Disney Diva

Disney Diva Blog Has Moved

2010-06-16T02:20:00.000-07:00

To follow my blog at it's new location just follow this link:

www.disneydiva1.wordpress.com

Disney announces first new hotel in 7 years.

2010-05-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Disney announced today that they will begin construction on a 2,000-room
hotel they've named Disney's Art of Animation resort.
The new resort will have 1120 suites that can accommodate families with up
to 6 guests. It will be a value category resort and will be located across the lake
from Pop Century resort. The buildings are already in place and was originally phase 2 of
Pop Century which was never completed.
The announcement comes on the heels of Disney reporting that hotel
occupancy dropped 8 percent from a year ago.
The new resort will be themed after Disney's most popular movies - Cars, Little Mermaid,
Finding Nemo and The Lion King. It is expected to open in 2012.

Free Dining Coming to Walt Disney World!

2010-05-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Once again Free Dining has emerged offering yet another way to save on your Walt Disney World vacation.
It's currently offered by Disney to Disney Visa cardholders but is expected to be opened to the public May 3rd.
Free dining will run from August 15 to Oct 2, 2010. If you book a value resort such as one of the All-Star resorts or Pop Century, you will receive free Quick Service Dining. That plan gives you two counter service and two snacks per day per person and a refillable resort mug for each person.
If you book a moderate or deluxe resort you will get the free dining plan which includes one table service, one counter service and one snack per person per day. This plan allows you to make reservations at Disney's plethora of fabulous restaurants.
There are a few things you should know ahead of time about Free Dining in Disney.
First, it's a great value. My family has stayed in Disney during free dining in 2006. After tallying our receipts from that trip we calculated that we received $1,300 in savings. And we really didn't eat any additional food. The free dining plan offers plenty of food.
Many people plan their trips around free dining each year so you need to be prepared for it to be more crowded than times when free dining isn't offered. You also need to get your table service reservations made early because some of the popular restaurants such as Le Celier in Epcot and Cinderella's Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom, book up quickly!
Also, if you already have a Disney trip booked during that time through Disney, don't assume Disney will automatically change your reservation to free dining because they won't. You will have to call them and have them change it.
And if you prefer the Deluxe Dining Plan which gives you 3 table service meals per day per peron and one of them can be used as a quick service meal, you can upgrade to that for an additional fee if you're staying at a moderate or deluxe resort during free dining. That plan I recommend for people who prefer to book a lot of Disney's signature restaurants that require 2 table service credits.

Summer Nightastic in Disney

2010-04-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

Those of you traveling to Walt Disney World this summer will be in for some changes!
Disney announced Summer Nightastic beginning in early June and running through August 14.
During this time there will be a new-yet unnamed- fireworks show in the Magic Kingdom. I wasn't sure how I felt about this at first being such a fan of the Wishes fireworks but I know Disney and it's reputation for great things so I'll be looking forward to it.
Another change this summer is that SpectroMagic - the Magic Kingdom's parade of lighted floats that appear almost nightly - will be replaced with the Main Street Electrical Parade. Having no patience to wait, I searched for it on YouTube and watched some of it. I love SpectroMagic, it's theme song is the ring tone on my cell phone, but the Main Street Electrical Parade looks like a fun parade I'm sure I'll enjoy.
Another change announced is the new drop sequences in Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I've only gone on this ride once and did not really like it. But I'm thinking I may give it a second chance this summer and see if I feel differently.
Sometime in 2010 Disney will remove Toon Town in order to make way for their massive expansion to the Magic Kingdom. So take the opportunity to make one last visit, especially if you have little ones.
And since it's wedding season I feel the need to mention this to anyone honeymooning in Disney. Buy the Minnie and Mickey bride and groom ears (online or at the Disney store in downtown Disney). Lots of magic seems to happen to brides and grooms wearing these in the parks!

Once Again, Disney Extends A Great Offer

2010-02-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

Disney has extended it's Gift Card Promotion through Aug. 14, allowing summer travelers a good deal when staying at a Disney-owned resort.
If you stay 5 or more nights in a deluxe resort you will get a $750 gift card (per room) when you check into your resort. If you stay at a moderate resort you get a $500 gift card. When you stay at a value resort you get a $300 gift card.
Disney traditionally doesn't offer specials in the summer but the promotion was extended shortly after the company reported flat sales in the theme parks for the last quarter. This is good news for those families who need to make their trips in the summer when the children are not in school.
In addition, Disney is also offering a room discount special. You will have to choose between the two since they don't allow stacking of promotions. I checked both and for my trip the gift card promotion is the better deal.
The gift cards are Disney gift cards and can be used for anything in Walt Disney World.
Just remember if you're considering taking advantage of this promotion that airfare is going to go quickly!

Have A Game Plan

2010-02-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

Whether you've been to Walt Disney World lately or not, it's always a good idea to have a game plan for when you get there. In addition to four parks and two water parks, there is amazing restaurants, character dining, parades, fireworks, downtown Disney, backstage tours and much more!
Although my trips are yearly now and I talk about Disney on a daily basis for my job, I still have some sort of game plan when I go. And that plan usually depends on who I'm traveling with and the time of year we're traveling.
One of the first items I purchase every year to help me plan my trip is the Passporter for Walt Disney World. This spiral bound book with glossy pages, maps, and places for writing details about the trip, is one of my must-haves. It's written by Dave and Jennifer Marx and has valuable input from their two children. This veteran Disney family and their dedicated fans and staff give you their honest opinions on all things Disney.
From ride ratings from both adult and children's perspective to resort and park ratings, this book has it all. I always recommend it to my clients booking Disney vacations. It helps to sort out the details.
The Passporter is going to be even more helpful to me this year as our family plans my 2-year-old granddaughter's first trip to Disney. My oldest daughter was 5 when I first took her to Disney so we were beyond needing a stroller and afternoon naps. I'm learning from this book what rides she can go on, strategies for renting or taking a stroller and a plethora of other information I know will be helpful.
I've always purchased the book at larger book stores such as Barnes and Noble but the Passporter can be purchased on their website at: www.passporter.com
In addition to the book, we've purchased the Passporter Passholders. It's smaller than a wallet and holds park passes, room keys, cash and even lip balm! It's a great way to go "bagless" into the parks. You'll find that on the Web site also.
Although the Super Bowl approaches and some of us don't have a team playing this year, those of us with 2010 Disney trips on the horizon, will be starting to make our own Game Plan!

2010 Changes in Disney World

2010-01-15T06:27:00.000-08:00

Some changes are going on in Disney this year including the removal of Toon Town to make way for the expansion of the Magic Kingdom.
The Crystal Palace restaurant in the Magic Kingdom is currently closed for refurbishment. Because it's character dining is so popular, they've moved characters to the Liberty Tree Tavern while Crystal Palace is closed. Another change in the Magic Kingdom is the reopening of Space Mountain after a 9-month long refurbishment. The People Mover - which passes through Space Mountain - was also closed. The voice recording that has entertained guests riding the People Mover has been changed and many people are not happy about that change. I'll reserve my opinion for after I hear it.
Another change taking place in 2010 is the price of the dining plan. The regular dining plan is now priced based on what season it is. So if you're an adult getting the dining plan in peak season, you'll pay $46.99 per day for the table service dining versus $41.99 per day during value season.
Disney has continued in 2010 with another promotion to get guests in the parks and at their resorts in a slower economy. If you book a Disney vacation and stay at a Disney resort before June 3, you can get a gift card of $300 if you stay at a value resort; $500 if you stay at a moderate resort and $750 if you stay at a deluxe resort. While it's not as good as the buy 4 nights get 3 free, it's close.

Save Some Money!

2009-12-10T04:29:00.001-08:00

One of the hardest things to do when planning a trip to Walt Disney World is save! And I don't just mean saving for that wonderful vacation, I mean savings when you book that vacation!
There are some things I don't recommend cutting and other things I do. First, I don't recommend trying to save money by just buying the base ticket for the Disney parks. The base ticket gets you into one park each day. If you miss the Wishes fireworks in the Magic Kingdom because it rains the day you were there, you won't be able to just bounce back over there the next day after spending the day in Epcot (or another park). Getting the park hopper gives you the most flexibility and is well worth the extra cash.
Where you can save is on the Waterparks Fun and More option. If you only plan to go to one of the waterparks, it's more cost effective to buy a one day waterpark ticket when you go rather than add the waterparks fun and more option to your ticket.
Also, I've said this before and it bears repeating, I don't recommend staying off-site when going to Walt Disney World. You have much better transporation services to and from the parks staying at a Disney resort because the buses run from every resort an hour before parks open till an hour after they close. Having value, moderate and deluxe resorts to choose from means there's something for every budget. Other benefits to Disney guests include one park opening early each day and one staying open late each night just for guests of Walt Disney World resorts!
Disney's Buy 4 Get 3 Free nights promotion is ending Dec. 20th and travel must be completed by March 27th. But there is always the chance that they extend the promotion. If that's going to happen, they would likely announce it just before or after Dec. 20th. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict they will extend it. Spending in Disney Parks was down by 4% in 2009 and resort occupancy was down also. I would like to see it extended to the end of June so those families that don't want to take their children out of school have some time to get there once school is out.

Behind the Scenes in Disney at Christmas

2009-11-30T03:28:00.001-08:00

While you gear up to watch your favorite holiday shows, don't miss a new behind-the-scenes Disney special on HGTV.
David Bromstad hosted Behind the Magic: Disney Holidays which aired at 8 p.m. Sunday on HGTV.
While I knew some of these facts, there was a lot I learned!
Let's start with Cinderella's Castle. If you've ever seen it lit at Christmas, you know how beautiful it looks. Well, to get that way they use 200,000 white lights and 500 strobe lights all woven through fish net so it's undetectable during the daylight hours. Notice how the Castle changes color at night? That is with the help of 74 large spotlights that cover the Castle in many different colors.
The decorating of Walt Disney World for Christmas is the full time job of 25 Disney Cast Members who work year-round preparing. Then when it's time to transform Disney's 43-square-mile property, many others become 3rd shift elves and work while the parks are closed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
In just 9 hours, Main Street in the Magic Kingdom is dripping in Christmas decorations. And throughout the Disney property they use 15 miles of garland and 300,000 yards of ribbon to decorate. Disney buys 100,000 poinsettias, 25,000 of which are planted in the Magic Kingdom! Approximately 1,300 artificial Christmas trees are brought by semi tractor trailers from their warehouse homes to decorate Walt Disney World. The largest trees are more than 60 feet tall!
Disney also creates 200 holiday topiaries and when complete, there is 4,000 acres of finished landscaping.
One of the most amazing displays is Disney's Spectacle of Dancing Lights in Disney Studios. That's where a city block is covered in lights that are in sync with Christmas music.
Disney begins decorating for that in August and doesn't finish till November. 30 cast members take 20,000 man (and women) hours to put them up using 35 miles of extension cords.
This is truly a can't-miss Disney special that will amaze and inspire you.
It airs again on HGTV Dec. 11, 20, 24th and 25th.

Disney's Christmas Decorating

2009-11-17T03:55:00.000-08:00

Many people are still under the asumption that Disney decorates the entire property on Thanksgiving night and you will wake up the next day and the all the decorations are up. While this is the way Disney used to decorate for Christmas, it's not the way they do it now. Like every other business, they've brought the Christmas season out earlier. In early November Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party begins and before that happens, all will be decorated. So if you're going to Disney over the Thanksgiving holiday, it will be decorated!
This time of year is truly my favorite time to be in Disney. The weather is near perfect with low humidity during the day and cooler temperatures at night. The crowds are smaller (except Thanksgiving week and Christmas week). Cinderella's Castle is dripping in lights and the Osbourne Family Lights Spectacular at Disney Studios is the most amazing display of Christmas lights set to music that I've ever seen. If that doesn't get you into the holiday spirit, nothing will!
Another Disney holiday tradition is the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Resort. Inside the resort's lobby Disney creates this life size house where they then sell smaller replicas of the house and gingerbread shingles.
Don't forget to get a photopass card because there are many more photopass photographers out during the holidays just waiting to take your picture in front of an amazing holiday backdrop! And remember, the photopass card is free and you can get as many pictures taken as you wish. You can then view the pictures online and purchase the ones you want.

Dining Reservations Can Be Made Earlier

2009-11-03T04:29:00.000-08:00

Beginning last week Disney went back to allowing guests to make dining reservations 180 days prior to departure. It had been just 90 days. And that's good news for those who like to plan ahead. Although the first day that change took place (Oct 27) was quite hectic. I talked to one person who told me she dialed for 4 hours just to get on hold. But she got the reservations she wanted.
It's not easy to try to figure out what park you'll be in on what day in order to plan dining but for popular choices such as Cinderella's Royal Table and LeCellier in Epcot, it's necessary.
If you like to book the restaurants that cost 2 table service credits, you may want to book the Deluxe Dining Plan which allows 2 table service meals per day.That way you have the additional credits needed to book Signature Restaurants like Hoop-De-Doo Review, Californial Grill, Jiko, and Artists Point. The cost is only about $25 more per person.
A lot depends on how your family eats. But with a choice of 3 different dining plans, there's one to fit just about everyone. And it does cost less than paying out of pocket for the same food.

Disney 2010 Planners...Start Your Engines!

2009-10-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Now that Disney has officially launched Buy 4 Nights Get 3 Nights Free promotion, it's time for anyone considering going in 2010 to start planning.
Whether it's this offer or a future offer you're hoping will return, you can book your vacation for the time of year you want to travel and still get the benefits of a special offer if it comes out and applies to your time of travel.
Planning is half the fun!
Some new changes coming up include the Disney Dining reservation system allowing guests to book dining reservations 180 days from departure rather than a mere 90. That change is expected to take effect Oct. 27th. And here's a hint I received from a very nice inside Disney connection. On the day you can begin making reservations, bookings online may be made starting at 6 a.m. If you call, they don't open till 7 a.m. So if there's a must-do restaurant on your list, get up early and book on the Disney website at www.waltdisneyworld.com. And don't forget....you will need your Disney confirmation number to make those reservations! Get that from your travel agent.
Another change is that the one table service Disney Dining Plan price for next year will cost more during peak seasons in Disney. If you travel Feb. 12, 2010 to April 10, 2010 or June 4, 2010 to Aug. 14, 2010, or Dec. 17, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010, you'll pay $5 more per adult per day and $1 more per child per day for the dining plan. The deluxe dining plan price does not increase for peak seasons.
And anyone still considering booking during the current Buy 4 Get 3 Free (or Buy 5 Get 2 Free at a value resort), don't delay--there has been quite a surge in bookings since Disney began advertising this promotion on TV. This promo is good for travel through late March, but already I'm seeing the lower airfares getting gobbled up.
For more information on Disney e-mail me at spohns@libertytravel.com

It's Not Official But It's Here!

2009-09-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Disney is once again offering Buy 4 Nights Get 3 Nights FREE! This has not been officially announced but it is available for most nights beginning Nov. 1st thru March 27th.
This is a great opportunity to try moderate and deluxe resorts if you haven't yet tried them.
For the value resorts, you can buy 5 nights and get 2 nights free.
I took advantage of this promotion last year and stayed at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, a resort I would never pay full price rates for. But the promotion was a great way for me to try a resort I wanted at a discounted price.
And if you are considering a value resort, check the difference with another night free at the moderate resort. The price difference is small and I would always recommend staying at a moderate instead of a value if the price difference is small.
Moderate resorts have a spa located near the main pool. And that's a great place to soak tired Disney legs! Moderates also have more elaborately themed pools and food courts.
If you're considering a Disney trip in 2010, you will save significantly if you book to travel and take advantage of this promotion.
Just remember that Disney only allows a certain number of rooms at each resort for this promotion so you have to book early!
For more information e-mail me at spohns@libertytravel.com

Disney Plans to Expand

2009-09-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

Can you ever get too much of a good thing? I don't think so and neither does Disney.
According to a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel, Disney is planning to expand and double the size of Fantasyland making it the largest expansion in the theme park's history!
The plans include an expansion of the Dumbo ride, a new Little Mermaid ride, which will take passengers through Ariel's underwater world.
There will be much focus on princesses in the new expansion with areas that will be created specifically for interaction with Disney pricesses and other Disney characters.
A Beast's Castle will be built and include a 3-room themed restaurant.
Disney announced the plans over the weekend during it's D-23 Conference in California. Disney officials would not divulge the cost of the expansion but it will be completed in in two phases, the first of which will be completed in 2012 with the remaining opening in 2013.
To read the full story in the Orlando Sentinel visit: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-bk-new-fantasyland-disney-world-magic-kingdom,0,7274675.story

Holidays in Disney

2009-08-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

For some reason, as soon as summer is over I begin thinking about the holiday season. This time is one of the best times to go visit Walt Disney World (with the exception of Thanksgiving week and the week between Christmas and new year).
Schools are back in session so the parks are less crowded, the summer humidity begins to fade and nobody decorates for any holiday like Disney does. Making it even more irrisistable is the free dining promotion Disney is offering for those traveling Sept. 27 through Dec. 17th. Disney has never extended free dining like this before! It's like getting the all inclusive free.
If you're going to be in Disney during the holidays - and by that I mean Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas - you'll want to consider one of Disney's special events such as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. These events take place on specified nights after the Magic Kingdom closes around 7 p.m. It does cost an extra admission price but I believe it's worth it.
In 2007, I went to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in the Magic Kingdom. It was not crowded (they limit the amout of tickets they sell for this event). There were special parades and performances, they made it snow on Main Streetand they served free cider, hot cocoa and cookies throughout the park. It was very festive. Even the stores have special merchandise that they sell only during the party.
I definitely recommend spending time during the holidays seeing some of the amazing decorating Disney does.
One of my favorites is the Gingerbread House in the lobby of the Grand Floridian resort (pictured above). This amazing life-size structure is made completely of gingerbread and icing. It's been featured on the Travel Channel and is a must-see if you're in Disney during the holidays. You can even purchase miniature replicas of the ginger bread house to take home (though that might be challenging to take on a plane!).
Like everyone else, Disney no longer waits till after Thanksgiving to put up their Christmas decorations.
Disney uses 150 tractor trailer loads of decorations for Christmas throughout the property and usually begins putting them up in early November. You can be certain the Magic Kingdom will be decorated by November 10th, the first night of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Disney Dining Reservations

2009-08-20T03:20:00.000-07:00

It's rumored that Disney is going to go back to allowing guests to make dining reservations 180 days prior to their arrival. It's currently 90 days. This is good except for those booking last minute trips. And there is a pretty big trend going on right now where people are booking just a few months out.
There are so many restaurant choices in Disney that you really have to research them and check out their menus. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants
Some reservations are difficult to get even at 180 days out. LeCellier, Yachtsman Steakhouse, dining with the princesses in the castle and Victoria and Alberts are just a few.
If you've booked your trip and are making dining reservations either online or via the phone, make sure you have your Disney vacation reservation number because they will need this to book your dining.

Do Your Homework

2009-08-17T04:14:00.000-07:00

When you begin vacation planning and see all the opportunities for various places you can book your travel, be careful and do your homework. I've noticed that some places you can book online are promoting free transportation to Disney resorts when you stay on-site in Walt Disney World. While it might seem a nice inclusion, this is something offered free by Disney to anyone who books a Disney vacation. It's not a promotion, it's a service that has been in effect for quite some time. But you may have to book this service on your own if you don't already have your flights booked.
I've also seen "no booking fees" and "no cancellation fees" being promoted. Be especially careful of this because when you book an airline ticket, there are cancellation fees! The airlines charge from $150 and up to change a reservation plus the cost difference in the ticket you want to change to. Most airlines now charge for luggage also. Except for Southwest Airlines, all other carriers charge from $15 to $25 per checked bag. And you have to pay that price each way for your luggage. Some airlines have a discount for pre-paying for your luggage online prior to departure.
Another caution about booking airline tickets online is to make sure when you enter your name, it is exactly how it appears on your driver's license or passport. If not, you may not get on that flight.
New TSA security measures also require you to provide your birth date and gender. This is so that regular passengers don't get confused with those on the government's "Do Not Fly" list.
While the Internet is a great resource for vacation planning, I've had quite a few people recently come in and tell me that it was too confusing to book their travel online.

Disney's New Free Dining Promotion is Here

2009-07-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

Disney's new free dining program for the fall is officially open to everyone. For those who book a vacation for 5 days or more, they can get a dining plan for free. You get a quick service meal plan if you stay at a value resort and you get the table service dining plan if you stay at a moderate or deluxe resort.
If you've never done the Disney Dining Plan you're in for a treat. Their restaurants have top chefs from around the world. I don't think there's any other destination that can give you the dining variety that Disney does.
This promotion runs Sept. 28th to Dec. 17th. If you already have a trip booked, contact your travel agent to have them change you to the free dining plan. If you've booked online you may not be able to make any changes. However, if you booked online through Disney and you are more than 45 days from departure, you might. If you're wondering about airfare prices, as long as your booking far enough ahead of time, the prices are pretty good. Southwest Airlines is having a good sale right now with $69 flights to Orlando. But don't delay if you're considering taking advantage of the free dining. They only allot a certain number of rooms at each resort for the promotion. And as word of free dining spreads, this will book up quickly. For your free no obligation quote e-mail me at spohns@libertytravel.com.

Another Free Dining Plan

2009-07-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Disney's newest promotion for Disney Visa cardholders is free dining when you book at least a 3-night stay from Sept. 27 to Dec. 17. Not a Disney Visa Cardholder? That's ok, because the offers traditionally open up to Disney Visa Cardholders first and then to everyone else about a week later.
Here's how the deal works:
If you book a value resort such as Pop Century or All-Star Movies (any value resort), you get the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan FREE! That includes two counter service meals, two snacks and a refillable mug for your resort. If you book a moderate or deluxe category resort, you get the Disney Dining Plan that includes one table service per day, one counter service per day and one snack per day.
This is a great value and a great opportunity to visit Disney during the more quiet months of the season (with the exception of Thanksgiving week).
The holiday season in Disney is not only less crowded, but the weather is cooler and the decorations for the holidays are amazing.
Don't delay taking advantage of this great opportunity. E-mail me at spohns@libertytravel.com for your free no obligation quote.

Another Great Disney Deal is Coming!

2009-07-23T02:56:00.000-07:00

For anyone thinking of taking a trip to Disney this fall, there's a great new offer in the works that will give you extra incentive. While I'm not yet at liberty to reveal the details of the offer, I will just say that it's delicious and is even tempting me to take a long weekend trip before the holidays (and I was just there 2 months ago!).
It's still unknown if Disney will again offer the same buy 4 get 3 nights free that they offered last November. Disney doesn't usually overlap offers and this new offer is good for travel through Dec. 17th.
I will be able to blog about the details of the offer within the next week so please check back in!

Layaway is Making a Comeback

2009-07-03T03:29:00.000-07:00

Remember layaway? It disappeared from most stores when the economy was chugging along at full steam ahead. But since that all came to a grinding halt, I noticed that layaway is making a comeback in some stores. I've seen it so far at a mattress store and a jewelry store. While they weren't advertising it, the option came up once the salespeople saw I might be interested in something.
The same option goes for some travel agencies (though not all). Did you know you could essentially lay away your vacation? The requirements are different at each agency. Where I work, you need to pay airfare in full and a deposit is required for each person traveling in the party. You then have until 35 days prior to your departure to finish paying for your vacation. So if you wanted to plan Disney for next April, you could book now and make payments each month until your final payment date. This is a great option for families who want to plan ahead for next year. And you don't have to worry about a good Disney promotion happening after you book. You can change your booking (at no charge) to take advantage of whatever promotion comes up. You just can't change airline tickets without paying hefty penalties.
So if you plan ahead you can save a lot of money because layaway doesn't charge interest!

If Possible Book Early

2009-06-28T03:46:00.000-07:00

When you're planning to take a Walt Disney World vacation book your trip early (if possible) so you'll have the best selection of resorts and lots of time to plan.
It's said that half the fun is in the planning and I agree, especially when it comes to Disney. If you're planning to include in your vacation one of the 4 Disney Dining Plans, it may take some time and research to decide what restaurants you want to make reservations for. And you can make those reservations 90 days from your departure date. If you go during free dining (this year it's Aug. 16 - Oct. 3 and you must be booked for the free dining program) it's especially important to plan ahead because the most popular restaurants book up fast. It's also good to have a time range for your table service meal times so you have the needed flexibility to get reservations where you want. When special deals are released for Disney, people act on them quickly. Last November when the buy 4 nights get 3 nights free promotion began, many people (including myself) took the opportunity for a great deal. For me, it allowed me to stay at a deluxe resort while paying about the same as I would for a week in a moderate resort. In addition to dining reservations, you may want to plan other activities while you're in Disney. Golf, parasailing and behind-the-scenes tours are also available. If you're planning a special event like a Grand Gathering (family reunion) or a wedding in Disney, you might want to start a year (or even two) ahead of time. It's also good to familiarize yourself with the parks and depending on what time of year you visit, plan for afternoon breaks for small children, especially in the summer with the hot Florida sun. In fall, winter and spring, the parks close earlier than the summer so you may want to plan other activities for the evenings.
Give yourself time and do your research before you go because you definitely need a game plan when you're vacationing in Disney.

Don't Miss Out On Photopass!

2009-06-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the opportunity to take advantage of Photopass when you're visiting Walt Disney World. There are a couple ways to take advantage. Disney's photopass photographers are in every park and can almost always be found in front of backdrops like Cinderella's Castle. You can have them take your picture and they will give you a photopass card with a bar code on and an access code on the back. You can then use that card to get photos taken by any photopass photographer (including the ones at character meet and greets) in any park during your stay. They will scan your card and add each photo. When you go home, you can go to the website provided on the card and entere the number on the back to access your photos. You only pay for the pictures you want printed and sent to you. So there's no cost to you unless you want to buy photos.
Another way to take advantage of photopass is to buy the photopass CD for $99 and have a private photo shoot with the photographer and your family. This service is available at the deluxe resorts. You'll get the CD with all the pictures and the rights to all of those pictures. We had 66 pictures on our CD. All were great photos taken inside and outside the Beach Club Resort. We also received as a part of the package of two 8X10 photos and three 5X7's that they printed for us there. We chose the photos we wanted. This is a great way to get some nice professional family photos taken in Disney for an affordable price.
But don't forget YOUR camera too. There's still a lot of things for you to take pictures of.

Free Dining

2009-06-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Disney's free dining offer begins August 16th and runs through October 1. If you're taking advantage of this time to visit, make sure you make advanced reservations for the restaurants for your table service meals. You can make those reservations 90 days from your arrival day by calling 407-WDW-DINE. You may also want to have a time range in mind so if the time you wanted isn't available, you can check a little earlier or later. You can also schedule your table service meal at lunch if you choose.
Also, let them know if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or anything else you may be celebrating.
We had this nice happy anniversary dessert brought to us after our dinner at the California Grill. Disney goes over and above this year when you are celebrating because their promotion for the year is "What Will You Celebrate?"
Some restaurants will require a credit card to hold the reservation and they have a cancelation policy that charges your credit card if you don't show or cancel within the time period required. This is currently done at some of the more popular restaurants so that people don't double book reservations and not show up for one.
I would always recommend trying the table service dining plan at least once. It's a lot of food but it's a great way to experience some really fine dining.

Beach Club Review

2009-06-10T03:49:00.000-07:00

On my most recent Disney trip I stayed at the Beach Club for the first time. This resort is in the deluxe category and is located just outside of Epcot.
The resort has a New England style beach theme that gives it a tranquil feel.
The 576 guest rooms are weaved into what I felt was a maze once inside the resort. It probably took a few days just to memorize how many lefts and right to take to get back to the room. But in true Disney fashion, there were signs showing which rooms were down each hallway so one could never really get lost. We were on the first floor in room 1522. And I don't think it's a coincidence that our room number had our wedding anniversary date in it (5/22) since it was what we were celebrating. Disney does things like that. Most of the rooms at the Beach Club have been recently refurbished. They have flat screen HD TV's on the wall, new carpet and posturepedic pillow top mattresses that were so comfortable that I'm going out to buy one! And conveniently, they have a brochure in your room that lists the bedding and linen type if you want to purchase it.
I love how close this resort was to Epcot. Our room was on the side of the resort closest to that park and we had a 5 minute walk from our room. The main pool which is shared with the Beach Club's sister resort, The Yacht Club, has a sand bottom, lazy river and sand dunes in the children's pool area. This main pool kind of winds around and morphs into the different pool categories. To get into this pool area you must show your room key and get a wristband. Because of it's popularity, they don't want pool hoppers. Closer to our room was another "quiet" pool and a hot tub.
The food court at this resort was small, as are most deluxe resort food courts in Disney. It combines with a small gift shop. The gift shop was a little disappointing. I thought it should be bigger and have more Beach Club merchandise.
Overall, this resort has moved to the top of my favorites list. I love how close it is to the boardwalk area, Jellyrolls and the ESPN Club. That's a great area to spend an evening outside the parks.
I would definitely recommend requesting a room that's not on the first floor. I found it too noisy late at night. But that's a downside to staying on the first floor in any resort.

Choosing Flights

2009-06-02T04:06:00.000-07:00

When you're choosing your return flight from Disney and you are using Magical Express - Disney's free transportation to and from the airport - keep in mind that Magical Express will pick you up at your resort approximately 3 hours before your departure time. It sounds rather early but the bus also picks up from more than one resort. It's usually picking up from 3 or 4 resorts.
Last week while in Disney we were picked up by Magical Express at 4:10 p.m. for a 7:15 p.m. flight. But the bus also picked up at the Yacht Club, Disney's Boardwalk Inn and the Caribbean Beach Resort. We arrived at the airport just before 5:30 p.m.
It's a great way to save on car rental if you're not planning to leave Disney property.
We always take one of the last flights out for the day so we can spend that last day enjoying some last-minute park time. That has its advantages and disadvantages.
It's nice to have a good part of your last day in the parks, but our flight was delayed for 2 hours because of thunderstorms here in PA. It made for a long day when we landed just before midnight!
Check back later this week for my review of Disney's Beach Club Resort!

Beverages in Disney

2009-05-10T04:18:00.000-07:00

Like many people, coffee is a very important start to my day. But the coffee I've found at the Disney resorts, leave a lot to be desired. I've tried adding extra sugar, cream, and even hot chocolate to make it taste better but it doesn't work.
Since going without morning coffee is not an option, I now take my own.
I believe all the Disney resorts have coffee makers in the rooms. They are your traditional coffee makers with a basket that holds a filter. I bring my own coffee and filters. I believe some of the coffee makers have the basket with the built in filters but I bring my own just in case.
And while on the subject of beverages in Disney, I would always recommend buying the refillable mugs offered at each resort. For about $12, you can fill them up at the food court as much as you choose during your stay. They can be filled with soda, iced tea, hot chocolate and there are usually some fruit punch or lemonade choices. The mugs also make a great souvenir.
As May begins the very warm season in Disney with temperatures this week well into the 90's, staying hydrated is a necessity.

Give Yourself Enough Time

2009-04-26T03:34:00.000-07:00

When planning your Disney vacation, give yourself enough time to see everything you wanted to see. You can spend an entire week staying at a Disney Resort and still not see everything in all 4 parks. It's said in one of the guidebooks that to see everything there is to see, you'd have to stay a month.
I always plan for at least a day in each park. And if you're planning to go to one or both waterparks, you'll need most of a day in each. Downtown Disney won't take up a whole day and is a great place to spend an evening.
Also keep in mind that if you're doing any of the Disney Dining Plans that include table service restaurants, you'll have to allow for about an hour and a half for your table service meal. If you're going to a dinner show or a character meal, plan for a little longer.
Summer is a busy season in Disney and it also gets very hot in the middle of the day. I always plan a pool break after lunch during this time of year and then head back to a park late afternoon. This is especially helpful in giving kids a much needed break from the heat and everyone returns to the parks feeling refreshed.
Also remember that there are other activities that take place in the parks or at the resorts that you may need to allow time for. Bikes and horse-drawn carriage rides are offered at some of the resorts. Small boats called Sea Racers can be rented by the half hour and are available at several resorts. There are arcades at most resorts and some vacation packages now include a 30-minute arcade card.
Whether you like to vacation at a fast pace or a slow one, you can keep yourself very busy in Disney if you're there a week. And if you don't see everything you wanted to, it's always a great excuse to go back!

Don't Be Surprised!

2009-04-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

Those of you (like me) who have an upcoming Disney trip planned should not be surprised when you arrive and it appears that Disney is immune to the recession and struggling economy. Several friends have recently returned from Walt Disney World and told me that it was crowded! Now you expect higher crowds during the holidays but I've heard it's crowded now and it was crowded back in February when there usually are no crowds. It would appear that many people took advantage of Disney's generous buy 4 get 3 nights free offer.
I've found the best way to deal with crowded parks is to have a game plan in place. What has always worked for me is getting up early, getting to the park at opening (or shortly after), getting on my favorite rides in the morning before those who sleep in arrive at the parks. After lunch, we go back to our resort and take a pool break for a couple hours during the worst heat of the day. By late afternoon we're refreshed and ready to head back to the parks for the evening.

Think Spring!

2009-02-11T04:16:00.001-08:00

Let's forget about what that groundhog said last week and start thinking about spring!
Disney's Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 18th to May 31, 2009. And don't worry if you're arriving near the end of the festival. Every bloom looks as beautiful on the last day as it does on the first.
During the festival Epcot comes alive with special flower gardens, topiaries, special gardening events and shows. You'll be amazed at what is done with the topiaries that can be found all around Epcot.
My first visit to the International Flower and Garden Festival was in May 2004 and I'm returning to see it again in 99 short days.
This year's theme is called Cinderellabration. Epcot's entrance will have topiaries of Cinderella, Prince Charming, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
This year there will be more than 70 topiaries and millions of blooms throughout Epcot during the festival.
If you plan to go during this time make sure to see what Flower Power concerts may be going on during your time there. There are ladybug and butterfly releases that both kids and adults will enjoy. You can meet and talk to master horticulturists and you can even buy gardening tools and other items to take home with you.
I will post my pictures from the festival in 2004 in the next day or two so check back soon~

It's A Small World...Until You Walk It

2009-02-02T04:03:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you can ever be totally prepared for the amount of walking you will do spending a week in Disney World. My family was curious a couple years ago and wanted to know how much walking we did on our trip. So my daughters brought along a pedometer and tracked how many miles we walked. At the end of the first day we all guessed, but nobody was anywhere close to the actual 14 miles we had walked that day. In the days that followed we walked in the range of 11 to 14 miles a day.
One thing we've learned over the years is that it's necessary to get your Disney legs prepared for all that walking. Because even if you walk at a slow pace, you're walking so much more than you would at home.
So if you have a trip coming up, it's a good idea to start walking and get your legs and feet ready. And don't forget to check first with your doctor if you have any medical issues!
Since several trips we planned previously were surprise trips for our daughters, we'd use our walking time to plot out the details of how we'd surprise them.
Good supportive footwear is another necessity for all the walking in Disney. I've taken many summer trips and hate to wear sneakers but good supportive sandals can be found at some shoe stores and specialty footwear stores. I've found that having a few pair of good supportive sandals or sneakers to alternate through the week works best for me. I do take a pair of flip flops for trips to the pool and water parks but I don't wear shoes without a back to the parks.
Blisters are almost inevitable so you may want to pick up Band Aid Blister Block or Body Glide. Both look like a stick of deoderand and can be rubbed on your feet to prevent you from getting blisters. If you do get a blister, Band Aid makes a nice blister pad that works real well.

The Best Ride in Disney?

2009-01-29T05:07:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't want to ride in a hot air balloon over Walt Disney World on a beautiful day?
That's just what the Birkett family of Scottsdale, Arizona got to do on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, the family won the prize as a part of the 2008 Disney Dream Giveaway.
While the rest of us won't be able to take a balloon ride over Disney like this one, there will be a balloon ride coming to Downtown Disney.
Characters in Flight is what Disney is calling it's tethered balloon ride that will take guests 300 feet in the air. Construction is now underway in Downtown Disney for this attraction and is expected to open in Spring.

Buy 4 get 3 free promotion extended

2009-01-24T05:39:00.000-08:00

Disney's Buy 4 get 3 Free promotion that was set to expire today has been extended till March 29th. This is the third time Disney has extended the promotion for those who are looking to book a Disney trip in the first half of 2009.
The deal is a good one if you're planning to go. You get 7 nights at a Disney resort for the price of 4. And you get an 8-day park pass for the price of 5.
The deal is good for most nights from March 1-9, March 17 - April 4th and April 19th - June 27th.
You can get details about the promotion on Disney's website at www.waltdisneyworld.com.
It will be interesting to see if Disney extends the deal into the usually busy summer months.

Disney Offers Buyouts

2009-01-23T04:03:00.000-08:00

Disney offered buyouts to more than 600 executives this week as the economic downturn hits even the Happiest Place On Earth. It's not surprising as most major companies are making some sort of cutbacks.
But Disney gets a pat on the back for this move because instead of reducing the workers who directly provide the service Disney is so famous for giving, this company decided to cut the fat at the top. Some changes have been made in the parks such as the Fantasmic show in Disney Studios being changed to 2 days a week rather than every night however, you won't be waiting in extra long lines to check into your hotel, enter the park or get something to eat because of the cuts. This company knows the value of what they provide for their guests and they don't want to compromise it.
Last year it appeared Disney was immune to the recession because they reported an overall increase in revenue early in the year, but it appears they began feeling the pinch in the fourth quarter.
In an effort to get bookings up for the first half of 2009, Disney launched it's buy four nights get three free promotion. Though it's been somewhat of a success, I don't think they hit the numbers they wanted to. The deadline to book was originally Dec. 20th and has been extended to Jan. 24th. Though it's not confirmed, I've heard rumors they may extend it again.
The Disey executives have until Feb. 6th to decide to take the buyout and if not enough do, Disney will have layoffs.

Restaurant reservations in Disney

2009-01-20T03:10:00.000-08:00

Since Disney implemented a Dining Plan that allows visitors to make their trips more all-inclusive, their restaurant reservation system has been overloaded.
Recent changes to the system now allow for reservations to be made 90 days prior to your arrival date rather than 180 days. Either way, if you want some of the more popular restaurant during your stay, you'll be on the phone with Disney at 7:01 a.m. the morning you can begin making those reservations.
The problem is that there are so many great restaurants in Disney that it's hard to choose which ones to go to. Over the years, Disney has had a problem with people making Advance Dining Reservations (ADR's) and not showing up.
Rumor has it that Disney will soon require a credit card to hold the reservation and there is a cancellation policy so you may get charged if you don't cancel within the time frame given.
If they do implement this, I would agree 100 percent.
Restaurants like LeCellier in Epcot are very difficult to get a reservation for. Only once did we get a reservation and after eating there, I can see why it's so popular.
This new system would be more efficient and make people more accountable to their reservation. When someone pulls a no-show for their dinner reservation, Disney loses money and someone else who wanted to dine there loses the opportunity.

Fly or Drive?

2009-01-17T06:28:00.000-08:00

For most of our Disney trips we fly. We drove only once when flights to Orlando were cancelled for days due to Hurricane Charley. In that case we either drove or cancelled the trip - so we drove.
I don't mind driving trips but it is much easier hopping on a plane in Philadelphia and landing in Orlando less than 2 hours later.
For our May trip, we're planning to drive for several reasons. One is that I think the prices to fly right now are too high. I also don't like the extra bag charge most airlines charge. That limits what I can buy there and bring back. I remember I wanted to bring back a plant the last time I was in Disney during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, but I decided it was too difficult because we were flying.
If we're driving, I can pretty much fill the trunk and the back seat (not that I would, but I can!). Since this trip is without our teenage daughters, it will be a quieter drive! And driving gives us the ability to explore some of the areas around Disney such as the Disney-created community of Celebration.
Gas prices are still pretty low and with a new car that has better fuel efficiency, the cost of driving currently outweighs the cost of flying. But if airlines prices plummet in the next couple of months and gas prices rise, I may be changing my plans.

Tis The Season for Rehabs and Closures

2009-01-14T03:56:00.000-08:00

Visiting Disney early in the year may mean less crowds and better deals on packages and flights, but there is a downside.
During the early part of the year there are more ride closings for rehabs and refurbishments. In addition, some of the resorts use this down time to spruce up their pools.
It's always a good idea to check for rehabs and closings when planning your trip so you can see how it will affect you.(for the most up-to-date rehab listings for parks and resorts, visit: www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm)
While specific rides might not matter if they are not operational while you're there, specific resort pools might.
Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club will be closed for rehab from now through April 15th. Since this is known as one of the best pools and is even referred to as a mini water park, I would probably adjust my dates or change resorts.
I don't think there's ever a time you can visit Disney where nothing is closed because they're always working on something, but usually in the summer months all the resort pools are open and few rides are undergoing refurbishment.

Space Mountain refurbishment

2009-01-08T04:02:00.001-08:00

Space Mountain will close April 19th for a much-needed and long anticipated refurbishment. Disney announced Wednesday that they will close the ride to make some changes that include replacing the track, adding a new enclosure to the waiting area of the ride and replacing the ceiling inside the dome.
Unlike most refurbishments in Disney, they didn't set a date for the completion but they did say it could re-open in late 2009.
Space Mountain has been a must-ride attraction in the Magic Kingdom for many years and rumors of a long refurbishment have been going on for several years.
Although I'm disappointed that the ride won't be open when I visit Disney in May, I look forward to a refurbished Space Mountain. I love this ride but with it's outdated roller coaster track it does jerk you around a lot. My guess is the new track will allow for a much smoother ride.
The only downside that I see is that the ride-which is now so popular that you either need to ride it as soon as the park opens or get a fast pass-will be even more popular when the refurbishment is complete!

Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour

2009-01-04T05:06:00.000-08:00

If you've always wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the Magic Kingdom then you'll definitely want to take Disney's Keys To The Kingdom Tour. A family member who just returned from her Disney trip took the tour and raved about it.
The tour lasts about 4 1/2 to 5 hours and the cost is $60 per person but that also includes lunch. Most of Disney's behind-the-scenes tours offer discounts to AAA members. Guests must be at least 16 years old to participate in the Keys to the Kingdom Tour.
I don't want to give too much away but you will definitely learn about the park's history and it's operation.
Did you ever notice how cast members get to the land they work in without traveling through the other lands? You don't see them walking through the front gates of the Magic Kingdom.
The Magic Kingdom is actually built 14 feet above ground level to accommodate what Disney calls utilidors - the underground level that allows cast members, food and trash to be taken to and from the park without guests ever noticing.
The one thing you'll have to leave behind on these tours is your camera and video camera. For obvious reasons Disney doesn't want all kinds of photos and video of their behind-the-scenes areas.
For more information on this tour and many others that Disney offers, go to:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm

Some changes for Disney in 2009

2008-12-31T04:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of you! I wish you good health, happiness and many trips to Disney in 2009!
There are some changes in Disney's reservation system for 2009. Beginning early in the year you will be able to check in to your Disney Resort via the Internet. This was created to help move along check in lines at resorts much faster. There have been times when I've arrived at my resort and waited in a long line to check in. If you check in online, they have all your information in the system and when you arrive they just have to print your room key/park passes. You still must have photo ID when you arrive at your resort. There will be a separate check in line in your resort lobby for those who have already checked in online. You may check in online up to 10 days before your arrival date. During this process you may also give the credit card number you plan to use for purchases on your room key.
Another new change in 2009 is the advance dining reservation system. Previously, you could book your table service dining 180 days before you arrive. Disney has now narrowed that window to 90 days with the exception of Cinderella's Royal Table, Chef Mickey's and Victoria and Albert's, all of which can still be reserved at the 180 day mark. The ability to make dining reservations online will also be launched this year.
With Disney's new promotion "What Will You Celebrate" there will be changes made to all of the park parades. It was recently reported that the Mickey float was not in the Magic Kingdom Parade because it is undergoing changes for the new parade.
And if you want to ring in the New Year watching some great Disney shows, tune in to the Travel Channel tonight beginning at 8 p.m. to see the Disney Cruise Line, followed at 9 p.m. with Disney on a Dime. At 10 p.m. is Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes and at 11 p.m. is Disney Holiday Magic with Samantha Brown.

What Will You Celebrate?

2008-12-23T04:10:00.000-08:00

Disney has begun advertising it's newest promotion for 2009 - What Will You Celebrate?
The other day I get an e-mail from Disney with that question in the subject line.
I open the e-mail and it tells me to click on the link which then takes me to what appears to be a TV news page with a live streaming video. The video shows Disney rides and parades but with my name plastered everywhere. It's a great promotion and at the end of the video I had the opportunity to send it to friends. And in true Disney magic, when they viewed the video their names were plastered everywhere. It's a little hard to describe but if anyone wants it sent to them just e-mail me your name and e-mail address (to disneydiva1@gmail.com) and I'll forward it.
My 2009 trip is already booked but if it wasn't, this video would definitely give me food for thought. Disney is one of the best places to celebrate something. I don't think any other destination makes as much fuss as they do.
My husband and I honeymooned in Disney almost 5 years ago. We bought the Mickey and Minnie Bride and Groom Ears and wore them around the parks for just a few days. While nothing ever set in stone as far as getting Disney perks on your honeymoon (birthday, anniversary or any other celebration), we sure got our fair share.
The first day we arrived in the Magic Kingdom, a cast member approached us and asked if we'd made dinner plans yet. We said no and she told us to go to the Castle to make a reservation and they would fit us in. Well, they did and when we arrived for dinner the table was decorated in confetti, our food order was pushed ahead of everyone else's and we received gift boxed champagne flutes with Cinderella's Royal Table on them from the cast members at the Castle. But that wasn't the only surprise we had. We got moved ahead in ride lines, serenaded at put in the front row of the Beauty and the Beast pre-show and given a music CD from the group. We were also brought a surprise dessert at the Coral Reef. It just made the trip that much more special.
If you are celebrating while in Disney, stop at guest services in any park and pick up your free button. It will be well worth it - especially for children!

Disney's 4/3 deal

2008-12-15T03:10:00.000-08:00

I decided to take a closer look at my Disney vacation packaged that I booked with the buy 4 get 3 free deal from Disney after a comment to my last blog entry where Amy posted a comment saying she didn't get free dining with her package and was told it's not part of the buy 4 get 3 free promotion. And she's right!
The day I called to make my reservation was the first day the announcement was made and I do remember the cast member who made my reservation was just learning of the promotion as he navigated me through the reservation process. He offered dining with my package and I asked if that too was part of the buy 4 get 3 free promotion. He said it was and continued booking my package. When I got my reservation confirmation and my 10 pages of documents that went along with it, I was a bit surprised that the price wasn't broken down but I didn't think much about it.
Last week I called Disney reservations and asked if the dining plan was part of the deal and they confirmed it wasn't. After learning that, I decided to change my reservation to the quick service dining package which is less expensive and doesn't include table service dining. Because Disney's Dining Reservation system is being changed, most restaurant reservations after March 2009, cannot be made right now. With all the people waiting to make their dining reservations and no clear date when that will occur (though it's rumored to be Dec. 21), I believe there will be a lot of chaos when the flood gates finally open.
Since I've already done table service dining twice, I want to try the quick service plan. And just know that if you book quick service dining, you're not limited to hamburgers and hot dogs every day for a week either. We usually eat at the food courts at the resorts and in the parks and have had great meals including salads, wraps, and hot meals such as stuffed turkey with gravy, spaghetti and roast chicken!

Going to Disney in 2009?

2008-12-09T04:11:00.000-08:00

I'm going to repeat some news I announced on this blog last month in case anyone missed it who may be considering a Disney trip in 2009.
If you were on the fence about going, or even if you have a trip planned, check with your travel agent about Disney's buy 4 nights get 3 night free promotion.
This promotion ends December 20th so you don't have a lot of time left.
The deal is that if you book 4 nights of Disney resort accommodations, you'll get 3 nights free! Same goes with park tickets and any of the dining plans.
I took advantage of this offer to book Disney's Beach Club resort. I'll show you how much I saved:

Disney's Beach Club Resort - 7 nights at regular rate of $380/night $2660.00
resort tax at 12% 332.50
8 day Park hopper w/Waterparks tix for 2 adults 705.00
Table service dining plan at $39.99 per person, per night 559.86
___________
Total cost for trip excluding transportation to Disney World $4257.36

Total cost that I'm paying with the Buy 4 Get 3 FREE promotion: $2851.48

I'm saving over $1,400!
Your package will cost much less if you book a value or moderate resort.
You can basically book this package on a layaway plan. The package requires just a $200 deposit and you don't have to make final payment until 45 days before your arrival. You can make as many payments in between there as you would like. However, if you book airfare also, that total cost will have to be paid up front.
Don't forget...this promotion ends December 20th and you must travel before June 27.
If you book and calculate your savings, e-mail me your total savings (disneydiva1@gmail.com) and we'll put together a grand total savings that I'll post later on this blog.

2008-12-05T03:33:00.000-08:00

The Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian is another must-see if you're in Disney during the holidays. If you're not staying at the Grand Floridian or don't know how to get there, you can go by boat from the magic kingdom or take a bus from any of the other theme parks.
This amazing 16-foot-tall life size gingerbread house is made with 800 pounds of flour, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 1050 pounds of honey, 140 pints of egg whites and 180 pounds of apricot glaze.

The Victorian-style house sets in the lobby of the Grand Floridian and serves as a candy shop throughout the holiday season where you can buy ginger candy, replicas of the gingerbread house and gingerbread shingles.

Top 10 Disney Gifts

2008-11-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

Here are my picks for the Top 10 gifts for that Disney fan in your life:

1. Disney Flanel Pajamas (King of Prussia is the closest Disney Store).

2. Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Card for anyone who has a trip planned.

3. Walt Disney World Passporter (guidebook) at www.passporter.com.

4. Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (another great planning book. I buy both).

5. Walt Disney World Annual Pass! Great gift for anyone taking multiple trips or
spending more than 14 days in Disney in a 12-month time period. Your 12 months
doesn't begin until your card is activated on your first day of arrival!

6. Disney Ornaments of your favorite characters available at the Disney Store and
all Hallmark stores.

7. Personalized Fleece throw blanket at www.disneyshopping.com (these are currently
on sale for just $9.99).

8. A trip to Disney World! You can still book a trip for travel from Jan. 2 to June
27th and receive the buy 4 get three free promotion. This is almost half off!

9. Antenna toppers make a great stocking stuffer! Just make sure the person you're
buying them for has an antenna! (most newer cars don't!)

10. If you're fortunate enough to be visiting Disney this holiday season, don't miss
the life-size gingerbread house on display at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
You can purchase table top size replicas of this adorable gingerbread house
which makes a great centerpiece for your holiday gatherings!

Osborne Lights at Disney Studios

2008-11-28T02:57:00.001-08:00

If you're in Disney this Christmas season you must see the Osborne Spectacle of Lights at Disney Studios. Colored lights drench the buildings from top to bottom and twinkle to Christmas music that fills the air on the Streets of America. It's the most beautiful display of lights.
During my December visit last year, we were walking through the streets admiring the lights, falling snow and music when I noticed everyone was singing. I don't just mean some people...everyone I walked passed was singing the song they were playing - Rockin Around The Christmas Tree.
The light display is so elaborate that Disney workers begin hanging the lights in September!
The Osborne lights open tonight and run through Jan. 2. The show begins at dusk and goes until the park closes. There is no extra charge to see this display, just the price of the park admission.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

2008-11-24T03:54:00.000-08:00

I know it's not quite Thanksgiving and I'm already blogging about Christmas events in Disney but there are so many exciting things to see and do, I have to get an early start.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a ticketed event that takes place in the Magic Kingdom on certain nights from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. throughout the holiday season.
The ticket cost per adult is between $48.95 and $55.95 (depending on the night you go) but it's well worth it for this special celebration. Disney only sells a certain amount of tickets for this event and when those tickets are gone it's sold out! Throughout the park you can get free cookies and hot cocoa. Ride lines are shorter and special shows and parades are held.
In the Tomorrowland Theater located near Space Mountain is the performance of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." This show is only performed during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. You won't want to miss this show and be sure to get there early (about a half hour before the show begins).
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade runs twice during the party and is also a must see event. Cinderella's Castle is draped in icicles and it snows on Main Street during the party. You'll also find many characters wandering around the park!
There is so much to see and do in Disney during the Christmas season that I will be blogging about some of those events over the next few weeks. In addition, watch for my Top Ten Disney Christmas Gift list which will be posted later this week!

Taking A Look At The Beach Club

2008-11-17T03:47:00.000-08:00

The Beach Club is one of the Epcot area resorts and has been on my "to do" list for a while. The launch of Disney's buy 4 get 3 free promotion gave me the perfect opportunity to try this resort at an affordable price. I love the idea of walking to Epcot. Especially since Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival will be in full bloom when we arrive in May. You can also walk to Disney Studios from the Beach Club but it's about a 15 minute walk.
You can always expect a little bit more at Disney's deluxe resorts. They will have queen and king size beds rather than full size. The rooms are larger also.

Storm Along Bay is a pool that is more like a mini waterpark that both the Yacht Club and Beach Club guests share. It includes a water slide, lazy river and a sand bottom pool.

Bus service is available to all the parks except Epcot. The entrance to Epcot from the Beach Club (walking) is in the World Showcase which doesn't open till 11 a.m. but I'm told, Epcot resort guests can still use that entrance and a cast member will guide you to the open area of the park - Future World.
The Beach Club rooms have recently been renovated and the pool (Storm Along Bay) area will be renovated in phases from Janurary to April 2009.

Disney Teams Up With Verizon

2008-11-14T04:15:00.000-08:00

Disney is teaming up with Verizon Wireless next year and launching an application Verizon customers can download on their cell phone that will enable them to find their way around the parks with the help of their cell phone, according to an Associated Press story.
The application will also allow them to find wait times for rides, located shows and characters, receive messages from characters and play mobile Disney games!
For those who don't have Verizon Wireless, there will be limited services to all cell phone carriers. It would be my hope that just like every new cell phone launched initially belonging to one of the major carriers, that the others follow suit and offer something similar.
It would be nice if everyone-regardless of cell phone service-could use this service because it's a time-saving value. For first-time visitors visiting Disney, the parks can be overwhelming. For ride times and to locate shows and show times it's a value to everyone!

The Great Debate: staying onsite vs. staying offsite

2008-11-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

There's so many options for people planning a Disney vacation when it comes to planning where to stay. And depending on how many people are going, that sometimes dictates the accommodations.
But anytime someone asks me if they should stay inside or outside Disney parks, I always recommend inside and I always recommend a Disney-owned resort.
There are many reasons why I recommend this but one of the most important (to me)is the safety and security of staying at a Disney resort.
Recently, an article in the Orlando Sentinel reported that some vacation homes outside of the Disney parks have been targeted for crime. The thieves are stealing flat screen TV's, computers and cash. They aren't even waiting till night to burglarize these homes, they're doing it during the day - most likely because that's when vacationers are in the parks. Some property owners are installing alarm systems and security cameras but one said that even after that, they were burglarized.
This, and the convenience of not having to drive in any traffic to and from the parks, is why I always stay on-site.
Each Disney resort has a security gate at the entrance road to each resort. And the doors to the resort rooms are accessible by room key card. Although that serves as your room key and park pass, your room number is not on the card. Neither is your resort. Just your name. And if lost, you can go immediately to guest services at any park and they'll deactivate the lost card so no one else can use it.

Animal Kingdom Lodge review

2008-11-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

This resort is one of my favorites so far. It reminds me of the Wilderness Lodge but with animals to watch at any time of day or night. And yes, you can watch the animals at night. There's an area of the resort where you can put on these night goggles and view the animals. A cast member is there to answer any of your questions.
I stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge last December. We were unable to book a Savannah View room because they were all booked. However, we ended up getting a standard view room that overlooked a smaller area where they kept some animals that were not on the Savannah. It was like getting the view without the added cost. Every day we saw zebras and giraffes and many other animals I would not have been able to identify without the nice map and animal description page we got upon check in.
Even if you don't book or get a room with a view of one of the Savannah's, there are plenty of deck areas in each wing of the resort where you can sit and enjoy the animals on wooden rocking chairs.
The lobby (pictured above) is stunning when you see it for the first time. The hardwood floors are gorgeous and the entire resort has that rustic feel to it.
It's the kind of lobby you could just sit in for a while and relax. They sometimes have children's activities going on in the lobby and they have a fireplace with seats all around it where a fire is always burning. At night, outside the resort, they have a campfire where cast members tell stories to guests.
The only thing I found strange at this resort was that you had to go outside near the pool (but under cover) to get to the food court. This wasn't a problem but in the months where it's cooler in the morning, you need to wear a light jacket or sweatshirt to go down for your morning coffee.
One of the great benefits of a deluxe resort is the close proximity to the buses that take you to the parks and the fact that there is only one bus stop. This is a blessing when you have a sleepy child. Though some deluxe resorts do share buses with other deluxe resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn't.
If you're ever on the fence about this resort, I recommend giving it a try.

Disney Dining Reservation Update

2008-11-11T03:32:00.001-08:00

Disney is updating it's reservation system and currently is only taking reservations up to March 22. The exception to this is reservations for Victoria and Alberts, Cinderella's Royal Table and Chef Mickey's. So you can still reserve those restaurants 180 days out. For the rest of us traveling after March 22, we will have to watch for the new system to be up and operational because once it is, it will be like opening the flood gates! The new system is expected to be up and running by mid December but, it could be up and running ahead of time. Once in place, you will be able to make your dining reservations online in addition to calling 407-WDW-DINE.
Normally, I'd be very flexible with my dining reservation. But this trip we arrive on our 5th wedding anniversary. I want to reserve the California Grill (atop the Contemporary Resort) for a time close to the start of the Wishes fireworks.
I'm certain that restaurant fills quickly, especially for those times! So I will be diligently watching for the changeover. And of course, I'll post it here~

2009 Disney Dining Plans

2008-11-10T03:37:00.000-08:00

Disney has several options for Dining Plans that can be added to your reservation at one of the Disney-owned resorts making your vacation have a more all-inclusive feel to it. The two resorts that do not offer any dining plan are the Swan and Dolphin resorts in the Epcot area. Those resorts are not Disney-owned.
The most popular dining plan Disney has is the plan which gives you a table service, a counter service and a snack, every day. The cost of this plan is $39 per person per day. You need to know that you get credits for your meals which are tallied on your room key/park pass. When you include dining in your reservation you get those credits for each night of your stay, not each day.
The regular dining plan is a great way to experience Disney's large assortment of restaurants. Your table service dinner will include entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. The tip is not included so you'll have to pay for that out-of-pocket. For your counter service meal which many people use for lunch, it includes a combo meal, beverage and dessert. Now while breakfast isn't included in this plan, many people use their snack credit for breakfast. You can get almost anything at the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom and use a snack credit. You can also use the credit at your resort food court and get a bagel, yogurt, fruit, or one of many other items. The food courts have a DDP symbol that shows what is permitted as a snack credit. Though this may sound complicated, it's not.
In 2009, Disney will offer a quick service dining option. With that plan, you pay $29.99 for each person per day and receive 2 counter service meals, 2 snacks and your refillable mugs at your resort for free! That is a great deal considering your refillable mugs alone total almost half the price of a day on that dining plan.
I was tempted to try the new quick service plan for my upcoming trip in May but since we booked the buy 4 get 3 free, the cost difference is only $65 and for that, I'd rather have the table service dining plan. Just a reminder of you do book a dining plan, make your table service reservations as soon as you can (407-WDW-DINE), which is 180 days from the day of the reservation. This way you will have a good chance of getting the restaurant you want in the time frame you want.
Also, some signature restaurants such as the California Grill atop the Contemporary Resort require 2 table service credits for one meal. When booking, cast members will remind you that it's 2 credits. And since you can't buy more days of dining than nights you are staying, you'll have to pay out of pocket for one night of dining.

Anyone take advantage of the 4/3 offer?

2008-11-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

Two days ago I took advantage of Disney's buy 4 get 3 nights free offer. I booked the Beach Club which is walking distance to both Epcot and Disney Studios.

If anyone else has booked in the past couple days and hasn't received their e-mail confirmation yet, you should receive it within 72 hours of making your reservation (if you booked through Disney). Apparently, do to the popularity of the new promotion, it's taking longer to get the confirmations out.
When I received mine this morning I also found out what else is included in my package.
In addition to 7 nights at the Beach Club, 8 day park hopper passes with Waterparks Fun and More option, and the Disney Dining Plan, we also will receive a voucher for a discount on a Sea Ray rental. Those are the 2-person boats you see around cruising around the Bay Lake area. We also will get a voucher for a free game of minature golf, an arcade voucher, and a $15 voucher and a merchandise voucher for Planet Hollywood.
If you booked the table service dining plan, make sure you book your table service meals as soon as you are able (180 days from the day you want to make a reservation). When Disney has a popular promotion that includes dining, it's difficult to get reservations at some of the more popular table service restaurants.
The choices for table service restaurants between the parks and the resorts are overwhelming, it may be difficult to decide. Allearsnet.com has a list of all the restaurants and their menus on their website.

What A GREAT DEAL!

2008-11-06T14:49:00.001-08:00

I called Walt Disney World reservations at 4:55 p.m. Thursday in hopes that I could get through and learn the truth about the rumor that if you book 4 nights you get 3 free.
And YES!!! It's true! Not only THAT, but if you bought 5-day park hopper passes, you get 3 days free! And if that's not enough...you can add either the table service or quick service dining plan the same way; buy 4 days and get three free.
I booked the Beach Club resort. This is a resort I've always bypassed in the past because the price is pretty high. My husband always wanted to stay there and I figured there was no better opportunity than through this new promotion.
We will have 8 day park hopper passes and table service dining. The package total: $2,851.48.
Barrett - the nice Disney Cast Member who told me I was his first call under the new promotion - said this package was actually worth in the price range of $8,000.
I didn't run the numbers but I plan to and will blog the results.
Since Barrett was finding out about the promotion as he was booking my reservation, he couldn't tell me if there were any blackout dates - but it sounded like you could visit anytime between Jan. 3 and June 27th.
If you are considering a trip in 2009 (or maybe you're like me and wasn't really planning but can't resist a great deal) you can call Disney reservations at 407-939-6244.
If you do take advantage of this offer...leave a comment and let me know how good your deal is!

UPDATE!: Ran the numbers as if I was paying for the trip at regular price. Though my numbers don't amount to the $8,000 value Barrett told me it was, I am saving about 26% or $1,010.38.

It just takes one great offer and I'm in!

2008-11-06T02:38:00.000-08:00

I'm going to preface this by saying this is right now JUST A RUMOR! HOWEVER, this source has been consistently correct with Disney rumors!
Here goes:
Today (Thursday) there's supposed to be a big announcement from Disney at 5 p.m.
It's supposed to be a great offer for those planning to visit the first half of 2009.
This is supposed to be the best deal Disney has ever offered!
My reliable source says for every 4 nights booked at a Disney resort, you get 3 nights free. And for every 4 days of park tickets, you get three days free. There's also supposedly a $200 Disney gift card included if you stay between January and March.
***Again! This is right now at the rumor stage!**** But my source has always been right on target.
If this is the case, that's a significant savings and will probably launch me into Disney planning mode!
I'll be dialing Disney reservations at 5 p.m. and I'll let you know if the rumor is true!

Creating Disney Holiday Gifts

2008-11-05T04:02:00.000-08:00

Now that November is here, everyone has started thinking about Christmas. If you're like most of us Disney-obsessed people, you like to inject Disney into every holiday.
Even if you haven't been to Disney lately, you can still take your photos from your trip and upload them to Disneyphotopass.com and create some very unique Christmas gifts and cards. I personally like the Disney mousepad you can order with one of your favorite Disney or non-Disney photo. What a great daily reminder of your trip!
They also have photo frames, mugs, T-shirts, stickers, and lots more.
I know for me, each year it becomes harder to find unique gifts for those on my Christmas list. This makes it easy! As long as the photo is on your computer and can be uploaded to Disneyphotopass.com, you can create your own unique Christmas cards and gifts.

Another Disney Baby!

2008-10-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

You can't help but say "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" when you see this adorable baby giraffe born in Disney just 4 short weeks ago. His name is Bonsu and he is the fourth baby giraffe born in Disney's Animal Kingdom this year. He's the 11th giraffe born in Disney since Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, according to the Associated Press.
I have a new appreciation for giraffes since staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge last December and watching them walk around the Savannah every day. My family says I took way too many pictures and video of them during that trip. It was incredible to watch them stretch their long necks to reach leaves on the trees. When they ran it looked like they were moving in slow motion.
As fast-paced as a Disney vacation can be, you only have to spend a little time watching these animals to relax and appreciate them. Even if you're not staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, take a bus there and you can view the Savannah from one of the viewing areas near the guest rooms. They come complete with wooden rocking chairs to sit in and relax.

It may be time for a Time Share

2008-10-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

I've always been a skeptic of buying into a time share. They usually sound too good to be true and I've had friends who have experienced using a time share that was in less than satisfactory condition when they arrived. They didn't stay one night. Instead they got a hotel room.
Now I've given thought to a Disney Vacation Club on several occasions. I visited one of their vacation club resorts (Boardwalk) on one of my visits. It was gorgeous and exactly how I'd like to vacation.
Lately, the temptation has been even greater! Because I know Disney's quality and attention to detail and customer service is so great, I'd seriously consider buying a Disney Vacation Club. And it appears to me that 2009 just might be the year to buy. Disney recently announced it is beginning to sell it's new Bay Lake Towers, the newest in the Disney Vacation Club family. Located right next to the Contemporary Resort facing the Magic Kingdom, this resort makes it quite tempting. Add to that Disney's recent announcement that they are adding a Disney Vacation Club Resort in Hawaii, and it becomes even more tempting. Disney's Vacation Club points can be used in so many places that even if I got tire of Disney World (which would never happen!), I'd have other places to go.
And while many time share salespeople are pushy about buying and vague about details, the Disney Vacation Club cast members offered a lot of information but not a lot of pushiness.
The way I see it is that you will spend on a Disney Vacation Club the same amount of money you would spend on a certified used car. Once paid off, you still have the points to use every year for the next 45 years. This way even though I may not know exactly where I'm spending my vacation, I'll know I don't have to worry about being satisfied with my accommodations.

T Rex Restaurant Opens in Downtown Disney

2008-10-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Disney wasted no time opening a new restaurant in Downtown Disney this week -barely two weeks after closing the night clubs in Downtown Disney.
T Rex Cafe is a prehistoric dining experience created by Landry's Restaurants, the owner of the Rainforest Cafe.
You won't have to worry about keeping antsy children busy in this restaurant while waiting for your meal to arrive! A dinosaur dig area offers clean dirt (maybe it's more sand-like) for children to dig for dinosaur bones. The scenery alone will probably keep children and adults alike busy throughout the entire meal.
Animatronic prehistoric animals are on display throughout the restaurant. And like the Rainforest Cafe, it has a gift shop filled with prehistoric souvenirs to buy.
The restaurant also has a dinosaur building workshop where you can buy, build and take home your favorite prehistoric friend.
The menu appears to be similar to the Rainforest Cafe (but with different menu item names), offering a variety of appetizers, sandwiches and entrees.
This restaurant will probably be popular for quite some time so if you're planning to visit Disney soon and want to go there, you should probably make a reservation by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

2008-10-13T03:44:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is one of the best times to visit Disney. The summer heat and humidity give way to cool nights and comfortable days.

You don't have to wait until December to see Disney decorated for Christmas either. My neighbor told me went she visited Disney many years ago over Thanksgiving, Disney transformed the resorts into their Christmas decor on Thanksgiving night. She said the transformation was amazing and apparently happened while everyone slept. Now I think Disney moves into the holiday season in stages. Disney decorates it parks and resorts using 150 tractor trailer loads of holiday decorations.

Each resort is decorated with the resort's theme. Large, elaborately decorated Christmas trees can be found near each park's entrance. Photopass photographers are at every great photo spot ready to take your picture. If you've never used photopass, just have your picture taken by a photopass photographer (free!) and ask him for a photopass card (also free!). Keep the card and give it to any other photopass photographer you have take your pictures. When you get home from your vacation, there's a website listed on the card. You go to it and view all the photos you had taken. The only cost is if you purchase pictures (and they're reasonably priced too!). This is a great service Disney offers. Especially because they sometimes add some Disney magic to your photo ;)

Street shows in Disney

2008-10-07T04:08:00.001-07:00

There are many street shows in Disney parks. Some of this type of entertainment is scheduled and some isn't. Next to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom, you can sometimes catch the Captain Jack performance. (pictured here). Although Jack is not Johnny Depp, he looks and talks just like him. They perform about a 10 minute show and always brings a crowd.

In Animal Kingdom there's a performer we called "tree woman." She was covered in vines and on stilts (which could not be seen). She wasn't visible until we started to see part of a tree move and realize it was her with her arms wrapped around the tree.

In Disney Studios there are scheduled performances of a band called Mulch, Sweat and Sheers. They pull up in a truck and just start playing well-known rock and roll songs that everyone can sing along to. I'm not sure if this band plays all year long or seasonally. But if you have the chance to watch them, you're in for a treat.

Epcot is probably the park with the most street performances going on. You can pretty much see something in every country. In France, we watched a performer carefully balance wooden chairs on top of each other then climb to the top which I guessed to be about 18 feet high.

Even if you're not a "ride person," there's plenty of entertainment watching Disney performers.

Calling All Pirates Fans!

2008-09-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

So much for the theory that Pirates of the Caribbean is just going to be a trilogy!
Captain Jack Sparrow will return in Pirates of the Caribbean 4. Johnny Depp signed on with Disney last week. In addition, Depp also signed with Disney to play Tonto in The Lone Ranger and the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
In this recent AP photo from Disney's Showcase Event at the Kodak Theater, Depp poses with Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney World Studios.
Most of us Pirates fans have been waiting for a fourth movie to be announced. Disney's signature final scene which is shown after the credits roll in each of the Pirates movies, is something that many moviegoers missed.
No timeline has been given for the movie's release but Disney has plenty to keep us busy until its much anticipated arrival.
Disney and dog fans will have Beverly Hills Chihuahua to look forward to this week and Bolt set to be released the week before Thanksgiving.

A birthday present from Disney!

2008-09-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

Disney announced today that guests who visit Walt Disney World on their birthday in 2009 will receive a free one day park admission! It must be on your actual birthday and you must show identification proving it's your birthday, but what a great gift! And if you're an annual passholder or already have your tickets, you can choose either a Birthday Fun Card in the amount equal to a one day base ticket that you must spend on your birthday, or a special Birthday Fastpass badge to use on your birthday!

Now I told my family we probably weren't going to Disney in 2009. I might have to change my mind. I'm the only member of my family that hasn't gone to Disney over my birthday! And I share the same birthday as Mickey Mouse - November 18th!

When you go to Disney on your birthday you have to stop at guest services in the park you're going into that day and get a birthday badge. You'll get lots of happy birthday wishes and maybe even a few surprises ;)

If you want to register your birthday with Disney go to www.disneyparks.com

Just one more reason to visit Disney

2008-09-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

If you've been to Disney World lately you've probably seen the construction going on near the Contemporary Resort. Though it wasn't announced officially until today, the newly constructed crescent-shaped tower (that's walking distance to the Magic Kingdom) is called Bay Lake Towers - Disney's newest vacation club. The tower is 15 stories high and will have 300 units. Bay Lake Towers will connect to the Contemporary Resort via a pedestrian bridge on the fifth floor. In addition, Disney will also be opening 60 Treehouse Villas that are being constructed as part of the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. These villas can be seen when taking the boat from either of the Port Orleans resorts to Downtown Disney. On our trip last month, our boat driver pointed out the construction, which had just started to the raised units. These units are in a quiet secluded wooded area of Disney.
Bay Lake Towers will likely be the most popular of the Disney Vacation Club resorts with it's wall length windows and view of the Magic Kingdom.
If you're an existing Disney Vacation Club member, you will have the first opportunity to buy into Bay Lake Towers beginning this Sunday.
For more information about the Disney Vacation Club visit www.disneyvacationclub.com

I thought this might be fun...

2008-09-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

You know your an extreme Disney fan when...

Your dogs are named Disney and Tinkerbell

You and your family see hidden mickey's everywhere

Your friends call you before their travel agent when planning a Disney vacation

You MUST be planning a Disney vacation at all times!

Your wedding is Disney-themed

Your child becomes the pack leader for her friends on a school trip to Disney

You have a Disney themed room in your house

You visit the Disney Store when you need a Disney fix

Friends and family stop asking why you go there all the time (because now they know!)

You've bought or are considering a Disney Vacation Club

You no longer need maps to navigate the parks

Zipity Doo Dah is your ringtone

You have a contest to see how many times you can ride Splash Mountain in one day!

When you make pancakes for breakfast, Mickey head pancakes are expected

You have a 99 days to Disney party before every trip

Your daughter worries that your granddaughter's first word might be Mickey instead of Mommy

Your other daughter had to have her prom dress look just like Belle's dress

Your new year begins with your kids asking "When are we going to Disney this year?"

You've set out to stay at every Disney resort at least once!

Most of your holiday decorations are Disney-themed

You're a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Club

You can never have too much Disney!

Disney's college program

2008-09-10T03:54:00.000-07:00

While it's not something you think about while vacation planning, if you have children, eventually you'll hear about Disney's college program.

Walt Disney World offers college students the opportunity to work in various internship positions throughout the parks. Students live on-campus in apartments provided by Disney and can participate in this program without even bringing their car. Disney offers transportation for the students to and from work, the mall, the grocery store and to various other places in and around Orlando. During my trip last December, my husband and I spoke to a student from Maine who was working in one of the countries in the World Showcase as a part of the internship program. She said she was spending 7 months there and thought it was a bit of a challenge to be so far from her family for the holidays, they visited her while she was there and she was really enjoying the experience.

She told us that when applying for an internship, the student chooses three areas of interest that they would like to work in. When accepted into the program, Disney notifies the student which area they will be working in. They get paid, they pay rent and learn how to manage money and live on their own. It's a great way to get the experience of the outside world with a little assistance from Disney.

For more information visit www.disneycollegeprogram.com

Now is the time to go

2008-09-08T04:17:00.000-07:00

If you want to travel to Disney during it's quieter season, now is the time to go. It may be busy through September because free dining was offered to guests booking stays in late August through September, but after that the parks are much more manageable until the holiday season arrives.
I've visited Disney in November and December and it's a great time to be there!
It can get very crowded the week of the actual holiday, but if you arrive before that, you'll be in for a real treat.
It may be a bit early to rave about Disney at Christmas but I definitely recommend it -- it's a wonderful time to visit!
Last December we spent 6 days in Disney to see our daughter's high school chorus perform in the Candlelight Processional in Epcot. This event is a must-see if you're in Disney during the holiday season. You can purchase a dinner package that includes priority seating and dinner at an Epcot restaurant. If you don't choose the dinner package, you'll want to get in line at least an hour before the performance is scheduled.
Epcot's Food and Wine Festival is also held during the fall season and offers guests the opportunity to taste samplings made by the Disney Chefs from various restaurants.
Another popular fall event is Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party which is held throughout October.
The parks have some shorter operating hours during this season but it's a nice opportunity to see and do other things such as visit resorts you haven't been to or dine at one of their restaurants.

New 2009 Quick Servic Dining Plan

2008-09-03T03:31:00.000-07:00

When I called Disney to tweak my plans prior to my trip last month, friendly cast members asked me if I wanted to add the Disney Dining Plan to my reservation. While I've done this twice - once for free and once paid ($37.99 per person, per day) - we just decided it was too much food to eat in one day. The plan gives each guest one table service meal including an appetizer, one counter service meal and one snack. When we participated in the dining plan, dessert was included also. Dessert has been dropped since then. Still, we found it to be more than we wanted to eat and we had to make reservations for table service meals, meaning we had to make sure we were in the park where our dinner reservation was. This also became too much of a chore for me on vacation, when I'd rather follow no schedule.
So when asked if I wanted the dining plan, I explained that I didn't want to be tied down to a dinner reservation every day.
I remember one conversation I had with a cast member about the dining plan and I told her if there was a dining plan where you could have 2 counter service meals a day, I'd be interested! Well, enough people must have expressed that to Disney and for 2009, they're launching a new quick service dining plan.
This plan allows for 2 counter service meals a day, two snacks and a refillable mug, all for $29.99 per day, per adult. On our trip last month, we budgeted and spent $150 per day for 4 of us.
So the new quick service plan is definitely something I'd plan for on my next trip. And just so you know, eating counter service meals in Disney doesn't mean you're eating hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken fingers for a week! We had some great counter service meals including turkey, mashed potatoes and carrots along with corn bread at the food court at Port Orleans Riverside. Many of the resort food courts (which are included in the plan) have hot meals like pasta, chicken and roast beef.
I think the new dining plan will be the best value for those of us who want to eat more on the go and freeing up valuable park time.

Where else can you get service like this?

2008-09-02T04:06:00.000-07:00

My husband and I recently had a conversation about our Disney trip with someone at the garage where our car was having work done. The man told us that he had drove to Disney and was staying at one of their resorts. He accidentally locked the keys in the car. He informed someone at the resort and before he knew it, a box truck arrived and when they opened it up, it was filled with everything you could imagine needing for your car. They asked him what make, model and year his car was. Then, from a wall of what appeared to be master keys, they plucked out one that opened his car door. Never charged him a dime and he was on his way. He said it could have been a nightmare waiting for road service to get there, but this process was made so simple by Disney.
His is not the first story I've heard of Disney going well above and beyond to make sure guests vacations are magical. Disney wants guests to come away from their vacations with the most magical memories. When hurricanes hit central Florida and force the parks to close for a short time, Disney has characters entertain in its resort lobbies so you're not stuck in your room wondering when the weather will stop interrupting your vacation.
I've blogged many times about the Disney Magic and how they go above and beyond to make your vacation special.
People want to get the most value from their vacation dollar. And there's a lot of value in good service.

A great way to relax

2008-08-27T03:49:00.000-07:00

Disney began offering horse-drawn carriage rides throughout two of its resorts several years ago. The carriage rides go through the Port Orleans resorts but you have to meet at the dock at Port Orleans Riverside. They suggest you arrive 15 minutes early. However, I suggest if you don't have dinner plans, arrive earlier and go to the food court at Riverside and get yourself a delicious southern meal. We did this and were surprised at how many choices there were for dinner!
So when the time for our carriage ride came, we met our driver and his black horse named Dan.
The driver was very friendly and answered any questions we had along the way.
We had the choice to ride through the Riverside resort or the French Quarter. We chose Riverside since we were staying at the French Quarter.
For 30 minutes we enjoyed the quiet ride along the Sassagoula River and throughout the resort.
We learned that our horse, Dan, was one of about 90 in Disney World. They can be visited at their stables at the Fort Wilderness Campground.
The $35/hour pricetag for the carriage ride is well worth the money. And if you choose, you can bring along your own alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. They don't take credit cards for payment because the driver takes your payment. You can pay with your Disney Resort room card or pay by cash.
Anyone can make a reservation for the carriage ride. You don't have to be a resort guest.
I would strongly recommend reservations because this activity is very popular and very reasonably priced.

Extra Magic Hours

2008-08-13T03:47:00.001-07:00

Extra Magic Hours are just for Disney resort guests. Each day, one park opens an hour early just for those staying on-site and one park closes late --- up to 3 hours late. You don't need any special wristband for the morning Extra Magic Hour but you do for the late night one.
Extra Magic Hour at night can be hit or miss. Sometimes it's overly crowded. And that was our experience Friday night when we attempted to stay in the Magic Kingdom for the midnight to 3 a.m. Extra Magic Hour. I usually never go to the park that has the morning Extra Magic Hour because that's where everyone else goes! I did do this on Monday to get back on my new favorite ride...Toy Story Mania. Fast passes for this ride was gone before noon every day.
Tuesday we were flying home at 5 p.m. so we always go to Magic Kingdom our last morning. It was Extra Magic Hour in the Kingdom and it was crowded. Since we only had a few hours to get on some last rides and finish up our shopping, we just dealt with the crowds. But in the 4-hour span we were there, we managed to get on Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Pirates of the Caribbean.
I really liked Port Orleans French Quarter. We almost never shared a bus with Riverside and it was so centrally located to all the parks the bus rides all seemed pretty short. I think the resort is due for some needed refurbishment because some of the room doors looked like they needed painting and in our bathroom I noticed some of the porcelain chipped off the tub and was painted over. The food court was a bit slow. Much of what you ordered had to be prepared and one afternoon we waited more than 20 minutes for a meatball sub and a personal size pizza. We tried the food court at Riverside on the night of our horse-drawn carriage ride (I'll blog about that next!). The food there was great. Short waits. Very well organized!

Last day park hopping

2008-08-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

Since today is our last full day in Disney, we're spending the day park hopping. We started at 8 a.m. in Disney Hollywood Studios to get back on Toy Story Mania again. Then it was off to the Great Movie Ride. You can take a bus from Disney Studios to Epcot and we did that in order to get a fast pass for Soarin'. Once we got the fast pass we did some shopping then hopped the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. We rode in the front of the Monorail with the driver. Ed, the driver, was on his first solo trip after "earning his ears." He told us that to train for operating the monorail he had to study a book from cover to cover and was "in training" for 6 weeks. Then he has a written and verbal test he had to pass. This morning he passed the actual monorail driving test.
When we arrived at the Magic Kingdom, Kristen asked if we could get a fast pass in the Magic Kingdom since we still had one from Epcot that the time hadn't started for. We decided to test this out and see if the fast pass rules of only one fast pass until the start time of the fast pass still applied. We successfully got a fast pass for Splash Mountain, proving that if you move to another park, you can get another fast pass.

Disney's newest attraction is my new favorite

2008-08-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

Disney Hollywood Studios opened Toy Story Mania, an interactive 4-dimensional ride earlier this spring. I was anxious to ride it after reading that you shoot a variety of carnival type targets while wearing 3-D glasses.

Waiting in the queue, it's a flashback to all the kiddie games those of us who grew up in the 70's remember. Giant size Scrabble, Operation, a log cabin build with Lincoln Logs and a talking Mr. Potato Head are all there to greet you.

We got to the Disney Studios at opening and raced to the ride first, along with almost everyone else! Our daughter Kristen took all of our park passes and got in line to get a fast-pass while the rest of us waited in line for the ride. She got the fast passes and joined us in line. We knew we'd get on this ride at least twice.

Once on the ride, our instructions were simple: pull the string behind your "shooter" and aim it at the screen. There was a practice screen at the beginning so you could practice shooting before any points were calculated.

The car you ride in moves quickly into a position where a screen is in front of you. The ducks, plates, balloons and other targets are labeled with what points they are worth so you can choose to shoot at the higher points items. You will cycle through about 4 or 5 screens during the ride and there's a certain amount of time you spend at each screen trying to score points (don't ask me how much time, I lost track because I'm super competitive so I had to win). A screen on your ride vehicle keeps a tally of your score and oddly enough, your accuracy. Hint: don't worry about accuracy, winning is all about the points you score!

****SPOILER ALERT********DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED!

When you shoot at and pop some of the targets such as balloons, you will feel bursts of air and spurts of water too! Also, I read somewhere in a review that you should look for and shoot at the Easter egg on each screen. This wasn't easy to find and it's not labeled with a point value. The entire ride moves rather quickly and you find yourself pulling the string on your shooter with lightning speed. However, if you get the chance to strengthen your triceps before going on ---do so! You'll be amazed at how sore these muscles get if they're not used and this ride puts them to the test.

After getting off the ride the second time, a cast member gave my daughter Kelly a ride switch pass (usually used for parents with a small child that can't go on the ride. It allows the 2nd parent to go in the fast pass lane along with 2 other people). We went back later and I asked the cast member at the fast pass entrance if we could have an extra fast pass since the one given to Kelly would only let 3 of us in. And in usual Disney fashion, they said yes.

We enjoyed this ride so much that we just have to squeeze in one or two more rides before this trip is over so we plan to get up early Monday and go during the extra magic hour early entry at 8 a.m.

This ride is now my new favorite!

princesses young & old

2008-08-08T12:09:00.001-07:00

My soon-to-be 18 year-old daughter Kelly has been a fan of Belle since
she was 3. And every time we come here, she waits in line to have her
picture taken with her. Laat year she stood in line with 5 & 6 year
olds.
Yesterday, while waiting for Belle at her meet & greet, my husband & I
began to wonder if she's not just a bit too old for this. At that
moment my daughter & others spotted Belle and they all ran to meet her
I saw one woman who I had just seen in the gift shop with an autograph
book in hand asking where Belle would be. I assumed she was asking for
her daughter but I was wrong, she was asking for herself. And she was
21. A bride & groom were also waiting in line. That young woman was
24.
So of the first 3 in line to see Belle, my daughter was the youngest
We are no longer wondering if she is too old.

--
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Pictures from the Magic Kingdom Parade

2008-08-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Usually you have to line up at least an hour ahead of time for the Disney Dream Come True Parade in the Magic Kingdom. But when we were there Wednesday afternoon, crowds were light!

We arrived at Main Street for the parade about 5 minutes before it started. But you wouldn't know that from the pictures!

These are actually crowd levels we're used to seeing in August since many schools in the south have already begun and a lot more start on Monday.

Crowd levels in Epcot were about the same as the Magic Kingdom. Temperatures have been in the low 90s and of course, there's that Florida humidity. But with air conditioned buses, ride waiting areas, food courts and restaurants, along with that afternoon pool break when the heat of the day is the worst, it has not been unbearable.

Rumor

2008-08-07T04:16:00.001-07:00

I heard yesterday that Caribbean Beach resort is undergoing some
refurbishment changes. Some are already in the works with some rooms
being said to be Nemo themed. As a part of the changes it's rumored
that the Trinidad area rooms will be converted into moderate family
suites! Disney currently only offers family suites at All-Star Music.
The theme of the suites is rumored to be Pirates of the Caribbean!

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Magic Kingdom

2008-08-06T11:20:00.001-07:00

After a swift check in process at Port Orleans French Quarter we got
lunch at the food court. Crowds are manageable here in the Kingdom.
The wait for Pirates of the Caribbean was 15 minutes and Haunted
Mansion was about the same
TEASER: Heard a very interesting Disney rumor down here. I'll reveal
it in a blog entry later today!!

--
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Good tailwinds

2008-08-06T08:01:00.001-07:00

Despite leaving Philly in the rain, we arrived in Orlando under sunny
skies and 82 degrees and 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
Kudos to Dramomine's less drowsy formula. It kept the motion sickness
away and I don't feel groggy.

--
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V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

2008-08-05T03:19:00.000-07:00

It's the most anticipated week of the year - VACATION!
After months of plotting and planning, the time has come to pack suitcases and head once again to the place we vacation the most...Walt Disney World. Even though this will be our third trip in 14 month, the excitement never wanes.
Our flight is scheduled to arrive in Olrando Wednesday morning. We expect to be at our resort by noon and in the Magic Kingdom by early afternoon.
Some of the new and/or changed attractions we're looking forward to seeing include the refurbished Spaceship Earth in Epcot, the new Toy Story Mania and the Block Party Parade in Disney Studios.
Check back often to see my live blogs, direct from Disney. The updates may be a bit shorter since they're sent via my Blackberry, but there will be multiple entries each day and pictures will be added too.

Walt Disney World ticket prices went up

2008-08-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Like just about everything else, park tickets for Walt Disney World will cost you more effective today. The news was officially announced Friday but rumors were rumbling on the Internet for several days before that.
I had a room-only reservation for my upcoming trip and was planning to make the final payment and add tickets when I arrive Wednesday. But if I waited, I would be paying the price increase, which for my trip, would have been an additional $36. While it's not a significant amount of money, it basically amounts to the cost of the horse-drawn carriage ride we are surprising our teenage daughters with.
The increase amounts to an additional $4 for a one day park pass. And adding park-hopping to your tickets will cost extra too. But as long as your package or r00m-only reservation was paid before today, the price increase won't affect you.
While there are many ways you can save money on your Disney vacation, park tickets are one thing you usually can't get a discount on. You can get a discounted room rate through AAA or with a code or promotion, but they don't discount the park tickets. And I would not want to buy park tickets from some vendor outside the parks.
Last year when we lost my daughter's park pass in Animal Kingdom, we just went to guest services and told them what happened. They printed her out a temporary park pass and when we got back to our resort that day, they printed her a permanent one just like the original with her name on it. It took very little time and did not put any kind of damper on our trip.
It did however, make me think about what might have happened if I didn't have my tickets through Disney as a resort guest. I would have just been out of luck.

Crowded in August?

2008-08-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

I've heard conflicting reports about crowd levels in Disney parks this summer. This morning I read that it was not crowded yesterday in the Magic Kingdom. Now while everyone's idea of crowded may be different, my experience with August crowds has been that they it's busy but not terribly crowded. I always chose August because some of the schools in the south begin in early August, leaving the parks much more managable.
But if you read Disney's quarterly earnings report (http://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/quarterly_earnings.html), they're not experiencing a lack of visitors to Disney due to the economy.
The only time in August (and early September) that I expect it will be very crowded is for Disney's free dining. A lot of people take advantage of dining on Disney for free. We did this in 2006 and in a week, we racked up $1,300 in disney dining that we got for free just for booking through Disney during a specified time period. That year, we were there Aug. 14-21. Now they've pushed the dates back to Aug. 22, making it impossible for those of us with school and college-age children to take advantage of the free plan. My guess is (from a cost-effective standpoint) Disney would rather have 2 adults and 2 children under 5 utilizing their free dining plan rather than 2 adults and 2 hungry teenagers taking advantage of it!
And though it was great eating at some of the best restaurants Disney has to offer for free, the crowd levels in the parks were much higher that year.
It's nice to dine for free but I'd rather have less crowded parks!

If you fly

2008-07-31T03:23:00.000-07:00

If you fly to Disney or any other vacation destination, don't forget to check with your airline carrier and refresh your memory on what can and cannot be taken on an airplane and what has to go where!
My daughter's friend flew last week and had to dispose of an expensive face wash product because she had it in her carry-on bag and it was more than 3 ounces.
My husband went online recently to check the size limitation for carry-on bags and that's when he noticed that extra batteries must be stored in your carry-on bag, not your suitcase. We already had them in the suitcase.
Also be aware of weight limitations on luggage. On our trip last December, my daughter's suitcase was a whopping 48 pounds, just 2 pounds away from the limit. If it would have went over, they would have charged her $25.
There's also always the confusion regarding the "one carry-on bag" you are permitted to take.
For this trip, we've been trying to figure out who will carry on the laptop. After visiting the website, we learned that each person is allowed one personal item and one carry-on. Since the girls and I will each have a purse plus a carry-on bag, my husband can bring the laptop as his personal item.
Then there's the issue of a one suitcase limit for each person. Many airlines limit you to one and charge you for any additional.
This shouldn't be too much of an issue since it's summer and we won't be taking sweatshirts, jeans and bulky clothing. However (and I keep reminding my children), there will be purchases there that have to be brought home. My plan is to take a fold-up type of bag in my suitcase. If we need an extra bag for the flight home, I don't mind paying $25 for an extra piece of luggage going one way.
Another option is to ship items back home from Disney. I know the service is available, but I've never had to use it.
We always pack on the light side and do a load or two of laundry midway through our trip. It allows more space in our suitcases for things that we buy while we're there.

Time to keep an eye in the sky

2008-07-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

Now that our trip is just 9 short days away, I'll pay much more attention to any tropical weather activity that may begin to form. While I hate to think about a hurricane interrupting our trip to Disney, it's the harsh reality of traveling there during hurricane season. This is one reason I booked a room-only reservation and added park tickets. That gives me 5 days before my trip to cancel in the event some emergency would arise. And even if I would have to cancel within those five days, I can always put the credit toward a future trip. I believe that trip insurance is necessary, but it's also a rip off.
I did purchase the trip insurance offered on my airline tickets for this trip. Airlines are much less flexible when it comes to canceling and rescheduling. They will charge $100 per ticket to make a change.
When Hurricane Charley hit Florida in August 2004 just days before our trip, the airline canceled our flight and said there were no flights out for days because of the backup of passengers. Turned out the airline terminal in Florida was damaged from the hurricane.
We got in our car and drove the 17 hours to Disney in order not to lose the trip (that was the no trip insurance trip!). The airline did refund our money from the canceled flight.
And because we had to drive at the last minute or lose the trip, that ended up being our most memorable trip.
The kids say they want to drive again sometime. This year it was cheaper to fly. But if the airlines keep tacking on additional charges, it may make it cheaper to drive next time.

Blogging Live from Walt Disney World

2008-07-25T03:35:00.001-07:00

Thanks to modern technology, I'll be able to blog live from Disney on my upcoming trip August 6-12th. Disney offers Internet connections for a small price at their resort hotels ($10.00 per day).
But even if I wasn't taking my laptop on the trip, I would be able to blog and post from my Blackberry. I might just try both! It will be fun to try blogging while waiting in line for Space Mountain or waiting for the Main Street parade to begin.
A couple years ago I received a great tip about taking a power strip to Disney. At first I thought it would be odd taking something that I use to plug in all my electronics at home. But I took it along and realized it was worth its weight in gold! With 4 people all having cell phones, they all need to be charged at night. Add to that the laptop and MP3 players! I recently received an IPod ITouch. I'm taking that to play a movie on the plane. And of course, maybe I'll listen to a few Disney podcasts too. But that too needs to be charged.
All these gadgets need to be charged every day. Finding enough outlets in a hotel room for these pieces of modern technology (that we can't seem to live without) is impossible.
So now, on the top of my packing list is the power strip - the lifeline to all our electronics!

Dining without the Disney Dining Plan

2008-07-21T03:42:00.001-07:00

I've done the Disney Dining Plan twice, once for free and once where I paid $37.99 per day, per person. While I liked the opportunity to try many of Disney's fine restaurants, this trip we're dining on our own without the dining plan. There's two reasons for this. Disney changed the dining plan this year and gratuity is no longer included. That costs me more money, making the plan more expensive. Also, since many people use the dining plan, you almost have to make reservations for your table service restaurants. How can I be sure we'll all be hungry at a specified time? Or even in the park where the restaurant is located? We did 10 days of the dining plan in June 2007. While I feel I definitely got my money's worth, I didn't like having a reservation time and restaurant etched in stone. And now that gratuity is not included, I just keep thinking of the $40 tip I'd have to shell out if my family racked up another $200 dining tab at Spoodles on the boardwalk.
So this trip we're dining on our own. And just know that if you don't choose the dining plan, you don't have to eat hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries for a week!
Disney has a lot of options for counter-service and food court meals. Salads are available almost everywhere. Sandwiches are not your run-of-the-mill type (I definitely recommend the Cuban sandwich with plantation chips at the ABC Commissary in Disney Studios!).
You can get a good dinner meal such as spaghetti and meatballs or chicken with mashed potatoes, at the food court of the Disney resorts. Pizza is readily available at the resorts also. While I've never ordered pizza at a Disney resort, my 17-year-old daughter who stayed at All Star Movies with her school chorus last December, raved over the pizza they had delivered from the food court.
If you still want to do a restaurant meal or two and can't get a reservation for dinner at a time you want, try eating there at lunch. In some restaurants the menus are the same or similar.
But no matter where you eat, save room for a snack! Mickey pops, fresh popcorn and Dole Whips (only in the Magic Kingdom) are on my must-have list every trip.

Florida's Heat and Humidity

2008-07-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

The heat and humidity levels in Florida in the summer make wearing the same outfit all day almost impossible. Many of our trips occur over the summer so I believe we now have surviving the heat down to a science.
Start your day as early as you can. Even though you were up late watching fireworks and SpectroMagic, it's best to get your day started as early as you can.
Parks open at 9 a.m. and for Disney Resort guests, one park each day opens at 8 a.m. While I always try to make that 8 a.m. park, I never do. So I shoot for 9 a.m.
It's cooler in the morning. Not by much, but it is. We usually get in as much as we can before lunch and then after lunch, when the heat is the worst of the day, we head back to the pool.
Disney resort pools are as warm as a bath tub in the summer but at least it's wet! After an hour or two of chillin' by the pool, we get ready to head back to the parks. But that means wearing a different outfit from the morning due to heat and humidity. And no, I don't pack 14 outfits for my 7 day trip. Usually halfway through the trip, I do a load or two of laundry at the resort. I get it done during an afternoon pool break and that's the only "work" I do on vacation.
The coin-operated laundry facilities at each resort are clean and efficient. But they're pricey. However, I think they're comparable to local laundromat prices (learned that the other day when my dryer broke down!). It's a bit of a pain to do laundry on vacation but it makes packing easier, especially when you're telling teenage girls they can only have one suitcase! The $25 the airline charges for an additional suitcase, will go a lot further in the gift shops!

First Day Tradition

2008-07-17T03:53:00.001-07:00

I always try to take an early morning flight when going to Disney World. Of course, when I arrive at the resort before noon, our room is not usually ready. But that's not a problem. Bell services at the resort is happy to take my luggage until my room is ready. The front desk prepares our park tickets which will later also serve as our room key, and we're on our way to enjoy the parks till our room is ready for check in.
We don't usually map out exactly what we're doing on certain days but the first day, somehow we've created this tradition.
It always begins in the Magic Kingdom. For some reason, to my kids, it's just not real until we see the Castle. Walking down Main Street with ear-to-ear smiles on their faces, they head right to Splash Mountain. Somehow, that has become our "first ride tradition." If that line is long, we get a fast-pass and head right to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The line usually moves fast and it's inside and air conditioned! By the time we get finished with that ride, it's time for our Splash Mountain fast-pass return. Then we ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, because it's right there.
And after that we move throughout the park with no particular plan in place.
Ironically, on our last day in the park before returning home, the tradition tends to repeat itself.

The countdown begins

2008-07-14T04:11:00.000-07:00

We always countdown days to our Disney vacation, usually starting at 99. We used to have a small dry erase board on the refrigerator and someone (usually my youngest daughter, Kristen) would change the number of days every day and sometimes she'd even add a little Disney art.
This year, we've all been so busy, we never officially started counting down. Though we don't have it written down, the countdown still goes on in every one's head.
Kristen recently said to me, "Mom, do you know we leave for Disney in 25 days?"
And Kelly, who recently graduated, is working, and preparing for her first year of college, also noticed how close it's getting.
"Mom, I'm so busy I've hardly had time to think about Disney and it's coming up fast."
These last few weeks is when we map out all the little details of our vacation. Although most things aren't written in stone, there are some things that have to be. The visit to the water parks can't be on the weekend because the locals are there then, adding to the crowds. Friday nights are a good time to take advantage of the Magic Kingdom because many people travel on the weekends and it's less crowded.
This trip we're plotting a horse-drawn carriage ride for our daughters from the Port Orleans Riverside resort. They don't know we've planned this so we have to figure out how we'll get them over there without raising suspicion. Those reservations are written in stone and can only be changed if there's inclement weather.
The clubs at Pleasure Island are closing in September and we've never made it to the club 8-Trax that we always said we wanted to go to. Now we have to figure out how to squeeze that in.
The girls want to ride Surrey Bikes at the resort while we're there. This is something we didn't get around to on the last two vacations to Disney so we figure we'd better make sure it happens this time. The last time we rode surrey bikes, the girls were 7 and 11 and could barely pedal the 4-person vehicle. My husband and I were in the front and did most of the pedaling! This time they're 17 and 15, and they want the front seats. Maybe now they can pedal us around!
It's said that planning a trip is half the fun. I agree. And when you're just weeks away and vacation seems within reach, it's fun to plan all the little details.

Using Disney Transportation

2008-07-11T04:12:00.000-07:00

My family has taken advantage of the Disney transportation system on every trip. From the Magical Express bus that picks us up at the airport and takes us to our resort, to the buses that provide transportation for Disney resort guests to and from the parks.
Depending on the time of year, resort, and even bus stop that you're waiting at, your wait time for a bus will vary. If you're at a resort with multiple bus stops and your stop is picked up last, you might see a bus or two drive right past you because it's full. That's frustrating when you're anxious to get where you're going. And if you're at a large resort such as Pop Century, where there's only one bus stop (but lots of people trying to catch a bus), you may also have to wait for a second bus because the first one fills up before your portion of the line gets there.
While some people complain about waiting on a bus, I use the opportunity to relax. I've never waited more than 20 minutes for a bus at any Disney resort but I've heard complaints from others who say they've waited longer. During busy seasons in Disney there's usually a Disney employee at the bus stop with a phone talking to someone at the dispatch station and making sure the buses needed at each resort arrive.
Make sure if you're heading to a dinner reservation to give yourself enough time to get there. Ask any cast member at your resort and they'll gladly suggest how early you should leave to make sure you arrive on time.
Everyone's idea of a long wait is different. I'm pretty patient and I like the Disney bus system enough to keep using it again and again. It sure beats driving!

Changes at Pleasure Island

2008-07-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Disney recently announced that it will close 6 clubs at Pleasure Island September 28th as a part of changes it will be making to the Downtown Disney area. The changes are being made in an effort to make the Downtown Disney area more family friendly, according to published reports. Disney plans to add more restaurants and stores to that area.
While I always liked the idea of the clubs such as 8-trax, the Adventurer's Club, Comedy Warehouse, Motion and Mannequins Dance Palace and Bet Sound Stage Club, I never managed to go to them in all my trips to Disney!
Why?
We always went to Downtown Disney but when you're vacationing with children the dance clubs aren't high on the priority list. And even on our Disneymoon, we never made it to the clubs. Probably because we were so tired from spending long days in the parks, there was no time or energy left for dance clubs.
I agree that there are more restaurants needed in Downtown Disney. Aside from Captain Jack's and Fulton's Crab House, there's not much else to choose from unless it's counter service you are looking for. Even though counter service in Disney is quite different from "fast food" we get here at home, sometimes you just want a sit down restaurant.
Adding more shops is probably a good idea too. The Disney Store in Downtown Disney is always very crowded. And who wouldn't like another specialty store or two?
Still, I feel compelled to make it to at least one or two Pleasure Island clubs on my trip next month just to check them out and see what I was or wasn't missing.

I probably shouldn't compare...but I do

2008-07-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

I've noticed that when I travel to places other than Disney, I compare the hotels to the Disney resorts. Now, my husband said it's not a fair comparison, but I'm only comparing the rooms, not amenities. On a recent trip to a well-known chain hotel, we got our room key and as soon as we walked into our room my first thought was: this room is smaller than any rooms I've stayed at in Disney (even at a value resort!). Then there was the issue of drawer space in the dresser (or lack of).
While the bed had lots of pillows, it would seem the mattress had seen firmer days. It also appeared that the air conditioning didn't work but after a visit to the front desk, I found out that we must insert our room key into this digital thermostat and then it would go on. That meant, when we weren't in the room, the air conditioning wasn't on. This resulted in returning to a very stuffy room. And even then, we never managed to get the room to a comfortable temperature.
On the morning of checkout, I reminded my family to check around the room again for anything they may have left behind. This isn't Disney, they're not going to ship home my forgotten items free of charge! Nor will they give me a courtesy call to let me know what I left behind and that it will arrive shortly in the mail.
It's difficult staying in other hotels because even though I shouldn't compare them, I do.

July 4th in Disney

2008-06-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

Disney has fireworks every night of the year but they step it up a couple notches when it's the Fourth of July. If you're planning to be there on the Fourth, just be prepared for crowds in the Magic Kingdom that usually push attendance to it's capacity. It's very common that you cannot enter the park by noon July 4th because Disney does close entrance to the park when it reaches capacity.

In July 2001 we were in Disney with the Boyertown Alumni Band. The marching unit was performing in the 3 p.m. parade in the Magic Kingdom. We were told to get into the park before 10:30 a.m. And we did. The weather was extremely hot with temperatures reaching 99 degrees. You'll also need to line up for that 3 p.m. parade extra early. When we were there, people began claiming their spots along Main Street 2 hours before the parade was scheduled.

In addition to the Alumni Band performance, an exceptional fireworks show that night was also well worth the wait.

Adding to the Disney fireworks shows is the night time lights parade called Spectromagic.

I've mentioned this parade in previous blogs but it's worth repeating. The lights in the Magic Kingdom are dimmed and then this parade - dripping in lights - spills out into the streets.

In true Disney fashion, they wow guests with this awesome parade. It's usually not scheduled every night so you'll have to check a park schedule to see when it's scheduled during your visit.

Some nights there are two performances of the parade, one just after the Wishes Fireworks and another around 11:30 p.m.

E-mail me your questions!

2008-06-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

I'm going to answer a couple questions I recently had e-mailed to me from readers. One reader asked if it's worth it to get Disney's Photopass. My answer was yes!
When you enter any of the parks in Disney you'll likely see a Photopass Photographer somewhere near the entrance taking pictures. You can walk up to one of the photographers and get a card with a bar code on it and then all the pictures you have taken by the Disney Photopass Photographers will go onto that card. Before leaving Disney you can go to the camera shop in the Magic Kingdom and view all the pictures taken and even add the photos you've taken to a CD.
Now there's 2 ways you can do this. First is to buy the Photopass CD which costs about $100. That allows you the rights to reprint your Disney photos as you wish when you get home. The other way is to take the card home with you, login at www.disneyphotopass.com create an account, enter the bar code number on your card and view all the pictures the Photopass Photographers took. From there you can choose to order and pay for the prints you want. The photos aren't terribly expensive ($12.75 for a 5X7) and sometimes you'll find some added features to your photos that were not there when you had the picture taken! (I'll leave the rest be a surprise).
Another question I was asked this week was from someone who was leaving for Disney this weekend and had never been there. She was looking for suggestions on what not to miss. I told her to make sure she sees the Spectromagic Parade in the Magic Kingdom. It's a parade that doesn't occur every night but on nights that it does, it's often twice. The lights are turned down and all the parade floats and characters are drenched in lights. This is a must-see in the Magic Kingdom! She had also asked about the Fast Pass system in Disney. That's the best way to get on more rides in less time. Kiosks are located near the entrance of the most popular rides. If you insert your park pass into the kiosk, it will spit out a ticket which will have a time range to come back to the ride and enter via the Fast Pass line. That line moves quickly! One quick little known secret for those using Fast Pass. You'll get a time range to return to the ride. If it's after the end time on the ticket, my experience has been that they will still allow you in the Fast Pass line right through the end of the day! But don't try to go in before the time starts, they watch it and monitor it to the minute. A cast member is posted at the entrance to the Fast Pass line.
I'm sure there are other questions out there and if you have one, feel free to e-mail me at disneydiva1@gmail.com

A Disney Princess in training

2008-06-17T03:59:00.000-07:00

Disney makes it easy to take babies on vacation. Although I never took my daughters when they were that young, I find myself looking at my 4-month-old granddaughter wondering when we'll take her. My family speculates that I will have her there before she's 2. She already has a Disney wardrobe and a plethora of Disney items around our house to look at. She hears Disney all the time since it's the name of our black lab. She received her first set of mouse ears on one of her first visits to the Disney Store. And everyone in our house has speculated on how cute it will be to see her reaction to Disney World for the first time.
I haven't quite figured out how 6 of us will stay in Disney. It would have to be a suite, villa or vacation club resort in order to accommodate all of us. Having a small kitchen with a refrigerator and a microwave would definitely be helpful with a little one. And you definitely need a resort that's close to the parks so it's convenient to go back for her nap.
Then there are all the things we don't do in Disney now because the girls are 15, 17 and 23. Now we'll have to include Toontown, the Bippidy Bobbidy Boutique, more time in Fantasyland, character meet and greets and autographs!
But accommodating families with babies is something Disney does well.
Baby stations are located in all four theme parks. They have a breastfeeding room, rocking chairs, high chairs, and smaller bathrooms for those little ones. If you don't bring your own stroller, you can rent one in any of the parks. The strollers are convenient so that children as old as 6 can sit in them when their little legs get tired.
When you wait in line for a ride it's usually in a building that is air conditioned. Many of the buses are handicap accessible so if you have a sleeping infant in a stroller, you don't have to disturb them to fold up the stroller for the bus ride. Disney transportation system is very efficient so if you need to get back to your resort quickly, you can.
So although the jury is still out on when our little Princess Arianna will make her Disney Debut, I know when we arrive, they'll be ready for us!

Airline changes for summer travel

2008-06-13T03:31:00.000-07:00

If you've already purchased airline tickets for your Disney vacation you might be relatively unaffected by the most recent changes some airlines made because of rising fuel costs.
American Airlines and US Airways just made changes that include a $15 charge for the first checked bag. United had already made the change. Previously, US Air allowed one bag per passenger and charged an additional $25 for an extra bag. US Airways passengers have until July 9th to purchase tickets without enduring the charge.
And if you think you might get thirsty on your US Airways flight, you'd better have some cash on hand.
The airline will no longer have complimentary drinks on its flights. Sodas are $2 and acoholic beverages are $7.
Finding deals on flight may also be harder now. And they can be found but most likely you will have to fly on the less than desirable flights. Those are the ones where you fly out later in the evening and have a return flight scheduled for the inconvenient time of 6:30 or 7 a.m.
Remember when booking your return home flight if using Disney's Magical Express, that the service will transport you from your resort to the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight time. This means if you schedule that 7 a.m. return flight, you'll be catching your Magical Express bus around 4 a.m.!
I try to book my flight to Orlando early in the morning and my return trip home in the evening giving me extra time in the parks on my arrival and departure day. But there's a price to pay for that too. I either have to get up at 3 a.m. for the airport and then I'm tired by mid-afternoon or I pay to stay in a hotel near the airport the night before and get a couple extra hours of sleep. I usually choose the latter. Despite the additional cost, I have to pay to park my car for the week anyway.

Let's do the Math

2008-06-10T03:47:00.000-07:00

There are many people still under the impression that it's cheaper to spend a week at the beach than to go on a Disney vacation. I maintain that depending on how and when you vacation, the expense can be very similar and even less, when all the costs are tabulated.
Granted, if you're driving to the beaches in Delaware or Jersey, you're not going to spent the same as I will for an airline ticket. But the costs of lodging, eating out and entertainment at the shore might just put you right up there!
Yes, you can go to the shore and rent a house/condo and cook your meals all week and save a lot. But let's say you don't cook and you eat all your meals out.

Here's my comparison based on staying 7 nights:

Disney Value Resort: $82/night
Beach condo: $200/night (Myrtle Beach)
Disney Meals for 4: $0 (Aug. free dining)
Beach Meals for 4: $1,100
airline tickets: $800
Beach trip Gas: $320
Disney park tickets: $1,200
Myrtle Beach Dixie Stamped: $200
Disney transportation to/from airport: $0
Myrtle Beach Water park: $200
Myrtle Beach Miniature Golf: $60
Myrtle Beach Aquarium: $120
Myrtle Beach Car trip check-up: $75
Myrtle Beach Total: $3,225
Disney trip total: $2,574

These numbers are based on actual expenses from our Myrtle Beach 2005 trip and our Disney 2004 trip. Free dining has been offered in Disney in certain weeks in August for the past 4 years, so if you can go during those last few weeks of August, you can have all your meals free!
Even if you go to Disney and there's not free dining, we've calculated our food expenses for 2 adults and 2 teens to be about $900 for the week. That pushes the cost higher than the beach trip, but not by much!

Disney water parks

2008-06-04T03:39:00.000-07:00

If you're heading to Disney this summer, expect crowds at both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Who wouldn't want to spend the day wet when the temperatures are soaring well into the 90's?
I've found a couple ways to fend off some of the crowds. First, we never go to the water parks on the weekends. Locals who have annual passes often go at that time adding to the crowds.
Disney resort guests get the added benefit of being admitted every day into the water parks at 9 a.m. while everyone else has to wait till 10 a.m. Add to that the fact that many people won't get up early because they were out late, and you have very low crowd levels at both water parks early in the morning. Many people choose to hit the parks in the morning and head to the water parks in the afternoon. I reverse that and head to the water parks in the morning and get on all the popular rides multiple times before the big crowds arrive. Then when it starts getting full, we head to the lazy river or the wave pool. We usually have lunch in the water park and by early afternoon when the crowds peak, I'm wrapping up my water park day. This also allows us to escape the ever-popular afternoon thunderstorm that's a regular occurrence in Florida during the summer months. Disney has an elaborate radar system that is used to determine how close to the parks (and resort swimming pools also) lightning is striking. Disney takes no chances when it comes to thunderstorms and lightning and acts quickly to get guests out of the water until the storm passes.
Both water parks have their own unique highlights and I wouldn't recommend one over the other. I always try to get to both parks when there during the warm weather.

It's A Small World

2008-05-30T03:21:00.000-07:00

It's definitely a small world after all and I'm not just talking about the ride in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.
You know how sometimes you go somewhere and run into people you know from home? Well it becomes down right ironic when it happens multiple times.
The first time this happened, we were at the check in counter at Philadelphia International Airport. I heard a voice call my teenage daughter Kelly's name and say "Hi." My first thought was: Who here would know my daughter?
It was her Math teacher, his wife (who is her guidance counselor) and their daughter. It turned out, they were headed to Walt Disney World too. And not only that, they were on our plane and sitting right behind us! Fast forward to the following summer. Just before school lets out, Kelly sees her math teacher and guidance counselor and tells them we're going to Disney again. Ironically, so are they! This time they weren't on our plane however we were there during the same week and at the same resort.
So this year Kelly is graduating from high school. She doesn't ask for a BMW for graduation (thankfully!), she asks for a trip to Disney one more time before starting college. So we make our plans to go and of course, she checks in with her teacher and guidance counselor to see if they're going too...and guess what? They are!
While our weeks don't quite align (we're leaving Disney one day after their arrival), we have to laugh at the irony of it all.
And it's not just that family we've run into that we know while vacationing in Disney. A couple years ago we were in Disney Quest when my husband saw someone he knew that worked at one of The Mercury's sister papers.
While on our honeymoon, my husband and I were talking to the cast member at the gift shop at our resort and learned that she was good friends with someone my husband knew here in PA. Then there was the bus ride to the parks last year where we got to talking to people and found out that we both knew some of the same people from the Boyertown area.
Now I think we've gone beyond coincidences and can truly say: It's A Small World after all!

The wickedly crowded weeks in Disney

2008-05-27T03:35:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost here and everyone is thinking about vacation so I have to tell you what weeks in Disney are on my list of "when NOT to go."
July 4th week is number one. My family vacationed there during that week in 2001. On the Fourth, we had to get to the Magic Kingdom early because it was rumored that the park reaches capacity early in the day and then they no longer allow entrance. And that's exactly what happened. The temperature was well into the upper 90's, lines were extra long. We needed to stay for the 3 p.m. parade to watch my husband in the Boyertown Alumni Band march down Main Street in the parade. Well worth the heat and crowds to see :)
The week of Thanksgiving is another busy week in Disney with families taking advantage of the extra days off school so their children don't miss an entire week of school.
Another week I avoid Disney is the week of Christmas. While the weeks leading up to it are quite pleasant, I understand that week is at least as crowded as July 4th.
A lot of people say summers are crowded. I say it depends on when in the summer you go. I've been there in June, July and August and I'm headed back this summer again. I'm another parent who would prefer not taking the kids out of school for an entire week during the school year.
Last summer we were there at the end of June and it was not overly crowded. The crowds in early December were also bearable.
This year will be our third trip in the month of August and while I'll admit it is hot, we take advantage of the fact that many of the schools in the southern states are back in session in early August, freeing up the parks for us northerners.
Holiday weekends are another time to avoid since many locals go to the parks during that time.
The water parks are busiest on the weekends and the Magic Kingdom is busiest on Saturday, the day most people arrive and the park they usually visit first.