Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1191
September 3, 2014
Best Things to Do Outside the Parks
By Lisa Gilmore
Walt Disney World Resort has endless ways for you to fill your vacation days. When most people plan, save, and book a Disney vacation, the main idea is exploit all of the attractions the parks have to offer. And with four theme parks stuffed to the gills with attractions, restaurants, and characters, anyone can have a fabulous vacation just focusing on these options. However, the Walt Disney Resort isn’t just about the parks, as many locals and veterans of Disney vacations can attest, what keeps us all coming back are the endless options to have a magical time.
The Unofficial Guide recommends building in a “down day” into your vacation schedule. One day, set aside where you don’t go to a park, but enjoy the extra amenities that Disney offers beyond the parks. This is not only a great way to recover from 2-3 straight days of Touring Plan mania, but it can also save you a bit of cash from needing another day of park tickets. Here are some of best ways to spend your vacation days out of the parks.
No Disney vacation is complete without your favorite souvenir
Shopping. Ok, this option may end up costing you more than another day of park tickets, but what vacation is complete without a few souvenirs to take home with you? And with Downtown Disney undergoing the transformation into Disney Springs, this option is going to get even better! Don’t be fooled, Downtown Disney isn’t the only shopping option. Each Disney resort has its own themed gift store. Make some time to “resort hop” and visit Animal Kingdom Lodge to get a unique hand-crafted giraffe, or Wilderness Lodge for a special Humphrey Bear plush. If you have access to a car, you can even dash down the road to visit the Disney Outlet, finding some resort-quality souvenirs at a steal!
Golf. Anyone who’s seen the Disney Vacation Planning DVD or flipped through the Disney themed channels on their resort TV knows that Disney has some of the best golf courses in America. For the golf pro in your family, this could be their nirvana. And if you’re not quite up to the “golf pro” standard, you can book a lesson with a Disney Golf Pro by calling (407) WDW-GOLF to reserve your private 45 minute lesson.
The Disney Resort boasts two (TWO!) miniature golf courses, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland for a mellower version of this favorite pastime. Not only a blast for having some family fun, but with the oversized props, a round of mini-golf can also make for some memorable photos. Prices range $12 (per child)-$14 (per adult) and makes a great way to spend the day!
Book a tee time, a lesson, or enjoy some mini golf!
Photo courtesy of Disney (c)
Water Parks. Technically, it’s not a theme park, so I can include it. Disney has two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Each park has it’s twist on water park favorites with wave pools, lazy rivers and plenty of slides ranging from family-friendly to thrill seeking. You can see some of the characters and take advantage of the Photopass photographers available at these locations to document your aqua adventures. Water park tickets start at $53 a day, but be sure to check into the “Water Parks and More” option if you already have park tickets or check into using your Passholder Discount or DVC Discount for a bit more savings.
Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre. Located in the marina area of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Sammy Duvall’s has everything you need to have a bit of waterbound excitement. Sammy Duvall’s offers parasailing, tubing, wake boarding and water skiing all set on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake so you can have a unique and memorable view of Magic Kingdom and some of the prettiest deluxe resorts during your adventure. If you want to go at your own pace, you can rent your own watercraft. Prices vary depending on the experience you’re looking for, but be sure to call (407) WDW-PLAY to reserve your vessel.
Enjoy all the options the Sammy Duvall Watersports Centre has to offer!
Photo courtesy of Disney (c)
Fishing. If you’re not ready to leave the water behind, try a fishing excursion! Best part is, there’s no need to find room in your luggage for your fishing pole and waders, Disney has everything you need. You can enjoy the serenity of dockside fishing at Fort Wilderness Campground and at Port Orleans Riverside. If you looking for some on-the-water action, you can make reservations for a Guided Bass Fishing Excursion on a pontoon boat for 2 or 4 hours. All fishing adventures are catch-and-release, so be sure to bring your camera to snap photos of the “whopper” you caught on vacation. To reserve a fishing excursion call (407) WDW-BASS.
Watch a Movie. Head to Downtown Disney Westside to enjoy the luxury of the AMC 24. One of my favorite things about this theatre is the Fork & Screen Dine-In option. Dinner and movie takes on a whole new twist, as you can order your meal and have it served to you during the movie!
If you’re looking to spend more time at your resort, check out the Movie Under the Stars option available at many of the Disney resorts. You can enjoy Disney classics on the beach or at the pool. Guest Services at your resort can give you a movie schedule or you can call (407) WDW-2273.
AMC 24 Theatre in Downtown Disney Westside
Character Dining. You don’t have to go to the parks to see your favorite characters. Some of the Disney resorts offer some of the best character dining options.
1900 Park Fare – Grand Floridian: Breakfast buffet with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter or Dinner buffet with Cinderella and her zany step-family.
Cape May Café – Beach Club: Breakfast Buffet with Goofy, Minnie and Donald dressed in their beach attire.
Ohana – Polynesian: Family-style breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto.
Chef Mickey’s – Contemporary: Chef Mickey, Chef Goofy, Chip and Dale serve up buffet classics for breakfast and dinner.
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ – Fort Wilderness: BBQ Dinner buffet with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale.
Garden Grove – Swan Hotel: Breakfast and Dinner with a rotating option of Disney characters, usually Chip and Dale.
You’ll want to check with Disney Dining Reservations for specific time and meals when characters are available. You can use the MyDisneyExperience App or call (407) WDW DINE for more information.
Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Mosey over to Fort Wilderness to explore the workings of a real ranch. Learn about all the horses and animals Disney cares for at this ranch and their “jobs” in the parks. For a bit more action, book a reservation for a Horseback Trail Ride, Wagon Ride, or Carriage Ride. Call (407) WDW PLAY for prices and to reserve your experience.
Bowling. One of the new additions to renovations of Downtown Disney is Splitsville Luxury Lanes. Disney spiced up this classic pastime with some tasty nosh, live music, and even billiard tables. Embodying the epitome of family fun, there’s something for everyone to do here. You can reserve your lane by calling (407) 938-PINS.
Campfire Sing-A-Long. Chip and Dale host a concert of classic western songs for this forty-minute show complete with campfire and live guitar music at Fort Wilderness. For a few extra bucks you can buy a S’Mores kit to roast marshmallows, or save some cash and bring your own! Stick around after the show to enjoy a Disney movie showing under the stars.
Photo courtesy of Disney (c)
This is only a few of many, many things Disney offers beyond the parks. Which ones are your favorites? What do you like to do when you’re not in the parks? Have you done everything on the list?
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La Cava del Tequila to Host Patron Party at Coronado Springs on Friday, September 12
By Derek Burgan
On Friday, September 12, at 7:00 PM La Cava del Tequila (the tequila bar located Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion) will host a party at Rix Lounge at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Limited to 150 people, each $30 ticket includes a shot of Patrón Single Barrel Reposado, a Patrón margarita, and light appetizers. Guests can RSVP via email to CavadelTequila@me.com
The Patrón tequila served during the event will be one that has been specially blended for La Cava del Tequila, and there will be live entertainment during the event. The event is designed as a “thank you” to La Cava’s Twitter followers (@cavadeltequila) and allows them to be at the launch party for this new Patrón tequila that will be served in Epcot.
Rix Lounge is inside the main building of Disney’s Coronado Spring Resort, directly across from the Pepper Market food court.
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La Cava del Tequila to Host Patron Party at Coronado Springs on Friday, September 12 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Five Reasonable Splurges at Disney World
By John Scanlan
Most often a Walt Disney World vacation itself is the splurge. A break in one’s reality to spend time in a place where everything is as it should be for a fee. Often a significant fee. Despite the built in cost to a Walt Disney World vacation, at times it is nice to enhance your trip by spending a little bit extra. And, while I have sadly come to the realization that I will never be able to utilize Disney’s VIP Tour Services ($315 to $500 per hour—Ouch!), there are a few worthwhile and reasonable splurges that even a lowly blogger like myself can afford. Here are five:
The Beach Club Resort – Copyright Disney
Upgrade Your Hotel – Staying on Walt Disney World property is always part of the fun, regardless of where you choose to lay your head at night. However, for some folks, that’s all the resort hotel is: a place to wearily return for some shut eye before rising early the next morning to race back to the theme parks. Obviously, in that case, it may be sensible to stay in one of the Value Resorts. But if some time at your resort is a large part of your vacation then a resort upgrade is definitely worth the splurge. With each upgrade you will gain a larger room, a better themed pool, and more dining options. You will also start to get away from the cartoonish feeling that some of the Value Resorts provide. Statues of Disney characters are not generally found in the Moderate and Deluxe resorts as they are in the Value Resorts, and the décor will feel more adult, which can be good for an adults only trip, or a trip with older children. Splurging all the way to a Deluxe Resort will also mean a prime location somewhere on Walt Disney World property, which alone can be worth it (think Beach Club during Food and Wine).
Say you were interested in a jump from an All-Star Resort to one of the Moderate Resorts. A stay in early September 2014 (one of the cheapest times), paying standard, non-discounted room rates, would run around $92.00 per night for the All-Star, while the Moderate Resorts would cost around $170.00 per night. Walt Disney World will typically offer some type of room discount during this time, so the overall nightly cost for both resorts very well may end up being lower, but the price differential between the two should still be around the same. If paying an extra $78.00 per night is still a bit too steep, consider upgrading to the Art of Animation Resort. While still technically a Value Resort, Art of Animation will provide you with nearly everything a Moderate Resort will, with the exception of the larger room (provided you are staying in a standard room and not a suite) and a sit-down restaurant. A stay at Art of Animation during the same time frame is around $115.00 per night.
Looking to upgrade from a Moderate Resort to a Deluxe? While the prices of the Deluxe Resorts can vary wildly based on resort, a stay at the Yacht Club during early September would be around $356 per night (again, there are typically discounts to bring this down). Sure, tacking on $186.00 per night can be a bit too much at times, especially if you will be enjoying an extended stay. So, perhaps you could consider a split stay. Stay at a Moderate, or even a Value for the bulk of your trip, then head over to a Deluxe Resort for a night or two. I would recommend with this, however, to stay in the Deluxe Resort at the end of your trip. Trust me, it would be awfully difficult to go from the amenities of a Deluxe Resort to anything else.
Mickey, Minnie, and Duffy during Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Time Parade
Purchase Party Tickets – If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World during a holiday season, seriously consider splurging on either Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Both have excellent parades and fireworks shows, unique character meet and greets, and even freebees (candy at Halloween, cookies and hot cocoa or juice at Christmas). You will also get the added luxury of diminished crowds, as there is a limit to the number of tickets sold. Tickets for the 2014 Halloween Party start at $62.00 per adult, $57.00 per child over 3 (Passholder and Vacation Club discounts are available), however, prices do increase if purchasing on the day of the party, or for parties closer to Halloween. Tickets for the 2014 Christmas Party start at $67.00 for adults, $62.00 for children, with the same discounts and caveats as the Halloween Party applying. Tip: Instead of making this a splurge, why not make it a way to save money? Consider making this your only park admission during your trip. You can gain access to Magic Kingdom on the day of the party at 4:00 PM using just your party ticket. Historically, capacity at Magic Kingdom during the day on a party night is very low, and once 7:00 PM hits, only guests with party tickets are allowed to stay. This gives you 8 hours in Magic Kingdom at diminished capacity and—by purchasing only a party ticket instead of a 1 day Magic Kingdom pass—it will save you around $37.00 per adult, $36.00 per child for the Halloween Party, $32.00 per adult and $31.00 per child for the Christmas party. That’s a savings of $146.00 for a family of four. Of course, these saving could be used toward a resort upgrade (see how it all ties in?). For ideas of what to do while outside of the theme parks, check out my previous post on that very subject.
Try A Signature Restaurant – Dining at Walt Disney World has become so much more than burgers on the go and sit down meals with characters. Scattered around Walt Disney World are what Disney calls their “Signature Restaurants” (restaurants considered signature will be listed as such on the Walt Disney World website and can be searched by selecting “signature” in the filter). Each restaurant will vary based on cuisine and style, so you will be able to find most anything you like. As I’m sure you may have guessed, signature dining can be quite expensive, though not every restaurant is on a Victoria and Albert’s price level. If you are on the dining plan, these meals can be 2 credits, and you will still be responsible for the tip, which can still be substantial. The food, however, is worth it. We dined at Narcoossee’s in the Grand Floridian Resort for our anniversary recently and enjoyed the butter poached lobster tail, which was possibly the best lobster I have ever had. The ambiance was also perfect for celebrating our anniversary. However, while it is nice to enjoy a great meal in an adult atmosphere, the stigma of the meal price can loom large. So, I will typically justify this splurge by using this example: A family of four can dine at The Crystal Palace (another splurge that families opt for) for roughly $122.00, plus tip. With that meal you will get to meet Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends and enjoy a good all-you-care-to-enjoy meal. The issue—for me at least—is that my children never eat what I would consider $20.00 worth of food (the cost for a child’s dinner). Now, let’s compare a meal at Narcoossee’s. A kid’s meal cheeseburger with tater tots, veggies, and a drink will run around $7.00. Even if you have an older child (under 10) who is more adventurous, a kid’s flat iron steak with roasted potatoes, veggies and a drink will run around $13.00. For adults, there is a wide array of steaks and seafood, but for the sake of this example, let’s go middle of the pack and say our parents are going with the grilled filet mignon with mashed potatoes, haricot verts and herbed cabernet-oxtail reduction (which is delicious, by the way). The cost of this meal is around $45.00 (apiece, of course). This would bring our meal total to a maximum of around the same $122.00 (adding in drink costs as well), plus tip. TIP: It is understandable that the kids may not be in favor of giving up a chance to meet characters with their meal, but a good way to make it up to them—if dining at Narcoossee’s or California Grill—would be to book a dinner reservation for roughly 45 to 60 minutes prior to the start of the Wishes Nighttime Fireworks Spectacular. The lights will dim just as Wishes begins and the show music will be piped in, giving your kids the full experience as they watch the fireworks display from the comfort of their seats or a viewing area nearby. As an added bonus, they will also see the Electrical Water Pageant float by just prior to Wishes. Also, if you plan to dine out a lot during your stay at Walt Disney World, I strongly recommend purchasing the Tables in Wonderland card, if you are able. It saved us over $40.00 at Narcoossee’s on our anniversary dinner!
Attend La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil – Generally speaking, I am not a fan of attending shows while at Walt Disney World. Time is precious there, and I just don’t like committing extended periods of my trip to one specific thing. That being said, attending La Nouba is one thing I can get on board with. For one, I enjoy spending time at Downtown Disney and am looking forward to seeing what Disney Springs will bring when it is complete. When my wife and I go to Walt Disney World without the kids, spending an evening having dinner, some drinks, and strolling around Downtown Disney is a fun, stress-free way to wind down our trip. Taking in La Nouba just sort of fits right in to that. The biggest problem we had with pulling the trigger on La Nouba, at least initially, was justifying the cost on simply a show. But, as the years went by and we became desensitized to the cost of doing business at Walt Disney World, it seemed like less of an unattainable endeavor. The show, itself, is both unique to Walt Disney World and unique in Walt Disney World. La Nouba can’t be found anywhere else, and it provides you with some mesmerizing, edge of your seat entertainment that isn’t character heavy. Tickets run from $52.19 to $159.75 for adults, and $52.19 to $133.13 for children, depending on where you choose to sit.
Main Street U.S.A. all dressed for Christmas.
Go During Christmas – This splurge is a bit different as you have to plan your trip around it, not add it to an existing trip, but to me there is nothing better than Walt Disney World at Christmas time. From the Resort Hotels decorated in spectacular fashion, to Main Street, U.S.A., to the characters in their Christmas best, it is a fun time to be there. And if you did take my advice and splurged on a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, walking down Main Street sipping a hot chocolate at the end of the evening while “snow” steadily streams from the sky will make for a very lasting memory. TIP: The first two weeks of December are great times to go. Christmas decorations will be up in their entirety, crowds will be lighter, and hotel costs will be less. For example, a non-discounted, week day rate at All-Star Sports for December 1, 2014 through December 11, 2014 is $98.00 per night, but starting December 12, 2014 the cost begins to spike, going from $165.00 per night until it reaches its peak of $176.00 per night on Christmas Day.
Like most things in life, the more money you spend at Walt Disney World, the more you will receive in return. You will certainly never run out of options for enhancing your vacation, that is for certain. While some can justify the cost of the other, more expensive splurges, these are five that most people can decide on without breaking the bank, yet will still provide vast enhancements to any trip.
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September 2, 2014
‘Wearable’ Halloween Costumes: Mickey and Minnie Mouse
Oh Boy!
It’s finally getting to be that time of year in Minnesota: jacket weather, football games, falling leaves and trips to the Pumpkin Patch. It all leads up to my favorite holiday: Halloween. As if I haven’t mentioned enough already, I will be visiting Disney World this Fall and experiencing my very first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.To get into the Halloween spirit, I’ve taken inspiration from classic Disney characters and shared a few costume ideas with you fine readers!
Now, if you share the same sentiments as a few of my relatives, you may not jump at the chance to walk around in a hot and itchy costume for several hours. Therefore, my goal is to make the costumes you see here more ‘wearable’ and comfortable!
Let’s Begin with our Favorite Couple – Mickey and Minnie Mouse
She’ll probably resent me for all the Disney outfits I put her in.
Babies and Toddlers
Baby costumes nowadays are just the greatest. They’re well made and easy to find. Disney is doing a great job making their clothing and other products easily accessible to the general public. This baby outfit was found at Target for less than $10.00! I have also found Princess outfits as well as various Disney onesies….which I may or may not have bought. (They were on sale!) The hair band was found on the Disney store website during a sale and is comfortable and not too tight. I was delighted to see little Mickey outfits at the store as well, so make sure you scurry! (Was the mouse joke too much? Yes? Okay sorry…moving on)
Kids: Boys
Halloween costumes these days seem to be getting more and more expensive. It’s not uncommon to see kid costumes north of $40.00. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, use what you have! A black t-shirt or turtle neck with red or black pants would work great for Mickey. Cut out two ovals and tape them near the waistband to serve as Mickey’s buttons. If you can find some white mittens, draw lines on the knuckles with a black marker and BAM! You’ve got yourself a Mickey Mouse clone.
Kids: Girls
Like the boys costume, a black turtleneck or t-shirt makes an easy Minnie Mouse top. However, if you can find a black or red tutu left over from a dance recital, that would make your little Minnie more distinguishable. If not, a black skirt or pair of pants work. Consider black tights or leggings underneath the skirt and black Mary Janes or flats on her little mouse toes. Add a red bow in her hair to perfect the look.
At 25 years old, I still can’t color inside the lines.
If your young one wishes to kick it up a notch, nail polish is always a great way to amp things up. Here are the ‘Mousekatools’ you’ll need for my Mickey & Minnie Mouse nail look:
Red nail polish
White nail polish
Tooth picks
Note: I know some people aren’t feet people, so I apologize for the picture. There was no way I could paint both hands perfectly, so I settled for my toes!
Mouse Nails Tutorial
1. Paint nails red and allow time to dry
2. To create bow, dip a tooth pick into white paint and make an X on nail.
3. Close the gap on right and left side of X, making two triangles
4. Fill triangles in with white polish and tap the brush in the center, making the knot
5. For remaining nails, dot on polka dots using tooth pick and white paint
Tadaaah! Beautiful nails!
This Mickey ‘costume’ is totally wearable!
Grown Ups: Men
My wonderful husband put on a brave face and agreed to be the Mickey to my Minnie. He wasn’t too crazy about dressing up in a costume, so I felt this could be a happy medium. As it’s still summer, he rocked the black tee and red shorts. Another idea would be to add black or white suspenders. Since he didn’t have clunky yellow loafers, we topped the outfit off with white tennis shoes. He went for a more basic look but if you want to get a little crazy, add some Mickey ears!
Grown Ups: Women
All ready for MNNSHP!
Dressing up like Minnie was probably the highlight of my entire week…I had SO much fun with this! You know that little black dress every woman has? Pull it out and wear it with pride! For accessories, I wore a bow necklace and earrings I had bought several years ago. The headband was given to me as a gift and made for a super easy hair-do.
If you want to put a tad more energy into your costume, here are a few make up tips that you can use on the whole family…that is, if they let you.
Black eyeliner is perfect for creating a mouse nose. You can use that or black eyeshadow to make the whiskers
To make your eyes look bigger, line underneath your eyes with a white eyeliner
For all the Minnie’s out there, fake eyelashes will give you Minnie’s doll-eyed (or is it mouse-eyed?) look
This is totally optional, but I added some glitter to the whiskers to make it look more magical. Call Tinkerbell and maybe she’ll let you borrow some pixie dust.
Well, there you have it! That’s my wearable spin on Mickey and Minnie Mouse Halloween costumes. If you have any other costume ideas and tips, share them in the comments!
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2014 Night of Joy Performance Schedule
©Disney
Night of Joy, a separately ticketed event that features top contemporary Christian music artists, is scheduled to take place at the Magic Kingdom this Friday and Saturday, September 5 – 6, from 7:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
For those of you attending, the schedule of artists performing has been released. Performers play for about 40-50 minutes per set. Performance times include:
Friday, September 5
Castle Forecourt Stage
7:40 p.m. – Matthew West
9:20 p.m. – Chris Tomlin
11:30 p.m. – Hillsong United
Galaxy Stage
7:30 p.m. – Building 429
8:50 p.m. – Building 429
10:25 p.m. – Mandisa
12:10 a.m. – for KING & COUNTRY
Rockettower Plaza Stage
8:05 p.m. – Matt Maher
9:40 p.m. – The Neverclaim
Saturday, September 6
Castle Forecourt Stage
7:40 p.m. – MercyMe
9:30 p.m. – Gospel Music Association Winner Phil Perry
9:50 p.m. – Casting Crowns
11:55 p.m. – Skillet
Galaxy Stage
7:30 p.m. – Colton Dixon
8:50 p.m. – Colton Dixon
10:25 p.m. – Britt Nicole
12:10 a.m. – Israel Houghton and New Breed
Rockettower Plaza Stage
8:15 p.m. – 1 Girl Nation
9:40 p.m. – We As Human
11:20 p.m. – Rhett Walker Band
Tickets are still on sale. Single day tickets will cost $59, plus tax, if purchased ahead of time. They will be $69, plus tax, at the door.
For more information, visit www.nightofjoy.com.
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Where to Stay at Port Orleans Riverside!
By Katie McNair
Ed. – Today the blog is taking you to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. These resorts are connected by a very pleasant walk along the Sassagoula River and are favorites on the Unofficial Guide reader survey.
If you are staying at the Walt Disney Resort, one of the first decisions you will make is where you will be staying. If you decide that you are going to be staying on Disney property, next you get to decide between Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas.
Many people form strong opinions on which hotel is the best, and I’m not here to argue the point. I mean, there’s not really a point to argue, since the clear winner is Port Orleans Riverside.
Once you have made the best (the only!) decision to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, you can either be assigned a location, or you can request a particular area.
The first time I stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, I didn’t know much about it, and didn’t know enough to request a certain area of the resort. Now, after staying there multiple times, I know what I like and I always request an area in advance, though specific room or area requests are just that: requests. While Disney does their best to make you happy, sometimes it’s just not possible to accommodate your request.
The entire resort is gorgeous, but there are obviously some areas that are better than others. Even then, what makes it better for some makes it worse for others, so here’s a question-and-answer guide to help you choose the best area for your needs.
When you see this sign, you know you’re home!
Everyone has told me that Riverside is the best hotel, and they all rave about Alligator Bayou and mansions, but I don’t understand. What…?
This is the perfect question to start out our FAQs! Port Orleans Riverside is a large resort, with 2,048 rooms in total. The hotel is divided into two parts, called Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend. Alligator Bayou is divided up into numbered lodges, and Magnolia Bend is broken into four mansions, named Acadian House, Parterre Place, Oak Manor, and Magnolia Terrace. Each side is themed separately, but the rooms are identical in size and amenities, though decorated differently. Alligator Bayou is made up of individual lodges, and is meant to resemble what you would find in the rural areas of Louisiana, with three different styles of the lodges. There are shady paths meandering between the lodges, with bridges and streams, and is very picturesque. Magnolia Bend is more elegant, with large mansions and sweeping gardens with fountains. Each mansion is also styled differently. While Disney charges extra for rooms they consider to be better for some reason or another, including proximity to the lobby or better views, there is a wide variety of things to do and see as you walk around the grounds of the resort, no matter where you are staying. Sometimes these extras are worth spending a little more, but sometimes they’re just not.
I have 5 people in my family. Do I need to get two rooms?
Port Orleans has the perfect place for your family! In Alligator Bayou there’s a pull down Murphy style bed (featuring Louis from The Princess and the Frog) that will allow a small child to sleep there, as well as either two queen beds or a king (depending on what you choose when you book). The pull down bed is not as big as a twin, and really is quite small, only 63” long and 30” wide, so only the youngest of children will be comfortable there, but it’s perfect for kids under 10. (To give you perspective, a queen bed is 80” long and 60” wide). I have read that adults who are under 5’ could fit, but from the two minutes I spent laying on it to try it out, I was very uncomfortable due to the narrowness of the bed. I am much taller than 5’, but it still wasn’t ideal.
Alligator Bayou offers shady paths and expansive areas of lush greenery.
My child/wife/self is obsessed with all things princess. Is this a good resort for us?
Yes! It’s really the perfect resort, with Royal Rooms. The Royal Rooms were added in 2011, and they feature tons of special details. While the rooms are purportedly Princess Tiana’s, more special touches are included as gifts from Tiana’s princess friends, including portraits of them together and the magic lamp as sink faucets from Princess Jasmine in Aladdin. One of the coolest things in these rooms has to be the fiber optic light show that is built into the headboard of the beds. Because these rooms are decorated by Royalty, and look it, there is a surcharge for staying in any of these 512 rooms, and all of them are located in the Magnolia Bend section of the resort. On the other hand, if your child is obsessed with Princesses but you are indifferent, the touches are subtle enough (with the exception of the portraits on the wall) that it just feels like a fancier than usual hotel room.
The gorgeously appointed Royal Rooms has lots of hidden touches. Does that rug look familiar? ©Disney
I want to get started with touring the parks immediately, and I hate a long walk back to my room after a long day in the parks. Where should I stay?
Good question! Remember, Port Orleans is very large, so there are four bus stops for the resort, South, North, East, and West. The South depot is the the one that services the lobby area, and is the largest of the four depots, with two covered areas dividing up the destinations. Because the resort hotel is so very large, some areas will indeed have a long walk to a bus depot. If you want to be as quick as possible from room to bus and back, request Alligator Bayou buildings 24, 25, 34, or 35 for the West depot, or Alligator Bayou buildings 36 or 37 or anywhere in Acadian House for the North depot (though half of Acadian House will be better served going the other way to the East Depot). All of Magnolia Terrace is close to the East Depot, but be careful to say Magnolia Terrace (versus Magnolia Bend, which is the the collective name of the four mansion buildings). Disney does have an area of Alligator Bayou that they consider a preferred location, and charge more. Some of the preferred rooms still have a long walk to a bus depot, but a shorter walk to the feature pool or the lobby, so booking a prefered room isn’t a guarantee of a short walk to the bus.
Sometimes if you mention that you don’t have any shampoo, they will ensure you don’t have to ask again.
I will be using the Disney Meal Plan when I stay at the resort, so I want to be close to the food court. Where should I stay?
Another great question! The Disney Dining Plan gives you, in addition to your dining entitlements, a refillable mug that is good at your resort for the length of your stay, so being close to the food court makes it easy for you to fill up on your way to the parks. The preferred rooms in Alligator Bayou are a good choice for you, if you are willing to pay the extra for them, or Oak Manor if you don’t want to pay the upcharge.
The food court is located in the lobby complex area.
We are coming from up north, and my kids are almost more excited about the pool than visiting the parks. Where’s the best place to be close to the pool?
This question is not easily answered, if only because the resort has multiple pools in multiple locations. There is one large feature pool in the middle of the resort, located on Ol’ Man Island, which has a water slide, wading area for kids, and hot tubs, as well as five quiet pools scattered around. Presuming you want to be close to the action-packed feature pool, you will want to stay in Magnolia Terrace, Acadian House, or Alligator Bayou building 38. If you just want access to a pool, any pool, you can actually stay anywhere, as the pools are pretty evenly spread out. If you want to be sure you will have quick access, you can choose to book a Pool View room, but keep in mind that the quiet pools are open 24 hours a day, which can sometimes be a bit less than quiet when kids are swimming at midnight.
The lobby is so peaceful and pretty.
I can’t climb stairs, but Disney hotels always have elevators, right?
No, actually. All of Alligator Bayou is individual two story buildings, none of which have elevators. If you are unable to climb stairs, you can either make a special request to be in a ground floor room (which could be either in Alligator Bayou or any of the buildings in Magnolia Bend) or you can request to be in Magnolia Bend. Magnolia Bend’s mansions are three stories tall, but they have elevators. In addition, there are ADA compliant accessible rooms, which you can book if that is a requirement for you.
The beds in Magnolia Bed have these lovely paintings on the headboards, with scenes from Princess and the Frog.
I hate Mickey Mouse and all things Disney. Will I have all these things shoved in my face?
Part of me wonders why you are are staying at a Disney resort, but maybe you are being a great parent or spouse and staying in spite of your preferences. Well, the good news is, while there are definite Disney touches, they are not overt (provided you skip the Royal Rooms which are pretty awesomely Disney princess themed). The rooms have some hidden Mickeys (like the support for the shelves on the wall) and nods to The Princess and the Frog in the curtain dividing the room from the sink area in the Alligator Bayou section (made to look like Lottie’s father’s sugar plantation’s bags), but nothing is truly in your face. The resort area is themed to evoke the South, without the larger than life characters you will find at the value resorts. I can’t promise you’ll be completely safe from spotting Mickey, but it will be doable to forget you are on property at times.
Take a carriage ride around the Port Orleans grounds… you probably won’t see *too* many Mickeys!
My favorite thing to do after playing in the parks all day is heading to Downtown Disney to shop and eat. I have heard that this resort is considered a Downtown Disney resort. What does that mean?
Each resort is characterized by its location near the various parks or areas. This hotel is close to Downtown Disney, making it a Downtown Disney resort. Good news for you! Since this hotel is close to Downtown Disney, you have multiple ways to get there. You can take a bus, like always, but you also have access to a river boat, which will stop at Port Orleans French quarter on the way to the dock at Downtown Disney. The boat trip takes around 20 minutes, and it’s a nice, relaxing trip. While sometimes you may have to wait for space on a boat, the nice thing is you’ll always get to sit down, unlike on the bus.
Friendly boat service heading to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans Riverside.
I am bringing my pet along with me, and I wanted to be close to the Best Friends Pet Care. Is that possible?
Yes! Port Orleans is your best bet for being close to your pet, if you want to check in or visit while you’re staying on Disney property. To be fair, Port Orleans French Quarter is actually right across the street from the Best Friends Pet Care Center. But since you are interested in staying at Port Orleans Riverside, the closest area of the resort would be Parterre Place. This will be a quick trip by car to check in on your pet. Make sure you make time to take your doggy to the splash park just for dogs!
So did I miss your question? Do you have any other questions you would like to see answered? Is there anything else you would like to hear about Port Orleans Riverside? Let me know in the comments!
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Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Review
Ed. – Today the blog is taking you to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. These resorts are connected by a very pleasant walk along the Sassagoula River and are favorites on the Unofficial Guide reader survey.
On my most recent trip to Walt Disney World, I stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter, which is my personal favorite moderate resort hotel. An important factor in choosing any Walt Disney World Resort is the food. Especially when traveling with a larger group, variety is essential when it comes to dining options. Luckily, Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, the main dining option at French Quarter, offers a variety of choices with a strong influence on Cajun and New Orleans cuisine.
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory is a breakfast, lunch and dinner quick service food court decked out in a bright and colorful Mardi Gras theme. If you’re into subtlety, you might just die of excessiveness while eating here. Some may say that many of the decorations of Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory are “creepy” or “terrifying” but I personally think they straddle the, “almost scary but hilarious because of it” line quite nicely. Also, in case you were wondering, both the Disney Dining Plan and Tables in Wonderland are accepted at Sassagoula. That’s all well and fine but the real question remains. Is the food any good? I’m happy to report that after staying at French Quarter for a week and having multiple meals there, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Fun ambiance or terrifying nightmare fuel? You decide!
There are five stations to order from that each offer different dining options. Whether you’re eating for breakfast, lunch or dinner, there’s almost definitely at least one item that you’ll enjoy. The food is American but there are a number of unique items for French Quarter along with a Cajun spin on more traditional dishes that really make Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory stand out from most resort food courts.
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
For breakfast, Sassagoula has an omelet station along with the options to create your own parfait and the more classic Disney offerings like the beloved and delicious Mickey Waffle. Breakfast sadly was the most disappointing of all my meals here. Mickey Waffles are delicious but you can get them almost anywhere on Disney property. The other options just felt underwhelming in comparison to the lunch and dinner choices at Sassagoula. For example, I tried the Bounty Platter, which comes with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, biscuit, and a Mickey Waffle. I’m pretty sure every place that serves breakfast at Disney has a variation on this meal. The problem is, none of the individual items, besides the Mickey waffle, are particularly good. (Side rant: Disney you need to get your act together with your bacon. For too long, it’s been terrible. That’s a bad thing. Bacon is a delicious American treasure and you should treat it as such. It’s pretty hard to make it awful but you did it. Bad Disney.) The eggs in particular are reminiscent of the eggs at my college dining hall. Nobody liked the eggs at my college dining hall. So if you’re staying at Port Orleans French Quarter, just grab some donuts for your room or eat breakfast in the parks. When it comes to the most important meal of the day at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, I say skip it. Now, onto lunch and dinner…
This is not the breakfast you’re looking for.
As I mentioned earlier, lunch and dinner are leagues ahead of breakfast here at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. If you’re looking for New Oreans style cuisine, Sassagoula offers gumbo, po’ boys, muffuletta sandwiches (UPDATE: Muffuletta has been removed from the menu since my trip in August) and a creole burger among others. Don’t forget the beignets for dessert! If you don’t know what a beignet is, it’s a small French pastry that’s similar to fried dough, or doughboy or whatever you want to call it. Basically it’s dough that’s been fried and topped with powdered sugar and it’s delicious. As for the po’ boys, they have a few different options for the meat in the sub. Being a fan of buffalo chicken, I’d opt for the buffalo chicken po’ boy but my brother got the shrimp and said that was also tasty. Speaking of shrimp, I thought the fried shrimp was delicious. It may not win any awards in terms of presentation, but it tastes great. I always like a little kick to my food and I was pleased with the spices and seasoning atop the shrimp.
Won’t win any beauty contests but tastes delicious!
If you’re a pickier eater that prefers American fare, the chili-cheese dog is a safe bet. It’s not as messy as you’d expect either. It’s not the best hot dog in Disney (lookin’ at you Mac & Cheese Hot Dog!) but it’s still good. You can also order personal pizzas or go for a large if you feel like sharing with the whole family. I’m almost positive this is the same pizza available for room service in most resorts at Disney World. I enjoyed it but if you’re only getting pizza once on your trip, I’d highly recommend a reservation at Via Napoli instead. You can also create your own salad with shrimp or chicken if you’re trying to eat healthier on your vacation. I don’t know why you would do that since it’s vacation but it’s there if you want it.
The “Floatworks” in Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory isn’t just for show either. Besides the previously mentioned beignets, there are a bunch of different ice cream dessert options including cones and shakes. I think the real draw, however, are the ice cream cookie sandwiches. Similar to Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom, these cookie sandwiches are made on the spot with your choice of ice cream between two warm chocolate chip cookies. They’re massive too. The kind of big where you’re not sure where to start eating so you just go for it and hope for the best. And now I want another one.
I heavily base my resort choices around dining options and I would absolutely recommend staying at Port Orleans French Quarter for Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory if you assign similar value to your resort food. Plus, it’s just a great moderate resort in general. I understand that many of the food court offerings at Disney Resorts can be weak, which is evidenced by many of them being refurbished recently/currently, but Sassagoula can boast that it’s in the top tier when it comes to this. Despite a sub-par breakfast, Sassagoula is a superb option for casual resort dining.
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September 1, 2014
Be Our Guest Lunch Standby and Same-Day Reservation Policy Updates: September 1, 2014
Trying to get a lunch table at Be Our Guest can be downright Beastly…unless you know the restaurant’s latest policies. (photos by Seth Kubersky)
Last week’s blog post about my unsuccessful attempt to eat lunch at Be Our Guest provoked a number of comments and questions, so I spent a humid Labor Day morning trying to make sense of the latest policies and procedures at the Magic Kingdom’s newest premiere restaurant. Be warned that everything in the below Be Our Guest lunch update should be taken with a shaker of salt, since operations are being adjusted on a daily basis — much to the chagrin of front line cast members, who often don’t know exactly how things will operate on any given day until they attend their morning meeting. With that said, here’s is my latest first-hand experience with Be Our Guest lunch standby and return time tickets, as well as same-day dinner reservations.
Be Our Guest Lunch Standby and Return Time Tickets
One of my first stops after rope drop was Be Our Guest restaurant, where much to my amazement I found a couple of people already in the standby queue for lunch. When I initially inquired about standby and return time tickets, I was told there was no guarantee yet whether they would be used that day, and was invited to wait in line or return closer to the 10:30 a.m. opening time.
I checked back a couple more times during the next hour (in between rides on Winnie The Pooh, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Under the Sea) and was given the same information from other cast members. I took a moment to peek inside at the lobby and armor hallway, which are open for guests to to view daily from park open until 10 a.m.
Even if you aren’t eating inside, you should sneak a peak at the stunning interior for free before 10 a.m.
By 10 a.m., there were at least a dozen people in line for lunch, and the line quickly grew. The queue completely filled the bridge before the giant wooden doors opened to cheering guests at about 10:29 a.m.
A few minutes after the restaurant opened, a cast member began distributing these return time tickets:
New guests were permitted to join the standby queue for a few minutes longer, but the line was cut off before too long. Likewise, the first batch of return time tickets were all distributed with about 15 minutes.
At this point, a sign informing guests that the restaurant has “reached capacity for the day” is erected out front. Only guests with return time tickets or pre-booked FastPass+ lunch reservations (currently available online only to those with valid Disney resort reservations) are permitted to join the queue at this point. Front-line cast members were unable to say if or when additional standby return time tickets would be distributed, but indicated that the standby queue could reopen after 2 p.m. for the final minutes of lunch operation.
When I returned at my appointed time (after a quick trip through the cosmos via Space Mountain and the recently refurbished PeopleMover), I noted that a stack of return time tickets were still waiting at the greeter’s podium, but was told that no additional tickets had been distributed yet, and they could not say if more would be later.
I was admitted immediately inside the restaurant, without a single person waiting between me and my touchscreen ordering station. Incidentally, I was asked if I was a resort guest; when I said no, I was handed an RIFD “rose” so servers could locate me. From the symbols on the greeter’s computer, it seems resort guests can skip the rose and simply be found by their MagicBands.
Once in the dining room, I realized that only about half of the tables appeared occupied. Most of the seats in the small “West Wing” were taken, but there was plenty of empty space in the two larger rooms.
I can’t say if the underutilization was due to a large number of FastPass+ guests not showing up, or because of understaffing (though I saw plenty of cast members standing around), but it seemed odd to see so many tables while eager guests were being turned away outside.
As I departed, I confirmed that the day’s remaining return time tickets had indeed been distributed while I was eating, and were all gone by noon. I was told there was no set schedule as to when or how many were distributed, and that today’s pattern didn’t necessarily dictate tomorrow’s, since the procedures are being communicated to front-line cast members on a day-by-day (or even hour-by-hour) basis.
Be Our Guest Dinner Same-Day Reservations
While waiting for lunch, I also had the opportunity to observe cast members taking same-day dinner reservations from guests who walked up, in order to fill cancellations. The policy for an in-person Be Our Guest dinner reservation is slightly different from making one in advance online or over the phone, as no credit card deposit is required. However, the tables available to be filled all have designated party sizes (based on the sizes of parties that canceled), and you may not be given a reservation if you do not meet a minimum or maximum party size.
For example, I requested a table for myself, but only 4 seat tables (“four tops” in restaurant lingo) were available for my time frame. As a single guest, I was told I could not have a reservation slot that could otherwise seat 4; when I asked what would happen if I tried to book it and showed up alone, I was told I would not be permitted to dine.
Later, I clarified the policy with a manager, who explained that they could not seat a party at dinner with less than 50% of the table’s capacity. That is, a four top must have at least 2 guests, a six top must have at least 3, etc. If guests arrive with less than 50% of the party size for the booked table, the restaurant reserves the right to cancel the reservation. Alternatively, guests who pre-booked with a credit card could be charged $10 per missing diner.
In reality, Disney is unlikely to exercise such consumer-unfriendly measures, and I was told the most likely scenario was that the guests would be asked to wait additional time until a smaller table became available. While Disney understands that emergencies happen, deliberately deceiving cast members about the size of your party in order to secure a reservation is not advised.
I should also note that the manager cheerfully offered to help me arrange a dinner reservation for myself, which I declined.
The Bottom Line: Advice for Eating at Be Our Guest
If you want to have lunch at Be Our Guest, and aren’t eligible for (or able to secure) an advance FastPass+ booking, your best bet is to be at the restaurant by 10:15 a.m. If you don’t mind eating that early, hop in the standby line. Otherwise, hang around the front gates and try to grab a return time ticket if and when they are given out. If you see cast members starting to set up the “closed for capacity” sign while you wait for return ticket to appear, jump in the queue just in case; until then, try to find yourself some shade within earshot. If you miss the first round of tickets and the queue is cut off, you can try waiting around until around noon to see if more tickets are distributed. As a last resort, swing by around 2 p.m. and see if they reopen the standby queue before lunch service ceases.
As for dinner, Be Our Guest reservations remain a hot commodity, so try to book online as soon as you are eligible, and check back for seatings daily. Same-day availability is erratic at best, but there are at least a few cancellations every day, so stop by in the first hour of the morning for that day’s availability. You have the best odds with a party of three or four; there are usually fewer openings for large or small groups.
Oh, and about the lunch itself?
This is what $28.18 worth of enchanted edibles looks like.
The featured fish in my Tuna Nicoise Salad was exquisite — sushi grade and barely seared — and though the egg was poached a bit harder than I personally prefer, and ther was only one lone green bean on my plate, it is a salad worthy of an upscale restaurant.
The potato leek soup was even more delicious. I wish the meal came with bread, because I could barely refrain from licking the bowl clean!
The only disappointment was the Master’s Cupcake, which I was looking forward to since I’ve never had the famed “grey stuff” at dinner. The chocolate cake base was nicely moist but shockingly small for the price, and the signature monochromatic frosting was mostly flavorless, with little distinctive taste beyond bland sweetness. I’ve enjoyed the other desserts I’ve had at Be Our Guest more.
What have your experiences getting into Be Our Guest been like? Let us know in the comments below!
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Menu Monday: WHY WAIT IN LINE WHEN WE CAN JUST DINE? Considering the value of Disney’s Character dining.
By John Kivus
Now that Walt Disney World has a fully operational Fastpass+ system, it seems more clear than ever that the days of spontaneous character meet and greets are over. Instead of wandering up to park-goers on Main Street, characters meet with guests at specific locations, at specific times, with specifically designated lines. This translates into more planning, and, possibly, more waiting, to meet your favorite Disney icons.
Character Times from the My Disney Experience App
Thankfully, character dining provides another opportunity to meet some of your favorites. As Brian McNichols outlined in a post here a few months ago, Walt Disney World offers a number of different dining experiences that feature visits with beloved characters to go along with your meal.
But is a character meal, which can approach $50 per adult at certain restaurants, a better value than waiting in line for a meet and greet (which has no cost other than Park admission and the time spent waiting)?
In this post, I’ll do my best to put values on character dining and on meet and greets so you can compare and decide how/where you’ll get a picture of little Suzie with Ariel. Read on for an explanation of how I made my calculations, or, if you prefer, skip right to some examples
The How and Why of Determining Value
On the Shoulders of Giants
A little over a year ago, the previously mentioned Brian McNichols attempted to determine value with The True Cost of Character Meals: Are they Worth it?. Brian used a formula that calculated a Leveraged Equity Number, or L.E.N., for a meal at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and concluded that “[b]ased on the math, this particular character meal does not seem worth the time and money it costs.” Brian also came to this overall conclusion from his analysis:
So, is a character meal worth it? It’s hard to say definitively, but the evidence is that it is at least close enough to strongly consider skipping them. The convenience of a character meal versus the potential food quality and savings of the alternative is an argument that this lowly analyst could not possibly settle.
Time – An Alternative Approach
Though I respect Brian’s approach to value analysis, I wanted to incorporate some of the wait times data available here at TouringPlains.com for my own value analysis of character dining. After discussions with my editor, we decided that the most appropriate wait time to use for the meet and greets when calculating the value comparisons would be the mode of the various wait times for the given attraction on a day the TouringPlans Crowd Calendar classifies as level 5 attendance.
Come Fly Away – @ John Kivus, 2013
Unfortunately, some of the character meet and greet locations (e.g., the Alice and Mary Poppins meet and greets at Epcot’s United Kingdom Pavilion), are not tracked by the TouringPlans Crowd Calendar. For those, I used an observational estimate of 12 minutes per meet and greet. If you think another wait time is more appropriate, please feel free to substitute it when conducting your own analysis.
My analysis focuses on breakfasts, since it’s the most important meal of the day (and since I have found that character breakfasts, rather than lunches or dinners, provide the best value). If you plan to just have pop tarts at the hotel, you would obviosuly save both time and money, but I am assuming you intend to spend time with your group at breakfast. The control I used for comparison is the non-character breakfast buffet at Boma, which is $20 to $25 per adult, and $11 to $14 per child, depending on the season. For a family of four at mid-level pricing, it would cost $70 for breakfast, not including gratuity.
Selecting a Meal
Again, I will point you to the work of Brian McNichols, who recently posted How to Pick the Right Disney World Character Meal. This post provides a good summary of the character dining options available at Walt Disney World, and suggests good defaults if you are not sure where you might want to go. Additionally, please feel free to take to the comments on this article to give and receive suggestions on character dining options.
Examples
Example One: Princesses
For this example, let’s say that your child (or, let’s face it, you) really wants to meet Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White. One dining option is, as Brian outlined, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
Prices for breakfast at Akershus vary from $40 to $47 per adult and from $24 to $28 per child, depending on the season. Before you are seated, your group will pose for a photograph with Belle, and during the meal, you’ll meet with a rotating cast of Princesses that may include Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, and Snow White. For a family of four at our assumed mid-level pricing, the cost will be approximately $140 before gratuity, or nearly twice the price of a standard Walt Disney World breakfast buffet without characters.
Instead of a meal at Akershus, you could do the following
Meet Ariel in her Grotto: Expected wait 28 minutes
Meet Belle in her ball gown at Enchanted Tales with Belle: Expected wait 31 minutes (or in her blue dress and apron at the France Pavilion: Expected wait 12 minutes)
Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall: Expected wait 43 minutes
Meet Snow White at the Town Square Theater Porch or the Wishing Well at the Germany Pavilion: Expected wait 12 minutes
for a total wait time of between 90 minutes and nearly two hours.
Under his L.E.N. based analysis, Brian questioned the value of a meal at Akershus. When I look at the combination of convenience and time saved with such a meal, however, I see a real value in spending the additional $70 in order to save myself from waiting in lines for almost two hours later in the day.
Example Two: Poppins and Pooh
In this example, let’s say the favorites are Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, and Alice. For this meal, head to 1900 Park Fare.
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare costs between $22 and $26 per adult, and $12 and $15 per child, depending on the season, with characters including Alice, the Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger too. For a family of four, at mid-level pricing, 1900 Park Fare would cost approximately $75 before gratuity, or approximately $5 more than a standard character-less breakfast buffet. That’s $5 to have breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and get pictures like one below.
Breakfast Date with Pooh – © John Kivus, 2014
Alternatively, you could attend the following meet and greets:
Alice at the United Kingdom Pavilion: Expected wait 12 minutes
Mary Poppins at the United Kingdom Pavilion: Expected wait 12 minutes
Tigger & Pooh at the United Kingdom Pavilion: Expected wait 12 minutes
Assuming you agree with our 12-minute estimate for these types of meet and greets, you are looking at a total wait of approximately 36 minutes to meet these four characters.
I look at the $5 it would cost to save that 36 minutes of waiting – not to mention the hassle of having to ensure I’m at the United Kingdom Pavilion at the right times for these characters (who are only out for 40 minute increments or so) – and I see a really good value in this character dining experience. If a waiter came up to me during my standard meal and said, “for $5, I will bring Mary Poppins, Alice, Pooh, and Tigger right to your table,” I would accept that offer in a heartbeat.
Example Three: Mickey & Company
In this final example, let’s say that you or your child really wants to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. To get all four of these characters in a single meal, we’ll head over to Chef Mickey’s.
Chef Mickey’s has prices of $33 to $38 per adult, and $18 to $21 per child, depending on the season. This works out to $110 for a family of four before gratuity, or approximately $40 more than a standard breakfast buffet, to meet Disney’s “Fab Five” of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
As you would imagine, there are a number of ways to meet the Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy outside of a meal. One approach to meeting them would be:
Donald and Goofy at Pete’s Silly Sideshow: Expected wait 17 minutes
Minnie (and a bonus picture with Daisy) at Pete’s Silly Sideshow: Expected wait 25 minutes
Mickey at the Town Square Theater: Expected wait 16 minutes
which totals just under an hour of wait time.
The trade-off between $40 in extra meal cost and an extra hour of waiting in line is a closer call to me than the $70 for 2 hours of time savings that we discussed in Example One. Though one could argue that you are paying $35 per hour of savings in Example One, and $40 per hour of savings in Example Three, the additional hour of time saved in Example One makes a big difference (e.g., it could mean the difference between having enough time to take a break in Stormalong Bay or having to spend all day in the park to see everything you want to see.) I would lean toward not going the character dining route for this example.
Caveats
If you have read the previously referenced article on character dining, you might have noticed that the a few names are not present, including: Anna, Elsa, Merida, and Tiana (Rapunzel has recently been spotted at Cinderella’s Royal Table, but it is unclear how frequently she is present.) If your goal is to visit these princesses (/queen if we’re discussing Elsa), then character dining is not going to help you. Unfortunately, the same goes for Pixar characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie.
My wife, who is a big fan of Disneybounding, felt that it was very important to add that many characters have different costumes depending on location. For example, you’ll meet mermaid Ariel in her Grotto, while she clearly has legs to walk around Cinderella’s Royal Table and Akershus. Belle, as noted above, sometimes wears her blue dress and apron, but definitely loves to put on her iconic ball gown.
Additionally, almost all character dining experiences come with the disclaimer that “character appearances and entertainment are subject to change.” Though there seems to be some consistency in which characters appear at which locations, there is also a chance that the one particular character you really want to see is unavailable on a given day.
Conclusion
Unlike Brian’s, my analysis indicates a good value in the character dining experiences available at Walt Disney World. Of course, as with most value analysis, the real answer comes from what you as a guest value the most. Is it worth the extra money in the morning to save you time in the afternoon? That really is a question only you can answer. I hope this post at least provides you with a framework and some motivation to make your own value determinations.
Who are your favorite characters to dine with? What other benefits to character dining do you like to enjoy (e.g., early access to the park, sometimes an hour before it opens)? Let us know in the comments.
Tell Me When It’s Over – © John Kivus, 2014
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Menu Monday: WHY WAIT IN LINE WHEN WE CAN JUST DINE? Considering the value of Disney’s Character dining. is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Menu Monday: The Happiest Hour Around Walt Disney World
Image via @danasnyder
If you dial back your flux capacitor to 2004 in Orlando, Florida, you’d see me enjoying a frosty cold one and munching on atomic hot wings after a long day of handing out towels at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay. As a Disney College Program intern, my favorite happy hour spot around Walt Disney World was the Miller’s Orlando Ale House in Lake Buena Vista. For a kid from Seattle, the $8 pitcher and 50¢ wings seemed like a great deal compared to prices back home.
I still recommend Miller’s Ale House as an amazing spot for wings outside Downtown Disney, but I figure everyone should have a few Orlando happy hour options after a long day in the parks. After a few questions on comment boards, a post on Reddit, and a bit of my own experience, here’s a list of some of the best places to celebrate the happiest hour around the “World.”
Downtown Disney Happy Hour Specials
Raglan Road
We all probably have a little Irish in us. If you don’t, it only takes a pint of Guinness to change that! As one of the most celebrated places to drink in Downtown Disney, Raglan Road should be your destination for Irish singing and dancing.
Happy Hour: Visit the Hole in Wall outdoor pub 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm – $2 off beer, well drinks, and glasses of wine.
Food Specials: The bar menu features exclusive pub grub from 11:00 pm till late (which I think means until they want to close for the night).
House of Blues Orlando
Even though it’s one of those touristy chain restaurants, the locals actually see concerts here. Stop by in the afternoon for drinks, or schedule a visit during the legendary Sunday Gospel Brunch.
Happy Hour: Everyday 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm & 10:00 pm till close – $3 domestic beer bottles, $3.75 import beer bottles, and house wine and cocktails.
Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe
One time I actually ran into Wolfgang sitting by himself at the sushi bar. If you every get a chance to meet him, Wolfy is a super nice guy. Maybe he was taking advantage of the sushi and sake specials.
Happy Hour: Monday – Thursday 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – half off sushi and sake (lounge only).
Honorable Mention: Paradiso 37
While not a happy hour destination, so many people recommended it that I had to put it on the list. It’s home of the 45 oz. drink for $20 with a commemorative glass. Refills are $10 if you bring back the cup. You’ll have to battle Downtown Disney construction and potentially noisy crowds, but many agree this is an exciting place to visit.
Hot Tip: Locals suggest joining the free VIP Mega Club for complimentary chips and salsa and discounted refills. Also, this is one of the best places to order a drink with a lid for walking around Downtown Disney.
Happy Hour Outside Disney World
Roy’s Orlando
This upscale Hawaiian-fusion happy hour destination is a fan favorite on Yelp. Rated highly for $6 cocktails, well drinks, wines, and sake, as well as $3 beers and $6 bar bites, even if you can’t make it to Roy’s aloha hour, it’s still worth the visit.
Happy Hour: Everyday 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – $5 appetizers and drink specials.
Closest Park: Magic Kingdom – 11 miles north along White Sand Lake Road.
Sea Dogs Brewing Company
Awesome brewery and tasting room. If you’re in for a tastebud adventure, try the award-winning Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Ale or the Sea Dog Hazelnut porter.
Happy Hour: Monday – Friday 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, late night every night 10:00 pm – 2:00 am – two for one specials on beer, wine, and well drinks, half-off appetizers and $.50 oysters and peel n’ eat shrimp.
Closest Park: Downtown Disney – 3 miles north along I-4.
Retro Room
This dance club/karaoke bar/pool hall will take you back to the 70s, 80s, and 90s with music videos and live bands. The Retro Room has specials everyday, but their daily happy hour can’t be beat.
Happy Hour: Monday – Saturday 11 am – 8:00 pm, Sunday all-day – $1.75 domestic beers, $11 pitchers of beer, $4 well drinks.
Closest Park: Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 7 miles west along U.S. 192.
Chuy’s
Spice it up at Chuy’s Tex Mex. I come for the creamy jalapeno and I stay for the fully loaded nacho car.
Happy Hour: Monday – Friday 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm – $3 domestic beers, $4 house margaretta, $7.75 Texas Martini.
Closest Park: Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 3 miles west along U.S. 192.
Everyone has a favorite Orlando happy hour destination. Tell us yours in the comments below!
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