WDW Trekker

Everyone has a favorite recipe that their family enjoys and is easy to make. What if there was a favorite recipes online cookbook available to Disney vacationers where one could submit a favorite recipe or two and be able to search for other recipes that work well at kitchen equipped Disney resorts? (Dining out every day at Disney gets costly.)

I have had this idea for quite sometime now and been hashing out how to make a favorite recipe online cookbook work. Now, with the increased lightweight wireless devices available and the availability of Internet access at Disney resorts, I thought that now would be a time to begin developing such a solution.

So, before work begins on developing this favorite recipe online cookbook, there are several initial questions that come to mind in the layout of the site. These questions are:

1. Would this kind of site be welcomed and used by guests?
2. Would users be willing to pay a nominal subscription fee to access the site to avoid annoying banner ads?
3. How should the categories be setup to organize the recipes that are submitted?
4. Would a rating system be a welcomed feature?

Any comments or questions are welcomed via the comments section below.

There are many different dining options available when it comes to dining and finding a great meal at Disney World. Back in the early days of the resort, choices were limited and quality was less than desirable. However, since the Disney Decade in the 1990′s when restaurants started to populate the resort, every type of cuisine has become present. Many restaurants have actually been written up in magazine and gotten great ratings with Zagat’s.

What used to be a drag is now part of the fun and excitement of going to the Disney World Resort. A great part of planning your stay now includes picking restaurants and having to book reservations early. Some restaurants require reservations months in advance such as Le Celier located at the Canada pavilion in World Showcase at Epcot. Unless you’re willing to eat at 4:30PM, getting a normal reservation is challenging. I’ve been trying for several years now.

I have been to many great restaurants at Disney World over the last decade or so. Some of my favorites have been The Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Alfredo’s Ristorante located at the Italy pavilion in Epcot (now replaced by another great eatery), and Artist’s Point located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The challenge is not really picking where to eat, but getting there using Disney’s great transportation system.

If you’re looking for dinner shows, I’ve been to several of these as well and some are more geared to families rather than individuals or couples. The Hoop-Dee-Do Musical Review and Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Show are two of my favorites. Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is a fun event at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground Resort, but is definitely more geared towards those with little kids.

It’s always fun to plan a trip to Walt Disney World and knowing that the day will end with a great dinner at one of the many wonderful restaurants or shows just adds to the magic.

Four years ago, Disney revamped it’s photography service in the parks. They migrated to a more user friendly system called Photopass which allows the photographers in all the parks to take your pictures in all the great spots and then they get automatically uploaded to a dedicated account tied to a Photopass card.

This service allows you to take advantage of the Disney Photographers and not have to run back at a certain time at the main gate like in years past. Instead, you can now at your leisure log into the Photopass website and pick and choose the photos you wish to buy, make your own souvenirs, and upload your own photos to the account and share them with others.

The last interesting thing about this service is that Disney allows you to actually purchase the photos taken in digital format rather than just prints or projects. For a small fee, you may download individual shots or pay for a photoCD of all the pictures at a reasonable flat fee.

One thing to remember is that any pictures taken or uploaded to the Disney Photopass website are only available for 60 days or so after your vacation is completed. So, make sure to view your photos and make any purchases within that time period.

Your Photopass card does not expire after your trip is complete. Once your card is registered on the website, keep that card in a safe place and use it the next time you visit Walt Disney World.

One of my favorite methods of transportation at Walt Disney World is the Monorail system. This system first debuted in Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1959 as an addition to Tomorrowland. There is served more as a ride at first and then extended to the Disneyland Hotel where it became a form of transportation.

The monorail service was something which Walt Disney was very proud of and was one of the very first forms of environment friendly transportation. Aside from it’s eco-friendly attributes, each monorail can move approximately 300 or so guests at a time around the loop.

When Walt Disney World was opened in 1971, the concept pioneered in Disneyland as a transportation method was carried to the Florida project on a much larger scale. The monorail was designed to have two loops, one which serves as an express from the parking lot located across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. (Many people ask why this was done and there are reasons which could be a future article.) The second beam serves as a local monorail serving the three Magic Kingdom resorts: The Contemporary Resort, The Polynesian Resort, and The Grand Floridian.

Of all the various forms of transportation available at the Walt Disney World Resort, the monorail has the fastest turnaround time. Trains arrive within no more than 10 minutes of each other and most of the time is is less than five as multiple trains are running on each beam.

When Epcot Center was opened in 1982, the monorail was extended an additional three (3) miles from the new Transporation and Ticket Center (TTC) to the Epcot front gate. On this segment of the monorail, speeds of up to 40 MPH are achieved allowing the trip to take 10 minutes from one stop to another.

All together, the Walt Disney World Monorail System is comprised of 13.6 miles of track with 12 monorails. Each train can transport up to 365 passengers. The original model was the Mark IV a direct cousin to the Mark III which was running in Disneyland. In 1990 and completed in 1991, all trains were replaced with the Mark VI model which allows for more passengers and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Monorails run from approximately 7:30 in the morning till 1AM or after the last park has closed for the night. Epcot and the Magic Kingdom have service via Monorail. Each beam (there are three in total) have 4 trains running at all times. So that is a total capacity of 1200 people moving around at a time on a beam. All three beams moving a capacity of 3600 passengers around the property at a time.

Of all the transportation methods offered at Disney World, I have always favored the Monorail. The monorail is the most environmentally friendly method on property and the most effective at the end of the day when the parks close. Each train can transport in and out of the parks over 300 people per train at an interval of every five minutes. Compared to the bus system which can move 50+ people at a time, the monorail can move 6 times that amount making wait times shorter especially when traveling with tired children. Not to mention, children just love riding the Monorail system.

Visiting Disney World as a young adult either single or with a significant other is a unique time in your life. You’re not a legitimate child any longer but not yet a parent with children in tow. You’re able to see things and do things in a unique manner that is only once in a lifetime.

The choices one has available to them is also great. From lodging to the hours you can spend in the parks, you’re not bound by anyone. You can spend a lot or very little on accommodations and food, hit all the parks with their thrill rides at whatever time of the day you choose, and best of all there is no curfew. The only limitation is your imagination and maybe those traveling with you. Just be respectful of others as Disney World is a family resort.

If you’re traveling with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the intent is probably to spend a little time together. This is probably the best place to get to know each other and be as close to kids together as you can be. You also have the ability to do your own thing as well. You may want to go fishing while she wants to shop or go for a spa treatment. That’s all good too. Remember, you’re on vacation to enjoy.

So, whether you’re going to Disney as a single traveler, with a group, or with that special someone, the best time to enjoy the magic is when you’re young and don’t have to worry about much. This kind of break won’t come for another couple of years. See the World in a different sense without parents and not being parents.

Traveling to Disney World can be lots of fun, but it can also get very hot and humid! Knowing how to survive these hot days is key. With a little thought (and some good ole common sense) you’ll be able to have an enjoyable time at Disney World while beating the heat.

The very first thing that should be mentioned is that staying hydrated is critical. With humidity high in the Orlando area, especially during the summer months, you will perspire (sweat). So, in order to keep you body fluids at proper levels and prevent dehydration, keep the water coming. The one thing that Disney has lots of is drinking fountains. Take advantage of them. Feel free to bring along a water bottle and fill it up every now and then. Or, if you have the ability, stock up on bottled water at one of the many stores outside the park and bring chilled bottles with you each day. Just make sure there is enough packed for everyone in your family or group. Hint: You can get free ice water at any of the quick service restaurants. Just ask for it.

The other part that will help get you through the hot days of Florida is in what you wear. It is advisable to wear comfortable and light clothing. Cotton items are best. Try to stray away from tight fitting clothing as it only makes you feel warmer. The only exception to this may be moister wicking athletic wear which helps eliminate sweat and is usually comfortable at the same time.

One problem which can surface is chafing between the thighs from walking.  There are a few solutions so that this problem doesn’t ruin your day in the parks and here are a few:

• Wear shorts that will shield your legs so that the skin doesn’t rub.
• Wear an undergarment that will protect your legs.
• Carry antiperspirant with you in your bag and apply it every so often to the insides of your legs.

Protect your exposed skin. Florida has strong sun and it can cause burning quickly depending on your skin type. So, bring the sunscreen, cover your shoulders, and put a hat on your head. All three of these will keep the sun at bay unless for some strange reason you and then sun are best friends.

Many of the parks now have fountains designed for children to play in. Epcot has two or three, Downtown Disney has one at the Marketplace, and many more ideas can arise. As playing in the fountains can be spontaneous for little ones, being prepared is key. Consider packing a change of clothes  so they are not uncomfortable the rest of the day or dress them daily in swim attire.

The best way probably to beat the Florida heat and humidity is to just avoid it when possible. Take a break during the middle of the day and go back to the resort for lunch, a nap or even a dip in the pool. Then, return to your park of choice for the cooler part of the day just before dinner and then use the time in the evening to finish up.

Florida wouldn’t be Florida without the sun, so enjoy it responsibly.

One of the best ways to get around Disney World is using their complimentary bus service from the resorts to the theme parks. Buses to all the theme parks leave each resort every 20-30 minutes. They start an hour or so before park opening and continue service until the parks have been cleared at the end of the day.   The greatest reason to utilize this service is to avoid having to rent a car and drive while at Disney. The buses stop right at the entrance to every park dropping you right at the heart of the action rather than having to remember where your car is parked and walking the gigantic parking lots.

Another reason why the bus system is a good choice is parking. Some parks have smaller lots, like the water parks, which fill up quickly. Taking the bus allows you quick access to the park so that you don’t end up walking miles from remote parking areas.

One consideration when using the buses is resort hopping. In order to go from one resort to another, you will have to take a bus from your home resort to a “hub” which is generlly any of the parks or Downtown Disney. There you can change buses to continue onto another resort. If you are planning on visiting other resorts, factor in the extra transit time which is usually about an hour to hour and a half.

Using the bus system is great if you’re new to Disney. It is all part of the fun and the experience of seeing Walt Disney World.

One of the most fun things (yet costly) was joining the Disney Vacation Club back in 2004. Just shortly afterward, I began thinking that there ought to be a way to easily store personal items used only in Disney. Well, that idea finally showed up in 2007 with the introduction of Owner’s Locker. Owner’s Locker is a door-to-door storage service which delivers, upon your arrival, your very own personal storage container(s) which you fill up with all those items that you wish to leave in the Orlando area. When you depart, the container is picked up by Owner’s Locker and stored in their climate controlled warehouse until the next time.

I found this service while scouring web sites with Disney tips. When I saw it, I recall saying, “Hallelujah!” When I went to the web site to look it up and get some information, I saw that they offered a year’s trial. So, I tried it and now I am hooked and have graduated to a  SECOND locker. I keep kitchen, bath, and other critical items in the primary locker. With the restrictions that have been imposed lately by the airlines, having the locker there with all my stuff makes coming back and forth very easy.

If going to Disney World and the surrounding attractions is at least a once a year trip, I would highly recommend checking it out and giving it a shot. If you need anything or have a question about the lockers, feel free to post a question on the forum or call Owner’s Locker directly. The phone is answered by the owners. (Can you imagine that?!)

If you are driving to Disney World or renting a car for any part of your trip, your resort stay includes a parking permit. This permit allows you to use your car to visit the parks and other attractions and not have to pay the daily lot fees.

When checking in at a Disney World Resort, the cast member will ask if you have your own car. If you acknowledge the fact that you do, you will receive a parking pass valid from the date of check-in until the day of departure. This pass should then be placed on the dashboard of your car on the driver’s side for the length of your stay. This will identification will do several things. First, it will identify you as a resort guest at any of the theme parks when you go through the gate. The cast members in yellow uniforms will see the pass and wave you on. Secondly, the pass acts as identification to security when you enter in and out of a Disney resort. They will still require you to show some form of identification that you are you either by your resort key or driver’s license. Thirdly, the pass will prove to security at the resort that you are a valid guest at that resort during the night.

So, for those who have to have their car with them, get your parking pass and have fun at Disney World!

Every resort at Disney now offers quick or counter service dining. One of the options when checking out is purchasing a souvenir mug for your stay. The benefit of these mugs is that you may refill them with coffee, soda or whatever beverage you wish that is available at the counter service restaurants. The mugs cost approximately $13.00 and generally break even in value if they are used several times a day for the length of your stay at the resort. The resort mugs can only be used at the resort in which you are staying.

The mugs work well if you’re dining options are going to include eating at quick serve restaurants during your stay. You will save big money over the course of your stay as you will not have to pay for daily coffee, milk, or whatever your choice of beverage is. If you’re at Disney World and using the quick service or Deluxe Dining plans, the mug is included in the price.

The fun part is at the end of your stay. The mug comes a souvenir of your stay at the resort and goes home with you. There are many uses for these mugs at home. Just use your imagination.