Changes to ADR Polices at WDW

It was just a matter of time.  WDW announced recently that starting October 26, certain restaurants will now require a credit card to secure a reservation.  For cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance and for no shows, the card will be charged $10 per person.  Restaurants that require pre-payment will have a cancelation penalty of the full amount.

Locations affected are as follows -   

Pre-Paid Locations:
• Cinderella's Royal Table
• Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
• Mickey's Backyard BBQ

Credit Card Guarantee Locations:
• 1900 Park Fare
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
• Artist Point
• California Grill
• Cape May Cafe
• Chef Mickey's
• Cítricos
• The Crystal Palace
• Flying Fish Cafe
• Garden Grill
• Hollywood and Vine
• Jiko - The Cooking Place
• Le Cellier Steakhouse
• Narcoossee's
• 'Ohana
• Tusker House Restaurant
• Hollywood Brown Derby
• Victoria and Albert's (cancellation policy is $25/per person)
• Yachtsman Steakhouse 

Additionally, if you need to make a cancellation, there's a new dedicated line: 407-WDW-CNCL.  You can also go online to the restaurant bookings page (disneyworld.com/dining).  If you are already on property, you can continue to book or cancel at any table service restaurant podium, resort front desk or Guest Relations.  Those staying at the concierge level can also access services there as well.

These are just too cute!

Check out these amazingly cute hand soaps from Method (pic from the Disney Living Facebook page):

Aren't these just swell?  

According to reports, they'll be available at major retailers including Target and Babies R Us starting in April!

How much Disney is too much?

It's been eight months since I last entered through the gates of Disneyland.  I feel like an addict in withdraw.  I am feeling a pull back to Florida (since that's actually within driving distance unlike the other!), even though I am also craving travel elsewhere. Then it hits me - let's do a cruise this year!  Now I realize I'm driving my husband a little crazy.  I found the perfect Disney cruise at a great price, but it's in October.  He doesn't want to wait until then to go on vacation.  And, alas, he'd like to do something that doesn't involve a mouse.

So, how much Disney is too much? 

I think about how much money we've spent on Disney vacations in the past several years, and geeze, we could have taken some serious, longer trips elsewhere.  We're deluxe resort staying, dining plan eating kinds of people.  We have dropped a few thousand pretty fast.  Have we had a blast?  Yes.  Have the kids enjoyed it?  That's to say the least!  I love it and don't blink an eye.  It's ultimately not even about the money.

I want to keep it special.  I am afraid of going too much.  I don't want the kids to be like, oh, Disney again, okay.  I want to still keep that magic alive.  I want the pixie dust to stay fresh.  I can go time and time again, but I'm struggling to find the happy medium.  I still get goosebumps on my arms and tears in my eyes when I see the kids enjoying themselves, or when I cross through onto Main Street that first time.  Gosh, I got excited walking through Downtown Disney in Disneyland before the park opened last summer, so I don't even have to enter the park to get excited.

At what point do we do something different?  We kind of did last summer in that we stayed at Disneyland, but we didn't spend but a few days in the actual park.  It was our home base for our LA travels, then we left and spent an amazing few days in San Diego.  Would we be happier going to back to southern California, which we love, and exploring more of what the region has to offer, or going back to WDW?  Sometimes the answer seems obvious, other times, it just isn't.  


As far as the cruise goes, I'm still working on my husband.  Unfortunately, the itinerary we want isn't available when Little Man is out of school, and that itinerary is on the older ship, not the newer one.  Little Man just wants to go on the Aqua Duck, so that's a hard choice.  I'd love to do this, but should we go to New England instead? 

The AquaDuck!!

On January 26, 2011, the new Disney Dream will set sail for the first time!  Not only is it a brand new ship, but it's launching a brand new water coaster that's not available on any of the other ships.  Once my son saw this, he started begging to go on a Disney cruise.  I don't blame him!  I'd love to check this out myself!

Showing off your Disney pictures with Shutterfly holiday cards

It's that time of the year again.  It's time for Christmas cards and cards celebrating the holiday season in general.  When Shutterfly.com asked me to blog about their holiday cards and other products, I gladly said yes!

I've been going through my Disneyland trip pictures trying to find the *perfect* picture for my cards this year.  Last year, I used Shutterfly.com and just plugged my 2009 Disney pictures of the kiddos into the following card (note - this is not my actual card from last year, just the design):

The cards came out so cute!  Even though the card doesn't have Disney characters, it was an easy fit with my pictures.  It was so simple to do, and I was able customize my wording.  Once your pictures are uploaded onto Shutterfly.com, you can easily choose the pics you want and drop them in to place.  You can make it as Mickey-riffic as you wish!  This is the one I'm considering for personalizing for us this year.  I like it because this is actually on card stock.

I've got to say that I absolutely love using Shutterfly.com, and I use them for printing all of my Disney pictures.  You can also use Shutterfly.com for gifts like wall calendars and personalized mugs.  A few years ago, I did one of the calendars for my grandparents.  They still have it hanging up in their living room with it opened on their favorite page.  I've also made several of their photobooks using my Disney pictures as an easy way to save memories.  Shutterfly.com is truly one of the reasons I do not use Disney's PhotoPass service very often.


After our trip to Disneyland, I had over 800 pictures to upload!  It was super simple to get them all online with Shutterfly.com, and I ordered all of the photos on a CD so I can have an easily accessible copy at home.  Now I just have to go through them and find THE perfect picture for my Christmas cards.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is back open!

WDW travelers rejoice!  The Disney Parks Blog is reporting that The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is reopening this week!  Changes include a new loading area and gift shop.  The new loading area is interactive to give the little ones something to do while in line, including jumping with Tigger, Eeyore's house and Rabbit's garden.


Looking for FastPass?  For the time being, the FP machines are over near Mickey's Philharmagic.

Going soon?  I'd love to post your pictures of the new loading area!

Caribbean Beach Rooms - Nemo and PoTC

The Caribbean Beach Resort (CBR) was Disney's first moderate resort.  Back in the day, it wasn't called a moderate, but it was the first resort to have outdoor corridors, smaller rooms, etc.   It's also huge at 2,112 rooms.  The resort is organized into six villages named after Caribbean islands.  Check out a map here.  All CBR rooms have either two double beds or a king bed, and they run smaller than deluxe rooms but bigger than value rooms.

In the past, rooms were decorated in standard Caribbean pastels.  Now, guests can choose between the new standard Nemo rooms or upgrade to a Pirates of the Caribbean room.

Pirates of the Caribbean rooms are only located in the Trinidad South village, and they cost more than the Nemo rooms.  Trinidad South is the furthest away from the Custom House, aka Check In, and it can be a hike to Old Port Royale (food court and shopping) from the furthest rooms.  Watch the video for a tour of the new PoTC rooms.



If pirates aren't up your alley, there's always the cute Nemo rooms that are found in the other five villages.
 



Have you stayed in either of these rooms?  Have advice or opinions to share?  Let me know about your experience!

More Details on the Wild Africa Trek Adventures at AK

Remember how back in July I told you about a new adventure at Animal Kingdom?  Details have finally been released on the Disney Parks Blog.

According to Disney, the new Wild Africa Trek Adventures will be a three hour tour (yes, everyone, start singing!) led by an expert through Pangani Forest and remote regions of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.   It's definitely not a walk through the park by any means!  It includes a bushwalk and even the need to clip on to a safety line and cliffhanging.  Disney promises up close and personal views of hippos and crocs.  The trek is capped off with food tastings from Africa.

Groups will be limited to 12 guests per adventure.  If you are interested, call the tour line at 407-WDW-TOUR.  Pricing will vary depending on the season, but initial pricing is $129 + park admission for those who book a tour between January 16 through February 26.

If you book and go, let me know!  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Want a treat but can't make it to the park?

I know that Disney food has its detractors, but I'm not one of them.  Food at Disney is part of the entire experience for me.  I have my favorite restaurants, my favorite snacks, my favorite meals and my favorite drinks (Grand Marnier orange slushie, anyone??).  

We just happened upon my favorite snack a few years ago.  We had quite a few snack credits left over, and in our last hours, we just grabbed up several Mickey Mouse crispy rice treats on a stick.  You know, the kind with chocolate covered ears.  If you are still not sure, here's a picture (from disneyfoodblog.com, not my own).

 
I had one once we got home, and it was love at first bite!  

WDW does make some of these on site, but most of the ones I've eaten have been made by an off site company called Selma's.  Selma's has two locations - one in Florida, and the other in Nevada.  They supply many of the prepackaged crispy rice treats at both WDW and DLR.

If you ever just start craving one of these lovelies and can't make it to the park, you can order similar treats straight from Selma's.  Of course, they won't be Mickey ears!  I've also happened upon Selma's crispy rice treats locally, as well as a few other venues like the Georgia Aquarium.  Yeah, not from Disney.  Yeah, not in a cute Disney shape.  But yeah, it's still the same taste and takes me right back to the parks!

The announcement....

While it wasn't about a fifth gate, a new ride or new resort, Disney did announce today that the 2011 theme will be "Let the Memories Begin!"

Disney has set up a new website, www.disneyparks.com/memories, where you can upload pictures and movies of your WDW trip.  Disney will use some of these pictures in their print and TV ads.  Plus, starting in January, some of these pictures will be illuminated onto Cinderella's Castle in WDW and "it's a small world" in DLR.

Are you excited about this theme?  Personally, I miss the Year of A Million Dreams!  

A Major Disney Announcement Today!!

I'm excited!!  Today at noon, Disney is making a major announcement concerning the Parks!  I've read all kinds of speculation from a new nation joining the World Showcase to a new DVC resort to a new park in Europe.  We shall see in just a few hours!

The Mickey Mouse Penthouse @ DLR Revealed!

The Disney Parks Blog unveiled one of the most spectacular suites ever designed for Disney - the Mickey Mouse Penthouse (MMP) in the Disneyland Hotel!  

This ginormous suite - 1600 square feet! - is covered in All Things Mickey and decorated in traditional Mickey colors.  Think bold red, yellow and black.  There are two bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a living room, dining room and kitchen.  If you want a total immersion experience, this would be IT!

Below is the living room.   See the giant Mickey head right there in the ceiling?  There are even three flat screen TVs in that giant entertainment center! 

Check out the master bedroom.  A king size bed, another flat screen TV and loads of Mickey!  The description of the master bath just sounds delightful.  A steam shower, Jacuzzi tub and a mirror with a built in TV.  If you've never seen the TV in the mirror, it's a lot of fun.  On top of it all, there are special tiles in the shower that reveal a picture of Mickey when warm water hits the shower wall.  How fun is THAT?!

Even the second bedroom occupants get to have fun!  This room has a round bed.  Round!  There's also a high tech animation station in this bedroom.  I have no artistic talent, but perhaps I would with that kind of technology.  The kids also get to get ready for the parks in this fun bathroom.

Like with the BTRR suite, Disney's not publishing prices with this suite.  If you're interested, give DLR a call!

Free Shipping Ends Today!!!

Disneystore.com is currently offering FREE SHIPPING, but it ends TODAY!!!  This is a very big savings, as their shipping charges are usually pretty high.   This would be a great chance to get a leg up on Christmas shopping!  I know I'm definitely going to be looking at a few things.  You can even buy some Disney Parks merchandise online now as well.  Happy Shopping!

I just can't help but remember...

It's been right at four years since we took our first family trip to WDW.  Little W Man was just three years old.  Big S Man hadn't been there since 1985 when he was eight, so it had been a very long while!  It was our first week long trip in 6 years, and we made the most of it.  The weather in Florida was still humid but getting a smidge cooler.  The best part - even with free dining, the crowds were minimal.  Twice - once on Test Track, once on Big Thunder - we were allowed to remain on the ride and do it again.  Now I always long to go back this time of the year!

What is your favorite time to go to WDW or Disneyland?

What is the right age for Disney?

What is the right age to take your child to Disney?  This is definitely one of the questions I hear most from moms considering a trip to WDW or DLR.  So, what IS the answer? 

From my experience, there is almost no wrong age for a child to be at Disney!  Now, I wouldn't take a newborn, and I wouldn't take a really young one in the peak of the summer, but I've definitely seen my share of young babies in the park.  As a mom, though, I couldn't imagine dragging such a young child through the park, especially in the very hot and humid summer months.  It's not fun for the child, and it's definitely not fun for the parent.  But I swore up and down I'd never take a baby to WDW, and there I was in 2008 with a 10 month old, and it was really amazing to see her experience WDW.  We've also found that our favorite age to take a child has been when they are three, since the experience constantly changes.


A lot of making this determination depends on the child, of course, especially if there are any special considerations necessary.  However, for most children, I think most parents are just hesitant to take their child for a myriad of reasons, including that they are too young to remember the trip, that they will have to go back to the room to take a nap, etc.  And from my experience, a lot of these concerns come from a parent's fear of the unknown.  

One of the most important considerations is just be willing to rest during the day.  Have lunch, go back to the room, chill, sleep, swim, whatever; then head back to the park around dinner time.  You will feel better, your child will feel better, and you'll be in a better mood.   This is, hands down, one of the biggest reasons we stay on property.  We don't have to worry about travel time sucking away our precious time.  In fact, this has led us to stay at a monorail resort our last two times at WDW, and one of the deciding factors in staying at GCH on our recent Disneyland trip.  Rest is so important.  You don't want to be That Family - kids are screaming and whining, parents are rolling their eyes and yelling at the kids and everyone is hot and miserable.


If you're thinking about taking a baby, you should know about the Baby Care Centers, especially in WDW.  Each park has its own Baby Care Center, which is a nice, quiet, air conditioned little slice of heaven.  There's a private area for nursing, a waiting area for dad and the other kiddos with a TV, clean changing areas, things for feeding - mircowave, high chair, etc.  If baby has a blow out or you are out of supplies, they have some available for a nominal fee.  


Don't be afraid!  Make sure you know what Disney offers.  Consider staying onsite.  Know your family's limits.  But have fun!


Any questions you want to see answered about little ones at Disney?

New Suites Coming to Disneyland Hotel

Even if you've never been to Disneyland, chances are very good that you've heard of the Disneyland Hotel.  It's iconic.  It's the original Disney hotel.  And right now, it's receiving a serious TLC renovation on all three of its buildings.  Part of this renovation includes the addition of some absolutely amazingly themed suites.  

According to the Disney Parks Blog, the 11th floor of the Dreams Tower of the Disneyland Hotel will be the new home to what Disney is calling 'signature suites' - over the top theming, attention to detail, sound effects, etc.  You know, the typical Disney treatment!  These uber-themed suites will include the following themes: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Fair Tales, Mickey Mouse and Pirates of the Caribbean.  The DP blog recently provided the following pictures of the new Big Thunder Suite:

Prices aren't being publicized yet, but if you are interested, just give Disney a call at (714) 956-6425.

2011 Free Dining Announced!!

WDW is doing it again!  The wildly popular free dining is BACK for 2011.  The program has been expanded, too!  Those staying at mods, deluxes, and deluxe villas will get the standard dining plan, and those staying in the value resorts will get the quick service dining plan.  Please note that

Here are the dates:

Jan 1 – 5

Jan 9 – 13

Jan 21 – Feb 3 

Feb 11 – 17 

Feb 25 – Mar 3 

May 27 – Jun 2 

Aug 19 – Sept 29

The booking window for these promotions is through December 20, 2010, so act now!! Book online or call (407) 939-7926 and ask for booking code NL7 to book your room reservations. 

The fine print: No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. With the Disney Dining Plan, children ages 3-9 must choose from children's menu if available. Excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Some table service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

Price Increase Coming on Park Tickets!

It's that time of the year again.  Time for football to start, kids to start thinking about school again and time for Disney to raise ticket prices!  You will see the regular ticket prices below, but also know that annual passes, Florida resident passes, etc., will also be going up as well.

Please note that these prices are effective as of Thursday, August 5!

New Prices at WDW:

Days On Ticket	Base Ticket: Ages 10-up	Base Ticket: Ages 3-9	Optional Add-On: Park Hopper	Optional Add-On: Water Park Fun & More	Optional Add-On: No Expiration
10 Days	$262 ($26.20/day)	$239 ($23.90/day)	$54	$54 (10 visits)	$213
9 Days	$257 ($28.56/day)	$234 ($26.00/day)	$54	$54 (9 visits)	$208
8 Days	$252 ($31.50/day)	$229 ($28.63/day)	$54	$54 (8 visits)	$182
7 Days	$247 ($35.29/day)	$224 ($32.00/day)	$54	$54 (7 visits)	$142
6 Days	$242 ($40.33/day)	$219 ($36.50/day)	$54	$54 (6 visits)	$106
5 Days	$237 ($47.40/day)	$214 ($42.80/day)	$54	$54 (5 visits)	$95
4 Days	$232 ($58.00/day)	$209 ($52.25/day)	$54	$54 (4 visits)	$67
3 Days	$224 ($74.67/day)	$202 ($67.33/day)	$54	$54 (3 visits)	$28
2 Days	$162 ($81.00/day)	$146 ($73.00/day)	$54	$54 (2 visits)	$22
1 Day	$82	$74	$54	$54 (2 visits)	n/a

New Prices at DLR:

Ticket	Ages 10+	Ages 3-9
6-Day Park Hopper	$256	$230
5-Day Park Hopper	$251	$226
4-Day Park Hopper	$231	$208
3-Day Park Hopper	$206	$185
2-Day Park Hopper	$161	$146
2-Day	$151	$136
1-Day Park Hopper	$101	$91
1-Day	$76	$68

Recipe Share - Tigger Tails

I stumbled upon Tigger Tails at DLR while we were waiting to meet Pooh and Tigger.  Little Man and I went into Pooh Corner to get a drink, and there they were.  These little sticks of orange joy. 

I happened to run across a recipe online for them, and I can't wait to make them!

How to Make Disneyland Tigger Tails at Home
Making Tigger Tails like the ones found at Disneyland is fun, easy, and cheap!
Read More

Grand Californian Hotel - Disneyland

As I mentioned before, we just returned from our first trip to Disneyland!  We did do more than just the Mouse while we were out there - quick trip through LA, Malibu, Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Legoland, San Diego, La Jolla - it was definitely a whirlwind trip!  

For the first five nights of our trip, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel (GCH) was our home base.  We had considered non-Disney hotels while in the LA area since Disneyland is right in the middle of town and surrounded by hotels, but Disney offered a great deal this summer - pay for three nights, stay for five.  It brought the GCH down closer to what we would pay at an Embassy Suites or similar, so we chose the GCH.  Boy, we were NOT disappointed!

The GCH was designed by the same architect who designed both the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kingdom Lodge in WDW, and you can see some similarities in the designs, such as the impressive lobby (see pic below).  Unlike the two Florida resorts, the GCH is designed in the Craftsman style that is so prevalent in California.

Like WDW, DLR also bases room rates on the view from your room.  The primary room views are standard (overlooks front entrance), pool view, Downtown Disney view and Disney California Adventure (DCA) view.  We booked a standard view room, and to our surprise, we were told at check in that we had a 4th floor room with a pool view!  Love free upgrades.  And to make things more fun, we were able to see part of DCA from our room as well if we looked to our left. 

GCH's pool complex is expansive.  There are three pools and two hot tubs.  The pool in the picture above is also home to the Redwood Slide.  The slide is only open during the day, as it is manned by a lifeguard.  At night, the pool complex is dimly, but safely, lit.  Cabanas are available for daily rental.  During the day, there is also chairside food service.  Another difference between all pools at DLR versus WDW is that they are gated with restricted access.  One must slide a room key to gain access to the pool - see gate below.

Once in our room, we were pleasantly surprised at its size.  The rooms were larger than what we had at the Wilderness Lodge, but they were not as large as the Polynesian or Contemporary.  We had two queen beds, flat screen TV mounted above a dresser, as well as two chairs and a writing table.  Outside on the balcony, there were a few chairs and a small table.  The decor continues the Craftsman theme with very little obvious Disney influence.  There were Mickey heads on the carpet, and there was Bambi and Thumper on the shower curtain.  The dresser hid a small dorm fridge.  

One of the best features of GCH is its proximity to both DLR parks.  Our room was essentially four floors above the private entrance in to DCA!  While this entrance is available to all current guests of any of the three DLR hotels, few can say that it only took them 5 minutes from room to park!  Going to Disneyland Park itself takes a few minutes longer - walk out from the hotel in to Downtown Disney, swing a right, and tada!  You are in the promenade between the two parks.

GCH's proximity to DCA is proving to be a bit problematic with the new World of Color show.  Currently, there are three shows a night, and it is LOUD.  The rides you see in the picture are in the Paradise Pier section, and WoC plays out on the lagoon in that area.   Even though we were not overlooking DCA and were actually a decent distance away from the lagoon, we could still hear the music during the shows, even with the doors closed to the balcony.  Luckily, it was not loud enough to keep us awake at night, but we both commented that it had to be loud in the rooms that overlooked the park on that side. 

We experienced two of the three dining options at GCH.  Whitewater Snacks is the quick service location, and we ate dinner there our last night of our stay.  We found it to be better than average as far as Disney hotel quick service goes.  We also had dinner one night at Storyteller's Cafe.  Three of us chose their buffet, while E Belle ended up with standard chicken nuggets.  The buffet had a carving station, salad, desserts, pasta, vegetables, etc.  Pretty decent, we felt that we got our money's worth considering we left stuffed!  Napa Rose was the only one we did not try, is considered to be the nicest of all DLR restaurants and serves California style cuisine.


I am so glad we chose GCH!  I'd stay here again in a heartbeat.  While it is definitely more expensive than most rooms on Harbor Blvd., it is still cheaper than a deluxe room at WDW.