disney tips – Toni Anderson

by admin - June 28, 2009

30 Days of Disney ~ Disney Magic

I have decided to end my 30 Days of Disney series with the posts I wrote several months ago when we were visiting the parks. I wrote a post per park, so tonight it is all about The Magic Kingdom.

There is something special about the Magic Kingdom, from the minute you walk under the railroad and on to Main Street a feeling of happiness comes over you. From the ice cream vendor to the monorail driver to Sleeping Beauty, each cast member goes out of their way to make your day magical.

Day 3 started early as we left the house at 7:45 am for the Magic Kingdom. We purchased our Armed Forces Salute tickets and were pleasantly surprised when they sold us all six tickets for $99 each. The promotion allows for five $99 tickets, but they sold us the sixth one for $99 too.

We arrived in the park a few minutes after nine. My first Disney tip is to get there early. The earlier you arrive, the less crowded the park. We were able to ride Snow White, Pooh, Teacups, and the Tomorrowland Speedway before 10 am.

We then headed to Toontown to visit the Princesses. If you want to see the fairies, get there right when it opens at 10 am before it opens. By the time we got there at 10:15 the line was already 60 minutes long. My girls were not interested in the fairies so we waited about 5 minutes to visit Belle, Aurora, and Cinderella.

Second Disney tip: Get a Fast Pass! This saved us so much time. We ended up getting fast passes for Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain (which is now under renovation), Thunder Mountain, and Peter Pan. The longest we waited with the fast pass was about 10 minutes, but the people without the fast past were waiting an hour.

Third Disney tip: Eat a huge breakfast before you get to the park and pack snacks and water. I am not sure what Disney’s food policy is, but we took some granola bars and cheerios for snacks in our backpack and when they checked it they didn’t say anything. Eating a large breakfast allows you to delay lunch. Lunchtime and parade times are the best time to go on rides.

We ate lunch at a place called the Harbor House. It is 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. The kids had macaroni and cheese, apple slices and grapes. I had a tuna salad on wheat and it was as good as Panera. 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. We ate lunch late enough so that we didn’t have to eat dinner at the park, so I thought we got a good deal. 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.

About 7:30 pm we were all pretty tired so we decided to skip the fireworks (we can see them from my in-laws backyard anyway) and crowds and leave before the park closed at 8pm. This was a great idea for our family because we made it from Tomorrowland to our car in about 25 minutes.

We have Epcot and Animal Kingdom coming up next. We have only been to Animal Kingdom twice so I am excited to check it out.

Teacups

The Step Sisters and Mother

One of the step sisters went to go visit our son, who did not want to have his picture taken with her.

Tomorrowland Speedway- where you don’t need a license to drive.

Warming up to Cinderella

A family favorite- Buzz!

You are never too old for Mr. Lightyear….

Our relaxing lunch at the Harbor House, overlooking Thunder Mountain.

Where’s Jack Sparrow when you need him?

Magic Carpets (this ride was a favorite!)

Winding down on the carousel.

by admin - June 16, 2009

30 Days of Disney ~ Tips from a Local

Here are a few tips that were emailed to me by a reader when we were on our Disney vacation. I completely agree with the fireworks/ ice cream idea. Main Street is a madhouse after the fireworks.

Animal Kingdom- if there is a big crowd going INTO Animal Kingdom, go into the Rainforest Cafe Gift shop- walk all the way to the back – on the other side there are turn styles to get into the park – no one ever uses these.

Magic Kingdom – if you stay to watch the Fireworks, here’s a couple things; if your kids can hang out a little longer – get some ice cream at the ice cream shop on Main Street, then sit at the tables and watch EVERYONE leave, once everyone is gone, you’ll get to see the lights on the castle change and then go off.
If you need to leave with everyone else and need to ride the monorail – If the main monorail is crowded – go to the one that is for the resorts. It goes to the transportation center anyways and it’s a lot less crowded ( a good tip if you have a stroller).

Speaking of the ice cream shop – they make GREAT ice cream sandwiches that are bigger then the ones you buy at the carts. You can easily feed two or more people off one sandwich.

If you have extra time during your visit. Get over to the Beach and Yacht club (either by walking from Epcot or driving in and telling them you want to eat at the soda shop) Go to the soda/ice cream shop that’s out by the pool – Order the kitchen sink – it’s about $20 some dollars but can feed more then 6 people. It’s EVERY ice cream and topping they have. They ring a bell and announce your family name and say what your about to eat. It’s a lot of fun.

If your at Hollywood Studios and want some good coffee drinks or cheap snacks – stop in the book shop/coffee shop next to the Sci Fi Diner. I like to go sit in there with a coffee and cookie while my family goes on Star Tours or the Muppet show for the upteenth time.

by admin - June 14, 2009

30 Days of Disney ~ Insights from a Former Cast Member

Former Cast Member shares Insider Disney Tips

I was pixie dusted at an early age and grew up near Walt Disney World. When I was a junior in college I was accepted into the Walt Disney World College Program and my dream of becoming a Cast Member was realized. I worked as a lifeguard during that summer and loved every minute of it! When I graduated from college I packed my belongings and dreams and headed back to the magical place in hopes of becoming the next marketing guru for Disney. Though I didn’t become the next guru, I had the most wonderful time working for Disney and love to share my experiences with others.

As a Cast Member we see so many different sides of Disney and the parks than the regular guests. I have many stories to tell but here are just a few insider tips:

Nothing cools a hot summer evening than eating an ice cream cookie sandwich on Main Street U.S.A. at the Main Street Bakery while watching the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom! Fun fact – the windows on Main Street U.S.A. contain names of people who have contributed to Walt Disney’s dream. Walt Disney’s name is above the Ice Cream Parlor.
Take naps! I saw so many guests in the middle of a hot summer day with their children in tow who were obviously beyond tired. Tickets are expensive and we all try to maximize our time. However, take a break in the heat of the afternoon and take a nap – even adults too! You will feel revitalized and ready for the evening parades and fireworks and a much a happier family.
Don’t forget Downtown Disney. This is where I worked (at the time called Disney Village Marketplace). It is home to Disney Quest as well as Cirque du Soleil but also shops, gardens and yummy eateries. It is a great place to visit the first night you arrive in Orlando before you head to the parks for the rest of the week. If you are staying at Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter you can take a free water taxi to the complex too.
Look for Mickey! I don’t mean just the actual character but hidden Mickeys in the rides and attractions. It has been told that there is a Mickey silhouette in many of Disney the attractions. For example, on Splash Mountain he can be found near the steamboat as an outline in the clouds.
When you want to meet Mickey without fighting a crowd? A must-visit place is the Judge’s Tent at the Magic Kingdom – a designated location at Mickey’s Toontown Fair where Guests of all ages can meet the famous mouse for autographs and pictures.
A bit of Disney trivia. According to legend, Walt Disney first came up with the idea of Mickey Mouse while traveling on a train from New York back to California. He had just lost his rights to Oswald the Rabbit and he came up with the idea for the mouse. He originally named him Mortimer but his wife Lillian convinced him to change it to Mickey Mouse because it sounded cuter.
Most importantly, I so often saw families and individuals just enjoying time together. During the holidays, it made me miss my family for sure! It’s not about the souvenirs, what rides you ride or where you stay, it is the time spent together that makes the memories! At a Disney destination, those memories are certainly more magical!

I will always fondly remember my years when I worked for the Mouse. I look forward to sharing new experiences with my family as I hope you do too! Happy travels!

Jenny Reed still travels to the parks and is a Disney College of Knowledge Certified Disney Expert. She turned her passion for travel into her own travel agency www.OurCruisePlanner.com specializing in family and group travel. She can be reached at jenny (at) OurCruisePlanner (dot) com and can be followed on Twitter @TheTravelExpert

by admin - June 6, 2009

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.

by admin - June 2, 2009

30 Days of Disney ~ Best Days to Visit the Parks

I am so excited about the interest in my 30 Days of Disney series. I have some guest posts lined up for next week that I know you will enjoy.
As for my post yesterday on the best months to visit Disney World, if you are going during the busy months do not be discouraged… Disney is fun any time of the year, even with the crowds and heat!

Best Days to Visit the Parks

according to TouringPlans.com

**Unofficial Guide Crowd Counting Results**
	Magic Kingdom	Epcot	Disney Studios	Animal Kingdom	Water Parks
Longest Waits	Thursday	Tuesday	Friday	Monday	Thursday
	Sunday	Sunday	Sunday	Sunday	Monday
	Monday	Monday	Thursday	Tuesday	Tuesday
	Friday	Saturday	Wednesday	Saturday	Friday
	Wednesday	Friday	Monday	Thursday	Wednesday
	Saturday	Thursday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Sunday
Shortest Waits	Tuesday	Wednesday	Saturday	Friday	Saturday

There is also something called Extra Magic Hours, where certain parks open an hour early or stay open later for resort guests. Check the Disney World Calendars for dates because parks with the extra magic hours will have heavier crowds on those days.

I used the above chart to plan our trip and it was very accurate. We went to Epcot twice, Tuesday and Wednesday and it was far more crowded on Tuesday.

Tomorrow’s tip: How young is too young for Disney?

by admin - June 1, 2009

30 Days of Disney

Visiting with Turk at Animal Kingdom.

In January I headed south to Walt Disney World for our family vacation. We took advantage of the Armed Forces Salute and stayed with family to help stretch the budget. We ended up spending under $1500 for our 10 day visit (not all the days were spent at the park). I think that is pretty good for a family of 8.

Since summer has arrived and many families begin the trek to the Mouse House I decided to post 30 days of Disney tips. You see, our trip this winter was not my first visit to Disney. It was probably my 200th visit. I loooooove Disney and since I lived in Orlando for about 25 years I have been many times. For several years my husband and I bought annual passes and sometimes went 2 to 3 times a week!

Over the years I have learned a lot of Disney and hope to share some of my tips with you over the next 30 days. If you have a Disney tip would like to write a guest post email me at thehappyhousewife (at) gmail (dot) com.

Disney Tip #1

Do not visit Disney World during the months of June, July, or August. Seriously, Orlando is the humidity capital of the world. The weather is miserable during the summer months, and the parks are very, very crowded. Just remember if your kids are on summer break, so are the rest of the children in the United States (and maybe the rest of the world).

According to Pixie-Dust Travel (and I agree having visited Disney throughout the year) below is a listing of the busiest and slowest times at Disney World.

Highest Attendance:

Presidents’ week in February

Mid-March through Late April (Spring Break)

Memorial Day weekend

Mid-June through Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day and weekend

Christmas week through New Year’s Day

Moderate Attendance:

After Presidents’ week in February through early March

Late April through early June (except Memorial Day weekend)

The first part of Thanksgiving week

Lowest Attendance:

January (except New Year’s Day) until just prior to Presidents’ week in February

The week following Labor Day until just prior to Thanksgiving week

The week following Thanksgiving until the week prior to Christmas

We visited this year from January 8th to the 15th. It was dead! Seriously, the longest line we waited in was the Jungle Cruise and that took about 20 minutes. It is really enjoyable to visit the parks when the weather is cool, the high was in the 60’s, and the lines were short.

Tomorrow’s tip… best days of the week to visit each park!