FASTPASS: The Next Generation

At the beginning of February, the word came out: some big changes are expected to be implemented at all FASTPASS attractions.  Starting March 7, 2012, it is expected that the FASTPASS return windows will now be actively enforced, with a five minute early arrival and fifteen minute late arrival to be permitted.  Anyone arriving outside of those times will not be allowed entry to the FASTPASS queue. 

  

What is FASTPASS? I’m guessing you’re not seriously asking that question if you are reading this blog. But just in case, Disney says FASTPASS “is a complimentary benefit to all park Guests that allows you to enjoy the rest of the Walt Disney World Resort while your place in line is saved.”

Here’s an example of what we’re talking about:

It used to be that as long as you arrived after the first time listed on your FASTPASS (in this case, 12:55), you could enter the FASTPASS queue, even if the second time (1:55) had come and gone. Why is Disney going to start this stricter adherence to the rules? Speculation abounds that some big changes to the FASTPASS system may be in the works.

The scuttlebutt is that Disney may soon announce the arrival of xPASS. Or NextGen FASTPASS. Or My Disney Experience. Or FASTPASS Platinum (okay, I made that last one up.) Which is cool, because in the words of Barney Stinson, “new is always better”, right?  Not necessarily. You see, FASTPASS:TNG (that one’s mine, copyright pending) will – for a price – offer WDW Guests the opportunity to pre-book an entire vacation's worth of rides on the most popular attractions, as well as guaranteeing these particular customers prime reserved viewing spots for parades and shows like "Illuminations" “Festival of the Lion King”, and "Fantasmic!" And there’s more. According to Jim Hill, on "it's a small world" people who have booked the FASTPASS:TNG vacation package will - prior to their arrival in Orlando - be able to go online and build their very own customized Mary Blair-style doll. This doll will appear on a flat screen in the final sequence of "it's a small world’ and dance for and wave to the guest who actually created the doll. Nice!  And finally, the most recent advancement that I’ve heard of will be the option to use the FASTPASS:TNG system to avoid lines at the parks' Quick Service Dining locations by ordering your meals in advance using your iPhone & Smart Phones. (I think I actually like this one the best. After all, some of the attraction queues are cool. The food lines at Flame Tree Barbeque? Not so much.) Now, I don’t know about you, but my main thought here is: How much will the FASTPASS:TNG vacation package cost?

Now as we all know, Disney plans are written in Jell-O. They can and will change. For example, the word now is that this upcoming service may not cost extra after all. (Apparently, Disney is getting a little sensitive to the “Wallet Disney World” jokes.) And while it was first speculated that the official announcement of this new system would happen at the company’s meeting for shareholders this month in preparation for an early 2013 roll-out, that time frame is now appearing to be a little optimistic.  As always, time will tell. But what enhancements would you like to have made to Disney’s FASTPASS? Speak your piece over at https://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Once Upon a Time

I can’t hold back anymore. I’ve just got to talk about this new series on ABC – and any fan of the show will agree that this discussion totally belongs in a Disney blog.

At the beginning of the season, I was torn. After all, in addition to Once Upon a Time, NBC’s Grimm was another new show set in modern day times with some visits from characters we know from fairy tales. I was immediately more drawn to OUaT, but was I being biased because it was an ABC property? Anyone who knows me is aware that nothing raises my hackles more than any sort of prejudice, so I was determined to give Grimm a fair shot. Now, more than halfway through the first season, I can safely say that I find OUaT vastly superior.

 In case you haven’t been drinking this particular brand of apple juice, I’ll give you a primer on the show: Emma Swan gets quite a surprise when Henry, the son she gave up for adoption ten years ago, shows up on her doorstep. In the process of returning Henry to his adoptive mother, Emma discovers that Henry believes that everyone in his hometown of Storybrooke, Maine is a fairytale character under a curse, and Emma - as the long-lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming - is the one who can save them all. The really crazy part is that we discover (as the story unfolds with a blend of modern day intertwined with the fairy tale stories) that Henry is right.

Each character we meet in Storybrooke has a fairy tale counterpart to whom we are eventually introduced. Granted, these characters aren’t exactly how we may remember them, but when has Disney ever shied away from giving a classic story a fresh twist?  Here are some of the old friends with whom we’ve become reacquainted:

Regina Mills, the mayor of Storybrooke and Henry’s adoptive mother is, in reality, the Evil Queen. Not only is the Evil Queen my favorite Disney villain, but this version of her sports some of the best costumes on TV. Score! She is the person who cast the evil spell, and one of the few who knows the truth.

Mary Margaret Blanchard (Henry’s teacher) is Snow White. This spell really has her suffering, as her One True Love is married to another. Let’s face it: “The Other Woman” is not a role Snow White was born to play.

Prince Charming started out in Storybrooke as “John Doe”, an unidentified coma patient. He awakens with amnesia, falls in love with Mary Margaret, and then discovers that his name is David Nolan, and is already married to Kathryn (Abigail, daughter to King Midas back in Fairy Tale times). I realize that particularly in this story, “the course of true love never did run smooth”. But I’ve got to say, I’m currently not very impressed with the way his character is developing. Right now he reminds me very much of the Prince Charming in Into the Woods – “I was raised to be charming, not sincere.”

Mr. Gold’s real name is Rumplestiltskin, and he’s the only other person in town who knows what’s really going on (unless August W. Booth does, but more on him later.) He’s a villain, too (why do the bad guys always have better intel than the good guys?), but he and Regina are definitely not BFFs. It’ll be interesting to see what matters more to him – making the heroes miserable, or one-upping Regina. Or will true love eventually melt his heart, too…

We’ve also got Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Belle (and her Beast is none other than old Rumple himself), Jiminy Cricket, the Magic Mirror, eight dwarfs, and more. But there are some new characters and unplumbed plot lines waiting to be revealed:

The Evil Queen’s Mother – We’ve already met Daddy Dearest (don’t get me started on the Oedipal issues there), but in the next few episodes we’re slated to meet the Mother of Evil, in a story that apparently also involves a stable boy. Is anyone else picturing some weird cougar battle?

August W. Booth – He seems to be pretty aware of Storybrooke’s storied roots as well, but we have no idea who he is. Is he the narrator? Or even the author (because we need more Grimms on the scene.) Or in keeping with the theme that the villains are routinely better informed than the good guys, maybe the Big Bad Wolf?  Time will tell, I guess.

Speaking of the Big Bad Wolf, we’re supposed to get more information on Ruby – aka Little Red Riding Hood – very soon. I’m interested to see the twist on her tale, because Ruby does not strike me as the sort to be naively taken in by some scoundrel she meets in the woods. I can see her liking the bad boy sort, but her eyes would be wide open.

We’re also slated to be introduced to the Mad Hatter and the Caterpillar this season. I can hardly wait!

Are you romanced by these new takes on the tales as old as time?  What characters are you waiting to meet, and what plot points would you love to see developed?  Share your speculation over on https://www.facebook.com/disneygene! 

Dear Disney - Please Don't

Dear Disney Imagineers,

While listening to The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unofficial-guides-disney-dish/id452620851), I heard a most disturbing rumor. Over the course of this fascinating and amusing conversation between Disney fan favorites Len Testa and Jim Hill, it was mentioned that you have a really bad idea in mind for The Country Bear Jamboree.  Please, please abandon this horrific concept.

Sincerely,

Teri

What is this atrocious idea, you ask?  Believe me; it was so bad that I double-checked the date, just to make sure it wasn’t an April Fools' prank.  According to Jim Hill, Disney is considering revamping The Country Bear Jamboree into – wait for it – A-Bear-ican Idol. 

Now, I know that not everyone holds The Country Bear Jamboree in the same high esteem that I do.  Walt Disney World executives obviously don’t, if the lack of upkeep that attraction receives is any indication. But A-Bear-ican Idol?  Really? 

Here’s the basic concept: the bears perform country hits, and the audience votes on the winner.  Let’s set aside my well-established love for this classic attraction. Let’s even leave off mention of the much-derided Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. Instead, let’s discuss the wisdom (or lack thereof) of this particular makeover.

1. American Idol – We already have one WDW attraction based on this non-Disney property.  Do we really need another?

2. American Idol – Surely this phenomenon is waning. What’s the point of hitching your wagon to a fading star?

3. I get that Disney is all about the interactive experience right now – interactive queues, voting options, choose your ending (missing Horizons as I type that, by the way) – but the term “overkill” is starting to seem appropriate.

What do you think?  Do you actually like this idea?  Do you want to see a change – any change – to CBJ? Or do you think Disney should just give this classic attraction a refurbishment and invest time and resources into completely new rides and attractions?  Speak your piece over at https://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Disney 3Ds (Different Dining Discounts)

Let’s preface this post by saying that I’m not here to engage in the Great Dining Plan Debate. You all have your opinions on that already. Instead, I’m going to show you some different discount options that we utilized on our recent WDW trip, so that you can see if they’d be beneficial tactics for you.

First was www.restaurant.com.  I bought a $50.00 gift certificate to Downtown Disney’s House of Blues for $4.00.  HoB wasn’t necessarily on my radar for dining, but $46.00 is $46.00.  Our meal for seven people (including alcohol and an 18% gratuity) after the discount was $123.38. That’s $17.63 per person, with two in our party consuming alcoholic beverages.  Not too shabby. That said, restaurant availability on www.restaurant.com does fluctuate, but it can’t hurt to check.

Next was Tables in Wonderland.   This is available only to Florida residents and annual passholders. The cost was $75.00, but boy was it worth it!  Here was a breakdown on our dining for the trip:

First Night: Seven people at ‘Ohana. All adult meals plus two alcoholic beverages before the discount was $248.68 (not including tax.)  Our TiW discount was $49.74.

Second Night: Four people at Flying Fish Café. Adult meals plus a bottle of wine before tax, tip, and discount was $141.00. Our TiW discount was $28.20.*

Third Night:  Eight people at Sanaa. Eight meals (including some appetizers, desserts, and drinks) came to a pre-tax total of $192.55. TiW discount was $38.43.

Fourth Night: Eight people at La Hacienda de San Angel. Again, with plenty of appetizers, drinks, and desserts, the pre-tax and discount total was $179.35. TiW discount was $35.87. 

Fifth Night: Three people at Bistro de Paris (with some appetizers, wine and desserts – do you see a pattern yet?) had a subtotal of $142.00.  Our TiW discount was $28.40.

*Bonus savings: We got free valet parking at the Boardwalk on Tuesday by showing our TiW card and Flying Fish receipt. 

Quick summary: Tables in Wonderland Card was $75.00.  Total savings on this trip was $180.64.  To break it down further, we saved an average of $6.58 per person, per meal. That means that a family of four with similar eating habits would save about $157.92 over the course of six nights.  And best of all, our Tables in Wonderland card will still be good when we go back next November!

I should add that in addition to the dining discounts and the free valet parking, there are some special events that are only available to Tables in Wonderland members.  For more information, please call (407) 566-5858.  

P.S.  For those keeping track, our average sit-down meal cost per person (including alcohol, appetizers, etc.) came to $28.22. This includes eating at higher end/two table credit restaurants like Flying Fish and Bistro de Paris.  Add that to an average counter-service lunch of $15.00 and you get $43.22.  The cost of the Disney Dining Plan per day is a minimum of $51.54.  I’m just saying. ;)

Different Dining Discounts

As word gets out about the changes coming to the Disney Dining Plan in 2012 (in a nutshell, the Basic Plan will be adding a refillable mug and the Counter Service Plan will be dropping one snack credit per day), I thought I’d take a look at some alternate forms of Disney dining savings – aka “The Teri Way”.

1. Restaurant.com - Having a hard time getting reservations at the Disney restaurants due to the popularity of the Disney Dining Plan?  http://www.restaurant.com/ can help. They offer gift certificates to many restaurants in the Walt Disney World area. Their basic tagline is “Get $25 Restaurant Gift Certificates for only $10”, but here’s the kicker: they often have sales. I recently got a $50 gift certificate to use at the Downtown Disney House of Blues for $4!  Of course, restrictions apply.  For example, I have to have a minimum purchase of $100 to use that.  The restrictions vary from restaurant to restaurant, but you may find them worth investigating. Some of the Disney area restaurants available through this program are:

Giraffe Cafe (at the Royal Plaza Hotel) 

Todd English's bluezoo

Kimonos

Il Mulino

Shula’s Steak House

Garden Grove

Original Outback (at the Buena Vista Palace)

House of Blues

2. Tables in Wonderland – This one is a little trickier, because it’s only available to Annual Pass holders and Florida residents. Cost is $75 for AP holders or $100 for non-AP Florida residents. This will get you 20% off your check (and that of up to nine guests) at most WDW restaurants, including alcohol!  For a list of participating restaurants, click here: http://allears.net/din/dde.htm#list .

3. Have I mentioned sharing lately?  I mean, odds are good you won’t want to take leftovers back to your resort room and Disney portions tend to run large, so you may want to consider splitting an appetizer and entrée with someone else in your party.  And if you’re still hungry, it’s the perfect excuse for dessert!

4. The Suitcase – Fill a suitcase with convenient breakfast items (cereal bars, Pop-Tarts, fresh fruit) and chow on these in your room or en route to the parks. This saves money, calories (probably), and time.  After all, would you rather be waiting in line for pancakes or Space Mountain?  Then when you leave, that now-empty suitcase is ready to haul home all of your souvenirs.

Other people have their own preferred savings plans, like eating sit-down meals at lunch instead of dinner, eating off-site, or eating nothing but counter-service meals. Pick your own personal favorite. I just don’t want you to feel like the Disney Dining Plan is the only option available to you.  Bon appétit! 

Book Review 04/06/11

Have I mentioned that I am addicted to Walt Disney World guidebooks?  Okay, good.  I didn’t want to catch anyone by surprise if I suddenly show up on an episode of TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive. 

In all fairness though, I don’t buy all of them.  I can’t imagine purchasing Walt Disney World for Dummies, for example.  And it didn’t take me long in my guidebook purchasing obsession to discover that companies that specialize in travel but not Disney (Fodor’s and Frommer’s, for example) aren’t going to be as in-depth or replete with Disney knowledge as, say, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or PassPorter: Walt Disney World. Those I buy every year, whether I’m planning a trip to Walt Disney World or not.  But even amongst the classics, I have my favorites, and the latest addition of one of those finally arrived in the mail last week.

The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 by Julie and Mike Neal is a great read for Walt Disney World fans and visitors from start to finish. Loaded with beautiful photos, timeless tips and great maps, it is a helpful tool.  But my favorite features in this guidebook are the extra jewels of information provided on the parks and attractions.  For example, did you know that the “Howdy folks” guy at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also the voice of Benjamin Franklin at Epcot’s American Adventure?  Or the swamp wallaby (found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom) can drink salt water and is known as “the stinker”? (Hey, that’s my daughter’s nickname!) Or that you can find a Hidden Mickey under the tail of a clownfish in the Toy Story Mania! queue?  I just adore these kinds of details.  Would you like to learn more?  Buy the book!

Of course, not all of the 2011 guidebooks that I’m eagerly anticipating have made it off the presses.  Case in point: if Bill Burke’s latest addition of Mousejunkies doesn’t get released soon, I may start stalking him on Facebook…

What Walt Disney World guidebooks do you tend to revisit like old friends?  Please let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!