To kick off the summer vacation season, Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors to its newest resort hotel with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value property consisting primarily of family suites that immerse guests into the magical worlds of classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

Opening in phases, each of the four wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by each beloved film depicted.  Three family suite wings will showcase Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King, with elaborate storytelling both inside and out. Standard guest rooms make up The Little Mermaid wing, the final phase to open.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed. Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation. At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matatatime. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.

As mentioned, the Art of Animation Resort will open in phases, one “theme” at time. The current schedule is as follows:

• May 31, 2012 – Finding Nemo Family Suites
• July 31, 2012 – Cars Family Suites
• September 30, 2012 – The Lion King Family Suites
• December 31, 2012 – The Little Mermaid standard rooms

In addition to some great previews of the rooms, Disney has also provided some insight into the dining options that will be available at the Art of Animation Resort:

We got a sneak peek at the menu, and here are some of the highlights:

• The Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop lets you create your own salad (with beef or chicken) and offers a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread. Both are served with delish house-made potato chips.
• The World Flavors Shop adds Indian-African flair to breakfast, too, with scrambled eggs, tandoor potatoes, Portuguese sausage, slab bacon and a mini-naan; or a veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken or shrimp, Mongolian beef with vegetables, mahi mahi, Portuguese sausage or roasted acorn squash served with sides and naan bread.
• The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas and meatballs on ciabatta bread. Room delivery is an option, too.
• The Burger Shop includes a breakfast burger with chicken breakfast sausage, cheese and scrambled eggs on a multi-grain bun, and a steak-and-eggs breakfast burger with a burger topped with fried eggs, cheese and bacon. Besides the traditional burgers, lunch and dinner includes a surf and turf burger with crab cake and fried popcorn shrimp, and a pastrami cheeseburger topped with pepper jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.
• The “grab ‘n go” Market Shop offers drinks, yogurt, bagels, pastries, gourmet cupcakes, cookies and gelato.

The 1,120 family suites at Art of Animation include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six, and start around $248 per night. The Little Mermaid themed 864 standard rooms sleep up to four and start as low as $94 per night.

Which room type do you most want to stay in? Did Disney miss a movie you would like to have seen included in the Art of Animation resort?

Finding Nemo Bedroom

Lion King Bedroom

Cars Living Room

Cars Table/Living Room

Finding Nemo Living Room

Little Mermaid Room

As might be expected, the Disney World parks can get very crowded during the holiday weeks. On a recent Thanksgiving visit, instead of visiting a full park, we decided to resort-hop to check out all the festive decorations.

All the Disney resorts are decked out for the Christmas holiday, each one themed to the resort. We started at the Beach Club. The majority of the deluxe resorts have gingerbread creations, so the Beach Club featured a carousel with chocolate horses. The detail was amazing and the carousel actually turned. At the Boardwalk, there was a gazebo featuring Stitch (my favorite). Donald was coming down the chimney. A sign posted said the display contained 50 lbs of icing, 301 lbs of chocolate and 2011 pieces of gingerbread.

Next we headed to the Magic Kingdom to catch the monorail. We loved the giant Mickey wreath outside the Contemporary Resort. Inside, there was a gingerbread tree. It was designed by the artist who worked on It’s a Small World, so it had a very familiar look. The Polynesian was much more understated and had no gingerbread creation. It was still fun to look around. The trees were pretty but overall, it was our least favorite.

My absolute favorite was the Grand Floridian. Not only was there a Victorian style gingerbread house, but a giant tree and pretty reindeer right outside the entrance. The Grand Floridian is the perfect resort for Christmas decorations. The garland and poinsettias were a lovely touch with all the polished white railings. It was breathtaking to see.
Each resort on the property also has a themed Christmas tree. We loved the one at the Animal Kingdom Lodge that had beautiful African inspired ornaments. No gingerbread here either but it was not needed. The lobby was beautiful, as always.

In case the gingerbread smell drives you crazy, each resort has a bakery which sells gingerbread houses and other goodies. What a fun way to beat the crowds and get into the Christmas spirit!

So, you’ve made some amazing memories at a Disney park. You invested in the PhotoPass CD, and you have some wonderful photos of your family at The Happiest Place On Earth. So … what do you do with them? Well, there are some great options out there to preserve your magical memories.

Donald Duck from Mickey's PhilharMagic

Many folks like to “scrapbook”, also known as paper crafting. This involves adhering photos and embellishments to paper, using glue or a “tape runner”. This is a lot of fun, but requires a pretty hefty initial investment.

Another option, and my personal favorite, is digital scrapbooking. There are several user-friendly software programs out there that can be used to create digital scrapbook pages. I personally use the Creative Memories software. Many great Disney “kits” exist, and the price is very reasonable. Check out Britt-ish Designs, Kellybell Designs, for great kits. Watch MouseScrappers for challenges (with prizes) and freebies, too!

Finally, you can upload your photos to a Photobook ordering website. My favorites include Mixbook and Shutterfly. You can also have them locally printed at CVS, Walgreens, or Wal-Mart / Sam’s Club.

One might think that the dining selections at Disneyland are the same as Walt Disney World, but that is not always the case.  While there are some similar restaurants and cuisines, they do have their own unique areas to eat.

Blue Bayou Restaurant, Disneyland

One restaurant in particular is Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square in Disneyland.  Did you know that this restaurant is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride?  It is such a unique dining experience, and fun for the entire family!  Blue Bayou has the feeling of being outside at dusk in the deep South of Louisiana complete with the sounds of frogs and crickets!  You can enjoy a wonderful meal and see the pirate boats floating by you while you eat.

The restaurant specializes in Cajun-Creole meals and some of their signature dishes are the Monte Cristo and the Tesora Island chicken.  Be sure to save room for desert because they offer crème brulee, chocolate cake, and pecan pie!

Blue Bayou's Monte Cristo Sandwich

Please be sure to give this restaurant a try if you are in the Disneyland Park!

As I mentioned in my previous article, this year marked my first visit to Walt Disney World during the Christmas holiday season. I had read all about the decorations, the Christmas party, the snow, and expected to fall in love with the Magic Kingdom all over again in all its holiday splendor. While all the decorations were wonderful, I was truly surprised at how the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights captured my heart!

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing LIghts

Hollywood Studios has been my least favorite of the parks for several years now. My family and I expected to stop by the park, take a quick look at the lights and run back to Main Street USA for the better of the holiday decorations. What could possibly compare to the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights? We arrived at Hollywood Studios only thirty minutes before the park closed. We walked quickly to view the lights, catching a small glimpse as we rushed by. The Cast Members were directing traffic so we had no choice but to go in the last entrance area. Once around the corner, we came to a screeching halt. The lights were breathtaking! Five million twinkling Christmas lights covering just about every inch of the place. Christmas music playing loudly as everyone stared up in awe. My family & I love to drive around and look at the holiday lights but I have never seen such a beautiful sight! Sadly, we only had about 20 minutes to enjoy. We were lucky enough to see the lights dance twice while we were there. It was pretty cool to see the lights synchronized to music.

After having a short time in the park we knew we would have to schedule another visit. We met up with friends and, after a yummy Thanksgiving meal at the Cape May Café, we went back to Hollywood Studios. This time, we had a couple hours. With more time to spend, we could really take a good look at the displays. There were so many Hidden Mickey’s in the lights! There were loads of extra decorations along the side streets, including Santa driving a police car and bikes completely outlined in lights. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it began to snow! I think we stood there for an hour. It really kicked off the holidays for all of us.

Osborne Family Lights, Hollywood Studios

I used to think that nothing could live up to Halloween at Disney. We go every year for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Now, we are already planning another Thanksgiving trip to the World. I would highly recommend visiting during the Christmas holiday time if at all possible. It is truly magical!

One of the biggest mistakes I see with Disney vacation travelers is the lack of planning. A little planning can go a long way to ensure that you have a magical vacation!

The best use of your time to ensure you trip starts out well is to choose your hotel wisely. There is a raging debate between the “On-Site” and “Off-Site” crowds, and honestly there is no one right answer for everyone. One of my favorite articles on this subject was written by my colleague Keith … check it out … The Many Splendors of Disney Hotels

Disney offers a resort for every family – for those on a budget, all the way up to those spending the trip of a lifetime at the resort. Knowing what your family needs – and wants – in a resort will help you choose the best one for your family. Do you want an amazing pool with a themed water slide? How about signature dining opportunities? A kid-friendly paradise? Or just a place to crash after an exhausting day at the park? Disney has just what you need!

Photo courtesey of WDW Figment on Flickr

Not only are there great sites like MouseBuzz to help you out … many of the Disney resorts have Unofficial Fan Pages. My personal favorite is Tikiman’s Polynesian Site – check it out at TikiMan Pages.

Spending just a few minutes to be sure of your resort choice will pay off when you arrive at Walt Disney World!

As everyone knows, there are a lot of great restaurants all over Walt Disney World property!  But there is one wonderful restaurant in particular that is fun and interactive for the entire family and it is not your run-of-the-mill dining experiences!

50's Prime Time Cafe

The 50’s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of the greatest restaurants and you are completely immersed into the theme and fun! It has a 1950’s setting with television sets playing mini clips from The Donna Reed Show, Father Knows Best, and of course- The Mickey Mouse Club.  The fun begins when you are “called for dinner”.  The host/hostess doesn’t ask for “Jones” but “Jones Kids- time to eat”!  You feel like you have entered Mom’s kitchen with all the little knick-knacks, chairs, and even a few toys on the table.  You are expected to mind your manners, eat your veggies and keep your elbows off the table!

There are excellent meal selections and some of their signature dishes are the fried chicken, pot roast, and meatloaf (I have always recommended and loved the fried chicken).  And they of course have milkshakes- what 1950’s restaurant wouldn’t!  The peanut butter and jelly milkshake is delicious!

50's Prime Time Cafe S'mores

If you have never eaten at this restaurant, I would recommend it to anyone!  Even if you have been there before, it’s worth going back on your next visit.

I love my Disney Visa.  It is the only credit card I actually use because the rewards are something that I know will be put to good use.  I’ve had other credit cards where you need to spend a certain amount in order to even qualify for reward accumulation.  The Disney Visa is pretty straight forward, you get 1% back in Disney Dream Reward Dollars.  So if I spend $350 Christmas shopping this year, I know I will get $3.50 in rewards.  These reward dollars can be used toward booking your trip, spending money and even the Disney store.  There are a lot of other great benefits to having a Disney Visa that may not be taken advantage of.

First of all, there is 0% financing for 6 months when you book your Disney vacation.  This is especially helpful for families who want to book up to a year in advance.  The balance of your package, in most cases, is due 45 days in advance and this makes paying off the trip a tad less daunting.

Mickey and Minnie at the Disney VISA meet and greet

One of my must do things on every Disney trip is to get a photo with the main Mouse himself.   There is a special meet and greet opportunity for Disney Visa cardholders in Epcot.  It is offered in Innoventions West between 1:30pm and 4:30pm daily.  All you need to do is show your card and a photo ID.  Also, with this great reward you get a free 5×7 photo from the meet and greet!

Another perk is the 10% savings when you spend $50 or more at select locations, including the World of Disney in Downtown Disney.  We all know, souvenir shopping can quickly add up and this is a great opportunity to save a few dollars.

Lastly, you can save 20% on guided tours.  The tours are awesome! My husband and I make a point to try a one every trip.  It is a great opportunity to learn about the parks, characters and Walt Disney himself.  There is so much more to Disney than rides and characters.  This is a wonderful way to learn about the magic, step back and realize there is so much more to learn!

I have visited Walt Disney World more than 20 times but had never been during the Christmas holiday season. I can’t count how many times I have been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and couldn’t wait to get to the Christmas Party.

We went on the Friday before Thanksgiving. I expected huge crowds, but it really wasn’t too bad. We had a great time! The Magic Kingdom looked so beautiful with all the holiday decorations! It felt so festive and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Lots of people were dressed in red and green and there were so many Santa hats with Mickey ears. We signed up for the event texts and received several throughout the night so we knew what was going on. This party includes a special holiday parade, Holiday Wishes fireworks show, Cinderella’s Castle Dream Lights and cookies and cocoa at stations around the park.

Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade

The lines for the rides were short and before we knew it, the parade was about to start. We stopped for yummy cinnamon sugar cookies and cocoa before staking out a spot. Perfect snacks for the show! The Once Upon a Christmastime Parade was pretty neat and we loved the toy soldiers. I think this parade would have been better viewed during daylight, as it is on Christmas Day, but it was fun to watch. As a huge fan of the Boo to You parade, this one was just not as spectacular. Still, it did put us in a holiday mood and the kids loved seeing Santa Claus at the end.

One of my favorite parts of the entire night was watching the castle appear to be covered in ice- the Castle Dream Lights. It just looked so incredible. I think I took about 50 pictures of the castle alone! Cinderella’s Castle is always breathtaking lit up but the icicle lights really completed it. What a beautiful sight!

Cinderella's Castle for Christmas

Next up were the fireworks. Christmas music played in the background. Disney just knows how to do fireworks & they did not disappoint. Again, a great show but it still not quite as good as Hallowishes at the Halloween party.

I think my favorite part of the entire evening was watching the snow fall on Main Street. We had waited but kept missing it, as it just happens periodically throughout the night. We had given up and headed for the bus when I received a text that flurries were headed to the Magic Kingdom. We ran back and made it to Main Street to see the snow. It was so magical!

This was another great event at the Magic Kingdom. I have heard so many comparisons between the two parties and have made some here. While this was a great party, I would not attend again. I’d rather travel to Disney World closer to the holiday and see all of it on a regular day. The price was a little steep for what was included, especially since you can see the castle, the fireworks and the parade during normal operating hours in mid December.

Do you have a family member on the Autism spectrum? Disorders considered as “autistic” include not only classic Autism, but Asperger’s, some forms of ADD, and PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified). These disabilities can wreak havoc on an otherwise magical vacation if not properly planned for. My stepdaughter is a recently diagnosed “Aspie” with inattentive-type ADD. And if that wasn’t enough … she also has moderate binaural hearing loss. These different-abilities certainly made us think carefully when planning our most recent trip to Disney World.

Unlucky Wait Time

Luckily, Disney does an amazing job of accommodating those with all sorts of disabilities. The stimulating and inclusive environment allows children of all ages to enjoy a magical vacation. However, if you are not careful, the stimulation may lead to a “meltdown”. Here are some of my tried-and-true meltdown-avoiding tips:

1. Have a plan. Booking your vacation with a travel agent that understands your needs is important. He or she can assist you with finding the right resort for your family, dining reservations, and touring plan suggestions. Know your family’s needs, don’t be afraid to share them, and be an advocate for them.
2. Know your family. What are the “triggers” that you face? Waiting in lines? Being hot? Too much sun? Not enough to eat? Understand what can cause drama, and avoid it. Having a solid touring plan will really make a huge difference – you don’t have to be militant about your day, but knowing what to ride and when will make a difference.
3. Get a GAC. Disney is very accommodating to those with different-abilities, and has ways to make the experience better for those with special needs. This is done by issuing a GAC, or Guest Assistance Card. These cards are not meant to replace a good touring plan or the Fastpass system, but they’re meant to make the visit more enjoyable for everyone involved. My next article will explain the GAC in more detail.