Disney’s Animal Kingdom to permanently eliminate the Jammin Jungle Parade.

May 31, 2014 will be the final performance of Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade.  I broke this news last night on my Twitter and Facebook feeds to mixed responses.  Some people love the parade and some hate it.  It was the first parade my children ever saw and the photo of my son’s first view of Mickey is priceless to me.  I’ve enjoyed the parade, but the park is very cramped in the thoroughfares, so it really congests traffic for an hour and a half each day.  Disney is using the excuse that Festival of the Lion King will be re-opeining soon after and that they are doing lots of improvements in the future like the Rivers of Light and Land of Avatar.  Seems like a big budget savings too ;)  I deleted Jammin Jungle Parade from the June-August Crowd Calendars.

Character Palooza times updated

I just completed updating the times for Character Palooza from May through August.  I was able to confirm with the assistance of my daughter an some blog readers the current times.  If anything changes in the future, I’ll update you.  I added all the times to the June-August Crowd Calendars the Character Palooza information page and the Character Locator app.

Minnie Mouse at Hollywood Studios, Winnie the Pooh at Epcot and Daisy/Donald at Animal Kingdom  to begin offering Fastpass+ booking on Sunday, May 11

UPDATE 5/9 the Fastpass+ exclusivity for these meets has been canceled and all will continue to offer stand by waits

UPDATE 5/7  All these meets are now listed as FP+ ONLY

I told you many moons ago that Minnie Mouse at Hollywood Studios, Winnie the Pooh at United Kingdom and the Discovery Island meet (changing from Tigger and Pooh to Daisy and Donald) would offer Fastpass+.  The story went that those meets would become FP+ exclusive meets.  Well, Minnie Mouse can now be chosen at Hollywood Studios as a Tier ONE Fastpass.  Effective MAY 11, 2014 you’ll be able to use a Tier ONE FP to choose a meet with Minnie Mouse.  I wouldn’t pre-book this meet.  I would use it as a 5th FP+ and the third Tier ONE.  Toy Story Midway Mania and Rock N Roller Coaster are higher priorities.  There hasn’t been any wait for Minnie in this location, but there also hasn’t been any signage.  I’m not sure how they will handle this meet.  There is currently only one entrance and the meet isn’t listed as FP+ ONLY. Either someone forgot or it will be the most wasted FP+ in history.  Looks like someone just forgot yesterday :)

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in the United Kingdom are set to begin offering Tier ONE Fastpass at Epcot’s United Kingdom.  I would never choose this meet as a Tier ONE FP+.  I would use it for Soarin or Test Track, if want to use it badly, they use it as a  4th or 5th FP+ option in Epcot.  Fastpass+ availability begins May 11, 2014 as well.  There is currently only one entrance and the meet isn’t listed as FP+ ONLY. Either someone forgot or it will another of the most wasted FP+ in history. Looks like someone just forgot yesterday :)

In a move to become the first Fasptass+ ONLY meet and greet, Daisy and Donald will move to Discovery Island on May 11, 2014.  You may remember a while back I posted photos of the props having their names on them.  In order to meet Daisy an Donald in their Adventurer’s outfits at Animal Kingdom, you’ll be required to use FP+.  Animal Kingdom doesn’t require Tiers, so you could easily finish your touring and then use the 4th or 5th FP+ to meet them.  I set up 9:00am Fastpass+ for Sunday to check it out. This meet will be open from park opening until 30 minutes before close.

Tigger and Pooh will be leaving Animal Kingdom and continue to be available in all other meets.  Daisy and Donald will continue to meet at Tusker House.

Star Wars Weekends  Event Shows added to Fastpass+

Star Wars Weekends will offer Fastpass+ opportunities for guests who see the special event shows as a high priority for their visit.  Each show is featured as a Tier ONE FP+ in the same category with Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock N Roller Coaster, Fantasmic and Beauty and the Beast.

If the shows are really important for you and you don’t want to wait in a long line or sit in the back of the theater, then feel free to use one.  I would start with the show that begins earliest and then use the 4th FP+ to book a later one, if available.

Check my Star Wars Weekends Show Schedules before choosing a Fastpass option.

Event shows that will allow FP+ includue:

• An Ewok’s Tale: My Short Story, Starring Warwick Davis (Weekend 2 – popular show)
• Behind the Force – Star Wars: Rebels (All weekends)
• Obi-Wan and Beyond starring James Arnold Taylor  (All weekends)
• Stars of the Saga Star Wars Celebrity Talk Show (All weekends)
• Visit to the Maul, starring Ray Park (Weekend 3 – popular show)