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Category Archives: Touring Plans
Less Stress and More Magic at Walt Disney World
When you stay on Disney property, you have everything you need, right at your fingertips? Right? Usually, that is the case. Small shops at resorts and Downtown Disney can provide some basic needs, there are a few grocery stores right in the area, and Disney even rents their own strollers…uncomfortable and slightly impractical…but you can rent a stroller at the parks. However, there are some businesses that can make your Disney experience even easier and more magical that I want to share with you today.
- Garden Grocer. These people are AWESOME! A week or so before you arrive at Disney, you can place your order on their website for almost anything you’ll need. All your favorite grocery brands are there, and they will deliver right to your Disney resort. Garden Grocer is great if you are flying OR driving. Some perishable items, such as milk & juice, may not travel well in the car. Or, if you prefer to have them bring over some diapers and other toiletry necessities so you don’t have to pack them in your luggage, they’re happy to do so. Their minimum order is $40, and they do charge a $14 delivery fee.
How to take in the sights and sounds of Disneyland
Hey all you fans of Mickey! So you’ve planned a visit to Disneyland! You’ve made it known to everyone you are going, you’ve contacted a Disney Specialist travel agent to do all the boring booking part for you, including booking your ‘Priority Seating’ dinner reservations. Now you are on your way!
You have arrived at the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’, what should you do first? last? That’s what I’m here to help you with. Well at least share my Must Do’s. I’ve been to Disneyland more times than I should admit to.
First things first, get in front of the floral arrangement in front of the train station and get you a picture! Collect your Photo Pass, or even better purchase your Photo Pass+ before even going to parks, so that you can use it for the rest of your trip. Don’t worry the photographer will also take your picture with your personal camera. Do It! You will love having the Photo’s available later on to purchase, sometimes making excellent Christmas Cards. Also know that you can pre-order the PhotoPass CD. If you do this and you make sure to take advantage of all the photography opportunities you can score an excellent deal!
Once you’ve walked under the train trestle, follow my lead and look to your left. Right next to the City Hall is the Fire Station. The top floor is Walt Disney’s apartment. Give him a quick hello, friendly wave, and perhaps a Thank You. If you are close enough you will notice that there is an oil lamp in the window. This lamp is always on, symbolizing Walt Disney’s spirit is always around. Quick note, don’t freak out if it’s out, that only means that one of the Disney Family is visiting the park and Walt’s spirit resides with them.
Why Do the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse?
Photo Credit-Mike Ellis
That is a question I get when helping friends plan their agenda at Magic Kingdom. Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is not a thrill ride and involves climbing a lot of steps (116 to be exact). So what’s the attraction? It’s a replica of the treehouse the Robinson Family built upon being shipwrecked on an island. The story is depicted in Disney‘s 1960 classic, The Swiss Family Robinson. Fact is, I’m partial to Swiss Family Robinson and it’s a must-do on my personal touring plan at Magic Kingdom.
Here are my Top 5 reasons YOU should “swing” by the Treehouse.
- It’s Cool. Not just to look at, but you are shaded by a leaf and moss canopy on your way through. It’s also right next to the sprayground outside the Jungle Cruise. Hint, Hint!
- It’s Disney Imagineering at It’s Best. Everything looks as if it were salvaged from the shipwreck or created from island resources. In reality, only the moss is real at this attraction.
- It’s a Great Distraction. When waiting for your Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean FASTPASS time to arrive, head through this attraction. There are rarely any lines. You also get a birds-eye view of the Jungle Cruise to complete the feeling of being shipwrecked.
- It’s Fun to Imagine. The attraction looks so real, right down to the working water pulley system. The table is set, beds made and even an organ. It’s not difficult to imagine living in a Treehouse. After walking around Magic Kingdom all day, the hammocks look pretty tempting!
- It’s a Classic. Not just the movie (which I recommend seeing before you tour through the Treehouse), but the attraction. It was in Adventureland when Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. Take 15 minutes to appreciate Treehouse and the Disney Magic that went into its creation.
MickeyMom is a Mom to 2, and thinks Disney should let her stay in the Treehouse overnight.
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Light up the Night with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
I’m not sure about you, but in my community, Christmas decorations are going up faster than you can say “Jolly old Saint Nicholas”!!! I passed by a house the other day that was literally covered, as in every last square inch of real estate, in Christmas decor. There were inflatable, lights, yard stakes, fake trees, and more. We even have a house a few neighborhoods over that has synchronized lights. Seriously, you can flip to a radio station and watch the show. They even have a fund set up for onlookers to donate money to a local charity! I love that! But, for me, when I try to do all of that it just ends up looking like…well, like a mess! I find that displays of that proportion should be left to the professionals.
The best I’ve ever seen is The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This mammoth Christmas display is a one of a kind winter wonderland. When it comes to this display, more is more! That is why I love to be an onlooker rather than the one doing all that work! I think a lot of people probably write off this light display as something just worth a walk through. It is SO much more than that. This holiday attraction is truly unique and will leave you with a sense of childlike wonder. Today, I’m painting the picture for a perfect night of Christmas magic on the Streets of America in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Make it dinner and a show
I strongly encourage you to “make a night of it” when visiting The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Don’t rush through at the last-minute! Take time to make the night all about enjoying this awesome show! I say if you have the opportunity, make reservations for an early dinner in Hollywood Studios, leaving the night open to soak it all in. There are a lot of good restaurants to choose from in Hollywood Studios. I really like Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano! Located near the Streets of America, this restaurant boasts traditional Italian food, drinks, and desserts and will put you right in the action! If you can’t make dining reservations, there are plenty of yummy quick service spots, like Toy Story Pizza Planet that will let you eat, drink, and be merry!
Choosing the Best Day of the Week to Visit Each Disney World Park
There are many theories on how to choose which park to visit on each day of your vacation. There are also many helpful websites that give insight into why you should attend a certain Disney park on a specific day. My preference in choosing a park is based on avoiding the crowds. There are three things I look at when choosing a park to visit.
Here they are:
Historical Park Attendance. Historically, Mondays have been known to be the most crowded days at the Magic Kingdom. The theory being that most people travel on the weekends and with the Magic Kingdom being the most popular park, most people want to visit that park first. Following this mentality, people also tend to visit the parks in chronological order as they were created. Therefore, as the Magic Kingdom tends to be the most crowded on Mondays, Epcot is most crowded on Tuesdays, Hollywood Studio’s has higher crowds on Wednesdays, and Animal Kingdom can be busier on Thursdays. This theory doesn’t always hold true, as Extra Magic Hours or Special Events do alter which days are busiest at each park. That’s why it’s important to take Park Hours into consideration as well.
