I hestitated to write about this because I didn't want to contribute in any way to the rumors of "rampant" stroller theft at Disney World, but as a mom who goes to Disney with small children, my curiosity got the better of me: Was there a growing problem with stroller theft at Disney World? Anecdotally, there seemed to be more posts showing up on Disney boards in the last few months where posters reported that they personally had been, or knew someone who had been, a victim of stroller theft. So I decided to find out for myself it stroller theft was really a problem or if it was just an internet rumor with legs.
What did I find? Well, very little. None of the local news outlets seem to have picked up on the story, nor have their been excessive warnings on any travel sites that deal with Disney, which leads me to believe it's not very common to lose a stroller in the parks. I did find this well-written blog post by a father whose stroller was stolen recently, but not much else. What I did find was more word of mouth on message boards, the rumors about "rings" of criminals stalking higher-end strollers at Disney parks and doing a fast turnaround on Craigslist or the occasional story about the frustrated parent who "borrows" someone's stroller for the day. Of course, there were also people who reported their stroller stolen only to find out it had been moved by a cast member to make room for other strollers.
I'm not sure if this means that stroller theft is any more or less of a problem as it has been in past years or if the ability to post and discuss such incidences on message boards makes it seem like a bigger issue than it is. Regardless, it's important to keep it all in perspective. There are literally thousands of strollers being pushed around Disney World on any given day. A good chunk, if not all, of those strollers will spend at least some time unattended while the owner visits an attraction or is eating. And the vast majority of those strollers will stay put until the owner comes to claim them.
One thing all of these reports had in common was the feeling that it shouldn't happen at Disney. "It's the happiest place on earth", they joked. How could someone go to a theme park and just ruin someone else's vacation? Others chimed in with safety tips, cautioning others not to "let your guard down" just because it's Disney. Solid advice, of course. But here's the thing. I don't let my guard down at Disney. What I do is, in some ways, worse: I give up my cynical side, I step back and believe in the magic. You see that all the time at Disney, people who in their real lives are jaded or very serious losing themselves in the "show" that's taking place around them. And if you do that and something bad happens, well, it's a lot more disappointing than if something happens at your local mall, even if it isn't Disney's fault. Perhaps this too contributes to the feeling that theft is more common than it actually is.
I think my research indicates that it's still extremely rare to have your stroller stolen while at Disney World. Nonetheless, on my next trip, I'm falling into the better safe than sorry category. A few ideas for keeping your stroller safe:
1. Buy a lock specifically made for strollers.
2. Pull the "disgusting bag of something" trick as noted in some guide books. Basically, the idea is that you tie a plastic bag with a fake "dirty" diaper in it to your stroller handle. Thieves run away screaming! Well, that's the idea, anyway.
3. Buy an inexpensive (possibly used) stroller; donate it after the trip. You'll help a mom in need and get a small tax deduction.
4. Rent/swap a stroller. Some Disney message boards have "stroller swaps" where members swap out the same stroller over and over. It requires little effort other than ensuring that you deliver or leave the stroller at the appointed place and time for the next swapper. Most boards require that these swaps take place without money changing hands, although some swaps ask for small donations to keep the strollers in good repair. You can also rent a stroller from Disney or from an off-site stroller rental. Keep in mind that if you rent from Disney, your stroller is for in-park use only. If you have a child that can't walk long distances back to the parking lot, you might want to bring your own or rent one from off site. If you rent off site, read the fine print regarding your responsibility in the event of theft; some companies will allow you to purchase insurance at around $25 for the length of the rental.
5. One mom on a Disney message board had this clever trick: She made an iron-on patch with her family's name and photo on it and ironed it right on the stroller. Others laminated nameplates and attached them with zip ties. The latter seems like it would be an especially good deterrent for the "casual" stroller thief who "borrows" your stroller for the day.
In this economy, it shouldn't be a surprise that unscrupulous people will try to make an easy buck any place strollers are left unattended, not just Disney. While stroller thefts are highly unusual, a few precautions should ensure that your stroller stays with you.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday Morning Distraction.
I really hope you've eaten, frozen, or thrown out the rest of your turkey leftovers. You have? Great. Celebrate the fact that you've eluded food poisoning yet again this year by taking a break and checking out some of the latest Disney stories around the web.
Kevin Yee has a report on the newly refurbished Space Mountain, including lots of pictures.
The Disney Food Blog has cute ideas for Disney food-related gifts. The play cupcakes are adorable.
Blue Sky Disney has a collection of some early reviews of "Princess and the Frog."
Disney Geek Dad has "21 Reasons to Go to Walt Disney World." But he seems to have forgotten Stitch's Great Escape. Odd. I thought everyone loved that attraction.
Courage, the turkey pardoned by President Obama last week, headed to Disneyland, where he was the Grand Marshall in the Thanksgiving day parade. Rumor has it Courage slept through the entire spectacle. When asked what he thought about his newfound celebrity, Courage predictably replied "Gobble, gobble." Just between the two of us, you do not want to eat a 45-pound turkey. Tough as leather.
Mouse Planet's Chuck Barry names his top 5 Pixar film sequences.
Possible leak of the super-secret list of celebrities appearing in the Disney parks Christmas parade, which will be taping in Walt Disney World next week.
WDWMagic just announced more features on its WDWMagic mobile. You can now check out parade and fireworks times and more at http://mobile.wdwmagic.com/.
Finally, some holiday fun at Ft. Wilderness, where guests decorate their campsites and cabins. I like the homey touch:
Kevin Yee has a report on the newly refurbished Space Mountain, including lots of pictures.
The Disney Food Blog has cute ideas for Disney food-related gifts. The play cupcakes are adorable.
Blue Sky Disney has a collection of some early reviews of "Princess and the Frog."
Disney Geek Dad has "21 Reasons to Go to Walt Disney World." But he seems to have forgotten Stitch's Great Escape. Odd. I thought everyone loved that attraction.
Courage, the turkey pardoned by President Obama last week, headed to Disneyland, where he was the Grand Marshall in the Thanksgiving day parade. Rumor has it Courage slept through the entire spectacle. When asked what he thought about his newfound celebrity, Courage predictably replied "Gobble, gobble." Just between the two of us, you do not want to eat a 45-pound turkey. Tough as leather.
Mouse Planet's Chuck Barry names his top 5 Pixar film sequences.
Possible leak of the super-secret list of celebrities appearing in the Disney parks Christmas parade, which will be taping in Walt Disney World next week.
WDWMagic just announced more features on its WDWMagic mobile. You can now check out parade and fireworks times and more at http://mobile.wdwmagic.com/.
Finally, some holiday fun at Ft. Wilderness, where guests decorate their campsites and cabins. I like the homey touch:
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Reader Email: Is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Worth the Money?
I love getting email from readers and am happy to answer them if I can. Here's the latest:
Chris:
I noticed you had a post up about Disney during the holidays where you mentioned Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). My family is going to the Disney World for the first time in December and we are thinking of going to MCMCP. Do you think it's worth it? We would be taking our preschooler.
Thanks
I love MVMCP, so I'm probably a bit biased, but I think it's a great event. You'll see parades and shows you won't see during regular hours and depending on the night, you can walk on many attractions. Cast members give out free cocoa and sugar cookies and there's "snow" on Main Street. It's just a beautiful, festive atmosphere. Crowds tend to vary and for this reason, it shouldn't be the only day you allow for visiting the Magic Kingdom during your trip, nor should it be your first foray into this park. Some nights, you'll walk on every attraction as I did a couple of years ago when the park was practically empty and we rode Buzz Lightyear about 15 times in a row (and my score barely improved, but that's a different, sad story). This is when you really see the Magic Kingdom and its cast members at their finest. Other nights can be really crowded. At $59 for adults and $53 for children (plus tax) , the price is a bit steep so you're gambling on lower crowds and your kids' ability to stay up later. On a good night, MVMCP is a fantastic experience and worth every dime.
As far as taking a small child goes, I would use that day as a rest day and save your energy for that night. Maybe do some shopping at Downtown Disney or a little bit of resort hopping; the decorations are beautiful at Christmas. Even if your child has given up her nap, taking some quiet time in the afternoon can help. Finally, go into the party knowing that it's likely you won't stay until closing. Resist the temptation to "get your money's worth" and go back to your resort when the kids are ready.
I've had a couple of people ask me what I think are the best nights to go as far as crowds are concerned. I don't think there's any real pattern that you can predict, other than the fact that weekends and the last night of the party are usually more crowded, but the truth is, I've been there on a Tuesday night in mid-December and could barely walk the crowds were so thick. For the most part however, crowd levels are not that high. Disney only releases a certain number of tickets but it's hard to get an official number on how many that actually is. I've heard from pretty good sources that it's around 25,000, which seems like a lot but then again, it's a big park. Even on busier nights, the crowds tend to thin out after 9:00 or so. If you happen to go on a night that's very crowded, you will still enjoy the party. There are touring plans available that can help you make the most out of your experience or you can do like I do when it's crowded and slow down and enjoy being in the park for a completely different experience than you would have during the day.
Rumor has it that ticket sales for this year's MVMCP have been down. This is based on the fact that Disney recently opened up more nights for cast members to attend with discounted tickets. You can still buy tickets to most nights at the Disney website.
Good luck. I'd love to hear how it works out for you!
Chris:
I noticed you had a post up about Disney during the holidays where you mentioned Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). My family is going to the Disney World for the first time in December and we are thinking of going to MCMCP. Do you think it's worth it? We would be taking our preschooler.
Thanks
I love MVMCP, so I'm probably a bit biased, but I think it's a great event. You'll see parades and shows you won't see during regular hours and depending on the night, you can walk on many attractions. Cast members give out free cocoa and sugar cookies and there's "snow" on Main Street. It's just a beautiful, festive atmosphere. Crowds tend to vary and for this reason, it shouldn't be the only day you allow for visiting the Magic Kingdom during your trip, nor should it be your first foray into this park. Some nights, you'll walk on every attraction as I did a couple of years ago when the park was practically empty and we rode Buzz Lightyear about 15 times in a row (and my score barely improved, but that's a different, sad story). This is when you really see the Magic Kingdom and its cast members at their finest. Other nights can be really crowded. At $59 for adults and $53 for children (plus tax) , the price is a bit steep so you're gambling on lower crowds and your kids' ability to stay up later. On a good night, MVMCP is a fantastic experience and worth every dime.
As far as taking a small child goes, I would use that day as a rest day and save your energy for that night. Maybe do some shopping at Downtown Disney or a little bit of resort hopping; the decorations are beautiful at Christmas. Even if your child has given up her nap, taking some quiet time in the afternoon can help. Finally, go into the party knowing that it's likely you won't stay until closing. Resist the temptation to "get your money's worth" and go back to your resort when the kids are ready.
I've had a couple of people ask me what I think are the best nights to go as far as crowds are concerned. I don't think there's any real pattern that you can predict, other than the fact that weekends and the last night of the party are usually more crowded, but the truth is, I've been there on a Tuesday night in mid-December and could barely walk the crowds were so thick. For the most part however, crowd levels are not that high. Disney only releases a certain number of tickets but it's hard to get an official number on how many that actually is. I've heard from pretty good sources that it's around 25,000, which seems like a lot but then again, it's a big park. Even on busier nights, the crowds tend to thin out after 9:00 or so. If you happen to go on a night that's very crowded, you will still enjoy the party. There are touring plans available that can help you make the most out of your experience or you can do like I do when it's crowded and slow down and enjoy being in the park for a completely different experience than you would have during the day.
Rumor has it that ticket sales for this year's MVMCP have been down. This is based on the fact that Disney recently opened up more nights for cast members to attend with discounted tickets. You can still buy tickets to most nights at the Disney website.
Good luck. I'd love to hear how it works out for you!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Fast Disney Facts: Magic Kingdom Ferryboats.
Three ferryboats take guests from the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) and across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom: The Admiral Joe Fowler, which has green panels; the Robert Irvine, with red panels; and the General Joe Potter, with blue panels. The boats are named in honor of the men who oversaw construction of the Magic Kingdom.
The boats are 120 feet long, 35 feet wide, and weigh between 180 and 190 tons. Each can carry up to 650 passengers. There's a common misconception that the boats are on a track, but they are actually free floating.
When you arrive at the TTC, you can choose between the monorail and the ferry. While the express monorail to the Magic Kingdom is two minutes faster than taking the ferry, at right around five minutes, if there's a line for the monorail and the ferry is waiting, the ferry will likely get you there faster. During the most crowded times of the year, the ferry is also easier to manuever with strollers. And of course, it's a very scenic ride, almost an attraction in itself.
Video showing the ride from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom:
The boats are 120 feet long, 35 feet wide, and weigh between 180 and 190 tons. Each can carry up to 650 passengers. There's a common misconception that the boats are on a track, but they are actually free floating.
When you arrive at the TTC, you can choose between the monorail and the ferry. While the express monorail to the Magic Kingdom is two minutes faster than taking the ferry, at right around five minutes, if there's a line for the monorail and the ferry is waiting, the ferry will likely get you there faster. During the most crowded times of the year, the ferry is also easier to manuever with strollers. And of course, it's a very scenic ride, almost an attraction in itself.
Video showing the ride from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom:
Friday, November 20, 2009
Reader Email: Disney at Christmastime.
It's time for reader email! This comes from Maggie who, like me, has toddler twins and is studying for the February bar exam.
Chris:
Was reading your blog today. Not only am I just stressing a little over the Bar (I am completely and utterly an OCD mess but who isn't who went to law school, right?), I started thinking about our planned trip to Disney, which I think I told you has been pushed off to December 2010 for Christmas. My mom, who is 76 is having some health troubles lately and she lives in upstate NY while we are in Chicago. Anywho...the point is, this trip becomes more important soooo . . . I really need your help on planning this Disney trip! I don't know the first place to start. I don't want to pay full price of course but I want to make this a memorable trip. We are budgeting about $2500 for just our family of 4 (my parents are paying their own) for about 5 days. Is that doable?
The twins will be 3 by then (is that an okay age?). I want a lunch at the castle with my daughter, me and my mom and a girlie trip to the Bibbity Bobbity Boo boutique with her and my mom as well. Are there boy counterpart things to do for our son, Liam? Just some stuff for you to consider when planning our trip for us.
Maggie:
When I first read your email I came up with a response that was full of warnings about travelling to Disney World during Christmas week, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was missing the point. A Disney vacation is about making memories. You can go to another theme park and you'd probably have a good time. But I've been to Six Flags and I can't tell you one thing about my visit, other than the fact that it was fun. What those other theme parks miss is that magic that only Disney can make. And for you, making those special memories at Christmas on what you hope will be a very special vacation with your family and your parents is important. So rather than trying to dissuade you from going at that time, I would simply advise you to be prepared. Go on a site like The Dis or Passporter and use their search engine to find threads about how you can make Christmas week easier. Consider using a touring plan. Don't be scared off; plenty of people visit the World during that time and love it.
My other advice to you is to pay for convenience, and in this case, that means staying on site. Since you're travelling with toddlers and older people, staying on Disney property will help minimize any transportation issues you might encounter. At first glance, staying on Disney property can appear to be more expensive, but when you add in the ability to use Magical Express and Extra Magic Hours, not to mention that it keeps you in the "Disney bubble," it's more than worth it. This is particularly true during busier times of the year. Here are three good suggestions for on site lodging:
1) Good. Both you and your parents get rooms at a value resort. I like Pop Century the best of these resorts; it's newer and I think the bus service is a little better than the other values. Since it's a short stay, the smallish rooms shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you get a connecting room with your parents, you or your husband can spend time with them at night while someone stays in the other room with the kids. This should run you under $900* for five nights. Alternatively, you can rent a family suite at the All Stars. Split between you and your parents, this will keep you within your budget and allow you access to a small kitchenettte.
2) Better. You and your parents share a cabin at Ft. Wilderness. I love Ft. Wilderness at Christmas. I know that Wilderness Lodge gets all the attention for its Christmas decorations, but to me, the homey feel of Ft. Wilderness can't be beat at Christmastime. You'll get a full kitchen, a bedroom, a living area with a Murphy bed, and a full bath for around $2200 split between you and your parents. This is an especially nice option for older folks who might want to retreat to a nice quiet cabin at night or for those who want access to a full kitchen; you could even cook Christmas dinner in your cabin and avoid the Christmas day dinner crowds. My only caveat for Ft. Wilderness is that you will need your own car.
3) Best. It's a budget breaker, but you can't beat Bay Lake Towers, a Disney Vacation Club property, located at the Contemporary Resort, for convenience. You can literally walk to the Magic Kingdom. It's also a lovely, new property. I know this is more than you want to spend, but for a blow out vacation, particularly one during Christmas week, this might be worth it. A two-bedroom standard view at Bay Lake Towers (or BLT as it is affectionately known) will run you about $3000 for five nights if you rent from a private owner. Most rentals are going for about $10 - 12 a point. Here's a link to the point charts on Mousewners, which is a website for DVC owners and for those who want to rent points from them. You can also rent points from owners on Disboards. There are probably better deals on Mouseowners but more variety on Disboards. Most owners will have references you can check and want you to pay through PayPal; some will take a personal check. There are also cheaper two-bedroom units that you can rent, particularly less popular locations such as Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, but for convenience, you can't beat a Magic Kindgom location.
Make your reservations as soon as possible. Christmas week fills up very quickly. Disney has a really generous cancellation policy, so don't worry if you have to cancel later on in the year or if you need to change the days around a bit. Since this is Disney World's busiest time of year, there will likely not be any discounts, but you can always watch for them (won't happen) and attempt to apply it later (won't happen), should a discount appear (won't happen).
I don't always think visiters need park hoppers, but since you're going during a busy time of the year and may find yourself wanting to go to a less busy park, you might want to consider them. There aren't a lot of discounts available for tickets. Obviously, avoid "merchants" selling tickets out of the back of a truck on Highway 192; less obviously, don't buy tickets off of Ebay. You can probably save around $80 total for your family by going to a site like Undercover Tourist, which is one of a handful of agents that are authorized by Disney to sell slightly discounted tickets. Use the Undercover Tourist link on the Mousesavers newsletter for an even better deal. Five-day park hoppers for a family of four with the UC discount will run around $1000.
As far as extras like Bibbity Bobbity Boutique are concerned, I personally don't think I'd pay the money for a child under the age of five. While the initial price of a Disney park ticket is pretty steep, the value that you get is very high: Attractions, character meet and greets, shows, parades. It's a lot, and you can't possibly do it all in one trip. And because it's so much, I often don't think the extras are necessary, particularly for smaller children. A quieter alternative that might be relaxing and enjoyable for you, your daughter and your mother might be something like a tea at the Grand Floridian, which is very special and not too pricey. If you do decide to do BBB and want to try something for your son as well, the Pirates League in the Magic Kingdom gets really high marks.
Finally, I recommend getting a good guidebook. I think the Unofficial Guide is the best Disney guide out there. The 2010 edition gives you access to their website (with a small fee) that allows you to access touring plans and other information; you can read some of the website without actually being a member. I really like the Disboards for planning a trip, so you might want to check that out; no question goes unanswered on that board! If you have a long commute and an Ipod and you're not listening to multi-state bar exam lectures, you might want to listen to a couple of Disney podcasts. WDWToday, The DisUnplugged, and WDWRadio are all great sources of information and are available for free on Itunes or you can listen to them on your computer.
Good luck and happy planning!
*All prices are based on what's available at this time. Ticket prices will likely go up in August. Discounted ticket savings will vary throughout the year.
Chris:
Was reading your blog today. Not only am I just stressing a little over the Bar (I am completely and utterly an OCD mess but who isn't who went to law school, right?), I started thinking about our planned trip to Disney, which I think I told you has been pushed off to December 2010 for Christmas. My mom, who is 76 is having some health troubles lately and she lives in upstate NY while we are in Chicago. Anywho...the point is, this trip becomes more important soooo . . . I really need your help on planning this Disney trip! I don't know the first place to start. I don't want to pay full price of course but I want to make this a memorable trip. We are budgeting about $2500 for just our family of 4 (my parents are paying their own) for about 5 days. Is that doable?
The twins will be 3 by then (is that an okay age?). I want a lunch at the castle with my daughter, me and my mom and a girlie trip to the Bibbity Bobbity Boo boutique with her and my mom as well. Are there boy counterpart things to do for our son, Liam? Just some stuff for you to consider when planning our trip for us.
Maggie:
When I first read your email I came up with a response that was full of warnings about travelling to Disney World during Christmas week, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was missing the point. A Disney vacation is about making memories. You can go to another theme park and you'd probably have a good time. But I've been to Six Flags and I can't tell you one thing about my visit, other than the fact that it was fun. What those other theme parks miss is that magic that only Disney can make. And for you, making those special memories at Christmas on what you hope will be a very special vacation with your family and your parents is important. So rather than trying to dissuade you from going at that time, I would simply advise you to be prepared. Go on a site like The Dis or Passporter and use their search engine to find threads about how you can make Christmas week easier. Consider using a touring plan. Don't be scared off; plenty of people visit the World during that time and love it.
My other advice to you is to pay for convenience, and in this case, that means staying on site. Since you're travelling with toddlers and older people, staying on Disney property will help minimize any transportation issues you might encounter. At first glance, staying on Disney property can appear to be more expensive, but when you add in the ability to use Magical Express and Extra Magic Hours, not to mention that it keeps you in the "Disney bubble," it's more than worth it. This is particularly true during busier times of the year. Here are three good suggestions for on site lodging:
1) Good. Both you and your parents get rooms at a value resort. I like Pop Century the best of these resorts; it's newer and I think the bus service is a little better than the other values. Since it's a short stay, the smallish rooms shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you get a connecting room with your parents, you or your husband can spend time with them at night while someone stays in the other room with the kids. This should run you under $900* for five nights. Alternatively, you can rent a family suite at the All Stars. Split between you and your parents, this will keep you within your budget and allow you access to a small kitchenettte.
2) Better. You and your parents share a cabin at Ft. Wilderness. I love Ft. Wilderness at Christmas. I know that Wilderness Lodge gets all the attention for its Christmas decorations, but to me, the homey feel of Ft. Wilderness can't be beat at Christmastime. You'll get a full kitchen, a bedroom, a living area with a Murphy bed, and a full bath for around $2200 split between you and your parents. This is an especially nice option for older folks who might want to retreat to a nice quiet cabin at night or for those who want access to a full kitchen; you could even cook Christmas dinner in your cabin and avoid the Christmas day dinner crowds. My only caveat for Ft. Wilderness is that you will need your own car.
3) Best. It's a budget breaker, but you can't beat Bay Lake Towers, a Disney Vacation Club property, located at the Contemporary Resort, for convenience. You can literally walk to the Magic Kingdom. It's also a lovely, new property. I know this is more than you want to spend, but for a blow out vacation, particularly one during Christmas week, this might be worth it. A two-bedroom standard view at Bay Lake Towers (or BLT as it is affectionately known) will run you about $3000 for five nights if you rent from a private owner. Most rentals are going for about $10 - 12 a point. Here's a link to the point charts on Mousewners, which is a website for DVC owners and for those who want to rent points from them. You can also rent points from owners on Disboards. There are probably better deals on Mouseowners but more variety on Disboards. Most owners will have references you can check and want you to pay through PayPal; some will take a personal check. There are also cheaper two-bedroom units that you can rent, particularly less popular locations such as Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, but for convenience, you can't beat a Magic Kindgom location.
Make your reservations as soon as possible. Christmas week fills up very quickly. Disney has a really generous cancellation policy, so don't worry if you have to cancel later on in the year or if you need to change the days around a bit. Since this is Disney World's busiest time of year, there will likely not be any discounts, but you can always watch for them (won't happen) and attempt to apply it later (won't happen), should a discount appear (won't happen).
I don't always think visiters need park hoppers, but since you're going during a busy time of the year and may find yourself wanting to go to a less busy park, you might want to consider them. There aren't a lot of discounts available for tickets. Obviously, avoid "merchants" selling tickets out of the back of a truck on Highway 192; less obviously, don't buy tickets off of Ebay. You can probably save around $80 total for your family by going to a site like Undercover Tourist, which is one of a handful of agents that are authorized by Disney to sell slightly discounted tickets. Use the Undercover Tourist link on the Mousesavers newsletter for an even better deal. Five-day park hoppers for a family of four with the UC discount will run around $1000.
As far as extras like Bibbity Bobbity Boutique are concerned, I personally don't think I'd pay the money for a child under the age of five. While the initial price of a Disney park ticket is pretty steep, the value that you get is very high: Attractions, character meet and greets, shows, parades. It's a lot, and you can't possibly do it all in one trip. And because it's so much, I often don't think the extras are necessary, particularly for smaller children. A quieter alternative that might be relaxing and enjoyable for you, your daughter and your mother might be something like a tea at the Grand Floridian, which is very special and not too pricey. If you do decide to do BBB and want to try something for your son as well, the Pirates League in the Magic Kingdom gets really high marks.
Finally, I recommend getting a good guidebook. I think the Unofficial Guide is the best Disney guide out there. The 2010 edition gives you access to their website (with a small fee) that allows you to access touring plans and other information; you can read some of the website without actually being a member. I really like the Disboards for planning a trip, so you might want to check that out; no question goes unanswered on that board! If you have a long commute and an Ipod and you're not listening to multi-state bar exam lectures, you might want to listen to a couple of Disney podcasts. WDWToday, The DisUnplugged, and WDWRadio are all great sources of information and are available for free on Itunes or you can listen to them on your computer.
Good luck and happy planning!
*All prices are based on what's available at this time. Ticket prices will likely go up in August. Discounted ticket savings will vary throughout the year.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday Morning Distraction: A few hours late edition. Okay, nearly a day late.
In the better late than never category, here are a few Disney tidbits for your reading pleasure:
The Christmas lights were turned on at Cinderella Castle last week:
I'm just going to say it: That's magical.
Speaking of the holidays, The Dis has some great photos of Disney Hollywood Studio's Osborne Fesitival of Lights on their blog.
From Jim Hill Media, Kerry Camisa talks about what it takes to bring the Magic Kingdom from "Scary to Merry in Just Five Nights."
Robert Niles at Theme Park Insider has been thinking about gift ideas for theme park lovers. First up: Home Funnel Cake Kit. Mmmm. Funnel cake.
Thanksgiving dinner suggestions at Downtown Disney from The Disney Blog.
Verizon, The Dis, and TouringPlans have all announced applications in the last few weeks which will show wait times and fastpass availability for the park you're in, as well as general information about the parks. If you're like me and these apps don't work on your phone, there's no need to pine for an iPhone: You can still access general park information if your phone has internet capability by going to http://www.m.disneyworld.com/. Word is that Verizon and TouringPlans.com* will be expanding their apps to fit more phones in the near future.
Finally, AJ at the Disney Food Blog has a fun post about Minnie's kitchen. As excited I am about the Fantasyland expansion, I'm sad they're tearing this place down. If you've never had the pleasure of "baking" a cake in Minnie's kitchen, head on over and check out these pictures.
*Update: I ended up needing a new phone last week (don't ask), so I bought the Motorola Droid. Besides being a really fun phone, the new application from TouringPlans.com, called Lines, works on my phone. While I haven't used it in the park yet, what I've seen is really useful and interesting. Back with a full report on it and (hopefully) Verizon's Mobile Magic application after my December trip.
The Christmas lights were turned on at Cinderella Castle last week:
I'm just going to say it: That's magical.
Speaking of the holidays, The Dis has some great photos of Disney Hollywood Studio's Osborne Fesitival of Lights on their blog.
From Jim Hill Media, Kerry Camisa talks about what it takes to bring the Magic Kingdom from "Scary to Merry in Just Five Nights."
Robert Niles at Theme Park Insider has been thinking about gift ideas for theme park lovers. First up: Home Funnel Cake Kit. Mmmm. Funnel cake.
Thanksgiving dinner suggestions at Downtown Disney from The Disney Blog.
Verizon, The Dis, and TouringPlans have all announced applications in the last few weeks which will show wait times and fastpass availability for the park you're in, as well as general information about the parks. If you're like me and these apps don't work on your phone, there's no need to pine for an iPhone: You can still access general park information if your phone has internet capability by going to http://www.m.disneyworld.com/. Word is that Verizon and TouringPlans.com* will be expanding their apps to fit more phones in the near future.
Finally, AJ at the Disney Food Blog has a fun post about Minnie's kitchen. As excited I am about the Fantasyland expansion, I'm sad they're tearing this place down. If you've never had the pleasure of "baking" a cake in Minnie's kitchen, head on over and check out these pictures.
*Update: I ended up needing a new phone last week (don't ask), so I bought the Motorola Droid. Besides being a really fun phone, the new application from TouringPlans.com, called Lines, works on my phone. While I haven't used it in the park yet, what I've seen is really useful and interesting. Back with a full report on it and (hopefully) Verizon's Mobile Magic application after my December trip.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
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