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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: DECEMBER 21 TO DECEMBER 29, 2013

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.

And for more on December 2013 at Disney World, see this.

[Read more →]

PEAK 2013 CROWDS WILL BEGIN DECEMBER 21

At the end of this week the 2013 holiday crowds will begin to slam Walt Disney World.

Crowds will be a mess through January 1, 2014–and not that great the rest of that week either. There won’t be any real slow-down until Saturday January 4.

Multi-hour waits will be common on the best-loved rides (waits crossed 3 hours at times last year), senior managers will be bussing tables, and park closures are possible.

Yes, there will also be a wonderful Christmas program and fun stuff on New Years Eve, but all in, because of the crowds and waits, this is a lousy time for a Disney World vacation.

But for the hundreds of thousands of you who will be there then, here’s some thoughts on how to make the best of it!

DEALING WITH THE HOLIDAY CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD [Read more →]

OVERVIEW: JULY 2014 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews July 2014 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 13.

Weather is miserable 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.

[Read more →]

THE 4th OF JULY 2014 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Disney World celebrates the 4th of July at several parks–and on July 3rd as well!

On Thursday, July 3, 2014, the Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show “Celebrate America” at 9p.

On Friday, July 4, 2014

• 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 is shifted from its normal 9p time to 10p, and
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a special 4th of July fireworks presentation at 10.20p

Those following this site’s FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary for Walt Disney World will be at Disney’s Animal Kingdom July 3rd, and at the Magic Kingdom on July 4, and have both evenings off.

Sensible people might swap these two dates, being at the Magic Kingdom and seeing the fireworks on the 3rd, and going to the Animal Kingdom and skipping the fireworks on the 4th…

FOURTH OF JULY CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

July is the most consistently crowded month at Disney World, and in the month, the week that includes the 4th of July is the most crowded week.

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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As of December 18, 2013, in a new—and perhaps enduring—change, there will be couple of differences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park

• The old Fastpass machines at the Animal Kingdom will be turned off—no paper Fastpasses will be available until further notice, just FastPass+
• Off-site guests will be able to use FastPass+, although they won’t be able to book them ahead of time—just the day of their visit.

As I write this, while you can only book three FastPass+ per day, you can still book all three of your FastPass+ as headliners, which makes planning much easier…if this changes I’ll revise what follows.

Below, I’ll make suggestions for how to handle this in one and two-day itineraries at the Animal Kingdom for on-site guests, and then suggest differences that off-site guests should pursue.

This is a moving target, so things may change. Those who experience this directly: please weigh in with what you discover in the comment form below!

FASTPASS+ PRIORITIES AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

FastPass+ will be available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the following rides:

• Character Greetings at the Adventurers Outpost
• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo – The Musical
• It’s Tough to be a Bug!
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Primeval Whirl

Of these, the prizes for families with kids old enough to enjoy all the best of Walt Disney World are Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest. These rides are wildly popular and build long lines quickly.

After those, on really hot days, Kali River Rapids will be a high priority. You get just soaked on this ride, making it a popular cooling tool late in the day.

Right now, it’s not that hard to see most of the other options. But I expect Dinosaur, Festival of the Lion King (while it’s still open) and Finding Nemo to become harder to see, especially on busy days, simply because many will pick these as their FastPass+ options.

(If your kids are young, you likely want to avoid Everest, Dinosaur, and It’s Tough to be a Bug, and put the Character Greeting as a higher priority.)

FASTPASS+ ITINERARY FOR ONE DAY AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM FOR ON-SITE VISITORS

Book up to 60 days ahead of time via MyDisneyExperience FastPass+ for Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, and Finding Nemo—The Musical, for 10.30a or later. If you can, set Nemo for the morning, and the other two in the afternoon. This will lead to less backtracking later!

Arrive at the park at least 45 minutes before the scheduled opening—earlier if during a high crowd week.

When you are let in—typically these days about 15 minutes before the scheduled opening—head immediately to Expedition Everest, ride it, and ride it again if you wish, using if necessary the single-rider line. (You do Expedition Everest at open rather than through FastPass+ because its regular queue is much better than its FastPass+ queue.)

The rest of the morning, while keeping an eye on your return times for your FastPass+ for the nearby Finding Nemo—The Musical, see what interests you in Dinoland: Dinosaur for sure, and, if they appear of interest, the nearby Primeval Whirl and TriceraTop Spin.

After lunch, keeping in mind any FastPass+ return times and the 3.45p parade, see the rest of the shows, rides, and walk-through exhibits, saving Kali River for the end of the day.

Because your later Fastpass+ are both in or near Africa, coordinate them with seeing Pangini Forest trail and also Rafiki’s Planet Watch and its associated Wildlife Express Train. (If time presses, Rafiki and the train are quite skippable.)

FASTPASS+ ITINERARY FOR TWO DAYS AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM FOR ON-SITE VISITORS

Two days at the Animal Kingdom is a bit of a luxury.

The first day, plan to take the morning off, and 60 days in advance or sooner for the afternoon FastPass+ Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and, at the end of your planned time there, Kali River Rapids.

At the park, see between these the parade, Flights of Wonder, Panagani Forest Trail, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Flights of Wonder, and It’s Tough to be a Bug

For day two, FastPass+ beginning 60 days in advance for the morning but 10a or later Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo-The Musical, and Dinosaur. Make Dinosaur the earliest of these.

Arrive at the park at least 45 minutes before the scheduled opening—earlier if during a high crowd week. At open, immediately head to your favorite between Everest and Kilimanjaro from day one, re-ride it, then head to Dinoland and ride the rides there until your Dinosaur FastPass+ is ready.

Catch your other FastPass+, and see what you missed on day 1!

CHANGES TO THE ANIMAL KINGDOM FASTPASS+ STRATEGY FOR OFFSITE VISITORS

During this test, off-site guests will only be able to make FastPass+ bookings in the park, and only using Disney objects—that is, not their own cell phonse or iPads.

Right now, from what I’ve seen on the web, the places off-site guests can sign up for FastPass+ are near

• Creature Comforts, on Discovery Island
• Disney Outfitters, also on Discovery Island
• Expedition Everest, in Asia near Dinoland
• Kali River Rapids, in the heart of Asia
• Primeval Whirl, in Dinoland

(I’m surprised there’s nothing in Africa…)

I don’t know how this will unfold. I expect at the beginning of the test it’ll be a zoo, as off-site guests go to the old Fastpass machines, learn they don’t work, and then mob these off-site FastPass+ distribution points.

If the test sticks around for a while, then, as the word gets out—and it took years for people to understand that the old FastPass system was free with your ticket, not an extra-charge perk—more and more off-site guests will head to the distribution points as soon as the park opens, to lock in their FastPass+ for the day.

FastPass+ One Day Strategy for Off-Site Visitors.

FastPass+ priorities are the same for off-site as for on-site visitors, so here’s what I’d suggest:

• At open, head straight towards Everest.
• If the FastPass+ booking line there is short, then book your FastPass+ for the day (same list as in the one-day itinerary above: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, and Finding Nemo—The Musical, for 10.30a or later, with Nemo for the morning, and the other two in the afternoon). Then ride Everest.
• If the Everest FastPass+ booking line is long, then skip it, ride Everest, and make your way to Kilimanjaro along the path that passes near Kali River Rapids. Check the FastPass+ booking line here; if short, do it; if long, keep going and ride Kilimanjaro stand-by. Then get your FastPass+ for the rest of the day booked after you are off Kilimanjaro, likely at Discovery Island.
• Then follow the rest of the one-day itinerary above, adapting it for your actual FastPass+ and their times

FastPass+ Two Day Strategy for Off-Site Visitors.

Off-site visitors with two days at the Animal Kingdom should start both days by arriving 45 minutes or more before the scheduled park opening.

On day one…

• Start as above—head for Expedition Everest, book FastPass+ there if the booking station is not busy for Kilimanjaro, Kali River at the end of the day, and Finding Nemo. Skip this step if the line for FastPass+ is long. Either way, ride Everest.
• If you did not book FastPass+ before Everest, then book after at either the Everest or Kali River Rapids stations, if not too busy. If they are too busy, then then head for Kilimanjaro.
• If you leave Kilimanjaro without FastPass+, then get them next.
• The rest of the day, see as much of the Animal Kingdom as you can.

On day two, start at whichever of Everest or Kilimanjaro was your favorite, getting FastPass+ at Everest or on the way to Kilimanjaro if the lines aren’t too long, or after if they are. Prioritize for your FastPass+ any key rides or shows you didn’t see on day one, and then anything you want to re-ride!

OK, that’s what I got. Josh of EasyWDW.com published a slightly different approach here that’s also worth a look.   I’ll revise these suggestions as experience proves necessary!

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(For the first page of this review of the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, click here.)

PHOTO TOUR OF THE KITCHEN/DINING/LIVING SPACES IN THE VILLAS AT THE GRAND FLORIDIAN

As you enter a One or Two-Bedroom Villa at the Grand Floridian, you’ll find the main living space dead ahead, and halls that lead to the master bath and second bedroom/studio connecting door on either side.

Here’s the main living space from the back of the living room.

As you pass from the entry into the kitchen/dining area, there will be a cabinet on your side.

Because of its positioning versus how the kitchen is laid out, this cabinet creates an area reminiscent of a butler’s pantry–a nice touch, and nice use of space. And for those in a lock-off two bedroom villa, it can be used to extend the storage space in the Studio that’s just down the hall.

The kitchen and dining area cover opposite corners of the same space, with a half-wall separating this area from the living room beyond.

This–along with the 14 feet 4 inch width of this bay–allows for both a nicely sized kitchen and a good sized seating area.  Note the OK amount of counter space and tons of storage, the lovely upper cabinets, and the higher-end appliances…

The fridge in particular with its lower drawers is smarter than I am…

…while still containing plenty of space in the upper portion for all the essentials.

If you are new to these DVC villas, they all come supplied with all core food preparation and serving items–ranging from silverware…

…to glasses, ovenware, measuring cups…

…pots and pans, utensils, and…

…all other cook’s essentials.

Although these villas are not that old, they are wearing quickly. Note the dings and stains on the cabinet door…

…and the dings,  rust and staining on the fridge.

The dining table is in the other corner of this space. This view is from the kitchen…

…and this from nearer the living room.

This table will easily seat six, and with slimmer-hipped children and another chair brought in from a desk elsewhere in the villa, could possibly seat several more–though elbows, and place settings, will be tight.

This is more seating capacity than at many DVC two-bedroom 8 person villas–and especially much more than at those at the Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge, and Saratoga Springs.

On the other side of the dining area is the living room, with a sofa and chair on one side.

Here’s the same space from the other end. The armchair on the left is quite large, has a large ottoman–and note the two smaller ottomans near the half-wall on the right.

The chair and couch will seat 4 to 5 depending on hips, and the three ottomans another 3 to 4.

On the opposite side of the room, you’ll find the door to the master bedroom, and this TV atop an enormous thingy.

There’s no storage space in this thingy (I’ll come back to what is in it in a minute), and at first glance not much elsewhere in the room other than in this larger end table near the half wall…

…and this smaller end table on the balcony side.

But in fact both of the smaller ottomans can store stuff…

…and there’s also two large drawers built into the half wall, running beneath the dining  table seating on the other side.

What you won’t find in the space is a closet, but there’s a small closet in the hall that links this area to the master bath.

The sofa unfolds into a queen-sized bed with a cushion that’s about five inches thick.

The second sleeping spot in this area is a Murphy Bed that folds down from the thingy under the TV. I measured this as 72 inches by 32 inches, with 77 inches clear for feetsies between the framing elements. I measured the cushion as about 5.5 inches deep.  This bed was too short for my 71+ inches, but will be fine for someone 5′ 9″ or less.

Overall, this is a nicely livable space, and better suited than most other DVC villas for larger families.  Only Disney’s Riviera Resort is in the same class of livability, and only Old Key West is clearly superior for larger families.

THE MASTER BEDROOM AND BATH OF THE VILLAS AT THE GRAND FLORIDIAN

This review continues here!

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