Happy Christmas in July everyone! Even though it is the middle of summer we can't help but think about planning an upcoming Walt Disney World trip this November. We absolutely love Christmas (almost as much as we love Disney!), so to combine our favorite time of year and our favorite place is simply magical! Read on for our top six reasons to visit the Walt Disney World resort during this holly jolly time (early November-New Year's). Confession: We may or may not have been listening to Christmas music while compiling this list...
Us having a "ball" at MVMCP.
The toy soldiers in the parade are a favorite!
1. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
On select nights you can purchase tickets to attend an after hours event called Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This is a highlight for us and really kicks off our holiday spirit. Imagine strolling down Main Street while snow falls and holiday music plays, and experiencing shorter lines at favorite attractions. You can also enjoy various photo opps and special character meet and greets (Jack Skellington is amazing!). There are multiple snack spots around the park to indulge in free treats such as cookies, snow cones, and hot chocolate. Make sure to get a spot to see the special holiday parade and then end the night with a special holiday themed fireworks display over a beautiful "frozen" Cinderella Castle.
TIP: Even though the party doesn't officially start until 7pm you can get into the park starting at 4pm. We recommend taking advantage of the bonus time!
2. Holidays Around the World at EPCOT
We absolutely love taking a stroll around the world on any given day. During the holidays at Epcot you get the added bonus of traditionally decorated countries, holiday garden displays, and specialty shows/activities. This time of year also feels like a mini Food & Wine festival with special kiosks selling holiday inspired drinks and snacks. Some memorable offerings included a small plate from the Mexican Pavilion stand and Firenog at the American Pavilion, which was egg nog with a splash of Fireball. We love grabbing a Holiday Passport guide at the front of the park which lists all of the holiday activities in each country. We make a game of making sure to do at least one item at each country to fill our passport with holiday stickers.
TIP: We make less dining reservations for this park day so that we have more room to sample the limited edition holiday snacks instead.
3. The Candlelight Processional at EPCOT
Each evening at the stage near the American Adventure pavilion a celebrity narrator tells the biblical tale of a savior born to a virgin in Bethlehem. Joined by a talented chorus and orchestra the show is a beautiful display of traditional Christmas songs. Narrators include celebrities such as Neil Patrick Harris and Jodi Benson. We were lucky enough to see Whoopi Goldberg the last time we went. There are a couple showings per night and depending on when you go it can be quite a line to get seats.
TIP: We recommend making a Candlelight Processional Dining Package reservation. You get to enjoy a meal of your choice at a participating restaurant and receive a ticket for a guaranteed seat for the show. It saves so much time to not wait in the standby line and doesn't cost much more than the price of the meal.
4. Holiday Activities at Disney Springs
We always love spending some time at Disney Springs. During this season we even sneak in a bit of holiday shopping that is way more enjoyable than the crowded malls at home. There is plenty of holiday merchandise and food to explore. We also found that there were special activities to enjoy such as live music and performers (such as dancing nutcrackers on stilts!). There is also a Christmas Tree trail featuring a parade of trees decorated in the theme of different movies and characters.
TIP: If you are staying at a Disney Resort and plan to do a lot of shopping make sure to take advantage of the free delivery of purchases back to your hotel room.
5. Holiday Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
Illuminations: Reflection of Earth is Andrew's favorite nighttime display. We were thrilled to find out that during the holiday season the show is extended to include an additional 5-7 minutes. The show has seasonal music and highlighted what the holidays mean to each country in World Showcase. Season's greetings were wished in different languages. Holiday Illuminations was very well done and full of holiday spirit.
TIP: Remember this time of year can be colder at night. We recommend packing a layer for night and grabbing a warm drink before finding a spot to enjoy the show!
Gingerbread House in the lobby of the Grand Floridian
A chocolate display at the Contemporary.
6. Disney Resort Decorations
Disney loves details and goes all out for the holidays. This is true even for all of the resort grounds as well. We like to enjoy spending time checking out some of the trees and displays themed to each hotel. While each resort is decorated nicely, the Grand Floridian was by far the most impressive and not to be missed. Besides the huge victorian Christmas Tree, there is a ginger bread house in the lobby that doubles as a little coffee shop.
TIP: On our last trip we planned a Monorail Bar Crawl and also utilized that time to tour the holiday decorations at the three hotels along the route. It made for a really fun night!
After 25 years of playing golf without any instruction outside of high school level coaching, Andrew had never had a lesson. In order to reach the next step and become a better golfer, he felt it was time to spend some time with an instructor. Find out why we chose to go with golf instruction at Walt Disney World Golf…
If we had to choose our favorite Epcot festival, it would be the International Festival of the Arts (presented by AT&T). While all of the festivals have food, this one has food that looks beautiful. There are so many opportunities to interactive with art and it is the best way to buy a memorable piece for your home. This week we were invited by Disney Parks to a Media Event to get a sneak peek at new additions to this year’s event. Let’s dive in and explore all the fun new artful offerings…
While Disney World is already picture-perfect, you need to be photoshoot-ready behind the camera, too! Here are a few things to keep in mind as a photographer on your next Disney World trip…
The Holidays have arrived at ICON Park! Yesterday we were invited to check out all the offerings from decorated attractions, fun food, and meeting Old St. Nick himself. Read on for all the details of these limited time offerings….
The holidays are officially here! We love visiting the parks during this season and one of our favorites to see is Epcot for the International Festival of the Holidays. With festive decor, cultural entertainment, and lots of holiday goodies this festival always put us in the holiday spirit. A fun activity during this time is the Holiday Cookie Stroll. Read on to learn more about this fun tradition…
One thing that many people love to enjoy while visiting Walt Disney World is food. We hate to admit it, but over the years we have usually ranked the Magic Kingdom at the bottom of the list for finding great restaurant options. But a few years back a new addition to the park quickly became a must do for us: Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen. This spot checks all the boxes for us: theming, good food, and great service. Read on to learn more about this must do spot that is perfect for adults dining in the Magic Kingdom…
As Walt Disney once said, " Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. It is something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing and adding to." With many new park updates announcements some get us more excited that others and we have been anxiously anticipating a new addition to the World Showcase at Epcot. The France pavilion is one of our faves and we love the movie Ratatouille, so we thought this development would be a great addition. This week we were offered the opportunity to preview this new area early with an Annual Pass Preview reservation. Read on for all the details of the new area…
Many Disney visitors are familiar with a brand that can be found several places around property: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company. We have been known to regularly enjoy coffees, teas, and frozen drinks while visiting the parks and Joffrey’s has become a familiar brand. As part of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, Joffrey’s has created several specialty beverages only available during this time at Epcot. Each Joffrey’s location in the park offers a featured drink and we have taken a trip around the world to sample these new creations. Read on for our review of these limited edition recipes…
At the very top of the Contemporary Resort you will find an award-winning restaurant that is arguably one of the most sought after dining reservations on Walt Disney World Property — The California Grill. This signature dining restaurant offers Pacific Coast inspired fine dining and unbeatable views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. We have been lucky enough to dine in this establishment a few times over the years, and it has always been a special occasion for us. Since the menu and ambiance makes for a romantic date night we decided to book a dinner here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Read on to learn more about one of our favorite spots for a magical meal…
When thinking of bucket list experiences at Walt Disney World one can top the list for most Fairytale loving fans: seeing iconic Cinderella Castle. Now imagine a chance to dine INSIDE the castle. Sounds like a dream right? Cinderella happens to be Julie’s favorite princess and we were lucky enough to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table years ago for a special occasion. We decided to return once again to celebrate our anniversary last month. Read on for a review of the restaurant and see if this Signature Dining experience is as magical as it sounds…
One big event that draws crowd every fall is the Food and Wine Festival. This year marks the 25th year of this special event, but with 2020 being the year of change we knew this year’s festival may look a little different. While there is still a festival planned this year it is scaled back from previous versions and being called Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. So come along as we explore what a “mini festival” at Epcot is like…
Since Walt Disney World has reopened we have been able to visit the parks several times. (Curious about what the parks are like? Check out our article: Walt Disney World After COVID Reopening Part 1: Visiting the Parks) Recently we decided to try a resort stay as well to see how that experience compares to “normal” as well. We booked a visit to Disney’s Polynesian resort and spent some time at the Grand Floridian next door too. There were quite a few notable changes with new safety measures and social distancing guidelines in place. So read on for all the details of what to expect when staying on property in a world adjusted for COVID…
With the parks closed for the last few months we have been anxiously awaiting to see what they would be like once open again. Well yesterday we were fortunate to get that chance as we attended an Annual Passholder preview day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Honestly leading up to this visit we have had so many thoughts in our head. While we weren’t concerned about Disney properly handling safety we did wonder:
Can we last in a park, in the heat with a mask?
What will crowds be like? Will they comply with rules?
Will Disney still feel magical?
At the end of the day is paying for a ticket to Disney still worth it?
Read on for a full review of our park experience including plenty of info on new safety measures and changes…
With the July 4th fireworks at Walt Disney World canceled this year, we figured it was the perfect time to reminisce about a special fireworks experience we had last fall. We are always amazed at the amount of special activities and tours available at Disney and booking a private specialty fireworks cruise was one awesome time. Technically our friends Max and Niki had booked the experience for their honeymoon, but they let us crash the party and come along (how nice are they right?). One night last fall our group of four enjoyed some drinks at the Top of the World then set sail on our private pontoon. Read on to hear all about our enchanted evening sailing.
While we find Disney’s Animal Kingdom to have some of the best dining options in the parks (like Tiffin’s!), on our last visit we decided to try something a little different: a pizza joint. Pizzafari is located in Discovery Isle and offers a dinner option that is a cross between quick service and table service. We were in the mood for carbs and the price seemed reasonable so we ventured over to try out this spot. Read on for a full review of the Family-Style Dining offering…
Some cool new tech has rolled in to Walt Disney World Golf. (Looking for more info on golfing at Walt Disney World? Check out our full guide here.) If you’re a fan of walking while playing golf but not a fan of carrying your bag, the Tempo® Walk Robo-Caddie will solve that problem for you. Andrew grew up walking whenever he played and still prefers to do so. However, 18 holes in the Florida heat does wear golfers down, especially during the summer months. Andrew recently was able to test out a new Tempo® Walk Robo-Caddie for a round. He has all the details on using the robotic companion, whom he nicknamed WALL-E. Plus check out some video footage of his new friend in action at the end of the article!
Do you remember when Planet Hollywood used to be a big blue planet with “The Jenny” boat from Forrest Gump parked outside? We sure do and we have to admit we probably haven’t actually visited since then. With the redo of Disney Springs the restaurant received a facelift in 2017 to fit the new theming and we were definitely due for a visit to see the remodel. Last week we had a hankering for some American food and went to go check out the redone Planet Hollywood Observatory which included a different menu too. We have always been big movie fans so were also excited to see the memorabilia inside too. Read on to hear about our dinner at this fun themed spot…
Lately we have been spending some time at the Walt Disney World Golf Courses enjoying some fresh air and sunshine. (You can learn more about Golfing at Walt Disney World in our guide here.) While visiting we learned that WDW Golf offers a slightly different game as well — FootGolf. We had never played before but it sounded fun so we decided to book a tee time to check out this game with a different twist. Read on to learn more…
Andrew loves a good steak dinner and a certain restaurant at Disney Springs had been on our list for awhile: STK Steakhouse. STK describes itself as a chic and modern steakhouse offering a fine dining experience. This location happened to be participating in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining promotion which offers a special three-course prix-fixe dinner for only $35. With Andrew’s brother Chris, wife Kelly, and niece visiting us in Orlando we decided to book a reservation for us to enjoy a nice dinner together. Read on to hear more about this unique spot at Disney Springs…
Earlier this week we were supposed to be attending a special event for Disney Vacation Club members called “Moonlight Magic,” but unfortunately due to COVID-19 it was canceled. We were just reminiscing about our first after hours event which happened to be this past fall at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Curious about what a Moonlight Magic party is like? Read on to hear about our fun night at the water park after dark…
While we love strolling Epcot’s World Showcase and sampling food and drink along the way, once in awhile we love booking a table service meal in one of the countries. Morocco has always been one of our favorite stops for flavorful cuisine. The menus can seem a bit more adventurous for some, which we find can actually lead to less kids and a quieter atmosphere. Having opened in 2014, Spice Road Table is a newer addition to the pavilion and has quickly become one of our favorites. Read on to hear more about this great dinner spot…
Throughout the year there are a few different seasons that bring some extra magic to Disney parks. One of those times happens to be in the spring when Epcot hosts the International Flower & Garden Festival. We had been to this festival years ago, and boy has it grown! (Food booths didn’t even exist back then!) While the 2020 festival season was cut short we were lucky enough to visit a little bit in the beginning and wanted to share the offerings this year. From beautiful gardens, to fresh food, and springtime merch, read on to hear what this festival has to offer…
While celebrity Austrian-American chef Wolfgang Puck is not new to Disney property, we personally had yet to dine at any of his locations. The newest Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill location opened at Disney Springs in 2018 and has been on our list of restaurants we had wanted to try for awhile now. When making some plans with friends we decided the comfort food menu and variety of drinks sounded like a crowd pleaser so we finally decided to make a reservation. And lucky us, our dinner date also happened to fall during Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining promotion. With a special three-course prix-fixe dinner for only $35 this dinner was an even more perfect excuse for a night out. Read on to hear more about this modern dining option with fresh classic dishes…
When Andrew picked up golf around the age of 14, he instantly fell in love and began to play regularly ever since. While it is a big time hobby for Andrew, Julie also likes to play a little, and a day date on the green is so fun from time to time. One of Andrew’s favorite golf memories was being able to play a round with a group of friends and family at Disney’s Palm the week of our Disney Fairy Tale Wedding. He had been hoping to play a Disney course again, but hadn’t made it back until recently as a newly minted local.
Known as “The Happiest Place on Turf,” Walt Disney World Resort is home to four golf courses, all open to resort guests and the public. The championship golf courses by Walt Disney World Golf have garnered praise and prestigious awards for their superlative design, impeccable service, world-class amenities and overall playability throughout the years. While Disney’s Palm, Magnolia, Oak Trail, and Lake Buena Vista are all slightly different from each other, there is one thing they all provide: a magical golf experience. Read on for a full review of the courses and all the details you need to know for your next round…
If you have read some of our resort reviews before, you may have figured out that we are Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members. We have been blue card holders since 2013 and have used our membership in various ways. We find that we get a lot of questions about DVC, with the most frequent being “Is DVC worth it?” It can be a bit confusing at first to figure out how the membership exactly works so we wanted to break it down for our readers. With this article we will be covering…
This past Christmas we tried something new and booked a visit to Disney’s Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day (make sure to check out our recap article on 5 lessons learned). We knew we wanted a cozy holiday meal, and decided to book a mid-day reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern. This colonial-style table service restaurant is known best for family-style Thanksgiving meals. More recently they have also added some a la carte options too which we decided to explore this time. Read on to hear about this hearty dining option…
When it comes to deciding on whether or not to get the Disney Dining Plan we are usually a hard pass. But on a recent trip to Walt Disney World we decided to do a little experiment. We saw an opportunity to be strategic and took on the challenge of seeing how much we could save with the priciest option: the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. We are proud to say that we absolutely slayed this challenge and far surpassed our expectations of coming out ahead. And we felt like we were drinking champagne on a beer budget (even if it was a Disney priced beer budget lol.) So let us break it down and explain exactly what we did to “hack” the Disney Deluxe Dining plan to save nearly half the cost of what we consumed…
Many people ask us what is our favorite restaurant on Disney property and the truth is there are so many that we love it can be hard to pick just one. But today we wanted to write about one of our favorites that we think is a perfect spot for a special date night out. At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, one of our favorite resorts, you can find Narcoossee’s. This casual elegance restaurant features coastal cuisine dishes. We recently dined here on Christmas Eve, read on for a full review from that night…
Throughout the year there are a few different seasons that bring some extra magic to Disney parks. One of those times happens to be in the winter when Epcot hosts the International Festival of the Arts. This was the one festival we had never attended before this year (can you believe it?) We couldn’t wait to see an artistic spin on the park and see all of the offerings available. While we are sad to say yesterday was the last official day, we still wanted to provide an overview of our thoughts and all of the reasons this is our new favorite festival that we can’t wait for again next year…
Since moving to Orlando, we have been branching out and looking to experience everything Walt Disney World has to offer outside of the parks. Recently, we gifted Andrew’s Dad with a fishing excursion at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Walt Disney World offers multiple fishing excursions including dockside fishing at Port Orleans Riverside and Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests can also experience fishing off a boat on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, Village Lake, Crescent Lake and World Showcase Lagoon…