Disney Tips - EverythingMouse

Disney Magic Cruise Ship Gets An Upgrade

May 1, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

The Disney Magic AquaDunk

There are some big changes coming to the Disney Magic Cruise Ship when she goes into dry dock this September. She will emerge from dry dock on October 10th 2013 with some pretty fancy upgrades.

“We have always been committed to reinvesting in our fleet and continuously making shipboard enhancements that elevate the guest experience,” said Karl L. Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line. “What we’re doing with the Disney Magic is yet another step forward in our commitment to delivering the absolute best family vacations at sea.”

All pictures are by Disney Cruises

The Disney Magic Cruise Ship AquaDunk

Dare you ride the Disney Magic AquaDunk?

This is perhaps going to be one of the most popular improvements. The AquaDunk is for the thrill seeking ones! It is a three-story body slide which begins with a near-vertical drop. The water ride is not quite the AquaDuck of the new ships but this one provides it’s thrills with a similar idea, and sends guests on an exhilarating ride in a translucent tube that extends 20 feet over the side of the ship.

Not sure I will personally be trying that one, but I am sure the rest of the family will! Looks like the height requirement will be 48″ so this is not for the very young ones.

The younger members of the family will enjoy Twist n’ Spout which is the new version of the Mickey Slide. The whole kids pool area is getting a makeover and will be known as The AquaLab. The height requirement for Twist n’ Spout is to be between 38 and 64 inches tall.

The smallest members of the family (the under 3′s) are not forgotten. They will get the newly imagined Nephew’s Splash Zone which is going to be similar to Nemo’s Reef on the larger ships.

Disney Magic Cruise Ship Restaurant Changes

Thank goodness that Parrot Cay is getting a makeover. In fact a complete redesign as it will soon be remained and called Carioca’s. This is a brand new concept inspired by the culture of Brazil. I have long since felt that Parrot Cay was just not special enough or Disney enough but I am sure the redesign will turn it into something great.

Just like Parrot Cay the Caioca’s restaurant will be used for lunch and dinner. It will have a different feel in the evening when it will be transformed with different lighting.

The basic design of Animator’s Palate will not change but it will be updated with new HD screens and audio system. There will be new characters and scenes on the walls which transform from black and white to color during the meal.

The most exciting addition is Animation Magic which up to now has only been found on the new Disney ships. You draw your own character on a place mat and it will be transformed into an animation at the end of the meal.

There are changes for Topsider Buffet too. A much needed expansion will take place increasing the space to 9,460 square feet giving a total of 455 air conditioned seats. This is adding almost 3,400 square feet. The theme is going to be like the buffet on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. The remodel will increase the usable space by nearly 3,400 square feet to more than 9,460 square feet for a total of 455 air conditioned seats.

This is welcome news. Usually there is no problem finding a seat on the Disney Magic or Wonder buffets so the expanded space should make it seem even more spacious. It will be interesting to see how they are going to achieve this as I admit that it isn’t too clear from the impressions.

Palo is also getting a make over in decoration with a Venice theme. It doesn’t look as though too much is changing apart from a new fresh look and of course those very distinctive red and yellow stride poles which are seen on the Grand Canal in Venice.

There are some minor changes to the quick service venues on Deck 9. A name change for Pluto’s Dog House to become Pete’s Boiler Bites. Goofy’s Galley gets a more feminine touch and will transform into Daisy’s De-Lites. For some reason there is no change to Pinocchio’s Pizzeria.

Studio C is thankfully getting a make over. A name change to D-Lounge and some more stylish decoration. Let’s hope that the chairs are more comfortable than in Studio C!

Disney Magic Kids Clubs

The Disney Magic Oceaneer Lab for 3 to 12 year olds is getting the biggest make over. This new Andy’s Room from Toy Story is sure to be a big hit. There is also going to be a brand new Mickey Mouse Club themed area, as well as Pixie Hollow.

One of the more surprising changes is the introduction of the first Marvel themed area on a Disney Cruise Ship. The Marvel Avengers’ Academy is the first of it’s kind and will allow kids to use technology to become a crime fighter just like in the movie The Avengers.

The Oceaneer Club is also undergoing some changes. Not too much was detailed here but there will be a Pirates of the Caribbean theme in one of the spaces.

Nothing new was announced for the teens but we would guess that the teen space will also undergo some kind of update.

The nursery for the under 3s will be redesigned with a bold and colorful It’s A Small World theme.

Disney Magic Cruise Ship New Staterooms

The staterooms on the Disney Magic ship are also getting a make over. As well as new decor there is a feature which I have been wanting for a long time. They are making the bed frames higher so that you can store luggage underneath. This may sound like a small thing but to me and others it will make a big difference. There is no where in the stateroom at the moment to store anything more than a small carry on so we usually put our suitcases at the bottom of the bed, so restricting the space. To store them underneath the bed will make a big difference

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem that the virtual portholes will find their way to the Disney Magic. The cost is thought to have been prohibitive to retrofit. Looks like guests are only going to find the virtual portholes on the Disney Dream and Fantasy inside staterooms.

The concierge suites and the Walter E Disney and Roy Disney suites are also getting a very smart new look.

Senses Spa and Salon

The Senses Spa and Salon gets a more modern look with this redecoration with relaxing shades of earth tones. The space will also be expanded by 725 square feet although it is not clear where this space is coming from. It is doubtful that they can take this from the already somewhat small fitness area. Let’s please hope that they do update that as well!

Something to please the teens is the new Chill Spa for teens aged 13 to 17.

Another new feature will be the Smile Spa. Teeth whitening at sea anyone?

Adult Nightlife on Deck 3

The whole of the adult nightlife area is to be rejuvenated with a redesign. Back Street will get a new name as After Hours. The whole look and feel of the redesign is much more modern and sophisticated. I wonder if this will mean that the adult areas are used more in the evening than they seem to be at the moment.

The Rockin’ D Bar will be renamed as Fathoms. This has custom lighting and sound effects and is inspired by the ocean.

Sessions will be replaced with a new themed piano bar Keys.

Disney Magic cruise ship will get it’s very own O’Gills Irish Pub and Sports Bar to replace Diversions.

Disney Magic New Exterior

It isn’t just the inside of the Disney Magic which is getting a major refit. The exterior is getting a very distinctive new look too. The Disney ship will magically transform from 964 feet long to 984 feet long and add 1,000 gross tons in weight. Why the change you may ask? Usually duck tails are added to increase stability. The Disney Magic and Wonder are pretty good and stable in high seas but anything a ship can do to increase stability is always a good thing. The Disney Magic often sails Transatlantic which often has higher swells so this extra stability can only be a good thing.

These changes on the Disney Magic look very exciting and are bringing the now 15 year old ship very up to date and more in line with the innovations and design of the newer ships. Most likely the Disney Wonder will be next in 2014 when she goes into dry dock.

What do you think of the changes on the Disney Magic Cruise Ship? Leave me a comment below.

Disney World Dining Reservation – Do I Really Need One?

April 28, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

Do I really need a Disney World Dining Reservation? The quick answer is most definitely yes if you want to eat in a Disney World restaurant. How do you make a Disney World Dining Reservation? As the restaurants are so popular in the parks and resorts it is very important that you know how to make a Disney World Dining Reservation. For the most part gone are the days when you could simply walk up to the restaurant of your choice and get a table.

All photos by Expressmonorail

Of course the ease or difficulty of getting reservations depends upon how busy the parks are. You will find it much easier to get a reservation the first two weeks of December than you will on Christmas Day for example!

Here is everything you need to know about making a Disney World dining reservation. Or in Disney speak, make an Advance Dining Reservation.

How Far Ahead Can You Make Advance Dining Reservations?

Disney World Dining Reservations for the table service restaurants can be made 180 days in advance. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel you can make dining reservations for the length of their stay (for up to 10 days) at 180 days before the start of their stay. This gives Disney World hotel resort guests a head start. Another advantage of staying in a Disney Hotel Resort.

Disney World Dining Reservations Online

This is our preferred method of booking these days. Simply go to

Disney World Dining

We always find this much quicker than phone reservations.

Disney Dining Reservations By Phone

Call 407 WDW DINE and speak with a Disney dining reservation specialist. The waits can be long and frustrating. But at least you do get a (usually) helpful reservationist to talk to. They can help you with different choices if you first isn’t’ available. The online system can also help you with this (and it sometimes more helpful than the real person)!

Disney Guest Services or Resort Concierge

If you are at the Disney parks you can make a reservation with Disney guest services. This helps with last minute decisions about where to dine! If you are staying at a Disney Resort you can of course make reservations with the concierge.

Disney Dining Walk Ins

These can sometimes work. If you don’t have a Disney Dining Reservation try a walk in. Ask at the restaurant if there are any tables available. This used to work so well. Now your chances are limited. Disney dining is very popular!

Tips for Getting The Disney Dining Reservation of Your Dreams

Some Advance Dining Reservations are more difficult to get than others. The are two Disney restaurants renowned as almost impossible to get a reservation for. These are for Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom and Le Cellier in Epcot Canada Pavilion. You have to call or get online the second the reservation window of opportunity opens.

If you have a large party then you may have a much better chance of getting a Disney dining reservation if you can be flexible. It may be easier to book 2 tables. Cast Members at Disney restaurants are as accommodating as they are able to be. They may be able to seat you together when you arrive. Just don’t be upset if this is not possible. They will try their best to help most of the time.

Don’t give up if you are not successful with your first choice of restaurant. Keep trying. Sometimes there are cancellations which free up a table. If you do not want to keep your reservation then cancel the reservation. This helps other guests by freeing up reservations.

Try a walk in. Sometimes you are pleasantly surprised with success!

Some Disney Dining Restaurant Advance Dining Reservations Need A Credit Card Guarantee

Some of the Disney restaurants need a credit card guarantee to make a dining reservation.

The list of these restaurants needing a credit card seems to get longer. It used to be rare but now the list is getting longer. If you do not cancel the Disney World dining reservation within a certain time ahead you will be charged a fee per guest. Usually this is $10 but can be higher so be sure to check. The cancellation window is usually a day but some are 2 days. Be sure to check.

Here are the restaurants currently needing a credit card guarantee:

1900 Park Fare at The Grand Floridian Resort
Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Artist Point
Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom
California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Chef Mickey
Citricos on The Boardwalk
Crystal Palace in Disney Magic Kingdom
Flying Fish Café
Garden Grill in Epcot
Hollywood & Vine at Disney Hollywood Studios
Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge
Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot
Narcoossee’s
‘Ohana
Tusker House Restaurant in Disney Animal Kingdom Park
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Victoria & Albert’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Hotel and Resort
All Fantasmic Dinner Packages
Pirates League

Some restaurants require payment at the time of booking unless you have purchased the Disney Dining Plan or Deluxe Dining Plan. These include:

Cinderella’s Royal Table
Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ

We know that making a Disney World Dining Reservation up to 6 months in advance can seem like way too much planning. But when you get to Disney World you will be very glad that you did!

Here are some reviews of Disney restaurants for you:

Epcot Rose and Crown Pub

Disney World Character Dining

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney Tips, Disney World Dining, Disney World Hotels, Disney's Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Restaurants, Restaurants Tagged With: disney dining, Disney Parks, disney restaurants, disney world character dining, disney world dining reservation, Disney World Hotels, disney world restaurants., walt disney parks and resorts

The Cost Of A Disney Cruise – What Is Included?

April 26, 2013 by Alison 2 Comments

What is the cost of a Disney cruise? What is really included in the price? When you book a Disney cruise you really need to know exactly what is already included so that you can have a real expectation of the costs. The good news is that most things are included in the basic cost of your Disney cruise. Unlike many other cruise lines Disney is very up front about the costs, and if you don’t want to add extras then you really don’t have to.

Photo by tjmartin4

Read on to find out what is already included in the Disney cruise rate as well as extra costs that you may incur:

Disney Cruise Stateroom

This of of course included in the basic cost. The staterooms on all the Disney ships range from the least expensive, the inside cabins, to the luxurious suites. The basic price that you pay is based on the stateroom you choose and the number of people in the stateroom. The first 2 guests usually pay more than the third, fourth and fifth guests.

Sometimes you will even get a Disney Cruise Kids Sail Free deal – as you would imagine, these tend to sell very quickly so watch for updates about these as we tell you about them as soon as they are announced.

Disney Cruise Food

All of the food is included. There are speciality restaurants on the Disney ships which are charged at a premium but you do not need to choose these options (although they are all very good). You can eat very well on a Disney cruise ship without ever paying another penny more than the basic price.

Disney cruise line is famous for it’s Rotational Dining concept. There are 3 main restaurants on each of the Disney ships and you ‘rotate’ around each restaurant during your cruise. You keep the same table in each restaurant, and much more importantly you keep the same servers. The quality of the servers on the Disney cruise line is the highest of any of the cruise lines that we have experienced. We love the rotational dining experience as it lets your servers get to know your likes and dislikes. We always choose the same servers on the Disney ships and have got to know them well over the years.

Disney Entertainment

The Disney cruise line has the best entertainment at sea and this is all included in the basic price that you pay. Disney is of course known for it’s high quality stage shows and you are sure to be greatly impressed! So often shows at sea are a disappointment but you will not find this at Disney Cruise Lines!

The shows vary on each ship but there will be some entertainment each night. Our favorites are The Golden Mickeys, Toy Story and Aladdin.

There are also lots of movies in the Movie Theater. If you are on the ship when a Disney movie is released you will usually get to see a premier at midnight!

Non Alcoholic Beverages

Most non alcoholic beverages are included in the cost of your Disney cruise. This is a huge benefit over many other cruise lines where you will pay for soda on board.

The savings of this can be huge over other cruise lines. A rival cruise line which offers an unlimited drinks package would cost $215 for our family of 5. With Disney cruise line these drinks are included – so this is a huge saving over many other cruise lines.

There is a 24 hour beverage station on all of the Disney ships. Non alcoholic drinks are available free in the restaurants (with the exception of specialty drinks). Soda and non alcoholic beverages ordered at the bar are charged for – but you can always go to the beverage station to save on cost if you want to. Specialty coffee is available but is charged at an extra rate.

You do pay for alcohol of course. But Disney has one of the most flexible policies about taking alcohol on board the ship with you. If you carry it in your hand luggage it will be allowed on board. There is a corkage charge of $20 per bottle (or you can drink it in your stateroom without charge).

Disney Cruise Ship Children’s Programs

The Disney cruise ship children’s programs are fabulous – the only difficult thing about the will probably be getting your child to leave them! These are all free for the programs for 3 years and older.

If your child is aged from 12 weeks to 3 years old then the Flounder’s Reef is available at an extra charge.

What is Charged as Extra on a Disney Cruise Ship?

There are of course some things that you will be charged extra for. All excursions or Port Adventures as Disney calls them will be charged as extra. Any trips to the spa or salon also have a separate charge. Phone calls and internet usage are extras too (and expensive ones at that). There is also a video games arcade on each ship (we admit we avoid these like the plague)!

A Disney ship is a great chance to get some wonderful photos with the characters. The Disney photographers are excellent and you can purchase professional photos from them if you want to. You can always use your own camera though.

There are usually some extra charge events like Wine Tasting. These are a lot of fun and usually cost around $10 extra per person.

There are self service laundry services with a small charge, as well as laundry service. You can take a huge amount of luggage on board though so we rarely have felt the need to use the laundry service!

Disney Cruise Ship Gratuities

Gratuities are not included in the basic cost of your Disney cruise. Here are the recommended amounts for Disney Cruise line gratuities per guest per day.

Dining Room Server $4 per day
Dining Room Asst. Server $3 per day
Dining Room Head Server $1 per day
Stateroom Host $4 per day

These amounts are a guideline only and it is very easy to adjust them if you want to. We find the service so exceptional on a Disney cruise that these amounts (and more if you want to) are very fair.

A 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. You can check your account easily at any time with guest services.

Most things really are included in the cost of a Disney cruise. We have sailed with many different cruise lines as well as Disney, and really we can say that Disney is the only one that you feel isn’t continually asking for money as extras. This is one of the things that we enjoy about Disney cruise line. It is possible to spend very little extra on a Disney cruise – nice not to have a shock when you look at that onboard account at the end of the cruise!

Here are some related articles you will enjoy:

Disney Cruise for Adults

Disney Cruise Alaska 2014

Disney Cruise 2014 Sailings

Filed Under: Cruises, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, Disney Tips, Disney Wonder Tagged With: disney cruise cost, disney cruise price, what is included in disney cruise

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2014

April 23, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend has become a huge event in the Disney calendar. The details of the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend have now been released. The full marathon is just one of a number of race events to be held over the weekend of 9th to 12th January 2012.

What is the appeal of the Disney Marathon Weekend? The location of course! The races are run through the Disney parks, and of course there will be Disney characters around the route to help you on your way.

Photo by lorenjavier

The Walt Disney World Full Marathon

What better location to run your first or even your 20th marathon than the Walt Disney World resort! The full 26.2 mile marathon sponsored by Cigna® takes you through all 4 of the Disney parks. The full marathon starts in Epcot, goes to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios before reaching the finish line back in Epcot.

This is the final race in the Marathon Weekend and is held on Sunday, January 12, 2014 with a 5:30 a.m. start.

Here is the Official Walt Disney World Marathon site and contains lots of very useful information about all of the events of the 2014 weekend.

For those not taking part in the Disney Marathon Weekend be aware that due to the number of competitors and their families staying at the resort for the event this will be a very busy weekend at the parks.

If you complete the marathon you are awarded the Mickey Mouse finisher medal.

Walt Disney World Half Marathon

Not quite ready for the full marathon? Want to take the 13.1 mile challenge? The Walt Disney World Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 with a 5:30 a.m. start. Just like the full marathon this will also start and end in Epcot.

If you finish you are awarded the Donald Duck finisher medal.

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge

Looking for more of a challenge? The Goof’s Race and a Half Challenge covers both the full and the half marathon. Run the half on the Saturday and then take on the full marathon the following day.

If you finish both events you will receive the Goofy Medal in addition to your Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse finisher medals.

Walt Disney World 10K

This is a new event for 2014. The 10K or 6.2 mile race will start on Friday, January 10, 2014 at
5:30 a.m.

The 10K Disney World race will take place in Epcot. This one sounds like a great starting point to get involved in the Disney Marathon Weekend.

Disney Family Fun Run 5K

The Disney Family Fun Run kicks of the Marathon Weekend on Thursday, January 9, 2014 with a start at
6:15 a.m. Good luck getting the kids up for that time! This 5K course through Epcot is a lot of fun with any age able to participate.

The Dopey Challenge

Love the name they chose for this event! The Dopey Challenge is the ultimate Disney Marathon Weekend event. Participants will run in all of the events except the 5K family challenge! That is a total of 48.6 miles over the Thursday to the Sunday.

Finishers will get all of the medals awarded for the other events, plus a very special Dopey Challenge Medal.

We wonder how many of these medals will be handed out!

If you are interested in any of these races you can see details of how to enter at

Walt Disney World Marathon Registration

In years past these events, particularly the shorter distances and family events, fill up very quickly.

Have you ever competed in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend? Leave me a Comment!

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney Tips Tagged With: Disney Parks, disney world marathon, disney world marathon 2014, walt disney world marathon

Walt Disney World Hotels Discounts to Save Up to 30%

April 6, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

If you are looking for discounts on Walt Disney World hotels then now is a great time to book with the new summer 2013 offer of up to 30% off.

These discounts apply to Disney World stays of most nights between June 13th and August 14th 2013. As always availability is limited for these deals. Bookings can be made from now until June 14th.

Disney World Value and Moderate Hotel Resorts

Save up to 20% at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins.

Save up to 15% at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites

Disney World Deluxe Hotel and Deluxe Villa Resorts

Save up to 30% at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s Beach Club Resort Villas, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard view rooms), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort (including Bay Lake Towers)

Save up to 20% at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort (including Villas)

If you add a minimum 4-Day Magic Your Way Tickets to make it a package and get a discount on the tickets too.

Visit Disneyworld.com for more details and to book your Walt Disney World Vacation.

Can’t decide which Walt Disney World hotel to choose – we have lots of insider guides for you!

Hotels near Epcot

Top 10 Disney World Hotel Resorts

Filed Under: Disney Tips

Enter To Win A $25 Disney Gift Card

March 11, 2013 by Alison 51 Comments

Now is you chance to win a $25 Disney Gift Card! This $25 Disney Gift Card will go to one lucky winner and is redeemable at DisneyStore.com, Disney Store locations in the in the U.S., participating locations at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, Disneyland® Resort in California, Disney Cruise Line®, ClubPenguin.com, and DisneyPhotoPass.com

What will you spend it on if you win?

How to Enter: Simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions below….

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With: disney gift card, disney giveaway

Disney World Character Dining Without Park Admission

March 7, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

It is possible to indulge in a Disney World character dining experience without park admission. If you do not have tickets for the parks but still want to take the family to a Disney character dining restaurant then you have a number of options.

Photo by PrincesssAshley

1900 Park Fare

This is one of our favorite character dining location. 1900 Park Fare is located inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort so park admission is not required. All meals are buffet as is the norm for character dining.

1900 Park Fare serves the Supercalifragolistic Breakfast and Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner each day. The breakfast is available from 8:00am – 11:45am and the characters are Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter.

Dinner is served from 4.30 to 8.30 pm and characters include Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine,
Anastasia and Drizella. It is of course very popular because this is one of the best places to catch some quality time with Cinderella.

Prices cary by season and by day. The busier the season the higher the price. The breakfast buffet adult price range is $22.36 to $26.62 and for children (ages 3-9) the price range is $12.77 to $14.90 For dinner the adult price range: $38.33 to $42.59 and for children (ages 3-9) the price range is $19.16 to $21.29.

The food is one of the highest quality of all the character buffets in our opinion. The atmosphere can best be described as loud and lively! The tables are very close together but the characters do a great job of spending time at each guests table.

Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Cape May has always been a big favorite of ours. Located in Disney’s Beach Club Resort no park admission is required to dine here.

The theme of the hotel is of course beaches so it is fitting that Minnie, Goofy, and Donald wear beach clothes for the breakfast which is served daily at 7.30 to 11.00 am. The breakfast is buffet style with the usual favorites available at an adult price range of between $26.62 and $30.88 and for children (ages 3-9) the price range is $13.84 to $17.03

Dinner is buffet style too but no characters appear.

Chef Mickey at the Disney Contemporary Resort

This is another very popular character dining location. As it is located in The Contemporary Resort park admission is not needed – although if you are visiting the parks then it is most convenient for a visit to The Magic Kingdom as it is a very quick monorail ride away.

The breakfast buffet is served at Chef Mickey’s each day from 7:00 until 11:20 a.m. The very popular characters are Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald Duck.

You will find the same characters at dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm every night. The adult price range is $41.53 to $46.85 and the child price range is $20.23 to $22.36

For more menu details go to:

Disney Chef Mickey’s

Ohana Polynesian Lilo and Stitch Best Friends Character Breakfast

This is one which often gets overlooked for some reason. Located in The Polynesian Resort Hotel the Ohana
Polynesian Lilo and Stitch Best Friends Character Breakfast does not require park admission to dine. Just like Chef Mickey’s it is very convenient for Magic Kingdom if you are visiting the parks.

Breakfast is served family style from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. I have to confess I am not a huge fan of family style meals and much prefer buffet options but if you want to dine with Lilo and Stitch this is the perfect place.

The adult price range is $22.36 to $26.62 and for children (ages 3-9) the price range is $12.77 to $14.90

Garden Grove Cafe at the Swan

This character breakfast is located at The Walt Disney World Swan Resort close to the World Showcase entrance to Epcot. Park entry is not required. This is a little out of the way unless you are staying at an Epcot or Disney Boardwalk Hotel location but it is a great option if you want a high quality character breakfast without needing park admission.

This character breakfast is held only on Saturday and Sunday 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM. They do not take reservations – it is first come first served.

The pricing is the same every weekend at $20.99 for adults and $12.99 for children aged 3 to 9.

Making a Reservation for a Disney Character Dining Experience

With the exception of Garden Grove Cafe all character dining experiences can be booked up to 180 days ahead. You can call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463), or book online at Disney Dining Reservations

For more details about all the character dining locations go to:

Disney World Character Dining

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney Tips, Disney World Dining, Hotels Tagged With: Disney World Character Dining Without Park Admission, disney's beach club resort, disney's contemporary resort, disney's grand floridian resort & spa, disney's polynesian resort, epcot, florida, greater orlando, mickey mouse, united states, walt disney parks and resorts, walt disney world resort, walt disney world swan

Disney Animal Kingdom Boma Zebra Dome Recipe

February 27, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

Zebra Dome desserts are one of the most popular not only in Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Boma restaurant but in the whole of Walt Disney World.

If you have dietary restrictions the good news is that Zebra Dome are available in a gluten free version. The picture above is the special gluten free version which my husband was served. Vegetarians and vegans beware – the recipe does contain gelatin so it is not vegetarian friendly.

If you want to try making these at home here is the recipe. They are not the simplest thing to make but if you just can’t wait for your next Boma dessert fix then try this for yourself! Here is the recipe via Disneyfoodblog

1 pound milk chocolate
¼ cup espresso coffee
5 egg yolks
¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
6 sheets gelatin
½ cup Kahlua Liqueur
4 cups heavy cream
¾ cup white chocolate ganache
¼ cup dark chocolate ganache
sponge cake (store-bought or your favorite recipe)

1. Melt milk chocolate.
2. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks.
3. Mix yolks with sugar.
4. Soften gelatin leaves in cold water.
5. Mix gelatin with Kahlua and coffee. Set bowl over hot water bath to dissolve the gelatin.
6. Fold ? of whipped cream into the chocolate.
7. Add the yolks, then the gelatin mixture.
8. Fold in the rest of the cream.
9. Pour mousse in flexipan domes almost to the top.
10. Place sponge circle (¼” thick yellow cake cut in a circle) on top. Leave in the freezer to set.
11. Once hard, unmold and place in glazing racks.
12. Make white chocolate ganache and chocolate ganache.
13. Put chocolate ganache in a pastry bag. Ladle white chocolate ganache to cover each dome. Simultaneously, pipe a stripe design of chocolate ganache over the dome.
14. Refrigerate to allow the glaze to set.
15. Decorate the bottom edge with coffee crunch.
16. Place a chocolate covered coffee bean on the center of each dome.

The recipe does look very complicated and time consuming but for more experienced cooks out there I am sure it is worth a try!

I have never tried this but for your vegetarians out there who do not want to use gelatin I would imagine that you can use agar agar as an alternative.

For those of you who have not yet experienced the delights of Boma you really must try and dine at this fabulous buffet restaurant next time you visit the World. Once Boma was one of Disney World’s best kept secrets but these days it is getting more and more popular.

Boma restaurant is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Boma serves a breakfast and dinner buffet menu. Dinner is served between 4.30 and 9.30pm.

Prices for Boma vary according to when you dine there (peak or regular season) and even which day of the week you dine there. Don’t you just wish that Disney restaurants would not do this? Anyway the adult price range for dinner is from $38.33 to $42.59 and for children (ages 3-9) the buffet is priced between $18.10 and $20.23. Taxes are included in these prices but gratuity is extra. You also get a standard non-alcoholic beverage.

Filed Under: Disney Tips, Disney World Hotels, Hotels, Restaurants Tagged With: boma, disney's animal kingdom, disney's animal kingdom lodge, zebra domes

Disney Pixar Brave Wins Best Animated Feature Oscar

February 25, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

A well deserved win for Disney Pixar’s Brave movie of the Best Animated Feature at the Oscar awards last night. Some felt it was not the favorite to win against fellow Disney movie nominees Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie and Disney’s Wreck it Ralph films. The two other Oscar nominees were Laika/Focus Features’ “ParaNorman” and Sony’s “The Pirates! Band of Misfits.”

But Princess Merida triumphed over all and took home the golden statue. Well perhaps not Merida herself but co directors Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman on her behalf.

If you haven’t yet seen this Pixar movie it is now available on DVD at:

Brave (Three-Disc Collector’s Edition: Blu-ray / DVD)

Pixar has an amazing history of wins at the Oscar Ceremony over the years. The win for Brave gave Pixar it’s 27th Oscar. A remarkable achievement for a relatively young studio, and even more remarkable when you consider that in the last six years it has won the Best Animated Feature Academy Award five times. Finding Nemo” (2003), “The Incredibles” (2004), “Ratatouille” (2007), “Wall-E” (2008), “Up” (2009) and “Toy Story 3″ (2010) have all won the Best Animated Feature Oscar for Pixar.

It was a great night for Disney at the 2013 Oscars as they also picked up the award for Best Animated Short for the movie Paperman. The producer of Paperman Kristina Reed was escorted out of her seat by security for reportedly throwing paper planes, like the ones in the movie. Security at the event were not entertained, even though the planes had kisses on the , just as they do in the movie! It seems that they relented though and she was back in her seat within 10 minutes.

Paperman is a black and white animated movie which tells the story of a man who tries to attract the attention of a woman by flying paper airplanes. It is a beautiful story which was originally shown in theaters with Wreck it Ralph. If you want to see this delightful movie you can get this as a bonus to Wreck-It Ralph (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Brave, Disney Princess, Disney Tips, Movies Tagged With: academy award for best animated feature, american film directors, brave, brenda chapman, buddy films, cars, film, pixar, ratatouille, toy story, toy story 3, up

Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Ride Closures March 2013

February 25, 2013 by Alison 1 Comment

What are the Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Ride and Attraction closures for March 2013? To keep the parks in great condition Disney has to close select rides and attractions for refurbishment from time to time. Always check before you leave home which of the attractions are scheduled to be refurbished during your Disneyland visit.

The major closure right now in Disneyland is Big Thunder Mountain which is undergoing a big refurbishment and will not reopen until October 30th 2013. Disney has confirmed that Big Thunder Mountain will get new ride vehicles, track will be replaced. Big Thunder Mountain fans need not worry that the changes are going to be too significant – there are no changes to the current course of the track. The refurbishment is reportedly costing $4 million.

There are some other scheduled ride closures for March 20133 at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park:

Disneyland Closures

Now – May 22, 2013: Troubadour Tavern is closed.
Now – Big Thunder Trail will be closed most weekdays through early April for refurbishment. Big Thunder Ranch Complex will be closed as well.
Now – March 7, 2013: Goofy’s Playhouse will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – March 28 2013: Main Street Station will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – March 28, 2013: Mark Twain Riverboat will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – March 28, 2013: Main Street Train Station will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – March 28, 2013: Pioneer Mercantile will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – Oct. 30, 2013: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – January 2014: The Plaza Gardens will be closed for the construction of Castle Fantasy Faire.
Now – January 2014: Fantasyland Theatre will be closed.

Disney’s California Adventure Park

Now – March 31st the MuppetVision 3D Theater will be presenting “Oz The Great and Powerful” 4D Experience – a sneak peek of Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful movie. No presentations of Muppet Vision 3D shown at this time.
Now – March 14th Silly Symphony Swings will be closed for refurbishment.
Now – March 22nd Disney Junior-Live on Stage will be closed for updating. There will be new characters when the show returns. “Hanny Manny” and “Little Einsteins” will no longer appear but will be replaced with “Sofia the First” and “Doc McStuffins”. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Jake and the NeverLand Pirates” will remain in the show.

At first glance this seems like a big list but really the only major attraction which is out of action is Big Thunder Mountain. Personally I am not too pleased by the closure of MuppetVision to show a promotion for Oz The Great and The Powerful but recognize that this is a great way for Disney to easily (and relatively inexpensively) promote this movie which cost a whopping $200 million to make!