Commentary Archive
Walt Disney World tested new facial recognition technology for park entry at Magic Kingdom. In this post, we’ll share photos and video of our experience with the new contactless tech, thoughts on Big Brother fears & privacy concerns, and more. (Updated May 3, 2021.) Let’s start with official details, per DisneyWorld.com and signage outside the
“When will Walt Disney World’s mask policy end?” and “will face coverings still be required in 2021 or 2022?” are common questions. The latter is usually some variant, asking whether masks will be mandatory in Summer 2021. (Updated April 19, 2021.) We’ll start by underscoring the reality that Madame Leota is not employed by this
When to visit Walt Disney World is a common question, but lately that question has shifted from top weeks to best years for a WDW vacation. Now, it’s whether to go in Summer 2021 for the start of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary or wait until 2022 when things are back to normal? (Updated April
With spring break season nearly over and summer fast approaching, it’s time to return to one of our favorite topics: “Revenge Travel” at Walt Disney World in 2021. This isn’t the first…second…or even third time we’ve broached the subject, which has significant implications for crowds, attendance, and pricing for travel to Orlando later this year.
“When will Walt Disney World Annual Pass sales resume?” has become one of our most common reader questions. Many of you are itching to buy APs, postponing park visits to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom until passes are available again. We’ll try to answer based on what we know, attendance limits, a
We have a love-hate relationship with Walt Disney World transportation. When it’s firing on all cylinders, the system of monorails, boats, gondolas, and even buses is unparalleled–the best exemplar of mass transit of any major “city” in the United States. In the past, we’ve gone entire trips with only great experiences from start to finish,
Walt Disney World has announced the MagicMobile service, a new contactless way to use features like theme park entry through iPhones, Apple Watches, and other smart devices. In this post, we’ll share details, address whether the MagicBand is dying, and also speculate on the future. Launching in phases starting later this year, MagicMobile will be
Wondering when FastPass+ will come back at Walt Disney World or if it’ll be replaced by another ride reservation system? This post covers dates FastPass could return, how virtual queues create “ghost guests” and reduce park capacity, and the possibility of Disney Genie as a long term replacement. (Updated March 12, 2021.) For those who
Excitement has been building for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure for years. Walt Disney World fans are anxiously awaiting the first major addition of EPCOT’s overhaul, and World Showcase is starved for attractions. So it makes sense. But with opening delayed for over a year after being first announced 5 years ago, does the hype exceed what
For years, this site has focused on the intersection of attendance and discounts at Walt Disney World. It’s fun to compare deals and discuss when crowd patterns might necessitate special offers to incentivize visits. (We take pride in our historical predictions and rumors of Free Dining drop day, although that now feels like the ancient
“When will Walt Disney World stop requiring theme park reservations?” and “will the Park Pass system end early?” have been common questions in response to our park reports for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. This post tries to answer that question, touching upon similar systems in use elsewhere and long-term goals. (Updated February 16,
