Birthdays at Disney!

Today is my birthday and I'm ready to share two major revelations:
1.  Birthdays are fabulous!
2.  Disney is fabulous!

Mix those two fabulous things together and you have something... magical!

I have been lucky enough to spend several awesome birthdays with Mickey Mouse and his friends, so I thought I would share just a few fun tips for birthday celebrations at different ages.

#1 - Birthday badges!
These are great for all ages from 1-101!  They are completely free and often get you a little special attention.  Writing your name on it with a sharpie or permanent marker is especially important.  I always keep the sharpie with me in case it rubs off - this happens quite frequently.

#2 - Birthday dining reservations!
I'll just give these general age ranges, but here are a few suggestions for extra special places to celebrate a birthday:

2-12 - Cinderella's Royal Table - yep, it's pricey - but it's totally worth it for a special occasion like this one.  Although I usually favor Akershus because I feel less claustrophobic and also think that you get more time with the princesses, I think there is something special about eating in the castle on your birthday.  Definitely get her a princess crown for the meal and note the celebration when you make your reservation.  The princesses usually give a special little gift for a birthday girl or boy of any age.

13-18 - Sci-Fi Dine in Theater or Be Our Guest
Sci-Fi is just a really cool place to eat - the atmosphere is dark and fun and the cast members there make sure birthdays are properly recognized. Be Our Guest (still new, so definitely make those reservations 180 days out) is beautiful inside and is a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.

19+ California Grill
Make a dinner reservation an hour before the fireworks, arrive early and make sure you tell them you want to be able to watch the fireworks from where you're seated when you check in.  It's so incredible - especially if you happen to go during a Not So Scary Halloween Party and catch that version of Wishes - it's panoramic and incredible.  Definitely a great place for a birthday dinner!

19+Hollywood Brown Derby
I personally think this restaurant has the best menu of any restaurant on Disney property.  The cobb salad alone has my mouth watering any time it's mentioned.  And the steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes... well, they're perfect for celebrating anything!  Especially a birthday!

19+Le Cellier Steakhouse
The steaks melt in your mouth.  Particularly for a man, this is an awesome place to celebrate a birthday.  Start with the cheese soup and move into a delicious steak... I guarantee it will be a birthday you won't soon forget!

#3 - Free cupcake or ice cream is great, but don't forget you can order a specialty cake!
Any restaurant where you have a dining reservation can take an order for a specialty cake.  And they'll accommodate special dietary restrictions!  So if your loved birthday girl/boy/man/woman can't have something (gluten, dairy, peanut, etc.) feel free to order something special that they CAN enjoy!

#4 - Go to the birthday person's favorite park on the day they celebrate their birthday!
I know this seems obvious, but sometimes in my Disney-obsessed mania I think that we must go to the park that has extra magic hours or I could get a special dining reservation, but the truth is: on my birthday I want to be at Epcot.  And so I believe that whatever park the birthday person wants to be at on their special day... they should be at!

5 Resort Restaurants You Don't Want to Miss!

These five restaurants often get overlooked, but I think they're worth visiting!

1.  Kona Cafe [Polynesian]

This is an awesome place to grab some sushi, have a beverage, and relax. If you aren't into raw fish, don't sweat!  There are lots of non-raw roll options and plenty of awesome entrees that won't force you out of your comfort zone.  I love the lump crab cakes and the sesame seared scallops are fantastic!

The Polynesian is a beautiful resort, so plan to come around 7 or 7:30 and eat, then head down to the beach to watch the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom.

2.  Sanaa [Animal Kingdom Lodge]

Come for the amazing view - the restaurant is surrounded by a savanna filled with wild animals (zebra, giraffe, ostrich, etc.).  The traditional Indian cuisine and fun wine flight pairings make dinner memorable.  Don't love Indian food?  Don't worry - there are lots of options for diners who aren't too adventurous and plenty of safe options for children!

Plan to stay after you eat and enjoy a free night vision goggle viewing session of the animals.  Ask your travel consultant to check the sunset time for your trip dates and schedule your dinner time for shortly before that time.  You'll see the animals when you arrive, eat while the sun sets, and then head out for the night vision viewing when your meal is done.  It's a fun way to spend the evening!

3.  Whispering Canyon Cafe [Wilderness Lodge]

This is a fun restaurant to eat at.  There are several complaints or requests you can make to your server that will likely result in a flurry of fun!  For example, asking for ketchup, complaining that your straw is too short, chewing gum, or even ordering soda for breakfast...  If you want the food, but don't like the attention, there are now signs that will help the servers identify you as a normal person who wants ketchup as opposed to a person who wants 15 people to bring you 15 bottles of ketchup...
No matter which level of service you prefer, don't leave without trying the caramel apple pie.  It's wonderful!

Finished up with dinner?  Hop on the boat over to the Magic Kingdom - it's a lovely, relaxing ride!

4.  Trattoria al Forno [Boardwalk]

The interior of this restaurant is beautiful and romantic!  It's still a safe option for the family and the food is excellent.  Traditional Italian cuisine, amazing pizzas, and a caprese salad worth fighting for make great menu options here.  My recommendation: get your own caprese salad and split an entree or a pizza! I recommend the eggplant rollatini!

Hang around after dinner and take a ride on the surrey - it's a bicycle that seats a whole family.  Kids can ride in the back or on the very front in a shopping-cart style seat.  The view as you ride around the Boardwalk-Swan/Dolphin-Beach Club-Yacht Club circle is beautiful and relaxing.  Our family shared some of the loudest laughter of our vacation on one of those surreys!  It's definitely worth the time and the money.

There's also lots of free nighttime entertainment on the Boardwalk!  You never know what you might see.

5.  Garden Grove Cafe [Swan Resort]

**Not on Disney dining plan
The Garden Grove is a beautiful restaurant - you feel as though you are eating in a gorgeous garden.  And it's a character meal at dinnertime!  Most nights, Goofy and Pluto are the hosts, but on Friday nights, Chip and Dale take over!  It's often overlooked because it is NOT on the Disney dining plan, but it's a lot of fun!  There are options for those who don't love meat, but also amazing meat selections!  A win for the whole family.

Saving Money on a Disney Vacation

5 Awesome Tips for saving money at Disney!

1. Pick your trip dates based on a great deal.  Our family's favorite is free dining in the Fall.  Luckily, our Fall Break in September has given our kids a week off of school at a time when we can head down to Disney and get free dining.  The best deal is usually a moderate resort because you can sleep up to 5 in a room and you get the plus dining (1 Quick-service, 1 snack, 1 Table-service per person per night).  I usually make dining reservations 180 days in advance, book my package, and then hope I get free dining.  I never count on it (NO discounts are guaranteed before they are available to be booked), but I'm flexible on which resort or what day I check in to try to maximize my chances to get it!

1. Get a Target REDcard.
   Did you know that the Target debit card system (REDcard) is not a credit line!  You save 5% off all purchases at Target INCLDUING DISNEY GIFT CARDS!! For example, on a $4,500 trip, that is $225 that never leaves your pocket.
   
   
2. Now take those Disney gift cards from Target and put them in a Disney Vacation Account.  [Don't worry - you can still use one even if you've got a free Disney travel consultant doing your legwork.]
   
   Using the DVA (Disney Vacation Account) gives you $20 for every $1000 you put into it.  So when you take your $4500 worth of Disney gift cards and put them into this account, you will receive $80 in a Disney gift card for your trip.
   
   
3. Let's say you don't mind opening a new line of credit, so you contact your friend (or travel agent) who has a Disney Visa credit card.  I have referral codes for friends that give them a $200 Disney gift card for opening a Disney credit card and making $500 of purchases in the first two months. I always encourage them to do this, only if they have the money to pay it off.  I feel the interest rate on this particular credit card is high, and my intention is NOT for them to rack up any debt!  I'm all about saving money!
   
   So, at this point, you've saved $225, you have $80 in Disney gift cards for using the DVA, and maybe even $200 more for snagging that Disney Visa card.  All of that for your trip that (hopefully) has free dining!  That's a great savings start to a fun family vacation, if you ask me!

5 Time-Saving Tips & Tricks

5 Time-Saving Tips 

(Especially for those who are not morning people!)

 

1.     Lay the kids clothes out at night 
This goes for teens and adults, as well. If you're anything like me, those vacation pictures are the most valuable souvenir you'll get out of your trip...if everyone knows what they'll wear the next morning, they can dress more quickly and there are no last-minute tears over then wanting to wear their pajamas or something not weather-appropriate.  
I lay out everything in a pile: shoes, socks... the full outfit!

I can sometimes take forever to decide what to wear... Drives my hubby crazy, so this is a better way for us to start our day. Plus the kids can get dressed and eat their breakfast snack while you're in the shower which is unoccupied thanks to tip #2.

2.     Make sure the kids are bathed the  night before...I know, they were probably exhausted (if not dozing off) when you rolled into your room, but they were probably covered in the day's grime, too, so take the extra time to rinse them off before they climb into bed. 

Not only will they sleep better, clean and fresh, you won't have to bathe them in the morning.  Now they can sleep while you get ready to go.

3.     Pack your bag for the following morning
If you're carrying a diaper bag, check it before you climb into bed - you don't want to arrive at the front entrance of Animal Kingdom and not have enough sunscreen or baby wipes.  If you don't have a diaper bag (lucky you) make sure your purse has all of your essentials - Magic Bands, cash, snacks, autograph books, pens, sunscreen, band-aids, and your camera!  

Don't forget to plug in your phone and charge that camera battery the night before, too!

4.     With dining reservations, fastpass+ reservations, and extra magic hours, the days are long with lots to cram into them.  I try to make sure my clients have a day to rest and chill at the pool in the middle of their trip.  If that's not an option, we try to make sure that their late nights don't bleed over into early mornings the next day.  A little planning goes a long way!

5.     Have your game-plan ready!  Hopefully your travel agent has your day-by-day itinerary all set for your family.  The ones I send my clients are color-coded to help them easily identify everything like this:

Sample Itinerary

My nighttime routine:

• Rinse off the kids and settle them into bed.
• Plug in phone.
• Charge camera and videocamera batteries.
• Make sure SD/memory card for the camera has enough room for the next day's pictures.
• Set out the next day's clothes.
• Double-check bag for snacks, tickets, etc.
• Glance over tomorrow's itinerary.
• Set the alarm for tomorrow's fun!

Guest Blogger COREY TOWNSEND - Food & Wine Festival at Epcot

Disney Food and Wine

That time of year is coming up and I am so ready, I can’t stand it. It is getting near that time where I can enjoy some sun, enjoy some amazing food, enjoy some unique people, and have a blast.  Am I talking about summer? Heck no, I am eager for the fall to get here and along with it, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!  Where else can you have an amazing vacation, enjoy food and drink from 20+ countries, listen to some amazing bands, and even see Mickey Mouse?  No place else!

Food and Wine, as it is more commonly called, is really an assault on your senses in a way that only Disney can do it.  From entering Epcot and seeing the amazing topiaries and flowers, you are assaulted by signs that promise what is just a half mile walk away.  As you pass through the “Leave a Legacy” section before Spaceship Earth, make sure you pick up a passport and Food and Wine guide.  You will be shocked at the number of food booths that are situated throughout the property.  These guides are hugely beneficial in helping you get the best out of the festival, and will fill you in on what band is playing that night back at the theater in front of the American Adventure. 

As you head back toward the countries, you notice how much many banners they have up for the festival.  Epcot knows why you are here and really puts out the merchandise for this event.  As you approach Mouse Gear, the king of all Disney shops in my opinion, they usually have quite a few event related items for sale.  Last year there was a cookbook, tons of kitchen items, and some other neat things to check out.  One really cool thing, as you pass Mouse Gear toward Showcase Plaza that they have had the past couple of years, is an actual cranberry bog demonstration right in the path back to the countries.  Most people don’t know that cranberries grow on bushes and as they become ripe, they flood the cranberry fields to make the berries pop loose from the bushes for easy harvesting.  This is a neat demonstration and I have enjoyed looking at those bright red berries both times I have seen it. 

Another great thing they had last year in the old Odyssey Restaurant location to the left before Mexico is they had a great craft beer location.  You could come in and with small cups really enjoy tons of different craft beers from around the world.  This had a HUGE line though and I would warn you it could be a real time sucker.  Plus, there are tons of beer selections at the other booths. 

When we go, we always start in Mexico and follow the path in a clockwise motion around the countries.  Every year there is a different featured country and that has ranged the full gamut of countries and flavors.  To me, the big point isn’t to focus on one country, but to try at least something small from as many booths as possible.  Each booth has abbreviated menus of a country’s foods.  Some of my favorites have been Kimchi hot dogs in Korea, shaved ribbon ice from China, Waffles from Belgium, Beef Bourguignon from France, and the Lobster Roll from America.  Each are the perfect portion and really let you try something new from a different land.  Prices range from $3-7 per serving, so they aren’t cheap, but are definitely worth your money.  It is Disney prices for sure, but it all adds up to a great vacation.

Beer and Wine are another huge element of the experience.  Each booth will have a showcased drink from their country and we simply rush to get in line to get our favorites.  Every year I have to run to get the Schöfferhofer grapefruit beer from Germany, and I love trying the wines from France and Italy.  I even had an amazing plum wine from China last year that I can’t wait to try again.

Once you are absolutely done stuffing yourself, you have two unique entertainment/education avenues before continuing on eating more.  One, it is Food and Wine and Disney does everything they can to bring some of the best food experts in the world to teach you something while you eat.  They give seminars, cooking demonstrations, and help to educate you on the things you are trying around the countries.  It is tremendous the amount of things you can learn from these chefs, critics, and experts.  Last when you simply are full of knowledge, full of food, and are ready to relax a bit, Disney does a concert series every year called “Eat to the Beat”.  If you can handle it, grab a drink, grab two or three desserts, and head to The American Adventure to enjoy the bands.   Last year, some great bands played: 38 Special, The Commodores, Sugar Ray, Smashmouth, and even Wilson Phillips.  Check out this year’s schedule when it goes live, you might be shocked who shows up.

All in all, Food and Wine is my favorite Disney event. We stay close to Epcot and we love taking advantage of being able to walk in and have a blast.  Now, if only I can figure out how to take two trips to Food and Wine this year!

About Corey: I was never a massive Disney fan until I saw the wonderment and joy of my two year old daughter on her first trip to Disney.  Now, she is twelve years old and we have been over 15 times and can't get enough.  We go every opportunity we get and we leverage our hard fought info to help people plan amazing vacations through our company Wishdrawals.com.  We take advantage of everything Disney from cruises to the parks, and every trip creates for us a magical memory.  We hope that we can go for the rest of our lives and love helping our clients do the same.  They say it isn't work if you do what you love, and we are lucky that we can do that.

Guest Blogger AMY HARRISON - Flower & Garden Festival

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Those of us who love to vacation with Disney know that they are amazing horticulturalists. Walt Disney World is brimming with beautiful flowers and plants no matter what time of year you are there. But if you love to garden, and I most certainly do, there is no better time to see all Disney has to offer than during the International Flower and Garden Festival. Offered annually, from early March to mid-May, the Flower and Garden Festival is an experience even a novice gardener can enjoy. All of the parks are in full bloom in spring, but Epcot holds a rare treat for those willing to take a look.

The International Flower and Garden Show takes place in Epcot, around both Future World and the World Showcase Lagoon and it is free with your park ticket! There are a few classes, tours, and demonstrations that cost extra, but the majority of the festival, including the concert series, is free!

As with all things Disney, the International Flower and Garden Festival offers something for everyone. As you would expect, this festival includes classes, seminars, and exhibitions that will give you inspiration for your garden and even give you practical tips on how to create or improve your gardens at home. But what you may not know is everything else the International Flower and Garden Show includes:

• Concerts; Garden Rocks concerts happen nightly and previous artist have included En Vogue, Little River Band, STARSHIP and Taylor Dayne. My favorite thing about these concerts is that you don’t have to be in the amphitheater to enjoy them. You can hear them as you wander the lagoon area, eating and browsing the shops.
• Outdoor kitchens; because food is a HUGE part of World Showcase the International Flower and Garden Festival has incorporated innovative foods into it’s happenings. You will find an array of food booths in the World Showcase area, which are set up specifically for this festival and feature a wide variety of meats and produce in new and interesting ways. This is a growing part of the International Flower and Garden Festival and I would expect more and more of these booths to pop up as the Festival continues in future years.
• Cooking demonstrations; these are held daily throughout the park.
• An annual artist showcase, usually held the last weekend in March; the showcase features your favorite Disney characters in all new ways and displays this artwork in the country pavilions around the World Showcase lagoon. It’s a great place to pick up a truly unique souvenir.
• Interactive playgrounds set up around Epcot; These play areas can be a welcome distraction for young ones attending the festival. If you find yourself with a restless kid (or adult for that matter!) head over to the Pixie Hollow fairy and butterfly garden. It is a work of art in itself! You may even find yourself inspired to create a fairy house in your own backyard.

With so much to see and do, you won’t want to miss this truly unique experience offered at Disney’s EPCOT theme park. Spring will never feel the same!

Amy Harrison

Fellow Wishdrawals agent, Disney DIY Aficionado, and Premium Mickey Bar Connoisseur

Check out my blog at www.merryweatherscottage.blogspot.com

Epcot : Part One

Tips for having fun with your kids in Epcot

Here are a few things to do with the family when you head to Epcot.  Some people feel there isn't enough for young kids, but our family could not disagree more.  We always wish we had just a few more hours.  Use these tips and tricks to help your kids enjoy what we feel is the most fun theme park for adults and you'll end up with a great day for the whole family!

5 Iconic Things to Do at Epcot:

1)      Watch the Fountain show - especially around sunset.

2)      Take a picture in front of Spaceship Earth (the ball)

3)      Eat in the Coral Reef Restaurant

4)      Ride Soarin’ – have you done it before? Guess what: Soarin’ is going to get an international update with new scenery soon!

5)      Watch Illuminations from the Showcase Plaza or Italy

The Future World side of Epcot:

• Soarin’ (40”) – this is a fabulous ride.  If you have a fear of heights, I suggest you ride in the back row which is lowest to the ground.  If you don’t want to ride with feet dangling above you, ask to ride in the top (front) row.
• Living with the Land
• Circle of Life – Lion King Environmental Movie

• Character Stop – a great place to meet Mickey and Friends!
• Test Track (40”) – design a car and then test drive it.
• Spaceship Earth – the ride inside of the Epcot ball – it’s very relaxing and cool on a hot day.
• Innoventions East & West – fun play areas to hang out in if it rains and great activities for kids ages 5-8
• Ellen’s Energy Adventure – not our favorite ride, but it’s funny and entertaining.  I’d rate it for kids ages  9 and up.

• Mission Space (44”) – a great thrill ride.  Mission Space allows you to play astronaut for a day.  Green is for those who don’t want as intense of a ride and orange is for bigger thrill-seekers.  The view of the ride is exactly the same, but you will feel more force on orange. 
• Mission Space Advanced Training Lab – my kids could spend hours in here exploring and playing.  When you exit the ride, you are dumped into this large area with interactive activities and play areas.  You can access it through the gift shop, as well, if you have smaller kids who aren’t tall enough to ride Mission Space yet.
• Mission Space splash area – if you don’t want to wait for your family members who are riding Mission Space in the Advanced Training Lab, there’s a fountain play area right out in front of the attraction.  If you have a change of clothes, a towel, or a really hot day, you can let your kids play in the fountain and cool off.

• Seas with Nemo and Friends – a very cute ride for even the littlest tyke, but fun for the whole family.  The line for this attraction is usually very short and moves quickly.
• Turtle Talk with Crush – this is a great show for kids ages 2+.  Crush comes to visit with a small group (kids get to sit right up front) to answer and ask questions.
• Sea Base – when you exit the Nemo ride, there is a huge aquatic exploration area.  Again, if I let them, my kids could stay here and view all of the live creatures and enjoy with the interactive activities for well over an hour.

• Journey Into Imagination with Figment – this is a ride for kids, but it’s very cute!  And yes, the song WILL get stuck in your head. J
• ImageWorks the What If Lab – this is another interactive play area.  When you exit the Imagination ride, you’ll come out to a huge area filled with interactive activities for children (and we play there, too) of all ages.

Epcot’s World Showcase:

• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros – a boat ride featuring Donald Duck in the Mexican Pavilion
• American Adventure – a 30-minute show about American history.  Don’t let the word ‘history’ scare you away – it’s very entertaining.
• Kidcot Fun Stops – When you enter the World Showcase, you will find a coloring station in each country.  Your child can color and decorate the current character.  Then you take it with you and have it stamped in each country.  It’s a great way to keep kids interested as you travel through each country’s pavilion.
• Passports – you can buy them for $10 in any of the countries, or even in the Future World.  Then you have them signed and stamped in each country.  It’s a fun way to see your name written in 8 languages!
• Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure – great for kids ages 6 & up, this involves Agent Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb.  You receive a free device that keeps kids involved through interactive activities as you visit each country.

  Movies to watch/Books to read before visiting Epcot:

• The 3 Caballeros (Mexico Pavilion)
• Mulan (China Pavilion)
• Ratatouille (France Pavilion)
• Beauty and the Beast (France Pavilion)
• Winnie the Pooh(United Kingdom Pavilion)
• Mary Poppins (United Kingdom Pavilion)
• Peter Pan (United Kingdom Pavilion)
• Aladdin (Morocco Pavilion)
• Snow White (Germany Pavilion)
• Frozen (Norway Pavilion)
• Finding Nemo (The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion)

Be sure to tune in for the rest of Epcot week as I share articles from guest bloggers featuring the Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden Festival!

Fun things to do at the Magic Kingdom!

We've got number 1 covered!

Top 10 things to do at the Magic Kingdom on your first visit:

1. Take a family photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
2. Try to pull the sword out of the stone. It’s right in front of Prince Charming’s Carousel ride, behind the castle!
3. Meet Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater. You can even bring something special for him to sign if you want!
4. Ride Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World, and Dumbo.
5. Eat a Mickey ice cream bar while you watch the Festival of Fantasy parade.
6. For the thrill-seekers, ride the mountains of Disney: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain!
7. For the princesses at heart, head to Storytime with Belle and then stop by Fairytale Hall to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel!
8. For the young pirates in your group, head to Adventureland and watch Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial – it’s sure to be entertaining for the whole family!
9. Eat at Pinocchio’s Village Haus and grab a seat by the window – you can wave at kids on the It’s a Small World ride while you eat!  This is a great thing to do when you’re hot and tired and need a break – it’s nice and cold inside.  Insider tip: We always try to eat after the lunch rush to avoid having to fight to find a table.
10. Watch Wishes – the nighttime fireworks – the best spot is on the back half of the hub – behind the statue of Mickey and Walt holding hands.