Forget Harry Potter, Disney have Magic Bands!

 

For anyone who's been to a popular theme park during peak times knows what has always driven their day has been the queue times at the most popular attractions. Well our favorite theme parks have found ways to make it easier for us.
Now l'm not saying that at any time soon we'll never have those snaking queues that keep moving ever so slowly but can go on for quite some time. But with what the parks and geeky fans are doing to reduce your wait time, there is no reason to suggest that it couldn't.
So for the time being, I'd advise you to still work on getting the kids used to having to wait in line and expect some moaning teen who thinks they're too cool for the ride!.

Distraction is the art of illusion 

Illusionists have been using it for years and so have the parks. Along with the winding queues, some attractions have created some themed detail that set the scene to what you're about to experience in order to "distract" you from the time you're in the queue.

Haunted Mansion interactive queue

Lately though, this has become an art form itself and none more evident in the latest developments in the interactive queues found at attractions like Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom.


Here you'll find quite a few amusing things to do as you walk through the graveyard. The idea here is to play while you walk past, there are musical walls, squirting tombs and a talking self writing book asking you to complete the riddles it's creating.


Thunder Road Mountain is another ride they've improved the ride queue, along with giving everything an enhanced story line with items to read, they have given you things to look and play with, like explosive detonators in which you create new mine shafts. There are viewing screens to look down and see the mine itself or the ventilators that send the air down to the minors.
Over in Universal Studios, the Revenge of the Mummy has its archaeological story with some great artifacts and has also given you an array of things to press, push and try out. There is even something you can do to unexpected people along the queue.
The Amazing Spiderman runs video footage of how a newspaper is run, when suddenly a story breaks and then sets the scene on the adventure you're about to encounter

Manta  - Sea World

Sea Word's Manta ride has a series of aquariums just under the loading area showing hundreds of Manta's and tropical fish really setting the tone of the ride you're about to enjoy. This is one way to tacke the long queues and for most of the time it does work, but at the end of the day you still are using a best part of your day to queue up for these attractions. But there are another ways to reduce your queue time.

 

Priority Boarding

Universal were the first to introduce the priority boarding system called Express Pass. So instead of joining the usual line, at participating attractions people with Express Pass could join a separate line that would get you on the attraction much quicker. This is at an additional cost to the park ticket and only limited amount of tickets are sold and normally sold out in advance at peak times. These are sold as either one time use for each participating attraction or the unlimited pass for all day usage. But, if you're staying on property, the unlimited pass is included in your stay. (Nice little grab there!)
Disney Parks used their Fast Pass system, similar to ones that are found in many other theme parks, where you would approach the attraction and using your entry ticket you are given a Fast Pass ticket with a time to return to the attraction and then join a much shorter line. But you can only take one Fast Pass at a time, you can take another one out just before your return time or after a certain amount of time has lapsed. But on busy days those return times could also run out for the day quite quickly. And when that happens you're back to the normal queue times.

So Disney have now introduced Fast Pass+ and here they take the concept to the next level.

Pre-planning

With  Fast Pass+, there is now the My Disney Experience app that can be accessed from a PC, or mobile device. Each entry ticket is assigned 3 Fast Pass+ tickets per day, when purchased in advance you can go to the app and start reserving 3 participating attractions for 7 consecutive days, up to 60 days in advance of your visit. 
  
During your stay

With Fast Pass+ you can change reservations up to 24hrs prior to the allocated time.
The app can also be set-up to email you if an attraction you're booked to go on is down, so letting you book a time for another participating attraction.



The Magic of the Band

Available in many colours

If you're staying on property, guests are given Magic Bands, these are sent to your home in advance once you've logged in to the app and set up each persons profile. You even get to choose from a selection of colours

The bands are now your key to the world, they will get you into your hotel room, the parks, reserve Fast Pass+ attractions and dinner reservations. You can also purchase merchandise and food at participating food outlets. They can also be used in water when you're at the hotel pool or water park.
To help keep tabs of your party expenses, one Magic Band can keep control of the others credit

 

You can even use Photo Pass on the bands, when the photographer takes the photo, he scans the band and the picture is emailed to your address you set up on the profile. Then log-in to the app and download the picture.
And when the vacation is over, you get to keep the bands as a memento or even re-use them on your next visit, like you need another excuse to return right?



Universally slow

Now for the time being there doesn't seem to be any sign of Universal coming up with their own version of Magic Bands, or even an experience app. Although there are plenty planning apps available for mobile devices. But to be honest, their parks are not as busy as Disney's and in any case, their busiest park is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Express Passes aren't used there for the time being. I think this is a big mistake, but I'm sure it will eventually.

So look out for all these queue busters on your next trip and I'd love to hear about your experiences if you do and don't forget to enjoy more

Dale

Sea World 101 - no longer your half day park

I have always been a huge fan of Sea World, in every trip it's been the first park I visit. Traditionally this has been because it's great to visit a park on our first full day there, where you don't need to be their at rope drop and you could get pretty much everything done in a little over half a day and be out way before the park closes. Allowing you to rest back at the hotel to really get over that jet-lag before you hit the bigger parks.
Well nowadays things have changed, to compete with the other parks they added some thrill seeker rides and interaction tours. They also have two sister parks, Discovery Cove and Aquatica, but more about them later.

Sea World 

Even with the added rides, this is still and easy park to visit. And as with most zoological and marine parks, there are four types of attractions; exhibitions, shows, rides and interactive tours.
Your day mainly revolves around show times across the park, then fitting in the interactive tour, exhibitions and then rides in-between. There are six shows in total, one of which is performed only once during the day, but most of them repeat the show several times a day giving you plenty of chances to see each one. 

Interact with them

There are seven different interaction tours (at an extra cost or course).


These range from being up close with Dolphins, sea lions or a general behind the scenes tour and this is where Sea World come into its own as a theme park. The decades of research and interaction with these marine animals have resulted in them providing an educational but entertaining experience. So in my opinion, if you're heading over to Orlando, I'm guessing you're not doing this trip too often (unless you're as freakishly obsessed as me) splash some cash and try to get on one of these tours fitted into your schedule. Kids (like me) will love them and they'll actually learn something about these creatures and the dangers they face in our world.

Show business

At the time of this post there were six shows running in the park. The most popular show would be what is regarded as the heart of the Sea World attractions and just so happens to be its logo, the Shamu Show. This is the hugely popular Orca (Killer Whale) performance. Now don't tell the kids, but Shamu is just the stage name, there have been a number of be "Shamu's" performing here since it opened.
There has been a lot of controversy regarding this show recently, when one of the trainers was tragically killed and last year a documentary film was made about the tragic events and how the marine park treat their Orca's.  I'm not going to make any judgments on this post, but I can tell you that the show has been adapted resulting in the investigation and now, trainers do not enter the pool with the Orca's. But in spite of that, the show is just as entertaining and recent attendance records have confirmed the park is as popular as ever.
But there are other great shows too, such as the Clyde and Seamore show (again, stage names). This is a really fun sea-lion show I guarantee the kids will howl with laughter.

The thrills and spills

OK, Sea World knows what it has to compete with and has some pretty cool rides in their park. The first one they introduced to the park nearly 20 years ago is Journey to Atlantis, this is a cross between a flume ride and roller coaster. You start off rolling down a river thinking, this is easy even with the inevitable drop, but then it joins the tracks for a while just like a usual roller coaster before it hits the water and boy do you get wet on that one.
Manta is a head first ride that skims you on the water and flies through the air so smoothly giving you such a different experience than most roller coasters.
But nothing beats Kraken in size and speed. A true thrill seekers ride that will not disappoint the most seasoned of riders.
So when you add the other smaller rides and simulators, Sea World really has something for everyone. And it doesn't stop there.

Aquatica

Sea World's own water park. For most of the time, these rides are much like the ones you would see in most parks, but there are a couple of exceptions in this park. First of all, Dolphin Plunge is a closed flume ride that goes under water where you ride along side, no I mean race! Commerson's Dolphins, this is just spectacular.
And secondly, we wait in anticipation for their newest ride, Ihu's Breakaway Falls. Planned to open in 2014, this is claimed to be the tallest, steepest and only multi-slide ride of its kind. But details are being kept secrete. So I can't tell you anymore at this time. But not to worry, because what's next is the ultimate client experience in a marine park.

Up close and personal

Discovery Cove is your own all inclusive VIP day at to swim with Dolphins, snorkel with tropical fish and rays, meet otters or exotic birds and relax on a beautiful beach.

In this park, there are no crowds or queues as your day is booked in advance with per-arranged meeting times. Lunch is also included and you can take your time with each section of the park. You can even take it one step further and take out a "trainer for the day" package that goes behind the scenes and shows you what it's like to work as a marine life trainer. It is advised to book this months in advance to avoid any disappointment. 
This is not a cheap day ($400-$600), but certainly a once in a life-time experience.

So Sea World, Aquatica and Discovery Cove have become a main player in the theme park arena in Orlando and you would need 3 days to cover all three parks. So if you do visit these parks or have a change to purchase any of the interactive experiences, I would love to hear from you and let me know your views and pictures.

So what ever you do on your next rip to Orlando, I just hope you enjoy more.

Dale 

Universal 101 - All the fun of the movies and more

When Universal Studios Florida opened its doors in June 1990, it started as 1or 2 day park but it has now developed into what has become a themed resort that attracts over 14 million visitors a year across the 2 parks and that figure will only increase as it's continues to build its fan base. 

It wasn't a surprise why they chose to build a park in Orlando when there were other attractions and theme parks already established, but they brought something new to the party. What they had achieved in Hollywood with a studio tour and stop-over attractions meant Orlando was destined to be a better theme park. I always loved the tag line on my first visit to the park "Where you ride the movies" to me that said it all and the movie themed attractions gave the park a new dimension.

Although they class the park as a fully working studio, it's clear that they conduct more post production than actual filming, but nevertheless, the authenticity of the props and scenery around the studios are still impressive.
As I've mentioned in a previous post how all of Disney's attractions and scenery have a story behind it, well for Universal the films are the story throughout the park.
But before you start to compare these two resorts, don't! They are both as entertaining as each other but in different ways and that discussion is for another post.
So in case you've been living under a rock for the last 20 years here is a "quick" summary of what all the fuss is about.

Universal Studios

Universal Studios Orlando

In the usual park design there are themed sections with associated attractions.
You start in Production Central, with attractions that include Shrek 4D show, Despicable Me's Minion Mayhem 3D ride, Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket roller coaster and Transformers 3D ride. In New York you have the Twister experience and Revenge of the Mummy dark roller coaster. Then we have Hollywood with the Horror Make-Up show and Terminator 2 3D live show. Moving on to World Expo with the Men in Black shooting ride, the interactive show Fear Factor and the Simpsons Ride. Woody Woodpecker's KidsZone is the home to young children's play areas, a Woody Woodpecker ride and the ever popular ET ride. San Francisco the smallest section of the park is mostly eatery's and shows, but does include the walk through interactive attraction Disaster. Now up until last year this area was connected with Amity, which included the hugely popular scene attraction Jaws, but this has now been demolished to may way for the even more popular franchise and the expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley opening in summer 2014. This immersive experience which includes all the shops and eatery's found in the books will have the attractions Escape from Gringots Bank that promises to use breakthrough technology in dark rides and The Hogwarts Express that will take you on a realistic journey to Hogsmead located in Universal's sister park Islands of Adventure. Now for me this is genius idea, creating 2 associated lands connecting 2 parks with an attraction.

ET the ride

This is still a 1-2 day park and is consistently been updated as the only remaining opening day ride is ET and even that has been given numerous refurbishments. Although this park has over 6 million visitors a year it has given way in popularity to its sister park...

Universal Islands of Adventure

With over 8 million visitors a year, this park attracts a wide spread of fans, from families to the thrill seekers and it's jam packed with attractions in the following seven "islands":
After the Port of Entry with its shops and bars, there's Seuss Landing for the younger visitor with walk through attractions, playgrounds and mild rides themed with the popular characters books like Cat in the Hat. Lost Continent has special effects and stunt shows, where Marvel Super Hero Island has the spectacular Spiderman 3D attraction and the huge white knuckle ride The Incredible Hulk. Then there's Toon Lagoon, with a family flume ride and Popeye themed playground, it's  another favorite with younger kids. Jurassic Park is a family-centric "island" that has playgrounds, discovery areas and the legendary Jurassic Park River Adventure. 

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

 This leaves us with what has to be considered as their jewel in the crown, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmead. It adopted the side name Hogsmade after they announced the second phase expansion Diagon Alley. Outside of creating its own park, there really could only have been one resort to house this franchise. What kid doesn't know about the boy wizard and wouldn't want to be immersed in his world and the Forbidden Journey ride within Hogwarts castle has pushed the envelope in dark ride attractions. 
But it doesn't stop there, now a public area that doesn't require an entry ticket is...

City Walk

Blue Man Group

This, mainly evening entertainment area bridges the 2 main parks and it too is always evolving. It now boasts dozens of bars, restaurants and live entertainment venues with brand names such as NBA Sports, Hard Rock and Blue Man Group, it has something for everyone. But wait, we haven't finished, this is a resort and you can't have a resort without...

Hotels

Currently there are 3 hotels all within walking distance from any of the parks or each other. They are the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. All individually themed and classed as luxury hotels, with benefits such as Express Unlimited allow you as a resort guest to take the express lines on participating park attractions.

Hard Rock Hotel

 
The Cabana Bay Beach Hotel opening in 2014 is the 4th resort hotel and is a modest and affordable resort that will include it's own entertainment complex and night life.





So with all this at your door step and their partner water park Wet'n Wild just a few minutes away, there is no wonder that Orlando visitors are choosing to stay at Universal Resort as their vacation base. 

So will you make this as your vacation base on your next trip? Let me know if you do, but what ever you do, enjoy more.

Dale

Walt Disney World 101 - It's all about the story

Walt Disney's first full length animated film was taken from a Brothers Grimm fairytale, but in true Disney style, it was watered down some what, but the key thing here was, it was a classic story that was, at the time of its release,  nearly 100 years old, and that ethos in story telling has followed through in all of Disney's films.
So when Disney's Imagineers (the creative and constructive talent at The Disney Company) created Disneyland, they continued to tell their stories.
From each land that take you on a unique journey of the past, the present, future and imagination, to the attractions inside them that could be classed as the chapters to each story.
The parks are full of detail that will have a story, a factual reference or in honour of someone that has contributed to the world of Disney entertainment. The easiest examples of this can be found in Main Street USA, which you walk through after entering the Magic Kingdom. Here above the shops you'll find sign written windows that seem to emulate that may see in an office or trade. When you actually read them, they each represent a Disney legend, this is someone who has made a lasting contribution to the Disney Company, either in their films or parks.
Some will seem recognisable like "Sail maker - Roy E. Disney - Specializing in the Gentlemanly Sport of Racing at Sea - Sailing Lessons" This was Walt's brother and co-founder of the Disney Company and can be found above the Crystal Arts shop. 

source: www.mouseonthemonorail.com

Some are not so known, such as above the Magic shop you'll find "Can Do Machine Works - Mechanical Wonders - Live Steam Engines - Magical Illusions - Cameras - Roger Broggie, Shopmaster - Advisor to the Magic Makers" Roger was an Imagineer and life long friend of Walt's. Starting as a machinist for his films and later developing special effects and Audio Animatronics (moving and talking mannequins) for the parks.

source: www.phil-sears.com

And there are thousands more like that across the resort, most of which are not so obvious, but just as meaningful and when you delve into these stories and understand their meaning, these discoveries can enhance your appreciation for these attractions and only Disney provide this much detail in their story telling. 

So when most people will rush around the parks with their smart phone apps planning their day with attraction line times and show schedules to fit as much as possible in a day and believe me these apps exist, there are a lucky few that will take their time to search and discover these details.
I hope to be one of these people on my next visit, but then again, with a 9 and 6 year old in-tow I may have a bit of a struggle on my hands.

Cliff Huet was the principle Imagineer
on the Haunted Mansion www.micechat.com

Now I realise that most people who go to Orlando will have a limited time to see as much as they can and get in as many rides as possible and so think they won't get the time to look for these details, but they can find them too. Some of the attraction queues are filled with these stories. Again some are pretty easy to spot, like the names on the tomb stones at the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom are mostly dedications to past legends, imagineers and cast members (Disney employees).
So on your next visit I hope you get a chance to seek these details and stories out.

There are also plenty of books out there that can help you find them.

But I'm going to tell you one more that happens to be one of my favorites. If you are at the Frontier Land Rail Road station, you should find a wooden leg with Smith written on it. This references the joke that Bert (famously played by Dick van Dyke) told in Mary Poppins. 
"I knew a man with a wooden leg named Smith."  "Oh yeah, what was the name of his other leg?"

So I hope you find some more of these references on your next visit and please share with me on any you do manage to find. I would gladly share it on a future blog.

I hope you enjoy more.

Dale

Orlando 101 - It's not all about Disney

Now most people that know me see me as a Disney nut and in many ways that is true. But for me, it's the whole Orlando experience. It's Walt Disney World, it's Universal Resort, it's Sea World and all the other parks, attractions and shows that has made Orlando the most popular family vacation destination for the last 40 years.

Boys will be boys.


My first Disney experience was in Disneyland California way back in 1980. Although for me it really started in 1991 after a conversation with a friend discussing the differences between Disneyland and Walt Disney World Florida. This ended up with us both going on a cram-it-all-in 1 week trip. Staying in a motel on International Drive and fitting the 4 main parks at the time. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal Studios Sea World and Busch Gardens.
And I loved it, but then again, we were a couple of 20 something IT professionals with a Chevrolet Camero as a hire car and a healthy disposable income. It would have been hard not to right?!

The following year I visited Disneyland Resort Paris (then known as and sometimes still referred to as EuroDisney) with the same friend and his family. I'll talk more about that park in a future post (look at me, my first post and I'm already thinking ahead)

The seed was planted

Well since then, I've been back to "The World" twice. The last time was back in 1998 with my girlfriend, who later became my wife. But this time we stayed on property at the All Star Music Resort and that was it, I was hooked. Staying on property was actually the highlight of the trip and it was then I truly understood the Disney experience.


Although I stated earlier it's the whole Orlando experience I love, it's Disney who have lead the way in exceeding customer expectation, or what is commonly referred to by travel experts as "that Disney Magic" and I'll be talking a lot more about that in future posts (there I go again!).

Disney World guard asks little princess for her
autograph http://www.huffingtonpost.com

The obsession is kicking in

It's been 15 years since I last went to Orlando, but since then I have been keeping a very close eye on how things have evolved. Now I'll discuss vacation planing with anyone I know who are going, then review the trip with them on their return. Accumulating peoples views of this holiday and how to experience it.
I've subscribed to a few podcasts and have a couple of books on the subject. But I truly believe that the only way to really know is to go and see it ...again.
So I plan to go back in 2015 with my wife and now 2 kids, yes we "got biz-zay" (Syndrome - The Incredibles).

The boy who lived hasn't helped

In order to feed my fix within the last 12 years I've visited Disneyland Paris 3 more times, but it's the Orlando fix I desperately crave for.

And more specifically the expansion to Fantasy Land in the Magic Kingdom and the ever expanding Universal Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is about to spill over into the Studio park with Diagon Alley. 

Copyright - Universal Studios Orlando

I suppose now is the time to reveal that I'm also a huge Harry Potter fan! Mid-life crisis people OK? Mid-life crisis! And while we're on the subject, I blame my wife for that one as she introduced me to the books.

Now back to Universal, where their client experience has come up in leaps and bounds. They were the first park to introduce Express Pass before Disney brought out Fast Pass for their most popular rides. This is where, in stead of queuing for an attraction, you take a ticket and it gives you a time to come back, so you can go off and enjoy other areas of the park and you return at that allotted time to get straight on the ride with a very small wait time. Well Disney is bringing that concept into the 21st century with FastPass+ and My Disney experience app. Expect more on that in a future post sometime soon.

And so much more.

Then there's Sea World and their sister park Discovery Cove, another incredible experience for the family to enjoy.

And let's not forget to mention Wet-n-Wild, Busch Gardens and the shopping! you have to set some time for shopping (for the gals really)!.

There is something for everyone in Orlando and I hope to keep you informed and perhaps discuss your experiences or even help you plan your next trip. 
So if anything from this post site enhances your next vacation, then it's been worth it and I'd love to hear from you.

So please, move all the way to the end of the isle, filling all the empty spaces, keep your arms and legs in the car throughout the ride, refrain from eating, drinking and smoking during the show and absolutely no flash photography is allowed. 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy more

Dale.