Time to Pack

With just a few days left before our big trip, I still haven't packed!  I usually leave our packing for the last few days. We are in the process of catching up on laundry for the whole family which makes packing so much easier!!

Packing for a 7-night cruise can be daunting. You can't just run out to Walmart and pick up what you forgot.  Today I want to run through what we will be bringing with us.

Carry-on Bag
If you've seen my previous posts you'll know that I use the Weekend Bag from Vera Bradley.  This bag is big enough to be used as a diaper bag/carryon and fits everything I need!
-Laptop
-Wallet
-Diapers & Wipes
-Travel Documents and Confirmation Numbers
-Nook
-Baby Toys

My husband will use a small rolling suitcase as his carry0on that is actually the baby's suitcase.  That way we usually only have to check 2 bags. We'll rearrange stuff once we arrive as this carry-on will be used to bring some wine and alcohol on board.

Checked Bags
Hubby and I usually each bring one large suitcase but this time since we'll need 2 outfits a day, plus a bunch of other things we don't normally bring (Halloween Costumes) we might end up with 2 regular suitcases and another small one.

-We will each need 8 day time outfits plus I need to set aside our traveling outfits for Friday.  For day time activities on the ship we'll just be packing shorts, T's and Tank Tops.  We only have on excursion planned so we don't need to worry about anything special.

-We'll need 7 dinner outfits; this includes 5 regular dinners, 1 semi-formal night and 1 formal night.  Disney's official policy for the Main Dining Room is no shorts, swimwear or tank tops.  We break this rule just slightly as my hubby packs golf shorts. We still like to dress nicely and I will have several dresses packed.

-Bathing Suits

-Underwear/Undergarments

-Shoes; mostly sandals for the ship but we'll also pack sneakers for our excursion to the Mayan Ruins and some dress shoes for dinner.

-Halloween Costumes...while still top secret, rest assured they won't take up too much space!

-Toiletries (makeup, shampoo/conditioner, sunscreen, etc) Can't forge the baby's bath toys!

-Fish Extender Gifts

-Kennedy's bag will also have some baby specific items like diaper cream,Tylenol, teething tablets, etc. Luckily we don't need to pack formula and baby food this trip!!

It's very easy to over pack on a trip like this so I like to have a list to stick to. I may not pack EVERYTHING on the list but it's a good guideline.

Packing List

• cruise documents & airline tickets
• passports/birth certificates
• driver's licenses and insurance cards
• credit cards (call credit card companies to alert them you are traveling)
• ATM card
• cash
• Tips for Porters both on embarkation and debarkation, room service and if you buy stuff in the ports
• 3 copies of airline tickets, cruise tickets, passports/visas, itinerary - pack 1 copy in carry on, 1 copy in checked luggage and leave one copy with someone at home
• contact numbers to report lost/stolen credit cards or traveler's checks
• emergency numbers at home
• prescription drugs and any other essential medications (carry-on bag)
• small first aid kit (band aids, Q-tips, vaseline, dramamine, antibiotic cream, bandages, anti-diarrheal medication, cortisone cream, aspirin/tylenol/advil)
• sun screen/sun block and lip sunblock
• germicidal hand cleaner
• body lotion/after sun care
• empty folding tote bag - for souvenirs and extras
• hats/caps/visors
• insulated large coffee mugs and/or refillable water bottles
• watch
• glasses, case, extra contacts, contact lens cleaner and case
• sunglasses
• reading material - books to read while on the plane or lounging by the pool
• journal or notebook and pen/pencil
• backpacks for daybags (double as kids' carry-ons)
• zip-topped bags, plastic grocery bags and/or garbage bags -- wet swimsuits, for extra garbage or if someone gets sick
• collapsible laundry hamper
• clear, plastic vertical hanging shoe organizer for toiletries in the bathroom
• small umbrella and/or rain ponchos
• camera (and disposable waterproof camera)
• binoculars
• extra film or memory cards
• extra batteries or battery charger (chords)
• iPod, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nintendo DS/charger
• laptop
• extension chord/power strip

MOM AND GIRLS

• Curling/Flat Iron/Rollers
• Comb/Brush
• Hair Products (mousse, oil, gel, spray)
• Shampoo/Conditioner (specialty)
• Shower Cap
• Face wash/make-up remover
• Deodorant
• Perfume/cologne
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss
• Tweezers
• Hand held mirror
• Make-up and Make-up Bag
• Moisturizer
• Nail Polish and Remover
• Nail Clippers and File
• Razor and Shaving Cream
• Bras (sports, strapless, regular)
• Undergarments, camisoles, slips
• PJs
• Exercise/walking socks
• Exercise clothes
• Belts
• Scarves
• Trouser Socks or Pantyhose
• Walking and Hiking Shoes
• Walking Sandals
• Swim Suit
• Swim Suit Cover-up
• Sandals, Flip Flops
• 5 Dresses/outfits for informal nights on ship
• Shorts
• Tops of All Types (sleeveless, short-sleeved, long-sleeved)
• Capri Pants, slacks, jeans
• 2 dresses/outfits for formal/semi-formal nights on ship
• Evening sweater, jacket or wrap
• Evening Bag/PurseEvening Shoes
• Costume Jewelry/Hair Accessories

DAD AND BOYS

• Shaving Kit /Shower Bag
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash
• Razor and shaving cream
• Hair brush/comb
• Deodorant
• Pajamas/t-shirts and gym shorts
• Underwear, boxers, briefs, undershirts
• Socks - exercise, walking, evening wear
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Khaki Pants
• Belt
• Casual Shirts and Golf Shirts
• Long-sleeved tees or casual shirts
• Waterproof windbreaker jacket
• T-Shirts
• Exercise/workout clothes
• Comfortable walking shoes, casual shoes, dock siders, dress shoes
• Exercise/running Shoes
• Swimming Trunks
• Baseball cap/hat
• Slacks
• Dress shirts and ties
• Sport/dinner jacket
• Dark Suit or tuxedo

BABIES AND TODDLERS

• Diapers, swim diapers, wipes and baggies for soiled diapers
• Formula, jar food and dry snacks (pre-packaged only)
• Baby/toddler-sized eating utensils
• Pacifiers
• Plastic or disposable bottles, accessories and sippy cups
• Disposable bibs
• Favorite stuffed animals, books, coloring books, crayons and toys
• Infant backpack or front carrier
• Diaper bag
• Diaper rash ointment, PediaSure, teething ointment and other meds unique to babies and toddlers
• Pediatrician's emergency contact info
• Tear-free and allergy-free shampoo, body wash and lotion (sunblock, too)
• Water shoes (for tender feet)
• Miralax

Getting ready

With less than a week to go my to-do list seems to get longer and longer!!  Today I want to talk a little about arrival day!

Before we get to that, let's start at the beginning!

75 Days prior to your Cruise
This is the point where you can begin online Check-In. In my opinion it's good to pay your balance a few days prior so that once 75 days hits you will be ready to go!!  A few things you can do once you are 75 days prior to your trip.

-Sign up children for things like the nursery
-Book excursions
-Book adult only meals like Palo and Remy
-Complete online check-in and print your paperwork (have flight and passport info handy!)

Remember this applies only to first time cruisers! If you have sailed before you have an advantage of booking anywhere from 90-120 days in advance!

While Disney's online system isn't the GREATEST (understatement of the century) you should be able to navigate it pretty easily.  Here's a few things we did already:

-Booked Palo dinner for the hubby and I and brunch for ourselves plus my parents
-Signed up Kenendy for the nursery and booked time for everyday. Remember on cruises that are full, nursery times will fill up!
-Booked an excursion (Mayan Ruins)

I have all our paperwork printed out. Here are somethings you don't want to forget:

-Online Check In for the Cruise
-Boarding passes for the flights (I'll print those Thursday)
-Confirmation for pre-cruise hotel stay
-ID...this includes Driver's Licenses, Passports and possibly birth certificates. We are lucky enough to live i a state that offers Enhanced Drivers Licenses and the baby will have her birth certificate
-Credit Cards

When you complete your online Check-in you'll be given a Port Arrival time.  Ours is 11:30 although we'll try and arrive a bit early although we won't be able to board the ship any earlier.  If you have any issues you need to talk to Guest Service about, are interested in upgrading or anything else, arrive early! I'd rather be checked in and then have to wait to board then be rushed!

Boarding area in Port Canaveral...we are sad that we won't be going through the ears this time!

Of course packing will be a whole other post as it's lengthier than this!  Keep in mind this is just an overview!   Cruising can be overwhelming, especially the first time! If you are thinking about cruising, contact me today! Amanda@Livingwiththemagic.com

One week countdown

Good morning and happy Saturday!!  With just one week to go our house if FULL of excitement! We have so much to do this week!

-Pack (I'll post about this later this week!)
-Drop the dog off a the Kennel
-Clean the house
-Finish our Halloween costumes (top secret)
-Finish our Fish Extender gifts

Ok so I know many of you have the questions...what is a Fish Extender?  Well let's talk about the Fish first! Outside of your room you have a small, silver fish.

Well this Fish is used to hold a Fish Extender. A Fish Extender can be a variety of things, but it's typically a hanging pocket system. Here is ours:

My amazingly talented Mother-In-Law made this for us. We each have a pocket! What is the pocket for?? PRESENTS!!

That's right! Not only are you on an amazing cruise but you get presents!! What you need to do is head on over to a Disney Fan site (like the Dis) and find your cruise.  Once you find your group, there will be a sign up for the Fish Extender exchange. Keep in mind you are more than welcome to head over and check out sailing and even meet up with other cruises WITHOUT participating.

This is our first exchange although I've read about it for years! I won't give away what our gift is until we get back but it's been a ton of fun! Gifts are usually on the small side (both for the size of the pockets and the size of your luggage!). Some cruises will craft small items, while other's will put together goodie bags. You can do whatever type gift you'd like (in whatever price range).

You can also choose to do one gift per stateroom like we are doing, or gifts for each person (adults vs. kids is common).  Also, most cruisers will just deliver ONE gift for the entire cruise. You simply pick a day and make your deliveries! I'm excited to meet my other cruises and to exchange our gifts!!

I'll have a few more cruise posts this week before we leave including one on packing!  Stay tuned!

10 days and counting!

Hello everyone! Before I get started I know I still owe you a few posts from our last trip.  For now it's time to get started talking about the cruise! We leave in just TEN days!! I thought I would write a little today about the planning, cruise itinerary and the first 2 days of our trip.

Planning
For us, we hadn't planned on doing a Disney cruise.  We had our Fall vacation planned and that was going to be our last one of the year. Then Disney announced some AMAZING deals for cruise out of Galveston and we couldn't pass it up.   We love cruising and it gave me a great opportunity for you all to learn more about why cruising is so great!! In March we sailed on the maiden voyage of the Fantasy (you can read about it here).  That was only a 3 night cruise but this time we are cruising out of Galveston for 6 nights to the Western Caribbean.

There are 5 of us traveling for this trip:

Of course there is me and my hubby. He's so excited to be cruising again...unfortunately he is afraid of flying. We always fly direct to Florida but this time we'll have layovers. I'm nervous about getting him to fly 4 times but I know he'll be ok.

Then there is our crazy adorable daughter, Kennedy. I wanted to wait until she was a bit older to cruise. She can't use the pools as she's not potty trained yet and this is so disappointing because SHE loves the water!    The deal we got was too good to pass up but I know she'll have a great time. For those keeping track she'll turn 16 months just before we leave...time is FLYING!

The three of us will be in a Category 5b Verandah Stateroom on Deck 7. We booked a GTY and are really happy with our location.

Also joining us again is my parents. This will be their VERY first cruise and I'm so excited for them!

They booked after we did. We booked them an IGT room. If you aren't familiar this is a deeply discounted rate that is usually available last minute.  It means that they were guaranteed an Inside room. We just got their room assignment and they indeed got an inside room on Deck 2. They will try and upgrade once we get to the port.

When selecting a stateroom type you have several options:

-Inside Room (no windows except on the Dream Class Ships where you have a real time Porthole)

-Outside Room (Large Porthole Window (sometimes 2)

-Verandah Room

-Suites

You can pay full price for these in advance and select your stateroom if you wish.  As you get closer to the cruise you may have the option of a GTY room which means you are GUARANTEED that category or higher and you won't be assigned a room until about 30 days prior. Then of course are the last minute deals I already mentioned.  If your ship isn't full you may have the opportunity to upgrade once you check-in at the port.

We will be flying down the day prior to ensure we arrive in plenty of time.  When sailing out of Galveston you have two options for airports:

-Houston Hobby HOU (closest)

-George Bush (IAH) (further)

Disney does service both of these airports if you choose to use them, but remember that is only the day OF the cruise. Since we are flying in the night before we've opted for a rental car. We also have selected a hotel in Galveston (Comfort Suites) which offers a shuttle to the port.

We have an arrival time to the port at 11:30 a.m. (selected during online check-in).   We've also pre-selected a few things prior to our arrival:

-A Pedicure appointment for my Mom

-Palo Brunch for the 4 of us

-Palo Dinner for the hubs and I

-Nursery time for Kennedy

-Mayan Ruins Tour for my Dad, hubby and I

Be sure to take advantage of online check-in before you sail!

Day 1

Our arrival day will be pretty simple. After we check-in and board, we'll have lunch and explore the ship.  Hubby and I are meeting up with some other people sailing the ship in the afternoon prior to the Muster Drill. Then it's time for the Sail Away party and dinner!

Day 2

I'm really excited about our first day at Sea! We'll be dropping the baby off at the nursery for our Palo Brunch. I'm most excited (and nervous) about being unplugged!  It will be odd to be disconnected for so long!

I hope that you find walking through the process step by step with me is helpful! Don't hesitate to ask questions or contact me if you are interested in booking a cruise!



Fall Trip Recap- Fun Stuff Part 4

Good Morning!!! Since we have only TWO weeks before we leave for our cruise on the Disney Magic I think it's about time to wrap up our fall trip. I still have a few more posts but today we'll finish up with the fun pictures. It's all great timing as today we explore Fantasyland an yesterday there was a LOT of unexpected soft opens there!!

When we left off we were following Alice and the Mad Hatter into Fantasyland. We had plans to meet up with my husbands family a little later so we thought we'd hit all the attractions that Kennedy wanted to ride before they got there! Our first stop was Winnie the Pooh!

After Pooh we decided to head over to the Carousel since hubby had never ridden...he wasn't sure the baby would like it...

Of course she did!

Next up...head back to Dumbo!

It was so empty!!

Photo OP!

In the new attraction you enter the Queue...

And are given the opportunity to head straight to the ride or play first. When it gets busier, you'll be given a pager and parents can take a seat in the air conditioning while the kids play. It was AMAZING in here!

After a few pictures, we went out to the attraction. It's so beautiful!

Next up was the Tea Cups. I figured hubby would sit this one out since he doesn't like to spin but we all went out...and Kennedy had  a great time!

We were still waiting for my Brother-in-Law's family to show up so we decided to see if Kennedy was tall enough to ride the Speedway with us. SHE WAS! It was her first BIG girl ride. I wish I would have taken a picture of them measuring her!

 She LOVED the speedway so I'm really glad we did it! As we headed back to Fantasyland to get our stroller we ran across these lovely ladies. LOVE the shirts!

Isabella Katie's BFF, Katies Sweet Sixteen, Katie's Mama and Kate's Nana

Unfortunately we don't have any more pictures after this. We went on one more ride before Kennedy fell asleep (Carousel of Progress).  We never got to meet up with my Brother-in-Law's family so after a little shopping we went back to the resort for some swimming and nap times.

We ended our vacation with an amazing dinner at Ohana over at the Polynesian Resort. Dinner was amazing as usual and it was a great way to end our trip!

Coming up still...tips for traveling with a baby, WeGoShop review (at the chicks) and Food and Wine Festival!!

Fall Trip Recap- Fun Stuff Part 3

Are you getting sick of all the pictures yet? I promise I have some information packed posts coming soon! For now....a bit more fun!

Today will be a bit of a mish-mosh...I'll explain :)



On Friday, it was just the three of us. It ended up being a very low key day as we couldn't ride any rides (or we'd have to go alone while someone waiting with the baby).  This trip was unique in that we didn't get to go on any rides at EPCOT.  There was a lot missed but we still had a bit of fun!!

We started out our day rather late. Our first stop? To see Eddie at the Art of Animation and buy our traditional drawing (you'll have to wait and see what we picked!!).  After spending some time catching up, we went to the Living Seas. Kennedy LOVES aquariums so we figured it would be perfect...I think it was sensory overload because all she wanted was to run around!!

We were really at EPCOT for the first day of Food and Wine Festival but we were starving and so was Kennedy.  Since she was sick on this trip she was being a bit of a picky eater so we had been doing a lot of Smoothies so she would at least get SOMETHING in her belly...she LOVES smoothies!

I'm going to save Food and Wine for another post but here are some fun pictures we took in World Showcase!

We love shopping in China...Hubby stops and pets this Giraffe EVERY time lol!

 Since it opened in 2012, we haven't had a chance to stop here...Karamell-Küche in Epcot's Germany pavilion.

Oh my goodness it smelled HEAVENLY!!

We couldn't resist this Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookie...yes for a snack credit!

Definitely a must do on our list from now on!  After Germany we stopped to sneak a peak at the new Wine Bar in Italy but the line was out the door!

We did run into these lovely ladies while heading out. I love that all the countries have performers and shows...I could spend days here!

The weather started looking scary!

We decided it was just too hot...and with rain looming, it was time to go!  Oh but Hubby got momentarily distracted...

 He wanted to stop in France to show the Beast his new Tattoo but they were leaving (probably because of the rain).

The next morning we were again on our own so we got up bright and early for the opening of the Magic Kingdom! The Mayor himself showed up!

I love Main St. decorated for the fall!

 Since it was just the three of us we headed straight for Fantasyland....when who should we run into? The Mad Hatter and Alice!!

They even stopped to take a picture!

As they walked by us we overheard Alice telling the Mad Hatter a joke!

Alice: What is a Pirate's favorite Letter?
Mad Hatter: ARRRGHHHHH!
Alice: No silly....C! (haha get it...sea??)

I have one more fun day post and it will include our fun in Fantasyland!

Fall Trip Recap-Fun Stuff Part 2

Happy Monday!!  I know, how can it be happy if we aren't at Disney? Well here are some more fun pics to cure your fix!

 The party has moved from Harambe to here!

Love this truck!

We were able to ride Everest twice right away. We could have rode more but we wanted to see more of the park! Kali River Rapids was up next...everyone except me and the baby!

New lockers

It was HOT but no one was riding yet! The posted wait time was 20 minutes though!

Waiting for everyone!

Flat Dana was waiting too!

This lady was having SO much fun shooting everyone with water!

Still waiting!

There they are!

Kennedy loves pressing buttons...oops!

The ended up riding TWICE...soaking wet!

After Kali we decided to head over to the Safari. We are lucky enough to see DeVine every trip!

The wait was 30 minutes so we had a snack and checked out the Pangani Forest Exploration trail.

They were all sleeping!

Poor baby has 3 teeth coming in!

We were so excited to see the new baby!

Time for the safari...it's hard to take pictures with a baby on your lap!

Before we left Dana wanted to do some shopping!

All tuckered out!

We had a great day at Animal Kingdom.  Unfortunately hubby and I missed Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the musical this trip but we got to see almost everything else and we shared a yummy lunch at Yak and Yeti!!  It was a great day!!

Fall Trip Recap-Fun Stuff

Happy Sunday!!  It's a chilly, frosty morning here in New York and I feel like while my last few posts were informative (and hopefully helpful) they weren't fun!  I know a few of you want to hear about MY trip and how it went...so here we go!



Day 1-
After the plane landed, we went down to baggage claim and the kids were so excited to see...

We checked in and dropped our bag off to our room and by then everyone was pretty hungry.  We went down to Everything POP and grab some food.  Eric and I share the most amazing Roast Beef sandwich and for our dessert got some fruit for the baby.  Everyone else snagged some pizza and some AWESOME desserts!

It was finally time to head to the studios!

After a few rides we were lucky enough to have reservations at Mama Melroses!!  The line was OUT the door and anyone without a reservation was turned away. The park wasn't even that busy!!  The kids had fun while we waited.

Dinner was AMAZING as usual! I can't recommend this restaurant enough! The baby was pretty cranky so I didn't get to eat everything (and I remember dessert was AWFUL) but the steak was so delicious!!

Day 2
The next day we got up bright and early to be at the Magic Kingdom for rope drop. It was pretty packed!  I had warned hubby against going there on a Monday if you remember, but he insisted we start our vacation here. Plus we had our Fast Pass Plus to use!!

There was a film crew filming something while we there..we saw them several times. Pretty cool!

Everyone was really excited!!

We had a fun morning and spent the better part of the day here before having lunch at Pecos Bills and heading back to the hotel. It got VERY busy...as Monday's normally do! Don't worry...we go back later in the week.

We had a lot of fun moments that morning!

I've got lots more posts coming...Food and Wine Festival, Baby Swap, more parks and we leave in less than 3 weeks on our cruise!  I hope you are enjoying my posts and learning a little something!

Fall Trip Recap- Disney Dining Plan

If we've ever chatted you'll know that I'm a HUGE fan of the dining plan. I am always explaining to clients why it's such a good deal and why I love it so much! This post is going to be a bit nerdy today...not a ton of photos and a bit of math (run now if you want!)



I didn't save my receipts but I'm going to use some online menu's to give you an idea of what we paid and what we spent!

We traveled during FREE dining and for the purposes of our examples today we had:
-2 Adults
-1 15 year old

Since we stayed at Pop Century we spend a total of $347.55 to upgrade from the FREE Quick Service to the Plus Dining. If we had paid outright for it, the plan would have cost us $1,082.34.  If you are unfamiliar with the plan, we would each get a total of:

-7 snack credits
-7 counter service credits
-7 table service credits
-1 refillable drink mug

When we left we had 1 counter service meal remaining that no one used...usually we have more!! LOL!!

The only thing NOT included would be gratuities.  To give you an idea of what you can expect for gratuities, here is what we spent for the week.  Some of these are higher because we added an appetizer or alcoholic drinks. Also remember, that since our 15 month old is "FREE" we often paid for a child's meal for her and that's included too!

Mama Melroses	$20.86
Grand Floridian Café	$42.61
Whispering Canyon Café	$22.43
La Hacienda De San Angel	$34.55
The Wave	$49.79
Wolfgang Pucks	$51.00
Ohana	$39.87
Total	$261.11

So far we are up to $608.66. Here is where some of you might want to break down exactly what we ate, but to me, for 3 people for an entire week, that's not bad at all! That works out to be just a little over $25 per person, per day (8 days). We did spend a bit more on some other things though.

I don't like using my snack credits on things like water, or soda so over the course of the week we spent another $50 on random snacks or drinks.

We are still under $700 for 7 nights, 8 days! Had we stayed at a Deluxe or Moderate resort we would have spent less cash that week as the Plus Dining comes FREE there (when offered).

In a separate post I will talk more about Food and Wine Festival where we spent a combination of credits and cash but since the average vacationer won't run into that situation I don't want to include it here. I think the dining plan remains a great deal, especially for kids aged 3-9!!

Here are non-peak 2012 prices to give you an idea. Pricing did go up a few dollars for 2013.

Quick Service adult   $34.99
                  child   $11.99

Plus Dining adult   $51.54
                child   $15.02

Deluxe Dining adult   $85.82
                child   $23.79


Now what if you have to PAY for the dining? We would have spent a total of $1,782.00 for the four of us. To me, for what we got, I would still pay full price.  I like the convenience of the plan and having the majority of it pre-paid. You can absolutely do with cutting back and not spending the extra $50 we spent and just use your credits.   We had some incredible meals last week and never had to worry about what the prices on the menu are!  I knew we had gotten a great deal and it was one less thing to stress over!

I highly recommend supplementing your dining plan with a Grocery order from WeGoShop.com!!  We ordered a variety of bottled water, breakfast items and milk. I'll be doing a review over at the Chicks later next week with my grocery totals!

Fall Trip Recap-Resort Review

I've been thinking about this review for a few days now. I want to give everyone my honest thoughts but I also want to be clear that every family has different needs and what works for us (or doesn't), doesn't necessarily hold true for every family.



For this trip we stayed at Disney's Pop Century!

Pros:
-Preferred room..so glad we booked it! We were about as close to the lobby as we could get. That made getting refills in our mugs super easy! It was also great at night when Kennedy was sound asleep and we didn't have a long walk from the buses.

-Cost!  If you are looking for an affordable way to visit Disney, don't hesitate to stay in a value resort.  The rooms are clean and your kids will love the themeing!!

-Location, Location, Location!  A lot of my clients worry about how close they are to the Magic Kingdom. While I encourage every client to visit ALL four theme parks, rest assured that once the bus arrives, it was only about 15 minutes away!

-The food court had a great variety of food and we never felt that we couldn't find something to eat.   We used a few snack and counter service credits here!

Cons:
-We ran into some unfriendly Cast Members at the front desk on several occasions. No matter what type of resort we've stayed at, we've always received amazing guest service. This was not the case this trip.  One morning I went to the front desk because Kennedy was sick and I need to find out where I could take her since we had no car and no car seat. The Cast Member was rude and curt...not what I needed in that moment.

-The size of the rooms at the value resorts is small...that is a fact.   It's doable and probably a great fit for those traveling with older children that don't nap.  We had a hard time with the logistics of the room.  We finally moved the pack n' play behind the curtain outside of the bathroom to separate us and the baby. This is where a family suite would have worked great!!

- If you are looking for a quiet resort, this is not it! Except for the few mornings I was at the Food Court when it opened, it was often loud and crazy...and not everyone is polite!  

-Almost every time we left a park at closing, the Pop Century line was longer than any other Resort!

Would we stay here again? Maybe in a few years. We love the amenities and themeing at the Moderates and Deluxes and we like to have a bit of extra space. If we are traveling without Kenendy we would consider a value resort again, but with small children I would recommend a Family Suite or  a moderate for a bit of additional space. 

The bottome line is, each resort offers something a bit different and you need to find what works for you. I have no concrete complaints about this resort. The room was clean, Mousekeeping was wonderful, we loved the food and the pool!!  

If you need help choosing a Disney resort, contact me today! Part of working with a Disney Travel Expert includes advice on which resort is perfect for your family!

Fall Trip Recap-Transportation

Morning folks! Seems that while we were in Disney, Fall arrived. It's a very gloomy day here! I'm going to try and get through some of the boring stuff first!!  Today I'm going to talk a bit about transportation.

Arrival
Back in May, the baby and I used Magical Express when we arrived at Disney (read my review here). This was mainly so I didn't have to drag her car seat down to Florida (we usually rent a car). This time we would also NOT be renting  a car but seeing as though Magical Express took me TWO hours (from touch down to arrival), I was not looking forward to that with EIGHT people.

Our go to option for a car service in Orlando is ALWAYS QuickSilver Tours and Transportation.

This time was no different!  I booked a van for a one way trip to Walt Disney World. Upon arriving in Baggage Claim, our driver was waiting with a sign that had my name on it. He was incredibly easy to find, as well as extremely nice and personable. He assisted us with getting our bags (luckily we didn't have too many despite there being 8 of us!!) and within a few minutes we were outside loading up our bags. QuickSilver also provided me a car seat since I didn't bring one (we'd use Magical Express on our return to the airport).  Before long we were arriving at Pop Century!! Now I had to run in to the lobby pretty quickly as a Disney Cruise Line Bus had arrived behind us and I didn't want to get stuck, but my husband completed the transaction (don't forget to tip your driver!!!) and was inside within a few minutes. I honesty can't say enough good things about them. They are prompt, professional and make the trip so easy for us!!

During our trip
We aren't fans of the buses...there I said it.  It's a control thing I suppose as there isn't anything wrong with the buses. I like to be able to hop in my car and go. I like being able to eat at resorts and the Boardwalk without switching buses.

That being said, for the most part taking the buses went extremely well.    Leaving Pop Century there wasn't often too long of a line and if the line was long, there were more buses running.  A few notes:

• This trip had more wheelchairs and ECV's then I've ever seen. I would say 90% of the buses we got on had to load a wheelchair.  While I don't mind at all waiting for this process, there was one night in particular where a small child ran around the queue until the bus arrived and then got in her chair to be loaded first. Let me be clear, it was obvious this little girl NEEDED her chair but at that moment she was feeling fine enough to RUN around. I feel it was irresponsible of her parents to use her chair so they could be loaded first. We saw her the previous night at the Magic Kingdom and she was in her chair and I'm guessing was having a worse night as she never got out.
• Please do not save a spot for your 12 families members who are still getting breakfast. Buses run every 15-20 minute (sometimes earlier in the morning). We got pretty good at estimating the lines and figuring out which bus we'd get on. We'd take Kennedy out of her stroller and pack everything up, only to be bumped back in line.
• Please allow 60-90 minutes travel time to your restaurants if you are leaving directly from the hotel. This is NOT always the case (for instance Beach Club to Chefs De France you do not need 90 minutes).  We were only late for one meal but it was because a bus ran very late in picking us up. We had left ourselves about 70 minutes and were 20 minutes late. Just be cautious.
• When the bus driver asks those standing to move ALL the way back, please do so. Everyone  has had a long day and is tired and the sooner everyone follows directions, the sooner we'll get back to the resort!!
• Every time we got on a bus that was packed, someone gave up their seat for me to sit with Kennedy. My group also gave up many seats to Moms with kids or older folks. Please be courteous and give up your seat as needed.  The bus ride is short and if you can stand for a few minutes, please do so.
• Remember that at closing, most parks have a few shops that stay open later. There is NO rush to get to the buses.  At Magic Kingdom we stayed almost an hour late in hopes that some of the traffic had dispersed  :)

Would I recommend renting a car over the buses? Not necessarily. We visit Disney often, in addition to that I used to live there. We know the area very well and using a car is very easy for us.   The buses are just fine and sometimes renting a car would be an added stress.  Here are some things to think about:

• Will you need to bring multiple car seats?
• Do you have extra money in your budget for a car rental?
• What else could you purchase with that money instead of renting a car?
• Do you have a lot of reservations at Resort hotels where you will have to change buses?
• Are you comfortable driving in a city you don't know?

Departure
For our departure we selected Disney's Magical Express!

We knew we'd be using airline check-in (see below) and that it would most likely be the best way to get back to the airport. Our flight was scheduled at 2:57 and our Magical Express Departure was at 11:55. Here was our morning:

• 6:30 a.m. Got up with Kennedy
• Tried to get her to sleep until 8 a.m. LOL
• Packed our luggage and did a final check of the room
• Called and pre-paid our luggage fee for the airline
• 10:15 a.m. headed down to check our bags
• 10:35 a.m. had the Concierge reprint our Magical Express letter as I was missing from it (They said I didn't have to go home!!!)
• 10:50 a.m. went to EVERYTHING POP for breakfast
• 11:45 a.m. went outside to wait for Magical Express

The process was pretty easy although there was no line to get in so once the bus arrived, it was kind of a mad dash.  We loaded pretty quickly and before I knew it we were at the airport. We ended up at our gate VERY early but if security was longer it would have been perfect. Plus the Bills game was on and since we are from Upstate NY everyone was watching (Even my hubby who is a die hard Jets fan!!).

I hope today's post was helpful!! I try and give you a realistic view of the workings of Disney's transportation system. I didn't include the Monorail in my review but we rarely waited long and only used it a few times.  We also didn't use any Boat transportation this time.  Overall we would use the bus system again (especially at Magic Kingdom!!!)

Fall Trip Recap

Hello friends! I've been thinking long and hard about how to recap my most recent trip.   Most days I got so caught up in our travels that I forgot to take pictures! In theory I suppose I could still do a traditional recap but how boring would that be? I've decided to break our trip up into a few sections!

-Transportation
-Resort Review
-WeGoShop Review
-Dining Plan Review
-Food and Wine Festival
-Traveling with a Baby
-Park Touring


Of course this report will have a bit of fun along the way....including Flat Dana (may she rest in peace). So stayed tuned for the fun and the updates!!