Disney Character Dining Tips

I have so many Disney posts in the works, from our last trip this past Christmas. 

I keep putting off sorting through them, but here is a sample!

We have enjoyed planing out character dining experiences the past several times we have done a Disney trip. They are pricey, yet I highly recommend them! You'll remember, I am not big on overdoing the days at a theme park, see Disney on a Dime Part 1 and Part 2. We've enjoyed staying a couple days at the Disney All Star Movies resort and the Art of Animation Resort. We have only ever done one day at a time in the theme parks (one day is very tiring with small kids!). Instead of doing multiple days at a park, we leave plenty of down time to enjoy the resort and schedule at least one character dining experience at another resort or in the park.

Why We Love Character Dining

1. You are guaranteed to see the characters that you want, up close and personal with no lines or waiting.
2. It is fun! The characters do a great job at interacting, are personable and sensitive to kids that may be scared or unsure.
3. When planing out a character dining time while in the park, it has always worked out for us to be a nice break during the long day. We've taken cover during rain, warmed up when it has been cold, and enjoyed the down time.
4. It takes off the pressure to see characters while in the park. If lines are long and the park is crowded while you're there, you may not get a chance to meet any characters. You may just decide to use your time waiting in lines for particular rides rather than to see a character.
5. The food is always a good selection and there is always a great child-friendly section.

Character Dining Tips

1. Make reservations way in advance! Disney allows up to 180 days in advance for resort guests.
• For large groups: Call on the morning of your 180 days out! This past time we went to Disney World, we went with our extended family and there were 20 of us in all. We called to schedule our dining experiences on the very first day possible (180 days in advance) and still did not get in to all the places we wanted.
2. Pick a restaurant based on what characters you want to see. Be sure to ask up front what characters will be present. Not all characters are guaranteed at all restaurants. Certain places have a random selection of characters. However, places like 1900 Park Fare or the Crystal Palace will always have the same ones each time.
3. Arrive early and check in. Just because you have a reservation, does not mean you wont have a wait time. Disney actually recommends you arrive 1/2 hour early. 
• For large groups: Be sure to make special seating requests clear. We had 10 adults and 10 kids for our family reunion trip and being all together was important to us. We thought that having a reservation guaranteed we'd be seated together. This is not always the case! Most restaurants were very accommodating, and the friendly staff did what they could. However, many of the restaurants are just not set up to fit that large of a table all together. At Chef Mickey's for example, we were at 3 small separate tables, but grouped together. At 1900 Park Fare we crammed into one large table, but it was tight (and took some persuading)! 
4. If the restaurant offers a photo, get in line right away! You may not want to purchase the photo, but if you change your mind afterwards you will have to wait. We made this mistake once. What they want you to do is get in line right away and get your picture taken, then they seat you almost immediately after. The photo is printed and brought to your table to purchase. If you wait till after your meal, you will have to wait around for the picture.
5. Have cameras and autographs books ready! There were times we had literally just sat down before a character showed up and it was a whirl wind of excitement and activity. Be ready! You are guaranteed to see the characters pass through at least once. If you are there long enough they may pass through a second time before you leave. Staff will request that you have your books open and ready to go.
6. Prepare your kids. Kids will either be excited, shocked and awed or terrified! The characters are really good about evaluating and acting accordingly. Try to prepare your kids for what they will see.
7. Be respectful of everyone around you. Being a large group, we were very aware of the fact that we could easily dominate the time the characters were in our area of the room. Remember that you will be given plenty of time to see each character, they come to each table individually, but they do have a schedule to stick to so that everyone else has fair time. 
• On the other side of this: it was very annoying when it came our time to get pictures and autographs but kids from other tables were running up and jumping into the mix. Don't be that family! Explain to your kids that you must take turns and share the characters with the other kids and their families.
8. Take lots of pictures!
9. Have fun and interact with the characters. They are so much fun to joke around with, especially the evil step sisters and stepmother at 1900 Park Fare. They were actually our favorite part! Goofy is also fun to goof around with even though he cannot talk.

Start Here: Disney's Official Site for Character Dining Options

Check out our other Disney tips and ideas Here!!

50 Disney Tips You Must Read!

Resort Tips:

1. There are laundry machines at the Disney resorts. Disney sells laundry detergent for a $1 per single load box. Don’t forget to bring plenty of quarters (a mini M&M tube is a great container for holding quarters). It costs $2 per load to wash and $2 per load to dry.
2. If you are interested, there are 30 minute private photo sessions available at several of the resorts. You can make reservations up to 30 days in advance.
3. Bring lots of singles with you for tipping. Everyone who touches your luggage will expect a tip. Plan on about $1 - $2 per bag.
4. Utilize Disney Hotel Baggage Handling - Drop off your bags if your room isn't ready, and head for the parks! Likewise, on your last day, check out and leave the bags for later. Be sure to pack a small bag with clothes to change into upon arrival (include your bathing suits) so that you don't need to open all the suitcases.
5. When you check in make sure you ask for early housekeeping. If you are early risers, this will ensure that if you return for an afternoon rest your room will be clean.
6. Phones - If you need to make a call to anyone off of Disney property, do not use your resort phone! You may end up with a huge charge on your bill. They will charge you $0.75 for every local call and toll-free call you make, so you can just imagine the charge for long distance.
7. Open all the drawers in your room. There are sometimes free postcards and stationery there for you.
8. Make sure you call and set up your morning “Wake up Call” and you will get a nice surprise. Be sure to answer using the speakerphone.
9. Go to the free campfire program sing-along and movie at Fort Wilderness (there is a charge for refreshments). Usually begins around 7 p.m. in fall/winter and 8 p.m. after the time change in April through summer
10. Enjoy a character meal or special dining at one of the deluxe resorts
11. Explore some of the resorts – each resort has a different theme
12. Many resorts have outdoor movie nights which are free
13. Resort Mugs - Purchase a Resort mug at your hotel and receive free refills at your Resort for soda, coffee, etc. The Dining Plans already include a Resort Mug for everyone age 3 or older.
14. Please allow plenty of time for traveling either between parks or other resorts. If you are traveling from one park to another for a dining arrangement, please depart that park at least 1 hour before your seating time.
15. When using the Walt Disney transportation system (mainly the buses from the resorts to the parks) please make sure that you catch the right bus. Ask the driver where he/she is going if you aren’t sure. Finally, during busy seasons, try to get to the bus before the park closes...jockeying for a seat with 100 other tired, sunburned guests can be a nightmare...this is especially true if you have small kids. Leave the park early and it is much smoother.
16. If you are on the dining plan and have snack credits left, go into the candy stores or your hotel gift shop and buy some snacks for the trip home.
17. All hotels say their check out time is 11am. This can actually be extended until 1pm, by prior arrangement, at no additional charge, to accommodate your flight schedules.

Theme Park Tips:

1. If you have small children who are afraid of the automatic flushing toilets, take some small Post-It notes and stick one over the sensor prior to your child sitting down. Be sure to remove it when they are finished.
2. If you have small children, carry a complete change of clothing in a zip-lock bag. Then, if their clothes get wet or they have an accident, you can change them, store the wet clothes in the ziplock bag, and be on your way!
3. Children may pin trade with any of the cast members, but the cast members with the green lanyards will only trade with children.
4. Get to the parks early!! The parks are the least crowded then, enabling you to see more things. There is a welcome show at opening time for most parks.
5. Extra Magic Hours (for those staying at a Disney resort) in the evenings are great, low crowds and a different view of the Parks at night. Extra Magic Hours in the mornings are usually worth it only if you are willing to switch parks later. Most people come and stay, and that park becomes the busiest of the four.
6. Each Park has an Attraction Board, which lists the wait times for individual attractions and show times. A cast member is stationed at the board and can provide you with directions as well. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the board is located at the right corner of Hollywood and Sunset Blvds. In the Magic Kingdom, the board is located at the far (castle) end of Main Street on the left just before the hub as you head toward the castle. In Epcot, the electronic board is just outside Innoventions West. In Animal Kingdom it’s on the right as you come out of the Oasis.
7. FASTPASS ending times are now strictly enforced. You will not be granted admission to a ride if you are outside of you return time window.
8. Rider Switch will allow older children to ride twice. For example, in a family with two adults and two children, one adult can stay off the ride with the non-riding child, while the other adult and child rides. When the second adult goes to ride, they can take the riding child back for a second trip with them!
9. For shows like PhilHarmagic and Little Mermaid, don’t be the first ones in the door to the theater. The guests first in the door are supposed to (key words - supposed to) go all the way to the other end of the theater to get their seats. For a better view from the middle of the theater, let a few people go in before you.
10. Take a refillable water bottle with you into the parks. It will save you a lot on bottled water. Some people do not like the taste of Disney water when it comes out of the water fountains, so you may want to bring flavor packets to mix into your water bottle. Freeze them the night before for a refreshing drink.
11. You can also get free cups of ice water from restaurants. Just ask!
12. You should place all open packages of food in a zip-lock bag when leaving your stroller parked. There are squirrels that like to “stroller hop” and will take food out of strollers.
13. Be sure to bring a fat pen for character autographs – they are easier for the characters to use. To find out where any character is or will be appearing, just ask a cast member. They can find out.
14. If you are staying on Disney property, any purchases you make in the parks can be sent back to your resort gift shop free of charge. You can also have them sent home for a fee. If sending them back to your resort, keep in mind that they will arrive the next day. You will not want to send them back to your resort if you are leaving the next day. You can even have the photos taken on rides delivered to your resort.
15. Carry everyone’s room keys (even children’s) with you to the parks (even if they do not have the park tickets on them). They will check for everyone’s room key for the evening Extra Magic Hours.
16. There are Hidden Mickeys all over the Walt Disney World Resort – even in the resort rooms! These are fun to hunt for and can even help pass the time when waiting in line for an attraction. There is a book called Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets, by Steven M. Barrett, that gives clues on where to find many of the Hidden Mickeys, and is sold at the Walt Disney World Resort and in local book stores.
17. If you taste a dish that you really enjoy when dining at Walt Disney World’s table service restaurants, ask and they will usually give you the recipe.
18. Eat at off times. If the parks are crowded, the lunch and dinner hour lines can get really long. Try to eat early or late to save yourself some time.
19. The lines to a lot of rides get shorter around one hour before a parade as people start lining up for the parades. If you have already seen the parade (or don't care to see it), this is a good time to ride the most popular attractions.
20. Bring ear plugs for sensitive ears. Shows such as Lights, Motors, Action!, Fantasmic!, IllumiNations, and Wishes can be very loud. If you forget to bring earplugs, they are available at First Aid.
21. The Electric Water Pageant passes by the Magic Kingdom area resorts each night. You may go see it even if you are not staying in one of these resorts. Just ask the resort concierge desk what time the Electric Water Pageant should pass by that evening.
22. Rest! When the parks are crowded or you’re tired and grouchy, take a break!! Go swim. Go nap. Go shopping at Downtown Disney. You cannot possibly see it all so don’t exhaust yourselves trying. A Disney World vacation is just that, a vacation!! Go at your own pace.
23. Wal-Mart sells "Emergency Ponchos" for around $0.99 each with hoods. Rain ponchos are more expensive in the parks, but they are found in resorts and theme parks. If you don’t see them, ask. They are often below the cash register.
24. Walking Shoes - Wear shoes that are broken in very well. You will do more walking then you ever dreamed.
25. Take the essentials out of your wallet or purse before you leave home. (cash, travelers' checks, checkbook, debit card, credit card(s)). Put them somewhere safe, and leave the rest behind.
26. There are Disney photographers stationed all over the parks to take pictures of you. They will scan your MagicBand whenever you have your picture made and you can view them all online when you get home, or view them at PhotoPass stands in the parks. If you think you might like to purchase several pictures, the best deal is a CD with all of your photos. You can share the same photos with multiple families in your party. Just enter all the card numbers into the same account on disneyphotopass.com. The CD is $169.95, but if you preorder it, you can get it for $119.95. Here's the link to preorder: http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx. There is also a PhotoPass + option which will include select ride pictures and dinner pictures. It’s $199.95, but if you preorder, it’s only $169.95. You can preorder it here, and you must preorder PhotoPass + at least 14 days before you leave. http://www.disneyphotopass.com/wdwphotopassplus.aspx
27. If you are celebrating a special event (birthday, anniversary, or first time to Walt Disney World), stop by guest services for a free button that announces your special event. These buttons may also be available at the front desk of your resort.
28. If you arrive later in the day and do not wish to use one of the days on your park ticket, there are many things to do such as:
29. Visit Downtown Disney
30. Watch the Electrical Water Pageant on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake (usually begins around 9 p.m. at the Polynesian Resort)
31. If at any point before you have used the final day of your ticket, you decide you need another day on your ticket, it’s very inexpensive to add another day. You can go to any ticket window and add park hoppers, water parks, or more days.
32. Reminder – if you have not purchased the No Expiration option, your tickets will expire 14 days after the first use.
33. Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, IllumiNations, and Fantasmic!…These are must see shows! Please make sure that you take the time to see it during your stay. Tip… The second showing (if they are having one) will be less crowded than the first showing. Make sure you find a viewing location early!

*This was a great collection of tips passed on to us during our first experience working with a Disney travel agent! I highly recommend it! We used Heather at http://kingdomkonsultants.com/ she was extremely helpful and offered so many great tips. I'll be posting more about our experience with her later :)

Maui Mondays: Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees

We had our Road to Hana CD in the car telling us things we should keep our eyes out for based on the mile markers. She talked about The Rainbow Forest. Of course we had no idea what she was talking about. All of the sudden, we rounded a corner and saw these beautiful trees on the right hand side of the road just across from a cow pasture. They were spectacular. Pictures cannot do them justice, but we will try. I felt like I just stepped into Alice and Wonderland's World, and I had no interest in leaving! The bark was incredible. Annually the outer bark layer sheds to reveal the green layer, but over the course of the year under the sun's influence it changes colors from blue to purple to orange or maroon. We asked the locals what the wood was used for, but it's so hard that it really is not desirable.  Sit back and take a tour of these amazing trees. -Julia

Check out our other Maui Monday posts here: 

MAUI MONDAYS

Maui Mondays: Haleakala National Park Bamboo Forest

Remember back in August when Julia and I went to Hawaii?? Well, we took a LOT of pictures. In an attempt not to overload you with the beauty of Hawaii, I've tried breaking them up into small doses. We'll be doing a series called Maui Mondays, every Monday until I run out of pictures to share!

Consider this a taste of the tropics as the

weather is getting cold and turning dreary.  

One of the things at the top of my MUST  SEE list, was the bamboo forest. I searched Pinterest and discovered the location you will see below. I fell in love. I had to walk the trail through this magical looking place. We woke up very early one morning and left our condo on Kaanapali beach to travel the "road to Hana." Our last stop for the day was Haleakala National Park. We paid a small fee to park, then parted ways with Julia and Nick. They decided to try snorkeling and swimming in the "Seven Sacred Pools" also located at the National Park. 

The Park features the amazing, 400 feet tall Waimoku Falls. The falls are a 2 mile hike from the visitor center. We made it half way there, and turned around when we hit the bamboo forest. The hike is over rough terrain, but the path is very well cleared out. Meaning, there is definitely a defined path, but you will be walking up hill over rough stones and LOTS of tree roots. This was also the only place on the entire island that we got bit by mosquitoes! The only reason we did not continue to the falls, was because the 1 mile hike to the bamboo forest was very exhausting,  it was getting late and a storm was rolling in. We decided we'd like to survive to return home to our children and that we'd rather not get stranded out there overnight. 

This was by far one of the highlights of the trip for us both. Walking through those towering bamboo is such a beautiful, eerie feeling. It was also so unique to anything we had ever seen in person. It was also fun to push ourselves and do something physically challenging. We were hot and exhausted when we got back, but we felt like we'd accomplished something amazing! 

We did not go all the way to the top for the biggest falls, but smaller falls like these can be seen going all the way down the side of the mountain. At the bottom, where Nick and Julia went, are the seven sacred pools. This is a fun but dangerous place to swim, as people have been swept over the falls and into the ocean!

Check out our other Maui Monday posts here: MAUI MONDAYS