One Man’s Dream: A photo tour

One Man’s Dream is officially closing in it’s current location. On my last visit to the world I wanted to go visit for the first and last time. This is truly an extraordinary exhibit and a testimony to Walt Disney. My entire family left feeling awed and a little bit teary eyed, especially after the film that was showed after you walked through (you know how us diehard disney folk get).

I documented most of the exhibits and tidbits of information I found interesting. I took all the photos on my iPhone camera so unfortunately they are not the kind of photography I would normally share on this page, they are merely documentary style and low quality but a way to show others some interesting parts of the exhibit.

I took much too long writing this blog from the time I visited so I unfortunately don’t remember a lot about what each photo entailed but the gist of the exhibit is a walk through the making of Disney.

This is also where you may become an ‘honorary citizen of Walt Disney World’ by answering questions for a quiz that you obtained by asking the cast member at the entrance of the exhibit for a quiz. The answers were all in the exhibit and were pretty easy to find for the most part. At the end you turned your quiz in, got your answers corrected, received your pin and got to sign the guest book! Very fun activity, especially when it was raining outside.

I’ll now proceed to my virtual photo walk through the exhibit. Enjoy and feel free to leave any comments with anything you know or liked about the exhibit!

The quiz.

Walt’s desk.

How the animation worked.

Entrance to the theater.

Completed Quiz.

Quote on the back of the quiz.

Signing the guest book.

Honorary Citizen of Disney World!

A shout out to all my favorite Disney Facebook Groups: Diehard Disney Nuts, Loving Disney, Disney Vacation Club Members, Disney Worldwide Dreamers, and Disneyland Dreamers just to name a few.

Be a Traveler not a Tourist: Part 1

go somewhere

So many people go on trips every year (sometimes more) and really don’t get anything out of it. Although I know that everyone has different ways of wanting to go on vacation, I hope that this post can give people an idea of how they can travel, let’s just say “better” than before. Not forcing anyone to do anything they don’t want to do, just wanting people to think about what happens in places where tourism is such a big part of that place. So many people go somewhere typical (which is fine) and just check off the things one should see in that location. Example, I’m going to Rome so I’ll see the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps. Then I’ll go have some pasta and some gelato and perhaps some wine. Check, Rome is done, I’ve seen enough- maybe some day I’ll come back when I have more time. FALSE. Try something different, go outside your comfort zone.

I’ve been on a lot of cruises (which by the way are very cool and a great way to get a taste of so many different places in a very short time) and it is really hard not to just be a tourist on these trips. You are drug around in a group of individuals clad in walking shoes, D-SLRs around everyone’s neck, and of course the lovely walkie talkie contraptions or “whispers” as some guides call them also draped around one’s neck. You look foolish, but you get to see a lot this way. The problem is the only thing you are doing is SEEING a lot, you aren’t diving into the culture head first. The first time I went overseas I just spent a lot of time looking at the sights and I didn’t really get a lot out of the trip other than I saw a lot of cool things, basically all I was doing was following the tour group and seeing what was in front of me. I wanted my next trip to be something I got a lot out of both educationally and emotionally, but I’m different like that, I use travel as a way to express myself and learn more about myself. That isn’t how everyone likes to do things, but I’ve found I really come back from trips feeling overall better about myself if I really immerse myself into the locations I visit.

go somewhere and don’t just follow the leader

Let’s make this silly situation better! Let’s say you ARE on one of these tours and you aren’t off on your own (which I find is always the best way to see anywhere if you have more time and aren’t on a time constraint- if you are on something like a cruise I do think the shore excursions are the best way to get the most bang for your buck ), there are plenty of ways you can still discover what your destination is all about. Most trips give you some free time to eat or shop, take advantage of that! Find a map, wander down some side streets, get kinda lost and then figure out your way back to where you came from- it really gives you a sense of accomplishment to be able to find your way around somewhere completely foreign to you. It also makes you figure out what makes that place tick. Do the places to eat/drink get cheaper as you walk down side streets and get further away from tourist traps and closer to where people actually live? Usually it does. These are also AMAZING places to eat because it is where the locals eat, so usually a more reasonable price and you get the chance to talk to people who aren’t used to having THOUSANDS of tourists encroaching on their space every single day. From personal experience this is when I’ve really learned the most about cultures elsewhere is just by doing this little trick, going off the beaten path. Sometimes you don’t even have to go that far to find places with menus only in the local language (MOST of the time you can get by with English, but I find that it is polite to try to communicate in the local language first before going to English). Remembering you are a visitor to someone else’s home, be polite and be willing to try new things and talk to new people. You never know who will be willing to talk to you or what you will encounter. That is truly the beauty of traveling.

The times that I’ve strayed off the beaten path have been fantastic. I’ve found great hidden places to eat, lovely shops, and amazing people. I’ve wandered around places in Italy, France, Spain, Scotland, England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Monaco, Alaska, Canada, New York, Turkey, Malta, and so many more places. Each destination has something to teach you, my goal each time I travel is to discover what exactly I’m learning from that place. Holland taught me that I CAN find my way around a city I’ve only been in for literally minutes, Greece taught me to see the beauty in simplicity, Scotland taught me to appreciate the beauty of the world around me and England taught me that I can be so much more than I ever thought I could. Traveling really has helped me find direction and meaning to my life and traveling alone has helped even more.

go somewhere ready to try to “fit in”

Do research before you visit another country, learn how to say hello and thank you at the very least. I know so many people that complain about people who visit America or even move to America not being able to speak any English, give other countries the experience you want to have with foreigners, or at least try! Learning languages can be fun and a great family activity to do before embarking on a cruise or going on a trip if you are going somewhere as a family. Duolingo is a great little app that gets you started with the basics  Look into customs such as dress and body language. For examples there are cultures where one finger pointing not something you should do. Always be aware of things like that. Walk with a purpose, don’t feel bad about stopping to take photos, but be respectful of the people around you. Don’t stop in the middle of a busy sidewalk, go off out of the way so the people who live there can continue to go about their daily business.  Always carry currency of the country you are in, don’t expect places to “just take” the dollar because you think they should. (I’ve seen this happen in a few different countries, the end result was never a friendly exchange…).

This blog has mainly covered the basics of how to turn what would have been a straightforward tourist experience into something where you become a traveler and really start to learn about other cultures and places in a more personal and in depth way. Remembering everyone has their preferred way of traveling and I’m not looking to boss people around into changing how they vacation, this is purely food for thought and a reflection on how I like to travel.

Look for more in this series of posts, I hope it helps others prepare for travel abroad (and even in their own country). I’m aiming to help others grow through travel the way I have, it really is a way of life and once that travel bug bites you there really is no better way to learn more about yourself or relax.

Tour of Epot: Featuring World Showcase

Until recently EPCOT had not been on my list of favorite places to visit. After this last visit when I had tons of free time to do research about what all to do in EPCOT I have decided this is one of the coolest places, like anywhere. Basically if you can’t decide what kind of food you want to eat, go to EPCOT. You can sample everything and anything.

EPCOT: future world

Start the journey around EPCOT by trying soda from around the world.

In future world, right behind Spaceship Earth, Coca-Cola has a storefront that not only sells coca-cola products but has a soda station that lets you sample crazy concoctions from around the world. Some taste awesome, others not so much! It’s a great place to get a free drink too.

My favorite ride in EPCOT? Hands down Test Track!

What about the rides? My favorite in EPCOT has to be Test Track. We hadn’t been able to ride this attraction in almost four years so it was really fun to be able to see what they changed. I think this is one of the most well done rides in all the parks.

Sponsored by Chevy!

I’ll probably do an in depth post about this ride at some point, but I’ll do just a quick overview of the ride right now. There are three lines: standby, single rider and fastpass. Single rider is always a great way to get on this ride with a little less wait time (but you may be split up from your group). You get to design your own car and then compare how your car did against the other riders in the car. Then after the ride you can do all sorts of activities with your car that is saved onto your magic band or park pass. Things like making a commercial and taking your photo with your car, really fun and you can spend lots of time designing more cars and looking around in the showroom- even checking out the latest line-up of Chevrolet cars!

Character Spot in Epcot

The character spot in EPCOT is a great place to see three main characters- usually Mickey, Minnie and Goofy! Wait in line once and see all three instead of hunting each one down! There is also a fastpass available for the Character Spot.

There is also a large gift shop in future world that has lots of both EPCOT themed and WDW themed gifts and keepsakes. I found a few cool things in here and left with a great long sleeved EPCOT shirt!

Other spots to visit would be Soarin’, Captain EO (featuring Michael Jackson), and the Refreshment Port to grab a cronut!

EPCOT: world showcase

Now onto my favorite part: world showcase! If you’ve never been it is a must see! Imagine the giant tourist draws from each country shoved around one little lagoon, one after another. Featuring food and entertainment from each country that is represented it really is a great place to try new food and drink as well as be entertained. There is at least one major restaurant in each country and plenty of table service as well as quick service and cart options. Be sure to make reservations in advance at the table service options though! I’ll take you through a quick “tour” via some of my photos I took while I was recently there! Let’s start with Canada, ‘eh!

Canada- World Showcase in EPCOT

There is merchandise in each country- here’s a shirt from Canada!

If there is any type of show in that part of the “world” there will be a schedule of the times they will be appearing!

We were lucky enough to catch some of the lumberjack show as we were walking around world showcase- very entertaining!

Rose and Crown pub in the Britain part of world showcase. There is also a place to get fish and chips that is quick service, the rest of the eating establishments are table service.

Oh-la-la, Paris in Florida! France has some spectacular table service options as well as a quick service cart that serves crepes!

Set up in France to look just like it does in Paris, very realistic!

Morocco is very vibrant and the windy paths make it feel like you could actually be in Morocco!

A live music performance in Morocco

Restaurant Marrakesh- table service meal, excellent quality food, fast service and live music and performances! (Located in the VERY back of Morocco)

The little details everywhere really make these places feel like you are in the actual location instead of the middle of Florida!

One last shot from Morocco, I loved the design on this fountain.

Torii Gate in Japan

Lantern in Japan.

Koi pond in Japan- be sure to check out the stores and places to eat in Japan, there is lots of great food and things to see- watching the pearls in the gift shop was fantastic!

Italy! They have gelato- we’ve had it before but not on this last trip- it was pretty yummy! Be sure to venture all the way into Italy, it is almost like being there!

The decoration for a food cart in Italy- looks like a little donkey is pulling a load around town!

Fountain (also in Italy).

Germany! The land of beer and delicious food! Be sure to check out the Werther’s caramel store full of delightfully delicious snacks including fresh caramel corn!

In the little square there are giant cuckoo clocks that put on little shows!

Be sure to check out the specialty beer from the beer stand in Germany!

The grapefruit beer is my favorite!

Germany is also a great spot to stop if you are “drinking around the world”. My “drinking around the world” consisted of me carrying my one beer around world showcase! 😉

Try the food in Norway, the sandwiches are great and there are great deserts as well- try the Troll’s Horn!

China! Be sure to stop by and see the acrobats that often perform in front of China!

Be sure to stick around and watch Illuminations if you can! It’s a great show and is pretty early (9pm) so the kiddos can easily stay up for that fireworks show!

I ran out of willpower by the time we got to Mexico, so this isn’t a complete tour- but I hope you got the taste for what is available at EPCOT! I can’t wait to come back soon and try more food and drinks and take more photos, Epcot truly is different from all of the other park experiences and if you choose to go to one other park other than Magic Kingdom I would pick EPCOT- especially if you have older kids or mostly adults!

Also- in the gift shop they have passports you can buy and you can have proof that you visited every country in World Showcase!

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

The Pearl, a lovely tropical drink with a cinnamon flavor that comes with a souvenir pearl all your own. My favorite drink of choice!

Trader Sam’s is my new favorite place on Disney property. From the hours of 4pm-8pm it is family friendly and all ages are allowed in, so if you aren’t an adult only party you can still visit!

Never been to Trader Sam’s before? I hadn’t either until we visited the original in California earlier this year after reading about it on the internet as a “must see” at Disneyland. When we arranged to stay at the Polynesian through DVC we were thrilled that a second Trader Sam’s had opened just recently at our hotel!

What is Trader Sam’s exactly you might ask, I’ll give you a run down here and share some of my favorite parts about it! Trader Sam is the head hunter you meet at the end of the Jungle Cruise, so the bar is themed off of the Jungle Cruise. I also think they were inspired by the Tiki Room as well with similar decor. This is a specialty themed bar that puts on a show every time one of the specialty drinks are ordered. The servers double as comedians, you will come out of that bar grinning from ear to ear and with a great attitude. Great cool place to cool down after a long day at the park.

protip: come at 3:30 to be sure you get a seat at 4

There is room for about 50 people in the bar, so you may end up having to wait when you come. The bar opens at 4, but if you go around 3:30 you can get a buzzer to guarantee your spot when the doors open!

If you end up not getting a seat in the bar you can wait for a seat to open or just go sit on the patio and you can get the same drinks and food, you just don’t get the atmosphere of being inside- so if you’ve never been before I would highly recommend waiting to be seated inside!

Overview of the indoor bar area at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Balcony area outside Trader Sam’s and Captain Cook’s- all ages are allowed out there even at night.

The patio at night, beautiful and a great place to watch the fireworks!

A view of the “window” in Trader Sam’s, looks a bit like the Tiki Room!

There are tons of choices when it comes to drinks and there is something for everyone, even a grown up version of a dole whip drink! About half of the drinks come with the option to get a collectible Tiki mug and we have made it our “Disney hobby” to collect some each time we go! Also, each specialty drink comes with a show! When you order a zombie head you “see dead people” and if someone gets the nautilus then everyone dives under the sea! It really is a blast.

The drink menu

Appetizer menu

Sausage skewers, VERY good and Asian inspired.

Out of all the drinks we tried we liked the Pearl and the Uh-Oa! The Uh-Oa has probably the best show and is a drink that two people can share!

The pearl in all it’s glory

When you order a pearl the clam shell glows and the bartender reaches in and grabs a pearl- sometimes there’s a pearl jam- get it? ha ha 🙂

The Uh-Oa, you get to play with fire when you order this drink- I’ll let you guys order it and find out how awesome it is.

The whole bar turns blue and the servers start swimming when someone orders a nautilus! For sure the coolest keepsake but also the most expensive.

A glimpse at the decor in the bar.

Also, occasionally the Tiki statue on the back wall lights up as well as the octopus arm reaches down with a bottle- VERY fun.

Overall, would I recommend this experience? YES. Even with kids? Yup. They have a collectible plastic cup for kids too! This will be a place I’ll be sure to visit every trip to WDW.

DVC Neighborhood Beach Bash Party

If you happen to be a member of Disney Vacation Club and are at Walt Disney World staying on DVC property you can be invited to a Beach Bash party if you happen to be lucky enough to be there during one!

Check in is available at DVC resorts in front of the lobby area (at the Polynesian at least that was how it was). A charter bus will transport you to the after hours party at Typhoon Lagoon! You will receive a wristband that identifies you as part of the party and you will be transported to the water park for an evening of fun!

The view from our chartered bus as we pulled into Typhoon Lagoon for an evening of “membership magic”.

It was pretty neat to walk around the water park at night, we had never been there before so it was pretty fun just to be able to get into the park without having to pay admission!

There was plenty of time to explore and see the park. Only a few of the attractions were closed but I’m not a big water park person since I wear glasses and don’t really like swimming, so it wasn’t a big deal to me. We enjoyed going around on the lazy river a few times, it was pretty fun to just have the park almost private with only fellow DVC family in the park with us!

They added DVC touches all around the park and kept stores and places to eat open. There also was “light refreshments” which turns out to mean chips and cookies. I heard that they had ice cream later that night but we had just flown in so we left after a few hours when we got tired.

I would recommend getting some dinner before you go unless you want to buy a meal there, then that is totally an option as well.

If you don’t have someone to watch your stuff, you’ll have to rent a locker. Which turns out isn’t really that cheap. Also towels are the same way, so bringing a towel is a good idea as well. I posted prices above- when you return your key we were given the choice to get $5 back or we could have a string bag, we chose the $5 but I’m sure lots of people like the string bag.

Membership Magic giant light up balloons lit the way throughout the park, pretty great way decorate if you ask me!

There was a DJ down by the beach area that was trying to get some dancing going and broadcasting music throughout the park. They had a bar area too for the adults over by free refreshment area. For free beverages they had lemonade and water and I believe ice tea as well.

Hard to see in the photo, but Lilo and Stitch were available for photos! I’d post our family photo but it isn’t all that attractive as we were in bathing suits and towels- LOL! Lines weren’t long and it was the perfect way to meet and greet a character!

Overall, the party was a bit unorganized (granted this was the first one they had held that we went to) and CMs seemed stressed with the extra hours. However, I really enjoyed being able to go into the water park free of charge since we never do the add on for the water parks. The free food was disappointing, but satisfactory enough- beggars can’t be choosers, right? I also wished they would have provided lockers for free use, we had someone tell us they would be free and no need to bring towels. Had we known towels would have been $2 a person we would have brought our own. I liked this “freebie” and I hope they continue to have the beach bash party! Thanks DVC!

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show Review

Have you ever wanted to experience a luau while staying stateside? Planning on visiting Walt Disney World anytime soon? Look no further than Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Village.

Check in for the shows begins an hour prior to your seating time. Ours was 5:15 so we could start checking in at 4:15 in the lobby of the Polynesian Resort. You will be given a slip of paper with your server’s name on it and you bring that to luau cove after you check in.

Shows are held Tuesdays through Saturdays with show times at 5:15 and 8:15. Price of the show includes an all you care to eat meal with all you care to drink beer and wine as well as soft drinks as well as a dinner show featuring dances from the different Polynesian islands.

Signs direct you to luau cove after you leave the lobby, you go left outside the main lobby and follow the signs, it is a bit of a walk so if you are unable to walk distances well be sure to give yourself ample time or ask a cast member for a golf cart ride perhaps.

Upon checking in each member of your party will receive a lei. Something both the kids and adults alike enjoy! It is yours to keep as a souvenir of the show!

The menu for the dinner show

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show- Strawberry Daiquiri, the cup is yours to keep

When making reservations you can pick what tier seating you would like to be seated at the price range is not significant, so I think it was worth it to pay a little bit extra per person to get the front seating so you can enjoy the show better.

Salad portion, delicious salad and pineapple and noodle salad as a starter

Main meal, chicken, ribs, brisket and veggies. The brisket was my favorite.

Pineapple bread pudding- delicious! Be sure to ask for seconds!

The meal was pretty good, I especially enjoyed the salad, the brisket and the bread pudding! Now for the fun part- the show!

Dancers come out before you finish your meal as a sort of teaser- invite the kids up to learn a dance and then leave you to finish your meal before they come back for the rest of the show.

The second part of the show is dedicated to the different styles of dance from the different parts of Polynesia- it is both interesting and fun to watch! I’m not sure which dance was from which area but I got some fun photos to share!

Loved the outfit that went with this dance

Fire dance was by far my favorite and for sure the crowd favorite as well!

Overall, I really think this is worth the money and it is a great experience. Both kids and adults will love this- our group was all adults and we all enjoyed the food and the show. If you have any allergies they will tailor the meal to fit your needs- so no worries on that side of things!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: DVC Villas Review

One of the newest additions to the Disney Vacation Club resorts is the popular Polynesian Resort located conveniently on the monorail. I recently had the pleasure of staying in the brand new DVC studios and figured I would share what I thought about the resort with everyone!

The focal point in the lobby and throughout the hotel is this adorable tiki statue.

What i liked

There are lots of great points about this resort, one of the best is that it is so close to Magic Kingdom and Epcot is just a monorail transfer away! I also loved the theme of the resort, they really did an excellent job with the theme on this hotel it really feels like you are on an island resort somewhere very exotic and tropical!

The beach area at the Polynesian- lovely place to relax you just cannot swim in the water!

Another one of my favorite things about staying at this resort is being able to go to Trader Sam’s frequently because we were staying at the Polynesian! We loved going to Trader Sam’s in Disneyland at the Disneyland Hotel, but were only able to go once since we weren’t close to the Tiki Bar- but being at the same resort we were able to beat the crowds and visit at least four times in the week we were there!

The Pearl at Trader Sam’s

The view was fabulous. You can sit in the lobby towards the back and watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom with the music being streamed in through the speakers, in the air conditioning without the bugs. It was fantastic. The resort also has stunning views of the Grand Floridian and you can see the castle from across the lake during the day.

Dole Whip!

Right outside of the lobby guests can find Dole Whip conveniently located right in the hotel! The lines aren’t ever crazy long but there was almost always people getting Dole Whip while we were there! If you have underage children who want to experience Trader Sam’s you can grab them a Dole Whip and bring it in with you while you enjoy what Trader Sam’s has to offer. (Kids can come in Trader Sam’s from opening at 4pm until 8pm).

Splash area for kids at the main pool at the Polynesian

There was unfortunately only the main pool available during our stay and I thought it would be a problem, but we used the pool twice and never thought it was too crowded and we were able to find pool chairs easily and although there were a lot of kids there they had kids activities going on pretty much non-stop so most of the kids were occupied over in one corner which was pretty nice.

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show- Strawberry Daiquiri

The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show is also located in the Polynesian Resort and it is a must see if you’ve never been to a luau before- it is excellent and great entertainment for kids and adults alike. An all you care to eat dinner and beer and wine and soft drinks are also endless!

Airline Check-in area in front of the resort lobby

If you are flying home with one of the above airlines you can check in and check your bags right at the hotel, no need to drag bags through the airport! Super convenient and easy, on your way there if you tag your bags they arrive magically in your hotel room, no need to stop at the luggage carousel.

What I mostly liked

The studio rooms were pretty nice overall, I’ll post a photo tour below:

DVC Villa building sign

Hallway in Pago Pago

Lounge/waiting/meet up area in Pago Pago on the first floor

Pullout couch and wall art above in the studio

Queen sized bed with drawers on each side and room to store luggage underneath at the foot of the bed

Big screen TV- a Samsung smart TV at that! Very cool even though we only turned it on maybe once. Trundle bed under the TV

Rainforest shower in the second of the two bathroom areas- one room has a tub shower and a toilet and sink, second has the rainforest shower and a sink.

Sink area in the second bathroom- lots of storage underneath!

Hallway in the studio

Kitchenette area- microwave, sink and mini fridge as well as coffee maker.

Balcony- Standard View

Wall art in the bathroom

The lamp matched the tiki statue in the lobby- too cute!

Kona Cafe- loved it for breakfast- not so great for dinner, a bit overpriced. We had the best waiter ever for breakfast- Bob!

Also- not that I cared a lot, but the DVC villas are located near the parking lot, but not so much close to the main lobby area that has the restaurants and such. I would say it is about a 3-5 minute leisurely  walk from the lobby where you check in to Pago Pago and Moorea buildings.

What i didn’t like

The pullout couch bed- it was VERY uncomfortable to me. Also it was kind of hard to pull out and put back in so we ended up leaving it out the whole week which gave us not very many places to sit down when we were in the room.

There also was not a lot of areas to store clothing- only two of us were in the room so it ended up being ok with just the few drawers, but I imagine if 5 people were in the room it would be quite crowded, especially if it was four or five adults…

Quick service location in the Polynesian

Captain Cook’s was downright awful when it came down to it. Yes, the food was fine, but the service was terrible. There was always a line and if you ordered anything off the menu it took at least 15 minutes for our food to arrive and longer if we ordered the gluten free option. The cast members seemed like they really could care less and it was always VERY crowded and difficult to find a seat at times.

Overall impressions

Boat launch at the Polynesian with a view of the Bora Bora bungalows

Overall, I really enjoyed staying at the Polynesian with DVC. It is an expensive resort to stay at and without DVC we wouldn’t normally stay there and for sure we would have never stayed at that resort for a week without DVC. The bungalows are fantastic looking but VERY expensive, not sure we will ever try to stay in the bungalows but they are a fun idea! I thought the studios were overall pretty nice but a bit small for anymore than two people unless you have small kids. The split bathrooms were fantastic and the large balcony was very nice, I just thought the walls were a bit thin for a brand new building- I don’t think at a resort of that price you should be able to hear people talking through the walls. (Also there was a VERY loud bird outside my window that woke me up almost every night). I was disappointed with the quick service Captain Cook’s and Kona Cafel had a great breakfast but the dinner was overpriced and not that great. The construction we had while we were there was never annoying but we did miss having the quiet pool as an option.

There are lots of really fun things about this resort and I would for sure stay here again if given the chance. I’ll share a few more of my photos below- enjoy!

Balcony area outside Trader Sam’s and Captain Cook’s- all ages are allowed out there even at night.

View from the Standard View studio

Check-in area in the lobby

Volcano pool view from the boat dock.

Tiki statues are scattered throughout the resort

One outside the boat rental area

Another outside the deck area by Trader Sam’s

One last one in the gift shop

Kona Coffee available for purchase in the gift shop

The cool light fixture in the lobby

Mail-able coconut in the gift shop- way better than a post card!

A different view of the tiki statue in the lobby

Running path trail sign

Directional signs are found throughout the property helping you find your way

Disney Vacation Club: Tricks and Tips

Introduction to vacation club

If you’ve never heard of Disney Vacation Club and are curious to learn more, please start reading here, if you know a bit about DVC feel free to skip this intro section and move on to the “tips and tricks sections”.

There are a variety of different resorts to choose from when you buy into Disney Vacation Club. There are currently 9 resorts at WDW (I’m sure more will be built in the future), they include: Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas, Villas at Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, and the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. In Disneyland there is the Villas at the Grand Californian. In addition to the park resorts there are three beach resorts that are destinations within themselves: Aulani in Hawaii, Vero Beach in Florida, and Hilton Head in South Carolina.

DVC operates on a point system. You buy a certain number of points and each year in your predetermined month you are rewarded that amount of points to use. You can use these points at the DVC resorts but they can also be exchanged for Disney Cruises, Adventures by Disney and partner hotel rooms around the globe. However, the most bang for your buck is to use them at the DVC resorts, if you want to do a different kind of vacation other than what the resorts offer, your best bet may be to rent out your points for that year and then use that money towards the vacation you wish to do.

Another bonus of having DVC is that when you go to the parks your room is larger than a regular studio and includes a microwave and a mini fridge and if there is no washer/dryer in your room you get tokens for free laundry! The one bedrooms and up have a full kitchen so you can make your own meals and save some money in the parks!

The initial cost to join is rather large, but continues to get larger each year so if you think this might be for you and you have the ability to join go ahead and do so before prices go up, you can always sell your contract if you find DVC is not for you. Keep in mind you will have to pay annual dues/maintenance every year so keep that in mind when you pick which resort to buy into.

Mickey Ice Cream bar

best ways to use points

There are plenty of options when it comes to using DVC points, but there are ways to get more bang for your buck! I’ve compiled a list of things to do to ensure you can go on more vacations- if that is indeed your goal!

1. Stay during the less busy season. This means the point chart will be in your favor and you can stay at all of the resorts for less points. This also means you can stay longer, or stay in a bigger room or even at a nicer resort if that is what you are looking for.
2. Stay in studios instead of one or two bedrooms. Sometimes it ends up being cheaper point wise to stay in a bunch of studios instead of the larger suites, be sure to check the point chart so you are getting the most for your points!
3. Rent points out and use the money toward cruising, or do half points/half cash to pay for the cruise so you can stretch the points as long as you can- the same applies to adventures by Disney.
4. Don’t be afraid to resort hop- stay a few nights at a monorail resort and then spend the rest of the time at a cheaper point resort for different experiences and point savings!
5. Try to use points for DVC resorts, not for exchange programs or cruise and adventures by Disney, the points go so much further at the resorts, but if you really want to use points for these things go ahead.

Fountain in Toontown

Travel hints and General tips

When you buy into DVC it comes with some perks- be sure that you utilize them! For example there are member get-togethers on board DCL and in the parks, just call member services or ask when you get to your destination for what is offered for members- and usually we get lanyards and sometimes hats when we ask what is going on for members. There are also special events that go on from time to time like the Typhoon Lagoon beach party that are going on later this summer.

Remember you get discounts throughout downtown Disney and in all of the parks and some of the resorts, a list can be found on line, but be sure to carry your membership card around with you and ask everywhere you go if there is a DVC discount- it never hurts to ask and many locations offer a discount!

At DVC resorts your self-service laundry is free! Even if you don’t stay in a unit with a washer and dryer you can ask for tokens to use in the laundry rooms!

Member lockers are a great way to leave stuff that you need at the park and not have to drag it back in forth, another good thing to look into if you visit the parks frequently!

Dining plans are available for DVC members and their guests while staying at a DVC resort- an opportunity only offered to those staying on packages if you are just the general public.

You aren’t charged extra when two or more adults (+18) are staying in a room, if you are not in DVC the resorts charge extra!

Conclusion

Overall, if you are planning on vacationing at Disney for at least the next 15-20 years (if not longer) DVC is a great idea for you! Even better if you have the cash to pay for the points at hand and you are wanting to stay at deluxe resorts and for sometimes extended periods of time, or a few shorter vacations a year. DVC isn’t for everyone, so if you aren’t a Disney die-hard, it is not recommended- but if you love all things Disney and think that you will continue to vacation at Disney, this is the program for you!

Disney Dilemma: Cruise or Park?

When it comes to planning a Disney Vacation you have endless opportunities to do so many different things, all centered around our favorite mouse!

I’ve had many people ask whether they should spring for a Disney Cruise or if they should go to the park, which was the better way to have a Disney vacation? There of course is no right or wrong answer- it just depends what your budget is and when and where you want to travel and what you want to do. If you just can’t decide- there are always the land and sea packages so you can do both!

So- like anything else I blog about, I usually make a list- if items on the list apply to you for the particular vacation experience you are wanting to have then look further into that destination! I hope this serves as a helpful tool for those who are deciding what kind of vacation to take!

You should cruise if:

• You have a fairly large budget (or if you don’t you are willing to compromise on stateroom or length of cruise)
• You love eating (so many great food options and so much is already included!)
• Your kids will utilize the kids areas (or your over-sized kids will utilize the fantastic adults only areas)
• You are willing to pay more than other cruise lines in exchange for the unforgettable Disney experience
• You enjoy live stage Broadway like performances
• You want a place where your family can all go and do their own thing and/or stick together and do family activities as well
• You want to experience the fantastic rotational dining Disney Cruise Line has to offer
• You don’t mind paying for shore excursions or doing some research on the ports you stop in and doing your own thing (remembering the boat doesn’t wait for you if you are on your own!)
• You want to have an opportunity to have something for every member of your family to do at any given time
• Your kids are more independent and like doing things on their own (kids club activities and teen spaces)
• You want to see different parts of the world with the comfort of knowing Disney is your guide
• You have smaller children (babysitting is available for charge for those children not yet old enough for the kids spaces)
• You want to see fireworks on the high seas and experience open air deck parties and princess gatherings and special character meet and greets
• You want to see the places on the itinerary of the cruise you’ve chosen or you don’t care where the cruise is going and just want time to relax and enjoy the ship

You should go to a Disney Park if:

• You have a smaller budget (you can always just stay in a Disney Resort Hotel and get the Disney experience without even paying to go inside the parks)
• You love rides and want to see the Disney theme parks and all they have to offer
• You want to do more family activities together and less splitting up
• You love sitting by the pool or going to water parks
• You have kids old enough to walk around and not be afraid of characters and rides
• You want to experience Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs in WDW)
• You want to be able to see things like Universal Studios or Sea World as well on your vacation (all are within reach)
• You don’t mind large crowds or waiting in lines
• You don’t mind paying a lot of money for food (or you don’t mind bringing in your own or investing in a meal plan)
• You don’t mind investing a small fortune in park tickets- or if you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for tickets you have something in mind you want to do outside of the parks
• You enjoy staying in interesting hotels and trying different kinds of foods

Overall, cruising is a great way to have a family vacation where everyone gets to do what they want. You can let your kids wander around the ship with no problems or worries and you can sit back and enjoy all the fantastic adult areas and entertainment and activities. Of course you can always do things as a family but cruising is a great way to let everyone do what they want.

A theme park vacation is also a great way to spend those vacation days, and there are many different ways you can enjoy the theme parks and Disney Resorts. There are less opportunities for kids to do their own thing and more opportunities for family activities as I’m sure very few parents are willing to let their young children wander around the park unsupervised. There are plenty of things to do even if you are just enjoying the spas and pools and shopping and not riding the rides and seeing the shows.

Most of the time I find it comes to the budget when it comes time to decide on a destination- cruises in general tend to be much more than a park vacation- but the food is all included (unless you go for Palo or Remy)- also keep in mind alcohol and specialty drinks are additional charge so that is something to keep in mind when budgeting!

I hope this little blog helps some of you determine where you go with Disney next! Enjoy and feel free to share 🙂

Eating at Disneyland: A Food Blog

A visit to Disneyland inevitably means that you will be eating and there are so many choices that sometimes it can be hard to pin point what exactly you want to eat. I’m here to try to make those choices a little easier by telling you where I ate and what I thought. There’s so much to try and everything smells so good it is hard to choose- we got to quite a few places but this blog will only scratch the surface- I’ll add a link to Disneyland’s website at the end of this post so you can look through all your choices.

Our first stop- Trader Sam’s at the Disneyland hotel.

Part of the drink menu at Trader Sam’s

The bar at Trader Sam’s

Sweet and Spicy wings with slaw

Pulled Pork sandwich with sweet potato fries

Flatbread

Next stop- Clarabelle’s in Disney California Adventure (in the Starbucks)

The Oswald Triple Scoop Kitchen Sink Sundae

Clarabelle’s in California Adventure

The Chocolate Mint Chip Triple Scoop Sundae

Some delicious snack options-

The smell wafts from Wetzel’s pretzels around the midsection of Downtown Disney, also a good snack option!

Need a snack that reminds you that you are at Disney? Look no further than a scrumptious churro from the California Churro cart!

I had to try the churro bites with the chocolate dipping sauce from the Cozy Cone, absolutely fantastic snack!

Cake pops (60th anniversary)

Mickey Ice Cream bar- found at various locations around the park.

Marshmallows dipped in chocolate- look like mickey pants!

Marshmallow Olafs!

Some great Chinese food can be found in California Adventure from Lucky Fortune Cookery-

Beef and teriyaki sauce with rice and fortune cookie. This quick serve has a “build your own” option where you choose your meat and your sauce!

Beef and the orange sauce also from Lucky Fortune.

Award Wieners in California Adventure is also a great option for great food, fast-

Award wiener’s menu

The veggie dog

Sicilian dog!

For somewhere nice to sit down and eat- The Blue Bayou is an excellent choice

The lunch menu at the Blue Bayou

Dark and quiet atmosphere leads you to believe you are dining somewhere remote in the deep south. A great place to stop and grab a delicious bite to eat.

Starter salad, comes with craisins, candied pecans, and blue cheese on it.

The Monte Cristo sandwich- split order.

These are some of my favorite things, here is a link to Disneyland’s dining list.