Tuesday Disney Tips: Tools for Getting Around at Walt Disney World

Brenda Disney Vacation Planning, Tuesday Disney Tips , , , 2 Comments

Last week in Tuesday Disney Tips, Brenda shared some great information on the different types of transportation at Disney World, and how to use each. This week, she is back to provide some helpful tools and tips to make the most of your time getting around the Disney parks.

There are two valuable tools I use that have helped me out when planning my transportation at Walt Disney World: a copy of the WDW Resort Area map and a PDF file I created of WDW Travel Times.

The WDW Resort Area map is a great tool to use when planning the best routes to get you where you are going. As you can see, each resort is labeled as being located in a certain area (MK resort, Epcot resort, AK resort, or DHS resort).

Used in combination with the WDW Travel Times, a listing I made of the approximate time it takes to get from each resort to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, you should be able to figure out the approximate time to get from your starting point to your destination. In my times list, I have listed the quickest method to travel, whether bus, monorail or boat. Using the map and the list of travel times, let’s check out some scenarios:

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Yes, You CAN Change Your Dining Plans While ON Your Disney World Vacation

Nancy Disney Vacation Planning , , , , , , 5 Comments

There is a lot of time and energy that goes into planning meals for your Disney vacation. Researching the many different options, finding out what your family would like, checking menus, picking the best times (and reserving them if possible), and then of course figuring out how to pay for it….are all part of the process.

(Now I do realize that many people prefer not to do that much planning when it comes to meals on their vacation…but I am guessing that if you are reading this, you are probably not one of them. 🙂 Nevertheless, if you are one of those people, keep reading….because this article will be of interest to you too. )

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Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of February 21, 2011

Nancy Disney Fun From Around the "World" , , 1 Comment

Greetings Disney Friends and Happy Weekend! I had a great time touring the Disney blog-World this past week in search of the best, most interesting, most helpful, and most fun Disney blog posts. As always there was lots to choose from, but I think I found a few that you will find enjoyable. 🙂 So sit back, relax with your favorite beverage, and take a stroll with me!

Let’s start out with Chip and Co. It’s always SO hard to choose, as there are tons of fun and informative posts over there. But I especially loved these. For starters, how do you feel about Adults in Costume? Agree or disagree with DragynAlly? Then Lisa chats about the challenges of Traveling Light at Walt Disney World: Mission Impossible? Finally, the very talented Brenda had another touching article in her Wednesday with Walt series: And the Oscar Goes To…

Ever wonder if the rooms at some of the Deluxe resorts are worth the cost? Destinations in Florida takes us on a tour of the Rooms at Disney Contemporary Resort to find out.

Those of you with little ones will especially appreciate this article from Disney Dispatch: Dealing with Disney Trip Anticipation

Brenda had some great suggestions about Disney transportation this week. Disney Driven Life offered some other thoughts too: 3 DISNEY TRANSPORTATION TIPS

I’m ready for spring! And so is Disney World! Disney Every Day offers a look at Epcot’s 2011 Flower Power Concert Series Schedule

Disney Food Blog had a review of a favorite Disney restaurant for many: Review: 50s Prime Time Cafe

And continuing with food, Disney Guru provides a look at a different and fun place to eat, Pizzafari: A Colorful Place to Dine

In case you hadn’t heard, Disney had some news this past week that had the blog-world in overdrive. Disney Parks Blog shares the details of Mickey FASTPASS: Guests Will Be Able To Determine a Time To Meet Mickey Mouse Beginning This Spring at Magic Kingdom

Finding places of “quiet” at Disney World can be challenging but not impossible. The Disney Chick shares a few: Finding Zen in WDW

I love the focus of Magical Mouse Schoolhouse in finding ways to teach with Disney. This week they showed how to incorporate a favorite movie of mine: Finding Nemo

WDW Fan Zone continues to provide some of the most interesting Disney articles around. I loved this suggestion: Lori Loves Tigger’s Tip: FORE! And if you have ever wondered about what to DO with ALL those pictures from your Disney vacations, well look no further. April shares how to get them Off the Camera and Onto the Wall (Hint: It’s CHEAP! and looks fabulous!) Finally, a little article from little ol’ me: No Free Dining at Disney World? No Worries, You Can Still Save Money! 🙂

That’s it for this week folks! Have a magical weekend!

Minnie Minus Mickey: A Single Mom Plans for Walt Disney World

Guest Affordable Disney Vacations, Disney Vacation Planning, Minnie Minus Mickey , , , 7 Comments

Editor’s note: Please welcome our newest writer, Jolie, to The Affordable Mouse writing staff. Jolie is planning a Disney vacation as a single mom, and will be sharing her planning experiences here in a new monthly column. She has some great stories to tell and…well…I think I’ll let her tell you herself. 🙂 Take it away Jolie!

Happy Friday, my Disney friends…or friends-to-be, I should say.  Hi, I’m Jolie, the newest writer for The Affordable Mouse, and I am just thrilled to be here, sharing what I know and what I’m learning!

I’ve had a lifelong love of Disney.  I was fortunate enough to go as a child, and again as a teen with a musical theatre group.  I grew up with the dream of becoming a character at Walt Disney World, and my parents, being the wonderful, amazing people they are, gave me that opportunity when I was barely 20.  I flew down (my super-supportive Dad came along, of course!), auditioned, even made it to the costume fittings (I was JUST the right size for Tweedle-Dum and Dee, go figure), and in my final dance, wearing the costume…FELL.  FELL!  On my Tweedle-Dum bum.  Not only did I FALL, but I fell right on top of a giant Mickey-ears hat, and of course…it broke.  Thank goodness my faithful father was there to support the mass of tears that came out of the audition room!  I was offered a wonderful position at the Boardwalk’s ESPN Club, and I just loved it there.

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Thrifty Thursday: Travel on the Walt Disney World Ferry Boat

Brenda Thrifty Thursday , , , , 6 Comments

Photo courtesy of www.disneyshawn.blogspot.com

Disney’s ferry boat system is one of the great, FREE ways to travel during your visit to Walt Disney World. The ferries are similar to any you would find in any city in America; with an upper and a lower deck connected by two interior stairways. There are three different ferryboats that run from the Transportation & Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom park and back. Although not as much a part of the Disney transportation system that they once were, but I am hoping to encourage you to try this treasure as part of your next WDW trip.

One of the special things I really enjoy during our annual trip is riding the ferry on the way to the Magic Kingdom on our first day in the park. While many people flood to the front of the boat, I like to head upstairs to grab a great spot from which to see the beautiful scenery. The ride reminds me of when I was a little girl growing up in Galveston, Texas. My grandfather was a Ferryboat Captain with the Galveston Island-Port Bolivar Ferry and I spent many hours through the years on journeys across Galveston Bay. My grandpa used to let me into the wheelhouse to sit upon his lap and “drive” the ferry. As the Disney Ferryboat glides through the water toward our most anticipated destination, I reminisce of many special memories and revel in every second of it. For those of you who don’t have special childhood memories of ferry rides, I would like to try to convince you to give the ferry system a try.

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