Eat Me, Drink Me, This Way or That Way (Or Where to Eat Where You Are)

“How do ya do and shake hands, shake hands, shake hands. How do ya do and shake hands and state your name and business,”—Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to our very merry unbirthday party!  I do hope you all are well and had many pleasant dreams of Wonderland.  I know I certainly did.  Little Layla got a bit out of hand last night.  The apartment is her Wonderland at night while we (try to) sleep.  Last night she was busy climbing the infamous tower of treats, otherwise known as the refrigerator.  Oh there I go again babbling on about nonsense getting completely off topic.  Now where was I...Oh yes!  The time has come, my little friends, to talk of FOOD and things!

For today’s party, I have prepared a very special “menu” of sorts.  As I mentioned at our last party, Rich and I have decided to partake in the Disney Dining plan for our trip.  We picked the standard model, with one quick service, one snack, and one table service for each day of our stay.  As I began my dining research, I quickly realized that I would have to multitask and plan out where we were going to be on certain days of our trip in order to see where I could eat.  Plan out every day?  I thought this was a vacation!  You want to be restricted? Oh on the contrary, I am definitely not one to plan every minute of my day, and certainly not one to be restricted.  The great thing about the Disney Dining Plan is they give you over 100 (yes, over 100!) places to dine.   Whether it’s getting a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom, or devouring “all you care to eat” seafood at the Cape May Café, Disney gives you many options for different palates.  While Disney does not require you to book reservations for your snack and quick service meals, they do recommend making reservations for your table service meals, especially if you plan on dining at a popular eatery.  For more information on the Disney Dining Plan, visit Disney Dining Plans.  Before we get into the nitty gritty as to where we are eating, we need to discuss where we are going to be.  In the words of my friend, the March Hare “I have an excellent idea, LETS CHANGE THE SUBJECT!”

Now I don't recall if we've gone over some of the perks of staying on Disney property.  If we’ve never discussed this, great we will now.  If we have, go get a snack and come back in a few minutes hehehe.  I don’t want to discuss all the perks right at this moment because some of them deal with some topics for other parties.  Right now I want to talk about the “Extra Magic Hours” perk of staying on Disney property since these really dictated some of our dining plans.  If you are planning on traveling to Walt Disney World and stay at a Disney resort, you get the privilege of being able to enter select parks one hour early, or hang around certain parks up to 3 hours later than it is usually open until.  Here’s where some lovely research comes in (books, websites, online forums, etc.  Again, my favorite resources will be discussed at another party).  Based on personal experiences from past trips, these extra magic hours are EXTREMELY useful if you utilize them fully.

In my personal opinion, the only park worth using the “Extra Magic Hour” in the morning is Animal Kingdom.  Sorry if I just offended any of my guests, but like I said, personal experience formed this opinion.  Animal Kingdom is usually opened for a shorter period of time than the rest of the parks, and includes a far greater area to see than the rest of the parks (but not necessarily more attractions).  By getting to AK an hour early, it allows you to briskly walk (not stampede) to the hot ticket rides to get your first fast pass of the day.  After you get your fast pass, go to another hot ticket ride and hop on.  By getting the more popular rides out of the way early, you won’t have to wait in lines during the day.  Mind you, however, many other people may have the same idea, but it is worth a shot in my book. 

Based on my research for the week we are going, AK is offering the “Extra Magic Hour” on two days (The Monday and Thursday).  Since AK is the only one we are using the AM magic for, my focus was more on the PM magic so we could plan our table service dinners.   Just as a side note here, I am including Mickey’s Very Magic Christmas Party as an EMH event since the park hours are extended for a while.  We plan on going to this party because we’ve heard nothing but good things about it, and what is more romantic then watching “snow” fall on Main Street while watching Holiday Wishes?   Instead of trying to write complete sentences about every date I found, here’s a little chart of the EMH offered during our stay.  I’ve eliminated the AM hours we aren’t interested in.

MK-12/10 8-11p

Mickey’s Christmas Party-offered 12/9, 12/11, 12/13 (these dates offer advance tickets)

AK-12/10 8-9a, 12/12 8-9a

MGM-12/9 8-11p

Epcot-12/14 9:30-12:30

Whew!  That’s quite a lot of extra magic!  If you are like me, there is never such thing as too much magic so in addition to looking at all the EMH, I wanted to look at parades and such to make sure we were getting the maximum amount of magic for each day (I know more planning is terribly boring, so I won’t go into detail here, but the topic will be more thoroughly discussed at resource party).  After careful consideration and much discussion (I think a little too much in Rich’s opinion), here is a look at what we’ve planned.

Sunday 12/9-Depart Providence and arrive in Orlando about 10:30am, Magical Express to the hotel, there by 1pm (giving a bit of a cushion here just to be in the safe side) EMH:MGM 8-11p

Monday 12/10 EMH: MK 8-11p, Main Street Electrical parade at 7pm

Tuesday 12/11 Decided to have a free day for Downtown Disney, Fantasmic at MGM at 6:30

Wednesday 12/12 EMH: AK 8-9a

Thursday 12/13 Mickey’s Christmas party (buying tickets next week yay!) 7p-12a, Christmas parade at 8:15, Holiday wishes at 9:30

Friday 12/14 EMH: Epcot 9:30p-12:30a, Illuminations at 9:00

Saturday 12/15 Departure being picked up around 3pm, free morning

Even though this seems a bit much, planning every day like this really allowed us to see where we were going, and what time we had to be there, making planning dinner much easier.  Rich is more of a “just tell me where to be and what time to be there” kind of guy, while I’m more of a “Well what about this, or that, or maybe these” kind of girl.  As long as we go the parks, Rich is a happy Mouseketeer.  With over 100 different options, the Disney Dining plan really goes out of the way to make sure visitors get to experience all they want to try for their dining experiences.  I could tell Rich was a bit overwhelmed with all the options, so I did what I did best: thought about what I liked, he liked, and PLANNED!  After looking at all of the options and factors (our park plans and events) I gave Rich a few (tried to keep it to around 3) places he could look up and pick the one he wanted to eat at that day.  Here’s what we came up with.  This may not be the way to get “the most bang for your buck”, but every restaurant intrigued us, and the table reservations seemed to fit into our schedule.   I’ve added links to each of them so you would be able to get a feel for what they offer.  

Sunday 12/9 Since we are arriving this day, we bank on being a little tired.  Dinner at the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater at MGM sounded fun

Monday 12/10 Early Dinner in the Animal Kingdom at the Tusker House Buffet

Tuesday 12/11 Casual late lunch in Downtown Disney at T-Rex

Wednesday 12/12 Dinner at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at Boma, Flavors of Africa Buffet

Thursday 12/13 Since we are planning on going to MVMCP, we wanted Dinner at MK.  The Crystal Palace Buffet it is. *Character Dinner with Winnie the Pooh and Friends*

Friday 12/14 Perfect night for an “all you care to eat” seafood feast at Cape May Cafe Buffet at the Boardwalk

Saturday 12/15 We wanted our trip to be magical from beginning to end, so we plan on ending our journey at Chef Mickey's Breakfast Buffet at the Comtemporary resort. *Character Breakfast with Mickey and Friends*

My Goodness!  That’s quite a mouthful, or belly full to be more precise.  Although we're looking forward to our reservations for dinner, I think I am just as equally excited about our quick service options.  We can dine around the globe at the World Showcase, or keep it familiar with some bakery items from Main Street.  Each thought of food is more tantalizing that the one before. 

Dear friends, I would love to hear from you.  Have you traveled to the Wonderful World of Walt Disney World?  What sort of magical munchies are your favorites?  Have you gone to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and seen the snow on Main Street?  I believe you've been more consumed with your tea sandwiches and my stories than you are with sharing your own story!  This is a party you know, must be social! If you're thinking of your stories, try to curtsy when you think (Saves time, you know).  Oh do come back soon and share with me.  Until next time friends, have a magical evening and remember, Wonderland is but a day dream away!

I'm Late, I'm Late, For a Very Important Date! Otherwise known as "Plan ahead"

Hello dear friends and welcome to our evening tea party!  I thank you for coming, and hope your day wasn't too harsh and you managed to keep your head.  Have you brought your favorite tea?  I do hope so, I've got mine.  Now please do have a seat on your most comfortable mushroom, and enjoy another fascinating tea time treat!

Since you have visited yet another tea party, I can tell we will have a magical friendship.  Speaking of magic, nothing could make Disney more magical than a trip in December.  Why December you ask?  Well why not!  December brings a most magical holiday season, and also great value at Walt Disney World.  We've never actually been to Disney World in December, but are really looking forward to it this year.   By going in early December (we're going the 9th-15th), we still get to experience the holidays here at home with our families, and also get the Disney Holiday Magic during what is considered to be a "least crowded season" according to several sites and books I have been frequenting (definitely more on all my sources later).

 Since the holiday season can be a little taxing, throwing a trip to Walt Disney World should surely push you over the edge, right?  Well not entirely.  I thought Disney was totally out of my price range for what I imagined I would want to do before I looked into it.  All I was thinking of was everything I would need (airfare, lodging, park passes, dining) and how I would never be able to afford it all. However, I shortly discovered that not only could I have all that I wanted in a vacation, but by planning ahead, I could also save a lot of money.  With the help of The Walt Disney World Website, I was able to price out every aspect of my trip, which in turn, allowed me to take a hard look at my budget.  I soon became a little discouraged, seeing that my trip would soon cost me a bit more money (ok a lot more money) than I could put up all at once.  So that's it, right?  I guess just save up and hope I don't dip into the vacation fund?  You couldn't be more wrong!

Thanks to even more research (yes, I am looking at things everyday about Disney now), I was able to find an amazing fact.  Thankfully, Walt Disney World doesn't require all your money up front!  All they require from you is a $200 US Dollar deposit, and you can make easy payments right on their website (minimum of $20 per transaction, up to your full balance).  If you are planning way in advance like we are, you must have your full balance paid before 45 days prior to your arrival at the Most Magical Place in the World.  After looking at the projected cost for our reservations and dividing it up by weekly payments, we realized that Disney was way more than affordable.  To make sure we could afford air travel, I had to decide which airline to use.  After looking at a few options, I decided to stick with Southwest, a familiar company that allows Rich and I to have up to 2 checked bags a piece (not like we need all those) AND our own carry-ons.  Unfortunately, the flights were not yet posted at the time we wanted to book the trip, so we had to wait.  Finally they were released on June 4th, and were reasonably priced.  We ended up booking our Disney reservations on June 7th, and our airline tickets June 8th.

Now that I've dragged you through a long "Disney line", we've finally arrived at our destination: THE DETAILS!  Like I said before, we plan on a trip during the holiday season, which automatically meant budget.  I've become quite familiar with the Disney Value Resorts, and since we only plan on using the room to sleep in after long nights at the parks, we didn't need many perks, which made All-Star Movies right up our alley.  We arrive on a Sunday morning and leave on a Saturday evening.  We wanted to make the most of our stay, so we decided 7 day park hopper passes were right for us.  Disney offers many different ticket options, so if you're planning, do some research to see what may be right for you.  Planning on the Disney website also allows you to pick a dining plan for your stay (which saves you MORE money), we picked the magic your way plus dining package that gives each person a quick service meal, snack, and a table service meal each day for the duration of their stay.  (Stay *tooned* tomorrow for a more in depth "menu" of the dining plan, and our plans.)

Oh drat, it seems Dinah, I mean Layla (our lovely kitten) has spotted the Dormouse outside and has ran across the table, knocking over our many pots and tea cups.  I suppose it's time for me to send you my salutations, as I must stop her before she bangs her nose on the closed glass door (she hasn't the best depth perception, you know).  I do hope you've enjoyed our chat, and hope to see you again soon.  As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to bring them to the next party!  Have a magical evening and remember, Wonderland is but a day dream away!

First Trip Down the Rabbit Hole, or an Introduction of Sorts

Hello?  Is there anybody up there?  My name is Allyson, but my most valuable tea party guests call me Ally, and I would like to welcome you to inside my head, also known as, my personal Wonderland.  I'm assuming that if you're reading this, you're already mad as a hatter, just like me, so let the madness begin!

In case you were wondering where this particular Rabbit Hole leads, it's to the Wonderful World of Walt Disney World!!  I've grown up being a Disney kid in all aspects of the phrase; from watching all my favorite Princesses on VHS tape (old school I know) to actually meeting them in person at Walt Disney World, to virtually dancing with them while playing Kinect Disneyland Adventures.  If it's Disney, I love it.  I have no intention of ever "outgrowing" Disney. 

As for actual adventures to the Disney Parks, I've only visited Walt Disney World, but someday dream of experiencing the Magic on the west coast as well.  If memory serves me correctly, I've been to Disney several times starting in 1997, then walking through the looking glass three more times in 2000, 2004 (split with Universal), and most recently in August of 2011.  As I type this, I am looking forward to my first Holiday trip into the magical playground in December of this year, but more on that later.  So if sharing Disney tales is your cup of tea, why not sit down for a spot or two.  Maybe we'll welcome some other guests along the way! 

My memories of childhood trips to Walt Disney World are filled with fun memories of colorful hair wraps and caricatures done by the pool, and giant refillable resort mugs that my brother and I would fill with delicious hot chocolate on cool nights.  Speaking of cool nights, I bet my parents have plenty of pictures of us kids in hoodie sweatshirts and shorts chomping down on a hot jumbo turkey leg or posing in front of the fountain at Epcot.  One of the funniest memories I have was when I convinced my mom into coming on Tower of Terror with me at MGM Studios (Now called Hollywood Studios, but it will always be MGM to me!)  She was reluctant, but came on, shivering and everything.  After riding in the front row, and dropping a few times, we both walked out unharmed...well except for mom's image.  We went to review our pictures, and there's my mom, in a ridiculously bright shirt, screaming and grabbing the "cage" for dear life.  That's an image that even the best Disney Magic can't erase LOL!  Oh ya, and she also takes GREAT pictures on the Dinosaur! ride at Animal kingdom as well LOL!

My memories of Disney aren't just of my family, however.  I was lucky enough to experience the Disney Magic with my boyfriend Rich's family in August of last year (more on our relationship later) thanks to his lovely parents for renting a house for a week as "one last family trip" before everyone grew up and did their own thing.  This trip was different from my usual trips with my family in a few ways.  Usually I traveled via plane (started on Delta, then Delta Song, and finally finding a great relationship with Southwest Airlines) with my mom, dad, and brother.  I get terribly carsick (I'm talking about in the car for 20 minutes and feel like I'm going to die kind of sick) and usually medicate for a plane as well.  Air travel was our thing and typically is far faster than any other means of travel.  This trip with Rich's family was a 36 hour car ride from right here in Massachusetts ALL---THE---WAY---DOWN to Disney (well 20 minutes away from it).  As terrible as the drive was, I checked that right off my bucket list.  That was my first bump out of my comfort zone. 

Secondly, with such a large family, staying off property was more affordable for everyone.  How large you ask?  I'll tell you how large.  We traveled in a car caravan with his parents in one car, one of his brothers with his fiancee and their two kids in another car, and his youngest brother and his girlfriend in my car with Rich and I.  His grandparents were lucky enough to fly down (for 36 long hours I was wishing I was them lol).  The house we rented was considered a "Disney" rental, and I have to say, for the price it was, it was well worth it.  Nice and open, screened in inground pool, a "game room".  We really couldn't have asked for anything better.  I'm not saying it was bad or anything, just different than what I was used to with my family when we always stayed at a Disney Resort.  We all had 3 day hopper passes, which were both good and bad in a way.  They were great because we could hop around every park with no worries, but bad because with 12 people (two being kids), how can you get your agendas to align?  It wasn't always easy but we made it work.  I'm very happy we all got to share the Disney Magic together.

Now that I've got your attention with whimsical tales of past trips to the Most Magical Place on Earth, let me provide you with a more formal background of myself.  As I said before my name is Allyson and I hail from southeastern Massachusetts.  I've lived here all my life, and I do love it, but I could definitely do without the harsh winters.  I am in my early twenties, and am a LPN at two drastically different jobs up here, but in between the mix of chaos, I find my anchor in all things Disney.  As many women think, in my mind, I am a Disney Princess.  So if I am a Princess that must mean I have a Prince Charming of my own, right?  Right!  May I now present to you *sound of trumpets* Prince Richard (otherwise known as Rich).  Rich is a recent engineer grad, moving his way up the corporate ladder while he is still young (also in his early, almost mid, twenties).  We've known each other for many years, but our official fairy tale began 3 years and almost 5 months ago.  We've had our ups and downs.  Definitely some trying times (he went to Texas for 3 months on business), but we've always remained in each others heart.  We've had our share of firsts too with each other, including our own apartment together this past February.  I love the feeling of sharing a "first" something with the one you love, because it's those memories that make life so special.  I love the feeling so much, I'm planning our "first trip alone" to Walt Disney World December 9-15 of this year!  I cannot wait and every day brings new planning adventures.  I don't know what is more fun: planning the trip or actually taking it!

Now it seems this pot of tea has gone cold and I've sunken far too deep into my arm chair.  I've thoroughly enjoyed our tea time together, and hope to see you soon.  We've got many more things to discuss, and I've got questions for you Disney buffs out there.  Have a magical day and remember, Wonderland is but a day dream away!