Construction in Disney Springs has been going on for what feels like forever. Lots of new things have opened and we have seen some other businesses close, but today was a big day for Disney Springs.
Town Center Officially Opens in Disney Springs
Tag Archives: Disney Shopping
5 Ways to Stay Cool in the Parks
During the summer months it can get pretty hot in Florida. Combine that with the summer crowds in Disney World and it can make for an uncomfortable day. There are ways to cool off while in the parks though.
Is Seashore Sweets’ Closing for Good?
There have been lots of changes going on all over Disney property and there will be more to come. One of those changes seems to be the closing of a sweets shop along the Boardwalk.
World of Disney Gets More Space
The World of Disney Store is probably one of the most popular stores on Disney property. There is good reason for that, it’s huge. Seriously, if you are looking for Disney souvenirs or gifts to bring back for people this is your store. There are several rooms, each with different themes and products. I could easily spend hours in this store, especially since it has just been expanded.
My Disney Diary: Top 10 Favorites From Our Trip
There were lots of fun things that my family did while we were on vacation in Disney World. Of course, the best part was that my family was together for 12 days. These days it’s hard to get that much family time. So that was definitely the best part!
To Plan or Not to Plan – The Value of Making Lists
To Plan or Not to Plan: Why it is Important to Plan.
Disney can be a very intimidating trip to take. There are four different theme parks, two waterparks, a couple of miniature golf options as well as some regular golf courses, over 20 on-property hotels to choose from, and hundreds of dining and shopping options. T
hat doesn’t even include all the extra things you can find to do, like the all the tours Disney offers. Seriously, it’s insane how much there is to do at Disney World and it’s impossible to see it all in one trip. It’s impossible to see it all in a few trips! There is just so much to do.
That brings me to this week’s Weekly Tip…lists. It is so helpful to make a list before your trip, planning out everything you want to see and do. If you plan on making your advanced dining reservations (ADR) at the 180 day mark, or anytime before your trip, or you want to make your FastPass+ choices at the 60 mark, planning is pretty much a necessity.
If you are not a planner, you can go with the flow, but just go in knowing you may not get to see everything you want to see or eat in a certain restaurant. Of course, the ability to go with the flow depends on what you want to do and what time of year you are going. If you are going during a really slow time, you should be able to get in to some restaurants without an ADR. However, if you go during a busy time, like summer or Christmas, I highly (highly) recommend making a list and planning in advance.
For me, planning is part of the fun. It makes me feel that much closer to my Disney trip, even if it is over a year away.
The first thing I start thinking about is which hotel we are going to stay in. This is an easier decision than, say, looking at all your dining options. First, figure out your budget. This will help you decide on a category of resort hotels that will work for you. There are value resorts, moderate resorts, deluxe resorts, and deluxe villa resorts.
When you look on Disney’s website at the hotels, there is a compare option on the screen. You can compare up to four resorts, so that helps you to compare and choose all on one screen. Once you have decided on a category, you can start comparing all of the different resorts in that category and you can use the same compare function for this.
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After you have decided on a resort and make your reservations, the fun begins! Now you know you are going, so you can start planning what restaurants you want to go to, what rides you want to ride, what shows you want to see, any extra activities you want to reserve, and even what shops you don’t want to miss.
This is where the lists come in handy. Before we even booked our latest reservation, I had a spreadsheet with all of the different table service restaurants we might want to book (not all, just ones that interest us).
The categories I made for the spreadsheet are name, location, price, type of meal (table service or buffet), meals served (breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner), whether or not they have characters at the meals, and I even have columns with links for pictures and menus.
I am very obsessive when it comes to planning a Disney trip, but it does help to get everything in. Then by the time your 180 day mark rolls around (if you are staying on property), you will know what restaurants you really want to see. I wouldn’t go overboard with the ADRs, leave some wiggle room, but the really popular ones (like Be Our Guest) are worth booking 180 days out, if you can.
Here is another tip, and I’ve heard this from multiple people, if you don’t get your restaurant choice at first, keep trying. Some people have gotten reservations a week before their trip. So don’t get discouraged if there is no availability at first. Cancelations happen all the time, so that is good news. You just have to be vigilant about checking everyday.
Your next list, if you want to plan this much, would be for your FP+ picks. These you can get 60 days out from your trip (if you are staying on property). So, again, it involves a lot of planning, but if there are certain things you or your children really want to see, it might be a good idea to reserve early. The same thing applies to the FP+ picks as the ADRs, if you don’t get your first choice the first time you look just keep checking. I have also heard a lot of stories of people getting their Anna and Elsa FPs or Seven Dwarfs Mind Train FPs a week before their vacation, so keep checking if you don’t get want you were hoping for on the first try.
Another list you can look at making is one for any other things you don’t want to miss seeing. Even if it’s just little things in the parks or anywhere else on property. For instance, I have read about this Wish Book that is available for guests to write a wish in. It’s available in Pinocchio Village Haus in the Jiminy Cricket room. One story from the Wish Book I heard was that a little girl wrote in the book that she wished to meet Anna and Elsa and later a cast member took her to meet them! Very cool Disney magic with that book. So, this is definitely on my “extras” list.
You can always make different lists for the different parks and incorporate any extras, like the Wish Book, into those lists. I know, it sounds like a lot of work, but most Disney enthusiasts that I know love the planning process. So making these lists is actually a lot of fun for us! It definitely helps with your trip when you do some planning beforehand.
One more tip, don’t go overboard with the planning. I know, here I am telling you to plan and now I’m saying don’t over-plan. Where’s the line, right? Well the reason I say don’t over-plan is because, there definitely needs to be some downtime penciled in. Days off from the park help everyone to keep their sanity. You need that relaxation time.
Whether you’re shopping, spending time at the pool, or just hanging out in the room, definitely make sure to have some days off from the parks. I have seen some major meltdowns (from both children and adults) that happened as a result of trying to cram too much in. That’s no fun for anyone.
I hope this helps with your planning! I will probably add to this post as I start planning my own trip. There are always new things you learn about planning with each trip. If you have any questions or need help planning anything, feel free to ask me or you can ask in our Facebook Group (lots of knowledgeable Disney fans in that group). It’s fun helping people plan a Disney trip!
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
For help planning your Disney vacation, contact Starts With a Wish Travel by Liz!
Even More Retail and Dining Experiences Coming to Disney Springs
Disney Springs is really starting to take shape. New restaurants and experiences have been added and now there is even more!
Disney has announced 13 new dining and retail experiences that will be coming to Disney Springs. Here is the list:
Retail
- Zara – Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and accessories.
- Tommy Bahama – Island-inspired sportswear, denim, and swimwear for men and women.
- Lily Pulitzer – Authentic American resort wear, clothing and accessories.
- UNIQLO – Designs, manufactures, and sells casual apparel. The inspiration comes from the company’s Japanese values of simplicity, quality, and longevity.
- PANDORA – Charm bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, and a line of exclusive Disney-themed jewelry will be available.
- UGG – Men’s, women’s, and kid’s footwear, loungewear, outerwear, home products, cold weather accessories, and handbags.
- L’Occitaine en Provence – Skin care and beauty products.
- Edward Beiner – Authentic, fashion, and high performance eyewear.
Dining
- Edison – An “Industrial Gothic” style restaurant, bar, and nighttime venue. It’s themed to a 1920s-period power plant. American food, craft cocktails, and live entertainment will be available here.
- Sprinkles – Handcrafted cupcakes, slow churned ice cream, and homemade cookies.
- Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza – A modern “pizza joint.” Artisanal pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade, and s’mores pies.
- Vivoli Gelateria – Expertly crafted gelato made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, panini sandwiches, and espresso drinks.
- Tea Traders by Joffrey’s Tea – Loose-leaf teas (hot, iced, and blended) that feature custom blends, accessories and packaged teas.
Work on Disney Springs will be completed in 2016 and when it is complete it will have expanded to more than 150 shopping, dining, and entertainment venues!
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
Source: Disney Parks Blog, Walt Disney World News
Downtown Disney for Kids
Downtown Disney is a great place to go for some really good restaurants and also fun shopping, but there are lots of things for the little ones to do too! You can easily spend a whole day at Downtown Disney and take turns seeing things everyone would like to experience.
Here is a list of things available that the little ones would like:
- The Marketplace Train – Our kids loved this! It costs around $2 and the kids get a fun little ride around the track. The ages of the kids who rode the train were 2, 3, and 6 and they all loved it. It’s really cute! You can find the train by Disney Pin Traders and Pearl Factory.
- The Marketplace Carousel – Kids love carousels, so it’s nice that Disney has one in Downtown Disney. It helps when the kids start getting a little antsy. The cost for the carousel is the same as the train, $2. You can find the carousel not far from the train. The carousel is by Marketplace Fun Finds, Goofy’s Candy Co., Mickey’s Pantry, and Spice and Tea Exchange.
- Goofy’s Candy Co. – This is a definite stop with little kids. They love all the colors in the store, not to mention all the goodies to choose from there. We usually let them pick out a cookie and sometimes we’ll do the make-your-own-treat. It’s fun to create your own treats and they have a few different options. Plus, they have those super delicious candy apples in character designs. If you time it right, you might get some free samples. You can find Goofy’s Candy Co. by the Marketplace Carousel and Marketplace Fun Finds. See above picture.
- Splash Areas – There are a couple of areas in Downtown Disney that have water that shoots up from the ground. Kids love this! Some adults do too, especially during the hot summer days in Florida.
- Build-a-Dino Workshop – This fun store is located right next to the T-Rex restaurant and is just like the Build-a-Bear Workshops. The kids will get to build their own Dino to take home. Prices will vary. The Build-a-Dino Workshop is located by the Lego Store and the new causeway, which connects you to Rainforest Cafe.
- Once Upon a Toy – This is a great store for kids and parents, because there’s some interactive areas. First of all, you can build a light saber here. That is a pretty popular area in the store, as you can imagine. You can also get all sorts of Mr. Potato Head accessories. They even have a big clear Mr. Potato Head that you can fill for one price. Make sure you pack it well so you can fit as much in as possible! You can find Once Upon a Toy by Disney Pin Traders and Earl of Sandwich.
- World of Disney Store – This store is huge. Seriously. It has 12 different rooms and has a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside. You can find everything Disney here. Whether it’s toys or home goods. The kids will love walking around the store, plus there are different character statues outside where they can take their picture. On a hot day look for the entrance with Stitch over it…you’ll get a surprise. The World of Disney Store is by Starbucks and across from the Waterside Stage. It’s huge, you can’t miss it.
- Waterside Stage – This will be a fun time with the kids. Check out the DJ Kids Dance Party at the Waterside Stage. Kids will love to dance along and chances are you will find yourself tapping your foot to the beat too. The Waterside Stage is located across from the World of Disney Store.
- The Lego Store – The fun at this store isn’t just limited to inside. They have Lego statues outside and even in the lake. It’s so much fun to walk around and see what they have built with Legos. I always make it a point to see the sea serpent in the lake. He’s so cute! Kids can play with the Legos in the store. It can be hard to get a spot at one of the tables, but if you get there when it’s slow the kids will have fun building. You can find the Lego Store in between World of Disney and T-Rex.
- DisneyQuest – If you have a gamer in the family, then you should check out this interactive indoor theme park. There are 5 floors of all types of games, from classics to virtual games, your video game fan will have a good time here. DisneyQuest is located on the the WestSide of Downtown Disney by La Nouba and Splitsville. There is a cost to go here, but it is included in the Water Park Fun and More option on the park tickets.
- Characters in Flight – This is a tethered balloon ride that will take you 400 feet in the air and will give you 360° views of Downtown Disney. Kids will love the characters on the balloon too. The ride lasts for about 8 to 10 minutes and is located near the Westside Starbucks and Exposition Park (food trucks). The price is $12 for children and $18 for adults.
There really is quite a bit to do in Downtown Disney. This list should give you a good amount of options of things to do if you go there with kids. Some of the stuff is fun for both kids and adults!
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*