You’re going to Disney World and have spent months researching where to stay, where to eat, what to see and do, and how to get there and back. A Disney vacation is a sizeable investment, and is worth spending all that time so that you and your family can get your money’s worth and have a truly magical vacation experience.

But what about your Disney park tickets? This is one of the most expensive parts of your Disney vacation budget, so thinking about where you get your tickets, or what to do with them after you get them, is just as important as all the other parts of your trip…..…because clearly, there will be no rides or attractions without them!

So my Walt Disney World Planning Tip for today is to give this some thought: carefully research where you are buying from if not getting them through Disney, be cautious, and then once you have them….protect that valuable investment just as you would anything else that costs you hundreds of dollars!

Here are 4 things you should know if you are buying your Disney World tickets yourself:

1.     Use Only Authorized Ticket Agencies

Authorized ticket brokers are able to sell tickets for less money than gate prices because they buy tickets in bulk from each attraction and theme park, and these large quantities enable them to receive discounts which they then pass on to their customers. An authorized Disney ticket agency will display the Disney logo and the “authorized ticket agent” designation.

In addition, check to see if the business belongs to the local Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau, as this is a good indication of the company’s standing in the community. It’s also worth it to see that they have been in business for at least several years.

2.     Cheapest is not Always Best

The key to saving money on Disney tickets is frankly to remember what your mother always told you: “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” So when doing your research, know that you will find websites with prices that are lower than the gate prices at Disney…but use some caution: if they are so low they are unbelievable, you should assume that it’s a scam. You can also take a look at the URL on the website: many scams originate in Romania (you will see an .ro at the end of the URL), where they will usually request that you pay by wire transfer, which is a huge red flag. Always buy discount Walt Disney World tickets with a credit card, so that you can get your money back if there is any problem.

3.     Craigslist or eBay? No Thank You!

Anyone who is familiar with Craigslist or eBay will know that really cheap Disney theme park tickets are available on these sites on a regular basis. But buyer beware! The problem with buying discount Walt Disney World tickets from eBay or Craiglist is that there is literally no way that you can be certain that you will get tickets that are valid…until you get to the park gate and try to use them. Only once the ticket is scanned at the turnstile, will you know how many days, if any, are on your tickets.

Sadly, there are many con artists on eBay and Craigslist who are supposedly selling Disney tickets for less. And even if you, in good faith, get a “partially used” park pass, since Disney tickets are non-transferable (and Disney enforces this through a biometric finger scan), you would not be able use it, since it is illegal in the state of Florida to re-sell partially used multi-day admission tickets.

4.     Keep Your Ticket Investment Safe!

Have you ever thought about what would happen on your vacation if you lost your tickets? I can’t think of many things that would ruin a vacation quicker than to spend hundreds of dollars on theme park tickets…only to lose them! Happily, there is one very simple way to make sure that your vacation is not ruined by lost theme park tickets: make a copy of the back of them.

The back side, with the magnetic strip, has coded information with all the details of your personal ticket. All these numbers, letters, and dates will actually help Disney replace the tickets if you lose them. And while the tickets do say “Disney is not responsible for misplaced, lost, or stolen tickets”, in all likelihood, if you can provide the coded information, they will usually re-issue the pass.

So save this valuable coded information by making a copy, or taking a photo of the backs, either with a digital camera or cell phone. By doing this, if you lose the tickets while at the park, you will have immediate access to the codes on your camera or cell phone.

It is important to note that receipts that you receive from ticket brokers, while important, will not help in getting your tickets replaced. You must have the codes from the back of your passes.

So that’s my Disney World tip of the day: Buyer beware….and then protect what you buy! Do these things and there will be no unpleasant surprises when it comes to your Disney park tickets!

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So you just stuffed yourself on a scrumptious meal at your favorite Walt Disney World eatery. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you likely enjoyed a four-square meal and beverage of choice, right? What you need is a nap, but what your family wants is a ride!

Do NOT “walk this way” when you are stuffed to the gills:

1)      Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith—A tour of G-Force Record Studio is cut short when the band Aerosmith takes off for a show. They take Guests with them, though, in a super stretch limo. Each “car” pumps 32,000 watts of onboard audio through a 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer sound system and accelerates from a zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with the force of a supersonic F-14. Three inversions offer a unique view of Los Angeles: upside-down! [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]

2)      Mission: SPACE—Designed in consultation with 25 NASA experts and five astronauts, Mission Space is a flight training simulator that allows passengers to experience space travel without ever leaving Earth. Green offers a milder ride but still rough on a full tummy. Orange is full throttle, utilizing a multiple-arm centrifuge that spins and tilts to simulate speed and 2.4G gravitational forces—more than twice the force of the Earth’s gravitational pull. [Epcot]

3)      Mad Tea Party—Climb into one of 18 tea cups set up for The Mad Hatter and the March Hare’s “Unbirthday” party and take a wild, dizzying adventure. Each ride vehicle has a wheel in the center that lets you control the speed of spin. The faster you turn the wheel, the faster you spin. The faster you spin, the faster you may learn what a “protein spill” is. [Magic Kingdom]

4)      Twilight Zone Tower of Terror—According to legend, the once glamorous Hollywood Hotel hosted stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age until Halloween night 1939, when a violent storm struck the building, whisking 5 unfortunate souls “beyond the fifth dimension.” Guests board the “fright elevator,” which goes up, then down, then maybe up again…or down. Random drops depart the 13th floor and are determined by the Tower itself. [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]

5)      Star Tours—This recently reimagined attraction features 54 ride sequences, offering motion-simulated 3D journeys aboard a Starspeeder 1000. Each ride is a different experience. You might flash through space at warp speed, zip past trees on the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk, weave through wrong-way traffic on the city-planet Coruscant, slide down treacherous slopes on the snowy planet Hoth, or just hang on for several other thrills before landing and safely delivering the spy to rebel headquarters. [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]

6)      Space Mountain—This classic Magic Kingdom coaster is an all-time fan favorite. Climb the 180-foot mountain then blast off into deep, dark space through twists and turns and past shooting stars and black holes. Two separate tracks, the Alpha and the Omega, mirror each other as they hurl rocket ships through the cosmos at 28 miles per hour. [Magic Kingdom]

7)      Cyber Space Mountain—This virtual roller coaster, custom built by you at Downtown Disney’s Disney Quest, can be as tame or as wild as you wish. Bill Nye the Science Guy directs the computer design. When you’re done, jump in a simulator and ride your creation in full 360° motion—rocking, tilting, rumbling along the “track” you created. [Disney Quest at Downtown Disney]

8)      Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain—The 199-foot “snow”-covered mountain adds a second “wienie” to Animal Kingdom Park. Board a runaway tea train and plunge into dark hairpin turns, careening forward and backward around and through this breathtaking Himalayan Mountain peak in effort to escape the mountain’s guardian Yeti, a phenomenal Audio-animatronic beast standing more than 18 feet tall that, when working, has an arm thrust equivalent to the force of a 747 jumbo jet. [Disney’s Animal Kingdom]

9)      Big Thunder Mountain Railroad—The “wildest ride in the wilderness” reaches speeds of 25-30 mph, matching that of the monorail, as it rumbles past gold mining tools on two-and-a-half acres of desert canyons and caverns. Those rough-and-tumble twists and turns can make a full stomach churn. [Magic Kingdom]

10)  Dinosaur —Dinosaur! is housed inside the Dino Institute toward the rear of DinoLand, USA. Once you eek past Dino Sue, a 40-foot long, 20-foot high exact replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed, proceed through the ride queue, strap into your Time Rover and hang on for a turbulent tour of the Cretaceous era  to fetch a dinosaur before it and you become extinct. [Disney’s Animal Kingdom]

You look a little green. Feeling OK? Don’t worry, you’ll have fun, but you might want to take in a show first.

I take a LOT of photos on every visit to Walt Disney World and have literally thousands of them loaded on to my computer. That being said, I am neither a professional nor a particularly talented photographer. I just shoot what I like.

This group of tips will focus primarily on photography and some of the things that will make taking photos both easier and hopefully be satisfying to you, the photographer.

By the way, I’ve made ALL of the mistakes I refer to here:

• Before You Go: Be familiar with your equipment. One of the most frustrating things you can do is buy a new camera, flash, or other piece of equipment just before you head for Walt Disney World and not take the time to play with it. This leaves you trying to figure out how to use your stuff in a hectic environment and may cause you to lose that special shot. The time you spend with your new equipment before the vacation will reap rewards while you are in the parks.
• Travel Light: Have you seen the folks carrying the huge cameras with the giant lenses, the large gadget bags and their tripods around the parks? That used to be me!! My philosophy has changed, I carry a medium size 12mp digital camera with a 24x zoom (PLENTY!!), a flash but only if we are going to be in the parks late for some night shots, and a shooter’s stick. If you are not familiar with a shooter’s stick, they are very rugged (they will support a rifle) lightweight plastic monopod type instruments that have a standard camera screw mount. The biggest advantage is that they are much taller than a standard monopod. I am about 6′ 1″ tall and can shoot photos at eye level rather than bending over. They weigh just a few ounces rather than a couple of pounds like a standard monopod and are available at Wal~Mart for right at $10 in Sporting Goods. I carry miscellaneous photo stuff too which I’ll cover below.
• Don’t Get Caught Short: I think almost everyone is fairly confident that they carry enough memory media with them to cover their vacation. I recommend that you carry multiple memory cards just in case one of them stops functioning. This is one of those things that rarely happens but does on occasion so be prepared. If you are familiar with digital cameras you already know that they are BATTERY HOGS!!! I use rechargeables and spare AA’s for backup. If you rely on rechargeables alone make sure that your charger has a refresh mode that keeps them functioning at full capacity for the life of the battery. For backup I always carry Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, they are simply the best and longest lasting. Love the Pink Bunny!!
• Those Important Non Park Shots: O.K. call me paranoid, but I take photos of things that most folks don’t. I take shots of our Key To The World (KTTW) cards, any ticket media that is not on the KTTW such as an Annual Pass, Tables In Wonderland card, and each and every Photopass card that we pick up during the visit. It’s a lot simpler to either replace these items or order your Photopass CD if you should happen to lose one of them. Take pictures of both sides of the card so you won’t have to try and figure out which is which. If you are attending any hard ticket events you should take photos of those tickets also including Dinner Shows.
• Don’t Try To Be An Artist: If you try to make every shot a work of art you will likely spend a lot of time not taking photos. Shoot what you like and take lots of shots, you can always delete the ones you don’t want to save. The magic that you can get in candids is sometimes priceless. Sure, go for some artsy shots too but don’t go crazy, leave that to the pros. Remember to back up on CD’s before you clear your cards.

That’s a lot of stuff, trust me I’ve not done what I suggest you do and done what I suggest you not do so this is the voice of experience. I really hope some of these things help you out. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

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In the last of my iPad reviews, today I’m taking a look at Disney Princesses: A Royal Christmas, which is available at the iTunes store at a cost of $4.99, and is available for both iPhone and iPad devices.

A Royal Christmas is a really good app to have in your library.  Like the other apps from Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications, this one is designed to help younger readers develop their reading skills in a fun, interactive way.  The nice thing about this app is that it contains three separate stories, one each involving Cinderella, Ariel, and Tiana!

Each of the stories, of course, is about the holidays, but they are uniquely different, and quite enjoyable in their own ways.  Sophie looked at it with me, and the first one that she wanted to look at was Princess Tiana — it was really well done, and this is one of the few apps I’ve seen that has featured Tiana and the Princess and the Frog characters, so I was excited to see it.

As you can see, there are several layers to this app.  You can follow along, you can read and explore, and you can play games.  All of the options are neat, and ones that your child will really enjoy.  Here are some of the beautiful shots that I captured from the Tiana story.

Out on the bayou

Tiana and Charlotte -- is that Papa Noel in the back there?

I love the dimension in this picture.

These shots are just some of the really incredible details that the folks at Disney Worldwide Publishing Applications have put into their work.  It is truly an incredible app for your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch, and well worth the $4.99 cost.

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Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I ♥ Minnie

A new home video from Walt Disney Studios releases this Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Featuring five fun-filled episodes and one special bonus feature that underline the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving, MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE was a sure hit with my little girl and is bound to become a favorite in your home too.

• Mickey Mouse and his Clubhouse friends are planning a surprise party for Minnie’s Birthday. My daughter was truly worried they wouldn’t be able to keep Minnie occupied while they got ready. She worried along with Minnie too, who thought her friends had forgotten her special day, but a happy ending brought a smile back to her face.
• When Daisy discovers her shoe is broken, the Clubhouse friends get creative. My daughter felt like she was really helping with her suggestions on how to fix it, and she had a great time learning the steps to Daisy’s Dance.
• The Pet Parade is almost here, and everyone has a pet to pamper except Daisy. My daughter, who recently got her very own puppy, absolutely loved this episode, because Daisy ends up keeping not just one but three adorable critters for Daisy’s Pet Project.
• Minnie and her friends follow the colorful rainbow that has appeared over the clubhouse and encounter a mischievous leprechaun along the way. At first, my daughter was irritated by the leprechaun, because he kept thwarting their plans, but in the end she and the Clubhouse gang were pleasantly surprised by the special treasure waiting at the end of Minnie’s Rainbow.
• The flower festival is fast approaching, but Minnie’s and Daisy’s flowers won’t bloom. My daughter wanted to run to the store and buy them a bouquet! But in this all new, never-before-seen episode, the two friends are able to coax the clouds to rain on Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower. 

The bonus episode makes it personal. You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party  lets your children join the celebration. My daughter really enjoyed using Toodles’ Mouseketools to RSVP to the invitation, choose the perfect gift for Minnie and decorate a party hat. She made a pink hat with lots of colorful polka dots and oodles of sparkly glitter. She thought Minnie would approve and wished Minnie could see her through the television. The episode ties in to Minnie’s Birthday, wishing the Guest of Honor special birthday wishes.

We were excited to see the bonus sneak peeks at the upcoming Disney Studios All Access offers, Lady and the Tramp and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure DVD/Blu-ray releases, Lion King 1-1/2 and Lion King 2 combo pack DVD release, and Cinderella DVD/Blu-ray diamond edition, as well as a look at some brand new features that are in the works: Brave (coming to theaters Summer 2012 from Disney-Pixar), Planes (coming to theaters Spring 2013 from Disney-Pixar), and Tinker Bell Secret of the Wings (coming soon to DVD). A Digital Copy is also included for computer download, so we can watch our favorite episodes on the go, but my daughter was most excited about the two complimentary Best Friend necklaces that are packaged with MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, providing a keepsake memento to share with her BFF. 

Don’t let the party start without you!

For more information on MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, see press release.

While we were at Disney World last week which according to many websites like Touring Plans and from Travel Agents like Pixie Vacations it was going to be a low attendance or value week. I remember when I was in High School and going to Disney World all the time and there were day’s it was completely empty even on a weekend.

So with that information in hand we headed to the park in hopes of a relaxing uncrowded visit. Boy were we wrong.

As you can tell there were people everywhere.Has the days of having the parks all to yourself fallen of the map? Personally I believe Disney Free Dining and to much information has killed any semblance of a slow season. What do I mean exactly? I will tell you…

Free Dining – About 5 years ago is when Free Dining and Special Room rates starting popping up. That period coincides with what I believe when Disney jacked up their rates big time! How else would they give you such a deep discount if they didn’t raise their prices? This a common thing businesses do, they say this item is 75% off but they inflate the Retail Price so basically you are not really saving anything. So now we have Free Dining so conveniently when there is a slow season Disney can keep the parks to capacity at all times.

To much Information – I know I am partly to blame for this along with many other websites out there. We share tips and tricks on when the best time to goto Disney World is and essentially shooting ourselves in the foot by packing the parks out on those slow seasons.

Finally one last thing to look at is:

The sheer numbers of people out of country visiting Walt Disney World. Remember 2 weeks ago President Obama came to Disney World and spoke on how we are open for business. When we were at Disney World last week it looked like a sea of Brazilian Tour Groups. You can spot them by their identical bright color shirts.

So while not any one factor is to blame I believe all of these have led to an overcrowding of Disney World. It might be time for Disney to look at possibly expanding to another theme park. I hear Texas is nice, or heck Disney World Brazil might be nice too.

Whatever shift is happening I am not to happy with it. I am not huge on crowds of people and it is becoming hard for people like me to enjoy the parks. Don’t get me started on the heat either..Oy Vey!

I want to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comment box below. Is Disney World or even Disneyland becoming too over populated?

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The folks at Disney Publishing Worldwide Apps have released several iPad apps, and today I’m going to review for you Pooh’s Birthday Surprise.  This app is for younger children, and the app itself is available at the iTunes store for both the iPad and the iPhone (or newer generations of the iPod Touch), and costs $4.99.

In the story, the narrator helps to guide you along in the story of Winnie the Pooh’s birthday, and the surprise party that his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood are planning for Pooh.  As you can see from the scenes I’ve captured, there is quite a bit to do to get ready for the party!

Tigger and Rabbit working together?

As you can see from the outline of the cupcake, this is one scene where your children can interact with the scene.  In this case, Tigger ate a cupcake (big surprise), so you have to match the correct sized cupcake with the rest of the cupcakes.

As for Piglet, he is helping Christopher Robin to wrap a present for Pooh.  Based on the shape of the present, can you tell me what object it might be?

They are wrapping a special present for Pooh. What do you think it is?

As for Roo, he has a big job to do as well — he needs to make the party hats!

Which color hat will come next in the pattern?

As you can see, there is a pattern that needs to be completed.  Can you tell me what color hat will come next (look for the dotted line to indicate where the hat needs to go.)

Eeyore has perhaps the hardest job!  It’s his job to get the balloons.  I do not like balloons, so I wouldn’t want this job at all!  Look at the trouble Eeyore had with them!

Are those balloons caught on Eeyore's tail?

Yep, the balloons have caught Eeyore!

Even Owl has a job to do — he needs to make a Birthday Card for Pooh!

As you can see, everyone works together to give Pooh a happy surprise birthday party!

As you can tell, this app is for a younger aged child, but it’s a good app, and one that your young child will enjoy.  There isn’t as much interaction as with the Beauty and the Beast app that I reviewed recently, but it is a nice app, and worth the price in my opinion.

With the advent of Pinterest there have been lots of bloggers pinned who talk of sending a letter to your favorite Disney character and getting a signed picture in return.  There is even chatter of getting a signed picture and “Just Married” button when you send a wedding invite.  I can vouch for the wedding invite having been a real promotion.  When I got married in 2009 I sent off an invite to the Disneyland address and got a signed picture of Mickey & Minnie in front of Sleeping Beauty castle (granted my name was spelled wrong and I did not get a celebration button) I was very happy with this little memento!

I decided with the new popularity to give it a try so I printed off an invite, changed the date, and mailed out a few letters.

If you send a letter to:

Walt Disney World Communications

PO Box 10040

Lake Buena Vista FL 32830-0040

You can expect to get:

A postcard from the fab five addressed to your family.  Some people still report the signed picture but I had no such luck.

If you send a wedding invite to:
Micky & Minnie, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank CA 91521
Or Mickey & Minnie Mouse, 1675 N Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista FL 32830
You can expect to get:

A postcard with a cute congratulations and Minnie kissing Mickey image addressed to you and your spouse.  I have found info from people as late as last year who reported getting a picture from Disneyland but can’t seem to find anyone recently who has received anything besides a postcard from Walt Disney World.

Sure a signed picture would be a littler more personal, but considering this is a free extra I am very happy with my postcards! I have them hanging on our fridge right now and they will surely find their way into a scrapbook in the future!

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Welcome to this week’s edition of the Chip & Company Week in Review.  There have been a lot of stories to read about, so here are the stories that caught our eye last week:

• As we discussed a couple of weeks ago, the itineraries for the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder for 2013 have now been released!
• For you D23 members out there, you will enjoy knowing that they have released more discounts for their members!
• Disney recently announced that their cast members will now be able to grow beards, whereas before this was not allowed.  What do you think of this change?
• A new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse video is being released!  Look for “I ❤ Minnie” on February 7^th!
• Jane By Design, volume 1, is coming to DVD on March 20^th, to mark your calendars!
• Aljon recently did a review of “Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath.”  According to Aljon, it’s good clean fun for the Kids!
• The Muppets will be coming to DVD and BluRay on March 20^th, 2012!  I’ll be marking my calendar for that release date!
• Mel shares with us information on how to charge to your “Key to the World” card.
• Will you be boarding your dogs at Best Friends Pet Care between now and February 4^th?  If so, your friends will be in for an ice cream and cookie treat!
• Lastly, here are the Tables in Wonderland special events for February, 2012!

That’s our look at some of the news stories from last week, now let’s take a look at some of the incredible original articles that our writers produce each and every day!  Enjoy!

• Amanda had another of her famous posts of photos submitted by Chip and Company fans!  Check out Andrea’s picture of Star Wars Weekends!
• Chris shares with us the cruising secret no one wants you to know!
• Lastly, Catie shares with us her top 5 adult restaurants to eat at!

That’s all we have for you this week.  I hope you have a terrific week, and remember to check out Chip & Company often for the latest in Disney News, Views, Giveaways, and more!  To keep up with the latest Disney news and views on the fly, check out the Chip & Company Facebook Page or follow Chip & Company via Twitter!  Also, head on over to the Disney for Seniors page and tell Ken you hope he’s feeling better!  Ken, get well soon my friend!

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The merchandise discounts Disneyland annual passholders currently receive are set to expire May 31, 2012. For a while now, SoCal select, SoCal and Deluxe passholders have been receiving a 10% discount on merchandise and select restaurants, while Premium passholders receive a 20% discount. These discounts have been repeatedly extended. A while back, only Premium passholders received any kind of discount (20%).

It is unsure what will be done once the discount expires. There has been no word as to whether the discount will only be for Premium passholders again or will be eliminated completely.

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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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Have you ever been in line at Disney World and looked around at the different people in line with you? I have noticed you have several Disney Line Companion types in line with you. I know I could easily fit into a few of these categories..

These are just for fun and by no means complete as you can have several variations and hybrid group types.

• Hardcore – These are the people with most times absolutely nothing on them, no camera, phone, park map, nothing…Most times this is older couples without kids or couples with teen age kids. They know the parks like the back of their hands and they don’t need to look around cause they have already seen everything.
• Married with Children – These are the people with everything…Diaper bag, camera, cell phones, fanny pack, stroller, etc. They look like they are on a trek to the Himalayas. Usually they can open a bag and have a complete kitchen, hospital, and department store all hiding inside that one bag. You don’t really see the parents much you are to busy being entertained by their kids.
• Love Birds – Most times these are younger couples. Usually holding hands and loving on each other. Oblivious to everything going on around them. Maybe there on a date or a honeymoon. This is what the Married with Children group used to look like before kids. These are the ones who get to ride on every ride, stay from when the park opens to when it closes, and looks the most relaxed.
• Business Casual – This is the best looking group. They look like they just ditched their Conference or round of Golf to hit up the parks. Most times they are way over dressed for being in the heat. Usually accompanied by their lifelong companion their Blackberry. If you listen closely enough you can actually hear their entire conversation while in line.
• Outlanders – One of the most entertaining groups as they are there to have 100% fun. Usually better dressed than I am and always a pleasure to talk to if they are from an English speaking country, or if they have actually taken the time to learn our language can make for some very funny conversations. Interesting to see and hear how other cultures act.
• Fastpassers – These are the ones walking by you in line and the ones you wish you were.
• Loners – Usually there by themselves or 1/2 of a Married with Children group. They are the most outgoing Line Companion Group as they desire to talk about everything and anything. Beware if a loner is listening to music and texting as they probably do not want to be bothered.
• Grumpy Teens – You do not look at or talk to this Line Companion. Not that you can talk to them over the sound of their iPod. They would much rather be somewhere their parents are not. Best to keep your back to them as not to see what they are texting about you.
• The Extremely Large Family Reunions – You will recognize this mob by the brightly colored identical shirts. Usually one person is in the lead (or so he thinks) followed by his family. The leader usually has no clue where he is going and it like watching a train wreck you just can’t look away.
• Cougars – Usually medium to large group of women on their own vacation from their spouses. Very loud group internally but not very social to outside parties. Can be heard talking about other females butt sizes and what their spouses has messed up now.
• Nerds – Hardcore Disney Nerds are very easy to pick out as they are covered from head to toe in Disney Wear. From their lanyards all the way to their Mickey Mouse Crocs. They are the best people to ask where something is in the park. Usually they are taking tons of pictures, checking wait times on their cell phones, or streaming live video to their blog.

This is just a few of the people you will run across and meet while at Disney. Again this is only a fun and not meant to put down anybody.

If you can think of some others let us know in the comment section below.

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I don’t quite understand the fascination with Crocs.

• Are they rubber?
• Are they plastic?
• Do you wear them at the pool?
• Are they ok to wear around town?
• Why do Chris’s Smell So Bad?
• Can you wear them in a boat?
• Do they really float?
• Do you wear them in the house?
• Why are there holes that look like they have been chewed by a mouse?

How can there be so many questions about one little shoe?

Last time we were at Walt Disney World I did a little test. Just for the heck of it I decided to check out everyone’s footwear. I noticed that about 30-40% of people were in Flip Flops/Sandals. Ugh…Walking on pavement all day in flip-flops for 5-10 miles will do a number on your back. Not to mention how tired you will be at the end of the day. (check out this article for more)

I would say around 20-30% of the people were in walk or running shoes. Good Choice guys! One of my most important tips when visiting the park is Wear Comfortable Shoes like a good walking or running shoe.

I saw like 10% of some women wearing high heels. Which to me is crazy.

Leaving the remaining percentage of people wearing Crocs.

While I am not doubting they are comfortable shoes and there is scientific reports backing that up. I have read that some Crocs shoes were tested and recommended by the U.S. Ergonomics company in 2005 and were accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association in 2009. Also in 2008, the U.S. government Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a model of Crocs with molded insoles as diabetic footwear, to help wearers avoid foot injuries.

What my main problem with crocs is “the look.” I mean they are so ugly! I am not talking fanny pack ugly. I mean they are just plain ugly. I mean what is with the holes? I am not a big fan of swiss cheese and walking around with shoes with holes in them isn’t really my thing.

There are countless websites that are against the Croc. I hate Crocs, Say No To Crocs, and many more. It has even gotten so bad that many work places are banning crocs.

So what is with the fascination with them?

• Is is just because they are so darn cheap? We bought out 5 year old 2 pairs at Target for $10.
• Is it the comfort? I have a nice pair of Sketchers Shape Ups that are super comfortable.
• Is it the how stylish you feel wearing them.. Haha yeah right..lol

Whatever the reason may be I guess I will never know as I have never tried on or will ever purchase a pair of Crocs.

So what do you think are you a fan of Crocs at Walt Disney World? Or do you like me and say Just Say No!

For you croc fans you will enjoy this video

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More is better right? Wrong! If you have a 3 or 4 GB media card for your digital camera, or greater, you could be risking the loss of hundreds of Disney memories. Large GB cards can store several hundreds of high resolution images. It’s convenient not to have to swap out cards every two minutes, but not so convenient when your camera decides to have a melt down and erase what you’ve taken!

Or you could do what I did once and erase over 200 pictures yourself. And you could also lose your camera.

My tip is to use only half GB or 1 GB cards and swap them out often. Keep them separate from your main camera bag so they won’t get lost with the camera, should that happen.

Alternatively, upload your pictures to a laptop every night before taking more pictures the next day. This way if something bad should happen, you’ve only lost one days memories!

Happy snapping!

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It was announced today by Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Garcia via Twitter that the strict “Disney Look” policy that all cast members must abide by has been revised once again. Cast members will now be allowed to don beards while onstage.

Several years ago Disney revised their original “look” by allowing cast members to have mustaches. This expanded the hiring pool for the Disney parks. Now, the pool can expand even further.

It must be noted that there are guidelines to the new beard allowance. Bearded cast members must keep it trimmed down to a quarter-inch length.

What do you think of the new “look” revision? Will allowing cast members to have beards ruin the “Disney look”? Leave me some comments below.

The best laid plans… We took a family trip to Walt Disney World this spring and brought our then fifteen-month old son. He still naps (thankfully) and he’s not the type of kid who can skip some shut-eye during the day unless we want to deal with some cranky meltdowns. And we don’t.

Before our trip, I tried to prepare him for sleeping in the Pack N Play and although it worked at night, he would have none of it during the day. So, with a hope and a prayer, sleeping in the stroller while we toured became our Plan B. He was so comfortable in our stroller from Kingdom Strollersthat many days it worked – but not all. Sometimes the heat, sunshine (even with a great canopy), and sensory stimulation was a bit too much for him to drift off. I needed to improvise and find some attractions that would lull him to sleep. I could then put him in his stroller and he would continue to nap while we toured. It wasn’t my ideal plan but I needed to find a way to get my son the sleep he needed and help the rest of the family enjoy the theme parks.

Here are some attractions that had the magic combination of coolness, darkness, movement, and attraction length (my baby isn’t going to fall asleep immediately) and may be just the thing to try to get your tired baby to sleep.

Magic Kingdom

1. Walt Disney World Railroad. This train ride makes the rounds of the Magic Kingdom theme park in about twenty minutes. Although the ride is not completely dark, there was enough shade to keep my son cool and drowsy enough to fall asleep.

2. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. If movement is a necessity for your baby to sleep, this twenty-minute, dark, theater-type attraction may be a bit of a gamble; it does not move continuously.

3. Tomorrowland Transit Authority. This ten-minute tour of Tomorrowland loads continuously and your family will be able to stay on for more than one loop. The “People Mover” moves nicely but the light levels will vary, especially as you move from inside the buildings to outside.

Epcot

1. Spaceship Earth. Within five minutes of boarding this dark, slow-moving ride with low noise levels, my son was sound asleep. The fifteen-minute long ride was the most successful in getting our baby to sleep quickly.

2. Living with the Land. The gentle movement of this serene boat ride lulled my little guy to sleep. Light levels do vary throughout the ride.

Hollywood Studios

This park is tough – there aren’t a lot of great options so you’ll have to make do.

1. The Great Movie Ride. In my book, Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers, I caution against this ride for preschoolers; it contains some scary elements, not the least is a scene from the movie Alien. However, for babies who aren’t watching the action and have a limited view because they are snuggled up against a caregiver, the lower light levels and slow-moving nature of this approximately 20 minute ride may be enough to put them to sleep. It can be loud so if low noise levels are necessary for your little one to sleep, avoid this one.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is the toughest as there aren’t any indoor attractions that would have done the trick for our son. Luckily, it was one of the days he fell asleep in the stroller.

1. Discovery Island Trails and The Oasis. These animal-viewing areas have shaded pathways and little nooks and crannies to view the animals. These areas can feel more secluded than pushing the stroller through the pathways of the theme park.

Would I have preferred our son to nap in our room? Yes. Are these attractions perfect for lulling your kids to dreamland? No, but they worked in a pinch for me and I hope they work for you. Please share any other suggestions you have in the comments section.

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You call follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer and Facebook.

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Have you ever gone to Disney World and you wanted to take a picture of Cinderella Castle, The Tree of Life, Sorcerer Mickey’s Hat, Etc? You stand there and wait for the best moment of where there isn’t a balloon or a child screaming in it. Eventually you lift the frame just above eye level, snap, and go on your marry way.

Well there is a trick to beautiful empty park photos.

Get there early…!

Make AM Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR’s) for one of the many restaurants like Hollywood & Vine, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and Akershus. When you go online to make the reservation or if you call just pick a time before the park opens and then get there early!

We try to get there atleast 15 minutes before our Reservation.

As your walking to your restaurant to have some yummy breakfast snap all the pictures of you and your family you want without a single soul in them. Many times you will see Fast Pass Photographers there waiting on you. Some of our best photos were taken first thing in the morning!

Extra Morning hours are iffy sometimes you get there right when the park opens and it can be packed. For us it is hit or miss.

Hope it helps.

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If your heading to Disney World and want to ditch your purse or wallet you can! Thank fully Disney thought of everything and allows you to charge things to your room key if you are staying at one of the many Disney Resorts. Here is more…

• If we want to dispute a charge it is easier for Disney to remove the charge from the Key to the World than from a debit or credit card. We had an issue on our last trip where they double charged us for our Annual Passes. We used our debit card so it took a few days for the charges to be resolved. If we had charged them to our room the funds would have been replaced almost immediately.
• I feel safer visiting the parks with just the Key to the World. We carry a little cash with us for snacks and other small expenses and then charge everything else to our room. We leave our cash and cards back in the room in our safe. Just make sure you sign your key in just in case.
• It is a convenient way to keep track of the money we spend at the parks. You can get an itemized print out of your charges at the front desk any time during your stay. All of our expenses are listed together instead of paying cash for some things and charging others.
• Almost anything can be charged to your room. Even the kiosks at the parks have the ability to charge items to your room. All Disney owned businesses will accept your Key to the World, even some that are not will. So if you are shopping at Downtown Disney make sure you have another form of payment with you just in case.

Let us know what your experience has been using your Key to the World card for charges. Do you prefer to charge to your room or would you rather use cash or plastic in the parks?

Don’t Let The Party Start Without You! Come on along and celebrate Minnie Mouse’s birthday in a brand new video from The Walt Disney Studios.

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE will be released on DVD with Digital Copy for the first time and made available for purchase nationwide on February 7, 2012. This coming Valentine and Easter seasons, The Walt Disney Studios invites everyone to join the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang—Daisy, Mickey, Donald & Goofy—in a special celebration of Minnie Mouse’s birthday. 

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I ♥ Minnie includes five, fun-filled episodes—each underlining the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving—and an all new bonus feature “You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party,” as well as two complimentary Best Friend necklaces, one to keep and one to share with a very special someone this Valentine’s Day.

The five classic episodes include:

• Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower (All-New, Never-Before-Seen) - The botanical highlight of the year is in trouble, unless Minnie and Daisy can get their flowers to bloom! Together, they board the glove balloon to help coax the clouds to sprinkle much needed rain.
• Daisy’s Dance - Clap your hands and tap your feet! Join Daisy, as she gets ready for one of the most important events of her life––performing in the big talent show!
• Daisy’s Pet Project - The Pet Parade is almost here and Daisy needs to find the perfect animal for which she can love and care. But it’s not as easy as she thinks and soon she has three new friends: an elephant named Bubbles, a giraffe called Longfellow and a bunny called Captain Jumps-a-lot!
• Minnie’s Rainbow - After a brightly colored rainbow appears over the clubhouse, Minnie searches for the pot of gold that’s supposed to be at its end. Along the way, she meets a leprechaun and discovers that not all treasure turns out to be as she expected!
• Minnie’s Birthday – Today is Minnie’s birthday, but the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse friends need to set up her birthday party.

Disc Specifications:

Street Date:                               February 7, 2012

Direct Prebook:                        December 13, 2011

Distributors Prebook:             December 27, 2011

Suggested Retail Prices:       $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada

Run Time:                                  Approximately 120 minutes

Rated:                                          TV-Y (bonus not rated)

Aspect Ratio:                             Widescreen (1.78:1)

Sound:                                        Dolby Digital Sound

Languages:                               English, Spanish, French

The Digital Copy allows parents to easily and quickly download episodes onto a computer or secondary handheld device for on-the-go access.  

Voice Talent:

• MICKEY MOUSE - Wayne Allwine (TV’s “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” &  “House of Mouse”)
• MINNIE  MOUSE - Russi Taylor (TV’s “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” & “The Simpsons”)
• DAISY  DUCK - Tress MacNeille (TV’s “Futurama,” & “The Simpsons”)
• DONALD DUCK - Tony Anselmo (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fantasia/2000)
• GOOFY - Bill Farmer (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc.)
•  PLUTO  - he doesn’t speak

About The Walt Disney Studios:

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, please visit www.disney.com.

Walking around the parks can be very tiring. For example the walk around Epcot’s World Showcase alone is 1.5 Miles. While the walk from the Entrance of the Magic Kingdom to Space Mountain is a mere 1/2 Miles. Most people walk on average of 10 Miles a day while at the Disney Parks.

Most families are having so much fun they don’t notice the distance till later in the day when their dogs are barking. Even with Monorails, Trains, Boats, etc your still in for a long haul.

Well there is a trick to keeping a spring in your step.

Wear comfortable shoes.

I have close to a dozen pairs of flip flops and wear them everywhere. Well almost everywhere. My family and I do not wear flip flops while at the parks. We learned a long time ago if you wear good walking/running shoes while walking around the parks your feet will be less tired and in turn you keep that spring in your step. Not to mention you’ll be in a better mood.

You don’t believe me next time you are at the parks take one day and wear flip flops and then try walking/running shoes on another day. You will notice a huge difference later in the afternoon when your feet aren’t hurting when you want to jump on Space Mountain for the 4th time.

If you have a quick tip email chip at chip@chipandco.com and he will be glad to share them with everyone.