Invented in Seattle in the 1960’s, the sport has grown immensely all over the world. The game is played on a badminton court using wooden paddles and a a plastic ball, like a wiffle ball, and kind of looks like a combination of tennis and ping pong. The net can be adjusted to allow people of all ages and ability level to play the game at their own speed. The game is very social and perfect for a group of friends looking for a way to enjoy time together.
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Why Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Disney World is my new favorite theme park attraction
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Florida theme parks tester Alexandria has shared her top tips for the likes of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Legoland including how to cut down queue wait times
Alexandria has the dream job – testing out theme parks (
Well, that’s exactly the dream job which Alexandria Adamson from Glasgow bagged when she was picked to become Ocean Florida’s official Theme Park Tester back in 2020.
Due to the Covid pandemic she was unable to visit Orlando until this year, but she’s now back after three action-packed weeks.
Some of her highlights included a trip to Busch Gardens which she claims “has some of the best rollercoasters in all of Florida”. Speaking of rollercoasters, some of her must-visit rides include Universal’s new Jurassic World themed Velocicoaster, Disney’s Star Wars themed Rise of the Resistance, and the Iron Gwazi ride at Busch Gardens.
Of course, Alexandria’s picked up heaps of insider tricks for navigating the theme parks – and now she’s shared some exclusively with The Mirror.
We’re talking easy hacks for cutting queue wait times, essentials to pack for a theme park day out, and some of the must-knows if you’re heading to Walt Disney World and Universal parks.
“These parks have a lot to offer and can be overwhelming especially in busy periods which for Orlando is most of the year,” says Alexandria. “Know what you definitely want to do, look at any seasonal offerings in the parks at that time that may affect your day. Book any dining reservations. Pre-planning and booking as much as possible before you even arrive will make your trip that much less stressful.”
Oh, and if there’s one essential you pack for your trip, make it a battery pack. “No one wants to spend part of their day waiting for their phone to charge or having no battery to take photos of your day!” she explains.
How to cut down queue wait times
Alexandria recommends using the theme park apps to keep an eye on when wait times get shorter, but sometimes it can come down to being clever with your timing.
“If there are big night shows or parades happening and you’re not overly bothered about those, this is usually when wait times are at their lowest,” she advises.
It’s also worth checking for any perks if you’re staying in a resort. She explains: “If you’re a resort guest for specific parks use that extra time they give you to enter the parks, it may mean an early morning or late night, but it’s usually worth it.”
Use the apps
“Each park has its own app that will help you make the most of your day usually with wait times, how to navigate the parks, and all the entertainment and food and drink options,” she explains.
Heading to Walt Disney World specifically? Alexandria recommends having a look through the app before your trip. “Play about with the My Disney Experience app before you go,” she suggests. “It will be super helpful once you’re there.”
Top tips for Walt Disney World
With four theme parks and two water parks, if you’re planning to make the most of the Walt Disney World resort, you’ll need a game plan.
Alexandria recommends starting by pre-booking your dining reservations as “it can be really difficult to get the full-service restaurants on the day”.
Oh, and while Florida is renowned for its sunshine it does also get some rainfall – if you’re unlucky with the weather, you can be tactical if you’re still going to hit the parks.
Alexandria spent three weeks exploring Florida’s best theme parks (
Image:
Ocean Florida)
Alexandria has shared her tips for major resorts including Walt Disney World (
Image:
Ocean Florida)
“Some parks are better to be in during bad weather,” says Alexandria, noting that EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios have fewer attractions that close when there’s lightning, compared to Magic Kingdom.
Aside from the theme parks and rides, there’s heaps to explore around the resort.
Foodies, take note: according to Alexandria, “some of the best bars and restaurants on Disney Property are in the Disney resorts”.
Her top picks include Enchanted Rose at the Grand Floridian, Jellyrolls at the Boardwalk Inn, and Trader Sam’s at the Polynesian, while Disney Springs also gets a shout out for its “amazing food and drink” as well its shopping, cinema, bowling alley and concert venue.
Top tips for Universal Studios Orlando
Universal consists of three theme parks, but if you’re only planning to hit one or two, our theme park insider suggests considering an Express Pass as “it will make such a difference to your day”. The pass can’t be used for certain rides such as the new Jurassic World theme rollercoaster, the Velocicoaster.
Meanwhile Harry Potter fans won’t want to miss the Wizarding World, which is spread across Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. “As a Harry Potter fan these parks are unmissable and unforgettable,” Alexandria says.
“The Diagon Alley area and the Hogsmeade area are literally like stepping into the pages of the books or into the scenes of the movies. It’s so easy to forget you’re in the real world with people running around in robes and performing spells with their interactive wands, and let’s not forget about the dangerously delicious Butterbeer.
Alexandria has shared her tips for getting the most of the theme parks (
Image:
Ocean Florida)
Alexandria has come back with serious theme park knowledge (
Image:
Ocean Florida)
“The Hogwarts Express experience between the two areas just perfectly ties the whole magical experience together. And as if the theming wasn’t enough the Hagrid’s story coaster is one of the best attractions across both parks.”
When you need a break from the parks, Alexandria recommends heading to CityWalk.
“Those restaurants have much better food than in the parks and they’ll probably be quieter than the restaurants actually in the parks,” she says. “CowFish on CityWalk is one of the best restaurants at Universal Resort, the cheeseburger sushi was incredible, I went back twice. And the chocolate emporium does the BEST speciality milkshakes or you have Voodoo doughnuts for incredible and sometimes unusual flavoured doughnuts if you’re not a milkshake fan.”
Have you been to Orlando – and did you unearth any good theme park tips? We want to hear them! Let us know in the comments below.
GOING to Disneyland Paris is a magical experience – but there can be a lot of waiting around.
A Disney expert has shared the most time-saving tip for families going through ride and restaurant queues.
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A Disney expert has shared the most time-saving tip for getting families through ride and restaurant queues
Travel planner Martin Ross explained that visitors should learn to say the number of people they have in their group in French.
It’s a common question in ride queues and at restaurants, and by answering quickly in French it can help speed the process up.
Martin told Sun Online Travel: “Try and learn a little bit of French – it doesn’t have to be a lot.
“Just learn to say the number of people in your group – that’s the question you’ll get asked every time you go on a ride or to a restaurant.
“No one’s expecting you to be fluent, but Brits abroad have a reputation for trying to communicate by saying everything loudly and in English, or just expecting everyone to speak English.
“But knowing your group number in French will be so helpful, especially as not all the cast members speak English but they do all speak French.”
“Staff also really appreciate the effort you’ve made to learn it, and for most families their kids learn French school so it’s fun for them to get to teach their parents.”
On the same theme, Martin suggested people with food allergies should print out a piece of paper with them written on in French to help them at restaurants.
He said: “Translate your allergies to French and print them on a piece of paper because if you get a server who can’t speak English, it’ll be a lot quicker to just show them what the allergy is.
“It helps speed things up not just for your family, but for everyone behind you.”
A DISNEY fan has shared some pearls of wisdom for anyone thinking of visiting the parks in Orlando.
If you’re thinking of booking a holiday to Disney World next summer, then you might want to think twice.
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A Disney fan has shared some tips for anyone thinking of visiting Disney World
Florida native Rocky Perkins has been to Disney World more than 100 times, so he might know a thing or two.
He has taken to question and answer site Quora to share what he has learned over his many visits.
His main tip is not to go in the summer if you can help it, otherwise you’re in for a “miserable experience”.
School summer holidays are a popular time for British families to head across the pond to go to Disney World, but Rocky advises you go later in the year.
He wrote: “As a Florida native and someone who has been to Disney World over 100 times, I can only give you my perspective.
“If you can, do not go in the summertime if you can help it. Unless you are used to the Florida heat and humidity, it will be a miserable experience.
“Not only is that the most crowded time of year, it is the most expensive.
“Don’t tell anyone (it’ll ruin it for us), but go in September – December when the weather is milder – yes, you can walk around in flip flops and shorts then.”
Rocky also advised anyone thinking of visiting Disney World to budget for their trip, and know exactly how much you plan to spend.
His main cost categories were travel, hotel, park tickets and meals.
He continued: “It’s not fun, but you need to know how much you have to spend in order to make any number of choices at Disney World.”
He also suggested planning which rides and restaurants you want to visit and to book in advance.
Meanwhile, a former Disney employee has listed the things that guests should avoid buying at the theme park.
She said that one of the biggest things guests waste money on is bottled water, which you can get for free.
She said: “Instead of buying a $5 bottle of water every time you’re thirsty – a trust me, you’ll be thirsty – you can go to any quick service dining location around the parks and ask for a free cup of water.”
A MUM of three has shared a time-saving tip for families heading to Disney theme parks while there are still Covid restrictions.
Holidaying in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has added an extra layer of stress for a lot of people going away.
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A mum has shared a time-saving tip for families heading to Disneyland theme parks
But Jennifer Leigh’s easy trick gives families ‘one less thing to worry about’ while racing round the park having fun.
Jennifer recently returned from a trip to Disney World, Florida with her kids, aged seven, 10 and 12.
All three kids needed face masks as Disney has a face covering rule for everyone aged six and over.
While they are mandatory in most places, face masks can be removed in some parts of the parks, such as outdoor selfie spots, as well as for eating and drinking.
This gives kids several opportunities to lose their mask.
Jennifer has advised any parents visiting a Disney park with their kids to attach a face mask to a lanyard and hang it around their child’s neck.
Kids then have easy access to their face mask when they need it and don’t have to faff around taking it out of a pocket or bag, saving time.
It is also a lot less likely to go missing.
Reflecting on her trip, Jennifer wrote on Facebook: “Things that helped: the lanyards for the masks.
“This might be a little detail but they helped a lot.
“Instead of having to put away the mask and get the mask out again the kids just wore them around their necks all day and it was one less thing to worry about.”
Jennifer also advised parents to carry a portable phone charger, poncho and bottled water.
Last week, Disney announced that guests aged five and over on a US Disney Cruise Line must be vaccinated from January 13, 2022.
This is likely to cause problems for Brit families booked on Disney cruises in the US, as children under 12 in the UK are not currently eligible for a vaccine.
Recently, a woman whose job is to plan Disney holidays for people revealed some of the most common mistakes when visiting the parks.
They included the worst time to visit, the types of tickets people buy and the meals they opt for once inside the parks.
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Jennifer advises parents visiting a Disney park to attach a face mask to a lanyard and hang it around their child’s neck
Disney fan reveals hidden secret eating area in the parks without the crowds
Guide to holiday celebrations at theme parks – The Points Guy
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Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Social media personalities Dixie D’Amelio and Noah Beck at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort on May 2, 2021 in Anaheim, California.
Handout | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
The Covid pandemic made the past 14 months a literal roller coaster of a ride for both theme parks and their fans.
Parks shut down or didn’t open at all last spring, and although some did reopen by summer, it was with strict capacity limits and stringent health and safety measures that put off some customers and definitely dented the fun factor for others.
Here’s a look at how things are shaping up in 2021 for this part of the travel and tourism sector, and how prospective visitors can make the most out a theme park vacation as the pandemic winds down.
Pre-pandemic, things had been going well for the sector. The top 20 North American theme parks drew 159,108,000 visitors in 2019, 1% more than the year before, according to the 2019 TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index.
To draw even more visitors, park operators were rolling profits back into much-hyped, big-budget new attractions like the Jurassic World Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s Islands of Adventure in Florida and the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.
People haven’t forgotten those debuts were in the pipeline.
“A lot of families are opting into going to theme parks this year,” said Trish Smith, a Kansas City, Missouri-based travel advisor affiliated with the InteleTravel network of home-based agents. “I’ve actually had more bookings at this point this year than I did in 2019.
“There are so many new attractions coming that a lot of people are like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to miss out on that, and I want to be the first,'” she added.
Demand is especially pent-up in California, where parks didn’t reopen until this April.
In fact, Michael Erstad, senior analyst, consumer for research firm M Science, said theme parks could see a return to former attendance levels as soon as next year. “I certainly think it’s a possibility,” he said. “It will all depend how things go with the virus for the rest of the year.
“I wouldn’t count [a rebound] out.”
Consumer data insights firm Cardify has found, unsurprisingly, that theme parks saw a big drop in consumer spending last year but “were able to recover a bit” by last summer by reopening with capacity restrictions. Now that cities and states are relaxing pandemic restrictions, parks are seeing what Cardify terms the “silver lining” for park operators — a new “sharp increase” in spending.
Cardify also found in a survey of 1,044 consumers that 72% are excited to return to amusement parks after the pandemic, more so than movie theaters (68%) or bars and clubs (67%). Only in-person concerts (79%) and sporting events (74%) are more eagerly awaited.
Theme parks “are in a much better spot” relative to cinemas, cruises, air travel, hotels and other entertainment options, said Erstad at M Science.
As at ski resorts, at theme parks “a lot of the experience is outdoors,” he said, and therefore less risky in terms of exposure. “You do queue up for rides, but over the last year they’ve made enhancements to improve the purchasing decisions for food and beverage so you do a lot of things electronically.”
So, where are thrill-seekers headed?
There are essentially two theme park markets in the U.S., although there is some crossover between them. Large destination parks — such as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, clustered together in central Florida — draw both domestic and international visitors for longer vacations, while regional parks, sometimes smaller and less heavily themed, attract more of a drive-in, day tripper demographic from nearby areas.
Examples of the latter type of park would include the 27 theme and water park properties operated in North America by Grand Prairie, Texas-based Six Flags Entertainment Corp. Some smaller yet highly themed parks, such as Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, straddle the line between the two categories.
(Interestingly, Disneyland boasts a global destination park profile but effectively operates as a regional park, drawing most visitors from its local southern California market. That said, the park — currently restricted to Californians — reopens to all visitors in full on June 15.)
Don’t have any plans set in concrete; you’ve got to be a little flexible right now.
Trish Smith
InteleTravel-affiliated travel advisor
Consumer spending at Orlando parks has been recovering from last year’s crash for months, with out-of-state visitors opening their wallets more than Florida residents, Erstad explained.
“I think it is a healthy sign for Disney and the destination-focused operators, as well as overall consumer appeal for theme parks in general this summer, [and] indicative of consumers seeking out this type of [mostly outdoor] entertainment,” he said.
Florida’s been among the least restrictive states when it comes to pandemic-related regulation, and Orlando area Disney, Universal and SeaWorld parks have all been open since last July. Temporary interstate travel restrictions and quarantine requirements tamped down on long-distance demand for a few months but were eventually eased by year-end.
While interest in Disney’s Orlando parks is strong, “road trips close to home will be very popular this summer for regional theme parks like [Cedar Fair’s] Kings Dominion [and] Cedar Point, Six Flags, Sesame Place, Busch Gardens and Dollywood,” said Carolyn Moody, an InteleTravel advisor in Durham, North Carolina.
The jury’s actually still out on how regional parks will fare, with a lack of real data for climate-related and corporate reasons at some venues, Erstad said.
Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., for example, took four of its 11 theme parks in the U.S. and Canada completely offline for most of 2020, even in jurisdictions that allowed limited opening with restricted capacity, and cut the operating season short in the rest. It had just 487 total operating days in 2020, compared to 2,224 in 2019.
“Cedar Fair has taken more of a conservative approach to things; they were the first to announce they’d honor 2020 pass holders into 20201 and took a cognizant decision to take a more cautious approach,” Erstad said. “It’s a little too early to look at some of your colder weather parks, although we’ve been seeing pretty healthy demand at the parks that are open.”
This year, Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair plans on opening all its U.S. parks — such as Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Point, California, and Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina — by Memorial Day, although Canada’s Wonderland, outside Toronto, Ontario, will remain closed. The company plans to debut attractions originally planned for 2020 and to spend an additional $100 million on new upgrades this year, said president and CEO Richard A. Zimmerman, in a May 5 statement, in anticipation of “strong pent-up consumer demand for closer-to-home, outdoor entertainment, particularly in the year’s second half.”
“We are pleased with the early leading indicators we have seen thus far, and our 2021 operating strategy is focused on maximizing performance during our seasonally weighted second half of the year,” he added. “With our park openings right around the corner, we are once again seeing a lift in season pass sales.”
Erstad, meanwhile, pointed to Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari in Jackson, New Jersey, as a regional park that opened early in the pandemic and did “extremely well last summer.”
“That was just attributable to the fact they have the safari attraction, where you can be in your car with your family and socially distant from others,” he noted.
The park, near New York City and Philadelphia, reopened its safari last May 30 to drivers with reservations, and then reopened its theme park portion at 25% capacity on July 3. The good response points to a lot of “pent-up demand,” Erstad said.
Parks like those of Cedar Fair’s that weren’t open at all last year may see an initial spurt of visits but “I don’t know that they’re going to see a surge in demand the way Disney and some of the other larger parks have experienced,” said Summer Hull, director of travel content at website The Points Guy.
“But I think that for some of the people who typically enjoy going to those spots, this may be the summer they do get back to them,” she added.
Theme park tips and pivots
So, if you’ve decided to visit a theme park, what tips do travel advisors have?
Moody, a Disney specialist, said families considering theme parks this year should consult a travel advisor, “who can update clients on the latest CDC regulations, answer any questions, find the best deals, book everything from start to finish. and be a single point of contact throughout your trip.”
She also recommends booking travel as early as possible, visiting parks early or late in the day to avoid crowds, buying tickets and remembering to make any required entry reservations, too.
Smith also stressed that last point. While Universal Orlando never required reservations and Six Flags scrapped them at its parks nationwide this month, visitors to Walt Disney World parks still need them — as does anyone visiting any of the newly reopened theme parks in California.
“Even if you buy the ticket, you’re not guaranteed to get into the park that you want to go to, because that park may be booked up with reservations,” she said.
Once in the park, follow any rules on masking and social distancing still in place — the situation is fluid and can change rapidly — but don’t worry too much. There have not been any reports of Orlando-area parks becoming Covid hotspots since reopening.
“The theme parks have done a great job of keeping people safe,” said Smith. “Even with more people being vaccinated, they’re still taking safety into account …so I don’t think there’s going to be a big uptick in cases or anything.”
The Points Guy’s Hull has been to Walt Disney World three times since it reopened and said “it’s been a blast.”
“It’s largely outdoors and they’ve done a great job of making it feel fun and at the same time safe in your own little ‘Disney bubble,'” she said.
Also be open to change. “That’s the biggest thing,” Smith said. “Don’t have any plans set in concrete; you’ve got to be a little flexible right now.”
Hull agreed and said theme park guests who do their homework will have a great time this summer. “But those who assume it’s just business as usual are going to have a few surprises awaiting them,” she said, noting that many parts of larger destination parks — from hotels to restaurants to rides — are still not online or operating at normal capacities.
“You’ve got to line some stuff up in a way you might not have before and still go in with tempered expectations for things around dining, housekeeping and other elements that are still sort of pandemic-era and haven’t gotten back to normal yet.”
(Disclosure: CNBC and Universal Parks & Resorts are both subsidiaries of NBCUniversal, owned by parent Comcast.)
New US travel report says unvaccinated families are more likely to visit theme and water parks
Advertiser Disclosure
Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
