Category Archives: Disney Travel Tips

Underappreciated Epcot – The Seas

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RM-Bruce-and-JosephToday it may be called “The Seas With Nemo and Friends”, but it’ll always be “The Living Seas” to me.  I think this attraction area has a lot to recommend it (as I mentioned in my previous attempts to raise interest here and here).  My fried Nick would call it “Edutainment” for the educational/entertainment factor The Seas offers Epcot guests, but the draw for me is in the entirety of the experience.  Calm, relaxing, fun, and yes, even with a lesson to teach here and there.RM-Epcot-Aquarium-Eel

Maybe I’m aquarium-deprived since I live in rural Louisiana and it’s a pretty long haul to Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans (which is awesome, by the way), but there’s something about Epcot’s version of aquatic-animals-on-display that makes me ridiculously happy and magically transforms this little corner of the World into a must-see for me on every visit.  Seriously, don’t skip it – there are a lot of awesome things to see besides the Nemo ride (cruisin’ in Clammobiles!) and Turtle Talk.RM-Manatee  RM-Manatee-Eating-LettuceI’ve mentioned the Manatees before and how fun it is to watch them eat lettuce (no, I’m not kidding).  But wait!  There’s more!

Underappreciated Epcot – The Seas

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Bob? Sheldon?

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Dory!

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Peach!

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Jacques the Cleaner Shrimp

Next time you go, give it a try.  I think late morning (before maybe heading to the World Showcase for lunch) or mid-afternoon are great times to visit The Seas.  Our family likes to start in the main building to leisurely make our way to all the fish tanks and animal exhibits before we see Turtle Talk.  Then we wrap up the visit with Nemo and Friends – if we had small children, I would have them look for fish on the ride that we’d seen on display in the exhibits.

Depending on the crowd levels, The Seas could be explored in 60-90 minutes.  Short on time?  Allow 20-30 minutes to see the exhibits, then decide if you can afford to wait for the Nemo and Friends ride and/or Turtle Talk with Crush (FastPasses may be booked in advance).  Pre-school and lower grade-school-age children will appreciate those two attractions the most.RM-Epcot-Aquarium-Fish

Have you explored The Seas in Epcot?  What are your must-do attractions or exhibits?

 

Review – Disney’s Magical Express

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WDW-Sign-From-Magical-ExpressIf you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World, are staying at a Disney resort, and haven’t yet decided how you’d like to reach your resort from the airport, I might be able to help…

Review – Disney’s Magical Express

If you’re not going to rent a car to use during your Disney vacation in Orlando, choosing Disney’s Magic Express might be an excellent option for you and your family.  Knowing what it is and what it’s not is key to getting the most out of the experience.  While it’s only slightly magical and isn’t what many would actually consider express, there are some valid reasons to choose this particular mode of transportation.  Our family has used Disney’s Magical Express many times.

Let’s talk Magical Express Pros and Cons:Orlando-International-Airport-Interior

PRO: Disney’s Magical Express is included in the price of your Disney resort stay.  That means no added expense – there are unexpected costs springing up everywhere on vacation.  This isn’t one of them.

CON: You have to wait for a bus (it may be referred to as a “motor-coach”, but it’s a bus), then once on the bus, wait for it to be considered full enough to go (I have no idea how this is determined).  Then you may sometimes stop at several other resorts first before arriving at your own.  After a long flight, this can seem to take forever…especially with little ones.  For me, I don’t usually mind stopping at other resorts – gives me a chance to see what they look like.Magical-Express-at-Wilderness-Lodge

PRO:  You do not have to retrieve your luggage from the baggage claim area.  That’s right, there will be no waiting by a carousel for your bags to appear.  No schlepping said bags around the airport.  Your luggage will be retrieved for you (you receive special luggage tags in advance) and delivered to your resort room later in the day.Waiting-Area-Disney's-Magical-Express

CON:  You will not have your suitcases for several hours.  The baggage retrieval thing is a bit of a double-edged sword.  Prepare for this in advance & it’s actually a very welcome convenience.  Walk right off the plane and head for the Disney Magical Express area.  Forget to put your Magic Bands or other must-haves in your carryon and you are really going to waste a big bunch of time waiting first at the baggage claim and then again for the bus.  Scan-Magic-Band-to-Board-Disney's-Magical-ExpressYou’ll need at least one member of your group’s Magic Band for scanning to get on the bus.  Good preparation is important here – Magic Bands, swimsuits, sunscreen (travel-sized), lip balm, camera, phone charger, tickets that may not yet be linked to your Magic Bands, credit card, medicines – if you think you might need it, carry it with you (not in your suitcase).Disney's-Magical-Express-Entertainment

PRO:  Onboard entertainment.  There are screens above the seats that show a clever-ish safety video followed by some Disney cartoons.  It at least gives you something to watch besides highway traffic.  Kids generally seem interested in watching the show and it makes the travel time go by faster.On-Disney's-Magical-Express

CON:  The bus drivers can sometimes be a bit much.  Some are friendly and entertaining, with trivia questions to get guests excited about vacation.  Occasionally there’s a driver looking (and asking) for a gratuity that goes a bit overboard or likes to hear themselves talking over the speaker system.  It’s pure luck whether you get a good driver or a not-so-good one.  We’ve never had one that was unsafe or offensive.  As far as tipping – if the driver handles any bags for you, DO tip a couple of dollars per bag.  If they only drive you from the airport to the resort, no tipping is expected.Disney's-Magical-Express-View

Getting back to the airport is just as easy – you can usually check-in for your flight at your resort and leave your suitcases with resort staff for transport to the airport.  You will be picked up and delivered to the airport several hours before your flight – luckily, Orlando International Airport has some great shopping and dining options you can use to kill time.

Bottom line:  If you need a ride and are willing to wait for it and share it with a few others, if you like “no added costs” and the idea of bypassing baggage claim, if you want to get to Walt Disney World and head right to the parks after checking in, Disney’s Magical Express may be an excellent choice for you.

Have you used Disney’s Magical Express?  How was your experience?

Dawn & Dusk at Walt Disney World

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RM-Sunset-Seven-Seas-LagoonWith so many gorgeous and captivating Disney details everywhere at Disney World, it’s often hard to notice the spectacular beginnings and endings to the day provided naturally by the Sunshine State.  Early mornings are often missed getting ready to hit the parks for rope-drop and early evenings are completely ignored in favor of delicious meals in a favorite restaurant.  Once I notice what I was missing, I started making it a point to pause and appreciate those breathtaking moments I’d been ignoring.

Some amazing sights are afforded by Dawn & Dusk at Walt Disney World – here are five of my favorites:

Sunrise over Bay Lake:  Peaceful, misty, and absolutely gorgeous, watching the sun rise on Bay Lake is one of my favorite activities when I’m lucky enough to get a lake view room in Bay Lake Tower.  RM-Sunrise-Bay-Lake-Tower RM-Sunrise-Bay-Lake-Shore RM-Sunrise-Bay-LakeAt first, the scene looks as still as a post card picture, but shore birds are waking for the day and boats are soon moving across the water.  I just soak it all in while sipping a cup of coffee – it’s the kind of quiet time every great vacation should include.

Sunset over the Seven Seas Lagoon:  A window seat in the California Grill is a great vantage point for some gorgeous sunset viewing.  RM-Sunset-From-California-Grill RM-Sunset-Over-Seven-Seas-LagoonBut the walkway between the Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower works just as well (first pictures on this page were shot there).  Absolutely worth taking the time to enjoy!

Sunrise on the road to (or from) the Magic Kingdom:  You might not have to enter a runDisney race to catch the particular beauty, but that’s how I saw some pretty awesome sights.  RM-Sunrise-runDisney-road-past-BLT RM-Sunrise-runDisney-Princess-HalfRM-Sunrise-Magic-KingdomDuring the Princess Half Marathon, I was a tiny bit too late to see the sun rise on Cinderella Castle, but if you’re planning on attending the next 24-Hour event, be sure not to miss that!  I bet it’s incredible.

Sunrise over the World Showcase Lagoon:  Again, I was in Epcot before the sun came up for a runDisney event, but I had to stop and take a picture when I saw how still and beautiful everything looked in the early morning light.  RM-Sunrise-World-Showcase-Lagoon RM-Sunrise-Boardwalk-AreaThe sunrise is also very beautiful in the Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club area – and except for my fellow runners, very few people were out and about to enjoy the view.

Sunset at Animal Kingdom Lodge.  I’m sorry I don’t have more pictures to share.  To me, there’s something very special about this resort any time of the day, but as the sun is slowly sinking, the buildings glow and it’s easy to feel as if you’ve been transported to Africa.  RM-Sunset-AKL RM-Sunset-Animal-Kingdom-LodgeBook a dinner reservation at one of the Lodge’s fantastic restaurants and plan to catch the sunset!

Your turn!  What are your favorite places to catch the views of dawn or dusk at Disney World?

 

Thought for Food – Choosing a WDW Restaurant

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RM-Be-Our-Guest-Stained-GlassI’ve been trying to imagine what it would be like to plan a Walt Disney World vacation for the first time.  How overwhelming!  With no prior experience to draw from, choosing a resort would be exciting, but really and truly challenging!  At the 180-day mark, when the Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) system opened up for my first visit, I think I’d have a terribly difficult time selecting any, much less several, places to eat!  I like food and Walt Disney World has some truly wonderful restaurants!

Thought for Food – Choosing a WDW Restaurant

Quick service counters, snack carts, signature dining, World Showcase kiosks…so many choices, so little time!  I mean, unless vacation will last months and funds are unlimited, some tough decisions will need to be made.  The first decision has got to be whether or not any Table Service, Signature Dining, or Dinner Shows will be on the agenda.  Booking those reservations six months in advance may seem completely ridiculous (I got used to it, you can too), but it’s seriously necessary if any particular dining experiences are on your must-do list and you want to pick the day and time.RM-Yachtsman-Dining-Room

In the Table Service or Signature Dining categories, these three:  ‘Ohana (Polynesian Village Resort), Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom), and Le Cellier (Epcot World Showcase, Canada Pavilion) are constantly in extremely high demand.

My two cents:

‘Ohana is a very popular, all-you-care-to-eat, Brazilian Barbeque-style family restaurant.  It’s worth the hype, give it a try.  There’s little chance you would ever get in without an ADR – this place is awesome for a Magic Kingdom day.  Catch the monorail, eat, and if you’re up for it, head on back for Wishes or the Main Street Electrical Parade…or even just a few more rides and attractions.

RM-Be-Our-Guest-Grey-Stuff-Master's-CupcakeBe Our Guest – Also for a Magic Kingdom Day.  You should try very hard to get either breakfast or lunch reservations because the very best thing this place has going for it is the décor.  Don’t misunderstand me – you really need to see Be Our Guest if you liked Beauty and the Beast even a little.  This is the most incredibly themed restaurant I’ve ever seen and I loved the details in each room.  That being said,  dinner is over-priced and over-hyped.  (Full review here.)  Save those dinner Table Service credits or dollars for tastier fare. NOTE:  The FastPass referenced in my review has been discontinued.  Advance Dining Reservations at Be Our Guest are now accepted for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (breakfast & lunch are quick-service, dinner is table service).RM-Le-Cellier

Le Cellier (Epcot) – for the money (or the two-table-service-credits), there are MANY better places to eat a steak.  I’d pass and not feel a smidge of regret if I were you.  I’ve eaten many a meal in Le Cellier, but the past couple of visits did not measure up to earlier great experiences.  The dining room is crowded and the tables are extremely close together, the food is okay, but not a good value.  If you want alternatives, leave a comment and I’ll suggest some other choices. (Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club would be at the top of my list.)RM-Yachtsman-Steakhouse

Back to planning – Most quick/counter service meals can be planned (but usually, except for Be Our Guest, cannot be reserved) in advance.  You can pre-screen places based on reviews, menus, or dietary needs OR, you can just go with what’s nearby when hunger strikes – an excellent option for non-picky or diet-restricted families.  I love go-with-the-flow opportunities, but I try to keep places I’d like to try in mind.RM-Yak-&-Yeti-Fried-Rice

One last thing – I know I’ve been talking about the importance of making dining plans, but please do not let a little thing like the inability to get a reservation at a particular restaurant ruin your vacation!  In the grand scheme of things, Walt Disney World is so fantastic, you need not count on a particular dining experience to make or break your trip.  Don’t hesitate to ask me if you need more info – you know I’ve got opinions to spare and will be happy to help you any way I can.  Detailed information on the Disney Dining Plan options can be found here.

If you’ve been to Walt Disney World before, what’s your best tip on planning where to eat?