It’s that time of year again! Disney will be starting their search for the 2018 Disney Parks Moms Panel on September 6.
Tag Archives: Disney Planning
Planning for Disney World: Why Lists are Helpful
It doesn’t matter how many times you have been to Disney World, it’s huge. Trying to fit in everything you want to do can be difficult, no matter how long your trip is. That’s why I always tell people to make a list.
Planning for Disney World: Why Lists are Helpful
It doesn’t matter how many times you have been to Disney World, it’s huge. Trying to fit in everything you want to do can be difficult, no matter how long your trip is. That’s why I always tell people to make a list.
My Disney Diary: Planning for One Day on Property
Planning a Disney World vacation can be very intense, depending on what you want to do. Some people like to plan (me) and others like to go with the flow. If you are only spending one full day on property I think planning is pretty important.
Your FastPass Guide
When FastPass time comes around it can be a little intimidating, because you are trying to get the FastPass times you want. However, there are thousands of other people trying to get their ride picks and times as well. So it’s good to know what you want before FastPass time rolls around.
My Disney Diary: Planning During the Month Before the Trip
So you have your dining reservations, your FastPasses, completed online check-in, and you have everything laid out so you know where you are supposed to be and when. Now what?
Quick Service Options: Hollywood Studios
Sometimes you just want to grab a quick bite to eat while you are in the parks. So, in this series we’ll explore quick service options in the parks.
Hollywood Studios doesn’t have as many quick service restaurants to choose from as Magic Kingdom and Epcot do, but it still has a decent amount for the size of the park. It’s good to know what is available in case you need to find something quick. Especially if it’s during a busy season, because it can get crazy and hectic. So, the last thing you want to do is try to figure out where to eat when you get hungry.
Here is a breakdown of all the quick service places in Hollywood separated by their location in park, starting with Hollywood Blvd. and going clockwise around the park.
Hollywood Blvd.
- The Trolley Car Cafe– Here you will be able to pick up a Frappuccino (they have a good Frappuccino variety), a smoothies, espresso, Starbucks Refreshers, Teavana Iced Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and more. They also have special seasonal drinks. Open from park open to around park close.
Echo Lake
- Backlot Express– A good place to find burgers, hot dogs (including chili dogs), salads, sandwiches, chicken nuggets, desserts, and a selection of drinks (including alcoholic drinks). They also have kids’ meals. Open for lunch and dinner.
- Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner– Head over to the “boat” and grab a turkey leg, a foot-long chili cheese dog, salad, soup, pulled pork mac and cheese, chocolate shake, or one of the many beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Open for lunch and dinner.
- Oasis Canteen – Looking for something sweet? Find funnel cakes with different toppings, waffle cones, floats, and fountain drinks here. They also have bottled water and beer. Open from late morning until around park close.
Commissary Lane
- ABC Commissary– Find burgers, salads, steak, sandwiches, seafood, desserts, kids’ meals, and a selections of drinks here (alcoholic drinks available too). Kosher entrees, desserts and kids’ meals are also available at this location. Open for lunch and dinner.
Streets of America
- High Octane Refreshments– This is a lounge where you can stop in for a cocktail, beer, wine, or a non-alcoholic drink. Open from early afternoon until the evening.
- Pizza Planet– Check out this Toy Story themed quick service location for personal pizzas, desserts, and a selection of beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). They also have kids’ meals. Open for lunch and dinner.
- Studio Catering Co.– They have different sandwiches, like the Pulled Beef Brisket Sandwich and the Spicy Chipotle Ranch Sandwich. Also available: salads, wraps, Paninis, kids’ meals, desserts, and a selection of beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Open for lunch and dinner.
Sunset Blvd.
- Anaheim Produce– Lots of snack options here. Pretzels, vegetables, trail mix, fruit, pickles, churros, chips, snack bars, non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic beverages are available at this location. Open from morning until around 9.
- Catalina Eddie’s– This location offers pizza, hot sandwiches, kids’ meals, desserts, and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Open for lunch and dinner.
- Fairfax Fare– Find chicken and ribs, mac and cheese hot dogs, chili dogs, salads, BBQ pork and coleslaw hot dogs, BBQ pork sandwiches, desserts, kids’ meals, and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) here. Open for lunch and dinner.
- Hollywood Scoops– Whether it’s ice cream a la mode, in a sundae, cone, cup or sandwich, you will find it here and they have a selection of flavors on the menu. Also available is bottled water. Open from late morning until around park close.
- Rosie’s All-American Cafe– Here they offer burgers, veggie burgers, chicken nuggets, soup, kids’ meals, desserts, and a selection of drinks with the option of purchasing a souvenir mug. They also have beer and sangria. Open for lunch and dinner.
- Starring Rolls Cafe– This location offers croissants, muffins, bagels with cream cheese, turnovers, danishes, cinnamon buns, parfait, chips, fruit, yogurt, cupcakes, brownies, fruit tarts, tiramisu, and more. They also have a selection of beverages including coffee, juice, bottled water, tea, fountain drinks, and wine. Open for breakfast and lunch.
- Toluca Legs Turkey Co.– Get turkey legs and pork shanks here. They also have fountain drinks, bottled water, and beer. Open from late morning until around park close.
Those are the quick service locations in Hollywood Studios. Hopefully you will find this useful when you are in the park and hungry or thirsty!
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
My Disney Diary: Planning for FastPasses
As it gets closer to your FastPass (FP) selection time, it’s a good idea to plan out which attractions and shows you want your FastPasses for. If you are staying on property you can make your FP reservations 60 days from your arrival date and if you are not staying on property you can make your FP reservations 30 days from your arrival date,
There are certain attractions and shows that will book up fast. For example, in the Magic Kingdom the Anna and Elsa Meet and Greet and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are both very popular. If your traveling is interested in either of those then I would make sure those are the first ones you try for when your FP reservation window opens.
To make it easier, try to plan out where you are going to be on what day. You will already have some of this planned out, if you made advanced dining reservations. Knowing where you will be on what day will help you to narrow down your FP choices for that day. Each person in the traveling party will get three FPs per person/per day.
We already had a spreadsheet started for our dining selections, so we knew where we wanted to be on what day. That made it easier when planning for FPs. Since we are traveling with kids, we decided to go with one kids ride, one big kid coaster, and one meet and greet. Plus, we know we are going to be at a lot of the parks at rope drop, or soon after, most days. Since the lines are significantly shorter in the morning, we’ll do some of the more popular rides when the park opens.
So, I would recommend talking to everyone that is in your traveling party. Try to come up with a list of FP selections for everyone and not everyone has to have the same FPs. If someone wants to go on Space Mountain, but another person doesn’t like roller coaster they can make their FP reservation for a tamer ride during the same time period (as long as the same time period is available for both selections). To help with organization, make a spreadsheet with the days you are going to be in each park and your dining reservation times.
I know I talk about spreadsheets a lot, but they really do help when you are planning for your Disney trip. It makes it so much easier to keep track of everything. Disney trips can be a little intimidating to plan, especially if it is your first trip.
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
Disney World 2016 Vacation Packages Now Available
Thinking of taking a trip to Disney World in 2016? Vacation packages were released today!