Blog Posts by Audra Bass

The Haunted Mansion – Walt Disney World

10/6/2020 • Blog, Disneyland, Reviews, Walt Disney World • One of my family's favorite attractions in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World is The Haunted Mansion. Set in a Louisiana plantation mansion, the attraction is home to 999 happy haunts. I love the queue, where you'll find a horseless drawn hearse, tombstones, and other interactive haunted objects to make your wait a little more fun. Upon entering the mansion you will be escorted into a room with no windows and no doors. Watch the walls and ceiling as the room seems to grow before your very eyes. As lightning strikes, you will follow the passageway to your "Doom Buggy". This slow-moving ride takes you through the most haunted rooms of the mansion, where you will learn some interesting facts about the mansion's most popular and permanent residents. As you twist and turn down the halls you will see spooky paintings, statues, books, and more. On your way, you will […]

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

8/4/2020 • Blog, Walt Disney World • Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a celebration of all the fads of the 1950s-1990s. Over the top sized iconic toys and memorabilia designates each decade’s building. You’ll find larger than life bowling pins, yoyos, playdoh, big wheels, and more decorating the property and designating each area by decade. These iconic and fun themes make this resort perfect for families. Resort Amenities The resort has 3 swimming pools including the Hippy Dippy main pool in the 1960s area located behind Classic Hall, a bowling pin-shaped pool in the 1950s, and a computer pool in the 1990s. In addition to the pools, there is also a playground in the 1970s area. Inside Classic Hall you will find shopping, an arcade, and a quick-service dining location. Enjoy Mickey waffles and omelets during breakfast and choices including pot roast, pasta, and pizza at lunch and dinner. Pizza delivery to your room is available as […]

Signature Celebration Package at Cinderella’s Royal Table

6/2/2020 • Walt Disney World • One of the most magical experiences when visiting Walt Disney World is dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside Cinderella’s castle. This is a highly sought-after reservation that we often book for our clients and ourselves. Did you know there is a package you can add to make it even more magical? The Signature Celebration Package is a perfect way to celebrate birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, or just a fun splurge. This package begins with dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table with some truly royal characters. You will be treated to a specialty beverage or sparkling wine if you are 21 and up, an appetizer, an entrée of your choice, and a box of treats to take with you. We love starting with the charcuterie platter and having the filet and shrimp for our entrée. There are plenty of kid-friendly choices as well, including my kid’s favorite mac and cheese.  You will also […]

Droid Building at Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge

4/14/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • One of the newer and most unique souvenir opportunities is building a custom droid at the Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge, in both Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Because this is such a unique and highly sought-after activity, I highly recommend having a reservation, as you may not be able to secure a spot as a walk-up. Another thing to keep in mind is what to do with your droid once you’ve made it. This location did not offer resort delivery or front of park pick up. We took advantage of our hopper passes and had my husband return them to the room. If you are cruising after your trip, you may want to check their guidelines for these as well as lightsabers prior to making reservations. As with any other Disney reservation, we recommend you check-in 15 minutes early. Upon entering the Droid Depot you are […]

Rose and Crown Dining Room at Disney’s Epcot – Review

2/7/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • With so many fabulous table service restaurants in Disney World, it can be difficult to choose. While I have never personally been disappointed at any of the locations I’ve dined at, there are still a few my family has yet to try. We have a bucket list of restaurants that we haven’t dined at, and on each trip, we make sure to try at least 2 or 3 different restaurants. On our last family trip, we finally checked Rose and Crown off our dining bucket list. Nestled in the UK pavilion of Epcot, this family-friendly British pub boasts some truly delicious food. We were seated waterfront for our dinner. Had we chosen a later reservation it would have been the perfect spot to view the night show Epcot-Forever. Outside seating is covered, providing shade from the Florida sun, while inside looks like you’ve walked right into a traditional pub in […]

Lightsaber Building at Savi’s Workshop-Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

12/6/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • There are a lot of new things to see and do in Galaxy’s Edge, and while lightsaber building has been around for some time at the exit of Star Tours, the new Lightsaber building experience at Savi’s Workshop is completely different.  This experience will set each builder back approximately $199 “Credits” (as they’re referred to when paying for anything in Galaxy’s Edge) plus tax. Reservations are required and each builder can be accompanied by one additional adult or child. Like many reservations throughout the Disney Parks, there is also a 24-hour cancelation policy. If the reservation isn’t canceled before that time or if there is a no show, the full cost of the experience will be charged to the card you have on file.  I suggest arriving about 10 minutes early to check-in for your reservation. Once you have checked in, you will be given a menu that lists the […]

Restaurant Review: The Hollywood Brown Derby

8/6/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Hollywood Studios has always been one of my favorite Disney Parks, in part due to the nod to old Hollywood. It makes perfect sense that The Hollywood Brown Derby is my favorite restaurant in Hollywood Studios.  Walking into the lobby you will find a guest book filled with signatures, you might even find one from a Disney star or two. Once checked in, the host or hostess will take you to the dining room which is filled with that old Hollywood glamour. You will find caricatures of some familiar famous faces on the walls, rounded booths on the outside of the room, and tables in the center. This signature dining experience will cost you two table service credit at both lunch and dinner. This restaurant also offers a Fantasmic Dining package, which is a great way to get the best value for your 2 credits. With the Fantasmic Package, you […]

Understanding Walt Disney World’s Fastpass+ Tiers

6/7/2019 • Tips, Walt Disney World • Choosing fastpasses for your Disney World Vacation can be so exciting, but it can also be confusing. First time park goers often don’t realize that they may not be able to choose all of the experiences they were hoping for. Often when a client emails me their list of fast pass requests, they include multiple Tier 1 attractions, such as all of the attractions in Toy Story Land, or Pandora. What are fastpass+ tiers exactly? Fastpass+ tiers are categories that separate attractions into 2 groups. Tier 1 attractions are all either newer or extremely popular and often have the longest wait times, whereas tier 2 may be less popular and will often have a longer list of attractions. When choosing your 3 fastpasses for each day, you can choose 1 tier 1 attraction and 2 tier 2 attractions, or 3 tier 2 attractions. Magic Kingdom is the only park that […]

2019 Magical Extras

4/2/2019 • Tips, Walt Disney World • When planning your magical Walt Disney World vacation you begin to realize there are many perks that come along with the package. From the dining plan, extra magic hours, to early fast pass booking; there are many things to look forward to. However, there is another great benefit known simply as the Magical Extras Savings Card. This card is included in the documents you receive along with your MagicBands, so don’t throw them away! Make sure to bring those along with you as you will need to present the card along with your ID or MagicBand in order to receive any savings. The benefits are good for the entire length of your stay but unfortunately, they can’t be replaced if lost or stolen. What Benefits Are Included? Things to Do: 4 Mini Golf Vouchers per package Walt Disney World has 2 fantastic miniature golf courses. Each voucher is good for […]

Columbia Harbour House {Review}

1/30/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • If you are looking for a unique quick service location in Magic Kingdom, look no further than Columbia Harbor House. Nestled near the Haunted Mansion and Liberty Square, you will find this New England themed restaurant. This restaurant boasts lots of nautical décor and feels as if you are sitting in a sea side fish house. There is a large fireplace to welcome you inside and the rooms are filled with ship wheels, boats, and nautical paintings. There are two floors to provide ample seating and one of my favorite things about this location, is sitting upstairs. Sometimes this seating area can be less crowded, but the best part is snagging one of the tables by the window for some people watching. The best thing about Columbia Harbor House is the variety of food offered. Of course, they offer some of the typical quick service fare, such as chicken nuggets […]