Secret Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Lounge at Disney Springs
I finally found the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Lounge at Disney World. Where to find it and how to inside.
Did you know if you’re a Disney Vacation Club member or a prospective member, you can visit this secret lounge in Disney Springs? In this post you see where to find the lounge and how to go inside.
Inside there’s comfortable seating, complimentary soft drinks, coffee, snacks and more. There’s also a mockup of a 2 Bedroom Villa at Disney’s Riviera Resort
The DVC lounge at Disney Springs is located right behind Anthropology. You will need to be escorted up to the lounge by a Disney Vacation Club Cast Member.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
These are the Best Royal Caribbean Cruise offers of the year (2024)
Royal Caribbean’s Early Black Friday sale is happening now for most major cruise itineraries. If you’re a cruiser, this is the offer you wait for all year.
Royal Caribbean's early Black Friday sale for 2024 is officially underway, offering me a variety of exciting deals on cruise vacations that I cannot ignore. I find that they provide enticing discounts on select sailings, up to $750 off most cruises, along with special perks such as generous onboard credits kids sail FREE, and 60% off your second guest.
The offer strategically targets a wide range of destinations, making it appealing for different types of travelers with diverse interests and preferences.
I truly appreciate how the promotion encourages booking early, as it allows me to secure my preferred dates and itineraries at a fantastic value, ensuring a memorable vacation experience.
Royal Caribbean Early Black Friday Sale 2024
Royal Caribbean BOGO60
Booking Window: November 8 - December 9, 2024
Sailing Window: Sailings departing on or after November 9, 2024
Offer Details: Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 60% Off & 30% Off on 3/4 Guest
Royal Caribbean Kids Sail Free
Booking Window: November 8 - December 9, 2024
Sailing Window: Sailings departing on or after November 9, 2024
Offer Details: Guest 12 and under sail free on sailings 3 nights or longer*
Black Friday Preview Sale
Black Friday Preview Sale
Booking Window: November 8 – 11, 2024
Sailing Window: Sailings departing on or after November 9, 2024
Offer details: Up to $750 Instant Savings
*Kids Sale Free Offer excludes:Thanksgiving Sailings (Departing between November 22, 2024 – November 29, 2024); (Departing between November 20 - November 28, 2025), Holiday Sailings (Departing December 20, 2024 – January 3, 2025); (Departing between December 18, 2025 – January 1, 2026), Spring Break Sailings (Departing between March 7, 2025 – March 28, 2025); (Departing between March 6, 2026 – April 9, 2026), Holy Week/Easter sailings (Departing between April 12, 2025 – April 24, 2025), Radiance Alaska Cruise Tour Sailings (Departing May 16, 2025 – September 12, 2025); Summer sailings (Departing between May 22, 2025 – August 29, 2025); Anthem of the Seas sailings (Departing November 21 – December 28, 2024); Chinese New Year sailing on Anthem of the Seas (Departing January 27, 2025) except for Alaska Summer Sailings (Departing May 23 – August 29, 2025)
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
7 Disney World Attractions Closing in 2025
Disney is preparing for major refurbishments and new ideas, but some attractions will need to close.
Disney World announced multiple, significant projects that will cause some areas of the theme parks to close, and some will even close forever. My name is Darren from OrlandoParksGuy.com, and I’m sharing my list of 7 must-see Disney World attractions before they close. And stay tuned to the end, because I’ll share some new experiences coming in 2025 that you won’t want to miss.
Planning a Disney Vacation in 2025? Watch my video:
7
TriceraTop Spin is a fun, family-friendly attraction in Disney's Animal Kingdom Park, specifically in the DinoLand U.S.A. area. The ride features colorful, spinning dinosaur-themed vehicles that resemble Triceratops. Guests can control the height of their ride by raising or lowering the dinosaur's head, adding a bit of interactivity to the experience.
The attraction is designed for younger guests, making it a great choice for families. As you spin around, you'll enjoy views of DinoLand and experience a playful atmosphere filled with dino-themed decor. Triceratop Spin is sometimes criticized for being an off-the-shelf ride, and a little unremarkable for a Disney Park. But kids think fun.
Now that i’ve told you how good it is, I need to also tell you that the last day to ride Triceratop Spin will be January 12, 2025, as Disney begins a phased closure of DinoLand USA. DinoLand will be transformed into a Tropical Americas-themed land featuring attractions based on Encanto and Indiana Jones. I am a huge fan of Indiana Jones, so I’m ready to say goodbye to DinoLand. DinoLand to me
6
Just like Triceratop Spin, much of the DinoRama Area of DinoLand USA will start to close beginning January 13th. If you‘ve been to DinoLand USA, you will remember the carnival-style games - here they are called Fossil Fun Games, which never really impressed me. I get that this is supposed to be a cheap roadside carnival - but it comes across as a cheap, roadside carnival built by Disney.
To me, DinoLand never really matched the beauty and authenticity of the rest of Animal Kingdom Park. The idea of a roadside carnival is funny, but I think most guests didn’t get that - it looked more like Disney ran out of money over here and never finished the park.
But that’s all going to change soon. Oh, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will also close. I actually like this gift shop, so I’m a little sorry to see it go. It’s out of the way so it’s never crowded and they have merch that can’t be found in other areas of the park. Your last day to shop here is January 12, 2025.
5
In my video on Disney’s Darkest Rides, you know that I am terrified of bugs. So I won’t miss it’s tough to be a bug at Animal Kingdom. To me, it’s one of the most frightening rides at Disney World and I actually do not care for it. I mean Spiders drop from the ceiling, you’re blasted with bug spray, and your seat comes alive as insects make their way across the theater. That being said, it really is a clever attraction with an amazing queue, offering up-close views of the Tree of Life and even some hilarious moments like the Broadway show posters in the lobby. Beauty and Bees - that’s funny!
While we don’t have a closing date for It’s Tough to be a Bug, Insiders tell me that it will likely close in the fall of 2025. The Tree of Life Theater will reopen with a Zootopia-themed show likely around the same time as Zooptopia 2 hits theaters. But without any official news from Disney on a closing date, I would see it’s tough to be a bug one last time, sooner rather than later.
Do you want more travel planning tips for Disney World, Universal Orlando Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean? Then I think you need to subscribe to my channel right now. Go ahead, i’ll wait.
4
There’s one more Animal Kingdom closure: DINOSAUR. While Disney hasn’t shared an official closing date, we do know that it will not be part of the initial closures coming to DinoLand USA. So while Triceratops Spin and DinoRama close, DINOSAUR will remain open - at least for now.
Indiana Jones will replace DINOSAUR which makes sense beause. Disneyland Resort in California and Tokyo Disneyland have copies of the DINOSAUR ride track but with an Indiana Jones overlay instead. However, insiders tell me that when DINOSAUR is replaced with Indiana Jones, it will not be a copy of any previous version of the ride.
In this new attraction, Indiana Jones stumbles upon a Maya temple, and of course, he takes us inside to do some exploring. Apparently, there may be some kind of creature hidden deep inside, and probably snakes too.
Disney has shared that Tropical Americas will open sometime in 2027. If I had to guess, based on other attraction rethemes like Maelstrom and Tiana, I think DINOSAUR will probably close for good in the spring or summer of 2025
3
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom won’t be closing permanently but it will do down for a lengthy refurbishment starting January 6, 2025 and lasting through 2026. This is going to be a long time! Insiders say that the closure will solve two problems. The first is that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is long overdue for a major refurbishment, likely to include new ride vehicles, track and scenery. Disney has said that when Big Thunder reopens in 2026, it will also have new special effects. Big Thunder at Disneyland underwent major refurbishment and it really came out smooth, less jerky and it felt much faster.
The other reason Big Thunder is likely closing is to allow for construction to begin on the new Cars land and Villians land.
And that brings me to…
2
The Walt Disney World Railroad closed for 4 years during the construction of Tron Light Cycle Run at Magic Kingdom and it appears the trains will need to stop once again. Disney hasn’t announced any closures for the railroad but in construction permits filed, it appears the railroad tracks will pass through a staging area that will be used for the construction of Cars Land and Vilians Land.
While Disney hasn’t said to much about the exact location of Cars and Vilians Lands, concept art suggests that the railroad tracks would have to be rerouted.
It’s my guess that the railroad will close at some point in 2025 so I would ride it while you can just in case.
1
Disney confirmed that the new Cars Land will be built on top of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. Details are still vague on Vilians Land but according to concept art, it appears that it will incorporate at least some of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island with Cars Land taking the rest. I have to say that if it’s anything like Cars Land at the Disneyland Resort in California, I think that will be a huge improvement. The scenery surrounding Cars Land is one of the most beautiful works of art in any Disney theme park, especially at night.
Disney has not confirmed a closing date for Tom Sawyer Island or the Liberty Bell Riverboat, but I would be very surprised if these attractions make it through 2025. And when they do close, it will be a permanent
So now is the time to take the raft over to Tom Sawer, explore the tunnels and windmill, and make your way out to Fort Langhorn. And you should ride the Liberty Bell Riverboat and check out the Rivers of America one last time. I expect a closing date will be announced soon.
Now at the top of the article, I mentioned that there are a few new attractions to look forward to in 2025.
A few that I am most looking forward to are the Pirates of the Caribbean theme lounge, remember it wasn’t that long ago that alcohol wasn’t allowed at Magic Kingdom, so this will be a big change. Plus a new lounge is coming to Spaceship Earth that will have amazing views of Epcot.
Speaking of Epcot, the new Test Track should come out of refurbishment with a new theme - one that pays tribute to the original World of Motion attraction. Meliiuimun Falcon Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will get a brand new Mandolorian adventure.
A new nighttime parade called Disney Starlight will waltz down Main Street at Magic Kingdom, expected to open in the summer of 2025. Disney hinted that this new parade is inspired by the Main Street Electrical Parade and will feature Disney characters from “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” and more.
Which attraction are you going to miss the most? Which rides do you think need a major refurbishment or need to be replaced? I have one major ride that comes to mind. See it in the comments, I’ll be following along.
Earlier I mentioned Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure Park in California and, I recently made a video on why fans of Disney World will love exploring Disneyland in California. Is Disneyland better than Magic Kingdom? They have Mr Toads wild ride, just sayin. Come see that video now - I’ll see you there.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
These New Events Make EPCOT Extra Christmasy
A giant, gingerbread Spaceship Earth is only the beginning.
A lot of people think of Magic Kingdom as the Christmas Park at Walt Disney World, but it’s really Epcot! Other than Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom doesn’t have too many things going on, other than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of course.
But here are some brand new reasons I recommend visiting Epcot this holiday season. I just found out about these so I don’t have photos yet. I’ll post as soon as I can.
8 foot tall Ginger Bread Spaceship Earth
The innovative talents of the EPCOT Festival Team, in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering and the skilled EPCOT Pastry team, have come together to produce an impressive 8-foot-tall gingerbread display inspired by Spaceship Earth. This geodesic sphere, constructed from hundreds of handcrafted gingerbread triangles, will be showcased within CommuniCore Hall for all festival attendees to admire. Additionally, akin to its park icon original, this gingerbread rendition will illuminate and perform to music at intervals throughout the day.
Communicore Hall Will Host Artificial Christmas Trees
I wrote that headline to be a little sarcastic, I’m not a fan of the new Communicore Hall building as some of you know. We were promised that this would be the hub of all festivals at EPCOT. Instead, we got a high school cafeteria (that took 5 years to build).
But I must admit a hall of artificial Christmas trees does sound a little intriguing, as long as it’s not a showroom of trees - because this is going to be sponsored by Balsam Hill.
My fingers are crossed that Disney will use it’s imagination here, and I think it will. It’s a step in the right direction anyway.
The cafeteria kitchens will be cranking out gingerbread Spaceship Earth triangles - just like the ones used on the 8ft. tall gingerbread copy of Spaceship Earth.
I’m actually looking forward to both!
The Communicore Hall kitchens will also be serving what Disney describes as, “best-loved dishes from previous years with Favorites of Festivals Past.”
Sounds good but I have no idea what that means.
JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season
This band’s performances aren’t new at Epcot during Christmas, but they will move to a new location: Communicore Plaza. While they perform, little ones will be able to decorate snowflakes.
Seasonal Scents
Along the walkway between the Imagination! pavilion and World Showcase, guests can stop by to see an all-new seasonal display, open to all guests throughout the festival.
Festive Fragrances presented by Scentsy is a gift for the senses – guests can stroll through a snow globe garden with seasonal aromas! Guests who visit CommuniCore Hall can purchase some of their favorite holiday fragrances, reliving the festival experience long after their vacation.
And there it is – all new experiences to look forward to during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, November 29-December 30!
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
7 Must-See Christmas Events at Universal Orlando 2024
Universal Orlando goes all out for Christmas. Here are my Top 7 favorite things to do.
Universal Orlando Resort is inviting you to unwrap a season of thrills, fun, and excitement for the whole family with its destination-wide Holidays celebration, beginning Friday, Nov. 22, and running daily through Tuesday, Dec. 31. This will be the last Christmas with only 3 theme parks as Epic Universe opens this summer!
You’ll enjoy a slate of festive experiences inspired by beloved characters and stories—from reveling in the “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade to meeting everyone’s favorite mean, green grouch, the Grinch, during Grinchmas, to watching larger-than-life floats and balloons during Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.
I’m actually not a fan of parades in general, but I have to say this is well done. I look forward to it every year.
You can also can take your holiday festivities at Universal Orlando to the next level with a stay at one of Universal’s hotels—all of which will be decked out in holiday décor and feature seasonal experiences—or by purchasing add-on, in-park experiences like The Universal Holiday Tour and the Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast.
See below for an overview of all the excitement and merriment taking over Universal Orlando Resort this holiday season:
#7 Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
With festively themed décor, garland and twinkling lights adorning the streets of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, guests will be surrounded by holiday magic as they explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter this holiday season in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Guests can grab a Hot Butterbeer and enjoy special holiday-themed performances by The Frog Choir, comprised of Hogwarts students and their giant frogs, in Hogsmeade, or dance along with the hit-sensation Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees in Diagon Alley.
And as night falls in Hogsmeade, the nighttime spectacle, “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle,” returns—bringing to life an awe-inspiring projection show on Hogwarts castle highlighting Christmas moments and holiday cheer inspired by the cherished characters and stories from the “Harry Potter” films.
#6 Grinchmas at Universal Islands of Adventure
Guests can enjoy a live retelling of the Dr. Seuss holiday classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” in the beloved stage show, “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular.” Plus, Seuss Landing will transport guests directly to Who-ville, where they’ll be surrounded by whimsical holiday décor and enjoy special appearances from the Whos and even get a chance for a photo opportunity with the mean-one himself – the Grinch!
#5 Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida
Beloved pop culture-inspired stories and characters from Illumination’s Despicable Me, DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek and Madagascar—along with cherished holiday traditions—come to life as larger-than-life balloons and colorful holiday floats during Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. And capping off the picturesque parade is a special appearance by Santa Claus and the magnificent lighting of a grand 80-foot Christmas tree in Universal Studios Florida.
The holiday festivities also don’t stop there. Guests will also be able to enjoy themed food and beverage, shop seasonal merchandise from an all-new Holiday Tribute Store, enjoy meet and greets with their favorite characters who are also in the holiday spirit. These include the fan-favorite Earl the Squirrel and an all-new Holiday Nutcracker Hunt that will take them on a scavenger hunt across Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk.
#4 Universal Orlando Holiday Tour
Available for an additional cost, this tour takes guests on a guided journey through popular holiday experiences across the destination, including an exclusive meet and greet with the Grinch and his faithful dog Max; Small plates, delectable desserts and non-alcoholic beverages in Universal Studios Florida; reserved seating at the “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular” in Universal Islands of Adventure; an exclusive meet and greet photo opportunity with Santa Claus in Universal Studios Florida; an after-hours showing of “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle”; and priority access to Universal Studios Florida’s newest attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast (subject to change and based on availability).
The Universal Holiday Tour is available on select dates beginning Nov. 25 through Dec. 29, 2024, and can be booked by through your Unviersal Orlando travel agent.
Pricing for the Universal Holiday Tour starts at $85.19 per person (tax inclusive) and separate theme park admission with a 1-Day 2-Park Park-to-Park ticket is required.
#3 The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast at Universal Islands of Adventure
Available for an additional cost, this breakfast gives guests the chance to start their day alongside the Grinch and other favorite characters from Seuss Landing while dining on delicious breakfast items like Green Eggs and Ham and Cindy-Lou Who’s Belgian Waffles.
The Grinch breakfast takes place in Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous in Universal Islands of Adventure on select dates beginning Nov. 22 through Dec. 30 for $62.82 (tax inclusive) per adult and $35.13 (tax inclusive) per child (ages 3-9). I can get this booked for you if you have a Universal Orlando package booked with me.
#2 Holiday Celebrations at Universal Orlando’s Hotels
Guests can enjoy additional holiday festivities at all eight Universal Orlando Resort hotels, each of which will be decked out with festive décor for the season. Special menus will be offered for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s and guests can join in on holiday celebrations, including Christmas tree lightings, Hannukah menorah lighting ceremonies, strolling carolers and more.
#1 Universal CityWalk Holiday Celebrations
Universal CityWalk is also getting into the holiday spirit with specialty entertainment and menu offerings at select venues, including: The Green & Red Coconut Club at Red Coconut Club, where guests can enjoy live entertainment and themed holiday cocktails; a festive meet and greet with the fan-favorite Earl the Squirrel during select dates from Nov. 29-Dec. 28 at CityWalk Plaza; assorted seasonal food and beverage at Bigfire and VIVO Italian Kitchen, and a seasonal milkshake at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen;
Access to the in-park festivities of Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration is included with regular admission to the theme parks. Guests can plan their visit with a variety of offers from Universal Orlando, including the all-new Dining Card Vacation Package, which includes theme park admission, hotel accommodations and a food and beverage dining card worth up to $1,000 to use at select restaurants and dining locations throughout the resort.
For more information about the new Dining Card Vacation Package and to purchase, click HERE.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
UNIVERSAL Parks Brings HORROR to Las Vegas
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights will be a new, permanent experience in Las Vegas
I love Las Vegas, almost as much as Orlando. I mean, my wife and I were married in Vegas (no, not by Elvis… unfortunately). The entertainment offered in Las Vegas is top notch and it’s about to get even better as Universal Destinations and Experiences, creator of Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando, announced that Universal Horror Unleashed the company’s first-ever year-round horror experience, is coming to Las Vegas in 2025
In a darkened warehouse on the edge of Las Vegas, a spectacle of horror is rising. Universal Horror Unleashed. For decades, Universal’s masters of horror have created some of the world’s most frightening films and events. Now guests can experience it all in a year-round fully immersive horror experience.
The fears only felt in movies will come to bone-chilling life.
Enter the evils of four haunted houses, each with its own terrifying story: Universal Monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping and Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer.
These haunted houses aren’t for the faint of heart—they are intense and feature elevated moments where the horror surrounds guests in unimaginable ways.
The nightmares don’t end there.
Surrounding the houses are four sinisterly themed and immersive areas, featuring unique live entertainment experiences.
In select locations, guests can enjoy eerie eateries and bars featuring horror-centric food and drink offerings.
Guests also can expect a continuously updated experience with must-see seasonal events and one-of-a-kind merchandise.
Universal Horror Unleashed, first announced in 2023, is part of the company’s plan to introduce new products to new audiences in new markets.
It is the anchor tenant in the 20-acre expansion of AREA15, the immersive entertainment district in Las Vegas.
Universal has long defined the horror genre with its classic films featuring iconic characters such as “Frankenstein,” “The Mummy” and “The Wolf Man.” Only Universal ignites this genre’s thrill and excitement in three-dimensional, full scale.
Unviersal will continue to share more details on the plans for Universal Horror Unleashed in the months ahead. For the latest information, visit www.UniversalHorrorUnleashed.com.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Disney Treasure is Officially Heading to Florida
Disney Treasure is on the way! She just left the shipyard in Germany and is on the way to Port Canaveral, Florida.
Yesterday, I watched as the Disney Treasure embarked on its transatlantic journey from Eemshaven, Netherlands, to its future home in Port Canaveral, Florida.
With over 4,500 miles separating the Disney Treasure from its destination, I know the trip will take about two weeks to complete.
She will make a quick stop - her first-ever port of call will be the beautiful city of Funchal, Portugal, where it will make a brief stop before continuing its way back out to sea.
I can’t wait to see the final preparations being made during this crossing to get the ship ready for its maiden voyage on December 21.
Disney Treasure will take over the Disney Fantasy routes of 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. These cruise itineraries are already available for booking. Learn more here. I have a special offer available right now as well!
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Guests are Shocked When They Visit The Cake Bake Shop at Walt Disney World
One of Disney World’s newest restaurants is also among the priciest. But is it worth it?
I was looking forward to The Cake Bake Shop for 2 years as it sat nearly abandoned on Disney’s Boardwalk at Walt Disney World. Then, a few months ago, there were suddenly signs of life as crews began working on the exterior, and a menu was posted outside.
And that’s when everyone started scratching their heads. $32 for a burger, $25 for a slice of cake, $12 for a coffee. Bloggers went wild on social media, shaming Cake Bake Shop for seemingly ridiculous prices.
It got so bad that Cake Bake Shop lowered its prices right before opening this week. A burger went from $32 to $26, and a slice of cake...well that’s still $25.
The Cake Bake Shop in has a score of 2.9 on Google.
I thought it was odd that it opened without a grand opening or even a shoutout from the Disney Parks Blog.
Why didn’t Disney create any fanfare for this?
I, of course, wanted to see it for myself so my family and I visited just 1 day after it opened. That’s because I didn’t know it opened, I just happened to see a review from a blogger I follow.
I read numerous reviews and watched several YouTube reviews. All of them mentioned the higher-than-average prices.
And for good reason: The Cake Bake Shop is currently selling the most expensive desserts on Disney World property. I’m pretty sure the burger could also be the most expensive at $26. It costs more than the Wagyu burger at STK in Disney Springs and the burger at BoatHouse, which I think is the best burger on Disney property.
Full disclosure here, the very best burger I’ve ever had was at the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Orlando. And of course, it’s tough to beat Five Guys.
I get that The Cake Bake Shop is expensive, but is it worth it? See, I don’t mind paying for an upscale experience that involves great food, and atmosphere.
The problem with The Cake Bake Shop is that the food and atmosphere are just, OK.
We didn’t “hate” anything we had, but for the money, something was amiss here.
It comes across as a casual, fun bakery with whimsical confections. On one hand, it has a very upscale atmosphere yet a casual menu. But the prices are not casual - they’re more in line with an ultra-posh restaurant. This is confusing to me.
For example, the burger was a little dry. The roll was hard and crunchy. A burger, to me, is on a soft roll, it’s juicy and maybe even a little messy. This was just missing something. I think it was trying to be fancy. Burgers ain’t fancy! And it wouldn’t have been great even at $12.
But when you pay $26 for a burger, don’t you have high expectations?
The same is true with the desserts. For this, we went to the take-out side because we wanted to eat outside on the Boardwalk. There are two sides of The Cake Bake Shop, the restaurant side with table service, and the counter service side.
I would like to focus on the quick service side because most of the questions I’ve been getting are about sampling the cakes, more than the restaurant.
We ordered a slice of the Millionaires Cake ($25), a Lemon Bar ($14), a chocolate chip cookie ($7), a milk ($8) and a coffee ($11). I was charged $2 for a bag to carry my items and finally, I was prompted to leave a $12 tip on the iPad. I did the math for you; it’s about $80. I asked for a paper receipt and was told the printer wasn’t working.
I suspect they didn’t want me to have evidence of the beating I just took.
Everything looked good in the display cases, but there wasn’t anything that blew me away.
At a good bakery, I usually want everything and have a hard time trying to decide what to get. Here, I didn’t want most of it. I wasn’t interested in Oprah’s Mint Cake, and I don’t like carrot cake (personal preference), and I overlooked a lot just because of the price.
Now, of course, we tip for great service, and the staff here is well-trained. They certainly value guests and truly want to create a great experience. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. The gentleman who made my coffee asked me to take a sip to make sure it was to my liking and offered to make adjustments if I felt it was necessary.
That’s the level of service here!
The pastries are good, but not great. I found them to be beyond rich and sweet.
After every bite, I had to take a sip of coffee. And then I just needed water! For a $26 slice of cake, they certainly give you a large piece. It’s enough for 2 or even 3 people to share. There were 3 of us, and we could only take a few small bites each because it was so rich.
I think a cake should be so good that you can’t stop eating it. And then feel guilty afterward because you overindulged. That wasn’t the case here. I think I would have been sick if I ate more than a few bites.
We moved on to the lemon bar. I love lemon bars! The Cake Bake Shop’s lemon bar was huge but very sweet. I could taste the granulated sugar in the lemon filling. 2 small bites, and I was done. The lemon flavor was STRONG, so you have to love lemons to enjoy this. It was so sweet and tart, I could barely eat it. I would not order that again.
In fact, that was the theme of The Cake Bake Shop overall - I wouldn’t go out of my way to order any of these items again. Nothing was special or unique.
The Millionaire Cake wasn’t much different from the European Bar Cake sold at Costco.
And speaking of Costco, did you know you can buy a cake from The Cake Bake Shop from Costco? The cake is $159. About twice the price of other specialty cakes sold there. But it gets good reviews.
I thought The Cake Bake Shop was a little on the touristy side - I could see this place taking advantage of tourists in Las Vegas or Times Square. Where tourists come in once because they’re visiting and will likely never return.
I know, Disney World is touristy, but generally speaking, the restaurants are pretty good.
For me, there’s a disconnect between the high prices and food quality.
Oh, and being charged $2 for a bag is annoying. No better way to leave a bad taste in your customer’s mouths than to overcharge them for everything, even a bag.
If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience nearby, I recommend the following restaurants:
Yachtsman Steakhouse - Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Bluezoo - Walt Disney World Swan
Flying Fish - Disney Boardwalk
Monsieur Paul - France Pavilion, Epcot
Amare - Swan Reserve Hotel
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Disney World’s Pricey Lightning Lane PREMIER PASS
You can be part of a pilot program at Walt Disney World with Lightning Lane Premier Pass. How much is will cost and how to use it.
Starting Oct. 30, 2024, Disney World will begin piloting the rollout of Lightning Lane Premier Pass, with very limited quantities available daily for Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and other select Resorts.
Being sold as a "convenient way to save time in line," Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows one-time entry to each Lightning Lane experience in a theme park.
Guests will be able to buy the passes up to seven days ahead of their visit, except for the launch date, for which no advance purchases are allowed. Disney World's Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be park-specific, with prices varying depending on the park and date.
Disney World Lightning Lane Premier Pass opens Oct 30, 2024
Purchasing a Lightning Lane Premier Pass provides you with one-time access to any Lightning Lane entrance at a single Theme Park.
Attractions that offer Lightning Lane Single Pass can be experienced using a Lightning Lane Premier Pass, without additional purchase.
You do not need to book an arrival window; you simply head to the Lightning Lane entrance whenever you wish.
Guests may purchase a Lightning Lane Premier Pass for only one Theme Park each day.
Lightning Lane Premier Passes include Disney PhotoPass Lenses and digital Disney PhotoPass Downloads of any attraction photos from the day of the Guest’s visit.
Purchasing a Lightning Lane Premier Pass does not prevent you from purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Lightning Lane Single Passes
When You Can Purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
Guests of eligible Resorts can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Passes up to seven days prior to their check-in date for the length of their stay (up to 14 days) starting at 7 a.m. Eastern.
Eligible Resorts include
Disney Deluxe Resort
Deluxe Villa Resorts
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels
Shades of Green Resort.
To purchase a Lightning Lane Premier Pass, Guests must have both a valid Resort reservation and valid Theme Park admission linked to their My Disney Experience account.
Some admission types also require a Theme Park reservation like Disney World Annual Passes.
Guests must use the My Disney Experience app to purchase their Lightning Lane Premier Pass and to track the experiences they have visited using the pass.
How Much Lightning Lane Premier Pass Costs
Disney's Animal Kingdom: $129 - $199 plus tax
EPCOT: $169 - $249 plus tax
Disney's Hollywood Studios: $269 - $349 plus tax
Magic Kingdom: $329 - $449 plus tax
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
How Disney After Hours Tickets Work
Linking Disney After Hours Tickets to your phone, wallet, and picking up physical tickets at the theme parks.
Disney After Hours is a ticketed event at Walt Disney World Resort that allows guests to enjoy the parks after they close to the public:
When
After Hours events take place in the evening after the park closes. Guests can enter the park as early as 7 PM and stay until 1 AM.
What
Guests can enjoy shorter wait times for attractions, meet Disney characters, and eat complimentary snacks and drinks. Some events may also include DJ dance parties, trick-or-treating, or seasonal nighttime shows.
Where
After Hours events take place at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT.
Tickets
Tickets for After Hours events are limited, so guests can expect shorter wait times.
How To Link Disney World After Hours Tickets to Your Phone
Using Your Phone’s Wallet
To use your ticket, tap your ticket from your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet at the park entrance.
To save your ticket to your wallet, first link your ticket to your Disney account online at DisneyWorld.com or use the Disney World App.
Using a MagicBand
You may use a MagicBand for park entry as well. Follow the steps above - link the ticket to your Disney account.
Be sure your MagicBand is linked to your Disney account and that it is active. You can do this in the MagicBand tab of the mobile app.
Visit a Ticket Window for a Physical Ticket
If you prefer a physical ticket, visit a park ticket window located at the entrance of the theme park.
You will need the following:
Your ticket confirmation email - either printed or on your phone.
Original credit card, PayPal, transaction receipt, Disney Gift Card, or Disney Rewards Redemption Card that was used to purchase the tickets.
Valid government ID for all adults.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Popular Disney World Attraction to Close
This classic Magic Kingdom attraction will close for over a year.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will go down for an extended closure on January 6, 2025. The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026. Disney has not shared any further details.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
DINOLAND USA ATTRACTIONS CLOSING DATE
This classic Magic Kingdom attraction will be closed for over a year.
DinoLand U.S.A. Closures Begin Jan. 13, 2025
Work on Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is set to begin in January 2025. This means the last day to ride TriceraTop Spin will be January 12, 205.
Tropical Americas concept art for Animal Kingdom expansion.
Fossil Fun Games and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will also close on January 12, 2025
DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites will remain open.
In other news, Disney provided an update on “The Little Mermaid A Musical Adventure” coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Update on “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure”
As we continue to look forward to “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure," at Disney’s Hollywood Studios we are taking the next steps and filing permits for an all-new marquee. Work on the exterior of the building will begin soon, in preparation for the premiere of this fully reimagined show in summer 2025. We look forward to sharing more details on this exciting new experience soon.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will go down for an extended closure on January 6, 2025. The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026. Disney has not shared any further details.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay Mexico - Everything I Know
Royal Caribbean Heads to Mexico to Create Another Perfect Day!
Royal Caribbean introduces Perfect Day Mexico located in Mahahual / Costa Maya including a beach club with activities, cuisine, and sustainable tourism focus.
When Royal Caribbean introduced Perfect Day at CocoCay, its private island in the Bahamas, it quickly became a new reason to cruise. Based on this success, Royal Caribbean purchased Costa Maya, a made-up cruise port in Eastern Mexico, near Cozumel. I love Costa Maya, even though it exists only for cruises. You can check out my tour of Costa Maya on my YouTube channel here.
Costa Maya has just the right amount of things to do, a bird aviary, souvenir shops, a few restaurants, 2 pools, and a dolphin experience. It’s great if you just want to get off the ship for a little while and do some exploring on your own.
So, I was surprised to learn that Royal Caribbean just announced that it purchased Costa Maya and it will be building another Perfect Day resort here.
Costa Maya is a stop for other cruise lines as well, but it appears that Perfect Day Mexico will only be available to Royal Caribbean cruisers.
Royal Caribbean is also building Royal Beach Club Cozumel, which is set to open in 2026. I expect Perfect Day Mexico will be very successful for Royal Caribbean western Caribbean itineraries with Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
I love this idea because the Caribbean ports are not exactly the most interesting - usually centered around beaches, bars, and t-shirt shops. There’s also a concern about safety if you wander off the beaten path.
It’s brilliant for Royal Caribbean to expand on the things that cruise vacationers like best: the private islands.
Now, it’s unclear right now if Costa Maya will still be an itinerary stop for other cruise ships like Carnival, and Disney Cruise Line. Will they have a place to dock, or will it be taken up by Royal Caribbean ships? And will other cruise lines even want to stop at Costa Maya, when the main attraction there will be Perfect Day Mexico?
Either way, Royal Caribbean is making so many great decisions lately and I’m excited to see how this all works out.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
TOP 10 DISNEY WORLD THIRLL RIDES
Top 10 Spookiest and Thrilling Rides at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is known as a family-friendly resort destination with rides that families can enjoy together. But what about those who want more excitement? Well, Disney rides are masters at storytelling, and a select few have the potential to immerse you into stories with big thrills or big special effects. I have 10 scary must-do attractions at Walt Disney World Resort for thrill seekers and special effects lovers.
The attic in Haunted Mansion is one of the creepiest scenes Disney has ever created.
Number 10: The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion at Disney World is one of the park’s most iconic attractions, blending humor, whimsy, and just the right amount of spookiness. The eerie atmosphere is created by hauntingly beautiful decor and a ghostly soundtrack. And the ride itself takes you through various scenes populated by friendly ghosts and supernatural characters, each with its own story and charm.
The attraction starts with a clever preshow, where you see the foreboding mansion up on a hill, complete with the sound of a distant thunderstorm and a dog howling. One of my favorite tips is to look closely at the windows at night - you may something in the windows. A Cast Member will greet you with a dead serious expression, and will lead you into the foyer and then an elevator, reminding you to step in the “dead center of the room”
I think the stretching room is one of the best special effects Disney has ever created and it’s where you’ll see and hear the attraction's most frightening scene, a hanging body in the rafters, followed by sudden darkness, and the sound of a body hitting the ground. As you progress through the ride in your DoomBuggy, you encounter famous scenes like the ballroom filled with dancing spirits, the ghostly bride, and of course hitchhiking ghosts, It hink they are each designed to entertain rather than terrify.
While there are some dark and creepy elements, the tone remains playful. The humor often shines through, with clever wordplay in the narration and light-hearted interactions that keep things fun. Families with young children often enjoy it together, as the scares are mild and the experience is more about enjoying the spooky atmosphere than feeling genuinely frightened.
Overall, the Haunted Mansion is perfect for those looking for a taste of the spooky side of Disney without the intensity of a traditional theme park blood and guts attraction. It’s a delightful blend of thrills, laughs, and a touch of Disney magic that makes it a must-visit for guests of all ages.
Number 9: Pirates of the Caribbean
When I enter the queue at "Pirates of the Caribbean" at Walt Disney World, I am immediately brought back to my childhood. I loved this attraction as a kid, it all seemed so real to me. Like the Haunted Mansion, this attraction offers a unique blend of storytelling - even though it’s unclear as to what exactly the story is, and mild spookiness, making it a classic attraction for so many of us. The ride begins in a dimly lit Spanish fort, immersing you in a world of pirates, weapons, and treasure. Once aboard your boat, you are transported through various scenes of thunderstorms, skeletons on a beach, and a helmsman who doesn’t seem to know he’s dead, which is my favorite scene in the ride by the way.
Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom
You’re then surprised by a blinding flash, then sudden darkness, and sail over a waterfall. And you emerge right in the middle of cannon fire between a pirate ship and a Spanish fort. Cannonballs land in the water right next to your boat - too close for comfort.
While the overall atmosphere is playful, the dim lighting and dark waters create an eerie feeling, The ride features amazing sound effects, and hilarious classic quotes {dont be chicken}
This is what makes Pirate of the Caribbean such a great attraction. Its scariest moments are balanced with humor, more about the excitement of the pirate adventure than genuine fear, making it a memorable experience for everyone who rides it!
Number 8: Flight of Passage
Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom can feel a bit scary for several reasons, particularly for guests who may be sensitive to heights or intense motion. From the moment you enter the immersive queue, you’re enveloped in the lush world of Pandora. But then you enter very industrial areas in stark contrast to the world you just left. Just listen to the background sound effects in there - I think it’s designed to make you feel uneasy - which builds anticipation for the ride ahead. Once you're seated on the ride vehicle, the experience intensifies as you’re secured into place, heightening a sense of vulnerability.
Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
As the ride begins, there’s a sensation of soaring on the back of a banshee and it’s amazing. The combination of stunning 3D visuals and physical movement creates a breathtaking but disorienting experience, especially during the rapid turns and drops. The feeling of flying high above the beautiful landscapes of Pandora can evoke a sense of fear for those uncomfortable with heights.
Additionally, the ride incorporates various sensory effects, such as the wind in your face, mist, and the feeling of the banshee breathing beneath you, which really immerses you into the story.
I think the intensity of the experience—combined with the stunning yet immersive visuals— makes Flight of Passage a spectacular ride and provides a thrilling rush with intense experiences!
Number 7: Mission SPACE
It’s not that I find Mission: SPACE at Epcot frightening, I just think it’s scary not knowing if it’s going to make me sick or not. I have never experienced the Orange team for this reason - I’m too afraid. But I do like the less intense Green Team. The Orange Team, For some people, is a great thrill ride with a great story. But for others, it makes them so sick, that they have to go home. If you see someone lying down a bench in Epcot, chances are they just got off Mission Space.
And the ride can be quite intimidating, particularly for those who may be prone to motion sickness or are not fans of enclosed spaces. The ride simulates a space launch, immersing you in a realistic environment that includes intense spins and G-forces designed to replicate the feeling of blasting off into space. As you’re strapped into your seat and the countdown begins, the sense of anticipation builds, heightened by the tight confines of the capsule. The ride’s immersive visuals and sound effects contribute to a feeling of being launched into orbit, which can be disorienting for some.
The intense sensations of acceleration and the spinning motion can create an overwhelming experience, leading to feelings of anxiety or unease. For guests who find the idea of space travel daunting or who may not enjoy high-intensity attractions, Mission: SPACE can be genuinely scary, making it a ride that requires a bit of courage to tackle!
Number 6: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is an exhilarating experience that can certainly be considered on the scarier side, especially for those who aren’t accustomed to high-speed thrill rides. The ride begins with a dramatic launch that catapults you from 0 to 57 mph in just a few seconds, creating an adrenaline rush that’s hard to match in Orlando. The ride primarily takes place in complete darkness which adds an element of surprise and suspense.
As you zoom along, the unexpected loops and inversions come at you fast, leaving little time to prepare for the thrilling drops and sharp corners. The combination of the powerful G-forces and the disorienting darkness can be quite intense, making it feel like you're speeding through the streets of Los Angeles. The energetic soundtrack featuring classic rock anthems by Aerosmith only heightens the excitement, immersing you in the exhilarating vibe of a rock concert.
The initial launch, in particular, is terrifying because you know you’re going to launch, but when exactly is that going to happen. Sitting there waiting in suspense is perhaps the biggest thrill of the ride. The ride’s design plays with your senses, blending the thrill of speed with the thrill of the unknown, which can amplify the scare factor.
Overall, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster delivers a wild and intense experience making it one of the more thrilling—and potentially scary—attractions at Disney World.
And while I love Aerosmith, I wouldn’t mind seeing a refresh here. I think the band Coldplay would be a great addition to the ride. What band do you think would be a good fit here?
Number 5: Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom can be quite a scary experience starting with the moment you see it from a distance. And once you enter the queue, you're immersed in the lore of the legendary Yeti and the mysteries of the Himalayas, which sets a suspenseful tone. My favorite scene in the queue is the display of the badly beaten camping gear, and the last few photos the photographer ever took,in his or her last attempt to document their demise. That is some great storytelling.
Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
As you head out on the track, listen to the sound effects - especially as you climb the main lift hill. Everything you hear is unsettling from the prayer music in the temple to the creaking of the bridge. You also have a feeling of vulnerability as you realize how high you are. And then there’s the moment where you run out of track.
And how about the fact that the ride suddenly goes backward into the mountain and into complete darkness? It’s disorienting by design, amplifying the scare factor as you feel a loss of control and that you can’t see where you’re going or where you’ll end up. The darkness of the tunnels and the sudden encounters with the Yeti can be genuinely startling, especially when it appears he’s lunging toward you in the ride’s finale scene. The combination of speed, height, and darkness creates an exhilarating yet very intimidating experience for a Disney ride.
The immersive storytelling, combined with the physical sensations of the ride, makes Expedition Everest a thrilling journey that leaves me saying, only Disney could create this.
Number 4: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios can be a thrilling and somewhat scary experience for several reasons. From the moment you enter the queue, you’re immersed in the tension of a Resistance mission, with atmospheric lighting and sound effects that create a sense of urgency. The story unfolds with unexpected twists, making you feel like you’re part of a high-stakes adventure.
As you progress through the queue, you encounter First Order Cast Members who treat you as prisoners. Making you stand single file. Some may even get in your personal space to look you up and down and further intimate you. They must have so much fun at work every day.
After being placed into a prison cell and an uncomfortable lecture by Kylo Ren, the immersive experience ramps up with a sudden escape. Realistic animatronics and amazing special effects bring the Star Wars universe to life. Your encounter with the First Order can be pretty intense, as stormtroopers confront you with their menacing terrible aim, and the fear of capture adds to the suspense. The ride includes moments of sudden movement, including a surprise drop which elevates the adrenaline.
Additionally, the use of sound effects and immersive storytelling heightens the tension. The sounds of blaster fire, the rumble of a Star Destroyer, and the ominous presence of Kylo Ren all contribute to a sense of danger that feels real. The combination of dark environments, startling moments, and the overarching narrative of being chased by the First Order creates an atmosphere that can be genuinely frightening, especially for those who are fans of the franchise and invested in the storyline.
Overall, Rise of the Resistance blends thrilling ride mechanics with immersive storytelling, making it a heart-pounding experience that keeps guests on the edge of their seats—definitely a memorable adventure for anyone brave enough to join the Resistance!
Number 3 It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug! at Disney's Animal Kingdom can be surprisingly intense for some guests, particularly younger children and uh, men in their 40s who just happen to have a crippling fear of insects just sayin’
The attraction combines 3D visual effects with live-action elements, immersing you in a world from the perspective of bugs. As the show unfolds, guests encounter various insects, and the atmosphere becomes increasingly immersive and interactive.
The main source of fear comes from the unexpected surprises throughout the show. Guests are subjected to sensory effects like sudden gusts of air and fog when they are blasted with bug spray, vibrations in their seats, and even the sensation of bugs crawling around their seat. These elements can be startling, especially because they occur unexpectedly, creating moments of genuine fright.
The show also features some scenes that portray predators, such as spiders and hornets, which are naturally intimidating to us humans. While the attraction aims to educate and entertain, the combination of sensory effects and unexpected scares can make it a frightening experience.
Number 2: Dinosaur
Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom is super scary for a variety of reasons, and I’m honestly surprised Disney even created a ride like this. The ride's premise—traveling back to the age of dinosaurs, actually you’re going back in time to steal a dinosaur—creates a sense of urgency, especially with the looming threat of carnivorous dinosaurs all around you.
As you board your time rover and the adventure begins, the darkness of the ride is disorienting, making it difficult to anticipate what might come next. The sudden appearance of massive animatronic dinosaurs, especially the T. rex, is genuinely terrifying. Their realistic movements, combined with loud roars and the sensation of the vehicle reacting to these monsters, create a visceral experience that catch you totally off guard.
Additionally, the ride features quick turns, drops, and the feeling of being chased, all of which contribute to a heightened sense of fear and excitement. The immersive sound effects—such as the growls of dinosaurs and the crashing of trees—enhance the atmosphere, making you feel like you’re truly in the middle of a prehistoric jungle.
Dinosaur can be particularly intense, making it a thrilling experience that uniquely combines excitement and fright! My favorite thing about this ride is the on-ride photos at the end - look at how many people have their eyes closed because they were so scared!
Number 1: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios is widely regarded as one of the scariest attractions at Walt Disney World for several compelling reasons. I can’t think of any other ride at Disney that gets into your head quite like this one. It’s 90% psychological - starting with the queue where you encounter overgrown gardens and dried-up fountains, and I find the echo-y big band music especially haunting. And then there’s the suddenly-abandoned lobby that immerses you in the eerie story of the hotel’s mysterious past. What happened here that hotel guests left their drinks and belongings behind?
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios
The backstory, which revolves around a tragic elevator accident, sets a foreboding tone that builds anticipation and tension.
As you make your way through the attraction, the unsettling ambiance continues to heighten. You’re in the hotel’s basement - because basements are scary. Your surrounded by Steampipes, boilers and of course service elevators. The suspense builds as you board the elevator, which feels old, confined, and claustrophobic.
The ride begins with a surprisingly smooth and rapid lift - which lets you know this ride system has power and speed. There’s just something about that first lift - it lets you know there’s no going back. As your elevator car stops, you’re shown unsettling scenes that make no sense like a shattering window and an oversized eyeball.
The ride itself combines sudden drops and jolting movements that create a feeling of weightlessness. Plus there’s the unpredictability of the ride— the random drop sequences add to the fear factor, as you never know when the next drop or lift will occur.
For me, the combination of psychological thrills and physical sensations makes the Tower of Terror a uniquely scary ride that keeps me on the edge of my seat. It’s a must-do for thrill-seekers and horror fans alike!
Want to add to my list? Let me know what ride you find scary at Walt Disney World. How about it’s a small world? Imagine working on that attraction at night, after everyone has gone home? I’ll be in the comments following along. And if you like the darker side of Disney, check out my video - Abandoned Disney World, where I show you venues that are just sitting abandoned, hiding in plain sight. I'll see you over there.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
DISNEY WORLD OFFERS Winter and Spring 2025
Save money at Disney World with these discounted hotel rates for Winter and Spring 2025!
Tron Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom
Orlando: Walt Disney World Resort Winter Promotion Package
Save up to $200 per night on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays:
January 1 - April 30, 2025 - most Sunday through Thursday nights
Free is always better. Book your Disney vacation with me now through February 10, 2025. My services are free to you. Disney pays me to ensure you have the best vacation plus enjoy special perks.
I’ll work with you to find the perfect Walt Disney World Resort Hotel for your vacation goals and budget. Experience legendary detail, service and storytelling found in Walt Disney World Theme Parks when booking a Disney Resort hotel stay with me. From unique accommodations to distinctive dining options, themed rooms, exclusive theme park benefits, theme park transportation, and more, I help make your trip more magical because you’ll have expert, insider advice.
Choose from Disney World value, moderate, deluxe and deluxe villa properties that exemplify the Disney Difference and suit every budget.
Disney World Vacation Package Extras
Included in your Disney package
Disney World hotel accommodations (minimum 3-night stay)
Disney World Theme Park Tickets
Professional guidance from me (my services are free to you)
Early Theme Park entry
Extended evening Theme Park hours (select Deluxe hotels)
Complimentary Disney Water Park admission on check-in day (starting 1/1/2025)
Transportation to the 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Disney Springs
Free Overnight self-parking at most hotels
Free standard parking at all Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Disney Springs
Magical Extras Discount Card
Walt Disney World Luggage Tags
7-Day headstart on Lightning Lane purchase and selections
The number of packages allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price of the same package. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Theme park tickets are valid for admission beginning on date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on length of stay and ticket.
Valid Travel Dates
For arrivals most nights from February 26 to June 30, 2025
Length of Stay Requirements
Minimum – 3 nights
Maximum – 14 nights
Package Includes
Room
Theme park ticket(s)
Important Details
The number of packages allocated for this offer is limited.
Savings based on the nondiscounted price of the same package.
Everyone in the same room must be on the same package.
Theme park tickets are valid for admission beginning on date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on length of stay and ticket.
Minimum 2-day theme park ticket required.
Minimum 3-night length of stay required.
Advance reservations required.
Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
Offer excludes the following room types: Campsites; 3-Bedroom Villas; Deluxe Resort Suites; Club Level Rooms; Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge; Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort; and Bungalows and Island Tower 2-Bedroom Penthouses at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
How to Get Around Walt Disney World using Disney Transportation
The Disney bubble is huge—50 square miles huge! Learn to navigate the entire resort with this ultimate guide to Disney's mass transportation system. We break down the routes, hubs, and travel times for every free method: the Skyliner gondolas, the iconic Monorail, the bus fleet, and the ferry boats. Plus, we cover Disney's paid, premium option: the exclusive Minnie Vans. Stop wasting time and learn how to travel efficiently across Walt Disney World property!
Walt Disney World has the 3rd largest bus fleet in the state of Florida just behind Miami and Jacksonville. Buses are just one of the ways Disney moves 1 million visitors each week.
Watch the video:
Disney World created a logical, efficient mass transportation system with overhead monorail and gondola systems, buses, watercraft, and even their own rideshare service.
Here’s how Disney moves visitors across its 50 square miles of property in Central Florida every day.
Disney World operates the 3rd largest bus fleet in the state of Florida.
Disney World Buses
Buses are the most common way to get around Walt Disney World. Rather than have bus routes, Disney buses use a point-to-point system making the theme parks themselves transportation hubs.
This eliminates the need to transfer buses in most cases, making it easier for guests, and significantly reduces travel time.
Disney World buses travel between hotels and one of 4 theme parks, more like a shuttle rather than a complex network of routes around a city.
The bus has only one destination so guests do not have to study a map to find their stop.
In exchange for this simplicity, Disney buses do not travel between hotels. They travel between hotels and theme parks, and from theme park to theme park.
The one exception is the Disney Water Parks, guests will need to transfer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park to get to Blizzard Beach, and to get to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, guests need to transfer at Disney Springs.
For this reason, many guests use Uber, Lyft, and Miniei Van.
At the theme park transportation hubs, Disney buses are constantly arriving and departing from other areas on Disney World property.
Guests can get to any destination from a Disney theme park.
But what if you need to travel between hotels for a dining reservation?
Well, in this case, they will need to travel from their hotel to the nearest theme park and transfer there to the other hotel.
Disney World ensures that bus stops are well-marked with signs because most of its visitors have no idea how to get where they’re going. And digital marques on the bus confirm its destination.
Disney’s goal is to have a bus arrive every 20 minutes. They use a dynamic dispatching system that assigns buses to an area in need.
Disney recently began reporting expected arrival times at its hotel bus stops.
Buses begin operating about 1 hour before the theme park’s earliest posted opening time, taking into consideration early park admission. Buses continue to operate for one hour after the park closes including special after-hours events.
In the mid-2000s Disney began investing in low-floor buses that make it easier and faster for passengers with scooters and strollers to board.
Buses can accommodate up to 2 scooters. Strollers must be folded before boarding, so it’s a good idea not to stuff the stroller.
As we're about to discover, Disney has many other forms of transportation available to move guests around property.
For this reason, bus service is not offered or may be limited where there are other options available.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System is the 3rd busiest monorail line in the world.
Using the Walt Disney World Monorail System
The Walt Disney World monorail System is an icon, having been in operation since 1971. 12 monorails carry 160,000 riders every day, making it the 3rd most heavily used monorail system in the world.
The current trains came online in 1989 and operate on 3 lines: Magic Kingdom Resorts, Magic Kingdom Express, and Epcot.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System uses a hub and spoke design, with all 3 lines originating at Disney’s main terminal called the Ticket and Transportation Center.
There are 3 Disney World monorail lines.
The Magic Kingdom Resort Line services 3 Walt Disney World Deluxe hotels:
Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort, and Grand Floridian Resort plus a stop at the Ticket and Transporation Center for guests who want to transfer to the Epcot line.
For example, say you are staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and you want to travel to Epcot.
You will take the Resort Monorail, get off at the Ticket and Transportation Center, and transfer to the Epcot line.
The Express monorail line has only 2 stops: the Ticket and Transporation Center and the Magic Kingdom.
This line is shuttles guests between the Magic Kingdom parking lot and the theme park. Guests who are park hopping between Magic Kingdom and Epcot will also use this line.
And the Epcot monorails operate between the Ticket and Transportation Center Epcot.
Monorails begin operating about 60-90 minutes prior to park opening and after the parks close.
Scooters are accommodated on the monorails, and strollers do not need to be folded to board.
Disney World boats operate on man-made canals and lakes.
Guide to Disney World Boats
When Disney World was being built in the late 1960s, a network of canals was created to manage the high water table and to prevent flooding.
Engineers who worked on the Panama Canal were hired by Disney to oversee the project.
Today these canals also serve as major waterways to move guests around Disney World property.
Disney Water taxis connect all 5 Magic Kingdom resorts, ferryboats connect the parking lot to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot is connected to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and all the resorts in between, and Disney Springs is connected to 4 resort hotels via the Disney created, Sassagoula River.
Disney uses a variety of boats around property, some are scooter and wheelchair accessible while others are not.
If a boat is not accessible, an alternate type of transportation is provided - either a different boat, a monorail, or bus will be operating as well.
On Disney’s smaller boats, strollers must be folded and stowed out of the aisle.
But on the larger boats like ferries and the Friendship boats like this one here, strollers do not need to be folded.
Boats arrive about every 20 minutes piloted by 1-2 Cast Members.
They begin operating 60-90 minutes prior to park opening and will continue operating 60-90 minutes after park closing.
There is no central hub on any of the boat routes, they either shuttle between point A and point B or operate a repeating circuit.
Signs are posted to let guests know where the boat is headed.
And some boats are marked with a colored flag that also indicates it’s destination.
Disney World Minnie Van is Disney’s own version of Uber and Lyft.
Disney World Minnie Vans
As rideshare services grew in popularity, Disney had the idea to create its own version of Uber and Lyft to service its 50 square miles of property in Orlando. Disney transportation is free, but it takes time, think of it as public transportation.
It works, but a car is faster.
In many cases, a bus ride at Disney, from start to finish can take over an hour. Minnie Vans can do the same thing but in much less time. But not for free, of course.
How Minnie Vans work at Walt Disney World. Using the Lyft App while on Disney World property, you’ll see a special feature for Disney Minnie Van service.
A red and white polka-dotted SUV driven by a Disney Cast Member will arrive within a few minutes to take you directly to your destination.
Minnie Vans do not leave Walt Disney World property but if you’re staying Club Level at one of the Disney World hotels, you can have Minnie Van pick you up at Orlando International Airport.
The fee is comparable to a private car service.
Minnie Vans come with 2 car seats for kids and accessible Minnie Vans available.
Minnie Vans cost more than traditional Uber and Lyft rides, but it's a premium experience.
Often they can get you closer to the entrance than other forms of transportation, you’ll listen to Disney music during your ride, and you’ll have a 6-passenger Chevy Suburban to ride in.
Traditional Uber and Lyft services are available on Disney property as well.
Disney Skyliner serves 2 Disney theme parks and 4 Disney hotels.
How to Use the Disney World Skyliner System
In 2017 Disney recognized a need to connect several hotels to 2 of its theme parks. A massive network of overhead gondolas took less than 2 years to complete.
Like the Monorail System, Skyliner uses a hub system with a centralized hub, located at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. One line travels south to Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, another extends to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the third line travels to Disney’s Riviera Resort - terminating at Epcot.
Today a guest can board Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and touch down at Epcot in about 15 to 20 minutes.
But unless you’re staying at Caribbean Beach, you’ll need to transfer to a different route at the hub.
Let’s say you’re a guest staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort and you want to get to Epcot.
You’ll board Skyliner at your hotel, travel to Caribbean Beach Resort, and transfer to the Epcot line.
Each of the 250 gondolas can accommodate up to 10 passengers. Accessible gondolas are available and can load passengers on a separate, stationary platform if needed.
Disney Skyliner begins operating 1 hour prior to park opening and 1-2 hours after the parks close.
Disney will stop operation if thunderstorms are within 10 miles of Walt Disney World Resort. When Skyliner is not running, buses will be used until it's safe to operate Skyliner again.
If you have questions about getting around Walt Disney World Resort, use the comments below, or contact me at at my website.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Where to Find Disney World Halloween Characters
Disney characters will be all around the Disney World theme parks this fall. Here's where you can find them.
Walt Disney World will have some of the most popular Disney characters — including some rare finds — around the theme parks this Halloween. In this article, I share where you can find them all!
Characters Around Walt Disney World Resort
While they will not be sporting their Halloween attire, many characters from Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can still be found around Magic Kingdom during normal operating hours!
Mickey Mouse and Friends
Mickey Mouse: Town Square Theater
Minnie Mouse, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy: Pete’s Silly Sideshow
Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rivers of America River Walk in Frontierland
Princesses and Princes
Aladdin and Jasmine: Agrabah
Ariel: Ariel’s Grotto
Cinderella, Elena, Tiana, Rapunzel: Princess Fairytale Hall
Mirabel: Fairytale Garden
Mulan: Town Square Theater Porch
Other Characters from Disney Animation
Mirabel: Fairytale Garden
Anastasia and Drizella: Cinderella Fountain
Big Al, Wendell and Shaker: Roaming around Frontierland
Peter Pan: Never Land Map outside Peter Pan’s Flight
Stitch: Buzz Lightyear Exit Courtyard
Tigger and Winnie the Pooh: Pooh’s Thotful Spot
Just keep in mind, that encounters are never guaranteed and are subject to change.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
I Try Out Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Sea, One the First Oasis Class Ships
This is my experience on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships are my favorite because they are like full-service resorts at sea. But Allure of the Seas is a first-generation Oasis Class Ship built in 2010. She is missing some of the features of the newer ships. So, Is Allure of the Seas too outdated?
Watch the video
If you’re new to my channel, welcome! I’m Darren from OrlandoParksGuy.com. One of the most frequently asked questions I get about Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas is whether or not I think she’s too old.
Royal Caribbean is now up to the third generation in the Oasis Class with Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas which have a lot of improvements and offerings.
But having just sailed on Allure from Orlando’s Port Canaveral, I know firsthand what to expect and I’m sharing my standout moments with you.
When I walked onboard from the gangway, I was in the heart of the Royal Promenade, one of 7 neighborhoods on Allure. Neighborhoods are themed areas - similar to a theme park.
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade is the heart of Allure of the Seas with numerous shops, lounges, and entertainment. There are many pros and cons here. First, this is one of the areas of the ship where I got the sense that Allure was dated. The cobblestone and brick motif and earth-tone color pallet immediately jumped out at me making the ship feel old. It’s hard to imagine that we’re saying a ship from 2010 is already outdated but the newer ships have a modern and upscale decor - you don’t see the fake brickwork and cobblestone look.
As I’ve shared with you in other videos, Sorrentos is one of my favorite pizza restaurants and a staple on Royal Caribbean. Pizza in theme parks and tourist areas is usually unremarkable but this is great pizza. This is a thin-crust, New York-style pizza and you can have as much as you want - it’s included in your cruise fare. I went in for a slice every time I walked by.
Guest Services is located here which was extremely busy on the first day and last night of the cruise. This is typical for any cruise ship that I’ve been on.
There were a lot of sidewalk sales throughout my cruise where I found elaborate displays of alcohol, jewelry, and watches at seemingly discounted prices. You really need to know your prices here. In most cases, these items cost the same no matter where you go. The watches appear to be at a savings of 30% off, but I found the same prices online. It seems the only real benefit was that I didn’t have to pay sales tax. But it’s fun to look at nice watches and the salespeople were not there to high-pressure me.
One shop that I liked was the logo store. It has tons of Royal Caribbean and Allure of the Seas merchandise, much more than I have seen on ships. I usually buy a t-shirt from every ship I’ve been on and Allure had one of the largest selections I’ve ever seen, even more than newer ships.
I noticed right away that the Bionic Bar doesn’t exist on Allure’s Royal Promenade. If you’re not familiar with the Bionic Bar it’s a lounge where industrial robots make drinks to order. Cool to watch, but no one thinks of it as an actual bar. Allure’s champagne and martini bar predates the Bionic Bar concept and I think it’s much better. It’s a classy lounge and a place where people actually want to socialize. But this is about to change, I’ll reveal why at the end.
Cafe Promenade on Allure felt larger to me than other ships, and I think there was a lot more seating. This is one of my favorite places to go for coffee - this and the Park Cafe in the Central Park Neighborhood. I’m a morning person and tend to get up very early before the restaurants open. The Cafe is open 24 hrs so was able to get coffee early.
The Royal Promenade has other staples like an English pub that is one of the most popular bars on the ship. It’s very similar to the pubs on other Oasis ships. The same is true with Boleros, the Latin-inspired bar and dance club. There’s the Next Cruise office where you can get a discount by booking your next cruise while onboard. The excursion desk and photo center are also available here. I think it’s interesting that Allure still has the old photo binders even though they are no longer used. See, kids, in the old days you had to visit the photo center and flip through your binder of photos to select the ones you wanted to purchase. Today of course, this is done digitally on a touch screen.
The Rising Tide Bar travels from the Royal Promenade up to Central Park like a giant elevator. But this was the first time I saw the water feature actually working! This bar is located on all Oasis Class ships, but for some reason, the water was always turned off.
Central Park on Allure of the Seas
Oasis Class ships bring the outdoors in with Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the center of the ship opens to the sky and features lush, tropical grounds and dining.
I love the Central Park idea and I’m glad it’s even on Icon of the Seas. There isn’t much going on here and that’s kind of the point. It’s a great escape from the cruise ship atmosphere.
I love the serene pathways, gardens, and canopy trees. I checked every plant and yes they are all real in case you are wondering.
A few days into my cruise, I realized there was a Coach store in Central Park.
It’s a little easy to miss because it’s tucked away into a corner. I like this because it doesn’t make this area feel like a retail center, that’s what the Royal Promenade is for.
But Coach is an elegant store store with products for men and women and here’s a secret, they have a few Royal Caribbean exclusive items here, if you know where to look.
Central Park also has a collection of upscale dining like 150 Central Park, Chops Grille, and Vintages Wine Bar. You won’t find Vintages on the newer ships so this is a step back in time for sure - and I thought that was pretty neat. Most evenings jazz trios and guitarists were playing in the garden to a small, intimate crowd.
The Central Park Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch.
They serve complimentary coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. It’s a great place to go for a light breakfast in particular and without all the crowds.
I just wish it was open in the evening because Central Park is a great place to hang out after dark when the gardens are all lit up.
The Boardwalk neighborhood is the family area on the Oasis Class fleet and Allures is fairly typical. One of my favorite things is that it still has Sabor Mexican Restaurant.
You won’t find Sabor on the newer ships so again, it’s like going back in time. It has an ala carte menu so it’s easy to just grab a snack but this is not included in your cruise.
Enjoy this gem while you can because this space is about to change - again stay tuned to the end.
Boardwalk on Allure of the Seas
Other areas of the Boardwalk cater to family time so you’ll see a carousel, which is free. But the ice cream shop and bakery called Cups and Scoops is not free.
They have cupcakes and several varieties of ice cream here, kids will love it. And speaking of kids, the Boardwalk also has Pinwheels a gift shop featuring toys and kids' clothes.
Pinwheels is connected to a whimsical candy store which is very popular with kids of all ages - including me.
There’s a Rock Climbing Wall here for those ages 6+
I recommend that you check the cruise planner for operating times and that you arrive 15 minutes early.
A long line will form and you’ll need time to fill out a waiver.
Remember to wear socks because the wall requires special rock climbing shoes.
The aqua theater is just like those on other Oasis Class ships.
Allure’s show is similar to the others in that it’s a Cirque-style show with acrobats and high dives.
I thought this was the best show on the ship and you can easily get your kids to watch without them complaining that it’s boring.
For some reason, I wasn’t able to make a reservation for the show on the Royal Caribbean app prior to my cruise, but I stopped at the box office on Embarkation Day and was able to get my family tickets. Tickets are free.
Allure is a mega resort-style ship designed for families. And while it’s great to have things to do as a family, there’s an adult-exclusive pool area known as the Solarium.
The Solarium
I got very spoiled with Wonder of the Seas because, on the newer ships, the Solarium is completely enclosed and climate-controlled. Allure’s Solarium is shaded but open to the fresh air.
When this ship isn’t moving, it gets very hot in there.
But some passengers told me they prefer the fresh air solariums of the older ships because it feels like you’re outside rather than in a glass dome.
Inside the solarium is the Solarium Bistro.
This wasn’t for me but if you’re looking for a healthy, Mediterranean-style buffet, you might enjoy this one. Everything we tried here was very good - it’s a lot of salads, yogurts, fresh fruit and that sort of thing.
I did notice that they do have a nice breakfast if you prefer healthy options and that there was hardly anyone here.
Kids must be age 16 or older to go in the pools but it’s not to popular with teens.
There are pools and hot tubs here.
We would go in the late afternoon and have the entire solarium to ourselves. But during the day, the entire place was pretty crowded.
Pools on Allure of the Seas
If there’s one area where Allure of Seas is dated, it’s the pool deck. Allure's three main pools are located on Deck 15, divided into several distinct pool areas: Main, Beach, and Sports, as well as an H2O Zone water play area for kids. I found that the majority of travelers without kids stick to the aft end of the ship in the Main Pool or the Solarium pool. Kids and families gravitate towards the Sports pool.
But I found it shocking that there are no water slides on Allure of the Seas. No one in 2010 had the foresight that people would want water slides on a mega resort-style cruise ship.
The pools were too crowded for me, there just wasn’t enough for a ship this size. By comparison, Symphony of the Seas has 4 pools, and that still wasn’t enough when I sailed on that ship. So you can imagine what the 3 pools were like.
I’m not a big fan of pools on cruise ships anyway. I Don’t know, I just feel like a bandaid is going to float to the top of the water and if that happens, there aren’t enough showers I could take just sayin’.
Sports Deck
The sports deck is behind the pools in the aft section of the ship.
There’s a zip line where you fly over the Boardwalk neighborhood, a basketball court where young adults play all day, every day except for when pickleball classes are offered, and the Flow Rider surf simulator which is super popular with kids and young adults.
Flow Rider gets very busy and I had to sign a waiver for my son, so you should arrive early. Check the cruise planner for operating times.
As an Oasis Class ship, Allure is missing the Ultimate Abyss slide, which is a dry slide that runs from Deck 15 down to the boardwalk on Deck 6. So this could be a major disappointment to your kids if they have sailed on other Oasis ships before.
Entertainment Place
One area that I loved on Allure of the Seas was the Casino. It’s located in the Entertainment Place neighborhood. I love casinos on cruise ships and the casino on Allure of the Seas is one of the biggest and best.
It’s larger than some casinos in Las Vegas I’m sure. Smoking is allowed but there is a smoke-free side as well.
I’ve been on ships where I can’t find a place to play because the casino is too small. I would like to see a better selection of slots. They didn’t have a lot of popular games like Wheel of Fortune and so on.
During the day Studio B, also located in Entertainment Place, was opened for ice skating.
All abilities are welcome. There is no cost to skate but you do need to wear pants. I recommend getting tickets for the ice skating show offered in the evenings.
This is an extremely popular show. You can reserve this through your cruise planner or by visiting the box office.
On other Oasis Class ships, Studio B is sometimes converted into a laser tag arena but that is not offered by Allure, unfortunately.
The entertainment place is also home to an adult comedy club and the ship’s main theater where they usually have a Broadway show playing. On my cruise, the show was Mama Mia! Personally, I’m not a big fan of shows so I skipped it, I went to the casino, but everyone I talked to onboard said it was great.
Rooms on Allure of the Seas
I loved our rooms on Allure of the Seas. We had 2 rooms booked, an Ocean View Balcony and a Central Park View Balcony. Both rooms felt pretty modern and on par with the newer Oasis ships but lacked USB charging ports.
I thought it was funny to see the 2010 clock radio / iPhone charging station still being used which is utterly useless today.
If you have a lot of phones etc, be prepared for only a few outlets in your room.
One of them is behind the bed so it’s not easy to get to.
I recommend bringing a USB charging hub with you - but do not bring a power strip. They are not allowed on cruise ships.
This was my first time booking a Central Park balcony room and I have to say it was terrific.
Being that this was our second room, we saved a ton of money on it compared to booking another ocean-view balcony. It had a great view, especially at night.
We loved being able to have access to the outdoors from our room even though it wasn’t looking at the ocean.
I would have no problems booking a Central Park balcony again.
Our stateroom attendants were beyond attentive, a trademark of Royal Caribbean.
You can tell they take guest satisfaction very seriously which is one of the reasons why I like this cruise line so much.
Dining on Allure of the Seas
Allure has over 25 restaurants onboard, about half of which are complimentary. I rarely do specialty dining, I’m perfectly fine with the free options that come with my cruise and I really like the main dining room on Royal Caribbean ships.
I live in Orlando so I am surrounded by touristy restaurants like hibachi grills etc.
I don’t feel the need to do these onboard the ship but I know that many people find them fun. For me, I don’t have any problems with the main dining room.
As with most Royal Caribbean ships, there are 2 seatings: early and late, plus My Time Dining - where you can just show up and take any available table.
But what Royal Caribbean doesn’t tell you is that you will be in a long line waiting for a table to become available.
So I don’t recommend My Time at all but this is another show.
The main dining room is also open for breakfast.
Most people head to the buffet in the morning but here’s a secret, there’s hardly anyone in the main dining room for breakfast.
Sometimes there are themed nights.
On my cruise, there was a Caribbean Night and a White Night, where guests were encouraged to wear all-white outfits.
I don’t like white clothes so I just didn’t participate.
That was perfectly fine. Many others skipped the theme as well.
These themed nights are optional, which is something I love about Royal Caribbean.
But if you are worried that you might feel out of place, you could always visit Windjammers Buffet.
Windjammers is just awesome, no matter which Royal Caribbean ship you’re on. And while it’s super crowded for breakfast, there is usually no one here for dinner. I found that Windjammers usually offers the same dinner menu as the Main Dining Room plus more options.
Earlier in the show, I mentioned there would be a big announcement and I think you’re going to like it. Starting in February 2025, Allure of the Seas will be undergoing a $100 million dollar renovation.
She will be drydocked through April 2025 so that doesn’t leave much time to blow 100 million dollars but I assume they have everything lined up and will just get to it.
Most notably she will be outfitted with an Ultimate Abyss slide (finally!), and she’ll have a Pesky Parrot Bar going where the Champagne Bar is on the Royal Promenade.
The Pesky Parrot made its debut on Utopia of the Seas.
There will be several updated restaurants - so Sabor will go away and become Playmakers Sports Bar, and she will be getting the much-needed water slides! She will also be getting laser tag she will get several more updates on the bars and lounges, plus an all-new teen club.
Now I didn’t get into the kids and teens clubs on Allure here because I have an entire video dedicated to that topic.
It has everything you need to know about taking kids and teens with you on Allure of the Seas, it’s a must-see if you have kids.
You can join me over there by clicking on this video here.
Video: Allure of the Seas with Kids
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Disney World After Hours Tickets, Prices and Dates 2025
Disney After Hours is back at Walt Disney World Resort for 2025, offering late-night adventures for guests and their families.
Disney After Hours is back at Walt Disney World Resort for 2025, offering late-night adventures for guests and their families. These separately ticketed events are limited to a select number of guests, allowing them to enjoy Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT after they officially close for the day.
One of the biggest perks is that Guests can start their night as early as 7 p.m. and stay three hours after the parks close, experiencing shorter wait times for attractions, meeting some of their favorite characters, and indulging in snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and select drinks.
The events begin on January 6, 2025, at Magic Kingdom, January 22, 2025, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and February 27, 2025 at EPCOT.
Disney After Hours Event Times
Event times at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Over at Hollywood Studios, event times are from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Plus, guests can enter the parks as early as 7 p.m. to make the most of the night with their friends and family.
After Hours Event Dates at Magic Kingdom
At Magic Kingdom, guests can ride some of the most mesmerizing attractions under the night sky like TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, both available via standby queue, as well as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain and many more!
These special nights will take place on:
January 6, 13, 20 and 27
February 3, 10, 17 and 24
March 3, 17, 24 and 31
April 7 and 28
May 5, 12 and 19
After Hours Event Dates at EPCOT
Guests can bask in the vibrant glow of Spaceship Earth as they experience the magic of EPCOT after dark. Enjoy your favorite attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After and Soarin’ Around the World.
These special nights will take place on:
February 27
May 8 and 29
June 19 and 26
July 10, 24 and 31
August 7, 14, 21 and 28
September11 and 25
After Hours Event Dates at Hollywood Studios
Guests can dive into Andy’s backyard in Toy Story Land, join forces with their bright lightsaber in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, rock out in Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and even visit the fifth dimension in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Hollywood Studios offers all this and more as guests explore the park through the night.
These special nights will take place on:
January 22 and 29
February 12 and 19
March 5 and 26*
April 1* and 30
May 14 and 28
June 4,11 and 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
August 6, 20 and 27
September 3
*On March 26 and April 1, Disney After Hours will run from 10pm until 1am
Disney World After Hours Ticket Prices 2025
Disney After Hours ticket prices range from $175 to $185 (plus tax) for Magic Kingdom, $155 to $175 (plus tax) for EPCOT and $155 to $185 (plus tax) for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Tickets go on sale for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green on September 4. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale September 10.
All guests need to do is pick their night, pick their park and enjoy their after-hour exploration!
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Why You Shouldn’t Rent Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Points
The downside to renting DVC Points. What they won’t tell you.
Disney Vacation Club is a Disney’s version of a timeshare program but rather than buying a set week as with companies like RCI and Hilton Grand Vacations, Disney Vacation Club members get an annual allotment of points. These points can be redeemed at a variety of Disney Resorts, most of them however are located at Disney World in Florida.
Points are based on things like the resort you choose, room category, and date. Nightly point rates cost more during the holidays and spring break than say, summertime which is Value Season.
One of my viewers pointed out that she was looking to rent points for a 1-bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower at Walt Disney World for a few nights in late December.
The room cost 56 points per night.
But when she looked into traveling in July, the same room cost only 28 points per night. So she was able to rent fewer points which saved her money.
If a Disney Vacation Club Member decides they do not want to use their points, they can rent them out to someone else either through a broker, they may use a Facebook group that relies heavily on the honor system where you can rent DVC points by owner.
The claim is that renting points can save you a lot of money over paying cash for the room and allow you to book a room category that would likely be available only to Disney Vacation Club members - like a 1, 2, or 3-bedroom villa at a Disney World Deluxe Resort.
And while I can confirm that there are savings, they are not usually as high as some people say. In the research that I’ve done, it looks to be more like a savings of about 30-35%.
But Disney almost always has 30-35% discounts on Deluxe hotel rooms anyway.
Now, I have noticed that the 3-bedroom Villas are often excluded from the discounts, but 3-bedroom villas are very expensive no matter how you book them.
They are also difficult to get because there are so few of them.
Watch My Video on Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
First I don’t recommend booking through Facebook groups etc. I know many people are have had only great experiences and most people are honest.
But it’s when things go wrong that positive relationships can go downhill rather quickly and you’ll probably end up on The People’s Court.
Both parties are entrusting each other, who are strangers by the way, with thousands of dollars at play. And as a fan of The People’s Court myself, I’ll borrow at quote from the judge: “the cheap ends up expensive.”
Brokers are the way to go when it comes to renting points. Just do a Google search and you’ll see a whole bunch come up.
But the process requires money up front with some uncertainties.
With most, you’ll be required to give a deposit upfront to initiate the search.
You’ll provide your dates, hotel, and room choice and know how many points you’ll need. Once the deposit is made, the broker will then try to find someone who matches your parameters and negotiate a price.
Hopefully, they can match you with someone who has points based out of that resort, known as a Home Resort.
In short, a home resort allows you to book at that specific resort 11 months out - which is a significant headstart over other Disney Vacation Members who have a different home resort. More on this coming up in a bit.r
If a match is found, and the price is acceptable, the broker has them create a reservation for you through Disney.
The broker will then pass that information on to you.
You then have a set period, usually 24 hours, to pay the broker in full for the cost of the rented points.
Now, you have to be absolutely sure that you’re taking this vacation, even if someone gets sick because the payment is non-refundable.
Some brokers will allow you to cancel and issue a credit for a future stay, but otherwise, it’s rare to get your money back once you hand it over.
On the other hand, when you book a Disney vacation package, you only need to pay the refundable $200 deposit and the final payment isn’t due until 30 days prior to your check-in date.
So this is a big downside to renting points. Disney makes it very easy for you to make modifications, cancel, and even make payments.
When you rent DVC points you’re agreeing to give up these perks.
Mike wrote to me and pointed out that he had to purchase his Disney theme park tickets on his own after renting his points.
““I didn’t realize that I had to pay for my tickets in full and they were non-refundable,” he wrote. He went on to say “”
This is a major drawback compared to booking a package with my travel agent.”
Mike is 100% right.
Tickets purchased outside of a package are non-refundable but Disney will allow him to change his ticket dates.
But it’s yet another thing that you must pay in full upfront.
So between the full payment for the points and full payment on the tickets, you can easily have several thousands of dollars out.
Remember when you book a Disney World package, you only pay the $200 refundable deposit - the final balanuce isn’t due until 30-days prior to check in.
One of the biggest drawbacks of renting points is that modifying your dates or changing your party mix is a complicated endeavor.
If you find a significantly cheaper flight that comes in two days before, well, changing your DVC dates isn’t going to be easy - and may even be impossible.
So you may be stuck paying the higher airfare if you can’t change your DVC dates.
This one seems obvious but you have to ensure that the member’s account is in good standing. If they forget to pay their annual dues, Disney may suspend their member benefits, including the ability to make or keep reservations.
Also, many DVC members who are renting points, are open to selling their membership. Maybe they are just done with it, sick of Disney, the kids prefer Universal or want to on a cruise, whatever.
Members may sell their membership on a DVC resale market.
Now, the new owners will see that they are buying points that have been rented. Hopefully, the new owners will honor your points, but they could cancel your reservation if they want your points for their vacation. Remember that the member owns your reservation, you’re just renting.
I heard from a woman who rented points for a studio at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
After some consideration, she decided she wanted to buy the Disney Dining Plan. But to add the dining plan, she had to ask the broker to ask the owner to add it to the reservation.
The owner needed her credit card to make the purchase.
This made her feel uncomfortable.
Travel Insurance with DVC Points
Travel insurance is something you need to consider when renting points but you’ll need to do this on your own, it’s not offered through the broker.
I don’t know why, but the sites I visited all make a point of saying they cannot offer travel protection and they cannot offer any advice on travel protection.
When you book a typical Disney World vacation package, Disney or your travel agent (you know you should book with a travel agent, right?) will take the time to review the travel protection policy with you and you can purchase it directly from Disney.
Do You Save Money Renting DVC Points?
Do you really save 50% off as some websites say? Yes and no. I have visited multiple DVC rental sites and compared them to Disney’s current prices.
In some cases, there were significant discounts, even greater than 50%, but most of the time the savings were about 25-35 percent.
In some cases there was hardly any savings at all like this one:
I entered Oct 21 through Oct 24, 3 nights, for a 1-bedroom Standard View Villa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.
The average rental price for points was $1,800 for the stay.
Booking directly with Disney, using the fall room discount of 35% off, the nightly rate was $1849.
It Works For Other DVC Members
So why would anyone rent points with all these negatives and uncertainties?
Well, there is one group of people in particular where renting points makes perfect sense: other Disney Vacation Club members.
See, DVC members have a home resort, which simply means they get a headstart on booking their vacation at one particular resort over everyone else - an 11-month headstart.
For example, my home resort is Boulder Ridge at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
I can book my reservation there 11 months out while others have to wait.
This gives me the best chance at availability.
Now, if I want to book a different resort, let’s say Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, I have to wait 7 months to book it because it’s not my home resort.
Availability will be limited at 7 months out, so there’s a good chance I won’t be able to book the room I want there.
Unless I rent points from someone whose home resort is Bay Lake Tower. I can rent their points 11 months out for the best availability and then rent my own points out to someone else. Hopefully, I’ll break even but in most cases, there will be some loss, especially if I use a broker who will take a commission for their work.
Renting points is a tricky business and you really have to do your homework.
Weigh out the pros and cons of renting, consider cancellation policies, and if the savings are worth it.
If you’re a first-time visitor, I don’t think you should attempt this - you really should know the ins and outs of Disney World vacation before you go rogue and end up making it even more complicated.
I have a video that explains traditional Disney World vacation packages where I discuss how it works and point out some money-saving tips. You can check that coming up right here!
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
Is the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando worth the splurge? From Unlimited Express Passes to the Rock Royalty Lounge, here is a "Park Warrior" look at the VIP life.