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Review: Baby Einstein Baby Lullaby Discovery Kit

By
Chip
-

Review: Baby Einstein Baby Lullaby Discovery Kit

As many of you know I have a new bundle of joy at home. While having a new baby is a wondrous occasion the lack of sleep starts to wear on you. I was off of work all last week and both my wife and I found ourselves taking naps as often as we could.

Just as we got home from the hospital the stork delivered to me a wonder accompaniment to our little one, the Baby Einstein Baby Lullaby Discovery Kit. This Discovery Kit has been a lifesaver! The DVD is perfect for a little one to nap to. We swaddle our little one like a burrito, pop her in her swing and turn on the Baby Lullaby DVD. She settles right down and is perfect for her to nap to. I love all the images and babies Baby Einstein finds for their DVD’s.

The music is very relaxing and have found it is hard for us to keep our eyes open as well. Another great item in the Discovery Kit is the Music cd. We have a cd player in our little ones room and whenever we go and change her we turn on the music cd. It seems to relax her while we are changing her diapers which is such a relief as she does not like to be naked 🙂

As she gets older we will read to her from the book they put in the Discovery Kit. Perfect stater books for babies.

My only complaint is this..As your watching the DVD and turn on the Feature Presentation after it is over there is some loud rock music introducing Baby Einstein. It has a cute little baby riding a rocket but the music is to loud and it will wake up your little one if you don’t get to it in time. The need to do something about that either lead in with softer music or put it in the beginning.

Overall we are big fans of Baby Einstein we have about 10-15 of their DVD’s already and our oldest grew up with Baby Einstein and glad our newest bundle of joy can as well.

Be sure to check out all 3 of the Baby Einstein Discovery Kits:

  • Baby Lullaby
  • Neptune’s Oceans
  • World of Rhythm

For more details check out the related article section below.

Have a great day

>>Chip

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Review: Baby Einstein Baby Lullaby Discovery Kit

Oldies But Goodies – Put A Calculator And Your Needs Together!!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Oldies But Goodies - Put A Calculator And Your Needs Together!!

O.K. I admit it, I’m turning into my Father!! As you get older there is a good chance that you may become a bit more frugal. I used to get aggravated with my dad because he was always looking for a bargain but now I do the same thing, especially with our visits to Walt Disney World. Let’s face it Walt Disney World vacations are expensive!! There are lots of ways to save on your visits but rather than covering how to finance your trips, let’s focus on how to get the best price for you not based on actual dollars but on how your choices work for you.

  • Travel Agents Are A Great Resource – A good Disney Specialist knows all of the ins and outs of getting the best price for your needs, not just the cheapest price!! Unless you are an experienced Walt Disney World traveler, do yourself a favor and find a Disney Specialist Travel Agent. They will not only help you find the best prices but they will help you find the things (Resort, dining options, admission media etc.) that will work best for you. I still use a Travel Agent for most visits especially if I am currently occupied with other life things.
  • Don’t Always Go For The Obvious – Things like “Free Dining” are wonderful but if it doesn’t fit your dining patterns (yes, we all have them) then it may not be for you. Purchasing an Annual Pass(AP)  for the “usual” room only discount and then purchasing a Tables In Wonderland(TIW) membership ($75) for a 20% discount on Table Service dining may be a better option. This can be a real money saver if you enjoy a cocktail and/or wine with dinner since the 20% discount also applies to alcohol. One precaution – significant AP “room only” discounts normally happen but there is no guarantee that they will be available when you travel and remember, when they are available the number of rooms is somewhat limited. Make sure you budget for a no discount vacation so sticker shock doesn’t ruin it for you.
  • Explore Other Options – There are other options you may want to consider when deciding which resort to choose and get the best price. Renting Disney Vacation Club(DVC) points from an owner may be a very viable choice for you. Two cautions here, use a reliable and experienced DVC rental agency as an intermediary and make sure you understand the differences between renting a room at a resort and a DVC villa. There are differences, most noticeably in the housekeeping area, it doesn’t happen every day in a DVC villa. Make sure you understand the terms of the rental agency you use because things vary between them. We are going the AP and TIW for our October visit but will be trying the DVC route for our March 2013 visit. We will be using a company called DVC Rental (this is their site)  based on my research and word of mouth.

When you get to be our age my Oldie friends, depriving yourself to save a buck is not the best way to go. You have worked hard your whole life so make your Walt Disney World choices based not just on getting the “cheapest”  price but getting the best price that suits your own needs and wishes. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

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Oldies But Goodies - Put A Calculator And Your Needs Together!!

Tales of a D23 Mooch

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Tales of a D23 Mooch

Have you heard of D23? If not put simply it is a Disney produced fan club that gets you into special events and sends you free stuff. Awesome! If you pay a fee. Not so awesome.  The fee isn’t too bad $34.99 for Silver and $74.99 for Gold. With the Gold membership you get the Disney Twenty-Three magazine, a free gift, the opportunity to go to events, and the ability to buy exclusive merchandise. With the Silver membership you get everything but the magazine.

Ok now that I’ve laid out the details let me tell you where I stand on the D23 club. I am what I affectionately refer to as a “D23 mooch”. My D23 friends are much nicer about it and call me their plus one.  Basically I have found that I can get into almost any D23 event I want if I can find a friend who is going. This is great because I can experience the events and meet other Disney fans. In fact just a week ago (February 14, 2011) I went to the Cars 2 Toy Fair event and it was a lot of fun. Michael Caine was there! What else do you need?!

I get the game. D23 is hoping that by going to the events I will be so excited about D23 that I will invest my money. The problem is that if I am going to join D23 I want the Gold membership and at this current stage in my life I cannot justify spending $75 that could be used elsewhere.  For a broke 20 something like me $75 can be a loan payment. For a crazy 20 something like me it helps pay for Disney park tickets.

“But Dragyn, what about the awesome D23 events?” Well this, Disney fans, is the real kicker as to why I won’t invest- well at least won’t invest at this moment. I live in the northeast. About a 2 hour plane ride from Disney World and a 3 day drive from Disneyland.  Most of the events, especially the really cool ones, are in Florida or California.

Don’t get me wrong D23 is trying to remedy that. I actually went to an event the day before the Cars 2 event where Becky Cline and Laura Sanchez asked us what we hoped for by way of future east coast events. Suggestions included more screenings and longer events with guest speakers. I was honest and told both Becky and Laura that I was a D23 mooch and that my main concern was paying the membership fee. They actually seemed very sympathetic to my concerns and my hope is that they were really listening.

I have one more suggestion to help D23 get people like me join the club- and you’re not gonna like it! Take away the mooching (plus one) privileges. If I can’t mooch, I can’t go. It really is that simple. Now that would be unfair. D23 husbands wouldn’t be able to bring their non-D23 wives, etc. But that’s how you get someone like me who is currently on the fence to make up their mind.

If in the future more events come my way and I can scrape up the funds then I will definitely join D23. In the meantime I will mooch and love my D23 friends who let me do so!

DragynAlly is a film student, writer, and traveler. You can catch her here, on Twitter @DragynAlly or on her on blog The Dragyn’s Lair.

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Disney World Quick Tip – Only Buy As Much Park Ticket As You Will Use

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney World Quick Tip - Only Buy As Much Park Ticket As You Will Use

One of your largest expenses to budget for your Walt Disney World vacation is the cost of Admission Media (park tickets in English). It can be tricky and if you’re not careful be overly expensive. My basic caution here is, if you are not sure you will use it don’t buy it. Pricing is always subject to change so I won’t discuss dollar costs just suffice it to say – not much is cheap at Disney. Let’s look at each type of ticket but remember when Disney gives you a price for tickets it does not include the 6.5% sales tax or, if you are not buying them as part of a package, delivery to your home.

  1. Base Ticket – Provides admission to one, and only one park per day. Please note, even if you have an extra day on your base ticket you can not use it to visit a second park in a single day. This is the lowest priced ticket.
  2. Park Hopper Option – Purchasing this option allows you to visit as many parks as you would like each day. This is worthwhile if, like us, you start in one park and maybe want to visit Epcot for dinner and Illuminations or if you stay in the first park until it gets busy and just want to go to another for the rest of the day. As usual a word of caution, if you have a 7 day or 10 day ticket it costs a certain amount (approx $56) to add it to the entire ticket but even if you only want to add it to one day the cost is the same – not good!!
  3. Water Park and More Option – If you purchase this option it gives you a number of single day admissions (based on the length of your ticket) to the minor parks such as the water parks, Disney Quest, Wide World of Sports, etc. Pricing is identical to the Park Hopper Option and the number of the 1 day admissions you receive matches the number of days on your ticket. Unless you are sure you will be visiting the minor parks at least 2 or 3 times during your visit don’t get this option.
  4. Premium Option – Combines all three of the above but does not include a discount for purchasing it.
  5. No Expiration Option – This is the most expensive option and at least to us, doesn’t appear to be worthwhile. This option does, however, work for some folks but the biggest complaint I have heard is that the tickets have a way of getting misplaced and/or are forgotten and never used.

These are the options that are available to you with a word of caution where it applies. Buy what you will use and use what you buy but don’t overbuy. Being prepared for every possible thing that you might want to do can use money that you can use more effectively for other things. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

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Disney World Quick Tip - Only Buy As Much Park Ticket As You Will Use

Adults in Costume?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Adults in Costume?

Should adults be allowed to wear costumes in the parks? This has been a question I have been wrestling with for a very long time.

Let me explain. My first trip to Disney World was as a teenager I was already an “adult” and thus forbidden from dressing up in the parks. Sixteen-year-old DragynAlly was very sad about this. I thought “I’m still a kid. Why can’t I dress up as Cinderella or Belle?” But it was Disney policy and I let it go.

Even as an adult there are times that I wish I could dress up as Cinderella as a walk toward the castle in Magic Kingdom. I just want to be a part of the magic and feel like a kid just for a little while.

But there is something I now realize. For every adult that is just a kid at heart and wants to be a part of the magic there may be another adult who would use costumes as a way to trick and hurt kids. So my final answer to this question is an emphatic “No”. Children shouldn’t have to distinguish between who the real characters are and who the strangers are.

In fact ADULTS shouldn’t have to distinguish these differences either. Who among us wouldn’t walk away with Mickey or Prince Charming if they asked us? Better yet what person do you know would turn down Jack Sparrow if he said “take a walk with me”? Exactly! With only paid Disney employees in costume you know who is safe.

I actually think this is part of the reason Disney has the policy. The policy doesn’t necessarily say that adults can’t dress in costume but emphatically states that adults cannot dress like park characters. In other words, I could not dress like Ariel.

The other part is so Disney can tell its employees from the masses that walk in and out of the parks on a daily basis. That would be a big security problem if a fake Goofy got into a controlled area or somewhere else behind the scenes. Also how would Disney know who to pay?! (Bad joke.)

Now I know what you’re thinking “But what about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? Adults are in costume for that and no kids have been hurt.”  Touché. But these are special parties held only a few times during the year where a limited number of guests are in the parks. Imagine a day at Disney when the crowd is at full capacity.  Now imagine all of those guests in costume…

DragynAlly is a film student, writer, and traveler. You can catch her here, on Twitter @DragynAlly or on her own blog The Dragyn’s Lair.

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Dieting at Disney World? Who Does That?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Dieting at Disney World? Who Does That?

Amazing food, mickey bars, drinks.  Who thinks to diet when they’re on vacation anywhere, especially not at Walt Disney World?  Well, according to everyone that answered when we asked on facebook, I’m one of a small minority that thinks about it while I’m on vacation!  Some readers said they like to lose 5 lbs ahead of time, to balance out all of the Mickey Bars, while others stated that they generally walk enough to not think twice about it.

For me, however, I still think about it.  Even post Half Marathon, it didn’t completely leave my mind.  I should confess, while Jennifer Hudson I am not, I’ve been a Weight Watcher since 2002 and use it as a lifestyle, not just a diet.  With this in mind, I absolutely indulge while at Walt Disney World.  I love trying new things and discovering new (to me) foods, such as the cupcakes at Starring Rolls bakery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  But, I shared one with my husband instead of eating the entire cupcake by myself.

I don’t necessarily think about points/calories/fat while I’m on the road, but I try not to fully indulge the whole day.  If I’m planning on having a big dinner, I might go for a lighter lunch.  Instead of a Mickey bar every day, I might have one once during a long trip, but than have a chocolate covered frozen banana instead.  Instead of a Margarita (which I absolutely do love, but unfortunately know the calorie count), I’ll skip the Mexico Pavilion for the Italy Pavilion and pick up a glass of Rosa Regale, my favorite dessert wine.

I know some people head to the trails for a run or hit the gym before traveling the parks, and while I have been known to do that on vacation (on my honeymoon…), I agree that with all the walking, I’ll mostly even out some of the extra calories I’m eating.  Realistically, even going Park Commando for a few days, I’m not burning enough calories to eat 3 buffet meals a day for a week and not gain 5 pounds.  But I can walk the world showcase and stop for a few treats, I just try to choose wisely.  I don’t feel guilty having a Bavarian pretzels at the German Pavilion, even though those nachos in Mexico smell divine. I’ll have pretty much anything instead of those Turkey legs served in the American Pavilion and several other places around Walt Disney World.  At a whopping 1000 calories, they fooled me once thinking that they’re healthy, but that won’t happen again!

I think of it less as dieting and more of just making wise decisions.  Maybe one day I’ll join Jennifer Hudson on those Weight Watcher commercials after all…

Jenn lives in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband, 1 year old son, and 2 bratty dogs.  The primary writer at the Disney Babies Blog, she recently ran her first half marathon, at Walt Disney World in January, and plans to continue the tradition in the following years, maybe one day running the full and doing the Goofy Challenge.  When not writing or running, Jenn can be found practicing yoga or playing the clarinet in a military band in the nation’s capitol.

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Disney Bloggers Link Up Your Disney Articles – Feb 2011 Edition

By
Chip
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Disney Bloggers Link Up Your Disney Articles - Feb 2011 Edition

Hey there Disney Bloggers, now is your chance to link up and share with the world your Disney Articles. Linking articles is a great way to improve Google Page Ranking, and of course find new Disney Fans.

Just use the Form below and tell us:

  • Title of your Disney Article
  • Your email (in case we need to contact you)
  • Link to your article

Just click submit and the article should show up on this page in a few minutes.

I will post a new page every month so be sure to check back and link your new articles with us!

*Please Link only Disney Articles.

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Swiss Family Treehouse: Eyesore or Classic Attraction?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Swiss Family Treehouse: Eyesore or Classic Attraction?
Swiss Family Treehouse

The question was raised a couple of days ago regarding the Swiss Family Treehouse:  is it an eyesore, or is it a Walt Disney World classic?  I quickly jumped at the chance to write a post about the subject.

Swiss Family Treehouse is an original Walt Disney World attraction.  It was open on opening day, October 1, 1971, and has seen hundreds of thousands of guests pass through it’s gates during it’s day.

For most people, Swiss Family Treehouse is a one and done attraction – something you see once, say “that’s nice”, complain about the 116 steps you have to climb, and when you are done, stop for a Dole Whip to catch your breath.  I, though, am NOT one of those people!

To me, Swiss Family Treehouse is one of those classic attractions that I love to visit once a year.  It is a unique experience because there is so much detail in every step of the attraction.  Depending on the time, you can also get some really incredible shots of other Magic Kingdom attractions, such as this shot I took with Space Mountain and Astro Orbiter in the distance.

Swiss Family Treehouse: Eyesore or Classic Attraction?
Space Mountain

The devil is in the details, and the Imagineers at Walt Disney World went to great lengths to add all the detail that you would expect to see in the Treehouse.  For instance, there is a series of pulleys that transports water up the Tree for use in other parts of the compound.  If you look closely, you will see that it really works!  Also, there are sections divided out for the kitchen, sleeping quarters, and other logical places that really does a great job of making it seem as if you could actually live there.

Of course, Swiss Family Treehouse isn’t for everyone.  The 116 steps I mentioned before certainly make it hard for some people to get around and see the Treehouse.  Also, the Treehouse is one of the few Walt Disney World attractions that is not handicap accessible.  But overall, the Swiss Family Treehouse is a great attraction, especially for parents with younger children, and it really brings home a sense of what life would be like if you were the Robinson family.

Lastly, I guess the ultimate question of whether you should visit the Swiss Family Treehouse really comes down to what sort of Disney trip you are taking.  Is it one where you are going helter-skelter to try and see all of the big attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or are you taking it easier?  Are you taking time in your Disney vacation to smell the roses?  If you are taking the slower approach to Disney, make time to visit Swiss Family Treehouse.  Admire the incredible detail of the structure itself.  Stop, look, and listen to what is around you.  Shoot some pictures that you may not have taken before.  And lastly, let your mind wander to a time when the world was simpler.

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Swiss Family Treehouse: Eyesore or Classic Attraction?

Advance FastPasses – Too Much of a Good Thing?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Advance FastPasses – Too Much of a Good Thing?
You may have a heard a little about a big announcement last week. At an Investors Conference Tom Staggs hinted at big changes in the Disney parks. One that has set the Disney community abuzz is the following:

“… we are currently developing an innovative system that will, in essence, create a version of FASTPASS for their entire Disney vacations. Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and character interactions… secure seats at our shows and spectaculars…make dining reservations… and pre-book many other favorite guest experiences – all before even leaving their house.”

“…a version of FASTPASS for their entire Disney vacations.” WOW. Unfortunately, this piece of news* seems to be as well-received as the initial plans for a Fantasyland expansion that was heavy on the Character Meet N Greets.

*It’s important to note that little detail was provided so there is much speculation on what this means with little concrete detail. I’ve see every opinion ranging from this being a VIP option which requires an additional cost to hypotheses that guests would be limited to reserving only a couple of attractions per day on their trip.

I’m lukewarm at best and opposed at worst. I’m a planner, exactly the type of person this new option seems ideal for, and I’m not on board which doesn’t seem to bode well.

Let’s talk about why I’m not lying awake at night so excited about this new option that I cannot sleep.

I don’t want to lie awake at night. Anyone who has been at the computer or dialing Disney Dining at the 180 day mark to get a coveted reservation knows how stressful the process can be. First, there’s the advance planning to figure out which park you’ll be in on which day. Selecting a restaurant that fits in with that plan follows soon after. Then there is the “backup” plan which means a second and third choice of restaurant or times if you cannot get your prized ADR. Will I need to be at my computer at 6am 180 days before my vacation to get an early FastPass time for Toy Story Mania? Will I need to have two, three, four versions of my touring plan to account for all the combinations that can occur if I don’t get the planned time for one of my attractions? Does the success of my trip hinge on the stars aligning to be able to get FastPasses that match my preferred touring plan?

Flexibility. I have small children so even though a touring plan is critical to a successful Walt Disney World vacation, flexibility is even more critical. If one of my kids has a mini-meltdown and needs some extra time to relax in the shade with a snack, will I miss my opportunity to ride Big Thunder Mountain without having to brave the standby line? And if I do miss my FastPass reservation and have to wait 45 minutes in the standby line because Big Thunder Mountain is a must-do for my son, will there be a domino effect and I will I miss my FastPass windows for my other attractions and shows?

Forget that I have small children and need flexibility, a vacation should be flexible and unhurried to some degree. I don’t want it to feel like my everyday life when I’m rushing from meeting to meeting at work or from preschool pickup to dentist appointment to play date without a chance to take a breath.

What if my stepson decides to join us at the last minute? Not a big deal because we have room in our DVC unit but now I may not be able to get him a FastPass for the same timeframes the rest of the family has. Does this mean either he cannot join us on the rides or do we have to “throw away” our reserved FastPasses that I secured six months ago so we can be together as a family?

Longer Standby Lines and Less FastPasses for the non-Planners? Not everyone is a planner and not everyone is aware of all that is involved in a Walt Disney World trip until they arrive and then it is too late. If FastPasses can be issued before you even set foot in the park, I can only assume this means longer standby lines and less FastPasses being distributed in the parks since the overall capacity of the rides is not being increased. This does not seem like a magical experience for non-planners or guests whose plans simply change. If it rains on the day I plan to visit Magic Kingdom and we regroup and decide to visit the following day, I don’t relish the idea of having to wait in longer lines because I don’t have FastPasses in hand when I pass through the turnstiles. I like my odds now where I the same chance of getting a FastPass as any other guest in the parks at the same time.

The bottom line for me is everything in moderation. Planning is good but extreme planning for what is supposed to be relaxed family time is too much of a good thing. Disney is the leader in creating an outstanding customer experience so I trust my concerns will be alleviated and a couple of years from now I’ll look back at this article and wonder what I was ever worried about. At least, I hope so.

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The 2011 Disney Dining Plans

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

The 2011 Disney Dining Plans

While it is common for those planning vacations to Walt Disney World to discuss “The Disney Dining Plan”, in reality there are a variety of different Dining Plans offered by Disney, to help the vacationer experience dining…and other extras….as easily as possible. Choosing a Dining Plan can also be a way to make your meals at Disney World more affordable, as many find that this can be a cost-savings to them, as well as a great way to budget, and experience new restaurants.

But before you decide to add a Dining Plan to your vacation, you will want to know what is included…and what each costs. To start, let’s see what plans are available. 

There are 5 actual Dining Plans, with each differing in cost of course, as well as what is included:

  • The Quick Service Plan
  • The Basic Dining Plan
  • The Deluxe Dining Plan
  • The Premium Dining Plan
  • The Platinum Dining Plan

And there is also the Wine and Dine Plan for those who would like to explore their dining experiences a bit “more”. 🙂 

Now let’s take a look at each one in more detail.

Quick Service Dining Plan

The Quick Service Dining Plan is the least expensive Dining Plan choice, and as such is the easiest way to plan affordable meals while at Walt Disney World. This plan provides for each person in your room the following items:

  • 2 Quick Service Meals (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert.
  • 2 Snacks per night.
  • One refillable resort drink mug. With this mug you get unlimited drink refills at any RESORT HOTEL only. 

The Quick Service Dining Plan prices for 2011 are: Adults $34.99 per person per night; children 3-9 are $11.99 per person per night.

Basic Dining Plan

Perhaps the most popular of the Disney Dining Plans is the Basic Plan. This plan provides for each person in your room the following items:

  • One table-service meal or buffet per night
    • Breakfast: includes entrée and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet, and tax
    • Lunch and Dinner: includes appetizer (for kids 3-9 ONLY), entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet, and tax
    • Gratuity is NOT included for table-service meals on the Disney Dining Plan. An 18 percent gratuity will be added automatically for parties of 6 or more; a gratuity may also be added for items not included in the Dining Plan, such as alcoholic beverages
  • One quick service (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert.
  • One snack per night

For 2011, the Basic Dining Plan prices depend on the time of year:

  • Adults (ages 10 and up) $45.99 and Children (ages 3-9) $11.99
    • Cost is per person per night with the exception of the following:
  • Adults $47.99 and Children $12.99
    • Cost is per person per night for the following dates: 2/17-2/26; 3/11-4/30; 6/3-8/13; 12/21-31

The Deluxe, Premium, Platinum and Wine Dining Plans                                    

Offering more food than the Basic or Quick Service Dining Plans, the higher priced Deluxe, Premium, and Platinum Dining Plans are all the same from the dining aspect: the difference in each is in the “extras” that are included with the Premium and Platinum Plans, beyond the food options that the Deluxe Plan includes. With each of these plans, every guest in your room receives three meals, all of which can be chosen from either Disney World table-service or quick-service restaurants. These 3 meal credits/night for each person in your room can be used in any of the following ways:

  • Table-service meal or buffet
    • Breakfast: includes entrée, and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet
    • Lunch and Dinner: includes appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet
  • Quick service (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert.

In addition, each person in your room enjoys:

  • Two Snacks per night
  • One refillable resort drink mug. With this mug you get unlimited drink refills at any RESORT HOTEL only.

For 2011, the cost for the above meal options in the Deluxe Dining Plan is: $78.99/adult per night; $21.99/child (ages 3-9) per night 

What does the Premium Dining Plan include?                                                                  

As mentioned above, the main difference between these plans are the “extras” that you receive. With the Premium Plan, in addition to all the food noted on the Deluxe Plan, you also receive:

  • Unlimited use of selected recreation, including golf, guided fishing excursions, water sports etc.
  • Admission to Cirque du Soleil show, La Nouba.
  • Unlimited admission to Disney’s Children’s Activity Centers
  • Unlimited Admission to a number of Theme Park tours, including the popular Keys to the Kingdom, Simply Segway Experience, and more
  • Admission to Grand Gathering Experiences, if you have eight or more in your party.
  • Access to Preferred Viewing Areas for Wishes and Illuminations (some restrictions apply)

For 2011, the cost for the Premium Dining Plan is: $169/adult per night; $119/ child (ages 3-9) per night

What does the Platinum Dining Plan include?                                                        

With the Platinum Plan, in addition to the food of the Deluxe Plan, you receive everything in the Premium package PLUS things like:

  • Pre-arrival planning service
  • Specialty fireworks cruise
  • Reserved seating at Fantasmic!
  • Selected spa treatment per guest (age restrictions apply)
  • Additional dining options, such as Victoria & Albert’s restaurant, room service, and more.

For 2011, the cost for the Platinum Dining Plan is: $229/adult per night; $160/ child (ages 3-9) per night

The Wine and Dine Plan                                                                                                                

The Wine and Dine Plan Add-On can be added on to any package that includes dining for an extra charge per night.

In the 2011 Wine & Dine Plan you will receive one wine selection for $39.99 per night per room.

Important things to know about the Disney Dining Plans

Be sure to know that everyone in the room must be on the same package. In addition, there is no charge for children under 3: they may share an adult meal, or you may pay separately for them. Children ages 3-9 must order from a kid’s menu when available. Lastly, note that all dining credits must be used by midnight the last day of your stay, otherwise they expire.

Nancy and her family live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations, and recently authored an ebook: Magical Meals: A Guide to Affordable Dining in Walt Disney World . Her favorite things at Disney World  (in no particular order) are Soarin’, most of the food in World Showcase, Illuminations…and that special brand of Disney magic that you can’t find anywhere else.

Disney Movie Rewards currently has a $10 off coupon for the Bambi Diamond Edition Combo Pack!

By
Chip
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Disney Movie Rewards currently has a $10 off coupon for the Bambi Diamond Edition Combo Pack!

In celebration of Bambi coming to Blu-ray next Tuesday we have $10 off coupon to share with you!

Click the picture above to print yours today.

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Disney Movie Rewards currently has a $10 off coupon for the Bambi Diamond Edition Combo Pack!

HGTV Stars Meet ‘Toy Story 3’ Heroes at 18th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15

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HGTV Stars Meet 'Toy Story 3' Heroes at 18th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15

A constellation of HGTV design stars lights up the 18th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2 through May 15, while “Toy Story 3” heroes Woody and Buzz take Disney topiary magic “to infinity and beyond!”

Genevieve Gorder, Vern Yip and nine other HGTV design gurus appear for the first time at the Walt Disney World Resort festival during weekend presentations that cover topics ranging from “Life, Love and Landscaping” (Yard Crashers’ Ahmed Hassan, April 8-10) to “Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction” (Curb Appeal: The Block’s John Gidding, April 29-May 1).

Disney’s topiary craftsmen pack powerful curb appeal into the festival’s Future World front-entrance garden where the lead toys of Disney’s Oscar-nominated film “Toy Story 3” meet arch-enemy Lotso (a.k.a. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear) in a larger-than-life floral spectacle. The popular Disney-Pixar characters hit the sandbox as seven- and eight-foot-tall topiaries surrounded by a sand castle, strawberry-scented field and playground toys featured in the film.  With bold strokes of seasonal color, the topiary display marks the first time that “Toy Story” characters have been featured at the festival. It’s also the first time in seven years that the front-entrance floral display showcases all-new topiary characters, says festival horticulture manager Eric Darden.

“It created unique challenges,” Darden says, “and it’s meticulous work. Woody is skinny, and it was a challenge to create his legs. The detail on Buzz is pretty daunting.” And the buzz on the pink-floral Lotso (a.k.a. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear) is that he will smell like strawberries, just like his big-screen character, when guests stroll by.

This year’s 75-day festival showcases more than 100 expertly crafted topiaries, and another show-stopper will be the brand-new “Cars 2” display at the World Showcase plaza, Darden says. Large floral topiaries of “Cars” characters Mater and Lightning McQueen will park their colorful chassis beneath a black-and-white checkered arch. To complete the scene, gardeners will create floral flags representing Japan, France, Italy and the United Kingdom – destinations of the car characters in the sequel due in theaters June 24.

And Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and pals appear in topiary splendor among a Hundred Acre Wood wildflower display between Future World and World Showcase. They’re just in time to spread the happy news about the “Winnie the Pooh Movie” debuting Summer 2011.

New in the Park!

HGTV’s festival sponsorship adds fresh excitement to an event that has expanded and endured through the years. Festival Center presentations showcase HGTV and HGTV.com celebrities on weekends and other experts seven days a week. Located next to Mission: Space in Future World, the center presents workshops and talks by a solid lineup of master gardeners, Walt Disney World horticulturists and a mix of TV and radio personalities, authors and educators.

Also adding fresh fun to the festival:

  • A roomier-than-ever Bambi’s Butterfly House more than doubles in size this year in its new location along the Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West in Future World. It’s the first time the popular garden has expanded since its 2005 debut, and guests will see more butterflies than ever, Darden says.
  • For the first time at Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, favorite Disney Fairies will pose for photos and sign autographs throughout the day. Young fans who enter this whimsical garden also discover play structures for children ages 2-5.
  • HGTV presents a Sustainable Beauty Garden with ideas for your own home garden.
  • Rapunzel lets down her hair at Rapunzel’s Tower in the Tangled Magical Garden inspired by Walt Disney Pictures’ animated film, “Tangled,” located between the Germany and Italy pavilions.
  • Flower Power grows with new-to-the-festival pop acts. Melissa Manchester, March 25-27 (Don’t Cry Out Loud) and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., April 8-10 (You Don’t Have to Be a Star) are set to light up America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes.
  • A new Festival Special Weekend is slated for May when Disney*Pixar presents a Pixar Animation Studios celebration in conjunction with the upcoming “Cars 2” big-screen debut set for June 24.

Throughout the festival, elaborate floral beds and entertaining exhibits will decorate the park landscape and showcase the extraordinary talents of Disney gardeners.  A blooming Guerlain Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion returns with its never-ending “love story” of the relationship between plants and perfume. At the Japan showcase, the art of bonsai will mesmerize guests who stop at the pavilion’s vermilion torii gate.
Don’t miss:

  • Flower Power concerts – Popular bands will rock the open-air America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Jose Feliciano is scheduled to kick off the concert series March 4-6. The Flower Power lineup also will feature pop favorites like Davy Jones and Chubby Checker & The Wildcats.
  • The Festival Center – Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend workshops and demonstrations and get ideas and tips from master gardeners.
  • Disney Gardening at Home presentations – Disney horticulturists will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity.
  • Special Festival Weekend Celebrations – Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists March 25-27; Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute April 29-May 1; Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and Guerlain’s Enchanted Gardens events May 6-8; and the Disney*Pixar weekend celebration May 13-15.

More information about the 18th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

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HGTV Stars Meet 'Toy Story 3' Heroes at 18th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15
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