*Originally posted in Spring 2015 - Stay tuned for an updated post as I experience more at Walt Disney World!
At Walt Disney World, there's always something magical to do! Whether it's hitting up your favorite attraction, taking in a Broadway-style stage show, or indulging in some retail therapy, there's something for everyone to enjoy. But did you know that all of Disney's restaurants and dining options are just as magical? With nearly 300 dining options on property, you're bound to find something unique for your family to enjoy each and every day during your Disney vacation. This post is dedicated to my top 10 favorite casual dining spots around Walt Disney World and all of the magical moments they can offer you and your family, without having to worry about getting fancy. While I haven't been able to experience each and every restaurant or eatery at WDW myself, these are the ones my family and I frequent the most and continue to call our favorites: #1 - Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort Want to have a meal with the big cheese himself? For me, there's no better way to do it than at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort, right next to the Magic Kingdom. This character dining location serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style right in the middle of the famous Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World's original on-property resort hotel. Perfect for families of all sizes with kids of all ages, you get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto (characters subject to change!) while enjoying a fabulous spread of your favorite American cuisine, including my favorite Disney breakfast item: MICKEY WAFFLES! It's a great place to fill your tummy before heading out to the Magic Kingdom for the day, or to kick back at the end of a fun-filled day before heading back to your hotel. This is one of the most popular Disney character dining restaurants, so be sure to plan ahead and make your reservation within the applicable 180-day window before you arrive at Walt Disney World (which also applies to many of my other top 10 favorite picks!). #2 - T-REX at the Downtown Disney Marketplace If you're a fan of dinosaurs and intricately-themed, immersive dining experiences, then T-REX at the Downtown Disney Marketplace is the perfect place for your family! Set up like the familiar Rainforest Café, this restaurant offers up American cuisine in a space that takes you back to the Stone Age. You'll see advanced animatronic dinosaurs, woolly mammoths, and undersea creatures, and a meteor shower rains down on the entire restaurant every 30 minutes. There's also a large gift shop at the front entrance that includes a space for amateur archaeologists to search for fossils. This is my family's must-do every time we visit Downtown Disney for the night! Be wary if you're traveling with very young guests or those with sensitive hearing, as the meteor showers can be a bit frightening and loud. #3 - Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios Travel back to the 50's and take in a science fiction flick at the drive-in during a meal at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This uniquely-themed dining location allows you eat your meal in a car under the stars and watch campy science fiction short films featuring aliens, robots, monsters, and more! Also offering traditional American cuisine, Sci-Fi Dine-In is known for its menu of sandwiches, ribs, and gourmet burgers, including their most-requested All-American Picnic Burger. Plus, if you're of legal drinking age and like trying different specialty drinks, this dining location boasts a slew of unique cocktails, including those with glowing ice cubes! #4 - Columbia Harbour House at the Magic Kingdom If your family prefers counter-service eating at the parks over sit-down, table service dining, then be sure to check out my favorite quick-service dining location at the Magic Kingdom: The Columbia Harbour House. Located right across from the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square, this restaurant is known-for their seafood specialties including lobster rolls, fish and chips, and clam chowder, among other options. It's a great place to escape the heat and spend some time indoors people-watching from the bridge that looks over the entrance to Liberty Square from Fantasyland. Plus, it's usually not as crowded as other counter-services locations like Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café in Tomorrowland and Pinocchio's Village Haus in Fantasyland. And the New England seaside theme is quite charming! #5 - Lotus Blossom Café at EPCOT EPCOT's World Showcase undoubtedly offers the most unique and varied dining options at Walt Disney World, and the Lotus Blossom Café in the China pavilion is one of my favorite quick-service spots "around the world." Offering go-to, familiar Chinese dishes and snacks including shrimp fried rice, potstickers, and Orange Chicken (my favorite!), it's a great place to stop for a lunch in the middle of your trip around World Showcase with something for everyone in your party to enjoy. Plus, the outdoor seating serves as a great spot to people-watch and catch some of the China pavilion's street performances while you eat! #6 - Boma-Flavors of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is world-renowned for it's architecture and sweeping views that make you feel like you've traveled from Florida to Africa in just a quick bus ride. But it also offers up authentic African cuisine in its various dining locations, including at the buffet-style Boma-Flavors of Africa restaurant. You can put your all-you-can-eat meal together from choices of dishes coming from over 50 different African countries that are sure to satisfy every member of your family. And don't worry there's American favorites like mac 'n cheese and mashed potatoes for picky eaters as well. This is a great place to enjoy a meal outside of the hustle and bustle of the parks and experience a different culture. Don't forget to try the zebra dome cakes! #7 - Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria at EPCOT If you're a pizza fan, look no further than Via Napoli at ECPOT's Italy pavilion for the best pizza at Walt Disney World! Nestled in the back of the pavilion area, Via Napoli Is a southern-Italian themed restaurant with nearly 30 different kinds and sizes of Neapolitan pizzas that are cooked to perfection in the coolest pizza ovens you've ever seen. Via Napoli also serves up classic, authentic Italian dishes that are not to be missed, as well as specialty cocktails and house-made specialty sangria. This is definitely a good place to stop for a relaxed, table-service meal before taking in EPCOT's nighttime entertainment offerings! #8 - Casey's Corner at the Magic Kingdom A signature icon of Main St. USA at the Magic Kingdom, Casey's Corner serves up specialty hot dogs, nachos, and other ballpark favorites right in front of beautiful Cinderella Castle. This is always a favorite stop of ours for a counter-service meal before Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes fireworks spectacular. The indoor and outdoor seating is almost always taken all day long, so don't be afraid to find a spot to sit on the Main St. curb and eat there - It's a great way to save your spot for the daytime and nighttime parades and eat at the same time! This is definitely a good option for families with young children who may be picky or non-sophisticated eaters. #9 - Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney's Animal Kingdom Located in the Discovery Island section of Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Flame Tree Barbecue counter-service dining location offers up (in my opinion) the best pulled pork barbeque sandwich at Walt Disney World! The covered, outdoor seating areas offer stunning views of the park, including a direct view of the Expedition Everest roller coaster attraction, and is a great option for a hearty lunch to fuel up for the rest of your day at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Other meal choices include barbecue ribs and chicken in their signature Flam Tree BBQ rub. A must-do for barbecue fans! Flame Tree Barbecue is currently undergoing refurbishments at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and is therein closed until early Summer 2015. You can still try some of their signature dishes and snacks at nearby stands though - Just look for the signs on the construction walls! #10 - Whispering Canyon Café at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Another location that's perfect for barbecue fans can be found at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, right off of the central lobby. The Whispering Canyon Café is a table-service restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring classic American cuisine. The Cast Members are known to be sassy and wise-cracking, there's plenty of activities for younger guests to enjoy while your waiting for your table, and the theming and decorations make you feel as you've gone back to the Old West. But be warned, you might get an interesting reaction from your server if you ask for ketchup! To learn more about these dining locations, and all of the others available at Walt Disney World, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/. And definitely consider making your desired table-service dining reservations as soon as the 180-day window opens up before your trip. Be sure to check back for posts on Disney's Dining Plan options, how to make special dining reservations before you arrive at WDW, the best places to dine with Princesses of all ages, and what to expect when you have a meal with Disney's famous character friends. Until the next post, see ya real soon! Have a Disney Princess fan in your family? Well, while you're bound to make more than one princess sighting at Walt Disney World, there's so much more to see and do around the resort that your little royal will love. Whether you're traveling with a young princess-in-training or a more experienced, grown-up princess, there's plenty of offerings across property to get the royal treatment and make magical memories. Here are my top 10 "Princess Picks" to take in during your next WDW vacation: #1 - Dine with the Disney Princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table Put on your most sparkly tiara and join your favorite Disney Princesses for a meal inside iconic Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom! Whether you reserve a table for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you're sure to make magical memories that will last a lifetime as all of the day's visiting princesses come to meet you right at your table. Be sure to bring your camera and autograph book! Reservations are encouraged to experience a meal at Cinderella's Royal Table and can be made within 180 days of your trip. Be sure to plan ahead! #2 - Transform your little one into royalty at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Fantasies and dreams come true everyday at both Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations at WDW (Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney) as little girls are completely made over into their favorite princesses with hairstyling, makeup, nail polish, accessories, and more. Various makeover packages are available for reservation and range from the $54.95 to $194.95, depending on package inclusions, and girls can choose to be transformed into Ariel, Princess Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Tiana, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Merida, or Tinkerbell. Boys can even get in on the royal fun too with the Knight Package, which includes hairstyling, souvenir sword, and Mickey confetti. Guests ages 3 to 12 are available to receive a makeover, and reservations are strongly encouraged. #3 - Step into the Beast's library to enjoy Enchanted Tales with Belle Relive the magical, romantic story of Disney's Beauty and the Beast during this guest-interactive show starring Belle, Lumiere, and YOU! Guests enter Maurice's cottage located in the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland and are transported right into the Beast's library to surprise Belle with a retelling of "the tale as old as time."This attraction offers Disney's FastPass+ service, and is highly recommended. FastPass+ times can be chosen within 30 days of your trip if you purchase your theme park tickets before you arrive at Walt Disney World. Read more about FastPass+ in another post! #4 - Meet your favorite Disney Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall in the Magic Kingdom Grab your cameras and autograph books, and get ready to meet the famous Disney Princesses at one of the newest areas inside the Magic Kingdom. Located in Fantasyland, Princess Fairytale Hall currently allows you to meet Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Disney's newest princesses Anna and Elsa. While waiting in line, be sure to take a close look around the building for some familiar artwork and objects, including Cinderella's glass slipper and Snow White's storybook! FastPass+ is also offered at this attraction, and is especially recommended if your family would like to meet Anna and Elsa. #5 - Take in the sights and sounds of Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade Celebrate the magic and wonder of Fantasyland in this all-new parade that marches through the Magic Kingdom every day at 3:00 PM. Featuring familiar princess faces including Belle, Tiana, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Merida, and Anna and Elsa, this moving spectacle is must-see! Be sure to claim a viewing spot along the parade route within plenty of time beforehand, as Main St. USA and Frontierland quickly fill up before step-off. Also, inclement weather does impact this entertainment offering and is subject to cancellation for the safety of the performers. #6 - Join Princess Aurora for My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party at the Grand Floridian Want to really feel like a princess? Well look no further than the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for this magical celebration of all things royal. Little princesses can expect storytelling, dancing, and a delectable, kid-friendly spread of sandwiches and treats. All children must be accompanied by an adult who are welcome to enjoy a bevvy of tea selections, cheese, and sandwiches. Your reservation includes various gifts for each princess-in-training, including a My Disney Girl doll dressed as Princess Aurora, silver bracelet, and fresh single rose, among others. Reservations made ahead of your trip are strongly encouraged as each party has a limited number of seats available. #7 - See the stage show spectacle Beauty and The Beast-Live on Stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios Sing along to the familiar tunes of one of Disney's most beloved animated classics brought to life on stage at the Sunset Boulevard Theater in Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Multiple shows are offered throughout the day, so there's bound to be a time that fits into your schedule. Approximate run time is 25 minutes, which is perfect even for the littlest of princesses who might not be able to sit in one place for an extended period of time. Showtimes are subject to change, so make sure to check the daily times guide in the event of a cancellation. #8 - Meet the whole royal family at Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at the Grand Floridian The beautiful Grand Floridian Resort & Spa also plays host for another royal gathering every day, this one in the 1900 Park Fare buffet restaurant. Join Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, and Anastasia and Drizella Tremaine as one of their guests of honor for a special character dining experience that allows you to get up close and personal with the original royal family. The buffet spread offers American selections including seafood, salad, pasta, and kid-friendly dishes like pizza and chicken tenders. Reservations are also encouraged for this dining experience and can be made within 180 days of your intended date. #9 - Travel to Norway and dine with the Disney Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT This regal restaurant also offers up a place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with your favorite Disney Princesses, including Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, and Princess Aurora (characters subject to change daily). The buffet/family-style fare includes both American and Norwegian favorites including kjøttkake, a dish made of pork, capers, and beef. A complimentary photo keepsake package per family is also included in each reservation. Reservations for this restaurant are also recommended and can be made within 180 days online or over the phone. #10 - Make a wish at Cinderella's magical Wishing Well at the Magic Kingdom Every princess has wishes and dreams, so make sure to take her to this secluded spot in the Magic Kingdom right by Cinderella Castle to make a wish. Nestled back by the Fairytale Garden where Merida is currently meeting guests, the well accepts wishes all day long. Plus, all of the money collected in the well is donated to various children's charities to help make even more wishes and dreams come true. An easy must-do for princesses of all ages! Visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ for more information on all of these royal entertainment and dining opportunities, as well as others your princess might enjoy. Keep checking back for more vacation planning posts and my other "top picks" to see and do around WDW. Until the next post, see ya real soon! If you're planning an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World with big-time Disney character fans in your travel party, then consider adding a magical Character Dining experience to your plans! These one-of-a-kind meet and greet opportunities Disney has perfected are great for getting photos and autographs from many of your favorite pals in one place, at one time, all while having a fabulous meal. Whether you're a princess fan, love the "Fab Five," or want to spend extra time in the Hundred Acre Wood, there are multiple places for you to have a meal alongside your favorites. Not familiar with Character Dining? Still on the fence whether your family would enjoy the experience or not? Check out some of my tips for making reservations and getting the most out of your meal: **Find the right fit for your family There are over a dozen Character Dining opportunities to choose from at WDW, so be sure you're picking the right one for your family/travel party. If you're looking for a more upscale location where you can dine alongside royalty, then you might want to consider Cinderella's Royal Table at The Magic Kingdom or Akershus at EPCOT. Want a buffet venue that's more on the casual side? Then look into a meal at Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club Resort or The Crystal Palace at The Magic Kingdom. Pay attention to menu choices, variety of characters, and costs as well. If you really want to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and other members of the "Fab Five" classic character group, a breakfast at 1900 Park Fare with Disney's British friends doesn't quite fit the bill. Looking to indulge in cuisine fit for a more sophisticated palette? Then dinner at Mickey's Backyard BBQ probably won't fulfill that desire. Take your time looking at the options and know what you're getting yourself into. **Make your reservations EARLY With all of Disney's new capabilities through My Magic+ and the My Disney Experience site/app, take advantage of the opportunity to make your dining reservations early, even up to 180 days in advance of your trip! Disney is well-known for it's Character Dining opportunities, and many locations are guest favorites, some requiring advance reservations to get a table. Even if you're traveling during non-peak seasons or typically less busy times of the year, these restaurants will fill up quicker than you can say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (whew, that was a tough one to type). Play it safe and reserve your table as soon as your intended day becomes available. Tip: You'll need to submit credit card info to confirm your reservation, so have it handy or add it to your profile on your My Disney Experience account beforehand. You won't be charged when you make your reservation, but you will if you don't cancel within the given window of time or show up for that meal. Some of the more popular locations like Cinderella's Royal Table may require up-front payment when you first make your reservation, so be prepared for that as well. **Traveling on a budget? Consider breakfast vs. dinner Really want to experience Character Dining, but are on a tighter vacation budget? Consider dining for breakfast instead of dinner (if it's available at your desired location). Breakfast meal costs, especially at the various buffet locations, typically cost less per person. Plus, you can fill up at the start of your day so you don't have to worry about saving up for dinner and feeling hungry in the meantime. And if you make your reservation early enough in the day, you can get into the parks before they're officially open to the public! This means getting to leisurely stroll to the restaurant, get pictures for your vacation album without photo-bombs from random strangers, and take in all of the stunning scenery without feeling like you're in the way of other guests. It adds a little extra magic to the start of your day. **Be prepared for your meal This goes without saying, but make sure your family is prepared for your character meal before you arrive. Make sure your entire party arrives at the location ahead of your reservation time to check-in, you have enough money to pay the bill, you bring along a fully charged camera/phone to capture photos, and your all-important autograph book is in your park bag with a pen or sharpie too. And if you want to take your Character Dining experience up a notch, be sure to dress up for the location you're visiting! Characters love to see themselves on your clothing and accessories, and they love to add to your special vacation memories if you've got celebration buttons on. Tip: When you arrive at your table, seat children or guests particularly excited about meeting the characters in the spots closest to the aisles around your table. This will make it easier for the characters to lean in for photos and give hugs. And leave your autograph book open and out on the edge of the table also closest to the aisle so they can clearly see you'd like for them to sign your book. Make sure that pen cap is off, too! **Enjoy every moment! Remember, you're going to be getting nose to nose (or nose to snout) with Disney friends, so don't be shy and HAVE FUN! Sometimes character meet and greets in the parks can feel rushed and chaotic, so take every opportunity to spend as much time with the characters as you can, give big hugs, and capture all of the magical moments. Plus, take the time to rest your feet and fill your tummy - These meals serve as great relaxation opportunities indoors, too! Check out some of my favorite Character Dining spots around Walt Disney World: -Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort -Cinderella's Royal Table at The Magic Kingdom -Disney Junior Play 'n Dine at Disney's Hollywood Studios -The Crystal Palace at The Magic Kingdom -The Garden Grill at EPCOT Character Dining is a great way to meet many Disney friends at once, enjoy five-star meals only Disney can dream up, and relax a little bit during your vacation. Even at 23, without children of my own yet, I still get giddy meeting characters and spending a little bit of extra time with them. While it's an experience that comes at a little higher cost, it's so worth it. To check out all of the Character Dining experiences Walt Disney World has to offer, be sure to visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/#/character-dining/ for more information. Do you have any memorable moments from a Disney character meal? Share them with me in the comments below! Until the next post, see ya real soon! Planning a vacation to Walt Disney World can certainly be daunting task, but Disney is always working to make the planning process easier, more efficient, and more magical! Their most recent innovation, My Magic+, is a true testament to that goal. From selecting your personal vacation preferences to choosing FastPasses, making dining reservations to designing Magic Bands, and even booking a resort hotel stay, My Magic+ allows you to do it all. Here's my quick guide to navigating this new resource and feeling confident in your pre-planning abilities: Step one: Create your account Before you start putting together your Disney vacation, you'll want to create an account with My Disney Experience, the planning site/mobile app that will allow you to keep track of all your reservations and plans, as well as the current wait times and entertainment schedules in the theme parks once you're in Florida. To create an account, you'll need to supply an email address and a few other pieces of information, along with a personal password and security questions. Then once you're in, you can customize your profile with a character icon and vacation preferences - but we'll get to that in just a bit. As with any online account, be sure to write down your login info, password, and security questions just in case, and put them in a secure place. After you've created your account and played around a little bit on the site, be sure to then download the free app (available in the App Store). Having this app and your account linked will make all the difference as you plan your trip and spend time in the parks. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the different pages as much as you can, so you're comfortable - new technology can be hard tricky! You'll want to be sure each member of your travel party also creates as account so you can add them to your Family & Friends list. When you're connected, you'll be able to easily add them to dining reservations and FastPass+ selections in less steps, as well as extend vacation planning privileges and reservation access. Step two: Book your WDW vacation Once you've created your account and decided on the big parts of your vacation (when you're traveling, where you're going to stay), you're ready to book your trip using My Magic+ and your new My Disney Experience account. You can easily book your WDW resort hotel stay, add on theme park tickets and transportation, supply your flight information, and more. You can also directly pay the required deposit for your vacation package and save a credit card to your account, which will come in handy when it's time to book dining reservations and add on other special experiences. Your reservation will then be linked to your account, accessible on both the site and app, and you can move on to adding more magic to your vacation! Step three: Customize your Magic Bands The first bit of extra pixie dust you'll be able to add to your vacation are your travel party's Magic Bands! These water-proof, snap-on wristbands will serve as your hotel room keys, theme park tickets, Magical Express tickets, and even your credit card (should you want to link one for the duration of your trip). But most importantly, your Magic Bands serve as an accessory to your "Disney Side" personality! You can choose from seven different colors and customize exactly how you'd like your name to be printed on the inside of your band. Go by a nickname? Prefer to be called by your middle name? It's up to you! Once you've finished designing, My Disney Experience will approximate how long you have to make any changes before they're shipped to your home, which is about 3-4 weeks before your check-in date. And don't worry, you'll get an email letting you know when they've been shipped out. When you arrive at Walt Disney World, your Magic Bands will unlock a whole new world of possibilities for fun, so stay tuned for a future post with more information! Step four: Make your dining reservations One of my favorite parts about vacationing in WDW is the food, so be sure to take advantage of all the unique dining options available across property throughout your trip! Reservations before arriving for sit-down meals are pretty much required, or at least recommended, across the board these days, and My Magic+ allows you to do so while planning your vacation. You can make reservations for you travel party directly through your My Disney Experience account on either the site or the app, and you can do so starting as early as 180 days prior to your check-in date. This means you can make as many meal reservations as you'd like for any day of your trip as far as six months in advance. Pretty sweet, huh? Just log in to your account, find the location you want to reserve a table at, and choose your date, preferred time, and dining party. From there you'll need to provide credit card information to confirm your reservation - Remember when I said it would be beneficial to save a card to your profile? You can easily supply your card info without having to input it for each and every dining reservation you'd like to make. It doesn't seem like much, but it will save you plenty of headaches and frustration. Note: Your credit card will NOT be charged when making these reservations, it's just to secure your table. Should you not show up for your meal or cancel within the designated time frame, only then will your card be charged. Select locations do require pre-payment, but that will be indicated before you make the reservation. Once everything is submitted, you'll receive an email confirmation and be able to access your reservation directly from your My Disney Experience account on the app or site. You can edit your dining party to include your Family & Friends as well, so everyone can see the reservation from their own accounts. Step five: Choose your FastPass+ experiences Long gone are the days of paper FastPasses and having to rush to your favorite attraction first thing in the morning to reserve a time. Instead, My Magic+ and your My Disney Experience account allow you to choose your FastPasses before stepping foot in WDW! Once you're 60 days away from your check-in date, you can reserve FastPass times for attractions, shows, character meet and greets, and parade viewing for your entire trip (This 60-day window is only for guests staying at Walt Disney World hotel during their stay, so be mindful that it's 30 days in advance otherwise!). Simply go to the FastPass+ page on the site or app, and start selecting. There are some limitations to this service, so be sure to check out my previous post on FastPass+ for more details and my personal review! Now even if you've hit your maximum number of pre-selected FastPasses for any given day at the parks, you can preference or "like" your favorite attractions so My Magic+ plus can make suggestions for your party when you're in the parks. You can even set reminders for parades, shows, and fireworks times through your My Disney Experience account, without having to make a FastPass+ selection. This helps make sure you don't head home at the end of your trip saying "We forgot to see the Electrical Parade!" or "We didn't meet Winnie the Pooh!" among other very, very sad phrases. Utilize as much of the technology as you can! Step six: Check into your WDW resort hotel before you arrive Another advantage of My Magic+ is the ability to actually check in to your WDW resort hotel before arriving in Florida. Once you're within 60 days of your check-in date, simply visit your My Disney Experience account to get started. Find your hotel reservation and click the Online Check-In link to approximate your arrival time, place a room request (level preference, view preference, etc.), add a credit card for charging privileges and set pin numbers for your travel party, and bypass long lines when you arrive. Then, you can get to the fun stuff much quicker! There will be a special Online Check-In line in the lobby of your hotel where you'll need to present an ID and credit card for incidentals to receive your room assignment and ask any last questions you may have. I personally love to have as many details taken care of ahead of time, so having this ability with My Magic+ is awesome! Step seven: Let the memories begin! Well, you've made it to Walt Disney World and are ready to get started! With your customized Magic Bands in hand, you can get into your room, enter the parks, check-in for your dining reservations, and access your pre-selected FastPass+ experiences and reminders. Oh yeah, and have the most magical time of your life with the people you love most! My personal experiences with My Magic+ have been nothing short of magical, and I would highly recommend utilizing the technology while you plan your next Walt Disney World vacation! There's no better feeling than knowing the details are taken care of so you can make the most of your vacation time with family and friends from the very beginning. Whether you like to plan every moment or go with the flow, you're able to do so with My Magic+. How do you utilize My Magic+? Tell me about it in the comments below, and feel free to ask me any other questions you may have. For more information, be sure to visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/my-disney-experience/my-magic-plus/. Until the next post, see ya real soon! A large part of planning a trip to Walt Disney World is determining a budget and trying to stay within that budget. It's important before you make any plans or reservations to first determine a total amount of money you're willing to spend, and what your priorities are (level of hotel opulence, number of park days, recreation options, etc.). When you have that budget set, it might feel overwhelming trying to adhere to that number. Here are a couple of money saving ideas to help your family stay on budget and head to WDW with a little more cash. **Create a "Saving for Disney" jar I know I already included this tip on my list of things to make your pre-trip more magical, but a savings jar, box, stash, etc. can really help towards adding to your vacation budget. Whether you want to have a savings jar just for extra souvenir spending money, or you want to heavily save towards your hotel accommodations, having an extra outlet for saving some cash can really add up. Plus, it's a great way to get children involved in the vacation planning and saving process and count down to your trip. Make sure to put your jar somewhere in your home that everyone in the family regularly visits so you can watch the progress! **Keep an eye on airfare rates, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays The airline industry is always adjusting rates, adding fees, and making other policy changes, so it's important to monitor flight rates and schedules before you purchase your seats if you're flying to WDW. Airfare typically goes down a bit on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so be especially sure to check costs on those two days of the week. Take a look at all of your options on different vacation planning sites like Expedia, Kayak, and Priceline, among others, and definitely consider adding your flights and hotel together in a vacation package if there are discounts offered. You don't want to wait too long to book your travel party's flights, especially if you're traveling with a large group, but don't jump the gun too quickly to book either. **Consult with local travel agents or travel providers for discounted theme park tickets Tickets for your theme park days are definitely a large expense to consider in your vacation budget, so don't be afraid to look for discounts outside of Disney's main vacation booking services. AAA often offers discounted theme park tickets for members or families booking a vacation package, and there are many runDisney travel providers who offer discounted tickets to runners and spectators participating in a runDisney event. More info on runDisney to come in a future posts! Don't immediately assume that you have to purchase your tickets through Disney, but beware of scams or unofficial travel providers/websites who are selling faux tickets. Thoroughly research the seller before making any purchases. **Consider buying some souvenirs before actually arriving in Walt Disney World This is an especially good idea to consider if you're traveling with young or a lot of children, as souvenir costs quickly add up with each purchase during your Disney vacation. Little things here and there quickly turn into a large haul, and Disney souvenirs are by no means cheap. It's important to remember to save up and purchase some items to remember your trip by when you come back home, but there are some things that can be bought at home before you leave to save a few dollars. Take a trip to your local Disney store for t-shirts, sweatshirts, and stuffed animals, among other items, or megastores like WalMart and Target that sell licensed Disney merchandise. You can surprise your kids with a gift in the morning before heading the parks, or even put together a "Disney Survival Kit" before you travel filled with coloring books, snacks, etc. **Make sure to pack all of your preferred toiletries before arriving Disney is very good at having many resources available to you at every turn, including toiletries and personal items, but the packaging sizes tend to be smaller than what's offered at your local drugstore, and at an equal or higher cost. Every single WDW resort hotel will offer personal items for sale including sunscreen, band aids, antacids, etc., but make sure to pack for your family accordingly with your preferred brands before you leave home. Buying little items here and there during your trip will add up faster than you think. **Plan out your meals and consider the Disney Dining Plan, among other options Disney offers various dining plan options that many families swear by for all of their vacations. But sometimes the dining plans might cost you more than you actually need to spend on meals and snacks. Take some time to roughly plan out your meals with your travel party so you can estimate your overall cost and decide if a dining plan is right for you. Sometimes Disney will offer a "free" dining plan with your vacation package, but free is never really free. I'd definitely suggest taking a look at the husband-wife duo behind YouTube's See Ya Reel Soon and their free online dining plan calculator. Definitely a great resource for budgeting your meal costs and determining what the best dining plan, if any, is a good fit for your trip. It's important to set a budget for your vacation, but know that it costs a lot to visit Walt Disney World. There are many things you can do to save some money and cut costs, but always be aware of your finances and recognize that you're going to be spending money on your trip, no matter what. Don't jump in on a vacation deal too quickly, evaluate all of your options, and take advantage of the many resources available with and outside of Disney. Be sure to visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com for complete and comprehensive vacation information, and check out other vacation planning sites. Do you have any money-saving tips or things you do to save money on your Disney vacations? Let me know in the comments below or send me an email! Until the next post, see ya real soon! Whether you have a sophisticated palate or are a finicky eater, there are plenty of snack options to choose from at Walt Disney World! There's everything from baked goods to cold treats, and even concoctions unique to WDW! With so many choices, you're sure to find something yummy to fill your tummy around every corner, all throughout the day. Here's a breakdown of my top 10 snack picks to chow down on in the parks:
#1 - Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bar A classic sweet treat that's sure to satisfy kids of all ages. I always make sure to indulge in at least one Mickey's Premium Bar during a Disney vacation, even while sailing with Disney Cruise Line! These little babies can be found at various carts and quick service locations all around the resort, and even at your WDW resort hotel. While the recipe is simple (vanilla ice cream coated in a chocolate shell), I'm 99% sure it tastes as good as it does purely because it's shaped like Mickey. Definitely a perfect snack to nibble on while watching the parade! #2 - Turkey Legs Another classic Disney snack! Perfect for sharing, these delectable mini-meals can be found at various locations around the parks, and are a great lunch option for those who don't need a large entrée to fuel up for the rest of the day. My family and I particularly like to share one while in Frontierland inside the Magic Kingdom, right in the area that connects to Liberty Square. Another snack on my "must-taste" list for every Disney vacation. #3 - Dole Whips This popular confection is one not to miss when visiting Walt Disney World. Why? Well you can only get one at WDW, Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, and the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. It's a perfect blend of pineapple and ice cream that's a great treat to help you beat the Florida heat. You can find this snack at a few locations around WDW, most notably at Aloha Isle in Adventureland inside the Magic Kingdom. #4 - Classic Popcorn Who doesn't love popcorn? A snack that the whole family can enjoy, you can find popcorn around almost ever corner at WDW. Plus, they usually offer souvenir buckets at popcorn-serving locations that are unique to the time of year, holiday season, etc. We've got a pretty extensive collection of them at our house! My preferred locations for this snack are on Main St. USA in the Magic Kingdom, or on Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Hollywood Studios before heading to see Fantasmic! #5 - Caramel Corn Another theme park classic snack, Disney's caramel corn is perfect to enjoy during parades, shows, and while people-watching. You can also purchase a souvenir bucket for your caramel corn, and they can be found in all of the theme parks in various locations. #6 - Eggrolls and Spring Rolls I'm a big fan of Asian food, and Disney has many different Asian cuisine options and offerings available all around Walt Disney World. I especially love their eggrolls and spring rolls, which are bite-sized delights that are perfect for snacking. My family enjoys those found at the Lotus Blossom Café in the China pavilion inside EPCOT, as well as those found at a small cart in Advertureland by The Magic Carpets of Aladdin inside the Magic Kingdom. Crispy and delicious! #7 - Mickey Soft Pretzels Another classic snack that just tastes better shaped like Mickey! A great choice that's big enough to share between two people and can be found all around the parks. Simple and never disappoints! #8 - Rice Krispy Treats This sweet treat is a perfect choice for dessert, and can be found at various bakeries and dessert-specific locations around the resort. Whether they're shaped like Mickey, turkey legs, or Easter eggs, you're sure to be satisfied. You can even create your own rice krispy treat at Goofy's Candy Company at the Downtown Disney Marketplace, with M&Ms, peanut butter sauce, Oreo crumble, and more! #9 - Frozen Bananas Not into ice cream but still want a treat to cool off with in the afternoon? Well a frozen banana is the perfect choice for you! These chocolate-dipped creations, with our without nuts, can be found at numerous locations in each theme park, including ice cream carts and stands. Plus, this treat can't be bad for you, right? I mean, it's a fruit! #10 - Oversized Pickles Rounding out my top 10 picks is a snack that's perfect for the always-on-the-move park goers that don't have time to stop and sit for a bite. These beauties can be found at multiple stands and marketplace locations around the parks, and my favorite place to get one is at the produce market in the heart of Liberty Square outside The Hall of Presidents. Definitely on my "must taste" list for each trip! There are many, many more quick bites available all around Walt Disney World, but these are my top 10 favorites! Did I miss something you love to snack on while visiting the parks? Let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to also visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ for more information on these offerings, as well as other dining locations, and check out my previous post on my top 10 favorite places to eat at Walt Disney World. Until the next post, see ya real soon! |
About MeA twenty-something alumni of the Disney College Program looking to help others plan the Disney vacations of their dreams! Living that Disneyland AP dream in SoCal. Archives
February 2018
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