Walt Disney World Hacks

American Idol Live Opens at Disney Hollywood Studios on 2/14/09

The much anticipated American Idol Live attraction will finally have its grand opening at Disney Hollywood Studios on February 14, 2009. The American Idol Live attraction will have one serious advantage for serious American Idol potential contestants. Taken from the official press release:

Guest performers with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day Grand Finale show at Walt Disney World, and the winner of the Grand Finale show will receive a guaranteed reservation for a future regional stadium audition -- to ensure no waiting in long lines -- for the "American Idol" TV show. But when it comes down to the television show auditions, everyone is treated equal.

Since I am not a big Idol fan and have never been to an audition, I’m not sure exactly if this will be as great as it sounds, but it should at least guarantee against getting turned away without an audition. Which seems like a pretty big deal to me.

Also, I imagine that lines for this attraction will be fairly long for spectators, not to mention those who wish to try out, so make sure if this is on your “must-do” list for WDW, you get to the park early and get your name in the pot quickly. First thing.

Good luck!

Best Places to Watch Wishes in the Magic Kingdom

 

Wishes is one of those must-do events when you visit Walt Disney World. Who hasn't seen the iconic images of fire exploding above the castle?

Wishes also regularly plays a part in big life events. I've personally seen marriage proposals take place during Wishes. And many other guests make Wishes a special event for honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays and the like.

So, obviously, people want the best experience for their Wishes excursion. The fact of the matter is, there are a number of excellent options when it comes to watching Wishes. I'll give you all of the options that I possibly can and try to highlight the pros and cons of each.

It's important to note that there is a location within the Magic Kingdom that dims the lights during Wishes. I've outlined this area on the map below. While there are some not-so-great spots in this area, I'd easily say that the best spots to view Wishes are right within this area:

Where To Find the Villains - Maleficent, The Evil Queen, Cruella and More

Maleficent greets the crowd at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Some of my favorite Disney characters are the Villains and it was years before I could finally hunt down my favorite villains in order to get a snapshot. Yes. I wanted a picture with The Evil Queen and Maleficent. Sue me.

It's understandable why so many people want to find the Villains once they get to Walt Disney World. They're the epitome of cool. Here are a few ways to find your favorite villain so you too can take a photo with your favorite.

• Obviously, the best time to find the villains is during the Halloween season and particularly during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. They even have their own show, The Villains Mix and Mingle, which takes place on the stage in front of Cinderella's Castle. After the show, the villains come down to mingle with the crowd and take photos.
• Disney Hollywood Studios is a hotspot for the villains. During the day, you're very likely to see them hanging out in the courtyard in front of the Chinese Theatre. Um, that's where the big Mickey's Sorcerer's hat resides.
• Cruella can sometimes be found hanging out near Tony's Restaurant just near the entrance at the Magic Kingdom. There are *always* characters around this area and, if you can catch a Character Assistant (they'll be the cast member in the yellow, red and black shirt assisting the character), ask them if they know when Cruella, or any of the other villains, will be making her next appearance.
• The really "hot" villains seem to make random appearances near the Castle. I've heard of impromptu appearances taking place in Fantasyland, near the castle, during nightly Extra Magic Hours.
• Captain Hook is the easiest villain to find. He and Mr. Smee make scheduled appearances near Pirates of the Caribbean throughout the day.
• If you simply want to see the villains, you can find them in a number of shows. Currently, Maleficent and her ilk can be see in the Dream Along With Mickey show at Cinderella Castle's forecourt. You can also see them:
• During the Magic Kingdom's Disney Dreams Come True parade.
• The Evil Queen, Captain Hook and even Ursula make appearances during the nightly Spectromagic parade. This parade doesn't take place all nights, so check the daily schedule. Also, this parade *will* be canceled if weather is inclement.
• Fantasmic at Disney Hollywood Studios is a show centered around the villains and the havoc they can cause within Mickey's dreams.
• The Boo To You parade during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom is a villains fan's dream come true. You'll even see a couple of villains you don't normally see such as Captain Barbossa from The Pirates of the Caribbean.

Unfortunately, one of the best parades in which to see the villains was Disney Hollywood Studios now retired Disney Stars and Motorcar Parade. It was replaced by Pixar's Block Party Bash (grumble). Rumor has it that the parade will resume its "route" at Disneyland Paris (weep!).

Good luck with your villains hunt! Feel free to send me links to your photos.

And if you've had any great villains experiences, post them in the comments below.

How To Get Your Kid Into Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial

Awhile back, I uploaded video of Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial at the Magic Kingdom. The video became instantly popular and has amassed over 20,000 views since uploading it.

One of the most common questions people ask in the comments and via messages on YouTube in response to that video is, "How can I get my kid into the pirate tutorial? Any tips?"

The first thing to remember is that Jack and Mack, Jack's pirate assistant, just can't say no to most kids. However, if you want to really get your kid a one on one "training session" with Jack, here are a few tips that might help you achieve your child's dreams of being a Disney pirate.

• Never hurts to dress the part. If your child already has a pirate hat or one of those nifty sets of Mickey ears with the pirate sash, your chances of taking front and center are much greater. I once saw Jack pay particular attention to a little boy wearing an Aztec Gold pirate necklace. 
• Make sure your child is lively, but not too lively. Tales circulate of little boys and girls who were a little too lively with their plastic swords. These children are almost always returned to their parents post-haste. 
• Get to the show area early. Times are posted at the schedule just in front of the castle hub. Don't get there late and then push your way to the front (or worse yet, push your child to the front). This is just rude and I have seen parents called out for it. Which makes it not only rude, but embarrassing. 
• When Mack and Jack call for pirate volunteers, do NOT shove your child into the open circle. I think I've had to hear Mack tell parents not to shove their children into the open circle a number of times. Don't do it. If your kid is too shy and doesn't want to do it: DON'T MAKE THEM. 
• Peak times mean more people and more spectators for the Pirate Tutorial. Try to visit during a time when visitors aren't in peak attendance. This is not only good for this particular situation, but also just makes your visit more enjoyable in general.

Above all, enjoy it and don't take it too seriously. If you really want to see your kid in the midst of the pirate tutorial and they don't get picked the first time around, try for a second. You'll usually have your wish granted. :)