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Category Archives: Tips and Tricks
Disney World Dining without Reservations
If you subscribe to Chip and Co, you’ll hear a lot about dining reservations and dining planning. For most guests, the rich variety and quality of food options available on property are an important part of their vacation, and dedicated planners take advantage of the 180 day reservation window to try to secure their restaurant of choice.
But what if you aren’t one of those planners? What if your plans change? What if you can’t get the Le Cellier reservation you wanted? Is there any hope?
There is if you’re flexible.
Your party can get seated as a walk-up at most Disney dining if you’re willing to arrive just as the restaurant opens. That may mean having your ‘big meal’ at lunch rather than dinner, or heading out to a resort restaurant a bit earlier than usual, but it will allow you to eat almost anywhere you desire. My husband and I have walked into Le Cellier, Artist Point, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Rose & Crown and Sci-Fi Dine In because we arrived when they opened and put our names in for a seat.
There are no guarantees with walk-up seating, particularly during free dining where few tables are held open for walk-up guests, but more often than not, it’s a way to get that dining experience you’ve been craving without a 180 day ADR!
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Touring Plans: Lines, Crowd Calendar, Touring Plans and more!
One of my biggest Disney secrets is the apps from the guys over at 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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- Save 10% off Touring Plans Subscriptions (chipandco.com)
Disney World Quick Tips – Avoid the Morning RUSH
The early bird gets the worm right? This Disney World Quick tip is for all those non morning people out there. (Like Me)
If you aren’t the Disney Character Breakfast type, or need a little something to get you going in the morning (try coffee), you can avoid the morning rush by trying this easy trick!
In the evening when you arrive back at your resort from a long day in the parks, stop into the snack shop and pick up a muffin, granola bar, pop tart or pastry and bring it back to your room (many of these count as snacks on the Disney Dining Plan). Since all resorts have refrigerators you can even grab some milk and cereal and stash it in your room. We like to use Garden Grocer for all of our grocery needs.
When you wake up the next morning you have your breakfast ready to go, no muss, no fuss and no morning rush!
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Disney World Quick Tips – Room Upgrades is it worth it?
Our last trip to Disney World we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The AKL is to me of the coolest resorts at Walt Disney World. When we booked our trip we picked the standard room. While not the largest room or the best view we were still excited to be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Once in the room and walking out on the balcony we had a wonderful view of the parking lot. This is the part where there would be a “Wah Wah” sound effect. The way the AKL is set up all the animals are on the inside of the resort. Giraffes, Zebra, etc are only visible with the preferred rooms. What is the point at staying at a Deluxe Resort if you are not going to take advantage of one of the main amenities – The View!
So is the increase in rate worth the added cost?
I would say it depends on the resorts.
For example when we went in September of last year we stayed at the Boardwalk Inn & Villas. Again we did the standard room rate and not the preferred upgrade. We had a great view of the water slide but wished we would have paid the upgrade and had a view of the Boardwalk. To me it wasn’t a huge deal, nowhere near as bad as the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Would have been nice to see Illuminations: Reflections of Earth though.
Talking with Chris one of our local Pixie Vacations she had this to say about upgrading:
Should you upgrade your room? I would say no. For one it’s a lot more money for very little benefit. Unless you have a medical condition that makes it easier for you to be closer to the bus stop, skip it. The only preferred upgrade I believe in paying more for are the rooms at Deluxe Resorts that provide you with better views (i.e., theme park, water). Otherwise, stick with the standard room rate. And for goodness sakes, don’t pay for a “water” view at a value resort!
The only real benefit of a preferred room in the value and moderate resorts is being closer to the amenities: Pool, Bus Stops, Laundry, etc. But remember, being closer to the pool also means more noise. Unless you need to be closer to these things, don’t worry about it. Save your money.
So like Chris I believe it depends on the Resort. When we book our yearly trip next year we are shooting for the Beach Club Resort & Villas. Will I pay to upgrade the room? You better believe it.
If we were staying at the Pop Century Resort? Probably not.
I am not a travel agent but highly recommend using an Earmarked Disney Travel Agency like Pixie Vacations. Contact Chris at chris@pixievacations.com to book your Disney World vacation today. Be sure to talk to her about room upgrades and be sure to tell her Chip sent ya!
So what do you think? Do you pay for the preferred room upgrade? Let us know in the comment box below.
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Ask Us A Disney Question – Most Romantic Disney Photo Spots
Today’s question comes from Jillian:
Hello…my boyfriend and I are getting engaged and one of my thoughts is to get our engagement photos at Walt Disney World. I wanted to see if you and your team have any suggestions of the best romantic spots to take some photos. I will be having a professional photographer take the pictures and I have some ideas…but the more the merrier and you might have different ones that I never even thought of! Our favorite theme parks are the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios (the first park we went to together). We are thinking about October for the pictures…thoughts? Thanks so much!
Congratulations, Jillian!
Consider starting your day with a breakfast reservation before a park opens and invite your photographer! You will be allowed to get into your first park before the crowds AND take some pictures while its empty! That alone will make your pictures unique! All 3 of your favorites have breakfast restaurants too!
I think Epcot’s World Showcase will prove to be both Romantic and unique. There are tons of getaways within pavilions such as : inside the Mexico pavilion in the marketplace atmosphere, the bridge in Italy, the gardens in UK or Japan, near the St. George fountain in Germany or even in some of the shops! Just spending an hour walking through World Showcase will prove to be a great choice.
Since you will be right near international gateway the Boardwalk would be a fabulous spot for pictures! Not just outside but in the hotel as well! They retro theme inside is fabulous and there is a great porch near the lobby where you could nab pictures looking out onto the Boardwalk. The bar has some great vintage radios too! If you prefer the theming of Beach & Yacht Club they are another great option!
Also the Magic Kingdom would be most romantic in the last afternoon/evening. Getting some shots around the castle at dusk would be really beautiful and even getting shots at night are fabulous. Also, don’t forget to get some pics on the carousel- those would just be super duper cute!! One of my favorite pictures my husband and I have ever taken in Disney World is a castle shot of us at night on the Tomorrowland bridge that a Photopass photog took! Also, if you are going to be spending the day with the photog and heading to MK at night, what about some shots DURING the fireworks? What else says Disney romance better than a few good angles with the castle and a sweet kiss with Wishes in the background!
Don’t forget we will try to answer all Disney Questions here.
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