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.

What to know about crowds at Walt Disney World

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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.

You must try Sleepy Hollow

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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.

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.

Chef Mickey’s

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Located within Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a fantastic character buffet. Chef Mickey’s is a perfect complement to a day at Magic Kingdom.

The breakfast buffet is the way to go. There is evey breakfast staple and anything you could want. Reservations can be made 60 days prior to the first day of your Resort stay. Chef Mickey’s is open to everyone, it is not just for guests at the Contemporary. It is so convenient to get to from Magic Kingdom. It is about a 10 minute walk or an exciting trip on the monorail. I like to make a morning reservation and go before entering the park. Then we aren’t even hungry for lunch and have a few snacks to get to dinner. So it is definitely not taking up too much of your day.

Mickey and friends come and visit the table and it is one of the best spots in all of Disney World to get photos with them.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

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Every Disney Dad strives to make their daughter feel like a princess.

Located in Magic Kingdom, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a shop where little girls can be transformed into their favorite Disney Princess. Reservations are required so be sure to plan ahead.

There are several different packages available for purchase. Girls can also bring any dress they have from home. The packages can include hair, makeup and nail polish. The shop also has accessories like shoes, wands and crowns. Your princess can get a photo shoot after as well.

I know it sounds expensive. But it is a magical experience. The attention the boutique gives each child is special. And they feel special the rest of the day in their makeup and gown. My daughter chose Elsa and then used the costume for the next Halloween. And the photos are priceless.

Don’t Listen to the Critics

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Disney World Vacations are magical. They are wonderful. There is so much that goes into the vacation. Besides the obvious cost, there is the planning and researching, booking park and dining reservations and hours and effort spent just thinking about everything. But all that hard work is worth it. Disney Dads know that their family will create memories to last a lifetime. Disney Dads also know to not listen to the critics.

There are too many negative reviews and posts about Disney World. While there are things that go wrong, or ideas that don’t come to fruition, Disney World has the absolute best customer relations anywhere. There are so many people working there that love what they do and love to make your day magical. Disney has been in the game a long time now and they know what they are doing. So it frustrates me to read so many negative posts about them. They are mostly attention grabbing click bait stories. But they do influence people and it is sad that people might miss out on an experience because of something they read online.

The Disney Genie service is absolutely amazing. But I seem to read negative reviews and negative comments about it all the time. You can read my glowing review for a hopefully simplified explanation.

I have been inside Disney World many times. I have never experienced anything close to what some people complain about. Sometimes things go a little sideways, but the cast members are always so helpful. The performers in all the shows are always so great. They are energetic and engaging.

Animal Kingdom: Feathered Friends in Flight

My wife left her cell phone in a restroom. She went back in less than 5 minutes later and it was gone. I checked her location on my phone and it was at the front of the park. We walked over and retrieved it. My wife commented on how fast they recovered her phone and the cast member told us they have a great system. For them they just followed their procedure that was well designed. For us, it essentially saved our vacation.

On another occasion we were dining at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios. Our reservation didn’t allow for much time to get to Fantasmic to get a good seat. So we were a little stressed when the kids wanted to wait for Vamparina and we must have just missed her when we came in. My wife simply asked the waitress if she knew when Vamparina would be back around because we wanted to get to Fantasmic. The waitress stepped away and came back with 4 printed Fastpass tickets for us. It was so wonderful.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

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This is one fun party. There are exclusive happenings and characters only available during the event. It is expensive. Expect to pay between $100 and $200 per person depending on the night. But it is well worth it.

First off, it is fun to be part of a special event. It feels like Magic Kingdom is throwing a party and I made the guest list. For all the Hocus Pocus fans there is always a performance in front of Cinderella’s Castle. There is also a distinct parade featuring a Halloween theme. Pre-covid, and likely returning again post-covid, there are exclusive character meetings. They have characters that are not available during normal hours.

Kids can wear costumes and trick or treat for candy. Which means they just walk around getting candy all night. We get a free souvenir reusable bag to collect their candy. We use them all the time.

Space Mountain does a special Halloween edition where it is in complete darkness. That is in one word, intense. It is an entirely different experience. And it is so much fun. There are also, of course, exclusive Halloween items, drinks and snacks.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party is a wonderful party. I would say it is even something to consider when planning a Disney World Vacation. If you are considering a late August to October time frame, keep this event in mind. It is something every Disney Dad should experience.

Memories to Last a Lifetime

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Disney World is the most magical place on earth. There is no better place to make memories with your children. Disney vacations also bring generations together. There are so many Disney World attractions that children can experience with their grandparents. It can really be a beautiful experience for everyone. One such attraction is The Carousel of Progress.

The Carousel of Progress was designed by Walt himself. It is a theater show using animatronics. The audience watches a family during various periods of the 20th century. The dad tells the guests what life is like at that time. It is really fun and informative. The dad is joined by other family members who help chronicle a day in the life. The whole production lasts about 25 minutes. Each scene is about 5 minutes or so. There is never much of a wait. It is a nice show to sit, cool off and relax. There is also an extremely catchy tune about how “there is a great big beautiful tomorrow”.

Many funny and unexpected things happen during a Disney World vacation. Some attractions or shows can elicit an emotional response. People share experiences that can really bond them. My son and my father had such a moment on the Carousel of Progress. My dad was never much for vacations, let alone amusement parks and crowds. But when we had children, he became a Disney Grandad. He wouldn’t ride coasters or thrill rides, but there were still so many things at Disney World he could ride with the kids. And my son and his Papa developed quite a bond. Papa unfortunately passed away in 2017. We continued vacationing at Disney World. On our third trip back, my son became emotional after Carousel of Progress. He said he really missed Papa during the show and he remembered how much they enjoyed it together. He will always have that memory. That is priceless.