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Category Archives: Downtown Disney
Top 10 Rides to Avoid After You Eat
So you just stuffed yourself on a scrumptious meal at your favorite Walt Disney World eatery. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you likely enjoyed a four-square meal and beverage of choice, right? What you need is a nap, but what your family wants is a ride!
Do NOT “walk this way” when you are stuffed to the gills:
1) Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith—A tour of G-Force Record Studio is cut short when the band Aerosmith takes off for a show. They take Guests with them, though, in a super stretch limo. Each “car” pumps 32,000 watts of onboard audio through a 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer sound system and accelerates from a zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with the force of a supersonic F-14. Three inversions offer a unique view of Los Angeles: upside-down! [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]
2) Mission: SPACE—Designed in consultation with 25 NASA experts and five astronauts, Mission Space is a flight training simulator that allows passengers to experience space travel without ever leaving Earth. Green offers a milder ride but still rough on a full tummy. Orange is full throttle, utilizing a multiple-arm centrifuge that spins and tilts to simulate speed and 2.4G gravitational forces—more than twice the force of the Earth’s gravitational pull. [Epcot]
3) Mad Tea Party—Climb into one of 18 tea cups set up for The Mad Hatter and the March Hare’s “Unbirthday” party and take a wild, dizzying adventure. Each ride vehicle has a wheel in the center that lets you control the speed of spin. The faster you turn the wheel, the faster you spin. The faster you spin, the faster you may learn what a “protein spill” is. [Magic Kingdom]
4) Twilight Zone Tower of Terror—According to legend, the once glamorous Hollywood Hotel hosted stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age until Halloween night 1939, when a violent storm struck the building, whisking 5 unfortunate souls “beyond the fifth dimension.” Guests board the “fright elevator,” which goes up, then down, then maybe up again…or down. Random drops depart the 13th floor and are determined by the Tower itself. [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]
5) Star Tours—This recently reimagined attraction features 54 ride sequences, offering motion-simulated 3D journeys aboard a Starspeeder 1000. Each ride is a different experience. You might flash through space at warp speed, zip past trees on the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk, weave through wrong-way traffic on the city-planet Coruscant, slide down treacherous slopes on the snowy planet Hoth, or just hang on for several other thrills before landing and safely delivering the spy to rebel headquarters. [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]
6) Space Mountain—This classic Magic Kingdom coaster is an all-time fan favorite. Climb the 180-foot mountain then blast off into deep, dark space through twists and turns and past shooting stars and black holes. Two separate tracks, the Alpha and the Omega, mirror each other as they hurl rocket ships through the cosmos at 28 miles per hour. [Magic Kingdom]
7) Cyber Space Mountain—This virtual roller coaster, custom built by you at Downtown Disney’s Disney Quest, can be as tame or as wild as you wish. Bill Nye the Science Guy directs the computer design. When you’re done, jump in a simulator and ride your creation in full 360° motion—rocking, tilting, rumbling along the “track” you created. [Disney Quest at Downtown Disney]
8) Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain—The 199-foot “snow”-covered mountain adds a second “wienie” to Animal Kingdom Park. Board a runaway tea train and plunge into dark hairpin turns, careening forward and backward around and through this breathtaking Himalayan Mountain peak in effort to escape the mountain’s guardian Yeti, a phenomenal Audio-animatronic beast standing more than 18 feet tall that, when working, has an arm thrust equivalent to the force of a 747 jumbo jet. [Disney’s Animal Kingdom]
9) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad—The “wildest ride in the wilderness” reaches speeds of 25-30 mph, matching that of the monorail, as it rumbles past gold mining tools on two-and-a-half acres of desert canyons and caverns. Those rough-and-tumble twists and turns can make a full stomach churn. [Magic Kingdom]
10) Dinosaur —Dinosaur! is housed inside the Dino Institute toward the rear of DinoLand, USA. Once you eek past Dino Sue, a 40-foot long, 20-foot high exact replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed, proceed through the ride queue, strap into your Time Rover and hang on for a turbulent tour of the Cretaceous era to fetch a dinosaur before it and you become extinct. [Disney’s Animal Kingdom]
You look a little green. Feeling OK? Don’t worry, you’ll have fun, but you might want to take in a show first.
Adult Dining in Disney World – Top 5 Restaurants to try
Enjoying a Beer Flight at Big River Grille
Over the years, Walt Disney World has really worked on improving the dining experience for their guests, and they have done an amazing job, it really sets them apart from amusement parks where all you can get is burgers/fries/chicken fingers and the occasional grilled chicken sandwich. The problem they have now (if you can even call it a problem), is that they are so many choices, that a lot of people stick with what they know, which is the chicken fingers and burgers – which are still delicious, but not exactly adventurous.
One of the best things about going to Walt Disney World as an adult is the FOOD – now that you’re grown up you can decide where you want to eat, and what you want to eat, so to get you out of that bland theme park food rut, I have compiled the top 5 ‘different’ restaurants for adults to try at Walt Disney World, in hopes that you will get out there and experience some of the amazing food that WDW has to offer!
5. Via Napoli – This is a relatively new restaurant in Italy at Epcot’s World Showcase, and they are serving up some truly amazing and authentic italian dishes, like lasagna, chicken parmesan, and spaghetti with veal meatballs (yum!). They are also doing a variety of wood fired pizzas with everything from tomatoes and cheese to eggplant and artichokes. The smell of the pizzas is drool worthy for sure, and as if that wasn’t enough, they are serving a variety of wines and other italian inspired beverages to help you cool off after a hot day of touring the Parks.
4. Big River Grille and Brewing Works - Head over to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and have a casual dinner at this microbrewery, where you can sample flights of their beer made on premisis. The menu isn’t huge, but the items on it are delicious – start out with the beer cheese soup, then an entree of hazelnut crusted chicken, and finish with a rich dessert of chocolate confusion (chocolate cake, mousse, chips, and then more chocolate!). If you aren’t in a food induced coma at this point, you can take an evening stroll down the idyllic Boardwalk, which is nice in the daytime but is even more beautiful when it’s all lit up at nighttime
3. Cape May Cafe – This buffet at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a surf inspired character meal by day, and a surf-and-turf (character free!) seafood buffet by night. Enjoy a true New Englad Style Clambake with steamed clams, mussels, and other favorites, including chicken, ribs, salad bar, and dessert. What could be better than delicious all you can eat seafood in a beautiful resort setting?
2. Raglan Road – This Irish Pub is located in Downtown Disney and serves up Irish classics like Bangers and Mash, as well as crowdpleasers like New York Strip Steak. Their full bar has a wide array of beer and wine selections, and the Irish dancers and live Celtic tunes will keep you happy all night! OH and I can’t forget to mention their Bread Pudding Dessert, it is to die for, and worth going there just for that!
1. Boma – The bus ride over the Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth it for this buffet of African inspired dishes, including Bobotie – a spiced meat dish with an egg topping and the ever popular Zebra Domes, a dessert treat filled with a delicious custard with a hint of liquor in it! Boma has so many amazing dishes I had never tried before that it would be impossible to name them all, they were all worth trying (and most were worth going back for seconds too!), the meats and different salads and hummuses were out of this world! I wasn’t too sure about the ‘ethnic’ cuisine and if I would enjoy it or not, but I loved every single thing I tried and would go here again in a heartbeat, and that’s why it has received the coveted #1 spot on the list!
Honorable Mention:
Kouzzina - I just had to mention this little gem, with their Greek inspired dishes and ideal location at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, I would highly recommend breakfast here – as many of the dishes were updated and some new ones were added (think gooey baklava and fluffy omelettes stuffed with feta and spinach!)
Now, I know there are TONS of other amazing restaurants out there, these are just some of my personal favorites that don’t abide to the standard “theme park cuisine” code, and each one is unique and does things it’s own way, which I love!
Dining in Walt Disney World can be an amazing experience, and I urge you to try something new and different, after all, you’re on vacation!
Related articles
- Disney Acronyms. What’s It All Mean? (chipandco.com)
- Eats Outside the Parks – Why They’re Worth The Trip (chipandco.com)
Spring Break At WDW – How to Deal With the Crowds
Anyone who has ever been to Walt Disney World during February, March, or April would use the same words to describe it – rainy, and CROWDED! This is definitely one of the ‘peak’ times to visit, which means prices are higher, lines are longer, and tempers are shorter.
Having visited WDW every year during this time growing up, I have compiled some ‘helpful hints’ that can make your trip less stressful:
Eat at “off” times: If you want to get Advance Dining Reservations to popular WDW restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table where you can dine with the Princesses, or Chef Mickey’s where you can meet and greet the Mouse himself, you may have to willing to take those weird reservation times, like a 10:45 am breakfast, or a 4:55 pm dinner. Everyone else wants to eat at these places too, so if they are that important to you, be willing to take whatever reservation they can give you
Explore New Places: The 4 theme parks of WDW are amazing places, and obviously the main reason why people travel there, and that means they are also going to be packed to capacity during these peak times (we’re talking 90+ minute waits for popular rides, crowded counter service restaurants, and hordes of strollers all waiting to bang you in the ankles). This would be a great time to explore what Disney World has to offer beyond the parks like watersports (including water skiing and boat/jetski rentals), spa treatments, and plenty of shopping/dining options at Downtown Disney. The best part of all these is they don’t require a park admission, and just might give you a chance to relax and unwind (after all, isn’t that what vacations are really for?)
Extra Magic Hours: This is one of the best perks of staying at one of the WDW Resort Hotels – each day, one theme park stays open an hour later or opens an hour early for WDW Resort guests ONLY. It’s called Extra Magic Hours, and its a great chance to get in some early mroning or late night rides with shorter lines and fewer crowds. You can pick up an Extra Magic Hours Schedule at your WDW resort upon your arrival
Have A Plan…and be willing to change it: When visiting a place like Disney World where there is SO much to do, it is always helpful to have a rough idea of how you will spend your days. During busy season, the key to this is definitely having a ‘rough’ plan – and realizing that things could change and you should have a backup, if at all possible. So plan, but don’t overplan (you’ll just end up disappointed if you plan out every minute, because it never works out exactly as you plan!)
Know your “must do’s”: Whether this is your first trip to WDW or your 100th, you should do some research ahead of time and pick 3-5 rides/attractions/shows you really want to do at each park – and make those your goal. Check the wait times when you arrive at the park, utilize Fastpasses, and be willing to wait. Patience is key, and if you really love the ride, it will be well worth the time spent in line!
DON’T STRESS: The bottom line is, you are still going to the most magical place on earth, so you will have a great time no matter what! Just try and be flexible, and don’t get too upset if you don’t see it all…there’s always next time!
Related articles
- Adding to the ambiance at WDW (livinginagrownupworld.wordpress.com)
- Eats Outside the Parks – Why They’re Worth The Trip (chipandco.com)
Downtown Disney Transportation News for Visitors from Now through January 31
If you are at Walt Disney World right now, or if you will be visiting throughout the rest of this month like our own, Chip, you will need to note some short-term transportation changes at Downtown Disney.
Downtown Disney Marketplace bus stops are now closed for refurbishment and will remain closed until January 31. 2012.
During this period, the only operating bus stops will be the Pleasure Island stops near to Planet Hollywood.
Related articles
- Update to Hollywood Studios Rope Drop and Other News (easywdw.com)
- Looking Ahead in 2012 at Disneyland Resort (chipandco.com)
Disneyspeak: Do You Speak Disney’s Language?
Fantasmic
Chip & Company would like to extend a Pooh-sized welcome to all Guests! Come one, come all Cast Members and VoluntEARS to the Show. We hope you’ll find us to be a Fantasmic Innovention and refer to us often as an E-Ticket Attraction. Consider us your Automagic Fastpass to the Utilidors of Disney knowledge!
The world of Walt Disney entertainment is so unique it requires its own language. Some words originated directly from Walt and his Imagineers. Others, it seems, have grown into their own Disneyness and have acquired new meanings along the way.
Attraction = a theme park ride or show
Audio animatronics = realistic robotics that bring 3-D effect to an Attraction
Automagic = play on automatic; the Disney way of making things magically happen
Backstage = a park area not accessible to guests
Cast Member = a Disney theme park or resort employee
Casting center = theme park or resort employment office
Costume = the uniform worn by a Cast Member
Crew Member = Disney Cruise Line employee
Disney point = to point with index and middle finger together; in some cultures it is rude to point with only one finger
Earffel Tower = water tower at DHS; example of wienie
Epcot = from EPCOT, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
E-Ticket = the newest, best, most popular attraction; stems from former system of ride coupons ranking rides A-E (A were least popular, E most popular)
Fantasmic = lights, lasers, fireworks, and waterworks show at DHS
FastPass = ticket generated to assign Guest a time to return to a busy Attraction without waiting in long line
Guest = visitor to Disney theme park or resort
Hallowishes = special Magic Kingdom fireworks during MNSSHP Halloween celebrations
IllumiNations = fireworks at Epcot
Imagineer = employee of Walt Disney Imagineering (formerly Walter Elias Disney, WED Enterprises); combination of imagine+engineer; scientists and artists who design the Attractions
Innovention = innovation+invention
Mousekeeping = resort housekeeping/maid service
Mouseketeer = play on musketeer; cast members of the TV show The Mickey Mouse Club
On stage = any area where a Cast Member might be seen by Guests
Philharmagic = philharmonic+magic 3-D film at MK
PhotoPass = barcoded card/web access to photos taken by Cast Member photographers
Plussing = constantly striving to improve a project even when it is considered complete
Pooh-sized = big, like Pooh Bear
Protein spill = term used by Cast Members to indicate someone has vomited
Show = everything that encompasses an Attraction or park feature; all the effects & mood setters that combine to make it feel like you’re walking into that world
Utilidors = utility+corridors The underground tunnels at Magic Kingdom that provide access for maintenance, Cast Members, readying, etc.
VoluntEARS = The Disney VoluntEARS program provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time and expertise to charitable causes.
Wienie = a visual Attraction or landmark that can be seen by Guests from far away; it is used to guide visitors through park, i.e. Cinderella Castle
Wishes = Magic Kingdom fireworks
Then, there’s a slew of abbreviations representing different Resorts, restaurants, shows, etc.
Parks:
DLR = Disneyland Resort
DLP = Disneyland Park
DCA = Disney California Adventure
DTD = Downtown Disney (both DLR & WDW)
WDW = Walt Disney World Resort
AK or DAK = Disney’s Animal Kingdom
DHS = Disney’s Hollywood Studios
EC = Epcot
MK = Magic Kingdom
BB = Blizzard Beach
TL = Typhoon Lagoon
DLRP or DLP = Disneyland Resort Paris
DCL = Disney Cruise Line
TDL = Tokyo Disneyland
TDS = Tokyo Disney Sea
HKDL = Hong Kong Disneyland
Resorts:
AKL = Animal Kingdom Lodge
AS = All Star Sports
ASM = All Star Movies
ASMu = All Star Music
BLT = Bay Lake Tower
Cont = Contemporary
CS = Coronado Springs
DLH = Disneyland Hotel
FW = Fort Wilderness Campground
FtW = Fort Wilderness
GC = Disney’s Grand Californian
GF = Grand Floridian
PFQ = Port Orleans French Quarter
Poly = Polynesian
POP = Pop Century
POR = Port Orleans Riverside
SS = Saratoga Springs
WL = Wilderness Lodge
Y&B = Yacht & Beach Club
Attractions:
BTM = Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
CoP = Carousel of Progress
EE = Expedition Everest
GMR = Great Movie Ride
HM = Haunted Mansion
MNSSHP = Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
MVMCP = Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
PotC = Pirates of the Caribbean
RnRC = Rock–n–Roller Coaster
SM = Space Mountain
SSE = Spaceship Earth
SM = Splash Mountain
ST = Star Tours
ToT = Tower of Terror
TSM = Toy Story Mania
TTA = Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Other:
AA = Audio Animatronics
ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations
AP = Annual Pass
CM = Cast Member
DDP = Disney Dining Plan
DVC = Disney Vacation Club
ECV = Electric Convenience Vehicle (motorized scooter)
EMH = Extra Magic Hours
FW = Future World
HM = Hidden Mickey
ME = Magical Express
TIW = Tables in Wonderland
TTC = Transportation and Ticket Center
WS = World Showcase
Next time you want to impress your friends, drop some Disneyspeak. It’ll confirm what they’ve suspected all along: Yep, you’re a Disney addict!
These lists are hardly exhaustive. Help us add to them in the comments below.
Related articles
- Do You Need a Car while at Walt Disney World? (chipandco.com)
- What’s It All Mean? Disney Acronyms. (chipandco.com)
