We taken the Disney Cruise just one time, and sadly was not impressed. We waited way too long to decide to go on this cruise. Our children were 12 and 15 and were completely bored to tears. As adults, we too were bored. The cruise is beautiful and very luxurious, however; it is not a cruise I would take again. Highlights: the boat itself, the shows, the private island. Downfalls: everything closes early, not much for adults, not much for teens, food is sparce and very fancy, and price for the cruise over the top. As much as we love Disney...I do not recommend the Disney cruise for the price if you have children over the age of 11. This cruise would be great for kids 4-10. The only way I would take this cruise again is if someone was paying my way.
As always, any specific questions...just ask!! Happy Easter all!!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
More Insider Tips
The key to enjoying Disney World is proper and precise planning. All you spur of the moment people with no plan of action...you'll be sorry!!! Literally walking around in circles without feeling like you've accomplished anything. HAVE A PLAN!!! It does not have to be my plan, a plan for you and your party. Plan what parks to do when, where to eat, when to rest, what extracurricular to do. See other posts for ideas on all things Disney, then make a plan.
First timers...I do suggest the vacation package. However, I would recommend the moderate resort package with the counter service meal plan. Why? For starters, the deluxe dining plan is more food than you can eat and you are committing yourself to be at a reservation at a certain time on a certain day. Now with effective planning, that works, but if you're in the park having a great time and are not ready to leave to go to your reservation at the hotel for dinner, you either lose that opportunity or miss out on finishing time in the park. With counter service you eat on your time, when your ready to eat. It includes meal, drink, dessert, and snacks. Can't be beat!!
You do not have to buy a particular ticket because of how many days your staying. For instance, if your staying for 5 nights, you do not have to buy 4/5 day tickets. You can buy a 1 day ticket if that's what you want. I would encourage a rest between park days. So if you stay for 5 days, I recommend only going into the parks for 2 or 3 days. If you go all 5 days, you will be more tired when you get home than when you left. Take a few days to enjoy your resort, Disney property, or resting.
Take perishable food for snacks and breakfast. Save that money to spend on something else. Bring your coolers with you to the hotels with drinks in them. Carry water bottles into the park and refill them at the water fountains. May seem gross to some, I always make sure the fountain goes real high in the air so that I do not have to put the tip close to the mouth of the fountain. Your choice though. Take advantage of all the freebies offered throughout the property (see other posts), and always take advice from others who have been there/done that. Everyone always has something valuable to learn from.
Also, sign up to be a member of mousesavers.com. They always keep you up to date on specials and current happenings at Disney. You can find discount tickets, discount room codes, special offers for shopping, and so much more. If you sign up as a member, they will email you hot deal announcements a couple times a month; and they are really worth receiving. They do not fill up your mailbox with emails daily, only a couple times a month.
Please feel free to post any question and/or your suggestions anytime. I love hearing from you!!!
First timers...I do suggest the vacation package. However, I would recommend the moderate resort package with the counter service meal plan. Why? For starters, the deluxe dining plan is more food than you can eat and you are committing yourself to be at a reservation at a certain time on a certain day. Now with effective planning, that works, but if you're in the park having a great time and are not ready to leave to go to your reservation at the hotel for dinner, you either lose that opportunity or miss out on finishing time in the park. With counter service you eat on your time, when your ready to eat. It includes meal, drink, dessert, and snacks. Can't be beat!!
You do not have to buy a particular ticket because of how many days your staying. For instance, if your staying for 5 nights, you do not have to buy 4/5 day tickets. You can buy a 1 day ticket if that's what you want. I would encourage a rest between park days. So if you stay for 5 days, I recommend only going into the parks for 2 or 3 days. If you go all 5 days, you will be more tired when you get home than when you left. Take a few days to enjoy your resort, Disney property, or resting.
Take perishable food for snacks and breakfast. Save that money to spend on something else. Bring your coolers with you to the hotels with drinks in them. Carry water bottles into the park and refill them at the water fountains. May seem gross to some, I always make sure the fountain goes real high in the air so that I do not have to put the tip close to the mouth of the fountain. Your choice though. Take advantage of all the freebies offered throughout the property (see other posts), and always take advice from others who have been there/done that. Everyone always has something valuable to learn from.
Also, sign up to be a member of mousesavers.com. They always keep you up to date on specials and current happenings at Disney. You can find discount tickets, discount room codes, special offers for shopping, and so much more. If you sign up as a member, they will email you hot deal announcements a couple times a month; and they are really worth receiving. They do not fill up your mailbox with emails daily, only a couple times a month.
Please feel free to post any question and/or your suggestions anytime. I love hearing from you!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
What Else Is There To Do In Disney??
I know most people go to Disney to do the parks. There are, however, many other things that can occupy your time while saving you money and energy at the same time. In this post, I will talk about some of our favorite things to do outside of the theme parks, so here goes.
Water Parks- Disney has 2 water parks on property; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. I believe last time we went, prices were about $40/ticket for adults. This is about half price from the parks and is quite refreshing on a hot summer day. Typhoon Lagoon is my favorite because it has a more lush feel about it. I basically find a nice palm tree, lounge chair, and a good book and nap and read all day. I run out to the wave pool if I get hot, then back to my chair. The family runs off and does all the slides, which I may or may not do, depending on my mood. The slides are all nice-typical of all water parks, but nice. They also have a small snorkeling section which is kind of neat and different than other parks, so check that out. Blizzard Beach is more like a modern ski resort and not as tropical feeling. It has more updated rides and thrills, teens would probably prefer this water park. Both parks have counter service eateries that are fairly reasonable and tasty or you can bring your cooler with picnic lunches/drinks.
Downtown Disney- Shopping and dining. Not sure if you'll save money here, but its a must do. The have a great big disney store called World of Disney that you must go in. Now you WILL get lost from your group because it is massive and has departments for everything!! If you have the Disney credit card, you get 10% off in this store with a $50 purchase, so we always save our shopping for this store. You'll also find, Ghiradelli's Ice Cream shop and store, which is my favorite dessert place, a must check out if you like ice cream and chocolate. There are numerous other stores and street vendors, and most of the time there is entertainment that you can watch or listen to. You can definately spend an entire day here. Check it out for sure. This area is around a lake area and is very visually appealing. They've just added a balloon ride that takes you up in the air then you come ride back down. I've not done this, but they say its neat and inexpensive. Downtown Disney also has Cirque De Soleil; which is very expensive (about as much as going into one of the parks). I've never been, can't see paying that much to watch people fly around in the air, but they say its great. So if you have ever been, let me know how you liked it.
BoardWalk- This is really a hotel, but there is an area behind the hotel that has restaurants and street vendors outside. This is where ESPN is located. It is on the water and is nice place to stroll around and sit down and enjoy the scenery. This is not a 'must see' but it's nice enough to see if you want to just mosie around. I will tell you, we rented the bicycle built for 8, and cycled around the lake----warning....this is hilarious, yet miserable. You would think 8 grown adults could do this, well...maybe for 5 minutes on flat land. We laughed the entire time though. We've done this several times just for kicks, so I do recommed trying it at least once!!
Resorts- Spend the day touring all the hotels. Now this isn't for everyone, but my husband and I love looking at the themed hotels, decorations, architecture, shops, etc...This always helps us get an idea of where we'd like to stay on our next trip. We also like to hit the resorts on the Seven Seas Lagoon at night to check out the fireworks from Magic Kingdom and see the water parade at night. We also hop on the monorail and check out all the resorts on the monorail track, and it's kind of like being on a free ride.
DisneyQuest- I guess you could call this an indoor theme park. It's all indoor and has various things to do inside. Most of it is like interactive games, eg. create a ride your own roller coaster. Has various technological things to do that are just okay. I've only been once (and that's because we have tickets that allow us to go in for free) and wouldn't pay money to go there, well maybe once to say we've done it. Prices are comparable to the water parks. I'd rather spend my money being outside than in this place. It has very dark and clausterphobic feel to it, but that's just my opinion...you should check it out yourself if your into technology and games.
There are some other things to do such as the Disney Wild World of Sports area and the Racecar Driving Experience, which we've never done. I think you can catch the Braves spring training at the sports area, which we keep saying we're going to do, but we've never made it there...maybe next year. I think the driving experience is pretty expensive and I've never heard from anyone who's actually done it, so if you have let me know.
I guess that's it for now. There are many things to do on Disney property besides parks, and I know you will find something that would interest you. As always, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask. Next time we'll discuss hints, tips, and money, until then.....
Water Parks- Disney has 2 water parks on property; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. I believe last time we went, prices were about $40/ticket for adults. This is about half price from the parks and is quite refreshing on a hot summer day. Typhoon Lagoon is my favorite because it has a more lush feel about it. I basically find a nice palm tree, lounge chair, and a good book and nap and read all day. I run out to the wave pool if I get hot, then back to my chair. The family runs off and does all the slides, which I may or may not do, depending on my mood. The slides are all nice-typical of all water parks, but nice. They also have a small snorkeling section which is kind of neat and different than other parks, so check that out. Blizzard Beach is more like a modern ski resort and not as tropical feeling. It has more updated rides and thrills, teens would probably prefer this water park. Both parks have counter service eateries that are fairly reasonable and tasty or you can bring your cooler with picnic lunches/drinks.
Downtown Disney- Shopping and dining. Not sure if you'll save money here, but its a must do. The have a great big disney store called World of Disney that you must go in. Now you WILL get lost from your group because it is massive and has departments for everything!! If you have the Disney credit card, you get 10% off in this store with a $50 purchase, so we always save our shopping for this store. You'll also find, Ghiradelli's Ice Cream shop and store, which is my favorite dessert place, a must check out if you like ice cream and chocolate. There are numerous other stores and street vendors, and most of the time there is entertainment that you can watch or listen to. You can definately spend an entire day here. Check it out for sure. This area is around a lake area and is very visually appealing. They've just added a balloon ride that takes you up in the air then you come ride back down. I've not done this, but they say its neat and inexpensive. Downtown Disney also has Cirque De Soleil; which is very expensive (about as much as going into one of the parks). I've never been, can't see paying that much to watch people fly around in the air, but they say its great. So if you have ever been, let me know how you liked it.
BoardWalk- This is really a hotel, but there is an area behind the hotel that has restaurants and street vendors outside. This is where ESPN is located. It is on the water and is nice place to stroll around and sit down and enjoy the scenery. This is not a 'must see' but it's nice enough to see if you want to just mosie around. I will tell you, we rented the bicycle built for 8, and cycled around the lake----warning....this is hilarious, yet miserable. You would think 8 grown adults could do this, well...maybe for 5 minutes on flat land. We laughed the entire time though. We've done this several times just for kicks, so I do recommed trying it at least once!!
Resorts- Spend the day touring all the hotels. Now this isn't for everyone, but my husband and I love looking at the themed hotels, decorations, architecture, shops, etc...This always helps us get an idea of where we'd like to stay on our next trip. We also like to hit the resorts on the Seven Seas Lagoon at night to check out the fireworks from Magic Kingdom and see the water parade at night. We also hop on the monorail and check out all the resorts on the monorail track, and it's kind of like being on a free ride.
DisneyQuest- I guess you could call this an indoor theme park. It's all indoor and has various things to do inside. Most of it is like interactive games, eg. create a ride your own roller coaster. Has various technological things to do that are just okay. I've only been once (and that's because we have tickets that allow us to go in for free) and wouldn't pay money to go there, well maybe once to say we've done it. Prices are comparable to the water parks. I'd rather spend my money being outside than in this place. It has very dark and clausterphobic feel to it, but that's just my opinion...you should check it out yourself if your into technology and games.
There are some other things to do such as the Disney Wild World of Sports area and the Racecar Driving Experience, which we've never done. I think you can catch the Braves spring training at the sports area, which we keep saying we're going to do, but we've never made it there...maybe next year. I think the driving experience is pretty expensive and I've never heard from anyone who's actually done it, so if you have let me know.
I guess that's it for now. There are many things to do on Disney property besides parks, and I know you will find something that would interest you. As always, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask. Next time we'll discuss hints, tips, and money, until then.....
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Fun Part-Dining!
I have to tell you, one of my favorite hobbies is EATING!! You'd really never know it, I'm very small framed and must have a pretty good metabolism, but I can usually outeat my husband who is literally twice my weight and then some. Disney is a great place for me to enjoy this favorite hobby of mine. One weekend, a couple years back, we decided to head up to Disney just because we had a hankering for O'hana's restaurant at the Polynesian Resort. So we left on a Friday, had dinner on Saturday, and came home on Sunday. Never even did a park, just ate.
There are so many dining options in Disney and I certainly cannot name them all, but I will name my most favorite places, and offer up some advice on the dining plans that Disney offers with vacation packages. So here goes....
There are two main types of dining around Disney. Sit down dining and counter service dining. For on-the-go and in a hurry or in the parks, I recommend counter service. The exception to this is Epcot. You should really try one of the restaurants in the countries for a nice sit down meal. For leisure, atmosphere, and the experience, I recommend sit down dining. Counter service in all of the parks and resorts is really not badly priced for what you get and the food it not bad either. Some of the sit down restaurants can be really quite expensive, but some are worth the money. We usually eat a late breakfast and an early dinner with snacks in between to cut costs. If you go to Downtown Disney, you MUST eat at the Ghiradellis Ice Cream Shop-we always hit that after dinner. Boy is it expensive, but soooooo worth it!! Now...to name a few of our favorite sit down restaurants (I will not name counter services because for the most part, they are all very similar in price and items). Please see my review of parks for park restaurants, I will only be naming the dining on disney property, not so much in the parks.
Ohana's at the Polynesian Resort-Family style buffet served to you on the table. Pork, steak, shrimp, chicken, and sausage are the meats, potatoes, vegetables, wings, dumplings, are also accompanied. The dessert...to die for bread pudding with a banans cream sauce and ice cream. We always do dinner here though there is a breakfast buffet as well. The thing we love about this restaurant is the atmosphere, food, and that it is all you can eat. The atmosphere is like a Hawiian themed with bongo sounding music in the background. Not loud at all, but nice. The price is usually about $35-40 per person and definately worth at least one try. Cocktails are very colorful and unique, and also quite tasty. They run $8-15.
The Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge Resort-Again, family style buffet served to you on the table. I recommend this restaurant for a big breakfast. We've done both breakfast and dinner, but I prefer the breakfast. Breakfast comes with ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, waffles, biscuits/sawmill gravy, and hash browned potatoes. Again...all you can eat and wonderful atmosphere. Let me give you a heads up...this restaurant is loud and obnoxious. That's the point. The servers all yell at one another and you (they are suppose to be portraying old grumpy mountain people). They don't really yell at you, just to you. They are all very friendly in a gruff sort of way. Whatever you do, do not ask for pepsi products!! They will make a spectacle of it (or have someone with you ask for a pepsi product just to get a spectacle out of it;)! Also, make sure to ask for ketsup for your potatoes, I won't tell you what happens, but it will be fun to find out!! If at all possible, go when its someone's birthday and tell the servers and watch the action. This is one of the funnest restaurants we've ever been to and we always go there with our guests we take to Disney with us. It's always a big hit. Price around $25-30.
Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort-Again...another buffet (are you seeing a pattern?). This time though you actually have to get up out of your seat to go make your own plates. We do dinner here, though there is a breakfast buffet as well. This is seafood themed and well I love it because I love seafood. There is crablegs, fish, shrimp, seafood casseroles, and for land lovers there is roast, ham, chicken, BBQ, etc. The desserts here was really good as well. Lots to choose from. A nice fresh atmoshere and a very friendly staff. Price around $35-40.
Trails End at the Fort Wilderness Resort-Another buffet...get up and get it yourself style. We've only eaten here for dinner, not sure about lunch and breakfast. This is more rustic and filling food with fried chicken, bbq, and other hearty meats, vegetables, and sides. Very filling and tasty. This restaurant is in a little cowboy like village and the atmosphere around it is quite nice. I recommend it, it's very casual-but nice. This is the most reasonably priced buffets on Disney at around $20-25 per person.
ESPN at the Boardwalk Resort-Sorry, not a buffet. My husband LOVES this place as would most sports fans. The atmosphere...fun and sporty. Food is pretty good, but the highlight is the wings and beer. If you love wings, you will love this place. My husband always takes the men in the group with him while visiting, I've only been once and it was okay. A little loud, but hey...its a sports bar. Prices run between $10-20 on average.
Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex at Downtown Disney-Both are owned by the same company and are very similar in concepts. Both have a very nice atmosphere, but food is expensive and just okay. Worth trying with kids and maybe at least once for adults because it is fun. Food runs about $15-40 a plate (and $15 is for a sandwich or burger) and drinks in general are a bit costly, but fun and colorful and do come in soveneir cups.
Those are just a few of our favorites, we've eaten at many others and if you have any specific questions on a particular one, just ask and I'll let you know if we've eaten there or not. Also, all prices were for adult, kids are usually about $10-15 cheaper. If doing sit down restaurants around Disney, I recommend you make reservations well in advance. They now have online reservations, which is wonderful. It's only been up and running for a little over a year now I think. Take advantage of this. I have included this link to the home page, along with a link to allears.com where you can find the menus for all of the restaurants on disney property. Happy eating....until next time, we'll talk about things to do other than the parks on Disney property.
There are so many dining options in Disney and I certainly cannot name them all, but I will name my most favorite places, and offer up some advice on the dining plans that Disney offers with vacation packages. So here goes....
There are two main types of dining around Disney. Sit down dining and counter service dining. For on-the-go and in a hurry or in the parks, I recommend counter service. The exception to this is Epcot. You should really try one of the restaurants in the countries for a nice sit down meal. For leisure, atmosphere, and the experience, I recommend sit down dining. Counter service in all of the parks and resorts is really not badly priced for what you get and the food it not bad either. Some of the sit down restaurants can be really quite expensive, but some are worth the money. We usually eat a late breakfast and an early dinner with snacks in between to cut costs. If you go to Downtown Disney, you MUST eat at the Ghiradellis Ice Cream Shop-we always hit that after dinner. Boy is it expensive, but soooooo worth it!! Now...to name a few of our favorite sit down restaurants (I will not name counter services because for the most part, they are all very similar in price and items). Please see my review of parks for park restaurants, I will only be naming the dining on disney property, not so much in the parks.
Ohana's at the Polynesian Resort-Family style buffet served to you on the table. Pork, steak, shrimp, chicken, and sausage are the meats, potatoes, vegetables, wings, dumplings, are also accompanied. The dessert...to die for bread pudding with a banans cream sauce and ice cream. We always do dinner here though there is a breakfast buffet as well. The thing we love about this restaurant is the atmosphere, food, and that it is all you can eat. The atmosphere is like a Hawiian themed with bongo sounding music in the background. Not loud at all, but nice. The price is usually about $35-40 per person and definately worth at least one try. Cocktails are very colorful and unique, and also quite tasty. They run $8-15.
The Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge Resort-Again, family style buffet served to you on the table. I recommend this restaurant for a big breakfast. We've done both breakfast and dinner, but I prefer the breakfast. Breakfast comes with ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, waffles, biscuits/sawmill gravy, and hash browned potatoes. Again...all you can eat and wonderful atmosphere. Let me give you a heads up...this restaurant is loud and obnoxious. That's the point. The servers all yell at one another and you (they are suppose to be portraying old grumpy mountain people). They don't really yell at you, just to you. They are all very friendly in a gruff sort of way. Whatever you do, do not ask for pepsi products!! They will make a spectacle of it (or have someone with you ask for a pepsi product just to get a spectacle out of it;)! Also, make sure to ask for ketsup for your potatoes, I won't tell you what happens, but it will be fun to find out!! If at all possible, go when its someone's birthday and tell the servers and watch the action. This is one of the funnest restaurants we've ever been to and we always go there with our guests we take to Disney with us. It's always a big hit. Price around $25-30.
Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort-Again...another buffet (are you seeing a pattern?). This time though you actually have to get up out of your seat to go make your own plates. We do dinner here, though there is a breakfast buffet as well. This is seafood themed and well I love it because I love seafood. There is crablegs, fish, shrimp, seafood casseroles, and for land lovers there is roast, ham, chicken, BBQ, etc. The desserts here was really good as well. Lots to choose from. A nice fresh atmoshere and a very friendly staff. Price around $35-40.
Trails End at the Fort Wilderness Resort-Another buffet...get up and get it yourself style. We've only eaten here for dinner, not sure about lunch and breakfast. This is more rustic and filling food with fried chicken, bbq, and other hearty meats, vegetables, and sides. Very filling and tasty. This restaurant is in a little cowboy like village and the atmosphere around it is quite nice. I recommend it, it's very casual-but nice. This is the most reasonably priced buffets on Disney at around $20-25 per person.
ESPN at the Boardwalk Resort-Sorry, not a buffet. My husband LOVES this place as would most sports fans. The atmosphere...fun and sporty. Food is pretty good, but the highlight is the wings and beer. If you love wings, you will love this place. My husband always takes the men in the group with him while visiting, I've only been once and it was okay. A little loud, but hey...its a sports bar. Prices run between $10-20 on average.
Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex at Downtown Disney-Both are owned by the same company and are very similar in concepts. Both have a very nice atmosphere, but food is expensive and just okay. Worth trying with kids and maybe at least once for adults because it is fun. Food runs about $15-40 a plate (and $15 is for a sandwich or burger) and drinks in general are a bit costly, but fun and colorful and do come in soveneir cups.
Those are just a few of our favorites, we've eaten at many others and if you have any specific questions on a particular one, just ask and I'll let you know if we've eaten there or not. Also, all prices were for adult, kids are usually about $10-15 cheaper. If doing sit down restaurants around Disney, I recommend you make reservations well in advance. They now have online reservations, which is wonderful. It's only been up and running for a little over a year now I think. Take advantage of this. I have included this link to the home page, along with a link to allears.com where you can find the menus for all of the restaurants on disney property. Happy eating....until next time, we'll talk about things to do other than the parks on Disney property.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Parks
Okay...the real reason everyone comes to Disney World...the parks. For me, not so much...but for everyone else, that's the case. I enjoy the parks, don't get me wrong; but there are so many great things to do besides the parks. I must admit, I love to go to the parks with people who have never been or people who didn't like it the first time around. If you don't know how to navigate and 'work' the parks, you could go insane walking around in circles with thousands of people who are hot, sweaty, smelly, and often rude!! Here's my take on the parks, one-by-one.
Magic Kingdom (the most popular)- most people think Disney World is the Magic Kingdom. Actually is it the first park created in Disney World. It is most popular with the kids and is definately more kid oriented. There are several 'lands' to visit in Magic Kingdom, each with various rides and attractions. There is Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, also Tom Sawyers Island, Main Street, and Liberty Square. Each area has specific rides and attractions that focus around that lands theme. A few must sees are: Pirates of the Carribean (Adventureland), Philharmagic (Fantasyland), It's a Small World (Fantasyland), Space Mountain (Tomorrowland), The Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square), Splash Mountain (Frontierland), Big Thunder Mountain (Frontierlnad), and Buzz Lightyear (Tomorrowland). There are many, many more; but those are our favorite must sees. There are also many places to eat in Magic Kingdom, we like the Crystal Palace (Main Street, a character buffet and a little pricey), Harbor House (Liberty Square, counter service), and Cosmic Rays (Tomorrowland, counter service). I suggest always packing your own snacks and water, but those are some good places to go and eat a decent meal. Disney allows you to take in backpacks and carry bags; they just have to be checked at the gate. I would say for beginners to take 2 days in this park to enjoy all the sites and attractions.
Epcot (our favorite and enjoyed by many adults)- I would call this the adults theme park; although Disney is trying very hard to make it kid friendly. There are several neat rides for kids, but there are more interactive things for the kids to do here. I would have a plan in hand when going with kids; so that you know exactly where to go for the kids to enjoy. There are two main sections to this park; World Showcase and Future World. Future World always opens first and has the most rides; must sees in this area are Soarin, Fast Trak, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, and Finding Nemo. There are several diffent themed buildings that have various activities to enjoy, see characters, watch shows, etc. I would explore this area in full then head over to World Showcase. This is one of our favorite areas in Disney. It is a replica of various countries across the world. In each 'country' there are shops, restaurants, attractions/rides, and entertainment. Our favorite's are; Mexico (must check out the margarita's), England (check out the Rose and Crown restaurant), Japan (neat shopping), Norway (check out the boat ride, Maelstrom, and the shops which carries my favorite perfume Laila!). When you come to this area, eat....The best time to come is during the food and wine festival (fall) when you can sample food around the world set up around the countries in food stands. You can sample dishes, desserts, and wines for a small fee. I will admit this get costly because you want to 'try' so many things and never seem to get filled up; so be careful and bring lots of money. Our favorite places to eat in the World Showcase; England, France, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and China. My husband loves Germany and Norway, but I don't guess it depends on your tastes. Plan at least one day in this park.
Animal Kingdom- This park closes before any other park and you can just about do it in a half day. It is a really neat park that both adults and children will enjoy. There are different areas within the park; based on a specific theme. In Africa you must do Kilimanjaro Safari; it is by far the best attraction in all of Disney (my opinion of course, my husband and daughter are disagreeing as we speak). On this ride you travel by big jeep unto a safari (the land is about the size of the Magic Kingdom) and see lots of animals, it truly feels like you've stepped into Africa. This ride is about 10 minutes long and well worth the wait. Go there first thing when you get in the park or fast pass it. Another great ride is Mount Everest in Asia. A great 3-D show is the Bug's Life in the Tree of Life. Dinoland is a neat area and has several rides the kids will enjoy. Check out the monkey/gorilla section between Africa and Asia, they are quite interesting to observe. There are a few good places to eat here; there is a Rainforest Cafe and although neatly themed, can be quite expensive. A good counter service restaurant is Flame-Tree BBQ. We usually do this park and Hollywood Studios together. Animal Kingdom first, then Hollywood Studios...so next and lastly Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Studios (honestly my least favorite)- This park is themed around Hollywood big screeen and production. There are many shows to sit down and watch, so if you're into that you will love this park. I like it well enough, but not something I would do over and over again. The biggest highlight to this park is the end of the night finale Fantasmic; a must see if you are there at closing (go early to get a seat or you will never get in). Some other good rides/attractions in this park is Star Tours (redoing currently), The Rockin Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Backlot Tour, Muppet Vision 3-D, Toy Story Mania, and The Great Movie Ride. If you're going with kids, they will love the Animation Courtyard, so be sure to check that out. There are several places to eat, none stand out, but most are okay.
Again...there is so much to say and so little time to say it all. My suggested times to visit the parks; Sept.-Nov., Jan., end of Apr-May. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask or comment. I'd also love to hear your tips, share your thoughts, and hear of your favorites. Next post we'll talk about, a favorite of mine...eating, so until next time...
Magic Kingdom (the most popular)- most people think Disney World is the Magic Kingdom. Actually is it the first park created in Disney World. It is most popular with the kids and is definately more kid oriented. There are several 'lands' to visit in Magic Kingdom, each with various rides and attractions. There is Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, also Tom Sawyers Island, Main Street, and Liberty Square. Each area has specific rides and attractions that focus around that lands theme. A few must sees are: Pirates of the Carribean (Adventureland), Philharmagic (Fantasyland), It's a Small World (Fantasyland), Space Mountain (Tomorrowland), The Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square), Splash Mountain (Frontierland), Big Thunder Mountain (Frontierlnad), and Buzz Lightyear (Tomorrowland). There are many, many more; but those are our favorite must sees. There are also many places to eat in Magic Kingdom, we like the Crystal Palace (Main Street, a character buffet and a little pricey), Harbor House (Liberty Square, counter service), and Cosmic Rays (Tomorrowland, counter service). I suggest always packing your own snacks and water, but those are some good places to go and eat a decent meal. Disney allows you to take in backpacks and carry bags; they just have to be checked at the gate. I would say for beginners to take 2 days in this park to enjoy all the sites and attractions.
Epcot (our favorite and enjoyed by many adults)- I would call this the adults theme park; although Disney is trying very hard to make it kid friendly. There are several neat rides for kids, but there are more interactive things for the kids to do here. I would have a plan in hand when going with kids; so that you know exactly where to go for the kids to enjoy. There are two main sections to this park; World Showcase and Future World. Future World always opens first and has the most rides; must sees in this area are Soarin, Fast Trak, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, and Finding Nemo. There are several diffent themed buildings that have various activities to enjoy, see characters, watch shows, etc. I would explore this area in full then head over to World Showcase. This is one of our favorite areas in Disney. It is a replica of various countries across the world. In each 'country' there are shops, restaurants, attractions/rides, and entertainment. Our favorite's are; Mexico (must check out the margarita's), England (check out the Rose and Crown restaurant), Japan (neat shopping), Norway (check out the boat ride, Maelstrom, and the shops which carries my favorite perfume Laila!). When you come to this area, eat....The best time to come is during the food and wine festival (fall) when you can sample food around the world set up around the countries in food stands. You can sample dishes, desserts, and wines for a small fee. I will admit this get costly because you want to 'try' so many things and never seem to get filled up; so be careful and bring lots of money. Our favorite places to eat in the World Showcase; England, France, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and China. My husband loves Germany and Norway, but I don't guess it depends on your tastes. Plan at least one day in this park.
Animal Kingdom- This park closes before any other park and you can just about do it in a half day. It is a really neat park that both adults and children will enjoy. There are different areas within the park; based on a specific theme. In Africa you must do Kilimanjaro Safari; it is by far the best attraction in all of Disney (my opinion of course, my husband and daughter are disagreeing as we speak). On this ride you travel by big jeep unto a safari (the land is about the size of the Magic Kingdom) and see lots of animals, it truly feels like you've stepped into Africa. This ride is about 10 minutes long and well worth the wait. Go there first thing when you get in the park or fast pass it. Another great ride is Mount Everest in Asia. A great 3-D show is the Bug's Life in the Tree of Life. Dinoland is a neat area and has several rides the kids will enjoy. Check out the monkey/gorilla section between Africa and Asia, they are quite interesting to observe. There are a few good places to eat here; there is a Rainforest Cafe and although neatly themed, can be quite expensive. A good counter service restaurant is Flame-Tree BBQ. We usually do this park and Hollywood Studios together. Animal Kingdom first, then Hollywood Studios...so next and lastly Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Studios (honestly my least favorite)- This park is themed around Hollywood big screeen and production. There are many shows to sit down and watch, so if you're into that you will love this park. I like it well enough, but not something I would do over and over again. The biggest highlight to this park is the end of the night finale Fantasmic; a must see if you are there at closing (go early to get a seat or you will never get in). Some other good rides/attractions in this park is Star Tours (redoing currently), The Rockin Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Backlot Tour, Muppet Vision 3-D, Toy Story Mania, and The Great Movie Ride. If you're going with kids, they will love the Animation Courtyard, so be sure to check that out. There are several places to eat, none stand out, but most are okay.
Again...there is so much to say and so little time to say it all. My suggested times to visit the parks; Sept.-Nov., Jan., end of Apr-May. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask or comment. I'd also love to hear your tips, share your thoughts, and hear of your favorites. Next post we'll talk about, a favorite of mine...eating, so until next time...
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Where to Stay
Where to stay when you're in Disney is a very critical part in the experience. Now most people think..."It's just a place to lay my head," but I'm here to disagree. You MUST stay on Disney property at least once!! It offers so much more to the overall vacation. There are a couple of benefits for staying on property such as; extra magic hours, free parking in the parks (saves you $10/day), free transportation to anywhere on property, and when staying on property you can buy the vacation packages that include tickets/accommodations/food. We've only done the vacation package once, and for a long vacation I would recommend and the food package gives you more than enough meals than you'll ever eat!!
Okay, the question...where to stay? There are three types of resorts-deluxe, moderate, and value. We have never stayed in the value resorts, but mostly because I think we got spoiled staying at the deluxe resorts first...hense something to think about when planning your first trip. We have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom, Polynesian, Port Orleans French Quarters, Port Orleans Riverside, Carribean Beach, and both Swan and Dolphin Hotels (although not owned by Disney they are on property and offer most of the same benefits). I can only review the ones I've stayed at so I'll begin there.
Wilderness Lodge (deluxe resort)-one of the more reasonably price in the deluxe category where rooms can be found for less than $200/night. We have been able to stay there for around $150 a night. This hotel is beautifully themed and has a very rustic mountain atmosphere. There are several nice places to eat (you must eat at the Whispering Canyon Cafe even if you're not staying there), a great pool that the kids will enjoy, and very convenient to The Magic Kingdom. You can take a boat right from the hotel and be dropped off at the main gate to Magic Kingdom. Room are fairly spacious and we were placed in a room that had lake view and through the trees, we could see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom at night from our balcony. (All deluxe hotel rooms have a balcony or patio). Although convenient and beautiful; it is not our favorite, but we liked it and will stay again.
Animal Kingdom Lodge (deluxe resort)-our favorite!! Where can you possible go and see animals outside from your balcony and throughout the entire hotel? Kids will love this hotel!!!! It is also very beautifully themed with an African flair. The lobby is breath-taking. We have stayed here more than any other resort because it is so unique and full of things to do. The price for this hotel is very comparable to that of the Wilderness Lodge. The restaurants here will appeal greatly to some and disdain for others. My husband loved it, I did not. I really liked the breakfast, but not dinner at the Boma. The dinner just had too many African dishes that did not appeal to me. If you love trying different and unique food, you may love this! The pool is great with lots of secluded spots for adults. It's very tropical feeling. The one disadvantage to this hotel, it's way out. It is a little drive away from everything, so you have to get in your car more often or take the transportaion; but in my opinion it's worth it.
Polynesian (deluxe resort)-an amazingly beautiful hotel that is right on the monorail track to The Magic Kingdom. This resort however is not very economical; with prices being closer to $350/night; not worth it in my opinion. We love to visit this resort when we are down, because it's so nice and has a great restaurant (O'hana's) that we love to eat at, but it's just a little to much for our pocketbooks to stay there that often. I would encourage you to visit this hotel at night and go out unto the beach and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and watch the water parade that goes through the lake every night!! That's a free night of entertainment that the kids would love and very romantic if your with your loved one.
Swan/Dolphin (deluxe resorts)-owned by Sheraton and the Westin both of these hotels are gorgeous and quite reasonable with rooms less than $200/night. They offer teacher discounts too-so don't forget to mention that. These resorts are SO convenient to both Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios, you could walk to either (for some a steep walk) or take the boat. We took the boat to both. They have several pools between the two and are beautiful, kids will love them. We have stayed here many times and is probably our next favorite place to stay on property. We prefer the Dolphin, it's a little more modernized in our opinion.
Port Orleans/Carribean Beach (moderate resorts)- are quite reasonably priced and most rooms are around $120-150/night. These resorts are a little scaled down from the deluxe resorts, but are nicely themed and very clean. I preferred the Riverside (Mansion style) and my husband preferred French Quarter (New Orleans style). Neither of us enjoyed the Carribean Beach. These hotels are a little smaller in space and have outside rooms. They have no balconies or patios and have no big restaurants. They have food courts that serve a variety of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner-all priced fairly.
Off property hotels that we have stayed at are numerous, but I'll tell you our favorite. The Marriott Village right down the road from Disney property close to Downtown Disney. We are Marriott reward members so we prefer Marriott hotels, and this village of hotels include the Courtyard, Springhill Suites, and Fairfield Inn. We like the Courtyard, they have a nice buffett breakfast that they sometimes throw in free with stay. The village has a foodcourt with an ice cream shop, sub shop, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and a few others. This is property is gated, just like the properties on Disney so you always feel safe.
One last thought---if staying for a long trip or traveling with a large group, rent a house. We've done that several times and it is very cheap to split with a group, saves money on food, and most have private pools and spas that are great for relaxing in on days off. There are thousands of houses that are rented out for Disney visitors, so you will not have a hard time finding one for any family size or family budget.
That's it for now, I could go on and on...but that's the jist of it for now. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions for more information. Next time...the parks. Where to go, when to go, what to see, and how to tackle them!!! See ya next time!!
Okay, the question...where to stay? There are three types of resorts-deluxe, moderate, and value. We have never stayed in the value resorts, but mostly because I think we got spoiled staying at the deluxe resorts first...hense something to think about when planning your first trip. We have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom, Polynesian, Port Orleans French Quarters, Port Orleans Riverside, Carribean Beach, and both Swan and Dolphin Hotels (although not owned by Disney they are on property and offer most of the same benefits). I can only review the ones I've stayed at so I'll begin there.
Wilderness Lodge (deluxe resort)-one of the more reasonably price in the deluxe category where rooms can be found for less than $200/night. We have been able to stay there for around $150 a night. This hotel is beautifully themed and has a very rustic mountain atmosphere. There are several nice places to eat (you must eat at the Whispering Canyon Cafe even if you're not staying there), a great pool that the kids will enjoy, and very convenient to The Magic Kingdom. You can take a boat right from the hotel and be dropped off at the main gate to Magic Kingdom. Room are fairly spacious and we were placed in a room that had lake view and through the trees, we could see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom at night from our balcony. (All deluxe hotel rooms have a balcony or patio). Although convenient and beautiful; it is not our favorite, but we liked it and will stay again.
Animal Kingdom Lodge (deluxe resort)-our favorite!! Where can you possible go and see animals outside from your balcony and throughout the entire hotel? Kids will love this hotel!!!! It is also very beautifully themed with an African flair. The lobby is breath-taking. We have stayed here more than any other resort because it is so unique and full of things to do. The price for this hotel is very comparable to that of the Wilderness Lodge. The restaurants here will appeal greatly to some and disdain for others. My husband loved it, I did not. I really liked the breakfast, but not dinner at the Boma. The dinner just had too many African dishes that did not appeal to me. If you love trying different and unique food, you may love this! The pool is great with lots of secluded spots for adults. It's very tropical feeling. The one disadvantage to this hotel, it's way out. It is a little drive away from everything, so you have to get in your car more often or take the transportaion; but in my opinion it's worth it.
Polynesian (deluxe resort)-an amazingly beautiful hotel that is right on the monorail track to The Magic Kingdom. This resort however is not very economical; with prices being closer to $350/night; not worth it in my opinion. We love to visit this resort when we are down, because it's so nice and has a great restaurant (O'hana's) that we love to eat at, but it's just a little to much for our pocketbooks to stay there that often. I would encourage you to visit this hotel at night and go out unto the beach and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and watch the water parade that goes through the lake every night!! That's a free night of entertainment that the kids would love and very romantic if your with your loved one.
Swan/Dolphin (deluxe resorts)-owned by Sheraton and the Westin both of these hotels are gorgeous and quite reasonable with rooms less than $200/night. They offer teacher discounts too-so don't forget to mention that. These resorts are SO convenient to both Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios, you could walk to either (for some a steep walk) or take the boat. We took the boat to both. They have several pools between the two and are beautiful, kids will love them. We have stayed here many times and is probably our next favorite place to stay on property. We prefer the Dolphin, it's a little more modernized in our opinion.
Port Orleans/Carribean Beach (moderate resorts)- are quite reasonably priced and most rooms are around $120-150/night. These resorts are a little scaled down from the deluxe resorts, but are nicely themed and very clean. I preferred the Riverside (Mansion style) and my husband preferred French Quarter (New Orleans style). Neither of us enjoyed the Carribean Beach. These hotels are a little smaller in space and have outside rooms. They have no balconies or patios and have no big restaurants. They have food courts that serve a variety of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner-all priced fairly.
Off property hotels that we have stayed at are numerous, but I'll tell you our favorite. The Marriott Village right down the road from Disney property close to Downtown Disney. We are Marriott reward members so we prefer Marriott hotels, and this village of hotels include the Courtyard, Springhill Suites, and Fairfield Inn. We like the Courtyard, they have a nice buffett breakfast that they sometimes throw in free with stay. The village has a foodcourt with an ice cream shop, sub shop, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and a few others. This is property is gated, just like the properties on Disney so you always feel safe.
One last thought---if staying for a long trip or traveling with a large group, rent a house. We've done that several times and it is very cheap to split with a group, saves money on food, and most have private pools and spas that are great for relaxing in on days off. There are thousands of houses that are rented out for Disney visitors, so you will not have a hard time finding one for any family size or family budget.
That's it for now, I could go on and on...but that's the jist of it for now. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions for more information. Next time...the parks. Where to go, when to go, what to see, and how to tackle them!!! See ya next time!!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Introduction to Disney
Walt Disney World...a magical place. One of the major misconceptions about Disney world is that it is just for kids. WRONG!!!! My husband and I go to Disney all the time without our kids and, as a matter of fact, our kids do not even want to go anymore. They said they are "tired" of going ALL the time and often refuse to go. Here are just a few of the things that adults can enjoy in Disney World:
Unique dining with great food
A surprisingly diverse amount of adult beverages in certain locations
Nice resorts with wonderful amenities and luxuries
Distinctive shops with merchandise from around the world
4 themed parks that offer thrills for all ages
2 water parks that are refreshing on hot summer days; one which offers snorkeling
Romantic and magical atmospheres in many locations throughout the 'Kingdom.'
And many more....
Of course for those with kids...what better place to enjoy a memorable and magical vacation than at Disney World. If you have not yet taken a trip with your kids or you did not enjoy it when you went, keep this blog in mind for hints and tips about how to save time, money, and make the most of your Disney vacation. We have went with people who did not enjoy it their first time and after a short trip with us, they were instantly converted and are now also 'addicted to the mouse!!' Disney can be quite overwhelming and hard to understand; but with some thoughtful planning before you go, your trip will be quite a success.
My first advice to all readers......GO!!!! If at all possible or if close enough to drive, make it a short trip and enjoy one park per trip. If that is not possible, we have a plan for your week long adventure. We have done both, but prefer long weekends. There is SO much to do on Disney property that you do not have to go to a park every day. We rarely do the parks on back-to-back days. Most of the time, parents want their kids to get the most out of the parks, when really the kids just want to go back to the hotel and swim in the pool. We'll direct you to which pools are our favorites on property. Which leads me to my final thought and introduction to the next blog...stay on property if you can. We'll review our favorite Disney resorts next time....until then remember what Walt himself said,"It all started with a mouse."
Unique dining with great food
A surprisingly diverse amount of adult beverages in certain locations
Nice resorts with wonderful amenities and luxuries
Distinctive shops with merchandise from around the world
4 themed parks that offer thrills for all ages
2 water parks that are refreshing on hot summer days; one which offers snorkeling
Romantic and magical atmospheres in many locations throughout the 'Kingdom.'
And many more....
Of course for those with kids...what better place to enjoy a memorable and magical vacation than at Disney World. If you have not yet taken a trip with your kids or you did not enjoy it when you went, keep this blog in mind for hints and tips about how to save time, money, and make the most of your Disney vacation. We have went with people who did not enjoy it their first time and after a short trip with us, they were instantly converted and are now also 'addicted to the mouse!!' Disney can be quite overwhelming and hard to understand; but with some thoughtful planning before you go, your trip will be quite a success.
My first advice to all readers......GO!!!! If at all possible or if close enough to drive, make it a short trip and enjoy one park per trip. If that is not possible, we have a plan for your week long adventure. We have done both, but prefer long weekends. There is SO much to do on Disney property that you do not have to go to a park every day. We rarely do the parks on back-to-back days. Most of the time, parents want their kids to get the most out of the parks, when really the kids just want to go back to the hotel and swim in the pool. We'll direct you to which pools are our favorites on property. Which leads me to my final thought and introduction to the next blog...stay on property if you can. We'll review our favorite Disney resorts next time....until then remember what Walt himself said,"It all started with a mouse."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)