Recent Trip!!
So I got back from my most recent Disney trip just over a month ago and have finally managed to post videos from the trip :)Click here to view my video from Walt Disney World
And Click here to watch my video from our Disney Cruise! :D
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Friday, 10 June 2016
Click here to view my video from Walt Disney World
And Click here to watch my video from our Disney Cruise! :D
Sunday, 13 March 2016
Disney Cruise Line Tips
Click here to view my newest video where I talk through some tips for first time cruisers :)
Sunday, 6 March 2016
The Walt Disney World Tag
Monday, 24 August 2015
How to Maximise Your Fastpass+ Choices
So you're off to Walt Disney World and you've heard about fastpass+ but you're not 100% sure about how it works, well let me share with you my fastpass+ tips.
1. Book as soon as possible! If you're staying on site you can book fastpasses 60 days in advance, if you're staying elsewhere then you can book 30 days in advance. Make sure you take advantage of this especially if you're aiming for the more in demand fastpasses.
2. Plan your days ahead of time, for fastpass+ to work effectively you need to know which parks you're planning to visit on which days of your trip and also if you're planning to visit in the morning or afternoon or all day long. My way of choosing this mainly goes off EMH (if I'm staying on site) and where I've made my dining reservations (I generally do Dining in line with EMH unless I know EMH isn't worth the crowds).
3. Don't waste them, If you want to get the most out of fastpass+ avoid using them for night-time spectaculars and parades as this will severely limit the amount of fastpasses you can get in a day.
4. Don't just choose your favourite attractions, think strategically. Some rides although they may be your favourite, will never have a queue line long enough to justify fastpass+.
5. Know the park layout, try to organise fastpass+ in an order that makes sense, or incorporates other attractions between, this will ensure you aren't going back and forth all over the park just for your fastpass.
My Recommendations
Magic Kingdom
There is no tier system in Magic, so it depends on your priorities the most popular choices are Anna & Elsa, Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Peter Pans Flight, and the queues for these are guaranteed to be long so if you want these you will need to be on the ball, especially for Anna & Elsa!
If these aren't your top 3 choices then I would advise picking any of the following:
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
Any of the others I would say have a small enough queue at other points in the day for it not to be worth it.
Epcot
Epcot does have a tiering system, so you can choose one from Tier A and 2 from Tier B.
Tier A
- Soarin'
- Test Track
- Illuminations
- Living with the Land
Tier B
- Mission Space
- Captain EO
- Journey into Imagination
- Turtle Talk
- Spaceship Earth
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Character Spot
For my recommendations I would suggest Soarin' or Test Track, in terms of the others I would choose Mission Space and then not get another, then once I'd used those I would try to get one for whichever of the first two I didn't pick (if they were still available).
Hollywood Studios
As with Epcot, Hollywood Studios has a tier system, so again 1 choice from tier A and 2 choices from tier B.
Tier A
Tier A
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Great Movie Ride
- Rock n Rollercoaster
- Fantasmic!
- Beauty and the Beast
Tier B
- Star Tours
- Tower of Terror
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Disney Jnr
- Indiana Jones
- Lights Motor Action
- Frozen Sing Along
For Hollywood studios I would generally go for Toy Story from tier A and then Star tours and tower of terror (or frozen) from tier B, but again this will depend on the situation, if you are with young children then you are more likely to want to use it for Beauty and the Beast, Disney Jnr and Frozen (or something along those lines).
I wouldn't waste a fastpass on Great Movie Ride or any of the shows (except frozen) as you can easily see these without a fastpass and the queue will die down for great movie ride at certain points during the day.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom doesn't have a tier system, I would recommend using your fastpass+ choices on Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids and Kilimanjaro Safari. Again with the shows you can see them easily without a fastpass and the other rides will die down at certain points of the day :)
Monday, 3 August 2015
Disneyland Trip!!
So with less than a month to go until my trip to Disneyland, I thought I would share with you my Disneyland to do list :)- Watch Soundsational
- Watch World of Color
- Watch Paint the Night
- Watch Disneyland Forever
- Ride the Matterhorn
- Watch Aladdin
- Ride Big Thunder Mountain
- Go on Soarin'
- Ride Radiator Springs Racers
- Visit Trader Sams
- Character breakfast at Storytellers Cafe
- Walk in Walt's Footsteps
Oh and of course we will be doing a 24 hour challenge when we're out there with a mix of old challenges with new challenges for Disneyland :)
Is there anything else you think I need to do when I visit? Any hints or tips for navigating the parks?
Monday, 15 June 2015
Where to cool off at Walt Disney World
With summer pretty much here and the temperature rising in Florida, where are the best places to cool off at Walt Disney World (and also escape from the dreaded downpours).Here are my favourite places to escape the heat, click here to view the video.
Sunday, 10 May 2015
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
My Favourite Places to Eat in... Magic Kingdom
You've just been on Space Mountain, and are thinking of heading over to Frontierland for a cool down on Splash Mountain, but first you need to refuel, where should you eat?
Well today I'm talking about my favourite places to eat in the Magic Kingdom! (& the monorail resorts, cause they're pretty close)
Breakfast
The most important meal of the day but where to eat it?
Well that all depends on what you're after, do you want to eat on the go or do you want a relaxed start to the day.
My favourite on the go place for breakfast is definitely the Main Street Bakery, sure it's now a Starbucks, but it's location is what makes it so handy, plus who doesn't love a good Starbucks. Picking up a Frappuccino and a bacon sandwich and eating it in front of the castle is a lovely start to the day, or if you're in even more of a rush then you can just take it along with you to whichever land you choose, though be aware most attractions won't let you take open drinks in with you (closed bottles are allowed of course).
If you're looking for a more slow paced start to the day, then there are plenty of good choices.
Crystal Palace do a character breakfast, if you book an early time before park open, then you can get into the park early, get some pictures on main street before the crowds enter the park, and if you're quick, have finished breakfast before the park is even open. The characters are Winnie the Pooh and friends, including Piglet & Eeyore who you rarely meet anywhere else. Food wise nearly all character breakfasts have the same buffets, or at least the one's I have been to, cooked breakfast, pastries, cereals and usually some dessert foods as well, plenty to fill up before a busy day, and normally enough to keep you going until late afternoon.
Another resort based option, which just so happens to be my favourite character breakfast is 1900 Park Fayre at the Grand Floridian, again you can get to this resort by monorail or by boat for MK, the food again is the same as the other restaurants mentioned, however the setting for this breakfast is my favourite, I love the Grand Floridian and the restaurant is beautiful and you get to meet Mary Poppins, Alice, Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh & Tigger (how very British).
Lunch
Halfway through the day when energy levels are falling you need a good pick me up, now personally I only ever get quick service for lunch as I'd rather have a table service for breakfast or dinner.
One of my favourite spots for lunch is Pinocchio Village Haus located in Fantasyland just before the main entrance to New Fantasyland. With plenty of seating both inside and out, and views overlooking It's a Small World.
The Caprese flatbread is my go to order, big enough to fill you up, but not too heavy that you feel bloated or lethargic for the rest of the afternoon.
Another great spot for lunch is Be our Guest, sure the lines can get a little long, but it's a great way to experience the restaurant without trying to get a reservation in the evening. Plus they serve the exact same desserts at lunchtime as they do at dinnertime and you still get your meal served to you via cart :'] When I went for lunch I ordered the roast beef sandwich and the lemon meringue cupcake, the food was delicious and the restaurant is beautiful, everyone should get to experience it for one meal of the day :)
Another great place for lunch is Cosmic Ray's over in Tomorrowland, purely because of the amount of choice available, the queues are generally manageable and I've always managed to find a table pretty quickly. They serve hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches, it's standard quick service food, no frills nothing special, but if that's all you're after then here you can get any of the generic lunch time meals you can get at the other quick service establishments. And if you sit outside there's pretty good views of the castle and the hub :)
Snacks
Now sometimes a full on lunch wouldn't be necessary, especially if you've eaten a massive breakfast (though if you can handle both, then power to you). But you still need something to keep you going, a Disney snack could be just the thing.
My favourite snack has got to be Dole Whip, Pineapple-Vanilla swirl is an amazing invention and a refreshing cool down in the Florida humidity.
Another great option is any of the many snack carts around MK, Turkey legs, Churros, Mickey Bars & Popcorn are all staple snacks in the Magic Kingdom. But lets not forget the not quite so portable funnel cake, a stop at sleepy hollow for a funnel cake dusted with cinnamon = yummy.
Dinner
My absolute favourite place to have dinner around MK is Ohana's at the Polynesian, just a short monorail ride away. The Polynesian is a beautiful resort and the beach is a great place to chill out with a cocktail before your meal. The meal is a sit down buffet, where you get brought dishes of food to share and skewers of meat to choose from :)
The food is amazing and the views out over the lagoon are great, and if you time it right then you can watch wishes while eating your meal, they even play the music into the restaurant.
If you don't want to venture out of MK then my favourite place is Be Our Guest, the food is nice and the atmosphere, as I said about lunch, is great. Plus in the evening you get to meet your host, the Beast, a character you'll be hard to find anywhere else so it's great for character hunters like myself :)
So there we have it, my favourite places to eat in and around Magic Kingdom. I haven't eaten everywhere so there may be a few jems missing from my list, where are your favourite places to eat?
Friday, 17 April 2015
Why I love Disney...
One of the questions I get asked so much in my life is "Why do you love Disney, isn't it just for kids?". The majority of people who ask me this have never been to a Disney park, so I want to explain why I love Disney.
The Parks
The Disney parks are what I love the most about Disney, don't get me wrong I love the films and the music and the characters, but Disney parks bring all that together, along with so much more.
I first visited a Disney park in the summer of 2013 when I participated in the International College Program, I didn't really know what to expect when I went, I've loved Disney films my whole life and I was really excited to see what it would be like, but I had no idea I would fall in love with the place as much as I did.
Living and working at Walt Disney World was everything I hoped and so much more, I made friends who I hope will last a lifetime, and experienced so many new things. Walt Disney World honestly feels like a second home to me now, and going back there just makes me remember all the good times I've had, and excited for all the memories I can make.
Being in a Disney park is like being in a bubble, everything is clean and everyone (more is less) is friendly and happy. Cast members will go out of their way to make your day special, from a smile and a wave, to the odd magical moment, greeting your children as princess' or space rangers and helping out in anyway that they can.
You can become you inner child and no one will judge you, wearing Minnie ears while meeting your favourite princess is just as acceptable at the age of 3, as it is at the age of 53.
The shows and parades are spectacles that make you smile, the rides aren't for the thrill seekers of the world, but they are so well themed and the stories behind them mixed with the nostalgia make them just as good as the fastest roller-coasters in my book.
The resorts offer service that I've never experienced at any other hotel I've stayed in.
It really is not just a place for kids, there's plenty for adults to do, from fine dining, spa's, golf courses, drinking around the world.
I've spent over 3 months worth of time at Walt Disney World over the last 2 years and there is still so much that I still haven't done, parks that I still haven't visited (Typhoon Lagoon). My short trips to Disneyland and Disneyland Paris even though they are much small resorts, there is still plenty I haven't done and there are still resorts I haven't visited in destinations I've always wanted to see.
The Films
The first film I ever saw in a cinema was Pocahontas, I loved watching Sleeping Beauty and Snow White as a child. As I got older I watched more and more films, some classics I never even properly watched until I was in my teens. Pirates of the Carribean are films me and my family loved to go to the cinema to watch together, people forget that Disney don't just make animated films, Mary Poppins, The Princess Diaries, Alice in Wonderland and lets not forget that the Walt Disney company now own Marvel and LucasFilm and some people also don't seem to realise that Disney has owned Pixar since 2006 and has been involved with the studio since before Toy Story was released.
Everything else
Disney own the Disney channel and Disney junior but they also own ESPN and the abc channels in america and have produced many well loved shows such as Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, Once upon a time...
All of which I love and there are so many more.
Disney musicals are some of the best loved musicals going, the main one being the Lion King which is still hugely successful on Broadway and the West end and has been going for over 15 years.
I went on my first Disney Cruise in 2014, and it was my first ever cruise, and I loved it, the Disney bubble at sea and getting to visit new countries. Castaway Cay is the Disney bubble on an island it was great, and I can't wait to plan my next Disney Cruise.
So when people ask my why I love Disney, really what's not to love? There is so much going on in that company, that at some point everyone in their life has probably loved Disney in one way or another. Is it just for kids? No way, the whole point of the Disney parks when Walt first opened Disneyland was somewhere that families could enjoy together, something that wasn't just for kids or adults, but for all ages. I personally think that the parks do that and so does everything else that they do.
The people I have met through Disney and the memories I have made being in Disney parks, watching Disney films with friends and family, laughing and crying at TV shows are all the reasons I love Disney.
Friday, 3 April 2015
Comparing Walt Disney World Resorts
Staying on site at Walt Disney World is a massive plus if you're planning on spending most of your time on site, with easy access to the parks and Downtown Disney, but what's the difference between a value, moderate and deluxe resort?Value Resort
Summer 2014 I stayed in Pop Century resort (Average $108 per night), it's the only value resort I have experienced and had no idea what to expect having only stayed at Riverside before.
Being a value resort there is only a quick service option and the only transport option available is buses, the queues for which can get extremely long, especially if you're on your way to Magic Kingdom in the morning or coming home from a park at the end of the day.
The rooms are set out in the exact same way as the rooms for moderate resorts, we stayed in the 1980's building which was a short walk from the main lobby and bus stops. Our room was clean as you'd expect from Disney property, with two comfortable double beds, tv, fridge, safe, bathroom and seperate sink. The towel Mickey is a lot smaller than you get in a Moderate or Deluxe resort, and the decor in the rooms is a lot more basic.
If you aren't bothered about additional amenities and are only bothered about using your resort as a base for exploring the parks then a value resort could be for you, reasonably priced and comfortable with everything you need to recharge for your next day running around Walt Disney World.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing a value resort is that when Disney runs the free dining plan offer, it generally does not apply to value resorts (this is true in the UK).
Moderate Resort
Summer 2013 I stayed at Port Orleans Riverside Resort (Average $190 per night), we chose to upgrade to one of the Royal Guest Rooms just to see what it was like.
I loved this resort, the atmosphere is extremely relaxed with the river outside the main lobby and running along to Downtown Disney.
Being a Moderate resort there were both quick service and table service options, there are also both buses and a boat to Downtown Disney, the queues for buses aren't as large as those at a value resort, however there are still queues. Also be aware that the bus will drop off at multiple stops around the resort before stopping at the main lobby, if you are staying away from the lobby then this is useful, however if you are near the lobby then it means a longer wait to get home after a long day in the parks.
There are plenty of additional things to do around the resort as well, from the pools to bike rentals and boat rentals, horse drawn carriage rides, campfires and live entertainment. The resort also has it's own arcade to keep you busy when the heavens inevitably open.
As we chose a Royal Guest Room, we were in a preferred location close to the lobby (just over a bridge across the river). The rooms are the same size as the standard rooms, however they are themed around the Disney Princess' mainly Tiana.
The rooms are much better themed than those of a value resort, there are 2 sinks as opposed to 1 in value resorts, and the towel Mickey is larger. Other than the additional decor and sink, then rooms are not massively different to value rooms.
The Royal Guest rooms have many hints towards the Princess', from the portraits on the wall to the genie lamp taps and tiara's on the comforter. The headboards contain LED lights and when you press a button they light up to look like fireworks exploding which is a great touch. You also get a letter from Tiana welcoming you to the room which would definitely excite any little prince's and princesses'.
The additional amenities provided from a Moderate resort are definitely worth the additional price, and add a touch of luxury to your stay at Walt Disney World.
In terms of the free dining plan offer, Moderate resorts get you the Quick Service Dining plan for free (2 x QS, 1 x Snack, 1 x Mug).
Deluxe Resort
In summer 2014 I was lucky enough to spend a couple of nights at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Average $517 per night), it was an amazing experience.
Grand Floridian has multiple table service restaurants on site and quick service restaurants, there is also the option of Character Dining which is a massive plus in my books. The restaurants are all really well themed, and I loved my Character breakfast at 1900 Park Fayre.
Where value and moderate resorts only generally have one shop selling merchandise and general goods, the Grand Floridian has multiple stores selling a variety of items.
Transport options are great, you have the normal bus service, as well as a boat over to Magic Kingdom, a path around the lagoon where you can walk to Magic Kingdom or the other monorail resorts as well as the Transportation & Ticket centre. And of course there is the monorail, a frequent service that can get you to Magic Kingdom in seconds and to Epcot.
Recreation options are great with campfires, themed pools, spa, boat rentals, an arcade and fishing all on offer.
The theming of the resort is amazing, and the lobby is my favourite lobby in the whole of Walt Disney World, with a pianist playing or a live band. The lobby also smells amazing, and the old fashioned style lift is a great feature.
We went for the standard room type, we stayed in Sago Cay, which is to the left of the main lobby. Each building has it's own mini lobby area, which splits off to the different rooms. The rooms are beautiful, they are much bigger than the rooms in a moderate/value resort and the beds are bigger too. The bathroom was lovely with a huge area with 2 sinks, you are provided with spa toiletries as well due to the fact that there is a spa on site. We also had a balcony, although we were on the ground floor so not much of a view, we looked out onto the seating area outside the main quick service restaurant.
There is also a turndown service and you get the biggest towel mickey available :)
I love this resort so much and it is definitely my favourite on site, everything about my stay was amazing and I can't wait until I can go back and stay there again.
In terms of the dining plan offer, you get the Disney dining plan with all deluxe resorts (1 x TS, 1 x QS, 1 x snack, 1 x mug).
Overview
From the stays I have had, for a normal holiday I would always lean towards a moderate resort, mainly because I think the additional amenities & theming are worth an extra $70/80 per night, however value resorts are great to use as a base for holidays while still getting all the perks of staying on site (Magical express, Disney transportation, earlier booking for fastpass+)
And although I would love to always stay in a deluxe resort the high price tag doesn't really make that an option at this point in my life, however for a nice treat (say the last few nights of the holiday or a special occasion) then I would definitely recommend it.
