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Many popular Disney World attractions are shows, such as Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Mickey’s Philharmagic, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, the American Adventure, and more! However, what most guests are thinking about when the theater doors open is how to get the best seat, especially when you have kids!
While many theaters at Walt Disney World have seating that offers great views no matter where you’re at, the best views for many shows are in the center, near the front. From this location, you have a direct view of the action and close proximity to the characters, especially when it’s a live show. However, when you enter the theater, Cast Members require guests to move all the way across the aisle. Therefore, if you’re the first one in, you will probably get one of the worst seats!
So if you want a great seat at a show at Disney World, don’t push to be the first through the theater doors. If you do, you will be required to go all the way across the aisle and end up with a distant aisle seat. Instead, hang back a little and let the crowds flow in until they have filled up half of the theater, then make your way to an empty seat which should be at the center of the theater! However, be warned that the seats towards the front tend to fill up fast!
So when you’re hunting for a great seat at a Disney World show, don’t rush! Let other guests take the other seats and then get the ones you want. It’s much less stressful and you and the kids will have a great view!
When Walt Disney World travelers envision their trips they think of perfect weather, smiling children, wonderful food, characters surrounding them. While all of these things can be true when traveling to Disney World, a trip to Disney can be tiring, stressful and a little bit of work. There are plenty of ways that to alleviate stress on your Walt Disney World vacation.
Understand the size
Walt Disney World covers 46 square miles of property, has 4 main theme parks 2 water parks and Downtown Disney. In addition, there are 19 resort hotels on Disney property. Basically, Disney World is HUGE! It is important to understand the size before you travel so that you can accurately plan out your days and times.
Plan Ahead
It is very important to know the time of year you plan to travel. Crowds, weather and prices vary for different times of year and can greatly impact many of the factors of your trip. In order to help you plan you may want to pick up a few Walt Disney World vacation guide books such as Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 2011. These books are designed to give you a lot of information about Walt Disney World. Another option would be to visit touringplans.com, this site is devoted to helping you design a step by step plan to the most magical vacation ever!
In all of the special planning you will do it is important to remember not to over plan. If you do and things don’t go the way you planned, it may leave you feeling disappointed. When you are planning be sure to work room into your plans for rest and relaxation. Disney is a working vacation and you will need a little R&R.
Get Familiar With Attractions
As you read through your Disney planning books create a list of attractions that you think your family would enjoy. It is very important to take note of any restrictions when planning out your attractions. Many rides AT Disney World have height restrictions. You would not want to have a child disappointed at the park because they cannot get on an attraction. It is a good idea to have a to do list per park. I usually recommend adding 4-5 attractions on your list per day, this way if you get to more than that, you feel very accomplished.
Use Fastpass
Fastpass is a reservation system for rides that allows you to reserve a ride time and return at a later time in the day. This system can save you a ton of time from waiting in line while you are at Walt Disney World.
Check Your Mindset
The most important thing to do to keep your stress low while at Walt Disney World is to keep the mindset that you are on vacation. While it is a working vacation, it is still a vacation. Try to relax and remember that you are at a magical place where memories are made that will last a lifetime. If you keep this in mind you are sure to have the best vacation you can possibly have.
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced its collection of merchandise inspired by Disney·Pixar’s “Cars 2,” arriving in theaters on June 24. The “Cars 2” collection at Target features products in categories throughout the store, including several exclusive items, such as the Racing Rivals Buddy Pack, Change Ups Racing Track set, Topper Deckington — a double-decker bus vehicle, “Cars 2” Guess Who game and a bedding pattern. The Target collection also features LEGO® Ultimate Build Francesco and the Fisher Price® Wheelies Racing Rivalry Track.
“Target’s collaboration with Disney offers our guests a wide selection of playful products inspired by the ‘Cars 2’ star characters, Lightning McQueen and Mater,” said Casey Carl, senior vice president of merchandising at Target. “From play sets and electronic devices to bedding and apparel, Target is the destination that Disney·Pixar movie fans are racing to for merchandise at an exceptional value.”
A dedicated boutique of “Cars 2” merchandise can also be found online at Target.com/Cars2, which has an expanded assortment of products inspired by the film and an interactive experience featuring the movie’s exciting characters. The site also houses the exclusive, custom animated TV spot created by Disney·Pixar for Target, featuring favorite characters from the film. In the spot, two cars are racing toward their nearest Target store when a surprise competitor comes up from behind and leaves them in the dust. The 30-second spot began airing on June 4.
“Fans are clamoring for ‘Cars’- inspired merchandise that brings the stories and characters from the film to life,” said Bruce Morrison, senior vice president of sales at Disney Consumer Products. “Target has captured some of the movie’s magic through its expansive ‘Cars 2’ assortment, and we know fans will love it.”
You may think your only choice when booking a Disney vacation is a package or a room-only reservation, but there’s one very handy option a lot of guests don’t know about: The base package. A base package is different from a regular Disney package in that you don’t add dining or tickets. You’re probably saying to yourself “Duh, Chris, that’s a room-only reservation.” Well, it is. And those work great as long as the deposit is only a couple hundred dollars, but if you’re booking a deluxe room or villa, your deposit can be hundreds of dollars. No one wants to pay that months before you travel, right? This is where the base package comes in.
A base package is essentially a fiction: You book a room-only reservation with the intent, but not the obligation, of adding tickets and dining at a later point. This isn’t cheating Disney out of the full deposit; they’re aware that guests do this. You’ll pay a $200 deposit to secure this package, the same as a regular package. Like any Disney package, you pay the final amount in full at the 45-day mark. One nice advantage of the base package is that unlike a room-only reservation, if you have to cancel after the grace period*, you’re only out your $200 deposit rather than the cost of one night’s stay.
Next time you book a room-only reservation, consider this option. It can save you a hefty down payment.
*For Disney packages, you’ll receive a full refund if you cancel 45-days prior to travel. For room-only reservations, it’s 5-days prior to travel.
If you prefer not to dine, “Under the Sea” at Ariel’s Grotto, Wine Country Trattoria offers a more upscale dining experience in a beautiful setting.
Wine Country Trattoria also offers a three course prix fixe menu, $39.99 for adults and $20.99 for children (ages 3-9) (passholder discounts may be available). Reservations are recommended and can be made 60 days prior to arrival by calling (714) 781-DINE.
The three course meal begins with your choice of a mixed green salad or soup selection (varies daily). Entrees offer your choice of chicken, pastas, sustainable fish, lamb shank, beef tenderloin (I recommend this!).
The desserts are plated in petite portions to share and include tiramisu, mini fruit crostada, vanilla bean panna cotta with fresh fruit and chocolate hazelnut mousse with lemon cream.
We asked to be seated upstairs where the roof is overhead but the California breeze blows through the terrace. The warm terra cotta tones make you feel like you are in the Napa Valley and the wine list follows suit. The mixture of the fantastic food, beautiful atmosphere and excellent service made this a family favorite, we can’t wait to get back here for our next meal!
If you would like to experience Disneyland and the World of Color Show, take advantage of the Summer Room-Only offer and save up to 25% on Disneyland resort hotels. Book by June 18, 2011 for travel June 19, 2011 through August 13, 2011. Book June 19, 2011 through July 23, 2011 for arrivals most night July 17, 2011 through August 13, 2011. Travel must be completed by August 14, 2011. Upgrade your room only reservation to a package and receive two Disney FASTPASS tickets for each person in their party per stay for check-in dates June 3rd through September 5th. Also receive early access to “The Little Mermaid~Ariel’s Undersea Adventure” 30-miutes prior to the opening of Disney California Adventure park from June 4th to September 5th.
Book with Pixie Vacations in June (for travel anytime) and you will be entered into a drawing to win a $250 Disney gift card!
My quick tip is for all those non morning people out there.
If you aren’t the character breakfast type, or need a little something to get you going in the morning, you can still avoid the morning madness! In the evening when you arrive back at your resort from a long day in the parks, stop into the snack shop and pick up a muffin, granola bar, pop tart or pastry and bring it back to your room (many of these count as snacks on the Disney Dining Plan).
When you wake up the next morning you have your breakfast snack ready to go, no muss, no fuss and no morning madness!
Exotic cocktails will pair like a tropical daydream with fresh new tastes from more than one island paradise at the 16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort. The one-of-a-kind 45-day festival serves up international cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents, with more than 25 international marketplaces featuring tapas-sized portions paired with beer, wine and inventive new cocktails.
Marketplace tasting menus offer variety and adventure for guests on a mission to tantalize their taste buds during a scenic stroll around the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon. The adventure can take them to the festival’s first Hawaii marketplace, which will cook up Kalua pork sliders and tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips to team with a refreshing Seven Tiki Mai Tai or a Kona Longboard or Pipeline beer. A new Caribbean Islands marketplace will serve ropa vieja with rice and jerk-spiced chicken with mango salsa. A beverage menu featuring a frozen Dragon Berry Colada and frozen Rock Coconut Mojito is sure to conjure steel-drum fantasies.
With a swing across the Atlantic, guests will be transported to the new Portugal marketplace, where the Portugal Wine Bar will offer best sips to pair with calamari salad with olives and smoked paprika. The Scandinavia marketplace will return after a hiatus with a fresh new Xante Sunshine cocktail made from Xante pear and cognac liquer. And the Canada marketplace will introduce a sweet treat: apple ice wine.
Disney and celebrity chefs will team with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to get the party started Sept. 30. During the six-week festival, guests will discover:
New Sips, Fresh Bites
Festival guests can make a day of circumnavigating the World Showcase Promenade, grazing and sipping as they go. Tapas-sized portions of regional specialties run $3 to $8 each, and recommended wines, cocktails and beers make perfect pairings at each marketplace. For quicker marketplace visits, guests can purchase a festival-themed mini-Disney Gift Card that can be worn on a wristband and loaded and reloaded at several park locations.
Live daily entertainment showcases many cultures with music, acrobatics and improv performances along the promenade. Evening Eat to the Beat! concerts at America Gardens Theatre feature acts from many musical genres. Appearing for the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are The Pointer Sisters, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and Gin Blossoms. Fan favorite Taylor Dayne kicks off the festival Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and crowd pleaser Big Bad Voodoo Daddy wraps the event Nov. 11-13.
The festival attracts a diverse audience — from wine connoisseurs and epicures to novices wishing to boost their culinary IQs. Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participating in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.
Festival highlights include:
Festival guests can enjoy fresh Epcot experiences including the latest Future World high-tech fun at Innoventions and the celebrated return of “Captain EO,” the classic musical 3-D production starring Michael Jackson in a rare big-screen performance. In World Showcase, new and recently updated restaurants welcome guests at the Italy, Japan, Mexico and China pavilions.
What’s Included with Epcot Admission:
Authentic Taste seminars and Authors Without Borders programs with special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat! concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.
Special Programming by Reservation:
The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations. Information and reservations for select events and programs are available at disneyworld.com/foodandwine.
This is going to sound odd coming from a travel agent, but I’ve thought about it a lot: Get the cheaper room. It’s hard to say out loud, in part because I’m a bit of a resort snob myself, but the reality is, I stay at the values and I love them. I’m not going to tell you that I would choose a value over a deluxe property. I love the bigger rooms and the theming. But I also like to go a lot and going a lot means sometimes staying in a less expensive room.
I often see people struggling with this idea. There’s this common misconception among Disney fans that if you don’t go the expensive route, you’re missing out on something. The reality is however, that no matter where you stay on property, you’re going to get extra magic hours, transportation, the dining plan, and excellent service. On that last matter, I have to say this: I sometimes think the cast members at the values try harder. They’re like The Little Engine that Could.
If you’re having trouble making up your mind about how much to spend, ask yourself this: Will I be worried about how much this is costing me during my vacation? Because ultimately, vacations should be about fun, not worrying about how much you’re spending. We all bristle a little bit when the total costs for that vacation package comes up. If you can get past that initial “oh my gosh” moment, but all means, book an expensive resort; they really are worth the money. But if you’re worried about how this is going to effect your budget, book a less expensive room. I promise you won’t regret it.
After six and a half months of waiting, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is welcoming a “colorful” addition to its animal family. A male baby mandrill was born May 30 to first-time mother, Kelley, and is the third one born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Mom and baby are doing very well.
Native to Africa, mandrills are among the largest species of monkey in the world and are considered endangered. They’re known for their bright coloration, furry head crests, manes and beards. Adults also have thick purple and blue ridges along their noses, big red lips and golden beards. Fans of Disney’s animated movie “The Lion King” might recall Rafiki, who was not only a colorful character, but a mandrill as well.
So far, Disney’s animal care experts are encouraged by the bonding between mother and infant. The baby spends most of his day nursing and sleeping, and is under close observation by the animal care team. The baby and mother are starting to make short forays into their habitat on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, joining other members of the mandrill group.
“The new mom is very relaxed but protective,” said Barb Weber, primate zoological manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “We’re pleased another young female mandrill, Scarlett, has taken a keen interest in the newborn. This is a great experience for her because she is learning from the baby’s mom how to be a good mom herself.”
Preparations for motherhood began long before the baby mandrill was born. For example, primate keepers worked with Kelley during pregnancy to pick up objects which helped simulate holding her baby after birth.
With the new baby, the number of mandrills that make their home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has grown to 12. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is focused on sustaining the mandrill population.
Fun Facts:
Disney World Late Summer Vacation Discounts
Package for 5 nights / 6 days at select Disney Moderate, or Deluxe Resorts
and get a FREE Disney Water Park or DisneyQuest Ticket for each person in your party.
Save 17% to 30% off your Disney resort.
This Summer Vacation Package Includes:
Call your Pixie agent and request promo code: PVLS
Examples:
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Room: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Sample Party: 2 adults, 2 children (age 8 & 12)
Park Tickets: 7 Day Base Tickets
Disney Dining Plan: Plus Dining
EXTRA: 1-Day Ticket into Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, or DisneyQuest for each person in the party.
Standard Price: $4336.58
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Room: 3 Nights / 4 Days
Sample Party: 2 adults, 2 children (age 8 & 12)
Park Tickets: 4 Day Base Tickets
Disney Dining Plan: Plus Dining
EXTRA: 1-Day Ticket into Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, or DisneyQuest for each person in the party.
Standard Price: $2654.31
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Room: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Sample Party: 2 adults, 2 children (age 8 & 12)
Park Tickets: 6 Day Base Tickets
Disney Dining Plan: Plus Dining
EXTRA: 1-Day Ticket into Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, or DisneyQuest for each person in the party.
Standard Price: $2898.39
Booking Window: 6/20 – 7/11/11
Travel Window: 7/25 – 8/12/11
Available Disney Resorts for this Special Vacation Package are:
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (Moderate Resort) 7/27 – 8/1/11 & 8/7 – 8/12/11
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (Deluxe Resort) 7/25 – 7/31/11
Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Deluxe Resort) 7/31 – 8/3/11
To Book:
Click here to get a detailed quote!
Ask about packages available in other resort categories and for other lengths of stay.
www.PixieVacations.com
Phone: 678-815-1584
Email: [email protected]
This Exclusive offer is ONLY available to guests that book with Pixie Vacations. The number of rooms and dates are limited so contact Pixie Vacations ASAP.
All resorts in this offer will have a 12.5% tax added.
There will be a fee of $15.00 per person per night for 3rd and 4th adults (18 years old or older) in each room at the moderate category resorts.
There will be a fee of $25.00 per person per night for 3rd and 4th adults (18 years old or older) in each room at the deluxe category resorts.
* Price based on 2 Adults, 1 Junior and 1 Child. The number of packages available at this rate is limited. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required.
** Excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Children ages 3–9 must order from children’s menu if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.
Pixie Vacations | www.PixieVacations.com | 678-815-1584 | email: [email protected]
Other Pixie Exclusive Disney Vacation Packages:
Disney Food and Wine October Vacation Package (October)
With the upcoming holiday this Sunday, June 19th, Disney would like to wish you a Happy Father’s Day on behalf of The Lion King (3D Version in theaters September 16th, and on Blu-ray & Blu-ray 3D October 4th)!
Who’s a better paternal role model than the brave and just Mufasa? And what’s a more heart-warming relationship than the one Simba has with his dad?
Just click the picture above to Print and Play!
