Hot on the heels of the massive announcement of the second Harry Potter-based realm coming to Universal Studios Florida, the Universal Orlando Resort announced today that the area surrouding the popular attraction, The Simpsons Ride will be transformed into Springfield, the notable city that plays host to the colorful characters of the The Simpsons. Taking over the remainder of the former World Expo section that was rethemed after the closure of Back to the Future: The Ride, this exciting new land will include a new family attraction, food and beverage options, photo opportunities and new meet and greet characters.

 Woo Hoo! Springfield, hometown to America’s favorite animated family, The Simpsons, comes to life at Universal Orlando Resort launching this summer.

The expansive, new area within Universal Studios will be anchored by the mega-attraction, The Simpsons Ride, and will allow guests to enter the world of The Simpsons like never before. It will be the only place in the world where guests can walk the streets of Springfield. It will include a brand-new outdoor attraction, places and foods pulled right from the show and two new Simpsons characters who will make their debut with the new area – Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob.

And yes – there will be Duff Beer, brewed exclusively for Universal Orlando.

For the first time ever – anywhere – fans will be able to walk down Fast Food Boulevard and visit the places that helped Springfield stake its claim as “Shelbyville by the Sea.” They will be able to grab a Krusty-certified meat sandwich at Krusty Burger, snatch the catch of the day at the Frying Dutchman, get a slice at Luigi’s Pizza, go nuts for donuts at Lard Lad, enjoy a “Taco Fresho” with Bumblebee Man and imbibe at Moe’s Tavern.

The new attraction – called Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – will take “foolish humans” on an intergalactic spin designed to send them into orbit.

“This will be a must-see experience for Simpsons fans all over the world,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Universal Creative. “For the first time ever, they’re going to be able to enter a world that they’ve only seen on television – and we’re really excited to bring that world to life.”

“This new expansion will broaden and deepen the already incredible experience at Universal, by bringing to life the iconic landmarks of Springfield that fans have grown to love,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President, Fox Consumer Products. “Fans will literally be able to live and breathe Springfield as they visit the statue of Jebediah, enjoy a Krusty Burger, and have a seat at Moe’s Tavern, which are just a few of the great experiences awaiting at Universal.”

“It has been an honor to bring the world of the Simpsons to life in such a letter-perfect way,” said Denise Sirkot, President, Worldwide Brand, Gracie Films. “Truly this is the Krustyest place on earth.” 

Springfield announced for Universal Studios Florida is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

A few days ago I heard from some friends over at Disney Hipsters that there were laser effects working on Dinosaur that had been broken for years. I also heard from a friend that the bird at the top of Expedition Everest near the broken track was working. I decided it was time for a trip to Animal Kingdom to see for myself.

On the way I stopped at Disney’s Pop Century Resort to collect the new breakfast menu. Since Animal Kingdom didn’t have any breakfast dishes I haven’t tried I decided to eat at Pop. It was my first time eating breakfast there! I ordered a Ham and Cheese Omelet with a Biscuit. My boyfriend Tom who was with me got a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Bagel.

My omelet was very good. I expected a counter service location to be a bit skimpy with the toppings, but there was a ton of ham and cheese. It was a big portion as well and very filling. I was especially surprised at how good the biscuit was. It was fresh, soft, and delicious!

I had high hopes for the Bagel sandwich, but they were quickly dashed. The bagel was hard and dry, it had obviously been sitting out for quite some time. The eggs were really runny and the bacon was cold…it was very disappointing. Maybe if it was first thing when the food court opened I would be willing to try the bagel again, but I would have to see it being made and know it was fresh.

We made it to Animal Kingdom just after Rope Drop. Our first stop was Adventurers Outpost. When I was there last week they only had one of the two rooms operational and I wanted to see if the other one was ready yet. It was! There was no line and we walked right in. We got to go into that room to meet Mickey and Minnie this time. The room was just about identical except that it was a mirror image. Even the photos in the small waiting area were the same as in the other room.

After a quick detour to get FASTPASSes for Expedition Everest we headed to Dinosaur. Tom (who knows much more about Disney World’s past than I do) explained that there were laser effects during the time travel portions at the beginning and end of the ride when it first opened in 1998. Shortly after the ride opened they were no longer used and have been gone ever since.

The ride began and there they were! Green laser-like lights illuminating the fog as we went through the red-lit “toaster” section to travel back in time. It wasn’t a particularly fancy effect, but I really appreciated that I couldn’t see the forest through the fog like usual…it really added to the time travel element not being able to see the destination before you actually get there.  There were similar green lasers at the end of the drop after the Carnotaurus, again in the “toaster” section. These seemed to serve less of a function but still looked cool.

There was a lot of talk on twitter after photos and video were posted about whether these were the original lasers or new ones. Some people say it is the original…but it isn’t the complete effect, some lasers are still turned off so it looks different. Others are saying these are new lasers all together. Honestly? I don’t care whether they are new or old. What I care about is that someone is doing work on the ride. Some imagineers took the time to either fix or add something in an attraction that has several broken elements. Hopefully this leads to fixing other broken effects and other attractions. Anytime maintenance that has been long-overlooked is being done I am a happy fan.

On the way to Everest we stopped at Royal Anadapur Tea Company. It was a really hot day and I wanted to get my favorite in-park treat: Frozen Chai. The Frozen Chai is like a creamy smoothie and is perfect for cooling off. If you haven’t ever had Chai tea, it tastes a bit like a pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream…it’s very good. I highly recommend it! It’s a bit expensive but worth it.

After seeing the Dinosaur lasers we were feeling pretty amped about Expedition Everest. I haven’t seen the bird work since the first time I rode back in the fall of 2010! Since we had time to kill while finishing our drinks we spent a while slowly looking through the queue. The queue at Expedition Everest is one of my favorites. There is so much detail and so many things to look at! There was a family in front of us discussing the artifacts found destroyed by the Yeti having a heated discussion about whether or not all those and the photos were real…they were so into it! Sadly, the bird (and of course the Yeti) were not working, but I remain optimistic that one by one things will be fixed.

It was starting to rain pretty heavily at this point so we decided to head out, but not without making a quick stop at Camp Minnie-Mickey. I knew Mickey and Minnie were gone (there was even a sign at the entrance to Camp directing people to Adventurers Outpost to meet them) and I wanted to verify their replacements. As I had heard Pocahontas and Baloo with King Louie occupied to two vacated meet locations and their old meet spots on the trail between Africa and Asia were empty. I wanted to stop for pictures but the rain was coming down really hard and the lines were long and outdoors so I’ll have to go back another day.

Observations from Disney’s Animal Kingdom: May 21, 2013 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

We’ve given you the basics about Disney resort pools in general and the specifics about the pools at the value and moderate level hotels. The series concludes with an in-depth look at the pools at the Walt Disney World deluxe and villa resorts: Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas, Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower Villas, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Polynesian, Saratoga Springs and Tree House Villas, Wilderness Lodge and Villas, and the Yacht & Beach Club and Beach Club Villas.

So strap on your swim fins; we’re going in …

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE AND KIDANI VILLAGE

• How many pools are there? There are two large pools at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Uzima pool at the main Jambo House, and the Samwati Spring pool in the Kidani Village villas area. There is no “quiet pool” area at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
• What is the pool themeing? The African wilderness.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There are traditional kiddie pools in both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas. Additionally, Kidani has a large interactive water play area intended for children under 48″ tall.
• Are there water slides? Yes, both pool areas have water slides. At Kidani, there is a small slide, appropriate for preschoolers, as well as a larger slide for older children. At Jambo, there is one large water slide.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There are playgrounds near both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Maji bar next to the Kidani pool offers drinks and very limited number of cold sandwich options. The Uzima Springs bar next to the Jambo pool offers drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks. The Mara quick service restaurant, with complete food offerings, is steps away from the Jambo pool.
• Are there showers at the pool? Yes, there are restrooms with lockers and shower adjacent to both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs at both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes, towels are available at both pools.
• How deep is the pool? The Jambo pool is four feet, ten inches at its deepest point. The Kidani pool is four feet, eleven inches at its deepest point.
• Are there zero entry pools available? Yes. The main pools at both Jambo and Kidani have zero entry access.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. There are activities at both the Jambo and Kidani pools. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Bingo, Wild Trivia, Frisbee Toss, Giant Jenga, Chalk Art, Musical Rings, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.
• Anything else? The two sections of the Animal Kingdom Lodge are a substantial walking distance apart. Guests with preschool and elementary age children may prefer the pools at Kidani Village due to the appealing children’s water play area. Different evening movies are shown at the Jambo and Kidani areas. Feel free to view whichever film is more appealing to your family. The schedules for both will be available at the front desk.

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo main pool

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo hot tub

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo kiddie pool

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo playground

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village main pool

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, children’s water play area

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village kiddie pool

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village playground

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village hot tub

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, Maji pool bar

BOARDWALK INN AND BOARDWALK VILLAS RESORT

• How many pools are there? Three. The main feature pool is called Luna Park. There are also two smaller “quiet pools,” one each on the Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villa sides of the resort.
• What is the pool themeing? Atlantic seaside boardwalk, circa 1930.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a traditional kiddie pool in the Luna Park area.
• Are there water slides? The centerpiece of the Luna Park pool is a water slide fashioned to look like a wooden roller coaster. The slide exit features a GIANT clown mouth. The slide itself is fairly average, but the clown mouth has been known to frighten more than a few coulrophobes.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There is playground in the Luna Park area.
• What’s the nearest food option? Leaping Horse Libations, adjacent to the Luna Park pool, offers drinks and basic cold sandwiches. There are no food options at the other pools.
• Are there showers at the pool? Yes. There are showers at the Muscles & Bustles health club, adjacent to the Luna Park area.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs near all three pools.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The Luna Park pool is four feet, ten inches at its deepest point. The other pools are five feet at their deepest point.
• Are there zero entry pools available? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the Luna Park pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Ping Pong Toss, Noodle Races, Duck Scramble, Hot Potato, Mr. Potato Head Relay, Ladder Golf, and others. Additionally, the Community Hall next to the Villas quiet pool offers other activities such as ping pong and board games. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores. There are often hair wrap artists located at the main feature pool mid-day.
• Anything else? Seriously, the clown pool is a big thing for some kids. If you’re thinking of staying at the Boardwalk, make sure your child has no fear of clowns.

Boardwalk, Luna Park pool, ©Disney

Boardwalk, Luna Park pool, clown slide exit

Boardwalk, Luna Park, playground

Boardwalk, Villas pool, hot tub

Boardwalk, Villas pool

CONTEMPORARY AND BAY LAKE TOWER RESORTS

• How many pools are there? Three. Two at the Contemporary main building (one large feature pool and one nearby smaller quiet pool) and one at the Bay Lake Tower building. Signage indicates that amenities at Bay Lake Tower, including the pool, are restricted to BLT guests. No such signage exists on the main Contemporary side.
• What is the pool themeing? Um, contemporary.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There are no traditional kiddie pools, but there are children’s water play areas at both locations.
• Are there water slides? Yes. There are medium-sized water slide at both the Contemporary and Bay Lake main pools. There is also a small slide, appropriate for preschoolers, at Bay Lake.
• Is there a nearby playground? Not really. The nearby beach area provides a place for kids to run around, but there are no climbing structures.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Sand Bar at the Contemporary pool offers drinks, hot sandwiches, salads, and ice cream. The Cove Bar at the Bay Lake Tower pool serves drinks and basic cold sandwiches.
• Are there showers at the pool?Yes, there are showers in the restroom at the main Contemporary pool. There are no indoor showers at the Bay Lake pool.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs in both locations.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The Contemporary main pool is four feet at its deepest point. The Bay Lake pool is four feet, six inches at its deepest point.
• Are there zero entry pools available? Not at the Contemporary, but there is zero entry at Bay Lake.
• Are poolside cabanas available? Yes, cabana rentals are available at the main Contemporary pool.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at both main pools. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Hula Hoop Games, Dance Party, Cup Stacking Challenge, Bingo, Chalk Art, Wacky Bowling, and others. Additionally, the Community Hall next to the Bay Lake pool offers other activities such board games. There is an outdoor billiards table at the Contemporary pool, as well as a volleyball net on the nearby beach. Ping Pong and shuffleboard are available at the Bay Lake pool. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.
• Anything else? The marina next to the Contemporary pool offers numerous boating and water sports opportunities. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake.

Contemporary, main pool

Contemporary, main pool, slide

Contemporary, main pool, hot tub in the center of the pool, beach area beyond

Contemporary, quiet pool adjacent to the main pool, additional cabana in the rear

Contemporary, main pool, deluxe cabana rental

Contemporary, Sand Bar, quick food and drinks

Contemporary, main pool, children’s water play area

Contemporary, Bay Lake Tower Villas pool

Contemporary, Bay Lake Tower Villas, Children’s water play area

GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT

• How many pools are there? Currently two. The Courtyard pool is smaller and quieter. The Beach is larger, with interactive elements. When the new villas area opens, there may be an additional pool.
• What is the pool themeing? Victorian beach.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a brand new children’s interactive play area at the Beach pool, themed to Alice in Wonderland.
• Are there water slides? Yes. There is a large waterslide at the Beach pool as well as a smaller slide integrated into the children’s water play area.
• Is there a nearby playground? There’s no traditional playground, but there are beach and grassy areas where kids can run around.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Beach Pool and Courtyard Pool bars offer drinks, as well as a selection of salads and hot and cold sandwiches.
• Are there showers at the pool? Yes, the rest room nearest to the Beach pool includes lockers and showers.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes, there is a hot tub near the Courtyard pool.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The pools are four feet at their deepest point.
• Are there zero entry pools available? Yes, the Beach and Courtyards pools are zero entry.
• Are poolside cabanas available? Yes, there are cabana rentals available at the Beach pool.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the Beach pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Mickey Memory, Dance Party, Relay Games, The Claw, Candy Sink, Ring Toss, and others. There is a ping pong table near the Beach Pool bar.
• Anything else? While the Grand Floridian sometimes has a reputation of being stuffy, children truly are welcome. Kids of all ages play in both pools. The Grand Floridian typically does not offer an evening campfire, but you’re welcome to head over to the Polynesian or Contemporary to enjoy the festivities there. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake. The Grand Floridian is in the process of completing a Disney Vacation Club villa addition to the resort. Changes are ongoing during this construction.

Grand Floridian, Beach Pool, ©Disney

Grand Floridian, children’s water play area

Grand Floridian, Beach pool

Grand Floridian, poolside cabanas

Grand Floridian, Beach pool snack bar

OLD KEY WEST RESORT

• How many pools are there? Four. One main feature pool and three smaller pools.
• What is the pool themeing? The beach at Old Key West.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a traditional kiddie pool at the main feature pool complex.
• Are there water slides? Yes. There is a medium-sized slide at the feature pool.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There playgrounds adjacent to all the pools.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Good’s To Go snack bar at the main feature pool offers drinks, as well as a selection of salads and hot and cold sandwiches. There is a snack bar at the pool in the Old Turtle Pond Road section of the resort. The Turtle Shack offer pizza and a limited selection of cold sandwiches. This venue is open seasonally. No food offerings are available at the other pools.
• Are there showers at the pool? Yes. There are showers and lockers in the restrooms adjacent to the main feature pool.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes, there is a hot tub at the feature pool.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes, towels are available at the feature pool. They may or may not be available at the quiet pools.
• How deep is the pool? The main feature pool is four feet at its deepest point. Other pools may be up to four feet, eight inches deep.
• Are there zero entry pools available? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the feature pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: UnBirthday Party, Oversized Games, Jeopardy, Football Fun, Marvel Mayhem, Key West Treasure Hunt, and others. There are numerous craft and quiet game activities in the nearby community hall, as well as bike rentals. Weather permitting, there may be a free campfire with s’mores. Campfires are only a few days a week at OKW, check your resort schedule for details.
• Anything else? Old Key West has a poolside sauna available for guest use.

Old Key West, feature pool

Old Key West, feature pool

Old Key West, feature pool with Hidden Mickey slide exit

Old Key West, kiddie pool

Old Key West, poolside sauna building

Old Key West, feature pool playground

Old Key West, Good’s To Go snack bar

POLYNESIAN RESORT

• How many pools are there? Two. The main feature pool is the volcano pool. A quiet pool is located on the other side of the Samoa building.
• What is the pool themeing? Polynesian island.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no traditional kiddie pool, but there is a children’s splash pad.
• Are there water slides? Yes. There is a large slide coming out of the volcano.
• Is there a nearby playground? There is no traditional playground, but the beach area provides a large place for kids to run around and play.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Barefoot Pool Bar, adjacent to the volcano pool, offers drinks and a very small selection of packaged snacks. More food offerings are located inside the main building at Captain Cook’s quick service restaurant. There are no food offerings at the quiet pool.
• Are there showers at the pool? Yes, there is a locker room with showers located under the volcano.
• Are there hot tubs?No. The Polynesian is the only deluxe resort without a hot tub.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The pools are four feet, six inches at their deepest point.
• Are there zero entry pools available? Yes. The main volcano pool is zero entry.
• Are poolside cabanas available? Yes. Cabana rentals are available at the volcano pool.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the volcano pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Hula Hoop Contests, Disney Trivia, Dance Parties, Chalk Art, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.
• Anything else? While there is no hot tub, one area of the pool, located near the slide drop point, is kept warmer than the rest of the pool. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake.

Polynesian, zero entry end of the volcano pool

Polynesian, the outdoor rinse showers have unique themeing

Polynesian, children’s water play feature

Polynesian, volcano slide

Polynesian, volcano pool, waterfall feature

Polynesian, the beach area adjacent to the volcano pool offers views of the Magic Kingdom and other area resorts

SARATOGA SPRINGS AND TREE HOUSE VILLAS RESORTS

• How many pools are there? Six total, five at the main Saratoga Springs resort, plus one small quiet pool in the Treehouse Villas area. The main feature pool, High Rock Spring, is located in the Carriage House area. The Paddock area pool also has many interactive features.
• What is the pool themeing? Off to the races.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no traditional kiddie pool, but there are children’s interactive spray zones at the High Rock and Paddock pools.
• Are there water slides? Yes. There are small and large slides at the High Rock and Paddock pools.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There are playgrounds next to the Paddock and Congress Park pools.
• What’s the nearest food option? The On the Rocks pool bar, adjacent to the High Rock pool, offers drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks. For more substantial nearby food, go inside the main building to the Artist’s Palette quick service restaurant. The Paddock Pool has a snack bar offering drinks, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches. There are also breakfast food offerings at the Paddock pool bar. There are no food offerings at the other pools.
• Are there showers at the pool? Yes. There are showers and lockers in the restrooms adjacent to several of the pools.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes. There are hot tubs at all the Saratoga pools.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The Saratoga pools have a maximum depth of five feet.
• Are there zero entry pools available? Yes. The High Rock and Paddock pools have zero entry access.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the High Rock pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Bingo, Poolside Crafts, Courtyard Games, Name That Disney Tune, Critter Competition, and others. Additional activities may be available at the Community Hall behind the pool. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.
• Anything else? This is a large resort. If you think you’ll want to spend a lot of time at the High Rock or Paddock pools, try to request a room nearby. The pool at the Treehouse Villas area is quite small and extremely quiet, Treehouse guests looking for more activity will want to head over to the main resort.

Saratoga, High Rock Spring pool, hot tub in foreground

Saratoga Springs, High Rock pool

Saratoga Springs, poolside activities

Saratoga Springs, children’s water play area

Saratoga Springs, Congress Park quiet pool

Saratoga Springs, Congress Park playground

WILDERNESS LODGE AND WILDERNESS LODGE VILLAS RESORTS

• How many pools are there? Two. A main feature pool at the Lodge and a smaller quiet pool at the villas.
• What is the pool themeing? Northwest Wilderness.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a traditional kiddie pool adjacent to the main feature pool.
• Are there water slides? Yes. There is one smallish slide at the main feature pool.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There is a playground on the beach near the marina.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Trout Pass pool bar offers drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks. For more substantial fare, go inside to the Roaring Forks quick service restaurant. There are no food offering at the villas pool.
• Are there showers at the pool? There are showers in the rest room at the health club, which is shares restrooms with the villas pool.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes. There are hot tubs adjacent to both pools.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The pools have a maximum depth of four feet, six inches.
• Are there zero entry pools available? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the main feature pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Sand Soccer, Temporary Tatoos, Giant Board Games, Sand Castle Construction, Goofy Bingo, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.
• Anything else? The main pool features a working geyser. Look for it to erupt about once per hour. There are often hair wrap artists located at the main feature pool mid-day. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake.

Wilderness Lodge, main pool

Wilderness Lodge, main pool with small water slide at the back

Wilderness Lodge, kiddie pool

Wilderness Lodge, hot tub

Wilderness Lodge, poolside activities

Wilderness Lodge, Trout Pass bar

Wilderness Lodge, playground with beach games

YACHT CLUB, BEACH CLUB, AND BEACH CLUB VILLAS RESORTS

• How many pools are there? Four total. The main Stormalong Bay pool is shared by the Yacht & Beach Clubs. There are three small quiet pools, one each at the Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Beach Club Villas.
• What is the pool themeing? Elegant seaside resort, with a giant shipwreck in the middle. Stormalong Bay is the largest and most elaborate pool at Walt Disney World, encompassing three acres of water play. The section nearest the Yacht Club features a real sand bottom – perfect for castle building. Other areas include a “lazy river” for floating along on a raft or pool noodle, a swirling whirlpool, and calm soaking areas. Many consider it to be a mini water park.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no traditional kiddie pool, but one area of Stormalong Bay is kiddie pool depth and very appropriate for toddlers.
• Are there water slides? Yes, two. There is a small slide near the beach in the Stormalong Bay area, under the big ship. The large slide starts at the big ship; this is the largest water slide at a WDW resort.
• Is there a nearby playground? There is no playground, but you will find plenty of beach space for kids to run around.
• What’s the nearest food option? The poolside bar, Hurricane Hanna’s, was completely refurbished in early 2013. Hanna’s offers drinks as well as hot and cold sandwiches, as well as some substantial bar appetizers. Additionally, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop offers a full service menu of comfort food, and a takeout menu of ice cream treats. There are no food options at the other pools.
• Are there showers at the pool? There are showers at the Ship Shape health club adjacent to Stormalong Bay.
• Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs located near all the pools.
• Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.
• How deep is the pool? The quiet pools are about four feet, six inches deep. Stormalong Bay is three acres big. The depth in some sections is just inches. The lazy river is approximately eight feet deep, the deepest area at any WDW resort pool.
• Are there zero entry pools available? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at Stormalong Bay. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Chalk Art, Arts & Crafts, Disney Trivia, Pin Trading, Volleyball, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.
• Anything else? Stormalong Bay is largely considered to be the best pool on property. In order to prevent pool hopper overcrowding, cast members are very strict about checking guest identification. If you’re not staying at the Yacht or Beach Club (including the villas), then you’re not swimming at Stormalong Bay. There are often hair wrap artists located at the main feature pool mid-day. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake. There is a Pick-A-Pearl kiosk located on the walkway next to Stormalong Bay.

Yacht & Beach Club Stormalong Bay, sand bottom area, the de facto kiddie pool

Yacht & Beach Club, Stormalong Bay shipwreck from a distance. The slides start at the wreck.

Yacht & Beach Club, Stormalong Bay main slide exit point

Yacht & Beach Club, Stormalong Bay, main swim area

Yacht & Beach Club, Stormalong Bay

Yacht & Beach Club, cast member checking IDs for Stormalong Bay entry

Yacht & Beach Club, Stormalong Bay, kiddie slide

Yacht & Beach Club, foos ball and billiards near the pool

Yacht & Beach Club, Stormalong Bay, using noodles in the lazy river

Beach Club, quiet pool

Beach Club, quiet pool, hot tub

And that concludes our series on the pool situation at the Walt Disney World resorts. Happy swimming!

Get to Know the Disney World Pools, Part Four: The Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort Pools is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

A few weeks ago, I posted an article aimed at those of you travelers looking to plan your first ever Disney World trip. I covered three very important topics… requirements, when and how long, and tickets. In this second part I am going to go over transportation, accommodations, and the ever important itinerary.

Accommodations

I am pretty sure that almost anyone that looks at a list of possible accommodations in the Orlando area will be totally overwhelmed. There are so many options! Off property, on property, vacation homes, motels, hotels, value resorts, and even cabins! In order to make the big decision of where you are going to rest your head, you want to look at your options in categories and then break it down from there.

First off, if you have no interest in renting a car, either because you are petrified of driving around an unknown area, or because you do not need to go off of Disney property for anything, you probably should look at accommodations available to you right on Disney property. Disney hotels also work well for families looking to camp. When you are looking at on property versus off property, the major differences lie in what discounts and special perks you get from staying right with Disney. Disney offers guests staying right on property benefits like free parking at the Disney theme parks, shutter service to and from the parks, a “magical” bus shuttle to and from Orlando International Airport, room charging privileges, package pick-up at resorts, and the ability to add-on one of the controversial Disney Dining Plans.

Staying off property usually works well for folks traveling minute, because most of Disney’s steep discounts must be booked months ahead of time. Dining at the Disney theme parks and resorts is really expensive for the most part, so if you are staying off-property you really have the advantage to hit up far less expensive restaurants. Transportation to non-Disney theme parks and other area attractions will probably be easier if you are not surround by the Disney bubble. If off-site accommodations sounds like your thing, I seriously suggest picking up a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and check out the in-depth reviews of many hotels, motels, and vacation homes that can be found off of Disney property. No, I do not get paid to plug the book. I actually think that the Unofficial Guide excels in this topic, since most other guide books only cover reviews of on-site resorts.

If you have decided to be surrounded by the Disney magic 24/7, you have to choose from one of Disney’s incredible resorts. This is no small task. Trust me. Just think of it this way, you usually get what you pay for. While one size does not fit all in terms of Disney resorts, there are very few guests that end up truly hating the resort that they choose. If your budget is what matters to you most, go with a value resort. That is a no brainer. If you want more than just a place to rest your head and if you are willing to throw extra money into your hotel, examine your choices in the moderate and deluxe categories. Most people worry that once they are willing to pay over $300 a night for a hotel room, they are going to regret it. However, I really believe that you will be happy with whatever resort you choose. None of the deluxe resorts repeatedly get horrific reviews, so you really do not have much to worry about. I suggest you go to YouTube and watch resort tour videos to get a good idea of what each hotel’s vibe is like. Try not to stress about it too much, because no matter what you choose, you are going to be in Disney World and that is the most important part.

Transportation

You are faced with a few big questions when it comes to transportation in your Disney World trip. The first is, how are you going to get to Disney World? If you are really cool and can teleport, then by all means, do so. However, if you are an average human like the rest of us, you are either going to be flying to Florida or driving.

In most cases, driving is going to be your least expensive option. While gas prices are always on the rise, some people choose to caravan with another family and split the cost of gas and a rental vehicle. Often times, a family can rent a van, plus pay for gas and still come out of trip spending less money on transportation than if they flew to Disney World. This option allows you to have freedom to travel outside of the Disney World Resort to visit other area attractions and restaurants. While some off-site accommodations provide free shuttles to Disney theme parks, not all do. So, you will need to think about renting a car if this applies to you.

Flying is the best way to get your Disney vacation started as soon as possible. There are some serious benefits to flying to Disney World other than just getting the magic started quickly. Once you arrive at the airport, you actually do not need to rent a car or hire a car company to transport you to Disney World. Disney provides a free shuttle service to and from Orlando International Airport for anyone staying on Disney property. Whether you use it or not, you essentially pay for it when you book your hotel room. The downside to using Disney’s Magical Express is that you have to depend entirely on Disney’s internal busses to transport your family around Disney property. If you are in a hurry or think might get impatient waiting for a bus, you could find Disney’s busses frustrating since they are not always the most dependable. It is pretty hard to know if you are going to wait two minutes or twenty minutes for a bus. When it is nearly midnight, you are exhausted, and all you want to do is get back to your hotel room and sleep, waiting for a bus sounds like absolute misery. However, for some people, this small inconvenience is well worth the money you can save from not having to rent a car.

Keep in mind that even if you choose to drive your own vehicle to Disney World, this does not mean you are required to drive your own car to get to the parks and back to your Disney resort (provided you stay on property). If you feel uncomfortable driving around the sometimes confusing Disney World roadways, you can always use the internal bus system.

Itinerary

I was told by a reader of the TouringPlans blog that they find creating an agenda the biggest challenge in planning a Disney World trip. I totally understand this. Even after planning what feels like a million trips, it still is in no way a simple process to figure out my agenda. I will tell you about how I personally plan, and you can decide from there what tips you would like to incorporate for yourself.

First, I lay every bit of information out in front of me. I print out park hours for my vacation dates. I also jot down the recommended “best park” and “worst park” for each day based on the crowd calendar. At this point, I usually have not made any Advanced Dining Reservations yet. I only book those once I know what park I would like to start my day at. If I have the park hopper option, obviously I have a little bit more flexibility when it comes to booking my dining reservations. When going online or calling to make my dining plans, I try to match up the “best park” for an given day to a desired restaurant. Simple enough, right? Wrong. Sometimes I do not always get my way and can only get a restaurant reservation that I want for a day that does not work with the schedule I have laid out in front of me. Here is where your own judgement comes into play. What matters more to you? Sticking to a schedule with the presumed lowest park crowd, or nabbing a coveted Disney dining reservation?

Some of you might be wondering why I only care about documenting where I would like to start each day at. I have come to realize that you cannot always predict how fast or slow you will get done with a park on any given day. You also cannot predict the weather very far out. Sometimes things happen and you want to spend the afternoon finishing up attractions at another park that you might have skipped for whatever reason. Sometimes you discover that you really enjoy a nighttime show and would like to see it again, but you will have to travel back to a park you already visited. That is why I prefer to only note where I would like to start each day. I always pick each of the four major parks as my “primary” park at least once. I like to get the morning experience and nighttime experience of each park, even if that means not doing it on the same way. This is a definite benefit of adding on the park hopper option to your theme park admission ticket.

Once all of my Advanced Dining Reservations are made and I know what parks I will be starting my day at, I type up a helpful piece of paper that I literally take with me everywhere during my trip. The paper lists my travel dates, primary park, any special shows or activities planned, and any dining reservations for the day, along with the confirmation numbers. I put it in a page protector just to keep it relatively crinkle free, even if I have to fold it a bit to fit it into my bag. I carry it with me so I can pull it out in case I ever ask myself, “what park will I be at on Friday?”, or if a restaurant cannot find my reservation.

Everyone plans their trips a little bit differently, but I just wanted to give you a glimpse on how I like to keep my head on through the excitement of Disney trip. I would love to hear about how all of you are organizing your schedules!

Traveling to Disney World for the first time is a big daunting task for a lot of people, but it does not have to be. Everyone seems to have the one thing that trips them up in their planning. In the comments section of my previous post, many of our awesome TouringPlans readers shared what their travel struggle tends to be. Hopefully, my tips and tricks helped you out and answered some of your burning questions! If not, please let me know so I can help!

A First-Timer’s Guide to Planning a Disney World Trip – Part Two is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

For a while now I’ve hinted at my minor obsession with Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk. Long before the popular restaurant chain had a location in Orlando, I had been scouting out Forrest Gump-themed eateries across the country (and later, across the world), visiting eight other locations to experience was is honestly one of my favorite places to eat on the planet. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a bit of a foodie, especially when it comes to seafood, but I’m also a huge fan of the film Forrest Gump, so the marriage of my two passions has always hit a soft spot for me.

The chain was originally launched in 1995 by Viacom in an effort to capitalize on the success of the famous Tom Hanks film. Carrying on the fictional story of shrimp company founded by Forrest Gump in honor of his fallen comrade Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue, the restaurant is filled with actual memorabilia from the film and unique décor inspired by it, including some infectious saying signs (I’ve gone on to buy at least four over the years). License plate signs saying “Run Forrest Run” and “Stop Forrest Stop” serve as a means to get the attention of the staff in case you need anything on a moment’s notice. You can even purchase those signs for your own use, as I have (see the picture below for an example of how I turned the signs into basic décor for my work desk) in the attached gift shop! And don’t forget to study the film—no visit to Bubba Gump’s is complete without a round of trivia!

Visiting once again to the CityWalk location, this time for my father’s birthday (I’m not the only one in the family that loves Bubba Gump), we were pleased to find that the menu had received some new additions such as the Frizzled Onion Strings, replacing the classic tower of battered onion rings (something I’ve ordered in locations in California, Florida, and even Japan). And while they aren’t as tasty as their predecessor, the onion strings, served with ranch and barbecue dipping sauces are still delectable to the point of leaving no string in the bowl. A solid appetizer to start with for our meal.

Sampling around the table, we ordered the “I’m Stuffed” Shrimp, described as a dish featuring large shrimp with crab stuffing, baked in garlic butter and topped with Monterey jack cheese, served with jasmine rice. With a count of seven largely stuffed prawns smothered in a juicy (still sizzling) cheese blend, this entrée certainly pleased! The portion size is more than reasonable, though there are better options available if you are very hungry.

The Shrimper’s Heaven has been a staple on the Bubba Gump menu for quite some time, with its combo of breaded coconut shrimp, chilled peel-and-eat shrimp, fried shrimp and tempura fried shrimp, all served with a side of fries—this one is definitely for the hungry eaters! The all three of the fried options on the platter of shrimp cones are delicious and light in oil, but satisfyingly filling. The clear winner though is the peel-and-eat shrimp, available also as its own appetizer or as a part of the Run Across America Sampler appetizer platter.

Speaking of the Run Across America sampler, I can happily say that this is THE go-to dish for my professed go-to restaurant. I’m normally a hungry eater when I visit Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and this appetizer-as-an-entrée never disappoints! Available for $14.99, this appetizer costs less than most of the larger entrees and manages to come served with more food than the more expensive options! For a great sampling of all that Bubba Gump’s has to offer, this plate comes with Bubba’s Far Out Dip and Chips, the Chilly shrimp (the peel-and-eat shrimp mentioned earlier), spicy chicken strips (some of the best I’ve ever had), the restaurant’s signature hush pups (filled with pieces of shrimp) and Mama Blue’s Fried Shrimp, the same tasty fried shrimp found in the Shrimper’s Heaven entrée. So to recap, half of the Shrimper’s Heaven, plus the same sized serving as the stand-alone appetizer version of Bubba’s Far Out Dip, a healthy portion of 3-5 hush pups, fried shrimp and buffalo chicken strips, all in one plate! This is arguably THE best deal in the restaurant, and if you’re a seafood lover like I am, one of the best deals you’ll find in any comparable restaurant of its kind. Based on my raving, I think you can guess that I love every aspect of the meal, with no-one aspect of the plate besting the other—a tough statement to make because everything tastes so fantastic, it is nearly impossible to judge one component against another.

I cannot speak higher praise for Bubba Gump Shrimp Co… I’m admittedly very much biased, as I’ve been a fan of this chain for years. I’ve tried countless menu items at the nine locations I’ve dined at around the world, and I’ve never been less than satisfied. With an extremely reasonable cost, some hidden gems on the menu like the Run Across America Sampler, a great family-friendly atmosphere and a good variety of choices to mix things up for the repeat visit, I continue to willingly choose Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. over pricey seafood restaurants with smaller portions and equal or lesser quality. I continue to go out of my way for this restaurant because it appeals to me in every way possible—for food, for atmosphere, for quality service and for a repeatability that hasn’t worn off over all of these years!

In the words of Forrest Gump, “that’s all I have to say about that.”

Universal Food Finds: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photo copyright Disney

With heavy lifting recently completed on the reconstruction of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad‘s track, the construction crane near Disneyland’s Big Thunder Trail has been removed, reopening the pathway between Fantasyland and Frontierland full-time and returning the Big Thunder Ranch to daily operation. That’s good news, because that area can expect to see much higher attendance next month when the Toy Story team arrives.

Similar to the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree held last summer at Big Thunder’s festival arena, Woody’s All-American Roundup will include character meet & greets, carnival games, kids crafts, and specialty snacks. New this year is “Talent Roundup” stage show, featuring Jessie the Cowgirl’s slingshot skills, Woody’s lasso tricks, and the musical stylings of Buckaroo Bob.

Between character shows, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies will perform their “Red, White and Bluegrass!” show on the outdoor stage. Billy was also moved here from their Golden Horseshoe home last summer, with mixed results (read here for more on the controversy). Hopefully the Hillbillies will get a better reception this time.

The Roundup begins on June 14 and runs through the summer season. No ending date is announced yet.

Woody’s All-American Roundup Arriving at Disneyland This Summer is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

It seems a lot of people have questions about tickets at Disneyland! The blog post I did on them last year around this time turned into an FAQ of sorts over the last 11 months. Over time, some things have changed and some have stayed the same. Disneyland tickets are still different than tickets at Walt Disney World in a lot of ways. So I thought now was a good time to update!

1. Prices Usually Go Up Once a Year – and if last year is any indication, that time is probably getting close. Price jumps are usually pretty nominal, but last year a few things, like the Premier Annual Pass, which gets you entry into both Disneyland and Walt Disney World for a one year period, went up quite a lot. The day passes shouldn’t go up much, but if you’re planning a trip later this year, you may save a few dollars buying them now. At Disney World, it’s a tougher decision whether or not to buy tickets before prices go up, because at Disney World, the big discounted packages (free dining anyone?) often require a ticket purchase. At Disneyland, that’s not typically the case. Historically Disneyland discounts are concentrated on room discounts. You can add tickets or not, the discount is the same. There are no guarantees on any of this, but it’s information you may want to take into account.

2. Tickets Are Non-Transferable – Disneyland (and Disney World while we’re at it) tickets are non-transferrable. They are. It’s the rule. You can do it and offer every excuse in the book as to why it was okay, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s against the rule. I know you would save a lot of money if your friends bought 5-day tickets, only used 3 and then gave them to you. Believe me – I know. But that’s just not how it works. Whoever uses the ticket on the first day is who needs to use the ticket on the last day, the middle day, the middle-middle day. Got it? People overlooking that rule caused Disneyland to shorten the length of the tickets they offered.

3. 6-Day Tickets Are Back – Kind of. As I alluded to in number 2, with the exception of Annual Passes, Disneyland now only sells 5-day tickets, much to the chagrin of many guests who would like to stay longer. For a long time, Disney didn’t sell longer tickets, but if you knew to ask, you could add a day or two on to your 5-day tickets at the ticket booths for a great price. But Disneyland still had a problem. Disneyland doesn’t have biometric scanners like Walt Disney World, and they have a real issue with people selling unused portions of their tickets. That’s against the rules! Remember #2? Rather than the seemingly obvious solution of installing biometric scanners, Disneyland tried to curb the problem by taking away the unadvertised option to add days on at the booths. They also started taking pictures of guests with 3-day and longer tickets as they entered the park to make sure it was the same guest using the ticket each time. Well, that’s helping! There are still some websites out there intent on breaking the rules and “renting” those unused days on tickets, but overall it seems to be working, and guests are reporting that the ticket booths will add a day again. Keep in mind, this is not official and if you call and ask, you will probably be told it’s impossible. That’s because the people that answer the phones don’t have anything to do with this one. It’s the people in the ticket booths that do it, and they’ve started doing it again. Hopefully it will continue!

4. Tickets Expire 13 Days After the First Use – When you start using your tickets, they will expire 13 days after your first day. You don’t have to use the tickets on consecutive days though! If you have a 3-day ticket and want to take a break in the middle and go to the beach, do it! Just be back in time to finish using the ticket within those 13 days. There isn’t a No Expiration Option to add on like you can at Disney World.

5. Unused Tickets Expire at the End of the Calendar Year – Disneyland tickets expire at the end of the calendar year. There’s some wiggle room if you start using your 2013 tickets on December 31st of course, but as a general rule, they expire. At Disney World, if you buy tickets today and don’t use them at all, you can save them and use them 3 years from now. UNUSED tickets at Disney World don’t expire. That is not the case at Disneyland. Don’t buy tickets now to save money, and save them for 3 years. They expire. There are some reports that Disneyland will let you apply the value of the unused ticket to tickets that don’t expire until the next year, but don’t count on it.

6. You Can Use Disney World Tickets at Disneyland – It’s unadvertised, but true! You don’t do this at the ticket booths; this is done at the turnstiles. When you get to the turnstile with a Disney World ticket, the cast member will take your ticket, deduct a day, and give you a 1 day Disneyland ticket back. You can’t do this for multiple days at the same time. If you have more than 1 day left, you’ll have to repeat this process every day. I wouldn’t recommend doing this to save money, but if you’ve got unused days on a Disney World ticket that hasn’t expired, try it. This won’t work with annual passes (other than the Premier Pass mentioned in #1) or complimentary tickets. It’s also another one of those things that the cast members on the phone can’t (won’t?) confirm and it could change, but it works for now!

7. Check Online Prices – If you’re not traveling on a package and are buying tickets separately, check the prices online. There isn’t an advance purchase discount of any kind right now, but they do show up from time to time. Just keep an eye on the Disneyland.com tickets page.

8. Some Tickets Are Mailed – If you are on a package and are staying in a Good Neighbor Hotel, your tickets are usually mailed with your documents. The documents aren’t mailed until 30 days, or less, before you travel. If you booked through a travel agency, they’re going to them first, so you can see how easy it is for delays to happen. If you’re getting close to your trip and they haven’t shown up, track them down! You don’t want to arrive at your hotel expecting them to be there and they’re not!

9. Some Tickets Give You Early Entry – Disneyland has Extra Magic Hours at both of their parks for guests staying in one of their onsite resorts. If you’re staying offsite are you out of luck? At California Adventure – yes. But not at Disneyland! You can get a Magic Morning at Disneyland if you buy the right kind of ticket. What is a Magic Morning you ask? If you have a 3 day or longer ticket you can get into Disneyland one hour before it opens on either Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. There are some exceptions like Military tickets and tickets for other special days, but most other tickets of 3 days longer will work. If you are purchase your ticket at the ticket booth, you may have to add the Park Hopper option to be able to take advantage of Magic Morning.

10. You Can Upgrade Any Ticket That Hasn’t Expired – Did you decide you don’t want to go home? Did you decide you want to come back several times this year? Or did you just realize you want to park hop between parks during the same day? It’s probably not too late! You can upgrade any ticket to a more expensive one before the end of your last day.

Hopefully that helped! Do you have questions? Tips to share about tickets? Next week we’ll talk Annual Passes!

10 Things You Should Know About Disneyland Tickets – Updated! is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

©Disney

It is the event that we’ve been waiting for to officially kick off a great summer at Walt Disney World and at Disneyland. The weekend is officially almost here.

Guests who visit on May 24 will have the opportunity to spend 24 hours in either the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World or Disneyland and Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.

Walt Disney World

Those attending at Disney World will have the opportunity to see Mike and Sulley take part in the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party. In addition, before the two performances of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, a special pre-parade will take place featuring the duo plus a cheer squad, a marching band playing the MU fight song, and flag corps.

In Tomorrowland, from 4 – 9 pm, guests will be able to boogie down at the Monster Mania DJ Dance Party over at the Rockettower Plaza Stage. From 11 pm – 5 am, that same area will feature back to back showings of Monsters, Inc. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and greet Mike and Sulley.

Over in front of Cinderella Castle, from 2 am – 5:45 am, take part in the Disney Up All Night Dance Party.

Disneyland Resort

Are you visiting the Disneyland Resort’s version?

First, at Disneyland get ready with your jammies because after midnight in Mickey’s Tootown a Disney Character Pajama Party will take place. Party with your favorite Disney characters! In addition, there will be Disney cartoons, a Mickey Mouse Party Zone with activities for kids, and a DJ. And goodies like hot chocolate, milk and cookies, and other treats will be available for purchase.

Those in Tomorrowland will be able to meet Star Wars characters, plus be sure to take advantage of the TLT Monstrous Dance Club found at Tomorrowland Terrace starting at midnight and lasting until 5:30 am.

In addition, at the Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre, a Royal Swing Ball will take place from 10 pm – 1:40 am.

Over at Disney California Adventure, check out the Hollywood Viewing Party of Monsters, Inc. playing inside the Muppet*Vision 3D theater starting at 9 pm. The Mad T Party will also take place in Hollywood Land at 9 pm. Also found in Hollywood Land will be the Monsters University dorms. Make sure not to miss the new Monsters University themed float for the Pixar Play Parade, and stop by for a meet up where you can greet Mike and Sulley.

Merchandise and Food

©Disney

Lots of great new merchandise and food options will be available that evening. For example, there will be a special t-shirt featuring Mike Wazowski and special ear hats featuring designs specific to Mike and Sulley. These can be purchased at The Emporium at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as at Elias and Co. at Disney California Adventure.

©Disney

For the foodies, special food options will include blue and green cotton candy, candy apples, cake pops, and specialty cupcakes like the one show at the left, to name a few.

If you’ll be there attending the event on either coast, make sure to check out the special meets that TouringPlans is hosting.

The parks will be open from 6 am on May 24 until 6 am on May 25.

Limited Time Magic For Walt Disney World and Disneyland – Monstrous Summer All Nighter is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

We are slowly getting information about the 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, in my opinion one of the best times of year at Walt Disney World.

Earlier this week, we found out who some of the new artists performing during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series were (along with a few new details for this year’s Food & Wine Festival). They include The Go-Gos, Edwin McCain, The Manhattan Transfer, Spin Doctors, and Christopher Cross.

Here is a look at when they, along with the other performers, will be taking the stage:

• Sept. 27-29 – Starship starring Mickey Thomas
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Go-Go’s
• Oct. 2-4 – Air Supply
• Oct. 5-6 – Sister Hazel
• Oct. 7-9 – Sugar Ray
• Oct. 10-11 – Edwin McCain
• Oct. 12-13 – Manhattan Transfer
• Oct. 14-15 – Wilson Phillips
• Oct. 16-17 – The Pointer Sisters
• Oct. 18-20 – Night Ranger
• Oct. 21-23 – Boyz II Men
• Oct. 24-25 – Survivor
• Oct. 26-27 – 38 Special
• Oct. 28-30 – Smash Mouth
• Oct. 31-Nov. 1 – Spin Doctors
• Nov. 2-3 – Christopher Cross
• Nov. 4-5 – Hanson
• Nov. 6-8 – Dennis DeYoung
• Nov. 9-11 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

The performances take place at the American Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion.  Concert times are 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm and are included with your park admission.

Eat To The Beat Concert Series Artists Announced is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

We’re getting ready to stay up for a full 24 hours in Magic Kingdom for Monstrous Summer on May 24, 2013, and we want you to join us! I plan on being in the parks all day and will be roaming around handing out stickers, subscriptions, and water bottles…but there will be some scheduled meets as well.

Meet #1: Bi-Coastal Opposite Day Photo Opp: 1:00pm – The Partners Statue in the Hub: Disneyland has a small castle, Magic Kingdom has a big castle; Disneyland has a male researcher, Disney World has a female researcher; and if those researchers both want to have meets in front of their respective castles, why not make them full on opposites? Since Guy is having a meet in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in the middle of the night at 1am, I’m having my meet at Cinderella Castle in the afternoon at 1pm! That way we can have two opposite pictures from opposite coasts to commemorate the day. Guests who come to this meet at Magic Kingdom will get a 3 month extension to their TouringPlans subscriptions, and there will be other giveaways.

Meet #2: 2nd Annual Babycakes NYC Midnight Sugar Rush Meet: 12:00 Midnight – Tomorrowland Terrace Seating Area: Last year at midnight we met and had some delicious treats from the BabyCakes NYC bakery located in Downtown Disney, and we are doing the same again. Join us for some yummy baked goods full of sugar to help you stay awake for the final 6 hours in the park. Please RSVP on Facebook so we know how many goodies we need.

Meet #3: Delirious Frontierland Hoedown: Time TBA – In front of Country Bear Jamboree: My favorite event at last year’s One More Disney Day was the 4:00am Frontierland Hoedown. Watching dozens of Disney fans do the Hokey Pokey after being awake for almost 24 hours was hilarious and a ton of fun. We’re hoping this dance party will happen again, and whatever the latest time is, that’s when we will be there. Be sure to watch @TouringPlans on Twitter for confirmation of the time for this event.

See you there!

Pull An All-Nighter With TouringPlans at Walt Disney World On May 24 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.