Planning for Pixie Dust

How hot is it?  While it depends on what time of the year you go one thing is probably true: when you’re at Disney it will very often be hot! Now, it can get cold for short periods of time during the winter months. If you’re going to WDW during the winter you will want to bring a pair of long pants and a long sleeve shirt, just in case. But it’s really a 50/50 shot for the weather at that time of year. I would never go to Disney without bringing clothing for hot weather! In Summer🎶 It’s hot. How hot? This week, in August, the forecast is for temperatures up to 114 degrees! Most of summer is in the 90s, so while that is hot, you can still have a great time provided you take care to hydrate and cool. Hydration: Get ahead of the heat! How? By drinking a glass of water or two before you head to the park. The intense heat of Florida can dehydrate you very quickly. If you’re not ahead of the game, it’s nearly impossible to catch up. Sports drinks are a good supplement, but your bod...

Where can I meet princesses and which ones? Princesses are everywhere at Disney World ! That is, if you know where to find them. For a little help read this article about going to Disney World with a Preschool Princess!  Oh, and don’t forget: princesses are for everyone! Some kids want to be them and some kids want to marry them!  So, which princesses will you meet? Cinderella of course! She is the main attraction and you will get a photo opportunity with her while you wait for your table! In addition, other princesses will come to your dining table while you eat! Which ones? That depends on scheduling and availability. When we went last, we saw Aurora (Sleeping Beauty, pictured above), Snow White, Jasmine, and Ariel! It was quite a treat for the whole family! What happens if you miss one? Let your server or another Cast Member know and they will send the Princess to see your party soon! Atmosphere  I mean, it’s Cinderella’s Castle! There truly isn’t a more magical ...

Is it Character Dining?  No, it is not Character Dining . So, what is it? A Toy Story themed, Table Service   dining experience. Instead of characters, they have some sort of “announcements” that come over the sound system that encourage audience participation. It is also a fixed price meal, so make sure you come hungry!  What’s for dinner?  It’s a barbecue, complete with chicken, ribs, brisket, and cheese biscuits and pepper jelly ! Sides include salads, potatoes, roasted veggies, mac and cheese, and so much more! You will choose your sides for the table, but everything is all you can eat! Dessert and a nonalcoholic beverage are included in the price as well. Overall impressions  The fixed price concerned me at first, but the food was plentiful (all you can eat) and delicious! It’s definitely not the right choice if you want a light meal, so come ready to eat! The cheese biscuits and pepper jelly were delicious as was the chicken that was so tender it was fall...

Atmosphere  Once upon a time there were Drive-In Movie Theaters across the US. Folks would gather in their family sedan or station wagon on the weekends and enjoy the latest flick! I’m sure there are probably a few Drive-Ins left in some specific locations, but today people gather in their family room, pop up some popcorn and stream a show! Most people under 40 have never been to a Drive-In! That is, until Sci-Fi at Hollywood Studios ! Here you will be transported back to the heyday of Drive-Ins and seated in an old car from the 50s, converted to your booth! What’s the show? Retro clips and trailers of  the popular Sci-Fi content of the 50s! Worried your littles will be scared? No worries! Most kids are glued to the show and I’ve never personally witnessed a problem! Fun for the whole family! Food If you’re looking for fine dining, keep looking! That’s not what this is designed to be! This is gourmet burgers, the best fries on Disney property(steak-cut), onion rings, and mi...

My Favorite Things!  Anyone who knows me know that a Disney Cruise is one of my favorite ways to take a vacation! The very first time I went on a Disney Cruise I wasn’t sure we would like it and only booked a 3 night trip. Boy! Was I ever wrong! By the 2nd night I knew I had made a mistake and should’ve booked a longer trip! Why? Lots of  reasons. Today I’ll focus on one: dinner!! What’s for dinner?  In a word: everything! Ok, not actually everything, but it feels like it! You can choose from the nightly dinner rotation restaurants, the buffet, the upper deck quick service, and room service . ALL of these options are included in the cost of your trip! With so many choices, there is no good reason to be hungry! Want a special adult only dining experience? They have those too for an additional fee!  Dining Rotation  Unlike many other cruise lines, Disney Cruises offer a dinner rotation. Each night you will enjoy 1/3 dining experiences. When you book your trip, y...

Something Happens  You’re at Walt Disney World , having a great time, the weather’s fantastic, and then it happens! Someone gets sick or maybe they’re hurt! You talk to the closest Cast Member to get their help to deal with your situation. They help you, and you start heading towards medical help. Once the situation is under control you take a deep breath. Then it hits you! You have a dining reservation in a few hours! Will they charge you? How much will they charge you?  The Good News  Most dining reservations can be canceled up to 2 hours in advance. Simply go to your My Disney Experience app, click in your reservation and click cancel. If you want to try to reschedule it you can click modify and see what is available.    So what if you didn’t make the cancellation window? You can still try to modify it, but there is a pretty big chance that won’t happen and it will give you a phone number to call. The Cast Member who answers will help you either cancel or...

What’s the same? Before we say what is different, let’s talk about what’s the same! They all have attractions, which consist of rides, shows, and character meet and greets. They also have entertainment, comprised of a combination of parades, fireworks, live shows, and street performers. They all have a variety of dining experiences that should have something to please almost anyone. And finally, they all have shops that provide you with ample opportunities to purchase souvenirs. Oh, yeah! They also all have Disney magic that helps provide a special day! Magic Kingdom  Magic Kingdom is the oldest park, that was built with Walt Disney’s original ideas. Things have changed through the years, but what remains the same is the feeling of nostalgia. This is where you’ll find attractions that he created for the World’s Fair and then moved to Disneyland . When it was built, Carousel of Progress was eventually moved to Orlando. Some attractions like It’s a Small World were replicated fr...

Resort Breakfast If you’re staying at a Moderate Resort or a Deluxe Resort you have several options for breakfast. If you are staying at a Value Resort you have only one. All of the Disney Resorts have a budget friendly Quick Service option for breakfast! There are some really great dining options at Disney for every meal including breakfast, but let’s focus on the budget friendly option for now! Quick Service Breakfast All Disney Resorts offer Quick Service Dining for breakfast! How quick? Order your breakfast on your My Disney Experience app , walk to the restaurant, and pick it up! There might be a small wait depending on crowd levels, but it is almost always faster to order on the app! Cast members will notify you on your app when your order is ready!  What’s for Breakfast?  There are lots of choices! If you want a hot breakfast, you can choose from The Bounty Platter which has eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and a Mickey shaped waffle! There’s also a Mickey Waffle P...

It all starts with where you stay!  There are sooo many Disney Resort options that it can get very confusing! One thing holds true: if you don’t have a promotion deal or discount code that is saving you money a Disney Value Resort will be the cheapest option for a a family of 4-6.  So, what if you do have a discount ? Then you’ll need to do a little math! (Just a little! It’ll be worth it, I promise!) Sometimes, with a good discount a moderate might come in cheaper or approximately the same price. When that happens, I book the DisneyModerate ! Why? More amenities! When it doesn’t, go ahead and book the whimsical Disney Value ! They’re fun and let’s face it, you’re going to spend most of your time in the parks! Next, let’s talk tickets!  Most of the time Disney Tickets will be rack rate. Why? Because they are their tickets! If anyone says they can give you a much better rate, beware! For them to do that they would be losing money or planning to get money from you for pu...

The Dilemma  If you live in the Southeast United States and travel to Florida either to visit Disney or for any other reason (Wait?! There are other things to do in Florida??), you’ve probably at one time or another at least entertained the thought of whether you will drive or fly. For some people this is a nonissue, but some of us wrestle with it every time! Pros and Cons for Flying  Of course it might seem that flying would be the most desirable way to travel anywhere! But, things aren’t always as they seem. If you live an hour or more from the airport you really need to add up the time it will take to actually get to your resort. When you do, you may discover you’re not actually saving any time.  Additionally, once you get to the Orlando airport you will need to secure travel to the resort which will cost you! And don’t forget, many of these transportation options will take guests who are staying at different resorts at the same time and you might be the last to be d...

Where is Quick Service Available? Quick Service Dining is available at all Disney Resorts   as well as each of the Disney Parks. Each features lots of choices for adults and children alike. While your typical burgers and fries are available at most of these locations, they also offer some healthy options such as fruit and salads. No two Quick Service locations are exactly the same, but some of them do favor each other. Quick Service at the Resorts Here again, they are not all the same, but they do tend to offer some staples. Most locations at the resorts during lunchtime offer burgers, hot dogs, turkey sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizza as well as whole pizzas, pasta, and more. At dinner, they tend to add turkey dinners with mashed potatoes and green beans or something comparable. Breakfast time is all about the bounty platters and Mickey waffle platters. It is important to note that there are other options that vary by location. Quick Service in the Parks  Using your My Di...

Availability  When we stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs, we had no trouble getting a table at all. That said, anytime the resort is at peak capacity I’m sure it gets full. Always best to plan ahead, but that won’t stop me from checking at the last minute! Atmosphere  Lots of televisions are everywhere so that if your goal is to watch the big game and have a bite or some libations you should be able to do so comfortably. The lighting is low enough to brighten the screen on the television, but not so low that you can’t read the menu. The music is louder in some areas of the restaurant than others. We found that the tables in the back were a much noisier area. Offerings  They offer bar food: burgers, watchos (nachos made with waffle fries), sandwiches, wings, etc. Note: if you’re not much for spicy, steer away from the wings! I enjoyed a generously proportioned turkey sandwich which came with fries, onion rings, or coleslaw, all were great choices. I thoroughly enjoyed i...