Tuesday Tip: Photopass cards at Walt Disney World

With the ability now to have Photopass photographers just scan your MagicBand after they take your picture to put your photos right into your account, not as many guests have been using the traditional Photopass cards:

For those who do, here's your Tuesday tip.  As soon as you get your card, take a clear picture of the back with your camera or phone:

Now, if you happen to lose your card during your vacation, you'll still have the number from the back of the card to enter online to retrieve the photos that have been taken on that card so far...so no lost pictures!  You're allowed to get and enter multiple cards into your account online, so if you do lose your card, you can always get another from the next photographer.  By taking a picture of the back, you ensure that even if you do lose your card along the way, you won't lose the precious memories made during your vacation.

Tuesday Tip-Take Your Time-Refresh, Recharge and Don't Rush

Walt Disney World is an exciting, fun vacation destination with tons of things to do and see.  Many guests are in such a rush trying to do everything and see everything that by the time it's time to head home, they are totally exhausted and wondering why the heck they decided to make the trip.

Some things you need to know about heading to Walt Disney World--yes, the resort is HUGE and yes, there's more things to do there than you could ever imagine.  It's not just four theme parks...which, honestly, if you've never been to WDW before, then no-you're not going to be able to see everything in every park if you only spend one day in each.  You also have 2 water parks, 2 mini-golf courses, Downtown Disney-where you can shop, eat, enjoy live entertainment, go bowling, see a movie, explore an indoor interactive, virtual reality theme park at DisneyQuest, catch the amazing La Nouba Cirque du Soleil show...not to mention the golf courses, water sports, fishing, hay rides, carriage rides, dinner shows...and a whole lot more.

If you really want to experience everything the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer, first realize that you are not going to be able to do everything in one trip-even if you do the commando-park thing from open to close each day.  And honestly, if you want to enjoy your vacation, you're not going to want to approach it like that to begin with.  Yes, I know there are those of you out there who are totally gung-ho and love doing the park commando routine; but for your average guests-especially those with families and small children, a more relaxed approach is the key to a low-stress, enjoyable vacation.

So, on to the Tuesday tips...

First, make sure you allow yourselves enough days for your trip.  You may have to save your pennies for longer, but in the end you'll appreciate not having to rush through the parks trying to get everything in before you go.  If you've never been to WDW before, I'd recommend at least a full week for your first trip.  The Magic Kingdom and Epcot are both at least two days if you want to see and do everything in those parks.  Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom you can probably handle in one day for each one.

Epcot itself can fill two whole days of your trip-maybe even more!

Next, while you may want to get to each park at "Rope Drop" (just before the park opens) and stay until the park closes down, you're looking at anywhere from 7 to 15 hours of constant go-go-go if you go that route.  That's a lot of time on your feet and waiting in lines.  So your second tip is to take a break.  Head to the park early in the morning while the crowds are low and the temperatures are too.  Then take a break around lunch time until late afternoon.  Use the time to head back to your resort for some relaxation at the pool or a nap in your room before heading back out to either the same or-if you have Park Hopper tickets-a different park in the evening after the heat and crowds have started to dissipate.  If you're staying on Disney property, this tip is even easier to execute since the time to go back and forth from the parks to your resort is drastically shorter.  You may think you can go without the break-but it will sure make your days go smoother and help you feel less stressed if you take some time out to relax and recharge each day.

Pool or nap time can help you recharge

Finally, don't rush.  Take your time and really look around you at the parks, hotels and the rest of the property.  Little details are everywhere-Disney has made sure of that so you are totally immersed in not just each park, but each area of each park, hotel, shopping areas and so on.  You're not going to see everything in one trip--really.  It's just not possible-and some of the attractions you want to experience may not even be available during your trip if they're being refurbished.  Plan out your days so you can see all of your must-do's, just realize you'll need to come back if you really do want to see and experience everything the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer.  Don't blow through each day of your vacation trying to see everything-you'll wind up exhausted and disappointed that you couldn't get to your entire list.

Your Walt Disney World vacation should be fun and enjoyable.  Allow yourself enough time for your visit, take time to rest and relax along the way, and don't rush yourselves.  You'll have a better time with great memories if you're not dragging every day trying to accomplish the impossible.

Mickey wants you to have a great time :-)

Are you a park commando, or do you take your time and take breaks during your days at WDW?

Tuesday Tip-Be Prepared-Walt Disney World Weather

Ah, Florida...the Sunshine State!  Well, usually.  The Walt Disney World area is known for its sunshine, and also for its crazy, here-one-moment-gone-the-next thunderstorms.  So how do you prepare for the wide range of weather you might encounter while on your WDW vacation?  Plan ahead...and be prepared!

While I know a lot of people worry about whether they'll get rained on during their stay, quite often when it does rain it doesn't last a long time and you can usually expect to see storms in the late afternoon, mostly during the summer months.  Rain is pretty easy to handle-a few ponchos that you buy beforehand at your local dollar store will let you keep on roaming the parks.  Be sure to check out my earlier post on what to do at WDW when it's raining for ideas to keep you dry.

Just throw on a poncho and keep on going!

The sun and heat...that's what a lot of people first think of when it comes to Florida weather.  The heat is worst from June thru September-the same time frame when you'll see the majority of the rainy weather as well.  Summer days can see temperatures soar into the nineties with humidity levels to match.  While staying hydrated is always important, it's even more so during the scorching summer months.  You may not think you need that drink of water, but believe me-you do.  If you're already thirsty, you may already be dehydrated...and if you've been sweating and the sweat stops-though the heat hasn't-that's a big red flag that you need to grab something to drink.  Don't keep pushing yourself without properly hydrating your body along the way or you may find your magical vacation losing all of its pixie dust very quickly.

Sunscreen (including lip balm with sunscreen in it), hat, sunglasses-necessities in the Florida sun!

To go along with staying hydrated, I can't stress enough the importance of using sunscreen.  Have you ever gone on vacation and seen people wandering around looking like they just stepped out of a pink paint factory because they've gotten a really bad sunburn?  Trust me, you don't want to end up like that-and in addition to the pain that a horrible sunburn can cause, you're upping your chances of skin cancer every time that happens.  Central Florida sees sunshine almost every day-even if there's cloud cover, the powerful Florida sun's rays are still getting through...and you won't realize it until that night when you take a look at yourself in the mirror.  And don't let those cooler late fall, winter and early spring days fool you-the sun is still strong and will still burn you if you don't take precautions.  So pack your sunscreen (I'd use one with a minimum 30 SPF), wear a hat, put that 30 SPF lip balm on...and while you're at it, don't forget those sunglasses as that same Florida sun that will burn your skin will also be blinding to your eyes.

Now, back to those cooler months.  Things start to cool off a bit around mid to late October and stay that way until around the end of March.  December thru February is usually extraordinarily pleasant with very little rain, comfortable temperatures usually with highs in the mid-70s and plenty of sun.  But don't let that fool you--every now and then it can get a bit chilly, especially during the winter nights when you might see temperatures dip into the 50s or even 40s (and yes, 30s are not unheard of!).  Okay, Florida's idea of chilly might be your idea of shorts and a tank top back home, but relatively speaking...you get my drift, right?  And for a real anomaly, look no further than Disney's Marathon Weekend from 2010.  That Saturday we had snow flurries, sleet and freezing rain and on Sunday after the wet weather moved out, lows dipped into the teens in the early hours of the pre-dawn morning.  Yes, really.

So your Tuesday tip is to be prepared--check and re-check the weather before you go.  WDW's zip code is 32830, so you can use that on whichever is your favorite weather site to check your 10-day, 5-day, and next day forecast so you can plan appropriately-not just for those bikinis and shorts, but also for those sweatshirt and jacket kind of days.  And remember, regardless of the temperature, rain or clouds...always, always, always bring your sunscreen.

How do you prepare for the crazy Florida weather for your WDW trips?  What's the wildest, oddest or most unexpected weather you've experienced while at WDW?

Tuesday Tip-Getting the Best Price for your Disney Vacation

While some guests don't have to watch what they spend when considering a Walt Disney World vacation, most of us are usually counting all of our pennies trying to get the best value for our vacation dollars.  This is especially important for a destination like WDW where everything can add up quickly-from room to tickets to food to souvenirs...and don't forget those incidentals that you might not expect like medicine if someone gets sick, ponchos or an umbrella (if you forgot yours) and other similar unexpected extras.  So...today's Tuesday Tip is how to get the best price for your Disney Vacation.

Visiting the Mouse can really add up-save with discount promotions!

Depending on how far in advance of your trip that you decide to book, you may or may not see any special promotions or discounts posted on WDW's website for the time you'll be traveling.  The further out you want to book your trip, the less likely that there will be a promotion available.  BUT--don't let this deter you from booking your trip for the dates you want.  If you are booking a package (room & tickets; room, tickets & dining; Annual Passholders-room & dining), your deposit is going to be $200 per room.  Room-only reservation deposits are equal to the cost of the first night of your stay on the reservation.  The part about getting the best price comes in once discounts do start getting released for your travel dates, because as long as you qualify for a discount when it comes out...meaning your stay is within the dates of the promotion, category of resort, length of stay, etc...you can get that discount applied to your reservation, lowering the cost of your trip and getting a bigger bang for your buck.  And saving money on the biggest costs-room, tickets and dining-means more money available for the fun extras and those unexpected problems that may come up.

Snagging a discount promotion could mean you have enough in your budget to upgrade to a Deluxe resort!

Don't have time to keep checking back to see if a new promotion has been released?  This is when using a travel agent that specializes in Disney destinations can really pay off since most of those agents that specialize in Disney (like me) will continuously monitor your reservation for any promotions, then get discounts applied to your reservation as soon as they are released as long as your trip qualifies.  I know I've been able to save my clients plenty this way-some just a small amount, but others hundreds of dollars.  And most travel agents--especially those who specialize in Disney--don't charge any fees so your trip will not cost you any more than if you had booked on your own...without the headache of having to track your reservation constantly for the release of discounts.

So, whether you want to do it yourself or you use a travel agent, remember that even if you book at rack rate (the maximum charged for a room), Disney will allow discounts released after you book to be applied to your reservation to help lower your cost.

Have you ever had a discount applied after already booking your trip?  How much have you been able to save by getting a discount after your initial reservation?

Need help booking a Disney vacation?  You can request a free quote from my travel agent website or use the Contact Me information in the tab at the top of the blog. As always, there are no extra fees for booking with me :-)

Tuesday Tip-Checking the Refurbishment Schedule

Have you ever gotten to Walt Disney World (or any theme park), excited to ride your favorite rides, only to experience the total let-down of seeing those infamous wooden walls around an attraction and a sign saying it's "Closed for Refurbishment"?  Yeah, me too.  To keep yourself from being disappointed when you arrive at the park, you can always check the refurbishment schedule before you go to see what attractions will be closed while you're there...then you can plan an alternate park touring schedule so you don't waste any time heading for a ride when it's not even going to be available.

I've added a Refurbishment Schedule tab above where you can check out the latest closings at the Walt Disney World resort.  As a travel agent specializing in Disney, I get this information directly from their travel agent portal and I'll be updating the page weekly for you.  You may want to bookmark the Refurbishment Schedule page so you can easily check back for any new information before your trip.  And as always, feel free to use the information on the Contact Me page if you have specific questions you'd like to ask.

Arriving at the parks to find your favorite rides or restaurants are closed can really throw a damper on your day or even your whole trip.  I've actually had people adjust the dates of their vacation so they can avoid the closure of their favorite rides!  Be sure to plan ahead by checking the schedule before your trip.

Have you ever moved your trip dates to avoid ride refurbishments?  What ride closures would put a damper on your trip if you didn't know about them ahead of time?

Tuesday Tip-Best places to rest your feet in the Walt Disney World Theme Parks

While I know you want to get the most out of your Walt Disney World vacation after all the time and money you've spent, sometimes you just need to crash for a little bit while in the parks-if only to rest your tired little feet for just a few minutes.  So for this week's Tuesday tip, here's my favorite ways to  get off your feet for a bit (and maybe even catch forty winks while you're at it!):

Magic Kingdom
-Want to relax for more than just one trip around Tomorrowland on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (the Peoplemover)?  If there is not a huge line of guests waiting to board when you get back to the station, ask the cast member at the exit station if you can remain on... but DO NOT get out of the car until you ask. Once you exit the car, you’ll have to exit the attraction and then go thru the entrance again to get back on.  Usually if it’s not too busy, when you ask they’ll shut the door of your car and you can go back around again.

-The Hall of Presidents (Liberty Square)-sit in an air conditioned theater for this approximately 23 minute animatronic show to give yourself a nice, cool break in your day
-Carousel of Progress (Tomorrowland)-another animatronic theater, also air-conditioned with a show just over 20 minutes long
-Walt Disney Railroad (stations on Main Street, USA; Frontierland; New Fantasyland)-take a 20 minute round-trip journey around the entire Magic Kingdom park...also a great way to get from one area of the park to another without a lot of walking.

Epcot
-Ellen's Energy Adventure (Future World)-hands down the longest attraction at the Walt Disney World theme parks at 45 minutes...and also a great way to escape an afternoon downpour.  Not so good for napping though-the movie portions can get quite loud.
-Circle of Life (Future World, The Land pavilion)-just under 20 minutes long, air-conditioned theater
-Impressions de France (World Showcase, France pavilion)-18 minute movie in a huge air-conditioned theater...DH and I stop here almost every trip-fantastic music as well!
-American Adventure (World Showcase, America pavilion)-just over 28 minutes, animatronic show in yes--another air-conditioned theater

Disney's Hollywood Studios
-Indiana Jones' Epic Stunt Show Spectacular (30 minutes)-outdoor theater, no air-conditioning
-Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show (35 minutes)-outdoor theater, no air-conditioning
-Great Movie Ride (just over 18 minutes)-indoors, air-conditioned with live action and animatronics
-Muppet Vision 3-D (just over 17 minutes)-indoor theater, air-conditioned 3-D short movie (one of my favorites, it's just so cute!)

Animal Kingdom
-Festival of the Lion King (live stage show)-30 minutes-indoor, air-conditioned theater
-Finding Nemo-The Musical (live stage show)-30 minutes-indoor, air-conditioned theater
-Flights of Wonder-outdoor show with live birds, not air-conditioned-25 minutes

Which is your favorite way to take a load off while storming the parks?

Don't forget to head over to enter the $100 Disney Gift Card giveaway I'm co-sponsoring!  If you're a fan of my independent travel agent page Magical Moments Vacations by Carra Saigh, you can get two entries in the giveaway!

Tuesday Tip-Saving Money at Places Off Walt Disney World Property

Many of you either drive your own car or fly in and get a rental car while staying at Walt Disney World.  This puts you in the position of being able to head off property to check out the surrounding areas.  Want to add some fun extras to your trip?  There are plenty of attractions and restaurants off Disney property that are really great and certainly worth a visit (though I certainly understand staying in that Disney "bubble" to keep the magic going).

Here's a money-saving tip to help you enjoy the rest of the Orlando area: check out all those "coupon" type sites.  Groupon.com will often have area restaurants and/or attractions listed where you can snag attraction tickets or meals for up to half off or even more.  Recently the Pirates Dinner Adventure and Old Town have both posted deals on Groupon.  Living Social is another great site to look for local Orlando area deals-this year they've had deals on tickets for Medieval Times (who doesn't like to watch a good joust with their meal?) and even for Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba at Downtown Disney.  One cool thing about Living Social is that you can usually share the deal you buy with others, and if at least three others purchase the deal from your link, your deal is free.

Another favorite is Restaurant.com where you can purchase restaurant gift certificates for a fraction of their dollar value, like a $10 certificate for $4 or a $25 one for $10...and even if you don't want to go off property, you'll sometimes see certificates for Crossroads at House of Blues in Downtown Disney (usually a $50 certificate for around $20) or the restaurants in the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd near Downtown Disney.  And restaurant.com almost always has a discount code out-anywhere from about 30 all the way up to 90% off-to sweeten the deal even more (yes, you read that right-up to 90% off!).

Be sure to check the fine print to see if there are any date restrictions or spending requirements--for example, the House of Blues $50 restaurant certificate usually says you need to spend at least $100, not including alcoholic beverages or tax/tip...but still, if that $50 certificate only costs you $20, you're still saving $30 on that meal (and a great meal at that).  Want to save even more?  If you're a My Coke Rewards member, you can redeem your points for restaurant.com certificates.  Right now, a $50 certificate costs 600 My Coke Rewards points...and that just saved you another $20.

So if you have the ability to head off property, be sure to check out the major deal sites for specials like these to add a little extra fun to your trip.  Even if you're not able to head off property, you may be able to score a great deal on La Nouba or a meal at the House of Blues for an amazing price.

Have you ever used a deal site for specials for your vacation at WDW?  What did you think?  I personally have done many restaurant.com certificates (including House of Blues) and it's always worked out great!

Staying within the "Disney bubble" is always fantastic-but don't overlook the fun deals available off property!

Tuesday Tip-Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort

Want to totally immerse yourselves in the Disney experience?  Staying on Disney property is one of the best ways to keep yourselves in that "Disney bubble".  While staying off property might be cheaper, a Disney resort will make you feel like you're still in the magic.

Disney offers resorts in the Value, Moderate and Deluxe categories so there is a price range for everyone.  While you won't find a free continental breakfast in the lobby (though if you stay club level at a Deluxe resort, there are munchies available to you), all Disney resorts now have at least a mini-fridge, plus Moderate and Deluxe resorts have coffee makers...so if you want to buy your own snacks and drinks to have in the room, you'll have a place to put them.  All rooms now also have free Wi-Fi Internet access.

Staying at a Disney resort means you also have multiple free transportation options to get from your hotel to the parks and/or Downtown Disney.  Every resort will have at least bus transportation, and some also have boats (I highly recommend taking boats during your trip-a very relaxing option).  If you decide to splurge on the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian resorts, you'll also have the monorail available to take you right from your hotel directly to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot.  Plus, if you did drive to WDW and stay at an on-property resort, you'll get a parking pass which lets you park at all four theme parks at no cost.

Stay on the monorail line for easy access to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot

Need to take a break in the middle of your day?  Staying on property means it's a quick trip back to your room for a nap or a nice, cool swimming pool break.  And speaking of those pools, Moderate and Deluxe resorts even have a water slide with their pools.  Many of the on-property hotels also show Disney movies at the main pools at night, as well as games by the pools during the day.

Staying for several days or more?  Refillable mugs are for sale at the resorts (about $15)...purchase one and you can use it at your hotel for the length of your stay.  *Note, if you are using the Dining Plan, one of these mugs will come with your plan*

You can also have any items you purchase in the parks or at Downtown Disney delivered to your hotel for free.  So, no lugging heavy packages around all day!

The best thing about the Disney hotels is their theming.  The Value resorts are a favorite for the kids, with enormous figures like 3-story footballs, Rubik's cubes, musical instruments and characters from Disney movies.  The Moderate and Deluxe resorts have themes like the Victorian era, American Southwest, the beach or Frontier America.  The smallest of details are not forgotten, making you feel like you've stepped into a different time period or geographic location just by returning to your hotel room.

While you may save on your hotel room by staying off property, splurge just a bit for just one WDW trip to see what you're missing.  The convenience, atmosphere and legendary Disney guest service really makes staying on property a great value.

Have you stayed at an on-property Disney resort?  Which is your favorite?  Do you think it increases the overall value of your vacation?

Don't forget-today's the last day to enter the giveaway for the Buzz and Woody Vinylmation figures!  The winner will receive both Buzz and Woody Color Block Vinylmations...whether you're a Toy Story fanatic, Vinylmation collector, or just love all things Disney, be sure to enter the giveaway and share it with others...the more the merrier-after all, the more you share, the more giveaways I can do.  And stay tuned for the August giveaway-lots of fun stuff for TDWF readers!        

Tuesday Tip-The Monorail to Epcot

The monorail...a ride itself!

Most of you are probably aware that there is a monorail at Walt Disney World that takes you from the Magic Kingdom Transportation & Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom itself.  You may also be aware of the Epcot monorail which will take you from the Magic Kingdom's Transportation & Ticket Center to Epcot and back.  This makes it really easy to hop from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot or vice versa during the day without having to board the buses or take your car if you drove.

But don't look at the monorail solely as just a way to get from point A to point B...WDW veterans know the monorail is a ride too!  Hopping on the monorail, especially the Epcot monorail-which takes about 8-10 minutes one-way, 16-20 minutes round-trip-can be a relaxing ride in itself.  It's an air-conditioned, smooth ride, plus you get to see some nice scenery along the way.  It's a great way to take a break from your day, especially if you're about to end your vacation and want to do just one more thing to prolong it ;-)  I like to take one or even two trips around to help cool off and relax a bit before my drive home once vacation time is over.

So your Tuesday tip...take a round-trip monorail ride on the Epcot line, just for the heck of it.  Hey, you (or your spouse...or kids) may even catch a short nap to keep you going for the rest of the day.

Do you ever take the monorail just because?

Don't forget to check out my giveaway for a Toy Story Buzz & Woody pair of Vinylmation figures!  Odds are really good right now...make sure you get yourself entered and share the giveaway with friends and family too!

Tuesday Tip-Catching the Fireworks at the Magic Kingdom

I love the fireworks shows that Walt Disney World puts on.  They do a fantastic job, syncing to the music and setting off some really cool shapes.  Other than the holiday fireworks shows which go many steps beyond amazing (New Years Eve, 4th of July, Happy Hallowishes and Holiday Wishes), my favorite is the Wishes fireworks display at the Magic Kingdom, with Illuminations my second choice (sorry Fantasmic, though you're pretty cool too).

I used to be one of those people who would park myself smack in front of the castle in that little circle by the statue of Walt and Mickey...until one night I just didn't make it there in time and was stuck in an area to the right as you are looking at the castle.  And I haven't sat in that circle since.  Why?  Because sitting right in front of the castle means a bunch of those cool fireworks will wind up being blocked by the castle itself!  So here's your tip:

When choosing a viewing spot for Wishes while inside of the park (or any other fireworks display at the Magic Kingdom), try a spot off to the side if you want to be close to the castle.  Better yet, if you'd really like that full castle-facing view, back up to right near Casey's Corner or the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor...then you'll be able to see those lower-hanging fireworks and get a full view of the castle as well.  A great option is to get snacks or a meal from one of those places, grab one of the tables that are right there and enjoy your food while watching.  Some people will go as far back as the 2nd floor of the train station for an even wider view of the show.

Wherever you decide to watch, enjoy the show--WDW puts on some of the best fireworks displays you'll ever see...sprinkled with some extra pixie dust of course!

Don't forget...the latest giveaway for a Toy Story Buzz and Woody pair of Vinylmation figures is now open!  Be sure to check out the giveaway blog post and enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of the post...and of course, please share with friends and family!  Good luck all!

Tuesday Tip-Meeting Characters Without Wasting a Lot of Time

I love getting pictures taken with the characters when I'm at Walt Disney World.  What I don't love is waiting in a long line...outside...in the blazing sun and sweltering heat...just to meet them to get those coveted pictures.  Not only does that result in me getting hot and sweaty, but it wastes a lot of valuable time standing in line-usually to see just one character per line.  So here's today's Tuesday Tip...

Try a character meal.  Character meals typically feature several characters that you are guaranteed to see  at least once while you're there.  While a character meal might be a bit more expensive than a regular meal (you are paying for premium time with the characters after all), but some things to remember are:

-No waiting in a line outside in that blazing sun just to see a single character (whew!)

-You'll see multiple characters throughout your meal-for example, at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom, you'll usually see Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.

-The characters make the rounds through the dining room so they actually come to your table...that's right, they come to YOU!

-Many character meals are buffets, so even if you have to pay more for the meal, you can eat as much as you want.  A great way to use this to the fullest is by having your meal a lot earlier or a lot later than the traditional mealtime (example-a 10:30am breakfast) and eating a big meal so it will last you quite a while.  With the 10:30am breakfast example, you could have one or two small, filling snacks (instead of lunch) later that afternoon, then have an earlier dinner...even though you pay more for than breakfast, you have one less meal to pay for overall.

So next time you're at WDW, try a character meal (and yes, most character meals are still just one table service credit on the Dining Plan if you're using it!)...you'll find that you can save time and energy while getting to see many characters at once in a relaxed, indoor, air-conditioned setting.  

Have you done a character meal before?  Which one is your favorite?

Tuesday Tip-The Disney Dining Plan and ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations)

Have you heard these before?  “I don’t need reservations for dining, I have the dining plan” or “You don’t need reservations for table service restaurants, you can always just walk up and get seated”?  Yup, I hear these quite a lot actually.  The reality?  The total opposite is quite often true.

Do you have the Dining Plan?  Make sure you get to use your credits!

First-what’s the difference between Quick Service and Table Service restaurants?  Think of it like this...Quick Service is like a fast food restaurant-you place your order, pick it up at a counter, then seat yourself and clean up after yourself.  Table service is like a casual dining restaurant-a host seats you, you have a server that takes your order, brings your food and clears your table.  Quick Service is just that-meant to be fast to get you in and get you back out again as speedily as possible.  Table service allows you time to sit back and relax, allowing you to dine at a more leisurely pace.

The very nature of Table Service (taking longer to have your meal than Quick Service) means there are less available seatings for these types of restaurants.  And with thousands of guests on the dining plan...and thousands more who aren’t but still want to eat at WDW’s yummy and very popular Tables Service locations, making Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) has gone from a “just in case” idea to a necessity.  Especially when those Free Dining promotions are running!

Character meals get booked up pretty quickly-make your ADR early!

Here’s your tip...you can make your ADRs up to 180 days in advance of your visit.  The most popular restaurants and prime meal times will fill up quickly like Be Our Guest, Le Cellier and any character meals, so if eating at a particular restaurant or during a particular time of day is important to you, be ready to go online (6am disneyworld.com/dining) or call in (7am 407-WDW-DINE) to make your reservations.  There are a handful of restaurants that don’t take ADRs such as the ESPN Club, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, Kouzzina by Cat Cora and Beaches & Cream Soda Shop...but for the most part, if it’s a Table Service restaurant at WDW, you should be able to make an ADR.

Some Table Service locations don't take ADRs-be sure to plan ahead

After all, you don’t want to let those Table Service credits go to waste, right? While you could use a Table Service credit for a Quick Service meal if there was absolutely no Table Service restaurant available, you’d be wasting the value of that Table Service meal.  So, do a little pre-vacation planning to choose where and when you’d like to spend those Table Service credits and be sure to make those ADRs as soon as the 180 day point hits.

Did you know...if you book your trip through me, I’d be glad to help you with those ADRs too!  

Tuesday Tip-Epcot's Germany-It's the Little Things...

If you've been to Epcot and checked out the Germany pavilion in the World Showcase, you may have noticed the amazing model train landscape they have set up there.  There's a little village, trees and landscaping, a little farm...all in miniature.  There's usually three trains running, though sometimes you may only see one or two chugging along.

Now for the fun tip...

You know how Disney is known for its amazing attention to even the smallest of details, right?  If you're lucky enough to be able to visit Walt Disney World more than once, especially if it's at different times of the year, be sure to carefully scrutinize the display.  The setup will change depending on the time of year.  During the winter, the little town is decorated for the holidays, and during Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival, you'll see miniature food booths just like the food booths around the World Showcase!  There's even people standing around tall tables enjoying what they got at the booths and a mini-cranberry bog, just like the real-life cranberry bog they had for the festival!

Miniature Food & Wine Festival Booths in the train set

So, on your next trip to Epcot, be sure to check out the trains in Germany and see what setup they have going on.  My favorite?  Many years ago in the farm section, there was a crop circle in the middle of the farmer's field and they had the farmer standing next to it with his head tilted back staring up at the sky as if he was looking for the aliens who did it.  The best part?  The crop circle was in the shape of a Mickey head!

Do you check out the trains whenever you visit?  What different setups have you seen?

Here's a wider view of the above set...see the walkway at the top?  That's where you can walk thru, so it will help with the perspective of the size of the setup (and yes, there's more of the model trains on the other side of the walkway-there's a tunnel that takes the trains thru to the other side!)

Don't forget while you're here to check out the giveaway I'm doing for a cute Disney Vinylmation figure!  Only a couple days left to enter and right now the odds are really good for anyone entered!  Click HERE to check it out, then check back again on the blog next month for another Vinylmation giveaway!

Tuesday Tip-Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safaris

One of the most popular attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom is Kilimanjaro Safaris in the Africa section of the park.  There's the hope of seeing real wild animals close up and personal and it can be a fantastic opportunity for photographs.  Today's tip?  Don't ride just once-try to fit in multiple rides at different times of the day or even on multiple days across your whole trip.  Most guests report seeing the most activity from the animals in the morning hours before the heat and humidity of the Florida day start to really take hold, but don't forget-these are live animals that roam around freely in their areas so you never know what you'll see from ride to ride.  And don't forget to keep your camera ready-you never know when or where a cool animal will pop up!

Almost close enough to touch-the beige-colored pole on the right side of the picture is part of our vehicle, that's how close this one was!

Don't forget-there's still time left to enter my giveaway for a Color Block Goofy Vinylmation figure!  Stop on by-there's several options to gain entries-and please share with others!  Thanks all!

Tuesday Tip-Epcot's Spaceship Earth

The moment you enter Epcot this is the sight that dominates-Spaceship Earth.  A relaxing ride through the history of communication, crowds of people head directly for it the moment they open the gates.  Tip for the day?  Wait until later in the day to ride instead.  The crowds will be significantly lower and in many cases you should be able to just walk right on...so save it for your last ride on the way out instead of your first ride on the way in, especially first thing in the morning.

Tuesday Tip-A Little Extra Magic for Those Celebrating While at Walt Disney World

Will you be celebrating something during your Walt Disney World Trip?  Maybe a birthday, an anniversary, engagement, marriage or a personal triumph?  Make sure you have your travel agent note this on your reservation (or you can do this yourself if you prefer making the reservation on your own). Normally when you check in to your WDW resort, the Cast Member will see the notation and offer you a pin to wear to show what you are celebrating:

For the birthday one, the Cast Member will write your name on the button (or have you write it) and when you're wearing it other Cast Members will tell you Happy Birthday.  You could actually write things on any of the buttons-like for the Personal Triumph--maybe you're running your first half or full marathon at WDW, you could put that on the button; or you and your spouse's names on the anniversary, engaged or just married buttons, etc.  Cast Members will congratulate you when they see it.

If it's not offered at check-in (for example, if it was listed on your reservation too close to your trip so the resort didn't receive the information), be sure to let the Cast Member who is checking you in know you are celebrating something and if the buttons aren't offered, just ask for them--they'll be happy to provide them.

Just another way Disney likes to add a little magic to your vacation!

Have you ever gotten a celebration button while at WDW?  I've gotten the birthday, anniversary and "I'm Celebrating!" ones before :-)

Tuesday Tip-Wake-Up Calls at Walt Disney World Resorts

For a much more fun start to your day when staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, request a wake-up call instead of using an alarm clock or your cell phone.  When the call comes, it will be a Disney character on the other end of the line!