Special Event - Star Wars Weekends – Hollywood Studios (May – June)

Plan on arriving at Hollywood Studios before it opens so you can see the opening show with the Storm Troopers (Storming the Park)

Figure out what you want to do the most. If you want autographs, pictures with characters, buying exclusive merchandise, etc. Regardless what you want, you will need to plan accordingly knowing that it will be crowded and wait times may be quite long.

Start checking the Star Wars weekend page starting in March for updates of events (Star Wars Weekend Official Page)

If you want to eat at a sit down restaurant during a Star Wars weekend – make a reservation!!

 

New to Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios for 2014 - Character Dining!!

This year from May 4th (May the 4th Be With You) through the last weekend of Star Wars weekends (June 15)

Make reservations!!

There are two character dining experiences:

1. Star Wars Dine In Galactic Breakfast at the Sci Fi Dine In Theatre Restaurant with Darth Vader, the Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Greedo and the Jawas
2. Jedi Mickey's Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine with Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Darth Vader Goofy, Storm Trooper Donald and Ewok Chip n Dale (You can also do this as a Fantasmic Dining Package for an extra cost, but is not covered under the Disney Dining Plan) 

Memory Maker (Photo Pass)

Memory Maker takes the place of Photo Pass Plus

You get all the photos of everyone in your travel party taken by the Disney Photo Pass photographers at hundreds of locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

It's completely digital, so you don’t have to worry about any printed photos or a CD that you receive after your vacation.

There's no limit to the number of photos on your account or the number of times you can download them within the 45-day window.

You can view, download and share your photos to your favorite social media site just minutes after they're taken.

Some attractions and dining spots are included.

The ability to link family and friends makes sharing your photos even easier.

With Disney Memory Maker, all of your photos - dining, attraction and other experiences will be added to your Memory Maker account using your Magic Band. 

When you arrive home, you will receive all of your photos in the form of digital downloads and you are free to share and print your photos however you wish.  The major difference between Disney Memory Maker and Disney Photo Pass Archive Disc is that with Disney Memory Maker you will not receive a CD with all of your photos; however you are able to create your own CD once you have downloaded all of your images.

 

Magic Bands and Fast Pass+

Magic Bands replace the card that you have received in the past that is your room key, park pass, Disney Dining Plan and contain the ability to charge to your room. It is a band that you wear around your wrist. This band has all of the information associated with your trip (Park Pass, Fast Pass selections, Photo Pass, etc.) and is access to your room as well as the ability to charge purchases to your room.

There are options that you can opt out of if you choose.

You can also connect any friends or family to your Magic Bands. You will be able to make the same selections for all people in your family and friends so that you can enjoy the same experiences together.

You will have the ability to "customize" your Magic Band. Each person in your party can choose their band color and will have their name on it.

You will receive your Magic Bands prior to your vacation. Do not pack them in your suitcase. Make sure you have them with you so they are available upon arrival.

You’ll be able to reserve an arrival window to access Fast Pass+ attractions and experiences before you leave home, and make changes on your smart phone. You can reserve access to certain attractions, shows, parades, fireworks and Character Greetings!

You are assigned an arrival window for each attraction you select. Show up any time that you wish during this window. While attractions usually offer a one-hour arrival window, other experiences like shows and parades may require you to arrive during a more specific timeframe.

Depending on availability, you will be able to make up to 3 Fast Pass+ selections for attractions and entertainment each day at one theme park.

You can modify your selections online with your mobile phone (My Disney Experience app) or at a Fast Pass+ kiosk.

I recommend you make your selections earlier rather than later as some selections may not be available at the last minute.

When making your selections, select attractions that are most popular. You don't want to use a selection for something that will not have long wait times anyway, especially since you are limited to 3 selections a day.

Special Event - Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – Magic Kingdom (September – October)

Worth the additional cost! Special fireworks display, special parade, Trick or Treating around the park (as many times as you want) and characters in costumes (Example: Mickey dressed as a pirate, Minnie dressed as a Princess). Also, more villains around the park for meet and greets. If you are a big princess fan like me, the princesses are usually with their princes at character meet and greets.

Feel free to dress up in costume!! Almost everyone does!

Make sure you have your ticket and wear your wristband! If you do not have both, you will be asked to leave.

There are two viewings of the parade so if you miss the first one, you can view the second one. Second viewing is later so less crowded.

Eat before going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party. Some restaurants close, so the restaurants that are open may be very crowded.

Go during the week. It’s less crowded. Although, because you have to pay to attend, there are less people in general.

 

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is in a tie with Magic Kingdom as my favorite park in WDW. If you love animals, you cannot miss spending a day at Animal Kingdom.

Get to the park as soon as it opens and the first thing to do is go to the Kilamanjaro Safaris. If you go first thing, you are more likely to see more animals because it is cooler out and they are less likely trying to seek shade from the heat of the sun. You can also go right after it stops raining. If you go towards the end of the day near park closing, the driver will pause longer for photo opportunities of the animals

Definitely see the Festival of the Lion King. Excellent show! (FYI - this show is currently closed until summer 2014. It is being moved to the land of Africa in the park)

Since the Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other parks, you can go to another park afterwards if you have a park hopper.

FYI – There is currently no nighttime show at Animal Kingdom. They are in construction of an Avatar land. Once Avatar land opens there will be a nighttime show.

 

My Animal Kingdom Must-Sees:

Kilamanjaro Safari

Maharajah Jungle Trek and Pangini Forest Exploration Tour (walking paths to view animals so you can take as much or as little time as you like)

It’s Tough To Be A Bug

DINOSAUR

Festival of the Lion King

Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Midway Mania is one of the most popular rides, so highly recommending get a Fast Pass to this ride.

If you have kids 12 and under that like Star Wars, sign them up for Jedi Training Academy. You can sign them up the ABC Sound Studio. It is first come first serve so the earlier you sign them up, the better your kid has a chance of being part of it.

Definitely see Fantasmic!! You want to get there an hour and a half to two hours prior to the show to get your seat. This is an extremely popular show! Do not sit in the first few front rows…you will get wet! If you don’t want to wait in line, you can make reservations at 1 of 3 different restaurants (The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano or Hollywood & Vine) and ask for the Fantasmic dining package. You can eat dinner and then receive a pass for special seating at Fantasmic . The dinner package costs extra and is not covered under the Disney Dining Plan.

If you go during the holidays (mid-November – December), don’t miss The Osborne family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The entire back-lot (Streets of America) is covered in lights that blink to the music. It is an incredible sight!

My Hollywood Studio Must-Sees:

Star Tours

Toy Story Midway Mania

Great Movie Ride

The Magic of Disney Animation

Walt Disney: One Man's Dream (Find out the story of the man behind all of this)

Fantasmic!

If you like thrill rides, I recommend the Tower of Terror and the Aerosmith Rock N Roller Coaster

Epcot

When I was kid I didn't really like Epcot because I thought it was boring. Epcot has made some changes over the years that has made it fun for all ages. I just love walking along World Showcase and visiting all of the countries.

The countries usually have some sort of arts and craft projects for the kids. Also keep your eyes out for character sitings in the countries.

If you decide to go on Mission Space, there are 2 lines…the regular line (orange line) and the “less intense” line (green line). The less intense line doesn’t spin.
 

If you are afraid of heights and want to go on Soarin’, sit in the back row. Do not sit in the front row! This row goes the highest.

Definitely see Illuminations. You can have a late dinner at one of the restaurants in World Showcase that has outdoor seating (example Mexico). Stay put and you can see Illuminations from there. Or if you have a Chase card, you can get into the special viewing area of Illuminations.

 

My Epcot Must-Sees:

Test Track

The Seas with Nemo & Friends as well as Turtle Talk with Crush

Journey Into Imagination (I've always loved Figment)

Jammitors (Future World East)

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

Magic KIngdom

If you get to the park before it opens you will see a very fun opening show to open the park! Nothing like starting your day off with a song and Mickey!

When you enter the park and stroll down Main Street USA you will notice a trend among the fellow guests...About 90% of people will go to the right and start in Tomorrowland. The first time my husband was in Magic Kingdom he didn't believe me until he saw it for himself. My advise is to start off by going to the left towards Adventureland and work your way clockwise through the park. You will be amazed how much you will do and see by lunch time! (assuming you get to the park when it opens)

If you like parades, watch the parades in Frontierland. The parade starts off in Frontierland and then goes down Main Street. Frontierland can be less crowded because everyone wants to see the parade on Main Street. Also, once you see the parade, you can go on rides while everyone is on Main Street waiting for the parade to finish.

Disney recently premiered their new daytime parade, "Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade"

If you don’t care about parades, that is a great time to go on some of the popular rides while everyone is waiting for and watching the parade.

You can make reservations for the Tomorrowland Terrace all you can eat dessert buffet and get special viewing for the fireworks. The cost is around $30 a person but you get dessert and a great view of the fireworks!

If you miss the Main Street Electrical Parade, don't worry, there is a second showing. The second showing is usually less crowded.

 

My Magic Kingdom Must-Sees:

Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland

Stitch’s Great Escape in Tomorrowland

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland

Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square

Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland

Jungle Cruise in Adventureland

Fireworks (Wishes Nighttime Spectacular) and nighttime parade (Main Street Electrical Parade)

If you don't mind the drop (5-story drop), I recommend you go on Splash Mountain in Frontierland

Pin Trading

Pin trading started around 2000 and is still going very strong. You purchase pins (cloisonné, semi- cloisonné or hard enamel metal) and a lanyard and you can trade with guests or cast members if you see a pin you like. Almost every store sells pins and “starter sets” which is a lanyard with a few pins to start trading. Other guests are very unlikely to trade their pins, but cast members always trade. You are allowed 2 trades per cast member. If the cast member is wearing a green badge near their pins, this means they only trade with children.

Prior to your trip you can buy pins on eBay for trading. People sell lots of anywhere between 10 – 100+ pins. This way you go down with pins to trade without having to spend a ton of money on pins while you are down there. Mystery packs of 2 pins can run you around $5 – $7+ in the parks and they only have 2 pins in them. Pins must be in good condition to be traded.

Guest Services in all 4 of the parks as well as Downtown Disney have books that you can go through to trade pins. You just need to go to Guest Services and ask.

Fair warning – it can be very addicting! But you can get some really great pins as souvenirs from purchasing them and trading. And the pins are really nice! You can purchase sets of pins or individual pins. Individual pins can range anywhere from $6 – $20. Pin sets can range anywhere from $14 and up. You can also buy books to store your pins in (which you can also purchase on eBay)

Disney Dining Plan

I highly recommend getting the dining plan! It will add to the cost upfront of your package but you are literally prepaying for your food! I always get the regular dining plan (Magic Your Way Package plus Dining) which consists of one snack, one counter service and one table service per person per each night's stay. For each meal, you get a non-alcoholic drink, an entrée and dessert. And you can order any entrée on the menu!

There are a few different options depending on your budget and preferences. There is a quick service only dining plan, the regular dining plan as well as a deluxe, premium and platinum.

For your table service meals, I highly recommend making reservations as most restaurants fill up quick, especially character dining. You can eat at pretty much any restaurant within WDW including character dining. There is a brochure you can download that lists the restaurants for each dining plan. (2014 Disney Dining Plan Info)

You can also use 2 table service credits towards a dinner show, signature restaurants or other special dining experiences.

With the dining plan, you get a reusable mug to use at any WDW resort. The reusable mug can be used for all you can drink: fountain soda/beverages, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Planning Your Trip and General WDW Tips

Dates to Travel

• The best time to go is when kids are in school. During school vacation times can be a bit more expensive and definitely more crowded
• You can look online for best dates to travel based on anticipated crowds

Booking your Trip

 

• You can go to Disneyworld.com and get up to 5 different quotes. Quotes are good for around 30 days.
• Booking through Disneyworld.com, you can book your trip with just a $200 deposit and make payments. Your trip needs to be paid in full 45 days prior to your arrival date.

Park Passes

• Regarding park passes...definitely opt for the park hopper option. This way you can go to different parks in the same day. This is very helpful.
• You will also want to figure out realistically how many days you will be in the parks. I always figure at least one day of rest in the middle of the vacation to recoup energy!
• You can tailor your package with your pass for days, hopper and the Water Park Fun & More Option. This is if you want to go to the water parks and/or Disney Quest.

 

Staying Inside the Park

• If you are staying inside the park, I recommend you take advantage of the extra magic hours. Extra magic hours mean that certain parks either open early or stay late on certain days for those staying on Disney property.
• If you are staying inside the park, they have their own bus system. Highly recommend using it. However if you prefer to drive to the parks, parking is free to those staying inside the park
• When you check into your hotel, grab a map for each park so that you can figure out what you would like to see at each park so you can plan out your day systematically. This is the best way to see everything you want to see during your trip

 

***Download the app “My Disney Experience” on your Smart Phone. It is very helpful! It includes wait times, character locations, maps of the parks, making dining reservations, making Fast Pass + reservations, etc…