Walt Disney World--Planning a Trip: How This Has Changed For Us

Let’s turn back time to 2006 to our first trip to Walt Disney World.  I recall us taking a 5 night trip, stayed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort with a multi-day Park Hopper ticket and the Disney Dining Plan (it included tip and appetizer then!).  The boy was four years old and we had a stroller.  I remember that we paid full price for that trip—no discounts, no sales.  The planning for that trip compared to how we plan a trip now is VERY different.  Some of the changes are due to technology like Fastpass+ and MagicBands.  Some of the changes are due to personal preference and experience. 

Transportation to Orlando:  One thing that hasn’t changed is that we fly.  How we purchase airfare has changed.  No longer do I feel like we need to purchase round trip airfare up front or even fly the same air carrier both directions.  What is important is that we start and end our trip at the same airport!  Technology has helped us get great deals on airfare—using websites such as Kayak.com and Hipmunk.com that regularly check fares and update me when there are changes via either daily or weekly emails—depending on my preference.  I find that once we have a firm arrival date either because we’ve got a great airfare date or due to work/school restrictions, we then purchase air TO Orlando.  I may wait weeks, even months before purchasing return flights.  And, while this can make some people nervous (and it would have made me nervous at one point too), waiting has made for some great fares and money savings! 

I’m pickier about flight times, too.  Knowing that Disney’s Magical Express picks up guests 3 hours before a flight, I’m less inclined to select that 6:00 am or 7:00 am return flight.  Those flight times also make it impossible to use Resort Airline Check-in, as it doesn’t open until 5:00 am, and I want Disney to handle my luggage as much as possible, rather than me toting it to the airport and schlepping it through the airline counter check-in queue.  I prefer stepping onto Disney’s Magical Express with my carry-on bag and boarding pass in hand!

Resort stays:  One thing that hasn’t changed is that we stay on Disney property at a Walt Disney World Resort.  That first trip, we stayed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach.  Other stays include Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Coronado Springs, and most recently Pop Century.  Disney veterans will recognize that all of those resorts but Pop Century are considered “moderate” resorts, while Pop Century is a “value” resort.  And, while we wouldn’t rule out another stay at a value resort—click here to read moreabout our stay at Pop Century—it has become evident that moderates better fit our staying style.  So, next trip, we return to Coronado Springs. 

Park Tickets:  Over the history of thirteen different trip to Walt Disney World, we have had multi-day hopper tickets, multi-day non hopper tickets, and even a stay with a one-day one park ticket.  Note:  we wanted the Dining Plan and had to have at least a one-day ticket in order to add the Dining Plan to our package.  Disney has since changed the park ticket requirement allowing resort only stays to add on Dining Plans.  Now, we have Annual Passes that allow for park hopping.  Some trips we have added the “water parks and more” to our tickets allowing for entry into both Disney water parks, DisneyQuest, and access to miniature golf.  Now, our Annual Passes include entry into the water parks, and discounted miniature golf.  When prospective guests ask me about what type of ticket they need, it really comes down to a few questions and priorities for their trip to determine their specific park ticket and/or package needs. 

Dining Plan:  Yeah, we tried to go without it one trip, but added the plan to our package three weeks before our departure date.  Our preference is the “basic” dining plan which includes one table service, one counter service, and one snack credit per person per night of stay along with a refillable mug.  There are other Dining Plans—Deluxe and Quick Service that guests could consider.  There are even wine packages that can be added—this is Disney after all and they DO think of everything. 

What hasn’t changed is that we make Advanced Dining Reservations for table service meals.  And, yes, we typically know where and when we want to dine 180 days in advance.  I will share that on our most recent trip, I made changes to our dining plans a couple of weeks before our trip—something I had never done before.  And, since we’re less than three months from our next trip, I still needed to make a couple of ADR’s and took care of them just recently.  It may be notable that we still have a table service credit that isn’t allocated as of yet.  I’m waiting for a new restaurant to open up before our trip. . . a new adventure!

It is also not uncommon for us to now make more dining reservations than we have table service credits for and pay out of pocket for some meals.  On our last trip, we paid for two of our table service meals out of pocket.  On the trip that we are currently planning for there will be one meal we pay for out of pocket. 

Another note could be made that in addition to various park tickets and Dining Plans that are available, there are also several package plans that guests can select that not only include Dining, but tour access, show access, and even golf access. 

Park Touring:  During our early trips, our park touring style would have been described as just shy of commando.  We arrived at the parks at rope drop and stayed until late in the day and sometimes park closing without leaving for a break.  Morning Extra Magic Hours were a resort amenities we took advantage of.  We would collect our Fastpasses and spend the day using them—as this was before Disney enforced return times.  When Fastpass return times were enforced, we adjusted accordingly, still using the morning to collect our paper Fastpasses.  During longer stays, we would build in “break days” where we enjoyed resort amenities and ventured to Downtown Disney, now Disney Springs. 

When we went to Disneyland in the summer of 2015, we did take afternoon breaks from the parks.  I think it had to do with the time difference making early mornings easy but nighttime spectaculars hard along with the proximity of the resorts to the parks. 

Now, with Fastpass+ we have adjusted our park touring, still preferring to be at rope drop at certain parks and do spend entire days—open to close—also at certain parks.  Our ideal day at Walt Disney World, especially during warmer months, would be to enjoy a great breakfast either at our resort or another resort, spend the morning and early afternoon at a water park, return to our resort to clean-up, and then make our way to a theme park to enjoy the evening with Fastpass+’s already selected and dining reservations already made. 

Photo packages:  It took until trip number 2 or 3 before I got hooked on Photopass and Photopass packages.  Now, I can’t imagine a trip to Walt Disney World without some sort of photo package.  Thank goodness for Memory Maker and discounts for pre-purchasing.  I remember watching a family get their daughter’s picture taken in the Photopass studio at (then) Downtown Disney after her appointment at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and the mother agonizing over a photo purchase.  The Photopass Cast Member missed an opportunity to sell the package as this was the family’s arrival day to Walt Disney World (yes, I was eves dropping) and the mother walked away with making a purchase.  I was in pain for her!  Given the number of photos that were taken in that studio combined with what photos could be taken over the coming days, they would have come out ahead with a photo package.  I so regret not speaking up at that moment.  Alas, now that we have Annual Passes, we have unlimited downloads of photos taken on our Photopass/Memory Maker account!

Packing:  This planning category has NOT changed.  I still over pack.  I mostly pack ahead of time, although the “ahead of time” is getting closer and closer to departure dates.  And, we have a list of needed park items that stay in the suitcase from one trip to the next—park touring bag/backpack, pocket seats, umbrella, ponchos, etc.  Also, I used to pack a power strip but now I pack a multi-port USB charger along with a portable charger to take with us to use during the day.

I’m curious about what Disney vacation planning changes we will make over the coming years.  One thing I’m pretty certain about is that Disney vacations will continue to be a priority for our family.

Multiple Countdowns for Multiple Upcoming Trips

Even before we left on our Summer Vacation in July, I had already purchased airfare for two more trips--well, round trip airfare for one and half the airfare for the other.  And now, we're managing multiple countdowns and planning for more than one trip.

The trip furthest away is a celebratory birthday jaunt to Walt Disney World, but due to the Disney planning calendar--180 days prior--the planning for this trip came first.  I asked the guys to give me one restaurant to put onto our list.  The boy, without hesitating, said Tony's.  The husband, after thinking about it awhile asked for Garden Grill.  'Ohanas, Crystal Palace, Rose & Crown, Tusker House, and 50's Prime Time Cafe round out the other dining locations.

The trip that is happening first, a seven night sailing on the Disney Fantasy, requires planning attention next.  Since we are Gold Castaway Club members we can make reservations for Port Adventures and on board experiences such as the spa or adult dining 105 days prior to our sailing if when paid in full. 

So now we need to look closely at port adventures.  Right now the top runners are a Cozumel Beach Break at Playa Mia Grand Beach and Water Park and  River Tubing in Falmouth, Jamaica.  Some of our criteria for selecting port adventures is the value of the experience, the length of time--Does the travel time to the port adventure last longer than the experience?  And is it something that all of us would enjoy? Right now the husband has his eye on the water bicycle that is include in the Cozumel Beach Break.

Soon it will be time for us to check-in online for our cruise; filling out the required paperwork online.  And since the boy has a new Passport, we need to update that information as well.

As a part of our cruise, we needed pre and post cruise one night hotel stays.  Our fantastic travel agent is on this and we have reservations at the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport.  The location of this hotel could not be any more convenient. 

Another day in the countdown I need to keep track of is the 60 day before Walt Disney World so we can make Fastpass + selections.  My current calculations indicate that we will be sailing on the Disney Fantasy when the 60 day mark arrives.  A dilemma.  Do we purchase wi-fi on the ship and make our plans using the app on my phone or do we wait until we disembark?   When I posed this question to a message board group I am a member of, the results were mostly to wait unless we can get in on a free wi-fi offer the first day on the ship.

It's exciting to anticipate an upcoming Disney vacation.  It's doubly exciting to have two upcoming Disney vacations!

180 Days From Trip #13 to Walt Disney World

July 2014

Believe it or not, it has been over a year since we have been to Walt Disney World and in another six months, we’ll be back there again. . . over a year and a half later!  I know, it seems like we were just there to us, too.

Today we are “180 days out” as Disney fans put it, which means, we could make Advanced Dining Reservations for our trip.  So, this morning I was on-line and on the phone securing all the plans that could be made at this stage in our trip countdown.

Advanced Dining Reservations went smoothly. . . well, mostly.  This is the first time that I have actually made the reservation as our travel agent typically does it for us, but it is Sunday.  I made all of them on-line but soon realized that I had made a dining reservation for this evening.  There wasn’t a “button” to cancel, so I picked up the phone and a very helpful Cast Member canceled the reservation for me, waiving the cancellation fee, AND added a note to all of our dining reservations about my birthday.  Yep—all the rest of the Williams Family has celebrated a birthday at Walt Disney World and this time, it’s my turn.  It’s a BIG birthday, too, making it even more special.

After making all of the dining reservations, it was time to do one more thing, something I’ve been researching for months.  We made a reservation for the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour.  Here’s what the tour includes:

“The day begins at Magic Kingdom park, where you’ll brave the excitement of select attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion and the rollicking new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train—all with expedited admission.
A little later in the day, treat your taste buds to a thrilling occasion, courtesy of a delectable lunch at a Walt Disney World table-service restaurant—which comes included with the cost of your VIP Tour.
Then, brace yourself—this adrenaline rush is just getting started! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can take off on attractions like Toy Story Midway Mania!, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.
Finally, go wild as you end your VIP Tour with a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, where you’ll brave a perilous race through time on DINOSAUR and embark on a monumental adventure rocketing you through the Himalayas on Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain.”
The 7 plus hour tour comes with a hefty fee, but we got a 15% discount by using our Disney Rewards Visa.  The tour also includes lunch at the Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios—a new restaurant for us. 
I’ve already added Memory Maker to our reservation which means we’ll get all the ride photos from this day AND the ride videos from Tower of Terror and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster.
When I called to reserve the tour I learned that it is “fast paced,” requires walking, and for guests to wear closed heal and toe shoes—no sandals or crocs.  The Cast Member was very specific about shoes, inclement weather protection, and arrival times.  I’m very excited to give this tour a try.
Whew!  This trip is almost in the bag.  We just need return airfare.  The next milestone is “60 days out” when we can make our Fastpass +’s.

We've Moved To The Front Of The Drawer

Moving to the front of a file drawer may not be impressive for someone whose last name begins with letters A, B, C, even D.  But a last name that starts with W almost never gets their file moved to the front of the drawer.  That’s why it was so hilarious when I talked to our travel agent yesterday while booking flights for a February Walt Disney World trip, inquired about how thick our file was.  Her response was that is one of the thickest files and she scratches her hand when reaching for it in the file cabinet and was thinking about moving it to the front of the drawer.  When I told the husband this, he was thrilled that a “W” was finally moving to the front of the drawer!

I love talking to our travel agent.  A call means adventure awaits.  And this time, I called to ask her to book Southwest flights to Orlando in February.  Southwest released its flights through March 4 yesterday.  We have never flown on Southwest.  I had however, signed us up for Southwest’s frequent flier program—Rapid Rewards—3 years ago. . . just in case. 

It was the Rapid Rewards that required a reach for our file as I had emailed our Rapid Rewards member numbers 3 years ago—June 6, 2012, to be exact.  Our travel agent was able to retrieve the membership numbers and include them when making our flight reservations.

Why February?  Because in February, I will be turning 50.  I vowed last year that I would be in the most magical place on earth when I turned 50.  This vow is slowly becoming reality—we’ve got the resort room, tickets, and dining package reserved, and now, flights to Orlando.  ( I didn’t like Southwest’s return flight times, so we will most likely go with another airline for the return trip.)

While on the phone with our travel agent, she asked where we were going to eat on my birthday.  Excellent question!  She then followed up with, “Where haven’t you eaten?”  Another good question!  We’ve certainly experienced our fair share of Walt Disney World restaurants.  Good thing I’ve got a couple of months to decide!

Our travel agent shared a good review of Southwest with us—she indicated that Southwest typically does not change their flights, which can be a headache when traveling with other carriers. 

Here’s the amazing part:  We have 3 Disney trips in the works! 

Planning: A Comparison of Disneyland and Walt Disney World

When others learn that we are headed to Disneyland this summer and then realize that it is different than Walt Disney World, we inevitable get 1 of 3 comments:

• It’s smaller at Disneyland right?
• Won’t it be the same?
• Can’t wait to hear about how differences.

The third comment is my favorite, as I am already making comparisons to Walt Disney World and we haven’t even left the state!

As Walt Disney World dare I say “veterans” with twelve trips under our belts, planning a Disneyland trip has been a very different experience.  My comparisons range from ease to cost.

Transportation

This category contains both flights to get to the happiest place on earth, and transportation to/from the Disneyland Parks.   As far as flights go, this part was easy and relatively cost effective.  We were able to get direct flights and good times and for a good price on the days we wanted to travel. 

Transportation to/from the Disneyland Resort was a different story.  Disneyland does offer transportation via bus for a fee, although children travel free with paid adults.  At Walt Disney World, Disney’s Magical Express operates 24/7.  The Disneyland transfers do run daily, but not all day.  The timing of our return flight required an early trip to the airport outside of the Disneyland transfer operating hours.  And since the fee for the Disneyland transfers are round trip, it did not make sense for us to use them for one-way, but pay for round trip.  We sought out different transportation through a private company.  So cost-wise, Disneyland is more expensive when it comes to transportation to/from the airport and it takes more work to make your arrangements.

Click here to read about our transportation plans for Disneyland.

Dining

Yeah, we’re not the typical travelers as we like to make dining reservations and feel that dining is just as much a part of the experience as attractions or resorts.  We are the ones who make Advanced Dining Reservations for Walt Disney World 180 days prior to our trip.  At Disneyland, dining reservations can also be made prior to one’s trip, but at 60 days.  And, while at Walt Disney World, dining reservations can be made for your entire stay at 180 days prior to your first day, at Disneyland, reservations can be made 60 days ahead of EACH DAY!  So, guests have to get on-line or call 60 days ahead of every day you want to make a reservation.  A credit card hold is the same at both and guests do get a confirmation number, and dining/show packages are available at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, such as a Fantasmic Dining Package that includes reserved viewing for Fantasmic.  Then, there’s the Dining Plan.  Guests staying at the Walt Disney World Resort have the option of adding a Dining Plan—there are 3 different versions—to their package.  At Disneyland, guest can pre-purchase character dining vouchers.  Walt Disney World comes out ahead in this category for ease and options.

Click here to read more about no Dining Plan at Disneyland.

Park Tickets

Guests at the Walt Disney Resort have the option of park tickets ranging from 1 day to 10 days.  Other options can be added to park tickets such as park hopper, water parks and more fun, even the Dining Plan can be added to the park tickets.  If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, your park ticket is also your room key and room charging privileges can be added to the ticket and most importantly, all of that information is linked to a guest or traveling party’s MagicBands, including Photopass.

At Disneyland guests have the option of selection 1 day to 5 day tickets and can add a park hopper option.  If staying at a Disneyland Resort, an additional room key will be provided and that may allow for room charges—we don’t know that as of yet.  And, we already have our park tickets!

Walt Disney World’s implementation of the MagicBand has made all of this very easy!

Photopass

 Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland offer guests an opportunity to pre-order and pre-pay for their Photopass products.  At Walt Disney World, it's Memory Maker and if making your resort reservation on-line or with a travel professional, guests have the option of adding Memory Maker to their reservation.  Disneyland offers Photopass + and their website alludes to the product, provides a link to the Photopass website, but is difficult to find as it is under the "HELP" section of the Photopass website.  I understand why--as the Photopass website is for both parks and folks could get confused and order Photopass+ for Walt Disney World, although that product isn't available there any more.  

So far, in terms of planning, Walt Disney World is an easier trip to plan.  One phone call or login can do it all—resort stay, park tickets, dining, transportation to/from the airport, even airline reservations if you want.  Guests may feel like planning a Walt Disney World vacation is harder due to the need/want to make FastPass+  selections and Dining Reservations prior to arrival.  Some guests may want to just show up for their vacation and not do anything prior.  This strategy will work at Walt Disney World, but would work better at Disneyland. 

As I read through this, it sounds like we are disappointed with Disneyland.  We definitely are not and are quite excited about our upcoming trip.  It is just that I learned how different it is to plan a Disneyland trip compared to Walt Disney World.  It would have been difficult for me NOT to compare. 

Maybe the work/ease equation will balance out when we arrive at the Disneyland Resort—less walking, no other transportation needed, smaller parks, etc.  We’ll see. . .

We Booked Walt Disney World for December and Locked In Park Tickets Before Price Increase

I love it when our travel agent calls or sends an email.  It gives me comfort knowing that she is thinking of us and our upcoming trip(s).  That was indeed the case when there was an email in my inbox asking if I was ready to book flights for our December cruise.  My response to the email was that the Kayak alerts were set for daily notification but that since we weren’t exactly sure when we could fly to Orlando, I wasn’t ready to book yet.  I, was, however, ready to do something else.

Rumor on the internet was that ticket prices for Walt Disney World would be increasing sometime in February.  If we wanted to have some park time before our cruise, I wanted to lock in the best part ticket price.  I asked if we made a reservation and paid the deposit, and then later changed the reservation, would the ticket prices change. 

Our travel agent inquired and found out that as long as we don’t change the dining plan even if we changed other parts of our package—including number of nights—then we would get the lower ticket price. 

So, we made a reservation.  I know it’s easier to shave days from a reservation than add, so we made a week-long reservation including tickets and dining plan.  We are officially booked for December!

Now, these plans are not in concrete yet, at least not until we make flight arrangements.  And at the same time, getting some park time in during the holidays is something all of us would enjoy.

Can A Disney Vacation Make You Happy?

 Can Disney make you happy?  We’ve all seen the Facebook posts about going to Disney makes you happy and that people who think money can’t buy happiness haven’t been to Disney—I’m assuming that implies paying for a Disney vacation.

I know I’m happier when a Disney vacation is on the horizon.  And less than a handful of years ago European scientists proved that anticipation is a more pleasurable feeling than surprise—which meant that all of my anticipation leading up to a Disney vacation was a pleasurable feeling.

Well, yesterday, I was reading an article (10 Ways To Get Happy Every Day) in a magazine (All You—February 20, 2015 edition) and was able to connect many of the ideas asserted in the article to either planning or taking a Disney vacation.

An idea shared in the article to increase one’s happiness was to savor events and moments by utilizing senses—such as the sense of smell.  I don’t know about you, but opening a bottle of shampoo we brought home from the resort or the tube of body lotion from a Disney ship takes me right back to the middle of the magic.  Or just imagining the tastes and smells at ‘Ohanas or the music in Soarin’.  Definitely savoring!

Another suggestion was to think happy thoughts and on tough days recall something made you happy.  I can do that!  Almost daily I peruse our Disney photos to post on Facebook and each time just looking at the photos recalls happy memories.  The sub-tip was to smile as it involves muscles and changes brain activity.  Again—when recalling happy Disney memories, I can’t help but smile!

The article also suggests that going on vacation—off the grid—can bring a greater, deeper feeling of joy. The suggested length of vacation—two weeks!  And, the article cites Dutch research indicating that the bliss associated with the trip can start months prior because of the anticipation!  Do I need to say more?  We definitely leave the world behind on a Disney vacation and for us, the bliss starts the moment we begin to plan and only becomes greater as the plans for our vacation take shape.  Disney=blissful!

“Social Snacking” or talking to strangers was another suggestion to build happiness.  Anyone who knows or has traveled with me knows that I talk to strangers, especially on a Disney vacation.  Cast members and fellow guests are all fair fodder for a short and happy conversation.  The article goes on to suggests that talking to strangers builds a sense of camaraderie, which is comforting.  Well, I know that talking to fellow Disney guests standing in the same queue as I am can be comforting—“we’re all waiting for the same thing!”

The tip of buying the right kind of happiness spoke to me.  The article suggests the adrenalin rush of a purchase of something over priced and trendy wears off quickly and that there is less happiness when purchasing “stuff” vs. purchasing experiences.  Several years ago, our family made experiences a priority.  So the next time I looked at purchasing that colorful knick-knack I said “no, no” as it wasn’t a priority for our family. I sure did admire the beauty in the moment, though.  Investing in a Disney vacation is a priority for our family as it is memorable and shared experience.  If the price tag is too much for your family, consider other experiences and enjoy the anticipation as the experience nears. 

Other tips throughout the article included planning your fun ahead of time—oh, my, oh, this is definitely Disney, being nicer, and strategic about what gets your attention.

All of the tips about being happier can and do apply to a Disney vacation—before, during, and after!  Therefore, the conclusion to my hypothesis and answer to my original question is that yes, indeed, a Disney vacation can make you happy!

Let the planning commence and anticipation build!

P.S.  I do have a subscription to All You magazine as a result of a free offer.  I do not typically purchase women's magazines as the juxtaposition of exercise and weight loss tips next to cooking and recipes or money saving advice next to articles about purchasing fashion items to boost your image demonstrate publishing hypocrisy.  I will say this particular issue had multiple coupons that have been removed for future savings!

What We Did Right With Fastpass+

Maybe you’ve done it. . . the summing up of what you did right during a day at Walt Disney World.  Turning to your traveling party while riding the bus back to your resort at the end of a long day of park touring to recap what went well or highlight the day or pointing out the best parts of a trip blow by blow at the airport or while flying home.  The husband and I have done this so many times that we now turn to each other mid-moment to indicate that we have/had done something right.  Here are few things that went well with our use of Fastpass +:

·         We pre-selected our 3 per day Fastpass +’s at the 60 day window prior to our trip.  Yes, we knew which park we were going to be in on each day of our trip.  Now, I did revise them at least once, okay, twice before we actually set food in Orlando.  Selecting and changing Fastpass+’s was easy when using MyDisneyExperience.

·        

We had an incredible spot for parade and fireworks viewing!

On a day when we were only going to be in the Magic Kingdom for dinner and evening festivities, we made the best use of Fastpass+ by selecting both rides AND the evening’s parade.  I wouldn’t do this on any other day—the bullets below will explain more, but having a Fastpass+ for a reserved spot to watch the parade was sweet AND since we stayed put for the castle light show and Wishes we also had incredible views of both of them, too!

·         We were able to get more Fastpass+’s after our original 3 were used for the day.  This worked particularly well at the Magic Kingdom and we ended up using 6 Fastpass+’s during the day.  Our original selections began at 9:00 am for a morning with extra Magic Hours—Anna & Elsa Meet and Greet, Peter’s Pan Flight, and Splash Mountain.  We were able to get Fastpass+ for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad shortly after riding Splash Mountain.  When our Big Thunder Fastpass+ was used, we got Space Mountain, and when that was used, we got Buzz Lightyear—all before 5:00 pm.   All other attractions--and there were many--we used the regular queue.

·         It is important to know that guests wishing to make and use more Fastpass+ selections after their original 3 selections have been used need to use an in park kiosk, not a mobile device.  So, we made sure that we knew where the closest Fastpass+ selection kiosk was based on our location in the park.  Park maps and Cast Members can be very helpful.  But note that we were given incorrect information about the Fastpass+ kiosk location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

·         We mirrored our Fastpass+ selections with our past touring plans when using legacy Fastpass.  Since we have usually used legacy Fastpass at Soarin’ then we used a Fastpass+ for Soarin’ and rode Test Track using the stand-by queue—as we had done on previous trips.

·         We had written down our Fastpass+ selections.  Others have recorded theirs using screen shots or other mechanisms just in case there is a delay or inability to log into MyDisneyExperience.

·         We had unofficial communication that the hour window for Fastpass+ return is, in actuality, an hour and 20 minutes.  The return time goes live 5 minutes prior to designated time and will stay live for 15 minutes after the deadline for the return time window.  We were able to get the Mickey shape to turn green 2-3 minutes prior to the official Fastpass+ return time window as we typically arrived early.  We didn’t try the 15 minutes past the return time window.  If you have, let us know if it worked for you.

I know that guests’ experiences with Fastpass+ and MyDisneyExperience have varied.  Some love it and others do not, which is a similar division for how guests felt about the legacy Fastpass system.  For us, using Fastpass+ was a pleasurable experience and we look forward to doing it again.

My only hope, wish actually, is that eventually, guests will be able to make Fastpass+ selections for more than one park on one day.  When this happens, Park Hopper sales will definitely increase!

Random Thoughts and Thoughtful Questions!

Today’s post is dedicated to random thoughts and thoughtful questions!

Our Disney fan status is evident.  From the watch on my wrist to the lunchboxes both the husband and I take to work to the magnets and window decals on our vehicles it is easy for friends, colleagues, and even strangers to become aware of the Williams Family’s passion for all things Disney.  And, that means we/I get asked lots of questions.  Here are a few from just this week. . .

“How long did you have to wait to meet them?” pointing to the photo of us with Anna and Elsa.  My reply—less than three minutes.  The conversation goes on about how they had heard that the wait times to meet Anna and Elsa were very long.  Well, yes, they were, but now the Magic Kingdom has instituted a return time pass along with Fastpass+ reservations to meet the newest Disney royalty, so wait times are minimized.  But, when the return time passes and Fastpass +’s are all gone for the day, guests are out of luck.  Back to the question though, the photo being inquired about was actually taken on the Disney Fantasy and for that, we had a special ticket with a specific time.  Again, less than 3 minutes of a wait.

“When is your next vacation?”  Bite, twist, and scrunch the lips while painfully responding that I’m not sure.  The answer is more complicated.  I am sure of our next Disney cruise—December 2015 which is closer than you would think.  What I am not so sure about is whether we can swing a trip next summer.  And, if we can, Disneyland will be the plan.  My need for some Disney anticipation is clinging to our cruise plans.  When I consider no firm dates or plans for anything else, I get a bit sad.  Even last night I was searching airfare and found a very reasonable round trip flight to LAX for about $250 per person.  I didn’t pull the trigger. . . yet.

“Have you heard about that Mom’s Panel thing yet?”  Not yet.  When the calendar turned to October the twitter and internet world was all a flutter with expectations of notifications of those moving onto round 2 of the selection process.  If I were a predicting sort, I would predict news will come in the next few days.  We’ll see and I will definitely keep you posted.

“Can you help my brother plan his trip?”  Sure!  Here’s my number. . .  When the husband reads this he is going to ask where the commission is—with a smile of course.  My commission?  Knowing that a magical adventure is on the horizon for that family. 

I wonder what questions I’ll get next week!

Down To The Last 24 Hours!

We are down to the last 24 hours before departing on our family vacation.  It is interesting to notice how each one of us handles the last part of waiting prior to our trip.

The boy is beyond excited; even more excited than he has been on previous trips.  While running errands yesterday, he noticed a former teacher walking her dog and told his dad to stop the car.  He then opened the door and began to tell her the countdown of our trip.  He is watching YouTube videos featuring character meet and greets and attractions.  Anticipation is a pleasurable feeling and I am glad he is able to enjoy while waiting for our vacation.

The husband created a list of things to do before we leave.  Okay, I helped him with the list and he has three days to accomplish what is on the list and in any order.  He is famous for waiting until the last minute and adding things to the list that could have been taken care of at any other time and/or are not necessary during trip preparation.  It reminds me of a time when a friend was preparing for a party at her home and on the afternoon of the party she wanted to stain her coffee table.  No time for that as there are other things to get done that are more pressing.  Anyway, his crunch for time and additional pressing items he added to the list caused temporary grumpiness which has passed.  Whew!  I reframed with “I am grateful that you took care of those things” stance.  I am however, waiting for the “did you bring/pack the. . .” questions to start upon exiting the driveway, even after going over the list with him a couple of days ago.

I know he is starting to envision the vacation, though, as he informed me of our predictable procedures while at the airport.  Yes, we fly or have flown that much to have established procedures and routines for airports. (This will be something like our 30^th time at Orlando International Airport.)  I think these routines help as there is no guessing as to what needs to be done and who is going to do it.  That unpredictable problem solving is when conflicts can occur.

As for me, well, I’m already in relaxation mode.  The Netflix movies keep arriving, get watched, and mailed back.  I’ve watched more movies and read more in the last few days than I have in the last few months.  There’s no last minute rushing; just a few more tasks that need accomplished—like packing vitamins and medicines—that have to wait until the last moments.  I do have a short list that includes packing a hairbrush.  Somehow, a hairbrush hasn’t made it into the suitcase yet.

I bet a whole book or at least a psychology paper of some sort could be written about how different people handle upcoming events that take them away from their home, even when it is something pleasurable and exciting. 

This will be my last post until we return.  You are welcome to follow along with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsFamilyBlog.  Bon Voyage! 

Tried and True Favorites For Our Upcoming Trip

Old favorites?  No.  Let’s call them tried and true favorites; experiences that have become like traditions when our family travels with Disney.

Here’s our list of tried and true favorites that are on our “agenda” for our upcoming summer vacation that includes a Disney cruise and a visit to Walt Disney World:

• Toy Story Midway Mania.  Hands down, this is our family’s favorite attraction.  Located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this 4D interactive (dare I say competitive) ride is a “must do.”  We plan to ride twice.  Once by going through the stand-by queue right after rope drop—which is the only way to see the talking Mr. Potato Head—and again, right after, with FastPass+.
• Goin’ down Splash Mountain.  Again, a family favorite at the Magic Kingdom.  One of the longest rides in all of Walt Disney World—Kilimanjaro Safari is almost double the length—with the great drop.  First time riders just have to guess when the big one is coming!  We have a FastPass+ scheduled for this attraction.
• Downtown Disney.  Even though it is under construction, our family enjoys the slower paced ambiance that does not require a park ticket.  Shopping and dining are tops on our list here.
• Dining at Rose & Crown in the United Kingdom Pavilion at EPCOT.  I must admit that dining here is a part of a lazy strategy to eat and watch Illuminations while sitting down.
• Dining at Ohana’s.  Endless, giant skewers of grilled steak and shrimp delivered right to your plate.  Why not?  For me, it’s the salad and the dumplings.
• Test Track and Soarin’ attractions at EPCOT are also on our “must do” list.  The plan is to ride Test Track after rope drop and we have a FastPass+ for Soarin’.

There you have it.  Our list of tried and true favorites.  It is hard to cap the list as there are many other dining locations that are favorites and we aren’t getting to this trip, like Teppan Edo, Chef Mickey’s, or Crystal Palace.  Guess that’s a reason to plan another trip!

New Experiences Planned for Our Upcoming Trip

“Haven’t you done everything yet?” people ask when they learn we are returning to Walt Disney World for the 12^th time as a family and embarking on our 6^th Disney Cruise.  Our answer, NO!  We haven’t done everything yet.  And, part of planning a trip—the fun as well as challenging—is balancing the favorite and familiar with new experiences.  It is this balance that makes returning even more exciting.

So, with that, I’ll share the new experiences we have planned for our upcoming vacation:

• Dining at Via Napoli in the Italy Pavilion at EPCOT.  We continue on our quest to “eat around the World”—World Showcase that is and this will be our first time dining in Italy.  Only Mexico is left!
• FastPass+.  This will be our first time using and navigating FastPass+.  Just when we thought we had FastPass figured out, even with the enforcement of return times, Disney goes and changes the system.  I am excited to give it a try.
• MagicBands.  Ours are packed and ready (we won’t need them until we get off the ship).  I already know that I will have a hard time taking it off when we get home.  Do I have to?
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster.  Enough said!
• All the FROZEN inspired opportunities.  While we don’t have these specifically put into our plan, I have a feeling we will at least see the fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 
• Experiencing the champagne brunch at Remy on the Disney Fantasy.  The husband and I will surely enjoy this decadent experience.
• The Rainforest Room on the Disney Fantasy.  Our one-day passes will allow us to experience and explore.  Just get me to the heated benches overlooking the ocean so my body can melt.
• The Disney Fantasy!  This is our first time onboard this particular Disney ship and we are looking forward to exploring.
• Pirates League on the Disney Fantasy.  The boy has a reservation for a First Mate Make-over on Pirate Night.  What a treat!
• Universal’s Express Plus and Photo Connect.  While we have been to Universal Orlando before, this will be our first time using the Express Plus Pass as well as Photo Connect.  Curious to see how these work out for us.

There you have it—our list of new experiences planned for our trip.  And, there may be new experiences that aren’t planned as we stay open to the magic that is Disney.

Tomorrow—the list of familiar favorites!

Summer 2014 Planning and Preparation--An Update

Just a handful of days left before we commence on our grand summer 2014 vacation which includes a day at Universal Orlando—both parks, a sailing on the Disney Fantasy, and a week at Walt Disney World. The list of “to do’s” is dwindling and other obligations are starting to be visible in the rear view mirror.  Soon, we will be in full vacation mode. 

Here’s an update:

• Took one last trip to the grocery store.  We will be taking sandwiches, snacks, and fruit to eat while in transit.  Nothing like enjoying a juicy peach on the plane!
• Shared our itinerary with family and friends so they know how to contact us.
• Uploaded any pictures from cameras and then erased all SD cards.  Cameras fully charged.
• Refilled the boy’s allergy medication.
• Figured the tip budget.  Our tips for the cruise have already been pre-paid, so the tip budget included mousekeeping, room service, luggage handling, the town car, and table service meals.  Tips for our entire trip, including the cruise comes to just over $500.  This budget category can catch people off guard.
• Ordered 2 one-day passes to the Rainforest Room.  Looking forward to sharing this experience with the husband.  It will be our first time using any of the spa services on the ship.

Now, to get our paperwork in order, including Passports and finish packing (we’re actually almost done—it just never feels like it until the suitcases are loaded into the car).  Oh, and maybe a treat for me—a pedicure.