5 Tips to Make FREE Dining Work

5 Tips to make FREE Dining work well for your Family

 FREE Dining has come back at Walt Disney World! The long awaited promotion that drives many family’s vacation plans each and every year has finally started and on some dates selling out.

FREE Dining is difficult to maneuver for the novice Disney World visitor.

1. You can plan your dining choices before you book your Walt Disney World package. Disney doesn’t like that we do this, but you can. Once Free Dining is in full swing many popular dining spots will fill up before your travel planner can get off hold! So having at the very least a list of choices is extremely helpful.
2. Prices for the pre-fixed rate restaurants fluctuate by meal time. Breakfast being the cheapest, lunch a few dollars more and dinner jumping as much as $10 over the lunch fare. If you are going during FREE Dining do as many meals as you can in the evening or dinner times. This gives you the biggest bang for your FREE buck. And likewise if you are paying out of pocket remember it is cheaper at breakfast and often times the characters are the same (but not always the case!).
3. Flexibility is key to getting FREE Dining packages. Because Disney controls which dates are blacked out you need to be aware that you might have to change your dates if you insist on booking a Free Dining package. For instance, a big portion of October is blacked out, so being able to switch to September or the few days in November is key to getting that huge savings.
4. This one is a huge secret so don’t share it with anyone! I could lose my ears for this!! You can book your vacation on the last date of the FREE Dining Promotion offer and you will still get Free Dining for your entire vacation! GASP!! I said it outloud! So if Disney’s dates are September 1 – October 3^rd you can check in on October 3^rd, stay the entire week after checking out on October 10^th and have Free Dining for your vacation. Availability is the key as always!
5. Remember that FREE is never really free. Disney doesn’t hike the room prices up like most unnamed other vacation destinations, but when you have a sit down restaurant meal you will have to pay the gratuity, it is automatically calculated and added for you! It is 18% at the moment and could rise without notice from Disney, so be sure to plan on that with your budget.
   

   FREE Dining truly is a huge savings for any Walt Disney World package! This year I had clients who saved anywhere from $400 to $1200 based on length of stay and number of people in the party. This is probably the deepest discount you can get at Disney and certainly gives families the opportunity to try some of the world class dining venues that they ordinarily wouldn’t get to try! Give us a call today so we can help your family save money this year!

Refillable Mug Changes at WDW Might Be Coming!

Disney's Rapid Fill 

Last weekend we took a long weekend and headed to our favorite place on Earth! You Guessed it Orlando! I did some research and photos while Steve took the kids to Blizzard Beach (look for a blog soon!). He mentioned something to me that might be coming true at the resorts at Disney World sooner rather than later.

In my weekly reading of all things Disney I ran across an article about Disney's Rapid Fill coming to the resorts. What does that mean? When you are at the water parks you can purchase a refillable mug for a set price. It has a bar code on it that you have to scan each time you refill before the machine allows you to refill your mug. This cuts down on guests bringing their mugs from 1992, which irritate me to death!! But I digress!

Apparently plans may be in motion for this system to be installed at all of the resorts on Disney property. All Star Sports Resort has

been the test resort and it must be working well for Disney! Taking away the opportunity for entire family's to bring their mugs from
their visit 5 years ago and cheating the system. So be mindful before you pack those mugs with the intention of getting free soft drinks that Disney may be one step ahead of you ;)

Mia
MackeyMouse Travel

A Meal With Character!

Dining with the Characters

Bear hug from a chipmunk!! Which one is he??

Such a wonderful treat! We have to have a character meal (at least one) each time we visit WDW. I can't imagine vacation pictures without some costumed adult hugging my kids!

We have our all time favorites that are must do's but we also try to mix in something we haven't done at all or done in a while. This way our pictures and memories expand and we don't get complacent with this time honored tradition.

Our best family tradition is Chef Mickey's. Located at the Contemporary Resort, it's convenient to the Magic Kingdom and offers a huge variety of food and the Fabulous Five characters. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get reservations at Chef Mickey's so you really need to decide and book it 180 days before you arrive!

Most of the Character restaurants book up fast! You can check at the podium to be put on a wait list if they have one for that night. We've tried at the Garden Grill at Epcot before and waiting about an hour to be seated. No guarantees even at that point if you will be seated though! Best to let a travel agent book it for you ;)

Some of our other favorites include: Akershus at the Norway pavilion in Epcot, Cinderellas Royal Banquet in the Castle at the Magic Kingdom, 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian and Hollywood & Vine with the Disney Junior characters. 

If you are lucky and the restaurant isn't super busy you will get a lot of interaction with the characters! They are extremely playful and love to joke around with your kids. Always sit your children on the outside (totally opposite from what you normally do I know!) so the characters can hug and dance with them. Have your autograph book open and pen ready and don't forget to keep your camera handy! A camcorder of some kind is a must because the interaction is the best!

Truly a favorite moment with Cinderella!

Mickey playing around at the Garden Grill

A great choice to see all of the princesses at once! Reservations are easier to get then at the Castle!

MORE tips!

• We strongly recommend reservations far in advance – but if it’s last minute, it’s worth a try to stop by the restaurant and inquire.
• If you’re planning breakfast, go early – or go late. It’s a great way to wake everyone up and be ready to take on the attractions with a full tummy, or to miss the busiest times (and maybe have a little more time with the characters).
• Don’t forget an autograph book for the kids!
• The characters make a stop at every single table. They will get to yours. 

• Best audience with the Big Cheese: Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. He’s in that adorable chef hat. Breakfast or dinner, both buffets are bounteous.
• Some of our favorite food: The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom Park with favorite Disney storybook friends for breakfast, lunch and dinner; The Garden Grill at The Land Pavilion at Epcot (Chip n’ Dale for dinner); 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella and friends for dinner).
• Dream come true for little girls: “Princess Storybook Dining” at Akershus in Epcot’s Norway Pavilion for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
• Where to find Minnie Mouse: At breakfast at Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Dressed in her best swimwear.
• For Disney Channel fans: For little ones who love Handy Manny, Agent Oso and June and Leo from “Little Einsteins,” book breakfast or lunch at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Get ready for singing and dancing.
• The most coveted table: Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park. Reservations can be made 180 days in advance.
• No adults allowed: Wonderland Tea Party at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Drop off the kids for tea with Alice and the Mad Hatter.
• Make an evening of it: When the weather’s right, Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue dinner show at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.
• Speedy service: The family-style platters at ‘Ohana fill you up at breakfast, with Lilo and Stitch to keep you company.
• If you love Donald Duck: Start your day at Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Donald’s Safari Breakfast.

Remember this is just one of the many services MackeyMouse Travel offers! We book your dining and help you decide which choices are the best for your vacation!! Contact us for help today!!  Check out our Disney World Information page for up to the minute help and tips!

Even the grown-ups get into the fun!!! 1900 Park Fare (My parents 50th Wedding Anniversary!)

Should you go to WDW?

Why Does Planning Have to be so HARD?

Have you been thinking about a trip to Walt Disney World but aren't sure when, how or what? Hopefully I can help you understand the planning aspect of deciding on a WDW trip.

Disney is king of family vacation destinations! They offer the widest variety of accommodations, activities, theme parks and dining. How on Earth are you expected to understand it all and make the right choices for your family. A travel agent is a great first call! But here are a few things your travel agent is going to ask you so let's get you prepared!

What type of vacation do you prefer?
Active, quiet, take it slow, or full speed ahead. Think about your over all experience when you vacation. Do you want to unwind and slow your family down or do you want to make sure they don't miss a single thing?

Accommodations, what is a must have in a resort?
Disney offers 4 categories of resort options: Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Home Away From Home. As you guessed it, the price starts low (Value) and goes higher (HAFH). There is something to fit every budget and every size family but you really need to think about what you can't live without. Value is the HoJo version of Disney hotels. Yes they all have great Disney themes but you will get the basics of amenities. Moderates offer larger beds (queens vs. doubles), larger square footage and even some resorts with trundle beds for families of 5! Deluxe are the plush resorts. You will have high end amenities but the best part is location, location, location! All of those beautiful resorts along the monorail loop are Deluxe resorts as well as, the lagoon at the Boardwalk.

Home Away From Home resorts offer full kitchens and actually have resorts in all 3 main categories. Art of Animation and All Star Music have family suites with partial kitchens. Fort Wilderness Cabins are in the moderate category with full kitchens. And all other HAFH resorts are in the Deluxe category with full kitchens and top notch amenities.

Theme Parks ~ do you add the "others"?
Disney has 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can choose tickets that give you unlimited access for your entire stay (Park Hopper tickets) or you can choose one park per day (basic tickets). Some guests go to WDW every few years so they want to add everything into their trip including Sea World and Universal Studios. To do the absolute minimum each park offers you will need 7 full days (4 at WDW parks and 2 at Universal Studios and 1 at Sea World).

When ~ when do you want to go?
This will affect your cost a lot! There are seasons at WDW as with all hotels. Disney has Holiday seasons which are going to include Spring Break, Thanksgiving and Christmas thru New Years. Expect the highest prices and the largest crowds during those times. If you want my quickest answer to the best time to go, here it is: mid-January, May, September-early November and early December. Prices are kind of reasonable in July and August but the heat might just get you. Disney has of late been offering free dining September - November (with some time in early December). This offers you the absolute best bang for your buck if you can swing a trip during free dining. Keep in mind Disney blocks out certain popular times which include a lot of school fall breaks (except for any in September).

How does this all work?
You can book any Disney Vacation package with just a deposit of $200.00. Your entire vacation must be paid in full 45 days prior to your arrival. If you need to make changes you can for no fee, although prices will vary if you change to low season to high season or if ticket prices have changed.

Can a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children between the ages of 3-9) go to Disney for a week for $2,500. Yes they can! Value resort during free dining will be your absolute best time to go. You will be able to get 6 nights/7 days with basic tickets. It won't include Universal or Sea World, but for a little more you can add one or both. Travel agents (and I don't mean Expedia or the like) are you best resource to use when planning. Disney trains them all the time and they can provide the best way to get the most of your vacation.

I as your travel agent have your best interest at heart! I want to make sure you everything you want out of your trip. I can plan on Disney property or off Disney property and price everything in between. Use me! I charge no fees and will always put you first!  Visit my website for more information about me and what I offer and always check my Disney Information website that as a travel agent Disney maintains with the most current information. Email me at mackeymousetravel@yahoo.com or call me at 770.490.5974.

Disney Cruise Line’s Animator’s Palate

Disney Cruise Line’s Animator’s Palate

Copyright: Disney ~ photo by: Matt Stroshane

Animator’s Palate aboard the Disney Fantasy is a re-imagined version of the signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with wall- to-wall whimsy inspired by classic animator’s studios.

Design highlights include pillars throughout the restaurant fashioned like huge pencils and brushes, character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade. Scenes and characters from popular Disney and Disney•Pixar films adorn the walls.
Rotational dining brings guests to Animator’s Palate twice during the seven-night cruise, but the experience that captivates and delights the entire family is very different on the two evenings.

“Animation Magic”

On one evening, as guests are seated at their tables, they are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. Then, just before dinner, house lights dim and a sprinkling of pixie dust illuminates the room.

On several large monitors around the room, Mickey Mouse appears, places the Sorcerer’s hat upon his head and begins the show. He invites guests to sit back, relax and enjoy a taste of animation as a montage of memorable food-themed moments from Disney and Disney•Pixar films is shown, set to the tune “Be Our Guest.” After the number is complete, guests’ drawings are whisked off to Mickey Mouse, who is conjuring a magical final act.

After dinner, Mickey returns for the exciting finale. With a musical crescendo, he works his magic and conjures the guests’ drawings – now fully animated and brought to life – into the onscreen action.
A parade starts as Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a march across the screens around the dining room. The animation becomes more elaborate as the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies, skipping and dancing side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White.

At the conclusion of the show, Mickey returns to say “so long” while credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. To commemorate the experience, guests’ drawings are returned to them … with an added touch: a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.

On “Animation Magic” evening, the creative cuisine matches the character of the restaurant, with both cold and hot appetizer samplers that give diners a half-dozen delicious small bites to start the meal, such as “Corn Three Ways” with popcorn soup, corn salsa and chicken coated with garlic-cheese popcorn. Entrees include roasted red snapper, filet of beef Wellington and garlic and rosemary-marinated lamb sirloin. Dessert follows, another trio of small tastes.

“Undersea Magic”
On another evening, after diners are seated, the restaurant goes through a transformation: Guests are magically transported to a shimmering undersea world where views of a coral reef environment are all around them, setting the stage for a visit from Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo.”

Enter Crush, a most-excellent ambassador of the oceans and seas. The animated character swims from window to window, “working the room,” engaging guests in real-time conversation about his life and world.

For “Undersea Magic” evening, the menu features a choice of appetizers such as sesame- flavored rock
shrimp and caramelized onion cheesecake, or smoked salmon tartare. Entrées range from ginger teriyali-dusted Angus beed tenderloin to a trio of veal, or wild mushroom risotto and porcini twist. Sweet endings include a cookies and cream sundae, crunchy walnut cake and a no-sugar-added lemon mousse.

Wines from California and the Pacific Rim complement both menus.

 For more information take a look at our Disney Information Website. This site is updated and maintained by Disney so it has the most up to the minute information available! Or you can contact us at 770.490.5974 or email: mackeymousetravel@yahoo.com

Copyright: Disney ~ picture by: Jimmy DeFlippo

Copyright: Disney

Copyright: Disney ~ picture by: Matt Stroshane

Copyright: Disney ~ Shrimp & Caramelized Onion Cheesecake

Be Our Guest Reservations in Late August!

Copyright: Disney Park Blog

Braised pork for lunch and a grilled strip steak for dinner – Chef Michael Deardorff had a hard time choosing, but says those are two of his favorites from the new menu for Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.



Chef Deardorff has been at the helm in Disney kitchens for 25 years, most recently as part of the opening of the restaurants at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Now he’s back to open Be Our Guest, inspired by “Beauty and the Beast,” with three dining rooms and seats for over 500 guests.


“Lunch is quick service, but not traditional counter service,” says Deardorff. Guest-activated terminals make ordering a snap (there also will be traditional cashiers for cash orders and special dietary requests). You order, take a seat and lunch is delivered to your table – on china, not paper.

Back to the menu. “It’s all about simple, fresh ingredients,” says Deardorff. “Just like your favorite quick-service restaurants across Magic Kingdom Park, you’ll be able to enjoy sandwiches and salads at Be Our Guest Restaurant for lunch, but all with a twist that transports you to the French setting of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”

There’s a little French bistro flavor with tuna Niçoise salad and a Croque Monsieur sandwich with carved ham, Gruyere cheese, béchamel and pommes frites (a fancy term for French fries). Or go for the carved turkey on a warm baguette with Dijon mayonnaise, or the grilled steak sandwich with garlic butter spread, both with pommes frites. Heartier fare includes braised pork that’s cooked for eight hours, and for vegetarians, there’s a loaded vegetable quiche or quinoa, shallot and chive salad.

Dinner is table service, with diverse starters such as a charcuterie plate with cured meats and sausages, mussels steamed in white wine, French onion or potato leek soup, and a salad with champagne vinaigrette. We’re intrigued by the salad trio with three mini tastes of roasted beet, raisins and orange; green beans, tomatoes and roasted shallots; and watermelon, radish and mint.

Entrées include a thyme-scented pork rack chop with au gratin pasta, rotisserie rock hen with roasted fingerling potatoes, pan-seared salmon in leek fondue, grilled strip steak with pommes frites, sautéed shrimp and scallops with veggies in puff pastry with creamy lobster sauce, and an oven-baked ratatouille.

Oh, and dessert – we vote for the cupcakes, strawberry cream cheese or triple chocolate. If cupcakes aren’t your favorite sweet ending, there’s a chocolate cream puff and a passion fruit cream puff.

For kids 9 and under, the lunch entrées include a carved turkey sandwich, roasted pulled pork, Mickey meatloaf, seared mahi mahi, or whole-grain macaroni topped with marinara and mozzarella. For dinner, it’s grilled steak, grilled fish of the day, whole-grain macaroni or grilled chicken breast.

Copyright: Disney Park Blog

Copyright: Disney Park Blog

Cars Wing Opens at Art of Animation Resort

Cars Wing Offers High-Octane Fun at Disney’s New Family Suites Resort

Copyright: Disney

 Lightning McQueen, Mater, Flo and other characters from the popular Pixar film “Cars” race into Radiator Springs just in time for the summer vacation season as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opened the second phase of its new family suites property at Walt Disney World Resort June 18. Less than a month ago, Disney’s Art of  Animation Resort opened its first phase of family suites, themed to Finding Nemo.

In the new Cars wing, featuring 480 family suites, a freshly paved road leads guests on the greatest road trip ever, a cruise down memory lane to small town America — Radiator Springs.  Parked at the entryway Sheriff and  the infamous  Doc Hudson welcome folks into town, along with other car “faces” parked along the road.  There’s backdrops of Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, Tow Mater Towing and the Wheel Well Motel, creating an authentic setting lifted from the super-charged adventure.

All roads lead to the 60′s style Cozy Cone Motel where distinctive orange cone-shaped cabanas invite guests to kick back and then take a dip in the Cozy Cone Pool. High-octane theming is full-throttle inside the family suites, with orange cones imprinted in the carpeting and adorning the light fixtures plus animation-inspired artwork. Guests will feel as though they walked into a scene from the blockbuster film as a pull-out bed extends from the living room sofa (whimsically appearing as the back seat of an old hot rod), the tool chest is actually the dresser and the bathroom design is inspired by a car  wash.

Opening in phases, each of four distinctly designed wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

New Dining Cancellation Policy

As you are probably aware of by now, Disney has changed their Dining Cancellation Policy. The real affect is you will need to put a credit card guarantee on some dining locations (events) and if you don't cancel within 1 day of the reservation. This is in an attempt to cut down on No-Shows! Not a hard policy, but could affect any bookings you may have if you make changes to them.





Dining locations participating in the credit card guarantee policy include:
• 1900 Park Fare
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
• Artist Point
• California Grill
• Cape May Café
• Chef Mickey’s
• Cítricos
• The Crystal Palace
• Flying Fish Café
• The Garden Grill
• Hollywood & Vine
• Jiko – The Cooking Place
• Le Cellier Steakhouse
• Narcoossee’s
• ‘Ohana
• Tusker House Restaurant
• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• Victoria & Albert’s (cancellation policy is $25/per person)
• Yachtsman Steakhouse

Call MackeyMouse Travel so we can verify any existing reservations and/or make new ones for your upcoming trip!

NOW Let's Go PLAN!!