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Heading to Disney World through Orlando International Airport this summer? We’ve got an important update on what to expect.
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport has announced a number of upcoming changes lately including food delivery options, restaurant additions, and a new Disney store. And while these changes probably won’t debut in time for summer travelers, we do have an update on what you can expect when it comes to a major aspect of your airport experience — crowds.
It’s looking like it will be a very busy summer at Orlando International Airport. According to Orlando Business Journal, domestic summer travel to Central Florida appears to be on track to reach levels higher than pre-pandemic.
Airplane
Based on data that compares flight and seat capacity, domestic flights to Orlando International Airport are expected to reach 37,996 in the third quarter of 2021. This is an increase of 1.57% from the fourth quarter of 2019, which saw 37,406 flights.
Orlando Airport
And seat capacity is expected to increase by an even higher percentage. Domestic airplane passenger seat capacity in the third quarter of 2021 is expected to reach 6.599 million, an increase of 3.93% from the fourth quarter of 2019, which saw 6.349 million seats.
Airplane Seats
While these projections relate specifically to domestic flights, international flights are an unknown variable at the moment. Since international travel is still limited by governments around the world due to the pandemic, international flights were not included in the data.
Orlando International Airport Spring Break Crowds
As we head into the busy summer season in Central Florida, we’ll continue to be on the lookout for more updates on what you can expect while traveling for your vacation.
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. 
Do you have a summer trip to Disney World planned this year? Let us know in the comments!
The post What to Expect if You’re Traveling to Disney World Through Orlando Airport This Summer first appeared on the disney food blog.
Loki is already wow-ing viewers after the first episode debuted on Disney+, and Marvel Entertainment has released a new video showing off a little bit of behind-the-scenes footage and stories from the cast and creative team of the new original series. What’s Happening: Marvel has shared a new video with some of the cast and creators […]
The post New Video From Marvel Shows Cast and Creative Team From “Loki” Sharing Fun Behind The Scenes Stories and Details appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
A new biography about Imagineer Claude Coats is coming out on November 16, 2021. Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer: The Making of Disneyland From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond is by Dave Bossert, the author of 3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen it Before. Here is the official description of the book: Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer—The Making of Disneyland: From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond is the story of artist and designer Claude Coats […]
The post “Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer” Biography by Dave Bossert Releasing November 16, 2021 appeared first on WDW News Today.
When planning your Disney World vacation, Moderate Resorts can be a great option that won’t break the bank but offer up some larger rooms and more amenities than a Value Resort.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Currently, there are five different moderate resort options (though not all are reopened at this time), including Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, and The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. And, while there are a lot of things that make these resorts worth checking out, you might stumble upon some BIG problems that you don’t expect. So, instead of wishing you knew these things before you booked your stay, we’re breaking them down for ya!
First up, we need to talk about the literal elephant in the room — these hotels are HUGE. Each moderate resort is made up of separate buildings that are scattered throughout the resort area. Some are around a big lake and there’s even one in the woods, so, though it may look like you’re not staying with thousands of your new best friends, you totally are.
There is A LOT of walking to do at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Normally value resorts are associated with large crowds and they do technically have more rooms than Disney’s moderate resorts, but that doesn’t mean you’re escaping the crowds. Moderate Resorts do still have a HUGE capacity ability and lots of rooms — they’re just a bit more spread out (more on that later).
And, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is actually home to a conference center, so you’re not only staying with all the Disney vacationers, but it also attracts a lot of business travelers.
Coronado Springs
So, you’re not necessarily “beating the crowds” by paying the higher price for a moderate resort.
Speaking of how big these resorts are and how much land they span, you might find yourself in a room that is a LONG walk from resort amenities like the pool, dining options, and the front desk. And, if you’ve ever checked into your hotel just to walk all the way to your room and find that your MagicBand won’t work to get you into your room you’ll know how not-fun that walk back can be at a moderate resort. In many cases, you could be looking at a 15+ minute walk.
The main building at both Port Orleans Resorts are a good walk from the rooms
Over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, one of the coolest room options are the pirate-themed rooms. These come decked out with pirate ship beds, a compass carpet, a skull and crossbones bathroom curtain, and more (AKA a DREAM for little pirates), but what Disney won’t tell you is that these are actually located in some of the furthest buildings from Old Port Royale (the main building with the big pirate-themed pool those same lil’ pirates will likely be begging to swim in!). And, if you’re wondering just how far we’re talking — it can easily take you 15 minutes to walk between the two.
Pirate rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
The long walk from your room to the main building with amenities is especially problematic when it’s super hot outside or when it’s a rainy, or worse, hurricane season in Florida. Both ways you’re stuck getting wet (either from sweat or rain) or going without food. Remember, this is alllll exposed walking, friends. No covered walkways or indoor hallways here.
You’re sure to experience ALL the types of weather on your way to amenities
Now, you can try to avoid this big issue with Disney’s moderate resorts by calling ahead and requesting a room that is closer to the main building. It won’t guarantee that you’ll be placed in a closer room, but it’s worth a shot!
By now you might be thinking “we get it, moderate resorts are huge,” but there’s yet another problem with the sheer amount of land that these resorts span. Instead of one centralized bus stop, moderate resorts are home to MANY bus stops around the resort area. And, while it does help to eliminate some steps to the main building, you can spend a lot of your precious Disney time circling the resort instead of enjoying the parks.
Bus Stop at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
The order that the buses pick up and drop off in the loop can vary based on the time of day or how busy it is in Disney World and each resort differs on how many bus stops there are. Here’s a quick overview of the stops for each Moderate Resort:
There are LOTS of stops at Disney’s Moderate Resorts
What can be particularly nasty here with loads of bus stops (we find this especially true at Caribbean Beach) is if your stop is at the beginning or end of the line. At the early stops? You get on the bus no problem but you’re waiting probably half an hour on the bus traveling around the resort before you ever even head to the parks. At the end of the line? You’re crossing your fingers that bus isn’t full by the time it finally gets to you and then also waiting while you drive allllll around the resort to get OFF at the end of the day! Because it can take you longer than you’d expect to get to and from the parks, we suggest adding about 30-minutes to an hour to your travel time just to be sure you get to all your Fastpasses, dining reservations, and plans on time!
The new hotness in terms of Disney World transportation is the Disney Skyliner. Only ONE Moderate resort has access to this though — Caribbean Beach Resort. All other moderates rely on bus transportation to all the parks. Caribbean Beach is actually the hub of the Skyliner, giving you great access to all routes in one spot. Sounds awesome, right? Well, kinda. Remember that “you’re gonna be walking a LOT” tip we mentioned? Rings true here big time.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Get a room near the Skyliner hub, you’re golden. A quick walk and you’ll be zipping to the parks in no time. But the vast majority of rooms are a SCHLEP from the Skyliner. In fact, some of the buildings are SO far away, you’d be better off walking to the nearby Riviera Resort and hopping on the Skyliner THERE!
While long walks and bus waits are an inconvenience that most people can handle, one pitfall of select moderate resorts is that some of the buildings do not have elevators. For example, at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, the 2-story buildings in the Alligator Bayou area don’t have elevators. BUT, the neighboring 3-story “Mansions” do.
Port Orleans Riverside
And, at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, there aren’t elevators in ANY of the buildings.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
But, this doesn’t necessarily rule these resorts out when deciding where you’ll stay during your Disney World trip, you’ll just want to be sure you contact Disney ahead of time to request a ground floor room or a building with an elevator if you need it.
Now, because these resorts are somewhere in between value resorts and deluxe resorts, you’ll find that the dining options are a bit limited. Generally, you can expect moderate resorts have a Table Service restaurant, a Quick Service restaurant, and a poolside bar that offers a limited menu.
That being said, we’re going to start off with the anomaly of the group — The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. The cabins are actually the only part of the resort that is considered “moderate” and the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness are considered in the “value” resort category. So, as you might expect, the dining options here are a bit of a mix.
The Chuck Wagon at Fort Wilderness
Meal-wise there is no food court, but you can grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the takeout restaurant called P & J’s Southern Takeout. There is also one Table Service restaurant that opens for dinner and brunch on the weekends called Trail’s End Restaurant. Otherwise, it’s mostly snacking that you can do at this resort — The Chuck Wagon is an RV-style snack kiosk and Meadow Snack Bar is a great place for drinks and a snack poolside.
Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Though, there is one extra standout dining experience at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort — Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. This comedic dinner show serves up southern-style dishes and is definitely worth checking out! (Note this experience remains closed at this time!)
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, you’ve got three solid options for dining. Centertown Market is a food court-style Quick Service location, there’s a poolside bar (Banana Cabana) and a neighboring walk-up smaller quicker service/bar type combo counter (Spyglass Grill), and the resort’s Table Service option is Sebastian’s Bistro (which is a gem).
Banana Cabana and Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
At Disney’s Port Orlean’s Resort — French Quarter, you’ve also got three solid options including Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory which is a Quick Service restaurant, Scat Cat’s Club which has a cafe and a lounge, and Mardi Grogs Pool Bar which is another spot to grab drinks. So, there’s no Table Service restaurant here.
Scat Cat’s Lounge
And, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside also has some limited options including Boatwright’s Dining Hall (which only opens for dinner), Riverside Mill Food Court, and two bars — River Roost Lounge and Muddy Rivers Pool Bar.
The River Roost
Now, the major exception to this moderate resort pitfall is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Because this hotel has a conference center and attracts more business-minded guests there are A LOT of dining locations — 10 to be exact!
So, though Disney World’s moderate resorts may have some pitfalls, they still can be a really great option for families vacationing in the parks! And, if you’re thinking about planning a vacation to Disney this year, you can check out the BEST hotels below!
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.
Are the Moderate resorts a favorite of yours? Let us know in the comments!
The post The BIG Problem With Disney World’s Moderate Resorts first appeared on the disney food blog.
Disney Imagineers really put so much energy and creativity into the Disney World theme parks. It can be felt the moment you walk through the gates. Fortunately for us, one of our favorite park experiences that we have missed in the past year is coming back! Park experiences Rides. Shows. Cavalcades. Even food is an […]
The post One of our favorite Disney park experiences is coming back! appeared first on KennythePirate.com.
Even a seasoned Disney World veteran can get surprised sometimes!
Magic Kingdom
Disney World is a constantly changing place with big news pouring in left and right and little changes to take note of too. Plus, your day might be made a little more magical by a surprising event! Here are eight surprises you WON’T expect to see in Disney World!
First up, we’ve got a not-so-nice surprise with big crowds at slower times of the year. Disney World can get pretty busy even on the slowest of days (those exist?! 
), so many of us schedule our vacations around times that the parks might be a little more empty. So, how come the supposedly “slow” times of the year can come with big crowds?
©Disney
You might know to plan your trip as far away from holidays, spring break season, and the summertime as possible, but Disney World has some holidays and events that fly under the radar. It can be a BIG surprise to find a major event going on when you’re expecting low crowds.
Hall of fame baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. and Disney Sports Vice President Faron Kelley pose with Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom Park as Ripken Baseball and Walt Disney World Resort jointly announced Tuesday the Ripken Experience is coming to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in 2020. ©Disney
Keep an eye out for running events like the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in the otherwise slow time of January and February. You might expect low crowds in the first week of November, but schools in New Jersey take a few days off for fall break at that time (Jersey Week!). And, of course, you’ll want to check schedules for sports and cheer competitions.
Now for a more DELIGHTFUL surprise! Sometimes when you’re in the parks, you might spot some surprise characters. And no, we’re not talking about Character Cavalcades or surprise character experiences. We’re actually talking about a fun surprise from Cast Members!
Cast Member Water ART!
Custodial Cast Members work SO hard to keep the parks looking spic and span, and they still have time to put a smile on guests’ faces! We’ve spotted character water art from many a Cast Member.
Minnie Art
Then, of course, there’s Edline in Animal Kingdom who does gorgeous flower art of Mickey Mouse regularly! How beautiful!
Edeline just over here making magic for everyone!
These little surprises might not seem like a big deal but they can be an absolute joy to see. Please do remember if you DO happen to catch one of these magical acts in progress, watch your step! We’ve caught many guests not looking where they’re walking and trample right over a work of art in progress!!
We’ve got another fun surprise too! Have you ever seen a square of tape on the ground in one of the parks? At the time, you probably walked right by without giving it a second thought. Or maybe you thought, “Hmm…that’s odd.” BUT, if you ever spot a tape square, you might want to make a quick detour INSIDE IT.
Magic Kingdom
You might be in the presence of a clap box! This is a fun pop-up surprise where Cast Members watch for guests to walk through and applaud when a guest enters the clap box. This is a really unique one to spot and SO fun if you do! Most guests just keep walking but Cast Members are watching to see if you pause in the box! And yep, they’ll clap as long as you stand there. So fun!
Even now, you can expect to see characters in Disney World. After all, the Character Cavalcades run most days in all four parks and there are several regular appearances from characters like Mickey, Jack Sparrow, and Stitch.
Hey there, Captain!
But sometimes, new character appearances pop up and give us a surprise! For instance, we were happily shocked the first time we saw Pooh with his butterfly net or Donald watering flowers.
Pooh Bear
Plus, the characters even “caravan around the world” to visit the Disney World Resort hotels, so you might see them pop up at your resort!
We’ve been pretty surprised recently when we’ve spotted REAL LIFE celebrities in addition to our famous Disney pals we see all the time! Last month we spotted JoJo Siwa enjoying a Disney day AND John Stamos filming in Magic Kingdom.
It’s John Stamos!
In the past, we’ve also seen famous folks at the Candlelight Processional (a little bit less of a surprise!). Basically, celebrities work in Disney World sometimes and they visit just like us, too!
This can be a happy surprise or an unhappy surprise depending on how you plan your morning. In many cases, Disney has been letting guests into the theme parks well before opening — sometimes 30 minutes prior or more!
Hollywood Studios Rope Droppers in ACTION!!!
If you’ve planned to rope drop and get there early enough, this can mean valuable extra time in the park! If you arrive right at rope drop though, you might have the unpleasant surprise of seeing lines already full by the time you arrive. Maybe this is one surprise you should expect!
Another less-pleasant surprise might be unannounced construction! Sure, Disney does give us a heads up about larger construction projects like the refurbishment at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but you might not get a warning for everything.
It’s looking like a stage now!
If a project isn’t large enough to disrupt the guest experience, Disney might not announce it at all. Instead, you’ll be caught off guard when you spot construction in the Morocco Pavilion or on the castle stage. These might not have a major effect on your vacation, but they could come as a surprise — especially if that little construction is at a location near and dear to your heart.
The final surprise is another one that you don’t want to catch you off guard. Some Disney World offerings might have wonky hours. Make sure you check hour listings for restaurants you want to stop by; at this time, many of them are closing earlier than you might expect. This is especially true in Hollywood Studios where some fast food spots close hours before the park does!
The EPCOT Skyliner Station
Plus, transportation hours have been VERY wonky. Transportation may open earlier or later than the posted times, and even Cast Members might not have accurate information. Make sure you’re ready to be flexible with your plans in case transportation doesn’t work the way you expect.
Hopefully, this info helps you to be a little less surprised by the negative surprises and MORE delighted by the positive ones. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney information!
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.
Have you seen any of these surprises in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
The post 8 Surprises You WON’T Expect to See in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.
Work is progressing swiftly over at the Polynesian Village Resort on both the pore-cochère roof and the monorail walkway entrance. Let’s take a look: More paneling has been put up recently on the porte-cochère roof. We hope for this piece to be completed soon and lifted back over to The Great Ceremonial House. The concrete pillars are being primed, halfway covered in a shade of pink. The set on the opposite side has recently been painted brown, likely the finished […]
The post PHOTOS: Construction Progresses As Crews Race to Finish Work at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.
We just got a first look at some new concept art showing Captain Marvel flying alongside Iron Man on the Iron Man Rollercoaster at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris. Now our friends at The Sequoia Gang have revealed a rendering of Iron Man’s famous Hulkbuster suit in its new home in the former Blockbuster Cafe. The cafe closed in 2019 to make way for the Paris version of the Avengers Campus. Take a look below: We also got […]
The post CONCEPT ART: Ant-Man and Iron Man Restaurants for Avengers Campus Feature Hulkbuster, Quantum Tunnel at Disneyland Paris appeared first on WDW News Today.
