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TOURING TIPS – MORNING EXTRA MAGIC HOURS

Some time ago, our friends at WDW created another reason to stay at a WDW resort. The Extra Magic Hours benefit was offered to WDW resort guests.

For those of you that ask, “What are Extra Magic Hours?” let me explain.

Every day, WDW opens a different park, one hour earlier than scheduled opening, exclusively for the use of WDW resort guests. As well, every evening, a different park will be open up to 3 hours later for the exclusive use of WDW guests. Sounds like a great deal, doesn’t it? Well……there are two schools of thought on this. Let’s focus on the morning Extra Magic Hour and let me explain.

First, there is the thought that this is a HUGE benefit that must be taken advantage of. That extra hour in the park before the general public can give you and your family the jump on two or three E ticket attractions before the general public. If you have young children, that coveted ride on Dumbo at the Magic Kingdom can be achieved early and with minimal wait. Tackle Everest, fly on Soarin’, ride Tower of Terror, all before the crowds get unmanageable and FastPass becomes a necessity.

On the flipside, there is the thought that parks offering morning Extra Magic Hours MUST be avoided. Why would someone think that? Well, let’s think about it for a minute.

In addition to the general public, the resort crowds are going to be much higher at the Extra Magic Hour parks, making the EMH park become much more crowded than the other 3 parks as the day goes on. For those people who will do anything to avoid crowds, it may be better to avoid the more crowded park and go to another less crowded park and make better use of your time. The benefit of getting the Extra Morning Hour can be outweighed by the crowd that you will face at the park as the days goes on.

So, now what? Do you take advantage or do you avoid?

My advice, do both……..

How do you do that, you may ask? Well, let me tell you……..

Go to the park that is offering the morning Extra Magic hour. Plan on only spending 2-3 hours at that park and then hop to one of the other parks. This will allow you to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hour and then exit the park before the crowds take over. Typically the park that offered the Extra Magic Hour the day before is often the least crowded park.

Of course, you will need a Park Hopper ticket to do this, and prepare any children you have that this is the plan. I have found this to be difficult to manage at times, especially if you are hopping out of the Magic Kingdom. Young children tend to get comfortable in a park, start having fun, and don’t want to leave. If you can work it out ahead of time that would definitely benefit you in the end.

One place where I would recommend taking advantage of morning Extra Magic Hours is either of the Disney water parks. Getting in early will allow you to get those beach chairs that quickly become hard to obtain once the water parks open to the general public.

Happy touring…………

TOURING TIPS – ILLUMINATIONS

Back again for another edition of Touring Tips, and I would like to cover a tip I learned for Illuminations during my trip at the end of May.

Illuminations began at Epcot on January 30, 1988 and ran until Sept 20, 1996 when it became Illuminations 25 to celebrate WDW’s 25th anniversary. Then, on October 1, 1999, the show was changed to Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth. The 2000 was dropped form the title Jan 1, 2001, but the show lived on and has become one of the most popular nighttime shows at all of Walt Disney World.

In the past, I had been one of those people who always want to make sure I get a good spot for Illuminations. At the same time, I want to beat the crowd out of the park after it is over. I always stay at a Disney resort so the bus lines can get very long after Illuminations ends.

This typically involves me parking myself at the entrance to World Showcase at least and hour and often one hour and a half prior to show time. As you get closer to show time, this involves getting crowded in by the hundreds of other people that show up and try to claim a spot. At the end, everyone sprints for the exit. I was really tired of doing this and thought there must be a better way. I wanted to enjoy the show without worrying about getting a good spot, and planning my exit.

Here is what I did, and what I will suggest to you.

Visit Epcot during Extra Magic Hour Evenings an plan to watch Illuminations at that time. About ½ hour prior to show time, make your way around World Showcase to Germany or Italy. You can usually find a prime viewing location still open at that time and will only have to allocate 15-20 minutes of standing and waiting for the show to start.

Once the show is over, you can now take your time coming back around World Showcase, visiting pavilions and visiting attractions. You have planned to be there late so you are not in any hurry to exit as this is part of the schedule you have developed for yourself and you can take your time and let the crowds thin out.

For those that do not stay at a Disney resort and can’t participate in Evening Extra Magic Hours, you can still use this method. During Evening Extra Magic hours, you can still wander the park and visit the various World Showcase pavilions. The only thing you cannot do is ride any attractions. Of course, you will not be taking Disney transportation, so bus lines will not be a concern. You will, however, have an easier time leaving the parking lot as most of the crowd will have left at the end of the show.

During my visit, I stopped at Germany, China, Norway(rode Malestrom), and Mexico on my way back to Future World. Upon arriving at Future World, I went over and did the Seas with Nemo and Turtle Talk with no wait at all. I then did Spaceship Earth on my way out before going to the bus stop for Port Orleans around 11:15pm. There was still a line but I was able to get on the next bus that came and was back at the hotel by 11:45pm.

This really took the stress out of viewing Illuminations and my family was actually able to view Illuminations from a great location and relax while doing it. I would highly recommend trying this strategy and see how it works out for you. I know I will always use this for the future.

Until next time, Happy Touring…

ANIMAL KINGDOM TOURING TIPS

I often hear people refer to Disney’s Animal Kingdom as a “half-day” park. That may be the case if one treats this park like the Magic Kingdom. However, that is a mistake that you should definitely not make. This is not the kind of park where you need to rush between rides to make sure you can get everything in. The key to Animal Kingdom is “TAKE YOUR TIME!”

There is so much to appreciate at Animal Kingdom and many visitors make the mistake of treating it like any other park and they end up missing the beauty of Animal Kingdom. The imagineers did a fantastic job on this park and it really needs to be taken slowly to fully appreciate it.

I’ll outline some of my tips for making a full day of this park focusing on the minor attractions. I know everyone will incorporate Everest, Dinosaur and Kilamanjaro Safari and I’ll give you my take on those as well. This will require some backtracking in the beginning of the day.

First, start out by heading for Everest, grab a fastpass and continue on to Kilimanjaro Safari. This is the best time to do the safari as the animals are active. Once that is complete, head back and do Kali river rapids before using your fastpass for Everest. Note: for Kali if you are on the bottom of the raft as it goes down the big hill, you WILL get soaked. If you want to avoid this, wear a poncho.

Once you ride Everest, head for Dinoland and ride Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur. On a typical day, riding these should get you to lunch time and then you will have the rest of the day to focus on the beauty of this park. If you hit a crowd at Dinoland, grab a fastpass for one of the attractions and hit it after lunch.

For lunch, I would suggest the Flame Tree Barbecue. It has great food and lots of seating in the back. Try hitting it before noon if possible.

Here are some things you should do in the afternoon (in no particular order):

- Explore the Oasis. There are over 30 species of animals to view. Take your time walking through the area.

- Explore Discovery Island– again, the key is take your time. Some highlights are the Galapagos tortoise and the Capybara (the World’s largest rodent).

- Tree of Life – go see “It’s Tough to be a Bug” and if it isn’t really lined up outside, take your time and look at the beauty of this tree and some of the carvings on it. This is truly an amazing structure that really needs to be appreciated. If the show is lined up, you will have time to appreciate it anyway.

- The Lion King and Finding Nemo shows – work these in as they are amazing. Don’t let the huge lineup for Nemo deter you. There is plenty of seating in the theater and if you are not picky about where you sit, you can often join the line late and still get seats. The Lion King is less popular but is an equally amazing and entertaining show.

- Dinoland – the boardwalk games are a lot of fun and can be a great way to spend ½ an hour or so. The kids really love it.

- Pangani Forest Exploration – Take your time walking through the trail. Many people rush through it to move onto something else. The gorillas are the highlight here so if there is a crowd at the Gorilla Research station, there is another viewing area past that on the suspension bridge.

- Devine – While walking from Africa to Asia (or vice versa) keep an eye out for Devine. This performer is amazing, so if you see her, stop and observe. You will be happy you did.

- Maharajah Jungle Trek – Same as the Pangani, take your time going through this. The tigers are the highlight here so if there is a crowd by the first viewing area, keep walking as there is another great area on the bridge following it. Also, spend some time in the bird sanctuary to see if you can spot all the birds on the identification chart.

- Gibbon Island– stop and take some time to watch the gibbons on the island outside Kali River Rapids. They are very entertaining.

- Flights of Wonder – a great show, not to be missed.

- Rafiki’s Planet Watch – there can be a long wait for the train but there are some very interesting exhibits at Conservation station and you really need to take the time to go there and check out this attraction. The kids will love the petting area.

- Parade – this parade is not to be missed and is one of my favorite parades. Get a spot by the safari entrance to see it loop through twice.

As you can see, there is a lot to do and see at Animal Kingdom. I didn’t even mention the Boneyard or Character trails which are a must if you have children. A great way to end the day is take in dinner at the Rainforest Café on your way out.

If you follow my advice, and take your time, you should have no problem making a full day at Animal Kingdom. Once you get the major attractions done, there is a lot to do and see at this beautiful park. Enjoy your time there an Happy Touring!

Discover the Undiscovered at Walt Disney World

High-flying elephants and spinning teacups usually take center stage when a guest is thinking of Walt Disney World Resort. But did you know that nine-pound lemons flourish at The Land pavilion at Epcot, or that sunset safaris explore Africa-inspired savannahs in the middle of Florida? Guests who take a second glance find undiscovered gems within the 40-square-mile Vacation Kingdom. Here’s a sample of “the unexpected”:

* Take a spin on a Segway Human Transporter — The Segway HT, first displayed to the public at Epcot Innoventions in 2002, is the world’s first self-balancing human transporter that uses advanced technology, gyroscopes and tilt sensors to emulate human balance. Guests can put these high-tech machines to the test in two tours offered most days at Epcot.

Around the World at Epcot is a two-hour tour that allows guests to operate the device throughout World Showcase before the area opens to park guests ($85/person; tours are daily at 7:45, 8:30, 9 and 9:30 a.m.).

Simply Segway is a one-hour program that gives guests a product overview, training and indoor riding time at Innoventions ($25/person; daily at 11:30 a.m.). For both programs, class size is limited to 10 guests. (407/WDW-TOUR)

* H0708aw_0171ms_2581armony Barber Shop a cut above the rest — Sit back in the barber’s chair and experience a good old-fashioned haircut at Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. Located near the Emporium and with a signature candy-striped pole outside, the shop transports guests to a simpler time when barbershop quartets entertained and getting a haircut was a real treat. “First Haircuts,” the establishment’s specialty, treats young’uns to pixie dust, bubbles, Mickey Mouse stickers and an extra-special “My 1st Haircut” set of Mouse Ears. Haircuts for children are $14; adults are $17; first-come, first-serve.

* Sunset Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers up-close encounters with exotic creatures — Club-level (concierge) guests can enter a serene animal reserve for an up-close encounter on the Wanyama Safari. Just before sunset three nights a week, guests board a specially designed vehicle that explores the resort’s three savannahs. Guests get picture-perfect views of more than 200 mammals and exotic birds and then partake in a savory South African feast at the resort’s signature restaurant, Jiko-The Cooking Place. The 3 ½-hour experience, including dinner, is $160 for guests ages 10+; $80 for guests ages 8-9. For club-level reservations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, call 407/W-DISNEY.

* New, fashionable Mickey Mouse ears “all the rage” — Trendsetters and fashion gurus get ready to strut your stuff with a new line of Mickey Mouse ears. The new ears come in a variety of vibrant colors and styles to suit the pirate or princess in your family. Gal versions don pink veils, jeweled princess crowns or wild cheetah prints. For the boys, pirate scarves and hoop earrings adorn the headgear, plus Stitch-themed offerings and more. There’s also gold-sequined, patriotic-themed, and a bride and groom version. The new Mouse ears are available in limited quantities at select locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort starting at $8.

* Epcot is a World Showcase for art lovers — Epcot World Showcase has been a “showplace” of nations since its grand opening in 1982. But beyond the pagodas in Japan and the longboats in Norway lies a whole other world, treating art lovers to museum-quality galleries. Current exhibitions include: The Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas at Norway, Tomb Warriors at China, “Tin Toy Stories” Made in Japan at Japan, and Gallery of Arts and History at Morocco. Admission to the exhibitions is included with general park admission.

* The Land at Epcot mixes science and entertainment to grow one-of-a-kind plants — Behind the brightly colored, mosaic façade of The Land pavilion at Epcot sits offices where greenhouse magic takes place. “Horti-tainment,” a mix of horticulture and entertainment, creates some of the most visually interesting fruits and vegetables found under one roof anywhere in the world. Among the highlights: a world-record harvest from a single tomato vine (see next bullet point); Mickey Mouse-shaped cucumbers, watermelons and pumpkins; nine-pound lemons, and more.

* ‘Tomato Tree’ sets record with 32,000 tomatoes — The Tomato Tree at The Land pavilion at Epcot has blossomed into a record-setting plant. The tree recently was recognized as an official Guinness World Record Holder, with a one-year harvest of more than 32,000 tomatoes and a total weight of 1,151.84 pounds. Guests can spot the tree during the pavilion’s Living with the Land boat ride.

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* Take the ultimate dive in a 5.7-million-gallon indoor aquarium with more than 65 species of marine life, including sharks, turtles, eagle rays and diverse tropical fish. DiveQuest at Epcot offers guaranteed calm seas, no current, unlimited visibility, incredible marine life and bright coral structures. Additionally, you become part of the show. Your family members and friends (with Epcot admission) can view your dive through any of the 56 giant acrylic windows at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Guest must be at least 10 years of age and must provide proof of SCUBA certification to participate. Price of $140/person includes a limited edition T-shirt, refreshments, dive certificate and a dive log stamp. Call 407/WDW-TOUR for information.

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* Discover the magic backstage — A “must do” for any true Disney fan, the Backstage Magic tour unveils the fine points behind the artistic, technical, and scientific operations found throughout the theme parks. This 7-hour behind-the-scenes adventure guides guests through the magic of one man’s dream, Walt Disney. Highlights may include a journey beneath the Magic Kingdom theme park to view support systems located in the “tunnel,” the opportunity to observe the unique technology that brings the story of the American experience to life at The American Adventure at Epcot, or a peak into the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Creative Costuming area to examine the process of Disney costume design and fabrication. A family-style lunch at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is included. Guests must be 16 years of age to participate; $199 per person. 407/WDW-TOUR for more information.

* Build your own roller coaster at DisneyQuest’s CyberSpace Mountain attraction — Bill Nye the Coaster Guy walks guests through the design process where they choose from three different speeds, three world settings (fire, ice or outer space) and an infinite number of track combinations. The roller coaster of your dreams (or nightmares!) can do flips, corkscrews and even wild maneuvers such as a loop that flies off the tracks. A digital card tracks guests’ personal coasters and the simulator re-creates it both visually and physically. Guests must be 51″ to ride, 407/938-6253 for more information.

* Wonder of wonders — The Disney Wonder, the most magical ship afloat, received an extra dose of pixie dust recently, adding major enhancements that appeal to all members of the family. Adults will enjoy the expanded fitness center and new spa villas — an industry-first spa treatment room with private outdoor verandah complete with hot tub. Families can gather for poolside movies with the new 24-by-14-foot Ariel Vision jumbo screen, and the youngest cruisers will delight in a brand new toddler splash zone.

* Learn to hula dance at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, where complimentary classes take place most days in the resort’s lobby. Auntie Kaui, a hula dancer and instructor with 50 years experience, leads most of the classes offered Monday through Saturday at 3:45 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon. Weekday classes are geared toward the younger set, with leis and grass skirts aplenty, while the Saturday morning lessons encourage guests of all ages to do the hula shake. And whether guests stay for five minutes or the full two-hour Saturday classes, they’ll learn a variety of chants and dances from such tropical locales as Hawaii, Tahiti and more.