Eden's First trip to Disney World!

Things to know:
YOU ARE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!

·                     Dining Reservations must be canceled 24 hours in advance or you will be charged $10 per person if you don't show. It is okay to be late as long as some of the group shows up!

·                     Quick Service is not a reservation so you can go somewhere else to eat!

·                     FastPass+ : You can arrive 5 min early and 5 min late and they will still let you ride!

·                     If you miss a FP+ attraction you won't be charged but you won't get an extra one.

·                     After you use the 3 FP+, you can go to a FP+ kiosk to get another but "the pickings are slim".

·                     Every time you enter a park you will have to go through a bag check line.

·                     You must park the stroller in designated stroller parking areas when you are going into a restaurant, ride, show, or meet and greet (with some exceptions).

Friday
Fly in and have the Magical Express take you to the Caribbean resort! Check in at the lobby and go explore! Go to the line that says Online Check In - You did check in online and chose to be near each other!
Take the bus to Downtown Disney and do some shopping and sightseeing!

Dinner at 5 PM  at Rainforest Cafe at DownTown Disney!

Saturday
Magic Kingdom!

Park opening show starts at: 7:35 AM
**Get a picture in front of Cinderella's Castle -ASK FOR MAGIC SHOT & scan Amber's magic band!

FP+                          

1.                  Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 9:35-10:35AM

2.                  Space Mountain 10:55-11:45AM

3.                  Peter Pan's Flight 1:30-2:30 PM

Meet Rapunzel & Cinderella (fairy tale hall)

Ride Buzz Light Year Ranger Spin

Ride Winnie the Pooh
Meet Ariel

Ride Under the Sea- Little Mermaid ride
Ride Barnstormer 
Ride Dumbo

Meet Daisy Duck & Minnie Mouse
Meet Goofy & Donald Duck
Mad Tea Party (spinning tea cups)

Eat LUNCH at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe (burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken) or Tortuga Tavern (quick Mexican).

Ride Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Monster's Inc Laugh Floor

If Eden is cranky, now is the time to go take a nap! The others can stay and ride Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mt, Splash Mountain

If Eden isn't tired:

At 2 PM, sit facing the castle on the sidewalk. Watch Dream Along with Mickey, and stay there until the Festival of Fantasy Parade! (Have someone run to Plaza Ice Cream Parlor or Main Street Bakery while they wait). IT WILL BE HOT! Look at the map to see the parade route. If you can find a place in the shade with a view of Main Street.

*** stay there until parade ends around 4. Don't leave after the show! The parade will come by later and you'll lose your spot! Watch Festival of Fantasy Parade at 3 PM! 

Watch Mickey's Philharmagic

Splash Mountain

Haunted Mansion

Meet characters

Dinner at the Contemporary at 7 PM at Chef Mickeys! Exit Magic Kingdom and Take the resort monorail to the Contemporary! Start leaving MK at 6! Take a picture by Chef Mickey statue with the professional photographer while you wait on your table. Scan Amber's Magic Band!
Take the monorail back to MK and take the bus to the resort or stay awhile!

Magic Kingdom closes at 3 AM if anyone wants to stay and ride the roller coasters! There won't be any lines! -Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain.

Sunday
EPCOT
Park opens at 9 AM
Eat with princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at 10:35 AM! 
FP+                   

1.                  Mission Space 3:35-4:35 PM (Go green for easy or orange for sick)

2.                  Soarin' 5:20-6:20 PM (DON’T MISS THIS!!!)

3.                  Turtle Talk with Crush 6:35-7:35 PM (Nemo before or after this! and make the adults go to this too! Eden will sit in the front with other kids)

Meet Belle 11 AM (FRANCE)
Meet Alice 11:30 AM (United Kingdom)
Meet Mary Poppins 12 PM (UK)
Meet Aladdin & Jasmine 12:45 (Morocco)
Meet Mulan 2 PM (China)
Meet Donald Duck (Mexico)
Ride Gran Fiesta Tour (inside Mexico's Temple)
Meet Duffy the Disney bear 3:10 PM

Ride Soarin'

Ride Living with the Land
Ride Journey into the Imagination with Figment

RideThe seas with Nemo & Friends
Show: Turtle Talk with Crush
Ride Test Track (sorry Amber)

Ride Mission space: Mars (intense, Sorry Amber)
Ride Ellen's Energy Adventure (This is  a 45 minute slow ride)

Ride Spaceship Earth (the big ball- This is a long ride)

Dinner at : Electric Umbrella (burgers, fries, chicken) or different quick service at countries (Chinese, Mexican, American, etc.)

Illuminations at: 9 PM. Best viewing locations: Entrance to world showcase, France, UK, Italy...

Monday
Animal Kingdom!

Opens at 9 AM
FP+                               

1.                  Kilimanjaro's Safari 9:45 - 10:45 AM

2.                  Expedition Everest 11:05 AM-12:05 PM (J & H)

3.                  Meet Mickey & Minnie 1:10-2:10 PM (No J&H)

4.                  Kali River Rapids 2:40-3:40 PM (you will get soaked! wear poncho)

Run to Kilimanjaro's Safari (you have Fastpass)

Then walk the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Meet Daisy Duck
Meet Pocahontas
Meet Donald Duck
Ride Dinosaur (super jerky & LOUD!)- Amber might sit  this one out..
The Boneyard (if Eden needs to burn some energy!)
Meet Dug & Russel (From the movie UP)

LUNCH at Flame Tree BBQ or any quick service (pizzafari)

Watch the 1 PM show of Finding Nemo the Musical (arrive 20 min early)

Walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek
Watch Flights of Wonder
Meet Baloo & King Louie (jungle book)
Watch It's Tough to Be a Bug ( can be done anytime)

Watch Festival of the Lion King 5 PM show (arrive at 4:45 or sooner)

Go take a nap or ride the bus to:
Hollywood Studios!

Watch Beauty and the Beast
Dinner at quick service at ABC Commissary (burgers, fries, sandwiches, chicken strips, etc)

Fantasmic at 9 PM if you aren't tired (this is the best night show!!)

Tuesday
Magic Kingdom! Meet Aladdin & Jasmine

Opens at 9 AM

Get to the parks before your reservation time

Amber, Brock, and Eden eat breakfast at 10:05 AM at Cinderellas Royal Table inside Cinderellas Castle!

FP+                               

1.           Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 11:15-12:15

2.           Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin 1:30-2:30 PM

3.           Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 3:15-4:15 PM (J&H)

4.           Meet Anna and Elsa 4:30-5:30 PM (No J&H)

Ride Jungle Cruise
Ride Magic Carpets (flying carpets)
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean
Meet Woody & Jessie
Ride Splash Mt

LUNCH ?

Ride It's a Small World
Ride Haunted Mansion
Show: Frontier Hoedown
Show: Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial
Ride Hall of Presidents
Ride Enchanted Tiki Room

Bippity Boppity Boutique at 3 PM!

Meet Anna & Elsa (fastpass 4:30)

Meet Merrida (Brave)
Meet Rapunzel & Cinderella (fairy tale hall)

Meet Tinker Bell

Meet peter pan and wendy

Electrical parade at 9 PM and then Wishes Fireworks at 10 PM

Wednesday
Water Park!!
Typhoon Lagoon opens at 10 AM and closes at 6 PM!

Do not miss:

Crush n Gusher 

Bay Slides

Humunga Kowanunga

Shark Reef

Go to Downtown Disney to shop or go to Disney Quest or play mini golf (included on your tickets)

Catch the bus form Downtown Disney to Disneys Yacht Club Resort at 6:30 or before

Dinner at 7:30 PM at Yachtsman Steakhouse (Disney's Yacht Club Resort) 

Thursday
Hollywood Studios!

Opens at 9 AM
Breakfast at 10:10 AM at Hollywood and Vine with Disney Jr characters like Sofia, Jake, and Doc McStuffins!

FP+                                 

1.                  Star Tours the Adventures Continue 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM (J&H)

2.                  For the 1st time in forever - frozen singalong 11:05 -11:20 AM (everyone except J&H)

3.                  Tower of Terror (J&H) 3:00-4:00 PM

4.                  Voyage of the Little mermaid 3:10-3:25 PM (No J&H)

Meet baymax & Hiro

Watch the Citizens on sunset blvd

Ride the Great Movie Ride

Meet Beauty and the Beast

Watch Beauty and the Beast (if you missed it before)


Lunch at Pizza Planet or ABC Commissary (quick service).

Dinner- quick service

Fantasmic at 9 PM if you missed it the other day

Friday
Magic Kingdom!

Opens at 9 AM!
Last day so do your favorite things!
Breakfast at 'Ohana - Disney's Polynesian Resort at 9:40 AM. Take the bus to MK then the resort monorail to the Polynesian!

FP+                                 

1. Jungle Cruise 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (J&H only)
2. Enchanted Tales with Belle 11:10-12:10 (No J&H)
3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 12:55 - 1:55 PM
4. Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade 2:45 - 3:05 PM (special seating with FP!!)

Saturday
Time to leave :(

Disney World: Step by step

I have received many messages the past few days from newbies about where to begin planning a trip! I end up messaging them back an enormous amount of information- and some links. It occured to me that I could avoid repeating the basics if I updated my post on it!

Step 1: count your money and make a Disney World budget! On-site rooms go for an average of $100-900 per night! 

Step 2: Make a My Disney Experience account on the Disney World website and order the free Disney Planning DVD (if you can't find the link, you can google it and it's the first result)

Step 3 Talk to your family and watch the dvd together. Decide what resort you want to book and what time of the year. Avoid holidays! Spring break isn't terrible. Thanksgiving, July 4th, and Christmas- New Years is pretty hectic! End of September, October, early November, first week of December, end of January, all of February, April, and early May - that is the best time to go because of low crowds. Google Disney World Crowd Calendar for better dates

Step 4  Join the Facebook Group - Walt Disney World Tips, News, and Fun Facts. Stalk that page! You can ask questions. It is run by a free travel agency that specifically works on WDW vacations! Phil Marino is the head so you can message him personally! Or you can just comment on this post and I will help you personally!

Step 5  Calculate whether it is better to do a package with room and tickets, or if it is better to just book a room and buy tickets separately from Undercover Tourist. Military get discounted rooms and tickets. 

Step 6  call Disney World or book your rooms online! OR have a travel agent like myself book it for you!

Step 7  if you chose to stay on Disney property then you will need to look at the Extra Magic Hours! You will want to get up early or stay out late and use the extra park hours to do more attractions! If you aren't staying at a Disney resort (there's a nice Wynham Bonnet Creek or Holiday Inn) then you will need to avoid the extra magic hours. The hours are posted on the Disney World website and on the My Disney Experience smartphone app! 

Make a itinerary using the magic hours. 

Step 8  now that you know what days you will be in each park, you need to decide what dining reservations you want! Children of all ages love Character dining like 1900 Parke Fare, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, Chef Mickey's, Cinderellas Royal Table, O'Hana, etc! You can explore each choice on the Disney world website. Be aware that some characters only show up for breakfast or dinner. 

Step 9  Call Disney World at 6 AM Eastern time zone at 180 days out from your check-in day and you can book the whole week's dining reservations! You can do it online but only one day at a time. 

Step 10  Order free Disney World park maps and make a list of must-do attractions for your family. Then decide which days you will try to do those. When it is 60 days out, at midnight Eastern time zone - You can book your FastPass+ attractions (only 30 days out if you don't stay on Disney Property) 

Some attractions that go fast: Meet Anna and Elsa, 7 Dwarf Mine Train, Festival of Fantasy parade, and Toy Story Mania

If you are a group larger than 6 people, it will be harder to find FP+ if you don't stay up "til the clock strikes midnight"!

*Note: you just have your tickets linked to your My Disney Experience account 

Step 11  Start packing for your vacation and enjoy! 

Review of Art of Animation Lion King Suite

Art of Animation - Lion King Family Suite

Last week (Thanksgiving), I had the pleasure of staying at AOA! - the newest value resort in Walt Disney World!

It was wonderful. 4 adults, 1 preteen, and 1 toddler. All 3 beds were super comfortable! The layout of the suite was great. The decor was so detailed! Each had their own area to store clothes. 

The location of Lion King building 10 was great for us! It was close to the buses, the food court, and the big Nemo pool! 

One bathroom is a shower and the other is a tub/shower combination. The kitchenette was great. Enough space for our milk and water bottles in the fridge. The freezer was just okay. There was no way to control the fridge/freezer temporature (water bottles only half frozen after being in the freezer all night).

Outside our window was the elephant graveyard along with Timon and Pumba. You could almost see Simba with them. 

Parking is a short 40 second walk. There is a loading area in front. The problem: no center front door. You had to walk to the side doors or around to the other side. 

We walked over to the Cars area and it made you feel like you were in Radiator Springs! 
It has a pool but we only swam in the Big Blue Pool (Nemo). 

Everything considered, I give it 4 stars for a value resort! It beats the other value resorts (All star & Pop) by a long shot! 

My Top 5 Tips for Walt Disney World

My Top 5 Tips for vacationing in Walt Disney World:

1. Do your research! Google is your friend. Make a free My Disney Experience online account. Order the free WDW maps. Order the free WDW vacation DVD. Visit Kenny the Pirates website!
2. Use every discount you can! If you have a Annual Pass - show that everywhere you buy food or other items! If you have a Disney Chase credit card - show that everywhere and use it (and the rewards) to buy your Disney stuff! Call Disney to see if there is a discount on your room reservation!
3. Bring your own food/snacks and water bottles! And split meals where the portions are big!
4. Buy memory maker if you want the attraction photos & videos and Disney photopass photos!
5. Do not visit WDW during the summer... just don't! Super hot and super crowded!
6. - BONUS - Book your sit-down dining reservations 180 days out by calling Disney & Book your FastPass+ rides 60 days out!

Family of 4 - 2 adults 2 children

Hey family of 4! - this could also be family of 3...

So you want to go to Walt Disney World???? 

Well how much savings do you have to spend on ONE vacation?? Probably not that much.... And that is okay!!

1

First things first... If you have decent credit, get a Disney rewards Chase credit card. Yes, the one with the annual membership fee- but don't worry! The fee is only around $50 but you won't have to pay it the first year-- why?? Because they run marketing promotionals ALL THE TIME! The one I snagged last spring was - spend $500 in 3 months, get $200 credit! That covered the $50 fee plus some of my groceries! There current promo is get $100 credit after 3 months.

With this credit card, you get 1% or 2% back on every purchase! And that goes to a Disney gift card that will help pay for your Disney vacation! 

2

Next.... 

Start planning your vacation atleast 12 months in advance. I actually start planning mine 14 months in advance. 

If you have to work around the academic school year- go in December. Leave THE DAY the school lets out! 

If you can go anytime - go in September right after Labor Day! It will be hot, but the crowds are so low, it could be a ghost town! 

Order FREE Disney planning DVD from Disney.com and order FREE Disney World customizable maps! 

3

Make a My Disney Experience account! - online and free. Then explore your dates and resort/ticket options. The prices do change! 

Order free customized maps of each park and order free planning dvd!
You will use this account to book your resort also!

4
Play around with dates and resort hotels. Do you want a value resort because you don't want to spend your savings all on one WDW trip? Can you afford a moderate or deluxe resort?
When I go to Disney, I spend 90% of my time in the parks, the rest shopping and then sleeping in the room. So I am fine with a value like Art of Animation! That is actually where we are staying for my next trip!
There are several non-Disney hotels on Disney Property like Wyndham Bonnet Creek - I stayed there my last trip! Fabulous and you can request rooms to watch the fireworks at night. The downside of not staying at a Disney resort hotel is no free parking, free transportation, and no Extra Magic Hours. 

Extra Magic Hours are only for Disney resort guests and they happen everyday. Sometimes twice a day! They are posted online under Park Hours. Example: Magic Kingdom opens at 9 AM to everyone, but they have Extra Magic Hours from 8-9 AM. If you are staying at a Disney resort hotel, then you get an hour or more in the parks before everyone else.

Explore different ticket types: Park hopper vs. Single park per day. Will you be making 2 trips this year? Buy an annual pass! Do you have a child under 3? They don't need a ticket!

5
Look for discounts and book your hotel reservation and buy your tickets!
Buy your Disney tickets at Undercover Tourist unless you are buying an Annual Pass.

6
180 days out make your sit down dining reservations!
60 days out make your FastPass+ attractions!


If you are confused about somethings I said, please check out my disney world newbie post! It goes into more details about everything!

Now let's talk money:

4 Day park pass at undercover tourist.com is $349.75 for 10+ and $330.80 for 3-9 years.
A 7 day 6 night stay at All Star Movies is $771.79
A 7 Day 6 night stay at Art of Animation Little Mermaid: $974.25
A 7 Day 6 night stay at AOA in Cars, Lion King, or Nemo is $2293.88
Memory Maker is $149

Keep in mind, about 80-100 days out, Disney releases discounts of 15%, 20%, 30%, or 35% off.

(These figures include tax and shipping)

FastPass+ - What to select for YOUR family!

Don't get ripped off by selecting the attractions that never have a wait to use as your FP+ selections! You only get to pre-select 3 for each day!

Once you have used up all 3, you may choose another one by using the FP+ Kiosk!

If you have younger children who don't want the big rides (ages 6 and younger):

MK:                                                    AK:                    
1 Peter Pan's Flight                             1 Kilimanjaro Safari
2 Enchanted Tales with Belle               2  It's Tough to be a Bug
3 Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin              3 Festival of the Lion King

 EPCOT:                                              Hollywood Studios:
1 Soarin'                                               1 Toy Story Midway Mania
2 Turtle Talk with Crush                        2 Disney Jr Live
3 Journey into Imagination Figment        3 Muppets in 3D

If your party is mostly 8 years + then:

MK:                                                    AK:                  
1 Seven Dwarfs Mine Train                 1 Kilimanjaro Safari
2 Space Mountain                               2  Expedition Everest
3 Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin              3 Festival of the Lion King

 EPCOT:                                              Hollywood Studios:
1 Soarin'                                               1 Rockin' Roller Coaster
2 Maelstrom                                         2 Toy Story Midway Mania
3 Mission: Space                                  3 Tower of Terror

So You Booked Your Disney Trip! What's Next?

How to make your own itinerary! 

This is EXACTLY how I make mine and how I make them for my friends!

1 - Look at the park hours for EACH day that you will be there! If you are staying on Disney property, then USE THE EXTRA MAGIC HOURS for each day!! I can't stress that enough! That is what you will use to plan the rest of your vacation. You will get up early and go to the park that opens early for you, and you will park hop (if you have park hopper tickets) to the park that is open late!

2 - Once you have decided what parks you will go to on what days, book your dining reservations!  If you only want quick service, go ahead and look at the ones that would interest you. LOOK AT THE MENUS! Each menu is posted on the WDW website!

       If you don't have a meal plan, book character meals for breakfasts. If you have a day that has no early morning EMH, then eat breakfast at a Disney resort hotel (example: Chef Mickeys or 'Ohana or 1900 Park Fare)
       If you are NOT staying in a Disney Resort Hotel, then you will want to AVOID the parks that have EMH on the days you are there.

3 - After booking you dining, study the park maps and look at the wait times for the rides as the day goes on. - This could be confusing. I mean months in advance, look at the wait times that are happening right now to decide what rides you will need to do early and what rides you need to book FP+ for. You can book FP+ 60 days prior to your first day if you are staying on Disney Property!

Right now (July 14, 2014 at 9 AM - the wait times for MK:
         Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is 75 Min Wait - This tells me you need a FP+
         Peter Pan's Flight is 65 Min Wait - again you need a FP+
         All 3 Mt. are over 60 Min wait - ride early or grab FP+

4 - Book you FP+ at midnight 60 days in advance! Get all morning times if you can! Don't use any night time shows or parades for it! (Exception: after you have used all of you FP+ in Hollywood Studios, I do advise that you get Fantasmic as your LAST FP+)

See my FP+ selections on my FP+ post!

5 - once you have selected your FP+ attractions for the whole family, study the park maps and wait times to map out what rides you will do when. 

    Example:

          In Magic Kingdom, we always arrive 30 min before park opens. We ride the train to Frontierland and ride Big Thunder Mountain RR 4-6 times before there is a wait. Then we walk around to either Libertyland (Haunted Mansion) or Adventureland (Pirates of the Caribbean, Flying Carpets) and then to Fantasyland (Winnie the Pooh, Small World, Walk through Beast's Castle, Little Mermaid) and on to the Circus for Dumbo, Barnstormer, etc. Then we will go to Tomorrowland to Space Mt, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, etc. All along the way we will use our FP+. 

           So with this example, I would get a FP+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 1st, Peter Pan 2nd, and Space Mt 3rd. So as I walk through each land, I would ride those while I was there. 

6 - Double check and make sure Disney has not changed the Park hours and EMH for the days you will be there! That does happen!

7 - Have a Magic Trip!

****If you need help, please comment and I will answer any questions! I would LOVE to help you make an itinerary!