We’ve been talking a lot about space travel recently since Disney World is opening their new Star Wars hotel — the Galactic Starcruiser — in just about a week. This hotel will simulate transporting guests into space within the timeline and story of the Star Wars universe.
A Model of the Halcyon in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
But what if simulations aren’t enough for you? Maybe you want the REAL experience of blasting off from Earth and visiting space. Turns out, now you can do that.
Virgin Galactic (owned by the same parent company that manages Virgin Airlines) is a company that is dedicated to taking tourists into space. With their program, you don’t even need to be an astronaut in order to take off into space.
Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde (who is now retired from Disney Imagineering) is an “experience architect” for Virgin Galactic and has been working on this project alongside other experts.
Tickets are now available for the general public to purchase their reservation for this experience. If you do buy a spot, you will also receive several days of training, including “spaceflight preparedness activities.”
The cost also includes membership to the Future Astronaut community, which is “designed and curated to bring inspiration, excitement, and adventure from the time of ticket purchase to spaceflight and beyond” (Virgin Galactic).
The spaceflight takes off from Spaceport America, which is a station located in New Mexico. The trip itself is a 90-minute journey beginning with an air launch and “Mach-3 boost to space.” Onboard, you’ll experience weightlessness and views of Earth from the 17 windows in the ship.
Virgin Galactic commented on their new brand, which was created to market the experience to the public. The President and Chief Business Officer of Commercial and Consumer Operations said, “A global, commercial spaceline demands an iconic and timeless brand. It is important that our brand represents our dynamic customer offering, and speaks to our unique experience, style, and service.”
The CEO of Virgin Galactic, Michael Colglazier, also spoke to the company’s goals and future plans: “At Virgin Galactic, we believe that space is transformational.” Colglazier stated that the first 1,000 customers will begin their experience later on in 2022. Following the first spaceflight, they intend to continue regular operations with more customers.
Are you ready to hear what a trip to actual space will cost you? One ticket for this experience costs $450,000. A $150,000 deposit is required at the time of reservation, and the final payment is due before your flight. The website also mentioned that there is an application process before reservations can be made, so it’s possible that guests will need to meet some qualifications before they can book their trip.
We’re always interested in the latest big news when it comes to travel, and that’s even more true when a Disney legend like Joe Rohde is involved. Stay tuned with DFB for more updates!
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With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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.
A new amethyst purple Minnie Mouse ear headband is now available at Disneyland Resort. We first found it in the Emporium at Disneyland Park.
Amethyst Minnie Ear Headband – $29.99
The headband and bow are a lighter purple than the ears, which are covered in reflective sequins.
The sequins have shell-like lines.
Will you be wearing these ears on your next Disneyland outing? Let us know in the comments.
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.
(Please note this article contains affiliate links. Your purchase will support LaughingPlace by providing us a small commission, but will not affect your pricing or user experience. Thank you.) Happy President’s Day! To celebrate, the most patriotic of all the Muppets, Sam Eagle, has a special message straight from Disneyland! It is I, Sam Eagle, […]
If you’ve been looking forward to the February release of the Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction merchandise series, then you’re in luck — it’s coming very soon! Today, shopDisney UK shared a preview of the items on Instagram, and we’re already making our wish list.
The February theme is Pirates of the Caribbean, and each of the items features a nod to the attraction. We’ve got a collectible key, a pin, a plush Mickey Mouse, a mini Loungefly backpack, and a pair of ears — all decked out in black and gold. The post notes that the items will be available on February 25th, but it’s not clear if that date is just for the UK release or for the United States as well.
We’ll keep an eye out for these items coming soon, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates! We’ve got you covered with all the Disney merchandise news.
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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.
EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival is just around the corner. Are you ready to experience all of the beautiful topiaries and food this festival brings? We have a first look at the menu! Flower and Garden Festival EPCOT’s next Festival kicks off beginning March 2nd and runs through July 4th. You can read all […]
Do you have your favorite snacks that you love to enjoy in each Disney Park? Many Guests may be sad to learn that this delicious treat has been removed from the Magic Kingdom. Best Snacks in Magic Kingdom Of course we visit the Disney Parks for the magic, attractions, and characters, but closely behind these […]
Rock the dots all year long with the ultimate fashion icon Minnie Mouse! A new baseball cap designed after one of Minnie’s early looks has popped up on shopDisney and will make a wonderful addition to your collection. (Please note this article contains affiliate links. Your purchase will support LaughingPlace by providing us a small commission, […]
Fingers crossed this crowd disperses when we get to the park!
Once we made it into the Magic Kingdom, we were greeted with more crowds! Main Street, U.S.A. is a common choke point, though, so this area isn’t always the best indicator of crowds (it fills up with people almost every day!).
Some attractions, like Space Mountain here, had the same (LONG) lines as usual. At around 11AM, the wait time was already up to 75 minutes.
With no shade?! Come on, Disney!
Other attractions felt the hurt of the holiday weekend, too, like the Tomorrowland Speedway; the wait time was 45 minutes at 11:30AM. Yikes!
Would you wait that long?
Even smaller pathways filled up with people — it was hard to find a place WITHOUT guests!
Even the walkways are pretty packed!
Another good indicator of a truly busy day? This line right here. When the standby line for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid extends this far, you know the park is packed!
OMG!
Let’s check in on EPCOT while we’re at it! The area over by The Seas with Nemo and Friends was a little hectic. We got out of there quickly.
You know it’s a busy day when The Seas is crowded!
The Land pavilion is nice and large; surely Living with the Land, which is known for its low wait times, won’t be crowded, right? WRONG!
Umm…really?!
EPCOT officially opened at 9AM, and by 10AM the wait time for Test Track was already 80 minutes.
Yeah, that makes sense
So, yeah, now you can see why we warn people about crowds on holiday weekends in Disney World. It’s wild out there. In the meantime, stay tuned for all the latest Disney news and park updates!
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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.
Staying at a Disney World Resort hotel will ensure that you’re fully immersed in the Disney “magic” throughout the entirety of your stay. But, just like the parks, they’re NOT always perfect.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Like other unforeseen problems in Disney World, from gift card snafus to Park Pass hangups, the hotels have their OWN set of issues, including some that no one seems to talk about! The good news is that if you’re gonna run into a problem, Disney World is probably the best place for that to happen. But the bad news is problems in Disney World can be inevitable — even in the cozy confines of your hotel. So, allow us to shed some light on some particularly frustrating hotel problems that NO ONE is talking about!
The Awkwardness of Driving Into a Resort If You’re Not a Guest There
When it comes to security, Disney World is basically a whimsical Fort Knox. Seriously, sometimes we think we’d have an easier time walking into the Pentagon than we would a Disney World hotel! And, since the parks and resorts reopened after temporarily closing at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s only gotten harder to visit the hotels if you’re not staying there.
For guests with reservations who are staying on property, it’s no problem at all! But have you tried driving into a resort for dinner at say Narcoossee’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or a casual meal at the Steakhouse 71 Lounge in Disney’s Contemporary Resort WITHOUT being a guest there? It’s…weird. You’ll be asked to provide the name under your reservation (and usually a valid ID) and Disney’s security team will check their system for your reservation.
Steakhouse 71
On the one hand, it’s good that security is tight, but it’s strange to feel a little interrogated at the check-in gate when all we want to do is eat ‘Ohana Noodles without feeling the need to spend a few extra hundred dollars on a room.
Listen, we’re grateful that Disney World transportation is abundant and free! But you know what ELSE can be abundant during your trip? Transportation headaches.
Bus Transportation
If you’ve ever relied on Disney World transportation, you’re probably familiar with the crowds and long lines that you can find at bus stops whether you’re traveling to the parks or back to the hotel. And, it doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re staying at a hotel with only a few bus stops (some even only offer ONE for ALL the busses) or one with multiple stops…you’re likely going to find yourself waiting with a crowd of other guests staring at the digital wait times board.
You never know how long your wait for the bus will be
Oh, and did we mention that you could be waiting on a bus for 20 minutes (or more in some cases)?
Waiting for the bus at Pop Century
No matter which way you look at it, hotel transportation isn’t a picnic!
Pluto isn’t the only pup that gets to visit Disney World!
When staying at a pet-friendly hotel with your pet, this doesn’t stop room service from needing to perform their routine room checks and upkeep. But, it’s a little different from the housekeeping service that you’re likely used to at Disney World.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Housekeeping doesn’t want to disturb your pet when conducting these routine checks, so the somewhat awkward solution is having to negotiate a time when you’ll be in your room and able to comfort your pet while room service does their magic. NOT an easy feat for most people who like to spend a bulk of their day in the parks!
Plus there are quite a few other rules and recommendations that Disney has for guests who choose to bring their pet along that could throw a wrench into your traditional park plans.
Even for the larger-than-life Deluxe Resorts, many hotel rooms at Disney World can feel small and cramped. And, this would all be fine, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re paying a LOT for these spaces!
Contemporary Guest Room
For example, the rooms at the VERY EXPENSIVE Grand Floridian Resort & Spa aren’t much more luxurious than a moderately appointed (and MUCH less expensive) chain hotel off-property, like a Hilton or a Hyatt.
Grand Floridian Hotel Room
Of course, Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts certainly have their luxuries, but at the end of the day, you’re MOSTLY paying for location over luxury when it comes to where you lay your head to rest at night. And, that can be pretty pesky if you’re expecting the latter for those prices.
Of course, there are quite a few more amenities at these hotels, like multiple Table Service restaurants, spas, and more, but you’re really only getting a big bang for your buck if you spend time enjoying the hotel rather than holed up in your room or at the parks all day.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
On the opposite end of the Disney World spectrum, the “value” in Value Resorts can be pretty subjective. If your idea of value is perks and amenities, you’ll likely find yourself disappointed.
Pop Century
For example, at hotels like Disney’s Art of Animation Resort or Disney’s Pop Century Resort, you won’t find ANY Table Service restaurants, nor any upscale add-ons like spa services. Instead, these resorts are pretty bare-bones with a Quick Service food court, a small merchandise shop, and pools.
The Art of Animation food court isn’t exactly California Grill
So, while it might be a value in terms of money (though even that is debatable), you’re really paying for a place to sleep at night and not much more.
Speaking of Value Resorts, we didn’t even MENTION one of the biggest grievances Disney fans have with these “cheap” hotels. The one BIG problem with these money-saving properties, you ask? The fact that they can be more crowded than rope drop on Main Street, U.S.A.!
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
These hotels accommodate a LOT more guests than places like the Grand Floridian or Disney’s Beach Club Resort or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge which means that they tend to be more packed with people. In fact, these tend to be the go-to hotels for youth conventions, high school bands, and other large groups which can make for even more noise and general hustle-bustle.
All-Star Music Resort Entrance
So, if you book yourself a stay at these resorts looking to kick back and relax in a more subdued setting on your Disney World vacay, this could be a BIT of a problem!
Though Disney hasn’t confirmed whether capacity limits are still in place at the hotels and almost all have reopened, it’s become almost impossible to secure yourself a stay at certain resorts without some serious planning ahead. It could simply be a matter of not having enough beds for all the heads if capacity limits are still in place or Disney World could really be that hot of a vacation spot now that travel has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
It can be hard to get a reservation at ANY hotel right now
Especially for those who prefer to hold out or wait a little bit, this can add quite a hectic little plot twist to your vacation-planning experience!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
At the end of the day, all Disney World hotels are immersive and memorable, but that’s not to suggest they aren’t without their problems, as you can see here! Hopefully, though, with some extra planning and insight, you can work around this to ensure your Disney vacation is as dreamy as you’ve always dreamed!
And, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World tips, tricks, and updates!
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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.
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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!
