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5 Simple Fastpass+ Tips That Could Better Your Vacation Experience

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

As many of you know quite well, Disney’s fastpass+ offering has changed drastically over the years and while many theme parks have tried to replicate it, no one but Disney has really pulled it off on such a grand scale. However, in order to make the most out of the free service, there’s a few things you’ll want to take into consideration. So, here’s our Top 5 Simple Fastpass+ Tips. 

5. Manage Your Park Hopping 

When Disney debuted this new system many years ago, this was (and still is) one of the biggest issues with the system in my personal opinion. While each guest receives 3 fastpass selections, it is not very conducive to park hopping. If you’re going to park hop, be sure to book your fastpass selections as early in the day as you can for your first park in hopes of securing a fourth “revolving” fastpass when you get the next park. You could also skip them at your first park altogether. If you decide to avoid them for the first part of your day, you’ll likely only get your 3 fastpass selections. By the time you get to your second park, and use your fastpass+ selections, chances are that the faspass+ distribution for the day will have already ended.

Of course, this does not differ drastically from the early days of the paper system, but it has drastically affected the availability of subsequent passes after your scheduled 3 have been utilized.   

For those of you who may not know about the “revolving” 4th fastpass, be sure to check out number 2 on this list. 

4. Keep Checking Back

When you’re booking your fastpass+ selections in advance, if you cannot secure an attraction that you are looking for, don’t give up hope. We’ve faced this same situation many times and the key to overcoming it is checking back time after time, day after day, leading up to your vacation. Some guests will cancel their vacations or alter their fastpass selections as the dates of their trips approach and that one pass you’ve been looking for may very well coincide with the one they drop. Sometimes its quite surprising what pops up for availability as your travel dates approach.  


Also worth mentioning is to watch the cancellation timeframe. Some guests will choose to book a vacation only to wait until the very last minute to cancel and still receive a full refund. Why they do it, I’m not entirely sure, but it often opens up at least a few fastpass selections right before cancellation starts to cost guests money. 

While it may not officially be the case, we’ve found that around the 30 day mark and the last few days before a scheduled park day new offerings tend to pop up. There’s no real science to it, but determination and a little persistence can save you quite a bit of time waiting in line on vacation.   

3. Book Early

For returning guests, who have used the fastpass+ system before, this seems like common knowledge. However, many guests wait until the very last minute to book their selections. If you book your passes as early on in the reservation window as possible you can almost always find the exact time and attraction you’re looking for. Also, as an added bonus to this particular tip, you can always search for a new fastpass timeframe without losing your original selection. Many times we’ve had a pass run into a dining reservation or other predetermined experience, and by simply going to your fastpass and searching for an alternate time, you can preserve your original selection and simply alter the timeframe.

In a similar way, if you have a dining reservation scheduled and the system informs you that  you have a time overlap on your schedule, you don’t have to reschedule the pass timeframe. If you you think you can still make it to your reservation, keep your fastpass selection.     

If you’re looking into a WDW vacation, be sure to check out the new discount rates for early 2018 by clicking the following link or by contacting Destinations to Travel using the quote request form below this article. We appreciate the support and it costs you nothing extra to utilize their services while supporting the site. 


2. Utilize The “Revolving” Fourth Fastpass

While I mentioned this briefly earlier, this is one of those underused elements of the system that gets vastly overlooked. We’re definitely not experts at it yet, but we’ve made the most out of it quite a few times. The “revolving fastpass” (as we like to call it) is the fourth pass you can get after you have used (or dumped/missed) your first 3 selections for the day. The fourth pass is different from all the rest in that as it is utilized, you can continue to book another fastpass selection as long as they are available. It is essentially a “revolving pass” for different attractions. 

The process works particularly well at Magic Kingdom. Use your three passes for the most popular attractions you would like to experience or even simply the attractions you want a guaranteed ride on. After those passes are used, you can feasibly use upwards of 5-8 additional selections if you’re careful about your booking timeframes which dictate when you can get the fourth and consecutive passes. 

Essentially, after you use your fourth selection, the fifth selection can be booked after the fourth is used and the sixth can be booked after the fifth is used and so on. You can continue the process until all fastpasses has been distributed for the day. If you’re fairly flexible and just want to ride attractions time and time again, you can really make aggressive use of this option if you utilize it correctly. 

1. Schedule Early Fastpass Selections 

Building off of number 2, the earlier you schedule your original, preplanned, three fastpass+  selection, the earlier you can start utilizing the “revolving pass.” As a result, the options you have for the additional attraction selections are far greater than if you book your original three for late in the day. Of course, this doesn’t always work out well for park hopping, but is one of the most effective, if not the most effective way to avoid lines and take advantage of the system as much as you possibly can. The importance of timing your selections under this new(ish) system is something that is quite hard to grasp before trying it once first hand. 

The whole fastpass+ concept and system is really just a big puzzle, but by utilizing a few of these simple tips, we hope you can make the most of the time you have in the parks. Fastpasses aren’t for everybody, and many go without them just for the freedom of not having anything scheduled, but for those of us who tend to plan out every little detail, it can be both a benefit and a concern as your vacation experience draws closer. 

Have a tip of your own? Be sure to share it with us in the comments! 

      

Disney Patent Filing Hints at a Swinging Spiderman or Tarzan Attraction! – A Few Thoughts

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney is by no means afraid to file a vast amount of patents, but one filing, discovered today by the Orlando Business Journal, seems a bit more obvious in future application than many others. According to the drawings included in the filing, a new technology could be developed which would allow guests to experience a swinging sensation similar to what Spider Man and Tarzan in many popular Disney/Marvel productions perform. 

The design, which appears to feature a large swinging arm attached to a bench seat, would allow guests to swing back and forth in a controlled motion in an attempt to simulate the rises, falls, twists, and turns of the “swinging” experience. It would be as if they were with the characters themselves. The attraction concept doesn’t seem very aggressive in regards to moving guests through the attraction quickly, considering only a four person seating arrangement is depicted in the images (viewable here: patent photos and patent description), but it does appear to be an insanely unique experience if it ever plays out as depicted! 


Also, in reagards to the parks, I would not expect to see this arrive or even be formally announced anytime soon. I hope I’m wrong, but with the current construction lineup it doesn’t seem likely that they would begin yet another project. Personally, I don’t see this coming to Walt Disney World, but rather an international park or even possibly as an overhaul that appears to have begun at Disney California Adventure with Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. We also do have to consider that this ride system could be completely unrelated to Marvel, and could very well be a piece of a project in the distant future. At this point, consider any “new attraction” claims as simply rumor because Disney releases many patents throughout the year that don’t always come to fruition in the parks. 

This could simply be a concept that was thrown out their and designed to get a jump on the competition in regards to vast innovation. The patent has certainly been filed, but we’ll just have to wait and see what comes next! 

Also worth noting is that Disney has previously confirmed that Spiderman will play a role at the California parks in the future. All things considered, the potential project looks incredible but right now be sure to enjoy what’s coming in the not so distant future and what has already arrived: Pandora, Star Wars: Galaxies Edge, and Toy Story Land! It’s going to be a big couple of years for new theme park debuts! If you want to go check out Pandora, or any of the other amazing offerings of the Disney Parks, be sure to check out the latest Disney Parks discount at the following link or by contacting Destinations to Travel using the quote request form down below. They are an outstanding planning resource and booking through them really helps out the site without costing you anything extra when booking your vacation.  


So, what do you think? Will we see this attraction concept unveil itself in the parks in the coming years, or is this simply a patent that may never become a part of the magic? 

Disney CEO Bob Iger To Step Down in 2019: A Few Thoughts and Details

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

As the debate and consideration of “who’s next?” continues to develop for the Disney organization at a corporate level, information was shared Tuesday morning that Bob Iger will in fact step down from his current role in 2019. The company recently extended his contract into 2019 after a successor was not named for the position as originally anticipated. However, it does not appear as if that will happen again. Iger debuted to the media at an event held by Vanity Fair that he is leaving for sure this time. 

Of course, when the topic is brought up about a CEO stepping down, typically it does not mean they will leave the company right away. In this particular case Iger will be around for 3 more years in order to guide the organization from a different role. 

(Photo: Disney)


The question that pops up as a result is, “Who will take his place?” Mass speculation has pointed to a variety of different individuals within the company and beyond including: Bob Chapek (Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts), Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, ESPN’s John Skipper, and many others. At this point no one seems to know a definitive “top pick” but Iger will certainly be hard to replace. 

As a true creative business genius, Iger has brought Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm into the Disney intellectual property realm. He certainly isn’t perfect and has focused largely on intellectual property rather than many other aspects of the organization. Even taking that into consideration he has been incredibly successful in nearly all of his endeavors as a leader of this company we all know and love. To be quite honest, he’ll be incredibly difficult to replace.  

Personally, I’d love to Chapek earn the title of CEO. To me, he seems like an individual who truly appreciates the Disney parks and resorts in a way that many executives don’t entirely grasp. 

Speaking of parks and resorts, be sure to check out the new discount rates for early 2018 by clicking the following link or by contacting Destinations to Travel using the quote Request form below this article. We appreciate the support and it costs you nothing extra to utilize their services while supporting the site. 


If selected, Chapek’s role could potentially be huge for the theme park segment. While I have yet to meet him in person (I’d love to one day), he’s stated many times in interviews that he believes in the “Disney bubble.” Honestly, that concept alone could be huge for the company. The idea that a CEO could and would focus on the little details and the immersive experience in the parks, in regards to guest interaction, is something that could continually set the company apart and get it back to it’s peak customer service roots. Of course, this is simply my own opinion, but it really is the little things that make the biggest difference over time. 


A CEO with true parks experience and knowledge could vastly alter the “climate” and future of not only Walt Disney World but the Disney parks as a whole in time. Today, expansions are well under way, but Chapek’s influence on projects like Pandora tend to set him apart from all the others in my mind. I’m certainly biased towards the parks and resorts segment, but seeing how large scale projects like Pandora, Toy Story Land, and Star Wars: Galaxies Edge, continue to exceed expectations (even before two of them have completed construction) is an incredible representation of his “Disney bubble” mentality.    

So, who do you think should be next, or better yet, if the sky was the limit, who would you choose as CEO? Share your thoughts with us in the comments on your favorite social network! 
       

Disney Discounts For Early 2018 Bookings: Up to 25% Off

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Not to long ago, Disney released a resort accommodation discount coupled with an extra free one day ticket offer when purchasing a 5-day (or longer) park hopper (or park hopper plus) ticket and room package. As always, there is some variation in dates and percentage discounts, but if you need help booking or deciphering the different discount options we recommend an authorized Disney travel planner. You can also always use a travel agent of your choosing or book through Disney themselves.   

The current offer is listed as most nights January 1st – April 14th. To lock in these rates you must book before January 2nd.   


(Updated: December 26th)These rates are entirely new (when they were released on October 3rd), so be patient if you are trying to book or rebook a vacation through the Disney phone system or online booking system. The wait list may be long as many guests try to book vacations that were waiting for a discount to present itself. Upon updating this article, there are just a few days left to take advantage of this offer and availability may be extremely limited. Certain room types and resorts may already be booked but a few select dates and resorts should still be available!      

The gift giving season of Christmas coupled with this new discount could create an outstanding gift for someone in your life. If you’re like us, Christmas is one of the greatest times to travel to Walt Disney World. The holiday lights are up (well into the new year) and the weather is near perfect for touring the parks. However, as the Spring draws near, Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is unveiled and debuts an entirely new series of offerings to guests and limited time food stands and floral displays that truly bring in the spring time in the perfect way! 

Here’s a closer look at the rate structure as listed on Disney’s website: 

  
Resort Category Resort Savings
Select Disney Deluxe Villas Save up to 25%
For stays most nights 
1/1/18 – 4/14/18
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas 25%
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House 10%
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows — Studios only
Select Disney Deluxe Resorts Save up to 25%
For stays most nights 
1/1/18 – 4/14/18
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 25%
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort 10%
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Select Disney Moderate Resorts Save up to 20%
For stays most nights Sunday through Thursday nights 1/1/18 – 2/22/18 and for stays most nights
2/23/18 – 4/14/18
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort 20%
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside 10%
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter
Select Disney Value Resorts Save up to 15%
For stays most nights Sunday through Thursday nights 1/1/18 – 2/22/18 and for stays most nights
2/23/18 – 4/14/18
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort 15%
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort — Family Suites Only
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort 10%

As always, down below this article you’ll find a quote request form for Destinations to Travel to make your booking experience that much easier. Also, the text link will send you directly to their site to book a vacation! It’s not only simple to use and a great tool for booking a dream vacation but it also really helps out the site at no additional cost to you! Just tell them Guide4WDW sent you in your message! Thanks!  

(Source: Disney)

Epcot: A Look Back At What Was and a Look Forward at What is to Come! – A Disney Parks Icon for 35 Years!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Epcot has always been, and likely will always be, my favorite Disney park. I wasn’t around for the parks original debut but it has been an iconic piece of my Disney vacation experiences for as long as I can remember. I’ve been touring the parks all of my life, and for some reason or another, Epcot has always stood out as an iconic theme park experience unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else in the world.

As many of you may know, Epcot celebrated it’s 35th anniversary today, and it did so while welcoming incredibly large crowds to celebrate the occasion. For many guests in attendance today, the park had been apart of their lives for many years in a quite similar way to my own circumstance. Debuting in 1982, on this very day, the park welcomed guests into an experience that was unlike anything they had ever seen before. It a concept not dissimilar from the World’s Fair (which Disney played a huge roll at in 64′). The park put innovation on display on a grand stage that promoted technology, increased guest engagement, and set the stage for an entirely new theme park concept.

Of course, this new concept wasn’t the original design in many ways, but rather a variation of a stock concept developed many years prior by Walt Disney himself. It was set to be
“an experimental prototype community of tomorrow that will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise.” – Walt Disney 

In the early days of Epcot, the concept deviated slightly and no longer would be a “live-in” community but rather a place to go and explore new concepts and ideas. While we lost a part of Walt’s plan after his unfortunate passing in 1966, we’ve always been able to experience one true goal of his planned development, innovation. Epcot itself has played a grand role as a stage for innovation and new ideas for many years. It’s been a place of technological development through attraction design, but also provided hands on learning opportunities to guests throughout early experiences (many that are now “departed”) such as the Earth Station, Astuter Computer Review, Horizons. Innoventions, Wonders of Life, and many others. Today, the learning experiences and hands on interaction isn’t quite as pronounced as it once was, but the parks are always changing and developing in new ways to capture the imagination. Walt said it best, Epcot will never be complete! 

As we undoubtedly move into a new generation of the park, as big changes were announced just recently at the D23 expo, it will be interesting to see what direction the park moves in next. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the future, but that’s only natural when something has been apart of your life for so long. Many of us have grown to expect a certain distinct “Epcot experience” and one that we have vastly appreciated the opportunity to experience time and time again. It’s a place that has created memories not only for me, but for families spanning many generations. Moving forward, we have a lot of questions (See this post for more on that!) and a few early answers, but Imagineering is always creating new concepts and new ideas that continually outdo our expectations and create lasting experiences that transcend whatever Intellectual Property or theming tied to the experience. 

To be quite honest with you, I was really concerned about the Pandora expansion, but looking back on it now, there was no reason to be concerned. Imagineering is often times as invested, if not more invested, in these parks than each and every one of us in a personal way. They live and breath these parks each and every day and use that experience to develop astounding attractions that exceed expectations time and time again. 

Epcot is far from what it was originally, but as the scenery changes, the history of the place itself only grows richer and more detailed than ever before. The vacation destination has had an incredible run at Walt Disney World for many years and as it continues on in a new direction, Walt’s original goal won’t be far away. Sure, things will likely change (potentially drastically), but the joys of a Disney vacation will never go away! 

If you liked this article, I’d love for you to share it with friends. As always, this is simply my opinion and one of many opinions across the internet. I’d love to hear what you think and be sure to share your early Epcot stories with us!

As an added bonus for reading today, we’re debuting a special Disney Cruise Line offer from Destinations to Travel: Details below!


 As always, if you do book utilizing their services, it does help us out tremendously and cost you nothing extra to do so! Just tell them Guide4WDW sent you in your message or fill out the quote request form below. Thanks! 

Plan A Cruise Month, Oct. 1-31, 2017, Guests booking through Destinations To Travel are eligible for the following Disney Cruise Line special offer:

Enjoy $100* onboard credit per stateroom on 7-night Caribbean cruises departing from Port Canaveral, Florida in February or March 2018 aboard the Disney Fantasy.

Contact info@d2travel.com for additional booking information 
This offer must be booked through Destinations To Travel

*Valid for new bookings made Oct. 1-31, 2017. Not combinable with other offers or discounts. One onboard credit per stateroom. Onboard credit is nonrefundable and nontransferable. Offer is subject to availability.

"Hidden Disney" – The Functional Mail Service Within The Disney Parks!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Over the years, letters and post cards have really become a thing of the past for most guests, but did you know that the theming at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts even goes as far as to include real and operational mail boxes? Today, sending letters has become more of a novelty than anything, but at Disney, it can make for a an interesting little surprise awaiting you when you return home. 

Thoroughout our Disney trips, very early on, we used to make it a point to purchase a set of stamps, find postcards and send them to ourselves, our grandparents, or even a few friends from the parks themselves. While it was certainly a simple gesture, it was something that many times you would completely forget about until you returned home and a subtle little surprise from your trip would be waiting for you in the mailbox.

As the years went on and this tradition continued, we found ways to make it a little more unique. As we went from character interaction to character interaction in the parks, we’d have a select few of our favorites sign a postcard, which we would then stick in the in-park mailbox and send on home. It was simple, but as a kid, it was something that we only really got to do at Walt Disney World. At the time, stamps were fairly cheap, and even today it’s a much cheaper (and typically more meaningful) souvenir than others you would find across property. Postcards are fairly cheap anywhere and if you’re on a really tight budget you can even buy them at a local Walgreens or CVS location and take them with you. Here’s a few examples of cards we’ve sent over the years:

  
The whole principal seems a little strange, but I have many vivid memories of pulling one those big metal classic mailboxes open and sliding a postcard in. It was a unique part of our Disney experience and one that really stuck with me years later. Even today, I still have many of these singed postcards sent from the parks safely stored away. 

In regards to theming, Disney makes every necessary step to ensure that the mailboxes themselves blend seamlessly into the environment they are located in. On Main Street U.S.A (and surrounding areas), the postal service has loaned Disney a few early 1900’s mailboxes. The collection bins are cleaned out by cast members and sent out with the rest of Disney’s mail by means of the same postal service that spans the United States. Beyond the parks, most resorts will have a collection box of their own. Just as with the parks, if you’re not looking for them, you’ll likely never notice their presence simply because they blend so well with their thematic surroundings.


Of course, today, post cards are essentially a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a fun memory with family (in an incredibly budget friendly way) even though we have the perks of modern technology at our fingertips. Call me nostalgic, but there’s still something special about receiving something tangible in the mail that isn’t a bill or an unwanted advertisement. 

Personally, I love that Disney still offers this service many years after it’s prime time of utilization. Sure, if you forget something important like a rent payment or a bill you overlooked, these can serve very practical purposes, but with online transactions and many other services available today, this is something that has become distinctly Disney. It’s a little detail, but often times the littlest details add up to create the largest difference in the end. I will note though that today the boxes are not checked quite as frequently as they once were (or perhaps mail is just slower), because when you send letters or postcards today, it does typically take longer to receive them in the mail than it once did. Either way, this is just one of those “hidden gems” that you’ll likely only find at Walt Disney World! 

As always, thanks for reading and we truly appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your day to spend here with us!       

If you’re planning a Disney vacation, we ask that you consider our friends over at Destinations to Travel (clickable link) for your travel planning needs. Their service cost you nothing more than booking through Disney and booking through them really helps support the site while costing you absolutely nothing extra. Just tell them Guide4WDW sent you in your quote request message. We certainly appreciate the support!

Disney’s Halloween Fan Favorite Production "Hocus Pocus" Is Getting A Remake!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

After many years of speculation, it appears as if the fan favorite Halloween film “Hocus Pocus” will be getting a remake. The movie itself has grown and influenced many Disney World guests with it’s somewhat recent addition to the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party event lineup. It’s addition, in stage show format, has built upon it’s prominent following of those who enjoyed the original production from the 90’s. 



Each year, the stage show representation of the film at Magic Kingdom’s Halloween parties is a huge hit with guests and a highlight of the experience for many. The characters are perfect for the Halloween style celebration and the feel of the parks, while bringing a bit of a classic back to life for guests who watched the film early on. It’s inclusion has also created a new audience that may have never heard of Hocus Pocus before experiencing it in the Disney Parks. 

Personally, this is one of my all time favorite family friendly Halloween films. It’s funny, it’s a bit nostalgic, and in regards to the Disney parks, it’s something guests of all ages can enjoy. 

Just recently, a spokesperson from Disney stated that a “Hocus Pocus” remake is in fact in the works. The film itself will feature a new cast (despite the social media disapproval) and will be debuted on the Disney channel rather than in the box office. Kenny Ortega, the director of the original production and many other Disney films, will not be directing the upcoming remake. All things considered, I would have liked to seen the original cast return, but it will be outstanding to see a new generation have the opportunity to experience the film in an entirely new way. At this point we know very little about the story or how close of a representation it will be of the original, but the film will soon become a reality once again.

Just as clarification, this is not an experience or new show coming to the parks but rather a reboot of the old movie which will debut on the Disney channel as mentioned above. 

(Source: Eonline)       

Disney Debuts New "Meal Kit" Offering For Guests At Saratoga Springs: Other Resorts May Arrive Soon

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

In a somewhat unpredicted announcement, Disney has debuted a new dining offering at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort particularly helpful to those staying in Villa accommodations called “Meal Kits.”

The service allows guests to go to the Artist’s Palette dining location and pick up a pre-prepared ingredient box to take back to their resort room and cook utilizing their villa kitchen. The service is being primarily marketed towards DVC members, but anyone can book villa accommodations at the resort through Disney and other DVC points buying services across the internet (If you’re interested in booking a villa and having someone walk you through that process, check out Destinations to Travel and tell them Guide4WDW sent you). 


(photo: Jason Pratt – Flickr)


The box itself includes a “meal kit for four featuring Rigatoni Fiesolana (Rigatoni pasta with creamy tomato sauce, sausage, portabella mushrooms, parmesan and fresh basil) and comes with a large garden salad, garlic bread sticks and baking instructions” according to a Disney Parks Blog post earlier this morning. The service, all things included, costs $49 and is listed as a limited time offering. 

Personally, I see this as a test of the dining option to see what the guest demand for it may be. Many guests utilizing the villa rooms, which always include the kitchen (any one bedroom villa or larger – deluxe studio rooms do not have the kitchen necessary to prepare this meal offering), frequently use external food prep and grocery delivery services to create meals in their resort rooms. Many of those grocery delivery services are a bit more budget friendly than this new option, but the convenience factor is certainly a bonus. 

So, what do you think? Will this be something that catches on and rolls out to other villa resorts (my guess is that it will in time) or will guests shy away from the new service. Personally, I see this as an outstanding way to get families together for a quiet meal and a fun way to get involved with your food preparation while on vacation. Also, for the price, this is a much cheaper offering than what you may pay at table service dining locations across property.      


A "Hidden Gem" Of Disney Parks History: Michael Iseberg and the Iceberg Machine

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney has been a place full of changes and alterations across its many years of operation and service to guests of all ages. However, as you’ve likely seen from this site and a few select others, we tend to lose experiences over time. Sometimes those experiences, shows, and attractions, are moments that are iconic pieces of Disney history, but also parts of the past that get pushed “under the rug” no matter how loved and incredible they may have been.

Today, we’re sharing one of those “hidden gems” that very well could have been included in our “Departed Disney” or “Legendary Cast of the Disney Parks” series. This portion of the park wasn’t an attraction, but rather a stage show performance that shocked, enticed, and thrilled guests for many years known simply as the Iceberg Machine!

The Iceberg Machine was an elaborate piece of engineering developed by the musician Michael Iceberg (“Iseberg” originally: beyond the stage name). While the technology was very early in development at the time, Michael compiled a series of different synthesizers and state of the art technology (at the time) to develop a musical performance that was unlike anything guests had heard before.

The machine itself was a continuously changing conglomeration of technology housed in a large pyramid structure that Iceberg confined himself in as he unveiled a spectacle of sounds and music to guests in the heart of Tomorrowland. Iceberg performed on both coasts throughout the mid 1970’s and 1980’s. His show was viewed as early as 1976 in Walt Disney World and even made it up the ranks onto the late night spectacle that was The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.

His performances wowed guests of all ages and drew inspiration from a variety of different avenues including animal noises, trumpets, guitars, pianos, and so much more. All of these noises were developed through his incredible skills with early synthesizer technology rigged to accompany a keyboard infrastructure in what he called the “Mechanical Contraption.”

For years, guests took time out of their day at the Disney parks to grab a snack, pull up a chair and listen to his incredible performances throughout the day, sometimes debuted as frequently as five times per day. At Walt Disney World, Michael shared his unbelievable talent with guests in the Tomorrowland Terrace (now known as Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe).

The contraption, which was prominently located where Sonny Eclipse sits today, rose from the Utlidoors and opened up revealing the star of the show! As the pyramid style creation opened up, a mirror unfolded allowing guests to see exactly what Iceberg did as he brought music forth from the array of platforms. His performance was a foray of lights, smoke, vocals, and of course synthesized noises that not only entertained but had heart and story worked into it in a way that captured the audience time and time again. For many guests, this was a highlight of their time in Tomorrowland and one that truly brought a one-of-a-kind experience to the park. It was a legitimately futuristic performance and while today the technology behind it isn’t all that amazing, his raw talent and vocal abilities coupled with a unique personality captured the audience in a way that can only be showcased in video:                   

Michael Iceberg hasn’t performed in the Magic Kingdom in many years, but his contributions to the parks and resorts have become iconic. In a short question based interview for Iceberg’s website found here, he claims to have had very little to no influence on both The Main Street Electrical Parade and The Electrical Water Pageant (Parade) despite what many believe. They both fit his style and frame of work, and while he does admit to submitting a short piece for the Water Pageant, he did not believe it ever made it into the final production. 
Either way, his influence is a piece of Disney history that many overlook and something that I wasn’t even aware of myself until just recently. You see, Disney is a place that has elaborate backstories that can be unraveled in a way that no other vacation destination can truly encompass. It has history, but more than that, it has heart that cannot be replicated. There were real people behind early shows, unique experiences, and a realm of ingenuity that cannot be replicated. Of course, things change and the company has continued to develop, but that “heart” and story Disney history has created will continue capturing guests for generations. 
If you liked today’s article, do me a huge favor and share the post in your favorite Disney Facebook group, on your personal page, or even on other social media platforms. Your shares really help us grow and bring new Disney fans into this growing community.

If you’re planning a Disney vacation, we ask that you consider our friends over at Destinations to Travel (clickable link) for your travel planning needs. Their service cost you nothing more than booking through Disney and booking through them really helps support the site while costing you absolutely nothing extra. Just tell them Guide4WDW sent you in your quote request message. We certainly appreciate the support!
      

"Departed Disney" – A Lost Disney Stage Show that Exceeded Expectations: Tarzan Rocks!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

The Departed Disney series here on the site has developed into a much larger series than I originally anticipated. However, Disney history and “extinct” attractions are some of the topics I enjoy writing about the most. Having the opportunity to take a closer look at many of these attractions, has given me the chance to share a greater background of many attractions many guests (including myself in some cases) never had the opportunity or ability to see in their original form. Taking a look back at “what was” in regards to the Disney parks really helps to develop a better appreciation of what we experience in the parks today.


Imagineering has spent years researching and developing each and every experience across Disney property for guests like you and me to enjoy. As the parks continue to develop and provide new experiences to guests of all ages and backgrounds, some older experiences tend to get left behind. There’s really no better example of the concept than the recent additions to Animal Kingdom. As Pandora developed, we lost an iconic piece of the Animal Kingdom experience and one that many guests really enjoyed and have incredibly fond memories of, Camp Minnie-Mickey. From meeting up with their favorite characters to the original Festival of the Lion King show building, to simply the atmosphere the woodsy environment developed, it created memories for guests that will never be forgotten. 

While we take all those things into consideration, when you look at what has become of the space and the incredible experiences guests are having on a daily basis, it’s no wonder why the project came to fruition in such an elaborate change. Believe it or not, Camp Minnie Mickey was essentially an afterthought in design the whole time and one that stayed much longer than originally anticipated. It just goes to show that a simple concept can really grow into a much larger experience by means of a reimagining over time. 

That same idea can be applied to today’s departed attraction, Tarzan Rocks. From 1999 to 2006, guest of all ages could share a moment with their friends from Tarzan in an action packed show featuring rollerskating monkeys and songs directly from the film. Of course, Tarzan Rocks! wasn’t the original opening day stage show in “The Theatre in the Wild.” For roughly the first year of the parks operation, the theater hosted a show called Journey Into The Jungle Book where cast on stage would use large scale puppet-style costuming to tell the story of the Jungle Book. Personally, I’ve never seen the original rendition of the show, but it’s replacement was an experience I have vivd memories of as a younger child. 

Tarzan Rocks! was a fairly popular show that featured high flying arial stunts, elaborate costumes, live on-stage vocals, and rollerskating monkeys. The monkeys raced along a path through the crowds and the entire cast spent a portion of the show interacting with and overflowing out off of the stage into areas of the audience. It was an incredibly immersive experience not too dissimilar from the Festival of The Lion King. 

Despite drawing fairly large crowds at a majority of the showings throughout the day, the show debuted it’s final performance in January of 2006 in order to make way for an elaborately re-themed experience, Finding Nemo: The Musical. The new experience called for a drastic overhaul of the theater, but the end result was one of the most poplar stage shows on Disney property. The new musical isn’t my favorite Disney stage show (to be completely honest), but it is something guests of all ages can really enjoy. 

Today’s Animal Kingdom is a far cry from what it was many years ago, but I can say that I’ve never enjoyed the park more than I do in it’s current state. The addition of Pandora really transformed the park and breathed life back into a location that I rarely spent a full day exploring. 

All in all, the parks continue to change and develop as the world around them changes. It may not be what we want to see, but often times the end goal and the resulting new attractions and experiences exceed our expeditions over time. The process certainly takes time but Imagineering has proven time and time again that no matter what an attractions based upon, the technology they put into the experience will blow us all away. It’s been a trend for years on end and something that I truly believe Walt Disney would appreciate.

As always, thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this article or really enjoyed this experience while it was in the parks, please SHARE the post with friends. 

If you’re planning a Disney vacation, we ask that you consider our friends over at Destinations to Travel (clickable link) for your travel planning needs. Their service cost you nothing more than booking through Disney and booking through them really helps support the site while costing you absolutely nothing extra. Just tell them Guide4WDW sent you in your quote request message. We certainly appreciate the support!