Trip Planning – threestrandswdw

Get Ready For Some Walking

When headed to Walt Disney World, there is one thing can’t be avoided by most guests! You will be doing a lot of WALKING!

Each day at one of the theme parks, resorts, or Downtown Disney can bring many hours and several miles of walking to your everyday routine. It is vitally important to plan accordingly! The first thing I would recommend is to get out and start walking while you are still at home. This may seem like a little thing, but it can be a bigger issue than we prepare for properly. Failure can lead to blisters and other foot issues that can make your vacation a bit more challenging.

Make sure you have a good pair of shoes to wear in park, too! I would not suggest a brand new pair, however, because this isn’t the best method of breaking them in. I think that if you buy a new pair, you should do it at least a month ahead of your trip!

Also, as a backup, have some moleskin on hand should blisters become a part of your journey. You can buy it in sheets to save money, and cut them into the sizes you need. They do provide a considerable amount of cushioning and can save your time-sensitive touring of the parks.

Don’t let the amount of walking scare you off! Plan accordingly and get moving!

I wish you a Blessed and Magical Saturday!!

Jammitors!

Every now and then I like to take a look at some of the ‘minor’ entertainment offerings around the parks. In this case, I would like to introduce you to The Jamminators! They wander around Future World at EPCOT and make beautiful music…with trash cans, lids, and other janitorial type equipment. Think STOMP in the concrete!

The Jammitors are very entertaining and fun. They have a complete act, most of which involves percussive beats with the tools of their trade. If you look at the daily guide upon entrance to EPCOT, it will tell you the times they will be playing, but the location isn’t always known. Give them a minute or two of your time and you will be energized to continue with your touring.

Here’s a sample from Travels By Rick YouTube channel http://youtu.be/DCxBWdWVsdc Enjoy!!

And as always, have a Blessed and Magical Day!

Hopping

You only have 4 days to get as much magic in as you possibly can, and you’re not sure how to pull off everything you want to do. One possible solution is what is called HOPPING!

You will hear people debating whether to Park Hop or not. It is a basic question to ask during your initial planning for your visit to Walt Disney World. My advice is that it depends on how many days you are going to be able to squeeze out. If you can devote at least 7 days (or more) to your park days, you may not want to use the Park Hopping option to your admissions. If you have 5 days or less, Park Hopping may make better sense for you to get in all the rides, attractions, and fireworks that you have on your must do list.

How does Park Hopping work? First order of business is to determine how many days you are committing to your trip to The World. Then map out what attractions, rides, fireworks, and even restaurants you are wanting to make sure you get to see. If Park Hopping will allow you to fit more of these items completed, then you need only pay $59 per person for the entire time of your visit. Yes, even if you decide to hop on the 7 days or more, it is still only $59 for the entire length of your admissions!

Granted, this is my suggestion, and others may use different strategies. But, having a plan and knowing how you want to accomplish your goals makes for a smoother visit to THE Vacation Kingdom!

Have a Blessed, Warm, and Magical day, my friends!!

Choices

When traveling to Walt Disney World, one thing becomes quite obvious! Planning means making Choices! Part three of the ABCs of Walt Disney World!

There are many choices needing to be made when planning a visit to the Vacation Kingdom. Let’s start with where to stay!

There are currently thirty possible accommodations available, according to the Walt Disney World website. Everything from a campsite to a deluxe villa can be yours for the right price! The good news is that, if you are flexible with your time frame, you can save some money with a variety of Special Offers. The choice of a value resort gets you, what I like to call, active theming. The values have large character figures, special pool areas, and rooms that reflect the themes. Your value choices are; All-Star Resorts (Sports, Movies, and Music), Pop Century, and Art of Animation. The All-Stars share buses while Pop and Animation each have dedicated bus services.

Moderate resorts have a more subtle design, and are generally more relaxing at the end of a busy park day. These two levels are also some of the largest resorts on property! And, they are incredibly popular! The smallest of these is Port Orleans – French Quarter. Then you have Port Orleans – Riverside, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado Springs. Near EPCOT are the Swan and Dolphin resorts. These are on Disney property, but NOT owned or operated by Disney Resorts. And, I’m not sure what category these belong in, but the pricing is closest to this level most of the time.

Many of the deluxe resorts are smaller properties, and closer to the theme parks. On the Resort Loop, you have three resorts; Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian. These are closest to Magic Kingdom Park! Beach Club and Ocean Club are closest to EPCOT. Wilderness Lodge is at Fort Wilderness and is a short boat ride from Magic Kingdom. And, Animal Kingdom Lodge is closest to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Many of the deluxe resorts also have deluxe villas that are more spacious for larger parties, and also have a larger cost. But, in the right circumstance, these may make the best sense for your vacation.

Finally, one option that many don’t think about, is the Fort Wilderness Campground. There are tent sites and RV sites that have all of the comforts of home available. It is possibly the least expensive way to vacation at WDW, but there are typically no special offers like free dining offered. However, you can still take advantage of any of the add-ons when you make your campground reservation.

A is for Attitude

Today begins a series on the ABCs of Walt Disney World. Truthfully, I am not sure where this will go! And, we may not take this in alphabetical order, but we shall try! There are a few letters I haven’t filled in yet but there is time! And, we may repeat a few along the way, also.

Attitude when visiting Walt Disney World is very important! Remember, you are on vacation! Now, I know that visiting WDW isn’t always stress free, but I also believe that if we work to keep our attitude in check as a part of our planning process, that we can reduce the stress and be more free to enjoy the magic of this kingdom.

I’m sure we all have journeyed into a park and heard people grumbling about one thing or another. This is where I think the best weapon is having a good plan. And, making sure you have the research into all of the little things that make a Disney vacation special, can also save a lot of disappointment and hurt feelings.

There are some who are going to try to sway other’s attitudes toward the negative no matter how much they plan. But, if those around choose to ignore the negative, a fabulous vacation CAN be had by all!

So, what is the key to a good attitude while at Walt Disney World? Don’t be like Grumpy!! Make sure that everyone is on the same page as far as what attractions we are aiming to see, where and when our meals are scheduled, and how we are getting to the parks! There can always be a bit of flexibility, but I think it is a great idea to have a basic plan for the day before we begin.

What are some of your ideas? Leave a comment below!

I would also like to ask for a little help from readers. If you could share this with your Disney loving friends or family, I would appreciate it! I’m trying to build the reader base and would love to include them in the fun!

Until next time, may you have a Blessed and Magical day!!

Travel Agent or No Travel Agent

When you consider all of the information available on the internet, it is easy to do all of your own research and travel plans. And, for many, this is a fine way to plan your Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line vacation. But, there are those who just don’t want to put THAT much thought into making the arrangements. That is where having an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at your side makes sense.

These folks are specialists in all that takes place within the Disney Destinations galaxy! They keep their ear to the ground to stay informed on changes to reservation procedures, dining options, ticketing, or pretty much anything else within The World! And, with the advent of MyMagic+, MagicBands, and My Disney Experience, it becomes even more important to understand ALL that is taking place at Walt Disney World.

Disney Vacation Planners can take care of every aspect of your travel arrangements, or they can help you do whatever you are comfortable doing on your own. But, there are those who DO want to do it all on their own, and that’s fantastic! If you have to time to pour over all of the options, resorts, ticketing, crowd predictions, etc., then by all means, hit the internet and get your plans rolling. I would ask, however, that you keep in mind that if you ask a travel agent for advice, and are not using their services, they don’t have to assist you. Many will, but it’s not fair to them! I would suggest that if you have questions, you call Disney directly and talk to a Cast Member. They will do all they can to answer your questions.

Yes, I am working to build a Disney travel business. It is all that I do! But, I’m not writing this to promote myself, or anyone else. I just wanted to try and give you food for thought if you are planning to head to any of the Disney Destinations anytime soon! Remember, the longer you wait to book, the more it is likely to cost!

Have a Blessed and Magical Weekend, my friends!!

Survived without Photopass +

On this past trip, I fought myself about whether or not to purchase the Photopass+ package. As it turned out, it was a good plan to NOT take it. Why? Because I only saw a few photographers at the normal spots inside the parks. Main St. in the Magic Kingdom, Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom, Spaceship Earth in EPCOT, and Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I saw no roaming photographers, and none anywhere else.

I carried my own camera and snapped a couple hundred pictures. Add to that two cell phones and one video camera with photo capture, and I have HOURS of stuff to go through. A preliminary edit has over three hours on a DVD slideshow.

I know with the creation of Memory Maker, that many are considering how this might impact their visit to Walt Disney World. This package will include all character dining pictures, ride photos, and the standard Photopass pictures. This is a good deal, IF you can find the photographers to take pictures. IF you are planning a lot of Character interaction. IF you’re riding all of the rides that offer on-ride photos.

The pre-purchase price is $149 if purchased at least three days before your arrival. If you choose to wait, the cost jumps up to $199. I can see where this could a benefit for some, but for my money, I can take a lot of pictures for $149. I may not have the on-ride pictures, but it seems to me that is the only loss I can experience.

I would suggest that you look at your plans very carefully and determine if this is a worthwhile expense for you. Keep in mind, that a Photopass Photographer will gladly use your camera, or cell phone, to take a picture for you at any of the usual places. If the package makes sense for you, by all means make the purchase before you leave.

Coming soon, mrsthreestrandswdw will be submitting a comparison study of our two most recent trips. They couldn’t be more different. Until next time, have a Blessed and Magical Day!!

Restaurant Reviews To Help Choose!

Are you ready to do some choosing of restaurants to eat at while at Walt Disney World? Is your ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation) day rapidly approaching and you’re just not sure if a particular restaurant is what you really want? This article is an attempt to link you to some aids in selecting the right place for the right time in your plans.

One of the most visited sites is probably at AllEars.net. If you visit http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=32 you can read some reviews for the different restaurants on the Walt Disney Resort property. Keep in mind that those of us who are a bit more fanatical about WDW food, may be a little harsh in our reviews.

Another site that I was surprised to find a lot of information on is http://www.tripadvisor.com. TripAdvisor does have quite a bit of information on Disney property restaurants. And the reviews seem to be well balanced! Just put the name of the restaurant in the search box, and include Disney World to narrow the search, and you should be able to read up on your picks.

Finally, I am finding menus on many different sites these days! AllEars.net has menu listings with prices. TouringPlans.com has menu items in their Lines app that you can get on Android or Iphone, there is a small cost for this app. And, of course, there is the Disney World website. Although, it is a bit more bulky to access the menu information.

Until next time, have a blessed and magical evening!

Disney Honors Veterans

As Veteran’s Day comes and goes, I’d like to ask those of you in one of the Disney Parks, to take a moment at the flag pole and thank God for those who sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, for the freedoms we have in the United States of America! Since my dad died, and I got to see first hand “on behalf of a grateful nation”, I have become more aware of just what this means to me, personally.

At Disneyland, and The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, there is a flag retreat ceremony. But, how many of us take the time to observe this ceremony? So, I want to make you a challenge! If you are at Disneyland, or the Magic Kingdom, please check the daily calendar and take the time to pay tribute to the veterans in the audience.

Here is something to enjoy from DAPs Magic YouTube Channel…

SALUTE!!

Makin Memories…Sing Along!!

I’m sure that many of my fellow Disney World friends will remember that song from the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT Center. I loved the song, and I loved the film that followed, Magic Journeys. But, what I really love is how we have the ability to save the memories we have made while in the parks.

When I first visited WDW, it was just Magic Kingdom and EPCOT! And, about the only means to keep memories were Instamatic Cameras, 35mm Cameras, or 8mm film. My first trip, I took an 8mm film camera. I was amazed at how that camera was able to capture the vivid colors of Disney. My second trip, and subsequent trips over the next 4 years, was a Fuji AX-3 35mm and again, it was a really nice method to capture the magic in pictures!

Today, we have a larger variety of equipment to use and it can be quite confusing. We have our cell phones with cameras and video capture. There are I Pads, but most of us find it hard to enjoy our fireworks when someone sticks one in the air. Digital cameras come in many different styles from palm sized to full 35mm style bodies, and allow immediate reward when you capture that perfect picture. And then, there are the newer generation of video cameras. Many make use of Hi-Def and digital media. They are quite small and light and when it comes to the images…WOW!!

So, whatever your method of Making Memories that last, the important thing is to make sure you have some sort of record to share and pass on to your kids. Taking pictures is Making Memories!

Thanks for reading! Have a blessed and magical weekend!