Disney Trivia: Pin-Ups for Disney Service Men

"Dispatch from Disney's" was produced in 1943 for Walt Disney Studios employees serving in the Armed Services and it included a page titled "Pin-Ups For Service Men from Walt Disney Staff" that featured hand drawn pictures of topless women.

"Dispatch from Disney's" was produced in 1943 for Walt Disney Studios employees serving in the Armed Services and it included a page titled "Pin-Ups For Service Men from Walt Disney Staff" that featured hand drawn pictures of topless women.

On Veterans Day, I started reading Service with Character: The Disney Studio & World War II by David Lesjak and was surprised to learn that one issue of a magazine called "Dispatch from Disney's" was produced in 1943 for Walt Disney Studios employees serving in the Armed Forces and it included a page titled "Pin-Ups For Service Men from Walt Disney Staff" that featured hand drawn pictures of topless women. Now I have the song "A Girl Worth Fighting For" from Disney's Mulan going through my head!

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Disney World Transportation Tip - Bus or Taxi?

Disney World Transportation Tip: This week, someone asked me if they should use a taxi or Uber to get to the parks, rather than wait for the buses. We usually just use the buses and do just fine. If you don't have a car, I do like using a taxi or Uber for early morning character meals scheduled before park opening because the timing is more predictable.  Definitely take a taxi or your own vehicle to the Cape May Character breakfast if you're not staying in the Epcot resort area because transportation to Disney's Beach Club Resort from any other resort involves too many transfers.  Buses run pretty regularly at park opening & closing but you might like using a taxi or Uber for your midday break so you don't spend too much time waiting for transportation. It can also be a great option if you're trying to go from one resort to another since the buses typically do not move between the resorts.

Disney World Transportation Tips - Is the free transportation fine or should we taxi or drive to the Disney World theme parks from our Disney World hotel?

Disney World Transportation Tips - Is the free transportation fine or should we taxi or drive to the Disney World theme parks from our Disney World hotel?

Taking a taxi to the Magic Kingdom will not save time in most cases because it will drop you at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) and you will have to take the ferry or monorail to the Magic Kingdom but the resort buses will drop you off by the entrance of Magic Kingdom.  This same principle applies if you have your own vehicle as the Magic Kingdom parking is located in the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC); you'll probably have to wait for a parking lot tram to take you to where you'll wait for the monorail or ferry boat to take you to the Magic Kingdom; or you can take your Disney resort bus and get let off near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.

Some people prefer to take their car, a taxi, Uber or Lyft to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Epcot rather than using the Disney Skyliner from Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort because you have to transfer to a different Skyliner route at the station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach. We like to think of the Skyliner as the first ride of the day and don’t mind the time it takes as long as we start early.

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:

  • 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.

  • “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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Book Review: Murder in the Magic Kingdom

Murder in the Magic Kingdom, by Anne Salisbury and Bob McLain
Amazon price: Paperback: $14.95 / Kindle Edition: $4.99
Reviewed by Annette Johnson

Note: There are two books with the title Murder in the Magic Kingdom listed on Amazon.  This review is for the 2014 book by Anne Salisbury, not the 2008 book by Foreman Heard. 

Disney World cast member Tommy Boyd’s murdered body is found in the waters of the Jungle Cruise attraction and Josh, another cast member, comes under scrutiny because Tommy was inexplicably wearing one of Josh’s uniforms at the time of his death.  Though Josh isn’t detained, due to lack of evidence, he rightly feels that they’ll stop looking for other suspects unless he finds some compelling evidence to prove his own innocence and to point their attention elsewhere.  I don’t want to give anything away but what follows is a fairly short book (only 154 pages) that moves quickly through the Disney World theme parks to catch the real killer.     

What I like:   A lot of Disney park based fiction has a common theme of the current Disney leadership being motivated solely by profits and the need to find a rightful successor to carry on Walt Disney’s true spirit and vision for the parks.   That is fine - I’ve certainly imagined what I would do if I was at the helm of the Disney corporation – but it can also get monotonous.   Murder in the Magic Kingdom doesn’t go there; it simply places a murder mystery into the current Disney World setting.   The author is a former Cast Member so she weaves both the public and backstage areas of the park into the story in effective ways.  Josh, the lead character in the book, is likeable but refreshingly normal; he isn’t a genius or drop dead gorgeous – he's just a regular guy who was dropped into a bad situation and you can’t help but hope that things work out for him.

What I didn’t like:   The book would’ve benefited from better proofreading; there is a your/you’re mistake which is easy enough to read through.  There are a few places where the wrong word is used and it sort of stops the flow of the story as your brain tries to fill in the right word; for example, there is one place where one cast member “shames” the hand of another instead where it should’ve been “shakes”.   I felt like the book ended rather abruptly with too many loose ends; in particular, the main character was feeling like he was simply treading water in both his career and his relationships and there was nothing to indicate whether this rather dramatic set of circumstances helped him to find clarity or come to any decisions about his life.

Final thoughts:  The author has only published two books and this is her first fiction effort; her first book, which I have not yet read, is an autobiographical account of her experiences as a Disney VIP tour guide. Murder in the Magic Kingdom isn't a bad first work but may have benefited from a little more work and a little better editing. I bought the Kindle Edition and, at $4.99, it was an enjoyable, light read providing a quick fix to satisfy my Disney theme park addiction; I probably would’ve been disappointed if I’d purchased the paperback version for $14.95. 

About the reviewer: Annette has been reading mystery novels since she discovered Nancy Drew in her school library.  She and her husband love the Disney theme parks and launched Build A Better Mouse Trip / Mouse Trip Travel, a Disney-focused travel agency, over ten years ago so that they and their agents can help others experience the wonder and the magic of the Disney theme parks.

More Disney Related Book Reviews: 

Disclosure:  If you click on the Amazon link/book cover in this article and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission from Amazon.  At least that is the theory; it has not happened yet.  If it does, I'll no doubt just spend it on more books. ;-)

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Disney World Tip from Ian: Seize the Opportunity

Disney World Tips for making the most of unique opportunities before they are gone

Disney World Tips for making the most of unique opportunities before they are gone

In light of the closing of the Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon and the Main Street Electrical Parade in the Magic Kingdom, I offer this simple notion: Don't let the things you want to do at Disney pass you by - they might not be there forever.

We got the chance to put on air packs and experience this swimming-with-the-sharks attraction a few tears ago - while we're saddened to hear of it's closing, the sheer joy of the experience trumps it every time. I can't imagine how bad I'd feel knowing I could have tried it, and didn't, and now I can't because it's gone. Man - don't let that happen to you.

Do you want to know the best way to make sure you see and do all of the things important to you?  It's easy; work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney World.  We limit our focus to the Disney destinations so that we can help with questions you might not even know to ask - questions like, "What attractions are closing soon?", "Will this be fun or age appropriate for my children?", "Which FastPass+ options will save me the most time?" and "when show I book my dining so that I can enjoy a relaxed meal without worrying about missing something great?"

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. 

Magical Moments at the End of the Disney Day!

Great reasons to stay until park closing at Disney World

Great reasons to stay until park closing at Disney World

Did you know that if you enter an attraction line at 10:59pm and the park closes at 11pm, that they will run the ride until everyone in line has gotten to ride?!? Well they do! It also works at any closing time, not just 11pm.

This is an excellent time to ride those rides that generally have longer lines like 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. The line may be really long, but they'll continue to keep it open until everyone in line at closing gets to ride it. I like this because it isn't wasting precious park time since the park would be closed anyway! Our favorite ride to ride at closing is Big Thunder Mtn! I swear it goes faster at night!

As a side note, one of my favorite times to be in the parks is after closing. The crowds usually cram their way towards the buses, but I head back into the park! I take a nice leisurely stroll through the park, while everyone else is standing in a long line to ride the bus. I also do my shopping at this time so I'm not wasting precious park time shopping! I would not recommend this if it's your last day, however. Sometimes they will close shops at some parks right at closing (Hollywood Studios is the worst about closing them right at closing, but Magic Kingdom is really good about it!) so you want to make sure you get that treasure before closing. The buses run for at least an hour after park closing, so no need to hurry out!

I love being at the parks after closing....how about you? Have you ever stayed in the park after closing?

Have a Magical Day!

Monica

About the Author: Monica is the most experienced agent at Build A Better Mouse Trip, a travel agency specializing in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.  

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Tip for your Disney Trip - Grab & Go Items in the Disney Hotel Food Courts

The Disney World hotel food courts and some hotel gift shops have grab-and-go items like sandwiches, salads, pastries, cut fruit, juices, and milk. The rooms all have mini-refrigerators. You can save money by bringing cereal and disposable bowls to do breakfast in the room and you can just buy a pint of milk in the food court. If you need more grocery items, you can have Garden Grocer deliver them right to your resort; for more information see: https://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/gardengrocer

Where can you buy milk at Disney World? You can buy pints of milk from the Grab & Go Section of your Disney World Resort Food Court.

Where can you buy milk at Disney World? You can buy pints of milk from the Grab & Go Section of your Disney World Resort Food Court.

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.

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Free Up Vacation Money by Using What You Have

Vacation Money Tip: We cut grocery shopping to just fresh items & essentials twice a year - the months before vacation and Christmas -to free up some cash and force us to use or dispose of those odds and ends that hide in the corners of the pantry and freezer. Partial bags of pasta and frozen veggies work well in stews and casseroles. My kids think I am being a fun mom when Friday night dinner consists of a buffet of random portions of pizza rolls, tater-tots, fries, and taquitos. That giant canister of oatmeal can be used for breakfast, in cookies, and as a topping for a fruit crumble. You'll also use up, rather than throw out, perishables before your trip. If you find yourself passing over the variety of soup or box of Quinoa that you bought on an impulse, this is a great time to decide to pass it on to your local food bank before it expires and goes to waste.

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.

Disney World Vacation Tip: Eat Outside Your Comfort Zone

Disney World Vacation Tip: Eat Outside Your Comfort Zone - you'll be glad you did!

Disney World Vacation Tip: Eat Outside Your Comfort Zone - you'll be glad you did!

Disney has SO much more to offer than burgers and chicken - foods from all over the world are at your fingertips, so be open to trying new things - we bet you'll find something absolutely wonderful you didn't know existed!

We tried a lunch at Sanaa, at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge,  on our last trip - out of the ordinary for us. We ordered butter chicken because we recognized the words "butter" and "chicken", but what were tamarind chutney, red chile sambal, and cucumber raita? We have no idea, but they were delicious. Vindaloo? Completely clueless, but it tasted awesome. We didn't even know "kefta" was a word until our daughter ate it.

Give something new and unexpected a try - odds are you'll be glad you did!

If not.....Pineapple Whips cure most ills.

About the author:  Toni is a travel agent specializing in Orlando theme park vacations.  She is an expert at helping her clients find a wonderful balance of theme park fun and relaxation. 

Let’s get started on your next adventure

Recommended article:

Toni's Tip for a Better Trip - Enjoy some down-time at the pool!

Yes, the theme parks are awesome but please be sure to set aside some time to hang out at the pool.  The Disney and Universal Orlando Resorts have themed pools that range from cute and simple to very elaborate. Got to have that big water slide? Disney's Moderate and Deluxe Resorts have them!  Want to hear music underwater?  You can do that at Universal's Hard Rock Hotel or Disney's Art of Animation resort.  Traveling in the winter and still want to take a short dip? You are in luck; the pools are heated to a comfortable 82 degrees year round. 

Did you know that surveys find that 85% of kids want to go swimming and have pool time as part of their vacation? 

Many resorts also have poolside games to entertain the kiddos.  Of course, if you're hoping to enjoy a mid-day nap, these activities are something to keep in mind when you're booking a pool view room.  You might prefer a room at a quieter part of the resort.

About the author:  Toni is a travel agent specializing in Orlando theme park vacations.  She is an expert at helping her clients find a wonderful balance of theme park fun and relaxation.  

Click here to talk to Toni about your next trip. 

Recommended article:  Disney World hotels with the best splash zones for kids. 

On Pinterest?  We have a board dedicated to Disney World pool pictures and another board dedicated to Disney World Kiddie Pool pictures. 

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Disney World Secret - Free Hair Glitter

Here's a great tip for your Disney trip - Sir Mickeys is a gift shop in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom that will often have people on hand to sprinkle pixie dust (glitter) in your hair for free. The gift shop is charming. It is themed after Mickey and the beanstalk and you'll see the giant reaching inside.

Disney World Tips & Secrets - Get free hair glitter (pixie dust) in Sir Mickey or Castle Couture in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom.

Disney World Tips & Secrets - Get free hair glitter (pixie dust) in Sir Mickey or Castle Couture in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom.

Are you wondering why the photo above says Disney Freebie #3?   It is because we've put together a list of 40 great freebies at Disney World that we give to everyone that subscribes to our free newsletter.   We also send great tips and information to help you plan your Disney vacation and we'll be happy to send this all to you - just type in your email address in the box below.  Unsubscribe at any 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.

Thank you for subscribing!

Disney Vacation Planning Tip - When to Book Your Trip

I get a lot of clients that ask me when is a good time to book their Disney vacation. If possible, I would book my Disney vacation at least 7 months out. Why 7 months?

First of all, and most importantly, you can start making dining reservations at 180 days (6 months) from your date of arrival. If you want to eat at some of those more popular restaurants (Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table, etc...)you will NEED to book your dining 180 days out. If you book your vacation 7 months out, this gives you about a month to go through the planning guide that you receive from your Build a Better Mouse Trip travel agent, and decide which dates and restaurants you want to eat at.

Secondly, if you book at least 7 months out, you will have plenty of time to pay for your vacation! Disney doesn't require final payment on your trip until 30 days prior to date of arrival. At 7 months or more, you will have a good amount of time to pay off your trip!

Thirdly, there is a lot that goes into planning a Disney vacation! You want to give yourself plenty of time to make decisions such as dining, which days you'll go to which parks, which rides you want to ride, and what FastPasses you want to set up. I think 7 months gives you plenty of time to do all of this!

And lastly, you want to book far enough out to make dining reservations, but not too far out that it seems like your vacation will never come!!! Don't get me wrong...I've booked vacations for many guests that book a year or so from date of arrival. There is nothing wrong with that...plus it gives you more time to pay for your trip!

So, my answer to most people that ask me when is the best time to book a Disney vacation would be at least 7 months from the date you want to be there! Of course, in my opinion, it's ALWAYS a good time to book a Disney vacation!! So...when can I book your vacation?!!? :)

Have a magical day!

Monica

About the Author: Monica is the most experienced agent at Build A Better Mouse Trip, a travel agency specializing in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.   

Click here to read Monica's full bio.

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Shopping Tips for Disney World Trips

Shopping at Disney World! I don't know about you, but I LOVE shopping at Disney World. My girls are are known for trying on the huge assortment of hats at Disney World. Our tradition is to take a Three Amigos picture at the Mexico pavilion every time we go.). (Although it kind of ruined it for me when some lady told us her son got lice trying on hats at Disney World....kinda takes the fun out of it...) There is nothing like purchasing a new ornament for your Christmas tree, or getting that sweatshirt that makes you look freakin' fantastic! Well, here are a few tips to help make shopping at Disney World a little less hectic!

1) Shop as the park closes! Since everyone will be rushing to the buses, I take my time and shop then. While everyone is standing in lines to get home, I'm purchasing that cute set of mugs I've always wanted.

2) Did you know you don't have to carry your purchases around with you all day? Unless it's your second to last day, you can have Disney deliver them to your resort for you! A word of caution, though....if you are going to want it right away, don't use this service. It can take up to 24 hours to get it at your resort. I typically use this service a lot!

3) Did you know you can also have them ship your items home? Well, you can! They will ship them right from point of purchase and it's not that expensive! (Probably a lot less than paying for extra baggage on a plane, and it will be wrapped really well!)

4) If you want your purchases for the next day, or don't want to wait 24 hours, you can have them deliver your purchases to the front of each park! Then just remember to pick them up as you head to your transportation back to the resort.

5) I pack a fold-able duffle bag in my suitcase to carry all of my purchases home if I don't want them shipped home. I have a magnificent duffle bag that collapses to about 12" x 12" x 1/2" and fits perfectly into my suitcase. I try to fly Southwest so that I can fly with 2 free bags! You could also just put a few things in another suitcase and send it under on your way to WDW too.

6) Don't want to even bother with packing or shipping? There is a handy little app for your phone, called Disney Parks. With this app, you can scan the code on the item you want to purchase, and then just purchase it directly through the app and have it shipped home! Isn't that great?!?! Of if you need 3 of a certain item, and there is only one at Epcot, you can check on the app to see if it's available at any other park or resort! I have also scanned something I liked, put it in my cart, and then ordered it once I got home. It's a wonderful thing!!

Our friend Stacy offered these additional tips:  

  • I love shopping at the Mouse Gear shop in Epcot. They have a wide variety and typically it's not super crowded.

  • I also love shopping at Disney's Character Warehouse at Orlando International Premium Outlets. The selection is limited but the prices are great! A shirt on the Disney website was $36.95 but available at the outlet for $9.99!

  • I've scanned an item and when I discovered it wasn't available online, I knew I should purchase it before leaving the parks.

  • Annual passholders get discounts (at some locations) on purchases with their membership cards so always have it on hand, a MagicBand won't work as a membership ID."

So there you have it! Some wonderful shopping tips! 

Have a Magical Day!

Monica

About the Author: Monica is the most experienced agent at Build A Better Mouse Trip, a travel agency specializing in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.   Click here to read Monica's full bio.

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Vacation Tip: Test Your Clothes Before Your Trip

Orlando Theme Park Tip: Take a brisk walk in the clothes you plan to wear to Disney World, Universal Orlando, or SeaWorld to see if they remain comfortable.

Orlando Theme Park Tip: Take a brisk walk in the clothes you plan to wear to Disney World, Universal Orlando, or SeaWorld to see if they remain comfortable.

Once you've planned your clothes for your trip to the Florida theme parks, test your outfits by walking briskly around the block because you'll probably walk 6-10 miles over the course of a day in the Orlando theme parks. Dealing with shorts that scrunch up all day or that shirt button that keeps unbuttoning when you walk is not how you want to spend the precious vacation time you've worked so hard for. Have your kids test their clothes too. Although you can find apparel at the theme park gift shops, it is easier and less expensive to make adjustments to your vacation wardrobe before you go.  

Orlando Theme Park Vacation Tip - Test your shoes and socks before your trip to Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld. You'll do a lot of walking and you want your feet to be comfortable.

Orlando Theme Park Vacation Tip - Test your shoes and socks before your trip to Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld. You'll do a lot of walking and you want your feet to be comfortable.

Think too about how quickly or slowly your clothes dry because you might get soaked to the skin on Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom) or Kali River Rapids (Animal Kingdom) at Disney World, Dudley Do-Right's Rip-Saw Falls or Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges (Islands of Adventure) at Universal Orlando, and Journey to Atlantis or the Shamu show at SeaWorld.    Click here for Monica's rain poncho tips. 

Don't forget to take your socks for a test drive (test walk?) in the shoes you plan to wear to the park.  I once had to hunt for a gift shop at Disney California Adventure that sells socks because the pair I was wearing kept sliding down and bunching up in the middle of my shoe.   

Here are a couple of additional apparel tips from our friends

Jeni says, "I remember having all new clothes / undergarments / socks.  Bra + see through shirts...definitely not cute!"

Kathy added this great suggestion:  "And definitely DO NOT BUY NEW SHOES. Learned that the hard way on my trip there in 2000.  Had to use my mother's wheelchair in EPCOT because my feet hurt so bad."  

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Disney World Tip from Toni: Give Yourself Permission to NOT do it all!

Disney vacations are a huge investment, and many people try to do EVERYTHING to feel like they're getting their money's worth and end up stressing themselves out to the extent that they don't actually enjoy the trip!

We plan these things for a living, and any good agent will tell you you can't do it all. Give yourself permission to enjoy the time you're spending with your friends and family without feeling you're missing out on something - the only thing you're missing is your own sense of enjoyment.

About the Author: Toni is a travel agent who specializes in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.   Because of her extensive experience, she is a great one to have in your corner when you're headed to Orlando.

Get a Quote on your next adventure

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Disney World Tip from Toni: Talk to the Cast Members!

Disney World Tip: Take time to talk to the Disney Cast Members - they have great tips and stories.

Disney World Tip: Take time to talk to the Disney Cast Members - they have great tips and stories.

Talk to the Cast Members! They're called "Cast Members" because they are part of the show.  Ask them where they are from and how long they have been at Disney. Chances are, you will hear some great stories or get some good tips.  Many of them live in Florida now but have their city or country of origin listed under their names on their name tag.

The Cast Members in the Epcot World Showcase pavilions are often from the represented country, giving you a unique opportunity to ask questions and visit with someone from another culture...someone who has intentionally chosen to interact with tourist!  This is also true of the Cast Members in the Asia and Africa part of Disney's Animal Kingdom park and the Goodwill Ambassadors over at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. 

Here's another great tip - take time to talk to me, Toni, before your trip.  I can help you plan a great Disney World vacation starting with narrowing down hotels to those that are right for your budget and then we'll tackle dining and FastPass+ reservation and itineraries that keep you ahead of the crowds.  

Let’s get started planning to make memories for a lifetime

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Disney World & Universal OrlandoTip: Save Indoor Shows for the Afternoons

Monica's Tip o' the Day:

When planning your day at each Disney World and Universal Orlando theme park, try to save all the indoor shows/attractions for the afternoon!  Here's why:

  1. It's a nice break. If you got to the parks before park opening (which we strongly recommend) you'll be ready for a little time off of your feet.

  2. Orlando Weather - Afternoons are generally the hottest part of the day so that air conditioning feels great and gives you a little extra energy to push through the rest of the day! Orlando also gets afternoon rain showers, especially in the summer, which is another good reason to wait on the shows.

  3. Minimizing Lines - Since crowds are lowest in the first hour or so after park opening, you'll want to get through as many attractions with short ride times as possible in the morning. Crowds peak in the middle of the day and lines are at their longest so heading to something with a large capacity that also takes more time(most Disney shows are about 20 minutes) just makes better sense.

There are indoor, air-conditioned shows at every park. Be sure to pick up a Daily Show guide at the front of the parks to get the schedules. (Another quick hint: Pick 1 up at the front desk before you head out to the bus stop, and you can plan when to go while you're waiting for the bus, or riding the bus!)

One of our favorites is to ride Spaceship Earth at Epcot at around 2pm. The ride is about 20 minutes long, it's dark and it's cool! It give me just enough time to take a little rest, relax, and occasionally a little catnap! Of course, you'll want to be awake and smiling when they take the picture for these fun little Jetson-like scenes!

Have a magical day!

Monica

Travel Agent specializing in Orlando theme park vacations

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Toni's Theme Park Tip: Don't Skip Meals!

Disney World & Universal Orlando Tip: You've gotta eat to stay on your feet; don't sabotage your vacation by skipping meals.

Disney World & Universal Orlando Tip: You've gotta eat to stay on your feet; don't sabotage your vacation by skipping meals.

While at the parks, you may be tempted to "push through" and sacrifice eating to experience more attractions - don't. 

Listen to the advice of our friend Stacey:  "My husband witnessed our eldest son in a hangry* moment several years ago.  Two bites of a Subway sandwich and he was a different child.  Now my hubby is more willing to get snacks and take short breaks.   It makes all the difference!  We make sure to always have granola bars and water bottles in our backpacks!"

Walking around the parks for an entire day can burn up to 1,000 calories, so take the time you need to replenish the fuel your body is definitely burning off. Don't sacrifice your health or your sanity - your family & friends will thank you!  

 * Hangry (han-gree), adjective: an amalgum of hungry + angry.  Click here to read about the science of "hangry". 

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Rain Poncho Tips for Disney World & Universal Orlando

One of my biggest tips for Disney World and Universal Orlando guests (or any other Orlando theme park) is to be prepared for rain! Florida is notorious for rain showers, so be prepared!  You can purchase them for about $10 each in the theme parks but I save money by buying a whole bunch of rain ponchos from Amazon and carry them with me. Most rain showers are over pretty quickly, so when rain comes, we put on our ponchos, grab a little snack (Dole Whip!!) and wait it out!  A lot of people flee the parks when the rain starts so coming prepared is a great way to take advantage of the shorter lines during rain showers.  No need to let a little rain ruin your day!!!   

You can also find inexpensive, disposable rain ponchos at most Dollar stores and in the camping section at Walmart.  My local Dollar Tree had them in the section where hair accessories are sold.   The fashion maven in your family may declare that they would NEVER wear a poncho but will probably change their mind when they see lots of people putting them on when the rain starts. 

Inexpensive disposable rain ponchos for your Orlando vacation are available on Amazon and at Walmart and Dollar Tree.

Inexpensive disposable rain ponchos for your Orlando vacation are available on Amazon and at Walmart and Dollar Tree.

Even if it isn't raining, you may want ponchos to help keep you dry on attractions that can soak you to the skin like Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom, Kali River Rapids at Disney's Animal Kingdom or Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges in Universal's Islands of Adventure. 

Have a magical day!

Monica,

Travel Agent specializing in Orlando theme park vacations

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.

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No More Turkey Legs at Disney's Hollywood Studios

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As of August 2, 2016, turkey legs will no longer be available at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Toluca Legs Turkey Company will become the Sunshine Day Cafe and will have a new menu.  

Toluca Legs Turkey Company is closing on August 2, 2016 and turkey legs will no longer be available at Disney's Hollywood Studios park. The space will become the Sunshine Day Cafe and will have a new menu.

Toluca Legs Turkey Company is closing on August 2, 2016 and turkey legs will no longer be available at Disney's Hollywood Studios park. The space will become the Sunshine Day Cafe and will have a new menu.

Fairfax Fare is also getting a menu change with new items like the One Pound Baked Potato with tri-tip beef, gravy and, cheddar and the Loaded Fairfax Potato with sour cream, cheddar, and bacon.

Fairfax Fare, at Disney's Hollywood Studios, will be adding new baked potato selections to its menu beginning August 2, 2016.

Fairfax Fare, at Disney's Hollywood Studios, will be adding new baked potato selections to its menu beginning August 2, 2016.

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Animal Location Guide

Did you know that Disney's Animal Kingdom park has a free, handy-dandy Animal Location & Identification Guide available on racks and near cash registers throughout the park?  Not only will it help you find your favorite animals, it'll also help you to identify the animal in front of you.  

Disney's Animal Kingdom park offers a free Animal Location & Identification Guide which is available on racks and near cash registers throughout the park.

Disney's Animal Kingdom park offers a free Animal Location & Identification Guide which is available on racks and near cash registers throughout the park.

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Thank you for subscribing!

 

Join our list to receive regular updates, fun information and available offers. As soon as you join the list, you will receive 40 great Disney World Freebies and over the next few days several helpful “how-to” e-guides. You may be prompted to confirm your subscription. Unsubscribe at any time