Dining at Space 220 in Epcot – A Journey to Space

There are SO many unique dining experiences and great restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort, but if you have a fan of space exploration in your travel party you’re going to want to experience Space 220.

This casual dining restaurant has good food (and I’ll get to that later) but the experience and views are literally ‘out of this world’.  Just an FYI – this is not a ‘Star Wars’ space type thing, this is more “international space station” type feel!

Located in the Mission: SPACE pavilion, my recommendation is to visit the restaurant AFTER you ride Mission Space attraction and not before.  Even if you’re doing the green side – it’s best not to have a full belly.  If you’re doing the full Orange experience, you might want some extra time before eating any space food!

Once you check in with the Cast Member you are taken to the Departure Lounge where you’re given a boarding pass for the space elevator.

This is such a cool experience.  With a window in the ‘floor’ you get to watch as you ascend to space.  You get to watch Epcot shrink as you get farther and farther away from earth.

The Elevator

Look up to the widow above to see the space station coming in to view.  This journey is such a highlight of the experience.

As the doors open to the Centauri Space Station you are escorted into the main dining room. The scene as you walk in are amazing!  The large ‘windows’ that offer views of earth are fantastic and I think I stood for a second in awe when I first saw them.  Who doesn’t want to dine in a space station looking out in to outer space?

Once seated at the table you’ll notice the cutlery and glassware fit the theming as well.  I have heard that sitting up against the ‘windows’ you don’t get to see quite as much and the best seats are the ones further back.

Space 220 is open for both lunch and dinner, although I wish they would add breakfast to allow more people to experience it.

The lunch menu is a prix-fixe 2-course meal and a prix-fixe, 3-course meal at dinner.  The dinner menu has Space Station Supplements including a baked whole lobster stuffed with jumbo crab.  Menu items at Walt Disney World restaurants can change so it is important to review it on the official Walt Disney World website before your visit especially if there is a dish you specifically want.

Blue Moon Cauliflower

Appetizers are called “Lift-Offs” and are themed of course!  My favourite was the Blue Moon Cauliflower.  Tempura Fried Cauliflower, Housemade Hot Sauce, Blue Cheese Dust = perfection.  If all vegetables tasted that good I’d eat more of them!  The side dishes are called “Satellite Sides” and feature 4 options that I have yet to try myself.

Starry Calamari

I have dined here multiple times with different people and I have yet to hear anyone complain about their dishes.

Wagyu Beef Carpaccio

Thankfully I have had dining companions who like different dishes than I do so I was able to get pictures of things like the Starry Calamari and the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio.

The main course is called the “Star Course”.  I have had the burger and french fries a few times and the flat iron steak, and my dining party has tried many other things!

Steak Salad

From plant based to carnivores, my travel party has tried just about everything.  The only thing I keep thinking I’d like to try is a children’s meal because I really want to try the Spaceghetti and the Cosmic Cupcake!

Filet Mignon

The desserts are called “Super Nova Sweets” and if I’m honest, I’ve never had ROOM for any so I can’t tell you if they are any good.  I always want to try the “Blue Planet” chocolate cheesecake but I just can’t do it after I’ve eaten the appetizer and main.

Burger

The kids menu is equally fun and there is a full alcoholic drinks menu as well.  Cold brews, spirits and kids zero-proof sippers offer something for everyone.

My overall experience every time is that it’s a fun, immersive dining experience.  The food is delicious, but the atmosphere is what puts it over the top.  Watch the windows while eating your meal and you’ll see astronauts and other things floating by.  When it’s time to leave the restaurant you head back to the same space elevator and do the journey in reverse.

My tips for your visit:

• Space 220 is a very popular spot, advance dining reservations are strongly recommended
• If you don’t have a reservation – keep checking on the My Disney Experience app or check if they are accepting walk-ups
• Make sure to mention any celebrations or special occasions when you’re there
• Before you mess up your table, ask a Cast Member to take a picture of you and your party with the windows in the background
• Save room for dessert – I kick myself every time!

Have you eaten at Space 220?  What did you think?

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Review – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

When it comes to dining at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are a few unique experiences choose from.  You can dine at a drive-in movie theatre at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater or you can be ‘scolded’ for not eating your veggies as you turn back time to dine at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe.   But it’s only at Roundup Rodeo BBQ that you get to be one of Andy’s honorary toys from the movie franchise of Toy Story.

Located in the heart of Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this dining experience is fun for everyone.  The theming from Andy’s backyard continues in to this restaurant as you walk in to Andy’s rodeo playset.  While this is not a character dining experience, the meal is full of character!  Once you’re in the dining room you are now the size of a toy surrounded by walls that are “made” from cardboard boxes and full of huge cutouts and pictures of some of your favorite toys!

The attention to detail was so incredible.  As the Disney cast member was showing us to our table I struggled to take it all in because there was so much to see.  From the cardboard cutouts to the huge Bo Peep, Jessie riding on the back of a Trixie pull toy to train station playsets, this western town was overrun with things to look at.

The best part of the theming was “Andy’s coming”.  I sat and watched in awe at how the ENTIRE main dining area committed to being still when Andy was coming.  Watching the kids at their tables doing their very best to stay still and not get ‘caught’ by Andy was one of the highlights of the experience.  I watched a young boy who was probably 6 years old trying NOT to smile and giggle as he ‘hid’ from Andy.  These kids were having a BALL and their smiles were evidence of it.  For Toy Story Fans both young and old, this is everything you could hope for.

The only thing that is a bit weird inside is the lighting – it’s almost got a red or purple hue to it.  I’m not clear what the reasoning is, other than you’re supposed to be inside a bunch of toy boxes so I guess it makes sense it isn’t good lighting, but it doesn’t make the food look as edible in the pictures as it was!

Normally these types of restaurants are more about the theming than the food, but I am happy to say that the food quality did not disappoint!  The food is served family style with everything coming out together and you put it on your plate yourself.  The plates were even well themed as they looked like paper plates!

There were 2 of us and we asked for one of us to have the plant-based option.  That was a bit of a mistake because there was SO MUCH food!  I know they say you can get more of whatever you’d like, but honestly they were almost rolling us out of there.

The first dishes that arrived for us were:

• The Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly
• Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad
• Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad

This was the perfect way to start off the meal, but it took all sorts of willpower not to stuff myself with the biscuits!  They were so good and the jelly was delicious.  The watermelon salad was incredibly refreshing and the tomato salad was tasty.  For the starters – we were really happy.

Being seated at a table for 2 we were starting to wonder how they were going to fit anything else on our table, we weren’t about to give up our biscuits or watermelon in case we had room at the end to polish them off.

Somehow – he made it work when then main course came out.

For the meat and plant based meat we had:

From the House-Smoked Items:

• Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs
• Buttercup’s Beef Brisket
• There’s a Sausage in my Boot – Fire-grilled Pork Sausage
• BBQ Chicken – with Style!
• Buckin’ Baked Beans

From Trixie’s Plant-based Trio:

• Combat Carloflower with Harissa Drizzle and Walnut Gremolata
• Scrumptious Bratwurst
• Rip Roarin’ Rib Chop

Then came the side dishes:

• Potato Barrels
• The Claw! Veggie Slaw
• Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese
• Cowpoke Corn on the Cob

Somehow it all managed to ‘fit’ on our table and we started eating.  I tried a bit of everything including the 3 BBQ sauces on the table (they had classic, sweet and spicy).   I honestly didn’t feel that anything needed the sauce other than the chicken.  I found the chicken to be a bit bland when compared to all of the other meat options.  Everything else was tender and flavourful, exactly what you would expect in a good BBQ.  The sides were as good as you would expect, I love potato barrels and struggled not to fill up on those alone.  The mac & cheese was so rich and the slaw was delicious!

The only thing I wasn’t totally crazy about was the corn on the cob.  It’s not that I disliked it, but if I had to be selective about filling up on stuff – I wasn’t wasting stomach space on that one.   I had dessert coming so I needed to be responsible.

For dessert we got to choose one:

• Bo’s Lemon and Blueberry CheesecakeBilly’s Chocolate Silk Pie
• Goat’s Apple Pie
• Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie (Plant Based)
• Cupcake a la Forky

While I normally would be all about the cupcake, Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie was calling my name.  Chocolate mousse and whipped cream – of course I was having it!  And I was very glad I did.  It was the perfect ending to a delicious meal!  Unfortunately with the lighting the pics of it didn’t turn out at all, but trust me – it was good.

Is this Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant a good option for those at Hollywood Studios?  Absolutely!  I would recommend it without hesitation.

As with all Walt Disney World Resort table service restaurants, reservations are recommended.  That being said, sometimes you can get availability that day!  For my visit we arrived at the park and decided to see what restaurants had availability.  I was shocked to see many times open for Roundup Rodeo BBQ and other dining locations in the park.   Also remember if you have any special dietary requirements, be sure to inform the restaurant when you make your reservation and be sure to tell your server.

Woody’s Roundup BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers a delicious food, engaging entertainment, and immersive theming.  Whether you’re a die-hard Toy Story fan or simply looking for a fun and memorable dining experience, this is a spot you won’t want to miss. So round up your posse and head on over to Woody’s Roundup BBQ for a rootin’ tootin’ good time!  But don’t plan on riding Slinky Dog Dash right after, give yourself some time to digest!

Are you a Toy Story Fan?  Have you tried this place yet?

If you’d like to explore character dining – check out my review of Topolino’s when I did it solo!

9 Things You Should Know About Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safaris

When planning a Walt Disney World vacation I have had many people say to me “I’m not going to visit Animal Kingdom, I’ve been to a zoo before”.  This always makes me chuckle a little before I start to explain what Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers.

One of the most unique and different experiences available in the park is Kilimanjaro Safaris. This experience lasts about 20 minutes where you will explore the Harambe Wildlife Reserve that is home to over 30 different species.  The reserve is 110 acres of open plains, forest landscapes and rocky wetlands.  It’s an experience like nothing else in any other Disney park.  It’s educational, fun, exciting and interesting – you would forget that you’re actually inside of a theme park!  It’s one of the most popular attractions in the park, but there’s some things you should know before you venture out on your first safari.

Here are 9 things you should know about Kilimanjaro Safaris

1.  It’s suitable for all ages – but not all people

In order to visit the reserve you are taken out by a tour guide in a safari truck.  The ride vehicles are spacious with no seatbelts.  You enter through the door and slide along the bench, small children should be seated on the inside.  There are wheelchair access trucks, but they cannot accommodate an ECV, you must transfer to a wheelchair.

Now who is it not suitable for?  Anyone with high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or expectant mothers should not ride.  The ‘roads’ or paths that the vehicles take are rough and unpaved, it is an incredibly bumpy ride during some of it.  It’s also important to note that there is no air conditioning (it’s an open-air safari) and if you get stuck behind a slow moving animal you could be there for a while.  Generally you should be in good health before setting out on this african safari.

Fun fact:  The rutted road on Kilimanjaro Safaris is part of the landscape design and was done intentionally! The Walt Disney Imagineering design team matched concrete with the surrounding soil, rolled tires through it, tossed stones, twigs and dirt into it to create an appropriately bumpy experience duplicating a remote African road.

2.  The animals are real

Unlike the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom, the animals on Kilimanjaro Safaris are real.  There are over 30 different species of live animals to see so make sure you have your camera ready and on sports mode!  Sometimes the animals are right next to you, and sometimes they are a bit further away.  While the giraffe is friendly walking beside the truck, you wouldn’t want the lions doing that!

3.  You get an expert guide

The cast members that drive the vehicles point out animals that you might otherwise miss, not all of them are in plain sight and can be hard to spot.  Your safari guide will share information about the animals and their surroundings.

Yes – these are real animals with minds of their own.  They can hold up the safari if they get too close to the path, the trucks will come to a complete stop until it is safe to continue.  You can see this one above just sauntered right up to the vehicle!

4.  There are 30+ different species of animals

You aren’t getting on this safari just to see a giraffe or two, the amount of different animals is overwhelming.  Each truck comes with a picture list showing you the animals you might see.  The reference card runs the width of the truck.

Animal Reference on Safari

From white rhinos to black rhinos, warthogs to elephants, it’s a fascinating journey!   Just so you know, the Wildebeest aren’t as scary as they are in the Lion King!

5. It’s a great view – well as good as it can be with animals

Disney imagineers did everything possible to make this look like natural habitats that are good for spectators, but most importantly the animals.  They place salt licks, water holes and even some air-conditioned rocks in spots to encourage the animals to be in sight when your safari truck passes along.

Fun fact:  In preparation for creating Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a core team of seven Walt Disney Imagineers, led by Creative Portfolio Executive Joe Rohde, crisscrossed the globe in search of the essential look of life in the wild. The team traveled more than 500,000 miles . . . a distance equal to circling the globe 20 times.

6.  There can be long lines, but you’ll want to do it twice

It’s a different experience every time you ride so there really is no “best time” to ride.  Some animals are more active first thing in the early morning while others perk up in the late afternoon.  If you have the time and can fit it in to your day, I recommend doing it twice to make sure you can take it all in.  Early theme park entry or use of a lightening lane with Genie + is a great way to minimize the wait times.

7. It’s HUGE

If you wonder how the animals get the exercise and space to live comfortably, just know that the entire Magic Kingdom Park is comparable to the size Kilimanjaro Safaris.   For another point of reference, it’s larger than 83 football fields.

The rhinos have lots of room to graze and explore!

8.  Healthy animals are important here

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to one of the leading animal hospitals in North America.  It has an emphasis on advanced imaging, digital radiology, ultrasound and endoscopy.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of only a few animal hospitals in the U.S. with CT scanners on the premises making it easier for the team to quickly diagnose and treat animals.

A happy lion taking an afternoon siesta

If you take a ride over to Conservation Station when you get off of Kilimanjaro Safaris you can see one of the treatment rooms and the nutrition center where they prepare the meals for the residents of the safari.

9.  Some of the animals are endangered species

Of the more than 300 different species at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, there are eight now listed on the endangered species list. Painted Dog, African Elephant and Okapi can all be seen on the safari.

While not specific to the safari itself, it’s important to note that the research being done in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is helping animals all over the world!  On the Caring for Giants tour we were told about one of the projects where they found a solution that allows farmers to protect their farms without harming the elephants. Did you know elephants were afraid of bees? Researchers discovered this and now have helped farmers in Kenya build “beehive fences” that stop elephants from raiding the farms. Now people can defend their farms without hurting elephants, and they get honey too! Genius right?

Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $120 million to support nonprofit organizations working with communities to reverse the decline of wildlife in more than half the countries in the world.  If you would like to learn more about the conservation fund, click here

Have you been on Kilimanjaro Safaris?  Was there anything else I should have mentioned?

Are there lockers in the parks at Walt Disney World Resort?

When you’re planning a full day in a Disney park, you may want to bring personal items with you that will make your day more enjoyable.  An umbrella, ponchos, medicines, combs, fans, water bottles, sunscreen – the list goes on!  The challenge is, you may not want to CARRY these things around the park with you for the entire day, so what do you do?  Rather than leaving these items in your Disney resort room, you can rent a locker at the parks to store your stuff for when you need it.

In the parks they have different locker rentals to make bringing your items to the park more convenient.  No need to lug them around with you everywhere!  The storage lockers can be found at the park entrance to make it easy to drop off in the morning and pick up in the evening before leaving.  Remember that lockers are first come first-served basis so make sure you’re there early.

There are some things that you may want to keep with you at all times and you can store those in your backpack or park bag for the day.

The lockers at the parks come in various sizes:

The following locker options are offered at the Walt Disney World theme parks:

• Small Lockers are 12″ x 10″ x 17″
• Large lockers are 15.5″ x 13″ x 17″
• Jumbo lockers are available at Magic Kingdom and Epcot only and are 17″ x 22″ x 26″

At the Water Parks (Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park)

• Standard lockers are 12.5″ x 10″ x 17″
• Large lockers are 15.5″ x 13″ x 17″

Pricing at the time this article was written:

Theme park lockers:

• Small $10 per day
• Large $12 per day
• Jumbo $15 per day

Water Parks:

• Standard $10 per day
• Large $15 per day

To confirm pricing and locations always check the official Walt Disney World website

Carry what you need at the Disney parks

Locker locations at the Disney theme parks:

Magic Kingdom Park:

Lockers are on the right side as you enter the park.  There are also complimentary lockers at TRON – but those are only to hold your things while you’re on the attraction.

Epcot:

The first spot is at the front of the park, on the right side Spaceship Earth near the restrooms.

The second is at the International Gateway entrance between France and the UK.  They are near the World Traveler shop and where you can rent strollers.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

When you enter the park on the right you’ll see Oscars, the lockers are right next to it.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

When you enter the park, on the left the lockers are next to the Guest Services window.

The second spot is near Kali River Rapids.  It makes sense – you get WET on this attraction and it’s a good idea to store your personal belongings before you get on!

How do you use the lockers?

The locker system is keyless and easy to use.  You can use it throughout the day for a one-time charge so that you can add or remove items during your visit.

If paying with cash (USD only) or a major credit card, you may proceed directly to the self-service kiosk to rent a locker. If paying with a gift card or Disney magic band, you need to visit the merchandise location nearest to the lockers for a Cast Member to assist you. They will process your rental transaction and give you a code to input into the self-service kiosk to give you access to a locker

Use the app to locate in the parks

Tips for Locker Rental at Disney Parks:

1. Get a locker bigger than you think you need.  That way when you buy souvenirs during the day you can run them back to the locker for safe keeping.  The biggest locker sizes come in handy for those who like to shop!
2. Take a picture of your locker number on your phone so you remember which one is yours.
3. Set a reminder on your phone for 15 or 30 minutes  before you plan to leave the park or park closing.  That will remind you to stop by and pick up your things on the way out.  It’s easy to forget them when you’ve been there the whole day.
4. In the parks where there are 2 locations, choose the locker area at the front of the park.  That way it is easier to grab on your way out of the park.  The last thing you want to do is remember your stuff is at the back of the park when you’re at the front leaving!
5. Don’t overthink it.  Don’t bring that random item that you think there’s a 5% chance you might need in the park, leave it in your room.
6. Leave your valuables in your room. All of the rooms at the Disney resort hotels have safes to store your valuables where the only way to open them is with the code you set or calling maintenance (don’t ask me how I know that – but make sure you remember your code!).
7. At this time there are no lockers at Disney Springs so travel light and buy only what you can carry!

Have you rented a locker at Walt Disney World?  Or do you carry everything in your backpack?

There are so many things that go into planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, including what days to visit what park!  With 4 full theme parks to choose from, Disney Springs and Water Parks – your time at each is very valuable.

So what time does the Magic Kingdom close every day?

The best place to find out the park hours is in the My Disney Experience app or on the official website, but keep reading for the additional hours that you’ll want to know about!

Once you look at the calendar you’ll see that there are caveats to the Magic Kingdom park hours (and the other parks as well).  From early entry, after hours events and extra hours for Disney resort guests – you’ll want to understand what they all mean to figure out the best ways to maximize your vacation time.

Things to consider about park hours:

Early Entry:

Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into Walt Disney World theme parks every day.  This can be a huge advantage if you wanted to get in to the park early and go straight to the most popular attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Jungle Cruise or Space Mountain.  You can get a head start on those lines before the offsite guests are able to enter the park.  For a full list of participating resorts for the early park entry click here.

Rope Drop:

I need to explain what this is because you’ll see this term used in the Disney community.  This is where you basically arrive at the park before opening to be one of the first inside.  The name comes from the times when they would “drop the rope” to let guests in.  With the early theme park entry, you basically get an earlier rope drop than offsite guests and can be walking up Main Street USA while everyone else is still outside of the gates.  This is one of the ways guests get pictures of themselves in front of Cinderella Castle with limited people in the background.

Extended Evening Theme Park Hours:

Guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels are able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks (for years they were called extra magic hours).  For example, one night the Magic Kingdom may close to regular guests at 10pm – but because you’re staying at one of the participating resorts you can stay until midnight!  That’s 2 extra hours of fun and a great way to maximize your time in the park.  Another added bonus is that you can get an extra shot at a virtual queue on the nights with the extended hours.  For all of the details including the list of resorts click here.

Special Events:

Depending on the time of the year that you’re visiting, there are many separately ticketed events that can impact the park hours.  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party both require the Magic Kingdom to close early.  The party may start at 7pm for ticket holders – but they ask the daytime guests to leave by 6pm.  This is a significant reduction in the park hours for the Magic Kingdom.  However, it can be one of the BEST days to get in and ride attractions!  Given the reduced hours many people avoid the Magic Kingdom on an event day and the lines are significantly shorter for attractions.  If you have park hopping on your tickets you can go to another one of the Disney parks for the evening, just remember that you won’t see fireworks this day at Magic Kingdom.

The Disney After Hours events don’t generally close the park early, in fact the events start at the parks closing time.  These are also a great way to maximize your attraction wait times in the parks as they sell a limited number of tickets to these events.

When I have the chance to experience the shorter wait times I do some of my favourites like the Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan’s Flight.

What would you do with extra time in the Magic Kingdom?

When you’re planning your trip to Walt Disney World, you inevitably begin to think about what kind of bags you will need to bring.  You automatically start thinking about your suitcases, your passport holder, your carry on – all of the things that you’ll need to get there.  But what about once you arrive?

Are you allowed to bring your backpack to the Disney parks?

The short answer is yes, backpacks are allowed in Walt Disney World.

There are specific requirements for what is allowed and you should always check here for the official rules of the Disney bag policy.  The official rules include dimensions so that they can limit the size to be more personal use vs full suitcase.  In the list you will also find all of the things you should NOT put in your bag such as glass containers, extendable selfie sticks, drones or folding chairs as you will be denied entry to the parks with any of these items.

Now that we know backpacks are allowed in the parks, is it a good idea to bring one?  It all depends on how you’re going to experience the parks, what attractions you’re going to go on and how much you want to carry.

Let me tell you about my Disney park bag.  I actually carry 2 bags when I go to the Disney theme parks.

I always have with me a crossbody type of bag (it used to be a fanny pack back in the day and I hear they’re back in style!).  This smaller bag carries my wallet, lip balm, cell phone, portable charger and hand sanitizer.  I love the easy access of the bag for my items that I use the most, including my favourite credit card (ok maybe it’s not great that I have quick access to pull that out!).  You can see my bag in most of my Photopass pictures since I rarely take it off.  When I’m heading to Disney Springs or just out to the resorts in the evening, I always have this bag with me.

In addition to my crossbody bag I have a sling one that I carry on my back with the bigger things that I don’t need to access as often.  In here I carry the larger items like my own water bottles (my Swell and an extra bottle usually), a hair brush, medication, poncho or umbrella.  In the summer months I might also have my cooling towel in there until it’s time to use it.  You are permitted to bring your own food and snacks in to the park as well, so if I have any I keep them in here.  I would put some of the best backpacks up against my sling bag because it’s lighter and I’m not tempted to fill it with “extra” stuff I won’t use.  It’s just big enough for what I need to carry around the parks.

Both of my bags are not water proof – but are water resistant.  It helps a little on the water rides or when there’s a light rainfall, but generally I rely on the umbrella and poncho to keep things dry.  Remember you need to take your umbrella OUT of your bag when going through the security checks and hold it out straight in front of you.  It isn’t a huge deal if you don’t, but the scanners won’t know what it is and you will have to go for secondary screening.   That is another benefit of the sling bag instead of the larger bags it that it makes it easier for security personnel to inspect vs a bag with 12 zipper pockets.

The other benefit to the sling bag plus the smaller one is that they are a lot more “maneuverable” on rides when you need to fit them in to different spots.  While my roller coaster days are generally done, I know that my bags fit easily at my feet on rides like Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios.  I just like to wrap the slings around my legs to keep them in place.  Tron over at the Magic Kingdom has free lockers provided since there really isn’t anywhere to store ANY size bag on that ride vehicle.

I can get away with just 2 bags because I don’t have any young children with me anymore.  When you’re traveling with a diaper bag and young kids, the strollers come in handy so that you’re less concerned with the weight of the bag.  Just a reminder not to leave any personal items in your stroller or bag when you park it to visit an attraction.  While it is the happiest place, things can easily go missing if left unattended.

The goal in my mind is to bring as little from your hotel room to the parks as possible.  If there are things that you must bring but don’t want to carry around all day, there are lockers available at each park entrance where you can store your items in case you need them.  Just remember at the end of the day to go back for them!

What sort of bag to you take when you visit the parks?  Let me know what kind and what you carry inside!

Is Tron Lightcycle Run scary?

If you have been following me for a while you know that as my age increases, my tolerance for the ‘thrill rides’ decreases.

While I once loved a good thrill ride (NEVER Tower of Terror, that’s just crazy!), I have found that I’m not able to cope as well as I once did.  I suffer from motion sickness (I never had that before) and I get dizzy easily.  As each new attraction opens I tell myself “just do it once so you can say you’ve done it!” and I power through.  With each new attempt it gets harder and I worry that the ‘next’ attraction will be the one that convinces me not to try any new ones.  Thankfully, that day hasn’t come yet!

After my crazy experience on Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind I was very apprehensive about trying Tron.  If you didn’t read about that one, it was probably the first attraction in a long time that made me second-guess trying any new ones.  When Tron opened I listened to the reviews and heard it was fast and went high up.  There were some comparisons done to the seats at Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom when describing a bike you had to straddle.  All of these reviews had me more confused and a little concerned if I would be able to enjoy this one.

My friend Curtis was with me on Guardian’s last year and wanted to be there with me for my first time on Tron.  He assured me that I would be able to cope with this ride experience.  Curtis was up bright and early to get us a boarding group using the My Disney Experience app and texted me as soon as he secured it. He got us an early boarding group (7) which meant I had to get to Magic Kingdom Park before I had time to chicken out!

I had popped a Gravol before I left the room (the Canadian version of Dramamine to quell any motion sickness) and hoped it would kick in.  As we walked up and I saw the ride flying by – my heart started to flutter.  I only hoped we wouldn’t be waiting too long inside the line.  That’s when the panic sets in if I’m standing around for too long.

Much to my surprise the line moved fairly quickly.  We barely had time to stop and take photos as we moved our way through the queue.

We finally hit the complimentary lockers and it was time to drop off our stuff.  You can’t take your bags or anything with you on the ride we saw someone get turned back because she had a fanny pack on.  She had to take it off and put it in the locker.

When you walk up to the lockers there is a HUGE wall of them.  They are big enough to put your park stuff in and you lock it with your magic band or ticket – they are free to use.  Remember your locker number!  When you exit the ride you’ll be on the back side of that wall of lockers to remove your belongings from the other side.  There wasn’t a crowd and we had no trouble putting our things in or getting our things out of the locker.

You can take your cell phone with you – on the ride vehicles there is a small compartment where you can store your smaller items like cell phone and glasses.  If you want to keep your glasses and other loose items, don’t wear them.  If you look up at the nets above you as you walk to the ride you’ll see some items that have been ‘caught’ falling off.

A little bit farther in line and I now get to see the vehicles loading.  The “loading procedure” is a bit different where one person has to walk behind the first bike to get to the second that is side by side.  They have a handy little diagram to illustrate how it’s done.

The line of bikes pulled up and it’s time to get on.  First thing I can tell you?  You can’t swing your leg on it around the back – you have to lift one leg UP over the seat.  This was a slight problem, my shoe got stuck on the seat and I struggled a little, but in the end I managed to get my leg over.

Once you straddle the seat you place your knees and feet on the designated rest spots for them.  Grab the handlebars and pull them toward you.  The seat folds around you so that there is a back restraint holding you in place.  Instead of typical leg restraints there is a pin that comes out behind your knee. It does feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but once you experience the initial launch, you forget all about that!

The good news is that they do have TEST seats out front and if you have any apprehension you should try them before you get in line.  It is possible that some body shapes will not fit on the bike and it’s better to know before you get in (ask a Cast Member for assistance if you are unsure).  You also want to make sure to measure the little ones before getting in line to avoid disappointment.  The minimum height requirement is 48in (122cm) or taller (rider switch is available).  

There are accessible seats available on some trains if you prefer (see the pic below – they’re like a regular upright seat on a coaster).  They are in the last row of the train and have a lap bar to secure you.  My sister did that seat and said it was great.

Due to my surprise on Guardians of the Galaxy, I wasn’t going to be caught off guard again on the Tron ride.  I watched the spoilers on YouTube in anticipation of my first ride so that I had an idea of what it would be like.  Despite all of my research, I honestly didn’t understand how FAST it goes! Look at my hair, it’s like a proper roller coaster!

The time outside was fun, it was amazing to be up that high and see the people below.  Once we were back inside the building there were plenty of lights, visual effects and high speed – but I think I was screaming so much that I don’t remember a ton of it!

Many people have been complaining because it is a “short” ride – it’s only 2 minutes long, but in all honesty – that was perfect for me!  I didn’t have time to get queasy, I got to enjoy the ride and before things made my stomach turn it was done.  If you want to see some spoilers there are plenty of ride-throughs on YouTube.

In the pic above that was RIGHT after we finished the ride before the exit.  Curtis is pretty quick with his phone so we could capture the moment!

Getting off of the vehicle I had the same issue as when I got on, my foot getting stuck because I couldn’t raise my leg high enough.  But a little maneuvering and I managed.

We left the ride area, grabbed our stuff from the lockers and I felt pretty good.  We stopped for some pictures out front and then headed down to the Space Mountain gift shop to look at the Tron merchandise. 

Now that I’ve done it would I ride it again?  Yes.  Is it something I must do every trip?  No.

25-year-old Francine would have rated Tron as a “must do” and I know so many of you will!  It’s an epic attraction for sure.

I highly recommend seeing it in the day and at night, the lights are so gorgeous and it’s a fantastic spot for pictures.

Have you ridden Tron Lightcycle Run?  Would you consider it a must-do next time?

​If you aren’t sure about the other thrill rides, make sure you read my review of Guardians of the Galaxy and take a look at the attraction seats for Avatar Flight of Passage.

I have been on every attraction at Walt Disney World.  Yep – I even got on Astro Orbiter (although I’m pretty sure I couldn’t do it again!).  I pride myself on being able to say I’ve done them all at least once.  But in fairness, when Mission Space came out in 2003 I was still pretty young and there was no green side.  While I struggled with Mission Space back then, there is NO WAY I could handle the orange side now.  

So here I am, starting to wonder:

Am I getting too old for the new Disney attractions?

I feel like when a new attraction is announced I start to worry that THIS will be the one I just can’t do.  I started to think that about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot before it even opened.

I don’t watch spoilers (although in hindsight I should have!) but I did ask my friends how they felt about the ride.  These were my two big issues – no spoilers and advice from my friends.  

I had friends that said it was great, it was fast but smooth and that I would love it.

Then I had one friend tell me her husband felt pretty sick afterwards.

That was all I needed to hear – I heard a bunch of great reviews saying it was fast and smooth and then I heard one that wasn’t.  Guess which one I focused on?

Will I get sick on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot?

My friends Curtis and Alek are local and had experienced it multiple times, they wanted to be with me for my first ride.  My podcast co-host Carrie and I had planned to ride it together a couple of days later.

I spent the day working in my hotel and Curtis and Alek picked me up at dinner time.  I had spent the whole day thinking I didn’t want to get sick so I decided not to eat lunch (why tempt it?).  I  also took some Gravol (the Canadian equivalent of Dramamine) and I was ready to go.  But to be truthful – I was really worked up.  

We got in the line and I was focused on remaining calm.  The line was fun and the pre-show was entertaining.  Curtis and Alek did their best to keep me distracted and just kept telling me I would be ok.

We got to the cars, moment of truth… and we are in the LAST ROW!  At least I can focus on the back of Alek’s head this way right?

Now remember I said earlier that I wish I had seen some spoilers?  I’m about to give one now… so if you don’t want any spoilers – don’t read anymore.

If you’re still reading then you’re ok with spoilers.

I’m nervous – we are about to get on!

We are in the car and they start to move to get ready for launch.  We go through a fun little bit that’s slow moving while we get some info from Star Lord and others.  At this point I’m feeling pretty good….But wait.. we have turned and we are reversed!  I turned to Curtis and said “please tell me they don’t launch us backwards?” and no sooner did I get the words out of my mouth and we were GONE – backwards of course!I believe THIS backward launch might have been my big issue.  I was not mentally prepared for this and I was disoriented because of it.  It is dark with lots of lights and screens and visually impressive, but I couldn’t focus.  The track is VERY smooth, so no bumps at all, but it’s very FLUID – so you rotate a bit as you move through, almost like you’re swinging.

I don’t think I caught my breath after the initial launch.  I screamed like a schoolgirl the ENTIRE ride.  I was calling for my Mum and Dad and anyone else who could come save me…. my throat was sore for 3 days after!

We got off the ride and I could tell the Alek and Curtis were both concerned about me, but I was ok.  My legs were a little wobbly, which is why I think it’s a bit crazy they have STAIRS at the end!

Right after the ride – I did ok, and I’m smiling (mostly because it’s over!)

But… I was ok.  We got outside and did some photopass shots.I wasn’t SICK – and after about 5 minutes I felt pretty normal.  In fact we went for dinner where I had a burger and fries and this lovely treat!  I highly recommend the waffle at Creations.

This waffle at Creations was so yummy! And I deserved a treat

Would I ride it again?  I don’t know.  I’ve watched some videos now that I’m home and I know now how it all works.  I still don’t think I want to try it again.  I’ve done it once… do I really need to do it again?  Carrie and I talked about it on the podcast because she had a very different experience than I did.

Maybe I’ll just leave this attraction for the young ones, and I’ll get a waffle and wait for them there.  It didn’t make me feel yucky like Star Tours does, but it’s a “thrill” that I probably don’t need.

If you want to hear about Carrie’s initial experience you can listen to it on episode 148 of the podcast where she does NOT mention it goes backwards!

Have you experienced Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?  Were you sick or did you love it?  Let us know in the comments below!

Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade made it’s debut in Disneyland on June 17, 1972 and will be returning for a short time at Disneyland Resort.  Beginning on August 2nd with nightly performances through September 30th, 2019, guests will once again get to experience one of the most beloved parades in Disney history.  

I never had the opportuntiy to see the parade in Disneyland, my memories are from Walt Disney World where a slightly different version of the parade debuted in June of 1977.  Seeing the Main Street Electrical Parade was always really magical.  When you stand on Main Street and see those floats coming with all the LIGHTS, it’s overwhelming.  

As with all of Walt Disney World memories, the Main Street Electrical Parade holds so many great ones for me.  I had ambitions of being IN the parade either driving one of the little bugs, or as a trumpeter!  I think many of us have these goals we remember from our times there as kids.  On one of our Keys to the Kingdom tours we had a VIP guide who told us the story of his first time seeing that parade and how he told his Mum right then and there that one day he would play the trumpet on that float.  Sure enough, after high school he got a job at Walt Disney World, playing a trumpeter on the float.  It was then that he realized they didn’t actually PLAY a trumpet, and that he had made his dreams come true.

Pete’s Dragon Elliot was larger than life!

I remember being little watching this parade and being in AWE of Pete’s Dragon Elliot.  He was so overwhelming, so BIG – and one of my favorite movies so it was pretty cool to see.  But the big emotional connection to this parade for me came when I saw it during a trip when I was 10 years old.  My sister Becky, my brother-in-law Keith and his friend Barry took me to Walt Disney World for Easter.  I knew I was going to have a ball – Keith and Barry were like brothers to me and while they were older than me, they totally made a point of coming down to my maturity level!  It was really the first time that we had been away without my Mum and Dad and they were given strict instructions about how to ‘take care of me’ especially in the Florida sun since I was so fair.  I think it may have been day 2 or 3 when I officially had sun stroke.  

Here I am with my sun stroke!

Given that we had limited time at the Magic Kingdom, there was no time for sick days!  The only way to get through it was to get me a wheelchair and keep on going.  There were points in the day that my teeth were chattering because I had such a fever that they had to buy me some Disney towels to wrap myself in to try and ‘warm up’.  I really think they had no idea what to do, and there was no internet to google!

Shop from my wish list!

We sat down to get our spot on Main Street to watch the parade, it wasn’t nearly as busy as it gets today.  It wasn’t our first time seeing the parade but we loved it so much we made sure to see it every time we could.

Cinderella in her coach

Cindrella was in her carriage and Prince Charming was on a different float.  His float had a lighted staircase where he stood at the top holding a pillow with the glass slipper.  As his float passed us, he looked me right in the eye, bowed, and made the gesture of offering the slipper to me.  I was SO excited!  Prince Charming had noticed ME and offered ME the slipper!  I’m not sure why that one moment made me so happy, maybe it was the fever – but I really believed that Prince Charming thought that I was special.  If I close my eyes right now I can see him and feel the excitement all over again.  I remember my brothers making fun of me for being so excited (cause thats what brothers do) and teased me for days about going back to find my Prince Charming!  

MY Prince Charming on his staircase! It’s not the greatest picture, but it’s what I have from that night!

I often think back to that parade, it was a moment – a split second that left such an imprint in my memory and heart.  I felt SO special in that moment and I’m sure that Prince Charming from that float had NO idea what it meant to me.  He had no idea that such a small gesture would lift my spirits and make me feel so special.  I’m sure that 10 year olds now are a little more savvy than I was back then, but I can’t see that parade without thinking about that moment. 

I have so many memories like that from growing up at Walt Disney World that has made me the fan I am today.  Each time I visit there are new experiences, new moments created that give me all the feels – what do they call them in Inside Out?   Ya, that was definately a core memory for me.  

Here’s a look back at what it was like back then!  When was your first trip?