Trip Update - Less than a month to go!

Travel was booked, reservations were made, tickets were purchased, and FastPasses were secured. This trip is finally happening. My approach to planning a vacation is much like my job - I don't just clock in every day, I immerse myself in the experience and it's part of my routine. I wake up in the morning, check for Disney and Universal news, browse forums and group pages on social media, then log into my own Disney account to review my trip plans (as well as the countless spreadsheets I've made to keep my itinerary in order). And now all of that hard work is finally about to come to fruition and it's bittersweet. I enjoy the planning and waiting almost as much as the trip itself!

I know that some vacations can witness last-minute changes but I've done everything in my power to eliminate any obstacles. This is where we stand:

• Dates: Sep 16-26, Disney Sep 16-23/Universal Sep 23-26
• Airfare: Allegiant, flying SGF to SFB
• Accommodations: Disney, Contemporary Resort Deluxe Garden/Universal, Cabana Bay Beach Resort Courtyard Family Suite Poolside
• Car Rental: Dollar Rent a Car (mid-size rental)
• Special Events: Disney, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party & Food and Wine Festival/Universal, Halloween Horror Nights

I've created an itinerary that I'll share here if you're interested. I would consider this more of a 'touring plan' because I learned long ago that nailing things down to a specific time is very difficult to do while on vacation and especially at Disney.

Dining was probably the most difficult part of planning because there are so many options out there and we also have Food and Wine Festival to consider. Here is the final list:

Fri 9/16: 4:40pm Skipper Canteen

Sat 9/17: 10:30am Kona Cafe, 5:45pm California Grill

Sun 9/18: 8:20am Be Our Guest**, 6:00pm Be Our Guest

Mon 9/19: 11:30am Via Napoli, 4:45pm Le Cellier

Tue 9/20: No reservations - hoping for PizzeRizzo and Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge

Wed 9/21: No reservations - F&W Festival + Tokyo Dining and Tangierine Cafe

Thur 9/22: 12:30pm Yak and Yeti, No reservation for dinner (Flametree BBQ)

Fri 9/23: No reservations, planning on Blaze Pizza for lunch and Hash House a Go Go for dinner

Sat 9/24: Mythos lunch, Cowfish dinner

Sun 9/25: Leaky Cauldron lunch, snacks for dinner (have to line up by 4:45 for Halloween Horror Nights)

** 8:20am is a pre-park opening reservation

We've also got our FastPasses (FPs) and our strategy was to book all FPs early so we can utilize the option to keep adding FPs throughout the day. This is how our Disney plan looks:

Fri 9/16: 3:20-4:20 7DMT, 4:20-5:20 Space Mountain, 5:25-6:25 Haunted Mansion

Sat 9/17: Resort Day, No FPs

Sun 9/18: 9:25-10:25 7DMT, 10:25-11:25 Space Mountain, 11:25-12:25 Haunted Mansion

Mon 9/19: 9:10-10:10 Mission Space, 10:15-11:15 Soarin', 11:20-12:20 Journey Into Imagination

Tue 9/20: 9:20-10:20 Rock'n'Roller Coaster, 10:35-11:35 Tower of Terror, 11:50-12:50 Star Tours

Wed 9/21: 9:00-10:00 Mission Space, 10:35-11:35 Living with the Land, 11:40-12:40 Frozen Ever After

Thur 9/22: 1:25-2:25 Kali River Rapids, 2:25-3:25 Expedition Everest, 7:00-8:00 Kilimanjaro Safaris

(We booked the FPs for Animal Kingdom later in the day because we wanted to keep an evening FP for Kilimanjaro Safaris since this is the first year that AK will be staying open later.)

MagicBands and luggage tags arrived 25 days before trip begins

MagicBands after adding decals from myfantasybands.com (Pocahontas and Tron themes)

We've been busy with buying necessities and cleaning out our suitcase for early packing, but the planning is mostly easy from here. I'm still waiting on a few Universal dining reservations to open (usually only 2-3 weeks in advance of the trip). We've decided that we will be checking one large piece of luggage and utilizing free personal bags on the plane. My vacation wardrobe this year will consist of light garments that can be rolled up in the suitcase for more space. We are going to try to keep our personal bags empty so we can bring souvenirs back in them. Wish me luck as I try to make one suitcase work for two people :)

Next up: Be Our Guest Order-Ahead service and Packing Lists/Strategies!

Chase Disney Rewards Visa Cards

As promised, this post is all about the Chase Disney Visa cards and perks. If you plan on making Disney (any U.S.-based park) a major part of your routine then you'll want to know about these options!

Let me start by saying that the Disney credit card was a major "adult" goal for me. I racked up a lot of debt from my college years and had what most would consider average credit but I wanted to make sure my score was pristine before I applied because I had heard horror stories about how difficult the approval process could be. I finally felt ready enough to apply last year and I'm so glad I did! I've since heard that the approvals have grown more relaxed so give it a try if you're interested!

Types of Cards

There are two types of Chase Disney Visa cards: the Disney Rewards Visa and the Disney Premier Visa. The quick summary is that the Disney Premier Visa require an annual fee but it accumulates rewards more quickly and allows you to use Dream Dollars (the rewards currency) on any airfare purchase in addition to the standard Disney Rewards redemption card. I know I just unloaded a lot of information on you so we'll take this step-by-step.

• Annual Fees: Disney Premier is $49, Disney Rewards is $0

• Accumulating Rewards: Disney Premier earns 2% at gas stations, grocery stores and most Disney locations and 1% everywhere else. Disney Rewards earns 1% on all purchases.

• Cashing In: Disney Premier allows you to use Disney Dream Dollars (1-for-$1) toward a credit on your balance when you purchase airfare or transfer to a Disney Rewards redemption card to be used at most Disney locations. Disney Rewards does not have the airfare credit option.

Now, you may be skeptical of putting so much time and effort into accumulating points on a credit card - I know I sure was! - but I told myself I would try it for a year and if it didn't help me reach my savings goals for this Disney World trip then I would re-evaluate for next year. But I have to say, I'm very impressed with the amount of Disney Dream Dollars I've earned and it's going to allow me to enjoy an extra signature dining experience on my next trip! I had originally decided I would just use this card for my weekly grocery and gas purchases so that I could pay it off with every paycheck and reap the rewards. After seeing the points add up, I realized that this could be used more efficiently with my every day needs. I currently accumulate about $25/month in Dream Dollars but that was a goal I had set for myself and I encourage everyone to monitor their spending habits and see if this would work for you, too. So let's do a little math to see if this could work for you -

You can always go to the Disney Rewards site to input your information without doing the math yourself but I'll put an example here.

Let's say you use $50 in gas per month and $600 for groceries. That's $650 at 2% cash back, which will earn $13 per month or $156 per year with the Premier card! I don't know about you, but that's easily a meal or two at Disney for just using the card for something you buy already. But there's more...

Chase Disney Visa cardholders have access to extra perks. Here's a list:

• 10% discount on Disney Store and DisneyStore.com purchases of $50 or more, plus special cardmember access to events year-round
• 0% financing for 6 months on Disney vacations
• Special financing for Disney Vacation Club 
• $50 onboard credit for Disney Cruises
• Special hotel and resort discounts throughout the year
• Private meet-and-greet lines for characters in the parks 
• 10% off park merchandise purchases of $50 or more
• 15% off guided park tours
• 10% discount on recreation experiences (Disney World)
• 15% discount on spa and salon services (Disney World)
• Dining discounts on Disney property
• Deals on Disney Broadway, Disney on Ice, and other Disney-related entertainment
• Special cardmember-only pins
• Access to the Chase Lounge in Epcot at the Food and Wine Festival, with special opportunity to receive a wristband for reserved viewing of Illuminations!

There are limited-time offers, as well, but those change frequently and you can always visit the site to see what is currently being offered. In addition to the Dream Dollars, the other perks can really add to the value of the Disney Visa cards and even provide more savings depending on how it's used.

I'll wrap this up by saying I am in no way affiliated with Chase or Disney and this is just my honest review of the card program, but I think it's a wonderful opportunity Disney for fans and it can be an asset to your vacation plans if you make a strategy for using it to benefit your savings goals. Also, who can turn down these cute card designs?!

photo courtesy of disneyrewards.com

Post your questions below or tell me about your experience! I would love to hear how everyone else uses the Disney Visa card to maximize their vacation!

Trip Planning Update and Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Sorry, it's been far too long since I last made a blog post! And I promised an overview and review of the Chase Disney Visa options, but so much has happened in the past couple of months that I think a trip planning update is in order.

First, I joined several Facebook planning groups and browsed disboards.com for ideas and reviews on my dining reservations. I was able to make ADRs (advance dining reservations) at 180 days and I shared those with you a couple of posts ago. As with most trips, my plans have changed a few times and I have an updated itinerary that is still composed of mostly the same restaurants I mentioned previously. Notable additions include Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom (because they recently changed this new restaurant to allow for reservations) and Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort (because I've never had Tonga Toast and all of my new virtual friends recommended it!) After the 180-day mark, not much happens until we reach the 60-day countdown so I've been taking it easy on the trip planning stuff.

But something big has happened.

And when I say big, I mean BIG.

My annual Orlando trip is almost always 10 days in duration and usually includes two hotel stays - one for Disney World and another for Universal. This trip is no different. I had originally planned to stay at the Best Western Orlando Gateway hotel near Universal because I got a great deal at hotels.com but I was presented with a special travel agent offer directly from Universal to get a Cabana Bay Beach Resort family courtyard poolside suite at a discounted rate. Normally I would pass on a deal like this because the family suite is way too big for just two adults but then I thought about the opportunity to walk out of my room and directly to the lazy river. Yes, that's right, the LAZY RIVER! One of my most favorite memories from my stay at Cabana Bay last year was getting my raft in the water and letting the lazy river wash my cares away. It was truly an amazing experience and that's why I'm going to dedicate the rest of this blog post to giving an overview of my last stay at Universal's Cabana Beach Resort and the things to come.

Universal Orlando has five on-site resort hotels, all of which are owned by Loews. The prices range from about $125/night on the low end (Cabana Beach) to $400+/night on the high end (Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay Hotel). The top three most expensive options also include an express pass to skip the lines on certain attraction at Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure. While I may someday decide to take the plunge and stay at one of the more expensive properties, I found Cabana Bay quite delightful and it suited my needs just fine. The newest hotel addition is Sapphire Falls and it will open this month. The only hotel I haven't mentioned here is Royal Pacific and it's one of those more expensive options.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort opened in 2014 and is the largest hotel on Universal Orlando property:

The notable details of this resort hotel include two pools areas, a bowling alley, retro theme, a rec center, and a better-than-average arcade. The two pool areas are a huge plus because they each cater to a different audience. On the left side of the map you'll notice the Lazy River Courtyard, which is home to a fairly large pool with sand beach and, of course, the lazy river! On the right side of the map is the Cabana Courtyard which houses a zero-entry pool, water slide, and kids' play area. As previously mentioned, the arcade is definitely better than most you'll find inside hotels and I enjoyed spending some time here on my last visit. They even have small prizes to trade for the tickets you earn!

We didn't have the pleasure of experiencing the bowling alley last year but I've heard great reviews and I look forward to finding some time to visit that part of the resort on the next trip.

My last reservation was for a standard room, which was booked for us in the Americana building. I'm not certain that Cabana Bay is as accommodating on room requests as Disney, but it's certainly worth a try if you have a specific pool you would prefer to visit. Also, keep in mind (see map above) that the shuttle to the parks stops in front of the Americana building and could be a bit of a trek if your room is located in Starlight or Thunderbird. The rooms are all themed similarly to the overall resort and provide ample space for families of all sizes. 

Two queen beds in a standard room

Vanity area is separate from bathroom

The option I booked for the next trip is a Courtyard Family Suite Poolside, as opposed to a Tower Family Suite Poolside. In this case, if you're booking a family suite then you have the option to choose and pay for a room closer to your pool preference. The Courtyard Family Suites are near the Cabana Courtyard (the kid-friendly pool) and have outward facing doors like a motel. The Tower Family Suites are near the Lazy River Courtyard and are hotel-style with inward facing doors and hallways to the main lobby area. There are perks to each option; the Courtyard Family Suites offer immediate access to your room from the pool (i.e., no cold a/c on your wet skin as you're walking down the hall to your room) whereas the Tower Family Suites will offer protection from the elements if it should rain while your trying to get from one place to another (your room to the bowling alley, etc.). I think the overall decision here should be based on your preference but we value the ability to reach our room quickly after hanging at the pool over the hallway access to the main building.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort has several dining options, including a food court-style area called Bayliner Diner, the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant inside the bowling alley, two poolside bars, a lounge bar, and a Starbucks. I enjoyed a burger from Bayliner Diner on my last trip and it was pretty standard. I ordered a few drinks at the Hideaway Bar & Grill near the lazy river and I highly recommend it if you enjoy sipping a cocktail while soaking in the sun. The drinks are expensive (no surprise) but well-made and the bartenders are incredibly fun. You can also get your drink poured into a souvenir glass for an extra charge:

Souvenir glass on the left, standard cup on the right

Overall, I highly recommend Cabana Bay Beach Resort and hope you'll give it a look when planning your next trip to Orlando. Some cheaper options may catch your eye on International Drive but trust me, those I've used before now haven't been worth the money that was saved. If you happen to have any recommendations then feel free to share them in the comments!

Next, I'll look to make Fastpass+ reservations in about two weeks (my 60-day mark!) and keep watching for upcoming posts on the Chase Disney Visa cards, as well as Fastpass+ updates and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights!

Annual Events at Disney and Universal Studios

Any vacation is sure to be special, but your trip can be extra magical if you are visiting during one of Disney or Universal's annual event celebrations. My trip in mid/late September will overlap with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World, as well as the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. I had originally hoped to catch the Food & Wine Festival but never dreamed I would be able to plan for ALL of these spectacular events! So what else do the parks add for fun? I'll give you the lists and general schedules below. Please remember that the exact dates usually aren't announced until 6-8 months beforehand and may vary from year to year. For the purpose of this blog, I will only be focusing on events that extend beyond just one weekend.

Disney World

New Year's - Chinese New Year

• Dates: January-February
• China pavilion at Epcot celebrates Chinese New Year with acrobats and extra activities

Club Villain

• Dates: January - March
• New in 2016, extra ticket required for the event

Mardi Gras

• Dates: February or March

Atlanta Braves Spring Training

• Dates: Spring, varies each year
• Held at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

• Dates: March - May
• Focus on gardening, topiaries, and special food offerings

Star Wars Weekends

• Dates: May-June
• Note: Star Wars Weekends not being held in 2016 due to construction

Gay Days

• Date: Usually first week of June
• Visit GayDays.com for more info

Halloween - Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

• Dates: September-October
• Halloween decorations can usually be seen starting the end of August through early November
• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is held on select nights and requires an extra ticket

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

• Dates: September-November
• Wine, beer, and culinary offerings in conjunction with classes and concerts

Christmas - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

• Dates: November-January
• Christmas decorations can be seen from early November to early January
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is held on select nights and requires an extra ticket

Universal Orlando

Mardi Gras

• Dates: February-April
• Parade, beads, and concerts offered on select nights
• Admission is included with park admission

Halloween Horror Nights

• Dates: September-October
• NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN!
• Halloween Horror Nights are held on select nights and require an extra ticket

Christmas

• Dates: December-January
• Suess Landing celebrates "Grinchmas" at Universal's Islands of Adventure
• Macy's Holiday Parade and Mannheim Steamroller at Universal Studios
• All in-park activities are included with park admission

Disneyland

Diamond Celebration

• Dates: May 22, 2015 - September 5, 2016
• Disneyland turns 60! Special decorations, parades, fireworks, and World of Color offerings

Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

• Dates: April-May
• Celebrity kitchens, beverage seminars, and culinary demonstrations

Halloween - Mickey's Halloween Party

• Dates: September-October
• Mickey's Halloween Party is held on select nights and requires an extra ticket

Holidays at Disneyland

• November-January
• Specialty decorations, parades, and attraction updates included with park admission

I've personally experienced Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekends, Diamond Celebration, and Holidays at Disneyland. I highly recommend these events because they add an extra bit of excitement to the trip and provide an opportunity for special souvenirs. 

Star Wars Christmas and Diamond Celebration pins from Disneyland

Customized Christmas Tree Ornament (can be purchased at both Disney World and Disneyland)

I'll be sure to report back after my trip in September to provide my experience at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Until then, look for my next post where I will be discussing the Disney Rewards Visa cards and perks! 

180 Days!

Hurrah! We've finally reached the 180-day mark on this vacation planning journey so let's all breathe a collective sigh of relief. The hard stuff is done! Now it's all fun and games. In this post I'm going to share my plan for securing dining reservations, as well as discuss the new restaurant set to open at Animal Kingdom! We'll end the post with an overview of Universal Orlando dining options and the very cool new Willy Wonka-inspired eatery.

First up, dining reservations. Disney opens the dining portal 180 days before the date of arrival but a little-known secret is that a Disney resort booking qualifies you to make dining reservations up to 189 days before your trip - that could essentially put you ahead of other people arriving the same day but not staying on property! The steps to securing these early reservations are easy: log into the My Disney Experience section of the Disney World website, then select the first day of your itinerary and add dining reservations. The remainder of your trip (up to 10 days beyond your date of arrival) should become available for you to book dining reservations on those days, as well. There are a few restaurants that you should absolutely prioritize when making your selections because they will book up quickly:

• Cinderella's Royal Table Character Breakfast (Magic Kingdom - full prepayment required)
• Victoria and Alberts (Grand Floridian Resort)
• Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)
• California Grill (Contemporary Resort)
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Ft. Wilderness - full prepayment required)
• Mickey's Backyard BBQ (Ft. Wilderness - full prepayment required)
• Spirit of Aloha Luau (Polynesian Resort - full prepayment required)
• Le Cellier (Epcot Canada Pavilion)

In almost all cases, a credit card is required for booking but will not be charged unless the reservation remains unused or isn't canceled more than 24 hours in advance. Also, I highly recommend that you take the time to book the restaurants you really want to visit for multiple days in case there are changes in your itinerary. Here's an example of my itinerary below:

• Friday 9/16/16: Dinner at California Grill (Contemporary Resort)
• Saturday 9/17/16: Lunch at Wave of American Flavors (Contemporary Resort)
• Sunday 9/18/16: Dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios)
• Monday 9/19/16: Lunch at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzera/Dinner at Le Cellier (Epcot)
• Tuesday 9/20/16: Dinner at Tiffins (if it's open) or Yak & Yeti (Animal Kingdom)
• Wednesday 9/21/16: Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern/Dinner at Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)
• Thursday 9/22/16: Lunch at San Angel Inn (Epcot)
• Friday 9/23/16: Lunch at Flying Fish Cafe (if it's open - Disney's Boardwalk)

Unfortunately, it can be rather difficult to nail down an itinerary 6 months in advance because Disney doesn't always update their park schedules that early. I definitely recommend using a crowd calendar to get an idea of which park to visit each day (this option at TouringPlans is reliable). I've decided to book ALL of my restaurant choices for each day of my trip so that I can be assured of my dining plans regardless of any changes.

The Disney dining portal opens at 6am EST and the phone reservation system is available at 7am EST. I recommend logging into the My Disney Experience section of the Disney World site before 6am EST to prompt your first, and most important, reservation so that you can hit the 'find a table' button as soon as the portal is open.

Now is a great time to discuss Tiffins, the new signature restaurant opening at Animal Kingdom later this year. While there still isn't an estimated opening date, the theme sounds quite wonderful and the menu preview, as reported by Disney Food Blog, looks delicious! Currently, there are only three major options for sit-down dining at Animal Kingdom (Rainforest Cafe, Tusker House, and Yak & Yeti) so the park is overdue for some fresh tastes. 

(photo courtesy of Universal Orlando)

If you're anything like me, the mere thought of Willy Wonka gets you all giddy inside. The original movie and the re-imagined 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' created a sense of wonderment that can only be described as 'child-like'. I am so glad that Universal Studios announced the addition of The Toothsome Chocolate Factory because it will be a wonderful escape for the often cluttered CityWalk area. If you're unfamiliar with the Universal Orlando resort, CityWalk is a dining/shopping/entertainment area that is open to the public and must be traversed to reach the actual theme parks. While it has several wonderful dining options already, The Toothsome Chocolate Factory promises a fun, new experience that everyone can enjoy. Like Tiffins, it is slated to open later this year but does not have a date yet.

Dining at Universal Orlando is a bit less rigid but can be an organizer's nightmare. Many restaurants are available for reservations via Universal's website, however there isn't a predefined window in which you should book. For example, at this moment Mythos is only booking through April 10, 2016 but Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom has openings through June 13, 2016. Thankfully I've never witnessed any difficulties with obtaining reservations for the restaurants I wanted to visit at Universal Orlando but I recommend checking back often to see when your options are open.

Stay tuned because my next post will explore the fun annual events at Disney World and Universal Orlando, including expectations for my most anticipated visit to (finally!) see the Epcot Food & Wine Festival later this year!

Walt Disney World Travel Planning Update

Thanks for joining me on my vacation planning journey! I've got quite a few updates to share today. My trip is a little over 6 months away and that means several more travel options have become available for booking.

I stalked the Allegiant Air  website for weeks and noticed on February 18 that they had quietly released their autumn schedule. With previous knowledge of early sales in past years, I felt pretty confident that the prices would likely spike in the next month or two so I quickly performed a precursory search of plane tickets from my local airport to Orlando (both MCO and SFB) and found that the big airlines were charging upwards of $500 roundtrip while Allegiant was offering flights for about $100 each way. Take note: if you've never flown with a low-cost carrier such as Allegiant, Spirit, or Frontier, there are a couple of things to know upfront. They will nickel and dime you for everything - seat selection, priority boarding, and carry-on bags are all offered at a premium. I weighed these options with the total cost of a flight through one of the bigger airlines and determined that Allegiant was still cheaper, even with the additional cost of seats and bags. The outcome is that I paid about $250/person for roundtrip tickets with moderate seat selection (middle of the plane seats) and one checked bag between two people. I've learned that you can easily count a backpack or large purse as a 'personal item' and can cram plenty of items in those bags to make the large checked suitcase a little less packed for the trip to Orlando. Gotta leave room to bring souvenirs back!

With the extension of the airline schedule, I decided to move onto my second task of comparing car rental prices. I am flying into Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) so a rental car is absolutely necessary for my trip. I am a huge fan of Dollar Rental Car agency (see this blog post for my reasons) so I usually start with their website, Expedia, and Orbitz. Feel free to use whichever agencies or travel sites work best for you. The most important part of booking a rental car is to look past the base rate to the grand total. I noticed that Expedia had a deal to get a SUV rental through Alamo for $295 but Dollar had a special city rate offer to get a Mid-Size car for $235. I didn't have to put any money down on this selection plus there is free cancellation if I find a better deal later on - but $235 for 10 days (fees and taxes included) is a pretty good rate. Booking a rental car is probably one of the easiest parts of planning a trip but be prepared for the items you'll need at the counter (ID and credit card at the minimum) and the sales pitch you'll have to endure for optional insurance and fueling costs.

Next up: park tickets. There was quite a frenzy a few days ago about Disney's announcement of tiered pricing. This can be a major issue for big families traveling during peak seasons but it can also provide savings if you're traveling during a slower season. This is where touringplans.com has really saved me a lot of money because they have a ticket calculator to help travelers find the best deal online for Disney tickets. Just plug in the information (# of adults and children, optional parkhopper selection) and it will show you the reputable sites and prices. Currently, I'm looking to purchase a 5-day single park per day ticket for 2 adults and the price is $641.50 on OfficialTicketCenter.com. Please note, tickets purchased through Undercover Tourist or Official Ticket Center can be used in conjunction with the My Disney Experience app or online to provide you early access to Fastpass+ selections.

If you're keeping track of the pricing so far, this is how much my trip has cost:
Disney's Contemporary Resort (7 nights travel agent pricing): $1,800
Best Western Orlando Gateway at Universal Studios (3 nights hotels.com secret pricing): $255
Allegiant roundtrip airfare for 2 adults: $480 (and $150 credit back from my Disney Dream Rewards)
Dollar car rental for 10 days: $235
Disney World park tickets (5 day single park for 2 adults): $641.50

*Estimated* Universal Studios 3 day park-to-park tickets for 2 adults: $400
Grand Total: $3,811.50 - $150 statement credit from Disney Rewards Visa card = $3,661.50

The only things left to buy are food, souvenirs, and activities. If I didn't have the travel agent pricing on the Contemporary Resort, I probably wouldn't be staying in deluxe accommodations and I would be paying half that total for a moderate or even value level Disney resort. But as an adult that is still a kid-at-heart, I'm going to take this year to enjoy the Contemporary so I can report back on whether this hotel is worth the price.

To end this blog post, I wanted to take a moment to share the great services I've used on the Touring Plans website. For $12.95/year, I have access to their membership options that allow me to browse the Disney resorts and see the view from specific rooms. With this tool, I was able to find my room type at the Contemporary and select the exact room number that I would like to request for check-in. Requests aren't always guaranteed but Touring Plans makes it easy by faxing a written request to the hotel for you so that a real person receives the request instead of an automated computer system. Again, this won't guarantee that you'll get the room you want but it significantly increases the odds. I was lucky enough to find out that the room I've booked is one of only THREE in the whole resort and they're all located in the same area. Just look here at what Touring Plans showed me:

Not only do I get a sample view from the room, but it also provides the walking time to the lobby and nearby transportation (monorail, buses). The website also offers tools for itinerary planning and dining options. It's a great deal for only $12.95 per year! Check it out!

Orlando: International Drive = FUN!

Welcome back to my personal Orlando planning journey! Today I'm thinking about my trip itinerary and how to fill the 'free' days I've built in. Here's what the days look like:

Friday, September 16: Arrival at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Saturday, September 17: Free Day - Explore the Contemporary Resort and Surrounding Areas

Sunday, September 18: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Monday, September 19: Epcot

Tuesday, September 20: Animal Kingdom

Wednesday, September 21: Magic Kingdom

Thursday, September 22: Free Day - Disney Springs, Mini Golf, Water Sports, Pool Day, etc.

Friday, September 23: Epcot's Food & Wine Festival (if scheduled) or International Drive Free Day

Saturday, September 24: Universal Studios

Sunday, September 25: Universal's Islands of Adventure

Monday, September 26: Departure

I assure you that I will be giving a much more in-depth rundown of my itinerary once I know if the Epcot Food & Wine Festival will cross my schedule, but for now I want to show you what you can do with a free day on International Drive.

For anyone that hasn't been to Orlando (or those that need a refresher), here's the map of Orlando and the locations of the parks:

SeaWorld isn't on my itinerary but I've listed it on the map for reference. Now, a closer view of International Drive:

And the black line basically traces I-Drive so that you can get an idea of the areas it touches. It's a tourist's dream! Along this busy road you'll find restaurants, shopping, go-karts, mini-golf, movie theaters, museums, and pretty much any other fun recreation you could ever want. I'm going to list some fan favorites below (** denote personal recommendations):

Mini Golf

Congo River Golf

Volcano Island Miniature Golf

Hawaiian Rumble Adventure Golf

Lost Caverns Adventure Golf

Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf ** 

Like most mini-golf locations, you can score a free game with a hole-in-one!

Museums

WonderWorks - family/children's science center

Ripley's Believe it or Not! - odd and rare spectacles **

World of Chocolate - a dessert and coffee bar with an optional historical chocolate tour ** 

Titanic The Experience - artifacts and re-creations of the ship

Madame Tussauds - wax museum of celebrities and historical figures

Miscellaneous FUN

King's Bowl - bowling alley

Monkey Joe's - indoor playground for kids

Artegon Sky Trail - rope course and zip lines

Hard Knocks at Pointe Orlando - laser tag

Rebounderz - trampoline playground

America's Escape Game - small group challenge

CSI: The Experience - identify evidence and solve a crime

iFly Orlando - sky diving wind tunnel

Magical Midway - go karts and midway games

The Orlando Eye - 400 ft observation wheel

Escapology - 60 minutes to solve the puzzles and escape the room

I could list the restaurants but there wouldn't be enough space here to give each option adequate attention. I will say, however, that there are some honorable mentions that I just can't leave out:

• Hash House a Go Go
• Maggiano's
• B.B. King's Blues Club

Sage Fried Chicken and Banana Vanilla French Toast at Hash House a Go Go - the portions are huge!

And of course there are plenty of chain options such as Bahama Breeze, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, and Applebee's, as well as quick service stops like McDonald's, CiCi's Pizza, and Panda Express. There are meals to fit any budget!

No matter what your plans look like, you can be sure that there is no shortage of options on International Drive. Some places might be pricey so be sure to check out coupons on the visitor's site before you go, as well as the transportation options via the I-Ride Trolley if you prefer not to drive. Been to Orlando lately? Let me know your favorite stops!