The Sorcerer's Guide

Now that Genie+ and Lightning Lane have been up and running for the better part of a year, Disney has started to tweak the experience at Walt Disney World. Starting June 8th, guests will not be able to purchase Genie+ until the day of their visit. Disney has also stated that the number of Genie+ purchases available may be limited on a given day. Recently, they also updated the product description, which now states that guests should expect to get 2 or 3 Lightning Lanes in a day. This tells us that Disney is starting to recognize a need for change in the way Genie+ runs. This raised the question of whether you need Genie+ to be able to see the park in a day. To test it out, I set out to see all of Epcot without Genie+ in a single day. (Spoiler alert: I saw most of the park without it!) Summary To see how well I did, we’ll be comparing what I did to the list of  65 things to do at Epcot  from Disney World’s Attractions page. Let’s look at some numbers to summarize my day, and th...

 Maintenance is a critical part of ensuring the safety and longevity of Disney rides. Disney parks operate some of the most sophisticated and complex ride systems in the world, and keeping them running smoothly requires constant attention and care. Disney uses teams of engineers and technicians from early design through long-term maintenance to make sure that the rides run as well as possible. They are complex machines that need to be "always available." Maintenance on Disney rides is a multi-step process that involves daily inspections, routine maintenance, and major overhauls. Each ride is inspected every day before it opens to the public, and any issues are addressed immediately. Routine maintenance is also performed regularly to ensure that all components are working as intended and to prevent any potential problems. In addition to daily inspections and routine maintenance, Disney also conducts regular safety checks and major overhauls on its rides. Safety ch...

Star Tours is a popular attraction at Disney parks that takes guests on an immersive journey through the Star Wars universe. The ride has been a staple of Disney parks since its debut in 1987, but continues to grow and develop. Now, Disney has announced that more ride films will be added, coming in 2024 . Unfortunately, they have not yet announced any new missions for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, so we’ll have to rely on Star Tours for our new adventures. Origin The idea for Star Tours first came about in the early 1980s when George Lucas and Disney Imagineers began discussing the possibility of creating a Star Wars-themed ride. Lucas was intrigued by the idea of using the latest technology to create a unique and immersive experience for park guests. The ride was officially announced in 1985 and opened to the public in 1987 at Disneyland. It was an instant hit, with long lines and rave reviews from guests. The ride’s popularity led to the creation of additional Star Tours attract...

 Edison Square was a planned land at Disneyland that was never built. The area was intended to be a turn-of-the-century city block inspired by the inventions and innovations of Thomas Edison, the famed inventor and businessman. Some of it's planning was designed to mesh well with the then-planned Liberty Street, which turned into Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. Although the land was never completed, it remains an interesting part of Disneyland history and a fascinating look at what could have been. The concept for Edison Square was first introduced in the 1950s, shortly after Disneyland opened. The land was designed to showcase the technological advancements of the early 20th century, with attractions and experiences centered around the inventions of Thomas Edison. The area was meant to be located between Main Street USA and Fantasyland, and would have featured a variety of shops, restaurants, and attractions. Some of the proposed attractions for Edison Square inc...

Easter has a long and rich history at Disney parks, dating back to the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Since then, Easter has become a beloved tradition at Disney parks around the world, with special events and activities that celebrate the holiday in magical ways. One of the earliest Easter traditions at Disneyland was the annual Easter Parade down Main Street USA. The parade featured live performers and Disney characters dressed in their Easter best, and it quickly became a fan favorite. The parade continued for many years, and it remains a cherished memory for many Disney fans. In the 1970s and 1980s, Disney parks began to introduce new Easter traditions, such as Easter egg hunts and Easter-themed merchandise. These activities proved popular with visitors and helped to establish Easter as a major holiday at Disney parks. In the 1990s, Disney parks began to introduce even more elaborate Easter celebrations, including live shows and interactive experiences. For example, Disneyland int...

It’s October, which means we’re half way through the Halloween season! We want to report on the Crowd Calendar’s performance. We’ll make this a habit, so you can expect a monthly update with some statistics. This report will be about a combination of the two, but we post Disneyland and Walt Disney World calendars separately. Across Disneyland and Walt Disney World, our average error was 0.2, with a standard deviation of 1.5 points. 67% of our predictions were within 1 point, and 92% were within 2. There were only two predictions that were off by more than 3: September 10th at Disneyland was a 2, and we had predicted a 6. The lower crowds were likely because of the D23 expo. This was the day of the Disney Parks panel. So this would have been the day that the biggest park fans would be at the expo most of the day. We’ll need to take this difference into account for the next Expo. September 26th at Epcot was an 8, and we had predicted a 4. Magic Kingdom on this same day was a 7, when ...

Halloween time is one of the most profitable seasons for theme parks. The demand keeps growing, and more destinations are adding events. Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure is a separate ticketed event that allows exclusive access to the park on select nights leading up to Halloween. To accommodate the party, the park closes to regular day guests at 6:00, and that has an impact at the Crowds at Oogie Boogie Bash. Impact on Waits What impact can this have on the lines for rides? There’s a lot that goes into a decision about which park to visit, and what time to be there. Here are some ways that guests behavior changes because of Oogie Boogie Bash. Some people choose to go to California Adventure because they’re going to the party Some people choose to go to Disneyland instead to avoid the extra crowd Some people choose to go to Disneyland instead because they prefer to have their theme park hours later Some people choose to go to California Adventure earlier in the d...