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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Eden's First trip to Disney World!

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

·                     Dining Reservations must be canceled 24 hours in advance or you will be charged $10 per person if you don't show. It is okay to be late as long as some of the group shows up!
·                     Quick Service is not a reservation so you can go somewhere else to eat!
·                     FastPass+ : You can arrive 5 min early and 5 min late and they will still let you ride!
·                     If you miss a FP+ attraction you won't be charged but you won't get an extra one.
·                     After you use the 3 FP+, you can go to a FP+ kiosk to get another but "the pickings are slim".
·                     Every time you enter a park you will have to go through a bag check line.
·                     You must park the stroller in designated stroller parking areas when you are going into a restaurant, ride, show, or meet and greet (with some exceptions).

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

Dinner at 5 PM  at Rainforest Cafe at DownTown Disney!


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

FP+                          
1.                  Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 9:35-10:35AM
2.                  Space Mountain 10:55-11:45AM
3.                  Peter Pan's Flight 1:30-2:30 PM

Meet Rapunzel & Cinderella (fairy tale hall)
Ride Buzz Light Year Ranger Spin
Ride Winnie the Pooh
Meet Ariel
Ride Under the Sea- Little Mermaid ride
Ride Barnstormer 
Ride Dumbo
Meet Daisy Duck & Minnie Mouse
Meet Goofy & Donald Duck
Mad Tea Party (spinning tea cups)

Eat
 LUNCH at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe (burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken) or Tortuga Tavern (quick Mexican).
Ride Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Monster's Inc Laugh Floor

If Eden is cranky, now is the time to go take a nap! The others can stay and ride Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mt, Splash Mountain
If Eden isn't tired:
At 2 PM, sit facing the castle on the sidewalk. Watch Dream Along with Mickey, and stay there until the Festival of Fantasy Parade! (Have someone run to Plaza Ice Cream Parlor or Main Street Bakery while they wait). IT WILL BE HOT! Look at the map to see the parade route. If you can find a place in the shade with a view of Main Street.
*** stay there until parade ends around 4. Don't leave after the show! The parade will come by later and you'll lose your spot! Watch Festival of Fantasy Parade at 3 PM! 

Watch Mickey's Philharmagic
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Meet characters

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

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




Sunday
EPCOT
Park opens at 9 AM
Eat with princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at 10:35 AM
FP+                   
1.                  Mission Space 3:35-4:35 PM (Go green for easy or orange for sick)
2.                  Soarin' 5:20-6:20 PM (DON’T MISS THIS!!!)
3.                  Turtle Talk with Crush 6:35-7:35 PM (Nemo before or after this! and make the adults go to this too! Eden will sit in the front with other kids)
Meet Belle 11 AM (FRANCE)
Meet Alice 11:30 AM (United Kingdom)
Meet Mary Poppins 12 PM (UK)
Meet Aladdin & Jasmine 12:45 (Morocco)
Meet Mulan 2 PM (China)
Meet Donald Duck (Mexico)
Ride Gran Fiesta Tour (inside Mexico's Temple)
Meet Duffy the Disney bear 3:10 PM
Ride Soarin'
Ride Living with the Land
Ride Journey into the Imagination with Figment

RideThe seas with Nemo & Friends
Show: Turtle Talk with Crush
Ride Test Track (sorry Amber)
Ride Mission space: Mars (intense, Sorry Amber)
Ride Ellen's Energy Adventure (This is  a 45 minute slow ride)
Ride Spaceship Earth (the big ball- This is a long ride)
Dinner at : Electric Umbrella (burgers, fries, chicken) or different quick service at countries (Chinese, Mexican, American, etc.)

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




Monday
Animal Kingdom!
Opens at 9 AM
FP+                               
1.                  Kilimanjaro's Safari 9:45 - 10:45 AM
2.                  Expedition Everest 11:05 AM-12:05 PM (J & H)
3.                  Meet Mickey & Minnie 1:10-2:10 PM (No J&H)
4.                  Kali River Rapids 2:40-3:40 PM (you will get soaked! wear poncho)

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

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

Watch the 1 PM show of Finding Nemo the Musical (arrive 20 min early)
Walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek
Watch Flights of Wonder
Meet Baloo & King Louie (jungle book)
Watch It's Tough to Be a Bug ( can be done anytime)
Watch Festival of the Lion King 5 PM show (arrive at 4:45 or sooner)

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

Watch Beauty and the Beast
Dinner at quick service at ABC Commissary (burgers, fries, sandwiches, chicken strips, etc)
Fantasmic at 9 PM if you aren't tired (this is the best night show!!)




Tuesday
Magic Kingdom! Meet Aladdin & Jasmine

Opens at 9 AM

Get to the parks before your reservation time

Amber, Brock, and Eden eat breakfast at 10:05 AM at Cinderellas Royal Table inside Cinderellas Castle!
FP+                               
1.           Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 11:15-12:15
2.           Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin 1:30-2:30 PM
3.           Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 3:15-4:15 PM (J&H)
4.           Meet Anna and Elsa 4:30-5:30 PM (No J&H)
Ride Jungle Cruise
Ride Magic Carpets (flying carpets)
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean
Meet Woody & Jessie
Ride Splash Mt

LUNCH ?

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

Bippity Boppity Boutique at 3 PM!
Meet Anna & Elsa (fastpass 4:30)
Meet Merrida (Brave)
Meet Rapunzel & Cinderella (fairy tale hall)
Meet Tinker Bell
Meet peter pan and wendy
Electrical parade at 9 PM and then Wishes Fireworks at 10 PM




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

Do not miss:
Crush n Gusher 
Bay Slides
Humunga Kowanunga
Shark Reef

Go to Downtown Disney to shop or go to Disney Quest or play mini golf (included on your tickets)
Catch the bus form Downtown Disney to Disneys Yacht Club Resort at 6:30 or before

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



Thursday
Hollywood Studios!
Opens at 9 AM
Breakfast at 10:10 AM at Hollywood and Vine with Disney Jr characters like Sofia, Jake, and Doc McStuffins!
FP+                                 
1.                  Star Tours the Adventures Continue 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM (J&H)
2.                  For the 1st time in forever - frozen singalong 11:05 -11:20 AM (everyone except J&H)
3.                  Tower of Terror (J&H) 3:00-4:00 PM
4.                  Voyage of the Little mermaid 3:10-3:25 PM (No J&H)
Meet baymax & Hiro
Watch the Citizens on sunset blvd
Ride the Great Movie Ride
Meet Beauty and the Beast
Watch Beauty and the Beast (if you missed it before)


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

Dinner- quick service

Fantasmic at 9 PM if you missed it the other day




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

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




Saturday
Time to leave :(

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Disney World: Step by step

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 10  Order free Disney World park maps and make a list of must-do attractions for your family. Then decide which days you will try to do those. When it is 60 days out, at midnight Eastern time zone - You can book your FastPass+ attractions (only 30 days out if you don't stay on Disney Property) 
Some attractions that go fast: Meet Anna and Elsa, 7 Dwarf Mine Train, Festival of Fantasy parade, and Toy Story Mania
If you are a group larger than 6 people, it will be harder to find FP+ if you don't stay up "til the clock strikes midnight"!
*Note: you just have your tickets linked to your My Disney Experience account 

Step 11  Start packing for your vacation and enjoy!