Williams Family Blog: 3 Years Living in Florida

 

Ok, I'm a bit late (2 weeks) with the update, but we have been Floridians for 3 years!

If you want to read what our life was like at year 2, click here. 

And, here's a post at a year and a half.

For the folks who have been following our adventures for either a short time or well over a decade, know that living in Central Florida was a dream that we made come true.  No jealousy or envy, just know that if you put your mind to something and set a goal, you can achieve it.  We did!

The People:  

Well, we have family, friends, and neighbors nearby and have guests visit.  We've cruised with a couple who are neighbor friends, spent New Year's Eve with folks within the neighborhood, and enjoy weekly dominoes games, along with other visits to Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, shopping, or going out to eat.

When you move to a brand-new place, you want to have folks who you can call in the middle of the night with an emergency or vice versa.  We have that in multitudes. 

I am on our HOA Board and also an Orlando Health Patient Family Board that meets quarterly.  It feels good to give back.

The Places:

Since the update a year ago, we have driven to Miami, stayed overnight, and sailed from the port.  Have been to multiple beaches on the gulf side.  And, we rode with friends to Fort Lauderdale to board a Disney ship.  

I have become more familiar with Downtown Orlando, with visits to Orlando Health for Board Meetings, my endodontist, and Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.  My secret parking spot raised its price!!!  One of our friends had an unexpected hospital stay in downtown Orlando and we made a visit--easy to navigate.  Sandford Airport has been the most frequented airport in the last year with the drive feeling familiar. 

We visit Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, and Disney Resorts on the regular.  When driving home from EPCOT the other night, I told the husband that there is now an automaticity when driving to/from the parks.  

The Services:

This past year, we added dance lessons to our repertoire, with an Author Murray Studio not far away. 

The husband frequents the library, which is in downtown Windermere, with one of our neighbor friends asking to accompany to learn more.  Orange County libraries make home deliveries of desired books; the husband loves that service! 

If you ask the husband what he does on Mondays, he will say the following:  a stop at Publix grocery store, if necessary, followed by Wal-Mart weekly order pick-up, then Bronson Liquor 2 if needed, with the last stop being New York Beer Project featuring half-price growler refills.  We have a rewards account with Bronson and the folks at New York Beer Project recognize him.  The route is efficient (and takes him behind Magic Kingdom). He is frequently asked to pick up items for neighbors during his Monday routine. 

In the last year, I have taken advantage of the tailor service within walking distance, along with Chase Bank to get Euros to take to Italy/Greece/Croatia.  And I've walked to our dentist, which is in the same shopping complex. 

A new location that we have explored is downtown Winter Garden, a neighboring community.  The quaint downtown with brick paved streets has museums, shops, restaurants, a theater, and festivals.  This is where you can find my favorite tennis shoe store--I'm on the email list, they keep track of purchases, and there is a customer loyalty program. 

The Things:

When I wrote about this a year ago, the things were tangible, stuff.  We still have less stuff, but I have made multiple donations to our local Goodwill.  Where is it coming from? 

Traffic--can still be a mess depending on where/when.  We plan drives accordingly.  An 8:00 am appointment, while convenient, means a busy drive.  10:00 works better.  Distance is in time, not miles.  10 miles=20 minutes.  The other day, driving 17 miles took 40 minutes. 

Weather:  Well, I'll say we turned on our heat for the first time this past January/ February.  Many plants froze during the cold weather snap that hadn't been experienced in over a decade.  I wore pants more often this winter than the previous two that we have lived here.  Other than that, we love it!  Our lanai is a prominent location daily for all of us, including naps if appropriate.  Last Summer lacked a hurricane season which was appreciated.  When it gets hot, we adjust.  But sometimes I am cold at 75 degrees.  Acclimation. 

We've been asked if we miss the seasons and no, not really.  There are seasons in Florida.  For example, the foliage does change color and leaves fall, it isn't during the same time of year as "Fall or Autumn." 

Unexpected benefits:  

We are both more active.  My flexibility, endurance, and general health improve each day.  Walking in the neighborhood, pool movement, or walking in the theme parks is a regular occurrence. They say Florida is where the Fountain of Youth is located.  

We miss our boy, but text/talk frequently.  I do stay on top of state and local news for both Florida and Iowa. 

As I headed to the pool the other day, not to be in the water, but to enjoy the scenery and chit chat with others who may be there, the husband asked what my goal was and I said, "to be familiar, comfortable, and not drain others' energy."  That is how I feel about living here--for it to be familiar, comfortable, and not drain our energy. 

Williams Family: Disney Questions I Get Asked . . .and the Answers Including Best Tips!

Now that we have lived in Walt Disney World's backyard for nearly 3 years and have been Disney fans for decades, there are questions I or we get asked.  Answering isn't always easy, especially when it comes to "favorites."

What's your favorite park? 

Well, it depends. If there is a festival of some sort with concerts or performances, EPCOT is the park we frequent most often. Magic Kingdom is iconic and is the East Coast's original Disney park. The husband loves the Animals at Animal Kingdom, but I think we would both agree that Hollywood Studios is our favorite park--for shows and attractions. Hollywood Studios is also the "easiest" park in terms of parking, entrance, etc. 

As far as access to other resorts, Hollywood Studios again for the win as a transportation hub with boat transportation to the EPCOT area resorts, Skyliner transportation to Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. And, Hollywood Studios has bus transportation to any other resort and Disney Springs.  But EPCOT has the most transportation options--busses, boats, Skyliner, and Monorail. 

What's your favorite attraction? 

If you are talking roller coasters, it's easy--Expedition Everest. It's a great ride, has single rider line, offers a ride photo, and is easy on/off; a 4-part trifecta! If you are talking about attractions in general, then Enchanted Tales With Belle. I am mesmerized by the transition of Maurice's workshop every time--it's baffling. And, of course, Belle is my favorite princess so there is that. As for the husband, he likes Toy Story Mania, Buzz Lightyear, and anything Star Wars. His favorite show is Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, but is a bit anticlimactic now that there are no more guest performers picked from the audience. He had that down to a science. 

Click here to read about my Belle themed day at Walt Disney World.

Can you go anytime? 

Yes. Our Annual Passes do not have any blackout dates. We can hold up to 5 park reservations at a time, and if we are going to a park after 2:00 pm, no reservation is needed, except for Magic Kingdom on the week-ends. And, there are "Good to Go" days where no Passholder Reservations are needed. 

Do you "do" the parks differently now compared to when you vacationed and stayed at a Disney Resort? 

We do "do" the parks differently, but that change happened gradually even when we were vacationing. The family began to revolt at the rope drop to park close touring style and break afternoons or break days became part of the vacation routine and schedule. As the boy got older, he wanted to do things by himself or with his dad. He even had a friend at another Orlando Resort that he hung out with a couple of times our vacations coincided. When we moved and had pets to consider, entire day touring wasn't needed and was less convenient than a few hours at a time. If we want to see parades, we go at those times, or for fireworks, etc. So, yes, our park touring style has changed, but it was changing prior to moving.  When guests come and they want to get the most out of their admission ticket, then the rules change and we're back to "tourist touring." 

I do miss the Disney Resorts, though. They are beautiful, immersive, and smell good. Being able to visit Disney Resorts is another benefit of living where we live. A neighbor said that she didn't know you could visit Disney Resorts if you weren't staying there, which is incorrect. Now, certain parts of Disney Resorts are closed to non-resort guests, such as swimming pools, or fireworks viewing areas during holidays. But there is something about dining near the Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House pool, or at Caribbean Beach's Banana Cabana listening to music and enjoying the view, or at Bar Riva at The Riviera, or Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge enjoying a Bison burger overlooking Bay Lake, or strolling Coronado Springs Resort and stopping at Barcelona. My two favorite strolls right now are the walks between Caribbean Beach and The Riviera, and the walk from the Polynesian past Island Tower (oh, that corner!!) and on to the Grand Floridian. 

Is it expensive? 

It can be. We typically do not spend money on food, drinks, and souvenirs while at the parks. If we do, it is a snack to share, such as a Popcorn bucket refill or egg rolls from China, or a festival food booth item to sample. We bring bottled water with us. Parking at the Disney Parks is included with our pass. If we go out to eat, then yes, there is an expense. Since portions can be large, we often share an entree and use our Annual Passholder discount if applicable. Our pass is a monthly interest-free charge since we live in Florida and we receive either a discount or a rebate when we renew. Our monthly cable/internet bill is about the same as the monthly charge for 2 Annual Passes with year-long Photopass access. 

We also use a Disney Visa through Chase for household expenses, paying the balance monthly, and earn Disney Reward Dollars that can be used for purchases throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. If you see the husband with a beer at EPCOT, chances are he paid using Disney Rewards. 

Do you get tired of it? 

No. Each visit, each experience, is new and unique. It would be difficult to replicate an experience even if you tried--I want to circle back to that. And, we take advantage of access to new attractions, restaurants, and offerings. It is fun to experience firsts such as opening day of Geo-82, or the first Candlelight Processional of the season. For me, witnessing someone else's new experience is rewarding, too! 

Other than touring style, what else has changed for you as a Disney Guest since you moved to Orlando? 

I don't know if it changed when we moved or if it is more prevalent now that we frequent the parks, but bumping into/overhearing guests that have incorrect information or are relying on a memory of a previous visit, circling back to the difficult to recreate an experience. 

Frequently, I hear guests talking about when they were "here" and "over there" was such and such only to be surprised or disappointed that whatever that was is no longer there and it is now something new/different that they weren't aware of. For example, we were waiting to meet Jiminy Cricket at Hollywood Studios and the family behind us was asking their young son if he wanted to meet Lightning McQueen because they had done that on their last visit. Before the son could answer and disappointment reigned, I interjected that Lightning McQueen Racing Academy is where the new Villains show is now. 

Walt Disney World is one of the most written about, videoed, podcasted, tik toked, instagramed destinations. It has its own website and app to readily access information. And, yes, that information can and does change somewhat frequently, but it is still accessible. I will also assert that Walt Disney World advertisements do not help--commercials with the monorail flying by Animal Kingdom Lodge--in terms of the reality compared to guest expectations. Even as locals who are immersed in all things Disney, staying up to date is a task.  

 

Are there Disney things you no longer do or won't do? 

Yes. I will no longer crawl/climb/fling myself in/out of attractions. I have also developed attraction seating preferences for comfort. No first rows on Pirates, Small World, Dinosaur, or Kilimanjaro Safari. If a wait time is longer than an hour, we'll come back another day. Three of us Disney lady friends were touring Hollywood Studios one morning--we had to leave the park by noon. At 11:00 am, the wait time for Slinky Dog was 35 minutes and the newbie of the group was like no, we can do it another time. The other two of us looked at each other with knowing glances and said, "This is good wait time, let's do it." We did. Knowledge and experience at work. 

What is your best tip for visiting the Walt Disney World Resort? 

Know that there is no one right way to do Disney. If that were the case, everyone would do the same things in lockstep. The way that works for your traveling party is the right way. Got sleepy teens? Arriving later in the morning and staying late may be your way. Young ones, or adults, who want naps? Early morning arrival then afternoon breaks may be better. Disney veterans? A multi-park day hitting the highlights may be the itinerary. 

I would recommend narrowing down priorities, budget, stamina, and then manage expectations.

Priorities: Top 3 most important things for each member of the traveling party. Is it characters? Attractions? Shows? Food? Fireworks? Then, plan accordingly. It is OK for larger parties to split up. Also, when asking children what they want to do, narrow it down with options such as "Do you want to ride Ariel's under the sea ride, it's not scary, or see Belle in her library?" Asking kiddos, what do you want to do, when they have no idea what is available, especially if it is their first visit, will most likely get "swim in the pool" as an answer. 

Budget: Staying on Walt Disney World property can be costly, but it is also most efficient with Disney transportation and access to early park entry or other on-site perks. Staying offsite will potentially offer savings, and then extra time will be spend moving back and forth to the parks. Know how much you are willing to spend. Going beyond can be stressful, which is not the point of the vacation.

Stamina: Walt Disney World is huge and requires walking and standing, unless mobility devices are used. The parks are noisy and busy--lots of visual and auditory stimulation. Then add weather. It can be a lot and make humans tired and cranky. Add sleeping in strange beds, eating different foods at potentially different times of day, and possibly changing time zones to the mix. Know what the humans are going to need, what can get accomplished, and plan accordingly. And, please, for the love of yourself, wear sturdy, comfortable shoes! We frequently see people hobbling and grimacing. 

Managing Expectations: Take doing it all off the table; it's not possible in one visit or vacation, hence the need for priorities. If everyone gets to experience their top 3 that is a win. The rest is icing. Be present and find magic in the moments.

Williams Family: I Am a Geography Nerd

I am a Geography nerd. I think it began in 3rd grade when Mrs. Evans was my teacher and we learned what Geography was and had to know how to spell it. She taught us a mnemonic device to remember the letters. G--George E--Evans O--Old G--Grandmother R--Rode A--A P--Pig H--Home Y--Yesterday Got it. George Evans old grandmother rode a pig home yesterday. It worked as I still remember! Anyway, my love of maps, land formations--what they are called and where they are located, and how cultures are impacted by Geography began. Somewhere in 6th/7th grade, our family took a road trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to visit a long-time friend of my mothers. Her husband had been relocated for a job and we were off to spend time with her and her family. My parents threw the map to me in the backseat and I navigated our way to Pittsburgh. By the time I was in High School, I was allowed to drive in/around/and out of state. When I was in college, I enrolled in a Geography elective as a night class. I liked to take night classes as there were more non-traditional college students and the competition for grades was fierce. The first night, the instructor gave an oral pre-test. My hand shot up at nearly every question. He told me not to return until the final but to complete the class project. Done. Geography showed up in Science Methods for Elementary Teachers at the University, too. The professor just smiled when I answered questions that seemed to baffle other students--time zones, Earth's axis, etc. As a young adult, I had an Atlas on my bedside table. Reading and studying maps was a soothing pre-sleep activity. Now, knowing Geography helps me connect with others. As a Travel Advisor, it is extremely helpful to have an idea of the world. When I frequent Walt Disney World and ask guests where they are visiting from, i can typically ask a question about their home location based on my knowledge and/or experience. And, I've won a trivia contest or two. When at our community pool and neighbor, who works for Disney Cruise Line, was telling a group of us that she is from Cape Verde. Another neighbor asked if it was a tropical location and she responded with no. I said it is dry, like a desert, as it is located off the West coast of Africa near the Sahara Desert and the Cape Verde is where hurricanes are generated before crossing the Atlantic. The gal from Cape Verde was stunned as no one in our community had known about her home before. A few weeks later, I introduced her to a very well traveled neighbor from Norway who has visited Cape Verde. It can be a small world! Today, during Thanksgiving, my nerdom struck again. Our nephew was watching football and I said, that's Terry Bradshaw. Yep. I went on. . . he played for Pittsburgh, right? Now my nephew is intrigued. I added that I had been in the stadium in Pittsburgh, but to see the Pirates, not the Steelers. Then I asked if he know what rivers gave the stadium its name. He got 2 out of 3 correct! When dining with more people around the table, football came up again. Talk of Fantasy football teams including kickers. I interjected that the Iowa Hawkeyes had won last Saturday against Michigan State due to their kicker. (These folks are from Iowa and Hawkeye fans.) I got bonus points for having that information. But I went on. Both schools are party schools. I added that I had "celebrated" in both Iowa City and East Lansing as a young one. Another guest talked about their time in East Lansing and mentioned another Michigan town. My reply was about how that town was West of Lansing. Surprise on all accounts. Now maps are digital and accessible at one’s fingertips. I am not one who needs to turn the map the direction I am facing; that actually confuses me. I have been told that I have an acute sense of direction and once when I flew into New Orleans after dark, I could tell which direction was North.

Williams Family Blog: Spooky Season Theme Day!

 

It had been a minute since my last Walt Disney World Theme Day.  As a local, I enjoy selecting a theme and then touring the Walt Disney Resort finding attractions, entertainment, characters, and dining that align with the selected theme.

Click here to read about my Princess Belle theme day.

Click here to read about my Pixar theme day. 

Given the season, Spooky Season was the theme.  I donned my tennis shoes, threw my new yellow leather cross body bag from Venice over my should and off I went.  It was a "Good to Go" day for Annual Passholders, so no Park Reservations were necessary. The weather turned cooler, just in time!

Disney's Hollywood Studios was the first stop.  Hollywood Tower of Terror was the first destination, and I was confronted with a 70 minute wait time.  Oh, well.  I had made a commitment.  The wait passed quickly and it was excellent people watching.  A couple from Dayton, OH were visiting with a woman from Dubuque, IA, two cities I am familiar with, about how there are no Disney Passholders who are not Disney Vacation Club Members as Passholders they had met on Disney transportation fit into the other category as well.  I interjected with "I am."  Turns out they were looking for out of state Passholders. Turns out we are living the couple from Ohio's dream.  Then there was the woman who thought she was sneaking her vape out of her purse and blew it slowly from her mouth and nose to match the steam sprays in the queue.  In the queue area between the hotel lobby and TV room, a young child was next to me sneezing, coughing, and sniffly without covering.  The female adult said, "Are you sick?" I reached into my bag and pulled out a napkin, which the adult female took, followed by hand sanitizer which I poured into the child's hand.  The woman said, "She came prepared."

Tower of Terror was as always terrorizing!  Lots of air time during the randomized lifts and drops.

Exited the park just as the friendship launch approached.  Perfect timing.  The boat ride went quickly, and I got off at the 4th stop, EPCOT.  As I walked up the incline from International Gateway, there were guests looking confused.  I offered assistance.  They thought the park ended and needed to go back up the hill and turn right.  It was a wrong turn.

France was my destination, specifically, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.  While some might not think this attraction fits with Spooky Season theme, the attraction includes a ghost throughout, the ghost of Gusteau.  Single Rider Line was quick and I rode with a family that had experienced the attraction before.  The lady behind me in the Single Rider Line asked I had done this before and wondered how long the line would take.  She was worried about her husband waiting outside as he had ridden Guardians of the Galaxy and was done riding rides for the day.  When walking from France to the front of the park, there were Cast Members cleaning up vomit and I thought about the lady's husband. Did you know that this attraction will become a 2-D attraction after a brief closure in November 2025?

To the front of the park I went and the Monorail was pulling into the station.  Just in time.  I rode the Ticket and Transportation Center, and then took the Ferry across Seven Seas Lagoon instead of transferring to another Monorail. 

When entering Magic Kingdom shortly after 2:00 pm, the corral for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party guests was already set up and guests were sitting at the Tap Styles for the 4:00 pm entry.  I had not checked the parade schedule and sure enough, Festival of Fantasy was circling the hub.  I crossed Main Street and strode through the Emporium and then cut behind Ye 'Ole Christmas Story.  The parade was past Frontierland and I was able to get into the queue for Haunted Mansion, 35 minute wait time from that point.  Again, the line moved quickly.  The guests in front of me were recalling their experience from many years ago.  

Exited Haunted Mansion and went towards Frontierland to use the restroom cut-through to Adventureland.  Pirates of the Caribbean had a 5 minute wait time, basically walk on.  The queue went so quickly, I barely had time to snap pictures.  Dead Men Tell No Tales does fit with Spooky Season Theme and of course, there's the legend of George, the ghost that supposedly haunts the attraction.  I did say, "Good night, George" at the top of the escalator belt. 

Pirates of the Caribbean was my last attraction, but not my last stop.  By the time I reached Town Square at 3:30 pm, the only exit was on the right, near the popcorn stand.  My original plan was to walk to The Contemporary but alas, the corral for party guests was taking up lots of space so Resort Monorail, here I came.  Met a family from Lakeland, FL, enjoying the cooler weather.  We talked about driving short cuts. At the Contemporary, there were guests exiting the Monorail that rode the escalator from the Monorail platform to the fourth floor, and then the next escalator to the next level down, but were looking lost.  I asked where they were headed.  Bus stop.  Follow me!  Same to the group behind them. Around the corner and down another escalator.  I said I'm stopping for the restroom, but head towards those doors and take a right turn to get to the Bus Stop.  One of guests asked if it was a stop for all buses.  I said yes, except Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT it turns out.  They were headed to Disney Springs, so all was good.  

A brief wait at the bus stop to unload and load scooters and soon we were off.  At Disney Springs, guests coming from Disney Resorts, now have a security screening, similar to park entrances and guests who use the parking garages.  I made sure some of my tag-alongs knew which way to turn to get to Rainforest Cafe.  I was off to Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.  

New this year, Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar had decorated for Halloween.  No reservations are taken for this location, so there was a queue of guests waiting to be seated.  Typically, guests stroll in and find an empty table or seat at the bar, but due to the volume of guests, a host/hostess was now seating guests from the queue.  I was able to get a single seat at the bar.

I ordered my Zombie Eye deviled eggs with chicken nuggets.  The guests to my right, from Tampa and part of the Disney Day Drinkers Facebook Group, were enjoying sausages in flakey pastry served with mustard died red in a coffin and the guests to my left, a Cast Member who works in Creations at EPCOT, were sharing a pretzel charcuterie dish. Turns out I know which Happy Hour at Disney Springs ends last without having access to the Disney Day Drinkers Group's spreadsheet.  It's STK by the way that ends at 6:30 pm, and yes, I have been there.

In visiting with the Cast Member serving me, the drone show during the Summer of 2024 did not have a positive impact on businesses at Disney Springs.  That the Halloween Decorations at the Hangar Bar has driven business since August.  That the hot spiced hot chocolate drinks may be available at the "to go" bar outside during the Holiday Season.  And, that the Holiday decorations along with a new menu will begin November 12, 2025. I said, that makes sense since Santa will begin greeting guests at Disney Springs on November 13, using a Virtual Queue. More Seasonal Overlays may be happening at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar!

A bus ride to the Riviera then the Skyliner to Disney's Hollywood Studios to return to my car completed my full circle Spooky Season themed tour. 

On my way home, I drove by two of the Walt Disney World Christmas trees loaded on flatbed trucks that are slated to go up within days.  8 Hours, 3 Parks and Disney Springs, 4 Attractions, 5 forms of Disney Transportation, 14,000 steps, nearly 6 miles.  It was fun and good day!  It is great to be a local!

Williams Family: Do You Tour Like a Guest or a Local?

 

After years of making the Walt Disney World Resort a vacation destination I have always said, "there is more than one way to do Disney."  And, I firmly believe that.  As a family, our touring style morphed over the years from commando to more leisurely.  Now, we live "here" meaning in Central Florida, in Walt Disney World's backyard, basically; able to see and hear Magic Kingdom's fireworks nightly.  Which means our touring style has transitioned from Disney Guest to Disney Local.

While it needn't have been a forehead slapping moment, it was.  Upon returning from EPCOT last night, accompanied by a neighbor friend and fellow Disney fan, who experienced the American Garden Theater for the first time along with her first Eat-to-the-Beat concert performance it donned on me that it was her first time touring as a Disney Local.  On the car ride home, she said that she would have never sat and watched a concert like that when her family traveled from Illinois to Walt Disney World.  And, while our neighbor friend has lived "here" for over a year, her daughter works for Disney, when she goes to the parks, sometimes with me in tow, the touring style is more as a guest than a local.

Disney Guests want to make the most out of every moment.  Attractions, shows, characters, snacks/drinks, and nighttime spectaculars make up the itinerary.  Solid shoes, solid plans. Go, do, see!  Making the most of the experience to get the "worth the squeeze" out of the investment.  I get it.  Been there.  Sometimes still do that if accompanying other guests, including our neighbor friend. 

Disney Locals, which I will clarify as anyone within a 2-hour drive, have a more targeted, yet chill approach to park touring.  Locals come to the parks for a specific reason--like a new restaurant or attraction or specific entertainment.  Familiarity allows for efficiency, still leaving room for a bit of magic.  Last night, our neighbor friend wanted something specific at an outdoor kitchen (Food and Wine Festival) and then we walked to the American Garden Theater.  She said, "This is a long walk when you aren't wandering and looking at things."  Targeted--we knew our destination.  When exiting EPCOT, the lights and music made it magical--and we said as such.  No rush of the crowd exiting; a stroll to the car in the parking lot and home shortly thereafter--chill.  We know we'll be back. . . and soon.

When processing this idea of different park touring styles out loud with the husband, he added his own story of the evening.   When pin trading with a Cast Member, he had to answer a trivia question to get access to a mystery pin.  "Name 2 places at Walt Disney World where you can find Sorcerer Mickey."  The husband rattled off Mickey's Philharmagic and Fantasmic.  He said the Cast Member was stunned and asked if he was a regular.  He fibbed a little and said that he lived in Iowa.  As he was telling me the story, I added that Sorcerer Mickey is a meet and greet at Hollywood Studios.  

As we walked back to the car lot last night, we talked about how we have chosen to live here; near Walt Disney World.  Disney fandom was a part of the decision as well as living a dream and escaping Midwest winters. We shared how we had experienced skeptics/doubters. But in the end, made the move and made the dream life a reality. 

Williams Family: The Beak and Barrel

 

The Beak and Barrel, a new dining/experience location at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, opened the last week-end in August 2025.  Reservations required.

Nestled inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, the signed entrance for The Beak and Barrel is to the right of the queue entrance for the attraction.  This location was the former Pirates League where guests would be transformed into pirates with make-up and accessories. 

Pirate theming abounds, as guests are inside a pirate ship.  The parrot speaks and squawks periodically, pirate songs are song by guests and crew, and MagicBand+ lights up, not because of interactivity in the lounge, but because of proximity to the attraction down below. 

Guests check-in for their reservation outside the entrance. Once a text is received to approach the podium, proceed.  Guest parties are called in groups to enter with the caveat that this is a 45 minute adventure and informed that there is group seating.  (Think Biergarten at EPCOT or Oga's Cantina at Hollywood Studios.)

We were seated in the "Captain's" room at a table for two.  Seating, and or standing if in the "Map" room, is at tables, booths, the bar, and wooden stools along the walls.  And, given one menu to read in a dark room--I got out my phone for both pictures and the flashlight app.  Our seater warned us that we would only have 45 minutes. 

Our server arrived shortly complete with pirate garb and scratchy pirate voice and accent.  We ordered Island Provisions, an assortment of chips and dips which were tasty, and Cook's Corn Griddle Cakes with Chipotle-braised Chicken which was spicy and I found the griddle cakes hard and tough to cut/chew.  There is a Griddle Cakes option without the chicken.  The only other "bite" on the menu is Kraken's Catch which is octopus tentacles.  

For guests over 21, libations are on the menu with a 2-drink maximum.  We tried the Hibiscus Rum Punch Royale and Salty Seas mARRRgarita.  Each drink came in a different cup--again think what would be found on a pirate ship.  There is a souvenir drink with cup available for purchase--Plunderer's Punch.  There are wines, beer, and reserve rum selections, too.  While there is a bar, this isn't an order your favorite spirit or drink location as far as we could tell.  

Magic Band is interacting with attraction down below

Our server, too, warned us of the 45 minute limit and that he would return half-way through to inquire about a second round of drinks.  Our food came quickly and our server was friendly and attentive. 

Click here for The Beak and Barrel menu. 

The Beak and Barrel is a unique experience that will fit the bill for many guests and fans, as is evident by the nearly full and difficult to snag reservation system.  

If you are looking to fill empty bellies during a day at a theme park, The Beak and Barrel would not be a top choice.  While the menu is allergy friendly, it is not picky eater friendly.  And, it's pricey!

We saw parents wandering with littles looking for a restroom inside the establishment.  I had inquired and knew the restroom is outside the lounge, on the far side of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.  

Speaking of wandering, guests are welcome to move about and take in the theming, but best to do it at the end of your experience as to not use up the 45 minutes allotted to your table. 

Note:  Partway through our experience at The Beak and Barrel, the lounge lost its lighting--not electricity as the music continued to play, but all of the lights.  Suited Cast Members were suddenly on their phones, servers got out flashlights and/or used their phones, guests pulled out their phones for illumination, and important people began filing through the door.  The second entrance was opened for light. We were checked on by multiple Cast Members making sure we were okay.  The lounge stopped seating guests, many guests paid and left, and we were smiling at the adventure and munched on chips.  The husband ordered a second drink.  We were told to take our time and soon Guest Experience Team members (blue shirts) arrived with their tablets and scanned park tickets and MagicBands to add a Lightning Lane entitlement to accounts.  We were told this has never happened before.  The husband blamed "George" the supposed ghost that haunts Pirates of the Caribbean.  We do say good-bye to George on our way up the escalator belt when we exit the attraction! 

We paid our bill; I signed the receipt with a flashlight pointing.  The lights did turn on before we left, and we were able to capture photos in a relatively empty lounge and took a small tour.  On the other side of the door was a flood of guests waiting to enter.  

To top off our experience, we scanned our MagicBands on the Lightning Lane entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and of course, said good-bye to George on our way out. 

Williams Family Blog: Some Days Do Not Go As Planned

 

Some days do not go as planned and yesterday was one of those days.  A Sunday, in August, with a planned destination of the Magic Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort.

I checked the weather in the morning--a slight chance of rain around 4:00 pm.  No worries, we'll be home by then.

The husband made egg, sausage, cheese on English muffins sandwiches and wrapped them in foil along with a baggie of sliced apples while I showered and dressed.  We'll eat in the car.  Off we went around 11:00 am as the sky loomed dark in the distance.  On our way, the rain started and by the time we were rounding the last bit of roadway to the Magic Kingdom, torrential rains were straining the windshield wipers.

Scanned our MagicBand to at the parking toll booth and made our way to the parking lot. Interestingly, the parking lot was missing the team of parking guides in their yellow vests, and we snagged a spot one space away from the tram lane.  We weren't the only ones holed up in our cars waiting for the rain to subside. And, it gave me more time to finish breakfast.

In the 30 minutes we waited, the cars around us began to empty as guests decided to brave the elements and give it a go.  Children wailed as they were put into strollers and covered with plastic tarps.  Since we had not prepared for rain, we decided to head back home, but by way of the gas station to fill up the car.  Alas, I needed to cancel our park reservation for the day.  After finagling with the MyDisneyExperience app and checking an email, I realized I had made the park reservation for the day prior!  And, I didn't cancel it!  I can just hear Disney saying "tsk tsk" while wagging a finger like the cap peddler in the children's book, Caps for Sale.

Using another app, Upside, that earns cash back for gas, I claimed a deal at a nearby gas station and off we went.  Tip:  The gas station right outside Magic Kingdom is on Upside!

With a full tank of gas and full bellies, we headed home and set into household chores.  There is always laundry and the husband brought out the stepstool and cleaned the lanai's ceiling fan blades. The afternoon whirred on with activity and conversation.

By evening, we settled on the lanai to play cards, a favorite setting with a favorite activity.  Our lanai is on a corner and ground level.  Trees, bushes, various wheeled machines, water, walkers, other lanais, and animals are within our purview.  A family that lives across the street and uses their screened door as their main entrance waves and says hello often.  Their son graduated from high school this last spring and is off to college in Gainsville.  Yes, I know all of this from across the street waves, activity, and conversations.  The mom had gone out for a jog and came back to find the door locked.  I hollered, "Do you need to use my phone?"  She replied thank you but no--someone was coming to let her in.  A few moments later, the young son came across the street with a bag of Guatemalan coffee to give as a gift.  How sweet!  We had another visitor, too.  A raccoon limped across the street, back leg injured and walked right by our lanai door.  Add this to other animals that have visited us right outside our door--rabbits, a turtle, a possum, and squirrels. I would say all the birds and lizards, too, but they are more like homesteaders. 

Pivoting and perspective are great tools for a day that doesn't go as planned!

Williams Family Blog: Carnival Horizon Behind the Fun Tour

 

During our first Carnival Cruise, we were able to book an onboard tour, Behind the Fun, on the Carnival Horizon which took place on our last day at sea.  I learned about the tour during a shopping seminar on the first day at sea.  There are 3 tours on board that guest pay to take--Brewery Tour (which the husband did), the Crew Lounge Tour, and the Behind the Fun Tour, which includes the Crew Lounge and more.  

Behind the Fun costs $130 per person with no discounts for guests with Cheers Package.  I say that because there WAS a discount on the Brewery Tour for guests with Cheers Package.  The tour is slated as lasting 3 hours and 45 minutes, but our was about 3 hours 15 minutes.  The tour has 2 departure times on the morning of the last sea day.

The tour can be booked at the Port Adventures Desk or at Customer Service, but not on the Carnival Hub app.  Tickets were delivered to our cabin in an envelope.  More information was delivered to our cabin the evening before the tour.

There were strict instructions--no sandals or open toed shoes, no cameras or phone.  At our meeting location, we provided our tour tickets and signed health waivers, similar to health questionnaires we have completed prior to sailing with Disney Cruise Line.  (There were no health questionnaires needed prior to sailing on the Carnival Horizon.)  We were given Carnival hats and required to wear them for our first stop on the tour. Then we experienced our FIRST security want scan.

After we left our meeting location, we began our journey using the crew stairs, which are in the same locations as guest stairs, but behind the walls.  Down we went from Deck 5 to Deck 3 to one of the galleys, this one was for the main dining rooms.  Did you know that only electricity is used to cook all food on the Carnival Horizon.  The Sous Chef told us "no fire."   We got to see fruit preparation, bakery preparation, and walk into one of the large refrigerators with the bar manager.  Coke products were being loaded onto the ship the very next day!  I missed it by one day!  The Carnival Horizon has enough food onboard each sailing for 3 additional days.  If the sailing is 6-nights, there is 9 days worth of food on board.  Lido Marketplace on Deck 10 has its own galley as does the crew quarters. Servers use a hand-held device to place guest orders in the dining rooms and then the number associated with guest order is brought up in the kitchen using touch screen terminals to match the order with the guest.  155 crew work 10-hour shifts 7-days a week in the galleys. 

We proceeded down to Deck 0, using crew stairs which are steeper than guest stairs.  There is a long hallway that runs the length of the ship on Deck 0, which crew refer to as I-95, a major North/South Interstate in Florida.  This hallway allows for crew to move quickly from one part of the ship to another and is large enough for skid steers to move pallets of materials back and forth.  We stopped at the recycling center to see the machines that incinerate the trash into cubes of pellets that get disposed of at port--no feeding of the fish.

Our second security wanding was before entering the engine room.  The large room with one small porthole was full of consoles with displays, buttons, and phones, and one wall that was a digital display.  Video feeds, battery monitoring, and engine speed were explained.  The engine room is manned at all times with at least 1 crew member in 4-hour shifts.  Out of the 1400 crew/staff on board, the engine room employs 21.  

There are 3 more decks below Deck 0 that are only accessible to crew--Decks A, B, and C.  These decks are below water.  We ventured to Deck B to see the Laundry facilities.  Large washers can handle 400 pounds of towels and linens.  Large dryers hold 250 pounds.  It is a very noisy area and I asked about hearing protection and monitoring.  Having worked for Disney, I know that extended exposure to noise over 85 decibels can cause damage.  I was told there is noise protection and hearing checks are performed during annual physicals.  Guest laundry (valet) is performed in a nearby room with standard sized washers/dryers along with steamers and large irons for pressing.  Crew costumes/uniforms are also laundered here. Did you know that linens are not dried in a dryer?  Large machines whisk the newly washed linens through a dry-iron-fold mechanism.  Having seen this during a Walt Disney World Textile Services tour, I was not surprised, but other guests on this tour were impressed.

Crew quarters were next on the tour.  There are two mess areas for crew to dine which are open nearly round-the-clock.  Each meal must include a food that originates from each country represented in the crew (135 countries.)  Of course, some may overlap, like rice or eggs. We saw the crew lounge, also known as the happiness room, which is open the evenings.  There is crew learning center on board for online trainings.  Crew are given a social media Wi-fi package for using What's app to communicate with families.  Most purchase internet minutes to check emails.  When in port, crew know where there is free Wi-fi and download movies and music for enjoyment onboard.  Because accessing email requires a purchase of internet minutes, schedules and announcements are printed or provided by word of mouth from supervisors.  Crew cabins are located on multiple decks, typically near places of work.  For example, entertainers and Fun Squad cabins are on Deck 4, as that is close to their work areas.  Crew cabins have a bathroom are assigned 4 to a cabin or 2 for couples and managers.  There is also a crew laundry area with free washers and dryers.  We were told that not all of them are in working order.

As we made our way to the stairs, we walked by the Brig, or jail on a ship--yes it does exist.  We were told that in most cases, guests would be confined to their cabin with security posted outside.  We also walked by the morgue.

Upstairs to Deck 8 to see The Bridge, but we needed a third security wanding and the security officer stayed with us while in The Bridge.  Second officer greeted us, explained what happens on The Bridge, including having an Officer be on hand 24/7 along with a "watch."  Video feeds provide visual access to all sides of the ship, but are out of the visual range of seeing guest balconies.  We learned about drills and safety measures.  I asked about the use of "pilots" who come on board using small boats, to help large vessels navigate difficult or unusual waterways.  Sure enough, cruise ships use pilots!  We then met Captain Nick, who has been serving 18 years.  Did you know that at each port, the flag of the country is displayed on the ship as a sign of welcome and thanks?  All the flags are kept on The Bridge.

From The Bridge we went to the theater, also known as the Liquid Lounge, which was a favorite area for us on the ship.  We got to see backstage, on-stage, the costume and make-up room for performers.  I asked about "flying" and was told that they do not have that rigging on the Carnival Horizon.  They do have electronic set moving, but no trap doors.  Set pieces are stored either under the stage or in an area off stage.  Shows have digital cues for sound and lights.  Performers have ear pieces to receive information from the show producer along with their face-microphones.  

The final stop of the tour was at The Brewery, near Pig & Anchor, on Deck 5.  We met Cole, the onboard brewer.  He greeted Todd by name!  

This tour was not something I had expected to do or had planned to do.  We had onboard credits to use because of a Carnival Cruise credit card offer and I thought the tour might be interesting.  Disney Cruise Line, as of our last sailing July 2024, did not offer anything similar.  

Guests wanting to become familiar with the ship but not wanting to pay for a tour are in luck, too.  We missed the "Get to Know Your Ship" tour listed on the app on the first afternoon onboard (2:00 pm).  There are also Spa Tours offered throughout the cruise. 

At the end of the tour, we were each given a back-pack, got to keep the lanyards and hats, and could pick-up our included picture with the Captain later that day.  Because we paid for two tours, we got two 8 x 10 photos to bring home.  

Remember the part above about guest orders associated with a number from the hand-held device to the galley?  Well, after the tour we were on Deck 5 at Ocean Plaza, a favorite location on the ship, and a crew member from Port Adventures found us.  Seems our Health Waivers were misplaced and we needed to sign new ones.  I asked how he found us.  He was able to track us down based on the recent scans using our guest accounts (Sail & Sign cards).