Valentine’s Day is upon us – and it’s one of those holidays you either love or hate. But no matter how you may feel about V-Day, showing you love someone and being romantic is a great thing to do not just on February 14th, but on any and every day of the year! When you’re taking a Walt Disney World vacation, romance might not be the first thing on your itenerary – but it should be! Here are some ways you can incorporate romance into your WDW getaway and show your someone special just how special they are to you:

Wine and Dine Them: Thanks to the Advanced Dining Reservation, or ADR system that Disney has put into place, you can plan a surprise for your loved one by booking a romantic meal for 2. And the great thing about dining at Disney World is there are so many choices, so no matter what kind of cuisine they are into, you can make sure you pick the perfect place for your meal. Some top favorites for romantic dinners include: California Grill (which can also be a great place to view the nightly fireworks from the Magic Kingdom!), Victoria and Albert’s (an upscale, intimate dining experience), or Cinderella’s Royal Table (a character dining experience like none other that takes place in the perfect setting – Cinderella’s Castle)

Plan A Special Delivery: “If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt himself said this, and the Walt Disney World Experience strives to embody this quote every day, and special occasions are no exception! The Disney Dream Makers can help you express your love with all kinds of gifts – from flower arrangements, to custom cake deliveries, to room decor, to gift baskets of all shapes an sizes – they do it all and more (check out this romantic “A Wish Come True” gift experience, which is just one of the many examples of gifting options)! If you know you want to celebrate but aren’t sure how to make it happen, check out the Dream Makers link or call them at 407-WDW-GIFT

Share your Love: Are you celebrating your engagement/wedding/honeymoon/anniversary, or even just your love for each other on your vacation? Show it with a pin – these are available at the guest services areas of each Park or at your Disney Resort – pins that announce you’re “Just Married” or “I’m Celebrating!” or “It’s My Birthday!”, and you can wear them while at the Parks. They definitely add to the magic, as Cast Members make a fuss over them, as do other guests – its a cute way that you can remind yourselves and the world about the love you share with each other!

Moonlit Stroll: There is nothing quite like a romantic walk after a delicious dinner in a setting as beautiful as Walt Disney World. I think every place is a great place for a romantic stroll in WDW, but some of the more beautiful ones include: The Polynesian Resort (the tiki torches light the pathways and make for a beautiful setting), The Boardwalk Resort (at night it comes to life and lights up in magical ways), and The Grand Floridian Resort (there is a reason this is the most popular place to have a wedding at WDW, its Victorian theming is charming and truly a sight to see!). In the evenings, people tend to flock to the parks to get a good spot for parades/fireworks viewings, so the Resorts are a great place for some quiet time to catch up and reconnect with your loved one

Carriage ride: There are few things more romantic than a horse drawn carriage ride, and Walt Disney World gives you two places where you can have this experience: ride through nature trails at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, or take a ride through old New Orleans at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Check out more info on the carriage rides here

Ultimate Relaxation: Surprise your honey with a couples massage or other spa treatments at one of Disney’s top rated Spas. This is vacationing at it’s finest – getting pampered, getting massaged and relaxing, all with your favorite person in the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World!

Can’t afford a WDW getaway? Then get them the next best thing, something from the Disney Store that shows how much you love them – check out My Blog post for more info

Use these tips to make your magical Walt Disney World vacation even more special, and remember that while its definitely important to show your loved ones how much you care while you’re on vacation or on Valentine’s Day, its even more important to show them your love every day (so they don’t forget ha!)

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“Better-for-you” options at five mini shops serving breakfast, lunch and dinner is the theme of the Landscape of Flavors food court at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The new restaurant will be adjacent to the lobby.

“The idea is that you customize your choices,” says Chef Ed Wronski, Director, Food & Beverage Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “From burgers to pasta, salads, ethnic flavors, omelets, even parfaits and gelatos, everything is made fresh as you order.”

There’s a big focus on beverages, too. Fresh fruit smoothies are made to order, as well as lemonade and pomegranate limeade. Organic teas, beer (including gluten free), wine, coffee and juices also will be stocked.  Half bottles of wine are paired with cuisine from the food shops.

Menu highlights:

• Create a salad at the Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop, including a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread. Both served with house-made potato chips.
• The World Flavors Shop adds Indian-African flair to breakfast, with scrambled eggs, tandoor potatoes, Portuguese sausage, slab bacon and a mini-naan; or a veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken or shrimp, Mongolian beef with vegetables, mahi mahi, Portuguese sausage or roasted acorn squash served with sides and naan bread.
• The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas and meatballs on ciabatta bread. Room delivery is an option, too.
• The Burger Shop includes a breakfast burger with chicken breakfast sausage, cheese and scrambled eggs on a multi-grain bun, and a steak-and-eggs breakfast burger with a burger topped with fried eggs, cheese and bacon.  Besides the traditional burgers, lunch and dinner includes a surf and surf burger with crab cake and fried popcorn shrimp, and a pastrami cheeseburger topped with pepper jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.
• The “grab ‘n go” Market Shop offers drinks, yogurt, bagels, pastries, gourmet cupcakes, cookies and gelato.

The food court is part of the Disney Dining Plan.

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Soon Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors to its newest resort hotel with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value property consisting primarily of family suites that immerse guests into the magical worlds of classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

Opening in phases, each of the four wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by each beloved film depicted.  Three family suite wings will showcase Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King, with elaborate storytelling both inside and out. Standard guest rooms make up The Little Mermaid wing, the final phase to open.

The three-story resort will immediately put guests into the worlds of favorite Disney characters and animated films beginning at check-in as pixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of color decorate the resort’s exterior. Pencil drawings of Ariel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adorn the entryway, and a cleverly created chandelier composed of animation storyboards enhance the lively and modern lobby.

“Our goal is to make guests feel like they have been immersed in the artistry and enchantment of Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar animated classics,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Paris.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed. Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation. At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.

From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline. In Finding Nemo, there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in The Lion King, while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

Kids of all ages can make a splash at the “Big Blue” pool, the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World Resort measuring 11,859 square feet. Guests enter scenes from the animated world and can explore the colorful reef with a giant-sized Mr. Ray whose wings span 27 feet, pose for a picture with Crush or frolic with Squirt in the Righteous Reef, a children’s play area. An arcade and two additional pools round out the fun.

Dining options include a poolside snack bar and pizza delivery. The Landscape of Flavors food court will feature items such as fresh smoothies, hand-scooped gelato and Mongolian barbecue.  It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The whimsical property, situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, will open in phases beginning in late May 2012 with rates from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six. Some 864 standard rooms sleep up to four. Rates as low as $94 include complimentary transportation, Extra Magic Hours and other benefits available to a Disney Resort guest.

For reservations, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or contact Pixie Vacations.

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When people make their packing list for a vacation at Walt Disney World or Disneyland most people that I know just write “toiletries”.  This is fine for some people, but for me, I need “toiletries” to be listed out specifically!  If I just rely on my little brain to remember all the bathroom and toiletry needs for our family of 4, I KNOW I’d forget something.

I know Disney provides soap, shampoo and conditioner in each room but I always pack ours from home so we won’t run out and so I know how my hair will do! I also pack my own hairdryer even though some rooms provide one because I am familiar with my dryer!

So, here is a list of additional toiletry/ bathroom items for your next Disney vacation:

• brush/ comb
• razor
• toothpaste/ brush/ floss
• deodorant
• lotion
• make up
• cotton balls/ q-tips
• moisturizer
• mouse/ gel/ hairspray
• contact solution
• feminine products
• First Aid Kit: fever reducer, band aids, cold and sinus meds, antacids, prescriptions, Neosporin, thermometer, Benadryl, Dramamine, etc.

A few additional items I have added to my list are:

1. Pump soap to make hand washing easier in the room.
2. Lysol spray.  You can buy travel size cans in the travel toiletry section at Target.  It makes me feel better to use Lysol spray for smells and germs- especially if someone gets sick!
3. Dishwashing liquid- if you have a baby or toddler who is using a bottle or sippy cup or if you buy the resort mugs or a bucket of popcorn, it’s nice to be able to wash it out with soap while on your vacation!
4. Don’t forget potty training “stuff” if you will be potty training while on your vacation!  Bring the portable potty or a seat that sits on the big potty, if you can.  If you reward for using the potty, don’t forget to pack the rewards!
5. Bath Toys for your kids!  It makes bath time at night so much easier if they have familiar toys to play with in the tub.
6. A pop up or plug in deodorizer for the room.  This helps make your room smell fresh and when you return home you still have a smell from your trip to remind you of Disney!

What are some things you bring with you?

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Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland

Cinderella's Castle in Disney World

So you’ve been to Walt Disney World, and now you’ve decided you want to make a trip to the place where the magic began. Disneyland is as special and magical as can be, and it is also VERY different from Walt Disney World.

Here are some things to expect when you head to Disneyland:

Booking your trip: Things are different in Disneyland, the Dining Plan is actually meal vouchers (purchased at a discount rate then redeemed at participating restaurants), and their Advance Dining Reservations can only be booked via phone up to 60 days in advance (versus 180 days with WDW). They do have vacation packages, where you can book hotel/tickets/meal plan all together, which is similar to how Walt Disney World package vacations work.

Hotel Choices: There are only 3 “on property” hotels at Disneyland – The Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and they aren’t grouped into “value/moderate/deluxe” classifications like at Disney World. However, Disney Land does give more lodging options with their “Good Neighbor Hotels”, which are hotels Disney recommends and are close to the resort, and these are listed by types (economy/moderate/superior/suites) to help you pick which one works best for you and your travel companions

Park Size: This was the first thing I noticed upon arriving at Disneyland – its so much smaller than Disney World! The Walt Disney World Resort sits on roughly 25,000 acres while Disneyland’s parks and resorts occupy just 430 acres. Instead of a huge parking lot like at WDW, you park in a tall parking garage at Disneyland, and instead of huge intricate indoor line queues, your wait times for rides at Disneyland takes place mostly outdoors (which might be in part due to the fact that California weather tends to be a lot less rainy/icky than Florida weather, but i’m sure its partly a size issue too!). It doesn’t really feel cramped or small, but there definitely was a limit on the amount of space Walt had to work with when building Disneyland – which was why he purchased so much land for the building of WDW – to make sure any and all ideas would have space to flourish in the future!

Theme Parks: There are 2 theme parks at Disneyland, the Disneyland Park (which is similar in layout and theming as it’s Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Counterpart), and Disney’s California Advanture, which opened in 2001 and is divided into 6 districts, each of which represents various aspects of Californian culture and landmarks

Authenticity: Disneyland was where it all started, it was Walt’s ideas that created it, and he was there to see them executed and was there for the opening day of the park, to see all his hard work come to life in amazing ways. Sadly, he passed away before Walt Disney World opened, so while many of his ideas were brought to life in Florida as well, Disneyland is truly ‘the real deal’ when it comes to the man behind the mouse – Walt Disney.

Oh yeah, and one more difference – the castles! At Disney World, you stand at the base of Main Street USA and see Cinderella’s Castle tall and looming in the distance (and soon you will see the Beast’s Castle too, once they complete the Fantasyland expansion!), and in Disneyland, your view down Main Street is of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

There may be a lot of differences between the two Resorts, and it is these differences that give each park a unique guest experience. But at the end of the day, both places were created by Walt Disney, a man who knew how to create a truly special place for those of all ages to go to enjoy themselves and feel like kids again. The magic is abundant in both places, and no matter whether you decide the World or the Land is more your speed, you will have a great time!

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Enjoying a Beer Flight at Big River Grille

Over the years, Walt Disney World has really worked on improving the dining experience for their guests, and they have done an amazing job, it really sets them apart from amusement parks where all you can get is burgers/fries/chicken fingers and the occasional grilled chicken sandwich. The problem they have now (if you can even call it a problem), is that they are so many choices, that a lot of people stick with what they know, which is the chicken fingers and burgers – which are still delicious, but not exactly adventurous.

One of the best things about going to Walt Disney World as an adult is the FOOD – now that you’re grown up you can decide where you want to eat, and what you want to eat, so to get you out of that bland theme park food rut, I have compiled the top 5 ‘different’ restaurants for adults to try at Walt Disney World, in hopes that you will get out there and experience some of the amazing food that WDW has to offer!

5. Via Napoli – This is a relatively new restaurant in Italy at Epcot’s World Showcase, and they are serving up some truly amazing and authentic italian dishes, like lasagna, chicken parmesan, and spaghetti with veal meatballs (yum!). They are also doing a variety of wood fired pizzas with everything from tomatoes and cheese to eggplant and artichokes. The smell of the pizzas is drool worthy for sure, and as if that wasn’t enough, they are serving a variety of wines and other italian inspired beverages to help you cool off after a hot day of touring the Parks.

4. Big River Grille and Brewing Works - Head over to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and have a casual dinner at this microbrewery, where you can sample flights of their beer made on premisis. The menu isn’t huge, but the items on it are delicious – start out with the beer cheese soup, then an entree of hazelnut crusted chicken, and finish with a rich dessert of chocolate confusion (chocolate cake, mousse, chips, and then more chocolate!). If you aren’t in a food induced coma at this point, you can take an evening stroll down the idyllic Boardwalk, which is nice in the daytime but is even more beautiful when it’s all lit up at nighttime

3. Cape May Cafe – This buffet at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a surf inspired character meal by day, and a surf-and-turf (character free!) seafood buffet by night. Enjoy a true New Englad Style Clambake with steamed clams, mussels, and other favorites, including chicken, ribs, salad bar, and dessert. What could be better than delicious all you can eat seafood in a beautiful resort setting?

2. Raglan Road – This Irish Pub is located in Downtown Disney and serves up Irish classics like Bangers and Mash, as well as crowdpleasers like New York Strip Steak. Their full bar has a wide array of beer and wine selections, and the Irish dancers and live Celtic tunes will keep you happy all night! OH and I can’t forget to mention their Bread Pudding Dessert, it is to die for, and worth going there just for that!

1. Boma – The bus ride over the Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth it for this buffet of African inspired dishes, including Bobotie – a spiced meat dish with an egg topping and the ever popular Zebra Domes, a dessert treat filled with a delicious custard with a hint of liquor in it! Boma has so many amazing dishes I had never tried before that it would be impossible to name them all, they were all worth trying (and most were worth going back for seconds too!), the meats and different salads and hummuses were out of this world! I wasn’t too sure about the ‘ethnic’ cuisine and if I would enjoy it or not, but I loved every single thing I tried and would go here again in a heartbeat, and that’s why it has received the coveted #1 spot on the list!

Honorable Mention:
Kouzzina - I just had to mention this little gem, with their Greek inspired dishes and ideal location at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, I would highly recommend breakfast here – as many of the dishes were updated and some new ones were added (think gooey baklava and fluffy omelettes stuffed with feta and spinach!)

Now, I know there are TONS of other amazing restaurants out there, these are just some of my personal favorites that don’t abide to the standard “theme park cuisine” code, and each one is unique and does things it’s own way, which I love!

Dining in Walt Disney World can be an amazing experience, and I urge you to try something new and different, after all, you’re on vacation!

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With the exception of the monorail Resorts, it can take a good 30 minutes to get from your lodging to any of the Walt Disney World Parks. Factor in crowd levels, special events, hour of day and distance to/from your destination (and how many other stops there are along the way), and the amount of time you spend on the bus, boat or monorail can add up to a considerable amount of time. If you’re not prepared, that can seem like a lot of lost, unmagical moments.

To perk up the pace, here are my top five things to do while riding to the Parks:

1. If you are healthy and able, get up out of your seat and offer it to someone who needs it more than you do. Days at the Parks are long and tiring—even more so to a mom carrying a sleeping infant, an ailing grandmother, someone with a handicap or a small child. Consider others before yourself.
2. Chat with the people next to you. Sometimes people just stare at their feet to avoid conversation, but you know what? Most strangers don’t bite! If they’re staying at your Resort, you’re likely to bump into them again, and it’s always nice to see a friendly face. If nothing else, you’ll gain a new Facebook friend.
3. Drill the bus driver. They are a wealth of Disney information and can answer any question you have about the Parks and surrounding area. They give great advice and tips on how to get around and make your stay even more enjoyable.
4. Get your things organized and ready to present at the gate. If you’re carrying a bag, make sure it’s accessible, maybe go ahead and open it for the quick search. Make sure your tickets are out and ready to go so you don’t have to dig through your stuff. You’ll want to get into the Parks as quickly and as easily as possible.
5. Sleep! Seriously. The average person walks eight to 10 miles a day while visiting Walt Disney World Resort. That fact alone exhausts me! Now consider all the things you’re doing while walking those miles. Add in the emotional excitement, the effort to keep your kids reigned in, the anticipation of the following days, keeping to schedules, and generally trying to do and see everything there is to see and do, and you’ll be begging for one of those ECVs by nightfall if you don’t rest up when you can. If you are parents of young kids, tag team it. Let Mom catnap on the way to the Parks and Dad snooze on the way back. They say a 15-minute nap can give you an extra hour of energy later on, so grab it while you can!

What do you do to pass the time on buses, boats and rails?

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Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation can definitely be overwhelming – there is so much to do and so much information out there that it’s easy to get buried beneath it all. Luckily, help in planning the trip of your dreams is out there, you just have to know where to look!

Use this timeline as a guide in planning, and while its not all-encompassing, it will give you a place to start and some things you’ll definitely want to do along the way

1 year before your trip: Yes, that’s right, planning a WDW trip can take a year or more (but believe me, its 100% worth it!)! At this time, you should:

-Start doing some research as to where you might want to stay, and think about if you want to stay on property (personally, I always am an advocate for staying on property, the perks like transportation, extra magic hours, Magical Express, and being right in the middle of it all are too good to pass up!), and if so, where you want to stay. For help with that, check out This Article on how to pick your WDW resort

-Make your Budget – Maybe not the most exciting thing to do, but it is definitely an important part to planning a WDW vacation. The reason I like to do this so far in advance of the trip is so I can save up as much as possible, as a trip to WDW isn’t cheap, but its worth all the planning and saving! Some things to include in your budget: hotel, park tickets, car rental/parking, Plane tickets/other transportation, food, tips (this one is important if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, as gratuities at table service restaurants are not included with the plan and will need to be paid out of pocket), souviners, and incidentals/miscellaneous.

*If you make your budget and find that you need to cut somethings out, Check out my tips for Saving money on your WDW vacation

7-8 months before your trip:

-Book it! You’ve budgeted your trip and you know where you want to stay, so it’s time to make your travel plans! As for HOW to go about booking it, you could do it all online yourself, or use a travel agent (not sure if you need one? Check out this article for Travel Agent Tips)

-Research Your Dining Options: This one may seem crazy, like how are you supposed to know what you might want to eat 8 months from now? But trust me, its very important to plan your Advanced Dining Reservations, or ADR’s, as the more popular places full up fast. Chip’s Guide to Disney World Dining and www.disneyworld.com/dining are both good resources for figuring out your ADR’s. Once you pick some places you might like, think about which day and meal you would like to eat there, and make a list of that information so you can have it handy when it’s time to make the reservations

6 months before your trip (180 days to be exact)

-Time to book those ADR’s – so here is a brief rundown on how this works. You have researched what restaurants you want to eat at and have your list handy. 180 days before your trip is when you can make your ADR’s, beginning online at 6am ET and via phone at 7am ET (1/407-WDW-DINE). What is an ADR, exactly, you might be wondering? Well, its basically like call ahead seating, where you arrive at the restaurant at your appointed time and are given a pager, and you’re paged when the next table becomes available

-Book your airline tickets – I have personally found this to be a good time to book a flight, the prices tend to be a little lower, and overall it works out well. This would also be a good time to research how you will actually get to the park, whether it be renting a car or taking a shuttle

From 6 months to 2 months before your trip:

-Research all there is to do – this is a really fun one, it’s time to actually think about all the fun things you will do while you are at Walt Disney World! Research the parks and the rides and the shows and everything else they have to offer. There are TONS of ways to do this, some of my faves are books – Specifically the Passporter Walt Disney World Guide, and also Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World, both of which are full of information in an easy to understand layout, and also the internet can be a great tool. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of Disney World information online, so here are some sites I prefer to do my research on:
www.chipandco.com
www.allears.net
www.wdwinfo.com
www.disneyworld.com

Guide to Career Education has a lot of great information available for WDW junkies and others interested in getting into the travel and tourism profession.

-Plan to take some time for yourselves : Whether you are traveling with other adults or with children and the whole family, everyone deserves a little time to themselves on vacation, so take a look at these adult friendly WDW activites and think about incorporating some of them into your trip

1 month before your trip: You’re officially in the home stretch, Mickey is just a hop skip and a jump away! Don’t forget to:

-Make your list of things you need to pack....if you’re having trouble figuring out what you will need, start Here

-Go Shopping! Stock up on the things you know you’ll need, like extra batteries, sunscreen, make sure you have enough of any prescriptions you take, etc (It’s good to plan ahead on these things, especially the ‘essentials’ that cost next to nothing at home cost an arm and a leg at a WDW souvenir shop!)

1 week before your trip:

-Start packing: Utilize that list you made and make extra sure you have everything you need, doing this ahead of time can save you time, money, and headaches down the road!

-Check in online : If you’re staying at one of Walt Disney World’s Resort Hotels, this can be done up to 10 days in advance of your trip, and once you arrive at the Resort there’s a separate (shorter) check in line, and the process is a lot faster than traditional hotel check in

-Confirm ADR’s and transportation: You can check your ADR information online through Disney’s Dining website, and as for transportation, you will want to call your car rental company to make sure they have the correct information and vehicle ready for your arrival (because there’s nothing worse then getting a rental car that’s half the size of the one you were promised…trust me on this one!

-Check out these Last Minute Tips to make sure you’re fully prepared for your WDW vacation

The Day of your trip: Don’t forget to Have Fun, because above all else, you are going to the Happiest Place on Earth, and even if you forget something or forget to plan something, you will have an amazing time!

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Anyone who has ever been to Walt Disney World during February, March, or April would use the same words to describe it – rainy, and CROWDED! This is definitely one of the ‘peak’ times to visit, which means prices are higher, lines are longer, and tempers are shorter.

Having visited WDW every year during this time growing up, I have compiled some ‘helpful hints’ that can make your trip less stressful:

Eat at “off” times: If you want to get Advance Dining Reservations to popular WDW restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table where you can dine with the Princesses, or Chef Mickey’s where you can meet and greet the Mouse himself, you may have to willing to take those weird reservation times, like a 10:45 am breakfast, or a 4:55 pm dinner. Everyone else wants to eat at these places too, so if they are that important to you, be willing to take whatever reservation they can give you

Explore New Places: The 4 theme parks of WDW are amazing places, and obviously the main reason why people travel there, and that means they are also going to be packed to capacity during these peak times (we’re talking 90+ minute waits for popular rides, crowded counter service restaurants, and hordes of strollers all waiting to bang you in the ankles). This would be a great time to explore what Disney World has to offer beyond the parks like watersports (including water skiing and boat/jetski rentals), spa treatments, and plenty of shopping/dining options at Downtown Disney. The best part of all these is they don’t require a park admission, and just might give you a chance to relax and unwind (after all, isn’t that what vacations are really for?)

Extra Magic Hours: This is one of the best perks of staying at one of the WDW Resort Hotels – each day, one theme park stays open an hour later or opens an hour early for WDW Resort guests ONLY. It’s called Extra Magic Hours, and its a great chance to get in some early mroning or late night rides with shorter lines and fewer crowds. You can pick up an Extra Magic Hours Schedule at your WDW resort upon your arrival

Have A Plan…and be willing to change it: When visiting a place like Disney World where there is SO much to do, it is always helpful to have a rough idea of how you will spend your days. During busy season, the key to this is definitely having a ‘rough’ plan – and realizing that things could change and you should have a backup, if at all possible. So plan, but don’t overplan (you’ll just end up disappointed if you plan out every minute, because it never works out exactly as you plan!)

Know your “must do’s”: Whether this is your first trip to WDW or your 100th, you should do some research ahead of time and pick 3-5 rides/attractions/shows you really want to do at each park – and make those your goal. Check the wait times when you arrive at the park, utilize Fastpasses, and be willing to wait. Patience is key, and if you really love the ride, it will be well worth the time spent in line!

DON’T STRESS: The bottom line is, you are still going to the most magical place on earth, so you will have a great time no matter what! Just try and be flexible, and don’t get too upset if you don’t see it all…there’s always next time!

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The big question on our trips is which resort hotel we will stay at in Disneyland.  We have to fly over the ocean to go, so we have a long time to save up between trips and love the on-property perks. Now that we’ve stayed at all 3, it’s nice to have an overview of the ones we will stay at for future trips that might help your planning as well.

Paradise Pier Hotel

This hotel wasn’t originally a resort hotel, it is the lowest priced of the 3 resort hotels, yet not value-priced. The decor is California beach style, my boys had lots of fun with the beach ball pillows. My biggest complaint is the elevator situation- there are 3 main elevators for the whole hotel and one glass elevator on a different system.  We did learn the trick- go up to get down, which reminded us of “go left to turn right”. Just one of those opposite-world kind of things.  The 3rd-floor rooftop pool is heated and the kids loved the “California Screamin’” waterslide. The lobby stays pretty busy and they have a few restaurants there as well: PCH Grill (home to Mickey’s Surf’s Up breakfast and the Kitchen Sink dessert) and Surfside Lounge.

Disneyland Hotel

Just coming off a refurbishment, the Disneyland Hotel is the original and my favorite of the resort hotels.  The headboards come alive with lights and music (“A Dream is a Wish”) and I also like that the building names reflect more of the parks: Adventure, Fantasy and Frontier.  The D-ticket pool, E-ticket pool and Monorail pool with waterslides and hot tubs are newly open as well with a kiddie area. There are a few more dining options here: Coffee House, Goofy’s Kitchen (premium character dining), Steakhouse 55, Tagaroa Terrace- Casual Island Dining and Trader Sam’s- Enchanted Tiki Bar. It’s best proximity is to the monorail that goes into Tomorrowland of Disneyland park, which I love after a long day of walking the parks!

Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

This resort hotel reminds me of the Wilderness Lodge- very similar with the same architecture and big open feel.  It is the most deluxe of the 3 and also has the Villas associated with it for DVC members. It has it’s own entrance into the California Adventure park and is right in the middle of Downtown Disney with about the same distance to the monorail as Disneyland Hotel, and it’s proximity to both parks are the best. There are also 3 pool areas to play in at this resort, the Fountain pool, Redwood pool with waterslide and the Mariposa pool with hot tub. Whitewater Snacks is near one of the pools, Hearthstone Lounge is in the main lobby, Storytellers’ Cafe is home to the buffets and Chip and Dale’s Critter breakfast and their signature restaurant is the Napa Rose.  It’s amazing to me how you can find peace and quiet in this resort even with how many guests there are and how it’s right in the middle of all the action. The Mandara Spa is also in this hotel as well as many other services (babysitting for ages 5-12, tours and classes)

All of the resort hotels sleep 5 in a room, usually with 2 Queens and a daybed but the Grand Californian has some rooms with a bunkbed and pull out trundle.

Have you stayed at any of these resorts? What did you think? Let me know in the comment box below.

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Fantasmic

Chip & Company would like to extend a Pooh-sized welcome to all Guests! Come one, come all Cast Members and VoluntEARS to the Show. We hope you’ll find us to be a Fantasmic Innovention and refer to us often as an E-Ticket Attraction. Consider us your Automagic Fastpass to the Utilidors of Disney knowledge!

The world of Walt Disney entertainment is so unique it requires its own language. Some words originated directly from Walt and his Imagineers. Others, it seems, have grown into their own Disneyness and have acquired new meanings along the way.

Attraction = a theme park ride or show
Audio animatronics = realistic robotics that bring 3-D effect to an Attraction
Automagic = play on automatic; the Disney way of making things magically happen
Backstage = a park area not accessible to guests
Cast Member = a Disney theme park or resort employee
Casting center = theme park or resort employment office
Costume = the uniform worn by a Cast Member
Crew Member = Disney Cruise Line employee
Disney point = to point with index and middle finger together; in some cultures it is rude to point with only one finger
Earffel Tower = water tower at DHS; example of wienie
Epcot = from EPCOT, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
E-Ticket = the newest, best, most popular attraction; stems from former system of ride coupons ranking rides A-E (A were least popular, E most popular)
Fantasmic = lights, lasers, fireworks, and waterworks show at DHS
FastPass = ticket generated to assign Guest a time to return to a busy Attraction without waiting in long line
Guest = visitor to Disney theme park or resort
Hallowishes = special Magic Kingdom fireworks during MNSSHP Halloween celebrations
IllumiNations = fireworks at Epcot
Imagineer = employee of Walt Disney Imagineering (formerly Walter Elias Disney, WED Enterprises); combination of imagine+engineer; scientists and artists who design the Attractions
Innovention = innovation+invention
Mousekeeping = resort housekeeping/maid service
Mouseketeer = play on musketeer; cast members of the TV show The Mickey Mouse Club
On stage = any area where a Cast Member might be seen by Guests
Philharmagic = philharmonic+magic 3-D film at MK
PhotoPass = barcoded card/web access to photos taken by Cast Member photographers
Plussing = constantly striving to improve a project even when it is considered complete
Pooh-sized = big, like Pooh Bear
Protein spill = term used by Cast Members to indicate someone has vomited
Show = everything that encompasses an Attraction or park feature; all the effects & mood setters that combine to make it feel like you’re walking into that world
Utilidors = utility+corridors The underground tunnels at Magic Kingdom that provide access for maintenance, Cast Members, readying, etc.
VoluntEARS = The Disney VoluntEARS program provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time and expertise to charitable causes.
Wienie = a visual Attraction or landmark that can be seen by Guests from far away; it is used to guide visitors through park, i.e. Cinderella Castle
Wishes = Magic Kingdom fireworks

Then, there’s a slew of abbreviations representing different Resorts, restaurants, shows, etc.
Parks:
DLR = Disneyland Resort
DLP = Disneyland Park
DCA = Disney California Adventure
DTD = Downtown Disney (both DLR & WDW)
WDW = Walt Disney World Resort
AK or DAK = Disney’s Animal Kingdom
DHS = Disney’s Hollywood Studios
EC = Epcot
MK = Magic Kingdom
BB = Blizzard Beach
TL = Typhoon Lagoon
DLRP or DLP = Disneyland Resort Paris
DCL = Disney Cruise Line
TDL = Tokyo Disneyland
TDS = Tokyo Disney Sea
HKDL = Hong Kong Disneyland

Resorts:
AKL = Animal Kingdom Lodge
AS = All Star Sports
ASM = All Star Movies
ASMu = All Star Music
BLT = Bay Lake Tower
Cont = Contemporary
CS = Coronado Springs
DLH = Disneyland Hotel
FW = Fort Wilderness Campground
FtW = Fort Wilderness
GC = Disney’s Grand Californian
GF = Grand Floridian
PFQ = Port Orleans French Quarter
Poly = Polynesian
POP = Pop Century
POR = Port Orleans Riverside
SS = Saratoga Springs
WL = Wilderness Lodge
Y&B = Yacht & Beach Club

Attractions:
BTM = Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
CoP = Carousel of Progress
EE = Expedition Everest
GMR = Great Movie Ride
HM = Haunted Mansion
MNSSHP = Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
MVMCP = Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
PotC = Pirates of the Caribbean
RnRC = Rock–n–Roller Coaster
SM = Space Mountain
SSE = Spaceship Earth
SM = Splash Mountain
ST = Star Tours
ToT = Tower of Terror
TSM = Toy Story Mania
TTA = Tomorrowland Transit Authority

Other:
AA = Audio Animatronics
ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations
AP = Annual Pass
CM = Cast Member
DDP = Disney Dining Plan
DVC = Disney Vacation Club
ECV = Electric Convenience Vehicle (motorized scooter)
EMH = Extra Magic Hours
FW = Future World
HM = Hidden Mickey
ME = Magical Express
TIW = Tables in Wonderland
TTC = Transportation and Ticket Center
WS = World Showcase

Next time you want to impress your friends, drop some Disneyspeak. It’ll confirm what they’ve suspected all along: Yep, you’re a Disney addict!

These lists are hardly exhaustive. Help us add to them in the comments below.

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Walt Disney World Transportation

A Chip & Co. reader recently asked: Do you need a car while at Walt Disney World Resort? The short answer is no.

My family and I vacationed at Walt Disney World Resort not long ago, and while I’d love to be there still, my feet are overjoyed not to be walking miles and miles a day. There’s one aspect of a Walt Disney World vacation that just can’t be beat: the transportation system.

Guests bound for Disney-owned Resort hotels via commercial flights to Orlando International Airport experience VIP treatment before they ever enter the Parks. Guests can arrange prior to their arrival to be treated like royalty with Disney’s Magical Express system. Special luggage tags allow vacationers to check their bags at departure and not have to worry about them again. Guests can bypass baggage claim, enjoy a complimentary ride aboard comfy motor coaches to their Resort, and find their bags magically awaiting them in their Guestroom. And, of course, when it’s time to leave the Kingdom, Guests again check their luggage and board motor coaches for complimentary transportation back to the airport. It’s all available at no extra charge no matter where you stay on Property.

Magical Express

Once onsite, Guests have many modes of travel to choose from within the Walt Disney World Transportation System. We drove our own vehicle to get there, but once it was parked, it stayed parked. Most convenient is the bus service. More than 300 buses driven by 1,100 full-time and 400 part-time drivers track 20 million miles per year toting Guests to and from the Parks, Resorts, and onsite attractions. The buses go just about everywhere on Disney Property. However, they do not transport Guests from Resort to Resort. To get from one hotel to another, Guests must take a bus to one of the Parks or Downtown Disney and transfer to another bus. Always allow extra time to get where you need to go.

While each Park has its own unique representative attraction, the monorail is Walt Disney World’s wienie. One line services the transportation center, Magic Kingdom, and the Resorts surrounding Seven Seas Lagoon, and a second line runs between Magic Kingdom and Epcot. According to Lou Mongello’s The Walt Disney World Trivia Book Volume Two, if you were to add up all the trips these German engineered trains have made over the 14.7 mile track since 1971, the mileage logged would equate to more than 25 round trips to the moon!

Ferry boats (or fairy boats?) provide one more option. Since they are limited to waterways, they do not offer access to all entertainment or Resort areas. Guests can, however, take in some scenic relaxation while en route to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, and select Resorts. Boats launch about every 15-30 minutes, but I’ve found them to be one of the quickest rides to catch.

Perhaps the best part of Walt Disney World Transporation is that it’s all available at no extra charge no matter where you stay on Property. Segway tours, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, surrey bikes, canoes, yachts, and golf carts are some fee-based options offered at various locations around Walt Disney World Resort.

So, do you need a car at Walt Disney World? Four out of the five times my family has vacationed there, we have driven our own car. We’ve used it onsite once! I would say that if you have a restaurant reservation outside of the Parks, say at ‘Ohana or Whispering Canyon, since buses do not run between Resort hotels, it may be quicker and easier to take your own vehicle. If I remember correctly, the one time we drove our car it was to Downtown Disney in the pouring rain when our youngest was an infant. That worked out well for us, but for most other instances, Disney’s taken good care of us.

A previous version of this article originally appeared at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school.

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PlanItDisney map-based planning

PlanItDisney.com, a revolutionary free Disney trip planning website, went live to the public today.  PlanItDisney allows users to build an online travel itinerary and budget from over 3000 Points of Interest in and around Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Planning a vacation with PlanItDisney is a four step process:

The Map – An interactive map containing photos, details, descriptions, and reviews for every single attraction, show, hotel, service, food, and transportation location at the Disney resorts is the starting point to building your perfect trip. Browse the map, find things to do and add them to your itinerary queue.
The Planner – Select any point of interest and drag-and-drop it anywhere in your itinerary.  Shuffle events around until your trip is just right.  Color coding of events gives you a quick overview of what kind of activity is up next.  You can add custom itinerary items or attach a note (like ADR information) to any event.
The Budget – Once you’ve got your itinerary looking the way you’d like, with one click PlanItDisney will help create a budget based on your exact trip.  Common (but commonly overlooked) budget items like internet charges, parking, and other costs are noted for you.
Book It – Once your plan and budget are in place, PlanItDisney makes it easier than ever to book your Disney vacation online.  You can choose to share your itinerary and budget with one of a select group of Authorized Disney Travel Agents who can help finalize all the little details of your trip and make all the hotel, ticket, food, and theme park reservations at absolutely no cost to you.  Or you are free to make your own travel arrangements.

Interactive itinerary tool

PlanItDisney is the quickest and easiest way to learn about everything to do at Disney, remove the confusion and hassle of planning and budgeting a trip, and get on with enjoying the most magical vacation of your life!

"Smart" budgeting helps estimate the trip

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  Ok, I may be a little biased, but one of my FAVORITE Disney trip-planning websites is Tips from the Disney Diva www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com

The site, which really began taking off in December of 2009, was originally designed to help families in the planning process for their trip to Walt Disney World, but is expanding this year with the addition of multiple “Diva & Devo” writers who specialize in tips on:

- Disneyland trip planning – RunDisney Events – WDW & Dland dining, attractions, and resort reviews – Packing tips – Disney trips with Toddlers in your party – Disney on a budget – Disney trips with TEENS in your party (from a teen’s perspective) – Disney trips WITHOUT kids in your party – Traveling with people who have dietary or physical special needs  in your party – Traveling to Disneyland Paris – Disney Cruises – Traveling to Disneyland Hong Kong – Traveling to WDW and Disneyland from outside of the country – Disney Weddings and Honeymoons – Disney Vacation Club – Thrill ride lovers – Specialty Tours – Photography at Disney Parks and more!

Tips from the Disney Diva is EXCLUSIVELY a trip planning site. It does not discuss Disney news, Disney movies or television, ABC Family,  or any of the other great stuff that is covered here at Chip and Company, so we’re QUITE compatible with one another. Tips from the Disney Diva’s goal is for you to have the BEST POSSIBLE Disney vacation you could have , so information is sincere, fun to read, easy to understand for people who are planning their FIRST TRIP, and straight talk that will help you plan a trip even a DIVA would love!

If you’re looking for some great HELPFUL tips for planning your next Disney come meet me over at Tips from the Disney Diva (www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com) and look around. You can get just a taste of the site by looking at some of the most frequently read posts and join us on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/tipsfromthedisneydiva and/or TWITTER @WDWDisneyDiva. Bring your friends and make sure you sign up get emails sent to you daily with fresh tips for planning the best Disney vacation EVER!

• Packing the PERFECT Walt Disney World Backpack
• Packing Checklists
• Counter Service Lunch AT Magic Kingdom
• Only got TWO days to do Disney…. check it out
• Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom
• Ride or Walk? Strollers at Walt Disney World
• The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney World Vacationing
• In Case of a WDW Melt-Down: Break G.L.A.S.S.
• Fast Pass Pouches
• “Hoofing it”. Walking around Walt Disney World

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It won’t be long before you can stay in the highly-anticipated Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World. Located in the proposed Golden Years section at the Pop Century Resort, the Art of Animation Resort will feature suites that sleep up to six and rooms that sleep up to four.  The resort is scheduled to open in sections:

• Nemo Suites: Opening May 31, 2012.
• Cars suites:  August 31, 3012.
• The Lion King Suites:  September 30, 2012.
• The Little Mermaid rooms:  December.

This resort is a welcome addition, especially for larger families and groups who need the extra space. I can’t wait to stay there!  We’ll keep you posted if these dates change.

Chris writes here and at Everything Walt Disney World.  Mention this article and receive a free Disney gift card when you book a new Disney vacation.  You can email her at Christina@PixieVacations.com.

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One thing we like to do when packing for Walt Disney World is pack less clothes… Before you tell me that is not possible or how 2 suitcases are a minimum in your household here me out.

What my family and I like to do is pack enough clothes for 4-5 days tops. Then since most times we stay at a resort that has a washer or dryer in the room about half way through the vacation we do a load of laundry and then wear the same outfits all over again. It gives me a chance to bust out the Chip and Company t-shirts twice on our vacation!

Back in the good old days this meant packing detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets. Not any more.. Purex 3 and 1 sheets (as seen above) is a life & packing saver. Not only is the detergent, fabric softener, and anti static sheet all combined together if you layer them with your clothes it makes your whole suitcase smell brilliant when you get to your home away from home.

So Chip what do we do if you don’t have access to a washer or dryer? Well all of the Walt Disney World resorts have access to a laundry facility. They have coin-operated laundry rooms including washers and dryer in a central location usually by the pool. They run about $2.00 per load for the wash and $2.00 for the dryer. All laundry rooms do have access to soap and dryer sheets but are no where near as nice smelling as the Purex brand.

Tip – I do not suggest bring detergent or fabric softener on a plane with you. Who knows what the TSA or the extreme altitudes will do with that package of liquid Tide.

So what we like to do is run a load of laundry and head off to the pool. About 1/2 way through your swim session pop out, run back to the laundry room and move your clothes over to the dryer. By the time you done they are dry, fresh and toasty warm for your venture back to the parks for fireworks or a late dinner.

Well I hope this Disney World Quick Tip will help you save some space on your next vacation. Remember more room = more souvenirs you can bring back home with you.

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Tables in Wonderland – The Wave . . . of American Flavor’s Discovery Dinner

At Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Thursday, January 19, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. Reception; 7:00 p.m. Dinner

Meet at The Wave… of American Flavor’s Main Podium

Dress Code – Casual Evening Attire

$92 per person, includes tax and gratuity

The Wave…of American Flavors Discovery Dinners continue in January by celebrating our Central Florida Strawberry season.  Our Farmer/Chef dinner will feature Lott Farms located just west of Plant City, Florida.  Mike and Sandy Lott started their farm in 1979 on rented land and purchased and built their family farm of 50 acres in 1983.  They have lived on and farmed this land with their children and grandchildren since that date.  Mike’s great strawberries are sold under the Classic label through C&D Produce Distributors.

Reception in The Wave . . . of American Flavors Lounge

• Thompson Farm Pulled Pork Slider with Plant City Barbeque Sauce and Cypress Grove Sheep’s Milk Cheese
• Strawberry Tea Poached Beef Short Rib with Sweet Shiraz Puree and Truffle Oil
• Strawberry Champagne with Wild Caught Shrimp and Mint Syrup
• MOMO Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

Dinner in The Wave . . . of American Flavors Private Dining Room

Appetizer

• Myakka Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Aged Balsamic Strawberries and Odessa, Florida Tiny Opal Basil
• La Craie Vouvray, Chenin Blanc, France

Entrée

• Lightly Smoked Duck Breast, Strawberry Gastrique, Risotto with Braised Rhubarb and Celery, Roasted Winter Vegetables
• Torbreck “Woodcutter” Shiraz, Australia

Salad

• Felsmere, Florida Bordeaux Spinach, Poppy Seed Vinaigrette, Marcona Almonds and Aged Feta
• Bethel Heights, Pinot Gris, Oregon

Dessert

A Trio of Fresh from Florida Strawberry Flavors featuring:

• Strawberry-Champagne Sorbet
• No Sugar Added Strawberry Panna Cotta
• Brown Sugar Glazed Pound Cake with Strawberry Tuile
• Trinitas Moscoto, California

For reservations, e-mail WDW.Tables.In.Wonderland@disney.com with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party.  You will be notified on a “first-come, first-served” basis.  Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed.  The event is limited to 40 Guests. The event is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members.

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While Walt Disney World is known for its variety of entertainment and characters, it’s also known for its variety of delicious food! In fact, there are several snacks and dishes that have become almost as popular as the Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain or Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest. Check out my Top 10 list of favorite Disney foods!

10. POG Juice-A combo of pineapple, orange, and guava juice, this sweet, delicious juice is fantastic and can become addictive! You can enjoy this refreshing beverage at the Polynesian’s ‘Ohana character breakfast or at Animal Kingdom’s Donald’s Safari Breakfast at Tusker House.

9. Mickey Waffles-At many places throughout Walt Disney World, you can feast on this popular breakfast dish of waffles made in the shape of Mickeys!

8. Columbia Harbor House Clam Chowder-At the Magic Kingdom’s Columbia Harbor House, you can enjoy a generous serving of delicious New England clam chowder that rivals any you may find at a restaurant!

7. School Bread-At Epcot’s Norway pavilion, you can drop by the popular Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe to try a coconut covered, custard filled pastry! It’s a big favorite among guests!

6. Turkey Leg-This gigantic snack is a must-have among many park guests and its smoky, delicious smell is enough to make your stomach rumble! If you have a carnivore in your family, definitely put this on your to-do list or give it a try if you’re looking for a filling snack.

5. Tonga Toast-This dish can only be found at the Polynesian Resort’s Kona Cafe and Captain Cook’s Snack Company; and it is known as one of the best breakfast foods at WDW. Why? It’s a sourdough, cinnamon French Toast stuffed with bananas. Yum! Be sure to drop by the Polynesian and give it a try!

4. The Kitchen Sink-At the Yacht and Beach Club’s Beaches and Cream, you can treat yourself to a massive ice cream sundae that is literally served in a sink! You’re guaranteed not to leave hungry!

3. Cheddar Cheese Soup-At Epcot’s Canada pavilion, you can find one of Walt Disney World’s most popular restaurants, Le Cellier. One of their most famous appetizers is their fabulous Cheddar Cheese Soup that you just have to try!

2. Dole Whip-This frosty, sweet snack is pineapple soft-serve that is a sure cure after a hot, sticky day at the parks. You can also enjoy a Dole Whip float which is the soft serve in pineapple juice! Believe me, this treat is amazing, especially if you enjoy fresh pineapple! You can only enjoy this sweet treat at a few select places at WDW, and our favorites are Aloha Isle at the Magic Kingdom and the Polynesian’s Captain Cook’s Snack Company!

1. Le Cellier’s Filet Mignon with Mushroom Risotto-This dish is probably the best steak you will find at Walt Disney World, especially combined with the special sauce and mushrooms. Once you have had that first bite, Le Cellier will probably become your new favorite Disney restaurant!

Are any of these Disney foods some of your favorites? What is your favorite Disney food? Be sure to share with us!

Dining: Banana Foster Mickey Waffles (aglassslippervacation.com)

Good Eats – Kona Cafe, Polynesian Resort – Walt Disney World

One of a Kind Dining – Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot

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Jodi Whisenhunt (center) with Steve and Vickie Barrett

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to chat with hidden Mickeys expert, author Steven M. Barrett. Steve and his family first fell under Mickey’s spell after visiting Walt Disney World Resort in 1980. Visiting twice yearly until relocating to the Orlando area in 1998, then hitting the Parks as often as possible, Steve gained so much expertise about the Resort that he found himself escorting visiting friends and relatives and offering better touring advice than any available guidebook.

I’m sure you’re familiar with Steve’s work. He has published 10 annual editions of his first book, The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation, retiring it with the 2011 version, and is best known for his field guides to spotting hidden Mickeys: Hidden Mickeys, A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets; Hidden Mickeys, A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort’s Best Kept Secrets; and Hidden Mickeys, A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets. Keep those in mind if you are still shopping for last minute Christmas gifts! 

Welcome to Chip & Company, Steve, and thank you so much for joining us!

JW: What was it about Walt Disney World that first hooked you back in 1980?

Steve: I’d been to theme parks before, but Walt Disney World (WDW) was different! I was blown away by the sheer scope of the entertainment options and the amazing details of WDW’s construction. Just as Walt wanted, I was transported far away from the regular world “outside,” and I’d never experienced such stress relief before. Now I live not far from WDW, and I still feel that pleasant stress relief every time I visit!

JW: You enjoyed Walt Disney World so much that you vacationed there twice a year. Was your family as enamored with the Resort as you? Did anyone ever say, “Disney World again? Can’t we go somewhere else?”

Steve: My wife and son were amused by my sudden passion for visiting WDW. Thankfully, they enjoyed our WDW trips almost as much as I did, although they often ran out of steam before I did each day. I don’t recall my family ever asking me to vacation somewhere else, and I don’t remember family complaints after any of our WDW visits (other than being tired)!

JW: I imagine when that job opportunity arose in 1998, you did not hesitate to accept, huh? I don’t think my family would hesitate either! Are you still employed by that company, or are you now a Cast Member/employee of the Walt Disney Company?

Steve: I jumped at the chance to move to the Orlando area, and I haven’t once regretted that decision! I’ve changed jobs one time here in Florida, to allow more time to work on my Disney books and website. I don’t work for Disney.

The guy on the right

JW: Part of the fun of visiting Disney Parks is searching for hidden Mickeys. Would you please take a moment to explain to our readers what a hidden Mickey is?

Steve: A hidden Mickey (HM) is a partial or complete image of Mickey Mouse that is purposefully hidden by Disney Imagineers and artists in the designs of Disney attractions, shops, etc., or anywhere on Disney property. Other Disney characters can be hidden as well.

JW: A Magical Mouse Schoolhouse reader, Amy, asked: What is the difference between hidden Mickeys and décor Mickeys? Are all of them intentionally hidden, or are some just part of the design?

Steve: Hidden Mickeys are designed to blend into their surroundings, so that they’re usually difficult to spot. Décor (decorative) Mickeys are not designed to be hidden but instead are easily visible to everyone as part of Disney’s theming. However, sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish a Mickey image as hidden or décor. You can often sense that a certain hidden Mickey image is purposeful; these are the images I like best. Some images may not be purposeful. For example, many collections of circles (pumpkins, bubbles, oranges, grapes, etc.) can be found on Disney property. Some of these circles may come together at times to form proportional and properly positioned classic (three-circle) Mickeys. I may accept some of these images as hidden Mickeys even though they might not be intentional, or I may ask folks to vote on the images on my website.

JW: At what point did you think to record all the hidden Mickey locations in a book?

Steve: As part of my Disney research in the 1990s, I collected Hidden Mickey sightings as described by Cast Members, the (now defunct) Disney Magazine, and other sources. My publisher asked if I could arrange the hidden Mickeys in a touring plan format for a book, so that the guest could explore the Magic Kingdom (or any other Park or area) for hidden Mickeys in an efficient manner, with minimal waits in line. The hidden Mickeys books are written in a scavenger hunt format, with the hidden Mickeys arranged for efficiency.

JW: Did you have to get permission from Disney to expose the hidden Mickey locations?

Steve: No, Disney doesn’t require me to ask for their permission to describe hidden Mickeys and their locations. Disney stocks the hidden Mickeys books on property, so Disney implicitly has accepted my approach to the hidden Mickeys game.

JW: I consider you an expert in the realm of hidden Mickey knowledge. Does Disney? Do they contact you to let you know about new ones, or do you just have to discover them on your own?

Steve: Disney doesn’t contact me about hidden Mickeys, so I must find them on my own. However, so many folks find hidden Mickeys and write to me about them that I don’t have to rely on my own searches as much anymore. 

JW: A fan, Mel, asked: Are there new hidden Mickeys added on a regular basis? If so, are they just added to new attractions or to existing ones too?

Steve: New hidden Mickeys are added on a regular basis. When any new area is built or an attraction refurbished, new hidden Mickeys are likely to appear. Imagineers and artists know about hidden Mickeys and are encouraged to place new HM images during the ongoing construction at Disney. Sometimes, a new HM will appear (and be accepted by the area Imagineer manager) at an existing location. Hidden Mickeys are often a topic of discussion during Disney planning sessions for new and refurbished attractions and other areas. 

JW: Since new ones do show up periodically, how frequently do you update your Hidden Mickeys books?

Steve: Over the years, I’ve become aware that hidden Mickeys appear and are lost at a fairly steady pace. Because of this predictable volume of new and lost HMs, it’s worthwhile to publish new editions of the WDW and DL books every two years. Sometimes, if changes occur more rapidly, my publisher can make small changes or additions to books as new batches of the current edition are reprinted during the year. 

JW: Your books are pretty comprehensive! Do you think any HMs elude you?

Steve: Because of the many hidden Mickey hunters that write to me, I believe that few HMs elude me. I only include hidden Mickeys in the books (and, in general, on the website) that Guests can spot during their usual touring. I don’t include behind the scenes HMs in the books. A few hidden Mickeys probably exist that I can’t spot while on certain attractions. For example, Cast Members say that a Hidden Mickey is on the forehead of the first carnotaurus you encounter while riding DINOSAUR in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, I’ve not yet been able to spot or photograph this HM while on the ride. Maybe you can see it if the ride breaks down! So I don’t include it in the book.

JW: A fan, Amy, asked: Are there any hidden Mickeys on the Sorcerer’s hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Are there any on Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom?

Steve: The only hidden Mickeys I’m aware of in either location are inside Cinderella Castle Suite, one each on the rear wall and the right wall bathroom murals. An image in the Castle Suite fireplace doesn’t look like a hidden Mickey to me (this image is typically called “wishful thinking”).

JW: My teenage son, Kyle, would like to know: What do you think is the best-hidden Mickey at Walt Disney World? Which one, in your opinion, is the hardest to spot?

Steve: My best answer is my current favorite hidden Mickey at WDW: the Steamboat Willie Mickey image behind the fern in the left side mural at Garden Grill Restaurant in Epcot’s Land Pavilion. It’s almost a hologram-type effect, and some folks can’t see it. It took my wife almost a year before she finally spotted this Mickey; she saw it (“Eureka!”) in a close-up photo on my computer screen!

JW: Tell Vickie I can’t find it either! But I did find this photo of Hidden Mickey cucumbers served at the Garden Grill.

JW: A reader, Michelle, asked: How are you supposed to find hidden Mickey’s when you are on the rides? I can’t seem to find them that fast. Do you have any tips?

Steve: It depends on the ride. The Great Movie Ride vehicle moves at a pace at which you can spot the great HMs in this attraction. On Test Track, you have to know beforehand exactly where to look to find the HMs. Before I enter an attraction, I memorize as many HM locations as I can to optimize my chances. Still, I had to ride Test Track many times before I spotted the Hidden Mickeys I was verifying. On any attraction, you must know when and where to cast your eyes to locate the HMs. In my books and website, I use the most accurate and specific descriptions possible to help Guests find the little gems!

JW: I live in Texas, so I don’t get to visit the Parks very often. To help us feel like we’re onsite, sometimes my kids and I find unofficial hidden Mickeys around our home. Do you find yourself spotting them when you’re not on Disney property (like Mickey-shaped clouds or bubbles stuck together or garage bolts in such close proximity that they resemble Mickey—yeah, some of ours are wishful thinking too)?

Steve: Yes, I see Mickeys all around me, and I subconsciously look for Mickey images all the time, wherever I happen to be. I have a section on my website, the “Questionable Hidden Mickeys – Other” section, in which I post convincing images that folks find outside of Disney property. Mickey is everywhere!

JW: Before we close, do you have any special advice to offer our readers regarding visiting Disney Parks or discovering hidden Mickeys?

Steve: Plan ahead and don’t wait in any long lines (more than 20 minutes) unless you don’t have a choice. Drink plenty of water and take breaks when your body tells you to! Don’t expect to do everything. Stay alert wherever you are on Disney property. Admire the amazing Disney details and chat periodically with Cast Members. In fact, ask Cast Members about hidden Mickeys in their areas, although keep in mind that not all Cast Members (especially newer ones) are interested in or informed about hidden Mickeys. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true!

With the holidays in full swing and the Parks decked to the hilt, I had one more question to ask Steve.

JW: Where should we look for hidden Mickeys in the Christmas decorations?

Steve: During the Christmas holiday season, hidden Mickeys (and decor Mickeys) appear in the gingerbread displays at the various Disney resorts, in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, and in decorations and some Christmas trees around the parks. Also look for the hidden Mickey on the nutcracker figure who walks around Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.

Steve, thank you so much for spending some time with us! I know I’m now ready to hit the Parks with a new passion!

You can find more information about hidden Mickeys, Steve, and his books at HiddenMickeysGuy.com.

A previous version of this interview originally appeared at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse.

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Lets have a look inside the Disney Story Rooms offered here at Walt Disney World Resort.

As you can see in this video, the existing Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort are a great place for tired scalawags to rest their heads. Royal Guest Rooms, which are scheduled to open in February at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, include nods to some of Disney’s most beloved princesses. These rooms start at $189 per night and are already available for booking.

The next phase in Disney Story Rooms will debut at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which is set to debut in phases beginning with the “Finding Nemo” courtyard in May 2012. But more on this later…

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