I'm baaaack.....
After a 3 year hiatus, I'm back in Disney mode. We will be making a last minute, surprise trip to Disney World next month and I could not be more excited. The Fantasyland expansion is finished and FastPass+ is running smoothly so it will be a whole new adventure for this old dog.
Here's what I'm super pumped about:
1) Traveling with first-timers. No matter how many times you've been to a Disney park, traveling with a first-timer is magical. I'm looking forward to playing tour guide to my sister-in-law and niece who have NO expectations.
2) 7 Dwarfs Mine Train opens on May 28. I haven't seen any of the Fantasyland expansion (Belle's area, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Little Mermaid or the twice-as-big Dumbo ride), so being there when the final piece opens makes this Disney heart beat extra fast.
3) FastPass+. I got all grumbly and doubtful when the new FP rules came out this fall; but so far, I am a believer. I'm going to do a post soon on how to navigate this system, with a follow-up after our trip with the results, but here's what made me a true believer: Normally, we go to Epcot the afternoon of our arrival and walk the World Showcase because under the Legacy FP system, there were no passes left for our favorite rides. This year, even with no advance notice, we were able to schedule at least two FP+ reservations for headline attractions for the evening. I also got word from the peeps over at Touring Plans that Disney has lifted it's 3 FP+ rule and made allowances for park hopping. (http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/04/24/fastpass-changes-rolling-next-week-walt-disney-world/)
4) My Disney Experience app- I've never really used any of the other apps that Disney Parks put out, but this one is super helpful. It's like the command center for your Disney Vacation. Once you log in and see your resort and ticket reservations, you can begin making dining and FP+ reservations as well. I'll still use my Touring plans app to guide us through the day, but gone are the days with my excel spreadsheets showing all of our confirmation numbers!
I follow just about every Disney planning blog there is, so I can stay current on all the changes when I'm helping people plan their vacations, but this trip will give me some first--hand experience. I can't wait to share what I learn!
Peace Love Mickey
