Construction walls have come down in Jurassic Park at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, giving us a better look at the Jurassic World VelociCoaster entrance. While we’ve had an angled look at the entrance before, with the walls down we can see the full effect of walking up to the attraction. We saw a few Team Members walking the pathway to the entrance, which is surrounded by the twisting track of the coaster itself. Palm trees frame the entrance to the […]
As many of us are able to travel more and looking forward to our Disney vacation plans for 2021-2022, there is a bit of a feeling of being out of shape. And I don’t mean what diet are you on. How am going to get back into being the best I can be physically, mentally, and emotionally for my Disney adventures ahead? What do you do to prepare so you can be at your best while on vacation?
PHYSICALLY
And we’re walking, and we’re walking…getting that walking prep in. If I can walk more at home, I am hoping to walk at a pace that is more than just the Disney stroll; a Disney pace with endurance. But did you know our DIS website, disboards.com, offers various community threads, a place to chat online, and one of them is called the Walk to Disney? Who knew it was under the WISH forum, entitled Just for Fun?! I am following this group of fun friends who walk at home with a goal walking the number of miles to Disney! How many miles are you from Walt Disney World? From Disneyland?! Join the group!
How’s about the Disney Tips forums “Getting Back in Shape for Disney?” Recommendations by our community include calf raises, yoga practice, and daily mask wearing outside in longer durations to physically prepare, in addition to walking.
If you have Disney Plus, you can find Mickey and friends working out and exercising on The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Season Three) episodes. Families can workout together with Mickey Mouse!runDisney also provides virtual marathon events, tips and other experiences for those at all levels of running abilities.
Broken-in shoes and great socks are other good suggestions on our forums as well as muscle strengthening and stretching for joints. I time my walks to my favorite Disney podcasts and Disney music playlists which also help me better prepare for the trip ahead.
I am behind in my tech knowledge for preparing for Disney trips ahead. I have on my list of prep work to practice using the app because it’s been awhile, to be well-schooled in mobile ordering and educated in Rise of the Resistance boarding group preparedness, and understanding that I may be rusty, so taking the time to remind myself about the My Disney Experience app features is also considered getting back in shape.
Getting my brain back in shape about the vacation ahead will help me since I have been in the same location for so long. It’s been awhile since my brain reacted to different types of scenarios. I need to work on airplane readiness, my packing brain switch definitely has to be turned on, and I need to discover the latest information that I need to store about a trip since my last time. A disboards user recommends visualization and meditation.
Daily news about the Disney parks changes often and I want to be mentally prepared, so I am more focused on the The Dis forums than ever before. Reading Here Now Just Got Back under the Theme Parks and Strategies Forum, Trip Reports in the planning areas, and following my resort property community on the DIS (Disney) discussion forums help me with valuable knowledge to be the best prepared I can be.
Having a great mindset can prepare me for my next Disney vacation. I am working on a positive outlook, or at least trying to, when I have Disney concerns. The “I’m just happy to be here” approach often spoken by DIS President Corey Martin is something that some of us, including myself, need a reminder of, or need to practice.
Emerging from a “Covid cave” may take some people a little time to prepare. Gradual reintroduction and a baby steps approach may be thoughtful in order to prepare for a Disney vacation. It can be somewhat of a shock to go from one extreme to another for some. And that may be joining your local society first and doing pandemic re-entry in small increments prior to your trip. Mindfully preparing to eat out and seeing “larger” groups of people might be best done initially in your own local town on your own terms and comfort level.
I feel like I am creating homework for myself to be back in shape for an approaching Disney trip. Some of it is challenging, but some of it has been like visiting an old friend.
What suggestions do you have for getting back in Disney parks shape when we’ve been away for so long? I would love to hear your ideas!
Many Disney fans believe that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a better foodie park than EPCOT. Hot take, right? If you are adventurous, there are some fantastic food finds at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. With Asian and African cuisine having representation in this park, it is a great place to do some culinary exploration. A quick service location that offers such exploration is Harambe Market. But, if you’re not too adventurous, there are some “safe” options here too.
Harambe Market MenuHarambe Market Seating Area
Ivonne on our team ventured to Harambe Market earlier this month. Animal Kingdom is celebrating its anniversary this month so it seemed fitting to visit this quick service market. Mobile ordering is available, and with lots of outdoor seating it is an ideal option for many guests. It is easily accessed from anywhere in the Harambe area which is home to Kilimanjaro Safaris, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and soon the reopened Festival of the Lion King show.
Ivonne ordered the Ribs and Chicken Bowl for $14.99. This bowl is different than usual theme park food, with seasoned rice and tomato-onion salad, but it is not too overly adventurous. Ivonne indicates seasoning on the chicken and the ribs was delicious, and she enjoyed mixing the rice and salad together. She said she would definitely order this again.
Harambe Market – Chicken and Ribs Combo
The price tag on this entrée is hefty compared to other quick service options, but the serving is generous, and could be split between two adults if you’re looking to save a little money. There is also a Chicken and Ribs Combo available at Flame Tree Barbecue. Ivonne stated she liked the ribs here at Harambe Market better than Flame Tree’s, and really enjoyed the entire bowl. A less hefty option, with similar flavors and a pretty healthful profile is the Grilled Chicken Bowl.
Harambe Market – Chicken and Ribs Combo
The seating area of Harambe Market is great for a nice break from the crowds. Its location is accessible, but it is off the main walkway. It’s also very detailed. There are nice touches all around and plenty of chances for photo opportunities. Plus, the Wildlife Express train passes by every so often. If you want to entertain your little tykes, try to grab a seat at the back of the market where they can see the train and wave to passengers going by.
Harambe Market Seating AreaHarambe Market Seating Area – DetailsHarambe Market Seating Area
We have ratings and rankings for every Walt Disney World dining location. And thanks to over 500,000 completed surveys in the past few years, Harambe Market has a 93% thumbs up rating! It is currently ranked #17 out of 109 quick service locations across all of Walt Disney World. The menu has been pared down compared to what it was when this location first opened, but there are still some great choices here if you are looking for a break from the norm.
Have you ever dined at Harambe Market? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
In the ongoing refurbishment of the Jungle Cruise to address cultural insensitivity, another change has taken place. The spears with skulls mounted on them have been removed from the “abandoned Pygmy welcoming party” scene at the Magic Kingdom. The left side of the scene formerly had spears stuck into the ground with skulls mounted on them. Below is what the scene used to look like, with the skull-topped spears to the left: Follow WDWNT for more updates on the changes […]
Android users can now use their phones in place of a MagicBand as MagicMobile has gone live today. Part of the My Disney Experience app, MagicMobile enables the user’s device to function as a park ticket, room key, and more. You can access Disney MagicMobile through the menu on the bottom right. It will first prompt you to set up your pass. You can customize your animated ticket with different park-themed options. After selecting your animation, the app will prompt […]
On the evening of April 26th, a remarkable thing happened at 11:30 pm (Orlando time). What I expected to be a fizzle of a live event turned out to be a soul-tingling eight minutes that I don’t think I will ever forget.
I waited eagerly at 1:30 pm Sydney time to see what was about to unfold. The broadcast began with a view of Walt Disney’s iconic lamp, which has remained lit throughout the 412 days of closure as a beacon of hope that the happiness will return. Dressed in a casual suit, fitting for the reopening celebration of The Happiest Place on Earth, an introduction from co-host and Disney Parks Chairman, Josh D’Amaro, kicked off the live stream. D’maro spoke with inspiration and hope, while the low lighting of an evening in Main Street, U.S.A., set the scene, complete with dappled bokeh balls of light twinkling in the background.
I instantly felt privileged to be one of the twenty-eight thousand viewers watching live. Within moments it became clear what the intention of this broadcast was; a dedication to Disneyland cast members and their contribution, hard work, and sacrifices made during this time of uncertainly.
Within moments it was over to Ken Potrock, President of Disneyland Resort, who stood meaningfully in front of the Disneyland Casting Agency window dedicated on the 50th Anniversary back in 2005. Potrock quoted Walt Disney as saying, “It takes people to make the dream a reality,” going on to acknowledge further that it takes every piece to complete the puzzle, referring to cast members as the “Magic Makers.”
Disneyland Ambassadors Justin and Rafa wore masks in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle and invited cast members to be the first to experience the reawakening of Disneyland during soft openings beginning April 27th; an emotional opportunity that original cast members last experienced in 1955.
Sleeping Beauty Castle, symbolic of “hopes and dreams,” illuminates with the soft touches of piano keys. When the music, When You Wish Upon a Star, reaches its emotive crescendo, waves of pink and purple light up the towers with enthusiasm before the camera pans down to reveal the carrousel, sparkling in gold through the center of the castle.
The original words of Walt Disney whisper through the air as the concept of the park reopening strikes a chord in all of us. A speech that I have known and loved all of my life, suddenly relevant once again, used to reopen a wonderful place that most of us never imagined could close its door. Though we are still living with this global pandemic, Walt’s words signaled that the road to recovery is near. In the case of Disneyland specifically, that road is paved in the dedication of cast members, whose passion and hard work are integral to the reopening.
This celebration of reawakening was filled with heartfelt words, spoken with genuine emotion and gratitude. The cast members, both in the foreground and behind the scenes, appreciated Disney’s beating heart, and the magic of Disneyland’s centerpiece castle reignited in style.
“To all that come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America; with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
Do you look forward to matching Minnie and Mickey headband ears each trip and need ideas? Check out our World Showcase ear shopping guide! Strolling around the World Showcase at Epcot gives guests a fun, international experience. Everything from country themed food and drinks to merchandise is found at every turn. Let’s take a “tour” […]
In advance of this week’s soft opening of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for cast members, the Disneyland Resort conducted a symbolic reawakening of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The event was designed to welcome back cast members that are returning to Disneyland and to thank those that worked throughout the closure. Here are some of the […]
