Caring for Giants Elephant Tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Caring for Giants Elephant Tour

by Annaliesa McBride

 Caring for giants is an up close look at what it takes to take care of the elephants at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is a wonderful opportunity for animal lovers, and Disney fans alike. This behind the scenes tour is a unique experience that is only available to guests ages 18 and older.

Tour groups meet at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk across from the entrance to Kilimanjaro Safari where they sign a waiver, and are given a lanyard to identify each member as a part of the group. The tour guide then leads the group to a bus, which takes the group to an observation deck that overlooks the elephant habitat. The observation deck is about 80-100 feet from the elephants so you do get closer to them during the tour than in the park. Tours get ample opportunity to observe the elephants, and take photos as an elephant caretaker explains how the elephants are cared for, and answers questions. You may not take photos in the back lot but you can take pictures in the non-backstage areas. The tour lasts about 60-minutes.

After all questions are answered, guests get the opportunity to hold a piece of elephant poop that has been glazed and baked. (This was my favorite part, thought my sister and I were the only ones in the group brave enough to handle the poop.) Cast members are happy to take photos of each party in front of the elephant habitat before bringing the group back to the park.

On this tour, we learned that Disney is held to the highest standards. We learned about elephant poaching, and were introduced to multiple charities that fight off poaching, and remove traps left to catch elephants in their natural habitat. I left feeling informed. It was a truly breathtaking experience that will stick with me for quite some time.

Caring for Giants Tour Details;

• Cost: $30 per person

• Reservations; Call 407-919-7529 for advance reservations (recommended). Same day reservations are sometimes available at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk in the Africa area.

• Age restrictions: You must be at least four years old to go on this tour and guests under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.

• Accessibility: Guests may remain in a wheelchair during the tour but you will want to call 407-398-1487 to arrange/confirm accessible transportation to the backstage area. Guests using an ECV will have to transfer to a courtesy wheelchair to participate.

• Allergies: Be aware that you will be in areas with common allergen like dust and hay.

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Best Disney World Quick Service Meals Available Now

Disney Dining Beyond Burgers or Hot Dogs

Finding variety at the Quick-Service restaurants

Disney is currently operating under limited capacity and you wil find that not all quick-service restaurants are open right now or, if they are open, they may have limited menus.   Hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken nuggets are readily available but that can get monotonous every day of your trip so we’ve put together a list of locations that offer more great menu options.  Taking the time to quickly read the information below and noting options that look good will help you enjoy better meals in the park.

Many of the locations below will also include hot dogs, hamburgers, and/or chicken nuggets but we don’t mention that because this list is to help you find other options so you don’t feel like you’re eating the same thing at every meal.  We also excluded locations that only have snack items and sweets. Links have been provided so that you can see the whole menu.   We did not include any table service locations in this list.  Quick-service locations do not accept advance reservations at this time.

Quick-service restaurants located at the hotels are not included in this list unless they are reasonably easy to get to from one of the theme parks.  We did include several options with Disney’s Hollywood Studios since the in-park options are so limited.  Allow plenty of time for transportation.

TIP: Most of these locations are utilizing mobile ordering unless you have dietary restrictions.  You will be able to access the menu through the MyDisneyExperience app. QR codes available at the restaurant to access the menus so take time to learn to scan QR codes if you don’t already know how.  Be sure to link a form of payment to your MyDisneyExperience account to simplify the whole dining process.

Magic Kingdom:

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café has a Greek salad or a grilled chicken club sandwich.  Kids can get mac ‘n cheese.

• The Friar’s Nook has creamy bacon macaroni & cheese tots or loaded Buffalo tots.  Yum!  Kids can get tots and cheese sauce.

• Gaston’s Tavern doesn’t have meal items but people love the warm cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

• Liberty Square Market sells Turkey legs and an assortment of snack and whole fruit options.

• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café has the most variety of current offerings in the Magic Kingdom.  You can get a fajita platter, southwest salad with chicken or pork carnitas, chicken or beef nachos, black bean nachos, pork carnitas rice bowl, pork carnitas nachos, chicken rice bowl, or a veggie rice bowl.  Similar options available as kids meals.  This location has a nice selection of allergy friendly menu items too.

• Pinocchio Village Haus has a selection of flatbreads (kind of like pizza but this location doesn’t get good reviews.)  You can find better food elsewhere.

• Sleepy Hollow has a very limited menu but people love the sweet-and-spicy chicken waffle sandwich.  They also have a fresh fruit waffle sandwich or funnel cakes if you’re looking for dessert. 

Good options at nearby resorts

Contemporary Resort – Contempo Café – Breakfast options include a bounty platter, grilled breakfast sandwich, Mickey-shaped waffle, breakfast tofu bowl, steel-cut oatmeal, and similar options for kids.  The lunch and dinner menu features Caesar salad with chicken, spicy chicken sandwich, hot turkey sandwich, meat lover’s flatbread, grilled tofu bowl, kale power greens salad and a couple of soup options.  Kids’ meals include turkey pasta marinara, cheese or pepperoni flatbread. 

Polynesian Resort – Capt. Cook’s – breakfast options include a bounty platter, morning flatbread, Mickey waffles, a breakfast burrito, power breakfast bowl, steel-cut oatmeal or the ever-popular Tonga toast with similar items on the kids’ menu.   Lunch and dinner options include an Aloha park sandwich, pan Asian noodles with vegetables, Thai coconut meatballs,  Asian-style noodle salad, and  Superfood Salad.  Kids will love the chicken and pineapple skewers or the turkey sandwich.

Wilderness Lodge – Geyser Point Bar & Grill has teriyaki chicken wings, shrimp on a wife, roasted salmon, or a crab cake with spicy slaw.   Other great options include a smoked turkey sandwich, grilled portobello salad with or without salmon, chicken or steak, or crispy fried oysters.  Kids’ meals include grilled chicken or a finger food sampler.

Wilderness Lodge – Roaring Fork serves breakfast items like chicken and waffles, a breakfast platter, bagel sandwich, Bananas Foster French Toast, and steel-cut oatmeal.  Kids can get Mickey-shaped waffles.  For lunch and dinner, you’ll find a 10-hour smoked pulled pork sandwich, tuna salad sandwich, chicken and waffles, house-smoked turkey sandwich, or a Caesar salad with chicken.  Kids’ meals included mac ‘n cheese or a pepperoni flatbread.

Animal Kingdom:

• Flame Tree Barbecue has a St. Louis rib dinner, half chicken, ribs and chicken combo, backed macaroni & cheese with pulled pork, and a smokehouse chicken salad.  Most of these are served with baked beans and coleslaw.  Kids can get a baked chicken drumstick. 

• Isle of Java has a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit available at breakfast along with things like muffins and danishes. 

• Nomad Lounge has small plates with things like a Chicken Manchurian Nomad Bowl, Tongarishi-spiced Tuna Nomad bowl, and a bread service.   These are small plates so the servings are small but it does offer some nice options; the setting is lovely!

• Pongu Pongu has sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits at breakfast as well as French toast sticks and their very popular Pongu Lumpia which is a pineapple cream cheese spring roll.   The Pongu Lumpia is available all day but they do not offer any lunch or dinner entrees

•  Restaurantosaurus has breaded shrimp with fries or a cobb salad.

• Satu’li Canteen has some delicious options like their combination grilled beef and chicken bowl, chili-garlic shrimp bowl, shopped wood-grilled chicken bowl, and their chili-spiced crispy fried tofu bowl.  The children’s menu also includes several bowl options as well as cheese quesadillas.  Don’t rule out the cheeseburger steamed pods (bao buns) as they are kind of different and good, as long as you like mustard.  This location has a great selection of allergy-friendly options.

• Trilo-Bites has Buffalo chicken chips that might work as a small meal or a savory snack.

• Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes has some great breakfast options like a scrambled egg breakfast bowl with or without bacon or sausage, egg white English muffin or sausage and egg muffin; kids options include French toast or a pancake and sausage stick.  For lunch or dinner, you’ll find great options like honey chicken, vegetable tikka masala, or sweet-and-sour tempura chicken all served with white rice.  They also have a Korean fried chicken sandwich, teriyaki chicken salad, and egg rolls.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Plan on this being your burger day!

• ABC Commissary has a curry rice bowl with shrimp or tofu, chicken club, buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich, shrimp tacos, pork carnitas tacos, and Mediterranean salad with chicken.   They also have an arugula-farro side salad.   Child meal options include a pork taco, grilled cheese sandwich, or a turkey sandwich.

• Backlot Express mostly has burgers but you will also find a Cuban sandwich, southwest salad, and Tatooine two suns hummus. 

• Baseline Tap House doesn’t serve full entrees but they do have a couple of tasty small plate options like a coffee-rubbed rib-eye beef puff and a California cheese and charcuterie plate.

• Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo has beef pot roast, fried chicken with vegetable mashed potatoes or mac & cheese, smoked pork ribs, roasted chicken salad, or kefta and humas garden spread.  Kids meals include pasta with marinara sauce, veggie dippers, and fried chicken.   They have an allergy-friendly menu too.  Everything we’ve eaten here is good but the portions were small and we left wanting more.

• PizzaRizzo has individual sized pizzas, a meatball sub, and antipasto salad.  There are similar options on the kids’ menu. Sadly, Disney’s pizza is famous for all the wrong reasons and everything here falls somewhere between “okay” and “somewhat disappointing”.   In our opinion, nothing is truly terrible or really good. 

• Ronto Roaster serves breakfast options like a morning wrap with eggs, pork sausage and cheese, or overnight oats.  The lunch and dinner menu is pretty much limited to a wrap with roasted pork and tangy slaw.  They have allergy friendly options available.

• Rosie’s All-American Café’ primarily has burgers and hotdogs but also has a fried green tomato sandwich. 

If none of these are appealing, consider exiting the park and taking the Skyliner to Epcot and then walk over to the Beach and Yacht Club which have options at the two market locations and Hurricane Hanna’s

Beach Club – Beach Club Marketplace – breakfast options include a bounty platter, breakfast sandwich, or Mickey-shaped waffles.  For lunch, you’ll find an Italian sandwich, roast beef sandwich, caprese sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, turkey and swiss sandwich, grilled veggie and hummus sandwich, bacon topped macaroni & cheese, chili topped mac & cheese, and pulled pork topped mac & cheese. Other great options include plant-based chili, chicken Caesar salad, clam chowder, or a Greek salad.  Kids’ meals include a turkey sandwich, hot dog, or baked mac ‘n cheese.  Dinner has most of the lunch options along with a half roasted chicken dinner option. 

Beach Club / Yacht Club – Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill offers Greek salad, seafood roll, Caesar salad with chicken, Italian Focaccia sandwich, or a turkey and Swiss sandwich.  Kids can get a turkey sandwich meal.

Yacht Club – Market at Ale & Compass – breakfast offers a breakfast bowl, egg-white breakfast wrap, turkey and cheese breakfast sandwich, Mickey-shaped waffles, and a ham and cheese breakfast sandwich.   Lunch and dinner feature grilled chicken panini, roasted vegetable panini, Cuban sandwich, ham and cheese sandwich, or a spicy Italian Panini.  The kids’ menu includes grilled cheese, mac ‘n cheese, or a ham sandwich.

You can also take the Skyline from Disney’s Hollywood Studio to Disney’s Riviera Resort where Primo Piatto which has a breakfast menu that includes a classic ham and swiss breakfast sandwich, blueberry-lemon pancakes, Mickey-shaped waffles, smoked salmon and everything bagel, plant based egg platter or scrambled eggs served over Mascarpone polenta with a sweet brioche roll with bacon and Italian sausage.  The lunch menu has a hearth baked sausage and pepperoni pizza, grilled chicken sandwich, classic French ham and swiss sandwich, spicy Italian sandwich, tomato soup, a couple of salad options, a grilled vegetable skewer, and a smoked salmon and Everything bagel.  The kids’ meal includes pasta with sauce, a burger, cheese pizza, and chicken strips.

 Epcot:

• Choza de Margarita doesn’t serve full entrees but they do have small plate items like tacos al pastor, tostada de pollo, spicy corn, empanada de barbacoa, and guacamole.

• Fife & Drum Tavern has turkey legs.

• Kabuki Café has small plates with options like sushi or a California roll.

• Katsura Grill has sushi, shrimp tempura udon noodle bowls, vegetable noodle bowls, and ramen with pork and vegetables.  They also have options like shrimp and chicken teriyaki, chicken and beef teriyaki, and chicken cutlet curry.   The kids menu features various teriyaki options.

• La Cantina de San Angel has Mexican food favorites like pollo cascabel, chicken or beef tacos, nachos.  The kids’ menu includes chicken tacos, chicken tenders, cheese empanadas, or mac ‘n cheese

• Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie features some wonderful sandwiches, lobster bisque in a bread bowl, a cheese plate, quiche Lorraine, and a lovely selection of pastries.

• Regal Eagle Smokehouse has so many great options like Memphis dry-rub pork ribs, sliced Texas beef brisket sandwich, Kansas City smoked half chicken, North Carolina chopped smoked pork butt platter, and a power greens salad with or without chicken.  Vegetarians may want to try the BBQ jackfruit burger.  Kids’ meals include BBQ chicken leg with coleslaw and watermelon, BBQ ribs, or chicken salad.  This location has lots of great allergy-friendly options too.

• Sunshine Seasons has a power salad with or without chicken, oak grilled salmon or rotisserie chicken, pulled pork and cheddar on Texas toast, and a roasted jackfruit and veggies pita.  Kids can get salmon or a chicken drumstick with rice and apple sauce, mac & cheese, or cheese pizza.

• Yorkshire County Fish Shop has fish and chips.

• The wonderful thing about Epcot is that they often have festival booths with delicious seasonal food offerings.

Disney keeps adding dining options; click here to stay up to date

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Guest Post - History of the Candlelight Processional

One of the most loved Christmas traditions at Disneyland and Epcot at Walt Disney World is the Candlelight Processional – as we dig into the history of the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, we travel back to the park’s earliest days. During the park’s first Christmas season in 1955, a group of twelve Dickensian carolers under the direction of Dr. Charles C. Hirt of the University of Southern California performed at various points around the park, and other choirs periodically performed at the Main Street Bandstand. The numbers of carolers and guest choirs grew through the 1956 and 1957 holiday seasons, quickly becoming one of the park’s most popular seasonal offerings.

In 1958, Hirt went to park management with the idea of adding a procession of a larger mass choir. The full choir has been a part of the show ever since, and they now perform on a large “Christmas tree” made of risers. Since 1982, the choir has been comprised of cast members who are part of the Disney Employee Choir.

The Processional began to look like the experience we know today in 1960, when the performance was moved to Main Street, U.S.A., and actor Dennis Morgan was brought in to read excerpts from the Biblical Christmas story to tie together the classic hymns being performed by the choir. Over the course of the decades since, luminaries including Cary Grant, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, James Earl Jones, Jodi Benson, Dick Van Dyke, John Stamos, and Chris Hemsworth have all been narrators for the event.

Just over a decade after Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional took on its modern form, the processional was duplicated for the east coast during Walt Disney World’s first holiday season in 1971. The show was performed in Magic Kingdom’s town square, similar to its Disneyland location, for 22 years. In 1994, the Candlelight Processional was moved to Epcot, eventually becoming the centerpiece of the park’s sprawling Festival of Holidays celebration.

The music is amazing – the narration is moving – and we are reminded of what Christmas is all about.
The following lines are from the script of the Candlelight Processional at Epcot …

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village where he worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was thirty. Then, for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two-hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials, but himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to the cross between two thieves. While he was dying his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone and today he is considered by many to be the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind’s progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together have not effected the life of man on this Earth as much as that one, solitary life.

Although hundreds of years have passed we still celebrate the birth of the baby in Bethlehem. And the joy of that first Christmas still lives in our hearts.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful! Counselor! The Might God! The Everlasting Father! The Prince of Peace!

May the joy and peace found at the manger be yours in abundance this Christmas season and always.

Take the magic and joy of Christmas at touch and change the world…Merry Christmas to you!

More about Jeff Dixon: Jeff has written a series of novels set in and around Walt Disney World entitled, The Key to the Kingdom, Unlocking the Kingdom, Storming the Kingdom, Terror in the Kingdom and his newest book, Kingdom Chaos. He is also the author of The Disney Driven Life, a book that draws life lessons and leadership principles from the history and life of Walt Disney. Some know Jeff as Dixon On Disney – and he resources and comments on Disney history, attractions, and news. He is a researcher that draws heavily on the incredible works of Disney historians and biographers with an attempt to understand and apply the life lessons that are uncovered. He is also a storyteller that transports readers into a world beyond their imagination.

Click here for Jeff Dixon’s Amazon Author page

• Click here to check out Jeff Dixon’s website

• Find Jeff Dixon (@DixonOnDisney) on Twitter

• Follow Jeff Dixon on Facebook

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Candy-Corny Disney Halloween Jokes

Make them groan like ghosts with these corny halloween jokes set to images from the Disney theme parks. Click here to see our whole Pinterest board devoted to Disney dad jokes.

Are You Boo-Hooing Because You Want  A Disney Halloween?

This is a great time to lock in your Halloween adventure for next year because booking early gives guarantees the best prices and availability and the deposit is refundable if your plans change!  The best part is that Halloween is not just one day in the theme parks.  The Disney resorts offer charming events that are perfect for the whole family.  If your Disney darlings have grown into thrill-seekers craving a more intense experience, you can head over to Universal Orlando.  These events require a separate ticket and are not included in regular theme park admission but pair wonderfully with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (Disney World, Florida) is offered on select nights in the Magic Kingdom from mid-August through October

The Oogie Boogie Bash(Disneyland, California) is offered on select nights in Disney California Adventure from mid-September through October

Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Orlando, Florida) is guaranteed to set teens and adults screaming on select nights in September through October

Hey, I want a kooky-spooky Disney or Universal Halloween Trip!  

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Thursday 3: The 3 Disney Springs Character Breakfasts

Disney Character Breakfasts at Disney Springs Area Hotels

I recently visited the Disney Springs Good Neighbor hotels that participate in Disney World resort benefits like Extra Magic Hours and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 60 days prior to arrival and thought you’d be interested to know about the three character breakfast locations available on select days.  It is important to note that these character breakfasts do not take place at restaurants within Disney Springs itself but are located in nearby Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, all within walking distance of Disney Springs. While the adult prices are comparable in price to the Disney World resort character meals, the child prices are significantly lower which is great for large families.  Another perk is that two of the locations do not charge for 3-year old children and also offer child pricing for 10 - 12 year olds whereas the Disney character meals start charging the child price at age three (3) and adult prices start at age ten (10).   None of these locations accept advance reservations and are a great option if you’re having trouble getting reservations at a character meal location found in the Disney reservation system.  You do not have to be a guest of these hotels to dine at the restaurants.

Which characters are offered:   Disney sends over the characters and they usually just list “Disney Friends” or “Disney Pals” but Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Goofy seem to be fairly frequent visitors to breakfast.   Brer Bear and Brer Fox were making the rounds the morning we were at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista which I thought was neat because you don’t usually see those two outside of Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom.

How to Get There:  If you’re staying at one of the Disney Springs hotels, you can easily walk over.  If you’re staying at one of the official Disney World resorts, the free option is to take the bus or boat, where available< from your hotel to the Disney Springs Marketplace stop and walk over.   It may be easier to have a taxi, Uber or Lyft drop you off at the resort entrance.

For comparison purposes, here are the prices at three character breakfasts featuring classic Disney characters that are located in official Disney hotels:

• Contemporary Resort - Chef Mickeys breakfast: $41 / Child: $25 (age 3 – 9)

• Polynesian Resort - Ohana character Breakfast: $34 / Child: $20 (age 3 – 9)

• Beach Club Resort - Cape May character buffet: Adult: $26 / Child $21 (age 3 – 9)

Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area  

Character breakfast available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings in the Lakeview Restaurant at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Hotel / Disney Springs area - Walt Disney World Resort.

Lakeview Restaurant - this is the only character meal where we ate and I highly recommend it.  The Lakeview restaurant is a very pleasant setting with a lovely view and the buffet was delicious with fresh fruit, breads and breakfast pastries, breakfast potatoes, bacon, ham, sausage, made-to-order omelets, and other tasty options.  The children’s section delighted me because it included breakfast pizza and macaroni and cheese along with traditional breakfast items.   The person at tending the station explained that children need a good breakfast and energy when they go to the theme parks so you have to provide options that they’ll want to eat.  You can’t argue with that logic!

Character breakfast Buffet on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 7:30 – 10:30AM
Cost: Adults - $26.95 (age 12+) / $12.95 children, ages 4-11
Disney Dining Plans not accepted
No advance reservations – first come, first serve
15% gratuity added to parties of 5 or more

Hilton Buena Vista Palace Hotel

Sunday morning character breakfast at the Letterpress restaurant in the Hilton Buena Vista Palace Hotel / Disney Springs area - Walt Disney World Resort.

Letterpress Restaurant – Letterpress is a bright and modern restaurant located on the lower level of the hotel’s main tower.  

Sunday Character Breakfast Buffet - Characters from 8:30AM to 11:30
Cost: Adult: $30 / Child: $12, ages 4 - 12
No advance reservations – first come, first served

 Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Hotel

Sunday Morning Character Breakfast at the Covington Mill restaurant in the Disney Orlando Lake Buena Vista hotel / Disney Springs area - Walt Disney World Resort.

Covington Mill Restaurant – restaurant has a charming country feel with a faux porch and rocking chairs at the entrance; the buffet menu includes Mickey Mouse waffles, made-to-order omelet station and a nice selection of other breakfast options like fruit, cearls, yogurt, fresh baked breads and more.

Sunday Character Breakfast – Sunday 8:30AM – 11AM
Cost: Adult (age 10 & up) $30, Child: $10, ages 3 -10
No advance reservations – first come, first served
Disney Dining Plans not accepted

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities. That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

More Helpful Articles:

• Where to dine with the Disney Princesses

• Fun Disney World Dining Experiences for Boys

• Best Disney Quick-Service Restaurants

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Have you thought about visiting Universal Orlando?

If you haven’t been to Universal Orlando lately, you are missing out! Universal Orlando is full of amazing and innovative experiences that try for yourself. This is not a theme park - it is a full-fledged resort with hotels to fit most budges, two incredibly fun theme parks, a beautiful water park and the CityWalk entertainment district with shopping, and dining.

Click Here for Your Universal Orlando Vacation Quote

---

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Guest Blog - Hunt chameleons, not eggs, this Easter

Find Pascal, the chameleon from Disney’s Tangled, in the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Since it is Easter – here is another Disney Easter Egg Hunt – another chance to find hidden surprises within the world of Disney. This particular Easter Egg Hunt is one you can take for yourself the next time you visit Walt Disney World. Believe it or not, the details in WDW are so amazing that you can even make a trip to the restroom an adventure – especially if you visit the Tangled themed restroom area in the Magic Kingdom.

This is actually a chameleon hunt and he appears first in the movie Tangled, but has more frequent appearances in the Tangled themed follow-up films and series. As we meet Rapunzel her one true friend is her silent, color-changing sidekick, Pascal. Although just a small chameleon, he plays a big role in Rapunzel's life. Confidante, coach and cheerleader, Pascal is a driving force behind Rapunzel's decision to leave her lonely tower. This supportive and encouraging companion's true colors held a key to solving an amazing mystery.

When you visit the Tangled themed bathrooms there is a sign that alerts you that there is something to look for…and if you look closely, you will begin to find Pascal hidden throughout the carefully and creatively themed area. Included in this post are a few pictures…if you really want clues, here are a few…but not all you need to find them all

Egg Hunt or Pascal Hunt spoiler alert follows….
Find the “Look for friends of Pascal in the scenery” sign and turn your eyes to the bridge on your left. You’ll see something looking right back at you on the rock!

Look in the other side of the water, notice the rock with an indentation…there you’ll discover a set of eyes that blend in perfectly to the moss surroundings.

Look at the sign again. Straight across from you, you’ll see a boulder…on the right side is a boulder-colored Pascal hiding from everyone.

Find Momento Mori, look carefully and search until you find three flower boxes. Someone’s hiding underneath the second one.

Take a look at one of the light posts and you guessed it – Pascal is there.

On this Easter weekend, remember that each of us need friends who stick beside us, encourage us, help us, and motivate us to be more. We all need them in our lives and whether you realize it or not, you just might be the very person to make that kind of difference in the lives of others. Sometimes it is subtle, and you can bless and encourage others without being flashy, maybe even blending into the background…but never underestimate the value that you have in the lives of others and take the time to thank those who bless you!

About the Author: This article, which first appeared on Facebook, is by author Jeff Dixon. Jeff has written a series of novels set in and around Walt Disney World entitled, The Key to the Kingdom, Unlocking the Kingdom, Storming the Kingdom, and as mentioned and linked above Terror in the Kingdom. He is also the author of The Disney Driven Life, a book that draws life lessons and leadership principles from the history and life of Walt Disney. Some know Jeff as Dixon On Disney – and he resources and comments on Disney history, attractions, and news. He is a researcher that draws heavily on the incredible works of Disney historians and biographers with an attempt to understand and apply the life lessons that are uncovered. He is also a storyteller that transports readers into a world beyond their imagination.

• Click here for Jeff Dixon’s Amazon Author page

• Click here to check out Jeff Dixon’s website

• Find Jeff Dixon (@DixonOnDisney) on Twitter

• Follow Jeff Dixon on Facebook

Click here for a list of places to see or meet Rapunzel from Tangled

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Guest Blog - "Easter Eggs" in Disney Movies

It is Easter weekend! Hopefully you are planning a fun-filled Spring weekend loaded with surprises and excitement. The tradition for many is to participate in Easter Egg Hunts, if you have been a part of one, you know how much fun they can be. In the world of Disney, an Easter Egg Hunt can take on a whole different meaning. Most, if not all Disney fans, know that the animators and designers of Disney films hide “Easter Eggs” in each feature. These are things that you don’t usually expect to find and are usually carefully hidden. Usually after a feature is released and enjoyed, then fans start searching for the hidden surprises that make the films even more fun.

Big Hero 6 is one example. Look closely at the picture below. It gives us a glimpse of events that we should have been paying attention to when Frozen was released. The rat Hans, actually showed up on a wanted poster in the police office. If Elsa and Anna would have known, the story line could have been so different.

Hans, the villain from Frozen, on a Wanted poster in the police station in Big Hero 6.

Next time you watch 101 Dalmatians, look to the shadows. You can see this is the second picture. You'll notice some dogs wandering the streets of London in the background. Look closely and you will see that two of these pups are none other than the title characters of Lady and the Tramp.

Lady and Tramp hidden in the shadows on Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.

In Beauty and the Beast, Maurice and Phillipe become lost in the woods and come upon a faded road sign. If you look closely, you can see that two of the cities listed on the sign are Anaheim, where Disneyland is, and Valencia, where California Institute of the Arts is located. Look closely at the third picture and you can make out what they saw.

Anaheim and Valencia road signs in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991 animated version).

Many will remember the film, Finding Nemo. The film is about a search of a father for his lost son, who is in trouble. Eventually they are reunited, but little did we know that the little clownfish Nemo was actually hiding in Monsters, Inc. – watch the film and see Boo hand a Nemo plush doll to Scully when he is in her room.You see that in picture four.

Boo holding a Finding Nemo toy in Monster’s Inc.

There is one more. You can find it in A Goofy Movie, everyone is jamming out at the Powerline concert — and Disney makes sure their most famous character of all is there - Mickey Mouse himself is in the audience. Those are all fun Easter Eggs – Disney style.

Mickey Mouse in the concert crowd on A Goofy Movie.

Easter Egg Hunting (look for real eggs) began in Germany and is said to date back to the late 16th century, where Martin Luther, organized egg hunts for his congregation. Men would hide the eggs, while women and children went to find them. Communities all over the world include some form of Easter Egg hunting as part of the Easter season… and the laughter, fun, and smiles of children and families finding a special egg, getting an unexpected gift, or discovering an extra ordinary surprise are all a part of the Easter celebration. Finding the unexpected can bring joy in life but you have to take time and look for it. May you find some time to go on the hunt over the next few days, discover joy, and share it with others.

About the Author: This article, which first appeared on Facebook, is by author Jeff Dixon. Jeff has written a series of novels set in and around Walt Disney World entitled, The Key to the Kingdom, Unlocking the Kingdom, Storming the Kingdom, and as mentioned and linked above Terror in the Kingdom. He is also the author of The Disney Driven Life, a book that draws life lessons and leadership principles from the history and life of Walt Disney. Some know Jeff as Dixon On Disney – and he resources and comments on Disney history, attractions, and news. He is a researcher that draws heavily on the incredible works of Disney historians and biographers with an attempt to understand and apply the life lessons that are uncovered. He is also a storyteller that transports readers into a world beyond their imagination.

• Click here for Jeff Dixon’s Amazon Author page

• Click here to check out Jeff Dixon’s website

• Find Jeff Dixon (@DixonOnDisney) on Twitter

• Follow Jeff Dixon on Facebook

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Guest Blog: Disney and Notre Dame

It is with great sadness that we watched as so many did, the Cathedral of Notre Dame burn in Paris, France. This iconic structure was a part of the fabric and lore of the city and the loss is tremendous. In the aftermath of this loss, our hearts and prayers are with the people of France, who have lost a part of their culture and a landmark that was a hub of activity within the city.

Even in the world of Disney, this great cathedral was a part of the storylines of many films.

Disney and Notre Dame Cathedral

Of course, we remember The Hunchback of Notre Dame. To stay consistent to the architecture and details of Notre Dame, animators spent several weeks in and around the actual cathedral. This building in the picture serves as a home to the main protagonist, Quasimodo. He viewed the cathedral as a home as he rings and cares for its bells, each of which he has bestowed a name. In return, the cathedral shelters and protects him

The cathedral also is seen in the Aristocrats, as Edgar Balthazar drives past Notre Dame while taking the cats into the countryside. In Ratatouille, we see the cathedral on two occasions. More recently it was seen in Cars 2, as a street musician performs music in front of the cathedral after Mater, Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell's arrival in Paris. In the live action film, Beauty and the Beast, the Notre Dame Cathedral appears as a background in the backstory of the lead characters as they are being developed.

Sometimes it is easy to take for granted those places that become the backdrop for the stories that create the memories that define our lives. For the people and city of Paris this is a great loss - it is also a loss for citizens of the world. Never take for granted the places and more importantly the people that help create the moments that define our lives. In the days ahead remember to pray for Paris as they have lost a piece of their history as well as a place that was so much a part of the heartbeat of the city.

About the Author: This article, which first appeared on Facebook, is by author Jeff Dixon. Jeff has written a series of novels set in and around Walt Disney World entitled, The Key to the Kingdom, Unlocking the Kingdom, Storming the Kingdom, and as mentioned and linked above Terror in the Kingdom. He is also the author of The Disney Driven Life, a book that draws life lessons and leadership principles from the history and life of Walt Disney. Some know Jeff as Dixon On Disney – and he resources and comments on Disney history, attractions, and news. He is a researcher that draws heavily on the incredible works of Disney historians and biographers with an attempt to understand and apply the life lessons that are uncovered. He is also a storyteller that transports readers into a world beyond their imagination.

• Click here for Jeff Dixon’s Amazon Author page

• Click here to check out Jeff Dixon’s website

• Find Jeff Dixon (@DixonOnDisney) on Twitter

• Follow Jeff Dixon on Facebook

Did you know? The Hunchback of Notre Dame was featured in two live shows in Disney parks? The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure was presented at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from 1996 to 2002 and The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Festival of Fools ran at Disneyland from 1996 to 1998.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure was a live show presented from 1996 to 2002 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Photo by Steve Johnson.

Disney is donating $5 million towards the work to restore Notre Dame Cathedral. Disney CEO Bob Iger released this statement, '“ Notre-Dame is a beacon of hope and beauty that has defined the heart of Paris and the soul of France for centuries, inspiring awe and reverence for its art and architechture and for its enduring place in human history.”

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

What Is A Dole Whip?

Dole Whips at Disney World and Disneyland

Imagine yourself miserably hot and humid - you dread moving because that'll just make you even hotter. Then someone (maybe an angel) hands you a dish of a cheerful yellow, softly frozen pineapple (flavored) treat. From the first bite, your outlook brightens while visions of hula girls dance in your head. Okay, that might be a little bit of over-sell but Dole Whips are just plain wonderful! My whole family loves them and we'll use any excuse to get one.

If you prefer hard facts to hyperbole, here is the official (though uninspiring!) description: "Dole Soft Serve Mix is a lactose free dry mix that is reconstituted with tap water and frozen down in a soft serve machine. Marketed under the popular Dole brand name, this unique product delivers an intense, natural pineapple fruit flavor, yet is fat free and cholesterol free.". That may be technically accurate but it certainly fails to capture the joy your taste buds experience when introduced to a Dole Whip

Where To Get A Dole Whip at Disney World

Aloha Isle - Magic Kingdom Theme Park - Adventureland Area :This refreshment stand carries both pineapple and vanilla Dole Whip. You can also get pineapple spears, pineapple juice, and Dole Whip floats here. If you're on a Disney Dining Plan, you can use one of your snack credits to get a Dole Whip. There are those - even in my own family - who get sprinkles on their Dole Whips. Sprinkles!?!? Yuck! Click here to learn how to skip the line at Aloha Isle using mobile ordering.

The floats have Dole Whip floating in pineapple juice - very refreshing.

TIP: If there are multiple lines, check to see which server gives the bigger servings and get in that line.

Tamu Tamu - Disney’s Animal Kingdom - Africa Area: This location sells a cups of Pineapple Dole Whip suitable for children and teetotalers like myself but they also offer a very popular option that includes dark rum or coconut rum for those who can present photo ID proving that they are at least 21-years old.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is a seasonal event usually held from early March to Early June. The festival’s Pineapple Promenade usually features both regular Dole Whip and a pineapple float made with Coconut Rum.

Marketplace Snacks at Disney Springs also sells Dole Whip.

Everything Pop at Disney’s Pop Century sells pineapple soft-serve and pineapple floats from 6PM to 11PM.

Pineapple Lanai, at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Hotel - located just outside the Great Ceremonial House (main building), sells Dole Whips but doesn't carry as many items as Aloha Isle, in the Magic Kingdom. No sprinkles here but you can buy a souvenir tiki bowl or sipper.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, sells a drink called Spikey Pineapple that features Barbancourt Pango Rhum blended with Dole Whip. Must be 21 or older.

TIP: My family loves to buy a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai just before going out to the Polynesian resort's "beach" area to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the Electric Water Pageant (floating parade). This is one of life's simple pleasures.

Where to Find Dole Whip at Disneyland

Tiki Juice Bar - Disneyland Theme Park - .Did you know that the Tiki Birds were the first Disney Animatronic figures? It is a quaint show and the line for Dole Whips is often shorter on the show's courtyard side than on the Adventureland side. You can use Disneyland app mobile ordering to skip the line at this location.

Tangaroa Terrace - Disneyland Hotel now serves Dole Whip soft serve, Dole Whip floats and Dole Whip floats with Rum.

The Coffee House - Disneyland Hotel sells Dole Whip and Dole Whip floats.

Dole Whip at Aulani - A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii

Aulani - A Disney Resort & Spa on beautiful Oahu Island in Hawaii has Dole Whip available for purchase at the Ulu Cafe.

Of course, you might also want to visit the Dole Plantation while you’re on Oahu and try a Dole Whip there.. The Plantation Grill offers Dole Whip cones, cups, waffle cones, waffle bowls, a float and Dole Whip cups with topping.

Does Everyone Like Dole Whips?

Strangely enough, there is a small minority of people who think Dole Whips are terrible. There are also some people who think Dole Whips are entirely over-rated - they aren't bad; they're just not amazing. I'll admit that nostalgia may be part of the attraction since many people experience these for the first time while on vacation.

Disney sometimes goes a little crazy around Christmas, serving Dole Whips that are tinted green or red and some people find that just a little weird.

What Is In Dole Whips (Ingredients)

Water*, Sugar, Dextrose, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Coconut Oil**, Stabilizers (Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean, Karaya Gum, Pectin), Silicon Dioxide (Anticaking), Corn Syrup Solids, Citric Acid, Sodium Caseinate (A Milk Derivative), Artificial Flavor, Potassium & Sodium Phosphate, Mono & Diglycerides, Artificial Color (Yellow 5 & 6), Soy Lecithin.

*This ingredient statement was written with water added according to the recommended preparation instructions. Product is sold without water.

**Adds a trivial amount of fat.

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Calories: 80 per 1/2 cup serving

Calories from Fat: 5 per 1/2 cup serving

Nutrition: Clearly you're confused about the purpose of a Dole Whip...this ain't about nutrition. (there are trace amounts of vitamin C)

You Can Make Dole Whip at Home

If you have a sorbet maker, you can purchase a 4-pound bag of Dole Whip mix from Amazon for about $25 and enjoy a Dole Whip at home any time you want. The video below tells you what to do. Click here to order Dole Whip Mix - they even have other flavors.

Similar to Dole Whip - Recipes to Try at Home

It may not be convenient for you to head to Disney World for a Dole Whip or to purchase a bag of Dole Whip mix so here are a few look-alike recipes that might get you through a Dole Whip craving. These include dairy products but they're probably more nutritious that the real Dole Whips.

Dole Whip (Easy Version)

Ingredients:

• Frozen Pineapple Chunks

• Juice of one fresh lime

• Coconut milk, other milk, or pineapple juice

Put the pineapple chunks, lime juice and enough coconut milk to keep things moving in your blender and blend until smooth. Try not to add too much liquid, if possible, but you can just put the mixture in your freezer for a little while before serving if the mixture is too soft. We tried this first without lime juice but we find the lime juice actually enhances the pineapple flavor.

DOLE WHIP (VERSION 2)

Ingredients

• 1 quart pineapple juice (Dole)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 3 cups cream

• 3 cups sugar

• milk

Directions

Mix the pineapple juice and sugar -- make sure that the sugar is dissolved. Next add the cream and vanilla. Pour the whole mixture into a 4-quart Ice Cream freezer container. Add milk to finish filling to the "fill line". At this point simply follow the instructions on your ice cream maker. When the ice cream is ready you can serve it as is or you can stick it in the freezer for a while and let it set up a bit. Makes 8 Servings

DOLE WHIP (VERSION 3)

Ingredients

• 2 cans (20 oz. each) DOLE crushed pineapple

• 2 tbsp. lemon juice

• 2 tbsp. lime juice

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

Directions

Drain pineapple: reserve 2 tbsp. juice. Set aside.Place pineapple, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar and reserved pineapple juice in blender. Cover and blend until smooth.Pour into two 1-quart freezer zipped bags. Store bags flat in freezer. Freeze 1 1/2 hours or until slushy. Stir pineapple slush gently into whipped cream until slightly blended in large bowl.Return to freezer until completely frozen, about 1 hour and serve.

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Monica's Review of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Pirate Rooms

Review of the Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort / Walt Disney World Resort - Florida.

My daughter and I recently stayed in the pirate rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. These rooms are all in the area farthest from the feature pool and main services, though they do have a smaller pool in this section. I didn’t think it would be a big deal being so far from the lobby and food court, but on the first night, we needed to get some food and during check in, they told us the Spyglass Grill was open until 11pm so we decided to get to our room and then run down there to eat since it was right outside our room. By the time a van took us to our room, and we got down there, it was 10:10pm and they had just closed! I told the lady that worked there that we were told they were open until 11 and she said no, just until 10. So as tired as we were, we had to walk all the way back to the restaurant in the main lobby to eat because we hadn’t eaten all day and were starving. If we had known before we left, we would have grabbed something before heading to our rooms!  Then we had to walk back in the cold. Being the last on the bus line wasn’t too bad. There was always room on the buses but sometimes it took forever for a bus to come.

Pirates Ship Beds: The room was absolutely charming, but those beds were awful! They weren’t thin, like I’d heard….they were thick like regular mattresses, but when you laid in them, you sank down to the box spring! I guess sinking in a pirate bed is a good thing!!??!  Lol… Of course, pirates are probably used to sleeping in the gallows or on wooden planks so the beds might be fine for them! The ships beds are full-sized where the non-pirate rooms at the resort are queen-sized.

Practical considerations: The buildings at Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort do not have elevators and the stairs could be pure torture after a full day at the parks! Definitely get an Accessibility room with guaranteed ground floor access if you have anyone in the party with stamina or mobility issues or parents carrying sleeping children. Because this resort is SO big, I really do recommend the preferred location rooms which aren’t pirate themed but they are a lot closer to the feature pool and main services areas. These rooms have a maximum capacity of four guests plus child, age 0-2, if they can sleep in a Pak ‘n Play style crib.

Note about the author:  Monica is our most experienced travel agent and has been to the most training events of anyone in our office.  She is a whiz at helping people plan fantastic Disney vacations. 

Click here to read Monica’s Bio

More Articles by Monica:

• Review Toy Story Early Morning Magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs (MemoryMaker)

• Rain Poncho Tips for Disney World & Universal Orlando

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Early Morning Magic at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Review of Early Morning Magic at in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios / Walt Disney World Resort - Florida

My daughter and I just got back from our Mother-Daughter trip to Disney World and I highly recommend the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Early Morning Magic.We had a blast!! Yes, I know you can arrive at the park early to get back to ride Slinky Dog Dash, but we rode it 9 or 10 times, plus did Alien Swirling Saucers (not as fun) and Toy Story Mania. We just rode the rides and walked around before the park opened and once the floodgates were opened. I’m not kidding when I say floodgates, hat’s exactly what it looked like! We could see the crowds coming back while we were on Slinky Dog! Once it was 9am and the park opened to the general public, the wait time almost immediately went to 85-minutes and the line stretched back to the Star Wars Launch Bay area outside of Toy Story Land. It was CRAZY! For the record, Slinky Dog Dash is now my 2nd favorite ride at Disney World.

Breakfast: The breakfast was at the ABC Commissary (one of the park’s quick service restaurants) and had some delicious choices. It was nice that they kept serving the breakfast until 10:00am so we didn’t have to waste any of the pre-park opening time eating. You could order whatever you wanted from the menu and they had a continental type buffet. We ordered a couple of the different menu items so we could see if they were good or not. I loved the charcuterie plate! This was Emily’s favorite day so well worth the money I paid for it.

Early Morning Magic is a separately ticketed event that is different from Extra Magic Hours, which are open to all guests at the official Disney World hotels (admission required). This is offered on select Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30 to 8:45AM. There are a limited number of tickets sold and only the Toy Story Land attractions are open. You must have valid theme park admission ticket in addition to the Early Morning Magic ticket.

Cost:

• $79+ tax per person age 10 and older

• $69+ tax per person age 3 to 9

• You must also have valid theme park tickets

Disney World has a similar Early Morning Magic Event on select mornings in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom.

Note about the author:  Monica is our most experienced travel agent and has been to the most training events of anyone in our office.  She is a whiz at helping people plan fantastic Disney vacations. 

Click here to read Monica’s Bio

More helpful information:

• Tips for riding Slinky Dog Dash without a FastPass (now Genie+)

• Minimizing lines with a Theme Park Touring Plan

• Disney Ride Closures & Attraction Refurbishments
  

Places to Meet Santa at Disney World - 2021

Where to find Santa at Disney World - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney Springs.

Mickey Mouse and the Disney Princesses are great, of course, but sometimes we just need to get a word in with Santa before he checks the naughty and nice list for the last time before making his rounds. Here are the places you can meet Santa Clause at Disney World:

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Disney World Santa Sightings 2021

Magic Kingdom - Santa Claus sighting in the gazebo near the entrance to Liberty Square. daily through December 24, 2021. Photopass photographer on hand for socially distanced photos with Santa. He’s also available at Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours events on select evenings. (separate ticket required)

Epcot - Santa appears daily through December 24, 2021 in the American Adventure pavilion, typically at 11:45AM, 1:45, 3:45, and 5:45PM. You can also meet Père Noël at posted times in the France Pavilion and Father Christmas in the United Kingdom pavilion. Click here for more information.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Santa Claus Motorcade on Hollywood Boulevard. This is not a meet-and-greet but seeing Santa cruise by in a bright red convertible is fun.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom - Santa Claus flotilla on the lake.

Meet Santa at Disney Springs - November 12 - December 14, 2021 from 10AM to 10PM / December 15 - 24, 2021 from 10AM to 11PM at Once Upon A Toy store in the Disney Springs Marketplace area. Here’s how it works:

• Check in at the podium.

• Physical distancing is in place at this photo opportunity.

• Because this is an indoor experience, masks are required.

• A virtual queue will be available.

• Disney PhotoPass photographers will be on hand to capture digital portraits, available for purchase.

• Click here for more information

More Helpful Information:

• Top Tips for Disney World at Christmas

• Crowds & Ride Closure Information

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities. That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining reservations that coordinate with your itinerary.

3. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

Tips For Riding Slinky Dog Dash Without Spending Hours In Line

Slinky Dog Dash is definitely the most popular attraction in the new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park; it is currently seeing mid-day waits of 60-80 minutes, even though crowds are moderate now that the kids are back in school. Here’s the good news: we can probably help you get onto both of the new attractions without long lines but it is going to mean waking up early!

Avoiding Long Lines at Slinky Dog Dash With FastPass+

You can book FastPass+ reservation up 60-days prior to arrival when you have a reservation at an official Disney World hotel and at select "Good Neighbor" hotels when you have a vacation package that includes tickets or you purchase your tickets prior to your trip and register them on your MyDisneyExperience account. If you’re not staying at a Disney World resort, you can still book your FastPass+ reservations up to 30-days prior to arrival by purchasing your tickets prior to your trip and registering them on your MyDisneyExperience account. You can make up to three (3) FastPass+ reservations prior to arrival but Disney has a tiered system for FastPass selection that only allows you to select one of the new Toy Story Land attractions. If you plan to ride Slinky Dog Dash, you’ll definitely want to make this your FastPass+ choice because it is the more popular ride and gets the longest lines. The challenge here is that there are a limited number of FastPasses available for this attraction and you might not get one.

Stand-by lines are much, much shorter for the new Alien Swirling Saucers ride though Toy Story Mania! remains popular with the second longest waits in the area by virtue of it being a fun ride and the only ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that does not have a height restriction so that it is my second choice for a Toy Story Land FastPass if Slinky Dog is not available.

Avoiding Long Lines at Slinky Dog Dash When You Don’t Have FastPass+

Here’s what we did on our recent visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on a morning that did not have an Extra Magic Hour, the park was opening at 9:00AM and where we did not have a FastPass for Slinky Dog Dash. TouringPlans predicted low to moderate crowds but we would say that Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt much closer to moderate than low. We were able to get 9:45am FastPasses for Toy Story Mania:

8:10AM - We arrived at the park got through security quickly and lined up close fairly the front gates.

Tip for getting through security: Ideally, you should avoid taking any bags with you so that you can just sail through the "no bags" entrance. If that just isn't possible, do a quick scan of the available security lines to see if one appears to be moving faster or have people who don't appear to be bringing all of their earthly belongings into the park. Be sure you have all compartments of your bags open and ready.

8:35AM (25-minutes prior to the posted opening time) – We were allowed through the gates and down Hollywood Boulevard to where it intersects with Sunset Boulevard. If you don’t already have a park map and Times Guide, you can get those on the rack at the Crossroads kiosk that has Mickey Mouse on the top.

This tip will only work if your group is small and able and willing to move quickly: When you get in line, if all of the gates are not open, try to get in the leftmost line unless there is a compelling reason to avoid it because they may open additional lines as crowds are forming. Watch for that to happen and quickly move over when they do if it gets you closer to the gates. Once they let people in, start moving to the right side of the crowd.

Tip: When they let you through, you can usually move farther forward if you are on the edges of the crowd than if you are in the middle of the road. Try to be on the right side of the street, if at all possible but the left side is fine too - just go as far forward as possible.

At 8:45AM (15-minutes prior to posted opening time) – They opened the park and began leading guests at a very brisk walk to Toy Story Land. There were also people headed to the registration for Jedi Training Academy and there were others who were headed to Rock ‘n Roller Coaster. Some people headed to Toy Story Mania! which is close to the front of Toy Story Land and doesn’t have a height restriction but most people were lining up for Slinky Dog Dash.

Tip: We lost time in the bottleneck of the smaller hole through the arch. It may make sense to aim for the larger entrance unless you’re stuck behind a convoy of strollers and scooters.

9:02AM – We rode Slinky Dog Dash after waiting less than 10-minutes. We weren’t at the very front of the line but we were fairly far forward in the crowd.

In this 10-minute video, Steve and Brian of TouringPlans.com checked out Slinky Dog Dash at park opening in Disney's Hollywood Studios and came out with a pretty good plan. So you know, this was filmed Saturday, September 15 with a crowd level of 4.

Ride Something Else if the Park Is already open when you arrive

The thing about this recommendation is that it only works if you arrive BEFORE the park opens and you are in the first wave of riders. The lines and waits for this ride get long quickly so, if you arrive after the park opens and you don’t get that first wave, early arrival advantage, you’re better off taking advantage of shorter lines at other rides early in the day and riding Slinky Dog Dash later.

The Rest of Our Morning

9:10AM – We rode Alien Swirling Saucers with no line. This is the farthest ride back in Toy Story Land so it takes a little longer to get busy. We would’ve ridden Toy Story Mania! next if we didn’t have a FastPass for it because it’s position near the front of Toy Story Land which causes the lines to get longer earlier and then ride Alien Swirling Saucers after that.

The lines were posted at over one hour for Slinky Dog Dash by now but we could’ve easily gotten onto Alien Swirling Saucers in a timely fashion for a second ride if we’d gone back into the line. Instead, we decided to get a Raspberry Lunchbox Tart at Woody’s Lunch Box and to visit restrooms before using our 9:45am Toy Story Mania! FastPasses. We also took time to watch the Green Army Men stop and train some young recruits.

By 10:00AM, we had seen and done everything Toy Story Land has to offer. The day was getting hot and the people who don’t know to arrive early were coming in droves. The lines for both Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers are outside, with only some patio style umbrellas along the route to provide shade so we were happy to be done and to head towards some indoor, air conditioned shows and attractions during the heat of the day.

Tips: Watch the weather; Slinky Dog shuts down for lightning - For research purposes, we went back in the afternoon and got into the line which had a 65-minute posted wait. We had gotten far enough forward to be under the covered area close to the ride when a lightning storm and heavy rain caused them to temporarily shut down the ride. Those waiting in the open were told to leave and take shelter and those of us under the covered area were given the option of leaving or staying. With no estimate of when the ride would reopen, some of the people in the covered area opted to leave but most, like us stayed. we ended up waiting 89-minutes to ride.

The park was scheduled to close at 8PM so we returned to Toy Story Land at about 7:00PM to see what it was like after dark. It is delightful! We puttered around taking pictures and headed back to Slinky Dog Dash at about 7:40pm to check out the lines at that time. The posted wait was 60-minutes but we got through and rode in about 20-minutes but you should probably keep in mind that the earlier downpour had caused some people to leave early. Slinky Dog Dash usually stays pretty busy all day long.

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities. That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

More Helpful Articles:

• Tips for riding Avatar Flight of Passage without waiting hours in line.

• Minimize lines with a good theme park touring plan

• Disney World Ride Closures and Refurbishments

• More Toy Story Experiences at Disney World

Thursday 3: Comparison of Disney & Universal Family Suites - Value Resorts

Reservations are now being accepted at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites for dates beginning August 1, 2019. We recently compared the standard hotel style rooms so, today, I will cover the family suites to two Disney World value resorts that have both standard rooms and family suites: Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We can help you plan a vacation that includes your stay at any of these resorts so request a free, no-obligation quote today.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - Cars Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s All-Star Music Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Family Suite / Universal Orlando

How do the rooms compare?

Capacity: All of these suites can accommodate up to six (6) adults plus one infant in a Pak ‘n Play crib.

Kitchenettes: All three options include a have a kitchenette with microwave, coffee maker and mini-refrigerator

Disney’s All-Star Music Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Size:

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: The 440-square-feet

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: The 520-square-feet

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: The 565-square-feet

Beds:

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: three queen beds with one bed in a separate room and the other two beds in the main area.

• · Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: one bedroom with one queen-size bed; one double-size convertible TableBed; one double-size sleeper sofa.

• · Disney’s All-Star Music Resort family suites: bedroom with one queen-size bed; a living area with a double-size sleeper sofa; a sleeper chair; a sleeper ottoman.

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Family Suite / Universal Orlando

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - Cars Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Bathrooms:

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: one bathroom that has two compartments with the toilet and tub/shower in one section and a separate section with two sinks and a vanity

• · Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: two full bathrooms

• · Disney’s All-Star Music Resort family suites: two full bathrooms

Seating

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: Concept art shows an adorable picnic table with a bench on one side and two chairs on the other.

• · Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: There is the sleeper sofa and the table with seating for four.

• · Disney’s All-Star Music Resort family suites: Sleeper sofa, chair with ottoman, and a small round table with two chairs. There is also a chair in the bedroom.

Official Disney Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Disney resort gives you some great benefits like airport transportation at no additional cost, Extra Magic Hours not available to the general public, complimentary bus transportation to the Disney theme parks and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 30-days ahead of the general public when you have tickets or a vacation package that includes tickets. Disney Magical Express transportation between the Orlando International Airport and these resorts is also available at no extra cost.

Official Universal Orlando Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Universal Orlando hotel gives you benefits like Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and complimentary bus transportation to the Universal Orlando theme parks. A neat perk of the official Universal hotels is that you are allowed to use the pools at any of the other official hotels, where Disney does not allow “pool hopping” in most cases.

2019 Cost comparison: Pool view rooms are available about Universal’s Surfside for an additional $20 per night. Finding Nemo suites at Disney’s Art of Animation typically cost more than the Cars and Lion King suites. Disney’s all-Star Music resort does not offer any upgrades for their family suites. For consistency, the lowest priced, undiscounted suite available was used for the cost comparisons below. Prices do not include tax.

Parking: Universal charges $12 per night and Disney value resorts charge $13 per night for self-parking.

August 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $184
Disney’s All-Star Music - $309
Disney’s Art of Animation - $406

September 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $184
Disney’s All-Star Music - $310
Disney’s Art of Animation - $405

October 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $154
Disney’s All-Star Music - $300
Disney’s Art of Animation - $395

November 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $184
Disney’s All-Star Music - $306
Disney’s Art of Animation - $395

December 15
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $189
Disney’s All-Star Music - $339
Disney’s Art of Animation - $425

Getting two standard location connecting rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort or any of the value resorts is usually cheaper than getting a family suite and can sleep up to eight adults. On August 15, 2019, the cost of two connecting rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music is $270 which is $39 cheaper than the family suites. You can get guaranteed connecting rooms if you only have two adults in the party and more children age 17 or younger than one room can hold.

I limited the above comparisons to official theme park resort hotels but it is worth mentioning that DoubleTree Suites, one of the Disney Springs Good Neighbor hotels offers a less expensive suite option that runs about $245+ tax per night for the nights listed able and includes some great on-site benefits like Extra Magic Hours, bus transportation to the parks, and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 60-days prior to arrival when you have a package that includes tickets. This hotel does not participate in Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation so you may need to include transportation costs into your comparison.

DoubleTree Suites - Disney Springs - An official Disney World Good Neighbor hotel / Walt Disney World Resort - Florida

In summary, the suites at Universal’s Surfside family suites are significantly cheaper than the Disney value resort family suites and they’ll be shiny and new when they open next August but they’re smaller and only have one bathroom. The Universal resort hotels do not offer complimentary airport transportation so that, if needed, will affect total cost. The Disney family suites are bigger and having two full-bathrooms is definitely a big advantage when you’ve got a lot of people all trying to get ready to get out the door in time for park opening. Families who need separate beds may find the two twin sized pull-out beds helpful at Disney’s All-Star Music resort. I didn’t dive too deeply into style and theme because Surfside only has concept art at this point but it should be noted that, although the most expensive, the suites at Disney’s Art of Animation are delightfully and adorably themed. Disney’s complimentary airport transportation may offset the higher price of the Disney resorts for larger families.

Don't Get Overwhelmed By The Details - Let Us Help!

Vacation planning is always a lot easier when you have one of our travel agents on your side because we specialize in Disney and Universal Orlando vacation destinations and we can help you manage things like crowds, park hours, entertainment schedules, and dining options.  It can be a lot to think through but Imagine how much better your vacation will be when we:

• Give you a "Best Days" itinerary that puts you in the best theme park for each day of your trip

• Book dining reservation on your behalf (subject to availability) at times that don't interfere with parades and fireworks

• Give you excellent theme park touring plans that keep lines to an absolute minimum.  

You get all of this expert service at no extra charge when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip. Click here for more information.

A Rough Start to A Disney Vacation - We Want Better for You

Disney Vacation Tips - Thoughts on getting off to a great start of your theme park vacation.

Steve and I were standing in line outside of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week when the lady with three grandchildren asked us, “Do you understand FastPass and is it worth it?”  You know how a sound can cause an avalanche? Well, that is what happened to that dear lady; her simple question loosed an avalanche of too much information on her head:

• We explained, in too much detail, how FastPass works

• Told her that there is no extra cost to use FastPass so it is definitely worth it!

• Even though she didn’t really understand how to get the first three FastPasses, we explained how to add additional ones once those are done

• We told her that shows are not usually a good use of a FastPass because of their high capacity

• We told her to arrive well before park opening if FastPass wasn’t available for certain popular attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

• Noticing the size and age differences of the kids at her side, we thought she needed to know about Rider Switch Passes

• We asked if she had a park Times Guide and, when she didn’t, we gave her ours.

Poor lady, it was all too much and, if she did not gain a better understanding of FastPass, she at least learned the dangers of talking to enthusiastic strangers!  Steve showed her the spots on the park map where she would find Disney cast members to help her set up some FastPasses so I sincerely hope she went there and that they took care of her.

We gave her the best advice that we could but I was a little sad because, over the course of the conversation, I learned that this was a once in a lifetime trip for her extended family who find it hard to get away from the family farm for very long.  They had stood in line that morning to purchase their park tickets and I just kept thinking, “It would’ve cost a little less to buy your ticket in advance and you could’ve booked your FastPasses 30-days prior to arrival (they were staying off property), making your time in the parks so much easier.”  It is just too hard and stressful to try to figure out tickets, park maps and complex systems on the spot when the kids are clamoring to go do one of the bright and shiny things there in front of them. 

Making sure our clients get to the Disney and Universal theme parks knowing where to go, what to do and how things work is our number one priority and working with us before you arrive means you never have an experience like that classic final exam nightmare where you’ve arrived for the test but failed to study or even attend the necessary classes. If we meet you in the parks, we’ll try to help you even if you aren’t our client but we’d really love the opportunity to make sure you are well prepared and you don’t have to depend on the kindness of strangers.

More helpful information:

• How to Ride Avatar Flight of Passage Without Spending Hours In Line

• All About Disney World Times Guides

• Theme Park Rope Drop and Why It is Important

• Extra Magic Hours Thinking Points

• Getting the FastPass+ Reservations that Save the Most Time

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Thursday 3: Comparing 3 Value Resorts - Universal and Disney Standard Rooms

Comparison of Disney & Universal Standard Hotel Rooms - Value Resorts

Reservations are now being accepted at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites for dates beginning August 1, 2019. This Universal Orlando value resort features standard hotel rooms with two queen beds and 2-bedroom suites so I am going to compare them to two Disney World value resorts that have both standard rooms and family suites: Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We’ll cover the standard hotel style rooms this week and the family suites next week. We can help you plan a vacation that includes your stay at any of these resorts so request a free, no-obligation quote today.

How Do the Rooms Compare?

Beds: The standard rooms at Universal’s Surfside Inn and Suites have two queen beds and a full bathroom. Rooms have mini-refrigerators but they do not have microwaves.

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites Standard room Opening August 2019

At this time, the standard rooms at both Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Art of Animation resort have two full-size beds. Couples or 2 guests + one infant can request a room with one king-size bed instead of two double beds; requests are not guaranteed but Disney tries to honor them when possible. Disney’s Pop Century resort, another value hotel, has recently undergone a renovation where it now has one queen bed and one full-size pull down bed; Disney’s All-Star Movie’s resort is currently undergoing the same type of renovation and we suspect that all of Disney value resorts will someday have this type of bed configuration. Rooms have mini-refrigerators but they do not have microwaves.

Little Mermaid Standard Room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort / / Walt Disney World

Standard Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort / Walt Disney World

Official Disney Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Disney resort gives you some great benefits like airport transportation at no additional cost, Extra Magic Hours not available to the general public, complimentary bus transportation to the Disney theme parks and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 30-days ahead of the general public when you have tickets or a vacation package that includes tickets.

Official Universal Orlando Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Universal Orlando hotel gives you benefits like Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and complimentary bus transportation to the Universal Orlando theme parks.

2019 Cost comparison: You can upgrade to a preferred location room at Disney’s all-Star Music resort for an additional $30 per night. Pool view rooms are available about Universal’s Surfside for an additional $20 per night. The Little Mermaid standard rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation resort have been excluded from every discount since they opened.

August 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $109
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $135
Disney’s Art of Animation - $185

September 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $99
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $136
Disney’s Art of Animation - $184

October 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $134
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $126
Disney’s Art of Animation - $173

November 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $129
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $135
Disney’s Art of Animation - $174

December 15
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $99
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $150
Disney’s Art of Animation - $195

Parking fees for overnight guests:
Universal’s Surfside Inn & Suites: $12 per night + tax
Disney Value Resort: $13 per night + tax.

In a nutshell, Universal’s Surfside Inn and Disney’s All-Star Music resort are pretty comparably priced most of the time though that can vary by date. If Disney continues to offer their Free Dining promotion in September, Disney’s All-Star Music will probably be the better value for most families of up to four people (or five, if the fifth person is an infant) when that promotion is available. The Little Mermaid rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation resort are quite a bit higher and, so far, those rooms have been excluded from all promotions since the resort opened. The queen beds are a plus at Universal’s Surfside Inn. We only have concept art for the Surfside pool yet so it is hard to say which pools will ultimately be the best but, at this time, the three pools at Disney’s Art of Animation resort are absolutely adorable!

Click here to learn more about Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

Click here to learn more about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

This video tells you a bit about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Keep in mind that standard hotel rooms are only available in the Little Mermaid section though guests may use all of the pools and other resort amenities.

This short video gives you a good overview of Disney’s All-Star Music resort though the standard rooms no longer have the colored bedspreads. They’ve switched to the all white

Don't Get Overwhelmed By The Details - Let Us Help!

Vacation planning is always a lot easier when you have one of our travel agents on your side because we specialize in Disney and Universal Orlando vacation destinations and we can help you manage things like crowds, park hours, entertainment schedules, and dining options.  It can be a lot to think through but Imagine how much better your vacation will be when we:

• Give you a "Best Days" itinerary that puts you in the best theme park for each day of your trip

• Book dining reservation on your behalf (subject to availability) at times that don't interfere with parades and fireworks

• Give you excellent theme park touring plans that keep lines to an absolute minimum.  

You get all of this expert service at no extra charge when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip. Click here for more information.

Thursday 3: 3 Special Walt Disney Remembrances at Disneyland

Disneyland - Walt's Park

It is crazy to think that there are kids who are very familiar with the word "Disney" but have no idea that Walt Disney was a real person.  For our first Thursday Three, we're going to take a look at three very special "Walt" remembrances in Disneyland park in California.  Honestly, the park itself should probably be our first item and one of the things that makes Disneyland so special is that it is the only theme park that was built with Walt Disney's involvement at every level, from original inspiration to attraction design to opening day and beyond.  The park was a labor of love right up to the end of Walt's life; in fact, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland was the last theme park attraction that Walt Disney personally oversaw and developed.  Walt passed away in December 15, 1966 and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened to the public in March 18, 1967

#1: Walt's Bench: One of the hidden gems you'll find tucked away in an exhibit near the front of the park is the bench where the first thought of a theme park came to Walt Disney.  He first had the idea as he sat on a park bench watching his daughters ride the merry-go-round at an amusement park and he had the thought that there should be a place where parents and children could enjoy doing things together.   It was an idea that stuck with him and one that took a lot of time to develop but Disneyland opened 15 years later.

#2: Walt's Lamp: Did you know that Walt Disney had a small but fully functional apartment built into the second floor of the Disneyland Fire Station?   This apartment isn't open to the public though you can sometimes peek into it in the "Walk in Walt's Disneyland Footsteps Guided Tour" (extra cost).  The story goes that Walt would put a lit lamp in the window of the firehouse window to let people know he was in residence. They now keep a lit lamp in the window to symbolize the idea of Walt's influence or spirit always being present at Disneyland.

#3: Disney Brothers Golden Initials: Look for Walt & Roy Disneys' golden initials in the railing above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the New Orleans Square area of Disneyland...really, it is maybe a little closer to the Gumbo stand.

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disneyland!

You are probably beginning to see how helpful and valuable it would be to have someone who really knows and loves Disneyland help with your trip.   Did you know that our travel agents that specialize in Disneyland add a lot of value to your experience without costing you any extra?    When you book through us, you receive advice and information to help make your trip a wonderful and memorable time as well as a handy guidebook or online subscription (your choice) at no cost to you that will help you stay ahead of crowds and out of long lines.   We book both Disney and non-Disney hotels and we love helping our clients have a great trip.   Contact us today with your questions or to get a free, no-obligation quote.

More Great Disneyland Information: 

• Best Time to Go to Disneyland

• Disneyland Ride Closures & Refurbishments

• Disneyland Hidden Gems

Tips for Keeping Work from Sabotaging Your Family Vacation

Tips for keeping work from taking over your vacation so that you can focus on the people that matter.

Sure, you’re researching hotels and restaurants and what attractions you want to experience on vacation but did you know that a really important part of vacation planning is figuring out how to manage work when you’re away from work? A recent study found that half of all couples argue about how much time one spouse or partner spends attending to work while on vacation and it isn’t just adults that get upset – the kids notice when you’re with them, but not really with them too.  

“How many of us have seen parents standing in an amusement park line reading their email instead of connecting with their kids and spouse? Taking time to make the break from work and enjoy experiences with friends and family makes for professionals who are healthier, happier and more engaged upon their return.”

We know we should take vacations and our family probably even needs a vacation but we find leaving work at work hard to do.  Here are a few vacation statistics from a professional study by Korn Ferry:

• 88% of study participants have cut short or cancelled vacation due to work pressures.

• 34% connect with work multiple times a day while on vacation

• Only 3% did not check in with the office while on vacation

• 52% did not plan on using all of their vacation time for the year

This is an important thing to think through because daily life is demanding and vacations are important time set aside to strengthen relationships and to build memories through shared experiences. Unfortunately, spending too much time checking on work matters has the potential to really undermine that goal.  HomeAway partnered with researchers at the University of Texas on a study to determine what factors affect the memorability of vacations and they found that spending too much time spent working on vacation affects your ability to remember the trip later:

”Working while traveling decreases trip memorability. Those who work while on vacation are less likely to recall all of their memorable events than those not working. This effect increases as vacationers spend more time working. Of those who used devices for work-related activities, just 43% who spent one hour or more working recalled all trip events, while 60% of those who spent less than an hour working recalled all events. Overall, working an hour or more on vacation made participants 43% more likely to have trouble remembering their trips than those who worked one hour or less. Those who used laptops, versus smart phones or tablets, also had significantly more trouble remembering their vacations.”   

Take a minute to let this really sink in because you would probably say that your spouse and children are a major motivation for doing well at your job – you want to provide the things your family needs to thrive, not just survive.  You probably already agree that, when you set aside time to spend with them, you need to be present in that moment to focus on those relationships and experiences. It can be challenging to keep the means of experiencing a good life from becoming something that ultimately detracts from a life lived well but here are a few tips from Sunset magazine to help:

1)  Set some boundaries and rules before heading on vacation that will allow you stay on top of work without neglecting your travel partner.

2) Before heading out on vacation, touch base with coworkers and establish a set time when you will be available for emergencies only. It shouldn’t need to be any more than 15 minutes per day.

3)  If you have circumstances that absolutely cannot wait until you get back to the office, you can use this time to let the kids interact with their screens before coming back to each other. This can help minimize resentment from family members feeling like they’re in a holding pattern while you are attending to those things.  Then make a commitment as a family or a couple to put the outside world aside while you spend some time doing things together.

4)  It becomes much easier to stick to screen limits by turning off push notifications from emails and work apps like Slack or Trello. Hardcore digital detoxers can even put their phone on airplane mode to eliminate temptations.

5)  The final step in cutting down work time is remembering to set an out-of-office message before heading out. This email can simultaneously refer inquiries to someone in the office, warn coworkers that you’re off the grid, and make everybody back home jealous.  Click here for out of office message writing tips.

Don't get overwhelmed by the details - let us help!

Vacation planning is always a lot easier when you have one of our travel agents on your side because we specialize in Disney and Universal Orlando vacation destinations and we can help you manage things like crowds, park hours, entertainment schedules, and dining options.  It can be a lot to think through but Imagine how much better your vacation will be when we:

• Give you a "Best Days" itinerary that puts you in the best theme park for each day of your trip

• Book dining reservation on your behalf (subject to availability) at times that don't interfere with parades and fireworks

• Give you excellent theme park touring plans that keep lines to an absolute minimum.

You get all of this expert service at no extra charge when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip. Click here for more information.

More Helpful Articles: 

• Vacations are not luxuries - Why You NEED a vacation

• Disney World - How Long Should I Stay

• Disney World Ride Closures and Refurbishments

• Disneyland Ride Closures and Refurbishments

Sources referenced in the above article: https://www.kornferry.com/press/best-laid-plans-korn-ferry-professional-survey-finds-work-gets-in-the-way-of-vacation/  

https://www.sunset.com/syndication/married-couples-argue-while-on-vacation

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/23/family-holidays-happy-memories_n_7643456.html

A Poem About the Disneyland Hotels - by Toni

Disneyland onsite resorts,
So far there are three.
All with-in walking distance
You will see.

Paradise Pier,
So shiny and bright
If you guessed a surf theme
You’re probably right!

The name gives homage to a land,
Which is no longer the same.
Pixar Pier in California Adventure
Isn’t that why you came?

The next one is my fave.
Its origins are true
If you like Disney History
Disneyland Hotel is for you!

Consists of three towers:
Fantasy, Adventure, and Frontier
Trader Sam’s, a monorail pool,
And even Dole Whips are found here!

Stunning details adorn the lobbies
Of Walt’s Era and Imagineer art
Themed-music rocks you to sleep
For a great park morning start.

Grand Californian is a hit
If Disney’s Grand Floridian
And Wilderness Lodge were to merge,
This hotel would be it!

This deluxe hotel, nearest to the parks
Shortest walking distance
And California Adventure
Has its own special entrance.

There you have it,
The DL onsite three
Another one is coming
Soon we will see.

About the poet - Toni Garrett LOVES Disneyland which is why she became a travel agent specializing in theme park vacations.  She would love to help you plan a wonderful and memorable Disneyland vacation too!