Let me say that my opinion is that the Villains After Hours was very much worth it! This was my first time doing an after hours event. I absolutely loved it! With doing it I did discover some things I would do different for the next special event! The event officially starts at 10PM, but you are allowed in at 7PM. If you are not a passholder, I would just by the event ticket since you will get a good 6 hours at Magic Kingdom. Here is what I discovered while there. You get in at 7PM, so the park is still crowded, I suggest using your fast passes now. You won't need them after 10PM due to such short lines. Ride until the Happily Ever After Show this starts at 9:15PM. The park clears out right after this, and they then start the next show and then Maleficent comes out. This is my tip to ride more rides during this time because starting at 1AM they do a duplicate show. Riding during this time will give you 30 extra minutes of fun! Why I loved this night so much? Wait times were super low, the longest I waited was twenty minutes. We only waited five minutes for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, this was awesome since it is usually a seventy minute wait. The two rides that they changed for the event was Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. Space was awesome, they changed the music to villain theme track and made it pitch black. You couldn't see a single thing. Lastly, did I mention free food! You can eat and drink all that you can of bottled soda, water, pop corn, ice cream sandwich, Mickey pops and popsicles. You can take as much as you want, so bring some home for later. Admission to Disney Villains After Hours can be purchased in advance for $139 per adult or child (plus tax) or on the day of the event for $144 per adult or child (plus tax). Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of specially priced advance purchase tickets for just $109 per adult or child (plus tax). Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. Only three days left for the Villains night, so grab your tickets before they sell out!
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While talk to Tomorrowland I noticed a cast member in photopass outfit, but now camera. Well let me tell you, this is one of my favorite photopass opportunity and many people are missing it! Look for a cast member in traditional photopass vest holding a tablet right in Plaza Garden. This will be on your right hand side when walking up Main Street. The Memory Maker is saved to your account for one year. Sometimes the photos take up to 24-hours to load to your account. I recommend downloading them right away so you don't forget. When you purchase the Memory Maker before your trip the price is $169. Purchase Memory Maker after your vacation for $199.
Disney is costly, but there are always ways to go about saving. I am huge into saving, and after going many times throughout the year here are some tips I have picked up on. The debate about staying on or off Disney PropertyI have done both, and have found both beneficial depending on what type of stay I am doing. When staying on resort you get the benefit of free shuttle to and from the airport, along with shuttles to the park and Disney Springs. Parking at the parks is $25 a day. You are also saving a rental car fee or Uber ride to your location. If you have a car and are staying on resort they upped their prices this week to $15 a day. So, if you do need a car I would recommend staying off resort. Staying off site can result in a cheaper hotel room. I use the app HotelTonight, I like how quick and easy it is to get a room. When staying off resort as I mentioned you do need to have a car or a ride to your hotel. If you are looking to save money it is best to find a hotel that offers free shuttle to Disney Parks. You will find many resorts do. Another good thing about staying off resort is you have a car. This means it is easy to eat off Disney property, which is cheaper. I always do out the math before for each trip to find which one will save me more money. A lot of people I talk to feel like they have to stay at Disney. They always say, "It's all about the whole Disney experience". I don't entirely feel this way. I usually am only using the hotel for sleeping because I spend the entire day at the parks. If you are looking at downtime at the resort then I can see what you mean, but do feel that there are so many resorts in Orlando that offer similar features. Travel Off SeasonBefore I had my annual pass I always traveled during off season. First, the tickets are much cheaper. Second, lines are cut in half. I still prefer to travel during off season. I have had the best luck during September and February. The worst time for wait times has been November. The summer has longer waits, and is extremely hot. I will say I still enjoy it and end of August the wait times begin to go down. Best Time to Visit Disney2019
While these are traditionally the best times to visit Disney World every year, keep in mind that the opening of Star Wars will raise crowd levels. Hollywood Studios is already busier than usual since the opening of Toy Story. It's still a good time to visit, but it won't be as good as it has been in years past. Where to get ticketsDisney tickets are expensive, but if you do a little looking you can save money.
Saving Money on FoodMy other tip involves food. My husband and I love to eat, but it can be costly at Disney. My best advice is to eat a good breakfast before going to the park. Bring in your own snacks or small lunch. Then have a sit down dinner. I average about $60 a day for food. Disney offers meal plans, but I find them very costly usually adding about $800 to your trip. I will say you are well fed on the plan though. These are my thoughts on how I save money, I would love to here your trips, as well!
My ecstatic level of being a Platinum Passholder has gone into overload over the past few days. Here is what I am most excited forBring-a-Friend offer is back (for select Passholders) you can share the magic of Disney with friends and family! They can purchase a 1-day ticket with Park Hopper Option for the special price of $89 plus tax, available for purchase and use from June 18-Aug. 8, 2019 (offer valid for Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Premier Passholders). Tickets will be available for purchase at theme park ticket windows and must be used on the date of purchase. This offer is limited to 6 tickets over the course of the promotion.
Disney Villains After Hours is being held June 6 to August 8, 2019. Regular tickets are $139 (plus tax) Passholders are saving $30 when purchased at the ticket window in advance. Beginning June 27 passholders will also receive a complimentary special Disney Villains After Hours ornament featuring Hades while at the event (limit is 1 per Passholder while supplies list). Ornaments can be picked up at Mickey’s Star Traders in Tomorrowland during the event. Platinum, Platinum Plus and Premier Annual Passholders will be among the first to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with complimentary special preview opportunities planned before the land’s opening on Aug. 29. Capacity is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Stay tuned for when the release more information on when the official dates will be. Save up to 40% on select Disney Resort Hotels, this offer is for most nights now through June 30, 2019. You must log into your passholder account in order to book this offer online. There are so many exciting discounts this year. More information on all the discounts this summer: here To everyone's shock we woke up to find out that Disney has changed their annual pass prices. With an increase of over 10%. This is the first increase since 2018, and one can only assume it is due to Star Wars Galaxy Edge's announcement from yesterday. It was announced that only Platinum and Platinum Plus members will be allowed into the preview of the Star War land located in Hollywood Studios. With the uproar, many people were probably going to then upgrade their passes. The second reason is most likely to keep crowds down. They have raised their regular tickets a few times this year, so it became cheaper for people to buy an annual pass than regular tickets if they were planning a trip twice a year. Let me say I am thankful I had bought my pass a month ago! Disney Platinum Plus Pass: $1219.00 (from $994.00) Disney Platinum Pass: $1,119.00 (from $894.00) FL Resident Platinum Plus Annual Pass: $999.00 (from $849.00) FL Resident Platinum Annual Pass: $899.00 (from $749.00) FL Resident Gold Annual Pass: $699.00 (from $609.00) FL Resident Silver Annual Pass: $519.00 (from $479.00) FL Resident Theme Park Select Pass: $439.00 (No Increase) FL Resident Weekday Select Annual Pass: $349.00 (from $319.00) Epcot After 4 Annual Pass: $309.00 (from $289.00) *Disclaimer: These are my own personal thoughts.*
Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain here is the question which is the best. This is the endless debate that goes on and on. Magic Kingdom is home to these three great rides. Big Thunder MountainI have always been a huge fan of Big Thunder Mountain, nothing could change my mind. I am not a huge roller coaster person, so this was just big enough to give me a thrill, but not scare me to death. I love getting on and just singing "She'll be coming around the mounatin when she comes". The other great perk is that the line moves quick and is usually about forty minutes. So if you are looking for a small thrill that is easily going and doesn't have a long wait I reccomend Big Thunder. Splash MountainNeed to cool down on a hot summer day then Splash Mountain has you covered. This ride is easy going until well the drop. This is a large drop, and at times is too much for me. The rest of the ride is honestly very smooth and easy sailing. The only other downfall is wet shoes and socks. I reccomend riding this ride early in the day so you have time to dry off. I have made the mistake of riding it at the end of the day and then going to dinner. It gets very cold in a resturante with AC on. Lines are longer, but fast passes are usually easy to get. If you are looking for a large splash then look no further. Space MountainIf you are looking for a high speed thrill ride in the dark this is the ride for you. Space Mountain took a lot of convicing to get me on it. I was a die hard Big Thunder rider, but my husband has converted me. I love Space Mountain, it's fast and in the dark, but it isn't too much for someone just starting out on roller coasters. I would start with the first two and work you way up. Space Mountain typically has a very long wait about 80 minutes. I recommend getting a fast pass. There is usually plenty of fast passes for this ride. Last time I went to Disney I noticed that they added a new photopass opportunity. Since I have memorized where all the other ones are my husband and I usually get silly shots over and over again. This new one is at the Haunted Mansion, Disney PhotoPass will capture Hat Box Ghost over your Doom Buggy as you journey through a labyrinth of haunted chambers in the Haunted Mansion attraction at Walt Disney World. Here is the thing, we went on together and had no idea where it was. Usually it is easy to tell when the photo is going to be taken. This time not as much. I always become mesmorized by each room throughout the Haunted Mansion. Take number one didn't go as planned. We didn't have a clue the photo was coming. This has easily become one of my favorite photos we have taken. I find it so funny how intrigued we were with the show put on that we didn't have a clue the photo was being taken. Where is the photo taken?So you don't make the same mistake we made, here is a hint to where the photo will be taken. As you travel through the labryth you will hit a hallway that has photos on it. Lighting is occuring and the photos change as you look at them. Surprise the lighting is your photo being taken. Here is attempt number two at taking the photo. Guess what, my husband was on cue, but me not so much. I found myself looking at the same photo once again. I couldn't believe it! Well, next trip I will get it right (maybe). Memory Maker DetailsI love the memory maker package. Though pricey, you are getting high quality photos, and as many as you can take! The Memory Maker is saved to your account for one year. Sometimes the photos take up to 24-hours to load to your account. I recommend downloading them right away so you don't forget. When you purchase the Memory Maker before your trip the price is $169. Purchase Memory Maker after your vacation for $199.
Last year I got into collecting pins. I wanted a way to collect inexpensive souvenirs from places I have traveled. What better way than collecting pins each trip! What is Disney pin trading?
Tips to Disney Pin TradingYour goal is to trade, so your first pin shouldn't be something you want to keep. Buy something cheap from a third party store. Typically buy from amazon in bulk is the cheapest. At Disney they start at $8.99 a pin and only go up. Finding a cast members is easy. They are everywhere. Keep an eye out as you’re walking through the parks for team members wearing pin lanyards. Some wear these around their necks while others wear pin cards around their waists. Disney is constantly coming out with new pins, so don't worry there will always be new ones to find. Make it fun by finding specific sets! Here is my personal collection. I typically trade only once a day. My favorite pins to look for are Stitch and Jack Skellington! Most people wear them on lanyards. I like to safely put it in my pocket to bring home to display on my wall though. Whatever you prefer. Now go out and have fun trading! Let's face it disney tickets aren't cheap. This doesn't mean there isn't a way to get affordable tickets. First, the cheapest way to visit disney is if you are a Florida resdident, but most of us aren't. A four day pass for residents are about $49 (Plus tax) a day. This is a great deal considering non residents are looking at paying $101 (Plus tax) a day. And it becomes more expensive as you add park hopper. Depending on how long you're staying and what you are looking to do each day depends what ticket is best for you. Do you want to do one park a day or park hop. I personally only buy park hopper tickets, typically I do three parks a day. Most of my trips use to consist of a two-day park hoppers. So, I’m sure your next question is how do you get the best deal on tickets. There are a few ways I’ve gone about getting tickets.
Disney Annual PassNow I have to ask you, how long is your stay?... Why, you ask? If you plan on going to Disney for four or more day twice a year I recommend jumping into getting an annual pass. I travel to Disney a minimum of every three months for two to three days. That’s four trips for eight days. Simple math tells us that we have got our money worth. My husband wanted to get annual passes much sooner, but I was so unsure due to the upfront cost. I regret not doing it right away, now that we got them. He finally convinced me that due to all the benefits and how much we go that we would be saving hundreds, and he was right! Honestly after my my first day with my pass I felt I got my money worth. Save $40 in parking, got 20% off dinner at T-Rex, and took endless photos!
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Author -Cait"If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney ArchivesCategories
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