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.