WDW Daily News

Meeting Disney characters has always been a highlight of my family’s trips. The excitement in my sons’ eyes when they first met Buzz Lightyear & Woody was priceless, and antics with characters such as Chip & Dale and Stitch have inspired many laughs and wonderful memories. A few years ago, many of these meetings seemed fairly spontaneous with only maybe a few families ahead of us. Indeed, there often was more of a gathering of people around the characters than an actual line to meet them.

These marvelous memories have got me thinking about character interactions in the park today. In particular, the current fervor for obtaining a FastPass+ reservation to meet Frozen’s Anna and Elsa has me wondering—can scheduling a character meeting well in advance bring the same level of joy as in the days of characters roaming the parks and guests delighting in impromptu character interactions?

Let’s face it—the days of roaming characters being a regular feature of the parks are long gone, and advanced planning is now needed to meet some characters. Nonetheless, there is evidence that under these circumstances the joy of character interactions is alive and well.

Case in point is the FastPass+ opportunity to meet Frozen’s Anna and Elsa. With FastPass+ for Anna and Elsa, Disney has hit upon a way to guarantee guests that they will meet these wildly popular characters. Not only that, but it seems that the joy of obtaining a FastPass+ for these characters can be almost as powerful as actually meeting them. And so guests get the double reward of first snagging that FastPass+ and later experiencing the thrill of meeting the characters.

Indeed, the ability to reserve character meet & greets using FastPass+ perfectly illustrates what I have found to be one of the main benefits of all of the changes at Disney World in the past several years—namely, the Joy of Anticipation! After I have reserved my hotel, dining, and FastPass+ reservations, I have an absolute blast adjusting plans, adding plans, and just plain anticipating all the fun!

Currently, FastPass+ is available in the Magic Kingdom to Meet Anna & Elsa with a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall, to Meet Ariel at Her Grotto, to Meet Cinderella and Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall, and to Meet Mickey Mouse at Townsquare Theater. You can also get a FastPass+ to Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot, and you can Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost in Animal Kingdom.

My family has enjoyed several of meet & greets. In particular, meeting with Mickey the Magician at Townsquare Theater was fun and entertaining! At the same time, though, I think meeting characters more spontaneously (at least not by planning days in advance) is a different kind of special experience.

In fact, Disney recently announced and then quickly pulled FastPass+ only character meet & greets in Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. So, maybe Disney realizes that while guests do like to anticipate and plan character meetings, they also value an opportunity for a same-day experience.

Summer is just around the corner, I think! For many this has been a long, long winter, cold wet and dreary. I hate to even mention the snow! But with the warm temperatures and sunny days, many in my family have begun to think about one of their favorite pass times, fishing. I thought it would be a good time to recall an old article about Fishing at Walt Disney World, updating where needed.

Yes, there are fish in the lakes in and around Walt Disney World. My family has taken fishing excursions in World Showcase Lagoon and Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. We have even fished at the Fishin’ Hole on Ol’ Man Island at Port Orleans Riverside. We have very fond memories of these trips and to this day it is an adventure my sons always want to add to our trips. We have even taken my new daughters-in-law!

As with most things at Walt Disney World there are many options in various price ranges. The least expensive of these experiences is from the bank using old fashioned cane poles. Dockside fishing is available without advance reservations. Find a magical spot, cast out your line and enjoy some old fashioned cane pole fishing at Port Orleans Riverside or reach for some casting-rod gear at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

If you are more adventurous, you can take a guided fishing excursion year-round on a pontoon boat on several of the Walt Disney World waterways. These include Bay Lake, the Seven Seas Lagoon, Village Lake, Crescent Lake and/or World Showcase Lagoon. These excursions are for 5 Guests and last 2 to 4 hours. The fee includes an experienced guide, fishing gear and live bait, beverages and a one year membership to BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) including 11 issues of Bassmaster Magazine. There is even a tournament-style excursion aboard a Nitro Bass boat for two people!

Even if you don’t fish, the trip is really fun and enjoyable. We have learned new fishing skills over the years, like how to use an open-faced rod and reel. We have fished with shiners and artificial bait. We have found the Guides to be very knowledgeable and helpful. They are quick to figure out how much help each person needs to have a great time. They even have a Princess Fish Holder for the Princess who is leery of fins! An added bonus is the opportunity to view World Show Case from the Lake!!! It might be early but you could hear some of the music from the different countries and the lighting was great for pictures. I recommend these fishing excursions for all levels of experience. You might even find a new hobby, what a different souvenir to take home, a hobby!

All fishing excursions at Walt Disney World are catch and release. Prices, availability and reservations can be made in advance by phone or on-line. And once you arrive, you can even check at one of the marinas for availability. Consider adding this recreational activity to your next vacation for some added Magic!!!

Opening this August, one of the most delightful aspects of the new Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort is its breathtaking location in the Walt Disney World® Resort. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World ® Resort is set amidst the palm-tree lined, gated Golden Oak community, a Disney-developed residential enclave of custom single family homes.  Located in a lushly landscaped area with many mature trees, lakes and protected wetlands, the community serves as an oasis— close to all the action and entertainment nearby, yet with a feeling of seclusion. With views of the Magic Kingdom® Park nightly fireworks from the rooftop of Capa restaurant, an on-site character breakfast and Disney Planning Center, plus availability to offer In-Room Celebrations, the experience is nothing short of wondrous.

“We could not be more delighted that Disney chose to collaborate with us,” said Thomas Steinhauer, regional vice president and general manager for Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort.  “Our resort offers incredible amenities never before seen at a stand-alone luxury resort in Florida. We offer an experience that our guests are going to love, plus endless recreational pursuits on property for guests to enjoy on a day off from the parks.”

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Have you ever noticed there is almost never a line for the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse? For years, I wondered why. I grew up watching the film and wishing for a treehouse adventure like that. I am now in my forties and realize that this is not a ride but Disney’s cruel attempt at getting me to workout more. And to add insult to injury – my children have no idea who the Robinson Family is – let alone climbing to the top of a tree just to ‘lose their phone signal.’ *Side Note: I still make them all do it each time we go…

Speaking of lines, another great Disney surprise is their queues. Please don’t get me wrong, I think the imagineers have done a great job of helping to alleviate the boredom that can overtake you while waiting. HOWEVER, they are masters at getting you excited thinking you are at the front of the line….only to see you are now turning and heading back in the opposite direction. My love of all things Disney helps me to keep moving forward (see what I did there?). In all honesty, we have met some incredibly interesting people while waiting in line – most people share the love as well – sometimes it IS okay to talk to strangers!

How come you never see anyone pushing around a giant trash cart picking up all the refuse from the receptacles at the Magic Kingdom? Did you know some of  those trash cans are attached to small pipes that run under your feet in the ‘Utilidors’ under the Magic Kingdom? The trash then travels at over 60 mph to be disposed of. And speaking of those trash receptacles – Walt Disney himself did a study and watched his guests and discovered people would walk no more than 30 steps before dropping their trash on the ground. Therefore most bins are approximately 30 steps apart – check it out!

There are MANY hidden treasures to be found around the World…it all comes down to what I discussed in our last article…slow down and enjoy the sites. My favorite is at the Muppets in Hollywood Studios. The waiting area is full of site gags and jokes – look up in the corner for the net full of Jello…an early tribute to one of the original Mouseketeer’s (wait for it – you will get it soon enough)!

And lastly, the question I get asked most often is “Where is the best spot to take a picture?” There are, of course, the obvious ones – the Castle, Spaceship Earth, Tree of Life…but, we like to find the out of the way spots. Walk around the World Showcase and you will be amazed at what you find. I also strongly suggest the many ‘Hollywood’ attractions at Hollywood Studios. But in the end, there really is no bad spot for a picture – you are, after all, at Disney! ‘Do you trust me?’ disneydad1972@gmail.com

On more than one occasion, the lobby of one of the Disney World resort hotels has provided my family with a short respite from a day filled with fun at the parks. Although there are many days when we head back to our own resort for a nap and swim in the pool, there are other days when all we really want is a short break. By visiting the lobby of another resort, we get a chance to relax but still feel well rested as we transition from the morning hours to an afternoon and evening in one of the theme parks.

When using this strategy, we have generally found ourselves at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, and our favorites of these for relaxing purposes are the Grand Floridian and the Wilderness Lodge. The Grand Floridian is accessible via the monorail, and the boat from the Magic Kingdom to the Wilderness Lodge is all by itself a nice break from the rest of the day. The lobbies of both of these resorts offer a variety of choices when a recharge is needed for the body, the mind, or both:

Air conditioning. Of course, both resorts offer this wonderful source of respite! Stepping into the vast, cool space of their lobbies immediately inspires a sigh of relief, especially after being in a hot, crowded theme park. In particular, I love how the subdued lighting and the feeling of being in the woods at the Wilderness Lodge lobby adds to the feeling of coolness.

A relaxing chair. After air conditioning, there is nothing more basic needed for relaxation than a place to sit. Both of these lobbies have numerous chairs and couches arranged in smaller seating groups. Many of the Grand Floridian’s chairs have high backs—perfect for leaning back and closing one’s eyes for a few minutes. At the Wilderness Lodge, grab a rocking chair by the fire, or to really get away from it all, find a comfy chair or couch on the next level overlooking the lobby.

Entertainment. And while you are closing your eyes at the Grand Floridian, listen to the wonderful music provided by a live pianist. At the Wilderness Lodge, for those with smaller children (who may not be interested in a more sedentary break), ask the front desk for a clue sheet for the Hidden Mickeys that can be found throughout the lobby and balconies.

A leisurely stroll and exploration. If you are not up for a Hidden Mickey hunt, take a leisurely stroll around either the Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge lobbies. Do some browsing in the shops, or walk out onto the deck overlooking the Silver Creek Springs Pool at the Wilderness Lodge. Take in the view from the upper floors overlooking the main floor of the lobby. Grab a soft drink at Wilderness Lodge’s Roaring Forks or the Grand Floridian’s Gasparilla Island Grill.

Holiday decorations. You may be lucky enough to relax in a lobby decked out with beautiful decorations starting in November and extending through the holiday season. The Christmas tree at the Wilderness Lodge is enormous!! And of course the lodge atmosphere perfectly evokes the holiday season with its woodsy feel. At the Grand Floridian is another impressive tree plus the famous giant gingerbread house where yummy treats are sold.

And so, next time you are looking for the perfect “pick me up” during a busy Disney day, head to one of the fabulous lobbies of the Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge!

I am often asked which Park at Walt Disney World is my favorite. I have a hard time answering the question because there are distinct things I like about each Park. Each Park provides a different experience when visited and explored. I decided to approach the answer in a different way. What if I was asked what Park I would visit if I could only visit one during my trip, what Park would I choose?

Which Park would you pick? It has been reported that many people would pick Magic Kingdom because for them it embodies the magic of Walt Disney World. The Magic Kingdom for many is Walt Disney World. Maybe that is why the one day ticket price is higher than the other Parks! For me thought that Park would be EPCOT.
Where else can you begin the day experiencing the past and future of technological advancements and end it with fireworks illuminating the sky? And in between you can walk around the World experiencing eleven different cultures. You can step back in time and then travel through the history of communication in the 180 foot tall Spaceship Earth. Mission to Mars will take you can travel to Mars or build a car at Test Track. Nemo is waiting to give you the grand tour over at the Living Seas or you can take your imagination on a Journey. After all that excitement, try a boat ride through the Land to see where some of the food served round the Park is grown. Your next stop could be a flight over California, if you are up for Soarin.

After all that excitement you might be ready for a walk around the World. You can visit 11 different country exhibits around the World Showcase, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, United States of America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico. There is even a brief spot of Africa thrown in for interest. Each pavilion is designed to create the authentic feel of each Countries culture and diversity. Great care was taken with the designs and the attention to detail is extreme. Artisans and experts from each country were employed to ensure authenticity. There are exhibits, rides, musical offerings and culinary delights to enjoy. Some of my favorites are the sushi in Japan, a Diva Riesling in Germany and the music of Off Kilter in Canada. There are even Kid Spots set up around World Showcase to engage the younger set in the cultural exchange. The Cast Members that man the stores and restaurants of each pavilion are from the respective countries which just adds to the genuineness. I have learned a great deal just by asking where a Cast Member is from!

I enjoy the landscaping and the spacious walkways. There are many places to just sit and relax while watching people pass by. You can find the Characters in many locations as well, just think of finding Jasmine and Aladdin in Morocco or Snow White by a wishing well in Germany. And once the sun goes down, the story begins….older than time itself but still being written. Illuminations, fireworks with the story of our Earth, our very existence woven in. There is so much to take in at EPCOT, you don’t realize you are learning as you vacation. I guess that is part of the magic!! I guess that is why I never get tired of visiting and would choose EPCOT as my one day stop.

I didn’t think I would be going to Disney World again until 2015. My family has a trip planned to a different destination this year, and I reasoned that waiting until all the changes at the World revolving around MyMagic+ settled down might be a good thing. But last week, my husband says to me, my birthday is coming up and what I’d most like to do on that day is go to Star Wars weekends at Hollywood Studios.
Let the planning begin! But how would MyMagic+ change the way I would plan this trip versus trips in the past?

Where to Stay: Going to Star Wars weekends means crowds at Disney Hollywood Studios. I knew that staying at an Epcot resort, which would mean being within walking distance or a short boat ride to the park, could make our trip much more relaxed. We were able to easily book one of these wonderful resorts online and are looking forward to enjoying the entertainment on the Boardwalk, gazing out at Crescent Lake, and swimming in the pool.

So how did MyMagic+ change my planning of hotel reservations?
It didn’t. Okay, that part was easy.

Dining Reservations: Over the course of several days, I succeeded in getting the dining reservations I wanted—even this close to a trip! It was not altogether easy, though. For example, the always-busy Liberty Tree Tavern took some doing. In the course of one day, available dinner times at Liberty Tree Tavern for our night at the Magic Kingdom appeared and disappeared over a fairly widespread range of times. I would make one reservation, and an hour or so later a better time would be available. After three tries, I was able to make a reservation for what I think will be the perfect time. But we’ll see. Who knows what timing issues FastPass+ reservations will bring.
So how did MyMagic+ change my planning of dining reservations?

Just a little. Although the My Disney Experience website and app are a change (particularly the ability to make dining reservations on the My Disney Experience app), the current challenges with planning dining reservations are similar to those that have existed for years on the Disney World website—mostly hoping the app and website will work and, better yet, work well plus successfully finding the best times to fit with the rest of our vacation. I did, however, appreciate the fact that I didn’t need to be at home on my computer to make dining reservations, so that is a good change from the My Disney Experience app.

Tickets and Magic Bands: Tickets! Anyone need tickets? Yes, my family of four does. Tickets for DisneyWorld are not just plastic cards anymore—they have been transformed into Magic Bands (insert oohs and aahs)! Here’s when my questions about MyMagic+ increased exponentially.
We decided to get annual passes because they make the most financial sense for this visit and our planned 2015 visit. Here is what I learned about purchasing annual passes under the MyMagic+ system by cobbling together answers from a Disney chat room, various Disney websites, and a call to a cast member:
• Purchasing on the Disney website. When purchasing annual passes on the website, a confirmation number is given right away and a voucher is mailed. This has implications for FastPass+ and Magic Bands, as outlined below.
• Linking passes to My Disney Experience. We will be able to link our passes to our My Disney Experience accounts with the confirmation number. This linking will be the key to opening up our access to FastPass+ reservations.
• How Magic Bands work with a My Disney Experience account. According to the Disney cast member, you don’t link your annual pass (or any ticket) to a band but instead link it to your My Disney Experience account. That way, any active bands on your account are able to be associated with any pass or ticket.
• When you get your Magic Bands. Without existing Magic Bands, you are out of luck in terms of having a band for your first visit with an annual pass. The order for the Magic Bands appears on your account only after the annual pass voucher is redeemed at the park. Lucky for us, we will be able to associate the passes with bands from one of our previous trips.
• Redeeming the voucher. On the first day you are ready to use your annual pass, the voucher must be redeemed at the park. At that time, you will receive an annual pass card that, like the Magic Band, can be used for admission and FastPass+ stations. Plus, at this time, only the card, not the band, will allow you to receive any annual pass discounts.
So how did MyMagic+ change the purchasing of our admission/annual passes?

A lot!! Stay tuned to hear about my experiences with FastPass+ reservations. Because we are staying off-site, we can’t make these reservations until 30 days out. Also, I am really looking forward to seeing the new Festival of Fantasy Parade (and may consider a FastPass+ for it), and it is rumored that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will be open and available for FastPass+ before we go. Let’s see what happens …

Often times you hear people say, “Don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the tiny details.” Okay, maybe you don’t hear it, but it is great advice nonetheless! On recent trips home, we have slowed our pace really trying to take in the details, and discover the secrets that only Disney can offer.

Disney Hollywood Studios…an incredibly close race for my most favorite of the four parks. Have you ever stopped and listen to street comedy? We have watched the ‘Citizens of Hollywood’ give performances on several occasions and always end up laughing so hard our bellies hurt!

Our first encounter led my brother-in-law to be pulled from the crowd to star in a commercial. We have watched them entertain us with a dating game show, and even a Disney Quiz Show where all 7 kids we were traveling with became part of the act.

From the goofy policeman, to the ageless studio starlet – you are guaranteed to be left shaking your head (and possibly even having to explain some of the humor and jokes to the younger members of the crowd). This is one discovery we will never forget.

Don’t miss out on discovering the ‘Streetmosphere’….slow down enjoy the fun – who knows, you may even become part of the show? ‘Do you trust me?’ disneydad1972@gmail.com

On my last visit to Disney World the Princess Half Marathon was going on and needless to say, getting around that morning was a little crazy. Many of the regular routes in and out of the resorts and parks were detoured or closed until the race concluded.

I was on my way to the Polynesian for my fix of Tonga Toast, that sinfully delicious combination of crunchy sourdough fried bread stuffed with bananas and rolled in sugar and cinnamon…but ended up getting rerouted to the Wilderness Lodge. I told the guard at the gate I was going to have breakfast and she just laughed and said “Honey, good luck if you don’t have a reservation, it’s packed.” We’ll just see about that, I thought.

The Whispering Canyon was, indeed busy but it didn’t seem that there would be a long wait if I had chosen to eat there. Instead I decided to head down to the food court to see what they had in the line of breakfast goodies.
In addition to the customary offering of the resort wide plate of scrambled eggs, pre-cooked bacon, biscuits and grilled red bliss potatoes and other regular staples…they had a waffle bar! Your choice of strawberry, chocolate or bananas foster style Mickey waffles accompanied by more of that precooked bacon.

I ordered up the banana combo , grabbed an orange juice and made my way to the exterior seating area at the pool/courtyard. There were only a few other tables of guests, the weather was absolutely perfect and the waffles were beyond delicious. I immediately started planning to recreate this at home!

A few weeks later back in Virginia it was just a miserable cold and rainy day. I thought what better way to brighten things up than to whip up a batch of waffles banana Foster-Disney style. I made due with my square waffle maker but have since found a Mickey Mouse shaped waffle maker as you can see below. “Just like downtown” as they say!

Try a little Disney food magic at home. It will brighten your day and hold you over until your next visit to sunny Orlando, which in my case is in 38 days from now! Many resort and restaurant recipes can be found online and most are scaled down for home use. Have fun and bon appétit!