Todays Tuesday’s Tip is to set priorities on your trip. When you’re doing your planning (ESPECIALLY IF IT’S YOUR FIRST TIME EVER!) do some research, and figure out which rides, attractions, and restaurants you would like to visit during your trip. It is impossible to see every single attraction. Even if you went to the parks on every single day of your trip, I don’t think you could possibly see and do it all.
Make a list for each park of the top 10-15 things that you absolutely want to do. Try to get fast passes for the top 3 (if available) and then have fun and try to get to as many on your list.
Try not to stress out if you don’t get to everything on your list, who knows you may find something that you enjoy even more along the way 😀
And never forget priority #1- Have Fun and Create Magical Memories 🙂
In 1967, Disney purchased Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel from the Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey. The carrousel was originally built in 1917 by The Philadelphia Toboggan Company, one of the most prestigious carrousel companies. Ninety of the horses are from the original carousel, hand carved from wood. In addition, there are eleven fiberglass horses made by Disney.
When Disney acquired it, the company artists refurbished the 90 horses so that no two are exactly alike.
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel was renamed “Prince Charming Regal Carousel” in 2010 to go more with the theming of “New Fantasyland.”
There are eighteen hand- painted scenes that tell the story of Cinderella on the wooden canopy that covers this attraction.
Here is an amazing article if you’re more interested in the history of the carrousels used at Disney parks, AND why they’re spelled “Carrousel” instead of “Carousel”
“To some people, I am kind of a Merlin who takes lots of crazy chances, but rarely make mistakes. I’ve made some bad ones, but fortunately, the success have come along fast enough to cover up the mistakes. When you go to bat as many times as I do, you’re bound to get a good average. That’s why I keep my projects diversified.”
Well Walt, we are thankful for your mistakes, because each mistake you made you wouldn’t let it happen again. You constantly were striving to be better – make better movies, try new techniques, make better parks, and make the world a happier place!
Okay, it may have taken me a while, but you my readers asked for it, so here it is- My official review of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride.
If I were to give the ride a grade based a traditional school grading scale, I would probably give it a B+.
As far as thrills go, it isn’t the most thrilling ride, but let’s be honest… the Magic Kingdom isn’t built on thrill rides, it’s built on family friendly rides. So for a thrill seeker like me, I would have liked to see more thrills, but understanding the nature of the park, I’m okay with it.
Comfort of the ride cars. Leading up to our trip I read a lot about folks who were very uncomfortable in the ride seats. I am an overweight person, and my husband isn’t tiny either, and both of us fit okay in the cars. They’re not built super large, but we both fit.
The ride length is adequate. I think that its a pretty average length ride. Definitely longer than Goofy’s Barnstormer! I know that was another big complaint of people when it first opened was how long the ride was. Over all the ride lasts just under 3 minutes. I had a fastpass for the attraction and only rode it once during our trip. The average wait time while we were there was between 90 minutes and 110 minutes. I can see where people would be upset if they had waited 110 minutes to ride it and then it was under 3 minutes, however, you my readers know that it’s a long line because it’s brand new, and you know that you should get a fast pass for it 😉
For me what takes it from a C to a B+ is the extraordinary theming and innovation that the imagineers put into this ride. The audio animatronic dwarfs that you see in the ride are INCREDIBLE, and the overall attention to detail is nothing short of amazing.
Things that I missed out on during this experience-
#1 Riding it during the daytime. Our original fastpass was for early afternoon, however it was raining (one downside of this ride is that it’s shut down if it’s raining… imagine waiting in line 60+ minutes and having it shut down due to rain… blech). Thankfully with the new fastpass system if you miss a fast pass due to the ride being closed you can come back later at any time and ride it. Because of this we ended up riding it at night and I think we missed a lot of the cool details. (On the other hand you get a fantastic view of fantasyland from the ride and it’s BEAUTIFUL at night).
#2 While I’m thankful to have not waited in line for 90 minutes for this ride, We also missed out on the interactive que. The Disney Imagineers went all out on the theming for this que and making it fun and entertaining while you wait. There are several “games” that you can play while you wait, and you miss that if you’re in the fast pass line. Some day after the newness has worn off I will take the time to wait in that line and play the games 🙂
Here is a youtube video of a POV of the ride. The first half is a POV from the front of the train, the second half is the POV from the back of the train.
Overall I’m glad that we rode it. I’m glad we had a fast pass for it, and I would definitely ride it again 🙂
If you really want to catch certain attractions, but can’t stand the thought of the long wait, check to see if there is a “Single Rider” option! There are several rides that offer this, and it can significantly cut your wait time. This option should only be used if you’re okay with not riding with your entire family all in one car, because chances are you won’t get that opportunity.
The follow rides have the single rider option-
Animal Kingdom- Expedition Everest
Epcot- Test Track
Hollywood Studios- Rockin Roller Coaster
This option reduces wait time for you, and maximizes coaster/ride capacity for the parks! More seats filled per ride keeps everything moving 🙂
FUN FACT: World Of Color: The show has 1,200 fountains that can spurt jets of water into the air up to 200 feet and each fountain is mounted on an LED light ring capable of producing multiple colors.
World of Color Fountains
The World of Color show can be viewed nightly at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park.
Alright, I am starting a new segment, and I will feature it on Thursdays. Not every Thursday, but on occasional Thursdays we will hear “Words of Walt” and I will post a quote from Walt Disney himself. I believe that Walt was an incredible genius and I’m intrigued by his business model and his life.
Walt about Family-
“The important thing is the family. If you can keep the family together- and that’s the backbone of our whole business, catering to families- that’s what we hope to do”
Well Walt, I would say the Disney Parks do a great job of keeping families together! I’ve yet to have been on a trip where I haven’t seen a family wearing matching shirts that say “Family Reunion” on them! It’s the perfect location for young and old! I can’t wait to go with my Aunt and Mom in January for some family time!
Family Reunion at Disney World
Today’s quote is from the book- “The Quotable Walt Disney” compiled by Dave Smith
Disney’s Customer service is outstanding, and they’re always looking for ways to improve! One of the ways that they’ve stepped up their game compared to other theme parks is the fact that you don’t have to carry your packages around with you all day. You can shop til your heart is content and won’t have to carry the bags with you while you’re at the parks! This is especially wonderful at Epcot in the world showcase where you can easily pick up fun trinkets from the different countries!
There are two different ways to take advantage of this service-
1) If you’re staying on Disney property, you can have your shopping bags delivered straight to your hotel! Usually the following day you can pick up your shopping bags from the hotel gift shop. If you’ve made especially larger purchases this is DEFINITELY the way to go!
You’ll have to fill out a sheet for delivery and return the carbon copy when picking up
2) If you’re not staying on Disney property, or if it’s towards the end of your Disney vacation and you’re not sure if it’ll make it to your hotel in time you can have it shipped to the front of the park and you can stop by and pick it up on your way out!
Package Pickup in the Parks
Check out this link for more information of where in each park you can pick up your packages
Disclaimer… much of what I’m going to state in today’s blogpost is my personal opinion. Please bear in mind that this is my blog and my place to share my knowledge of Disney, also I get to share my opinion. It will not be often that I share my opinion, but today is one of those days.
Fact– The Maelstrom Ride in Norway at the World Showcase is being replaced with “Frozen” themed attraction.
Fact- The last day that the Maelstrom ride will be in operation is October 5th, 2014
Fact- The new Frozen attraction is expected to be opened early in 2016 (according to the Disney Park Blog)
Opinion- I believe that when Epcot created the world showcase that the intention was to “showcase” different cultures from around the world. Disney did an amazing job at keeping these countries authentic as well. The materials used to build the pavilions were brought in from that country. The craftsmen who built the pavilions were skilled laborers from that particular country. The items sold in the countries are imported, and even the cast members who work in the countries are natives of that country.
Norway Pavilion
With all of that being said, I wish that Disney would have stayed true to keeping the world showcase “pure.” I love walking through the world showcase and being transported to a different country. I believe that by adding the Disney movie theming in the World Showcase that they’re missing the point. Maelstrom may be a little bit outdated as a ride, and for heaven’s sake we all know that “The Spirit of Norway” film at the end of the attraction was outdated. I will agree that the ride and film could have used some updates, BUT I think that making it a Frozen attraction is completely out of line what the World Showcase stands for.
On our most recent trip this summer there were hints of Frozen in the gift shop and the “Old Stave Church,” and to me that was tolerable. I didn’t mind that there was merchandise, and I can understand Disney giving the kids something in the country that their favorite movie is set in. But to me I almost dread going to the Norway Pavilion in 2016. I now know that there will be a ridiculous line to meet Anna and Elsa, and I know that the ride isn’t going to even remotely be about the history and culture of Norway, but about another Disney movie. Disney was thinking about the $$$ not the preservation of one of the most brilliant sections of their parks.
I won’t be offended if you disagree with me, as long as you’re not offended by my opinion 🙂
If you read my post on Monday, you know that Disneyland is much smaller of a park than the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. In fact the entire Disney property in Florida is larger than the island of Manhattan.
BUT did you know-
You can fit the entire Disneyland Park in the Magic Kingdom parking lot AND still have enough room to park 500 cars.
But, in my opinion, size doesn’t matter! Both parks are great and completely unique in their own way!
PLUS!!!!!! Confessions of a Mouskaholic is launching it’s first contest!!!
On my most recent trip I picked up a few items to do as a giveaway! So for our very first giveaway enter to win this adorable “Mickey Bar” antenna topper! Follow the link below and follow the directions! You can get easy entries by liking the confessions of a Mouskaholic Page, liking Marvelous Mouse Travels by Michelle’s page, and by commenting on the blog!
Confessions of a Mouskaholic 