Disney Dining Plan—Is it Worth It? You Bet YOUR Mouse-ears It Is!

Our first visit to WDW in the early 1990’s, we were on our honeymoon and we didn’t think ahead to what we might want to eat during our trip. We stayed offsite in a hotel with a fridge and a continental breakfast that consisted of a donut & glass of cheap (not fresh) OJ. Yeah, kind of disappointing since we were paying over $100/night and visiting Florida...the state full of sunshine and fresh oranges! To add insult to injury, we were bombarded with fabulous food choices all around the world from Magic Kingdom to Epcot; but oh, those prices. We just didn’t plan ahead.

When we took our boys for their first trip to see Mickey Mouse, we weren’t about to make the same mistake again. We stayed on site at the All Star Sports Resort and had a package that included 3 meals and 2 snacks for each of us in the family everyday. We economized on the hotel and splurged on the dining plan. It was fabulous! We were able to take our boys to several character breakfasts, lunches and/or dinners. We experienced FRESH squeezed orange juice on several occasions. There were even credits leftover at the end of the trip that we were able to use for souvenirs. Sadly, the souvenir option has been discontinued but after a decade of using the dining plan, our family remains sold!

In fact, we often upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan so we can use two table services for the fabulous dinner theater shows; Hoop de Doo Review and Spirit of Aloha Luau. Last year, our family experienced dining in Cinderella’s Castle at the Royal Table with all the princesses…and even though my kids are teenaged boys they enjoyed both the food and atmosphere (i.e. beautiful princesses).

It works for us because we don’t have to say “no” to a Mickey-shaped ice cream treat or chance to eat dinner at Chef Mickey’s. Yes, it is a bit of “food overload” at times. We always seem to have a few extra dining credits at the end of our vacation, which do expire at the end of the trip. Yet, we still come out several hundreds of dollars ahead on the food.

The key is planning ahead…6 months ahead to be exact. It is much easier now with the online reservation option…but I still call in as talking one-on-one with a cast member can give insight into the best dining options. Have your dining reservations in place well in advance is essential to get the most from the Disney Dining Plan as the best dining venues in WDW fill quickly!

Copyright 2011 MagicalMouseTales

Making the First Day at Walt Disney World Magical!

Whether you are planning a weekend trip or 2 week adventure, the first day at Walt Disney World is an exciting time. For some first time visitors, it can be overwhelming. There are literally thousands of things to do! If you are on a park hopper pass and staying at a WDW hotel, there could be Extra Magic Hours. If you have the dining plan, maybe a character dinner could get the vacation started on a high note. If you had a long day traveling, maybe a night by the pool is the perfect way to rest up for an early start the next day. There is no one perfect way to start a Disney vacation. But here are a few of my families favorite options:

BEST FIRST DAY at Walt Disney World FUN!

1. Character Dinner at Garden Grill. We don't understand why this character dining experience is rated lower than others. It is our my family's "Can't Miss" list!


2. Disney Quest When my boys were pre-teens this was our first stop. Fun interactive activities for the whole family.


3. Pin Trading at Downtown Disney. This gets everyone into the Disney spirit without going to a park.


4. Ordering Pizza by the Pool. We stay onsite at a WDW hotel where all the pools are pretty unique. This is a low stress way to get started on the vacation after a day of airport and shuttle drama.


5. Extra Magic Hours. We always check the disney website prior to the trip to see if any parks will be open late. Our park hopper passes and onsite hotels mean we can spend a fun evening at the parks as long as we have the energy!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--Not So Scary is Great Family FUN for ALL Ages!

In our opinion, one of the best times to visit Disneyworld is in October. Not only has the temperatures cooled a bit from Orlando's warm humid summer heat, hurricane season is in it's final stages. But the real reason we love to go in October is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. It really is fun for all ages! My kids are now in their late teens and a bit to old to dress up and trick-or-treat in our neighborhood but not at the WDW Halloween party. We love that most of our favorite rides are open and the lines are very short. Even though we always stay on site with a 7 or 10 day park hopper pass, we pay the extra for this hard-ticket event. It is well worth it for the parade, fun and fireworks. If your family is planning a visit to Walt Disney World in the fall, The Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party should be on your MUST-DO list!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales

Hunting Hidden Mickeys at Walt Disney World

Mickey Mouse is not too hard to find in Walt Disney World. Throughout the Orlando, Florida theme park there are obvious and not so obvious replicas of the famous cartoon mouse. My family enjoys finding and photographing the not-so-easy-to-see "Hidden Mickey's". It is a great FREE way to pass the time at the parks...and always exciting when someone spots a new one.

This one was spotted on the Backlot Tour of Hollywood Studios. It was fun to capture the image during the water affect, which is a high point of the tour.

This is a great activity for young and old whether it is your first visit to the world or 100th! Searching for Hidden Mickey's never gets boring. I will share other fun finds from other parks in future posts. Keep on the look out...hidden Mickey's are rumored to be everywhere in WDW!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales
 

Happy 40th Disneyworld!

Back in the summer of 1971, as a 9 year old Minnesota kid, I remember reading a magazine article about the NEW Walt Disney World theme park. I was extremely excited when I read that the Grand Opening would be October 18th! I thought it was a sign, certainly my parents would want me to be there on opening day for my 10th birthday. Of course, my mom's reaction was not so positive. Guess I should have known as our family of seven had never taken a road trip longer than 2 hours to a Wisconsin lake cabin. Disappointed yes...but one can dream right?

Fast forward 40 years. We are planning our 7th family vacation to Walt's magical world of the mouse in Orlando Florida! (There was also a honeymoon in Florida and a work trip to Disneyland over the years.) We have become Disney-Junkies and we have to visit this year as I turn 50 and WDW turns 40! Yes, my family collects and trades pins. We stay at the WDW resorts and travel using the food plan so we can visit all the best Disneyworld restaurants. Every trip is an adventure that we anticipate for months and get teary-eyed when it comes to an end. 

One of our favorite places to spend time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the often overlooked, One Man's Dream exhibit. (It is tucked in on the way past the big sorcerer's hat on the way to the Toy Story ride. ) It recounts the journey of Walt Disney's life in pictures, videos and displays. Several of the actual models of the parks and rides are on display in the building. There is also a short biographical movie about Walt. If you have never visited, One Man's Dream, I encourage you to take the time to do so this year. It is the perfect way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of this Disney destination!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales 

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--Fast Hands at Teppan Edo

Fast hands of the teppan-yaki style chef are quite a sight, aren't they?

A few years ago when I started this blog, I wrote about the Can’t Miss Disneyworld Restaurants and a few to skip on the next trip too! Though some of my opinions have not changed, a couple of them have. There are many more restaurants that my family has enjoyed as our kids grew up and became more adventurous.

Our family visited Teppan Edo for the first time on our 2009 trip and it has become a MUST DO for our next! As you can see the chef puts on quite a show and kept the entire group entertained while we waited for our dinners. It is better if you have a group of 8 because the tables are arranged in such a way that 8 people surround the chef. We were paired with another family of four and though awkward at first, it was a pleasant dinner. Definitely Teppan Edo in the Japanese Pavilion of Epcot is a wonderful addition to any Disney World vacation. We will be back...the food and show were fabulous!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales

Hidden Disneyworld Freebies--Learn to Draw Mickey Mouse!

Have you ever wished to be a Disney animator?

If you are planning an upcoming trip, be sure to take the time to visit the Animation Building in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is my family’s favorite places during our bi-annual treks to Orlando, FL. Now, I know I shouldn't but I still call this park MGM Studios, but that is just me. After the animation tour don't rush out the exit too quickly. Take advantage of the area where you (and 30 or so other would-be illustrators) can go for a half hour class with a Disney artist. It is located off to the side and under a screen where various Disney characters are being drawn. There is usually a 10-15 minute wait for the next FREE class but with step-by-step instructions on how to draw Mickey , Goofy, Pluto, Stitch or another beloved Disney character, it is worth the wait.

I should mention, talent is not a prerequisite. At the end of the session, everyone leaves with a drawing that somewhat resembles the character that is up on the screen. My husband is first to admit his skills at drawing are very limited but he always comes out with something to be proud of.

As soon as we finish the tutorial, we always compare our drawings. Here are examples of my family’s drawings from one class on a previous trip. At the time my sons were in grade school yet every drawing was a success All of our drawings are a pretty fair representation of Walt’s buddy, Mickey Mouse, but none are identical to each other. Maybe with a little more practice we can be as good as the instructors...At least we can dream right?

Don't miss this awesome Disney Freebie! Everyone who can hold a pencil and follow simple instructions can learn to draw from a great Disney artist and take home a magical memory & free souvenir. We have taken several classes and drawn character after character; everyone from Daisy Duck to Jack Skellington! Drawing at the Animation Studio is always on our "MUST Not Miss at Disneyworld List" on every trip!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales