Archive for May, 2010

Some guests mistakenly assume that the elegant Grand Floridian is less kid-friendly than other Disney resorts.  In fact, it’s a wonderland for children of all ages.  In addition to two large pools and a children’s water play area, there’s a sandy beach, a playground, and a variety of exciting meals and activities with a Disney touch.

1900 Park Fare Choose the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice, and the Mad Hatter or dine with Cinderella and her Prince at Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner.

 

Wonderland Tea Party Alice and the Mad Hatter return to 1900 Park Fare for an hour in the afternoon to entertain small guests between the ages of four and twelve with stories and games, and help them decorate their own cupcakes.   The price is $40.00 plus tax.
Hours: Weekdays 2:00p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: (407) 939-3463

My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party A Royal event takes place in the lovely Garden View Lounge where small Princesses, ages three to eleven, and their adult companions, can enjoy an hour and a half of singing and storytelling, characters and crumpets.  Each child leaves with an armload of special gifts which contribute to the cost of $250.00 plus tax for a party of one child and one adult.
Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Phone: (407) 939-3463

Captain’s Shipyard Cruise Kids from four to twelve can head out into the wild blue of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake in search of adventure, treasure, and lunch!
Hours: Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Phone: (407) 939-7529

Gasparilla Grill and Games A small video arcade is nestled into the corner of this quick-service dining location that features a selection of salads, sandwiches, desserts, drinks, and ice cream.

Mouseketeer Club Most kids love it when their parents decide on an adult evening and drop them off at one of Disney’s Children’s Activity Centers.  For $11.50 per hour with a two-hour minimum, potty-trained children ages four to twelve enjoy activities, games, arts and crafts, and movies.  Dinner is also included between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. and is ordered at the time of arrival.
Hours: 4:30 p.m. to midnight
Phone: (407) 824-1666

Movies Under the Stars Arrive at 8:00 p.m. to enjoy the Dance Party and Campfire, before settling down to a movie at 9:00 p.m.  Check the schedule for featured movies.

Mousecraft at M. Mouse Mercantile Get creative on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. when “Grand” kids meet for arts and crafts.

Storytime at M. Mouse Mercantile A bed-time treat; Mondays at 8:00 p.m.

Thought you’d fallen through the rabbit hole when you saw the opening photo? Our friend Sam, aka Disney Resort, a consummate magician, created this custom image especially for this post.  Thank you, Sam!

Few visitors remain unimpressed when they first walk through the doors and into the beautiful lobby of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.  This resort is filled with references to the historic National Park lodges on which it’s based, Native American culture, the beauty of the natural world, and Disney icons.

While it’s fun to stroll the building and grounds, for a deeper appreciation we suggest the Wonders of the Lodge tour.  Follow your Ranger for an in-depth look at the architecture and landscape.  Hear the stories behind the hand-crafted totem poles, the art pieces, and the towering fireplace.  Explore nooks and seek out Hidden Mickeys and even hidden bears.  Listen to the lore and learn about the symbols and myths woven into the carvings and designs that are found throughout the lodge.

Every tour is unique, but you can make yours special by asking questions.  The guides truly love talking about their subject and will reward your enthusiasm with lots of fun facts!

No prior registration is necessary, there is no charge,  and you don’t have to be a guest of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort to participate.  Just join the Ranger in the lobby a little before 9:00 a.m.

Wonders of the Lodge

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Wednesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m.

Walt Disney World is blooming by the beginning of April.  EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing with the floral displays and topiaries at their most beautiful and a full roster of Flower Power Concerts, gardening presentations, and special events.

Each year, the Magic Kingdom is closed to the general public on several evenings for Disney Grad Nite celebrations.  On these Friday and Saturday nights, high school seniors take over the park to mark their graduation with special parties and performances.

Historically the most popular time for annual spring breaks at schools around the country, April ushers in some of the heaviest crowds of the year, particularly around Easter.  Happily, the high attendance is accompanied by beautiful weather, making wait times much less stressful.  April is an exceptionally dry month with rainfall dropping back to a bit more than 2 inches.  Take advantage of the balmy temperatures and low humidity while managing the crowds by following our fav5 tips!

Fast Facts

Special Events: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival; Disney Grad Nites

Attendance Levels: Expect very high crowd levels throughout the month as school vacations and spring breaks free up families to vacation with their children.  Since Easter typically falls in April rather than March, numbers will soar during at least one week of the month, reaching near  annual peaks for park attendance

Weather: Beautiful central Florida weather with highs in the low eighties and lows generally dropping to the low sixties.  April is a drier month and boasts the lowest humidity of the year, making it a great time for some serious park-hopping

Packing: Bring your summer favorites for strolling the parks and swimming in the pools.  Something with long sleeves is handy for cooler evenings

After years of languishing in limbo, the area originally planned for an expansion of Disney’s Pop Century Resort will now be the site of a new Value property, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Building is slated to begin this summer with an opening in  2012.

 

Adding nearly 2,000 rooms to the current inventory, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will feature four of Disney’s more current animated films, Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.

Three of the wings will offer a total of 1,120 new family suites; welcome news for those needing a more moderately-priced option for parties of five or six.  The Little Mermaid wing will have 864 standard rooms.  All units will feature specially-themed interiors; an extremely popular choice at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort where the pirate-themed rooms are in demand despite their higher cost.

 

Guests can also expect the same fun and fantasy they’ve come to appreciate at the other Value resorts, with work already begun on giant sculptures of the movies’ most well-loved characters.  Different, themed courtyards will allow guests to feel as though they have stepped into a movie!

Make your way to Adventureland to practice your aaarrrrrgh’s and polish your buckle and swash.  It’s The Pirates League, where buccaneers-in-training move through rooms filled with plunder to take the oath and join the crew!  The transformation is completed with special make-up and accessories.  Receive a pirate name, a “share of the booty,” to wear around your neck, a certificate and photo to commemorate your induction, and an opportunity to show off your new pirate persona in the Pirate Parade.  There are two packages offered, both priced at $29.95 plus tax:

First Mate Package

• Choice of facial effect (5 to choose from)
• Reversible bandana
• Earring and Eye Patch
• Sword and Sheath
• Temporary Tattoo
• Unique Pirate Coin Necklace
• Personalized Pirate Oath
• Official Pirate Name
• Removable Teeth
• Pirate Portrait in the secret room
• Participation in a daily Adventureland Pirate Parade

Empress Package

• Vibrant and bold makeup, nail polish, face gem
• Reversible bandana
• Earring and Eye Patch
• Sword and Sheath
• Temporary Tattoo
• Unique Pirate Coin Necklace
• Personalized Pirate Oath
• Official Pirate Name
• Pirate Portrait in the secret room
• Participation in a daily Adventureland Pirate Parade

For an additional cost, guests can grab some extra garb from the selection of themed costumes and headgear.  Other imaging options are also available.   Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance and a credit card is required at the time of booking.  No-shows and cancellations less than 24 hours prior to the experience will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.

With the recent price change, this is now an affordable option for the entire family.  It’s a great choice for those attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Plan early to make reservations for the morning  of the party; then all the Buccaneers and Pirate Maidens in your crew will be ready for the evening’s activities!

 

The Pirates League

Magic Kingdom, Adventureland

Daily 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages 3 to adult

Children must be accompanied by adult during entire experience

Park admission required

 

Since Family and Disney are the perfect match, we’re always on the lookout for family-friendly resources for our readers.  Parents Randa Clay and Laura Groff are flagging the funspots on a great website, FunPlace Database.

Visitors can click on the map to learn about entertaining options all around the country, or right in their own back yard!  Do you have a favorite fun place?  You’re invited to add your own pushpin with a description of a park, play area, restaurant, museum, or other happy place that’s a hit with your family.  Of course, Walt Disney World probably packs more smiles per square mile than anywhere else on earth, so we’ve added one of our own picks, Disney’s Tri-Circle-D Ranch, Farm & Stables!

In March, we begin to see the glimmers of great water-park weather and real crowds.  This month heralds the start of spring break season around the country and ushers in a period of heavy attendance beginning mid-March and continuing until late April.

It’s important to keep track of Easter from year to year as the crowd levels around this holiday are second only to the week between Christmas and New Year.  March also features the opening of EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival which began very early in 2010, on March 3^rd.  This annual event draws thousands of visitors to Walt Disney World during its 2½-month run and although it takes place in EPCOT, it boosts the numbers represented by families traveling during school vacations with the additional demographic of gardening enthusiasts.

In both 2009 and 2010, Walt Disney World hosted the Princess Half-Marathon Weekend early in the month.  This will no doubt become an annual event.

The weather during March is more temperate with highs climbing to the high seventies and even low eighties towards to the end of the month, but typically only dropping about ten degrees lower during the evening, making packing a bit less challenging.  There is an increase in rainfall, however, so don’t forget to arrive prepared for showers.

Fast Facts

Special Events: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, Princess Half-Marathon Weekend

Attendance Levels: Moderate at the beginning of the month, becoming very heavy as spring breaks begin; extremely high attendance over the Easter holiday whether it falls in March or April

Weather: Warm and pleasant with average temperatures only fluctuating about ten degrees, from the low sixties to low seventies up to high seventies low eighties; March falls between two drier months with expected rainfall of more than three inches

Packing: Plan for brief showers and warm weather with a light jacket for slightly cooler evenings

A bit of Muppet Mayhem brought to us by photographer  Dick Martin!

February is a relatively quiet month at Walt Disney World.  While there are schools around the country that have a break at this time of the year, with the exception of Presidents’ Weekend, most days feature low crowds.

The annual event, ESPN the Weekend, generally scheduled at the end of the month, draws a large contingent of sports fans to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

As with January, those visiting in February will find a number of refurbishments in progress.  One of the two water parks will be closed and work on attractions, dining venues, etc., lasting more than a few days, is generally planned for this time of the year.

Valentine’s Day is a favorite for couples and there are special menus, themed dinners, and even heart-shaped treats available throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

The weather is beginning to get a bit warmer with average temperatures in the mid seventies during the day and low- to mid-fifties in the evening.  A “transitional” month like January, February calls for layers of clothing that can be worn and removed throughout the day as the temperatures rise during the afternoon and fall back at night.  While there may be slightly more rain than during the preceding five months, average precipitation is still less than half of the rainfall expected over the summer.  So, pack an umbrella and a smile, and head off for a fabulous February visit!

Fast Facts

Special Events: ESPN the Weekend

Attendance Levels: Generally low with a major increase over Presidents’ weekend

Weather: A bit warmer than January with expected low- to mid-seventies for highs, and lows in the fifties; average precipitation about 2.8 inches

Packing: Layers with an eye on the forecast to add more warm- or cool-weather items; an umbrella or poncho for occasional showers