X-Pass Testing Begins Today

Beginning today, Disney will be running a 2-week test on its new X-Pass feature. Guests who take part in the test have been pre-selected, so even if you happen to be heading to the Parks this week, don't plan on getting in on the test unless you've already been informed.

If you're not familiar with the X-Pass experience, a cursory web search will yield dozens of articles offering more information. And you can see by the numerous articles that the proposed system is receiving very mixed reviews, with many guests sharing concerns about how this will affect the Fastpass system for those not using X-Pass. And, of course, since X-Pass will be offered only to guests at the Deluxe Resorts (at least initially), the concern is that the guest experience of those of us who traditionally stay in Value or Moderate Resorts will be somehow diminished. (I'm trying to reserve judgment for now, but honestly, I think this is an epically bad idea at first glance.)

It will be interesting to see what changes Disney makes to the current plan, based on the two-week test. Or--dare we hope?--if they will scrap the entire idea.

UPDATE: I'm now reading that what we've been calling "X-Pass" will be presented to the public as "FastPass+" instead.

Hidden Mickey Monday

OK, this one is a bit of a stretch, but I still think it was intended to be a Hidden Mickey. Anyone know where we found it?

Finally! Fantasyland Opening Dates

Disney is finally answering the questions we've all been asking...When are the various attractions in the new Fantasyland expansion going to open? While they don't give us every detail, this post on the official Disney Parks Blog gives us a a few more specifics, including some regarding a few highly-anticipated attractions.

Here's the gist:

• July 2012: the second half of Dumbo, Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station


• Holiday Season 2012 (I would assume this means around November): Under the Sea/Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Be Our Guest restaurant, Gaston's Tavern, Ariel's Grotto


• 2014: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Hmmm...we might just have to fit a holiday visit in this year. Convincing my husband might be a little tough, considering we're going in September--oh, and we're trying to buy a new house this summer. Better start saving my pennies now!

Friday Photo

I don't know about you guys, but my whole clan is pretty obsessed with the Muppets right now. We bought the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Target that included a download of the soundtrack, so we find ourselves singing "Everything is great...everything is grand..." or "Am I a man...or am I a Muppet?" at all hours of the day. So...since I have Muppets on the brain, please enjoy this pic of Miss Piggy from Disney's Hollywood Studios, taken in the fall of 2010.

Thursday's Tip

Presley helps pack her clothes.

It has been an unusual spring here in Nashville. We had record high temps in February and March, and just last week it was downright cold (at least in comparison). All this erratic weather brings an important Thursday's Tip to mind: pack for a variety of weather conditions. Even if you're visiting in July or August, and you think the temperature can't possibly drop below shorts and tank top weather. Even if you've checked the radar, and there's nary a cloud in the sky or the forecast for the next few days. Even if it's January, and you're quite sure you'll wear a sweater every day of your trip.

The only thing predictable about Florida weather is that it changes frequently. And while meteorological instruments have improved by great lengths over the last decade, they are not infallible. Weather systems spring up quickly, and things may change drastically from the time that you pack your clothes to the end of your vacation. Be prepared!

I like to pack in layers. Usually, the bulk of our attire is shorts and T-shirts or other summery, casual attire. We always pack at least one pair of jeans (and usually two) per person and some sort of sweatshirt or fleece. I also typically include a long-sleeved shirt for everyone, in case it's too cool for short sleeves but too warm for a fleece. Oh, and we ALWAYS pack our rain ponchos. If you're traveling in the winter months, you'll want to include heavy coats. Yes, frigid weather is rare in Orlando, but it does get quite chilly at times, especially in the evening hours. (And, yes, it does even snow in Florida at times.) In contrast, it can also be unseasonably warm in the winter months, so go ahead and throw in those bathing suits--you never know!

Disney Homeschool Days in October

If you're a home educating family like we are, you're always looking for unique, fun, ecucational, and--of course!--inexpensive field trips. Walt Disney World fits the bill. Really. Yes, even the inexpensive part, when compared with other vacation venues...as long as you know how to find the savings. Fortunately, Disney is offering great ticket discounts to homeschooling families for their annual (semi-annual? over the last few years the dates have been a bit erratic) Disney Homeschool Days.

This year's program, slated for October 25, puts the focus on primates and preserving their habitats (a less-than-subtle promotion of Chimpanzee, now in theatres). The one-hour presentation included with your registration/ticket purchase will undoubtedly be both informative and entertaining, but you also have the opportunity to schedule additional Youth Education Series (YES)programs during your stay. These are typically 3 hours in length and cost $28 per student per session. We've found them to be a perfect balance of learning and fun, especially for younger students.

While we won't be attending this year's event (we had our trip planned before the dates were announced; we are, however, attending a YES program through individual enrollment), we have attended Disney's Homeschool Days in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a sense of commaraderie, as you are surrounded by other home educating families. And it doesn't hurt that Disney typically schedules these events during the least busy times in the Parks, since we homeschoolers like to vacation in the off-season. (Our Homeschool Days program was in Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the crowd was as light as I had ever experienced.)

For more information on this year's event, click here.

 

All the Gifts Disney Moms Want

Yes, some of us Moms would really love a gift from the Disney Store for Mother's Day. Here are a few of my favorite Disney-themed items (hint, hint) from Amazon too:















And for the gift that always fits--a Disney gift card:



 

Around the World Update

There have been several developments around Walt Disney World in the last few days that I wanted to share with you. (I was out of pocket--at a homeschool convention in Cincinnati. Many thanks to my reader Ellice who graciously allowed our family to visit the Creation Museum with her guest passes while we were there!) Here's what has been going on "Around the World":

• The on-again/off-again refurbishment of Test Track is on again! It is even listed on the Epcot park map. Currently, the attraction is expected to be closed through late November--at least. This is a major "re-imagining" of the attraction, still to be sponsored by GM, and focusing on the Chevrolet brand. Cool Wash Pizza nearby is also closing, and an a capella music group is slated to entertain guests during the refurb. In addition, the Land and the Character Spot will stay open late in Epcot to help fill the giant gap left by Test Track's temporary close.


• The Orange Bird has returned to Adventureland! This cute little mascot that was first introduced at the MK opening in 1971, and was sponsored by the Florida Citrus Growers. He went away in the early 80s but has now returned with a vengeance--on T-shirts, pins, collector's cups, etc., and especially at the Sunshine Tree Terrace, where guests can enjoy tropical treats such as the Citrus Swirl.


• Vision House has finally opened in Epcot's Innoventions--just in time for Earth Day. This "smart home" allows guests to see various forms of green technology that are beginning to be used in some new construction homes.


• The Animal Kingdom Explorers game can now be played on Facebook. Haven't had time to check this one out personally--let me know if you have and how you like it!


• The monorails have a new audio spiels. But don't worry--they still open with my favorite phrase: "Please stand clear of the door. Por favor mantengase alehado de las puertas." (Although, my Spanish scholar nephew tells me that there is some discrepancy about the subject/verb agreement or tense or something like that on the recording--not sure if mine is correct here, but it's what they put on the T-shirts.)

Hidden Mickey Monday

The Yummly logo looks a little familiar...I think I see a Mickey in there!

Friday Photo

Have you ever been the guest chosen to deliver one of these red cards? These are instrumental in helping Disney list accurate wait times on attraction signs. A guest is given the card at the entrance to the queue and asked to deliver it to the Cast Member near the boarding area. These cards essentially allow Disney to measure the amount of time it takes a guest to get through the line.

Thursday's Tip

Some of you Disney vacation veterans may file this under the "Duh" heading, but for Disney newbies, here's an important tip: If you are using the Disney Dining Plan, make your dining reservations as soon as you possibly can. For most restaurants and most time periods throughout the year, Disney allows guests to make ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) up to 180 days before their arrival. During a season when the Dining Plan is offered free, this is especially important, as more guests that usual are snatching up those precious dining spaces.

And here's a bonus tip: If you're using the Disney Dining Plan--or even if you simply plan to eat at a lot of table service restaurants that require ADRs--I highly recommend buying Park Hopper tickets. Without them, you're basically forced to let your ADRs dictate which Park you visit on a particular day. But with a Park Hopper ticket, you can "hop" over from Disney's Hollywood Studios to dine at Epcot, for example, and then "hop" to the Magic Kingdom to finish out your day. In other words, you have much more freedom with both your ADRs and your touring plan.

Wednesdays with Walt

We're heading to a homeschool convention tomorrow in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Any readers joining us there?) In light of our trip, this quote by Walt struck me as interesting. Yes, we make learning a priority in our homeschool. But learning can be so entertaining that sometimes it doesn't even feel like work! And while Walt Disney World wasn't created to be a schoolroom, we find it to be quite educational at times.

"I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained." --Walt Disney

Hurry! Beauty and the Beast Returning to the Disney Vault

You have less than two weeks to own Beauty and the Beast before it returns to the Disney vault on April 30! If you weren't able to purchase it with coupons and/or rebates when it most recently re-released, you can still get it for a decent price on Amazon.com. Here are links to the DVD, Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, and 3D Blu-ray/DVD combo pack:

Hidden Mickey Monday

This seems to be a trend in restaurant photos (a few weeks ago, I spotted one on an Outback menu): large plate in the center with two smaller plates at each side. They just happen to form a perfect Hidden Mickey. This one comes from Applebee's:

Friday Photo

Ah...memories. The "good old days" when my girls still let me dress them alike and they still wanted to see every princess in the Park. (OK, maybe they still do that.)

Thursday's Tip

One of the fastest ways to watch the vacation spending add up is to buy every souvenir your kids see and want (which, let's admit, will be a lot). And who can blame them? I usually see a ton of stuff that I want too! One way to head off the "gimmes" is today's Thursday's Tip: buy a few inexpensive sourvenir gifts before your trip and dole them out during vacation week. A great place to start is your local dollar store. Other retail stores have licensed Disney products at reasonable prices too. And here are a few of my favorites that you can order and have shipped right to your door (you can also get free shipping with a free trial of Amazon Prime):

Wednesdays with Walt

Here's a great quote from Walt regarding money:

"Money is something I understand only vaguely, and I think about it only when I don’t have enough to finance my current enthusiasm, whatever it may be. All I know about money is that I have to have it to do things. I don’t want to bank my dividends, I’d rather keep my money working…. Money--or, rather the lack of it to carry out my ideas--may worry me, but it does not excite me. Ideas excite me."

--Walt Disney

Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests Announced

The annual Star Wars Weekends will be held at Disney's Hollywood Studios on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning May 18 and running through June 10. Events include autograph signings, a "Hyperspace Hoopla" show, a daily parade of Star Wars characters, and various presentations and talks. The celebrity guest lists has finally been announced:

May 18-20: Ray Park (Darth Maul); Jerome Blake (Rune Haako/Mas Amedda); Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Clone Captain Rex and Clone Commander Cody in Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

May 25-27: Andy Secombe (Watto); Ray Park (Darth Maul); Tom Kane (voice of Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

June 1-3: Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker); Silas Carson (Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi

June 8-10: Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing); Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi); Daniel Logan (Boba Fett in Attack of the Clones); Nika Futterman (voice of Asajj Ventress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

More details will be released as the event nears.

Hidden Mickey Monday

I hope you will forgive my absence for much of last week--besides a full week of Easter preparations at our church that included numerous rehearsals, a Good Friday service, a dramatic "Walk Through Jerusalem" experience, and our Easter Sunday morning worship, we've also been making the final preparations to get our home on the market! Needless to say, it was a busy week. I hope to regain some sort of grasp on a normal schedule this week.

There is, however, a Hidden Mickey connection to all this Easter business (or, perhaps that should be busy-ness). Our Next Gen pastor Josh and his family are big Disney fans, just like we are. During "Walk Through Jerusalem" he played the narrator, Benjamin. In the final room that guests visit, he sits at a desk and explains all that they have seen, and essentially offers the Good News of Jesus' resurrection. But in true Josh fashion, he added a little something to his desk--a Hidden Mickey made from one of the loose strands of burlap that covered the walls. (It's a little hard to see in this photo, but it's there in the front.)

 photo by Neil Andrews

Despite the momentary levity, the Walk Through Jerusalem is an amazing experience that allows guests to catch just a glimpse of what it might have been like during Jesus' last days of human life. And since this is my website and I can do whatever I want (and hope you keep reading!) here are a couple of bonus pics with a personal connection. The first is my husband, Scott, as "Shadow Jesus," and the last is a photo of my girls and me next to the well that one of our awesomely skilled church members built. And yes, there was a "woman at the well" who told about her encounter with Jesus.

 photo by Lori Floyd

 photo by Faye Harlin

If you live in the Nashville area, this is an annual event at New Hope Community Church in Brentwood. Mark it on your calendar and listen to WAY-FM or read Nashville/Williamson Parent for specific information on dates/times next year. And you can always visit our website for more information on the church and it's events.

Rapunzel Moving Again

So, I told you in this post about Rapunzel being booted from her Fairytale Garden area to her new home in Adventureland. The only bonus of that move, in my opinion, was that Flynn Rider would now be re-joining her. Well, yet another change in the plan has taken place, as Rapunzel will now be found in the Town Square Courtyard--alone. (Boo.) Flynn will be joining Rapunzel daily for the afternoon Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, but if you're hoping for a close-up photo-op or autograph, you're out of luck. (Again, I say, boo.)

Test Track Refurb Still a Go

When the scheduled refurbishment for Test Track mysteriously disappeared from Disney's schedule recently, it looked as if the work had been cancelled (and some speculated that the sponsorship deal with GM might be in jeopardy). But now it appears that the refurb is, in fact, happening, as Disney has confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel that the attraction would be closing on April 16. The re-designed ride will indeed be sponsored by GM and will re-open in the fall, focusing on the Chevrolet brand.

Wednesday's with Walt

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.  --Walt Disney

Summer Room-Only Discount

There is a new room-only discount available for travel dates of June 15 through August 14, with no listed black-out dates (although, it's possible there are some and they have not been specified). Discounts are varied by Resort. Here's the percentages off of rack rates:

• Most Value Resorts: 15% off


• Most Moderate Resorts and the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Ft. Wilderness cabins and campsites: 20% off


• Most Deluxe and Villas: 25% off

There are several Resorts (typically, the most popular in each category) that are excluded or offer only a small 5% discount: Art of Animation, Pop Century, All-Star Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Bay Lake Tower, Beach Club Villas, Animal Kingdom Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas.

The offer must be booked by June 14, and availability is limited, so book it soon!

Hidden Mickey Monday

I sing on the worship team at my church, and one of my fellow vocalists has this cute Mickey-shaped recorder. It was resting in my Dooney & Bourke purse, so that she could record a new song we were learning...kinda looked like the dual microphones were Mickey's ears.