Our Resort

This trip we are staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort. It’s a moderate level resort on the Skyliner (our favorite)! This is one of my top recommended resorts to clients but I have actually never stayed here. I am looking forward to getting to explore the resort!

runDisney

We are participating in the Springtime Surprise 5k on Friday. I am not a runner at all but this will be our second runDisney event and it is just so much fun. The music, the characters, running through the parks.. such a cool experience!

This year it is Cars themed!

What’s New!

I go to Walt Disney World often so I like to make sure to do something new every time I go and this time I feel like it’s packed with new adventures! We’re staying at a new resort, participating in a new runDisney event.. and TRON is open!

I can’t wait to ride TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom. When we planned this trip we did not know when TRON would be open so we got REALLY lucky! We’re going to try to get an ILL and join the virtual queue because I just know we will want to ride it twice.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind is not new to my sister and I but the rest of our group has not ridden it yet. It is THE BEST ride at Walt Disney World right now and I can not wait to ride it again. We’re also hoping to get ILL and join the virtual queue so we can ride it twice. And I bet we may hop over to Epcot on another day to ride it again. It’s really that amazing!

Happily Ever After has RETURNED! I can’t wait to sit in front of the castle and watch this amazing show!!

Follow Along!

You can find us on Facebook and Instagram to follow along on our trip and we’ll be doing a recap on Happy Travel Podcast when we get back!

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Disney released not one, but TWO, offers today!

Disney Savings on Disney Resort hotels

First, a special rooms savings for the Spring! You can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for most stays April 10-July 10, 2023.

Disney Savings on Dining

Second, you can get up to $750 on a Disney Dining Promo Card for select packages in July, August, and September. The amount varies by resort type and dates of stay.

Want to make the most of your money at Disney? Contact a Happy Travel Company agent today to book under these new offers.

As always, availability is limited to so don’t wait, book today with just a deposit!

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If you’ve ever started researching a trip to Disney you know the cost can be steep. According to Insider, a family of 4 can expect to spend $6,033. I honestly don’t want to track my own spending because you know.. ignorance is bliss.. but I’d say that’s probably accurate.

I’m not really your girl for saving money when it comes to Disney. I am all about the magical extras. I like to save where I can but, overall, saving money and spending less is not my jam. BUT! There are ways to maximize your money at Disney to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. And that is something I can be onboard with!

Have a budget in mind for spending money at Disney

Whether you want to spend $2,500 or $25,000 at Disney, you need to have a budget in mind. It doesn’t have to be concrete but at least a working number. This will allow you to be comfortable when spending money at Disney. If you know how much you want to spend and know your non-negotiables, you have a better chance of not having FOMO but also not blowing your entire savings!

With the Disney dining plan not currently available I also like to estimate the cost for my dining before I go so I can spend without stressing.

Plan Ahead to save money at Disney

Planning ahead can help you maximize your money at Disney in a number of ways.

When you plan ahead you will have access to the best availability for resorts. You may have your heart set on staying at a deluxe resort but you know that a standard room will work best for your budget. When you plan ahead you have the best chance of getting exactly what you need.

Planning ahead also allows you to make payments. Disney only requires a deposit to book your package with the rest not due until 30 days before the trip. This is a great way to budget your money into payments rather than one lump sum.

Be Flexible

I am sure we have all imagined a Disney trip where money was no issue. There are so many things I would love to do at Disney my budget just doesn’t allow it all at once. It’s important to be flexible with your wishes. I always recommend that Disney goers pick one or two non-negotiables; the things that matter the most to you for your trip. That’s a great place to start when planning and determining how you want to spend your money at Disney.

Use a Happy Travel Company agent

Happy Travel Company travel agents know the ins and outs of Disney. We pride ourselves in knowing how to work your budget to get you the most out of your money!

Did you know? If you have a trip booked with an HTC agent and Disney releases an offer that can save you money we can modify your trip to take advantage of the savings!

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For me, the best part of planning a Walt Disney World vacation is sharing the pre-trip excitement with my children. However, that energy gets a little trying if they know too soon!

“How many more days?”

“Are we going TODAY?”

“When are we leaving?”

“Tomorrow? After tomorrow? After AFTER tomorrow?!”

Parents of young children, I know you understand this!

To try and hold off the constant countdown questions, but feed our Disney adult excitement, my girlfriends and I recently hosted a Walt Disney World vacation reveal for our (combined) four kids. We are planning a mommy-and-me Spring Break trip again this year, but have kept it a secret for the last three months. While it’s been hard to keep our plans hush-hush (I went so far as to tell my daughters we were deep cleaning the house over Spring Break this year!), coordinating this surprise party for the kids was an excellent way for us to channel our energy and hopefully create some core memories for our littles.

Here’s some ideas we used that might help you plan your own reveal!

Pick A Disney Theme

Because we have a collective love of everything Encanto right now, it just made sense to throw a fiesta to kick off our vacation excitement. From a cactus pinata full of flower petals (a la Isabella, of course), to custom “doors” for each kid, ending with a nacho bar and margaritas for the adults – we did our best to have a class Madrigal-inspired party! Do your kids love a specific movie or character? Use elements from those storylines to help make your reveal fun and creative!

Plan A Disney Activity

To spill the beans, we created a scavenger hunt using lyrics from Encanto’s soundtrack. Starting with the first clue inside the pinata, the kids raced through the house looking for other cacti and butterflies to lead them to the next hint.

Pack A Disney Box

 It’s so fun to kick off your vacation with some new park-worthy accessories! We created a box full of goodies including new ears, a t-shirt, stickers, small Encanto toys to take on the airplane, park tickets, and a pre-made countdown chain (hey, we still have 30 days to go!). The opportunities here are endless! No one can have too much pixie dust, right?

Was this particular reveal “extra?” Yes. Did everyone, ages 4-34 have a blast? Yes.

I would love to see your reveals (share them with me at Samantha at Happy Travel Co. on Facebook). Ready to plan your own magic? Contact me today!

Samantha lives in central Indiana with her husband, Courtny,  and their two daughters,  Dorothy (8) and Frances (5). Samantha specialize in all things Disney! Walt Disney World is her second home, and she loves to plan every detail to ensure maximum pixie dust. She’s also well-versed in Caribbean destinations (specifically the Bahamas) because like Moana – the sea calls her! She can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure. Contact Samantha to book your next adventure.

The post “We’re Going to Walt Disney World” appeared first on happy travelco.

Liz has created a sample itinerary for enjoying a day at EPCOT, as well as highlighted some of the great features of Disney Resorts.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

To start, you’ll want to book your Genie+ Lightning Lane attractions from the comfort of your bed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Power up with a few sips of the coffee that your spouse, friend, or teenager ran to get for you at Centertown Market, the quick-service eatery at CBR. Then, as your clock clicks “7:00,” put those fingers to work to grab a LL reservation for one of your favorite attractions at EPCOT for later in the day. Make sure that at the same time, that coffee-fetching travel companion of yours is using their own smart device to pursue Individual Lightning Lane passes for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The ILL attractions require a fee per person, but they’re worth it! Genie+ is a great way to experience the magic. You can maximize your time in the Parks and reduce the time you spend waiting in line.

Topolino’s Terrace

Once you have bathed in sunscreen and donned your festive tee-shirt or Mickey ear headband (well, actually…both), take the Disney Skyliner to Disney’s Riviera Resort. Perhaps you’ll luck out with a Toy-Story- or Star-Wars-themed gondola! Don’t forget to pause to admire the glittering Peter Pan mosaic, made with over 500,000 hand-cut tiles, on the walls of Riviera’s walkway tunnel when you arrive. Ride the elevator up to Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera restaurant on the 10th floor. Here, you’ll indulge in Breakfast à la Art with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck, who parade and dance through the dining room in outfits that reveal their artistic specialties. Having stuffed yourself with fresh pastries, Quiche Gruyère, and Sour Cream Waffles, savor a few moments to stretch by strolling out to Topolino’s rooftop deck. Gaze out over the rippling turquoise pools of the Resort and the midnight-blue waters of the surrounding lakes, and vow to stay here on your next trip!

EPCOT

There’s so much to enjoy at Disney’s Riviera Resort, but today it’s off to the Parks! Glide over to EPCOT on the Skyliner, giggling as you swing around a corner in midair toward Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. As you enter via the International Gateway and wander into the UK Pavilion, keep an eye out for a potential wedding procession! You might just witness a bride and her attendants emerge from the Rose & Crown Pub and cross in front of you on their way to the Victorian Gardens. Certainly, the sight of Disney-inspired romance will warm your heart for the rest of the day.

You’ll be back to roam the World Showcase. But for now, get ready to laugh, sing, and gasp as you ride attractions in World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery (or, the former Future World). Inhale the smell of Rome burning on Spaceship Earth; shimmy with the jellyfish on The Seas with Nemo and Friends; observe rows of flourishing crops as you drift through Living with the Land; dive into Antarctic waters with the polar bears on Soarin’ Around the World; feel your hair whip and tangle in the high-powered winds of Test Track. Before you return to the World Showcase, snag an impromptu ILL for Frozen Ever After, and finally, zip around Gusteau’s Restaurant, dodging Chef Skinner’s rage and the exciting antics of a professional kitchen, on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! 

World Showcase

Ah – it’s time to purchase your afternoon pick-me-up latte at Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company. You can choose one of four Joffrey’s locations to visit, as there are stands near Test Track, near American Adventure, between the UK and Canada Pavilions, and at the World Showcase entrance. In the past, specialty beverages during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival have included the Citrus Sunrise, a drink blending frozen lemon and passion fruit with mandarin vodka, and the Bubbly Brew, a combination of JamesonⓇ cold brew whiskey and coffee with a splash of Coke, so you are eager to peruse this year’s menu!

Then, make your way around the World Showcase, tasting delicacies from as many Flower & Garden Festival outdoor kitchens as possible. For example: 1) The Bon Bon Chicken Skewers with Sesame and Peanut Sauce at Lotus House in China; 2) The Arancini: Sweet Sausage Fried Risotto Balls with Pomodoro Sauce at Primavera Kitchen in Italy; 3) The Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Cantaloupe Wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap, Served with Whipped Cream, at Hanami in Japan; and, at the Port of Entry, 4) The Lavender Honey Mustard-Marinated Chicken Flatbread with Whipped Honey-Ricotta Cheese, Marinated Vegetables, and Purple Haze Lavender Goat Cheese at The Honey Bee-stro.

(Guilt has no place at Walt Disney World. At least not yours. Ever.)

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Take the Skyliner back to Caribbean Beach, all the while complaining happily about how full you are. In your room, rest your feet and close your eyes for an hour as the sounds of Walt Disney World Today – the classical notes from “Once Upon a Dream” from Sleeping Beauty, perhaps – soothe you from the TV screen. Once you feel revived, shake out on the bed the contents of the Walt Disney World Resort shopping bags that you have amassed over the course of the day, and nod in appreciation at your good taste in pins and mini bean-bag Simbas and Plutos. Continue relaxing in a lounge chair by the Fuentes del Morro Pool while sipping sweet, frothy drinks from the Banana Cabana Pool Bar. To end the night, dine on oven-roasted Citrus Chicken, Mojo Pork, and Coconut-Pineapple Bread Pudding at Sebastian’s Bistro. You can even catch a Disney film under the stars at Caribbean Cay Island on Resort property!

Finally, slide between cool sheets and sink into the mattress. It’s time to dream about the next day’s magic!

Liz Mastrangelo is a travel agent specializing in Disney Destinations. She is known as a creative who lives her life through the craft of telling stories. Her passion for writing and inventing imaginary realms is exactly what led to a love for Walt Disney, one of the most compelling storytellers in the world.

Click here to work with Liz

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Hollywood Studios: Build a light saber

Do you have a mega Star Wars fan in your party? Visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios will be amazing but building their own light saber will be the cherry on top! 60 days in advance, you can make reservations at Savi’s Workshop. It’s $219+tax per builder and each builder can take one guest.

Disney Springs: Build a LEGO Minifigure

We love to visit Disney Springs during our Walt Disney World trips. There are great restaurants, fun shopping, and Sprinkles cupcakes. At Christmastime you can also visit the trail of trees and see Santa. If you have a LEGO fan in your party they’re going to want to visit the LEGO store. For just $11.99 you not only get to build a LEGO minifigure you also get to skip the line of people waiting outside the store to get in because you will have a reservation. You can make reservations here. While you’re at Disney Springs you can grab a bite to eat- my family loves Blaze Pizza and D-Luxe Burger. And you can’t leave without a Sprinkles cupcake!

Magic Kingdom: Fireworks Dessert Party

In my family we always spend our last night in the parks at Magic Kingdom. There is something so magical about being in front of the castle to end our trip. Knowing how much I love Disney it might surprise you to know I really hate crowds. I hate crowds but I love the fireworks. This is why a Fireworks dessert party at Magic Kingdom is my favorite magical extra. You can buy tickets for a dessert party 60 days in advance. On the day of, you’ll get to enjoy desserts at Tomorrowland Terrace and then have access to a special viewing area in the plaza in front of Cinderella’s Castle. Just a warning, while you’re sitting there watching Disney Enchantment you’ll be dreaming about your next trip!

There is so much to enjoy at Walt Disney World. You will never get it all done in just one trip. I use this as a good reason to keep going back!

If you’re ready to book a Walt Disney World vacation click here for a free quote. Of all the magical extras available, an HTC travel agent is the best! And remember, when you book with an HTC agent our planning services are FREE!

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Plan ahead

This may seem obvious, but it really does make a difference. Some basics that are a must-know in my opinion are: how transportation works from your resort to the parks (bus, Skyliner, monorail, water taxi, etc.), which rides your children can go on at each park (there are a lot that have no height requirement luckily, but our daughter was able to ride the Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom and I would have never thought about it if I didn’t double check her height and the height requirements at each park!), what kinds of food options you have each day, and more!

This ultimately cuts down on the time that you waste figuring things out, which just makes for fussy kids. Luckily when you book with a travel agent that specializes in Disney vacations (like us here at Happy Travel Company), they can provide all of this information at no cost to you! We didn’t necessarily plan out our meals and sometimes I wish we had- especially at night when the parks were busy and we wanted to do a mobile order.

Lower your expectations

Like a LOT. While I definitely still got flustered and frustrated at times, I’m going to blame that on the fact that I was 26 weeks pregnant…and anemic! Otherwise, I was totally fine NOT riding certain things and NOT going certain places if it meant my daughter was going to be upset or have a meltdown. We also went back to our room each afternoon to relax and try to nap, while some people like to just let their kids nap in the stroller! (That did happen a few times too, even though my toddler usually doesn’t love the stroller!) 

Luckily my husband and I have gone to Disney World many times before kids, so we didn’t feel like we absolutely had to ride all of the “big” rides (I couldn’t anyway because, pregnant). I asked him to choose one ride at each park that he just couldn’t live without and thanks to Genie+ we were easily able to make it happen for him! Other than those rides, he didn’t really care if he didn’t get to ride all of the thrill rides at every single park. We took things very slow and also got to experience a lot of things we would normally miss if it were an adults-only trip, so we honestly saw the parks through a new lens and it was so fun!

Build in some downtime

This doesn’t always have to mean having a full “free” day in between park days, although I sort of wish we had done that. This just means to allow yourself to slow way down, whether that’s as you head to the parks or while you are there.

For example, while some of my family rode DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom, my husband and I took our daughter (2.5) and nephew (1.5) on a little walk to see some of the animals. The kids still got to enjoy what the park had to offer instead of just sitting around waiting for the adults to finish having fun, and my husband and I got to relax a bit! At Hollywood Studios my dad and I let the kids play near a fountain for about 20 minutes and they loved it- so simple, but it really helped minimize the tantrums.

If you do want to have a whole day “off,” you can spend some time at your resort pool, eat a fun meal at a different resort, or go to Disney Springs. Don’t feel like your 5-day vacation has to include 5 full days of open-to-close park “fun,” because that will be anything but fun for a toddler!

Bonus tips

If you think you have enough snacks, you don’t. Pack about four times as much as you think you’ll need- thank me later! We drove our car so we were able to do a grocery run before we arrived, but if you don’t have a car then doing a grocery delivery is a great way to ensure you have your kid’s favorite snacks and you aren’t spending too much money on food in the parks!

Bring a stroller… even if you think you have a stroller-hater for a child (like me!) My daughter never- and I mean never- rides in a stroller at home, but I was so glad we brought it into the parks everyday. She even took a couple naps in it!

Lastly, buy the bubble wand. Just do it. It’s only like $35 and you can buy bubble refills for about $2.50 at a lot of places in the parks. This was really the only souvenir we got and it was a hit every single day!

Contact me if you’d like my help planning your family vacation!

Kelsey works as a travel agent with Happy Travel Company and virtual assistant for a construction business. She is the mom to a spunky 2 year old and has another sweet girl on the way. Kelsey and her husband love traveling and have visited Disney destinations many times. Kelsey loves Pop Century resort and can’t visit Disney without having Churros!

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Truth is: Disney is ALWAYS crowded. There are always a lot of people there. Spring Break spans about 6 weeks in America so yes, Spring Break is going to be crowded. Waking up and surprising your kids with a trip to Disney for Christmas is a great idea and great minds think alike. So yes, Christmas is going to be crowded. But don’t let that deter you!! If Spring Break is the only time you can go, then go! If you’ve always dreamed of being there at Christmas, then go!

Instead of worrying about crowd calendars here are 3 things I do to plan the perfect Disney vacation.

Book Early

Once you’ve decided when you’d like to visit Walt Disney World you should go ahead and book it. Booking early gives you access to increased availability for resorts, plus it ensures you can make park pass reservations and advanced dining reservations as soon as they are available. Plus, Disney offers one of the most flexible cancellation/change policies in the travel industry so you truly have nothing to lose!

Purchase Genie+

The new Genie+ system allows you to avoid long wait times by reserving your spot in line ahead of time. You can maximize your park time by selecting times for the Lightning Lane. I also highly recommend the Individual Lightning Lanes. You can read more about Genie+ here.

Book with a travel agent at Happy Travel Company

Of course this is my #1 suggestion. When you book with a Happy Travel Company travel agent they will advise you on planning your park days, dining reservations, and Genie+ rides so that you can maximize your time at Walt Disney World and never feel the crowds! The best part- planning services are FREE when you book with an HTC agent.

Make sure to request your free quote so we can start planning your magical vacation today!

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Using our MagicBands allows us to minimize what we need to take into the parks but there are still some items that I would consider essential.

A Backpack

Of course we have to have a backpack to hold our things. We usually take turns carrying the bag and now that the boys are older they even help out with that.

We have this bag from Amazon. It has been with us on every Disney vacation.

I like this bag because it is small and lightweight so it’s easy to pack in our suitcase. We don’t carry much in our bag (more on that here) so we don’t anything too heavy. This bag has a few pockets inside and out that allow us to put things we need to be able to quickly grab.

My favorite part of this bag is the straps. They are a breathable mesh material and are a life saver in the humidity of Florida!

A Reusable Water Bottle

Believe it or not, our trip in December 2021 was the very first time I ever brought a reusable water bottle into the parks. I don’t know why I’ve never thought of it before!

We used a collapsible water bottle from Amazon.

Every morning before we headed to the parks we filled the bottle up. While in the parks, you can get free ice water from any place that serves fountain drinks.

Bottled waters are around $5 in the parks and we drink a lot of water so this saved us money during our Disney vacation, which means more Mickey Ice Cream Bars!

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If you’ve begun thinking about a trip to Walt Disney World chances are you’ve come across this information and it probably sounds like a foreign language because it’s all brand new. I actually really like Genie+, more than FastPass+, but you can read more about that here.

Disney Genie, and mostly Genie+, is a rabbit hole that you can quickly get sucked into but in this post I am just going to go over the basics.

What is Disney Genie?

Disney Genie is a new, complimentary, service that is built into the My Disney Experience app. The purpose of this service is so that can you make the most of your day. 

My Day

You customize this by selecting your attractions, entertainment, and dining interests so the Genie can create your perfect day. The Disney Genie service will give you information about estimated wait times throughout the day as well as make additional recommendations. Once you’ve made Lightning Lane selections they will also be listed. All of this can be viewed under My Day in the My Disney Experience app.

Tip Board

The Tip Board is one part of the Disney Genie service. This is where you can see the wait times for all rides in the park. It’s also where you will make your Lightning Lane and Individual Lightning Lane selections.

Genie+ Basics

Genie+ will take your day to the next level. This is a paid feature that allows you to select times for the Lightning Lane entrance.

The cost for Genie+ is $15 per person per park day. There are two options for adding this service. 

First, you can add it to your tickets at the time you purchase them. Doing this allows you to pay the cost before you even arrive at the parks. If you choose to add it ahead of time you do have to add it for all of your park days. If you are purchasing 4 day park tickets for 2 people then you would pay $120 (($15×2)x4). 

Second, you can add Genie+ the day off if you are not wanting it for all of your days. For example, say you only want Genie+ for your HOllywood Studios day. You would just add the $15 per person service for that day on that morning. You can do this beginning at midnight each day. 

Lightning Lane

With the paid Genie+ service you can select Lightning Lane entrance times for the rides and attractions. This is the physical queue that you will stand in at the attraction. 

Like the old FastPass+ system, with Lightning Lane you have a one hour window to scan in. If you choose 9:30am that means you can enter the line between 9:30-10:30am. The only exception would be if you choose a time that is close to the park closing time because window will end at the posted park closing time. 

Individual Lightning Lane

Individual Lightning Lane is available for the top attractions in each park which is typically the top 2 rides.

For these attractions you must purchase the Lightning Lane entrance separately and price is typically $7-$15 per person.

Booking Lightning Lane and Individual Lightning Lane 

All guests with valid park tickets and park pass reservations can begin purchasing Individual Lightning Lane selections at 7am. 

On Site guests can also begin booking Lightning Lane selections at 7am. Off site guests can book Lightning Lane selections at park opening. 

What next? 

Hopefully this helps to give you a basic understanding of the new Disney Genie and Genie+ services.

If you’d like my help with booking and planning your trip click here for a free quote. My services are always free to clients. Disney pays me so you don’t have to!

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