Do Pardoned Turkeys Still Go to Walt Disney World?
For many years pardoned turkeys got to visit the Happiest Place on Earth after enduring a televised White House event packed with political puns.
From 2005 - 2009 Mickey Mouse played host to pardoned turkeys at Walt Disney World Resort.
From 2005 to 2009 the turkeys served as the Grand Marshals of the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade on Main Street USA. It’s not clear where they went from there, perhaps they became permanent residents of Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Campground.
Disney no longer invites the turkeys to the parade. I suppose if you’re a turkey, you probably want to keep a low profile on Thanksgiving Day, presidential pardon and all.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Darren
Cost-Effective Travel Tips for Parents with Young Children
By Leslie Campos
Your little ones are everything to you, and you love to travel. But traveling with your little ones can be stressful.
Though it’s challenging, traveling with your young children can also make for a more exciting and enjoyable trip if you do some planning and preparation ahead of time. And you don’t need to spend a fortune getting ready for your trip.
So don’t sweat it, and get excited for the new adventure that lies ahead! Check out these practical, budget-friendly travel tips for parents of young children:
Pack Plenty of Snacks
The whole family likes snacks, so be sure to bring them along. Buy some of your kids’ favorite snacks in bulk, and pack some in your carry-on and suitcase. Food is cheaper in bulk, and if you’re flying, this will save you from having to buy chips and candy bars at airport prices. Granola bars, fruit pouches, popcorn, and trail mix are also winners.
Don’t Forget Electronics
It’s 2019, so let’s not pretend that our kids don’t love electronics. And when you’re going on a trip, you may regret it if you don’t pack some entertainment. Whether it’s a handheld gaming console, tablet, or laptop, make sure your children have a way to fight boredom while in transit.
You also want to consider the times when you’re stuck inside or winding down for the evening. A streaming stick can be perfect for those moments. Assuming you have a WiFi connection and a compatible TV, a streaming stick can provide your kids access to tons of movies and shows for their enjoyment. Remember to pack chargers for all the devices you bring along.
Coordinate Transit with Sleep Time.
Naps are king when it comes to kids. Without them, everything can fall apart, including your trip. Whether you’re taking a road trip or flying, plan to leave early in the morning or late at night. If you’re going on a long road trip, try to drive as much during their nap times as possible. That way, you stand a better chance of your children sleeping for a good chunk of the time.
Bring the Stroller as a Carry-on.
No matter where you’re going or how you’re getting there, you’re going to need a stroller. The good news is that most airlines will check a car seat at no charge, which leaves you more room to use your stroller as a carry-on. And make sure the stroller you bring is light and compact. Even if you’re driving, you will likely need the extra room for other things. You can get a quality travel stroller for about $80.
Buy a Cheap Inflatable Pool
Whether you’ll be staying in a vacation rental, hotel, or other type of lodging, it’s important to plan for bath time. You don’t want to assume that the tub where you’re staying is suitable for bathing kids, and even if the tub does work, you have to think about bacteria, fungus, and so on. Pick up an inflatable pool at the local retail store or dollar store. They’re super cheap, and they pack easily.
Try to Relax.
Finally, don’t expect everything to go as planned on your trip. It won’t. It’s better to plan than not to plan, but you will definitely hit a snag here and there. If you go in with this knowledge, it won’t shock you as much when it happens. Just try to relax, roll with the punches, and enjoy the time with your family. Plus, if you’re relaxed, your children are more likely to stay calm.
With a little planning and preparation, you can have an awesome trip with your young children. Pack a lot of snacks, and bring along electronic devices for entertainment. Try to schedule your travel around sleep times, and pack a compact stroller and inflatable pool. And try to stay relaxed, even when things don’t go as planned.
Image via Unsplash
New Ticket Offer + Agency Exclusive Offers
We’ve been hard at work bringing you a new line up of Agency Exclusive Offers Walt Disney World travel in 2020. New offers are coming in all the time so be sure to check the Current Offers page frequently. I’m hearing news of yet another Agency Exclusive from Magical Vacations Travel coming this week for November (hint…hint).
New 4-Day Magic Ticket Now Available for Walt DIsney World Resort in Florida.
Four-Day Magic Ticket Now Available
And starting today, you can purchase a four-day, Walt Disney World Resort 4-Park Magic Ticket from $89 per day (plus tax).
A regular priced 4-day ticket comes is about $480.39*
A 4-Park Magic Ticket comes is about $398.60*
*Sample pricing based on Aug 1, 2020.
The 4-Park Magic Ticket includes one day of admission to Magic Kingdom Park, one day of admission to Epcot, one day of admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and one day of admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, for a total of four admissions over a 7-day window.
More Savings!
Save even more when you combine the Four Day Magic Ticket with a Magical Vacations Travel Agency Exclusive Offer.
Water Park Option
You can also upgrade your ticket to include one admission to either Disney water park and one admission to the all-new NBA Experience at Disney Springs*.
Four Day Magic Ticket FAQ
Can I purchase this ticket as part of a Walt Disney World Resort Package?
No. It cannot be combined with a traditional Resort Package. It can be purchased as a separate component to room-only reservations, and Magical Vacations Travel Agency Exclusive Offers.
Do the tickets expire?
You must select a start date on or before September 30, 2020 and ticket expires 7 days after the selected start date.
I want to visit Magic Kingdom twice, and skip Epcot. Can I do that?
No. This ticket can be used to enter each theme park only once and one theme park per day. You can choose the order in which you’d like to visit each park.
Can the Four Day Magic Ticket Be Modified or Canceled?
Tickets are nonrefundable, nontransferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. You can move the start date but there is no credit given if that date costs less. If the start date costs more, you’ll pay the difference in price.
Know Before You Go:
All tickets and options are nontransferable and nonrefundable and exclude activities/events separately priced.
A 4-Park Magic Ticket includes one admission to each of the Walt Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park), for a total of 4 admissions.
Limit one admission per theme park, and one park per day.
Water Park admission is valid for one admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park or Disney's Blizzard Beach water park. NBA Experience admission is valid for one admission to the NBA Experience.
Water Parks subject to rehabilitation, seasonal and weather closures.
*To participate in NBA Experience activities, footwear is required; athletic footwear is recommended. Age restrictions may apply. Adults must sign a waiver when they arrive at the venue; for children younger than age 18, the child’s parent/guardian must sign the waiver for minors.
Service Your Way Gift Card Program at Walt Disney World
Today the My Disney Experience mobile app has been updated to allow guests to enroll in the Service Your Way Program. Guests staying at most Value and Moderate resort hotels have the option of declining housekeeping services during their stay in exchange for a gift card.
The Service Your Way Program Allows Guest to Decline Housekeeping in Exchange for a Gift Card.
By opting to decline housekeeping services in your room using the Service Your Way Program, you will receive an electronic Disney Gift Card based on the length of your Disney Resort hotel stay in the amount of $10 per night.
You will still be eligible to receive toiletry items and fresh towels when/if you need them by calling housekeeping on your Disney Resort hotel Guest room telephone. However, your room will not be vacuumed and your beds will not be made during your stay if you choose to use the Service Your Way.
Why You Will Always Wait in Line at Walt Disney World
Pirates of the Caribbean at inside Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World
I’m often asked about the best time to visit Walt Disney World to experience shorter lines. In recent years, Disney has been great at keeping the place busy all year long so there are fewer slow periods. The days of walking onto attractions without any wait, are gone. Here’s why:
Switching to Date-Based Ticket Pricing
Date-based ticket pricing not only generates additional revenue during peak times but it also allows Disney to boost attendance during off-peak times by offering cheaper tickets. And many people do take advantage of that.
“We sometimes have this notion that Disney has all the Cast Members working all the time but that’s not so.”
Special Events and Conventions
Special events like the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and the runDisney marathons also boost attendance during off-peak travel periods.
Reduction in Staff
With the help of technology and date-based tickets, Disney has become extremely efficient at staffing based on the number of people visiting the parks on a given day. For example, if crowds are light, it may staff at 60% or 80%. We sometimes have this notion that Disney has all the Cast Members working all the time but that’s not so.
I like to use Pirates of the Caribbean as an example. By mid-afternoon, the typical wait for this classic attraction is 30-40 minutes. This is true in July when the parks have high attendance, and it’s true in September, one of the least crowded times. How can this be? Wouldn’t fewer people in the park mean shorter wait times? When there are fewer people in the parks, Disney reduces Cast Members, it runs fewer ride vehicles and they may even shut down some load areas. The end result is a consistent 30-40-minute wait.
On days with lighter crowds at Magic Kingdom, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe operates only one bay.
Lines to order food are still about the same with one bay opened as compared to a busy day when all 3 bays are operating.
Another example I like to use is the quick-service restaurant, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe located inside the Magic Kingdom. This quick-service restaurant has 3 bays where guests order food. There is almost always a line to order food, even when all three bays are operating. But on less crowded days, Disney operates only one bay, leaving the other two unmanned.
In a perfect world, Disney would operate all three bays at Cosmic Rays all the time, no matter what the crowd level. There would be no such thing as a line. But then we can imagine numerous Cast Members standing around with nothing to do on less-busy days.
How to Avoid the Crowds
The days of walking onto rides without any wait maybe a thing of the past but the good news is that there are still ways to avoid long lines.
Arriving at the parks as soon as they open will give you an opportunity to enjoy some headliner attractions before the crowds arrive for the day. I recommend being at the parks about 30 minutes prior to the posted opening time as they sometimes open 10-15 minutes early.
Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, a benefit to all Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests. Each day, a select park or parks will open early or remain open past general closing, just for Disney Resort hotel guests. You probably won’t notice shorter waits during evening Extra Magic Hours, but most morning Extra Magic Hours can be a great benefit.
I wholeheartedly believe in the great work being done at TouringPlans.com. The actual wait times they provide though their Lines app are more accurate than Disney’s posted times. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to avoid standing in line at Walt Disney World.
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can make your FastPass selections 60-days in advance. That’s 30-days ahead of the general public! You’ll have a head start on the most popular attractions and get the best times.
Even though attraction wait times might be consistent through most of the year, there is still something to be said for going during less crowded times: late August, most of September, October, and early November. April and May are also great months to visit, just avoid Easter and holiday weekends.
For special offers on Walt Disney World Resort hotels, visit the Offers Page
Give the Gift of a Disney Vacation This Holiday Season
Give the gift of a Walt Disney World vacation this holiday season. Visit the Walt Disney World Offers Page for all current offers for 2020, including Agency-Exclusive Offers from Magical Vacations Travel
Super Zoom Magic Shot Launches at Walt Disney World Resort
New PhotoPass Feature - Super Zoom - Coming to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
Disney PhotoPass photographers are roaming Batuu and ready to offer even more creative ways to capture your' Star Wars adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including two more Super Zoom Magic Shots.
Visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge near First Order Cargo, where a Disney PhotoPass photographer can capture a Super Zoom Magic Shot of you surrounded by the beauty of Batuu, as well as next to Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, where you’ll be in frame with the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon.
Check out the Walt Disney World Offers Page for special savings.
Epcot's New BBQ Restaurant is fit for a...Monarch??
Regal Eagle BBQ Coming to Epcot
The Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is coming to The American Adventure Pavilion this winter inside Epcot.
Is it just me or was this an odd name for a restaurant at the American themed host pavilion? The word “regal” literally means “fit for a monarch” which seems a little unpatriotic considering where the restaurant is located. Didn’t we fight hard for our independence from a monarchy? Pretty sure it was a big deal, one that we celebrate every 4th of July.
Anyway, this new fast-casual barbecue experience at The American Adventure will offer up classic American backyard barbecue from around the United States as well as a variety of home-style craft brews.
On the menu are a variety of sandwiches and platters as well as a plant-based option. Guests can enjoy a sliced Texas beef brisket sandwich with house-made spicy mop sauce on garlic toast or the South Carolina smoked sausage sandwich with tangy mustard sauce and caramelized onions.
Regal Eagle BBQ Coming to Epcot
They can also feast on Kansas City smoked chicken, Memphis dry-rub pork ribs, North Carolina chopped smoked pork butt, all available by themselves or as part of a platter.
For a lighter option, grab the Power Greens Salad with chilled pulled chicken, fresh citrus, and a citrus vinaigrette.
The restaurant will is set to open this winter.
Coming Soon! Mickey Will Have A New Home at Epcot
Mickey will soon be making appearances in a new location at the Imagination! pavilion, as part of the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival. Just inside the entrance, you will discover Mickey greeting his fans and celebrating his on-screen stardom.
Mickey’s imagination has led to a career in the movies for 90 years and counting, featuring roles in dozens of short films such as “Get A Horse” which you’ll be able to watch as part of the festival. Look for Mickey to arrive at the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival in early 2020!
Additional Dates Now on Sale for Disney After Hours in 2020
Disney After Hours Events 2020
There are now more Disney After Hours event dates to choose from in 2020 at both Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Magic Kingdom Park
January 23, 27 & 31
February 3, 10, 17 & 24
March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
April 5, 13, 20 & 27
May 5, 11, 18 & 25
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
April 1, 7, 14 & 22
May 2, 9, 16, 19 & 26
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in advance for $129 per adult or child, plus tax, or on the day of the event for $139 per adult or child, plus tax. Contact Darren today to book your tickets