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Tips and Tricks for your Disney Vacation

Posted in DISNEY ATTRACTIONS, DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM, DISNEY'S EPCOT, DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, DISNEY'S MAGIC KINGDOM with tags on September 7, 2012 by disneychronicles

Tips and Tricks for your Disney Vacation from a Disney Addict! Just a few things that may help your trip go smoothly! would love to hear any tips that you have also….

MAGIC KINGDOM

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days at the Magic Kingdom. Try to come toward the middle of the week, because most families hit the Magic Kingdom early in their Disney visit.

Ride a star attraction while a parade is going on if you’re willing to miss it; lines ease considerably.

Book character meals early. Main Street, U.S.A.’s Crystal Palace Buffet has breakfast with Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet 8–10:30 AM. Lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle is extremely popular—so much so that you should reserve your spot six months out.

EPCOT

Epcot is so vast and varied that you really need two days to explore everything. If you have just one day, be highly selective.

It’s best to go late in the week, when others are at Magic Kingdom.

The first thing you should do is grab a fast pass for Soarin’ or Test Track as the wait for these two rides can sometimes top 120 minutes.

All the countries serve pretty much the same kids meals, so if you have a picky eater don’t worry about picking a pavilion to dine in.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Visit late in the week, while most people are rushing through Magic and Animal kingdoms.

Check the tip board periodically for attractions with short wait times that you can visit between Fastpass appointments.

Be at the Fantasmic! amphitheater at least an hour before show time if you didn’t book the Fantasmic! dinner package.

Need a burst of energy? Snag a freshly baked chocolate-chip cookie or a pastry at Starring Rolls Cafe, at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset. Alternatively, Hollywood Scoops Ice Cream on Sunset might be just the thing on a hot day.

If you plan to have a fast-food lunch, eat before 11 am or after 2:30 pm. There are food stands along Sunset. You can get a burger (meat or veggie) or chicken strips at Rosie’s All-American Cafe, a slice of pizza from Catalina Eddie’s, or a chili dog at Toluca Legs Turkey Company.

Toy Story Mania, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror are the three most popular rides at Hollywood Studios. You may want to consider the single rider lines for these.

Don’t miss the parade if you can help it. The Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun parade is an interactive experience not to be missed.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Try to visit during the week. Pedestrian areas are compact, and the park can feel horribly packed on weekends.

Arrive a half hour before the park opens as much to see the wild animals at their friskiest (morning is a good time to do the safari ride) as to get a jump on the crowds.

The two most popular attractions are the Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest. Make sure those are your first two stops of the day.

The best time to ride Kali River Rapids is between 1pm and 3pm, when the sun is at its hottest.

Make sure to see Festival of the Lion King. The show is great and has air conditioning!

and overall don’t forget to have a MAGICAL time! even you don’t get to see it all!

There’s always next year! 😀

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Our CHINA!…here in Florida!

Posted in DISNEY'S EPCOT with tags , on August 26, 2012 by disneychronicles

Another part of Epcot that I never completely ventured into….until recently.

China has always been one of those mysterious places that I would love to travel to but I am not sure if I will ever have the opportunity.

So for now Epcot will have to do.

Yes, Phineas and Ferb brought me here! (if you have read my previous posts you will understand why!) 😀

Playing the game gets you completely immersed in this country. That’s all I’m giving away on that topic!

Enter one of the world’s oldest civilizations and discover the wonders of China. Visit the Temple of Heaven and relax in serene gardens with tranquil reflecting ponds. Discover authentic tomb sculptures from Ancient China that date back 2,000 years. There is also a miniature recreation of the tomb of China’s first emperor.

Visitors enter the China Pavilion through a large Chinese gate. The courtyard is dominated by a replica of the Temple of Heaven, which contains the entrance to “Reflections of China”, a Circle-Vision 360° movie exploring China’s history and scenery, as well as a museum containing several ancient Chinese artifacts. Reflections of China is a remarkable film that takes you on a breathtaking journey to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. The House of the Whispering Willows gallery exhibit, “Tomb Warriors Guardian Spirits of Ancient China,” is a replica of the famous excavation in Xi’an, China where you can explore Chinese tomb art from the Schloss Collection. courtyard is bordered by shops selling Chinese merchandise, and two Chinese restaurants. The pavilion is decorated with ponds, crossed by bridges. It is beautifully themed. Chinese acrobats also perform frequently in the pavilion.

Did you know…..

The pavilion served as the backdrop for the music video of the song “Reflection”, performed by a then-unknown Christina Aguilera, from the 1998 Disney film Mulan.

Check it out here…h8GUCQQZS64

Sample authentic Chinese cuisine at the Nine Dragons Restaurant or the Lotus Blossom Cafe.

You must visit the shops with genuine Chinese goods, such as House of Good Fortune.

The shopping is very unique and traditional…..

Total phone case envy!!….but which one do I want?!!! decisions…desicions….

 

 

So I say go ahead stop in…..you may be amazed and surprised at the beauty and by what you find when you take a closer look.

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Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure

Posted in DISNEY'S EPCOT, EVERYTHING DISNEY with tags , , on August 11, 2012 by disneychronicles

We were over at Epcot last week and had a chance to check out Phineas & Ferb!

We finally got through a full game! Only got on about 2 rides but oh well!

The NEW adventure is very familiar to the old Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, with the concept being very much the same.  The Kimmunicator is out, and the FONE is in – a mobile device which is your interface to the game play.  The same physical sets are used from Kim Possible, but the animation and storyline is of course all new.

It is safe to say that if you were a fan of the Kim Possible game before, you will continue to enjoy this new version.  Phineas and Ferb fans will be very happy to see the characters expanded beyond the meet and greet at the Studios.  My boys are big fans of the cartoon so they absolutely LOVE this!

It has gotten to the point that we come just for the game! Arghhhhh! well I do admit it keeps them busy and I have been able to do some in-depth window shopping throughout the world showcase!! (not complaining at all here)

Guests become “agents” and use a “high-tech secret agent device” to search for clues. Different cases are also available in Mexico, France, Germany, Norway, China and the United Kingdom. Guests follow instructions given on the screen of a cell phone to interact with objects hidden around World Showcase. There are different missions to complete in many of the different countries of World Showcase.

After walking us through how to properly use our FONE, we find out which country our assignment is in. And in the next few screens we get to see Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas, Ferb, and Candace. If you watch the cartoon you will be familiar with thee characters.

From there the story plays out in much the same way as every episode of Phineas and Ferb. Doof has an “inator” he’s created in order to help him carry out current scheme. Meanwhile it seems Phineas, Ferb, and Candace are having an adventure of their own. These events converge, and, along with the help of Agent P, Doofenshmirtz’s plot is foiled. When we returned our FONE to the drop box at the end of the adventure. You will see these drop boxes conveniently located at many different locations throughout the world showcase.

It is fun but be aware it does take up a lot of time. So if your on a strict schedule with what you want to see this may not be a good idea.

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Mexico!!!…..yeah ok it was at Epcot!

Posted in DISNEY'S EPCOT with tags , on August 2, 2012 by disneychronicles

So it’s no SURPRISE…I Love Mexico! I try to get there at least once a year weather its to a resort or at least a stopover on a cruise.

I just find that the country has the friendliest and most hospitable people! I have never had a bad trip there! so yes of course I have to get my fix every now and then and stop in at Epcot!

The Mexico pavilion resembles a Mesoamerican pyramid. The nightly fireworks show “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” is controlled from a small office atop the building. The office’s window is barely visible from street level, but can be seen at an angle.

Visitors enter through a display of Mexican artwork. The main room is the home to a twilight-lit Mexican marketplace, Plaza de los Amigos. At the edge of the plaza, a restaurant, San Ángel Inn, overlooks an indoor lagoon. To the side of the plaza, a boarding area leads to a boat ride, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.

I also must mention a pit stop along the way….

…and the shopping! (yes, it is all made in Mexico)

When you walk into the Mexican Pavilion it looks as if you are walking into a small Mexican village, complete with “outdoor” shopping. You can buy traditional Mexican souvenirs from marble mules, lace off the shoulder dresses, ponchos and sombreros.

So if you haven’t been..GO! The ambiance is an experience all in itself!

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