Free Dining Coming for Select Fall Dates?

There is a rumor that free fall dining may be returning for a few select weeks. As has been the case the last few years, the Quick Service Dining Plan would be offered for those staying in a Value Resort, while the regular Disney Dining Plan would be offered for Moderate and Deluxe resort stays. The dates that would qualify are:

October 2-8

October 23-November 5

November 13-19

November 27-December 3

December 11-17

Cleverly excluded are the popular holiday dates (Thanksgiving and Christmas), as well as several other weeks that are a little more puzzling. Yes, Epcot's Food and Wine Festival covers some of the blackout dates, but some dates of the Festival aren't blacked out. There is a cheer competition Dec. 3-10 that could explain that week being excluded. I'm sure the dates offered are based on lower-attendance and/or resort reservations, as well as other factors known only to Disney.

I'll offer more details if/when this discount becomes official--expected August 3.

'The Great and Powerful Oz' Begins Filming

HollywoodNews.com has an interesting snippit with a few more details about the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures film The Great and Powerful Oz, a prequel of sorts to the classic Wizard of Oz. Click here to read about the general plotline and find out what actors are attached for this Sam Rami-directed movie that began filming this week.

Video of New Mug System Test

Jeff and Denise from Mousesteps posted this great video of the new reusable mug test happening at the food court of the All Star Sports Resort. Gives a better idea of how things will work, especially for those only purchasing a beverage for one meal.

Friday Photo

My big girl, Reagan, turned 8 this week. In honor of her birthday, I share this photo from her very first visit to Walt Disney World--she was 2!

Thursday's Tip

I've probably made mention of today's tip in other posts, but I think it deserves its own Thursday's Tip: Save space by procuring (hopefully free) sample sizes of just about everything to take on your Walt Disney World vacation. Sure, most of us take sample sizes of our shampoo, conditioner, etc., but what about the less common things? For example, we rarely do laundry on our Disney trips (although I know some families who almost always do). However, on occasion, we have a little wardrobe mishap that requires our attention. Having a sample size of detergent comes in handy! Likewise, we don't typically experience issues with bugs while at WDW, but I keep a few individually-packaged Cutter wipes in our luggage, just in case.

I get a ton of sample sizes by signing up for free offers. Sometimes I even get them free with coupons. (Many coupons restrict the size of the item you're purchasing, but sometimes you get lucky and there are no restrictions--this almost always make the sample size of the item free.) And, of course, there are those that come from your dentist, stylist, or even a cosmetics counter. What are some of the sample items I take on vacation? Here are a few:

• OTC medications


• wipes of all varieties (baby, shout, insect repellent, antibacterial...you name it)


• shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, toothpaste, and other hygiene products


• cereal (we eat in our resort room each morning, so those little boxes of cereal are convenient)


• detergent and fabric softener


• cosmetics (I especially love when I get moisturizer samples--hate taking those big bottles)


• garbage bags (seriously, are those hotel room trash cans ever big enough?)


• antibacterial hand gel


• sunscreen

What are your favorite "free sample" finds?

Phineas & Ferb and the NHL?

Disney Consumer Products has announced that they will co-brand merchandise with the NHL (National Hockey League) for the 2011-12 season. Anybody else think this is an odd combo? Still, we love our Nashville Predators, so I can't wait to see the many products they come up with in this new collaboration. You can read the full press release with more inforation here.

What's Going On with Pleasure Island/Hyperion Wharf?

It has been 3 years since Pleasure Island, the adults-only area of Downtown Disney that featured dance and comedy clubs, as well as unique venues such as the beloved Adventurer's Club, shut down. For a while, Disney has been mulling over plans to rejuvenate/refurbish/re-something the area. Most recently, plans included turning it into a family-friendly destination with a bit of a 1900s seaport feel, called Hyperion Wharf. Earlier this month Disney announced that those plans have been postponed indefinitely.

At this point, I don't think anyone--even Disney--is quite sure what will become of Pleasure Island. This article in the Orlando Sentinel sheds a bit of light on this destination that seems to present a quite a quandary for Disney.

Our 'Tangled' Party

Both of my girls have summer birthdays. As a general rule, I'm an "over the top" kinda mom when it comes to birthday party theming. And also as a general rule, my girls choose some sort of Disney theme. I've created everything from an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter tea party to a Pixie Hollow Fairies party (complete with a craft paper tree with real branches and leaves). This year, my youngest daughter surprised me by choosing a Barbie theme (what--no Disney?). But my now-eight-year-old Reagan chose Tangled.

The cake posed a particular challenge. While I have some amateur skills, I have no formal training whatsoever. Everything I know about cake decorating, I learned from the Food Network (mostly Duff). So when faced with the task of constructing an edible tower, I chose the common rice crispie treat alternative. I also used PVC pipe as the structure (in retrospect, this was too heavy...probably should have used only the treats or a narrow dowel base). I covered and decorated the tower in fondant (the top is a waffle cone with fondant shingles).

We purchased the characters from the Disney Store in Atlanta when we took a mini-vacation there this spring. Making the actual cake part was...well, a piece of cake! I used buttercream (also not the finest choice, as it has to be refrigerated, and I couldn't fit the entire cake with tower in my frige, forcing me to "stack" it at the last minute).

I'll stop with the excuses and simply show you the finished product.



It actually turned out great, I think. I was pleased, really. Until it started leaning. Despite the piercing blow to my pride, I propped the tower up with popsicle sticks, and we continued with the party. When it was just about time to sing "Happy Birthday" and cut the cake, we all heard a dull thud.



This caketastrophy was inevitable, really. One of my friends commented that it looks as if Flynn is blaming Rapunzel for the whole thing (funny, right?). Fortunately, we were all--even me--able to take this cake wreck in stride and go on with the party. Here are a few pics of our cute decorations too:

Friday Photo

Happy 17th birthday, Disney's Hollywood Studios!

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip is inspired by the show Hoarders: Burried Alive. (Experiencing a bit of insomnia as I write this, and I just happened to turn over and catch one of my "guilty pleasure" shows.) You can file it under "ways to save for a Disney vacation": have a garage sale! You'll make some cash and get rid of items you don't need--win/win!

We're actually planning our own yard sale in a few weeks. Most of the time, we donate outgrown clothing and other items to Goodwill or ARC or some other charitable organization. But our girls have recently outgrown several high-ticket items (tricycles, battery-operated car, Radio Flyer wagon) and after a few disappointing experiences with local consignment stores, we've decided it's time to try a yard sale.

We've recruited another family in the neighborhood to have a sale the same day (and maybe more will join us), to bring more traffic to our street. Our girls and their friend plan to set up a lemonade stand. And, as my grandmother--a yard sale veteran--always did at her sales, we also plan to sell ice cold soft drinks. (I think Grandmother made her biggest profits from that alone!)

Be sure to price items competitively. For clothing, we almost never price anything over $1. For most other things, a good rule of thumb is to always price it at half of the cost or less--and that's if it's in great condition. If something is well-worn, price accordingly. And by around noon, it's time to start marking items down and making deals!

Finally, at the end of the day, inventory and box up items that didn't sell to donate. After all, a tax write-off is better than having to return those unwanted items to your closet, right?

Moms Panel Talks Princesses

The Disney World Moms Panel will be hosting another web event on the Walt Disney World Facebook page tonight, and this time the topic is near and dear to my heart: the Disney Princesses. Specifically, they're going to discuss "How to Treat Your Princess Like Disney Royalty."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that they'll mention things like breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table or dining with the Princesses at Akershus in Norway, as well as the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques in the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney. And they'll probably give the locations of the most popular princess meet-n-greets (Magic Kingdom at the Town Square Theatre, and various locations in the World Showcase of Epcot), and maybe even highlight the live shows around the World that feature Disney Princesses, such as Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage and Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

One bit of warning: I tried to participate in the last live web event the Moms Panel hosted, and I experienced some technical difficulties (missed nearly half of it!). If you aren't able to log on as instructed, try troubleshooting (exit out of your browser and re-enter...try another browser...etc.). I eventually had luck with Google Chrome, as Internet Explorer failed me.

The action takes place from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern time tonight.

Today's Orlando Groupon: Garden Grove

If you've never tried a character meal--and feel that they're just a bit too pricey--here's a great way to try one at half price! Today's Groupon deal for the Orlando area is a half price character meal at the Garden Grove restaurant in the Walt Disney World Swan Resort. The regular price for this dinner is $36, bu you can buy the Groupon for just $18.

There are some restrictions, however. You can only purchase one for yourself and two additional as gifts. And in case you were hoping to get around that and "gift" them to someone else in your party, you can only use one per table. So, unless you're going to this meal alone, you're going to have to pay full price for the rest of your party.

Still, it's a better deal than paying full price. However, you might do better with a gift certificate (purchase at 80% off with a coupon code, which are frequently available) from Restaurant.com, depending on the size of your party. As always, you gotta do the math to see what's best for your family.

TS4? Really?

Tom Hanks has made some comments in recent interviews indicate he was in talks to do another Toy Story movie. Apparently, Mr. Hanks wasn't just blowing smoke. Popular website IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) has a listing for Toy Story 4, with a release date in 2015.

I'm just not sure what to think about this. The TS3 ending was so perfect and definitive...and the audience had grown attached to Andy and his family over the years...just not sure I'm ready to see how things play out in a different scenario. What do you think?

Friday Photo

This bit of art was hanging in the World of Coca Cola museum in Atlanta. We visited in the spring, and I just had to take a pic of it!

YES Programs Introduce "Kingdom Keepers Quest"

My 7-year-old daughter loves the Kingdom Keepers novel series by Ridley Pearson. (OK, I admit it...I like the books too!) We were super excited to hear that Disney's Youth Education Series has introduced a unique educational experience centered around the books: The Kingdom Keepers Quest. The post mentions that this is for groups of 10 or more students (no age specs given). Here's hoping that they open this up to homeschoolers for individual enrollment!

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip goes out to those who push their way to the front of every group waiting for the magical theatre doors to open before a show. (Careful--doors open toward you, so please stay behind the yellow line!). The tip? Choose your seat wisely.

You see, those who push and crowd are rewarded with the worst seat in the house--as far to the side as you can get. Unless the crowds are extremely light, Disney has a policy for guests to "move all the way to the end of the aisle, leaving no seats between you and the other guests." And I have seen them enforce this policy, too. (When the crowds are light, they tend to overlook it.) Although most theatres at WDW provide a decent view from all angles, a little planning can help you snag the best view in the house.

In most cases that means finding a seat in the middle of the theatre--that is, about halfway back and toward the center. So before entering those magical doors, you need to position yourself in the middle of the crowd. And if that doesn't work out, you can guage the crowd as you enter the theatre, hanging back and allowing other guests to pass you when necessary. Just make sure you're not holding up traffic--be courteous!

Of course, if you have little ones that may cause a fuss during the show, it's always a good idea to position yourself near an emergency exit. Cast Members will usually identify the doors you should use to exit once a show is in progress.

There is definitely truth in Matthew 20:16, "The last will be first, and the first last."  Sometimes letting

Refillable Mug Crackdown Begins

I warned you it was coming. And now it seems that the All-Star Sports End Zone food court is the first to implement new drink stations that restrict the use of the refillable mugs that are so popular among return-visit Disney guests.

The "rules" for the refillable mugs have traditionally gone something like this: purchase a mug in the food court or gift shop (most recently costing around $14), then you have the right to unlimited soft drink refills at the resort's food court--not in the Parks--for the length of your stay. Years ago, the mugs were themed specifically to the resort where they could be purchased, and guests were supposed to use them at only that resort. More recently, there has been a yearly design that was the same for all resorts, allowing guests to use it at any resort food court. The mugs are intended for the length of your stay, but many have gotten around this by bringing mugs on return visits (or even sharing them with friends traveling to WDW).

Abuse of the system has been rampant. I myself have witnessed guests refilling mugs that were clearly several years old--even some that were from the individual resort mug days. And with the open drink dispensers, guests could actually get refills in a non-refillable cup or even in a (gasp!) water cup.You can't really blame Disney for coming up with a solution. Sadly, this solution is going to be quite restricting.

The new drink machines installed at All-Star Sports no longer have a typical push lever that releases the beverage, and they have software to restrict use to each mug's allotted length of stay. (I'm not sure of the exact technology, but I'm guessing the mugs have some sort of bar code that hold the info on the guest's resort stay.) Instead of pushing the cup against the lever to dispense a beverage, guests simply place the mug in the appropriate spot, and the machine "reads" the mug and dispenses the liquid automatically. (Not sure how that works if you just want a partial refill.) Old mugs or other cups will be denied anything other than ice and water.

While I know this will be a serious downer for some families, especially those that make multiple trips each year, I'm not all that bummed about it. Disney has every right to enforce the rules of their system, and we can choose not to buy into it. (Our family stopped using the mugs once milk was no longer a "free" refillable beverage. We're not big soda drinkers.) 

Let's remember, it's one thing to work within a system to get your money's worth--and another thing entirely to cheat a system to get something you didn't pay for. Some might counter-argue that it's highway robbery what Disney charges for a soft drink, and I don't disagree. All the more reason to bring your own on your next visit!

When Characters Meet Technology

This viral video (with more than a quarter of a million views!) shows the grace and poise that Disney characters display when presented with modern technology. Watch as Rapunzel and Flynn are introduced to the wonder that is the iPad.

I think we'll start to see more scenarios like this as iPads become commonplace in the Parks, both for signing purposes and, of course, for all the great Disney apps that are available. At some point, characters will probably just go about their signing without comment, as they do now with traditional autograph books ('cause aren't those a little foreign to the settings of most fairytales too?). Still, it's fun to see their reaction to this new technology.

Interactive Park Game HQ to Take Over Main Street Firehouse

When Disney recentlyannounced that the gift shop in the Main Street Firehouse would be closing--without acknowledging what would take its place--tongues started wagging on fan sites. It seems that we now have our answer: Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom, a new interactive game--not unlike the Kim Possible Adventure in Epcot--will have its headquarters there.

Much like KP, this new interactive adventure will send guests on a quest to find clues that will trigger some sort of action in the various Lands of the Magic Kingdom, and ultimately allowing guests to solve some sort of mystery or dilemma. Unlike KP, however, guests will not be given handheld cell phone devices, but rather cards with bar codes that will somehow drive this experience. (Hey, I'm no technology guru...maybe I'll understand it when I see it.)

Disney has plans for similar games in its Alauni Resort in Hawaii and already has implemented a game using this technology on the Disney Dream cruise ship.

Monorail No Longer To Run for Evening EMH

Beginning July 11, the Epcot loop of the WDW monorail will stop operation one hour after regular closing hours. Likewise, beginning August 1, the Magic Kingdom monorail will stop operation one hour after regular closing hours. What this means, of course, is that guests staying for evening EMH (Extra Magic Hours) will be forced to take either a bus or boat (if available) back to their resorts after EMH. At this point morning it appears that the monorail will continue to service morning EMH. Sadly, this appears to be a permanent change--not just something Disney is testing temporarily.

As someone who is scheduled to stay at a monorail resort (Grand Floridian) in September, this is very disappointing news.  (Did I mention that this is my 40th birthday trip, and that it was a major splurge? And Epcot--the park I plan to celebrate my birthday in--has EMH scheduled until midnight on my birthday? Boo.) I can't imagine that Disney won't hear some major complaints on this one, especially considering that most guests book monorail resorts specifically because they are, in fact, monorail resorts. It kind of makes EMH not quite as appealing for those staying in a monorail resort, don't you think? Knowing you're going to face a long wait and ride on the bus (vs. a short hop on the monorail) might make some choose NOT to stay late in the parks (or choose NOT to stay at a pricey monorail resort).

Here's hoping the backlash causes Disney to reconsider!

Fairies Moving Back to Magic Kingdom

Beginning July 28, the Disney Fairies will be greeting guests at the Adventureland Veranda in the Magic Kingdom. Until then, you will still find your favorite Pixie Hollow friends in Epcot, where they have been hanging out since Toontown closed. (Anyone else sad that they scrapped the rumored plans for the big Pixie Hollow area in the new Fantasyland? I would love to see the Fairies get a more permanent home.)

Friday Photo

Is it just me, or do these life jackets, hanging up at the Y pool, look a lot like Mickey ear hats?

Thursday's Tip

This morning I've been thinking about the things we pack for a WDW vacation that are somewhat unique--things we might not need on a "regular" vacation to the beach or somewhere else. And that led me to thinking about what we actually take into the Parks. If you're a long-time reader, you know of my fondness for the clear backpack we take into the Parks. But what do we put in it? The list has evolved over the years--partly due to the age of our children and their needs, but also based on things we've learned that we do/don't really need.

So...today's Thursday's Tip is really more of a list...but I hope you'll find it helpful nonetheless. Besides the normal/expected items (camera--duh!), here's what goes into our big clear backpack:

• Ponchos for the whole family. (If there's no rain in the forecast, we pack the super cheap kind you get at the dollar store. If the chance of rain is high, we take our heavy-duty ponchos. They take up more space, but they're much more effective and comfy.)


• Several shiny pennies and a roll of quarters. We enjoy collecting pressed pennies around the World, and these cost 50 a pop. It's a cheap souvenir!


• Shout Wipes or a Tide to Go pen...'cause we eat a lot of Mickey ice cream bars and someone inevitably ends up wearing theirs.


• Autograph books and pens. We love character meet-n-greets!


• A few Ziplock bags of various sizes. We put everything--cameras, autograph books, etc.--in these, but we keep a few extra in case we buy a souvenir or have a leftover snack we want to save for later.


• Glow bracelets. We buy a pack at the dollar store and crack 'em open when it's parade time.


• A princess costume or two. My girls like to dress up for character meals, but they don't necessarily want to wear their costumes all day.Believe it or not, the Disney Store costumes will squish into a gallon-size Ziplock with ease. Take 'em out and shake, and you're good to go.


• Water bottle. We've typically done the disposable bottles in the past, but this year I'm looking into using a filtered reusable. We can share one or two, and not have to carry so many extra bottles. The water quality at Disney has greatly improved  over the years (no more sulfer smell!), so we typically drink tap water at most restaurants. We've been known to bring single drink mixes too (Crystal Light or Kool-Aid), but we don't end up using many of them.


• Hand sanitizer...but that's a given, right? Am I the only germaphobe out there?


• Mini can of Lysol. See the previous bullet point. Great for sanitizing table tops!


• Purel wipes. Do you see a pattern here? I really am normal. Really.


• Small bottle of sunscreen.


• Snacks--peanuts, peanut butter crackers, goldfish...you name it.

Those are the highlights...I'm sure I'll think of more

This Day in Disney History

Ever so often I take a glance at a site that offers a bit of Disney history for every day of the year. Today, I noticed, was a very big day for actors and voice actors from Disney films. Here's what happened on July 6 in Disney history:

• In 1911, Laverne Andrews, one of the popular Andrews Sisters, was born in Minneapolis. These ladies lent their voices to Disney recordings Make Mine Music (1946) and Melodie Time (1948).


• Sebastian Cabot, the actor who narrated several Winnie the Pooh movies, was born in London in 1918. He also voiced roles in The Jungle Book and The Sword in the Stone.


• Bill Shirley, who voiced Prince Phillip in Sleeping Beauty, was born in 1921 in Indianapolis.


• Ned Beatty, veteran actor who voiced Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear in Toy Story 3, was born in 1937 in Louisville.


• In 1938, Luana Pattern was born in Long Beach, CA. She played Ginny in Song of the South, as well as several other roles in Disney films.


• Geoffry Rush, known for his role of Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, was born in Australia in 1951.

• Jeremy Suarez, the voice of Coda in Brother Bear, was born in Burbank, CA in 1993.

Refurbishment Update

There are several ongoing and upcoming refurbishments to tell you about. Many of them affect our upcoming trip (boo), but most are not on our "must-do" list, so we're not too sad. Here's the list, by park:

Magic Kingdom

• Fantasyland construction continues through 2012.


• The Enchanted Tiki Room remains closed through 8/15/11.


• Frontier Shootin' Arcade remains closed through 9/30/11.


• Casey's Corner (restaurant) will close 8/30 and re-open on 9/15/11.


• The Lunching Pad (restaurant) will close 8/29 and re-open 9/14/11.


• The Swiss Family Tree House will close 9/8 through 11/17/11.

Epcot

• No reported refurbishments at this time

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Voyage of the Little Mermaid will close on 8/15 and re-open 9/3/11.


• The Studio Backlot Tour will be closed 9/4 through 9/24/11.

Animal Kingdom

• Primeval Whirl remains closed through 9/14/11.


• It's Tough to Be a Bug will close on 8/15 and remain closed until 9/30/11.

Last Week of DisneyStore.com Warehouse Sale

This is the final week of the Warehouse Sale at www.Disneystore.com, with savings up to 70% off. Merchandise is going fast, so log on to make your purchases ASAP! I am seeing a few new markdowns--items that weren't in the mix a week or so ago. Last week, I purchased several bathing suits and sleepwear for my girls at great prices. Discounts this deep are only offered at DisneyStore.com about twice a year, so stock up now!