Tag: News

Neil Patrick Harris "Wins" Halloween With This Costume!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Neil Patrick Harris “Wins” Halloween With This Costume! 

Happy Halloween everybody! If you’re entering a costume contest or simply passing out candy, we hope it’s been a fun night for each and every one of you. However, after a recent series of Instagram posts from Neil Patrick Harris and family, I don’t think any family costume will come close to beating this one! 

The Harris crew pulled out all the stops (as usual) and brought to life the living dead from an attraction that has become synonymous with classic Disney dark rides, The Haunted Mansion! 

From parents to kids, the whole family got involved and I have to say it was nothing short of a spectacular Halloween costume for the whole family. From the hitchhiking ghosts to the classic haunted mansion bride, no detail was overlooked, and you have to see it to believe it! The level of effort put into the production is incredible.  
//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The caption of the final photo was simple and straight to the point, but there’s no doubt the post will go viral in the coming days! The description simply read, “Welcome, foolish mortals. We hope your Halloween is happily haunted, but heed this warning: beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!” 
     

Neil Patrick Harris himself detailed the process in a little greater depth on his own page sharing the following images. 


//www.instagram.com/embed.js

So, did this celebrity family “win” halloween? If nothing else, this is the best Dinsey parks themed costume I’ve ever seen! Would I expect anything else from Neil Patrick Harris? Not at all! Be sure to catch him live during Disney’s Candlelight processional if you’re in the parks December 3rd through December 6th.   

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 

For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.     

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.       

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Why I’m Skeptical of the Recently Announced "Nature-Inspired" DVC Resort

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Why I’m Skeptical of the Recently Announced “Nature-Inspired” DVC Resort

By this point in time, if you follow Disney Parks news or even quite possibly the news in general, you’ve likely heard that a press release this week shared a few subtle details of a project scheduled to become the next Disney Vacation Club Resort. A name for the new resort has yet to be announced and it is scheduled to open in 2022. The same press release shared that the resort will feature both villas and hotel rooms similar to the many other current DVC style resorts. The resort itself is planned to fill the land near what once was River Country. For years, the space has been untouched and while various tentative plans have circulated time and time again across the internet, this is the very first piece of definitive press release information Disney has shared of a “confirmed” project. 

At first, I was thrilled that this project and this space was finally going to be used in an entirely new way. The use of the space has been long overdue, but as I read more and more of the very short release Disney put out, I have to say my secondary and more in depth reaction was one that was almost pure disappointment. I hate to pass judgment on a project based on one conceptual image 4 years before the resort is set to debut, but at the same time this doesn’t scream “Disney” to me. That piece of the puzzle is likely my biggest concern for this project. 

I may be one of the few people that are thinking this but I cant help but notice that many of the new projects are starting to all have a distinct look. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of the look and while the projects have yet to be completed, I know I cant be the only one that feels this way. Just for reference, here’s the concept art for the new 15-story tower at Coronado Springs.   

Both of these projects, and other recent/ongoing resort projects and refurbishments, all have one thing in common. Every single resort appears to be working towards an incredibly modern look and feel while somewhat abandoning the intricate theming roots that Disney has become known for. Again, I’ll save final judgement for when the resorts officially open to guests and I get the opportunity to visit them first hand. At the same time I cant help but think that if any of these images were taken out of the Disney context of this article and the same renderings appeared on a Waldorf Astoria or even quite possibly a Four Seasons resort website, nobody would take a second look. 

Don’t get me wrong these still look like wonderful resorts, but if I’m traveling to Disney I don’t want just another luxury resort to stay in, I want something that’s memorable and uniquely different than all other resorts. When you put these renderings next to something like the Polynesian or even the Grand Floridian, there’s a piece of the Magic that appears to be missing from the equation. 

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});


Frankly, I hope I’m wrong and I hope we end up with a Bay Lake lakefront property complete with the awe inspiring details of a resort like the Grand Floridian or even Wilderness Lodge. This is certainly not a Boardwalk Resort level of theming in these prospective and in progress projections. Right now, the sole exception project to all of this is the Star Wars resort. That could be an experience that will transport you to an entirely different place and time! The Star Wars project as a whole certainly has it’s flaws but the resort looks like it could be the project that will be pushing the envelope, but it may also push the price point out of reach of many prospective guests.     

On a completely different side of things, I have an odd feeling that this project could have been prematurely announced. Something about it just doesn’t sit right with me and makes me question if it may be a project that gets canceled in the coming months/year. Disney is, without a doubt, looking for new and different ways to house the crowds that will inevitably be arriving in the parks once Galaxy’s Edge debuts and other pieces and parts of theme park projects unfold at Magic Kingdom with Tron and the ever developing Epcot revitalization effort. 

On a more positive note, the newly redesigned area of Caribbean Beach looks truly spectacular and the theming was very well implemented to both create a more modern look, but also retain theming aspects in a new and updated iteration. 

Something else to consider in all of this is how this resort could fit in with the current array of resorts on Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Will this resort get it’s own Magic Kingdom boat transportation or will it add another stop to the loop and increase the transit time to Magic Kingdom via watercraft? Will the resort affect the tucked away nature of the Fort Wilderness Campground and Cabins? Will this resort have any sort of River Country connection to the past? 

That last question leads me to my hopes for this resort. My hopes are that this resort exceeds my wildest expectations and harkens back to the natural influence that oh so many guests enjoyed at River Country. It was a place that was fun for all the right reasons and a place that continually exceeded expectations. Disney claims that the theming of the resort will be “inspired” by Walt Disney’s love of nature. In an ideal world of pure imagination (please tell me I’m not the only one who sang the song from Willy Wonka…. “Come with me… and you’ll be… in a world of pure imagination…”), this resort would feature a grand lagoon style pool with a new rendition of the classic River Country slides and waterpark elements. Of course, there’s no way it could be connected to Bay Lake today, but the reiteration itself could still take so many guests back to their childhood and be the perfect nostalgic resort in the heart of the magic. Will it happen? Probably not, but we can dream! 

On the other hand of all of this, Disney may have more details up their sleeve that could transform the project. Like I mentioned before, this is simply a slight glimpse into the design phase of the resort through a conceptual rendering. There could be, and there likely is, far more to the design than meets the eye. At this point though, I’ll remain skeptical with honest hopes that Imagineering will continue to exceed my wildest expectations as they have done time and time again in the past. 

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});


Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 
For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.     

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

     

‘Christopher Robin’ – A Rare Nostalgic Gem of a Film

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

‘Christopher Robin’ – A Rare Nostalgic Gem of a Film  

It’s rather rare that I write a post without a direct Disney World connection but today I had to make an exception after heading out to see ‘Christopher Robin.’ As an opening remark and a review in a few short words, the film is undoubtedly a film that takes you back to your childhood, that brings a smile to your face, and shares a heart felt message that so many need to here in the world we live in today.

This film is a rare nostalgic gem of a movie that is enjoyable for all the right reasons. It spans the age range and is that classic feel good movie that is growing increasingly rare in the box office today. 


Without spoiling the plot, ‘Christopher Robin’ brings back the true heart of the Hundred Acre Woods we’ve known and loved for years on end. The location and story has inevitably changed but the characters are almost iconically and unequivocally the same. It’s the same heart felt story, the same happy ending, and the same quotable lines you expect from the characters of the Hundred Acre Woods brought into the hustle and bustle of London. It’s a new story which quite literally takes you back to the original stories so many of us have grown up with and enjoyed for years on end. 

However, this story hold s far greater meaning that so many in our society truly need to hear or at least see played out before their very eyes. It’s a film that transcends the walls of the theater and makes you think about life from a new perspective. When you leave the theatre you leave with, at the very least, a new train of thought for even the briefest of moments. It gives you a spectacular appreciation for the little things in life and does so in a way that provides entertainment and true value for viewers of all ages to enjoy. 

It’s rare that a movie creates “food for thought” anymore and this is the exception rather than the rule. Throughout the film there are moments and short but recognizable quotes that take the most difficult of concepts and simplifies them down to the most impactful of quotes. Combine that quotable nature with a few laughs and a few moments that pull at your heart for all the right reasons and you have a film well worth your time and money to go see. 


if you give this movie a chance and go into with an open mind and a willingness to except joy in the littlest of moments and the most classic of stories you’ll leave the theater with a smile but more than that you’ll leave the theater with a greater appreciation for family, friends, and the simple moments in life. 

I’ve said it for years but the most memorable of moments can come from the simplest of situations in the Disney Parks (you knew I’d tie it back to Walt Disney World). ‘Christopher Robin’ is that same concept in a film and something I appreciate and can fully support with a positive review. Life can be hectic, the little things can get overlooked, but its the littlest of things that create the longest lasting memories in life. That, in and of itself is the story I pull from this film and one that I hope you’ll take the time to go and see in the coming weeks.  

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Disney Announces New Cars Themed Experience for Hollywood Studios

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney Announces New Cars Themed Experience for Hollywood Studios  

In a somewhat surprising announcement, Disney has just officially released news of a new show coming to Hollywood Studios next year. The experience, named Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy has been announced as a show that will feature guest interaction. 

Unfortunately, very few details have been shared about the project but it was just officially announced in a media event presentation set up by the company. 


Personally, I don’t see this being a vastly large scale show but at the same time could be something great for young children. It’s a far stretch from the Cars Land rumors which rolled out years ago, but it will be great to see Cars officially back as a part of the magic over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Unfortunately, that’s about all we know at this point, but we’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available. The same presentation shared a bit more information on Star Wars Land which really focused on the interactive aspect of the land and how guest choices will dictate their experience in the land. Disney seems to be really pushing the interactive elements of these new experiences coming to the parks, but have been fairly tight lipped on the actual details of the interactive elements. Either way, I am all for interactivity in the parks. Not only does it showcase productivity and ingenuity, but also allows guests to be involved with the story. Story has been a huge part of Disney since the beginning and this should take things one step further!    

We’ll keep you updated as these new projects unfold and continue to develop in the coming year! 

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Looking Back – Legendary Cast of The Disney Parks: Richard Gerth and His Lasting Impression On Guests

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Today, I’m sad to share that legendary cast member Richard Gerth has lost his fight with an illness at an advanced age. Richard was 92 years old, but age was nothing but a number for him and his impact on guests day after day. He was and always will be the face of the Grand Floridian and that welcoming smile that greeted thousands of guests year after year. While this isn’t good news in any way, I share this post for a few reasons. First, I want to create a place where you can share your memories through photos. I don’t want this to be an article that ruins your day, but rather one that makes you remember the memories he helped so many of you create over the years. If you want to share a photo here, feel free to share it with us on social media and we’ll happily add it to the list. Let this be a place to share the moment and create a list that brings a smile to the face of everyone who reads this post.  

Richard truly was an icon of the Grand Floridian and one that has left his mark in so many incredible ways. By helping guests and creating that Disney magic we’ve all grown to love, Richard was a person who embodied what a cast member should be. He was a man that I know Walt would truly appreciate and one that made a difference for so many guests. Many guests thought of Richard as a part of their family and have created traditions centered around simply meeting the man year after year. He was, for lack of a better word, an “attraction” of the Grand Floridian and one that will be completely and entirely missed. 

The second reason I share this post is to share a personal story. If you read one of our recent articles, you likely saw where I touched briefly on this story. In August of last year I shared the original article (listed in full) below. After a couple of hours of the post being live on the site a reader dropped a comment on Facebook mentioning that they were at the Grand Floridian and he happened to be there that day. Then they took things a step farther in what is still one of the more memorable gestures I can recall that any reader has done throughout the life of the site. They took this article and read it aloud to Richard and they happened to mention that he had a smile from ear to ear as they read. It seems so simple but it’s one of the greatest highlights I’ve had in this writing journey. It wasn’t that fact that I happened to get lucky and make a difference to someone, but rather that this community of Disney fans could reach that far and create such a last memory for both me and hopefully the reader along the way. It may have brightened Richard’s day in a little way, but it was completely unexpected than he’d ever even get the chance to see the article. Truth be told, the little moment likely put a larger smile on my face than it did Richard’s. That’s the key to it all though. Richard was a man that created a moment for guests that they would remember and took an incredible pride in doing so day after day. That’s the true spirit of Disney and one of the many reasons his daily presence will certainly be missed. 

Here’s a few photos from our readers and if you want to add yours, send them our way and we’ll get them added to the list. I’m finishing off the article with this because I always want to try and bring a smile to your face when you read these daily (well almost daily) articles. I don’t want this to be a sad part of your day but one where you can remember the memories spent at this place and hopefully those memories will bring a simile to your face! Each of these photos are from our readers, and I can’t thank you enough for allowing us to use them. Don’t forget to check out the original article featuring Richard below the photos!   

                         



Original Article:


Earlier in the week we debuted an entirely new series here on the site we’re calling “Legendary Cast of The Disney Parks.” After great feedback and a few particular requests, tonight we’re back with an entirely new cast member from the growing list. This particular individual just goes to show that no matter what your role is at Walt Disney World, you can create incredible and timeless guest experiences each and every day. 

(Photo: Disney)

As you’ve likely already figured out from our title, today’s cast member spotlight takes us to the Grand Floridian and the iconic Richard Gerth. Richard has been a part of the magic for many many years and greeted thousands upon thousands of guests from around the world. 

Richard has become a true icon of the Grand Floridian that guests of all ages can truly appreciate and share a moment with. Above all else, he’s a smiling face welcoming you ‘home’ in a way that can’t be faked. You can tell without a shade of a doubt that he loves his job and while he’s 90+ years old, you can honestly tell that each guests experience is important to him.

If you want to meet Richard for yourself, head on over the lobby of the Grand Floridian and you’ll likely find him greeting each guest as they enter the building. He’s certainly not hard to spot and typically dressed to the nines in classical Grand Floridian style. He’s truly spent years in his position, and created a lasting impression on guests each and every day. After working in the position for over 20 years, guests of all ages scramble to see him during their time at Walt Disney World. Personally, I can’t say that I’ve ever met Richard (beyond videos and online write ups) as much as I’d love to do so at some point. Unfortunately the timing has never quite lined up, and according to various sources his days off are typically Wednesdays and Thursdays. 
As an additional role of his position, he does also help with Disney Fairytale Weddings in many cases. He’s truly become iconic in this role as well, even going as far as being featured in mass bridal photos. So, if you can’t find in him the lobby, don’t worry, he may be out working a wedding.  
As a result of his incredible commitment and lasting influence on guests, Richard received the Disney Legacy Award in 2013. As many of you may or may not know, the Disney Legacy Award is one of the highest awards that can be given to cast members. If you’re in the parks, a signifying trademark of the accomplishment is a blue Disney name tag. It’s a subtle difference, but if you ever see an individual wearing one of these tags, be sure to tell them thanks. Without a doubt, they’ve put a lot of heart and certainly a lot of time into their role in the parks and beyond. 
So, next time you’re over at the Grand Floridian, be sure to keep an eye out for Richard. If you’ve met him before and have a fun picture of him or with him, be sure to share it with us on your favorite social media platform! If we can get enough guests to share photos, we’ll add a few here in the article! 
Thanks for reading, and have a great rest of the day! Also, be sure to share with us what cast member you would like to see featured next. Many of these individuals really never get the credit they deserve.  

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s here and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! My email is always open, so don’t hesitate to send a question or feedback my way! – guide4wdw@gmail.com 

Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Disney Icon Richard Gerth Facing Health issues – Here’s What We Know So Far

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney Icon Richard Gerth Facing Health issues – Here’s What We Know So Far 

As many of you may know at this point, one of the legendary cast members of Disney’s Grand Floridian is reportedly facing some rather serious health concerns. While I cannot and will not state these as confirmed reports until official word from the family is released or shared by Disney, I wanted to put something out to share what we know so far. As the day progresses, I will do what I can to update this post with any new information.

At this point I really only have heard two details of the situation. First, it appears as if Richard is facing a rather serious illness (many are sharing that he is facing pneumonia). Second, based on social media user reports, Richard has been moved to hospice care and could use any support we can show him in this online Disney community.


Unfortunately, at this point, this is all we know. If you have any more information or have heard any official reports on his current condition, please share them. We’ll gladly update the article and share any and all info we can find along the way. 

Richard Gerth has been a huge part of the Grand Floridian cast member family for years on end. Many brides have truly wonderful stories about Richard and his influence in their weddings at the resort. Additionally, his warm and welcoming presence has brought smiles to guests faces year after year as a greeter in the lobby of the Grand Floridian. He’s a man that will put a smile on your face and develop a memory in your mind that will truly never fade away. It’s rather strange to speak of such influence of one man, but a passion for what you do and the experience you want to create for guests truly stands out in the hearts and minds of guests. In regards to Richard, he is the representation of what I think a cast member should look like and is the ideal image of Walt’s original goal with these parks in the very beginning. Richard truly sets things apart, and we wish him well if these early reports remain true. 

A short while ago, we shared a post titled Legendary Cast of The Disney Parks: Richard Gerth and His Lasting Impression On Guests. It wasn’t until that post went live that I fully recognized the extent of his “reach” and the memories he has created for guests. The stories shared in the comments and on social media pages were unbelievable and to my surprise a reader happened to share the article with him in person. They said he had a smile on his face the whole time the article was being read and honestly those are the types of moments where all of this website writing/blogging/etc. starts to make sense in my mind. I never thought that post would reach him or that it would even mean anything if it did. It was a rather simple moment but one that put a smile on my face hundreds of miles away from the parks. This community exceeds my wildest expectations and I really can’t thank you all enough for that.
If you have a photo of Richard you’d like to share here, feel free to share it with us on social media and we’ll get it posted on this page. One last thing worth mentioning is that I will not be attempting to reach out to the family for more information. I do not want to invade their privacy and recommend that we show support in other ways.  

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s here and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! My email is always open, so don’t hesitate to send a question or feedback my way! – guide4wdw@gmail.com 

Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way. 

Flight of Passage – A Motion Sickness Perspective

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Flight of Passage – A Motion Sickness Perspective   

Today, I’m doing something that I hope to do more of here on the site from time to time, I’m revisiting an old topic to cover it in just a bit higher level of detail in light of more recent experiences. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom once again, but this time with a new group of individuals who had never seen the land before. While that in and of itself is an experience, it was incredibly helpful in covering today’s topic.     


Today I’m bringing you an article that I know very few Disney writers have or are able to cover. It’s also a story I looked for myself for weeks before my first trip to Pandora (a short time after it debuted last year) and came up with no definitive answer. So, today, we’re taking a look at Pandora’s Flight of Passage attraction and the ins and outs of the attraction from a motion sickness perspective.

To add a quick backstory, personally, I struggle heavily with motion sickness. In a typical day  simply driving to and from the local store with another driver can become a problem quickly. Whenever I travel with friends, I always volunteer as the driver to avoid motion sickness. Strangely though, I can handle many Disney attractions. For example, my limit is typically around the Space Mountain level of “thrill” without feeling sick. I’ve never been able to do Star Tours without feeling awful afterwords, Rockin’ Roller Coaster is strictly a “no-go,” and Expedition Everest I have done once, but it wasn’t the best experience (I was fine, but really didn’t enjoy it). 


I know the question most people tend to ask is how Flight of Passage compares to Soarin’. After riding the attractions one day apart, I can honestly say there’s no true comparison between the two. Soarin’ is one of those attractions that on a typical day I’ll be fine unless I look around to the sides too much, then it tends to get to me. Also, it’s one of those attractions that tends not to bother you once you know what to expect. Flight of Passage honestly did not bother me. Yes, as many have said, it is a thrill ride, but the environment you’re in doesn’t expose you to the motion sickness as much as you would expect. Rather than a tight and confined space with little circulation, Flight of Passage features a constant breeze flowing past your “banshee” and at times even sprays a gentle mist over you as you flow through the experience all while remaining relatively stationary. 


Opposed to the typical slight rolling action of Soarin’ or the slightly jerky nature of many coasters and Star Tours, Flight of Passage is a different movement type. Throughout the attraction, the “Banshee” (ride vehicle) emulates a type of hopping motion that probably rises and falls around 10-15 feet at most combined with tilts and sways as the on screen film is played in 3D. Of course Disney mixes up the motion according to the on screen projections and it is quite honestly a breathtaking experience to say the least. There is no true comparison to this attraction, but I will say I took a motion sickness medication at the start of that day, as did a guest traveling with us who gets horrible motion sickness, and neither one of us had serious problems. To be quite honest, I have felt worse in the past getting off of Dinosaur than I did this attraction. 


Fast forward to our March trip of 2018 and we found ourselves traveling with a friend that also gets motion sickness who has struggled with simulators (not unlike me) for many years. They got on the attraction with full expectations that it could bother them, but they were determined to see it and try it for themselves at least once. Upon exiting the ride they did mention that closing their eyes to remove the on screen perception of forward movement really helped them when they felt uncomfortable for a short amount of time during certain parts of the experience (If you’ve ridden it you can guess which parts but I wont ruin it for anyone who has yet to ride it). Even in that situation, as they walked out of the exit queue they had a smile on their face and were beyond happy that they rode this incredible attraction.     


Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee you won’t get sick if you struggle with similar problems, but the three of us all agreed that it was more than worth the risk. Nothing truly compares to the crazy realism of the attraction. The second guest of the first trip (who also happens to be my father) did mention that he did not know if he would ride again, but was blown away by the experience and was glad that he took the chance and rode it at least once. 

Here’s my personal advice. If you can do Soarin’, Star Tours, Expedition Everest, Mission Space, or Rockin’ Rollercoaster, you should, at the very least, be able to get through the attraction without any problems. If you’re worried, take a motion sickness medication before you ride and that will likely solve a lot of your problems. 

Something worth mentioning here at the end of this article (our May 2018 update), is that Disney has been passing out cards/pamphlets warning those with motion sickness not to partake in this attraction as you enter the queue. It also mentions certain medical conditions and circumstances that would prohibit you or that they advise against partaking in the attraction if they apply to you. Personally, I see this as a bit much for an attraction that I’ve never heard of someone getting physically sick on while partaking in the experience. My best guess is they learned they’re lesson in the early days of Mission Space and wanted to lay out all of the warnings. This attraction is no where near as intense as Mission Space and I will not even consider riding Mission Space during a trip to the parks. The entire set up of that attraction is not a good mix for motion sickness but Pandora is entirely different and isn’t quite was restricting as the capsules guests are put in for Mission Space. 

Pandora, at least in my opinion, is a freeing experience. It’s hyper realism is unparalleled and, for the briefest of moments, you’re soaring over Pandora and you just feel free! (Did anybody else’s mind just go straight to The Shawshank Redemption while reading that… nope… just me? — In your best Morgan Freemen Voice, “and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.”— but I digress) You are flying on the back of a Banshee soaring over Pandora in a way that is indescribable in words. You have to see it to believe it, and you wont be disappointed. 

If you want even more Disney in your day, be sure to check out our friends over at WDW Magazine as their print release is rolling out soon! Join the Wait List For the Print Version Here As always, thanks for supporting those who support us in return.  

               

amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “false”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “gu061-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “search”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “”; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = “Disney Avatar”; amzn_assoc_default_category = “All”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “9f7e83b2e54ad2bf1d1ab581e58288be”; amzn_assoc_rows = “1”; //z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=USYour Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! 


Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

New Photos and On-Ride Video Emerges Ahead of Toy Story Land’s Debut!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

New Photos and On-Ride Video Emerges Ahead of Toy Story Land’s Debut! 


Some of the best details are finally here for one of my most anticipated expansions of the year coming to the Disney Parks and Resorts. Ahead of the opening of Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s Toy Story Land, new images and a short video were debuted on this morning’s edition of Good Morning America. 


As many of you who read this site fairly frequently may know, I’ve been following this project pretty carefully and highly anticipate the new expansion. Today, I’m like a kid on Christmas morning. The photos rolling out are exceeding my expectations and honestly nobody is asking or telling me to say that. I’ve been a huge Toy Story fan for years and truly believe this could be the “sleeper” addition for Walt Disney World. Many are upset about the “scaled back plans” or changes made along the way, but personally I fall into the category of trusting Imagineering and look forward to seeing what they have developed for guests of all ages. 


To me, that’s the key to this entire project. Not only is it a larger expansion than the Toy Story influence found in other Disney parks around the world, but it also welcomes devoted  guests of all ages and backgrounds. Sure, the rollercoaster doesn’t look like a big ticket thrill ride, but that’s not necessarily what it’s designed to be. In essence, this appeals to nearly every generation. Any young adults under the age of 25 or so dont even know a world without Toy Story and it has a cult following that is only beat out by the likes of Star Wars and certain Marvel series. However, it also has one thing going for it that those other franchises don’t necessarily focus on and that is that it also appeals to very young children and gives adults and kids alike the opportunity to have fun together in the world of the Disney Parks. 

While at this point we’re not entirely sure if we’ll be there for a preview event or not, we look forward to touring the land sooner rather than later if we can make it happen! Until then, here’s a closer look at what was shared today! 


Oh and one thing I forgot to mention, there’s going to be a giant Wheezy animatronic that  sings and dances as guests leave the soon to be vastly popular Slinky Dog Dash Attraction!  

For more on that, head on over to the Official Disney Parks Blog. 

Toy Story Land debuts to guests June 30th! 


Truth be told, that was the goal from the very beginning and will be and has been one of the many successful aspects of Walt Disney World and what tends to set it apart form all the rest. In the end, this will likely draw incredible crowds and I believe it will exceed Disney’s expectations in the financial realm. Think about it. Who doesn’t like Toy Story?? Even if they dont’ like it, chances are they have a friend or child that adores the franchise and would love to go see there favorite films brought to life on the greatest stage the them park realm has ever known. Disney has a way of putting you in the moment and this expansion should do just that. Looking at these pictures, it appears as if this expansion could exceed all expectations. 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! 


Ready to Plan?

Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!
Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Source and Photos: Disney 

Disney World Free Dining is Back for 2018! – All the Details

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney World Free Dining is Back for 2018! – All the Details

Despite my personal thoughts that free dining could possibly end this year, it looks as if it’s back for another year of free Disney dining for select stays. Before we go into a few free dining tips and things to consider, here’s a closer look at the offer itself:

Chefs De France - Free Disney Dining 2018


Disney World Free Dining Dates:    


Booking Dates (when you can book your stay and receive the offer): 

4/24/18 to 7/7/18 

For stays: 

8/20/18 through 9/29/18 

11/24/18 through 11/27/18 

12/7/18 through 12/23/18

What to Consider Before Booking 

If you are looking to book this offer you will want to be aware of a few things along the way. First and foremost make sure it will be saving you money! Sometimes the requirement to book a resort room on property at a non-discounted rate in order to book the free dining promotion can be more expensive than booking otherwise on a different offer or percentage discount. Specifically for annual passholders, depending on your dates, you may be eligible for different discounts that could make your stay cheaper, even if you buy the dining plan out of pocket in addition to the resort you book. The kicker to all of this is the specific requirement of booking a “non-discounted” room. Oftentimes what you save on a discounted room more than makes up for the cost to add the dining plan of your choice out of pocket (but that is not always the case). 

Many guests still find booking the free dining plan offer a better plan for them on the basis of convenience, but if you book with a travel agency they can and will weigh the differences and choose the most cost effective option for you. As always, we recommend Destinations to Travel for your booking needs. It’s who we use and recommend and they help us out along the way (free quote request form below). As always, you can book this offer through Disney on your own as well with no variation in cost. 

What is Free Dining?

If you’ve made it this far in the article but haven’t yet heard about what free dining actually is, you’ve come to the right place and it could be the ideal offer for you. Free dining in and of itself is an add-on offering to a Disney vacation that is provided as a booking incentive for select dates each year. In the beginning, free dining was an incredible deal. The price was fair and the offer included not only the deluxe but also the moderate tier resorts giving guests the opportunity to receive standard tier free dining at almost any dining location in Walt Disney World on a meal credit basis. Each guest traditionally received one snack credit, one quick service meal, and one table service meal during each day of their stay.  

As the plan grew in popularity, the structure changed slightly and now includes two snack offerings, one quick service offering, and one table service offering. You also receive a free refillable drink mug to be used at the resort of your choice during your stay. If you are looking to book the recently debuted promotion but are interested in upgrading from the standard dining plan to a deluxe dining plan you can pay the difference to do so with this offer. Personally, I wouldn’t upgrade to deluxe. It sounds like an awesome way to travel but the standard plan is typically more than enough food for guests of all ages. Unless you are looking to book a culinary adventure and that will be the focus of your stay, I would stick with standard and save yourself a bit of money. 

On the contrary, if you book a value or moderate resort and intend to book this offer, I recommend upgrading from a quick service dining plan (included in the offer for those resort tiers) to the standard plan in order to experience more of the table service offerings on property. The quick service plan only includes two quick service meals, two snacks, and a refillable mug. I really think it’s worth the upgrade and you’ll likely enjoy a more elaborate dining experience during your trip. The difference in cost is about $20 per person per day to upgrade to standard and around $40 per person to upgrade to deluxe.       

Epcot - Free Disney Dining 2018


Ticket Requirement       

In order to take advantage of this rate, you will be required to book a 5 night 6-day Magic Your Way Package with park hopper. The park hopper option has not always been a requirement but it will be this year. According to Disney’s site, packages for other lengths of stay may be available. 

Included Resorts   

Here’s a closer look at what resorts are included in the offer. As always, there is a limited amount of availability for the offer dates at each resort. 

In this case, the following resorts will be eligible for Quick Service Dining Plans:
Disney’s All Star Resorts (Music and Sports) 
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites Only 
Disney’s Pop Century Resort 

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort  
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort 

In regards to those that will receive Regular Dining Plans:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village and Jambo House Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Villas 
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas 
Disney’s Old Key West Resort 

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort 
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Garden Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort


Note: Offer Excludes campsites, 3 bedroom villas, and Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at the Art of Animation Resort.  

The Strange Disney Free Dining “Loophole”

If you’re concerned about just missing the offer dates window, you’ll want to consider this somewhat strange aspect of the promotion. Offer eligibility is based on when you check in to your resort. If you arrive on a date that is available for the offer but your stay extends past the end of the offer window, you will still be eligible for free dining. However, if you arrive on a date that is not included in the offer dates, you will not be eligible for free dining even if your dates continue on into an eligible date or series of dates. 

The best way to understand this is to think strictly about your arrival date. Everything is based on when you arrive at your chosen resort. If your dates are already set and part of your stay is included but not your arrival date, there is a work around but it’s not the best workaround. To utilize the ‘loophole,” book two stays on corresponding dates. It wont be ideal but you’ll end up receiving free dining for at least a portion of your stay. The round about way booking strategy will come with a few challenges but could save you quite a bit of money if you are traveling with a large party or staying an extended amount of time. 

Disney World Free Dining 2018

     

Our Other Dining Plan Posts and More Information

This post only really scratches the surface of the realm of free dining tips available across our site and other sites. If you’re looking for a few more in depth tips, don’t forget to check out our other posts below: 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! 


Ready to Plan?

Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!
Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Rumored Disney World Free Dining Dates for 2018! – These Could Be The Dates

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Rumored Disney World Free Dining Dates for 2018! – These Could Be The Dates


Before we get started with today’s post, I will say that at this point this should be considered solely as rumor. However, as many of you may know I am very careful about sharing strictly rumored information, but this is one of those releases that I know tends to be quite important to guests so I will make an exception and share whatever has been shared with me. With that being said, these dates could be perfect and they could be completely wrong so don’t bank on this offer in the off chance that it does not pan out. Also worth considering is that these very well could be the international dates rather than strictly the US offer dates. The origination of this information is from a group of South American travel groups. With that also being said, this may not be identical to the US market but should give us a pretty solid idea of what to expect with a subtle variation in dates and potential resort offerings for the particular booking incentive. In the past, this has been one of the more reliable predictors in the realm of free dining.    


No matter what, there’s a very high chance that the free dining structure will continue to be deluxe resorts receiving the regular dining plan while both moderate and value resorts would receive the quick service dining plan. If historical trends remain true, any guests booking the moderate or value resorts under this offer would be able to upgrade to a higher tier dining plan (Also true for regular dining upgraded to deluxe dining.)

As mentioned above, these dates have not been officially released by Disney but here’s a good idea of what you can expect:

Booking Dates (when you can book your stay and receive the offer): 
4/27/18 to 7/7/18 

For stays: 
8/2/18 through 9/29/18 
11/24/18 through 11/27/18 
12/7/18 through 12/23/18   

In this case, the following resorts would be eligible for quick Service Dining Plans:

Disney’s All Star Resorts
Disney’s Pop Century Resort 

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort  
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort 

In regards to those that would receive Regular Dining Plans:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort and Villas 
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas  
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House and Kidani Village
Disney’s Old Key West Resort 
Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows (Studios) – Possible 
Disney’s Saratoga Springs 

When purchasing the package I would expect that the park hopper or park hopper plus option must be included in the package offer. 

A Few Notes About the Free Dining Offer:

First and foremost, these dates could change, but based on the previous years and information that is starting to circulate I would put this in the plausible rumor category. It is not confirmed in any way, but does truly fit the trend of previous years timeframes. Also, I would expect to see an earlier start for free dining this year. The proposed 8/2 start date could be a bit early but I would not be surprised if the start date is moved forward in order to fill early August reservations as students return to school and the summer rush starts to wrap up for the parks and resorts. 


Also worth noting, if you are looking to book a stay during this offer, try and book your entire stay within the stay window. If your check in date is before the offer dates begin, you will not receive the dining plan offer. Everything is based off of your arrival dates (or it has been in the past) so you could check in on the last day of the offer and still receive free dining for dates after the offer window ends as long as you check in before the stay window ends. It’s a bit strange but could prove beneficial to you to know that information in the long run. 

Last but certainly not least, these are probably very comparable dates to what may be rolled out in the coming weeks but official confirmation should be arriving in the next 3 weeks (probably on a Monday morning or late Sunday Night if I had to guess). When these rates roll out, book the offer quickly because it notoriously sells out rapidly and there are only a set number of rooms available for the offer. As always, if you want to book this offer or work with someone who will be able to book it for you when and if the offer is officially unveiled we recommend Destinations to Travel (quote request form below) not only because they support the site but because they are who we use!