Is It Too Early?

We are planning our next Disney trip! Well. . .I'm planning it in my head. :) We're going to take a family trip with my family to Disney World in January or February of 2013. So we have about a year to go, but the way I look at it - I can start making our reservations this summer, so that makes me happy!

There's going to be the four of us (it will be Liam's first trip!), my parents, and three siblings. It might get a little tricky with my siblings' schedules, but I refuse to go during busy/peak season, and we had a fabulous experience when we went last January (with Kurt's side of the family). I know the weather can be a gamble, but I think it's worth the risk!

I've been thinking through what we want to do the same and what new things we'd like to try:

Keeping the Same:

-We will be flying again. It was awesome to have such a quick trip and the Magical Express shuttle at the airport was indeed magical!

-We will be taking our own stroller. I really enjoyed being comfortable with our stroller and being able to have ease of transportation while on the monorail, ferry, etc. Plus, with two kids, I want to keep them in the double stroller they're used to.

-We will be staying in the Grand Floridian again. We have been saving with this in mind, because to us, it's worth it to work hard and save the extra money for the WONDERFUL convenience of the monorail. It really makes a huge difference, and we're willing to pay a little extra. Thankfully, during value season it's not AS atrociously priced.

-We will be returning to eat at San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot. This is my dad's favorite Mexican food (and he's an expert with Mexican food!), so it will be fun to eat there again as a family.

-We will, without question, go immediately into Fantasyland upon the Magic Kingdom opening for the day. We had such a wonderful experience getting to ride all of the Fantasyland rides all in a row several times before people even figured out where Fantasyland was - ha! Definitely a good plan that we're sticking with.

-We will DEFINITELY be repeating a Princess character meal! Evy was just beside herself with joy when we went last January, and her Princess obsession has only grown since then. I'm not sure if we'll do Akershus or the Castle. Still trying to compare food choices, etc. Since I've eaten at both, and enjoyed both, I'm going to sit down and compare the menus and options in detail.

-We will be taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours again!! This is when we had the most fun and enjoyed the most rides and attractions. We felt like the parks were empty and it was a blast. Again, it's a great bonus of staying at a Disney resort!

-I will definitely be packing Evy and Liam super cute outfits like I did for Evy last time! Most of them will be compliments of Kurt's mom, who can sew like nothing I've ever seen!


Doing Differently/New Experiences:

-We will avoid Martin Luther King Weekend! We had to go during this time last January because of some work schedules, but we noticed a definite increase in the crowds. We chose to leave Magic Kingdom on that Monday because it was just so crowded. Now, everything is relative. Compared to July, it was a breeze, but we just didn't want to fight lots of people, so we went to Downtown Disney for awhile. I really want our whole trip to be low-crowds on this next trip, so we'll avoid the MLK holiday.

-We won't repeat Crystal Palace. Even though Liam (and Evy) really enjoy Winnie the Pooh, it was really crazy crowded and kind of hard to maneuver.

-I want to try Chef Mickey's! We taped a show on TV called "The Best Places I've Ever Been," and several celebrities talked about their favorite Disney moments. One chef took his wife and daughters to Chef Mickey's. Evy LOVES to watch this show, and comments about Chef Mickey's all the time. Plus, I can't lie, the food looks reallllllyyyy good. I love good breakfast food, and Disney also really does buffets well.

-I think this will be the trip for Evy to do the Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique for the first time! She will be at the perfect age (almost 4) and I think she will just be in heaven. Plus, we'll have numerous helpful hands from family members to help juggle the video cameras, Liam, etc. This is another thing Evy has seen on TV, and she just talks about it all the time.

-I think Evy will be more excited to see the fireworks this time - they scared her on the last trip!

-The most exciting thing is that this will be my family's first trip together since 2005, and hopefully a good portion of the Fantasyland expansion will be open! HOW FUN!


I'm sure I'll add to this list, but I love talking about the planning stage of a trip. It's one of my favorite things to do!

Picking Your Disney Dates - Made Easy!

There are SO MANY Disney blogs and information websites out there, that sometimes it can get really overwhelming. I like to show different resources that are out there, and I've found one that can make your planning a lot easier!

YourFirstVisit.Net is a great site that helps you navigate your first time at Walt Disney World. However, even Disney veterans can use a handy new tool, the Week Picker! You answer a few simple questions (based on crowds, weather, and money preferences), and then your best weeks are given to you! There are three tiers - Deluxe, Moderate, and Value, since prices can vary by different hotels.

Our next Disney trip will be in late 2012 or early 2013, so even though I have awhile, it always makes it easier to make a gameplan of when you're thinking of going. For instance, I always make my dining reservations 6 months out, and this helps me to know that I'll need to make reservations next summer, probably in August (exactly a year from now!) if we go in January.

This is a handy tool that can help take the guesswork out of when to visit the World!

Summer Packing for the Parks

The last time I was planning what to wear for our Disney trip, it was fall/winter. Packing for a summer trip to the World is a completely different story! I had someone ask me what I would recommend for summertime in the parks. I would be remiss if I didn't note that I ALWAYS recommend going to Disney in the cooler/off season. However, I understand that's not always possible. So here's the list!

I have mixed feelings about hats. On one hand, it's great to protect your head and face from the sun - that's very important! However, you need to bear in mind what kind of photographs you want of yourself while visiting Disney. I KNOW how vain this sounds! However, if you want pictures of you with your cute-dressed kids, you might not want to be baseball-capping it. Again - this is TOTALLY personal preference! Some people love the low-maintenence act of throwing on a baseball cap and not having to worry about hair. I am just not one of those people.

I personally do not believe that you need to join the ranks of the socks-with-sandals, crazed tourists who wear the ultimate awkward accessory: THE FANNY PACK. Now, if you are a Fanny Packer, please withold your defensive statements. I totally understand the ease and security with which you carry your Fanny. However, I believe that a backpack is a great way to hold your necessities, especially with kids. Also, if you want a smaller option, a travel bag with a shoulder strap is great. You just need an easy way to carry your items, which I will list below.

Here are some items that we always carry in our backpack:

• PONCHOS. The Disney ones are expensive, and in the summer you are pretty much guaranteed some rain. Usually they are relatively light, sporadic showers, but you need to have something to cover with so you can keep going. Don't be one of those families that cowers when it rains! You can take advantage of the time when other guests are having to duck into The Emporium to buy their gear.

• LIGHT SNACKS are great to have, especially with kids! We stick in a few breakfast bars, fruit snacks, or small plastic baggies filled with Goldfish. At this time, Disney is still pretty loose with their food policy. It's wise to be prepared should the need arise, and it can also save you money!

• SUNSCREEN is vital! Cover everything - and don't forget your ears! The quickest way to kill a vacation (anywhere, not just Disney World) is a sunburn. Keep it with you and apply it often. Another great item is a sunscreen stick, which is great for lips and quick reapplications.

• TYPE ALL OF YOUR DINING RESERVATIONS, including what times and the confirmation numbers, to keep handy in your backpack. It helps so much to have all of the information on one piece of paper. Also, should there be an issue with a reservation (and there rarely is), it's a lot easier to pull out that paper, rather than having to look it up on your phone.

• REFILLABLE, FILTERED WATER BOTTLES can save you a lot of money! Just fill them up at the water fountains throughout the park.

• PLASTIC SACKS to wear around your shoes for water rides are a great thing to have. It's a small step that will save a lot of uncomfortable walking! Put the whole bag around your foot, and tuck it up into your socks. You could even bring hair rubber bands to secure the bags.

Something I DON'T think you should have in your backpack is your camera. Use the shoulder strap (you should have one, or buy one) and wear it around your neck/shoulders at all times. I experienced having my camera lost/stolen at Disney, and it's devastating. I carried it in my backpack or around my neck at all times, and the split second it wasn't around my neck, it was gone. We still don't know what happened to it, but you can never be too careful! Keep your camera around your neck/shoulders AT ALL TIMES!

SHOES are a vital choice when you will be doing a LOT of walking. I always recommend tennis shoes first, worn with socks. Use duct tape for blisters (it won't sweat off). I've seen a ton of people use flip flops, and this is a personal choice. I've found that even the Old Navy-style flip flops can rub a blister and they also offer no arch support. You NEED arch support! Again, if you're wanting to go the non-tennis shoe route, break in your desired shoes well before you trip!

PERSONAL FANS and things of that nature can be useful if you find yourself stuck in a long line. Hopefully you're following a Touring Plan and won't find yourself in such a situation!

As far as clothing goes, I think it's important to wear shorts or a tennis skirt (formerly known as a "skort" in the height of its fashion popularity) in a material that won't rub or chafe your legs. This is SO IMPORTANT! Also bear in mind that materials can change when wet (Splash Mountain, anyone?). If you're in doubt, wear the shorts in question and go walking for about 20 miles. I kid; you don't need to walk THAT much, but wouldn't you rather have a trial run of a couple of miles or so before you do the real deal? The bonus is that it helps get your body ready for all of the walking! If I were to go in the summer, I would choose an athletic short or tennis skirt. I tend to shy away from denim, but some people can handle it just fine. Again, this is why I recommend a test run!


Wear cool, breathable shirts. I think that's self-explanatory!

As far as the kids go, you also want to watch for shorts that could rub or chafe. If you go the cute "pillowcase dress" route, make sure your daughter wears shorts underneath. There are a lot of cute cotton shirts that can be personalized for a Disney vacation on Etsy.

There are obviously more items that could complete your packing list, but this should give you a good start! as always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Trip Preparations!

I have been SUCH a bad blogger lately! It MIGHT have to do with the fact that we're in full-swing adoption mode and just completed our homestudy! YAY! To read more about our adoption journey, click here. Now that we have finished the homestudy, I can move on to the next big thing which is OUR TRIP! We are so excited to take Evy to Disney World for the first time. Here are some tidbits:

-I've been collecting little toys and knick knacks at the Dollar Store, Target, etc. to entertain Evy on the plane ride(s). I'm hoping that between these toys and the DVD player, we should be okay and survive. I think the biggest fear I have is being on this airplane with a bunch of people and not having a way out if I need it (with Evy, I mean). I've never been afraid to fly, but for some reason have my child on board with me is giving me the heebs. Oh well, I know it will be fine!

-We've been "practicing" with the DVD player and headphones. I knew that the airplane was NOT the time to introduce headphones to Evy, and we've had several successful trial runs at home. See?

-I've already mapped out our strategies, since it's totally different going with an almost 2-year-old! I'm excited for this new challenge and will give FULL reports once we're back. OH--and I have my new camera to document everything! Trust me, that camera is going to around my neck the ENTIRE TIME.

-We are so excited to see Kurt's whole family on the trip. What a fun time it will be!

Our Upcoming Trip!

I know it's been awhile since I've written, but I was really sad about losing my camera at Disney World a couple of months ago. I lost all of the pictures, and I needed to grieve---ha! Thankfully, due to my wonderful husband, my Christmas gift was a NEW Canon Rebel t2i camera!

I can't WAIT to capture all new memories when we go to Disney World in January. Since it will be my daughter's first trip, we are just so excited. My sweet, talented mother in law is making Evy two outfits (I'll be sure to post pictures!) and I ordered her a few things from Etsy:

Fleece hats from this shop. I measured Evy's head, and according to the measurements, she needs an Adult Small. That's what I ordered, so we'll see how it fits!

This adorable little pillowcase dress came from this shop. I'm going to pair it with leggings and a turtleneck. This shop on Etsy had the most reasonable prices on pillowcase dresses (as far as having a cute stylish product as well). I just love it!

I knew I wanted a shirt with a monogram in the Disney font, and I found one at this shop. It will be perfect with leggings, and she already has the perfect red and white polka dot bow!

I've also been reading this new book:

This has already been an awesome read, because it's concise, clear information about traveling with a toddler/preschooler. It actually includes a LOT of the tips I give people while going to Disney World. There's also a coordinating website that helps in planning. I've really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it!

It's been fun preparing for this trip, even amidst the busyness of the holidays. I booked our Magical Express shuttle from the airport, all our dining reservations are confirmed. I'll be doing a post soon about how I plan to make airline travel easier with Evy (being almost 2 years old). If you have any tips, PLEASE leave a comment or email me! I'd love your advice on this!

Disney---here we come!

2011 Disney Chart

Hello everyone!

I came across a wonderful chart that has each week in 2011 itemized for the best and worst times to visit. This takes the guesswork out of when to plan your vacation to Disney World!

CLICK HERE to see the chart! (Found via this website.)

New Disney Deals

Disney has released their 2011 deals and packages! My friend Heather is a travel agent for Disney, and all of her services are FREE!!!!! It costs you nothing to have her help! Head on over to her blog if you're booking a trip in 2011 and see what kind of deals you can get! :)

Vacation Helpers

I have a couple of friends who have recently become Disney travel agents! I enjoy planning our Disney vacations, and it's easy to see why these girls would pursue it as more than a hobby.

Heather is working for Travel with the Magic.

Ashley is now an agent with Pixie Vacations.

Both of these companies offer free quotes, so it doesn't hurt to inquire about your next trip! Congratulations to both of these girls for helping others plan their fabulous vacations!

Q & A

These questions are from my dear friend, Julie. She has three ADORABLE young boys, and she and her husband are planning a Disney trip for them. Hopefully her questions will help some of you. Love you, Julie!

We were originally thinking about going in October until [a friend] said they were thinking about going the first week in December. It's value season, you'd get to be there for all the Christmas stuff, and there is likely to be very few kids there since they will have just had off for Thanksgiving. This could be a very good option for our trip.

December is a great option for seeing the Christmas decorations, and avoiding crowds in value season! Our next trip (after this one in October) will definitely be during this season because it's a magical time to go. I highly recommend it! Be sure you pack all sorts of layers for clothing. Weather can be weird in central Florida, so you'll want to have a big variety of things to layer on and off. That's a big tip for this time of year.

I think we are leaning towards staying in All Star Movies value resort. I think the boys would LOVE to stay in the Animal Lodge in AK, but it's pretty pricey.

All Star Movies will be fantastic for the boys. It's kid-friendly and very engaging. Plus, at this stage in the game, you're really going for the parks and not necessarily a "fine hotel" experience. Although the Value resorts are definitely Disney-quality, which equals excellence. I would highly recommend them to anyone. Keep in mind that you are more than welcome to come and tour the Animal Kingdom Lodge and get the feel of the resort, even if you're not staying there. You'll also get a similar safari/savannah experience just by visiting Animal Kingdom. A great way to save money is to stay at a value resort but visit the lobbies and/or restaurants of finer resorts.

I'm not sure about which dining plan to do. If you stay in a value resort, does that lock you into a quick service meal plan? Which meal plans have you done before?

As far as I know, you are able to purchase whatever Dining Plan you wish, regardless of what resort you're staying in. The Dining Plans are done by point values, so you're not locked in to what you HAVE to eat, as far as menu items. Most of the restaurants at Disney participate in the Dining Plan. However, some signature restaurants will take up double points, if that makes sense. You can see what values a meal would take up by looking at the Disney Dining website, and then you can plan accordingly. From what I've heard, the Dining Plan gives you a LOT of food. That's why Kurt and I have never used it, because I'd feel compelled to use every single dang point I was given--haha! However, lots of families have had great experiences with it. Having three boys, yall might really get a good deal out of it. Keep in mind that if your boys don't typically eat a ton at each meal, sometimes you're better off to split plates and share certain things. It's a money saver, and you haven't wasted food. But only you know how much your kids typically eat.

Will we be able to find somewhat healthy food on that plan? I'm pretty strict about what I let my kids eat (and myself, for that matter).

Yes, it's possible to eat healthy at Disney. For instance, if you use the Dining Plan, you are allotted snacks throughout your stay. All Disney parks sell fresh fruit, and those can be redeemed using your meal plan. Also, there are healthy entree options at most every restaurant. Disney is really accommodating when it comes to guests' needs, so it never hurts to ask if you don't see something on the menu that you'd like you or your kids to eat. There are always fruit options for sides instead of fries, and the list goes on and on. You can read a good article about healthy eating HERE.

Are character meals included in any of the plans or should we just plan on paying out of pocket for those? Which ones of those would you recommend to me? The ones I like just by the sound of them are Chef Mickey, Winnie the Pooh (MK), Donald's Safari Breakfast, Playhouse Disney, and theTusker House Character breakfast (AK).

Character meals are included in your Dining Plan, unless otherwise noted. They only take up one meal allotment per person. I HIGHLY recommend doing a character meal, because it's a wonderful way to get pictures with characters (with no lines!), personal attention, and knock out a meal at the same time. Very much worth the money with kids. I've heard the most about Chef Mickey's, but you can be sure that any character meal at Disney WILL have characters present. They will most likely be themed according to where you are (i.e. "Safari" dressed characters will be in Animal Kingdom, and you'll get Winnie the Pooh and friends at their breakfast, etc.), so based on which characters your kids will like, it will be easy to make a decision. Bottom line: all character meals are good and worth it.

What about the dinner shows? Are those worth the money with my kids?

Dinner shows will most likely take up more of your Dining points, and it really depends on your kids. Dinner shows include a lot of crowd interaction, and kid participation. For instance, at O'Hana, kids play games, run races, etc. at the dinner show. If you have shy kids or kids that get scared easily of lots of noise or people trying to get them to participate, you might want to pass. However, some people argue that you never know until you try. I personally haven't been to any dinner shows, but as with all things Disney, you can be sure it will be engaging and high energy. Personally, I would skip a dinner show on your first visit to Disney. There's so much to see in the parks, they'll have SO much to take in already!

Tickets - is adding the park hopping option worth it? I think that there's probably enough to do in each park to keep us busy for one day, but you tell me if you think we'd benefit from this option. I think we definitely need at least 1 day in each park and then 1-2 more days to go back to what they loved. What do you think? I was also contemplating doing Sea World 1 day. They have a good deal on tickets.

Yes, I recommend doing one park per day, then having a couple of recap days. We personally love the Park Hopping option, because you aren't locked in. I get claustrophobic when I know I HAVE to stay in one park per day. I would feel trapped! ha! However, with young kids it's easier to stay in one park per day because you can take your time touring. I actually recommend doing Magic Kingdom over two days. The only reason you'd need a Park Hopper option would maybe be for your recap days, but obviously you can find plenty to do without park hopping. My recommendations: 2 day for Magic Kingdom, 2 days for Epcot (you can do it in 1 day but it helps to have 2), 1 day for Animal Kingdom, 1 day for Hollywood Studios, and then if you have a day left, pick your kids' favorite park and go back. Sea World is fun, especially for boys I would imagine. I have a friend that did a Disney vacation with her husband and son and they LOVED doing Sea World along with Disney. My recommendation: Do Sea World at the beginning of your trip. To me, Disney parks are unparalleled as far as excellence, magic, rides, etc. Putting Sea World at the end might seem like a come-down from just experiencing all that is Disney. Just my personal opinion!

I would highly recommend getting your tickets from Undercover Tourist. They are legit and have the best deals!

Send any more questions my way!

Our Dining Plans

Well, I have successfully reserved all of our ADR's for our October vacation!

Even I normally don't reserve this early, but we are almost 100% certain that Kurt will be able to get the week off in October that we want. Also, since this is a rare adults-only Disney trip, we wanted to try some nicer restaurants, which also means that they can be harder to get into. I told Kurt that I REALLY hope there's no glitch in him getting those exact days---simply because of the dining reservations!

Here's where we plan to eat. This will also give you an idea of how I "sketch out" our dining reservations and the plan of where we'll eat.

Arrive on Sunday, October 24

Dinner: Quick Service in Magic Kingdom. We'll be going to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on this night, so we'll eat on the go!

Monday, October 25 (Magic Kingdom)

Lunch: Pinnochio Village Haus. I love watching It's A Small World while I eat--it's tradition!

Dinner: Narcoossee's at The Grand Floridian. I've never been, and we will be going back to the Magic Kingdom that night for Extra Magic Hours. (Image found here.)

Tuesday, October 26 (Epcot)

Lunch: Tokyo Dining. This is new for us, and we wanted to try some good, (close to) authentic Japanese food and sushi. (Image found here.)

Dinner: Bistro de Paris. This is upstairs from Les Chefs de France, where we have eaten before. Bistro is supposed to be more cozy and upscale. Also, I think the views will be beautiful at night! (Image found here.)

Wednesday, October 27 (Hollywood Studios)

Lunch: Quick Service.

Dinner: Sci-Fi Drive In. I've been here before, but Kurt hasn't! The theming is wonderful, and there's a variety of food. We have an early reservation because we want good seats for Fantasmic--we loved it last October!

Thursday, October 28 (Hop-Around Day)

Lunch: Quick Service in whatever park we're visiting!

Dinner: LE CELLIER in Epcot!!!! I set my alarm for EARLY on the day it was exactly 6 months out and nabbed a reservation! I was so excited. Le Cellier is a steakhouse in the Canada Pavilion. The main reason it's hard to get an ADR is because it's a small, intimate restaurant. We are so excited to try out Le Cellier! (Image found here.)

Friday, October 29 (Hop-Around Day)

Lunch: Quick Service in whatever park we're visiting!

Dinner: California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort. We've heard GREAT reviews about this restaurant--the views, food, and experience. I've always wanted to spend some time in the Contemporary, so this should be a great way to do it. Hopefully we timed the reservation right to see the fireworks in Magic Kingdom--they say the view can't be beat! (Image found here.)

We can't wait to experience these old favorites and create some NEW favorites!

Q & A

I remember you talking about a Mexican restaurant that is very good. Could you tell me the name of that one again? And also I see that you are already making reservations at certain restaurants and your trip is still five months away. Do you think that I will still be able to make reservations with my trip only being two weeks away?

The YUMMY Mexican restaurant is San Angel Inn, located in the Mexico Pavilion of Epcot. It is fabulous! My dad is a Mexican food connoisseur, and he insists that this is the best he's had. As a sidenote, Epcot always serves authentic food. In fact, most of the Cast Members in each pavilion are from that particular country! I would definitely suggest San Angel Inn. Delicious, and the environment is really beautiful! It's dim, romantic, but still lively and fun. It's dark even in mid-day, so if you're not able to land an ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation) for dinnertime, you'll still enjoy the atmosphere.

Speaking of ADR's, you can still try to get some reservations, even two weeks out. However, here are some things to keep in mind if making reservations at the last minute:

• Have numerous options that you're willing to try if your Plan A restaurant doesn't work out.
  
• Signature restaurants will be difficult to reserve, but it's always worth a try!
• Be persistent. People will change their travel plans all the time and tables will open up on the booking system.
  
• You'll have the best chance of getting reservations if you're willing to eat at odd times. For instance, I just searched for a reservation at San Angel Inn on May 16 for 2 people. Dinner was booked, but there was an opening at 3:40 pm. My family has done this before! Eat your breakfast/lunch at a weird time too, and it won't seem like you're eating at bizarre times :)
  
• It's worth it to eat at a strange time. Disney restaurants are so environment-rich and exciting. Disney establishments are open all day, so type in a weird time and you'll probably have some luck.
  
• If you plan on eating at any Table Service restaurants during your trip, it's very difficult to get a table if you just walk up without an ADR. Try your best now--it's not too late to give it a shot!

I hope this helps, and let me know if you need anything else! By the way, I added a Search box in my right-hand column. That way, if you remember something I've mentioned or want to see if I've discussed it before, you can search easily!

Touring the Parks with a Plan!

The one area where most families are not prepared when it comes to their vacation is park-touring. Most newcomers (and even people who make return trips) really do think that they can wing it and be just fine. And honestly, if you choose this approach, you WILL ride a few rides. However, most of your time will be spent 1) Wandering and 2) Waiting. You didn't pay big bucks to wander and wait! Make a plan!

Sit down at your computer and go to Disney's website. Click on "Parks." For another option, WDW Info has a great listing as well.

Go through each Theme Park and make a list of the attractions and rides that sound enjoyable to your family. List any that sound remotely interesting. Now, go through and highlight or circle ones that you think are absolute must-sees. These will be your priority rides, and you'll do these first in your day. The rest of the rides/attractions you listed will be after you've completed your priorities.

Now CLICK HERE to view detailed park maps (thanks to the Orlando Welcome Center's website), and zoom in to where you can see exactly what the layout of each park is. Your best best is to get to the parks before they open, and when the rope drops, make a beeline for your #1 Priority Ride. If a line has already formed, someone from your party can go to another priority ride (close by) and get Fastpasses. [Sidenote: Always make sure you have some sort of Fastpass in your hand that is ready to be used. It's a great system, and it's a shame to not utilize it!]

Looking at your map, plan out your priority rides in the order in which you plan to go. Trust me on this. It's so nice to get off of a ride and immediately know where you're headed next. It takes a load off your shoulders and everyone is on the same page.

Of course, I always recommend using The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Their whole book is divine, but the touring plans alone make it worth the purchase. I use a blend of their plan and my priority list.

After you've mapped everything out, I recommend typing out your (flexible) schedule, and include your Advanced Dining Reservations (which I highly recommend having for sit-down meals). That way, your entire day is on paper, and you're not searching for miscellaneous papers and notes. Doing your homework ahead of time will save you so much stress during your time in the parks!

Here are my Priority Rides and Attractions for each park. Keep in mind that these are with MY specific tastes in mind. Your list could be completely different!

Magic Kingdom

• The Haunted Mansion
• It's a Small World
• Mickey's Philarmagic
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
  
• Space Mountain

Epcot

• SOARIN'
• Spaceship Earth
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Hollywood Studios

• Beauty and the Beast Stage Show
• The Great Movie Ride
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Animal Kingdom

• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo : The Musical
• Expedition Everest
• Kali River Rapids

Break down your planning into small steps, and it won't seem as overwhelming. This is an overview of plan-making, so if you have any questions, please let me know!

Disney Dining Plan Details

Hello there!
I've had a request for a list of the Disney Dining Plan restaurants for 2010. Here's a list of the participating restaurants and the category they qualify under.

CLICK HERE to see Disney's official "brochure" about the Dining Plan. The icons can be a little confusing, though.

CLICK HERE to see an easy-to-read chart listing all of the 2010 participating restaurants.

Here are a few of my favorites for each park:

Animal Kingdom: I haven't eaten in this park for ages, but I've heard Tusker House and Boma are excellent.

Disney Hollywood Studios:
-50's Prime Time (Comfort food and great atmosphere)
-Sci-Fi Drive-In (Kind of basic food but great environment)
-The Brown Derby (Upscale but great food and atmosphere)
-ABC Commissary is good for quick service.

Epcot:
-DO NOT MISS San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion! They serve the BEST Mexican food!
-Le Cellier is supposed to be excellent but getting a reservation seems to be nearly impossible.
-Chefs de France is good, but a bit pricey.
-Really any of the quick-service options are good and serve authentic (but still edible for Americans) food.

Magic Kingdom:
-If possible, do NOT miss Cinderella's Royal Table! The atmosphere is just beautiful, and it really completes the Disney experience (in my opinion).
-Pinnochio Village Haus is a great quick-service restaurant. Get there early for lunch and sit next to the big picture window overlooking It's A Small World. So much fun!
-Tony's Town Square has good Italian food and a cozy atmosphere.
-I've heard that Columbia House and Pecos Bill Cafe are good quick-service options as well.

*Plan out how you plan to allot your given Dining Credits, then make your Advanced Dining Reservations. Again, having a plan is the key to a less stressful vacation. You don't want to be hashing out where you spend which credits in the middle of Main Street U.S.A. Trust me on this.

*Be aware that the Signature Restaurants use more than one credit, so plan accordingly. It might help to list out each family member, their credits, and how you're using them. It sounds stressful, but you are PREVENTING stress while in the parks! Of course you can always modify your plan, but at least begin with one.

*From what I've heard, you get the most out of the Dining Plan if you plan to eat a LOT of food. Otherwise, it's cheaper to go "a la carte" with your meals.

I hope you have wonderful meal times together at the World!

Disney Dining!

One of the most important decisions in your research while planning for Disney World will be about dining. You need to have a gameplan for how you'll handle meals, snacks, etc. while visiting.

-First, decide on whether or not you'll use the Disney Dining plan. This is an all-inclusive, pre-paid plan that allots a number of meals per person, per day. CLICK HERE for the official Disney Dining website, where you'll find thorough information. From what I've heard (I've never used the Dining Plan), it usually ends up being a lot of food per person, and you'd probably save more money going a la carte. I would probably always feel like I was wasting my money if I didn't max out every bite of food allowed in the plan. But some people love the pre-paid ease of the plan. Decide what suits your personality best.

-CLICK HERE for Disney World restaurant menus.

-Go to Disney's Dining website and look through all of the restaurant options. Decide what's practical for your family. Personally, I prefer one Quick Service meal a day, and one Table Service meal a day. Part of the Disney experience (to me) are the restaurants. You just can't beat the themes and how you're immersed in the details. However, if you're on a budget, you could do breakfast at your hotel in the morning (or have "lunch" at 10:30-11:00 am), and do Quick Service meals the whole time except for one or two nice Table Service meals.

-If you want to eat some table-service meals (as opposed to Quick Service/Counter-style meals), you'll need to make reservations. Reservations are available 180 days out and 180 + 10 days for Disney Resort guests. SOME RESTAURANTS VARY. Check the official Disney Dining website for details on each restaurant. CLICK HERE for a Reservation Calculator to determine when you can call and make your reservations.

-Prepare BEFORE you call! This is when you need to be organized. I usually draw out a "calendar" for each day that we'll be in the parks and write out my preferred restaurants. I think through the times that would be good to ask for (I usually try for "off" times, like a 10:00 am or a 3:00 pm lunch, or an 8:00 pm dinner, for example). I have all my days written out in front of me, so if I need to switch around while talking to the operator, I can see what I'm doing and think clearly. I write everything in pencil. I also have a list of "Plan B" restaurants, just in case something is completely unavailable (more on that later).

-Disney is now offering the option of making reservations online (it's available on the actual restaurant's webpage). I've never used this method, but I think it's worth a try. I'm usually the type that likes to talk to an actual person, to confirm that our names are in the system and there wasn't a glitch. Call 1-407-WDW-DINE. Have everything in front of you, with a pencil ready. I've always had wonderful experiences with the Disney Cast Members who work in Dining. They are so helpful and they understand this can be overwhelming. They've also answered questions I've had about timing, etc.

-Be flexible while talking to the operator. If a certain day or time isn't available for a restaurant, ask them to search for any day of your vacation. For instance, Cinderella's Royal Table is a MUST for my family. So any day it's available, I flip-flop our park schedule to accommodate that reservation. That's why it's nice to have your hand-made calendar right in front of you. You can easily erase "Magic Kingdom" above Tuesday and switch it to Thursday if that's when you can get into the Royal Table.

-If you have kids, I would try to do at least one character meal. It's a guaranteed way to meet and get pictures with characters in a less stressful environment. Sometimes these can fill up fast, so pay attention to how many days out you can make your reservation.

-If you have older kids/teenagers/adults in your party, you'll probably get more out of Table Service restaurants, because you can appreciate the food, themes, and details. Here's my rule of thumb: The younger the child(ren), the less Table Service restaurants you'll want to reserve. Here's why: Kids don't usually appreciate eating at a replica of the Brown Derby, for instance. Also, it can be hard to plan what your child's mood will be like at the time of a reservation. It's just a gamble. That's why, with younger kids, I advise using mainly snacks and Quick Service meals when the little ones need it, and reserve maybe one or two special Table Service meals. You won't feel like you've wasted money on meals that weren't appreciated, and it gives you more flexibility.

-I'll be highlighting some of my favorite restaurants here and there on this blog. I love Disney Dining!

-As always, feel free to email me or leave a comment with questions, etc.

-Don't be intimidated by this process! It really does help you plan out your day once you have a plan in place for eating your meals. Next up, I'll discuss starting to make a touring plan for the parks.

Coming Soon....

I'll share how to start putting together a plan for your Disney vacation! Stay tuned!

Also, grab my new button (on the right) and share the Disney love!

Exciting News!

After featuring my favorite resource for planning a trip to Disney World, I received an email from Henry, who works for the Touring Plans website (which is the Unofficial Guide website). He kindly thanked me for mentioning the book. After several emails back and forth.......

I am thrilled to announce that Len Testa, one of the authors of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, will be answering some interview questions from me! This will be posted soon, and I am so excited to share it with you.

Thank you to Henry for making this happen, and thank you in advance for your expertise, Len!

My Favorite Resource

Maybe it's because I'm the first-born child in my family, or I'm severely Type-A, or I like organization.....

But I love a good plan.

And my number one tip for Disney World, hands down, is to have one. A plan.

There are several schools of thought on this. Some people think that if you over-analyze, it ruins the magic. To some degree, that's true. Then again, some people think that you can casually stroll through Disney World, aimlessly, and decide spur-of-the-moment, "Oh! Let's go on this cute little ride!" then discover that there's an hour wait.

If you want a great Disney trip, you have to be balanced.

The best book resource, in my opinion, is the Unofficial Guide (and no, I'm not being compensated to say that). The layout of the book, thoroughness, and content are all great. They include honest reviews and an easy to understand star system for each ride, attraction, hotel, and restaurant. If you're new to Disney World, it takes you step-by-step. If you're a veteran, the humor and reviews from other readers keep it interesting. It's easy to read, funny, and honest. And my favorite part? They give you a PLAN!

In the back of the book, there are several options for touring plans. You follow the steps. Kurt and I used a touring plan when we went to DW last October. We tailored it to what we wanted to do, but I had an agenda printed out, which included the times and confirmation numbers of our dining reservations. This made everything SO EASY. There was a point when we wanted to change our dining situation, and so I just pulled out the printed agenda, which included all of the restaurant info (including the phone number), and I sat down in Hall of Presidents and made the change. No stress.

Especially with children, you must steer your group in the order and direction you want to go. In other words, organize the magic. Because you, as the adult, have done your research and you know that PhilarMagic is an attraction that you can save for some downtime (because it holds large crowds and is air-conditioned), but if you want to ride Toy Story Midway Mania, you need to run, not walk, to get a chance to ride that thing.

See what I mean?

Here is the Unofficial Guide's website. But it's worth every penny to buy the book. I read it like a novel. But I'm weird. You might not (probably won't) be interested in getting THAT much information, but it's so important to map out your strategy weeks in advance, rather than praying you picked the right time to go on Space Mountain.

Now, I'm going to state the obvious: a plan is not a guarantee. It's a goal. Things WILL change. There will be a diaper explosion or a hungry-baby emergency. (Random tidbit while I'm thinking about it: the Hall of Presidents lobby is wonderful for regrouping, and diaper changes that don't require a massive overhaul. It's also air-conditioned with good seating. Oh, and it's a good spot for parade-watching.) Anyway, be prepared, but flexible.

Don't bother with the other books; this is the one you want to buy!

Coming soon: I'll give my own answers to my "Disney Series" questions!

Planning: Where to Stay

The next big decision after deciding when to go, how to get there, and how long to stay, is deciding where to stay while you're there.

You have two basic options: On Disney Property of Off Disney Property.

I have personally done both, and both are good for different things.

On Disney Property:
-Use of Disney Amenities (airport shuttle, sending souvenirs bought in the parks to your hotel, Extra Magic Hours, etc.)
-Use of Disney Transportation between the parks (although this isn't a perfect system and can sometimes be time consuming).
-Wonderful theming; immerses you in the Disney experience.
-Use of Disney Dining Plan while at hotel.

Off Disney Property:
-[Sometimes] better rates.
-Larger, suite-like rooms (in some hotels), where Disney rooms typically hold only 4-5 people.
-Freedom to use your own vehicle, if you so choose.

There are obviously more pros and cons that I can list, but you get the general idea.

When my family (before I was married) went to Disney World the last time, we stayed at Caribe Royale, and it was great. The suites were very roomy, and we got a great rate. Mousesavers is one of the best resources for finding good hotel rates:

Go to Mousesavers.com
Click Walt Disney World in the left column.
Click Preferred Hotels near Disney World.

From there you can see Mousesavers' top picks for hotels near Disney World, and most (like Caribe Royale) offer a "Mousesavers rate" that you reference when booking. Mousesavers rates also vary by Disney's Seasons (discussed in this post), so it always pays to go in lower seasons.

If you're wanting the total Disney experience, you can't beat Disney hotels. They always live up to the Disney standard of excellence. I have personally stayed at two extremes: a Disney Value Resort (All Star Music) and a Deluxe Resort (Grand Floridian). I have never personally stayed in a Disney Moderate resort but, as the name dictates, those fall somewhere in the middle of Value and Deluxe. For families with young kids or couples wanting to save money, Value resorts can be a good option, especially in value season. The Grand Floridian is opulent, breathtaking, and you can't beat the convenience (right on the monorail track!). If you have a ton of money to spend (which most people don't), this is the way to go.

The bottom line: You need to decide what the hotel experience is worth to you. For my family (my dad, mom, and 3 siblings), the parks were everything. A hotel was just a place to crash at night, and we were all old enough to not need Disney transportation to take us back and forth from our hotel to the parks several times a day. On the other hand, some say if you're going to do Disney, go all out. If you foresee needing to go back to the hotel for a mid-afternoon nap or rest, you might want the Disney experience even when you're back at your hotel.

Once you've decided what you want out of your hotel experience, go from there. Research for the best rates, whether on Disney property or off. I've had wonderful experiences at both, although I must say there's nothing like a Disney resort to just complete the incredible experience :)

As always, email me or comment with any questions or to share your personal experience!

Planning: First Steps

In this post I was going to write about your options in deciding where to stay when you visit Walt Disney World, but the first order of business is always deciding when to go, how to get there, and how long to stay!

When to go:

Generally speaking, when kids are involved, there are two philosophies out there:

1. Take the kids out of school and travel in off season to avoid crowds, hot weather, lines, and get better rates.

2. School is too important to miss. Suck it up and go in the summer.

I don't want to offend any teachers out there, because school IS important! However, this is my advice: when Disney is concerned, take some days off of school and go during off-season. Here is my rationale: Sure, there's more legwork in the sense that schoolwork has to be made up (depending on the ages), and you might be criticized for taking your kids out of school for a pleasure vacation. But the time and money you save, as well as the quality of the vacation, just can't be beat.

Season dates change annually. Here are the dates for 2009:

Value Season
January 1 - January 15
January 19 - February 12
August 9 - October 1
November 29 - December 17
Martin Luther King Weekend Jan. 16-18
Presidents Day Weekend Feb. 13-15
Regular Season
March 30 - May 21
October 2 - November 24
Thanksgiving Nov. 25-28
Summer Season
May 22 - July 2
Independence Day Weekend July 3-5 (July 4)
Peak Season
February 16 - April 3
Easter Week April 4-18
Holiday Season
December 18 - 31

Most people agree that fall is the best time to visit WDW. My husband and I visited last fall in late October (right before the time change), and it was absolutely perfect. The weather was fantastic, the crowds were low, and it was just an incredible visit. {I'll post pictures from that trip soon!} We used a touring plan {future post}, but hardly needed it. Wait times were low and when we did wait, the max was 20-30 minutes {that was for Toy Story Midway Mania in DHS--the ride was brand new and POPULAR!}.

However, there are plusses to going anytime. I have personally visited Disney in every season, and although summer is my least favorite, you still make memories. It's Disney!

Understandably, not everyone can take off work and/or school and go during the off season. So in future posts I'll talk about planning, touring the parks, and making the most of when you DO visit.

How to get there?

You have two options: fly or drive.

For some, driving isn't an option; it's just too far. You will have your share of challenges, but if you stay in a Disney Resort {more about that in another post} you will have the amenity of the Magical Express, a shuttle system from the airport. The plus-side is that you don't have to allow as much time for travel (in theory). However, with the way airlines and air travel has been latley, sometimes it takes just as long if not longer than driving.

If you drive, you have the freedom to make stops, pack what you want, and you have a way to get around the parks without having to rely on Disney transportation. My family has always done this. Driving just suits us better, is more cost-efficient, and gives us more freedom.

Just weigh your options and think about what's best for your family!

How long to stay? {Including Ticket Info}

I have been on Disney trips that have ranged from 2 days to 6. With children, you have to find that happy compromise between being able to take your time in the parks and not rush, and staying too long and having vacation meltdown.

My family has always done it this way:

We prefer the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios parks. Animal Kingdom just isn't our thing, but that's just our opinion. Our schedule is based on that, and yours will be difference based on your preferences.

We allow 1-2 days for driving, one day for each park (3 days), and then one extra day for recapping our favorite things. We always have the Park Hopper option on our tickets {future post} so we can skip around to the different parks and places we want to see. Then there's travel time to get home. So generally, our vacation lasts about 6 days, with usually 2 days going to travel and 4 days in the parks.

If you are going to Disney for the first time, plan to devote one day to each park. Give every park a chance, but be prepared for you or your kids to have preferences to one park or another. That's why the Park Hopping option on your ticket is great. I'll explain this more later in a more detailed post, but basically it's an option that you add on to your base Magic Your Way ticket so that you can go to more than one park in the course of a day. It's great, because you're not as limited.

So, if you're a first-timer, you'll need at least 4 days for parks. If you really want the best experience, I would plan 5-6 days in the parks. Sometimes, if you buy your tickets from the right place, you'll get an extra day or two free.

Here's my best ticket source: Undercover Tourist. This isn't a sketchy black market of tickets. Disney acknowledges this site and it's also recommended by Mousesavers (another great resource).

If you need questions answered about tickets, email me or leave a comment and I'll address it in a post. However, it's pretty self-explanatory.

Whether you're traveling with children or just as adults, you'll want to take your time and not kill yourself trying to race to the next ride, attraction, or parade. It will kill the magic---trust me. In a nutshell, you want to enjoy the details while following a plan.

Ask me any questions you have!