Disney World 2018: Lessons Learned

It's been about 2 1/2 weeks since our return from the most recent trip to Walt Disney World, and I think I'm finally ready to talk about it. No, that's not a sigh of exasperation you heard; it was a moment of hesitation so I can reflect on what I'm planning to write in this post. Patrick and I are both still very tired from the trip - not necessarily from the physical exertion but moreso the sensory overload we endured while in Florida. We had a lot of new experiences on this trip and with that came a lot of new lessons and I would be remiss if I didn't pass those along to my friends and family.

I'm planning to share some reviews, as well, but this post will serve as my general overview of the trip. I'll also provide a heads up on our plans for the next few trips so we can benchmark how close we hit the mark when we actually book those trips.

Things We Learned

• Early December is a pretty good time to visit.
• The weather is cooler, the holiday decor is breathtaking, and the crowds are somewhat lighter, but the cast members seemed to be crankier. Maybe they are dreading the upcoming holiday season?

Gingerbread display at Contemporary Resort

• Wait times posted for attractions are almost always 2x longer than the actual wait time.
• We waited in more lines this trip than any other trip we've taken. We couldn't get fastpasses for the new Slinky Dog Dash so we waited til 15 minutes before park closing and hopped in line. The first thing I noticed was that the posted wait time was 95 minutes, but I saw that same wait time posted earlier in the day when the line was much, much longer. I noted the time on my watch and checked again before we boarded the ride - we had only waited for 40 minutes.
• Other examples: Posted wait time for Na'vi River Journey was 65 minutes and we waited 35 minutes; posted wait time for Tower of Terror was 60 minutes and we waited 25 minutes.

Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land

• Sometimes the hype for new lands/attractions/experiences is overblown.
• Everything I read about Toy Story Land hyped up the space (14 acres...later downgraded to 11 acres?) but it felt like a teeny, tiny dead end in the park. 
• The "UP! A Great Bird Adventure Show" is "Flights of Wonder" with Up characters. I'm not trying to be a buzzkill on this one but it's really no different to me.

Statues of Russell and Dug in front of the UP! A Great Bird Adventure Show

• The fastest table-service meal is at park closing.
• We had a 9:25 reservation at Via Napoli - we were the last guests to be seated! - and I've never been so promptly watched after in all of my meals at Disney. Our food was still very good, it just happened to arrive at our table in a fraction of the time that it normally would. Also, the late reservation permitted us an intimate walk through World Showcase without all of the crowds.

The deserted Germany pavilion after park closing

• First class can be worth the price.
• As Patrick said many times throughout the trip, he really was hoping first class would be terrible so we wouldn't want to pay the money to book it every time. Unfortunately (fortunately?) he was wrong. We enjoyed every leg of the flight and will definitely be looking for more first class deals. We paid $650/person roundtrip on American Airlines; I don't think we'd pay over $1000/person but it's definitely worth the extra cost if we can catch it on sale.

First class breakfast on American Airlines

• Some things are better purchased off-property.
• This isn't a new lesson but we found something new to add to the list: branded ponchos from an Orlando Walgreens will cost you $5.99 for adult sizes but they are very sturdy and will last for several trips to come. Plus, they are big enough to cover me (a solidly plus-sized gal) and our backpack without any leaks or discomfort!

Staying dry while waiting for the Candlelight Processional to start

• New underwear, socks, and metatarsal pads are a MUST before any trip.
• Thought socks and underwear were a Christmas tradition? Think again! We picked up some new undies and Hanes FreshIQ cooling socks for Patrick, and he ended each day feeling much more refreshed (and less sweaty!) than on other trips. He says the new elasticity on the underwear and the cooling technology on the socks were lifesavers. Also, we both ordered metatarsal pads from Amazon and they were worth their weight in gold. I usually get blisters on the backs of my feet and Patrick gets blisters on the balls of his feet; I am happy to report that we both returned home with zero blisters this trip!

• Split stays aren't so bad.
• We were slightly dreading the split-stay because we thought it might disrupt our trip too much to move between properties, but it was actually quite nice to have a change of scenery and experience something new. We will probably continue to book split-stays for the foreseeable future as we think about our next DVC points purchase.

• DVC discounts are AMAZING.
• We saved about $300 on dining and souvenirs using our DVC discounts at restaurants and gift shops. That 20% discount really added up!

So what's next, you might ask? Well 2019 is a very exciting year with the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and we have a lot of unknowns to uncover. It's customary for Disney to offer DVC previews of the new expansion lands before they open to the public, so we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for those options. If we get a DVC preview (at either Disneyland or Disney World, or both) then we'll be making quick 2-3 day trips to see them. 

The future entrance to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios

Aside from Star Wars Galaxy's Edge previews, we're planning our next Disney World vacation in mid-January 2020 for even cooler weather and a chance to visit the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. We'll likely plan this trip with a split-stay at Polynesian and Beach Club resorts so that we can be closer to the action at Hollywood Studios. More details to come!

Checking In! Disney Resort Roll Call

One of my favorite ways to prepare (or dream!) about a Disney vacation is to consider the different resort options and places I've never stayed. Do you have a favorite resort? Do you prefer Disney World or Disneyland? The best part about Disney resorts it that they're all so unique! In this post, I'll review the places I've stayed in both locations, including upcoming trips, and forecast where I think we'll stay in the future.

Disney World

The resorts at Disney World are difficult to choose between because there are so many of them! I've heard from many families that say cost is the biggest factor in choosing where to stay and I totally understand. As a quick reminder, there are four types of accommodations at Disney World: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Deluxe Villa (Disney Vacation Club). There's also a higher-level Value resort, Art of Animation, but it's in a category of its own. I'll name the resorts in each category and provide my personal review,  as well as what I've heard/seen from the forums and Disney groups.

• Value
• Pop Century: often regarded as the best Value resort, this option is nostalgic with its 1950s-1990s themes. The rooms here recently underwent a refurb and they're even nicer than before! 
• All-Star Music, Movies, and Sports: these are three resorts that are tied to a single bus line. Getting to-and-from the parks is a nightmare. These resorts often host school groups and tours so they can be noisy and crowded most times of the year.
• Art of Animation: usually considered the "Value Plus" option, it's a newer resort and immerses guests into the artist experience. It has highly-coveted family suites that offer plenty of room to sprawl out and it boasts the largest pool of all the Disney World resorts!

• Moderate: 
• Caribbean Beach: I stayed at this location in 2014 before they made a lot of big updates (changed double full-beds to double queen beds, removed the aquatic rentals, 2017 construction). I love this resort! It sometimes gets a bad review because it is the biggest resort at Disney World and the food court can get quite busy but I like the tropical theme and quiet pools in each 'village'. The resort transportation seemed to be reliable although the buses to the parks were usually very crowded.We stayed in Jamaica and loved the location!
• Port Orleans - Riverside: this is probably the most popular Moderate resort although it's not my cup of tea. There are guest room buildings reminiscent of plantation-style homes (Magnolia Bend) and other buildings that are more rustic (Alligator Bayou). Magnolia Bend is usually quieter while Alligator Bayou is closer to the action.
• Port Orleans - French Quarter: I stayed at this location in 2015 and it was a wonderful experience! This is the only place on Disney World property where you can experience the amazing Mickey beignets and celebrate Mardi Gras all year long. French Quarter is much smaller than its sister resort, Riverside, but it's also a lot quieter. French Quarter also features a children's play area that was recently constructed near the pool.
• Coronado Springs: this resort is often overlooked but is a favorite among its frequent lodgers. Coronado Springs is often considered a business convention hotel and typically caters to business clientele although it's perfectly suitable for vacations, too! It's currently undergoing construction and should be in tip-top shape around 2019.

• Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas
• Animal Kingdom Lodge: this is a favorite location for many DVC owners (the deluxe villas part of AKL) because the point costs are low and the opportunity to see safari animals all day is a great perk! Animal Kingdom Lodge is not often a favorite for standard deluxe rooms because the cost is prohibitive and the location is removed from most park experiences. We intend to stay at AKL using our DVC points in 2018 and fully intend to take advantage of being near some of the best food options on property (Sanaa, Jiko, and Boma).
• Polynesian: a major crowd favorite, Polynesian (affectionately called "Poly" for short) is booked up frequently for DVC owners and demands a hefty price tag for its prime location, beachfront views of MK fireworks, and wealth of dining experiences (plus Dole Whip access!) This is our home DVC resort and we will be staying here in 2018.
• Grand Floridian: often regarded as the nicest deluxe resort, Grand Floridian can sometimes be too nice for a family vacation. It's too expensive for most families although it has a great location on the monorail with views of MK fireworks.
• Wilderness Lodge: I like to refer to WL as the "forgotten deluxe" because it seems like nobody ever talks about it! Truthfully, this is my dream resort and I can't wait to stay here although it may be a few years before I can make that happen. It's themed after the Pacific Northwest and offers several DVC deluxe villas, as well, including Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek. Wilderness Lodge is also near the campground, which offers cabins (moderate accommodates) and campsites.
• Beach Club: this property has the best pool on property (read again: best, not biggest) and a great location on Disney's Boardwalk. It's another crowd favorite although the theme isn't my favorite. It's a quick boat ride or walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
• Contemporary Resort: I stayed here in 2016 and it was my first Deluxe experience. The theme is often a topic of discussion as most people don't feel it's "Disney-enough". The Mary Blair mural in the lobby is a sight to behold and California Grill is regarded as one of the best signature dining experiences on site. It's got a great view of the MK fireworks and a direct walking path (with its own security checkpoint!) to Magic Kingdom.
• Yacht Club: this resort is next door to Beach Club although it's often overlooked. It's a quiet resort with all the same transportation options as the other Boardwalk-area locations but it just doesn't garner as much attention. Yacht Club is one of the first Disney resorts to allow dogs to stay onsite with their owners.
• Boardwalk Inn: I stayed here this year and it was a lackluster experience. The best part of this resort is its proximity to Epcot and the Boardwalk, which is a treasure trove of activity and fun. There are lots of folks that enjoy staying here but just remember that it's a popular wedding destination and you may have to contend with wedding parties and photographers during your stay.

• Deluxe Villas - not mentioned above
• most of the Deluxe Villas are attached to Deluxe resorts and offer similar experiences. 
• Deluxe Villas are DVC properties
• Saratoga Springs: famous for its expensive treehouses, Saratoga Springs offers quick access to the nearby golf course and serene views of Village Lake. This resort is also near Disney Springs and all of the dining, shopping, and nightlife that you can handle!
• Old Key West: this is the original DVC property and has the biggest rooms on property. It's also typically the most affordable villa option and has a great pool!

Disneyland

There are currently only three Disneyland resort hotels, although only two of those are Disney originals. A new resort hotel was recently announced, and should be completed by 2021. Unfortunately, the prices of the Disneyland resort hotels are quite high and I would label most of these options "Deluxe". Sometimes Paradise Pier can dip down to "Moderate" prices but it doesn't happen often. All locations are within walking distance to the parks and have great dining options, as well as close proximity to Downtown Disney for additional selection.

• Paradise Pier: I stayed here earlier this year and enjoyed the experience although it didn't quite feel "Disney" enough. This hotel was originally built separate from Disney and was acquired in 1995. It has a southern California beach vibe and is the furthest walk from the park entrances.
• Disneyland Hotel: beautiful theme, fantastic pool, Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar, and Downtown Disney access - I can't wait to stay here although it won't be anytime soon. We loved Steakhouse 55!
• Grand Californian: the super Deluxe hotel option that often demands the highest price. It has direct access to Disney's California Adventure park and has great wedding venues. This is the only DVC property onsite and will be our next accommodation when we return to Disneyland.

That's it for the Disney resorts; I hope I gave enough information to get you interested in one or two properties. Take a look around the Disney websites and check out individual reviews via TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Disney-specific forums/sites. I'm sure you'll find something that feels like 'home'!

Disney World Dining Review - Epcot Food Part 2!

As part of an ongoing series of Disney reviews, today's post will cover the food experiences we gained on our most recent trip to Disney World. We will be discussing the dining options at my favorite park - Epcot! I try to add new locations to my itinerary each trip so that I can bring back a new report and keep the reviews fresh, however, this trip we had to repeat a favorite (Via Napoli) because it's a year-long craving that we can't kick! I'll report on our second experience at this location as well as a few new stops.

We arrived in Orlando on a Tuesday evening and knew we would be hungry so we booked a reservation at Tokyo Dining for Patrick's favorite: sushi. Tokyo Dining is located above the Mitsukoshi store in Japan and shares the space with Teppan Edo. Upon checking in at the hostess stand downstairs, we waited just five short minutes before being buzzed in for seating. We were placed at a table in the middle of the dining area with the perfect view of the sushi chefs. Many people rave about Tokyo Dining's view of Crescent Lake for IllumiNations but we were mostly excited to eat after a long day of traveling. The first thing we noticed is that our server bowed to us upon introduction; there is something very humbling about this kind of service and it was really unique to experience. We ordered sushi,  vegetable roll for myself and volcano roll for Patrick, which was delivered maybe 20-30 minutes after our order was taken. I felt the time was a little long for just a sushi order but I overheard a large group near us that was placing their order at the same time and several individuals had food allergies so I can understand and appreciate the care that Disney takes to accommodate such needs. I'll gladly wait an extra 10 minutes for my food if it means everyone leaves the restaurant healthy! The sushi itself was fresh and delicious; I couldn't finish my vegetable roll but our server insisted on treating us to a complimentary piece of ginger mousse cake for our honeymoon! Who can say 'no' to cake? Looking back, I get a little teary-eyed thinking about the gesture because it was the only pixie dust we witnessed on this trip.

Vegetable Roll

Volcano Roll

Ginger Mousse Cake

I've already mentioned Teppan Edo so this is an easy segue to the next Epcot dining experience. I booked Teppan Edo in secret because I wanted to surprise Patrick with an early birthday celebration. We checked in at the same hostess stand and again only waited about five minutes for our turn to be seated. Unfortunately the dining area for Teppan Edo is very cramped with several grills lined up in a small room and eight people crammed around a table. There is barely any room to scoot your chair back without bumping into the wall, which makes bathroom breaks a nightmare for anyone that needs to scoot past several tables. Thankfully, the food more than makes up for the atmosphere and we walked away from this meal with full tummies! The first thing I'll say about this teppanyaki experience is that it's probably not going to compare to what you've got locally; most teppanyaki restaurants drown the rice, noodles, and protein in teriyaki or some other sugary sauce and Teppan Edo does not. Additionally, Teppan Edo is pretty light on the carbs and opts to give a lot more green veggies than you might otherwise see at an Americanized location. If you can appreciate a 'lighter' (read: healthier) teppanyaki experience then you'll definitely enjoy this meal!

Teppan Edo

Let's shift gears to a different meal: breakfast. If you're anything like us, then you probably plan most breakfasts in the room because it's cheaper to pack/buy a box of granola bars than to eat out every morning. We mostly stuck to that same routine on this trip except I had heard so many great things about Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie and finally needed to put it to my own test. The awesome thing about this bakery is that it opens earlier than the rest of World Showcase so it's a great little place to visit between 9am and 11am when the crowds are light. We snagged some great photos of the Flower & Garden Festival topiaries as a result of this plan! The variety of options inside the bakery are endless - there are savory sandwiches, chocolate, fruit, cheese, custard, and the list goes on and on. We selected three items to share, which was definitely more than we needed for breakfast but soooo worth it! We had the Brie aux Pommes, Roule Lard and Fromage, and the Duo. The Roule Lard and Fromage was definitely the best item on our tray but the Brie aux Pommes was a close second! The Duo was also pretty tasty but a little too sweet for our morning meal preference.

Clockwise from top: Duo, Roule Lard and Fromage, Brie aux Pommes

And finally, our trip to Disney World wouldn't be complete without a stop at Via Napoli. We've reported on this restaurant before and nothing has changed from then to now. We ordered the arancini and a full quattro formaggi pizza to share, as well as an order of garlic bread knots. It was still too much food but the best end to our trip and a cherished experience. I think Via Napoli will be a must-do meal for us every vacation!

Epcot remains our favorite park largely because of the culinary options but also because of the cultural experiences and educational opportunities. We look forward to trying many more Epcot restaurants on future trips!

Disney Vacation Club Overview

One exciting detail from our Disney World trip last May was that we became Disney property owners! I'll be the first to say that it isn't the right option for everyone but it can be a great savings opportunity for any family that plans to make a trip to Disney at least once every two years. Read on if you're interested to learn more....

I was initially skeptical of Disney Vacation Club ("DVC") because I felt that timeshares were a waste of money. I really didn't want to sit through a seminar and then get talked into a purchase that I didn't want - and here's the part where I scare some people away by saying that our salesman was awful. He totally oozed 'used car salesman' and didn't even try to hide it. He countered every question with a sales spin and it was very difficult to find a polite way out of the situation. Let me be honest, DVC sells itself. The program is wonderful and pays for itself (more on that later) so I felt like it was easy for me to say 'yes' to the purchase but I didn't want to say 'yes' to this guy. Thankfully, the finance manager was more personable and totally empathized with our situation when we explained that we were less than impressed with the sales pitch. He took extra time to walk us through our questions, gave us extra fastpasses and a $50 gift card, and then sent our documents via FedEx to our home so we didn't have to pack them in our luggage. If you decide to inquire about DVC, definitely do some research first and make sure it's something you think you will want before putting yourself through the potential torture of the sales pitch.

On a happier note, I have not regretted our purchase at all and we are actually considering another contract next year. I started with the lowest point package first (50 points) because I wasn't sure how many we would need. The DVC site has a wonderful tool to help you calculate a point total for your vacation if you're interested to see how many points you need. We usually travel in off-peak season so our 50 points should get us about 5 nights per year in a standard room at Animal Kingdom Villas. Alternatively, we can also use our points at Grand Californian on Disneyland property, Aulani in Hawaii, or a number of properties near other Disney locations. Although points are incredibly important and you should get the package that fits your needs, rest assured that you can bank points for years when you don't visit and then use those points the next year. Additionally, you can also borrow from the next year's points if you need extra to round out your vacation or purchase up to 25 points from the general DVC pool (our salesman said the price for these is $15 each).

Other than points, the next most important decision is picking a home resort. DVC usually opens one or two resorts at a time for purchase, depending on where they have availability. The two resorts offered at our seminar were the Polynesian and Copper Creek at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. We were enamored with the idea of Copper Creek because it's the most recent addition to the DVC collection and has beautifully appointed rooms, but ultimately the monorail access won us over and we selected the Polynesian. We felt that we really couldn't go wrong with either choice, though, so we were pretty lucky with the offerings. The home resort choice is so important because it will allow you an extra four months availability ahead of the general DVC crowd. With DVC, you can opt to use your points at any DVC property but if you select a property that isn't your home location then you won't have access to book it until seven months out compared to 11 months for home members. That detail is especially important for anyone looking to stay at a monorail resort because those rooms move quickly!

Now to the financial details: in addition to the monthly payment for the points that are purchased, there are also annual dues. These can be paid in one lump sum every year or automatically debited each month (but you'll have to call after your contract closes to set this up!) The prices are directly influenced by the home resort that is selected so if you choose a moderate resort, Old Key West for example, then you'll have lower payments and annual dues than if you select a deluxe resort such as Bay Lake Tower.

And finally, the fun stuff. There are so many perks to being a DVC member that I probably won't be able to list them all. First, Disney often offers exclusive discounts for special events and sneak previews of new additions (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is on our radar!) The Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower is DVC-exclusive and offers fantastic views of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. There's a standard 20% discount on merchandise purchased at Disney-owned stores on property and dining discounts at many beloved locations, as well. This is just a small number of the perks that accompany DVC membership and I can personally vouch for the 20% merchandise offer because it saved us at least $50 on our last trip and we only had the membership for a few days! Remember, many in-park snacks and sundries can be purchased at Disney stores so don't venture to an ice cream cart to buy the Mickey Bar if you can get it inside a store instead.

I hope this overview has been helpful; remember, you can always rent points first if you want to try it out. You won't have the full membership experience but it will at least show you what it's like to stay in a villa vs. resort. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll be sure to report on our experience as we gain a better understanding of the program!

A Newcomer's Guide to Disney

Today's post derived inspiration from an ordinary daily event that occurred this morning. My husband, Patrick, and I were walking our dogs and we opened our casual conversation with a discussion of our next Disney trip. As we were comparing our notes of past trips and plans for future trips, I realized that my relatively-newbie husband had some really great tips! He's a very intelligent guy and picks things up quickly but vacation planning has never been his strength, and he usually leaves those details to me. I am very proud of the tips he shared and I thought it would be a great topic for today's blog post.

Without further delay, I present to you "A Newcomer's Guide to Disney" as delivered by my newcomer husband and summarized by yours truly.

1. Plan a Resort Day

I was very surprised to hear that this was Patrick's number one tip but it made perfect sense after he explained it. Anyone new to Disney or theme parks in general will probably be exhausted after the first day and the top complaint is "do we REALLY have to wake up at 7am again tomorrow?" I recall hearing these words uttered by Patrick on our first trip together although he loved every minute of it. The truth is that most newbies are completely unaware of the amount of walking that is required to enjoy a day at any Disney park (we logged 10-12 miles every day on our last trip!) The best way to combat the exhaustion is to plan lots of breaks each day but also be sure to take a full day off whenever possible. Disney resorts provide a great escape because the pools are always the perfect temperature, there are plenty of food options at each property, and the resort transportation will take you anywhere you need to go. Turn off the alarm and sleep in one day, kick off your shoes and head to the pool, spend an hour in the arcade, and grab a fruity drink at the bar (or all of the above!) How many times have you said to yourself, "I spent $XX on this hotel room and only used it to sleep!" Get your money's worth and take at least one day to enjoy the surroundings. Your body will thank you for it when the alarm is ringing at 7am the next day!

2. Marry a Vacation Planner (or use a concierge service)

This tip started as a joke but it's not one to take lightly! Most families plan a trip to Disney to take a break from the stress of life but it's no secret that Disney is stressful in its own way. The best approach for eliminating undue stress is to have the trip planned out - arrival and departure, lodging, transportation, food, and souvenirs - in advance. If you don't have a type-A vacation planner in your family, then search for a concierge service that will handle the heavy lifting for you. There are some things that can't be planned, such as emergencies and last-minute issues, but most of the Disney stress can be handled months ahead of arrival. -- FYI you can always message me with questions or to ask for assistance. I'm a Disney-certified travel agent but I will never charge a dime to provide help or take a commission. I want everyone to love Disney as much as I do!

3. Try at Least One New Restaurant Each Trip

We love food! If we're not eating then we are thinking about our next meal (no shame!) Our fondest memories from each trip revolve around food and we actively plan our vacations to coincide with festivals where we can try new dishes. In fact, we'll be headed to the Lunar Festival at Disney's California Adventure next January and we can't wait to try all of the Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese delicacies! Our favorite way to get in the Disney spirit is to look up menus for new restaurants and discuss which ones we'd like to try someday. We often take it a step further and find videos on YouTube so we can see the food up close! You don't have to take it to our level, but actively researching and preparing for both the cost and selection of food at Disney is a great way to avoid sticker shock when you make it to the parks.

4. Keep an Open Mind

This tip is a little vague but Patrick specifically meant that keeping an open mind is the only way he's been able to push himself out of his comfort zone to enjoy new experiences and handle unforeseen circumstances. For example, we went to a Disney water park for the first time last May and we were dropped off at the wrong location (our mistake, we wanted Blizzard Beach and ended up at Typhoon Lagoon). Instead of catching the first bus out of there, we decided to stick around and see what Typhoon Lagoon had in store for us. It was the best mistake we've ever made! We really enjoyed the lazy river and all of the water slides. This tip also extends to rides and restaurants; don't avoid a ride just because it's "for kids"- jump on and see if you like it! Disney is very adult-friendly and size-friendly for nearly all experiences so try it once and if you hate it then you'll never have to do it again :) 

5. Research and Use Packing Lists

This tip follows #2 pretty closely, but the cost of sundries at Disney is understandably expensive and you don't want to be caught on vacation without the necessities! Patrick's requirements include sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, blister band-aids (as well as regular band-aids), a fan or mister, and LOTS of water. In his words, "Drink lots of water. Even if you think you aren't thirsty, drink it anyway!" The average temperature in Orlando is much warmer than most areas of the United States and the added crowds don't make things any easier. Stay hydrated to keep yourself cool, ward away headaches, and keep muscles and joints pumping while you're walking all of those miles at the park.

I hope you've found this list useful; I know I've added a few of these tips to my own list! The best advice is to stay positive and have fun; take time to enjoy the little things as much as the big things and recount your memories often!

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2017

Festival fever is a real thing, and Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival (F&G) definitely delivered on the hype! We were so excited to visit in May because it was Patrick's first F&G experience and I just knew he would love it. You may recall my touring plan from this post and I am happy to report that it worked perfectly!! The map came in really handy when we were in a hurry and we were able to try sooo many more foods than expected.

The Epcot F&G Festival is full of culinary and horticulture delights, with lots of interactive adventures for the family. We enjoyed a full three day tour of Epcot on this trip and still didn't see everything on the agenda. It's definitely worth visiting every year because the food kiosks and displays are always changing.

It's no secret that Patrick and I love food; we usually stay awake for hours at the end of each vacation day just talking about the meals we had that day and the snacks we enjoyed. We like to rank our options so we know what we "must" order again someday and what can wait. This year's F&G Festival had a lot of winners! There were so many great options that we had to divide our options between *sweet* and *savory*. So here we go:

Sweet

Lacey's pick goes to the Freshly Baked Lemon Scone from Cider House. There were many dessert options that claimed to be "fresh" or "warm" but this is the only option that actually delivered on that promise. The powdered sugar melted into the scone and the berries were the perfect complement.

Patrick chose the Warm Wild Berry Buckle from The Berry Basket. It wasn't very warm but the flavor was unbelievably vibrant and the gelato had a wonderful creamy texture. It was a great option for a warm summer day!

Savory

Our final day at Epcot was the real winner because we tried a few things we really wish we had picked up sooner. The Beef Tenderloin Tips from Northern Bloom was a steal because at only $6.50 it ate like a meal and tasted like it came straight from a five-star kitchen! We had trouble sharing because we both wanted more of that amazing Bordelaise sauce.

The runner-up completely surprised us both. We had moved this option to the bottom of the list because we just weren't sure how much we would like it but I wish we had been more adventurous sooner! Tarte a l'Onion-Alsacienne is unlike anything else you'll find at any Disney park. It has a crispy onion top with a gooey caramelized onion filling on top of a puff pastry. Divine!

And you can't go to F&G without admiring the topiaries. They certainly are beautiful! We loved grabbing a snack and walking between the displays.

The PhotoPass lines weren't too long but we found that the best time to get pictures was between 9am and 11am before World Showcase opened. Grab breakfast at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France and enjoy the peace and quiet before the crowds rush in!

Key takeaways from this year's festival: have a plan, schedule more than one day to enjoy the fun, and beat the crowd with early morning photo ops! Did you make it to F&G this year? Let me know your tips and tricks!

Disney World Resort Review - Boardwalk Inn

It's been a busy couple of months! Many apologies for being MIA. A quick catch-up: I've accepted a new position and our little family will be moving to Seattle this week! It's quite a change for us and while it means that we'll be farther from Disney World, it will take us closer to our beloved Disneyland and that's exactly where we aim to vacation next January. More details soon!

This post is about our most recent trip to Disney World in May 2017 and will focus on our accommodations: Disney's Boardwalk Inn. This is our second foray into Disney's Deluxe resorts, and I hate to admit that we weren't exactly impressed. Perhaps the excitement of Contemporary Resort was still fresh in our minds but our expectations of Boardwalk Inn were squashed from the moment we arrived at the lobby and found that bell services could not find our Amazon Prime Pantry order. Allow me to set the scene for you....

The day started as all Disney arrival days do, with lots of anticipation and eagerness. Our flight was on-time, no delays with Magical Express, and we were very happy to find that we were the first stop from the airport. We nearly galloped with joy from the Magical Express to the beautiful entryway of Boardwalk Inn with roller suitcase and carry-ons galore. Our plan was to check with bell services for our groceries, grab some celebration buttons from the front desk, and ask the concierge to confirm our reservation for the Wishes Dessert Party at Magic Kingdom. We made it to the hotel around 2:15pm, still no room text, and waited in the lobby for 45 minutes after retrieving our celebration buttons. I also met with the concierge desk during this time and, after many confused questions from the Cast Member about the location of Wishes (really? she doesn't know?), finally determined that I was better off just finding my own answers. About 3pm we decided to walk down to the Boardwalk and grab some ice cream and at 3:15pm our room text arrived - not the exact room or view we had requested but it was close. King bed is all that really mattered anyway.

Upon arriving at our room, we found it to be quite spacious and relaxing. The bathroom and vanity area are separated enough from the room to make it feel like more than just a standard room. The balcony faced Hollywood Studios and the front of Boardwalk Inn so we had a birds-eye view of the action (and Hollywood Studios' Star Wars fireworks later that night!) I had almost forgotten the stress of the day when I realized I needed to call down to bell services for an update on the Great Grocery Goose Chase of 2017. The poor girl on the other end of the line had no idea what had transpired and said she would send a Cast Member to our room to discuss. The Cast Member showed up about 10 minutes later and he was the most unsympathetic, uncaring individual I have ever met. He proceeded to explain that the Boardwalk Inn is "not good" with packages and that bell services doesn't hold grocery packages so they probably sent them back to Amazon. He then proposed a solution to call Amazon and ask for a refund. This, folks, is an unacceptable response and definitely not the Disney way. First of all, I've not heard of any issues with bell services holding packages (groceries that need refrigerated, maybe, but not a boxed package without any markings on it). This is the very reason why some people choose to send their luggage ahead of them instead of taking it on the flight so that they can arrive to the parks directly instead of taking luggage to the hotel first. But I digress. I thanked the Cast Member for his help and stewed in our room a few more minutes. Finally, we received a call from bell services and they had found our package - 10 more minutes and it was delivered to our room without issue. Hallelujah!

The remainder of our stay at Boardwalk Inn was mostly pleasant although the hordes of wedding parties and photographers made the hallways and common areas quite crowded. We didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the pool but walked through the area and appreciated how serene it seemed. It's tucked away from the action on the Boardwalk so it doesn't feel quite so busy. There were a lot of activities held out in the courtyard area every day and the biggest perk of all is, of course, the proximity to the Boardwalk and Epcot. We really enjoyed the ability to walk down and grab ice cream or a drink, or stop by Big River Grille & Brewing without a reservation. If we ever stay at Boardwalk Inn again, it will be for its location alone.

I haven't stuck by a star or rating system throughout these review posts but I would give Boardwalk Inn a firm 4 out of 10. Service was terrible, food options are slim unless you want to walk down to the Boardwalk, and the crowded common areas were a nuisance. Let me know how you fared if you've experienced this resort! I welcome any opinions that could help us make the decision to give it another try.

We're Back! A Quick Review of Disney World May 2017 Trip

Apologies for the delay; we've been battling head colds that put us both down with a fever and the need for lots of rest. My plan to stay healthy this trip (mostly) worked but we were no match for the climate change and the larger-than-expected crowds that descended upon the parks during our vacation. I'll do my best to provide a summary of our experience in this post and write more detailed reviews in the near future.

Vacation Dates
You may recall that we chose the first week of May for its historically low crowd levels, pleasant weather, and access to Flower & Garden Festival. If this year was any indication, the days of low crowds are gone. We knew there would be a cheerleading competition on-site for some of the days during out trip but we weren't prepared for the families that would plan their vacations with it. Of the few cheerleading families I know through various Disney planning sites, I was under the impression that the cheerleading competition had a strict schedule that would not allow for much park time. I must have been mistaken because there were large school-age groups in all parks during our visit and, like with most children's groups, there were a few bad apples in the bunch that largely affected our overall opinion of this visit. While I won't completely mark May off the list of vacation options, I will be looking to plan our next Disney World trip the second week of December or sometime in late January in an effort to avoid large athletic groups.

Boardwalk Inn
We did not get the exact room we requested but we were assigned to a King bed room with a decent view so there are no complaints on this point. The resort was beautiful and impeccably maintained but there was a wedding scheduled almost every day of our trip and that usually caused traffic jams in the common areas as photographers tried to get wedding parties organized for pictures. We loved this resort's proximity to the Boardwalk (duh) and it's probably the only reason we would return for another stay.

Dining
There aren't any downright negative reviews for the dining options we selected this trip but we certainly had our favorites:

Best - Via Napoli, Rosie's All-American Cafe, PizzeRizzo, Ample Hills Creamery, Lowtide Lou's
Worst - Big River Grille and Brewery

We will go into more detail on these locations in a future post.

DVC
A memorable moment on this trip was signing up for Disney Vacation Club! We are now Disney property owners! While this wasn't a planned purchase, we are very happy with the decision and are already calculating how to use our points for the next trip. I will be sure to make a dedicated post for DVC to explain how it works so that you can make an informed decision on how this timeshare option could work for you! (hint: it's a lot cheaper than paying for a deluxe resort every year!)

Final Thoughts
We finally unlocked the secret to avoiding blisters (switch to different shoes midday) and realized that we enjoyed some quick service dining options just as much, if not more, than some table service locations. We had a lot of 'firsts' on this trip - using Disney's Magical Express to/from the airport, experiencing a Disney water park, getting magic shots from PhotoPass photographers, and ordering a cake from the private dining service - and I can't wait to share it all with you! Stay tuned :)

Flower & Garden Festival Plan of Attack

Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival (F&G) just happens to be my most favorite event at Disney World. I've only been to F&G once before and was inadequately prepared, to say the least. Although many people would consider it to be the younger sibling to Epcot's Food and Wine Festival (F&W) in the fall, it still has its merits and should be given proper consideration.

Just a couple of reasons to visit F&G:

1. Low crowds: avoid spring break, Easter, and Memorial Day but the rest of the dates are golden!
2. Mild weather: less heat, lower humidity - overall better weather than summer and even fall!
3. Family fun and education: F&W is still fun, but the seminars and learning activities are somewhat more adult-themed. F&G offers tons of gardening seminars and facts, a play area for kids, and a butterfly house!
4. Food: there are specialty kiosks set up around World Showcase and offer food that is often only available during F&G. While the total number of food kiosks is less than F&W, I would argue that the quality of the food is a little better.

Once we decided on a date to visit Disney World this year, I realized that I had to bring my "A" game to be prepared for F&G. The entirety of our trip is planned around this festival and I can't wait to see how much more I can enjoy this go 'round! 

Location

Our resort for this trip is Boardwalk Inn. It's a short walk to the International Gateway and will offer prime access to the festival while also allowing us to shut the park down at night and quickly escape to our room. If you want to know how you can make the most of your visit to F&G, just take a look at the Epcot resort area map:

(map courtesy of Robo from disboards forums)

Epcot's World Showcase is displayed in the upper right corner of the map with the Epcot International Gateway prominently marked. Crescent Lake is positioned to the left of the park with three deluxe Disney resorts surrounding it: Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk Inn. Slightly farther to the left is Swan & Dolphin, which are both only part-owned by Disney and do not offer amenities such as MagicBand usage. However, these properties are typically MUCH more affordable than any Disney deluxe resort and they are amazingly themed with an abundance of dining options! There are several pros and cons to weigh when staying at Swan or Dolphin but they are certainly contenders as far as location to Epcot is concerned. 

The best part about being close to the International Gateway entrance is that it puts you right in the middle of the F&G action - wedged between the UK and France pavilions, the entrance provides immediate access to Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in France which opens at 9am for breakfast instead of the World Showcase standard of 11am. We definitely intend to make at least one stop at this location for breakfast! Also, there are lots of tours and seminars available during F&G. One of the free tours offered is for the English Tea Garden but it requires an early sign-up at the Tea Caddy Shop in the UK pavilion. We plan to make this a priority for our full Epcot day!

Budget

Arguably the most important part of any vacation is to determine exactly how much to spend. We've discussed this a bit with the resorts located near Epcot, but sometimes it's a difficult choice to spend extra on the resort and sacrifice a few dining reservations or settle for a moderate/value resort and allot extra transportation time to the parks. For us, the answer was clear because location was the most important factor for this trip. But the great thing about life is that we all have different priorities and preferences! You will have a great time at F&G regardless of your budget.

Dining

There are two approaches to food at F&G: schedule dining reservations and sample just a few F&G food kiosk items or forego the reservations and snack all day at the kiosks. From my experience in multiple Disney forums and groups, most families opt for the second option but there isn't a right or wrong answer! This is the one detail of our trip that brings me the most anxiety because we are a foodie couple and we want to try everything. In order to limit our indulgences, I've schedule three days at Epcot to spread out the fun and also scheduled (for the most part) just one dining reservation per day to help us slow down a bit. It's always nice to get out of the crowd for an hour or two and a dining reservation is a good way to escape. 

The easiest way to decide which option to pursue is to take a look at the F&G food kiosk options and determine how many items will interest you and your family. Don't be afraid to prioritize selections into a Good/Better/Best list to keep track of how interesting each menu looks. The 40 food and drink items on our list are divided among the three days we have scheduled at Epcot so that we can rush to the kiosks that are most interesting and save the less interesting options for another day.

The map above is my own personal creation - click to zoom in if you like. I've taken the current Epcot park map for F&G and highlighted the food kiosk locations around World Showcase. Next, I typed up the items we want to try from each kiosk along with the priority/day (1, 2, or 3) of when to try them. This map corresponds with my touring plan for the park and will hopefully help us to stay organized. This is A LOT of food so we are planning to order just one of each item to share until we determine our favorites.

There's plenty of inspiration out there to get excited about F&G! If you're still on-the-fence about visiting Disney World at this time of year, check out a few vlogs on YouTube for a lively approach, read reviews on Disney Food Blog, or join a Disney forum (disboards) to interact with other fans.

It's time to start packing but I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pictures from the last F&G I attended in 2015!

Frushi from Hanami in Japan

Lion King topiary

Beijing-style Candied Strawberries from Lotus House in China

I've heard Captain Hook is no longer on display this year :(

Final Trip Update for Disney World May 2017!

I told you our plans were semi-permanent in the last trip update but I should know by now that Disney plans are never etched in stone. Something always comes up! Fret not, it's all good news. But if you learn anything from my ramblings, let it be this: plan as much as you like but stay as flexible as possible. In the end, just going to Disney - or on any vacation - is a blessing and we should always give thanks for the opportunities we have!

Now it's time to get down to business. I've been a busy bee the past few weeks and a lot has changed. I'm glad I didn't write an update post before now because I would have needed to revise it anyway. But here we are - just 14 days from the main event! I am going to cross my fingers that we keep this itinerary because I'm pretty fond of the plans we have now.

Changes to Original Itinerary
Exciting news tops this list and this is a change that I was very happy to make! Disney announced an Enchanted Evening special offer for guests March 21 - May 10 and of course I had to pounce on this opportunity because 1) it's limited time only and 2) this is our honeymoon trip! The package is $160 for two special edition MagicBands, two special edition luggage tags, two entries to the Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party on select nights, and a gift from The Ganachery. We were especially excited for the MagicBands because these will likely become collector's items and will be a great souvenir from the trip!

Unfortunately, the select nights available for the dessert party were limited to a few days that we didn't have planned for Magic Kingdom so we had to move some things around. I wanted to cry because I had to let go of a Be Our Guest lunch reservation and I was afraid I wouldn't get another one! But the Touring Plans Reservation Finder came through for me in the end and we secured a new BoG reservation shortly thereafter. 

Other changes include a few meal updates; we were super excited to try Yachtsman on this trip but it just wasn't in the cards. We've got money stashed away for other goodies and two signature meals in one week will have to wait for next time. Another addition to this trip is a secret (shhh!) cake that I ordered to celebrate Patrick's birthday! Boardwalk Bakery is going to create a Star Wars themed mini cake and have it delivered to our room after the surprise Teppan Edo dinner that I also booked! I know this is our honeymoon trip but his birthday is later in May and I couldn't let this trip pass without honoring him! 

New Itinerary

Some things are the same, some things are different, but here's where we are:

• Tuesday May 2 - Arrive 12:30pm, Epcot, Tokyo Dining dinner (changed from Via Napoli)
• Wednesday May 3 - Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest lunch, Liberty Tree Tavern dinner, Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party (changed from Animal Kingdom)
• Thursday May 4 - Animal Kingdom, Tiffins Rivers of Light dining package for dinner (changed from Hollywood Studios)
• Friday May 5 - Water parks, dinner at Big River Grille and Brewing Works (changed from Yachtsman)
• Saturday May 6 - Kona Cafe brunch, Epcot, Teppan Edo dinner (added Teppan Edo)
• Sunday May 7 - Hollywood Studios, PizzeRizzo and Rosie's All American Diner quick service meals (changed from Magic Kingdom)
• Monday May 8 - Epcot, Via Napoli dinner (removed San Angel Inn lunch)
• Tuesday May 9 - departure 6:00am

I've got lots of ideas for Flower & Garden Festival and I am hoping to get another post published before we leave on the trip but if the next two weeks move more quickly than anticipated then I'll leave you with 'au revoir!' and check in when we return!

Disney World May 2017 Trip Update

countdown courtesy of timeanddate.com

I promise to provide more general information about Disney planning but I've received a lot of feedback that suggests my personalized planning posts are helpful, as well. Please let me know if this approach gets old or boring!

I try to be as transparent as possible about my planning strategy and pass along as much information about discounts as I can. Our next trip to Orlando was decided in haste, which has provided me with less time to track pricing trends and keep up with discount codes. I think we're still getting a pretty decent deal on most of our plans but I'll let you be the judge of that.

Without further delay, here are the details of our next Disney World trip...

Dates

We chose the first week of May (2nd - 9th) because it's late enough to miss spring breakers, early enough to miss the summer breakers, and still falls within the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival timeline (our main objective for this trip). You may remember that I made a similar trip in 2015 when I traveled to Orlando May 1-10th and we had a fabulous time! I don't recall heavy crowds then and I'm hoping that holds true this year.

Airfare

We booked our flights through American Airlines on October 18, 2016 and paid $387 per person roundtrip between SGF and MCO. We had to fly a major airline because we are not utilizing a rental car on this trip and Disney's Magical Express only retrieves passengers from the MCO airport. I don't think $774 was a terrible price to pay considering our origin airport is a tiny blip on American Airlines' radar.

Ground Transportation

I hope to provide a more thorough review of Disney's Magical Express ("DME") once our trip is complete but we are very excited to utilize this option in May because we've heard mixed reactions and want to finally see what all the hoopla is about. On the one hand, DME will get our checked luggage and deliver it to the room for us but they have also caught flack for taking several hours to do so. It's a free service, though, and I don't think anything beats "free" at Disney.

Hotel

The lovely BoardWalk Inn is where we will rest our pretty little heads in May. We have a few other Disney resorts on our shortlist of places to stay but this one had the best travel agent rate available at the time of booking. We paid $1856 for seven nights in a standard room (roughly $265/night for a deluxe resort). This is very nearly the same price that we paid for the Contemporary Resort last year and it was worth every penny. There were a few things we had to consider when deciding where to stay this time: proximity to parks, transportation options, dining variety. We won't have a rental car for this trip so we wanted to make sure we would be close enough to the parks - or at least a variety of transportation options available - so we won't be stuck taking the resort bus everywhere. Also, the lack of a rental car means we can't go offsite for cheap food so we need to have lots of options near the hotel to accommodate our cravings. We narrowed the choices down to BoardWalk Inn and the Cabins at Ft Wilderness but ultimately decided to stay at BoardWalk Inn due to its ease of access to Epcot - which is where we will be spending a lot of time on this trip. I think we'll fare nicely in a room this size:

photo courtesy of Mickey World Travel

Tickets

I've said it time and again but we don't buy parkhoppers and that works just fine for us. We like to immerse ourselves in one park per day and the transportation between places takes too long. For this trip, we've decided on a 6-day ticket for one park per day ($735 total on undercovertourist.com using the MouseSavers.com discount link) and a 1-day water park ticket ($115 on Disney's website). We bought the park tickets and water park tickets separately because we couldn't find a third-party site that offered the blackout date pricing and they also didn't guarantee we could get into both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon on the same day. Erring on the side of caution, we decided to get these tickets from Disney directly and it actually saved us some money. The standard park tickets were cheaper through a third-party, though, and that's primarily because Disney charges sales tax on top of the base price, which drives the total up. 

Itinerary

This is always subject to change but I'm fairly certain this will be our itinerary for the trip:

• Tuesday May 2 - Arrive 12:30pm, Epcot, Via Napoli dinner
• Wednesday May 3 - Animal Kingdom, Boma breakfast, Tiffins dinner (Rivers of Light package)
• Thursday May 4 - Hollywood Studios, quick service dining all day
• Friday May 5 - Water parks, Yachtsman dinner
• Saturday May 6 - Kona Cafe brunch, Epcot, Tokyo Dining dinner
• Sunday May 7 - Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest lunch, Liberty Tree Tavern dinner
• Monday May 8 - Epcot, San Angel Inn lunch, Via Napoli dinner
• Tuesday May 9 - departure 6:00am

We've also assigned a host of FastPass options for the park days but we used the tactic that works best for us - picking popular rides early in the morning so we can assign more FastPasses while we're in the parks. Most of our choices closely mirror the options we selected on our last trip, which can be found in this post. 

Special Events

We are very excited to return to Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival; we loved the Food & Wine Festival last fall but it seemed to offer a lot of food at a lower quality level than what I have experienced at Flower & Garden Festival....it also didn't help that I have been craving Beijing candied strawberries and Frushi (fruit sushi) since 2015. You can probably already guess, but these are the reasons why we booked the May 2017 trip with such haste. I'm sure I'll devote a future post to Flower & Garden Festival plans but we are planning to eat, walk, and eat some more! We're also looking forward to the new Rivers of Light show at Animal Kingdom and crossing our fingers that Pandora will have a soft opening while we're there.

Total Cost

And now the information you've probably been waiting to hear; this all sounds great but how much is it going to break the bank? I've calculated a total of about $4,700 for two adults, including food and beverages. Normally we would spend 10 days in Orlando but this trip is seven days and will count as our honeymoon, as well. Keep in mind, I've been to Disney on a much smaller budget and enjoyed it just as much! The biggest expense for this trip is the hotel because we're trying to stay in deluxe properties while we have the means to do so.

Upcoming posts include a glimpse into our backpack for park days and a discussion on make-up/skincare/hair care in the humid Florida heat. You won't want to miss this information!