Random Qs- Starbucks, Animation Academy, Jingle Cruise

[RainyDayPixie]

I'm refining my touring plan and have a few random questions...


STARBUCKS- Do they have the protein packs, salads and sandwiches that they usually have at Starbucks? I love their kale salad! Do they take Starbucks gift cards?

ANIMATION ACADEMY- I did a search and it looks like this is every 1/2 an hour. Is it on the hour and on the half? We've never done it and want to try something new!

JINGLE CRUISE- What are the wait times like for this with the overlay? Sounds like this year it will be even bigger, so perhaps longer lines. But can anyone shed light on last year's lines? We'll be there on Sat Nov 22.

Thanks!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I'm refining my touring plan and have a few random questions...


STARBUCKS- Do they have the protein packs, salads and sandwiches that they usually have at Starbucks? I love their kale salad! Do they take Starbucks gift cards?

Don't know about those food items, but they do take Starbucks gift cards. You can also earn stars, but you can't redeem for any of the deals or extras at the Starbucks inside the parks.

ANIMATION ACADEMY- I did a search and it looks like this is every 1/2 an hour. Is it on the hour and on the half? We've never done it and want to try something new!

I think it is the hour and 1/2 hour. There is usually a sandwich board type display outside the Animation building listing the times and which character will be drawn.

JINGLE CRUISE- What are the wait times like for this with the overlay? Sounds like this year it will be even bigger, so perhaps longer lines. But can anyone shed light on last year's lines? We'll be there on Sat Nov 22.

I remember the lines being really long anytime we went by after 10 AM. We often saw both the upstairs and downstairs queue areas full. I'm sure I saw wait times of at least 45 minutes. We had multiple days so just rode it fairly early one morning and then didn't bother again.

 

[knitster]

I'm 90% sure that Animation Academy is on the hour and the half hour, but I'm not positive. We attended 8 classes in September, but I can't remember the times. But, like the previous poster said, they'll usually have a sign displaying the times and characters for the day. If they don't (they didn't on one of our days because we were there so early), just ask the CM at the podium by the entrance and he/she will be able to tell you the times of each class.

I highly, highly recommend Animation Academy. We love it, as you can probably tell by the fact that we went 8 times in 3 days.

 

[jina]

Yes for our last 2 trips Animation Academy was at the :00 and :30 minutes of the hour - note the sandwich board did not go up until an hour or more after park opening when we were there. It's also one of our favorite activities and now always go to 2 or 3 classes during our trip. Can't believe we walked past that building so many times and never walked in. I also love the other activities in there. Stand outside the doors 10-15 min prior to the class you want to go to as the more popular characters do fill up. AA is one of the reasons we decided to upgrade our AP's to premium and go over Christmas - even if the lines for rides are ridiculous we know we'll still be able to go to the classes which are super fun.

Can't answer your Q on Jungle Cruise. We went to the one at WDW last year the day after we did the Kalamajaro Safari at Animal Kingdom and were so disappointed as we were used to the "real thing". So we haven't tried it at DL and don't plan to.

 

[Misskitty3]

Starbucks in Disneyland has egg sandwiches (like egg mcmuffins but better) and yogurt parfaits,. Don't remember the other food other than Disney bakery items like Mickey gingerbread men and other cookies and treats.

 

[SMD]

They sell the regular Starbucks sandwiches and salads at the DTD location. I don't remember the protein pack, but they may have just been out when I looked. I got the apple, cheese and nut box there.

 

[KatrinaVanTassel]

Lines were longer than usual last year. It's one of our favorite rides so we always do it first thing. The lines will be longer as the day goes on.

Not being the real thing is kind of the whole point! That and the jokes.

 

[cherice95403]

Lines were long last year. We made it a first stop on a day when we were there for park opening and the wait was about 15 minutes.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

Thanks everyone! This is all really helpful. With just one day in each park, i've got to plan carefully! We will hit Jingle Cruise early. Can't wait to see it!

 

[bakerudall]

Late at night is always an option for JC as well. I really don't like that queue, so I would never enter when it's long.

 

[disneychrista]

Do they take Starbucks gift cards?

Yes, they do. I always load my gold card (with my saved change) for while we are at Disneyland. And if you happen to have an AP the in park locations also give an AP discount.

Nothing like sipping a Mocha while waiting for Fireworks. Or a Frappuccino (in the summer) while watching the afternoon Parade.

 

[grnflash]

Thanks everyone! This is all really helpful. With just one day in each park, i've got to plan carefully! We will hit Jingle Cruise early. Can't wait to see it!

I would really, really try to fit it in the plans for after dark. It has a lot of lights that will be of no effect during the day. This is especially true for the last stretch of the cruise, after the backside of water.

Lines were longer than usual for this ride yesterday though, we saw the line filling upstairs. And overall crowds were pretty low. We got lucky with a line almost only downstairs, but that was only because Indy was down during our FP return, around 5:45. We made it on Indy later and noticed the line had filled the upstairs again. This was around 7:30. So maybe dinnertime is a good time to check on this ride.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

I would really, really try to fit it in the plans for after dark. It has a lot of lights that will be of no effect during the day. This is especially true for the last stretch of the cruise, after the backside of water.

Lines were longer than usual for this ride yesterday though, we saw the line filling upstairs. And overall crowds were pretty low. We got lucky with a line almost only downstairs, but that was only because Indy was down during our FP return, around 5:45. We made it on Indy later and noticed the line had filled the upstairs again. This was around 7:30. So maybe dinnertime is a good time to check on this ride.

Thanks for your input. Lights at night do sound nice! Agh! I wish we weren't there for just one day! That JC line can be so long and deceptive. Maybe we ride it first thing if it looks ok and then swing by at night and ride if the line isn't too long...

 

[RainyDayPixie]

Yes, they do. I always load my gold card (with my saved change) for while we are at Disneyland. And if you happen to have an AP the in park locations also give an AP discount.

Nothing like sipping a Mocha while waiting for Fireworks. Or a Frappuccino (in the summer) while watching the afternoon Parade.

Nice! Thanks! I love coffee (and honestly wouldn't dream of drinking sbux here at home, but it's much better than what the parks had before)!

 

[knitster]

Nice! Thanks! I love coffee (and honestly wouldn't dream of drinking sbux here at home, but it's much better than what the parks had before)!

I was very pouty and obstinate about them bringing sbux into the parks, but I have to admit that it is so, so, so much better than what they had before!