Author:
Affording the Mouse
Jun
29
On June 23, Disney began offering what I think just may be my favorite dining experience yet, combining the Magic Kingdom’s fabulous nightly fireworks display, Wishes, with a buffet of signature Disney desserts! The buffet takes place at the Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace and is slated to run through August 28, but I’m hoping it will be so hugely popular that Disney will reconsider and make it permanent–or at least keep it until I can make a trip down to experience it personally!
Here are the details: Cost is $17.99 for guest 10 and older and $9.99 for kids 3-9. Once you check in, you receive a wristband that identifies you as a buffet guest. I am told that the desserts come out in shifts, to keep everything fresh, and that they are plentiful, varied, and delicious! The buffet includes a drink station with coffee, tea, lemonade, and water.
All seats have a clear view of the Spectromagic parade, as well as the castle for the show. Guests are allowed to watch from their tables or from the railing. Considering the caliber of desserts served, along with the priority seating for the parade and fireworks, the Wishes dessert buffet looks like an excellent Disney value in my book! Call 407-WDW-DINE to book.
Author:
Affording the Mouse
Jun
25
Today’s tip is a dining tip: Make lunch your big meal of the day. This is especially true if you are eating a buffet meal. Take this example: Dinner at The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom (non-seasonal pricing) is $28.99 per adult and $13.99 for a child 3-9 (children under 3 are free). For a family of four with two adults and two kids, that will run you a whopping $85.96. Lunch at the same restaurant is $20.99 per adult and $11.99 per child, for a grand total of $65.96 for that same family of four. You save $20 by eating earlier! At most restaurants, lunch prices are good through around 2:30 or 3:00 PM, so you could have a late lunch and get by with a light dinner. (It’s also easier to get a seating at off-peak times.)
Author:
Affording the Mouse
Jun
18
Today’s tip is primarily for families with toddlers, and it’s all about working in an afternoon nap. Now, many Disney veterans swear by taking an afternoon break away from the parks, returning to the hotel for a nap (or swim, for the older kids). While I think this is a great approach for some families (and especially those with younger toddlers who can’t miss their naps), our family has always opted for staying in the parks and seeking out a dark, air-conditioned theatre to get the little guy or gal a power nap. Here are some of our favorite nap areas, by park:
- Magic Kingdom: Hands down, this is the best park for napping. Hall of Presidents is a favorite. Since it’s currently closed for refurbishment (re-opening soon!), we also recommend the Carousel of Progress. The Country Bear Jamboree isn’t bad either. Another option (if it’s not unbearably hot) is a cruise on the Liberty Square Riverboat. The ride is about 30 minutes–a perfect power nap.
- Epcot: The American Adventure is a dark theatre with cushy seats, idea for a cool snooze. Many of the pavilions on the World Showcase have quiet areas or benches in air-conditioning. In Future World, try Honey I Shrunk the Audience.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Your best bet is the Muppets 3-D Vision. American Idol Experience and Voyage of the Little Mermaid are also decent options, but the first is pretty loud and the second may be too exciting for kids to sleep. We’ve also found that The Great Movie Ride provides a nice, albeit brief nap experience. Just cover the tots ears during the gunfire.
- Animal Kingdom: This one is tougher. Not many quiet and dark shows here. Finding Nemo or It’s Tough to Be a Bug (if your child isn’t freaked out by bugs) would probably be the best choices, although it might be tough to get your child to close his or her eyes and ignore the show in either of these. We’ve had success getting in a quick nap on the Wildlife Express train.
My best tip is to know your child! If he or she needs a full-on, back-to-the-hotel nap, then by all means get one. But if you’ve got an older toddler who just needs a boost to get through the rest of the day, try one of our recommended (and many of them tested!) spots.
Author:
Affording the Mouse
Jun
17
The ‘net is abuzz with rumors that Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration will close within the next two weeks for changes. This high-energy show in Tomorrowland has only been in operation about six weeks, but tepid reviews have focused on the lack of story line as well as the lack of shady seating–or any seating–for guests.
One has to question the wisdom of building a theatre (er, a stage and sound booth) for a show featuring a character that doesn’t have a current show on Disney Channel and whose only theatrical release was in 2002. And, did we mention that there’s no appearance by Lilo in the show? I mean, what’s Stitch without Lilo? (We skipped the show on our recent trip based on that fact alone.) Still, you gotta hand it to Disney for taking immediate action to fix what was obviously (well…obvious now) a mistake.
It will be interesting to see if rumor becomes reality. And to see what Disney does to make this show work.
Update: Apparently Disney decided to close the show, rather than revive it. The final performance of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration was June 27, 2009. Stay tuned for info about what might replace this short-lived show.
