Archive for the ‘fav5’ Category

Park Tickets can be one of the most costly components of a Disney vacation, and there are seemingly infinite combinations of days, park hopping, water parks, and expiration options to choose from.  We thought we’d pass along a few suggestions for minimizing the ticket turmoil:

• Extra days can help you save!  Many people on a tight budget purchase park tickets for only a few days of their stay in an effort to economize, not realizing that after four days, the cost of additional days is minimal.  As an example, the difference in price between one adult (ages 10+) Park Hopper for FOUR days and one for TEN days is less than $20.00, or about $3.00 per day,  substantially reducing the cost per day to visit the parks.   Don’t forget that you can always add days to a ticket as long as the total admissions do not exceed ten days.  These upgrades must be made prior to, or within, 14 days of first use.  Taking advantage of the low prices for extra days allows you to visit a park at night for the fireworks only, or enjoy a farewell character breakfast on your departure day.

• Decide whether you truly need the Park Hopper option.  If your children are very small, or you are first-time visitors, there is generally more than enough to see and do in a single park to fill an entire day.  Arrive early, take a break, and return to the same park for the evening entertainment.  Plan your dining reservations in the “park of the day” or at a resort restaurant located nearby.

• Consider an Annual Pass.  Now that Annual Passholders have access to packages that include the dining plan, the pass becomes even more attractive for anyone making multiple trips within the span of a year, or planning an extra-long stay.  Historically, excellent room discounts have been made available to Passholders for selected dates throughout the year.  Annual Passholders are also entitled to a number of additional perks which currently include discounts on dining, merchandise, special events, tours, spa treatments, and recreation, as well as a subscription to the Mickey Monitor quarterly newsletter, and eligibility for Tables in Wonderland membership.

• Remember that a hard ticket to a special Magic Kingdom event such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will generally get you into the park around 4:00 p.m.  If you’ve decided against the Park Hopper option, this is a great way to visit two parks on the same day, using your regular park ticket for one park, and your party ticket for the Magic Kingdom.  The parties don’t begin until 7:00 p.m., giving you several hours before the festivities begin to enjoy the attractions or grab an early dinner.

• Tickets can get lost.  If possible, make photocopies of your tickets and keep the copies some place other than where you’re storing the tickets.  While Disney makes every effort to resolve lost-ticket issues, replacements can be issued far more painlessly if you have all the ticket information available.   If you purchase your tickets after arrival, take a clear picture of the backs using  a digital camera, or simply write down the numeric information.  If  you’re staying at a Disney Resort and purchased tickets separately rather  than as part of a package, you can generally have new, unused tickets loaded onto your Key to the World (resort ID) card.

No Disney vacation would be complete without ice cream and we’ve compiled a short list of favorite frozen snacks.

• Step into the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor in the Magic Kingdom for an old-fashioned cone, ice cream float, or our favorite, the Plaza Ice Cream Sundae.  You can watch them making the waffle bowls that will be filled with all the fixings for a perfect sundae including hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry.  Just down Main Street there’s a small side “street” with tables and chairs at the back; seldom busy and the perfect spot to enjoy your treat. 

• Don’t forget the classic – Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar.  Every Disney  vacation should include a minimum daily requirement of this traditional favorite.  With its hard chocolate shell and creamy vanilla center, it’s the quintessential taste of Disney.

• At Downtown Disney, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain offers a fabulous selection of cones, shakes, and floats, and an irresistible menu of specialty sundaes including the Cable Car and Haight AshBerry.  Bring a few friends and dive into the eight-scoop Earthquake.

• We don’t know if it’s the best ice cream sundae ever, but it’s definitely the best place ever to enjoy that sundae; The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant.  Cool ice cream, cool cars, cool vintage movie clips – does it get any better than this?

• We’ve saved the best for last; yes kids, it’s the Kitchen Sink!  With eight scoops of ice cream, an entire can of whipped cream, and every cookie, cake, sauce, and sprinkled topping that’s available, this is not for the faint of heart.  Don’t expect to indulge without an  audience, either, as announcements will be made to alert  everyone in the place to your group’s gluttony.

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.

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.

Arrive at the parks early. This is the single most important piece of advice we can offer.  Being at the park entrance when it opens gives you a huge advantage.  You may think that there are a lot of people waiting to enter, but when the crowds disperse throughout the park, you will realize that you have it practically to yourselves. 

While nearly every guest has a plan to get up early and start the day, the vast majority never follow it through.  It’s difficult to motivate yourself to jump out of bed early when you’re on vacation.  However, it will pay huge dividends.  You’ll be able to walk on many rides, and obtain FastPasses for the very popular ones before they run out.  You’ll experience many more attractions in much less time without the long waits that will face visitors arriving only a few hours later. You’ll feel much more relaxed about enjoying a leisurely lunch, stopping for character meet-and-greets, or browsing through the shops, knowing that you’ve crossed so many of your must-do’s off the list!

You’ll also be able to enjoy the park opening ceremonies; a great additional perk for your efforts.  So, jump up and get ready.

As Mickey would say, “Everybody neat and pretty?  Then on with the show!”

Have a plan. A lot of guests don’t like the idea of planning their visit.  They feel that they’re on vacation and want to enjoy things spontaneously.  The problem is that at Walt Disney World, no plan often translates into walking around in circles, and spending many hours waiting in line.

Now, we don’t mean that you have to schedule every moment from the time you wake up until you go to sleep, although some visitors enjoy this, but having some idea of which attractions and experiences are at the top of your list will help you maximize your park time.

Have each member of your party make a list of his or her two or three top picks in each park, then set up a general plan of action.  Take the time to familiarize yourself with the park maps and discuss your choices with your travel concierge who will have advice about which very popular venues should be visited first, before the crowds arrive (of course, you will have already taken tip #1 to heart and will have arrived early).  Every minute that you invest in planning your vacation will pay you back tenfold.  Plus, planning your Walt Disney World vacation is half the fun!  Time spent researching and discussing your plans stretches that vacation experience from a few days, to many months.

Consider having a “Planning Party.”  Set aside a time to get together with your family or group and talk about your upcoming trip, compare must-do lists, share trivia, eat popcorn, and watch the Disney Planning DVD.

Make dining reservations. There is no worse scenario:  You are at Epcot on a hot afternoon. You got up early intending to make the most of the day and have already walked several miles around Future World and the World Showcase, enjoying the sights.  Everyone is hungry, the kids are a little tired and cranky, the adults are quite a bit more tired and cranky, and you all just want to get off your feet, sit down in a cool place, and have something to eat.  Unfortunately, you’ve now walked an additional mile trying to find a place that has an available reservation, but so far, all the restaurants are fully-booked.

Yes, the idea of spur-of-the-moment sounds great, but the reality is that this is often not feasible at Walt Disney World, particularly during the busier seasons.  So, make some reservations.  With the rare exception of the few that require a credit card guarantee, your plans are not written in stone.  They are your insurance.  If you decide to change direction, a courtesy call to cancel the reservation and free it up for someone else is all that’s needed.  Decided to stay at Animal Kingdom and grab a pizza rather than run over to the Magic Kingdom for your lunch reservation at the Crystal Palace?  No problem.  Running over to the Magic Kingdom for a lunch at the Crystal Palace only to find that there are no reservations available for walk-ups?  Problem.  Your reservations can be as flexible as you need them to be; having a contingency plan for meals can make all the difference.

Take a break. It’s easy to allow yourself to become stressed by your Walt Disney World vacation.  You’ve spent a great deal of money, and it often represents the fulfillment of years of hopes and dreams.  You want it to be everything wonderful; to provide happy memories that will last a lifetime.  You want to see it all, do it all, look back without regrets.  Stop!

Walt Disney World is a huge, complex destination, with thousands of different options for spending your time and money.  You cannot do everything, but you certainly can make yourself absolutely miserable trying.  So, realize that you will only be able to enjoy a part of the magic this trip, and relax.  Almost every single person who visits Walt Disney World with the notion that it will be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, ends up returning, often again and again.  Rather than worrying about all the things you don’t have the time to experience, take the time to experience fully the things that you do.

Be mindful of the fact that nothing is as much fun when you’re exhausted, and plan accordingly.  Naturally, you are already adhering religiously to tips 1, 2, and 3, so you arrived early with plans for touring and dining.  Now, after a wonderful morning it’s time to return to your resort.  Have a swim, take a nap.  Perhaps your dining reservation is for one of the many great restaurants at the hotels and you can relive your busy morning over a relaxed lunch.

Later, you can return to parks, refreshed and renewed and ready to do more.

Embrace the magic. If you spend a little time looking around any Disney Destination:  Disneyland® Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort,Disney Cruise Line; you may notice that, while everyone is enjoying themselves, the people having the best time are the ones who are most willing to be a part of the fun.

The Disney experience is all about fantasy, about stepping into another place and time, be it fairytale, frontier, or the future.  So, meet the characters and get their autographs, wear a silly hat, wave and sing along during the parades, allow yourself to get a little teary watching the fireworks.  Remember….Embrace the magic and it will hug you back ^sm.