Top 5 Nap Spots in Magic Kingdom

Going back to the resort is the best way to get a nap in for a soon to be cranky little one. Especially if they need a 2 hour nap to recharge.  Sometimes that is not possible, so here are my Top 5 nap spots in Magic Kingdom.  I’ve found these to be great places to put back the stroller and cross our fingers.

1. Tomorrowland-The benches outside Tomorrowland Speedway.  I know it sounds crazy, but the noise must act like white noise because I’ve had success here.  It’s shaded and the rest of the family can explore the many rides in the area.  A trip on the Transit Authority People Mover or Carousel of Progress, might get your little one relaxed prior to placing them down for their nap.   There  is plenty of space, and amenities like bathrooms and snacks are nearby.
2. Tom Sawyer Island-This is also a hidden gem to explore.  The boat ride should soothe your little one and by the time you find a quiet bench they will be in Disney Dreamland.  If you have older children you can send them along to explore the island with another adult.  There are caves, a fort and play areas to keep them busy for a while.  The only negative is that while bathrooms are available, snacks are not.   So plan ahead.
3. Walt Disney World Railroad-This is an idea if your child requires movement to fall  asleep.  While they can not be in the stroller, if you have sling or carrier they will soon be out.  You can ride the railroad as long as you like and although there is noise, it is soothing to the little ones.
4. Baby Care Center-Located near Main Street and Crystal Palace, the Baby Care center gives babies and their parents a place to wind down.  It can be busy and you need to leave your stroller outside.  But for a little decompression it’s perfect.   The air conditioning is a bonus!
5. Liberty Square-Check the parade and meet and greet schedules before you commit to this area.  There are a ton of nooks to park with your stroller.  Again, shade is helpful here.  There are quiet spots near the Christmas Shoppe and entrance to Adventureland as you pass The Crystal Palace.

Disney Devoted Tip:  "As a last "resort" get on the monorail.   You can go to Epcot and back, or to one of the resorts.   The Polynesian has many quiet spots or their beach has some comfortable beach chairs.   While you are welcome, please remember to be respectful of the resort guests.

Maria is a Travel Planner with Snapshot Getaways.  Follow her Facebook Page or email maria@snapshotgetaways for travel planning.

Taking A Break Inside the Parks

The seemingly non-stop action at Disney World is a large part of why we love going.   But let's face it, even in The Most Magical Place on Earth we still sometimes need a break. There are a lot of people who like to schedule breaks in their afternoon to go back to the resort to swim, nap, or just lounge around. That's a great strategy for many people but what if you just want a quick recharge without leaving the parks? Thankfully there are multiple places in each park to do just that:

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Our favorite pick-me-up spot in this park is the Honey I Shrunk The Kids Movie Set Adventure. The larger than life plants and bugs are fun for the kids to climb and explore while Mom and Dad can lean back and just take a minute to relax.

Another great option in this park is a leisurely stroll through Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. This interesting look into the mind of Walt Disney is rarely crowded and you walk through at your own pace so your break from the hustle and bustle can be as short or long as you'd like. 

EPCOT:

There are multiple options within EPCOT that offer hands on exhibits and low key displays that can be be explored at your own pace. From making paper in Innoventions to finding some fishy friends in the waters of Sea Base, there's a laid back activity for nearly everyone.

If you prefer a break that gets you off your feet EPCOT also has a few slow rides that might do the trick. Living With the Land offers a slow trip through the greenhouses that grow everything from the foods served up Garden Grill to the Mickey Shaped Pumpkins you'll spot at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you're looking for a longer break Ellen's Energy Adventure is a 45 minute seated slow ride through time. 

Animal Kingdom:

There are multiple trails and exhibits at Animal Kingdom where you can stroll at your own pace to see various plant and animal life including the Discovery Island Trail, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, and the Oasis Exhibits. The Boneyard is a playground where the kids can climb and explore dinosaur bones at their own pace while Mom and Dad relax for a few minutes. If you're ready for a break from walking and being on your feet you can hop on the Wildlife Express Train for a 12 minute journey for a behind the scenes peek into the care of the animals in the park. One of Animal Kingdom's most popular attractions, Kilimanjaro Safari, offers an 18 minute ride with close up views of animals in lush habitats. 

Magic Kingdom:

If you're looking for a low-key place to take a break from all the standing and walking there are multiple options in this park. The Liberty Square Riverboat is a 1/2 mile, 17 minute journey with glimpses of sights you won't be able to see if you stay on land. A trip around the Magic Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Railroad will offer another 20 minutes worth of unique views of the park.  For a relaxing, ten minute trip behind and ABOVE the scenes don't miss The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover with even more spectacular views you won't want to miss. 

If what your kids really need is a little unstructured play time then you can have a little fun and get a little (or a lot) wet at the Casey Jr. Splash and Soak Station. Or head on over to Tom Sawyer Island for an escape from the crowds and the noise while you explore up to five different trails.

The Carousel of Progress and Hall of Presidents are interesting, but not overly stimulating, shows in the Magic Kingdom where you can sit and relax in a comfortable, cool theater for about 20 minutes.

As you can see there are plenty of quiet and relaxing spots at Walt Disney World that make it easy to recharge and jump right back into the magic. Do you have a favorite place to relax in the parks that's not mentioned here?

Hope is a travel addict who feeds her addiction between trips by planning magical vacations for others. Contact her at Hope@SnapshotGetaways.com or find her on Facebook. 

Calling All Pirates....

So, you want to be a Pira...er....your little one wants to be a Pirate....well, you might be wantin' to consider joinin' the crew of the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage...which sets sail from the Contemporary Hotel.

Your adventure begins as you meet other Pirate Crew members at the Contemporary Hotel.  Just look for the signage (or ask at the front desk).  They'll direct you to the current meeting location.  Once there, you check in and are given a bandana for each member of the crew in your party.  When they're ready, they'll escort you into a meeting room, where you will be allowed to pick up snacks (healthy and otherwise) and water for your voyage.  Make sure you grab a bottle for everyone in your party. 

Your little pirates will also have the opportunity to meet with Captain Hook and Mr. Smee. You'll be given time to get photos before you set sail.  This is a great opportunity to get those pics, without a super long line to wait in...which is well worth it to me.

Next, the crew is escorted out to the dock, where you will board your "ship". You'll set sail out to the middle of the Seven Seas Lagoon, where your Captain, Patch, will regale you with stories, jokes, and more. Don't be afraid to interact with Patch...he loves to play along with the little ones, and the not so little ones (see pics).

Then, the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular Fireworks begins, and you get a great vantage point to see the fireworks from a totally different perspective. You might even be lucky enough to see the Electrical Water Pageant float by you (we were lucky enough). If you really want to take pics, I suggest boarding as quickly and safely as possible, so that you can get near the front of your "ship". That way the canopy doesn't get in the way of your fireworks shots.

Captain Patch will also start a trivia game. As incentive, he does have prizes for the little ones, and the not-so-little ones. Make sure you brush up on your 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Peter Pan lore.

As your ship sets sail back to port, Capt. Patch will tell the tale of Peter Pan. As you return to dock, you'll notice that Tinkerbell is waiting for your crew. As you disembark and head back to the hotel, you'll find none other than Peter Pan himself. Have those cameras ready!!

Bear in mind that weather can affect this event, so be aware. We were delayed in our launch (so we had more time with Capt. Hook and Smee), due to the fireworks being delayed, due to rain. But once the weather cleared up, we got the "All's Clear" signal, and away we went.

There are other restrictions, etc. so check with your Travel Agent for more information.

Cost:
Child - $ 34.00
Adult - $ 59.00


Frank grew up in South Florida, and as such, has been to WDW many times as a child.  The trips stopped when he went to college in Texas (his current residence).  He visited Disneyland in Cali while living there for a few years.  Fast forward to 2005, when he was once again living in TX, and decided that it was past time to return.  Since then he’s been to the parks approximately every 12-18 months, including Disneyland.  He has recently decided to join the Snapshot Getaways team as an affiliate agent, and enjoys assisting families plan their magical memories. He can be reached at:  frank@osomagical.com

Review of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride

Dwarfs Cottage

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Off to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train we did go! And it was fabulous! 

Some of the Disney Devoted team were lucky enough to ride the Seven Dwarf's Mine Ride, during a soft opening for the 24 Hour Rock Your Disney Side Party. We heard rumors that there might be a soft opening and were thrilled when we found out it was true.

After months of sneaking peeks through construction walls. it was exciting to finished product, and well worth the wait.

By the time we made our way back to that part of the park, it was midday. The wait at that time was listed at 60 minutes standby. It was a no-brainer for us and we got on line. As it turned out, the wait was about half that, and we quickly found out why-the interactive queue. It is so beautiful and fun, that everyone wants to get their turn trying out the different stations. Below are some photos of the stations. 

 

This was a super cute part. You run your hands under the water spouts to "play:" the spouts like a organ. Again, more beautiful jewels.

         
After we had our fun in the queue, we entered the loading area and were quickly on our way. Before I get into the actual ride, I did want to mention my one and only complaint about the ride itself-the seats. I am not sure if it had something to do with the issues in the sway of the mine carts, which caused a mid-construction redesign, or the size was intentional, but the lap bar that comes up from the floor is a bit awkward. Most adults legs don't comfortably fit inside the U-shaped bars, and it feels off having your legs on the outside of them. When you sit down, you are a bit lost for a few seconds, as to where/how to position your legs. But you work out the way that is best for you and are on your way, and don't ever feel like you are riding unsafe.

The ride itself very much reminds me of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad-with one very nice difference, the Seven Dwarf's Mine Ride is VERY smooth. There is none of the jerking and bouncing about that Big Thunder Mountain can sometimes have. The thrills are moderate, but lots of fun. The drops are controlled so there isn't that stomach-in-throat feeling that makes some of us who really dislike that, all squirrely. But the carts do go fast and there are lots of twists and turns and drops into curves that get you smiling and having a ball.

I know there has been buzz that Disney missed an opportunity to add a big thrill ride, that would be more competition to some of the other Orlando theme parks rides, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I feel the Fantasyland reimagining and additions were very much created with children in mind and kept with the whole magical, but fun feel of many of the other Fantasyland rides. I think it would have been a mistake to put a big thrills roller coaster in Fantasyland, and I am really glad that Disney created a ride that is fun, thrilling, but still very approachable for the younger guests and the big chickens among us. It is definitely one of our new favorites and a Disney must-do!