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Disney Parks

10 Secret Tips to Make Your Disney World Vacation WAY Easier!

Here at Disney Food Blog, we’re ALWAYS snacking on cookies, cupcakes, and more to tell you which of Disney World treats you don’t want to miss, but we’re also constantly on the lookout for new crumbs of wisdom for how to have the best overall experience possible on our Disney World vacations (see what we did there?)!

Bee Cupcake at Animal Kingdom!

Our Disney World habits have helped us pick up quite a few tricks over the years which have, until now, stayed pretty much under-the-radar — meaning you’re not likely to find them in any guidebooks or Facebook groups!

We’re sharing our top ten most-handy bits of advice when it comes to prepping for your next trip to Disney World! Let’s get right down to business!

1. Take Screenshots of Your Itinerary on the My Disney Experience App

Capturing a screenshot image of your scheduled FastPasses or Advance Dining Reservations will really help save your phone battery at the parks! That battery life will start to dwindle FAST with all the opening and closing of the My Disney Experience app you can do in a day!

© My Disney Experience App

We like to take this hack one step further by saving the image as our home screen — that way, all we have to do is “jiggle” our phone to see our plans that day! On an iPhone, you can take a screenshot by simultaneously pressing the power button on the side of the phone and one of the volume buttons. Then go into settings and select your image as your background! GENIUS!

2. Also, Take Photos of Your Hard Tickets and MagicBands

By now you probably think we’re a little obsessed with taking pictures of everything — annnnd you wouldn’t be wrong! But we do it for a reason — it’s saved our skins a number of times in the parks!

Pirate Minnie MagicBand

That’s because it’s a lot easier for Cast Members to help you replace something you’ve lost if you have a record of “having it” in the first place! Hard tickets, Photopass cards, and back of your MagicBand (with its number visible) are all things we always snap a quick pic of — just in case we misplace any of them! Disney can look them up by their number and help you get a replacement that much faster.

3. Consider Buying Disney Gift Cards Ahead of Time

If you’re looking to curb some of your vacation spending habits and save a little money at the same time, consider buying some prepaid Disney gift cards before you head off to Disney World!

©Disney

They can really help you stay on budget PLUS if you shop at Target, a Target RedCard gives you 5% off your purchase of Disney gift cards! Grab your rain ponchos and any last-minute toilettes for your vacation while you’re at it!

4. Be on the Lookout for Extra Fees

From rental fees, to cancellation fees, to parking fees, and every fee in between, fees are a pesky problem to have at Disney World if you don’t know about them in advance!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

To keep hidden fees from sneaking up on you, here are some common culprits!

Nightly Parking Fees For Disney World Resort Guests

Disney World Resorts began charging an overnight parking fee in March of 2018. Here are the current rates being charged:

  • Disney World’s Value Resorts: $15 per night
  • Disney World Moderate Resorts: $20 per night
  • Disney World Deluxe Resorts & Deluxe Villas: $25 per night
  • Valet parking is available at certain resorts for $33 per night

Riviera Resort Entrance

Note: Disney Vacation Club members are NOT charged for parking when using their DVC points to book a room or when staying at a Deluxe Villa because the cost is included in membership dues. For campers, one parking space is complimentary per campsite for guests at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground.

Staying Offsite Fees

If you’re planning on staying somewhere offsite, be prepared for additional fees like the cost of parking at the Disney theme parks.

Theme park parking is complimentary for Walt Disney World hotel guests and Annual Passholders, but everyone else will be paying:

  • $25 per day for standard parking
  • $45-$50 per day for preferred parking
  • $30 per day for oversized parking

Does Everyone Want To Ride Splash Mountain??

Once you pay at one Disney World theme park, you won’t have to pay again if you decide to visit more than one park in a day — just save your receipt! And if you’re a Walt Disney World resort guest or passholder you can upgrade to preferred parking by paying the difference between the standard rate and the preferred rate. Free parking is available at Disney’s Water Parks as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports and at Disney Springs.

Gratuity

Tips can really add up quick at Disney World! Even if you’ve already paid for all of your meals ahead of time with a Disney Dining Plan, note that gratuity isn’t included.

The Farmer at California Grill

We highly recommend budgeting an extra 18-20% of your planned table service meals to cover the tip of your hard-working server. Keep in mind, if you have a party of 6 or more, an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill. And if you’re using a Tables in Wonderland card, you’ll also have an 18% gratuity added to your check no matter your party’s size.

5. There Are Special Perks for Kids Under Three

But enough about fees! Let’s talk about something A LOT more pleasant — FREEBIES! And if you have any children under the age of three, then lucky you! There are all sorts of great ways you can save some money! For instance, children under the age of three are allowed to eat off of a parent’s plate for free! This is especially nice at buffets where you’re free to make a plate for your toddler and one for yourself.

Piatta Alla Parmigiana con Pollo

And did you know children under the age of three don’t need a park ticket to get inside any of the Disney parks? Just remember, though, that if you plan to fly to Disney they might not be TOTALLY free — while Disney World lets kids under three in for free, children two and up require a full-priced plane ticket to fly. So if you’re in that two to three age range, keep that in mind!

FastPass Touchpoint

This little tip might really help you plan out when you should go to Disney World if you have children under three! The difference between going a few weeks before your child turns three or after their birthday could mean spending hundreds of dollars more!

6. Don’t Forget About Rider Switch

Worried about bringing a small child along and not getting to enjoy the thrill rides? Don’t forget about a magical little thing called Rider Switch! With Rider Switch, you and your partner won’t have to wait in line twice if you have a child who’s too small or doesn’t want to ride.

Here’s how it works: the person riding can let a Cast Member know they want to use Rider Switch BEFORE they get in line, and they’ll give them a special pass to give to the last Cast Member they encounter before boarding.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

When they’re done, they go outside and switch places with the second person, who can hop in the FastPass line to ride without a lengthy wait! Rider Switch has been around for years and it has been a lifesaver for those of us who travel frequently with small kiddos in tow!

7. Start in the Back

Many guests get hung up on the first few attractions they encounter when the parks open (ever noticed Spaceship Earth in Epcot has a LONG wait in the morning?!), but for the shortest wait times, always head to the back!

Big Thunder Mountain

Lots of times you can knock out some pretty popular rides without a FastPass if you head straight to the back of a park and get on ‘em right away! Then you can relax and enjoy a more leisurely pace while working your way back up to the front of the park for the rest of the day.

Keep in mind this doesn’t ALWAYS work — Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a good example of this. The most popular attractions are at the back of this park, like Slinky Dog Dash and all of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, so everyone ELSE will likely be rushing to the back of this park first. In general, this tip works well for the other three parks.

8. Be Ready to Meet Disney Characters

Chances are you’ll probably run into some “colorful characters” at Disney World, especially if you’ll be enjoying a character meal at one of the park’s many dining locations.

To make life even easier for your Disney pals, bring a Sharpie marker from home which is a lot easier for characters with fuzzy or big-gloved hands to hold. They can even sign your shirt or backpack with it (as long as you’re not wearing it)! (Just don’t let it fall into your toddlers’ hands or they could do some SERIOUS damage!) ?

Goofy

We also like to keep our autograph books in a Ziploc bag we brought from home. That way, we don’t have to worry if it rains or our bag gets splashed on a ride.

Asking an attending Cast Member BEFORE you get in line how long the character will be out is also a really good idea. Characters can only be out for about 20 minutes at a time, so by asking, you can decide if it’s worth the wait or something you should circle back later on to see!

9. Know How to Exit Magic Kingdom on a Crowded Day (Without a Major Headache)

Did you know many of the gift shops on Main Street, U.S.A. are connected? That means if there are heavy crowds due to a parade or fireworks show ending, you can sometimes escape a little faster and a little easier through the gift shops.

Hello from the Magic Kingdom!

We also like to exit the park through the gift shop to get a nice, cool blast of AC before waiting at the bus stop (which can be a long, HOT wait!).

This exit strategy is also really helpful when it’s raining. You can practically get to the front of the park from Adventureland by entering at Casey’s Corner and exiting through the Emporium. There is a break between some of the buildings on the other side of Main Street, U.S.A., but the same general rule applies when exiting the park from Tomorrowland as well!

10. Always Check the Special Offers Tab Before You Book (and Check It After, Too)

Disney room and package discounts and offers are usually released closer to your travel date, so while something might not be available right when you book your trip, keep checking. Disney doesn’t advertise this, but you can usually get in on any deals by re-booking your reservation with the new discount applied!

Hi Mickey and Minnie!

Keep in mind, most special offers cannot be combined and some promotions, such as Disney World’s Free Dining offer, and they tend to fill up especially FAST! That’s why we always like to recommend our trusted travel agency, Small World Vacations. If a special offer is announced after Small World Vacations helps you make your arrangements, they’ll even help you get the discount applied to your vacation without you having to do any of the legwork!

We hope we helped provide you with a few not-so-common tips to make the most of your trip. A LOT of work goes into planning the perfect Disney World vacation both before you go AND once you’re there, so knowing how to work around common problems and some tips to save time or money can be a huge help!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Character Dining, disney merchandise, Disney News, Disney Springs, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservations, bring sharpie, bring ziplock, buy disney gift cards, caretaker sandwich, character greetings, fastpasses, gratuity not included, hidden fee, into the unknown, kids under three, know how to exit magic kingdom, My Disney Experience, parking fees, redcard 5%, Rider Switch, screenshot, special discount tabs, start in the back, take photos of your hard tickets, target redcard, under the age of three

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Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS! Paradiso 37 and T-REX Join List of Disney Springs Restaurants Reopening on May 20th

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening on May 20th, and we are keeping readers informed of all the restaurants and shops that will reopen in Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district tomorrow.

Disney Springs

While select Disney-owned and operated locations will begin opening on May 27th, the initial phase that begins tomorrow will involve third-party vendors. And today we are adding T-REX and Paradiso 37 to the list of restaurants opening tomorrow.

Though we are not certain how offerings might differ upon reopening, Paradiso 37 Entertainment often features live music in their covered outdoor dining area while guests enjoy cuisine from North, Central and South America.

Paradiso 37 Outside View

Reservations are currently available for Paradiso 37 through OpenTable.com.

T-REX in the Marketplace is also slated to reopen tomorrow, according to the Disney Springs website.

T-Rex Restaurant

We will continue to keep you posted on more retail locations that will reopen as well, so please stay tuned.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, disney springs, disney springs reopening, may 20th, May 20th Disney Springs, Paradiso 37, T-Rex, T-Rex Restaurant

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Disney Parks Other

First Look at Frontera Cocina’s Modified Menu For Disney Springs’ Reopening!

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening on May 20th, with select third-party restaurants and retail locations welcoming back guests.

Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina will reopen with Disney Springs on May 20th. And, the restaurant has just shared the temporary menu that they will initially offer!

When Disney Springs reopens, there will be several changes in place. In addition to health and safety measures across property, there will be some location-specific differences as well. One such change — some restaurants will temporarily feature different or limited menu items. And Frontera Cocina has just given us a peek at the delicious bites we can enjoy when they reopen!

Queso Fundido

The menu features several starters, salads, tacos, entrees, sides, and desserts for guests to choose from. And we were excited to see some of our favorite eats will be available (hellooooo Queso Fundido)! Here’s a look at the starters, salads, and tacos that will be offered.

©Frontera Cocina

And here are the entrees, sides, and desserts!

©Frontera Cocina

And, of course, there will be drinks as well! Here are the margaritas, tequila, and sangria guests 21 and older can enjoy.

©Frontera Cocina

Plus, cocktails, beer, wine, mezcal, and other beverages will also be available.

©Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina will be reopening with this temporary menu on May 20th. Until then, you can check out our review and see the previous menu here!

Have you eaten at Frontera Cocina? Share your experience with us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, Disney, disney dining, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs re-opening, disney springs reopening, Disney World, Frontera Cocina, temporary menu

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Disney Parks Disney Recipes Other

Did Your Favorite Disney Springs Meal Survive These Menu Changes?

Big changes are in store for Disney Springs on May 20th — and we’re not just talking about the shops that will be reopening.

Filet Sliders at Splitsville

What we’re actually referring to are the several menu changes we’ve noticed cropping up recently at a handful of the dining locations set to open on Wednesday.

While we’ve been keeping track of the confirmed Disney Springs restaurants and stores that will be reopening this Wednesday, it seems several establishments are dropping items from their menus in preparation to reopen.

Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming

The Jasper Board at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming (which is an array of smoked fish dip, pimento cheese, char-grilled smoked sausage, bread and butter pickles, candied pecans, and buttermilk crackers) along with the Key West Shrimp Cocktail have been removed.  The Char-grilled Chicken Tenders (a newer addition which we recently tried) have also been taken off the board.

Chargrilled Chicken Tenders

Other detracted items include Homecoming’s Braised Short Ribs, Addie Mae’s Chicken & Dumpling Soup, Braised Kale and Collards, Southern Slaw, Sweet Corn Spoon Bread, Slow-cooked Baked Beans, Bradley’s Grits, Shine Cake (Chef Art’s signature dessert), and Auntie’s Chocolate Cake.

Shine Cake

Shine Cake

The Kitchen Plate (a sampling of three different house-made sides) is subbing out its Slow-cooked Baked Beans for Southern Slaw instead. But, Hand-Cut Okra Fries served with icebox dressing for $16 has been added.

Additionally, the Whiskey Breeze Bulleit Bourbon and Honey Lavender Fresh are no longer listed.

Wine Bar George

Over at Wine Bar George, the menu cuts continue. The White and Dark Chocolate Trifle and Teriyaki Salmon Salad have been taken off the menu.

Welcome to Wine Bar George!

Meanwhile, more menu changes were made Wine Bar George’s grab ‘n go counter, The Basket!

The Basket at Wine Bar George

Sandwiches including the Goat Cheese (with Fig, Arugula, and Ficelle), the Prosciutto (with Brie), and the Ham and Gruyère Baguette are no longer listed.

The Basket Sandwich

For Bites & Boxes, The Basket’s Olives & Hummus and Calabrese, Brie, and Honey with Crackers Boxes are not listed on the menu.

However, there is a new French Fries option. For $8, you can get French Fries served with your choice of either Queso, Togarashi, California, or Buffalo toppings.

The Basket

For drinks, the Delirum Nocturnum Belgian Strong Dark Ale and Halter Ranch have been taken off the menu. Truth or Consequences Moscato is now being sold for $9 a glass in addition to a new seasonal selection. Bud Light is also now available for $8.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes

At Splitsville Luxury Lanes, the Filet Sliders, Impossible™ Sliders, Fig & Pig Flatbread have been removed from the list of appetizers. And while Splitsville’s other pizza options are still available, the Firehouse Mozzarella Pizza and Veggie Mozzarella Pizza are no longer being listed.

Firehouse Pizza

Several sushi options including the Ninja Crunch Tempura-fried Salmon and Kani Kama Krab Roll, Crouching Dragon Tempura Shrimp Roll, and Yum Yum Roll Tempura Shrimp Rolls have also disappeared.

Splitsville Sushi

Several entrees including the Buddha Bowl, Spicy Veggie Bowl, and Vegan Bowl have been cut as well as the Chimichurri Skirt Steak. The Foghorn Burger, Bacon Cheeseburger, and Turkey Burger, have been removed as well.

Paddlefish

Now that Mother’s Day has come and gone (and Paddlefish has remained shuttered since mid-March), they’ve removed their Lobster Ravioli Dish and replaced it with their Father’s Day offering. The Steak Oscar served with Lump Crab Meat, Béarnaise, and Mashed Potatoes will be available on Sunday, June 21st for $52.

Paddlefish

Lobster Bisque Soup, the Maine Lobster Roll, and Table-side Lobster Guacamole, the Chilled Trio, and Seafood Boil with 1¼ Pound Maine Lobster have also been taken off.

Lobster Roll

Frontera Cocina released their new modified menu, which you can check out here! We’ll keep you posted on any more menu updates as soon as we spot them!

Did one of your favorite menu items get cut? Let us know which one in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, art smiths homecomin, disney springs, Disney World, items removed, limited menus, may 20th, menu changes, Paddlefish, reopening, splitsville, The Basket, The Basket at Wine Bar George, updated menus, Wine Bar George