A Blog About Disney Stuff

World Sea Turtle Day Report from the Field: Saving Florida’s Sea Turtles with Disney Conservation Team Wildlife

Post author By disneyparks.disney.go.com
Post date June 16, 2020

As sea turtles are often regarded as sentinels of the ocean, it is only fitting that World Oceans Day is followed by World Sea Turtle Day. Sea turtles captivate us and spark our sense of discovery for the ocean wonders beyond the waves. From the way they gracefully glide through the water – or in Crush’s case, cruise along the EAC- to how they suddenly appear on land after 30 years at sea to lay their eggs and renew the sea turtle life cycle, sea turtles symbolize harmony and serenity in an increasingly chaotic world. While all seven species of sea turtles are either threatened or endangered, there is much we all can do- and are doing- to save them.

Disney Conservation Team Wildlife starts by helping the sea turtles in our own backyard – the beautiful east coast of Florida near Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Our sea turtle field conservation program, begun in 2003, has grown significantly over the years. More than 50 cast members contribute their time and expertise annually, providing meaningful experiences for more than 40,000 Disney Vacation Club Members and guests. Since our program’s inception, we have documented nearly 17,000 nests from three sea turtle species and recently celebrated the millionth baby sea turtle hatched on our five-mile stretch of beach.

As I write this post, sea turtle nesting season is in full swing here in Florida and the ladies have been busy! We are thrilled to see an increase in both leatherback, our rarest species, and loggerhead sea turtle nests. Check out our current nest numbers below!

World Sea Turtle Day Report from the Field: Saving Florida’s Sea Turtles with Disney Conservation Team Wildlife Infographic of current nest numbers

In these challenging times, Team Wildlife remains committed to our critical conservation work. Our small, but mighty team of scientists has been on the beach every day this summer conducting sea turtle nest surveys and marking nests to help protect them.

World Sea Turtle Day Report from the Field: Saving Florida’s Sea Turtles with Disney Conservation Team Wildlife

Based on the number of loggerhead nests we find in Florida, one might think that loggerheads are common. In fact, loggerheads are rapidly declining in many other critical habitats worldwide. We are fortunate that so many turtles nest on beaches near Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and we take our responsibility for conserving them very seriously. Part of our work is evaluating the many potential threats they face – like disturbance during nesting, coastal armoring such as seawalls, artificial light pollution on nesting beaches, plastic pollution, and bycatch and entanglement from fisheries gear. We even monitor our own sea turtle walk program to ensure that it doesn’t negatively impact our turtles.

We are proud of our work on the threats to sea turtles, but know that we can contribute even more. We must take action individually, in our communities, and worldwide. And Disney is doing just that.

We have outfitted Disney’s Vero Beach Resort with sea turtle-friendly lighting to ensure nesting females and hatchlings do not become disoriented on their way back to sea. Additionally, the Disney Conservation Fund has helped protect six species of sea turtles by providing nearly $4 million to support community conservation programs around the world including the TREE Foundation’s sea turtle conservation program in India, the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tortuguero program – longest running sea turtle research program in the world, and the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida, which is working to reverse the decline of Florida’s sea turtles.

(Credit from left to right: TREE Foundation, Sea Turtle Conservancy, and Alan Bolten)

What can you do to protect sea turtles on this World Sea Turtle Day and beyond? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Minimize your use of single use plastic, and dispose properly of all trash. All waterways lead to the ocean, and plastic floating in city canals eventually ends up in the sea.
Turn your lights off at night. Even if you don’t live near the beach, many wildlife species like birds and bats rely on dark skies to navigate safely.
Choose sustainably sourced seafood. If you’re not sure how to do this, download the Seafood Watch Guide app created by our friends at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Share your love for sea turtles with others! Passion for nature is contagious.
Learn more about sea turtles by visiting Disney Animals, checking out @DrMarkAtDisney for all things animals, science and environment, and following @DisneyConservation’s #BigBlueWorld series on Instagram to learn more about the conservation work we do and support in the big ol’ blue!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Uncategorized, Conservation

Tags Conservation, Uncategorized

Disney Movies Disney Rumors & Gossip Other

Did You Know THIS School Has Cranked Out Dozens of Disney SUPERSTARS?

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 16, 2020

For many, working for Disney is a lifelong dream, and fans around the world look at the most successful Disney icons and wonder how they got their start!

You may be surprised to know that a trove of Disney directors, animators, and yes, even LEGENDS, all went to the same college! It’s no coincidence that California Institute of the Arts, or CalArts, happens to be an unofficial hotspot for Disney talent! Today we’re taking a peek at the place that started the careers of so many Disney superstars — and checking out some hidden Disney details.

Why are there so many successful CalArts alumni working at Disney?

CalArts, which is located in Valencia, California, was actually founded by Walt and Roy Disney back in 1961. Back then, it was a merger between two art schools in the area and became an official college in 1970. Walt’s vision was to create a school where emerging artists could hone their craft in a “community of the arts.” Walt wanted the school to be built around real-world experience as opposed to the traditional academic setting.

From left to right: Donn Tatum, Card Walker, Harrison “Buzz” Price, John Kelsey, Thornton Ladd with Walt Disney © CalArts

Since the college opened, it has been a hotbed for producing talented artists across multiple disciplines. But many know CalArts to be one of the best ways to get a foot in the door at Disney. The school quickly became known as “Mickey Mouse U.” for its outpouring of Disney elites. Its close proximity to the Disney headquarters in Burbank and Glendale also helped!

You may have seen a nod to this influential school from its alumni in a HUGE number of projects — both Disney-related and not! Ever heard of the A113 easter egg? This tradition became popular among CalArts grads to hide the term A113 in television and film productions as a nod to the graphic design and animation classroom that all of these grads went through at CalArts.

Believe it or not, you can find mentions of A113 in movies ranging from The Princess and the Frog to Avengers: Endgame and beyond! It’s in hundreds of movies and TV shows! The room number is quite popular in Pixar films and is even hidden in Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! (Hint: it’s near Woody’s Lunch Box!)

Some of CalArt’s most notable alumni

While there are countless names on the list of CalArts alumni who have gone on to have successful careers with Disney (too many to include in just one post!), there are a select few who have truly stood out and become icons in the film industry at large. Some of these alumni have even gone on to become Disney legends!

Tim Burton

Many Disney fans know the work of Tim Burton very well! Although most of his work has been outside of Disney, his work as the producer of The Nightmare Before Christmas remains to this day a revolutionary feat in stop-motion animation! But his career with Disney spans much further than one film!

Tim Burton © Disney

Burton was scouted out by Disney when the animated short he worked on while at CalArts, Stalk of the Celery Monster, caught their attention. He was offered an apprenticeship at Disney where he worked on Fox and the Hound, TRON, and The Black Cauldron. This was followed up with a stop-motion animated short Vincent, which brought Burton’s unique style front and center.

Screengrab from the animated short “Vincent”

His first full-length feature film with Disney, Frankenweenie (no, not the animated 2012 film he ALSO made with Disney — this was a different 1984 version!), actually resulted in him getting fired from the Company as the film was considered too dark and scary for children. Even when Burton returned to Disney to produce The Nightmare Before Christmas, it was produced under Disney-owned Touchstone Pictures due to its darker nature.

Frankenweenie © Disney

Burton has continued to have a working relationship with Disney to this day, which has included that animated re-make of Frankenweenie in 2012!

Glen Keane

Glen Keane graduated from CalArts in 1974 and started working for Disney that same year. Since then, he has gone on to work on classic Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tarzan, and, more recently, Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph. He was inaugurated as a Disney Legend at the 2013 D23 Expo.

Fun fact — did you know Glen Keane has art in his blood? His dad was Bil Keane — the creator of the Family Circus comic strip — which Glenn’s brother, Jeff, still creates. Glen’s daughter Claire also got involved in filmmaking. You know all those whimsical paintings and drawings Rapunzel creates in Tangled? Those were her artwork!

Joe Ranft

Joe Ranft joined Disney in 1980 and worked in their animation department for over a decade. He worked on films such as Oliver and Company, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. In 1991, Ranft was hired by Pixar as their head of story. He worked on every single film produced by Pixar until his untimely death in 2005.

Joe Ranft © Disney

Like many other creative contributors at Pixar, he got involved in other elements of the films he helped create. In this case, Joe enjoyed contributing as a voice actor! You might recognize his voice as Wheezy in the Toy Story films or Heimlich in A Bug’s Life (“Oooh! A little butterfly!!”). He even voiced a character in another CalArt’s grad’s production — he was the voice of Igor in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Brad Bird

Brad Bird is a multi-talented filmmaker who was actually awarded a scholarship by Disney to attend CalArts. After graduating he began working for Disney, but he was ultimately fired for criticizing upper management for not taking enough risks.

Years later he was hired by Steve Jobs to work at Pixar. His biggest accomplishments include two Academy Awards for The Incredibles and Ratatouille.

Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof at the D23 Expo in 2013 © Disney

He also went on to create a couple of notable live-action films including one of the Mission: Impossible movies and the 2015 Disney film Tomorrowland. He also serves as part of the “Brain Trust” at Pixar of creatives who oversee all their films AND he’s lent his voice to a famous character you might not realize was him — Edna Mode from The Incredibles (“NO CAPES!”).

Danny Elfman

You may not know who this next guy is from looks alone but we guarantee you’ve heard him. He’s responsible for over 100 film and television scores including The Simpsons theme, the score for Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Batman, and so much more. He attended CalArts at the same time as Tim Burton…well, kind of.

Danny Elfman © Disney

While Danny Elfman technically never officially enrolled as a student at CalArts, he started sitting in classes and befriended a number of students, including Tim Burton. Ever since, Burton has used him as the primary composer for most of his films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas. Elfman was also the singing voice of Jack Skellington in the film! He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2015.

Even MORE Successful CalArts Alumni

There are way too many alumni to list who have gone on to have successful careers with Disney. But this list should give you an idea of the long-standing reputation of CalArts to produce some of Disney’s best and brightest artists.

School of Art – Graphic Design

Amanda Lui (BFA 14), graphic designer, Walt Disney Imagineering

School of Film – Character Animation

Mark Andrews (BFA 93), animation writer-director (Brave) — Academy Award

Chris Buck (78), animation writer-director (Frozen) — Academy Award

Brenda Chapman (BFA 87), animation writer-director (Brave, The Prince of Egypt, The Lion King) — Academy Award

©Disney

Pete Docter (BFA 90), animation writer-director (Inside Out, Up, Monsters, Inc.), Pixar Brain Trust — 2 Academy Awards

Ralph Eggleston (86), animation writer-director (For the Birds), production designer (Inside Out, WALL·E) — Academy Award

Mike Giaimo (78), animation art director (Frozen, Pocahontas)

Jennifer Hager (BFA 05), animation supervisor (Zootopia)

Don Hall (BFA 95), animation director (Big Hero 6) — Academy Award

Minkyu Lee (BFA 09), visual development artist (Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph), writer-director (Adam and Dog)

©Disney

Rob Minkoff (83), animation and live-action director (The Lion King, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, The Forbidden Kingdom)

Rich Moore (BFA 87), animation director (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph, Futurama) — 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, Academy Award nomination

John Musker (77), animation writer-director (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog) — Academy Award nomination

Shane Prigmore (99), character designer and visual development artist (The Lego Movie, The Croods, How to Train Your Dragon, Coraline), VP of Creative Affairs, Disney Television Animation

Alonso Ramirez Ramos (BFA 10), character designer, storyboard artist (Gravity Falls, Mickey Mouse) — 2 Primetime Emmy Awards

Peter Sohn (BFA 99), story animation director (The Good Dinosaur), voice actor

Andrew Stanton (BFA 87), story animation and live-action writer-director (Finding Nemo, WALL·E, Finding Dory), Pixar Brain Trust — 2 Academy Awards

Genndy Tartakovsky (cer. 92), story animation writer-director (Hotel Transylvania), creator of Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars — 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Trousdale (82), story animation writer-director (Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Kirk Wise (cer. 85), story animation writer-director (Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

School of Film – Experimental Animation

Henry Selick (MFA 77), stop-motion animation director (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) — Academy Award nomination

Jack and Sally Meet and Greet

School of Theater – Performance

Michael Jung (MFA 94), director, VP of Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering

Paul Reubens (73), screen actor, creator of Pee-wee Herman and Pee-wee’s Playhouse — 3 Primetime Emmy nominations, also the voice of R3X on the original Star Tours and DJ R3X in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!)

DJ R3X at his new home in Galaxy’s Edge!

When it comes to a career at Disney, there are MANY ways to get your foot in the door! The school was created specifically to produce well-rounded artists — just like what Disney is looking for in its hires! It’s clear that many of the students that make it through the programs at CalArts are primed to go on to careers with Disney. Saying you attended the school Walt Disney had a hand in creating certainly helps!

Are you a Disney history buff? How many of these CalArts alumni did you know about? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, Featured, History, Special Stuff, brad bird, CalArts, California Institute of the Arts, danny elfman, disney legend, glen keane, joe ranft, Pixar, Tim Burton, Walt Disney

Tags brad bird, CalArts, California Institute of the Arts, danny elfman, Disney Entertainment, disney legend, Featured, glen keane, history, joe ranft, pixar, Special Stuff, Tim Burton, Walt Disney

Disney Cruises Disney Vacations

My Favorite Disney Cruise Line Memory

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date June 16, 2020

Sponsored by Storybook Destinations

Ahoy, mateys! I’m Heather, and I’ll be bringing you the up and coming on all things Disney Cruise Line. Welcome back again this week. Let’s see what’s new in the DCL world!

I miss cruising. There is just no denying it. I miss the planning (occupational hazard, but not a bad one by any means!). I miss the preparation. I love to make lists, and I love to pack – seeing it all come together brings me such a sense of satisfaction and excitement. I miss the anticipation of leaving – that “too excited to sleep” feeling. And I miss every single moment we spend on board. Well, maybe not that moment where they say goodbye as you leave on your final morning. That moment is kind of the pits to be honest.

With three long months spent grounded from traveling, we’ve spent a lot of time mentally strolling down memory lane and reminiscing about some of our favorite vacation memories. It sparked a conversation in our house recently: what’s your favorite Disney Cruise memory? This was a tough one for me! Your first cruise always holds a very special place in your heart. Everything is new and exciting, and there’s no doubt we were hooked from the first blast of the ship’s horn. In fact, I have nearly no bad memories! But the rules of the game stated I must pick just one, and it was tough but I did it!

My Favorite Disney Cruise Line Memory

My favorite DCL memory is from last July, during our 9-night Alaskan sailing on the Wonder. We spent a perfectly sunny and warm day in Ketchikan, and a had a great dinner in Animator’s Palate. After dinner we started to make our way to O’Gills for trivia when we ran into the cutest guy on board up on deck 4 in the atrium – none other than Donald Duck himself. He was extra adorable in his cold-weather Alaskan gear – can you even stand him in that vest? Because I cannot! Our two daughters and their friend Isabelle (Miss Disney Cruise Line Blog) caught Donald’s eye, and he called them right over. Cue the music coming from deck 3 in the atrium, Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely”, and then cue Donald inviting the girls to dance. He spun and twirled each girl around, and then the four of them finished the song out swaying together. Oh, and also cue my leaking eyes at this point.

My Favorite Disney Cruise Line Memory What I really love about this memory is the simple organic nature of it all – it wasn’t planned, it wasn’t staged. Just the right girls, and the right Duck, and the right song at the right time. It felt so natural and so magical. I can close my eyes and still see the gigantic smiles on the faces of those three girls, and it makes my heart smile!

What is your favorite DCL memory? Share it with me in the comments!

Thanks for joining me again this week. “Sea” you next time!

The Disney Cruise Line Update is brought to you by Storybook Destinations. Storybook Destinations specializes in Disney travel, is consistently highly rated by our readers, and is owned by our own blogger extraordinaire, Tammy Whiting. Storybook also offers free subscriptions to TouringPlans to clients with qualified bookings.

The post My Favorite Disney Cruise Line Memory appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, disney cruise line

Tags disney cruise line

Disney News Disney Rumors & Gossip

News: Face Masks Could Soon Be Required at Certain Orlando-Area Businesses

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 16, 2020

Yesterday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings spoke about the current state of the global health crisis and its impact on the Orlando-area recently. During this time, he reported that he didn’t like the numbers he was seeing.

Florida Sunset

In the last week, the number of cases places like Orange County (where Disney World partially resides) has significantly risen.

Mayor Demings is concerned there could be a second wave that could far exceed the first spike that occurred back in April.

While he’s urging the public to comply with the new health and safety guidelines issued by government and health officials, he’s also stated there could be potential to make wearing face masks mandatory, especially for certain businesses they’ve linked to recent breakouts through contact tracing.

Welcome to Orlando!

For now, Demings’ goals moving forward will be to reiterate social distancing and safety measures that have already been implemented, but if cases are still rising, further action may take place.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will let you know if masks end up becoming required at select businesses.

What do you think about Orange County’s rise in cases? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, Bars, cases rising, cases spiking, certain businesses, contact tracing, Disney World, face masks mandatory, guidelines, health and safety measures, infection, mayor jerry demings, median age, nightclubs, orange county, Orlando, spreading, tripled cases

Disney Food Disney Guides Disney Parks Disney Vacations

The Disney Dining Plan Is Canceled, So Here Are the BEST Ways to SAVE When Chowing Down in Disney World

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 16, 2020

With the Disney World Parks reopening on July 11th, we’ve got dining on our minds.

Mickey Waffle at Magic Kingdom

Just a short while after announcing the reopening of the theme parks, Disney canceled all upcoming Advance Dining Reservations and Disney Dining Plan packages. This came as a bit of a shock. For some of us the Disney Dining Plan is a way of budgeting dining expenses before a trip, so HOW do we save money on Disney dining now? Fear not, we’re here to help. We’ve got a TON of NON-Dining Plan savings tips in the post below.

Get the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining

But if you’re headed to Disney World soon and need more guidance about where and what to eat, how to save precious vacation dollars, what events to consider, reviews for every restaurant, and more, we’ve got all of that for you in the DFB Guide to WDW Dining e-Book we publish!

This critically acclaimed guide is fully updated with ALL the latest information and news, and is absolutely the Disney food resource you need for your vacation.

It’s got just about everything we know…and that’s a LOT. Pick yours up at DFBStore.com with code WDW2020 to get 25% off TODAY!

OK — here we go to the BIG TIPS!

Eat Offsite

First up, consider eating offsite. Yes, we love Disney food (obvs), but Disney restaurants are VERY expensive. Don’t feel like you’re trapped dining IN Disney World when you could dine NEAR Disney World.

Eating offsite is very likely to cost you less, even for food of similar quality and portion size. Take a look at nearby restaurants and consider spending dinnertime off property once or twice. Your wallet will thank you. If you didn’t drive to Disney World in your own vehicle, you can use a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber to easily get to any restaurant you like!

Split Your Meals

If you DO dine in a Disney restaurant, remember that those portions are often HUGE. We usually consider them large enough to share whether you’re at a fast food or a sit-down table service spot. For those of us who don’t eat as much, sharing is often a no-brainer.

Cobb Salad

Some places have absolutely MASSIVE platters like Flame Tree Barbecue in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Not sure if you’ll be able to share? Scope out dishes that other guests are ordering or ask a Cast Member about the portion size prior to ordering. OR check out our reviews here on Disney Food Blog to see the actual portion size!

Ribs, Chicken, and Pork Sampler

At some table service locations, Cast Members will even plate a shared meal separately so that it feels like you’re each getting your own portion. Be wary though, sometimes splitting isn’t accommodated so ask your server if that’s an option.

Don’t Get Sides You Don’t Want

This next one is a SUPER easy savings tip but it’s also one that a lot of people don’t know about. When you’re ordering at a quick-service restaurant you can get most things a la carte. Don’t want that side of mac and cheese? Ask for your meal without it! Think that that sandwich will fill you up on its own? Forego the sides!

Regal Eagle Sides

When you skip out on sides you don’t want, your meal will usually cost less. This is a great tip for those with picky eaters in their family. If you don’t think you or a kiddo will end up eating part of the meal, don’t waste your money paying for it! On the flip side, you can always fill up on a few a la carte sides instead of a full meal if you aren’t too hungry!

Order Off the Kids’ Menu at Quick Service Locations

Speaking of kids, did you know that they’re not the ONLY ones who get all the fun of ordering off the kids’ menu? At quick-service (fast food) locations, typically anyone can order from the kids’ menu! Yep, that means you, Mom and Dad.

Vegetable Curry Pods Entree and Cheeseburger Pods

Remember what we said about portion sizes? Kids’ portions are usually big enough for an adult and if you have a big meal coming up later, chowing down on a kids’ meal is a great way to hold you off until then. Plus, kids get some AWESOME options like the Cheeseburger Pods at Satu’li Canteen!

(FYI — At table service, your experience will vary. Sometimes a server will be able to bring you a larger, adult-sized portion of a kids’ menu item if you don’t care for anything on the adult menu, but it likely will cost the same as a full-sized adult entree. So there are probably no money savings from a table-service kids’ menu perspective, but you can always ask!)

Bring Your Own Food

Another option is to bring your own food! Of course, you don’t need to DIY EVERY meal but it can be a really nice pick-me-up for your wallet if you eat in or picnic sometimes.

If you know you’ve got a big lunch planned in the parks, eat breakfast in your hotel room. Pack or pick up some cereal or granola bars to get that burst of energy before you head to the parks — without dishing out any extra cash.

Granola Bar selections including Luna Bars

You can take this tip even further, too! Grab some snacks to take into the park so that you can pay for fewer meals or share entrees when you DO eat at a Disney World restaurant. If you’re worried about being able to pack food, you can use a grocery delivery service such as Instacart or Amazon Prime Now to deliver goodies to your hotel.

You can even bring a picnic into the Disney parks (just remember — last year Disney issued new rules concerning bringing coolers and ice in the parks. Click here to brush up on all the new rules.)!

If you stay in a Disney Vacation Club Villa or other location with a kitchen, you can even cook your own meals. Just remember, if you want a kitchen in your Disney World hotel, things might get pricey. Weigh out the savings from being able to eat-in versus the upcharge for a kitchen when you consider this option.

Tables in Wonderland

This next tip is only available to certain guests but if it’s an option for you, it could be a great way to rack up some savings. Tables in Wonderland is a discount card that’s available to Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and Florida Residents.

Tables in Wonderland Membership Card

The card will net you 20% discounts at most Disney World table-service restaurants, and even some quick-service locations and lounges (including pricey alcohol). You’ll also get free 3-hour valet parking at Disney Resort Hotels when you show your receipt after dining at the hotel. All in all, your discounts will typically be higher than you would get with your Annual Pass or as a DVC Member.

The pass costs $175 for Florida residents and $150 for DVC Members or Annual Passholders and is good for a year. If you dine in Disney World a lot, it could be a GREAT way to save money when you’re not on the Dining Plan!

Eat a Big Breakfast or Lunch

PRO TIP ALERT! Breakfast at Disney tends to be cheaper than lunch and dinner. Keep this in mind when you’re planning your table service meal for the day!

Breakfast Skillet

If you eat a big breakfast or lunch, especially at a table service spot, you’ll save a few bucks as opposed to if you opted to do dinner as your big meal. Plus, with portion sizes in Disney, eating a big breakfast or lunch can usually hold you over for a large chunk of the day, meaning you can skip a meal (or two!) and save some cash.

Tusker House Breakfast Haul

Wanna take this tip to the next level? Consider booking a breakfast buffet as late as you can in the morning. You’ll get to chow down on breakfast favorites and, in many cases, they’ll switch the buffet over to lunch while you’re there so you can get your fill of a totally different lunchtime meal as well! Two for the price of one sounds good to us (just plan to arrive HUNGRY!). We tried this at Tusker House and, while we practically had to be rolled out the door when we finished, it was an awesome experience.

Don’t Dine at More Than One Table Service Restaurant a Day

Speaking of picking your table service meal, choosing a sit-down dinner is about more than just “when.” It’s also about how many times you should dine on a table-service meal. If you’re looking to save some money, we recommend limiting to just one table-service restaurant each day.

Storybook Dining at Artist Point

Remember, portions are huge so unless you’re a BIG eater, it’s hard to get your money’s worth if you sit down at two nicer meals in one day. Quick service locations have some great options, too! Plus, all that time you’d spend sitting and eating will be yours for touring around the parks instead!

Sam’s Club and Target RedCard Gift Cards

And finally, we’ve got one more tip that is available for specific groups. If you’re a Sam’s Club member or have a Target RedCard, you can get discounts by purchasing Disney gift cards before your trip. Sam’s Club sometimes has Disney gift cards at a discounted price and buying Disney gift cards at Target (with that RedCard) will net you 5% back on the purchase.

If you use these gift cards to pay for your food (or anything else for that matter), you’ll end up getting discounts on everything you buy! This is a pretty simple way to save yourself some cash!

You don’t need to despair if you lost your Disney Dining Plan! Sure, it may not have been part of your ideal plan for your Disney trip, but with a few changes to your plans, it doesn’t have to put a damper on things. There are other ways to stay on top of a budget, and we’ve got you covered!

Think these tips will help? Got some money-saving tips YOU want to share? Tell us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney dining tips, Disney Discounts, disney parks, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney dining, disney dining plan, disney dining saving, Disney savings, disney savings tips, kids menu, sam’s club, Tables in Wonderland

Tags disney dining, disney dining plan, disney dining saving, disney dining tips, Disney Discounts, disney parks, Disney savings, disney savings tips, Featured, kids menu, sam's club, Tables in Wonderland, Walt Disney World