Archive for July, 2009

While beautiful all year round, Walt Disney World puts on its most gorgeous face for the Christmas season.  The parks and resorts are spangled with greenery and ornaments and sparkling lights.  Tens of thousands of poinsettias are massed in gardens and baskets and urns.  Lobbies boast astounding edible constructions; garlands swirl around pillars and up staircases.  The parks ring with seasonal music, holiday shows, and signature trees.  

Sign up for the Yuletide Fantasy Backstage Tour to get an inside peek at the preparations.  Guests visiting during the decorating season can go to bed one night and awake to find an area completely transformed, and tour participants will visit the Holiday Services department to see how this amazing feat is made possible.  The program includes visits to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the Magic Kingdom, as well as several resort hotels and the cavernous warehouse where the seasonal decorations are stored.   Guides share some of the secrets that make this annual decorating extravaganza such a success:  how the “Disney” bow is tied; their method for securing ornaments and stringing lights; the theming of the many installations around the “world.” 

Transportation from one location to another is provided by bus, and many visitors have made this tour part of their annual holiday tradition. 

Review:  If you are visiting during the Christmas season, this is a great way to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit.  One caveat regarding the presentation:   departing from the usual history/trivia/anecdote format, Disney has chosen to take a somewhat grade-school approach here, with lots of little “quizzes” about the holidays and Walt Disney World in general, “Who can name….,”  Does anyone know…..?”    The unending banter, which continues throughout the tour and is non-stop on the bus rides, wears very thin, very quickly.  This appears to be part of a current corporate theme – a collective frisson at the very thought of even a second of silence.  Every waking moment must be filled with music, videos, the incessant background drone of the television, or this inane chatter.  Clearly the notion that people might sit quietly in a bus for ten minutes, chatting amongst themselves, is unacceptable.  While there are always a few who are willing to get into the spirit and raise their hands enthusiastically to answer all the questions, many will find this tiresome and trite.  Although not reason enough to avoid the tour entirely, be prepared to tune out.   

The stops at Holiday Services and the warehouse are worth the price of admission, and those who haven’t had a chance to visit the resorts during the season will really enjoy seeing them decked in their Christmas finery. 

Yuletide Fantasy

Daily during the holiday season

3 1/2 hours

$69.00 per person/must be at least 16 year of age

Park admission NOT required

 

 

Lovely surroundings, quiet atmosphere, elegant accoutrements; it’s afternoon tea at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.  The inviting Garden View Lounge welcomes guests to enjoy a relaxing interlude in the middle of a busy day.

The menu offers an array of small pastries and sandwiches, terrines and cheeses, available as “themed” teas or a la carte selections.  A nice variety of teas and tisanes are served in the traditional English style using pretty Royal Albert Old Country Roses china.  A champagne cocktail or mimosa can be added to make the occasion even more festive.

Review: As a former vendor of fine teas, I’m going to be a much more critical consumer than the average Disney visitor.  I’ve enjoyed tea here on a number of occasions and have pleasant memories of afternoons spent with friends and family.  The experience is less about the food than the ambience.  The tea is average at best, and I’m not a fan of English service since the leaves are left in the pot.  This means that only the first cup of tea is drinkable since the remainder quickly becomes over brewed and tannic.  Nonetheless, all the fun accessories that tea drinkers adore:  the cozies, the silver strainers, the sugar cubes, creamers and lemons, the lovely china, and the dainty cakes and scones; make this a charming treat.

 

Garden View Lounge

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Afternoon tea served daily 2:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.

 

I admit I’m always a bit surprised when people walk right past the Fountain of Nations during one of the shows, without so much as a glance.  For me, it’s one of the great pleasures of EPCOT. 

Every fifteen minutes, the tranquil fountain bursts into life; the music playing and water spraying and soaring in a synchronized ballet.  

We will often grab a pretzel, find a good seat along the low wall near Mouse Gear, and settle in for several shows.  During the Christmas holiday, it’s particularly wonderful in the evening when the performances are in harmony with the beautiful Lights of Winter.  

Next time you’re  strolling through Innoventions Plaza and hear the musical fanfare, sit yourself down and enjoy the show!

Photo by George Thomas

To make a Walt Disney World vacation stand out from the rest, consider adding one of these enhancements:

Tours

From an hour-long stroll Behind the Seeds, to the all-day Backstage Magic extravaganza, guests can choose from a number of programs that offer an in-depth look at what makes Disney, well…Disney.

Designed for a variety of age groups and interests, tours might involve a treasure hunt through the Magic Kingdom, an overview of the holiday decorations, or a swim with the sharks.  Many provide a rare peek behind the curtain at the incredible infrastructure and efforts that support the onstage experience for millions of guests each year.

Cirque du Soleil

Few productions on earth are more mesmerizing than a Cirque du Soleil performance, and the show at Walt Disney World, La Nouba, may well be the very best of them all.

There are truly no bad seats in the dedicated theater at Downtown Disney and their somewhat expensive price tag is an investment in the extraordinary.  The swirling colors, music, and unbelievable physical feats will astonish and delight.

Private Car Service

While you can’t beat the price of Disney’s Magical Express (free!), there’s no better way to start your Walt Disney World vacation off on the right foot than an airport meet-and-greet.  As you wearily disembark from a long plane ride, your driver is waiting with a smile, a helping hand with the luggage,  and a private car ready to whisk you directly to your destination.

Our hands-down favorite is Sunray Transportation, a company which not only offers great pricing, but the very best service of its kind that we have experienced.  Prompt and friendly with meticulously-maintained vehicles and car seats for the kids on request, they will even schedule a complimentary 30-minute stop at the grocery store to stock up on snacks.

It’s one of those niceties that quickly become necessities!

Spa Treatment

Yes, Walt Disney World is all about kids but it’s also about adults – after all, it’s everyone’s vacation.  What better way to indulge than with a rejuvenating treatment at the Grand Floridian Spa with its citrusy offerings, or the Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs featuring decidedly woodsy themes. There are romantic couples’ massages, a variety of facial and body therapies, hand and foot treatments, even special experiences for guests as young as four.  After several frenetic park days, a spa appointment is something to be savored – indulge.

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival Event

Each fall, the World Showcase at EPCOT becomes a tasteful showplace for world cuisine.  Booths and pavilions feature specialties from every continent, and visitors can sample the foods and beverages of many countries and enjoy complimentary demonstrations and tastings during the Festival’s six-week run.

Those guests looking for a really memorable experience can make reservations for some of the very special programs offered throughout the Festival.  Options include seminars with celebrity chefs, wine schools, and a variety of fabulous dining experiences.  The competition for the limited tickets to these exclusive events is fierce, and prices can be daunting, but they draw a devoted crowd year after year.

Vanessa, huntress of all things hidden, finds one of the most beautiful Hidden Mickeys tucked away at Conservation Station in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

So, you’ve been to Walt Disney World several times, and you’re looking for ways to add something extra to the next trip.  Whether it’s accommodations, dining, souvenirs, recreation, or just plain fun, Disney has options for every budget.  We’ve compiled our favorite suggestions for splurging, from small to stupendous.  We’re starting simply with a few that won’t break the budget:

Temporary Tattoos

We’ll bet most of you have passed by the tattoo stands scattered around the parks a dozen times without giving them a thought, but a temporary tattoo is a GREAT way to add a memory that will make you smile for years to come.  Choose from a huge variety of images, add a touch of glitter, and flaunt your favorite character for a week.

Harmony Barbershop

Whether you’re a little guy earning your Mouse Ears for your first haircut, or a Dad going for a festive new look, the wonderful folks at the Harmony Barbershop stand ready to add that perfect touch – sparkles, sprinkles, Hidden Mickeys, colored gels, and a dash of magic.

Filled with antiques including a working telephone and cash register from the turn of the last century, the shop also features daily visits from the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet.

Customers are served on a first-come basis; step up early and treat yourself to the best look on Main Street, U.S.A.

Gift Delivery

Arrange for a special delivery to your resort room to surprise your family.  Each resort has a different selection of available sweet treats through Private Dining:  consider a wonderful white chocolate monorail car if you’re staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort; choose from a variety of “Turndown Treats” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge; order a chocolate replica of the beloved character totem pole at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

There are hundreds of different floral arrangements and gift baskets available from the Disney Florist, and they will be happy to discuss any special requests.

Sea Raycers

They’re zippy and fun and they let you see the World from a different perspective.  While rentals are available at a number of locations, including many of the resorts as well as Downtown Disney,  our vote is for the marinas in the Magic Kingdom area.  It’s exhilarating to roam around  Seven Season Lagoon and Bay Lake,  exploring the shoreline  and enjoying the water traffic.  Current Magic Your Way packages include an offer for extra minutes with a purchased rental.

Photo CD

Photos are a big part of any vacation and the Disney photographers located all around the parks make it easy for the entire family to be in the picture.  The cost of purchasing individual photos can add up quickly, but the Photo CD allows for an unlimited number of images with the addition of captions, borders, signatures, and special effects.  Choose the pre-purchase option for additional savings.

If his photography is any indication, it must be fun to travel with Dick Martin.  Wherever he finds himself, each photo captures his obvious delight with everything around him.  A lover of all things Disney, he is equally charmed by a swirling parade or a Bay Lake morning.  Thanks, Dick!