One of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror! Hollywood Studios is all about showbiz and movie magic and putting guests right in the middle of it all; and on the Tower of Terror, guests are dropped (literally) right into an episode of the Twilight Zone television series.

You will wander through the hotel grounds, lobby, and then boiler room of an old Hollywood hotel where something has gone wrong. Years ago, lightning struck the hotel and an elevator disappeared into...the Twilight Zone! After a little trip through the Twilight Zone, your elevator will drop you up and down numerous times for a thrilling, but fun, experience!

~The FastPass machines for this attraction are located at the end of Sunset Boulevard, between Rock n' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror itself.

~The brick structure you see on the right, just before you reach Tower of Terror, are bathrooms; but they are usually crowded. Venture back up the street a bit to an area tucked back between some gift shops on Sunset Boulevard for a less crowded bathroom stop.

~Follow the path in front of the building to reach the line's entrance; and just beyond that is the exit for the gift shop. Feel free to do a little shopping here, whether or not you're riding!

~There's a covered area located near the ride's entrance and exit. It's a great place to sit down and relax, especially if you're waiting for your family to finish their ride. You can sometimes find a coffee cart nearby as well!

~Pay special attention to the hotel sign located at the entrance. If it doesn't look that impressive, just wait for it! The words, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, will appear over the old sign!

~Before you enter the lobby, look for a marker on the wall outside the hotel to see what year the hotel was built.

~The lobby is full of vintage details hidden under decades of dust! You will probably see something new each time you ride so keep your eyes open!

~Once you enter the library, move to the other end of the room where you see a blank space of wall. This is the next door you will pass through. If you can, make your way to this space to be closer to the front of the line once the video is over!

~During the video, be sure to notice what the little girl is carrying; and also pay attention to the library windows. They make it look like it's storming outside!

~When you enter the boiler room, you will find that the line branches off into 2 separate lines. Usually, the left line goes faster.

~There's lots of details in the boiler room too! Look over the railings to see what the workers had left behind and the sparking motor near the elevators that looks a little old.

~The elevators have several rows of seats that have seat belts and small handles, so don't be concerned about having to stand up as you drop several stories. You will be seated and safe.

~When you drop, be sure to keep a hand on your belongings; and you may want to remove your hats and sunglasses. We have had shopping bags that have flown up to our knees during the drops before!

~How do you know when your elevator is about to drop? Once the stars during the Twilight Zone scene come together and everything get's dark, that means you're about to drop! In the summertime, you will find that it gets hotter at this point too.

~While this ride is VERY popular, it can handle a large number of guests and moves rather quickly. The line is also entertaining. When deciding whether to get a FastPass for Rock n' Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror, we recommend getting one for Rock n' Roller Coaster and waiting in line for Tower of Terror.

~FastPasses for Tower of Terror tend to run out by the afternoon so get them early!

~Many guests stay away from this attraction because it's scary. If this is you, just think of it as a simple drop ride. After all, once you pass throught the Twilight Zone scenery, all that's left is the up and down drops. If it helps, keep your eyes closed.

At Disney's Pop Century Resort, many guests partake in a resort tradition: decorating their resort room windows!

If you take a walk around Pop Century, you may find windows decorated with stuffed animals, window clings, and other fun decorations! This isn't something that Cast Members do, this is a little extra magic that guests create!

We stumbled upon this window display just a few months ago during our stay at Pop Century. It was fun to see some magic that guests created themselves and I'm sure this family made great memories planning and decorating this window together. Pop Century employees and Cast Members probably enjoyed being entertained for a change too!

If you are planning on staying at Pop Century, make this resort tradition one of your own traditions by getting creative and packing some toys, streamers, window clings, and plush toys. You can even make your own decorations with your family by purchasing some Disney stickers and construction paper and adding some personalization and personal style!  Some guests decorate according to the seasons, such as with patriotic displays at the 4th of July or wintery, Christmas scenes at the holidays. If you happening to be visiting WDW for a birthday or anniversary, make the milestone extra special by decorating your window for the occasion! Get creative, make some memories with your family, and make your own magic!

This week we are recommending:

The Disney Food Blog had a delicious post this week! For a warm, filling snack, check out Snack Series: Liberty Square’s Baked Potato!

Visiting Walt Disney World for Thanksgiving? If so, be sure to see Chip&Co's post Celebrating Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World!

We are big fans of Disney pins, and one of our favorite pin stops to purchase and trade is at Pin Traders in Downtown Disney. This week, WDW News Today shared a post about this shop's fun, new look! Read more at Disney’s Pin Traders Gets a Makeover!

Disney Every Day had a post about some amazing Alice and Wonderland cupcakes that she stumbled across. If you have a sweet tooth, or just want to be amazed at some creative, sugary confections, be sure to see Alice in Wonderland Mini Edible Works of Disney Art!

Have you heard about Disney's online check-in service? See Makin' Memories post Resort Online Check-In for more info!

You have to check out Walt Disney World For Grownups post Disney Florist Helps Give the Gift of a Memory! It's cool to see behind the scenes of this magical service and what they can create!

Here at A Glass Slipper Vacation, we strive to provide information that will help you create a Disney World Vacation that is a "perfect fit" for you and your family, just like Cinderella's glass slipper! In keeping with that theme, today's post is about a fantastic Disney service, FastPasses! While these tickets are free and save your place in line, they also require some strategy depending on your family's age and style.

FastPasses: FastPasses are tickets that you can obtain at many of the park's most popular attractions via FastPass distributing machine, all of which are located next to their respective attractions. FastPasses are free! The way to get one is to insert your park ticket into the machine and wait for your FastPass to slide out!

FastPass Rules: On your FastPass, you will see a printed return time. You cannot return to the attraction to use your FastPass until that time as arrived or has passes. Cast Members will not let in you in early. Tip: The later return time is acutally not a limit. You are allowed to return to the attraction anytime throughout the day, as long it is past the first printed time. For example, if your return time is 4 o'clock, you can return at 10 o'clock at night and still use your FastPass! You also cannot use old FastPasses, even if they are only a day old. Also, a Cast Member inside the attraction will collect your FastPasses so unfortunately you can't keep them to ride again. Finally, you are not allowed to get a FastPass for a different attraction until your return time. For example, you can't get a FastPass for Splash Mountain if it isn't time for you to return to Big Thunder Mountain.

Strategy: While FastPasses help you to accomplish your park agenda, some tips and strategy is often necessary to maximize vacation magic and to determine what attractions you should obtain FastPasses for. 

~Fantasyland is the best spot for your kids; but many of the attractions here are known for their long lines. Use your FastPasses for Peter Pan's Flight and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

~If you have young kids, be sure to get FastPasses for Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safaris; and for Hollywood Studios' Toy Story Midway Mania.
 
~Arrive at the parks early and ride as many popular attractions as you can. Then grab FastPasses for your favorites so you can ride them again later in the day and still beat the crowds!

~If a park has two, really popular attractions, such as Hollywood Studios has Tower of Terror and Rock n' Roller Coaster, arrive early and ride the attraction that typically has the longer line and grab a FastPass for the ride with the shorter line. In this case, grab a FastPass for Tower of Terror and ride Rock n' Roller Coaster for the least amount of wait time.

~If you really like an attraction, arrive at park opening, grab a FastPass, and then ride it! Then, when the line gets long, use your FastPass!

~Don't get FastPasses for 3-D shows, such as Mickey's Philharmagic. The theaters for these shows are so big that they accomodate large groups of people; and most of the waiting that takes place is just waiting for the show before you to finish so you can enter the theater. There are other attractions where FastPasses really aren't that necessary or times when the lines become short during certain times of day, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Maelstrom, Living with the Land, and etc. If you're not sure if you should get a FastPass for a particular attraction, ask a Cast Member for advice. They should be glad to help!

~Have members in your family that don't want to ride? Take their tickets to get FastPasses for yourself in addition to your own! For example, use someone's ticket to get a Rock n' Roller Coaster FastPass along with your own. Use one to ride; and once you have finished, use the other to ride it again! You can also strategize by using more than one ticket to get FastPasses for more than one attraction. For instance, use one ticket to get a FastPass for Expedition Everest, and then use the other for a FastPass for Kilimanjaro Safaris!

~Want a great souvenir? Grab a FastPass! They are great for scrapbooking and fun, little momentos from your favorite attractions!

~Have FastPasses but you aren't going to use them? Do a little giving and spread some pixie dust of your own by giving your FastPasses to someone else. You can really brighten their day!

~There is a limit of FastPasses that the machines distribute in a day; and often the most popular attractions run out by late afternoon or evening. Therefore, don't wait to get your FastPasses!

~Need to get FastPasses for a particular attraction? Send one person in your family to get FastPasses for everyone else and then designate a meeting place. Just be sure to give them everyone's tickets!

~Be sure to check the height requirement for an attraction before you get FastPasses!

~It's best to get FastPasses in the morning. As the park gets more crowded, the time between getting your FastPass and the return time grows longer. You will have better chances of getting more FastPasses for more attractions if you get them early!

"R" is for Royal Anandapur Tea Company!

A baby Rhino!

R2-D2's footprints in front of Hollywood Studios' Chinese Theater.

Rex!

R is also for Rock n' Roller Coaster!

Big news here at A Glass Slipper Vacation! We are going to Walt Disney World! We're really excited, especially since we will be visiting just a few days before Christmas to enjoy all of WDW's Christmas festivities! In celebration of our upcoming Disney vacation, we decided to have a little fun with today's post. Hope you enjoy!

How you know you are going to Walt Disney World...

~ You have the number of days and hours until you leave posted in your office cubicle.

~ When planning what to pack on your vacation, you biggest dilemma is deciding which pair of Mouse Ears to bring.

~ You have a separate budget just for your Disney Pins.

~ You plan to travel around the world in an afternoon.

~ You are having breakfast with Cinderella and you have a dinner date with Mickey.

~ You have been planning this trip since before the last trip was even over.

~When you have lost count how many times you have watched the Disney vacation planning DVDs.

~You are going to see live elephants on an African safari and then ride a flying elephant behind a fairytale castle after lunch.

~You keep your kids awake because you're too excited to sleep!

~You have to rest up before you leave for vacation.

Have you ever visited Walt Disney World around the holidays? How do you know if you are going to Walt Disney World? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Come check out other Wordless Wednesday posts or link up your own!

Who needs a door?

Peter Pan's Flight is one of the Magic Kingdom's original and most popular attractions! Young and old are charmed and delighted by this trip to Never Land; and if you are planning to ride this timeless attraction, we have a few tips for you!

FastPass: This is seriously one of the most popular attractions at the Magic Kingdom; and the line is almost always VERY long. We recommend riding this attraction when the park opens, or grabbing a FastPass!

A Pirate Ship Built for Two: The ride vehicle for Peter Pan's Flight seats 2 to 3 guests, possibly four if you have two, small children riding with you. Be aware of this when planning ride arrangements.

The Long & Winding Queue: Peter Pan's Flight has one of the most boring queues; and if you have to endure it, we recommend bringing something to entertain yourself and your kids. 

High in the Sky: This attraction's ride vehicle is on a track; but not in a way you might think. This attraction runs on a track from the ceiling, meaning your pirate ship is suspended from the ceiling to make you feel as if you are flying!

Traffic Jam: Peter Pan's Flight is located across from "it's a small world." This area of Fantasyland is narrow and often very crowded making it difficult to even get to the attraction entrance during peak crowd times. If you are planning on getting FastPasses here, send one person from your group to get them to avoid dealing with thick crowds; and if you are returning to ride, eleminate extra struggles by already having your FastPasses, as well as your kids, stuff, and stroller ready for a quick disembark and parking job.

Lights Out: While this is definitely a kid-friendly ride, your ride vehicle is suspended and it takes place in the dark. Be aware of this when riding with young children.

Boarding Area: When it's your turn to board your pirate ship, you will find a moving platform you must use in order to hop aboard the continuously moving line of ships. Some young kids find this moving platform and moving line of ships difficult to navigate at times, so you may want to take their hand and help them aboard.

Cargo Area: Most Disney attraction vehicles have space or pockets to hold a rider's personal belongings; but like many dark rides, there is space at your feet for your stuff so no need to appoint someone in your party to stay behind!

Fun for All: Peter Pan's Flight is a kid-friendly dark ride and is a big favorite among little princes and princesses. However, if you are traveling only with adults, don't avoid this classic attraction! Peter Pan's Flight is truly magical and makes everyone feel like a kid again as the fly to Neverland in their pirate ship! Although, adults should know that it only lasts about 3 minutes, so be aware of that when deciding to ride.

This year is Walt Disney World's 40th anniversary; and to celebrate this milestone, Disney has released 40th anniversary merchandise! Among the new products that you can find in the parks, resorts, and online, Disney has a 40th Anniversary Photo Album for sale.

I personally prefer scrapbooks to photo albums; but this photo album was an exception for me. For one, it displays the 40th Anniversary collage design inside and out that you can find on most anniversary products this year. This design consists of old park logos, buttons, characters, ear hats, and more which gives a very vintage, collectible appearance which I really like. Secondly, the album itself awasn't so big that it was cumbersome; but yet not too small either. Finally, inside the album, the decorated pages contain punch out pictures which look like postcards! If you're looking for great Disney pics, just pick up this photo album! They're so beautiful that I think I may leave most of them in my own album! Finally, while I enjoy Disney collectibles, I especially enjoy making a purchase that is both collectible and can be of use, and this particular souvenir does just that.

Want to know another great thing about this photo album? Take a look at the back. (I have it pictured below.) It has a picture of Walt Disney and a copy of Roy Disney's speech from opening day, October 7th, 1971. Therefore, not only is this a great souvenir, it's also a great piece of Disney history and a collectible! Be sure to check it out!

This week we are recommending:

Magical Blogorail Red discussed what they would do during a day at Disney outside of the parks! To read what they had to say, start with Makin' Memories!

Our own Magical Blogorail Orange loop was up and running this week. This month's topic was our most memorable moments at Disney! To relive some of our best Disney memories, hop aboard at Your Highway in the Sky!

Attention Disney Jungle Cruise Skippers.... Didn't you read the sign?  Check out Capturing Magical Memories post on the queue area of the Jungle Cruise!

The Disney Food Blog had some great posts this week. One of my favorites was about a unique cupcake discovered at Animal Kingdom. Check out  “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack: Cottontop Tamarin Cupcake! Also see Cake Boss Buddy Valastro Creates a “Disney Dream” Cake — Literally! to read about this incredible, Disney cruise ship cake and to see some great photos!

I'm a big fan of the windows on Main Street U.S.A. Not only are they fun to read and help transport you back in time, but they also contain Disney history! To read about these windows yourself, check out Makin' Memories post Windows on Main Street

Walt Disney World for Grownups also had some great posts this week. If you're nostalgic, or even purchase postcards on your vacation, read Postcards and The Art of Correspondence. Also, if you are planning ahead for your own Disney vacation or you're looking for a deal, check out Room-Only Discounts Announced for Fall and Early 2012!