Monthly Archives: August 2012

Planning (Part 2)

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Planning (Part 2)

Vacation Planning

Ok! You have your dates set, and you’re ready to get into planning the “Vacation of the Year.” Keeping your options and your mind open, we will now start looking into where we will be staying while at Walt Disney World. Considering your budget, you need to start weighing options of either a Disney Resort or staying off-property.

Our family has stayed on and off property, and there are pros and cons to each. There are cons to staying on-property? Absolutely! Remember, in the last post, I stated that each step to planning brings in hundreds of other questions on the same subject? Well, here is where it all starts. There are a lot of options and each decision will impact your vacation in one way or another.

On-Property

Deluxe resorts are high-end hotels with all the fixins’. You can get an awesome view of a savannah complete with roaming wildlife, or a beautiful, picturesque view of a lake. But you can also get views of parking lots and roofs. I’ve seen pictures of the latter, and it astounds me that it was planned out that way. You want your vacation to be something you’ll look back on and enjoy the memories.

There are three levels of resorts available to everyone that wants to stay on-property at Walt Disney World. There are the deluxe resorts, the moderate resorts, and the value resorts. Each has different levels of amenities available, as well as personal comforts. There are other available options, but these are the most basic.

Value resorts are exactly that, what you see is what you get. You can ask for specific options, but they aren’t always granted. Value resorts are great for families and couples, alike. They offer a basic hotel-style room in a themed building, a themed pool, and a food court. There are buses to take you to and from the park, and they have a store for forgotten items, as well as a gift shop. Basically, all of the resorts, no matter what their level, have these things, but the value resort is limited to these.

My family especially likes Pop Century, in the value resort level. We have stayed at the All-Star Resorts, but this one sticks out to us the most. The food court is an awesome experience, and despite our staying elsewhere, we try to make it over to this food court each year. We don’t always make it, but it is an option when we are visiting.

The moderate resorts offer more to their guests, and are in the mid-range of budgeting expense. The rooms are a bit larger, there are more activities to get involved in, and the grounds are larger. I have read that kayaking is an added activity at moderate resorts, but I haven’t experienced it yet. It sounds like a bonus I would be interested in, for sure. Also, there are playgrounds and boat rentals available.

Of the moderate resorts, we have only stayed at one: Port Orleans, French Quarter. The experience was excellent, and we were in a corner room next to the river. Downtown Disney was just a boat ride away, and the grounds were scenic. The paths to the pool and the food court were named with street signs. The artwork and décor in the food court was memorable, but the food court itself wasn’t. I mean, I remember being there, but the food was something I wanted to forget. We visited the other resort, related to Port Orleans, Riverside, and their food court was very good. We’d wished we had known that beforehand, but so goes the whole learning experience, and now we can say we stayed at this resort and chalk it off the list.

The deluxe resorts have beautifully manicured grounds, with exquisite landscaping. They have a day spa, and multiple pools. They also have restaurants to fit the definition of fine dining, and an optional concierge level. This level of resort has all of the amenities known to staying in a five-star hotel, and even more. The deluxe resorts have two categories: The rooms within the resort itself, and the villas.

My wife and I have stayed at the Board Walk Villas and the extra perks to being in a deluxe resort was comparable to the comforts of flying first class. All along the boardwalk there were eateries, fun opportunities to rent surrey bikes, boats, or take in the view across the lakes. Epcot and Hollywood Studios were within walking distance, and the nighttime views were extraordinary.

There are two other options to staying on-property at Walt Disney World: DVC (Disney Vacation Club), which is a time share buy-in and the campground, at Fort Wilderness. There’s camping available for people staying in tents as well as sites for fifth-wheel and motorhomes.

For more information on DVC opportunities: Vacation

For more information on Camping opportunities: Camping

For more information on the resorts: Resorts

When deciding where to stay at Walt Disney World, always remain budget conscious. For those of you that don’t have to worry about a budget, and I think those are few and far between, then I encourage you to research the different amenities available at each resort in order to make it memorable for you and your family.

What resorts have you stayed at? What amenities do you think are essential to a quality stay at a resort? Any comments? Please feel free to leave one or more. I enjoy reading them, and look forward to answering any questions you might have.

Continuing the planning stages of our vacation, we remain WDW or Bust. If you’d like to contact me directly, you can send an email to dave@wdworbust.net. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. I look forward to reading your comments.

Thank you and have a magical day!

Planning (Part 1)

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Alright, you have decided to take your next vacation to Walt Disney World. What do we do next? I hope to answer some questions as I let you in to some of the things we do each year. Surprisingly, deciding where to vacation is not the first step, it’s the predecessor to the first step.

  • There’s the hotel.
  • Do we stay on property or off?
  • Do we want to stay in a value resort, moderate, or do we want to go all out and stay at a deluxe resort? Then we get tempted by resorts we haven’t been to yet, with the draw of the familiar ones we have been to.
  • Do we want the dining plan? Is the cost worth it to us or would it be cheaper to go all-cash?
  • How many days do we want to be there?
  • What’s the best time to go?
  • Do I want to depend on Disney transportation, or would I be happier with a rental car?

Yep, it’s pretty overwhelming, and each question causes a hundred others. It’ll either drive to immediately stop all planning and look elsewhere for a vacation spot, or you’ll procrastinate in planning until it’s too late.

If you slow down and think about taking it step by step, then it’s really not that overwhelming. In our family, the first step in planning a trip to Walt Disney World is coming up with a set of dates that we want to be there, on our vacation.

Researching when value seasons are, subscribing to websites that specialize in knowing when the best times are, finding what special events are going on at any given time, and then connecting them to what you want to experience while visiting the World is the first step. Take a week or two, discuss it with your family, and then research it until you are satisfied with what you have found. Once that is done, the first step is to set the dates.

You will want to be there when the vacationing is right for you and your family. Be in control of that aspect of it, and the rest will work itself into place. I will cover these other steps in later posts.

My wife and I are in the planning stages now, as our trip is approaching. If you are a repeat visitor of the Walt Disney World resorts, then you probably already know when your next trip will be, although no other planning has been made on that trip. Knowing when you are going is the absolute first step in planning any vacation.

Planning is part of the magic. For now, we are getting ready as we are WDW or Bust. For those that do go back again and again, what would be your first step in planning? Do you follow a different plan of attack? What research material do you reference in the planning process? I hope to get some very useful information out to our readers.

As always, you can email me at dave@wdworbust.net. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. I look forward to reading your comments.

Thank you and have a magical day!

Shopping (Part 1)

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At the request of one of our readers, I was asked to take a look at the shopping experiences at Walt Disney World, and relay the information I know as well as what I can dig up to our readers. Today, I would like to share what I know.

As you know, shopping consumes a part of our vacations, no matter where you go. For my family, it takes up about 10%, overall. It’s debatable, but that’s about the average. While we are in the park, we have an agenda that we follow. While walking around, fulfilling the different activities of the day, we tend to pop into stores along our way. We’re not there to buy, but to shop around for a later time.

What’s neat about the items in the parks is that, for the most part, all of the stores carry the same items. The only “extras” that any store would carry, that’s unique, would be those that are specific to either the park that the store is in, or an area of the park it is in. The only other exception is at a resort, where they sell merchandise for that resort.

Another great fact is that the price tag you find for an item at one store will match exactly to the same item at a different store. There’s no need to comparatively shop for a better price. This is the same for identical items across the board.

Finally, and this rocks, if you buy an item at Mouse Gear, in Epcot, and later you change your mind, you can travel to World of Disney, in Downtown Disney, and return the item (with a receipt). That’s right! You can return an item to any Walt Disney shop. An added bonus to this is if you purchase something at WDW, get it home, and then decide you would like to return it, just take it, and the receipt, to your local Disney store.

One more thing that is great, when shopping at Walt Disney World, is that those guests that are staying on-property can have their purchases delivered to their resort, free of charge. Just fill out the little green paper, the clerk hands you and they will staple it to your bag and have it sent to your resort.

Do you have any other helpful or interesting shopping guidance?  I look forward to what you care to share. Until then, we are WDW or Bust!

You can still email me at dave@wdworbust.net. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. I look forward to reading your comments.

Thank you and have a magical day!

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

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If you’re looking for action, stunts, humor, special effects, and non-stop action, then you need to head on over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They have a show that contains all of the above. They integrate volunteers from the audience to make it even more interesting.

The movies were all great, but now you get to see it live. The stunts are truly spectacular, in Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Each stunt performed is explained in order to show guests how Hollywood makes them look so good on television. From being chased by a 12-foot boulder to explosive scenes, this 30-minute show is proven to please all fans, of all ages.

Extras are chosen from the audience to audition for scenes throughout the show, making it very interactive and interesting for the rest of us, left behind to watch it all unfold. As Indiana Jones bravely challenges and defeats many villainous dangers, in search for the golden idol, we begin to notice how close to the edge of our seats we have gotten. We’ll cheer for the hero, and enjoy the show.

In the end, there is a scene with pyrotechnics that will leave you amazed. The heat from the blast can be felt through the first few rows of seating. This show offers so much action, you’ll be talking about it for the rest of the day.

Special Accommodations

  • There is sign language interpretation available on selected days. Check your park map for more information.
  • Guests can remain in their wheel chairs or scooters during the show
  • Assisted listening receivers are available for the show. Check with Guest relations about getting your receiver, if needed.

For more information about this show: Indiana Jones

Have you seen this show? What did you think about it? Do you have anymore insight or helpful hints on this show, that you would like to share?

As always, you can email me at dave@wdworbust.net. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. I look forward to reading your comments.

Thank you and have a magical day!

The One and Only…

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Sporting red shorts with white buttons, yellow shoes, and white gloves, this animal of Walt Disney World is probably the most well-known of all. Having starred in many films, comic strips, short works, and more recently in video games, and merchandising, this little critter was famously known as a rascally scoundrel. Later, this character was revised to be an ordinary individual; shy, yet cheerful.

Easily the most recognized rodent in the world, this mouse was co-created by the founder of the Walt Disney Company, and also was voiced by him, Walt Disney. In all, there have been four voices behind the animation. Currently, the man with the official voice is Bret Iwan, who has been at it since 2009.

Considered by the Disney Company as his debut, Steamboat Willie opened on November 18, 1928 and was produced as a parody to another movie that had opened earlier in the year, Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr.

The emblem for Mickey Mouse has become the small head and ears,, and can be found everywhere, and even in the parks and resorts as “hidden mickeys.” Over the past years, it has become a sort of game to locate hidden mickeys and report them for other guests to find. Do you know where there are any hidden mickeys at Walt Disney World? Do you care to share with the rest of us so that we can keep our eyes open to those details? Please let us know where you have seen them. On my next trip, I’ll try to locate them and get pictures to post of them. I’m all “ears.” :)

Mickey is world-renowned and loved. These are just a few of the facts on the mouse, but there is so much more to know, if you are interested in researching it. I found a Wiki page with plenty of information, but you can also surf through the Disney website for interactive games and a plethora of information that star Mickey Mouse.

One other tidbit of information, on Mickey Mouse: Speaking of stars, Mickey Mouse was the first cartoon character to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. If you’re in the area, the location of his star is 6925 Hollywood Blvd. Happy hunting.

Let’s see how many hidden mickeys we can reveal.

“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.”

—Walt Disney, Disneyland; October 27, 1954

As always, you can email me at dave@wdworbust.net. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. I look forward to reading your comments.

Thank you and have a magical day!

The Hall of Presidents

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The Hall of Presidents

Amusements

Located in Liberty Square, at the Magic Kingdom, you will find a show that shines with patriotism to the American people. It’s a hall with genuine artifacts that once belonged to our Presidents, or their wives. A card accompanies each item and portrays some significant facts about what the guest is viewing. Other varieties of artwork are also on display with a historical description. Among all the artwork and artifacts, I believe what really sets off the personal patriotism, in me, is the Great Seal of the United States, embedded in the center of the room, with a handrail mounted all around it.

Before the doors open to the theater, guests are encouraged to peruse the displays and learn some of the history of our nation’s leaders.

The Theater

Seating 700 people at one time, this enormous theater is air-conditioned and welcoming. The seats are all padded theater seats, which prove comfortable after those long walks in the park.

In front is a huge stage/movie screen, with the Great Seal of the United States projected upon it. We await the show, as we cool off.

The Show

Full of vitality and life, a movie begins playing, showing the adversities and struggles America had to endure throughout the years. Narrated perfectly by Morgan Freeman, we learn of the changes that had to be made to continue becoming the nation we are today. The show pauses for the Gettysburg Address spoken by none other than Abraham Lincoln, himself. As he retakes his seat, the movie continues, and when all is said and done, the curtains open to show all 43 Presidents of the United States, either sitting or standing.

A role call will be given and each President will acknowledge their names, as they are called. After the role call, Presidents George Washington and Barack Obama will give speeches that stir your patriotism and swell your pride in our nation.

Interesting Facts

  • Barack Obama personally recorded his character’s speech.
  • All of the clothing on the figures is an authentic reproduction of their respective eras, including the braces on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s legs.
  • The screen stretches about halfway round the theater (180 degrees).
  • Although Barack Obama is the 44th president, only 43 individuals have held the office. Grover Cleveland served two separate terms as president, as both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.

For more information: The Hall of Presidents

Have you visited this attraction? What were your thoughts of the show?

If you’d like to leave a comment or question, please feel free to do that below. Otherwise, you can contact me directly, by email, at dave@wdworbust.net. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. I look forward to reading your comments.

Thank you and have a magical day!