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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 2: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you have the morning and early afternoon off. You will then return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to complete the visit you began Sunday.  You have no reserved dining today.

You should have FastPass+ for Fantasmic, Star Tours, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  If all went well Sunday, you will have already seen Voyage, so swap it for another FastPass+ or just ignore this FastPass+.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON

• Sleep in and then play at the pool
• Eat breakfast in your room, and lunch at counter service at your hotel or the Studios
• Arrive at Hollywood Studios by 4p–earlier if you missed stuff Sunday, or your Star Tours FastPass+ is early.

AT THE PARK

• Today your goal is to see Star Tours, Muppet Vision 3D, the Lights Motor Action Extreme Stunt Show, and Fantasmic.  There are fixed schedules for Fantasmic (in summer, typically 8.30 or 9p) and the Lights Motor Action show (typically 4.30p), you have a reserved meal at 7p, so you will fit the other items around these and your Star Tours FastPass+ time
• See the Lights Motor Action Extreme Stunt Show
• See  Star Tours, and Muppet Vision 3D, framed around your Star Tours FastPass+
• Have dinner at 50s Prime Time Cafe at 7p
• See Fantasmic with your FastPass+. Note that your FastPass+ only guarantees you access, not a good seat. For the best seats show up 30-45 minutes ahead
• Most lines will be short after Fantasmic–if you wish, this will be a good time for re-rides. Try for more FastPass+, or simply check standby lines
• Head back to your hotel when you are ready

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will begin your visit to the Magic Kingdom, followed by the fun dinner show Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue in the evening.

EPCOT DAY 2: MONDAY AGENDA

Today you will complete Epcot, and have the evening off.

Assuming you saw Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, most of Innoventions East, and some of World Showcase on Saturday, you’ll have an easy day today.

If you missed some of these, the priorities from among them to fit in today are Spaceship Earth, Mission Space and World Showcase. For today you should have FastPass+ for Soarin, Turtle Talk with Crush, and a third. (If you missed Mission Space on Saturday, change your third FastPass+ to it, for early in the morning.)

You have no reserved dining today.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 45 minutes before open.

AT THE PARK: MORNING

• Enter the turnstiles when the park opens at about 8.45, grab a map and Times Schedule, and head to Test Track. Ride it.
• Go into Innoventions East and check out The Sum of All Thrills.  If it looks like fun, ride it
• If you missed them Saturday, see Mission Space and Spaceship Earth, and if you wish, more of Innoventions East and Ellen’s Energy Adventure (which takes 40 minutes)
• Head to the other side of Future World and see the attractions in the Imagination Pavilion– Captain EO and Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Two of your FastPass+ for today are on this side of the park.  Using them see Soarin, and Turtle Talk with Crush.   Fit in The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Living with the Land and Circle of Life around the FastPass+ rides (if lines are too long for Living with the Land, get a fourth FastPass+ for it after you use your third.) Note that as you ride each FastPass+ ride you can move the next to an earlier time, if available.
• Have lunch while you are in this area of the park at Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion on the same level as Soarin
• Next is the rest of World Showcase, starting with Canada and progressing counter-clockwise. Tour as you did Saturday night, checking out the shows as you wander
• If the kids are bored by World Showcase, check out Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
• And you are almost done!  Add more FastPass+ if you got want, and check out Innoventions West on your way out of the park

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the morning and early afternoon off, and then finish visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the later afternoon and evening

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: FIRST SUNDAY AGENDA

You will begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, completing it late Tuesday afternoon and evening. Two days is way more than enough time–you want to see as much as you can today, so that you have even more time off on Tuesday. Try to see today everything in the center and Sunset Boulevard area of the park except Fantasmic. You have no reserved dining today.

You should have FastPass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania, Tower of Terror and the Frozen Sing-Along.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

FIRST THINGS

• Arrive at Hollywood Studios by 45 minutes before opening

AT THE PARK

• At opening, pick up a guide map and “Times Guide” and head to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and ride it. Ride it again if you wish.
• Ride Tower of Terror.  If lines are so short that you don’t need your FastPass+–which is very likely–rebook it for Voyage of the Little Mermaid later in the morning.
• See the Great Movie Ride
• Review the Times Guide, and fitting around your FastPass+ for the Frozen Sing Along,  pick times for the Indiana Jones Stunt Show, and Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. Seeing the last show of the day is best, but won’t be possible with both. (Plan to see the Lights Motor Action show on Tuesday, to save walking today.)
• See these shows, folding in your FastPass+ among them, and seeing the other nearby rides and attractions in between the shows and FastPass+. Save Star Tours, Muppet Vision 3D, and the Lights Motor Action Extreme Stunt Show for Tuesday, but see everything else today. If you can’t fit in all the shows, plan to arrive earlier on Tuesday
• Have lunch when you are ready at a nearby counter service
• Before you leave the park, check the Fantasmic and Lights Motor Action Extreme Stunt Show schedules for Tuesday, as you will be planning your arrival around them
• Have counter service dinner at in the park or back at your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will finish your visit to Epcot, and can take the evening off.

EPCOT DAY 1: FIRST SATURDAY AGENDA

Check in, get settled if your room is ready, and be at Epcot as soon as you can.

FIRST THINGS

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

• Arrive at your hotel, following the instructions in your Disney’s Magical Express packet if you are using it to get from Orlando International to your Disney Resort. Check in
• Unless you are arriving late, your room will likely not be ready, but you can leave your bags. First change into clothes more appropriate for the weather–which your To-Do List reminded you to pack in your carry-ons. You can ask to be called or texted later to find out your exact room
• If your room is ready, and if you have time–you want to be at Epcot as soon as you can–get food and supplies (bowls, napkins, scotch) for your breakfast in the morning, which you will be eating out of your room. Also get (from the counter service restaurant)  “Refillable Mugs,” which you will be able to re-use at your resort for free drinks over your entire stay
• Head to Epcot as soon as you can

AT THE PARK

• Your plan today is to see as many of Epcot’s lengthier attractions as you can to free time on your second visit, see parts of World Showcase that are most fun in the evening, and see Epcot’s park-closing spectacular Illuminations using FastPass+. You should also have FastPass+ for Spaceship Earth and Mission Space, and dinner reservations for either Akershus or San Angel Inn at around 7p. Those arriving late may have to thin the below to just dinner, World Showcase, and Illuminations
• Go through the turnstiles and pick up a park map and “Times Guide”–a schedule. Use your first FastPass+ and then see Ellen’s Energy Adventure. Use your second FastPass+ then sample Innoventions East (except for Sum of All Thrills, where the line is likely too long–see it on your second Epcot day).
• Head to World Showcase, and while keeping an eye out for your dinner reservation at around 7p, see the pavilions starting with Mexico and going clockwise.
  • Each pavilion will have some or all of shopping, special exhibits, a ride, a movie, and other special events—such as acrobats in China.
  • Check your map, times guide, and the pavilion itself, to see what each pavilion has.
  • For scheduled events like the acrobats, etc., sequence what you do when among items that are not scheduled (shops, exhibits, and rides), and bounce back and forth between nearby pavilions, so that you don’t have to wait long for the scheduled item
• Have dinner at whichever you chose to reserve between San Angel Inn inside the Mexico pyramid or the Akershus Royal Banquet  Meal in Norway at 7p
• Continue touring World Showcase clockwise until about 8:30p
• Start making your way to the Illuminations FastPass+ area right where Future World and World Showcase intersect. Hit the bathrooms if needed on the way, as you don’t want to so pause after Illuminations
• Watch Illuminations, and if you are parked, taking the monorail, or taking a bus back to your hotel, immediately at its end start walking briskly to the park exit (on the far side of Spaceship Earth) to beat the crowds.  The value of your Illuminations FastPass+ is that 1. it puts you in the best viewing spot for Illuminations, and 2. it puts you in the viewing spot nearest the park exit
• Return to your hotel

BACK AT THE HOTEL

Buy food, supplies (bowls, spoons, etc.) and refillable mugs for breakfast in your room at your hotel counter service or gift shop, if you did not have time, or a room assignment, earlier.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will spend the first of two days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You want to arrive by 45 minutes before scheduled opening. Check with your concierge on transport (likely buses) and what time you should be at the bus stop.

DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: MAY 10 TO MAY 18, 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 May 2014 at Walt Disney World, see this.

[Read more →]

DO YOU HAVE A FREE DINING PIN CODE? ARE YOU SURE?

Disney World released its free dining offer today, with many excluded resorts and dates.

But also today Disney has been emailing lotsa people with “pin codes” for free dining as well. These are for a wider set of dates and more resorts than the offer available to the general public, including Port Orleans Riverside. And they will come out in waves…

From the offers I’ve seen so far, the eligible arrival dates are:

• 8/25 – 10/3/14
• 10/19 – 11/1/14
• 11/9 – 11/22/14
• 12/12 – 12/23/14

…more than what’s in the general public deal, especially in later October.

Moreover, more resorts are in this deal than the general public deal, including Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter. The image at the top of the page is an email confirming free dining at a date before the general public offer is available, and at a resort that the general public deal does not allow.

This pin codes come by mail and email, and lots of you have asked how to get one of these pin codes emailed to them and my answer has been consistently that I have no idea.*

So call Disney and ask.  If a pin code is attached to your account, they will tell you; and if not, call again in a week or so, as these codes are released in waves!

*Oh, I have lots of ideas, but none I have any confidence in…

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