food IS a theme park
It feels like Expedition Everest has been closed for 84 years in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but in reality it’s been closed for over 3 months.
Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest closed on January 4th for a lengthy refurbishment, scheduled for reopening sometime in mid-April. We’ve been watching closely for a reopening date but just a few days ago Disney removed that mid-April date from their website and a Cast Member told us it could be closed for another two weeks. Today we have a BIG update!
It’s almost time, y’all!
Our pal Mickey
Soon, we’ll be able to hug Mickey Mouse in Disneyland again! Beginning April 18th, Disney will begin bringing back traditional character meet-and-greets in Disneyland Park. It’s been almost 2 years since we’ve hugged our pal Mickey, and we could not be more excited. These close-up meet and greets are also returning to Disney World at the same time, but we just found out that there will be one BIG difference between the two parks when the traditional meet-and-greets return. [Read more…]
Let’s just all admit it. Despite the “Most Magical Place on Earth” name, sometimes parts of a trip to Disney World can feel a little…less than magical.
EPCOT
Maybe you have a trip where everything goes wrong — your favorite ride breaks down, you can’t get a reservation for your favorite restaurant, and they totally sell out of the Minnie ears you were hoping to get. Or maybe some of the recent changes — like the addition of Genie+, the removal of Disney’s Magical Express, or the new versions of extra hours in the parks for resort guests (Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours) — have made you feel like things aren’t quite as “good” as they used to be. Some might be feeling like the guest experience in Disney World just isn’t what they had hoped or what they were used to. Or some of you might be perfectly happy, but know that there’s always room for improvement! So, we reached out (via Facebook) to you all to see what you think Disney World can do to improve the guest experience. And you had a LOT of thoughts.
And now, in news you didn’t already know…Disney World is EXPENSIVE. Shocker! 😉Alright, that’s something you likely already knew and have experience with. But here’s the real kicker — it’s not just Disney. Travel in general is incredibly expensive right now.
Magic Kingdom Crowds
We’ve already shared details about how rental car costs, ticket prices, flight costs, and more have increased over the past several months. But, are these increases keeping guests at home? You might think that high travel costs would equal less people out there on vacation, right? Well, the truth might surprise you.
UPDATED July 24, 2024
The Genie+ section on the Disney World website currently states that guests can expect to reserve 2-3 Lightning Lanes per day if they buy Genie+. But is that actually true?
Lightning Lane
We’re in Disney World all the time, and we’ve done a lot of research by using Genie+ and testing out different strategies. So based on our own experiences, how accurate is that claim that guests will only get on 2-3 rides per day with Genie+? Let’s find out. [Read more…]
Disney’s Genie+ replaced FastPass+ in Disney World as the system to help guests skip the lines at some attractions, and it’s been a controversial transition. The newer service costs money (compared to the previously free FastPass+), and it can be tricky to use sometimes.
Genie+ is how you can skip the lines!
We’ve experimented a LOT with the new system since we’re in Disney World every day. We have all kinds of resources to help you make the most of Genie+ if you choose to buy it when you’re in the parks. But Disney’s recent update about Genie+ has us a little confused…. [Read more…]
One of the most common questions that people ask about Disney World is how they can beat the crowds and get on their favorite rides without a long wait.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
There are a couple of different options, including making use of the Lightning Lanes with Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride. But if you’d rather not pay to skip the lines, another option is to get to the parks as early as possible. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you qualify for Early Theme Park Entry, which means you can go into the Disney World theme parks before the other guests. So what exactly is Early Entry? And how should you spend your extra time in the parks? We’re answering all your Early Entry questions here. Let’s dive in! [Read more…]
It’s time for the $1,000 question (sometimes literally) — are you staying on-property or off-property at Disney World?
Pool at Club Wyndham
Disney World resort guests get certain perks, like being able to enter the theme parks early and use free transportation like buses, Monorails, and the Skyliner. But a lot of the hotels outside of Disney World are a LOT cheaper and are just as nice as (if not nicer than) those on-property hotels. So if you DO decide to stay off-property during your Disney World vacation, how can you tackle the theme parks to have an awesome day without the added perks? [Read more…]
You’ve already got work, school, kids, family life, groceries, meal prep, your dying plants that you need to somehow revive. Add onto that planning a Disney trip with its complications about Park Passes, Genie+, dining reservations made 60 days in advance, and it can be…a lot. 😬
Woody says “Don’t make these Disney World mistakes.”
Truly, planning a Disney World vacation can be a daunting task. There are some things you might forget to do, or that you don’t know you need to do, or that you just DON’T do that could ruin your vacation. But don’t worry. Don’t stress out. As the song says, “you’ve got a friend in me!” Today we’re sharing our words of warning, along with lots of tips, to help you avoid those big mistakes that could ruin your trip!
Maybe you’re the person with 10 pages of lists with everything you need to do before heading out on your Disney World vacation. Maybe you’ve got all your budget spreadsheets, dining reservation notes, and plans on your computer. Or, maybe you’re someone who has it all planned, it’s just not on paper yet. Whoever you are and however you do it, planning a Disney World vacation can be almost as fun as the trip itself!
Magic Kingdom
But, did you know that there’s a way to keep track of all your reservations and be a leg ahead of everyone else visiting Disney World? Enter My Disney Experience — Disney World’s official app. In an age where it has become almost IMPOSSIBLE to visit the Disney Parks without a smartphone, the My Disney Experience app is like a trusty friend who will help you plan your trip without all the unsolicited (or BAD) advice. So, here’s how you can use the app to unlock a new level of Disney vacation planning (we’ll let you have all the bragging rights, don’t worry).
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
