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3/18/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
Gaston. According to his song, he’s everyone's favorite guy. But better than the man himself is Gaston’s Tavern and it has become one of my favorite Magic Kingdom snacking hideouts since its opening. Gaston’s Tavern is located in Fantasyland in the square centered by Gaston’s statue. It offers snacks as well as light meal options which is perfect when you aren’t hungry enough for a complete quick service meal but want something a little bit more than a light snack. Walking into the restaurant you will first encounter a warm pub atmosphere with wood paneling and barrels filled with LeFou’s Brew. Cozy tables line the far wall where guests make themselves at home. But the hidden gem is the room to the right that brings to life the famous scene in the movie, Beauty and the Beast, where LeFou extols the virtues of Gaston in song. Entering the room you […]
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6/29/2018 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
Does the name Trader Sam sound familiar? If you’re a long-time Disney fan, it should. Trader Sam is the legendary “head” salesman who offers you a hard-to-pass-up deal—2 of his heads for 1 of yours—at the conclusion of Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom. Don’t worry, you don’t have to trade anything in order to enjoy this hidden treasure. Tucked away on the ground floor of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and down a hallway, you’ll come to a door that will display Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and the hours that it’s open. Actually, you’ll probably walk right past it the first time, like I did! I missed it and walked outside and followed the sign to the outdoor terrace of Trader Sam’s. The outdoor terrace looked like a very nice, standard terrace with plenty of umbrella covered tables and chairs. There was a very small bar that you could order your refreshments. […]
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6/11/2018 • Disneyland, Tips •
Vacationing as a family should be memorable, exciting, and fun! But what if you’re traveling with a baby or toddler? Will your family be able to enjoy activities together? If you are headed to Disneyland, the answer is YES! As a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations, one of the most common questions I’m asked is if there will be rides and attractions in which the entire family can take part– especially if there is a baby or toddler in tow. Thankfully, if you’re headed to Disneyland, you’re headed to the right place! So many of the attractions at the Disneyland parks have no height requirements– meaning that even the youngest members of your family can participate in the same rides and attractions as the rest of the family. On my baby’s first visit to Disney, she was only 5 months old, and was able to ride nearly everything […]
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3/11/2024 • Tips, Walt Disney World •
You are planning a trip for your family to a Disney theme park and are looking for a great deal, but where do you start? You can do the hours upon hours of research yourself and book directly with Disney, book with a Big Box Store like Costco, visit your local AAA office, or book with a travel planner who specializes in Disney destinations. -If you enjoy planning and know exactly what you want, booking directly with Disney is an easy decision. -If you have a Costco membership and want to see what they can do for you, Costco Travel can book your vacation for you. -AAA agents can also help book your family vacation if you are an AAA member. What next, though? -Well, if you book with Disney, you will handle all the details – payments, keeping track of planning dates, booking advanced dining reservations and special activities, […]
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4/19/2023 • Tips, Walt Disney World •
When visiting Walt Disney World, there are so many incredible unique experiences available. Golf, Mini-golf, fishing excursions, parasailing, and bike rental to name a few. This blog entry will discuss a fun recreational activity that as many as 6 guests can enjoy together! A Surrey Bike is a multi-person bike that can accommodate 2-4 adults and even has an adorable basket in the front to accommodate up to 2 small children. Each bike also has a bell under the cover and you will frequently see the younger children laugh as they vigorously ring the bell! The bell is a way for riders to alert guests that are walking along the riding path that a bike is coming. Surrey bikes can be found at many of the resorts throughout Walt Disney World. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Disney's BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter Disney’s […]
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5/2/2018 • Holidays & Events, Walt Disney World •
The name "Disney" is as American as apple pie. Perhaps that is because the company Walt and Roy Disney created was deeply rooted in the values of the American Dream. Here are some of my favorites areas of Walt Disney World where the heart of America shines brightly. American Pavilion, Epcot American Adventure - Narrated by audio-animatronic figures of Ben Franklin and Mark Twain, guests experience various depictions of American life during key moments in American history, including the Revolutionary War and the Great Depression. Voices of America – Save time to enjoy the sounds of these a capella singers in the rotunda of the American Pavilion as they sing American standards (“America the Beautiful) as well as modern Disney classics (“Let It Go”). Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom Liberty Tree Tavern serves up traditional American fare (imagine a full Thanksgiving feast) family-style. After your meal, take note of the six prominent […]
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4/16/2018 • Tips, Walt Disney World •
Guided catch-and-release excursions allow you to experience bass fishing at its finest—all year round! This relaxing experience provides a break to guests who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Disney Parks. Guests may choose from Guided Bass Fishing Excursions, which includes a 21-foot Tracker pontoon boat that can accommodate up to 5 Guests, and Bass Nitro Fishing, which features a tournament-style Nitro Bass boat for one or 2 people. Both 2-hour and 4-hour excursions are offered daily, and if available, an extra hour may be added in person at the Marina. A single fisherman may book an afternoon excursion at a reduced rate. Excursions are offered in the morning at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and in the afternoon at 1:30 p.m. All Walt Disney World Resort Guided Fishing Excursions include: An experienced guide Rod and reel Tackle Artificial and live bait Non-alcoholic beverages (Guests may not bring beverages, food or […]
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3/19/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
As a Travel Specialist, I am often asked where I “like” to stay when I visit Walt Disney World? One of my most preferred locations is Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. The atmosphere is very whimsical and intended to be reminiscent of visiting Atlantic city! It opened in 1996, the year of my first Disney vacation!! It is located on Crescent Lake, directly across from Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club. Boardwalk offers entertainment, dining, and is a short walk to the world showcase in Epcot. It is a bit of a longer walk to Hollywood studios or you have the option of taking a brief boat ride to both parks. Disney Springs, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom transportation is via bus. The Boardwalk resort is a deluxe property and brings many additional amenities. Deluxe resorts offer larger rooms (compared to a value or moderate resort), valet parking, outdoor nighttime movies, a club […]
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3/20/2018 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
If you LOVE Magic Kingdom and plan to spend a lot of your time there, Disney's Contemporary Resort may be the perfect place to call "home" on your next Disney vacation. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the original Disney resorts that opened in 1971 along with Magic Kingdom and is located on the Resort Monorail system. The monorail runs directly through this resort and makes a stop inside to load and unload passengers. In fact, it is so close to Magic Kingdom you can actually walk to the park. This allows you to spend more of your vacation time at Magic Kingdom versus waiting for transportation to take you there. It is also an excellent choice if you want a time-saving option to bring tired children back to take a nap or a swim in the middle of a hot Orlando afternoon. The Contemporary Resort has two sections of […]
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3/9/2018 • Tips, Walt Disney World •
As I have mentioned in previous entries, my oldest son, is living with Fragile X Syndrome. A genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioral and learning challenges. Even my “typically” developing children have struggled with some behavioral challenges while visiting Walt Disney World. Although the parks are amazing, there are so many amazing dining options throughout the property. Character and/or themed dining is often as exciting as visiting the parks! Character dining offers an opportunity to have a meet and greet with characters without the long lines, nor the pressure of someone waiting in line behind you! In many locations, the characters circulate table to table to ensure you have 1 on 1 time with them! In our many trips, although we love the different locations and themes, often times we found the locations didn’t work for my family. I won’t go into all of the various challenges we have […]
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