Travel Tips & Tricks Archives - Page 2 of 5

How to Avoid Lines at Walt Disney World

November 28, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Let’s be honest, a trip to any Disney park isn’t exactly ‘cheap’. Yes, there’s plenty of ways to make it more affordable, but it’s not chump change. Take that into account with how much there is to see and do, and it’s obvious that you’ll want to waste as little time as possible standing in long lines. Luckily on our big family trip to Orlando this past fall, my kids were in awe with how much time we actually spent in lines and our family was able to check so much off of our list! You can take advantage of this ‘secret’, too, because I’m sharing How to Avoid Lines at Walt Disney World to make your trip as magical as ours was!

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Hubby and I tried to keep track of our line time, and we realized that the longest wait time we had the entire trip was 15 minutes – and part of that was because we were willing to wait longer for the back on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Other than that, most of our times were simply as long as it took to get from the entrance to where you get on the ride – with an average ride line of 5-10 minutes total. Needless to say, we were thrilled and never had to hear the kids complain about any long lines! We were able to fit in so much on our trip, plus had plenty of down time to just chill and enjoy our family. It was super magical, and it’s all thanks to our friends at Michael’s VIPs with their amazing tour guides who make your trip truly unforgettable and stress-free!

You probably remember us praise them before when we shared our experience using their tour guides for a couples-only trip last year, as well as what our kiddos thought of having a guide for a large family vacation. I still don’t know how we loved our Disney trips so much before I met Adam and his team at Michael’s VIPs two years ago, because they not only take so much stress out of tackling reservations, juggling fast passes and knowing where to be when, but they also save so much time in the parks by helping us avoid lines! Seriously, they’re worth their weight in gold when it comes to getting the most out of your vacation. Since they save you so much waiting time by avoiding long lines, we got to relax more and enjoy fun things like photo opportunities, checking out the decor and entertainment, as well as loving tasty snacks.

We had Renee – who is about the sweetest, most lovable person you may ever meet – who was phenomenal, but all of the team at Michael’s VIPs knows Walt Disney World inside and out! Because of this, they save you so much time by:

Taking the fastest/least crowded routes and walkways
Knowing when/where to avoid parades or other shows
Understanding which rides are busiest when, so you know when to hit which ride next for the shortest wait
Managing fast passes like a magician (seriously, my kids asked if Renee was MAGIC because we had so few waits!)
Organizing your day to fit in bathroom stops, snack breaks & such to fit naturally into your path – no needing to go out of your way
Nabbing snacks or drinks while you ride, saving a trip or wait for the snack cart
Being amazing in so many other ways, too!

Since you can only make THREE fast pass+ reservations at first, then you can do one at a time for whatever may be left, relying solely on those will only save you so much time. These guys and gals know the rides and schedules so well, they can utilize the system to its full potential which saves you a TON of time. Not just for rides, either, but also getting you incredible seats for shows like The Lion King and more!

Other than their immense knowledge and quick app-using skills to make the most of the fast pass+ system, they know the park routes like the back of their hand. Renee jokes that they’re ‘walking talking maps’ – and it’s so true! From rides, bathrooms and snacks, to knowing the schedule so you can easily bypass the crowds for a parade or show, they truly help you make the most of your time in the parks to get as much seen and done as you’d like. Go fast or go slow, it’s up to you – they make it work so your trip is as magical as possible! We’d done Disney so many times before on our own, and dreaded standing in line – but this time, the kids had no complaints at all because there was barely ever any wait for us, IF any wait. Honestly, the only time we really had to deal with lines was for Disney World transportation (which Michael’s VIPs can help you with, as well, we just opted to tackle it ourselves).

If you’re wanting to avoid lines at Walt Disney World, these guys know all the magic to make that possible. It’s so worth it to have 10 minute or less waits for the rides, amazing seats for shows, plus a super-friendly (I think the kids would’ve taken Renee home if we’d let them) guide to help with every aspect of your trip to really give you the magical Disney vacation you dream of!

Not Convinced? Here’s 10 Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs!

Tour guides for couples – is it worth it?

Tour guides for families – what you need to know

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

Our Experience with Disney Parks Disability Access Service

October 10, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I was a bit nervous before our recent trip to Walt Disney World, as one of our sons was wearing leg braces, so would be limited in his physical abilities. Luckily, it turned out amazing – and today I’m sharing Our Experience with Disney Parks Disability Access Service (DAS) in case you’re as unfamiliar with it as I was!

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First of all, keep in mind that disabilities come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and needs. If your disability requires/recommends a wheelchair, no need to stress because you actually don’t need a Disability Access Service (also known as DAS) pass, because almost all the lines are made to accomodate wheelchairs already. If there is a ride that doesn’t, they’ll arrange that for you at the ride entrance and make sure you’re taken care of.

Your needs and solutions may be different than ours, but just check with Guest Services inside the park when you arrive and they’ll answer any other questions to give you the best solution possible. Our particular need was that Thor was in leg braces (has to wear them 23 hours a day), and while he needs to be walking in them normally, he can’t stand still for long periods of time. This made lines a real worry – but when we swung by guest relations, they were fantastic and helped us find the best way to help our needs.

They gave us a DAS pass, where Thor was the main person on the account, then everyone in our group was added onto it under him. With this service, we could go to the entrance of a ride and ask for a DAS return time. They’d scan one of our bands, ask how many of us were going (all, or just some) and give us the time we should return to the fast pass entrance. The return times equalled the current wait time, so while we weren’t getting on the ride faster, it saved him from having to STAND in a line. We could go sit while we wait, or do a shorter ride, or see a show.

When it was time to go back, they just scan Thor’s MagicBand to the fast pass scanner, then once it clears the rest in our party that were authorized under his DAS pass could scan ours and go as well. But the person with the DAS pass needs to scan first.

You’re only allowed to do this for ONE ride at a time – and you can go at your return time or anytime LATER in the day. But keep in mind that until you use that one ride, you can’t get another DAS return time for another ride. It basically HOLDS your place in line during that time, without causing him to be in the actual line.

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Another important part – the main person (that has the need for the DAS) is required to go on the ride you have the time for. For example, he didn’t want to do Tower of Terror again, so we didn’t/weren’t able to get a return time for that since only some of us were going, and not him. We just did the normal line, since we didn’t have his need to not stand to worry about.

I almost cancelled our trip because I was so concerned about how he’d manage with those lines and standing still so long, but I’m so grateful I didn’t because it was a wonderful vacation! He did great, the staff was so patient with him (occasionally he took a bit longer walking or getting in/out of rides due to his leg braces) that it worked out as perfectly as we could have hoped.

Any other tips for disabilities at the Disney Parks?

Disney Activity & Autograph Book

October 3, 2018 by Danielle 26 Comments

By popular demand, we’ve updated our Disney-themed autograph & activity books! Now there’s even more pages for extended fun while you’re at any Disney-themed park, cruise, event or just at home for some magical fun. Here’s the major changes we made with our ‘Unofficial’ Disney Activity & Autograph Book:

Want the PDF FREE? Check out how HERE

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Changes:

Now there is no park-specific option. Pages are all general Disney-themes, so will work at any of the parks, cruise line, etc.
54 Total pages of activities, memory sheets and autograph pages
Cover now says ‘My Magical Vacation’
Newer characters, such as Moana, now included in autograph sheets

Get the PDF HERE for just $2!

Get the new PRINTED version from Amazon HERE

Get the old PRINTED version from Amazon HERE

Check out our Facebook live showing of the OLD book HERE

Since our original book was released a couple of years ago, people are LOVING it! The favorites so far are the fun Star Wars autograph pages, jokes, and creating your own treehouse or superhero. With more than 54 pages in the new book, there’s plenty for everyone, whether young or old! Yes, us adults even enjoy them 🙂

Disney Activity Pages

To keep short attention spans happy, we included a large variety of things for them to do, such as:

Games
Mazes
Connect the Dots
Matching
Crosswords
Create your own map, super hero suit and treehouse
Coloring
Jokes
Trivia
and more!

Even THOR loved playing the games with my friend Lexi’s boy!

Disney Autograph Pages

Long gone are the days of boring, blank autograph pages – we’ve got more than 28 creatively designed ones to nab signatures from favorite characters! We’ve covered classics like Mickey & Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, princesses like Ariel, Belle and Rapunzel, and even Darth Vader and Avengers! Such a great Disney souvenir!

Donald Duck went CRAZY for his special page – it says #1 Duck, of course!

Even Minnie got in on the fun, along with Chip at Goofy’s Kitchen!

We’re excited to catch try and catch Kilo Ren next time – got the perfect page just for him!

Disney Memories

Creating memories together is a HUGE reason to do family vacations, right? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been very good at writing them down before we forget many! Now you can keep track with our several pages designed exactly for that purpose – keeping the most important moments safe. You can list funny moments or things people said on the trip, favorite foods and rides, how old people were and who was with you, and even trace your child’s hand print so you can remember how big – or little – they were! Updated – no longer with dates, so you can use them any year!

To make it super easy to put in your bags or carry around at the parks, we sized it at 6×9. Our kids had no problem keeping track of theirs – they refused to let us carry them since they were having so much fun!

We have two options for the book, so you can get it in whatever way works best for your family:

Disney Themed – any park, trip, cruise, etc.

PDF Download: print and bind it yourself, especially nice if you have lots of children (via Gumroad)
Old Version Professional Printed Book: already bound with shiny cover (via Amazon)
New Version Professional Printed Book: already bound with shiny cover (via Amazon) – coming soon

So turn the lines at Disney from boring to fantastic with our newly updated ‘Unofficial’ Disney Activity & Autograph Book! More info available in our Store!

This is included in our Busy Mom Bundle, along with other fabulous printable packs!

Book your next Disney vacation with Get Away Today for the best deals – use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Check out our other products HERE

Family Home Binder

2018 Planner & Calendar

Summer Camp Kits or Kid Activity Packs

A YEAR of Meal Plans plus Recipes – on a budget!

Other Disney fun you may like!

Tour Guides for Families at Walt Disney World

September 26, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We receive complimentary guide services from Michael’s VIPs to facilitate this post. All opinions are ours alone.

Phew, it’s been just a few weeks since our big family Disney World trip, and we’re already missing it. As we look back and remember everything we did, we’re reminded how much we were able to fit into our time there – and it’s all because we had our ‘magical’ tour guide to help us out! If you’re not sure if hiring private Tour Guides for Families at Walt Disney World is Worth it, check out our experience: you may realize that they’re worth every penny, and more!

First of all, your tour guide services don’t start just when you get to the park – with Michael’s VIPS, they help you plan from start to finish (or anywhere in between). They even will help reserve your dining and fast passes; it’s a full service to set your trip up for success! A few days before we arrived, our guide Renee contacted me to go over details. We discussed the kids ages and heights (in case you have littles who can’t do certain attractions), if there were any restrictions, any rides we wanted to avoid or ones we were hoping to do over and over again. We made a game plan, and set our time to meet that first morning. She was right there at the entrance of Magic Kingdom waiting for us, and the kid immediately loved her friendly personality and it was hugs all around! Then we were off on our adventure…

As a mom, my absolute FAVORITE thing about having a tour guide for families at Disney World is that she handles all the details – I didn’t have to check times or fast passes, or reservations. I was able to just go along and enjoy my time with my family, without the stress. What’s crazy is, you can’t really even tell she’s constantly checking everything! She’s right there with you, alert and in conversations, chatting happily with the kids – but she is constantly aware of the plan, ride wait times, upcoming parades or shows that could affect crowds and traffic, everything. Not only that, but we like to joke that Michael’s VIPs are ‘walking, talking maps’ because they know all the routes, where every ride and event is, and even where all the bathrooms are (and which are the best ones!).

That’s really convenient for families, because if you have kids you KNOW there’s plenty of ‘I need to go to the bathroom’ moments! I realized that, since every time we were near one she’d ask if anyone needed to go, we didn’t run into the issue of emergencies or inconvenient potty breaks. That was super nice! I remember so many trips to Disneyland where we’d be far from a restroom, or about to get on a ride, when a kid just HAD to go. Not this trip, though! It’s fun how many little stories of bits of information the guides have – such as why Animal Kingdom has bathroom doors, unlike most of the other parks’ bathrooms (answer: in the very unlikely event a wild animal got out, people could get to safety in a restroom!). And if you do get a chance with a tour guide from Michael’s VIPs, ask about the ‘poop trail’ at Magic Kingdom. The kids still bring that up!

Our first day at Magic Kingdom, we had done every ride by about noon – and hadn’t felt rushed at all! We were trying to remember the longest wait we had any of the days we had Renee with us, and we don’t think that any wait was more than 5 minutes or so – but most of the rides were just however long it took us to walk up there! There’s so many reasons that having a tour guide with Michael’s VIPS is well worth the cost, but especially when you consider how much more you’re able to do in a much shorter amount of time with them. It means you can plan on less days, hotel nights, food, all of that because you don’t HAVE to go for as long – you’ll be able to get a ton done! Plus, less standing in line saves everyone’s sanity – especially moms 😉

Renee stayed with us each of the days up until we’d done pretty much everything, then let us decide if we wanted her to stay longer or if we were good to go redo things on our own however we’d like. I loved and appreciated the flexibility! These guys even go above and beyond so much – when one of our kiddos got a bit sick (from a ride or heat, we’re still not quite sure), and felt better sitting off one of the rides, Renee was happy to let her stay off with her so none of us had to miss it. She even bought her a drink to help her hydrate more. They TRULY care! Plus, they’re prepared – there were a few times she whipped out some pepto pills to help some of our more sensitive stomachs. At one of the lunches, we were happy to invite her to join us and the kids had a blast at the ‘fun table’ with her – so cute!

The guides love kids, and are so patient with them. It’s their job to make your family happy and help you have the best vacation possible – but you can tell it’s not just their job, it’s what they truly love and care about your family. If you’ve read our previous experiences with Michael’s VIPS – when it was just my mom and I at our first time at Disney World, or last year when hubby wasn’t sure a guide was worth it for couples – then you know how great each and every time with them has been, despite being different groups and circumstances. Families are very different, but after this I’m convinced that our trip wouldn’t have been even nearly as good or enjoyable without Renee’s amazingness. What’s funny – day two with her and one of our girls was like “is Renee magic or something? How does she make it so we can do so much without any waiting?” Yup, these guides are magical – and priceless!

It was a very sad ‘see you later’ when we parted ways at the end. The kids kept saying how much they missed Renee, and she was more than thrilled when we texted her a few days later letting her know that. When we WERE on our own, the kids kept commenting how it was a bit more frustrating and ‘boring’ because we weren’t as magical as her – there were more waiting in lines, and we may have gotten lost a time or two. We still had a wonderful time, but it was much easier, less stressful and we got to do a lot more with the help of our wonderful guide. You can read even more reasons to choose Michael’s tour guides here!

Contact Michael’s VIPs for YOUR next trip to Walt Disney World – or Disneyland!

Tour guides for couples – is it worth it?

How to avoid lines at Walt Disney World

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

Things to know about Mobile Ordering at Walt Disney World

September 12, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Mobile Ordering started at Walt Disney World about three years ago in some select locations, and it rapidly expanded to many locations at all four theme parks. If you’ve ever used mobile order for your coffee, or other fast food during your morning commute, it is basically the same thing you’re already used to. You access the option through My Disney Experience, the phone app that helps you manage your itinerary, reservations, Fastpasses, etc. Here are some things you should know about Mobile Ordering at Walt Disney World.

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Mobile Ordering at Walt Disney World

Quick Service Food Tool: In a nutshell, mobile ordering at Walt Disney World is an order and pay tool for quick service food locations. It’s designed to give you an option other than waiting in line. This is great when you want to make the best use of your time – or have kids who are hangry, so a food line isn’t ideal.

Stake out the Dining Room: You can find your table and order without leaving until it is time to pick it up. Mobile order is not available at table service restaurants or at kiosks.

Alerts From Mobile Order Restaurants: You can set up notifications in your My Disney Experience app so that you get an alert when you are in range of a meal or snack location that accepts Mobile Order. Turn on recommendations under Mobile Device Notifications On your profile.

You Can Use the Dining Plan: If you are on a Disney Dining Plan, Mobile Order is compatible with that, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket if you have snack or meal credits. Otherwise, you need to pay with a credit card. Currently the tool is not equipped to take payment via the magic band or Disney Gift cards.

Mobile Order Uses Your Location: Your food is not prepared until you are within a certain range of the location, so you don’t have to worry about the food going cold on the counter or drying under a heat lamp.

Separate Pick-up: By using mobile order, you skip the line to order and pay. There is sometimes a line at the mobile order pick up and sometimes not.

Order is Ready: You receive notifications after your food is ready, but you can usually pick up before the notification goes out. Be sure to have your app handy at pick up to answer any questions regarding your order.

Check out Get Away Today to book your trip today!

No Hotel Options Yet: Currently, mobile ordering at Walt Disney World is only available in the four major theme parks.

Magic Kingdom offers it at several, including Columbia Harbor House, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, Casey’s Corner, Aloha Isle and more.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has Mobile Order at the ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Rosie’s All American Cafe, and Woody’s Lunchbox plus others.
Epcot only offers it at Liberty Inn in the American Adventure and Electric Umbrella.
Animal Kingdom offers Mobile Order at Flame Tree Barbecue, Harambe Market, Satu’li Canteen, Restaurantosaurus and Pizzafari.

Mobile Order in Disney Springs: The one location outside of the parks that currently offers Mobile Order is D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. But keep checking, because more restaurants are joining in all the time.

What’s your favorite quick service restaurant at Walt Disney World?

Other Disney Fun…

Movies to Watch Before Disney World

September 5, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a Disney vacation, you may be considering watching some movies leading up to it, just for fun or perhaps to refamiliarize your kids (or yourself) with the characters. The problem is that there’s SO MANY MOVIES to choose from! If you only have time for some, here are our favorite Movies to Watch Before Disney World.

Our family loves doing little activities or things to get more excited (and to help us be patient) leading up to a Disney vacation. Whether it’s decorating our MagicBands, decorating with our printable Disney banner, or doing a cool countdown chart, it’s a lot of fun and helps us make family memories even before we leave on the trip. Watching movies is a must, as well, to get us in the mood – and this year to introduce our kids to new things, such as Pandora land at Animal Kingdom by watching Avatar!

Whether you want to just want to watch a couple top picks, or as many Disney movies as you can fit in, here are the top movies to watch before Disney World we chose before our trip this year…

1: Avatar – with the opening of Pandora land a couple of years ago, I knew we had to watch this film just to give my kids an idea of the beautiful sights they have waiting for them there. Not only that, but the Flights of Passage ride will make much more sense!

2: Toy Story – With rides like ‘Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters’ and ‘Toy Story Mania’, this was already a good pick. Now with the opening of the whole Toy Story LAND, it’s a definite must-see!

3: Beauty & the Beast – of course there’s Belle around the parks, but especially if you’re going to dine at Be Our Guest restaurant (which I highly recommend!), this will give you a sense of nostalgia when you walk into the ballroom dining room, and definitely the West Wing.

4: Star Wars – We love ‘Star Tours’ and the like, but now there’s even more experiences and shows with this awesome series! Not only that, but Star Wars Land opens in a year or so, making this even more important to refresh on.

5: The Lion King – My favorite show at Disney World is the Festival of the Lion King, so I wanted to watch this childhood favorite with my family again before we take them to see it.

6: Finding Nemo – This wasn’t one of our TOP priorities, but with a ride for this film that I know they’ll enjoy, we added this to our list.

7: The Little Mermaid – Again, the ride in Magic Kingdom is a fun reason to watch this classic – but also because Ariel is a character you can find in many areas of the parks.

8: Alice in Wonderland – Maybe it’s just me, but I love remembering the film when riding the Teacups! Plus, since this one is a bit older, your kids may not have ever seen it before.

9: Peter Pan – Tinker Bell and Peter Pan are quite popular, as is the ride, so it’s fun to compare the sights you see during the ride to the film.

10: Cinderella – With that big beautiful castle at the center of Magic Kingdom (and particularly if you’re able to nab a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table), this is ideal to watch again just for that magic.

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11: Frozen – The Frozen ride in Epcot will be much better if you remember the songs and friends in the movie.

12: Monsters, Inc. – Kids will get a big laugh at the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, but if they’ve recently watched the film then it’ll make it that much better.

13: Aladdin – Jasmine and our favorite street rat are quite popular, plus the entire area around the Carpet ride is themed after the film.

14: Tangled – Maybe it’s just me, but the little area by the Tangled restrooms is so pretty – plus those are some of my favorite restrooms!

15: Dinosaur – If your kids will be riding Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom, it may be good idea to have them watch the movie first. Knowing ‘Aladar’ in the cute film might help them not be so afraid in this darker ride!

Now, there are plenty more that could go in this list (like Lilo & Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, Sleeping Beauty, Cars, etc.) – because there’s TONS of characters and experiences! These were our top for this particular year, though, and because we had to prioritize due to time (as much as I’d love to rewatch every Disney movie ever made each year, that’s just not realistic).

What’s your favorite movies to watch before Disney World?

Helpful Tips and Tricks on What to Pack for Disney World

August 29, 2018 by Danielle 2 Comments

Save yourself some stress and be as prepared as possible for your Disney vacation. By following these helpful packing tips you’ll maximize your enjoyment and avoid some common drawbacks. Not only that, but knowing better what and how to Pack for Disney may even save you some money!

Wallet

Make sure you have cash in your wallet that you can use in a pinch to tip your driver, bell service, etc. This can save you from needing to use an ATM and possibly face those fees. In addition to that, bring plenty of Disney gift cards and the credit card you purchased your reservations on.

Clothes

It’s almost always hot, though it might get a little cooler on winter nights. There is a lot of walking involved, so comfortable walking shoes are a must. Please don’t be one of those people struggling in the parks in stilettos. To maximize comfort, wear shorts or a skirt (if you’re braver than me) and light breathable clothing. Formal wear is not a necessity if you are looking to pack light – however, for some dining reservations (like Victoria & Alberts!) you may need to get a little dressier.

Health and Beauty

Remember to bring sunscreen and use it every day – don’t forget the back of your neck if you have short hair or will wear a ponytail! Nothing zaps the fun out of a vacation in the sun like getting burned. Ya, I’ve learned that the hard way. Pain reliever is also good to have on hand, versus paying extra for it when you get there. Consider any other toiletries, ointments, or remedies you might need in advance so you can avoid the upcharge later.

You will need room in your suitcase to bring back souvenirs, of course. You can create that space and save money on water by packing a whole pallet of drinking water for the trip. It’s important to stay hydrated and you can get a 24 pack of bottled water for the price of a single bottle in one of the parks. By the end of the trip, water’s gone and there is room for all the t-shirts, plushes, and other awesome stuff you buy to commemorate your trip.

Accessories

Bring a cord and adapter for charging your phone overnight in your room. If you keep up on this you will not need to purchase or pack an external charger. The parks even have charging stations in case of an emergency. Small, travel-friendly backpacks can be your best friend – I don’t go to the parks without this one that’s been fabulous for 2 years!

Don’t forget an umbrella and some disposable ponchos, especially if you are going to Disney World in the Summertime. Ponchos are one thing you don’t want to be buying last minute in the middle of a rainstorm, trust me!

And definitely don’t forget your autograph books – these are the ones I made, complete with activities for during line waits. You can nab one here or on Amazon here!

Check out our previous post on What to Pack for Disney for more specific packing tips!

Everything You Need to Know about Tipping at Disney World

August 22, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Are tips accepted in Disney World? Absolutely – but with exceptions. While some Cast members are required to not accept tips for the most part, there are some positions at Disney where customary tipping is expected. Those cast members are paid by Disney as tipped employees, which means they can earn up to $3 less than minimum wage. When you vacation in Disney World, be sure to bring enough cash to cover tips for transportation, certain hotel services, and food servers. Here’s everything you need to know about Tipping at Disney World!

Who are “Tipped Employees?”

The following job types are classified as “tipped” and will gladly accept gratuity for their services.

Drivers: Obviously, the taxi service, or ride share app you use takes tips, but don’t forget about the Mickey’s Magical Express driver. They are your first point of contact on your Walt Disney World vacation and they work hard to make the experience magical. They’ll appreciate the gratuity. Generally, have $1 or $2 handy per piece of luggage they store and retrieve for you. The drivers on the internal buses do not take tips.

Hotel Services: Bell Service cast members are also tipped employees. Generally, anyone handling your bags will accept gratuity. The usual amount is $1 to $2 per bag. Salon and spa services are also tipped. Gratuity for massage, pedicure, etc. should be between 15% and 20% depending on the quality of service.

Food Service: Servers at table service restaurants do accept tips. It is also customary to tip at buffet restaurants, but not counter service or kiosks. The average tip for food service is 18% of the bill before tax. The minimum suggested tip is 15%.

Recognizing the Exceptional Efforts of Non-Tipped Employees

Non tipped Cast members include: ride operators, custodial cast members, outdoor venders and basically anybody not mentioned above. They cannot accept tips unless they have refused up to three times. Even then, the tip is taken to management. The best way to recognize these people for doing an exemplary job is to request a Great Service Fanatic card. You can also call or email Guest Communications: 407-824-4321 wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com You can even tweet @WDWToday with #castmembercompliment to show them some extra love and recognition!

Tell us your best experience with a cast member!

Five Top News Stories For Walt Disney World This Week

August 8, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re a big Disney park fan like us – especially if you’re planning a trip there anytime soon – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom all have new experiences to offer. Plus, no more plastic straws. Here’s the Five Top News Stories for Walt Disney World This Week – read on for details.

Check out Get Away Today to book your trip today!

Be Our Guest Prix Fixe Menu

Be Our Guest restaurant now offers a new, enhanced dining experience as of July 27th. They serve dinner as a three course Prix Fixe menu. The enhanced dinner menu is much more French. Appetizers include Escargot and Charred Octopus. Among the entrees are Saffron- infused Seafood Bouillabaisse, Center-cut Filet Mignon, and Poulet Rouge Chicken. End the meal with a delicate dessert trio.

NEW Keepsake at Tower of Terror

You can now get a special photo keepsake whenever you “drop in” at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. The lenticular photo changes to show you entering The Twilight Zone with a fun and eerie effect. Memory Maker packages do not include the keepsake, and it is not part of Photo Pass. You must buy it separately, and they do charge $19.95 plus tax.

Vampirina Coming To Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The new Disney Junior character will be joining the Disney Junior Play and Dine breakfast at Hollywood and Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, beginning on September 30. Later this year, she will join the Disney Junior Dance Party at the park. Vampirina is an age appropriate cartoon about a vampire girl in a Munsters-like family who is making new friends in a human neighborhood and learning to celebrate her differences.

No More Plastic Straws

Single use plastic straws and plastic drink stirrers will no longer be used at any Disney owned locations. This new commitment is part of an ongoing environmental initiative by the Disney Company. The change will take effect in the middle of next year. It is still unknown whether they will replace the plastic straws with paper, or charge for reusable straws.

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today to book your trip today!

New Lounge in Animal Kingdom

Right in the heart of the action at Dinoland USA, Restaurantosaurus has added a brand new lounge. Dinoland USA is a split American themed addition to Animal Kingdom that features dinosaurs in a campy roadside attraction setting, next to a science institute where time rovers study actual prehistoric creatures. Students at the institute live in on-site quarters that double as an elaborately decorated restaurant. That restaurant now has a lounge which offers snacks, as well as specialty drinks like Tequilasaurus and Primordial Booze.

What other news stories for Walt Disney World are you excited for?

Other Disney fun…

Printable Disney Aulani Activity & Autograph Pages

July 18, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Y’all know how much I love everything Disney – but I’ve never yet had the privilege of visiting Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii. It’s definitely on the wish list! I do have some friends that go frequently, though, so I thought it’d be fun to make some awesome printables. Whether it’s your first trip or tenth, these Printable Disney Aulani Activity & Autograph Pages are sure to make your trip even more magical and memorable!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Since Disney’s Aulani is more of a tropical resort – and not a theme park – this booklet doesn’t have quite as many pages as our regular Disney Activity & Autograph book, but it’s still full of colorful, themed fun! There’s a stylish cover (front and back), plus an inside page for your child to put their info from the trip.

There’s then 4 pages of activities and jokes for them to have a bit of Disney-themed fun. These can be great for giving them something to do for a few moments during the flight, waiting to travel, or just some down time at the resort.

Following the activities, there’s then 12 pages for autographs, with a wide variety to cover the types of characters that you’re more likely to see at Disney’s Aulani resort.

There’s some for the classics, like Mickey and Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale.

Then we’ve created some brand new ones for characters such as Moana and Maui, Lilo and Stitch, Ariel (she’s definitely tropical/beach-themed, so might be there!) and even one for the ‘Cucamonga’ – the little coconut-like creatures from the film!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

A total of 20 pages, sized at 6×9 to be a better fit for littler hands – plus more easily to travel with! You can print them out onto normal paper (I recommend cardstock) and staple or bind together. Or take them to professional printing center to have them printed very good quality and bound to last for a long while. The choice is yours!

Download & Print HERE

What’s YOUR favorite character that may be at Disney’s Aulani resort?

Nab our other Disney Activity & Autograph Books here!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Top 3 Ways to Cut Food Costs at Walt Disney World

July 11, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

When you buy a Disney World Vacation, you get a room and some park tickets. If you’re lucky, you get a free dining plan, as well. But for most people that’s it, and buying a dining plan is not a viable way to save money. During your stay, you encounter all varieties of tiered service options, price ranges and more. You can easily rack up a heavier vacation tab then you expected if you’re not careful. To help, here’s our Top 3 Ways to Cut Food Costs at Walt Disney World.

This fall will be my first time ever trying the Disney Dining plan – and it’s only because we got the free dining special. As I was preparing our park plan and dining reservations, there was so much to look into – and I remember how hard it was figuring out a food budget in previous trips there. I don’t want you to have that stress, as well! So, here are three cost cutting measures you can take while on vacation in Disney World.

Leverage Counter Service

Quick Service is a substantially lower cost way to dine in the parks at Disney World. The entrees are less expensive and there is no gratuity attached to the meal. So, immediately you save money when you choose counter service over table service.

Even after that there are a few more things you can do to leverage the cost of your meal.

1. Drink ice water. Ice water is served for free. You don’t even need to buy anything. Keep that in mind when staying hydrated on hot Orlando days and definitely use this to your advantage when meal time comes around.

2. Purchase shareable entrees. Some quick service locations serve entrees that can easily be shared. It’s a great way to save on meals for guests with smaller appetites. Also, adults can order kids meals for themselves if they don’t want an adult size meal. Some kids check meals are very similar to offerings on the adult menus.

3. Toppings Bars. Some counter service locations have toppings bars. Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is one example. You can augment the already sizable portions with as much of the toppings as you like with no added cost to you. You can even make a side salad out of it. It’s a thing.

Leverage Breakfast

You can go two ways on breakfast to make it work for you:

1. Skip it (as far as eating out goes). Or bring small snacks from home to eat in the hotel room before you start the day. This will cut down on meals by 1/3. You can schedule your lunches earlier to help cover the difference.

2. Fill up. This is a good strategy if you are capable of loading on the calories in the morning and not having another meal until dinner time. If your accommodations include a continental breakfast this can really save you money. You can even pack away some snacks for later. Even a buffet, like one of many character dining experiences around Disney World such as Tusker House, can save you money. Of course that depends on how much you would be likely to spend on lunch, how much a smaller breakfast would be, and how that sum compares to the buffet price.

Be prepared…

There are pros and cons of planning. Planning is meant to make things easier. Life is unpredictable, though and sometimes plans fall through. So, be prepared to change your mind. Preparedness is good, like bringing water and snacks into the park to save money, or planning your next meal to stay on schedule. One thing you definitely don’t want to do is follow through with meal plans if you aren’t really hungry.

When you have a reservation, it’s a little bigger of a deal and there may be a fee involved for cancelling, but generally speaking don’t spend money on food if you aren’t hungry just because it’s what you had planned. It might sound weird, but its really effective. When you get caught up in “we have to do this next” stop and ask yourself if it’s what you really want. This little thing can save hundreds of dollars over vacations for a few years.

I hope you liked these tips and found them insightful. Was there anything you expected to find but didnt? What are your favorite ways to save money while you’re in Disney World. What tips do you plan to use?

How do You Save Money in Disney World?

8 DIY Travel Savings Jars

June 15, 2018 by Danielle

Y’all know I absolutely LOVE to travel – near or far, it’s so exciting to make plans, pack, check out new sites and meet new cultures! Whether you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, dreaming of an escape to Paris or have no specific destination in mind – just the desire to travel – then these 8 DIY Travel Savings Jars are for you!

I don’t know about you, but I think having a cute jar where you can store loose change or other funds you want set aside for a future trip makes it more exciting – and even a little more REAL! This can be especially great if you have a LOT you need to save up to reach your desired goal. It can also be a way for the whole family to get involved – if the kids see that mom and dad are putting some spare change into the jar for the family’s trip, perhaps they’ll want to contribute as well.