Walt Disney World: Other Character Meals

If you would like to dine with characters other than Mickey and the gang or the Disney princesses, there are 2 special options just for you!

Winnie the Pooh at The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom

The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom features Winnie the Pooh and friends, while Hollywood & Vine in the Hollywood Studios welcomes favorite characters from the Disney Junior television shows. Read more to find out the details!

The Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom welcomes Winnie the Pooh and his friends (usually Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is served buffet-style, with all of the characters visiting each table to interact with the guests. As with every character meal, characters are happy to take pictures with guests and/or sign autographs. There is also a fun parade for guests, who follow the characters around the dining room.

Eeyore at The Crystal Palace

Breakfast is available starting at 8:05 a.m., which means that it is possible on certain days to have breakfast before the park opens. This allows guests to get pictures on Main Street with fewer crowds, as well as bypass crowds at park opening.

Hollywood & Vine

Disney Junior Play 'n Dine features characters from the popular Disney Junior television shows at Hollywood & Vine in the Hollywood Studios. Characters are part of the breakfast and lunch experiences only. Characters change regularly as Disney Junior shows grow or decline in popularity; past characters have included: JoJo and Goliath (JoJo's Circus), Leo and June (The Little Einsteins), Handy Manny, and Special Agent Oso.  There are usually 3-4 characters available at each meal.

Special Agent Oso and Disney Junior Play 'n Dine

The food is served buffet-style, with all of the characters visiting each table to interact with the guests. There are also entertainment portions where the Disney Junior characters dance with the younger (and younger-at-heart) guests. Breakfast is available starting at 8:00 a.m., which means that it is possible on certain days to have breakfast before the park opens. This allows guests to get pictures on Hollywood Boulevard with fewer crowds, as well as bypass crowds at park opening.

Conclusion

So what do you think? Are you ready for a meal with Pooh or Disney Junior friends?

For more information on other character dining experiences, read my posts on dining with Mickey and friends, or with the Disney Princesses.

A Match Made on the Seas: Adventures by Disney Plus Disney Cruise Line!

Do you have difficulty choosing between a relaxing cruise vacation and an active vacation? Do different people in your group have different ideas of the kind of vacation you would like? Are you excited about the possibility of a cruise, but wonder what you would do when in port?

Disney has the answer! Pair your Disney Cruise Line itinerary with a specialized Adventures by Disney vacation! To find out more about the Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney, read my introductory blog posts: Why Cruise? Why Disney? and Adventures by Disney: An Introduction.

 

Adventures by Disney has itineraries that run in conjunction with Disney Cruise Line vacations to Alaska and the Mediterranean. Read more to find out the details!

Wonders of Alaska

When booking a 7-night cruise to Alaska on the Disney Cruise Line, guests have the option of also booking the Wonders of Alaska itinerary through Adventures by Disney. These guests will enjoy the following additional experiences:

• 2 Adventure Guides who stay with the group at sea and onshore 
• VIP privileges and special surprises at the various ports
• private onboard receptions
• unique onshore experiences (different from those offered to general Cruise Line guests)
• photo CD with ship photographers' and Adventure Guides' photos, plus a slideshow
• a case of bottled water per stateroom
• water, snacks, and meals in port
• early debarkation at each port

While at sea, guests can take advantage of all the Disney Cruise Line has to offer. In addition, here are some of the highlights at sea and in port:

• welcome reception onboard
• city tour of Skagway
• 2-hour scenic train through Yukon territory ride in a private car
• visit the Yukon Suspension Bridge and the Jewell Gardens
• glass-blowing demonstration with glass souvenir to keep
• Junior Adventurer scavenger hunt
• gold panning
• private helicopter ride in Juneau
• dog sledding experience
• tour of Mendenhall Glacier
• ziplining in Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary

Pre-Cruise Adventures in Spain

When booking a 7- or 12-night cruise in the Mediterranean on the Disney Cruise Line, guests have the option of also booking a 3-night pre-cruise vacation in Barcelona through Adventures by Disney. Highlights of this itinerary include:

• visit to Gaudi's famous cathedral, La Sagrada Familia
• visit to Parque Guell, also designed by Gaudi
• walking tour of the Gothic quarter
• tour of Montserrat basilica with alternate activity for Junior Adventurers
• tour of Pueblo Español
• farewell dinner and flamenco show

Sagrada Familia

When booking a 4-night cruise on the Mediterranean on the Disney Cruise Line, guests have the option of also booking a 4-night pre-cruise vacation in Barcelona or Madrid through Adventures by Disney. Highlights of the Barcelona itinerary include those listed above with the 3-night itinerary (except Pueblo Español), plus:

• private cooking class
• Junior Adventurers archeology experience
• wine tasting
• tapas tasting
• visit to Serra de Collserola Natural Park
• visit to Camp Nou, home of the FC Barcelona
• visit to Museum of Chocolate

Barcelona

Highlights of the 4-night Madrid itinerary include:

• visit to Royal Palace of Madrid
• private cooking class
• visit to El Escorial monastery
• visit to Alcazar and Segovia
• walking tour of Madrid
• tapas tasting
• bike riding or walking tour of Retiro Park
• farewell dinner with flamenco show

Alcazar

 Mediterranean Magic

When booking a cruise on the Mediterranean on the Disney Cruise Line, guests have the option of also booking one of the Mediterranean Magic itineraries through Adventures by Disney. While at sea, guests can take advantage of all the Disney Cruise Line has to offer. In addition,each Mediterranean Magic itinerary has extra experiences.

Guests on a 7-night Mediterranean Magic vacation will experience:

• private welcome reception
• private coach ride to Monaco
• Prince's Palace tour
• time in Monte Carlo
• visit to Eze
• gelateria tour in Florence, Italy
• tour of the Vatican City Museum and Sistine Chapel
• tour of Rome's ancient landmarks
• Junior Adventurers visit to the Coliseum
• farm visit in Naples
• cruise tour of Capri
• farewell reception

Rome, Italy

Guests on a 12-night Mediterranean Magic including Venice vacation will have all of the same experiences as on the 7-night itinerary, plus:

• gondola ride in Venice
• walking tour of Venice
• Venetian Carnevale mask-making
• Murano glass blowing
• walking tour of Dubrovnik, a walled city in Croatia
• biking in the hills of Croatia
• kayaking in the Adriatic Sea
• ferry to Gozo, Malta for a tour of the salt pans
• glass blowing, swimming, and shopping

Venice, Italy

Guests on a 12-night Mediterranean Magic including Greece vacation will have many of the same experiences as on the 7-night itinerary (except Naples and Capri), plus:

• visit the Panathenaic Stadium in Greece
• Junior Adventurer Mini-Marathon
• tour the Acropolis
• tour Ephesus archaeological sites
• visit the Grand Bazaar in Kusadasi, Turkey
• participate in a private Greek cooking class
• visit the beaches of Mykonos, Greece
• ferry to Gozo, Malta for a tour of the salt pans
• glass blowing, swimming, and shopping

Mykonos, Greece

 Overview

As you can see, Adventures by Disney can supplement your Disney Cruise Line vacation, making it both relaxing on the ship and active on land! These combination can be perfect for the combination group of people, or for those who want the best of both worlds!

Overlooked Attractions: Frontierland

Have you ever found yourself with a Fast Pass to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain, and wondering what to do with your time before that magical window opens? Although these two rides are by far the most popular in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, there are several hidden gems to be discovered.

Frontierland has many fun and interactive attractions that have little to no wait time, due to the popularity of the attractions mentioned above. If you find yourself with time to spare in Frontierland, try some or all of the following:

Frontierland Shootin' Arcade

This has been one of my favorite things to do in Frontierland since I was a little girl. It's something I remember always doing with my Daddy, and I'm glad to take my girls to experience it, too. This attraction has been running at the Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971.

This is one of the few attractions that are not included with admission to the Magic Kingdom. However, it only costs $1.00 for 35 shots, and money has never been better spent on a whole lot of fun! This old-fashioned game requires you to shoot at targets with rifles that have infrared lights. The target gallery is set up like a town out of an old western movie. Some of the props move, such as the train; others are stationary, but all of them have a fun effect when you hit them.

The wait for this attraction is not usually long, and even if there is a bit of a line, 35 shots go by quickly, and the next person can take their turn. This is a must-do for me when going to the Magic Kingdom, and I am always disappointed if we miss it for any reason.

Country Bear Jamboree

One of the last attractions that Walt Disney personally helped design, the Country Bear Jamboree is a fun show full of audio-animatronic bears who sing, dance, and enter from above on a swing! 18 hillbilly bears perform in this crazy show that is not always politically correct, and it's fun for kids and adults alike. This show has been playing at the Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971.

The Country Bear Jamboree was recently refurbished in the fall of 2012. The original show had a running time of a little bit over 15 minutes, and now the time has been reduced to 10 minutes. There is rarely a wait for this show, beyond the wait for the previous show to finish. The shows run one after another, and it is a nice air-conditioned break from the rest of Frontierland. It is definitely a fun break, especially in the summer months!

Tom Sawyer Island

This fun interactive attraction opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, but was designed personally by Walt Disney for Disneyland Park and opened there in 1956.

To get to Tom Sawyer Island, guests journey by raft across the Rivers of America to arrive on the island, where they are free to explore until dusk (when the Island closes). Sites to visit on Tom Sawyer Island include: Harper's Mill, Injun Joe's Cave, Fort Langhorn, Potter's Mill, and Tom Sawyer Scavage Fort. There is plenty on this island to fill hours of time for the adventurous at heart!

Conclusion

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain are definitely the thrill rides of Frontierland, and not to be missed. However, use your time wisely and don't forget to visit the rest of Frontierland as well!

What is your favorite Frontierland attraction?

Disney California Adventure: Disneyland's Second Theme Park

When Disneyland Park opened in 1955, Walt Disney's theme park legacy began in Anaheim, California. This historic park was followed by the creation of Walt Disney World Resort, beginning with the Magic Kingdom theme park in 1971 and followed by the openings of Epcot in 1982, Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) in 1989, and Animal Kingdom in 1998. Also at Walt Disney World, River Country (Disney's first water park) opened in 1976 (to be closed in 2001), followed by Typhoon Lagoon in 1989 and Blizzard Beach in 1985. Internationally, Disney opened parks in Tokyo in 1983, Europe in 1992, an Tokyo in 2001.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Disney theme parks' expansion is that Disneyland Park did not truly become Disneyland Resort until 2001, with the addition of a Downtown Disney area and a second theme park called Disney California Adventure. Disney California Adventure opened in February of 2001, offering another park for Disneyland guests to experience the type of attractions that Disney parks are known for. This post will focus on attractions; information on dining and shows will be covered in later posts, so stay tuned!

Overview

Disney California Adventure is composed of 8 districts, arranged in a similar spoke pattern to other Disney theme parks:

• Buena Vista Street
• Hollywood Land
• "a bug's land"
• Cars Land
• Pacific Wharf
• Paradise Pier
• Grizzly Peak
• Condor Flats

 Buena Vista Street

Guests walk down Buena Vista Street upon entrance to Disney California Adventure. This district is designed to resemble the Los Angeles of the 1920s. Several dining locations and shops can be found here. Guests can also ride the Red Car Trolley up Buena Vista Street to Carthay Circle, or all the way into Hollywood Land near the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Red Car Trolley

Hollywood Land

Hollywood Land was inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s. Attractions include:
Disney Junior - Live on Stage!, Muppetvision 3D, Animation Academy and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (similar to the attractions of the same names at Hollywood Studios), as well as Turtle Talk with Crush (also found at Epcot). Unique attractions include:

• Sorcerer's Workshop: interactive activities exploring character animation
• Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue!: a taxi cab ride through Monstropolis
• Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular: a Broadway-style stage show

Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue!

"a bug's land"

In this district, guests can see the world from a bug's perspective. Here, guests familiar with Walt Disney World will find the show "It's Tough to be a Bug!", also found at Animal Kingdom. Other attractions include:

• Flik's Fun Fair: a play area for children
• Francis' Lightning Boogie: a fun spin on a ladybug's back
• Flik's Flyers: a ride on a hot-air balloon made of leaves
• Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies: a bumper car attraction
• Princess Dot Puddle Park: a water play area
• Heimlich's Chew Chew Train: a ride in search of caterpillar snacks

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train

Cars Land

This district and all of its attractions are completely unique to Disney California Adventure (for now). The following Cars-themed attractions are found here:

• Mater's Junkyard Jamboree: listen to Mater's music while getting pulled by tractors in a tea-party-like ride
• Luigi's Flying Tires: float around on a spare tire
• Radiator Springs Racers: race on a track using the same technology as Epcot's Test Track

Radiator Springs Racers

Pacific Wharf

This district is inspired in part by San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, and consists mostly of dining and shopping locations. Attractions include a Bakery Tour and Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar, where guests can see constructions projects being completed within the park. Since the latest expansion (Cars Land) was completed in June of 2012, the future of Blue Sky Cellar remains to be seen.

Paradise Pier

Coastal boardwalk areas inspired this district, where the attractions resemble popular amusement park rides. These attractions include:

• California Screamin': a high-speed roller coaster
• King Triton's Carousel: a carousel with an undersea theme
• Toy Story Midway Mania (similar to the attraction of the same name at Hollywood Studios)
• Games of the Boardwalk
• Mickey's Fun Wheel: a ferris-wheel ride
• Silly Symphony Swings: a wave-swinger attraction
• Goofy's Sky School: a smaller roller coaster
• Jumpin' Jellyfish: a parachute-jump-style ride
• Golden Zephyr: a rocket-ship ride
• The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure (a similar ride of the same name is now part of the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom)

California Screamin'

Grizzly Peak

This district evokes memories of California's wilderness and national parks. There are two attractions here: Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (a playground area) and Grizzly River Run, a whitewater raft adventure.

Grizzly River Run

Condor Flats

A tribute to California's flight history, Condor Flats is inspired by airfields of the 1940s to 1960s. The main attraction here is Soarin' Over California (known as "Soarin'" at Epcot).

Soarin' Over California

General Information

Guests to Disneyland Resort can purchase a Park Hopper Pass to allow entrance to both Disneyland Theme Parks.

The Grand Californian Hotel has its own private entrance to Disney California Adventure for guests of the Grand Californian Hotel.

Grand Californian Hotel Room

Though Disneyland Park has many similarities to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Disney California Adventure is a park with most attractions entirely unique to itself. In fact, several of the crossover attractions started in California and were then recreated at Walt Disney World in Florida.

What do you think? Are you ready for a Disney California Adventure?