Engagement Pictures!

Our photographer, Randy Chapman, posted some of our engagement pictures on his blog this morning. Here's one of my favorites!

http://chapmanphotography.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/06/tamara-and-brian-engagement-downtown-disney-big-day-12-16-2012.html


I can't wait to see the rest. 

Christmas by Candlelight

Looking for more Christmas magic at Disney? The Candlelight Dining Package for the Candlelight Processional and VIP viewing of the fireworks at Epcot just went on sale today.

The Candlelight processional is a retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and choir. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/candlelight-processional/

Some of the narrators during our visit include Olivia Newton John – December 14-16 and Trace Adkins December 20-22. They have not announced the narrator for Dec 17-19 yet.

Anyone can view the show, but if you want to make sure you get seats (the regular line up starts more than 2 hours in advance for limited seating), you can book a candlelight dinner package. This is a really popular event. If you think you want to book it, you will want to book it soon. 

The name is misleading, as it can also be for lunch. The restaurant options include:

• Biergarten Restaurant
• Coral Reef Restaurant
• The Garden Grill Restaurant (dinner only)
• La Hacienda de San Angel (dinner only)
• Les Chefs de France
• Le Cellier Steakhouse (lunch only)
• Nine Dragons Restaurant
• Restaurant Marrakesh
• Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room
• San Angel Inn
• Teppan Edo
• Tokyo Dining
• Tutto Italia Ristorante
• Via Napoli

Your meal includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage (or one buffet where available). Lunch packages range from $33-56 for adults and $12.50-18 for children. Dinner packages range from $50-67 for adults and $14.50-27 for children. Park tickets are required to enter Epcot.

To book, call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463, or you can book online.

Discounted Flights to the Wedding

Since we’re past the 6 month mark, I know a number of our guests are looking to book their flights. And don’t forget to book your hotel room, the room block is filling up!

I contacted a number of airlines, and American Airlines is offering our guests 5 % off the lowest applicable published fare for travel to Orlando, FL from December 9-23. This should give a good window for those of you making a holiday out of the trip.

The promotion code is 36D2BG. It is valid on American Airlines, Oneworld Alliance Partners, and American Airlines Codeshare. The discount can be applied to any fare, so even if you want to upgrade to better seats, you should still be able to get 5 % off.

They are also offering special rates on Avis Rent-a-car for the wedding. To get this deal, call Avis at 1-800-331-1600 and give them AWD – D787878 to get the discounted rate. Outside of the US, please call 1-918-624-4301. If you use this discount, you cannot use other discounts, so check to make sure it’s the best one for you.

Online, you can go to www.AA.com and choose More Flight Search Options then put the code 36D2BG in the promotions box. There is no charge to book online. You can also click here: http://www.aa.com/reservation/searchFlightsSubmit.do and put the code in the bottom box.

If you want to book by the phone, you can call 1-800-433-1790 anywhere in the US and Canada and book with the same code, but there is a $25 fee. The ticketing charge might be higher for those outside of the US and Canada.

These discounts will be valid as long as 10 people flight with them, so you might want to let me know if you plan to, then we can make sure enough people do.

I’ll post other airline deals as I see them. I know some Southwest flights nonstop to and from Birmingham are $100 each way right now, but there is no sale for that weekend at the moment. 

Disney’s Magical Express

One of the new things we tried on our Disney trip last week was Disney’s free airport transportation, better known as Disney’s Magical Express. If you are staying at a Disney World resort (any of the hotels in our room block count), you can add this once you know your flights. You don’t have to know your flight information when you book your room. You just call (407) WDW-MAGIC with your confirmation number and flight info.

Then, a bit before your trip, you get mail from Disney which includes tags for your luggage and your boarding pass for the bus. Each of us got one long tag that could be cut in half to go on each of our bags. They listed our names and our hotel.

One of our luggage tags and the booklet about our trip. You need the booklet to get on the bus.
It also has a map of the airport and other useful info.

If you put these tags on your bags before getting to the airport, Disney will pick them up for you at the Orlando airport and deliver them to your room that evening. (As long as your flight gets in between 5 AM and 10 PM). We definitely beat our bags to the room, so pack anything you need right away in your carry on. But it was great to not have to worry about our bags from the time we left Columbus. =)

If your flight gets in at a time outside of the 5 AM to 10 PM window, collect your luggage and take it to the welcome center with you, the buses will still be running.

Once we landed in Orlando, there was a sign for Disney’s Magical Express on our way out of the plane. It reminded us that we needed to go to the first floor of terminal B. You need to ride the tram across from your gate to the main terminal first. Then the best plan is to go to an elevator on the B side of the airport and ride it down to the first floor. We rode down two escalators, and saw this sign to point us there.

Sign at the bottom of the escalator. 

There were literally signs everywhere to the welcome center.

We saw a lot of these signs.

It was at the far end from where we arrived (Southwest is on the opposite side in terminal A), but the walk wasn’t bad without luggage. Then we showed our boarding pass at the Welcome Center.

We were so excited to get there! =)

They then directed us to the line for our hotel.  After a little wait, we were put on the bus (which has room for bags underneath if you have a big carry on, or brought your luggage with you). It was a big comfy bus, with AC and a movie about Disney World to watch on the way to the hotel. They dropped us off right at the lobby of Port Orleans.

Going home was a bit confusing, but with a few tips, I think it could be the best thing to do.

Some of the airlines let your check-in for domestic flights at the hotel (and check your bags there). The airlines that do so are currently:

-- AirTran Airways

-- Alaska Airlines

-- American Airlines

-- Continental Airlines

-- Delta Air Lines

-- JetBlue Airways

-- Northwest Airlines

-- Southwest Airlines

-- United Air Lines

-- US Airways

If you are flying on one of these and not internationally, check out my tips below. International guests, please see my note at the end of the post.

TIP 1 – Make sure you sign up for Express Check Out when you check in. This means you won’t have to go to the lobby when it’s time to check out. This is a big time saver.

TIP 2 – They hang your return bus information and boarding passes on your door the night before. Make sure you check what time you are scheduled to take the bus.

TIP 3 – Remove the yellow tags from your bags. You don’t need those on the way back.

TIP 4 – Your bag must weigh less than 50lbs. They have scales and they do use them.

TIP 5 - If you need to check baggage, call for a bellman to help you with it about 30 minutes before you need to go. One actually came with a golf cart to take us at Port Orleans Riverside, and it made things so much easier.

TIP 6 – Luggage check-in ends at 1 pm, so keep that in mind. You also have to call to pay baggage fees if you are on an airline other than Southwest. If you need to pay baggage fees, call 407-284-1231 between 7 am and 11 pm. Give yourself plenty of time for that, it took mum forever to get her confirmation number to show the luggage guys.

The bus stop at Port Orleans Riverside is right outside the lobby.
Look for these signs at your resort.

TIP 7 – Be at the bus stop a few minutes early, and ask the cast members if you are confused. They are really helpful.

And then you don’t have to deal with your bags again until you get back to your home airport, yay! Once we figured out how to check out and check our bags, it was a great process. I highly recommend Disney’s Magical Express if you are staying on property.

CANADIAN GUESTS READ THIS!

The process is slightly different for international guests who are going through customs in Orlando. You will need to collect your bags to take them through customs. According to the Disney website:

“International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 4 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.”

Based on the information I found, you will also need to check-in at the airport if you are traveling back to an international destination. I recommend asking the people at Disney’s Magical Express for more information.

I hope this post is helpful. Feel free to post any questions about the service and I’ll do my best to find the answers. =)

We're going to Disney Wolrd

We're headed down today for our planning session and I'll have a lot more information to share with everyone after this trip.

We are using Disney's Magical Express for the first time, so I'll be able to walk guests through that process. Hopefully it's smooth. We'll be staying at Port Orleans - Riverside, which is one of our host hotels for the wedding. I'll take lots of pictures and make sure to blog about it all when I get back.

We'll also be trying out a couple of restaurants I've never tried before, so I'll be sure to report back on them as well. Just in time for making dining reservations. =)

5 stars for fun at the All-Star Movies Resort

We have 3 hotels in our room block for the wedding, and the best rate is at the All-Star Movies Resort. It is located at 1991 W. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 for anyone who is driving there.

Each building is decorated with elements from Disney films, such as Toy Story, Fantasia, The Mighty Ducks, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. There is a 40 foot tall Pongo and a 35 foot tall Perdita. The goalie masks on the walls of the Mighty Ducks building are 31 feet tall.

We are recommending guests who want the best rate to stay in the Mighty Ducks buildings and those who are willing to pay for a preferred location to choose the Dalmatian buildings. There are two pools at the resort, one themed after the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and one right next to the Mighty Ducks building shaped like a hockey rink. Make sure you bring your towels from your room to use at the pool. You can get extra towels by calling housekeeping.

Cinema Hall, the central building, includes the lobby, the World Premiere food court, shopping and an arcade. The arcade is generally open from 7 am to 1 am and the games use tokens that can be purchased there. Some of them give tickets which can be traded for prizes. The food court actually has a ton of options, including 16 inch pizzas ($15), burgers ($7-9), create your own salad ($10), chili ($3), chicken penne alfredo ($11), sandwiches ($9), and more. A lot of those options even come with a side dish included in the price. There are also vegetarian and kosher meals available upon request for under $10.

Guests can get pizza, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and beverages delivered to their rooms as well. The rooms are 20 square feet and have cable tv, wi-fi access (I think there is a fee), hairdryers, and an iron and ironing board. You can have a mini-fridge if you ask for one. Babysitting/childcare is available for a fee. Luggage service runs on an hourly drop-off system.

There are buses to each of the parks and Downtown Disney from the resort. We will also have wedding day transportation pick up at the hotel. The buses pick up in front of Cinema Hall. To see a map of the property, visit: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.htm There are also a lot of pictures and more details available there. 

TIP: If you are staying in the Mighty Ducks building, Melody Hall (the main building) and the bus stop at the All Star Music Resort are actually closer than the bus stop at the All Star Movies Resort (and they tend to get picked up sooner on the way to the parks). Just follow the walkway North from the building and you should find it. But make sure you don't look for transportation to the wedding there. =)

You can find the rates for all the rooms in our room block, as well as the phone number to call to book on our Disney Wedding website: https://apps.facebook.com/disney-weddings/sites/4647

Our favorite places to eat at… Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney is a great place to shop and eat, especially since you don’t need a ticket to get in. There is free transportation from all Disney hotels to the area and it’s a great place to wander around. There will also be a lot of Christmas decorations and activities there in December. Last year, Santa was there.

There are all sorts of dining options depending on your mood and how much time you want to spend on dining. If you are looking for a quick bite, I recommend the Earl of Sandwich. It is a bit like a Panera, in that you can get soups and sandwiches from the counter. They offer a bunch of hot ones and I got fruit and cookies there with mine.

If you want a fun treat, check out the Ghirardelli SodaFountain & Chocolate Shop. For mum and I no trip to Downtown Disney is complete without a sundae from there. The wait can be long and the place tends to be busy, but it is worth it. Also, go in the shop, they give free samples of the chocolate and it is always a full square of Ghirardelli chocolate. Yum!

For dining reservations, you have a ton of options. If you want something with a lot of character (though a bit of a wait) there is a Rainforest Café here, and a place I’ve yet to visit called T-Rex, from the same parent company. Like its predecessor, T-Rex also has animatronics in its décor, this time its dinosaurs! Both are likely to have waits even with reservations. It’s rarely a good idea to try to just walk up to get a table.

Mum and I rather enjoy going to Planet Hollywood. You get to skip most of the line if you have a reservation. If you have never been, it’s a lot like a Hard Rock Café, as there is movie memorabilia everywhere. They have a huge appetizer sampler that we’ve ordered instead of a meal before which includes chicken crunch, buffalo wings, Texas tostadas, and spinach dip ($20). They have burgers ($12), fajitas ($17), pasta ($16), salmon ($22), and tons more. They also have a bunch of desserts for $7 each or a sampler for $10. This is a great place if everyone wants something different for dinner. They don’t have much for vegetarians though.

The House of Blues Restaurant just redid its menu, so I can’t speak to how it tastes, but sometimes there is live music there. Prices run about $13 for burgers or sandwiches, around $20 for other entrees, including Lobster Mac & Cheese. Appetizers include flatbreads ($12), chicken wings ($10), and pulled pork sliders ($10). They also have a bunch of salads (with meat around $15, without $6-10).

I am determined to try out the Wolfgang Puck Café one of these visits. The menu includes pizzas ($15), pastas ($16-20), sandwiches ($13-17), and a sushi bar. The lunch menu also has bacon wrapped meatloaf ($19), oven roasted salmon ($27), and chicken pot pie ($19). The sandwiches are exchanged for more entrees at dinner time.

There are lots of other great places to eat. For a full list, go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/dining/

Our favorite places to eat at… Epcot

 If you are looking for great places to eat at Disney, look no further than Epcot. You can find pretty much any food you could imagine there, and most of it will be superb. I will hit some of my favorite places here, but there are definitely a ton of great places. To see the full list, go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/dining/

The birthday cupcake they gave me at Akershus

’ll start with the awesome character dining experience that Brian and I experienced last time we went to Epcot. We had lunch on my birthday at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. Located in the Norway Pavilion in the World Showcase, Akershus feels like a castle inside. Upon entering, you get your picture taken with a princess. We were lucky and Belle was the main princess the day we visited. Other princesses will then visit your table throughout your meal and pose for pictures and give autographs. Breakfast is a traditional American breakfast. At lunch and dinner you pick an entrée such as salmon cakes, mushroom stuffed pasta, oven-roasted chicken breast, and seared herb-dusted beef tips. You are also served special desserts. They have a more typical children’s menu as well. The cost is between $36 and $60. You have to give a credit card for this reservation.

If you like seafood, you can check out the Coral Reef Restaurant, in the Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. Here you can dine with an underwater view of the Caribbean Coral Reef. They have an appetizer sampler for two which includes crab cakes, crispy-friend shrimp, and a taste of their creamy lobster soup for $17.  Entrees include Lobster Pasta ($26.49), Scottish Salmon ($23), Seared Chicken Breast ($22), and Vegetable-Potato Strudel ($19).

Mum and I went there in 2007. 

One place I try to visit every time I go to Disney is Les Chefs de France. This is one of two table-service restaurants in the France Pavilion of the World Showcase. They have all the awesome French dishes you might hope for, such as escargot ($13) and Quiche Lorraine ($15). One of the best things is their Prix Fixe 3 course menu. At lunch it is $24 and includes a either lobster bisque or French onion soup, followed by croquet monsieur, quiche Lorraine, or gratin de macaroni and your choice of dessert. (This may change by the time of the wedding, but this gives you an idea.) At dinner, the menu is $40 but includes fancier, and larger, dishes such as beef short ribs, roasted chicken, or broiled salmon. Also, 4 times per day Remy from Ratatouille visits with guests in the dining room.

If you want a truly elegant meal, you can go upstairs for dinner in France to the Bistro de Paris. Entrees are around $40 each or there is a Prix Fix menu for $59 that includes multiple courses. They have a dress code that prohibits tank tops, swimwear, and hats for men. Window-side tables have a really neat view if you can get one.

There are lots of other places to eat, at least one in each country in the World Showcase. For example, in the German Pavilion you could check out the Biergarten Restaurant, which is popular for its atmosphere and beer. If you want a steak, check out Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada Pavilion. They also have a 3 course Prixe Fix menu at lunch for $29. It even includes vegetarian options!

Feel free to post other recommendations based on where you have eaten. I have to admit I’ve mostly stuck with France and the Living Seas, although I once had a so/so meal at one of the Italian places. 

Our favorite places to eat at… Hollywood Studios

My favorite place to eat at Hollywood Studios is more about the atmosphere than the food. The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is made up of tables shaped like convertible cars facing a big screen showing clips from 50s and 60s sci-fi movies and some fun old cartoons. It’s a nice place to cool off on a hot day and doesn’t require a credit card for a reservation. The have milk shakes for $4.69, chicken wings for $11.49, sandwiches and burgers with fries for around $15, and a vegetable burger with cucumber salad or sweet potato fries for $12.49.

Another quirky place I have had fun at is the 50’s Prime Time Café. When you enter you are treated like guests at Mom’s dinner table and if you do things she wouldn’t approve of, like putting your elbows on the table, she’ll make you sit in the corner. We actually had one of the cast members “punish” someone in our group last time, but I don’t remember the details. The dishes are mostly comfort food, like Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes ($17), Dad’s Traditional Meatloaf ($16), Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie ($18), and Spaghetti with Vegetarian “Meatballs” ($16). They also have Chicken Noodle Soup ($6.49) and S’mores ($5). They also don’t require a credit card for a reservation.

If you want to dine with characters at Hollywood Studios, then you want to eat at Hollywood & Vine. Disney Junior characters (such as Jake the Neverland pirate, Handy Manny, and Special Agent Oso) join guests for sing-alongs at breakfast and lunch buffets. The food is typical American fare and run $15 to $36. Dinner is quieter and includes more on-stage cooking stations. The price for dinner runs $36 to $60. The dinner buffet can be part of a Fantasmic! Dining Package, which gives you designated seating during the firework show at the park. To book that package, call (407) WDW-DINE up to 180 days in advance. They do require a credit card for a reservation and the cancelation policy is in effect.

The two other options for table service are the fancy Hollywood Brown Derby and the casual Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Both can be booked as part of a Fantasmic! Dining Package.

For a complete list of dining options at Hollywood Studios, go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/dining

Our favorite places to eat at… Animal Kingdom

My personal favorite place to eat at Animal Kingdom is not the best reviewed, but I still love it. Right outside the entrance of the park there is a Rainforest Café. This one is much easier to get into than the one in Downtown Disney and is a fun stop right after the park closes, if you don’t mind the loud atmosphere. It is a chain restaurant with waterfalls and animatronic animals making up the décor. One of the reasons I love it is the menu is huge. There are burgers (veggie and meat) for around $13 with a side of potato chips. Pizza runs about $15 and BBQ chicken $16. I tend to get the Paradise Pot Roast ($19). Wow, I eat pot roast a lot on vacation. =) I know dad and I really enjoyed their seafood last time we went. They have a steak and shrimp entrée for $27. And if you go with a group, the Sparkling Volcano dessert is nuts ($14).

Brian and I at Animal Kingdom.

If you want an in-park table-service meal there are two options. Tusker House Restaurant offers a buffet with African cuisine at lunch and dinner, as well as more familiar choices. Safari Donald Duck and some of his friends appear at breakfast, which includes waffles, scrambled eggs, honey-glazed ham, cereal, bacon, and all sorts of other dishes. He also attends lunch, which has more African flair. Lunch and dinner both can include hummus and baba ghanoush, various salads, sliced meat, couscous salad, fresh fruit, a vegetarian table (Marrakesh couscous, Vegetable samaosa, Spiced Tandoori Tofu, Jollaf rice, and Pearl couscous with sweet basil essence), rotisserie chicken, curry chicken, basmati rice, and more. Prices vary between $15 and $36

The other option is the Yak & Yeti Restaurant, which gets good reviews and has a cozier atmosphere. This is a Pan-Asian restaurant near Mount Everest in the park. Enjoy a dim sum basket for 2 for $14 or PEI mussels (one of our favorite things) for $10.50. Entrees include Sweet & Sour Chicken ($17), Duck with Anandapur Glaze ($22), Tempura Shrimp ($20), and Stir-Fried Beef & Broccoli ($17). You can also get fried wontons or mango pie for dessert. This is not the best choice for vegetarians.

For a complete list of dining options at Animal Kingdom, go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/animal-kingdom/dining/

Disney park tickets go up in price this Sunday

If you already know that you are going to Disney and want to go to the parks, you might want to buy your tickets today or tomorrow. Prices will go up Sunday.

The biggest increase is the price of a park hopper add-on, which is going from $35 to $57 if you are going for more than one day. You'll still get a discount on it through out wedding website today, but I assume that will go up with the overall price change.

Here is our discount link: https://disneytickets.disney.go.com/store/2012dftw/welcome.html

And here is the list of new prices that start Sunday: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/walt-disney-world-resort-ticket-prices-2012/

Email me if you have any questions.