Arrival day....what to do?

When planning itineraries for my client, on thing that inevitably comes up is arrival day. There are so many questions!!

• What time should we arrive?
• How long will it take to get to my resort?
• What time is Check-in?
• Should we go to a park?

Today I want to touch on each of these questions!!

What time should I arrive?

This is a two fold question as price often dictates arrival time.  If you can find an early flight that doesn't kill your pocket book, book it! The more time at Disney the better!  Keep in mind that most airports still recommend arriving 2 hours prior to your flight so you'll need to factor in travel time to your local airport, the time it takes to get checked, get through security etc.    Find what works for your family! Be sure to take advantage of checking online at home and printing your boarding passes to save you time!

How long will it take to get to my resort?

The answer to this question is going to depend on what mode of transportation you have selected! Orlando International Airport is approximately 25-30 minutes to Disney (depending on your route and resort).

Magical Express

This awesome service is completely FREE! Not only will they take you to your resort but they'll even get your bags for you! Downfall is that you could potentially stop at multiple resorts before your own, your luggage will take at least 3 hours to show up AND will take you a bit longer to arrive at your resort. Also note that Magical Express could take up to 2 hours from touchdown to hotel.

Car Service

If you are looking for more personalized service and to arrive at Disney in style (without stopping at other resorts) I can't recommend Quick Silver Tours and Transportation enough! They offer amazing service and great rates on Town Cars, Limos, Vans and more!! Click the picture below to head to their website and be sure to tell them I sent you! We have used their services multiple times and are always more than pleased!

Car Rental

If you are familiar with the area or comfortable exploring a new one, a rental car might be a good option.  If you are planning any time away from Disney....although I know you wouldn't....this would the way to do it!  I  usually recommend Alamo. It's on the airport grounds so you won't have to take a shuttle. Plus they have great prices, a kiosk for quick service and you can pick out your own car in the lot!

What time is Check-In?

Check-in at most Disney resorts is 3 p.m. however you can check in ANYTIME! As soon as you check-in your Magic Bands will be activated.  The bands will serve as your room key, park tickets and dining plan credits (if you opted for this). If you brought your bags with you, Bell Services can hold them while you go and enjoy the parks! If you used Magical Express they will arrive magically in your room when you get back! This let's you start enjoying the magic right away!

Should we go to a park?

There is a lot to consider with this questions. The main point I want to make is that if you have booked at least a 4 day park ticket, each additional day works out to be only about $13 more, per person! If you arrive early enough and how late the parks are open, why not head to a park?  You might not be able to ride a lot of attractions, depending on the time of year but you can always grab dinner and enjoy the fireworks or other night time entertainment!

If you'd rather save your first park visit for the first full day of your vacation, you still have lots of options!!! Downtown Disney is a free entertainment and shopping district and is easily accessible by bus and boat.  The area offers restaurants, shopping, a brand new bowling alley, a hot air balloon ride and more!! Read more about Downtown Disney here.

Disney's Boardwalk is also a fun place to grab a bit to eat!  Or you could relax and explore your own resort; swim, eat and just enjoy being at Disney!! Or head to another resort you've always wanted to try but haven't! With Disney there are endless options!!

Disney also offer 2 fun filled miniature golf courses! If you've purchased a Magic Your Way package look for a coupon!  If you've added the Water Park Fun and More option, you'll have visits available on your ticket!!  Disney's Winter Summerland (my favorite) is located at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water park, while Fantasia Gardens is located at the Swan and Dolphin resort!

DCL Alaska Trip Planning

Good Morning and Happy Monday!!  As I promised a few weeks ago, I'm going to be sharing a bit of our trip planning on our next big trip. As of today we have only 188 days to go!

Traveling to Alaska is one of the things on our bucket list and I'm so excited that we are getting the opportunity!  It was a tough decision for us because we were afraid we'd miss out on the warm weather, swimming, crystal clear oceans and more but I think we are really going to enjoy a different kind of vacation. If you aren't familiar with the Disney Cruise Alaskan Itinerary, here it is:

1. Vancouver, Canada 
2. At Sea 
3. Tracy Arm, Alaska 
4. Skagway, Alaska 
5. Juneau, Alaska 
6. Ketchikan, Alaska 
7. At Sea 
8. Vancouver, Canada 

Anytime a client is cruising, I recommend that they flight in a night early.  Since we don't get the opportunity to get out west often (who are we kidding...never!) we are taking advantage and flying out 2 nights early! One of the reasons for the early flight is so we can experience a little of what Seattle has to offer with two of our best friends!

Our plan right now is to fly in two days early. The day before the cruise we will spend some time exploring Seattle (and hopefully I'll finally get to go to Pike Place!!!). We also have plans to take food tour of Seattle which we are all stoked about! Check out the Savor Seattle site here.

After a fun day in Seattle we are going to head up to Vancouver. We don't want any border delays the next morning!  We'll spend the night there, in Vancouver before the cruise departs.

I think one of the reasons we are so excited about this cruise is it's such a new adventure for us!  Neither of us have been to the Pacific Northwest and it's going to be a whole new experience!! I can't wait to share more about our plans as we get closer!

Port Orleans Riverside

Today's post is for a new client who can't decide among all the amazing resorts Disney has to offer. It's a common problem and until you've stayed at every resort, it might just be a problem you can't solve.  I think all the Disney resorts are great and you can't go wrong!!

So today let's talk a little about Port Orleans Riverside.  For more detailed info on the site, head to the Unofficial Guide to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. I also did a review of the resort last year that you can find here.



Disney's Port Orleans Riverside used to be known as Dixie Landings. It is the sister resort to Port Orleans French Quarter. Amenities at these resorts are shared (even at the Pool!). I'll be honest, my favorite moderate resort used to be Coronado Springs. I love the atmosphere and the cool modern decor of the rooms. There is just something about the Port Orleans resort that makes me feel at home and relaxed. The grounds are so peaceful and pretty. I also really like that both of these resorts are smaller and more intimate than Coronado Springs.  But today, we are going to focus on Port Orleans Riverside.

From the Walt Disney World website:

Discover a place where simple pleasures flourish and Southern hospitality abounds. From the stately white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend to the quaint backwoods cottages of Alligator Bayou, delight in this picturesque Resort hotel that evokes the romance and tranquility of the rural Louisiana Bayou.

Location
One of my favorite things about this resort is location!!  It's so centrally located that travel time is not a problem. You'll rely on bus transportation to all the parks BUT there is an awesome boat ride to Downtown Disney!! You are only a few minutes from EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon and Downtown Disney.  Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom aren't that far either!

Amenities
The thing I like about Moderates and Deluxes is the onsite table service restaurant, especially if you are traveling with little ones. I know first hand how it is to have plans change at the last minute do to a cranky toddler or sick baby.  It's nice to have that option when you head back to your resort. You'll also have a great counter service location too!

Besides dining, Port Orleans Riverside has some fun amenities!

• Horse Drawn Carriage Ride
• Bike Rental
• Bayou Pirate Adventure (ages 4-12)
• Movies Under the Stars
• Cajun Campfire
• Playgrounds

And my favorite amenity...Yeeha Bob Jackson!!!   On select nights at the River Roost Lounge you can catch this awesome man and his hysterical FAMILY Friendly show!! Check out his video on YouTube!

Rooms
While the rooms at Port Orleans Riverside aren't as large as a Deluxe Resort, nor do they offer suites, there are a couple of unique features.  The first being rooms that accommodate families of FIVE! These are standard rooms with 2 Queen Beds and a small child bed (this used to be a trundle bed)

http://www.portorleans.org/gallery-guest-SurlyMermaid.php

I found it funny that Disney doesn't show these rooms on their site. You can tell from the picture above that they are a bit more rustic than the other rooms I'm going to show you. These are located in the Alligator Bayou Section.

The other fun feature is the Royal Guest Rooms. We stayed here last May and LOVED the room. They aren't over the top girly/princess but they are nicer than the standard rooms.

 Plus the Royal Rooms are located in close to the lobby and bus stop #1.

http://www.livingwiththemagic.com/2012/05/port-orleans-riverside-royal-guest.html

You can read my full report on these special rooms here.


For standard rooms (they will sleep 4) you have a variety of views including standard, garden, water and river views!

Themeing

I touched on it a bit above, but I really love the feel of this resort. It's calm, quiet and peaceful...which is exactly what I want when I return for a day of running around the parks. I love the pools and how green this resort is!

The lobby isn't as grandiose as the Deluxe resorts but it's fitting for the landscaping and feel of this resort.

Downfalls

I don't have many to list here!!  There are multiple bus stops so depending on which building you are in keep that in mind. There is also the potential that this resort shares a bus with Port Orleans French Quarter but it didn't happen often and the bus was usually empty.  If you don't wan to wait as long I would recommend a Royal Room or a Preferred room to be close to bus stop #1.   Overall I think this resort is a great value and offers enough of the amenities I love at a Deluxe resort without the price tag!

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

I thought it would be fun to explore one of my favorite resorts today. Disney's Wilderness Lodge!!  I like this resort for a few reasons but it has it's downfalls too. Since a lot of clients ask about it, I thought I'd share a little more about what the resort has to offer!!

For those unfamiliar here is the description from Walt Disney World's website:

Escape to the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest. Inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge celebrates American craftsmanship and honors the beauty of the untamed wilderness. Soak in the splendor of the great outdoors, from nature trails through pine forests to rocking chairs that overlook a murmuring creek. Inside, discover towering totem poles, headdresses and more, and sink into a plush leather armchair in front of the roaring fireplace. 

from waltdisneyworld.com

Location
This is both a pro and a con!  While the Wilderness Lodge is located very close to the Magic Kingdom...it's located very close to the Magic Kingdom. My husband's comment after our stay here was, "This might be one of my favorite resorts but I feel like we are always traveling to get anywhere!". While it's easy to hop on a boat to the Magic Kingdom, you'll be taking the bus to every other destination.

Amenities
We loved everything the resort has to offer! The last time we visited I was pregnant with Kennedy. I vividly remember a long day of park touring and we just wanted to rest our feet. We headed back to the resort and had dinner at Whispering Canyon (where I got put in jail...but that's a story for another day!). It was nice to have so many options!  The Wilderness Lodge has a Quick Service location as well as two Table Service Locations (Whispering Canyon and Artists Point).

Bottomless Milkshake from Whispering Canyon

Besides the dining options, Wilderness Lodge offers a variety of recreation including renting water craft, bikes, an arcade, jogging trails, playground, movies under the stars and more! Plus you are very close to the Fort Wilderness Campground for Campfire Sing-A-Longs with Chip and Dale! Oh and I forgot to mention that the Wilderness Lodge also offers a Child Activity Center if you are thinking of having a Date Night!  The Cubs Den is for kids ages 3-12 and is open from 4:30 p.m. to midnight!

Rooms
At the Wilderness Lodge you have a variety of room types available.  There is of course standard rooms with varying views (standard, courtyard, woods)...

...but there are also bunk bed rooms!! I love this option for families with 2 kids! What a fun way to stay!

The Wilderness Lodge also offers Club Level rooms with all the amenities of the concierge services (nightly turn down as well as a Club Level lounge that serves refreshments!!)

The Wilderness Lodge is also home to Disney's Vacation Club! The Villa's at Disney Wilderness Lodge is home to Deluxe Studio, 1-Bedroom and 2-Bedroom Villas.

When we stayed here a few years ago we were lucky to book a standard room on the Magic Kingdom side of the resort. If you looked DOWN off our balcony you saw a parking lot, garbage cans and more.

But if you looked up we had a fabulous view of the Magic Kingdom and Contemporary.

We even got to watch Wishes from our balcony!

Themeing
This is one of the reasons we love this resort so much. The Lodge feels homey and relaxing. We love to walk around the property and just take in the sites and sounds.  It's a unique offering and Disney spent a lot of time on all the little details.

Overall this is one of my favorite Deluxe Resorts! If you don't mind a little travel time, then you might want to try it out!  Plus a bonus is, this is one of the least Expensive Deluxe resorts, giving you more bang for your buck!!

Characters in Flight

I posted last week about Downtown Disney and all the fun stuff there is to do for FREE. Well also located at Downtown Disney are several fun and unique attractions that aren't so free but are well worth the money.  One of those experiences is Characters in Flight.


Characters in Flight is a tethered Hot Air Balloon ride that is located in Downtown Disney's West Side, on the Pleasure Island Side. This ride will take you up about 400 feet in the air (depending on weather) and provides some AWESOME views of Walt Disney World and the surrounding area. The attraction is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting. The cost is $18. per adult and kids are just $12.00.  This is not a fast ride, so make sure you plan accordingly. You'll wait in line as they balloon is loaded up, launched and descends back to Earth.

A few years ago we experienced this awesome attraction.  It might be kind of obvious, but if you are afraid of heights...this is NOT for you (Love you Lauren Kennedy!). We went up at night with the hopes of seeing Wishes. Keep in mind that since the time to load the balloon and for it to ascend and descend can vary, this is pretty hard to do.  The views from the top were spectacular!

If you are looking for something fun to do at night, I would definitely recommend giving this a try!

Disney Bloggers Fight Hunger

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!!!  I wanted to share with you something that I'm participating in and that I know you will all be so supportive of! I've teamed up with a few other Disney Blogs to raise money to Fight Hunger! Did you know that every dollar you give to my virtual food drive helps provide EIGHT meals to people served by the Feeding America network.

I'm excited to be joining such amazing bloggers in the Fight to end Hunger!
Picturing Disney
It's All About the Mouse Travel
Everything Walt Disney World
Disney on Wheels
Dragynally
A Disney Mom's Thoughts
Disney Babies Blog
Doctor Disney
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
Mousekejournals
Mousekketrips
Meet the Magic


Click the picture to donate. Every dollar counts!

Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger relief organization, with network food banks serving every state. Feeding America’s nationwide network of over 200 food banks provides food and groceries to 33,500 food pantries, 4,500 soup kitchens and 3,600 emergency shelters. This extensive network helps feed 37 million Americans each year -- delivering over 3 billion pounds of food. Each week nearly 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance from an agency served by a Feeding America member.

I want to cruise, but....

You've been thinking about cruising but you don't know where to start right? You don't know how many nights to cruise, which ship to sail on, what stateroom type or where to depart?  Well I'm going to try and make that a bit easier for you!  Today let's talk a little about how long Disney cruises are which is right for you family!

DISNEY DREAM

3, 4 and 5 night Bahamian Cruises
The most popular request I get is for 3 and 4 night cruise vacations. These cruises are great for several reasons.

• Are you not sure if you'll get seasick, or do you often suffer from motion sickness?
• Are you unsure of what a Disney cruise entails but are intrigued?
• Can you just not give up your Walt Disney World Vacation but want to try a cruise out?

These are all great reasons for cruising!!  Most 3 and 4 night cruise vacation will depart from Port Canaveral on the Disney Dream.  Typically 4 night cruises leave on Sunday's and 3 night cruises leave on Thursday (this can vary).  These cruises make stops at Disney's Private Island, Castaway Cay as well as Nassau. 4-night sailings include a day at Sea.

In 2015 the Disney Dream will sail on 5 night sailings for select dates only

______________________________________________________________________

DISNEY FANTASY

7 Caribbean Sailings 

Disney's newest ship, the Fantasy, sets sail on 7-night Eastern and Western Sailings throughout 2014 and 2015. All sailings depart from Port Canaveral.  There are several different itineraries to choose from!

Eastern Caribbean Cruise (2014 and 2015)
Itinerary A- St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay

Itinerary B-St. Thomas, San Juan, PR, Castaway Cay

Itinerary C-St. Maarten, San Juan, PR, Castaway Cay

Western Caribbean Cruise (2014)
Itinerary B-Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Castaway Cay

Itinerary C-Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Jamaica, Castaway Cay (2015 also)
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DISNEY WONDER

In 2014 and 2015 has some unique sailings that offer a variety of destinations and lengths!

4 night Bahamian Sailings from Port Canaveral and Miami
Most Sailings from Miami include Key West and Castway Cay stops while Port Canaveral departures include Castaway Cay and Nassau

5 and 6 night Western Caribbean Cruises from Miami
Most sailings include stops at Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay

In May of 2014 and 2015 the Disney Wonder heads from Florida, through the Panama Canal to San Diego.  There will be ONE night 2 night sailing out of San Diego before the ship heads up to Vancouver.

• 15-night Westbound Panama Canal Sailing
• 2-night San Diego Cruise (2015 will have 2 and 3 night sailings)
• 5-night San Diego to Vancouver

Throughout the summer the Disney Wonder will be in Vancouver departing on 7-night Alaskan Sailings (9-night sailings also available in 2014).


At the end of the Summer the Wonder will head back south toward Florida!

• 14-night Eastbound Panama Canal Sailing
• 4-night Vancouver to San Diego

_______________________________________________________________________
DISNEY MAGIC

In 2014 and 2015 the Disney Magic will offer a variety of 3 and 4 night Bahamian Sailings from Port Canaveral before heading across the Atlantic Ocean!

In Summer of 2014 the Magic will depart for a  12-night Eastbound Transatlantic cruise!

While in Europe:

• 7-night Mediterranean 
• 12-night Mediterranean  (with stops in Greece)
• 9-night Mediterranean 
• 4 and 5 night Mediterranean 

After returning from Europe (14-night Westbound Transatlantic sailing) the Magic will depart on 7-night Caribbean sailings from San Juan, Puerto Rico!
San Juan Itinerary-San Juan, St. John's, Castries, St. Lucia, St. George's and Bridgetown

The Magic will spend the rest of the year departing from Port Canaveral on Western Caribbean saiilngs

Itinerary A-Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay

Itinerary A-Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay

In 2015 the Magic will start the year off departing Port Canaveral on Western Caribbean cruises.

Itinerary A-Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay

Itinerary A-Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay

In May the Magic will once again depart for Europe, this time on a 15-night transatlantic Cruise! While in Europe, Disney is excited to announce some brand new itineraries and sailings!

• 5-night Mediterranean 
• 7-night Dover, England to Barcelona (Dover, Vigo, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, Gibralter, UK)
• 7-night Mediterranean (Barcelona, Spain, Naples, Italy, Civitavecchia, Italy, La Spezia, Italy , Villefranche, France)
• 7-night Northern Europe(Copenhagen, Denmark, Tallinn, Estonia, St Petersburg, Russia, Helsinki, Finland, Stockholm, Sweden)
• 7-night Norwejian Fjord (Copenhagen, Denmark, Stavanger, Norway, Geiranger, Norway, Bergen, Norway)
• 9-night Norwejian Fjord
• 11-night Norwejian Fjord (Including ICELAND!!)
• 12-night Northern Europe

The remainder of 2015 will be released in the upcoming months!\

We love cruising and I have more posts coming up that will help you make an informed decision on if cruising is right for your family! As always, email me for pricing! Amanda@mouseketrips.com

Downtown Disney

If you've ever booked a package with me, or even just talked to me about pricing out a Disney vacation, you'll know that 90% of the time, I'm anti Park Hopper. Of course it's really a post for another day but when clients follow my advice and don't book the Park Hopper option there is typically one night they have free, not in a park (Animal Kingdom Day).   When you have an evening free at Walt Disney World, there is A LOT  to do! You could play mini golf, visit other resorts, head to the Boardwalk or....head to Downtown Disney!!

Downtown Disney has seen many transformations over the years but currently is a mix of shopping, dining and entertainment geared toward the whole family!  Downtown Disney is split into three sections; The Marketplace, Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney Westside.

Let's start from Left to Right!  First up is Downtown Disney Westside! 

Here you'll find:

• Cirque De Soleil-La Nouba
• House of Blues
• DisneyQuest
• Splittsville Luxry Lanes *NEW!*
• AMC 24 Theatres
• Characters in Flight 

Plus a variety of dining and shops!! Here you'll find Wolfgang Pucks as well as Gloria Estefan's restaurant, Bongos! Even if you don't want to pay to do any of the above attractions, it's fun place to walk around and window shop!

Next up is Pleasure Island (named from Pinnochio!)

Pleasure Island has seen the most changes over the last 10 years or so as Disney tries to change this from an adult playground into something more for the WHOLE family. It's still undergoing changes but you'll find some of my favorite restaurants here including,

• Raglan Road
• Paradisio 37
• Planet Hollywood
• Fulton's Crab House
• Portobello

At Pleasure Island you'll also find the new T-Rex restaurant,  as well as the Design-A-Tee shop! This is one of  my favorite places just to walk around by the water BUT Raglan Road is also on my top 10 favorite restaurant  list!

Last, but not least and probably the most popular is the Downtown Disney Marketplace.

If you forgot ANYTHING while shopping, you'll most likely find it here, at the Marketplace. The Marketplace is home to the LARGEST shop at Disney, World of Disney. You'll find an array of items categorized by department here. Also, World of Disney is home to the 2nd location of Bibbity Bobbity Boutique!

If you can't find what you are looking for here, try one of the MANY shops located here including:

• TrenD 
• Art of Disney
• Basin
• Disney Days of Christmas
• Design-A-Tee
• Arribas Brothers
• Goofy's Candy Company
• Lego Imagination Center
• Little MissMatched
• Once Upon A Toy

And more! Plus there are a variety of restaurants located here including Rainforest Cafe, Cap N' Jacks.  There is a few specialty places to eat including Earl of Sandwich and Baby Cakes (Gluten and Dairy Free!!)

Whether you are looking for a new restaurant to try, a special souvenir to bring home, or just looking to window shop, head to Downtown Disney! Free transportation is provide from all resorts on property AND there is no ticket required!!  

Disney Dining Plan

There are two comments/questions I hear most often from potential clients.  The first is:

We don't want to go to EPCOT. We heard it's boring and not worth our time.

I'll address THAT comment in another post, today I want to talk about the other most popular comment/question I hear:

Is the Dining Plan Worth it?

It used to be very clear but as the dining plan price has increased over the years, the line is it a bit blurrier on what the value of the plan is.  I can say until I'm blue in the face that MY family loves it and uses but what does that mean for your family?

I think there are two things to think about when considering the dining plan; dollar value and convenience value.  Let's talk about the dollar value first. I'm not going to be speaking about the Quick Service or Deluxe plan today, just the Plus plan. The Quick Service is more of a break even plan...a way to pre-pay. The Deluxe plan is for special circumstances (i.e. you plan a lot of dinner shows or signature dining).

To help me with today's example, we have a very special guest!  

Please welcome...Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head

and their 3 kids!

Mrs. Potato Head has been wanting to take the kiddos to Disney for some time now.  When Mr. Potato Head found out how much the trip would cost....well he had to get out his angry eyes!

Not to worry Mr. Potato Head! I'm here to help you save some money!  Their family decided to travel this May when the weather is starting to warm up, the crowds aren't too crazy yet and they can get a great discount.   They've decided on their resort and tickets but now they are trying to decide if the meal plan is a good deal for them!

During May when the Potato Heads are traveling its ,off peak for the Disney Dining Plan. It will cost them $55.59 per adult and $17.16 per child (for peak season you will pay $56.94 per adult and $18.16 per child). For the 5 nights they will be at Disney, the Dining Plan will cost a total of $813.30.  Up front that sounds like a lot of money, and Mr. Potato Head said they think they can do it cheaper on their own.

I'd like to show him how much of a great deal this is, so let's break it down!!  For 5 nights this is what $813.30 will get them:

25 snack credits

25 counter service credits

25 table service credits

5 unlimited refillable mugs

There are several ways we can break this down. For instance, they will be getting 50 meals on this plan (a combo of counter and table service).  If we divide what they are paying by that alone, that's only $16.27 per meal! Plus they still have their snack credits and mugs!  While for most, that math is a little too simple, let's talk a little bit more about what they are getting.

Counter service meals at Disney are located all over the parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, Water Parks and more. These are quick style meals that range in both quality and quantity. You can get something as simple as a burger and fries or something more fun and exotic like a Shawarma Platter in Morocco at EPCOT. For each meal you'll get:

• A Non-Alcoholic Drink
• An Entree
• A Dessert

The nice thing about these meals is you can SHARE! The portions are quite large and as long as adults share adult credits and kids share kids credits, you are fine! An average cost of a Counter Service meal is about $11-16 per adult and $6-$10 per child, you can see we are already close to that above average of $16.27 with just one meal!

For your table service credits, these include both character buffets and non buffets.  There are several signature restaurants that take (2) credits as well as Cinderella's Royal Table but most of the restaurants are just ONE! Let's use one of my favorite meals as an example...Ohana!!

For Ohana, Adult costs are $35.14 and kids are just $17.02 (off season).  This meal is Family Style, All You Care To Enjoy and will include the same as a counter service meal:

A Non-Alcoholic Drink

An Entree

A Dessert

So far our family has spent a total of  $48 for lunch (average) and $121.34 for dinner (not including tips).  Plus they used some snack credits for breakfast with their mugs at the resort (roughly $15).  So for one day their total could have been $184.34...a savings of $22 with their dining plan!  Of course each day will vary and some days are even greater savings! There are several ways to stretch your credits out, this is just one example.

I think my FAVORITE part about the dining plan is, even if I were to break even (never happened for us) I don't have to think about it! I can order what I like and not worry about the bill showing up.  A bill for $121.34 for dinner every night would probably send Mr. Potato Head to the Emergency Room!

Is the plan for every family? No, it's not but I think it's easy to underestimate how much food can cost while at Disney and just how much energy you spend running around the parks.  The other added value to me with this plan is the time I get to spend with my family at Dinner each night, away from the hustle and bustle of the parks. For my family, it's more than just the amount of money I'm saving, but about the ease of the plan and how much better it makes our vacation!

Plus Mr. Potato Head is happy!

And if Mrs. Potato Head is happy....EVERYONE is happy!

One of the things I love about Walt Disney World is when they through FREE events...that's right, I said FREE! Of course there are always events hidden within events that may cost, but in general many are free.   Today I want to talk a little bit about EPCOT's Flower and Garden Festival.

This years's event will be held from March 6 to May 19th (perfect time for some great discounts that were just released!). The entire park gets transformed! One of my favorite things about the Disney parks is the attention they pay to the little details. From the tiniest flowers, to the biggest trees, everything is spectacular.   For the Flower and Garden Festival, Disney cranks it up a notch. There are larger than life character topiaries EVERYWHERE and beautiful, brightly colored flowers to match.

While the performer schedule hasn't been released yet, another great thing about this festival is the FREE concerts! Last year's performers included Starship, Chubby Checker and Jose Feliciano! Stay tuned for this year's line up!

You'll also have the chance to attend seminars, meet HGTV personalities and much more!!  Even if you don't want to take any classes, be sure to just walk around! There is so much to see and do.

Contact me today if you are interested in going to this year's Flower and Garden Festival! Amanda@Mouseketrips.com

Alaska

I have previously announced on Facebook what our big trip of 2013 will be, but just in case you missed it, in August we will be sailing on the Disney Wonder to Alaska!!

In just 7 months from today, we'll be setting sail out of Vancouver, B.C. for 7 nights aboard the Wonder. In the next 7 month we'll be talking more about our travel plans, pre-cruise and post-cruise as well as excursions, packing and much, much more!

For this special cruise, we will be traveling with our favorite west Coast travel companions....Lauren and Patrick!!

You know what that means right?? AMAZING pictures!! If you don't already follow Lauren on Facebook, be sure to!

Due to the nature of this trip, we will be traveling without our favorite traveling companion...

I know she looks sad, but don't feel to bad for her! She's going to enjoy a week with her grandparents and I'm sure be spoiled rotten!!!

So stay tuned for more exciting updated as we plan our Alaskan voyage at Sea!!

Families of 5

A common problem when it comes to accommodations at Walt Disney World, and even on a Disney Cruise, is where can a family of 5 stay without breaking the bank?  Due to Fire Code, many Disney resorts limit the number of occupants to just 4 people. There are a  few exceptions however.

What are the ages of the children in your family?
If you are family of 5, but one of your children is younger than 3, you can occupy a standard room at a Value or Moderate resort just fine. While it might be a tight squeeze, there is enough room for a pack-n-play in addition to the 2 Double or Queen beds. My suggestion, while it restricts use of the bathroom at night, if you have a little one who isn't used to sleeping in the same room as other family members, is to move the pack-n-play to the bathroom area and close the curtain :)

Are you a family of 5 with older children or are you looking for a small kitchenette?
Then a family suite is right for you! While a little pricier, it will afford your family more space and more conveniences. There are 2 types of family suites at Walt Disney World.

All Star Music
These are the original family suites at Disney.  The suites were remodeled by combining two standard rooms into one.  They include a Master Bedroom, 2 bathrooms, a small kitchenette and a living room area. These suites sleep up to 6 people.

The success of the All-Star Music suites lead to the creation of the Art of Animation family suites.  They looked at what worked and what didn't and created these amazing themed suites! These suites are slightly larger but offer similar amenities. They also sleep 6 people.

Do the suites offer more amenities then you need?
If you are still in search of a standard room for your family of 5 but the suites offer just more than you need, or you don't want to stay at a value resort, you have more options. The following resorts will accommodate a family of 5 in a standard room.

-Port Orleans Riverside Resort 
-Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
-Polynesian Resort
-Contemporary Resort
-Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
-Boardwalk Inn Resort

Port Orleans offers a trundle bed while most of the others will offer a day bed.  The square footage of moderate and deluxe resorts are slightly larger than a value, but similar amenities are offered within the room.

Do you like the idea of a kitchenette but want MORE?
If you are willing to splurge and looking for a bit more than a family suite, you might want to consider a Deluxe Villa resort. These resorts offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom Villa's that come complete with full kitchens, split bathrooms, jacuzzi tubs and balconies. The price point is higher on these rooms but they offer a lot more space.  If you have more than 6 people and don't want to split rooms, the Villa's might be a great options for you as well!

Remember, as a Disney Travel Planner it's my job to help you select the perfect resort for your family. If you want to find out more, just email me at Amanda@Mouseketrips.com.