Disney World Blog Discussing Parks, Resorts, Discounts and Dining | Only WDWorld

Characters In Flight Seen From Epcot

2009-11-23T06:34:00.003-05:00

Characters In Fight is one of the newest attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort. It is based at Downtown Disney, but was recently spotted from Epcot.

The Characters In Flight Balloon is 72 feet in diameter and is the world's largest tethered gas filled ballon.

It was built by Aérophile S.A, headquartered in Paris, France. It was made to be similar to an attraction created for Disneyland Paris.

Weather permitting, guests can board the balloon in Downtown Disney from 9 a.m. to midnight each day, for an 8 to 10 minute excursion to 400 feet in the air.

The balloon itself, called the Aéro30, is attached to a gondola that is 19 feet in diameter and holds up to 29 Guests and the pilot at a time. On a clear day the passsengers can see up to 10 miles away with a 360 degree view.

Ticket Prices:
•$16 Adult (tax included) - Guests ages 10 and up
•$10 Children (tax included) - Guests ages 3 - 9
•Guests under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
•Gondola is wheelchair accessible with assistance. Guests must transfer from an Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV).

See and Be Seen
The Characters In Flight balloon has a circumference of 240 feet, and a height of 105 feet, making it easy to spot from Epcot as we did in the earlier photos.

For those that are not afraid of heights this would be a great addition to your Disney World vacation, and a chance to see Disney World from a whole new perspective.

Take A Sleigh Ride This Christmas Season At Disney World

2009-11-21T08:26:00.000-05:00

This Christmas season Disney World has added the opportunity to take a sleigh ride through the 700 acre backwoods of the Ft. Wilderness Resort.

The sleigh ride will be a 25-minute horse drawn journey through the scenic woodland paths.

Since snow is not very likely in central Florida, Disney has modified their sleigh to have wheels instead of the traditional runners. It will be drawn by a horse from Disney World's Tri-Circle D Ranch based at Ft. Wilderness. It is painted fire-engine red and will be decked out in Christmas lights and garland for the Holidays.

The sleigh is sized to hold up to 4 adults or 2 adults and up to 3 children. Each sleigh ride will cost $60 total whether it is a romantic trip for two or your family of up to 5.

You will board the sleigh at the Blacksmith's Shop near the Settlement area of Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground. You can either drive to Ft. Wilderness or take Disney World transportation to get there. Once you have arrived at Ft. Wilderness, you can take the internal shuttles to get to the Settlement area.

The sleigh rides are only available for a limited time during the Christmas Season, running from November 29th through December 30th. You can make reservations by calling (407) WDW-PLAY.

Relax On A Resort Launch At Disney World

2009-10-30T06:32:00.000-04:00

With all of the wonderful forms of transportation at Disney World, one of the least used is the Resort Launch.

A Resort Launch is a boat that travels from one of the Disney World Resorts along the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake (Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Ft. Wilderness Campground, Polynesian Resort, and Grand Floridian Resort) to the Magic Kingdom.

You do not have to be staying at one of these resorts in order to use the launches. Just walk down to the dock and hop aboard.

The launches provide a relaxing cruise across the man-made lakes to take you from the Magic Kingdom to the Resorts and back. During the trip you get great views of the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary Resorts, as well as, the Magic Kingdom.

This is a great way to travel in order to check out some of these interesting resorts. If you have not visited the Wilderness Lodge or the Grand Floridian Resort, I would highly recommend it. It is ceratinly worth a couple of hours to check these places out.

One of the best ways is to plan on having a lunch or dinner at the resort and use the adventure as a break during your day at the Magic Kingdom. You could return to the park after your meal if you wish and take another Boat Launch ride back.

One of my personal favorite Disney World Tips is using the launch to travel to the Polynesian Resort to get the Tonga Toast at Captain Cook's for breakfast. There is no better way to start out your day!

During your next Disney World Vacation take the path less traveled and try a relaxing boat launch ride to a resort you've never visited or return to an interesting favorite like the Wilderness Lodge or the Polynesian Resort.

Disney World's Race For The Taste 10K

2009-10-11T11:06:00.005-04:00

This morning I represented Only WDWorld at the Disney World "Race for the Taste 10K". This was not only my first Disney Endurance Series Race, it was also my 1st ever 10k!

The day start by catching a taxi at 5:45 am to get from the Boardwalk Villas to Disney's Wide World of Sports, where the race started.

The amount of people that gathered before the race was amazing. I believe that there were nearly 4,000 runners as the race was listed as FULL on the website a couple of days prior to the event.

After everyone was staged according to expected pace levels we heard a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem and then it was time for the race to begin at 7:00 AM.

There was one wheelchair competitor in the 10K and she went first. Two minutes later the sea of runners started off to begin our adventure.

Not being a runner, I was amazed at the silence as hundreds of people were around me, but the only noise was the pounding of shoes on the pavement.

After the first mile the runners started to separate and it was a little easier to negotiate around people. I was always working to dodge in and out of traffic to find some open space and get to a comfortable pace.

After the 2 mile mark we entered Disney's Hollywood Studios. We entered the park at the rear and ran across the set of Lights, Motors, Action! and they projected the runners on the giant screen as we ran by.

We then worked our way through the park and left near the front entrance. It was then time for the path between Hollywood Studios and Epcot. It was nice to run by the Boardwalk, Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, and Beach Club Resorts.

The cast members staged at different places along the race course to encourage us was great. It really did help!

Once we got to Epcot, this was the part of the run that I had been imagining in my training for the past month. Only in real life I was more tired at this point than during my imaginary runs through Epcot.

Having all of the other people running with you really helped give you the energy to keep going. At one point in the race this lady told the guy that had stopped at the side that it was time to get going again. He didn't know her, but thanked her for helping him get re-motivated and start running again.

It was a great friendly event.

At the Finish Line Mickey Mouse himself was there to greet the Finishers. The Finishers Medal is really cool and it is something that I will certainly remember. Although I was no where near the first finishers, my wife, serving as Only WDWorld's official photographer was able to capture both the men's and the woman's winner of the race.

After the race, there were four different food stations from the Food & Wine Festival that you could visit as each runner got 3 food coupons for participating.

For me, just finishing was enough, but as a bonus I finished right at my goal of 1 hour , so I am very happy. I would highly recommend a Disney Endurance Series Race for anyone to participate in. It is for the serious and the not so serious runner alike.

Disney World's Longest Running Parade - The Electrical Water Pageant

2009-10-06T06:04:00.007-04:00

The Electrical Water Pageant debuted at the Walt Disney World Resort in October of 1971. It started its daily presentation on Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon within one month of the official opening of Disney World.

This parade at sea consists of 14 floats on barges that contain screens with lights and speakers to broadcast the music for the parade.

Since the parade occurs on the water the theme is aquatic in nature and the screens display images that have to do with the water. The images depicted include: Sea Serpent/Dragon, Whale, Turtle, Octopus, Dolphins, Crocodile, Brachiosaurus, and King Triton being pulled by 4 Seahorses.

The Electrical Water Pageant was originally conceived as an entertainment for guests as they left the Magic Kingdom at the end of the day and a way to illuminate the Seven Seas Lagoon as they departed.

The Pageant passes by the Magic Kingdom, but also makes appearances for guests at the Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and the Ft. Wilderness Campground. The schedule changes depending upon when the Wishes fireworks show plays, so check at Guest Services for the Magic Kingdom or your resort for the schedule for the particular night you wish to see the EWP.

Despite its longevity the parade has only gone through minor changes during its 38 years of existence. The technology used is not state of the art, but the whimsical nature of the parade makes it entertaining nonetheless.

The current rendition plays a different musical tune as each of the Water Floats are illuminated. The musical selections are coordinated to match the theme of the image shown.

The Show
The approximately 10 minute show proceeds as follows:
It starts with no lights and the playing of “Fanfare” from The Little Mermaid. Then The first 4 floats light up to create a Sea Serpent while "Boo Bop Bop Bop Bop (I Love You Too)" from Pete's Dragon plays.

The Sea Dragon is followed by a playful Whale that is accompanied by the song “Whale Of A Tale” from the movie 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

Next to be illuminated is a Turtle that raises and lowers its head ( I have not been able to determine the song for the Turtle – comment if you know!).

A bright, happy Octopus is coupled with Ursula’s dark rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid.

The next 3 floats show 3 spirited Dolphins playing in the surf. (I have not been able to confirm this song either unfortunately.)

Although not known for swimming a Brachiosaurus follows the dolphins to the music of Was (Not Was) - "Walk the Dinosaur".

Disney Classic Peter pan is represented by a Crocodile and the song "Never Smile At a Crocodile" from the movie.

Last, but certainly not least, King Triton is being pulled along by a team of four Seahorses to the songs - "Fanfare" & "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid.

The Finale
For the finale the Electric Water Pageant transforms the Sea Creature images to those of United States Flags and red, white, and blue stars as patriotic music ensues. You will hear excerpts from "You're a Grand Old Flag", "Yankee Doodle", & finally "America the Beautiful".

Great Free Entertainment
All in all it is a fun activity to see. The Electrical Water Pageant consistly gets mentions in lists of great FREE things to do at Disney World.

Whether you see it at the end of your day at the Magic Kingdom, or if you catch the show from the beach at one of the resorts bordering the Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake, the Electrical Water Pageant should be part of your list of activities to do during your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

Disney World And The 5-Legged Goat

2009-10-03T06:01:00.007-04:00

Have you heard about the Walt Disney World Resort's 5-legged goat?

It's true, there is a 5-legged goat in the Contemporary Resort.

OK, it's not a live goat, but rather one that is incorporated into the magnificent murals that are part of the Grand Canyon Concourse in the resort.

Before we see the goat let's learn a little about the person that brought the infamous animal to the mural and why.

Mary Blair

Mary is one of the Disney Legends. She was recognized with that honor posthumously in 1991.

Mary's stylized artwork and influence is recognized in many of the classic Disney animated movies and Disney World and Disneyland attractions.

Movies that she provided art for included: "The Three Caballeros", "Song of the South," "Make Mine Music," "Melody Time," "So Dear to My Heart," "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Peter Pan."

She is also known for her contributions to the "look" of the "It's A Small World" attraction. She also created murals for Disneyland in addition to the one at the Contemporary Resort.

Why The 5-Legged Goat?
So we come back to the question about the 5-Legged Goat. In these massive 90 foot high murals that were painted in time for the Contemporary Resort opening in 1971, why did she feel the need to give one of the goats 5 legs?

The story goes that Mary believed that no piece of artwork should be perfect because only God was perfect, so she purposely created the mistake, aka the 5-legged goat, in the mural.

How Can I Find The Goat?
If you would like to see the 5-legged goat in person, first travel to the Contemporary Resort. In the Grand Canyon Concourse, which is the expansive area that the monorail travels through, you will notice that there are massive murals on each of the sides of the center structure.

The murals are breathtakingly impressive, so take the time to check them out and not just look for the 5-legged goat.

To find the "special" goat, you must look on the side of the mural that faces the monorail station, but furthest away from the Magic Kingdom. There near the top of the mountain will be the goat with one of its normal companions.

Join Only WDWorld For The Final Running Of "The Race For The Taste 10K" on Oct. 11th, 2009

2009-09-21T06:14:00.012-04:00

Join me as I represent Only WDWorld at the final running of the "Race For The Taste 10K" at Disney World which will occur on Sunday October 11th.

The race has been held the last several years in conjunction with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Registration for the race is currently 82% full and October 4th is the last day to sign up, so there is no more time to procrastinate. You can sign up at Disney Endurance Series.

You don't have to be a professional runner to participate. If you have the will to persevere and can meet the 15 minutes per miles pacing requirement, then you can compete.

If you are like me, the event is not about winning, but rather experiencing the journey. This event really sounds cool, so I am training in order to be able to experience it firsthand.

DISNEY’S RACE FOR THE TASTE 10K Features:

Where else do you have the opportunity to go through Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot all before 8:30 am? Ok, you don't get to ride any of the attractions or take in a show, but it is still cool to be in the parks at that hour before they are officially open.

The race course starts at Disney's Wide World of Sports then travels through Disney's Hollywood Studios. Then you run along the walkway to the Boardwalk, past the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts before continuing on the Epcot's International Gateway. A quick trip around the World Showcase lagoon and out the front on Epcot to the Finish Line.

Other Race Highlights:

Along the way Disney will provide on course entertainment.
Athlete refreshments at the finish line.
Timed event with online results.
Awards presented to the top three male, female, military, and age group winners and male and female champions in the masters and wheelchair divisions.
Canned food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.

Post Race Picnic

At the Disney’s Post-Race Picnic runners can choose 3 of the following 4 Food & Wine Festival Offerings (just announced) :

Argentina Beef Empanada with Tomato Salsa (Buenos Aires)
Arroz Con Pollo (Chicken with Rice) (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Maple Glazed Salmon with Lentil Salad (Montreal, Canada)
Strawberry Shortcake (United States)

There will also be Disney entertainment face painters, Kids’ Races and the Awards Ceremony. This is included with race entry.

10K participants will also receive:

Collectible pint glass

Personalized bib (if registered before September 15)

Goody bag

Disney's Race for the Taste 10K finishers’ medal (New medal design for 2009!)

Bonus for 2009 - Fall Race Challenge:

If you compete in the Race For The Taste and at least one of the other two Disney Endurance Series Races this Fall: Expedition Everest™ Challenge OR The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror 13K, you will receive the exclusive bonus medal (pictured) for your achievement in addition to your individual event medals.

Don't Miss Out

This looks like a really fun event, and an experience that you will remember for years to come.

Sign up before its too late and you miss out. Be sure to leave a comment on this Blog Post if you are participating, so I know to look for you.

I hope to see you there!

Old Fashioned Fun Disney World Style at Chip 'n Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long & Movie

2009-08-28T22:05:00.007-04:00

At Disney World's Ft. Wilderness Resort & Campground you will find a fun evening activity that is FREE for the family.

Each evening Ft. Wilderness hosts Chip 'n Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long & Campfire. This activity includes:

A campfire where you can roast marshmallows.
A fun sing-a-long session with old favorite songs that make you feel like you are at camp.
A chance to see Chip & Dale and have your photograph taken with them and have them sign your autograph books.
After the sing-a-long a Disney Movie is shown on the big outdoor screen, like the drive-ins of the past.

The rustic setting of the Ft. Wilderness Campground makes a great setting for this event. You do not have to be staying at the campground to participate. Any Disney Guest can attend for free.

To get there either drive to the main Ft. Wilderness parking lot or take a bus from one of the parks or Downtown Disney to Ft. Wilderness. Then board one of the Yellow line internal buses to the 1500 area Bus Stop.

If you don't remember the stop, tell the bus driver that you are going to the Chip & Dale Campfire and they will let you know where to go.

During the campfire phase of the program starting at 7:30 pm, you may roast marshmallows that you brought with you or you may purchase them from the Chuckwagon.

At 8:00 pm the Sing-A-Long starts. A guitar playing cowboy led the crowd in a number of old favorites and then he was joined by Chip & Dale. During the program Chip & Dale went through the audience allowing each family to meet with them, take pictures, and sign autographs.

After the sing-a-long ended things got prepared for the movie to start at 9:00 pm. During the night we attended Bolt was the movie for the night. A schedule was posted and there was a different Disney Movie playing each night of the week. Show times may change during different times of the year, so please check for exact times while you are visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. Also remember that this event takes place outdoors, so dress appropriately.

The setting and the entertainment wasn't fancy, but it was good wholesome family entertainment. The trip to visit Ft. Wilderness Resort and the show was definitely worth doing for an evening.

This is a good way to slow down and relax, doing something different. It is also great that this is an evening of free entertainment (unless you don't bring your own marshmallows and choose to purchase them there.)

9 Environmentally Green Initiatives From The Walt Disney World Resort

2009-08-12T17:05:00.001-04:00

Kermit the Frog is famous for his line "It's not easy being green."

During this environmentally conscious time, companies everywhere are looking to be more responsible in their energy usage and impact to the environment.

The Walt Disney World Resort, as well as the entire Disney Corporation, is working hard to be proactive in its "green" practices and initiatives.

Here are 9 "Green" Initiatives currently under way at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida:

Disney has implemented energy-saving fixtures and other changes throughout the property in order to become an EPA "Energy Star Partner.
Result: The original implementation of the program saved enough energy to power Disney’s Animal Kingdom in its first year of operation.

Disney World is changing out the light bulbs used in the Resort guest rooms to the more energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
Result: when completed 176,325 bulbs will have been changed out.

LED lights are being used to replace neon lights in many signs, decorations, and holiday trees. These LED lights are use far less energy and last longer.

The lighting of Cinderella's castle during the Christmas holidays is done with LED lights instead of traditional incandescent lights. Over 170,ooo LED lights are used.
Result: The entire castle is lit using the energy equivalent of 12 microwave ovens.

All 23 resorts on the Disney property had receive Florida's Green Lodging certification.
To achieve this special designation, resorts must focus on five categories: water conservation, education and awareness, waste reduction, energy conservation and indoor air quality.

Disney World has instituted a Resort wide recycling program.
Result: in 2007 they recycled:
1,048 tons of scrap metal;
1,255,090 pounds (628 tons)of cooking grease; and
14 million pounds of cardboard

The Disney World Resorts have instituted a water conservation program that focuses on reducing overall usage and using reclaimed water wherever possible.
Result: Over 30% of the resort's overall water consumption is met with reclaimed water.
Disney World Resorts and restaurants have gathered excess prepared food and donated it regularly to the Second Harvest Food bank to be distributed in central Florida.
Result: Over 1,000 children are fed weekly through this program. In 2007 this program donated over 625,000 pounds of food to the local hungry in central Florida.

Disney World even makes use of the animal waste that is produced by the animals in Animal Kingdom and the Tri-D Circle Ranch (Ft. Wilderness).
Result: In 2007, over 3,520 tons of manure was sent to the composting facility leading to the production of almost 542,000 pounds of compost daily.

Birthday, Wedding, or Anniversary - Disney World Is The Place To Celebrate

2009-08-06T06:02:00.002-04:00

Whether you have an upcoming Birthday, Wedding, or Anniversary, the Walt Disney World Resort is the place to hold your special celebration.

Helping you celebrate is one of their specialties.

Here are some Disney World celebrating facts:

Over 400,000 Walt Disney World guests proudly wore their celebratory Disney Happy Birthday Pin to share their special day this past year.
Approximately 1,600 couples tie the knot each year at Walt Disney World Resort in various storybook settings throughout property.
Since September 1991, Walt Disney World Resort has hosted more than 30,000 fairytale weddings.
The Wedding Pavilion can host up to six weddings per day, and up to 12 weddings can occur each day at various locations on Walt Disney World property.
Walt Disney World is a honeymooner’s paradise with some 10,000 lovebirds enjoying romantic bliss and fun times at the Vacation Kingdom each year.
Culinary wizards whip up more than 2,000 decorative wedding cakes a year for couples exchanging vows at Walt Disney World Resort.
More than 300 soon-to-be-grooms have popped the question --"Will you marry me" at Cinderella’s Royal Table this past year.
Some 80,000 high school seniors will celebrate graduation during the annual Grad Nite party at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney has hosted the event for 36 years with a variety of acts from KC and the Sunshine Band to Jessica Simpson.

Helping people Celebrate their special moments is a daily event at the Walt Disney World Resort. Thousands of people each year choose to do their celebrating at the "Happiest Place on Earth"....and who can blame them!

Disney Imagineering Innovations - Dynamic Ride Vehicle

2009-07-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

Disney is known for its innovation, inventing new technologies to enable it to build what its Imagineers dream up.

When designing the ride vehicles for its DINOSAUR (originally known as “Countdown to Extinction”) attraction in Disney World and Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye attraction in Disneyland, they brought realistic simulators to the next generation.

The U.S. patent that was granted for the Dynamic Ride Vehicle(#5,623,878), gives details of the technology used in those rides and other potential uses that the technology could be used for.

The basic premise of the invention was to combine the technology that was previously used in multi-axes simulators like Disney World’s Body Wars and Star Tours attractions and makes them smaller and mobile so that the simulator vehicle can travel along a path and greatly increase the potential realism.

Once mobile they removed the barrier of needing to project images on a movie screen. Now the simulator can travel through the lifelike environments and encounter limitless situations. Each simulator vehicle can be programmed to react differently, creating a greater variety of ride experiences for the guest, thereby encouraging repeat visits.

Disney also presented in the patent that the ride vehicle could take on many different forms, including that of an animal.

Here in figure 1, you see the example of an Elephant ride vehicle.

In Figure 2, you can see how the passenger area actuates separately from the base, allowing the riders to “feel” that they are actually riding an elephant. I thought it was very interesting that Disney thought it was important to specifically call out that this technology could be placed in the form of an animal.

Figures 7 & 9 Demonstrate the invention using a ride vehicle that looks more like a SUV can move and down and side to side. The actuators work in concert with computers to raise and lower when signaled to do so. This can be accomplished through timing, reading sensors in the path or location, or reacting to rider input.

In all up to 6 axes of movement can be incorporated into the simulator. 6 axes are represented in the following diagram showing movement: in the normal 3 dimensions (forward-back, left-right, & up-down) and rotating around each of those directions as shown. Bottom line is that they can have full range of motion for their simulator.

Figures 23 & 26 show how the ride vehicle can simulate high speed turns and climbing up and descending down hills by having the upper part of the vehicle move while the base remains in contact with the path. This allows for more thrills at slower, and safer speeds.

Lastly Figure 28 shows how the vehicle can react to an imaginary log in the path, using all of the actuators in sequence to simulate that motion.

The engineer in me comes out when I look at the details for this patent that Disney received. The possibilities for ride applications are limitless. It is also a platform that is easily re-programmed, allowing for less expensive redesigns and ride modifications. Hopefully we will see Disney's next use of this technology again at Disney World soon.

If you would like to read the full text of Disney’s patent # 5,623,878 just follow this link: http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=CzwTAAAAEBAJ

Tips For The Summer Vacation At The Walt Disney World Resort

2009-07-08T12:09:00.008-04:00

Summer is a great time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort.

With Florida's very hot sun, frequent, but brief rain showers.and high crowd levels, you can ruin what should be a wonderful vacation at the “Happiest Place On Earth” if you don’t plan properly.

Here are some tips to help you have a fantastic summer vacation:

Start Early
Plan to get to the parks when they open (also referred to as “rope drop”). You want to do this for three reasons:

The park is coolest during the morning, so take advantage of it.
You can get to ride the most popular rides before the crowds settle in later in the day.
There is usually a small park opening performance that you will only get to see if you show up then. (See the picture from Magic Kingdom Opening Performance above.)

Stay Dry

Bring ponchos and/or compact umbrellas with you to the parks each day. Plan on brief rain showers to come each day, so be prepared. Having the rain gear will allow you to continue to enjoy your day instead of having to either make an unscheduled purchase at the parks or head back to the resort to change wet clothes.

Give The Kids A Ride
If you have young children, bring a portable umbrella stroller to give them a place to rest after all of that walking.

These collapsible strollers are relatively inexpensive and easy to get on and off of the Disney World transportation. This also avoids the expensive rental fee for strollers rented at the parks.

Don't Burn

Bring plenty of sunscreen. The Florida sun is hot. Even if you want to get a tan, bring the sunscreen. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than a case of sun poisoning or bad sun burn. Also remember to stay hydrated on those hot days. That will keep your body functioning properly and in shape for enjoying all there is to see.

Take A Break

Plan on taking a mid-afternoon break. When the parks are the most crowded and the sun is at its hottest, take a break back at the resort. Either take a nap or perhaps cool off in the resort pool. This will keep the stress levels low and make sure that you get a chance to relax. It is vacation you know.

Enjoy The Night

Return to the parks in the evening as the sun goes down. The temperature will start to drop, making it much more comfortable. Many of the attractions take on a new perspective when they are lit up at night. Also take advantage of special night time entertainment such as Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Illuminations” at Epcot, or “Wishes” at the Magic Kingdom.

Summary
By following these tips you will be able to stay cool, dry, avoid the major crowds, have time to relax, and enjoy the attractions.

Now that certainly sounds like a vacation at the “Happiest Place On Earth.”

The Indy Racing Experience Has Come To Disney World

2009-06-11T05:45:00.000-04:00

Since November there has been a new type of activity that you can experience at the Walt Disney World Resort: Indy Car Racing.

The Indy Car Experience now has a permanent home at the Disney World Race Track allowing you the opportunity to experience Indy Car Racing first hand.

Here is a brief video of an actual driving experience:

Details from the Indy Racing Experience Website:

Ride in an IndyCarThe Indy Racing Experience Two-Seat Ride allows the passenger to experience speeds and g-forces previously available to only a handful of elite drivers. The purpose-built Dallara chassis allows a passenger to sit behind the driver, but in every other way, this is a true IndyCar Series car. The car is complete with an authentic racing power plant that can reach up to 180 miles per hour.
Each driver must be 18 years of age or older, under 6’5” in height, and under 250 lbs.

Two-Seat Ride Rates
Walt Disney World Speedway 3 laps $109

The Indy Racing Experience accepts walk-ups and also takes reservations.

For full details go to: http://indyracingexperience.com/default.aspx

Use Photopass & The Photopass Photographers To Get Great Family Photos At Disney World

2009-06-07T16:26:00.005-04:00

Disney's Photopass has been a great idea that you should take full advantage of during your next Disney World Vacation.

Photopass involves a card that is similar to a credit card that you can reuse during your entire Disney World Vacation. At each park there are several locations that Disney Photopass Photographers can take pictures of you and your family and scan your card. Either at a Disney photo shop location or from the comforts of your home after your vacation, you can look at the pictures that were taken and decide if you would like to purchase any.

The best way to make full use of the Photopass photographers is to have them take pictures of your family whenever you see them. After they take the Photopass pictures, have them take a picture of your family on your personal camera. I have never had a Disney Photographer refuse to do so.

This way you will have pictures of your entire family available from the professional taken on their camera, and on your camera. You have the option to decide what you want to get prints of after your vacation is over. No need to make a spur of the moment decision.

This is a great way to get your entire family included in your personal vacation pictures as well. Although most Disney World vacationers are willing to take your family's picture on your camera, by having the Disney Photopass photographer do it, you will get some of the most scenic backdrops in all of Disney World included in your shots.

So next time that you are worried that you will not be in any of your family vacation pictures because you are the designated photographer, remember the Photopass photographers and let them help include you in the memories.

28 Things To Do At Disney World That Don't Require Park Tickets

2009-06-02T20:17:00.014-04:00

If you are looking for something different to do during your next visit to the Walt Disney World Resort, then pay close attention. Today's article is going to list 28 things that you can do at Disney World any time of the year without tickets to the 4 major theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Disney's Animal Kingdom) or the two Water Parks (Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach).

There is so much to do at Disney World that doesn't involve tickets to the parks. Here is a list of activities that I am sure is not complete, but will give you plenty of opportunities to do something different on your next trip

Golf at one of the Walt Disney World Resort's 5 Golf Courses. Call (407) 938-GOLF for tee times and more information.
Rent a bike. Rentals of traditional bikes, two person and 4 person surrey bikes are available at most Moderate and Deluxe Resorts, as well as, the Disney Boardwalk area.
Go Fishing. There are chartered catch and release fishing excursions and dockside fishing locations at several resorts throughout Disney World. Call (407) 939-BASS to make a reservation for the chartered excursion.
Rent a watercraft. Disney World has a large fleet of motorized and non-motorized watercraft available for rent at various Disney Resorts. These include: Sea Raycers by Sea Ray® boats, sailboats, SunTRACKER® pontoon boats, Boston Whaler Montauk boats or canopy boats , pedal boats, kayaks and canoes.
Pamper Yourself at a Spa. Disney World has two on site Spas. One at the Grand Floridian and the other at Saratoga Springs Resort. Each has a full list of treatments that you can receive to pamper yourself like you deserve.
Horse and Pony Rides. Go horseback riding as part of your Disney World Vacation. At Fort Wilderness's Tri-Circle-D Ranch you can do just that. Make reservations or get more information at (407) WDW-PLAY.
Send your kids on Disney's Pirate Adventure. A 2 hour pirate adventure on the seven seas lagoon hunting for treasure is available for 4 to 12 year olds.
If you are not into Pirates, how about a Tea Party with Alice in Wonderland. Each day a tea party is held at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian resort for lunch, dessert, and tea for children ages 4 - 12.
Play Miniature Golf at either Disney's Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. Both offer 36 holes of miniature golf like you've never experienced.
Go on a horse drawn Carriage Ride. Visit the Port Orleans Riverside Resort for the opportunity to take an intimate 30 minute carriage ride up and down the Sassagoula River.
Go Shopping at Downtown Disney. Find merchandise that is exclusive to Disney World at one of several unique shopping locations.
Take a Specialty Cruise. Book one of several specialty cruises including ones that provide a wonderful view of either the Epcot Illuminations or Magic Kingdom Wishes Fireworks Displays.
Richard Petty Driving Experience. Get your chance to drive a NASCAR-style stock car or ride along at Disney World's own on-site track.
Go Waterskiing, Parasailing, Wakeboarding, or Tubing at Sammy Duvall's Watersports located at the Contemporary Resort's Marina.
Play Tennis. Play tennis or get lessons to improve your game while at the Walt Disney World Resort.
See a show at La Nouba. Cirque du Soliel has a permanent show at Downtown Disney to enable you to catch this exciting entertainment.
Go on a Resort Tour. Tour one of several Disney World Resorts that provides free tours to learn about the special aspects of the resort. Tours include: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and Yacht Club.
Go to a campfire and outdoor movie. Visit Ft. Wilderness to take part in the free nightly campfire and outdoor movie.
Go Snorkeling or SCUBA Diving in the Living Seas at Epcot. There are tours (Epcot Seas Aqua Tour & DiveQuest) for each that allow you to be in the large tank at the Living Seas, but Epcot admission is not required.
Take the Off-Road Segway Tour at Ft. Wilderness. Tour the trails at Ft. Wilderness on a specially designed Segway. Reserve at (407) WDW-TOUR.
Hone your Archery Skills. Participate in the Archery Experience at the Ft. Wilderness Resort.
Learn to Hula Dance. Free Hula lessons at the Polynesian Resort.
Visit the Animals. Learn about the Animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on the Lodge Savannahs.
Indy Racing Experience. If you are not a NASCAR fan, maybe you prefer the open wheeled INDY car racing. You can now take part in the INDYCAR Experience at Disney's Track. Visit: http://indyracingexperience.com/
Visit Jellyrolls. This is the Boardwalk's Dueling Piano Bar that is a wonderful night time experience for Adults.
Visit DisneyQuest. This place is the ultimate place for the video game fanatic in your family with traditional arcade games and state of the art virtual reality games.
Go Dancing at the Atlantic Dance Club in Disney's Boardwalk. DJ led Dance music with no cover charge. Must be 21 or over.
See free entertainment on the Boardwalk each night.

This list hardly contains everything that there is to do outside of the parks, but it lets you know that there are plenty of options. Unfortunately many of these activities do charge a fee to do them.

Plan some excitement into your next Disney World vacation by including an activity that you have never done before.

Free Things To Do At The Walt Disney World Resort

2009-05-19T20:25:00.017-04:00

Believe it or not there are a lot of fun activities that can be done for FREE while you are on your Disney World vacation.

All of the activities listed below do not require entrance to the parks or any other tickets. The only requirement is that you are staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Ride Around And Explore

Disney World provides complementary transportation to its resort guests to get around the 47 square miles that makes up the resort, so take advantage of it:

Not exciting, but use the Disney Bus System to get not only to Downtown Disney and the 4 theme parks, but you can also get to both Water Parks and all 26 of the Disney World Resorts and Disney Vacation Club Resorts.

Ride a Monorail - You can ride one or all 12 monorail trains at Disney World. Use them to visit the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts or travel between Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. Riding the monorail is a fun activity all by itself. Ride up front with the pilot and you will have an experience you will remember for a long time.

Take a boat ride. Deciding to take a boat ride is the easy part. The hard part is deciding which one. Choose any or all of the following free boat rides:

Ferryboat from Ticket and Transportation Center across Seven Seas Lagoon to Magic Kingdom and/or back.

Friendship boat from Epcot International Gateway to the Boardwalk and continuing on to more resorts and finally Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Boat from the Port Orleans Riverside Resort along the Sassagoula River to Downtown Disney and back. This is a very relaxing cruise that is primarily used by Port Orleans Guests, but is open to all Disney Resort Guests.

Water Launches from the Magic Kingdom Area Resorts including: Wilderness Lodge, Ft. Wilderness, Contemporary,Polynesian, and Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom across the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Take A Tour

There are several free tours that are offered at some of Disney World's best themed resorts. For information about tour times, just talk to someone in guest services at the resort you are staying in and inquire about these tours:

Animal Kingdom Lodge Tour: Breathtaking is the best word to describe the lobby for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The African theming and artwork is incredible, so it is no wonder that they proudly offer free tours to help you take in the details.
Wilderness Lodge Tour: This resort pays homage to the great National Park Lodges of the American West and the Native American Cultures. This is also an unbelievable resort with the 7 story lobby that includes an 82 foot tall fireplace is an attraction itself and a tour would be worth your time.

Grand Floridian Tour: This Victorian Style Resort is the Flagship of Walt Disney World Resorts that delivers an opulent experience.

Yacht Club Resort Tour: This 1880's New England Coastal Style Resort located in Disney World's Boardwalk Area was designed by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern.

See the Animals

Travel to the Animal Kingdom Lodge to go out to the viewing areas to see the inhabitants of the resort's savannahs. Although it does not have all of the animals that you can see in the Animal Kingdom Park, you can see many up close and talk to Cast Members about them.

Enjoy the Nightlife

Visit the Boardwalk area and browse the shopping areas and enjoy the free entertainers that stroll through the area and perform. You can also catch the Epcot fireworks each night from the Boardwalk.
Atlantic Dance Hall - For ages 21 and over - Dance the night away at this Boardwalk nightclub with DJ. No Cover Charge = FREE.
Visit the Polynesian Resort and stroll down to the white sand beach to enjoy the night, watch the Magic Kingdom Fireworks and watch the Electrical Water Pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon each evening.
Go the the Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground for the free Campfire and Movie experience each night (weather permitting) under the stars.
Stroll through Downtown Disney to see the sights.

If you are looking for a new activity to add to your next Walt Disney World vacation, but didn't want to add to your budget, give one or more of these FREE activities a try.

Explore Disney World's Monorail System

2009-05-16T06:01:00.006-04:00

The Walt Disney World Resort is home to over 14.7 miles of monorail track that serves seven stations, two theme parks, and three resort hotels.

Disney World's monorail fleet has been in operation since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. When Epcot was built, the track was expanded to add another 4 miles to connect it to the Magic Kingdom loop in 1982.

The design of the Disney monorail initiated in Germany, was first implemented in Disneyland in California, and has been refined over the last 40 years. The futuristic look of the monorail fits nicely with the advanced technology that is used throughout Disney World.

The Disney World fleet currently consists of twelve trains. They are each six-car trains that are 203 feet long and have 124 rubber tires powered by 600-Volt DC propulsion systems. The Mark VI trains are the current state of the art model that is in use.

Each of the trains is designated by the color of the stripe along the side of the train. On a typical day, more than 150,000 guests utilize monorail transportation. The system has the capacity to transport nearly 7,000 guests in each direction every hour.

Park guests can use the monorail service free of charge while visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. It provides transportation from the Ticket & Transportation Center to The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, the Polynesian Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort, and the Contemporary Resort.

Patient guests may also get the opportunity to ride up front with the driver of the monorail for a truly special experience.

Special Tip: Don't forget to ask the monorail operators if they have any free Disney World Transportation Trading Cards. There are 12 different monorail cards out of the 18 card set.

Riding the monorail at Disney World had always held some sort of coolness factor. Who can't help but be impressed as the monorail actually goes through the Contemporary Resort. The elevated track gives wonderful views that you can't get anywhere else.

Even after all these years the sleek form of the monorail looks modern. This is certainly helped by the fact that as you are delivered to the Magic Kingdom you arrive right in front of the old steam train station. The silent, electric powered monorails certainly fit right in as they make their loop through the Future World section of Epcot.

Even if you are not staying in one of the Disney Resorts on the monorail line, don't miss one of the truly Disney experiences. Make a point on your next trip to ride the monorail, just for the sake of riding it.

Disney World's Finger Scanners Are Not Your Ordinary Turnstile

2009-05-10T06:53:00.008-04:00

Since September of 2006 Disney World has incorporated a finger scanning device as part of an attempt to eliminate ticket fraud and misuse.

At the entrance to each of its four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, & Disney's Animal Kingdom) you will find special ticket verification stations attached to the turnstiles.

Each time a ticket in put into the machine, a computer reads the magnetic strip on the back and then determines whether the park entry is valid based upon the information it reads. As a security measure it also will scan one figure of the ticket holder to determine if this is indeed the original ticket owner.

The finger scanner looks at certain points on the guest's finger and creates a mathematical representation of those points as opposed to a full digital picture of the fingerprint. It compares the information obtained upon the initial use of the ticket with that of the current user. If they match then that person is allowed entry. If not, it will not automatically allow you to pass and you may be asked to show ID.

This security device is used to protect Disney from black market ticket resales of used tickets and the use of stolen tickets.

There are some who are concerned about their privacy and whether this kind of technology is really overkill for entrance to a theme park. Disney has downplayed privacy issues, saying the scanned information is stored "independent of all of our other systems," and "the system purges it 30 days after the ticket expires or is fully utilized."

Although it is not advertised widely, if you do not wish to participate in the finger scan you can opt to show your ID each time you enter the park instead.

The ticketing system has come a long way from the time when a multiple day ticket had hand stamps placed on the blank for each day the ticket was used. If you lost that ticket, you had no way of recovering any used days. The current system allows you to recover the unused portion of a lost ticket as long as you have the ticket ID# that goes with the bar code on the back of the ticket.

It is always a good idea to photocopy the backs of your tickets, take digital pictures, or write the information down somewhere in case a ticket is lost.

The technology applied is quite amazing. It also allows for the Walt Disney World Resort to collect massive amounts of data to better understand their theme park guests and hopefully create a better experience.

Disney World Is For Runners

2009-05-03T22:23:00.004-04:00

Disney World is for runners? I don't remember that in the commercials.

That may be true, but in case you haven't noticed, Disney World has put together an impressive annual lineup of endurance races for runners.

There are now several running events that will appeal to all types of runners. There is something for the serious runner as well as those who are somewhat less than serious. The races include courses that travel through the theme parks. How cool is that?

Each year starts off with the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January. The weekend has a whole series of events including a marathon, half marathon, a race and a half marathon, 5k, and a kid's race.

Then there is the Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend in March.

Here is a video clip about the Princess Half Marathon:

The fall brings three fun events. It all starts off with the Expedition Everest Challenge which is a combination 5K run and scavenger hunt. You have the 10K Race for the Taste in conjunction with Epcot's Food and Wine Festival on October 11th. Last there is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K & 5K on October 24th.

Check out the Disney video about these three races:

You can register for these events online and also learn more about upcoming Disney Running Events at http://www.disneyenduranceseries.com/ .

For an unofficial take on the events, check out the excellent site called: http://www.disneyrunning.com/ .

Each event throughout the year is done in Disney style with special medals and the fact that the race courses work their way through the theme parks and may have Disney Characters cheering you on along the way. There are also fun after race parties and events.

If you enjoy running, here is another reason to look into scheduling a Walt Disney World Resort vacation: To Take Advantage of the great Endurance Running Events.

You Want To Ride A Segway? You Can Do That At Disney World!

2009-04-14T18:22:00.003-04:00

If you always thought that Segways looked cool and you’d love to take one for a spin, you can during your next vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort.

For those of you saying: What’s a Segway?

Here is a brief explanation:

The Segway Personal Transporter is a two-wheeled battery powered, transport machine that you ride while standing up. It utilizes high tech gyroscopes to mimic human balance and keep the machine stable and upright. The rider leans slightly in the direction that he wants to go and the machine moves accordingly. The Segway makes adjustments to balance the rider 100 times per second. It can reach speeds of up to 12.5 mph and go 24 miles on a single charge. This is the essence of high tech cool.

Disney World actually offers three different Segway experiences to choose from:

1. Around the World at Epcot: A two-hour guided tour around the World Showcase in Epcot before it is open to the general public for the day. You receive a fun initial training on how to use the Segway Personal Transporter and Proper Safety Equipment. Once you have learned how to navigate and negotiate different types of terrain your guide will lead you on a 1.3 mile tour of the World Showcase. Not only will you get to get to practice your new found skills, you will learn interesting facts and details about the 11 Epcot “Countries”. Cost is $95 per person

2. Simply Segway: This is a one hour indoor experience at the Epcot Innovations building learning how to operate the Seagway Personal Transporter. Cost is $35 per person.

3. Wilderness Back Trail Adventure: This two hour tour takes place “off-roading” at the Fort Wilderness Campground. Here you will use a Segway X2 Personal Transporter that is designed especially for off-road use. This tour also starts out with a training and safety portion before you head out on the trail for a guided expedition. Cost is $85 per person.

All 3 of these tours require that you are 16 years old or older. You can call (407) WDW-TOUR to make advance reservations. These tours do fill up fast, so making your reservations ahead of time is strongly recommended. Discounts are available if you are an Annual Passholder or a DVC member.

What are you waiting for?

So when you are ready to try something really different, remember that these three Segway based tours are available for you to try at Disney World. This certainly would be something that you would remember for a long time. It is also another way that Disney makes cutting edge technology available for you to experience.

Disney World Beyond The Parks - Typhoon Lagoon

2009-02-25T20:28:00.005-05:00

The more you learn about Disney World, the more you learn about all of the things to do that have nothing to do with the 4 main theme parks.

If you are looking for water filled excitement and the resort pool isn’t enough to quench your appetite, then maybe you should consider spending a day at Typhoon Lagoon, one of two Water Parks currently at Walt Disney World.

Like all things touched by Disney, Typhoon Lagoon is not your everyday water park, but rather a well themed, 56 acre destination that has attractions that appeal to the entire family.

Here are some of the Typhoon lagoon’s attractions that my family enjoyed the most:

Crush & Gusher

One word: Unbelievable!

I had never experienced an attraction like this before. It is described as a roller coaster-like raft ride and that is exactly what the experience feels like. It made the day worth it, just for the opportunity to raft through this exhilarating 400 foot combination of hairpin turns, drops, and even climbs. There are three different waterslides to choose from with each being slightly different.

Each is powered by a jet nozzle that sprays 1,350 gallons of water per minute. That is enough to fill a normal sized pool in about a minute or powerful enough to shoot water of Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror.

Water Slides

Typhoon Lagoon has several of the traditional thrill seeker waterslides as well. The tallest and fastest is known as Humunga Kowabunga. These 3 slides are 214 ft long enclosed speed slides that drop 5 stories in a matter of seconds.

For a slightly tamer waterslide, you can try the 3 Storm Slides that twist and turn while descending 3 stories through caves, waterfalls, and geysers. Although tamer than Humunga Kowabunga you can still reach speeds of 20 mph along these 300 foot long slides.

Shark Reef

Another unique feature of Typhoon Lagoon is the Shark Reef Snorkeling area. As part of the price of park admission you can get snorkeling gear for free and explore this saltwater area that is the only park in Florida where you can swim with sharks and schools of tropical fish. The leopard and bonnethead sharks that you will encounter are among the most docile of all sharks.

Wave Pool

This isn’t just your average everyday wave pool, this is one of the largest in the world. It generates 6 foot high waves every 90 seconds in a pool that is twice the size of a football field and hold 2.7 million gallons of water.

Lazy River

Again, never satisfied with run of the mill the Castaway Creek is a 2100 foot long circular river that takes you through Rain Forests, grottoes, and caves. It takes around 30 minutes to make a complete loop.

Snacks

Don’t forget to partake in a giant sundae served in a sand bucket, like we did, to cap your day off. It was big enough for the whole family to share and the kids still talk about it.

Summary

If you are looking for an exciting Disney World activity that is Beyond The Parks then Typhoon Lagoon should definitely be near the top of your lists to check out. Forget any preconceived notions you may have about water parks based on visiting one where you live. Disney has done a great job re-inventing the concept in true Disney Imagineering fashion. You won’t be disappointed.

Lastly enjoy this official Disney World video clip of Typhoon Lagoon:

Visit Jellyrolls For a Fun Night Out at Walt Disney World

2008-11-23T21:31:00.008-05:00

Sometimes it is hard to remember that adults like to have fun at Walt Disney World also. Besides the normal activities there are a number of activities that are geared strictly towards adults on the Walt Disney World property.

Today I will write about Jellyrolls, the Boardwalk's Dueling Piano Bar.

Located at the end of the Boardwalk, Jellyrolls can be reached by either walking out of the International Gateway of Epcot, taking a boat from Hollywood Studios, or taking a Disney Transportation Bus from Downtown Disney or any Park to the Boardwalk Resort. For those of you with your own transportation, you could also drive and park in the Boardwalk parking area.

However you choose to get there, you will be glad you did when you finally arrive.

This past October, while my wife and I took a short trip to Disney World without the children, we decided to visit this place that had always eluded us on earlier trips. So with some trepidation we headed there one night, not really sure what we were getting ourselves into.

There is a $10 cover charge per person, which I considered to be a kind of "commitment fee". Once I paid the fee, I was committed to check this place out.

Inside Jellyrolls, the place is rather sparse and smaller than I expected. There are bars on the extremities to get your favorite beverage and the center is dominated by a small stage with two pianos facing each other. There is a section of tables for people to sit at and a row of stools along the back of the lower level. There are additional standing room only spots in the upper level which is only about 3 steps elevated above the lower level, to improve viewing from the back, I'm sure.

The place wasn't too crowded when we got there after watching the Epcot fireworks from the Boardwalk, so we were able to get a drink and grad a stool on the lower level. Then we proceeded to be entertained by the very talented piano players/singers.

They took turns playing requests and entertaining the crowd with their witty banter. I was quite amazed at the number of songs that they performed well. The regulars in the crowd sang along to some of their favorites, including a rousing rendition of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. The crowd grew as the evening progressed and by 11:00pm it was pretty full.

I had been to a place with a similar theme elsewhere, but the quality of the singers here was far superior. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the quality of talent that Disney would attract.

I can't say enough about how much fun we had that night. I was truly a fun, entertaining evening and I would highly recommend it for an adult night out, without the kids. ( You must be 21 to enter).

So put this one on your list to check out the next time that you get the opportunity. I do not think that you will be disappointed.