Dining at Walt Disney World is definitely an experience. On our first trip, my husband and I made a pact to try every restaurant at WDW . There are over 130 restaurants on the Disney property, so we figured that we would never be able to eat at the same one twice. Through the years, we’ve developed favorites that we have to re-visit, but we make a point to try something new every time we go.
Years of planning for my family and helping others plan their trips has helped me come up with three cardinal rules for dining at Disney.
The number one rule for dining at Disney is RESERVATIONS. Resort guests can begin making reservations 145 days in advance so things start filling up pretty quickly. The dining reservation line (1-407-WDW-DINE) is a great number to call if you need a little advice or you are making multiple reservations, but Disney added a new on-line reservation system (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/) which allows you to make reservations at your convenience. You can sort by type of restaurant, date and time and it pulls up a list of available locations that meet your criteria. If the restaurant you choose is not available at the time you listed, it also searches for similar restaurants in a similar time frame.
The second rule for dining at Disney is THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. One of our early trips was very last minute and the only reservation we could get at Epoct was at Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion. Moroccan food would definitely not have been at the top of my list, but it was wonderful. The waiter suggested some food for us and the ambiance was awesome. It’s really easy to get stuck in a hamburger and chicken rut when you are on vacation, but Disney makes it really fun to try something new.
The third rule for dining (especially if you have young children) is CHARACTERS. Disney has several dining options that include one-on-one time with a cast of Disney Friends. Each Character Dining location usually has around 4-5 characters who come to your table allowing plenty of time for hugs and pictures. We like to take advantage of the CD options in the mornings--if a park opens at 9AM, we try to get an 8AM reservation so we can be in the park before it opens. The characters help us get excited for our day in the park and the breakfast buffets are awesome.
Next Post: Disney Dining Plans
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Meeting Characters / Autograph Books
One of the most special parts about Disney is getting to have a little one-on-one time with the characters from your favorite Disney movies.
There are several spots throughout the parks where Disney characters are camped out throughout the day. If you're lucky, you can catch them with a short line, but sometimes you will have to wait a few minutes to visit with them. When your turn comes, you can take your own pictures, or there will be a Disney cast member who can take them for you.
If you are traveling with a child between the ages of 3 and 9 (or if you are a kid at heart), come armed with an autograph book. (You can purchase these online before you go or grab on at your hotel gift shop when you check in.) Most of the Disney autograph books have a photo holder and a blank page where the characters can sign. When you get home and get the pictures in, you'll have a great souvenir to remember your trip by!
Character Tips:
Don't forget a Sharpie or other large pen - some of the characters have gloves and struggle with smaller writing utensils.
Write your name and cell phone number in your autograph book. If it is turned into a cast member, they will call you and tell you where to pick it up.
Be sure to prepare s
mall children before you encounter characters. I told my daughter that Mickey and Pooh weren't small like they are on TV - they were big like Daddy. That way, she wasn't overwhelmed when she saw them. There will always be a few characters (particularly the "Evils") that make kids cringe - hold their hand or carry them for these pictures (or skip them all-together).
There are several spots throughout the parks where Disney characters are camped out throughout the day. If you're lucky, you can catch them with a short line, but sometimes you will have to wait a few minutes to visit with them. When your turn comes, you can take your own pictures, or there will be a Disney cast member who can take them for you.
If you are traveling with a child between the ages of 3 and 9 (or if you are a kid at heart), come armed with an autograph book. (You can purchase these online before you go or grab on at your hotel gift shop when you check in.) Most of the Disney autograph books have a photo holder and a blank page where the characters can sign. When you get home and get the pictures in, you'll have a great souvenir to remember your trip by!
Character Tips:
Don't forget a Sharpie or other large pen - some of the characters have gloves and struggle with smaller writing utensils.
Write your name and cell phone number in your autograph book. If it is turned into a cast member, they will call you and tell you where to pick it up.
Be sure to prepare s
mall children before you encounter characters. I told my daughter that Mickey and Pooh weren't small like they are on TV - they were big like Daddy. That way, she wasn't overwhelmed when she saw them. There will always be a few characters (particularly the "Evils") that make kids cringe - hold their hand or carry them for these pictures (or skip them all-together).
Here are some of my favorite "character spots":
Magic Kingdom - Town Square
Entrance to Adventureland
By Magic Carpets
Across from Pirates of the Caribbean
Toon Town - The Judges Tent
Hollywood Studios - by the Sorcerer's Hat
Magic of Animation Building
Animal Kingdom - Camp Minnie / Mickey
Path from Africa to Asia
Epcot - World Showcase (near Mexico, France, China, Germany & Morocco)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Where to Stay (Disney Resort vs. "Off-Campus")
This is the biggest source of debate among my Disney-loving friends and family. I have stayed at several Disney resorts and non-DW resorts as well, so I’m going to play devil’s advocate and try to point out the highlights of both.
Disney Resorts
Price Options Disney has three levels of resort pricing –Value, Moderate & Deluxe-- designed to meet every budget. (Our first trip to Disney as a family, we were on a very tight budget and the rate for our Disney Value hotel was comparable to a La Quinta “off campus”.) Each level of resort has themed pools, restaurants and amenities, so even at the lowest price point, you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.
Magical Express This is one of my favorite aspects of staying on property. About three weeks before your vacation Disney will send you big yellow luggage tags. Check your bags at the airport and then sit back and RELAX. When you arrive in Orlando, you can skip the baggage claim and head straight to the ME counter where you will board a tour bus that takes you to your hotel and your bags will be delivered straight to your room.
Dining Disney has created several plans which allow you to package your meals with your room and park tickets and save up to 30% on dining. The Disney Dining option is only available to those staying at Disney resorts. (More information on Disney Dining in a later post)
Transportation Buses, boats and monorails, oh my! There are several different modes of transportation designed to get you from your resort to the parks. I love never having to drive (extra glass of wine with dinner!) and my 5 year old loves that she never has to ride in a boring old car.
Magic To me the Disney resorts are an extension of the park. The theme is carried throughout the entire hotel from swimming pools to shower curtains. The Disney “Mousekeeping” team always adds bits of whimsy to the room and many of the resorts have Character Dining options which allow you to eat a meal with your favorite Disney friends in the comfort of your hotel.
“Off Campus” (This is the phrase my friend Kelli uses to describe anything in Orlando that is not on Disney property)
Cost The number one reason I hear for choosing a non-Disney hotel is the price, especially when the travel party is large. There are lots of condos and houses for rent just outside of Disney World that have two – four bedroom floor plans with kitchen and amenities that allow the whole gang a little bit more space. A friend of mine is going to DW in December and taking two sets of grandparents. To get two suites at a Disney resort would have been pretty pricey. Their off-site condo was so inexpensive, they get to stay an extra night. Many people have also mentioned that they are able to use their hotel points “off-campus” for discounted or free stays, allowing them to return to DW more often.
In addition to the savings on room-rates, food outside of DW is less expensive. This can mean big savings when you (like my friend) have to get 10 people fed.
Transportation As you can tell, part of vacation to me is a break from driving. Disney transportation, while incredibly efficient, is not always the most convenient. For example, getting from DW hotel –to-DW hotel via bus requires a transfer at the closet park. Three of the major parks have parking lots right out front, allowing park-hoppers to use their own car to move with ease within the Disney property. (Magic Kingdom is the only exception). Plus, the Disney property is SOOO big that some of the non-Disney properties are actually closer to certain parks than hotels within DW. If you plan on park-hopping or have lots of dining reservations, I would consider renting a car even if you are staying at a DW hotel.
A little too much mouse? Since I’ve got a Sea World and a NASA facility in Texas and I am not into Harry Potter, I'm not inclined to roam when I am in Orlando. For those of you who wish to venture out to the other Orlando-area attractions, consider staying “off campus” or at least renting a car!
Disney Resorts
Price Options Disney has three levels of resort pricing –Value, Moderate & Deluxe-- designed to meet every budget. (Our first trip to Disney as a family, we were on a very tight budget and the rate for our Disney Value hotel was comparable to a La Quinta “off campus”.) Each level of resort has themed pools, restaurants and amenities, so even at the lowest price point, you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.
Magical Express This is one of my favorite aspects of staying on property. About three weeks before your vacation Disney will send you big yellow luggage tags. Check your bags at the airport and then sit back and RELAX. When you arrive in Orlando, you can skip the baggage claim and head straight to the ME counter where you will board a tour bus that takes you to your hotel and your bags will be delivered straight to your room.
Dining Disney has created several plans which allow you to package your meals with your room and park tickets and save up to 30% on dining. The Disney Dining option is only available to those staying at Disney resorts. (More information on Disney Dining in a later post)
Transportation Buses, boats and monorails, oh my! There are several different modes of transportation designed to get you from your resort to the parks. I love never having to drive (extra glass of wine with dinner!) and my 5 year old loves that she never has to ride in a boring old car.
Magic To me the Disney resorts are an extension of the park. The theme is carried throughout the entire hotel from swimming pools to shower curtains. The Disney “Mousekeeping” team always adds bits of whimsy to the room and many of the resorts have Character Dining options which allow you to eat a meal with your favorite Disney friends in the comfort of your hotel.
“Off Campus” (This is the phrase my friend Kelli uses to describe anything in Orlando that is not on Disney property)
Cost The number one reason I hear for choosing a non-Disney hotel is the price, especially when the travel party is large. There are lots of condos and houses for rent just outside of Disney World that have two – four bedroom floor plans with kitchen and amenities that allow the whole gang a little bit more space. A friend of mine is going to DW in December and taking two sets of grandparents. To get two suites at a Disney resort would have been pretty pricey. Their off-site condo was so inexpensive, they get to stay an extra night. Many people have also mentioned that they are able to use their hotel points “off-campus” for discounted or free stays, allowing them to return to DW more often.
In addition to the savings on room-rates, food outside of DW is less expensive. This can mean big savings when you (like my friend) have to get 10 people fed.
Transportation As you can tell, part of vacation to me is a break from driving. Disney transportation, while incredibly efficient, is not always the most convenient. For example, getting from DW hotel –to-DW hotel via bus requires a transfer at the closet park. Three of the major parks have parking lots right out front, allowing park-hoppers to use their own car to move with ease within the Disney property. (Magic Kingdom is the only exception). Plus, the Disney property is SOOO big that some of the non-Disney properties are actually closer to certain parks than hotels within DW. If you plan on park-hopping or have lots of dining reservations, I would consider renting a car even if you are staying at a DW hotel.
A little too much mouse? Since I’ve got a Sea World and a NASA facility in Texas and I am not into Harry Potter, I'm not inclined to roam when I am in Orlando. For those of you who wish to venture out to the other Orlando-area attractions, consider staying “off campus” or at least renting a car!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Park Tickets
The next thing to consider is your park tickets. There are four types of park tickets to consider and for each option the price you pay per day goes down as you buy more days.
For example:
For two adults and one child
4 Days with Park Hopper $69 + $69 + $61= $199 x 4 days = $796
5 Days with Park Hopper $56 + $56 + $50 = $162 x 5 days = $810
To add an extra day for a family of three is only $14 total
If you are staying 4 days or less, I seriously recommend adding the Park Hopper option. This allows you to go back and visit some attractions at your favorite parks on days when you finish at another park early. It also allows you more freedom when making your dining reservations.
- Magic Your Way Base Tickets - get you into one park per day
- Park Hopper Tickets - allow you to entrance to multiple parks each day
- Water Park and More Tickets - in addition to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios - you will have access to the 2 water parks and Disney Quest (an indoor, interactive theme park in Downtown Disney).
- No expiration option - your MYW Base tickets expire after 14 days, but the no expiration option lets you use unused days anytime in the future.
For example:
For two adults and one child
4 Days with Park Hopper $69 + $69 + $61= $199 x 4 days = $796
5 Days with Park Hopper $56 + $56 + $50 = $162 x 5 days = $810
To add an extra day for a family of three is only $14 total
If you are staying 4 days or less, I seriously recommend adding the Park Hopper option. This allows you to go back and visit some attractions at your favorite parks on days when you finish at another park early. It also allows you more freedom when making your dining reservations.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
When To Go
OK - so my first couple posts might have made it seem like planning your Disney vacation is comparable to giving your Masters dissertation. Bottom line -Walt Disney World is huge. There is no way to see it all in one trip, but there are a lot of tools out there to help you figure out what to focus on to make your trip magical for you and your family.
The very first thing you need to do when planning your trip is to decide what time of the year you want to go. There are lots of things to factor in, but the four main ones are: crowds, holidays, the kids' school calendar and weather.
The following are, in my opinion, the best times to go because the weather is great and the crowds are low.
The very first thing you need to do when planning your trip is to decide what time of the year you want to go. There are lots of things to factor in, but the four main ones are: crowds, holidays, the kids' school calendar and weather.
The following are, in my opinion, the best times to go because the weather is great and the crowds are low.
1) January 1st - February 12th
2) April and May (after Spring Break and before school gets out)- The International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot adds a beautiful spring touch and on the weekends there is a concert series featuring artists from the 60s and 70s.
3) October and Early November (before Thanksgiving) - Magic Kingdom plays host to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and The International Food and Wine Festival is going on at Epcot
4) Early December (before Christmas break) - the parks are decorated for Christmas and it's "value season" so the rooms are discounted
Are you noticing a pattern? I know that the great state of Texas would not appreciate me telling people to pull their kids out of school to go on vacation, but the bottom line is - when your kids are on break, so are everyone else's. If you can't swing the vacation time or don't want your children to be truant, here are my choices for other times of the year.
1) If you must schedule around a holiday, shoot for Easter. It usually falls within the regular season so you won't pay a higher room rate. The crowds will be heavier over the weekend, but the weather should be great.
2) Mid to late August is considered part of "value season" at DW. The weather will be hot and very humid, but the heat and fears of hurricanes keep the crowds at bay. You should get a sizable discount on your resort and the only thing hurricanes bring to Orlando is rain.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Planning Tools
Whether it's your 1st trip or your 31st, there are some great tools that will help you make the most of your Disney World vacation. Here are some of my favorites. (If it's your first trip, or first trip in a while, the ones marked with stars will help you get started).
* The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World by Bob Schlinger with Len Testa - I think the first edition of this book came out in the mid-80s and they've been cranking them out annually ever since then. It's size can be a little overwhelming, but you don't have to read it cover-to-cover. Some key topics to read about: Fast Pass, touring plans, hotels and dining plans.
www.touringplans.com - by the creators of the Unofficial Guide. The $10 annual subscription fee is waived if you by this year's edition of The Unofficial Guide. There are great packing checklists, park maps, crowd calendars and touring plans that are already set up for you based on your family size and length of stay.
*www.allears.net - this website is a go-to for even Disney experts. The writers at All Ears are seasoned veterans and they are up on all the latest goings-on at DW. First-timers will find the sections on accommodations and dining particularly useful. (Check out the up-to-date menus for all the restaurants at the parks and the resort hotels)
*http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/ - The Disney Mom's Panel is made up of 26 Moms and 4 Dads who have been hand-chosen by Disney because they each have some sort of unique insight into the Disney experience. There is a section where you can type in a key word and search for questions that have already been asked, or you can post your own question for the panel. These folks are actual Disney Cast Members, so the answers you get will be "straight from the Mouse himself".
*iPhone - There are tons of Disney aps for iPhone or iPod Touch. I've played around with almost all of them, and these are the best:
* The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World by Bob Schlinger with Len Testa - I think the first edition of this book came out in the mid-80s and they've been cranking them out annually ever since then. It's size can be a little overwhelming, but you don't have to read it cover-to-cover. Some key topics to read about: Fast Pass, touring plans, hotels and dining plans.
www.touringplans.com - by the creators of the Unofficial Guide. The $10 annual subscription fee is waived if you by this year's edition of The Unofficial Guide. There are great packing checklists, park maps, crowd calendars and touring plans that are already set up for you based on your family size and length of stay.
*www.allears.net - this website is a go-to for even Disney experts. The writers at All Ears are seasoned veterans and they are up on all the latest goings-on at DW. First-timers will find the sections on accommodations and dining particularly useful. (Check out the up-to-date menus for all the restaurants at the parks and the resort hotels)
*http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/ - The Disney Mom's Panel is made up of 26 Moms and 4 Dads who have been hand-chosen by Disney because they each have some sort of unique insight into the Disney experience. There is a section where you can type in a key word and search for questions that have already been asked, or you can post your own question for the panel. These folks are actual Disney Cast Members, so the answers you get will be "straight from the Mouse himself".
*iPhone - There are tons of Disney aps for iPhone or iPod Touch. I've played around with almost all of them, and these are the best:
- Disney World Lines - (touringplans.com) The limited version is free, but touringplans.com subscribers will get full access with the annual subscription. The interactive plan lets readers post wait times and fast pass return times for all of the attractions at all four parks. They also tell you which parks to avoid based on park hours and crowd calendar.
- Disney World Mini Guide (UPinPoint.com) You can buy the full DW bundle for $2.99 or each park separately for $0.99 each. The map will use your location to tell you where you are in the park. You can use the tools to find the closest restroom, attraction or restaurant (with menus and prices) based on category or location.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mother of the Year
Sydney, my five-year-old, announced that she did not want to go to Disneyworld this year for vacation. She wanted to go to Chicago to see a Cub's game with her Grandpa. WHAT?!?!?!
A friend of mine once said that Disney was the reward for being a good mother. When your baby chooses the Cubs over Mickey Mouse does that make you a bad mother?
Kidding aside, I was secretly relieved to not be planning a Disney trip this year. Tax season has been brutal (my husband is a CPA), I've been doing a lot of volunteer work for a friend of mine who is running for Congress and our house is on the market. February and March were a blur.
Once the dust began to settle and Spring had sprung, I began to get a little sad. Seems like everyone around me was planning a trip to DW and I found out that two of my BFFs from college were moving to Florida. I must not have disgused my moping very well because my husband announced that we ought to consider a trip to DW in early December.
BINGO! Christmas and The Mouse - It's like someone nominated me for Mother of The Year.
When I decided to start a Disney blog this winter, I was having a hard time finding the motivation to post, but now I will be able to blog about my planning. I know that I spend a lot of time online in the months leading up to a trip. I've gotten a lot of good advice from other Moms, and I hope to be able to provide the same for you.
A friend of mine once said that Disney was the reward for being a good mother. When your baby chooses the Cubs over Mickey Mouse does that make you a bad mother?
Kidding aside, I was secretly relieved to not be planning a Disney trip this year. Tax season has been brutal (my husband is a CPA), I've been doing a lot of volunteer work for a friend of mine who is running for Congress and our house is on the market. February and March were a blur.
Once the dust began to settle and Spring had sprung, I began to get a little sad. Seems like everyone around me was planning a trip to DW and I found out that two of my BFFs from college were moving to Florida. I must not have disgused my moping very well because my husband announced that we ought to consider a trip to DW in early December.
BINGO! Christmas and The Mouse - It's like someone nominated me for Mother of The Year.
When I decided to start a Disney blog this winter, I was having a hard time finding the motivation to post, but now I will be able to blog about my planning. I know that I spend a lot of time online in the months leading up to a trip. I've gotten a lot of good advice from other Moms, and I hope to be able to provide the same for you.
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