This morning, the Disney Cruise Line will be sharing a new look at their upcoming ship the Disney Wish. Stay tuned as we share tidbits and news from the event along with some commentary.
The post Live Blog: Disney Cruise Line ” Once Upon a Disney Wish” Stream appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
Some folks really don’t believe this, but Disney World is actually part of the REAL WORLD, and it’s good to remember that as you’re planning a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Germany Pavilion
Today we’re going to talk about a few not-so-magical things you SHOULD know before you go to Disney World. And a few things that you might not want to know…but you won’t be able to look away from!
Check out all this and more in our newest DFB Video!
The post DFB Video: Things You Might Not Want To Know About Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.
Face masks are a pretty common sight at this point, especially in Disney parks where they remain mandatory.
Here’s a side view!
Just yesterday, we tried out Disney’s newest face mask design and we liked the new fit! If you need a mask for your Disneyland trip or your Disney World trip, you might be looking to stock up. Well, we have GREAT news today!
There is a BIG sale on Disney face masks online today. From today until Sunday, select masks and mask packs are available for $10 (they’re typically priced from $11.99 to $19.99!).
©Disney
Oooooh yeah, time to stock up! That means that you can get 4-packs in some instances for just $10 (about $2.50 per mask) or 2-packs in some instances (about $5 per mask).
©shopDisney
So, yep, it might be time to snag that Mickey Mouse Cloth Face Masks 4-Pack you’ve been eyeing.
This sale is going on on shopDisney through Sunday so hurry over to grab some new masks! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney discounts, merch news, and more!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
Will you be snagging some Disney masks today? Tell us in the comments!
The post How To Get Official Disney Masks For Just .50 Each! first appeared on the disney food blog.
This is a content summary only, please visit http://micechat.com for full articles.
This is a content summary only, please visit http://micechat.com for full articles.
When you’re planning your meals at Walt Disney World, you’ll encounter the term “Table Service Dining.” Here’s everything you need to know about what that means.
So what is table service dining?
For the most part, it’s what it sounds like – a classic restaurant experience where you’re seated at a table, are handed a menu, have your food brought to you by a server, and pay for your food at the table after you’re done eating. But, Disney being Disney, there are several exceptions to that model. We’ll get to them below.
How many table service restaurants are there at Walt Disney World?
It depends a little on what exactly you count, but there are over 100 table service restaurants at Walt Disney World. Changes do happen, and there are slow, but steady, changes to the table service line-up. While there are some stalwarts that have been at Disney World since the park opened, additions and closings happen all the time.
Where are the table service restaurants located?
There are table service dining options in all four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios), at Disney Springs, and at some, but not all, of Disney’s resort hotels. There is food available at the water parks, but only quick service options.
Which hotels don’t have table service restaurants?
There are table service restaurants at Disney’s deluxe and moderate level resort hotels. The value level resorts only offer quick service dining.
What kind of food can I find at Disney World table service restaurants?
Many of the most common food styles and cuisines, and a few less common ones, are represented among the Disney World restaurants. There are steakhouses, seafood restaurants, as well as pizza joints, restaurants featuring Italian, Chinese, Japanese, British, German, French, Irish, African, American, Spanish, Latin, and other regional food.
Are there major types of cuisine that you can’t find at Disney World?
Sure. Some of the major Asian cuisines aren’t well represented; there’s no Thai restaurants, for example. You can find some Indian-inspired food at Sanaa in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but there’s no full Indian restaurant on Disney property. Pre-pandemic, I often thought Disney might add a fondue place, but given COVID, I’m sure that’s going to be a no-go for the foreseeable future. There is no equivalent of a New York-style deli on property, which always surprises me.
Are buffet meals considered table service meals?
Pre-pandemic there were about a dozen buffet service restaurants at Walt Disney World. These were places with a long row of hot and cold dishes on a common line where you take a plate and serve yourself as much or as little of any dish that you want. Servers brought you drinks and gave you instructions, but you got the food yourself. Many of these were among Disney’s most popular dining venues. Given COVID-related safety protocols, buffet-style service is not currently available. When Disney did offer buffet meals, yes, they were considered table service venues.
Currently, many of the restaurants that had previously offered buffets have converted to family-style service. Some examples of currently open former buffets that have converted to family-style service are Chef Mickey’s and Biergarten.
Are character meals considered table service meals?
Yes. While character meals were fully paused at the outset of the parks’ reopening, they have resumed in a modified fashion. (Characters appear at the restaurant, but they no longer stop at each table.) All the WDW character meals take place at table service restaurants. Previously there were several buffet-style character meals. Currently, some are menu-based and some are served family-style.
Where are the character meals?
Currently, there are character meals offered at:
Pre-pandemic there were also character meals at:
We hope that these will be able to resume safely in the future.
Are there other types of entertainment at table service meals?
Yes. Some of Disney World’s table service are highly themed and/or offer live entertainment. Some notable examples are:
Pre-pandemic there were also a few dinner shows, with full performances during your meal. These are currently on pause.
How much will eating at table service restaurant cost?
There are a number of factors at play here. If you eat just a small salad and drink water, your costs will be kept down no matter where you eat. If you opt for multiple courses at one of Disney’s gourmet signature restaurants, you could be looking at a substantial price tag.
That said, a typical non-signature table service restaurant at Walt Disney World is likely to have appetizers priced in the $9-15 range, entrees priced in the $20-35 range, and desserts priced in the $9-15 range. There is a decent amount of variability to this. There are also a range of prices for beverages served at the restaurants.
The family-style meals are fixed price, typically about $60 per adult. There is minimal pricing variability at these locations (pre-pandemic there were small upcharges during peak season).
Are there any table service restaurants at WDW that are particularly economical?
None of them offer rock-bottom pricing, but some that we’ve found to trend toward the less expensive are:
Also remember that many table service restaurants serve breakfast. Breakfast is almost always cheaper than lunch or dinner. If you want to experience the ambiance of a location at a lower price, breakfast is often the best way to achieve this.
Do I have to pay a gratuity at a table service restaurant?
Yes, you do need to leave a tip at WDW table service restaurants. In most cases, you’ll need to factor in at least an 18% gratuity, plus tax, on top of the menu price of your meal. For more information on this topic, check out our tips on tipping.
Can I buy table service meals with the Disney Dining plan?
Due to the pandemic, the Disney Dining Plan is not currently available. Prior to the pandemic, yes, depending on which version of the plan you purchased, table service meals could be included on the plan. We do not have any information on when, or if, the Dining Plan will return.
Are there other ways to save money on table service meals?
There are a few options:
When you’re traveling to Walt Disney World, you should plan to keep all your related membership cards with you when touring; you often need to have proof that you’re allowed access to a discount.
And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask your server if there are discounts available. Many won’t tell you unless you ask.
Wait, what do you mean “restaurants not owned by Disney itself”?
Disney owns and manages many of the restaurants on property, but not all of them. For example, the Patina Group, runs restaurants in the Italy pavilion at EPCOT (Tutto Italia, Via Napoli, Tutto Gusto) and at Disney Springs (Enzo’s Hideaway, Maria & Enzo’s, Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, and The Edison). Landry’s runs the Rainforest Cafe locations at Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs, as well as the T-Rex Cafe at Disney Springs and the Yak & Yeti location at Animal Kingdom.
Additional non-Disney Disney World restaurants include House of Blues, Jaleo, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill, Paradiso 37, STK Steakhouse, Raglan Road, the restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin and Coronado Springs hotels, and several others.
In general, you don’t need to know or care who runs your restaurant. However, there are some discount and reservation implications for Disney vs. non-Disney venues. (See below for reservation information.)
Is there a fixed minimum amount of money I have to spend at a table service restaurant? Can I just go for appetizers and drinks or for just dessert?
Disney doesn’t exactly encourage this, but there are no prohibitions against it. You’re not required to get a three-course meal at any WDW table service restaurant. You can order just drinks and an appetizer or just coffee and dessert. However, if you decide to do this, you might want to consider being extra generous with your tipping.
Note: There are some locations where this is not possible. For example, restaurants that only offer prix fixe service, such as family-style locations, only serve full meals.
How long does it typically take to eat at a table service restaurant?
This obviously depends on how fast you eat, how many courses your order, how many people are in your party, and a number of other factors. That said, most of the restaurants inside the theme parks expect that their tables will turn over about once an hour.
Can I see the menus for the restaurants before I get there?
Absolutely! The menus for Disney World restaurants are readily available online. You can see them on the Disney World official website, on the TouringPlans website, and in numerous other locations. Most menus include some description of the food and the pricing.
My party includes someone with a food allergy, can they be accommodated at a table service restaurant?
Generally, yes. Most major food allergies can be accommodated at Disney’s table service restaurants. The Disney chefs are well versed in preparing meals for guests will allergies to eggs, fish, shellfish, gluten, milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, or wheat. Alternative menus for these issues are often available. Other dietary requests may also be accommodated. Language on the Disney website states:
Many locations are able to accommodate lifestyle requests as well with no advanced arrangements. This includes diabetes, gastric bypass, lap band, low-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-sodium, no-sugar-added, or plant-based options. Guests with the following concerns should contact [email protected] after booking dining arrangements for their visit and no more than 14 days prior to their arrival:
The Special Diets team will assist you in navigating the dining process. Be sure to communicate your dietary restrictions upon arrival at the restaurant. You will have the opportunity to speak with a chef or special diets-trained Cast Member if desired. While our restaurants will do their best to accommodate dietary requirements, we cannot guarantee that they will be able to meet all requests.
Do I need to make reservations for table service dining?
Generally, yes. In non-pandemic times, it was theoretically possible to walk up to a table service restaurant and be seated without a reservation, pending availability. Many WDW restaurants have reduced capacity during the pandemic. With fewer seats available, reservations are more of a necessity. Some Disney World restaurants are fully booked months in advance, with virtually no room for spur-of-the-moment dining.
Additionally, if you’re driving to a Disney hotel, you’ll likely be asked for a restaurant reservation confirmation number before they’ll allow you to park.
How do I make reservations?
You can do this on the Disney World website at disneyworld.disney.go.com. Click on the “Things To Do” tab and scroll down to “Dining – Make Reservations.”
You’ll then be asked to select a restaurant, a date, a time, and a party size so that the system can check availability for you. Sometimes tinkering with the time feature (select “lunch” as opposed to “12:00”) or the party size (two parties of 4 vs. one party of 8) and unveil hidden availability.
Other reservation options include a phone call to 407-WDW-DINE or, for some non-Disney-owned venues (see above), OpenTable is also an option.
If you’re reserving via Disney itself, you’ll be asked to hold the reservation with a credit/debit card. No-shows will be assessed a fee of $10 per person. You can avoid this fee by cancelling 24 hours in advance.
I’ll have a baby with me. They can’t eat the food at the restaurant. Do I still have to include them in the reservation?
Yes. An accurate count is necessary for fire safety and health code regulations, plus you’ll need room at your table for the baby’s high chair or booster seat. Please do include all young children in your reservation party size.
Everyone in my party is excited to dine at a particular table service restaurant, but we have one child who is a picky eater and won’t eat anything on the menu. Can they still sit with us?
This might not fly elsewhere, but it’s generally fine at Disney World. It’s a family destination and they’ve seen it all before. One of my daughters was an extremely picky eater as a child. The rest of the family wanted to try Teppan Edo, but there was little on the menu there that she would eat. We ended up bringing some food we purchased elsewhere in EPCOT that she nibbled on while the rest of us enjoyed our hibachi feast. We tipped our server on what the cost of the meal would have been had she eaten similar food as the rest of us.
Your question is more problematic in prix fixe situations such as character meals. If you’re at restaurant with a set menu offered at a fixed price, then every guest at the table age three and up will be charged for the meal, regardless of how much or how little they eat.
Can I bring my baby’s stroller with me into a table service restaurant?
Generally not. Most restaurants at Disney World have a stroller parking area in the lobby or nearby outside area. I once had a situation where my toddler daughter was fast asleep during our reservation time. The hostess did allow me to wheel her into the restaurant in her stroller so that we wouldn’t have to wake her, but this is rare.
Do I need to use a park ticket if I just want to eat at a restaurant in a theme park?
Yes, any time you enter a theme park, you need to use a park admission ticket, even if it’s just to dine.
There are plenty of wonderful restaurants outside the theme parks, at the hotels and at Disney Springs. If you don’t want to use a park admission, you should make your reservations outside the parks.
Do I need a park pass if I just want to eat at a restaurant in a theme park?
Currently, yes. During the pandemic, there is a park pass reservation system in place where you need both an admission ticket and a park reservation to enter a theme park. This is true even if the only thing you’ll be doing in the park is eating.
The twist is that Disney World is now offering Park Hopping, if you have the appropriate park ticket. The means that you can visit more than one park per day, pending availability. You need to have a park pass at your first park of the day, but not your second. You could make a meal reservation at your presumed second park of the day (assuming you have park hopping capabilities), but since hopping is not guaranteed, you’re taking a bit of risk by going this route.
Can I dine at a hotel other than the one I’m staying at?
Yes. You are welcome to make dining reservations at any table service resort at any Disney World hotel, regardless of where you’re staying. Please be aware that during the pandemic, you may be subject to health screening protocols such as a temperature check.
How far in advance can I make reservations?
Disney tinkers with the reservation window from time to time. Currently (during summer 2020) Disney is allowing guests to make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance. Prior to the pandemic, the reservation window was 180 days in advance.
What time can I start making reservations?
If you’re making reservations online, the next day’s reservations become available on the WDW website between 5:45 and 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. If you’re calling, the phone lines open at 7:00 a.m., Eastern.
Are there kids meals available at table service restaurants?
Yes, with the one exception of Victoria & Albert’s in the Grand Floridian (which is currently closed due to COVID), there are are children’s menus at all the Disney World table service restaurants.
Did I hear something about little kids eating free?
There is no charge for children under the age of three when you dine at prix fixe places like the family-style character meals. The language Disney uses is that tiny kids can “eat from your plate,” though in reality they will bring the child an actual plate of their own.
If you’re eating at a menu-based venue, you’re welcome to share your food with your small child, but you will have to pay for any food your order.
What is the age limit for ordering from the kids’ menu?
There was some wonkiness to this when the Disney Dining Plan was a factor, but in general, adults are welcome to order items from the kid’s menu. If an adult wants, for example, mac n’ cheese and chicken nuggets from the kids’ menu, they can order it as is, or speak to your server and they may be able to bring you an adult-size portion of the food from the kids’ menu.
My child has adult tastes, can they eat from the adult menu at a WDW table service restaurant?
Sure. But you’ll have to pay the adult price for it.
Is there a minimum party size? Can I make a reservation for one person at a WDW table service restaurant?
Yes! I frequently travel to Disney World on my own. I’ve made reservations for one person at dozens of WDW dining venues.
I wasn’t able to get reservations for the reservation I wanted. Any advice?
Keeping checking! People cancel reservations all the time. Disney sometimes adds capacity to restaurants (particularly as COVID protocols change). If you’re interested in a non-Disney Disney restaurant (see above) try looking on OpenTable or try calling the restaurant directly.
Another great option is using the TouringPlans Dining Reservation Finder. We can scan the Disney website for you and send you a text or email if a reservation you want becomes available. Here are some tips on how to use the Reservation Finder.
Any other tips on getting to eat at a table service restaurant at the last minute?
You can try inquiring at the restaurant podium. Or many WDW restaurants now have a QR posted outside the front door that will link you to a walkup waiting list. I have not personally had much luck with this, but it’s worth a shot.
I have a large party. I can’t seem to find any reservations for a group of our size. Any hints?
The Disney website won’t allow you to book a reservation for a party size larger than the largest table in the restaurant. In some cases, that’s as small as six people. If you have a large party, try breaking it up into smaller groups. For example, if you have a party of twelve, try booking three parties of four. Then, call or stop by the restaurant and ask if they might be able to push tables together when you’re there.
Additionally, during the pandemic the WDW restaurants have rules about how close tables can be to each other. This may further exacerbate your problem.
I have a table service dining reservation, but the number of people in my party has changed. How do I change the party size without losing my reservation?
This is one of the more common frustrations of Disney guests. The answer is, you can’t. If you want to officially change your dining party size, you have to cancel and rebook your reservation. BUT DON’T DO THAT. Seriously. In many cases you won’t be able to a new reservation.
Here’s my advice… If your party will be smaller than originally booked, just show up at the restaurant with the people who will be dining. Say to the host/hostess something like, “My friend couldn’t make it, we’ll now be a party of four instead of five.” I have never seen this be a problem. As long as someone shows up for the meal, you won’t be penalized if the party size does not match.
If your party will be larger than originally booked the situation may be more complicated. If you have a party of three that wants to become a party of four, for example, just do as above. “My friend will like to join us, we’re now a party of four.” This is likely to be fine because your party of three was already assigned a four-top.
However, if you were originally a party of three and you’ve become a party of eight, you’re in a more precarious situation. First, start by trying to make a new reservation for eight. If this is available, make the reservation and then cancel the old one for the smaller party. If you can’t make a new reservation, you can attempt to be seated, relying on the kindness of the staff at the restaurant. Sometimes they can try to work you in. It might work; it might not.
I won’t be able to make it to my reserved dining time? What’s going to happen?
If you know in advance that you won’t make it to a meal, then cancel the reservation. You can do this on the My Disney Disney Experience app, on the WDW website, on the phone, or at any WDW concierge or guest relations desk. There are no penalties for canceling 24 hours in advance. (I’ve personally never been charged if I cancel the day before my reservation, regardless of what time I cancel.)
If you straight-up no-show (you do not appear at all for your reservation) at a table service restaurant booked through the WDW website or app, then you will be assess a $10 per person fee, charged to the credit card that you used when you booked the reservation. If you book through Open Table or some other method, charges may not apply.
If you’re just running late, go to the restaurant and tell them what happened. There are snafus at Disney all the time (weather, transportation, etc.) and cast members know this. If you show up at all, they are unlikely to charge the no-show fee. That said, if you’re very late, you might not be able to eat at the restaurant even if they waive the fee. Generally, reservations are held for 15 minutes. After that, they’ll give your table to someone else, though they may be able to work you in later.
Is there a dress code for eating at a Disney World table service restaurant?
Beyond the normal theme park dress rules (no profanity on tees, etc.), most WDW table service restaurants do not have a dress code. The exception to this signature dining. Some of those restaurants do have dress code requirements.
Can I get take-out from the table service restaurants at Walt Disney World?
This is tricky and it’s a moving target.
First, you cannot get a full takeout meal from the table service restaurants located in the theme parks. If you sit and have a meal at a theme park table service restaurant and have leftovers, they’ll usually be happy to box those up for you, but you can’t get a full meal to take away.
Some of the table service restaurants in the hotels are starting to offer take out. It’s unclear whether this will continue post-pandemic. On the My Disney Experience app look for restaurants with a “To Go” listing. (Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge is one example of this.) If there is a “To Go” option, you can select an arrival time, order on the app, pick up the food, and take it to eat elsewhere.
There may be some additional rules depending on the venue. For example, Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West resort does have a “To Go” option, but at one point it was only available to guests staying at Old Key West.
Due to the pandemic, I prefer to eat outdoors? Are there table service restaurants that can accommodate this?
The table service restaurants in the theme parks typically do not have outdoor dining options. There are some restaurants at Disney Springs that have outdoor tables. Some outdoor table service dining that I’ve experienced has been at Art Smith’s Homecomin’, The Boathouse, Spice Road Table, and Paddlefish.
I’m celebrating something special. Can I get a cake at my table?
You can order a cake to be delivered to many Walt Disney World restaurants. See the Disney website for more information.
What are your favorite Disney World table service restaurants?
Oh gosh, there are so many and they change all the time. Some of my current faves are Jaleo, Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Sanaa, and the Hollywood Brown Derby, but there are many, many good options.
What are the favorite table service restaurants of Touring Plans readers?
According to TouringPlans reader surveys, the top ten WDW table service restaurants are: Topolino’s Terrace (Riviera resort), Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Disney Springs), The Boathouse (Disney Springs), Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Fort Wilderness), Garden Grill (Epcot), Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Wine Bar George (Disney Springs), and California Grill (Contemporary resort). (Note: Some of these are not operating during the pandemic.)
What can you tell me about other kinds of dining at Walt Disney World?
For information on other Disney World Dining topics see our related posts:
Do you have any other questions? What else would you like to know about table service dining at Walt Disney World?
The post FAQ: Get to Know Disney World Table Service Dining appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.
A new sign at Walt Disney World attractions helps guests ensure their attraction photo will be linked to their Disney account. The sign has a QR code, and says “to have this attraction photo link to your Disney account, scan here to check your mobile settings.” Attractions can automatically detect a MagicBand in order to link photos to a Disney account, but Bluetooth detection is currently being tested. The QR code will take guests through the process of enabling Bluetooth […]
The post PHOTO: Signage Installed at Rides to Help Guests Enable Bluetooth for Attraction Photos at Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…Disney announced that it would be building a Star Wars hotel experience called Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser!
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Concept Art ©Disney
The “Star Wars hotel” is more of a cruise-type experience where guests will stay aboard a “spaceship” for 2 nights and participate in all kinds of activities including lightsaber training, operating the ship’s defense systems, meeting Star Wars characters, and more. Reservations were set to open in 2020 (but they didn’t) and the hotel experience is set to open in 2021. But, if Disney does open the Star Wars hotel this year, a few things could go wrong. Today, we’re breaking that all down for you.
Before we dive in, we want to give a quick summary of what Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser even IS. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen from Disney before, so this is uncharted territory for guests! As we mentioned, we typically call it the “Star Wars hotel,” but really this experience is more like a cruise. Guests will be transported via a “Launch Pod” to the Halcyon (the name of the starcruiser you’ll be boarding for your trip) for a 2-night adventure.
Launch Pod to the Starcruiser | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
On the Halcyon, guests will have their own cabins complete with windows that look out to space.
A Peek at a Mock Room ©Disney via IAAPA Expo 2020 Presentation
There will even be space bunks!!
WOW Tiny Space Bunks! ©Disney (Posted by Jeff Vahle via Instagram @jeffvahle)
While on the ship, guests are supposed to be able to do a number of things including interact with Star Wars characters…
Chewbacca!! | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
…train with a lightsaber…
I’ve Always Wanted to Do Lightsaber Training | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
…operate the ship’s defense systems…
WOW Those Are Some VIEWS | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
…sneak around areas and have secret meetings with other characters…
SHHHHHH It’s a Secret! | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
…potentially take an excursion out to Batuu, and even eat in cool areas, like the Silver C Lounge.
Looks Fun! | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
Essentially, if you’ve ever wanted to be FULLY immersed in the Star Wars world, and truly live out your own unique Star Wars story — this is the place to be.
Previously reservations for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser were set to open in 2020. Reservations have not become available yet. The hotel is set to open in 2021, although we’ve shared our thoughts HERE on whether a 2021 opening is still likely. If the Star Wars hotel does open in 2021 though, quite a few things could go wrong or at least not go as originally anticipated.
This is probably one of the BIGGEST things that could go “wrong” if the Star Wars hotel opens this year — some of the unique experiences guests were supposed to be able to enjoy in the hotel could be significantly modified or entirely removed.
Based on the concept art and the descriptions, many if not all of the experiences that are meant to be part of the hotel involve a lot of personal interaction between guests, Cast Members, Star Wars characters, and other passengers aboard the ship. All those things like secret meetings, character interactions, etc. seem to involve heavy, personal, and up-close interactions. You know… those same kinds of interactions you haven’t had in the past year+!
Star Wars Resort Concept Art | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
Several of the activities also involved hands-on experiences like lightsaber training (which would presumably include lightsabers that all guests would touch and share), as well as areas on the Bridge that all guests would touch to operate the ship’s defense systems.
Depending on how the situation with the global pandemic evolves, many of these experiences would likely either need to be heavily modified or removed entirely as they involve sharing high-touch items/areas and close interaction that wouldn’t necessarily allow for social distancing.
Feel the Force! ©Disney
The removal or modification of these experiences isn’t necessarily something that would “go wrong” in and of itself, BUT if guests experience the hotel under these modified circumstances and are displeased, then that could go badly. Key things may just be missing from the entire experience out of necessity to keep guests and Cast Members safe.
And there may be lots of required signage about COVID-19, social distancing markers, etc. that could throw people out of what is supposed to be a super immersive Star Wars story. Especially because Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has been slated to be an experience unlike anything else and has been built up to be such a big deal, heavily modified or removed experiences could really impact guests’ satisfaction.
Star Wars Hotel cabin | Disney Concept Art ©Disney
If the price for the experience is also quite high (which many of you expect it to be!) — and the experience is significantly modified — people could be extremely upset if it doesn’t live up to their expectations. Guests might also be upset if they feel like they aren’t getting the proper value out of what they’ve paid OR if they feel like there is not enough to do there if so many things are removed or modified.
In February of this year, Disney CEO Bob Chapek noted that the expectation is to have some level of mask-wearing and social distancing in Disney World through the end of this year.
Of course, the situation with the pandemic has continued to develop as more vaccines have been distributed, and Dr. Fauci has indicated that COVID-19 guidelines could loosen by early July. But, there’s still much that has not been shared (or is somewhat unpredictable) when it comes to the situation with the pandemic and how much social distancing will be required as time moves along.
Physical Distancing Signs
Assuming that some kind of social distancing will be required throughout this year, this could impact guests’ experiences at the Star Wars hotel. If social distancing must be maintained on the Halcyon, it’s possible that will create VERY LONG lines for any experiences that must be modified to keep distance between guests. And, the lines themselves will need to be distanced too, making them even LONGER. The lines could potentially stretch throughout a LOT of the ship.
Taped Off Areas in a Queue
In Disney World, we’ve seen lines extend FAR, FAR away from the entrances to their designated rides. We’ve even seen lines extend so far that they spill into other attraction spaces or even have to be extended to backstage areas. We’ve also experienced times where these extended queues, combined with tight walkways and guests trying to get past, have created a rather uncomfortable crowd scenario.
Fantasyland Crowds
There’s a lot of space in Disney World where you can spread out those lines, so that gives the park more flexibility. But, on the Halcyon, that likely won’t be the case. Space in the Star Wars Hotel is really limited to what’s available there, and we have a feeling the Imagineers who designed it years ago weren’t even THINKING of social distancing since that really wasn’t a word we used a lot in our daily vocabulary.
They likely would have accounted for some lines — but lengthy, spaced out, socially distanced lines? Unlikely. The experience is definitely much more exclusive than staying at an average Disney World hotel but it’s not like only a handful of guests will be there at any given time. And it’s not as though you can just open a backstage door and extend the queue to the outside areas — that would completely throw off the “story” that you’re on a starship in space.
A Peek at the Construction on the Hotel © @thedisneypilot
The combination of limited space and socially distanced lines could mean that parts of the ship might be extremely tight if there are long lines stretching through various spaces. It could also just throw off the story to see these lines stretching FAR beyond where they’re meant to be.
To combat this concern, Disney could implement some kind of virtual queue (like what we’ve seen in some of the international parks) or even use a Rise of the Resistance-style boarding group system for some of the experiences. But, again, if guests are unable to experience the things they want to due to these capacity constraints, and they still have to pay a pretty penny to get in, that could cause some serious guest satisfaction issues.
Guest demand could also be a concern if the Star Wars hotel opens this year. Galactic Starcruiser is meant to be a cruise-type experience — where everything is basically self-contained in one location. It seems like there really won’t be any outdoor experiences (makes sense since you’re supposed to be on a ship in SPACE), except a potential excursion to Batuu.
But, due to this cruise-type setup limited (story-wise) to all indoor structures, there are a few things that could potentially go wrong. One is guest demand. Some guests may not feel comfortable being in a smaller, enclosed space. So, even if the hotel opens this year, some guests might not be ready to experience it.
Model of the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Halcyon — see the size relative to the Millennium Falcon!
According to some recent information displayed on the Visit Florida website, using data from The Harris Poll, 23% of those polled said they would feel comfortable staying in a hotel immediately after the pandemic ends, 13% say they’d feel comfortable after 1-30 days, but 11% say they wouldn’t feel comfortable until 1 year or more after the end of the pandemic.
When it comes to cruises, however, the numbers are much worse. According to the poll data, 14% said they’d feel comfortable taking a cruise immediately after the pandemic ends, 28% said they’d feel comfortable after 1 year or more, and 14% said they’d NEVER feel comfortable taking a cruise again.
©Visit Florida Citing Harris Poll Data
The situation with the pandemic is still developing. More individuals are becoming eligible to receive the vaccine, but the pandemic has not yet officially ended. As the New York Times data shows, new cases continue to be reported. And we even saw another COVID-19 variant recorded in Florida not too long ago.
So, if the Star Wars hotel opens this year, and it is in fact (as it is meant to be) an immersive cruise-like experience, it stands to reason that many guests might not feel comfortable booking it yet, at least based on this poll data.
The Star Wars Hotel SPACE WINDOW! ©Disney (Posted by Jeff Vahle via Instagram @jeffvahle)
Aside from all poll data, there’s also the pure consideration of price. The pandemic greatly impacted a large number of people. Many lost their jobs during the pandemic or are simply in a tighter spot financially than they were before. An expensive cruise-type experience might have been financially feasible for some families prior to the pandemic, but it may now be entirely out of the question. If the Star Wars hotel experience is very expensive (as it is expected to be), then many simply might not be able to afford it, again potentially driving down guest demand.
As we mentioned, from what we understand, Galactic Starcruiser and its activities seem to take place entirely indoors, save for that potential excursion to Batuu. Like a cruise, everything appears to be essentially self-contained.
Even with distancing and other safety measures, having a large number of guests all in a small, indoor area with lots of high-touch experiences can just naturally increase the potential for some health risks (COVID-related or otherwise).
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Construction
This risk of infection is one that would generally be there regardless of the pandemic, but with COVID-19, it’s just heightened.
Hand Sanitizer
The CDC currently has cruise ships listed at a Level 4 risk warning. At the moment, the “CDC recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships…because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high.” The CDC notes how “cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.”
If the Star Wars hotel is basically like being on a cruise, it might, in effect, have the same type of warning level or concerns. That could cause some individuals to be more hesitant to visit.
Reservations for the Star Wars hotel were set to open in 2020. Spoiler: they didn’t open then and still haven’t opened up yet. We’ll be honest here, we’ve seen Disney’s reservation systems not be the best when it comes to high volume.
It happened with Park Pass reservations when they first started, and Lamplight Lounge reservations, and even ticket sales for “A Touch of Disney” and Disneyland. Anyone else just a little TOO familiar with Disney’s error or loading screens?
Disney Park Pass Error Message
We’ve talked about all of the reasons why some guests might not want to visit the Star Wars hotel, but other guests might absolutely JUMP at the chance. Considering that people have been waiting for this experience for a while, there are quite a few Star Wars fans out there (“quite a few” being a SEVERE understatement) and the fact that Disney has really been hyping it up as something SUPER unique, there could be significant guest demand for the hotel (despite the concerns we brought up earlier).
Capacity is naturally limited by the number of rooms available on the starship. If social distancing is still being enforced, which appears to be likely, then capacity could be even FURTHER limited. High demand (at least from some guests) coupled with limited capacity = reservations that will potentially be harder to get than the toughest Disney world restaurant reservations!
Another Peek at Hotel Construction ©Bioreconstruct via Twitter (@bioreconstruct)
Reservations could sell out VERY quickly or the system could crash. There could be a LOT of frustrated people who might be very upset that they couldn’t get a reservation.
Now, that’s something that could happen during any year that the experience opens, so it’s not specific to this year necessarily. But, if Disney doesn’t take steps to try to create a reservation system that is able to handle a higher demand soon, it could be a big issue.
One of the biggest things that could be an issue is the fact that this IS NOT A HOTEL!! While we call it the “Star Wars hotel” casually, as we’ve discussed above this is really a cruise-type experience. This is really important to understand.
You’re really not meant to leave the Halcyon (except to go to Batuu). To get the full experience, you’re supposed to stay there and take advantage of all of the unique experiences on the ship and stay immersed in the story. This is NOT a hotel you drop your bags off and hit the parks with your family!
Star Wars Hotel
First, Disney needs to make sure that’s really well explained to guests. If guests don’t understand this, they could get confused and expect to spend a whole day at Magic Kingdom with tickets they’ve purchased and just come back to the Star Wars hotel at night, and that’s really not how it’s intended to be. Again, that could be an issue any year, but we did want to mention it here.
Second, if Disney opens up the hotel this year, right near the 50th anniversary celebrations, guests may want to leave Galactic Starcruiser to see the decorations, unique lighting, etc. that’s all being done for the 50th. Those guests could just add on days to their stay at a normal hotel to do that, but that might be out of budget. Or guests will have to likely deal with a split-stay scenario, meaning they book essentially two different hotels (Halcyon and another Disney hotel, for instance) and transfer when their first stay ends. So, they might try to squeeze it all in and then end up feeling dissatisfied with their Star Wars hotel experience because they wanted to be cruising around the other parks or free to explore Disney World as they see fit.
And finally, we couldn’t make this list without at least mentioning technical difficulties. This is not specific to Galactic Starcruiser opening up this year, but really just applies to when things first open up in general. Galactic Starcruiser looks like it is going to require a LOT of new technology to make you truly believe you’re in space.
Patent Application Imagines ©Disney
In those first few months, when the new technology all gets used heavily for the first time, things can go wrong. Just look at Rise of the Resistance and other technically complex rides in Disney World — those can often be temporarily shut down or evacuated due to technical issues.
Disney will likely still be working out some of the issues for a little while after the hotel first opens. That could cause some serious problems if big experiences are unavailable for a significant period of time during people’s stays, considering that again this is meant to be a self-contained adventure with only so many things to do. It’s not as though Disney can just send the hotel guests to 20 other rides if the lightsaber training doesn’t work for 4 hours. That could be a problem.
Overall, there are quite a few things that could go “wrong” if the Star Wars hotel opens this year (and some things that could go wrong any year it opens). But, there are also a lot of things that could go GREAT. The question really is — will the Star Wars hotel open this year at all? We’ve shared our thoughts about that in a separate article that you can read HERE. But, we are on the lookout for more updates and will let you know what we find!
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If the Star Wars hotel opened this year, would you visit? Tell us in the comments!
The post What Could Go WRONG If Disney World Opens the Star Wars Hotel This Year first appeared on the disney food blog.
It’s another exciting day over on the west coast!
Grand Californian
We were able to go back into Disneyland for the first time in over a YEAR yesterday, ahead of its official reopening tomorrow (and spoiler: it was AMAZING). Things are slowly opening up around property, and today is a big day over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. That’s right: this resort is officially BACK open!
As of today, guests are able to stay at the Grand Californian again! In just a few days, on May 2nd, the Disney Vacation Club Villas will open back up, too.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa ©Disney
Upon reopening, Disney has said they are “responsibly and thoughtfully implementing new health and safety measures.” That means there will be modified amenities and recreational activities. Below is a list of what is open (do keep in mind that dining is available for hotel guests only).
©Disney
You can read more about the Grand Californian’s modified operations here. Until further notice, character dining, in-room dining, and any other character experiences are also suspended.
Donald Duck hanging out at the Grand Californian
We’ve got a full guide on the Grand Californian’s reopening for you right here — including details on how to book a room! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any additional updates from Disneyland Resort, so stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest info.
Have you stayed at the Grand Californian in Disneyland Resort? Share your experience in the comments!
The post Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Has REOPENED first appeared on the disney food blog.
