Category Archives: Walt Disney World
The Evolution of COVID Travel
They say that the only constant is change, and wow! have we had to learn that lesson this year! It’s strange to think that only a year ago (though it seems longer), the travel industry was thriving. Oh, the difference a year can make. It is no secret that the travel industry has been deeply & severely impacted by the COVIID-19 pandemic. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel with the introduction of vaccines. Additionally, the industry has evolved to help meet the challenges of today & it is my belief, that the industry will come back safer & stronger than ever in the coming months & years. It is for this reason that I believe now may be the perfect time to start planning your own return to travel. Let me explain.
First, safety standards in the travel industry are higher than ever. We have witnessed this first-hand. As the owners of a travel agency, we have felt it incumbent upon ourselves to continue traveling during these hard times. Now, don’t freak out. We have taken all of the necessary personal safety precautions & have been disciplined in our adherence to local regulations wherever we went. However, as travel professionals, we felt the need to experience for ourselves what it was really like to travel during COVID. To be the “guinea pigs,” if you will, so that we can truthfully speak from first-hand experience what it is really like out there with the intent to bring ourselves & our guests the peace of mind we all seek when there are so many unknowns.
As we have traveled, we have found that airlines, hotels and tourist attractions are doing really great things to keep their patrons safe. As mentioned, the travel industry has suffered greatly, and no one in the industry wants to compromise a safe & healthy return to service. Our jobs and livelihoods are on the line. We’ve watched our friends & colleagues lose those very things. I think it is for this reason, and because it truly is the responsible thing to do, that safety standards in the travel industry are currently very high.
It is my belief that many of these standards will remain for the foreseeable future & honestly, I’m kind of excited about it. Take for example the Walt Disney World Resort (WDW). We traveled there in early November & I wrote a blog about what it was like to travel there during COVID. You can check it out here. We returned to WDW again early this month, & those standards have remained in place. If anything, it’s going better now than it did several months ago, because the guests are now so used to it, there is not much deviance from the standards they have in place. I personally, have LOVED that there are sanitizing stations going into & coming out of every attraction. I LOVE that there are markers on the ground in queues to make sure people stay socially distanced. I prefer not to have people in my bubble and I love the convenience of being able to sanitize often. These are just a few of the safety protocols in place. It is these & many more safety standards that I believe will remain in place for the foreseeable future & I feel great about that! I felt safer at WDW than I do going to my local grocery store. As mentioned, the industry wants to be responsible & bring back guests safely & so far, they are doing a good job & I believe that will continue.
Besides the on-the-ground safety measures, we can’t underestimate the value of vaccinations. Whatever your political views, the fact is, the number of cases is dropping & I’m sure the vaccinations are the driving force behind that. In our state, our governor has announced that he believes every adult who wants a vaccination will have the opportunity to have one by the end of May. Whether his timeline is correct, remains to be seen, but regardless, most of the population will have access to a vaccination if they want one within the next several months. This is exciting news for many reasons! With the rollout of vaccines, plus the safety standards already outlined, you will soon be able to travel with the confidence we have lost over the past year.
It is for this reason, that we anticipate a surge in travel coming soon. People have been stuck inside for a year. Travel is important to mental health & we believe it will be an important part of people’s “healing” process as we come out of the other side of this thing. If you feel like you are going to be one of those people, we now offer you the best piece of advice we can: BOOK YOUR TRIP NOW.
As mentioned before, the high safety standards of the industry will likely remain in place for some time even with vaccinations rolling out. One of these standards is decreased capacity at hotels & tourist attractions. If capacity is down, but demand is up, that is going to drive prices up. If you book a future trip now, you lock in the price as it is today. Additionally, if capacity is down, but demand is up, that may prevent you from being able to book what you want at all because there just isn’t anything available. It will take time for everything to get completely ramped back up, and that may mean you won’t be able to get what you want when you want it if you wait.
Additionally, there are some GREAT deals for travel right now. Because the industry is struggling & trying to recover, airlines, hotels, attractions & cruise lines are all offering great deals. Many of those deals extend into the early summer, but some extend clear to the end of 2021. We are talking things like BOGO 60% off for cruises, or 35% off stays at resorts like Aulani. Now may be the time to book the dream vacation that you normally wouldn’t think you could afford. We anticipate as the industry recovers though, these deals will be short-lived as supply & demand shift. However, as previously mentioned, if you lock your price in now, you can take advantage of these great deals even if you don’t travel for several months.
As with everything associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry continues to evolve. We are optimistic about the future & want to make sure you have the information & tools you need to feel safe as you return to travel. There are a lot of safety measures in place already & with vaccinations rolling out, travel will make a comeback. As you think about how you’ll return to travel yourself, consider making plans now, even if you won’t be traveling until later this year. We are here to help! We would be happy to walk you through everything. Send us a quote request by visiting our website: https://woodbreyfamilytravel.com/getaquote.php
Our Travels – Walt Disney World During COVID
The following is the first installment in the “Our Travels” portion of our blog. We travel quite a bit & want to share with you our experiences about specific places in addition to general travel advice. Enjoy!
We finally made it back to the most magical place on earth – Walt Disney World! Normally we make at least three or four trips to both Walt Disney World & Disneyland each year, but with the current circumstances being what they are, we have not been back to Disney World since January. We know there are a lot of questions about safety & what it is really like in the parks right now, so here we are! To talk about just that.
First, let me say that we had a great time. This was probably the most enjoyable trip to Walt Disney World I’ve had in years. It’s not that I love wearing a mask all day, or that I could do without FastPasses forever, but rather, it’s the fact that I did have such a good time in spite of those additional changes. There is always good if you look for it & our experience, in my opinion, speaks highly to the fact that there is still magic there & you can still have a great time if you choose to.
That being said, there are a number of additional safety procedures in place at Walt Disney World to make sure the spread of COVID-19 is limited. I appreciated the efforts of the company & I believe it is because of these efforts that we were able to have such a good time & relax in spite of everything. Take a look at what our experience was with those procedures below.
Park Reservations
Our experience with the new health & safety mandates started long before we traveled to Florida. This is because to enter a park at this point, you must have a park reservation in addition to your purchased park ticket. These reservations can be made through your My Disney Experience account. Our experience with this process was overall, very positive. The online reservation system is fairly straight forward and easy to use. Simply link your tickets & pick your park for the date you want. We do, however, recommend making park reservations immediately after purchasing your tickets as the capacity of the parks is currently limited. The current trend with these reservations is that, for Hollywood Studios especially, reservations can fill up quickly and fairly far in advance. You can always make changes to your plans if there is availability, but it is best to make those reservations ASAP so you don’t miss out on a park you want to go to. Some may feel this extra step is just one more thing to deal with, and although that’s true, I have to say, we enjoyed knowing that the capacity of the parks was limited & controlled.
Face Coverings
As has become common practice nearly everywhere these days, Disney World does require that all patrons & cast members wear appropriate face coverings at all times unless you are eating or drinking while stationary. For us, we anticipated this requirement was going to be the hardest part of the trip. We were mostly concerned about the Florida heat, but we came prepared with multiple masks for each person each day so we could change our mask throughout the day for any reason (i.e. sweat soaks through, you drop it on the floor, etc.). Although we were initially worried about this, we didn’t have much trouble at all with our masks. You get used to it pretty fast & knowing that everyone else is in the same boat somehow makes it not that big of a deal. In fact, face coverings are becoming fashion accessories at Disney with a lot of cute options, so it can even be a bit fun as you personalize them for yourself. If you do end up needing a break, there are what they call “Relaxation Stations” throughout the park & they are meant to be a place where you can take off your mask for a bit of a break. You need to stay in the designated area, but you’re welcome to take a break as needed. I will say, if you are going to purchase masks for the occasion, make sure you wear it a few times before coming to the parks. Reason being, not all masks fit the same & you may think it’s cute, but it hurts your ears, or it rubs your face in an odd place, etc. Know what you’re getting yourself into before committing to wearing a mask all day that doesn’t feel good. Once you’ve found what works for you, make sure wash them before your trip so you can start out with a clean mask every day. You may not think you can wear a mask all day at the parks, but barring medical issues that prevent you from wearing one, I promise you really can do it with a bit of planning & preparation.
Temperature check
Prior to entering any of the parks or Disney Springs, guests are required to have their temperature taken via a touchless thermometer administered by AdventHealth employees. You must have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or less to enter. While this process may seem intimidating, it was honestly no big deal. Everyone we interacted with during this process was quick & professional. I personally didn’t witness anyone getting pulled aside because their temperature was too high. I’m sure it happens, but we didn’t witness it. For me, it was one more level of protection. We knew that everyone in those parks was not currently showing a temperature. While that’s not a guarantee they aren’t sick, it’s a good indicator & it was comforting to know that piece was in place. It took literally seconds to do & then we moved on with our day as normal.
Social distancing
Disney’s social distancing protocol is probably my favorite part of their safety procedures. I’m the type who likes my personal space bubble, so I enjoyed staying away from other people. They work really hard to keep parties at least 6 feet away from each other in all queues and public spaces using markers on the ground along with empty seats on buses & attractions. They also have plexiglass & various barriers put in place when social distancing is not possible. Honestly, it’s awesome. If you’re like me & don’t want others in your personal space bubble even when there isn’t a pandemic, it’s the best thing Disney has ever done. I will say, due to the distancing, sometimes it looks like the lines are ridiculously long because not everyone can fit in the traditional queue when you have to keep that much space between groups, but the lines all moved pretty quickly & we never waited more than an hour in line for anything. Most of what we rode didn’t have lines more than 30 minutes long. And bonus! You don’t end up brushing up against sweaty strangers. Oh, and not getting COVID. That’s good too.
Sanitizer & Washing stations
At the entrance & exit of all rides, stores, restaurants, etc. you will find automatic hand sanitizer dispensers. They are literally everywhere & from what I observed, most people were using them as they went past. Knowing that I could sanitize going in & out of places, especially after rides where you know someone else has touched the same seat belt, etc., was really reassuring & we took full advantage. Additionally, there were also a number of temporary hand washing stations throughout the park & announcements were made regularly that included a reminder to wash your hands. In the bathrooms, there were signs reminding people to wash for 20 seconds. It has definitely become a priority for the company & we appreciated it because although we can’t make other people use them, we knew we could use them & protect ourselves. Just one more thing that doesn’t take any extra time or effort on our part, but gave us some peace of mind.
Enhanced cleaning procedures
Occasionally, we would notice the queue of a ride stop for a few minutes. We learned that it was during these times that the ride operators were cleaning the ride vehicles. They were quick & efficient & it never slowed us down much. In fact, it was just one more thing that made our experience more comfortable. We also witnessed cast members disinfecting tables & chairs between uses, railings being sanitized, garbage cans tied open & many other procedures that made it obvious they were trying their best to keep everything as clean as possible.
Food & Beverage
Eating is one of our favorite parts of vacation & with the International Food & Wine Festival currently happening at Epcot, we definitely ate a lot. For sit-down restaurants, they are requiring you wear your mask if you’re not sitting at your table. All servers had masks & face shields & would “refill” your drink by bringing you a new glass. They also provided the check in a paper sleeve that could be recycled after use. Overall, we were very impressed with how they managed sit-down dining. Quick Service dining was done almost exclusively through the My Disney Experience app. You would order through the app, they give you a return time, you let them know when you’re there, and they prepare your meal for pick-up. This really reduced contact with cast members & other guests in line & it was easy to use. The only food providers not using online ordering were the small food stalls & carts. For those, they encouraged contactless payment & all cast members were wearing masks & face shields along with being behind plexiglass. Overall, I felt confident in how they were handling our food & at no point did I find myself worrying about it.
Shopping & Pin Trading
Some of the best-loved past times at Disney are of course, shopping & pin trading. There are gift shops at the exit of every ride & pretty much everywhere in between. In the stores, social distancing is encouraged & the queue lines & cashiers follow the same guidelines as they do everywhere else. Additionally, they have signs posted throughout the store asking people to limit their handling of product for the safety of everyone. Pin trading has evolved a bit more during these times. Now instead of cast members wearing lanyards, you’ll find them in specific areas with cork boards filled with pins. They have a box you can put the pin you’re trading in & then you tell the cast member which pin on the board you want & they will give it to you. It’s a bit different than before, but the point is, you can still do it & it is significantly safer for everyone.
Conclusion
Overall, we were impressed & pleased with the efforts Disney is taking to keep their guests & patrons safe. Is it foolproof? No, nothing is. But we feel they are doing things to the best of their ability. Ultimately, all travelers, no matter where you go, need to remember that you are responsible for your own safety. The company can do everything that’s listed above, but you’re responsible for your own actions. Choose to follow their guidelines, be courteous of others, wear your mask, wash your hands & recognize your safety is ultimately on you. Use the tools provided & keep yourself safe. If you’re wanting to visit & you feel comfortable doing so, then we believe you’ll find it to still be a wonderful and magical place. To request a quote for your next Walt Disney World vacation, visit our website: http://woodbreyfamilytravel.com/getaquote.php
Save Up to 35% at Select Disney Resort Hotels in Early 2021
You can stay in the magic with this great room offer for travel in early 2021!
Save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights January 3 through April 17, 2021.
Book through March 15, 2021.
Enjoy added peace of mind when booking! You can modify or cancel your reservation with extra flexibility through April 30, 2021.
The health and well-being of Disney’s Guests and Cast Members continues to be a top priority and Disney has implemented new measures to promote enhanced cleaning, physical distancing and reduced contact.
This offer is valid for the Disney Resort hotels listed below. View the chart to explore savings within each Resort Category.
Contact us for more information and to book your next Walt Disney World Vacation!
Woodbrey Family Travel
Creating Dream Vacations
cody@woodbreyfamilytravel.com
http://www.woodbreyfamilytravel.com
Plan in Advance, Pay Over Time
There is something thrilling about dropping everything for a few days and escaping. Sometimes spontaneous trips are the best trips. As with everything though, these last-minute adventures typically come at a cost. Now I know what some of you are thinking. “But sometimes you can get great last-minute deals!” That’s true & last-minute deals can be fantastic, but more often than not, there will be some aspect of your trip that will be more expensive because you waited until the last minute. For example, maybe you got a super cheap cruise last minute, but then your airfare was super expensive. Or maybe you got a great deal on airfare, but hotels are limited due to the short notice, so their prices are higher. Plus, everything has to be paid for upfront. When you wait to book last minute, you have to be prepared to pay for everything at once. Most people’s budgets need a bit more advance notice to be able to accommodate a trip. Fortunately, quite a few aspects of the travel industry allow for payment to be made over time.
As outlined in our blog post, “Help Us, Help You,” the first thing anyone should do before making travel plans is to decide on a budget. I feel this is true for any kind of trip, whether it be spontaneous or planned well in advance. The world is amazing, but you’ll enjoy it more if you don’t have a mountain of debt to come home to. Budgeting & planning in advance can give you the flexibility to save up & pay for your trip over time so you don’t accrue unnecessary debt due to your travels.
Once you have determined your budget, I recommend working with a Travel Agent to help plan your trip. This is for a few reasons (see our blog post “Why Use a Travel Agent”), but a few of the most notable reasons is their ability to help you stay within your budget & to bundle the various pieces to your travel together into a package. Though not the only way to pay for a trip over time, having your travel agent put together a package for you will often give you more flexibility in terms of when you can pay.
For example, let’s say you’re traveling to the Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort. If you were to buy a hotel or condo off Disney property & bought your theme park tickets separately, you would have to pay outright for those theme park tickets and maybe your lodgings too. If you haven’t been to a Disney park recently, tickets are a large bulk of the cost for that type of vacation and if you buy them separately, they have to be paid in full up-front & they are non-refundable. However, if you plan in advance & bundle your package to include both hotel & tickets on property or at a Good Neighbor hotel, then you could simply pay $200 down when you book & then the rest isn’t due until 30 days before you travel. Up until that 30-days before, you can change or cancel your reservation at no cost to you. This allows you much more freedom than if you purchased them separately. Additionally, as a package you are more than welcome to make partial payments over time, or if you’d rather keep your money accruing in the bank, you can wait until that due date 30 days before to make your final payment. This allows you significantly more time to save your money & spread out the cost of your vacation over several months.
Much like stand-alone tickets, airfare is also notorious for having to be paid for up-front & it is most often non-refundable. If you plan your trip in advance, it allows for large required purchases like airfare to not be such a burden. Maybe you’ve booked your hotel/tickets a year in advance, and have been saving up or making payments over time, but you wait to purchase airfare until three or four months in advance of your trip. Being able to spread out the payments for the other aspects of your package allow you to be able to pay for that airfare when it comes up without any budgetary constraints.
What you may not realize is that occasionally, your travel agent can package your airfare in with other aspects of your trip. This means that your airfare would follow the same rules as your package does. For example, if you were to book a Disney Cruise, you would be required to put 20% down up front & final payment is due 90-120 days before you travel. If you chose to book airfare as a package with your cruise & you select a flexible fare, that airfare gets bundled into your cruise package price as a whole. You would simply pay the 20% of the package price & then pay the remainder when final payment is due or in partial payments over time. Again, allowing for better budgeting in advance.
Besides being able to spread out paying for your trip, booking in advance will most often get you the best deal. There are last-minute deals that are worthwhile, but as previously mentioned, you’ll typically get hit with a larger than average bill in some other aspect of your trip. In general, the longer you wait to book, the more you will pay. For example, Disney is notorious for increasing their ticket prices in either late January or early February every year, but sometimes they do it multiple times per year. If you plan in advance, your ticket prices, or cruise fare, or nightly hotel price, gets locked in, ultimately saving you money than if you waited to book your trip last minute. Plus! If you use a travel agent & a deal does come up, they can often get it applied to your existing reservation. Just one more reason to use them!
Overall, making a budget, planning in advance, & taking advantage of what a travel agent can offer can really help you to spread the cost of you trip out over time. This can make a big difference to your everyday finances so that your trip really is a vacation & not a means to more debt. If you’re feeling unsure, ask your travel agent for help! They want to make sure you stay within your budget & have the best time possible. Paying over time can alleviate a lot of stress on you & your budget, so recognize it is an option. Plan in advance & take advantage!
We would be happy to help you along your way. Please visit our website to request a quote: http://woodbreyfamilytravel.com/getaquote.php
Walt Disney World Fall Travel Promotions
Play, stay and SAVE at Walt Disney World Resort this fall and holiday season—where magical moments are waiting for you.
- Save up to $500 on a 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights September 4 through December 25, 2020. Book through December 25, 2020.
- Residents of AL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA & WV: Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels, valid for stays most nights from now until December 25, 2020.
- Florida Residents: Save Up to 35% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Fall and Holiday Season, valid for stays most nights from now until December 25, 2020.
- Walt Disney World Annual Passholders: Save Up to 40% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Fall and Holiday Season, valid for stays most nights from now until December 25, 2020.
- U.S. Military Member: Take Advantage of Great Rates at Select Disney Resort Hotels in 2020, valid for stays most nights from now until December 18, 2020.
- Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket: Florida Residents can get a 2-day Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket for just $130 plus tax (That’s just $65 per day plus tax). Or, enjoy more magic with a 3-day or 4-day specially priced ticket.
Contact us for more information and to book your next Walt Disney World Trip!
Woodbrey Family Travel
Creating Dream Vacations
cody@woodbreyfamilytravel.com
http://www.woodbreyfamilytravel.com
Passholder Room Offer for Summer and Early Fall
Annual Passholders can relax, unwind and rediscover the magic with a room offer at Walt Disney World Resort.
With this offer, Annual Passholders can enjoy great rates on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights July through August, 2020.
Guests can take advantage of this offer and get ready to return to the most magical place on Earth! There’s still so much to explore and enjoy when staying at a Disney Resort hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Plus, there are new measures in place to promote the health and well-being of Guests and Cast Members.
Book Through
September 30, 2020
Eligibility
Passholder must present a valid Walt Disney World Pass at check-in.
Important Details
- Advance reservations required.
- Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, campsites, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
- The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
- Length of stay requirements may apply.
- Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts.
- Savings based on the non-discounted price a non-Passholder pays for the same room.
- Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
- A valid annual pass and park reservation are required to enjoy theme parks and special events and are not included in this offer.
Contact us for more information and to book your next Disney Adventure!
Woodbrey Family Travel
Creating Dream Vacations
cody@woodbreyfamilytravel.com
http://www.woodbreyfamilytravel.com
Florida Residents: Save Up to 35% on Select Disney Resorts in July & September
With this offer, Florida Residents can enjoy great rates on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights July 9 through September 30, 2020—including savings of up to 35% for September dates.
Guests can take advantage of this offer and get ready to return to the most magical place on Earth! There’s still so much to explore and enjoy when guests stay at a Disney Resort hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Plus, there are new measures in place to promote the health and well-being of Guests and Cast Members.
Book through September 30, 2020.
This offer is valid for the Disney Resort hotels listed below. View the chart to explore savings within each Resort Category.
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price a non-Florida resident pays for the same room. Length of stay requirements may apply. See Important Details.
Important Details
- Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts.
- Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
- Advance reservations required.
- Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, campsites, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
- Proof of Florida residency required at check-in.
- Valid admission and a park reservation are required to enjoy theme parks and special events and are not included in this offer.
Contact us for more information and to book your next Disney Adventure!
Woodbrey Family Travel
Creating Dream Vacations
cody@woodbreyfamilytravel.com
http://www.woodbreyfamilytravel.com
Top 15 Tips for Navigating a runDisney Event
Top 15 Tips for Navigating a runDisney Event
1. Expo – The expo will usually open the day before the first race event at about 10:00 am. It runs for three days except for the marathon weekend where it runs for four days. Make note, the expo closes early on the last day of the expo. The Expo is where you will pick up your race bibs and shirts for the various races. It’s also a great place to buy event merchandise along with other race gear and energy supplements.
- I would recommend getting to the expo sooner than later so you have the chance to buy any of the exclusive event merchandise. Many of the exclusive merchandise items will sell out within the first few hours of the expo opening up.
- Be sure to bring a photo ID along with your signed waiver with you when getting your bibs at the Expo. If you forget to bring your ID you will NOT be able to pick up your race bib. Make note that you are not allowed to pick up another runner’s bib! Parents can pick up the bibs of their children, but that is the only exception.
- The Expo is free to enter for everyone and you don’t have to use your park ticket to get in.
2. Stay Hydrated– During the 48 hours leading up to your race you should drink four to six ounces of water every hour you’re awake. Avoid dehydration elements such as alcohol, caffeine, salty foods and carbonated drinks.
3. What To Eat– Avoid eating large or heavy meals and eat low or non-fat snacks continually all day long the day before the race. It is recommended that you eat a high carb meal the night before (i.e. a pasta dish).
4. Go To Bed Early – Getting to bed early will allow your body to recover from the day, especially if you spent it in the parks. The early morning will come sooner than you think. Getting back to your resort a few hours before you plan to go to bed will allow you to wind down from the day and get focused on the race. During this time you can read, watch TV, listen to music, talk with friends, sit out by the pool, and lay out your running clothes & gear for the next day. Having everything organized the night before will make the morning go a lot smoother. Trying to get things ready when you’re half a sleep can create stress and increase the chance of forgetting something.
5. Relax While Enjoying the Parks– When you think about doing a day in the parks, relaxation is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. That being the case, while enjoying the parks, make sure to take the time to sit down whenever you can. A great way to do this is to enjoy the variety of shows and entertainment in the parts. It allows you to get off your feet, but still enjoy the magic of the parks. You may also want to make a dining reservation. This will give you more time to sit and relax than you would if you just went to a regular counter service meal. It may also give you a delicious way to carb load the evening before the race.
6. Bring Your Phone to the Race– There are MANY great photo opportunities during the races. There are PhotoPass cast members along the course ready to help you take pictures with several Disney characters & icons. However, having your own camera ensures you have a back up regardless of how the PhotoPass pictures turn out and there are some spots they do not have photographers.
7. Don’t Worry About Your PR (Personal Record)– You paid a little extra for the magic so take the time to ENJOY THE EXTRA MAGIC. How often can you run through the parks and not get in trouble with a cast member? There are so many fun experiences along the course you will want to enjoy but if you’re focused on getting a PR you might run right past all the extra fun things along the course.
8. Sports Gear– Wearing the right gear will either make or break your running experience.
- Shoes:Be sure to wear shoes that have been broken in but are not too worn out. Wearing brand new shoes will cause extra pain and discomfort on your feet. You are also more likely to get blisters or cuts on your feet with new shoes.If you buy shoes at the Expo, I would not recommend wearing them for the races.
- Compression Socks:Another thing I have come to really enjoy is wearing full-length compression socks. Wearing compression socks helps with blood flow and helps prevent muscle cramping. There are a lot of different compression socks out there, so be sure to get the correct kind. I bought mine a local sporting goods store, and they are specifically designed for running.
- KT Tape:KT Tap is an elastic sports tape that is designed to relieve pain while supporting muscles, tendons and ligaments. I’ve used KT tape several times and it does make the difference for me in helping me get through my races. There are very specific ways to apply the tape and each area is applied slightly different from each other so be sure to watch the help demos online to make sure you put it on correctly.
9. Arrive Early– There are two main reasons runners arrive early to the various races: to see the Disney Characters and to be one of the first runners in the corral.
- Disney Characters: Typically before each of the main races, runDisney will have six different characters for runners to meet. They also have the same six characters at the end of the races to meet with your finisher medals. If you want to see the characters before the races, you will want to show up as early as you can as the lines get quite long. I would recommend catching the first bus from your resort to head over to the starting line at Epcot. The buses will start leaving the resorts at 3:00 am. If you are driving to the starting line, I would recommend leaving about ten minutes before the buses leave. Doing this will allow you to beat the hundreds of runners to the characters and you might even be able to see all six characters without much waiting.
- Corrals: The race corrals usually open for runners to enter about an hour before the races begin. Many runners will gather about an hour and half to two hours before race begins just outside of the corrals so they can be the first ones in their assigned corral.
- Being one of the first ones in the corral, allows you start the race off at a quicker pace. Most corrals will have over a thousand runners in them, so if you’re in the middle or the back of the corral you will start off the race walking verses running and you could be walking for a good mile or two.
- Those who are placed in the last corrals have a much harder time seeing the Disney characters along the course because the lines are fairly long by the time they get to characters. My recommendation for those in the later corrals would be to arrive early so you are one of the first in their corral and to try to see the characters before or after the races.
- Those in the last corral are more likely to be picked up for not keeping the 16-minute per mile. runDisney will not start the 16-minute mile requirement until the last corral goes. Meaning those in the earlier corrals will have a few more minutes to complete the race. runDisney has assigned two female runners with balloons (AKA “Balloon Ladies”) to help runners know when the cut off time is. If you’re passed by the “Balloon Ladies” you are in jeopardy of getting picked up, so be sure to run faster than they are.
- If you’re picked up for one reason or another, you will still get the race medal for that race. If you are doing the challenge, you will not get the challenge medal.
10. Bathroom Time– I would recommend going to the bathroom before getting into your corral.The corrals fill up fairly quickly and trying to get your spot back after leaving the corral can be quite difficult. Once the race has begun, I would also recommend not stopping at the first set of port-a-potties as the lines for these are pretty long and will add extra time to your running pace. If you can, I would recommend using the restrooms in the theme parks as they usually don’t have long lines, are cleaner, nicer and don’t smell all that bad.
11. Run Your Own Race – It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of running a Disney race and being with so many excited runners. Be sure to run your own race at your own pace. Only you know how you have trained and what your body can withstand. Running faster than what you have trained for could cause you to burn out quickly, get hurt and prevent you from finishing the race. And honestly don’t take the race too serious; you’re here for the extra magic of running with Disney.
12. Run–Walk–Run Method– The majority of runners use the run-walk-run method and most will use an app to help them be consistent in their pacing. When using this method early and regularly it will help restore resiliency to the main running muscles and extend their capacity towards the end of the race. It will also help with fatigue and help speed up recovery in the muscles.
- Allows those with some types of previous injuries to train without furthering an injury.
- Allows runner to improve their finish time compared to those who continuously run.
- Speedy recovery from each long run
- It nearly erases fatigue with each early walk break by keeping your pace and effort level conservative in the early stages.
- Extends the capacity of the running muscles at the end of the run because you are shifting the workload between the walking and running muscles.
13. Proper Running Form– Jeff Galloway, the official runDisney training consultant, believes with proper running form, you can significantly reduce effort and give extra strength to you at the end of your race. Here are a couple tips he suggests for efficient running techniques.
- Keep your feet low to the ground without lifting the knees
- Maintain an upright running posture so that almost no muscle power is needed to keep the body in position.
- Stay light on your feet verses springing off of the ground and let your feet gently lift off in a reflex action as the body rolls forward.
- Concentrate on eliminating discomfort in the exercising muscles by adjusting your stride and leg motion to feel comfortable and smooth as you run.
14. After the Race– Your work is not done after you cross the finish line. There are a few extra steps you should take in order to help your body recover and prevent injury.
- You should continue to stretch your muscles and walk for about another half a mile or more.
- Drink plenty of fluids, it’s recommended to drink about 4-8oz.
- Within 30 minutes of finishing you should have a snack that is about 80% carbohydrates and 20% protein.
- Soak your legs in cool water for about 10-20 minutes within two hours of finishing the race.
- Be sure to take time to walk a few more times throughout the day for about 20-30 minutes.
- Foam rolling is a great way to release the lactic acids in your leg muscles.
15. Just Have Fun!– My last piece of advice for you is to just have fun. Truly take it all in and enjoy running through some of most iconic theme parks in the world. Dress up or don’t dress up, stop or don’t stop to take pictures, but just make this race one you will never forget and let the Magic of Disney shine through!
Woodbrey Family Travel is an official runDisney travel provider, so be sure to contact us to book your next runDisney adventure..
Woodbrey Family Travel
Creating Dream Vacations
cody@woodbreyfamilytravel.com
http://www.woodbreyfamilytravel.com
New Celebs, Stunning Projections & More Announced for Star Wars Galactic Nights
We are less than one month away from the debut of the highly anticipated film, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” – and the return of the Star Wars Galactic Nights event to Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.
First up – Wicket. Wald. Willow. Wollivan. Warwick Davis has long been part of the Lucasfilm family and beloved by Star Wars fans since his career-starting performance as Wicket the Ewok in “Return of the Jedi.” An established film and television actor, Davis is known for other Lucasfilm roles in “Ewoks: Battle for Endor” and “Caravan of Courage,” and for portraying the title character in “Willow.” He returned to the galaxy far, far away for the prequels as well, with several roles in “The Phantom Menace.” He recently played Wollivan in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and will appear in this year’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
Actor David Collins will also appear at the event to host a special “Inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” panel discussion with members of the Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm team. The panel, which will include Scott Trowbridge, Portfolio Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering; Robin Reardon, Executive Creative Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering; Chris Beatty, Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering and Doug Chiang, VP/Creative Director at Lucasfilm, will give guests an inside look at the making of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands currently under construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland® Park. Attendees will also get an exclusive peek into the progress being made and learn what it’s like to bring the epic saga to life in the theme parks.
Guests can’t miss Star Wars: Galactic Destinations on the Sunset Boulevard area of the park. Through state-of-the-art projections, the facade of the Hollywood Tower Hotel will transform to showcase stunning locations from across the galaxy. Favorite film moments, special effects, lighting, and of course the stellar Star Wars cinematic score supports each galactic location moment all evening long.
Star Wars Galactic Nights will also be a great opportunity for guests to celebrate the release of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi at different park attractions, such as the Star Wars Launch Bay, Star Wars: Path of the Jedi and “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” which will debut new touches inspired by the film that night.
Previously announced event offerings include: The Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks and Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away stage show, which will both be enhanced with special elements from the entire saga; park-wide photo ops, including three new backdrops inspired by Star WarsRebels, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge; encounters with Star Warscharacters; specialty food and beverage and merchandise, and much more. Guests are also welcome to dress in their favorite Star Wars attire – please be sure to check our costuming guidelines. Attendees can also enjoy little-to-no wait-times at some of the park’s most iconic attractions.
Park access and activities will be exclusive to Star Wars: Galactic Nights ticket holders. Event hours on Dec. 16 are 7 p.m.-midnight. Tickets are priced at $129 adults, $124 ages 3-9.
Woodbrey Family Travel
First Look at Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
When Toy Story Land opens in Summer 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore all of the fun (and toys!) Andy has constructed in his backyard. This story continues at Woody’s Lunch Box, where Andy has used his lunch box and thermos to create a walk-up quick-service window that will serve up tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats. In the rendering above, you can see that Woody’s Lunch Box – like the rest of Toy Story Land – has been adorably strewn about with some of Andy’s favorite toys and items from his lunch. Guests can even spot a green army man on a nearby lookout tower, keeping watch for Andy’s return.
The Walt Disney World® Resort will partner with Mini Babybel to bring this location to life. Stay tuned for more information on Woody’s Lunch Box – and the menu of delicious items it will serve up – in the coming months.
Woodbrey Family Travel
Hurricane Irma Update for Walt Disney World September 8, 2017
Walt Disney World Resort continues to monitor the path of Hurricane Irma as they take the necessary steps to maintain the safety of Guests and Cast Members. Please visit Walt Disney World > Frequently Asked Questions > General Questions to view the Hurricane Policy for Walt Disney World Resort.
CLOSURES, CANCELLATIONS & MORE
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park will be closed Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park will remain open for Guests during this time.
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be closed beginning Saturday, September 9 at 2:00 PM.
SPECIAL EVENT UPDATES
In anticipation of inclement weather associated with Hurricane Irma, please note the following event cancellations at Walt Disney World Resort.
- Night of Joy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has been canceled on Saturday, September 9, 2017. The performances on Friday, September 8 will take place as planned.
- Guests with tickets for Saturday are welcome to attend Friday’s event instead by exchanging their tickets at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Box Office after 4 PM Friday.
- Requests for a full refund for either event night will be honored.
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled on Sunday, September 10, 2017. The event will take place as planned on Thursday, September 7. Guests are invited to exchange their Sunday, September 10 event tickets for one of the following options:
- Tickets to attend another Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
- Tickets to attend an upcoming Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- 1 Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper Option, to be used within the next 2 years
- Receive a full refund for event tickets
To redeem these offers, Guests should call (407) 939-7818 by January 31, 2018 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM., or email us at Ticket.Inquiries@DisneyWorld.com. Please have your tickets available so we may process your request for you as quickly as possible. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
Woodbrey Family Travel
MY DISNEY EXPERIENCE’S MOBILE ORDER FEATURE EXPANDS TO 15 LOCATIONS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
Now, it’s easier than ever to personalize your Walt Disney World Resort experience through the My Disney Experience app. My Disney Experience continues to add new features – including the new Mobile Order and Online Mobile Check-in at Disney Resort hotels – while still helping guests plan their vacation experience and make changes on the go through helpful tools like FastPass+, Disney PhotoPass and more.
Disney is pleased to share that the Mobile Order service is now available at 15 locations throughout Walt Disney World theme parks and at Disney Springs. The new service saves guests time when ordering meals at quick-service restaurants by allowing them to order on demand, pay in advance and skip the line, and not have mealtime interfere with time spent enjoying all of the other attractions and experiences throughout the resort.
To use Mobile Order, the guest can sign in to the My Disney Experience app and tap the “Order Food” button, which lists restaurants that offer the service. They can browse restaurant menus, select items, customize their order and prepay, all right through the app. Then, when they arrive at the restaurant, they simply tap “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” in the app, which notifies the kitchen to prepare their meal. When it’s ready, a notification will alert the guest to pick up their meal from the “Mobile Order Pick Up” area in the restaurant.
Here are the 15 restaurants that currently offer Mobile Order:
Magic Kingdom Park:
Columbia Harbour House
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
Pinocchio Village Haus
Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
Epcot:
Electric Umbrella
Liberty Inn
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
ABC Commissary
Backlot Express
PizzeRizzo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park:
Flame Tree Barbecue
Pizzafari
Restaurantosaurus
Satu’li Canteen
Disney Springs:
D-Luxe Burger
The only form of payment currently accepted through Mobile Order is credit card, but they’re working on adding more payment options soon. Anyone with special dietary restrictions, or those who want to use discounts or redeem dining plan entitlements must place their order with a cashier.
Woodbrey Family Travel
Grand Avenue, Coming Soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Muppets Courtyard, along with a portion of the former Streets of America, is being re-imagined by Walt Disney Imagineering to become a new area called Grand Avenue. Inspired by the revitalization and the vibrant culture of present-day downtown Los Angeles, Grand Avenue is where vintage office buildings and warehouses are being converted to exciting new uses. You will soon see facades for “merchants” appearing in this area for a music shop, loft apartments, a tailor and more, with each window on the street featuring charming displays.
A highlight of Grand Avenue is sure to be BaseLine Tap House, which takes over a former F&B location. This new corner pub will feature California beers and wines along with a selection of small bites. (Read more on BaseLine Tap House in this post by Pam Brandon).
The current Muppets Courtyard will become Grand Park, an urban square off Grand Avenue surrounded by shops and restaurants like PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. You can already see changes in the area, with the Muppets theater being renamed “Grand Arts Theatre” and boasting a brand-new marquee. But, not to worry – Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang continue to star in their hilarious and irreverent “Muppet*Vision 3D” show.
Grand Avenue will be opening to Guests this fall.
Woodbrey Family Travel
‘American Idol’ Bus Tour Visits Disney Springs for Open Auditions
The groundbreaking series, “American Idol,” will debut on its new home at ABC in 2018. And, there’s more exciting news! For the first time, the ‘Idol’ bus will kick off open auditions at the Walt Disney World® Resort.
If guests think they could be the next “American Idol”, they can head over to Disney Springs® on Aug. 17, 2017 to audition with “American Idol” Producers. (Celebrity Judges will not be on site). Early arrival is encouraged. And, for early birds, parking will be available as early as 4 a.m. – but not before. Registration will begin at 6 a.m. with auditions starting at 8 a.m. Early arrival is encouraged, as registration will close at 12 p.m or sooner due to capacity. No overnight camping.
The auditions will take place outdoors, so guests should make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat to stay in top shape for their audition. Parking will be available at the surface parking lot on the West Side of Disney Springs, near House of Blues and Cirque du Soleil®.
All singers must be at least 15 years old to audition. Pre-Registration is encouraged. You can pre-register and access additional details, full eligibility requirements, submission forms, and terms and conditions, by visiting www.americanidol.com. Those auditioning can bring one guest to accompany them and the guest must be over 5 years old.
Woodbrey Family Travel
New Minnie Van Service Now Available at Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World® Resort roadways just got a little more fun, with the launch of a new transportation pilot called Minnie Van service. Announced earlier this month at D23 Expo 2017, this new transportation service is now available to guests staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
Through a collaboration with the US’ fastest growing rideshare service, Lyft, guests at these resorts can arrange their own private Disney vehicle right from the Lyft app on their smartphone. With Minnie Van service, Disney Cast Members will then whisk them away to wherever they want to be at Walt Disney World Resort. This service accommodates up to six Guests and provides two versatile car seats so even the tiniest of passengers can travel in style!
Minnie Van service will be available between 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. (subject to change). Guests staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts can learn more by visiting their Bell Services desk.
Woodbrey Family Travel
Woodbrey Family Travel Blog 