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Category Archives: Tips and Tricks
What should I do? More Rides or More Relaxing at Walt Disney World
You all know the story.
Boy meets Girl. Girl loves Boy. Girl & Boy have babies. Babies get bigger and Girl & Boy decide that “in order to be good parents” they must take Babies to Walt Disney World. Boy & Girl begin planning, obsessively looking at blogs and WDW maps and books. Boy & Girl design a plan of action for Disney World and then freak out when Babies go into complete and utter meltdown at the Disney Witching Hour of 3:00pm(15:00). Boy and Girl scream at Babies “we’ve paid a lot of money for this vacation and you are going to LIKE IT and we’re all going to have a GOOD TIME now GIVE MICKEY A HUG”. Babies heads spin around, Boy & Girl head’s spin around. They decide they are never going back to Walt Disney World again because they were all miserable. The End.
Perhaps you’ve heard this story from friends? Perhaps you have people look at you crazy when you say are going (back) to WDW(…again). Or you’ve had them take the “I had a 28 hour labor” (aka misery loves company) approach where they tell you every single thing that has ever gone wrong in the history of a Disney Trip and inform you that its “too expensive” and its “not all its cracked up to be”.
Blasphemy I tell you! As Walt says “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” And courage MAY be exactly what you need to have this trip go well.
Walt Disney World IS a place where dreams come true every single day. There are tears that come from the magic of watching a “Make a Wish Foundation” child and family meet their wish-character. And there are tears that come from the sheer frustration of your children turning into little chucky dolls while your spouse (without mercy) drives the cattle of your family down the winding paths of Frontierland.
Two things happen on the extremes of most WDW trips:
1. People don’t plan at all and wander aimlessly through the streets, missing entire rides and waiting in 60-minute long lines.
2. People over-plan, do not allow any time for “moments” to happen and make everybody in their family utterly miserable.
So, obviously you are planning so no need to talk about #1, but there IS a need to talk about #2.
There is only one time I’m ok with you being a slave-driver. When you Make people get up early to get to the parks. Lets say you have a 7:45am Chef Mickey reservation. Well you need to leave the resort at 6:45am Which means (most likely) you all need to be up at 6:00am. Which in Disney Time is about 2 minutes before the “crack of dawn”. So yeah, make those people get up and get going in the morning, but take into consideration how late you will be up the night before in your pre-planning. If you’re staying for fireworks at 11pm it is unrealistic to ask your family to get up at 6am the next day. Especially if its day 4+ of your trip.
Plan cushion time into your days. Have a flurry of “must dos” then plan in “and we can do whatever until we decide to eat lunch”. We just planned our friends 6 day trip today and realistically they will have done everything that they really would want to do in about 3-days. Build in cushions like “Mike gets to pick what we do” but be sure to specify WHICH side of the park it must be done on. You don’t need to be crossing parks, you’re doing enough walking without hoofing it from Tomorrowland Transit Authority to Big Thunder Mountain.
We always leave the last day as a “whatever we feel like” day. That way if we missed something we can go back and get it. We schedule a meal in that day, but everything else is up for grabs. (unless touringplans.com says it’s a “park to avoid” that day, then its just too bad for whoever wanted to ride the ride.
And, of course, what is super key to not having your family want to stab you in the eye with some of their extremely overpriced collectable pins is the AFTERNOON NAP. Yes yes, I hear you complaining already, but let me tell you people. Its about quality of life not quantity of rides. Checking off another ride on your must-dos while your children try to figure out if their mickey mouse stuffed animal might serve as a good-enough voodoo doll for YOU is not quality WDW time. As a matter of fact it’s a bigger time-waster than not being in the parks at all.
So trust me, take a break. You’re NOT going to do every single thing in WDW in one week folks. If you could do you think you’d have “repeat-offenders” like me coming back 3-4 times a year? Disney is always changing, always growing. Even if you get it all done this time there will be all new stuff in 2 years (especially with the new changes being made in Magic Kingdom). Relax people, its supposed to be a VACATION. You’re supposed to be building memories, not torching relationships. If it doesn’t get done, so what?! Really, do you think you will be stewing on your deathbed “if we just could have done Jungle Cruise”….
QUALITY over QUANTITY + a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day is the REAL secret to (Disney) life.
And in the words of Forest Gump “That’s all I have to say about that”.
Love, The Disney Diva
Related articles
- Family Traditions at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
- Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom opens to Walt Disney World Guests in February (chipandco.com)
2012 Passporter’s Walt Disney World Guidebook Is Here!
Sometimes the sound of the mail slot makes me cringe…it’s normally bills or junk mail. But when I hear a package go into the door it’s sheer excitement, especially when I know it’s my 2012 Walt Disney World PassPorter Guidebook!
The folks over at PasspPorter press have done it again with the must have guidebook for all of your Walt Disney World needs. Yes, there are other guidebooks and “official guides” for Disney World but I assure you, I’ve read all of them and none are nearly as good, or as user-friendly as PassPorter.
This spiral bound guide is printed in color and boasts “350+ pages of advice, maps, photos of resorts, restaurants and theme parks plus our famous organizer pockets”.
If you are looking for a hoity-toity, fancy-schmancy guidebook that looks impressive on a bookshelf but is of absolutely no use at all, get one of those “other” guide books. If you want the most complete, up to date, user-friendly trip planning and reference guide, then you want the PassPorter. That was a mouthful, but it’s not nearly enough adjectives to describe the magic of PassPorter.
If you’ve never experienced a PassPorter guidebook here is what you’re missing.
Honest opinions: the missing “official guidebook” stamp means that these are people just like us; they are Disney travelers. They can give an honest opinion about what they see and experience instead of giving you the “real estate” review : “quaint accommodations in a charming atmosphere”,when it should really read “rooms so small you can’t express an emotion and don’t look outside”.
- Travel equals: These folks travel just like you and I. They don’t squeak in on VIP treatment, free passes etc. They stay in the rooms we stay in and hunt for the same deals that will benefit you and I. They gather information from their own experiences and from fellow travelers in the PassPorter Community.
- Beyond a guidebook: This is more than a guidebook, this is a planning guide. The planning doesn’t start when you want to book your vacation, it starts far before. It starts at the conception of your vacation thought and encourages you to immerse yourself in the Disney experience prior to your vacation. Participating in forums, learning from other travelers, ordering vacation planning video’s. etc. are all a part of the planning process and PassPorter will show you how to do it all. The book is designed to be personalized with spots to make notes, interactive planning pages you can access online, and “Passpockets”-the one page folder that holds all of your day-to-day details (confirmation numbers, notes, tips, etc.) and also serves as a folder to store your receipts.
- Worksheets: There are budget worksheets, planning worksheets, transportation worksheets, lodging worksheets, packing lists and more. These folks know what you need to plan, even if you don’t!
- All inclusive information: The PassPorter breaks down into eight main categories: planning, getting there, staying in style, touring, feasting, making magic, index, notes and more. You’ll find everything you need to know within these categories. For example, the “staying in style” section outlines each resort and includes the following: ambiance, resort layout and rooms, eating and drinking, playing and relaxing, getting about, tips, notes and ratings. Then there’s the mini resort maps (in color of course!), best locations, rates and info. Whew. I’m exhausted and that’s just one category!
Passporter is your one stop shop for any question you may ever have about Disney World and is great to keep on hand for reference; even for us veterans! I know what you’re thinking, “why should I invest in this guidebook when things are constantly changing?” Well, the folks at PassPorter have already thought about that! Their books are being updated in real-time with PassPorter articles on their website, questions and answers in their forums and the free book updates you can get online.
You can find me on Passporter Boards, if you book your vacation with me and mention Passporter I’ll give you a $25 Disney gift card to spend on your trip!
Michele@PixieVacations.com for your free quote! Don’t forget that all of my services as your Authorized Disney Travel Planner are FREE!
Related articles
- Passporter’s 2012 Walt Disney World Guidebook Giveaway (chipandco.com)
- Visiting Disneyland – What to expect from a Disney World point of view (chipandco.com)
Top Five Newbie Mistakes.
Even if you’re a Disney vet, you can still make some newbie mistakes. Here are some of the top five mistakes to avoid.
1. You didn’t make your dining reservations ahead of time. If you’re reading here you probably know that you can make your dining reservations 180-days prior to your arrival, but did you? Hmmm? Good. But for the rest of you (and yes, Disney has a file on you) get those fingers moving and make those ADRs! Even if you just make two or three for a week-long trip, you’ll be happier knowing that you have a few incredible meals waiting for you.
2. You didn’t get a discount. If you paid full-price for your Disney vacation, raise your hand. Now look around the room. Seriously, I am shocked at how many of you there are. Go ahead and put your hands down. Next time, keep in mind that unless you’re traveling during the weeks of Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, moving your trip around just a little bit can mean a big discount. If you read here, you’ll always hear about the latest discounts the day they come out. Apply them to your existing reservation (or your travel agent will do it automatically) and relax knowing that you saved hundreds of dollars that you can spend elsewhere. Like in the parks.
3. You forgot to pack something important. Sure, you can replace it on property, but it will cost a lot more and the selection is really limited. And yes, there are Targets and drug stores close by, but do you really want to spend precious hours on your vacation roaming around a super store looking for sunblock? Make a packing list and start crossing off items as you go. You can do this weeks ahead of time. Right before you travel, put a list on the back of the door you’ll be leaving out of on the morning of your trip. Do this for things like phone chargers and medicines, stuff you can’t pack until right before the trip. Then just cross those items off the list as you go. Before you leave, check your list one last time.
4. You lost your tickets! Actually, this is easily remedied and yes, we know because we do it all the time. If you’re a guest of Disney property, just ask to have them replaced at your resort (or any resort) concierge desk or at guest services in the parks. If you’re not a resort guest or if you are but you bought your tickets separately and not as part of a package, make sure you’ve made copies of your tickets. I like to leave a copy back home with someone who can get to them easily and take a copy with me. Most of the time tickets bought directly from Disney will be in the computer and can b easily replaced, but this isn’t always the case. This is especially important if you bought a discounted ticket as part of one of your benefits of running a Disney half-marathon. These tickets are very difficult to replace for some mysterious reason I am not privy to. But I think it has something to do with elves.
5. You bought a park hopper that you didn’t need. When someone who makes a commission selling you something tells you not to buy it, you know she’s telling the truth. Not everyone needs a park hopper and at $58 per ticket, not everyone can afford one on top of an already expensive vacation. I always park hop, but if you are unsure, wait to add it. You can always upgrade a ticket by adding extra days or options like the park hopper once you get on property, just make sure you have at least one day left on the ticket.
Chris writes here and at Everything Walt Disney World. She’s also a travel agent and a member of the Mouse Chat podcast. Contact her at ChrisW@pixievacations.com or call 919-889-5281 for free Disney trip planning and information on how you can get free Disney gift cards and onboard credits when you book your next Disney vacation.
Related articles
- Family Traditions at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
- Disney World Quick Tips – How to pick the least busiest park (chipandco.com)
Top 5 Tips for Collecting Merchandise
All Disney collectibles are valuable. False!
All Mickey Mouse collectibles are the most valuable. False!
Nothing new will ever be worth anything. False!
Just how many false impressions are there out there about Disneyana collecting? Probably as many as there are Disneyana collectibles! Antique dealers count on misinformation and sentimentality to slip that extra percentage on your purchase. Don’t let them rip you off!
Follow these five tips for collecting Disneyana:
Number Five:
Buy only what you like and plan to keep. Collecting anything is about possession, not profit. This holds true for most of us, excepting the professional collector who buys for resale. Only he can truly know the market and what it can bear, so only he should play the money game.
The benefit of this tip is that you will only spend what you think something is worth to you. So you will avoid high price tags, or if you do splurge, you won’t feel ripped off because the item will bring you sufficient satisfaction to compensate.
Number Four:
Do your research. If you must have every Donald Duck collectible on the market, make sure to educate yourself about current market pricing.
The benefit of this tip is that you will always know the true value of any item you are interested in. Books and websites abound for this purpose, so make use of them, perhaps on your mobile device.
Number Three:
Relax. There is more Disneyana out there than one person could ever collect in one lifetime! So don’t even try. Don’t think that if you miss buying this one item that it will never come around again. Believe me, with the proliferation of antique shops and online selling sites, it likely will come around again. And if that exact item doesn’t, one of a million others that you’ve just got to have will!
The benefit of this tip is that you won’t be pushed into a purchase that you’re not comfortable with because of panic.
Number Two:
Age doesn’t necessarily increase value. Just because something was made in 1947, it doesn’t mean that the item is worth more than a similar item made in 1987 or 2007. Popularity is the ultimate price maker!
The benefit of this tip is that you can be aware of trends. For example, a chaser Vinylmation figure could very well out sell a mass-produced item from 1950. For example, if more people currently want Vinylmation figures over Disneykins figures, age isn’t going to matter!
Number One:
Mickey doesn’t always mean big money. Most amateur collectors, and too many antique dealers, fall into this erroneous thinking. Undoubtedly, Mickey is the oldest Disney character to receive extensive merchandising, but that is also the problem! There is just too much Mickey out there for all of it to be valuable. Rarity and condition will determine price more than anything else.
The benefit of this tip is that you will know to buy secondary characters who’s merchandise is harder to find, but that non-Disney retailers may not recognize, and so under-value in their sale price!
OK troops, are we ready to get out there and do some informed buying?
Related articles
- Tomart’s Disneyana – Part One (disneyatdisleelandiablog.blogspot.com)
- Tomart’s Disneyana – Part Two (disneyatdisleelandiablog.blogspot.com)
Being a Meatatarian at Walt Disney World
If you scour the internet looking for Special Dietary Requests at Disney World you will find everything from Eating Vegetarian & Vegan, to Gluten Free and people with other Food Allergies. If you do have food allergies I will say Allergy Free Mouse has some of the best resources on the interwebs!
But what about Meatatarians?
What is a Meatatarian you might ask? A meatatarian is a person who eats meat virtually to the exclusion of vegetables. The meatatarian often claims to be conserving veggies for those who would actually eat them, and keeps the veggies out of the waste stream, helping the environment, or keeping produce costs down.
Most times you will find these people eating Bacon and watching shows like Epic Meal Time! Bacon Strips & Bacon Strips & Bacon Strips! These carnivores of the theme park always hang out at places where meat is the highlight of the meal.
So to help out Meatatarians out there I want to suggest to you some restaurants where you can get your meat on!
- Boma – Plenty of spicy Indian/African meat on this buffet.
- Beaches & Cream – One of the best Hamburger Meats at Disney World. Forget the bun and go for a double with BACON!
- OHana – Here they bring meat on skewers. Forget the salad, noodles, and other foods in the beginning of the meal and just ask for your server to start bringing you dem tasty meats! Don’t forget to dip those meats in Sauce!
- Whispering Canyon Cafe – Ribs, Bar-b-que, Tenderloin and more! Here they bring the meat in a all you can eat bowl. Be sure to ask for Ketchup and a a refill on your drink
- Trails End – Smoked meats, Fried Chicken, and Ribs. One of the best values at Walt Disney World
- Raglan Road – Irish Meats
- Biergarten – German Meats. All the sausage you can fit in your mouth!
- Tokyo Dining – Tons of Ocean Meats here. Nigirizushi has less rice and more meat.
- 50′s Prime Time Cafe and Tune-In Lounge – Ask for the sampler of meats. Tell them to save the veggies for someone who eats them.
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater – Another good Burger Meats stop
- Liberty Tree Tavern – Thanksgiving meats
If there are any I missed please let me know in the comment box below.
Related articles
- Disney World Quick Tips – How to pick the least busiest park (chipandco.com)
- Disney trip planning with food allergies (chipandco.com)
