Disney Announced New Hollywood Studios Christmas Event

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Walt Disney World is the most magical place on earth. During the holiday season, the magic intensifies immensely. There is no better time to be in Walt Disney World. However, this is no secret, and the crowds are massive and it is usually as busy as it gets. If you accept that challenge, it will be well worth it to visit Walt Disney World for the holidays.

Jollywood Nights

Walt Disney World announced an entirely new special event taking place at Hollywood Studios. It will be called Jollywood Nights. The event seems to play on the history of Hollywood. I love this selection of the theme. Hollywood Studios has moved away from some of its history by adding Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Anyone who visited Hollywood Studios (or the old MGM Studios) in the early 2000s and 2010s may remember there was much more of a glitz and glamour feel to the park. Disney’s website uses phrases like “Glitz & Glitter” and “Dapper Decor”. It also seems that this party will be more adult friendly than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party over at Magic Kingdom. I am so excited for this event. I am tempted to impulse book a reservation now. I think this event will be especially ideal for a quick adults only trip to Walt Disney World.

The available dates have been released and the time is from 8:30 pm – 12:30 am. Tickets will go on sale July 6, but guests who already have resort reservations can get tickets June 23.

Saturday, November 11
Saturday, November 18
Monday, November 20
Monday, November 27
Wednesday, November 29
Monday, December 4
Wednesday, December 6
Saturday, December 16
Monday, December 18
Wednesday, December 20

Art of Disney: Hidden Gem

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Michael Luongo

Each of the four parks at Walt Disney World each have their own unique character. And within each park there is so much activity that it is unavoidable to miss things. This is especially true when kids are so excited to get to the next ride. There is often little time to just slowly explore and take it all in. There are restaurants, snacks and shops around every corner. No park has more to discover than EPCOT. With World Showcase and a reinvented World Celebration, the journey through EPCOT can border on overwhelming. Within The American Adventure of World Showcase, there is a shop called Art of Disney. This artist showcase deserves a visit on every trip to Walt Disney World.

Art of Disney sells quality and unique Disney artwork. We have made purchase here three times over the years. The prices are certainly reasonable for pieces that will decorate your home. They make great souvenirs and gifts. Purchasing art from Walt Disney World is a joyous moment that enables you to bring some of the magic home. We love having our Disney memories hanging on the walls.

Art of Disney is also an art gallery for all things Disney. It is wonderful to spend time just admiring the beauty. There are always new pieces to check out. They have other collectibles including figures and decorations. There is original art and limited edition items. Maybe one of your purchases will end up being a valuable item. It is said that art is also an investment. Why not invest in something that you will love to look at every day?

Another EPCOT Hidden Gem

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Michael Luongo

EPCOT is a BIG park. To be honest, I find out something new every time I go. It is too big to really get to know in one day. But at the same time, it lacks some of the thrill rides that Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have. It is hard to justify spending multiple days there on a vacation that is not super long. So there are sections of the park that people don’t get to explore and they unfortunately miss out on experiences. This is totally understandable as there is just not enough time to do everything.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends might just be the most overlooked area of EPCOT. There are no thrill rides here. The Finding Nemo right is cute, but it is not a big draw. Turtle Talk with Crush is not one of my favorites. Even the restaurant Corral Reef (which I personally love) is one of the easiest places to get a reservation. It doesn’t help that the area is basically tucked away in the corner of EPCOT. However, there is one thing here that should be a bigger draw.

There is a really nice aquarium here that you should spend some time checkingout. Sea turtles, dolphins and sharks can all be found in the massive tank. It is a wonderful indoor (think A/C) space where kids can run around and enjoy some freedom. I’m a big proponent of letting them run free at times as a little break from waiting in lines and being forced into compliance with the itinerary. Bigger kids can also learn from many of the friendly cast members.

The aquarium is accessible after the Finding Nemo ride or by walking into the unadvertised entrance to the left of the Nemo entrance.

A couple packing tips

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Michael Luongo

Packing for vacation can be cumbersome and stressful. But I like to consider packing as part of the vacation and treat it as such. It should be fun and exciting. And a vacation to Walt Disney World is going to be fun. And yet there is so much to think about planning that even packing is a part of the process. But there are a few tips that I have learned over the years.

We always have a backpack in the park. It has gotten smaller as the kids have grown up, but it is still a necessity. We will put our reusable water bottles and snacks for the day in there. We also put some small toys and fidgets for the kids to occupy them in line, and a phone charger.

I pack snacks and breakfast bars in my suitcase. Having these items are convenient and they save money and time inside the park. Also once the snacks are consumed, there will be room in the suitcase for souvenirs.

It takes up alot of room in the suitcase, but we bring an extra pair of sneakers for everyone. Sometimes the rain will get so heavy, so fast that your sneakers will get really, really wet. We have had to dry sneakers with a hair dryer, and that process is horrible. It takes forever with a group of four, and the room will smell for days. This is especially true in the summer months, because it will rain. The last time we went to Walt Disney World in August, it rained almost every day. One of the days was a washout after about 3 pm and we tried to make it work. But our sneakers paid the price.

A sweatshirt is usually not needed, but it sometimes can be in the cooler months. We will wear or bring the sweatshirt for the flight and then just have it in the room if we need it. We won’t bring it to the park every day, but only if the weather forecast calls for it.

We miss the Disney Dining Plan

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Michael Luongo

The Covid19 pandemic caused so many rippling effects throught Walt Disney World. While much is back to normal, Disney also used the pandemic pause as a reset in several ways. One thing that has yet to return is the Disney Dining plan.

What is the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining plan is pre-purchased meal plan. There are a few different options, and the names of them are a little confusing. The plans give each guest an allotment of meal options each day. Guests also get a reusable resort drink bottle.

I recommend the Disney Dining Plan, which as it’s name implies I guess is the standard plan. This gives each guest one table service meal, one quick service meal and two snacks per day. This is my ideal Disney Dining strategy. I like the one sit down meal each day to relax, regroup and revitalize. I like the quick service meal to complement that as a fast grab and go, because I don’t want to spend too much time in one day on eating.

The complete options offered are:

Quick Service Dining Plan
- 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks per night
Disney Dining Plan
- 1 table service, 1 quick service and 2 snacks per night
Disney Dining Plus
- 2 combined meals, both can be table service or quick, 2 snacks per night
Disney Deluxe Dining Plan
- 3 combined meals, 2 snacks per night

So what does that all mean. Table service restaurants are basically sit down meals with a waiter. Quick service meals are cafeteria type places where you grab your food and go. Snacks can be non alcoholic drinks, or most other food items. Each meal allotted includes a dessert and a drink. Table service meals include one alcoholic beverage too.

Other points to consider

Thie dining plan provides each allotment per night of your vacation. They are all given upon arrival. So you can use an extra snack or meal on a day when you need it. A quick service meal can be converted to 2 snacks if the need arises. The meal plan is for everyone over 3. Kids under 3 can order their own food, or have a few bites off other plates. Some more expensive restaurants, like Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, take table service meals. The system works amazingly (no surprise) and it is easy to keep track of.

So why do I love the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining Plan lets vacationers pay ahead of time for almost all of their food. I truly miss that. It is wonderful to arrive at Disney World knowing you have already paid for almost all of your vacation. It also limits the amount you spend, because you know ahead of time what you have available to you that is already paid for. Now, since you are paying for all your food, I find I spend more frivolous.

Disney has repeatedly said the Dining Plan was returning. However, there is still no timeline available.

Can you really do Disney on a budget?

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Michael Luongo

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

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Michael Luongo

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.

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

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Michael Luongo

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.

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

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Michael Luongo

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.

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.

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

Not So Secret Indoor Playgrounds in EPCOT

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Michael Luongo

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.

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.

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.

Disney By Dads

Ideas for planning your Disney World Vacation

Tag Archives: extras