Are you thinking of visiting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland this year? Disney has just announced a new combined annual pass for Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.

Named the Disney Premier Passport this annual ticket will give pass holders access to Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, DisneyQuest, Disney’s Wide World of Sport’s and the Oak Trail Golf Course. In other words it is a combined Disneyland Annual Premium Pass and Disney World Premium Annual Pass.

You will of course get all the usual Premium Annual Passholder perks including free parking, select merchandise discounts and invitations to special events.

Whilst I am extremely pleased that Disney is finally offering this pass as I visit both parks and this will represent a considerable saving, it will be ineresting to see how many guests become Disney Premier Passport Holders.

Each Premier Pass costs $700 plus tax for adults and children aged 3 and up. As an adult Disney World Premium Annual Pass costs $619 plus tax for adults and a Disneyland Annual Premium Pass costs $439 plus tax for adults it is a considerable saving.

So if you know you are going to be visiting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland this year then the Premier Pass may make a lot of sense for you and your family. You can buy your Disney Premier Pass at any Disneyland ticket window, Guest Relations at Walt Disney World theme parks and Downtown Disney. This pass is not yet available online.

Photo by Samantha Decker

Thinking of staying at a Disneyland Hotel this summer? There are some great deals available at the moment on all the hotels of the Disneyland Resort. All you need it a 2 night minimum stay at any Disneyland Resort hotel arriving between May 1st and September 29th 2010.

At Disneyland’s Paradise Pier hotel rates start at $168 a night – that is a 30% savings off a standard room rate.

Or for even larger savings choose the ever popular Disneyland Hotel. Savings of 35% are available and room rates start at just $169 a night.

If you want the utmost in luxury and style then get this great offer from Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Located right next to the California Adventure theme park rates start at $213 per night – that is a 40% saving off standard room rates.

All of the Disneyland Resort Hotels are within easy walking distance of Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. You also enjoy special benefits as a Disneyland resort guest including Magic Morning admission on select days. What is Magic Morning Admission? This allows Disneyland hotel guests early access to the theme parks and selected attractions on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. On Magic Mornings Disneyland resort guests will be admitted to the theme parks one hour earlier than the general public.

Disneyland hotel guests also have access to a special entrance to Disney’s California Adventure theme park. Being able to use this entrance, which is located in Disney’s Grand California Hotel saves a lot of time for guests as it means you can cut through the park without having to walk around Downtown Disney.

Remember that the summer deals for Disneyland hotels are only available to book up to September 1st 2010 and are limited to 2 rooms per reservation. Each room will sleep a maximum of 5 people. There are of course limited rooms available at this special offer rate.

Contact EverythingMouse Travel for more details.

Anyone who has tried to make Advance Dining Reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table will know that sometimes it feels as though you have embarked on Mission Impossible! Unless you call right at the first minute of the first day you can make ADRs (90 days ahead for everyone, and up to 100 days ahead for Disney resort guests) then you will most likely be told that there are no tables left. So we know it is very popular!

What if you don’t manage to get Advance Dining Reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table. Try again. Sometimes there are cancellations and you will strike it lucky.

Do remember though that there is a 24 hour cancellation policy. When you make your ADRs you will be asked for your credit card details – and they will be charged unless you cancel within the 24 hours before you are set to dine.

But does the Cinderella dining experience live up to the expectation? Of course it gives you a chance to actually get inside Cinderella’s Castle. And for this alone it is worth it for many Disney World visitors. The interior of the restaurant is very well done. Just as you would expect the inside of the castle to look – lots of stained glass,stone work and wood. It is also much smaller than most people imagine – another reason why it is so difficult to get in!

It is pretty pricey. At $42.99 for dinner for adults with tax and gratuity as extra this is not an inexpensive dining option.

Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant is what is known as a photo package experience. What does this mean? The price of the meal also includes a photo with one of the characters.

Many people love the fact that a photo is included with the meal. The photo package is four 4×6 prints and one 6×8 print of your photo, as well as one 6×8 print of Cinderella Castle in a Cinderella photo holder. Each party of 1 to 4 guests will get one photo package,5 to 8 guests will receive two packages.

For me and for many other guests though the feeling is that it would be better if the price was lower and the photograph was not included. Personally I do not like to have to wait in line to have a picture taken (and this is what often happens). This may be because I have hundreds of pictures already of myself and my family with Disney characters! But I would prefer to be able to skip this part.

The time with the characters is good for a Disney character dining experience. The restaurant is small so when I have been there we have had plenty of time with the characters. Who will be there? As with all Disney character dining restaurants the list can, and does, change so don’t promise your little ones (or yourself) a special character. But the ones you are likely to find are Cinderella, The Fairy Godmother, Princess Belle, Princess Aurora and Snow White.

So what is the food like at Cinderella’s Royal Table? Not great but not bad either. For that price I would expect a higher standard. But with this Disney restaurant you are going there for the experience of dining in Cinderella’s Castle. The food is fine, but nothing to get that excited about. There are plenty of choices including a Children’s menu. Some guests do report feeling rushed but I have never really found this to be so.

So is Cinderella’s Royal Table really worth it? I would certainly say it is somewhere you should experience at least once. The unique quality of being located inside Cinderella’s Castle really is a lot of fun.

Have an expectation that the food will be fine but nothing that special. If you want to dine with Cinderella and have great food then try out dinner at 1900 Park Fare in Disney’s Grand Floridian. Overall Cinderella’s Royal Table is a good Disney experience though – if you can get in then you should give it a try.

Want to know even more including finding out what exactly is on the menu and even get a peek inside to see what the restaurant looks like? I have written a free guide for you here:

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Photos used under Creative Commons from armadillo444

Which are the absolutely not to be missed rides at Walt Disney World? People do often ask me which rides they should go on first and which they should make sure they definitely experience. Which would make it into your Top 10 Disney World rides?

There are so many innovative and fun rides at Disney that it was so difficult to pick just my Top 10. Because of the size of Disney World a Top 25 would probably be an easier list!

I have just written the new EverythingMouse Top 10 Disney World Rides with great pictures, fun facts, videos and tips to get the most from each attraction. I chose all of the photos to show you a slightly different view of the rides than you usually get. So make sure you look out for Jack Sparrow, an unusual view of a Disney roller coaster classic and a spooky image of a spectacular elevator ride.

Photos used under Creative Commons by Joe Penniston.

Photo used under Creative Commons from Flickrized

There are two Disney Cruise ships – the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Both usually sail out of Port Canavarel – just a short distance from Walt Disney World making it idea for land and sea vacation combinations.

So what are the current special deals?

If you book a 4 or 7 night Disney cruise during select nights this winter you can take a 3-Night Bahamian Cruise in fall 2009 for only $99 per person based on double occupancy. So not only can you enjoy one great Disney cruise but you get to go back again!

Disney Cruise Lines are also offering round-trip airfare of $199 per person from select airport locations east of the Mississippi when you book a 7-Night Caribbean Cruise or 7-Night Land and Sea Vacation starting in January 2009.

There are limitations to each offer of course but whichever way you look at it I think these are still great deals and may be the excuse you were looking for to finally go ahead and book that Disney cruise!

Are Disney cruises just for kids? Well Disney certainly provides for the grown ups just as much as the kids! There are several areas on the ships which are reserved just for adults, and they even have their own beach on Castaway Cay. If you travel as a family then the kids will be well taken care of in the Oceaneers Club. Disney really is about everyone in the family having the chance to do exactly what makes them happy. Quality family time with some alone time too!

You will never be at a loss for something to do on a Disney cruise. There really is something for everyone. The one thing that you won’t find on the Wonder or the Magic though is a casino. Disney took the decision not to allow gambling on it’s ships. This is something that personally I prefer. Although I love cruising, walking through the smoky casino on most ships is not something that I enjoy!

The entertainment on board is exactly how you would imagine it to be. Of a fabulously high Disney standard. A favorite is the new Toy Story show which is not to be missed if you are sailing on Disney Wonder.

I am looking forward to the new Disney Cruise Ships due to sail in 2011 and 2012. Disney have commissioned 2 new ships which are going to be even larger, and no doubt, even better than the Magic and the Wonder. There is a lot of speculation on where they will be based but I am guessing that at least one has to be on the West Coast and will have Mexican Riviera and Alaska itineraries. Purely speculation of course, but I would guess the other would go to Europe. What I do know is that I want to be one of the first on those new Disney ships!

If you would like to learn even more about a Disney cruise including more details on how to choose your itinerary, what all the different staterooms offer, and get a glimpse at Castaway Cay then I have written a free guide for you.

Check out more details at The Secrets To a Magical Disney Cruise.