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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• Disney World Training: Paying with Gift Cards (couponingtodisney.com)

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.

There is more to choosing your ideal resort than just looking at a picture and clicking “book now”. I’m always sad to hear that someone had a bad experience at one of my favorite resorts on Disney property, basically because they didn’t know any better! That is one reason we started Chip and Co. We wanted to share our Disney knowledge and help you plan the best trip possible with offering Tips, Tricks, and Planning Info.

Disney has many “on property” resorts in various categories: value, moderate, deluxe and deluxe villas. There is something for everyone but not ever resort will fit your ideal vacation experience.

You have to keep in mind that at each resort are multiple buildings of rooms and offer a variation of rooms at different price points. Much of the price is decided by proximity to the main building and/or transportation and the view. Standard view, water view, garden view, theme park view…these all effect the cost of your room. Just because you choose a standard view room doesn’t necessarily mean you have to look at a parking lot or roof tops.

So how do you find out which resort and which room will work for you?

• Know the differences in category-obviously a value resort and a deluxe resort are going to offer different amenities and have quite a different effect on your bank account. Even if you are going deluxe you need to research. Many people don’t know that not all the deluxe resorts are on the monorail system. For us Disney veterans it’s hard to believe…I know, but we can’t blame them…they’re newbies!

• Book what you can afford-If your bank account is saying “value” and your mind is saying “deluxe”…you need to book what you can afford. It’s much more reasonable to book a vacation you can afford than to book and plan way beyond your budget and have to cancel. We all would love concierge level theme park view rooms but fortunately for all of us Disney offers other accommodations as well.

• Research the various resorts: Disney has a ton of information on their own website about their resorts including photos, virtual tours, floor plans, etc. They also give detailed informational sites to Authorized Vacation Planners like this one to give you even more information to pick your perfect resort.

• Research the rooms within your resort: Once you decide which resort feels like home you still need to keep researching. Much of your vacation experience can be affected by your room location, for example if you are staying at the Coronado Springs resort your vacation from a room in the Cabanas can be far different than a room in the Casitas. While both are beautiful and have a lot to offer, perhaps you’d prefer to be closer to transportation or the main building or don’t feel like a 10 minute walk to the main pool. You need to research building locations and pick one that would suit your families needs. You CAN make requests about which building you’d like to be in, Disney doesn’t guarantee this but they do their best to accommodate requests.

• Make an informed decision-Picking a resort can be overwhelming and there are so many options. If you’re having a hard time making a decision use a Disney Authorized Travel Agent to help you. We can answer your questions and give you information that will help you make an informed decision. Not all resorts are created equal and someone’s “perfect resort” may not be perfect for your family. Know what the benefits of staying at your resort are and make an informed decision!

Vacation planning isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t into the details or just want someone to do all the work for you, so you can have all the fun; contact Michele@PixieVacations.com for a free vacation quote and concierge level service upon booking. Personalized autograph books, spiral bound itineraries and personal service make your vacation Pixie Perfect!

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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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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Are you in the middle of planning your Advanced Dining Reservations for your upcoming Walt Disney World Vacation? You’re probably completely overwhelmed at all your many options and if you’re using a Disney Dining Plan you’re trying to figure out your meal credits as well. So you might be a little stuck!

If you’ve got a princess of you’re own then you’re probably already fantasizing about the first time your sweetie pie meets her favorite Princess. You may have seen that Disney World has two options for Princess-centered meals. You can either book Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom, or  Akershus in Epcot.

You may have noticed that Cinderella’s Royal Table is two meal-credits and Akershus is only one and might be wondering how the two compare in order to make a choice.

Well, I can’t tell what is best for your family, but I can tell you about our family’s experiences. So before any of you FREAK OUT because you don’t like my opinion realize that it IS an opinion.

So lets break it down: Akershus vs Cindy’s Royal Table… LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE <DING! DING!>

Characters

There is absolutely no difference in characters as neither of the meals guarantee which Princesses will be there at any given time.  At both Akershus and Cindy’s you have a chance of catching Cinderella, Belle (either in ballgown or regular dress), Ariel (in ballgown), Snow White, Princess Aurora, & Jasmine. You’re definitely going to see Cinderella at Royal Table. Guaranteed! But we have been to Akershus three times and Cinderella has ALWAYS been there. Either way you’re getting 4 beautiful princesses coming to your table to give your princesses a squeeze, a photo, and an autograph. So this is not a deciding factor to me at all. You do not get more time with the Princesses at one than the other based on our experiences either.

Food

Breakfast

Akershus – Don’t be fooled, this breakfast may be in Norway, but its a typical all American breakfast. You can also eat all you’d like (but you have to ask). They will bring you get bacon, breakfast breads, fresh fruit, potato casserole, sausage, & scrambled eggs. Beverages such as coffee, juices and milk are all included.

Cindy’s – All you care to eat and they bring the food to your table. They bring you bacon, french toast, fresh fruit, granola, pastries, potatoes, sausage, & scrambled eggs. Beverages such as coffee, cocoa, ice tea, lemonade, milk, punch, soda, & tea. You can pay extra for cappuccino, espresso, or sparkling water.

Lunch

Akershus- Much more “Norwegian”. It begins with “Taste of Norway” deli meats, cold seafood, salads, cheese, and breads. For main course you can choose from Jarlsberg cheese & leek soup, Lamb, Pasta, Pulled Pork, Salmon, Soup & Sandwich, Traditional Kjottkake, & Trout. The dessert plate has Chocolate Mousse, Lingonberry Cheesecake & Rice Cream. There are many different Norwegian adult beverages to try.

Cindy’s – Appetizers, A choice of entrees – Grilled Chicken Salad, Pasta al Pomodoro, Pork Tenderloin, Shepard’s Pie, Salmon Salad, Salmon. Children can choose from chicken strips, pasta marinara, pretzel dogs, & shepard’s pie. Dessert options include Chocolate Cream Cheese Buckle, Rice pudding, Sorbet and a beverage. There is no alcohol served in Magic Kingdom.

Dinner

Akershus – Also very “Norweigen” it also includes the “Taste of Norway”. Dinner main course selections include: Beef Short Ribs, Cod, Lamb, Pasta, Salmon, Traditional Kjottkake, & Venison Stew. The dessert plate had Chocolate Mousse, Lingonberry Cheesecake & Rice Cream. There are many different Norwegian adult beverages to try.

Cindy’s – Appetizers, A choice of entrees – Beef Tenderloin, Braised Cobia, Duck Confit, Fried Chicken, Pork Chop, & Vegetarian Cassoulet. Desserts include the Chef’s Dessert Trio, Creme Caramel, Chocolate Mousse, and Sorbet, again, there is no alcohol served in Magic Kingdom.

As you can see food is comparable. Both are nice high-end restaurants from a food perspective and children can find things to eat at both.

 Experience

Akershus – After you check in you will wait a bit and then be called to be seated. They will take you to a small nook where you will get your picture taken with a Princess. This Princess will not rotate through the meal, so this is your one and only chance to get your photo with her. This picture will be free to you, so don’t skip it. Then you will be seated. Your waiter (who will be Norwegian) will take your drink orders and meal order. While you wait you’re likely to have at least one Princess rotate to your table.  The Princesses have an established pattern that they rotate through, so don’t bother calling over to them and do NOT let your children run across the room to Princesses while they’re at a different table. While you eat Princesses will rotate to you. Stay until you’ve seen all the Princesses you want to even if you’re done eating. They will bring your photo package to your table.  When you’re done you’ll get your check and leave.

Cinderella’s Royal Table - After you check in you will will wait a bit and then be called to be seated. You will be taken into the “throne room” where you will have a picture taken with Cinderella and she will spend a little time with your family (she does not rotate upstairs, so this is your only brief time with Cindy). I don’t remember feeling rushed through that. Cindy’s dining room is much smaller than Akershus and so you might feel a little closer to the families around you in proximity (this is also why its so hard to get a reservation). Your waiter will come and take your drink order and the Princesses will begin their rotation similar to that of Akershus. One cool thing that Cindy’s does is periodically Princesses will be “announced” into the room and people will clap for them. At some point during your meal they will have a “Wishing Ceremony”. Princes are all brought a plastic sword and Princesses are brought a magic wand. They are each given a blue “wishing star”. When the ceremony begins it walks the Princes and Princesses through what to do: closing their eyes, making a wish, then they all do a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo and when you look up to the ceiling all of the lights twinkle momentarily. You’re allowed to keep the wand, sword, and wishing star.Then you will clear you’re check and leave.

Cost

Akershus – 1 table service meal credit.

Cinderella’s Royal Table – 2 table service meal credits.

Akershus – (includes tax & photo package) Breakfast $39.40/adults; $23.42/children 3-9.  Lunch: $41.53/adult; $24.49/children 3–9. Dinner $46.85/adult; $25.55/children.

Cinderella’s Royal Table -(includes tax, photo package, & a wand/sword/wishing star)  Breakfast $44.80/adult; $29.86/ children 3-9. Lunch: $48.54/adult; $31.11/ children 3-9. Dinner $54.76/ adult; $33.60 children 3-9.

The cost is much bigger issue for those people  on the Disney Dining Plan who burn an additional meal credit, than for those people just paying cash. It’s basically the difference between paying (in credits) $300.00 for a meal for a family of 4 at Cinderella’s Royal Table instead of $128.00 for the same meal for the same family in cash. Essentially you could go to Akerhaus TWICE for the same amount of credits you can go to Cinderella’s table once.

Cost between Akershus and Cinderella’s Royal table is very comparable if you’re paying cash for the meal. And if you’re on the Premium Dining plan you’re not going to care anyway because you’ll likely end up with credits to burn.

The Verdict

So what is the Disney Diva’s verdict? Is Cinderella’s Royal Table WORTH the two dining credits? My answer would be, If you’re on Premium Dining Plan then Yes. The experience is great and you’ve got credits. If you’re not then I would say no. If you’re paying cash then all things being equal I’d say yes Cinderella’s Royal Table is great because it gives you the chance to eat inside the castle. If you’re doing Disney on a budget however and every dollar counts then the Akershus is great and will give you an awesome experience. Final say? Like everything.. . do what is best for your family and your situation!

Related articles

• Her Royal Highness Package-Cinderella’s Royal Table (chipandco.com)
• Everyone Gets The “Royal Treatment” When Dining With Cinderella (chipandco.com)

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!

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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

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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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In this digital age with Websites and Apps from Touring Plans to long articles like Easy WDW with their Extended Crowd Calendar. Everyone seems to know which park will have the least amount of people for that day. Let me say that after a little trial and error last week I have determined which park will be the least busiest at any given day at Walt Disney World!

None of them!

According to all the websites, apps, magic eight balls they all said last week was going to be completely dead at Walt Disney World. But let me just tell you it was not! It wasn’t Christmas busy but everyday the big rides at all 4 parks were at 60-90 minute waits.

So before you just give up going let me offer you a few tips on how to pick the best park and make your trip a bit more enjoyable as your banging elbows with that Brazilian Tour Group.

Tip #1 – If a park was open late the night before most times it will be less busy the next day. Most people won’t go back to the same park the next day if they were there till midnight the night before.

Tip #2 – Take advantage of Morning Magic Hours! I have noticed that most people come walking in the park around 10-11am. Which means if you are there for Extra Morning Magic Hours that you will most times have the run of the park for an hour or two before the crowds show up.

Tip #3 – Use Touring Plans Lines App – If we are in a park that seems packed what I will do is whip out the Touring Plans Line App and check the Big 4 Rides. Which are Soarin, Dinosaur, Tower or Terror, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Most times if those lines are over 90 minutes that park will be way to crowded for my tastes. Ok before you ask me about Toy Story Midway Mania, Peter Pan and Expedition Everest keep in mind those rides are always going to be slammed no matter how busy the park attendance.

If you follow those 3 tips you can pretty much avoid most crowds at Disney World. Unfortunately with the invention of Crowd Calendars and Disney Free Dining you can pretty much expect crowds at all parks 365 days a year.

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Recently we had the pleasure of teaming up with the guys from Touring Plans. We have been supporting their products for years and could not imagine a Disney vacation without them.

From the Crowd Calendar to Lines and even their new Touring Plans they make visiting Disney World and Disneyland a breeze. Head on over to their website and and check out all the goodies they have for you!

Touring Plans will save you time and money on your Disney Vacation.

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My husband and I are DVC members so our family travels to Disney World at least once a year.  We try to save money whenever and wherever we can without cutting back on the full Disney experience.  Snacks and drinks in Disney World can be quite expensive and kids get hungry OFTEN so our solution is to pack a smaller suitcase loaded with snacks and drinks to bring with us on our trip.  We then throw a few snacks and drinks in our park backpack each day.

Some items we include are…

• Bottled water- we like to have bottled water in our hotel room and we bring a bottle or two with us to the park each day.  Quick service counters will give you water for free so it is not necessary to load your suitcase down with too many bottles of water.  We usually bring a 12 pack of bottled water and that works well for us.
• Juice boxes- we pack one juice box per child per day, as well as a refillable water bottle for each child.  The kids get milk at meals and this helps to cut down on the cost of milk in the hotel store and the hassle of buying it and taking it to the room.  Be sure to pack your juice boxes in a storage bag just in case one breaks on the plane.  You do not want juice leaking all over your stuff or anyone else’s stuff!
• Energy bars or granola bars- this is a heartier snack that will help tide the kids over for a late breakfast.
• Fruit leathers, fruit ropes, fruit snacks- My kids are HUGE fans of any processed fruit snack.  We bring Disney fruit snacks with us as a special treat.  We also stock up on fruit leathers and fruit ropes before we head to Disney.  These are snacks that I know my kids will eat so I always try to have them on hand.  You never know when you will need a favorite snack to help calm a fussy child!
• Homemade trail mix including dried fruit, pretzels, Goldfish, Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies or Honey Grahams, nuts, Cheerios, etc.- We bring plastic baggies or reusable snack dispensers and each day we make a trail mix for the kids.  This is something they can enjoy while waiting in line for a ride or watching one of the awesome parades.  We are sure to include some of their favorites in the mix and maybe even something new!
• Cheese sticks- we put a package of 12 in an insulated cooler bag with a small ice pack.  This is a healthier snack option for the kids and my husband and I even enjoy a cheese stick once in a while.  You also have the insulated cooler bag and ice pack now that you can take items to the park in each day.
• Instant coffee/iced tea packets- I LOVE my Starbucks coffee and since you cannot get Starbucks at Disney, I prefer to bring Starbucks Via packets with me.  I bring an insulated travel mug with me and I make my coffee in the hotel room before we leave for the park each day.  This helps me keep my sanity which is good for my entire family!

This list works well for my family.  You may have a different list for your family as it should be snacks and drinks that your family enjoys.  I know some people bring their own Pepsi products to Disney since Disney serves Coke products.  I highly recommend bringing as much as you can without going overboard so you can cut down on food costs.  We still get the Disney Dining Plan(DDP) each trip but we save our DDP snacks for our favorite Disney treats.  We don’t want to waste a DDP snack on a bottle of water.  Chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick or a Mickey Mouse ice cream sounds way better than a bottle of water to me!  I suggest saving your money on the basics so you can fully enjoy all that Disney has to offer!!

Guest blogger Jennifer P.

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I personally think that MouseKeeping does an excellent job of keeping rooms at the Walt Disney Resorts very clean! We have never had an issue with cleanliness and I am a pretty perticular person! In fact, before anyone unpacks anything I do a general sweep of the room to make sure it is A-OK.  Here is my quick tip:

Pack a tube of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, they come in really handy inside room room! A few things I always run a wipe over are the TV remote, light switches and faucet knobs!  Those items probably receive the least amount of cleaning inside the room.  I also do a quick scrub of the bathroom tub before my daughter gets in for a bath.  She absolutely hates showers and I have a hard time putting her in a bathtub that I have not personally cleaned.

The disinfecting wipes also work great for in room spills! We normally have some cereal or a snack before we head out to the Parks.  Once in a while there might be a little spill and it is great to have these on hand to clean up small sticky messes!

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Some of you cringe when you hear holidays and Disney in the same sentence, but I can’t imagine a more magical place to spend the Christmas season.  With the right mind set and a little (ok, a lot) of planning, you can make merry memories you want and not turn into a Scrooge.

First and foremost, keep a positive attitude.  You are going to be around A LOT of people!  Thousands of them all trying to see and do the same things as you.  Prepare yourself.  Use your manners, be polite, don’t lose your temper, and have a plan.  After all, this is still the Happiest Place on Earth, and everyone is there for the same reason: to have fun with their loved ones.

Attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  Yes, these tickets are extra, but it is totally worth the experience.  My husband tells everyone that this is the best part of Christmas time at Disney because he can ride Space Mountain and Splash Mountain multiple times in an evening.  There are special meet and greets with characters, and you can interact with them at dance parties throughout the Magic Kingdom.  There is plenty of free hot chocolate, cookies, and apple slices to nibble on during the evening, and a great holiday parade and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.  Limited tickets mean smaller crowds in the park that night; take advantage of it!

Take some time for just the adults in your party.  I highly recommend checking out a Children’s Activity Center at one of the resorts, or hire a sitter from Kid’s Night Out.  We have used both, and have been thrilled with how much our children enjoyed themselves.  This makes it a lot easier to plan a romantic dinner in Italy for just mom and dad. Head on over to Jelly Rolls on the Boardwalk to sing along with some amazing musicians or hit up ESPN Zone to watch the game.  There are plenty of golf courses to keep any golfer busy or melt your holiday cares away with a relaxing massage at one of the spas on the property.

Explore your resort.  This is something we have never done before, but will do on every trip from now on!  Afternoon naps and time at the pool helped everyone relax and made our time at Disney feel more like a vacation.  Had we not slowed down and done this, we would have never known about roasting marshmallows and watching movies on the beach at the Wilderness Lodge (all for free). We also ended up stumbling upon a meet and greet with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy decked out in their Christmas best in our hotel lobby with zero wait time.

Finally, remember the reason for the season.  Attend the Candle Light Processional.  This was a highlight of our trip because we were able to slow down, listen to beautiful music and a wonderful telling of the Christmas story. The kids in our group (all 9 of them) loved singing familiar Christmas carols, and it was a great way to remind them what Christmas is all about.  I do recommend purchasing the Candlelight Dinner Packages.  This guarantees you a seat in the theater, but allow plenty of time between your meal reservations and the start of the show.  We thought we were doing great on time, and when we got there, the reserved seating line was wrapped from the American Gardens Theater all the way to Morocco!

Knowing these things, and that you will not see or do everything is something to keep in mind during the holidays or any peak season at a Disney park.  Pick your favorites and be flexible.

This guest article comes to us from Katie Cooper

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Reflecting on my traveling experience, I realize, I don’t have much to offer as far as world travel. I’ve never been to Paris, I’ve never toured a rain forest. Shoot, I’ve never even been on a flight longer than four hours – and that time was for work!

BUT (as it’s so often pointed out to me) – I go to Disney A LOT. I read blogs about Disney, I talk about Disney with friends and family, I long for Disney…..Some might say I’m obsessed, but I just call it a passion…

Over the last four years and the last six trips to Walt’s kingdom, I’ve learned a few things. I’ve had an opportunity to travel both with and without a child. I’ve gone in large groups and I’ve gone with just my husband. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way – in no specific order.

1)Rain Poncho’s
We normally go to Disney between September and January. During these months, we’ve experienced rain. Not like rain at home, though. The rains in Florida generally come and go quickly; and it’s usually a gentle rain. When you get there you can purchase an authentic Disney rain coat…But let’s face it, why spend your souvenir money on a rain jacket, when we all know the giant stuffed Steam Boat Willie is really calling your name.

Here’s my advice…. Buy rain ponchos from the Walmart camping section. They’re 88 cents – you can’t beat that. We typically will open one and fold it back up to use later that day if the rain is off and on. At the end of the day, we just toss them in the trash. Each morning we throw two or three in one of the back packs and take off for the parks.

2) Gallon Zip Lock Bags
And I don’t mean just one. I take about five. You never know when you’ll need one. They’re handy. First, we use one for our mugs. All Disney resorts offer reusable mugs to use throughout your stay at any resort. So we fill up the mug before we leave and sip on in throughout the morning. After you get to the park though, you don’t want to be stuck carrying a mug- nor do you want to just dump it in your back pack or bottom of the stroller. So we rinse them out in the bathroom and – BAM – plop them in a zip lock bag. Perfect!

Another reason for the bags – buffets. That’s right. I save food. I’m not ashamed! Sometimes you think you’ll eat that banana you put on your plate, only to realize that the Mickey waffles filled you up! They can’t put that back on the serving table, so stick it in your bag. Or when they bring pretzel bread to your table (If you’ve been to Le Cellier, you know what I’m talking about!) you can’t turn it down! Throw those extra uneaten sticks in a zip lock bag and munch on them later. Trust me; you’ll be thanking me when that three o’clock hunger rolls in!

The last reason for the zip lock bags that I’ll mention – Messes! My little girl isn’t always the cleanest eater. (Let’s face it, she comes by that honestly!) Sometimes we have a costume change after lunch. There are other reasons custom changes are needed, but we don’t really need to get into that. Just keep those magical baggies on hand. Zip lock it and don’t stress! Disney is made for fun, not for worries!

3) Neck holders for your sun glasses
I know, I sound old – but trust me, they’re a life saver (Unless you hook them on the back of your chair at a restaurant and walk off and leave them…Ahh, I still miss that pair…) At Disney, you’re constantly in and out of so many buildings to see shows or attractions that you’re constantly sliding those shades on and off. Just let them hang! Plus, when you’re on the faster-paced attractions (Thunder Mountain, Everest, etc) you can feel better about knowing they’re safely attached to your neck!

4) A backpack
How, you might ask, will I carry all of these great ideas – Simple, a back pack of course! I’ve carried one at Disney for as long as I can remember. My back pack is equipped not only with the necessities mentioned about, but items such as long sleeve t-shirts (I get chilly in the evenings), cameras, snacks, sun screen, etc. They’re great to carry and my husband and I have never gotten tired of carrying one. If you’re back pack does get loaded down by the middle of the day with your goodies, check out the Disney lockers at the front of each park. They’re very affordable and totally worth it if your packs weighting you down!

5) Glow Sticks
You’re thinking – what?! I know it. This one is more for the families with kids (or kids at heart!) I once read a review, where the author talked about how she stocks up on the glow sticks around at a dollar-type store for their trips to Disney. It’s genius! They last as long as they’re properly stored. Trust me; this will totally make you the coolest parent, aunt, uncle, grandma or grandpa in the world! Plus it keeps you from having children who are tempted to want all the glowing toys that appear the moment it gets dark. (Trust me, the ones that twirl – pretty cool….) Save your money on glow toys at Disney by bringing your own!

6) Applesauce and Carrots
Remember that awesome back pack I mentioned??? Last time we visited with my daughter in tow, we kept apple sauce, carrots (the kind that you can buy at Walmart – individual serving already diced), and even some of the yogurt found in the baby section (doesn’t have to be refrigerated until opened) on hand. These were things that we knew she’d eat. If our dining reservations don’t match her eating schedule, we had this to tide her over. It also ensured that she was getting at least a little nutrition on vacation. Also, since she’s not yet 3, she still eats off of our plates. So I can cut up bites of my main dish and then add the side dishes that I brought along that I already know she’ll eat!

7) Wipes
Whether they’re the hand sanitizing ones or the kind made for baby’s bottoms, carry wipes. As clean as cast members keep the parks, they can’t constantly wipe down the hand rails that everyone’s sweaty hands touch. Wipe your hands often. Especially if you forgot to visit the restroom to wash your hands before you started diving into that chocolate Mickey-shaped ice cream! (Plus, if you’re like me, you’ll need a wipe for around your mouth when you get done with one of those….Oh man, I can taste the chocolate now…..)

These are just a few tips I’ve found useful when my family travels. I’m sure there are a dozen more that can be discussed. Or maybe you have some to add? I’d love to hear your travel related tips!

This guest post is from Chelsea at The Roberts Rundown

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Until our trip last September, I had never visited the Walt Disney World parks in the rain. At least not anytime that I can remember. In the hot, muggy summer months odds are you are going to encounter the same problem. Luckily, rain showers in Florida don’t last too long so you can grab a bite to eat or see a show and by the time you are done the rain will have stopped. But in case you get stuck with the rain showers all day, here are list of things that we like to do to escape the rain in each park.
Magic Kingdom

• The Hall of Presidents, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Stitch’s Great Escape, the Carousel of Progress, the Country Bear Jamboree, & Mickey’s Philharmagic are all attractions where you can at least get a temporary break from the rain. Note these are not listed in order of importance or personal preference. If it was up to me I would make a loop between the Carousel of Progress, Mickey’s Philharmagic and the Hall of Presidents.
• The Plaza Restaurant – The Plaza is one of those rare Disney restaurants where you can sometimes snag a same day reservation. If the weather gets bad, take a break from it with lunch or dinner and some ice cream.

Hollywood Studios

• The Great Movie Ride – Still one of my favorites. The queue is inside and you get a nice, relaxing ride through the movies.
• The Voyage of the Little Mermaid – Sure, you are technically under the sea for a while but at least you stay dry.
• Muppet Vision 3D – If it was really rainy day, I would just keep getting back in line. I love the preshow as much as the show itself.
• Star Tours- Spend time checking out all of the cool things in the queue before heading off with your pilot C-3PO
• The Magic of Disney Animation – This is probably one of my favorite places to escape the rain. You can watch the movie preshow, hang out inside getting your photo taken with Mickey or Pooh, and then head over to the Animation Academy and learn to draw a Disney character.
• Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream – Another one of my favorites. You can dry off while exploring the gallery and then watch a film about Walt narrated by Julie Andrews. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Epcot

• Universe of Energy – You can’t beat 45 full minutes away from nasty weather. Plus there are dinosaurs & Bill Nye the Science Guy.
• The Land Pavilion – You can hang out here for a really long time between Soarin’ & Living with the Land. You can also watch the Circle of Life movie. If you are hungry, make sure to check out Sunshine Seasons. They have some great options.
• Club Cool – Free soda!
• Innoventions – There are several fun little things to do here. On our last trip we made a nice, embarrassing video game featuring ourselves.
• Epcot Character Spot- Spend some time in here getting your photo taken with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy.
• World Showcase Movies – While you are touring the countries of the World Showcase stop & view the movies in Canada, France, China, and Norway to take a break from the rain showers.
• The American Adventure – I love this show. Its a great way to spend 30 minutes anytime but especially when its raining. You can also spend time viewing the Hall of Flags and the American Heritage Gallery.

Animal Kingdom

• Its Tough to Be a Bug – Some of the queue is inside and then you can watch the show to escape the rain.
• Finding Nemo the Musical – This is one of my favorite shows at Disney and a great place to stay dry. Just bring a jacket, it is usually really cold in the theater.
• The Festival of the Lion King – Another great show to enjoy while drying off.

What do you do to escape the rain at Walt Disney World?

So you want to go to a Disney Park?

Everyone who wants to go to a Disney Park faces the same problem you have to find a way to get there. This can be the single most challenging part of your experience. A poorly thought out travel plan can put you in a bad mood before you get to the Magic Kingdom or be the sour note that ruined the tune of an otherwise great trip.

How you get there is up to your own needs and budget. You can go by car, you can go by bike, you can go on a Zike-Bike if you like (sorry Dr. Seuss moment). There are three components you need to consider: distance, cost and practicality.

Practicality-Where you live and what resources are available to you are the first thing to consider. I love to drive. I love to see the country and am able to have full control of my schedule (Except when I am at the mercy of the orange barrels). If you live in Hawaii maybe a car and train are not your best bet. I know someone who loves to take the train. It is a great experience but if you live too far away and not near a train station it could be difficult for you. Flying is always an option. You can try and be creative? Google Maps has travel options for when you plan your trip such as walking, public transportation and kayaking (Going to Tokyo Disney? It says to Kayak 2,756 mi across the Pacific Ocean!); plan carefully.

Cost-this could be single most important factor, and let’s face when planning a Disney trip you always want to spend more in the park than getting to it, right? Some people who live where I live (19 hours from DW and 28hours from DL) would rather fly then drive but cost makes them hit the open road. If you plan far enough ahead flying can be as cost effective as driving as long as you don’t need a car when you get there. If I had the money, a private jet to ORD and a helicopter ride to the park would be the way to go. So I drive; however the wife has made it easy to fly by getting miles through buying tickets to the park and other expenses well in advance of our planned trip so we could fly cheaper.

Distance-How far away you are to the parks really will dictate how you get there. If I wanted to go to DL it is flying all the way. Once you figure in gas and lodging for the trip out and back flying is cheaper and faster. Unless you go in a caravan of hybrids with external gas tanks and everyone pees in the plastic bottles that previously held the caffeine you needed to stay awake…still not a good idea. The further away you are the more likely it is you have to fly. If you live over large bodies of water you most certainly will fly; unless you take a Disney cruise!

I have gone to WDW by car and by plane and I can tell you each has its drawbacks. I am thinking of taking a train to DL to combine what I don’t like about driving and flying into one package. The voyage to a Disney park can be as an exciting and interesting part of your trip as the park itself. The wrong choice in transportation can put a damper on the whole trip. I suggest if you have the money, live sufficiently far enough away, and you are not scared to death of it; fly. Only do the other options if you have to/really want to. Maximize your time in the parks, that is why you are going in the first place.

Guest Blogger Matthew Williams of State Controlled Media
Erstwhile Disney Blogger

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