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Category Archives: Touring Plans
Star Wars Weekends 2012 Maps
It’s that time of year for the galaxies to come together and celebrate Star Wars Weekends!
Star Wars Weekends has officially begun and if you’re attending you’ll need to get a look at the park maps for the events on May 18th and May 27th to make your plan of attack.
Star Wars Weekends offers:
- Celebrity autograph sessions
- Character meet n’ greets
- Exclusive Star Wars motorcade parade
- Hyperspace Hooplah show
- Jedi Training Academy
To learn more about Star Wars Weekends or to plan your dream vacation, email Michele@PixieVacations.com or click here for more information.
How to Tour the Parks – Visiting the Magic Kingdom in a Wheelchair
Visiting Walt Disney World in a wheelchair can be tricky. Disney does a good job with getting information out there but I still learn something new on every trip. There are a few things that are not in the guide book and some things are constantly changing. In this article, and the ones to follow, I am going to let you know a few things that I have learned on my visits to Walt Disney World. Disney is a magical place and I feel like they go above and beyond when it comes to wheelchair accessibility. So let’s start with the Magic Kingdom.
Main Street U.S.A
Walt Disney World Railroad
The Walt Disney World Railroad has stations on Main Street, in Frontierland, and in Fantasyland. All of the stations are wheelchair accessible. On Main Street the ramp will be on your right when you are facing the train station from inside the park.
The front of the train has a wheelchair accessible car. Once you are at the train station a Cast Member will lower a ramp for you. There are two benches inside. Just pull your wheelchair next to one, lock your brakes, and you are ready to go. You can see a video of the process here.
Adventureland
The Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise is another wheelchair friendly attraction. Proceed to the wheelchair entrance that is to the left of the regular queue and let the Cast Members know that you would like to stay in your chair. There is one boat that is equipped with a lift. Wait times can vary depending on where the boat is or if there is another wheelchair user ahead of you.
Once you are ready to board, the Cast Members will help you onto the lift and then place some bumpers behind your tires to help keep you in place. Getting onto and out of the boat is easy but the Cast Members are more than willing to help if you need it. I have a video, its a little dark, but you can view it here.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
There is one carpet that is wheelchair accessible. They use a template to see if your wheelchair will fit. Unfortunately mine doesn’t and I don’t think most rigid chairs will. But if you have removable foot rests it might. Just ask the Cast Member for assistance and you can see if your chair will fit. If not you have to be able to transfer to experience the attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is another attraction that you must transfer from your wheelchair to experience. Since there is a drop on the ride they don’t have a wheelchair boat. When you enter, use the queue to the left. Once you get there let the Cast Member know that you would like to sit in the back. The edge of the boat is wider there and makes it easier to transfer.
My husband and I had some help (thankfully Chip was there with us) but it is possible. You have to sit on the edge of the boat and then lower yourself down into the seat. To get out, I had some help getting back onto the edge and then into my wheelchair. The Cast Members bring your wheelchair to the exit for you and then you use an elevator to get back up to Adventureland.
Swiss Family Tree House
Unfortunately this is an attraction that you have to be able to walk to experience.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
For the pre-show, the Cast Members will show you to the front, this way you can see everything. Before they let everyone else in, a Cast Member will take you and your party inside. There isn’t really designated wheelchair seating but you will sit to the side of the benches. The nice thing is that you are right at the exit so you can get out easily.
Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain is undergoing a refurbishment right now so the queue info might be changing but for now if you are in a wheelchair you enter through the exit of the attraction. There are a couple of train cars that have a transfer access vehicle so make sure you let the Cast Member know that you need one. The transfer access vehicle’s side opens and lowers making it easier to get on and off of the attraction.
Splash Mountain
For Splash Mountain, you enter through the standard queue. I have not been on this attraction recently because it is another one that is too hard to get in and out of. If you have the ability to stand and walk a short distance, it should not be too much of a problem, especially if you have someone there to help.
Tom Sawyer Island
Unfortunately, this is not a wheelchair friendly attraction. There is a pretty big step to get onto the raft so there is no way to get your wheelchair on it. The island itself is not really wheelchair friendly anyway so even if you were able to get over there I don’t think you would have much to see or do.
The Country Bear Jamboree
The theater has wheelchair seating in the front so you are front and center for the show.
Liberty Square
Liberty Belle Riverboat
On the side of the attraction near Frontierland, you enter through the exit. There is a ramp in place so that you can access the bottom level of the Riverboat. Hall of Presidents
The Haunted Mansion
The queue for the Haunted Mansion has been updated so that wheelchairs can now visit the Stretch Room instead of proceeding to the exit of the attraction. I was so excited about this! Once the pre show is over in the Stretch Room a Cast Member will then lead you to the exit of the attraction. If you can walk a short distance you can proceed onto the ride vehicles. If not let the Cast Member know that you need them to stop the attraction. There is a Doom Buggy that doesn’t have armrest on the side so you can get in and out easier.
The Hall of Presidents
The auditorium for the Hall of Presidents has a wheelchair seating area in the back. When you enter, the Cast Members will instruct you to enter through the doors on the far right. The seating area is raised a little so you have a great view.
So that get’s us through part of the Magic Kingdom. Stay tuned to Chip and Company for part two!
Related articles
- Can you use a Stroller as a Wheelchair? (chipandco.com)
- Wheelchair Friendly Attractions – Journey into Imagination (chipandco.com)
How to Tour the Parks – Zigging and Zagging Your Way Around Disney
One of the most important things to know when planning your days at Walt Disney World is that you may need to adjust your itinerary based on the habits of the other guests. Learning to zig while others zag is based on experiencing the parks on different days and at different times of the year with varying crowds. There are many books and phone apps available that speak directly to planning your day in the parks. They are helpful as far as crowds, but I have been to the park on uncharacteristically-crowded days 3 times this year alone. The crowds are growing, so flexibility might help. In other words, plan your time for less stress and more fun by not going with the flow. I am referring to modifying your plan when you are faced with the unexpected. There are many ways to conform to your unique travel circumstances whether at the resort or at any of the four Disney parks.
If you have planned to have breakfast at 7:00 on your first day at the resort and you are greeted with no tables at which to sit, long lines of guests waiting to order and to pay for food, or a loud and chaotic environment, then you might want to rethink your breakfast time on day two. In this scenario, you may wish to plan to sleep in a little while, have breakfast at the resort at 9:30 or 10:00, and then stay at the park later. Conversely, you may want to get up extra early, have breakfast in the room then head out to early extra magic hours. The choice is yours.
During my trip for Walt Disney World’s 40th Anniversary, our itinerary for Friday included Hollywood Studios from opening until around 5 p.m. and then to Downtown Disney for some shopping. We went out to the bus stop at Port Orleans Riverside and there was a massive crowd waiting for the Hollywood Studios bus, so I quickly thought and asked my friend if she wouldn’t mind flip-flopping our day and while all the crowd zigged to DHS, we zagged on a bus with just 3 other people to Downtown. After we finished our shopping, we dropped our packages at the resort, filled up our mugs and caught an empty bus to the Studios. When we arrived there (mid-afternoon), most of the crowds had already left and we had a very enjoyable evening with short ride lines.
Two more specific tips I can provide are based on your choice of resort and your choice of park ticket. If you are staying at a Disney resort, taking advantage of extra magic hours is a great idea. But, if you are not staying on Disney property, you will want to avoid the selected Extra Magic Hour parks on those days. Also, having park hopper tickets provides maximum flexibility, so if you can purchase these, I highly recommend it.
Times to zig when touring the Magic Kingdom might be when everyone is lining up to watch the parade and you have either seen it before or will be watching it later. Take advantage of this opportunity by riding the most popular rides during parade time. If you will be visiting MK for two days, you may want to watch the afternoon parade and use the evening parade time for this purpose on the first day, then do the opposite on your second day in the park.
Learning to zig at Disney Hollywood Studios will save you a lot of aggravation with the right planning. For instance, it is never a good time to head for the Backlot Tour line when Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show has just let out. Traditionally, guests head to the Backlot Tour immediately after the show ends, as it is in close proximity. The times guide for the park lists the show times for the 33-minute stunt show so follow this guideline – unless you are seeing the show, avoid the backlot area if it is 1 to 1 ½ hours after the scheduled start time of Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show! There are only 2-3 shows per day so this should be easy enough.
Also, many people think that right after the parade ends on Hollywood Boulevard is the perfect time to ride The Great Movie Ride so you should do this before the parade or at least an hour after, if possible.
There are a few high demand rides at Epcot that may warrant some zigging. Both Soarin’ and Test Track get very crowded very quickly and they also run out of fast passes by early afternoon. When entering Epcot during park opening, pay attention to the flow of the crowd. If it looks as if most of the crowd is heading toward Soarin’, ride Test Track first. If it looks like more folks are heading toward Test Track, then ride Soarin’ first. Either way, be sure that after you are off the first ride you head straight to the other to grab a fast pass for later. My family usually rides Test Track first, regardless, because of the limited capacity vehicles making the line go slower.
The Animal Kingdom has an opening show 15 minutes before the park opens, so I would suggest making that if you can. First thing in the morning, you will want to head to your favorites so you can ride them before the large crowds arrive about mid-morning. If the crowds build early and you don’t want to wait out the lines, just zig over to a show. I have found that the most crowded times of the day also happen to be the hottest part of the day during Spring and Summer months. Saving the indoor shows and rides for the middle of the day, then, will serve you well for a few reasons: it will give you relief during the hottest part of the day; it will provide you with a place to sit and rest and enjoy a show; and the shows are in large capacity facilities so many people can attend at one time.
In late afternoon, go back and ride all the rides you had to skip earlier. If too many people are following along with the same advice and it is just too crowded, then regroup and go back to the resort for a swim; tackle the park in the evening another day.
If dealing with the crowds starts to steal your magic, don’t let it. There are places at each park where you can rest, cool off and spend time with your family in a less-crowded spot:
At the Magic Kingdom, ride the railroad or the Tomorrowland Transit Authority; go enjoy some time on Tom Sawyer Island, or see a show at the Enchanted Tiki Room, Country Bear Jamboree, or Carousel of Progress (one of Walt’s originals).
At Epcot, ride Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, or Universe of Energy; or see a show such as the American Adventure or any of the live street shows throughout the park.
At Disney Studios, escape into One Man’s Dream or The Magic of Disney Animation; or enjoy Beauty & the Beast or the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
At Animal Kingdom, disappear on the Wildlife Express or peruse the Conservation Station; or head over to see It’s Tough To Be a Bug or Flights of Wonder.
Your own travel patterns will change as your family gets older, so things that work for you this trip may not be feasible during your next visit. Since my kids are older now, we like to head to the parks in the mornings only on morning EMH days. The rest of the time, we head over around 2:00. Evening EMH are our favorite time and we head to the park around 6:00 p.m. and stay until the parks close (even in the wee hours of the morning). It makes no difference since we can sleep late the next day. Few people are following along with this plan so it has worked out nicely for us.
The main thing is to be flexible enough to be able to zig your way to great trip memories. A big part of enjoying your trip is being able to breathe it all in and enjoy the wonder and magic of Disney. I hope these tips will be helpful to you when planning your magical family vacation.
Related articles
- How to Tour the Parks – Dancing through Hollywood Studios (chipandco.com)
- How to tour the Parks – Splitting up Epcot (chipandco.com)
- How to Tour the Parks – Floating through the Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)
How to Tour the Parks – Dancing through Hollywood Studios
While not as big as some of the other parks, and featuring more on Movies, Music, and Animation Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a great balance of thrill rides and family shows. Also I feel this park is one of the harder ones to move around in if its packed. Don’t believe me try navigating down Sunset Blvd when it’s wall to wall people in the middle of July. Here is how we like to Tour Hollywood Studios so lets jump right in..
Let me start off by saying:
Hollywood Studios is one of the harder parks to visit. When you are looking at the Disney Park on the map it is pretty scattered. I am unsure the layout structure here as both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot are circular and more fluid, Hollywood Studios on the other hand is more jumbled and not the greatest park to navigate.
Also this park is much harder to plan a Touring Plan as most of the park is made up of shows and depending on how long it takes you to view them and when the next available showtime is it makes this park very tricky. Hopefully this touring plan will help you minimize your wait times and make for an enjoyable day.
The basics – Get there early
Like the other parks you want to get there at rope drop.I tell my wife all the time you can sleep when you get home so we make it a point to be there before the park opens. They are also doing a early admission so some days they will let you in 15 minute early and other days not. Be sure to grab a times guide on which rides are open early.
Quick Tip – If you can get into Hollywood & Vine for breakfast before the park opens you can sneak down Hollywood Blvd for a quick picture of Sorcerers Mickey’s Hat.
To Infinity and Beyond
As soon as the rope drops we make a B-Line straight to Pixar Place and Toy Story’s Midway Mania. Normally we don’t dash to the biggest ride in the park when the rope drops but here you have to. If you notice you will see 2 clusters of people at rope drop, the ones headed to the all new Star Tours and the other Heading to Tower of Terror/Rock-n-Roller Coaster area. Once you ride Toy Story once or twice grab a fast pass for later.
Quick Tip – Usually by lunch time all the fast passes for Toy Story Mania are completely gone. This has happened every time we have been at the park.
Rock the Tower
With Toy Story Fast Pass in hand head over and ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster. There probably won’t be a line yet and you can get right on both rides. If there is a line it will be no more than 10 minutes. Most times your safe as people are getting off these rides and heading to Toy Story Mania which you have already ridden 
Go you!
Toy Story Mania Again?
Yes go back and cash in your fast pass for Toy Story Mania. You can pick up another fast pass if you really love the ride or just let it go for now.
Star Tours
If you done with Toy Story Mania walk all the way on the other side of the park to take in all that is Star Tours. All the Star Wars Nerds should be done riding it 10 times by now. If your into the Jedi Academy check to see if it is running right now otherwise just enjoy the ride. I do recommend riding it more than once if you can stand the motion!
Quick Tip – If you have a little one who wants to do Jedi Academy I would head this way as soon as the park opens and get your name on the list.
It’s showtime
Now is the time we usually like to see the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Disney Junior – Live on Stage Shows. We need to take a little break from walking back and forth and welcome the coolness of the air conditioning.
Quick Tips – If you have younger children I would avoid going to The Magic of Disney Animation. Maybe when they get older they will enjoy it. It’s a good show for adults. Animation Academy is great for young and old not to mention you get to see some Disney Characters!
Snack-time
After a busy morning it is getting close to lunch time. We like to take an early lunch and Starring Rolls Cafe is on the way to Streets of America our next area to visit. This is my absolute favorite snack location in all of Walt Disney World!
Quick Tip – Try the Butterfinger Cupcake!!!!!!!!
Check the show times
If your picked up a showtime guide with your park map you can start to coordinate times to see Indiana Jones, Lights Motor Action, Studio Backlot Tour, American Idol and anything else you might have missed. We like to fill in wait times with the Muppets Vision 3D show, and the Great Movie Ride. There is no set schedule to follow here just be sure to not go past 3pm because you don’t wait to miss…
Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun!
Check out the all new Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade. We have found the best spot to see the show is near where Hollywood & Sunset Blvd come together. There are some trees there that offer some shade and seats. Being in this location will help after the parade.
Make a Mad Dash
After the parade since you are near Sunset Blvd make a mad dash to Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage for the 4pm showing. Most of the prime seats will be taken but you can squeeze down front and off to the sides still.
Dinner Time
Most times we have a snack for lunch so after Beauty & the Beast we are getting hungry. There are several great food options here in DHS and we usually book Sci Fi Dine In Theater or 50′s Prime Time Cafe. Also they have a ferry that will take you to Epcot or Disney Boardwalk so there are even more options for dinner. Nothing like a relaxing boat ride to dinner.
Playtime
After dinner the temps have come down a few degrees and if you have little ones now is a good time for them to head over to the Honey I shrunk Kids Movie set. Which is in need of an upgrade. If you don’t have kids you could always get some character autographs & pictures, do some shopping, or revisit some of your favorite rides.
Fantasmic
If you planned your day right you should be here on a night they are running Fantasmic. We like going to the 9pm showing and find ourselves just killing time walking around and relaxing after dinner.This late in the day we have done everything we wanted to do and like to walk around exploring and taking pictures. Watch many of the street performers and if you can find him Leeroy Smalls. Check out a video of him picking on me here. Fast Forward it to 1:45 for the abuse.
Well that is about it for my Hollywood Studios Touring Plan. If there is something I missed or if you want to share yours with us let us know in the comment section below.
Related articles
- Touring Plans: Hollywood Studios Without Kids (aglassslippervacation.com)
- Disney World Quick Tips – How to pick the least busiest park (chipandco.com)
Vacationing at Disney World with Special Needs: ASD/ADHD
Families with special needs children may find the idea of traveling daunting. Vacation planning should be a fun time and something to look forward to, not fear or dread.
As a travel agent, I have been blessed to find families with special needs very open about their unique situation and the dynamic elements required to make a dream vacation.
No amount of reading and researching could ever give me the knowledge even close to what the family knows and lives with every day. It’s a task I don’t even attempt to undertake. I’ve found the best way to plan a vacation for children with special needs is to prepare the parents. No one knows a child better than his parent, and knowledge is power. Combining Disney parks knowledge with parental knowledge and you’ve got the answer to virtually any potential vacation problem.
Parents are often very anxious at the prospect of bringing children with sensory issues to a place like Walt Disney World. It can be crowded, noisy and it’s certainly overstimulating, these things seem like a formula for disaster, but rest assured your vacation can be just as magical as you imagine, you just have to do a little prep work.
Individually, special needs can vary quite broadly and it would be impossible to address each one of them. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) are broad disorders that can have the following effects: impulsiveness, hyperactivity, inattention, ultra-sensitivity to noises, lights, smells and objects. ASD can also include: impairments in thinking, feeling, language and social interactions repetitive movements, abnormal reactions to sound, touch and extreme emotional responses.
Regardless of what your family needs are every family will experience certain standard things on vacation: eat, sleep and play. So let’s combine what we know about special needs and standard vacation elements.
Eat: You have to eat and if you are in the parks you are most likely eating in the parks, which could raise a whole new set of challenges.
Make Advanced Dining Reservations at “off” dining times. Even with a reservation you could still have to wait for your table to become available, eating at an “off” time will be less crowded and will be less sensory overload. You’re also more likely to be seated quickly.
Pick your place - When you make your dining reservations make notes of your special needs, if your child has issues with being touched, request a booth (if available) you are less likely to be bumped or touched by strangers. If sitting with strangers is a problem for your child, be cautious of places like Biergarten in Epcot, The Spirit of Aloha show, or Hoop-Dee-Doo Review, if you are interested in these experiences ask the dining reservation-ist if you can have a separate table. Disney does try to accommodate special requests, of course nothing is guaranteed; but explaining there is a medical issue will help.
Sleep: Being on property could be the best decision you could make. Consider your resort wisely, if you prefer quieter calmer environments consider a moderate or deluxe resort in a room that’s in a more secluded location (not facing the pool, etc). These rooms are more likely to be affordable, available and apt to fit your special needs. View pictures of your choice resort online, familiarize your child with what the rooms will look like, etc.
Consider your transportation options when choosing your resort. If your child won’t be able to handle a bus ride consider a deluxe resort on the monorail system or with water access.
Play: This could be the most difficult vacation element because the variables are endless. There are a few preparations you can make to prepare for your park time. For children with ASD and ADHD structure is very important.
Although you are on vacation and might not want to stick to a stringent schedule set a pattern of park touring that works for you follow it daily, regardless of what park you are in. For example, set breakfast for the same time each morning, try to accomplish a certain amount of rides before your mid-morning break, and a certain amount after, set lunch at the same time each day, etc and decide what you’re going to do after dinner. Although the daily experiences will change your pattern will be the same.
Before you start touring the park, stop in guest services and get a Guest Assistance Card. This card will be issued to someone in the party and is valid for 5 people in the party (for example, a single family would most likely only need 1 pass if everyone is touring the parks together). Explain to the cast member at guest services you’d like a GAC, and what your special need is (an alternate entrance, a quiet place to wait for your turn on the ride, etc.) and they will accommodate you. It’s not necessary to parade your child into guest services and put on a display of what you need and why. One member of the family can obtain the card and you simply show the pass at the attraction and the cast member will give you instructions from there.
Give your children maps of the parks and let them get familiar with them. Some children find that knowing where they are going is empowering and they’re less likely to have a meltdown. Order the planning DVD and watch it, as many times as it takes to work out the kinks and questions that your child might have about your vacation.
Share your plans if you think your child can handle it (we’re going to have breakfast then try to do rides in Fantasyland, then after lunch we’re going to try to rides in Frontierland, etc.). This will give more structure and having a set pattern may help keep the stimulation under control and ease anxiety.
Your vacation should be a magical experience from start to finish, including planning. If you find the process overwhelming or would like assistance, find a reputable travel agent that specializes in Disney travel, like Pixie Vacations. An experienced agent will be able to assist you with reservations, touring plans, itineraries, and take the planning and preparation pressure off of you. Have fun at the happiest place on earth!
For more detailed information, try Passporters “Open Mouse”. These are just a few of the issues and tips for the ADHD/ASD spectrum, we’d love to hear your tips and tricks!
Related articles
- Tips for Choosing your Walt Disney World Resort (chipandco.com)
- The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney World Vacationing (chipandco.com)
