Part Two: Disneyland Diamond Celebration and Christmas Festivities

Santa and his reindeer in Disney California Adventure's Hollywood Land

The second day of our Disneyland vacation was dedicated to Disney California Adventure (DCA), the most recent park in the Disneyland resort area. I've read in various places that DCA has pretty extensive holiday decorations and they did not disappoint! The Christmas tree on Buena Vista Street was so big that I couldn't fit it into a picture. Most surprising, though, was Cars Land. I was incredibly impressed with their ability to make the Christmas decorations also Cars themed, which doesn't seem like an easy task. 

We were also lucky enough to finally obtain Fastpass tickets to Radiator Springs Racers. I've always resigned myself to the single-rider line (which usually has a 20-30 minute wait) but was happy to find that at 10:30am we were able to get a Fastpass for 6:35pm. I am also not a huge character meet-and-greet fan but I noticed that the lines to see Lightning McQueen and Mater were not nearly as long as I've seen them on previous trips. 

We enjoyed lunch at the newly redesigned Smokejumper's Grill (formerly known as Taste Pilots Grill), which is home to my favorite chicken sandwich on the planet. We also picked up a Diamond Celebration cupcake at Fiddler Fifer and Practical Cafe, which was promptly devoured.

Orange cupcake with chocolate crunchy pearls, mixed berry filling, cream cheese Bavarian mousse, blue buttercream trim and a chocolate diamond

Although lunch was delicious, we were most impressed with the World of Color dining package at Wine Country Trattoria. I've previously dined at Ariel's Grotto for the same package (not recommended) so I was hesitant to corner us into a package deal again, but Wine Country Trattoria won me over. I started with the Skywalker Pinot Noir (because of the name, duh) and a scrumptious salad with goat cheese and figs. 

Our entrees included the filet mignon with herb-roasted potatoes and sauteed green beans and Osso Buco with polenta and asparagus.

Filet Mignon

Osso Buco

We definitely left the restaurant feeling very full so we had to walk off some of the meal. It was during this stroll that we stumbled upon one of DCA's holiday celebrations, the Disney Viva Navidad Street Party! It's a festive parade of dancers, a float with the Three Caballeros, and a mariachi band. Whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year, you can't deny the happiness that accompanies every Disneyland event. 

The Three Caballeros in the Disney Viva Navidad Street Party

Finally it was time to wind down our night and we did so by securing our seats in the World of Color wet zone. There are two World of Color shows right now, Winter Dreams and Celebrate! (for the Diamond Celebration) but we were only able to stick it out for the Winter Dreams show because the temperature was dropping and it was starting to rain. 

As the picture indicates, there was a lot of Olaf in the Winter Dreams show, which disappointed me just a bit. I love "Frozen" as much as the next Disney fan but I feel the original World of Color offering is a more inclusive mix of Disney favorites.

We ended our trip with a relaxing day at Huntington Beach and Balboa Island (Newport Beach) and dinner in Downtown Disney at Rainforest Cafe. We had adequate time to browse the shops and even picked out the first authentic Disney Parks ornament for our new Christmas collection. Downtown Disney is also decorated for the holidays, complete with carolers, but the festivities don't come alive until the evening. Here I've attached a picture of Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink although it was closed at the time that I took the picture:

It was a quick five-day turnaround but I think it gave us plenty of time to enjoy all that Disneyland has to offer. Feel free to share your experience in the comments!

Part One: Disneyland Diamond Celebration and Christmas Festivities

I'm back from my annual trip to Disneyland and excited to share news of all things Disney in Southern California! This post is a detailed overview of my latest trip to Anaheim, complete with mini-reviews of Blue Bayou and Wine Country Trattoria restaurants as well as the Tropicana Inn & Suites hotel.

First, I have to say that early December is the perfect time to visit Disneyland. The weather was fantastic (70 degrees during the day and lower 50s at night) and the crowds were the lowest I've seen since my first visit six years ago!

Our flight was super early on December 8th - 5am with a two-hour layover in Dallas before finally arriving in Orange County. The first task on the list was to grab a burger from In-n-Out because being a Midwesterner is hard and animal-style fries are my coping mechanism. We had dinner plans with local friends that evening but the hotel boasted an early check-in option so we figured we could get our room before 4pm without any problems. Optimism was our first mistake. The agent at the front desk plastered a fake smile on his face as he took my name and number and said he would text me when our room became available. Remember when I said check-in was at 4? Well that text came at 3:45pm, a whole whopping 15 minutes early. I don't know about other travelers but I would have preferred hearing the truth instead of being fed false hope. I even called for an update at 1pm and got the same vague promise that I had heard earlier. We filled most of those hours with a stroll through the GardenWalk and a stop at Downtown Disney but we were afraid to stray too far in case the text came through. Alas, we finally got to our assigned room and settled in.

I chose Tropicana Inn & Suites because of its proximity to Disneyland's pedestrian entrance but the accommodations looked pretty nice based on the pictures. See for yourself:

We reserved a standard king room and received a semi-secluded location with a balcony. The room was clean and comfortable but we quickly noticed that there was a horrible noise coming from the room next door and it sounded exactly like a squeaky room service cart that was being pushed down a hallway. We pondered the issue and finally determined that the noise was the sound of the pipes and hot water heater (the room didn't have a number and appeared to be the size of a maintenance closet). We tested the theory by taking showers and stumbled upon yet another inconvenience: the water switches between hot/cold every 20 seconds. We would have requested a new room but we had already unpacked most of our belongings and needed to leave to meet our friends. Official review: Tropicana Inn & Suites, though very close to the parks and clean, the parking situation is a nightmare and the staff is not helpful for accommodating guests before 4pm. The noise and shower issues detracted from the experience. I do not recommend this hotel.

Now, to the stuff you came here to read! The first park day was spent at the original 'happiest place on earth': Disneyland. The combination of holiday and Diamond Celebration decorations made for a stunning theme. There was garland and ornaments and tinsel and diamonds everywhere. The castle was breathtaking with all of its adornments and the huge Christmas tree on Main Street was a sight to behold! Even more exciting (for the geeky couple that we are) is that Tomorrowland had been temporarily transformed into the Season of the Force and many changes had been made to our most beloved attractions. Most notably, Captain EO was replaced with Path of the Jedi (warning: do not view this attraction if you have not seen Star Wars and would be upset with spoilers) and Space Mountain was changed to Hyperspace Mountain, an intergalactic mission to investigate an Imperial Star Destroyer stationed near Jakku (a planet from the new "Star Wars: The Force Awakens").  Also, the lower level of Innoventions was invaded by Star Wars props and models as well as meet-and-greet areas for Darth Vader and Chewbacca. Even the food offerings were updated for special Star Wars-themed fare but our cravings were of the Cajun variety. Good thing we had reservations at Blue Bayou!

Here's where my neurotic planning paid off: Blue Bayou almost always requires a reservation and this trip was no different. Several families at the hostess stand were turned away with an explanation that the next open seat wouldn't be available until 10 days later. I almost couldn't believe it but then we were seated and I soon forgot all about the formalities of Disney dining customs because Blue Bayou transported me to a dimly-lit back porch of a large home in Louisiana. The backdrop of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride was hardly a nuisance because the setting was perfect. We started with a salad and gumbo and my partner ordered the Louisiana Lemonade - a mysterious concoction of lemonade, Sprite, mango, and raspberry flavors. Our entrees didn't disappoint, either. I played it safe with my favorite MonteCristo sandwich and he ordered the flat iron steak, which ultimately ended up being the best thing we ate during the whole trip! We will be making a trip back to Blue Bayou on future vacations.

The afternoon held plenty of other holiday ride enhancements, including the Nightmare Before Christmas installments for the Haunted Mansion and lost holiday cargo on the Jingle Cruise (otherwise known as the Jungle Cruise). Haunted Mansion broke down while we were riding it, which made us late for the Christmas Fantasy parade. Oh well. There's always next year I guess. The rest of the day was nothing short of magical, though, as the sun began to set and the holiday lights were turned on. it's a small world, a spectacular holiday attraction in itself, lit up the park and became the backdrop for our fireworks location. We stared at the sky and sang beloved Disney songs at the top of our lungs, ending with "Let It Go" as fake snow fell from the sky. I was a prisoner to the moment but we hardly had time to waste because we wanted to get a good position for the Paint the Night parade. I'll admit here that I'm not much of a parade fan but this one completely changed my perspective on the issue. Just take a look at all of the colors!

That's it for the first half of our Disneyland 2015 experience. Read on to the next post for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney details!

Get Packin'!

Your reservations are made, transportation secured, the countdown is over - you're ready to pack! So what should you take on your theme park vacation? Some things may seem obvious but I bet there are a few ideas here that you may have overlooked. I'll also be including a mini-review of the best walking shoes for those long days at the parks.

Luggage, the most essential item on the list. You can't live in just the clothes on your back (or you could but I wouldn't advise it) so what should you use for packing? While I wouldn't advise putting out any extra cash on new suitcases, I would highly recommend that you use luggage tags and easily-identifiable markings so that you aren't waiting in baggage claim forever (if you're flying). I like to tie a piece of ribbon around the handle of my bags - something bright - so that I can see my bag coming as soon as it's on the conveyor belt for pickup. Although I've never used hard-sided luggage, I know a few people that swear by it and I know it doesn't hurt to have a little extra protection.

For my budget travelers using Allegiant Air or another value-priced airlines: you will be nickel and dimed for every piece of luggage you take. Remember that you'll need to save space for souvenirs so try to combine bags where possible. Your free personal item on the plane doesn't have to be your purse; carry a backpack instead and put your purse inside it.

Next: clothes. Your first task is to check the forecast - ideally the 10-day forecast to get a good idea of what's to come and then check historical data if you feel it's necessary. I'm not a fan of shorts so I usually pack yoga capri's in the warmer months and comfy jeans or leggings in the winter months. T-shirts, a light jacket, or even modest tank tops are a good bet as well. Men: my travel companion loves to stock up on the long shorts sales at PacSun and Tilly's - he'll take a few pairs of a shorts, one pair of a jeans, and t-shirts/tank tops for the entire trip. We never plan a meal at a place that is super nice (although even those places are pretty easy on the dress code because it's a tourist destination) so we don't worry about fancy clothes.

Shoes - I can't talk about this enough. I've tried it all: sneakers, sandals, crocs. The ONLY brands I recommend are Sanuk and New Balance. The Sanuk shoes (even the ones that look like sneakers) have a waterproof, cushioned footbed that feels like a pillow and absorbs a lot of the shock from the concrete. I am a huge fan of the yoga-sling for women:

My travel companion also wears Sanuk sandals in the parks although he prefers Vans sneakers on some days.

Amazon can save you tons of money on shoes! Check prices frequently if you're planning to buy because a $40 pair of sandals can drop to $18 from one day to the next.

Here are a few other items to consider packing:

• sunscreen and spf lip balm
• band aids, blister band aids, moleskin for shoes that rub
• over-the-counter meds (they are expensive in hotel sundry shops)
• Magic Bands!
• a folder with all of your reservation/admission documents - keep with you on the plane
• power bank or extra charger for your phone while in the parks
• hats/visors/bandanna/headbands
• sunglasses
• children's items - bottles/food/sippy cups/bibs/diapers/etc
• extra batteries for any battery-powered devices on the list
• hand sanitizer

I also recommend stopping by a Walgreens once you're in Orlando to grab extra items that you didn't have the room to pack but will likely use on the trip - like snacks for the hotel room and theme parks, extra bottled water, and even some travel sized toiletries. The chain stores are the best stop for these items because their prices aren't any higher than they would be at home. You can even find some cool souvenirs at these places that are a fraction of the price you'll pay anywhere else.

For an exhaustive packing list, I recommend checking out MouseSavers

And one last bit of information: if you are going to Orlando and decide to stay at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you'll see that they have pool floaties for sale near the lazy river. They charge between $5-$15 for these items but check prices at Walgreens or Wal-Mart while you're in Orlando and pick up a cheaper option. The folks at the floatie hut will still inflate and deflate your item for free.

I hope this information has been helpful! My next post will dive into planning an itinerary and tips for parkhopping!

Universal Orlando!

This blog's focus is primarily Disney, but I would feel guilty if I kept the details of Universal Orlando from my readers. It's a fantastic experience and a great add-on to any Orlando vacation. I often plan my Disney World trips with an extra couple of days allocated specifically for Universal Studios. If you have any Harry Potter fans in the travel party then this is a MUST SEE!

Universal Orlando is divided into two theme parks and a water park. I have not visited the water park so I can not vouch for its fun factor but the Universal theme parks offer plenty to keep you busy. There are now Harry Potter areas in both parks so there's really no way to go wrong with the order in which you visit them. I feel that one day at each park is adequate although there are sometimes offers to get an extra day free and you may want a third day to go back to see your favorites if it's your first time.

Universal Studios is the company's namesake and boasts many of the classic rides such as Men In Black, Shrek, E.T., Terminator, and Twister. They've also added a Minions Mayhem ride and the new Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion in recent years. Diagon Alley is the most recent of the Harry Potter additions; you are welcomed by an ordinary London street-front and walk through the 'magical' passage to get to the Diagon Alley area. 

Magical passageway

Here you'll find the main attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, as well as the Leaky Cauldron and many themed gift shops. 

My travel companion's meal - mini pie combo

My meal at the Leaky Cauldron - chicken sandwich

Universal also added Butterbeer ice cream to the list of delectable wizard-themed treats you can find in this area. 

Mmmm butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream!

If you've purchased a parkhopper pass then you can take the Hogwarts Express at platform 9 3/4 to Hogsmeade, located in Universal's Islands of Adventure. The other themed areas in Universal Studios are Production Central, which houses the popular Transformers ride, New York, San Francisco, Woody Woodpecker's Kid Zone, Hollywood, and World Expo. If you're walking through World Expo then you're likely to consider it Springfield because it is themed quite literally like The Simpsons home town. You'll even find Moe's bar! 

Islands of Adventure has many themed areas including Suess Landing, The Lost Continent, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, and Marvel Super Hero Island. As you might have guessed, Suess Landing has plenty of toddler-friendly play areas and attractions but it also boasts the coolest candy shop I've ever seen! I highly recommend this sugary stop if you like noshing on hard-to-find candy from yesteryear. 

Grabbing candy in Suess Landing

The Lost Continent will always hold a special place in my heart because it houses one of my favorite theme park restaurants (tied with Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom). Mythos is consistently voted the best theme park restaurant, and for good reason. The food is ALWAYS amazing and the chefs are happy to accommodate special requests. It's usually only open until 5pm so make sure to get your reservations early. 

Our meal at Mythos - cranberry crusted pork and brown butter gnocchi

Hogsmeade is the original Harry Potter themed area and it features the Hogwarts Castle in the background with the village of Hogsmeade leading up to it. The snow-capped shops and street performances really feel authentic. 

Hogsmeade

The Three Broomsticks is the featured restaurant here, and I prefer it over The Leaky Cauldron. The seating has a better layout and the queue system moves quicker (an employee will direct you to the cashier and then you are taken to another employee that directs you to a specific table). Jurassic Park is exactly as it sounds - a very lush, forested area with its namesake ride. There isn't much to see here but there are already additions being built as the franchise makes a comeback. Toon Lagoon is a cute little area with comic strip conversation bubbles hanging from street signs and lots of bright colors and designs. It's more of a passageway to the Marvel Super Hero Island but it's worth a few minutes of your time to look around, especially if you're a fan of Popeye! Marvel Super Hero Island has the best roller coaster I've ever experienced, hands-down. The Incredible Hulk Coaster is big, green, and scary. It goes super fast and even takes you upside down. I highly recommend this ride for any coaster enthusiast! 

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

This area also houses another of my favorite rides, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. The line for this ride moves pretty quickly but you won't want to miss the offices of the Daily Bugle as you make your way to the front. This is a 3D interactive ride with lots of fast movement and turns including a 400 foot freefall experience. 

Similar to the Disney properties, Universal offers a dining and shopping district on site. You can't avoid CityWalk because you must walk through it to reach the park entrances but it's a great place to take a break or unwind at the end of the day. You can find restaurants such as Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Bob Marley: A Tribute to Freedom, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, and Emeril's Restaurant. There is also a movie theater and mini-golf course.

The Universal property is situated at one end of the famous International Drive in Orlando. This area is a tourist attraction in itself (much like the Strip in Vegas or main street in most other touristy locations). You'll find go-karts, mini golf, Ripley's Believe it or Not, World of Chocolate museum and shop, souvenir shops, and an abundance of dining options on this street alone. 

World of Chocolate

Mini Golf at Pirate's Cove

The hotels are endless, too, but I will warn you that there are some rather unsavory options. Check the traveler ratings before you book a room! I stayed at Universal's newest resort, Cabana Bay, on my last trip and it was a fantastic experience! It is pretty affordable - about $120/night in off season - and offers two pools, a lazy river, a huge food court, and free transportation to the parks. 

Standard Room at Cabana Bay

Lazy River Pool

If you're staying in this area of International Drive then I highly recommend grabbing a meal at Hash House a Go Go. It's been featured on Food Network and offers huge portions of comfort food. You won't be disappointed!

Sage Fried Chicken and Banana Vanilla French Toast

I know this has been a long post and I thank you for sticking it out. I hope I've convinced you of the value in adding Universal to your travel plans and can't wait to hear your stories!

How Do I Start Planning a Trip?

Today we're taking it back to the beginning - I mean, waaaaay back. Let's talk about the basics of HOW to start planning your trip. We've already gone over the questions that you need to ask yourself so let's assume that you've figured out where you want to go, the length of your trip, how you're going to get there, and an idea of where you might want to stay. Next, let's break it down based on the major travel components:

• In most cases, if you are more than 4 months away from your preferred travel date then you've got quite a few options available to you. I recommend signing up on airfarewatchdog or any other travel site that will monitor airfare and alert you when the price drops. This is important because many airlines won't lower prices until 1-2 months before your trip. In fact, Huffington Post reported that 47 days is the magical number to get the lowest rate on your airfare. However, you can still feel confident in checking for package deals more than 1-2 months out because you may find a steal. 

• If you know that you want to stay at a Disney resort hotel, then I recommend booking it 2-3 months ahead of your intended travel date because that is historically the timeframe that Disney releases discounts. If it makes it any easier to remember, book your room the season before the season you plan to travel (so if you're going in fall, book in summer). Remember, you can always book your hotel, park tickets, dining plan, and extras on Disney's site with only a $200 deposit. You can also purchase airfare from the Disney site but it has to be paid in-full at time of booking and they typically don't offer any discounted fares compared to the other big name travel sites. 

• If you don't want to stay at a Disney resort, then check out hotels.com to see other properties in your desired location. This is a great way to a) see all of the options at once, b) find the hotel you want and then go to that hotel's website to check for discounts, or c) find the hotel you want and then see if hotels.com has the "pay at hotel" option. For option b, sometimes you'll see that an individual hotel website will offer a better rate for booking straight from them or they may have options to give you free extras - whether it's a free room night, free passes to an area attraction, or some other incentive. Regarding option c, I've actually used this perk myself and it's very handy. You typically won't have to pay a deposit but I've seen a couple of hotels that will require one. If you find one that doesn't then you will enter your card number to guarantee the hotel room but nothing will leave your account until you actually check in. Super helpful for people planning a trip without immediate funds available! 

• Park tickets are the most flexible option for the entire trip. Prices don't usually vary too much, but sometimes Disney will offer a deal to get an extra day for free (typically on the passes for 3 or more days). You can get tickets from any major travel site, the Disney site, a few 'discount' retailer sites (I only recommend using Undercover Tourist for Disney World and aRes Travel for Disneyland), or wait til you get to the park and purchase at the entrance. Other attractions in the area will typically work in the same fashion, unless you want to catch a popular concert that may sell out.

• If you need a rental car, then I recommend working it into a package deal with your airfare or going to an individual site and searching for a deal from your destination airport. You can do a Google search for "rental car discount" and find a discount code for pretty much any major rental car company. Budget Car Rental is especially good at giving out discounts and they even offer a little extra discount for paying in advance. If you aren't planning to pay for the rental at time of booking, then you can opt to pay for it at the time you pick it up - again, a great option for anyone that doesn't have immediate funds available. Remember, most car rental agencies will charge a deposit on the card you're using for the rental and if you plan to use a debit card then they will do a credit check before allowing you to take a vehicle. If you want to use a debit card but don't have great credit then I recommend using Dollar Rental Car because they often won't run the credit check OR if you pay a deposit online then they have to give you a car anyway (I got this information directly from a Dollar rep on my last trip). One last tip about rental cars - try to fuel up your vehicle as far from the tourist areas and airports as possible. Those places are usually super expensive, especially the gas station located near Disney Boardwalk on Disney World property.

Hopefully we've covered everything you need to know about finding the best deals for every detail of your trip. Remember, if you're expecting to dine on Disney property then you'll need to make those reservations 180 days out for Disney World and 60 days out for Disneyland! 

Disney World Caribbean Beach Resort Review

Wow it's been two weeks since the last post! I wanted to give everyone (myself included!) a little break from all of the information. I know planning a Disney trip can be exciting but it's a job in itself. This post will be a departure from the previous line of information as I prepare to give you my honest review of Walt Disney World's Caribbean Beach Resort.

Caribbean Beach Resort

The decision to book Caribbean Beach Resort for my 2014 vacation was completely involuntary. I had already selected travel dates in late February and wanted to wait for the room-only discounts to pop up. Anyone trying to plan a vacation at the beginning of the year probably knows that there are a few obstacles - such as spending money over the holidays - that can make the process more difficult than it should be. I had originally planned to book a Port Orleans resort but by the time I had the cash to snag the hotel (because I was booking through Orbitz), the only resort available was Caribbean Beach. It's not that I didn't want to stay there, just that it was not my first choice at the time. I got a great deal, though, and only ended up paying about $150/night. If you aren't utilizing the deposit option on Disney's website, then you definitely should keep updated on the travel site discounts.

Create an account on ebates.com and you could earn cashback on your booking! Be sure to check the details on the offers but you can get a bit of your money back just for clicking to the website from the ebates site first. I've earned over $120 in cashback over the past year just by using the ebates plugin for Chrome browser! (please note, I am not affiliated with ebates whatsoever - I just love how easy it is to use!)

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The physical check-in process at a Disney hotel is quite tedious. The lobby is often full and nearly everyone has a question about something. Thankfully the process is more electronic now and you don't even have to stop by the lobby to check-in anymore but in 2014 that wasn't the case. I waited in the lobby for nearly 45 minutes just trying to get checked in but the staff was very friendly and treated each person with the same candor. Finally my room was assigned to my MagicBand and I was off to the Jamaica building!

I should probably warn you here that Caribbean Beach Resort is the most spread out of all the Disney World hotels. That means lots of walking if you're stuck in a remote building such as Trinidad South. Take a look at the map for a better idea:

I was a little worried about being assigned to Jamaica but it was actually one of the better buildings on the property because it was a shorter walking distance to the common building (via the bridge across the lake) and it was the first stop on most of the theme park buses. 

As soon as we parked, we knew we were going to like our stay. The buildings are all very bright and tropically decorated. There was definitely an island feel about the property with lots of greenery. Each building has its own 'quiet' pool nestled nearby.

We paid for a standard room with a king bed and found that it was ample space for two people. I would imagine that a family of five or more would probably get cramped in the standard space with two beds. There was a towel Mickey folded and waiting for us on the bed (in true Disney fashion!) and the whole room felt warm and inviting.

A mini-fridge is tucked away in the television console/dresser space but a microwave is not available, which I hope will change in the near future. The curtain divider for the vanity area is a nice touch because it allows three spaces of privacy (the bathroom, vanity area, and bedroom) for family members that need to get ready at the same time. 

After settling into our room, we decided to explore the property with a walk across the island, known as Caribbean Cay, to the Old Port Royale common area. 

The first thing we noticed was the white sandy beach. Swimming is not allowed but there are plenty of beach activities and hammocks to make it worthy of visiting. Caribbean Cay is a beautiful little island situated in the middle of the property. Here you can find a playground and several little romantic hideaways. You can spot Old Port Royale from the island (as pictured above), with its bright theming and will typically hear noise of splashing from the main resort pool located to the east of the building. It is here that you will find the food court, a casual restaurant, and bike rentals. There were watercraft rentals available at the time of our stay but I've since heard rumor that they aren't available anymore.

Following the theme of the resort, the food court area is very colorful. I expected it to be crowded because the property is so large but we never had any issues with waiting in line. The food is decent, pretty much the same as what you can find at any quick service spot in the parks. I found that the bakery/deli area was the best place to stop for a snack and was typically restocked with new sandwiches and sweets pretty often. 

We really enjoyed our stay at Caribbean Beach Resort, which is a surprise considering we weren't incredibly hyped about being 'stuck' with this option initially. The size of the property makes it more peaceful because everyone is spread out. Disney really nailed the feeling of a vacation-within-a-vacation with this resort. You can stay at Caribbean Beach and feel like you're in the islands or come back to reality and hit up the parks. There is so much variety available that I know anyone visiting this resort will love it as much as I do!

Stay tuned and I'll give you another review of my most recent Disney World trip - and my stay at Port Orleans French Quarter!