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This is another guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.  Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!  

One thing I love about staying onsite at Walt Disney World is the free transportation systems.  There is no need to drive or rent a car unless you choose to do so.  Here is an overview of the Walt Disney World transportation options:

To and from the airport:  If you fly into MCO (Orlando International Airport), make sure you sign up for Disney’s Magical Express Service.  A few weeks before your check in date, you will receive a voucher and luggage tags in the mail.  Once you arrive in Orlando, head straight to Magical Express.  No need to pick up your luggage from baggage claim!  Disney will do it for you and deliver your luggage to your room.  One thing to note:  It can take up to three hours for your luggage to be delivered, so be sure you have everything you need for the day in your carry-on bags.

If you drive to Disney World:  Parking at all Disney resorts, Disney parks, and Downtown Disney is free if you are staying on the Disney property.  I live just south of Nashville, TN, and we always drive to Disney World.  It takes about 12 hours for us to get there.  Once we are there, the last thing we want to do is more driving, so I love knowing that we can just park our car at the hotel and use Disney transportation to go everywhere on the Disney property!

From the value resorts:  If you are staying at All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, Pop Century, or Art of Animation, the buses are your only transportation option.  Buses run to Downtown Disney, Disney Water Parks, Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, and the four Disney parks.  If you plan on visiting another resort, you will need to take a bus to one of the parks or Downtown Disney and then switch busses to the resort you are visiting.  Buses usually begin an hour and a half before the parks open and run until about two hours after the parks close.

From the moderate resorts:  Like the value resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronado Springs Resort only offer buses as your transportation option.  Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter also offer a ferry boat to and from Downtown Disney.  The Cabins at Fort Wilderness also offers a water taxi to and from the Magic Kingdom.

From the deluxe resorts:  Animal Kingdom Lodge only offers buses as your transportation option.  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian Resort, and Wilderness Lodge also offer a water taxi to and from the Magic Kingdom.  Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, and Dolphin all offer boats to and from Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  Old Key West and Sarasota Springs offer a ferry boat to and from Downtown Disney.  Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Polynesian Resort all offer the Monorail to and from the Magic Kingdom.

If you plan on visiting other theme parks during your stay:  Universal Studios offers a round trip transfer ticket option as well.  This ticket option includes a shuttle to Universal Studios, one day base ticket to either Universal Studios or Island of Adventure, and a shuttle back to your Disney resort.  If you plan on visiting Sea World, Legoland, or else not on the Disney Property, you will need to drive.

What are your thoughts of the Disney Transportation system?  Are you a fan or do you prefer to drive?

 

This is another guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.  Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!  

 

Last week we discussed the Epcot Food and Wine Festival which takes place in the fall. Did you know that Epcot also hosts a spring festival called the Flower and Garden Festival? Today we will go over Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival’s highlights and what to expect from this event.

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival takes place on select dates March through May. For 2014, the event will be held March 5, 2014 to May 18, 2014. This event is included in the price of admission of Epcot. Not much information for the 2014 festival has been released, but here is what we know so far and what to expect based on the past events.

 

Goofy, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck will be present in topiary form as they celebrate spring with a butterfly hunt adventure in the Epcot front entrance garden. Whimsical topiaries of Mickey Mouse and other Disney character favorites will surprise guests beyond the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth. More than 100 topiaries, 220 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers and sweeping beds of multi-colored blooms will add floral splendor to the park landscape.

At the Festival Center, daily interactive gardening seminars will set the stage for outdoor do-it-yourself inspiration, and popular HGTV celebrities will headline weekend seminars filled with home, garden and design ideas. Personally, I would love to attend one of these. I seem to have a black thumb instead of a green one. I think I have found every way possible to kill a plant!

Back by demand, the Cars garden and playground will bring Lightening McQueen, Mater, and friends to life. Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House will feature hundreds of the butterflies and intricate fairy topiaries including Tinker Bell and Periwinkle.
Musical entertainment pairs brilliantly with the breathtaking botanicals during the nightly Flower Power Concert Series. The diverse lineup of performers include popular musicians of the 1960s and 1970s. The opening weekend Flower Power Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre will present fan-favorite band The Guess Who March 7-9. Other pop acts set to perform include Chubby Checker & the Wildcats, The Village People, Paul Revere & The Raiders and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone.

Similar to the Food and Wine Festival, the Flower and Garden Festival will feature Garden Marketplaces at the World Showcase for the second year. Although there are not as many marketplaces as there are at the Food and Wine Festival, the Flower and Garden Festival Garden Marketplaces feature flavors from around the world using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Fan favorites from last year include shrimp and stone ground grits from the Florida Fresh Marketplace, tarte à la ratatouille et fromage de chèvre (zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, onions and tomato tart with goat cheese) from the L’Orangerie Marketplace, baked goat’s brie with kumquat chutney from The Cottage Marketplace, and Dole Whip with Siesta Key spiced rum from the Pineapple Promenade Marketplace.

Have you been to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? What are your thoughts?

This is another guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.  Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!  

My favorite event at Walt Disney World is the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. During select dates during September, October, and November, this event is included with your regular Epcot admission. Today will we discuss what to expect from this fun event.

The most popular aspect of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival are the marketplaces. There are over 25 marketplaces featuring food, wine, and beer from different countries. The appetizer sized food selections usually vary in price from $4.00 to $8.00. The drink selections usually vary in price from $3.00 to $6.00. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, snacking your way through the marketplaces is a great way to use your snack credits and have a fun lunch or dinner. Even my picky eater loves to snack around the world for lunch and requests that we do it every trip to Epcot. If you are interested in trying the beverage selection or are not on the Disney Dining Plan, gift cards can be purchased at the welcome station for any amount for convenience. They even have gift cards you can attach to a wrist band!

Another popular aspect is the Eat to The Beat Concert series. These concerts take place at the American Gardens Theater across from the American Experience pavilion usually three times per evening and feature popular acts from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. For 2013, some of these acts included Starship, The Pointer Sisters, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, the Go-Go’s, Wilson Philips, and Christopher Cross.

Looking to sharpen your culinary or beverage skills? How about a seminar or demonstration? Guests can learn tips from a wine or beverage expert and sample the selections, learn how to prepare both trendy and classic cocktails from a professional mixologist, or learn tips and sample selections from chefs and beverage professionals during a 45 minute culinary demonstration. Prices for these demonstrations and seminars begin at $14.00 per person.

If you are looking for a signature dining experience, the Food and Wine Festival has you covered as well! Prices vary from $55.00 to $295.00 per person, depending on the experience you select. Experiences vary and include the 3D Dessert Party, Parisian Breakfast, Mexico Tequila Lunch Paring, and The Chocolate Dinner.

Have you been to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival? What are some of your favorite aspects of it?

This is another guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.  Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!  

When you have a family of four or smaller, the possibilities for hotel and resort options are endless.  When you have a family of five or larger, the options are much more limited.  At times, finding a resort for a larger family can be frustrating.  I’m here to try to make it a little easier for you!  Here are all of your resort options for families of five or larger at Walt Disney World.

Value Resorts:  In this category, families of up to six people plus one child under the age of three in a crib will have two options:  Family Suites at All-Star Music and Family Suites at Art of Animation.  At All-Star Music, Family Suites are 520 square feet.  At Art of Animation, Family Suites are 560 square feet and come in your choice of Finding Nemo, Cars, or The Lion King Theme.  Family Suites at both resorts offer three sleeping areas, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette.

Moderate Resorts:  The Alligator Bayou rooms at Port Orleans Riverside are 314 square feet and can accommodate up to five people.  These rooms have 2 queen beds and one fold down bed.  Please note, these fold down beds are a little small.  They will comfortably sleep a child, but not an adult.

The Cabins of Fort Wilderness are 504 square feet and can accommodate up to six guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  Each cabin features a double bed, set of buck bed, a pull out sleeper sofa, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Deluxe Resorts:  The Polynesian Resort standard rooms are 404 square feet and can accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  Each room has two queen size beds and one day bed.

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa standard rooms are 448 square feet and can accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  Each room has two queen size beds and one day bed.

The Beach & Yacht Club Resorts standard rooms are 400 square feet and can accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  Each room has two queen size beds and one day bed.

The Boardwalk Inn standard rooms are 434 square feet square feet and can accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  Each room has two queen size beds and one day bed.

The Contemporary Resort standard rooms are 437 square feet and can accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  Each room has two queen size beds and one day bed.

Deluxe Villas:  These villas are the largest (and most expensive) option on the Disney property.  The villas are Disney Vacation Club rentals; which means that Disney Vacation Club members receive these options first.  Any remaining villas are usually released to the public about six months before check in dates.

The Beach & Yacht Club Villas offer two bedroom villas that are 1,083 square feet.  These villas accommodate up to eight guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib and feature a fully equipped kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a washer and dryer.

The Boardwalk Villas offer two bedroom villas that are 1,226 square feet.  These villas accommodate up to eight guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib and feature a fully equipped kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a washer and dryer.  A limited number of three bedroom Grand Villas accommodating up to 12 guests are available upon request.

Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas offer one bedroom villas that are 710 square feet and accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  The one bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen, a king size bed in the bedroom, and queen size sleeper sofa in the living room, and a washer and dryer.  Two bedroom villas that are 1,173 square feet and accommodate up to nine guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib are also available.  These two bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen and washer and dryer as well.  A limited number of three bedroom Grand Villas accommodating up to 12 guests are available upon request.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers one bedroom villas that are 727 square feet and accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  The one bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen, a king size bed in the bedroom, and queen size sleeper sofa in the living room, and a washer and dryer.  Two bedroom villas that are 1,080 square feet and accommodate up to nine guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib are also available.  These two bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen and washer and dryer as well.  A limited number of three bedroom Grand Villas accommodating up to 12 guests are available upon request.

The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offer two bedroom villas that are 1,080 square feet.  These villas accommodate up to eight guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib and feature a fully equipped kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a washer and dryer.

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa offers two bedroom villas that are 1,075 square feet.  These villas accommodate up to eight guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib and feature a fully equipped kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a washer and dryer.  A limited number of three bedroom Grand Villas accommodating up to 12 guests are available upon request.

The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa offers three bedroom villas that are 1,074 square feet.  These Treehouse Villas accommodate up to nine guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib and feature a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, and a washer and dryer.

Old Key West Resort offers one bedroom villas that are 942 square feet and accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib.  The one bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen, a king size bed in the bedroom, and queen size sleeper sofa in the living room, and a washer and dryer.  Two bedroom villas that are 1,333 square feet and accommodate up to nine guests plus one child under the age of three in a crib are also available.  These two bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen and washer and dryer as well.  A limited number of three bedroom Grand Villas accommodating up to 12 guests are available upon request.

What’s your favorite Disney resort for larger families?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

This is a guest post by my friend Alexia.

We’ve gone over the top ten character meals, table service restaurants, quick service restaurants, and snacks at Walt Disney World.  This week we will discuss the top ten desserts:

1. The Kitchen Sink:  It seems like only Disney super fans know about this dessert.  It can only be found at Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.  It literally is served in a kitchen sink and includes the following: fudge topping, butterscotch topping, peanut butter topping, 1 medium banana, 1 cinnamon spice cupcake 1 angel food cupcake, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream, 2 scoops of strawberry ice cream, 1 scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream, 1 scoop of coffee ice cream, chocolate syrup, marshmallow crème, strawberry topping, pineapple topping, 1 14-oz can of whipped cream, 1 brownie, 1 regular-sized candy bar, 4 chocolate cookies with cream filling, sliced toasted almonds, dark and white chocolate shavings, crushed chocolate cookies with cream filling, chopped jellied orange slices, milk chocolate chip morsels, peanut butter chip morsels, chocolate sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, and maraschino cherries.  Sure it’s over the top and pricy ($29), but it’s something every Disney dessert fan should try once.  A word of advice:  Beaches and Cream is a very small restaurant and does not accept reservations.  I didn’t think that the wait would be very long because of this, and was told the wait was an hour and a half when we arrived.  Sadly, we didn’t have that much time and couldn’t try it.  Next time, I plan on calling ahead first.

2. Cupcakes:  These were also on the top ten snacks list, but they are something that Disney does right.  Again, there are too many to list, but stay tuned for a top ten cupcakes list coming soon!

3. Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake:  How can you not fall in love with this dessert based on the name alone?  This deliciousness consists of vanilla cake with toffee filling topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and toffee pieces.  It can only be found at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom.

4. ‘Ohana Bread Pudding:  This dessert keeps guests coming back again and again to ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.  It consists of bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream and bananas.  It is served with a small container with a warm banana foster sauce to pour on top. Trust me, you’ll want to use the whole thing.

5. Grapefruit Cake:  A signature dessert that can only be found at Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  If you are a grapefruit fan, this dessert is a must.  It’s a layered sweet cake with tart icing that includes yellow cake and a cream cheese and grapefruit blend frosting.

6. Maple Crème Brulee:  You can find crème brulee at many restaurants in Epcot, but Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion does it best.  It’s a simple dessert, consisting of custard and brown sugar.  It’s the hint of sweet maple syrup that sets this version apart from the rest.

7. Cinderella’s Chocolate Slipper:  This dessert is so elegant and decadent that it must be ordered a minimum of 48 hours in advance.  It is not found on regular menus and is made by the Grand Floridian Bakery.  The Royal Chocolate Slipper dessert at Cinderella’s Royal Table is a white chocolate slipper filled with chocolate mousse inside and severed with a side of fresh berries with coulis.  The chocolate slippers of the Grand Floridian restaurants (1900 Park Fare, Citrico’s, Grand Floridian Cafe, Narcoossee’s and Victoria & Albert’s) consists of a white chocolate slipper filled with cream and raspberries and served with a solid dark chocolate cup filled with chocolate mousse and shaving of white chocolate with a touch of raspberry coulis on the side.

8. Profiteroles:  These Tutto Italia specialties at Epcot consist of a pastry topped with ice cream and covered in chocolate sauce.  Let’s face it: everything is better covered in chocolate, right?

9. Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons:  These sweet, light, and crispy desserts can be found at Yak and Yeti’s at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  An absolute must if you love pineapple as much as I do.

10. Baileys and Jack Daniel’s Mousse:  This is one of my personal favorites from Coral Reef in Epcot.  It is a light but rich chocolate mousse served with a caramel crisp.  It’s just the right size for a rich dessert.

What are your favorite Walt Disney World desserts?

Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.    Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!

What is your favorite Disney Dessert?