It’s a knock out!
30 Days of Disney ~ Kim Possible
The following is a guest post from Amy who works with my husband. She loves Disney and shares with us one of her favorite Epcot activities.
A new addition to Epcot is the “Kim Possible World Showcase Adventures”, which is a state-of-the-art interactive adventure that takes kids young and old through the countries in the World Showcase. Those participating are issued a “Kimmunicator”, which looks like a cell phone but is altered to work only in the park and triggers events to complete your mission. Your job is to help Kim Possible and her friends catch villains lurking in one of 7 different countries in the World Showcase, each of which have a different mission to complete! The adventures are interactive with objects in the park that are triggered by your Kimmunicator to help you figure out clues to complete your mission. By participating you’ll be introduced to sites and sounds in each country that you may not have ever noticed before. It’s a great activity to do together as a family, or for older children who may be too old for the Kidcot stops. Check out this video, as my daughters Madison and Gabrielle lead me through China in search of the Jade Monkey!
To participate, you have to volunteer to be a Team Possible agent at one of three Team Possible Recruitment Centers at either Innoventions East, Innoventions West, or on the bridge to World Showcase Plaza. Once you have your mission pass, agents report to one of three Team Possible Field Stations that are in Italy, Norway, or the International Gateway. There you will receive your Kimmunicator and will be ready for an adventure!
30 Days of Disney ~ Wait Times Delivered to Your iPhone
My sister provided me with this next Disney tip. For visitors with an iPhone there is an application that tells you how long the wait is for rides at the Magic Kingdom. The application was just approved by Apple this week, and relies on other park visitors to provide wait time information. The application costs $0.99 and apps for other theme parks will be available soon.
This is such a great idea, because it will keep you from running from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain, only to find that upon arrival the wait is over and hour and you passed several shorter lines on your way to the ride.
This application is called “Wait Times” and you can read more about it here.
How to Make it Easy for Someone to Watch your Kids
This weekend my husband and I are attending the HEAV convention in Richmond, Virginia. Since we don’t live in Richmond, my mother-in-law is staying at our house to watch the children. Taking care of kids while the parents are away is a tough job, but you can show your appreciation by making it as easy as possible for someone to watch your children.
Here are some tips, a few might be very obvious, but you never know.
Leave your contact information. Cell phone, hotel information, schedule, anything that would help your caregiver get a hold of you whether it be an emergency or just a simple question.
Leave local contact information. While you might have your address and home phone number memorized, your caregiver probably does not. Leaving this information along with the names and numbers of neighbors or close friends will be very helpful in case of an emergency.
Create a schedule that details your children’s day. Do they take naps or watch a specific show at a certain time? Creating a schedule will help your caregiver keep your child in a routine.
Leave a stocked fridge and pantry. I always have meals in the freezer and lots of breakfast and lunch options when I go out of town. This gives your care giver one less thing to worry about while you are gone. You do not want your caregiver to have to haul your 4 kids to the store because you only bought enough milk for 2 days and you are gone for 3.
Speaking of leaving, leave any car seats your children might need and make sure your caregiver knows how to use them. While it is probably unlikely that they will be going anywhere, you don’t want your children improperly buckled or put into the car without their seat.
Leave a Child Medical Consent Form for each child. If you google the words “child medical consent form” you will find tons of options. Some are free, I am not an expert in this area, but it is important that your caregiver has your consent to seek medical treatment for your child in case of an emergency.
Leave a list of guidelines. Are your children allowed to watch television, when is bedtime, can they play outside without supervision? If your caregiver is not familiar with your daily routine this will make watching your kids much easier for them. A list of guidelines means you are setting the rules, not the caregiver and it decreases conflict while you are away.
Leave a clean home and clean laundry. If you leave a mess you will most likely come home to a bigger mess. If you leave a clean house, you will most likely come home to a moderately clean house. Don’t expect your caregiver to clean up a mess you made three days earlier. Clean laundry ensures that everyone will have enough clothes while you are away and no one needs to do laundry while you are gone.
Leave cash. It is always nice to leave some cash for the caregiver to use in case they do need to run to the store, pay the yard guy, or order a pizza because the oven broke in the middle of dinner.
Lower your expectations. It is okay if your caregiver does things a little bit differently than you do. The kids might stay up a few minutes past their bedtimes or get a little dessert after dinner, accept it. ( I am not talking about a caregiver that provides regular care for your children) If you are like me, there are two reasons you have someone watching your children, either you are in labor or at a homeschool convention. So, cut your caregiver some slack and remember that your kids will survive even if they eat hot dogs for lunch and dinner while you are gone.
Note: This post applies to planned getaways. I realize there will be emergencies in which you will not be able to do many of these things. In those situations I am always thankful to those who have been able and willing to help out with the kids, whether it be for a few hours, or several weeks. (Thanks Mom!)
30 Days of Disney ~ Our Favorite Dining Spots
Here are a few of our favorite dining spots throughout Walt Disney World
Columbia Harbour House – Located in the Magic Kingdom this is probably our favorite counter service spot in all the parks. If you are sick of rubbery burgers and hot dogs stop by this restaurant, located between Fantasyland and Liberty Square. It is one of the few places you can eat a semi-healthy lunch at the park. It is also less crowded than a lot of the more well known places and has ample seating. My kids love the macaroni and cheese, which comes with apple slices and grapes. Their tuna salad on wheat is as good as Panera’s. The total cost for our family of 8 was $50. Now I realize that is not cheap, but the kids ate fruit, drank milk (not soda) and everyone was full. On the park map is restaurant is listed as serving fish baskets and soups, but there is more to choose from on the menu. It is worth checking out.
Tangierine Café – Located in the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot this counter service restaurant serves up large meals at a reasonable price. It would be easy for you to get 3 kid’s meals out of an adult plate. The food is delicious (try the lamb), and they also serve up traditional American fare.
Garden Grill- Character Dining in the Land Pavilion at Epcot. Dine on down home favorites such as catfish and mashed potatoes, and come hungry because it is all you can eat. Chip, Dale, Mickey and Minnie make their appearance at this rotating restaurant. A fun experience for the entire family.
Studios Catering Co. – Located in the Backlot section of Hollywood Studios this counter service restaurant packed in a large amount of food for a decent price. They serve all the basic theme park fare along with wraps, chicken and rice, and fruit and veggie options for the kids meals. It is located next to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground so it makes for a nice break, wear the kids out at the playground so they site nicely for lunch.
Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque – Located at the Fort Wilderness Campground this meal has everything; entertainment, characters, audience interaction and a buffet featuring all your beloved country vittles: barbecue smoked ribs, smoked chicken, cheeseburgers, hot dogs with all the trimmings, corn on the cob, watermelon and more. We went to this barbecue years ago and had a blast! It is the perfect ending to a magical day at the parks. Great for lively little boys as well, since they have the opportunity to play along with the show.
What are your favorite Disney Dining spots?
30 Days of Disney ~ Dining in the Parks
As I mentioned yesterday it is significantly cheaper to bring your own snacks to the park, but if you are planning to eat at the park here are a few tips.
There are essentially three types of dining options at Disney World. Concession stands, which sell everything from soda, to ice cream to turkey legs. Quick service; at these restaurants you order at the counter, receive your food, and then find your own table. Finally there are numerous full service restaurants in the parks, this the most expensive dining option at Disney.
Currently (until June 21st) Disney is running a dinner special:
If you purchase a 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way hotel and theme park ticket packages, your family will enjoy the Disney Dining Plan, Free. That’s a savings of $654 for a family of four. Valid for stays most nights 8/16/09 to 10/03/09. It’s the Disney vacation you’ve been dreaming of. Rooms fill up fast. Book through June 21, 2009.
The dining plan includes one quick service meal, one snack, and one table service meal per person per night. Click here for more information.
First, do not eat during typical dining hours. If you can hold off until after 2pm for lunch the restaurants will be less crowded, lines are shorter and it will be easier to find a table.
Table service meals usually require reservations, especially during the busy seasons. With the most popular restaurants you will want to reserve a few months in advance. Disney accepts reservations up to 90 days in advance for their table service restaurants.
If you are going to splurge for a table service meal and you have children, I highly recommend character dining or a dinner show. While they are expensive, you will be entertained.
I believe all the character dining options are priced the same, so pick the one your children (and you) would enjoy the most. They all have different menus too, so make sure you like the food!
There are also many great restaurants located in the hotels. The Animal Kingdom Lodge has and excellent buffet and the lodge itself is a work of art. Dine buffet style and enjoy the wildlife preserve right outside the restaurant windows!
My boys wanted to eat this food at the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House in the Magic Kingdom.
I know I said I would share some of our favorite dining spots, but I think I’ll save that for tomorrow’s post!
30 Days of Disney ~ Pack a Snack
You have found a great deal on tickets and are staying with friends to help keep your Disney vacation cost low, but everyone has to eat, right? Theme parks in general are not known for their inexpensive (or healthy) meals. It is easy to spend $50 on one meal for an average size family at Disney. You don’t have to spend that kind of money.
Every time we visit the park we take a backpack full of snacks. I have searched and cannot find any Disney policy stating you cannot bring food into the park. The security guards who search our bags have never said anything to us either, so I assume you can bring in your own food. What we like to do is eat a big breakfast before we leave for the park. Then around lunch time we break out the snacks. I usually pack things like granola bars, apples, grapes, pretzels, things that carry well and don’t need utensils. Then around 4 or 5 we splurge and get ice cream of popcorn from one of the stands. This holds us off until after the park closes. We either pick up burgers after we leave the park or cook a meal (if we have access to a kitchen) depending on the time.
During our last trip to Disney we spent 5 days at the parks and kept our park food bill under $200, for a family of 8. That adds up to less than $50 a day! We could have done it for even less but we dined twice at park restaurants. Tomorrow I’ll share some of our favorite Disney dining spots.
30 Days of Disney… Water!
Note: As I am writing this series a few issues have been brought to my attention. First, I am not affiliated with Disney, nor are they sponsoring these posts or giving me a trip to Disney in exchange for writing them. Second, I realize that not everyone can afford a trip to Disney, it is expensive. If a trip to Disney is not in your immediate future please feel to skip these posts. I will post some money saving tips for visiting over the next 30 days for those who would like to visit, but want to keep costs down.
My first money saving tip for your Disney visit is water, bring your own! Orlando is hot and humid for several months out of the year. While Disney’s parks have a great deal of shaded areas, it can still get hot and it is easy to become dehydrated. Instead of spending your hard earned vacation in the first aid center bring your own water bottle. There are numerous water fountains throughout the park so it is easy to refill your bottle during your visit. Bottled water at the concession stands costs around $3 a bottle. For a family of 4 that is $12!
Remember to steer clear of the sodas while at the park. They are overpriced and will dehydrate you. Stick with your own reusable water bottle to save money and feel refreshed while visiting the parks.
30 Days of Disney ~ The FASTPASS
I don’t remember when Disney starting using the FastPass, but it is one of the best theme park ideas ever!
Here is a brief description of the FastPass from the Disney website.
Disney’s FASTPASS® Service
The complimentary Disney’s FASTPASS Service allows you to enjoy the rest of the Theme Parks while Disney’s FASTPASS Service saves your place in line for an attraction.
To Use Disney’s FASTPASS Service:
- Look for the Disney’s FASTPASS Service distribution area near the entrance of an attraction.
- Check the Disney’s FASTPASS Service “Return Time” display to learn the span of time during which you can explore the Theme Parks before returning to experience an attraction.
- If the Return Time is sufficient for your plans, just insert your Walt Disney World Resort admission ticket, readmission ticket, Disney Resort Hotel keycard or Annual Passport into the Disney’s FASTPASS Service machine.
- A Disney’s FASTPASS Service ticket will emerge with your Return Time printed on it. Now you’re free to go and enjoy the rest of the Theme Park.
- Go back to the Disney’s FASTPASS Service “return” queue when your printed return time rolls around, show your Disney’s FASTPASS Service ticket to the Cast Member at the entrance, and enjoy the attraction with a minimal wait.
Here are a few FastPass tips I have learned of my last several visits.
- Getting a pass takes hours off your wait times. For rides with notoriously long waits, like Space Mountain, Toy Story Mania and Peter Pan, getting a pass means the difference between waiting 10 minutes or an hour and ten minutes.
- All members of your party do not need to be present when getting the pass, but you do need to have their tickets, passport, or keycard for each FastPass.
- When getting a pass you cannot pick your return time, whatever the clock shows is what you get. While you cannot return before your time you can return after your time as passed and still get in the FastPass line.
- Once you get a FastPass you cannot get another FastPass for a different ride for a specific amount of time. This time will be printed on your pass and is not the same as your return time for the ride. Basically this means you can’t run through the park getting FastPasses for every ride in the first hour. You have to stagger your passes throughout the day.
- Finally, don’t wait too long to get a FastPass for an attraction you really want to ride. When we were at Epcot the FastPass for Soarin’ stopped distributing for the day at around 3 pm even though the park was open until 9pm. You can still ride, you will just have to wait with everyone else.
You’ll want a FastPass for Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios.
Cora and Kit ~ 9 Weeks
Time is flying…
