Hi there my loyal Disney fans!
Well it isn't all the way done. I am trying to figure out how to get rid of the green at the bottom, and I have some more content to add, but here it is the start of the new site!! I am excited for you all to see it and to give me some feedback on what you think of it.
Brand NEW Be Our Guest Vacations Website
I hope you like it. I published it at 2:30AM! And they did warn me that it can take some time for it to launch completely, but hopefully it is there and looking good! I want to figure out how to add more music and such, but anyway....go look, leave feedback here! I won't be insulted...well maybe a little, but I won't hold it against you! ;-)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Disney Salutes Our Military....
With this special offer! (The following information is from disneyworld.com)
For information regarding Military Promotional Tickets or to make room reservations, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830 or contact participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
The actual prices charged at U.S. military base ticket offices for Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be less than the prices set forth above.
I called Disney the other day and I can book the room and even add the dining for you, but you have to get the tickets for yourself at your local base. If you have questions or would like to book this deal let me know and lets get you to Disney!!
$138 4-Day Park Hopper Tickets for Members of the U.S. Military
Walt Disney World Resort is saluting U.S. military personnel by offering 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for just $138 each, now through September 28, 2011. For just $27 more, both the Park Hopper and Water Parks, Fun & More option may be added.For information regarding Military Promotional Tickets or to make room reservations, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830 or contact participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
The actual prices charged at U.S. military base ticket offices for Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be less than the prices set forth above.
- *4-Day Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible U.S. military personnel or their spouse for just $138. There is a 6 ticket limit. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Save up to 40% at select Disney Resorts for Members of the U.S. Military
Special savings on select Walt Disney World Resort hotels! Active and retired U.S. military personnel can take up to 40% off when booking travel dates prior to September 28, 2011.I called Disney the other day and I can book the room and even add the dining for you, but you have to get the tickets for yourself at your local base. If you have questions or would like to book this deal let me know and lets get you to Disney!!
Disney on a Budget - Part 3
Be sure to check out the first two parts of Disney on a Budget - Part 1 and Part 2.
Now let's get down to business. So I have told you about using a vacation planner (me), about the meal plans, about planning your meals (this is mainly if you are not on the meal plan), about your kids age - go before 3 when they are still free and before 10 when they are still "kids" - resort options and resort seasons. Ok so what are this weeks 3 tips....
1.) Transportation. Did you know that by staying on Disney property you can save quite a bit on transportation? Airline transfers to your resort can be very costly! For a family of four - 2 adults and 2 children - you are looking at around $100 to ride on a shuttle that makes stops other places. Think of what you could do with that $100! By staying onsite at a value resort - which is usually comparable in price to the off site resorts and you get the Magic 24/7! - or any resort onsite you can take advantage of Disney's Magical Express. This is a FREE service provided by Disney to get you to and from the airport. They will even get your luggage for you!! Also when staying on property you get the use of the Disney transportation system. Really anyone with a park ticket can utilize their internal transportation, but it really benefits those on property since it takes you to and from your resort hotel. This is not about staying on or off site though, right? So lets say you thought you saved money by staying off site and you got a rental car because well you are renting a house and well you get the idea - did you add the cost of the rental that you wouldn't have needed had you been on site to the money you thought you saved? Rental cars are around $150-$200 a week for a sedan! Now there is gas and oh yeah parking - $12 a day last I was there!! A day!! So you are there for 7 days - That is almost $300!! Yikes! So save a little by staying on site and getting free transportation for a week! :-)
2.) Bring it from home. There are SO many items you can bring from home instead of buying there. And if you have been before pack it and bring it with you for that next trip - think light up spinning toys, one only needs so many of them!! What we bring from home - T-shirts bought at the Disney Store (much cheaper than the ones in the park, although we usually get one on the trip), Light up Spinny Toy things...you know what I am talking about :-), Tylenol or any medicine really (you never know if you will need it and it costs a fortune there), Misty Fan, Hand held fans, etc. We also drive down so we buy a case of water outside of the parks and keep it in a cooler in our room and bring our own water into the parks and our own snacks. If you don't have a car - did you know you can ship stuff to the resort? Yup you can do this! Check shipping prices before as it may be more costly than buying down there and I have never done it. But I know those that have - if not water definitely snacks and meds and stuff of the like.
3.) Park Tickets. Well there isn't much wiggle room here, but a few years ago Disney did decide to give us choices. They call the tickets Magic Your Way for a reason! :-) First of all they have them tiered so that the more days you are there the cheaper they are per day. For instance currently a one day base ticket is $82/day and a 10 day ticket is $26.20/day or $262 for an adult. Now of course they are doing this to entice you to stay longer and you will spend more by doing so! One option, that I spoke about in a previous post, is the park hopper. This is one I always get, but it is not a necessity and can save you a couple hundred dollars to not add on - it is $54 a ticket. So bear this in mind and know there are ways to save on this must have!
What are your tips for saving on Disney???
Now let's get down to business. So I have told you about using a vacation planner (me), about the meal plans, about planning your meals (this is mainly if you are not on the meal plan), about your kids age - go before 3 when they are still free and before 10 when they are still "kids" - resort options and resort seasons. Ok so what are this weeks 3 tips....
1.) Transportation. Did you know that by staying on Disney property you can save quite a bit on transportation? Airline transfers to your resort can be very costly! For a family of four - 2 adults and 2 children - you are looking at around $100 to ride on a shuttle that makes stops other places. Think of what you could do with that $100! By staying onsite at a value resort - which is usually comparable in price to the off site resorts and you get the Magic 24/7! - or any resort onsite you can take advantage of Disney's Magical Express. This is a FREE service provided by Disney to get you to and from the airport. They will even get your luggage for you!! Also when staying on property you get the use of the Disney transportation system. Really anyone with a park ticket can utilize their internal transportation, but it really benefits those on property since it takes you to and from your resort hotel. This is not about staying on or off site though, right? So lets say you thought you saved money by staying off site and you got a rental car because well you are renting a house and well you get the idea - did you add the cost of the rental that you wouldn't have needed had you been on site to the money you thought you saved? Rental cars are around $150-$200 a week for a sedan! Now there is gas and oh yeah parking - $12 a day last I was there!! A day!! So you are there for 7 days - That is almost $300!! Yikes! So save a little by staying on site and getting free transportation for a week! :-)
2.) Bring it from home. There are SO many items you can bring from home instead of buying there. And if you have been before pack it and bring it with you for that next trip - think light up spinning toys, one only needs so many of them!! What we bring from home - T-shirts bought at the Disney Store (much cheaper than the ones in the park, although we usually get one on the trip), Light up Spinny Toy things...you know what I am talking about :-), Tylenol or any medicine really (you never know if you will need it and it costs a fortune there), Misty Fan, Hand held fans, etc. We also drive down so we buy a case of water outside of the parks and keep it in a cooler in our room and bring our own water into the parks and our own snacks. If you don't have a car - did you know you can ship stuff to the resort? Yup you can do this! Check shipping prices before as it may be more costly than buying down there and I have never done it. But I know those that have - if not water definitely snacks and meds and stuff of the like.
3.) Park Tickets. Well there isn't much wiggle room here, but a few years ago Disney did decide to give us choices. They call the tickets Magic Your Way for a reason! :-) First of all they have them tiered so that the more days you are there the cheaper they are per day. For instance currently a one day base ticket is $82/day and a 10 day ticket is $26.20/day or $262 for an adult. Now of course they are doing this to entice you to stay longer and you will spend more by doing so! One option, that I spoke about in a previous post, is the park hopper. This is one I always get, but it is not a necessity and can save you a couple hundred dollars to not add on - it is $54 a ticket. So bear this in mind and know there are ways to save on this must have!
What are your tips for saving on Disney???
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Favorite Rides
So last week I started posting about rides...in particular my favorite rides and as I mentioned there I really don't have a non-favorite (is that a word) ride! So I may even have to do this more often than once a week as it will go on FOREVER! :-)
My featured ride this week is........not going to be for everyone.....but we LOVE it anyway.....and our whole family can finally go on it!
This is usually the one of our firsts when visiting the Magic Kingdom. The kids love it and so do I. Funny story - when I was a kid I was TERRIFIED of anything that was considered a thrill ride. This included Splash Mountain, but I went on it anyway. It is so much more than just a log flume ride. I was scared, yes, but I got off and wanted to go on again just to enjoy all the fun that it has to offer. And nothing is like that first time you ride it!
What I love about this ride...We love the theme and the soundtrack of this great ride. A downside - it has a height requirement. You must be 40 inches to ride this ride and they strictly measure. Don't try and trick them with high hair or big shoes, etc they know the tricks! (Why do I mention this? Because people do it...I know I know!) BUT the plus you can utilize the Rider Switch so no worries if you have a little one! Be warned that there is a BIG drop and several smaller drops throughout the ride, so if you have a child that will be truly terrified of this take that into account. This is one of the things I love about it. So much fun! What I hated as a kid I love now and luckily so do my kiddos! The music on this ride and the fact that it is more than just your normal log flume ride is, I think, what makes it so special. I don't want to spoil much of this ride for those that have never rode it because well...like I said there is nothing like that first ride!!
What is this ride all about...Themed after the Disney Movie Song of the South Splash Mountain tells the story of Br'er Rabbit as he gets chased by Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear and as he outsmarts them. You "land" in several different parts of the story and are serenaded by great songs - How do you do?, Everybody Has a Laughing Place, and Zip-a-dee Do-dah. (A Disney classic!)
The ride is located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. The Walt Disney World Railroad station is right next to it and looks into the Zip-a-dee Do-dah section of the ride. One of the most popular rides in the park, it is equipped with Disney's Fastpass. Especially in the summer and hot times in Disney the line can be long, so be sure to get a fastpass! You will get WET!! (Which is why my husband is not really a fan!) They close the ride every January, so take that into account. One year they did an extended closure that I hadn't known about when booking a trip for February. Knowing it is my daughter's favorite ride I pushed our trip back by a few days to be sure it would be open when we were there. This past closure they added lap bars for safety. Also I have been told that they disabled the cannon that shot water on to boats really soaking you, not sure if this is true or not!
My featured ride this week is........not going to be for everyone.....but we LOVE it anyway.....and our whole family can finally go on it!
Splash Mountain
This is usually the one of our firsts when visiting the Magic Kingdom. The kids love it and so do I. Funny story - when I was a kid I was TERRIFIED of anything that was considered a thrill ride. This included Splash Mountain, but I went on it anyway. It is so much more than just a log flume ride. I was scared, yes, but I got off and wanted to go on again just to enjoy all the fun that it has to offer. And nothing is like that first time you ride it!
What I love about this ride...We love the theme and the soundtrack of this great ride. A downside - it has a height requirement. You must be 40 inches to ride this ride and they strictly measure. Don't try and trick them with high hair or big shoes, etc they know the tricks! (Why do I mention this? Because people do it...I know I know!) BUT the plus you can utilize the Rider Switch so no worries if you have a little one! Be warned that there is a BIG drop and several smaller drops throughout the ride, so if you have a child that will be truly terrified of this take that into account. This is one of the things I love about it. So much fun! What I hated as a kid I love now and luckily so do my kiddos! The music on this ride and the fact that it is more than just your normal log flume ride is, I think, what makes it so special. I don't want to spoil much of this ride for those that have never rode it because well...like I said there is nothing like that first ride!!
What is this ride all about...Themed after the Disney Movie Song of the South Splash Mountain tells the story of Br'er Rabbit as he gets chased by Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear and as he outsmarts them. You "land" in several different parts of the story and are serenaded by great songs - How do you do?, Everybody Has a Laughing Place, and Zip-a-dee Do-dah. (A Disney classic!)
The ride is located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. The Walt Disney World Railroad station is right next to it and looks into the Zip-a-dee Do-dah section of the ride. One of the most popular rides in the park, it is equipped with Disney's Fastpass. Especially in the summer and hot times in Disney the line can be long, so be sure to get a fastpass! You will get WET!! (Which is why my husband is not really a fan!) They close the ride every January, so take that into account. One year they did an extended closure that I hadn't known about when booking a trip for February. Knowing it is my daughter's favorite ride I pushed our trip back by a few days to be sure it would be open when we were there. This past closure they added lap bars for safety. Also I have been told that they disabled the cannon that shot water on to boats really soaking you, not sure if this is true or not!
A NEW Larger Family Friendly Resort!
Yup that's right Disney is building another Value Resort! One with over 1000 family suites! It will be based on Animation and I think it all sounds very exciting! Read on...
From Disney:
Scheduled to open in May 2012, Disney's Art of Animation Resort hotel promises to be the ultimate in family fun. This Value Resort is planned to feature over one thousand family suites, specially designed to accommodate up to six guests, as well as standard guestrooms. The Resort hotel will draw its inspiration from four classic Disney Animated films: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Disney·Pixar's Finding Nemo and Cars.
Booking dates for this family-friendly resort have not been announced yet. Please continue to check back for more information and details.
Back to me:
I cannot wait for this resort to open!! Owen AND Emma will love it here! Here are a few artist renderings of the resort and some more information!
I am VERY excited to try out this resort in 2012! How about you???
From Disney:
Scheduled to open in May 2012, Disney's Art of Animation Resort hotel promises to be the ultimate in family fun. This Value Resort is planned to feature over one thousand family suites, specially designed to accommodate up to six guests, as well as standard guestrooms. The Resort hotel will draw its inspiration from four classic Disney Animated films: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Disney·Pixar's Finding Nemo and Cars.
Booking dates for this family-friendly resort have not been announced yet. Please continue to check back for more information and details.
Back to me:
I cannot wait for this resort to open!! Owen AND Emma will love it here! Here are a few artist renderings of the resort and some more information!
| General Information: | |||||||||||
| There will be 1,120 family suites that will sleep up to six guests and 864 guest rooms that will sleep up to four guests. Dining options will include a pool bar at the main pool, a food court area, and pizza delivery to your room from 4pm to midnight. There will be 3 pools, the main pool will be located in the Finding Nemo courtyard and will include a water play area. |
I am VERY excited to try out this resort in 2012! How about you???
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Fastpass to Meet Mickey Mouse?!
Sounds too good to be true, but it's not! No longer will you have to wait in a LONG line to meet Mickey! I know we have been many times and the line for Mickey is always so long. We never stand in it, we just see Mickey at a character meal. But to be able to have a Fastpass and meet him would be so fun for the kids...and yes me too!! :-)
Later this spring, face-to-face meetings with Mickey Mouse will move into a permanent new location at Town Square Theater, located inside the current Exposition Hall area at the entrance of Magic Kingdom® Park.
You will be able to obtain a Disney's FASTPASS® ticket specifying a one-hour window when you can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs -- without waiting in the standby queue. This marks the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been utilized for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.
Inspired by animated shorts such as The Nifty Nineties and Mickey's Grand Opera, this building befits Mickey's stardom -- with a grand-Victorian-theater elevation, including a marquee that glistens with gold-leaf trim and sparkles with lights. Inside, there's a mosaic floor, lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs and polished-brass chandeliers.
Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for you, including an interactive queue -- with an extra touch of Disney magic -- and highly themed retail shops.
Ohhhh.....I cannot wait until September!!!
Later this spring, face-to-face meetings with Mickey Mouse will move into a permanent new location at Town Square Theater, located inside the current Exposition Hall area at the entrance of Magic Kingdom® Park.
You will be able to obtain a Disney's FASTPASS® ticket specifying a one-hour window when you can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs -- without waiting in the standby queue. This marks the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been utilized for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.
Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for you, including an interactive queue -- with an extra touch of Disney magic -- and highly themed retail shops.
Ohhhh.....I cannot wait until September!!!
Resort Review - Animal Kingdom Lodge
Hello everyone! Welcome to another edition of my resort review! Today I am going to talk about the Animal Kindgom Lodge and Villas.
I have only stayed here once and it is a SUPER popular place to stay. I really enjoyed my stay here and I think I will do it again at some point. It has its pluses and minuses. But all in all it is fantastic! Lets start with a great video tour of the resort, as always, provided from by http://www.travelriggers.co.uk/. (AllEarsNet didn't have a video of this fabulous resort yet!)
But they did have a video of the Kidani Village - the all new villa section! Check it out!
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| AKL Jambo House Lobby - photo courtesy of AllEarsNet.com |
The theming is obviously completley different than the Wilderness Lodge Resort that I reviewed previously, but you can see that the entrance and lobby are a similar design. The Animal Kingdom Lodge's lobby is grand and inviting. The African theming and music is exceptional. Off the lobby you will and entrance to an outdoor viewing area of the savanna as well as many halls that you can walk down. (They take you to the guest rooms.) Take a walking tour of the resort and you will see that there are several locations to look out on the savanna and see animals - giraffes, zebras, etc. - roaming freely. This has to be one of the coolest things about this resort and a reason to stay here or at least pay it a visit while you are in Disney!
The main building of the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the Jambo House. This is the original portion of the resort, built back in 2001. A few years ago Disney decided to add villas to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The first converted several of the regular guest rooms over in Jambo House. While this was being done, construction was also taking place on a whole new section of the resort - the Kidani Village. These are all strictly Villas - studios, one and two bedrooms. It is about a 10 minute walk in between the two buildings - important to know since the Kidani building does NOT have a quick service restaurant.
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| Jambo House Main Pool - photo courtesy AllEarsNet.com |
The two main pools at the Animal Kingdom Lodge are incredible!! The Jambo House Pool features a zero entry - great for the little ones to sit in play in an inch of water! There is also a water slide featured with this pool. Around you, you will also find viewing areas of the Savanna. My daughter and I were swimming here one day and walked over to our chairs and looked out and there were two giraffes eatting from a tree! It was so cool!!
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| Kidani Village Pool - photo courtesy AllEarsNet.com |
Over at the Kidani Village you will find a pool area that is out of this world!! The kids will love it! I know mine did! The one minus, if there is one, about this pool area is it's location. To get to it you have to walk out the lobby and down past the valet area. It isn't that it is a long walk, it is just the walk itself and that it isn't convienent that I found to be a downer, but the pool area more than makes up for that! This is one of the few pools on resort property that is off limits for pool hopping - which is ONLY allowed to DVC members!
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| Water Play Area at Kidani Village Pool - Photo Courtesy of AllEarsNet.com |
There are different room view options at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - standard view, pool view, and Savanna view. If you are going to spend the money and you have it to spend - do the savanna view! We stayed in a standard view and looked at an oh so lovely parking lot. One night we got to stay in a savanna view and WOW it was AWESOME!! Like the Wilderness Lodge they have an option to have bunk beds in your room, which is nice with kids since it gives you more floor space., plus what kid doesn't LOVE bunk beds!!
If you have ever dreamed of visiting Africa, but aren't sure how to swing it, give the Animal Kingdom Lodge a try! I don't think you will regret it!! For more great information about this resort check out the following links - More Pictures!, Fact Sheet, Kidani Village Fact Sheet
Is this the resort for you? Have you stayed here before? Let us know below your thoughts on the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
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