How to Manage the Crowds at Walt Disney World

“photo ©Matt Clare”

“When should we plan our trip to Walt Disney World if we want to avoid the crowds?”
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked that question! I used to have specific times I recommended and could confidently tell clients that the crowds would be “very light.”
That’s no longer the case. Even during the “slow” times, you are still going to encounter crowds on your Disney vacation. The good news is that the masses don’t have to impact your trip at all negatively.

I’ve put together a list of some of my top tips for managing the crowds at Walt Disney World…

Be realistic in your expectations.

There are plenty of “crowd calendars” available online to help you find the weeks where the parks are going to be less crowded. Just keep in mind that “less crowded” is relative.

It doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to walk right on to your favorite attractions with little to no wait at any time of day. If that is your expectation, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

What it does mean is that you are unlikely to be standing shoulder to shoulder with other guests as you walk down Main Street USA on your way into the Magic Kingdom!

 

“photo ©Allie Caulfield”

Plan ahead.

A Walt Disney World vacation requires a lot of planning!

There are three things I recommend you plan in advance…

1.          Know what park you will be in for each day

2.          Plan and schedule your FastPass+ attractions for the day

3.          Make Advance Dining Reservations for any table service meals you plan to have for the day

Planning out your days so that you know what park you will be at each day and making your FastPass+ reservations in advance will make a massive difference in helping you to minimize the time you spend waiting in line.

I know what you may be thinking, we don’t want our trip to be overly scheduled. We want to go-with-the-flow. That’s an excellent idea but trust me when I tell you that once you see what a difference a small amount of advance planning makes, you’ll find it very worthwhile.

Creating a theme park touring plan is one of the services I provide to my clients as part of their vacation planning package. Following the advice in these touring plans can make the difference in your family feeling tired, frustrated, and spending most of your day in lines, or knowing the ins and outs of the crowd patterns, ticking off your “must-see attractions” (sometimes more than once!), and enjoying the day without feeling overwhelmed.

Arrive early…

It’s your vacation and waking up early may not sound like the kind of relaxation you had in mind, but the first hour to hour and a half the parks are open the crowds and lines will be at their lowest levels. As the day goes on, the crowd levels (and the heat!) will continue to build.

Arriving at the parks just before they open officially and heading straight for the “headliner” attractions is one of the best ways to ride them without waiting in long lines.

Use Extra Magic Hours Wisely

Each day Disney opens one of the theme parks one hour early, and/or keeps one of the parks open for 2-3 hours after its regular closing time just for on-site resort guests.

I typically only recommend the morning Extra Magic Hours to my clients if they know for sure they will be at the park before it opens so they can really maximize that hour. It’s also incredibly helpful if they have “park hopper” tickets.

Why? Because the morning extra magic hour park will usually be the most crowded park for the remainder of the day. Even if guests aren’t taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, many of them will head to that park since the tv in their room and the schedule on the info screens in the hotel lobby feature that as the park of the day.

If you aren’t going to take advantage of the full 60 minutes of minimal wait times, choose a different park for the day.

 

“photo ©Anna Fox”

Stay super late…

Early mornings not your thing? No worries!

Evening Extra Magic Hours are ideal for families with older kids and teens who are wholly opposed to getting up early, even if it means shorter lines! During the busiest travel seasons, evening Extra Magic Hours may have one of the parks open until as late as 2 am, and you can bet the crowd level is low for that kind of late-night fun! The lines, even for headliner attractions, are almost nonexistent by the end of the night.

A pro tip for late-night touring… adrenaline and activity will keep you going while you are having fun, but once you sit down and stop moving, fatigue can set in quickly. Waiting for the bus back to your resort can be tough at the end of a long night.

Consider taking the monorail to one of the resorts and catching an Uber, Lyft, or MinnieVan back to your resort. The nominal charge is worth it when you are dropped off as close as possible to your door and into your bed much faster than if you had waited for the bus!

Take a break.

Mid-day is when both the crowds and the heat index are at their peak, so it’s the perfect time for a break.

Consider planning a sit-down, table service lunch. You’ll escape the heat for a bit and get off your feet. Having a chance to sit down in the A/C and enjoy a good meal can be precisely what cranky kids (and parents!) need mid-day.

Or think about returning to your resort for a break! Take a nap… go for a swim… relax for a while and head back to the parks in the evening with renewed energy.

Parades and Fireworks Draw the Crowds

Disney does a phenomenal job with their night-time entertainment! Their parades and fireworks are top notch, and most people will secure their spot to watch both well in advance of the show starting… which means they won’t be riding your favorite attractions!

If you’ve already seen the parade or fireworks show (or the rides are more important to your family than the fireworks!), this is one of the best times during regular park hours to head to the parks most popular attractions.

Ready to start planning your next visit to see Mickey and friends? The perfect vacation begins with scheduling your complimentary consultation. Click here to request a time for us to chat [<<- LINK]. We’ll discuss the details and what your vacation priorities. I’ll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

Our Story of Travelling with Autism

People always look at me strangely when talking about Disney, because it just doesn't fit with what others think I like. Given the choice, I would rather stay in a real castle somewhere in Europe, but there is something when you walk into Magic Kingdom and look up Main St and see the castle it chokes me up and I will tell you why. It was one of the places that helped our special needs child turn into a confident traveler.

My eldest son is high functioning autistic, being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when he was 5 years old. As he puts it now at age 23, he did have "issues" and of course these issues meant that travelling was a challenge when he was younger. Our #1 priority is and was to get him to a level where he can as we put it "function in the real world". We have been lucky to be backed up with a wonderful medical team and a school district who have seen his potential. Of course, getting him used to travelling had it's bumps in the road, but not road blocks. He's now in college working on his accounting degree.

This is one reason I have become  a Certified Autism Travel Professional, and I applaud IBCCES for establishing this program along with their program to certify resorts/hotels/theme parks.

So here are some of our strategies we have used in our travels with special needs,

#1 Prepare and repeat- This was huge in getting him used to TSA security. We practiced at home a lot and then took a road trip to our airport so he could see how it went before he actually had to do it.
Of course now, we have Global Entry with TSA pre-check, so this makes things easier. Also TSA now has TSA Cares

 #2 Sleeping arrangements-How fun was a vacation going to be if we asked him to share a bed with his brother? It would have been an absolute nightmare of no one sleeping, and let's face it no kid special needs or not is in risk of a meltdown with a lack of a good night's rest. So we always looked for accommodations that were multi bedrooms or connecting staterooms on a cruise ship. And as I always tell families, would you spend a week in your master bedroom with your family? Well that's what you are doing when you put 4 people in one hotel room. Plus it gives mom & dad privacy too, wink wink if you know what I mean.

 #3 Plan to include their interests- My son is a history buff, so Pearl Harbor was a must on our trip to Hawaii. Given the choice, he would rather see interesting things than sit on a beach all day. So you can imagine he was over the moon on his delayed grad cruise in Europe and one of his bucket list items is to do a Danube river cruise to see the major cities of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire

#4 Don't rule out Disney- Yes they have accomodations for special needs, but we have never used them in our trips. By knowing how to "do the parks" we were able to avoid long lines both in Orlando and Anaheim. And the more times we went to Disneyworld, the more comfortable he got with the whole travel thing, from standing in a crowd waiting to watch the fireworks, to trying new foods and liking them. And I will say this from a consumer point of view, not just a certified Disney expert, there is a Disney Difference from the theme parks, resorts, cruise line and tour company.

#5 Cruise- I have been cruising since 1980 when my mom took us on the "Love Boat" aka Pacific Princess to Alaska and as a parent myself I find it a great way to travel with kids period. I'm pampered by not having to cook,clean or worry about did we take the wrong way. It's a super way for those on the spectrum to travel. You are in the same bed every night and come back to familiar food.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands 

#6 Plan downtime- Having some time when they can just watch tv, get on the computer or do whatever your special needs child does to release anxiety is good. Vacation time is structured differently than what they are used to at home and even with preparing and knowing ahead of time, you sometimes may have to cross an activity offer your list or plan that downtime into your schedule. Even if you don't have special needs children, edit your must see list. A vacation is supposed to be re-charge your batteries and connect as a family. Each family is different, but you don't need to take a vacation to recover from your vacation.

Taking a break for lunch

How to Manage the Crowds at Walt Disney World

“When should we plan our trip to Walt Disney World if we want to avoid the crowds?”
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked that question! I used to have specific times I recommended and could confidently tell clients that the crowds would be “very light.”
That’s no longer the case. Even during the “slow” times, you are still going to encounter crowds on your Disney vacation. The good news is that the masses don’t have to impact your trip at all negatively.

photo ©Matt Clare

I’ve put together a list of some of my top tips for managing the crowds at Walt Disney World…

Be realistic in your expectations.

There are plenty of “crowd calendars” available online to help you find the weeks where the parks are going to be less crowded. Just keep in mind that “less crowded” is relative.

It doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to walk right on to your favorite attractions with little to no wait at any time of day. If that is your expectation, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

What it does mean is that you are unlikely to be standing shoulder to shoulder with other guests as you walk down Main Street USA on your way into the Magic Kingdom!

Plan ahead.

A Walt Disney World vacation requires a lot of planning!

There are three things I recommend you plan in advance…

1.          Know what park you will be in for each day

2.          Plan and schedule your FastPass+ attractions for the day

3.          Make Advance Dining Reservations for any table service meals you plan to have for the day

Planning out your days so that you know what park you will be at each day and making your FastPass+ reservations in advance will make a massive difference in helping you to minimize the time you spend waiting in line.

I know what you may be thinking, we don’t want our trip to be overly scheduled. We want to go-with-the-flow. That’s an excellent idea but trust me when I tell you that once you see what a difference a small amount of advance planning makes, you’ll find it very worthwhile.

Creating a theme park touring plan is one of the services I provide to my clients as part of their vacation planning package. Following the advice in these touring plans can make the difference in your family feeling tired, frustrated, and spending most of your day in lines, or knowing the ins and outs of the crowd patterns, ticking off your “must-see attractions” (sometimes more than once!), and enjoying the day without feeling overwhelmed.

photo ©Allie Caulfield

Arrive early…

It’s your vacation and waking up early may not sound like the kind of relaxation you had in mind, but the first hour to hour and a half the parks are open the crowds and lines will be at their lowest levels. As the day goes on, the crowd levels (and the heat!) will continue to build.

Arriving at the parks just before they open officially and heading straight for the “headliner” attractions is one of the best ways to ride them without waiting in long lines.

Use Extra Magic Hours Wisely

Each day Disney opens one of the theme parks one hour early, and/or keeps one of the parks open for 2-3 hours after its regular closing time just for on-site resort guests.

I typically only recommend the morning Extra Magic Hours to my clients if they know for sure they will be at the park before it opens so they can really maximize that hour. It’s also incredibly helpful if they have “park hopper” tickets.

Why? Because the morning extra magic hour park will usually be the most crowded park for the remainder of the day. Even if guests aren’t taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, many of them will head to that park since the tv in their room and the schedule on the info screens in the hotel lobby feature that as the park of the day.

If you aren’t going to take advantage of the full 60 minutes of minimal wait times, choose a different park for the day.

Stay super late…

Early mornings not your thing? No worries!

Evening Extra Magic Hours are ideal for families with older kids and teens who are wholly opposed to getting up early, even if it means shorter lines! During the busiest travel seasons, evening Extra Magic Hours may have one of the parks open until as late as 2 am, and you can bet the crowd level is low for that kind of late-night fun! The lines, even for headliner attractions, are almost nonexistent by the end of the night.

A pro tip for late-night touring… adrenaline and activity will keep you going while you are having fun, but once you sit down and stop moving, fatigue can set in quickly. Waiting for the bus back to your resort can be tough at the end of a long night.

Consider taking the monorail to one of the resorts and catching an Uber, Lyft, or MinnieVan back to your resort. The nominal charge is worth it when you are dropped off as close as possible to your door and into your bed much faster than if you had waited for the bus!

photo ©Anna Fox

Take a break.

Mid-day is when both the crowds and the heat index are at their peak, so it’s the perfect time for a break.

Consider planning a sit-down, table service lunch. You’ll escape the heat for a bit and get off your feet. Having a chance to sit down in the A/C and enjoy a good meal can be precisely what cranky kids (and parents!) need mid-day.

Or think about returning to your resort for a break! Take a nap… go for a swim… relax for a while and head back to the parks in the evening with renewed energy.

Parades and Fireworks Draw the Crowds

Disney does a phenomenal job with their night-time entertainment! Their parades and fireworks are top notch, and most people will secure their spot to watch both well in advance of the show starting… which means they won’t be riding your favorite attractions!

If you’ve already seen the parade or fireworks show (or the rides are more important to your family than the fireworks!), this is one of the best times during regular park hours to head to the parks most popular attractions.

Ready to start planning your next visit to see Mickey and friends? The perfect vacation begins with scheduling your complimentary consultation. Click here torequest a time for us to chat . We’ll discuss the details and what your vacation priorities. I’ll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

18 Family Vacations- US Edition

Eighteen summers… at first it seems like you’ve got all the time in the world. You spend years chasing toddlers, driving carpool, building dioramas for the science fair. Countless hours of dance lessons, music recitals, and ball games. What feels like endless arguments over homework, cleaning their room, screen time, and more. The business of raising a family is work… and it never ends.

Then one day, sooner than you thought it would happen, you’re teaching them to drive, ordering a letterman jacket, shopping for a prom dress… and then it happens. One day the college brochures start filling your mailbox and you realize you’ve only got a few summers left.

Sure, they’ll be back from college on breaks, and you’ll still see them after they start their new, more independent life… but it won’t be the same.

Traveling with kids can be a challenge… but it’s worth it! Those experiences on family vacations are the type of memories that are deeply rooted and will be cherished for a lifetime.

Those 18 years go by quickly. It’s a bit cliché to say the years go by in a blink, but like all clichés that’s because it’s true. The countdown starts the day they were born, and no matter how much we may want to… we can’t slow it down.

In that spirit, we’ll be sharing 18 of our favorite family vacation suggestions over the next few weeks. Some are better suited for younger kids, some for teens… but most are fun for all ages. We’d love to help you pick out the perfect vacation for your family makeup for this year and beyond.

Here are a few of our favorite closer-to-home family vacation options…

Walt Disney World

No family vacation list is complete without Disney! A Walt Disney World vacation is almost a right of passage. Disney does a great job of immersing families in a carefree environment where everyone is a kid again. Whether you bring them when they are little and the “Disney magic” is very real, or you visit when they are older with more stamina for the parks and can enjoy seeing childhood favorites, a Disney vacation is a family vacation fairy tale dream come true. Disney holds a special place in our hearts, as our many trips to WDW helped our eldest become a confident traveler. And a hidden unknown gem, Disney's Vero Beach Resort. 

At one of the Beach Cottages at Disney's Vero Beach

U.S. National Parks

There are 412 National Parks in the US and among them you’ll find some absolute “must-dos” for family vacations. Yellowstone has geysers, hot springs, mountains lakes, and buffalo-filled valleys. Yosemite is filled with waterfalls, and unique granite rock formations, In Volcanoes National Park you can hike through a 500-year old lava tube or stand in awe of the “Glow Show” after dark at the Jaggar Museum and Overlook. The oddly shaped sandstone monuments that fill Arches National Park are the perfect backdrop for a family photo. And that’s just 4 of the parks… there are 408 more to choose from!  

Chain of Craters Volcano National Park Hawaii

Washington, D.C.

The most challenging thing about a trip to D.C. with the kids is finding time to fit in all of the amazing attractions! The Smithsonian Institute museums have something for every interest and enough activities to keep the little ones engaged. The best piece of advice we can offer when planning to visit the Washington D.C. is definitely to plan ahead! Especially if touring the White House, visiting the National Archives to see the original Declaration of Independence, or check out where our money comes from at the Bureau of Engraving or Printing are on your wish list.

White House Tour

Family Cruise

Sailing the high seas is one of the best options for a stress-free vacation for families with kids of all ages. With almost all of your activities and dining included in your stateroom price, cruising can be a great value as well. 

Pre Christmas cruise on Princess Cruises's Caribbean Princess 

Cruises offer the perfect balance of high energy fun and relaxation. Crusing is an excellent way to see the world. While you may think of the Bahamas or Caribbean, there are also options for more adventurous families. Consider itineraries like Alaska, the Mediterranean, or the Baltics.

New York City

NYC is like a giant playground for kids of all ages. There is something for every interest under the sun. Explore world-class museums, zoos, iconic attractions, take in a Broadway show, take a food tour through Chinatown, Little Italy, and a host of celebrity restaurants, have ice cream at Serendipity and spend the afternoon wandering through Central Park.  One thing is for sure, there will be no time for boredom on this vacation.

New York City is the perfect place to take teenagers. Even the most jaded teen won’t be able to resist posting selfies from iconic NYC locations on Instagram and Snapchat.

Hawaii

Aloha! There’s no place quite like Hawaii. It’s the perfect relaxing beach vacation. No matter which island, or islands you pick, you can’t go wrong.

The Big Island of Hawaii is home to active volcanos, Kona coffee plantations, and lush gardens. Maui is a popular choice for many families with its abundance of gorgeous beaches, the scenic road to Hana, and quaint fishing villages like Lahaina.

On Oahu you can take in the solemn history of Pearl Harbor, the world-famous Waikiki, and try your hand at surfing the iconic waves of the North Shore. Then there is the unspoiled beauty of the island of Kauai with the dramatic Waimea Canyon, the towering cliffs of the Napali coast, and the beauty of Poipu Beach.

We’ve got 2 more weeks of suggestions to fill out your 18 summers of travel with your family. Be sure to check back next week to find out our top recommendations for European vacations with the family.

The perfect family vacation begins with scheduling your complimentary consultation. Click here to request a time for us to chat. We’ll discuss the details and what your vacation priorities. I’ll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

Top 3 Tips For Walt Disney World with Teens

Late Extra Magic Hours at Hollywood Studios

photo ©Disney

For most people, the thought of a Walt Disney World® vacation conjures images of wandering the parks with little ones, but in many ways, your theme park vacation can be even more fun with teens and tweens. There is no need to stop mid-day for naps, they have no trouble staying out late for fireworks, and Mom and Dad can enjoy those thrill rides too since everyone meets the height requirements.

Here are our top 3 tips for your Walt Disney World vacation with teens and tweens:

Embrace their schedule…

One of the top recommendations I give my clients to avoid the long lines in the parks is to arrive early and get as much done in the first hour the park is open as you can. This plan works great with young kids who are often up at the crack of dawn anyway, but as any parent of teens knows, the older they get, the later they want to sleep! It’s setting your family up for frustration and arguments if you plan to be at the park gates before they open every morning, so take your teen’s advice and “chill out, Mom!”

Let the families with little kids enjoy their time at the morning extra magic hours and plan to enjoy time with your teens staying late at the parks at night. Evening extra magic hours mean that one of the theme parks will remain open for onsite resort guests a few hours past its regular closing time. The lines and crowds will thin out dramatically as the night wears on and is the perfect time to enjoy the parks with your older kids (Mom and Dad can grab some Starbucks to keep them from turning into a pumpkin at night!).

There is lots of fun to be had outside the theme parks…

While you'll spend much of your time in one of the four major theme parks, the fun doesn’t stop there.

Hanging out and relaxing at your hotel pool can be the perfect way to spend an afternoon (especially if you need a chance to recover after your late-night adventures at the theme parks). Give the kids some time to explore the resort, grab lunch on their own and meet you at the pool.

Looking for even more water-based fun? Take the time to check out one of Disney’s themed water parks. The kids will love the thrill rides and wave pools, and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to send them off on their own while you relax and enjoy some downtime (maybe even with an adult beverage or a good book).

photo ©Disney

Disney Springs is full of restaurants and activities that are sure to be a hit for an evening of family fun. You can plan on bowling at Splitsville or taking in a concert at the House of Blues and grab dinner at one of the food trucks or the T-Rex café and then enjoy some ice cream from Ghirardelli or cupcakes from Sprinkles as you spend the rest of your night wandering through the shops.

Plan some tours…

When you visit with young kids, it’s hard to plan for all of the fantastic tour options Disney has to offer, but they are just perfect to experience with your teens or tweens. What teenager wouldn’t enjoy zipping through the trails of Ft. Wilderness on a Segway or getting a peek backstage at how all the magic happens?

photo ©Disney

Want to really WOW your teens? Check out the options such as the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour or the Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour. If you’d like a more flexible VIP tour experience, we can even hook you up with a private VIP tour guide to spend the day with you!

Planning the perfect experience begins with scheduling your vacation consultation call. We are a Disney EarMarked Agency and have over 13+ trips to WDW.  Click here to request a time for us to meet.  We'll discuss the details and what you are looking for in your dream vacation. I'll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

Come Home in Your Skinny Jeans

  Yes you really can get off a cruise ship or leave an all inclusive resort wearing your skinny jeans. There is no reason to bring your yoga pants if you follow my few rules about staying in shape while on vacation. I have kept off 50+ pounds since 2010 and I travel regularly, so I will share my secrets with you and if you are a regular here, you know I love food.

Workout- Just because you are on vacation, don't take a break from working out. My workout clothes always come with me, because I want to have that dessert tonight or my amaretto on the rocks for a night cap. So I will hop on the elliptical or treadmill for 30 minutes a day to burn off those extra calories.

Don't Wait for the Elevator- When I am on a cruise I take the stairs to get where I want to go instead of the elevator most of the time. If that is too much for you just get off the elevator a deck or 2 before your desired location and walk the rest of the way. This also works at resorts too.

Pick Active Shore Excursions- You may have been sitting around by the pool or the beach for a few days, get out and try some snorkeling or a walking tour of town. And yes if you are at an all inclusive get out and discover the country you are visiting either on your own or a scheduled tour.

Food & Drink- Personally I try to eat my regular diet with some indulgences when on vacation. Okay those bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon do call my name at breakfast, but I will only go with half a bagel and a light smear of cream cheese. I do get lean protein and veggies so I can try the desserts, especially if there is anything chocolate! I tend to stay clear of high calorie drinks like Pina Coladas, and stick with something lighter like wine or a vodka & tonic but I also drink plenty of water. Not only will it help you feel full, it will help keep you hydrated if you are somewhere warm and flying also effects your hydration level, so don't skip your water! Most resorts and cruise ships have low calorie options clearly marked on the menu and the portion sizes are much smaller than say your well known sit down chain restaurant, so while you eat more courses it is probably less food.

Know your level of fitness before you go- I always advise my 1st time Walt Disney World clients about the amount of walking you will do in a visit, very easy to hit that magic 10,000 step mark per day. Most excursions either at a resort or when cruising usually have good guidelines on how active the tour is. If it looks like too much on paper for you or someone in your group it probably is. So maybe start an exercise program, even just starting to take a daily walk will get you into Disney shape before you go. Who wants to spend time on vacation nursing sore muscles from overuse?

You don't need to diet on vacation but strategically pick where to indulge and by adding some activity to your day, you too can wear your skinny jeans home too!

Great Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World in 2016

For Walt Disney World,  2015 meant new restaurant openings, a re-imagined Downtown Disney (Disney Springs), new shops and new attractions.  But with the Magic Kingdom Park celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2016, Disney World has a whole new batch of surprises to entice us to visit the home of Mickey Mouse.  Here are are some great reasons you and your family should consider a visit to the "most magical place on earth" this year.

1. Soarin' Around the World

Beginning this year, guests will have the chance to take on a whole new Soarin' experience when Soarin' Around the World opens at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort.  The 4-D attraction will take guests on a journey over some of the world's most unique landscapes.

2. Hollywood Studios Presents New "Star Wars"-Themed Fire Works Show

Disney's Hollywood Studios is introducing the new fireworks show.  The park recently rolled out other "Star Wars"-themed experiences, including Star Wars Launch Bay and a revision to Star Tours.

3. Dine at Animal Kingdom's Newest restaurant, Tiffins

Tiffins will offer waterfront views from indoor and outdoor and will celebrate the art of traveling, featuring a diverse menu drawing from places that inspire the creation of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

4. Animal Kingdom's First Nighttime Experience, "Rivers of Light"

Set to debut this spring, "Rivers of Light" will take place on Discovery River between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest.  It will combine live performers, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery.  A pair of hosts will journey onto the river of lantern vessels "for a dramatic dance of water and light to summon animal spirits."  In addition to the show, the park's iconic Tree of Life will be lit up by magical fireflies.

5. Kilimanjaro Safaris To Expand After Sunset

The Kilimanjaro Safaris will be extended for a new nighttime adventure.  Guests will travel through the African savanna and discover two new species to the attraction: African wild dogs and hyenas.

6. Frozen Ever After to Open at Epcot

The story of "Frozen" will be retold to park guests at the "Frozen Ever After" experience in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot.  The experience will take guests into the kingdom of Arendelle through storytelling new technology and music.  Visitors will visit Elsa's Ice Palace and the ice-blue world of North Mountain.  Favor "Frozen" characters will also be part of the experience.  In Norway, fans will have the opportunity to meet Anna and Elsa at the Royal Summerhas.

7. New Dining at Disney Springs

Downtown Disney experienced a large transformation in 2015, most notably, its re-branding to Disney Springs.  Several new ding options were introduced, including the Boathouse, Morimoto Asia, Jock Lindsey's Hanger Bar and Dockside Margaritas.  In 2016, we are expecting to see the opening of STK Restaurant, Blaze Fast-Fired Pizza and the Edison.

8. Jungle Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom Park

Fans will have a chance to experience the brand-new Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant in Adventureland.  At the restaurant, guests will be able to experience "World Famous Jungle Cuisine" in one of several unique dining rooms, including a crew mess hall and a "once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers."

Top 5 Dining Options at Walt Disney World Part 2

Here are 5 more Walt Disney World dining picks to whet your appetite and to show you there is way more than burgers & chicken tenders.

1. Victoria & Albert's (Grand Floridian Resort). The top rated restaurant in Orlando and yes, located at Disney's flagship resort. It does require men to wear a jacket and the menu changes on a daily basis depending on fresh ingredients. Also you can try to get a seat at the Chef's Table, which is even more exclusive with a different menu.

2. Tangerine Café(Morocco Pavilion Epcot) This is a go to for hummus, falafel and your other Mediterranean favorites even at Walt Disney World. One of my top Quick Service picks for your dining plan use. Portions are plentiful and lots of choices for vegetarians on the menu.

3. Crystal Palace(Magic Kingdom) If you have kids, yes you will probably need to do a character meal while at WDW. Crystal Palace features Winnie the Pooh and friends, plus it's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you do breakfast, an 8:00 am reservation(ADR in Disney-speak) gets you into Magic Kingdom before the park opens at 9am. A big plus if you don't want to experience park opening. Lunch and Dinner, the salmon is fantastic and save room for the flan for dessert.

4. Jiko-The Cooking Place  (Animal Kingdom Lodge) One of Disney's Signature Restaurants, the cuisine is African Fusion and an extensive list of South African wines. Harissa chicken, maize encrusted fish and Durban Curry are some of the menu highlights. How good is Jiko's? the chefs, participate in the special Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining during Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. These are exclusive events that the chef prepare a special menu with wine pairings.

5. Artist Point(Wilderness Lodge)-Another of Disney's Signature Restaurants, which means they require 2 table service dining credits. The flavors of the Pacific Northwest are featured here. Cedar Plank roasted King Salmon is a favorite, and especially good when it is Copper River King Salmon season. But save room for dessert, because the Artist Point Cobbler is the bombs. I'll just order an appetizer and salad because the Cobbler is that good!

So that concludes my top 10 favorite places to eat at Walt Disney World, plus there are other great places to eat in the parks and resorts, no you don't need to eat burgers & hot dogs at every meal even in the parks.  If you have a food allergy Disney is one of the most accommodating places you can go. For my first 5 favorite restaurants click here.

Top 5 Dining Options at Walt Disney World

Visiting Walt Disney World is not like going to your local amusement park, first it is way bigger than a lot of people imagine and you don't have to spend your time there eating "amusement park" food. Sure you can find burgers, fries and chicken tenders but you do have other interesting options to eat in the parks and at the various resorts. Here are the top 5 favorites of myself and my family that we have discovered in our many trips to the World.

1. Wolfgang Puck Express(Marketplace, Downtown Disney). This is one of our favorites, it is classified as a quick service restaurant for the Disney Dining Plans, but once you place your order you go and sit down and the food is brought out to you. As you may know Wolfgang Puck was probably one of the first celebrity chefs. Pizzas, sandwiches, salads and main dishes like salmon and some of the best mac & cheese according to our family's expert. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it is maybe one of the best values for using a quick service meal credit on the dining plan.

2. Flame Tree Barbeque(Animal Kingdom Park), This is our go to quick service at Animal Kingdom, BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches and ribs are the highlights here. It has been closed for refurbishment and should be opening back up shortly. Once again this is a great use for your QS dining credits. The seating is outside and you do have to watch the birds who like to come looking for handouts. If you have a younger child who may get freaked out by birds, maybe you should reconsider this.

3. Beaches & Cream(Disney's Beach Club Resort) This is set up like an old soda shop and has what I think are the best burgers at WDW and of course don't forget the ice cream. Have you heard of the Kitchen Sink Sundae? Well this is where you come to get it, and yes bring a crowd to help you eat it. Of course they have regular sized sundaes and cones also. How to get to this gem on the QS dining plan list, head out the International Gateway entrance of Epcot, which takes you to Crescent Lake. This is where you find Disney's Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn Resorts and also Disney's Swan and Dolphin.

4. Todd English's Bluezoo(Disney's Dolphin Resort) This is one of my favorite places for an adult meal, send the younger kids to one of the Disney Resort's Kids Clubs or if they are older like mine, they will be more than happy with a pizza and some downtime away from the parents just as much as you need to take a break from them on vacation. Great food from one of America's top chef's and yes you are in the land of Mickey! Unfortunately this restaurant is not on the dining plan, but is a great choice for someone who loves food.

5. California Grill(Disney's Contemporary Resort), A classic situated on top of the Contemporary, so besides a wonderful dinner(like Bluezoo, the menu changes frequently because it is based on food that is in season), depending on when you eat you have a front row seat for Wishes fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. There is actually a outdoor platform to watch and the music is piped in. This restaurant also features an interesting sushi menu and some California wines that are near impossible to find out side of California. This is a Signature Restaurant in the Disney Dining Plans, so it requires two Table Service credits. Is it worth doubling up, oh yeah!
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These are just a few of my favorite restaurants, honed from 13 trips to Walt Disney World, I could go on! So keep an eye out for my next list to round out my top 10.