Changing times have brought controversy to this beloved attraction. It is a delicate issue that had brought many passionate responses. Regardless of the changes Walt Disney World decides to make, Splash Mountain is and will remain a wonderful ride.
Splash Mountain is not your average log ride. It is incredibly enjoyable. The ride lasts forever and never disappoints. And it is entirely unpredictable as to which guests will get the most wet.
The drop at the end of the ride may look too intense for some people but it is really not that bad. Do not miss out on this ride because of the drop.
So if Walt Disney World does change Splash Mountain it will be sad to say goodbye. But it will be super exciting to see what ideas Disney Imagineers have to bring Splash Mountain forward.
There are so many resorts to choose from at Walt Disney World. Art of Animation is classified as a value hotel. It is the least expensive category at Walt Disney World. But it is one of my favorites and my top pick for traveling with the youngest children. It is also one of the newer resorts. Be aware, it sells out fast!
Walt Disney World hotels increase in cost from value to moderate and to deluxe. Every resort has a pool, gift shop, quick service cafeteria and access to free transportation around Disney World. As the price increases, the amenities at the resort get nicer and nicer. The more expensive resorts have table service dining options and more elaborate pool and recreation areas. These resorts are generally closer to the theme parks. The moderate and deluxe hotels have various themes and are decorated with splashes of Disney Magic. The theme of Art of Animation is obviously Disney and Pixar animation and the resort if covered in art and the characters you know and love. For first time vacations or trips with toddlers, this is a perfect destination. Other features of the resort include an arcade and a jogging or walking trail.
Art of Animation has standard rooms that are themed to The Little Mermaid. These rooms are spectacular and remain my favorite in all resorts. They are studio rooms with 2 queen beds. Art of Animation also offers 3 different themed family suites. These rooms are adorable. They feature a queen bed, plus a smaller room with another bed. There is also a sofa bed if needed. These are perfect for bigger families with more than 2 children. These rooms are pricey though and can be a little more than double the cost of a standard room. They are probably too expensive for a family of 4 where The Little Mermaid room will do just fine.
Playground
Disney designed Art of Animation to be well suited for small children. There is a cute playground. The pool is simple and ready for little ones. And the splash pad is a perfect place for kids to play in the water while the parents can relax without having to be in the pool with them.
Splash Pad
The Disney Skyliner brings resort guests to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT in an enjoyable gondola high above the property. It is a wonderful change of pace from the bus rides that can get CROWDED. The real benefit comes at the end of the day when exiting a park at closing time. It is much faster getting back to the resort on the Skyliner than it was before when guests had to line up for the bus.
Art of Animation is a beautiful resort that proudly displays Disney and Pixar Characters. Kids (and adults) love seeing them throughout the property. This resort may capture Disney Magic better than any other in Walt Disney World.
Planning a vacation to Walt Disney World can be challenging and there is certainly much to think about. Park reservations, dining reservations and park hours are all things to consider. But Disney Dads know that getting everybody’s clothing together is one of the most fun planning ritual.
Magic Kingdom
We made a regrettable mistake on our very first vacation to Walt Disney World. We did not pack Disney attire and just wore common shirts. Sadly we didn’t know any better. We didn’t know that wearing Disney themed clothes enhanced the magic so much. Don’t follow in our footsteps. Everything is better in Disney clothes. The characters interact with you more. The pictures are amazing.
EPCOT
There is one more way to take the magic to the next level. Matching shirts for the whole family. Yes that’s right. You may be hesitant and it may sound unusual, and you may think “we aren’t those people”. But it is so much fun to be those people.
When planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, many people ponder the question of whether or not to stay on Disney property. For me it is a non-negotiable easy decision. Staying on property has so many advantages, it is well worth the added cost.
All Star Movies
Staying in a Walt Disney World hotel means the Disney Magic doesn’t end when you leave the park. The resort hotels maintain that Disney feel. Some of the value hotels like Art of Animation and All Star Movies are filled with Disney characters. On the walk to the lobby at Art of Animation, the kids would announce the characters we passed and take pictures with them.
Art of Animation
Walt Disney World hotels increase in cost from value to moderate and to deluxe. Every resort has a pool, gift shop, quick service cafeteria and access to free transportation around Disney World. As the price increases, the amenities at the resort get nicer and nicer. The more expensive resorts have table service dining options and more elaborate pool and recreation areas. These resorts are generally closer to the theme parks. A little advertised Disney secret is that guests staying at deluxe resorts can take advantage of extended hours in some of the parks. Take a look at this sample schedule for Summer 2022.
Credit: Disney
All resort guests can take advantage of Disney Extra Magic Hours. This program has changed over the years but currently allows resort guests to enter all 4 parks 30 minutes earlier than the opening time. Other perks include being able to make Lightning Lane and Genie+ selections at 7am before and sending purchases in the park back to your room instead of carrying them around all day.
Traveling from the resort to the theme parks is simple when you stay at a Disney resort hotel. The bus system is the most common way to get around. Then there is the Magic Kingdom monorail, and the Disney Skyliner that connects Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation and Pop Century to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. There are also water taxis and Minnie Vans (Lyft operated). Being able to go the resort quickly and easily and back again is super convenient. It allows for so many variations in your stay. You can go back to the room if you forgot something. Parties can split if younger ones (or older ones like grandparents) need a break. Grandparents can take the kids back early so the parents can enjoy some amazing alone time.
Staying in a Walt Disney World resort hotel means that you are on your Disney vacation around the clock from the moment you arrive.
Walt Disney World offers many different ways to get around the property. Almost all of the options are free. But there is an official paid car service that many people do not know about. It is called Minnie Van and it is operated by Lyft. This program began a few years before the Covid-19 pandemic, but was suspended in 2020 and 2021. It returned to action in June 2022. So what exactly is it?
Minnie Van
The Minnie Van service is easy to use. It is operated by Lyft and it works just as easily as using Lyft anywhere else. The app and program are very user friendly so don’t worry about having to learn something new. I recommend setting up the Lyft app and creating an account before your vacation if you anticipate using it. I would even set it up just in case of an emergency or unplanned difficulty. You don’t want to he fiddling with an account creation if something requires immediate action.
The Minnie Van can be very helpful to complement the Walt Disney World Transportation system. At park open and close, there are usually busses arriving frequently. However, mid day and off times there can be a bit of a wait. The Minnie Van can be called in to save some time and provide a more convenient and comfortable experience. This is a great option when park hopping or for a quick return to the resort. Animal Kingdom is a great park to start the day in. It opens early and you can do a lot by lunch, and move to another park. But it is a long ride to Magic Kingdom from there, and a Minnie Van can be a nice way to save some time. I don’t want to leave Animal Kingdom and see my bus just left and now I have to wait 20 minutes for another one. That really throws a wrench in the day.
The Minnie Van service is operated by Disney and Lyft. The driver is a friendly and knowledgeable Disney employee. The Minnie Van can hold up to 6 guests and has 2 car seats available so it should accommodate most families. We don’t use it as a primary mode of transportation, but there were times where it made travel so much better.
Disney World will be crowded. It will always be crowded. But do not stress over this. The major rides always have long lines. The restaurants are always booked. It doesn’t matter if it is peak season or not. The biggest difference with crowds is just the number of people in the park. Disney knows what they are doing. They have a system and a plan. They want people in lines or on rides, or in shows or restaurants. They will operate rides at lesser capacity when it is less busy. It is most crowded when schools are out. This includes the summer, school vacation weeks on February, March and April, and Christmas break.
In actuality, the number of people in the park has little impact on your vacation. While I prefer to go when it is less crowded, I would not necessarily avoid peak times. There is also a lot of unpredictability. There are times that are much busier than they should be.
Magic Kingdom during February Vacation
Walt Disney World is a shared experience, much like seeing a movie in a crowded theater. The audience reaction often acts as an enhancement. We vacationed in Disney World in 2020 during the Covid Pandemic and it was surreal. Entire sections of the park were deserted. It was eerie for sure. And it somehow seemed less magical.
Hollywood Studios 2020
A trip to Walt Disney World is a Wonderful Vacation. It requires advanced planning. Guests must also expect it to be crowded. Disney Dads master the ability to have a plan, while including enough flexibility to adjust as needed. Too many people are stressed on their Disney World Vacation. And I understand, a lot of people simply do not like crowds. But accepting and understanding that the crowd is not really in your way will ultimately relieve stress and allow you to have a magical vacation.
Sleepy Hollow is a not so hidden anymore gem in Magic Kingdom. It is located in Liberty Square just outside Cinderella’s Castle. They sell breakfast snacks all day. The funnel cake is unbelievable. Even when the line is long, it moves quickly. There are tables available to sit and eat outside.
Waffles with Fruit, Funnel Cake, Sweet & Spicy Chicken, and Chips
After breakfast hours, Sleepy Hollow has additional items. There are freshly made chips and a delicious sweet and spicy chicken waffle sandwich. Guests can also get a corn dog or a turkey leg.
Sleepy Hollow is a great spot to grab a quick meal. It is much less expensive and faster than other quick service options. The breakfast foods are so tasty and fulfilling. They also satisfy my sweet tooth. The table area in Liberty Square is lively and the scenery is gorgeous.
So Happy
Sleepy Hollow is easy to walk past in the hustle through Magic Kingdom. It is a bit of a hole in the wall in Liberty Square and not enough people know what they are missing. We often rope drop a few rides and then head over for breakfast.
Park Hopping at Disney World is an addition to Park Admission that allows guests to visit more than one park in a single day. Let me explain why you should consider this. Park Hopping can be great for short trips and longer stays just as well. It works for short days in the park and spending all day there.
Some families with younger kids might not anticipate spending long hours in the park. It works well to head over to one of the parks in the morning for a few hours and then head back to the hotel for a break. Park Hopping allows the family to go to a different park later in the day. Families with young ones also might not be able to stay to enjoy the night time shows. Park Hopping allows the flexibility to pop into any park just to catch the fireworks.
Magic Kingdom
Disney Dads also use Park Hopping to make the most out of every day. Usually Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are the first parks to open. Starting the day at one of these parks and moving over to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT extends the day at the parks. It is especially simple to go from Hoywood Studios to EPCOT because they are so close together. We have even walked that voyage before. It was a fun 15 minutes through the hotel area between the two parks.
On our Disney World vacations, we like to eat quick service lunches and table service dinners. We have found over the years that Epcot and Magic Kingdom have so many dining options we can never get to them all. Conversely, we don’t love dinners at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Park Hopping allows us to start in one of those parks and head to another for dinner. We can still enjoy plenty of time in all the parks without missing out on our favorite dining options.
The Park Hopper is an added expense and it might not be worth it for everyone. And it is charged for the entire length of the ticket. You can’t pick individual days to Park Hop and add it for that day alone. But there are so many advantages it should be considered.
Disney World vacations are many things. One of the major things they are is expensive. But I still need my souvenirs. And we have expensive taste. But I think of this as part of the budget for the trip.
All around my home are decorations from past Disney trips. And I love seeing them. If you are wondering if the extra expense is worth it, let me tell you that it is. We have purchased a snow globe from every trip we made to Disney World. Things like that become family traditions. There are also things like reusable water bottles we buy when we get there and use them all week and beyond.
Most Disney World shops will allow you to ship things to your home right when you buy them. Another service, paused currently because of Covid, allows guests to send purchases to their hotel room so they don’t have to carry it around all day.
