Mouse Magic HD Blogs

Disney just recently released an official wait time application called Mobile Magic. It however is limited to the Verizon network, select models of phones on that network and comes with an access fee. Disney did release a non-platform based option that is free at http://m.disneyworld.com/ however the posted wait times (as well as fastpass return) are not listed with times but just descriptions such as "Moderate" wait making it difficult to decide if the wait times is worth it or not.

iPhone users are familiar with a plethora of wait time applications that range from free to a few dollars to purchase. The apps feature current wait times of attractions with some adding additional features such as GPS location, park maps, etc. These apps work by having users submit the wait times while in the parks. Some apps even go as far as storing previous data so when user submitted data is unavailable en estimated time can be shown.

As stated before all the iPhone apps currently rely on users submitting the wait time which of course can be problematic. What if no one is submitting times? What if someone is submitting incorrect times? Now there is an even better solution for wait times on the go. Enter Touring Plans' (ding!) "Lines". It is a web based application that you load in Safari on your iPhone (and now also supports Android or Palm Pre/Pixi) and away you go.

I did an initial browse of Touring Plans Lines and I am highly impressed. The interface is very easy to use, it recommends which parks to visit and which to avoid. It also has which parks have Extra Magic Hours that day as well as the normal operating hours of the parks. Looking to see what the crowds will be like in the parks that day? Well the webapp will tell you that as well using Touring Plans' infamous crowd calendar.

So what makes Lines such a great app over the number of its "clones" in the Apple App store? Touring Plans Research Staff have decades worth of data which is inputted into this web app. That is right, hard numbers and statistics that can be used to estimate actual (not posted) wait times. There is a feature for users to submit the posted wait time, however Lines does not rely on user submissions to post the wait times. (Please still submit wait times while in the parks, the staff would be very appreciative and it will further help their statistics. Even if the wait time is spot on submit the time so they know they are correct in their calculations.) In addition to the current wait times Lines will even take it a step further and let you view the estimated times for later in that day. What other wait time app can predict the future?

So how accurate is Touring Plans' Lines? Well I have not had the pleasure of personally testing the web app yet (research trip anyone?) however those who have, give it high reviews. I personally would be very confident with using the web app as a major tool in my touring the parks as the Touring Plans Research Team have worked a number of countless hours over many years to compile statistical data in order to provide high quality touring plans for families.

Touring Plans' Lines is currently free for registered users (basic membership is free and requires registration) for a limited time. I highly suggest you check out the web app even if you are not in the parks. Even after the service is paid based it will be well worth the $8.95/year (discounts available to those who own certain books, check out the site for more information on registration) to access this web app as well as a number of other features from Touring Plans. Visit http://m.touringplans.com on your phone to sign in and test the web app. Don't forget to add a bookmark to your home screen for quick and easy access with a cool icon.

In this inaugural edition of my book club, we will be discussing Toy Story: The Art and Making of the Animated Film, by the man himself, John Lasseter. I recently recieved this book as a present, so let's talk about it.

The book has a lot of concept art if you are into that king of thing. I like it, but it's not my favorite. But it is cool to see the evolution the characters go through.

Another cool aspect of the book is Lasseter's personal commentary on the making of the film. It is the best part of the book in my opinion.

Other things in the book are scenes from the finished movie and a halographic cover.

The book retails for $40 and can be found at Barnes & Noble online at BN.com and Amazon.com.

Many visitors to Disney see parking as a hassle. It is easy to forget where your car, especially if it is not really your car and is a rental. Parking is not cheap unless you have an Annual Pass. Parking can take a good amount of time, especially at the Magic Kingdom. However, parking does not have to be the "horrible" experience many make it out to be. Below are a few simple tips to help make parking to be less of a chore.

If you are staying on property consider taking Disney transportation, especially if you don't get free parking. The fee alone should deter most on property guests from driving their own vehicle. If you use on property transportation be sure to do your research to know where stops are located, wait times, etc.

If you do decide to drive and park at the parks then be sure to have your money or annual pass ready when you get to the entrance gate. This will help get you and everyone behind you get through the line quicker. Also as the lanes condense down to less and less remember to use both lanes. There is a tendency to line up in one lane leaving the other one completely open. Disney is very efficient at getting people into the parking lots so follow what they are saying, which includes using both lanes.

After you park walk in front of your car and down the aisle that is already fully parked up. The parking attendants will remind you of this but let them not have to worry about you and your party by doing it already. Also remember where you parked. Most phones have a notepad feature, open that and type in the row you are parked in. If your phone does not have that application then send yourself or someone else in your party a text message of the row. You can also open up your dialer and "call" your row quickly ending the call and then the row number is in your recent call list. You can also call your own voicemail and leave yourself a message with the row number. Final suggestion is to use your cell's camera feature and take a picture of the row number. Using one of these tips you will now not have to worry about losing that slip of paper which you wrote the row number on or remembering throughout the entire day where you are parked.

If you rent a car returning to your car can be really confusing as you are not used to the style and color. Again use your cell's camera feature to snap a picture of the car. If the car has an antenna on top of the car tie a color ribbon to it or use an antenna topper. This will make spotting it from the other cars easier.

After parking consider walking to the gate versus taking the tram. Getting a kid out of the stroller, folding it up and getting on the tram is a considerable amount of work when the walk may not be that horrible. This has to be a judgment decision based on your individual situation based on where the tram is, how many people are waiting, the weather, where you are parked, etc. but many times at EPCOT the gate is not far from where you parked. I would highly recommend against walking to the TTC in the Magic Kingdom lot though as that lot is massive and winds around a good amount.

When boarding the trams please pay attention to the tram operators. When they call final boarding call that is not a time for you to sprint to catch that tram. Don't worry another tram is coming right behind the one that is about to depart. By running to the tram you are only saving a few minutes of your own time, not enough to warrant possible safety and you and others and to also hold up an entire tram of people.

When you pay for parking for the day it is good for all parks that day meaning once you pay to park at the Magic Kingdom you don't have to pay to park at DHS, Epcot or the Animal Kingdom for that day. If you are park hopping put this into consideration. I however only move my car if I am going to or from the Animal Kingdom. If I am going between the other three parks I use Disney Transportation. Don't worry if your car will be in the park lot hours after park closing. Disney will ensure you get back to your car. I actually enjoy the private bus ride back to the park hours after that park has closed. It is a nice quite way to reflect on the past day in the park. However also at the end of a long day you may want to just get to your car as quickly as possible to get to bed.

Since I live close to the World and I usually don't stay on Disney property I am usually always driving in to park. I actually enjoy the parking experience as I believe the ride on the parking tram as well as the monorail (if going to the Magic Kingdom) are two of the most exciting non-attraction attractions at the parks. Hopefully with these tips parking will become a little more enjoyable for you as well.

Link: http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/November/cooksomethingboldday.htm

According to it's creator, Wellcat.com, Cook Something Bold Day is designed to encourage us to cook something bold and daring, that will fill up the house with warm, "homey" odors. It is celebrated in the month of November, as houses are closed up for the winter, and capture the cooking smells.

We hope you cook up a storm today, and have a very happy Cook Something Bold Day!!!

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First and foremost, this enters the realm of more than a few fans of the Disney parks and resorts… food! At first thought  I'm drawn to the mixed-reviewed Yak 'n Yeti restaurant in Animal Kingdom, if only because the asian-fusion recipies can appear to be VERY bold, especially for theme park food!

On the other hand, the description of "warm, 'homey' odors" takes me to Disney Hollywood Studios, and Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano. Again, this place seems to engender either a positive or negative reaction from park-goers, and never, it seems, anyone on the fence. The ambiance; the way the restaurant is seeped in old-world italian smells and old-Hollywood decor and charm... Ah. Very good.

But.

Both of these locations can't be called "Bold". Not really. I can get both types of food pretty much wherever I go, and even within a 10 minute drive from my house.

My choice for this week is actually  Earl of Sandwich, at Downtown Disney's Marketplace. The reason being there are sandwiches on the menu that I would NEVER consider making for myself, nor ordering when I'm just going out for a regular lunch at a regular sandwich shop. Sure, they offer the old stand-bys, but, for me, the "Thanksgiving" sandwich, with cranberries on it? or the Hawaiian Barbeque sandwich? Now, that's bold.

So, for today, Cook Something Bold Day, I salue you, Earl of Sandwich!

This time of year there are many changes going on at the Disneyland Park. Attractions such as Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion both received overlays for the Halloween season, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and The Nightmare Before Christmas respectively and in a few weeks It's A Small World will be closing to receive its Christmas overlay. With the overlays in Disneyland many guests and fans ask about the overlay for Walt Disney World, possible including you.

So why is it that Disneyland gets all the "love" while Disney World is the same year round? I have a few theories. Disneyland is more of a "locals" park where Disney World is a vacation destination. In 1959 market surveys showed that only 2% of Disneyland's visitors came from East of the Mississippi River where 75% of the nation's population lives. In 2008 Disneyland had 14.29 million visitors, of which 1.3 million fly into John Wayne and 1.8 million fly into LAX.

With these numbers Disneyland has to do something to keep the locals coming back especially during times in which vacations do not happen. It is no surprise why the chosen dates for Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT are what they are and the same holds true to these holiday overlays over at Disneyland.

In addition to bringing the locals back to the parks, which WDW does have a good number of Florida passholders, just think of those who do get to Disney World maybe once or twice in their lifetime. Walt Disney World can not afford to close down the large popular attractions to setup, as well as break down, the overlay. Also it is unfair to those "out-of-towners" who may be coming in to see the "original" attraction and can't because the attraction is either closed or has the special holiday overlay.

I myself am not arguing against an overlay coming to Walt Disney World. I for one would love to see the World get a comparable overlay for any of the above mentioned attractions like Disneyland their sister park gets. However, I just don't see it happening anytime soon, so don't hold your breath until it happens. It would be easier to just visit Disneyland, plus it gives you a great excuse for the vacation out west.