a crowd ranking of 10/higher.
See this for more on 2015 crowds at Disney World.
JUNE 2015 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
June 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
See this for more on 2015 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
JUNE 2015 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for June 2015. See this for more.
JUNE 2015 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
June weather is hot and humid, with afternoon storms common. It is not as bad as July and August, but nearly so.
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.
JUNE 2015 SPECIAL EVENTS
Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will continue through the weekend of June 13, 2015, and crowd that park Fridays-Sundays.
JUNE 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 JUNE 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.)
- 5/30/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Moderate-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=7. Week ranking=19. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/6/2015 Moderate to higher prices. High-minus crowds. Crowd ranking=8. Week ranking=29. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/13/2015 Moderate to higher prices. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=35. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/20/2015 Moderate to higher prices. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=34. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/27/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Higher crowds. Crowd ranking=10. Week ranking=39. 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.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 16, 2014 7 Comments
Review: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (“MVMCP”)
MVMCP: A REVIEW
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (“MVMCP”) is a special event that takes place during the Christmas season at Walt Disney World.
It requires its own ticket, which is entirely separate from regular Disney World tickets, and is only shown on certain nights from early November through mid-December.
(For more on MVMCP tickets and show nights, see this.)
Even though it is expensive (tickets for a family of four will cost over $200) it’s been part of this site’s Basic December Itinerary since the site opened, for a couple of reasons:
Going to it lets people save a lot of time.
Disney limits the amount of tickets it sells to each show of MVMCP. As a result, waits for the rides are low–most typically 10 minutes. For just how low, see Josh’s post here. Going to it and seeing some really popular rides with hardly a wait saves a ton of time that can instead be spent sleeping in or at the pool.
Going to it guarantees seeing an evening parade and fireworks.
At the time of year the Basic Itinerary covers, the evening parade and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom may happen just a couple of times a week on non-MVMCP nights. Sending people to MVMCP guarantees your family will have the opportunity to see an evening parade and fireworks.
Moreover, the parade and fireworks are unique. The fireworks are tied with those of the Halloween party as best of the year, and the parade has a fun Christmas theme!
I recommend people go to Walt Disney World in the early part of the Christmas season…so how can I not send them to this show?
It’s silly and fun!
In November 2014 I had a chance to see it again, for the sixth time. The rest of this entry is the review of that visit.
MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
There’s a couple of components to MVMCP.
Noted already are the parade and fireworks, both in special Christmas versions.
The parade, called Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, happens twice each night, at 8.15 and 10.30p. (Go on rides during the first parade, and watch the second one.)
The parade begins with a bunch of characters…
…then Minnie and Mickey.
Frozen has taken over three floats.
Other floats include princesses…
…Santa Claus…
…and much more. Lower ranking princesses evicted from their floats by the Frozen crew have to walk.
The fireworks, called Holiday Wishes, happen between the parades at 9.30, preceded by a special holiday version of Celebrate the Magic at 9.15p.
Also noted already are the rides.
- Not all rides are open, but all of the most popular ones are.
- Because of the limit on tickets sold, the rides are pretty easy to get on to without major waits. The park will feel very crowded on Main Street and near the Castle, but this is because of all the people lining for the castle shows and the parade route. Away from Main Street and Frontierland the park opens up and ride waits are quite short.
There’s some shows, some unique to this event.
Castle shows Celebrate the Season…
…and A Frozen Holiday Wish are the same as on regular MK evenings. The first is OK but not worth seeing at the mobbed 7.30 showing (the 10.05 or 11.20p show is the better choice), and the second skippable.
Only shown during the party are A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas in Tomorrowland…
…and dance parties in Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland…
…and the Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland (I took this during the fireworks–it’s more hopping at other times). The first of these is quite lame, the other two are cute ways for your kids to burn off energy if they need to.
There’s some fun other business: free cookies, free hot chocolate (locations on the map, and marked by candy canes), and snow!
Both sides of the 2014 MVMCP brochure are below–as always, click them to enlarge them.
Even though the party starts at 7p, Disney traditionally lets people holding tickets for it through the turnstiles beginning at 4p. Show up early, see some of the lower wait rides, and have dinner. If you show up around party time, Main Street will be mobbed. If the train is still running–the last run will be 6.45p or so–take the train to Frontierland or Fantasyland to avoid the crowds here.
FastPass+ is not available to those using party tickets–but it’s also not needed, as only Anna and Elsa and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train see major waits. If you want to see these, do them as late as you can stay up.
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE NOT FOLLOWING THE BASIC ITINERARY?
As noted, this show is expensive, but worth considering if one or more of the following apply to you:
- You otherwise won’t see the evening parade and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom
- Your plans otherwise leave you short on Magic Kingdom time, and/or
- You are really a fan of Christmas
With kids old enough to be focused on rides, the right plan for MVMCP is to
- Show up early, and eat before the party
- Do rides until a little before 9, and then
- Position yourselves near the Castle for Celebrate the Magic, Holiday Wishes, and the second showing of the evening parade.
- After the parade, do more rides or see the shows!
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 14, 2014 8 Comments
Next Week (November 15 Through November 23, 2014) at Walt Disney World
DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: NOVEMBER 15 TO NOVEMBER 23, 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 November 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 11/15-11/23/2014
The Magic Kingdom will be open 9a-11p 11/15, 8a-7p 11/16, 9a-7p 11/17, 9a-10p 11/18 and 11/19, 9a-7p 11/20, 8a-7p 11/21, and 8a to 12MN 11/22 and 11/23
Epcot will be open from 9a-9p every day
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-8p11/15 through 11/19, 8a-4p 11/20, and 9a-8p 11/21 through 11/23
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 9a-7p 11/15, 9a-6p 11/16, 9a-5p 11/17 through 11/21, 9a-7p 11/22 and 8a-8p 11/23
EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/15-11/23/2014
Saturday 11/15 Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: Magic Kingdom
Sunday 11/16 Morning: none Evening: Hollywood Studios
Monday 11/17 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none
Tuesday 11/18 Morning: Epcot Evening: none
Wednesday 11/19 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none
Thursday 11/20 Morning: Magic Kingdom Evening: none
Friday 11/21 Morning: none Evening: Epcot
Saturday 11/22 Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: Magic Kingdom
Sunday 11/23 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none
PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/15-11/23/2014
The Magic Kingdom:
- Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p every day
- Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 9 and 11p 11/15; 8 and 10p 11/18 and 11/19; 9 and 11p 11/22 and 11/23
FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/15-11/23/2014
Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 10p 11/15; 9p 11/18 and 11/19; 10p 11/22 and 11/23
Illuminations at Epcot: 9p every night
Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 6.30 and 8p 11/15 and 11/16; 6.30p 11/17; 6.30 and 8p 11/18, 11/22 and 11/23
SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/15-11/23/2014
See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.
LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/15-11/23/2014
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:
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 14, 2014 No Comments
Review: A Frozen Holiday Wish at the Magic Kingdom
A Frozen Holiday Wish is the new-for-2014 version of the holiday Castle lighting show.
Up til this year, the holiday lights of Cinderella’s Castle were lit by the Fairy Godmother who was joined by Cinderella, Mickey, Minnie, etc.
The Castle is stunning in its holiday garb, but the lighting show itself was a very minor attraction—something worth watching if you happened to be there, but not worth a walk.
In the new version, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf of you-know-what take over the lighting duties.
The show is insipid, with dull filler material, crowds are high, and it’s only worth viewing by the most die-hard of Frozen fans. The Frozen Sing-Along at Hollywood Studios is much better, and the Castle will light whether or not you see this show.
(For a more positive take on this show, see this.)
A Frozen Holiday Wish begins with Anna, Elsa and Kristoff taking the stage, with a bit of so-so banter.
Olaf joins, reminds us that he likes summer and hugs in case we have forgotten, and the conversation turns to the beauties of the winter landscape. If only the Castle were decorated with ice and snow…but who could do that?
The obvious answer emerges, and Elsa goes to work. However, it takes her a while…This presents the opportunity for some so-so graphics to show up on the castle, but is out of character. We know that Elsa could do this in a second if she wished to, so the delay in achieving it creates not the intended feeling of suspense, but rather worries about Elsa’s health.
She is eventually successful…
And the results, as always, are spectacularly lovely.
The show happens twice a night, at 6.15 and 7.30p on nights the park is open late, and at 6.15 and 8p on party nights. (On party nights, the second show is only for MVMCP attendees.)
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 13, 2014 2 Comments
