WDW Daily News

There are so many different things to buy on the Disney store. But one of the hidden treasures are the books you can buy. The “Art of” books. The “Art of” books are books that tell the story of how the animators got from the drawing board to the big screen. They show you pictures of the original sketches and the first sketches of the main characters. They then go through the step by step process of how the animation team did location scouting for the setting and the original pictures they took. If you have any interest in learning the history of the making of your favorite movie, I’d look into purchasing the book. They run a bit expensive on disneystore.com. Around $44-$49. But on eBay, some run for as low as $10 preowned. They’re great coffee table books or even a rainy day read. Stay Magical!

A Disney park is the last place you want to be with a heavy backpack or weighed-down purse. Not only is it tiring to carry around a 15-pound bag; nobody wants to be that person holding up the line because they can’t find their wallet in a purse that could easily pass as Mary Poppins’ never-ending carpet bag! Instead, I try to consolidate as much as possible for a trip to the parks. Here are my Disney park essentials that will make for a happier back and vacation!

1. The Bag- First, you need to start with the perfect bag. If you have littler kids and will need a bit more during your time in the parks, find a comfortable, sturdy backpack that will hold everything. Otherwise, I like to use a smaller backpack or a medium-sized cross-body purse.

2. Wallet- Even if you have a credit card linked to your MagicBand, it’s a good idea to keep your wallet with you in the parks in case you would need your photo ID or a little extra cash/change. Back in the “old days,” I would keep my park ticket and Fastpasses in my wallet, but with all of the new technology, tangible tickets are quickly becoming obsolete!

3. Cell Phone- Not only is your cell phone a good communication device, it also is a useful tool for rescheduling Fastpasses, reservations, and much more on the go! Make sure you have the MyDisneyExperience app downloaded and ready to go before your trip starts! Even though my phone usually starts out in my bag, by the end of the day it’s made its way into my pocket for quick access.

4. Poncho- This one is optional, especially depending on the day and season you’re in the parks. Either a cheap poncho from the Dollar Store or a nicer, heavy-duty one will work, but it is nice to be prepared for one of those Florida storms! (and not have to overpay for a Disney parks poncho!)

5. Park Map and Times Guide- Even though many of us know most of the parks by heart, it’s always a good idea to have a park map handy. They can be a helpful tool for figuring out where you want to eat, what you want to do next, or what time a show is playing.

6. Snacks/Candy- Be prepared to settle that “rumbly in your tumbly” with a granola bar or some gummy fruit snacks. Of course, candy is something that can be enjoyed while you’re waiting in line or just walking around the park!

7. Bandaids- Unfortunately, this is something I can speak about with some experience: always have a few bandaids packed! Whether it’s a blister from a new pair of shoes or a scrape from falling down at Tom Sawyer’s Island, you never know when you’re going to need one!

8. Medications- If needed, make sure you pack some motion-sickness pills for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster or pain-killers to take care of a nasty headache, as well as any other medications that you may need.
Even though you will have to go through the bag check to get into each park, the line usually moves fairly fast. I definitely think it’s worth it to have some of these necessary items on hand!

Just a little side note: I will be in Walt Disney World next week (October 18-25) to celebrate my sixteenth birthday, so I’ll probably be doing a lot of live-tweeting and instagramming while we’re there! If you want to follow along on our adventures, my handle for both Twitter and Instagram is @disnemma.

Check out the new Haunted Mansion merchandise location “Memento Mori”
now open at the Magic Kingdom!

I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to Orlando and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival was in its second week, going full swing. Thirty six designated stations this year (although some are existing venues with festival offerings). There were a few repeats from last year and many new offerings as well.

Puerto Rico returned this year and judging from the long lines to the kiosk, it was missed by many. I had the Carne guisada con arroz blanco: Slow-braised beef with Puerto Rican-grown rice-delicious! Actually everything I sampled was very good. I even tried the CraB’less CraB Cake with pepper slaw and Cajun remoulade at Terra. I’m normally not a fan of protein substitutes but it was also delicious.

Be sure to stop at the Festival Center in Future World to pick up a “passport”. They are available at most of the kiosks and merchandise outlets, but a look around the Festival Center is a good way to start out and plan your strategy for all of that wonderful food. The first day I attended I stopped in to look at this year’s merchandise and Chef Robert Irvine was giving a food demo. That was a nice surprise.

The food booths are relatively close to one another and the lines, regardless of how long they are move very quickly. Pace yourself! It is very easy to bounce from one to the next in minutes and the next thing you know you’re full. I suggest having a sample or two, then stop to enjoy a beverage (if you have not paired one with the food item) and just sit and relax between “countries”.

Last year I had three days to cover the festival, this year I had seven. I managed to hit most of the booths in four days and I tried something at each one. The connection between your MagicBand and credit card (for guests staying at a WDW Resort) saves a lot of time and fumbling with cards and cash. There is also a miniature Disney gift card that is on an elastic wristband that you can load up with funds to wear on your arm.
Having a group of friends to do the festival with is ideal as you can all get something different and share to get a wider selection from each country. As I was traveling alone, I stuck with one choice needless to say I had to spread my time out so as not to get too stuffed right away.

The festival was originally started during the “off season” to bring additional guests to the park that normally would not travel at this time. Because of its increased popularity from year to year, more and more countries are added, the dates have been extended and the merchandise tie in grows, too.

Prices for items are quite reasonable, considering regular resort pricing and compares well with most other food events that I have attended. I do recommend going later in October or towards the end of the festival at the beginning of November. The last couple of years I have been in Orlando in late September, the temp has been quite high and it was very rainy and humid this year.

Between the concerts, the demonstrations, private tastings and all of those great food booths, there is definitely something for everyone. And if you have a particular favorite restaurant in the World Showcase that is usually very busy…this is a great time to enjoy it with far fewer guests.