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Disney Dream Dining Includes an Extra Dining Course

By
Chip
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Disney Dream Dining Includes an Extra Dining Course

Mealtimes aboard the Disney Dream are memorable entertainment experiences for families and guests of all ages – including adventures to a colorful coral reef, a park-like conservatory and a regal banquet hall where dinner includes a full course of fun. The elaborately themed restaurants and distinctly Disney touches combine with world-class cuisine to please the palate and satisfy all of the senses.

Main Dining
With Disney, guests expect the unexpected, so Disney Cruise Line developed an innovative rotational dining concept that remains exclusive to the Disney fleet. While guests enjoy different restaurants for dinner each night, their servers accompany them. Thus, guests enjoy a variety of dining experiences with friendly, familiar, personalized service.

Animator’s Palate
Animator’s Palate on the Disney Dream is a re-imagined version of the signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a one-of-a-kind experience that will captivate the entire family.

The venue is wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by classic animator’s studios. There’s a marble-inlay flooring design interpreting pencils and paint brushes at the entrance reinforced by pillars throughout the restaurant fashioned like huge pencils and brushes. There are character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade. Scenes and characters from popular Disney and Disney•Pixar films adorn the walls.

As a special nod to Mickey Mouse, the contemporary dining room features red and yellow colors and a trademark design – Mickey Mouse pants with two bright yellow buttons.

But after diners are seated, the restaurant goes through a transformation: Guests are magically transported to an undersea world where views of a coral reef environment are all around them. That sets the stage for a special visit from Crush, the sea turtle from the DisneyPixar film “Finding Nemo.”

More than 100 video monitors on the walls of the restaurant are involved in the dinner show experience. From an initial appearance as art sketches, the monitors become “windows” on a shimmering undersea world.

Enter Crush, a most-excellent ambassador of the oceans and seas. The animated character swims from window to window, “working the room,” engaging guests in real-time conversation about his life and world.

The cuisine matches the character of the restaurant, creatively combining fresh flavors with culinary flair to please guests’ palates, with selections such as smoked salmon tartare, stir-fry vegetables, lemon-thyme chicken and a trio of veal. Wines from California and the Pacific Rim complement the menu.

Royal Palace
Royal Palace is an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Disney Dream guests feel like royalty as they are immersed in the lavish surroundings.

Splendid décor includes a hand-blown centerpiece chandelier with glass slippers accents, luxurious custom carpeting with a pattern of flourishing roses in regal tones, and ornate marble floors – including a “family crest” of multi-hued inlay featuring a tiara crown, glass slipper, rose and apple (with a bite out) greeting guests at the entry. Chair backs embellished with gilded emblems in the same motifs add to the aristocratic air of the room.

Grand, hand-painted portraits of the princesses – Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) – and their princes grace the far wall. Portholes providing spectacular views of the ocean are framed with majestic, tiara-topped window valances.

With meticulous attention to detail, many of the restaurant’s features are modeled precisely from the inspirational films. The Royal Palace’s circular floor plan, fluted columns and iron railing work are all recreated from the “Cinderella” ballroom scene. Wall sconces are fashioned after those seen in “Beauty and the Beast.”

At Royal Palace, guests feast on world-class continental cuisine. The menu includes dishes fit for a monarch, including lobster and jumbo shrimp, escargot, Dijon-roasted rack of lamb and beef tenderloin with lobster medallions. The wine list features an excellent selection of Old World wines. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at this restaurant.

Enchanted Garden
Enchanted Garden is a whimsical, casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles. It features a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.

Upon entering Enchanted Garden, guests will feel as though they’ve arrived at a conservatory in the rolling hills of France. There are white trellises, spring-green arches and original artwork depicting lush greenery. More than 600 light panels arch across the ceiling like a glass canopy, emulating the light outside.

Custom glass “flower” light fixtures drop down from above. Ornamental light posts line the restaurant’s center promenade. A terrace fountain with cascading water rises seven feet tall, with a fanciful cherub Mickey Mouse statue at its pinnacle.

At breakfast and lunch, the restaurant is bright with the light of a blue-sky day. When guests enter at dinner time, the restaurant is an enchanting evening scene with a twinkling field of stars overhead. The light-fixture flowers “bloom” and become infused with color, wall sconces open to become beautiful folding fans, paintings are illuminated in a nighttime perspective and the centerpiece fountain is basked in shimmering light.

The cuisine matches the crisp and airy feel of the restaurant with a seasonal menu featuring market-fresh ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style and dinner is a full-service, plated affair with specialties such as grilled New York strip steak, pan-seared sea bass and lobster ravioli. A scrumptious selection of desserts includes a selection of gelatos during the day and a grand finale chocolate display with infused truffles and hand-made confections at night.

Casual Dining
Cabanas
Disney Cruise Line introduces a new concept in casual dining with Cabanas food court, a free-flow restaurant featuring a variety of food and beverage stations.

Inspired by California beaches with uniquely Disney touches, Cabanas offers indoor and outdoor dining on Deck 11 aft. Ocean views are all around. Across the beach-themed dining room, tables are sheltered under palm trees and beach umbrellas. Surfboards, kites and teak Adirondack chairs add to the sunny seaside décor.

Disney details also decorate the area, including a familiar flock of seagulls from the Disney•Pixar animated film “Finding Nemo.” Two hand-crafted mosaic tile walls – each more than 25 feet in length – depict a whimsical underwater scene from “Finding Nemo.”

Guests can partake of an eclectic array of cuisine served from 16 specialized food stations, each designed like a beach cabana with colorful awnings and providing delicious offerings.

Dishes freshly prepared include American classics, comfort foods such as pizza and pasta, grilled specialties, stir-fry, savory soups and fresh salads. One cabana features a skilled sushi chef preparing bite-sized sushi delicacies. To satisfy a sweet tooth, another station showcases an artful display of decadent desserts. Each morning, Cabanas features numerous flavorful ways to start the day with assorted breakfast foods and made-to-order omelets.

In the evenings, the restaurant transforms into a table-service casual dining experience, where dinner entrees are cooked to order.

Flo’s Café
Guests looking for a quick bite to eat can visit Flo’s Café, located near Donald’s Pool on Deck 11. Themed to popular characters from the Disney•Pixar film “Cars” – Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill and Fillmore’s Favorites – this quick-service option serves snacks such as burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, fresh fruit, salads and sandwich wraps.

Eye Scream, Frozone Treats
Frozen sweet treats are available from two quick-service venues conveniently located near Donald’s Pool on Deck 11. Frozone Treats – named after the ice-creating superhero in the Disney•Pixar movie “The Incredibles” – mixes delicious fruit smoothies. Eye Scream – inspired by the friendly, one-eyed monster Mike Wazowski from the Disney•Pixar animated feature “Monsters, Inc.” – offers soft-serve ice cream with plenty of favorite sundae toppings.

Room Service
Guests can feast on fresh, made-to-order Disney dining in the comfort of their stateroom to ensure the entire family’s cruise vacation is the most convenient and hassle free that it can be.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.

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Disney Dream Dining Includes an Extra Dining Course

Disney Family – Save It Spend It Contest

By
Chip
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Disney Family – Save It Spend It Contest

Tell Disney Family how your family plans to meet your financial goals in 2011 by budgeting, saving, or splurging, and you could win a $1,250 Disney gift card in the Save It Spend It Contest.

Eligibility:

USA, 18+

Start Date:

January 04, 2011

End Date:

February 15, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PT

Entry Frequency:

One time per person/household.

Sweepstakes Prizes:

Grand Prize: A $1,250 Disney Store Gift Card. (ARV: $1,250)

Additional Comments:

To enter, describe how your family is planning to budget, save, or splurge to meet your financial goals in 2011. Entries will be judged on the basis of feasibility (70%) and originality (30%).

Click here or the picture above to enter.

Source Sandra’s Contest Blog

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Adventure comes alive in Wild Africa Trek, an exciting new experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

By
Chip
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Adventure comes alive in Wild Africa Trek, an exciting new experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Adventure comes alive in Wild Africa Trek, an exciting new experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The new add-on offering invites intrepid explorers to up-close encounters with the park’s wildlife.

As part of their expert-led adventure, guests clip onto a lifeline as they step to the very edge of a cliff to get amazingly close to the hippos and crocs lurking just below. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Kent Phillips, photographer

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Mouse Chat: Advice for those planning their first trip to Disney World

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Mouse Chat: Advice for those planning their first trip to Disney WorldThis week on Mouse Chat Podcast:

Is this your first time to Walt Disney World? It is a big place and there is so much to know. Planning ahead can make your Disney Vacation much more enjoyable.

This week we have George and Chip on again from Imaginerding and Chip & Co. along with the Mouse Chat Co-hosts.

This show is dedicated to the things you need to do when planning your first trip to Walt Disney World. Also we discuss park and resort tips that are a must for first timers.

Click here to give it a listen.

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Boy has DisneyWorld trip ruined after US immigration rules him a threat

By
Chip
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Boy has DisneyWorld trip ruined after US immigration rules him a threat

Civil servants Kathy and Edward Francis planned to surprise their grandson Micah Strachan with the holiday of a lifetime to Florida in February.

They were only going to tell Micah about it when they took him to the airport on February 19 for the flight to the US.

They had already spent more than £1,500 on plane tickets and had been organising the trip for months.

But this week US Embassy officials denied the schoolboy a visa to enter the US.

They said there was a risk he would not leave the US at the end of his holiday and refused his application under Section 214 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Click here to keep reading this article from the Telegraph.

Boy has DisneyWorld trip ruined after US immigration rules him a threat

Running with the Disney Heroes

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Running with the Disney Heroes

In my opinion, there aren’t many things more inspiring than Spaceship Earth and the Magic Kingdom. The main reason I signed up for my first half marathon was to run through the Magic Kingdom. I really couldn’t imagine anything more exciting than having Mickey and Minnie cheering us on as we started.

And then, we heard something even more amazing – there was going to be a simultaneous race being held in Iraq – a Disney World Half Marathon for those deployed/working overseas. Those that had previously raced in Orlando didn’t want to miss their race and organized their own race.

Known as runDisney Heroes, Victory Base Complex, Baghdad, Iraq, hosted their own Disney Half Marathon. Now home to the U.S. Forces Head Quarters, the mission in Iraq is no longer combat focused; instead, the focus is on stability as well as to advise and train the Iraqi Security Forces. This allowed the Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Marines, DOD Civilians, and Contractors a bit of time to train for their race. And, as sponsored by Disney, the nearly 500 people that participated were awarded the same medals and shirts that we received in Orlando.

As we lined up in our corrals (starting areas), we watched a short live interview with SFC Minnie in Iraq, who was telling us a little about their race. Organized by Air Force Major Devin Traynor, who had run the 2010 WDW Half Marathon with his wife, the 14 year AF veteran contacted Disney and planned a race for all the interested runners. With the help of U.S. Forces Iraq Public Affairs, they were able to upload and synchronize with Disney Orlando to hold the races simultaneously.

And, with the help of electronic training watches, Maj. Traynor and his wife were able to “run together,” finishing their 13.1 miles only 2 minutes apart.

To the 27,000 people that raced with me in Orlando, I hope you enjoyed your race as much as I did. And, to the nearly 500 people that raced with us from Iraq, thank you.

Jenn currently resides with her husband, 1 year old son, and 2 bratty dogs in a suburb of Washington, D.C. She also hosts her own blog, the Disney Babies Blog, where she shares her experiences, tips, and ramblings about traveling the parks with a baby. In her non-Disney life, Jenn is often found running, practicing yoga, or playing the clarinet in a military band in D.C.

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Disneyworld Planning 101 – Tips for Newbies

By
Chip
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Disneyworld Planning 101 – Tips for Newbies

Planning a Disney World vacation is hard work especially if you have never been before. There are so many books and websites out there devoted to planning a Disney Vacation it can be very overwhelming.

I created these Disneyworld Planning 101 articles to help you learn some of the many tips and tricks I have learned over the years to make each of my Disney vacations fun and enjoyable.

Today I wanted to talk directly to the Disney Newbies. This article goes out to those people who might have been 1 maybe 2 times or not at all. For you season pros who know maybe you will learn something new. Lets dive right in..

  1. Spreadsheets are your friends. Create a simple to use spreadsheet. Google Docs are free and available online. You can share them with friends and family or even look them up on your Droid or iPhone while your at WDW. They come in handy when your at the parks and need to find your ADR Reservation, or you dont want to carry a fireworks or parade schedule with you. If you want to get a glimpse of a sample spreadsheet check it out here.
  2. Make your ADR (Advanced Dining Reservations) ASAP! With the all new Disney Advanced Dining Reservation website you can now book your meals 180 days out. Do your research on WDW Info and find all the restaurants where you want to visit, then on that 180th day book your meals.
  3. Touring Plans Lines & Crowd Calendar. I live on these 2 tools while at the parks. When I start the day I am checking Crowd Calendar to make sure the park that I have planned for that day is still not as busy. Once I am at the parks I am using Lines to check wait times and reporting on them as well. Have I mentioned how much I love my Droid?
  4. Walk a mile in my shoes. Having the right shoes at the parks can make or break your vacation. I have done the research. I have walked around the parks all day in my Flip Flops only to be worn out at the end of the day. Next I tried some Teva sandals, while better than flip flops I wasn’t as tired as wearing the flip flops at the end of the day. For my wife and I we wear running shoes! You will be surprised how wearing the right shoes makes your day more enjoyable. My next choice goes hand and hand with a good pair of shoes.
  5. Drink plenty of water. Pack a nice water bottle. If you want to be really cool like me you will buy a water bottle with a filter built in or a nice Camelbak hydration system. We make it a point to consume as much water as possible while at the parks. Even with the dining plan we get free pop I try to go easy on the soft drinks and still drink water. With everyone from Gatorade to Crystal Light making flavor packs be sure to pack several boxes.
  6. Use a travel agent. Disney Travel Agents won’t cost you a cent. They get paid directly from Disney so no matter what package you choose you are out nothing. Most times those travel agents like my good friend and fellow writer Chris knows just about everything there is to know about Disney. She can answer questions, share with you her thoughts on different restaurants, and even recommend tips and tricks like visiting a certain website with Chip in the title 🙂 Click the banner at the top for Pixie Vacations to learn more. Be sure to tell them Chip sent ya!

I have a ton more tips for planning your Walt Disney World Vacation, stay tuned over the next couple months as I share those with you as I plan my own Disneyworld Vacation in September.

If you have any tips or tricks let us know in the comment section below.

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Orlando Stroller Rentals to the Rescue

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Orlando Stroller Rentals to the Rescue

Renting a double stroller was hands down one of the best decisions I made when planning our recent Walt Disney World trip. My one-year old clearly needed a stroller but my four-year old hasn’t used one, well, since his brother was born and he was unceremoniously ousted. However, I knew from experience that we would be covering a lot of ground at Disney and even the most energetic preschooler would need a little help in the personal transport department.

Problem was, I don’t own a double stroller and buying one just for the trip wasn’t high up on my list of things to do. The next option was to bring two single strollers – our sturdy, everyday stroller and the umbrella stroller – but that solution didn’t make the cut. Having two strollers meant having to have two adults with the kids all the time and as much as I’m a champion of family togetherness, this isn’t really practical. How many times have I wanted to run into a shop while my husband was with the kids? How often does my husband take a short detour to pick up a snack while I forge ahead to Mickey’s Toontown Fair? A double stroller it would be and absent a large purchase, renting would have to be the answer.

Disney rents strollers but frankly, it’s expensive (Single; $15/day, Double $31/day) and while some have extolled the virtues of the stroller’s maneuverability, the hard plastic and the inability to recline would be challenging for the baby. But there’s an even larger problem. Disney strollers must be rented at the park or Downtown Disney and returned to a rental location when you’re ready to leave for the day. There’s no taking the stroller back to your Disney resort or even to the resort transportation waiting areas. This is a problem for us. A major problem. Here are three of many instances where having a stroller to use throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort made our trip that much easier.

Sleeping Children. After Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot, my oldest fell soundly asleep in the stroller. We were able to leisurely walk back to our resort in Disney’s Boardwalk area without taking him from the stroller. I shudder at the thought of having to make the ten minute walk carrying a sleeping child, who we all know seems to weigh double what he does when he’s awake. What if I was taking bus transportation to a resort? Well, there can be long waits for the bus after the park empties for the evening and oftentimes it is a long walk after a long day from the resort’s bus transportation location to your room at many of the Disney resorts.

Crowd Control. Getting to the parks when they first open can be a bit chaotic – there is sometimes a crush of people moving through security and the park entrance. Add to that opening up bags for a security check and juggling theme park tickets while trying to firmly hold the hand of a very excited four-year old and I can become a bit frazzled. Entering the park was much easier with the kids secure in the stroller.

Theme Park Commando. We definitely are not theme park commandos except perhaps during the first hour of every day where we are able to ride the majority of the day’s must-do attractions. The key is taking in the most popular rides before crowds build. The last thing I want to do is waste valuable touring time having to pick up a stroller after I’m in the park when I could be scoring a ride on Soarin’ or picking up FastPasses for Toy Story Mania!

So, what were the key characteristics I was looking for in a stroller? That would have to be maneuverability, comfort for a one-year old and a four-year old, a canopy, and easy folding of the stroller. But my criteria didn’t end there. I also needed the company I rented from to be reliable, to have clean, well-maintained strollers, to be reasonably priced, and to deliver and pick up the stroller from my Disney hotel. Orlando Stroller Rentals was the answer to my stroller dilemma. They delivered. Both literally and figuratively.

First the stroller. I chose the City Mini Double stroller and loved it. At first I was concerned by the “Mini” in the description. Would my four-year old who is tall be comfortable? Shannon Tanner, the owner of Orlando Stroller Rentals, assured me the older guy would be comfortable and she was right. Both kids were right at home and the baby even napped for long periods in the stroller. My two favorite features were maneuverability and the canopy. The maneuverability was awesome – with an extremely tight turning radius, it was a cinch to move through the large crowds of guests at the Disney World theme parks. Even better – pushing two kids was hardly any more effort than pushing the empty stroller. As a mom whose kids don’t leave the house without a hat and sunscreen, I was ecstatic about the canopy. It provided nearly full coverage and the kids loved the shade. Was there anything I would have changed about the stroller? Sure, because nothing is perfect. The stroller was a bit awkward to fold since two hands were required and the storage was a little limited. I would have loved drink holders but it makes perfect sense why a rented stroller wouldn’t have one – cleaning up sticky soda rings is a chore. These were extremely minor inconveniences, especially given the stroller’s comfort, maneuverability, and shade. We put the stroller through its paces and easily walked ten miles a day with it. You know you have a well designed stroller when you love it as much the last day as the first.

Would I recommend Orlando Stroller Rentals to my family and friends? Absolutely. The service was great from start to finish. Shannon was very helpful and responded quickly to my email with questions about the different stroller choices. Once I made my selection, I simply had to show up at my resort’s bell stand and ask for the stroller to be delivered to my room. The stroller was in mint condition and extremely clean. That’s a very big deal to me and I can’t emphasize enough how comfortable I felt using the rented stroller because of how clean and well-maintained it was. It even came with instructions on the basics of using the stroller which was very helpful. On the last day, we simply returned the stroller to bell services and boarded the Magical Express. Unfortunately, we had a small glitch returning the stroller as bell services misplaced it. Orlando Stroller Rentals was helpful, friendly, professional, and put me at ease when we communicated and tried to locate the stroller which was found later that same day.

A 4-7 night rental of the City Mini Double will run you $85. Compare that with $31 a day to rent a stroller at Walt Disney World and you can see how quickly the savings add up.

Bottom Line: A stroller is a must for kids, even as old as five or six, at Walt Disney World. If you are going to rent one, give Orlando Stroller Rentals a try – you won’t be disappointed. Visit them at www.orlandostrollerrentals.com or call 1-800-281-0884.

*Disclosure. Orlando Stroller Rentals provided a complimentary stroller for my family. This did not affect my review and the opinions expressed here are my own.
Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You call follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DisneyExplorer.

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Orlando Stroller Rentals to the Rescue

Best Things I Love About Disney – The ‘Friendship’ Boats

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Best Things I Love About Disney – The ‘Friendship’ Boats

We have all taken advantage of the Disney bus system, ridden the Monorail, and most likely driven a car to get from one place to another at Walt Disney World. The entire Disney transportation system is extraordinarily efficient and well operated, and even though there have been a few very serious incidents, considering the number of people being transported it is very safe! The only issue I have with it comes from the feeling of rush-rush-rush that I get while being moved around. I like to take it easy when on vacation (after all I’m old) and it is difficult to relax on a crowded bus or Monorail.

There is a terrific alternative if you are traveling around the Epcot, Epcot Resort, Swan/Dolphin or Disney’s Hollywood Studios areas. There are boats that traverse the World Showcase Lagoon that will give you a different perspective on that area – try them, it’s a very calming experience. These boats are called ‘Friendships’. There is another ‘Friendship’ route being operated that goes from the Epcot International Gateway area to the Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, Swan/Dolphin, and then on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It also operates in the reverse direction. What a marvelous way to get from one place to another in a relaxed, slow, and calm way. You may want to avoid sitting outside at the very back of the boat because of increased engine noise but it’s really not that bad.

Does using this service for transportation purposes really make sense? It does, and here is how we use it. Being Park Hopper fans, sometimes we will spend a partial day at Epcot and then wander the Boardwalk area or even spend the rest of the day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We get there on the Friendships.  More often we will spend a day at the Studios with an evening Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) at one of the wonderful Epcot restaurants and we use the Friendships to travel between the parks. The trip, with stops, takes 25 – 30 minutes so if you have an ADR plan accordingly.

There are so many ways to do so many things at Walt Disney World that it can quickly become mind boggling for newer travelers. We have friends who are frequent and regular travelers to Walt Disney World who knew that those boats were there but they had no idea where they went. They do now and they really enjoy them. Look around for alternatives, you might be surprised what you find! As always, Enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Best Things I Love About Disney – The ‘Friendship’ Boats

Disneyworld Planning 101 – Do Magic Kingdom Last..

By
Chip
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magickingdompark
magickingdompark

Disneyworld Planning 101 – Do Magic Kingdom Last..

What? That is blasphemy! How can you say that? Before you riot against me and boycott the Chip and Company website let me explain…

One thing I have learned over the years from being a parent and from having a very strong willed little 4 year old princess is how to keep the peace. We joke all the time and actually found a shirt that says “Irish Temper Italian Attitude”. That sums her up to the T. So when planning our Disney vacations I have learned one valuable lesson that if your a parent it would be wise to follow.

**Do the Magic Kingdom last**

Once you take your little one to the Magic Kingdom they will care less about the other parks. Mind you they will have a few things they like about each park, for example our little one loved Playhouse Disney Live at Hollywood Studios, Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom, and for some strange reason Space Ship Earth at Epcot. But she absolutely was in love with the Magic Kingdom. All the rides, the sights, the sounds, it is just magical to a little one.

Don’t get me wrong I love all the Disney Parks and there are tons of things to do at each park for kids, but once your kids get a glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle and experience the sights, sounds, and enchantment of the Magic Kingdom there is no going back.

Most people start their vacations on the weekend. We like to arrive on Saturday and if you track any park attendance websites like Easy WDW or Touring Plans they will tell you Magic Kingdom is the park to avoid on the weekends.

Quick tip – Avoid parks that have Extra Morning Magic Hours as they will be the most busiest park that day. Unless you can get there at Rope Drop I would avoid them.

So my suggestion would be to get the other 3 parks out of the way first. Figure out what your children like the best in each park and visit those rides or attractions several times. If you plan it right you can visit the Magic Kingdom in the evening on the 3rd night and take in one of the night time parades or firework shows.

Quick tip – If you can wait, breakfast at Crystal Palace before rope drop on the fourth day will land you in the park before everyone else for some excellent photo opportunities. We have lucked out many times by getting a picture of the castle without anyone in it!

Our plan off attack for the parks usually goes like this:

Day 1 – Hollywood Studios

Day 2 – Epcot

Day 3 – Animal Kingdom till 5pm, dinner at one of the monorail resorts, then Fireworks at MK

Day 4 – Magic Kingdom

Day 5 – Magic Kingdom

Day 6 – Magic Kingdom

Day 7 – Magic Kingdom

Just kidding about the last 4 days 🙂

This is just one of the tricks I have learned from my countless visits to the park. It’s a great way to see the other parks when they are less crowded, and to allow your children to experience the Magic Kingdom for the rest of their visit which you know they will want to.

Hope this helps you keep the peace too.

>>Chip

Disney Droid Apps? I Don’t Need ‘Em!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Disney Droid Apps? I Don’t Need ‘Em!

Before we left for our trip (just finished our 2nd day in the parks), I downloaded all the top apps for my fancy new Droid phone and planned to compare and contrast. I planned to use Gowalla every once in a while to check in when I could, use Lines, the app created by Touring Plans, to check wait times, and also learn about parts of the parks with Notescast Disney World – discovering hidden secrets and hidden Mickeys, left to us by the Imagineers.

But, after completing my second day, I have realized that if I actually pay attention to these apps to “enhance” my trip, I’m missing out on something – MY TRIP! The apps only take a few seconds here and there, but each time I look down at my phone to check-in, I’m missing my 13 month old son discover something new. When I try to check wait times, I zone out and miss something my husband says to me.

I thought these apps would help our trip – no need to walk from place to place in search of fast passes or short lines. But, I like walking around the parks. I’m okay being exhausted at the end of the day if I hoofed it across the parks. And, a few of the times I checked, the wait times weren’t close (usually about 20 minutes off in either direction). We’re here for a relaxing trip, so we’re okay winging it this trip. Lines has been incredibly useful for knowing Park times, parade times, and knowing about extra magic hours. And, they’ve been dead on with the crowd calendar. But, that’s really all I need/want
these apps for.

For me, that’s all I need. I’m putting my phone away and looking for hidden Mickeys on my own!
Jenn lives in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband and 1 year old son. She has been a regular to Walt Disney World her entire life and recently finished her first ever half marathon at Walt Disney World. Jenn can also be found at her own blog, the Disney Babies Blog, that she created while planning to take her 6 month old son to WDW. In her non-Disney life, you can find her playing the clarinet in a D.C. military band, or running and practicing yoga.

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Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5Last week, I reviewed TimeStream Software’s app Walt Disney World Notescast Guide 3.0.  This week, I’m moving on to their recently updated app revealing some 250 of the Secrets of Walt Disney World, and another 200 fun facts!

This Notescast is laid out in much the same format as the previous one.  Tapping on a section will take you to the next screen, which often has more choices for you to select from.  As a result, navigating through the vast amounts of data is really quite easy!

One thing that I should point out is that the folks at TimeStream went to great lengths to ensure that a lot of the secrets that you would like to know about were included.  However, as they told me when we were talking about the app, the one thing that they didn’t want to do was to reveal a secret that would remove some of the “Disney Magic” from Walt Disney World.  As a result, not all of the secrets that Disney has have been revealed!  As a parent of a nine year old, this is something that I really appreciate.

As always, the photography in the Notescast is top notch, and some of the secrets that they reveal to us, the Readers, are how to get some of those same great shots ourselves!  For example, take a look at some of these great pictures.  For the first picture, pay particular interest in the perspective of where the picture was taken from!

Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5

Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5

Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5

One thing that is really neat with the Notescast series, both with the Secrets app and the Guide app, is that as TimeStream updates the app, I get notified with the update through the App Store on my Touch.  That’s great because it means that I always have the most current information at my disposal.  Additionally, like the Guide app from last week, this app doesn’t rely on network connectivity at all.  This is particularly important at WDW, where my iPod Touch won’t find a Wi-Fi connection.

However, there is one thing that I would change.  When you are exploring the different secrets, they are laid out by park and then by land, so as an example, when you are looking at the Magic Kingdom, there are several sections for the various lands.  For example, there is one on Main Street, U.S.A.  After you finish looking at Main Street, U.S.A., the guide directs you to continue your tour with the Adventureland secrets.  You have to tap the “Back” button, then tap on the next section.  I would have liked to have a link, much like the Walt Disney World Guide, that would take me straight to the next section.

This app is priced at $2.99, which is a fair price for all the information you get.  While I appreciate the Guide app more because of all of the planning I do for our trips, my wife appreciates the Secrets app more because she is into those sorts of secrets.  So for those that aren’t sure which app to get, get them both!

Mike is a new member of the Chip & Company team, and has a passion for technology, Disney, and taking his family on trips to Disney!  He is currently in the process of finalizing plans for his family vacation to Disney World in June!  When he isn’t writing here, you can also find his writings at My Dreams of Disney!

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Review: Walt Disney World Secrets Gold! 1.5
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