Monthly Archives: September 2014

Five Ways to Justify a Walt Disney World Vacation

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Walt Disney World Annual PassBy now you know me well enough to be certain that I never need a reason to visit Walt Disney World or sail on Disney Cruise Line or both!  I’ve heard though (sadly) that may not be the case for some people out there.  Some of my friends and acquaintences say, “I wish we could go to Disney World more often but my husband/wife/partner/mom/dad (insert applicable spoil-sport of your choice) doesn’t want to go.”  Personally, I think I’ve gotten pretty good at keeping the look of horror off my face at these moments and I usually just try to nod sympathetically and choke out some form of, “I understand” – which of course is a small white lie.  I don’t understand.  Not even a little.

This post is for those of you who need a nudge or know someone who does – let me help you get the Disney Vacation planning process off the ground with…They're only little once.

Five Good Reasons To Take a Disney Vacation:

1. Children Grow up So Fast!  He/She/They will only be this age once.  There is an abundance of magical moments awaiting children of all ages at Walt Disney World, but you must admit – the age window for that total buy-in of all that is magical and wondrous and REAL about Princesses, Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald and ALL the characters is limited.  Please, don’t pass up the opportunity to make those lasting happy memories!  We want future Disney fans, right?  This is the way to start that process off right!  Trust me – when you see the face of a child as they watch Tinker Bell fly from Cinderella Castle, see a ghost in their Doombuggy, receive a waive and a blown kiss from their favorite Disney Princess during the Festival of Fantasy Parade…it’ll all be worth it.

Family Pic at Disney's Boardwalk2. We Will Only Be US Right NOW!  Whether you’re newlyweds, the parents of teens, or empty nesters, this is a great reason to take a Disney vacation.  It’s hard to imagine how fast life goes by!  We took one Disney World vacation before we started a family and have traveled there many times on family vacations as our children grew up.  Finally, after 25 years, we get to go back as a couple…and it’s a good thing we’re taking advantage of this opportunity.  Our daughter is getting married next year and who knows?  We may be grandparents in the not too distant future!  Bringing on a completely new and different way to vacation Disney style!

3. So Much to Celebrate!  Any excuse will do!  Birthday, Christmas, Halloween, anniversary, honeymoon, graduation, good grades, family reunion, Super Bowl win – use what works for your particular situation. Celebrating a Birthday on Disney Cruise Line There’s no better place to celebrate than on a Disney vacation.  There are a lot of ways to celebrate on a Disney vacation and those Disney Cast Members love to help make your celebration special.  For Raymond, this is his preferred choice for justifying a Disney trip and has managed to use this excuse to celebrate his own birthday at Walt Disney World at least three times that I can remember.

4. Research!  I numbers 1-3 don’t help push you (or your loved one) to choose a Disney vacation, us this excuse:  We need to get the lay of the land, know what it’s like, practice our touring plans, test the rides and attractions, sample the food before we come back with any/all of the following:  Children, grandchildren, parents, friends, extended family, cheerleaders, choir My Haunted Mansion-themed Running Shoesgroup, marching band – whatever!  Pick some excuse for research – that’s your story and you’re sticking to it!

5. Get In Shape!  If all else fails, run!  No, seriously.  If you’re not already a runner, get moving.  This year I’ve used reasons #2 and #3 then realized that I am already a runner so I quickly said HEY!  I must participate in a runDisney event!  Right now!  Before I get any older!!!  Before Raymond realized what was happening, we were booked for a February vacation.  Now, I will actually have to run the 5k, 10k, and half-marathon I’ve registered for, but still…a Disney vacation with a twist is still a Disney vacation.  Raymond likes doing things on his own, so while I’m running, he can have some alone time to enjoy Walt Disney World!  Plus, we get to eat in some excellent table service restaurants…I believe proper pre-race nutrition is critical!  Read about my personal road to runDisney here.

Hopefully, you are now fully armed with all the ammunition you need to convince your mom, dad, husband, wife, grandmother, brother, sister – whoever necessary – to take you on a Disney vacation!!!  Use it wisely, my friend.

What are YOUR favorite excuses, reasons, and justifications for planning a Disney vacation?

 

 

 

The Rumors Swirling around Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Darth Vader on Star Wars Weekend PosterI love a good Disney rumor, don’t you?  Some juicy tidbit of really-true, might-happen, or totally-fabricated gossip is FUN to think about – imagine if it actually happened!  I love to mentally weigh in on the possibilities –  Am I okay with it?  Horrified by the very idea!  Or jumping up and down with anticipation.  One of my favorite places to hear about all the possible happenings at Walt Disney World is on a podcast called “The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill“.  Unlike all the other Disney podcasts I’m addicted to, the Disney Dish with Jim Hill doesn’t come out on a regular schedule.  An episode might come out once or twice a month…then skip a month….then magically reappear.

While I’ve been hearing a LOT of bits and pieces of what may or may not happen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Star Wars, ride closures, attraction removals, updates, refurbs, and so on.  One of the last Disney Dish episodes really made me sit up and take notice – it was “Episode 62: Disney World’s Next Five Years”.  Keeping in mind that it’s all “unofficial” – there was a lot to chew on in that 73 minutes of commentary.  Basically, the discussion is basedSorcerer's Hat on what may potentially happen at Disney World now that Universal has really upped their game.  Much of the discussion focused on Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

So – based on the information I gleaned from Mr. Hill’s revelations, there are some major changes headed to the studios while some long discussed rumors appear to be just that – rumors – and will not become reality.

Here are the one’s I was most interested in (listen to the show for all the rest of the details):

The Sorcerer’s Hat – Source of much debate between the hat lovers and haters, the big blue centerpiece of the Studios has long been rumored to be on the way out.  Seems like it’s actually staying.  I understand its purpose – a place to draw crowds away from other areas of the park, a centrally located performance venue, etc.  And if you believe the other rumors about the hat’s original purpose – it was put there to actually HIDE the Chinese Theater due to legal issues with Disney’s use of a replica of the California original.  I’m not necessarily offended by the hat – I would LOVE DHS Imperial Speeder, Jasonto see an updated version though.  It’s so 2001 – cartoonish and hardly designed to fit in with any of the existing park theme.  I imagine that its removal would be a bit of a headache considering it reportedly weighs 156 tons.

Star Wars Land is a GO – And I am ecstatic!  I’m not much of a Star Wars geek, but I appreciate the broad spectrum of potential, the plethora of possibilities, if you will.  Now, this exciting news means big changes to the landscape of Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Echo Lake will be no more allowing the new land to begin much closer to the park entrance than the Star Wars area is now.  Think about it though!  All those lands, worlds, creatures, vehicles, andWookie in Star Wars Parade characters that are wonderfully amazing and unique!  This is what Disney Imagineers do best and I can’t wait to see how they transform elements from the Force (and the Dark side) into rides, attractions, restaurants, and shops.  The epic battle between good and evil…in the Studios!  Wookies and Ewoks and Sand People, oh my!

Indiana Jones may STAY – Can you believe it?  I braced myself to tell Indy so long and I may not have to! (See that blog post here)  Personally, I’m confident that Indy’s presence in the Studios will be updated.  Disney’s ownership of the Indiana Jones franchise opens the door to a lot of possibility…it would be a shame to waste it.

The Great Movie Ride is on its way OUT – Take a deep breath and think about it for a minute.  The Great Movie RideIt’ll be okay!  Original to the park, this 25 year old tour through classic movie genres was fun and edgy in the beginning.  Over the years though, no updates were made, no new movies were added, no new scripting for those poor Cast Members was written, things that stopped working correctly weren’t repaired (just adjusted to try to hide the problems).  Have you been on this ride lately?  Tarzan makes me feel embarrassed – he’s just awful.  The good news, though, is that according to Mr. Hill, the ride won’t be leaving anytime soon, so you can go and say a proper farewell.  My favorite part has always been the final scene from Casablanca.  What’s yours?

Still hungry for more scoop?  Check out The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill!Star Wars Weeekend's Parade  Download from iTunes or Stitcher.  Every episode is interesting.  Most recently (#63), the discussion was based on the history and future of DVC with information about plans that never happened and what DVC options may be available in the years ahead.

How do you feel about the possible changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?  What would you be most excited about?  Would you be disappointed by any of the proposed changes?

 

 

WDW Park Counter Service – Family Favorites

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Baked Goods in Starring Rolls CafeChoosing a restaurant is tough!  At Disney World, it can be downright confusing.  When you want a meal in a hurry (no reservations or major time commitment required) the choices are everywhere!  While you’re looking around, you’re probably thinking things like:  What will my picky eater like?  What’s a good value?  Where will we sit?  Is there any chance at all I can get something healthy?  Can I get a beer with that? (Okay, you may not be thinking that last one, but I sure am!)

Here are our family favorite counter service restaurants by park (and why we like them):

Liberty SquareMagic Kingdom (No, you cannot have a beer with any counter-service food there, but you CAN have a great meal.)

Columbia Harbor House – Head on over to this great eatery centrally located in Liberty Square – across the way from Haunted Mansion.  Why we love it:  Options include chicken, fish, and vegetarian.  Healthy or hearty – you’ll find it here.  Me?  I just like the tuna sandwich, but even the pickiest eater among us (Hi, Joseph!) finds something to be happy about.  There’s loads of seating – go upstairs and it’s quieter with the strong possibility of a really great view.

Gaston’s Tavern – if you haven’t been here before to hear me wax poetic about the Roasted Gaston's Tavern Roasted Pork Shank and LeFou's BrewPork Shank, consider this yet another glowing endorsement!  You can pair that with a LeFou’s Brew (a family friendly and completely delicious beverage) and some pretty darned healthy options like hummus and pretzel chips, apple slices and caramel dip, veggies and dip, fruit cup, and WAIT…don’t panic…there’s a chocolate croissant and warm cinnamon roll on the menu as well!

Casey’s Corner – If you’ve just GOT to eat in the very middle of all the action, you’ll find hotdogs, Polish sausage, nachos, corndog nuggets, and fries – basic fare, but decently tasty and reasonably priced.  Stake out a parade seat and send someone to Casey’s for some chow!

Epcot:

Quick service excellence – this park’s got the best offerings on property!Epcot's Sunshine Seasons

Sunshine Seasons – In Future World’s Land Pavilion – this place has a humongous menu with absolutely something for everyone.  If you can’t find something to satisfy at Sunshine Seasons, you’re not hungry (check out the lunch menu here).  I do love the chocolate croissant for breakfast or a snack.  The indoor setting is a bonus during warm or rainy weather.

Yorkshire County Fish Shop – World Showcase / United Kingdom.  There are several awesome quick-service restaurants scattered throughout the World Showcase.  Why do we always eat at Yorkshire County Fish Shop?  It’s simple, reasonably priced, not too much to eat, and very tasty.  Plus – a beer cart nearby for the perfect complimentary beverage.

Honorable Mention:  La Cantina de San Angel in the Mexico Pavilion – Great selection, tastes great.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Starring Rolls Cafe / Disney's Hollywood StudiosWhile this is the least likely place we’d like to find ourselves in need of a quick bite, there are a couple of places we do recommend (Luckily, all serve adult refreshments if one is thirsty):

Starring Rolls Café:  Home of the very delicious Butterfinger and Red Velvet Cupcakes (and the Darth Vader and Yoda cupcakes) – there’s enough on the menu to keep our bellies from protesting.  We like this as a brunch or afternoon snack stop – great if you’re pacing your appetite for a special table service meal.

Catalina Eddie’s, Rosie’s All American Café, or Fairfax Fare – they’re all close together Catalina Eddie's in Disney's Hollywood Studiosand located near Rock’n’ Roller Coaster and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  These three counter service options are (to us) the most likely places to find something both quick and edible at lunchtime.  Divide and conquer if you need to – there’s central outdoor (shaded) seating nearby.  Do NOT under any circumstances eat at Pizza Planet (back behind MuppetVision3D)…just trust me on this one.

Honorable mention:  Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner’s a great place for a cold beer on a hot day.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom's Flame Tree BarbequeFlame Tree Barbeque – When in doubt, stick with something simple.  Chicken, ribs, pulled pork, turkey and the expected sides (slaw, beans, onion rings, fries) – it’s easy to find something satisfying and the seating is among the best on property for quick service dining.

Well, there you go.  There are lots of great counter service choices at Disney World – I’ve just narrowed the list down to a few that our family recommends.  These are the places we’ve tended to return to for their taste, reliability, and value.

Which Disney World counter service restaurants would you recommend?

 

 

25 Random Things to Love at WDW

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Magic Kingdom / Cinderella CastleThis post is dedicated to my husband, Raymond, who took me to Disney World for the first time and on every visit since.  He also married me 25 years ago today.  (Thanks for asking, Honey, I’ve been having the best time EVER and I wouldn’t change a single moment.)

Yes, the rides are wonderful and the attractions immensely entertaining, but wait!  There’s more!  There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of tiny parts to the whole of the experience that makes up a visit to Walt Disney World.  If you’ve been there and you’ve soaked it all up like a thirsty sponge, then you can spout your own testimony about how many details, both large and small, bombard you with happiness, wonder, and delight.

Here are a few of my favorites…25 Random Things to Love at Walt Disney World:

1. Footprints in the sand…well, technically speaking, it’s more like peanuts in the concrete, shells in the tarmek, bird trails in the asphalt.  Walk along in your favorite park and Hoofprints in Magic Kingdom's Storybook Circus Areaoccassionally, as you glance down, you’ll see these incredible surprises – planted there to match a particular area’s theme.  It’s an amazing and very special way to add a little something extra – here in Louisiana, we call that a lagniappe.  So, as you’re waiting to ride Under the Sea, look for the shells.  Headed for Dumbo?  Look for clues the circus animals left behind.  On a trail in Animal Kingdom?  See who was there before you.  How much fun for kids of all ages to hunt for these little treasures.

2. Cast Members from Around the World – and close to home.  I read Cast Members’ name tags all the time.  We’ve met some really awesome people from all over.  Yes, world class service is Disney’s strength, but it means more to me when I take a minute to learn a little bit about the person behind the name tag.  One of my favorite Disney days happened because I found someone from home.  You can read the story here.

Yellow Monorail / Walt Disney World3. Pixie-dusted moments – They’re there all the time, happening all around you – you just have to look for them.  My particular favorite was my very magical moment I once had with Donald.

4. The sounds of the monorail – Is it the whoosh as it pulls into the Contemporary?  The sound the doors make when they open?  The way it looks circling Epcot?  The announcer’s voice?  YES!  Yes, it is.

5. A quiet corner – Even in the midst of a very crowded park there are wonderful, quiet places to sit and soak up the feeling of being there.  Some of the best peaceful places are at the resorts very early in the morning – or late at night.  It’s often busy and there’s so much to do and see Interactive Queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad– finding a moment to just BE makes me slow down and enjoy Walt Disney World all the more.

6. Interactive queues – Genius!  What more can I say?  Three of my faves are Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Expedition Everest.  Yours?

7. Mickey Mouse-shaped food – Seriously.  Nothing says vacation happiness like snacks in that iconic, beloved form.  Mickey pretzel, Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar…you know you love them.

8. Water – Bay Lake or Seven Seas Lagoon (Electrical Water Pageant!), the dancing and jumping waters of Epcot, free ice water in the parks, your favorite resort pool, the mote around Cinderella Castle, Crescent Lake, Discovery River in AnSoarin's Patrickimal Kingdom – Disney knows H2O!

9. Patrick Warburton – He just makes Soarin’ for me.  If he’s replaced in a future Soarin’ refurb, my heart will break.  And when he talks to squirrels as Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove?  It cracks me up every time.

10. A Juggling Mime and Other Cool Stuff – The live performers on the Boardwalk, the Casey’s Corner Pianist, the Dapper Dans, the Grand Floridian Lobby Orchestra, the Voices of Liberty – all of these talented acts are such a special treat!  No, I don’t expect them to last forever (I still miss Four for a Dollar) but I appreciate their contribution to my Disney World happiness.

11. International Marketplace – Where else can you go to find imported goods from so many countries?  Epcot’s World Showcase offers incredible opportunities to take home some global awesomeness.  Want to snack on some dried, shredded fish?  You can buy that in Japan!  Hey, don’t knock it ’til you try it…it’s actually not bad!  Need an authentic German cuckoo clock? Haunted Mansion's Madame Leota Italian wine?  Norwegian sportswear?  Yep – find it all in Epcot!

12. Ghosts – The Haunted Mansion’s residents are what makes the attraction one of the most beloved on Earth!  I can’t even pick a favorite because they are, each and every one of them, so special and unique!  Those singing busts!  The Hitchhiking Ghost! The dancing ghosts in the ballroom!  Little Leota at the very end of the ride!  I will “hurry baaaaack”, thank you, yes indeed.

13. Elephants – The ones on the Jungle Cruise are adorable, but the ones that can be seen on Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safari are just wonderful!  You never know what they’ll be doing or how many you’ll see.  Maybe that’s why the Safari is an absolute must-do for me on Kilimanjaro Safari Elephantevery Walt Disney World visit. Okay, so it’s a lot more than just the elephants, but they are so COOL!!!

14. Infinite Choices – In food, accommodations, activities, rides, attractions, recreation – there is literally something for everyone…in every category.  No two vacations are exactly the same.  My familiar favorites combined with new experiences are part of the joy that is Disney World to me.

15. Ride Photos – Yeah, I know, they’re usually pretty bad, but the good ones?  Priceless vacation souvenirs!  I love how posing for ride pics brings out everyone’s silly side.  One of my goals in life is to come up with something new and different for Splash Mountain.  I love looking at these classics. (Warning: strong language, but awesome pics)

16. Characters – I may not always want to meet a particular character, but they are such an 1900 Park Fare / Drizella and Anastasiaintegral part of the Disney magic!  Character dining is always fun and the characters in the Festival of Fantasy Parade are unbelievably cool, but it’s still the sudden, unexpected character interactions that I love the most.

17. Knowing Carousel of Progress, It’s a Small World and I were all born in the same year.  We may seem old, out of date, worn down, and in need of updating to YOU, but to me?  We’re classics!

18.  Out of the Way Pin Boards – We like pin collecting and trading.  We really like finding pin boards to check out in resort shops, restaurants, front desks – the less popular or obvious places to try to snag a special souvenir.  Why this is so, I’m not exactly sure, but finding a new treasure in one of these lesser-known resources makes the discovery more memorable.

WDW Jungle Cruise Skipper Jeff19. The Hairy Leg!  You know exactly what I’m talking about.  In Pirates of the Caribbean, there’s a LOT to love and I’m sure you have your favorite characters.  Mine just happens to be that guy with the hairy pirate leg that hangs over the bridge as your boat glides beneath it.

20. A Really Great Jungle Cruise Skipper – Not all skippers are created equal.  The enjoyment of the Jungle Cruise experience all depends on the subtle talents of the skipper.  His or her careful timing – the well-paced delivery of each pun is crucial for the full enjoyment of all that is the Jungle Cruise.  It’s a art, really.

21. Chipped Paint – In a vacation destination where every effort is made to ensure the cleanliness and upkeep of every park detail, it’s an absolute marvel how well the same company can make chipped paint look so perfect!  Just look around in the The Aged Walls of Animal KingdomAnimal Kingdom – the buildings, signs, statues, props – everything’s been worn, aged, and rundown to perfection!  I’m in awe.

22. Wishes Nighttime Spectacular – If I have to pick one show to see after dark, this is it.  Disney entertainment doesn’t get any better than this.  Cue the goose bumps!

23. The Final Scene in Splash Mountain – I love the whole ride, but that last scene with the Zip-a-Dee Lady paddle wheeler is the BEST!  No other ride has a finale like this one.

24. 3D Glasses!  Next to an Earhat, these are the accessories I love the most!  Opera Glasses, Ready for Toy Story Midway ManiaBug Eyes, the purple ones in MuppetVision 3D (especially how cute they look on Statler and Waldorf), those big yellow ones you put on for Toy Story Midway Mania.  Call me crazy – they could all be plain black standard movie glasses, but they’re NOT!  That’s just one of thousands of Disney Details that make me foolishly happy.

25. I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World for 25 years – and I still want to go back again and again.  If you’ve made it all the way here to #25 then you’re probably just like me (thanks for hanging in).  We understand each other!  I know I could easily list 25 MORE things to love at Disney World! What are some of the things you love the most?