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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: APRIL 26 TO MAY 4, 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 April 2014 at Walt Disney World, see this, and more on May, this.

[Read more →]

There’s two ways to book your Disney World dining—on the web, and over the phone at (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463). (Don’t know what to book?  See this.)

Crack Commenter Disney Dining Agent noted yesterday that if you are calling, your odds of getting one of the best dining agents are increased if you call between 7a and 10a eastern.

His comment explains the details, but the short version is that the best agents get first pick of shifts, and that shift is the most popular among them.

He also notes that the way to insure that the best keep showing up at that time is to do the survey after the call, and to rate excellent help from the dining agent as a “1” when question number 5 rolls around!

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Update: or maybe May 7?

My buddy Joe Black is now forecasting that Free Dining for September 2014 will open to the general public for booking on Monday May 5.

(For the full scoop on free dining, see this.)

This is still just a forecast, and may be wrong.  But Joe thinks that Free Dining will open then, will likely open a bit earlier for Disney Visa cardholders, will have eligible arrival dates from late August into September, and may extend well into September. As usual, certain resorts and room types will be excluded.

Joe also think that there will be additional free dining for later in 2014, to be announced mid-summer. This last bit is a reversal of predictions that he and I co-authored late last year…and no one would be happier to be wrong!

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, click here

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

You enter the Animal Kingdom Lodge into its spectacular lobby–none of my photos do justice to it.

The lobby is full of charms like this firepit…

…and at its far side, windows overlooking the Arusha savanna, one of several animal-filled savannas that encircle most public spaces and all “Savanna-view” rooms.

Outside and below these windows is another fire pit, more animal viewing, and, typically, cast members to help you understand what you are seeing.

Back in the third floor lobby itself, on the left is the check in and concierge area, and on the right near the front is the gift shop.

The gift shop has lots of fun African-themed stuff…

…plus the basics.

Outside the lobby to the left are the bus stops. All theme park transport is via buses or your car–you can’t walk to any park, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom itself.

Also outside here is the main entry, which is where you pick you the van-shuttle to sister resort Kidani Village.

The entry floor is actually the third floor.  Below it on the first floor are most other guests services, reached from the lobby either by an elevator bank near the gift shop, or a stair deck just a bit further in.

At the lowest level to the right is the gym.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is unique among the Disney deluxes in having no access to a lake and its watersports or a beach, and in having all transport to the theme parks via bus.

Basically you’ve traded the waterfront and beaches for animals…but oh, those animals!

At the lowest level of the Animal Kingdom Lodge you will find its dining.

DINING AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

This review continues here.

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

• Summary and overview of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Theming and accommodations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• A photo tour of a standard room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Amenities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• The Uzima Pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom 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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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: APRIL 19 TO APRIL 27, 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 April 2014 at Walt Disney World, see this.

[Read more →]

Disney World did something very rare–it changed Evening Extra Magic Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from Monday to Sunday many dates from early September through mid-November.

As a result, those Sundays are now lousy days to go to the Studios, and below are the suggested changes to the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary and To-Do List for the entire period–the new changes, the changes that already existed, and weeks where no changes are need:

• For an August 30, 2014 arrival date swap Tuesday and Second Saturday, and also Monday and Thursday
• For a September 6 arrival date—no changes
• For September 13 through October 4 arrival dates swap First Sunday and Tuesday
• For an October 11 arrival date swap Tuesday and Thursday
• For October 18 through November 1 arrival dates swap first Sunday and Tuesday
• For a November 8 arrival date–no changes
• For a November 15 arrival date swap the first Sunday and Tuesday, and also Monday and Thursday

If you’ve made dining reservations that you can’t re-do, the “Sunday-Tuesday” swaps can be left ignored. Just expect to be able to complete less at Hollywood Studios on Sunday, and as a result to perhaps need to arrive there earlier on Thursday to catch what you missed.

And note any questions in the comment box below!

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