Saturday, January 21, 2017

Quick Review of Character Dining Locations in Disney Resorts

Up now for my quick reviews of the character meals! There are a few in hotels that are not technically Disney hotels, so I'll save those for later!

Resorts

1900 Park Fare

Which Characters? This is a mixture of characters! For the past year, breakfast has had Alice, Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger! Dinner has Cinderella, Prince Charming, and the Tremaine family (Stepmother and Stepsisters who are hilarious). 




Where is it? On the ground floor of the Grand Floridian

Type of food service? Buffet

Number of Dining Credits? One 

Highlights of the food? We really love this breakfast! The food seems to be a step above every other buffet. Make sure you don't miss the red velvet pancakes and the strawberry soup! George loves freshly cooked omelettes, and he joked this is the only buffet where he doesn't choose that because there is SO much else to eat on the buffet. 

Candler really likes the breakfast pizza there!

My quick take! I think this is a GREAT option for a character meal. You get to spend time in the Grand Floridian, which is just beautiful. The food is great. The character interactions are wonderful and entertaining. We have never had a bad experience here. 


Cape May

Which Characters? Minnie, Goofy, and Donald in their beach gear, but only at breakfast


Where is it? Ground floor of the Beach Club

Type of food service? Buffet 

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food? This is also a delicious buffet. I feel light the food here is lighter (in a good way, not in quality) than some of the buffets. There's a chef making fresh crepes, and you should for sure get some nutella and fruit on one!





My quick take! This is a really lovely experience! Walking around the Beach Club is so fun, the food is bright and yummy, and the characters are fun. It feels like one of the more laid back character experiences to me. 



Ohana

Which Characters? At breakfast, Lilo, Stich, Pluto, and Mickey

Where is it? Upstairs in the Polynesian Resort

Type of food service? Family Style

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food? This comes as a breakfast skillet. I like that it comes to you, which makes it feel less frantic (as long as it comes in a timely way....) Pretty basic food with mickey waffles, potatoes, eggs, and breakfast meat. The bread that comes first is really yummy. 

My quick take! This is not my favorite breakfast. Every time we have eaten here, we have had to wait 30-60 minutes after checking in (with an reservation). When we travelled to Disney before the boys were born, I didn't really notice or worry about any extra wait. We were with friends and we were on vacation. 

This group now has five little boys all together!

After the boys, I notice every extra minute that we wait ;-) The service is slow and so are the characters. BUT, it is one of the places to see Lilo and Stich, which is special. So, if you really want to meet them, this is a great way to do it!



Chef Mickey's

Which Characters? The Classics--Fab Five at all three meals: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto

Where is it? It is inside the Contemporary

Type of food service? Buffet

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food? Well...this is one of the most classic American food buffets. I don't particularly think the food is special. Some folks outright dislike the food here. I don't eat meat, and there were not as many vegetarian options as some of the other buffets. 

My quick take! This is a hard reservation to get. This has all of the main characters. I think the food is fine, but nothing particularly special. I also tend to think that the characters tend to feel a little rushed here because it's so busy. BUT, if you want to see all of the fab five in the same place, this is a great way to do it without waiting in line. 
The boys are really into Minnie's shoes. 


Friday, January 20, 2017

My Road Trip Tips With Small Kids!

My husband, George, and I love a good road trip.

This road trip love probably culminated in our two person RAAM team with Dani Grabol (we raced our bikes across the country in 8 days 2 hours and 35 minutes, but who's counting?). We had three vehicles, 11 crew, and a lot of snacks.

When the boys were born, I wondered if our road trips would continue. Yes, yes they have.

We have taken them by car to DC, Pawleys Island, Orlando, Ft. Meyers, Asheville, and more. Pretty much as soon I was well enough to travel, we were loading them up and taking them with us places.



We have learned a lot by just doing, so I thought I would share my tips. These don't always work! They might not work for your kids! But, I figured I would share anyway!

1. Be Willing to Experiment

We drove the boys from Atlanta to DC right before they turned one. It was a long trip, and we thought maybe we could get away with driving overnight. I mean, if they slept the whole time, it would be an easy trip, right? NOPE. Instead of sleeping, they cried. A lot. So, at midnight, we stopped at a hotel and slept. We had a good trip the next day.



When we go to Disney now, we like to leave really early (5:30-6:30 am). We have found that the boys will go right back to sleep in the car. We get the first few hours of the drive knocked out very easily this way. For a 6 ish our drive, this makes all the difference.

2. Try to travel with Nap Time in Mind

If your kids nap in the car, try to plan your road trip to include that nap! We have found that ours sleep really hard on the way home from a trip. That's so helpful.

3. Fill Up on Gas at Every Chance (see number 2).

I've had them fall asleep right as I was running out of gas. And then, as soon as you stop for gas they wake up. Every time. So, I've just learned to top off at any stop now!


This trip was SO easy because my brother Patrick entertained the boys the whole time!

4. SO MANY SNACKS!

This is probably obvious. But snacks. All the snacks. I like to bring a few things they don't normally get to have on a daily basis. It make it more fun and entertaining.

5. Limit the Liquids :-)

I'm not suggesting that you dehydrate anyone. BUT, I actually have to be careful about my own liquid intake! Just like the gas, I tend to finish up a huge cup of coffee as soon as my kids fall asleep!
This wasn't a road trip. It was at MoMa. With a fresh ginger latte. This picture just makes me happy because it was awesome.

6. Quick with the Stops

We have found that the faster you can get in and out of your stops, the better the road trip. We are usually pretty snappy at our stops.



7. New Entertainment

For us, this is all about the sticker books. My kids can spend a lot of time with a new sticker book!

8. Hold out Something Special Until the End

That being said, I like to save something brand new until things start to get rough.

9. Kid Playlists!

Our kids LOVE music. We can spend a lot of time singing. I resign myself to listening to the same song over and over and over if it helps pass the time!

10. A good cup!

When we road tripped to Disney with our friends, Erin brought some great Mickey plastic cups. They were new and fun and all three boys loved them. We used them for snacks, crayons, stickers, etc. It was a great addition to our road trip routine!
And look! We made it!


What are your tips and tricks?

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Quick Reviews of Character Dining Locations in the Disney World Parks

So I am going to do a quick run down of the character meals in the parks. Don't you worry, I will do a separate post with the character meals outside of the parks (in the resorts).

This is not really a review of each of them, but more of a quick guide when you are trying to make some decisions on where to grab some grub and a hug or two from a character!

We love character meals. The boys are happy seeing the characters we love and there are no lines involved, but food instead! If you are on the dining plan, they are a great value for your money. If you are not, you might consider a breakfast instead of a dinner to save a little cash. These also take a while, so don't have a fastpass planned close to a character meal, or you might miss it!

Magic Kingdom

Crystal Palace

Which Characters? Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eyore

Fist bump Piglet.


Where is it? Go down main street until you reach "The Hub." Take a hard left.

Type of food service? Buffet

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food? 
It's really classic food, but yummy! At breakfast, be sure to check out the kids table for "Pooh's puffed french toast." It's amazing. The waiter told me once that he made it with no calories for me, so ask for that one if you're watching what you eat ;-)

Puffed french toast on his plate, and Mickey waffle in hand. Candler leads a good life.



My quick take!
We love this place. The food is solid, the atmosphere is lovely, the characters are wonderful. It's bright and happy in there. Plus, Pooh and friends are great for everyone (I feel like I see lots of adults only even though they seem like small children characters), because these guys are totally lovable.


Cinderella's Royal Table

Which Characters? PRINCESESS! (They rotate, so don't get your heart too set on any one princess).

Where is it? This is THE one in the castle.

Type of food service? Table Service

Number of Dining Credits? TWO. Count them--two whole credits. oof.

Highlights of the food? 
Well. No one would say it's award winning food. The high price tag here is for the experience and the food is fine.

My quick take!
This is a really pricey meal. BUT, you're in the castle. You need to have My Disney Experience open and a credit card handy at 6 am 180 days before your trip if this is a must do for you. No pictures here yet for ya. It's in progress!


**The Beast does come to dinner at Be Our Guest, but I feel like that isn't exactly the same, and BOG deserves it's own post.

Epcot

Akershus

Which Characters? PRINCESSES!




Where is it? So, walk back to the World Showcase. Take a left and meander down to Norway. It's kind of tucked into Norway.

Type of food service? This is a combo of a buffet and a waiter for your entree

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food? 
I really enjoyed the food here. It does have a real Norwegian twist, so if you like fish, you're in luck! Some folks think that it's a little too different, but I think it still has enough American classic staples that no one is going to go hungry here. Plus, you're in Epcot, so you're supposed to be learning a little! ;-)

My quick take!
This is a great alternative to the castle. You still get to meet Disney's leading ladies, the food is good and interesting, and it's only one dining credit. Grab a fast pass to Frozen Ever After afterwards, and then you can walk over to meet Ana and Elsa after that. You can make a whole morning/afternoon/evening out of it!

Here's this yummy salmon dish I got. I personally like getting something other than classic theme park food at a theme park!

Garden Grill

Which Characters? Mickey (in his farmer outfit!), Pluto, Chip, and Dale



Where is it? It's in The Land pavilion. When you enter Epcot, pass Spaceship Earth (or as my boys call it "That Big Ball!" and then take a right. You have to park your strollers between The Land and The Seas. If you try to bring it inside, they stop you (I've totally tried!). And also, the squirrels will eat things you leave in this parking area, so be careful!When you go inside the pavilion, it's on the other side as the entrance.

Type of food service? Family Style

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food?
This is nice American food. Breakfast is classic Disney breakfast--Mickey waffles abound! Lunch and dinner is really really yummy. It's also plentiful. If you run out of anything, just ask your waiter to bring more. The vegetarian option as been amazing every time we've been there.



My quick take!
We LOVE this dining location. The food is great, the character interactions are never rushed, you don't have to keep getting up to go to a buffet, and the semicircle booths make you feel more isolated (which is awesome when you have crazy toddlers). We go here really freqently, and I would advice anyone who wants to see some classic characters to go here.

I love their funny little faces in this one.

The character interactions really are the best here!


Animal Kingdom

Tusker House

Which Characters? Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy in safari clothes

Our guys love some hugs.

Where is it? This one is on the left when you enter Africa. You have to park your strollers behind it, in the same parking as the Festival of the Lion King.

Type of food service? Buffet

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food? 
We really like this food too. It has an "African" flair, but don't worry, there's always regular fare available. There is always an awesome tofu dish that we all love. The desserts are delicious too. We also like the big variety of breads and hummus/dips. SO yummy.

My quick take!
This is another great option for classic characters. The food is great and the characters are fun. It is a bustling place because everyone is going back and forth to the buffet, but that's no big deal. There are a lot of really great food options in Animal Kingdom now though!

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood and Vine

Which Characters? For breakfast, the Disney Junior characters come, and for lunch and dinner, it's Minnie's seasonal dine, so the classic characters are wearing outfits to fit the season.

Daisy is always stylish. Here she is the in the Springtime Dine outfit.



Where is it? Enter HS, go straight, and take a left. It's right next to 50's prime time.

Type of food service? Buffet

Number of Dining Credits? One

Highlights of the food?
I'm not a huge fan of the food. It's not bad, but it's just not super amazing or particularly interesting.

My quick take!
This is the only meal with the Disney Junior characters, so if that's a priority, grab this breakfast. The seasonal outfits are fun too at lunch and dinner. Don't expect a gourmet meal, but you won't leave hungry either.


Might not be my very favorite character meal, but there's no denying that Minnie is a cutie in her spring dress!


Hopefully that will help you sort through all of the character dining choices in the parks. I'll plan on writing more about out of the parks and more in-depth reviews of each one! Happy Disney Planning! Oh, and if you need help with that planning, drop me a line! kacietravelplanner@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Strollers in Disney World!

If you happen to be taking small people to Disney World, you are probably considering taking a stroller. Because we have twins, I feel like we really have to deal with stroller stress, because we use a giant double stroller.



Which Stroller And Where to Get It!

We have a couple of strollers, but we use our Citi Mini double stroller. Certainly not an ad or anything, but we've liked this one:



I think the most important thing about your stroller is that it can fold quickly and easily. Unless you're staying on the monorail, you will have to fold and unfold it a few different time (and even then, you'll need to fold and unfold to go to parks other than the Magic Kingdom).

Because of all of the folding and unfolding, I suggest that you pack the underside of the stroller in bags that are easy to grab out of the stroller. So you can do a quick snag of the bags, fold, and board the bus/boat/etc.

If you sold your stroller on your local FB yardsale site already, but you don't think your little one is up for trekking around all of Disney World, you can rent strollers. Your friendly travel agent (ME!) can take care of this for you if you want. Disney does have stroller rentals inside the parks. They are not the most comfortable strollers though, so if you want to look for something that might encourage a nap, or you want to have it at your resort, you would use a stroller rental company. They will actually deliver the stroller to your resort and then you just drop it back to the concierge desk before you leave. It's a pretty good set up, honestly.

Buses

If you're staying on Disney property, you will probably take their transportations a lot. Buses are the most common way to get from place to place on property. You do have to fold your stroller to get on the bus. There isn't really anywhere to put them, so you have to kind of fold them in front of you. On a crowded bus ride, this can get a little dicey, but it's what you have to do. These guys make it look easy.



Note that if your kids are asleep, just park yourself in the park somewhere and grab a snack or a drink in the shade. They won't let you keep your stroller unfolded just because your precious is asleep.



Boats

If you're staying at the Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness (or if you want to GO to WL for FL), you you might take a bus to the Magic Kingdom. The Polynesian and Grand Floridian also provide boat transportation to MK, which is great if the monorail isn't running yet, or if it's broken down. The Contemporary also has a boat that goes to Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge.

My guys love the boat ride in a regular seat.


If you're still with me, you might even hop on a boat if you're staying at Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, or Saratoga Springs or Old Key West to Disney Springs (which is going to be a whole other post because I LOVE Disney Springs).

If you are in one of the Epcot resorts, you might also use a boat to get to Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Basically, you have lots of options to hop on a boat! For the most part, these boats will require you to fold up your stroller and ask you to sit in a particular place on the boat. Sometimes in the busier times, you might actually get one of the bigger boats where you get to just roll the stroller on. Those are some good times! We stayed at Wilderness Lodge recently, and it was about 50% of the time that we got the big boat.

Monorail

This one is short, easy, and great! You can just roll your stroller right on. To be fair, it's tight on there, so plan on cramming your stroller in as far as you can Now, since my guys think that the monorail is the most awesome ride ever, they insist on hopping out of the stroller and sitting in a seat. So we take up about twice the amount of space. Whoops!

In the Parks

So I have a few tips about your stroller going through security and getting into the parks.

When you are going through security, you'll need to empty out the bottom of the stroller. This is another reason to just have your extra things in a bag and not loose in the bottom. They will also open up the "hood," so make sure you don't have anything tucked in there or it will go flying.

Every attraction has a specific stroller parking area. You can't bring your stroller into any of the lines, so be ready to park and then walk into the line. If you have a tiny one, this is probably a good time to wear a baby. Your smaller kids can just be crazy in the lines. Great ;-)

There's no way that this turned into an all out wrestling match in the line for Talking Mickey....



Another little tidbit is to have ponchos for your stroller. If you are going inside, pull the cover over your stroller. Maybe even throw ponchos on it. Florida is known for a storm rolling through in the time it takes you to watch Festival of the Lion King. You come out thrilled with the cool show and now your kiddo has to sit in a puddle. Not great. Just be ready. Here's my guys after getting soaked at the Halloween party!



In the Resorts

Some of the resorts are gigantic. You probably will want to bring your stroller to your room. We usually fold ours (again) when we get to the room.



Random other tips!

So I have a great story! We were in Hollywood Studios when we realized that one of these wheels was missing!

It could have been the folding and unfolding, or maybe even this game that George likes to play with boys. Who could know?!

Anyway, I went to Guest Services (inside the park and directly on the left). A cast member checked the lost and found and it wasn't there. They told me to check back later. We checked back, and no dice...or wheel. They gave us a number to call or told us to check central lost and found at the Ticket and Transportation Center. We were going to the Magic Kingdom the next day, so when we parked we just dropped in. They asked what park, what time, and the exact wheel size. I asked if this was common, and they just laughed and laugh. It happens all the time apparently! Like total magic, they brought me the wheel, and we rolled out happy campers! So, my insider tip is that you should totally check with central lost and found if you lose something!

In Conclusion!

We have travelled quite a bit with these little nuggets. I will say that going to Disney is SO easy when you have a stroller. Because almost everyone has a stroller, it really makes you just fit in! Sometimes you have to be careful in crowds that you don't nip anyone on the ankle, but otherwise, it's a breeze!

If I can help you plan your trip, send me an email to kacietravelplanner@gmail.com

Happy Travels!



Sunday, January 8, 2017

The How, Where, Why, and What of Dole Whip!

It's time to talk about my favorite treat at Disney World....DOLE WHIPS!


So, what is a Dole Whip, you might ask? Well, let me fill you in on a world of deliciousness! A Dole Whip is a soft serve pineapple frozen treat. It's dairy free, and it has fruit, so in vacations terms, it's basically a salad, right? You can get it in a cup or in a float with pineapple juice (pictured above). Because the most magical place on earth is often the hottest place on earth, I like to get it as a float. That way you can sip it with a straw.



Eat it with a spoon.


And you have a refreshing sip of melted Dole Whip and pineapple juice mixed together at the end.


It's basically magical goodness in a cup.

Now, you might be wondering where you can get this glass of joy the next time you're at Disney World? Here are your choices. Study these, mark them on a map, and prepare for theme park happiness on your next trip!


  • Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom. This is a quick service stand behind the Flying Carpets in Adventure Land.
  • Pinapple Lanai in the Polynesian Resort. If you are in the downstairs part of the lobby, walk out as if you are going to the pool (not the bus stop), and it will be on your left.
  • Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Animal Kingdom. This is located as you are entering Africa. It's a great stop before or after you go on safari. Because everything's better in Animal Kingdom, you can get a shot of rum added there, which is a brilliant idea. 
  • And because Disney Springs is now an amazing place to be, you can get it at Marketplace Snacks.
  • It also pops up in different forms at both Flower and Garden and Food and Wine festivals in Epcot. They strangely call it "pineapple soft serve," but don't worry--it's not some inferior knock off brand like "Big-K Cola" to Coke. It's the real thing. 

Now, since I am a travel agent (need help planning a trip?! email me at kacietravelplanner@gmail.com), I have done some SERIOUS research, and I have a few extra suggestions for you. Dole Whip and the floats count at one snack credit if you are on the Disney Dining Plan. They are a great value in terms of cost on the dining plan and in terms of happiness on the life plan. 

Don't plan on sharing with your kids. Otherwise, you'll end up in a situation like this:


Think this size is too big for your precious little bundle of love? That's ok. Trust me. I have never seen anyone with leftover Dole Whip. Consider their leftover Dole Whip a thank you for parenting them up to this point.  But, I'm telling you, don't depend on extras. Get your own.


There is a place to sit to the left of Aloha Isle in case the tables on the right are full. You'll spend the whole time watching the camels "spit" on people on the flying carpets ride, which is hilarious.


I think that's all I have for right now. I really truly do love some Dole Whip. It is delicious and refreshing. It tastes like exactly what you need to cool off after watching the three o'clock Festival of Fantasy parade (which is awesome, but SO HOT).




I clearly am a fan, since I somehow think that this picture is a great professional picture for my travel planning business! I actually had a cast member tell me that she "appreciated my commitment" when I wore this shirt to order some one time. (I got the shirt here. No relationship with them, but I love this shirt, so I figured they deserved a shout out!)

Happy travels! If this is your first or 100th trip to Disney World, I hope you plan to make time for some delicious Dole Whip!

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Review of Early Morning Magic at the Magic Kingdom

As a travel agent, I try to stay on top of the next things happening in the travel industry. Since my agency, Magical Enchanted Vacations, is an Earmarked agency, I try extra hard to stay on top of Disney happenings. Sometimes, this even means that I make a sacrifice (ha ha!) to try out the new events at Disney World!

This past year, they started a new program called Early Morning Magic in the Magic Kingdom. It is offered on some Tuesdays and Sundays in the Magic Kingdom.

Here's the official link.

Basically, you get access to Magic Kingdom at 7:45 when the park opens at 9. You get to ride Winnie the Pooh, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, and Peter Pan. There is also a breakfast that in Pinocchio Village Haus that is open until 10.  It costs $69 for adults and $59 for children 3 and up pre-tax. You also have to already have a ticket to the Magic Kingdom. You also have to pay at the time you make the reservation.

We decided to try this out on our December trip to Disney. I love the Magic Kingdom, but I really dislike crowds. I am on a constant hunt of strategies to avoid crowds at all costs. The boys had never been on a proper roller coaster, and since they are 38 inches tall (at age 2!), they are big enough to do 7DMT. I had a feeling that they would enjoy it, but not understand that they can only ride it once. And since I really wanted to give it a try, it seemed like the perfect combination! They are also early risers, so getting to the parks early is no big deal.

We were staying at Port Orleans Riverside, and we got to the bus stop with plenty of time. Lots of people worry that there won't be bus service that early, but it's always running to get you where you need to go. Just give yourself plenty of time! We hopped on a bus and landed at the Magic Kingdom. After security, you go to the far left and there are cast members checking you in. They will scan your Magic Band and the reservation for EMM will show up. Then they will give you an EMM arm band.



We waited at the entrance until Main Street was cleared. I noticed that most of the people waiting in the line were going to pre-park opening dining reservations. There were very few people with our arm bands on.  I took that as a great sign for us!

George suggested we stop for a totally empty castle picture. I said, "No thanks! It's Seven Dwarves Mine Train time!" I knew that those minutes cost a lot and were really special, so I forced him to run straight to the back of the park. In hindsight, we totally had time for a quick picture....

We hopped on the mine train. The boys were great during it. As soon as we got off, Candler said, "mine not doing that again."



Yes you are kid! This was a pricey little add on! Just kidding, but i do think you need to try something more than one time before you really know if you like it! We went over and rode Pooh and Peter Pan. They love both of those attractions, and the wait times are usually pretty long. Then they came around and said they wanted to ride 7DMT again. Then they rode it 5 times in a row. The really cool part is that you don't even have to walk through the queue again. You can literally get off of the ride and then get right back on again. After the 5th time in a row, we BEGGED them to ride something else. So we rode Peter Pan and Pooh one more time. Then they wanted to go back to those dwarves, so we did a few more times. We finally decided that it was enough. We rode it 8 or 9 times. We lost count! It was such a cool experience.

By then, people started coming into the park. It was really fun to be wrapping up a big morning as other people are coming in. I will say that they held the people with pre-park dining reservations until exactly 9, so we got every minute of our time. We also squeezed into the Fastpass line of Peter Pan a couple of times after 9 exactly.

We eventually made our way to breakfast. It was a really nice buffet set up for people with EMM tickets. We ate a much bigger breakfast than we had expected! They had a good variety of eggs, frittatas, sausage, and breakfast breads and pastries. There was plenty of coffee, tea, water, and juice.

Then, just by good fortune, we were chosen for "family of the day." All of these extras were not a part of the EMM, but they were amazing! A cast member brought us a "No Strings Attached" fastpass for 7DMT so we could ride it again when there was a line. We did it that night when we returned in our PJs for the Christmas Party! Candler's face in this picture is priceless.



I promise he was having fun!

Then, they brought us MORE treats, and the boys "wrote" their wishes in the Blue Fairy's book.


Before we left, the cast members loaded us up with bottled waters for the day. Then, they walked us over to the Fastpass line so we could meet Elena and Cinderella! We were SO spoiled!


When we let at about 11 or so, we were fighting crowds to get OUT of the park! It was a totally magical morning.

So my conclusions on this are far more positive than I was expecting them to be. We had an amazing morning. Granted, you only have access to three attractions, but we love all three of them. It feels pretty amazing to just hop on them with no worries about Fastpass or lines. I was afraid that 7:45-9 would feel too rushed, but it was actually great. When you don't have any down time between rides, that is a whole lot of riding! We didn't get to breakfast until more like 9:45, but we weren't rushed to get out by 10. The extra magic at the end didn't hurt either! We have annual passes though, so we don't really have to think about the additional cost on top of a park ticket. I wouldn't say that this experience is for everyone, but we really loved it. I haven't booked it again, but I have my eye on a March date and I probably will!

If you need any help with your vacation planning, drop me a line at kacietravelplanner@gmail.com :-)