Yummy, yummy, yummy

I know I've posted quite a bit in the past about the Disney Dining Plans but it's the #1 question I get when planning a Disney vacation so I don't think we can talk about it too much! I'm going to do a Q&A that will hopefully answer some questions!

Q) What are the dining plans?

A) Basically they are a way of pre-paying for your food, sometimes at a discount. There are 5 dining plans but today we'll just talk about 3 of them:

1. Quick Service Dining 
1. Includes two quick service meals and one snack per person, per package night, plus a resort refillable mug per person
2. Plus Dining
1. Includes two meals (one table service, one quick service) and a snack per person, per night plus a resort refillable mug per person.
3. Deluxe Dining
1. Includes three meals and two snacks per person,per night plus a resort refillable mug per person.

Refillable Mugs may be used in the food court at your resort only!

Q) What is the difference between a Quick Service and Table Service meal?
A) Quick Service meals are basically quick food. I don't like calling it fast food because it's often much better!  These restaurants don't accept reservations. You basically walk up when you are hungry, order your food and seat yourself.

La Hacienda De San Angel is one of my favorite restaurants. It's counter service during the day and table service at night!

Table Service restaurants are any restaurants where you are being served by a waiter or waitress (with a few exceptions). These meals are those that you should reserve in advance. These also include character meals and fine dining restaurants.

Q) How do I know where I can eat?
A) There are lots of great resources to find out what restaurants participate (most of them). Check out the official Disney Dining Plan Guide to start. Other resources I love are:
Disney Food Blog
AllEarsNet.com
Gluten Free Dairy Free at Disney

Plus everywhere you go Disney uses the Dining Plan logo to symbolize where you can use credits. They make it super easy!

Q) So what's included in each meal?
A) For each meal credit, counter or table service, you get one non-alcoholic drink, one entree and one dessert.  Most restaurants don't have any restrictions and you aren't choosing food from a special menu. You are welcome to order additional food like appetizers and alcohol, just be prepared to pay out of your own pocket for it.

The only exception is if you are on the Deluxe Dining Plan! Then you still get the non-alcoholic drink, entree and dessert but you also get an appetizer!

Q) Will I be stuck eating at my resort every day?

A) Absolutely NOT!  There are hundreds of restaurants, both counter and table service, to choose from.  They are located in all 4 theme parks, at the resorts, Downtown Disney and more! You'll also be able to choose from a wide array of food. There is literally something for everyone!

Q) I still don't get the "credits"...how will I know what to use and when, or how many I have left?

A) Let's use an example! You have a family of 4; 2 adults, 2 kids 6 and 4.  You are staying at Disney for 5 nights and have the Plus Dining Plan . That means you have:

10 Adult counter service credits

10 Child counter service credits

10 Adult table service credits

10 Child table service credits

10 Adult snack credits

10 Child snack credits

4 Refillable Mugs

Counter Service and Snack Credits MAY be shared but technically there is a distinction between adult and child. Table Service Credits you may NOT share.

You'll want to plan your table service credits in advance. If you are using a Disney Travel Planner (like me) they should be helping you reserve those meals.

Q) But how do I use the credits?
A) Your Magic Band! Your credits are all loaded onto the band and you simply tap it!  You'll get a receipt that shows you how many of that type you have left!

Q) We are arriving late on our arrival night and won't be able to use any credits.What happens to those credits?

A) Since your credits are all pooled, you can simply use them at any other time during your stay. You have up until MIDNIGHT the day of check out.

Q) We plan to spend some time outside of Disney (GASP) so we don't need the dining plan for every night. Can we get it for a just a few nights?

A) Unfortunately your dining plan is tied to the number of nights on your reservation. Don't forget the credits are pooled so you can use them anytime!

Use your snack credits for something yummy!

Q) I've heard a lot about FREE Dining. What is it and how can I get it?

A) During certain times of year, typically fall, Disney will give you one of their dining plans for FREE when you pay full price for room and tickets. Check with your Disney Travel Planner to see if there is currently a deal.  

Check out some more posts I've done about the Disney Dining Plan:
http://www.livingwiththemagic.com/2013/01/disney-dining-plan.html

http://www.livingwiththemagic.com/2013/03/3-meals-day.html

Kennedy Update

Good Morning! I've had a few requests for an update on Kennedy so I thought I'd take today to share.

It's been just about 3 months since Kennedy's initial surgery. Overall she's in good health and no longer using her feeding tube (since our trip to Alaska actually)!  She's just getting over a head cold which caused a bit of weight loss since she wasn't interested in eating.


At this point she should be pretty much back to normal, but unfortunately that hasn't been the case.  We went last month for a swallow study where they discovered part of her esophogus is narrowed, which is causing foods to get caught or build up in her esophagus. This means that certain foods don't stay down.  She enjoys lots of ice cream, pudding, Popsicles and smoothies. There are certain "crunchy" foods that she also enjoys like toast, teething cookies, Pirate Booty and goldfish.  Sporadically we try foods like eggs, macaroni and cheese and more but they don't always stay down.

Because of this lack of food Kennedy is now only in 10th percentile for weight.  We do our best to keep her full...lots of smoothies and Pediasure. Due to the surgery her stomach is also a tad smaller than before so it's a real struggle to get her to eat.

Next month we are headed in for hopefully the last procedure where they will dilate her esophagus allowing for more food to pass through. It's an in and out procedure but she will be under anesthesia.  Surprisingly  she is doing really well. Her sleep schedule is back to normal, she is full of energy and adventurous as ever!  She's been so amazing through all of this!

Thank you all again for your care and concern. We appreciate all the messages, thoughts and prayers!

Traveling with little ones

If you are traveling while or pregnant or with little one's in tow, I compiled a list of blog posts just for you!

You're Bringing a Baby?

The Little Ones

Toddlers at Disney

Baby Mine; Disney while Pregnant

Cruising with Little Ones

Guest Review- Akershus…A great and often overlooked alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Akershus…A great and often overlooked alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table
-By Heather B.

I would like to start out by saying that we have experienced many of the character meals, including 1900
Faire and Cinderella’s Royal Table. Today I would like to take this opportunity to highlight Akershus in
Epcot’s World Showcase Norway Pavilion.

Akershus, I believe is often overlooked for a few reasons; one being fear of the menu, two it is in Epcot
and three, it is not a huge landmark. As with all Disney experiences, they are up for interpretation and
personal preference. We personally loved our recent dinner experience at Akershaus. Upon admission
into the restaurant you are placed in line to have a photograph/autograph opportunity with a princess.

On this occasion we got to meet with Belle. On top of that, we received an 8x10 and two 4x6 photos
included with the cost of the meal. In our case, we were on the Disney dining plan. We were seated
in the rounded alcove, which was cozy but comfortable. The center dining hall has large ceilings with
tapestries. The entire restaurant really has a traditional old world theme. Having been to Europe a few
times, I really appreciated the experience.

Our server was very friendly and accommodating (we had a special meal request for our daughter). We
started out by ordering drinks and were then offered to freely go up to the bar area for appetizers. The
bar included items such as a variety of cold salads, rolls, cheeses, meats and fruit. We made at least two
trips each! On the dining plan most restaurants do not include an appetizer per se, but with this style
of meal the bar was included. For our entrees my husband and I each ordered the seared herb-dusted
beef tips in a mushroom sauce, which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was outstanding!

Off the children’s menu the girls ordered pizza and the ravioli. They too were both very pleased with
their dinners! For desert we ordered the apple cake, chocolate mousse and traditional rice cream, and
again, we were all pleased! For those who are put off by the menu, there is plenty to choose from. All
of our meals at Akerhus were hands down better than when we ate at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

All the while we experienced princesses coming to our table for autographs and photo-ops. I have
to say that in our opinion, Akerhus’s character experiences felt more intimate and less rushed then
they did at CRT. We were greeted by Cinderella, Ariel and Snow White and they were all outstanding,
including making our less than enthused two year old son get into the experience! Towards the end
of our meal and after the princesses finished making their rounds they announced the royal princess
promenade. Set to music, all the children were invited up to make their rounds through the restaurant
accompanied by the princesses. It was a big hit!

Although I think you can’t beat the one of a kind castle experience at Cinderella’s royal table, I would
do Askerhus over again and I cannot say I would do CRT again. I really appreciated the intimacy of the
character experience, it truly felt personal. Sometimes with character meals you have to wait a long
time to see everyone and you have crabby children on your hands to appease. We were able to eat,
enjoy, be merry and on our way. To top it all off, we were able to leisurely stroll the world show case
and enjoy the sights after dinner! Akerhus really was outstanding and I would highly recommend it as a
wonderful alternative to CRT!

Have you used my services and want to provide a review about a restaurant, resort or something else? Contact me at Amanda@mouseketrips.com

Animal Kingdom- Not a Half Day Park

If you follow me on Facebook or worked with me as a client, you probably have an idea of my love of Animal Kingdom. As a kid I was fascinated with animals, even at one point wanting to become a zoologist. I loved watching Jack Hannah on TV and would read everything I could. One of my favorite books was a Disney educational book all about different animals in the wild. I wish I still had a copy of that book, but nonetheless it's something I've always loved.

We even had our wedding reception at Animal Kingdom!

Animal Kingdom is a park we always make sure we do at least once, if not twice!   There is so much this park has to offer that I thought I would talk a little today about how you can spend your whole day there...it's not a half day park!

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a park that is meant to be explored! Upon arriving and passing through the turnstiles, you are given a choice to head right or left.

 As you make your way through the Jungle like paths, you'll find animals and hidden pathways to explore.

As you pass through the Jungle you'll come to the top of a hill where you'll get your first full peak at the Tree of Life.

Beneath the Tree of Life you'll find more hidden paths that have more animals to view and places to explore!

You will of course have the big attractions to visit throughout the day:

• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Expedition Everest
• DINOSAUR!
• Primeval Whirl
• TriceraTop Spin
• Kali River Rapids

You'll also have a variety of shows to see:

• Nemo: The Musical
• Festival of the Lion King
• It's Tough to Be a Bug
• Flights of Wonder

Between the schedules of the shows and catching the top attractions, I think you may start to see your day filling up!  Here is a recommendation for a day at the park, with some lesser known attractions filled in! (This would be assuming you will go on all the attractions)

1. Arrive at Park 30 minutes prior to open
2. Once the park officially opens, head to Expedition Everest. Take a Ride and grab Fast Passes before heading to Kilimanjaro Safari
3. Kilimanjaro Safari
4. Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (Hippo's, Gorilla's, bird's and much more!)
5. Conservation Station (train ride out to Rafiki's Planet Watch)
6. DINOSAUR (grab fast passes if the wait is more than 20 minutes)
7. Primeval Whirl
8. TriceraTops Spin
9. Return to Everest for Fast Pass Use
10. Nemo: the Musical
11. The Boneyard
12. Festival of the Lion King
13. It's Tough to Be a Bug
14. Flights of Wonder
15. Maharajah Jungle Trek (Tigers, Bat, bird's and more!
16. Kali River Rapids

Also don't forget during the course of your day to stop for Character photos located all over the park. Plus you would also take a break for lunch and snacks during the course of your day. Some activities take longer than others (the trip out to Conservation Station and any of the nature trails for instance), but these can all be done at your own pace.

Disney has also introduced a fun new interactive element to Animal Kingdom, called Wilderness Explorers. This program will help your kids discover all the things the park has to offer while introducing them to conservation and wildlife. It's a fun, new way to explore all this amazing park has to offer!

Tips for enjoying Animal Kingdom

This park is very different from the other 3. There is no real reason to rush from attraction to attraction. Take your time and explore everything it has to offer.

Take your time and let your kids walk around and explore the little paths and hidden surprises...like DeVine.

Ride the safari...more than once! It's a whole different experience every time. You never know what you might see!

Explore the trails!

Get a bite to eat...Animal Kingdom offers some of the best food at Walt Disney World!

Stay until the park closes...sunset is so pretty here!

Catch some unique entertainment!

I hope during your next trip to Walt Disney World you take some time to visit Disney's Animal Kingdom...it's Nahtazu!

Trip of a Lifetime- Day 5

I think it's safe to say that Day 3 of our cruise is what everyone was really looking forward too. Today is the day we would sail up Tracy Arm. We had all seen pictures and this seemed to be the Quintessential Alaska!

I was excited for another leisurely day at sea. We started with breakfast out on the back deck. The scenery was AMAZING!

We wouldn't be arriving in Tracy Arm until around noon so we had plenty of time to just have fun! Our morning consisted of Shuffleboard and BINGO!

Alas we didn't win yet again but as always we had a great time!!  It was finally time to head upstairs. We  bundled up (although some of us not enough...) and were ready to see the sights...I apologize for picture overload. It was just so amazing!

We found a great spot near the front of the boat, but not the very front. The weather was chilly but no rain (yet).

The views around the ship were GORGEOUS!

At this point I realized I was dumb in not putting on the proper shoes. It had started to rain so hubby and I grabbed some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies and went down to our room. After a quick change we came back up to find Lauren and Patrick at the front of the ship.

It was raining at this point and Lauren was FREEZING but determined to get some more shots of the glacier.

As we approached the glacier the icebergs got larger and larger.

And then, there it was. Lauren takes the most amazing photos, but you don't realize what it actually looks like until you are standing there.

At this point the Captain came over the loud speaker and informed us we wouldn't be able to get any closer. To the right the Icebergs were just too close for the ship to fit in between and to the left there was a family of seals.

We were downright cold at this point so we decided to split up. The boys wanted to eat and Lauren and I were ready to hit the hot tub.   On our way to change we ran into some friends :)

I will say that sitting in the hot tub, with the rain drizzling down while the ship just slowly spun in a circle (so everyone could enjoy the view) was one of my favorite moments from the trip. It was so relaxing and beautiful.

I have two short videos from Tracy Arm (well 3 but Lauren would kill me for posting #3)

We couldn't end Tracy Arm Day without a picture of Alaska Mickey!

That night we saw Ricky Kalmon, hypnotist. I think regardless of who "beileved" in it, we all had a great time. The show was really good!!

Another thing we were looking forward to was our meal at Palo. We were excited that it was on Tracy Arm Day for the spectacular views we had during dinner.

 Ready to get hungry?

A glimpse at the view out the window while Eric studies the menu.

We all really enjoyed this meal. The service was outstanding, the food delicious and the views amazing!!!

Hakuna Matata

Hakuna Matata means no worries! It's my motto...what's a motto? Nothing, what's a motto with you?

I've been thinking a lot lately about how Disney vacation planning has changed in the last 10-15 years.  Things used to be easy. Walt Disney World was an amazing place, but the level of planning wasn't near what it is today. If you head to the various blogs, podcasts or Facebook pages you might assume you need a degree in Disney Vacation planning to have a good time.

Not only that but I think there is a lot of pressure. Everyone knows someone who has been and they've suggested you HAVE to try their favorite restaurant, or you're trip will be ruined if your child doesn't meet their favorite character. If you show up at the parks without your top 5 guidebooks color coded and tabbed, your trip will be ruined!

While I understand the sentiment and know where people are coming from, I think the bar is set too high for people who visit the world occasionally or are first time visitors. I get emails all the time from people saying, I read online I have to do xyz or do you know about this rumor or have you got me this amazing-can't-be-beat-experience?  Sometimes I think that there is just too much information for the average visitor.

I've been thinking about writing this post for a while but lately with the rolling out of FastPass+, My Disney Experience and more, I wonder if it's all just too much.  I thought I would share my philosophy on trip planning and how I approach my clients vacations.

The number one rule for first time visitors to Disney is this.

You can't do it all.

That's it! Simple and easy! Think about this, when it comes to Disney it would take WEEKS to see and do everything. Most of my clients are only there for 5-7 days....sometimes less!  Let's talk facts for a second!

Walt Disney World is 47 square miles...the size of a small city!

Walt Disney World consists of 4 main theme parks, 2 water parks, 2 mini golf courses, 5 golf courses, a shopping district, 25 resorts hotels, campgrounds, a residential community,a sports complex, a wedding pavilion, a race track, gas stations,a car rental agency and so much more!!

Walt Disney World operates 365 days per year. They run daily Broadway style shows, parades, character greetings, fireworks and more.  They employ more than 60,000 people!

There are almost 150 different rides and attractions!

There are almost 300 places to eat including quick service restaurants, table service restaurants, food courts, kiosks, carts....you name it!

Walt Disney World is such an amazing place...unlike anything you've ever experienced. I think first time guests can run into two problems.

1) You've built the trip up so much that if something goes wrong or you have to adjust your plans, it can be upsetting

2) You spend the entire trip with your nose in a book, wrapped up in the plans and minute-by-minute details you have put together, that you miss the little moments..

Here is one of my favorite examples. One early morning at the Magic Kingdom we didn't have a specific plan. We were headed to Dumbo when these two passed us, skipping. Here is what we overheard:

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

If we hadn't been taking our time and enjoying what the park has to offer, we would have missed this! My long winded point is this, Disney is a place that is meant to be enjoyed. Take your time exploring the parks, stop and smell the roses, see the shows, enjoy time with your family.  There is a time and place for commando style touring, but I think overall so many things get too hyped up. Relax and enjoy your Disney vacation!

Fort Wilderness Cabins Tour

I will admit it being a little biased in this tour...I'm not a fan of the campgrounds or the cabins....the cabins more so. While I'm not a camper I do understand those who enjoy it and if you are going to camp anywhere, Disney is the place to do it!

I'm going to try and give both the positives and negatives to this property. While it may not be my thing, it may work for your family!

The first thing that I'll point out is the resort's location.  Just like Disney's Wilderness Lodge and monorail resorts, it can be convenient to the Magic Kingdom but not so to the other parks.

The other thing to keep in mind is this property is HUGE! It's 750 acres...that means getting around the campgrounds can also be time consuming. For instance if you decide to stay in the cabins, you'll be a bit closer to the main bus stops then say if you were camping, but you still might need to take a bus to the outpost depot to catch a bus to Disney's Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. If you want to go to the Magic Kingdom, you'll need to catch a bus to the Settlement Depot and catch a boat to the Magic Kingdom. The Settlement Depot is also where you'll find Guest Services, Trails End Buffet, Pioneer Hall (Hoop De Doo).  Overall I find that the campgrounds can be a bit inconvenient.

To get back on track, let's talk about the Cabins. Despite my luke warm feelings toward this property I was excited to see the cabins. Overall I found the resort to be very pretty. If I was having a low-key Disney vacation this might be a place I'd pick. I would do lots of relaxing, swimming and just hanging out. If I was spending a ton of time in the park, I think this would be a place I'd skip.

The grounds were very pretty and reminded me of growing up visiting the Adirondack Mountains. My dad is not a Disney fan but I could see him really enjoying this location.   One of the things I did love, was the outdoor space to cook out and spend time with family.

Once inside I remembered why I don't love this resort again. To me the decor just leaves something to be desired..especially for the price tag ($289 to $481 per night)!

Dining table, couch and another small table/chair combo. You can also see the middle panel that is the murphy bed.

This is a great option if you have a larger family but just keep in mind you might be bunking with the kiddo's! Here is the layout to help you see where everything is.

One thing I do love about the campgrounds is all the activities they have!

• Swimming
• Archery
• Horseback Riding
• Pony Rides
• Wagon Rides
• Movies Under the Stars
• Chip and Dales Campfire Singalong
• Boat Rental
• Canoe Rental
• Waterskiing
• Fishing
• Hoop De Doo Review
• Mickey's Backyard BBQ

It's obviously a fun place to play and hang out but it's not at the top of my list of somewhere to stay right now. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Love it or hate it?

Contemporary Resort Tour

One of the few resorts left on my bucket list is Disney's Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Towers at Disney's Contemporary Resort. For my training back in March we initially were supposed to stay here and I was so excited! At the last minute we were moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is great but it's a resort I've stayed at multiple times.

I was really looking forward to touring this resort so I thought I would share my pictures.  This isn't my official resort overview, but I'll do one of those soon too!

We actually started out at Bay Lake Towers. I loved the lobby area once we got inside.The Decor is very modern without feeling cold and sterile.

We got to tour a few different villa's. I absolutely loved the setup and colors. It was vibrant and happy and just such a huge difference than some of the other villa's we've stayed in.

Next up was a 1-Bedroom Unit. It offered a really great space but the one thing I didn't love was there was no balcony off the living room, just the Master.

Once we were done here, we took the Walkway over to the Main Building. Because of the construction up at California Grill there was some scaffolding up but there is normally a little viewing area for Wishes reserved JUST for guests of Bay Lake Towers!

I really love the interior of the Contemporary. Maybe because I'm a Mary Blair Fan?

We headed upstairs to check out a Magic Kingdom view, non-club level room. I love the views of the monorail!

This room was MUCH larger than I expected and I could easily stay here with a few kids...if I had them lol!

Overall this list is very high on my bucket list but I think it will be a while before we stay here.  The one thing I didn't love was the lack of outdoor space.  This resort really centers on the interior vs. my favorite, Disney's Boardwalk where this is so much to do outside!!  I guess I'll just have to stay here and give you guys a personal review!

Trip of a Lifetime-Day 4

I feel like this trip report is going just as quickly as our trip did! Day 4 already!  This day was our first of 3 days at Sea.  One of the things I made sure I did was keep all our Navigators! At the end of this trip report one of the things I plan on doing is uploading for you all to see!

We were very excited about today because it was going to be a lot of rest and relaxation!  Another thing we were looking forward to was BINGO and it was happening twice today!

The first round of BINGO wasn't until 10:45 a.m. so we all got up and grabbed breakfast.  Before we met up Lauren and Patrick had a chance to check out the arcade (one of the only things on the ship you have to pay extra for!)

You probably will read a lot of things about BINGO online, whether or not it's worth it. For us we had a blast, despite not winning.  It was something fun to do and we didn't mind the cost. For most games, we split the cost between the 4 of us.  We didn't have great odds doing this but we played BINGO every day so it helped keep the cost down.

After BINGO we had a little time to kill before watching the Generations Game..this was one of the funniest things we saw all week.  The Princesses were appearing in the lobby so we went to take a look. 

It was time for the Generations Game!   Check out the video below if you want to see what I mean. This game show plotted the adults vs. the kids.  The kids were asked questions from the adults generation and the adults from the kids.  It was a ton of fun!

Since the next BINGO session wasn't till 4, I'm pretty sure we all took naps at this point. I haven't napped since I was pregnant with Kennedy so it was odd but so relaxing!  We lost again at BINGO but when we left we were so excited to see that the Captain had taken the ship down a narrow straight and we were super close to land! I think that was my favorite part about this cruise! We always seem to be able to see land of some sort.

Tonight was the Golden Mickey's and it was formal night so it was time to get ready. Unfortunately we didn't have our picture taken with Lauren's camera so no pictures of us dressed up.  Lauren did buy one of the photo's Disney took later in the week (more on that later).

The show was really cute and a lot of fun, but not our favorite of the week. Dinner still was a ways off so we decide to go watch The Fued...hubby is OBSESSED with Family Fued back at home. Not a lot of people showed up but we had a really great time.  I loved all these family friend events. Plus we got FREE drinks. They weren't terribly strong but they were free!

The night of the Golden Mickey's you'll find a special menu in the restaurants. We were lucky enough to be eating in Triton's tonight which I always prefer over Parrot Cay on formal nights.

According to Lauren we were pretty hungry by the time dinner rolled around and she only photographed appetizers and desserts! I think by the 3rd night we got the hang of waiting until she snapped a picture before eating.

As we were leaving dinner we came across Mickey doing meet and greets in the lobby 

One of our favorite things to do on the ship was to go to Cadillac Lounge and see Seth Gibson.  We were lucky enough to see him on the Magic last fall too! He's hubby's favorite.

Before I end today's post I'll share with you the video from today, including the Generations Game!