Contributing writer Chris Barry starts off this week’s mailbag with letters in response to two articles from his “My Disney Top 5” series – “Top 5 Things My Family Brings Home From Walt Disney World” (June 26, 2009) and “Top 5 Things I Have Yet to Experience at Walt Disney World” (July 24, 2009).
Charlotte H. writes:
We always bring home a box of dark chocolate-covered pretzels shaped like Mickey Mouse and a box of Mickey Mouse coconut patties. We usually eat a couple of boxes each while we are on our trip and have to bring at least one box of each home. They are so yummy!
How could I forget Mickey treats? I always bring home the small tins of Mickey mints. I like them because they are one of the few mints without fake sugar. I love them. Five or six tins will make the trip home and I’m fortunate enough to have the New York City World of Disney nearby to get more when I run out. The other thing I love are the Mickey milk chocolate bars. Yummy! I’ll usually keep one or two in my fridge at the resort for a quick snack, but inevitably one or two make it home with me.
Thanks for responding and reminding me of the things I bring back that are edible!
Donnie J. writes:
Maybe you should make a trip and do only the attractions that you have never done. Man, you and your family are missing so so much FAMILY entertainment.
Thanks for responding. Actually, it’s quite the contrary. We pack in so much family fun on our trips, we can’t possibly do everything and we have no desire to try and do everything. We’ll see all that we missed someday, or we won’t and we’ll still have amazing memories of all the fantastic things we have seen.
Erin L. writes:
Don’t worry about never having been on Test Track. It is disappointing. We were so excited to ride this when it opened and will never bother again. I am really surprised it is still around. Thought it might go the way of Rocket Rods at Disneyland. It appears to be popular but don’t waste your time.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I may very well be disappointed as well. It has become sort of like a quest for me now. I know the anticipation may not pay off, but I really have to ride it. It’s a matter of principle now!
Darren writes:
I think it is in very POOR taste to inject your political opinion into a Disney piece. Most people are fans of Disney because it allows us to escape from the real world, if only for a moment on computer or for a week in Walt Disney World. Good job ruining that. [expletive deleted]
I was just making a joke. Not trying to inject political opinion. You’re welcome to disagree with my sense of humor, but I’d like to think that we’re above name-calling.
Let’s face it. Making fun of presidents goes back as long as we’ve had presidents. Regardless of my political leanings, (which are quite neutral, by the way) or yours for that matter, we have to be honest and say that George Bush, whether he deserves it or not, has been a rather unpopular president. So my not-so-funny joke was to insinuate that it’s bad enough that we’ve had to deal with one George Bush for all these years, but in the Hall of Presidents, there’s two? Ha ha…?
You’ve also struck on something that I think keeps me away from the Hall. George Bush, Clinton, Obama. These people take me out of the escape that I so seek out at Walt Disney World. I’m not sure I want to sit in that theater and see people from the current or recent headlines. I don’t watch the news in Walt Disney World. I won’t read the paper. I’d rather not think of that stuff down there. And politics is the last thing I want to think of. Perhaps that’s why I’ve avoided it?
Chris M. writes:
Blizzard Beach is no ordinary water park. We’ve been to Typhoon Lagoon. And only once like you have been. But we can’t count the number of times that we’ve been to Blizzard Beach. It has become our favorite park at Walt Disney World. That’s right. For us, Blizzard Beach beats out all of the four major theme parks
(although the Magic Kingdom during “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” comes in at a close tie).After being mentally blown away by our first experience at Blizzard Beach, we had to give Typhoon Lagoon a try. Unfortunately, we were disappointed in Typhoon Lagoon and have never been back. None of the water attractions at Typhoon Lagoon can compare to Blizzard Beach’s “Downhill Double Dipper” or its “Teamboat Springs”. And the theming of the park in general (including the playing of Christmas carols year round) outshines Typhoon Lagoon in every way.
Give Blizzard Beach a try. I think you’ll agree that this is no ordinary water park.
I think you’re absolutely right… and I haven’t even been there yet. Blizzard Beach seems like a fantastic looking and well themed park and I do hope to make it there soon.
I will be seeing Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for the first time this fall, so I guess you’ll give me a high thumbs-up for that. But, I’m sorry to say, at the moment Blizzard Beach is not in our plans for the fall trip. Maybe next time.
Staff writer Adrienne Krock answers the next letter from reader Kathy J., who writes:
We are leaving next week for Disneyland and will be taking our 10 month old and our 5 year old. We (mom and dad) will both want to go on the rides with our 5 year old that our 10 month old will not be able to. I have heard that if the first parent goes on the ride while with the child and the other stays with the baby, the second parent can go with the child again right away without having to wait in the line again. Is this true, what is this called and do we need to get a special pass for this?
What you’re asking about is called the Rider Switch Pass. I have written a detailed description of how it works on our MousePad Message Board at this link.
As you described, when the second parent returns to the ride, your 5-year-old can go with that parent and ride again. In theory, Rider Switch should be available for any ride at Disneyland, however, in practice, usually only the attractions with height restrictions have a formalized pass in place. Each ride with a height restriction would have its own pass. At some attractions without formalized plans, depending on the cast members working, they may not offer the service when you are there.
There is a lot of great information available for taking young children to Disneyland on our Parenting in the Parks forum of MousePad. Have a great time at Disneyland, I know you will!
Staff writer Lisa Perkis fields a question about her article on one of the new stores in Downtown Disney, “Spotlight on: Studio Downtown Disney 365” (July 2, 2009).
Pam writes:
Thanks for the article on your experience with Downtown Disney 365! I was wondering how long it took from start to finish? My great-niece is turning 10 on August 30 and her parents are taking her as a surprise birthday present, so I was just curious how much time to allow for it (the appointment is at 10 a.m.).
The day we went they were running a bit behind on appointments, but beginning from the time they were seated until the pictures were done it took about 45 minutes. I think it all depends on how on-time the appointments are running, but I would schedule in an hour and a half just to be safe. Best not to rush these things! Hope your great-niece has a wonderful time.
Finally, Walt Disney World Update writer and podcaster Mark Goldhaber answers a couple of letters from readers planning trips to the Orlando area.
Kirstin writes:
First of all, I want to tell you that I really enjoy your weekly posts… keep up the good work!
I had a question for you regarding the post about the new discount codes. I was wondering if you knew where exactly we enter these codes during the booking process. Can I use them online?
Thanks for being a regular reader!
Those codes are generally for use when calling Disney’s reservations center or dealing with a travel agency. When booking online, Disney does most of the hard work for you.
On the main Walt Disney World site, click the “Special Offers” link in the top right corner, then select the room-only deal. The booking web site will then remember the code throughout your session as you try various configurations. Have fun planning your trip!
Dominic S. writes:
It appears the passholder promotional rates for Saratoga Spring may have been interchanged. For other properties, the promotional rate is lower for Sunday-Thursday and higher for Friday-Saturday. For Saratoga Springs, it’s set up as $164 per night (Friday-Saturday nights) and $194 per night (Sunday-Thursday nights). Is this a typo?
Actually, the numbers are correct. The higher prices are for the nights that are in more demand.
At regular Disney resorts, since more people arrange shorter trips to surround a weekend, or take longer trips that include the weekend on both ends of the trip, weekend nights are more in demand.
However, Disney Vacation Club resorts carry a higher points cost to members over the weekend as compared to during the week. This results in many members not staying through a weekend, or moving to a hotel over the weekend to preserve their points. This results in excess inventory on the weekends and therefore lower cash prices.
