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Hi! I'm Anita!
 Got
a question about Walt Disney World? I probably have the answer! Deb's
Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide is the most comprehensive
guide to the World on the Web, but if you still can't find the information
you're looking for by using the Site Map,
the Search
Function, or the Anita Answer Archives, drop
me a line and I'll do my best to find the answer for you. Since
there are only 24 hours in a day, I can't answer every email I receive
- however, I do read every one and try to answer as many as possible.
Check back weekly and see if your answer is waiting, and be sure to check
out my blog, Anita Talk. Meanwhile,
I'm All Ears!
Dan
writes:
Hey Anita,
I love the weekly answers you give and all the information on this site.
We've been regular visitors to Deb Wills' site since about 1997 when
we began planning a trip for 1998.
While perusing
the various menus available, I got to thinking about whether you keep
the older menus from years gone by? I was curious as to how much those
hamburgers have gone up in price over the past 10 years. Is there a
way for us to view the archives and reminisce?
Hi
Dan!
We don't
feature reader access to our archives; however, there are archiving
websites out there that can help you on your quest. I was able to find
the old www.wdwig.com pages by using Internet Archive Wayback
Machine http://www.archive.org/web/web.php and typing www.wdwig.com
in the box.
In the
meantime, to satisfy your curiosity, in October 1998 a quarter pound
cheeseburger and fries at Cosmic Ray's was $4.65 and a medium drink
was $1.55. A quarter pound cheeseburger at Cosmic
Ray's today costs $6.09 and a medium drink is $2.09. That's
an increase of $1.44 for the burger and fries, and 54 cents for the
drink, or a $1.98 increase per meal. Surprisingly, the increase is much
less than I thought it would be, since that averages out to less than
a 20 cent increase per year over the last decade.
Hope this
helps, and have I mentioned lately how much I hate doing math? (Kidding!)
A.A.
Glenn
writes:
Hi Anita.
I love the column! Could you please tell me what the area that looks
like a bus station near the International Gateway at Epcot is for? Was
it ever used? I have wondered about this often and finally decided to
ask.
Thank you so much!
Hi Glenn!
In the
early- to mid-1990s, when the Boardwalk Resort area was still under
construction, there used to be a tram that ran from the International
Gateway to the resorts. Originally, it only went to the Swan and Dolphin,
because that's all there was, but eventually it expanded to have stops
at the Yacht and Beach
Clubs, and then Boardwalk.
It only ran for about three years, and I only rode it once. After all
of the construction was completed, a tram wasn't really necessary, since
you could either walk or take a Friendship to the International Gateway
and back.
These days,
the area is used for special events like conventions, private parties
and for seasonal Disney Vacation Club-related events.
A.A.
Iris
writes:
Hi Anita.
I need your expertise - again.
Why is
it possible to book a Disney land/sea vacation with the regular Dining
Plan but not with the Deluxe Dining Plan? I know that Disney Parks and
Disney Cruise Line are two entities, but if they offer one, why not
the other?
Thank you
- again!
Hi
Iris!
I wasn't
100% sure of the answer, so I contacted a close friend who is a travel
agent specializing in Disney travel. She told me that it is because,
as you said, Disney Parks and the Disney Cruise Line are two separate
companies. Disney Cruise Line concentrates mostly on the cruises, and
adds the land, park admission and dining components as "extras."
In most cases, those added components cannot be upgraded or changed.
Based on the many guest requests, they have added the Basic
Dining Plan, but at this time are not planning to add the Deluxe
Dining. She added that she tends to book a lot of trips with
the land part separate from the sea part because of this quirk, so apparently
many cruise line guests want to add a little extra to their "extras"
just like you do. For now, it looks like you at least have the option
to book the two parts of your trip separately.
Have a
great time planning!
A.A.
Laney
writes:
I have
a question in regard to the boat from Port Orleans French Quarter to
Downtown Disney: Where exactly does the boat land in Downtown Disney,
so we can find a restaurant near there? Thanks again!
Hi
Laney!
There are
two boat docks for the resort ferries; one at each end of Downtown
Disney. The one at West Side
is near the House of Blues.
The Marketplace dock is between
the Rainforest Cafe and Captain
Jack's. The ferry doesn't always stop at the West Side dock,
so ask the skipper when you board, and plan accordingly.
Besides
the three restaurants mentioned above, you'll find the entire list of
Downtown Disney eateries' menus on the AllEars.net
Downtown Disney Dining Pages.
A.A.
Melissa
writes:
My family
and I made our first trip to the Magic Kingdom in the summer of 1973.
My memories of this trip are sketchy, but I remember the restaurant
where we had lunch. There were two levels and you could look down to
the first level from the second. There was a stage on the first floor
that rose from out of the floor at the beginning of a performance and
lowered back into the floor when the performance was over.
Can you
tell me what restaurant this was, where it was located, what kind of
entertainment was there and any other information you may have? Thanks
for your assistance.
Hi Melissa!
That was
the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant. It closed in September 1994 to
make way for Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe,
which opened in December 1994. Don't confuse this place with the Tomorrowland
Terrace Noodle Station, which used to be called the Plaza Pavilion,
and don't confuse the Plaza Pavilion with the Plaza
Restaurant, which still exists on Main Street. Confusing? Yes!
My brain hurts!
I, as usual,
digress. In the early days, the Tomorrowland Terrace featured live musical
entertainment. The stage, which can and still does rise up from the
lower level, is where Sonny Eclipse normally performs. The stage is
also used for choirs, bands, characters, and dance party DJs during
special events like the Not So Scary Halloween Party.
A.A.
Mike
and Brandy both wrote:
You always
tell us that, when asked for the time, you explain how the watch works.
Well, this morning I have to admit I felt like the watch was missing!
You mentioned that during the busy times of year, the parks close in
phases and that Phase 1 is the closing of the parking lots. What are
the other phases and who is able to get in during each phase and who
isn't? I've always thought that resort guests were able to get in no
matter what. Is there a phase where even resort guests can't get into
the parks?
Thanks
for your GREAT column!
Hi
Mike and Brandy!
I just
knew somebody would ask me more about phased closings! Synchronize your
watches and here goes:
WDW Phased
Park Closings
Phase I:
Guests with non-hopper-type Magic Your Way base tickets or Single Day/Single
Park Tickets, guests without admission, and Cast Members using certain
types of CM admission are turned away at the entrances to the parking
lots.
Phase II:
Disney Resort guests, Annual/Premium Annual Passholders, guests with
park hopper tickets, and guests re-entering the same park on the same
day are admitted, but only if they arrive using Disney resort transportation
or a taxi.
Phase III:
Disney Resort guests and Annual/Premium Annual passholders are admitted;
however, they must arrive using Disney resort transportation.
Phase IV:
The parks are closed to all incoming guests. There is no incoming transportation
of any kind.
As you
can see, while it's true in general that Disney
Resort guests are allowed into a park that has been closed to
day guests, it is possible for even resort guests to be shut out of
the parks if they get to a certain capacity. If a park got to that phase
of closing, you wouldn't want to be in the park anyway, trust me!
Although
I've never been in a park during a Phase IV closing, I've been in Epcot
during a Phase III closing, and it was literally wall-to-wall people.
It was almost impossible to make our way through the sea of people,
and Soarin' had a 3.5 hour wait according to the tip board! Yikes!
To give
you an idea of what time of day phased closings may be implemented,
on New Year's Eve 2007, the Magic Kingdom
had already reached Phase III at around 11:00 am. Before lunchtime,
no one but resort guests and AP holders coming by Disney transportation
were able to get into the park at that time.
Why do
I say "at that time?" Because Phased Closings are fluid, and
each park may reach a different closing phase at a different time of
day. Not only that, they can change throughout the day as people come
and go. The crowds can get better or worse, depending on who's arriving,
how they're arriving, and even the weather.
I remember
one New Year's Eve a few years ago, when we were dining at the Contemporary
Steakhouse with several friends. When we left the Magic Kingdom at dinner
time for our dining reservation, it was likely at Phase III (there was
a line for the Hall of Presidents!). During dinner, a sudden huge storm
blew in, complete with torrential rains. We went back to the Magic Kingdom
anyway because it was warm and a little rain doesn't bother us, even
when the water is ankle deep on Main Street. Although we all ended up
with ruined shoes, we quite literally had the park to ourselves the
whole night, and we declared it to be The Best New Year's Eve Ever!
All that
said, you can't depend on a freak storm to chase the crowds away. If
you intend to be in a park on a peak day like New Year's Eve and are
not a Disney resort guest, you must get there BEFORE the park opens.
The parking lots open at least an hour before the park does. The Rule
of Thumb for Disney resort guests is, "If you can get to the turnstiles,
you can get in the park." Do remember, though, that it's possible
that even resort guests could get locked out.
Happy planning,
everyone!
A.A.
That's
it for this edition!
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question?
Then you need an answer!
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