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The List… My WDW Vacation Prep Struggle

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Posted on May 10, 2018 by waltdisneyworldblog

Guys, I have a confession. I’m struggling! Normally I am so organized, excited, and filled with the planning spirit when I have an upcoming Walt Disney World trip. For me, the preparation is half of the fun. But I’m having a hard time with this upcoming trip.

We are so busy. Life is good, but life is full. And this fullness is overwhelming my ability to think about this trip, let a lone plan. I’m particularly frustrated by this because it’s been a long time since we’ve visited and I’m clamoring to make the most of this trip – including the planning! Probably a foolish feeling, but since when are feelings always sensible?

I’ve taken care of the essentials: making sure we have Fastpass+ and dining reservations. But beyond that? Oy.

I’ve hardly thought about it. My countdown calendar lacks daily attention. In fact, I’ve been lucky to get to it once a week.

And honestly, I feel daunted by visiting with my toddler. How much will she be able to do? Will she enjoy herself? Will be she be tired and fearful? How do I prepare for taking her? Am I going to feel like a backpacker lugging around everything to meet her needs? Are we going to be able to enjoy it as a family? I know in my heart we will. But I’m definitely in unknown territory.

To combat my sort of nagging, back-of-the-mind wanderings I’ve taken to constructing lists. When my hubby reads this he’s going to say this is just an outlet for my OCD, control-centric personality tendencies. He’s probably right. But, it’s also a great way to start preparing and ensure I take everything I need – particularly related to my toddler. I’ve also found it to be a fun way to jot things down that I’m looking forward to, to help foster anticipation and excitement.

So what’s on my random post-it list?

Sunscreen – Clearly needed in FL summer, but I gotta make sure to have toddler safe and convenient!
Ziploc bags – These are so handy. I always have a few in different sizes with me when I go to WDW.
Laundry bag – Much better than stuffing dirty clothes in a trash bag or tripping over them laying around the room.
Shoes – lol really? Of course we need shoes. Prime example of how my mind works. But my point was making sure to have enough appropriate footwear, and order more Olukai sandals if needed. And figure out little one’s shoes. I swear her feet grow every day. Actually, I think I’ll make my next post just about SHOES at Disney World! *Cue geeking out.*
Ponchos – It is very likely to thunderstorm/rain shower on our trip. I find it miserable to get wet and try to dry out in the FL humidity. I don’t like the way my clothes stick and feel heavy when wet. While ponchos are widely available in WDW, they’re much cheaper to purchase from somewhere like Amazon.com, and pack.
Thermometer – This is something I don’t normally take, but having a toddler it’s probably good to have on hand.
Motrin – Both adult and children’s version. For adults, it’s great for the headache or just aches that may find you from walking MILES every day. For my little one, I’ll be comforted knowing I have something to help if a fever should happen to strike
Juice pouches – Honest Kids Juice Pouches are something I always take on vacation. They’re the perfect liquid treat for a road trip/WDW vacation without being loaded with sugar. The lemonade and fruit punch are my favorites.
Snack singles – I am not big on taking food/beverage into the parks, outside of a refillable water bottle. I know it’s a great way to save money. But I’m OK with paying a little extra for Disney yummies. Especially when that means I don’t have to tote it around. I do not like to lug things around the parks. I’m sort of a “bare essentials” gal. However, I’m aware I’m probably in for a change in that tide with a 2 year old. I’ve seen her hangry meltdowns. I don’t think a couple of goldfish cracker packs will take up too much room, and I will probably be grateful for them at some point.
Diapers – I certainly don’t want to get stuck with a need for these.
Baby Wipes – See above, but also perfect for wiping off Mickey Premium Bars from little hands.
Diaper Rash Cream – I don’t normally have a need for this, but I’m leaving nothing to chance with the heat and humidity of Florida.
Hand Sanitizer – I’m not sure I’ve ever taken this into the parks before. I’m not sure why not. I know the numbers of people moving through the park each day. And since I’ve turned mom, especially after this last terrible flu season, I’m a bit of a germaphobe. I will have plenty of this on hand.
Clorox Wipes – Not an item I’ll be taking into the parks, but certainly something that comes in handy around the hotel and in the car.
Lysol Sanitizing Spray – Again, for the hotel. I think generally Mousekeeping does a great job preparing Disney hotel rooms. But I don’t see any harm in spraying down surfaces to keep germs at bay. No one wants to be sick on vacation.

This is by no means a comprehensive packing list. (That is upcoming!) Just a few things that I stuck on a post-it note.

I began writing this post a couple of days ago. Since then, I’ve been feeling excited! I’ve made many more post-it lists and doodles. My mood has shifted. I’ve been able to imagine being there with my little one and seeing her wonder. I’ve had a blast compiling my lists and daydreaming about the trip. I think I’ll even catch up on the countdown calendar tonight…

See ya real soon!

WDW Coffee Talk

Posted on January 25, 2016 by waltdisneyworldblog

All Hail the Depth Charger…

(and just coffee in general)

Once upon a time coffee was not something easily acquired at Walt Disney World. Primarily what you could find, unless you went on a specified hunt, was Nescafe instant coffee. Nescafe instant coffee? – I don’t consider that coffee. Coffee must be from roasted beans, ground, and freshly brewed into wonderful, hot, dark liquid nectar of the gods.

Kermit has coffee with dessert at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom

Fortunately, those dark and dreary days of the Nescafe Instant Coffee monarchy are over and long gone. For better or worse, each park and Disney Springs now hosts a Starbucks. Say what you will about it, there is now coffee in every park. Starbucks is not the only game in town either. In fact, they are just the minor leagues. Most WDW coffee is from Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. (based in Tampa). They provide 100% Specialty Arabica Bean Coffee to Disney Parks and Disney Hotels. I am happy to say that this is the coffee you find in your hotel room, in WDW restuarants, and many stand locations throughout the parks. Actually, most restaurants have a Joffrey’s blend custom-made especially for them. (On Joffrey’s website you can view and purchase some for the comfort of your home!) Some hotels, such as the Contemporary, also have a Joffrey’s Coffee bar.

Hubby and I are both coffee ~~addicts~~ enthusiasts. We never start a day without it. And despite heat, we do not forgo the coffee ritual in WDW or hubby (and occasionally myself) are less pleasant and tolerable. On our June 2015 trip, every morning, before boarding the bus/monorail, we walked next door to the Contemporary’s lobby to hit Contemporary Grounds, a Joffrey’s Coffee bar. There we met and fell in love with the Depth Charger. What is a Depth Charger? A a cup of holy goodness going by the recipe of one shot of espresso drowning in a cup of coffee. I believe Starbucks calls these “red eyes.” I am sure there are many other names for it.

Contemporary Grounds offers freshly brewed coffee, cappuccino and espresso drinks, and a few pastries. Pastry selections include giant donuts that boast bright pink or chocolate frosting topped with sprinkles. We never purchased any baked goods to go with our coffee, but they looked delicious. Depth Chargers were not on the coffee menu, but the very charming barista kindly obliged my husband when he asked our first day if she could make it. After that, each morning we simply said “2 Depth Chargers please,” and they were delivered with a smile.

Because coffee is now so widely available in the parks you don’t have to feel pressed to grab it at the hotel before you leave. If Starbucks is your jam, head to Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom, Fountain View at Epcot, Trolley Car Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Creature Comforst at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Joffrey’s coffee stands are sprinkled throughout the parks, which is particularly nice in Epcot and Animal Kingdom that cover so much area.

Here are a few of the places you can locate Joffrey’s Coffee in the parks:

Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center
Epcot World Showcase between UK and Canada
Epcot Monorail Station
Epcot Outside of Test Track
Epcot World Showcase America
Epcot World Showcase Entrance near Disney Traders
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Pixar Place Entrance
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror Exit
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Entrace
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Asia, near Kali River Rapids
Blizzard Beach, near Polar Park
Blizzard beach, near Lottawatta Lodge
Typhoon Lagoon, near Let’s Go Slurpin’
Typhoon Lagoon Donut Cart
Disney Springs, Marketplace across from World of Disney
Disney Springs, 40 Thirst Street

Cheers!

Bay Lake Tower Review

Posted on July 27, 2015 by waltdisneyworldblog

On our 2015 June trip we called Bay Lake Tower, or BLT, home. When first reading about Bay Lake Tower and seeing its acronym of BLT I put off. A BLT is my favorite summer sandwich of bacon, lettuce, and tomato. However, after a bit of soul searching I found there is room in my heart for BLT to stand for Bay Lake Tower AND bacon, lettuce and tomato. After all, both are wonderful.

BLT is a DVC resort, so it is a bit different from other WDW hotels. (More on that momentarily.) One of Bay Lake Tower’s major appeals is its proximity to the Magic Kingdom. MK is just a short, pleasant stroll away. Because of this BLT often has guests that are not DVC members. The price is high, and you have to be willing to pay, and some do shell out to be close to Magic Kingdom. In fact, Many of BLT’s rooms offer stunning views of Magic Kingdom. This is particularly charming at night as it offers you a view of Wishes, Magic Kingdom’s fireworks spectacular, right from your room. Fireworks in pajamas with no crowds? Not bad, eh?

Being a DVC resort, rooms at BLT are either Deluxe Studios (sleeps 4 adults), One Bedroom Villas (sleeps 5 adults), or Two Bedroom Villas (sleeps 9 adults). Studios include a kitchenette and single bathroom. One Bedroom Villas offer a full kitchen, one bedroom and one bathroom. Two Bedroom Villas offer a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Studios, One, and Two Bedroom Villas all come with a choice of theme park view, lake view, or standard view. Standard views are anything level 4 and below. Lake views offer bits of Bay Lake (which may also include the pool), and theme park views offer a view of Magic Kingdom.

: Looking down from our balcony

We stayed in a Lake View Deluxe Studio. We were situated in a room that faced the Contemporary, where we could view its pool, and watch the Monorails come and go. We could watch the boats sweep across the lake in front of the Grand Floridian. And in the distance, we could see Epcot’s Spaceship Earth and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror. We could see the hot air balloon rise up from Downtown Disney. At night we were able to watch the fireworks of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from our balcony, as well as the Electric Light Parade. We could even see bits of Magic Kingdom if we leaned forward and peered to the right. (A move for adults only, obviously.) We loved our view. It was varied and wonderful. We spent as much time as possible just enjoying the scenery from our balcony. If we were to go back, we’d be more than happy to have the same room and view all over again.

: Husband doing his Photography thing.

: Kitchenette

: Kitchenette

One thing that is important to understand about staying at Bay Lake Tower is that it essentially functions as a branch of Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel. In fact, BLT is connected to The Contemporary via a Sky Bridge on the 5th floor. Because Bay Lake Tower is a DVC resort it does not have the usual plethora of amenities Disney Hotels usually boast. Not to worry! The Sky Bridge connection to The Contemporary his allows you ready access to its restaurants, bars, shops, room service, and Monorail access. BLT and the Contemporary also share a bus stop, which is located between the two hotels.

While you need to walk to the Contemporary for use of a gym, restaurants, or bars, Bay Lake Tower does have wonderful outdoor recreation. There is a pool with a winding water slide, a kid splash area, and a whirlpool. The pool bar, named Cove Bar, offers up beer, wine, tropical cocktails, and an assortment of snacks. In an outdoor area in front of the pool entrance there are games set up such as corn hole, shuffleboard, and ping pong tables.

If for some reason you are unsatisfied with BLT’s outdoor offerings, you also can take the very short stroll to use The Contemporary’s pool. (We did for a water slide showdown! And in case you’re wondering – both are great. BLT’s is more twisting, whereas the Contemporary’s is more dipping with speed.)

: View looking up at the BLT water slide.

: Tunnel under the BLT water slide

: View of pool at night from the 14th floor.

This was our first time to stay at Bay Lake Tower, though we have spent just one night at The Contemporary. Bay Lake Tower is less themed than most other WDW hotels. For us, that was fine. We liked the minimal, contemporary feel. I think it would be less exciting for kids, but then again, you’re right next to the Magic Kingdom and that has its appeal. In fact, one day when walking on the Sky Bridge I saw a dad carrying a little dude about 2. He spotted Cinderella Castle in the distance and started saying “Dad! Dad!! I see Disney World! I see Disney World!!” Little man was pumped. It was awfully cute.

So, do we recommend it? Should you stay here? This I can only answer with, “well, it depends.” As I may have mentioned before, my parents are Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members. Since my parents are also awesome, they shared their points with us for this last trip. Otherwise, because of the cost, Bay Lake Tower would not be anywhere within our reach. If you are a DVC member, I absolutely 100% recommend it. We would be thrilled to stay there again. If you’re not a DVC member, then my recommendation comes less readily. If being close to Magic Kingdom is worth the cost to you – BLT is a wonderful experience. If, however, the idea of shelling out that kind of cash for a hotel makes you squirm – stay somewhere else. (On Walt Disney World’s property, of course!) While Bay Lake Tower was an amazing experience, other deluxe or moderate resorts make for better ways to spend your hard earned cash in equal comfort.

Caribbean Beach Review

Posted on November 17, 2014 by waltdisneyworldblog

I’ve said it before and I’ll stick to it. Deciding which Walt Disney World Resort Hotel to call home on your vacation is half the fun of planning. But with over 25 options covering three financial tiers (Deluxe, Moderate, and Value) each with its own theme, choosing can also be overwhelming. Fortunately any choice on property is a great choice.

When we booked our last trip to WDW it was late in the game and so we had few hotel options available to us. As it worked out Caribbean Beach was our luck. Already being a family favorite, no one was disappointed and our return visit only solidified the special place it has in our hearts.

You know the Jerry Maguire quote, “You had me at hello?” That’s Caribbean Beach for us. After exiting the Magical Express and approaching the Custom House where guest check-in is located, we were peppered with warm salutations and friendly smiles. The Custom House is enchanting with tile floors, high ceilings, fans swishing, and shuttered windows. Check-in was a breeze. We arrived early in the day and our room was not yet ready. Caribbean Beach graciously held our luggage and we made our way over to the Boardwalk for lunch. But that’s another story. Upon our return our room was ready, our luggage was delivered, and we took a stroll to survey the scene. What awaited us were bananas perfectly, inconspicuously hanging in the landscape. *Sigh* If only I could be looking at those beautiful bananas right now. And I hate bananas – I will not eat them. I think they’re revolting. My husband disagrees.

Vibrant colors are everywhere. The landscape is lush and tropical and the entire property hugs a lake named Barefoot Bay. Tell me that’s not inviting. Guest rooms are located in the six “villages” – Martinique, Barbados, Aruba, Jamaica, Trinidad North and Trinidad South that all sit around the lake. There are seven white sand beaches with palm trees and hammocks and each village has its own pool.

At the heart of everything is Old Port Royale Centertown. Here you can grab a bite to eat at the food court or at the restaurant Shutters. Or perhaps take a dip in the Fuentes del Morro pool, complete with cannons dripping water and two waterslides. One slide is 102 feet long, and I promise you’ll go back for seconds and thirds. Next to the pool is a magnificent splash area for little ones in the form of a wrecked pirate ship. Mini-slides and a giant barrel atop the mast that periodically dumps its water contents will delight toddlers. We paid a couple of visits to the Banana Cabana Pool Bar where you’ll find beer, wine, and plenty of tropical cocktails. At night they show a movie next to the bar on a giant screen. One of the best memories my husband and I had from our last trip was watching Wall-E with a cocktail after dinner at Shutters and a dip in the pool. (Our swim may or may not have included several trips down the large waterslide.) Rooms are comfortable with soft, fluffy beds and extra touches you expect from Disney. There is a Finding Nemo motif to each room, and it meshes perfectly with the Caribbean themeing.

Shower Curtain Detail

View from our room.

The temperatures have dropped into the 40s and 30s this last week and right now the rain is gushing down. As it is true that a picture is worth more than words I will cease my rambling and display some of the images from our stay at Caribbean Beach. I hope they bring you the smile and thoughts of warm days that they bring me.

How To Plan Your Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World

Posted on May 8, 2014 by waltdisneyworldblog

Hello friends! As promised from my post earlier this week, I am sharing my dining reservation strategy with you. I’ve been using this method for many years now, and I find it to be the best, most efficient way to plan my time at WDW.

Here are the two firm truths about planning a WDW vacation – short or long. 1.) Walt Disney World is expensive. 2.) Walt Disney World is gigantic, with hundreds of options for things to do. If you don’t at least spend a little time planning your trip before you go – you will end up wasting precious time. Using the WDW Blog Disney Vacationing Theorem we know that Truth 1 + Truth 2 = THE ULTIMATE TRUTH. See below:

WDW is Expensive + Nearly Infinite Ways to Spend Your Time =
TIME IS MONEY!!

Like my lesson for the day? It’s true. I promise. But here’s the deal – I’m not saying you have to pre-plan every minute of your trip. In fact, I frown upon that. Over-planning is a great way to be miserable during your vacation. You can’t control everything at Disney World. Buses run on loops. Attraction queue line times fluctuate. It’s all about balance. Your planning should have structure – but not be overly full. And your plans should be FLEXIBLE.

When I start to plan my WDW vacation I start with my Table Service dining reservations. Why? Disney World restaurants are not like regular restaurants. Availability is limited, reservations do fill up and a stand-by wait time can be hours. MAKE RESERVATIONS. And make them early. You had better believe I am online or on the phone 180 days out from my vacation to make dining reservations. If you do that, you can usually have any restaurant you want at any time you want.

As you know from my last post, my upcoming trip was short notice. As soon as we had booked our room we got working on planning and making said dining reservations. Here’s how I go about it.

First, I make a chart for the number of days I am going to be on vacation, and I include a bisection for each of the four main theme parks: Below the WDW Vacation 2014 block I have 7 spaces down the left side of the paper, one block for each of the days on my vacation. Across, to the right of the WDW Vacation 2014 block I have 4 large blocks for the 4 main theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

Once I have the grid in, I start to fill in the blocks across for the 4 parks and the blocks down with the specific dates of my trip.Once all the dates are filled in, I visit Disney’s official website to find out what hours each of the 4 parks are open every day. AND most importantly, what the Extra Magic Hours are for the days of my vacation. Extra Magic Hours are extra times, either before a park opens or after it closes that are available ONLY to guests staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. EMHs (Extra Magic Hours) are a great way to visit your favorite attractions with lightened wait times. I place morning EMHs above the parks regular hours, and night EMHs below. I also highlight the EMHs so I can see them apart from the regular park hours. I do this because I almost always take advantage of the EMHs when they are offered. You’ll also notice Epcot is divided into two. That’s because Future World (FW) and World Showcase (WS) have different hours. Once everything is filled in, I take a look at the chart with a PENCIL (so you can make changes) and circle what park I think I’ll visit on what day. This is almost always dictated by the EMHs. Above you can see that on Friday, May 9 the park hours aren’t filled in. This is the theoretical day I arrive at WDW. I won’t go into the parks that day. Instead I’ll hang by the pool, go shopping at Downtown Disney, visit Disney’s Boardwalk, or buy tickets to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach.For me, this all comes down to what parks I love and the EMHs. On Saturday, May 10 I circled Disney’s Hollywood Studios because it has morning EMHs. I then drew an arrow over to Epcot because I’ll probably finish my day there. Same thing happened on Wednesday, May 14. I chose to take advantage of the morning EMHs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but have myself jumping to Animal Kingdom that afternoon.

Once I have this tentative plan sketched out in pencil I consider my dining reservations. Typically my family will eat at one Table Service Restaurant a day, and eat at Quick Service spots for the rest of the day. Usually our Table Service picks are for dinner, but now and again we’ll go for breakfast or lunch. This is where the WDW Blog Vacationing Theorem comes into effect. To make the most out of your time you want plan your Table Service dining reservations to be in the park you’re visiting that day. If you’re in Animal Kingdom for the entire day, but you have dining reservations at Epcot, you will lose time traveling to Epcot, which could take up to an hour. If you had dinner at Animal Kingdom you could spend that hour visiting an attraction or two.

So for example, on Sunday, May 11, I circled Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom has evening EMHs, so I would plan to be at MK all day and night. So logically I want to make dining reservations for a Magic Kingdom restaurant. On Wednesday May 14th, I have morning EMHs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then plan to hop over to Animal Kingdom to finish the evening. I should plan to make Table Service reservations for breakfast at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or dinner at Animal Kingdom. Lunch reservations could be made at either park, depending on when I want to hop from one to the other. Since Animal Kingdom closes early (6 PM), another choice would be to have dinnerat my Resort Hotel after Animal Kingdom is closed.

Once I have planned what meal I want to eat in what park, I start looking for reservations. If you’re calling 180 days in advance, you shouldn’t have any problems snagging what you want. If you’re like us this year, planning a short notice trip, you just need to be a little flexible with your times and restaurants. We had no trouble making satisfactory reservations for our upcoming trip in June. Once I have my dining reservations made, I like to highlight the block where they occur, and write the place and time off to the side (PINK). I also marked my park visiting plan in purple. This paper becomes my go-to physical reference for what’s going on, before I leave for my vacation. The My Disney Experience Application on my phone (or on Disney’s website) is my digital copy. The My Disney Experience App really makes it easy to see what you have going on each day. Love it.

Here’s a recap of my Table Service Dining Tips:

Reserve Early! – You should be prepared to make your reservations 180 days out from your vacation, or as soon as you can if you’re planning a last minute trip. This will grant you the most choices.
Plan to eat where you’re playing! This is where my chart is useful. If you’re going to be in Epcot – eat in Epcot. This will save you the most time. (Again referencing the WDW Blog Vacationing Theorem stated above.)
Keep your times consistent! If you make reservations for dinner every night, make them for about the same time. This will keep your body from going haywire.

One last word: the strategy listed today is really all about time and making the most of it. It doesn’t factor in other dining considerations such as character dining. If you have kids who would love Mickey & Friends character dining – find a place that does that! But be logical about it. If you’re at Magic Kingdom, make a reservation for Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary. Yes,The Contemporary is outside of Magic Kingdom, but it’s right next door just a short walk or Monorail ride away. You won’t waste much time in transit.

ABOVE ALL, be prepared AND be flexible. Have a game plan going in, but be prepared to change. On my last trip to WDW I probably changed or canceled at least 2 of our dining reservations. Maybe you wind up wanting to spend more time at one park over the other, or you decide you want to just cut your day short and go back to the hotel for a pizza and a swim. Go with it!

P. S. Just so you know, the chart I made up for this post was just an example chart. It was much prettier than my charts usually end up looking when in process. See below for my working draft of our upcoming trip… Needless to say, I made a nicer draft in the end.

Disney World Here We Come!! Planning a great vacation on short notice.

Posted on May 6, 2014 by waltdisneyworldblog

Hello to you all again! Hopefully you all remember me, I don’t blame you if you don’t. It has been a long, dark hole of absence from me. All I can say is that spring finally sprung and gardens needed to be planted, yard needed to be tended, and work was a MEAN, time consuming, and selfish monster for awhile.

But I come to you all with great news. The greatest news a Disney blog author can have… We are going to Walt Disney World!!!!!!!!

This upcoming trip is rapidly approaching – next month in fact! It is nearly a complete surprise to be telling you all that I am going. This trip is the best kind – unexpected. And full disclosure here, while the short notice, unexpected kind of trip is awesome, it is also the most difficult to plan when you’re approaching WDW peak season. So should you find yourself in our shoes, let me share with you how we are conquering this challenge.

About a week or so ago I got a call from my Mumsy. She and my Padre are celebrating 35 years of marriage this year. Whoa. To celebrate they decided to take a lengthy Florida vacation and of course Disney World was among their stops. While on the phone chatting about this anniversary excursion she asked if hubs and I would like to join them for the WDW portion of their trip. I don’t think I need to tell you how enthusiastically I agreed. That was the easy part. Next, came the hard work.

As you know from my many rants, staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel is absolutely essential to having the best possible Walt Disney World vacation. For us, there is no other option. So we were terribly frustrated to learn that the original dates my Mum had selected proved to be overly popular at WDW. There were no moderate resorts available. None. Additionally, availability was incredibly limited at the Deluxe resort hotels as well as the Value resorts. Disheartened, Mumsy called to fill me in on how booked up everything was. She spent 2 days on the phone trying to get in to any of Disney’s moderate resorts with no luck. We now faced three choices:

Keep on trying for our originally chosen dates. Things happen – people cancel vacations, guests over-book and cancel certain dates, wedding room blocks are being held that won’t all be used, and so on. If you keep calling morning and night, it is very probable you will eventually land some sort of reservation with which you’ll be satisfied. Persistence does pay. BUT, there are several drawbacks. Firstly, there is no guarantee – something may not open up and you’d be forced to be in a hotel outside of your budget or without all of the amenities you want. Secondly, it is time consuming. Not everyone has time to spend constantly checking Disney’s website or calling to check availability. Thirdly, without booking you can not move forward with making FastPass+ reservations, etc.
Change our dates. This option is the most logical. Adjusting your dates means that you get more choice of where you’ll be staying. More availability means slightly lower crowds – which means better pickings of dining and what not as well. But in our situation this was difficult because my parents had reservations at other places in Florida since they plan to travel throughout the state. There were also forced to factor in our work availability.
Cancel the trip. Fortunately this was a completely last resort option that wasn’t really an option. We are just not quitters. We will triumph! We would rather compromise than not go.

In the end, with an egregious amount of juggling, phone calls, and trial and error my amazing Mum was able to tweak the dates and find reservations for us at Disney’s Caribbean Beach. She wins the newly founded Walt Disney World Blog award for Successful Vacations Reservation via Patience and Flexibility. Congrats Mum.

Over the next few days I’ll share with you my planning strategies for scheduling dining and FastPass+ reservations. I’ll also give you a peak at my WDW vacation countdown calendar. So much to look forward to!

M. M. – Poolside Cocktails

Posted on September 2, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

Welcome to Labor Day MUNCHY MONDAY! I hope everyone has had a fun and tasty holiday weekend with plenty of BBQing. Around here, Labor Day is typically is the last day for public swimming pools to be open. Tomorrow students will head back to school (if they haven’t started already), and the doors to summer will shut up tight. Fall is right on our heels. I know many people are ready for cooler breezes, autumn colors, and pumpkins. I’m just not. Really NOT READY. Give me summer all year with warm, beautiful sunshine, vibrant flowers, beaches, swimming pools, and a garden overflowing with fruits and veggies. The longing for continual summer and poolside hours has brought me to this week’s MUNCHY MONDAY: Poolside Cocktails.

At WDW pools are open year-round, and mostly, the weather is conducive for swimming year-round. I can not emphasize enough that you should stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel when visiting WDW. There are hotels for every budget, and the benefits are abundant. Every resort has at least one pool, usually more. The main pool at every resort hotel is uniquely and elaborately themed. Each of these wonderful pools also has a pool bar offering a varying selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails in addition to non-alcoholic beverages.

WDW vacations are often so jam packed – and understandably so. There is so much to do and you want to make sure you get every-cent-worth from the hard earned money you spend to have said vacation. But adults should take time out every day (or two) to sit at the poolside bar and enjoy a cocktail and the scenery. WDW Resort Hotels are very charming. The details that go into creating their story and magnificent settings are numerous. Take time to appreciate the views of your resort hotel and relax. You’re going to enjoy your vacation, as a whole, much more if you do.

One of my favorite WDW Resort Hotels is Caribbean Beach. I love the vibrant colors, tropical plants, and the steel drum music that floats on the air. It has a fantastic pool complete with cannons that shoot water and two waterslides. One slide, that twists and turns for 82 feet, is particularly noteworthy. Husband is a waterslide enthusiast, and he gives this one two thumbs up. Tots even have their own play area built around a pirate ship that spills gallons of water on delighted little ones every couple of minutes. Next to the main pool is Banana Cabana. Pull up a stool. Order a drink. Sip on happiness. The bar is close enough to the pool that you can enjoy the scene, but just far enough away that you are removed from the noise and hubbub. The Banana Cabana has a variety of tropical flavored cocktails that all come served in a perfect Caribbean looking color. Two of my favorites are the Poolside Plunge and Paradise Punch. The Poolside Plunge is a mix of Bacardi Black Razz Rum and Odwalla Lemonade with a touch of Grenadine and Sprite. Paradise Punch is made with Coruba Coconut Rum, VeeV Açaí Spirit, Pineapple Juice, and Grenadine. Feeling eternal summer yet? I’m not a banana person, but Hubby is and he loves the Banana Cabana: Cruzan Mango Rum, Coruba Coconut Rum, and Crème de Banana, with orange and pineapple juices and a float of Grenadine. Aloha.

The bar at every resort pool is slightly different, but all include a variety of tropical cocktails. Margaritas and Long Island Iced Teas are also usually on the menu. Another popular choice at Caribbean Beach is the Piña CoLAVA: a frozen swirl of Piña Colada and raspberry purèe infused with Bacardi Black Razz Rum. If you have a special request, just ask. I have found each and every cast member working the pool bars to be friendly and accommodating. If they’re able, they’ll be happy to make it for you. If you’re not a cocktail person, don’t worry – there is also a decent selection of beer and wine.

Make room in your next trip for some poolside libation. I promise you won’t be sorry. Since we aren’t at WDW to get our own Poolside Plunges from the Banana Cabana, I made Hubby and me an at-home tropical cocktail. I used sparking wine with some fresh, local peaches we snagged at the Farmer’s Market, and a splash of Apperol and lime juice. I think the color is pretty good! It looks Caribbean to me. Cheers – Here’s to summer.

M.M. – Chef Mickey’s

Posted on August 19, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

Welcome back to MUNCHY MONDAY! I must admit I had a hard time deciding what to write about this morning – there are just too many delectable choices at WDW. Fortunately, my very wise momma suggested one of her favorite dining spots – Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel. Though I wouldn’t admit it to her, Mum knows best and she proved it with her perfect pick. Chef Mickey’s has it all: great food, a breath-taking setting, and lots of VIP treatment from Mickey Mouse and his pals.

Located inside Disney’s Contemporary, this restaurant is just a short stroll or Monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom. The restaurant is open and bright, with striking views of the Monorail coming and going. The many windows of the Contemporary let in plenty of light and offer picturesque views of Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom. You can also glimpse the beautiful mosaic mural by the legendary American artist Mary Blair. Don’t be surprised if the mural looks familiar, especially if you’ve just come from the Magic Kingdom. Mary Blair was instrumental in creating designs for Magic Kingdom’s classic attraction It’s A Small World. She also created designs for the boat ride El Rio del Tiempo in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, as well as concept art for Disney classic films such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Song of the South.

Window view from Chef Mickey’s

This spot is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and all three meals are hosted by Mickey and friends. Personally I think this is one of the best ways to meet the VIP characters. Dressed in their kitchen finest, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto (sometimes Chip n’ Dale too!) come to visit you right at your table one by one. You have time for pictures, autographs, and plenty of hugs. A lot of special interaction can happen with character dining that doesn’t always happen at the parks. And the best part – no waiting in line! How special to be a kid (or kid-at-heart like me) and start your day having breakfast with Mickey Mouse and his pals before hitting the parks. Or in turn, take a break and have lunch with the gang, or see them at dinner as the perfect end to the day.

My brother (a chef himself) & Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey’s is a buffet restaurant, so help yourself to as much as you like. Breakfast includes items such as scrambled eggs, quiche, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, bagels, croissants, french toast, breakfast potatoes, cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, and my favorite- Mickey Waffles! And if you’re like me, you’ll be pairing your eats with lots of coffee and fresh juice. Lunch and dinner buffets are host to American fare such as soup & salad, pastas, roasted turkey, fresh fish, roasted chicken, carved beef, and various veggie sides. Kid’s can have all of their favorites too – such as macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, and pizza. Dessert can be found at the ice cream sundae bar. Yes please.

A meal with favorite characters is a great way to celebrate your day and this table service spot is well worth taking some time out of your schedule for. Chef Mickey’s is popular with guests so reservations are a must. I suggest you make them as soon as you are able to after booking your vacation. The characters and cuisine are subject to change, but for the most part it’s a pretty steady scene with lots of smiles and laughs.

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All Hail the Depth Charger…

(and just coffee in general)

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WDW is Expensive + Nearly Infinite Ways to Spend Your Time = TIME IS MONEY!!

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WDW is Expensive + Nearly Infinite Ways to Spend Your Time =
TIME IS MONEY!!