Tag Archives: Adventureland
Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5
Last week, I reviewed TimeStream Software’s app Walt Disney World Notescast Guide 3.0. This week, I’m moving on to their recently updated app revealing some 250 of the Secrets of Walt Disney World, and another 200 fun facts!
This Notescast is laid out in much the same format as the previous one. Tapping on a section will take you to the next screen, which often has more choices for you to select from. As a result, navigating through the vast amounts of data is really quite easy!
One thing that I should point out is that the folks at TimeStream went to great lengths to ensure that a lot of the secrets that you would like to know about were included. However, as they told me when we were talking about the app, the one thing that they didn’t want to do was to reveal a secret that would remove some of the “Disney Magic” from Walt Disney World. As a result, not all of the secrets that Disney has have been revealed! As a parent of a nine year old, this is something that I really appreciate.
As always, the photography in the Notescast is top notch, and some of the secrets that they reveal to us, the Readers, are how to get some of those same great shots ourselves! For example, take a look at some of these great pictures. For the first picture, pay particular interest in the perspective of where the picture was taken from!
One thing that is really neat with the Notescast series, both with the Secrets app and the Guide app, is that as TimeStream updates the app, I get notified with the update through the App Store on my Touch. That’s great because it means that I always have the most current information at my disposal. Additionally, like the Guide app from last week, this app doesn’t rely on network connectivity at all. This is particularly important at WDW, where my iPod Touch won’t find a Wi-Fi connection.
However, there is one thing that I would change. When you are exploring the different secrets, they are laid out by park and then by land, so as an example, when you are looking at the Magic Kingdom, there are several sections for the various lands. For example, there is one on Main Street, U.S.A. After you finish looking at Main Street, U.S.A., the guide directs you to continue your tour with the Adventureland secrets. You have to tap the “Back” button, then tap on the next section. I would have liked to have a link, much like the Walt Disney World Guide, that would take me straight to the next section.
This app is priced at $2.99, which is a fair price for all the information you get. While I appreciate the Guide app more because of all of the planning I do for our trips, my wife appreciates the Secrets app more because she is into those sorts of secrets. So for those that aren’t sure which app to get, get them both!
Mike is a new member of the Chip & Company team, and has a passion for technology, Disney, and taking his family on trips to Disney! He is currently in the process of finalizing plans for his family vacation to Disney World in June! When he isn’t writing here, you can also find his writings at My Dreams of Disney!
Related articles
- Review: Walt Disney World Notescast Guide 3.0 (chipandco.com)
- Timestream Software Releases New Walt Disney World 3.0 Iphone App Update (chipandco.com)

A Maximum Attraction Minimum Wait Time Magic Kingdom Day
Maximizing attraction time while minimizing wait time at the Magic Kingdom is almost like setting up the Perfect Storm. If you do certain things and do not do other things you may be surprised at the result.
First, the do not’s:
- In general, do not go to the Magic Kingdom (MK) on weekend days. Most visitors arrive at Walt Disney World on Friday or Saturday sometime late in the day. This makes Saturday or Sunday their first full day in the parks and most people head to the MK on their first full day to kick off the magic. Also remember that the local residents also visit on weekends.
- Unless you are a huge fan of evening Extra Magic Hours (EMH) do not go to the MK on a day they are having them. It is far better to go to the MK the day after an evening EMH day, the crowds will be smaller.
- After you get to the end of Main Street USA do not follow the crowd as they head to the right for Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of Tomorrowland. Left to Adventureland is better.
Now for the do’s:
- Do go early. Be there at rope drop even if you go when there is an A.M. EMH. Earlier is always better because when people vacation they like to sleep in a little bit and have a leisurely breakfast. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish while the masses are finishing their morning coffee.
- Do go left. Resist the temptation to head for Space Mountain. Instead head for the Jungle Cruise. In my experience you can hit the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in less than 90 minutes. Walk Ons are always worth it!!
- From this point on, there are going to be a few more people around but if you head for the Haunted Mansion directly after Big Thunder you should only have a short wait.
- After you leave the Haunted Mansion you can pretty much pick up some of the less popular attractions or head towards Fantasyland. One thing you will notice is that as you are heading into Fantasyland the majority of folks are headed in the opposite direction to stand in line for the attractions you walked on earlier. You will also notice that as you head into Tomorrowland the crowds are not quite so bad. You may not walk on but your waits will be shorter.
Of course these ideas are not 100% but in general they have worked very well for us over the years. I have said in the past that I don’t use formal touring plans but I guess if you look closely, this is a touring plan that takes into accoumt more than where to go in the Magic Kingdom but also when to visit the park. Good Luck, and as always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken
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Pirate Goofy is now at the Magic Kingdom

Very Cool! Pirate Goofy is now doing a meet and greet in Advertureland at World Disney World. Video is from one of our favorite Disney Videographers Jeff Lang DVD












