It is an OPINION

Have you ever heard the saying "don't take my word for it..."? Well, that can go for anything even something so universally accepted as Disney. I was looking at my reader statistics and I have received eleven views this past week from Russia (that big country that takes up a lot of real estate in both Europe and Asia) and I also have been scouring You Tube for Disney trip planning ideas in which I have a lot of subscriptions to those kind of channels and I felt I needed to say something. When I wrote my last blog entry I said this was my last planned entry so I left it open to post again, what I want to say is this every advice you get on Disney is one visitor's opinion. My wife and I disagree on some things Disney.
With that said, I want to express my deepest sincere desire to say I KNOW IT ALL, I'VE SEEN IT ALL, and ANYONE THAT DENIES THIS IS A POO POO HEAD! However, this is not the case. I have not been to every Disney resort, I have not experienced everything WDW has to offer, and I never will. I have visited WDW four times in the past five years and I am planning on number six in April of 2014. This does not make me an expert in any sense of the word, I do realize there are those who have never had the pleasure of a Walt Disney World trip and for some it is a once in a lifetime experience and so you look to those of us who are, let me see how shall I put it, ADDICTED to WDW for advice. Remember it is an opinion.
The Magic Kingdom is my favorite park, this might not be your cup of tea. My wife is a huge Animal Kingdom fan and is not as big on Hollywood Studios where I am the opposite. I have grown to like EPCOT but I haven't always liked it. You see it is all an opinion.
What really got me on this was some of those travel tip planning videos on You Tube. I found myself agreeing with some of the things they said and saying nay, nay to other tips they had. All I can say is that IF you find yourself reading this I can assume either:
A. You want to know more about WDW...
B. You know me and you are being polite...
OR
C. You want to see some Disney photos:)
Well I can remedy "C" here they are!

The Family at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Donald taken at Disney Hollywood Studios

Mickey taken at Disney Hollywood Studios edited at the House of Dragstrem!

Downtown Disney!

Kind of sad today because this is my last planned post on this blog. I might come up with some ideas in the future but I don't know. What I plan to write about today is the area known as Downtown Disney. It is an area that has shops, restaurants, shows and a bowling alley called Splitsville. One cool thing is that it doesn't require you to have a WDW reservation. You can go to Downtown Disney just like you can go to any shopping mall across the country. It is of course Disney themed and is on Disney property so it sort of soothes that Disney itch every once in awhile. However it is like an appetizer the hunger for more still resides in the hearts of those, like me, who require more from a Disney visit.

When my nephew got married in Florida we were traveling down to share in the festivities (July of 2012) we decided to get the new couple's wedding gift at Downtown Disney because it was on our way anyway. Okay I confess we did have to make a slight (200 mile) detour to get to DD. However that is not the point, The little time we took in the rain soaked area of Disney made me, and fortunately my wife, wanting to plan our next trip. Which we did for this past summer and it was a spectacular time:)

This area has gone through a lot of changes since I first visited the area in 1994 back then there was an exclusive shopping area and a nightlife area where my wife and I saw a really good improv comedy show. When we came with our clan in the summer of 2009 we visited it and the two areas had been combined to form one area.

We make a trip to DD every time we go to WDW for our planned souvenir shopping. Always telling ourselves we will not by anything in the parks which turns out to be a farce in planning because we always pick up something at the parks. Actually Downtown Disney has a couple of my favorite places to eat in all of WDW. Fulton's Crab House and  the Earl of Sandwich which are special in two totally different ways. Fulton's is a place I wrote about in the Where to Stay? post and it serves really good seafood, the Earl of Sandwich is just as the name implies a sandwich shop. One time we were on our last day of the trip and we were going to DD and then in the afternoon we would head back to North Carolina and we realized we still had a numerous amount of Disney Dining Plan meals left to use. So we each ordered numerous sandwiches at Earl's and placed them in our cooler to munch on during our trip home.

One thing I'd be amiss if I didn't mention it would be the different types of shops at DD. There is a huge Disney Store (called the World of Disney Store) (duhhhh) and many more check out the selection by visiting the below link...
Downtown Disney Shops

One thing I forgot to add was that there is a ride there called Characters in Flight where you go up in a balloon which is on a cable straight up and at the top you stop for roughly five or more minutes and you get a view of Disney World, all of Disney World. My oldest and I went up and we saw all of the parks from our perch and it was a hazy day/ The cost was, in 2012, $18 for an adult it might be more now. I would like to do it again sometime maybe next April:)

Enjoy the time and maybe someday we will see each other at Disney!

Where to Stay?

This is probably the hardest to talk about because everybody you talk to has their favorite Disney resorts to stay at. For myself and my family we are limited because of the size of our traveling party is one over the limit for a lot of the rooms. We have five people and we need our room. I have personally stayed at the Contemporary, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, Port Orleans Riverside, and most recently at the Polynesian. This coming April we are planning on staying at the Art of Animation.

What are your requirements at WDW in a resort? Is it cost? Maybe you want easy access to the parks? Dining opportunities might be your cup of tea, or recreational opportunities (swimming etc...)? There are many options that fit into those criteria plus many more.

One thing I will tell you is that the further you are away from the parks the less expensive your room will be. The Value Resorts (which we are staying at our next trip) are further from the Magic Kingdom than say the Polynesian or Contemporary. However, the Value Resorts (Art of Animation, Pop Century, All Star Music, etc.) are aimed at the kids with the motif very colorful and in the case of Art of Animation they have suites based on some of the beloved movies of PIXAR (we are staying in a CARS suite). One way around the bus travel is to drive yourself around. We began doing this when we stayed at Riverside and are planning on doing it exclusively at Art of Animation. This might sound bad but we do have another advantage when we drive because we usually get a good parking spot because we have a handicapped license because of my youngest son who has to get around Disney in his wheelchair. Getting around Disney is easier than you might think because of all of the signs pointing you in the right direction.

I have never slept on an uncomfortable bed at a WDW resort. Rooms are always clean and they go that extra mile to please their guests.

Food? One thing my wife and I always do is make sure we get a Disney Dining Plan (usually the Deluxe) this is a pre-paid plan that costs a lot, I am not going to fool you, however, if you are going to Disney then you are going to pay a lot for your food anyway and it is better to pay before hand and enjoy your time in the park without having to worry about paying for a meal. There are multiple plans ranging from a Quick Service Plan where you pay for counter service and a snack for each night you stay  to the Deluxe where you get three meals and snacks per person for each night you stay. This might seem like a lot of food, and it is, but we usually have enough left over that last day when we check out that we can still eat at one of the parks we visit without having to pay out of pocket. Another awesome aspect of the Dining Plan is this, one meal is one meal, it doesn't matter where you use it on the property. One really good restaurant at Downtown Disney (I'll spend a post on just Downtown Disney later) is Fulton's Crab House, it is a docked riverboat and serves delicious seafood. The family ate there and the Dining Plan took care of everything, including dessert, except tip. I had lobster and my wife crab legs plus what my kid's ate would have cost me over $200 and I just paid the tip, which was a lot but less than what I would have paid. The Dining Plan allows you to eat at places you wouldn't attempt without it because of the cost. There are some experiences in which it costs two meal plan points like eating at Cinderella's Castle but they are few just check ahead.

One other thing I must tell you is the 180 day reservation. You may make a reservation 180 days before you go to WDW for restaurants and trust me if there is a MUST dining experience that you cannot live without make your reservations right on the 180 day mark if you have already booked a vacation. If you want to eat at "Be Our Guest" at the Magic Kingdom book it early. Also if at first you don't succeed try, try, again. Some people cancel reservations and they do periodically open up. With the 180 day advice understand you have people who have done this so many times before that they can tell you what date is 180 days away anytime of the year and they have some of these restaurants on speed dial. So, good luck, and be persistent.

I know this began by being a post about where to stay but it became more about food so I will end it with this advice. Research the resorts. This might be funny but You Tube has videos on some of the resorts, I just typed in Art of Animation and a few videos appeared. One other thing is if you go to WDW and plan on returning visit some of the other resorts on a day you have some time. We were hesitant about staying at the Art of Animation, or any of the other Value Resorts until we went and visited it this past summer.

Wouldn't have eaten there without the Disney Dining Plan!

Port Orleans Riverside...

 

Animal Kingdom

If I had to pick a least favorite of all the parks I would say this one although I think some of my family would disagree. Let me first explain I like AK it is just in my opinion the least Disneyfied (my made up word I am going to send to Webster's :))of the four parks. AK is the largest of the four parks which makes sense because of all the animals that call this place home. There are lions and tigers and bears (well at least there is Pooh) oh my! There are many birds, bats, monkeys and reptiles of all sorts. Elephants, giraffes, rhinos and others just to name a few.

I said it could be my least favorite however, as a photographer it offers many opportunities to capture photos you couldn't capture anywhere else. Besides Cinderella's Castle, AK offers the neatest (IN MY OPINION) park landmark which is called the Tree of Life. It is a tree (duh) that has carved into it all different sorts of animals. SPOILER ALERT (it is not a real tree) it is Disney created but it is a very impressive site, even more impressive than the giant golf ball at EPCOT (again IMO). There is also one of the most realistic looking mountains from a distance called Expedition Everest.

Expedition Everest is a must for the roller-coaster enthusiasts (possibly one of the most thrilling in all of WDW) then again you know how I feel about thrill rides if you have read my DHS post:) That leads us to what I feel are the two major reasons to visit Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Kali River Rapids ride, make sure you utilize your Fast Passes on these attractions. You want to hit the Kilimanjaro Safaris early because the animals are more awake than in the heat of the Central Florida afternoons (especially during the summer months). I know this might seem funny coming from me but I should tell you the ride is bumpy and photos reflect that, every once in awhile the driver stops for people to snap off a few but I always find myself on the wrong side to get the good photo.  The Kali River Rapids is a ride in which you WILL get wet, you MIGHT get soaked. You are put into a circular float tube (with seats and seat belts of course) and taken on a journey where you will as I said get wet and someone or some people in your tube get soaked. It is a great way to beat the heat of the day and it won't take long to dry off in the sun.

This should take me to my tips for the Animal Kingdom:
1. COMFORTABLE SHOES and a change of shoes are necessary in this park (especially if you plan on doing Kali River Rapids:))
2. I'd put an extra t-shirt and shorts if you have room in your park bag to change into (see Kali River Rapids) this is not necessary but it might make your time a bit more comfortable...
3. For the photographers out there this is where I suggest you take a good zoom lens and I'd invest in a monopod. Again have multiple memory cards and fresh batteries available.
4. HAVE FUN which is easy to do you are after all at Disney...

I know I said that this park is the least Disneyfied but I don't want you to believe it is totally void of Disney it is not. I just think sometimes it has another aspect to it, the animals, that you can overlook some of the other things it has to offer. As I speak the AK is going through renovations and moving some things around. One of my favorite places to visit, to get that Disney feel, was/is a place called Camp Minnie, Mickey. Camp Minnie Mickey was an area to meet and greet the characters. As far as I know it still is however, there has been a shift in the meeting places this is something you might have to contact the Disney World website to figure out. More kid friendly areas are Dinoland and Rafiki's Planetwatch.

One of the neatest experiences is the Lion King Spectacular which used to show near Camp Minnie Mickey but is getting a new home as we speak. Plus there is a Finding Nemo stage play done with puppets and live actors which is a must see.

In closing I should tell you that one of the best ways to see and photograph the animals are on the two walking trails one in Asia and the other in Africa. This is where you can get some good photos also. As far as food goes there are some good restaurants that you will want to explore but I am fond of a little stand that sells frozen Cokes. Animal Kingdom does not have a firework show but does put on a cool Jammin' Jungle Parade in the afternoon.

  

Disney Hollywood Studios

Today I shall look into Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios). This is the first of what I consider a part-day park in which if you are on a time-constraint you could do both this one and Animal Kingdom in the same day. However, with that said I stil recommend that you explore this park, as well as Animal Kingdom, fully.

DHS is the place you should go if you really like the movies. If PIXAR is your thing this is the place. If you are a Star Wars fan this is also a great place. Star Tours and the anual Star War weekends bring out the Star Wars junkies. We went on the last Saturday of this past Star Wars weekends and I was lucky enough to see Chewbacca, Darth Vader, R2D2, and storm troopers as well as Billy Dee Williams.

However, Star Wars is not why I love DHS, I am a big fan of CARS and I get to see Mater and Lightning and where most characters have to take breaks these two don't so the lines keep moving. Pixar fans should also make sure they see the daily parade. Right around the corner from Lightning and Mater are another favorite pair of mine Phineous and Ferb.

Thrill seekers should also visit DHS because two of the most visited thrill rides are here, the Rock and Roll Rollercoaster featuring Aereosmith and then there is the Hollywood Tower of Terror. I must say I have not experienced these two thrill rides because I am a big chicken. But seriously I have been able to dissuade my children from wanting to ride them:)

Now for some things I have done that I think every visitor of DHS should experience.
1. Toy Story Mania (need to get an EARLY Fast Pass for this one)
2. Muppet Vision 3D
3. the Indiana Jones Stunt show...
4. Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Spectacular...
5. the meatloaf at the 50s Prime Time Diner...
6. The little ones will like DHS as well because the stars of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the Disney Junior like Jake and the Neverland Pirates are here to meet and greet.

Disney Hollywood Studios has a great firework show called Fantasmic featuring Sorcerer Mickey although it does not happen every night. Make sure you check the schedules online to find out when it happens during your stay. This leads me to a must have for any WDW visitor with an iPad, iPhone, or probably any smart phone. This must have is an app called My Disney Experience.

Tips for the park are pretty much the same as the other parks. This park is smaller than the other so maybe the change of shoes are not as necessary to carry. I take a lot of pics in all of the parks and DHS is no exception there are many poto ops. There are the signs, there are the statues along with the characters but I really love to go by the fountain near the Muppet Theatre. However always remember common courtesy when taking photos that many others are also taking and stay patient. I like to take a good zoom and crop out people in camera more than in post editing.

As with any of the parks have fun and remember your inner child unless of course you are a child and reading this. Enjoy the photos from my last trip to Disney Hollywood Studios.

EPCOT

I am going to write this one with the help of my children and put in their thoughts on this park as well as mine. EPCOT is, like the Magic Kingdom, what I like to call an all day park. What I mean about that is you want to spend at least all day there to see what you need to see. In my explorations of the parks I have found that EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom are all day parks while Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are part day parks (perfect for the Park Hopper ticket option).

As a Social Studies teacher I really like this park , even though my favorite is still the Magic Kingdom. There are many educational opportunities at EPCOT (which stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) in science and Social Studies and where else can you travel from Japan to America by just walking. You can walk to many different countries in the World Showcase which offers visitors a look into the culture of each of the countries you visit without needing a passport.

I must admit that this park is more for adults and has less attractions for the little ones but it is still Disneyfied (made up word) to allow the kid inside the adult to come through. My oldest two kids love this park but when we first visited it in 2009 it was not their idea of Disney World. My youngest son, who has developmental delays, cannot say many words but he can say EPCOT (the "P" is silent in his version) whenever he sees Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball:)) in a picture.

My favorite time to visit EPCOT is in the spring when the yearly Flower and Garden festival is in full swing. The topiaries are a sight to behold. Where else can you see Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse made out of plants as well as many other of the Disney crew, including Mater and Lightning of CARS fame.

Must Do's at EPCOT
1. Soarin' (get a FAST PASS early for this one)
2. visit Spaceship Earth and take the trip through time...
3. sample the many different types of soda (from all over the world)
4. get some Fish and Chips in England
5. Test Track (I personally have never been but it is always crowded)
6. The firework display is really neat it actually tells a story... we got a reservation at La Hacienda de San Angel Mexican restaurant and got what they call a firework viewing table and it was one of the best experiences I had watching a firework show.  
7. Visit the gardens in Canada
8. The Seas with Nemo and Friends
9. Agent P's World Showcase Adventure 

There are many other things I cannot think of, as cannot my helpers remember my tips about shoes from my Magic Kingdom post and a lot of the other tips fit EPCOT as well. 

Welcome to EPCOT

Norway

Lightning McQueen 

Mater

Donald in Mexico

Goodbye

Flower and Garden Festival...