Big Steps and Lil' Uns

Back home from vaca!

We did our yearly migration to the summer hell hole called Flo-rida. The beach at Ft. Lauderdale was nice and relaxing. Walt Disney World was hideously crowded, but fun. And Universal was awesome, but MUST HAVE an Express Pass if you go in summer!

I had high hopes that I would have at least one day with over 30,000 steps, but the closest I got was 26,000 steps. *sigh* Oh, well. You couldn't walk three steps without having to jog around people suddenly stopping or having a family conference in the middle of the walking area. And shuffling in the lines doesn't constitute "walking steps".

Massive amounts of humanity crowding in a finite location with 95% humidity with 90+ degree days equals UGH! The issue was the same at Universal, though there were far fewer strollers that were used as battering rams.

Speaking of strollers, Disney should outlaw them in their stores. It's bad enough to miss time one's shopping and have to deal with serious crowds, but then having ankles rammed and feet run over just made it irritation.

Highlights:

• The Flight of the Banshee in Animal Kingdom was AWESOME!! The Ikran you sit on (it's like a motorcycle seat with handles to hold onto) actually breaths, and your legs feel it use its wings.
• We managed to score THREE extra fast passes one day. FIRST TIME EVER!
• Managed to get off the monorail and enter the Magic Kingdom right when the 3 PM parade was coming around the corner. Parked ourselves on the steps of City Hall. I think they kick people off this location prior to the parade, but we just lucked out with our timing.
• Butterbeer ice cream is hands down the best thing ever!
• And if you do go to Universal get the park-to-park pass (Hogwarts train experience is different both ways). AND if you are there in the summer, find some way to budget an Express Pass into your budget. We still had to wait in lines, but there were far shorter lines than the regular standby line.

We have very long, very active days while on vacation. A Golla vacation isn't successful unless your feet bleed! Mine didn't, but the others weren't so lucky . . . or in condition.

Later!

MAGs

Preparing for an Amusement Park Marathon

Find an old telephone booth, or sauna, pack it full of people and wait for the tempers to erupt.

You think I'm joking, I'm not.

Not all amusement parks are this bad, nor are many rides, but there are a few lines you'll be waiting in that you will have to kiss your personal space good-bye, and I think Americans tend to have larger personal space issues than other nationalities.

And if you are on the vertically challenged side of the scale, say 'hello' to everyone's armpit.

There were two rides that were the worse: WDW The Haunted Mansion, and UF Escape from Gringotts.

Think of cowboys prodding a large herd of cattle into a single crush for one cow.

Both of these rides have elevators taking a group{(s) Gringotts has two elevators}down to a queuing area. So if the ride isn't moving quickly enough the area backs up, resulting in a free-for-all as everyone pushes and shoves their way into position. It's ugly and humanity doesn't shine in determination to be "first" in line. The problem is slightly alleviated by limiting the number of people on the elevators, but the persons halting the queue on the front end really have no idea how bad it has become on the other side. Then the amusement-park-powers-that-be might consider some sort of chain queue to break up the horde of humanity prior to the funneling process, which would get rid of the whole funnel experience. During off season, this isn't a problem, but in peak season when the crowd levels are high, it's hideous.

 The next issue is getting around the parks, AKA walking.

These parks are BIG. And you probably won't be simply going in one direction one time, but instead will be traversing these parks for one ride or another or to take advantage of a FastPass+ or a meal at a particular location.

But you think to yourself, "I'm a walker. I walk 4-5 miles a day. No biggie."

Yes, it is a biggie. It's a big issue because when you are walking on your own terms, treadmill or trail, you can stride out and get your heart rate up, and all-in-all enjoy life.

Not so in an amusement park.

You have to take into consideration the 20,000 other bodies who walk at a different pace, who meander all over the place, who stop for no reason right in front of you, or those people who want to go against the flow of traffic or cut across to the attraction on the other side, which disrupts your forward momentum.

It's those people who are at odds with your focused walking. In the immortal paraphrased words of a character in James Herriot's novel, All Creatures Great and Small, "I don't like the big city much, Mr. Herriot. A man can't walk there.  'e has to take big steps and little 'uns."

Still even though you won't be striding out, you will be putting in miles and thousands of steps. On my biggest day, I managed to get almost 22,000 steps, which calculated out to be about 15 miles.

Yeah, when we do amusement parks, we DO amusement parks with a mission!

So even if you have the best shoes in the world, and walk like nobody's business, your poor feet will be screaming at you after a marathon day.

What to do?

Other than buy a shoe with a big enough toe box or wear flip-flops (I couldn't do that. No foot support, and I wouldn't have lasted very long), you could invest in some Band-Aids or be proactive about the situation.

By proactive I mean, taping your toes. Runners do this all the time. If you've walked a lot in your shoes, you'll notice where 'hot spots' tend to pop up. The key is to tape them with cloth tape to prevent rubbing, which is what causes the blisters.

Sorry about the ugly feet, but I am an old broad and my feet tend to show my age. This picture was taken after a long day at the park. I had taped my toes because they tend to rub against one another, and I have 'bunionettes' (the joint sticks out under the baby toe) on both feet. Walking tends to shove your foot forward and my poor bunionettes were getting smushed. I taped them and it helped decrease the pressure.

 

 

So what other health measures do I try to take while on vacation?

 

I have a small zippered bag that has anything and everything you might need: Excedrin (headaches), Aleve (muscle aches), Mucinex and Sudafed (decongestant), Pepto Bismol tablets (tummy upset), Imodium (intestinal upset), Claritin and Alavert (Allergy Meds),  variety of cold medicine, Neosporin and Band-Aids, Cortaid (topical steroid for itching), a small sewing kit and my asthma inhaler. I think that's it.

 

For the most part, I never have to use these items with the exception of the pain relievers, and I don't stock the entire jar. I have one or two doses to get me by if there is a problem and I can then go to the store to buy more if I need it.

 

What if you weren't proactive and managed to get a blister or five? Do you drain them or leave them?

 

Most doctors will recommend NOT draining them, but if you have any more days at the park--DRAIN THEM.

 

Take a needle from the sewing kit and poke a small hole in the blister. Clear fluid will seep out. Once it is finished (use a tissue to catch the fluid) place a little Neosporin on the blister and cover it with a bandage. DO NOT REMOVE THE SKIN OVER THE BLISTER. It's there to protect the raw flesh underneath. If you don't drain the fluid, you might have difficulty walking and might actually tear the skin from the blister, which would make things worse in the long run.

 

Drink lots and lots of water.  This goes without saying, but I'm saying it since we didn't drink near enough fluids a couple of days. The problem is two-fold. 1) When you are sweating and the sweat isn't evaporating, you don't feel the need to drink any extra fluids. And trust me, if you go to Florida in the summer, you will be sweating! 2) When you are waiting in a two hour line for a ride, you don't want to get out of line to use the toilet because you probably won't be allowed back in line!

 

Even if you don't need to use the toilet before a long ride wait, do it anyway! You can thank me later!

 

When we go to the parks we don't carry anything in with us, no purses, no bags, no cameras, no nuthin'. What we need is in our pockets. The number one reason for not carrying a bunch of stuff is that many of the Universal rides require you to put your items in a locker prior to riding. This means you might be in line for 15 minutes before you even get to the locker area, and then you lose your place. . ..and it's a pain in the butt to have to remember to get your stuff.

 

So I keep a few key items in my pockets: tissues (ladies, this is for you. Always remember to pack tissues.) Even if there isn't any toilet paper in the stall I enter to use the bathroom, I always have a tissue with me. I make a small 1/2 sized snack bags (jewelry baggies or coke bags whatever you want to call them) to carry Aleve and Altoids (curiously strong peppermints), a flosser for my teeth, and chapstick or lipstick. Hubs usually has his phone and wallet, so we're good.

 

Oh, I almost forgot. Wear a good pair of sunglasses. The reflective surfaces are harsh on the eyes. I wear Ironman Wrap-around shades--I'm wearing them in the pictures in the previous posts. I started wearing these shades when I had a horse. The arena at my barn was sand, which is very reflective, just like cement and water, which Florida has a whole lot of.

 

That's it for now.

 

Later, Peeps!

 

 

Ins and Outs of Disney's FastPass+

Ahem . .  . Sorry, guys, there are no real tricks to this. . . yet.



Gotta smile with Minnie and Pluto!

There are a few facts that I can list, and I will, but for the most part there are no tricks to securing the FastPass+ for certain coveted rides except to catch the ride during the off season, or staying at a WDW hotel, or waiting in lines (horribly long wait times during peak season!)



The show right before the 'soft' park opening.

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Tips:

• If you can afford to stay in a WDW hotel, then do so. This gives you up to 60 days in advance to schedule your FP+ times. WHICH MEANS: you have to know which park you are going on any given day. There is no freedom to change your mind at the last minute. Oh, the WDW gurus say that you can, but not during peak season as all the 'good' FP+ passes are gone before you even get to the park. If you buy your tickets, but stay off-site at another Orlando hotel, then you have only 30 days prior to your visit to get your FP+ tickets.
• Go to the online map, print it out, and have some family meetings prior to picking your FP+ options. Your vacation will be much happier if you let everyone choose something they really, really want to do. And this way, you can familiarize yourself with the park, the rides, and the set up.
• Last year I groused about the new maps. Well, there was a reason for the way they set up those maps--they have an online phone app that gives you the wait times of various attractions. Yes, there are tons of people starring at their phones as they figure out where their FP+ is and how long the wait times are for the attractions around the FP+ time. And yes, there was one day, a Saturday, that the app was down for virtually all day. If we hadn't jotted the information down prior to walking out the door we wouldn't have had a clue when or which FP+ we had, along with the time of our dinner reservations. Just realize that there are probably 100,000+ people at these four parks on a crowded day, all trying to log on to their app.
• My hubby's Samsung 5 had enough battery juice to last all day (8 am- 9 pm), but not all phones last that long. There were many people sitting next to a plug all around the park. On an aside: the Universal Florida app wasn't as good and we roamed a lot, which sucked up the battery juice.
• Only three (3) FP+ passes are issued each day. You can try to get more FP+ AFTER the final time frame of your last issued FP+. Each FP+ takes an hour time frame, which means that you can have FP+ tickets back-to-back. For example: 9-10 am--7 Dwarves Mine Train, 10-11 Big Thunder Mountain, and 11-12 Pirates of the Caribbean. After the 12 PM time passes you can go to a kiosk and try to get another FP+. Many times the wait times were up to an hour just to see if there were any FP+ tickets left for a particular ride. . .  In other words: don't waste your time if it's peak season, just wait in line or get up at the butt-crack of dawn to be one of the first to ride the ride.
• The way we would plan the previous three FP+ times would be to ride the Mine train toward the end of the FastPass period and then hit Thunder Mountain at the beginning of the Fast Pass time. Don't forget to allow for lunch and the ensuing crowds at the lunch places.
• If you are an early morning park person, I would suggest not getting your first FP+ until an hour after the park opens. You won't need one in the first hour of operations because the park isn't that crowded.
• And no, you can't have two FP+ at one park, and then park hop to your third FP+. We wanted to do that since we tend to eat at EPCOT in the evenings. As it currently is set up, you are not able to do this.
• Rides that normally don't crowd up had waits of 45 min. or longer. The Haunted Mansion was one of those rides.
• Peak season is hideously crowded. They even offer FP+ locations for parades, fireworks, along with character greetings. Yeah, it's that crowded. Plan to have ZERO personal space as people will squish and squeeze their way into any small opening. It's not so bad first thing in the morning, but by late afternoon you are dealing with hot, tired, sweaty, and stinky people with a very short fuse. .. .just saying. And that's not all the screaming kids throwing temper tantrums because they are hot and tired.
• If you are an early morning park type person, get thee to a park at least 30 minutes prior to opening. Many times they will have a soft opening and open the main gate 10-15 minutes before the official opening. Don't kill yourself or others as you gallop to Space Mountain because the rides themselves will NOT open until the official opening time. The early opening allows you to place yourself in a good spot to get on the ride in a timely manner.
• Do not waste your time going to a show during this first hour of any park opening, focus on riding the big rides before the lines get too long. Shows might look crowded from the outside, but most of them offer a system of various pre-show rooms.
• IF you stay in a WDW hotel, you must take advantage of the early park entry times offered. It isn't every park on every day. Some are late night hours after the park is closed, but remember that everyone else who is staying at a WDW hotel will be going to that park after the other parks close, thus jam packed with stinky, sweaty humanity.
• It's the early morning hours you want as most of the late nighters are still sleeping. You have to figure out your schedule to work the early park openings into your schedule (yes, it's on their website and in their brochures). On a side note: the early/late park hours don't necessarily stay the same every year, AND the times change according to the park hours during that particular time of year. Summer offers longer hours than spring or fall, staying open as late as 12 AM or even 1 AM.  
• When you choose your FP+ options don't expect to get the primo roller coaster ones each day. They allow two big rides and one minor type attraction. This is really a pain in Epcot where you can have either Soarin' or Test Track, but not both on the same day. Remember the early days of Disney where they had A, B, C tickets? You would only have one or two A tickets, but you couldn't give the C tickets away. Yeah, some of the FP+ options are like the C tickets. Do you really need a FP+ to see Captain Eo? I think not.

That's all I can think of to offer as suggestions for right now. If you have any questions, please ask away. I'm getting tired of talking to myself on this blog.

Here are a few pictures taken at Walt Disney World.

All these pictures are taken with hubby's cell phone.

Here are a few pics from the Magic Kingdom:


Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Disney drained the ponds on either side and are doing some major construction. No, we don't know what they are doing.

Space Mountain. I think we rode this about six or seven times. This is the best picture! We texted our friend Steve with a daily picture since I didn't want to post on FB that we were gone, and this was one of the first ones we sent.

Buzz Lightyear ride. I suck at the laser shooting, personally I blame the hubby for moving the car when I line up my shot. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

on Big Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster

This was very early in the morning and the crowds were light.

Sad gargoyle needed some sugar--on entrance way into the Beast's castle.

On walkway to the Beast's castle, the 7 Dwarves Mine train is coming out of the mountain. The picture doesn't capture the gorgeous color of the plants on the mountain.

From Animal Kingdom:



Expedition Everest is in the background--totally awesome roller coaster.  The small peak to the left of the mountain is the temple in the next picture on the way up the mountain.



Going up on the steep incline of Expedition Everest. We usually hit this ride in the single rider line. We had a FP+ for this shot.

 

Kilimanjaro Safaris. . . blurry young giraffe.

Kilimanjaro Safaris. Elephant and baby.

 

From Hollywood Studios: 

 Olaf and FROZEN characters are huge at this park. They even had a fireworks show that we could see out our hotel window. It was nice to watch right before going to sleep!

Numerous big screens had Olaf interacting with the visitors throughout the day and especially during the park opening and the fireworks.





Yep, they even had Olaf cupcakes--carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

Toy Story Mania

Star Tours. The new show combines different scenarios in each ride to give a multi-faceted thrill ride that isn't the same every time you ride.

Tower of Terror. Yes, we are the goofballs on the back row. :-) We wouldn't have raised our arms if we were in front of people. This is taken at the top of the drop, right as the elevator falls. Again, this ride is set up with an infinite number of scenarios that have different drops, mixing long drops with short drops.

 

Tower of Terror behind us. The last time we took a picture here--the kidlet was up to my chin. Oh, my, how she has grown!



 

 

And finally a few pictures from EPCOT:  

 AT the Rose and Crown Pub in the UK. Post dinner. I had an incredible Scottish salmon dinner, and I don't even like salmon!

 Outside of Paris. The Eiffel Tower is in the background.

 

 The Japan pavilion. We buy the funkiest Japanese candy at the department store there. It's so good!

 

 Picture taken from Italy facing toward the front of EPCOT. The round ball is Spaceship Earth. It's a sleepy kind of ride that had Dame Judi Dench ('M' of the most recent James Bond flicks) narrating.

 

 At the China Pavilion.

 

 We ate Italian on our last WDW night.

 Outside Canada and 'Bow Falls'.

 And those are a few of the pictures we have of Walt Disney World 2014. Todd managed to keep most of the crowds out of the pictures. The most crowded location was Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.

The new expanded Fantasyland was a big draw along with the newly opened Seven Dwarves Mine train. It was a fun ride. Not an exciting coaster, but a very Disney one.

More from Universal Florida in a day or two!

Later, peeps!

Walt Disney World -- Magic Kingdom Rides

Finally!! The last installment of the WDW ride breakdown. I saved this one for last because this is the park where the majority of rides are located. As I mentioned before, Disney rides are mild compared to other parks, but that doesn't mean they are less fun.

And there is almost always a story behind each ride.

New version of the map:

Old version of the map:

Again, not a fan of the new maps, but it does have a few of the new rides in the upper right quadrant of Fantasyland.

I'll start off in Tomorrowland, and head counterclockwise, since that seems to be the way we hit the park. The Unofficial Guide book to WDW will give you 'touring' suggestions that will take you back and forth across the park, so if you plan to use one of their tours as a guide, please wear your running shoes!

. . . well, wear your running shoes anyway, because by the end of the day you will have walked MILES.

Again, becoming familiar with the rides and their location will keep you from wasting time as you get your bearings.

Virtually all the rides are wheelchair accessible PROVIDED you can get out of the chair to get on a ride. Wheelchairs are allowed in all the shows and a few of the rides. IF you have a stroller, there is stroller parking near each show/ride.

**Mark your generic stroller/wheelchair with something easily identifiable, such as a red bandana or a pinwheel, or whatever. 'Dirty' diapers have been used to secure one's stroller.**

**if you have a young child who is unable or doesn't want to ride a particular ride, ask an attendant if you can "Switch Off". This basically allows one parent to ride, but then when the ride is over that parent can watch the child while the other parent rides.**

**pick up a times guide to verify meet-n-greet times**

**any ride with a * in front of the ride name is a ride that is on my 'do not miss' list**

MAIN STREET USA

Truthfully, we tend to buzz right through this area to head to Space Mountain, especially in the morning. There are a couple of things you need to know about Main Street. The big central park area is a gathering place for character to take pictures and sign autograph books. To your right, they have been revamping Town Square Theater -- fast pass -- to have an indoor meet-n-greet with Mickey and the Princesses.

Diagonally across the square, they have a new adventure called, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, in which a child searches for clues throughout the Kingdom to defeat the Disney Villains. This would be a fun adventure if you've been to the Magic Kingdom numerous times, right up there with finding Hidden Mickeys, but I'd save it until after you experienced all that the Kingdom offers you.

Walt Disney World Railroad -- This is a regular train that goes around the outside edges of the Magic Kingdom. The main station is above the tunnel entrance into the park. The two other stations are in Fantasyland, where ToonTown used to reside (the upper right corner of the map), and Frontierland, between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

TOMORROWLAND

*Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor -- fast pass -- Interactive SHOW -- The fast pass simply gets you to the front of the line. A limited number of people are allowed in the theater at one time. It's an okay show, not my favorite. Save it for the heat of the day.

*Stitch's Great Escape! --SHOW -- 40" height requirement -- DARK -- fun scary-- A little wet -- though there seems to be a ton of people crowding the queuing area, this theater seats quite a few people. Once you pass the outside doors, there are two more queuing areas before the theater. EVERY seat in the round theater is excellent. Once the show starts, the shoulder harnesses come down over your shoulders on each chair. Sit up straight.  DO NOT ALLOW IT TO SMUSH YOU DOWN. It presses down, but then it pops up about 1/2 inch.

This theater used to be where the Alien show was held . . . and that, my friends, was a really scary show!  

*Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin -- SLIGHTLY DARK -- continual two seat cars move through various scenes as you try to take out Zurg. The front of the car closes on you to keep you in place, but you don't care since you have your gun to shoot things! A third small person can sit in the middle, but there are only two guns. Laser guns shoot targets on various objects to earn points.

Carousel of Progress -- SHOW -- it's been YEARS since we saw this show. Very rarely is it crowded. Personally, I think it's dated as technology is progressing so quickly that it simply can't keep up.

*Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover -- 4-6 person car takes you above the crowds and through a few rides. It helps you rest and get the feel of TOMORROWLAND. It takes you through Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain, though you won't see anything except the flash of stars, planets, and the rockets unless the ride happens to be down and the lights are on.

Astro Orbiter -- motion sickness --two-seater rockets fly up and down above TOMORROWLAND. Seatbelts and centrifugal force keep you seated.  Similar to Dumbo and Aladdin's Flying Carpets. We did ride this one during Halloween fireworks one year. Now, THAT was really cool! Slow to load and unload. Small groups are taken in elevator to the ride.

*Space Mountain -- fast pass -- 44" height requirement -- DARK -- Two sections of three  seats make up the 'rocket'. You sit one in front of the other. Lap bars hold you in. You really can't see a darn thing so there's no way to brace yourself during this ride. I LOVE this rollercoaster, but it's really rough on your body. It can be very jerky, so if you have neck or back issues, you might want to give this ride a miss.

Tomorrowland Speedway -- 32" to ride, 54" to drive height requirement -- If you've never driven go carts then this might be fun for you. A bunch of cars, running on lawnmower engines, travel on a rail--there is no deviation from the rail or passing. You are stuck on the rail. Of course, this ride is more for the kids than the adults . . . unless the adult wants to relive the magic of the Speedway. I hate to burst your adult bubble, but it isn't the same as it was when you were a kid.

FANTASYLAND

 

Currently, there are two arms to Fantasyland, and they don't meet. When the Seven Dwarves Mine rollercoaster opens up, March 2014 I believe, I think the plan is to open everything up. If you look at the new map and see the big green area with the words, Fantasyland, that is where they are building the mine train.

First, I'll do the path to the right and then go back to do the left path.

Mad Tea Party -- motion sickness -- 2-4 person--when I say up to 4 people, I mean two adults and two little ones NOT four adults-- teacups spin on a moving floor. A fun ride unless your kid is crazed and wants to make you puke. Jus' sayin'.

Fairytale Garden -- head toward Cinderella's Castle opposite direction from the Dumbo rides, very secluded niche-- character meet and greet

Dumbo the Flying Elephant (2) -- motion sickness -- elephants fly around, a lever controls up and down. 2-3 persons per elephant. It's been awhile since we've ridden it, I think seat belts keep you in place.

*The Barnstormer -- fast pass -- 35" height requirement -- This is a fun rollercoaster. A great one to start your kids on. It's not too scary, not too steep, not too long, but it can be fast. Each car seats two people. Recommend one adult to one child per seat. A lap bar with a netting over your legs keeps you in place.

Walt Disney World Railroad -- Fantasyland station. You can get on or get off at any station, BUT you have to leave your scooters and large strollers. Umbrella strollers can be folded up and taken on the train.

Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station -- A Lot WET-- bring extra clothes

Pete's Silly Slide Show -- character meet and greet 

*The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh -- fast pass -- slight dark -- Each honey pot holds four, two in front, two behind. This is a nice quiet ride through Pooh's mind. The scariest part is his nightmare about heffalumps and woozles. A bar comes down over your legs.

Ariel's Grotto --  character meet and greet

Under the Sea -- Journey of the Little Mermaid -- fast pass -- When we went on this little ride, there was no waiting. It seemed similar to The Seas in EPCOT. Little girls would love this ride. Me, not so much, it was kind of boring.

Enchanted Tales with Belle --  character meet and greet

Prince Charming Regal Carousel -- merry-go-round. On the side of the carousel toward Cinderella's Castle is the Sword in the Stone. They do a show here. Check your Times Guides.
 
*Mickey's PhilharMagic -- SHOW -- Must See -- Make an effort to see this 3-D, well 4-D since you'll get slightly damp, show. It's in a huge auditorium so don't let the crowds waiting at the door scare you. It's a nice way to cool off and relax.

*Peter Pan's Flight -- fast pass -- DARK-- 2-3 persons per ship. I never really liked the Peter Pan movie. It just didn't do anything for me, so I was hesitant to ride this ride. Do NOT miss this ride. It's one of my favorites! How many times do you fly in a pirate ship over London? The front of the boat slides closed to keep you in place.

*"it's a small world" -- raft ride-- I know, I know, you will have to ride this ride and suffer the brainworm of music for the next few hours. But it's a very happy ride. It makes people smile.

LIBERTY SQUARE

 

 This is a very small walk-thru area on the way to Frontierland, mainly shops and food places.

*Haunted Mansion -- DARK-- scary -- 2-3 people in each doommobile, continuous conveyor with doombuggies. The front of the doommobile closes on you. This can be very scary for little ones. If you have a kid who's afraid of the dark or things jumping out at them, then you might consider missing this ride. The ghosts dancing in the ballroom are fascinating to watch. Be sure to look at the pictures on the walls, ghosts on the chandeliers, etc.

Liberty Square Riverboat -- They were referbing it in Aug. 2013. It takes forever to load and unload and all it does is go around Tom Sawyer's Island. If you're at WDW for the rides, this one ain't what your looking for.

The Hall of Presidents -- SHOW -- True Confessions here. I never saw it. Auditorium setting with animatronic presidents.

FRONTIERLAND

 

 Keep to the right around the small lake.

*Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- fast pass -- 40" height requirement -- mine train rollercoaster. 2-3 people per row, two rows per car. Three only if you are accompanied by a child. A bouncy, jerky, runaway mine train. A couple of times we rode this while the fireworks were going off--totally magical! It's a fun rollercoaster, much of it outside. Look for hidden Mickey's.

Walt Disney World Railroad Station -- Up the stairs between Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. 

Tom Sawyer Island -- rafts are poled over to the island. I don't know if there are limits to how many people are on the island, but it tends to take a long time to get over there. It's a great place for kids to run and play and search of treasure. Parents you might want to find a spot to sit and enjoy the break. The only way on and off the island is the raft.

*Splash Mountain -- fast pass -- 40" height requirement --A Lot WET-- three rows of two people fill a log. A lap bar keeps you in place. There are three or four drops. The last drop is the one everyone can see. If they have their water cannons on, then expect to be blasted! 9:15 in the morning is NOT the time to get soaked, just saying. If everyone coming off the ride is drenched, don't expect anything different. . . the right side of the log seems to be the wetter side.

Country Bear Jamboree -- SHOW -- Yeah, never saw it. Can't help you here.

ADVENTURELAND

A Pirate's Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas -- search for treasures throughout Adventureland!

*Pirate's of the Caribbean --DARK -- raft ride-- four people per row and about six rows to each boat. A couple of drops, but nothing crazy since you aren't held in by anything except gravity. Remember the movie. Yeah, the Johnny Depp one, they took the story from this ride, then the ride was revamped with Johnny D hiding in the scenery.

Jungle Cruise -- fast pass -- Boat ride. No real seating except around the edges. They take you around the four largest rivers in the world, feeding you cheesy jokes the whole time. It's goofy, but fun, with animatronic animals. Extra fun in the dark. It makes it a little more realistic.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room -- SHOW -- A good way of getting out of the Florida heat. The show was revamped when Aladdin came out, 10+ years ago. It needs a little updating, but it's nice to sit down out of the heat.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin -- think Dumbo ride, but with flying carpets. If I remember correctly there are two rows per carpet, holding 2-3 people per row. Watch out for spitting camels!

Swiss Family Treehouse -- Walk-through .  . . or should I say walk up and down? It's kind of cool to see the home of the Swiss Family Robertson. LOTS of narrow stairs if you have a heart issue or blood pressure issue, or even claustrophobia, don't attempt to climb this. We were there when they shut it down and emergency personnel had to rescue someone.
 
Tinker Bell's Magical Nook -- character meet and greet 

And this wraps up my Walt Disney World tips and tricks. If you have any questions, shoot them my way as I'm always happy to talk about WDW!

Later, Peeps!

WDW Rides -- EPCOT

To tell you the truth, there are very few rides in Epcot. Disney has been ramping up the ride focus, but there are other sights, stores and restaurants to visit instead of ride.

Here's the 2013 map of Epcot:



Here's the older map version of Epcot.



Sorry, but this true north aspect of the maps is just too bizarre for me to comprehend. Just put the entrance near the bottom and let it go!

Again, when you enter the park pick up a map AND a Times Guide. The maps come in numerous languages, but I'm not sure about the Times Guides. If there isn't a map in your language, check out Guest Relations (to your left after the first fountain and Spaceship Earth.

FUTURE WORLD EAST

Spaceship Earth -- is the focal point of Epcot. It's the large golf ball sphere. It's a mellow ride, 2 in front, 2 behind in each car. We enjoy it as it's a nice way to cool off in the afternoon heat. As soon as you enter the building you walk onto a moving circular platform. You have to be able to get out of your scooter or wheelchair to ride this ride--though I think Disney does it's best to make all rides accessible for everyone.

Ellen's Energy Adventure -- It's been a long time since we rode this one. There are three sections in this auditorium that break apart and move around for the show. Accessible for everyone . . . just be sure you take a potty break BEFORE you ride as it's a looong show. 45 min.

Mission: SPACE -- Fast Pass -- 44" height requirement, shoulder harness -- Orange team = intense experience -- Green team = less intense. I've ridden both sides. Green usually has less of a line, but that doesn't mean less of an experience. The Orange team still has the centrifugal action going, so if you get motion sickness, this is NOT the ride for you! Very cold air is circulating around the cockpit that holds four people. Each seat is given a job, which is a good way to keep you focused on the video screen and NOT on the thought of spinning around. You will feel pressure on the Green team, but not the G-forces you will experience on the Orange team. You're strapped in pretty tightly and I didn't experience any issues with my neck.

Test Track -- Fast Pass -- singles line -- 40" height requirement -- for almost a year, this ride was down as the reimagined the concept. The actual ride is still the same, but the pre-ride is very different. Different, not necessarily better. Not as much of a fan of the reimagined ride. Even the singles line takes longer than you would expect since these riders also go through a version of the design a car concept. If you are preggers, or have neck or back issues, you might want to skip this ride. It is a little harsh on the body.  

Sum of All Thrills -- We never got a chance to do this. It's in the Innovations East building. Every time we wanted to try this out, there was a LONG line. You basically design your own rollercoaster and then you get into a pod (a mechanical arm with a bucket on the end) and then you 'ride' your own roller coaster design.

**I think this ride might also be at Disney Quest, which is in Downtown Disney.**

FUTURE WORLD WEST

The Seas: numerous exhibits featuring very small and very large aquariums. Take some time to explore this area. You will also find Turtle Talk with Crush in this building.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends -- This is the reimagined entrance into the Living Seas. You ride in a clamobile (2 or 3 people depending on everyone's size) through various scenes. The Disney imagineers have done a great job mixing a real aquarium with action, scenes, etc from Nemo.

The Land: This building has quite a few restaurants and a couple of different shows, but most people go into The Land to ride . . .

Soarin' -- Fast Pass -- 40" height requirement. Love this ride as you are basically hang gliding with about 80 of you best friends. :-) It's very smooth, but you are up in the air and they don't want people to get hurt, which is why there is a height requirement.

Living with the Land -- Fast Pass -- boat ride. Slow boat that takes you through Disney greenhouses and a fish farm. The only time this ride is crowded is during peak season. Erm, I would never consider getting a fast pass for this ride, but each to their own. 
 
Imagination: This area has been reimagined a few times, but it still needs some work. Very few people come over to this area.

Journey into the Imagination -- Ride with Figment. Fun, mellow little ride to get you out of the heat. You will be singing the song for awhile because it's an earworm like "It's a Small World"

Captain EO -- 3-D Michael Jackson film as he plays Captain EO as he rescues the world through dance, music and a light show . . . good, but very dated.

WORLD SHOWCASE -- clockwise around the lake. I'm including each of the worlds even if they don't have a ride. Many of them have exhibits that change periodically, sit down restaurants, quick service type of restaurants, and, of course, shopping!

Mexico -- gentle raft ride around Mexico, featuring the three caballeros (Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Pancito Pistoles). Some rafts are equipped to have wheelchairs. Mariachi shows periodically throughout the day along with character greetings.

Norway -- Fast Pass -- Maelstrom--Viking boat ride through Norway's past. Some drops, but no restraints on the boat, so it's very gentle . . . as you travel through TROLL COUNTRY! This is a fun ride, and yes, when there is a long line we've been known to get a fast pass. There is a short film after the ride, but if you don't want to watch it, then just walk through into the gift shops. Every meal at the Akershus Restaurant is a character meal with Princesses. If you want to see Epcot empty, then make reservations for breakfast--family style--where everyone at your table digs into the same dish. Hope you like the people you're with!  

China -- 360 movie theater. Standing rails only. But I love this movie! Throughout the day, there are acrobats putting on shows. Don't miss the pint-sized rendition of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Very Impressive!

Germany -- If you time it well, you can see the giant cuckoo clock chime. The restaurant is the show. Buffet meal with seating at long, communal tables. Meet new people as you sing "Ein Prosit" together while swilling large steins of beer . . . not that I would ever do that . . .

Italy -- again with all the eating. Sometimes they will provide a clown/mime/juggling act. If you have little ones, you might warn them that the statues might move. . . You'll know if it's a show.

The American Adventure -- three different shows. Yeah, and I'm one of those terrible American's who bypass this whole section. The food is standard stuff for the US, though they do serve Sam Adam's beer.

Japan -- In the past, they've done the advent of tin toys, and how anime ties into their history. A couple of shows are throughout the day. If you get a chance to see the Taiko Drummers-- DO! They are amazing!

Morocco -- This area was getting a facelift to help draw guests into their country. Throughout the day, there is a belly dancer who performs. She's really good at getting the little tykes up to dance.

France -- Impressions de France film is in a sit down auditorium. It's a nice trip to the very different areas of France.

United Kingdom -- Various shows throughout the day. I totally enjoyed British Revolution . . . but then it might have been the beer speaking when I sang along with them to a Billy Idol song. Yes, I embarrassed the kidlet . . . that's the point, right??

Canada -- 360 film of Canada. Standing rails only. Off Kilter, a Canadian/Celtic rock group performs throughout the day. If you want to splurge, Le Cellier has some of the best steak I've ever eaten. It's right up there with really good steakhouses like Morton's and Flemings.

There are a few things to keep the kiddies occupied, instead of whining about how tired they are.

1) Kidcot -- I didn't pay attention to the fan that kids can color this year. In the past, it was a mask on a stick. The kiddo goes to each county's kidcot area to get a stamp and many times the cast member will write the kiddo's name in that language. It's fun to see what each name looks like in Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, etc.

2) Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World showcase adventure -- This isn't just for tweens or teens, you will see adults playing with their F.O.N.E., finding clues, and foiling Dr. Doofenschmirtz. If you see someone with an old style FONE, hang around them to see what they set off!

3) Every night, Epcot does a IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 9 PM. The only time they might postpone this show is if there is lightning. There are a few better areas to view the firework, lights, and laser show, but almost any place around the lagoon will work . . . just try to stay away from buildings and trees that might get in the way as the show is on the water as much as it is in the air!

Epcot provides this wonderful show at the end of an exhausting day. It's a must see!

Magic Kingdom is the last park I'm chatting about. It might take me longer than the rest since virtually everything in the park is a ride!

WDW Rides -- Hollywood Studios

Trying to figure out this particular park is a mess. . . and the map certainly doesn't help as the entrance is in the upper right hand corner. Hollywood Studios highlights movies and television, and though there are rides, there are more shows to see. Many of the shows we haven't seen, but I'll put them on the list.

Again, be sure to check the times guide when you enter the park as it will have the most current show times.

Did I mention that I HATE these new maps??

Here's the 2013 version of the map:

Here's the 2012 version of the map:

Since there is no rhyme or reason to the layout of this map, I'll just follow the color coded system on the old map to help you figure out where everything is situated.

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD

The Great Movie Ride -- This ride takes the guest through various movie scenes. Though the line might seem long, each car is HUGE. It's a very mellow ride with the exception of the Alien movie . . .

ECHO LAKE

The American Idol Experience -- Never saw it. It runs through auditions picking the best of the best until the end of the day when they choose a winner who makes it through directly to the judges at the American Idol tryouts.

ABC Sound Studio -- Saw it once a long time ago. How sounds are made in the movies.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular -- Must see show -- Basically, this is a stunt show that showcases the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Star Tours -- fast pass -- A couple of years ago this ride was updated. This motion simulator is now 3-D, and every time you ride the ride you get a different experience. There are three sections to the experience and they rotate through the different movie options providing a new experience every time.

STREETS OF AMERICA

Muppet Vision 3D -- A wonderful 3-D show for the whole family. 25-minutes long

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure -- This is a great place for the little tykes to burn off some energy. It's fun for the parents, too, but some of the areas are hard to get to unless you are a little kid or a very nimble adult.

Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show -- Must see show -- A vehicle stunt show--cars, trucks and motorcycles. Very loud. Very hot since it's outside. But it's nice to see how they do some of those car stunts in the various movies.

Studio Backlot Tour -- Tram ride through the backlot sets.

PIXAR PLACE / MICKEY AVENUE

Toy Story Midway Mania! -- fast pass -- Must ride -- The fast passes go quickly on this ride. Many times we'll be getting fast passes only 15 minutes after the park opens with a return time after noon. Before getting a fast pass verify the return time, remembering you can't get another fast pass for another ride until the fast pass window starts. Sometimes we will just wait in line for up to an hour first thing in the morning because the times will only get longer as the day goes on, especially during the high season. Each car holds four people, two on each side. Word of warning: your shooting arm will get really, really sore and tired!

Walt Disney: One Man's Dream -- never saw it.

ANIMATION COURTYARD
 
Voyage of The Little Mermaid -- fast pass -- Must see show --  Can be scary for the little ones due to being in the dark, and Ursula gets HUGE!

The Magic of Disney Animation -- Walk-thru. You get to watch various artists working on the next Disney movie.

Disney Junior--Live Onstage -- show. It's been awhile since we saw this show. I would guess that it keeps getting updated and relevant.

SUNSET BOULEVARD

Beauty and the Beast--Live Onstage -- Must see show -- Outside on benches. Can be steamy hot.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, starring Aerosmith -- fast pass -- Indoor, in the dark rollercoaster. Zero to fifty takeoff. This ride has a singles line also. Sometimes it's quicker to hit the singles line, but when you get to loading the cars, many times you have to wait until there's an odd number.

--while waiting in the singles line, we had the chance to overhear the cast member training another cast member. They manage the crowds by altering the ratio of standby to fast pass guests. It had escalated to level two and she was letting 30 fast pass holders in for every 6 standby guests. This ration meant the standby line was over 2 hours long. Every time they filled another group for the pre-show, they let 10 singles through.

--another point is that they do NOT tolerate line jumpers. One group thought to jump the large group in the pre-show area to the singles line, but when it came time to load the cars they wanted to be seated together. Disney cast members wouldn't bow to their complaints.
*Go Disney Cast Members!*

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror -- fast pass -- Must ride -- This is a dropping ride. Every time you ride it, the computer does a different sequence of drops. It's dark and can be scary with the 'electricity people'--which scared my daughter far more than the drops. Great view.

Fantasmic! -- Must see show -- Night time show -- laser lights, dancing water, special effects, and fireworks. This show fills up quickly. During peak season, they will have the show twice a night. They open the gates 90 minutes before the show. During the summer months, it is HOT waiting for the show. . . and crowded when everyone wants to leave!

And that's it for WDW Hollywood Studios!

Later, Peeps!

WDW Rides -- Animal Kingdom

*These blogs are taking me far longer than I anticipated. I'll post them when I get each one completed. Sorry, but I can't stick to a schedule with them.*

The Animal Kingdom is probably one of the most missed parks at WDW. Many times people only have a few days to spend and this park is knocked off the list in favor of the other parks. To attract more guests, Disney has added some spectacular rides to go along with their view of conservation education, along with Wilderness Explorers adventures for the kids/parents to complete various challenges throughout the park to win badges.

When you get into the park, be sure to pick up a Times Guide along with a map. This weekly guide (Sun-Sat) posts important information for various shows, restaurants, and other entertainment along with the daily hours when the parks open and close.

 Front

Back

 

I'll post the map and then continue on with the ride breakdown following the clockwise pattern I've been using.

--to tell you the truth, I really, REALLY, REALLY don't like the current Disney maps for any of the parks. They are hard to read, hard to decipher, hard to even see what is what, and they face true north, which means if the entrance to a park is any direction other than south (at the bottom of the map), you have to keep turning the map to figure out where you are! The biggest problem is they numbered everything--shows, attractions, rides, food and stores--so if you need to find something you constantly have to consult the map legend. So instead of just looking for a knife and fork symbol on a page, you have to look at the legend and then back to the map to figure out where everything is.
If an old pro like me (visited WDW 10 times in the past 10 years) has a hard time finding things, I can't imagine how a newbie would fare!

HATE THEM!

Here's a current map of Animal Kingdom:

And here's an older version of the Animal Kingdom map:

The main thing to remember about the Animal Kingdom is that the Tree of Life is the center of the park. It is the hub to all the spokes.

When you enter the park, you cross the Oasis, which has lots of nook and crannies housing various types of animals from colorful parrots, to fish, to giant anteaters. Many times, cast members will be stationed throughout this area with various cages, filled with anything from small mammals to tarantulas, or bones, or other interesting educational things.

Once you pass over the bridge you enter:

DISCOVERY ISLAND : There are various trails you can wander, exploring hidden coves containing various critters off the beaten path (tamarin, otter, porcupine, or lemur), or simply play spot the animals carved into the Tree of Life.

It's Tough to be a Bug! -- is a must see 4-D show. If you have timid children, you might want to hold them in your lap since it's dark, and Hopper can be scary!

CAMP MINNIE-MICKEY: Mainly a character greeting area. BE WARNED! Some of the character greeting lines are just as long as riding Expedition Everest! There will also be various locations throughout the park that will have character's pop up from time to time. Yes, this info is on your times guide.

The Festival of the Lion King show is here, too, but I've never watched it.

AFRICA

Kilimanjaro Safaris -- Fast Pass -- must ride This line can seem very long, but each truck holds around 32-40 guests so it goes fairly quickly. Just make sure you take a potty break before going in line. The road is very rough--cement molded to make it seem like mud--which does make for a jarring ride if you have neck or back issues, but it's worth the ride. The truck traverses various parts of Africa and, in the Disney way, as a tourist you don't see the enclosures unless you look for them.

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail -- a walk-thru path that takes you past gorillas, hippos,  various birds, etc.

Wildlife Express Train (5-7 min. ride) takes you behind the scenes of Africa to . . .

RAFIKI'S PLANET WATCH : After disembarking from the train, animals highlight an outdoor discovery trail to . . .

Conservation Station -- animal encounters, interactive exhibits  and view the veterinary facility. Sometimes they are doing surgery/dental on an animal and will explain what's going on while they are doing the procedure--not for the squeamish.

Affection Section -- petting yard. Your basic goats and sheep, and sometimes something a little more exotic.

ASIA

Flights of Wonder -- bird show. Never saw it.

Maharaja Jungle Trek -- a walk-thru path that takes you past tigers, bats, Komodo dragons, etc.

Kali River Rapids --Fast Pass -- must ride --VERY WET! -- turbulent river raft ride that takes you through parts of Asia. Personally, I would save this ride for the heat of the day when I'm about to leave the park. . . unless you brought a change of clothes and a towel. If you can get out of a wheelchair, you can ride this ride. It is rough, but there is a high back to help you protect your neck.

Expedition Everest --Fast Pass -- must ride -- seriously fun rollercoaster. It goes forward, backwards and forward again, but don't let that scare you! The best, and scariest, part of the ride is the ride up to the top of the mountain, as the track has no sides! The view is fantastic! You can see the Kali River Rapids ride and clear to Blizzard Beach. The ride isn't too rough, or too fast, but it's too much fun! There is a singles line, which is just to the left of the gift shop exit.

DINOLAND U.S.A. : Many parts of Dinoland are like a county fair with various games to play.

The Boneyard -- dinosaur dig-site playground. Let the kids get dirty while the parents recover!

Finding Nemo -- A musical show. We did see this and it's a pretty good show. It's in a black light dark for most of the time, but the various characters are fluorescent, which makes them glow. They advise you to get in line 30 minutes pre-show time, but if the park isn't crowded, then don't worry about it. The show is 40 minutes long.

Primeval Whirl-- Fast Pass -- four people per car. This ride will jerk the snot out of you. Personally, it isn't worth it, especially if there's a line.

TriceraTop Spin -- think Dumbo ride with dinosaurs.

DINOSAUR--Fast Pass -- must ride -- Each car seats three rows of four. You are sent back into time to retrieve a dinosaur, right before the meteor shower destroys life on this planet. It's a dark, and can be very scary,  ride especially for little kids. If you have ear plugs, you might want to wear them--especially children. Very loud. Very dark. Very scary. Very jerky. Very fun. It can hurt your neck or back as the jeep evades dinosaurs and meteors.

Since we've ridden this ride numerous times, we've become a tad jaded . . . until this last year when we had a couple of newbie British girls behind us screaming the entire time. I don't think I've laughed so hard in years. It made the ride really, really fun.

And that's it for this particular park.

I'll do Hollywood Studios next . . . hopefully, I'll have it written by Thursday.

Later, Peeps!