Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

Today is the first day of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, which runs until November 11. This marks the 12th annual event, and I can gladly report that I have been lucky enough to attend it more than just a couple of times. There are many ways to enjoy the World Showcase at EPCOT, but I don’t think there is a better way than eating your way around the world.

The Walt Disney World web site describes the event: “Explore marketplaces featuring regional foods, wines, and beers. Learn from renowned chefs and winemakers at special programs and demonstrations, and sample the finest cuisine from around the globe. Plus, be sure to savor the sizzling sounds of the "Eat to the Beat" concert series that stars a stellar line-up of popular musical acts!”

The full event schedule can be found here: Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival Guide

The event brings in foods from not only the permanent pavilions of the World Showcase; it also brings in some interesting fare from other locations around the word.

The menu items are relatively inexpensive and the portions are suitably sized to enjoy as well as save room for the next country on your culinary trek.

Now a few of the can’t miss items that I plan to partake in on my journey this year. The menu usually contains a choice of 2 or more appetizers, main corse type dishes and dessert. They also have a selection of regional wines or beverages to enjoy with your sampling.

Greece, is not a permanent pavilion, but you need to stop by and try the Spanakopitt, a savory spinach and cheese pastry for $2.75 and the Baklava for $1.50.

Canada, an event favorite is the Canadian Cheese Soup for $2.75 and at this stop you can go for a cool Canadian Lager, Labatt Blue (6oz) $3.00 and (12oz) $5.75.

One of the keys to truly enjoying the festival is to try things you have never tried before, or never had the nerve of trying before. France is a good place to test your adventurous side. We have all heard of Escargots, remember Julia Robert’s Pretty Woman toss to the waiter in the expensive French restaurant, but we never want to spend the money, since it usually cost a lot for just a try your luck with snails. Here is your chance for only $4.50. Enjoy your taste with a nice cold glass of champagne.

Never tried Sushi, here’s your chance at Japan. For the truly adventurous, the spicy tuna roll for $3.25, and for the less adventurous, the raw fish free California roll for $3.00. Wash this all down with Kirin Iciban draft (6oz) $32.50 and (12oz) $4.75.

At the American Pavilion we take a quick trip back to New England for the Maine lobster roll for $6.50, some blackberry cobbler for $1.25 and a cold one at the Sam Adams Hops & Barley Market.

It might take more than one trip around the lagoon to try all your favorites, a little eating and a little walking to make room for more. But you’re sure to have a great time explore the world through food and drink.

For any of you that are on the Disney Dining Plan, the festival gives you a chance to not worry about how you will be able to use up all of those snack credits. Save them up, since you can use a snack credits for most of the festival menu items.

Make sure you checkout the link to see the full list of menu items, and enjoy your trip around the world, with the compliments of,

The Disney King

Just J's 'Ohana review

Why you should not miss eating at ‘Ohana when at WDW

‘Ohana in Hawaiian means family. Every person who has ever written an article about ‘Ohana makes that statement. I did not want to rock the boat.

What ‘Ohana means to me is a homerun, great meal every time I show up. ‘Ohana is a family style meal as Disney calls it. The food is delivered “family style” - it comes to your table in large plates and bowls (and in ‘Ohana’s case, on skewers) delivered by a server. The server will continue to bring said food until you say stop. This is a dangerous proposition for people like myself who just don’t know when to stop.

First course
There are four food courses at ‘Ohana. The first course is the salad course. A mixed field green salad is served tossed with a honey-lime vinaigrette dressing. It is very good and I know a woman who calls this course the best of the meal. Along with the salad, a bowl of slightly seasoned wontons are served. The server also brings three dipping sauces to the table. They are a sweet peanut sauce, chimichurri sauce, and harissa sauce. For you folks who like to avoid fiber or anything green, the wontons are good and will hold you over until the appetizer course is delivered.

Second course
And the appetizer course delivers with a bang. Honey-coriander chicken wings arrive next. These wings are absolutely addicting and I could be happy if I just ate them for the meal. I made this fatal mistake once and regretted my decision once dessert arrived. The wings are messy but well worth the effort. If you ask your server, small hot towels will be brought to you to help clean your sticky fingers. Spicy sweet and sour shrimp is brought along with the chicken wings. If you like shrimp, these are quite good. Not mind-blowing, but good.

Third course
The third and main course arrives next. Maui scalloped potatoes and stir fry vegetables hit the table which is the prelude to skewers of hot, juicy, and tasty meat that will be arriving shortly. The potatoes are standard fare that are very good, but don’t fill up on the starches at this point. Four skewers consisting of Mesquite turkey breast tips, Asian BBQ pork loin, sirloin steak, and Hawaiian sausage with a pineapple teriyaki glaze arrive hot off the grill. Because there are choices here try one piece of each and then decide which one you want seconds on.
Because I am an ‘Ohana veteran, I only take the turkey breast tips. They are tasty and juicy and once dipped in the peanut sauce, they are sheer heaven.

Dessert
The final course is dessert. It is in no way to be an after thought or overlooked. If you have paced yourself properly, there should be enough room to partake of the decadent ‘Ohana bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream and a rich bananas foster sauce. I was never a bread pudding fan until I visited ‘Ohana for the first time. Let’s face it, anything served hot and a la mode is going to be very good.

A little known secret is you have an alternative to the Bread Pudding. If you prefer, ask for the pineapple chunks served with a hot caramel dipping sauce. This used to be the dessert at ‘Ohana a while back. They changed to the bread pudding, which I was quite happy about. My wife on the other hand, always asks for, and gets the pineapple and caramel.

‘Ohana is one of my favorite dining establishments at Walt Disney World. I have talked about the food, which is fantastic, but the atmosphere puts it over the top. The meat is grilled in a huge open fire pit in the middle of the dining room. There is also a lovely Hawaiian woman who walks around playing the ukulele and coaxing children into hula-hoop and coconut rolling contests. ‘Ohana means family and this is a top notch, family dining restaurant. Do not miss dining at ‘Ohana.

Resort TV take 2

I mentioned below how I like the 'Stacey Top 7' resort show, but how I prefered the older 'Zip' show. Well, here's the Zip stuff.



Maybe it's because that's what was on during Amy and my first trip when I really fell in love with WDW, but I think it's just better. And a tad less cloying.

Character meals

WDWnews.com just rounded up all the character meals – with descriptions and prices - which I thought would be handy for you people I know who are planning trips in the near future.
So here they are:

Magic Kingdom

Once Upon a Time Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table in Cinderella Castle, with Cinderella and friends, includes a photo imaging package and an entertainment magical moment; daily 8-10:20 a.m. Cost is $31.99, $21.99 ages 3-9, plus theme park admission.

A Fairytale Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table in Cinderella Castle, with Cinderella and friends, includes a photo imaging package and an entertainment magical moment; daily 12-3 p.m. Cost is $33.99, $22.99 ages 3-9, plus theme park admission.

A Buffet With Character at The Crystal Palace, Winnie the Pooh and friends; breakfast 8-10:30 a.m., $18.99, $10.99 ages 3-9; lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., $20.99, $11.99 ages 3-9; dinner from 4 p.m.-closing, $27.99, $12.99 ages 3-9. Theme park admission required.

Goofy's Liberate Your Appetite Character Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern in Liberty Square, with Goofy, Minnie, Pluto and friends, daily from 4 p.m. Cost is $27.99, $12.99 ages 3-9, plus theme park admission.

Epcot

Chip 'n' Dale's Harvest Feast at Garden Grill in The Land, with Mickey and friends; serving lunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $20.99, $11.99 ages 3-9; dinner from 4:30 p.m.-closing, $27.99, $12.99 ages 3-9, plus theme park admission.

Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway pavilion, with Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, Pocahontas, Cinderella, Ariel, Alice and Mulan; breakfast from 8:30-10:10 a.m., $22.99, $12.99 ages 3-9; lunch from 11:40 a.m.-2:50 p.m., $24.99, $13.99 ages 3-9; dinner from 4:20-8:40 p.m., $28.99 and $13.99 ages 3-9. Theme park admission required.

Disney-MGM Studios

Playhouse Disney's Play 'n Dine at Hollywood & Vine featuring JoJo and Goliath from "JoJo's Circus" and June and Leo from "Little Einsteins;" breakfast from 8-11:20 a.m., $22.99, $12.99 ages3-9; lunch from 11:40 a.m.-2:25 p.m., $24.99, $13.99 ages 3-9. Theme park admission required.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Donald's Breakfastosaurus at Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A., buffet with Donald Duck and friends, from park opening until 10:30 a.m. daily. Cost is $18.99, $10.99 ages 3-9. Theme park admission required.

In the Resorts

Beach Club Buffet at Disney's Beach Club Resort with Beach Club Goofy and friends, daily at Cape May Café, from 7:30-11 a.m. Cost is $18.99 (ages 10 and over) and $10.99 (ages 3-9).

Chef Mickey's Fun Time Buffet daily at Disney's Contemporary Resort with Mickey and his gang; breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m., $18.99 (ages 10 and over) and $10.99 (ages 3-9); dinner from 5-9:30 p.m., $27.99 (ages 10 and over) and $12.99 (ages 3-9).

Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, with Mary Poppins and friends, daily from 8-11:10 a.m. Prices are $18.99 (ages 10 and over) and $10.99 (ages 3-9).

Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, "tea party" for children with Alice and the Mad Hatter from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Includes lunch. Prices are $28.17 per child (ages 4-10).

Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, dinner buffet with Cinderella and friends from 4:30-8:20 p.m. daily. Prices are $28.99 (ages 10 and over) and $13.99 (ages 3-9).

`Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch at Disney's Polynesian Resort, family-style breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto, 7-11 a.m., $18.99, $10.99 ages 3-9.

So you’ve got a kid with you…

I know the first time I went to WDW with a kid in tow, it made for a totally different trip.
Amy and I had been going for years without kids, so when Katie came along and it was time to bring her, things changed. Rather dramatically.
I didn’t really plan for it, but things went fine for the most part. However, I did learn a few valuable lessons. The things I learned will apply to families with younger kids – since that’s what I’ve got.
Again, your mileage may vary, but this is my take on the whole thing…

Don’t force your kid to do anything. A friend (Tom Rose) told me that before our first trip-with-kid. He said he brought his son on an attraction despite his nervousness. For the rest of the trip his son didn’t want to go on any attractions. I took this to heart, but didn’t put it into practice.

Quite early on in our first day in the Magic Kingdom, we took Katie, who was still pretty young at 3-years-old, to Fantasyland. She liked Dumbo and the carousel. We then made our way to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It’s a very mild, happy attraction designed for young kids. I didn’t give it a second thought. Katie was a little nervous about it, and looking back I can see that. You get in a car and it shoots you into the dark. Still, I thought she’d be OK.
It started out fine, but a little ways in we hit the Heffalumps and Woozles – that’s when she got scared. Poor kid. Then there was thunder and a little lightning when the ‘Rain rain rain came down down down.”
But she didn’t see it that way. She saw it as monsters followed by a horrific storm. We haven’t even considered ‘Snow White’s Scary Adventures.’

Now she’s 5. And she still doesn’t want to go on the Pooh ride.
What did I learn? Let the kid decide. It makes for a smoother trip.

Plan on crankiness. It’s hot, crowded, and we’re usually up early and out late. It’s not an excuse for her to misbehave, but for a young kid a schedule like that can be taxing. Heck, for a 40-year-old it can be taxing.
I still won’t tolerate her freaking out. But I think a certain amount of crankiness has to be expected. It’s hard, because a WDW vacation isn’t the cheapest thing in the world and there are very high expectations. But I see way too many parents trying to berate their kids into having fun which results in a general meltdown.

What did I learn? Mid-day naps can be valuable. That is, if your kid will nap. Ours usually won’t, but a little down time can help. It certainly helps her mother, I’ll tell you that.

Don’t base your vacation around characters. I don’t really get standing in line for any amount of time to get a picture with a character. Sure, the pictures are nice and our kid really likes to meet her favorites, but it’s not worth the time or the chaos. Not everyone abides by societal rules like ‘waiting your turn’ or ‘standing in line’ or ‘not running you over to get to Pluto.’ I’ve never thought it’s worth any amount of aggravation. And after a while, it all starts to blend in. I remember saying, “how many pictures like this do we really need?” I put much more value in pictures of her reaction to seeing Illuminations or things like that.

What did I learn? Book a couple of character meals. They come to you. It’s much easier and it’s inside – so it’s air conditioned. Plus, food.

Bring a stroller. If your kid will still fit in a stroller, bring it. They can be expensive to rent, and the ones they provide have no place for storing anything. I get totally wiped out walking around all day, so the last thing I want to do is carry Katie around all night. Putting her in the stroller conserves her energy, it helps us keep track of where she is all the time, and it gives us a place to put stuff – cameras, souvenirs, etc.

Cast members will sometimes move your stroller when you’re on an attraction to make room for guests. We put a fluorescent orange luggage tag on ours. We can spot it immediately amid a sea of identical strollers.
There is a minor risk of having your stroller stolen. It hasn’t happened to us, or anyone we know, but I have read about it happening. Here’s a tip I posted in my bostonherald.com blog one time: If you’re really concerned about your stroller being stolen, get a diaper, pour root beer into it, and put it in a see-through baggie. Hang that off the handle. I bet no one will touch your stroller.
I’ve also read that it’s more common for the Disney rental strollers to be stolen. You can’t tell them apart, so it’d be hard to identify it as yours.

What did I learn? I’m too lazy to carry a kid around, so any time she wants to ride in the stroller, that’s fine with me. Plus, it helps us to pre-board at the airport.

Those are the biggies, I guess. As always, your mileage may vary.

Resort TV

To continue today's TV theme, I thought I'd drop in one of the spots from Disney World's resort TV channel.
Love her or hate her, Stacy and her Top Seven countdown brings me right back every time. So I guess you could count me as coming down on the 'love' side.

Stacy is like the fourth person staying in our room. When I'm in the room, Stacy is usually on the TV.
Although, I must say I liked the old 'Zip' shows much better.

Anyway, obsess with me, won't you?

Upcoming TV

I figured I should get out in front of the WDW TV schedule, so here goes:

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Detailing the Disney theme park that includes thrill rides, live animals and animatronic creatures. (Note - This show has new content updated for 2007.) Saturday September 29, 2007, 3-4 p.m. on the Travel Channel

Undiscovered Walt Disney World: Little-known attractions and exclusive side trips at the family-themed amusement park include a personal yacht trip and deluxe meals at the chef's table. September 29, 2007, 4-5 p.m. on the Travel Channel

Disney Cruise Line: An examination of the cruise line includes the ship's galley, engine control room and provisioning areas, its Broadway-style theatre and the palatial Walt Disney Suite. Saturday September 29, 2007 from 5-6 p.m. on the Travel Channel

I got all this from the Disney Them Parks Related TV For the Week page. Bookmark it, it's a great way to get heads-up on your WDW fix.

TV

Today was heaven. Pats were rolling over the Bills on one channel, and an entire afternoon of Walt Disney World programming was rolling over on the Travel Channel.
We had Great Hotels: The Grand Floridian; Great Hotels: Animal Kingdom Lodge; Great Hotels: The Yacht and Beach Club; Great Hotels: Wilderness Lodge and then Undiscovered Walt Disney World, followed by Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes (I can skip this one, I don't really care about Disneyland.), Disney's Animal Kingdom finished up by Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes.

There may have been pizza and beer involved.
Which, of course, made for a perfect day. Lest you think I totally forsake WDW when preparing football comestibles, I offer up this photo as evidence...

Suffice to say, final preparations for our trip are underway. A Mickey-shaped pizza seemed the perfect way to bridge the worlds of Patriots dominance, and Walt Disney World obsession. If it wasn't for the undercooked crust, I would say the plan was brilliant.

I just scoured Youtube for any of the Samantha Brown Disney episodes, but there were none. I figured this would have to do:

Food, part 2

Don’t think of eating at Disney World as a secondary experience. The sheer number of restaurant choices is staggering, and can range from pretty standard to extraordinary.

Think of it in two ways: Counter service – burgers, dogs, tacos, chicken, etc. – and table service – a sit-down restaurant.

If you’re going with kids, you want to squeeze in a character meal or two. I’d recommend two right off the bat: The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom (breakfast | lunch | dinner) and Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort (breakfast | dinner). The food at both is good, despite the fact that they’re both buffets.

When we brought our (at the time) 3.5-year-old, we went to a few character meals. It was fun the first time, fun the second time, but then it got to be “how many of these character meals do we really need?” They’re fun, but two will suffice in my book.

That said, there’s also the character meals at Cinderella’s Royal Table (lunch | dinner) and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway at Epcot (Princess Storybook Breakfast). Both are princess meals. Notice I didn’t link to the breakfast meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table. That’s because if you haven’t called 180 days out, right at 7 a.m. with a huge amount of luck, you’re very likely not going to get in. And the Norway meal is just breakfast. The rest of the day it’s normal Norwegian fare – fish.
I haven’t been to either of these character meals, but I hear Norway is a good substitute if you can’t get Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Epcot
In Canada: If you can get into Le Cellier, in Canada, do so. It’s good, so it’s a little more difficult to get into. The cheddar cheese soup is great with breadsticks, and the filet is awesome.

In Germany: The Biergarten is a lot of fun. It’s food and entertainment, with an oompah band adding tons of atmosphere. The food is mainly pork and sausage-related, but you can wash it all down with plenty of beer. And I’ve found the more beer you have, the more fun the Biergarten gets. Imagine that!

In France: Steer clear of Chefs de France. I’ve eaten there three or four times, and it’s ranged from nondescript to awful. It’s really the only restaurant in WDW that I feel this way about. The setting is beautiful, the service is great, but the food is sometimes lacking. I know some people feel differently, so maybe it’s just me. But I don’t recommend this place.

Nearby: You can walk out the International Entrance near the UK pavilion to get to the Boardwalk. It’s worth the walk, especially at night. And you can eat at The ESPN club. The food is good, and the atmosphere is a lot of fun – especially if the Sox or Patriots are playing.

Counter service at Epcot is fairly standard, with the standout being Cantina de San Angel. It’s not mind-blowing, but the offerings are a little different, and you can sit right on the water while you eat.

Magic Kingdom
I’ve already mentioned the Crystal Palace and Cinderella’s Royal Table. The Liberty Tree Tavern is good, and I’ve liked Tony’s Town Square, which is themed around Lady and the Tramp. However, ZenGoalie hasn’t liked it much.

Counter service at the Magic Kingdom is, again, fairly standard. Burgers are decent.

MGM
The 50s Prime Time Café is fun – but you have to be in the mood to interact. The themeing and the cast is top-notch. The food, especially lunch, has been very mediocre for me. (Aside from the peanut butter and jelly shake, which is amazing.) One of my favorite waiters in all of WDW, Lukili, works there. He’s sarcastic, funny, takes his time with guests… He’s great.

I’ve always really liked Mama Melrose’s. Again, Zengoalie wasn’t impressed, but I think there’s something wrong with that girl.

The Brown Derby is usually good, if a bit on the pricey side. Even by WDW standards. Plus, if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you’re going to use two table service credits.

Counter service at MGM is incredibly standard. Burgers, etc. Doesn’t matter where you go, it’s pretty much the same stuff.

Animal Kingdom
For food? Skip it. Nothing to see here. Just move along.
Actually, there’s a Rainforest Café there, but that place sucks. I’d suggest getting on a bus and shooting over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and eating at Boma. Boma is my favorite buffet on-property. Plus it’s where I had breakfast right next to John Cleese. I mean.. Come on!
Boma has prime rib and many different sauces you can put on it. The peanut rice there is incredible.

Resorts
Here are a few restaurants located in on-site resorts that are well worth traveling to for a meal. Whispering Canyon Café in the Wilderness Lodge (take a boat from the Magic Kingdom.) Make sure you ask for Ketchup.
The California Grill is my favorite restaurant in all of WDW, period. It’s expensive, but the food is unmatched and the view is by far the best on-property. This is my ‘go-to’ restaurant if you want to impress someone.
The Grand Sandwich at the Grand Floridian Café is worth the trip alone. (Take the monorail from the Magic Kingdom.)
Under any circumstances, do not miss ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Resort. (Take a boat or the monorail from the Magic Kingdom.) The quality and volume of food is great, and there are games for the kids to play. There’s a peanut flavored sauce that I put on everything they bring. I have never left ‘Ohana without feeling disgustingly full. But that’s a good thing. Plus, the ‘Ohana Colada at the bar is my favorite drink on-site.
It works like this: Arrive early, get a seat next to the bar, nurse two ‘Ohana Coladas, enjoy the view over the top of the resort and wait for them to call you for dinner.

Downtown Disney
The best value on-property is The Earl of Sandiwch. It’s a sub shop. But the sandwiches are great and the prices are actually cheap! So cheap, that people who work down there eat there – so it’s usually incredibly crowded.

I know I said the California Grill is my favorite restaurant in all of WDW, but I lied. That title may actually now go to Raglan Road. The food is very, very good, the music is fantastic, and I won’t mention the Irish step dancer because people are starting to think my interest in it is creepy.

These are some of thoughts on a few dining options. There are actually way, way more choices to make, but even after 17 trips I’ve really only begun to scratch the surface.

Above all, call now to make your ADRs. 1-407-WDW-DINE / 1-407-939-3463

Food

As fellow Sherpa JustJ has said, “It’s all about the food.”
He summed up his choices quickly in an email this morning:

---

“First time, 20th time, etc, when you’re at MGM, eat at the 50's Primetime Cafe. It has great food, good prices and it’s a fun time.
- At Epcot: Le Cellier if there are no budget constraints.
- Go to Chef Mickey's breakfast for a Character meal. It has the best food of any breakfast buffet.
- 'Ohana - No brainer no matter who you are...
- Spoodles on the Boardwalk. The food is good and the location makes it great. One word: Sangria

I have no recommendation for AK. There is nothing there worth mentioning. For table service, I have no real high recommendations in MK.

- I hear the Crystal Palace is good but I think Chef Mickey's should be the choice for a Character Meal.

- The best deal on site for food verses price is at Fort Wilderness, the buffet at Crockett's Tavern. It is cheap and there is all kinds of bad-for-you comfort foods. It’s not the best quality, but it’s the best deal by far. It is hard to get to, (Fort Wilderness) and that's the only problem.”

-- JustJ

Imagineer

A Disney Imagineer (and professor at Carnegie Mellon), Randy Pausch, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He recently had the opportunity to give 'his last lecture.'

You can watch it here.

It's cool because he's exactly what you hope an Imagineer would be like - smart, funny, optimistic... But it's also depressing because he has three kids and only about a month left of decent health at this point.
But "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" is a great lecture.

You can learn more about him here.

5 reasons to travel to WDW solo

I figured there were top fives for first timers and moms, so why not those of us who don't have built-in travel buddies? I've been to WDW eight times since 1999, and about half of those have been solo travel. I love to travel with my friends and family, but sometimes it just makes more sense to go it alone. So, why is WDW one of the best places to travel by yourself? In many overwritten and superfluous words:

1. Convenient, safe transportation options for guests staying on property. With Disney's Magical Express airport shuttle and free on-property transportation, there is no need to drive anywhere. Therefore, there are no dark parking lots to traverse. There are also nearly always cast members nearby, if you need assistance. I'm not saying you can completely let your guard down, but it's a much safer destination than most tourist hotspots.

2. Variety of activities. When you're at WDW, you can go to the Magic Kingdom and hang out with Mickey and his pals. Or you can go to a spa for a massage or a mani-pedi. Or you can take an educational backstage tour. WDW Golf will even match solo golfers with partners to make up a foursome, if you'd like. There's enough going on at WDW that you won't get bored. Which leads me to number three-

3. You're never really alone at WDW. Please! You're surrounded by vacationers and cast members. There's always someone to talk to, even if it's just waiting in line or a brief chat with a cast member on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. That last one is how I finally got to see the tigers actually running around and playing. A cast member told me to come back around 4:00, because that's when the tigers were being fed that day. Sure, you occasionally run into some sourpuss who just looks at you like, "Why is this strange girl talking to me?" But by and large, WDW is full of happy, friendly people.

4. So, numbers 4 and 5 are less about why I'd want to go to Walt Disney World alone, and more about why I'd want to go to Walt Disney World alone. First, you can do pretty much whatever you want to, and no one in your party can say "boo" about it. Because your party is you, and it's your time, no one else's. Don't want to go on Spaceship Earth? Don't have to! Want to ride the Haunted Mansion seven times in a row? You can do that!* You can have cheeseburgers for every meal. You can have tea at the Grand Floridian. You can even decide to skip the only showing of "Wishes" during your stay to stay in your hotel room, drinking cocktails and watching "The Top Seven" countdown because you're too tired to deal with crowds and walking. (Not that anyone I know has ever done that...) Anyway, you call the shots, and nobody rolls their eyes at you. I do recommend pacing yourself a bit, though, because that much freedom can get a little heady, which inevitably leads to sore feet and early nights.

5. And finally, you never have to miss a WDW trip because of someone else's schedule. Let me tell you a little story. I was born the same year WDW opened, so every WDW milestone is a milestone for me, too. The year of the 25th Anniversary celebration was my first year living on my own, and the first year "job" really turned into "career." I had money for a WDW trip. I had scads of vacation time. I had an inexplicable desire to see Cinderella's Castle done up like a big, pink birthday cake. What I didn't have was a travel partner. If my family and friends had the time, they didn't have the inclination. If they wanted to go, they didn't have enough time off. So, I missed it. I have always regretted not going. But that missed opportunity taught me to never again miss anything I really wanted to do, just because I'd have to venture out on my own. It's a lesson I've learned well and applied to many areas of my life, and everything is better for it.

*About the many, back-to-back trips on a favored ride... unless you want to have ride dialogue irretrievably imbedded in your brain, I don't recommend it. Then again, there are those of us who are into that sort of thing. ("... And consider this dismaying observation, this chamber has no windows and no doors. Which offers this chilling challenge- to find a way out! Of course, there's always my way.")

5 Tips from a Mom

1. Bring your own stroller. Not only does it help in schlepping your kid through the airport, it gives you a place to store stuff underneath if it’s got a basket like mine. (Snacks and juice boxes are key here) It also helps you find it easily when exiting a ride if you put something noticeable to distinguish it from the others. We used a bright orange luggage tag with our name on it dangling from the stroller handle.

2. Don’t force your kid onto rides they are skittish of. If you drag your kid onto “Snow White’s Scary Adventure” then they’ll be scarred for the rest of the trip and won’t want to ride anything that has cart that goes into tunnels. The Evil Witch is all through it and terrifying for little kids. Be patient, they’ll be so over stimulated and tired that you want to remember to not “force” them to have a good time.

3. Have your toddler/child wear their bathing suit underneath their clothes. Magic Kingdom and Epcot both have fountains where kids can run through and get wet. Winnie the Pooh’s play yard is a good place to sit back and relax while your child has a blast with the squirting fountain.

4. Napping helps, but your child may surprise you with how well they can stay up to see fireworks. We were lucky to never have any meltdowns. Best plan is to do the Fantasyland and Mickey’s Toon Town Fair early in the day so you get it out of the way and can head back to the hotel for some quiet time in the afternoon.

5. Be patient. See how your child reacts the first time they see a character. If they act frightened, it’s not a big deal, don’t force it. Our little one ran right up and gave Pluto a giant hug the first time she saw him. She got a little nervous before seeing the Big Mouse himself…but the look of sheer joy on her face when she finally came around the corner and saw him was worth the bit of butterflies.

Top five tips for first timers - getting started

Planning a trip to WDW can be overwhelming. There are a million things to think of and plan for. So here are my top five tips for first timers. These are absolutely general tips – nothing too specific. Mainly because I can get specific and obsess about trip planning in other posts.
So here they are, off the top of my head and with very little thought:

5. Fly Southwest if you can, or Jetblue. I can usually get $79 each way on Southwest. Sometimes it rockets up to $99 each way – which still isn’t bad at all. If you have to go to Logan (Boston) or an equally large, confusing, maddening airport, Jetblue can have decent rates. But more importantly they have little TVs on the back of each seat to make the flight go by more quickly.

4. Use Magical Express. It’s free transport from the Orlando Airport to your hotel. For that matter, use the Disney transportation system during your stay. You won’t need to rent a car. The buses run fairly regularly, and again – it’s free.
Now, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite because I’ve recently been introduced to the joys of having a rental car during our vacation. There’s no waiting for buses, no standing after a long day in the parks, and it cuts way back on the time spent traveling to and from places. However, if this is your first time, the buses are the way to go. It’s an easy way to get around.

3. Stay on-site. The on-site resorts are clean, colorful and fun. Plus they allow you to use the aforementioned bus system.
On our first trip in 1998 we were strong-armed into staying off-site. Long story short: We checked out exactly 90 seconds after we checked in and headed over to the All Star Music resort. While it is one of Disney’s ‘value’ resorts, I firmly believe it helped make me the Disney geek I am today. It introduced us to Disney’s famed customer service at a time when we desperately needed it.
Another benefit to staying on-site: The magic never ceases. You’re immersed in the Disney atmosphere 24/7. It’s better than drugs. I think. I’ve never really done drugs. It’s just an analogy.

Here are my preferred resorts:
Value: All Star Music (or Sports or Movies. They’re all the same.) I’m not as big a fan of Pop Century, but plenty of people really like it. Pop Century does have the best food court.
Moderate: I have no real opinion here. I’ve stayed at a couple of the moderates, and they were nice, but for the price I’d either go value or deluxe. Port Orleans was OK, but a little far away from things. The Caribbean Beach Resort isn’t much different from a value resort – nice, but rather huge.
Deluxe: Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. It’s got an amazing location – you can walk to Epcot and MGM (Disney’s Hollywood Studios), and there’s plenty to do at night along the boardwalk.

All that said – rent points and stay at a DVC resort. It’s the cheapest and best way to stay at a deluxe level resort.

2. Plan your day so you do not miss the nighttime shows. The other Disney Sherpas may mock me, but a mid-day siesta can work wonders. Here’s an example: We’re up and rolling very early every day. I get my coffee, we’re standing at the park entrance for the rope-drop. We tour the park, maybe get a light lunch around 1 p.m. and then head back to the room. There, Amy sleeps, Katie struggles not to sleep, and I watch the in-room resort channel. (I have a strange obsession with that channel.)
After a couple hours we’re refreshed and ready for a long night out. We head to a park or to dinner, then pick out a prime spot for Spectro Magic/Wishes, Illuminations or Fantasmic. They are all great shows that are not to be missed. Also, the parks really come alive at night, so you owe it to yourself to make sure you see the property at its best.
My Favorite: Illuminations (at Epcot.) It goes off at 9 p.m. every night. There really isn’t a bad spot to watch it from.

1. Make your ADRs now. ADRs are ‘Advanced Dining Reservations.’ The amount of dining options at WDW is staggering, and it does take some planning due to the evil Disney Dining Plan. *Shakes fist at DDP* The DDP ensures that pretty much any seating at a table service restaurant that you want will be filled up months before your trip.
You can make most ADRs 180 days in advance. So make sure you do (407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463)
Because really… It’s all about the food.

Dining idea

I came up with an idea that a few of my friends think is insane, but I'm convinced would be a huge success...

I think they should add a dining car to the monorail. Wait, wait - hear me out.

Designate one car as the dining car. One Cast Member would be assigned as a waiter/attendant. The guests could look over menus from several restaurants located in resorts along the monorail route. When they've made a decision, the Cast Member could radio their choices along to the restaurant. When the monorail arrives at the appropriate stop, the food is brought out and placed on the table in the dining car.

If anything is required, the Cast Member in the dining car can radio ahead to the next stop - whether it be drinks or dessert or anything else. And the guests can enjoy a relaxing night taking in the sites of the Magic Kingdom area. They could charge a premium along the lines of Victoria and Alberts, only it would be even more exclusive.

See? Genius!

Consider this my copyright on the idea.

First post

Just last night I made the long-delayed decision to switch a couple of my sites over to a blog format. It's much easier, and besides, the Web grew well beyond my humble HTML skills long ago.

So what is this? I bought this URL a little while back. Then recently a former coworker contacted me asking for advice about traveling to Walt Disney World. Since I'm a hard core WDW fanatic, I jumped at the idea of writing down a few tips for her and her family. Only I didn't do it because work has gotten very busy.

Then I figured I could write up my tips in a blog format and add to it. Plus it'll give me an excuse to think about WDW more often.

I do not claim to be the be-all, know-all expert. I don't know every trick in the book, but I do know many. I do Disney World my own way - probably flawed, but in the end I always have fun.

My credentials: I've been to WDW 17 times since 1998. Many of these trips were 'press events' where I was treated like a rock star and given many free things. In return I wrote many travel features for my former employer, the Boston Herald, and for BostonHerald.com, where I was the online managing editor.
I was also the paper's point-man for two separate promotions where we gave away WDW vacations.

And that's that. I'll start with a few basic tips and work my way toward some of the more coveted stuff. I'll rely on some friends, other Disney World Sherpas, who know more than I do.

All alone I'm just a Disney geek who knows a few ins and outs. Put us all together, however, and you've got an all star team of Disney World travelers.