Category Archives: Extras

Can you really do Disney on a budget?

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There are so many stories I see that refer to “Disney on a Budget”. Sometimes I’ll skim through them and still I don’t understand the phrase. Everyone wants to save money as much as they can. But a Walt Disney World Vacation is going to be very expensive.  It is something guests have to accept.  So much of enjoying a trip to Disney World is in the attitude of the travellers. There will be crowds. It will be hot. It probably will rain.  And it will be expensive. I’m not going to spend thousands of dollars to go to Disney World and then obsess over every dollar I spend in the parks.

A vacation to Walt Disney World is an entire experience unlike any other vacation. There are so many expenses like snacks, souvenirs and ride experiences. Especially now with Disney Genie and Lightning Lane, the cost can really add up. But like I said, you have to expect and accept that cost. Would you rather wait 90 minutes for Avatar:  Flight of Passage,  or buy a Lightning Lane reservation that might cost $100? For me, time is always greater than money.

There are a few things that really can save some money, without taking away from your vacation fun. Reusable water bottles can actually save a lot when you consider Disney sells water for about 4 or 5 dollars a bottle. We also pack snacks in our bag. We will still enjoy Disney snacks as a treat, but our own snacks to eat when we are really hungry is an easy win. We also pack food for in the hotel room before and after going to the parks. We will bring breakfast items, and then chips or some similar munchies for a late night snack .

Park Hopping Post Covid

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The Covid19 pandemic had lasting implications throughout Walt Disney World. The park reservation system apparently is here to stay. Park Hopping still remains altered, as you can only go to your second park after 2pm. But other than that, it was a seamless process.

EPCOT

I recently enjoyed a single day trip to Walt Disney World. I’m doing so, I purchased a park hopper pass and made a reservation at Animal Kingdom. My second park was going to be EPCOT. I really wanted to buy a Lightning Lane reservation for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Genie+ said guests can purchase reservations for any park even without a reservation, as long as you have a park hopper ticket. I was nervous Genie+ wouldn’t allow me to or it wouldn’t work right. My concerns were put to rest early, as I was able to buy the Lightning Lane reservation just before 7am.

The My Disney Experience App showed our park reservation for Animal Kingdom. We were then able to add into Genie+ that we were going to EPCOT as well. That was a fun and intuitive feature so we could see EPCOT attractions on our Tip Board. When we eventually got to EPCOT, it no longer suggested anything at Animal Kingdom.

We left Animal Kingdom at 1:30 which was a little later than we wanted. We couldn’t find the bus initially because the bus to EPCOT was off to the side of all the other bus pickups. We missed a bus as we were walking over and then had to wait almost 15 minutes for another one. We still got to EPCOT right around 2, but I would have expected busses more frequently as park hopping began.

In any case, we got into EPCOT easily. There wasn’t any back up or delay. The International Food and Wine was happening so we were worried it might be rough getting in, but we didn’t have any issues. Disney once again showed their process works and they provide the best guest experience.

The most essential Disney World Accessory

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There are some simple ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation. The easiest way is to bring a reusable water bottle. There are so many other great benefits as well.

Walt Disney World charges a lot for single use water bottles. They can cost up to $4 each. On a family vacation this certainly adds up. It could be hundreds of dollars on this expense alone. Because of this, people end up drinking less water. This leads to hunger, and more snacks at even greater expense. In the Florida heat, especially for travellers from cooler climates, water intake should be increased. Combined with lots of walking, this can create an unhealthy scenario. Dehydration can have many unfortunate side effects that include things like increased motion sickness and exhaustion. These are obviously especially troublesome on a Walt Disney World Vacation.

I have found that bringing reusable water bottles has certainly helped us increase our water intake. It is so much easier to quench your thirst without having to stop and buy water. Walt Disney World is adding filtered water bubblers. But in the meantime, we refill at water fountains or in bathroom sinks. We usually start the day by filling the bottles with ice in the morning before heading to the parks. This gives us cold water most of the day.

2020 Souvenir

And one final point, Walt Disney World sells reusable water bottles. They make for great souvenirs after returning home. And we still use them for things like sports and car rides.

A Quick Hit on Character Dining

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There are many planning considerations for a Walt Disney World vacation. With four unique theme parks, exciting rides and beautiful shows, the planning is certainly continuous. Still nothing might require more thought than planning meals. Under no other circumstances do people plan meal times and restaurants 60 days in advance.

Well one easy way to narrow it down, is to plan on some character dining. If you have your heart set on world class meals, look elsewhere. But for this Disney Dad, we are on vacation in Walt Disney World for reasons just like this. Kids absolutely love having the characters come by their dinner. And the pictures are wonderful. And their faces are so cute and they are so excited. Those memories are what Disney Dads strive to capture.

Garden Grill, EPCOT

You might read reviews for these character experiences that they are expensive or that the food isn’t great. Well yes they are pricey and the food is probably about average. But the experience can’t be beat.

Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood Studios
  • Magic Kingdom
    • Crystal Palace
    • Be Our Guest
  • EPCOT
    • Garden Grill
    • Akershus
  • Hollywood Studios
    • Hollywood & Vine
  • Animal Kingdom
    • Tusker House

Strollers in Disney World

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A Walt Disney World vacation involves a lot of walking. So you are going to want a stroller for your kids. They are great for moving across the parks quickly when little legs arent fast enough. They are also great for kids to rest and nap. This is true even for bigger kids. Especially at the end of a long day. Luckily, there are several different ways to access a stroller in Disney World. Of course, it involves some elements of planning. Here is what I have discovered over the years.

With just one child, a small and lightweight stroller is ideal. It’s is great for portability. You don’t want to bring your best big stroller. You can bring your stroller right up to the plane and they will check it there and get it for you when you land. This way you can use it in the airport, which I have found to be helpful.

Another popular option is to rent a stroller from Walt Disney World. Utilizing this strategy allows guests to grab a stroller as they enter the park and drop it off when leaving. This does make bus travel to the park and back to the resort much easier. But there are some drawbacks. Sometimes a sleepy child is best left in the stroller until you get on the bus. Especially if there are lines and a wait it makes it much easier. Also, it gets to be annoying to have to go grab a stroller every morning upon park entry.

My favorite stroller plan is renting through ScooterBug. This company has a partnership with Walt Disney World. They will deliver your rental stroller to your resort on your arrival day. I have used this service several times and have always had the stroller waiting for me when I get there.

ScooterBug rental

This really is the best of both worlds. You get a stroller without having to travel with it and you still get to use it traveling around Walt Disney World. We get a good stroller and the price is reasonable. We request a color other than black, because it makes it easier to find in the stroller parking. ScooterBug also rents electric vehicles for anyone in your party that might have mobility issues. We rented this once as well, and it really madea difference.

So now that you have your stroller in Walt Disney World, what are the best ways to get around. There are many stroller parking locations spread throughout each park. They are clearly marked and easy to find. So guests can park strollers, check out some attractions in an area. With bigger kids, we would leave the stroller for hours at a time and then head back and get it.

Not So Secret Indoor Playgrounds in EPCOT

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Walt Disney World is known for having exciting and innovative attractions with the most recognizable characters. There are so many things to do that there never seems to be enough time. Some families run from attraction to attraction while others try for a more relaxing pace. Both of these families should find themselves at the an indoor playground for a relaxing and cooling time.

Disney Dads want to make sure they maximize their Disney World vacations by taking every shortcut and planning accordingly.  But they also know sometimes kids just want to run around. You might think kids wouldn’t want to waste time in a playground when they could be going on a ride. But they enjoy it so much it is worth a stop.

Mission: Space

There is an indoor playground within Mission:Space. You can just walk into the exit to get there without going on the ride. And since Mission: Space isn’t exactly meant for little kids, many people do not know about this area. It is a great place for younger ones to burn off energy and take a break from waiting in lines. Parents can sit and get out of the heat and the sun. It’s also a great place to wait out a passing storm.

While it’s not a playground, there is another indoor play space exiting Journey into Imagination with Figment.

ImageWorks: The What If Labs

This area has music, lights and sounds tied to the attraction. Kids can just run around and try things out without needing close supervision. There are instruments and computers to explore. It usually isn’t very crowded like some of the other interactive areas (like Test Track).

Disney Dads know that their Walt Disney World vacations are endless fun for their children. Even when their fun is just running in a playground.

Oga’s Cantina

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It is easy to dismiss a trip to Oga’s Cantina. It is in high demand and difficult to get reservations. It’s specifically themed to Star Wars and maybe you are not a Star Wars family. There are only drinks served besides a few snacks. But it is so fun that everyone in your family will enjoy it. It is an exciting little break during a busy day in Hollywood Studios. Disney Dads know that their Walt Disney World Vacation must include new, different and exciting options.

The atmosphere inside Oga’s Cantina is awesome. Guests are served in a space port and all the details are amazing. And for Star Wars fans it is authentic and wonderful. We went once with people who had never seen Star Wars and they still had a blast.

But the real story here is that the drinks are inventive and fun. They serve two types of drinks. Each come either with alcohol or without. Concoctions are drinks, while provisions are more like a gelatin. The flavors are bold and unique. Some of the kids’ drinks have carbon ice on the bottom that provides an endless stream of bubbles and giigles.

Oga’s Cantina may seem like too much effort and may get lost in your planning routine. But do not write it off because you are not sure if your clan is going to enjoy it.

Minnie Van Service

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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.

All about Park Hopping

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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.

Get the souvenir you want

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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.