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FastPass+ and MagicBands Takeover Walt Disney World – Part I: My Magic Kingdom Experience

Update: Welcome to NY Times readers. Please find the latest news on MyMagic+ and Fastpass+ here. See all of our coverage here.

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I went to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday to test how the FastPass+ (FP+) experience would work for someone who has time for a mid-day 4 hour visit. I’m still building back up to theme park conditioning, so anything more than that exhausts me. I’m a local and haven’t yet booked a night at at Disney resort, so I don’t own a MagicBand. Even though FP+ has been running in place of the paper (aka legacy) Fastpass system at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since before Christmas, this was my first experience with FP+.

Given that the FP+ system had been live for a few days already, I made sure to read various discussion boards about other people’s experiences and tried to determine an optimal strategy for myself and my son. Unfortunately, almost nothing turned out the way I thought it would.

My first attempt at accessing FP+ was a strikeout. I had read a few accounts of how guests were able to make FP+ reservations at the TTC via Guest Relations cast members armed with tablets. When we arrived at the TTC via the parking lot tram around 10:45AM there were no Guest Relations cast members to be found. Disney might have just been experimenting with that service earlier in the week. In theory, almost everyone arriving at the TTC is on the way to the Magic Kingdom, but you don’t really know until they’ve actually swiped their cards at the front gate. So I can see why they pulled that option.

After a quick ride on the monorail to the main gate, we immediately headed to the Main Street Opera House to score our FP+ reservations. I entered and went right to the MyMagic+ terminals, which would let me make a FP+ reservation if I was a Disney resort guest, but apparently not if I was a day-guest. There was a separate queue for that. A queue with a long-line as it turns out.Read More »FastPass+ and MagicBands Takeover Walt Disney World – Part I: My Magic Kingdom Experience

Steampunk Maleficent Dragon Coming to Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade

For the last several days, Disney has been hinting at the new “mystery float” that will be added to the “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” coming this spring, and they’ve finally revealed that the latest addition will be a giant Maleficent Dragon. The Steampunk-inspired float… Read More »Steampunk Maleficent Dragon Coming to Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade

Behind the Scenes on Jessica Chastain’s Disney Dream Portrait Shoot with Annie Leibovitz

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Earlier this week famed photographer of the stars Annie Leibovitz added Jessica Chastain to the list of celebrities she has featured in her Disney Dream Portraits series. The famous redhead portrayed Pixar’s first princess, also a redhead, Merida from the hit animated feature Brave.

Today we get two exciting videos that take us behind the scenes of the photo shoot and reveal how the magic is made. (Love the fake horse in the shot above. Makes sense though.) Appropriately enough for the Scottish princess, the photo shoot took place in an area of Cold Spring, New York known as the Hudson Highlands.

Turns out Chastain is a fan of a certain activity enjoyed by many guests at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World – Pin Trading. Below she shares her Pin Trading strategy:Read More »Behind the Scenes on Jessica Chastain’s Disney Dream Portrait Shoot with Annie Leibovitz

Hard Hat Tour of Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

Put your hard hats on! The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is giving us a tour of the first non-Disney luxury hotel to be built on property. The Four Seasons is the standard in luxury and it looks like they’re making… Read More »Hard Hat Tour of Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

UCF Knights, Fiesta Bowl Winners, Get Disney Parade

Walt Disney World has a long history of celebrating both professional and amateur athletes who perform at a high level of excellence. This year they’ll be honoring the local University of Central Florida UCF Knight’s football team. The Knights defeated the Baylor Bears in this… Read More »UCF Knights, Fiesta Bowl Winners, Get Disney Parade

Still Need a New Year’s Resolution? How About Planning a Free Disney Vacation?

This year Disney’s resolution is to get more families to spend time together, and what better way to do so than to give out free vacation packages? Yes, you read that correctly. Every day until January 31st Disney will be giving out a vacation-a-day to… Read More »Still Need a New Year’s Resolution? How About Planning a Free Disney Vacation?

Dr. John’s 2014 Prescriptions for Walt Disney World

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Normally at this time of year, I write a retrospective piece looking back at the year in Disney, but for personal reasons, I’ve decided now is the time to look forward, not back. Instead of recollections, I’m writing prescriptions.These are the things I believe will help Walt Disney World continue to compete for the hearts and wallets of their fans while fending off challenges from other entertainment options both near (Universal Orlando) and far (changing TV viewing habits at home, for instance)

I’ll try and limit myself to one or two recommendations each and something that can at least get started in 2014. I don’t intend each prescription to solve every woe, but it will at least make a significant difference in one or two major problem areas.

Magic Kingdom
The oldest theme park in Central Florida is showing its age more and more and suffers from serious stagnation in both attractions and entertainment (translation: a serious capacity issue). There is something they can do quickly to make a dent. As part of an overall project to update Tomorrowland, I prescribe for the park an indoor air-conditioned high-capacity theater capable of hosting shows similar to the Hyperion Theater at California Adventure. With multiple shows a day, this adds a lot of capacity, gives guests a place to cool off in the heat and humidity, and allows for a showcase for Disney’s latest animated musicals (Rapunzel Stage show anyone?). This is also something that could be accomplished quickly and with minimal in park disruption by setting the theater outside the berm. Additional revenue can be raised by hosting events in the space, something the Magic Kingdom is currently lacking.

EPCOT
This park has the highest capacity of all four parks. It has two wonderful festivals and an enjoyable Christmas overlay. These are wonderful for what they do to attract guests. However, the mission and vision of EPCOT has been ignored for too long, and many areas of the park are in serious need of rejuvenation. Let’s tackle the two sections of the park separately.Read More »Dr. John’s 2014 Prescriptions for Walt Disney World

Watch The 2013 Osborne Family Lights From Home

Editor’s note: Please welcome Michelle Snow with here first guest post for The Disney Blog. Follow her on Twitter @zengrrl. One of the best parts of the Holiday season at Walt Disney World is the annual Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood… Read More »Watch The 2013 Osborne Family Lights From Home