September 2014 – threestrandswdw

What Next? More Planning For WDW

So, you have set your dates, and begun planning what attractions you want to see and what meals you want to eat. What’s next, you may ask? Let’s look at a few possibilities here at threestrandswdw!

Citrico's at The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa — Citrico’s at
The Grand Floridian
Resort and Spa

You began planning at the nine to twelve month in advance time frame. Now you are at the 180 day mark, and it’s time to make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) for your sit-down meals. Where do you begin? Well, you can start on the http://www.disneyworld.com website, click on the Things To Do tab, and cursor down to the Make Reservations link to begin looking at restaurants, dates, and times. You may need to be a bit flexible with some of the more popular selections, especially Character Meals! And, you might have better success selecting off peak hours for your meals. There is less demand, AND it can help you get more attractions in while everyone else is eating at the ‘usual’ times!

You can also make your reservations via the My Disney Experience portion of the website, it takes you to the same page with less steps to get there! And, you can get there by way of the My Disney Experience App on your Smartphone. This is very convenient for those day of reservations. Yes, they can happen from time to time, but it may not be at a more popular spot. Be adventurous and try something different, you may find a hidden treasure! Also, remember that you may have to give a credit card before your slot is confirmed. A $10 per person charge can be given if you do not show up for your reservation. But, this policy is also what makes walk up and day of reservations possible!

Making ADRs is a major mark in the waiting for your Walt Disney World vacation! It is hard, sometimes, to know what you are going to do six month out, but I strongly suggest that you at least book the Character and Signature meals at this point, as they are the most difficult to secure in the best of circumstances!

The next mark in you planning will be the customizing of your MagicBands and making your Fastpass Plus reservations for attractions! We’ll cover THAT in our next post. Until then, my friends, have a very Blessed and Magical day!!

Planning 101 for WDW

When it come to planning a trip to Walt Disney World, there are some basics that I think everyone needs to consider as you prepare to make your reservations. Even the simplest of plans can be a benefit to getting the most out of your WDW Vacation! So, today, we will look at some of the basic things needed when getting ready to visit The Happiest Place On Earth!

When it comes to planning, there are several categories of the types of planners. Today, I’m going to attempt to boil it ALL down to a few basic ideas, that you can choose to build upon, or not, and still have a wonderful time on your vacation!

First, make sure you know what time of year you want to visit! This makes a difference because of crowd levels! For instance, if you are wanting to head to WDW during the week of Christmas to New Year’s, crowds will be very, VERY heavy. New Year’s Eve is typically one of, if not THE, busiest times of the year throughout Walt Disney World! And, particularly at The Magic Kingdom! If you go in with no plans, you may end up with no vacation.

Spring and Summer breaks can also be heavier times to visit. And, having a good crowd calendar for planning purposes can be invaluable. There are two that I recommend. One as at http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/ for a very well organized and up-to-date planning tool! And, it’s free! The other does cost a little bit of money, but it’s reasonable, and if you listen to WDWToday podcast, there is a discount code to help defray a bit of that cost. It is found at http://www.touringplans.com! I have used this one myself on the past few trips and find the numbers to be highly accurate and helpful. There is also a chat feature on the site to ask planning questions, if you need extra assistance in putting things together.

The next thing I think is important for any WDW trip is what do take in your luggage. There are a lot of packing list ideas available online. One of the best, that I have found, is at http://wdwprepschool.com/the-ultimate-disney-world-packing-list/. This is a very complete list, and you can tailor the list to fit your specific needs. But, it has some good suggestions of things you might not think about without the guidance! There is also a short weekly podcast, that I found recently, where there is discussion about some of these planning ideas. Give it a listen, it’s worth the time!

Finally, let’s talk about food! If you want to eat at WDW, especially at a more relaxed, sit-down type restaurant, you will truly want to know what your travel dates are before you get to the six-month mark! The reason is that at 180 days from the start of your visit to Walt Disney World, the reservations system opens up for you to make your dining plans. And, IF you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you can use the 180 days plus 10 rule! That allows you to make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) up to 10 days into your vacation. And, that becomes very important if you want some of the harder to get reservations like Character Meals, or popular spots like ‘Ohana, or Be Our Guest!

These are the three basics I suggest to everyone going to Walt Disney World, anytime of the year! And, even though there are lower crowd times through the year, there are really no truly Low Seasons at WDW!

One more thing, if you don’t want to face the mountains of planning, may I suggest using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to help with the arrangements? Your specialized planner will take care of all of the details for you! You can be as involved as you wish, or just have them tell you when to leave and where to go once you get there! I can point you in that direction, if you need help. I have several friends who do a wonderful job assisting their clients!

Well, that’s it for now! Have a Blessed and Magical weekend, my friends! See you next time!

Outside the Parks at WDW

Sammy Duvall Walt Disney World Bay Lake — Sammy Duvall
Walt Disney World
Bay Lake

Sure, most of us go the Walt Disney World intent on hitting all of the parks as many times as possible during our stay! But, did you know that there are plenty of things to do outside of the parks? Let’s take a look at just a few of those things today, shall we?

One of the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort, even if you aren’t visiting any of the four theme parks, is that there is a lot to do in other parts of the property. After all, there are about 47 square miles to play with in this area of Florida! One thing I like to do, is just check out other resorts! It can be a bit time consuming with transportation, but if you aren’t on a schedule, the Disney World buses are a great way to enjoy the scenery! You might have to take a bus from your resort to one of the parks and transfer to another bus to visit the resort you are wanting to see. But, there’s no cost to riding the buses, or visiting the resorts. And, if you ask at the front desk, you may be able to get a glimpse of a room. Then walk around the outside areas of that resort. Check out the pool areas, landscaping, theming, or whatever might be of interest to you. And, all it costs is a little time!

There are golf courses and miniature golf options around the Walt Disney World Resort. Tee times can be arranged in advance for the PGA level golf courses. And, the mini-golf spots are open most of the day, so you can practice your putting all day long, if you wish! No reservations are needed for the miniature golf!

And then, there is Downtown Disney (DTD)! Getting to DTD is tricky with the transformation into Disney Springs, but again, the buses are a great way to get there! There are plenty of places to eat that will fit nearly any palate. There is entertainment all around, especially in the evenings. Disney Quest is at DTD and is a large arcade complex! It does have a cost, but can be fun, in a retro kind of way!

So, if you want the Disney feel without all of the rushing around, think about a more relaxing vacation outside of the parks! You still get the Disney touches, and a little bit of magic, too, but you can avoid the crowds and hustle of the parks. Even if you don’t want to leave the parks out completely, think about a day or two of your trip relaxing! After all, it is vacation!

What are some of the things you might do, if you aren’t going to the parks? I want to hear about it! Thanks for reading, and have a Blessed and Magical Day, my friends!!

This JUST In…Arendelle is coming to the Norway Pavilion and MORE

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Tom Staggs, announced today that Frozen will indeed be moving into the Norway Pavilion with a target opening in early 2016. The new attraction will be replacing Maelstrom, the popular attraction currently occupying the space where Arendelle will be taking up residence.

The attraction will present the looks and music made popular in Disney’s record-breaking hit, Frozen! And, there will also be, what is being called, a royal greeting area where Anna and Elsa will greet park guests! There is no word, yet, on how this may affect the meet and greet currently taking place at The Magic Kingdom.

The Frozen Summer Fun attractions are also being extended at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…well, some of them anyway. the Sing-along is set to continue and Wandering Oaken’s is going to be moved to a new location closer to the same area. It will have a larger play area, and will have real snow!

Finally, the holiday season at The Magic Kingdom will take on a bit of a different feel and Queen Elsa will transform Cinderella’s Castle into a real Ice Palace in the evenings. And, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf will join the queen in the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade during the party.

Cinderella's Castle Ice Palace — Cinderella’s Castle
Ice Palace

Disney Dining Plan…Snack Time at WDW!

We all keep our eyes open for it! We hope and pray it happens! Sometimes it comes in time! And, sometime it doesn’t! Some pay for it! Some catch a break and get it when it is offered free! What is it, you ask? The Disney Dining Plan offered with your Walt Disney World Vacation Package!

One of the most popular plans is the Plus Dining option! With this plan you get one quick service meal, one sit-down meal, and one snack per night, for the entire length of your stay. We’ll talk about quick service and sit-down meals another time. For this article, let’s look at the Snack portion of the deal!

Did you know that there are many snacks that can be a meal? And, some are even large enough to share between two our three people. Let’s look a a few ideas, shall we?

Toluca Legs Turkey Company Sunset Blvd. Disney's Hollywood Studio — Toluca Legs Turkey Company
Sunset Blvd.
Disney’s Hollywood Studio

Turkey Legs are popular at The Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios! They are considered a snack when on DDP, and easily shared by more than one person. They can be messy, but also filling.

Another idea are Chili Cheese Fries at Pecos Bills in The Magic Kingdom! And, talk about YUMMY!! Well worth it, if you are in the area!

Many of the items on the Yak and Yeti Counter in Disney’s Animal Kingdom are considered snacks. Try the Egg Roll or Chicken Fried Rice to keep you going!

If you are attending the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, many of the samplings at the World Showcase kiosks are able to be purchased as a snack. So, you can give your mouth an international experience all in one day!

And, finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mentioning a very wise use of snack credits might be to get a taste of the world famous Walt Disney World Popcorn!! It’s filling, satisfying, and the smell fills up the parks! Easily shared, and delicious, too!

Magic Kingdom Popcorn Cart — Magic Kingdom
Popcorn Cart

These are just a few ideas, I’m sure there are many other! Please add your thoughts below in the Comments section! And, as always, have a Blessed and Magical weekend, my friends!

Traveling with a Non-Park Loving Guest at WDW

Anyone who loves, Loves, LOVES Walt Disney World may be able to relate to this post! Many of us have met them, some of them are in our own families, or circle of friends! You plan and plan for that perfect trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth, and suddenly one of your traveling companions says, “I don’t really want to do the parks! What can I do that is NOT in the parks?” We’ll take a look at that in this installment of the ThreeStrandsWDW blog!

Many Disney addicts have a spouse, companion, or even child who isn’t as pumped up about visiting the parks. And, if not planned well, this can be the vacation from hell! What I think about is, “How can I make this vacation special for this person?” Thankfully, they are still going to Walt Disney World!” Which means there’s plenty to choose from to occupy your time.

Like to golf? WDW offers some of the best golfing around. There are four world class courses managed by the Arnold Palmer Golf Management.

Disney's Magnolia Golf Course Not so hidden Mickey! — Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course
Not so hidden Mickey!

Disney’s Magnolia, the longest championship level course on property! With lots of water hazards and 97 bunkers, this course is set up to challenge even the most avid player.

Disney’s Palm was completely redesigned by Arnold Palmer Course Design, and has nine water hazards and ninety-four bunkers. I’d say you could spend some time at the beach and not have near the driving distance to get there, if you’re not careful!

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Courses round out this foursome of fantastically laid out fairways, bunkers, and greens to give anyone who loves golf plenty to do while everyone else is in the one of the parks.

For someone with a different kind of adventurous spirit, there are a few options available, as well. There’s fishing at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Horseback riding or Archery at Fort Wilderness, or Parasailing on Bay Lake.

There are also some special tours that COULD get them into the parks, even for a short while. There is a Scuba diving adventure at The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Or, there are park tours available to get a look at the magic behind the magic.

Whatever their interest, there is something for EVERYONE to do at Walt Disney World! And, of course, there are a ton of dining experiences to be had, as well. And, who doesn’t find the food at WDW to be an attraction in and of itself?

Thanks for reading, and have a Blessed and Magical evening, my friends!