Alison – EverythingMouse

Epcot Segway Around the World Tour

May 13, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

One of the most popular and highly rated of all the Walt Disney World tours is the Epcot Around the World Tour where guests can ride around World Showcase on a Segway.

The Epcot Segway tours are so popular they now run 4 times a day at 7.45, 8.30, 9.00 and 9.30 each morning. Guests check in at the Guest Relations location to the left of Spaceship Earth. If you are arriving before the park opens you will be able to join a special line which is shared with those guests going to the Disney Princess Storybook Breakfast so that you can get into the park early.

If you are joining the tour at 7.45am you do need to know that you will not be able to get into Epcot through the World Showcase entrance. This can be a problem for those guests staying in an Epcot resort as there is no transportation to the Future World entrance so you would need to arrange your own or have a car.

To join the Segway tour you have to be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 100 and not more than 250 pounds. Guests aged 16 and 17 will need to have a waiver signed by their parents.

The cost of the Epcot segway tour is $99 per person plus tax. Disney Annual Passholders and Disney Visa Credit Card holders may be entitled to a discount. To book you call 407 WDW TOUR or 407 939 8687.

The tour starts with all guests being instructed on how to ride the segway. They are surprisingly easy to control and definitely a lot of fun! The training part of the tour lasts around 45 minutes so you get plenty of time to gain confidence on your Segway. If you have ever ridden a Segway before this may be a rather frustrating delay for you as you will most likely be wanting to start your tour, but for most it is a necessary part of the experience!

After your training you will be taken on a guided tour of Epcot World Showcase by one of the excellent Segway guides. They will point out lots of interesting details about World Showcase along the way. This is a wonderful chance to see a very different side to Epcot World Showcase. It is not open to the public at this time so you can see lots of details that you may otherwise miss. It is a very different experience to be in a Walt Disney World park with very few other guests!

If you get a taste for riding around on a Segway you can also book the Wilderness Back Trail Adventure. This experience is also 2 hours and you get the chance to ride around Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort on an X2 Segway. This is a more ‘rugged’ design so that it can deal with the rougher terrain in the Fort Wilderness Resort and guests can have a very different off road experience. The cost for this tour is $90 per person and the requirements are the same as for the Around the World Tour.

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Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

May 10, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

If you are visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios be sure not to miss the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. Even if you have never seen the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie upon which this show is based then you will enjoy this fast moving action packed show. Stunt performers, pyrotechnics and special effects all make the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular a must see show at Disney World.

Photo by rachelak

The idea behind the 35 minute show is that the audience can see how some of the amazing stunts for the Indiana Jones movies were created. The amphitheater holds 2,000 guests and it does get full at busy times. There is a Fast Pass available. To get the best seats you do have to arrive early. There are usually 3 or 4 shows each day so check your schedule as soon as you arrive in Disney’s Hollywood Studios so that you can plan which show to go to. The first show of the day is usually the one which is least crowded.

The doors open around 20 minutes before show time. The best seats are towards the front and center, but you will get a good view of the stage from almost everywhere in the auditorium.

The seating is on benches which are not the most comfortable, but the show is more than worth the wait! You may be in the amphitheater for almost an hour if you arrive early so factor this into your schedule when you are working out which show to go to during the day.

There is audience participation for a chosen few. All volunteers must be at least 18 years old and yes they really do need to sign a waiver! To increase your chances of getting picked scream like crazy when they ask for volunteers, jump up and down, just anything to get you noticed.

The stunt show has 3 scenes which are all based on famous scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark. The first one showcases the stunt performer portraying Indiana Jones in the classic scene where Indy dodges spikes coming out of the floor, and numerous other traps so that he can get to the prized treasure. Then comes the famous scene where he is being chased by the giant bolder.

Indy is then joined my Marion in the streets of Cairo. Lots of non stop action here with acrobatics, explosions and a great fight scene. The volunteers get to participate in the crowd scene.

The final scene is also action packed with Indiana Jones and Marion trying to stop the Nazis escaping with the ark. Lots more fire, explosions, fight scenes and stunts.

Overall the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular is a great show for all of the family to enjoy. Even if you have never seen an Indiana Jones movie you will enjoy this show as it does not rely on any knowledge of the movies. It is great how they bring the movie stunts to the audience and you do get some insight into how some of the stunts are performed.

I have seen this show so many times I have lost count and I always seem to see something different in it. Just wish they would change the script slightly as I now know it by heart! But next time you visit Disney Hollywood Studios make sure that you go to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular – you will be glad you did.

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Filed Under: Disney Hollywood Studios Tagged With: Disney Hollywood Studios, disney hollywood studios shows, disney world shows, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

Disney World August 2012

May 4, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

If you are visiting Walt Disney World in August 2012 here is a guide to the events, closures and what you can expect from the weather and crowd levels.
Whenever you visit Disney World it is always a great idea to plan ahead so that you make the most of your vacation.

Photo by expressmonorail

Is August a Good Time To Visit Disney World?

The answer to this is both yes and no! Of course the first 2 weeks of August are usually school vacation for US children so you are going to find that Disney World is particularly busy on these weeks. If you are visiting from outside the US and children are still on vacation then the last 2 weeks should be less crowded than the first 2 weeks of August. Visitors from the UK where children are off school usually for all of August would perhaps be wise to pick the final 2 weeks of August if they have a choice.

Temperatures at Disney World in August are likely to be in the 90s and humidity will be high. Expect high temperatures and prepare! August is also a time of high rainfall but usually showers are over quickly and bring some relief from the soaring temperatures.

Even though the parks are crowded there are longer opening times and more scheduled parades and events during this time.

Walt Disney World Rides Closed for Refurbishment in August 2012

One of the advantages of visiting Disney World at a relatively busy time is that there will usually be very few refurbishments and closures to rides.

The one disappointment is that Epcot’s Test Track is not scheduled to reopen until September 2012. This is a major attraction in Epcot Future World and it’s closure means that Soarin’ is going to be busier than ever. If you are visiting Epcot and want to experience Soarin’ you need to arrive before opening time and get to the attraction as soon as possible, or pick up a Fast Pass as early in the morning as possible. Otherwise expect around a 120 minute wait!

Disney World Parades and Shows in August

The good news is that the parades and shows run regularly throughout August. Fantasmic! is scheduled for every day in August at 9pm.

In Magic Kingdom Disney Wishes, A Dream Come True Parade and Main Street Electrical Parade are scheduled for each day.

In Disney’s Animal Kingdom the Jammin’ Jungle Parade is scheduled for 3.45 each day.

So the trade off to the crowds is that the opening hours are longer, parades and shows are scheduled, and very few rides are closed for scheduled rehabs.

When you visit at a busy time planning really does become crucial. Make as much use of the Fast Pass system as possible and make sure you know which attractions your family wants to prioritize. Many families find that a good plan is to go out early in the morning so that you can get to the parks before opening time and so as many rides as possible early in the morning. Then return back to your hotel room for a rest mid day before heading back out to the parks when the weather is cooler and the crowds in the parks are lighter.

If you are visiting Disney World in August 2012 have a wonderful time!

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Disney World PhotoPass

May 2, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

Disney’s PhotoPass is a great system which allows guests of any of the theme parks to view online andy buy photos of themselves taken by Disney’s professional photographers. The PhotoPass is very easy to use.

How Does PhotoPass Work?

You will see Disney photographers stationed at set locations all around the theme parks. You will easily recognize them by their costumes which are now the same in each of the parks.

Disney photographers get some great photos. Of course they are located in the very best photo spots around the park, such as in front of Cinderella Castle, and they know how to get the very best pictures for you.

When you have your first photo taken you will be given a small card, or PhotoPass as it is known. This has a 16 digit code which is the number that you will input online to view your photos.

Each time you have your photo taken hand the card to the photographer and they will scan it so that you have all your photos in one location.

It is a good idea to take a note of the number or to take a photo of it just in case you lose it – you will still be able to access your photos if you still have the number.

If you lose your card then you can get a replacement. You can also have more than one card on an account so you can have access to all your photos.

You can check your PhotoPass pictures online, or at any camera center in the parks. You can even have a Cast Member upload your own photos from your camera onto the PhotoPass site before you leave the park.

Disney World PhotoPass Locations

Cinderella Castle is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world

Magic Kingdom:

Main Entrance
Main StreetTrain Station
Town Square (this is very popular as it has Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the Disney Princesses)
Main Street
Cinderella’s Castle
Adventureland
Frontierland
Ariel’s Grotto
Tomorrowland

Disney Hollywood Studios:

Hollywood Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard Attractions
Sorcerer Mickey’s Hat
Al’s Toy Barn
Avenue of the Americas
Animation Courtyard

Epcot:

Main Entrance in front of Spaceship Earth
Character Connection
Various World Showcase Locations
Mission Space
Test Track

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

Main Entrance to the Park
Tree of Life
Expedition Everest
Camp Minnie-Mickey
Character Boat Landing
Africa

You can also add your photos from select dining locations. If you dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table or Princess Storybook Dining in Epcot the price of your photo package is included in the dining.

There are also photographers in the following dining locations but in order to add these to your PhotoPass you do have to purchase the photos at the table side for an extra charge:

Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue and the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue Dinner show at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

There are also Disney PhotoPass photographers at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. You will also find them at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques in Downtown Disney and Magic Kingdom.

Disney PhotoPass Prices

5×7 Print $12.95
2 copies of the same 5×7 print $22.95
3 copies of the same 5×7 $29.95
2 copies of the same 4×6 print $14.95
8×10 Print $16.95
5 x 7 Print and one magnet $19.95
5 x 7 Print and one luggage tag $19.95
16 x 20 print $29.95

There are lots of other Disney PhotoPass products you can buy with your photos on them such as mugs, cards, mouse pads, ornaments and shirts.

Another great choice can be to purchase the Disney PhotoPass CD. If you purchase this option you will have a CD with all of the photos taken by Disney’s PhotoPass photographers for your entire stay (up to a limit of 14 days). If you have this option you have the copyright released on these photos so that you can print them at home with any service that you want. Depending upon the amount of photos that you actually need with this then it can be a great deal.

The price of the PhotoPass CD if you buy it in the parks it is $169.95 plus tax. You can save $50 if you pre order online before your vacation so the price is a reduced $119.95 plus tax. This is a great option if you think you will buy the CD because you do have up to 90 days after you have made the pre purchase to get a refund. See the terms and conditions on Disney’s site for more details at Disney PhotoPass Pre Visit Offer

A new feature is that for an additional fee you can now add your Disney dining print photos to a PhotoPass instead of buying them at the table side. This option costs $199.95.

The beautiful photos here were taken by expressmonorail

Disney World Dining Reservations

April 29, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

How do you make Disney World Dining Reservations? If you are visiting Walt Disney World and plan to eat at one of the wonderful Disney restaurants then you really do need to plan ahead. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get a ‘walk in’ for a Disney restaurant these days so to avoid disappointment then you really should think about making reservations ahead of time.

Do I Really Need to Make Disney World Dining Reservations?

The simple answer is yes. I know that for some the thought of planning so far ahead is not a great prospect but with the popularity of the Disney Dining Plan for guests a lot of the restaurants book out 6 months ahead of time.

If you want to book a character meal or dinner show then it is particularly important to book ahead. The most popular restaurants are:

Cinderella’s Royal Table

To get a reservation here you have to be very quick and book as soon as the booking window opens. I do mean as soon as it opens because they have usually gone in minutes!

Other very popular restaurants are Epcot Le Cellier Steakhouse, the adult only dining at Victoria and Albert’s, the dinner who Hoop De Doo Review and California Grill.

How Do I Make A Disney World Dining Reservation?

You can call 407 WDW DINE or book online on the Disney World website.

Everyone can book up to 180 days ahead. If you are staying at a Disney World resort hotel then you can book up to 190 days ahead of time – you have to provide your booking reference when you book your dining. This does give Disney World resort guests a big advantage to booking those very popular restaurants such as Cinderella’s Royal Table.

What If You Do Not Have a Disney Dining Reservation?

Perseverance can sometimes pay off. Even if it looks like an impossible task to get a reservation at a particular restaurant keep trying. Guests do cancel reservations and so if you keep checking online or by phone you may get lucky. In my experience it is a lot easier to check what is available online. You can see what is available for your chosen time if your first choice is not available. The phone system is in my experience more time consuming than booking online.

You can always try a walk in and sometimes you will get lucky. When you arrive at a theme park try Guest Services first to see what reservations they have. I also use my iPhone a lot so that I can try to get reservations online the morning we arrive. I often do this whilst standing in line for the attractions so I can see what is available ( this only works at quieter times and if you are prepared to be flexible though).

You can always go to the restaurant directly and see if they have any walk ins available. This does some times work. I even once got a walk in for the very coveted Le Cellier Steakhouse for lunch.

Remember too that you can go to any restaurant podium to see which restaurants are available. So for instance you could go to Le Cellier and ask if there is anything available at Jiko as their system should show all Disney restaurants.

Let us know your experience with the Disney World Dining Reservations system by leaving us a Comment!

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Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With: disney world character dining, disney world dining, Disney World Dining Reservations

Disney Cruise Europe 2013

April 25, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

The Disney Magic returns to Europe in 2013 and will be sailing out of Barcelona on some exciting Mediterranean itineraries. There is a great choice of itineraries for guests with 7 night cruises and two new 12 night itineraries which include some exciting new destinations for Disney Cruise Line.

There is a lot of choice of cruise lines for European sailings but if you are looking for a high quality family orientated cruise then you will find it hard to beat Disney cruise lines. Known for their exceptional service, great choice of staterooms and of course their legendary entertainment Disney is a great choice.

Disney Mediterranean Cruise for 7 Nights

Sailing dates are:

June 1st and June 8th. August 10th, August 17th and August 31st 2013

Saturday Barcelona, Spain
Sunday At Sea
Monday Villefranche (Nice), France
Tuesday La Spezia (Florence), Italy
Wednesday Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Thursday Naples, Italy
Friday At Sea
Saturday Barcelona, Spain

This is a good 7 night itinerary which will give guests an introduction to some of the most famous cities in the Mediterranean. They will also enjoy 2 relaxing days at sea.

12 Night Mediterranean Cruise with Venice

Sailing dates are: 27th June and 25th July 2013.

The itinerary for the 12 night Mediterranean cruise is:

Thursday Barcelona, Spain
Friday Villefranche (Nice), France
Saturday La Spezia (Florence), Italy
Sunday Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Monday Naples, Italy
Tuesday At Sea
Wednesday Venice, Italy
Thursday Venice, Italy
Friday Dubrovnik, Croatia
Saturday At Sea
Sunday Valetta, Malta
Monday At Sea
Tuesday Barcelona, Spain

This is a great chance to see the sights of the Mediterranean including an overnight stay in the port of Venice. One of the most magical cities in Italy this is a great opportunity to spend a good amount of time in Venice. Guests can also see the beautiful Italian cities of Rome, Florence and Naples. The beautiful cities of Dubrovnik and Valetta are also on this new itinerary.

12 Night Mediterranean Cruise with Greece

There are sailings on 15th June and 13th July 2013.

Saturday Barcelona, Spain
Sunday Villefranche (Nice), France
Monday La Spezia (Florence), Italy
Tuesday Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Wednesday At Sea
Thursday At Sea
Friday Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Saturday Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Sunday Mykonos, Greece
Monday At Sea
Tuesday Valetta, Malta
Wednesday At Sea
Thursday Barcelona, Spain

This is a great choice for everyone, but perhaps particularly for those who have already sailed to the ‘traditional’ Europe cruise ports and visited Rome and Florence. This is a first for Disney cruises as these port stops include Greece and Turkey.

Disney Magic 4 Night Mediterranean Cruise

Sailings are on 9th July and 6th August 2013 out of Barcelona.

Tuesday Barcelona, Spain
Wednesday Villefranche (Nice), France
Thursday At Sea
Friday Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Saturday Barcelona, Spain

This is another first for Disney – a 4 night European cruise. It has 2 port stops and 1 day at sea.

Whichever of the Disney cruises you choose you will be sure that you are sailing with one of the very best cruise lines at sea.

For every Disney cruise EverythingMouse Travel can help you with FREE booking and planning advice. Booking a cruise can be confusing and time consuming so let us take care of all the details for you.

Contact us at EverythingMouse Disney Travel Agents for FREE EXPERT HELP.

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Disney Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray DVD Diamond Edition

April 21, 2012 By Alison 1 Comment

Beauty and the Beast was one of the movies which revived the fortunes of Disney animation in the 1990s and remains one of the most beloved of all the Disney movies. Now for a limited time you can own Beauty and the Beast on Blu-ray DVD. But time is running out as it goes back into the Disney Vault on April 30th 2012.

It is difficult to believe that it has been over 20 years since Beauty and the Beast was released. Disney animation had experienced some difficult years but the Disney Princess revival which began with The Little Mermaid continued with the release of Beauty and the Beast in 1991.

Belle was a new, stronger, Disney Princess. Whilst she did still meet her handsome Prince in the end, she was intelligent and determined not to accept the hand of the shallow Gaston.

Things could have turned out very differently for Beauty and the Beast. Jeffrey Katzenbery, who was the Walt Disney World Studios Chairman at the time, ordered that the movie be halted and started over in 1989 after seeing the first storyboard reels for the production. This meant that new directors were brought in and production time had to be cut from 4 years to just 2 years. You would never know from the beautiful finished product which is one of the great triumphs of Disney animation.

The Computer Animation Production System (which was developed by Pixar) was used for only the second time, and it is this which creates the amazing richness of color and shading. I still remember seeing the beautiful animation for the first time and it looked truly amazing. Of course we are used to such amazingly vivid animated movies these days but this was groundbreaking at the time.

Much of the success of the movie is due to the amazing score written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman including the most memorable ‘Human Again’ and ‘Be Our Guest’.

To date to Beauty and the Beast movie is estimated to have grossed almost $425 million worldwide.

The Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray DVD Diamond Edition includes:

• Three versions of the movie
• Original theatrical release
• Special extended edition
• Original storyboard version
• Original theatrical version with a PIP of the storyboard
• Disney song along mode
• Audio commentary
• Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind Making Beauty And The Beast (interactive)
• Broadway Beginnings – Up close and personal celebrity interviews with Nick Jonas, Donny Osmond, Toni Braxton, and others who have starred in the Broadway production
• Composing a Classic: A Musical Conversation With Alan Menken, Don Hahn, and Richard Kraft
• Deleted scenes
o Alternate opening (boards)
o Belle in the library – never-before-seen moment where Belle meets three new characters in the library
• Art galleries – Only available inside the “Beyond Beauty Experience”
• Family play games
o Enchanted Challenge: help Belle and the Beast fall in love in order to break the spell before the last petal falls (Disney Quest)
o Bon Jour, Who Is This? A Disney TelePlay Game – Powered by BD-Live. Using your cell phone, guess the identity of the other players before they guess yours
• Music & more
o All-new music video featuring Disney Channel star TBD
• Classic DVD bonus features

Filed Under: Disney Princess, Movies

Top 10 Best Character Dining Experiences at Disney World

April 19, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

Which are the best character dining experiences at Walt Disney World. One thing which is one many people’s lists when they visit Disney World is to have a character dining experience. But each experience is very different and it is important to know what is special about each particular character dining restaurant so that you can make a great choice.

Photo by lorenjavier

Here are the EverythingMouse choices for Top 10 Best Character Dining Experiences in Walt Disney World.

The Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom

The beautiful Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom

Photo by StrangeTikiGod

This is my personal favorite. The location is excellent as The Crystal Palace is located at the end of Main Street close to Cinderella Castle. It can often be difficult to find great places to eat in Magic Kingdom, but The Crystal Palace is always a great experience.

The characters at Crystal Palace are Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.
This makes is particularly great for families with young children. The food is in my option one of the better buffet choices in Disney World. The location is very loud and the tables are pretty close together but the atmosphere is a lot of fun.

Crystal Palace serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch is one of the best choices. If you have lunch there you can arrive early to experience as many attractions as possible in Magic Kingdom before the bulk of the crowds arrive at around eleven to noon. Then have a break and a stop to refuel at Crystal Palace before heading back out to the attractions.

Disney Princess Storybook Dining in Epcot

If you want to meet the Princesses then Storybook Dining is one of the very best places in the whole of Walt Disney World. Unfortunately it does not have the best food, but if Princesses are your priority then this is the character meal for you. Don’t go expecting to see Cinderella there. She does appear but only very occasionally. Her Disney Princess friends Ariel, Jasmine, Aurora, Belle and Snow White are much more likely to be there.

Disney Princess Storybook dining is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is located in the Akershus restaurant in the Norway Pavilion of World Showcase in Epcot.

Breakfast includes all the usual favorites and is served family style and brought to your table. Lunch and dinner include a small buffet selection and made to order items which you choose from a menu. Not the best food of the character dining experiences (it is my least favorite) but there is plenty of interaction with the Princesses who visit each table. A photo package is also included in the price of the meal which means that each party will have a photo taken by a Disney photographer with a Princess before they start their meal. The photos are then presented to them during the meal.

For more information you can see our complete guide at

Disney Princess Storybook Dining

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Meet Disney Princess Cinderella

Photo by myglassslipper10

Dine with Cinderella in her Castle at Magic Kingdom. Needless to say this is a very popular place to dine. It is the only way to get inside the Disney World Castle – and you will pay a premium for it! Lunch here for a family of 4 will cost you more than $200. You can use the Disney Dining Plan but it will take 2 credits as it is a Signature Dining Restaurant.

Guests dine with Cinderella and her Disney Princess friends. Every party has their photo taken with Cinderella and the cost of the picture is included in the dining price.

For many guests this is the very best character dining available. For me though it is let down by high pricing and mediocre food quality. But this is most definitely the most magical place to meet Cinderella. If you have any Disney Princess fans in your party then Cinderella’s Royal Table is the place to go.

That is if you can get a reservation. This is the single most difficult Disney restaurant to get a reservation for. To have a chance of getting in to this popular restaurant you have to plan to book as soon as you are able – that is 180 days before you want to go.

You can read more at

Cinderella’s Table is it Worth It?

1900 Park Fare

Guests can dine with the characters at 1900 Park Fare restaurant in the Grand Floridian Resort. This is one of my personal favorites as the food quality is one of the best available for any of the character meals.

The food is all buffet style and there is a large selection, including a children’s low buffet table so that they can help themselves. 1900 Park Fare serves breakfast and dinner.

The characters at breakfast are usually Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger. At dinner Cinderella and Prince Charming attend with Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella. This is one of the best selections of characters available to please everyone in the family. It is one of the best places to meet Cinderella.

For a complete guide see:

1900 Park Fare Menu

Chef Mickey’s

Photo by JoshMcConnell

Chef Mickey’s is another great character dining experience. It is located inside the Contemporary Resort. Breakfast and lunch is served every day. Characters at breakfast are usually Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Chip and Dale. At dinner most often Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald Duck.

Chef Mickeys is a lot of fun and is particularly popular with families with young children. It is a great place to go when visiting the Magic Kingdom because of course it is very close, just a monorail stop away.

Here you can see a menu and more information:

Disney Chef Mickey’s

Playhouse Disney’s Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine

This is a great option if you have young children and are visiting Disney Hollywood Studios. This is a breakfast and lunch buffet only, located at the Hollywood and Vine restaurant in the park. The dinner does not have characters in attendance.

June, Leo, Hanny Manny and Special Agent Oso from Little Einsteins are the characters that usually appear, making it more suitable for the younger set. The selection of food is good and the dessert selection is particularly enticing for the kids!

Goofy’s Beach Club Breakfast Buffet

This is another fun character breakfast buffet. It is located in Cape May Cafe in the Disney Beach Club Resort. The buffet selection is the usual breakfast favorites such as scrambled eggs, pastries, breads, cereals, juices etc. The characters are usually Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Donald in their beach wear. This is one of the smaller restaurants where the characters appear so there is plenty of interaction with each table.

For more about the restaurant see:

Disney Cape May Cafe

Lilo and Stitch Best Friends Character Breakfast

This I have to say is not one of my favorites but only because none of my family really seems to be very interested in the Lilo and Stitch characters. But if your kids love these characters then it is a good location at The Polynesian Resort. This is convenient if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom as it is on the monorail system.

The characters you will see are of course Lilo and Stich. The character experience is for breakfast only and is the usual buffet favorites.

Garden Grove Cafe

This Disney character dining experience is often overlooked as it is off the beaten track at Disney’s Swan Resort. If you are staying in one of the Epcot resorts it is easy to get to but otherwise is a little out of the way. This means that it is one of the easiest to actually find a table at! Unusually for a Disney restaurant it does not take advance reservations.

It offers character dining at select times only. It has character dining for dinner every night but offers breakfast only on Saturdays and Sundays. It offers a buffet menu, with each night for dinner having a different theme. As this is not a Disney owned hotel it is not part of the Dining Plan.

Donald’s Safari Breakfast at Tusker House

Photo by monroet21

This location is the only character dining experience in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The characters are there for breakfast and lunch only. The breakfast is a buffet and you will usually see Mickey Mouse , Goofy and Daisy Duck all dressed in safari outfits.

This is one of the most highly rated of the Disney character experiences by guests. The selection of food is good and the energy level is certainly high here, with plenty of time with the characters. There is a shortage of great places to eat in Animal Kingdom but Tusker House is certainly one of the best.

Which is your favorite Disney Dining Experience? Leave me a comment below!

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Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With: disney dining, disney restaurants, disney top 10, disney world character dining

Walt Disney World Hotels Summer Discounts 2012

April 16, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

Disney World has announced new discounts and deals on resort hotels for summer 2012. Guests can save up to 25% on select Disney World resort hotel rooms.

The discounts apply for most nights from June 14th to August 14th 2012. Guests must book by June 14th for this offer. As with all discounts the number of rooms is limited and there are some block out dates.

For stays most nights June 15 – Aug. 14, 2012:

Save 15% at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort.

Save 20% at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Coronado Spring Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and Disney’s Fort Wildness Resort & Campground Cabins.

Save 25% at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s BoardWalk, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard views only), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

All of the savings are based on the usual rack rates for the rooms. The offer excludes all suites, 3 bedroom villas and is not valid for the new Disney Art of Animation Resort.

There are lots of advantages to staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel including:

Access to Extra Magic Hours which allow resort guests longer exclusive hours in the theme parks on select days.

Guests are able to book a Disney World package which can include tickets and dining. Whilst there is no saving on the tickets, you can save a considerable amount with the Disney dining plans.

Free transportation from Orlando International Airport with Disney’s Magical Express.

Use of all Disney World transportation.

Last but certainly not least, the advantage of location. Disney World resort is huge. If you are staying right in the middle of it all then you can make the very most of your time.

You may also like:

Top 10 Disney World Hotel Resorts

Top 10 Disney World Rides for Teenagers

Top 10 Walt Disney World Rides and Attractions

Filed Under: Disney Tips, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: disney world deals, disney world discounts

Free Disney World Dining for UK Residents in 2013

April 13, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

If you are a UK resident then a great deal has just been announced from Virgin Holidays. This offer is open to UK residents only and it offers free Disney World dining for select dates in 2013 .

Surprisingly this offer is even available in school holidays! The free dining offer is valid for arrivals 1st Jan to19th March 2013 and for 7th Apr to 8th December 2013.

You must book between April 10th and June 20th 2013 with Virgin Holidays. The availability of this offer is limited and for select hotels only, when you purchase Disney park tickets with your package.

And this great offer does not end there! You can combine another offer which gives a 14 day park ticket for the price of 7 days. Also if you stay at a Disney moderate, deluxe or deluxe villa resort you will receive $200 Disney spending money.

This is one of the best deals that I have seen in recent times so if you are a UK resident then take advantage of this one!

You may also like:

Top 10 Disney World Hotel Resorts

Top 10 Disney World Rides for Teenagers

Disney Animal Kingdom Rides

Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With: disney world discounts, disney world free dining, disney world offers

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