Disney - With Short Notice

Last Tuesday, my husband (a teacher) told me he really wanted to head to Disney for Spring Break.  If you know me at all, you know that I would never turn down a trip to Disney!  The rest of the night was a roller coaster of emotions for me.  I was beyond ecstatic at the idea of going and simultaneously mortified that I would have to do 181 days' worth of planning in just a week!  I felt a little bit like Rapunzel in her "I can't believe I did this!" scene...

First, we needed a place to stay.  Since we had not set aside any money for this trip, I needed to find a cheap place to stay and quick! We have 5 daughters whose ages range from 3 up to 17, so a quick room at the Holiday Inn wasn't going to cut it for the 7 of us.  I found a two-bedroom villa that sleeps 8 at the Westgate Palace for $50/night in exchange for doing a 90-minute timeshare presentation.  So for a total of $225 including tax, we got 4 nights/5 days in Orlando.  If you're interested, call Nancy (407)692-7727.  We already had tickets, but they had great offers that included tickets if you are willing to sit through a 90-minute timeshare presentation.  It benefited our budget that we decided to do it this time.

The second thing I did was hop on DisneyWorld.com to print off park hours and decide which parks to head to each day.  Since we were not staying on Disney property, I was looking for parks that did not have extra magic hours in the morning, since the lines are shortest right when the park opens.  I would probably do the opposite if we had decided to stay in a Disney resort.

We decided to surprise the girls again so I started doing laundry and putting the items I wanted to pack aside immediately.  I printed out a copy of my Comprehensive Packing List and got started.  Then I ran around the house hunting down my Disney pins, lanyards, hair bows, etc.

With a full kitchen in the villa, we found some great buy-one-get-one-free snacks and drinks at our local Publix and then I headed to Disneyworld.com/dining to see what kind of dining reservations were available. There were still options.  I urge you to always make dining reservations in advance.  It's always nice to have a cool place with a guaranteed table large enough for your party in the heat of the day when you've been up since early and plan to continue to play into the evening.

Today, the My Disney Experience app released an update that allows all park guests to access the Fastpass+ feature, even though they can not use the magic bands.  I am ecstatic and will head to Downtown Disney as soon as we've settled our belongings in the condo to get our tickets converted so that we can use this feature.  Although the Magic Bands still have a few bugs, the Fastpass+ feature is amazing!

I will update as I finish out the last day of preparation tomorrow and I will fill in the details of how we tell the girls we are going as soon as we tell them.  They are going to be so surprised!

My Disney Picks

This was the view from my Contemporary room in 2010.

A Disney Dream Vacation(These are my picks if money is not tight): 

Where to stay:

Want to see Epcot? Stay at the Boardwalk Resort and request a park-view room on the highest level.  The view of Illuminations is incredible and the night-life options at the Boardwalk are fantastic! There’s also free live entertainment on the boardwalk pretty much every night.

Want to see the Magic Kingdom? Stay in Disney’s Contemporary Resort – it is my favorite resort – great shopping, great dining, and extremely convenient transportation.  Request a Magic Kingdom view room. The 9^th floor is my favorite – you’re right next to Space Mountain and when you walk out of the door of your room, you can look down at Chef Mickey’s and see the characters walking around below.

Want to see the Animal Kingdom? Stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and request a savannah view room.  You can actually feed the giraffes out your window if you stay in just the right spot.  Ask the agent helping you book your room to make sure your room will be exactly what you want.

Unfortunately, Hollywood Studios isn’t very easily seen from any resort hotel.   It would be fantastic to watch Fantasmic from a balcony view.  Maybe in the Tower of Terror someday? ;)

Where to eat:

Disney has so many unique dining opportunities.  Since I am writing this in my own opinion, I’ll share the meals I’d eat if money were no object and I had time to enjoy them all.  Remember that if Disney is aware of an allergy in your group, they will make it safe for you to eat in any restaurant and it WILL be safe.  The farther in advance you can alert them to your allergy, the better. Mention it as you make each reservation and again when you are seated.

In the parks, my favorite meals are:

• (Magic Kingdom)Cinderella Castle breakfast is something you have to do at least once.  The food is great and the characters are even more charming when you know you’re eating in a castle.  They spend ample time at your table and it makes for fabulous pictures.  My father and I love to try to get the earliest reservation on a day when the Magic Kingdom does not have extra magic hours so that we can be in Fantasyland when the park opens.  Once this even allowed for my daughters to ride the Mad Hatter’s Teacups with Alice and the White Rabbit – a memory I’ll treasure forever!
•  (Magic Kingdom)Be Our Guest – lunch or dinner.  Reservations for dinner are required right now since the restaurant is so new and popular, but you don’t need a reservation for lunch and the service was quick.  We had lunch there and it was some of the most fairly priced food we ate and also most delicious!
• (Magic Kingdom)Crystal Palace – it’s the cheapest of the Disney buffets and I think it has the best selection of food.  Winnie the Pooh and friends come around to visit at each table and to top it all, the restaurant is beautiful!
• (EPCOT)Le Cellier Steakhouse – down toward the back of the Canadian pavilion is a beautiful, dark restaurant that serves amazing soup, fantastic steaks, and has a broad selection of wines.  It’s pricey, but the food is great and the atmosphere is just as good.
• (EPCOT)Restaurant Marrakesh  in the Moroccan pavilion provides an incredible dining experience for lunch or dinner.  They serve authentic Moroccan food and the interior of the restaurant make you feel like you are truly in Morocco.  It’s a great dining experience.
• (EPCOT)Lunch at the Coral Reef restaurant in EPCOT.  The food here is wonderful and the view is peaceful and relaxing – a perfect respite from the hot Florida sun.  You sit inside the aquarium and can order from a menu of fantastic seafood dishes (of course, there are landlubber options as well).
• (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)Sci-Fi Dine in Theater – I’d couple this with the Fantasmic dining package as it allows you access to the best seats for the best show.  This restaurant is one of the most unique places you can eat.  You walk into a drive-in theater and are seated in a car! Of course, that car has a built-in table and lights so that you don’t make a mess and can watch the creepy sci-fi clips being played on the big screen at the front of the room.  It’s really cool!
• (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)Toy Story Pizza Planet – very similar to the restaurant in the original movie Toy Story, the pizza is good and the arcade (though it will add up quickly if you send your kids off to enjoy a few games) is a great break from the heat or rain.  It’s always a favorite with the kids!
• (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)Hollywood Brown Derby – this is my absolute favorite restaurant in all of Disney.  The food is divine and you feel as though you are dining at the real restaurant in California.  The caricatures of Hollywood’s stars on the walls and the elegant atmosphere make for a very enjoyable meal.  Their cobb salad is to die for and if that doesn’t do it, the prices will definitely kill you… all kidding aside, I think it’s totally worth it for a date meal.  Send the kids to ride a few rides with Grandma and Grandpa or Aunt and Uncle and settle in for an unforgettable meal.

Insider Tip: Don’t forget that Disney’s character buffet meal prices include non-alcoholic drinks, so even if you’re on a budget, don’t be afraid to order both coffee and orange juice with your meal. 

Insider Tip: If you’re not crazy about standing in line for character autographs, work a few character meals into your plan.  I always try to get the last breakfast reservation because the price is best and it serves as brunch for my crew (my kids find a yogurt and a granola bar is a great in-room snack to hold them over till then).

Essential Items

When I visit WDW, there are a few items I always have in my bag.  Bringing these items into the park with you will save you some money and make your day a little easier.

1. Duracell USB phone charger With the new magic bands system, it's pretty much essential to have a smart phone whether it's an android or an apple product to keep up with your fastpass+ schedule and attraction wait times.  Disney provides free wi-fi in their parks now so even if you don't have cell service (say you have an ipod touch) you can get onto the free wi-fi and keep up with the fastpass+ program.  This combined with using the camera on my phone drained my cell battery pretty quickly.  I didn't want to stop and charge my phone in the middle of the day, so I put my Duracell USB phone charger to work.  It was perfect! I brought the battery and the USB connector cord and hooked it up in my purse when it hit about 30%.  It charged back to full for the afternoon and lasted a perfect amount of time.  I highly recommend you invest in something like it.  I found the one I have on Amazon.com for about $23. http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Instant-Charger-Includes-Universal/dp/B002FU6KF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389572006&sr=8-1&keywords=duracell+usb+charger
2. Thirty-One Medium thermal zipper pouchI received one of these for free by hosting a 31 party for a friend of mine and it is fantastic!  I put 4 capri suns, a 12-ounce coke for me, and a bottle of water in mine along with a ziploc bag filled with ice cubes from the hotel ice dispensary.  I threw it into the bottom of my stroller and as the kids got thirsty, I'd open it up and give out what I had to share.  It folds flat and is very lightweight so that it's easy to store when it's empty.  If you have access to a freezer, you can freeze the juice pouches and let them thaw over time - this keeps everything cold and means you don't have to worry about melting ice.
3. Retractable Sharpie pensI think these give the best autographs (my kids LOVE characters) and I always buy the Disney autograph books - it's one splurge I always let the kids select.
4. Hand SanitizerI clip hand sanitizer on every bag I carry around and have the kids use it often.  Germs are everywhere so of course, we stop and wash our hands with soap and water frequently also.
5. Sunscreen!
   This seems like a no-brainer, but half-way through the day your sunscreen is wearing off and if you don't bring some with you, you will end up choosing between burning and paying Disney's ridiculous price for a small tube of sunscreen.

I also like having a spare camera battery, sunglasses, and a container of Tylenol (some for me and some chewable for the kids - just in case).  Remember, if anything happens and you need a band-aid or any kind of first aid attention, Disney has places all over the parks where someone can assist you.  Look at the park map or ask the nearest castmember and they'll be happy to point you in the right direction.

Clarks Condensed

Tonight while I was browsing through my blog data I saw that several hits were directed from one particular web-site, so naturally I checked it out. It turns out a fellow blogger thought my post about when to plan your trip was worth sharing. I was super excited and as I poured through the rest of their page I thought the whole post was definitely worth sharing! She's obviously spent hours compiling websites and blog posts that will help organize your planning. 

Check out the site : http://www.clarkscondensed.com/thrifty-thursday/planning-a-disney-vacation

It will be well worth your time!

Magic Bands - New Disney Tech

I just got home from Disney last week.  The unpacking and laundry took forever, so I haven't written anything since my trip, but get prepared for the motherload because I learned SO much!

In this post, I'm going to write about my personal experience with the new Magic Bands and what I know first-hand.

1. They are very convenient.  I left my purse in the stroller and headed to get my husband some free water at a counter-service restaurant.  After glancing at the menu, I saw a snack I wanted, but didn't have my wallet or purse with me. Enter the Magic Band - since I didn't take it off my wrist at all during the days we were in the parks, I could just swipe that and buy whatever I wanted to.  I was thrilled to not have to be digging around for my wallet in my purse full of supplies at Disney.

2. You can only select 3 fastpass+ selections for each park for each day with your bands.  So if you were spending the morning in Animal Kingdom and the afternoon in Epcot, it was great - you could choose 3 for each park and have a total of 6 for the day!  If you were staying in Epcot the whole day, however, we had used our 3 by 1:15 and couldn't get any more fastpass+ selections.  At this point, you are permitted to use your physical tickets for fastpasses, however, it's a bit of a letdown to run from Japan to Soarin' to grab a fastpass after you just did that with your phone and never had to take a step.  I think that after you have used all of your fastpasses, more should become available.  **Disney castmembers who were working at the Fastpass+ kiosks did tell me that the limit of 3 is a beta testing number and that that number may be increased after testing is over and the results can be calculated to dictate the best use of the technology. I hope this happens soon!**

3. Sometimes they got things wrong! The My Disney Experience app wasn't working for several hours while I was at the Magic Kingdom so I headed to a kiosk to figure out how to change a fastpass, but their system wasn't working either! So I couldn't change my fastpass selection. Bummer!

4. Fastpasses are now available for things that never had a fastpass line (or need for one) before.  Rides like It's a Small World and shows like Beauty and the Beast now have fastpasses available, but you really don't need them.  Wishes (Magic Kingdom's fireworks show) has a private viewing area for the fireworks that you can only enter if you have selected the Wishes fastpass+ and it was actually a great little spot.  I would recommend that if you don't want to stake out a spot 60+ minutes before the show.

5. The fastpass line was always short - I feel that Disney is catering to the fastpass users more than ever.  And I was assured that this would mean the regular line didn't get longer, but I felt like it did.  I walked right on to any ride I had a fastpass+ selection for, but waited (for what felt like) longer than usual in any of the regular wait lines.  It wasn't horrible, but I personally felt like there was a difference.  This being said, the lines that were never long before still weren't.  I pretty much walked on those rides (especially at the Magic Kingdom) such as the Carousel, Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, etc.

6.  Sometimes they Magic Bands randomly worked on attractions that we hadn't selected.  My husband took our 2-year-old to Adventureland when I took our 4 and 5-year-old girls to ride Splash Mtn.  He didn't have a clue what fastpasses we had picked, so he tried it on the Jungle Cruise.  It worked! Afterwards, he asked me if I had selected that and I told him I hadn't.  This happened randomly several times.

7. The rider swap was given to us even though we were using fastpasses.  So my husband took the older girls on Soarin' and I rode Nemo with the shorty. Then we switched.  I ended up riding once, my husband twice, and the girls 3 times.  That was great!

8.  I didn't plan enough time for the newly updated Fantasyland - and I was there last year!  I could have spent one whole day just in Fantasyland with my3 daughters.  They loved the new Under the Sea ride and the Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction.  The new Fairytale Hall is open and it was lovely! We used a fastpass to meet Rapunzel and then waited in line to meet Cinderella.  The wait was great - icy cold A/C and it was gorgeous inside.  Definitely a must-see!

9. The My Disney Experience app is a phone battery drainer.  No shock here.  I have an iPhone, so I turned my brightness down a bit and when it got low, plugged it into my Duracell portable charger in my purse.  You can buy one like mine or there are several other models available.  I love mine and it's so easy to use.  http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Instant-Charger-Includes-Universal/dp/B002FU6KF2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381861149&sr=8-2&keywords=duracell+portable+charger

10. If you are Robert Downey Jr. and you happen to be traveling with your dad (we'll asume he's Robert Downey Sr.) you may have problems with your magic bands.  We met a family who was there for a reunion and they were using the bands.  Their fastpass+ selections kept getting changed and there was nothing that the Disney concierge or the kiosks in the park could do to fix it! They did end up with 8 free meals, so we didn't feel too terribly bad for them, but let's hope Disney gets that bug worked out soon!!

Tips for EPCOT

I love EPCOT on a hot, Summer day!

Making your way around Epcot is a full-day experience. In truth, I like to spend two days in Epcot when I go.  For those of you who haven't been to Epcot, the park is divided into two parts: the Future World and the World Showcase.

The World Showcase
Walk through 11 different pavilions designed to allow you to experience each country's food, culture, and entertainment.  If you need to get to the center, but don't want to walk all of the way around, Germany and Morocco have boat stops that will allow you to go from the Showcase Plaza on the Future World side.

The 11 countries that make up the World Showcase are:

• Mexico
• Norway
• China
• Germany
• Italy
• America
• Japan
• Morocco
• France
• United Kingdom
• Canada

There are only 2 rides in the World Showcase: one in Norway and one in Mexico.  Both rides are fun, but the ride in Norway has trolls and could be a tad bit frightening for small kids.  Are you worried about your kids getting bored or not wanting to visit all of the countries with you? There are several great activities to get your kids into the world showcase that will help them have a great time:

1. Agent P's World Showcase Adventure: become a secret agent working with Agent P (Perry) from Phineas and Ferb and help stop the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz by completing missions in each country's pavilion. More info can be found at: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/agent-p-world-showcase-adventure/
2. Kidcot Stations allow you and your child to decorate a mask and have it stamped in each country.  You can start the design on on end and keep it going all of the way throughout the world showcase.  This makes a great *Free* souvenir as well.
3. Buy a passport on one end of the showcase (Canada or Mexico) and have it stamped and signed in each country. Kids and teens will enjoy having their passport signed in each country, and I recommend asking each person who writes in your passport to write your name in their native tongue, as well, since the cast members working in each pavilion are (most always) true natives of the country they are working in.

The Future World
I see the Future World split into three sections:

1. The Thrill Side (ie: Mission: SPACE, Test Track, and Universe of Energy)
   Mission:SPACE simulates a ride in a spaceship to Mars. (It has a height requirement of 44")
   Test Track allows you to be the crash dummy and test new cars. (It has a height requirement of 40")
   Universe of Energy: Ellen Degeneres takes you through a Jeopardy experience you won't soon forget!
2. Spaceship Earth, the fountains, Character spot, Innoventions East, and Innoventions West
   Spaceship Earth (aka the Epcot ball) explores communication throughout the years.
   The fountains are not to be missed! Choreographed water and music that even uses dynamite for the big explosion at the finale!
   The Epcot Character Spot is possibly the best place to meet Mickey and his friends in all 4 parks.
   Innoventions East and West are for the video gamers in your crowd! Plenty of virtual games and peeks into the future of technology.
3. Seas with Nemo and Friends, the Land Pavilion, and Imagination!
   The Living Seas pavilion houses a Nemo ride, Turtle Talk with Crush, and amazing views of one of the largest man-made reefs in the world.
   The Land Pavilion - Living with the Land is a ride which allows you to learn about plants in a unique way.  Soarin' is downstairs in this building and it's amazing (it has a height requirement of 40") and I highly suggest you ride it as early as possible or get a fastpass since the line gets long very quickly. There is also a cute Lion King show upstairs and Sunshine Seasons is my favorite place to get breakfast when I am in EPCOT before the World Showcase is open at 11am.
   The Imagination pavilion features a ride starring Figment - a purple dragon who takes you on a ride to explore his imagination and yours!

Did you know... EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow and was Walt's idea for a real community - originally he wanted people to live there. Insider Tip: If you ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority in the Magic Kingdom (right across from Space Mountain) you can see an actual model of Walt's EPCOT inside of the ride? It's truly amazing.

Disney Romance In the Parks

Since my best friend is heading to Disney in November for part of her honeymoon, she asked me to write a few articles for their trip.  In this post, I'm assessing the parks in order according to their romantic offerings.

1. EPCOT

• The World Showcase is stunning at night.  Each country's pavilion is lit up and they are beautiful.  I highly recommend trying to go there on an extra magic hours night and strolling along in the darker hours while sipping a cool beverage.
• Best restaurants for couples:
  Le Cellier Steakhouse (Canada) - dark and romantic - their steaks are to die for!
  The Coral Reef (Living Seas Pavilion) - an amazing dining experience inside one of the largest man-made reefs in the world.
  Tutto Italia (Italy) - rather expensive for a bowl of pasta, but incredibly romantic
  Monsieur Paul (France) - this is pricey, but very nice.
  San Angel Inn (Mexico) - it's always night inside of the Mexican pavilion and the prices are not bad.
• Best rides for adults:
  Mission to Mars
  Test Track
  Soarin'
• Best places to sit and relax:
  France - there is a small bistro in France where you can buy a cheese place and a chocolate croissant and a cup of coffee and sit and feel as though you truly are far away in France.
  Canada - there is a gorgeous waterfall in Canada that you can sit near and simply relax.

2. Magic Kingdom

• The Magic Kingdom earned its name - it is magic! Heading to this park without kids is still great! Ride just the rides you like best, stop for a cup of coffee on your own time, and catch some amazing shows.  Definitely don't miss the Main Street Electrical Parade.
• Best restaurants for couples:
  Cinderella's Castle is incredibly romantic - especially at night.
  Be Our Guest - quick service at lunch and table service at Dinner, it's a cool place to eat.
  Tony's Town Square Restaurant - inspired by the romantic Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene.
• Best rides for adults:
  Space Mountain
  Thunder Mountain
  Pirates of the Caribbean
  Walt's Carousel of Progress
• Best place to sit and relax:
  As you face the castle, if you head to the left and walk up beside the castle on that side, you'll come upon a number of benches in small alcoves.  They make for a lovely place to sit and relax with a cup of coffee and if you head over to that side during the Dream Along with Mickey, characters will wave right to you as they go on stage.

3. Hollywood Studios

• Hollywood Studios is geared toward adults - its purpose is supposedly the opposite of the Magic Kingdom.  While the MK is supposed to provide seamless and real magic, Hollywood Studios tries to break the magic down and show you how they do it - the shows are all about giving you a chance to see how that magic is made. Whatever you do, don't miss Fantasmic!
• Best restaurants for couples:
  Hollywood Brown Derby - this is a pricey place to eat, but worth every penny.  The atmosphere is true Hollywood and the food is delicious.
  Sci-Fi Dine in Theater - eat in vintage-designed cars that are lit and have built-in tables. You eat while a black-and-white rendition of "scary" movie clips from the 1950s plays on a large projection screen.
• Best rides for adults:
  Tower of Terror
  Rock'n Roller Coaster
  Star Tours
• Best shows for adults:
  Lights, Motors, Action
  Fantasmic!

4. Animal Kingdom

• Animal Kingdom's charm is in the walking around between things.  The paths between Africa and Asia and Dinoland USA are beautiful and there are many beautiful sights to see.  If you don't like to walk, I wouldn't go here, but if you do, get a bottle of water or a cold soda and head out to explore with your camera.
• Personally, I don't think any of the restaurants in the Animal Kingdom are that amazing, but here are the ones I like best:
  Tusker House
  Yak and Yeti
• Best rides for adults:
  Dinosaur
  Everest
  Kali River Rapids
  Kilimanjaro Safari
• Best places to sit and relax:
  Asia has several nice areas to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or just rest for a few minutes.
  Africa's Wildlife Express Train allows you to sit and enjoy pretty views as you head to Rafiki's Planet Watch.