Daily Disney Tip #13 - Annual pass

If you are an annual pass holder, keep your paper ticket! You can't use your magicband to park free or get the 10% discount at the World of Disney Store. You must show your actual annual pass holder ticket!

Daily Disney Tip #12 - MagicBands

Wear your Magic Band on your flight to Orlando.  Do not pack them in your luggage.  You will need your Magic Band to check in at Magical Express and then you jump right on your bus to Disney World.  Otherwise your bands are stuck in your luggage and you are not able to get into the park or hotel room!

Disney World Basics- for newbies!

Disney World is in Orlando, Fl. There are 4 parks and a Downtown Disney. Each park requires an admission ticket.


To go to more than 1 park in a single day, you must have a park hopper admission ticket. You can purchase the tickets from Disney online, at Disney World when you arrive (that is the most expensive), or from a wholesaler like Wal-Mart in Orlando or Undercover Tourist online - those will be the cheapest tickets.


4 Parks:
Magic Kingdom - home to Cinderellas castle and new Fantasyland
EPCOT - home to the giant spaceship Earth (giant golf ball)
Hollywood Studios - home to Mickey's Sorcerer's hat and Tower of Terror
Animal Kingdom - home to the Tree of Life and Expedition Everest


Magic Kingdom will require a whole day and even then you might not get to all of the attractions if you go during a busy holiday! Make sure you stay and watch the electric night parade and Wishes fireworks show!

EPCOT - most younger kids will only be interested in this for part of a day. There are 2 worlds: Future World & World Showcase. The Future world has Soarin', Living with the Seas, and Mission Space (to name a few). Whereas, the World Showcase is a bunch of countries around the lake. Norway and Mexico have boat rides, but the other counties have short films describing their country. Each country has shops and restaurants. There is a nighttime show Illuminations: Reflections of Earth that is in the middle of the lake.


Hollywood Studios - where you can be a part of your favorite movies! Watch Beauty and the Beast live on stage, or ride Tower of Terror! There will be actors and film makers on the street  so you can join in their movie! There are more attractions like Rockin' Roller Coaster, Journey of the Little Mermaid, Toy Story Mania, and much more!! MUST SEE the nighttime show Fantasmic!


Animal Kingdom - Join Kilimanjaro on a Safari through Africa, or go on Expedition Everest looking for a yeti! Relax with It's Tough to be a Bug or go on a hunt for Dinosaurs! This park only stays open until 4 pm (usually) so I suggest going the morning half of a day and then heading the EPCOT!





Downtown Disney is free admission. It is a collection of shops and restaurants. World of Disney Store, Legoland, Christmas Shops, Pin Traders, T-rex, Rain Forest Café, and many more. It is currently under construction to add more places!


If you stay on Disney Property, then you can ride the Disney buses to the parks for free! You also get special magic hours to a special park everyday!


If you don't stay on Disney Property, you will have to pay for parking for each day ($15-18), unless you have an annual pass - then you can park for free.


Most rides and shows will have FastPass+. This is where you connect your ticket to your Disney Experience account online and book what attractions you want to skip line -so only use them for attractions that have long lines (Peter Pan's Flight, Toy Story Mania, Expedition Everest, Soarin'). If you stay on Disney property, then you can choose the FP+ 60 days in advance! You don't have to have a MagicBand to use FP+. You will simply scan your ticket during the FastPass times for each attraction. You can only book 3 per day. After you use the 3, you may go to a FP+ kiosk and book another 1! After that one is used, you may get another 1! And so on until the park closes. You can book 4 days of  FP+. Once one day is used, you can book another day!

A MagicBand is a wristlet that comes when you choose to stay on Disney Property! You choose the color and have your name inscribed on it! If you don't stay on Disney Property, you may buy them inside Disney for $12. They are also free for Annual Passholders!


To choose you FastPass+ attractions, you must make a Disney Experience account! If you booked your Disney resort online, you already have one!
To use your FastPass+ choices, go to that ride and place you MagicBand to the glowing Mickey. Then you can enjoy the attraction!

Disney Secrets - Magic Kingdom 1

Remember the skinny Hound dog Rover from inside the Haunted Mansion? The same dog appears in the Carousel of Progress ride!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replaced Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Look for the picture where Mr. Road is handing Owl the deed to his house!

If you ride Big Thunder Mt. RR at night, you will see a party going on in the 2nd floor of the saloon!

Find the paintbrush Tom Sawyer left behind on Tom Sawyer Island and turn it into a cast member. You will get a surprise!! - usually a fast pass!

While you are in line for the Haunted Mansion, ask a cast member to tell you the story of Madame Leota's ring!

On the left of Town Square, you'll notice Firestation 71. The fire station in Disneyland help Walt Disney's apartment which had a firepole! It was only fitting for Disney World to have a fire station, also.  The 71 is to represent the opening of Magic Kingdom in Florida in 1971. 

Tony's Town Square is named after the restaurant in Lady and the Tramp where they shared spaghetti. To the left of the stairs, you can see a carving of Tramp's love to Lady. Inside, you will see these 2 enjoying a meal outside the back window!

Look how the street lamps go from gas to electric as you approach Cinderelleas castle!

Daily Disney Tip #11 - Kids eat free

If you plan to eat outside the parks and you have children, consider looking into the "Kids Eat Free" ticket. You can purchase it at Undercover Tourist for $15 (give or take a few cents)!


Look at the list of restaurants that accept this pass before you purchase!

Expires 90 Days after first use.

Kids Eat Free Card cannot be used with any other discounts or offers.

Each Kids Eat Free Card is valid for 1 child (11 years of age or younger) with full price paying adult entree.
(Example: 2 children with 2 Kids Eat Free Cards, with 2 full price paying adult entree's.)

Kids Eat Free Card child's menu items may vary from standard restaurant's child menu choices in some cases (unless otherwise stated).

Kids Eat Free Meals may not apply to taxes, gratuities, bar drinks or take away food.

Kids Eat Free Card is non-transferable.

Particular participating restaurants may be removed from accepting card offer without prior notice.

To see participating restaurants, please visit http://www.kidseatfreecard.com/

Daily Disney Tip #10 - What are the wait times?

Ever wonder what the wait times are for the rides in WDW?

Well if you download the free Disney Experience app to your smart phone, then you can look at all of the wait times! 

There is a button "near me" that will show you places, attractions, and characters that you are close to! 

Check the map on the app so you will never get lost! 

Daily Disney Tip #9 - Magic Kingdom tip!

When you enter Magic Kingdom in the morning, immediately hop on the next train and ride it to frontier land to beat the crowds to Big Thunder Mountain - or stay on it to New Fantasyland!


Ride the attractions that are the most popular first, and then use a Fast Pass to ride them again later!


Big Thunder Mt RR, Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin

Disney's Vacation Club - Overview & Is It Right For You?

Disney's Vacation Club - can be wonderful, and it also can be burdensome!


How It Works


First, you have to purchase a real estate interest  in a Disney Resort. Then each year you will receive a certain amount of points (that will expire within a year) to use toward your Disney vacation. The larger your real estate interest (which means the more you paid in the beginning) the more points you will get to use toward a better resort, more days, or better accommodations. You choose how you want to spend your points.


If you don't have enough points to go on the vacation you want, you can plan ahead and "bank" your points for the current year and use them with next years points. If you don't plan ahead, then your points will expire.


You can always purchase more real estate interest - which will give you more points to spend.


The BEST reason to buy into Disney's Vacation Club, is to make your family spend time together on a vacation every year.


The number of Vacation Points you'll use for each trip depends on where you vacation, how long you stay, what time of year you go, and which accommodations you select.


Every year you will have dues to pay and a transaction fee. These fees will increase a little every year.


Membership Example—160 Vacation Points Per Year Costs are based on a cash purchase of a real estate interest at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, HI:

One-Time Purchase Price:	$24,800
Closing Costs:	Approximately $436
2013 Annual Dues: (Dues for future years will vary.)	$1,030.40 or $85.87 per month
Transaction Fee: (For vacations to destinations other than our Disney Vacation Club Resorts)   $95 per transaction With 160 Vacation Points, you could enjoy any one of the following vacation experiences: Destination Room Type Time Period Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas Deluxe Studio Savanna View 8 nights, July 2013 Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort One Bedroom Theme Park View 3 nights, January 2013 Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas Deluxe Studio Island View 1 Week, Late May 2013 Disney's Old Key West Resort One Bedroom Villa 1 Week, September 2013 Disney's Vero Beach Resort Two Bedroom Villa 4 nights, May 2013 Europe One Bedroom Villa 1 Week, High Season Membership Discounts & Savings Enjoy a variety of savings just by showing your Membership card. Here are some currently available examples (subject to change.): Save on select dining at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort Enjoy discounts on spa treatments, watersports rentals and more Get golf membership discounts at Walt Disney World Resort Save on select merchandise and Theme Park tours Save on select Theme Park Annual Passes Is it right for your family?? Probably not. It really doesn't save you money with the annual dues and the transaction costs. The ONLY reason I would purchase a timeshare, is to make sure my family went on a vacation every year and spend quality time together. If your family already goes on vacation, then I definitely would buy into this.

Daily Disney Tip #8 - Annual pass tip!

If you are going more than once per 365 days, buy an annual pass! It will save you money!

Don't buy an annual pass until the day before you plan to use it. It is good for 365 days starting the day you buy it!

Florida residents get a special annual pass that is cheaper. 

There are annual passes that are just the 4 theme park, the theme parks plus water parks, and there's a premium one that includes special events. 

Daily Disney Tip #7 - Ticket sale!

Undercover Tourist is having a big sale today!

4 day park hopper tickets for the price of 3 day! 

5 day park hopper tickets for the price of 4 day!

Go to their website and check it out!

http://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/attractions/tickets.html

Daily Disney Tip #6 - Eating healthy in Disney World!

Whether you are trying to stay away from the fast food, or are allergic to some foods, Disney World's restaurants can help accommodate you!

"Many Walt Disney World restaurants can accommodate the following common food allergies:

• Gluten or wheat
• Lactose or dairy
• Peanuts and tree nuts
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Fish
• Eggs
• Corn

Most restaurants offer no-sugar-added, low-fat, low-sodium and vegetarian options. Advance arrangements are not necessary for guests with lifestyle dietary requests. Guests can discuss any dietary requests with their server upon arrival."

You can indicate all food allergies when reserving a table online - or when you call.


Don't forget you are allowed to bring your own foods into the theme parks!

Please send your comments and suggestions!

Hello everyone!


I would love it if you would comment about your concerns, suggestions, and questions!!


I am running out of topics to cover so please comment away!


Thank you!

Daily Disney Tip #5 - Floral & Gifts

There are 4 Memory making experiences:

1. Magical “In-Room Celebrations” - Magical fairies set up your "celebrations" (gifts) in your Disney resort hotel room! When your party arrives, they will be so surprised and feel very special! Look at the Mickey's welcome package. Mickey and Tinker Bell leave surprises in your room!
2. Special Delivery Locations - You are celebrating a birthday or anniversary at a restaurant? Have Disney's Floral and Gifts surprise your special person(s) with the gifts!
3. Ship an Unforgettable Experience - A great way to surprise your family and friends that you are going to Disney World! Or, an even better way to remind your loved ones of the trip you just took!
4. Start Creating a Dream Come True Today

You can create your own custom gift, or choose from several packages!


Going with your family? Look at the Disney Family Treats Tote or the Mickey, Minnie & Me gift set!


Celebrating with your special someone? Buy a lovely floral package! You can add characters or just buy the flowers! There is a special glass slipper and tiara floral package, too!


There are special packages for each holiday! You can buy a package with balloons and decorations for a party!


You can discover which package is right for you at http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/home.do


Have a Magical day!

Disney Daily Tip #4 - Ship items to your resort!

What can you do when you over packed? Ship some items ahead of time!  Look up your Disney World resort hotel's address on Places to Stay on the DW website.


ATTN First and Last name
Art of Animation Resort
1850 Animation Way

Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8400

Arrival Date

Confirmation Number

When you arrive, tell the check-in cast-member that you had items shipped there before you arrived. I suggest shipping you items 2-3 weeks before you are to arrive.

Have a magical day!

Sarah

What to do if you don't want to carry your merchandise all over the parks

The bags of clothes, toys, pictures, and other items can really weigh you down while trying to walk to the next attraction.
Don't want to carry all the bags of souvenirs around WDW? You don't have to!!


You can:

1. Have the cast-member send your ride pictures, toys, new clothes, etc. to the front of the theme park! When you are ready to leave that park, go to the designated location near the front entrance for convenient pick-up as you exit the park. This is usually the same place where you rent strollers.
2. If you are staying at a Disney resort hotel, you can have your items sent to the front desk of your resort!
3. You can also have your theme park merchandise mailed to your house by UPS or FedEx. You have to pay an additional fee to do this.

Magic Kingdom pick up area - at the end of Main Street, face the Train Station, the pick up is on the right.


EPCOT - Walking to the exit, past the Spaceship Earth (big golf ball), it is on the far left! If you are leaving the park by France toward Disney's Boardwalk, there is also a pick up there. You must notify the clerk which pick up location you need.


Animal Kingdom - On the left where the stroller rentals are.


Hollywood Studios - On the left of the Crossroads of the World Mickey Mouse. Also where you rent strollers.

Best places to buy Disney Merchandise

As you probably guessed, Disney World and Disneyland marks up their merchandise (toy, albums, frames, souvenirs) in the parks.


Disney Store - Once a month they will send out an email to their subscribers for 25% off a few items and free shipping days.  Those are the only times I would buy from Disney.


Walmart in-store and online has great deals on Disney shirts and other items! The Walmarts in Orlando, FL even sell discounted WDW tickets! They will also sell cheaper t-shirts and autograph books for the children!


JC Penney's sells Disney t-shirts and a few other items!


Kohl's sells a lot of Disney items! From clothes to Mickey Mouse iPhone covers! It is always at a discount, too!


Amazon sells a different assortment of Disney items. Catching them at a good price and the right size is hard. Try using CamelCamelCamel to track items and their prices!


Target doesn't sell as much Disney items as Walmart does. Occasionally they will have some items that are a few dollars cheaper than Walmart. Again, you will have to catch the sale at the right time!


I have found the best deals for clothes at Walmart online, but the best toys and souvenirs at the Walmarts in Orlando, FL.

Disney Daily Tip #3 - Character Dining

Every child loves the Character Dining, but your wallet does not!


The best time and the cheapest time to dine with the characters is breakfast!


Example: you take your princess to see Cinderella and all the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table inside the castle at Magic Kingdom. If you book early, you will be let inside MK before the park opens! When the park does open, you will be done with your meal, and first in line to your favorite attractions!


If you book a late breakfast - 10:30 AM - then you can treat it as lunch!

Tips for flying to Disney World

1. The best tip is to ship items to your Disney Resort ahead of time! Look up the address to your resort - it is on the Disney Website (click on Places to Stay). Example is below. Once you arrive, tell the cast-member that you mailed items there. I would mail items 2-3 week before you arrive! Below is an example:  

ATTN: First & Last Name
c/o Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
1701 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Arriving: D/M/YR
Resort Confirmation Number


     2. If you need a stroller, check the airlines website and find out if they will check the stroller as luggage for a charge. Southwest Airlines will check car seats and strollers for free as long as there is a child flying.
  
     3. Make sure you sign up for the free Magical Express pick up from the airport to your Disney Resort.  Call (407) W-Disney or (407) 934-7639 to add this to your current reservation or to tell them your flight information.


    4. Before you book your reservation and flight, check and see if there are any package deals. A lot of times you can pay for flying and get a Disney resort room night for free!

Disney Daily Tip #2 - Don't buy your tickets from Disney

Buy your Disney theme park tickets from Undercover Tourist, the Walmart in Orlando, or any licensed Disney wholesalers. They will have the best deals on tickets!




Right now, Undercover Tourist has a 5 Day park hopper ticket for the price of a 4 day. Adult $341.87 and Child 3-9 is $322.70.




Disney is the only place (that I have discovered) that sells Annual Passes!




Don't forget Florida residents and military get special deals on tickets through Disney! And if you already have an annual pass, you get the chance to renew it at a discounted price after it expires for 30 days!




Have a magical day!

Daily Disney Tip 1 - Don't stay parked at Animal Kingdom

Hello everyone! This is the first Daily Disney Tip! I will post one every day, sometimes twice a day!


This happened to me once many years ago.


I went to Animal Kingdom early in the morning. Stayed there until after lunch, then I hopped on a Disney bus and headed to EPCOT. Animal Kingdom closed at 4 pm that day.


 I was still at EPCOT hours after 4.


In case you didn't know, the Disney buses only run 1 hour after a park closes. So when I left EPCOT, there was no bus there that could take me to my car in Animal Kingdom! Taxi!

How to visit WDW on a budget & save money!

A vacation at Disney World can be expensive! However, there are ways you can save money!

1. Go off season! Disney always has discounts for resorts in January and spring. Avoid going during holidays because the resort hotels price per night is 3X more than regularly.
2. Buy your tickets from a discount wholesaler - the Walmart in Orlando sells tickets cheaper than WDW, but they don't sell annual tickets! Undercover Tourist sells tickets also! These places have licenses to sell Disney tickets.
3. Florida residents get a big discount on tickets; you must show proof of residency!
4. Stay at a Disney Value resort - All-star start at $85 per night. The Art of Animation is my favorite value because of the story-rooms. Free transportation if you stay at a Disney Resort hotel.
5. Book your reservation over a year in advance
6. Bring your own camera instead of relying on Disney PhotoPass.
7. Bring your own stroller if you have young children! A single stroller rental is $15 per day or $13 when you book a multi-day rental.
8. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Refill water bottles at the water fountains! If you really want to save money, bring lunch with you!
9. To stay on budget, buy Disney gift cards (you can design them online for free). If you have $50 to spend on souvenirs, buy a $50 gift card. You can also use these gift cards to buy meals and snacks!
10. If you want to eat at a Disney restaurant, eat a late lunch (before 2 pm) so you get the lunch price, and you won't be hungry for supper.
11. Try to wait and buy souvenirs at discount stores such as walmart, or even at Downtown Disney. Annual Pass holders receive discounts at Downtown Disney and they get free parking at the theme parks.
12. Children under 3 have free admission! Children 3-9 have discounted admission.
13. Order the Free Disney planning DVD from https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US/VacationPlanningDVD/index?sourcecode=18179&CMP=ILC-DPFY13Q1FY13LeadGen0003
14. Wear the free buttons if it is your birthday, anniversary, or first trip! You'd be surprised the free gifts you will receive!
15. Buy tickets for special events - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween, Very Merry Christmas Party - The day they go on sale! As time passes, the ticket prices increase!
16. Sign up for email coupons for the restaurant at Downtown Disney at http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-vacation-discounts-and-deals/disney-world-meal-snack-drink-discounts-coupons/#coupons

Where to stay in Walt Disney World? Isn't it cheaper to stay off Disney Property and drive?

Walt Disney World has many resorts!

Deluxe Villas – From $318/Night

Conveniences of home and rooms for larger parties.

-Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort - right on the monorail to Magic Kingdom!

-Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

-Animal Kingdom Villas

-BoardWalk Villas - walking distance from EPCOT!

-Beach Club Villas - Fabulous rooms and pools

Deluxe Resort Hotels – From $284/Night

Highly themed getaways with great dining and amenities.

-Animal Kingdom Lodge - Great dining

-Polynesian Resort

-Wilderness Lodge

-Beach Club Resort - Short boat ride to EPCOT!

-Contemporary Resort - right on the  monorail to Magic Kingdom!

-Yacht Club - Short boat ride to EPCOT!

-BoardWalk Inn - Just a short walking distance from EPCOT's World Showcase

Moderate Resort Hotels – From $162/Night

The perfect combination of lush themes and value.

-Caribbean Resort - The BEST for this price!

-Port Orleans Resort

-Coronado Springs Resort

-Cabins at Fort Wilderness

Value Resort Hotels – From $85/Night

Affordable comfort and convenience for families on the go.

-Pop Century Resort

-All-Star Music Resort - Great pools!

-All-Star Sports Resort

-All-Star Movies Resort - Great photo opportunities!

-Art of Animation - The BEST for this price! Get a Lion King, Little Mermaid, or Nemo Room!

Campgrounds – From $49/Night

Sleep under the stars with the benefits of a Disney Resort.

-The Campsites at Fort Wilderness - Great if you bring your own camper!

Other Select Deluxe Hotels – From $219/Night

Hotels featuring modern architecture and artwork.

-Swan & Dolphin Hotel - right on the monorail near EPCOT!

So why stay at a Disney resort?

-Free WiFi in every room!

-Free transportation to and from the airport!

-Free buses and monorails to take you to the parks!

-Extended theme park hours every day!

-Stay in a Disney Story room!

-Create a Magic Your Way package to help you save on tickets and dining when you book your room reservation with Disney!


Once you add up the costs of transportation, dining, and tickets, then you will realize that it is cheaper to stay at the Disney Resort! Parking for 1 car is $15 per day per park!

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney has several unique shops, dining, and attractions!
Currently, part of it is under construction to create Disney Springs! If you want more information about Disney Springs, go to
http://wdwnews.com/releases/2013/03/14/disney-springs-unveiled/?CMP=SOC-DPFY13Q2AnnouncingDisneySpringsAtWaltDisneyWorldResort000312-03-13
Disney Springs won't be finished until 2016.


Main Shops:
Art of Disney
BLINK by Wet Seal
Cirque du Soleil Boutique
Dino-store
Disney Design-a-tee
DisneyQuest
Disney's Days of Christmas
Disney's Pin Traders
Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
LEGO Imagination Center
Once Upon a Toy
Orlando Harley-Davidson
PLANET HOLLYWOOD® Store
World of Disney Store - here you will find everything you need that is Disney!


Dining:


AMC Dine-in Theaters
Crossroads at the House of Blues
Earl of Sandwich
FoodQuest
Planet Hollywood
Rainforest Café
T-REX


Entertainment:


DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park - must purchase admission tickets.
La Nouba - Cirque du Soleil
Luxury Lanes - Bowling
-Several restaurants and bars have live music


If you want a complete list and description, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/activities/downtown-disney/

Transportation and parking around Disney World

Transportation- buses, trains, ferry boats, and monorails!


If you stay at a Disney resort, you can ride the free Disney Parks bus to the theme parks! The same bus system will also take you from one theme park to another!


If you fly to Orlando and you are staying at a Disney resort, they have the Magical Express bus that will pick you up from the airport and take you to your resort for free! They will even send your luggage to your room so you can hop on the next bus to the theme parks!


Both buses and monorails can take you to the theme parks.


To get to Magic Kingdom, there are buses that will drop you off at the parking lot. From there, you
will have to hop on the monorail or the ferry boat. You will need to watch and decide in a hurry which one you will take. If a ferry boat just left or just arrived, take the monorail! If it is cold outside, the ferry boat will be very cold.


Once inside Magic Kingdom, there is a train that goes all around MK. For example, if you are in Frontierland and your next stop is Fantasyland, hop on the train!


There are boats that run back and forth from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios. They also stop at the resorts along the way.


If you drive, you will have to pay for parking (unless you have an annual pass, then it is free!).
Car/Motorcycle/Taxi/Shuttle/Limo: $15/day
Camper/Trailer/RV: $16/day
Bus/Tractor Trailer: $19/day


There are trams that will pick you up in the parking lot and drive you to the entrance. This is necessary because the parking lots are very large. In Magic Kingdom, you still have to take the ferry boat or monorail to the theme park. Remember where you parked! There will be signs! Trams will run all day. They will bring you to the area your car is parked when it is time to go.


***The buses for each park will run 1 hour after they close.***
WARNING: If you go to Animal Kingdom and park there, then take a bus to another theme park, you will have to return to AK to retrieve your car before the buses stop running to it! AK closes early -around 4 pm, but it stays open later in the summer.
**To avoid this and to avoid paying parking fees at another park, keep your parking receipt from earlier that day and show it when you go to park at another theme park. You will not have to pay twice!

Top 10 tips for conquering DW with young children!

1 Pack your own snacks and water! You can refill your water bottles at the water fountains. Otherwise, you can buy a bottled water for $2.50 inside DW.


2 Use the Baby Centers - They are located near the front of each park (usually) and have many necessities like microwaves, rocking chairs, changing tables, and more. They also have a mini store for baby and toddler necessities, in case you forgot something!


3 Rider Switch - This is where your party goes to an attraction that the younger children can not ride. Walk up to the cast-member that is in front of the ride and tell them you need a rider switch pass for the adult that is staying with the children while the others get in line for the ride. This pass will let the adult hop to the front of the line when the others are able to watch the children.


4 Look at the menu for restaurants before you go, if you have picky eaters. Each restaurant in DW has their menu posted online at the DW website!


5 Bring your own stroller! You can rent a single stroller for $15 per day inside DW. Most airlines let you bring your own stroller for free (Southwest does). The Disney strollers are hard plastic and don't have much room for bags or things.


6 Buy the Memory Maker at the DW website and use your PhotoPass each time they go see a character! This lets you download a digital copy the pictures taken by a Disney photographer! This means the attraction pictures (Tower of Terror, Test Track) or the character pictures (go meet Mickey!). Pictures of your whole party! Just be sure to put them all on the same PhotoPass!


7 If you have extra time, let them nap back at the room. They will be more rested and happier for the evening activities!

8 Alternate long waits with short waits. Younger children are not very patient and if you are always taking them to long lines, they will not be very happy. Also, try playing games or telling stories while they wait!


9 At the end of the day, have an adult save your seats for the evening shows such as Wishes or Fantasmic. The other adult can keep the younger children entertained by continuing to meet characters and riding the attractions.


10 If your child is younger than 3, they get in the park free! When you have Fast Passes for a ride they enjoy, then try this: One person at a time get in the Fast Pass line with the child. They don't have an admission ticket so they are allowed to go with your party without a Fass Pass. If there are 2 adults and 1 child, then the child can ride the attraction twice! Once with each adult! That way, they get to experience the ride again! Peter Pan's Flight is a great attraction to try this!

Photo Pass and Memory Maker

Memory Maker      

• You get all the photos of everyone in your travel party taken by our Disney PhotoPass photographers at hundreds of locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
• In any location where a Disney Photographer uses PhotoPass to take your picture
• Even attraction photos are included, like TestTrack, Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin, and Summit Plummet!
• You get digital copies of all of them to download and share with family and friends.
• $149 if you buy online
• Pictures expire in 45 days
• Memory Maker expires in 30 days - So don't buy until 3 days before your trip!

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE SAME PHOTOPASS WHEN EACH PHOTO IS TAKEN!


PhotoPass


A PhotoPass is a plastic card that a Disney Photographer will give you the first time they take your picture. Hold onto it and let the Disney Photographers scan it after every time they take you or your family members photos! Each PhotoPass card has a unique set of numbers on the back along with a website address. There you will find directions to how to get your photos. You can buy prints or get the digital copy!

Hollywood Studios (Previously MGM) - Attractions and tips!

Hollywood Studios:


Where you can be in a movie, watch a live play, fall down 12 flights faster than gravity, and much more!


Must do:


Rock n Roller Coaster - Super fast roller coaster that goes upside down 3 times! Need a Fast Pass or you can hop in the Singles line!


Star Tours -3D motion-simulated ride through space


Studio Backlot tour - slow ride through Disney movie history! Sit on the left and you'll get wet!


Toy Story Midway Mania - 3D shooting game! Need a Fast Pass


Tower of Terror - Fall 12 flights faster than gravity! - you fall several times! Need a Fast Pass


Beauty and the Beast Live on stage - Fantastic singing and dancing


Disney Jr Live on stage - Little children will love it! Mickey mouse clubhouse, Jake, Sofia


Indiana Jones - watch how the amazing stunts are done! Look at the show times to make sure you don't miss this!


Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show - Males will love this show! All about cars & explosions! Look at the show times to make sure you don't miss this!


Voyage of the Little Mermaid - Live singing by Ariel and Ursula!


If you have extra time:


Great Movie Ride - Take a ride into the movies!
Muppet Vision 3D - sit down and watch a 3D short film of the Muppets!




And then, the most spectacular show at Disney World:
Fantasmic! - Help Mickey when all the Disney villains invade his dreams and turn them in to nightmares!


As soon as you enter the park, run to Toy Story Midway Mania and get a Fast pass! Then go to your favorite shows and attractions!

A Weekend at Disney World - Prices and Itinerary!

You want to go somewhere for a weekend getaway? Disney World is a great vacation, even if just for a weekend!


It doesn't have to be expensive either! You can stay on Disney Property at one of the value resorts like the All-Star or the Art of Animation! The total price will depend if you fly or drive there.


Let's say you arrive on a Friday and leave on a Sunday:
This means you can go to the theme parks Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning!


Let's start with tickets and resort prices!


When it is off season, 2 nights at the All Star resorts are $109 per night. That's a total of $218 for the room! This is for the standard room, not the family suite.


A 3 day ticket for 1 person is $279. If you add the park hopper option, then it is $341 for 1 person. Because you are only going for a weekend, I would suggest you not get the park hopper option! If you were going for a week, then the park hopper option would be needed.


So for 2 people, the total of tickets and the room = $776.


You will need to eat, so you can expect to pay $10 per meal per person if you only go to the counter service restaurants and bring your own snacks. You will need a meal Friday, 3 on Saturday, and 1 on Sunday.  For two people, that total is $100!


Now your tickets, resort, and meals total is $876!


You can combine your meal plan, tickets, and room when you book online for a Magic Your Way package!


When you stay at a Disney resort, they provide free transportation to the parks and you get special magic hours!


Itinerary:


First, you should look online at the Disney World website and see what the magic hours are so you can take advantage of them! You make the decision if you want to follow my itinerary or the magic hours!


Friday - Hollywood studios
    - I suggest you go to your favorites rides and ride them or get a fast pass for them. Then look at the show times sheet and go see your favorite shows! Then at night, go see Fantasmic!
   - Example: Go to Tower of Terror or Rockin' Roller Coaster and ride them or get a Fast Pass. Then go see beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, or Indianna Jones!


Satuday - Magic Kingdom
    -Go to Big Thunder Mountain RR, Space Mountain, or your favorite rides first, then get fast passes for the ones you didn't ride! Don't forget the shows like Mickey's Philharmagic! At night, Sit in front of Cinderella's Castle for the Electric parade and Wishes fireworks show!


Sunday - Animal Kingdom or EPCOT.
    -Decide which park you would enjoy the most and viola! I would suggest Animal Kingdom because you can see the animals on Kilimanjaro's Safari ride in the early morning when they are most active, and then go find a Yeti at Expedition Everest!


****If you want a full itinerary for each park, see my earlier posts for 3 day and 4 day tickets! There you will see a list of which attractions you should go see and when! Also, check out my Where to Eat posts to see prices and menus!******

River Country - Disney's Abandoned Water Park!

Once a thriving water park, and one of the first themed water parks in the world, has been abandoned since 2001.

River Country

Disney's first water park opened in 1976. It shut down in 2001 for several reasons. They closed it in a hurry! You can tell because there are trash cans, old inflatable tubes, swimming flippers, old pictures, picnic tables, and more! It is rumored that the cast-members who worked at the park did not expect the park to stay closed for more than a few days, so they left their belongings in the lockers! The offices inside River Country still have papers and chairs in them!

 It was as if they closed one night  and planned on reopening the next day, but never did.






We all wonder "Why would Disney just up and leave something?". Well, no one outside the Disney company know. We speculate that revamping the area would cost more money than it was worth. I want to know why it was left the way it was - the lockers are not empty, the office chairs and paperwork are still in the office, tubes and floaters were left on the sidewalk. That makes no sense!! What was so important that no one could come and clean out? Park benches and picnic tables are still inside. They could have taken those to other parks! The office chairs and desk could have been moved or sold! The paperwork could have been thrown away or put in file cabinets in another Disney building. The tubes could be moved to Typhoon Lagoon.






They shut down for several reasons. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach were larger and in better locations. More people were going to the 2 newer water parks than to River County. It was becoming obsolete because of the smaller size and bad location. New laws came out saying no water park can use water from stand-still water areas. River county used the water from Bay Lake. This law was created because harmful bacteria in lake water could easily get into the water park and harm people. The bacteria was not growing inside River Country because there were filters keeping the water circulating. If the water is circulating, the bacteria has a harder time growing and spreading. The guests were allowed to sit on the beach and swim in Bay Lake, where the water is not circulating. This area has bacteria. No one ever filed suit against Disney for contracting the bacteria. It would be hard to prove that they came in contact with it only at Bay Lake, because most of the lakes in Florida have the bacteria or had it at one time. This type of bacteria thrives in standing, warm water. It is also said that because of 9/11, less people were visiting tourist places because they might be attacked. Disney did not make as much money that year, and River Country had become a waste of space.










Now the area is turning into a swamp. The lights still turn on at night, the drinking fountains still work, and there is music playing in the park! Creepy! It is like a ghost town water park!
I have not visited any abandoned site, but many have. It is intriguing and adventurous! It is also very illegal and dangerous.






River Country will probably keep sitting and rotting as it has for over a decade.




I don't foresee Disney doing anything with it except building barriers around it with surveillance cameras to alert security when someone is lurking nearby. Rumors will always be around about what they will do next, but really the only thing they will do is make it to where no one can get in. It is a money pit. I don't think they will expand Fort Wilderness there, but I could be wrong!






Shane Perez posted a blog about his adventures through River Country to swim to Discovery Island. He was smart in waiting 5+ years to post about it so he could not be convicted of trespassing. However, Disney can still ban him from all Disney property. They have not done that, so I highly doubt they will to him. Now, if this continues, I feel sure they will take action against the trespassers. It is a huge liability to keep these sites so easily accessible. Disney did not take proper precautions to keep people out of River Country. If someone would fall in a slide or get hurt while trespassing, they could file suit against Disney for their harm. Disney would lose because they didn't have enough barriers. It is just a matter of time before this happens! I say this because I know people who have trespassed into someone's property and got hurt, then sued the owners of the property and won! What a crazy world we live!






In Shane's blog, there are pictures of the rooms where they kept animals and an office on Discovery Island. In the office-like room, there are papers, a desk, pictures, and a Pluto doll! Again, I don't understand why Disney wouldn't have someone go in and clear out! There were also snakes kept in jars and plastic bottles. My theory is they wanted to preserve some of the original snakes found on the land. They are in some liquid that has preserved their bodies pretty well. I'm sure it stinks in there!


It is almost like Disney likes having a haunted side. Some people can't stay away from a mystery! When those guys posted their pictures and videos in 09/10, it gave Disney a lot of free press and I'm sure it led to more people wanting to go and find out what happened. This is not the only site of abandoned Disney property.






Other abandoned sites by Disney include Discovery Island (the island a few hundred feet from the beach of River Country, and Treasure Island (Bahamas island). The Bahamas island was where Disney cruise ships stopped for their guests to have a private island to enjoy. This is not to be confused with the island the cruise ships stop at now. Completely different! The Legendary Years at Pop Century Resort was also abandoned! They built the building, and just left it there in 2001. There were even rooms that have open doors or no doors at all but there is nothing inside. In 2012 Disney turned it into the Art of Animation Studio.










River Country will never be a running water park again.







If you want to see more pictures and videos:


http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html - Shane Perez and friends swim from River Country to Discovery Island and take pictures along the way.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENIZHzbXhTA - This is a video of some idiot kids who enter River Country. Again, it is Disney's fault for letting it stay accessible. In the video, it shows how the gate is locked, but you can easily squeeze through it! It also shows how everything was left to rot, including the offices.


http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/disney-blunder/ - This link describes the Disney abandoned Bahamas island Treasure Island.


http://movies.disney.com/sing-along-songs-campout-at-walt-disney-world - This video is on youtube. It was filmed on Discovery Island and River Country!


http://www.popcenturysite.com/content/pop-century-legendary-years-art-animation - The abandoned Pop Century Resort. Includes a video!










I don't encourage you to trespass onto any Disney property. However, peeking through the holes in the fence surrounding it, doesn't hurt. I have not trespassed at River Country and I don't own the copyrights to the pictures above.

Visiting WDW with children, toddlers, and babies!

Plan on visiting WDW but don't know how your children will act?




Entering Disney World can be very overwhelming to a young child. There are a lot of strangers all around! Some children will cling to you, until they spy their favorite character. Then, they might take off running. For younger ones, I suggest keeping a firm grip on them or keep them in the stroller. I've seen many parents keep their toddlers on a leash, and that is completely understandable! I would also buy some "tattoos" where you write your name and cell number on it. You use water and apply it to the child's arm so if they got separated from you, someone could reach you. Also, have a reoccurring chat before your visit about the dangers of running away, even to Mickey Mouse.




Should you bring your own stroller or rent a Disney Stroller?




I suggest you bring your own stroller! Disney strollers are plastic, uncomfortable, and don't have much storage space. They rent $15 per day for a single and $30 or $32 for a double. If you book for multi-day rental, the single is $13 per day. You must keep your receipt to get the stroller each day. The strollers do not leave the theme park. This is another reason you should bring your own stroller. If your child falls asleep in your stroller, you don't have to take them out when you leave the park! Some airlines like Southwest will not charge you for a stroller if you are buying a ticket for your child. It is free to be checked as well as a car seat. The Disney Buses do not allow car seats! You can also request a taxi with a car seat if you need to go somewhere other than Disney World.




What should you bring for your child and what does the Baby Centers provide?




Definitely bring your own drinks and snacks! - for you and your children! The baby care centers offer rocking chairs, high chairs, sink, microwave, changing table, and there is a store that sells necessities. The website at the bottom for the Baby care centers will tell you more about what they provide. I have heard of people shipping diapers and other necessities separately to their resort so they don't have to pack them in their luggage. I would bring several changes of clothes for your child; don't forget there are laundry mats at every Disney resort.




What rides can your toddler ride and enjoy?


They can ride majority of the rides! The only ones smaller children can not ride are the roller coasters: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain RR, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rockin' Roller-Coaster. Stitch's Great Escape has a 40" limit. Barnstormer has a 35" limit. Splash Mountain is 40". Space Mountain is 44". Big Thunder is 40". Tomorrowland Speedway is 32". Dinosaur is 40". Expedition Everest is 44". There are more








Where can I find height requirements for rides?


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/#/magic-kingdom,epcot,hollywood-studios,animal-kingdom/








Where should we take naptime?


Probably the best place for your child to nap is at your room, but if that isn't an option, then keep them in a stroller in a shaded area or inside a Disney store. I have also seen children sleep on the monorails, the MK railroad, the people mover in MK, and the Mexican boat ride in the World Showcase in EPCOT! Don't forget the baby centers!


Need more information? Check out these Disney Websites:


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/traveling-with-little-ones/


http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?sort=&page=1&where=search&qid=25784&pid=80&cid=104


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/baby-care-centers/

4 Days, 4 Theme Parks! Itinerary for a family with all ages!

4 Days, 4 Parks!

This itinerary is for people who aren't using Fast Pass +; if you are going to, then look at all of the rides I said get a fast pass for and reserve them on your Fast Pass + account! Remember you can book it 60 days in advance!

Day 1

Magic Kingdom:

Be there before the doors open! They will hand "pixie dust" around and you get to see a special character train ride.

-The older ones (above 40 inches) hop on the next train and then get off at the first stop -Frontierland! Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad several times! They younger ones can walk over to Fantasyland with an adult, or you can do the rider switch pass at Big Thunder Mt RR. To use this, you go up to a cast member and tell them all adults want to ride so you need a pass for the ones staying behind with the children. Then they give you what looks like a Fast Pass!

-Hop back on the train to Fantasyland. Ride Journey of the Little Mermaid.
Ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Ride Peter Pan's Flight if the ride wait is below 30 min.
Ride Winnie the Pooh.
Adults Ride Mad Tea Party (spinning tea cups) and Children with an adult go drive at the Indy Speedway!
Look at the wait time for Space Mountain and the Fast Pass distribution. Decide if you want to ride now or grab Fast Passes.
Look at the wait time for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and decide if you want to ride it.
It should be around lunch time, so you can swing by Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café.
If you didn't ride Buzz, you can probably walk back and get a Fast Pass for it now. If you didn't ride Peter Pan earlier, then I would walk back there and get a Fast Pass instead of Buzz. You can ride Buzz later.
Walk through the castle over to Adventureland. Get in line to ride Jungle Cruise.
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
Walk to Frontierland and look at the wait time for Splash Mountain. If it is cold outside, you might not ride this because of the chance you will get wet. If the wait is more than 35 minutes, then look and see when you can get another Fast Pass and come back.
Walk back through Adventureland and watch the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Walk over to Haunted Mansion and ride it. The wait always looks long outside but it never really is. Once inside you are basically on the ride.
Ride It's a Small World.
Watch Mickey's Philharmagic.
Go eat and grab a seat in front of the Castle for the Electric Light Parade and Wishes firework show!

Day 2

Animal Kingdom

Arrive before the park opens! As soon as you can enter, take off jogging to the left to ride Kilimanjaro's Safari ride! Everyone knows animals are most active in the morning so everyone is heading that way!
After this, head over to Expedition Everest. Get a Fast Pass! Even if the wait time is less than 30 min, you will probably want to ride it again. So ride it now and get a fast pass!
Walk back to the Tree of Life and get your picture made in front of it! Then go watch It's Tough to Be a Bug!
Look at your time sheet and go watch the next Finding Nemo the Musical!
Walk over to Dinoland and have the older kids ride Dinosaur. Someone accompany the younger ones to see their favorite characters for pictures and autographs!
Next, find something to eat! I suggest Flametree BBQ.
Your Fast Pass for Expedition Everest should be ready now! Go ride it!

Currently the Festival of the Lion King is being moved to a new theater in Africa. If it is open when you visit, make sure you look at your Time sheet for times to see it before you go!

This park closes before the others, so if you didn't get to ride all of the rides in Magic Kingdom, drive over there and have fun! Since you already saw Wishes and the parade, you can be riding your favorite rides again! Ride Aladdin's Flying carpets and Space Mountain! The lines will be shorter because majority of people are seated in front of the castle watching the show!


Day 3

Hollywood Studios:

Be there before the park opens!
Run to Toy Story Mania and grab a Fast Pass!
Look at the time sheet for Disney Junior Live, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show, and Indiana Jones! You won't want to miss these shows! - If you don't have a child, then you can miss the Disney Jr show.
If you are all adults, then walk over to Tower or Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster and Ride them! You can also do the Rider Switch with these if you have children!
Beauty and the Beast play is right there so if it is time for a show, go see it!
Walk to the back of the park toward the Sorcerer's Hat.
Time to go watch Voyage of the Little Mermaid!
Should be close to your Fast Pass time for Toy Story Midway Mania! Go ride it!
If it is lunch time, go eat at the Pizza Planet arcade! Don't waste time playing the games!
Go watch the 3D show the Muppets
Go ride the Backlot Tour! Warning: the ones who sit on the LEFT will get wet!!
If it is time, go watch the Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show!
If you don't get sick on rides, then go ride Star Tours!
Go watch Indiana Jones if it is time!
Go ride the Great Movie Ride! You'll be in the movies!
Go get some last minute autographs from characters as you head down Main Street toward the Tower of Terror - take a right after the Beauty and the Beast show toward the night time show Fantasmic! Get in line and pick a seat toward the middle to watch this awesome show! There is Fast Pass + available.


Day 4

EPCOT:

Walk over to Soarin' and get a Fast Pass! If the line is short, ride it too!
Go ride Living with the Land (it is beside Soarin')
Go ride The Seas with Nemo and Friends! Afterward, Walk around the aquarium until it is almost time to grab another Fast Pass!
Go ride Test Track if the wait isn't more than 40 minutes. If it is, grab a Fast Pass!
Go ride Ellen's Energy Adventure.
Go ride Spaceship Earth (it is the giant EPCOT golf ball).
Walk over to Mission Space and ride it or get a Fast Pass. Orange side is rough; Green is easy!
If it is lunch time, go eat at the Electric Umbrella or Sunshine Seasons!
Go ride Journey into the Imagination with Figment!
Now it should be time to ride Test Track and Soarin', so go ride those before you enter the World Showcase!
When you enter EPCOT's World Showcase, Mexico will be on your left. Go there and enter the big Temple (up the stairs). There is a ride at the back, the 3 Caballeros staring Donald Duck!

--Check out my "where to eat" post if you want to know other places to eat!--

Walk over to Norway and get a Fast Pass to the boat ride, Maelstrom.
If you have kids, you can do the Agent P's World Showcase adventure where you go explore each country looking for clues!
Each country has a video about it. France has the best one! They have the best Bakery, too!
Go ride Maelstrom when you Fast Pass is due!
Pick out a country you want to eat supper and go eat!
When you are done, go back to Mexico and pick a spot to sit facing the lake to watch the firework show Illuminations Reflections of Earth!


I hope you have a magical time! Feel free to print this out for your trip!

Your 3 Day 4 Park Itinerary for a Family with Every Age!

3 Days, 4 Parks!

This itinerary is for people who aren't using Fast Pass +; if you are going to, then look at all of the rides I said get a fast pass for and reserve them on your Fast Pass + account! Remember you can book it up to 60 days in advance!

Day 1

Magic Kingdom:

Be there before the doors open! They will hand "pixie dust" around and you get to see a special character train ride.

-The older ones (above 40 inches) hop on the next train and then get off at the first stop -Frontierland! Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad several times! They younger ones can walk over to Fantasyland with an adult, or you can do the rider switch pass at Big Thunder Mt RR. To use this, you go up to a cast member and tell them all adults want to ride so you need a pass for the ones staying behind with the children. Then they give you what looks like a Fast Pass!

-Hop back on the train to Fantasyland. Ride Journey of the Little Mermaid.
Ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Ride Peter Pan's Flight if the ride wait is below 30 min.
Ride Winnie the Pooh.
Adults Ride Mad Tea Party (spinning tea cups) and Children with an adult go drive at the Indy Speedway!
Look at the wait time for Space Mountain and the Fast Pass distribution. Decide if you want to ride now or grab Fast Passes.
Look at the wait time for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and decide if you want to ride it.
It should be around lunch time, so you can swing by Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café.
If you didn't ride Buzz, you can probably walk back and get a Fast Pass for it now. If you didn't ride Peter Pan earlier, then I would walk back there and get a Fast Pass instead of Buzz. You can ride Buzz later.
Walk through the castle over to Adventureland. Get in line to ride Jungle Cruise.
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
Walk to Frontierland and look at the wait time for Splash Mountain. If it is cold outside, you might not ride this because of the chance you will get wet. If the wait is more than 35 minutes, then look and see when you can get another Fast Pass and come back.
Walk back through Adventureland and watch the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Walk over to Haunted Mansion and ride it. The wait always looks long outside but it never really is. Once inside you are basically on the ride.
Ride It's a Small World.
Watch Mickey's Philharmagic.
Go eat and grab a seat in front of the Castle for the Electric Light Parade and Wishes firework show!

Day 2

Animal Kingdom & EPCOT:

Arrive before the park opens! As soon as you can enter, take off jogging to the left to ride Kilimanjaros's Safari ride! Everyone knows animals are most active in the morning so everyone is heading that way!
After this, head over to Expedition Everest. Get a Fast Pass! Even if the wait time is less than 30 min, you will probably want to ride it again. So ride it now and get a fast pass!
Walk back to the Tree of Life and get your picture made in front of it! Then go watch It's Tough to Be a Bug!
Look at your time sheet and go watch the next Finding Nemo the Musical!
Walk over to Dinoland and have the older kids ride Dinosaur. Someone accompany the younger ones to see their favorite characters for pictures and autographs!
Next, find something to eat! I suggest Flametree BBQ.
Your Fast Pass for Expedition Everest should be ready now! Go ride it!

Currently the Festival of the Lion King is being moved to a new theater in Africa. If it is open when you visit, make sure you look at your Time sheet for times to see it before you go!

Hop on a bus or drive to EPCOT!
Walk over to Soarin' and get a Fast Pass!
Go ride Living with the Land (it is beside Soarin')
Go ride The Seas with Nemo and Friends! Afterward, Walk around the aquarium until it is almost time to grab another Fast Pass!
Go ride Test Track if the wait isn't more than 40 minutes. If it is, grab a Fast Pass!
Go ride Ellen's Energy Adventure.
Go ride Spaceship Earth (it is the giant EPCOT golf ball).
Go ride Journey into the Imagination with Figment!
Now it should be time to ride Test Track and Soarin', so go ride those before you enter the World Showcase!
When you enter EPCOT's World Showcase, Mexico will be on your left. Go there and enter the big Temple (up the stairs). There is a ride at the back, the 3 Caballeros staring Donald Duck!
If you are hungry, there is a counter service restaurant right across the street from the temple.
--Check out my where to eat post if you want to know other places to eat!--
Walk over to Norway and get a Fast Pass to the boat ride, Maelstrom.
If you have kids, you can do the Agent P's World Showcase adventure where you go explore each country looking for clues!
Each country has a video about it. France has the best one! Find a place to eat if you didn't eat Mexican, and enjoy the bakeries :)
Go ride Maelstrom when you Fast Pass is due!
When you are done, go back to Mexico and pick a spot to sit facing the lake to watch the firework show Illuminations Reflections of Earth!


Day 3

Hollywood Studios:

Be there before the park opens!
Run to Toy Story Mania and grab a Fast Pass!
Look at the time sheet for Disney Junior Live, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show, and Indiana Jones! You won't want to miss these shows! - If you don't have a child, then you can miss the Disney Jr show.
If you are all adults, then walk over to Tower or Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster and Ride them! You can also do the Rider Switch with these if you have children!
Beauty and the Beast play is right there so if it is time for a show, go see it!
Walk to the back of the park toward the Sorcerer's Hat.
Time to go watch Voyage of the Little Mermaid!
Should be close to your Fast Pass time for Toy Story Midway Mania! Go ride it!
If it is lunch time, go eat at the Pizza Planet arcade! Don't waste time playing the games!
Go watch the 3D show the Muppets
Go ride the Backlot Tour! Warning: the ones who sit on the LEFT will get wet!!
If it is time, go watch the Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show!
If you don't get sick on rides, then go ride Star Tours!
Go watch Indiana Jones if it is time!
Go ride the Great Movie Ride! You'll be in the movies!
Go get some last minute autographs from characters as you head down Main Street toward the Tower of Terror - take a right after the Beauty and the Beast show toward the night time show Fantasmic! Get in line and pick a seat toward the middle to watch this awesome show! There is Fast Pass + available.

I hope you have a magical time! Feel free to print this out for your trip!

Animal Kingdom - Rides, Shows, and more!

Animal Kingdom:

This theme park is based on awareness for animals! Festival of the Lion King show, Safari through the African savannah, It's Tough to be a Bug 3D show, and much, much, more!!

Attractions:

Kilimanjaro's Safari - go here FIRST THING in the morning. Animals are most active in the morning! Take a ride in an open bus and see elephants, lions, cheetahs, alligators, and many more animals! Make sure you have your camera ready!

 This giraffe was taking it's time and posing for my camera on one of my many trips!

Dinosaur - jerky and loud ride back in time to a specific dino. Make sure you have all your belongings packed in your bag and secure! My mom had her sunglasses on the top of her head on time and they flew right off! Luckily, the workers found them at the end of the day and they were okay!

Expedition Everest - Super fast roller coaster that will take you up and down Mount Everest to find the Yeti! Watch out for his claws! This ride is my favorite roller coaster Disney World has because of how long it is! -- And you go BACKWARDS and spiral down (sort of feels like you are upside down)! You will need a Fast Pass or hop in the singles line!

 

Kali River Rapids - Warning! You will get soaked! Take a river raft ride through some incredible rapids! You can wear a poncho, and I suggest that you do! I did ride it one time and I only got a drop of water on me, so my family forced me to ride it again so I got as soaked as they were. Oh and the dry seat is usually the one that gets even wetter the next time! You can't predict which seat is the driest one. It depends on the weight of everyone on the raft!

Affection Section - Ride the train to a petting zoo. DO NOT do this! Don't waste your time at a petting zoo! You can do that back at home (or in a city close to home). There is nothing special about it.

Primeval Whirl - In Dinoland, this ride spins as it travels up and down! Don't look down or you will get sick!

Shows:

It's Tough to be a Bug! - One of the best 3D shows! You put on your special bug-eyes glasses and become an honorary bug! Beware of bugs crawling between you and your seat ;) Oh! It does get a tad wet one of the bugs try to spray you!

Finding Nemo the Musical - Watch this live show based on the movie! It is an incredible performance and everyone enjoys it! Sit on the end of an isle so you can have some fish swim by you ;)

Festival of the Lion King - This is my ALL TIME favorite live show in Disney World! It is currently being moved to a new theater in Africa. It was in Camp Minnie-Mickey that is now being turned into Avatar-land! This show invites the animals from the movie to join in the celebration! There is romance, sing-along-songs, and acrobats! Every age enjoys this show! Children get to join in the fun and dance around with the performers!!

What's in the Future??

Avatarland is replacing Camp Minnie-Mickey! This is based on the movie where the military guy replaces his brother and becomes a blue person and enters the wild jungle. There will be a boat ride through that jungle, a walk way of it, and another ride to let you experience riding a Banshee (that flying animal)!

Festival of the Lion King is being moved to a new African theater.

They are going to start keeping the park open til after dark! They will have a night Kilimajaro's Safari ride and a night time firework show and parade! Kilimanjaro already has a night time safari but it is a special tour that you pay money to see. Now, it will be open with park admittance!

I predict there is more coming in 2014 & 2015 than they are letting on :)

--The photos on this blog are all taken by myself--

Why Should You Visit Disney World? Isn't It Just For Children?

Why Should You Visit Disney World?

Because it is magical. It can transform the grumpiest, boring person to the lovable, happy child again! You walk in and see a giant castle and all the smiling, laughing faces and it just warms your heart. You want to believe in dreams coming true and that you can live in a castle if you wanted! You can be who you want to be! No one looks at you the wrong way. It is okay to run to your favorite attraction like a little child. Live in your own fantasy!


What age is the best to visit Disney World??

All ages are perfect to visit Disney World and still have fun -- unless you are bringing along an infant... I would say when your child is walking and starting to talk, that is an okay age to bring them.
Personally, I would wait until age 2 or even 2.5! Under 3 years of age are FREE admission to all Disney World Theme Parks!

Adults 18+

Who doesn't want to be a child again with freedom and no worries about work or making schedules! With no deadlines! Well, at Disney World, adults get the chance to live that way! You can run to see your favorite character and relive the first time you saw their movie. Disney World is the perfect trip to take you down memory lane! Also, you can treat Disney World like a laid back vacation - no rushing around to get the most out of your money (unless you like that sort of thing).

Teens & PreTeens

Teens thrive on adrenaline rushes - and thankfully, Disney World has that covered! With rides like Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, Mission Space, Rockin' Roller Coaster, Test Track, and more! They will feel like a child if you make them ride the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh again, so let them walk over to their favorite ride and live their dream. Disney World is one of the safest places, in my opinion. If your child misbehaves, or even if you do, the castmembers and security guards are NOT afraid to escort you out.


Toddlers

Imagine your toddler seeing Mickey Mouse for the first time. Their bright eyes lighting up and they're smiling from ear to ear! They won't ask to ride the big scary roller coasters, they will love flying through Neverland on Peter Pan's flying ship, bouncing around with Tigger, and seeing their favorite Disney Jr. Live on stage! You will enjoy watching them be so happy. Just seeing them that happy will warm your heart.

If you want advice on bringing your younger kids, consult the Disney Mom's Panel: http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/
Disney hires these moms (and some dads) to answer your questions for free! You can easily search through the topics to find your answer, or ask a question yourself!

You won't regret visiting, that is for sure!

MagicBands, Fast Pass +, and More Info about How to Get the Most Out of Your Trip!

First off, my number one suggestion is to create a Disney Experience account online and get the free app!
You can do so much with this account: make dining reservations, choose your fast pass attractions, look at the park hours, find out the ride wait times, look at show times, find locations of characters and the times they will be out for autographs and pictures. Of course, there are maps of each park so you won't ever get lost!

You can create an account at this link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/

You can use your account to book your resort, buy tickets, buy dining plan (which I wouldn't!), and much, much more!

When you book a resort with your Disney Experience account online, it will automatically link it to your account. Now that it is 2014, everyone in your party will have a MagicBand! Even the younger ones who are below the age of 3 - they don't need a ticket for admission, they're free- get a Magicband!! You choose a color and they put your name on it. They are water proof so you don't have to worry about taking them off. They will act as a room key to your Disney resort. If you link your theme park tickets to your Disney Experience account, your MagicBand will be your ticket to enter the park and be your Fast Pass +!  Once you have a MagicBand, you can re-use it the next time you come to WDW, as long as it is working.

Fast Pass + can be used to select attractions and reserve seats for a parade or show, all from your laptop, smart phone, or when you first enter a Disney theme park! You can do this 60 days prior to the day you want to ride or see the attraction! The catch: You have to have a valid ticket linked to your Disney Experience account!

Dining Reservations can be made by calling WDW or by going online to your Disney Experience account. You simply select the restaurant, the date, the time, and number of guests! You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance. If you miss your reservation, they will charge you!

Last August 2013 I used my Disney Experience account online to book a Disney resort stay for one week for November 2014. They only needed $200 up front and the rest I pay monthly. You can't set up auto-payments but you can sign in and enter your card numbers and set the amount to pay each time. You can pay as little as $20 at a time. You can link your resort, dining plan, and tickets so that you are paying on the total of all 3.

You can also use Disney gift cards to pay for your reservation, Disney store items, and some restaurants inside WDW accept gift cards to pay for you meal! If you have children who will want a lot of toys/souvenirs, I suggest getting them their own gift card. You should keep up with it of course, but let them use it when they want to purchase a toy. That way, you can set the amount you're willing to blow on their toys and souvenirs. Just make sure they know the gift card has a set amount on it and is not a credit card.

If you are going more than once in a 365 day period, it will be cheaper to buy an annual pass! Floridians are able to purchase a discounted Florida annual pass but you must provide proof of residency. If you only plan to come once, then I suggest you sit down and decide how many days you want to go to the park, and add the Park Hopper Option to your tickets. The Park Hopper is where you are allowed to enter more than one park the same day. Without it, the park you first enter is the only one you are allowed to enter the whole day! So if you had a dinner reservation in EPCOT but you went to Magic Kingdom first, you couldn't get admittance to EPCOT unless your ticket had the Park Hopper option! Annual passes are Park Hoppers.

If you have a limited amount of time to spend at WDW, but you want to get the most out of it, I suggest a 3 Day Park Hopper ticket. Yes, there are 4 parks. Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other 3 parks, so you could go there first thing in the morning, and then after lunch, go to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom will need a whole day to itself if possible. At the end of the 3rd day, you can decide which rides you want to ride again and go to that park. Again, you can link your tickets to your Disney Experience account so you can use Fast Pass + for your favorite attractions!

Your children probably won't be that interested in EPCOT's World Showcase, so I would combine an afternoon at EPCOT with a morning at Animal Kingdom. You need to visit Animal Kingdom in the morning because that is when the animals are most active!!

I have more tips and advice to come!

Where to eat in WDW and the prices?

There are 2 kinds of restaurants in Walt Disney World.
1) Counter service - get in line, order, pay, grab food, and go find a table.
2) Table service - make a reservation, be seated, order and pay

But first, some knowledge:
-you can purchase dining plans, but I would not unless you have trouble saving your money for food and souvenirs. Even the cheapest dining plan is $50 per day per person. I like to save my money for souvenirs rather than eat a fancy meal every day. So without the dining plan, you can easily save money by eating the counter service or buffets everyday. Bring your own water bottles because they are $2.50 in the parks! You can refill them at the water fountains! If you choose the dining plan, the cheapest one comes with 2 meals, a snack, and a refillable drink (the kind that is plastic and a keepsake) - per person per day. Note that not all places in WDW accept dining plans!!

Magic Kingdom:
Counter Service:
- Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - this is divided into Bay 1, Bay 2, Bay 3. You choose which station, order, pay, grab the food and go sit down below to be entertained by a space alien and his invisible back up singers. Kids love to eat here. Serves Chicken, Burgers, Salads, and sandwiches. About $10 per plate. MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT QUICKLY!

-Casey's Corner - baseball themed. Serve Hot dogs, nachos, corn-dog nuggets, chili cheese fries, - all under $10. You can sit inside or outside. Problem: if it is lunch or dinner time, you will have a problem finding a table!

-The Friar's Nook - Quick and casual. Serve hot dogs, mac & cheese, cheeseburgers, and veggies and chips with hummus. About $10 per person.

-Tortuga Tavern - Mexican food. They do accept reservations! About $10 per person!

Table service:
-Be Our Guest restaurant (new)- this is fancier than most places in MK. Offers a quick service lunch or a sit down dinner! Enter inside beast's enchanted castle that has scenes from the movie Beauty and the Beast in it, as well as the Rose in the West Wing. Watch closely, every time a petal falls, the portrait of Prince changes to the Beast! There are many other surprises and hidden mickeys all over! Depending on lunch or dinner, it will cost you $10-15 per person.

-Cinderella's Royal Table - Character dining inside Cinderella's castle! The best time to go is for breakfast (it is also the cheapest) and you are allowed inside the park before it opens! If you have a little princess, this is the best way to treat her! She gets to eat with the princesses, get their autograph, and have her photo taken with them. You will receive the printed photo complimentary. It is a one-of-a-king fairytale experience! This will cost you over $30 per adult. This is very competitive so book the reservation 6 months in advance!

-The Crystal Palace - all you can eat buffet on Main Street, USA. About $15 per adult. This is also Character dining with Winnie the Pooh and his friends! They will walk around to each table to greet everyone. You may take a picture with them with your own camera.

Special events:
Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party - Wrap up your evening by eating dessert and watching Wishes fireworks show by the castle. To book this visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/ . Personally I would save my money for the magical ear hats that correspond with the shows!

EPCOT:
Remember that EPCOT is divided into the Future World and the World Showcase!

Counter Service:
Electric Umbrella - serves American: Chicken strips, burgers, salads, sandwiches. About $10 per meal. Located in Future World. Probably the best deal!

Katsura Grill - This is located in Japan of the EPCOT World Showcase. Japanese teriyaki, sushi, chicken cutlet curry, savory pancakes, salads and more. Draft beer, sake and plum wine are also available.  $10 per person.

La Cantina de San Angel - This is located in Mexico at EPCOT World Showcase. Mexican beef or chicken tacos, cheese empanadas, loaded nachos and guacamole. Churros, fruit popsicles, frozen margaritas, beer and soft drinks, both Mexican and American, are also available.  Warning: this does not taste like the Mexican restaurants in the USA! It is still very good! $10 or less per plate.

Liberty Inn - Located in America of the EPCOT world showcase. Serves American Fast food. Less than $10 per plate.

Sunshine Seasons - Located in Future World. Serves Asian fare, gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, and wood-fired entrées. Try the ginger Mongolian beef or the grilled salmon. You can ride the Living with the Land boat ride before or after you eat! Disney prides itself in growing majority of the food it cooks! $10 per person.

Table Service:
-HINT! All of the table service need RESERVATIONS! You can book online through Disney Experience 6 months in advance!

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall - Located in Norway of the world showcase. Norwegian buffet (koldtbord) of cold dishes features salads, meats and cheeses, while hot entrées are served à la carte. The rotating menu may include seared herb-dusted beef tips, oven-roasted chicken breast and a special Scandinavian meatball dish made of pork, beef and capers called kjottkaker. Don't worry, the children's menu has pizza and hot dogs! About $13 per person.

Biergarten Restaurant - Located in Germany of the world showcase. Buffet style with live entertainment! Serves bratwurst, rotisserie chicken, pork schnitzel and a variety of salads. Save room for Bavarian cheesecake and hand-pulled apple strudel! If you have a small party (less than 5) they will pair you with another family -You will sit at the same table. MUST EAT HERE ONCE! About $13 per person.

Coral Reef Restaurant - This place is Fancy! Located in Future World. You enjoy your meal while watching sharks, turtles, rays, and fish swim around you! Basically eating at a fancy table inside an aquarium. I wouldn't bring kids here because they won't find much to eat, and you can always come to the aquarium when you are out in EPCOT. Serves seafood favorites like Coral Reef lobster orecchiette pasta and grilled mahi mahi, as well as tender chicken and steak dishes. Over $15 per person.

The Garden Grill - Located in Future World over by Sunshine Seasons. This is Character dining with Chip and Dale!  Serves platters of beef, turkey and sustainable fish, plus fresh salad, warm dinner rolls with maple butter, buttermilk mashed potatoes and more. Some of the veggies (like the cucumbers, Swiss chard, eggplant and sweet potatoes) may have even been grown in the Living with the Land greenhouses below! You are on this slow rotating platform. Honestly, this isn't worth the money. $30 or more per adult.

La Hacienda de San Angel - Located in Mexico in World Showcase. Serves Mexican. If you eat after dark, you can watch the fireworks show Illuminations while you eat (if you ask for a table by the window). $15 per person.

Nine Dragons - Fancy restaurant in China of the World Showcase. Serves honey-sesame chicken, peppery shrimp and fried rice. $15 per person. You can also request a window table and watch Illuminations.

Tokyo Dining - Located in Japan in the World Showcase. Serves tempura grilled steaks, fresh fish, a variety of unique items and popular Bento Box presentations. $15 per person.


Hollywood Studios:

Counter Service:
Fairfax Fare - Located by the Tower of Terror. Serves half-chicken meal, St. Louis ribs or a BBQ pork sandwich, all served with baked beans and coleslaw. Turkey legs, the Fairfax salad and fully loaded gourmet hot dogs are also served. $10 per plate.

Pizza Planet Arcade - Based on Pizza Planet from the first Toy Story movie. Kids love it here! And the pizza is pretty good! I wouldn't let them waste time playing games. I would just grab the pizza, eat it, and continue riding rides and watching shows. Less than $10 per person.

Rosie's All American Café - Located by Tower of Terror. Serves American. During lunch, it might be hard to find a table! $10 or less per plate.

Table Service:

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant- Hop in your convertible car at the drive-in theater! Serves Spicy Buffalo Pop Corn Chicken and Fried Dill Pickles. For your main feature, The Famous All American Picnic Burger, Salmon BLT, The Reuben and the Vegetable Burger. They also have Mac & Cheese. $15 per person. MUST DO!


Animal Kingdom:

Counter Service:
Flame Tree BBQ - Serves chicken, St. Louis ribs or our pulled pork sandwich. Eat outside under a pavilion. There are many many tables available so you don't have to worry about snatching one! $10 per person. - Very good and fast!

Pizzafari - Serves Pizza. Less than $10 per person.


Table Service:

Tusker House - Buffet with character dining with Donald Duck! Serves vegetable samosas, potato wedges, curried rice salad, pearl couscous, tabbouleh and rotisserie chicken. $30 per person. I wouldn't waste my money on this!

Yak & Yeti Restaurant - Located below Expedition Everest. Serves Enjoy sweet-and-sour chicken, tempura-battered shrimp, pork pot stickers and Kobe beef burgers. Vegetarian options abound, as do kid-friendly choices like lo mein noodles, egg rolls and chicken bites. $15 per person.