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Disney World Parking

April 1, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

What do you need to know about Disney World parking? Fortunately it isn’t quite like the title picture which shows the popular LIghts Motors Action cars stunt show! All of the main 4 theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have very large parking lots for visitors. Huge in fact. They rarely reach capacity but at busy times (such as Christmas Day and New Year they sometimes do).

Photos by armadillo444

How Much Do the Disney World Theme Park Parking Lots Charge?

The regular charge for Disney World parking is:

Automobile, taxi, limo or motorcycle: $14.00
Camper, trailer or RV: $15.00
Bus or tractor trailer: $18.00

The parking fees are per day so if you want to travel from one park to another you can show your parking pass receipt and it will be valid for another theme park on the same day.

You don't have to park like this in the Disney parking lot!

The good news is that if you are a Disney resort hotel guest then the parking lots are free. When you check into your resort you will be given a parking pass which you just have to show at the entrance. If you are a guest of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort you will also get free parking at the theme parks even though the hotel is not Disney owned. Instead of a parking pass you will show your room key to the parking lot attendant.

Most annual passports also include free parking at Disney theme parks. There are some executions for certain types of Florida resident annual pass so make sure you check when you are purchasing these.

If you have a Tables in Wonderland Pass you can park for free at a Disney park after 5pm. If Tables in Wonderland members arrive before 5pm they have to pay for parking but can later have this reimbursed at guest services if they show the parking receipt and the dining receipt.

Disney World Parking Tips

The parking lots are huge. Disney of course thinks of everything and provides a tram to take you from your space to the entrance to the theme park.

As soon as you leave your vehicle make sure that you make a note of where it is parked. Again, Disney thinks of everything, so each section of the parking lot has a name and each row has a number. You may think that you will remember where you have parked your car but believe me there is a big chance that you won’t. Take it from me that it is no fun searching for your car after a long day at the theme park. Every day guests can’t remember where they put their car and have to be helped to find it!

You can either write down where your car is parked or go a little more high tech and mark it with a gps on your cell phone. Remember too that lots of cars looks alike, particularly rental cars. So it can be a good idea to put something distinctive on the dash or in the window.

Parking for Guests with Disabilities

All of the Disney theme parks have designated parking areas for guests with disabilities. These are clearly marked and can easily be found by following the blue line on the ground when you enter the theme park. These areas are always at the front of the parking lot so are closer to the entrance to the park.

AAA Parking Pass

The AAA Parking Pass allows guests to park in the AAA section of the parking lots. These are almost as close to the entrance as the Disabled parking lots. Show your pass to the Cast Member directing the traffic and then will show you which way to go to park in the AAA section.

How do you get a AAA pass. They are available only to guests who purchase a qualifying vacation package through a AAA travel agency. They are not transferable which means that if you see them being offered for sale by any other source (yes we mean eBay) then technically these are being used against terms and conditions and so are not valid.

Parking at Other Disney World Locations

Parking is free at all of the Disney World resort hotels but cannot be used for access to the theme parks, only for dining and shopping at the resorts. The exception to this is for Disney resort guests who can park free of charge at their home resort.

If you are visiting a resort to dine then usually the parking attendant will ask you for photo ID. If you have a dining reservation sometimes they will check on their list for your name, particularly at busy times of the year.

Parking at Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon is always free. Parking at the Boardwalk is free for the first 3 hours for dining and shopping, not for entry into Epcot.

Valet Parking is available at all of the Disney World deluxe resorts. The charge for this is $12 per day plus a gratuity. If you have a disabilities tag then valet parking is free at these resorts.

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Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With: ,

Disney World Fast Pass Changes

March 30, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

Those in the know realize that the Disney Fast Pass system is one of the best ways to ensure that you can experience as many attractions and rides as possible when you visit any of the Disney parks. You simply go to the Fast Pass kiosk of any designated attraction and get a Fast Pass which shows a specific time window when you can go back and use the Fast Pass line. It can save you hours spent in line and can enable you to see many more attractions in a day.

Photos by armadillo444

It used to be that even though the time on your Fast Pass said 1pm to 2pm if you arrived at the attraction at 2.30 or even 8.30 the Cast Member would cheerfully wave you to the Fast Pass line with a smile. Some guests even stretched the rules as far as they would go (too far for many including me) and used a Fast Pass on a different day.

Hollywood Tower of Terror is a popular Fast Pass attraction.

But change came on March 7th when Disney told Cast Members that they have to do everything they can, in the nicest possible way, to enforce the times on the Fast Pass.

So now, if your toddler can’t make it in time to the attraction, or you miss time your entrance because lunch was more leisurely than you thought, or simply because you just got there late, a Cast Member is encouraged to enforce the rules. They won’t tell you no. Disney Cast Members are trained not to use that word or that direct sentiment. But if you are not in the know then their kind words of explanation about how you have missed your time may leave you disappointed. And headed for that 90 minute line instead.

The Fast Pass has it’s good and bad points. It does cut down wait times in the present system. But the present system perhaps really needs a complete overhaul. Disney wants to encourage us all to plan ahead. There have been many rumors about a possible xPass. This would allow guests to plan not only dining and shows ahead of time, but also to schedule ride and attraction times.

Rumors are rumors and of course not many people know the details of the discussions about this. But it seems likely that the xPass would be for Disney hotel resort guests, and likely it would add more money onto their bill. I am often a Disney resort guest and love the Disney hotels, but I also live 5 minutes down the road for much of the time and spent many many thousands of dollars per year on Disney. So should I when I am a not a Disney guest, just a Disney park attendee be a second class guest in the parks because I am not staying in a Disney hotel?

If an xPass is only given to Disney resort guests then it will mean longer lines for the rest of us. More xPass simply means less Fast Passes. There is a rumor that at first the xPass will only be available to guests at the Disney deluxe resorts so creating a 2 tier system even of Disney resort guests.

Any effort to make the guest experience better for everyone at the parks should be welcomed. But the xPass ideas that are rumored just seem to make it better for those with the most money who are Disney resort guests. Not a step forward in my view.

Perhaps the company should ask what Walt Disney would have done. The great man whose dream built this empire felt that the Disney theme park experience should be for everyone. He once said that parking in a Disney parking lot should never be more than 50 cents (it is now $14).

I am not under the illusion that this theme park for all principle is or can be one which is adhered to in these times (and probably wasn’t in Walt’s either). But I do believe that Disney is a company and a name which should look to it’s founder for it’s basic principles. Let Universal have their high priced Express Pass to let those prepared to pay for it get ahead. Disney should stay away from such schemes for the good of every visitor not just the ones able and prepared to pay.

What do you think? Would you pay for more for a system which allowed you to spend less time in line? LEAVE ME A COMMENT BELOW.

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Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With:

Disney Yak and Yeti Restaurant

March 28, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a peaceful haven for a great full service restaurant meal in Disney’s Animal Kingdom park look no further than the Anadapur Yak and Yeti. Owned and operated by Landry’s who are the restaurant chain who own The Rainforest Cafe and the T-Rex Restaurant, the Yak and Yeti is one of the most consistently highest rated restaurants by guests in all of Walt Disney World. Even though the Yak and Yeti is not Disney owned it does accept the Disney Dining Plan.

Photos by lorenjavier

The Yak and Yeti is located in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom, close to the Kali River Rapids. It has a full service dining area which seats up to 250 guests. Due to the arrangement of the dining area in small, divided sections it is difficult to believe that there is room for that number of guests. The restaurant is on the second floor. There is also a counter service Yak and Yeti on the first floor with outside seating for those who do not want the full service restaurant. This has a different menu.

The attention to detail in the restaurant is exceptional. The theme is subtle and very well executed with lots of beautiful Asian artifacts displayed. Every great Disney restaurant has a back story and the Yak and Yeti is no exception. Read the back of the menu to learn the story of Arjun, a merchant who has fallen on hard times. He opens his house for guests and turns it into the Yak and Yeti hotel.

The bar area at the Yak and Yeti Restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom

The food is a mixture of Asian styles including Chinese and Japanese. If you are unfamiliar with the style then there are several options including the Baby Back Ribs and the Kobe Beef Burger which you may want to try.

Yak and Yeti Menu

Appetizers

Seared Ahi Tuna
Chilled sesame encrusted ahi tuna, wasabi aioli, and sweet chili slaw $10.99

Thai Chili Chicken Wings
Fried chicken wings tossed in a sweet Thai chili sauce, served with spicy Asian pickled cucumbers $8.99

Pork Pot Stickers
Pan seared or steamed, served with soy lime dipping sauce $8.49

Wok-Fried Green Beans
Battered green beans, sweet Thai chili dipping sauce $7.99

Pork Egg Rolls
Served with chili plum dipping sauce $7.99

Lettuce Cups
Minced chicken breast, chopped vegetables, maple tamarind sauce, crisp lettuce cups $12.99

Dim Sum Basket for Two
Pork pot stickers, shrimp siu mai, cha su bao, and pork sie mai steamed on a banana leaf, soy lime dipping sauce $13.99

Soups and Salads

Wonton Soup
Pork wontons, clear chicken broth and vegetables $4.99

House Salad
Romaine and iceburg lettuce, served with almonds, sesame seeds and sesame dressing $5.99

Mandarin Chicken Salad
Chilled chicken, romaine and iceburg lettuce, Mandarin oranges, almonds, sesame seeds, rice noodles and plum dressing $14.99

Grilled

Baby Back Ribs
Slow-roasted ribs, Hoisin BBQ sauce, chicken fried rice, and sweet chili slaw $25.99

Shaoxing Steak and Shrimp
Skirt steak, tempura-battered shrimp, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables, served with chili plum dipping sauce $25.99

Maple Tamarind Chicken
Seared chicken breast, Indonesian tamarind glaze, coconut ginger rice, baby bok choy, shiitake mushroom stir fry. $19.99

Kobe Beef Burger
10 oz grilled American Kobe beef burger, sesame-soy sauce, mayonnaise, crispy shoestring fries. topped with choice of shiitake mushroom & scallion compote or Asian slaw $17.99

Yak and Yeti Specialties

Seared Miso Salmon
Miso glazed Atlantic salmon, jasmine rice, baby bok choy and shiitake mushroom stir-fry $23.99

Crispy Mahi Mahi
Filet of mahi mahi, Japanese bread crumbs, Cantonese sweet and sour sauce, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables $22.99

Duck with Anandapur Glaze
Roasted half duckling, orange wasabi glaze, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables $22.99

Tempura Shrimp
Chili plum sauce, coconut-ginger rice, stir fried vegetables $19.99

Malasian Seafood Curry
Mahi Mahi, scallops, little neck clams, mussels, shrimp, zucchini, roma tomatoes, red curry coconut broth, and jasmine rice $21.99

Noodles

Lo Mein
Lo Mein noodles, carrots, cabbage, green onoins, bean sprouts; Chicken $17.99; Shrimp $18.99; Combo $18.99

Vegetable Lo Mein
Lo Mein noodles, carrots, cabbage, green onions, bean sprouts $16.99; add tofu $2

Wok
Choice of jasmine or brown rice

Crispy Honey Chicken
Tempura chicken, broccoli, carrots, honey sauce $17.99

Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli
Flank steak, broccoli, brown sauce $18.49

Sweet and Sour Chicken or Pork
Tempura chicken or pork, ginger, garlic, bell peppers, pineapple $17.99

Bourbon Chicken
Tempura chicken, carrots, green onions, with sweet bourbon sauce $17.99

Sides
House Stir Fried Vegetables $4.99
Wok-Fried Green Beans $4.99
Pork Egg Rolls $5.99
Chicken Fried Rice $5.49
Steamed Rice – jasmine or brown $3.50

Desserts

Fried Wontons
Skewers of fresh pineapple and cream cheese wontons, vanilla ice cream, honey vanilla drizzle $7.99

New York Cheesecake
New York cheesecake, mango and strawberry coulis, and fresh whipped cream $6.99

Sorbet
Mango, lemon, or raspberry $6.99

Chocolate Cake -
Chocolate pudding cake, raspberry sauce $6.99

Mango Pie
Shortbread cookie crust, fresh whipped cream, raspberry sauce $6.99

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Hot Teas – Monks Blend, Green Tea, Spiced Chai, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Camomile

Berry Cherry Limeade – Cherry and lime juice with Sprite

Glacier Water – Blue Coconut Syrup with Sprite

Bottled Beverages and Soft Drinks – Still or Sparkling Water, Root Beer, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Iced Tea

Specialty Drinks $7.99

Yak Attack
Shanghai Express
Bonsai Blast
Emperor Margarita
Big Bamboo
Tropical Daiquiri
Everest Avalanche
Empress Bloody Mary

There is also a large selection of alcoholic beverages on the menu.

Yak and Yeti Kids Menu

For kids aged 9 and under for $7.49

Kid-sized portion of milk or apple juice
All items served with choice of carrot sticks, applesauce cup, fruit punch gelatin or chicken fried rice.

Mini Burger
Vegetable Lo Mein
Chicken Bites
Egg Roll

Desserts

Ice Cream Sundae $1.49

Chocolate Pudding $1.49

The Disney Yak and Yeti restaurant is certainly worth a visit next time you are in Disney Animal Kingdom. It is a popular restaurant so make sure that you have advance dining reservations ahead of time.

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Filed Under: Disney Tips, Disney's Animal Kingdom Tagged With: , ,

Scooter and Wheelchair Rental at Disney World

March 26, 2012 By Alison 1 Comment

If you have mobility issues then you may be thinking about renting a scooter or a wheelchair for your Disney World vacation. There is a lot of walking involved in all of the Disney parks, particularly Epcot so a scooter rental may be the best option for you.

Wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (or scooters as they are often called) are available for rent at all of the Disney World parks, including the water parks and Downtown Disney. There are a limited number of wheelchair rentals available at the Disney resort hotels.

How Much are Scooters and Wheelchairs to Rent at Disney World?

Wheelchairs are $12 per day to rent at Disney World. No deposit is required in the parks, but a $100 refundable security deposit is required for wheelchair rentals at Downtown Disney.

If you know that you are going to need a wheelchair for more than one day then you should consider getting a length of stay ticket where you pay $10 a day for the amount of days that you need. This also gets you to an expedited line at the Disney parks. This length of stay ticket is not valid at Downtown Disney.

Wheelchairs (not scooters) are also available from the Disney resort hotels. There is no charge for this but a $315 security deposit will be held on your credit card. If the wheelchair is returned this will be refunded to you. These rentals cannot be guaranteed so if it is essential that you need a wheelchair it may be advisable to contact a third party company to rent one for your stay.

If you want to rent an ECV or scooter at any of the Disney parks then the cost is $50 per day at the parks and Downtown Disney. A $20 refundable deposit is required for scooters in the parks, and a $100 refundable deposit at Downtown Disney. You must be at least 18 years of age to rent a scooter.

Will There Be A Scooter or Wheelchair Available to Rent?

The scooters are very popular and you do need to get to the parks early in the morning or you do run the considerable risk that they will not have any left to rent. Wheelchairs are usually available but the scooters supply often does not meet the demand.

If it is essential that you need a wheelchair or scooter for your visit you may want to think about renting from an outside company. The outside rental companies generally offer considerable savings and will deliver the scooter to your hotel or vacation home. You do need to consider the difficulties of transporting the scooter so you need to talk to the rental company about this.

Scooter and Wheelchair Rental Locations at Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom:

The Stroller Shop inside Magic Kingdom entrance

Epcot:

The East side of the entrance plaza at Epcot. This is on the left just before you reach Space Ship Earth.

There is another rental station at the International Gateway entrance.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

Available at Garden Gate Gifts at the entrance to the Animal Kingdom.

Disney Hollywood Studios:

Located to the right just past the entrance at Oscar’s Super Service. Replacement wheelchairs only are available in the Character Costume Shop.

There are no rental locations at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon.

Downtown Disney:

There are rentals available at Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories and at DisneyQuest Emporium.

How Do You Get From The Parking Lot?

Disney World does provide courtesy wheelchairs in all of the theme park parking lots which you can use for transport from your car to the theme park entrance. In our experience these are often difficult to find in the parking lots! If you have a Disability Parking Permit then for all the parks the parking lot is as close to the entrance as it can be. There may be courtesy wheelchairs in this location but as we said, that is not always the case.

It can be a problem in Magic Kingdom as the parking lot, even the Disability one is a fair distance from the Transport and Ticket Center. This parking lot does not have a tram stop. For this reason it may be a good idea to rent from an outside source if you are visiting Magic Kingdom and cannot walk very far. As an alternative you may be better off parking in the usual parking lot as you could then take a tram to the entrance.

Tips When Renting a Scooter or Wheelchair

The reactions that you get from other members of the public when using a wheelchair or scooter may be difficult sometimes. We recently had to rent a wheelchair for a number of days for my teenage daughter when visiting the parks. Usually you can see her dancing on pointe as she is a ballerina who trains for 6 days a week and is extremely fit. However she had a knee injury and was told to avoid putting too much weight on the knee for a week. As this was in the middle of our vacation I saw no choice but to rent a wheelchair for her so as to avoid making the injury worse.

It was an enlightening experience. We used the wheelchair to transport her around as much as possible and certainly never used it to ‘skip the lines’ even when it was offered we stood in the regular line. But the looks that we all got were sometimes very difficult to comprehend. Unfortunately some groups of teenagers do use the wheelchair rental to game the system and skip the rides. I guess that is why we got those looks of disapproval.

Scooter rental brings it’s own difficulties! They are apparently pretty easy to learn to drive but make sure that you are comfortable with what you are doing. The monorail brings it’s own problems. The Cast Member will help you with a ramp to get on and off the monorail but I have on a number of occasions seen guests who are having real difficulties reversing out of the door. This would be a reason to rent in the parks if you know that you are going to be using the monorail system a lot.

So just be aware of the rates and advantages of scooter rentals inside and outside the parks so that you can make the best decision for your Disney World vacation.

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Filed Under: Disney Tips Tagged With: , ,

Hotels Near Epcot

March 23, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

If you want to stay in one of the hotels near Epcot you have an excellent choice of luxurious resorts. All of these Walt Disney World hotels are within easy walking distance of the Epcot World Showcase entrance. Each has it’s own very distinctive style so here is out guide to the Disney Epcot hotels.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Photo by alvez

This magnificent hotel on the shores of Crescent lake has, yes, you guessed it, a nautical theme. It is located right next to it’s sister hotel the Beach Club and they share what is generally seen as the very best Disney resort hotel swimming pool, Stormalong Bay.

The Yacht Club has 621 rooms most of which are a standard 380 square feet in size. Not the largest luxury hotel rooms in Walt Disney World but still a good size. The decoration is a tasteful nautical theme of navy blue and white. Most of the rooms have 2 Queen beds and can sleep up to 5 guests comfortably.

The best views in the Yacht Club are the water views which can be either of the swimming pool or Crescent Lake. All have either patios or balconies.

All of the Epcot hotels are within very easy reach of many excellent restaurants located in the resort hotels, on the Boardwalk or in Epcot itself. The Yacht Club also has the Yachtsman Steakhouse and Captain’s Grill.

Stormalong Bay is the hotel swimming pool which is located between the Yacht Club and the Beach Club. The pool area is a 3 acre water playground with something to appeal to everyone. There is a lazy river where all you have to do is float around and relax. Everyone will love the water slide, water falls, shallow beach entry for paddling, deeper areas for swimming. If all you want to do is relax then there are plenty of loungers around the pool.

As will all of the Epcot resorts you can easily walk to Epcot. There is also boat transportation to the World Showcase entrance and Disney Hollywood Studios. If you want to get to the other parks then transportation is by Disney bus.

Here is our complete guide at

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Photo by expressmonorail

This is the sister hotel to the Yacht Club which is slightly smaller with There are 576 guest room. There are also 282 Beach Club Villas which are part of Disney Vacation Club, but which can be booked by anyone, not just DVC members.

The rooms are a similar size to the Yacht Club at an average of 381 square feet. They sleep 5 and have either 2 doubles, 2 queens or 1 king bed. Most of the rooms have a balcony or patio. The top floor rooms have enclosed balconies with limited views. As with the Yacht Club the best views are the water views.

A great feature of the Disney Beach Club is of course Stormalong Bay which is shared with the Yacht Club.

The Beach Club has the very popular Cape May Cafe which hosts the clam bake dinner buffet, and a character breakfast buffet. Many other restaurants are within easy walking distance.

For our complete guide you can see:

Disney Beach Club

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Photo by BestofWDW

This hotel is in a great location within easy walking distance of both Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios. If you don’t want to walk you can take the boat. All other parks are accessed by Disney bus transportation.

The very elegant Disney Boardwalk Inn is modeled after a 1920s and 30s Atlantic coast boardwalk design. It is relatively small with just 378 rooms. They are a standard 371 square feet and sleep up to 5 guests. Most rooms have 2 Queen beds and a sleeper sofa.

The Boardwalk Inn is right in the center of the Boardwalk restaurants and shopping. This means it is convenient but some rooms can be noisy if they are located at the front of the building with views of Crescent Lake. If you want a quieter room ask for one at the back of the building.

If you are looking for larger accommodation ranging from studios to 3 bedroom villas then consider the Boardwalk Inn Villas. These are connected to the Inn and although they are part of the Disney Vacation Club they are available to be booked by non DVC members.

The Boardwalk Inn and Villas do not have a restaurant within the building itself but there are plenty of choices just a short stroll away.

The pool area of the Boardwalk Inn and Villas is called Luna Park. There is an excellent 200 foot long water slide named Keister Coaster which is sure to be a big hit with the kids.

Transportation is either by walking or boat to World Showcase in Epcot and to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. All other resorts and parks are accessed by Disney bus transport.

Here is a guide:

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotel resorts are hard to miss. You will see the 47 foot swan and the 56 foot tall dolphin for miles around. Big is certainly beautiful in these hotels which are owned by the Westin and Sheraton hotel group but which are conveniently located on Walt Disney World property a short walk from Epcot. Guests of the Swan and Dolphin have most of the privileges of a Disney resort guest. One exception is that they do not have Disney charging privileges, and also there is an additional (and annoying) charge for parking. You will get free parking at the Walt Disney World parks but not the hotel parking lot.

The distinctive design of the Swan and Dolphin is the work of distinguished architect Michael Graves. The Dolphin has 1509 rooms and 136 suites. Most rooms have 2 doubles although some have King beds. The Swan is smaller with 756 rooms and 55 suites. Most of the rooms here have 2 Queens or 1 King bed.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts share some very impressive recreational facilities. The swimming pools are some of the nicest of any on Disney property. The grotto pool is a lot of fun with a water fall and a slide. There are also 2 lap pools and a children’s wading pool. There is a large sandy area with lounge chairs. The hotels also share a health club, playground, tennis and a spa.

There are lots of dining options. The restaurants in the Disney Swan and Dolphin resorts often tend to be less busy that the other hotels and resorts so always think about getting a reservation there whether you are a hotel guest or not.

You can walk to the Epcot World Showcase entrance from the Swan and Dolphin. They are the furthest away of all the hotels though so you may prefer to take the boat. There is also a boat to Disney Hollywood Studios. For all the other parks and resorts including Downtown Disney guests can use the Disney transport bus system.

Whichever one of the hotels near Epcot that you choose you will be sure to have a luxurious hotel with all the benefits of being a Walt Disney World guest. Which one is your favorite? Leave me a Comment below.

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Filed Under: Disney Tips, Disney World Hotels, EPCOT, World Showcase Tagged With: , , ,

Top 10 Disney Magic Kingdom Rides for Seniors

March 21, 2012 By Alison 1 Comment

What are the Top 10 Disney Magic Kingdom rides for seniors? When we think of Disney World many think that it is a place just for children but really it is for everyone of any age. Whether you are traveling with family or making the trip to Walt Disney World by yourselves it really can be The Happiest Place on Earth for seniors too.

Photos by expressmonorail

So here is a Top 10 list of attractions which may particularly appeal to seniors in Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

Jungle Cruise

This 10 minute boat tour is one of the original Disney World rides which opened in 1971. Guests board a boat and take a trip down The Amazon, The Congo, The Nile and The Macong River. Along the way you will encounter lots of animatronic animals including elephants, monkeys, snakes and hippos. The main attraction of the Jungle Cruise is your guide. Corny jokes abound but it is all good fun for all ages.

This is a Fast Pass attraction so make use of that if you can. Lines can get pretty long but they do move quickly as the boats are loaded. The line area is under cover but it can get pretty hot in the waiting area so make sure you get a Fast Pass if the line is over 20 minutes.

Peter Pan’s Flight

This wonderful ride will take you flying over the streets of London in a magical flying pirate ship. The theme is of course the story of Peter Pan. You will fly over scenes from the story and encounter Captain Hook , The Crocodile and Mr Smee.

Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions. It also has one of the longest wait times anywhere in a Disney park. Make sure that you get a Fast Pass. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the line is shorter than the published wait time – there is a hidden element to the line which you only discover once you have been standing in it for quite a while!

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

Fight the evil Emperor Zurg on this fun Tomorrowland attraction. Guests board a 2 person space cruiser to start their journey through 10 very colorful scenes. As one of Buzz LIghtyear’s Junior Space Rangers you use the laser guns to shoot at the targets. When you hit one of the targets you will get points. At the end of the ride you can compare your scores on the Space Ranger board to see how you measure up to your fellow Rangers.

This ride is a lot of fun and brings out the competitor in most everyone of all ages. Often you will be tempted to go back to improve your score!

This is a Fast Pass attraction. The line does move quickly most of the time but if it is over 20 minutes get a Fast Pass. Most of the line is indoors but if it is extending outside then get a Fast Pass.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the original and best of all of the Disney World attractions. This should be on everyone’s must see list whatever their age.

Guests board a 15 passenger boat to take an almost 9 minute water ride to encounter the Pirates of the Caribbean. There is a small drop in the dark but nothing too scary. You will glide past over 100 animatronic figures and encounter a pirate attack complete with explosions. All good fun and set to a song which will probably remain with you forever!

There isn’t a Fast Pass for this ride but lines tend to move quickly. Another great feature is that the line is completely under cover so you can escape from the Florida heat for a while.

Carousel of Progress

There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow. So goes the song which is sung throughout this original and very nostalgic Magic Kingdom attraction. The attraction is set in a huge revolving theater which takes you from around the beginning of the 1900s to what is meant to be the present day. There are 4 scenes which represent the different generations of one family. At the end of each scene the theater rotates and you move to the next one.

This is one of those thought provoking attractions which appeals to most ages. The animatronics figures tell the story of how technology has changed their lives, from the invention of electricity to the technology of the present day (well to the mid 90s anyway).

This is one of those attractions that you should see at least once but probably won’t be on your list of things to do again. The lines are generally very short.

It’s A Small World

A Disney classic and a must see on anyones list, but this will particularly appeal to seniors. A slow moving indoor boat ride past hundreds of animatronic dolls happily singing a song about the unity of the world. This is a Disney World classic and was the last ride to be overseen by Walt himself. The one warning is that you will probably never be able to get the song out of your head!

There is no Fast Pass for It’s A Small World but the lines do tend to move pretty fast as it loads continuously. If the lines are outside the building then wait until later in the day, or during a parade when lines should be shorter.

The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh

This is a gentle and colorful ride through the whimsical world of Winnie the Pooh and friends. Guests board a 4 person vehicle (or Hunny Pot) and head off on a short but sweet ride with Winnie the Pooh on his search for his pot of honey.

Wait times can be long for this popular ride and the line is outside so get a Fast Pass or ride early or late in the day. Often you will get a surprise Fast Pass for Mickey’s PhilharMagic show so be sure that you stop by and watch this very entertaining attraction too.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover

This is a great place to give you a wonderful overview of the park and have a much needed rest after walking around the Magic Kingdom! I always advise people of all ages to take a break on the Transit Authority as it is a relatively quiet and restful place to sit down for a while.

Walt Disney was fascinated by innovative transport systems. The Transit Authority is a 10 minute ride on a track above Tomorrowland which gives you great views of Cinderella’s Castle. It even takes you right through Space Mountain so that you can see the ride vehicles flashing by and often hear the screams of the passengers! If you want to go around again the Cast Members are usually fine with this unless there is a line.

Wait times for Transit Authority tend to be short at most times of the day.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

If you enjoy mild roller coasters then Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a great option for seniors. It is thrilling rather than scary, but be aware that it is bumpy with twists and turns so if you have any of the health problems listed on the warning then you should avoid the ride.

The theming on the ride is some of the best in the whole of Walt Disney World. You board a runaway mine train for a 3 and a half minute fun ride at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour. There are no big drops but there are 3 small dips and plenty of twists and turns.

There is a Fast Pass for Big Thunder Mountain. Lines can be up to 60 minutes so make sure you ride early, late or get a Fast Pass.

Splash Mountain

If you don’t mind getting wet then head for Splash Mountain. Take the warnings seriously – there is a serious risk you will get absolutely drenched!

The ride is based on the 1946 Disney classic movie Song of the South. Lots of cheerful animatronic characters and scenes with Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. The tune is very catchy and you will be sure to be singing it by the end of this ride.

Guests board 8 passenger logs for this 11 minute ride. There are several climbs, drops, and twists but of course the major event is the 5 story 40 mph drop.

There is a Fast Pass for Splash Mountain. If you plan to ride both this and Big Thunder Mountain then get a Fast Pass for the one that you aren’t riding.

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Walt Disney World July 2012

March 19, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

What is in store for visitors to Walt Disney World in July 2012? As always a little planning goes a long way when visiting the Happiest Place on Earth, so the more that you know about planned closures, events and weather for July at Disney World the more you will enjoy your vacation.

Is July a Good Time to Visit Walt Disney World?

If you are looking for some alone time in Walt Disney World then July is not a great time. We all know that July means that the kids are out of school and what this means is that the crowds are definitely right there at Disney World.

Sure the crowds will be there but that doesn’t mean that you should be putting off your trip to Walt Disney World. School is out and that may be one of the only times that you can visit. Forward planning does a lot to help in ensuring that you make the most out of your visit to Disney World.

Any time that Disney World is busy this means that more events, fireworks and parades will be scheduled. Opening hours will be extended with the Magic Kingdom be open until at least 10pm each day.

This is also a time to really consider staying at a Walt Disney World resort. Every Disney resort guest has access to Extra Magic Hours. These are times when the parks are open either early or late exclusively for Disney World hotel resort guests. This is always a great benefit, but it is particularly valuable at busy times.

On the other hand, if you are not a Disney resort guest then check when the Extra Magic Hours are and avoid those particular parks on those days. You will find that crowds are larger at those specific parks even outside of the Extra Magic Hours times.

July 4th is one of the most popular days of the year to visit Walt Disney World. Of all the parks Magic Kingdom will be the busiest so plan accordingly! Magic Kingdom does have a special Holiday fireworks display on 3rd and 4th July. Disney Hollywood Studios and Epcot will both have special fireworks displays on 4th July.

The weather in Orlando in July is hot and humid. Average high temperatures can reach the low 90s and there is likely to be a lot of rain showers too. Rain in Florida in the summer is likely to be a huge down pour which is over very quickly!

Walt Disney World Rides Closed for Refurbishment in July 2012

One of the great things about visiting in July is that there are very few planned refurbishments for any of the attractions. The notable exception is Epcot Test Track which will be closed until September 2012. Expect Soarin’ to be even busier than usual as this is now the only major headline attraction in Epcot’s Future World. Get a Fast Pass as soon as you arrive in the park (they do run out quickly) or ride as close to park opening time as you can. July 4th? Plan to ride something else!

Cape May Restaurant in Disney’s Beach Club Resort will be closed from July 9th to August 3rd.

Disney World Events Scheduled For July 2012

Epcot’s Sounds Like Summer Concert Series is held in held in The American Gardens Theatre in Epcot World Showcase. The Concert series starts on 10th June and ends on 28th July 2012. The schedule is still not published but we will let you know when it is.

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Disney World Fast Pass Rides and Attractions

March 18, 2012 By Alison 3 Comments

When you visit Walt Disney World one of the best ways of saving time standing in line is to use the Fast Pass system. The Disney Fast Pass system is very simple, and it is completely free. How it works is that for certain popular attractions in each of the parks, Disney Magic Kingdom, Disney Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot all guests can get a Fast Pass to return to the ride at a particular time. They will then use their Fast Pass to join the Fast Pass line, which is almost always much shorter than the regular stand by line.

All photos by expressmonorail

There is a lot of confusion about the Fast Pass system but really it is very simple. If you do take some time to plan using the system then you will save yourself hours of standing in line. Some other theme parks do charge for their priority line system (like Universal Orlando Express Pass) but the Disney system is completely free.

When you arrive at any park then a priority should be to get a Fast Pass for a popular attraction. The Fast Pass attractions are marked on each Walt Disney World map that you will pick up when you arrive at the park. Also so that you can plan before you go, here is a list of all the Fast Pass attractions in Walt Disney World.

Magic Kingdom

Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan’s Flight
Jungle Cruise

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Kilimanjaro Safari
DINOSAUR
Kali River Rapids
Primeval Whirl
Expedition Everest

Disney Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Mania!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Star Tours

Epcot

Test Track
Soarin’
Maelstrom
Captain EO

Each of these attractions will have a Fast Pass ticket kiosk station somewhere close to the entrance to the ride. The current Fast Pass return time will be displayed above the ticket kiosks. You simply insert your Key to the World or Disney ticket into the machine and it will give you a paper slip with a return time on it. Each ticket will have a return time with a window of an hour. So for example you go to the Soarin’ Fast Pass ticket machine and you are given a return time of 1.00 to 2.00pm.

There are certain rules. The system doesn’t allow you to just go around and get lots of Fast Passes. You can usually only have one at any one time. So if you have your Fast Pass for Test Track it will also show on that Pass the exact time that any machine will give you another Fast Pass.

All members of your party have to have a Fast Pass. An exception to this is for a child under the age of 3 who does not have an entrance ticket.

When the time posted on your Fast Pass arrives then go back to the attraction and show your pass to the Cast Member at the front of the attraction. They will then allow you to join the Fast Pass line.

The Fast Pass line does not mean ‘front of line’. Most likely there will be other guests there with you and often there will still be a wait. This wait is usually short but can be up to 20 minutes. It will definitely be shorter than the stand by line though! As an example the line for Soarin’ can reach 120 minutes. Yes that is 2 hours. But if you have a Fast Pass the wait will likely only be around 15 to 20 minutes.

The Not So Good Recent Changes to the Fast Pass System

It used to be that even though you had a Fast Pass for 1.15 to 2.15 if you missed that window you could go to the attraction and still use it when it had expired. The Cast Member would most likely not even bat and eyelid and would wave you on with a cheery smile. You could even go with Fast Passes from weeks or months ago and still have them honored.

Now a Cast Member will politely tell you that your time has passed. Will they stop you entering the Fast Pass line late? That is for you to try and I would love to hear of your experience of this in the Comments below.

Are Some Fast Passes Better Than Others?

The very simple answer to this is yes. Some attractions have formidable wait times (Soarin’ comes to mind). So when you arrive at Epcot my advice is always to go to get either a Test Track or a Soarin’ Fast Pass first and then ride the other attraction. Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain are the equivalent in Magic Kingdom, as are Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom. In Hollywood Studios it is Tower of Terror and Rock and Roller Coaster.

Use the Fast Pass system and you definitely will spend less time in line. Is it a good system? Well that is another question and I would love to hear your views in the comments below.

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The Muppets on Blu Ray and DVD

March 18, 2012 By Alison Leave a Comment

If you have been waiting for the Muppets to be released on Blu Ray and DVD then your wait is almost over as the release date is set for March 20th. This very lovable reunion of the Muppets is one of those movies that just makes you smile. A simple story with a lot of laughs and even an Academy Award winning song. Whether you were a fan of Kermit and the gang the first time around or if you are new to this entertaining group of Muppets this movie guarantees the feel good factor.

The Muppets (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

It is always a little worrying when movies try and revive a classic. Thank goodness that this one really hits the mark and celebrates the original. I grew up with the Muppets. They were a Sunday early evening tradition in our household. My children have also watched the old series on DVD. So everyone was familiar with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and friends. But young children who don’t know who The Muppets really are would also find this movie really entertaining. You don’t need to know the backstory to enjoy this new version.

The new movie follows the story of a new Muppet Walter. Unsure of where his destiny lies he and his human brother and his girlfriend go on a road trip to view the old Muppet Theater. Fate, of course, has a strange turn of events and Walter is soon on a quest to reunite the old Muppet gang so that the old Theater can be saved. It is wonderful to see how Gonzo makes a living and that Miss Piggy has a very chic new career. But sad to see that Fozzie’s career is in decline and that Kermit lives alone in the mansion we always wanted him to share with his beloved Miss Piggy.

The story is simple. The jokes are as corny as they ever were. Miss Piggy is radiant, Kermit is long suffering, and Fozzie as happy go lucky as ever. There are some great jokes in there. Most of it works, some of it doesn’t but it really is a great family movie. It was great to hear the classic songs such as Rainbow Connection as well as some new ones including the Academy Award winning song Man or Muppet.

There are 2 options for buying the new movie. The first The Muppets (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
has the Blu Ray and the DVD with the special features. The second The Muppets (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy + Soundtrack Download Card) also includes a digital copy and the soundtrack download card.

Each version includes the same special features:

Blu-ray Feature Film + Bonus
DVD Feature Film + Bonus
Scratching The Surface: A Hasty Examination Of The Making Of The Muppets – A Surprisingly Shallow But Profoundly Absurd Look At Muppets And Humans Working Together To Make Cinematic History
Deleted Scenes
A Little Screen Test On The Way To The Read-Through. The Muppets Bring The Wocka Wocka Wocka To A Routine Camera Test
Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song
Unreleased Theatrical Spoof Trailers
Audio Commentary with Jason Segel, James Bobin, And Nicholas Stoller
Disney Intermission — Pause The Movie And See What Happens!
The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History)

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What Makes a Disney Cruise So Special?

March 16, 2012 By Alison 3 Comments

What makes a Disney cruise such an amazing experience? My family and I have just returned from a magical 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise on the Disney Wonder. We have sailed many times with Disney cruises and have also sailed with a number of other cruise lines. Nothing even comes close to the Disney cruise experience compared with the other cruise lines we have tried. For us the first choice is always Disney. Why?

I gave a lot of thought to the question of what makes a Disney cruise so special. We particularly enjoy the Disney Wonder as we like the size of the ship. The entertainment is amazing, the kids programs are the best at sea, the staterooms are very well designed, and of course it is just, well, it’s Disney!

But of course I really don’t have to think too hard about why the Disney cruise experience is the best. Really for us it is the crew. The people who are there to make sure you have the best cruise experience. Of course the ship is beautiful, the entertainment wonderful, but the thing which really brings the magic to life are the people who work so hard to make the cruise experience truly special.

One of those people is our very favorite server. Dinesh from India. We met him on the Disney Wonder last year and very much hoped that he would be there for us on this cruise. In fact for my 10 year old son this was the most important aspect of the cruise. Forget the shows, the kids club and the water slide – the thing that he was most wishing for was that he would see Dinesh!

I had requested that he be our server months ahead of time. As a travel agent I do this all the time as guests often want to request a particular server. I even double checked as this was so important to us all. As soon as we checked in and I saw the table number on the card I thought that something was wrong. It wasn’t anywhere near the one we had last time and I guessed that a mistake had been made.

As soon as we boarded we went to Parrot Cay for a buffet lunch. We were so happy when we saw Dinesh there. Not so happy when we realized that a mistake had been made and that he was not our server in the dining room. Happily he sorted it out for us and we changed our dining assignment so that he could be our server again. It didn’t even matter that we had to change from the very coveted Main Seating to the later one as it was more important to us all that we were at his table.

For me people like Dinesh are what makes the Disney cruise line the best in the world. You just know that he genuinely wants to help you get the most our of your experience. He remembered that we like curry so made sure that we got some amazing dishes every day. He made sure that my very picky 5 year old always got the exact type of bread that he wanted. He got ginger for my daughter’s tea as she was not feeling well. There were so many things that he did above and beyond what he needed to do. He really looked after us and made us feel very special.

Cliche though it may sound he and other Disney crew members just make you feel at home. You feel so welcome. The customer service we experience in daily life is so often just not good. You can often tell people don’t really enjoy their jobs. The waiter who looks annoyed when you ask for something, the person on the phone who is irritated and reading off a script, the hotel receptionist who just wants to get back to talking to her friend. The concept of great service is now the exception rather than the rule.

Thankfully Disney cruise lines gets service right. From the stateroom attendants who always greet you with a smile, to the highest quality entertainers at sea, to the bar staff, the restaurant servers, the kids counsellors and every other member of the almost 1,000 crew at sea. They make you feel welcome. That is the Disney difference.

To lessen the sadness of leaving a Disney cruise I always have to book another one before I leave the ship. We will be back on the Disney Wonder later this year. And I am calling this morning to make sure that we get our favorite Disney crew member in the dining room. Let’s just hope that the request gets communicated to the ship this time. See you later this year Dinesh!

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Filed Under: Cruises, Disney Tips, Disney Wonder Tagged With: , , ,
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