Were you waiting for Disney to announce Free Dining for 2015? Well, wait no more! Disney has announced the details for their latest Free Dining promotion, and you won’t want to miss this great deal! MickeyTravels, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and nationally recognized leader in Disney travel can get you a FREE quote and book your magical vacation for you. All our services are 100% FREE!
Package Offer Details:
Get a FREE Dining Plan
When you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and tickets with Park Hopper® or Water Park Fun & More Option.
For arrivals most nights August 28-October 2, 2015; October 25-October 31, 2015; November 8-November 19, 2015 and December 15-December 21, 2015.
Book between April 27 and July 10, 2015
When you stay at a select Disney Moderate Resort, Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, you get the Disney Dining Plan with a variety of delicious dining options! When you stay at a select Disney Value Resort, you get the Quick-Service Dining Plan that allows you to grab yummy treats on the go!
Disclaimer:
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package. Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes 3-bedroom villas, campsites and is not valid at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms.
Full list of offer exclusions: The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Standard View Rooms, campsites and 3-bedroom villas
September Exclusions: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Q1 Targeted Weeks Exclusions: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
In order to receive the Free Dining Plan, consumers must add the Park Hopper OR Water Park Fun & More Option to their theme park tickets.
One of my all-time favorite things to take in at Walt Disney World is Wishes Nighttime Spectacular. A magical firework show above Cinderella Castle, it is a must see on each trip. Unfortunately, thousands of people agree with me….Which can make for big crowds. I am not a fan of crowds.
So how is a crowd-hating Disney-lover supposed to enjoy one of her favorite things when it consistently draws tons of people? I think I may have found the perfect solution: The Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party.
So what is this exactly? Well it is a party where you can watch Wishes from under the canopy at Tomorrowland Terrance with a limited amount of other guests (the seating area can hold 50 people). But wait, I haven’t told you the best part yet! There is a buffet of desserts at your disposal throughout the evening! According to Disney’s website it currently costs $14.99 per adult and you cannot use Disney Dining Plan meal credits to pay for this experience.
Because seating is so limited at the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert party, advanced reservations are highly recommend, although walk ups are permitted if space is available.
Seating opens and hour before Wishes begins. The night we attended we were running more than 15 minutes late, but they had kept our table open for us, and we were seated after waiting in a short line (with other parties that were late!).
As soon as we sat down a Cast Member came to our table to direct us to the buffet.
Our mistake was that we had finished dinner less than an hour prior to the dessert party. So we were full! Luckily the desserts were small so we were able to take some small tastes and I enjoyed a cup of coffee to keep me awake after all the food I had consumed that day!
There was an assortment of baked goods and my favorites were the peanut butter chocolate tart, mango shooter (a little mango juice mixture in a shot glass), crème brulee and a cannoli. But there were at least a dozen items to choose from. The buffet stayed open all evening, with the Cast Member coming around to let us know it was last call about 15 minutes after the Wishes finale.
We were lucky to be seated on the edge of the pavilion nearest the castle. There was still a good amount of space between the table and the rail. The Cast Member let us know that people would be standing up in that space as soon as the show started. This concerned us. While this did happen, it wasn’t overly crowded and we were easily able to find a space to stand at the rail with a perfect view.
The most magical part of the show? When Tinkerbell flew down from the castle, RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS! It was the closest I had ever been to her during Wishes and it took my breath away!
The only drawback was that there were a few kids really afraid of fireworks. They were not having fun, and some screamed. It wasn’t too bad, but I felt bad for the kids and it did take away a little from the fun. My kids weren’t with me on this trip, and I had just been thinking that I want to do party at least once every trip. But when I saw the terror some kids had, I remembered that my little guy was also afraid of fireworks. So I will wait a few years to take him so we can ALL enjoy this great party.
And as we departed there was a Disney PhotoPass photographer that was able to capture some great shots with the Castle as backdrop. The perfect end to a magical evening!
Contact MickeyTravels to learn more about the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party!
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was one of those hotels that I overlooked year after year. It seemed bland and out of the way. It has a convention center, so I assumed the place was crawling with business people who weren’t on vacation. I pictured the dining hall filled with suits and briefcases. I didn’t even want to think about work, let alone watch people networking and conducting business while I lay by the pool.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Coronado Springs is both a delightful and relaxing moderate resort.
The Location:
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is considered an Animal Kingdom area resort, although it is just around the corner from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is also the closest resort to Blizzard Beach. It is generally quiet in and around this resort, which is refreshing. There is also direct access to Rt. 429, which will lead you to tourist free shopping and dining (there is a $1.25 toll each way, but totally worth it!).
The Rooms
The rooms in Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort are spacious and clean. They’ve recently changed the decor to capture the earth tones seen around the resort. The beds are super comfy too! There are lots of options in terms of bed size, accessibility, and view. Beds range from Standard with 2 Queen beds to Executive Suite with 2 Queen beds and 1 King (bar, dining room, living room, separate bedrooms…the works!). You can even stay in a wheelchair accessible room complete with roll-in shower. All rooms come with FREE WiFi and a small refrigerator, which are both must haves when it comes to visiting Walt Disney World! Privacy is always important when you’re staying in a hotel. We have never had an issue of hearing noise from the abutting rooms, which is nice.
The Food
The Pepper Market has gone through several changes over the years. It used to house several stations of overpriced Mexican dishes (Think $14 for a tortilla, 4 tiny chunks of chicken and cheese). You would order your food at the station(s) of your choice, eat, then pay upon exit. We were less than thrilled with our experience and vowed never to eat there again. We weren’t alone. Disney heard the cries of their displeased guests and overhauled the Pepper Market. In 2011, they introduced the always popular buffet and never ending burrito bar. A fan favorite, but short-lived. Disney has now unveiled their A la Carte menu, which features standard staples and omelet options for breakfast and nachos, burritos, fajitas, salads, pasta, and burgers for lunch and dinner. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, the Pepper Market counts as a Quick Service location. Pepper Market hours: Breakfast 7am-11am Lunch 11:30am-2pm Dinner 4:30pm-11pm.
The Mayan Grill is a great Dining Plan option (not Quick Service) during your stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. According to WDW, you’ll find ”such steakhouse selections as ribeye steak atop parmesan potatoes, breaded pork chops with mango chutney, sautéed beef tips, chicken breast with avocado salsa and slow-roasted prime rib. Children can delight in pan-seared salmon, beef tenderloin tips, chicken parmesan and more”.
Cafe Rix is a grab-and-go option. There are breakfast sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and even beer and wine. Breakfast is served until 11am and Lunch and Dinner until midnight. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you may use a Quick Service meal here!
The Fun
For Romance: Visit the Laguna Bar (lakeside) or Siestas Cantina (poolside) for adult beverages and appetizers. There are hammocks surrounding the lake, so kick back, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet! A stroll around the resort at dusk, will not only make room for a romantic dinner, it will give you and your family time to catch up on the day’s events! What’s a romantic night without fireworks? You can catch a glimpse of the fireworks from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you look just above the trees, you may be able to see them from certain areas of the resort. You may also be able to see them from just outside your room depending on how high up you are.
For Kids: Nothing beats the Dig Site, a large complex featuring Mayan ruins, a huge pool, water slide, and the largest hot tub on Disney property. There are always events going on around the pool. Kids can also visit the Iguana Arcade! Folks may want to take advantage of the recreational rentals within the resort. You can kayak, fish, pedal boat, bike, and play volleyball too! Enjoy a nice campfire complete with storytelling and complimentary marshmallows for roasting. There’s days worth of fun here without even having to leave your resort!
For Sunbathers: The pool options are always important to me because when you live in the Northeast, it is far too cold to swim 3/4 of the year. I want to soak up the sun and swim as much as I want. I have to admit, I like me a quiet pool! There are three quiet pools here. They are gorgeous and indeed quiet…for the most part. As I mentioned before, the Dig Site houses a humongous pool with stunning scenery and hot tubs. It can be quite busy here, so if you’re looking for fun and excitement, you’ll want to swim at the Dig Site.
Bottom line: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is our favorite moderate resorton property. It is large enough that you still feel like you’re alone most of the time. During some times of the year, you just might be! The pools are fantastic and the hammocks are mighty comfortable. It’s tempting to skip the parks and relax the day away. You might want to stay an extra day to do just that! J
Contact me for more information about Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and for ALL my FREE Disney vacation planning services!
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