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10/9/2020 • Blog, Reviews, Walt Disney World •
In my 8 years of planning Disney vacations, one of the most common questions I get is, “What is your favorite resort on Disney property?” I don’t even hesitate with my answer, "Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort." “The Poly”, as it is often referred to as, is one of the three deluxe resorts on the monorail loop. The Polynesian is one of the original resorts that opened along with Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971. The theme of this resort is a Pacific Island paradise. Upon arrival, you will notice lush greenery and colorful flowers that leave you feeling like you have just been planted into the tropics. With a short walk through the beautiful greenery, you enter The Great Ceremonial House which is the lobby of the resort where you will be welcomed with a warm Aloha. Dining at the Polynesian resort is a must-do in my opinion even […]
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9/25/2020 • Blog, Tips, Walt Disney World •
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation during COVID-19, I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind, "How will I be able to handle wearing a mask all day in the Florida heat?" Well, as usual, Disney has thought of everything. Each Walt Disney World theme park has introduced new Relaxation Stations, designated areas where visitors can remove their masks in a safe and socially distanced environment. How does this work? Much like dining at a restaurant, visitors are required to wear masks until seated or standing at their designated place within the mask free zone. Only once in their designated space may guests remove their face coverings and take a breather. Upon leaving the Relaxation Station, guests are required to replace their masks. Luckily, many mask free zones are available to guests in each park, so no matter where you are, you will have one nearby! Magic Kingdom […]
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7/17/2020 • Blog, Walt Disney World •
The Star Wars saga spans decades of storytelling. Having a brief background on the films helps when exploring Batuu at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Timeline A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, the Galactic Republic maintained peace and order in the galaxy with Jedi knights and elected senators. *During the prequel trilogy (Episodes I - III), the Sith ( the “dark side”) gain control of the Republic and form the Galactic Empire. *In the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), the Rebellion fights against the empire and forms the New Republic. *In the final trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), remnants of the Galactic Empire return as the First Order and attempt to gain back control of the galaxy. The Resistance rises up for a final battle. Backstory The Galaxy’s Edge storyline takes place between the events of Episodes VIII and IX. Batuu is located in the Outer Rim of […]
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6/26/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
Once our kids (7 and 5) find out that we are heading to Walt Disney World, there is always one question that follows, "Are we staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge?" There is no denying that it is our family's favorite and it is always our top recommendation to friends and family that are planning their trip. Here are a few reasons why we love Animal Kingdom Lodge: 1. The immersive experience. It feels like you are in Africa! Of course, I’ve never been to Africa, but the theming of this resort is wonderful. From the activities and storytellers in the lobby to the landscaping and animals outside of your window. It just feels like you are somewhere and everything is an experience (and a good one at that!) 2. The Animals! They are obviously the star of the show at this resort, but to us it’s the freedom and fun […]
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6/5/2020 • Walt Disney World •
If you are looking for evening activities, head over to the Boardwalk resort area where you can experience shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. The Boardwalk is a short boat ride or walk from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It is a quarter of a mile-long promenade created around Crescent Lake and designed to look like a quaint Mid-Atlantic seaside village from the early 1900s. Crescent Lake is surrounded by 3 Deluxe category resorts (Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk), restaurants, and a variety of entertainment venues. You can stroll the Boardwalk any time of the day and enjoy the extras that are only a few steps out of your resort door. If you are a sports fan and want to watch your favorite NFL team on a Sunday or take in a big sporting event, you can stop in the ESPN Club which hosts live. Schedules vary so check out ESPN […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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3/13/2020 • Tips, Walt Disney World •
I’ve never really considered myself a runner. Athlete, sure. But runner? Not really. It was 3 years ago that my husband challenged me to a bucket list item that he had which was to run a half marathon. A few glasses of wine later and a little thinking, I accepted...and quickly regretted it as all 13.1 miles slowly sank it. It’s easy for me to say that now - with several runDisney races under my belt and knowing that with the proper training, the 13.1 miles were not only doable for a novice runner, but it was actually, dare I say it, FUN! And I mean it, from looking around and seeing where you are running, to just feeling that extra pixie dust. It’s also magical! 🙂 So, why runDisney? I write this for novice runners but also for experienced runners because the races are truly for everyone. I just […]
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3/6/2020 • Walt Disney World •
Mickey's-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special ticketed event that happens on select nights between August and October (sometimes November) at the Magic Kingdom. On nights when the event is taking place, Magic Kingdom will close early at 6 pm for those who do not have a party ticket for that evening. The party hours are from 7:00 pm to 12 AM, but party guests can arrive as early as 4:00 PM. The last show is at 12 AM, and guests can spend a little time to shop the exclusive event merchandise for a short while after the last show. Mickey's Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party offers exclusive character greetings, Halloween-inspired ride overlays, specialty food items, Trick-or-Treating, unique shows, a firework show that is exclusive to the party, and the "BOO-To-You" Halloween Parade. When party guests arrive, they will receive a special wristband to indicate they have the party ticket for that evening. In […]
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3/3/2020 • Tips, Walt Disney World •
When visiting the Walt Disney World Parks you can enjoy assistance from the Guest Experience Team. While there is a guest services area in each park, the Guest Experience Team can be found at various locations throughout the park. What assistance is available from a Guest Experience Team cast member? General park information and recommendations My Disney Experience assistance FastPass+ information Wait times Lost and Found And more! For additional information visit Guest Services. How do I find my nearest Guest Experience Team member? Locations are listed in the My Disney Experience App Search Guest Experience Team in the App and select that option You then can choose to “Find on Map” or “Get Directions” (this will give you instructions and how long it will take to arrive at the nearest Team member). Each of the 4 theme park Team Members will be wearing a blue polo with a […]
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