I know, you are like what?! The Walt Disney World girl likes something even better than the parks? It is crazy, and I'm not 100% convinced, but I will tell you, Disney Cruises are pretty amazing. We have only been on two so far, but have our third booked for next summer and we can't wait! So what makes Disney cruises so amazing?
1. There is something for everyone. Adult only areas? Check. Amazing kid clubs that are included in the price of the cruise? Check. Great pools? Check. Broadway caliber shows? Check. First run movies? Check. Wine tastings? Check. Diaper dashes? Check. No matter what your style, you will find something that meets your interests and needs.
2. The food is great. Disney ships feature this awesome concept of rotational dining. Each night you have the same wait staff but you switch restaurants. You might eat in Animator's Palate (where the scenery changes throughout the night as you eat and you see Disney or Pixar characters come to life) and then Tiana's Place or the Enchanted Garden where princess settings are more the decor. There are a few adult only restaurants that are absolutely amazing (and totally worth the small upcharge) and there is a buffet open most hours, as well as offerings like frozen yogurt, burgers, wraps, and fries available most times on the pool deck. Your dining staff will get to know you quickly. On day two they had my kids' desired drinks waiting when we arrived. They knew my daughter's kid meal was never going to fill her up so happily brought her a side of grilled shrimp or something from the adult menu. Want to try two desserts? Go for it. It's vacation!
3. Your kids will beg to go the kid club. A room modeled after Andy's bedroom from Toy Story. A mock Millenium Falcon the kids can fly. Dance parties with Disney characters. Art, cooking, and science events. Gaming stations for those that can't live without their screen time. For kids 3-10 or so, there is definitely something for everyone. And the kid area is super secure (they have a special bracelet system and check out safe word, as well as some of the most state of the art hand washers I have ever seen to keep germs at bay!). Our kids requested time there the final night to go one more time before leaving the ship they loved it that much!
4. Disney Shows. Each night there is a special show you can see either before or after dinner depending on your dining time. The shows are Broadway caliber but geared to families. They are based on Disney films or Disney concepts like believe and dream, and they are great. While other cruise lines often have great shows, most aren't rated G so aren't exactly what I am looking for. The Disney shows were perfect for my kids and grown ups enjoyed them too.
5. Disney's Private Island, Castaway Cay. This island wins the best private island award in every award list I have ever seen. There is an adult only area, several swimming areas, a kid club area on the island (complete with dinosaur digs and beach scavenger hunts), character meet and greets, and water slides and play areas in the middle of the water. You can rent bikes or snorkel equipment or just lay in a hammock. You can even get off the ship early and run or walk a 5K. It is beautiful and perfect.
While all these things are great, the reason I love Disney cruises the most is the vacation style it leads to. Disney World is go go go. No matter how much down time I try to schedule in to the trip, I have a hard time relaxing and slowing down. On the cruise, there is rarely somewhere you have to be. There is just a sense that you should be spending time just chilling and watching the waves or hanging in the theater or eating with the family and you don't feel like you are exhausted when you are done with vacation. You can schedule character meet and greets or port excursions but otherwise you just show up where you want and when you want. Want to skip dinner? That's fine. Room service is included or you can hit the buffet. If you want to go go go there is something scheduled from like 5 am - 2 am. And the kid clubs are open like 7 am - midnight. There are special clubs for preteens and teens too if you have older kids that are too cool for too much family time. It really is a great vacation for everyone and I can't wait for us to go back for a 7-night trip next August!
Feel free to share your favorite parts of the cruise! Or ask any questions about Disney or other cruise lines!
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Our Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurants
Disney has lots of great food and not all of them are in the sit down restaurants. Here are my top five favorite Quick Service food options at Disney:
1. Sunshine Seasons. Located in Epcot in the Land Pavilion near Soarin and Living with the Land, the fresh and varied options in this eatery are probably the freshest and best at Disney. The chicken Caesar salad is one of the best I have ever had but the offerings are all amazing!
2. Flame Tree BBQ. Ribs and BBQ chicken your thing? The food at this Animal Kingdom eatery is also really fresh and good. The servings are also huge so can easily be shared! Avoid the birds that sometimes walk around the tables but otherwise this is a great meal and certainly a can't miss for our family!
3. Sleepy Hollow. This refreshment stand behind the castle as you enter Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom serves a lot of yummy desserts like funnel cakes, but it is the waffle sandwiches that are our go to here. The nutella fruit waffle sandwich makes an amazing breakfast to share but the spicy chicken waffle sandwich has my heart. Share it and then you can have more Mickey ice cream later!
4. Columbia Harbour House. Just around the bend from Sleepy Hollow and across from Haunted Mansion, this restaurant is another favorite. They have some lighter options like grilled salmon or a great veggie sandwich, but the lobster roll, fish sticks, or chicken tenders are always tasty if you are ok with something heavier. Head upstairs with your food for a cool place to relax and people watch and enjoy your meal with less hustle and bustle!
5. Tangerine Café. Located in Morrocco in World Showcase, the pita sandwiches and falafel at this establishment are yummy, filling, and relatively inexpensive for Disney prices. If your kids are less excited about the “exotic” food, you can easily grab them something from nearby American Adventure or a pretzel in Germany, but the food here is a go-to for my husband and I.
I am pretty sure that I could easily include most of Epcot’s World Showcase on this list and I know I am going to love the new Canteen in Pandora in Animal Kingdom, but right now these are my top five. Which Quick Service is your go to? And does anyone love any of the choices in Hollywood Studios? They are totally edible but just not on par with these in my opinion. Hopefully Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxies Edge fixes that in the years to come!
1. Sunshine Seasons. Located in Epcot in the Land Pavilion near Soarin and Living with the Land, the fresh and varied options in this eatery are probably the freshest and best at Disney. The chicken Caesar salad is one of the best I have ever had but the offerings are all amazing!
2. Flame Tree BBQ. Ribs and BBQ chicken your thing? The food at this Animal Kingdom eatery is also really fresh and good. The servings are also huge so can easily be shared! Avoid the birds that sometimes walk around the tables but otherwise this is a great meal and certainly a can't miss for our family!
3. Sleepy Hollow. This refreshment stand behind the castle as you enter Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom serves a lot of yummy desserts like funnel cakes, but it is the waffle sandwiches that are our go to here. The nutella fruit waffle sandwich makes an amazing breakfast to share but the spicy chicken waffle sandwich has my heart. Share it and then you can have more Mickey ice cream later!
4. Columbia Harbour House. Just around the bend from Sleepy Hollow and across from Haunted Mansion, this restaurant is another favorite. They have some lighter options like grilled salmon or a great veggie sandwich, but the lobster roll, fish sticks, or chicken tenders are always tasty if you are ok with something heavier. Head upstairs with your food for a cool place to relax and people watch and enjoy your meal with less hustle and bustle!
5. Tangerine Café. Located in Morrocco in World Showcase, the pita sandwiches and falafel at this establishment are yummy, filling, and relatively inexpensive for Disney prices. If your kids are less excited about the “exotic” food, you can easily grab them something from nearby American Adventure or a pretzel in Germany, but the food here is a go-to for my husband and I.
I am pretty sure that I could easily include most of Epcot’s World Showcase on this list and I know I am going to love the new Canteen in Pandora in Animal Kingdom, but right now these are my top five. Which Quick Service is your go to? And does anyone love any of the choices in Hollywood Studios? They are totally edible but just not on par with these in my opinion. Hopefully Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxies Edge fixes that in the years to come!
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Why You Shouldn't Book Disney On Your Own
Sure, you could book your own Disney trip. Disney makes it
fairly easy to price everything out on their consumer site and just hit book.
You enter a few details and pay and voila, Disney here you come. But wait. If
it was that easy, why would people like me exist? I promise you, it is not for
the money. I do this because I love Disney and want you to enjoy the trip. A
Disney trip is complicated, and even if you have done it a few times, you are
probably missing out on a lot of information and tips doing it on your own. So
what do you get when you book with me exactly?
- The same exact price as if you book direct. Yes, the exact same. Disney builds a small commission in to every single room/package/ticket they sell. You book with me, I get the commission. You book direct, they keep it. The prices I see are the prices you see. They are the prices any other travel agent sees. So really, why wouldn’t you book with me? Someone who goes to the park 3-5 times most years and eats, sleeps, and breathes Disney!
- Discount monitoring. I’ll be honest, Disney discounts are becoming fewer and farther between based on the popularity of their new additions and a stronger economy. But they do still release discounts several times a year. The most popular tends to be “free dining” in the fall, but room discounts and ticket deals are also released seasonally. If a discount is released and it matches your dates and package, I’ll apply it automatically. No need to search yourself, keep abreast of every new release, or worry about any of this. While I always say you should book at a price you are comfortable with, in many cases I am able to adjust the price down (or get you a nice upgrade at about the same price) closer to your trip. Of course there are never any guarantees, but knowing I am looking out for you is a nice perk!
- Who likes getting up at 5:45 AM to book dining? Not too many people. 180 days out I’ll be up for you booking the restaurants you wanted right as the clock turns to 6 AM. Of course this is after consulting with you about what best fits your preliminary plans, budget, and needs. I’ll share recommendations and work hard to get you exactly what you want. For busier times of year when some restaurants are almost impossible to book even at 180 days out (and also for people that book trips much closer to their travel date) I’ll set up reservation finders for your hard to get reservations to try to snag those ressies if and when they do become available.
- I know what you need to FastPass and what you don’t. Have six must dos at the Magic Kingdom and not sure how to assign your three passes and maximize time? I’ll not only tell you exactly how to set up your fast passes to make the day as smooth as possible, I’ll be online for you at 7 AM 60 days out to snag everything you need for your trip. When I see people using fast passes on rides with 0-5 minute waits it drives me crazy. You won’t be those people if you work with me!
- For packages (room and ticket with or without dining plan) booked on site, I also provide detailed daily itineraries as part of my service. This includes mapping out each of your days in the park to minimize time in lines and maximize what you can do. And these are obviously customized based on your family! Billy is scared of the dark? We can skip all dark rides and shows? Need nap/pool time worked in each afternoon? Done. Need to know the best park to hop to after naps? In there, along with the evening show times, recs for dinner if you don’t have a dining reservation, and travel time. I try to make the trip as stress-free as possible. With a hotel or ticket only booking I can provide this level of detail for a small additional fee, but include park recommendations and a general outline of each day in the packet you will receive before your trip.
- Brand new to Disney? Or been once or twice and friends and family are telling you how great it is and all of their advice is overwhelming? If you are local I am happy to meet in person. If not, or you prefer the phone, I’ll walk you through everything on the phone. There are lots of things to consider for a Disney trip. Hotel? Hopper tickets? How many days in the parks? Dining plan? How to stay on a budget? Magic bands? Magical Express? I will give you some general information, answer questions, and keep you on track through the process. I will not upsell you. I will listen to what you want and find you the best match. If your expectations aren’t realistic to your budget, I will tell you that and price things out at the level you want and the level you tell me you can afford. I want you to have a great trip at a price you are comfortable paying and whether that is 1 night at All Star Sports with a day at Magic Kingdom or two weeks in a Club Level Villa I will help you make your trip everything you imagine.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Disney in 2018
Are you thinking about Disney in 2018 but aren't sure if it is the right time for your family?! 2018 Packages were just released June 20th and there are so many reasons that next year might just be the perfect year for your family to experience the magic of Disney. Here are five reasons to think about a trip to the land of mouse:
1. Pandora just opened and is reportedly amazing at Animal Kingdom. Not so amazing however are the lines. Wait times have been up to six hours for Flights of Passage, the standout ride in the new area! Yes, people get around that with fast passes (and if you are going this year that will certainly be the first one I book for you!) but come 2018 everything will still be new without some of the obscene lines!
2. Toy Story Land. Hollywood Studios is currently undergoing a massive expansion. The Star Wars Land they are building won't yet be done in 2018 but all reports predict insanity the first year it opens anyways. While Disney has kept mum on the exact opening of the other new area, Toy Story Land, most are predicting a 2018 start. With a family coaster modeled after the Slinky Dog and a Spinning Alien saucer ride, it looks to be a great addition to a park that needed a few more rides for families with small kids. Check out my page for official word of this new land perfect for kids but my money is on summer 2018!
3. Speaking of kids, do you have little ones? Hitting the sweet spot when one is just under age 3, is a great way to do Disney for less money. Disney tickets and the dining plan for kids under 3 is free. They can even turn three after the first day of the trip and still count as 2 year olds. My kids have been going since they were infants but right before age 3 is pretty great at Disney. They can stay up later to see night shows (at least occasionally), tend to want to interact with characters more, and if you have a taller one, may even be big enough for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride!
4. Your family will love all of the new nighttime shows Disney has going on! From Magic Kingdom's brand new Happily Ever After to the Star Wars show with fireworks, lasers, and projections that end the evening at Hollywood Studios, every park now has something amazing to end a magical day!
5. Disney has really extended their festival line up at Epcot! Flower & Garden Festival now goes most of March-May with concerts, food and drink booths, and special events (plus the amazing topiaries and flowers everywhere). The main event for grown ups, Food & Wine expands each year and now goes from late August through early November! The holidays from Thanksgiving weekend on include the Candlelight Processional with celebrity narrators and Holidays Around the World where each country showcases their traditions. The new Festival of the Arts in January and February was a massive success and I expect it to return in 2018 and finally the Sounds like Summer Concert Series makes your summer evenings in Epcot a little more fun. Epcot really does have something special all year long!
As you can see, Disney always offers a lot to see and do. Take it from our family that visits multiple times of year, there is no bad time to visit and every time you go you'll see something new! If you are ready for a quote or just have some questions, message or email me anytime! And remember, you pay nothing extra working with me. A small $200 (plus insurance if desired) deposit is all it takes to book and you have until 30 days before travel to pay off your trip. Now is the time, contact me to get planning!
Monday, May 22, 2017
Saving Money at Disney: Part 1
When you think of Disney you probably think two things - lines and money! One of the reasons you would be well advised to use my services is I can help on both fronts. I'll use crowd calendars to tell you which park to visit on each day to avoid some crowds, book fast-passes strategically for the right rides at the right times, and create daily itineraries that maximize saving time on the line front. But I can also help you save money. A bit with your booking (I always monitor for discounts, even after you book and can apply things later!) but also with the tips I share here, on my facebook page, and in conversations with clients. Here are a few of my favorite tips for saving money at Disney!
1. Stay on site. A value resort on property will be at most slightly more expensive than options off property. With an on-site reservation you maximize your time (and time equals money) through the extra hours resort guests get in the park but also save money on transportation. Off-site guests pay at least $20 a day in parking fees if they drive to and from the parks. Plus, you need to add in the rental car fee itself for anyone flying. Or ground transportation to and from the airport if you are going to use (the usually inconvenient) shuttles of an off-site resort. If you do drive to Disney, parking is free for those staying on site at both the hotels and the parks. If you don't drive, transportation to and from the airport and around Disney World is included in the price of all resorts on site. So any money saved by booking off site often quickly gets eaten away by transportation costs when you compare an on-site value resort verses an off-site reservation.
2. Bring costumes from home. Shocker I know, but prices in Disney stores on site are escalated due to demand. Your little princess or pirate may very well want to dress up in the parks; don't be caught off guard and subjected to the prices in the park. Bring a costume from home that is already well loved or even better, buy something cute brand new for the trip on Amazon or even etsy for less than what you'd pay on property.
3. Bring toys/trinkets/glow sticks from home. There is lots to buy at Disney. As soon as dusk hits, it is like a 4th of July viewing with glowing and flashing toys everywhere. Head that off with some dollar store or Target glow stick accessories. While you are at it, pick up a few other Disney toys to put out in the morning at the hotel room or pull out as a surprise in a line. Souvenirs are great but they don't have to kill your budget!
4. Bring food from home or use a grocery service. Even if you select a dining plan for your trip, you'll want to bring food from home or get some delivered to your resort from a local grocery company. Granola or other breakfast bars, apple sauce pouches, fruit snacks, and even peanut butter and jelly sandwich makings are great for our family. When we have a car we buy fruit and other fresh treats. We eat at a restaurant either for breakfast or lunch and then dinner and these snacks get us through the rest of the day without us spending $10 on the first thing we see when starvation (and with it, whining) hits. I find with bringing these items I can usually have my kids share one Disney kid meal at a counter service restaurant and then supplement with snacks. This lets us stretch our dining credits or save money when we aren't on the dining plan.
5. Think about autographs before you go. Autograph books at Disney are expensive and they also aren't always the best way to collect or display memories. Inexpensive items to collect autographs from home include a plain white pillowcase for characters to sign, a mat for a frame (if you have a place to carry this in the parks!), a Disney t-shirt, or a dollar store or craft store autograph book or photo album. There are so many creative ideas for this one - just search pinterest! But no matter what you pick, remember to bring a fat sharpie that will be easy for characters to grip!
6. Never buy bottled water! If you are on the dining plan, bottled water counts as a snack credit but you definitely won't get your money's worth on the plan if you spend all your snack credits on these instead of park treats like ice cream in Epcot's France pavilion or breakfast items at your resort. And ice water is free if you ask at any counter restaurant. You can also bring water bottles from home and refill through the park. If you don't like Florida water, use flavoring packets. There is almost never a reason to spend $3 a pop on what you can get for free in so many places!
7. Ask for gift cards for presents for you/your kids. No one needs more stuff in their house anyways, am I right? We give each kid a $25 gift card for souvenirs. They spend the trip picking something special and know they just get to spend that $25 and nothing more. Other gift cards can be used for food or special events. You can even pay for your trip using gift cards - I just need the numbers to apply to your account! You can even buy slightly discounted gift cards at some warehouse stores or at Target with your red card to save a little extra money going this route. But no matter how you buy them, using gift cards to help pay for your trip, especially if they have been given to you by others for holidays and birthdays, it definitely helps with costs! I used a $100 one I was given for Christmas to pay for ALL of my meals at Disney for a 4-day solo marathon trip last year. It was amazing and sort of like a challenge to see if I could eat well and do it!
8. Think about when you go. Disney's prices change seasonally. Hotels, park tickets, and even restaurant prices are more expensive when more people plan to be there. The most crowded and most expensive weeks? Christmas and Easter by far! If at all possible go off-season to save money on costs and to save time in lines. Who wants to pay more to be with tons of people? I can help you pick the best weeks for costs and lines.
So there are some money saving ideas! I'll share others in a later post. And as always, please contact me for quotes, with questions, or to book your magical trip!
1. Stay on site. A value resort on property will be at most slightly more expensive than options off property. With an on-site reservation you maximize your time (and time equals money) through the extra hours resort guests get in the park but also save money on transportation. Off-site guests pay at least $20 a day in parking fees if they drive to and from the parks. Plus, you need to add in the rental car fee itself for anyone flying. Or ground transportation to and from the airport if you are going to use (the usually inconvenient) shuttles of an off-site resort. If you do drive to Disney, parking is free for those staying on site at both the hotels and the parks. If you don't drive, transportation to and from the airport and around Disney World is included in the price of all resorts on site. So any money saved by booking off site often quickly gets eaten away by transportation costs when you compare an on-site value resort verses an off-site reservation.
2. Bring costumes from home. Shocker I know, but prices in Disney stores on site are escalated due to demand. Your little princess or pirate may very well want to dress up in the parks; don't be caught off guard and subjected to the prices in the park. Bring a costume from home that is already well loved or even better, buy something cute brand new for the trip on Amazon or even etsy for less than what you'd pay on property.
3. Bring toys/trinkets/glow sticks from home. There is lots to buy at Disney. As soon as dusk hits, it is like a 4th of July viewing with glowing and flashing toys everywhere. Head that off with some dollar store or Target glow stick accessories. While you are at it, pick up a few other Disney toys to put out in the morning at the hotel room or pull out as a surprise in a line. Souvenirs are great but they don't have to kill your budget!
4. Bring food from home or use a grocery service. Even if you select a dining plan for your trip, you'll want to bring food from home or get some delivered to your resort from a local grocery company. Granola or other breakfast bars, apple sauce pouches, fruit snacks, and even peanut butter and jelly sandwich makings are great for our family. When we have a car we buy fruit and other fresh treats. We eat at a restaurant either for breakfast or lunch and then dinner and these snacks get us through the rest of the day without us spending $10 on the first thing we see when starvation (and with it, whining) hits. I find with bringing these items I can usually have my kids share one Disney kid meal at a counter service restaurant and then supplement with snacks. This lets us stretch our dining credits or save money when we aren't on the dining plan.
5. Think about autographs before you go. Autograph books at Disney are expensive and they also aren't always the best way to collect or display memories. Inexpensive items to collect autographs from home include a plain white pillowcase for characters to sign, a mat for a frame (if you have a place to carry this in the parks!), a Disney t-shirt, or a dollar store or craft store autograph book or photo album. There are so many creative ideas for this one - just search pinterest! But no matter what you pick, remember to bring a fat sharpie that will be easy for characters to grip!
6. Never buy bottled water! If you are on the dining plan, bottled water counts as a snack credit but you definitely won't get your money's worth on the plan if you spend all your snack credits on these instead of park treats like ice cream in Epcot's France pavilion or breakfast items at your resort. And ice water is free if you ask at any counter restaurant. You can also bring water bottles from home and refill through the park. If you don't like Florida water, use flavoring packets. There is almost never a reason to spend $3 a pop on what you can get for free in so many places!
7. Ask for gift cards for presents for you/your kids. No one needs more stuff in their house anyways, am I right? We give each kid a $25 gift card for souvenirs. They spend the trip picking something special and know they just get to spend that $25 and nothing more. Other gift cards can be used for food or special events. You can even pay for your trip using gift cards - I just need the numbers to apply to your account! You can even buy slightly discounted gift cards at some warehouse stores or at Target with your red card to save a little extra money going this route. But no matter how you buy them, using gift cards to help pay for your trip, especially if they have been given to you by others for holidays and birthdays, it definitely helps with costs! I used a $100 one I was given for Christmas to pay for ALL of my meals at Disney for a 4-day solo marathon trip last year. It was amazing and sort of like a challenge to see if I could eat well and do it!
8. Think about when you go. Disney's prices change seasonally. Hotels, park tickets, and even restaurant prices are more expensive when more people plan to be there. The most crowded and most expensive weeks? Christmas and Easter by far! If at all possible go off-season to save money on costs and to save time in lines. Who wants to pay more to be with tons of people? I can help you pick the best weeks for costs and lines.
So there are some money saving ideas! I'll share others in a later post. And as always, please contact me for quotes, with questions, or to book your magical trip!
Monday, March 6, 2017
Disney Hotels
Staying on site at Disney comes with some big advantages, many of which I have already discussed in other posts. First, you get to book your fast-passes 60 days out instead of 30 days. Those super popular rides often get snatched up before that 30 day mark so off-site guests have to either endure long lines or skip those attractions. Second, one of the parks either opens an hour early or stays open 2-3 hours late just for Disney hotel guests. Third, you can do without a rental car by using Disney's Magical Express to and from the airport and take advantage of their luggage service as well coming and going. Finally, you get magic bands, have free parking at the parks if you do have a car, have charging privelleges, and even have package delivery service.
So I have sold you on staying on property, now you have to decide where to stay! Disney has lots of options and they fall in to four main categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa. There is also an on-site campground if you prefer that. Here is a quick run-down of the different categories.
Value: These are the least expensive of the Disney hotels and they cater to families with little kids and groups. They are highly themed and there are five options - All Star Sports, All Star Music, All Star Movies, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. While All Star Music and Art of Animation have family suites, most rooms are standard hotel/motel rooms with two double beds, a bathroom, and a small table and chairs. There will be several pools throughout the resort, a food court, and bus service to the parks. These hotels are best for families on a budget, families that won't be spending much time in the rooms, and families with little kids who will love the decor that many adults find a bit cheesy. Art of Animation is the newest value resort and is themed to Disney classics like the Little Mermaid, Cars, and the Lion King. About half of all my bookings are at this hotel, either for the suites or the Little Mermaid standard rooms and everyone loves it! My favorite value is Pop Century. Across the lake from Art of Animation, it is all standard rooms which work fine for our crew of four when we are doing Disney on a budget. The rooms are clean and the food court and transportation have always been more than acceptable.
Moderate: These are mid-range hotels that have a little more grown up feel in decor and setting. Moderate resorts have slightly larger rooms with either two queens or a king (and some have an extra pull down or something for a smaller kid). The pools are slightly more elaborate than the values and have a slide. They all have large food courts but they also have a sit-down restaurant that is a bit fancier. The two Port Orleans resorts (French Quarter and Riverside) have a boat that takes guests to the Disney Springs downtown area and back. The Fort Wilderness Cabins (which are bigger than the other moderates with a small kitchen and sleep 6) has a boat that goes to Magic Kingdom, and the other two, Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, are served exclusively by bus. My favorite moderate by far is Port Orleans - French Quarter, Smaller than the other resorts, with boat service to Disney Springs, and set among Magnolia trees, it feels more grown up and relaxing than the other resorts in the value or moderate categories. We have had good stays at the other resorts in this category as well, although have never tried the cabins. I'll report in later this year when a client checks those out!
Deluxe: These are generally the hotels you see in Disney TV commercials. They are beautiful, have rooms that fit 4-5, generally with 2 queens and sometimes a pull-down or bunk bed for kids in the room. The rooms also have balconies which is nice if you are relaxing while kids are napping! The pools are themed and have both slides and water play areas with spilling buckets, sprays, etc. There is generally a small quick-service food area and then several sit-down restaurants. These resorts tend to be a little closer to the parks. Three are on the Magic Kingdom monorail line (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary); Wilderness Lodge has boat service to the Magic Kingdom; Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club are within walking distance to Epcot or are a quick boat ride to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios; and Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn't have any special transportation options but you have the animals in your backyard! These hotels are really awesome and while I love all of them, my absolute favorite is Wilderness Lodge which is themed like a national park lodge out west. Complete with a geyser that erupts hourly and a waterfall, as well as two of my favorite restaurants on all of property (and favorite lounge for drinks and snacks by far!), it definitely has my heart!
Deluxe Villa: Disney has a timeshare program called Disney Vacation Club. While Disney sells most shares, they keep about a 10% ownership in these resorts for regular guests. The rooms are either studios (similar to a Deluxe traditional hotel room but with an added kitchenette), or 1, 2, or 3-bedroom suites with kitchens. Generally Deluxe villas are located in one area of Disney deluxe resorts but there are two properties, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs, both located on the Disney Springs boat route (and Saratoga is also walking distance to Disney Springs), that do not have traditional hotel rooms at all. The Deluxe Villas have everything the Deluxe hotels have - fancier pools, sit-down restaurants, balconies, more grown up decor, etc. For extended families hoping to all stay together, grabbing one of the 1-3 bedroom suites is often the best bet.
What hotel is your favorite or are you most eager to try? Do you have questions about any of the categories? Remember that whether you stay in a value room or 3-bedroom suite you get the advantages of staying on property so let me help you figure out the best fit for your crew and your budget!
So I have sold you on staying on property, now you have to decide where to stay! Disney has lots of options and they fall in to four main categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa. There is also an on-site campground if you prefer that. Here is a quick run-down of the different categories.
Value: These are the least expensive of the Disney hotels and they cater to families with little kids and groups. They are highly themed and there are five options - All Star Sports, All Star Music, All Star Movies, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. While All Star Music and Art of Animation have family suites, most rooms are standard hotel/motel rooms with two double beds, a bathroom, and a small table and chairs. There will be several pools throughout the resort, a food court, and bus service to the parks. These hotels are best for families on a budget, families that won't be spending much time in the rooms, and families with little kids who will love the decor that many adults find a bit cheesy. Art of Animation is the newest value resort and is themed to Disney classics like the Little Mermaid, Cars, and the Lion King. About half of all my bookings are at this hotel, either for the suites or the Little Mermaid standard rooms and everyone loves it! My favorite value is Pop Century. Across the lake from Art of Animation, it is all standard rooms which work fine for our crew of four when we are doing Disney on a budget. The rooms are clean and the food court and transportation have always been more than acceptable.
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| Pop Century has artifacts from different decades. This life-size twister board painted off the beaten path was a big hit with my little ones! |
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| The trees and fountains at French-Quarter just make me happy! |
Deluxe: These are generally the hotels you see in Disney TV commercials. They are beautiful, have rooms that fit 4-5, generally with 2 queens and sometimes a pull-down or bunk bed for kids in the room. The rooms also have balconies which is nice if you are relaxing while kids are napping! The pools are themed and have both slides and water play areas with spilling buckets, sprays, etc. There is generally a small quick-service food area and then several sit-down restaurants. These resorts tend to be a little closer to the parks. Three are on the Magic Kingdom monorail line (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary); Wilderness Lodge has boat service to the Magic Kingdom; Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club are within walking distance to Epcot or are a quick boat ride to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios; and Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn't have any special transportation options but you have the animals in your backyard! These hotels are really awesome and while I love all of them, my absolute favorite is Wilderness Lodge which is themed like a national park lodge out west. Complete with a geyser that erupts hourly and a waterfall, as well as two of my favorite restaurants on all of property (and favorite lounge for drinks and snacks by far!), it definitely has my heart!
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| Even during a summer thunderstorm, the view out the window of Wilderness Lodge is gorgeous. And for an amazing dinner, try Artist Point! |
Deluxe Villa: Disney has a timeshare program called Disney Vacation Club. While Disney sells most shares, they keep about a 10% ownership in these resorts for regular guests. The rooms are either studios (similar to a Deluxe traditional hotel room but with an added kitchenette), or 1, 2, or 3-bedroom suites with kitchens. Generally Deluxe villas are located in one area of Disney deluxe resorts but there are two properties, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs, both located on the Disney Springs boat route (and Saratoga is also walking distance to Disney Springs), that do not have traditional hotel rooms at all. The Deluxe Villas have everything the Deluxe hotels have - fancier pools, sit-down restaurants, balconies, more grown up decor, etc. For extended families hoping to all stay together, grabbing one of the 1-3 bedroom suites is often the best bet.
What hotel is your favorite or are you most eager to try? Do you have questions about any of the categories? Remember that whether you stay in a value room or 3-bedroom suite you get the advantages of staying on property so let me help you figure out the best fit for your crew and your budget!
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Increasing Your Disney Vocab
If you are new to Disney, you are probably wondering about some of the terms that get thrown out all the time! This entry is the first (but likely not the last) that helps to define some things for the Disney newbie (or new to the 2017 version of Disney):
Dining Plan - Ok so Disney actually has several dining plans, but when people are talking about "the dining plan" they generally are talking about a plan offered to people staying on Disney property that have gotten a ticket and room package. The plan is priced per adult or child per night and includes a table service credit for a sit down restaurant, a counter service credit for a fast-food type experience, two snack credits, and a refillable mug. To purchase, everyone in the room must be on the plan and it is per night not number of total days you are at Disney which confuses some people. There are lots of restaurants to pick from and generally casual Disney visitors generally like the plan so they can schedule some nice meals in to their trip that are basically pre-paid. Occasionally Disney offers free dining promotions for full-price room packages. If you book with me and free dining or any discount is announced I monitor that and add it to your package if it is available for your room.
Disney Springs - This is the downtown area of Disney. It doesn't require a ticket or admission and is a lovely area of outdoor shopping, restaurants, and activities like a movie theater, bowling, and a Cirque show. Buses run from the hotels and later in the day, directly from the theme parks.
Fast-pass - This is basically like a go near the front of the line reservation for rides and shows. Each guest gets three a day they can schedule in advance. If you are staying on property you can reserve yours 60 days out; if off property you reserve them 30 days out. They are electronically added to your account so you just show up to the entrance at the correct one-hour window and they scan your magic band (will get to that in a minute) or ticket, and in you go. Instead of waiting in the regular line, you'll likely wait 2-5 minutes. Once you use your three fast-passes, you can get more, one at a time. There are only a limited amount of each though so they run out (even at 60 days out!) for the most popular rides. There are also tiers of ride experiences at Epcot and Hollywood Studios so you can't get avoid a line for every super popular ride, but these definitely help!
Magical Express - Disney's Magical Express is complementary bus transportation to and from Orlando International Airport for Disney guests staying on property. While it is great because it allows you to not have to rent a car or uber/taxi to the resorts, the best thing about it is the luggage service. When you leave home, you simply attach special Disney luggage tags to your bags. When you arrive in Florida, skip baggage claim (unless you have a late night flight!) and head straight for the bus. Disney will pick up your luggage for you and it magically arrives in your room 2-3 hours later. On the way home you can use resort airline check-in the morning you depart where you check your luggage in at your hotel just like you would at an airline ticket counter and then you'll see your bags back at your home airport baggage claim after you trip. This is one of my favorite perks of staying at a Disney hotel!
Magic band - This sort of looks like a fitbit. It is a bracelet that guests staying on property get for their vacation. Off site guests can purchase them. They hold everything electronically - your tickets, your fast pass reservations, your dining reservations, your room key, pictures you have purchased, etc. If you assign a credit card you can even use it to charge purchases in the park (with a pin). It allows you to carry almost nothing in the parks (well, unless you have kids with you!)
MyDisneyExperience - Ok, if the magic band is your wearable electronic system, mydisneyexperience is the website/ap that powers it all. It is sort of the Disney cloud. It is the account you use to link your reservations, fast passes, pictures, etc. initially that the magic band basically pulls information from. You can link to other travelers (extended family, for example, staying in another room) and do your planning all together from this system. It helps you find park hours, wait times, and all of your reservations and if you have a smart phone, you MUST download this ap before you arrive. You will add additional fast passes in the park or switch reservations around using this system. When I book your package, we will share your MyDisneyExperience account so I can book meals and fast-passes for you at the 180 and 60 day mark!
Rider/Baby Switch/Swap - This is a system that allows adults to split up and go on the thrill rides without each waiting in a full-line when they have kids too short (or scared) to ride a ride. It basically works like this. Family shows up at the line and Parent A and big kids/friends/family get a ride swap pass and wait in line and ride the ride. Parent B stays out with little kid(s). Parent A comes out, hands Parent B the pass and they and at least one other then take the pass and go to the front of the line and ride. Many times Disney allows more than one extra rider the second time but the policy as written only allows one extra person to go with Parent B. And if your short folks are awake while this is going on, they don't just have to sit and wait and be bored - there are many play areas throughout Disney which are excellent places to take the little ones while the big ones experience the coasters and such.
Ok so that is it for post one as I try to up your Disney vocab! If I or others throw around other words or things you don't understand, comment and we will help you out! And as always, I am here to book your trip to Disney with just a $200 (plus insurance if you want it) deposit so hit me up with some dates and I'll get things moving for you!
Dining Plan - Ok so Disney actually has several dining plans, but when people are talking about "the dining plan" they generally are talking about a plan offered to people staying on Disney property that have gotten a ticket and room package. The plan is priced per adult or child per night and includes a table service credit for a sit down restaurant, a counter service credit for a fast-food type experience, two snack credits, and a refillable mug. To purchase, everyone in the room must be on the plan and it is per night not number of total days you are at Disney which confuses some people. There are lots of restaurants to pick from and generally casual Disney visitors generally like the plan so they can schedule some nice meals in to their trip that are basically pre-paid. Occasionally Disney offers free dining promotions for full-price room packages. If you book with me and free dining or any discount is announced I monitor that and add it to your package if it is available for your room.
Disney Springs - This is the downtown area of Disney. It doesn't require a ticket or admission and is a lovely area of outdoor shopping, restaurants, and activities like a movie theater, bowling, and a Cirque show. Buses run from the hotels and later in the day, directly from the theme parks.
Fast-pass - This is basically like a go near the front of the line reservation for rides and shows. Each guest gets three a day they can schedule in advance. If you are staying on property you can reserve yours 60 days out; if off property you reserve them 30 days out. They are electronically added to your account so you just show up to the entrance at the correct one-hour window and they scan your magic band (will get to that in a minute) or ticket, and in you go. Instead of waiting in the regular line, you'll likely wait 2-5 minutes. Once you use your three fast-passes, you can get more, one at a time. There are only a limited amount of each though so they run out (even at 60 days out!) for the most popular rides. There are also tiers of ride experiences at Epcot and Hollywood Studios so you can't get avoid a line for every super popular ride, but these definitely help!
Magical Express - Disney's Magical Express is complementary bus transportation to and from Orlando International Airport for Disney guests staying on property. While it is great because it allows you to not have to rent a car or uber/taxi to the resorts, the best thing about it is the luggage service. When you leave home, you simply attach special Disney luggage tags to your bags. When you arrive in Florida, skip baggage claim (unless you have a late night flight!) and head straight for the bus. Disney will pick up your luggage for you and it magically arrives in your room 2-3 hours later. On the way home you can use resort airline check-in the morning you depart where you check your luggage in at your hotel just like you would at an airline ticket counter and then you'll see your bags back at your home airport baggage claim after you trip. This is one of my favorite perks of staying at a Disney hotel!
Magic band - This sort of looks like a fitbit. It is a bracelet that guests staying on property get for their vacation. Off site guests can purchase them. They hold everything electronically - your tickets, your fast pass reservations, your dining reservations, your room key, pictures you have purchased, etc. If you assign a credit card you can even use it to charge purchases in the park (with a pin). It allows you to carry almost nothing in the parks (well, unless you have kids with you!)
MyDisneyExperience - Ok, if the magic band is your wearable electronic system, mydisneyexperience is the website/ap that powers it all. It is sort of the Disney cloud. It is the account you use to link your reservations, fast passes, pictures, etc. initially that the magic band basically pulls information from. You can link to other travelers (extended family, for example, staying in another room) and do your planning all together from this system. It helps you find park hours, wait times, and all of your reservations and if you have a smart phone, you MUST download this ap before you arrive. You will add additional fast passes in the park or switch reservations around using this system. When I book your package, we will share your MyDisneyExperience account so I can book meals and fast-passes for you at the 180 and 60 day mark!
Rider/Baby Switch/Swap - This is a system that allows adults to split up and go on the thrill rides without each waiting in a full-line when they have kids too short (or scared) to ride a ride. It basically works like this. Family shows up at the line and Parent A and big kids/friends/family get a ride swap pass and wait in line and ride the ride. Parent B stays out with little kid(s). Parent A comes out, hands Parent B the pass and they and at least one other then take the pass and go to the front of the line and ride. Many times Disney allows more than one extra rider the second time but the policy as written only allows one extra person to go with Parent B. And if your short folks are awake while this is going on, they don't just have to sit and wait and be bored - there are many play areas throughout Disney which are excellent places to take the little ones while the big ones experience the coasters and such.
Ok so that is it for post one as I try to up your Disney vocab! If I or others throw around other words or things you don't understand, comment and we will help you out! And as always, I am here to book your trip to Disney with just a $200 (plus insurance if you want it) deposit so hit me up with some dates and I'll get things moving for you!
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