Dining Spotlight: Meals with the Fab 5

When it comes to dining with Disney characters, Disney has a meal to please all guests! Of course, some of the most popular characters are what we Disney lovers call the "Fab 5." The Fab 5 include: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto.

 

Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey's

Why Character Dining?

Character dining is a wonderful way to complete two tasks at one time. Since you have to eat, and you (or your little ones) want to see the characters, why not do both at once? When you participate in a character meal, each character will visit your table at least once during your meal. They will spend time with your group, sign autograph books, and take pictures. The setting is usually less rushed than standing in line at the parks, and you don't run the risk of standing in a long line to have Mickey take a break just as you near the front. For this reason, we meet most of our characters at meals and save the lines for the characters we can't see while dining.

Goofy at Tusker House

The "Fab 5"

There is currently only one restaurant that offers dining with all of the Fab 5. There are also several locations that offer dining with at least 2 of the Fab 5 characters.

Mickey Statue at Chef Mickey's

You can find all of the Fab 5 at Chef Mickey's restaurant at Disney's Contemporary Resort. This restaurant serves breakfast and dinner, and is a favorite for the characters along with the celebration (fun dance party) that happens during the meal. We like to eat here on the day we arrive at Walt Disney World, since it does not require park admission and we can see the characters and feel some Disney magic even before going into the parks. If you purchase the Fastpass + photo package, the group picture with a Chef Mickey statue is also included in the package.

Minnie at Chef Mickey's

My next favorite classic character meal is Tusker House at Animal Kingdom. This character dining location features Donald and friends at all three meals. Donald's friends usually include Daisy (sometimes difficult to find in the parks, so we love to catch her here!), Mickey, and Goofy. The picture with Donald before you are seated is also included in the Photopass + package.

Donald at Tusker House

We also love to eat at the Garden Grill in Epcot, which features Mickey in his farmer's outfit, Pluto, and Chip and Dale (also difficult to find in the parks). The food at the Garden Grill is amazing, since it is seasonal and much is grown at the Land pavilion in Epcot.

Pluto at Garden Grill

Some of the Fab 5 also make appearances at the following dining locations:

• Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club Resort: Characters appear at breakfast and usually include Minnie Mouse, Donald, and Goofy.
• Garden Grove at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel: Two classic characters appear at dinner.
• 'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Resort: Characters appear at breakfast and usually include Mickey and Pluto along with Lilo and Stitch. The character meal picture is also included in the Photopass + package.
• Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort: This dinner show is held seasonally in the summer. Characters usually include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Chip, and Dale.

It is important to note that Disney World does not guarantee character appearances and all policies state that characters are subject to change without notice. Even Mickey Mouse can get a cold! I am always careful about guaranteeing anything to my girls, in case something doesn't work out the way we expect it to.

Daisy at Tusker House

General Thoughts

As a rule, we much prefer character dining to waiting in long lines at the parks. We are more comfortable and the character interaction is fun! If you would like to dine with Mickey Mouse, Chef Mickey's is by far the most popular location, so making advanced dining reservations is essential. Remember that advanced dining reservations can be made up to 180 days before the trip! I was able to make reservations for a client three months before their vacation, but only after trying for several weeks; it was booked the first several times I tried.

Mickey at Chef Mickey's

Garden Grove and Cape May Cafe are probably the least well-known, being at resorts on or near the Disney Boardwalk. If you are trying to make a reservation and other character dining is booked, there may still be openings at those restaurants.

When in doubt, ask your resident Disney specialist! Do you have questions about character dining? Is there another meal or character that you would like me to cover in the blog? Let me know in the comments section!

Not "Short", Just "Vertically Challenged"

Those of us, young and young-at-heart, who are vertically challenged have found a lot to love at Disney destinations.

Have you ever been to a "traditional" theme park with younger and/or smaller children? Do you have some children in your family who are tall enough to ride the thrill rides and others who can only do the kiddie rides?

Going to a theme park can be very frustrating when the majority of the rides require riders to be 48 or even 52 inches tall or taller! I have a 2 girls who love roller coasters, one is tall enough and the other isn't; and it's such a shame to see the sadness when one gets to ride all of the rides and the other has to stay in the kiddie section, which is a postage stamp compared to the rest of the park.

Not so at Disney destinations!

Did you know that...

There are only 16 rides in the four major Walt Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom) that have any height requirement at all?

3 of those height requirements are relatively low?

• Tomorrowland Speedway (Magic Kingdom) - 32 inches to ride, 54 inches to drive
• Goofy's Barnstormer (Magic Kingdom) - 35 inches
• Kali River Rapids (Animal Kingdom) - 38 inches

Goofy's Barnstormer

13 of those rides require a height of at least 40 inches?

• Magic Kingdom: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Stitch's Great Escape
• Epcot: Test Track and Soarin'
• Hollywood Studios: Star Tours and Tower of Terror
• Animal Kingdom: Dinosaur

Test Track

 Only 5 of those 14 rides require a height of at least 44 inches?

• Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
• Mission: Space (Epcot)
• Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)

Expedition Everest

And only 2 of those 5 require a height of at least 48 inches?

• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios)
• Primeval Whirl (Animal Kingdom)

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

At the age of 4, our daughters were able to ride all of the attractions with height requirements of 40 inches. At the age of 5, one daughter was able to ride Space Mountain (barely), which has a height requirement of 44 inches! They LOVED it!

Splash Mountain

There are many reasons why I love Disney destinations so much, and this is a major one. Very rarely do I have to tell my children that they are "not tall enough" to ride. Disney considers their audience, which is families, many with young children. There are very few things those children "cannot" do in the parks!

Disney's Rider Switch Policy

This is one of the best perks at Disney for those who know about it!

If you do have one member of your party who does not meet the height requirement, Disney has a "Rider Switch" policy. A family can ask a castmember at the entrance to the attraction for a "Rider Switch Pass." This allows one adult to stay with the child(ren) who do not meet the height requirement, and the rest of the group to experience the attraction.

When the group is finished, the adults "switch", with the stay-behind adult getting to experience the attraction without waiting in line (usually through the Fast Pass line). The Rider Switch Pass allows up to 3 people to participate, so some of the group can ride again!

My older girls love this, since they get to ride twice: once with Daddy and once with me! I think they'll be disappointed when their little sister meets the height requirement.

Please note: The Rider Switch option is only intended for groups with members who are unable to ride an attraction, not for those who don't happen to want to experience it.

What do you think about Disney's height restrictions? Have you used the Rider Switch? Comment below!

Choosing the Right Disney Dining Plan

One of the most popular additions to Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages has been the Disney Dining Plan. With the creation of this popular plan in 2005, guests to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida have been able to pre-purchase a vacation that is for all intents and purposes all-inclusive.

Donald at Chef Mickey's restaurant at the Contemporary Resort

The Disney Dining Plan has evolved over the years. As always, there are people who love the Dining Plan and people who hate it. I fall into the "love" category, especially for families with children up to and including age 9.

Read more to find out why...

The Disney Dining Plan is available if you purchase a vacation package including room and tickets from Disney or an authorized agent. Annual Pass holders (if staying on Disney property) and Disney Vacation Club members are also eligible for the Disney Dining Plan.

Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom

Disney Dining Plan options

Quick-Service Dining Plan:

• 2 quick service meal credits per person per night of stay
• 1 snack credit per person per night of stay
• 1 refillable resort mug per person for length of stay

The cost of the 2013 Quick-Service Dining Plan is approximately $37.58 for ages 10+ and $14.32 for children ages 3-9. The prices of the Quick-Service Dining Plan does not change with the pricing seasons.

Plus Dining Plan:

• 1 table service credit per person per night of stay
• 1 quick service credit per person per night of stay
• 1 snack credit per person per night of stay
• 1 refillable resort mug per person for length of stay

The cost of the 2013 Plus Dining Plan during the value and regular pricing seasons is approximately $55.59 for ages 10+ and $17.16 for children ages 3-9. The cost of the 2013 Plus Dining Plan during the peak pricing season is approximately $56.94 for ages 10+ and $18.16 for children ages 3-9.

Deluxe Dining Plan:

• 3 meal credits (quick service or table service) per person per night of stay
• 2 snack credits per person per night of stay
• 1 refillable resort mug per person for length of stay

The cost of the 2013 Deluxe Dining Plan during the value and regular pricing seasons is approximately $99.97 for ages 10+ and $26.84 for children ages 3-9. The cost of the 2013 Plus Dining Plan during the peak pricing season is approximately $102.27 for ages 10+ and $28.91 for children ages 3-9.

Refillable Resort Mugs

 Definitions of terms

Quick service: restaurants where you stand in line to order your food and pick it up; similar to "fast food" outside the World, with many more options! A quick service meal credit will purchase: 1 entree and 1 non-alcoholic beverage for breakfast; 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 1 non-alcoholic beverage for lunch/dinner; or a "meal" including drink, and 1 dessert.

Table service: restaurants where you sit at a table with a server to take your order and bring your food; reservations are usually needed. Buffet restaurants and character meals fall into this category. A table service meal credit will purchase: 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 1 non-alcoholic beverage. For the Deluxe Dining Plan, a table service meal credit also includes 1 appetizer.

Snack: items identified with a purple DDP icon as eligible for a snack credit purchase; options include: popcorn, drinks, frozen novelties, rice krispy treats, and more!

Refillable resort mug: mug that may be used for fountain beverages only at the resort where you are staying for the length of your stay; beverage options include: coffee, tea, lemonade, and other soft drinks. Juice and milk are not included, but can often be "purchased" using snack credits.

Signature dining: specific high-level restaurants that require 2 table service credits per person per meal.

Dinner shows: specific dining events that require 2 table service credits per person per meal; currently these shows include the Hoop-de-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness and the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at the Polynesian Resort.

Snack Logo

Important notes

Gratuity is not included in the Disney Dining Plan. For any table service credit used, 18% of the total ordered will be automatically added as a guideline. You may of course tip more.

Alcoholic or specialty beverages (for example, souvenir mugs) are also not included.

Room service is available at select Disney resorts and will require 2 table service credits per person.

Because the Quick Service and the Plus Dining Plans only include 2 meal credits per person per day, you will have to get creative for breakfast. You can do this in one of two ways: share quick service meals so that you can cover breakfast, or use a snack credit plus a drink from the refillable resort mug for breakfast.

Most restaurants on Walt Disney World property participate in the Disney Dining Plan. There are a few, especially at Downtown Disney, that may only participate in certain levels of the plan, so be sure to check when you make your reservations.

Due to the popularity of this plan, it is highly suggested to make reservations 180 days in advance, which is the earliest possible time. It is difficult to find space at a table service restaurant if you "walk in," especially at peak vacation times.

The remaining meal and snack credits are listed on every dining receipt. Make sure to check every receipt to make sure the correct amount has been deducted!

There are no Disney Dining Plans available for children under age 3. These children can eat off an adult's plate. At buffet meals, they are able to eat for free.

Advantages

There are several advantages to the Disney Dining Plan:

• It is convenient because you have paid in advance; you don't have to pay for every meal at the time.
• It does save money if you spend all of the credits.
• It allows you to eat at places you might not eat otherwise.

The Disney Dining Plan is especially advantageous for:

• groups with at least one child under age 10. The money saved is significant if you add the costs of children's meals, especially for a child under age 3.
• those who want to do a lot of character meals. These meals are often buffets that have a fixed price, so the savings are obvious.

The Deluxe Dining Plan is ideal for:

• thos who want to experience Signature Dining restaurants, dinner shows, or other experiences (like Cinderella's Royal Table) that require 2 table service credits.
• those who prefer table service to quick service meals; as there is no distinction between credits.
• those who may not have the opportunity to return often and want to take advantage of as many dining opportunities as possible.
• those who want to bring home many treats from their snack credits! 

Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge (Signature Dining)

 Personal thoughts

I have participated in both the Plus Dining Plan and the Deluxe Dining Plan, and enjoyed them both.

The main difference for my family was the number of different meal experiences we were able to do in a single trip. My family enjoys participating in character breakfast meals, and when doing so on the Plus Dining Plan, we often paid out of pocket for some food later on. In contrast, we could do many table service meals on the Deluxe Dining Plan, and we were able to try a lot of new restaurants while still being able to experience our favorites.

Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort

I originally thought that perhaps I would regret the amount of time taken at the various table service restaurants. However, I found that my children really enjoyed having the down time, especially if there were characters involved! We had to eat anyway, so the relatively relaxed atmosphere of a table service restaurant rather than the craziness of the quick service locations turned out to be a hidden benefit.

In the past, Disney has offered free dining plans for specific vacation dates. Traditionally, a stay at a value resort has included the Quick Service Dining Plan, while a stay at a moderate or deluxe resort has included the Plus Dining Plan. If you would like a higher dining plan, you can pay the difference in price; I would highly suggest this option if you would like to try the Deluxe Dining Plan but are unsure if it is the best choice for you. The best value in the free dining plan vacations is absolutely the moderate resorts, as they are only slightly more expensive than value resorts, but include the higher dining plan!

What do you think?

Planning in Advance for Disney: Why It Matters!

Many questions I hear about Disney center around planning time.

For example:

• How far in advance to I need to plan for a Disney vacation?
• Why plan in advance?
• If I wait, can I get a better deal?

Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom

Read more to find out the answers to these questions, as well as other planning advice.

How far in advance do I need to plan for a Disney vacation?

The answer to this question depends on 2 things:

1. How particular are you about getting what you want when you want it?
2. Which Disney destination are you visiting?

If you are very particular about your plans for your trip, you should plan as far ahead as possible. By planning ahead, you will have your choice of accommodations, as well as dining reservations and activities. If you have your heart set on popular dining locations and activities, it is imperative that you plan well in advance so that you will have the opportunity to participate in those experiences.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

If, on the other hand, you are willing to take what you can get, you can plan the day before if you like. By planning last minute, you will only have the options available based on what is left after other have booked. This can be a fun and adventurous way to travel, if you are open to trying new things. However, you do need to understand that there are certain reservations that are unlikely to be available the later you plan (more on this later in the post).

Coronado Springs Resort

Different Disney destinations require different levels of planning time:

• Disney World: If you are going to Disney World, my advice is always to book your trip at least 7 months in advance. This gives you a month to decide which reservations you would like to make before those dates become available to reserve experiences.
• Disneyland: Disneyland is a bit more flexible than Disney World, as reservations for dining and other experiences at Disneyland are available up to 60 days in advance.
• Disney Cruise Line: Reservations for shore excursions and signature dining experiences can be made up to 75 days in advance for first-time guests on the Disney Cruise Line. Because these reservations open up to 120 days in advance for repeat guests, it is very important to book your Disney cruise at least 3 months in advance, so that you will have time to decide which experiences you would like to reserve.
• Aulani: Aulani does not have the same restrictions on reservations as other Disney destinations. You can book a year in advance or wait until the last minute. Because Aulani is relatively new, it remains to be seen what the most popular experiences will be, and how far in advance they will need to be booked.
• Adventures by Disney: Adventures by Disney only offers certain trips on certain dates, with limited availability, so it is very important to book as far in advance as possible.

Stones of the Brave in Scotland (Adventures by Disney)

 Why plan in advance?

A main advantage to planning in advance is getting your preferences rather than taking the leftovers. However, there are other advantages as well:

• Payment plan: All Disney destinations have a deadline for final payment. The further in advance you plan, the more you can spread out the cost so the pain in the pocketbook isn't as obvious. If you book after the final payment deadline, full payment is due at the time of booking. You might be surprised at how little it costs to reserve a Disney vacation!
• Availability: Especially if you are travelling during times when almost the entire USA is on school break, options can decrease very quickly. These times include: the week between Christmas and New Year's, the month of July, Easter week, and Thanksgiving week. Presidents' week in February and the months of June and August are also busy, but since some schools are in session, the crowds are a bit lighter.
• Special experiences: Certain experiences book very quickly. If you want to eat at Cinderella's Royal Table (in the castle) at Disney World, or get a princess makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, these reservations fill up extremely quickly, especially during peak travel times. Also popular are the dinner shows like Hoop-de-Doo Revue and Spirit of Aloha. The Disney Cruise Line has signature dining restaurants and shore excursions that have limited availability as well.
• Magical Express: Disney World's free transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport must be reserved at least 2 weeks in advance.

Disney Wonder in Alaska

 If I wait, can I get a better deal?

Actually, you can get the same deals whether you wait or not!

One special perk of doing a Disney vacation is that Disney will adjust the price of your vacation to reflect new discounts! They will not do this automatically; someone needs to call and ask for the adjustment to a specific reservation.

An excellent reason to use a Disney Vacation Planner is that we keep track of the discounts for you, make the calculations, and ask for the adjustments that will get you a better deal.

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park

Why wait?

I hope that this post has helped to answer some questions about planning for Disney vacations.

I think the best question from me is: What are you waiting for?

Grand Floridian Resort