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Tag Archives: Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Planning Your First WDW Trip – What To Expect
So you’ve decided to go to Walt Disney World for your vacation – first off, let me congratulate you on making such a smart decision! So now that you know where you’re going, it’s time to plan – and if it’s your first trip, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the information that’s out there. So, here’s some tips on what you can expect for your WDW trip:
“Not Your Typical Vacation” – WDW is a fast paced, crowded world of Parks and Resorts, and for many its not exactly what you would call “relaxing”. That being said, there ARE ways you can relax and enjoy your surroundings – you can “Resort Hop” and check out the shops, take a stroll, and grab a drink at the bar of all the different WDW Resorts, or you can spend the morning at the Park and leave after lunch (when the Parks tend to get more crowded), for a nap and some pool time back at your Resort, or you can check out some of the lesser known WDW Restaurants and try some new and unique cuisine
The Weather – Florida weather can be….unpredictable at best. During the summer, its likely that it will rain most afternoons, so be prepared and bring a poncho along with you while touring the Parks. The heat and sun can be intense too, so I recommend lots of sunscreen and plenty of water to help you stay hydrated and happy! Basically, expect the unexpected and prepare for any/every scenario when it comes to Disney World weather
Walt Disney Company Finishes Fiscal 2012 With Record Revenue And Profit
It was another year of record revenue and profit for The Walt Disney Company as the company showed improved attendance at it’s theme parks, the debut of the Disney Fantasy to the Disney Cruise Line and gains with their ESPN television franchise as well as the success of the superhero megahit “The Avengers” (now the third highest-grossing movie of all time).
Chairman and CEO Bob Iger summed up Disney’s fiscal year 2012 as , “a great year for Disney by every measure — creatively, financially and strategically.”
The Disney theme parks and resorts led among all of the company’s divisions in terms of percentage gains for profit and revenue. With it’s 4th quarter profit a pleasingly 18% above last year and a whopping 22% increase from the year before as well!
Surprisingly Walt Disney World did not lead the theme park charge. Attendance at WDW was down slightly for the year, but Disneyland’s attendance (boosted by the opening of “Carsland“) negated any decline at WDW and contributed to a 3% increase in domestic park attendance. However Disney execs are counting on the debut of the new “Fantasyland” which will open officially at the Magic Kingdom on December 6th to help give Walt Disney World a boost in attendance figures.
While no specifics were given Disney bragged of things to come, especially with the recent purchase of Lucasfilms. Bob Iger did hint that Disney Parks could see more of a Star Wars presence. Also ongoing projects of note include the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland, construction of the new Disneyland Shanghai and the rollout of Disney’s “NextGen” system that will help guests plan and book visits to their attractions before they even arrive on property.
Related articles
- The Disney/ABC Television Group Raises More Than $16.8 Million During Its Day Of Giving (chipandco.com)
- Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm (chipandco.com)
Disney World And Disneyland Testing New Attraction Policy
This week two attractions at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland will test a new seating policy for the remainder of the month and see how guests feel about it.
Both Toy Story Midway Manias and Haunted Mansions will test a new policy where children under the age of 7 must ride with a guest over the age of 14 in the same row. Previous policy dictated that there be an adult in the same vehicle as children under 7. A sign is near the entrance informing guests of the new policy and cast members are at the exit of the attractions surveying guests.
Do you think this policy is a good change or not? Let us know!
Related articles
- If You Want to Live in the Haunted Mansion Today is Your Lucky Day! (chipandco.com)
- The differences between Disneyland and Disney World (chipandco.com)
Things you can only get at Walt Disney World…
It’s not always easy being an adult Walt Disney World lover. When I tell people I am headed to WDW on my next vacation, I get that weird look, that one that says “really? What a weirdo”…usually it only lasts a second, and they say something like “Oh, that’s nice” when what they really mean is “that’s for kids…I wouldn’t want to go there”. In these situations, I usually try to be a Disney cheerleader, rallying for Team WDW, and i have come up with this list of things that are so unique, that you can only get them at Walt Disney World:
The Service: The employees of WDW (they call them Cast Members) provide the highest level of service I have ever experienced. They are friendly, polite, helpful, and most of all, they actually seem to really like their jobs. They will bend over backwards to make sure you have an amazing time, and that is truly special, and something you don’t see much of these days.
The Accommodations: Disney has many different choices of places to stay, all with their own theme. From the Polynesian Resort that’s like living in a luau, to the Port Orleans Resort where they serve up gumbo and beignets with a true Louisiana flair, to the Boardwalk Resort-where they have a real wooden boardwalk reminiscent of Old Atlantic City (this one is my personal favorite, and is breathtaking at night!)
6 Ways to Get Internet Access at Disney World
Let’s face it – the Internet these days is indispensable for some parents and families, even those who are going on vacation. Whether you’re a father working in the marketing industry who uses HughesNet Internet to administer websites, or a mother who has to check email to ensure that her office staff is running things smoothly, it’s hard these days to get away from it all. So when you go to Disney World with your family, it’s pertinent to know the ins and outs of Internet availability.
Here are the major options:
Disney Business Centers
If a few brief stints of Internet use is all you need on the trip, Disney Business Centers are likely sufficient. The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and charge $10 per 15 minutes of Internet use.
