Mike, Author at Chip and Co

Walt Disney World: Planning the Perfect Day!

February 19, 2011 by Mike 1 Comment

Cinderella's Castle

When it comes to the Walt Disney World resort, there are so many things that you can do that almost any day can be considered the perfect day! But for the purposes of this exercise, I’m going to take you through one possible scenario of what the perfect day for me is at Walt Disney World.

Disclaimer: The perfect day is totally open for re-interpretation, and can be changed to another perfect day at any time that I (or more specifically, my wife) deems necessary without warning.

The possibilities are endless, to be honest. For some of us, the perfect day would involve getting right on every ride at all of the parks. For others, maybe having the best dining Advanced Dining Reservations all day. For me, though, it does depend on what I want to do on a particular day, but the first thing that must happen is that my perfect day has to include my wife and daughter as part of it.

I have been to Disney World by myself once, but in all honesty, one of the biggest reasons I go to Disney is to enjoy a great vacation with my family. That single fact makes any day the perfect day.

Now that I have decided that my perfect day will include at least my wife and daughter, it is now time to get down to the nitty-gritty on the details. Right now, I’m in a mellow mood, and my perfect day doesn’t really have to include hitting all of the top attractions, although I do think we will certainly hit some of them.

For me, the perfect day has perfect weather. How’s this sound: a light southerly breeze, warm sunlight, temperature about 75. Not a cloud in the sky, either!

In addition to perfect weather, the parks are also perfect from the standpoint that the crowds are light. For all of the rides I want to ride, such as Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Peter Pan’s Flight, the wait times are all 10 minutes or less.

When we arrived at the Magic Kingdom, we saw a huge sign that indicated that Mickey and Minnie’s houses had been relocated to Liberty Square! Better yet, they had been redecorated to reflect the theming and time period of Liberty Square. That would be cool.

After taking in all of the sights and sounds of Magic Kingdom, the next stop in my perfect day would be a trip to Epcot via monorail. To our surprise, we were asked if we want to ride up front of the monorail, so of course we say yes! Riding in the front of the monorail has been prohibited since the tragic monorail accident in 2009.

As we get to Epcot, the first thing we did was Spaceship Earth a couple of times in a row. As you remember, Spaceship Earth was my MUST ride at Epcot. After that, we made a leisurely stroll up to Mexico Pavilion for a ride on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. Then, after that, we head up to Akershus for a great meal with all of our favorite Princesses! After we eat, we do ride our rides at Epcot again, but since it is getting later in the afternoon, and Magic Kingdom has extra magic hours, we decide to head back there to enjoy some more rides!

To cap off our perfect day, who do you think was waiting for us when we got off the monorail at the Magic Kingdom? None other than Mickey & Minnie themselves! They were there to spend the rest of the evening with us, and specifically Sophie, riding all of the rides with her! It was a great evening, and a great day – in fact, the perfect day!

Mickey and Minnie riding Dumbo

Mike is one of the writers for Chip & Company, and a Disney Fanatic! When he isn’t writing for C&C, you can also find him on his own site, My Dreams of Disney. You can follow along on Facebook, where you can also “Like” the fan page to enter in a contest (through February 20th), and also follow him on Twitter.

Filed Under: Best things I love.., Original Articles, Parks & Resorts, Planning, Reviews, Tips &Tricks, Travel, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, disney, Epcot, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World Resort

Traveling to Disney: How Young is too Young?

February 12, 2011 by Mike 9 Comments

It is a question that is being asked quite a bit across the Internet, in forums, blog sites, even on the Walt Disney World Mom’s Panel. How young is to young to take your child to Disney World?

The answer to this question isn’t the same for everyone. For us, when we had our daughter, she was born seven weeks early, and weighed four pounds, two ounces. We decided early on that her first trip to Disney would be when she was older, and had “caught up” with the rest of the kids her age. As a result, Sophie was four when we went to Disney for the first time with her.

However, we have seen families with newborns at the Magic Kingdom, and if you are considering a trip to Disney with your young family, there is great news for you! Disney has considered all sorts of the possibilities for young families, and is very accommodating towards younger family members. Here are some of the tips that you should know if you are planning that trip:

At each of the theme parks there is a Baby Care Center, which is for families to take care of such things as diaper changes, nursing mothers, and other needs. The nice thing is that there is are rooms for Moms and their babies, and a room for Dads and their other kids to wait comfortably.
Another thing that is really nice to keep in mind is that Disney will supply a Pack ‘n’ Play in your room for children under age three, so if you have a family of five and one is a younger child, there is a place for them to sleep that doesn’t include between Mom and Dad.
A very important consideration to keep in mind is that all of you, but especially you and your baby, need to stay hydrated. Make sure that you have plenty of fluids for all of you to drink, especially during hot days.
When you have a baby, it’s important to keep in mind that the pace that you will visit the parks will vary significantly to the pace you set when you are all older. Remember that your visit with a baby should be much more relaxed, both for your sake and your baby’s!
One thing that Disney does to help new families enjoy the attractions is to have the rider swap capability. This program, which is available at select attractions, allows one of you to wait in line while the other waits with your child, and when they get off the ride, they can approach a cast member for a fast pass that the other parent can use to go right to the front of the line to enjoy the attraction.
Another thing to keep in mind is that all children under the age of three are admitted free to the parks, so if you are interested in taking a vacation with your family, you won’t have any costs for the vacation related to your baby!
Make sure you pack extra clothes and diapers, and be sure to take frequent breaks so that you all stay refreshed.

Whether or not to take a young child to Disney World is a decision that is different for every family. However, if you have considered it and have made the decision to make that trip, there are a wealth of resources available to you to help you plan that trip. One of the best that I have found is a book written by Lisa Battista, Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World With Preschoolers. This book has a wealth of information for parents with young children, so consider taking a look at it if you are planning that trip.

As always, remember that the point of your Disney World Vacation is to have a good time, so take time to plan the things that are most important for your family – regardless of their age – and that will make your vacation that much more special.

Mike is a writer for Chip & Company, and a Disney fan. His current obsession is planning his upcoming family vacation to Disney World in June! When he isn’t writing for C&C, you can also read him on his personal blog My Dreams of Disney. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Oldies But Goodies – What Should We Expect From A Walt Disney World Vacation? (chipandco.com)
First-Time Experiences at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)

Filed Under: Planning, Planning 101, Tips, Tips &Tricks, Travel Tagged With: disney, facebook, family, Infant, Magic Kingdom, The Walt Disney Company, Twitter, Walt Disney World Resort

The little things that makes Disney, Disney

February 12, 2011 by Mike 8 Comments

In a world where the term “Customer Service” seemingly is not in the dictionary anymore, there is one thing that Walt Disney World does that nobody else does even close: Customer Service.

We have been to Disney many times over the years, and will be there many times in the future to come as well. I have yet to remember a single time when we received anything even remotely resembling mediocre service. I thought I would take a moment and relay to you some of those great customer service moments that, when added up, just illustrate what makes Disney, Disney.

In 2007 we spent our first trip to Disney where we actually stayed on Disney property. This year was the Year of a Million Dreams, and during that trip we had our own special dream come true. One morning we stopped at the Main Street Bakery for breakfast, and a Cast Member came over to Sophie and started talking to her. She proceeded to ask her what her favorite Princess was, and Sophie indicated that it was Cinderella. Would you believe that at that moment, the CM had the biggest chocolate chip cookie for Sophie! She indicated that Cinderella had asked her to give the cookie to Sophie for her to enjoy that day! Sophie was six years old, and that is a memory that she remembers to this day.

Another time on that same trip, we were speaking with one of the CMs that was stationed over at the Coronado Springs Resort. He started asking Sophie about the trip she was having, and how much fun she was having. After she told him about all of the details – and believe me, Sophie is the master of the details – he presented her with a very special BFF pin trading set, one for her, and one for her BFF Riley!

During our last trip to Disney, we came across a young man who was working downstairs at The Land pavilion over at Epcot. He was so new that he was still “Earning His Ears”. We started talking with him mainly because he reminded us of my wife’s nephew, and to send him some Pixie Dust his way, Sophie insisted that he have her Stitch pin that was on her lanyard. He was so excited, Sophie really made his day! That was cool because we have been on the receiving end of so much magic, it was neat that Sophie was able to part with her own magic back!

As long as I go to Disney, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the two gentlemen who were greeters at Port Orleans French Quarter the first year we stayed there. I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember their names, but they were one of a kind (or two of a kind). Every morning when we were leaving to go to the parks it seemed like they were there, and every morning the made a point of giving Sophie some wishing well coins, some Mardi-Gras beads, and to ask us where we were going for the day and what reservations we had that day. When we told them, they would immediately suggest an attraction or two that we should look at, they would give us our park map, and if we were short on time they would recommend the best and quickest way for us to get where we needed to go. They were incredible, and I’ll never forget them.

The little things that makes Disney, Disney

Engine Co. 71

But in what may be the best example of customer service, I’ve got to tell you what happened to us when we went to the Fire Station Engine Co. 71 shop last June. We were there because my nephew is a firefighter, and we wanted to get him something fire related from there. My niece picked out a nice shirt for him, Sophie decided that she was going to purchase Bolt with her money, and I was buying my brother-in-law a FD71 hat. When we approached the register, there was someone else in line ahead of us, so we were waiting. All of a sudden, the person running the register told that customer that she was sorry, but her computer went down and she needed to reboot it. The customer decided that she didn’t want to wait for that (we were told it would take 5-10 minutes), but we decided that we would wait it out.

After about ten minutes, a supervisor came by and told us that there was a special sale going on because the computer wasn’t working, and everything that we were going to purchase was now free for us! All told, I figure that we received about $75 worth of merchandise that night — all for free because of their computer malfunction.

We have had so many great experiences at Disney, there is no way that I can relay them all to you. To me, the one thing that you are guaranteed to get at Disney is great customer service!

Mike is one of the writers for Chip & Company, and a Disney fan. When he isn’t writing for C&C, you can also find him over on his blog My Dreams of Disney. You can follow along with Mike’s journey via Facebook and Twitter.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Deserves More Credit!! (chipandco.com)
Walt Disney World Epcot: The one ride I MUST ride (chipandco.com)

Filed Under: Best things I love.., Magic Behind the Scenes, Original Articles, Tips &Tricks Tagged With: animation, Cinderella, Customer service, disney, Epcot, facebook, Magic Kingdom, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios: The one ride I MUST ride

February 5, 2011 by Mike 3 Comments

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith: My MUST ride!

In the conclusion to my series on the one ride at each park that I must ride, today I’m taking a look at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you remember, my must ride at Magic Kingdom was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. My must ride at Epcot was Spaceship Earth, and my must ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was Expedition Everest.

Today, my must ride at Hollywood Studios is the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith! That roller coaster was something that I always wanted to try, but for whatever reason never did – until this past summer.

I decided that no matter what else I did on this trip, one thing that I was not going to miss was riding the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. The time finally came when we got our FastPasses, got in line, and walked right through to the front. In fact, we went so fast that we didn’t even notice the stretch limos and how they were taking off. To top off what is perhaps the best first ride I have ever had, we were seated in the very back of the coaster!

We got in, got ready for the start, and watched as they counted down the time before we left. Then, when we started, we were off! 0-60 in 2.8 seconds! This ride has it all, a corkscrew, a loop-de-loop, and some incredible twists and turns! The track is all indoor, and it is in the dark, but there are some really neat road signs done in neon colors that provide the illumination you need. And before I forget, the entire ride is put to the incredible music of Aerosmith

After not riding the roller coaster at all in any of our previous trips, I made up for it during this past trip. We rode it four times while we were there, and I plan on riding it many more times when we go down this coming June. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster became my must ride at Hollywood Studios that first ride, and it catapulted all the way to the status of my favorite Disney World ride, and my favorite roller coaster I have ever ridden.

If you have never ridden the coaster before, I highly encourage you to try it out at least once! Even if you are not a roller coaster fan, to me the adrenaline rush that comes with this ride will quickly turn you into a fan of the genre!

Mike (or Mickey, his childhood nickname) is one of the writers for Chip & Company. When he isn’t writing for C&C, you can find his writing on My Dreams of Disney, his personal blog, and you can also find him scouring the Internet looking for great Disney deals! You can follow Mickey on his Twitter account @Mickey_MDOD, and you can follow the My Dreams of Disney Facebook Page.

Filed Under: Attractions, Parks & Resorts, Reviews, Rides, Tips &Tricks Tagged With: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disney Hollywood Studios, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Expedition Everest, Magic Kingdom, Roller coaster, Spaceship Earth, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: The one ride I MUST ride

January 29, 2011 by Mike 4 Comments

Expedition Everest: My MUST Ride

In previous posts, I took a look at the one ride that I must ride at the Magic Kingdom and at Epcot. Today, we are going to take a look at Animal Kingdom, that Imagineer Haven where you can find a different aspect of the park to enjoy and appreciate at every turn!

My initial thoughts when it comes to Animal Kingdom and my must ride was that it wasn’t a ride at all that I must see – it was a show. However, as good as Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo – The Musical are, there really isn’t any comparison to the feel a great ride can make you feel. So I discounted them from the running.

Then I started thinking about the different rides that we enjoy at Animal Kingdom. There are some good ones there, but they are kind of spaced out so there is a lot of walking to get to them all. There’s Primeval Whirl, Sophie’s favorite ride at Animal Kingdom because it took so long before she was tall enough to ride it. Then there is Kali River Rapids, a ride that Sophie, my niece Stephanie, and I rode twice in a row, got soaked, then, as if we weren’t wet enough, the sky opened up with rain right after we got off. And don’t forget Kilimanjaro Safaris, that ride that takes you through to see some of the Park’s greatest treasures – the animals that populate the park.

But for me, after much consideration, I decided that my favorite ride is Expedition Everest. It’s got it all — a great queue, incredible theming, a fun storyline. But for me, Expedition Everest is made when you ride backwards down the track. That is when my stomach rises, the thrills increase, and I’m ready to ride it again. Check out these photos from TimeStream Software for just a hint of the incredible elements of the ride!

On my last trip around the Disney World parks, I’m going to talk about that one ride that I must ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Talk to you next time!

Mike is a writer for Chip & Company, and a Disney fan. When he isn’t writing for C&C, he can be found writing his own posts at My Dreams of Disney or planning his next trip to Disney! You can follow him on his Twitter account @Mickey_MDOD, and his Facebook Fan Page.