Author: Nancy

Must Sees at Disney World: Animal Kingdom

Nancy What to Do at Disney World , , , 1 Comment

I have to admit that Animal Kingdom presents a problem for me to discuss “must-sees”….simply because we don’t really visit Animal Kingdom on every visit. In fact, we probably don’t visit it more than half the time we vacation at Walt Disney World.

It’s just not our favorite park. Not that there is anything wrong with that. 🙂000_0098

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great park and has some really interesting attractions. And no, in case you are wondering, we don’t hate animals. We actually love animals!

I think that there are just so many things elsewhere that we love more, that Animal Kingdom is usually at the bottom of the list in priorities for us.

And we have also learned….the HARD way….that this is NOT the park to visit if it is hot out. At all. It is enormous, more walking than any other park (the park layout is not conducive to getting anywhere efficiently in my opinion), and not nearly enough shade…although in the 12 years since it opened, this is improving, as vegetation does what it is supposed to do….grow thank heavens. 🙂

So. Having said all that, I will share a few of our favorites for when we DO visit this park, because there are some pretty cool attractions here. I promise!

Simba Rocks. And So Do His Friends.

The Festival of the Lion King is an awesome show, and one that we really try to never miss when we visit Animal Kingdom. Based on the movie this live-action show has all of your favorite characters performing to songs from the Lion King…and the performances, costumes, dancing, singing, and props are amazing. The audience sits on all four sides with the action taking place in the center, and there really is not a bad seat in the house. And you should note that audience participation is STRONGLY encouraged so be prepared to shout out your best animal sounds. 🙂 Just letting you know to be prepared. 🙂

It Seems Like It’s Fun To Be A Bug

Really it does! And after seeing It’s Tough to be a Bug, you may agree with me. Despite all the evidence presented in this show about all the terrible things that happen to bugs (your little ones may never let you squish an ant again, I am warning you now…) this is a fun show. It’s another one of Disney’s 3-D attractions and even though we have been a number of times, I still get surprised at certain…um…things that happen.

And one of the coolest things about this attraction is the way you get into it, as it is held below the Tree of Life…so you will really get to see how amazing this tree is, up close and personal. Which actually brings me to my favorite thing to do in the Animal Kingdom…..

BGI Would Love To Have This Tree In My Yard

If (no, actually when) you visit Animal Kingdom, take the time to really look closely at the Tree of Life. Everyone take the obligatory picture with the Tree in the background, and you will want to do this too. But get up close and reaaallly look at all of the amazing carvings of all different kinds of animals on this thing. We always find new ones on each visit. The workmanship is unbelievable and the detail is not-to-be-believed.

I am an admitted design/art geek, as you probably know if you read last week’s blog post about my favorite thing at Hollywood Studios. But even for those of you who are not as turned on by great art the way I am, you will still truly appreciate the skill and craftsmanship that went into creating the Tree of Life.

And your kids will love seeing how many animals they can identify!

OK, not the “typical” list of Animal Kingdom favorites I know, and we do enjoy LOTS of other attractions here (yes the animals are all WAY cool 🙂 ) but these are 3 things that we always enjoy at Animal Kingdom.

Now I would love to know: What are your favorites? And where does this park rank for your family compared to the other three?

Have a magical day!

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of April 12, 2010

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The world of Disney blogs have again offered a great collection of fun and interesting items to 12236130441082257790shokunin_icon_with_globe_svg_medread this week. Following is just a sampling of some of my personal favorites:

Are you vegetarian or vegan? Or do you just like to know that you can eat healthfully? Chip and Co.shares some suggestions for Eating Vegetarian and Vegan at Disney World.

Always the number one source for food information, the Disney Food Blog reminds us that there is some great entertainment to go with that great food in Dinner and a Show at World Showcase.

What to do when it rains? Disney 4 Dads has some good ideas for a Dreary Day at Disney World? No Problem!

Want to make the most of your time as well as money? See some great ideas from Everything Walt Disney World in Fast Disney Facts: Eating Lunch at a Monorail Resort

More great dining information comes from Magical Mousecapades who does a great job of deciphering the Disney Dining Plans: Dining at Walt Disney World Explained!

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Theme Park Mom shares a touching and moving story in Walt Disney World and autism: One mom’s story

And last, but certainly NOT least, we were proud to be a part of Disney Blog Carnival #2 – The Sequel! in case you missed it when it went live this past week. 🙂

Well that’s all for this week. Hope you have a perfectly magical weekend!

Friday Disney Savings Round-Up for 4/16/2010

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Trying to plan an affordable Disney vacation? Our weekly round-up of promotions and savings includes some great new savings as well as some from last week that are still valid.

Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions

  • “Kids Stay and Play for Free“: There is a special offer valid for stays most nights May 2 – June 3, 2010. Purchase a 4 night/5 day Magic Your Way vacation package (room and theme park tickets) and a child (age 3-9) stays in the room and gets a 5 day park pass for Free. This is basically providing free tickets for one child of this age…or two if there are two adults in the room…which can be a substantial savings! To receive the package deal, you must book by May 8, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Disney Visa Card members can book the “Kids Stay, Play, and Dine Free” package. Available most nights now through August 14, 2010, this includes a 4 night/5 day Magic Your Way vacation package with room, park tickets, and the Quick Service Dining Plan is included for free. You must hurry and book this by April 24, 2010. To book, call 407-934-7639 or your travel agent and use Code OD3. (**Don’t have a Disney Visa card yet? See the special promotion below through DisneyStore.com.)
  • Military Discount of up to 40% on select Disney Resort rooms, for stays most nights through Sept. 30, 2010. You must book through July 31, 2010. In addition, active or retired members of the military can get a 4 day park ticket for $99. For more information visit the Military Special Offer page on disneyworld.com.

DisneyStore.com Savings

Introducing the new Marvel Shop at DisneyStore.com!

Special promotions that are still valid:

Save $25 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember at DisneyStore.com (** See special Disney promotion above for Disney Visa cardmembers!)

DisneyStore.com Spring Sale has arrived! Shop now for savings up to 50%!

Your favorite Disney merchandise for $5.99 or less at DisneyOutlet.com.

Expedia.com Savings

Expedia.com: Florida Sun & Fun Sale: Hotels from $32, Vacations from $238. – Expires 5/4/10/10

Special promotions that are still valid:

Alamo: $25 Off Your Weekly Rentals when you book on Expedia! – Expires 4/30/10

Universal Orlando® Resort: Stay a week, save at least 30% plus get exclusive theme park benefits. – Expires 4/30/10

U-Save Car Rentals: 10% off compact or midsize cars when you book on Expedia! – Expires 5/31/10

Hotels.com Savings

Save between $20 and $100 on ALL Hotel Bookings Now!

Travelocity Savings

Nationwide Sale! One-Way Flights From $44+ from Air Tran! Ends 4/20.
That’s it for this week. Hope some of these savings work for you. Have a wonderful weekend!

Must Sees at Disney World: Hollywood Studios Top Picks

Nancy What to Do at Disney World , , 0 Comment

Hollywood StudiosWhen it comes to our family’s favorite rides/attractions at Hollywood Studios, picking a few is kind of challenging. Not because we don’t really like anything here, but because we definitely each have our own taste in what qualifies as a “must-see” here.

And we don’t especially agree. 🙂

And we keep changing our mind. 🙂

So I am picking 3…our current top 3….to highlight today. One from each of us: my favorite, my husband’s favorite, and our daughter’s.

My Personal Favorite: It’s Artistic and It’s Free

We’ll start with mine because, well, it’s my blog lol!

The one favorite that I have to see, every time, no matter what, is not your “typical” Hollywood Studios attraction. It’s not extremely well known, in fact, many folks don’t even know it is there!

My favorite thing to do is the Magic of Disney Animation. Located in the Animation Courtyard, just to the right of the Chinese Theater, this is a great way to learn how animation works….and the reason I love it…..to try your hand at it.

When you enter this building, you have the chance to take a short tour that gives you a very general idea of how the animation process works. It’s pretty interesting.  But my favorite part is at the end of the tour, where you can choose to create your own Disney character art in the Animation Academy.

Here, for the next 15 minutes you will get to watch an animator at work, and follow his/her direction on how to do it yourself. And the best part is, at the end, you get to keep your creation! It’s fun, you don’t really need any particular artistic talent, and you get a personal, free souvenir at the end!

One note: this is great for adults and older kids enjoy it a lot as well. But if you have little ones, I would recommend waiting to do this when they get older. They…and you…will appreciate it more.

Dear Husband and Toy Story Midway Mania

Well this is Hollywood Studio’s newest, latest, and greatest and it is some fun. And if you previously read how much my husband enjoys Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom, then when I tell you that Toy Story Midway Mania is Buzz Lightyear on steroids, well you will understand why this is his favorite.

Think old carnival midway games….only fast, electronic…and in 3-D.  Set in a Toy Story theme, the goal here, as with Buzz Lightyear, is to score the highest. Your car spins, goes forward, backwards, and periodically stops for you to try out the next game. It is  pretty darn fun, I will say!

In fact, it is so much fun, that this is easily THE most popular ride at Hollywood Studios right now. And if you want to ride it, you must, MUST go there first thing, when the park opens….unless you are willing to wait in line for a very long time, or have a FastPass return that could conceivably be later that night…if there are even any FastPasses left.

Is it worth all that? Yeah, it is. Go first thing, and go straight there. You won’t be sorry.

What’s a College Kid Like? Coasters of Course!

Our daughter has enjoyed a variety of attractions at Hollywood Studios over the years, but her current favorite is probably Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Loud, dark, fast, and with lots of twists and turns, coaster enthusiasts love it. At least that’s what DD tells me. 🙂

Not being a coaster enthusiast, I take her word for it. 🙂

But I do know that tons of folks agree with her as this is a ride that typically has one of the longest lines in the park, and it is easy to see why. Incorporating the music (and theme) of Aerosmith, this ride has the distinction of being the first ride on Disney property to include a high-speed launch that goes from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.

Located at the end of Sunset Blvd., to the left of Tower of Terror, you can’t miss the giant guitar that marks the ride’s entrance. Since this ride is so popular, use FastPass if possible to make the most of your time. Because if you are a coaster lover….or have one in your group….then you will not want to miss this.

Well, there you have it. Our family’s eclectic must-sees. And if you have been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I would love to hear about yours!

Have a magical day!