Karamell Kuche in Epcot's German Pavilion.

When you walk into Karamell Kuche, located in Germany's Epcot pavilion, it hits you immediately: The smell of butter, sugar and cream.  On your left, someone is melting caramel in a huge copper bowl to be poured on the shop's signature popcorn.  In front of you, a large display showcases treats under glass almost too pretty to eat.  Should you have the chocolate covered caramel sprinkled with sea salt or maybe channel your inner kid and try the caramel apple?



There's something about the combination of salty and sweet. It's my favorite type of treat, bar none, and with the rising popularity of salted caramels, it quickly pushed out chocolate as my favorite dessert. Give me a nice, deeply flavored caramel, one that's soft and chewy, where I can actually taste the flavor of the cream and the almost burnt taste that comes from that point where boiling sugar and water turns a light amber, and I'm a happy woman.  Disney opened Karamell Kuche at the height of the salted caramel trend, and the success of the shop attests to its continued popularity and the enduring, widespread appeal of  the salty sweet combo.

It's hard to gauge here, but the caramel pecan bar and the turtle next to it are quite large. At one snack credit, these are a terrific deal and enough for two.  You might try the shop's caramel corn as well, but be forewarned:  It's actually one of the weaker items on the menu as it's often a little stale. If you get it on a good day though, it's heavenly.

I'll admit, when the shop first opened I had my doubts. I make salted caramels a lot (okay, more than I should) and to me there's a big difference between a caramel that tastes homemade and one that has that commercial, artificial flavor. How would Disney, along with candy maker Werther's, replicate the taste that I love so much for thousands of customers a day? Well, I shouldn't have worried. Whatever they're doing, the treats at Karamel Kuche taste like they're made in small batches with good quality ingredients.

I'm sold. In fact, I'm almost tempted to throw out my candy thermometer.

Fantasyland Update and the Closing of Snow White's Scary Adventure.

Prince Eric's Castle taken yesterday.

As I stood with a bunch of adults last August in front of Snow White's Scary Adventure, I couldn't help but feel that this was the last time I would ride the attraction.   All of us agreed to ride it--one last time--even though we were all going to be back before the end of the year, certain that it would be demolished in September when the crowds were low.  Well, it's been a long time coming, but this week Disney finally announced a closing date for SWSA:  May 31, 2012.

Disney attractions are sometimes more about sentimentality than the ride itself. Even the most diehard fan could walk into SWSA and remark at how tired and old it looks:  The cutout figures, the bumpy, track, the uninspired ride vehicles.  Despite an extensive refurbishment, it always looked a bit shabby compared to the rest of the attractions in the park, little more than a  pretty carnival ride.  But tell that to the mom who watched her princess-obsessed 4-year old wave at Snow White at the end--and who rode it five times in a row.  For her, those sweet memories come back every time she visits, even though her little girl now has children of her own.

Storybook Circus Tents.

But, out with the old, in with the new, right? There's a whole new section of Fantasyland that's due to open this year and I can't wait to see it. Here's the latest news and rumors:

• Rumors abound that SWSA will not close until Journey of the Little Mermaid opens. If this is true, then this adds some credence to what I was told in December, that the attraction will open before the summer season begins.  Unfortunately, most sources are saying late summer or early fall. I've been pretty firm in my belief that the Little Mermaid will open in May, but the fact that other Fantasyland expansion projects have been delayed is making me doubt that now.
• From the official Disney Parks Blog, one Dumbo spinner, the Great Goofini, and the train station will be open in late March. There are rumors of a soft opening starting in mid-March, but everything is pretty fluid right now.  Remember that Dumbo was supposed to open in February and then that date was moved to early March. 
• The Big Top canvas is up. Check out this fantastic picture from back stage.

News is pretty sparse this week and looking at the pictures above, I'm dubious as to whether or not I'll be riding Dumbo when I go down in late March.  What do you think? If you're visiting for Spring Break, do you think any of the Storybook Circus attractions will be open? 

Update on Booking 2013 Rooms in 2012.

I just took down my post about booking rooms now for 2013. Briefly, the gist of that post was that you could book your 2013 room rate at 2012 prices. This is something that Disney hasn't done before and we were happy to see it because while you could always book your rooms 499 days in advance, often those room rates would change when the new packages came out that summer.

There's been a pretty steep learning curve for all of us on this new policy. I always double-check any quotes I send out because there's nothing worse than being off by even a little bit. As a travel agent doing the majority of my business online, I know that the most important thing I have is my reputation for honesty and while it's a big internet, I don't want even one client to question that. So I'm very careful. 

I haven't been able to verify my prices for my 2013 quotes because they've been for January or Art of Animation, which are resorts where we don't have 2012 rates to quote. But yesterday I quoted the Grand Floridian for a client in June 2013 and as she pointed out, the quote from Disney was around $180 more than her quote that she did online for 2012. Sure enough, she was right. I called and verified some resorts, and it turns out the price increase is 4 percent over what you'll pay this  year. 

So, what does this mean? Well, it means two things. One, your 2013 rate is guaranteed, it's just not guaranteed at 2012 prices. That's a nice option for guests who like to plan far in advance. And two, it may mean that last year's room increase (which was 7 percent on average) is going to be lower this year. No one knows yet if, when Disney releases packages this summer,  they'll bump up the rack rate an additional 3 percent from the current 2013 rates or if will stay at the same 4 percent increase.  Finally, as a cast member said to me this morning, "we don't know how that 3 percent savings is going to shake out for the rest of the package." In other words, will the dining and ticket prices change as well?

Confused? Yeah, me too. But I wanted to put this out there and let you know that there was some confusion initially. I'm going to send a link to this post to all my 2013 clients and let them decide what to do as well.

How to: Beat the Summer Heat

Summertime...and the living is easy

I know it's not even spring yet, but I can't help but look forward to summer at Walt Disney World. It's been a very warm winter here in Central Florida so far. Aside from a scattering of days that were quite cold (and yes, it can get cold here), we've experienced consistent temperatures in the upper 70's and low 80's . There's also been very little rain. Having such a warm winter makes me think that we could be in for a very dry, hot summer though.

Summer of course also happens to be a time of year when lots of people visit Disney World. After all, the kids are out of school, the parks  stay open later, and it's traditionally the period people think of when you talk about taking a vacation. If you're one of those people, here's some tips on how to survive summer at the parks.

 Dress appropriately

Average highs during June – August are in the low 90's, but an average humidity around 60% during the same period can cause the heat index (or what a person's perception of the temperature is) to be much higher, so it's not usual to feel like it's more like 98 degrees (or more!) out. This should go without saying, but now is not the time to wear all black clothing and combat boots, while lugging around a backpack so large it comes with its own Sherpa. Light colored clothing, shorts, and t-shirts is the way to go. And don't forget to wear a hat and sunglasses. This goes for kids, too. Ditch the combat boots, and the flip flops (they won't give you enough support as you walk through the park, plus you're just asking for a wicked sunburn on the tops of your feet). And ditch the huge backpacks, too. I'm not saying don't carry one, but visitors tend to overpack for the parks. Before you head out the door, ask yourself “Will I really need this in the parks today?” If the answer is no, or probably not, leave it behind. Trust me, by early afternoon, you'll be thanking me.

Sure it's a nice hat, but I don't think it's going to protect you from the sun....

 Use sunscreen

This is another must. I know, lots of people go on vacation and want to get “a little color” to show off when they get home. The trouble is, it doesn't take long to go from a little color to a bad burn in the Florida sunshine, and you don't want to be in pain on your vacation after waiting months for your trip to arrive. Use something strong, with at least an SPF of 50 for the best protection, and don't forget your ears and behind your neck. The goal is to shield your skin, not saute it, so skip the cocoa butter. Parents, make sure your kids wear it too, even if they're like me as a kid and scrunch up their face and yell as soon as you try to touch them with it. If you're going to be swimming or at a water park, take the time to reapply it more often than you normally would. Remember that the sun's rays reflect off the water, so you will burn faster.

Stay hydrated. 

Aside from all the walking you're going to be doing, the heat will really take its toll on you, and you're going to sweat – a lot - so drink plenty of fluids. Ideally, you want to drink water, and not caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, since those will actually dehydrate you more quickly. You can even get a cup of ice water from all counter service locations free of charge, though, to be honest, the water isn't always that great. Consider getting some bottled water to keep in your room, and keeping it chilled in your in room fridge if you have one, or an ice bucket. 

This isn't exactly what I meant by "stay hydrated."

Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. 

Whether you use them in the morning, in the evening, or both, these can be a lifesaver during the summer. Roughly 70% of all park visitors don't take advantage of the morning EMH, so if you're a morning person and can get to the parks, go! Not only will it be cooler before the heat of midday starts to set in, but you'll get a lot accomplished in the early morning. And if you're a night owl, you'll love summer and the late park hours -imagine being able to stay in the Magic Kingdom until 2 or 3 a.m!   So if your group has the ability to stay out later,  you might relax during the day and hit up the parks at night. Not only will the temperature outside be much more comfortable, but experiencing attractions like Jungle Cruise, Tower of Terror, Test Track or Expedition Everest at night is really different.

Night time is a great time to be in the parks! 

Leave the parks

Regardless of how you tour, you should plan on taking a break during the midday. From about 1-4 p.m., the sun will be at its hottest. It's no surprise that the hot weather makes people cranky and they start to snap at one another. Don't let this be you. Go back to your room for a few hours, and take a siesta, or swim in the pool. Then maybe have a nice dinner and head back to a park for the evening. An even better idea? Take a day off from the parks (about midway through your trip) and spend it relaxing poolside, or by visiting one of the water parks. I guarantee you'll feel better the next day!

Doesn't that pool look inviting? If the scary clown doesn't eat you, I mean.

Use Fastpass and a touring plan

No one likes waiting in line for things, and that's especially true when it feels like it's 95 degrees out and you're baking in the sun. Make sure you use Fastpass for the popular attractions whenever you can, and if you aren't using a touring plan, get one. I can  tell you from experience, they work very well, and can greatly reduce the amount of time you spend in line. 

Better get a Fastpass, or be prepared to wait to ride!

Go for the “cool” attractions

No, I don't mean cool as in awesome. Do kids even say awesome anymore? I feel old. I mean attractions like Philharmagic, Haunted Mansion, Muppet Vision, It's Tough to be a Bug, and yes, even the Hall of Presidents. They're large, air conditioned attractions where you can get out of the sun for a bit. Plus, you can sit down in them, and you can probably even take a long nap without anyone bothering you in that last one. Another good place to come in from out of the heat? The shops. Suddenly, paying $28 for a t-shirt seems reasonable if it means not having to go back outside for 10 minutes.

Bring a poncho

 Summertime in Florida means rain (well, usually). Typically, these storms happen in the afternoon and although they are impressive, strong storms, with thunder and lightning, and can often deliver several inches of rain in a short period of time, they also don't tend to stick around. Here's a tip, too -they'll be lots of people who will leave the parks once it starts to rain; chances are though by the time they get back to their resort, the rain will already be on its way out, so use this time to shop, eat a snack, or experience an indoor attraction. You may just find a much more empty park to enjoy when the sun comes back out.

Serious downpours are part of summer!

What are some of your favorite ways to stay cool in summer at Disney? 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Free Dining.

Belgian Chocolate Trio at Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Unless you're traveling during the busiest weeks of the year, you'll probably get a discount when staying on Disney property. By far, the most popular discount is free dining. Originally offered in the fall to bring in guests during the slowest months of year, free dining is now offered, either through general public discounts or pin codes, during all but the most busiest times.  Here's what you need to know.

When is it offered?

Free dining, like most Disney discounts is offered during the slowest months of the year. Safe bets are late August, September, the first and last weeks of October, select days in November and December, most of January, and select days in February and March. 

Keep in mind that free dining will be blacked out for holidays like Columbus day, where kids are out of school, Canadian Thanksgiving (the middle two weeks in October), Jersey Week (early November), Thanksgiving week, Christmas week (usually the 19th through New Year's Day), marathon week in January, and Martin Luther King Day.  Black out dates will vary from year to year, so be flexible about when you can travel.  For this reason, I usually recommend people hold off on booking their flights until free dining is announced.

How do you get free dining?

Check into a Disney resort when free dining is offered and you'll qualify.  As long as you're checking in on a day it's offered, you're good for your entire stay.  You'll need to buy a 2-day park ticket to qualify. If you're an annual pass holder, you can save that ticket for another trip, pass it onto someone else, or use as "money" the next time you buy an annual pass. Just remember if you're not using the ticket to have the cast member take it off your Key to the World Card at check-in so you don't accidentally swipe it in the park.

Free dining is offered in two ways, either as a general public discount offered to everyone or as a pin code.  Pin codes are discounts that are personal to you; you can read more about them here. 

I've already got a reservation. Can I still get free dining?

Yes.  Just have the new discount applied to your existing reservation. If you've got a room-only reservation, you'll need to switch it over to a package and add tickets.  A way to avoid this is to book a "base" package where you have the option of adding tickets and dining later.  Keep in mind that some resorts and room categories are excluded, so you may have to move up to a different category of room or even a different resort.

Generally, it's best to get free dining added your reservation the first day it's out.  Disney never announces how many rooms in a resort will get free dining, but you can bet that the availability of standard rooms under any promotion is very limited.  Once rooms are booked, that's it.  So if you're set on staying at a certain resort, you'll want to have it applied right away, but if you're flexible about where you'll stay, you can avoid the three hour waits on hold the day free dining comes out and come back later when things slow down a bit. I know last August when free dining was announced, there were resort categories that filled up that morning. Others weren't sold out even on the last day free dining was available.

Remember, there are no penalties for adding a discount to an existing package unless you're under 45-days prior to travel. After that time, you may be charged a $50 change fee.  If you're already booked under a promotion and free dining is better for you, you can switch to free dining, but remember the promotion you have will be gone. So a room discount will go to rack rate or a "kids free" option will disappear.  Disney has one clear rule with discounts and it is that you can only apply one discount at at time. Otherwise, feel free to change to as many promotions as they are released.

What's better: A room discount or free dining?

It depends entirely on the make up of your group and where you're staying, but generally free dining is best at the values and room discounts are a better option at the deluxe resorts. Moderates can break close to even. You'll want to do all the math on this one, since your group make up can change your savings a great deal. Further, Disney doesn't always discount deluxe resorts the same. In the past, we've seen 25% off at the Grand Floridian while other deluxe resorts were discounted at 35% off.  That can change your savings enough that free dining might be a better option.

I'm staying at a value resort and getting the quick-service plan for free.  Can I upgrade to the base plan?

Yes, you can upgrade to the base plan or even the deluxe plan. You'll just pay the difference between the two plans, a minimal amount.

On a personal note, I don't really like the quick-service plan. I think it can be too much "fast food" if you're not familiar with the parks and the locations that serve healthier options, so I usually recommend guests upgrade to the base plan, which I think is the most practical plan and the best use of your money.

I'm not sure I'll eat enough for the dining plan to be worth it. Should I still get free dining if it's available?

It depends, but look at it this way: It's free, and most of the time, it's the best discount out there. Even if you're a light eater, you're going to have to eat on Disney property at some point, if not for your entire stay. Three small quick-service meals a day will run you around $30 to $40 per person. This is assuming you get a sandwich and a drink each time, nothing else.  So while you might be a light eater and feel that the plan isn't worth it, when you add up what you'll be spending anyway, it looks a lot better.

Again, do the math. Go to sites like All Ears and check out their menus. And then see if you can make free dining work versus a room discount.

Restaurant Review: The Childrens' Menu at Via Napoli.

Festive and pretty, Via Napoli is a grown up

restaurant kids will love.

Photo copyright Disney.

Most Disney kids' menus follow a predictable pattern:  Nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and burgers.  The exception to the rule is the World Showcase, where kids can partake in more sophisticated but still kid-friendly versions of the type of cuisine their parents and older siblings are enjoying.  Nowhere is this more true than at Via Napoli, where the kids' menu is easily as good as the adult menu.

If you've eaten there or followed the buzz, you know that Via Napoli serves outstanding wood-fired pizza with fresh mozzarella and inventive toppings. Appetizers and desserts are a pleasure, and the dining room is visually appealing, lively, and fun.  It's a must-do for us on every trip. 

If you're on the dining plan, kids start with a fruit cup or a small salad.  My kids preferred the fruit cup, which was a large serving of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and grapes.  It's served in a fancy little glass perched on a saucer; a nice touch that makes kids feel a bit grown up.  You'll then get a choice of three entrees: A small individual pizza, spaghetti with meatballs, or a ham and cheese calzone.  Kids on the dining plan also get a choice of dessert, a chocolate gelato or cookie.

Fruit cup.

My sons chose the pizza, which is a smaller version of the adult pizza.  It's chewy, thin crust pizza with a delicious marinara covered with buffalo mozzarella. The taste is extraordinary, but if your kids prefer a traditional New York-style pizza, they may not like this.  My kids love it, but just be forewarned.  The marinara is nice and light, with the fresh taste of tomatoes and not overly spicy.  If I had one complaint it's that the cheese only covers a few inches in the middle of the pizza. I would have preferred it to go a little bit closer to the crust.

My daughter had the spaghetti with meatballs and she ate the entire thing, minus the meatballs. My husband and I actually had them and they were quite good!  Tender, lightly seasoned, these would please kids who are real carnivores, I think.  The serving is huge, so if you're not on the dining  plan and you have light eaters, you may consider having your kids share this entree.

Spaghetti and Meatballs.

After being offered cookies at almost every Disney restaurant, my kids were tired of them and opted for the rich, chocolate gelato instead.  Most ice cream that bills itself as gelato lacks the creaminess of real gelato, so I was pleased to see that Via Napoli's has that desired texture that sets it apart from your everyday ice cream. The darker chocolate flavor of the gelato gave it a grown up touch that just added to the luxurious feeling of the dessert.  It's a real surprise.

Mention must be made of the atmosphere of this restaurant, which is fun and lively at all times. Kids, and grown ups, can be a little loud without worry, but it's not so loud that you can't have a nice conversation. For quieter dining, try the covered outdoor seating, which is romantic enough for a date. Stepping into Via Napoli, you really will feel la dolce vita, right down to the friendly Italian wait staff.  Next time you're planning a Disney trip, give it a try.

In Full Bloom: Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival 2012





Spring is one of my favorite times of year to visit Walt Disney World. Temperatures are warm without it being too hot and humid like the summer months, the sun is almost always out, with very few rainy days, and the crowds are....well, if you take away Easter Week and Spring Break, the crowds aren't bad at all! But one of my most favorite reasons for loving Spring at Disney World is the annual Flower & Garden Festival which this year will be held from March 7-May 20, 2012.

Now, if you've ever been to a Disney theme park, or even if you've looked at pictures or seen a special on television, you know it's not exactly a concrete jungle. The grounds at the parks and resorts are always lush, green, and perfectly landscaped. What makes the Flower & Garden Festival so special then? Well, as famed chef Emeril Lagasse would say, this is when Disney “kicks it up a notch (bam!),” and they do so in a big way, with explosions of color and flowers in every shape and size everywhere you look. (And no, I can't believe I just used an Emeril Lagasse expression either. I think 2003 is calling).


Some of the many character topiaries on display in 2011.
And yes, Lotso did smell like strawberries!



This year, the 19^th for the festival, the theme is “Magic in Bloom”, and here's just some of what you can expect to see (and if you can't attend, that's okay too, you can experience it vicariously through the blog and the pictures we'll be posting of this year's event):

• 30 million blooms all around the park.
• More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; Half of those are annual blossoms planted just for the festival!
• Over 100 topiaries, including 75 of various Disney characters.
• Among those 75 topiaries will be a larger than life display at the front of the park, celebrating the classic animated film, Fantasia, which will feature 28 different topiaries, more than has ever been used in any front entrance display.
• Over 400 horticulturists will help install landscaping, plant the many flowers and trees, and put the topiaries in place. Amazingly, all 100 topiaries will be set up throughout Epcot in a single night!

Though takes over 24,000 cast member hours and over a year to plan the Flower & Garden Festival (Disney is already planning for next year's festival, in fact), it's not just about some pretty flowers. The popular “Bambi's Butterfly House” will be expanded this year, and will feature over 1,000 different butterflies and 10 different species. Kids ages two and up will enjoy the “Let's Get Moving” play structure, while kids of all ages will enjoy Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, featuring topiary homes and structures of the many Disney fairies. I have it on good authority that this is where Tinkerbell stays in between flying over Cinderella's Castle each night during Wishes. There's lots to be seen in the pavilions around World Showcase, too, including a bonsai collection in Japan, and the English Tea Garden in the U.K. Pavilion, which features a 20 minute guided tour at select times each day.

Tinkerbell's House in the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden...



And butterflies like this one, from the butterfly garden,
are just some of the things you can expect to see.



Whether you're a regular green thumb, or, like me, you once killed an artificial plant (in my defense, if it hadn't looked so real, I wouldn't have watered it), you might enjoy the over 160 gardening seminars that will held during the Festival. These seminars are on a wide array of topics, from gardening challenges to the A-Z of herbs. HGTV returns as sponsor this year, and that means that HGTV stars like Sabrina Soto, Brandon Johnson, and Carter Osterhouse will be on hand on select days to share some gardening tips and secrets as well. As always, if you plan to be in attendance, make sure you check your Festival guide for times and locations.



There are plenty of seminars during the Festival -





And hands on demonstrations to turn you into a gardening pro!



After taking all that in, be sure to grab your favorite adult beverage – my recommendation would be the Grey Goose Orange Slush from France - and stick around for the “Flower Power” Concert Series, which take place Friday-Sunday at the American Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. Featuring performers known for their hits from the 1960's and 1970's such as Jose Feliciano, Starship (Starring Mickey Thomas), and Chubby Checkers, it's a great way to end an event filled day at Epcot.



Ka-Chow! Lightning McQeen says don't miss out on exclusive
Flower & Garden package savings!



Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival takes place through early May. Flowers are at their best from mid-March through mid-April.