Category — w. Most Recent Stuff

DISNEY WORLD WINTER RIDE CLOSURES IN 2012

The list of attractions closed at Disney World for repair or refurbishment in the winter of 2012 is beginning to emerge.

Rides so far known to be closed some or all of this period include

• Fantasmic, closed 1/9/2012 to 2/12/2012
• Big Thunder Mountain, closed 1/9/12 to 5/27/2012
• Dumbo, closed 1/9/12 to 3/31/2012
• The Liberty Belle, closed 1/28 to 5/20
• Kali River Rapids, closed 1/24 through 2/9
• The Main Street Electrical Parade, closed 1/20 to 2/12
• the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, closed 2/26 to 3/10
• The Studio Backlot Tour, closed 2/13 to 3/9
• The Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, closed 2/13 to 3/10

Many weeks in this time period are great for returning visitors, but because winter ride closures are typical, I don’t recommend January and early February
for first-time visitors who may never return. 

See this for more.

FAMILY SUITES AT ART OF ANIMATION INSTEAD OF A MODERATE?

With Art of Animation Family Suites scheduled to open at the end of May 2012, it’s interesting to speculate about who might reserve them.

Larger families looking for value pricing, and not wanting to bet on connecting rooms, are the natural target. 

But they also will provide a great alternative for some families who would otherwise be aimed at one room at a moderate resort, but are willing to spend a little more for a lot more space and flexibility.

A FAMILY SUITE VERSUS A ROOM AT A MODERATE

Depending on the time of the year, an Art of Animation Family Suite will cost between 50% more and twice as much more than a room at a moderate.

(The chart shows the second half of 2012, when both options will be available.  It graphs several resort options as a percent of moderate costs, so moderates are always 100%.)

During the times it is 50% more, a family suite is an interesting option. 

Compared to a moderate, for the 50% higher price, you get

• 65% more square feet
• Twice as many private sleeping spaces
• Twice as many bathrooms
• 3 beds instead of two, (or two and a trundle in some part of Port Orleans Riverside)
• A microwave
• A dining table
• Capacity for 6, instead of capacity for 4 (or 5 at some parts of Riverside)

What you don’t get is what distinguishes most moderates from values: lovelier grounds, more fun and interesting pools, waterfront play options, and, at most moderates, sit-down restaurants.

On the other hand, the values have more kid-appeal than any moderate, and are much more compact than any moderate but Port Orleans French Quarter.

For me this is pretty clear…were I aimed at moderate, but could afford the 50% price premium, I’d take Art of Animation in a minute.  I can’t think of any circumstance when the extra room, the additional privacy from two sleeping spaces, and the two baths wouldn’t be a winning proposition…

MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• For where to stay, see this
  • For your next best choices, in order, see this
  • For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
  • For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
  • For where not to stay, see this

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• For what you get in each resort price category, see this
  • For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
  • For resort reviews, see this
  • For the value resorts, see this
  • For the moderate resorts, see this
  • For the deluxe resorts, see this
  • For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
  • For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this

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• For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this

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• Large families should look at this, and also at
  • Large Families Looking for Value Pricing at Walt Disney World
  • Large Families Looking for Deluxe Accommodations at Disney World
  • Beds and Sleeping Spaces at the Walt Disney World Resorts
  • Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
  • Suites at Walt Disney World

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• Military/DOD families should look at this

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• Tightwads should look at this

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• Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this

This is the second page of this review. For the first page of this review, click here.

MORE ON DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT

There are currently 8 official Disney owned and operated deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World.

In their recommended order for first time family visitors, they are

1. Polynesian
2. Wilderness Lodge
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge
4. Contemporary
5. Grand Floridian
6. Beach Club
7. Yacht Club
8. BoardWalk Inn

Many of these also offer Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) studios and villas, all for rent to the general public–see this for more on the Disney Vacation Club resorts.

ROOMS AT DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT

[Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

DISNEY’S 2012 INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL AT EPCOT

Every year from roughly early March through mid-May, Walt Disney World presents the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.

In 2012, it’s scheduled for March 7-May 20.

The gardens at Epcot are almost always lovely, and they are at their loveliest during this period.

Disney’s own wonderful landscaping is supplemented by additional plantings, topiary, and specially themed gardens.

Also presented are special programs presenting gardening tips, and weekend concerts.

See the official Walt Disney World web page for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival here.

[Read more →]

WALT DISNEY’S ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM

I review rides only when they are new or after they have changed, on the theory that first time visitors ought to try them all and hence don’t need reviews.

(For those without the time or energy to try them all, there’s a
comprehensive guide to Disney World rides and attractions here and also a list of Disney World rides that might be skipped here.)

The Tiki Room has re-opened after a fire with a number of changes.  These changes improve its presentation and bring it closer to Walt Disney’s original vision.

As an homage to that vision and to nostalgia, the name of the ride has had “Walt Disney” added to it–sharing that honor with Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. So it’s now “Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.”

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT

Our most recent stay confirms that Disney’s Beach Club Resort, one of the Epcot resorts, is the sixth best deluxe resort at Walt Disney World for first time family visitors.

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.

(It also suggests that first time visitors should avoid the moderate resorts, while noting that these resorts are wonderful for visits after the first. See this for why.)

Compared to other Walt Disney World owned and operated resorts, the deluxe resorts are distinguished by having (on average) the most amenities, nicest views, best dining options, best transport options, largest rooms, best service, and highest prices.

Among the deluxe resorts, Disney’s Beach Club Resort has a lot of positives.

It stands out for sharing with the Yacht Club Resort the best pool on property, sharing with the Yacht Club and the BoardWalk Inn convenient access to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and also sharing with these resorts a short walk to dozens of interesting table service dining options located in these resorts, at the Swan and Dolphin, on the BoardWalk, and in Epcot.

(For Disney’s Beach Club Villas, which share services and location with the Beach Club, see this.)

(See this for much more on resort distinctions by price class–value, moderate, deluxe, etc.) [Read more →]