Bo's Vacation Tutorial for Disney Noobz - Part 10 - Bo's Final Pieces of Disney Advice

So that, for the most part, concludes my tutorial.  Any further questions you may have may be directed to me on Facebook or via the comments section.  Or you can always call or text the Handlers, they're disturbingly happy to help.

 

However, I thought I'd leave you with a few last pieces of advice to take with you on your vacation.  Recently, on an internet posting board that Handler 1 is addicted to, someone (not Handler 1) provided an answer to the rather vague question, "What advice can you give me about Walt Disney World?" 

It will be bigger than you expect.
It will be more expensive than you expect.
It will be hotter than you expect.
It will be more crowded than you expect.
It will be more exhausting than you expect.
It will be more addicting than you expect.

 This is pretty much spot on.  But if that's not enough for you, here's a dozen more pieces of Disney wisdom.

 

1.  Talk to the Cast Members

 

That person in the silly themed outfit didn't get their job because they're particularly skilled at flipping burgers or sweeping up trash.  They got it because they're a "people person".  Cast members are usually more than happy to engage with you.  They're one of the things that really makes Disney a great place to visit.  Each one wears a name tag and, beneath their name, their hometown or alma mater (if they're in the college program) is listed.  Keep an eye out; you may just run into a neighbor!

 

2. Explore the Disney Resorts

 

You'll definitely want to take a look around your own resort, but I don't just mean that one.  Disney's themeing does not just stop at the park gates.  Some of the hotels (for example the Wilderness Lodge) are just spectacular and are worth a side trip.  This could also be combined with reservations to eat at a hotel's restaurants.  Even those resorts which are not labeled as "deluxe" can be very pretty.

 

 

If you go durring the 'Holidays', this goes double, as every resort will be decked out in celebration.  The Grand Floridian Resort is particularly beautiful during that time of year.

 

This past trip we stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort.  Handler 1 loved the horse racing theme that's continued throughout the hotel grounds - including the pool areas. 

 

See those things behind the "starting gate"?  Those are horseheads that shoot water and which you can aim at family members. 

 

Which brings us to a corollary to this piece of advice - check out the pool. 

 

 

You can't swim in any resort pool except the ones where you're staying at, but even the most basic of the value resort pools have some sort of special water feature to tempt your kiddies.  Meanwhile, some of the deluxe resort pools are bloody awesome. Volcano slides. Waterfalls. Sandy bottoms. Evil Clowns.

 

3. Watch Your Stuff

 

The Handlers have lost something every single time they have been to Disney World.  They've traveled all over Europe without problems, but in Disney, they loose stuff.  Sometimes what is lost is not terribly important.  For example, losing an umbrella on the monorial (like Handler 1 did this time) only dooms you to paying exorbitant Disney prices for a new one or getting wet.  However, other things like wallets, driver's licenses, cameras*, and prescription eyewear (I'm looking at you, Handler 2!) can be harder to replace.

 

The best way to ensure you don't leave something is to not pack it into your park bag (more on that later).  However, if you do need to bring something, be aware that although crime is 'low' in Disney, it's not non-existant. 

 

See this picture?

 

 

Its a row of strollers parked outside a restaurant.  You'll see these everywhere in Disney because lots of people use strollers to push around their little snowflakes, but can't fit them on rides or in some other locations.  But take a closer look. See that stroller on the left that looks like it has a large camera bag in the bottom pocket?

 

DON'T DO THAT!

 

Look, you'd think it would be common sense not to leave something expensive in your stroller, but people do it all the time.  Not only does this put it at risk for theft (and stroller thefts - both accidental and intentional - happen), but in this case it has also gotten soaked in a downpour (of which Central Florida has many). 

 

Leave the stroller, take the valuables.

 

4. Use the Disney Store Highway

 

Disney can get crowded.  The Magic Kingdom (being the smallest of the parks) in particular, and especially during parade and fireworks times.

 

The "hub", taken at least 45 minutes before the parade.

 

This can become especially pronounced right after the fireworks show.  All those people who crowded in front of the castle for a good view now have cranky kids who are probably up past their bedtimes, and everyone wants out of the park RIGHT THEN!  This can create a sea of people and strollers and whining children that turn Main Street USA into a living hell.  But there are ways to avoid this.

 

First, in the center of the photo above is the train station.  To either side are the shops which line Main Street.  Each of those shops is connected to one another, forming a line that goes all the way to the park exit.  So, if Main Street is crowded all to hell, duck into a shop and keep heading in the direction of the exit.  The one downside to this is that you end up having to walk through stores, which can encourage your family members to beg for things they see as you pass quickly by.  However, it's a small price to pay for a stressless exit strategy.**

 

The other way of avoiding the post-Wishes crush is to wait it out.  Find a convenient place to sit.  Watch the last parade of the day.  Take a chance to get a few more rides in (many of them will be walk-ons this late in the evening).  Grab a hot dog at Casey's.  Whatever.  If your kids can take being up for another hour or so, the Handlers highly recommend this option.

 

5.  Volunteer

 

Disney is full of interactive experiences that encourage you to take part in Disney magic yourself.  We've already spoken about Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom and similar "adventures" which allow you to interact with things on your own, but what I'm talking about here is participation in the many shows that Disney puts on.  This can mean some of the stage performances that are "attractions", but there's a lot of unscripted stuff that happens at Disney as well, and you can be a part of it. 

 

For instance, the new Enchanted Tales with Belle (fastpass recommended) relies heavily on audience volunteers of all ages to tell a story.  The Handlers were skeptical about whether they'd like this, but figured they should take me to see it so I could write about it in this blog.

 

Seriously. Amazing. Stuff.

 

Handler 1 was wiping away tears, and she didn't even have The Nuisance with her (yet).

 

Similarly, kids can visit Crush the Sea Turtle in the Living Seas pavillion at Epcot and have interactive discussions with him.  It's quite cute as well.

 

Then there's the folks that wander the parks, but who aren't characters.  For example, the Dapper Dans make their name by singing barbershop quartet songs to the amusement (and often embarrassment) of park guests on Main Street.  There are folks at Hollywood Studios who do impromptu comedy routines in the middle of the street.  PUSH the talking trashcan wanders Tomorrowland confusing children.  Someone who looks disturbingly like Johnny Depp runs a pirates legaue in Adventureland. 

 

I could go on, but the point is, these are all activities which you, as a guest, can participate in.  And my piece of advice is, when you are asked to volunteer, do so.

 

6.  Grab the Right Horse

 

See this Carousel?

 

 

It's right behind Cinderella's Castle.

 

In the second row (if you're counting from the outside) is one horse that has a pink ribbon wrapped around the bottom of it's tail.  That's Cinderella's horse.  The princess horse. The only one on the whole thing with an identifying mark.  Wanna impress your princess?  Grab it before someone else "in the know" does.

 

7. Pack a Good Park Bag

 

Touring all day at theme parks brings up a conundrum.  You want to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your day (and deal with emergencies), but you don't want to be lugging a huge bag around with you every day.  A good question people sometimes ask is, "What bare minimum of stuff should I bring in my bag?"  Here's a basic list:

 

-Camera(s)

-Water bottles

-Ponchos/Umbrellas

-A small first-aid kit (the kind for blisters is good)

-Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Whatever (Handler 1 only forgot this once)

-Motion sickness medication (if someone in your family is prone)

-Sun tan lotion (for re-application)

-Sunglasses

-KTTW card

 

And that's really all you need.  If you're like the Handlers, you'll need any extra room to hold your pressed penny and Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom collections...and your friendly family travel gnome, of course.  What about things you should NOT bring to the parks?

 

- Alcohol or anything in glass bottles

- Weapons (apparently, some people need to be told this)

- Cash (I know...credit cards are supposed to be evil...but if lost or stolen, they can be cancelled)

- Tripods

- Snacks (are your kids really gonna eat something healthy when there's Mickey ice cream bars available?)

 

Also, try to bring only one bag.  They get checked before you enter the park and a lot of bags can slow a family down.

 



8. Consider "Rope Drop" Strategy

The Handlers do not "rope drop".  It's their intention to raise The Nuisance to never know there is such a thing as "rope drop".  However, this touring strategy works well for many people, especially those with young children.  Essentially, it means you arrive at the park before its scheduled opening time.  You will then see the cast members drop the "rope" allowing folks into the park.  Sometimes this is accompanied by a little show featuring Disney characters.

The benefit of this is that the park will take several hours to get really crowded, allowing you first in line access to many main attractions. On days when the park you're visiting is doing morning "extra magic hours", Disney resort guests can get in even before the rest of the general crowd.  It's also usually not so damn hot in the mornings. 

Rope drop allows you to get certain rides out of the way so that you can take some time off during the middle (hottest) part of the day.  Go back to your resort.  Take a nap.  Let the kids swim in the pool.  Then return to the park in the evening.  You can see how this could work well for families.  Just not for Handler 2, who values his sleep.

9. Avoid the Lunchtime Rush

When do you like to eat lunch?  Lunchtime?  Yeah, well, so does everybody else.  If you go into a Disney counter-service restaurant between 11am and 1pm, you will be confronted with living, breathing proof of this fact.  My suggestion is to not eat lunch at lunchtime.  Buy the kids a snack to tide them over and wait until at least 2pm.  Or, if you use the rope drop strategy described above, you can probably schedule lunch early.

10. Use the Photopass Photographers

Unlike at other themeparks, the Disney photographers do not hustle visitors for photos and there is no "hard sell" involved.  These folks merely stake out some of the prime photo taking spots in each park and let you come to them.  The first time, you'll be given a Photopass Card and thereafter you'll present this same card to any other photopass photographer you meet.  He or she will take a few photos, and may even take a few "magic shots" that will eventually be filled in with some Disney friends in post processing.  Then after your trip, you can use the card to go online and look at the photos taken.  You then have the option to buy some or all of them (at exorbitant Disney prices).  However, the Handlers have yet to meet a photopass photographer who is not willing to also take a couple of shots of your family using your own camera, if you ask nicely.  If you want photos of your whole family in some of the best picture spots on property, this is the way to go about it.

11. Don't Skip the Fireworks

Yes, it's been a long day.  Yes, your feet hurt.  Yes, the kids are tired. But for the love of god, don't skip Wishes (at the Magic Kingdom), Illuminations (at Epcot) or Fantasmic! (at Hollywood Studios) just because they're evening events.  You paid for fireworks, damnit, don't you want to see them?  And we're not talking dinky little backyard fireworks here, either.  We're talking major extravaganzas complete with exploding earths, lasers, fireworks timed to music, live flying Tinkerbells and gigantic dragon puppets.  Disney fireworks are all but guaranteed to ruin other fireworks shows for you for the rest of your life (and we've not even started talking about the fireworks they run on special event nights!).

Seriously, who skips fireworks?  People who have prentended they wanted Handler 1's Disney advice and then ignored it, that's who.

12.  Stop and Smell the Roses

Did you know there's actually a rose garden at the Magic Kingdom?  It's to the right of the castle when you're facing it.  Most people don't know this because they are so focused on rides and dinners and characters and what have you, that they don't stop to look around them and just admire the beauty which is Disney.  The 'Imagineers' are known for their attention to detail.

 

For example, every ride and attraction in Disney World has at least one, and usually multiple, 'hidden Mickeys'.  Some of these can be obvious, and your kids will be finding the ubiquitous three circle shape everywhere, but some take a bit of searching to find.  It's the little things which make Disney decor so special.

 

Then there's the Disney 'magic' that turns normal into neat!

 

Disney, where water falls up.

There's natural beauty, too, in the many gardens and lakes, and in the animals you'll find throughout the parks.

And there's little nooks and crannies which just beg you to explore more.  Try it!  You never know what you might find hidden just around a corner.

The point is, not everything in Disney is about the rides or the characters or the food.  If you go to Walt Disney World and that's all you see, you've missed something.  You've missed the fact that Main Steet USA is done up in forced perspective to make everything seem bigger.  You've missed that Epcot's paving stones light up at night into twinkling little star patterns.  You've missed that there's a there's an umbrella somewhere on the 'Streets of America' portion of Hollywood Studios that will rain water down on you if you grab it.  You've missed that Madame Leota will randomly wake up and stare at you with her dead, dead eyes....

Because Disney is not an amusement park.  It wasn't built just so people could ride the rides.  In Walt's day they had country fairs and carousels and places where kids could go to make themselves sick on cotton candy and tilt-o-whirls.  What they didn't have was a place where families could go together.  A place that both parents and kids and teens and grandparents could all find something to enjoy.  They were missing a place that was clean and safe.  They were missing rides that weren't all about the thrill, but were more about subtlely transfering you to another realm through your imagination.  They were missing something beautiful, and that's where Disney fit in.  It's a theme park, and theme doesn't just stop at the exit door.

Koi pond in Japan.

 



So, find a seat.  Sit back.  People watch for a while.  Admire the way that ginormous bands of colorful Mickey baloons frame the castle against a perfect blue sky.  And just enjoy the ride...

 

*Full disclosure, Handler 2 lost the camera on a cruise and not at Disney.  But still!

**You can also use this tactic when exiting Disney Hollywood Studios.

Bo's Vacation Tutorial for Disney Noobz - Part 9 - Money? What's That? We're on a Disney Vacation!

 

Now for a brief public service announcement.

 

Some people love Disney, because they believe that it captures the magic of childhood for the enjoyment of the entire family.  Some people hate Disney because they believe it is the epitome of a money-sucking corporate vampire. 

 

The problem is, they are both right.

 

Look, if you do Disney right, it can be the most amazing vacation you ever take with your family in tow, but don't for one second think that Disney is not salivating after every dollar in your wallet.  Disney is able to produce the magical experiences it does because it drains the coffers of those who come to visit.  And don't think you can outsmart the Mouse, he's had over half a century of practice.

 

For example, let's talk about how Disney will encourage you to spend money by making the individual transactions seem less "real".  You've probably heard how casinos in Vegas use points cards to sucker poor old ladies into spending their pensions on the slots. Well, Disney employs similar tactics with its on-site guests. 

 

If you are staying at a Disney hotel, the first thing you and your entire party will receive when you check in are your "Key to the World" cards.  These look like credit cards (because they are) and will have your name and other information printed on them. They serve as the keys to your room.  They are also your park tickets (accordingly, they will be linked to your fingerprint and are not transferable between family members).  If you are on the dining plan, they are the means by which your use of dining credits will be tracked.   And, here's the kicker, they can be linked to your credit cards.  Basically, you can walk around the parks with only this in hand and, unless you want to purchase something alcoholic, have everything you need in one convenient card.*

 

Recently, Disney has changed the way that KTTW cards can be used for credit purchases.  Now, you no longer have to slide the cards and sign like you used to (and like you would with a regular card).  You just wave the KTTW at a Mickey head symbol located at every cash register, punch in the 4 digit PIN you set up when you checked in, and presto - you've been credited. 

 

Not content with completely disassociating your merchandise purchases with those things you normally associate with money.  Disney is in the process of beta testing its "Magic Bands", which are intended to do everything I just described AND serve as your fastpass distribution center, all in a rubber wrist band.  Now purchasing power comes in the form of cool accessories, which, in typical Disney fashion, will be completely customizable - for a price.

 

And this brings us to the second way that Disney will screw you out of your money.

 

Disney is in the entertainment business, and at some point they realized that what people (especially children) find entertaining are interactive experiences.  It didn't take a tremendous leap for Disney to come to the conclusion that normal shopping is just not "hands on" enough to keep kids interested for any great length of time.  So, they made shopping into a DIY Disney "attraction".  Now at Disney you have Make Your Own T-Shirts.

 

  

Make your own charm jewelry.

 

 

Make your own tasty Mickey rice krispie treats.

 

 

 Word to the wise, these are not your homemande rice krispie treats.  Handler 1 thinks they skip on the butter. Blech.

And make your own dinosaurs.

 

From the makers of Build-a-Bear. Apparently, this is the only Build-a-Dino in America.

 

This is all in addition to the places where you can build your own lightsaber, Star Wars droid miniature, RC car, Mr. Potato Head, pearls**, custominzed rings, animated artwork (on request) and probably some other things I've momentarily forgotten.  Heck, if you visist at the right time of the year you can get a miniature of yourself frozen in carbonite.

 

Admit it.  When you just read that your first thought was, "Damn, I want a miniature of myself encased in carbonite!"  That's an example of how Disney makes spending money 'fun'.  Resistance is futile.

 

And there are lots of places where Disney can put these tactics into action.  There's a joke the Jungle Cruise (fastpass recommended) drivers make about every Disney ride exiting into a gift shop.  That's not entirely true, but a large portion of them do.  In fact, the Handlers were loath to discover that Dinosaur! at Animal Kingdom emptied into a gift shop...which then exited into another gift shop...both of which contained cute dinosaur-themed merchandise.

 





 

Three Wolf Moon T-shirt, eat your heart out.

 

Disney has a lot of stores to choose from and, although some of the merchandise they contain will be available at other locations throughout property, some will be very ride/hotel/park/land/country/etc. specific.  Basically, there's a store to tempt every collector, hobbyist, or personal preference.  Enjoy scrapbooking?  There's a store in Downtown Disney with exclusive scrapbooking items you can't get anywhere else (the Handlers never go there, but Grandhandler Sandy likes it).  Like tea?  There's a store in England at Epcot that's all tea and teapots.  Collect Christmas ornaments?  There's no fewer than three Christmas stores on property.  Whatever you like, they will find a way to cater to it.  Handler 1 spent nearly the entire trip looking for the Haunted Mansion themed wine stopper she'd heard about (ghosts + wine, that's Handler 1 to a tee).

 

That Mickey the Gnome sure knows how to self-promote.

 

And of course, they have stores to tempt the kiddies, too.

 

Hey, does your kid like Legos?

 

Yeah, there's a store for that.

 

The Lego store in Downtown Disney has every Lego piece in every color imaginable.  They also have some awesome Lego sculptures, which you should totally go see. Oh, and remember that 'hands on' purchsing aspect?



 

It's everywhere...

Which brings us to our next caution.  Beware the Disney mega-stores.

 

Be afraid, be very afraid...and not just because Stitch spits water at you.

 

This is World of Disney.  It's located in Downtown Disney and it is big.  Like every Disney item you could ever imagine big. 

 

 It's a collections of large rooms full of merchandise, with each room having a different theme.  One for jewelry, one for infant/toddler items, you get the picture.  If you're foolish enough to step inside here, keep a hand on folks who might wander off (i.e., young children, Handler 2).  If you don't they might get lost forever and end up like these poor souls.

Or worse, they could spend more money.

Just a note, but while you're in Disney, you should take a close look at your restaurant receipts.  The Handlers received several that contained 20% off total purchase coupons at select Disney locations that include World of Disney and the Emporium (the main shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom).  Twenty percent off is no discount to sneeze at!

Finally, once you've purchased what you want, you're usually faced with having to lug it around the park for the rest of the day.  Parents often use this as a convenient excuse to kids about why they can't buy some large, bulky item.  Not so for Disney resort guests!  So long as you're not leaving the next morning, you can arrange to have oversized or fragile packages (or ones you just don't want to bother carrying) delivered to the store at your hotel for easy pickup. You can also arrange to have things shipped to your home.  Thank you Disney, for making shopping a little too easy.

So what can you do to limit spending?  Well, it's good to have rules in place.  No purchasing anything on the first day is a good one.  Only one item per park is another (although that one's never worked for the Handlers).  Giving your kids Disney gift cards and asserting that when the money runs out, it's gone, is also a good idea, but it doesn't help you when you see just the cutest, most awesome thing ever. (Handler 1 once broke all her rules for a stuffed version of the dog with keys from Pirates of the Caribbean).

So all I can really say to help you here is "Constant Vigilance!"  Put down that scale playset of the castle.  Step away from the guy holding 50 light up Mickey balloons.  Keep your eyes on the rides, man; eyes on the rides....

*Full disclosure, the Handlers were not carded once during this last trip.  They are old.

**Okay, you can't really make the pearls, but you can pick out the oyster they come from.

Bo's Vacation Tutorial fo Disney Noobz - Part 8 - Where Can I Get Some Food Around Here?

 One thing (of many) that Disney has which sets it apart from most theme parks is a collection of fine dining establishments.  Believe it or not, some people travel to Disney on gastronomic vacations and not just to ride rides and talk to characters (usually during the annual fall Food and Wine Festival).  In general, Disney offers three 'levels' of dining: table service (sit down), counter service (fast food) and snacks (kiosk treats).  This distinction comes from the variety of options available under the Disney Dining Plan.

 

Now, I could go on for a whole post about the dining plan, but the technicalities of it really aren't that interesting.  Safe to say that, for a price, and depending upon which version of the plan you buy into, you get a certain number of table service, counter service and snack credits to use prepaid throughout your stay. This prevents you from having to pay out of pocket and experiencing the resulting sticker shock.

 

Food at Disney is expensive.  Like $9.59 for a grilled chicken sandwich.  That's not a made up number, that's an actual price from one of the counter service restaurants at the Magic Kingdom.  I looked it up.  In case you're interested, every single menu item (including costs and descriptions) at every single food location on Disney property can be found here.

 

So, the Dining Plan is a good thing for families who are on a budget.  Sure, you have to pay up front, but at least you don't worry about it while you're actually on the vacation.  But regardless of whether or not you choose to go the Dining Plan route, you need to be aware that it exists because it has resulted in a lot of fundamental changes to the way people eat at Disney World.  For starters, ADRs have become significantly more important.

 

ADRs are Disney's version of reservations.  It used to be that you could make reservations at pretty much any table service restaurant the day of your visit, or even walk right up to the counter at dinner time and find a seat.  That is no longer the case.  With so many people now using the dining plan, and not afraid of the potential costs of a nice sit-down meal, everyone and their brother is now filling these restaurants to the gills.

 

Look, is your Disney vacation less than 7 months away?  Do you have all your ADRs for the trip booked already? No?

 

WHY THE HELL NOT?!?!

 

I'm deadly serious!  Get online or on your bloody cell thingy right away and make those reservations now!  I already provided you a link to every table service restaurant on property; just pick one!  Oh, and if you want one of the really popular eating attractions (yes, at Disney, even food is an attraction) like dining with princesses in Cinderalla's Castle or the ever popular dinner show at the Hoop De Do Musical Review (both signaute locations, more on that later), you need to book at 6am, 180 days out from the first day of your trip.  No, I am totally not kidding about that.

 

I understand that a lot of people prefer spontanaeity in their Disney vacations, but if you dilly-dally on this your spontenaeity is gonna involve a whole heck of a lot of bugers and fries at counter service locations.  Which brings us to the second effect of the dining plan: variety.

 

Because more people are eating at Disney restaurants, those locations have begun to adjust their menus to appeal to the everyman. This results in a lack of food diversity which displeases those persons who travel to Disney for new and inventive food experiences.  It's not that pronounced a difference and most people who visit won't even notice it.  Meanwhile, the counter service locations have had to begin diversifying their options in order to entice folks away from more attractive sit-down dining, and incidentally to change with progressive parents' views about healthy food.  During this most recent trip the Handlers sampled everything from rotisserie chicken, to lobster rolls, to Mongolian beef stir fry at Disney counter service restaurants.  They also had their share of burgers and chicken nuggets - you just have to know where to look (here again is that link to the menus). 

 

This brings us to our last point, which involves feeding children at Disney.  Children are, traditionally, more picky about food than their elders.  You can get "kid approved" food at pretty much every dining location.  Nicer Disney restaurants offer kids menus and, in the event there's nothing to tempt your little snowflake, a simple conversation with your server will usually result in the kitchen whipping up a PB&J special just for him or her. Dining staff are used to these situations.  There is only one dining location on property where children under 10 are neither permitted nor expected, and it's not really a place you'd want to take them anyways.

 

Victoria & Albert's = Still Awesome.

 

All right, so enough with the lecture, you probably want some help choosing exactly where you want to spend your dining money (or credits, as the case may be).  Well, Disney has a lot of "regular" type restaurant establishments, but you probably don't want to go to some place that you could easily visit while you aren't on vacation.  As such, I'm going to focus on those places which offer something extra in entertainment and/or cutural exploration.

 

The cultural stuff comes from the Epcot World Showcase where each featured country (except America) has one or more sit-down restaurants featuring food from their part of the world.  If you've ever wanted to try Norwegian cuisine; this is your chance.  Some also offer entertainment.  The "show" at the teppanyaki restaurant in Japan is pretty much the same you'll get at any Benihanas anywhere, but the one at Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco involves belly-dancers.  The draw of the Rose & Crown Pub and the Hacienda de San Angel (and the soon to be opened second restaurant in Morocco) are dining table alongside the lagoon.  The trick is to time your reservations to coincide with Illuminations: Reflections of Earth (the kickass fireworks show) and then hope you are graced with one of these "front row seat" locations.

 

Elsewhere on property there are many dining options that will help you to preserve the magic even while scarfing down much needed sustenance.  We've already talked about character dining a bit:

 

 

When making character dining reservations there's a few things you need to be aware of.  First, most (though not all) character dining locations are buffet.  Second, not all characters are available at all locations (do some research beforehand).  The above pictured Chef Mickeys is one of the most popular restaurants on property because it features Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy - which allows parents to get the fab 5 out of the way nice and easy.  However, there are more popular persons to meet and greet (read: princesses).

 

Oh?  You want to eat with Cinderalla in her castle? Sure!  You and 10,000 other rabid Disney vacationers.

 

There are several locations to eat with the princesses, but the most popular location is Cinderella's Royal Table.  If you want to do this, ADRs are a must.

 

What about options that interest boys?  Well, does your little mister like dinosaurs?

 





It's like Rainforest Cafe, but with dinosaurs, making it 20% cooler.

 

What about scary movies?  The Sci-Fi Dine in Theatre at Hollywood Studios has you eat out of a "car" while trailers for old time sci-fi movies flicker over the big screen.  Also at Hollywood Studios is the 50's Prime Time Cafe.  There you'll get some Donna Reed type cooking served up by your overenthusiastic "cousins".  Make sure you clear your plate; you don't want them to break out the airplane spoon, do you?

 

The newest dining location at the Magic Kingdom is the Be Our Guest restaurant in the Beast's castle in new Fantasyland.  This spot made headlines when it opened because it is the only place in the Magic Kingdom to ever serve alcoholic beverages (beer and wine).  The Handlers visited it during this most recent trip.

 

 

They were...unimpressed.  The food was okay; the service dismissive.  But the ambiance was great.

 

 

Animal Kingdom does not have much in the way of great dining experiences, but its associated hotel, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, has some very good options.  Those include Boma (a buffet with African inspired foods) and Jiko (an excellent place for a good steak and South African red wine).  Jiko, it should be mentioned, is a "signature" restaurant, meaning it's not cheap for the average person and it costs 2 table service credits if you're on the dining plan.  Another point - some of the best restaurants on property are located at the various hotels.  Look into it!

 

I already mentioned arranging meals to see Epcot's fireworks, but there are also locations where you can dine and watch Wishes (the Magic Kingdom's fireworks show).  These would be Narcosse's (at the Grand Floridian hotel), Ohana (at the Polynesian), and the California Grill (at the top of the Contemporary Resort).  Just a note, Narcosse's and California Grill are both signature restaurants, and CG is currently down for refurbishment.

 

With all these options, you may be wondering "What do you and the Handlers' suggest?"  Well, there's a couple places that have proven consistently good.  For one, the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge.  Good food, good entertainment (from the servers), and easily accesible by boat from the Magic Kingdom.  Another which the Handlers did have one bad experience with (it could have been a bad night), but which had always impressed them previously, is the Coral Reef restaurant in Epcot.  It's worth a visit for the giant aquarium that makes up one entire wall.  The Handlers also have nothing bad to say about Jiko, Teppan Edo (the teppayaki place), Garden Grill (also at Epcot), Ohana, and the Kona cafe (at the Polynesian).

 

The stand out eatery for this most recent trip was Raglan Road, an Irish pub located in Downtown Disney.  Good food, an acceptable beer list, and live Irish music and dancing.

Ask for a table in the main room.  It's worth it.

 

Check out the link (I'm not giving it to you again, learn to scroll up morons) for everything you ever wanted to know about Disney dining.  Make those ADRs.  Then sit back and enjoy the culinary adventure that Disney has to offer.

Bo's Vacation Tutorial for Disney Noobz - Part 7 - Profiling Disney Hollywood Studios

Today we're taking a look Disney Hollywood Studios.  This is a park that could be said to be facing a bit of a identity crisis.  This can be seen, first off, by the giant "Sorceror Mickey" hat seen at the end of this palm tree lined roadway.

 

 

Behind that hat (and not visible in the picture above) is a replica of the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre.  One might question why Disney decided to cover up such a distinguished "symbol" for the park with a ginormous hat (which, by the way, is a pin store).  One might also question what tempted Disney to change the name of the park from its former "Disney - MGM Studios".  Finally, one might question why this park, originally conceived as a working movie studio that guests could visit, no longer serves as the base of operations for any movie or film productions. 

 

Unfortunately, these are questions that would take longer than a simple blog post to answer.  Let's just go with the fact that, over time, Disney Hollywood Studios evolved from a park about making movies into a park about...movies in general...and California...and stuff.  As such, you'll find portions of the park devoted to Pixar films.

 

You'll find parts devoted to Star Wars.

 

Yes, it is pretty cool.

 

And then you'll find some thrill rides that don't seem to fit with the themeing that much at all.  For example, the Tower of Terror (fastpass recommended).

 





It's like the Demon Drop, but spookier.

 



There's also the Rock n' Roller Coaster (fastpass recommended), which pays tribute to music that was relevant in the 90's. 

 

Combine these with the aforementioned Star Wars ride, Star Tours (fastpass recommended), and Hollywood Studios gets the reputation of being the park, among Disney's four, most aimed at thrill seekers and least at very young children who are height stick impaired. 

 

Now, if you've been paying attention to previous posts and the above, you've perhaps gotten the idea that most of the e-ticket rides at Hollywood Studios should be experienced with the benefit of a fastpass.  This is especially true given the fact that Toy Story Midway Mania (fastpass highly suggested) has significant "replay" value that would make you want to ride again, and Star Tours features several different scenarios such that you can have quite a number of different ride experiences.  Disney Hollywood Studios is a lesson in fastpass management.

 

That being said, there are a number of other attractions at DHS that are worth an examination.  For one, there is the Jedi Training Academy.  Originally just something that Disney brought out during it's annual Star Wars Days, it proved so popular that it's now a permanent institution.  It's also bloody adorable. 

 

Although the Handlers have never participated in this themselves, it's their understanding that if one wants to sign up their offspring for the academy, one should rush to this location as soon as possible after the park opens.

Head to the giant ugly hat, hang a left, and look for this sign.

 



Another cool interactive experience (which requires no registration) is the Animation Academy.  Located in the Magic of Disney Animation building (to the right of The Voyage of the Little Mermaid).  The Handlers discovered on this most recent trip that you no longer have to sit through the dog and pony show educating you about animation prior to participation.  Just walk into the character meet and greet area and stick to the right.

No fastpass, but totally worth the wait.

 

Here you'll have a chance to learn how to draw a Disney character and be able to take home a free souvenier drawing. 

 

Free?! At Disney?!  I know! It's CRAZY!

 

Finally, DHS is known for it's shows.  Although the Handlers usually avoid shows like the plague, they'll actually take time out to see things like Fantasmic!, the nightime "fireworks" show where you can see Mickey blow up a dragon.  Or the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, where they blow up a plane.

Or Lights, Motor, Action!, where you can seen them blow up cars!

 

Or The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, where they blow up...absolutely nothing...and in which nothing at all cool occurs.  Yeah, you can probably skip that one.

"But wait!" you ask.  "Does Hollywood Studios have a parade?!"

Sigh.

Of course it does.  But by general consensus, it is the lamest of the various Disney parades.  That's just double reason to skip it.

And while you're at it, don't forget the Handlers' favorite DHS attraction, MuppetVision 3D.  It's a tribute to all Disney characters, but mostly the Muppets.  Take a peak under the welcome mat as you enter, they hide the theatre key there.

 

Bo's Vacation Tutorial for Disney Noobz - Part 6 - Profiling Animal Kingdom

Now where was I?

Right, Disney's Animal Kingdom.  This newest of the 4 main Disney parks recently celebrated it's 15th anniversary, prompting everyone to question Disney, "So, aren't you going to build a new park soon?"  Alas, that does not seem to be the case.

Animal Kingdom has always attempted to brand itself as 'Nahtazu' by hyping its rides, shows, and cultural themeing, but in essence, it is a colleciton of strange and wild curiousities.

Like whatever the hell this thing is.

 

At Animal Kingdom you will find, unsurprisingly, animals.  Many of these can be found while merely meandering your way around the park, while others are located on one of several "forest trails".  Unlike many zoos, the naturalistic habitats, and the creative way the animal enclosures have been constructed, allow the guests to get closer to the animals than would normally be possible.  Still, a fair powered zoom lens does make for better vacation memories.

No, seriously.  Flamingoes are evil.

 

However, the most impressive animal interactions can be experienced at the park's premiere attraction, Kilmanjaro Safaris (fastpass recommended).

 

 

This jaunt through the African savannah can, on a good day, get you so close to the action that you are forced to back up the ride while waiting for a rhino to clear the path.  This is one of those rides you can experience multiple times in a trip and still want to do more.



Popular wisdom dictates that the best time to ride the safari is first thing when the park opens because the animals have just woken up and been fed, and it makes them more active.  The Handlers would also like to suggest that another good time is as late in the afternoon as close to the park's close as possible.  Not only are the animals more active then (and ready to get going to their dinner and sleepy cages), but the drivers are more willing to take the time to stop and let you take photos. 

 

Regardless, don't expect to get a shot of the lions.  Handler 1 never has.  Those guys never wake up.

 

All that being said, there are other rides at Animal Kingdom; most notably the roller coaster Expedition Everest (fastpass highly suggested). 

 

 

The fact that the massively complex animatronic yeti developed for this ride turned out not to work and is now nothing more than a silhouette in strobe lights does not actually take away form the enjoyment of the ride.

 

There's also Dinosaur!, which, as you might imagine, is an intense ride through animatronic dinosaurs which might be frightening for young children.  It's located in the 'Dinoland' section of the park.

 

This portion of the park is themed after an old time carnival, complete with carnival-type skill games, the cost of which proved a tad too rich for the Handlers' blood this last time around.  Be aware, your kiddies will want to try their hands at winning pieces of stuffed crap.  However, there's also some other spinning type rides and a truly excellent playscape.

 

Another ride is located inside the giant tree which dominates the park's skyline. It's called 'It's Tough to be a Bug'.  This is a 3D movie but, somewhat surprisingly, involves a few tricks and high tech animatronics which can be frightening to young children.  Since the demolition of 'Snow White's Scary Adventures' at the Magic Kingdom last year, this ride now tops the list as the Disney attraction most likely to cause your kid to break down in tears.

 

There are also two shows, Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical, both of which are pretty good.  And of course there's a parade. Sigh.

 

Regardless, you should know that you don't need to go to Disney's Animal Kingdom to see wildlife while in the World.  Disney teems with natural wonders.  For instance, there are anoles everywhere.

 

No, that's not a mispelling.  Anoles.  Little brown lizards.  Just...watch your feet.

 

This one is saying, "How you doin'?"

 

You'll also find a plethora of ducks, bunnies, squirrels, herons, ibis, and other innocuous animal friends that treat the place like it's theirs.  These are Disney resort animals, and they have pretty much no fear of humans.  It takes an out-of-control 4-year-old specifically chasing after them to get them to run away.  Oh, and if you happen to be someone who allows your 4-year-old to chase after animals like that, you are an a-hole.  That's not a misspelling.

 

It can actually be pretty amusing.  The Handlers watched a momma duck complacently herd her duckling through a throng of people gathered to watch fireworks.  Another example is this picture of 3 bunnies and a family of ducks that Handler 1 stopped to photograph.  

 

 

One of the bunnies heard the click of her camera shutter and....

Hopped closer.

 

As cute as this is, it can also be a bad thing.  Some of the animals (birds especially) have realized that humans are a source of food.  They congregate near outdoor eating places and, on occasion, can be aggressive in their begging.

 



Opportunistic ducks.

 

The Handlers have also heard of kamikaze squirrels that will actually open up bags left with strollers and steal food.  You have been warned and, though it should be obvious, please don't feed the wildlife.