There are lots of things to think about when choosing where to stay when you go to Disney World. Is it really better to stay on-site? Is it really worth the extra money to stay in a moderate or deluxe resort? The choice of where to stay is a very personal one, and you really just have to decide what's best for your family. Today I want to tell you why we almost always choose Pop Century.
The first year we went to Disney, we stayed at another value resort. It was nice, but the bus service was horrid! We were sharing buses with 2 other resorts, so there were times we waited for an hour or longer for a bus. I think Disney has since worked to improve this situation, but nevertheless, we decided to try another resort. The next year, we decided to try Pop Century, and we have stayed there every year since.
Many of you want the perks of staying in a moderate or deluxe resort. Sure, the pools are nicer, the dining options might be a little better, and you might have a little extra wiggle room. But for us, we don't spend a whole lot of time in the room, so we can't justify spending the extra money for a moderate or deluxe room. Again, it's a personal decision. You have to decide what's best for your family.
Pop Century is great, but for many other reasons than not having to share a bus! Pop Century has this awesome nostalgic feel. I love the giant Potato Heads, Big Wheel, Play-Doh, Mickey phone, and oh so much more! It definitely makes you feel like a kid again! The giant flower shaped "Hippy Dippy Pool" is so much fun, but the other pools (shaped like a computer, and bowling pin) are great, too. Everything Pop Shopping and Dining is a great place to chill and cool down after a long day in the parks, as well as for buying all your souvenirs. The rooms are nice and clean. They aren't huge, but again, we don't spend a whole lot of time in the room, so we don't mind at all. And I don't know why, but I love the sparkly floors inside the main building!
So, lots of people have asked me about where to stay when you go to Disney World, and I tell them that you have to think about what's best for your family, but we love Pop Century! It's very affordable, still nicer than a lot of other hotels we've been in before, and lots of fun! So when you're thinking about where to stay for your Disney World vacation, don't count out those value resorts just yet! Pop Century is a great one!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Free Dining Dates
Did you know that as long as you plan to arrive during a free dining period, you get free dining for the duration of your vacation? If the website says there is free dining Dec. 10-15, I can plan my vacation for the 15-20, and get free dining for the entire vacation because I arrived during the 10-15 free dining period! So if you're thinking of planning a Disney World vacation, look out for those free dining offers, and remember that as long as you arrive during those dates, you'll receive free dining for the duration of your vacation! Right now, there are free dining dates available from October 2011-March 2012! Check them out here.
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Saturday, August 27, 2011
What to Pack?
So, you're going to Disney World. What to pack? This is a question many people ask when they are planning there trip. Here's my two cents:
1. TENNIS SHOES - I have always worn my flip flops at Disney World. I love flip flops. I wear them every day. Plus, if you get wet, soggy tennis shoes are no fun. Well, this year, I decided to listen to my husband and give the tennis shoes a try. I will never wear flip flops at Disney World again! My feet and legs were so much happier wearing tennis shoes all day! I highly recommend tennis shoes for a day in the parks!
2. Extra Clothes - I usually pack two sets of clothes per day for us. We go to the parks in the morning, and come back in the afternoon to rest/swim/whatever. You don't want to put on dirty clothes when you're going back out in the evening. So I make sure we have extra sets of clothes for the days we are going to be in the parks.
3. Poncho/Rain Coats - We usually take ponchos in our backpack to the parks. It is Florida, and you never know when you're going to get caught in a rain shower. We have used our ponchos every year. Unfortunately, the first year, we didn't bring them and had to buy them in the park. OUCH! Bring your own!
4. First Aid Kit - I don't bring anything major, just a little something with band-aids and some antiseptic. We have lots of scrapes and blisters, so band-aids are a must!
5. Camera- Duh! You're definitely going to want pictures/videos of those magical memories!
6. Backpack - I mentioned this already, but we always take a backpack into the park. It can be a bit cumbersome, but we've tried taking smaller bags, and have just found that the backpack works best. We can bring our ponchos, first aid kit, camera, bottles of water, snacks, and whatever else we might need.
7. Sunblock - Again, this is Florida. You're going to need sunblock!
8. Medications - Of course, if you take daily medications you'll want to take those, but I learned to always bring Tylenol/Motrin as well. Our daughter caught strep throat last year at Disney World and we had to carry the children's Tylenol around in our backpack! We also bring allergy medicine, just in case!
9. Hand Sanitizer - I ALWAYS keep this in my backpack at Disney World. There are gazillions of people there and if you have kids, they put their hands on everything! And usually you're stopping to eat while you're in the park, so you'll want the hand sanitizer nearby.
Of course, if you forget something, there are plenty of places inside and outside of Disney World where you can get what you need. The most important thing is to have fun! So don't stress about this part! You're probably going to forget something, and it is going to be okay!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
1. TENNIS SHOES - I have always worn my flip flops at Disney World. I love flip flops. I wear them every day. Plus, if you get wet, soggy tennis shoes are no fun. Well, this year, I decided to listen to my husband and give the tennis shoes a try. I will never wear flip flops at Disney World again! My feet and legs were so much happier wearing tennis shoes all day! I highly recommend tennis shoes for a day in the parks!
2. Extra Clothes - I usually pack two sets of clothes per day for us. We go to the parks in the morning, and come back in the afternoon to rest/swim/whatever. You don't want to put on dirty clothes when you're going back out in the evening. So I make sure we have extra sets of clothes for the days we are going to be in the parks.
3. Poncho/Rain Coats - We usually take ponchos in our backpack to the parks. It is Florida, and you never know when you're going to get caught in a rain shower. We have used our ponchos every year. Unfortunately, the first year, we didn't bring them and had to buy them in the park. OUCH! Bring your own!
4. First Aid Kit - I don't bring anything major, just a little something with band-aids and some antiseptic. We have lots of scrapes and blisters, so band-aids are a must!
5. Camera- Duh! You're definitely going to want pictures/videos of those magical memories!
6. Backpack - I mentioned this already, but we always take a backpack into the park. It can be a bit cumbersome, but we've tried taking smaller bags, and have just found that the backpack works best. We can bring our ponchos, first aid kit, camera, bottles of water, snacks, and whatever else we might need.
7. Sunblock - Again, this is Florida. You're going to need sunblock!
8. Medications - Of course, if you take daily medications you'll want to take those, but I learned to always bring Tylenol/Motrin as well. Our daughter caught strep throat last year at Disney World and we had to carry the children's Tylenol around in our backpack! We also bring allergy medicine, just in case!
9. Hand Sanitizer - I ALWAYS keep this in my backpack at Disney World. There are gazillions of people there and if you have kids, they put their hands on everything! And usually you're stopping to eat while you're in the park, so you'll want the hand sanitizer nearby.
Of course, if you forget something, there are plenty of places inside and outside of Disney World where you can get what you need. The most important thing is to have fun! So don't stress about this part! You're probably going to forget something, and it is going to be okay!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Special Events
There are a number of special events that happen at Disney World seasonally. They are fantastic, and if you happen to be there during one of these events, you'll definitely want to take part! The one I can't wait to see for myself is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! You must have a special ticket for this event, and they have offered discounted tickets to Disney Visa cardholders for events like these in the past. But it is completely magical! Holiday parades, characters decked out in their holiday best, free hot cocoa and cookies, snow on Main Street USA...It is not to be missed! Staying on the topic of Christmas, Epcot also has a candlelight processional that I hear is amazing. Celebrity hosts narrate the Christmas story with a mass choir to create an unforgettable holiday experience. This event does not require a ticket, but you can get reserved seating with a lunch or dinner package.
In the Fall, Magic Kingdom also offers Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is another ticketed event where kids (of all ages!) can dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom. Characters are decked out in their Halloween attire and villains who are scarce at other times of year make special appearances. There is a Boo to You parade featuring the Haunted Mansion characters as well! It is all a bit of not-so-scary fun!
There are other special events held around the year. Magic Kingdom's Night of Joy is coming up soon on September 9-10 featuring Christian music artists. They also host the marathons in January and February, Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival has amazing topiaries in the Spring-last year they had Lightning McQueen and Tow-Mater right at the entrance to World Showcase...so cool! And of course, Epcot's Food and Wine Festival in the fall where you can enjoy food and drink specialties from around the world! Hollywood Studios has Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights at Christmas with millions of lights, and in the summer, Star Wars Weekends for the Jedi in your family!
To find out more about special events at Disney World, click here.
Have you attended any of these events? I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
In the Fall, Magic Kingdom also offers Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is another ticketed event where kids (of all ages!) can dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom. Characters are decked out in their Halloween attire and villains who are scarce at other times of year make special appearances. There is a Boo to You parade featuring the Haunted Mansion characters as well! It is all a bit of not-so-scary fun!
There are other special events held around the year. Magic Kingdom's Night of Joy is coming up soon on September 9-10 featuring Christian music artists. They also host the marathons in January and February, Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival has amazing topiaries in the Spring-last year they had Lightning McQueen and Tow-Mater right at the entrance to World Showcase...so cool! And of course, Epcot's Food and Wine Festival in the fall where you can enjoy food and drink specialties from around the world! Hollywood Studios has Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights at Christmas with millions of lights, and in the summer, Star Wars Weekends for the Jedi in your family!
To find out more about special events at Disney World, click here.
Have you attended any of these events? I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Walt Disney World has just announced free dining dates for October 2011-March 2012! Like the last free dining promotion, if you stay at a value resort, you will be given the Quick Service Dining plan, and if you stay at a moderate resort (or above), you will get the regular Dining Plan (which includes table service meals). Quick note: 2012 Quick Service Dining Plan only includes 1 snack per day instead of 2. If you've been thinking about planning a Disney Vacation, but have been waiting for a good deal, here's your chance! Rooms designated for promotions are limited, so call soon to get the resort of your choice! Packages must be booked by October 29! You can find more details here.
Happy Planning!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Happy Planning!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Thursday, July 28, 2011
My Itinerary
Some of you are like my husband, and want to go to Disney World and just do whatever you feel like doing. It's vacation, right? Others of you are like me and have every single minute of every single day planned out so you don't miss a thing. Well, for us, we have to compromise and do something in-between, but for those of you who are like me, today I am sharing my itinerary.
You don't HAVE to have an itinerary for a Disney trip. I just find it helps me keep track of the things I want/need to remember, like dining reservations, tips, character greeting times, shows, etc. Most of the planning sheets I've seen are in excel, but I don't like excel, so mine is in word. :)
I hope this helps you as you're planning your own Disney trip. If it does, let me know! If it doesn't, you can let me know that, too! :)
Until next time...
Disney Diva
You don't HAVE to have an itinerary for a Disney trip. I just find it helps me keep track of the things I want/need to remember, like dining reservations, tips, character greeting times, shows, etc. Most of the planning sheets I've seen are in excel, but I don't like excel, so mine is in word. :)
Our 2011 Disney Vacation!
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | |
Magic Kingdom | Epcot | Hollywood Studios | Epcot | Magic Kingdom | |
7 am | Breakfast at resort | Breakfast at resort | Bus to MK | ||
8 am | 8:10 Chef Mickey’s | Bus to Epcot | Bus to Epcot | EMH | |
9 am | Castle: Sit on the stone ledge on the side of the castle, you will hear Stitch giggle and tell you to be quiet because he's hiding. Notice the color of the step sister's faces in the mosiac | 9:25 Akershus | Head to HS and Toy Story Mania | Future World Head straight for Soarin | (Tomorrowland)Look for the Galaxy Gazette Hawker between the entrances to Astro and Transit. Stand in front of him to get insulted. |
10 am | Family Magic Tour City Hall #410101207168 | Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney Junior? | The Seas Test Track | ||
11 am | 11:30 Beauty and the Beast | World Showcase Kim Possible | |||
12 pm | Lunch at Pecos Bill’s | Back to Hotel | Lunch at Pizza Planet | Lunch at Liberty Inn | Lunch at Cosmic Ray’s |
1 pm | Adventureland: Carpets: Ride halfway to get hit by the Camel spit. Stand on the wet spots on the pavement outside the ride to get wet too! | Lunch at Resort | Muppet Vision Honey I Shrunk the Kids | Mulan (China)- 11am to 6pm | Back to Hotel |
2 pm | Frontierland: BTMR:Take off your hat! Each of the 6 trains has an engine and 5 cars. For the "wildest ride" request a seat in the back rows. For tamer rides, request a seat in the front of the train. Look at the second floor of the saloon for a party! | Mexico Donald - 1:20 - 5:45 pm. | |||
3 pm | Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade | Registration at Indy Racing | Pixar Pals Parade Watch near American Idol Entrance | Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger and Alice. Be sure to visit The Toy Shop for more characters! (UK) | Back to MK |
4 pm | Liberty Square Area: Look for the wooden crates at the entrance that represent the Boston Tea Party. Look for the brown pavement that represents the sewer that flowed through the streets. Look for the 2 lanterns in the window across from the Haunted Mansion | Indy Racing Experience | Back to Hotel | DVRC Meet & Greet | Character greetings at Town Square Theater (to the right as you enter). FASTPASSes are available just past TST before Chapeau. |
5 pm | Dream Along With Mickey (5:15) | Dinner at Yakitori House | Fantasyland | ||
6 pm | Dinner at Pinnochio Village Haus | Dinner at Downtown Disney? | Head over to line for Fantasmic | 11:30 - 6:30 (France) Princess Aurora, Belle (and the Beast sometimes), and even Esmerelda and Marie- in one of the shops in France (behind the perfume shop, I think), you can find the Beast's library. Look for the little area behind the bookstore. That is where the characters come out! | |
7 pm | Back to Resort | 12:15 - 7 pm. (Morocco) Aladdin, Jasmine, | Dinner at Casey’s Corner | ||
8 pm | |||||
9 pm | Fantasmic | Main Street Electrical Parade | |||
10 pm | back to resort | Wishes |
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Discounts
Wondering if you might be able to get a discount on your Walt Disney World vacation? The answer is YES! I have never been to Disney World without some sort of discount. That being said, the rumor is, they will be releasing fewer discounts than they have in recent history because bookings have increased. Nevertheless, there are still discounts being offered, and you can take advantage of them! Disney's current special offers can be found here on the waltdisneyworld.com website. To get an idea about when a special offer might come along for the dates you're planning, take a look here on the mousesavers.com website to see when discounted rates have been released in the past.
Disney also has something called a bounceback offer, where you can book your next vacation while you're on the current one. You can look for these offers in resort hotel rooms. These offers can only be booked, though, while on your current vacation. There are no exceptions.
Also, if you are planning a Disney vacation, make sure you become a member of their website, as they periodically send out special "code" offers by email. To get these offers, you have to have the PIN you were emailed. Likewise, these offers may be sent out to members of anyone who has an account with the Disney store, Disney Rewards Visa, or has requested the free vacation planning dvd. Let them know you're interested, and you might get just the discount you were hoping for!
So don't feel overwhelmed by prices when you look into a Disney World vacation! You can make it happen! So start planning!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Disney also has something called a bounceback offer, where you can book your next vacation while you're on the current one. You can look for these offers in resort hotel rooms. These offers can only be booked, though, while on your current vacation. There are no exceptions.
Also, if you are planning a Disney vacation, make sure you become a member of their website, as they periodically send out special "code" offers by email. To get these offers, you have to have the PIN you were emailed. Likewise, these offers may be sent out to members of anyone who has an account with the Disney store, Disney Rewards Visa, or has requested the free vacation planning dvd. Let them know you're interested, and you might get just the discount you were hoping for!
So don't feel overwhelmed by prices when you look into a Disney World vacation! You can make it happen! So start planning!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Until next time...
Disney Diva
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