Disney World Quick Tips — Don’t Lose that ADR or Your Money!

By

-

August 7, 2010

In just a few weeks, the first of many Halloween parties will begin in the Magic Kingdom, followed by nearly two months of Christmas parties. These parties, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, will take place two to three nights a week. On those nights, the Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00 p.m., right after Wishes and the Cinderella Castle lighting ceremony (a must do, by the way). If you don’t have a ticket, you’ll be slowly ushered out of the park.

No big deal, right? Just keep in mind that if you have an advanced dining reservation for after the park closes, you won’t be able to get into the park, even though it’s clearly open to other guests. This is true even if you’ve pre-paid for Cinderella’s Royal Table. You will still be charged. Further, if you’re in the park when it closes and your ADR is after closing time, you will not be allowed into the restaurant. So a 6:30 ADR is fine; a 7:15 ADR is not. Disney cast members are very strict about this. I’ve actually been refused entry into Pecos Bills at 7:00 on a party night, so you can imagine how strict they are about table service meals.

If you’ve made your ADRs for any late dining in the parks during this time, make sure there are no special events on those nights. If your heart is set on Cinderella’s Royal Table and you can’t change your ADR, you can buy a ticket for the event but otherwise, make sure you cancel or you’ll be required to pay for each guest in your party who does not make the ADR.

Chip’s Secret Spot to see Wishes for Couples

By

Chip

-

August 7, 2010

Narrated by Jiminy Cricket, “Wishes” takes Disney guests through treasured tales of adventure and romance from classic Disney films, accompanied by bigger, brighter, bolder pyrotechnics never before seen in a Disney theme park. Wishes are performed most nights in the Magic Kingdom.

Now I may be giving away one of my top and most secret spots here. I stumbled upon this location at just the right time by accident a long time ago. Ever-since then we try to make it a point to go here while on vacation.

This secret location is outside of the Magic Kingdom and is more for adults. If you have kids with you I would recommend staying in the Magic Kingdom and watching Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes soon after. Try sitting near Crystal Palace for some great family views.

Ok now for the couples here is how to get to my secret spot:

If you take the monorail to the Polynesian Resort and head outside to the beach you can look across the lake and see Cinderella’s Castle. The Polynesian Resort has swings available on a first come first sit basis. To get one on these spots your going to have to get there early as they fill up fast. Anywhere on the beach is a great place to see the fireworks, but for a place even more romantic I suggest venturing just a bit farther.

If you walk past the beach and head out to this little peninsula and sit, it kinda feels like your on an island. (see picture above) There seems to be less people and kids and makes for the most romantic spot to see the fireworks at Walt Disney World. Bring a blanket to sit on, and before you head out grab a couple of drinks from the pool bar.

As your sitting there enjoying the fireworks and sipping on your drinks you will forget you are at Disneyworld and swear your in heaven 🙂

I hope you like it. If you have any secret spots let us know in the comment section below.

Disneyworld Quick Tips – How to stay cool

By

Chip

-

August 7, 2010

Right around this time of year everyone is looking for ways to stay cool while braving the heat at the Walt Disney World Resort. Some areas of the parks have full exposure to the hot Florida other areas just get really hot from being enclosed and not allowing for much breeze. Whatever the reason lets all just agree it can get quite HOT!

Here are a few tips for staying cool while at the Disney Parks.

Wear Light Color Clothing. We all remember this from school dark color attracts heat.
Drink plenty of Water!
Wear a hat to avoid direct sunlight on your noggin dudes!
Save outdoor rides for after 4pm when it starts to cool down some
Visit your resort pool for a quick dip
Drink Plenty of Water! Can’t stress this enough
If you get overheated duck into a shop and do some window shopping till you cool off
Pour ice cubes down…. oh wait nevermind I wouldnt suggest doing this 🙂

Well thats just a few tips for staying cool while at the Walt Disney World Resort. Most of these tips people already know others might be something you never thought about before. Either way I hope you stay cool this summer and have fun your at DISNEY!

If you have a quick tip email chip at [email protected] and he will be glad to share them with everyone.

Disneyland Service: Guest Assistance Cards

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 7, 2010

Disneyland Service: Guest Assistance Cards

I’m not quite sure how this kind of service works at Walt Disney World, but down here at Disneyland we offer Guest Assistance Cards to park guests with some kind of physical limitation, such as limps, back problems, etc. The Guest Assistance Card is a great alternative to renting a wheelchair, as the card allows the visiting party to use the same handicapped entrance.

Guest Assistance Cards are free and can be obtained at City Hall on Main Street, or Guest Services in California Adventure. You’ll be asked a few questions, like what your condition is. Your Guest Assistance Card is good for up to six people, including the card holder, in your party. If there are additional members in your party, they must wait in the standard queue line.

Not only do these cards cut down on possible physical pain and exhaustion, but they may cut down your wait time as well. It depends on the kind of crowd that day, and the popularity of the attraction you’re trying to ride. These cards are not intended for immediate access to an attraction, but may reduce your wait time.

Also, if you’re staying at the Disneyland Resort for multiple days or you’re an annual passholder, you can ask the cast members at City Hall/Guest Services to extend the length of time the card is valid. You can also keep your Guest Assistance Card and bring it back to City Hall/Guest Services to be renewed the next time you visit the parks.

Guest Assistance Cards should ONLY be obtained by those with actual physical limitations. We’ve all seen the people at the parks who get a wheelchair even though they can walk perfectly fine, and it’s pretty annoying to the rest of us. Having a Guest Assistance Card is a privilege, not a right, so don’t try to weasel your way into getting one if you don’t need it. Leave them for the people who truly need them.

Visiting Walt Disney World with Extended Family and Friends

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 7, 2010

Visiting Walt Disney World with Extended Family and Friends
I have some experience in this area and the way I see it vacationing at Walt Disney World with family or friends is all about setting expectations. Bottom line, what are you expecting from the trip and what are your traveling companions expecting? Seems simple, doesn’t it? The answer, of course, is a magical vacation. But if you want to return from the trip still on speaking terms and with your friendships intact, there’s more, a whole lot more, to discuss before you start making your reservations.

The “Talk”

No, not that one. The child care talk. One of the most common travel groups is families with grandparents. I highly recommend traveling with grandparents – it’s a wonderful experience for everyone but Grandma and Grandpa may have different expectations for the trip than Mom and Dad. Extended family may feel as if they are expected to be glorified babysitters and it’s important to reassure them that is not the case; it’s their vacation too. If you would like an adult night or two out, discuss it with your family and ask if family members are comfortable watching the kids. If they aren’t, make a reservation at the Children’s Activity Centers or Kids Nite Out so everyone enjoys their time at Walt Disney World.

Togetherness

Just how much togetherness is right for you and your family and friends?

Lodging. Is bunking together in a DVC vacation home or a family suite the right choice? It may be, especially if you’re traveling with Grandma and Grandpa. On the other hand if little Johnny is up at 5am and Grandpa can’t function before 9am, you may want to rethink the whole staying together thing.

What happens when one part of the group expects to stay at a Deluxe resort while a Value is in the budget for the other half of the group? If two or more rooms are the way to go for your group, talk about preferences for budget and theming early on. Logistically, it’s more convenient to stay at the same resort.

It’s easier to meet at the resort bus stop than have to coordinate another meeting place and be at the mercy of Disney transportation to get you to the right place at the right time.

Alone Time. Talk about how much time you’ll spend together at Walt Disney World. For my family, it’s best to split up throughout the day and then get back together for dinner. My sister and brother-in-law enjoyed spending time at Magic Kingdom with my kids but then wanted some alone time for massages and cocktails.

If two families are traveling together, can they take turns watching the kids so the adults have some time to themselves?

Chef Mickey or Chefs de France? If you’re not careful, meals could turn into a showdown between gourmands who prefer signature dining and in-laws who prefer a burger with all the fixins’. What’s the right mix of group meals versus going it alone? For the group meals, don’t forget about picky eaters and vegetarians when choosing restaurants.

Wheels. Are you going to share a car, either rental or your own? You don’t want to be like two teenage siblings fighting over the car keys. Talk about a schedule if you’re going to use the car heavily at Walt Disney World.

Expenses

Disney World is one of those places where you can either spend a little (relatively speaking) or a lot. You’ll have great experiences either way – they’ll just be different. Here are some things to discuss with your group before you leave home.

Who Pays? Where money is involved, setting expectations is paramount. Are you inviting your family and friends as your guests and do you plan on picking up the tab for everything besides personal expenses? Or, will you be vacationing together but everyone is responsible for their own costs? If you share lodging, how will the room be paid for? When your group eats at table-service restaurants, will you rotate who picks up the bill or will you have the server bring two checks? Don’t forget incidentals the whole group will share such as water and snacks delivered from a service such as Garden Grocer or a stroller rental.

Sure, it’s awkward to talk money but defining expectations in a sensitive way early in the planning process will avoid any awkward misunderstandings later.

Souvenirs. Normally, you could say to each his own when different budgets are involved but souvenirs can be a sticky situation when traveling with kids. If touring as a group and one family allows their kids to pick out any souvenirs they want while you enforce a strict souvenir budget for your kids, there can be resentment and whining. Try to have a consistent approach to souvenirs when traveling with a group that has children in it.

Extras. Walt Disney World has recreation, special tours, and more for every budget. Problem is not every budget may have room for these extras. One approach is to tour the theme parks together and then take a mid-day break where people can go their separate ways – it may be a nap and pool time for some or golf for others. Before booking any additional Grand Gatherings, be sure to be up-front with the additional costs with all members of your traveling party.

Touring

Commando, Leisurely, or Somewhere in the Middle? Deciding on a general touring plan before you visit the park is essential. Some families tour Walt Disney World commando-style (from sun-up to sun-down) while others stroll through the parks and take in all the details. Others are somewhere in the middle and take a mid-day break after hitting the major attractions in the morning. Ask your group about the approach they would like to take and try to meet in the middle.

After you agree on a general touring style, you have to talk about a daily schedule. Does your group plan on taking advantage of Extra Magic Hours? What works best – Morning Extra Magic Hours or Evening Extra Magic Hours? Do you plan on visiting more than one park each day and does everyone in your group agree to the extra cost of a Park Hopper Option on their ticket?

If you’re traveling with children or seniors, don’t forget to take their needs into account when planning the day.

Meet-up or Go Together. Do you meet at attractions and meals or do you wait for each other and go together? If there’s a member of your family who is habitually late it may be best to have her call when she’s at the park and then decide where and when to meet instead of waiting for her.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant or Rock ‘n Roller Coaster. For a successful group trip, pick rides that interest everyone when you tour as a group. Save the thrill rides for when you split up if you have people in the group that feel more comfortable on Dumbo and “it’s a small world.”

To Wait or Not to Wait. Some people don’t mind waiting 60 minutes in the queue for a ride while others reach their limit at 30 minutes. Be considerate and decide on the general amount of time your group is willing to wait for any one attraction. It doesn’t have to be set in stone but it’ll be a good rule of thumb. I’m looking out for you here too. No one wants to be stuck in a long queue with grumpy companions.

There you have it, my quick survival tips for having a wonderful Disney World vacation with family and friends.

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 @DisneyExplorer and Facebook.
This post is part of the Disney Blog
Carnival. Head over there to see more great Disney-related posts and
articles

Disneyworld Quick Tips – How to remember where you parked

By

Chip

-

August 7, 2010

I myself am very forgetful. Don’t believe me go ask umm what’s her name? Oh yeah my wife. Before I picked up a Droid phone, and found this interesting program called Carrr Matey I was constantly loosing my car. I am sure the iPhone has a similar program as well but probably not as cool as the Droid version.

One place you don’t forget where you parked is Walt Disney World. The parking lots are so massive it could take your hours trying to figure out where it is. We have all seen those people walking around the parking lots with their key fobs in there hand praying they will hear they alarm go off to signal their car..

One little trick/tip you can use besides the ol pencil and paper is take out your digital camera or your cell phone that has a picture function and take a picture of the parking lot name, number or color you are in. Then when you are exhausted and can’t remember where you parked just pull up that picture you took that morning when you were excited and full of energy. If you have more than one phone have everyone take pictures cause you can never be to safe..

It is a lifesaver and something we do whenever we visit the parks!

I will point out if you forget to do this sometime the tram drivers know what parking lot you might be in if you can tell them an approximate time you arrived in the morning. Its a long shot but worth a try.

If you have a quick tip email chip at [email protected] and he will be glad to share them with everyone.

Photo credit by Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr

The Disneyworld Mousekeeping Art of Folding Towels

By

Chip

-

August 7, 2010

Walt Disney World Mousekeepers are a talented bunch! Not only are they skilled at tucking in sheets and cleaning up after weary vacationers, but they can work magic with an ordinary washcloth. Add a few pipe cleaners and some stickers and you have a butterfly. Some creatively folded towels in the middle of your bed forms a hidden Mickey. Mousekeeping has turned towel folding into art.

But at the end of the night the towel shape I like to see best is the toothbrush holder. I know it isn’t as showy as a towel animal, but it is just so helpful to have. On my last trip, I carefully took my towel toothbrush holder to two Disney resorts and on a Disney cruise! I was tempted after my trip to keep this towel gem, but I didn’t want to be banned from Disney, so I carefully disassembled the washcloth and am here to show you how you can make your own toothbrush cozy for your hotel room.

Step One: Fold any standard washcloth diagonally.

Step Two: Fold the bottom edge up about a half inch.

Step Three: Flip the washcloth over

Step Four: Roll the towel.

Step Five: Insert the end of the towel into the back fold.

That’s it! Now you can make your own toothbrush holder and bring a little bit of Disney Magic to your vacations.

Tracie is the author of Kid Tips for Walt Disney World. Visit http://VacationFieldGuides.com to learn how your child’s tip can be featured in the next Kid Tip book.

Getting Around Walt Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 7, 2010

Getting Around Walt Disney World

There is a lot to think about and plan for on your Disney vacation. Have you thought about how you plan to get to and from the parks…and any other place you plan to visit while there? You actually have some options, and as with everything when it comes to Disney….planning ahead will save you time and money.

Your options will somewhat depend on whether you are staying on Disney property and can take advantage of Disney’s free transportation from the airport and to the theme parks…or if you are staying off-site, will you need a rental car and/or other transportation options.

If staying with Disney, you will have access to a great transportation system consisting of buses, boats, and monorails. Disney’s Magical Express provides travel from Orlando International Airport to and from each of the Disney resort properties. Especially nice with this, is the fact that you can even have Disney handle your luggage, allowing you the chance to get to the parks quicker. All of this is no-cost, reliable, and relatively hassle-free. While there are circumstances where Disney transportation is not the most efficient use of time (the buses do typically service more than one resort property at a time, and going from one hotel to the next can be time consuming), by and large, if you are staying on Disney property, you really don’t need the additional cost of a rental car.

If staying off-property or in a vacation home, then you will need to make other arrangements. Many hotels near Disney World offer free shuttles to the theme parks. When considering the use of an off-property hotel shuttle, inquire about whether the shuttle is “shared” by several hotels, as you want to make sure that several hours of your vacation time are not taken up by sitting on a shuttle bus.

Even if the shuttle is free, you will still need to get there from the airport if flying. Taxis and limousine services can prove, believe it or not, to be an affordable option to get from the airport, as can a shared airport shuttle. Again, compare costs and travel time to decide the best option.

What if you don’t want to rely on shuttles, taxis, or even Disney buses? What if you are flying in or out of an airport that isn’t Orlando? What if you want to visit other theme parks, off-site restaurants, or shopping? What if you just want the freedom to come and go when you please, without waiting for an overly crowded bus or shuttle? What if you want to rent a car? Happily, you will have a lot of choices.

If you decide to rent a car at the Orlando airport, you will have the choice of 8 different car rental companies. In addition, you will find that there are car rental locations on-site in Disney World as well as at several hotels in Downtown Disney. This makes renting a car, even for a day or two, if you would like to visit neighboring theme parks, convenient and hassle free. Plus, it’s easy to pick it up in one location, and return the car in another one.

The best way to get a good rate for a car rental is to be persistent and check the rental companies’ rates on a regular basis. Register for the “preferred renter” option at each company in order to save time when picking up your car, and to get money-saving discounts. Don’t be afraid to book with a company when you see a good rate: if you get a better one later on, there is no penalty for cancellation. Doing this can, over time, save you several hundreds of dollars if you are keep trying. Be sure to check sites like Travelocity and Expedia to compare rates. And feel free to check the cost for a larger vehicle than you think you need: sometimes the companies have more requests for small cars than they can handle, and so the larger vehicles are seriously discounted as a result.

Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter 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. Her favorite things at Disney World (in no particular order) are Soarin’, most of the food in World Showcase, Illuminations…and that “Disney magic”.

Come Celebrate Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort

By

Chip

-

August 7, 2010

From Sept. 17 through Oct. 31, families will celebrate Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort as they interact with some of Disney’s most beloved characters decked out in seasonal costumes. Some of Disney’s more sinister characters – the Disney villains – also get into the “spirit” of the celebration at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks.

Guests will also enjoy Haunted Mansion Holiday and a scary adventure at Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. Mickey’s Halloween Party, a special ticketed event, will run for 10 nights including October 31.

Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland

Disneyland confirms Mailboomer thrill ride to be removed

By

Chip

-

August 7, 2010

Disney’s California Adventure Park is getting rid of one of its thrill rides.

The Maliboomer tower, which shoots riders 180 feet up in the air in four seconds and then drops them, is being removed next month.

A park spokesperson says the ride doesn’t fit in with the new vision for the Paradise Pier area that is currently under renovation. The new architectural theme is “a return to the romance and charm of California’s oceanfront playgrounds of the early 1900s.”

If you want to ride the Maliboomer again before it’s taken down, you’d better act fast. The last day of operation will be September 6.

Source

Classic Disney – The Little House from 1952

By

Chip

-

August 6, 2010

As progress brings the city directly around a little house, she grows more and more depressed.

Check out this classic Walt Disney Cartoon below.

Disney Tickets Last Tour to Endor event will include special Star Wars touches

By

Chip

-

August 6, 2010

This article comes to us from Dewayne Bevil at The Daily Disney.

Coming soon: The return of the Jedi to Disney’s Hollywood Studios – But it’s not Star Wars Weekends, Part Deux.

On August 14, the theme park will be the site of Last Tour to Endor, a one-night-only, after-hours, separate-ticket occasion tied to the Star Wars Celebration V event based primarily at the Orange County Convention Center.

Guests will have a different experience that during the parks’ annual Star Wars Weekends, but the themes will be familiar. Expect a mixing of Disney characters, the Star Wars universe and a few surprises from other films.

This show title gives a clue: “Raider of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of Epic Proportions.”

“For the first time ever, we’re combining the worlds of Star Wars and Indiana Jones at our Epic Stunt Spectacular Stage,” says Jason Surrell, senior show writer and show director for Walt Disney Creative Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering.

The show’s plot revolves around two filmmaker who have a competiton to make their next project on the Disney backlot. One is a Star Wars fan, the other favors Indiana Jones.

“They haven’t quite been able to agree on the story they want to tell, so they’re going to do both,” Surrell says.

The show will include cameo appearances from “actual Star Wars celebrities,” he says. The script has been blessed by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

Click here to keep reading.