Tag: Disney Dining Plan

Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe

August 27, 2014

In June, I stayed at The Wilderness Lodge for the first time and loved it! My Mom, 14 month old son and I ate breakfast each day at Whispering Canyon Cafe located in the lobby of The Wilderness Lodge. This was also my first time eating at Whispering Canyon. It always amazes me that even though I have been to Disney 30+ times and lived/worked there for 6 months, that there are still things I have not done! Well after that first breakfast, we decided to eat there each morning and really enjoyed it!

The restaurant accepts the Disney Dining Plan and will cost you 1 table service credit for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu is American with a country feel. They are known for their all you can eat family style options and the ribs are a dinner time favorite. They also have a variety of healthier options.

healthy options

The prices are a little less for breakfast and should be under $30 per person and lunch and dinner runs more like $15- $50 per person. Keep in mind that the higher prices are for the all you can eat options.

The food was delicious! Everything I ordered that week I loved! Below I have pulled my favorites from the menu on the Disney website!

Eggs Benedict

Poached Eggs on an English Muffin with Canadian Bacon and Barbecue-Hollandaise Sauce served with Western Home Fries

$11.99

Doc Willis’ Egg White Omelet

with Spinach, Goat Cheese, and Chipotle Pico served with fresh Fruit and a Biscuit

$11.99

My favorite thing about the restaurant was the servers. I had no idea there was a theme to the restaurant and the first day we noticed that the servers seemed very energetic! I don’t want to spoil the fun but if you do visit make sure to ask for ketchup! We also saw some guests get served with an extra large mug for a glass (like HUGE) and “security” getting called on another guest because of his “special order”. It was all in good fun and my son LOVED it! He especially loved “MJ” a server who would talk smack to everyone! He couldn’t get enough of her!

menu

The service was great too! They were quick and the food was hot. We felt like eating there was faster than a food court which surprised us since you were getting a table service meal.

If you are interested in learning more about a Disney vacation? My services are 100% FREE!

Make it a magical day!

Julie Hauck *o*
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
MickeyTravels, LLC
1-513-313-9531 (cell)
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Top Five Reasons You Should Attend Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival

August 26, 2014

2014 will be the 19th year of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, and each year it just gets better and better. With a record 53 festival days and over 25 global marketplaces, this is definitely a year not to miss! But if you still need a little nudge to join in the fun, here are the top five reasons why you should attend.

Disney Dining Plan

  1. The food and wine. There are over 20 countries represented in this year’s festival, along with several specialty carts to satisfy your taste buds. If you have always wanted to try international cuisine without exhausting your pocketbook or using up your airline miles, now you can with a simple walk around the world showcase. Enjoy sampling food, wine, and beer from countries such as Greece, New Zealand, Scotland, Puerto Rico, and the new Patagonia booth, just to name a few. While you must purchase these samples, the prices are very reasonable. If you are traveling on the Disney Dining Plan, you can use snack credits for most of the food samples!

 

  1. The merchandise. Every special event that Disney holds will offer specialty merchandise that you can only purchase at the events, and the Food & Wine Festival is one of the largest events with specialty merchandise. Choose from the typical hats, t-shirts, bags, pins, and Mickey Ears or you can purchase more specific items such as kitchen accessories and recipe books. But, you must attend the festival to purchase the items offered, as they will not be sold through the Disney Parks online store!

Disney Parks online store

  1. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series. This is a very popular event that is included with your park admission. Every evening at 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00, head over to the American Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion to enjoy a live concert by some of the most popular bands from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. This year’s lineup includes festival favorites such as The Pointer Sisters, Night Ranger, and Smashmouth, as well as newcomers Jo Dee Messina, Fuel, and Los Lonely Boys. You’ll have to get their early if you don’t want to miss it, or you can contact your MickeyTravels Agent and see about booking the Eat to the Beat Dining Package and be guaranteed a seat to the show, as well as lunch or dinner at your favorite Epcot restaurant. Prices will vary depending on meal time and location.

 

  1. Premium Events. While these events require a separate admission in addition to your park ticket, they are truly one of a kind, unique experiences that you will not find anywhere else. Probably the most elaborate and popular premium event would be the Party for the Senses, which is held on select nights. During this event, you can explore more than 50 tasting stations while being entertained by Cirque de Soleil performers. This event also includes reserved seating to the Eat to the Beat concert right before the party. Other premium events include specialty meals, interactive culinary experiences, and seminars with celebrity chefs. Prices for these events vary, so check with your MickeyTravels Agent for more information!

World Showcase

  1. Complimentary Events. In addition to the premium events, there are plenty of events and experiences that are included with your park admission. These include special meet and greets with celebrity chefs or culinary personalities for book signings and/or bottle signings, Back to Basics seminar, and the Ghirardelli exhibit The Chocolate Experience: From the Bean to the Bar. Don’t forget to pick up your Festival Marketplace Discovery Passport from the Festival Welcome Center, so you can see what the different countries are offering and get your passport stamped as you eat your way around the World Showcase.

 

Your MickeyTravels Agent will be very knowledgeable about the different events going on during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, including the best times to visit and how to make the most of your time during your stay.

To learn more about Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival and why YOU should experience all the magic it has to offer, contact me today! As always, my services are 100% FREE!

Top 10 must-dos at Disney World

August 20, 2014

Having grown up with Disney, I have seen so many attractions come and go in the 40 years that I have been visiting the ‘Most Magical Place on Earth’. There is one, eh, or 10 things that remain constant, that is, my top 10 must dos every trip. When clients ask what are the top MUST DO things to do, my answers are always the same.

1. Stay at a Walt Disney World resort. Not only, will it save you time, but it will, in the long run save you money after you factor in parking fees, transportation, and dining. Remember, you cannot purchase a Disney Dining Plan if you are not a Disney Resort Guest. That in itself is a HUGE savings. I have done the math……over and over again. My clients always return to say, ”I am so glad we decided to take your advice and stay on the property.”

DisneyQuest

2. Always purchase a Disney Dining Plan. Always. It will never be less expensive to pay out of pocket for the same meals. About 10 trips ago, my family decided to “just try it”. We were going to be “smart” about our meal choices. We kept all of our receipts to add up our food and drink expenses and then compare them with the cost of the meal plan. We were there on a 6 night package. I was so excited to get home to add it up and see just how much we actually saved. We quickly realized that we were’t so smart. We spent a whopping $490 more, you read that right, than we would have spent purchasing the Plus Dining Plan. ALMOST $500 MORE! Since then, I will never go to Disney any other way.

3. Choose your dates wisely. I get calls every day from clients who want to go when Disney is least crowded. Typically, Disney is most crowded when schools are out, so choose a date when the least number of schools are out, perhaps a State Holiday like Mardi Gras in Louisiana. If you choose a national holiday, the crowds will be heavier.

4. Don’t skip any of the 4 theme parks because you heard that one was not that great. I can’t tell you the number of clients who will call and tell me they want to skip Epcot because their “kids will be bored with nothing to do in the countries”. I am here to tell you that if you give it a chance, all 4 theme parks have something for everyone. One of our favorite rides is Maelstrom in Epcot’s Norway Pavilion. Don’t miss it.

5. Don’t miss the classics. Dumbo, Pirates, The Jungle Cruise, Splash, Space and Big Thunder Mountains, It’s a Small World, Carousel of Progress all at Magic Kingdom. ALL CLASSICS! They are part of the history of Disney World. Put them at the top of your list.

Top 10 must-dos at Disney World

6. Date night! Mom and Dad deserve some grown-up fun! Have your travel agent make reservations at one of the children’s activity centers or in-room childcare. The children will have a fabulous time making crafts, playing games and watching movies at one of 5 centers at Walt Disney World while mom and dad partake in the adult festivities that Disney has to offer such as a romantic dinner at California Grill on the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort as you look through the window and watch Wishes Fireworks over the castle as you dine. Want something more casual? How about drinks around Epcot’s World Showcase with a stop in your favorite country for dinner followed by Epcot’s Illuminations Dessert Party. The possibilities are endless.

7. Dine with the characters. If you have little ones who want to meet the characters, this is the way to go. Sure, you could stand in line at the parks, but if you dine where the characters are, you can meet 4-5 characters with no line. Characters will come right up to your table during your meal. They will sign autographs, pose for photos and spend a little personal time with your family. The best part……character meals are included on the Disney Dining Plan.

savings

8. Weigh your ticket options. Base, Park Hopper, Water Park Fun and More…..choices….choices…..choices. If you truly plan on enjoying just one park per day, knowing that some parks close at dusk, as well as following a strict itinerary regarding dining venues, then base tickets are for you. If a more flexible schedule with the ability to hop from park to park in the same day, then consider adding the Park Hopper option to your tickets. If water parks and DisneyQuest are in your plans, then you will want to add the Water Parks, Fun and More option, as well.

9. Do not miss the opening and closing at Magic Kingdom. Even if you have to go back to your resort for a mid-day nap, get to Magic Kingdom before it opens. Stand in the crowd at rope drop. This is truly an indescribable magical moment that so many people miss. Likewise, there is absolutely nothing like being at Tomorrowland Terrace or Fantasyland watching Wishes overhead. If you are lucky, Tinkerbell will fly right over you!

10. Do have a game plan before you even leave. I make itinerary for all of my clients so that they do not get overwhelmed and know exactly which parks they are going to and where they are dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, everyday of their stay. The biggest mistake guests make is showing up without a plan and most of their day is wasted running back and forth to different attractions. If you have a good travel agent, a good game plan, and utilize My Disney Experience for fastpass reservations with the help of an experienced agent, you are sure to experience the most in the shortest amount of time, saving you time and money.

For more information on all the MUST Dos at Disney World please feel free to contact us for a free quote! All of ourDisney planning services are 100% FREE!

Making Magic One Vacation at a Time…



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