Tag Archives: Disney Travel Tips

Disney World Table Service – 5 Random Tips

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Flying Fish Dinner at the BoardwalkToday’s tips are brought to you by my current state of hunger.  Having an empty belly, thinking about our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, I just started brainstorming important things about selecting table service restaurants…only, here in Louisiana, the brainstorm is more like a brain hurricane!

For us, the selection of Disney dining options begins exactly 180 days from our vacation – as soon as that window opens up for making ADRs (advance dining reservations), we are booking maniacs.  Planning the actual selections begins even sooner than that!  We love the opportunity to sit down together as a family (usually once each day) and enjoy some of the delicious dining options Walt Disney World offers – at a fairly leisurely pace.  We love the number of table service options there are to choose from.  We love trying new things and revisiting old favorites.

Disney World Table Service – 5 Random Tips

Tip #1 – If you’re thinking, “I don’t know what I’ll feel like eating so far in advance!” get over it!  You don’t have to book ALL your ADRs at 180 days, but if you’re even toying with Epcot's France Pavilion / Monsieur Paul‘Ohana, Le Cellier, Be Our Guest, and/or a few others in the uber-popular category, book a reservation at the earliest possible moment!  I would be so sad if my family was really counting on eating at one or more of the most popular places and we couldn’t get in.  If what you want is not available when you first try – keep checking!  Cancellations happen all the time.  My cautionary tale:  We were once waiting for our ADR at ‘Ohana when a lady with a very long blond (totally artificial) ponytail (I remember the weirdest details) walked up to the podium and asked for a table.  When told there were none available, she said, “We don’t care about the wait, we’ll take whatever you’ve got!” – she was completely (tragically) shocked when the cast member explained that all available tables for the entire evening had been booked.  Don’t let this happen to you!

Chicken at Raglan RoadTip #2:  Are you picky?  If you’re more about a particular food than an experience, do some research.  Menus and reviews are available all over the interwebs!  Looking for a good steak?  There are quite a few choices.  Keep in mind that the way steak (or your other favorite food) is prepared where you live may be a bit different than it is at Walt Disney World.  Different regions seem to have different criteria for rare, medium, and well-done.  Be as descriptive as possible!  Say, “Warm and slightly pink in the center” or “No pink in my steak at all” or “Moo-ing gently as I cut into it” – this will get you a lot closer to what you want than the generic beef terminology.

Tip #3:  Are your kids picky?  We feel your pain!  We have yet to find a table service restaurant that wouldn’t help us figure out how to feed our picky eater.  Ask your server for suggestions.  Tell them if your picky one has special dining needs (like no food must touch!)  It’s been our experience that they’re usually more than happy to work with you to make sure your experience is the best it can be.  When in doubt, we’ve gone with one of the many buffets available.  The kid-friendly sections are really great!

Pizza Delivery at WDWTip #4:  FYI – Walt Disney World typically does not do pizza well.  Don’t count on finding good pizza there.  In fact, I’ll go ahead and just say that the pizza is notoriously awful.  Your best chance is in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion at Via Napoli.  If you can make it a week without a pie, you should try to do that.  Please, oh, please – if you’ve GOT to enter Pizza Planet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – go for the arcade games!

Tip #5:  Save room!  Nothing makes me madder than when I sit down at a great restaurant (like the Flying Fish Café on the Boardwalk, Raglan Road in Downtown Disney/Disney Springs or ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort) and I’ve eaten so much earlier in the day that I’m not going to be able to do the meal justice.  That’s the beauty of tip #1 – you’ll know when you need to hold back and make sure you’re good and hungry when you arrive for your ADR!

What is your best table service tip?  What’s your favorite table service restaurant?

Need info?  There’s always helpful information at the Disney Food Blog!

 

 

 

 

Rise and Shine at Walt Disney World

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Early Morning at Disney's Grand FloridianWhen you’re on vacation do you like to sleep in?  Are you a night owl?  Do you stay up into the wee hours squeezing all the enjoyment you can into every day?  It’s okay to expect a little rest and relaxation when you’re taking a break from the rest of the world, but WAIT!  At Walt Disney World, there are some things that are worth waking up for!  And I don’t mean sleep late and get to them when you’re ready.  No, I mean get up early – set that alarm, request that wakeup call – whatever it takes to pry yourself out of that comfy hotel bed and start the day in a special way!

Five Reasons to Rise and Shine at Walt Disney World

1. The Welcome Show at the Magic Kingdom – It’s magical!  But you’ve got to get there mighty Welcome Show at Magic Kingdomearly to get a good viewing spot.  At about 10 minutes before the park’s official opening time, there’s a wonderful welcome for waiting guests.  Disney characters and Main Street Citizens are among the welcoming party.  It’s cute, it’s special, and it’s EARLY!  Get up in plenty of time to be at the park at least 30 minutes prior to opening (rope-drop) – if not sooner.

2. A Character Breakfast – If you choose to book a breakfast at someplace like the Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace, Animal Kingdom’s Tusker House, Epcot’s Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Hollywood and Vine – you can enjoy some pretty hearty breakfast fare while visiting with some of your Meeting Minnie at Chef Mickey'sfavorite characters.  Booking an early breakfast means you’ll get in the park before the crowds and will be well fortified to hit the ground running! (All character dining experiences can be found here.)

3. Rope-Drop – If for no other reason than to maximize the number of rides and attractions you can experience, arrive at your favorite park entrance before it opens at least a couple of times on your vacation.  If you’re staying on property consider hitting morning Extra Magic Hours when available (early entrance for resort guests).  If you can’t make it that early, get to a park about 30 minutes before it opens (without the Extra Magic Hour) and prepare to make the most of that less crowded time of the day.  Booking FastPasses?  Save them for a little later in the morning or even early afternoon!Rhino on Kilimanjaro Safari

4. Kilimanjaro Safari – I know, it’s just one attraction, but I’m telling you, if you love animals and want to see them at their most alert and active, you should really try to experience Kilimanjaro Safari at least one time first thing in the morning.  Have your camera ready!  I’m particularly fond of the elephants, rhinos, lions, giraffes, okapi, wildebeest, crocodiles, well…you get the idea.

5. A Florida Sunrise – Think I’m crazy?  Try it and see.  The coolest, most peaceful part of the day is a wonderful experience – especially if the little ones are still asleep!  Grab a cup of coffee and Morning on the balcony at Old Key Westfind a place to enjoy the sights and sounds of your resort before it becomes hot and crowded.  If your room has a balcony, sit outside in your pajamas!  If you enjoy walking or running, there’s no better time of the day to get out there and get moving.

What’s your favorite way to start the day at Walt Disney World?

 

Five Walt Disney World Meltdowns

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Megan in Star Wars AreaYou know after visiting Walt Disney World regularly for the past 25 years, I’ve learned a thing or two about Disney vacation meltdowns – and they don’t always involve children!  When I think of meltdown I think crying, screaming, frustration!  The Disney vacation meltdown may also involve a wider array of emotions ranging from the basic temper tantrum to “checking out” by shutting down and completely ignoring everything going on all around.  When you travel with small children, crying happens.  There are, however, some tips I can share about the different types of meltdowns we’ve experienced – some of which were self-inflicted.  We let them happen – practically invited these unhappy episodes along on our dream vacation by our own poor planning or inattention to certain unavoidable facts.

Five Walt Disney World Meltdowns (and how to avoid them):

1. It’s all way too much! – Some people (of any age) handle overstimulation better than others.  The noises, smells, tastes, crowds, even the beds and pillows – all unfamiliar and sometimes Wild Child at Walt Disney Worldfrightening.  Stranger danger in enormous proportions!  Characters may not be scary, but the mildest roller coaster IS!  It’s kind of hard to predict what the limit will be – little kids need more consideration with this sometimes.  The important thing is not to force too much excitement, new or different, all at one time.  Pace yourselves if anyone in your travel party is easily overwhelmed.

2. The ups and downs – Sometimes Waiting at Walt Disney Worldit’s all hurry up and wait…then BOOM!  Thrill ride!  Then hurry up and wait again….then MORE thrill ride.  Wait more…then SCARY ride.  Then wait and wait and WAIT.  If you’re not used to waiting in line, never been on a roller coaster before, never experienced a dark ride with loud noises…it all seems so confusing!  Waiting is boring!  Not knowing what to expect can cause anxiety.  Preparing first-timers for this series of ups and downs and having some distractions or activities planned for when the lines are longer than can be easily tolerated will go a long way toward preventing meltdowns related to the boredom/excitement/boredom/excitement cycle.

3. TTFW (Too Tired For Words) – This one and number 4 are the ones I’m personally the most Tired Babies at Walt Disney Worldsusceptible to – I need sleep and lots of it!  The rest of my family is the same.  Nothing brings on unhappiness faster (along with leg aches, head aches, itchy eyes, generally lethargy) than becoming overly tired.  Alternating sleeping late with going to bed early and afternoon naps if necessary (for the little ones) is the best way to avoid – or at least delay the inevitable.  Afternoon breaks from the parks can be critical.

4. Grrrr – We are HANGRY!  When we’re having a great time, we don’t always notice when we’re hungry…until it’s too late!  Hunger lurks in the background…quietly…barely there (the growling can hardly be heard over the thrill-ride-screams).  Then a headache starts, then…suddenly!  Whoa!  Batten down the hatches – someone’s head gets Excalibur Disappointmentbitten off!  I don’t care if a person’s 8 or 80 – when they’re hangry (hungry/angry), everyone else better beware!  Always, and I do mean ALWAYS, have a snack handy!

5. I want that! Yes, we want our children, our spouse, maybe ourselves to have a souvenir or two.  It starts off innocently enough – let’s face it, Disney makes some wicked cool merch!  We want to buy a shirt, a doll, a gift, and ornament, a pin (or ten).  That touch-to-pay feature on those MagicBands makes it not only ridiculously easy, but FUN!  Fun to buy, fun to spend, fun to own.  Next thing you know, you check at the resort front desk and WOWZA!  You have racked up quite a bill!!!  Best advice I can give you – get this under control before you ever leave for vacation.  Buy some souvenirs in advance to bring alone for the kids and break I want this Earhatthem out along the course of your trip.  Buy Disney gift cards in advance, give them to the kids (and adults, if need be) and tell them how much they have to spend…when the money’s gone, it’s gone.  Self control will be your friend when it’s all said and done.  I promise.  Tantrums in a theme park are never attractive.  Sobbing all the way home after seeing the final total at check-out is pretty pitiful.  Not that I’d know or anything.

Shout on out now!  What are your best tips to avoid a meltdown?  Or what’s your favorite meltdown story?

WDW Magic Kingdom’s Main Street U.S.A.

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Balloon Vendor on Main Street U.S.A. Is there a better feeling in the World than stepping through the entrance to the Magic Kingdom and finding yourself on Main Street U.S.A?  That first moment when you pause to take it all in – The gorgeous colors – on the buildings, in store windows, floating in the hands of balloon vendors. The sounds – guests laughing, a piano playing, people singing, an old fashioned car horn.  The smell!  Delicious.  The view – Cinderella Castle’s majestic splendor in the distance – hands down, this moment is my favorite of every Walt Disney World vacation and never fails to make me a little misty.  While we’re thinking about this, let’s look at a few of my favorite things on Main Street U.S.A….The Emporium on Main Street U.S.A.

The buildings whisk you away to a perfect American small town, back in a simpler time – before our lives were filled with complex technological distractions.  Every detail of each storefront and window, each railing and shingle are perfect and, if you’re paying close attention, hold very important discoveries for guests to find.

The Main Street Vehicles are a wonderful treat – allowing children of all ages to experience early 20th Century transportation.  Catch a ride on a fire engine, a jitney, a horse-Vehicle on Main Street U.S.A.drawn car, or an omnibus and take a one-way ride to Cinderella Castle.

The entertainment along Main Street U.S.A. provides the perfect accompaniment for a stroll back in time.  The Dapper Dans croon their old-timey barbershop quartet favorites – and often delight onlookers by serenading guests celebrating a special occasion.  The Casey’s Corner Pianist (tucked around the corner at the Castle-end of Main Street on the left) amazes visitors with a huge repertoire of happy tunes!

The Dapper Dans in Magic Kingdom

There are plenty of excellent souvenir shops!  The Emporium on Main Street U.S.A.’s left side stretches nearly the entire length of the street – pins, shirts, snacks, batteries, toys – the Emporium’s a gigantic general store – Disney-style!  If you’re looking for a customized Earhat, there’s no better place to shop than The Chapeau – a Main Street classic!

Shops on Main Street USA

Main Street U.S.A. is a great place to visit when you’re hungry – any time of the day!  Catch some breakfast at the Main Street Bakery, lunch at the Crystal Palace with all your favorite friends from the Hundred Acre Wood (Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet usually), and dinner at Casey’s Corner for some super fancy hot dogs.  Need a sweet treat?  The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is a delicious way to beat the Florida heat any time of the day!

Main Street BakeryBaseball Player at Casey's CornerThe Plaza Ice Cream Parlor / Magic Kingdom

Let’s not forget the parades!  Main Street’s a great place to secure a spot for the Festival of Fantasy Parade in the afternoon and the Main Street Electrical Parade at night.  Stand on Main Street for Wishes – oooh and ahhhhh with the people around you during the fireworks.

As the place where every visitor begins and ends each visit to the Magic Kingdom, Main Street U.S.A. couldn’t be more perfect.

What’s your favorite part of Main Street?

Main Street at Night