Snow White’s Scary Adventures Closes Forever on June 1, 2012

  Walt Disney World announced that Snow White’s Scary Adventures - a ride in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom – will close forever in June 1, 2012.   The area will be changed to a Disney Princess Meet-and-Greet location.

We have a list of all the places you can find the Disney Princesses at Disney World – see: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/disneyprincesses.php

Trivia

• In addition to Disney World, this there are Snow White’s Scary Adventures rides at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Park (Paris).

• Snow White did not appear in the 1971 version of Magic Kingdom’s Snow White’s Scary Adventures. The idea was for riders to feel like they were experiencing the scenes from Snow White’s perspective, though most guests didn’t understand that concept and wondered why Snow White wasn’t even in her own ride.   In 1994, the ride was redesigned to include Snow White.
• The 1971 version of the attraction had seven figures of the witch, while the current version has six witch figures.

This is just my opinion but Snow White’s Scary Adventures isn’t one of Disney’s best attractions.   If you’re going to Disney World between now and the end of May, go ahead and ride it just because it is closing.    Don’t despair about missing it, if you haven’t ridden it – Disney is in the midst of a major Fantasyland expansion and it sounds like some great things are coming soon.

Build A Better Mouse Trip
Toll free: 877-815-6515

Is Fantasmic! at Walt Disney World Too Scary For My Child?

Should I Take My Small Child To See Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park in Orlando, Florida?

There’s a show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios called Fantasmic! and it is only offered a couple of times a week. It’s about 26 minutes long and is very popular – however, there is a fairly significant villain section in that lasts about 8 minutes and it includes a dragon. This article will give you all the information you need to decide whether or not the Fantasmic! show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is appropriate for your child. Fantasmic! is an impressive show and is generally suitable for older children and adults but it may not be appropriate for preschoolers, anyone who does not yet comprehend the difference between reality and make-believe, or to individuals who are prone to nightmares.

What Fantasmic! Is All About – A Brief Outline of the Plot of Fantasmic!  

Stylistically, Fantasmic! may remind you of Fantasia, Mickey’s Philharmagic (3-D attraction at the Magic Kingdom), or the Disney Silly Symphonies. There is very little dialogue and most of the action corresponds with the tone set by the musical score. There are live action sequences with characters from the Disney movies along with familiar images being projected on a screen of water mist. The storyline follows the classic Disney model of a fairly peaceful beginning, followed by a conflict with a villian, good overcoming evil, and a happy ending. In this case, Mickey is having a dream but his imagination runs away with him causing a montage of classic Disney villians come to intimidate Mickey – in the end, he announces “Hey, this is my dream!” and everything goes back to happiness and dancing princesses. Although the story itself is very simplistic, adults will be impressed with the elaborate affects and scene changes. Lightning, giant puppets, fountains, mist screens, flames, and pyrotechnics are impressively incorporated into this spectacular production.  

Things in Fantasmic That Might Frighten Small Children  

If you have any concerns about your child becoming frightened or upset by Fantasmic!, we highly recommend you take the 27 minutes necessary to watch the Fantasmic You Tube video we’ve embedded in this post. You know your child best so you will be able to evaluate the show and pick up on any less obvious elements that might frighten your child. The list below includes some of the things in the show that we think could be potentially frightening to preschoolers or timid souls.

1. Starting at about 7:19 minutes into the youtube video – or about 7 minutes into the show – you’ll notice that the tone of the music and the images starts to change in subtle ways. The whale from Pinocchio is projected onto a screen, there is a fight scene from the movie Pochahontas, and we start to see some elements of conflict introduced into the plot. Mickey, in the Sorcerer Mickeycostume,  gets caught into a typhoon and calls out “What’s Going On!?!”.
2. The most intense portion of Fantasmic begins at about 13:45 minutes into the You Tube video or about 13.5 minutes into the actual show. Maleficent (from Sleeping Beauty) appears and threatens Mickey Mouse. Her image is always a bit frightening but we also see the images of other Disney villians like Ursula (Little Mermaid), Hades (Hercules), Jafar (Aladdin), Cruella (101 Dalmatians), & Scar (Lion King) morph from one to the next on a mist screen. The voice track during this portion is ominous. Later on, this segment also includes some wraith, ghost, dragon or demon figures set to the more intense portion of the soundtrack.
3. At one point, the entire lake catches fire, with actual flames (approximately 21 minutes into the show). People in the lower rows can actually feel the heat from these flames. Flames, in smaller amounts, are also used in other scenes. A comet-like ball flies through the air and causes a bright flash in the scene from Pocohontas. Flames and flashes are a part of Maleficent’s spell.
4. There is live action snake-like dragon with glowing eyes that appears and moves menacingly. This occurs between 16:30 – 17:35 minutes and at 20:43 – 22:45 minutes into the video and roughly around the same duration into the actual show. This dragon gets absolutely huge.

Ways to Help Your Child Watch Fantasmic Without Getting Scared  

Depending on the maturity of your child, the following tips may help your child enjoy Fantasmic and deal with the scary portions.

1. Tell your child the whole storyline or let them watch the You Tube video – knowing what to expect in advance can make the intense sections manageable. Don’t worry about spoiling the show; young kids love familiar things – think of how many times they’ve watched their favorite DVD.
2. Do you have a smart but sensitive older child? Consider arming them with good information and technical details.Tell them that the whole lake will catch on fire. Then explain that Disney uses a carefully measured amount of propane that will float on the water. Assure them that Disney has practiced this over and over so they know the exact amount of gas to use to burn the exact right amount of time. If they express concerns about accidents, tell them that the concrete steps and metal bleachers are not things that easily catch fire.Show your child the snake segment (16:30 – 17:35 minutes into the video) and talk about how it is regular humans that are carrying each segment of the snake. You can show them this You Tube Video of the Chinese Dragon Dance to show how it is done.
3. Give your child a “weapon” for self-defense. Some people may find this method objectionable but many, many years ago, my son was frightened by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. His grandma purchased a plastic sword from the gift shop and gave our son permission to fight off any pirates that attacked us on the ride. She carefully explained the difference between pirates and the other tourists in the boat. My son brandished his sword throughout the ride, managed to avoid whacking any of the other guests, and felt brave throughout the whole experience. If you don’t want to buy a sword, consider teaching your child a few good karate chopping motions accompanied by “Hi Yah!” type exclamations before going into the show. The ability to defend oneself goes a long way towards feeling confident in this world.
4. We’ve given you approximate show times for the most intense, potentially frightening portions. You may be able to distract your child with a snack or a toy. Failing that, you can always take them to the restroom beginning about 12 minutes into the show. If you plan to use this tip, try to sit at the edge of a row so you won’t be stepping over other people as you make your way to the aisle.
5. Always keep in mind the possibility that you may have to come to your child’s rescue by taking them out of the show, should it become too frightening. You have a choice here – you can react with irritation at the fact that you had to leave the show and you can belittle your child for being frightened. Or…(and this is what we recommend) you can be your child’s hero by protecting his/her precious heart and mind until she/he is older and better able to deal with these types of images. Keep smiling, assure your child that you didn’t mind leaving the show, and tell him/her about a time when you were a child and got frightened by a movie or a scary story. Let your child know that you’re on their side. Remember that you’re making memories – they can be memories of shame and frustration or this can be a situation where you child sees that they can trust you with their fears and with their feelings.

Tips for Seeing Fantasmic At Walt Disney World  

1. The entrance to the Fantasmic! Amphitheater is on Sunset Blvd., between the Beauty & the Beast Live! stage and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride.
2. Except during peak travel times, Fantasmic! is no longer offered every night of the week so check the Walt Disney World calendar of events before you go and plan to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park on a day when the show is offered.
3. Avoid any day where Disney’s Hollywood Studios has an “Extra Magic Hour” (special times reserved just for Disney resort hotel guests) and Fantasmic! The combination of these two things will make Disney’s Hollywood Studios disproportionately busy on days that offer both incentives.
4. Fantasmic Dinner Package – You reserve an early dining time (generally before 4:20PM) and you receive a voucher for a spot in a reserved section. This can save a lot of time you would otherwise spend in line. The three restaurants that participate in the Fantasmic Dinner Package are Hollywood & Vine (buffet), Mama Melrose (Italian), and the Hollywood Brown Derby. The Fantasmic Dinner Package reservation must be confirmed with a credit card and you will be charged a “no-show” penalty if you skip the reservation. There is a 48 hour cancellation policy.Are you on a Disney Dining Plan? The Fantasmic Dinner Packages at Hollywood & Vine and at Mama Melrose each only take one Disney Dining Plan table-service credit per person; the Hollywood Brown Derby is a Signature Dining Location and will require two table-service meal credits per person.There is very limited availability for the Fantasmic Dinner Package so reserve early (up to 180 days prior to arrival). You must specifically reserve a “Fantasmic Dinner Package” to receive these benefits. These restaurants will have regular reservations available that do nto include the Fantasmic seating vouchers.
5. You don’t have to have a Fantasmic Dinner Package to see the show. It is included as part of your admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. However, the show may fill to capacity. The gates open about 90 minutes prior to the show and, during busy seasons, it is essential to line up at least 70 minutes prior to showtime. It may be possible for one parent to hold a place in line while the other parent gets food at Catalina Eddie’s, Rosie’s All-American Cafe, or the Backlot Express to eat while you wait for the show to start. Combining mealtime with waiting time will reduce the sense that you are wasting time.
6. There isn’t any meal type food sold inside the amphitheatre but snacks like popcorn and sodas are available for sale. There are restrooms inside the theatre.
7. Are there two performances of Fantasmic! on the day you’re visiting? If so, the second performance will always be less crowded than the first. The other advantage to the second performance is that it gives you more time to enjoy Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park rides and attractions.
8. There are no bad seats but we think theseats just to the right or to the left of the center from the middle row of the amphitheatre back to the top row are the best seats. This show has a pretty wide scope so sitting too far forward can actually make it harder to take it all in.
9. The show is about 25 minutes long. Your showtime might be such that you have about an hour of park time after the show ends. If you hope to get in a few last rides after the show, consider sitting on the right side (as you face the stage) so that you’re closest to the exit when the show ends. Get up and leave promptly so that you don’t get stuck in a slow moving crowd.
10. Theme Park Touring Plans – Remember that you’re going to have a better time if you have a good touring plan.  It just so happens that we provide three great options for touring plans when you book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip.

      Note:  Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park used to be called Disney-MGM Studios.

Thank you,

Stephen

Build A Better Mouse Trip
http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/
Toll free: 877-815-6515

 

Everything you need to know to meet Tinker Bell at Pixie Hollow in Mickey’s Toontown Fair

Tips to avoid long lines when getting an autograph or your picture taken with Tinkerbell.

Can you meet Tinkerbell in person? Yes – you can meet Tinkerbell and her fairy friend at Pixie Hollow in the Mickey’s Toontown Fair area of Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park. Here’s what you need to know before you go:

For many, many years Disney said that there would never be a Tinkerbell “Meet & Greet” area for photos and autographs because…well…Tinkerbell is very tiny and people are much larger. This creates some special difficulties that have only been overcome recently. Disney solved the problem by creating a special area where Magic Kingdom theme park guests are shrunk down to fairy size, making it so much easier for fairies and humans to interact. Some say this happens by magic and others attribute it to modern technological advances. On the other hand, some skeptics suggest guests don’t really shrink and that the whole thing is it is a trick of the eye brought about by making everything in the room look bigger. I’m not an expert on shrinking technology or pixies so I’ll limit my comments to an area where I am an expert: experiencing Disney attracations without waiting in long lines!

Long lines are a huge issue at Pixie Hollow because the fairies want to make each person feel special and this takes time. Lines to meet the fairies build quickly but move slowly.

1. If you want to see Tinkerbell, you need to line up at the entrance of the “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” area of the Magic Kingdom before it opens – when the park opens at 9:00AM, “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” typically opens at 9:45 or 10:00AM. This is subject to change so check your theme park times guide as soon as you arrive. Plan to line up at the entrance by 9:35AM, at the latest.

2. You cannot take strollers through the line to see the fairies so park your stroller in the appropriate area near the “Mad Tea Party” ride (Fantasyland area). Parking your stroller before “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” opens will save valuable time when you get to Pixie Hollow.

3. Go to the left side of the crowd gathering at the entrance. You’ll be turning to the left to go into Pixie Hollow at “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” so starting out on this side of the crowd puts you at a slight advantage.

4. When Mickey’s Toontown Fair opens, a cast member (Disney employee) will direct everyone to walk at a reasonable pace (no running allowed) toward the Toontown Hall of Fame. Politely pass slow movers & be careful not to get stuck behind strollers but don’t be aggressive; there no reason to cause an injury.

5. When you arrive at the “Toontown Hall of Fame”, follow signs to Pixie Hollow and line up immediately; you can take photos outside this area when you exit. This area has two entrances – the one on the left is for the Disney Princesses and the one on the right is for the fairies. The two lines are separate so be sure you’re in line for the fairies. You can get in the princess line when you’re done with the fairies; Tinkerbell is the biggest draw right now so you definately want to do this first thing.

6 As you near the front of the line, you’ll be asked for the number of people in your party. You’ll also receive a special “Pixie PhotoPass” wristband – just in case you want to purchase the pictures taken by the Disney photographers. Then you’ll be ushered through some closed doors to the areas where you’ll be “reduced in size” for your meeting with the fairies. This process is completely painless and they promise to return you to your regular size when you leave Pixie Hollow.

7. As a courtesy to those waiting behind you, have your camera and autograph books ready. It is perfecly acceptable to ask the Disney photographer to use your personal camera to take a picture of the family or kids with the Fairies.

8. Tinker Bell is almost always available for photos and autographs and some of Tinker Bell’s fairly friends (like Iridessa and Rosetta) will also be there. On rare occasions, Tinker Bell may not be available – probably because Peter Pan needs her help for a few minutes.

9. After meeting the fairies, you’ll exit Pixie Hollow. If the Disney princesses are a priority, get in line to see them right away. You can also see Mickey Mouse nearby.

10. Lining up at Pixie Hollow as soon as Mickey’s Toontown Fair opens will mean waiting in line for 10 – 20 minutes. Check the “Waiting Time” sign when you leave – it is not uncommon to see 60 – 90 minute wait times within 15 minutes of this attraction opening and waits of up to 3 hours later in the day. Tinker Bell’s popularity also increases the waiting time at the other character Meet & Greet areas in Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

See our expanded article at http://www.squidoo.com/tinkerbell-at-walt-disney-world  for more ways to see Tinkerbell at Walt Disney World Resort and theme parks.  

Contact us today to plan your next Walt Disney World Vacation.  

Thank you!

Build A Better Mouse Trip

www.buildabettermousetrip.com

Toll free: 877-815-6515

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets on Sale Now

Walt Disney World Resort has released official ticket prices and party dates for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  This event happens every year on select nights in the Magic Kingdom.  The party typically goes from 9:00PM – Midnight.   This event has a limited admission and requires a separate ticket – you cannot enter using a Magic Your Way or Park Hopper ticket.

The October 31^st party is always the first to sell out.  Friday night parties tend to draw more residents from the Orlando area but this is spread out over the numerous party dates and won’t have a huge impact on any one night.   Other dates will not reach capacity at all or won’t fill until we get much closer to September and October.  

TIP: Wait until the September and October park hours are released before buying your tickets.   September hours should be released around June 1^st and October hours should be released around July 1^st.    Because Fantasmic! (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) is no longer offered every night, you may want to select a party night that does not conflict with Fantasmic!.   The tickets are non-refundable and nontransferable.

Our Opinion: These parties are well done and a lot of fun.  Because admission is limited, you can also ride a lot of rides with a very short wait.  If money is no object, go ahead and go.  One the other hand,this is an expensive event – a family of four will pay around $200 for a three hour experience.  If you’re already stretching your budget to take this trip, you do not need to feel guilty about skipping this event – you’re going to have a great time in the theme parks without your having to add one more thing to the schedule.  Since the party goes from 7:00PM – Midnight, this might be too late an event for very small children who go to bed early. 

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Boo! Don’t be afraid. The screams you hear are squeals of delight, not fright. Disney fantasy and Halloween fun come together on selected nights in September and October for a one-of-a-kind celebration. Seize this rare opportunity to visit the Magic Kingdom® in costume*, ride some of the most popular attractions and enjoy some really sweet trick-or-treating with favorite Disney characters in their finest Halloween outfits. With special music, a parade and the spectacular Happy HalloWishes fireworks show, this is no trick — it’s a real treat. *For safety, costumes must not be obstructive or offensive. 2009 Event Dates & Tickets: Friday, Sept. 4* Monday, Oct. 12* Friday, Sept. 11* Tuesday, Oct. 13* Tuesday, Sept. 15* Thursday, Oct. 15 Friday, Sept. 18* Sunday, Oct. 18* Tuesday, Sept. 22* Tuesday, Oct. 20* Friday, Sept. 25* Thursday, Oct. 22* Tuesday, Sept. 29* Friday, Oct. 23 Thursday, Oct. 1* Sunday, Oct. 25* Friday, Oct. 2* Tuesday, Oct. 27* Tuesday, Oct. 6* Saturday, Oct. 31** Thursday, Oct. 8*   Friday, Oct. 9    Ticket Pricing: Advance Prices*: $52 USD + tax (Ages 10+), $46 USD + tax (Ages 3 - 9) *Advance Purchase Price Available on these select nights when purchased prior to the day of the event. Day-Of Event Prices: $59 USD + tax (Ages 10+), $53 USD + tax (Ages 3 - 9) Halloween (10/31) Prices**: $64 USD + tax (Ages 10+), $58 USD + tax (Ages 3 - 9) Entertainment Highlights: (subject to change without notice) Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade! Trick-or-treating throughout Magic Kingdom® Park at numerous locations Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular — where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky! Characters decked out in their favorite costumes — so wear yours, too. Some of the most popular Magic Kingdom® attractions.

 You can purchase the party tickets directly through Walt Disney World or you can contact us and we’ll be happy to handle it for you.

 TIP: You may become exhausted if you spend the whole day in a theme park before going to an evening party.   Consider doing the party on a day you don’t go into the theme parks or on a day you’re going into one of the water parks and sleep in!   Another option is to combine this with a day that you’ll visit the Magic Kingdom so that you can arrive later in the morning – you can catch any attractions you would’ve ordinarily done right at park opening later in the evening during the party.  If time is short and you must combine a day in the theme parks with the party, consider visiting Animal Kingdom which typically closes around 5:00PM – this way, you won’t miss any fireworks or special shows.

 Information for people who do not have the park hopper option: You are not limited to visiting the Magic Kingdom on the same day that you are going to the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  Your Magic Your Way ticket is completely separate from the party ticket so it is not considered “Park Hopping” to go to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom during the day and then use your ticket for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the evening. 

If you find this information helpful, please consider using us to book your vacation reservations or for custom theme park touring plans.  We are authorized Walt Disney World Vacation Planners and book directly with Disney so you never pay more than if you booked the reservation yourself.  Then we provide lots of help and advice designed to take the stress out of vacation planning.

•  Help with building a Best Days Itinerary – a daily schedule that puts you in the best park for each day of your trip
• Help with dining reservations (subject to availability)
• Custom touring plans that keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines.  Or, if you prefer to do your own plans, we will provide either a subscription to Tour Guide Mike or the newest edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World to you instead of our touring plans.  The choice is yours.

These services are intended to make the whole vacation experience better – less stress, less lines, less wasted time and money.

There are two ways that I can provide the touring plans and any other planning help you need at no charge to you:

•  Free Option #1: If you book a new reservation through us, we’ll provide custom touring as our thank you to you.  We will also help you put together an itinerary that puts you in the least busy park for each day of your vacation and we’ll make dining reservations on your behalf.
•  Free Option #2:  If you made your existing Walt Disney World vacation package reservation yourself, it is possible to have Build A Better Mouse Trip added to the reservation as the “Agent of Record”. Your price, benefits, and confirmation numbers stay the same – we just become your travel agent.  
•  With either option 1 or 2, Disney will pay us a commission they would’ve kept for themselves and we accept that commission as payment-in-full for all planning services. 
•  You can also just purchase custom touring plans from us – the first day’s plan is $45 plus $25  for each additional day’s plan.

 If you have questions or are interested in our services:

•  just call us toll free at 877-815-6515
•  or use the online form    

Thank you,

Stephen

Build A Better Mouse Trip
www.buildabettermousetrip.com 
Toll Free Phone: 877-815-6515

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort and Magic Kingdom Theme Park

Disney has released official ticket prices and party dates for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  This event happens every year on select nights in the Magic Kingdom.  The party typically goes from 9:00PM – Midnight.   This event has a limited admission and requires a separate ticket – you cannot enter using a Magic Your Way or Park Hopper ticket. 

December 18^th and dates near Thanksgiving will be the first to sell out but it won’t happen immediately. Friday night parties tend to draw more residents from the Orlando area but this is spread out over the numerous party dates and won’t have a huge impact on any one night.   Other dates will not reach capacity at all or won’t fill until we get much closer to November and December.  

 TIP: Wait until the November and December park hours are released before buying your tickets.   November hours should be released around August 1^st and December hours should be released around September 1^st.    Because Fantasmic! (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) is no longer offered every night, you may want to select a party night that does not conflict with Fantasmic!.   The tickets are non-refundable and nontransferable.

 Our Opinion: These parties are well done and a lot of fun.  Because admission is limited, you can also ride a lot of rides with a very short wait.  If money is no object, go ahead and go.  One the other hand,this is an expensive event – a family of four will pay around $200 for a three hour experience.  If you’re already stretching your budget to take this trip, you do not need to feel guilty about skipping this event – you’re going to have a great time in the theme parks without your having to add one more thing to the schedule.  Since the party goes from 7:00PM – Midnight, this might be too late an event for very small children who go to bed early. 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (official information)

It’s a magical night of special holiday entertainment including Castle Dreamlights!, an enchanting holiday parade, “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade,” featuring Santa Claus, a festive nighttime fireworks spectacular, Disney Character greetings, live stage shows and tasty treats on Main Street U.S.A.®, plus the most popular Magic Kingdom® attractions!Castle Dreamslights! Cinderella Castle is transformed every night at the Magic Kingdom® Park during Castle Dreamlights! When Mickey and friends realize the castle isn’t decorated for the holidays, they enlist the help of Cinderella, the Prince, and even the Fairy Godmother!  With all of their help, Cinderella Castle transforms into a glorious, wintry confection, twinkling in the sky!2009 Event Dates & Tickets: November 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 29 December 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18 Ticket Pricing: Advance Prices: $52 USD+ tax (Ages 10+), $46 USD + tax (Ages 3 – 9) Advance Purchase Price Available on these select nights when purchased prior to the day of the event: 11/10, 11/12, 11/13, 11/17, 11/19, 11/20, 12/1, 12/6, 12/8, 12/10, 12/13, 12/15 Premium Event Prices: $59 USD + tax (Ages 10+), $53 USD + tax (Ages 3 – 9) Premium Event Prices on these select nights: 11/29, 12/4, 12/11, 12/17, 12/18 Day of Event Prices: $59 USD + tax (Ages 10+), $53 USD + tax (Ages 3 – 9) Day of Event Prices on these select nights: 11/10, 11/12, 11/13, 11/17, 11/19, 11/20, 11/29, 12/1, 12/4, 12/6, 12/8, 12/10, 12/11, 12/13, 12/15, 12/17, 12/18 Entertainment Highlights (subject to change without notice)  Castle Dreamlights! Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season Fireworks Live Disney Character stage shows Character greetings throughout the Park “Snow” on Main Street, U.S.A. Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa Use of some of the most popular Magic Kingdom® attractions

 You can purchase the party tickets directly through Walt Disney World or you can contact us and we’ll be happy to handle it for you.

TIP: You may become exhausted if you spend the whole day in a theme park before going to an evening party.   Consider doing the party on a day you don’t go into the theme parks or sleep in!   Another option is to combine this with a day that you’ll visit the Magic Kingdom so that you can arrive later in the morning – you can catch any attractions you would’ve ordinarily done right at park opening later in the evening during the party.  If time is short and you must combine a day in the theme parks with the party, consider visiting Animal Kingdom which typically closes around 5:00PM – this way, you won’t miss any fireworks or special shows.

 Information for people who do not have the park hopper option: You are not limited to visiting the Magic Kingdom on the same day that you are going to the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  Your Magic Your Way ticket is completely separate from the party ticket so it is not considered “Park Hopping” to go to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom during the day and then use your ticket for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the evening. 

If you find this information helpful, please consider using us to book your vacation reservations or for custom theme park touring plans.  We are authorized Walt Disney World Vacation Planners and book directly with Disney so you never pay more than if you booked the reservation yourself.  Then we provide lots of help and advice designed to take the stress out of vacation planning.

• Help with building a Best Days Itinerary – a daily schedule that puts you in the best park for each day of your trip
• Help with dining reservations (subject to availability)
• Custom touring plans that keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines.  Or, if you prefer to do your own plans, we will provide either a subscription to Tour Guide Mike or the newest edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World to you instead of our touring plans.  The choice is yours.

These services are intended to make the whole vacation experience better – less stress, less lines, less wasted time and money.

There are two ways that I can provide the touring plans and any other planning help you need at no charge to you: 

• Free Option #1: If you book a new reservation through us, we’ll provide custom touring as our thank you to you.  We will also help you put together an itinerary that puts you in the least busy park for each day of your vacation and we’ll make dining reservations on your behalf.
•  Free Option #2:  If you made your existing Walt Disney World vacation package reservation yourself, it is possible to have Build A Better Mouse Trip added to the reservation as the “Agent of Record”. Your price, benefits, and confirmation numbers stay the same – we just become your travel agent.  

With either option, Disney will pay us a commission they would’ve kept for themselves and we accept that commission as payment-in-full for all planning services. 

You can also just purchase custom touring plans from us – the first day’s plan is $45 plus $25  for each additional day’s plan.

 If you have questions or are interested in our services:

•   just call us toll free at 877-815-6515
•  or use the online form

Thank you,

Stephen  

Build A Better Mouse Trip
www.buildabettermousetrip.com 
Toll Free Phone: 877-815-6515

Build A Better Mouse Trip is a full service travel agency specializing in Florida vacations & Cruises. Build A Better Mouse Trip is not affiliated with or in any way officially connected with, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates.

Disney’s Magical Express (Airport Shuttle Service) – New luggage procedure for late night arrivals.

As of March 30^th, luggage service will no longer be available for guests arriving at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) after 10:00PM.   If you have a late night flight into Orlando, simply Collect your luggage at baggage claim area and take them with you to the Disney’s Magical Express check-in desk.   The buses have enclosed luggage compartments.

Most guests arriving late tended to collect their bags anyway so that they didn’t have to wake up in the middle of the night when the bags arrived, or try to round up bags the next morning when the family is eager to head to the theme parks.

Disney Magical Express (DME) is contracted with Mears Transportation and it is customary to tip the bus driver when suitcases must be loaded and unloaded.   You do not need to tip the Walt Disney World Resort bus drivers who transport you between the resorts and theme parks.

 

 

 

Walt Disney World with Small Children – Rider Switch Pass Information

 

 

Note:  The Rider Switch Pass is commonly referred to as Baby Swap / Parent Swap / Child Swap  passes,  etc.  

The Rider Switch Pass is important information for anyone traveling with children who will not be big enough – or brave enough – to ride certain attractions.   The rider swap pass allows adults traveling with small children or family members with special needs to efficiently trade places on any attraction with a height or age restriction.   You can always get a Rider Switch Pass when your child is too small for a height restricted attraction but some parents don’t realize that you can also use this service for timid riders – the child who is physically tall enough for a particular attraction but is frightened and doesn’t want to ride.  Parents of adult special needs children (Downs Syndrome, etc) can also use this service. Here’s how it works:

Standby Lines:  Both parents take the toddler or younger child to the standby entrance and ask the Cast Member (Disney employee) how Rider Switch works for this particular attraction.  In most cases, you will all have to go through the line together and, somewhere shortly before boarding the attraction, you will receive a pass that will let one parent exit with the non-rider while the rest of the party rides now.   In most cases, the waiting adult will be issued a Rider Switch Pass that allows him or her to ride the attraction at any point in the day using the FASTPASS entrance.  The Rider Switch Pass may have the number of eligible riders printed right on it.  If not, ask the Cast Member how many riders can ride using the Rider Switch Pass.   Disney knows that nobody likes to ride alone so at least two people can ride using one Rider Switch Pass.    Other attractions will let up to three or four people ride using one Rider Swap Pass.

FASTPASS Lines:  You use a similar method to get a Rider Switch Pass when using the Walt Disney World FASTPASS system.   In this instance, you present your FASTPASS ticket and the small child to the Cast Member at the FASTPASS entrance.  Ask for a Rider Switch Pass – the Cast Member may take the FASTPASS from the waiting adult and issue a Rider Switch  Pass in its place or they might just issue a Rider Swap Pass in addition to the FASTPASS ticket in hand.  If it isn’t already printed on the pass, ask how many people can accompany the Rider Swap Passholder.    Being able to have one or more people accompany you is why you get a Rider Swap Pass – the waiting adult would end up riding alone if you just waited and used the FASTPASS in hand.

 

Here’s how this looks with a more specific example – your baby is too small to ride Tower of Terror but your group has Tower of Terror FASTPASSes.  When you go to ride Tower of Terror, take the baby to the Disney Cast Member  at the FASTPASS entrance and present your FASTPASS tickets.  Tell the Cast Member that you need a Rider Switch Pass and ask how many people can ride using the one rider swap pass.  Three people can usually ride Tower of Terror using one Rider Switch Pass – the passholder and two extra friends/family members.    The Cast Member gives you the pass to the  adult who will wait with the baby while the others ride using their FASTPASS tickets.  When they’re done riding, the adult(s) who have already gone on the ride take the baby and then the adult who waited, along with two others,  can then enter using the Rider Swap Pass at the FASTPASS Entrance.

Why this is important:

1.) Just from a practical standpoint, you need to know the most efficient means of letting everyone ride height restricted, scary, or intense ride or attraction.

2.) More importantly (at least for the older kids in your party), the baby actually gives you a tactical advantage during peak travel times. Because the Rider Swap Pass lets up to 3 people accompany the passholder, this is the best way to ensure that the older kids get to ride the headliners / thrill rides twice.  This is a huge advantage and saves a lot of backtracking.  Be sure the older kids know that the toddler  is the reason they get to go twice – it should encourage sibling bonding. 

Important note:  Distributing actual Rider Switch Passes was implemented only a few years ago and there may be various adaptations or slight differences from attraction to attraction.  For example, the last time we used this on Space Mountain, the cast member asked how many return riders we had.  They then gave us that number of individual Rider Switch Passes, each good for only one rider. 

TIPS: 

• If you’d like to ride the attraction twice, be sure to get a Rider Switch Pass even if the waiting adult doesn’t want to ride the ride. 
• You do not have to use the passes immediately.  For example, if your group is at Epcot and needs to get through both Test Track and Mission Space using the Standby lines as soon as the park opens,  get the Test Track Rider Switch Pass and let the first group of riders ride using the standby line.  Then then move on to Mission Space and do the same.   Those riding using the Rider Switch Passes can do this after everyone else has gone through the standby lines when the lines are at their shortest.  Those not riding again can enjoy the activities in the Mission Space Training Area at the end of the ride – there’s even a play area there for the little one.   The two rides are fairly close together so the minimal backtracking shouldn’t be a problem.  This works 2-ride approach works well at Splash Mountain & Big Thunder Mountain in the Magic Kingdom, at Tower of Terror & Rock’N Roller Coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and at Expedition Everest & Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks.

Walt Disney World Rider Switch / Baby Swap pass photo

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Rides & Attractions for Families with Toddlers

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great theme park and we’re always sad when families skip this park because “we’ve got a good zoo here at home”.   While there are animals, this isn’t just another zoo.   The shows are excellent and most families can fill a very full day, even if there are not a lot of rides.    We’ll try to warn you about anything that might scare a toddler or that might not hold the interest of of a small child.

Africa Area

• Donald’s Breakfast Safari Character Breakfast.  TIP: Book around 10:15AM so that you can enjoy Dinoland USA and the Maharajah Jungle Trek while crowds are at their lowest.
• Kilimanjaro Safari – Safari ride past live animals.
• Pangani Forest Trail. Animal habitat area featuring monkeys, okapi, naked mole rates, hippos, meerkats, and more.

Asia Area

• Flights of Wonder Bird Show - Educational show featuring hawks, macaws, and other birds. Lasts about 30 minutes; use your own judgment about your child’s attention span and interest level.
• Maharajah Jungle Trek- Animal habitat area featuring monkeys, Komodo dragons, tapirs, golden bats, tigers, and more.

Camp Minnie-Mickey

• “Festival of the Lion King” (great show) – animal costumed acrobats and dancers perform in this much-loved show featuring songs from the movie.
• Character Meet-and-Greet Pavilions

DinoLand USA

• The Boneyard Play area – great archeology themed play areas.
• “Finding Nemo – the Musical”. (great show) – impressive production with actors and puppets.  TIP: the last performance of the day is usually the least crowded.
• Triceratop Spin – child’s ride similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  TIP: ride as soon as the park opens to avoid long lines.  You’ll be able to repeat this ride a few times by arriving first thing.

Discovery Island

• It’s Tough to be a Bug 3-D – One of Disney’s best 3-D movies but some kids find the giant bugs scary.
• Discovery Island Trails – Animal exhibits along paths around the Tree of Life. You’ll find giant Galapagos tortoises, kangaroos, lemurs, and other animals.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch

• Wildlife Express Train – train ride.
• Affection Section – petting area with sheep and fat little African goats.
• Conservation Station – educational area that may not hold the attention of very young children.

Other Attractions

• Street performances
• “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade”. (A favorite of my family’s). Very cute parade with lots of great, classic Disney characters.

 Attractions with Height Requirements

• Dinosaur (Dinoland USA) – Must be 40 inches tall / 102 cm. This ride is a bit intense as your jeep-type vehicle gets sent back in time, stuck in the dark, and nearly eaten by a dinosaur. Will likely terrify a small child, especially if they don’t know what to expect.
• Expedition Everest (Asia Area) – Must be 44 inches tall / 112 cm. Seriously fun roller coaster. You don’t go upside down but you do go backwards in the dark.
• Kali River Rapids (Asia Area) – Must be 38 inches tall / 97 cm. Water rafting type ride that should be fine for anyone tall enough. You will get soaked! TIP: Younger children can be taken to the bridge that overlooks the ride. There you’ll find buttons that let you spray the riders below with water from the elephant figures.
• Primeval Whirl (Dinoland USA) - Must be 48 inches tall / 122 cm. Mad Mouse type ride that goes rather quickly.

Extra Animal Kingdom Touring Advice

• This theme park closes earlier than the other Disney parks -often as early as 5:00 PM – so you probably cannot see everything AND take a mid-day break.
• The landscaping is lush and beautiful, making this park perfect for great family photos. We all try to wear khaki with red or khaki with blue so that we coordinate in the photos.
• The conventional advice is to go to Kilamanjaro Safari first thing but we disagree. All of the park’s “thrill rides” are clustered in the Asia & Dinoland USA areas – which are on the same side of the park. We advise taking your little ones to this area first so that you’re out before the crowds build.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom has some great live entertainment. If you see something fun, stop and enjoy it. You’ll be glad you did.
• If you see an animal handler out with an animal,  stop and let the kids ask their questions.  These people are very friendly and informative.
• Flame Tree Barbeque is a counter-service restaurant on Discovery Island and is our favorite quick-service restaurant at any of the parks.  All of the seating is outdoors so you might not prefer this on a very hot day.

Remember that Build A Better Mouse Trip will provide – at no extra charge –  custom touring plans to keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines when you book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation through us.

Magic Kingdom Rides & Attractions for Families with Small Children

Families with babies or preschoolers often wonder if there is anything at Walt Disney World Resort for the little ones to ride or if there will be rides or attractions that the whole family can enjoy together.   This very issue was at the heart of Walt Disney’s vision for his theme parks – he wanted to build a place that multi-generations could enjoy together.   You will certainly find thrill rides and some rides with height requirements at each of the Disney parks but you’ll also find enough attractions appropriate for all age groups to fill a very full day at each of the WDW parks.   Most of the rides in this series will be appropriate for everyone but we’ll warn you if there is anything at all that might scare a timid child.

Magic Kingdom Rides for the Whole Family

Main Stree U.S.A. Area

• Main Street Vehicles ~ Horse drawn trolleys, and replicas of antique cars, jitneys, and an old-style Fire Engine carry passengers along Main Street.
• Walt Disney World Railroad ~ Steam train ride around the perimeter of the park with stops at Main Street USA, Mickey’s Toontown Fair, and Frontierland.

Fantasyland Area

• The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ~ Sweet ride with scenes from the classic Disney Winnie the Pooh stories. I encouraged the Pooh videos when my children were young because of the emphasis on kindness – now my college aged kids always ride this ride because it reminds them of their childhood.
• Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel ~ Beautiful antique carousel, built in 1917.
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant ~ This is the quintessential Disney Fantasyland ride and a favorite photo opportunity. Heights might bother some children. TIP: Ride this as soon as the park opens to avoid long lines. Be sure you’re not facing into the sun when taking photos.
• Its A Small World ~ Gentle boat ride with a song that is sure to get stuck in your head. This is a classic ride that “everyone loves to hate”. You can’t rightly claim to have been at Walt Disney World if you haven’t been on this ride.
• Mad Tea Party ~ Another instantly recognizable quintessential Disney ride. Sit in a teacup and spin like mad. May cause motion sickness.
• Mickey’s Philharmagic 3-D:  3-D movie where problems arise when Donald Duck gets ahold of Sorcerer Mickey’s hat.  Not terribly scary but some children find the experience uncomfortably intense and do better watching without the 3-D glasses.
• Peter Pan’s Flight ~ You ride in pirate boats that float above scenes of London and Neverland at night. It is a gentle ride and most kids are fine. Timid children might be bothered by the dark or the height.
• Pooh’s Thoughtful Spot (play area) ~ Soft sculpture area perfect for photographs and releasing wiggles.
• Snow White’s Scary Adventure ~ Children sensitive to the Disney villains might be bothered by this ride that passes through some of the scarier scenes from Snow White.
• Storytime with Belle ~ Belle, from Beauty & the Beast, leads a story time in the Fairytale Garden that includes a few members from the audience.

Fantasyland Area

• Enchanted Tiki Room (show) ~ Most Disney shows are 20 – 30 minutes long. This one has singing birds. Sound of thunder might frighten some little ones.
• Jungle Cruise ~ Gentle boat ride past animatronic animals and people. Boat captains tell corny jokes. Strangely, this scared my daughter after dark – though she was fine on it during daylight hours.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin ~ This ride works just like the Dumbo ride. You sit in a Magic Carpet and can use the controls to go up and down, while the ride goes around in a circle.
• Pirates of the Caribbean ~ This is a gentle boat ride but pirate scenes may frighten some small children.

Adventureland Area

• Country Bear Jamboree ~ Corny, hokey show featuring animatronic bears. Great spot to escape the heat.
• Swiss Family Treehouse ~ Walk through a treehouse inspired by the 1960s Disney film. You will climb stairs.
• Tom Sawyer’s Island ~ No rides, just a great spot to run around and explore. It is the kind of “Secret Hideout” every child would love to have.

Fantasyland Area

• All of “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” can be enjoyed my children and their families with the possible exception of Goofy’s Barnstormer Rollercoaster (must be 35 inches tall / 89 cm).  Older children may find these attractions too juvenille.
• Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farms  ~ A quick child’s rollercoaster – older kids & adults may ride too.(must be 35 inches tall / 89 cm). If this is your child’s first rollercoaster ride, you can ask for a small souvenir card (free) to commemorate the event.
• Donald’s Boat – Climbing & play area attraction.
• Mickey’s Country House ~ Walk-through attraction leading to a Mickey Mouse meet & greet area.
• Minnie’s Country House ~ Walk-through attraction.   TIP: Be sure to try buttons and levers in the kitchen.
• Toontown Hall of Fame / Judges Tent ~ Princess & Mickey Mouse Meet & Greet opportunity.   TIP: The lines get long here so head over as soon as this area opens – typically about 1 hour after regular park opening.

Tommorowland Area

• Astro-orbiter – Another ride where you rotate around the center column and use the ride controls to go either up or down. This draws long lines that move slowly.
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ~ Fun ride, perfect for everyone. It is like being in a bright arcade game where you try to hit targets with a laser shooter.
• Carousel of Progress: (Open only during peak seasons) Look into homes from four different eras since the turn of the last century; highlights significant inventions. Initially developed for the 1964-65 World’s Fair and moved to Walt Disney World in 1973. May not hold the attention of many little kids..
• Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club ~ Silly interactive show featuring Mike Wazowski. Children will recognize the characters from Monster’s Inc. The show tells corny jokes in an effort to make humans laugh. Very cute, especially if your preschooler has reached the corny joke stage of development. Tomorrowland Transit Authority ~ Gentle ride around the Tomorrowland area. This is a great ride if older siblings are riding Space Mountain because this actually passes through the Space Mountain attraction at one point. Tell your little one that it’ll be a little dark but they’ll be able to see what big sister/big brother is riding.

Liberty Square Area

• Hall of Presidents ~ 20 minute show featuring animatronic presidents of the United States. It is a rare toddler that will be interested in this attraction but the relative quiet and the air conditioned setting is a good spot to encourage a crabby little one to fall asleep for awhile.
• Haunted Mansion ~ No height requirements and most of the spooks are all in fun but the darkness and occasional screams (mostly teen-aged tourists) could easily frighten most pre-schoolers. My own daughter wasn’t bothered by the “ghosts” but somehow became convinced that the family cat was a vampire after riding this ride. Be aware of how well your young child understands the difference between reality and fantasy.
• Liberty Square Riverboat ~ Steam-powered sternwheeler boat ride along the Magic Kingdom’s “Rivers of America”.

Additional Options

• Parades, fireworks and other live entertainment.
• Outside the park – Monorail & boat launches to the Magic Kingdom area resort hotels. TIP: Ask to ride in the front of the monorail (limit: 4 people). You may have to wait for one or two monorails to pass before there is an open space. Some monorail drivers give the kids a little “Monorail Co-Pilot” card to commemorate the experience.

Honesty requires me to tell you that children can ride the “Tomorrowland Indy Speedway” but I have to warn you that this line is long, hot, and slow and the ride is not nearly as fun as it looks – a riding lawn mower is more fun. The driver must be at least 52″ tall. Try to direct your child’s attention elsewhere.

Rides with Height Requirements (from smallest to tallest):

• Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacres Farm – Must be 35 inches tall / 89 cm. Rollercoaster.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Must be 40 inches tall / 102 cm. Must be 35 inches tall / 89 cm. Great first step into the world of big people roller coasters. I prefer to ride this after dark.
• Splash Mountain ~ Must be 40 inches tall / 102 cm.  Log flume ride that first goes through delightful scenes from Briar Rabbit stories. TIP: Little ones too small to ride can play in a small soft-sculpture play area near the stroller parking and restrooms. TIP: The Walt Disney World Railroad passes through this ride so little ones can still feel like they’ve had a bit of the experience.
• Stitch’s Great Escape ~ Must be 40 inches tall / 102 cm. Special harnesses come down over your shoulder to provide sensory experiences that correspond with the things Stitch does. You may experience air jets, drops of water, chili cheese dog smells. The experience is dark at times and some kids are very upset by “naughty” Stitch – as opposed to the more enlightened Stitch we know from the end of the Lilo & Stitch movie.
• Space Mountain ~ Must be 44 inches tall / 112 cm.  Dark, space themed roller coaster.
• Tommorowland Indy Speedway ~ Must be 52 inches tall / 132 cm to drive the cars.

Remember that Build A Better Mouse Trip will provide – at no extra charge –  custom touring plans to keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines when you book your Disney vacation through us.