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! 

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2014

Dates:

November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, & 30
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, & 19

All of the dates above are sold out except: 
November: 10,13,14, 16, 20, 21
December: 2,4,9

Castle Dream Lights	6:15
Celebrate the Season Show	7:45
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show	7:45
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade	8:15
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show	8:45
Holiday Wishes	9:30
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show	9:55
Celebrate the Season Show	10:05
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade	10:30
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show	10:50
Celebrate the Season Show	11:20
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show	11:45
Cosmic Ray’s Dance Party	7:00-12:00
Woody’s Happy Harvest Roundup Dance Party

Updated: what to bring to Disney World!

The usual stuff:

Clothes

Toiletries

Swim suits

Phone chargers

Water bottles

Very little jewelry!

Cameras

Camera batteries

Camera memory cards

Camera chargers

Travel activities

Ziplock bags

Laptops

Ink pens

Hand sanitizer

The Disney Stuff:

Autograph books!

Dollar store glow wands, crowns, necklaces, bracelets,

Mickey Mouse hats

Trading pins

Backpack or drawstring bag

Disney tickets/magic bands

Disney stuffed toys

Child costumes & accessories

Glitter hairspray (for girls)

What to buy from Disney World:

Memory Maker 4 days in advance ($150)

Meals (you can bring your own food and drinks)

Snacks

Melissa & Jason's Disney Trip

Are you ready for Disney World!?

Of Course you are! So.... I have created an itinerary just for you!
Below is each day's Extra Magic Hours along with what park you should go to! Soon, I'll add each day's full schedule!

5 adults & 3 Children
Staying on Disney Property at All Star Music Resort
5 day tickets at Disney World! - with park hopper!
And Plus Dining plan!

Itinerary for the week: 

* items are bonus!

Wednesday - Check in after 3 and relax.

Ask clerk about going to Walmart since you don't have a car.
Downtown Disney if you arrived early - to shop, look around, and take pictures! Santa will be there! Look for gingerbread house.

Dinner at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort's 1900 Park Fare at 8:10 PM --(Cinderella, Step Sisters, evil step mother) (autograph books!)

(Take a bus to MK around 6:45 and then take another bus to Grand Floridian. Arrive early  so you can walk around!!)

At 9 PM the water parade starts! 

Downtown Disney - Festival of the Seasons (Meet Santa)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday - Magic Kingdom! 

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS: 7-8 AM
Arrive by 6:40 AM to see the opening ceremony! (If you miss it, no biggie) 

Get a picture as soon as you get close enough to the castle! There will be 5 photographers down Main Street! Scan Jason's band 

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in FantasyLand

Peter Pan's Flight

Under the Sea- Little Mermaid ride

Space Mountain in Tomorrowland
**Get a picture in front of Cinderella's Castle -ASK FOR MAGIC SHOT

FastPass+                           

---Big Thunder Mt RR  9:20 AM                    
---Space Mountain 10:35 AM
---Enchanted Tales with Belle 11:35 AM

Ride buzz Lightyear space ranger spin Lunch in Magic Kingdom at Tortuga Tavern (quick service) for Jason+3 and Be Our Guest for 4 -Melissa! Under Jason's name 12:45 PM) *** look at ticket for coupon!
Watch Mickey's Philharmagic
Mad Tea Party (spinning tea cups)

Winnie the Pooh* 

At 2 PM, sit facing the castle at Walt and Mickey statue. Watch Dream Along with Mickey, and stay there until the Festival of Fantasy Parade! (Have kids run to Plaza Ice Cream Parlor or Main Street Bakery while they wait) 

*** 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! 

Park hop to Hollywood Studios 
-- Go to FP+ Kiosk and see what you can get. 
Get picture in front of  Sorcerer's Hat
Grab a Park map and Time sheet!
Watch Beauty and the Beast Live
Get picture in front of Tower of Terror (ask for magic shot!)

--Go to FP+ Kiosk and get Fantasmic (latest showing)!

Watch Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show*

Watch Voyage of the Little Mermaid 

(Make the guys watch it too!)
Watch Muppet Vision 3D*

Meet Woody and Buzz*

Dinner in Hollywood Studios at ABC COMMISSARY (quick service) *** look at ticket for coupon!!

Go to back of park to see Osbourne's Spectacle of Dancing Lights!

Watch Fantasmic! at 8 PM (Watch the crowd because they will let FP+ people in early!)

Go to bed!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday  - Animal Kingdom! 
Take bus to AK! Park opens at 9 AM! So get on bus at 8:30
**Get a times sheet and plan the time for Nemo the musical & Festival of the Lion King**

FastPass+:                              

---Dinosaur 9:05 AM - 10:10 AM

---Expedition Everest (This goes backwards!) 10:05 AM - 11:10 AM
---Kilimanjaros Safari 11:05 AM - 12:10 AM

Run to Expedition Everest first! You'll ride it again at 10:05 with FP+ (you might get sick)
then continue to Dinoland for your Dinosaur FP+
Walk back towards the front of the park to have a family picture in front of the Tree of Life!
--Ask for a Magic Shot!
Go watch It's Tough to be a Bug
Meet Doug and Russel (Movie UP characters)
Walk over to Asia to ride Expedition Everest with FP+ at 10:05

Meet Pocahontas by the Tree
Walk to Africa to ride Kilimanjaro Safari (have your camera ready!) with FP+ 11:05

Lunch in Animal Kingdom at Tusker House (Donald Duck) at 12:50

Go watch Finding Nemo the Musical
Ride Primeval Whirl* (This spins and goes up and down at same time)
Meet Mickey & Minnie (they are in christmas outfits!) 
Watch Festival of the Lion King
Meet Rafiki
Meet Jungle Book characters

Meet Pocahontas (By the Tree of life) if you didnt earlier

Park hop to EPCOT - EXTRA MAGIC HOURS: 9:30-11 PM
Get a picture as soon as you all enter!
Go to FP+ Kiosk inside EPCOT and get Test Track or Mission Space

Ride Innoventions (I think it's the one to the left when entering EPCOT)- Sum of All Thrills (make your own Roller-coaster)

Nemo ride

Turtle Talk with Crush (youngest child sit up front in the floor)
Look around the aquarium if you want to. Manatees upstairs
---Look at the wait times for Test Track and Mission Space---

Dinner in EPCOT at different countries! (quick service) ** look at ticket for coupon!!
Mexico is real mexican - not tex mex. China is good. America is good. 

Ride Mexico's Gran Fiesta Tour
Meet Mexican Donald Duck
Meet Mulan in China (Check time sheet)
Meet Snow White in Germany
Meet Belle in France (along with Marie the Aristocat and Sleeping Beauty)

Walk through each country! 
Watch the movie in France!

Japan pick a pearl $17! 

- find a castmember and verify where to go for dessert party at 7-

Illuminations Dessert party for 2 at 8:15 PM (Sorry kids! They can go to France and get a chocolate eclair or something! Or Norway horn!)

Watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at 9:30 PM
after this is over - run to ride these:
Ride Soarin'
Ride Mission: Space
Ride Test Track
Go to bed! Park closes at 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday - 
Breakfast at Chef Mickey's at Contemporary resort at 7:20 AM

(Take a bus to MK and then walk to the contemporary! Leave an hour early at least!!)

After eating at Chef Mickey's - walk back over to MK and take the bus to HS!

Hollywood Studios! EXTRA MAGIC HOURS: 8-9 AM

Younger Kids go meet characters at Animation Courtyard (big hero 6)
Older kids ride Star Tours & Rockin Roller Coaster (goes upside down)

FastPass+:

---Toy Story Midway Mania 9:05 AM-10:10
---Tower of Terror 10:20 AM - 11:25
---Star Tours 11:20 AM - 12:25

Skip lunch and just snack because you had a big breakfast and big dinner coming! (A good snack is the giant turkey leg!)

Younger kids watch Disney Junior Live & Meet Sofia and Jake*
Older people watch Light's Motors Action: Extreme Stunt Show (If you didn't get to the first day)

Muppets 3D (if you didn't the first day)

Frozen singalong (look at times and get there way early- this isnt very good in my opinion)*

Ride Great Movie Ride
-Go to FP+ Kiosk after using All FP+

Shop! 

Dinner at Hollywood Studios at 50's Prime Time Cafe at 6:55 PM (Jason pay for his 3 girls and him)

Park hop to Magic Kingdom! EXTRA MAGIC HOURS: 1 AM- 3 AM
---Go to FP+ Kiosk inside Magic Kingdom and get Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Go Meet characters -  Peter Pan, Aladdin, Winnie the Pooh, Gaston (Compare muscles/ pushups!)
Go ride Pirates of the Caribbean
Ride Haunted Mansion
Ride It's a Small World*
Monster's Inc Laugh Floor*
Ride Tomorrowland Transit People Mover*
GO grab a seat facing the castle at the Walt and Mickey Statue around 8 PM.( look at times to verify. Things change)

Watch Wishes Fireworks and Electrical parade at night! - Don't leave until you are absolutely sure it is over! Frozen light castle, projection show, fireworks, then parade!) 
Ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train*
Ride Big Thunder Mt RR
Ride Space Mt
Ride Jungle Cruise
Ride Dumbo

Go shop on Main Street Go to bed!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday:

EPCOT: Extra Magic Hours 8-9 AM 
Ride Soarin'
Ride Test Track
Meet Characters at the Character Spot
FastPass+                                   

--- mission space 9 AM- 10:05

-- spaceship earth 10:10 AM - 11:15
 ---Soarin' 11:20 AM - 12:25

Lunch at EPCOT at Sunshine Seasons or Electric Umbrella (quick service) for Jason+3 ** look at ticket for coupon!!
Lunch for Melissa+3 at Biergarten Germany at 12! Stay for the show!

Ride Living with the Land (Jason)
Go to aquarium (Jason)
See Turltle Talk with Crush (Jason)

-Meet back up with each other Go to each country to watch show! (Chinese Acrobats, Chair guy in France, etc) - look at time sheet
Get a family picture in front of each country!

EPCOT Processional (reading of Christmas Story -Bible)! Showtimes take place at 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:15 PM. Watch the 5 PM if you can make it to America.  Arrive an hour early!

As you leave EPCOT, go to Club Cool to try FREE unlimited samples of coke products around the world! Try the Beverly! *(the Beverly tastes awful- so make the kids do it first!)

Magic Kingdom: Extra Magic Hours 1 AM- 3 AM

Dinner at Magic Kingdom Polynesian Resort at 'Ohana  9:50 PM (Take the Polynesian bus)
Go to bed!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday - 

Breakfast for 4 at Cinderella's Royal Table at Magic Kingdom at 8:30 AM

Magic Kingdom: Extra Magic Hours 7-8 AM

MK-  Fastpass+:

Seven dwarfs mine train 9:20 AM - 10:25

Enchanted tales with belle 10:15 AM  - 11:20

      (If you missed it the other day)

Meet Anna and Elsa 1:15 PM - 2:20

Monsters Inc Laugh Floor

- anything you missed!
!!! Check out when the Christmas Parade will happen!!! - I think 3:30 pm

Tomorrowland Christmas party - 3:40 & 4:40

Celebrate the Season - 4:20 & 5:20

Quick service for lunch! ** look at ticket for coupon!! 

You can go to Downtown Disney!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday - Check Out!


You can book Dining reservations right now!- Because it is over 180 days out! You may book FastPass+ 60 days out from check in day! 

You already have Memory Maker - Yay!! With that, you will get EVERY picture the disney photographers take of you and your family! (even ride attraction photos!)

Disney's All Star Music Resort

Your resort overview:
          -Awesome guitar shaped pool & a piano shaped pool! You'll see characters like Donald Duck by the pool too!
          - Enjoy a free Movie Under the Stars at the guitar pool at night!
          - Playground
          - Gaming Arcade
          - You can walk to All-Star Sports Resort & All-Star Movies Resort to take pictures with other characters!
           - Intermission Food court inside your hotel!
           - Free WiFi in your room!
           - Free Disney merchandise delivery & pickup (When you buy a souvenir in the parks - a photo or toy or clothes - instead of carrying it around the rest of the day, tell the cashier to send it to your room!)

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/all-star-music-resort/

Free parking at the resort! Free transportation to the parks! Downtown Disney is free to visit! Because you are staying on Disney Property, you will get MagicBands free! FastPass+ is free so you won't stand in those long lines! You can choose which rides you want to reserve for FastPass+ 60 days in advance! Also, you will get the special extended theme park hours every day! Only Disney Resort hotel guests get to be in the park during those hours! You can also visit the other Disney Resorts (like the more expensive ones - Animal Kingdom Lodge - for free! Each resort has free activities for Disney Guests!

Visit my Freebies posts to see what else is free at Disney!

My personal trip! 4.5 days at Disney World with 2.5 yr old boy and 7yrold girl!

This fall, I'll be taking another trip to Disney World! This time we are staying on Disney property at Art of Animation for 7 nights! It will be my mom, hubby, MIL, niece (7), and my son (2)!

Mom, hubby, and I have annual passes, so we can go to the parks everyday! My son is under 3 so he is still free to everything! MIL and Niece have 4 day park hopper. And then we all (except baby boy) have the special Christmas event tickets!

My mother-in-law has been to Disney World in the late 70s, but hasn't been back! My baby boy and niece have never been! So this trip is dedicated to those 2! 

* the Starred attractions are bonus- if we have time!*

Disney World in November!

FRIDAY

Check in resort! 

Magic Kingdom at night - Christmas party! I bought our Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets in May! I'm glad I did because this night sold out!

FP+ (4 pm-)

    --Tomorrowland speedway 4:25

     --Peter Pans Flight 3:25-4:25

    -Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin 5:25-6:25

Get photopass photographs!

Tomorrowland Peoplemover

Eat supper at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe?

-Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!!!

Get a spot in front of the castle at 7!

Celebrate the season 7:30

Watch queen Elsa light the castle at 8

Watch Christmas parade and Christmas Wishes fireworks! 8:15 

Take Family postcard for Christmas!

 Go to bed!

SATURDAY

Hollywood studios 8-9 AM- Extra Magic Hours

     -- toy story mania (Run!)

     --meet buzz and Woody

      -- Great Movie Ride

      -- meet Jake and Sofia

      -- meet Big Hero & Baymax

      -- meet lightning McQueen and Mater

Eat lunch at ABC Commissary

       -- Get picture in front of Mickeys hat and Tower of terror (ask for MAGIC SHOT!)

        -- Ride Star Tours

        -- Ride Tower of Terror

Ride bus over to MK

Magic Kingdom - FP+ (1 pm-)

       - Seven dwarfs mine train

       -Splash Mt for MIL & Niece

       -Enchanted Tales with Belle

       - Flying Carpets

Dream Along with Mickey (10:45, 11:40, 1:10, 2:05, 4:15, 5:15) 

Festival of Fantasy 3 PM

We left afterward because of the rain 

SUNDAY

Animal kingdom 7AM (extra magic hours)

   FP+

     - Kilimanjaro Safari

     - Festival of the Lion King

    - Expedition Everest (hubby, MIL, Niece, me)

     - Meet Characters

Watch Finding Nemo the Musical

Watch Festival of the Lion King

- meet Rafiki*

- Eat Lunch at Yak & Yeti or Flametree BBQ

---Get picture in front of Tree of Life! Ask for MAGIC SHOT! 

-- It's tough to be a bug!

-- Meet Pocahontas*

Park hop to Hollywood Studios:

-- get a Fastpass for a show!

    -- Watch Beauty and the Beast

    -- watch Voyage of The Little Mermaid*

    -- Watch Muppets 3D*

Get FP+ for Fantasmic!

--Go to Magic of Disney Animation to learn to draw a character! 

Eat dinner at Fairfax Fare!

--Watch Fantasmic!

--See the Osbourne Spectacle of Dancing Lights 

Go to bed!

MONDAY

Rest!! Sleep in!!

Breakfast at Chef Mickeys 10:50 AM - Late Breakfast

Pool! Nap! And Downtown Disney/walmart! 

- Take pictures in front of Legos! (DTD)

- Festival of the Seasons in DTD! 

- meet santa!

Eat Dinner at Landscape of Flavors!

Go to bed early!

TUESDAY

Magic Kingdom 7:30 AM

--Cinderella royal table for breakfast for niece and MIL (Princesses!)

--Crystal palace for breakfast for mom, hubby, son, and I (same time) (Pooh & friends!)

   ---*** Get picture BEFORE breakfast in front of Castle! (Nobody else in picture)

    -- walk through Beast's castle before 10!

    -- meet merrida  

         

Park hop to EPCOT

EPCOT -FP+

    -Test Track

    -Figment 

    -Nemo

-- Figment of your imagination 

-- turtle talk with crush

-- Aquarium

(Take son for nap)

-- Maelstrom 

-- Mexico Gran Fiesta Tour

Eat Dinner at quick service of different countries! 

--it started raining after we bought chocolate eclairs at France so we ran to the car!

WEDNESDAY

Rest Day!!

Visited other resort hotels to see Christmas Decor!

THURSDAY

Magic Kingdom extra magic 7-8 AM
FP+

- Enchanted Tales with Belle

- Meet Anna and Elsa

- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Eat lunch at BOG with FP+!

- go wherever the children want to go!

- dumbo

- Winnie the Pooh

- buzz Lightyear space ranger spin 

FRIDAY

- check out by 11!

Magic Kingdom 7 AM

- one last short run to my sons favorite park before we drive home!

Daily Disney Tip - June 24, 2014

If you are taking your children to Disney World, have them pose for pictures in EPCOT's world showcase with each country's hats! Example - Norway has Viking helmets; Mexico has sombreros; 

Another tip- ALWAYS ask the Disney photo pass photographer to do a Magic Shot!! :) 

(Google it) 

New to Disney World? - guide!

Are you new to Disney World? Hear people talking about FastPass but you don't have a clue what that is? 

First things first:

1- have you made your resort room reservation? You don't have to stay on Disney property! 

2-have you made an My Disney Experience account? Free! And download the app to your smart phone!

3- you can buy your tickets before you arrive! And it is much better if you do!

4-have you reserved your dining reservations? Only table service restaurants need reservations 180 days out

5-have you made your FastPass+ selections? You can make these 60 days out if you are staying on Disney property, or 30 days out if not!

6- have you customized your Magic Bands? You get free magic bands if you stay on Disney Property! You can choose color and put your name on it in the My Disney Experience website or smart phone app
7 - Get Memory Maker in advance!

8-have you ordered the free Disney planning guide DVD? Order on Disney website! Updates every year!

9- have you ordered the free Disney World Maps? Order on the Disney website!

1 you can call Disney or book your resort room online! 

   Choose a package with tickets, dining plan, memory maker, or just a room! 

   If you choose a package with the tickets, then you only have to pay $200 the day you book it, and then you can pay the rest off at your own time!
   If you only choose the room, then you have to pay the tax that day (around $250) and the rest is due the day you check in!
   Dining plan has quick service option, quick service or deluxe option. You get two meal credits, 1 snack credit, and 1 refillable drink credit per person per day. The quick service package is around $60 per person per day. The unused credits do roll over until the last day of you stay.
See https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/vacation-packages/2014/dining/ for more explanation.
---You DON'T have to stay on Disney Property! There are cheaper resorts available, but they might be farther away! If you do stay on Disney Property, then you get free transportation to and from the airport and to the parks! You also get free Extra Magic Hours where only the disney resort hotel guests can be in the park! - Use these Extra magic hours to make out your itinerary for your stay!
 
2  My Disney Experience account -- YOU NEED ONE ASAP! This is where you can book your Fastpass+, reserve dining, look at maps; on the smartphone app you can see each attractions wait time and find where you are on the map! You can also see what rides and characters are 'near me'! It is free to create and it is super useful! Even has a FAQ and you can chat with a Disney employee so they can answer all of your questions!

3  Buy your tickets before you arrive to Orlando!! You can purchase them at the Disney website, buy them as a package with your room, or buy them from undercover tourist -- my favorite place to buy them! always cheaper. You will have to decide how many day passes you need, and if you want a park hopper! You can't go to more than 1 park per day unless you have a park hopper. Only Disney sells annual passes and special event tickets (Mickey's not so scary Halloween party, Mickey's very merry Christmas party, Harambe nights, etc)
  You want to buy your tickets at least 60 days before your trip - prices go up every year so I buy mine as soon as I know I am going! They don't expire until you first use them at DW! Then they expire 14 days from first use - unless you buy the non-expiring tickets. You want to buy tickets before you arrive so you can link them to your My Disney Experience account and choose your FastPass+ attractions! If you wait until you arrive, all of the good FP+ selections will be taken!

4   You can get dining reservations 180 days out! If you are staying on Disney Property, you can book the whole week you are staying once the first day is 180 days out. Example, I am going in November so in May when my 180 days started, I booked the whole week (even thought the last day was 186 days out).
   Not every restaurant takes reservations - only the sit-down table service. Each Character Dining must have a reservation (character dining is where you eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and Disney characters walk around to take pictures and sign autographs for you). Character dining is the most expensive, but children love it! Best- O'hanas with Lilo and Stitch, Cinderella's Royal Table with princesses, Chef Mickey's with Mickey and Minnie, Tusker House with Donald and Daisy.
   You must have a credit card number to book your dining reservation - no charge unless you don't cancel before 24 hours out. If you don't cancel and you don't show up, then a $10 charge per person will be charged to the card.

5   Fastpass+ selections can be made 60 days out from your Disney Property hotel check in, or 30 days out if you aren't' staying on Disney Property! You may only choose 3 FP+ per day, but once you use all 3, you can go to a kiosk and select another attraction. Once that one is used, you can go back to a kiosk and select another... and so on! Last may I was able to use 8 FP+ in one day! You book FP+ through your My Disney Experience account. You must have linked your tickets to each person in order to book FP+ selections! You can book them as a group if you all want to do the same rides/shows, or you can book them separately! Once you choose your 3 attractions, you may go back and change the time of one or swap out one attraction for another! --- No penalties for missing a FP+ time! And you can arrive 5 min early!
   Magic Kingdom - get Enchanted Tales with Belle (if you have young children), Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mt, Peter Pan's Flight, Buzz Lightyear or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train! - You can also choose a FP+ for a character meet and greet (anna and elsa -Frozen)
   EPCOT- Soarin', Maelstrom, Nemo and friends, Figment, Test Track, Mission: Space, or character meet and greets!
   Hollywood Studios - Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania, Beauty and the Beast live show, Star Tours, -- Make your last FP+ at the end of the day be Fantasmic!
   Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro's Safari ride, Festival of the Lion King, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids

6   If you are staying on Disney Property or if you have an Annual Pass, you get free MagicBands! You can customize these on My Disney Experience and they will ship around 1-2 months before your vacation! You choose the color and have your name on them! They will be your room key, park ticket (once you linked your tickets), credit card, and FP+ !  If you aren't staying on Disney Property, you can buy these for around $13, but I wouldn't. Your plastic ticket will be used to enter the parks and for FP+.

7   Buy Memory Maker for $150 at least 4 days before your trip starts! This is the best deal Disney has made for all your pictures! Disney has hundreds of PhotoPass photographers spread throughout Disney World. They take your photo for free (and they can use your camera also if you ask!) Then they will scan your Memory Maker card or MagicBand and your pictures are ready! If you don't buy the memory maker, then be prepared to ask everyone to take your picture. I bought 7 photos (didn't have memory maker) for $100 in May 2014. This Memory Maker includes all attraction pictures, character meet & greet pictures, and PhotoPass photographer pictures ( these are photos in front of Cinderella's Castle, EPCOT ball, Tower of Terror, etc). You could easily get over 100 photos with Memory Maker. I have heard someone getting 300 photos! DON'T FORGET to ask for Magic Shots everywhere you go! - Google images of Disney World Magic Shot :)

8   & 9  - On the Disney Website, you can order free park maps and a free Disney vacation planning guide DVD!

Disney Photographers - Don't forget the Magic Shot!

Disney has hundreds of PhotoPass photographers scattered throughout the parks and they are free!
The pictures, however, are not so free... you can purchase a digital copy or purchase individual prints.

I spent $100 buying the digital copies of 7 Disney photopass pictures ($15 a piece plus tax)

NOW there is this super cool thing called the Memory Maker - if you purchase in advance it is $150 - and you get ALL of the photos!! Yes, all of the attraction, character, and disney photopass photographer photos!
Space mountain, Mt Everest, Aladdin, Epcot ball picture, Cinderellas castle picture, - you name it!

The exception is some of the character dining... that hasnt been worked out yet.

(if you wait and purchase it at Disney World, then Memory Maker is around $200

I WISH I had purchased Memory Maker for my trip this past May! I know we rode Splash Mountain, Space mountain 3 times, Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, Dinosaur, Mt Everst 3 times, We met Aladdin, we had
our pictures taken in front of the castle, mt everest, the tree of life, and EPCOT ball/spaceship Earth...

MAGIC SHOTS!

These are photos where you pose, and something magical happens! Ex: Tinker Bell comes and sits on your hand! Stitch appears out of the ground beside you! Chip the teacup is on your head!

You usually have to ask the DW PhotoPass photographer for a magic shot, but sometimes they will tell you to pose a certain way, and surprise!

If you dont understand, just google images of Disney Magic Shot

My personal May 16-23 WDW visit!

We flew in and arrived at 3 on Friday May 23. Because we did not stay at a Disney owned resort hotel (we did stay inside the Disney Property at Wyndam Bonnet Creek), we were not able to take the Magical Express. My aunt rented a car and drove us the 30 min to WDW resort area.

Friday, May 16

Hollywood Studios!

-was the first day of the Star Wars weekends in Hollywood Studios! So at 4pm we went to HS and bought our annual passes and went on to Star Tours! I didnt bother with FP+ this day, because I wanted to book the next 4 days. -- You can only book 4 days of FastPass+ at a time--

Star Tours only had a 15 min line so we rode that. Awesome! Better than 2 years ago now that they have random rides! Then we rode the Great Movie Ride - 5 Min wait time. Then we grabbed pizza at the Pizza Planet (toy story). We shopped around and then went to the hotel after watching kids fight Darth Vader and having Storm Troopers follow us!

Saturday, May 17 

EPCOT!

-This was the last day of the EPCOT's International Flower and Garden Festival. So naturally, we got up early and went to EPCOT! Took pictures of all the special topiaries and used our FastPass+ for Mission: Space, and Figment. We missed our Soarin' FP+ but I had it booked for another day so it was okay. We rode Maelstrom (Norway) and then we walked over to Germany to eat at Biergarten at 1pm. You have to have reservations!

Later in the afternoon we took the monorail over to MK because it was open until 1 AM for everyone (not just extra magic hours). My hubby and I ran over to Space Mt and rode it. The standby was only 20 min! Then we ate at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe (quick service) and got our spots for the Electrical parade and Wishes! - The first show.

After the nighttime shows were over, we ran to Buzz lightyear Space ranger spin and rode it! Then we walked over to the circus area and rode Dumbo and Barnstormer - by now everyone has either left the park or is saving seats for the next parade and wishes! Then we went and rode the new Little Mermaid ride in Fantasyland and the haunted mansion! At 1:45 we were leaving MK on the monorail! - beware the trams are supposed to take you to your car 1 hour after the park closes, but they can stop before an hour!

Sunday, May 18

We were so tired! We slept in a little and then went back to Magic Kingdom! 

We arrived after lunch time and rode It's a Small World!

Then we claimed our spots in front of the castle at 2 for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. First, we watched Dream Along with Mickey show in front of the castle. 

And at 2:40 we were getting hungry. We decided we would come watch the festival of fantasy parade another day and went to eat at Tortuga Taverns in Adventureland for lunch. It closes at 3! We sat on the far side, close to frontierland. We could see some of the parade from there! - it starts in frontierland. 

After the parade passed, we ran over to new fantasyland to see if we could ride the Seven Dwarfs mine train. No, special cast members only :(

Then we walked right into Mickey's Philharmagic 4D show! I always love it!

Next was Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise- had the best tour guide ever!!- Winnie the Pooh, and the  Flying Magic Carpets. 

Then we saw Aladdin and went to meet him!

My hubby and I were wearing our Anniversary pins and he told hubby to take me on a carpet ride and sing to me! 

It was late evening and we decided to go back to the room and rest! 

Monday, May 19

Hollywood Studios!

First thing, we ran to the back to ride Toy Story Mania! 

Then we walked over to Journey of the Little Mermaid show - it was great EXCEPT her tail got stuck at the end and they had to close curtain!! Ariel never turned into a human! -- my cousin went a few hours after us to watch and the SAME THING happened!! Come on, Disney!?

Then the hubby and I had FastPass to Rockin Roller coaster at 10 - but it was temporarily closed!

What happens when you have a Fastpass but the ride is closed? They will give you another Fastpass to use on any ride at anytime (just one time)! They will email you the list of rides. So we waited around until 11 and rode Tower of Terror! - we had a Fastpass for it! 

Then we walked over to the Indianna Jones Stunt show! I begged my hubby to volunteer but he only raised his hand - you have to do jumping jacks in the stands to get noticed! Or wear hot pink and sit front row!

Then we went back to ride our Rockin Rollarcoaster! It was finally open! We touched our tickets to the Fastpass+ and had no problem! 

Next we ate lunch at 1:15 - reservations at SciFi drive in theater restaurant! Food was delicious, but I remembered the movies/commercials being Better... I know there used to be a clip with giant Mosquitos, and the original King Kong...

We had a Fastpass+ for Star Tours at 2:30. We got a different ride this time! We didn't see Darth Vadar, but the guy next to me was the spy!

Then we rushed to the FP+ kiosk and got a FP+ for the Motors Lights Action: Extreme Stunt Show! The show was at 4:30 but our fast passes were for 4:10... WORST MISTAKE! The FP+ only guaranteed us a seat if it was full... So we had AWFUL seats in the top top section! It would have been much better if we would have walked on standby! 

After the show, we rushed again to get FastPass+ and the only thing left was Fantasmic! 

Then we ran over to catch the last show of Beauty and the Beast! The FP+ people get to go in and sit down before they let standby, so they all sit front and center. We still got great seats in the middle center!

Our FP+ for Fantasmic was for like 8:30 but we saw people going in at 7:30! So we ate at FairFax place across Sunset Blvd and headed over! They let our FP+ in BEFORE the time and before the standby! So we got great seats for Fantasmic!!

Tuesday, May 20

Animal Kingdom!!

We got up early and went straight to Kilimanjaro's Safari Ride! - you see the most animals in the morning- and it was the best one I had ever been on! They even had new animals!

We had FP+ for Expedition Everest! The front is the absolute best place to ride! 

We are in the front row:

Then we went over to Dinoland. We had FP+ for Dinosaur! It's super loud & not for children! Yes I look scared, but the guy in front of us is terrified!

We went back to ride Expedition Everest - the single line goes by super fast!

My family ate at FlameTree BBQ, but hubby and I bought food at Yak & Yeti quick service and walked it over to the tables by Flametree BBQ!

We missed Nemo the musical and It's Tough to be a Bug 4D show, because we are coming back in November with children, and the hubby would rather ride the "big kid" rides now. We also missed the Festival of the Lion King, but it wasn't showing. It has been moved to a new African theater! It starts back June 1, 2014!

We had a FP+ for Kali River Rapids, but we decided to skip it and just park hop over to Magic Kingdom! We didn't want to get soaked!

We arrived after 3 so we missed the Festival of Fantasy parade AGAIN! (Don't worry, we saw it on Thursday!)

There we went straight to FP* kiosk and got Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin for 4:15! So we walked right onto the ride!

Next we rode the Tomorrowland People Mover, and got stuck on it for 15-20 minutes! All because a teenager dropped her phone on the track as she was exiting the vehicle! The maintenance man had to come to get it. 

Next we ran to get another FastPass+ and they didn't have anything we wanted. We didn't get anymore FP+ that day.- We wanted Wishes FP+ but they were out!

So we walked over to New Fantasyland to look at the Seven Dwarf mine train - still Cast Members only :( Then we walked closer to Beast's Castle (Be Our Guest) to get some pictures. 

Next we went on Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride and shopped around.

We walked through the Castle towards Main St USA to claim our spots for Wishes and Celebrate the Magic! Then we took turns going to eat. Hubby and I just walked to Casey's Corner to get hot dogs and ballpark nachos!

After the Wishes fireworks, we ran to Peter Pan's Flight, Big Thunder Mountain, and Haunted Mansion! We were in the very last group of Haunted Mansion before the park closed! Once out, we walked through Adventureland towards Main Street USA, and we ran into the 2nd Electrical Night Parade! 

It was 12:30 AM when we got back to the room!

Wednesday, May 21

This was going to be our Water Park day - we have tickets to either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. We were so tired, we decided to sleep in and make it a pool day at the resort. 

In the afternoon, we went to EPCOT! We had FP+ for Nemo and friends, Soarin', and Turtle Talk with Crush! We missed Turtle Talk with Crush. Then we went to FP+ kiosk looking for one for Test Track, but it was sold out.

We ate over in China, and got a Chocolate eclair in France! 

We were going to stay for Illuminations, but we didn't. Instead, we went back to our resort and played mini golf!

Thursday, May 22

Finally! The day we get to see the Festival of Fantasy Parade! We got up Early and arrived at the park at 8:30 AM! They let us in at 8:45 - extra magic hours for DW resort guests 8-9 AM. Hubby and I raced over the Space Mountain and walked right onto the ride! Then we jogged over to Big Thunder Mountain and rode it 3 times!! Once with a FastPass+, and the others just standby! Then we rode Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan's Flight (yes, I love that ride!).

Then before 11 we got in line to eat at Be Our Guest Restaurant! By 12 we were finally inside Beast's Castle. It was a very long line! Well worth it, though!
FastPass+ is now available for it, and I strongly recommend getting it for BOG! You get to order ahead of time and don't have to wait in the long line to order!
You order inside Beast's castle on a touch screen computer - in the study - Once you pay, you take your receipt and your rose to the table you choose! 3 rooms: West wing with the enchanted rose, Dining hall, or the East wing (where we ate). Try the grey stuff, it's delicious!

We walked around and had out pictures made by the Disney Photopass Photographers. It was the hottest day yet - 92F- so we stopped by the Edy's Ice Cream parlor! Delicious! They also have the kitchen sink, but I just got double scoop of Birthday Cake ice cream, cone to cup, and hubby got a delicious sundae!

Next, we claimed our spots for Festival of Fantasy Parade! It was the BEST parade Disney has EVER done!

After the parade, we shopped down Main Street USA, and then went to Downtown Disney to shop! End of a successful trip!

Friday, May 23

We flew home :(


--- Coming soon - Details on each restaurant we ate, along with pictures and the prices!---