Character Dining

One of the most magical things about a Disney vacation is the opportunity to meet our favorite characters. Whether you're 3 or 93 there is just something about getting a hug or smile from these familiar friends. Sometimes we get lucky and stumble upon a short line to meet them but, more often than not, we either have to wait in a long line or use a FastPass+ selection to get face time with our favorites. But there is another way... character dining.

                                              

       

   
    

For the "uninitiated", character dining is a table service or signature meal in which characters are present and make their way around the dining room, stopping at each table for photo opportunities, interactions with guests, and autographs. There are multiple opportunities for character dining both in the parks and at various Walt Disney World resorts. Each of them is unique, offering a wide variety of decor, characters, and food for guests to experience. 

      

     

Choosing the right character meal(s) for your travel party can be a lot of fun but also a bit overwhelming if you don't know where to begin. Which is why I've created a chart to break down some of the basic information regarding characters, location, type of dining experience, and meals offered. 

                                      

                                

  

Hopefully this will help you narrow things down a bit. You can then contact your travel agent or explore the Walt Disney World website for more specific information about the meals you're most interested in. Happy (character) dining! 

                                  

   

Hope thinks discovering new restaurants can be one of the best parts of any vacation. She's ready to help you find the dining experiences just right for you and your travel party. Contact her today at Hope@SnapshotGetaways or find her on Facebook. 

Wordless Wednesday: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

                                                     

          

      

         

                                        

         

         

                                          

           

Hope is never scared to dive into Disney vacation planning. If you're being ready for a party with Mickey and the gang contact her at Hope@SnapshotGetaways.com or find her on Facebook. 

 
   


 

Our Favorite Things: Quick Service Restaurants

One of the things people love most about visiting Disney parks is the food. However, with so many choices it can be a bit overwhelming! Here are few favorites from our Snapshot Getaways team to help you narrow it down.

Our family loved Pecos Bill's, located in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. The variety of choices, large portions perfect for sharing, and toppings bar made this a favorite of our entire family! ~Hope


My boys enjoy Pizza Planet at Hollywood Studios. You can never go wrong with pizza plus it is themed from the movie and an arcade. After we eat I take a breather and regroup while the boys feverishly shove tokens in the machines.
~Amanda

We always stop at the Yak and the Yeti Quick Service spot in Animal Kingdom.  Also called the Local Food Cafe.  Teriyaki Beef or Honey Chicken and you might even sneak some veggies into the kids.  It's a nice break from the burgers and sandwiches and one meal can be easily shared.  Leaving room for a snack break later!
-Maria

My favorite quick service restaurant is the Tangerine Cafe at Epcot in the Moroccan Pavilion.  I love the fresh and healthy food.  This is a great place to go for a delightful reprieve from the delicious "gut bombs" we all know and love at Walt Disney World.  As an added bonus my toddler loves it as well.
-Gina

Our family favorite spot for a quick bite is Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom.  This location may look like just a spot for drinks and ice cream but looks are deceiving.  Delicious waffles!  Savory and Sweet waffles are made fresh while you wait.  Grab a table with a side view of Cinderella's Castle and snack away.  My favorite is the Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle. 

~Michelle ~

Let us know your favorite Quick Service restaurants!  Looking for planning help?  The Snapshot Getaways team is here.  Visit our website for a quote form.

Garden Grocer Delivers

What is a Garden Grocer and why are we so in love with it?  Garden Grocer is local supermarket outside the Disney World properties in Orlando.  There are many grocery stores in the area that deliver, so you can always "shop around".

5 Reasons why we love Garden Grocer:

1. Online ordering.  It’s so much easier to peruse the selections online than try to explain something over the phone.  Their system is very user-friendly and their selection complete.  Coming from “up North” some of the brands were unfamiliar, but they had everything I was looking for.  They even have an "app" to make purchasing from your phone easier.
2.  Delivery.  Right to your Disney Resort or place off property.  With a delivery to our Disney Resort we didn’t even need to be in our room.  Your groceries are left with luggage/bell services and the cold items in refrigerated storage.  At most of the moderate or deluxe resorts you may have the groceries then delivered by bell services upon your return.  Otherwise you can pick them up at the luggage services.  Check with your resort ahead of time if you think there may be an issue.
3. Selection.  Garden Grocer has a huge selection of products.  They have baby items, snacks and even alcoholic beverages.  They have a good variety of gluten free and kosher items as well.  The online ordering section is divided into “aisles” just like your grocery store at home.  My favorite section…”Park Essentials”.
4.  Savings.  Buying these same items are a fortune at Disney’s gift shops.  If all you want is a half-gallon of milk you can go into any Disney gift shop and get one.  We even found we were able to use snack credits for boxes of crackers and cookies.  However, if you are looking to save on snacks to bring to the park or have breakfast items on hand you will not save any money by going to the food courts.
5. Time.  We don’t rent a car while at Disney.  If we did, LAST thing we would want to do is running to the grocery store.  We would rather be relaxing by our resort pool or enjoying the parks.  You are on vacation, for a small delivery fee and a little planning ahead you really can enjoy it!

The Facts:

• Order at least 72 hours in advance, longer if possible.  There is a 36 hour minimum.  You will select a 2 hour delivery window and the earlier you order the better your selection will be. Currently there is a promotion where you receive a discount for ordering early.
• Delivery Fee is $14 and minimum order is $40.  Deliveries over $200 are only $2.
• You have to use a credit card to have your groceries left at the resort.  COD orders require your attendance.  The store will call to confirm with you before delivery.
• Tipping is optional according to their website.  We always leave a tip for the driver.
• If you cancel your order before the 48 hour mark there is no fee.  Inside 48 hours there is a restocking fee.  It gets gradually higher the later you cancel.
• Delivery times are between 8am and 9pm, 7 days a week.  You select a 2 hour window but keep in mind they may deliver a little earlier.
• Refrigerated items will be kept cold at a Disney resort.  If not staying at a Disney resort, please check with your hotel/condo for their policies on delivery.
• Visit GardenGrocer.com for additional and current information.

Insider Tips:

• Don’t go nuts with the refrigerated and frozen items.  There just simply isn’t the space to keep them cold.  Value and Moderate resorts have tiny, dormitory style refrigerators.  For Milk or Juices do not order larger than a half-gallon.
• Do go nuts with snack items.  Order things your child wouldn’t normally have at home.  This makes the snack special and can hold them until you are ready to splurge on the Mickey Ears Ice Cream Bar.  Get those Disney gummy fruit snacks and Cars shaped pretzel bags.  Put a few in your backpack every day for happy children (which equals happy parents).
• Do order bottles of water by the case.  Put a few in the fridge each night.  No need to waste snack credits or cash on bottled water at the parks.  Same goes for sodas or juices for the end of the day.
• Do order baby supplies.  This has been a packing lifesaver for us.  We’ve ordered formula, diapers, wipes, gallons of water, etc for our little one when we traveled.  Don’t forget to pack enough until you get that delivery though!
• Do order breakfast items.  Depending on your dining plan you may want to have some breakfast items available.  Makes for savings and a quick exit from the resort in the morning. Bagels, Nutri-grain Bars, and Cold Cereal make great choices.  Don’t forget the cream cheese!

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Mickey Mom aka Maria is mom to two boys, confirmed Disney addict and travel planner with Snapshot Getaways.  You can follow her on her Mickey Mom Facebook page or email her at maria@snapshotgetaways.com

Soarin' Refurbishment Scheduled for 2016

In March Disney officially announced massive updates for Soarin', the simulator ride that thrills guests as they virutally glide over California scenery. 

                                       

The refurbishment, slated to begin January 4, 2016, will expand the ride from two theaters to three, install digital screens and projection systems, and will update its content to include "far-flung lands" according to the official Disney Parks blog. 

The attraction will re-open, with its new name "Soarin' Around the World", in the summer of 2016.*

*Schedules are subject to change. Check back with Disney Devoted, along with your Snapshot Getaways agent, for the latest information. 

Freebie Friday-Do You Want to Carve a Pumpkin?

Disney Family has wowed us with some great pumpkin carving templates and ideas for this season.  My favorite is the Olaf Pumpkin (requires 3 pumpkins) and I'm hoping my to pull it off!  Which is your favorite?  Click here for tons of downloadable PDF templates.

Maria is mom to two pumpkins, travel planner with Snapshot Getaways and Halloween is her favorite holiday.  Visit her Facebook Page or email her at maria@snapshotgetaways.com for free travel planning advice!

Create Your Own Ear Hat

There's nothing more iconic to take home from Disney than a Mickey ear hat. They come in so many styles and can suit the purist looking for the classic black to the princess with Frozen fever. But did you know that you can actually create your own custom ear hat at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) between The Art of Disney and the Design-A-Tee shop? 

The first step will be to find a beanie:

                                        

There is a wide variety of color, pattern, and fabric so you'll be sure to find one just right for you. 

Next you'll find ears to snap onto the beanie:

     

Again there's no shortage of choices- you can even mix-and-match to find the perfect combination! 

Finally you can choose to add patches for a bit of flair:

   

At this point you'll take your hat to the register where the patches will be attached, you'll have the opportunity to add embroidery to the back, and that's it, you're finished! 

                                     

This one-of-a-kind souvenir takes about 15-20 minutes to create and costs around $25 (dependent on your choices). Not bad for a unique experience and something to treasure in the parks and at home! 

Hope is a Snapshot Getaways Agent and Disney fanatic. She loves customizing Disney vacations to suit individual dreams even more than customizing souvenirs. Contact her for help planning your one-of-a-kind Disney vacation at Hope@SnapshotGetaways or find her on Facebook. 

 

 
       

Trick or Treating at Ft. Wilderness Campgrounds

Spending Halloween night at Disney?  I always recommend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party if you are visiting September through October.  However, the party is an extra cost and on Halloween will be crowded.  Another option is to head over to Ft. Wilderness Campgrounds for a little old fashioned "camp to camp" trick or treating!

If you visit Ft. Wilderness campsites in the days and weeks prior to Halloween you will see the elaborate decorations being set up at each campsite.  The fun begins a day prior with a Pet Parade, Golf Cart Decorating Contest, Campsite Decorating Contest and Pumpkin Decorating Competition. On Halloween there is a Golf Cart Halloween Parade and Trick or Treating.

For trick or treating, the campgrounds are a safe place because vehicles aren't allowed on the loop.  Campsites that are participating in handing out candy have a Disney provided lawn sign.  You can get a map of which sites are participating at the front entrance.  Below is the 2015 calendar.

To get to Ft. Wilderness, Take Disney Bus transportation for the parks to Ft. Wilderness Campgrounds.  Another option is to take the resort boat from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge.  If you are driving you will need to park your car at the entrance and walk.

Disney Devoted Tip:  Take a wagon ride around to see the Halloween Decorations.  There is a cost involved and reservations are recommended.

Maria is a travel planner for Snapshot Getaways, Mom to 2 Ghouls and a HUGE fan of Halloween!  Visit her on her Facebook Page or email maria@snapshotgetaways.com for travel.

Understanding FastPass+

One of the best ways to maximize your time at Walt Disney World is by taking advantage of the FastPass+ system, but to do that you need to have an understanding of how it works. It's really not that hard after you figure out a few basics. 

What is FastPass+?

Disney defines it as a service which "...allows you to reserve access to select Walt Disney World theme park attractions, entertainment, and Character Greetings in advance."

How much does it cost? 

It's FREE! There is no extra charge with the price of admission to the park! 

How far in advance can I make reservations? 

Again, from the Walt Disney World website, "With the purchase of a ticket or Annual Pass, you can start making selections as early as 30 days before you arrive, or up to 60 days before check-in when you have a Walt Disney World vacation package." 

Which attractions can I reserve with FastPass+

To answer this question, and the inevitable follow up, "Which ones should I choose," I've created this helpful chart: 

                                 

                           

     

                                  

There is no one size fits all answer for which attractions you should use your FastPass+ selections for. Think about your family's "must-do" list, which attractions you'll save the most time with a FastPass+ reservation, and go from there. 

How many FastPass+ selections can I make? 

You can make up to three choices per day, depending on availability. All of your selections must be in the same park, even if you have park hopper tickets.  

After you've used your initial FastPass+selections you'll be able to get another, again depending on availability, from an in park kiosk. You can return to a kiosk to make more selections one at a time. These additional passes can be used in a different park if you're park hopping. (Kiosks are specific to the park they're in and you won't be able to use one to select a ride in a different park.) 

Please note that both EPCOT Center and Disney's Hollywood Studios have a tiered system. You may only select 1 attraction from tier 1 and 2 from tier 2. 

How do I use my FastPass+ in the parks?

It's so easy! During your arrival window simply go to the FastPass queue entrance and touch your MagicBand or card to a sensor called a touch point. This will gain your admittance to the FastPass queue. 

Every person entering the FastPass queue, regardless of age, will need a reservation to enter.

What's an arrival window? 

When you schedule your selections it won't be for an exact time (what a nightmare THAT would be!) but will instead be for a one hour window. You need to check into the touch point for that attraction within that one hour window to use your FastPass. 

If you still need more help understanding Disney's FastPass+ system Hope is ready to guide you through the process. Email her at Hope@SnapshotGetaways.com or find her on Facebook.