I am going to write this in a fashion similar to my Animal Kingdom Lodge posts. I have never stayed at this facility but have eaten here and we explored the grounds pretty thoroughly. This is my compiled list of the reasons to stay at the Beach Club! Disneyfamilyvacationtips says:
1. The pool is amazing! The Stormalong Bay is like a little mini-waterpark with the coolest feature of all time sand bottom pools. It has a fantastic slide, many hot tubs, kids area with waterslides, and all in a shipwreck theme. There is also a fence around the pool to help with security and you must be a Beach Club guest to enjoy the facilities.
2. Cape May Cafe is a pretty nice table service restaurant that offers a character meal with Goofy and friends as a buffet breakfast. There is also a seafood buffet at dinner which we have enjoyed on a previous trip.
3. Beaches and Cream is a 1950s type hotshop serving burgers, hot dogs, soups, grilled cheese, and of course ice cream. Be sure to take the family and order The Kitchen Sink which is a mammoth sundae with 8 flavors of ice cream and every topping in the house!
4. Fairly close walk to both Epcot and Hollywood studios as well as being across the waterway from the Boardwalk. You are really close to two theme parks, dining, and fun without ever getting on a boat or bus.
5. The general themeing of the resort is very relaxing and inviting. It is styled after the New England seaside at the turn of the century and the seashore theme is evident throughout. It sit next to the Yacht Club where you are welcome to use their facilities as well.
6. There are a wide range of accommodations available ranging from a standard studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and on up to luxury suites. So you are sure to find accommodation to suit your particular family needs.
7. Be sure to request the Recreational Activities flyer from the lobby. There are many activities like Water Volleyball, Campfire Sing-along, or Movie Under the Stars may be offered throughout your stay.
8. Ship Shape Health Club that offers weight lifting and aerobic machines as well as a spa, steam room, sauna and massage therapy. For those of us that still enjoy our exercise on vacation.
9. On the water side of the BC on the public walkway, you will find a portable espresso and frozen drink bar as well as tattoos and hair braiding booths. My kids always seem to want tatoos at Disneyworld and almost every trip do the hair braiding (Magic Kingdom though).
As you can see there are many great things about the Beach Club that will make your trip magical. The only drawback would be for the budget minded visitor because this is deluxe accommodations so it can cost some good money especially if you opt for a suite. On the plus side with all those amenities it will not be hard to find something everyone can enjoy.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Free Dining at Disneyworld
Who doesn't love free food? Disney has announced an extension of the current free dining plan through the middle of December. We have had the privilege of doing this in September and it was awesome. Most people new to the Disney experience might think this to be no big deal but food at Disney is ridiculously expensive. You do typically end up paying rack room rates for the accomodation to get this deal but for a family of four: two adults, a junior(still costs as an adult), and a child this is about $130 per day. To pay out of pocket it is $40 per day for each adult and $10 a day for each child and everyone in the room must buy this option unless they are under 3 years of age! This doesn't include tip however which for us was about $15-$20 at a typical table service meal. What does free dining get me for the money well here are the basics from disneyfamilyvacationtips.
Quick service free dining usually accompanies the value resort plan and includes: 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks per day for each person in your room. This option is good if you want faster meal options but are limited to typical theme park dining such as burgers, sandwiches, pizza, etc. If you do your research well and it will be covered in a future post there are some real hidden gems in the quick service category. Your meal will include one entree or one complete Combo meal, dessert (lunch/dinner) or One juice (breakfast) & One single non-alcoholic beverage. The snack range from items such as frozen ice-cream novelty, box of popcorn, single piece of whole fruit, medium fountain soft drink but pretty much anything $4 or less is included with a few minor exceptions. Disneyfamilvacationtips says we have never done this option, but it is not bad for first time park goers with small children.
Typical dining plan is what we have always done and we do this even when we have not gotten it for free because it simply makes life easier. For this option you get 1 table service meal, one quick service meal, and one snack per day per person. One table-service meal (including entree and dessert (lunch or dinner only), or full buffet, 1 juice (breakfast only), non-alcoholic beverage; dessert not available at breakfast). 1 child table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet. The counter service and snacks are the same as the quick dining option but you only get one of each. The benefit to this is there are some exceptional dining options available at Disneyworld and you get the pleasure of enjoying them and on this promotion it is free! There is so much food it is absurd especially if you are like us and have a light eating 10 year old who get an adult meal and typically eats 1/3 of the plate. Disneyfamilyvacationtips says go with this option even if it is not free to eliminate hastle and to have most of your food pre-paid before you arrive at Disneyworld.
There are also dining options such as deluxe dining premium dining, and platinum dining which all escalate in price, options, and food. These all include your choice of up to three table service meals per day, three quick service meals per day, or any combination of three meals. Plus two snack and an resort refillable mug. The premium and platinum also offer this as well as things such as spa treatments, reserved show seating, unlimited use of recreation (including golf), and even unlimited admission to theme park tours. Disneyfamilyvacationtips says this might be so much to offer you would have to stay a month to really enjoy all the privileges but it sure would be fun to try.
So what am I getting at with the free dining is it is a good deal if you use it wisely and enjoy eating. $150 for a weeks worth of good food at Disney is a good deal and if you don't believe me find some of the menus available online and look at the corresponding prices. It is a monster deal if you have two adults and two teens! Disneyfamilyvacationtips says whenever there is free dining and you can go do it!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Animal Kingdom Lodge
I personally have never stayed or even visited this resort. However, that does not stop me from enjoying and dreaming by looking at pictures on line. I think this is a must do for our family in the future. My children love animals and the themeing for the resort seems so "safari" and I have always dreamed of doing that as well. This is a deluxe resort but is on the lower end of the deluxe scale meaning quite a bit more affordable than the monorail resorts. The prices for a studio lists for $240 during value and go up to $405 during holiday season. This actually seems like a relative bargain when you consider what all this resort has to offer. Disney family vacation tips recommends to do this at some point in your Disney career because it just flat out looks cool!
Since I have no first hand experience from this resort I have done some research and narrowed down a few reasons to choose this resort for a future stay at the world. Here are the Disney family vacation tips:
1. There are three savannas at the resort to offer many chances to see animals in a habitat similar to their own. Each of the three boast different animals and a completely different look. The savannas are lit a night to mimic a full moon every evening which is super cool.
2. There are 724 savannas view rooms available so you can watch the animals out your window.
3. Two excellent dining options in Jiko and Boma's representing a traditional African buffet and a lighter side option at Jiko's.
4. Zawadi Marketplace is the retail shop celebrating the romantic and adventuresome spirit of Africa through the stories and cultures represented in its merchandise. It is nearly 6,000 square feet and is one of the largest shops on property.
5. The Uzima Springs pool is the largest on Disney property, over 11,000 square feet. It has a zero-entry pool, waterslide, kiddy wade pool, and most importantly is open 24 hours a day.
6. Full spa and fitness center for your relaxation or need to burn off the extra calories from eating to much Boma's.
7. There is also a kids playground for the little ones when they need to extinguish some extra energy.
8. There are many different programs offered and range from cookie decorating, African games and crafts, night vision viewing at the savannas, and adventure camp for the kids just to name a few.
These are the few things that stood out to me about the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It looks incredible and is definitely on my to do list for the future. If I do it must be a savanna room on at least the 3rd floor or higher for the view.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Why we love Disneyworld!
I thought I would take a break from my traditional information and write a small post on why my family and I love Disneyworld so much! Many of our friends think we are insane and just as many are right there with us on this question? My disney family vacation tips fun stuff!
My children love Disneyworld for all the reasons most children do; its exciting, adventuresome, magical, and fun. My oldest child loves the rides and it has been fun seeing her mature from being scared of small rides and grow into lets ride a roller coaster. My youngest is still in the timid stage on rides that are fast but she is starting to enjoy them. She is not scared or crying but she is not yet saying lets go again. Both my children still love to see the characters and get their picture made with them. Most children grow out of this at some point but it will vary from one child to the next. When we journey to Disney all house rules are off and everyone is free from set food items and bedtimes. This doesn't work for all families were a schedule is essential but for us we love to be spontaneous. My kids love staying up late, eating junk food they don't get at home, riding rides, seeing their favorite characters, and living a dream.
My wife and I love to go for the fun and family experience! Some of our best family memories are on vacation at Disneyworld. My wife is just like a kid when it comes to riding the rides and enjoying the food. I am a kid at heart so it is all fun to me. There is nothing better than seeing one or both of your kids eyes light up when they see something magical. It brings a tear to my eyes everytime we go because there will always be at least one time on every trip that the impossible is made possible! We also enjoy the food at the nicer restaurants and even the simple things like Mickey Ice Cream bars. There is always something magical about being inside Disneyworld at any park late at night. It is like you are transported to another world and you can be wherever or whatever you wish.
Everyone should experience this magical place at least once but that will not ensure you enjoy yourselves. You must let your guard down, be free to have fun, forget about your junk at home, focus on your family, and most importantly don't let yourself get stressed out. If something isn't perfect tell yourself nothing ever is, laugh out loud, go on with your trip, and don't let it ruin the time. If you go and hate it then you do not have to go back, and it will be less crowded for the rest of us that way. If you love it learn from the trip and make the next one even better. Now that we are so familiar with the place the anxiety is virtually non-existent and therefore so is the stress. Make every moment count even standing in line, waiting on food, or even just strolling through the resorts. Most importantly be a family and have fun. Your children are only small once and you cannot ever get that time back!
My children love Disneyworld for all the reasons most children do; its exciting, adventuresome, magical, and fun. My oldest child loves the rides and it has been fun seeing her mature from being scared of small rides and grow into lets ride a roller coaster. My youngest is still in the timid stage on rides that are fast but she is starting to enjoy them. She is not scared or crying but she is not yet saying lets go again. Both my children still love to see the characters and get their picture made with them. Most children grow out of this at some point but it will vary from one child to the next. When we journey to Disney all house rules are off and everyone is free from set food items and bedtimes. This doesn't work for all families were a schedule is essential but for us we love to be spontaneous. My kids love staying up late, eating junk food they don't get at home, riding rides, seeing their favorite characters, and living a dream.
My wife and I love to go for the fun and family experience! Some of our best family memories are on vacation at Disneyworld. My wife is just like a kid when it comes to riding the rides and enjoying the food. I am a kid at heart so it is all fun to me. There is nothing better than seeing one or both of your kids eyes light up when they see something magical. It brings a tear to my eyes everytime we go because there will always be at least one time on every trip that the impossible is made possible! We also enjoy the food at the nicer restaurants and even the simple things like Mickey Ice Cream bars. There is always something magical about being inside Disneyworld at any park late at night. It is like you are transported to another world and you can be wherever or whatever you wish.
Everyone should experience this magical place at least once but that will not ensure you enjoy yourselves. You must let your guard down, be free to have fun, forget about your junk at home, focus on your family, and most importantly don't let yourself get stressed out. If something isn't perfect tell yourself nothing ever is, laugh out loud, go on with your trip, and don't let it ruin the time. If you go and hate it then you do not have to go back, and it will be less crowded for the rest of us that way. If you love it learn from the trip and make the next one even better. Now that we are so familiar with the place the anxiety is virtually non-existent and therefore so is the stress. Make every moment count even standing in line, waiting on food, or even just strolling through the resorts. Most importantly be a family and have fun. Your children are only small once and you cannot ever get that time back!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Disney's Old Key West
Disney family vacation tips has a very high rating for this resort because it fronts as a deluxe resort but is also a part of the Disney Vacation Club. I am going to cover this topic as if it is a deluxe resort because I have had personal experiences at this location.
My best memories of this resort are they were larger rooms (390 sq feet) than the other accommodations on property and the laid back feel of the resort itself. The studio rooms are similar to all Deluxe Resort rooms, with the addition of a small kitchenette. The kitchenette has a toaster, microwave, under-counter refrigerator with small freezer, coffeemaker, and bar sink. The microwave seems like such a simple thing but having hot oatmeal in the room for breakfast sure beats a doughnut sometimes. Not to mention the toaster and freezer which are also nice especially if you have children/babies. The other nice option being at this resort is there are also 1, 2, and a 3 bedroom grand villa available, but for a lofty price. The best feature of all the rooms except the studios is they have full washer and dryers for laundry. We had the privilege of staying in a two bedroom villa some years back and it was awesome having all that space! The full kitchen and living room along with two separate bedrooms made the vacation so relaxing. During value season the rates for a studio run about $295 and run up to $425 during holiday season.
Disney family vacation tips recommends the accommodations but the pool is not the best of the Deluxes. There are a total of four pools, one is a themed pool and the rest regular pools. The main pool area has a slide, a kids' pool, hot tub and sauna, plus a sandy playground complete with a giant pail and shovel for climbing. Old Key West is fortunate to be on a golf course and when we stayed there we could go out on our patio and see the greens. So as you can guess there is golf available, along with a fitness center, and numerous other outdoor activities. There is one full service restaurant called Olivia's that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also Good's Food to Go that offer standard take out food and ice cream for a warm day by the pool. The Conch Flats General Store is small, but does offer a fair selection of Old Key West merchandise, some souvenir items, and basic food and toiletry items.
Disney family vacation tips recommends this resort because of its fun and laid back atmosphere. The resort is rather large with its 5 bus stops and extremely spread out grounds but it still feels relaxing. We have never dined at Olivia's but have heard good things about it. There is a DVC Ferry offering boat service to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Downtown Disney. The next post is undecided but look for another deluxe!
My best memories of this resort are they were larger rooms (390 sq feet) than the other accommodations on property and the laid back feel of the resort itself. The studio rooms are similar to all Deluxe Resort rooms, with the addition of a small kitchenette. The kitchenette has a toaster, microwave, under-counter refrigerator with small freezer, coffeemaker, and bar sink. The microwave seems like such a simple thing but having hot oatmeal in the room for breakfast sure beats a doughnut sometimes. Not to mention the toaster and freezer which are also nice especially if you have children/babies. The other nice option being at this resort is there are also 1, 2, and a 3 bedroom grand villa available, but for a lofty price. The best feature of all the rooms except the studios is they have full washer and dryers for laundry. We had the privilege of staying in a two bedroom villa some years back and it was awesome having all that space! The full kitchen and living room along with two separate bedrooms made the vacation so relaxing. During value season the rates for a studio run about $295 and run up to $425 during holiday season.
Disney family vacation tips recommends the accommodations but the pool is not the best of the Deluxes. There are a total of four pools, one is a themed pool and the rest regular pools. The main pool area has a slide, a kids' pool, hot tub and sauna, plus a sandy playground complete with a giant pail and shovel for climbing. Old Key West is fortunate to be on a golf course and when we stayed there we could go out on our patio and see the greens. So as you can guess there is golf available, along with a fitness center, and numerous other outdoor activities. There is one full service restaurant called Olivia's that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also Good's Food to Go that offer standard take out food and ice cream for a warm day by the pool. The Conch Flats General Store is small, but does offer a fair selection of Old Key West merchandise, some souvenir items, and basic food and toiletry items.
Disney family vacation tips recommends this resort because of its fun and laid back atmosphere. The resort is rather large with its 5 bus stops and extremely spread out grounds but it still feels relaxing. We have never dined at Olivia's but have heard good things about it. There is a DVC Ferry offering boat service to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Downtown Disney. The next post is undecided but look for another deluxe!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Grand Floridian
The Grand Floridian is the flagship resort in all of Walt Disney World. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa (GF) is a 900-room facility located on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and is located directly southwest, and one monorail stop, from the Magic Kingdom. It has Victorian style and themeing throughout and could seem a little ultra-nice at times. Disney has managed to merge this lavish style with magic and it doesn't feel too ritzy if you take the time to stop and look around. This is the most expensive resort on property and a standard garden view room starts at $399 during value season and balloons up to $649 during holiday season. This of course is rack room rates and doesn't reflect promotions or package deals. Guests with children request the Big Pine Key lodge as it is closest to the pools and beach. The rooms themselves are similar to most other deluxes with the exceptions of the suites. There are garden views, marina views, and Magic Kingdom views all with differing price tags.
There are two pools at the Grand Floridian. The original, larger of the two pools is called the Courtyard Pool and it is open all the time, weather permitting. There are no lifeguards at this pool. The other "'themed pool" is the Beach Pool which is only 4 feet at the deepest point and includes a rock waterfall and waterslide. The Beach Pool also has zero-depth entry access, which means there is no step down into the pool which means no steps for children to play or get injured on. Unlike the larger pool, there are lifeguards on duty at this pool. There are also tennis courts and a variety of recreational watercraft for rent at the marina. There are also jogging trails, croquet, and volleyball available. There is lots of great shopping which in my opinion is the best of all the resorts.
The Spa & Health Club at the offers incredible service at a top-of-the-line facility. Among the treatments offered are massage therapies, skin care, water therapies, soothing soaks, body treatments, hand and foot treatments, and lifestyle services. A variety of spa packages are available, including spa services for families. Membership at the health club is free to resort guests for the length of their stay. Guests from other Disney resorts can use the facilities for $12/day, based on availability. Guests at other resorts may also make reservations to enjoy all the spa facilities.
The dining establishments at the Grand Floridian are vast and varied. Three of the most elaborate restaurants on property are found here. Victoria and Albert's is the epitome of fine dining and requires advanced reservations as far ahead as possible. Needless to say this one is a no children place and the menu is a fixed price running a couple around $300 unless you want the wine pairing then it will be an extra $150 or so. I have never had the privilege of dining here but would love to some day when my kids are grown up. The second choice is Citricos which is another expensive meal but supposedly is spectacular as well. Then there is Narcoossee's which is similarly priced to Citricos. Both of the previous establishments offer a nice selection of appetizers, and main dishes vary from steak to seafood, and a wide range of desserts. Of course each of these places are known for their quality and the chef's individual creativeness.
The 1900 Park Fare is a character meal/buffet which is about as far away from the three previous restaurants we have discussed but it is fantastic for children. Join Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter for a breakfast which includes made to order omelets, typical breakfast fare, and yes Mickey Waffles. Regulars include Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella for the dinner buffet which includes salads, various entrees, and great desserts. We really enjoyed the characters at both meals, but the breakfast meal was better than the dinner as far as the food goes. The Grand Floridian Cafe is a less elegant and less expensive meal than Citricos but is pretty good and offers a nice selection of starters and entrees, but they have chocolate fondue for dessert which children enjoy. Gasparilla Grill & Games is a self-serve restaurant, featuring pizza, bakery items, sandwiches, salads, snacks, ice cream, yogurt and pizza. Gasparilla is open 24 hours a day and also serves as an arcade.
There are some other nice features at the Grand Floridian including various childrens programs including story time, arts and crafts, or Adventure time just ask at the front desk for a schedule of times. You can also watch the Electrical Water Pageant from the beaches or the boat dock at the Floridian. This is also a terrific place to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
I have never had the opportunity to stay here but would love to some day in the future. I have explored alot of the resort and enjoyed many of the restaurants and recommend that even if you do not stay at this resort come by and check it out. Check out my next post on Disney family vacation tips and get the information you need to make a memorable trip to Disneyworld.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Disney's Polynesian Resort
The Polynesian was one of the two original Disneyworld resorts along with the Contemporary. Disney's Polynesian Resort is an 847-room resort located on the monorail loop so it is ideally located on the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Polynesian is a deluxe resort, but feels very casual and family oriented. The Polynesian occupies 39 acres and is styled as a South Pacific paradise, complete with beaches, tropical landscaping, waterfalls, and bamboo tiki torches. The Great Ceremonial House is the main building and houses everything from check-in/out to two fantastic dining options. The resort is laid out in 11 different buildings called longhouses which are either 2 or 3 story buildings. The typical room is 409 sq. feet with two queen beds and a day bed along with typical furniture and bathroom amenities. There are suites available at a very sweet price but are found only in the Tonga longhouse. Room location options also include garden view, lagoon view, and Magic Kingdom view all of which offer spectacular scenery and a wide range of prices. The prices for the Polynesian are deluxe and among some of the most expensive on property. The standard room garden view is $355 a night in value season and quickly balloons to $765 a night for Magic Kingdom view in holiday season. Of course these are rack room rates and do not include any available promotions or packages. I must admit even though we have visited the Polynesian many times to dine, shop, and explore we have never actually stayed at this amazing resort. I would love to some day but with small children and a tight budget this one is a little out of my range for now. If you budget allows then definitely go for it because the Polynesian is consistently one of the highest rated resorts among Disney guests. The service and hospitality at this resort is second to none and the location is outstanding. The cast members at the Polynesian take special classes (above and beyond Disney) on traditional Polynesian values which harbour ideas of helpfulness and hospitality.
There are actually two pools at this resort. The resort's main pool is called the Nanea Volcano Pool, and features a volcano with waterfall and water slide. There is a second quiet pool that is larger than the main pool and is centrally located to all the longhouses. A stream begins outside of the Great Ceremonial House and continues down to the Volcano pool. A 40-foot high volcano houses the pool bar and a tubular slide. The beach side of the pool also features a zero entryway and the only real complaint I can see is the pool seems drastically undersized and crowded for the size of the Polynesian Resort. There is also a marina at the Polynesian where you can experience all types of water crafts from pontoons to sea racers. There are no health club facilities at the Polynesian but you are allowed to use the Grand Floridian's free of charge which is a short walk or monorail ride away. There is also a nice selection of merchandise available in a few specialty stores including tradition Disney merchandise and South Seas trinkets.
Here's where the good part begins. The food! There are two fantastic dining options at the Polynesian. The first is an extremely popular (for good reason) O'hana's and the often overlooked Kona Cafe. Ohana's books up quickly so always make reservations as far in advance up to 90 days as you can. 'Ohana is all-you-can-eat but it is not a buffet. It is served family-style at your table such as salad, welcome bread, wings, noodles, etc. and it just keeps coming until you can no longer see the table for the food. Items such as steak, turkey, shrimp, etc, is prepared on an open fire pit and brought to your table on a large skewer. This is family style and the food will not stop coming out until you throw in the towel. Simply an amazing meal! Just for reference purposes if your children will not eat this type of food just ask and you can get typical kids food such as grilled cheese, chicken fingers, fries, etc. They brought this plate out for our kids with enough food for 10+ children and it was delicious. Then the best part begins the bread pudding with bananas foster and ice cream. Needless to say we were so full we almost didn't eat dessert but after it came we ate it and proceeded to order more. It was so ridiculously good it was sinful. During your dinner there is someone singing Polynesian music, playing games with the kids, and teaching children how to luau. At breakfast Ohana's is a character meal with Lilo and Stitch. Also if you are lucky enough to have reservations at the right time request a window seat and you can watch the Magic Kingdom and they even pipe in the music for you. The Kona Cafe is often overlooked probably because of its location which is literally right next door to Ohana's so it kind of gets lost in the crazy busy hustle and bustle of Ohana's. Kona Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and unlike the family style of Ohana's this place is a la carte. It offers an interesting variety of South Seas fare with a Disney twist. It is probably best known for its unique desserts and Kona coffee. Both of these establishments are highly recommended and have yet to let my family down.
Some final thoughts on the Polynesian are the beaches which of course are on the Lagoon. You cannot swim in the Lagoon but this is an amazing place to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and also view the Electrical Water Pageant. Watch future posts for details on both. I hope you enjoyed this post and it was helpful. The next post continues around the monorail loop to the Grand Floridian.
There are actually two pools at this resort. The resort's main pool is called the Nanea Volcano Pool, and features a volcano with waterfall and water slide. There is a second quiet pool that is larger than the main pool and is centrally located to all the longhouses. A stream begins outside of the Great Ceremonial House and continues down to the Volcano pool. A 40-foot high volcano houses the pool bar and a tubular slide. The beach side of the pool also features a zero entryway and the only real complaint I can see is the pool seems drastically undersized and crowded for the size of the Polynesian Resort. There is also a marina at the Polynesian where you can experience all types of water crafts from pontoons to sea racers. There are no health club facilities at the Polynesian but you are allowed to use the Grand Floridian's free of charge which is a short walk or monorail ride away. There is also a nice selection of merchandise available in a few specialty stores including tradition Disney merchandise and South Seas trinkets.
Here's where the good part begins. The food! There are two fantastic dining options at the Polynesian. The first is an extremely popular (for good reason) O'hana's and the often overlooked Kona Cafe. Ohana's books up quickly so always make reservations as far in advance up to 90 days as you can. 'Ohana is all-you-can-eat but it is not a buffet. It is served family-style at your table such as salad, welcome bread, wings, noodles, etc. and it just keeps coming until you can no longer see the table for the food. Items such as steak, turkey, shrimp, etc, is prepared on an open fire pit and brought to your table on a large skewer. This is family style and the food will not stop coming out until you throw in the towel. Simply an amazing meal! Just for reference purposes if your children will not eat this type of food just ask and you can get typical kids food such as grilled cheese, chicken fingers, fries, etc. They brought this plate out for our kids with enough food for 10+ children and it was delicious. Then the best part begins the bread pudding with bananas foster and ice cream. Needless to say we were so full we almost didn't eat dessert but after it came we ate it and proceeded to order more. It was so ridiculously good it was sinful. During your dinner there is someone singing Polynesian music, playing games with the kids, and teaching children how to luau. At breakfast Ohana's is a character meal with Lilo and Stitch. Also if you are lucky enough to have reservations at the right time request a window seat and you can watch the Magic Kingdom and they even pipe in the music for you. The Kona Cafe is often overlooked probably because of its location which is literally right next door to Ohana's so it kind of gets lost in the crazy busy hustle and bustle of Ohana's. Kona Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and unlike the family style of Ohana's this place is a la carte. It offers an interesting variety of South Seas fare with a Disney twist. It is probably best known for its unique desserts and Kona coffee. Both of these establishments are highly recommended and have yet to let my family down.
Some final thoughts on the Polynesian are the beaches which of course are on the Lagoon. You cannot swim in the Lagoon but this is an amazing place to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and also view the Electrical Water Pageant. Watch future posts for details on both. I hope you enjoyed this post and it was helpful. The next post continues around the monorail loop to the Grand Floridian.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Disneyworld Monorail Resorts
There are three resorts on the monorail loop including Contemporary, Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. The most enticing thing about this of course is location, location, and location. All three are incredible in their own way and the views of the Magic Kingdom at night especially is breathtaking. Since each of these resorts has so much to offer I think the best approach is to break it down into three separate posts. This first post is going to be the Contemporary because we had the privilege of staying here for ten days on a business/pleasure trip a few years back.
The Contemporary Resort is one of the two original Disneyworld hotels. It is located between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon on the monorail loop that services the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is only a short monorail ride (or walk) away and getting to Epcot simply requires transferring from one monorail to another one. Getting to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or Downtown Disney is a short bus ride away and there is only one bus stop at the Contemporary Resort.
The resort itself consists of an A frame building which is the main building and the monorail drives straight through. It also contains a garden wing off to the opposites side of the Magic Kingdom. The rooms at the Contemporary Resort are among the largest at Disneyworld. The standard rooms have two queen beds and a day bed which can accommodate up to 5 people plus a child in a crib. There are also suites of all shapes and sixes available but are extremely expensive and hard to come by. The main building or tower is 14 stories tall and has approximately 500 guest rooms. The Tower rooms have 2 views, Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom/Parking Lot. The Garden Wing has approximately 250 rooms. The Garden rooms have either a water, garden or parking lot view. The rooms in the tower are more expensive than the wings and of course Magic Kingdom rooms are more expensive as well. For example a garden wing in value season rates at $280 and as high as $455 during holiday season. In contrast. the tower standard rooms during value season rate at $390 up to $575 during holiday season. OUCH! Of course these are rack room rates and do not include promotions or package deals.
The recreation activities available at the Contemporary are vast to say the least. There are two pools and one large pool is a free form pool complete with a 17-foot high curving slide. There is also a round, quiet pool which is shallow around the edges and deeper in the center. Two whirlpools have also been added, one of which is located on a peninsula which juts out into the free form pool area. Although there is no swimming in Bay Lake there are many other activities available including Sea Racers, pontoon boats, and bass fishing excursions. You can also contact Sammy Duval Water Sports Center and schedule things such as parasailing, water skiing, and even tubing. The Contemporary resort also boats The Olympiad fitness center on the third floor in the tower and a large arcade as well. There is also available basketball courts and beach volleyball for the active minded individual. There is also fantastic shopping on the concourse level.
Over the course of the last couple of years The Contemporary has undergone many renovations including the demolition of it's North Wing to construct Bay Lake Towers. Also a major renovation which involved closing an old table service restaurant, enlarging Chef Mickey's, and adding a new table service restaurant called the Wave. Chef Mickey's is a very popular buffet inside the Contemporary that has the characters such as Mickey and Minnie coming to visit you at your table. We have eaten here many times and the children love it, especially breakfast. The food is pretty good for a buffet, the place is non-stop chaos (which is part of the charm), and the characters are great. The Wave which is the newest restaurant in the Contemporary is pretty decent and interesting to say the least. The food was OK and the atmosphere was very futuristic. It felt very much like and upscale meal and we all enjoyed our meal here. It wasn't a must do for every trip but it was fun. The California Grill is the premier restaurant of the Contemporary Resort and is located on the 15th floor of the Tower building. This was one of the best meals we have ever had and the views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks are amazing from here! You will definitely need reservation for the California Grill and probably Chef Mickey's if you go during the busy season.
The Disneyworld monorail resorts offer luxurious accomodations and amazing location. My Disneyworld family vacation tip for this topic if you can swing the money these facilities are second to none. They make a magical trip even more magical.
The Contemporary Resort is one of the two original Disneyworld hotels. It is located between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon on the monorail loop that services the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is only a short monorail ride (or walk) away and getting to Epcot simply requires transferring from one monorail to another one. Getting to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or Downtown Disney is a short bus ride away and there is only one bus stop at the Contemporary Resort.
The resort itself consists of an A frame building which is the main building and the monorail drives straight through. It also contains a garden wing off to the opposites side of the Magic Kingdom. The rooms at the Contemporary Resort are among the largest at Disneyworld. The standard rooms have two queen beds and a day bed which can accommodate up to 5 people plus a child in a crib. There are also suites of all shapes and sixes available but are extremely expensive and hard to come by. The main building or tower is 14 stories tall and has approximately 500 guest rooms. The Tower rooms have 2 views, Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom/Parking Lot. The Garden Wing has approximately 250 rooms. The Garden rooms have either a water, garden or parking lot view. The rooms in the tower are more expensive than the wings and of course Magic Kingdom rooms are more expensive as well. For example a garden wing in value season rates at $280 and as high as $455 during holiday season. In contrast. the tower standard rooms during value season rate at $390 up to $575 during holiday season. OUCH! Of course these are rack room rates and do not include promotions or package deals.
The recreation activities available at the Contemporary are vast to say the least. There are two pools and one large pool is a free form pool complete with a 17-foot high curving slide. There is also a round, quiet pool which is shallow around the edges and deeper in the center. Two whirlpools have also been added, one of which is located on a peninsula which juts out into the free form pool area. Although there is no swimming in Bay Lake there are many other activities available including Sea Racers, pontoon boats, and bass fishing excursions. You can also contact Sammy Duval Water Sports Center and schedule things such as parasailing, water skiing, and even tubing. The Contemporary resort also boats The Olympiad fitness center on the third floor in the tower and a large arcade as well. There is also available basketball courts and beach volleyball for the active minded individual. There is also fantastic shopping on the concourse level.
Over the course of the last couple of years The Contemporary has undergone many renovations including the demolition of it's North Wing to construct Bay Lake Towers. Also a major renovation which involved closing an old table service restaurant, enlarging Chef Mickey's, and adding a new table service restaurant called the Wave. Chef Mickey's is a very popular buffet inside the Contemporary that has the characters such as Mickey and Minnie coming to visit you at your table. We have eaten here many times and the children love it, especially breakfast. The food is pretty good for a buffet, the place is non-stop chaos (which is part of the charm), and the characters are great. The Wave which is the newest restaurant in the Contemporary is pretty decent and interesting to say the least. The food was OK and the atmosphere was very futuristic. It felt very much like and upscale meal and we all enjoyed our meal here. It wasn't a must do for every trip but it was fun. The California Grill is the premier restaurant of the Contemporary Resort and is located on the 15th floor of the Tower building. This was one of the best meals we have ever had and the views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks are amazing from here! You will definitely need reservation for the California Grill and probably Chef Mickey's if you go during the busy season.
The Disneyworld monorail resorts offer luxurious accomodations and amazing location. My Disneyworld family vacation tip for this topic if you can swing the money these facilities are second to none. They make a magical trip even more magical.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Disney Port Orleans
Let me start out here by saying there is going to be some partiality here which I will try to restrict but will happen anyway.
Port Orleans is a combination of two sister resorts known as Riverside and French Quarter. I will cover Riverside first because French Quarter is our favorite and you know they always say best for last. Riverside is a resort themed to the Mississippi-bayou area of the Old South. Appropriate to the magic of Disney, there are numerous themes that help recreate the feeling of actually being in the bayou. This resort is priced the same as all the other moderates between $149 and $219 a night for a standard room depending on the season. The amenities here are enormous and rival all but the deluxes. It has one of the largest arcades on property which is always a hit with the kids especially the older ones. The main building has food court, restaurant, and other services, and carries a riverboat dock theme. The food court called Riverside Mill has recently been renovated and carries about anything you can imagine from several vendor facilities. The sit-down restaurant is known as Baotwright's features Cajun specials fresh from the bayou and reservations are suggested.
The rooms at Riverside are similar in size to all the other moderates but has one nice option, a trundle bed. If you have small children that do sleep well together request a room with a trundle and bed time will be much better for everyone. Other than that the rooms have two double beds, two vanities, a traditional bathroom, mini-fridge, and a wall safe for small valuables. There are two different styles of rooms to choose from although the room designs are similar: Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. Riverside is still a large resort 2,048 and very laid out so a room far away from the main building can be a fairly long walk. The main pool is called Ol' Man Island has a large pool, a spa (holds around 8-people), a kiddie pool (up to 36" deep), a wading pool and a short but fun water slide. The island also has a geyser at the main pool that shoots water through a pile of rocks and debris, adding to the theme. Aside from the main pool there are also five leisure pools scattered around the resort grounds and each has it's own restrooms/changing facilities. There are also four bus stops scattered around the resort and you can expect about a 20 minute wait between them.
Now for my favorite resort and many people call me crazy for this one! My family loves French Quarter! We love the atmosphere, quaintness, quiet, and the themeing. Our favorite part in the grand scheme of things is its relative smallness in a gigantic Disneyworld. We have small children 10 and 4 and we appreciate all the resorts for what they are but there is something special about French Quarter. The rooms are the typical 314 square feet with two double beds and a traditional bathroom. There are only 7 buildings housing 1,000 guest rooms which is very small by Disney standards. I feel very confident if we ever were somehow separated from our children they could easily find their way back to the main building safely. As a parent that is huge and one of the main reasons we continue to go back to French Quarter as frequently as possible. With only one bus stop there is rarely a problem with transportation and the main building is centrally located on the grounds so no room is very far away. Even the furthest buildings 1 and 7 are no more than a couple of minutes away from all the action. The other nice feature is the food court which has similar fare as the other moderates (except for Coronado) and is usually pretty quick and not very crowded (small resort). The food court has a bakery, grill, pizza/pasta, and a meal station for your dining needs.
For recreation the kids love the huge pool with the dragon water slide. The pool is perfect for children ages 4-12 and is pretty large considering the overall size of the resort. There is also a baby pool and a small playground along with restrooms/changing rooms nearby. The pool towels are provided and there is usually plenty of seating to go around. There is also a small arcade which is perfect for little ones and something to do on a rainy day.
The last two options are available for both Riverside and French Quarter guests. First there is a boat to downtown Disney on the river that runs every 30 minutes or so and is so relaxing. Instead of standing in line for a crowded bus you hop on the boat (holds about 20 people) and off you go down the river to the Downtown area. The other feature is the horse and carriage ride which loads at Riverside behind the main building and takes you on a 30 minute ride through the grounds of both resorts. My wife and I did this once when the grandparents were with us to watch the kids and it was super relaxing/romantic. Ok, I tried not to be too partial and after rereading it I failed. French Quarter is perfect for a family with small children. There is little walking, one bus stop, small general store, great pool, and it is very quiet and small.
Port Orleans is a combination of two sister resorts known as Riverside and French Quarter. I will cover Riverside first because French Quarter is our favorite and you know they always say best for last. Riverside is a resort themed to the Mississippi-bayou area of the Old South. Appropriate to the magic of Disney, there are numerous themes that help recreate the feeling of actually being in the bayou. This resort is priced the same as all the other moderates between $149 and $219 a night for a standard room depending on the season. The amenities here are enormous and rival all but the deluxes. It has one of the largest arcades on property which is always a hit with the kids especially the older ones. The main building has food court, restaurant, and other services, and carries a riverboat dock theme. The food court called Riverside Mill has recently been renovated and carries about anything you can imagine from several vendor facilities. The sit-down restaurant is known as Baotwright's features Cajun specials fresh from the bayou and reservations are suggested.
The rooms at Riverside are similar in size to all the other moderates but has one nice option, a trundle bed. If you have small children that do sleep well together request a room with a trundle and bed time will be much better for everyone. Other than that the rooms have two double beds, two vanities, a traditional bathroom, mini-fridge, and a wall safe for small valuables. There are two different styles of rooms to choose from although the room designs are similar: Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. Riverside is still a large resort 2,048 and very laid out so a room far away from the main building can be a fairly long walk. The main pool is called Ol' Man Island has a large pool, a spa (holds around 8-people), a kiddie pool (up to 36" deep), a wading pool and a short but fun water slide. The island also has a geyser at the main pool that shoots water through a pile of rocks and debris, adding to the theme. Aside from the main pool there are also five leisure pools scattered around the resort grounds and each has it's own restrooms/changing facilities. There are also four bus stops scattered around the resort and you can expect about a 20 minute wait between them.
Now for my favorite resort and many people call me crazy for this one! My family loves French Quarter! We love the atmosphere, quaintness, quiet, and the themeing. Our favorite part in the grand scheme of things is its relative smallness in a gigantic Disneyworld. We have small children 10 and 4 and we appreciate all the resorts for what they are but there is something special about French Quarter. The rooms are the typical 314 square feet with two double beds and a traditional bathroom. There are only 7 buildings housing 1,000 guest rooms which is very small by Disney standards. I feel very confident if we ever were somehow separated from our children they could easily find their way back to the main building safely. As a parent that is huge and one of the main reasons we continue to go back to French Quarter as frequently as possible. With only one bus stop there is rarely a problem with transportation and the main building is centrally located on the grounds so no room is very far away. Even the furthest buildings 1 and 7 are no more than a couple of minutes away from all the action. The other nice feature is the food court which has similar fare as the other moderates (except for Coronado) and is usually pretty quick and not very crowded (small resort). The food court has a bakery, grill, pizza/pasta, and a meal station for your dining needs.
For recreation the kids love the huge pool with the dragon water slide. The pool is perfect for children ages 4-12 and is pretty large considering the overall size of the resort. There is also a baby pool and a small playground along with restrooms/changing rooms nearby. The pool towels are provided and there is usually plenty of seating to go around. There is also a small arcade which is perfect for little ones and something to do on a rainy day.
The last two options are available for both Riverside and French Quarter guests. First there is a boat to downtown Disney on the river that runs every 30 minutes or so and is so relaxing. Instead of standing in line for a crowded bus you hop on the boat (holds about 20 people) and off you go down the river to the Downtown area. The other feature is the horse and carriage ride which loads at Riverside behind the main building and takes you on a 30 minute ride through the grounds of both resorts. My wife and I did this once when the grandparents were with us to watch the kids and it was super relaxing/romantic. Ok, I tried not to be too partial and after rereading it I failed. French Quarter is perfect for a family with small children. There is little walking, one bus stop, small general store, great pool, and it is very quiet and small.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Disney Moderate Resorts!
I have really had to ponder on how to cover the moderate resorts as well as the deluxe. They offer so much more than the value in the way of amenities and location it is much more difficult to cover them thoroughly. Therefore I have decided to break the moderates into two separate posts and cover two at a time.
The first Disney moderate resort I am going to cover is the Caribbean Beach. The thing that really sticks out about this resort from my stay here was this resort is enormous. The entire resort is built around a 45 acre lake called Barefoot Bay. There are six "villages" built around this lake and they are named after Caribbean islands (Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, Jamaica, Trinidad North, and Trinidad South). The Caribbean Beach has 2,112 guest rooms organized into 33 separate two story buildings around the lake. Most of the villages have their own pool, three villages have a white sand beach with hammocks and playground, laundry facilities, and their own bus stop. If you happen to get a room on the opposite side of the lake from the main building is you can expect a brisk 15 minute walk around to the food places. The main building called Old Port Royale (or Centertown) has a nice food court and a sit down restaurant called Shutters as well as some shopping and an arcade. For my family the best part was the main pool at Centertown which is built like a Spanish Fort (very cool), water slide, wading pool, and whirlpool. There are a total of nine pools on the entire grounds along with many beaches and playgrounds. The other nice feature of Caribbean Beach is because it is built around a lake there is a marina to rent boats and bicycles. The rich island theme makes for a real retreat because of the beaches, theme, and lush foliage you feel like you are in the "islands".
The Caribbean Beach rooms are pretty standard 340 square feet with two full beds and a bathroom. Each room does have two sinks, tub, toilet, a small in room safe, as well as a mini-fridge. The rooms are rack room priced anywhere between $149 during value season and $219 during Holiday season. Of course these are rack rates and do not include any promotion or package deals but it does give you any idea that moderate accommodations are almost double that of value resorts. There are also new pirate themed rooms available which are supposed to be very enticing for small boys but do have limited availability and more cost involved.
The second Disney moderate resort I am going to cover today is Coronado Springs. This one is a very interesting concept and to say the least is a bit of a hybrid resort. Coronado has convention center, ballroom, and full service business center on property so there will be alot of people here on business as well as pleasure. When we stayed here we noticed the grounds seemed to have only a small amount of people so maybe we were there during a big conference. The food court was always packed but the pool and buses seemed almost empty many times! Coronado has 1,967 rooms and suites situated in three villages around a 15-acre lake called Lago Dorado. This place feel enormous but not as bad as Caribbean to us. The theme here is American Southwest/Northern Mexico so it is kind of a Tex-Mex feel which my family loved. The guest rooms are about 314 square feet and do differ slightly from the other moderates in that they have only one sink but they do have queen beds. Surprisingly the room rates are exactly the same as the other moderates and you do feel like it is more luxurious.
Now what separates this moderate from all the rest are the pool, food area, and the health club. The food court is called the Pepper Market and in my opinion the best food court of any resort including the deluxes. Of course we love TeX-Mex food but there are so many choices such as tacos and fresh tortillas; Asian stir-fry items; American grill with steaks, rotisserie chicken, french fries; fresh pasta; specialty pizzas; cold and hot sandwiches; breads and sweet rolls. It is so elaborate they even charge a 10% gratuity at check out even though it is a food court! The food is excellent but remember because of the convention center it is almost always crowded. There is also an excellent table service restaurant called the Maya grill which serves traditional Mexican fare over a wood fired grill. The pool is also one of my favorite on property because a Mayan pyramid towers over an elaborate pool area with a water slide and a playground that doubles as an archaeological dig site for kids. Explorer's Playground located at the dig site provides kids an area to dig for artifacts in the sand, play on swings or climb into the Pyramid. The health club is a 3,000 square foot with everything you need for a great workout from weights to cardio equipment. There is also a marina at the lake where you can rent electric boats, paddle boats, or kayaks and enjoy the water. Even though it has been a few years I still remember our stay here vividly because of the amenities. For the money this is the the best bang for the buck if you are looking for amenities and you plan on staying around the resort alot.
This is a general breakdown of the first two Disney moderate resorts. In my next post we will cover the sister resorts of Port Orleans Riverside and our favorite French Quarter.
The first Disney moderate resort I am going to cover is the Caribbean Beach. The thing that really sticks out about this resort from my stay here was this resort is enormous. The entire resort is built around a 45 acre lake called Barefoot Bay. There are six "villages" built around this lake and they are named after Caribbean islands (Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, Jamaica, Trinidad North, and Trinidad South). The Caribbean Beach has 2,112 guest rooms organized into 33 separate two story buildings around the lake. Most of the villages have their own pool, three villages have a white sand beach with hammocks and playground, laundry facilities, and their own bus stop. If you happen to get a room on the opposite side of the lake from the main building is you can expect a brisk 15 minute walk around to the food places. The main building called Old Port Royale (or Centertown) has a nice food court and a sit down restaurant called Shutters as well as some shopping and an arcade. For my family the best part was the main pool at Centertown which is built like a Spanish Fort (very cool), water slide, wading pool, and whirlpool. There are a total of nine pools on the entire grounds along with many beaches and playgrounds. The other nice feature of Caribbean Beach is because it is built around a lake there is a marina to rent boats and bicycles. The rich island theme makes for a real retreat because of the beaches, theme, and lush foliage you feel like you are in the "islands".
The Caribbean Beach rooms are pretty standard 340 square feet with two full beds and a bathroom. Each room does have two sinks, tub, toilet, a small in room safe, as well as a mini-fridge. The rooms are rack room priced anywhere between $149 during value season and $219 during Holiday season. Of course these are rack rates and do not include any promotion or package deals but it does give you any idea that moderate accommodations are almost double that of value resorts. There are also new pirate themed rooms available which are supposed to be very enticing for small boys but do have limited availability and more cost involved.
The second Disney moderate resort I am going to cover today is Coronado Springs. This one is a very interesting concept and to say the least is a bit of a hybrid resort. Coronado has convention center, ballroom, and full service business center on property so there will be alot of people here on business as well as pleasure. When we stayed here we noticed the grounds seemed to have only a small amount of people so maybe we were there during a big conference. The food court was always packed but the pool and buses seemed almost empty many times! Coronado has 1,967 rooms and suites situated in three villages around a 15-acre lake called Lago Dorado. This place feel enormous but not as bad as Caribbean to us. The theme here is American Southwest/Northern Mexico so it is kind of a Tex-Mex feel which my family loved. The guest rooms are about 314 square feet and do differ slightly from the other moderates in that they have only one sink but they do have queen beds. Surprisingly the room rates are exactly the same as the other moderates and you do feel like it is more luxurious.
Now what separates this moderate from all the rest are the pool, food area, and the health club. The food court is called the Pepper Market and in my opinion the best food court of any resort including the deluxes. Of course we love TeX-Mex food but there are so many choices such as tacos and fresh tortillas; Asian stir-fry items; American grill with steaks, rotisserie chicken, french fries; fresh pasta; specialty pizzas; cold and hot sandwiches; breads and sweet rolls. It is so elaborate they even charge a 10% gratuity at check out even though it is a food court! The food is excellent but remember because of the convention center it is almost always crowded. There is also an excellent table service restaurant called the Maya grill which serves traditional Mexican fare over a wood fired grill. The pool is also one of my favorite on property because a Mayan pyramid towers over an elaborate pool area with a water slide and a playground that doubles as an archaeological dig site for kids. Explorer's Playground located at the dig site provides kids an area to dig for artifacts in the sand, play on swings or climb into the Pyramid. The health club is a 3,000 square foot with everything you need for a great workout from weights to cardio equipment. There is also a marina at the lake where you can rent electric boats, paddle boats, or kayaks and enjoy the water. Even though it has been a few years I still remember our stay here vividly because of the amenities. For the money this is the the best bang for the buck if you are looking for amenities and you plan on staying around the resort alot.
This is a general breakdown of the first two Disney moderate resorts. In my next post we will cover the sister resorts of Port Orleans Riverside and our favorite French Quarter.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Disney value resorts!
Disney has different tiers of accommodations which will vary greatly in price and amenities. Disney value resorts are the entry level accommodations for on property accommodations. The rooms are ordinary rooms which are rather small but serve the purpose for sleeping. I equate these resorts to a Days Inn or Comfort Inn type of room. They are very simple two double beds with a basic bathroom sink, shower, and toilet. The grounds however are usually fairly large and because Disney doesn't do anything small there will be a large themed swimming pool, playgrounds, and some even have game rooms. Most of the value resorts have a food court style eatery which has everything from pizza to burgers. The selection is usually pretty large with alot of seating and the food is typical fast food quality. There are a number of value resorts to choose from each with its own themeing. The value resorts are listed below along with a brief description of each.
1. All-Star Movies is of coursed themed after surprisingly movies! It is a 1,920 room resort featuring the following movie themed buildings: 101 Dalmatians, Toy Story, Fantasia (original and 2000), The Mighty Ducks and Herbie: The Love Bug. These rooms will range anywhere from $82 to $145 a night based on rack room rate with no promotions depending on the season. There are a maximum of 4 people per room and preferred room locations are located nearest the guest service facilities in Cinema Hall. Fantasia, Toy Story, and 101 Dalmatians will be the buildings closest to Cinema should you choose the request them. The resort offer two pools including one with a kiddie area for you enjoyment. The main central building offers a film-inspired food court with five stands, a gift shop, arcade and playground.
2. All-Star Music is of course themed after various musical styles. The ASM resort is a 1,920 room resort featuring the following musically themed buildings: Calypso, Jazz Inn, Rock Inn, Country Fair, and the Broadway Hotel. With jazz, rock, country, and other musical styles represented this is a fun and lively resort with many options similar to the Movies resort. There are two theme pools, kiddie pool, food court, small playground, and of course a food court. The food court has a market, bakery, grill, and a pizza place. The Music resort does also have family suites which have a master bedroom and a family which is supposed to sleep 6 which I am assuming is 2 adults and four children. It also has a kitchenette and two bathrooms which would be nice on a vacation.
3. All-Star Sports is you guessed it a sports themes resort. There are five sports themes here including football, tennis, baseball, basketball, and interestingly enough surfing. The food court offers six stands offering things like pizza, BBQ, grilled foods, and also a convience market. The room sizes and the resort grounds are similar to all the other All-Stars but with a varying theme. There are also two theme pools (one is a quiet pool), a kiddie pool, and a game room on the grounds for your enjoyment.
4. Pop Century is Disney's newest value resort and is themed around pop culture items from the 1950's, 1960's. 1970's, 1980's and the 1990's. Rooms are 260 square feet, with two double beds, a table and two chairs, vanity area and sink with separate bathroom in other words the same as all the other value resorts. The food court has five stations offering pizza, bakery, market and grill and very similar to all the other values. There are three feature pools, a kiddie pool, arcade, and a playground. There is also a 5,000 square foot retail center to do some shopping.
As you can see although the themes are different for the most part the size and amenities are very similar across all value resorts. Which to choose from really varies based on preference. If I had to choose for my family it would probably be Pop Century partly because it is the newest so has the least amount of wear and because it is typically the highest rated in customer polls among the values.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
How to get started making Disney Reservations.
How to get get started making Disney reservations is not complicated but there are some decisions to make. First off do you want to handle all of the planning and decision making or do you want to use a travel agent/specialist? We have done it both ways with much sucess so it probably depends on if you are a hands on or off person.
The benefit to getting started with a travel specialist is that it is easier because they probably have done the process many times. They will also probably have suggestions and be very helpful with additional information which many times is personal experience (always a good thing). The other advantage is their service is free to you because their commission is paid by Disney. The drawback as with most commission oriented jobs is the more you spend the more they make. So you still need to do your homework so you do not get talked into things you do not want or need. On the plus side if you need to make changes to your reservation at any time it is much easier and faster if you let the agent handle this. I have had great experience with one agency in particular which I will cover in a future blog.
The benefit to doing it yourself is simply that it forces you to plan and make decisions based on your knowledge. Therefore it is critical that you research and plan alot in order to maximize your trip. You can google things like Disneyworld, Disney vacations, Disney packages, etc. and read all that you can from numerous sites before entering into anything. We typically do everything through Disney.com because we find dealing with one place simplifies things and creates less confusion. If you choose to make resort reservations and buy your tickets from another online source just be careful. As with anything online there are many scams out there and you do not want to lose your money! If it sounds too good to be true it probably is because as I stated in an earlier post nothing at Disney is cheap!
Now from earlier discussions we have made up our mind when we are going and have decided whether or not we are going to do it ourselves or use a travel agent. Now the real fun begins, the work!
How to get started making Disney reservations from this point is rather simple. How much money does our budget allow us to spend, are we flying or driving to Disney, and based on all the criteria from our earlier discussions how long are we staying? You must budget at least in the beginning or you will go way over what you can handle believe me we have done this before. Now take this budget amount and calculate how much it will cost to drive and how much it is going to cost you to fly. Then calculate both options out because after all you have to get there before the Disney magic begins. After you decide which fits your family needs the best then this is your beginning budget to start with. Also in this preliminary budget you must estimate food costs which is very difficult if you have never been before. There are many websites out there that will actually give you menus from all types of Disney restaurants. Our general rule of thumb is $50 a day per adult and $20 a day per child. Ages 3 and under are free, ages 3-9 are considered children, and 10 and up is considered adult. This budget usually allows for one counter service type meal and one table service meal per day! If this seems excessive it probably is but it is expensive to eat at Disney. I would rather budget too much than not enough and eating at nice places in Disney is a real treat. Can you do it cheaper definitely but that is up to your personal preference.
Now that we have travel and food budgeted out where are we staying? Major decision time here! Are we staying on Disney property or off and there are many pros and cons to both! Staying on property means more expense but can mean more convience. If you choose to stay on property you are always in the "Disney magic", but for some it is too much. Will you get more room for your money off property, almost always but you can have more room if you are willing to pay for it. There is free transportation for Disney property guests in the form of bus service which is nice but can be inconsistent at times. We have only had trouble a couple of times and Disney was pretty quick to remedy the situation. We have heard horror stories but not from anyone we know well so how credible those sources are is suspect. If you choose off property you have to drive from where you are staying, pay to park, park, ride a tram to the entrance of the park, stand in line at bag check in, and the stand in line at the tunstyle to enter. If you stay on property you go to the resort bus stop, sit and wait, ride the bus to the parks, stand in line at bag check in, and stand in line to enter. Both sound exhausting but off property from our experience takes about an hour to complete where as on property takes about 30-40 minutes on average. That is not a whole lot of time savings but lets say in the middle of the day you want to got to the hotel and rest then the tables turn dramatically in favor of on property. Then you walk out to the bus stop which in the afternoon is empty and you go back to the hotel and this process takes maybe 20 minutes because of the reduced traffic. Back to the resort and in the refreshing pool in less than 30 minutes on a hot day priceless. The major choice here will be more money for less space but more convience; or less money for more space but less convience. To be perfectly honest now that my children are a little older I am torn on this one although we typically stay on property. In a future post I have some suggestions for some incredible off-site facilities that are amazing.
How to get started making my Disney reservations overview is complete and my next topic will be value, moderate, deluxe, and vacation club and which to choose for my family if we stay on Disney property!
The benefit to getting started with a travel specialist is that it is easier because they probably have done the process many times. They will also probably have suggestions and be very helpful with additional information which many times is personal experience (always a good thing). The other advantage is their service is free to you because their commission is paid by Disney. The drawback as with most commission oriented jobs is the more you spend the more they make. So you still need to do your homework so you do not get talked into things you do not want or need. On the plus side if you need to make changes to your reservation at any time it is much easier and faster if you let the agent handle this. I have had great experience with one agency in particular which I will cover in a future blog.
The benefit to doing it yourself is simply that it forces you to plan and make decisions based on your knowledge. Therefore it is critical that you research and plan alot in order to maximize your trip. You can google things like Disneyworld, Disney vacations, Disney packages, etc. and read all that you can from numerous sites before entering into anything. We typically do everything through Disney.com because we find dealing with one place simplifies things and creates less confusion. If you choose to make resort reservations and buy your tickets from another online source just be careful. As with anything online there are many scams out there and you do not want to lose your money! If it sounds too good to be true it probably is because as I stated in an earlier post nothing at Disney is cheap!
Now from earlier discussions we have made up our mind when we are going and have decided whether or not we are going to do it ourselves or use a travel agent. Now the real fun begins, the work!
How to get started making Disney reservations from this point is rather simple. How much money does our budget allow us to spend, are we flying or driving to Disney, and based on all the criteria from our earlier discussions how long are we staying? You must budget at least in the beginning or you will go way over what you can handle believe me we have done this before. Now take this budget amount and calculate how much it will cost to drive and how much it is going to cost you to fly. Then calculate both options out because after all you have to get there before the Disney magic begins. After you decide which fits your family needs the best then this is your beginning budget to start with. Also in this preliminary budget you must estimate food costs which is very difficult if you have never been before. There are many websites out there that will actually give you menus from all types of Disney restaurants. Our general rule of thumb is $50 a day per adult and $20 a day per child. Ages 3 and under are free, ages 3-9 are considered children, and 10 and up is considered adult. This budget usually allows for one counter service type meal and one table service meal per day! If this seems excessive it probably is but it is expensive to eat at Disney. I would rather budget too much than not enough and eating at nice places in Disney is a real treat. Can you do it cheaper definitely but that is up to your personal preference.
Now that we have travel and food budgeted out where are we staying? Major decision time here! Are we staying on Disney property or off and there are many pros and cons to both! Staying on property means more expense but can mean more convience. If you choose to stay on property you are always in the "Disney magic", but for some it is too much. Will you get more room for your money off property, almost always but you can have more room if you are willing to pay for it. There is free transportation for Disney property guests in the form of bus service which is nice but can be inconsistent at times. We have only had trouble a couple of times and Disney was pretty quick to remedy the situation. We have heard horror stories but not from anyone we know well so how credible those sources are is suspect. If you choose off property you have to drive from where you are staying, pay to park, park, ride a tram to the entrance of the park, stand in line at bag check in, and the stand in line at the tunstyle to enter. If you stay on property you go to the resort bus stop, sit and wait, ride the bus to the parks, stand in line at bag check in, and stand in line to enter. Both sound exhausting but off property from our experience takes about an hour to complete where as on property takes about 30-40 minutes on average. That is not a whole lot of time savings but lets say in the middle of the day you want to got to the hotel and rest then the tables turn dramatically in favor of on property. Then you walk out to the bus stop which in the afternoon is empty and you go back to the hotel and this process takes maybe 20 minutes because of the reduced traffic. Back to the resort and in the refreshing pool in less than 30 minutes on a hot day priceless. The major choice here will be more money for less space but more convience; or less money for more space but less convience. To be perfectly honest now that my children are a little older I am torn on this one although we typically stay on property. In a future post I have some suggestions for some incredible off-site facilities that are amazing.
How to get started making my Disney reservations overview is complete and my next topic will be value, moderate, deluxe, and vacation club and which to choose for my family if we stay on Disney property!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
When to go to Disney?
When to go to Disney?
That's a really big and important question! Alot of people opt for the same times because it is obvious. Spring break, Christmas break, and summertime are typically the busiest times of the year at Disneyworld but there is never really a slow time anymore. Disney is the master of marketing and they have found numerous ways to create demand for their vacations even in the slowest of seasons. That being said the simplest rule when choosing when to go to Disney is this:
If you are out of work/school then chances are really good that so is everyone else.
We really enjoy early spring and late fall because it is typically less crowded and the weather is ideal. In the summer not only are you dealing with crowds but insanely hot and humid weather. If this is you only time to go and you still want to then by all means go, but be prepared and accept what is ahead of you. The great thing about summer is the parks are open much longer and so you can spread your day out more. It is fairly easy to be there for park opening and stay until lunch then go back to your motel for a few hours to swim/rest. Then return to the park in early evening and stay until everyone is finished. I typically recommend this to everyone in the summer because Disneyworld is a large place and exhausting on its own, but when you add in the 90+ weather and humidity you will be zapped by days end. If you go in the spring the weather is awesome and the crowds are manageable but try to avoid the weeks surrounding Easter because it does get crazier then. We absolutely love the first couple of weeks in March as long as Easter falls in mid to late April. The fall can also be a great time to go because of lower crowds but it can still be hot/humid depending on when you plan on going. September is fantastic for crowds but can still be 90+ most days. As you get on into October and early November the crowds are still pretty manageable and the temperature gets much better. Now Christmas time is an unbelievable place to be for the holidays but is is off the chart nuts busy. The week before and the week after Christmas is the busiest time to travel to Disneyworld but it is amazing as well. If you go for the ambience and the experience it is magical. However if you really want to see everything it simply is not going to happen. The two times we have been we were lucky to do a few things and had to wait in line a long time to do that. If you go, choose the first couple of weeks in December because typically all the decorations are up and crowds are not too bad. These are just the beginning when considering when to go to Disney!
When to go to Disney?
If money is an issue and it is for most of us then going not during peak season is usually better financially as well. Disney rates its "seasons" based on traffic and attendance figures so if the time of year you are wanting to go is busy your chances of obtaining a "deal" are small. However in an effort to increase traffic flow during other slower times you can occasionally get some pretty good "deals" (as far as Disney goes). If alot of people are going then Disney has less need to discount or run promotions to fill rooms and tickets. When you are searching look for "value" season for the least expensive times to go. Also many overlook the obvious in that it costs much more per night at Disney owned resorts for Sat. and Fri. night so if you plan your travel from Sun. to Thurs. then you average days expenses decline. It is a business designed to make money so accept that nothing is "cheap" at Disney ever!
When to go to Disney?
Now the big question I get asked all the time about going to Disney? Should I take my kids out of school in order to go during a less busy time? The answer is not that simple because it depends in the child, family, and school involved in the decision process. For us one child is not in school yet (4) so that one is easy but our oldest is (10) and that decision is hard! For us our family dynamics are dependent on family vacations to thrive. What I mean when I say that is they are extremely important to us as a bonding time and a time to reconnect on a deeper level. With our work schedules and school it seems we are rarely together as a family of four as often as we would like. These vacations allow us time away from everything in order to be a family. So for my family without a doubt we would pull our children out of school. We however are blessed in that our oldest daughter is extremely gifted and a major overachiever so it is not that difficult for her to catch up if she gets behind. I have a suspicion that my youngest will not be that way so our options may change as she starts school. In a nut shell I say if you have to even think about if your kids can handle the make up work or doing homework on the trip then the answer is probably no. Be sensible and choose what is best for your family! Do not let friends, extended family, or the school system tell you what is best for your family. They do not know your family the way you do and should not influence your decision in any way! You choose when to go to Disney not someone else (unless that someone else is paying).
When to go to Disney?
Now that we have covered weather, which season, and when to take off work. The final topic for today is going to be when is too soon? How old do my children need to be to enjoy Disneyworld and my answer may surprise you. You are never too old or too young to enjoy Disneyworld if you do your homework. If all you have is small children then you options are smaller but they are not zero. If you have a baby are they going to remember the trip, of course not! But are you going to remeber the trip, definitely! To this day we laugh about our adventures at Disneyworld with our youngest daughter and our priceless memories with our oldest daughter. There are things that happened on trips that they cannot remember but we do and that makes memories too. That being said it was probably age 3-4 with both our kids that Disney magic really came too life for them. We would go and their eyes would light up and your heart would melt becuase you knew that all was good with the world for that split second. Age 4-5 is probably a good age to ensure that everyone can ride every ride together if you chose too. That doesn't mean they won't be a little scared or nervous but all the options are there if you chose to take them (with a couple of exceptions). There are things for all ages to enjoy and Disney magic is all around if you take the time to experience being a child again. The other thing to consider is the parents and their ability to slow down and enjoy life. Our lives are so filled with madness and schedules we have a difficult time slowing down and a trip can be half over before we begin enjoying ourselves. In my future posts I will give some simple suggestions of how we handle that in our house which might help you.
When to go to Disney?
Simply when the time is right for you and your family!
That's a really big and important question! Alot of people opt for the same times because it is obvious. Spring break, Christmas break, and summertime are typically the busiest times of the year at Disneyworld but there is never really a slow time anymore. Disney is the master of marketing and they have found numerous ways to create demand for their vacations even in the slowest of seasons. That being said the simplest rule when choosing when to go to Disney is this:
If you are out of work/school then chances are really good that so is everyone else.
We really enjoy early spring and late fall because it is typically less crowded and the weather is ideal. In the summer not only are you dealing with crowds but insanely hot and humid weather. If this is you only time to go and you still want to then by all means go, but be prepared and accept what is ahead of you. The great thing about summer is the parks are open much longer and so you can spread your day out more. It is fairly easy to be there for park opening and stay until lunch then go back to your motel for a few hours to swim/rest. Then return to the park in early evening and stay until everyone is finished. I typically recommend this to everyone in the summer because Disneyworld is a large place and exhausting on its own, but when you add in the 90+ weather and humidity you will be zapped by days end. If you go in the spring the weather is awesome and the crowds are manageable but try to avoid the weeks surrounding Easter because it does get crazier then. We absolutely love the first couple of weeks in March as long as Easter falls in mid to late April. The fall can also be a great time to go because of lower crowds but it can still be hot/humid depending on when you plan on going. September is fantastic for crowds but can still be 90+ most days. As you get on into October and early November the crowds are still pretty manageable and the temperature gets much better. Now Christmas time is an unbelievable place to be for the holidays but is is off the chart nuts busy. The week before and the week after Christmas is the busiest time to travel to Disneyworld but it is amazing as well. If you go for the ambience and the experience it is magical. However if you really want to see everything it simply is not going to happen. The two times we have been we were lucky to do a few things and had to wait in line a long time to do that. If you go, choose the first couple of weeks in December because typically all the decorations are up and crowds are not too bad. These are just the beginning when considering when to go to Disney!
When to go to Disney?
If money is an issue and it is for most of us then going not during peak season is usually better financially as well. Disney rates its "seasons" based on traffic and attendance figures so if the time of year you are wanting to go is busy your chances of obtaining a "deal" are small. However in an effort to increase traffic flow during other slower times you can occasionally get some pretty good "deals" (as far as Disney goes). If alot of people are going then Disney has less need to discount or run promotions to fill rooms and tickets. When you are searching look for "value" season for the least expensive times to go. Also many overlook the obvious in that it costs much more per night at Disney owned resorts for Sat. and Fri. night so if you plan your travel from Sun. to Thurs. then you average days expenses decline. It is a business designed to make money so accept that nothing is "cheap" at Disney ever!
When to go to Disney?
Now the big question I get asked all the time about going to Disney? Should I take my kids out of school in order to go during a less busy time? The answer is not that simple because it depends in the child, family, and school involved in the decision process. For us one child is not in school yet (4) so that one is easy but our oldest is (10) and that decision is hard! For us our family dynamics are dependent on family vacations to thrive. What I mean when I say that is they are extremely important to us as a bonding time and a time to reconnect on a deeper level. With our work schedules and school it seems we are rarely together as a family of four as often as we would like. These vacations allow us time away from everything in order to be a family. So for my family without a doubt we would pull our children out of school. We however are blessed in that our oldest daughter is extremely gifted and a major overachiever so it is not that difficult for her to catch up if she gets behind. I have a suspicion that my youngest will not be that way so our options may change as she starts school. In a nut shell I say if you have to even think about if your kids can handle the make up work or doing homework on the trip then the answer is probably no. Be sensible and choose what is best for your family! Do not let friends, extended family, or the school system tell you what is best for your family. They do not know your family the way you do and should not influence your decision in any way! You choose when to go to Disney not someone else (unless that someone else is paying).
When to go to Disney?
Now that we have covered weather, which season, and when to take off work. The final topic for today is going to be when is too soon? How old do my children need to be to enjoy Disneyworld and my answer may surprise you. You are never too old or too young to enjoy Disneyworld if you do your homework. If all you have is small children then you options are smaller but they are not zero. If you have a baby are they going to remember the trip, of course not! But are you going to remeber the trip, definitely! To this day we laugh about our adventures at Disneyworld with our youngest daughter and our priceless memories with our oldest daughter. There are things that happened on trips that they cannot remember but we do and that makes memories too. That being said it was probably age 3-4 with both our kids that Disney magic really came too life for them. We would go and their eyes would light up and your heart would melt becuase you knew that all was good with the world for that split second. Age 4-5 is probably a good age to ensure that everyone can ride every ride together if you chose too. That doesn't mean they won't be a little scared or nervous but all the options are there if you chose to take them (with a couple of exceptions). There are things for all ages to enjoy and Disney magic is all around if you take the time to experience being a child again. The other thing to consider is the parents and their ability to slow down and enjoy life. Our lives are so filled with madness and schedules we have a difficult time slowing down and a trip can be half over before we begin enjoying ourselves. In my future posts I will give some simple suggestions of how we handle that in our house which might help you.
When to go to Disney?
Simply when the time is right for you and your family!
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