Just One Day?? What to Do?!

Andrew gave me a good idea for a blog post this week...  If I had just one day to spend at Disney World, what would I do?  A normal person might just answer with their one or two favorite rides and call it good but you know I'm not normal.  I have thought and thought about this and knowing I would want to squeeze every possible second out of the day, I've come up with the following plan of what I would do!

First of all - I've preached this before - be at the parks at OPENING!!  In fact, be early.  I'd start my day at Magic Kingdom and I'd be there about an hour and a half before opening.  Yes that's early, but they open Main Street an hour before the rest of the park.  To make my one day plan work, I'd want to be through security, maybe have a snack on Main Street and be ready to head into Fantasyland as soon as the rope drops.  I'd save my FastPasses to use at my next park since I won't be at those when they opens.  

At Magic Kingdom, I'd be sure to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain as soon as possible.  Those tend to have the longest lines and although I'd want to hit my other favorites (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan...), I could do those later without hopefully quite as long of a wait.  

Running from one ride to the other, I'd grab a Dole Whip (being sure to use Mobile Ordering to move quickly).  IF I found a character with a short wait, I'd get a couple of pictures but would probably have to skip most of those on this trip.  I'd for sure have to get a pic in front of the Castle though!

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On to Animal Kingdom next by way of Disney bus transport.  (Luckily, the bus times are on the My Disney Experience app now so I could really wait until the last second to run for the bus).  Once at Animal Kingdom, I'd need to use a FastPass since I want to ride Flight of Passage.  Waits are still ridiculous for it so this would be a perfect use of it. 

The moment I scanned my MagicBand for my Flight of Passage FastPass, I would pull up the app and look for a Slinky Dog Dash FastPass at Hollywood Studios which is where I'll head next.  I could certainly use my other 2 FastPasses at Animal Kingdom, but let's just say I'm there on a day when lines aren't overall that bad. 

After riding Flight of Passage, I'd hit Dinosaur and the Safari.  Not that I don't love the other rides but I'd head out after that.  If Everest had a short wait, I might hop on it - but honestly I wouldn't be too sad if I couldn't.  I love and hate that ride.  It's really cool but that last drop makes me question why on earth I would ride it every time.  

I'd grab lunch - using Mobile Ordering again - and eat while heading to the bus.  Next stop - Hollywood Studios!  

Now, I know at this point I would completely regret using my FastPass on Flight of Passage if I wasn't able to get one for Slinky Dog Dash.  But the wait on it is typically a little less than Flight of Passage at this point so I'm going for time-savers here.  Whatever the wait is at Slinky Dog, I would do it.  So let's hope it's short!!  

Depending on the other wait times, I would also want to hit Toy Story Mania and Rock'n'Roller Coaster (taking advantage of the Single Rider Line).  Also after each FastPass I used, I would check and see what's available for later in the day.  You never know when one will open up and I'll grab any I can.

Back to the buses - should probably grab a Mickey Bar to eat on the way - and off to Epcot.  Hopefully I was able to get a FastPass for Test Track after using my last one.  If not, there's a Single Rider Line there too which is usually quick.  And you naysayers may scoff at my other must-do there, but it's Spaceship Earth.  I could rest my surely sore feet by this point and enjoy the smell of Rome burning - isn't that one of your favorite smells, too??

I'd hit Club Cool for some free caffeine as I'm sure I'll be moving a bit slower by now.  Fueled up, it's back to Magic Kingdom by way of the Monorail.  I know, I know, I've already been to Magic Kingdom.  But I honestly can't think of a better day than starting and ending it there.  

Assuming I've made it by dinner-ish time, I'd go straight to Casey's Corner for the world's best hot dog.  I've surely been smart enough to plan this on a day when Magic Kingdom is open late and will now make my way around all that I missed in the morning.  Making sure to stop and watch the Fireworks, I'd run from ride to ride until they kick me out. 

Did you know that if you are in line before the park officially closes, they won't kick you out but will let you wait in line and ride?  I did that once on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - park closed at 11pm and I got in line at 10:45pm.  It was an hour long line at that point so I was one of the last to leave the park.  

Leaving the Magic Kingdom is always a really sad thing for me.  But being able to leisurely stroll out with very few people makes it a little better.  I feel like I can soak it all in one last time.

Now if I only had a day to test out my plan...  If this ever happens, I'll be sure and let you know!  Of course, I HIGHLY suggest taking more than one day to do Disney World.  Give me a call and I'll help you plan a much less hectic schedule.  

** Stay tuned next week for a blog post on Disney After Hours at the Magic Kingdom.  It's a special ticketed event that would make this day much easier to do.  I'll explain it all then!!

Disney Cruise Line!

Let me start by saying that I haven't had the good fortune YET to take a Disney Cruise.  But I was lucky enough to get to tour the Disney Dream when I was in Florida last year for an agent education program.  I took a few pics of the ship and would love to share those with you.  Based on all that I saw, I can't wait to set sail someday soon!!

We were in Port Canaveral, but Disney sails out of Galveston, San Diego, Miami, New York and many other departure ports.  The ships sail anywhere you can imagine - including Europe and Alaska!  Be sure and save some time by doing as much of your check-in as possible online before you get to the port - I can help with that!

There are 3 pools on this ship - one of them is an adult-exclusive pool.  Keep in mind that while the other pools are kid-friendly, you can't swim in them unless you are potty-trained!  Swim diapers are only allowed in the splash area (Nemo's Reef on the Dream).  The main pool has a 24-by-14-foot LED screen called Funnel Vision on which you can watch classic Disney animated features or live-action movies.  

For the thrill seekers, be sure and take a ride on the AquaDuck which is an exciting 765-foot-long water coaster that transports Guests on an exhilarating journey up, down and around 4 decks, over the side of the ship and through the Forward Funnel

Trust me when I say you won't go hungry.  There are 3 different restaurants that you rotate through each evening for dinner and you keep your same wait-staff since they rotate with you!  If you want something more casual, there are a couple of quick-service type restaurants on board.  And don't forget, there is 24-hour complimentary room service!!  If I ever do make it on a cruise, I'll be eating my weight in Mickey bars for sure.

There are a few food items that aren't included in your cost of the cruise...  Vanellope's Sweet and Treats sells ice cream, gelato and candy.  But looking at the price list, it's not that expensive.  If you want something a bit different than the standard ice cream that is compliementary, check this out.  There are also 2 adult-exclusive restaurants (Palo and Remy) that aren't included.  Might be worth it for some time alone though!

On board, you'll find all of your favorite characters for Meet and Greets!  Some require a ticket (it is free but you need a reservation) and some you'll find randomly throughout the ship.  We were lucky enough to be greeted by Mickey as we boarded the ship!

Although you want to spend your vacation with your family, it's nice to have an option if you want to do the adult-exclusive dining or other activity.  Disney Cruise Line provides Disney-themed youth clubs, areas and immersive interactive programs and activities designed to allow your child’s imagination to soar while aboard the Disney Dream.  Honestly, after seeing the youth clubs, I imagine I would have a hard time dragging my boys out of them!  

The Small World Nursery is adorable for children aged 3 months to 3 years.   It does have an additional charge though and you need reservations.

Have someone traveling with you that loves sports?  So does Goofy!  There are a lot of options for the sports-lover to enjoy.

If you're into nightclubs and dancing, you have several options!  Take advantage of the kids' clubs and hit the dance floor!!

There are 2 theaters on board - a movie theater and a theater for a Broadway caliber show.  Currently the Dream is doing Beauty and the Beast.  

There is so much more to a Disney Cruise that I haven't even touched on here.  Most itineraries sail to Disney's private island - Castaway Cay.  You also have the option to book some amazing Port Adventures in the ports that you visit (these are an additional charge).  You'll also enjoy Fireworks at sea, Deck parties, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Spa and Fitness amenities, Midship Detective Agency, Shopping...  And did I mention free Mickey bars??  

The least expensive rates on a Disney cruise are when the itineraries are first released.  So if you're thinking of taking a cruise, let me know as soon as possible so that we can get you the maximum fun for the least price.

Oh and if you're like Don and a bit of a germaphobe, you need to know about these awesome automatic hand washers that you have to use to get into the buffet line.  Now you have no excuse to not sail with Disney!!  Call me - my services are FREE to you!!

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Location, Location, Location: Where to Stay at Disney World Based on Your Favorite Park

If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that the Magic Kingdom is far and away my favorite Disney World park (also my favorite place anywhere).  But some of you probably have a different favorite and you're wondering where to stay if you plan to spend most of your time at your favorite spot.

You're in luck - you'll find the answer here today!  Below are the resorts I would stay in for each park.  It's mostly based on location but in the case there's more than one resort to choose from, I picked the one I like best.  I've also included a runner-up to stay in if you prefer something different due to cost or decor or whatever floats your boat.

Magic Kingdom

The Contemporary is the perfect location to stay if you are spending a lot of your time at Magic Kingdom.  Also, we should be friends if that's the case...  You have 2 great options to get to the park - you can walk or ride the monorail.  The Polynesian is beautiful and has the monorail, but you can't walk to MK from there.  Bonus though - they have Dole Whip on site!

Animal Kingdom

It only makes sense that the Animal Kingdom Lodge would be a great place to stay if Animal Kingdom is your favorite park.  It's close to the park PLUS if you love animals, you'll see a bunch at your resort!!  Both of these locations use bus transportation to get to the park, but it's not a long drive.

Epcot

You can walk to Epcot from both the Beach Club and the Yacht Club.  They also share an amazing pool area.  I would choose the Beach Club mainly because the Yacht Club seems more like a "conference" hotel and less Disney.  But both are in a great location for Epcot!

Hollywood Studios

The Boardwalk Inn is in a perfect location - you can actually walk to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot from here.  They also have boats or buses if you'd rather.  I love the Boardwalk because they have a fun boardwalk area with lots of restaurants and entertainment.  Pop Century is a really fun resort for kids - tons of great photo ops.  

Future Stays

If you're planning to stay after mid-2019 I would add into this list Art of Animation and Caribbean Beach for enjoying Epcot or Hollywood Studios.  Disney is currently in the process of the construction of the Skyliner.  This will be a gondola system that will connect those 2 resorts (along with Pop Century) to those 2 parks.  Construction is rumored to be done sometime before Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens in the Fall of 2019 at Hollywood Studios.

PLEASE give me a call if you'd like more info on any of these resorts - or any others!  I love finding the perfect fit for each guest's situation.  And my services are FREE!!

runDisney 2019 Race Registrations Coming Up

Remember that one time that I lived out my dream of running a race at Disney World?  Best.  Day.  Ever!  Well it's your turn now!  

Race registrations for 2019 events have been on hold while runDisney implemented a new race registration system. But they are scheduled now!  Under the new system guests will be able to register for races using their Disney account. Guests will also be able to register multiple participants at the same time and use payment options such as Disney gift cards. Registration dates are as follows:

-- 2019 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend - January 9-13.
Registration begins at 11am CST on July 19, 2018.

-- 2019 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend - February 21-24.
Registration begins at 11am CST on August 7, 2018.

-- 2019 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend - April 4-7.
Registration begins at 11am CST on August 28, 2018.

Take a look at my previous blog post about my experiences at a runDisney event by clicking here!  Remember that my planning services are completely FREE if you book your trip through me.  And having done a race here myself, I have lots of tips to help you.

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Keep in mind that on my previous blog post, I mention to sign up for an active.com account to make registration day smoother - that's no longer the process.  Just use your Disney sign on!!  If you're thinking of registering and want to chat before you do or want me to be available if you need help that day, just give me a shout.  It's non-refundable so make sure you want to do it before signing up!

Let me help you make a bunch of wonderful memories with very few blisters...  Call me today and let's get you an awesome medal!!

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I Hate to Brag But...

Talking up my skills is something I find difficult in the marketing of my business.  I always feel like I'm bragging or pretending like I know everything when we all know that NOBODY knows EVERYTHING!  

But today I just want to remind you why you should give me a call when you're planning a trip to Disney or Universal.  Or if you're even remotely considering a trip - I'd love to try to talk you into it!  :)

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First and most important - I LOVE what I do.  I love everything about Disney and Universal travel.  I love the research, I love the planning, I love the parks!  So when I say I want to help you, I truly mean it.  Yes, it's a job and if you book through me, I'll get paid which is an amazing perk - but I honestly love doing it.  

Even if you are an expert on these types of vacations, you would be helping to support my small business!  Giving me the chance to help you doesn't mean that I just take over and you are out of the loop.  Some of my favorite clients are experts themselves and just use me to verify their plans or answer a question about something they may have forgotten or aren't familiar with. Plus, I'm the one point of contact rather than having to call Disney or Universal and talk to a different agent every single time.  And don't forget about the long wait times to call in sometimes - I'll help as quickly as I can every time and you don't have to tell your whole vacation story when you call in.

What are the other benefits of using a certified travel agent like myself?  

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  • I work for FREE!!  Ok, so not really.  Disney and Universal both pay me a commission.  But that commission is NOT added on top of your vacation cost.  You will pay the EXACT same thing to Disney or Universal regardless of if you book through me or do it yourself.  
  • I research the best dates for the best value/best crowd level/best weather for your time frame.
  • I monitor the specials that Disney releases.  Doesn't happen often, but if a special comes out after you've booked that can be applied to your trip, I will do that for you!
  • I will get up before sunrise on the day of your FastPass and Advanced Dining Reservation windows.  I will talk with you before that day to find out what you'd prefer so that you get as close to what you want as possible!
  • I am available anytime to chat about your trip.  It's really hard to say "here's what to do on your trip" as all families are different.  I love getting to know my clients and helping them decide on a plan.
  • I am also available at any time for questions - and if I don't know the answer (it happens!), I have a direct line to Disney and Universal.  I also have relationships with a large number of other travel agents that may have ideas to help us in an unusual situation.  
  • Have a problem on your trip?  Call me!  It's a nice feeling knowing you aren't in it alone if a problem arises.

Again, I don't want to brag but I do have these awesome pins that speak for themselves when they say I'm a graduate of the Disney College of Knowledge!

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Please give me a call and let's talk about your vacation needs.  And I'd appreciate it immensley if you would give my information to anyone you know considering a trip.  THANK YOU!!

 

How to Save Money and Time at Disney with Grocery Delivery

When we go to Disney, we always order groceries ahead of time and have them waiting for us at our resort.  This is a super simple and convenient way to save money and time at Disney World.  First of all, we can eat breakfast in our room before we head out (except for the day we do Tusker House breakfast which is a must!).  

We also buy snacks and bottled water to take into the parks with us.  Disney will allow food and drink to be brought in and it's way cheaper to take in your own water than it is to buy drinks at the parks.  I have a slight caffeine addiction so I buy flavor drink packets that include caffeine.  My family appreciates that as they don't want to be around me when I get a caffeine headache!!  I also bring non-caffeinated ones for the kids since they haven't become addicted yet.  :)

I also pack a sharpie to bring with us and each morning, I put the boys' initials on a bottle.  That way we're not all sharing germs.  Don't forget your backpack to carry the water and snacks!!

If you're in a villa or Fort Wilderness Cabin, you'll have a full-sized fridge so order all the groceries you'd like!  In standard resort rooms, you'll have a small dorm-sized fridge so think about what you really need to refrigerate.  And I wouldn't do anything that needs to stay frozen as it may or may not have small freezer section in your fridge.  

Each night when we returned from the parks, I would put in the water for the next morning.  Of course, I had a few Diet Cokes in there and some milk for the boys.  So you don't have a ton of room but if you plan ahead a bit, it's great.

Here are the things we ordered for our trip just to give you an idea:

Keep in mind these prices were from last year so probably not still valid.  This is from Garden Grocer - a grocery delivery service that takes the items directly to your hotel at Walt Disney World, leaving them with bell services (which refrigerates perishable items). I highly recommended them and most do as they are the most popular with Walt Disney World guests by far.

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The process is simple:  You go to Gardengrocer.com and click on "Create Your Account" and fill out the form to register your account.  Browse through over 5,000 products and add them to your cart. Shop by brand, category, or use the search toolbar to find the products you want.  Click on the shopping cart at the top of the page to begin the checkout process. Fill out the form with your billing information & let them know what resort you're staying at and what time frame you'd like your groceries to be delivered in.  

So other than the cost of the groceries, are there any delivery fees?  Yes.  Disney charges a flat $5 to recieve the order.  Garden Grocer charges a $14.00 delivery fee but if you spend over $200, the delivery fee is waived.  You need to plan ahead though - if you need same day delivery, the fee is $30 and next day delivery is $20.  Keep in mind that there are limited delivery time slots so if you wait until the last minute to order, there may not be availability for delivery. I tend to order several months in advance - you can add on to your order later if you think of something else you need.   They also usually offer a discount for ordering early - this is the current discount and it was the same when we traveled last year:

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Besides the cost savings of eating breakfast in the room, taking your own water and snacks, having groceries delivered saves time too.  We can eat while getting ready or while on our way to the parks so the minute we get there, we're ready to get on our favorite attractions while the lines are still small.  Even getting a quick service breakfast can take what feels like forever when you want to be on Space Mountain!

Same thing goes for standing in line for drinks and snacks.  Don't get me wrong, an apple won't replace Dole Whip but it does limit the lines to stand in.  (FYI, don't forget about Mobile Ordering to also limit those lines).

A couple of other things to consider - beside bringing along your own sharpie, I pack a bunch of ziploc bags.  It's nice to have those when you want to have individual snacks in your bag or you want to save that last bit of candy.  

Please give me a call if you have any questions!  I would love to help you plan and book your Disney or Universal vacation!  And even better - there's NO fees for my services!!

 

Best Breakfast on the Planet

Ever wondered where you can get the best breakfast on Planet Earth???  Lucky for you, I know!  It's at Tusker House Restaurant in the Animal Kingdom at Disney World.

First of all, unlimited Mickey waffles.  That right there is enough to make this the best place.  But wait, there's more!!  The Jungle Juice is quite literally the best juice I've ever had.  Pretty sure I drank 10 glasses of the stuff last time we were there which is probably 2000 calories.  But don't worry, that's when Ryan and I ran the half marathon so I was short a few calories up to that point!!

Partially delirious from the race, but mostly just excited to see my old pal, Mickey!!

Partially delirious from the race, but mostly just excited to see my old pal, Mickey!!

Besides the delicious food, the breakfast meal is a character meal.  Your table will be visited by Mickey, Daisy, Donald and Goofy (subject to change but we've always seen that same group).  Once there was a PhotoPass photographer out front capturing pics, but haven't seen that in a while.  So be sure to have your camera and autograph books ready as the characters come around to your table.

Also, for the younger crowd, Daisy usually has them join her in a parade around the restaurant.  He's too big now, but Luke used to live for these parades and it was a highlight of the day for him!  Check out the parade in this video...

I'm not a very adventurous eater so mainly stick to the normal American breakfast type foods.  But if you are into trying new things, be sure and check out the African foods also like the Beef Bobotie.  Honestly, I haven't tried it but everyone raves about it!

Have me book your trip for you and I'll hook you up with an early morning reservation.  You might be able to get in before the park opens!  That's great for getting a start on your day, you can get some great pics without a crowd, and you can hop right on the Safari when you're done without needing a FastPass!!  Call me so I can get you there!