Everything Walt Disney World

Holy Cow, That Was Bad! My Top Five Worst Disney Foods.

2012-01-27T09:00:00.004-05:00

Looks good, but how does it taste?

I love Disney food and often find myself defending it to non-fans, but not everything is worthy of praise. Case in point, these five culprits.

1. Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at the Lunching Pad in the Magic Kingdom. At $4.29, this pretzel is a good use of your snack credit. Unfortunately, that's where the praise ends. These tasteless, leaden pretzels should be taken out during the Electrical Water Pageant and umceremoniously dumped into the Seven Seas Lagoon.

2. The Caesar Salad with Chicken from Pinocchio Village Haus in the Magic Kingdom. Think you can't mess up a Caesar salad? Think again. While it looks like the safest thing in Pinocchio Village Haus (easily the worst quick-service location on property), the acidic, overly-fishy dressing on this salad makes it a pass.

3. Orange Chicken with Steamed Rice from the Lotus Blossom Cafe in Epcot. Ahh, the World Showcase. Who doesn't love it? You can get a lot of great food there, right. Unfortunately, that's not the case in the China pavilion. The Lotus Blossom Cafe makes your local mall food court's Chinese food look gourmet. Until I tried this entrée, I was under the belief that it was pretty much impossible to mess up the holy trinity of fried, salty, and sweet. I was wrong.

4. Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf at Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney. I usually sing the praises of Wolfgang Puck Express and for good reason: It's easily the best use of your quick-service credits, with healthy, innovative food in a setting that feels more like a table-service restaurant. Sadly, the bacon wrapped meatloaf is an exception to an otherwise terrific menu. A dried-out hockey puck surrounded by bacon that tastes like,well, nothing really, this dish comes covered in a port wine sauce that's sickeningly sweet. Granted, I was playing with fire by ordering meatloaf in a restaurant (it's rarely good away from home), but this place comes so highly recommended, I took a chance. Lesson learned. I'll stick with the swoon-worthy roast chicken.

5. Oak-fired Filet of Beef at the California Grill. This is my favorite restaurant on property, but the menu has gotten a little tired of late. While other restaurants have kept up with the times, the California Grill continues to rest on its laurels, based in part on its location--at the top of the Contemporary Resort with gorgeous views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Oak fired filet has been on the menu for years, always with a heavy dousing of teriyaki barbecue sauce. I'm of the belief that a good cut of beef doesn't need much than a little bit of seasoning and this sauce is way too much of a good thing. How difficult would it be to add a different accompaniment, maybe even just a compound butter? Fortunately, this restaurant is scheduled to be refurbished later this year, with perhaps a new menu added as well. One can only hope.

Looking for a way to save a little extra on your next trip? Most of my clients travel with with a free Disney gift card or cruise with a substantial onboard credit. Email me at ChrisW@PixieVacations or call 919-889-5281 for more information.

Restaurant Review: 50s Prime Time Cafe.

2012-01-26T09:37:00.002-05:00

Stepping in from the hot Florida sun into 50s Prime Time Cafe is like stepping into your grandmother's living room, if your grandmother's house was decorated in a fun, 50s-style kitsch. Black and white televisions playing old favorites, formica, pinks, blues, and 50s futuristic touches, this restaurant is nostalgic fun for anyone, whether you lived through that era or just watched it on Nick at Night.

Fun waiting area/living room with 50s touches.

Your server here will call herself "mom" or perhaps "cousin" or even "uncle," but they'll all have one thing in common: Making sure you mind your manners. Think it's okay to put your elbows on the table? Mom has something to say about it. Didn't finish your veggies? You better hide them because when your Cousin Sue comes back, she's not going to like it. Some servers have the routine down better than others, especially the "mom" types. On our last visit, our server was friendly but brisk. Fortunately, the server for the table next to us had the entire room in stitches with her routine, as she went from table to table checking up on all of us, so we didn't miss out on the fun.

Carousel of Progress or grandma's kitchen?

As nice as it is to be entertained, you're really here from the food and 50s Prime Time doesn't disappoint. Think comfort food with a Southern touch, with standouts like fried chicken served with to-die-for greens, meatloaf, and chicken pot pie, but you can also try lighter fare like salads and poached salmon. Round that out with flavored sodas, like cherry coke, diner-style desserts, milk shakes, malts and even a few inventive mixed drinks for the grown ups, and you have an enjoyable, and fun, meal.

Black and white televisions are part of the decor.

Take in an old show while you eat.

I live in the south and I'm picky about my fried chicken, so I was pleasantly surprised at how good Prime Time's is. Your crust shouldn't shatter and fall to the table when you bite into it, but it shouldn't be a soggy mess either. This chicken falls nicely in between, a lightly spiced, non-greasy piece of chicken with a delicious crust. And there's a lot of it, by the way, usually three to four pieces.

You'll get it serving of mashed potatoes with gravy that are perfectly fine, but the real star of this dish is the greens that come with it. Spicy and, somewhat shocking to this southern cook, not not at all soggy, these greens are delicious. Of course I know you can make greens so they still have a nice bite to them, but I cook them the way I was taught: Until they're mushy. If you've been turned off by greens before because of the texture, give these a try.
The roast beef is good too. Tender roast beef braised with tomato juice, it's served in an unnecessarily complicated mound of mashed potatoes and julienned carrots and celery. I generally don't care for pot roast that's been cooked with tomato juice and I probably wouldn't get this again because of it, but that's more of a personal thing preference rather than a problem with the preparation and overall taste. Overall, it's a good, solid dish and I liked how the carrots and celery were still slightly crispy. If you'd debating between this dish and the fried chicken, give the sampler platter a try. It comes with both plus meatloaf for $19.99.

Kids meals are the usual fare with the addition of a grilled fish option. My daughter really enjoyed the macaroni with marinara sauce.

I really liked that there was a substantial portion of fresh fruit offered instead of a dessert option. This is when having the dining plan comes in handy and it's why I like it so much. You'll pay $15.02 per child (ages 3 -8) for the plan. This meal costs $8.59. Add a snack and a quick-service option and it's easy to come out ahead with children.

Most table-service restaurants at Disney have excellent desserts and 50s Prime Time is no exception. I loved Dad's Brownie Sundae with hot fudge and caramel topping. You could also try the delicious S'mores, with their caramelized outside, warm gooey inside, all covered in chocolate sauce. I'm not a marshmallow fan, but I always say yes to these. I mean, it's the polite thing to do!

Photo courtesy of Chip and Company.

50s Prime Time Cafe is a new favorite of mine. I love the food and the atmosphere--where else can you watch old TV shows while you eat? It's going to be a must-do every trip.

Disney's Childrens Activity Centers: The Sandcastle Club at Yacht and Beach Club.

2012-01-25T07:54:00.001-05:00

The kids clubs at Walt Disney World are a great way to give yourself a little bit of grown up time during a busy vacation. Maybe you want a quiet dinner at a more upscale restaurant or just want to go on some rides the kids are too young for? Whatever the reason, Disney's kids' clubs are a great way to carve out a little bit of time for yourself.

We've used the Neverland Club before and it was a huge hit, but in December we were staying at Boardwalk and planning on eating at Yacht Club, so we wanted something a little closer, so chose the Sandcastle Club in the Yacht and Beach Club Resort. Beach Club was a quick fifteen minute walk (or you can take one of the Friend Ships) from our resort. To get to the Sandcastle Club, just go into the main lobby of Beach Club and go down the long hallway to your right; it's on your right, just past the shops.

Children ages three to twelve are welcome in the clubs (the sign above is an older sign). Operating hours are 4:30 to midnight. You'll need to pay for a two-hour minimum stay, but you can pick your child up earlier if you wish. You do not need to be a guest of the resort or even a guest of Disney World property to use the clubs. There is an $11.50 per hour fee per child which includes dinner if the child will be staying during that time period. Unfortunately, there is no discount for multiple children.

We dropped our children off and they immediately started playing with all the games and toys. There's a big main room with tables, games, and activity centers. There's also a small room off to the side (well within view of the main desk) set up like a small house. The kids were able to choose their meals from a list containing kid-friendly food: pizza, macaroni and cheese, nuggets. They always enjoy picking items from their own "menu" and always report back that they enjoyed the food. After they ordered their meal, they went off to play and we headed over to Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Besides games and toys, cast members conduct organized activities such as arts and crafts: Our daughter presented us with several sparkly drawings when we picked her up. Cast members are trained to make sure that all children are included in the fun and games and that no one feels left out. If you have a shy child or a child with special needs, make sure you inform the cast members when you drop your son or daughter off. The rooms are clean, the equipment is new, and the staff is friendly. I'm a worrier by nature, but I felt comfortable leaving the kids there.

To me, the only downside is the cost. With three kids, I paid $34.50 an hour. Times that by 2.5 hours and for that amount, I could have hired a babysitting service like Kids Nite Out for four hours. A sitter service would have come to the resort room and when I got back (if history is any indication) they would have been snug in their beds asleep. But with the kids clubs, I have the satisfaction of knowing that they're being entertained without watching television, that there are multiple adults watching them, and they're being given dinner. So, it's definitely a trade off between cost and peace of mind. I still like using a sitter service and will continue to do so, but now that my kids are older and can stay out a little later, the kids clubs are a treat.

Our kids love going to the kids clubs and they always ask if they're going each trip. They get to play with new toys, eat fun food, and meet other kids, but they also get a break from the hubbub of the parks. Yes, we're all there for a family vacation and the parks are our focus, but it's nice for the kids to get a break from the parks one night and enjoy the more quiet atmosphere. And let's not forget, parents deserve a quiet date night once in a while.

Should You Add Charging Privileges to Your Key to the World Card?

2012-01-24T10:17:00.002-05:00

When you check into your Disney resort, you'll be given the option of having your credit or debit card added to your room key (known as your Key to the World card or KTTW), but should you do it? Here's what adding your card offers:

Convenience. Your tickets,* money, dining plan credits, and room key are all on one card.
When you pay your server at a sit-down restaurant, he can easily add your tip to the card. If you're on the dining plan and you use your debit card (to pay for the tip and extras like appetizers and items not on the plan) and your room key, there's an extra step and figuring out the tip can be a little more complicated.
Ease at check-out. When I buy snacks, I often use a snack credit for a more expensive item and pay out of pocket for the drink. If my debit card is attached to my KTTW card, I only have to make one purchase. If I'm using a debit for my drink and a snack credit for my cupcake (excuse me, I mean fresh veggies) I have to do two transactions.

It seems like a no-brainer, but the problem is that adding your debit or credit card to your KTTW card can make it very difficult to track what you've spent, especially given that it's so easy to just whip that card out--it's not like it's real money, after all! If you're like most people, you probably keep check your bank account even while you're on vacation, but it's not as easy to access the charges that go on your KTTW card; you'll need to go down to the concierge desk. This gets even more complicated if more than one person on your reservation has charging privileges.

Finally, and this is probably my biggest complaint, the bill that Disney gives you when you check out is even more difficult to decipher when you've got dozens of charges added to it. What? I don't even remember buying anything at Goofy's Candy Kitchen! I couldn't have spent $75 in Tattooine Traders!

Last trip we didn't add the card and it got a bit complicated at times, but at the same time, I loved getting the bill at the end of my trip with only one charge--the room. I also felt like it was a lot easier to keep track of what I spent that day. Sure I could have walked down to concierge each night and gotten a printout or I could have kept every single receipt, but it was so much easier to just check my bank account at the end of the day. Because of this, and despite the advantages, I probably won't be adding charging privileges on my cards anymore. What about you? What do you think is easier?

Update: Reader Kim M. has this great tip: Add cash at concierge and then use your card the way you normally would. At the end of your trip, excess money will be refunded. You can add up to $500 per day. Thanks Kim!

*Some park tickets can't be added to your room key. If you purchase separately, ask if Concierge can help you add them.

Disney's Club Level: What is it and Do I Want it?

2012-01-23T06:56:00.006-05:00

The iconic Grand Floridian is just one resort that offers club level service

Spend enough time in the Disney universe (you know, at the parks, on Disney message boards, in chat rooms with other Disney fans, etc.), and you'll hear a lot of chatter about “club level” at Disney resorts. There are lots of questions – What is it? What do I get with it? Is it available at all resorts? Does it cost a lot? And, there are an equal number of comments, on both sides of the fence, so it's hard to wrap your head around all of it.

Club level is Disney's version of concierge. While a number of hotels offer concierge services, especially those that cater to business travelers, the service and offerings themselves often vary. Disney is no different, so while their offerings may not be as extensive as what is offered at other hotels and resorts, it is still a very nice service. Do not confuse club level at Disney with the concierge desk in the lobby at each resort; while the cast member working the concierge desk at these resorts will do their best to assist you in getting tickets for the parks, or attractions and can answer many of your questions, club level services go far beyond that.

At Disney, club level rooms are available at all the deluxe resorts: Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk and Animal Kingdom Lodge. At the Grand Floridian, guests even have two options for booking a club level room. They can choose to stay in Sugar Loaf, located in one of the outer buildings, or at the Royal Palm Club in the main building. The amenities are exactly the same, though some guests find the benefits of being in the main building of the Grand Floridian, with its shopping, dining and ease of access to transportation, worth the higher cost of the Royal Palm Club club level. The cost for a club level room runs approximately $100-$150 more per night, but that can vary by season. Rarely are these rooms discounted.

Club level rooms are generally located on a separate floor of each resort and have special keycard access. If you've ever stayed at a Walt Disney World resort and gotten into an elevator with a guest who pulled out a gold “Key to the World” card and put that into the elevator keypad, chances are they were a club level guest (it may even have been yours truly). Given their location within the resorts, many of these club level floors offer an additional cool perk -great views. For example, at the King Kamehameha Club at Disney's Polynesian Resort, the club level lounge is two stories with floor to ceiling windows that look out across Bay Lake and towards Cinderella Castle. That means club level guests can sit in the lounge and watch the fireworks every night (the music to “Wishes” is piped in) while enjoying a snack and their favorite beverage. Similarly, the lounge at the Innkeeper's Club at Disney's Boardwalk Resort allows guests to sit on the balcony and catch a view of Illuminations.

Of course, not every resort can say the same thing. Club level guests at the Beach Club can spend time in the lounge where the view from the windows is of the parking lot. That's okay though, staying here and getting to swim in Stormalong Bay makes it totally worth it.

Part of the club level lounge at Beach Club -love the chairs for the kids!

Of course, staying club level isn't about the view from the lounge (or the lack thereof). When you book a club level stay, several weeks before your arrival, the Itinerary Planning Office, or IPO at the resort should contact you to confirm your stay and to help you arrange things like dining reservations, child care, shows tickets, and other entertainment. If you're celebrating something special, make sure to mention that as well, as the IPO can provide you with helpful suggestions or ideas. My suggestion is not to wait for the IPO to call you – given the amount of guests they handle, it can be easy for them to overlook you; therefore, I'd encourage you to email them with your reservation number and any requests you have.

They of course will do their best to meet any of your needs. On the day of your arrival, club level stay will be aware of when you are coming in. Assuming you arrive between the hours of 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., they will escort you up to the club level floor and handle check-in for you, no need to wait in lines. You'll find your club level room comes with a few other benefits as well, including nightly turn down service, robes to use during your stay, additional toiletries, and a DVD player in your room. The cast members working at the desk outside the club level lounge will also have DVDs available for you to borrow should you not pack any of your own. Another nice perk? Club level guests at every resort have the opportunity to schedule the special Wildlife Discovery Excursion Tour. For $45 per person, guests will take a climate controlled vehicle through the savannah at Disney's Animal Kingdom with a cast member who is an animal expert. The vehicle goes “off road” and doesn't follow the same path as the typical tour, allowing you to get closer to the animals and a chance at some great photos. Additionally, because each vehicle only fits a limited number of people, you have an opportunity to ask a lot of questions, something you don't get to do or the regular attraction.

Perhaps the best part for many club level guests is the food and drink offerings included with your stay. Each club level has a lounge where guests can partake in these offerings while enjoying comfortable seating. You'll also find a couple of televisions in the lounge, one for the adults, and one for the kids, and usually, a newspaper or two to read. While offerings and times can change, the general schedule looks something like this at each club level lounge:

6:30-7:00 a.m. Coffee and juices.

7:00 - 10:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast with juice, coffee, tea, cereals, fruit, breakfast pastries and breads
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Snacks and/or tea with sodas, iced tea, lemonade, coffee, tea, and snack foods like crackers, pretzels, cookies and nuts.
5:00 - 7:00p.m. Appetizers with wine and beer and hot and cold appetizers from the resort's restaurants and offerings like veggies and dip.
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Desserts and cordials with a selection of cordials and desserts from the resort's restaurants.

Guests at the Grand Floridian's Sugar Loaf and Royal Palm Club can also look forward to having an afternoon tea service with a variety of teas and scones available. Note that the amount of food available is generally NOT enough to make a meal out of (unless you have a very small appetite). The foods available are meant as appetizers, or a tasting, so I don't suggest skipping the dining plan or foregoing ADRs in favor of eating in the lounge. Conversely, I have heard from some guests that eating the evening offerings, and then heading off to dinner was often too much food; this is especially true if they were on the deluxe dining plan or otherwise eating in a lot of “signature” restaurants.

So, is it worth it? “Worth” is very subjective, and means different things to different people. But whether staying club level on your next visit is right for you or not depends a lot on how you tour and how many times you've visited. As regular readers to the blog know, I'm local, I visit the parks a lot. I've had three stays as a club level guest and can honestly say I've enjoyed each one immensely. But my wife and I aren't the type to spend all day in the parks anymore. We spend lots of down time at the resort enjoying the amenities, so we have time to partake in the food and beverage offerings. If you are a theme park commando, who only uses the room to sleep and shower, it would be a waste. And you certainly don't want to feel like you HAVE to come back to the resort to eat the appetizers, snacks or desserts to try and get your money's worth. Unless you have a larger group, or are perhaps heavy drinkers who enjoy the beers and cordials available, you're not likely to make up that extra $150 a night in food/drink. Lots of people will just get a bunch of snacks and beverages for their room instead, and make their own “club level lounge.” Similarly, since I spend much of my time making dining and entertainment reservations for other people, I enjoy the perk of having someone from IPO do it for me. But if you're the type who likes to make their own reservations for everything, or you have a travel agent who is going to do that for you (for free), why pay for the privilege that you won't use?

Your "golden ticket" Key to the World card gives you access to the club level floor

Like some many other things in a Disney vacation, ultimately, you need to decide what will be best for you. If you're taking a trip where you're skipping the parks, or like me, you spend lots of time at the resort, and you have the money to spend, having the added perks of club level may be just your thing. But if you think you'd rather take that extra $150 a night and put it towards something else – a romantic dinner, a fireworks cruise, a private tour, or even another trip, then club level probably isn't right for you, and you'll be happy with a standard, but still very nice, resort room.

Contact Bob at Bob@PixieVacations.com or call him at 407-810-2528 for a no-obligation quote and free concierge-level help in booking and planning your next vacation.

Thanks to Disboards for the YC concierge photo. For more pictures and information on Yacht Club/Beach club, check out this thread on the Dis.

Exclusive Discounts for Jersey Week.

2012-01-18T19:42:00.000-05:00

If you're not from New Jersey, you may not have heard about Jersey Week, a yearly influx of New Jersey residents to Walt Disney World during the state's annual teacher's conference. Most often, this week is blacked out for discounts because Disney knows they won't have any trouble filling rooms, but this year, Pixie is proud to announce we've got a nice room discount to offer and you don't have to be from New Jersey to take advantage of it. Check in at least two nights between November 3 and November 10 and pay these low rates:

Disney's Pop Century Resort for $105 per night
Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort for $155 per night
Disney's Contemporary Resort for $315 per night
Disney's Boardwalk Resort for $329 per night

You'll also receive a free water park or DisneyQuest admission with the purchase of a two-day or park park ticket and 10% off park tickets. Compare our offer to what's currently available:

No Discount

Boardwalk Inn
Check in November 5, 2012
Check out November 11, 2012
6 nights
6 day park tickets (no hopper)
Base dining plan
2 adults/2 children (ages 7 and 10)

Total Cost: $4771.80

Pixie Vacation's Exclusive Offer

Boardwalk Inn
Check in November 5, 2012
Check out November 11, 2012
6 nights
6 day park tickets (no hopper)
Base dining plan
2 adults/2 children (ages 7 and 10)

Total cost: $3967.04

These rooms are limited, so lock in your discount now and if a better deal comes out, we'll automatically switch you over to that discount.

To contact us, email Chris at ChrisW@PixieVacations.com or call 919-889-5281 or email Bob and Bob@PixieVacations.com or call 407-810-2528.

Book a Cruise, Get a Huge Onboard Credit.

2012-01-17T12:04:00.012-05:00

I've been thinking about the lauch of the new Disney Fantasy that's coming in March and it occured to me that Bob and I should do something to celebrate. We're currently offering free Disney gift cards for all vacation bookings made this month, but I decided to step it up a bit with the cruises. Book a Disney cruise between now and March 23, 2012 and you'll receive an onboard credit based on these amounts:

A $75 onboard credit for cruises valued at $1900 to $2200.
A $100 credit for cruises valued at $2201 to $2800.
A $125 credit for cruises valued at $2801 to $3200.
A $150 credit for cruises valued at $3201 to $3500.
A $175 credit for cruises valued at $3501 to $4000.
A $200 credit for cruises valued at $4001 to $4500.
Booking a cruise worth more than $4500? Well give you a credit worth 50% of our commission.

Sounds good? Here's the small print. After all we're both lawyers:

Cruises are for any Disney cruise taking place in 2012 and 2013. Edited to add: Any cruise taking place in 2012 and 2013.
Your cruise must be a new Disney cruise, not a takeover.
Totals are based on your cruise only (that portion for which we receive a commission), not miscellaneous and taxes. This is because your onboard credit comes out of our commission and we only get a commission on the cruise itself. We'll break down those totals for you.
This total price is based on everyone in the cabin, not just the fares of the first two people, so it's a better deal than other places you'll see online (for example, Expedia) because we count everyone in your group toward your onboard credit total.
This offer is exclusive to me and Bob Angelo and is not a Pixie Vacations offer.
Part of your onboard credit includes the $25 bonus paid by Disney for booking online.

We'll probably keep offering large onboard credits, but amounts this high are only for our first offer, so book before March 23, 2012.

If you'd like to learn more, here's our contact information:

To contact Chris, email me at ChrisW@pixievacations.com or call 919-889-5281.

To contact Bob, email him at Bob@PixieVacations.com or call 407-810-2528.

Thanks!

Rumors Abound: Will the new Dumbo be delayed?

2012-01-17T09:39:00.000-05:00

Photo copyright Walt Disney Company.

Will there be a delay in the opening of the first part of Dumbo in the Fantasyland expansion? We're hearing rumors of that today. Earlier this month, Walt Disney World closed Dumbo at it's current location to move it over to its new permanent home over in Fantasyland in the area known as Storybook Circus. The original plans called for it to be installed and operating on February 17th, 2012, with the second Dumbo to be added at a later date.
Earlier today, however, the dates on WDW's official refurbishment schedule changed from February 17th, to March 12th, 2012 (meaning an opening date of March 13th, 2012). And then, it changed back to an opening date of February 17th. Several other unofficial Disney websites are reporting Dumbo being closed through March 12th still. however. I also noticed that on at least one unofficial, but popular Disney message board, a cast member mentioned that their internal website, "The Hub" showed a closure through March 11th, 2012.

What does all this mean?
At this point, it's honestly hard to say. The Storybook Circus/Great Goofini area has lagged a little behind, in this writer's opinion, at least, over other areas of the project undergoing construction. That is surprising, given the plans to open this part of the expansion first. Of course, I am not involved in the construction and it's possible this is was all part of the normal work schedule -I can appreciate things having to be built and groundwork having to be laid out in a certain order, after all. I will say in recent weeks, a great amount of visible progress has been made in that section of the expansion. Ultimately, regardless of what people say on message boards or other unofficial refurbishment calendars, the only one that matters is Disney's official schedule, which right now, says February 17th, 2012. As for the change to the March date and then switch back to the earlier date, I do wonder if there is indeed a delay, but Disney personnel want to make a formal announcement before updating the calendar.
We'll keep watching the refurbishment schedule and will advise if there are any changes to this or other major attractions, as always. If you're heading to the parks around February 17th, keep your fingers crossed that there are no changes in store and that Dumbo will re-open as planned for park guests to enjoy on that date.

You can follow Bob's adventures on Facebook here or email him for a free Disney vacation quote at Bob@PixieVacations.com. Don't forget our free gift card offer through the end of this month.

The Bare Necessities: How To Get Groceries To Your Disney Resort

2012-01-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

You may not be able to pack fresh fruit in your luggage, but a grocery delivery service can get it for you!

For many travelers heading to Walt Disney World, part of trip planning involves much more than packing a stylish new bathing suit and a comfortable pair of walking shoes, though both of those should be on the top of your list, too. You may also want a case of bottled water (especially if visiting during the summer months, when being outside in Central Florida is like walking on the surface of the sun), breakfast items so you can start off your day of theme park adventuring with a full stomach, or just some snacks to have when you want to unwind in the room by watching the amazing selection of television channels in your Disney resort hotel. And if you have a younger child, you're probably adding things like diapers, pullups, wipes, formula, and/or baby food to the list.

Of course, getting all of that from your home to your resort is not without its challenges. If you're driving, or renting a car when you get into Orlando, it's easy -you just stop off at a nearby grocery store and load up with everything that you need. But the majority of visitors fly in, get on Magical Express, and are taken directly to their resort, and I don't think the bus driver is going to be too keen on stopping off at Super Target on his way to the Beach Club so you can pick up a few things. No, not even if you ask them nicely., and you can put away that $10 bill you keep waving in front of their face, too. And have you ever tried to pack stuff like yogurt and fresh fruit into a suitcase? Let's just say airlines aren't kidding when they tell you that your bags may shift during the flight. Plus, with most airlines these days charging $25 or more per suitcase (each way!), you may not want to spend that money loading a bag up with items that are just going to get eaten or otherwise used up. Luckily, you have a number of choices to make getting any of these items, and more, delivered right to your resort.

I've heard that many parents children who are still in diapers will pack an entire suitcase full of nothing but diapers/pullups and wipes, then at the end of the trip, use that now-empty suitcase for bringing home all the souvenirs. Not a bad idea if you're not paying for the bag; if you are though, remember to consider that additional cost in your vacation budget. Depending on how much you buy, you might be able to just fit those items in bags you already have and you can always ship purchases you buy from Disney directly to your house; just ask a cast member for assistance when you check out.

A better option if you just need things like diapers, wipes, and/or bottled water is Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/). You can ship the items directly to your resort in care of your name and (at least if you're staying on Disney property) they will hold it for you when the package arrives. When you check-in, just tell the cast member assisting you that you should have a box in your name waiting for you. Another benefit with Amazon? Besides things like diapers, wipes, formula and baby food, you can also get items like bottled water, and some dry grocery items, like granola bars, pop tarts, and fruit snacks. There's no minimum order requirement and I've always found shipping to be pretty reasonable.

Your other option would be to use one of the two grocery delivery companies that service the Disney/Universal resort area and will do your shopping for you, namely Garden Grocer (http://www.gardengrocer.com/) and WeGo Shop (http://www.wegoshop.com/). This is an especially convenient service for guests who may want more of a selection of items or for vacationers who want to have things like alcohol (which can be limited in selection and very expensive on property) or ice cream. As Garden Grocer and WeGo Shop operate slightly differently and have different pricing structures, it can be a little confusing, so let me shed some light on how each one works. As an aside, I should mention that I have not been compensated by any of these companies and the views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Both companies, as I mentioned, deliver to the Disney/Universal resort area, and will leave groceries will bell services if you aren't in the room. Both have excellent and easy to use websites that allow a customer to build a personal shopping list. When you pull up the Garden Grocer website, you'll find a list of over 4,800 hundred items from which you can choose in a variety of categories, from baby care to breakfast items to deli to one called “park essentials.” You have to choose from the brands listed in each category (in other words, you can't ask for a specific brand that's not on the list, or ask them to shop at the grocery store/warehouse store of your choice) but with thousands of items, there's a good chance that you'll find the item(s) you need, or one close to the brand you use. You'll also notice that the prices are slightly higher then what you might pay yourself at the grocery store (for example, a 12 pack of Pepsi that I pay $3.99 for was $5.99 on the site), but remember that you're paying for a service, and the luxury of having someone shop for you. Garden Grocer does require a minimum order of $40, and there is a delivery charge to your resort of $12, which is waived for orders of $200 or more. You should also know that until gas prices return to under $3.00 a gallon, they also will charge you a $1.99 surcharge to offset their fuel costs. The latest you may order is 36 hours in advance, and if going during a peak travel time, my suggestion would be to get the order in earlier than later.

Conversely, when you visit the WeGo Shop website, you won't find a list of specific products with pictures from which to choose. Instead, because WeGo shop will do your grocery shopping at the store of your choice, you can enter your exact shopping list. In fact, they tell you to be as specific as possible in your descriptions, including product size and brand, so if you want the store brand versus the national one, or the largest size of something versus the smallest, be sure to tell them that. If you prefer to have it in a shopping list, they have a link on their site to a program that will automatically build your shopping list and then email it to them. Because WeGo Shop is visiting the store(s) of your choice, they do not charge anything additional for groceries -the price they pay for the item is the same one you will pay. They'll also accept coupons you may have, though you only earn 50% credit on them (e.g., if you have a coupon for $1.00, you will save .50 cents, and they get the other .50 cents). There is also no minimum purchase order. However, because like Garden Grocer they are a for profit business, they do charge a service fee, depending on how much you spend. Those fees are:

Grocery total up to $50.00 = $18.00 service fee

Grocery total between $50.00 - $100.00 = $23.00 service fee

Grocery total between $100.00 - $200.00 = $28.00 service fee

Grocery total between $200.00 - $300.00 = $38.00 service fee; and

Grocery total over $300.00 = 13% of grocery total, service fee

Additionally, while they are happy to shop at more than one store for you, they will charge a $5.00 service fee per each store. Should the groceries be left at bell services, a gratuity of 10% of the order will be added to the final bill. You can place an order at WeGo Shop the day before you want delivery, and in some cases, the same day, but like Garden Grocer, deliveries are filled on a first come, first served basis, and peak times like holidays will fill up quickly.

Regardless of how you get your grocery items to your Disney resort, they key is to plan ahead. You definitely don't want to save this to the last minute only to scramble to try and find things to add to your shopping list to meet a minimum purchase order, forget to include something on your list you really need, or find that you waited too long and now your order can be fulfilled. If ordering through a site like Amazon or sending yourself a package to the resort, give yourself enough time for the package to arrive. I've heard too many horror stories of the guests arriving well before the package did, leaving them in a lurch. With a little forethought, the “bare necessities” can all be yours on your trip.

Contact Bob at Bob@PixieVacations.com for a no-obligation quote and free concierge-level help in booking and planning your next vacation.

The Ups and Downs of the Disney Dining Plan.

2012-01-13T15:47:00.000-05:00

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and greens at 50s Primetime Cafe.

So good you'll be thinking about it for days.

My latest trip taught me a good lesson, one that I understood in theory but had yet to put into practice: If someone in your party gets sick and you've already pre-paid for food, you're potentially out a nice sum of money. It took using the dining plan one time to make me a convert. I'll admit to not being sure about it ahead of time, but after getting home and running the numbers, I could see that it worked for us and the way we eat and tour the parks. Sure, it meant we had to stick to a schedule more than we might have otherwise, but the savings and the convenience of using the plan were worth it to me. Since that trip I've always added the plan and this trip was no exception. But in the back of my mind, I was worried about making the commitment. What if things didn't go according to plan?

Well, that's exactly what happened last month. Our oldest child got sick during the last part of our trip, although it took us a while to figure out that it wasn't that he'd eaten too many sweets, but a raging fever that was making him beg to sit in the twins' stroller and complain about a stomach ache. We got him settled into the room with my husband while I took the twins around the parks for the last two days of our trip. I felt awful that he was missing out, but I also felt bad that I was losing two days of dining credits, both his and my husband's. I did what most people do and paid for another guest's meals, but I had this nagging thought in the back of my mind: What if I'd paid out of pocket for our meals? Would I have saved money? Because really, the unexpected happens, even at Disney World.

I sat down a couple of days after we got home and figured out that we broke even using the plan. This is mainly because of the more expensive character buffets we did in the beginning of the trip, but also because we ended up using all of the quick-service and the snack credits, which together accounted for approximately 50% of the total $895 we paid for the dining plan (7 days, 2 adults, 3 kids). Incidentally, that quick-service total doesn't include desserts, because we didn't eat them. In fact, I think the cost of Disney's quick-service meals is one reason I love the base dining plan. Let me explain.

Quick-service, in particular, will put a serious hole in your budget. If you really want to save money on a Disney vacation, don't eat at the table-service locations. Done. You've saved about $30 per person per meal, often more than that. But how can you avoid quick-service meals? If you're spending more than a few hours in the parks, you have to eat, right? And yes, you can bring in your own food, but how fun is that? You can also buy the least expensive item on the quick-service menus, but most often that will be a burger and fries, which gets really old fast. Having the dining plan allows you to have the variety you want without the worry.

That's not to say the plan is perfect or foolproof. Like most things at Disney World, you'll need to put some planning into it. You'll also need to stick to a schedule. Finally, if you're not doing some of the more expensive table-service locations, you may be paying too much. Some table-service locations, like 50s Primetime Cafe in Hollywood Studios, cost only slightly more than a more expensive quick-service meal. So make sure you check out menus before you commit to the plan.

I would estimate about 90% of my clients get the dining plan, many of them under free dining promotions. The one thing more experienced guests tell me is that they care more about convenience than anything. Yes, we all want to save money, but what I'm also seeing is people wanting to make their trip as all-inclusive as possible. Taking the worry out of paying for your meals is one way to do that.

As much as I like the dining plan, it's not for everyone. Don't like to plan meals out in advance or take time off from touring the parks? It's probably not for you. And if you don't plan on eating at least four table-service meals per week long trip, it might not be the best use of your money. As I noted above, our quick-service meals and snacks came to around 50% of our total dining plan cost. Add to that for our family of five, one breakfast at Tusker House, and dinners at Ohana, Via Napoli, and Crystal Palace and we broke even. The other three meals were essentially "freebies" although in fairness we did lose several table-service credits due to illness.

And that's really the problem: You have to gamble that everything will go according to plan, or at least close to what you planned. Ultimately, we came out ahead even with some bumps. But if we'd had major issues, we wouldn't have had any recourse: We had already paid. I think you have to be okay with that gamble.

If you have unused credits at the end of your trip, you can try the following:

For snacks, buy items you can bring home. I had a few snack credits left at the end of this trip, so I went to Goofy's Candy Kitchen and bought stocking stuffers like candy coins with characters on them and Rice Krispy Mickey Ears.
Offer to pay for a stranger's meals. It's Disney and it just feels easier to talk to a stranger here than in the outside world, but if that makes you uncomfortable, I've noticed that Lines subscribers sometimes post chat messages to fellow users if they have unused credits. It's a nice way to meet fellow Disney fans.
You can freely use table-service credits for quick-service meals. At some locations, you can use your quick-service credits to buy snack items; this is a little trickier than the table service exchange for quick-service meals.

I'll admit that my faith in the plan was a little shaken at first by losing some of our dining credits, but after going through my receipts, I feel confident that I'll choose it again.

The Force Is Strong With You: Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios

2012-01-09T10:27:00.000-05:00

See what they're making cast members wear to work these days?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...So begins each part of the classic Star Wars Saga. A lot closer to home, however, ever summer Disney Hollywood Studios celebrates “Star Wars Weekends” where fans from across the universe (well, at least from across the country) can gather and celebrate the Star Wars movies as well as the highly acclaimed animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. If you are a Star Wars fan or have one in your family, this is one event you don't want to miss!

Held for four consecutive weekends (Friday-Sunday) in late May/early June, the event and its festivities are included with park admission. Introduced in 1997, it continued to grow in popularity until Disney decided to make it into an annual event in 2003. This year, Hollywood Studios will proudly present Star Wars Weekends on the following dates: May 18-20, May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-10.

So, what exactly can you expect if you go? I thought you'd never ask. Of course, there's Star Tours 2: The Adventure Continues. The classic, and very popular, Star Wars ride re-opened last year with a face-lift, and wow, is it ever more exciting! While the existing ride system of the original Star Tours, it features an updated queue, new in-cabin effects,more than 50 different ride scenarios, and brand-new 3D imagery. In fact, you'd have to ride for six straight hours just to experience all the different ride combinations! I personally love the new Hoth battle and the 3D effects used in the Naboo scene are top-notch. Right next door, kids ages 4-12 can sign up to participate in the Jedi Training Academy. Run several times a day year round, it's even more popular during Star Wars Weekends. Several times each day, Jedi Masters will train each group of young Padawans in the ways of the force and the proper use of a lightsaber, after which each young Jedi gets to try out their new skills on Storm Troopers and Darth Vader himself. Note that if your child wants to participate, you will want to be at the park at rope drop and head over to sign up right away. As of this writing, sign ups have been taking place right past the American Idol Experience, in the building next door to Sounds Dangerous, but as Disney is known to change things around from time to time, you'll want to check the exact location with a cast member or on your park map when you arrive at the park.

One of the new robots inside the revamped Star Tours attraction

A new group of Padawans listen attentively to their Jedi Master

But of course, Star Wars Weekends is far more than just a newer attraction and some performance, after all, you can get that all year round. For many, one of the highlights is the attendance of celebrities from the movies and animated television series. Some of these celebrities will do autograph signings at various points during the day, which is very popular. To keep things orderly, guests must have a Fast Pass for the celebrity whose autograph they wish to get, and there are a limited number of Fast Passes available each day. Note too that each weekend, celebrities will vary. While Disney has not yet announced who the celebrity guests will be this year, in years past, guests have included Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), and Ray Park (Darth Maul) among many others.

Ray Park (Darth Maul) was on hand last year to sign autographs for fans

If you're not up to standing around for possibly a very long time for a Fast Pass to get an autograph, no need to worry. You'll get to see these same celebrities during the “Stars and Motor Cars” Parade during the day. There will also be an opportunity to attend several special Star Wars related events with some of these celebrities. Last year, for example, Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ashoka Tano in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series) hosted a talk entitled Clone Wars: Behind the Force, offering a closer look at the show. These events are also often a great opportunity to ask questions, such as “If Star Wars took place a long lime time ago, why does it look like it took place in the future?” And “Isn't a parsec a unit of distance, not time? So exactly how did Han Solo make the Kessel run in 12 parsecs?” These are the questions that keep me up at night writing blog articles, folks.

Speaking of parades though, you don't want to miss the afternoon Star Wars Parade, which

features members of the 501^st Legion, a worldwide volunteer Star Wars costuming group parading in costumes of all different characters from the movies. The costumes are AMAZING -most folks look like they have just stepped off a George Lucas set. It's a high point with a lot of fans, so make sure to grab a good spot along the parade route early. The best viewing spots are along Hollywood Boulevard, and will start to fill in one hour before the parade begins. In years past, Disney has run the parade just up Hollywood Boulevard, though last year I caught the parade going by Star Tours as well. Since that can change, check your map for the parade route.

The sand people were great, but boy do they look hot!

Amazing detail on some of these costumes

Maybe you're all about Disney characters instead of parades. Maybe you're all about Star Wars characters. Star Wars Weekends provides the best of both worlds. Hang around the Star Tours area as well as the “backlot” area of the park and you'll encounter many characters walking around interacting with guests as well as opportunities to line up and pose for pictures and autographs. Walking around, I saw Darth Vader, Clone Troopers, Darth Maul, Bobba Fett, Jango Fett, Ewoks, Chewbacca, Gamorrean Guards, Jawas, and the Cantina Band, to name a few. There are also long lines for meet and greets with Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy, and Storm Trooper Donald.

Jedi Mickey and his buddy, R2-MK

Mickey and R2 head off to Dagobah for more training

Aurra Sing, from the Clone Wars -she seriously creeped me out

Darth Maul always looks imposing

Famed bounty hunter Bobba Fett

You'll also notice plenty of die-hard Star Wars fans who have dressed up to come to the parks, many in detailed costumes of their own. While Disney doesn't encourage nor discourage this, it's a rare opportunity for guests to dress up in costume at a Disney park (outside of Halloween, of course) without anything being said. I've found that many of these guests are absolutely thrilled to take their picture with you too, if you ask. If you do decide to dress up in costume, just remember that it's still a family park. Dressing like Princess Leia is okay. Dressing like “slave” Princess Leia? Not okay.

I think these two were fans of Princess Leia?

If you're a collector of Star Wars/Disney Star Wars merchandise, Disney hasn't forgotten you, either. There will be plenty of merchandise available to purchase, including limited edition merchandise. From t-shirts, to posters, to lithographs, to pins, you're sure to find something for everyone. Last year, to house the most merchandise and accommodate the most people, Disney had a separate trailer set up in a backstage area near Rock N Roller Coaster. While I heard that it did fill up at times and people were forced to wait outside in the heat to get in, I can't say I experienced that, though business was steady inside. If there's something specific you're looking for, you'll want to find out where event merchandise is being sold and head there early in the day.

Loved this Donald figurine for sale

Cool lithograph that was for sale in 2011

Of course, no fun-filled day of Star Wars Weekend is complete without Hyperspace Hoopla. This event takes place at the close of the day's events on the stage in front of the giant Sorcerer's Hat on Hollywood Boulevard. A fan favorite, Hyperspace Hoopla is a dance competition featuring classic Star Wars characters. Last year, the theme was Rock and Roll, and featured the good guys versus the bad guys. Trust me when I say you haven't lived until you watch Chewbacca , Jawas, and Ewoks get down to “Welcome to the Jungle” or see Bobba Fett Bust a move to “Back in Black”. It's about a 30 minute show filled with a lot of laughs and is another must do. I honestly think even a non Star Wars fan can appreciate the humor.

Why yes, that Wookie IS wearing a bandana and sunglasses

Hmmm...I sense a disturbance in the force. I know, you're thinking with all going on, the parks must just be jammed with people, and who wants to deal with all that in 95 degree heat, right? The honest answer, however, is that while the park does get more crowded around the area(s) where Star Wars festivities, character/celebrity greetings are being held, the rest of the park is relatively unaffected! Yes, you'll find it hard to get a spot for the parades -it's not one you can show up to 5 minutes beforehand and expect to get a good viewing spot – and Fast Passes for autograph signings can be hard to come by or feature long waits to get. But get away from the Star Wars happenings, and crowds aren't nearly as bad in the rest of the park. Another bright spot -crowds only seem heavier at Disney Hollywood Studios; the people who come for Star Wars Weekends do not have a noticeable effect on crowds at the other parks.

Okay, I've convinced you to go, but now you're worried that you won't find a good deal. Chris and I have you covered there though too, with a Star Wars Weekend exclusive offer you can only get through our travel agency, Pixie Vacations. And this is no Jedi mind trick, it's the real deal. Here are the details on the offer:

Booking Window: Through 4/25/12
Travel Window: 5/25 – 5/30/12

Available Disney Resorts for this Special Vacation Package are:

DISNEY’S ALL STAR MUSIC RESORT (Value Resort)
DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT (Moderate Resort)
DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT (Deluxe Resort)
DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT (Deluxe Resort)
DISNEY’S SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT (Deluxe Villas)
DISNEY’S BAY LAKE TOWER (Deluxe Villas)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAMPLE PRICE

Disney’s Contemporary Resort – THEME PARK VIEW

Room: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Sample Party: 2 adults, 2 children (age 8 & 12)
Park Tickets: 6 Day Base Tickets
Disney Dining Plan: Plus Dining
EXTRA: FREE 1-Day Ticket into Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, or DisneyQuest for each person in the party.

Standard Price if booked through Disney: $5,091.52

Vacation Package Price: $4,212.52 (Save $879.00)!!

This is a limited offer, and rooms are going quickly. A deposit equal to one night's stay must be paid at the time of booking. To book this Star Wars Weekend vacation package, or any other Disney vacation, email us at Bob@PixieVacations.com or Christina@Pixievacations.com. Don't forget to ask about our free gift cards for new vacation bookings.

And may the force be with you.

Disney Confirms New Test Track For Fall 2012

2012-01-06T11:28:00.000-05:00

How will this ride experience change with the new Test Track?

Disney confirmed today what has been speculated about for months, that the Test Track attraction at Epcot will close for an extended refurbishment and remodel. In renewing their long-standing partnership with GM, Test Track will be re-imagineered into the Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” and operate under the name “Test Track – Presented by Chevrolet.”

On the official Disney Parks Blog, Disney released a short statement which read in part:

This new version of the attraction will transform the current testing workshop into the sleek “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot,” where guests can become immersed in the fun – and fast – world of automotive design. Here, guests will become automotive designers and create their own custom vehicles. Next, they’ll buckle into a six-person SimCar ride vehicle and test out their design on the challenging track of the Test Track course.

Afterward, guests can take a fascinating look into the future of transportation by viewing a collection of the latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new showroom.

Missing from the announcement are the exact closing and opening dates for Test Track. Disney would only say that Test Track will close in April 2012 and re-open in the Fall of 2012.

I can't help but be a little bummed by the timing. I'm all for Epcot getting a long overdue makeover, and this is a good start, but the long refurbishment period means that the heavy Summer crowds will have one less attraction to enjoy, causing, I suspect, longer lines at the already popular Soarin, as well as at the surprisingly not as popular Mission Space. I suppose “Fall” could also mean a September re-opening, which is a date that has been thrown about initially on Disney message boards and blogs. If that is the case, a soft opening could happen in August, salvaging late Summer.

Also, Disney is known for working fast; it's always possible that the project opens ahead of schedule. Plus, I can't help but wonder if this means we will see a large portion of the new Fantasyland expansion open by this summer. That would after all, make sense, because it would theoretically draw crowds away from Epcot and into the Magic Kingdom.

And I have to admit, Test Track was looking more than a little bit tired, and the vehicles were starting to show their age, so if not now, when? I can't even remember the last time the LCD screen in my ride vehicle actually operated. I'm also excited about this idea of guests being able to design and create their own custom vehicle and then test out the design on the Test Track course. This makes it sound to me like no two cars would have the same experience out on the track, or at the very least, each time you ride it could be different. Still, I'm curious how Disney plans to get six riders, who are potentially strangers to one another, to all agree on the vehicle design.

I guess we will all have to wait and see what Disney has planned once the new Test Track makes its debut later this year. In the meantime, who wants to join me on Soarin?

Bob is a Disney travel agent and Central Florida local. You can follow his exploits here and on Facebook. Email him at Bob@PixieVacations.com or call him at 407-810-2528 for free concierge-level help in planning your next Disney vacation.

Tutto Italia: A Restaurant Review

2012-01-05T07:15:00.001-05:00

The inside of Tutto Italia Restaurant

I recently had the opportunity to eat at Tutto Italia, which is located in Epcot's Italy Pavilion. Being Italian, I was a little apprehensive about eating here, because the food never seems to measure up at Italian restaurants for me. What can I say, I lived in Italy, and my parents were both Italian (my father actually came over from Sicily), so I grew up spoiled on good, authentic food. I'd also taken it as a “last resort” choice, when nothing else that I wanted was available. Still, a good friend had also eaten here recently and raved about it, so I thought I'd give it a try, and am I ever glad I did!

While my party of four was unable to secure a dinner reservation on New Year's Eve (silly me, I should have made my ADR back in July like everyone else, and not waited until December to look for something), we did get a lunch reservation for 11:30. My father-in-law was initially concerned that this was too early to eat; as it turns out, it was perfect. After checking in, we were seated almost immediately, and because this was the first seating, the few tables dining had the full attention of the kitchen and waitstaff before the restaurant really began to fill up. This meant we were able to get through most of our lunch service with ease.

After being seated, I took notice of the surroundings. I'm still not sure if I think the décor in the restaurant is stylish or tacky. I think it's a little of both, unfortunately. The darker woods and comfortable seating are very inviting, and the high tray ceiling with the wood inlay is a nice touch. However, the carpet is reminiscent of something you would see in a Las Vegas casino, and the murals on the wall, featuring various Italian scenes, looked like something I would find in an Olive Garden. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling gave the impression of a quiet meal, but they also appeared to be of a cheaper quality and reminded me of an old woman's house. Plus, once the restaurant fills up, it's anything BUT quiet.

Murals like this adorn the walls inside. Tacky?

Regardless of what my impressions of the décor were, I needn't have been concerned about the food. Tutto Italia is run by the same company that operates Via Napoli, the newer Italian pizzeria within the Italy Pavilion located right “next door.” And as anyone who has eaten there can tell you, the food is, in a word, awesome. It should come as no surprise then that our meals were just as good. Our amazing waitress started us off with a big basket of fresh sliced bread and olive oil. She also brought over a couple of small dishes filled with different types of large olives -red, black and green. These were so tasty, and each had such a distinct flavor, that we asked for more. Okay, I asked for more. Twice.

We skipped antipasti (appetizers) and decided to dig right in. For the main course, each member of my party got something different. The presentation is very average, but the quality is there. The gnocchi pasta with prosciutto, ham, peas and a parmesan cream sauce featured a light pasta with a very flavorful cream that wasn't overly dense. I do wish the gnocchi had been bigger though. For people that don't want pasta, the Cotoletta Di Pollo, a breaded chicken cutlet with Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, potatoes and vegetable was a nice alternative. This isn't your mamma's chicken parmigiana featuring sauce out of a can. The sauce was fresh, the cutlet was generous in size, and the potatoes and vegetables were seasoned perfectly. My father-in-law can be a picky eater, and he ate everything on that plate. I enjoyed the traditional Lasagna al Forno with meat ragu, bechamel and parmesan. Again, both the pasta and sauce were fresh and extremely tasty, but I think the chef may have forgotten to include the bechamel sauce because the dish was a little lacking in the middle. If it was included, then it was very sparse.

Gnocchi pasta in a parmesan cream sauce. Delicious!

Italians love to eat, and no good meal is complete without dessert. Once again, each member of my group decided to try something different, and once again, Tutto Italia did not disappoint. From the gianduja - chocolate torta, a chocolate and hazelnut torte with whipped cream and raspberry sauce, to the mocha tiramisu, featuring mascarpone cheese, espresso coffee, savoiardi biscuits and chocolate, each bite tantalized the taste buds. If you don't like chocolate or cake (and if you don't, what the heck is wrong with you??), the sorbets, offered in a number of flavors including a delicious and refreshing lemon and a sugar free raspberry that was made with such sweet berries, you wouldn't know it was sugar free, are nice alternatives. To top the meal off, the waitstaff surprised my mother-in-law, who was celebrating her birthday, with a small dessert cup filled with fluffy chocolate mousse. They also sang 'Happy Birthday' to her in Italian. And, since all of the waitstaff is actually from Italy, they got the words AND the pronunciation right.

Chocolate torta with raspberry sauce

This mocha tiramisu didn't disappoint!

Speaking of the waiters and waitresses, I cannot say enough good things. Our waitress was so friendly and outgoing, and very attentive to our every need and request. I saw the same thing at every other table as well. Plus, since I speak a little Italian myself, it was fun to have a little friendly banter back and forth. It also impressed my wife, which is enough of a reason for me to go back.

Tutto Italia is a wonderful restaurant; I almost hate to share how good it is because it's probably going to get even harder to get an ADR now! The food is all fresh, and you can definitely taste that in the cooking. I also liked the fact that despite eating pasta dishes, we didn't leave feeling overly full or bloated. The service is top notch, as I mentioned, and the desserts are so good, had they let me, I would have stayed there most of the day eating more of them.

Some last minute things you should know before you go – ADR's are strongly recommended, so make sure to do that or you may not have any luck just walking in and getting a table. While I'm not much of a drinker, the restaurant does feature an extensive list of fine wines and spirits as well as after dinner drinks, coffees, and espresso. Tutto Italia is on the Disney dining plan, and they also accept the Tables in Wonderland card.

Buon appetito!

The Carrot Cake Cookie from the Writer's Stop.

2012-01-04T15:58:00.002-05:00

There's a cozy little coffee shop located right next to The Sci-Fi Diner in Hollywood Studios. What's a "cozy little coffee shop" doing in a busy theme park? Selling pretty decent coffee, Disney books, and baked goods, that's what. One big draw at the Writer's Stop is the carrot cake cookie.

The carrot cake cookie is one of those Disney treats that guests go crazy over, so I thought I'd give it a try on my last trip. Two large, soft carrot cake cookies surround a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. The cookies are slightly spicy. You'll get a hint of cinnamon, allspice and perhaps a little bit of nutmeg. There are no discernible pieces of carrot, but you won't miss it. If I had one complaint, it would be that they're a little too moist, but there are worst problems for a cookie to have.

I'd say that overall, the cookie part of this cake is as good as your average homemade carrot cake and thankfully, unlike a lot of desserts sold in the theme parks, it's not overly sweet. But we all know the real reason anyone eats carrot cake (or hummingbird cake, or red velvet cake for that matter) is the cream cheese frosting. You want a frosting that is slightly tangy, a little sweet, and oh so creamy. This frosting delivers all that without the artificial vanilla taste that you sometimes find in baked goods from a large bakery. It's a good, solid, tangy cream cheese frosting.

These cookies are a close second to the ones I make at home. I think that's saying a lot, that a bakery that serves thousands of guests a day can make cookies that taste like they're made in small batches. Next time you have a few extra minutes, grab a cookie, a book and a cozy chair at the Writer's Stop.

You can also get these cookies at the Beverly Sunset Confectionery Shop located next to Villians in Vogue.

Your Thanks Don't Cost a Thing

2012-01-04T10:58:00.003-05:00

Two of the over 60,000 WDW cast members who work hard every day.

This blog post was probably better suited for around Thanksgiving, since it's about giving thanks to cast members; unfortunately, the idea just came to me this past weekend. Depending on how you look at it, that makes it either a really late article, or a really early one.

Anyway....the approximately 60,000 employees, or "cast members" who make up Walt Disney World play a big role in creating lifetime memories for guests. Disney has always prided themselves as being a cut above. I'm not sure they were even trying to do that when Walt Disney opened Disneyland; what I do know is he wanted to create an experience like no other, and the rest just sort of happened! While at a Disney park, you truly get to be a kid again and not think about your troubles, but can escape into a place of fantasy and wonder. That type of magic doesn't happen by accident; it is through the hard work and dedication of these cast members.

With so many ways to have fun at Disney World, it's a surprise anyone has time to complain about things. Among some of the funniest things heard in my travels around Disney World over the years:

A family upset that their grandmother, who is 87 years old, has a heart condition, a prosthetic leg, and for some inexplicable reason, is 7 months pregnant, was turned away from riding Tower of Terror;

There are too many countries in Epcot's World Showcase;

It's raining out, and they won't close the dome over the Magic Kingdom;

My Mickey Mouse ice cream bar melted in the August heat and Disney ice cream shouldn't do that;

The monorail won't go back to my non-monorail resort/the trams in the parking lot won't drive me back to a different park where I left my car; and

The toilet paper in the bathrooms is too thin (though I agree with this last one)!

Now, I'm not suggesting you shouldn't speak up if you have a serious complaint or concern about a cast member or other matter. It's important for the powers that be to know these things so that your issue is addressed. But at the same time, if during your stay, a cast member brightens your day with a friendly smile or hello, lets you ride Space Mountain one more time without having to get off, or surprises you with a free second turkey leg (blah), take the time to smile back and say thank you. It's not something they hear too often, and they really do appreciate it! And if you feel a cast member has gone above and beyond, get their name, and then stop by guest services and fill out a comment card. A note will go in their file, and it can really help when it's time for things like performance reviews.

If you forget to do it while in the park, don't fret, you can still contact Walt Disney World when you get home, by calling 407-824-4321, or emailing wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com. I can tell you from experience that Disney is excellent at getting back to you and they do listen to all comments and concerns -even mine.

Has a cast member ever made your visit more magical? Tell us in the comments.

New Year's Eve at Epcot in Review

2012-01-03T09:30:00.004-05:00

The calm before the storm.

If I was to describe New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World in three words, they would be: spectacular, amazing, and owwwwwww. Seriously, I'm not sure a person my age is supposed to hurt this badly. The only reason I'm able to type up this blog post is because my fingers are the one part of my body that don't hurt. Still, I got to see some pretty spectacular fireworks and experience something that many Disney fans talk about doing, but not everyone gets to, so I probably shouldn't complain! Besides, I got some good ideas for future blog posts, and I'm eager to share my thoughts and impressions with all of you. So, here it is, the highs and lows of my quick two day Disney trip.

The good:

1) Cast members and guests seemed to be in great spirits. Given it was the end of a long and stressful holiday season, I really expected to run into at least one cast member during the past two days who had clearly reached the end of their rope and who was feeling less than jolly, but it didn't happen. All of them were polite, helpful, and friendly. They all smiled and laughed and seemed to be enjoying themselves. That was great to see - the holidays at Walt Disney World often means long hours and dealing with more impatient guests than usual, but if anything or anyone was getting under their skin, it didn't show. Cast members don't often get a lot of support or credit for being a big part of the guest experience, and it's rare for people to say thank you. As for my fellow guests, I heard very little whining or complaining and despite the alcohol flowing freely, didn't see too many examples of "drunk and disorderly" conduct.

2) Things were overall, organized. Clearly this isn't Disney's first time at the rodeo, and for the most part, they did a great job in handling the crowds and the flow of traffic. While I think crowds were handled better at Hollywood Studios versus Epcot, I can also appreciate Epcot is bigger and the design may not lend itself to the same procedures used there. I noticed at Epcot on New Year's Eve that viewing areas were taped off hours before even the 7 p.m. fireworks, and cast members were out politely, but firmly ensuring that people stayed within those areas only.

Afternoon crowds at Epcot -around 5 p.m.

3) Great weather. Okay, so Disney had nothing to do with this (at least I don't think they've figured out how to control the weather yet). But after living through three straight very cold winters, it was nice to ring in 2012 without freezing! In fact, it was about 79 during the day and around 50 degrees at night. It made standing in lines much more tolerable.

4) Unbelievable fireworks. Not only was I lucky enough to catch the fireworks on New Year's Eve at Epcot, the night before, I caught Magic Kingdom's New Year's Eve fireworks show (they always run them a day early as a "test run") from Wilderness Lodge. Both displays were utterly breathtaking and spectacular, beyond anything I've ever witnessed, and I've seen fireworks from just about every Disney World event or holiday, from 4th of July to the forgotten Pirate and Princess party. The fireworks at Magic Kingdom were so loud, it practically shook the Wilderness Lodge resort as it lit up the night sky. Similarly, Epcot celebrated by adding on a holiday celebration to the traditional Illuminations fireworks, which included acknowledging New Year's Eve at each individual country with fireworks synchronized to music of that individual country (except, for some strange reason, Italy, though I suppose it's hard to find an opera that fireworks go well with). At midnight, the sky exploded in a sea of noise and color so stunning, a collective "Wow!" was heard around us. It totally made being in the park all day well worth it.

Is it me, or is that a hidden Mickey?

The bad:

1) Lines. Everywhere. Remember how in an earlier blog post I mentioned how you have to keep reminding yourself to go for the experience, not the attractions? Well, it's the truth. With wait times on New Year's Eve of up to 280 minutes (Soarin), it's hard to get much accomplished. Other notable ride wait times included Test Track (240 minutes), Mission Space (175 minutes), Ellen's Energy Adventure (75 minutes), and The Seas with Nemo and Friends (60 minutes). This was around 2:30 in the afternoon! By the evening, even attractions like Journey to Imagination had 30+ minute waits. There were also long lines at stores and for food. I felt especially bad for women -lines for restrooms could be 40 minutes or longer in some parts of Epcot. The lines the day before at Hollywood Studios weren't much better, with Toy Story Mania never falling below about 180 minutes and Rock N Roller Coaster holding between 125-150 minutes.

2) Crowd control could have been better. Yes, yes, I know earlier I said it was overall very well managed. But I'm a lawyer, so I'm going to talk out of both sides of my mouth. Overall, I think it was well managed. However, exiting Epcot at night after the fireworks was madness. There was absolutely no control of the crowd or attempt to split the flow of traffic to keep people on each side going in one direction. The result was that my group had to hold onto one another for dear life to avoid being separated and dealt with an insane amount of pushing and shoving from World Showcase almost all the way to Spaceship Earth. For their part, cast members seemed unable to do little more to control the crowd then waive their bright red lightsaber wands and yell "Happy New Year! Keep moving!" Oddly, earlier in the evening, Epcot had opened 3 back paths in World Showcase that took crowds behind the park (in what are normally cast member only areas) and led directly towards Future World and the park exit. After the fireworks, however, all these same paths were closed off to crowds, despite the fact that they could have handled a large amount of people and led to an easier time exiting the park. I can only hope that come New Year's Eve 2012, Disney considers keeping at least one of these paths open for guests to use.

It seemed everyone wanted to leave at the same time right after fireworks ended.

3) Delays and problems caused by guests. Okay, I think I have a new pet peeve. Many of the delays in getting out of the park, especially with getting on trams and getting back to vehicles at the end of the night, was caused by guests' failure to listen to cast member instructions. Even if this is your first time at a Disney park and you're not familiar with procedure, you need only listen to the announcements being made, and follow what is said. "No more than 5 to a row" when getting on a tram means just that. If you try to cram 8 people into one bench, they will not allow it, and the tram cannot leave! Similarly, when they call for no further boarding, STOP trying to get on. Every time another guest did this, the cast member working on the back of the tram was forced to replay the same safety message again for everyone on board. This sometimes went on 2-3 times. When getting off at your stop, do as you are told and exit to behind the white safety poles, so the tram can depart. Don't make the cast member say the same thing a dozen times (and I only wish that was an exaggeration). Lastly, be smart about your surroundings. DO NOT try to walk in front of the tram while it is moving. It doesn't matter if you are in a crosswalk, it doesn't matter if you think you can make it across the road. Those trams may go only 5 miles an hour, but they easily weigh at least 2,000 pounds. You do not (and if you do, lay off the Mickey bars). If the tram hits you, you will be severely injured if you are lucky, but more than likely, killed. No one wants you to end your evening like that, and again, a cast member shouldn't have to physically raise their voice to you and tell you to stop moving for your own safety.

And the weird:

1) The huge number of guests wearing "1st time visitor" buttons. I could never in good conscience tell a person thinking of traveling to Walt Disney World on their first trip to go the week between Christmas and New Year's. It is the most crowded week of the year at the parks. After only two days, I was in agony from all the walking, waiting, and standing, and I saw many people who had fallen asleep on benches, leaning up against buildings, or passed out on the grass -though that could have been alcohol induced too, now that I think about it! If you are planning your first trip for that week, please don't go thinking the crowds and things you see are the typical Disney experience. They are not. It truly is possible to get on rides and attractions like Soarin or Rock N' Roller Coaster without having to wait 4 hours, and it's not usually almost an hour wait for the bathroom. If you were a first time visitor just back from your trip and you went solely for the experience, I salute you, because you were very brave!

When all was said and done, would I do it again? In a second. Despite the crowds, the pushing, the shoving, and oh, the pain which is still lingering days later, there's something indescribable about being there for New Year's Eve. Next time, though, I'm staying on property. Even a short drive home felt long after being up for 20 straight hours. Now I just need to convince my wife that I'm not crazy.....

Bob is a Disney travel agent and Central Florida local. You can follow his exploits here and on Facebook. Email him at Bob@PixieVacations.com or call him at 407-810-2528 for free concierge-level help in planning your next Disney vacation.

Using Magical Express without Documents.

2012-01-02T15:30:00.002-05:00

Don't waste time at the baggage carousel like Boba Fett.

Use Magical Express instead.

It happens: You book a flight late or you simply forget to call, and by the time you remember, it's too late to get your Magical Express documents and those little yellow tags that make your life so much easier. Well don't panic. You can still use Magical Express. In fact, you can even take advantage of their luggage delivery service. Here's how it works.

Normally a few weeks prior to travel you'll receive your Magical Express booklet and yellow tags. You'll put those yellow tags on your checked baggage, check it at your home airport, and the next time you see it will be in your resort room, usually 3 - 5 hours after your plane lands. When you get to the airport, you'll just show your booklet to the Magical Express attendant at the gate and walk to the bus (with a short wait before boarding, most likely). It's that simple.

If you don't have the booklet, you can still ride Magical Express. Just go to the Magical Express counter first (it's the big long counter to your right as you walk toward the lines) and give them your name. Your resort confirmation number helps too, but it's not necessary; all your information should be in the system. They'll print up a new booklet for you and you're on your way.

But what if you don't have your yellow tags and you still want to take advantage of the luggage delivery service? It is, after all, one of the greatest inventions of all time. All you have to do is check your baggage the way you normally would and then go to the Magical Express counter when you get to the airport. You'll give the cast member your baggage claim tickets and they'll pick up your bags for you and have them shipped to your room. If you're worried that it might take too long this way, don't be: You'll still get your luggage within the usual time frame.

Doing "One More Disney Day" a Little Bit Better: Gift Card Giveaway.

2012-01-01T11:15:00.005-05:00

Book a new vacation package and receive a free gift card and monogrammed tote.

Last night, Disney announced it's newest promotion.

A big part of the promotion is that the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland will be open on "leap day" February 29th for 24-hours. Sounds exciting--I would love to be there.
For those who can't make it on leap day, you can still join in the fun. Starting today, January 1st, you can enter a daily sweepstakes to win a free Disney vacation for four. Just go to disney.go.com/memories to enter or if you prefer to enter via text, type the key word “DISNEYDAY” as an SMS text message to the SMS shortcode “347639″ (“DISNEY”). Disney will be giving away 60 packages.
Finally, Disney announced another discount with this promotion. Book a 3 night package (includes tickets) and receive an additional night's lodging and tickets free. Just mention the "one more day" promo or code E60 to your travel agent or Disney booking agent when you call. The discount covers most days nights from February 26 through March 10. You must book by January 31, 2012.

But wait, there's more. More, you say? Yes. You see, Bob and I were thinking. I know, that's dangerous, but hear me out. This promotion is great and all, particularly given that there have already been very substantial discounts offered for this period, but we were thinking we could do "One Disney Day" one better. So we're offering a free Disney gift card and a monogrammed tote when you book with either of us between now and January 31st. Here are the details:

A $25 Disney gift card and tote for bookings $2500 to $3500.
A $50 Disney gift card and tote for bookings $3501 to $8000.
A $75 Disney gift card and tote for bookings over $8000.
Clients who book a package worth $1500 to $2499 will receive a monogrammed tote.
As always, we're still offering $25 gift card for client referrals you send us worth $2200 and up.

Here are the rules:

Gift cards do not apply to Pixie exclusive offers.
Package totals do not include airfare.
Gift cards are based on a per package price, so if you book two $2500 packages, you'll receive two $25 gift cards.
Gift cards are for new bookings.
You must mention this gift card offer at the time of booking (although we'll probably remind you because we're nice that way).
This offer applies to all travel in 2012 to Disney World, Disney Cruise Lines, and Disneyland.
Package amounts are based on the final amount at travel, not on the day you book. Applying a discount can change the gift card amount.

Keep in mind that even if you can't take advantage of the current promotion, you can book now and have a discount applied later at no penalty. We do not charge for our services, so you'll always come out ahead with an offer like this one.

Here's how you can reach us:

Chris: Call 919-889-5281 or email me at Christina@PixieVacations.com.

Bob: Call 407-810-2528 or email Bob at Bob@PixieVacations.com.

Happy new year, everyone! I hope it's a good one for all you.

Will Credit Cards Be Required for all Disney Restaurants?

2011-12-31T14:15:00.000-05:00

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and greens from 50s Primetime Cafe.

We've been hearing the rumors for weeks now and last night it was confirmed by a manager at 50s Primetime Cafe in Hollywood Studios: Starting in the new year, a credit card guarantee will be required for all Disney table-service restaurants. Guests will need to cancel 24-hours prior to their reservation or face a $10 per person no-show fee.

I've noticed that since the credit card guarantee was implemented for character dining and signature restaurants back in October, it's been a lot easier to make reservations for clients, so this is a welcome change if it's true. According to the manager Bob spoke to last night, 40% of WDW reservations are no-shows. Since the new system has been in place, those restaurants which require a credit card guarantee are down to 7% no-shows.

We'll keep you posted if/when the new change occurs.

The New XPass: What Does It Mean for You and Me? By Bob Angelo.

2011-12-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

Recently, the online Disney community has been aflutter with rumors that XPass may be introduced at the Walt Disney Parks as early as 2012 (see Kevin Yee's excellent article here). No, it's not part of the new Fantasyland Expansion, but it may be as big a story. What exactly is it, and why should you care?

XPass is a next generation technology; a sort of enhanced Fastpass system that guests would pay for, and would allow them to plan out their entire Walt Disney World vacation; from what rides and attractions they want to experience, to character greetings, weeks or months before they even set foot in a Disney park. Once they arrive and get to a park, the guest would then just follow the specific plan they created, show up to an attraction, waive the XPass and bypass the other guests waiting on line. Guests utilizing the system would also be given special seating/viewing areas for parades, fireworks, and nighttime entertainment such as “Fantasmic.”

A project that is near and dear to Disney CEO Bob Iger's heart, the idea gained more attention earlier this year when Chairman of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Tom Staggs, commented that the company was working on a version of Fastpass for a guest's entire Disney vacation. To further muddy the waters a little, Jim Hill Media has reported that XPass would not be available for purchase by all guests; instead, only those guests who book a deluxe resort would be afforded the opportunity to partake.

Assuming this project is real, and these rumors are true (and I should stress again that all of this is just a rumor at this point, and nothing has been officially announced) I think it raises a number of concerns. First, since XPass guests would presumably be using the Fastpass entrance at attractions, in order to keep the flow of traffic moving, it's reasonable to assume that Disney will reduce the total number of Fastpasses available to other guests on any given day. I also have concerns about how Disney will handle guests using XPass at attractions or experiences that don't normally have them, such as at character greetings. Will guests be split into two separate lines? Will "normal" guests have to wait longer each time a guest with the pass decides they want to meet Mickey? And exactly how does Disney intend to respond to the backlash that is certain to occur from guests who don't have XPass or are not familiar with it, and don't like the idea of people “cutting” in front of them? After all, more than 10 years after its introduction, there are still people who don't understand the Fastpass system, and get upset when people walk by them and directly onto attractions.

Second, I don't like the idea of a caste system at Disney(or any theme park for that matter). It's bad enough that people who are willing to spend more money would get to seemingly have an easier, more enjoyable vacation, but to limit the purchase of the XPass only to those guests staying in Deluxe resorts isn't fair at all. Whether intentional or not, it sends the message that by staying in a deluxe resort, you are somehow better than everyone else, which simply isn't true. I have talked to many clients who could easily afford to stay in a deluxe resort, but for a variety of reasons, do not - they tour all day and aren't at the resort enough to enjoy it; they have young children who enjoy the theme of the value resorts better, or they like the fact that staying at a value gives them the option to stay for a longer period of time than staying at a deluxe would. And what about guests who choose for one reason or another to stay off-site? What about locals who have no reason to stay on or off property? If people's money isn't good just because they choose not to stay in a deluxe resort, maybe they start spending that money elsewhere.

Lastly, this just isn't the Disney way. To be fair, this whole idea isn't new; a certain other park just up the road from Walt Disney World where a famous boy wizard hangs out has (and has had for years) a similar system in place for on-site hotel guests and those willing to fork over extra cash on top of the base ticket price for the chance to bypass the lines at many of the popular attractions. And our friend Jim Hill, of the aforementioned Jim Hill Media, would remind me that if I said such a thing to Disney's board members, I would be quickly told “Well, maybe that wasn't Walt's way, but Walt's not around anymore, and this is how we do things now.” But when Disneyland first opened, it opened with the idea that it was a place where all families could go and have a good time together. Believe it or not, in its early days, there was even the idea in place that a guest should leave with money in their pocket at the end of the day because it would build brand loyalty. Clearly we aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto.

That doesn't change the fact that Disney ISN'T that park with the boy wizard, and the Disney parks are STILL a place meant for families of any shape and size to go and have a good time. The minute Disney starts putting in place systems that reward people with specialized attraction access, priority character meet and greets, and VIP viewing spots for parades and fireworks if they spend more money, they lose that. The minute guests are essentially categorized based on where they choose to put down their head at night, they risk isolating a segment of those same guests. Where Disney has always excelled is in the fact that they were different; there is no place you can go that is quite like Walt Disney World -not even Disneyland. What has always made it special for me is that no matter how many times I visit the parks, I can always find the magic somewhere, and all around me, I can see guests finding that same magic. I'd hate to see a system put in place where the level of magic you can find is dictated by your credit limit. Say it ain't so, Disney. Say it ain't so.

Thanks to Bob for his thoughts on this issue. What do you think?

Saying Good-Bye to Disney at the End of Your Trip by Bob Angelo.

2011-12-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

Say Goodbye...Say Goodbye to Hollywood (Studios)

*with apologies to Billy Joel for ruining his song lyrics

It's something every visitor who comes to Walt Disney World eventually must face. No, not the turkey legs, though those are everywhere too. I'm talking about dealing with the end of your vacation. If you're anything like I was before I moved to Florida and became a theme park junkie, about halfway into the trip it dawns on you that soon your visit to the place where dreams come true will be over. Soon you'll have to return home to the real world; back to a place where wearing mouse ears on your head is largely frowned upon. This is especially true if you happen to work in a law office - just trust me on this one. While leaving is hard, here are some ways to make saying goodbye easier.

1. Take lots of pictures. I know, this one seems like a no-brainer, but I'm surprised by the amount of people in the parks who never seem to take a single one! I've been to the parks hundreds of times now, and it's rare that my wife and I are there without a camera. For many, I think there is this mindset that “I've been there once before, why do I need to take pictures,” but the beauty of Disney World is that there is always something different to see and capture, and having photographs to look back on is a great way to re-live memories of your trip. You could even start a new tradition, say, a family photo of everyone on your first day, and then on your last on every trip.

2. Experience a character meal. Some guests shrug off the idea of dining with the characters, feeling it silly to eat in the presence of cast members wearing costumes. To those people, I say “What costumes?” Seriously though, whether you stand in line to meet all the characters when at the parks or knock them out of the way as you rush towards It's a Small World for another thrilling ride (it's so much better these days now that they've added that 50 foot drop at the end, anyway), character meals are a lot of fun, and a great way to say goodbye and remember your trip. Depending on your schedule, you can do a dinner the night before, or a breakfast the morning of your departure. For most people, the go-to character meal is going to be Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort, but if you can't get in there, or have a fear of monorails (hey, watch it, it's a real thing), then I also recommend Tusker House at Animal Kingdom or Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom. Since these last two places are in the parks themselves, park admission is obviously required, so you may have to plan on doing your farewell meal earlier in your visit.

3. Do some last minute shopping. This is probably easier for those folks who have a later flight out or those driving, so if that's you, before you leave, head to Downtown Disney and pick up some souvenirs for yourself, and for family who didn't get to go with you because there was just no way you were going to spend an entire week with them in a tiny hotel room. After all, nothing says “I missed you while I was having fun at Disney World” like a coffee mug shaped like a duck's butt. If that's a little too weird for you, there's also one shaped like Mickey's shorts. Personally, both of them make me uncomfortable, but I still sell a ton of them to people on Ebay. Don't forget to pick up some goodies for the trip home, too, especially if you have unused snack credits. My suggestion would be to get one of those giant rice crispy treats. They're so packed with butter and so dense that eating one can take hours – but hey, it's still better than airline food. If you can't make it to DTD before you leave, but you're flying out of Orlando International Airport, never fear, travelers, Disney has two stores at the airport that are filled with stuff to buy and that will gladly take whatever money you have left before you head home.

4. On your last day, do your favorite park and attractions. Again, depending on your departure schedule, your last day might be the morning of departure or the day before. Whenever it is, your last day in the parks on your visit should be spent in your favorite park(s) experiencing the attractions and shows that you enjoyed most. Want to try and beat your high score on Buzz Lightyear Spaceranger Spin? Go for it! Want to ride Space Mountain until you puke? Good for you! Do you want to experience the beauty of California one last time at Soarin? Then do it. Don't spend your last full day, or your last few hours of your trip doing something you won't enjoy; leave with happy memories of a great vacation and excited about what you will do when you return.

If none of these suggestions work for you, you could always adopt Chris's tradition. On her last full day in the parks at Walt Disney World, she spends the entire day at the Magic Kingdom, taking in the attractions, the parades, the fireworks, and the food. At the end of the night, as the park starts to empty out, she stands on Main Street and just stares at the castle. And she continues to stand there, in fact, until she is the only one left in the park, and two cast members have to drag her out while she is kicking and screaming “No, I'm not ready to leave yet, you can't make me!” I only wish I was joking about this last paragraph. At least Disney finally caved and let her have an annual pass, and now she gets to visit any time she wants. (Editor's note: That's kind of true. -Chris)

Bob is a Disney travel agent and Central Florida local. You can follow his exploits here and on Facebook. Email him at Bob@PixieVacations.com for free concierge-level help in planning your next Disney vacation.

Opening Dates for the New Art of Animation Suites.

2011-12-27T09:30:00.007-05:00

Proposed Cars secion of the resort.

Thinking of booking a vacation at Disney's Art of Animation Suites? You can book these rooms, which will open in sections on the grounds of what was the proposed Golden Years section at the Pop Century Resort, starting on the following dates.

Nemo Suites: Opening May 31, 2012.
Cars suites: August 31, 3012.
The Lion King Suites: September 30, 2012.
The Little Mermaid rooms: Sometimes in December.

I checked the travel agent side of the Disney site today and the Little Mermaid rooms aren't showing up yet for us to book. I'll let you know when I hear of a more solid date.

Suites will sleep six and have a refrigerator and microwave. The Little Mermaid rooms will sleep four and be similar and size and amenities(in other words, no fridge without paying a $10 nightly fee) to the rooms at other value resorts. The resort will feature an 11,859-square-foot pool, the largest of any of Disney resort.

Thanks to Suzy B. for your question regarding the Little Mermaid section.

New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World

2011-12-26T08:25:00.000-05:00

Please welcome my good friend and fellow podcaster Bob Angelo. Bob is a travel agent with Pixie Vacations, a huge Disney fan, and, as you can see here, pretty funny. I hope this post amuses you and helps you if you're planning on spending New Year Eve at Walt Disney World.

Many past guests (and even some first timers) to Walt Disney World have the dream of spending New Year's Eve at one of the Disney parks and ringing in the new year with Mickey and Minnie. Despite being a local to the parks and a Disney annual passholder for a number of years, I never had this dream. Sure, I've had fleeting moments where I thought it could be fun, and then I remember I'd forgotten to take my medication that morning and the voices in my head that make me do crazy impulsive things were starting to return.

This year, however, my mother-in-law, is celebrating a major milestone birthday on December 31st, (and because I genuinely like my mother-in-law, and she still likes me, I'm not going to tell you exactly what that milestone is) and she wanted to do something "exciting" and "different" to celebrate. I'm not quite sure what came over me, but before I knew it, I heard myself saying "Well, why don't we go to Disney World for your birthday and ring it in with style?" If you're going to be one of the people braving Disney World on New Year's Eve this year (or you're thinking of going in the future) here's some things you need to know before you go.

First, only the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios will stay open for midnight fireworks and festivities. I don't think I need to explain why Animal Kingdom doesn't shoot off fireworks, but just in case, it's because it really upsets the animals (yes, Virginia, they're really real, and I'm so tired of hearing people on the safari attraction say otherwise -but I digress!), and no one wants to deal with ticked off lions and tigers and...rhinos.

Fireworks at Hollywood Studios are sort of a big deal, because the park only shoots them off only twice year now, on July 4th and December 31st. Similar to what they do for the 4th of July, the Magic Kingdom will show its New Year's Eve fireworks on both December 30th and 31st, so you could catch them a day early there, and then spend New Year's Eve at a different park. Epcot will present a special version of its fireworks show, Illuminations, twice -once earlier in the evening, and once later to coincide with the actual countdown.

Second, it will be crowded. Very crowded. New Year's Eve is among one of the most crowded, if not THE most crowded day at the parks. I've heard people joke (half seriously) "You can fall down and not ever touch the ground, such are the crowds." Expect to be shoulder to shoulder and long waits for everything from attractions to restrooms. This is not the time for you to plan your first ever visit to the parks. A good touring plan is a must, and even then, keep your expectations reasonable. Try to hit your "must do attractions", and get to the parks early, to maximize the amount of time you have before the parks really start to fill up.

Third, heavy crowds means park closures. Walt Disney World is unique in that it shuts down its parks in stages. Here's how those stages work:

Stage 1: In this first phase the parking lot is closed and you will only be admitted using Disney transportation.

Stage 2: The ticket windows are closed (including automatic Ticket Vending Machines) so in this phase, if you don’t already have a ticket for that park, you will not get in. Guests who are re-entering the same park on the same day will be admitted, as will Disney resort guests, annual passholders, and guests already holding park hoppers.

Stage 3: Only those who are Disney resort guests or Annual Passholders will be admitted.

Stage 4: The park is closed to all incoming guests. There is no incoming transportation of any kind.

What does this mean for you? If you are staying offsite, plan on getting to a park early. Even if you have an annual pass, that's not going to matter if you are staying offsite and the parking lot to the park you want to get to is closed, after all. Having a dining reservation isn't going to help you either: If the park is closed, you still will not be allowed to enter. Lastly, many resort guests believe that staying onsite guarantees them entrance to whatever park they choose. That would be wrong. If staying onsite, and a park reaches a Stage 4 closure, you will given admission into a park, just not necessarily one of your choosing.

It's a good bet that the Magic Kingdom is going to close to capacity first, and close early. In years past, Stage 4 closure has happened around 10:30-11:00 a.m., so plan ahead. The park will likely open up later in the afternoon/early evening as crowds lessen a bit, but if the Magic Kingdom is your must do park to ring in the new year, then you want to make sure you are inside those gates early, and stay all day.

Remember that if you arrive at a park and then choose to leave, it's not a guarantee that you will get back in. If Hollywood Studios or Epcot were to close, I would expect them both to happen later in the afternoon/evening, if at all. All reports indicate that guests have been able to get into Hollywood Studios even at 5 or 6 p.m. with no problems, and Epcot, due to its size, has not closed, though World Showcase can be a log jam of people, with people grabbing spots to watch the fireworks 3-5 hours in advance. Animal Kingdom won't close to capacity, but it won't be open past 8 p.m., either.

Celebrating a major holiday at one of the Disney parks can be exciting, and create happy memories to last a lifetime. You just have to remember to have realistic expectations about what you will be able to accomplish that day, and bring your patience. Regardless of which park you decide to ring in 2012 in, just keep repeating this mantra - "I am here for the experience, not the attractions."

Have you spent New Year's Eve at Disney before, or will you be this year? Share your stories with us in the comments!

Changes to Upgrading Your Disney Park Tickets to An Annual Pass.

2011-12-23T18:44:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know about some changes in upgrading your Magic Your Way tickets to an annual pass. In the past, you could upgrade most Disney park tickets to an annual pass as long as you did it within fourteen days from the first day of use, even if there were no days left on the ticket. At one point, you could even upgrade when you got home as long as you still had the ticket and you did it within the same month.

Here are the new rules:

Tickets must be upgraded within the first seven days of use. That means if you first use the ticket on a Monday, you'll need to upgrade it by the close of business on Sunday.
Tickets must have at least one day remaining on them.
Tickets must be upgraded in person.

While you can buy a new annual pass at your resort's concierge desk, you'll need to go to a ticket booth or Guest Relations in the park or Downtown Disney to upgrade your Magic Your Way tickets to an annual pass. I just did this at the will-call booth in the Magic Kingdom a couple of days ago and it took all of five minutes. Make sure you have your photo ID with you. You AP start date will be the date you first started using the Magic Your Way ticket, not the day you upgraded to an AP.

Top 5 Walt Disney World Guide Books

2011-12-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

We have a special guest post for you. George, from Imaginerding has written a post about the top five travel books related to Walt Disney World. Make sure to head over to Imaginerding and check out all of the other nerdy Disney stuff that George writes about. And tell him that Chris sent ya!

Looking for a travel guide to Walt Disney World?

I want to share my five favorite Walt Disney World travel guides. In no particular order, of course.

1. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa.

Considered by many to be the mother of all travel guides, this perennial favorite is longer than most Harry Potter books and packs more information per square inch. This is a great guide for people who have visited more than once and are looking to optimize their vacation dollars, time and enjoyment. No one reviews as many hotels nor offers the amazing touring plans (if you buy the book, you get a discount to TouringPlans.com). Although there is plenty for first-timers to learn by reading this book, it can be very overwhelming. Many people I have discussed the guide with confess to buying it every year and using it to research their upcoming trip--you are not required to read the whole book every year.

2. Birnbaum's Guides Walt Disney World: Expert Advice from the Inside Source.

For many years, Birnbaum's Guides were the only Walt Disney World travel books with pictures. Of course, they were black and white, which really didn't count. The current editions do offer color photos and they have always offered a colorful and very pleasing format. This is the book that I recommend to first-time visitors since the information is presented in such an easy-to-use format. The attempt is to give the reader an overview without offering too much information that could confuse or confound. The maps are very similar to what you pick up at the parks so you can familiarize yourself before you head down. This is a great planning tool for families to use together.

3. The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal and Mile Neal.

First published in 2007, the Neal's guide took the Walt Disney World travel guide market by storm and won many awards. It was the very first non-Disney publication to feature photographs. The book is fairly comprehensive and does a great job of straddling the Unofficial and Official Guides. The book has a great layout and they spend a majority of the pages describing and rating the attractions and shows. They do cover everything else, like the resorts, restaurants and recreation, and they do it well. This is a good book for first-timers but it is still geared more towards the veteran Walt Disney World visitor. The Neals also include a lot of hidden Mickeys and oft-missed details.

4. PassPorter's Walt Disney World: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! by Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx and Allison Cerel Marx.

The Passporter guides have always done a great job of offering a resource for the people with an obvious eye for planning and details. The guide is spiral bound and offers pockets for holding planning documents and souvenirs. One of the great options presented by Passporter is the resort detail. Resort maps, room layouts and color photographs are included. In addition to offering space for your planning needs, the Passporter guide also includes spaces for journaling. Imagine being able to see what you, your kids or other party members wrote about that once-in-a-lifetime trip.

5. The Imagineering Filed Guides to... Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios by Alex Wright.

Written by Imagineer Alex Wright, this series of field guides are an excellent source for learning the details, designs and decisions behind the attractions, shows and architecture of the Walt Disney World theme parks. These books are perfect for accomplished Walt Disney World travelers. Not to say that first-timers won't love them, but the books were born out of a love for the parks and the desire to share some of the insider secrets. These books should be a requisite for the plane ride to Orlando. They are a sure-fire way to impress your travel partners with your insider knowledge. Also, the books are a fun read after your trip; they are a great way to relive your trip and read about the things you may have overlooked (to help you plan for your next trip).

6. The Dark Side of Disney by Leonard Kinsey.

OK, I lied. There are six books on this list, but The Dark Side of Disney is a book that not everyone needs to know about or needs to read. Check out my full review to see if this is a book you need to add.

In short. Kinsey shares some of the tips that he has used to have a non-traditional Disney vacation. My favorite section details the urban exploring done by Hoot and Chief Gibson. Check this title out if you are looking for vicarious ways to enjoy a Disney trip. Granted, there are some illegal things discussed in the book, so, be sure to take off your rose-colored Mouse Ears.

George runs ImagiNERDing, one of the geekier sites about Disney. He has a fetish for books about Disney and it shows. George is also a travel agent with Pixie Vacations. He would love to help you plan your NERDiest vacation ever--send him an email at george@pixievacations.com to get a price quote or just talk Disney.

Latest Fantasyland Expansion Updates.

2011-12-20T19:34:00.001-05:00

You know the old joke about the Disney World bus driver telling a guest that Disney is building a 5th park? Well, I didn't get this information from a bus driver and in fact, the source seems pretty reliable. When I was in the Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning, there was a cast member doing an informal presentation front of one of the Fantasyland construction walls (above) about the projected opening dates of the expansion. I talked to him a bit more after he finished and here's what he had to say:

The Little Mermaid attraction is finished inside and cast members have already ridden it. He described it as "slightly longer and a lot better" than the one in Disneyland.
The Little Mermaid attraction, officially known as Ariel's Undersea Adventure, will open this summer.
The rest of the Fantasyland expansion will be completed by the end of 2012. Because Disney usually likes to test out attractions during the slower months, I would expect soft openings as far out as November so that they can iron out all the kinks before the Thanksgiving and Christmas crowds flood the parks.
Cast members have not been given any projected opening date for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride, which he referred to as "a big hole in the ground at this time."

Obviously, I'm not certain that this information is 100% accurate since we've seen various dates all over the place, but I'm inclined to think that this information is solid because no sane cast member would speak to a crowd in the Magic Kingdom about "Disney business" without prior authorization. Most of us suspected that the bulk of the expansion would be completed by the end of 2012, but I think the big news is that the Little Mermaid attraction should be open for summer. A nice surprise for those who are visiting then.

Going to Walt Disney World.

2011-12-08T11:09:00.000-05:00

We're staying here! I can't wait.

I thought for certain I would write this week. I really wanted to talk about how I'm second-guessing all my choices for this rather big trip. Instead, I had a ton of work and lots to do to get ready, so it will have to wait. I hope to blog some while I'm in WDW since I'll have time at night.

At this point, I'm doing my best Ed Grimley impression and counting down the hours until we go! Just substitute Christmas for Disney World.

We're Giving Away a Trip!

2011-12-01T15:13:00.000-05:00

This is a big one, folks. We're giving away a trip!

Announcing the Create Magical Memories Sweepstakes.

Pixie Vacations is giving away a 4-day/3-night Disney Resort stay at Walt Disney World with tickets for up to four adults. All you have to do is register here: http://pixievacations.com/index.php/2011/06/26/disney-world-2/

No fuss, no muss. No need to purchase anything.

The sweepstakes starts today (December 1) and ends on Feb 29, 2012. You can read the official rules at the link above also.

Restaurant Review: Columbia Harbour House.

2011-11-30T04:43:00.002-05:00

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square, has been a Magic Kingdom staple almost since the park opened. Back then, its signature item was a baked potato, but today you'll find mostly seafood items on the menu at this deservedly popular quick-service location. For non-seafood lovers, you can still get chicken nuggets and fries, but you won't find any burgers on the menu.

The most popular item on the menu is the fried fish basket that comes with a side of fries and broccoli. If you prefer, skip the same fries you'll find all over property--they're not that great--and add apple slices instead. The fried fish is very good, with nice white pieces that have a mild taste. The batter is crispy and not greasy. You'll find better fried fish at the Rose and Crown Pub, but if you have a craving for fish and chips in the Magic Kingdom, this will hit the spot. The only downside is the sour-tasting tartar sauce, which is so bad, I sat there wishing I'd brought a bottle of my own from home! Try the malt vinegar instead.

On a colder day, you can round out your meal with the popular New England Clam Chowder. It's not something that really stands out on the menu, but this thick, tasty soup is a bargain at $4.69. For something lighter, the vegetarian chili is a great choice at $4.49.

Lobster Roll.

At $9.99, the lobster roll is filling if not quite authentic. New Englanders will probably want to pass, but for everyone else, it's a fun change of pace from burgers and nuggets.

Anchors Aweigh Tuna Fish Sandwich

I've had the tuna fish sandwich many times and it's consistently good, made with white tuna and dressed with mayonnaise on a multi grain bread for $8.99. It comes with lettuce and tomatoes and chips.

You might not expect it, but in addition to the vegetarian chili, Columbia Harbour House knows how to treat vegetarians. In fact, the Light House sandwich with hummus, tomato and broccoli slaw on a toasted multi-grain bread is one of the best vegetarian options in the Magic Kingdom, so if you're looking for something beyond the standard, pallid and uninspired veggie burger that's not loaded with cheese, this is a nice option.

If the downstairs is crowded, try the more sedate upstairs seating. It's a great place to unwind before you head back outside for more adventure.

Columbia Harbour House is a nice change of pace in the Magic Kingdom. It's never as frenetic as some quick-service locations, with a more grown-up New England decor and a menu that promises--and delivers--something different. If you like seafood, give it a try.

Tip: The smell of seafood, which you would expect to be present in any seafood restaurant, can be strong in this restaurant and may bother some children (and adults) with sensory issues. Pass if you think it will bother someone in your group.

Thanks to Bob and Donna Angelo for these photos.

2011 Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

2011-11-27T12:01:00.001-05:00

Every year starting in early November, the Streets of America in Hollywood Studios are transformed into a fantasy of holiday lights, courtesy of the late Jennings Osborne, a businessman and humanitarian from Little Rock, Arkansas. The story goes that years ago Mr. Osborne wanted give his little girl the biggest Christmas display that anyone had ever seen, so he started decorating his Little Rock home with thousands of holiday lights. Over the years those decorations multiplied and not surprisingly, his neighbors weren't very happy with all the visitors who crowded the streets where the Osborne family lived to see the now-famous decorations. A group of them filed suit to stop the display and Mr. Osborne, known as a bit of a prankster, responded by adding three million more lights! The case went all the way to the Supreme Court with the city prevailing. Meanwhile, the case gained nationwide attention and multiple companies offered to host the display. The rest is history, of course, with the Osbornes choosing the Walt Disney company, which has been using the original (plus some extra) holiday lights since 1995.

Jennings Osborne passed away earlier this year and he will be missed by many, but his family can take solace in how much happiness he's given people, not just in Arkansas but from all over the world.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights takes place every night in Hollywood Studios during the holiday season, complete with accompanying Christmas music at intervals throughout the night. Crowds tend to thin out about an hour after that night's lighting, so consider visiting later for a peaceful stroll through the lights.

Please enjoy these photographs from last weekend, courtesy of my friends Bob and Donna.

Ask the Disney Travel Agent.

2011-11-26T15:45:00.010-05:00

Like most travel agents, I get a lot of questions about the job, everything from how to become an agent to how we get paid, so I thought I would address the most common ones here.

How do travel agents get paid?

It depends on the agency, but most Disney travel agents are paid by Disney, after the client travels. We work on a commission, which means that we get a percentage of the cost of your trip before taxes and fees. This also means that if a client cancels, the travel agent isn't paid unless that agency imposes a cancellation fee.

Why does Disney do this? Well, when you call Disney directly, you're probably talking to an agent who works on incentives based on sales in addition to their base pay--in other words, they're working on a commission too, no matter how you slice it. The difference between booking with a Disney agent directly and booking with a Disney travel agent from an outside company is that you'll get the same agent every time and that agent has an incentive to make you happy, such as calling you when a discount comes out. Why? They want you to come back and send your friends!

Incidentally, our commissions don't effect the price of your vacation. In other words, it's not secretly built into your costs. You'll get the same price booking through us, or a Disney cast member on the phone, or online at the Disney website.

My agency charges fees. Is this legitimate?

It's legitimate, but you shouldn't pay it. Ever. There's no reason for any travel agency to charge you fees since they're paid by the vendor. Some agencies charge cancellation fees so that their agents don't walk away from a cancelled booking without some compensation and I can see the argument behind doing so, but I personally would not pay those fees.

Additionally, be wary of people who bill themselves as Disney vacation planners but who are not associated with an agency or graduates of Disney's College of Knowledge. These people charge a fee for booking (around $50) and an additional fee for planning your vacation. This is a service that most Disney travel agencies provide for free, so why pay for it? Further, these people are rarely insured, so if something goes wrong, you have little or no recourse. If you want help planning your vacation but don't want to work with a travel agent, pay $18 and buy an Unofficial Guide, hang around on Disboards, and do it yourself. I'm not trying to hurt anyone's business, but these "planners" charge uncessary fees and make it harder for us to do our job.

What will an agent do for me?

It's standard practice for agencies that primarily book Disney (that is, a Disney travel agency as opposed to a regular travel agency like AAA) to provide itineraries, make dining and Magical Express reservations, and offer detailed travel advice. Travel agencies that are centered around Disney tend to be staffed by agents who visit Disney a lot, so they know all the tips and tricks that a regular travel agent doesn't know. They also tend to enjoy talking about Disney, so you shouldn't feel bad about asking for help.

One of the most important things a Disney travel agent will do for you is save you money. They do this by keeping up with discounts and applying them as they come out, but if you're a Disney savvy traveler, you know that you can also do this yourself. It just depends on if you have the time. A lot of guests want to do the work--it makes the trip feel more real and planning can be half the fun. And for those people, you probably don't need to book with an agent. But if you like help and someone to bounce ideas off of, a travel agent can be an asset.

How do I become a Disney travel agent?

The first step is to visit Disney a lot and know the product. There are plenty of agencies that will hire you if you know Disney World and Disneyland; the key is really finding one that is reputable, fair and a good fit for your personality. It's standard practice to pay a small signing fee (this is often refundable once you sell a certain amount). Some agencies offer more support than others. This can range from basic marketing help to mailing documents to clients. My agency has a lot of agent interaction but some agents work entirely alone and may never speak to their fellow agents and only rarely to the agency owner. Agencies may also send you client referrals, but even those agencies will expect you to bring in the bulk of your own clients. In return for their support, they'll take anywhere from 40 to 20 percent of your commission, so you better like them!

On a personal note, I didn't want to work for an agency that expected its agents to do a "hard sell" with clients and I wanted to be able to set how much I wanted to sell rather than have a quota, which I thought might be difficult with small children. I also wanted to be able to continue blogging and writing about what I thought was important, even if it wasn't always flattering to the Mouse. This is what I mean about finding an agency that's a good fit for you. I probably just lucked out, but I know some agents haven't been as lucky, so check out your potential agency online to see how you'll mesh with them.

Do travel agents have any pull that I don't have?

Honestly, no. While we can sometimes pull some strings in certain areas or call on favors from friends (and most TAs have a lot of contacts at Disney), we can't get you into a fully-booked Le Cellier, get you upgraded to a Savanna view for free, or find deals that aren't out there.

Do you get to travel for free?

Yes and no. Disney offers amazing training programs and I'd be lying if I told you they weren't AWESOME! We can also get some pretty great room discounts, but for the most part, we're paying the same price you are.

If you have any questions you want answered privately, please feel free to email me at ChrisW@PixieVacations.com. Sorry, I can't tell any company secrets or help you get a job, but if you have some general questions about the TA business or how we operate that I haven't addressed here, feel free to write.

Cinderella's Holiday Wish Stage Show.

2011-11-25T13:02:00.002-05:00

Every night during the holiday season, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother makes a little bit of magic by decorating the castle in beautiful lights that sparkle like icicles.

The show starts with Mickey and all the gang dressed in their holiday finery.

Time to decorate Cinderella Castle for Christmas.

So many decisions to make! What should they do?

Thankfully, the Fairy Godmother appears to lend a hand.

She needs your help to make some magic.

Everyone joins in to make Cinderella's dream come true.

The Fairy Godmother begins lighting the castle with the encouragement from the audience.

The lights go on in sections, which adds to the excitement once you see the entire castle lit up. Then Cinderella and the Prince come out to enjoy it.

A happy ending, each and every night.

A beautiful way to end your day.

The show starts every night between 6:00 and 6:30 depending on when it gets dark. As you get closer to Christmas, it will start around 6:00. Nearly every spot in front of the castle will give you a good view, but if you're going to be leaving shortly after the show, stake out a spot near Casey's Corner and then wind your way through the shops so you can avoid the throngs leaving the park via Main Street. Remember that on Christmas party nights, you'll need to leave the park by 7:00 p.m. if you don't have a party ticket, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy this show.

Thanks to Bob and Donna for the photos! Much appreciated, guys.

Where to Find Santa This Christmas Season.

2011-11-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

There are plenty of places to meet Santa this holiday season at Disney World:

Santa will greet guests at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and he'll also be one of the stars in the parade. The party runs on select nights until December 18 (which is sold out). After the party ends, you can see Santa in the Magic Kingdom throughout the rest of the holiday season.

You can meet Santa in Epcot at the American Adventure Pavilion between November 24 and December 24. You can also see Santa and his helpers in several World Showcase pavilions telling Christmas stories unique to that country, including France, Germany, and Italy. This is a great way to introduce kids to your own family's Christmas heritage or to that of others.

Santa will be greeting guests starting on Thanksgiving day until Christmas eve from noon until 10:00 p.m. After Santa leaves for the North Pole, Goofy will take over his duties and continue to greet guests through January 1.

Finally, you can meet Santa in your resort lobby if you're lucky enough to be visiting Christmas eve. He'll be there between the hours of 5:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Christmas 2011 in the Magic Kingdom.

2011-11-22T10:18:00.002-05:00

The Christmas holidays are underway at Walt Disney World. Even if you can't get down there right now, grab some hot cocoa and enjoy these pictures from my good friends Bob and Donna.

The big Christmas tree in the Magic Kingdom won't go up in Town Square until after the Christmas parade taping ends on December 5th, but this display of wooden soldiers in makes a nice photo op until then.

Close-up of one of the wooden soldiers.

A nice close up of some of the decorated greenery you'll see.

These Christmas stockings with the Mickey, Pluto, and Minnie on them will delight kids on Christmas morning.

For all you collectors, this year's souvenir popcorn bucket is a cute snowman.

Even Tomorrowland's Christmas trees get a futuristic, 1960s-style.

I secretly want a tree like this at home!

Whatever you do, don't miss the nightly castle lighting ceremony. It's truly breathtaking and worth braving the crowds for. It takes place every night as soon as it gets dark. Be there at around 6:00 just to be safe.

Three Words to Banish from Your Disney Vocabulary.

2011-11-20T13:18:00.002-05:00

One thing I notice when people start planning a Disney vacation is that they seem to get caught up in the importance of the different resort categories. If you're new to Disney, those categories are deluxe, moderate, and value, and while you may think they have a lot to do with the defining the resort itself, their more practical use is to give you a hint at what you'll be paying. This is because while it's true that each category presents a certain type room and of amenities, the truth is that the labeling is just as important in aiding your perception of where you're staying. Call it a brilliant marketing strategy, but don't get caught up in it.

The unfortunate result in focusing on these categories is that doing so can make you overlook a more appropriate resort and more importantly, it can make you spend too much money. I see this most often when people make the jump from the values to the moderates, where there's an assumption that there's a direct correlation between the increase in price and your resort experience. This just isn't true. Look at it objectively and decide if a larger bed, more "grown up" theming, and a slightly larger room is worth paying $50 to $100 more per night, but don't be swayed by the term "moderate."

So, how do you choose a resort? Well, throw out all your ideas about resort categories and choose what you love and, most importantly, what you can afford. Don't let snobbery cause you to make a decision that hurts you in the end, but make sure you don't overlook important issues like theming and location. I have guests who are hesitant to stay at the values because they think they're "low-rent," but value guests are some of the most travel savvy visitors on property because they didn't get caught up in the hype. And you might be surprised at how many of them can afford the Grand Floridian but don't choose it because it doesn't fit how they travel. Finally, it's not just budget travelers who get caught up in the name game. Ironically, the least expensive deluxe resort on property, Animal Kingdom Lodge, is also the most well-themed, but guests sometimes blanch at staying there because it's considered a lower level of deluxe resort.

The terms "value, moderate and deluxe" are all designed to elicit certain feelings from the buyer. All but the term "value" is intended to upsell your vacation. Banishing these three words from your Disney vocabulary can help you make a smarter decision about where you'll stay on your next trip. A value isn't "budget" or "low class" and a deluxe won't make your trip better. So choose your resort based on what's works for you, not on what some marketing expert is trying to sell you.

An Edible Christmas: 2011 Disney Park Treats.

2011-11-14T16:49:00.002-05:00

The holidays are well underway at Disney World, as every day brings the arrival of new Christmas decorations, merchandise, or treats.

Candies with Mickey on the front, Mickey cookies and holiday-themed marshmallows at the Confectionary in the Magic Kingdom.

More Mickey cookies, almost too cute to eat. These make great small gifts to bring back to friends or to tuck into stockings on Christmas eve.

Mickey head Rice Krispy Treats get a sprinkle of holiday colors.

Chocolate bars have a Christmas-themed wrapper with all your familiar friends.

You can bring a little bit of the parks home with coffee and hot cocoa mix.

Chocolate Advent calendar for the kids or for kids at heart.

These might be the cutest cupcakes ever.

This white chocolate dipped snowman is wearing Mickey ears!

You can make your own gingerbread cookies in Mickey shapes with this cookie cutter and mix set.

Special thanks again to Bob and Donna for provided these great photos.

Latest Pictures from the Fantasyland Expansion.

2011-11-14T10:46:00.000-05:00

It's good to have tall friends: Not only can they reach the high shelves at the grocery store for you, they can peek over the fences in the Magic Kingdom and get some excellent shots of the Fantasyland expansion. Thanks, Bob and Donna, for all your work this weekend.

You can see the rock work here on the Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction.

A more detailed look at the rock work and scaffolding.

Disney uses a concept called "forced perspective" to fool they eye into thinking buildings are larger than they actually are. If you look carefully as you walk up Main Street, you'll notice that the second and third stories of the buildings are smaller than the first. Here you can see the same concept used in the Beast's castle, which is on top of the "rock" formation.

Another view of the castle, this time showing some of the construction walls.

Goofy's Barnstomer, which is being re-imagined as The Great Goofini, looks relatively untouched since Toon Town closed earlier this year. We've heard the new overlay should be finished by May, but we're hoping that it will be complete in time for Easter crowds by early April.

Here's the steel structure that will support the two tents over the double Dumbo. Side A of the "dueling Dumbo" is expected to open around February 17th. Side B isn't expected to open until later this spring.

More construction walls.

Looking towards Pinnochio's Village Haus (in the same building as It's a Small World), you can see more construction and scaffolding in the background.

A closer look at the scaffolding above Pinnochio's.

Work is really coming along now, but the work that goes on inside is what's really time consuming. Expect Storybook Circus to be complete this spring. We're hoping for soft openings of the Little Mermaid attraction some time later this summer, although the official word is that it won't open until next Fall.

I'll keep you posted.

Reader Question: How Early Can You Check In?

2011-11-14T08:30:00.001-05:00

Bay Lake Tower. Photo copyright Disney.

George left this question in the comments on yesterday's post. Since it's one I hear a lot, I thought I'd post the answer here:

So if we wanted to fly in at 10am on check-in day, would they give us our park tickets before our check-in time?

The answer is yes. Check-in is sort of an amorphous concept at Disney World. While your room may not be ready until later that day (usually 3:30 is a good bet), you can check into your resort at any time that day. The advantage is that you could arrive at the Orlando airport at 5:00 a.m. and get to your resort an hour later and you'll still get your tickets and your meal credits as soon as you check in, regardless of whether or not your room is ready. This allows you to enjoy a full day in the parks long before you ever set foot in your room.

When you check in you'll be given a folder with resort and park information (maps, park hours, etc.) and asked to choose how you want to be contacted once your room is ready, either by phone or text. Since the parks are often a bit loud, I usually ask for a text. If you have luggage or other items you don't wish to take to the parks, just take it to bell services and they'll hold it for you. Then your ready to go!

Can You Get Your Park Tickets Before Your Free Dining Package Begins?

2011-11-13T09:09:00.002-05:00

One question we've been asked a lot lately is whether or not you can get your Disney park tickets before your package begins. This usually comes up when a client books a free dining package (which requires you to purchase tickets) but has to be in Orlando before the promotion begins. What we do in these cases is book two different reservations, which is very simple and rarely even requires the guest to change rooms.

The only issue is the tickets. As you probably know, Disney park tickets are the most expensive on the front end because years ago, research showed that guests tended to visit the parks for three or four days, maximum. To get people to stay longer, tickets are priced progressively cheaper starting around day three; they take a nosedive from there, so that adding days after day four costs just a few dollars per day. The problem for guests in the situation described above is that it's cost prohibitive to buy two sets of tickets because you basically end up doubling your park admission costs, effectively cancelling out your free dining savings.

Guests have gotten around this problem by requesting their tickets early, up to three-days prior to checking in for their second reservation (your first reservation had to be at a Disney resort to do this). Unfortunately, the official policy on this matter has changed and getting your tickets prior to check-in is no longer an option. You may hear anecdotal stories on Disney message boards that it's possible to do this, but I'm guessing this information isn't current or is due to getting a very accommodating cast member. This issue came up a lot at Pixie since free dining came out in August. We initially received some conflicting information, but after several phone calls up the chain of command at Disney, it appears that this policy is set in stone: No more getting your tickets early.

We hear about Disney bending the rules for guests all the time and you may be able to get around this policy once you check into your room under the first reservation. Bottom line however, I don't recommend basing your vacation on it, so have a backup plan for those days. If you have any luck, please let me know. I'm not sending my clients down armed with anything other than the official policy, but I'd love to hear how it's working once you get to your resort.

Holiday Resort Hopping.

2011-11-11T10:13:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is resort hopping. If you're new to visiting Disney World, you might think that exploring a Disney resort is limited to guests of that resort, but everyone is welcome to come to a resort to shop, eat, or just soak up the atmosphere. And since Disney resorts are all wonderfully themed, there are plenty of details to take in and enjoy. This is even more true during the holidays, when the resorts are decorated in keeping with the theme of that resort.

You can buy gingerbread cookies and other treats from the life-sized gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian. It's just a quick monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom, so it's a nice mid-day break from touring the parks.

Consider lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe while you're visiting this resort. The food is consistently good and often very innovative; it's one of those hidden gems where you can frequently get a walk-up reservation. Later, you can sit in the lobby and listen to the live orchestra or just people watch. There's also a Christmas tree with a Victorian theme, with visits from Santa Claus himself. If you only resort hop once during the holidays, this should be your choice.

Just a quick boat ride from the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Wilderness Lodge is the most "Christmas" of all the resorts. With a massive stone fireplace and this homespun-looking yet elegant tree, you'll feel like you're a world away from sunny Florida. Grab some hot chocolate and enjoy.

If you're near Epcot or Hollywood Studios, you can walk or take a Friendship Boat over to Beach Club, where you'll find a large, gingerbread carousel that actually moves.

The detail on the horses is incredible.

Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn't lend itself to a traditional holiday theme, with the usual red and green accents that we've all come to expect, but it's probably my favorite. I love the surprising African touches and the use of colors such as orange and gold, that blend perfectly into the resort's year-round theme.

You can see the colors a little better on this smaller tree in Kidani Village.

Port Orleans French Quarter is a beautiful resort anytime of the year, but the entry is especially festive during the holidays.

Finally, one of my favorites. I love Mary Blair's whimsical art and I don't consider a trip to the Magic Kingdom complete without at least one visit to It's a Small World, but did you know that Mary also designed the mural in the Grand Canyon Concourse in the Contemporary Resort? She's the inspiration for this Christmas display in front of one side of the mural.

You can buy gingerbread here as well as other holiday treats.

Disney begins decorating their resorts the day after Halloween. It's a very time-consuming process so it's not guaranteed to be finished until the week of Thanksgiving, but it's often complete by mid-November. Consider taking a break from the parks to enjoy these beautiful resorts. Grab a hot cocoa, do some shopping, or even have an elegant meal. They can be as much of an attraction as the parks.

Many thanks to my friend Bob Angelo for these photos. You can follow Bob's park exploits here on Facebook.

Disney World Rituals and Rules.

2011-11-10T17:03:00.003-05:00

Going under the welcome sign for the first

time on your trip is always special.

Do you have any Disney park rituals that you follow? I do and even though it's a little embarrassing, here's a glimpse into my Disneyfied brain:

The countdown: It is hereby proclaimed that you will have a countdown at your ready disposal so that you can post Facebook updates that say "45 days--I need to pack!" and other statuses that will make your friends envious. Doing so makes up for all the time you spend jealously watching their updates when they're on vacation and you're not.

The official to-do list: The official to-do list (which is always neatly typed) is the most important part of your planning process. How else will you remember to pack your youngest's favorite pillow (because Disney pillows are "too hard") and to cancel the mail? It's like a rule book in our house. Items like "contact pet sitter" and "why doesn't the baby have underwear?" are crossed off with a hot pink hi-lighter until we're left with "don't forget phone charger."

The part where we buy a phone charger in Florence, South Carolina. "Nuff said. Yes, we have forgotten more than once. Yes, there is a Best Buy right off I-95.

Sleep is optional: I tend to do this on adult trips because when I'm with my kids, I try to be a responsible adult and being a responsible adult means putting the kids to bed at a reasonable hour, even when you're visiting the happiest place on earth. But on adult trips, I've been known to call three or four hours of sleep over a period of nights adequate. How can you sleep when there's so much to do?

The "I don't really wear this stuff at home" impulse buy: Where you buy a Snuggie/T-shirt/funny hat and wear it in the parks. What, you wear it at home? Me too. Maybe.

The first park: It's always the Magic Kingdom, right? Or maybe you're one of those people who go to Epcot first. I will admit that on trips with my oldest, we often start out at Hollywood Studios. Yes, we're weird.

The part where you realize you're really there. I think everyone has that moment where they feel they're really visiting Disney World. Maybe it's when you walk down Main Street and see the castle or when you drive under the welcome sign. For me, it's the little things, like the walk from the Poly to the Grand Floridian, or going through the Contemporary on the monorail for the first time. Those little glimpses of the Magic Kingdom as you get closer are what really makes it seem like I'm there to me.

The "last meal of our vacation" ritual: This should be a sit-down restaurant, preferably someplace on the Magic Kingdom monorail so that you can head back over to the park and say good-bye to Mickey. If the park is closing early, I might try to stretch out the night by heading to the California Grill for a late night meal.

Saying good-bye: Every hard-core Disney nerd has a good-bye ritual and if you don't have one, in the words of Woody from Toy Story, "Get one!" For us, it's stopping at the end of Main Street, right in front of Town Square, turning around, and saying good-bye to Mickey and the castle. I've done that every time (save for one) for over twenty years. Last time I made a large group of adults do it and no one seemed to mind.

What about you? I'd love to hear about your Disney rituals, either here on or Facebook.

Character List for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

2011-11-07T11:23:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Jodi from the Dis Characters Blog for this extensive list of characters who will be appearing during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Please note the following:

* Photopass is typically available for this character meet and greet.
# This character does not sign autographs.
^This character is new for 2011.

ADVENTURELAND

Tinker Bell's Nook:

* Tinker Bell

* Rosetta

* Terrance

Veranda Gazebo:

* Abu

* Prince Ali

* Genie

* Jasmine

Pirates Plaza

^* Captain Jack Sparrow

FANTASYLAND

Fairytale Garden

* Belle

*& Beast

Fantasyland Wall:

* Donald

Near The Tea Cups

* Eeyore

* Piglet

* Tigger

* Winnie the Pooh

Castle Couture:

* Peter Pan

* Wendy

Skyway:

*Cinderella

* Prince Charming

* Anastasia

* Drizella

* Lady Tremaine

FRONTIERLAND

Splash Mountain Exit:

*# Seven Dwarfs

Diamond Horseshoe/Dance Party:

# Bullseye

# Jessie

# Woody

Roaming Frontierland:

Big Al

Liverlips

LIBERTY SQUARE

Glade:

* Naveen

* Tiana

MAIN STREET U.S.A.

Town Square:

* Santa

Tour Guide Gardens:

^* Duffy

Town Square Theater:

Princess Line:

* Aurora

* Prince Phillip

* Snow White

* Snow Prince

* Rapunzel

* Flynn

Mickey and Minnie Line:

* Mickey Mouse

* Minnie Mouse

TOMORROWLAND

Rocket Tower

^* Phineas

^* Ferb

Cosmic Rays dance party:

# Chip

# Dale

# Goofy

# Pluto

First Look at the 2011 Holidays

2011-11-06T13:47:00.001-05:00

Christmas is one of the best times of the year to visit Disney World. The holidays start early, which is all the better to avoid crowds, and every year brings back your old favorites along with a few new surprises.

If you're going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) this year, you'll get a chance to see Duffy the Bear in his holiday finery riding in the twice nightly parade. You can also catch him in Town Square where he'll be posing for pictures. Fans of the Disney channel show Phineas and Ferb can catch the brothers at a meet and greet in Tomorrowland. And as always, MVMCP is a great time to meet rare characters, like Snow White and all Seven Dwarfs.

The Osborne Festival of Dancing Lights won't start on until November 10th this year, but you can enjoy the big Christmas tree in front of Hollywood Studios, as it beckens guests into the park for a night of fun.

I love this picture of guests entering the Magic Kingdom, taken by a friend just yesterday near dusk. Festive garlands and wreaths are everywhere.

You can see the castle lighting ceremony in the Magic Kingdom every night during the holidays. It'spectacular.

It seems like the story is a little more involved this year. I like it.

Most of the parks are decorated, but you won't see the big Christmas tree in Town Square until after the taping of the Christmas day parade. This year's taping takes place on Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd, with a make up day on Sunday the 4th. Anyone with a park ticket can watch the taping, but guests with parade passes will have access to special seating. While crowds will be heavy on Main Street and around the Hub, taping shouldn't increase crowd levels at the attractions until after taping ends for the day.

Last year's parade taping brought Disney fan Mariah Carey to the parks.

Finally, expect to see the resorts fully decorated by Thanksgiving week. There's a good chance that the "big" decorations like the Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian will be up by mid-month, but there's no guarantee. I'll keep you posted

Disney World's Baby Care Centers.

2011-11-05T15:23:00.002-04:00

You've got your exciting Disney posts and then you have . . . well, this post: Baby care centers. Let's be honest, it's not the most thrilling topic, but when you've got a young child in tow in the parks, Disney's baby care centers can make your day a lot easier. Located in all four theme parks, baby care centers are open to caregivers and children who are not yet potty trained. There's no age limit, so if you need to help an older child, you'll be accommodated as well. Older children accompanying their younger siblings are also welcome; there's plenty to keep them occupied, including a television playing Disney channel shows.

Changing tables are large enough to accommodate older children. If you have an older child with a disability, please don't hesitate to ask the cast member for privacy while you attend to your child's needs.

Breastfeeding moms who are looking for a little privacy or a quiet place to nurse will enjoy the private room for nursing.

The rooms are fairly bare-bones looking, but they're clearn, quiet and best of all, air conditioned.

You'll also find areas to comfortably bottle feed and if your youngster is eating solids, there are highchairs you can use as well. In addition to changing and feeding, you can purchase supplies here, including formula, baby food, over the counter medications (including items for adults), diapers, and even clothing. Basically, if you forgot to bring it to the park that day, it's probably here.

If you purchase items from the baby care centers, keep in mind that in addition to being a little pricier, they're also very limited in selection. This is particularly true regarding diapers, which tend to run in the mid-range of sizes, so if your child is very young or if you have a toddler in diapers, don't forget your supplies when you leave for the parks!

Finally, you won't be able to bring your stroller into the baby care centers, so you'll need to leave it outside in the stroller parking area.

As a mom, I can't tell you how many times I've been grateful for the baby care centers. Next time you're in the parks with a little one, definitely make use of them. They're a lifesaver.

Thanks to Bob Angelo for the photos. You can "like" Bob's Facebook page here to keep up with his Disney adventures.

What's the Most "Convenient" Resort?

2011-11-01T10:57:00.000-04:00

One question I get a lot from clients is "How convenient is this resort?" Believe it or not, the answer depends less on where you're staying than where you plan on eating and playing, but the truth is this: Unless you're staying at a monorail resort, all the resorts have pretty much the same level of transportation advantages and disadvantages, so paying more for a resort doesn't necessarily get you a more convenient trip to the parks.

Convenience-wise, you can't beat the Magic Kingdom monorail resorts, which include the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. This is particularly true if you plan on spending a great deal of your vacation in the Magic Kingdom, which is just a monorail ride away. For added measure, you'll get boat access to the Magic Kingdom as well, but keep in mind that wheel chairs won't fit onto these small boats and strollers will need to be folded up. You can easily reach Epcot from your monorail resort by switching monorails at the Transportation and Ticket Center as well, making these resorts ideal. Finally, for pure convenience, you can't beat the Contemporary Resort, which has a walkway to the Magic Kingdom. It's a short stroll, about 10 - 15 minutes and for this reason alone, it's my choice for the most convenient resort on property.

Next to the Magic Kingdom monorail resorts, the Epcot resorts around Crescent lake are the most convenient if you're going to be spending a lot of time at Epcot or Hollywood Studios (DHS). For those staying at the Yacht and Beach Club or Boardwalk (as well as the non-Disney resorts known, the Dolphin and the Swan), you can easily walk to either park or take a Friendship boat. Expect either one to take around 20 - 25 minutes, depending on your location; I find walking to be a lot faster. On the other hand, getting to the Magic Kingdom from these resorts can be pretty inconvenient because they often make multiple stops the various Epcot area resorts.   For this reason alone, I don't consider them to be as ideal as the Magic Kingdom resorts, but they're pretty close to it and having stayed at Yacht Club recently and spent a lot of time at DHS, I was really pleased at how convenient it was.

To me, the rest of the resorts (save one) are all fairly equal as far as transportation is concerned. I do give a slight edge to Pop Century because it only has one bus stop, whereas many of the other resorts make multiple stops, but even you'll only add a few minutes to your trip. Obviously, some resorts have little transportation perks: You can take a boat to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter, for example. But as far as getting to the parks goes, once you get beyond the Epcot and Magic Kingdom resorts, it's all pretty equal.

So what's the most inconvenient resort? Well, I love Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's beautifully themed and feels like it's cut off from the rest of the world, with gorgeous pools, lush landscaping, and subtle, African-inspired music. In fact, that's part of the problem: It is cut off from the rest of Disney World--you're practically off site. If you're paying for a deluxe resort, you don't expect to share a bus with Blizzard Beach on your already long ride back from the parks. And since there are two bus stops at the resort, you'll add time to your trip, either coming or going.  If you plan on staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, make sure you weigh these issues against the cost of staying there. It's my favorite resort, but when I stay there, I rent a car.

I have a lot of clients who upgrade from a value to a moderate because they think that transportation will be easier at a more expensive resort. Don't do it. Stay at a moderate because you love the theming or because you want access to better dining or a larger bed, not because you think it will get you to the parks faster.  At best, the uprade will get you a few extra minutes, probably not enough to justify the higher cost.

We all complain about Disney buses, but the truth is, they work really well, moving thousands of people every day. Good planning can minimize your time on the buses but sometimes, you just have to surrender to the fact that you're stuck on a Disney bus. When this happens, I try to remember that even though I'm stuck, I'm still visiting the happiest place on earth.

Geeky Disney Giveaway.

2011-10-28T10:55:00.000-04:00

Head over to the Mouse Chat Facebook page, leave a comment and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $25 Disney 40th annivesary gift card, a 40th anniversary map, and a 40th anniversary pin. Comments that say "Chris sent me" will be worth one entry and questions we can use on future shows are worth two entries.

Already a Mouse Chat listener? Thank you! You can still leave a comment on the Mouse Chat page and be entered to win, but if you head over to our sister site's page, the Disney Food Report, and mention that you're a Mouse Chat listener and that I sent you there, you'll be entered twice!

We'll do the drawing next Friday afternoon. See you then!

2012 Free Dining Booking Dates Extended until December 17.

2011-10-27T20:59:00.001-04:00

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

The booking window for free dining for select 2012 dates has been extended until December 17, 2011. You'll still need to book those November and December free dining dates by October 29, 2011, the original closing date. No change on the 2012 dates at this time. They remain as follows:

January 8-12, 2012
January 21-February 2, 2012
February 11-16, 2012
March 3-8, 2012
March 24-29, 2012

More news on new offers as they come out.

Thanks to my good friend and fellow Disney nerd Bob for the photo.

Christmastime Castle Lighting Ceremony.

2011-10-26T12:02:00.000-04:00

Every night during the Christmas holidays, starting this year on November 8th, you can watch the castle lighting ceremony at Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. This is when Cinderella's Fairy Godmother comes out and asks the audience for help in decorating the castle as a special surprise for Cinderella. If you haven't seen the icicle lights on the castle, you're in for a surprise. Make sure you leave time in your schedule for this special ceremony.

In November, the ceremony usually beings at 6:30, but as it gets darker earlier, the ceremony will begin closer to 6:00. Since the Magic Kingdom closes early on certain nights in November and December for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you'll encounter heavy crowds leaving the park after the ceremony. Instead of rushing out, take a few extra minutes to shop. You don't have to be out of the parks until 7:00 if you don't have a party ticket, so that gives you a little extra time to browse.

Guest Post: Legoland Florida Grand Opening.

2011-10-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

Special thanks to Bob Angelo for this article on the grand opening of Legoland Florida.

Florida's newest theme park, Legoland, Florida, opened in Central Florida on October 15, 2011 to much fanfare and excitement. As I was lucky enough to attend the media preview of the park the day before, and knowing how anticipated this park was by kids and adults alike, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts and impressions.
Built on the site of the old Cypress Gardens, known for its Southern Belles, beautiful gardens, lush landscaping, and water ski shows, Legoland took great care to preserve many of those details while incorporating their own. So, mixed in with the beautiful gardens, for instance, you might see a deer (built of Legos, of course) stopping for a drink. And, while the traditional water ski show is no more, in its place you'll find Pirate's Cove Water Ski Show, where Brickbeard the Pirate has taken over Pirate's Cove (go figure, right?) along the shores of Lake Eloise. Children and parents are encouraged to participate in the show by yelling and hollering whenever they see Brickbeard.

Florida's state capital.

The park itself is very nicely laid out and a joy to explore. Like any theme park, its divided into separate areas, or lands. These are "The Beginning", "Fun Town", "Miniland USA", "Duplo Village", "Lego Kingdoms", "Lego Technic", "Imagination Zone", "Pirate's Cove", "Land of Adventure", and "Lego City". Within these lands, you'll find over 50 different rides and attractions to explore and interact with. And, since the focus is on kids ages 2-12, many of the rides and attractions have no, or limited, height requirements. One downside to these attractions being built for kids? If you're a taller or larger sized adult, you may find it difficult to fit into some of them. At 6'6". I actually had to sit sideways when riding Coastersaurus, one of the park's roller coasters, and there would have been no way for a child to sit next to me!

Throughout the day, I saw lots of children and they all seemed to be having a great time at attractions like "Boating School", where you can drive your own boat along the water through a course (the boat isn't on a track and is actually free floating), "Rescue Academy", where families must work together to "drive" their firetruck to the scene of a building "fire", and then work together as one person works the pump and the other aims the hose/sprayer to put out the fire, and the "Driving School" where kids can drive Lego vehicles around an actual course (top speed: 3 mph) and earn a driver's license upon completion.

For me though, my favorite part of the park had to be Miniland, which is where you'll find dozens of mini Lego sculptures representing everything from the Las Vegas Strip to the Daytona Speedway. This part of the park is interactive, too. Press a button by the Las Vegas wedding chapel, for example, and watch newly married Lego couples come out the doors, or press another button at the Daytona Speedway, and two cars will race to the finish line! You could probably spend hours just in this area taking everything in.

Of course, the park has many of the same features you'd find at other theme parks, such as stroller and wheelchair rentals, a baby care center that offers high chairs, bottle warmers, diaper changing facilities and the like, and package pickup, so if you happen to buy something big and don't want to carry it around all day, you can have them shipped to the park exit and waiting for you when you leave. Another nice feature for families I noticed is that there were plenty of "family" bathrooms available around the park, though they seemed like it would be a tight fit if taking a person in a wheelchair in one. Diaper changing facilities can also be found in every single men's and women's bathroom throughout the park.

The employees, called "Model Citizens," were all very nice and friendly and happy to offer any assistance they could. Here's a tip --you'll see some of the employees have little minifigurines above their name tags. If you build your own minifigurine while at the park ($9.99 for a set of 3) you can trade with the employee of your choice.

Now, before you head out, there's a few things you need to be aware of. First, the park is currently operating only on limited days and hours. Right now, they are open Thursday-Monday, and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. So, check the hours before you go, because you don't want to drive out there only to find it closed. And speaking of driving "out there", the park is a HAUL from the Disney parks. To get there, you would take I-4 West to Exit 55 (U.S. Highway 27 South). Turn right, and head down 27 until you reach State Road 540, and then make another right, and the park is 4 miles on your left. Huge signs on I-4 near Exit 55 advertise that the park is "only 30 minutes away!" but that's a lie. Maybe if you're in a Ferrari. Plan on at least 45 minutes to an hour. And, at least right now, there's not a lot of signage on the way there, so you'll be traveling down U.S. 27, a road that has lots of farms and orange groves, wondering if you're going the right way. Trust me, you are. It's just far. Parking is $12 per car, or $20 for preferred, but the parking lot is small, so I don't think that's necessary.

If you don't have a car but want to go while visiting Orlando, Legoland has arranged for bus transportation from the Premium Outlets (off I-4, across from Downtown Disney) to leave every day at 9 am. I'm told the cost is $10 per person, round trip, but can't find any information on their website to confirm or deny this. And of course, you'll still need to get to the Premium Outlets from your resort or wherever you are staying.

Next, bring sunscreen and/or a hat. You'd have thought that a park built on a theme park that was known for its famed gardens would have more shade, but it doesn't. In fact, entire areas of the park, like Miniland, are exposed entirely to the elements. That can make the sun feel much hotter than it is. And if there's a chance of rain when you go, bring ponchos or an umbrella, or plan on getting very wet!

If you're going soon, bring cash. When I went, a day before park opening, none of the carts around the park that sold beverages and snacks were set up yet to take credit or debit cards, which was just unexcusable when you consider that many tourists don't like to carry lots of cash when they go out to the parks. This may have been remedied by now, as the park has been open for about 10 days, but you don't want to be caught unprepared.

Lastly, be careful with what you eat.

Pretty safe looking, right?

My wife and I stopped by one of the restaurants in the morning about 10 o'clock to grab some breakfast offerings, and I noted that the lunch foods, including chicken and salmon, were already cooked and sitting under warming lamps. Foolishly, we ate there a little later in the day, around 2 p.m., for lunch, and I'm pretty certain we ate the same food that had been sitting out since morning, as we both became very ill for several hours after the fact. That wouldn't have been so bad if the food was actually tasty, but it was also very dry, lacked any sense of flavor and it was obvious that it had been sitting out. So, if you sit down to eat something, and it doesn't smell right or taste right, take it back, and go for something else, because you really don't want to ruin your trip being sick!

All in all, this is a great park for kids. If your child is between 2-12 and a Lego fan, they'll be in heaven with all the rides, attractions, and stuff in the gift shops, including tons of hard to find Lego sets and the Lego brick wall that has over 250 different Lego colors in stock that you can fill a container and buy. Future plans also call for adding a water park next year, and a hotel in a few years. I'm not sure the adult admission price of $75 is worth it, since there is far less for older kids and adults to enjoy, but then, seeing the joy on your child's face may be worth the price of admission alone. Happy travels!

Bob Angelo is a travel agent with Pixie Vacations and also a co-host of the weekly Mouse Chat podcast, which brings you the best in Disney news, tips and reviews. A local to the many Central Florida theme parks, you'll find him every chance he gets taking in the attractions. You can contact Bob by emailing him at Bob@PixieVacations.com or on his Facebook page, where you'll find tons of Disney photos and news.

Update on the Contemporary Resort's Health and Wellness Suites.

2011-10-22T10:45:00.000-04:00

Remember the new health and wellness suites that were supposed to open at the Contemporary Resort next month? We've been trying for months now to get a price on these rooms (we can dream, right?) but haven't been able to nail anything down. Well, it turns out there's a reason for that: They're not going to happen, at least not until sometime in 2012.

No word yet on when they'll open, but since you can still book rooms on the 14th floor well into 2012, it sounds like you'll need to roll up your yoga mat up for the time being. I'm still intrigued by the idea of these spa-like rooms, which were set to have organic menus, special fitness classes, allergy-free linens, and wooden floors, so I hope they will open eventually. I'd love to stay there just once.

There's a small part of me that thinks these rooms will not happen, however. Perhaps, given the economy right now, Disney decided they couldn't do enough of this type of business. Of course the other issue is whether or not Disney can attract the kind of guest who wants this type of experience and is willing to pay for it. I'm going to assume the answer is yes, because Disney is very careful about researching projects before giving them the go-ahead, but then again, the words "Avatar land" come to mind and I do have to wonder about my trust in the company to make the right decisions based on good research. Time will tell, I suppose.

Save $5 by Watching Five Mintues of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

2011-10-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

I don't do a lot with coupons, but this sounds interesting if you're Pirates fan. It comes from Disney Media:

Disney.com Exclusive! Watch 5 Minutes of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

and Get $5 off the 5-Disc Combo Pack

Starting today, Pirates of the Caribbean fans can watch an exciting 5-minute clip from the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides film exclusively on Disney.com. After watching Jack Sparrow narrowly escape the grasps of the king’s Royal Guard yet again, guests can access a swashbuckling deal of $5 off the 5-Disc Combo Pack from Disney Movie Rewards. Both the exclusive clip and deal will be available until Oct. 23 on Disney.com.

For more exclusive Pirates fun, visit Disney.com/Pirates.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is now available for purchase in stunning high definition Blu-ray™, eye popping Blu-ray 3D™ (a first for the legendary franchise) and Movie Download. The Limited Edition 5-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D + 2-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD + 1-Disc Digital Copy) is available at retail for the suggested price of $49.99 U.S./ $56.99 Canada and includes hours of bonus materials offering fans a deeper dive inside Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides including immersive Disney Second Screen technology, exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, Fountain of Youth mythology, an extensive look at mermaids, bloopers, deleted and extended scenes, and much more.

Quick Tips: Your Kids' Summer Clothes.

2011-10-19T10:47:00.000-04:00

If you're visiting Disney any time from November through February, you'll want to pack both lightweight and heavier weight clothing, as the weather can be extremely unpredictable during this time of year. Since we plan a December trip every year, one thing I do is when it's time to put the kids' summer clothes and shoes away, I don't put their things in storage or donate them right away. Instead, I pack it all in a suitcases that I'm going to bring to Disney. This way, it's ready for when we go and I don't have to hunt down last summer's bathing suits and shorts.

When you're at the point where you're ready to do your real packing, just go through the clothes to make sure they still fit and you're good to go. If you're out shopping and you see some ridiculously priced summer items on the sales rack, think about throwing those items in your suitcase in as well, if you're kids are like mine and their summer clothes take a beating. Even here in North Carolina, it's hard to find inexpensive lightweight clothing after October. Wait too long, and you're stuck buying expensive "resort wear." By storing (and even purchasing) these items early, you won't be running around in January looking for shorts.

Restaurant Review: Breakfast at Kona Cafe.

2011-10-15T22:09:00.001-04:00

There's a lot of food for your money, but is it worth it?

I'd heard a lot of good things about breakfast at Kona Cafe, so I've been wanting to try it for a while. Of course the big debate is whether you go for the macadamia nut pancakes or the Tonga Toast, both of which are the stuff of Disney breakfast dreams. Being the undecided types, our large group decided to try both and because we're extra greedy, we threw in a Big Kahuna Platter for good measure.

Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of the Polynesian Lobby. You're literally steps away from the monorail, so it's incredibly convenient to get here. It's decorated in browns, dark oranges, and yellows that compliment the lobby, which is open to the restaurant. You'll do well to make a dining reservation here, as at most Disney restaurants, but during less busy times of the year walk-ups are an option. We got our 7:40 reservation about a week in advance, so it's a much easier location to book than say Ohana, which is also at the Poly.

Tonga Toast.

Kona Cafe's Tonga Toast has some of the most ardent fans of any dish at Disney World and with good reason. It's simply delicious. They take sourdough bread and stuff it with bananas and then roll it in cinnamon sugar. It's then fried and served with a fresh-tasting strawberry compote. You'll also get your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage. At $12.99, it's a pretty good deal and filling enough that you'll happily pass by the snacks in the park later that morning. Trust me, this is a good thing no matter how much you love Mickey bars, considering that Tonga Toast is essentially a large donut filled with bananas! A large, very tasty donut.

By the way, if you're on a budget or can't get into Kona Cafe, you can get the same Tonga Toast at Captain Cook's quick service for $5.99, minus the bacon.

Next up, we tried the Big Kahuna Platter, pictured above. It comes with French toast, pancakes topped with pineapple sauce and macadamia nut butter, two eggs cooked the way you like, home fried potatoes, ham, bacon, and sausage. At $11.99, it's a huge amount of food, but other than the pancakes, there's nothing out of the ordinary here. It's basically the same breakfast platter you'd get at Denny's or Shoney's and like any of those places, the French toast is dry and a little bland, the eggs and sausage are, well, they're eggs and sausage. Perfectly acceptable, nothing to write home about. Definitely try it if you have a big appetite or even consider spitting it and adding a side of toast. It's a lot of food.

The macadamia nut pancakes are a nod to the Hawaiian theme of the resort. They come with a large scoop of macadamia nut butter and a chunky pineapple sauce, as well as your choice of bacon, sausage or ham. At just $9.99, this is a very economical breakfast. The pancakes are light and fluffy, but also somewhat bland. That's probably forgivable, since pancakes basically exist to support the toppings you put on them, but I was expecting more flavor after all the rave reviews I'd heard. Add the macadamia nut butter and their taste improves, but I would have been hard-pressed to find nuts in with the butter. The pineapple sauce was good and added something to the pancakes, but at this point, I would have preferred maple syrup. Overall, I was not impressed with this dish.

There are a lot of great breakfast locations in Disney World. Sadly, I would probably put Kona at the bottom of my list of table service locations. It's passable and the price is good, but other than the Tonga Toast, there's nothing on the menu that really stands out. When you contrast this breakfast with a buffet like Crystal Palace or even some of the more inventive items at Grand Floridian Cafe (lobster eggs Benedict) it falls short. Our server offered the type of Disney service we usually expect, which is to say, she was great. I rarely find Disney servers lacking and she was no exception. Everything we asked for was brought as quickly as possible, our eggs were cooked to our liking, and she was friendly and helpful. If you're staying in the Poly or you're on the monorail and want to try something nearby, definitely consider adding it to your reservation list. But don't go out of your way for Kona.

Kona Cafe is one of the more reasonably priced table-service locations available on property but this also poses a problem for those on the dining plan. By no means should you use a table-service credit here. It's simply not worth it if you do the math. That's not to say it's not a decent breakfast, but for the price, consider paying out of pocket unless you're on the Deluxe Dining Plan (which gives you three table service credits a day) and you need to burn up credits.

Getting there: Transportation at Disney World can be complicated since there are no resort to resort buses. If you're driving, it's simple. Just park at the Poly; the guard at the gate will likely ask for your confirmation number during busier times of the year. If you're going from your resort by bus, you'll want to take the bus to the Magic Kingdom and then the monorail (or Poly resort launch) to the resort. If you're coming from one of the other parks, just take the Poly bus to the resort. You can also catch a Poly bus from Downtown Disney. Cabs are also available at your resort and can be a good solution to early morning dining reservations.

Scenes from the 40th Anniversary of the Magic Kingdom.

2011-10-15T13:09:00.001-04:00

Photo courtesy of my good friend Bob.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with friends and celebrating the Magic Kingdom's 40th birthday. The event was pretty low-key, but fitting, I think. In ten years, I know I will be there for the 50th!

We could tell from the entrance that it was going to be crowded, but everyone seemed to be in good spirits. How could you not be? You're going into the Magic Kingdom!

The train station, decked out for the 40th with Fall colors.

Once you got inside, Main Street was pretty manageable up until the 10:00 a.m. parade. We managed to get a good spot right off the Hub, next to the popcorn stand.

That moment when you first walk into the park never gets old for me.

One of the events scheduled for the 40th Anniversary of the Magic Kingdom was a character parade. It lasted about 10 minutes, but in that short amount of time, we saw lots of characters you don't normally see. It was a fun moment in a great day.

Mr. Smee came out to say hello.

Do you think Jiminy Cricket is making sure the always-exuberant Aladdin is behaving?

It was nice to see so many of the princesses in one place, especially down

on the parade route rather than in a float.

Why hello there, Pluto.

Everything wasn't perfect. The crowds were really high and 40th anniversary merchandise sold out almost immediately. Getting one of these cupcakes? Almost impossible. It was at least a 30 minute wait.

They also came in yellow and blue.

After the ceremony, we rode a few attractions with very little waits and then headed over to Epcot for Food and Wine. We came back later that night and I'm so glad we did. The weather was perfect and there was a special add-on to Wishes that night that went almost all the way around the park. It was really spectacular. If you've seen the 4th of July fireworks, it was similar to that.

Thanks again to my friend Bob and his talented wife Donna

for these pictures

If you get a chance to go to a special event at Disney, take it. Yes, you'll deal with crowds. But it was really special to be part of the history of the Magic Kingdom, a simple place that has brought joy to so many people.

See you at the 50th in ten years!

New Disney Gift Card Offer.

2011-10-13T13:42:00.001-04:00

Consider it an early Christmas gift, since i was going to wait until December to put these out, but I'm doing another gift card offer with new bookings. Here are the details:

The vacation must be a new booking.

Book between today, October 13, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

Valid for travel between November 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012.

Amounts are as follows:

$25 for vacations worth $2100 to $3000.
$50 for vacations worth $3001 to $8000.
$75 for vacations $8001 and up.
$25 gift cards for referrals worth $2000 and up.

Gift cards are per room, so if you book $3200 room and a $2200 room, you'll get a total of $75 in gift cards, which is lower than the $8001 threshhold for a $75 gift card. You'll receive your gift card with your final travel documents. Vacation amounts do not include airfare booked with Disney. Pixie exclusive offers are excluded from this offer.

If you book a trip worth less than $2100, you'll still receive a gift. Choose from the following:

Pixie lanyards for your group.
A personalized tote.
A one-year subscription to the Touring Plans website.

Finally, I don't charge for my services and I offer discount monitoring, customized itineraries, and do all the busy work for you. Please email me at ChrisW@PixieVacations.com for more information. Thanks!

The Monorail and Extra Magic Hours.

2011-10-11T10:18:00.000-04:00

A rare sight: An empty monorail car.

Just a heads up to those taking the monorail during Extra Magic Hours (EMH). You've probably heard that Disney changed their policy regarding monorail use. From now on, monorails will run for only one hour after regular park closing and they won't run at all during extra magic hours (EMH). At first glance, this seemed to be a bigger issue with regard to those staying at the Magic Kingdom resorts. After all, those guests need the monorail to get back to their resort and they pay a premium for that privilege. After experiencing the change in person, I think that transportation to and from Epcot is just as big of an issue. Here's the problem.

We were visiting the Magic Kingdom on a night when it closed at 11:00. We decided to leave right after Wishes and head over to Epcot to ride Soarin', because that park was open for EMH until midnight. Usually this just involves a quick ride on the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC), then a change to the Epcot monorail. Easy peasy. Unfortunately, you can't do this anymore during EMH! And of coruse, we forgot, which made it even worse. Instead you have to take a bus, either from the Magic Kingdom or from the TTC, where you then take a bus to Epcot. It added about 45 mintues to our trip. I think once the new system is ironed out, it won't take as long, but for now, plan on at least an hour for this type of park hopping.

You're probably wondering why the change? Well, it's for safety purposes as it became more and more apparent that the trains needed more downtown every night for maintenance. And we're all for making the parks a safer place.

If you're a guest planning a vacation to Disney World and you're going to be staying on the monorail for convenience purposes, know about this change in advance. I know that a lot of guests don't use EMH, so it's a non-issue, but if you're paying $500 a night to stay at the Grand Floridian and you expect to be able to use the monorail during EMH, you might want to weigh the value of what you're losing against the cost of your room. Personally, I still think you can't beat staying at a monorail resort even without EMH access, but that is a very personal thing.

Disney World's Halloween 5K Run.

2011-10-06T15:28:00.001-04:00

I just got back from Disney World, where I got to celebrate the Magic Kingdom's 40th birthday. One of the highlights of the weekend was running (okay, mostly walking) in the Halloween 5K, which took place on Saturday morning at Animal Kingdom. If you haven't done a Disney race, this is a great introduction and a fun way to spend the morning.

We were playing hooky too!

Disney 5K runs are different from the half and full-marathons in that they're not officially timed. Most Disney races have a 16-minute mile requirement; if you fall too far behind, you'll be taken out of the race and have to ride in the "golf cart of shame" as they take you to the finish line. You'll still see golf carts on the race path during 5Ks, but only to pick up the injured. What I loved about the 5K was the opportunity for all fitness levels and every member of the family.

We saw a many groups with matching t-shirts made especially for the run.

There were defintely people who had trained for the race there. I'm sure a lot of them did the Couch to 5K program with this as one of their goals. I love that--you could see their excitement in their faces. But there were also groups like ours that had little kids and strollers. We even saw one big, multi-generational family pushing a grandmother in a wheelchair.
Because it's the Halloween run, many participants wore fun costumes.

Here's how it all worked, if you plan to try one in the future. The race started at 7:00 in the morning. Parking wasn't an issue. The huge line of cars looked intimidating, but it moved very quickly. Since it's a smaller race, it was pretty easy to find people and get what you needed, whether it was water or picking up your race packet a little late (which you can do if you miss picking it up the night before--just have your waiver form with you). There was a DJ playing music and tellling jokes, asking people where they were from and teasing them about their costumes and the like.

People lined up based on their estimated running time, but overall, it was pretty flexible. We were in different groups be we were allowed to all go together.

If took a while for our group to start moving since we were all the way in the back with the stroller group. We went around the parking lot first and then through the park. We even got to see some backstage areas.

There were plenty of opportunities for character meet and greets along the way. If you're a character hunter, definitely consider doing a race.

I loved this experience and would recommend to anyone, regardless of their fitness level. It's a great way to connect with your friends and family while you walk around the park. The energy level is contagious and the fun was palpable. I especially enjoyed seeing Animal Kingdom's extraordinary theming when the park was a little less busy and the weather was cooler, as well as getting a look at some of the cast member areas you don't normally see.

One small caveat: While you'll do a lot of walking at Disney World regardless, keep in mind this is 3.2 mile walk/run. You'll be getting up early to get to the race as well. If you like full park days and later nights in the park, this event might tire you out a bit, so consider planning a shorter park day on the day of the race.

Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival Begins September 30th.

2011-09-25T10:14:00.001-04:00

Those of you fortunate enough to be visiting Disney World over the next few weeks will have an added incentive to head over to Epcot: The International Food and Wine Festival. It's the 16th year of this unique event which offers live entertainment, culinary demonstrations, and food and beverages from six continents. This year's theme, Passport to a World of Flavors, features over 25 kioks representing countries both exotic and familiar. You can literally spend the day grazing the entire 40 acres of the festival, sampling tapas-sized treats as you go.

Servings range in price from $3 to $8. For the sake of convenience, you can purchase a specially-themed Disney gift card just for the festival. You'll load it with as little as $5 so you have easy access when it's time to pay--and you can keep re-loading it if you need more treats! Remember that your snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan can also be used to purchase certain items.

This year sees the additon of three new themes: Portugal, Hawaii, and the Carribbean. The new Hawaii kiosk looks interesting, perhaps a nod to Aulani opening last month? Since it's as close as I'm going to get to Aulani for a while, I think I'm going to give it a try. An old favorite, Scandanavia returns this year and you can expect new menu items at many kiosks. Other highlights include:

A free marketplace passport that you can have stamped at each kiosk.
HGTV home seminars from HGTV Design Stars.
A cranberry bog sponsored by Craisins.
Party for the Senses, a special ticketed event each Saturday. Call 407-WDW-FEST for more information.
Eat to the Beat concerts three times daily, with performers such as Taylor Dayne and Sugar Ray.

I'm going opening day, so I'll be back next week with plenty of pictures and stories of gluttony--well, as much as my wallet will allow.

Where Did All the Room Discounts Go?

2011-09-19T11:26:00.001-04:00

Stay here without a room discount? I don't think so.

I know a lot of people are waiting for room discounts to come out for fall. Annual Pass discounts are out until right before Christmas and I've seen some good pin codes (my husband even got one) out for that same time period, with up to 35% off deluxe rooms, however both of these discounts are very limited. I haven't been able to get a lot of clients their dates and when I called for my pin code, after having failed to get a room discount with my annual pass, I couldn't get that discount either.

What's odd is that the Orlando Sentinel recently reported that bookings for the fall and early winter are down for moderate and deluxe rooms. Conversely, the value resorts are almost always full. I have never had any difficulty justifying the "worth" of a value room, but in this economy, I know that a lot of people won't even consider deluxe and moderate rooms without a discount. And really, unless they can do it without thinking twice, they shouldn't. When you compare the popularity of the values vs. the other rooms on site, this underscores how important these discounts are. People aren't staying at the values because they like them more--they're staying because they're a great deal. And if you can't give people a good deal, if you can't offer them some value for their money, they're going to stay elsewhere.

So what is Disney going to do? Well, I would be shocked if a new round of room discounts didn't come out at some point in the next month or so. Disney doesn't want those rooms sitting empty and ultimately, it's not really about the rooms. Disney knows that every guest who stays off site is much more likely to spend their money on Highway 192 than in the Magic Kingdom. They might even think about heading down I-4 to Universal Studios for a day or two. So filling those rooms is more important than just having heads on the pillows.

Until then, here's one possible option that can save you money if you're worried. If you're planning a long trip, say five or more days, consider booking your trip under an annual pass (AP) discount. You don't need the AP to book, so don't buy it at this time; in fact, you'll wait to buy this until right before your trip. Then you'll wait for the room discounts to come out and if they do, you'll just switch from the AP rate to that discount. However, if general public room discounts don't come out, you've already locked in your AP disocunted rate, so you're good to go. You'll buy that AP (or get a voucher) before you travel; if you don't have one when you check in, your AP rate will go to rack rate (full price). That extra $200 or so that you spent on your AP (over the price of your regular Magic Your Way ticket) will easily pay for itself if you save $100 or more a night over a period of six or seven nights. Add to that, merchandise discounts and limited discounts for food, and you're saving money in much the same way I mentioned in the post below detailing how to save money at Universal Orlando.

Remember, don't buy the AP until you're certain that room discounts won't be coming out for your travel time. You don't want to be stuck with an AP you normally wouldn't need and then have a great room discount come out anyway. If you read here, you'll know that I don't generally recommend buying an AP for the discounts, but in cases where that's the only discount you're going to get? It quite often pays for itself several times over. You'll need to run all the numbers to see if it works for you.

Meanwhile, if I hear anything, I'll post it here and on Facebook.

How to Save Money at Universal Orlando.

2011-09-09T14:41:00.000-04:00

Forgive me if I venture over to the Dark Side a bit. Yes, I'm going to talk about Universal Studios Orlando. With the addition of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a lot of Disney guests are visiting Universal Studios and what they're finding, what I personally found, were two really great theme parks. No, it's not Disney, but here's a little confession: In some areas, I thought the theming was superior. In fact I liked it so much, I bought an annual pass.

Unlike Disney however, Universal doesn't offer a lot of discounts, which surprised me. I figured that Orlando's de facto "red-headed stepchild" would practically be giving rooms away. The reality is, there's only one guaranteed way to get a discount if you're staying on Universal property: Buy an annual pass. Here's how this can work for you.

A two-day park hopper ticket for an adult costs around $140. For about $100 more, you can buy an annual pass. Now for most people, there's really no need for this pass; you're only going to go a couple times probably that year. What you're buying for are the discounts. For the fall, I'm seeing are room discounts at the three hotels that range in savings from around $100 - $150 a night. That's a nice savings in itself. Keep in mind that only one member of your party needs to buy an annual pass for the whole group to take advantage of it.

If room discounts were the only discount an annual pass gave you, I'd still be impressed, but Universal takes really good care of their passholders, so in addition to room discounts, you'll get 10% off all merchandise and food in the parks, plus an additional 15% off park tickets for everyone else in your party. You'll also get free parking. And should you, by some lucky chance, come back within the year, you can always take one day from your Disney trip and head over to Universal for a "free" day of fun.

Before you buy an annual pass for the discounts, make sure they're available for your travel time. You or your travel agent can call Universal Orlando and check. They'll send you directly to the hotel you're interested in. Once you've confirrmed there are discounts, just go ahead and buy the pass, get your pass number, and call the hotel back and book your room.

Aboard the Disney Dream.

2011-08-27T17:09:00.001-04:00

I have a confession to make, one that won't come as a surprise if you listen to the Mouse Chat podcast: Until last week, I had no desire to go on a cruise ship. I can't really put a finger on why: I mean, what is it about unlimited amounts of food and relaxation that didn't appeal to me? And it's not like I was basing my feelings on anything more than one slightly disasterous (don't ask) crossing of the English Channel (pre-Chunnel years). But last week, I got to tour the Disney Dream and it took about 30 minutes to change my mind. Here's what did it:

Yes, I was won over by the thought of using this spa. Come on, I'm only human. What mom doesn't dream about having a spa day while the kids play happily . . . somewhere else? You can get a pedicure in these chairs above. The best part is that they're right across from a large bank of windows that look out to the ocean. You can also have a soak in these tubs right outside.

In addition to every treatment you can think of, there's also a well-equipped fitness center full of the type of equipment you'd find in a better gym. One of the agents on our tour is a personal trainer and he used the gym on his last trip on the Dream and gave it a thumbs up.

I was really impressed by the dining options on the ship. This restaurant is known as the Enchanted Garden, with pretty art deco style booths. The ceiling is made to look like an outdoor trellis that changes from bright morning light to moonlight as the day passes.

We ate at this buffet-style restaurant, called Cabanas. It's located near the main pool and was excellent.

You can also try more upscale restaurants like Palo or Remy for a small additional charge.

The pools were really extraordinary, especially the Aquaduck waterslide that goes out a tiny bit over the ocean. A little scary, but I can't wait to try it.

The Nemo play area is for kids up to 8-years old. It's completely closed off and supervised, so you don't have to worry about little ones running off while you're in your blissed-out post-spa happy place.

For kids three and up, there are play areas that are free of charge. The areas are segregated by age and are full of creative things to keep them entertained.

I loved this area called Pixie Hallow. There's a cupboard with princess dresses for little girls to play with as well.

Andy's bedroom is a must for any kid who loves Toy Story. I know I'm not the only one who had to fight the urge not to climb through Slinky Dog.

Kids can even crawl on Andy's bed. Parents can too. Shhh. Don't tell anyone.

I'm so happy the Dream changed my mind and can't wait to give it a try!

I'm going to Disney World!

2011-08-14T13:59:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that there have been fewer posts around here lately. Well, in addition to the free dining frenzy (which was both crazy and full of good lessons), I've been getting ready to go to Disney World for the week. I'm leaving tomorrow morning for the Agent Education Program. I'll be back Friday night with stories of Cirque du Soliel, resorts, an Illuminations dessert party, and any other good stuff I can find out about.

Have a wonderful week!

Will the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Be Cancelled?

2011-08-10T09:53:00.000-04:00

I like fun Disney gossip, but this certainly isn't welcomed news. There's a rumor going around right now that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride that was scheduled to be part of the new Fantasyland expansion might be scrapped. Disney fans have been hearing grumblings for weeks now that the engineering behind the ride just wasn't working, which in turn meant that they couldn't design the track or even the building itself. Now we're hearing that the entire ride is being cancelled.

You might remember the announcement that came out of Disney last year that elements of the Fantasyland project were being tinkered (sorry) with. The elaborate Pixie Hollow was out, as were several princess meet and greets. Why? Well anyone who looked at the original plans could see that the area was too centered around little girls. And while Disney recognized that the whole princess trend is huge, and very profitable, focusing on a very small segment of the guest population to that extent just didn't make sense. Besides, how many meet and greets do you need?

One solution that fans readily welcomed was the addition a dark ride right in the middle of the expansion. While the characters were taken from a fairytale, this wasn't another princess ride. Instead, by using the Seven Dwarfs, Disney added characters into the expansion which have widespread appeal, both for the casual fan and those who recognize the role of the movie Snow White is Disney history. From a ride perspective, the ride was to be a bridge between Goofy's Barnstormer and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, sort of an opportunity for younger guests to try out a "big kid ride" before going on Thunder Mountain. And the concept seemed appealing, even for adults.

As much as I find the collective hand-wringing and concern among Disney fans interesting, it's highly unlikely that the Mine Train ride is going to be cancelled in favor of going back to the original plan for meet and greets. Disney doesn't want that kind of gaffe out there. They've promised a ride. It wasn't just a rumor. Therefore, a ride is coming. I think what we'll see is a re-design of the original idea if these reported problems are true. We always knew that the ride was going to be one of the last completed in the expansion and you have to expect little bumps along the way. No one wants repeat of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey debacle over at Universal, where the seats had to be re-designed. Better to fix those problems now than later.

Just a Reminder, Gift Card Offer Ending Soon.

2011-08-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

Like a hot summer day, this offer will be gone soon.

Too corny?

I'm still doing the gift card offer until August 31, 2011. Here's how if works: Book a new trip and you'll receive a gift card based on the final amount of your vacation when you travel. Gift card amounts are as follows:

$25 for vacations worth $1800 - $2599;
$50 for vacations worth $2600 - $8999.
$75 for vacations worth $9000 - $11,999.
$100 for vacations worth $12,000 - $15,000.
$150 for vacations worth more than $15,000.
Get a $25 gift card for referrals over $1800 when the client travels.

This offer is in addition to Disney's discounted promotions, so you have nothing to lose. We don't charge for our services or impose cancellation penalties so you'll always do at least $25 better than booking directly with Disney.

These gift cards are not from my agency. They come directly out of my commission, so I have to add a few exclusions for practical reasons:

Multiple room bookings are not combined. You will receive a gift card based on the amount of your per-room booking. For example: Three vacations booked at $3000 each will receive three $50 gift cards, one per room. Conversely, rooms that fall under the $1800 threshhold cannot receive a gift card.
Total amount excludes airfare, which Disney travel agents do not receive a commission on.
This offer is not available for "takeovers" from Disney.
The final gift card amount is based on your total before travel.
A gift card is not available with Pixie Vacations exclusive deals such as the December promotion or the Food and Wine offer.

This offer is good until the end of summer!

Free Dining is Out for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012. UPDATED

2011-08-03T07:10:00.005-04:00

Here's the first bit of information on free dining for fall. These dates are included in the offer:

Dates for 2011:

Oct 2-8

Oct 23-Nov 5 *

Nov 13-19

Nov 27-Dec 3

Dec 11-17

Dates for 2012:

Jan 8-14

Jan 22- Feb 4

Feb 12-18

Mar 4-10

Mar 25-31

Three night minimum stay, 2 day ticket purchase required (even for you annual passholders). Values will receive free quick service and moderates and deluxe resorts will receive the base (regular/plus) dining plan.

You can apply this to your existing reservation. We expect these dates to be very limited, so get in as soon as you possible can and add those reservations.

Just a reminder, I do a gift card for every client who comes from this site and books a vacation over $1800. Just email me at ChrisW@PixieVacations.com.

*Please note the change to the October black out dates. I found out about it 30 minutes ago while on the phone with a CM just as she got the email, so I'm hoping this is accurate now.

Possible Free Dining Offer for Fall.

2011-07-29T08:28:00.001-04:00

Finally, there's a credible rumor going around about free dining for fall. Remember, it's just a RUMOR, but here are the details:

Bookings between August 3, 2011 - December 17, 2011.

Travel Dates:

October 2, 2011 - October 8, 2011
October 23, 2011 - November 5, 2011
November 13, 2011 - November 19, 2011
November 27, 2011 - December 3, 2011
December 11, 2011 - December 17,

Free quick service dining for values and regular dining for moderates deluxe and villas.

Minimum Stay: 3 Nights – Maximum stay: 14 nights.

I've seen this rumor in a number of places and it does look promising but remember, there's no verification from Disney yet. I'll be watching this all weekend and will post updates as they come out.

Don't forget, you can have an existing reservation and have this offer applied to it without penalty at this point.

I just want to take this moment to remind all of you that in addition to any discounts available, I always do Disney gift cards with my bookings. Email me at ChrisW@PixieVacations.com or call 919-889-5281 for details.

Good luck!

Reader Email: When do the Christmas lights on Cinderella Castle go up this year?

2011-07-28T14:30:00.001-04:00

This question comes from Nicole, who asks:

We're visiting Disney world in early November. Can you tell me if the Christmas lights will be up at that time?

Thanks,

N.

Nicole, thanks for your question and for reading here. The "castle dream lights," as they are officially known, are scheduled to have their first showing on November 7 this year. Installation will actually take place starting on September 12 and run through September 26. Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom at this time will see a crane in the park as cast members begin the time-consuming process of installing the over 200,000 LED lights. The "memories" show is not expected to be effected by the castle lights.

You can see the castle lighting ceremony each night around 6:30. It's a wonderful way to cap off your day in the Magic Kingdom.