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Thinking about checking out Space 220 at Epcot? If you're up for a little splurge, it's totally worth it! This newer restaurant at Epcot gives you amazing views of Earth from 220 miles up, which makes dining there a unique experience. You can enjoy a nice 2-course lunch or go all out with a fancy 3-course dinner. If you want a taste of the vibe without breaking the bank, the Space 220 Lounge is a great choice. Space 220 is located directly next to Mission Space and really does feel like an attraction. Once you step foot inside you feel like you are going to be transported into space . To begin your journey you will enter a space simulation elevator and be lifted 220 miles above the earth. As you ascend you will see an aerial view of Epcot looking down and the stars as you look up . As you make your way to your table, you'll come across this amazing space vegetable garden. If you are visiting for lunch, there is a 2-course prix fixe menu for adults which includes an appetizer and a main course, with the option to purchase sides, fancy drinks, and desserts. For children aged 3 to 9, the prix fixe menu includes dessert. For dinner, a 3-course prix fixe menu is available starting at 4 pm, which includes dessert. There's plenty of space themed drinks to choose from for both adults and young astronauts. T he space food is excellent! My family favorites were the Blue Moon Cauliflower and Starry Calamari appetizers and the Steak and Frites and the Gemini Burger. As you are dining expect to see astronauts and spaceships floating by. You may even see an astrodog if you look closely! After you're done eating, you'll make your way to the space elevator for another fun cosmic ride and head back down to Epcot! Pro Tip: This is a very popular reservation. Be sure to secure this reservation as soon as your dining window opens. A travel agent who specializes in Disney will be able to provide you you with strategies for booking your dining reservations based on the popularity of restaurants, your travel dates and your preferences. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here .

Hey there! If you're heading to Walt Disney World, you can now grab Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Passes up to a week before your stay. The prices vary depending on the day and park. If you are purchasing passes for all days of your stay, the cost can really add up! On my recent trip, I decided to go for the multi pass at Hollywood Studios and skip the single pass for Rise of the Resistance. When we went in mid-August, the Multi Pass was $24 per person, so for our group of four, we shelled out $96. Check out the breakdown of our Multi Pass day to see if it's worth it and how we spent our time! Money spent: $96 Time saved: 360 min (6 hours!) Lightning Lane rides: 7 Additional rides/attractions: 5 8:30 am: Woke up, got dressed and checked the weather. Saw rain was in the forecast. Put ponchos in our park bag (this will be important later!) 9:30 am: Took the ferry to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club Resort. 9:45 am: Arrived at Hollywood studios. Headed to first prebooked Lightnining Lane, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster . Stand by line was 65 min . After band was scanned, booked Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway for 1:30-2:30. 10:15 am: Ate breakfast at Fairfax Fare 10:50 am: Walked over to our second pre-booked Lightning Lane, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror . Stand by line was 90 min . After band was scanned booked Millennium Falcon for 1:30-2:30. 11:40 am: It was time to ride our third pre-booked Lightning Lane, Toy Story Mania . Stand by line was 45min . Booked Star Tours for 12:00-1:00 after band was scanned. 12:15 pm: Headed to Star Tours . Stand by Line was 15 min . We really didn't need the Lightning Lane for this one. 12:30 pm: Grabbed a funnel cake and drinks and headed to Indiana Jones . 1:15 pm: While waiting for Indiana Jones to start, modified Millennium Falcon Lightning Lane to 7pm which was after our dining reservation. We also booked Alien Swirling Saucers at 7:20pm. 1:45pm: Rode Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway using Lightning Lane pass. Stand by line was 65 min. 2:30 pm: Enjoyed drinks and snacks at Oga's Cantina . 3:30 pm : Exiting Oga's Cantina rain began. Took a break to put on ponchos and get out of rain. 3:45 pm: Walked over to Rise of the Resistance wearing ponchos, the rain was still heavy. The stand by wait time was listed as 40 min, most of this queue is indoor. We were able to walk right into the indoor queue area. Waited 20 minutes. 4:15 pm: When we exited Rise of the Resistance the rain had stopped. We head over to Star Tours and rode it twice. Wait time was listed as 10 minutes. We walked right in. (There are over 250 different storylines on this ride, so you are likely to enjoy a different experience each time) 4:45 pm : Walked right into Muppet Vision 3D . 5:15 pm: Headed to our dinner reservation at Sci Fi Dine in Theater. 7:00 pm: Rode Millennium Falcon using lightning lane. Stand by line was 45 min . 7:30 pm: Rode Alien Swirling Saucers using Lightning Lane. Stand by line was 35 min . 7:50 pm: Took ferry back to Yacht Club Resort and enjoyed a glow party on the beach and Epcot fireworks from our resort room. Pro Tip: Work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney to determine your travel party's priorities. Your agent can help you determine your lightning lane needs based on the time of year and your travel goals. Plus, they can give you strategies to help you get the most out of your passes! It'll help you save both money and time! Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here

Guests visiting Walt Disney World can now reserve certain attractions and experiences in advance using Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days before their visit! This updated system replaces Genie+, which previously enabled guests to make reservations starting at 7 am on the day of their visit. Discover all the details about this new system and get some helpful tips to enhance your visit! What is the difference between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass? There are two pass types of Lightning Lane passes, a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and a Lightning Lane Single Pass. The Multi Pass allows you to reserve up to 3 attractions ahead of your visit. With the Multi Pass, however, the attractions you may select are limited. The attractions are also tiered. For your first three selections you may only select one attraction from the most popular attractions. For example, if you are visiting Hollywood Studios, below are the attractions you may choose from: Choose up to one experience from this group: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Slinky Dog Dash Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this group: Alien Swirling Saucers Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage Disney Junior Play & Dance! For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Muppet*Vision 3D Star Tours – The Adventures Continue The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ Toy Story Mania! You may also notice, one of the most popular attractions Star Wars Rise of the Resistance is not on the list. This attraction is a Lightning Lane Single Pass ride. In addition to purchasing the Lighting Lane Multi Pass, you may purchase Lightning Lane Single Passes. All Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass offerings can be viewed through your my Disney Experience app and on the website. How much do the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Signal Pass cost? Prices for the pass vary by date and park. You will be able to see prices 3 weeks in advance through your my Disney Experience account. When. you are eligible to purchase your passes you do not have to check out until you have selected your rides. Selections will stay in your cart for about 5 minutes. This new feature is different than what guests experienced with Genie + where you purchased then booked your experiences. You can now see what you are purchasing prior to checkout, which many guests may prefer. TIP You may not need to purchase the Multi Pass for every park during your visit. If you are visiting during a less busy time consider cost worth benefit by monitoring wait times on available attractions. If you are working with a travel agent they can assist you with this money saving strategy. If I have a park hopper pass can I book experiences in more than one park? Yes, you will purchase the Multi Pass at the first park you will be visiting and make your first three selections there. Then you will be able to book future selections at your current park or the next park you plan to visit. TIP If you have the park hopper ticket, after redeeming your first multi pass, you can look for availability at all parks to determine which park you would like to go to based on ride selections available, offering you more flexibility in choices. How many passes can I book? Once you redeem a selection, you can use the app to check availability for your next attraction. There is a limit to one Lightning Lane entry per day. So for example, after you have redeemed Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway you may not book this attraction again that day. TIP I f you would like to maximize the number of passes you will be able to redeem, book your passes as early as you can. As the day progresses availability for passes will become more limited. Use the modify feature to check for earlier times after you have booked. When can I book my experiences? Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels (Swan and Dolphin and Shades of Green), can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance of their stay. This means you are eligible to choose experiences starting 7 days before the first day of your resort stay for the length of your stay. Other guests can purchase passes up to 3 days in advance of their park visit. Booking opens at 7am. You will want to book as soon as your window opens up. TIP If you are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel you can book passes for your entire travel stay (up to 14 days after your check in day) at once. You do not have to book your days in consecutive order. Consider booking the most popular attractions first, this may require you to book your days out of order. You can also have more than one party member booking at a time using multiple devices. How do I purchase passes? Passes are purchased through your my Disney Experience app, on your mobile device only. Be sure to connect everyone in your travel group on your Family & Friends list and make sure everyone has valid park passes linked to the my Disney experience account. TIP To save time, be sure you have preloaded your credit card information to your my Disney Experience account for purchases and that you have gathered your wish list of attractions and experiences so you are ready and organized. You will need to move fast when it's time to book. Once I book passes can I modify? Once passes are booked they are non-refundable, but they can be modified. You can change your selected park and/or date in advance (subject to availability) up until the moment you redeem your first Lightning Lane selection of the day. You can also change each selected experience and/or arrival window in advance (subject to availability) up until the start of the arrival window. TIP If you don't initially get the time you want, keep trying to modify your selection. If you want to maximize the value of you Multi Pass, try to get the earliest times possible. Once you have redeemed a selection, you may book another. Are there any additional perks to purchasing Lightning Lane Passes? Yes! When you purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass you will receive free digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos  from your day, captured with Disney PhotoPass Service. Plus, access Disney PhotoPass Lenses . Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here .

Seeking thrills the whole family can enjoy? Buckle up as I uncover Magic Kingdom's top thrill rides! I've added in a few considerations and tips to help you prioitize your time. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train With only a 38 inch height requirement and nice smooth ride, this Snow White themed ride is accessible to many riders. Little thrill seekers will enjoy this ride just as much as the adults who ride alongside them. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train historically has one of the longest wait times. If riding with little ones it's a good idea to book a lightning lane pass for this one or ride during a special ticketed event party, after hours party or extended evening hours. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Travel back in time to the 1850s and race through a haunted gold mine! Located in Frontierland, this ride is similar to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but with slightly bigger drops and a 40 inch height requirement. The queue for this ride is nicely themed, take time to read the signs and you are walking through. This queue can get hot, especially if you are visiting in the summer months. Space Mountain This indoor coaster is very fast and, other than a few flashing lights, completely dark! Space Mountain gets mixed reviews. While this attraction is packed with energy, inside in cool air conditioning, and well themed, it doesn't offer any neck support. Without seeing where you are going you can't brace yourself and do get whipped around a bit. During some holiday parties this ride has been offered with lights on and holiday music which, in my opinion, makes it much more enjoyable. The height requirement for this ride is 44 inches. Tron Lightcycle Run Tron is Magic Kingdoms newest thrill ride. Tron is high tech and futuristic. Unlike many other coasters, you will climb on your own "Lightcycle" which is similar to a motorcycle. Once on, you will lean forward, grip the handlebars and a back support will come down and secure you to the cycle. You will zoom off on a lighted track that twists and turns in both indoor and outdoor areas. This attraction is slightly better at night because of the lighted track. The queue for the attraction is great, you can see the cycles taking off. Currently this new attraction is on a virtual queue. You will either need to join the virtual queue or purchase a lightning lane pass to ride. The height requirement for this attraction is 48 inches. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

May the 4th be with you! Unleash your inner Jedi and check out this list of fun Star Wars finds! Some links on this website are affiliate links. This means, if you click on a link to one of these products and make a purchase,  I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.  I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Who doesn't love to be the creator of their own destiny! These books were a personal childhood favorite of mine, so I was very excited to find a Star Wars version to purchase for my kids! Check out these Star Wars Choose Your Own Destiny books! How cute are these Stackable drinking glasses by Joy Jolt? The Star Wars Stackable collection glasses are as versatile as they are adorable! The perfect glassware set for any Star Wars fan, whether they’re in use or on a shelf. Available in 5 iconic characters. Choose your favorite Star Wars character or collect them all! Looking for something cozy? Barefoot Dreams makes the softest blankets. This Star Wars throw will keep you cozy and warm! This Corkcicle Droid Gift Set is perfect for morning or night keeping coffee warm and wine chilled! Pair with Joffrey's Coffee Star Wars Dark Side Blend or Once Upon a Vine Wine! Looking for a cooler backpack for your next park visit or summer outing? Picnic Time brand makes a great Star Wars cooler backpack in a variety of Star Wars designs! Take this bag along as you explore Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Read my recent blog post Tips for Making the Most of Your First Visit to Oga's Cantina to prep for your visit! Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to help you plan an amazing Disney adventure! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

I love Epcot. Since the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, it may be my favorite park. Epcot, however, isn't always thought of as a main attraction for pre-schoolers. Epcot is known for futuristic attractions and international food and drinks. Often times this park is dismissed when planning trips for preschoolers. I believe Epcot is truly a very versatile park. It's a great time for adults, kids, tweens, teens and pre-schoolers! Here are 5 ways your pre-schooler can enjoy Epcot: Catch a ride on The Seas with Nemo and Friends. As you exit the attraction be sure to pick up a complimentary scavenger hunt and check out SeaBase, a two story aquarium, home to thousands of sea animals! Located in the same building you will find, Turtle Talk with Crush. This attraction is an interactive chat with Crush from Finding Nemo! Guests can ask Crush marine life questions and learn what it's like to live in the ocean. The show is improvised, so it’s different every time. It’s an ocean full of laughs for all ages! 2. Take a walk through Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. Guests may choose to play in the water as it travels from the sky to the ocean and back again. 3. Enjoy a gentle boat tour through a greenhouse as you ride Living with the Land! Learn about innovative growing techniques. You'll even see some modified fruits and vegetables with jaw dropping effects! If you are visiting during the holidays, this attraction may be decorated with a special holiday overlay! 4. Travel through time as you ride on Spaceship Earth. Guests learn about communication from the Stone Age to modern day. At the exit of this attraction, there is an interactive play area called Project Tomorrow Wonders of the Future. 5. Check out a 4D movie! Vacation Fun Animated Short with Mickey and Minnie is not an only a great spot to cool off, but your kids will be amazed by the 4D effects as they watch the show! With plenty of seating, wait times here are generally very short! 6. Let your imagination run wild as you explore your sense with a Journey into Imagination With Figment. This attraction also has an interactive play area at the exit. Explore ImageWorks "What If" Labs on your way out! 7. Head over to Norway to ride Frozen Ever After. Voyage to Arendelle aboard an ancient Nordic vessel as you take a musical tour of the wintery world of Frozen. This attraction can have a longer wait, so be sure to check wait times on the My Disney Experience app or book a Lightning Lane pass. On your way out stop by to meet Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus. If you want to plan a dining experience with Princesses, also located in Norway, you will find Arkershus Royal Banquet Hall, where Belle is the guest of honor. 8. If you are looking for a boat ride attraction with little to no wait, head over to Mexico and hop on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. This gentle boat ride is bright, cheerful and takes you through famous sights and cities in Mexico. 9. Experience one of Disney's newest attractions, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure located in France. This 4D adventure allows riders to feel as if they they shrunk down to the size of a mouse as they ride through a bustling kitchen. This attraction can have a longer wait, so be sure to check wait times on the My Disney Experience app or book a Lightning Lane pass. 10. Explore the countries throughout the World Showcase. In addition to being great places to find unique souvenirs and personalized gifts, each international pavilion around the World Showcase offers a Kidcot Fun Stop. This is a free activity station that teaches facts about the culture and traditions of each county. Visiting during The Flower and Garden Festival? Pick up an Egg-stravaganza scavenger hunt map (for a small fee) and search for eggs around the World Showcase. Turn in the completed map for a prize! 11. Meet favorite characters around the park. Character locations and appearance times can be found on the my Disney Experience app. Consider bringing something for characters to sign. Check out The Best Items for Disney Character Autographs for inspiration. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

Anonymous once said, "You shouldn't wait for other people to make special things happen. You have to create your own memories". Let 2024 be the year you make things happen! Here a few Disney travel inspiration ideas to get you started! 1.Sail a themed cruise. There are several to choose from, such as, Marvel Day at Sea, Pixar Day at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime 2. Ditch the kids and book an adults exculsive adventure. 3. Stay at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. surf North Shore, visit filming locations of Fantasy Island, Tropic Thunder and the Descendants., kayak and visit Pear Harbor. 4. Try a new Disney restaurant. 5. Challenge your family members to see who can find the most hidden Mickeys on your 2024 Disney trip. 6. Plan to attend Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom. Read The Dos and Don'ts of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party to learn more. 7. Register for a RunDisney Race. 8. Travel the world by visiting Epcot's World Showcase, then dine in space at Space 220. 9. Embark on a 3-, 4-, 5- or 10-Night cruise from Florida that includes a stop at the all-new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. 10. Visit a new state or country by booking an Adventures by Disney tour. (There are over 40 adventures to choose from on 7 continents). 11.Cruise Alaska this Spring or Summer. Read 10 Reasons You'll Love An Alaskan Cruise With Disney to learn more about Alaskan cruises. 12. Take a bike ride on Castaway Cay, one of Disney’s Private Islands. Read 8 Inexpensive Ways To Enjoy Disney's Castaway Cay for more ideas! 13. Attend an after hours party at Walt Disney World. There's a lot to choose from! Check out Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios or the Villains Party at Magic Kingdom. 14. Cruise with friends and book connecting verandah staterooms. The verandahs also connect creating one long verandah to enjoy and gather on together. Order the free room service for breakfast each morning and enjoy great food, conversation and scenery! 15. Stay at Disney's Vero Beach Resort. Play golf, look for sea turtles and kayak. 16.Discover Europe this summer! In July and August consider a Norwegian Fjord and Iceland cruise. This is just the start, there are many more European destinations offered by Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney. 17.Surprise your kids with a Disney vacation and don’t tell them until you are on route to your destination. 18. Let each member of your family make plans for one day of your trip. 19. Visit Columbia by booking a Columbia and South America Adventure by Disney and discover the magic found throughout the Cocora Valley landscape, a spot that provided inspiration for the filmmakers of Disney Animation’s “Encanto.” 20.Challenge your family to pool trivia at one of the Disney resort hotels. Winner gets to choose the first activity the next day. 21. Visit an Epcot Festival (Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, Festival of the Holidays) 22. Attend Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival. Let each person in your party select an item for everyone to try, be adventurous - maybe the pickle milkshake? Read Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2023 (with kids!) to read about my visit this year. 23. Stay at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. Take a bike ride on the beach followed by a dole whip back at the resort. 24.Book a National Geographic Signature Land Expedition and travel with a National Geographic expert such as an archaeologist, conservationist, or photographer—who enriches your experience with their knowledge and insights. What will you make happen in 2024? I'm here to help! I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! To get started request a no obligation vacation quote here.

Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of the two original Walt Disney property resorts. This iconic resort was built in 1971 and designed to be "ultra modern". Disney's Contemporary Resort is a deluxe resort with a deluxe resort price tag, which could leave you wondering if it is right pick for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Below are six considerations that can help you decide. When staying at Disney Contemporary Resort you are walking distance to Magic Kingdom. This makes trips back and forth to Magic Kingdom quick and simple. It's perfect for families who want a mid-day break at the resort pool or have little (or not so little) ones who would like a nap back in the room. This easy park access is also really convenient for anyone who is planning on enjoying an evening special ticketed event, such as Disney's After Hours at Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. With parties ending as late as midnight, it's much nicer to walk directly to your resort rather than waiting around for a bus with overly tired family members. Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of Disney's three monorail resorts. The monorail transportation system will take you effortlessly to other monorail resorts (Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Village Resort), opening up more dining options, and to the Magic Kingdom. Additionally, you can take the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) and transfer to the Epcot monorail for a scenic ride over to Epcot. Garden wing rooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort are the most affordable rooms on the monorail. Disney's Contemporary Resort garden wing rooms are the most affordable rooms available with monorail access. While these rooms are set back away from the main tower and do not offer balconies, you still get monorail access and great walkability to the Magic Kingdom making them a good value for a deluxe resort. Main tower lake view rooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort are less expensive than theme park view rooms and offer beautiful dawn and dusk views. Main tower theme park view rooms are much pricier than the main tower lake view rooms. You don't have to feel like you are scarificing by booking one of these less expensive rooms. While you won't have a view of Space Mountain, you will wake up to a beautiful sunrise over Bay Lake and can enjoy gorgeous evening views as well. Disney's Contemporary Resort is home of two very popular restaurants, Chef Mickey's and California Grill. Great dining options will not be a problem if you are staying at The Contemporary Resort. This resort is home to two very popular resort restaurants, Chef Mickey's, a character buffet that serves breakfast and dinner right in the center of the main tower, and California Grill, one of the best firework dining experiences at Walt Disney World. Additionally, with easy access to other monorail resorts, you can enjoy character dining at Ohana and 1900 Park Fare ,fine dining at Narcoossee's and much more! (Be sure to make your dining reservations 60 days ahead of your stay) Rooms have been recently renovated! Keeping with the retro modern theming, rooms were recently renovated to Incredibles decor. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to help you find the perfect resort for your stay! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

The most special and unique souvenirs my family has brought back from Disney vacations have been items we have used to collect character autographs. Autographed souvenirs are one-of-a-kind and unusually inexpensive. With a little planning before your next Disney adventure, you can create something extra special to remember your trip. Some links on this website are affiliate links. This means, if you click on a link to one of these products and make a purchase,  I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.  I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Below are a few of my favorite items for autographs. A Canvas Pouch This pouch was found in the dollar section at Target. We used fine tip fabric markers to collect autographs. After the trip it has been used to store make up and jewelry. Amazon also has quite a Disney canvas make up bags for around $10. Photo Mat A photo mat can be a great place to collect autographs. This idea is best for cruises, as the photo mat is a little more difficult to carry around with you at the parks. After your trip, use the mat to frame your favorite vacation photo! A Baseball Hat This hat was purchased on sale online from ShopDisney. When considering a hat for autographs, find one with enough open space for autographs and use fine tip fabric markers. Another great place to look for an autographs hat is 15 Needles Embroidery. This small business is highly rated and owned by a former cast member. They offer a wide range of Disney designs and hat colors so you can make a custom hat that matches your style! Pillow Case You'll need a light colored pillow case and medium tip fabric markers for this creation. Be sure to put a piece of paper of cardboard inside the pillow case as the characters are signing so the autographs don't bleed through. For an added magic, have your favorite character or your name embroidered on the pillow case ahead of time. White Insulated Water Bottle This item does double duty. Grab a white refillable waterbottle to keep you hydrated during your trip, and use it to collect autographs! These were signed with a metallic sharpie and spayed with a clear coat to finish. You can purchase the Stanley Cup and the Metalic Starpie Markers from Amazon. Christmas Ornaments Ornaments are a great place to capture autographs, especially if you are only looking to prioritize visiting a few characters as you don't have much space to fill. I love these ornaments from It All Started With A Flag. They make hand crafted wood ornaments for virtually every Disney resort and destination. This highly rated small business is owned by a former cast member. Here are a few additional items to consider: canvas tote white t-shirt or tank (just be sure you are carrying it and not wearing it, characters do not sign clothing on guests) apron white backpack small white purse (you can wear this and carry your fabric pens inside) Disney story book, each character signs on their picture Character meals are an enjoyable way to meet a lot of characters in a short time with no lines. Read more about character dining in Character Dining, the 2024 Disney Dining Plan and Dining Discounts at Walt Disney World. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

There is much to see and do on a Walt Disney World Vacation it's important that you make the most of your time. It's no secret that there are often long waits for many popular attractions. In recent years Disney has introduced a new service called Genie + to help guests manage time. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions and answers about Genie + and tips on how to use this service strategically to make the most of your vacation. What is Genie +? Genie + is a newer system designed to help you save time waiting in line using what are referred to as "lightning lane entrances". Lightning lane entrances are separate entrances to attractions where Disney limits the number of guest that can enter a lighting lane each hour, so waits are shorter. How do I purchase Genie +? Genie + can be purchased through your my Disney experience app the day of your visit. You can purchase Genie + for one park or multiple parks. The price will vary by park and day. Rates are higher on days parks are expected to be busier. Simply open the mobile app, click on the "purchase" button on the "Disney Genie + Service" section, then scroll to the bottom and click "Get Disney Genie + Service", then select the park you will be visiting that day. There is also a multiple parks option for guests using park hopper tickets and visiting more than one park. Does Genie + Include all Walt Disney World Attractions? Genie + includes most attractions, however there are a few attractions that can only be purchased individually. These are referred to as Individual Lightning Lane, or "ILL" attractions. How do I book rides with Genie +? After you have purchased Genie + you may begin selecting attractions by going to your tip board as early as 7am if you are staying at a WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, or when the park opens if you are staying off property. Your tip board can be found by clicking on the menu button on the lower right corner of the app (3 horizontal lines), then you will see the tip board button on the top left of the screen. On your tip board you will see the next time available for each attraction or show. You will be able to book one Genie + attraction at this time. (You can also book a Individual Lightning Lane (ILL)"attraction at this time. You will see these attractions listed on the tip board and marked with a price. Most rides are included with Genie +, but there are a few attractions that are "Individual Lightning Lane (ILL)". You would purchase these rides separately.) When can I book my next Genie + attraction? You can book another Genie + lightning lane attraction after you have scanned a lighting lane attraction at the attraction queue or if it's been 2 hours since you booked your last lighting lane (and two hours after the park has opened). This means you can hold more than one Genie + lightning lane attraction at a time. You will see the next time you can book an attraction listed at the top of your tip board. Here are a few tips when booking attractions -Book the most popular rides first. These will have later return times, but that's OK. When the park first opens everyone goes to the most popular rides. The lines for other attractions will be shorter. Use this time to wait in the shorter lines. Then later in the day when it's your turn for the more popular attraction you can skip the stand by line using your booked Genie +. You may also be able to experience one of the attractions you enjoyed earlier in the day a second time by booking it through Genie + and skipping the stand by line. -Genie + allows you to book a lightning lane each for each attraction only once based on availability. Some of the most popular attractions may not have availably by the end of the day. Prior to your visit, you can view wait times on the app to see which rides have the longest waits. -You can modify rides after you book. Just click on the 3 dots in the right corner. This will not change the time you can book your next ride. -Be sure to book your next attraction as soon as you are able to! Don't forget you can book an attraction after you have scanned an attraction or if it's been 2 hours since you booked your last attraction. The time you can book will be listed on the top of your tip board. -If you have trouble or questions with Genie + while at the park, look for a guest service blue umbrella. Cast members here can assist you. I'm only going to the park for half a day, is it a waste to purchase Genie +? NO! You can still purchase Genie+ and begin booking attractions at 7 am. Be sure to modify the times so you are moving the times to later in the day. Continue adding on attractions every 2 hours. You will arrive at the park with a few attractions lined up or "stacked" and ready to go to. What happens if my booked attraction is closed during my scheduled time? Sometimes attractions close due to a variety of reasons. If this happens during your scheduled time your booked experience will change over to a "lightning lane-select experience". You can use this on any Genie + lighting lane experience (not ILL). Do I need Genie + for all 4 parks? Genie + is an additional add on and extra expense. This is not something that is required for your Disney World vacation, but I would consider the value of your time when thinking about the purchase. During less busy times you can get by without purchasing Genie + for Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Both of these parks offer many experiences that don't require waiting in lines. I would still recommend Genie + for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Both of these parks have many rides and the service will really save you time and allow you to experience more. Are there any other perks to purchasing Genie +? My favorite Genie + perk outside of the lightning lane service is the DisneyPhotoPass photos included for select attractions. Many attractions have photo opportunities. Prior to using this service I had fun with the pictures, but never purchased any. Now that they are included, my family has had a great time posing for pictures during the rides. You will also receive a PhotoPass lease app which gives you access to a ton of Disney filters through your phone, my kids have had a lot of fun playing with this during downtime in our resort room. All of this information is the most up to date at the time of the publishing of this blog post. Periodically updates are made to the Genie + service. For the most accurate information and strategies, be sure to check with your travel agent. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

When my oldest daughter turned 4 she wanted a "Beauty and the Beast" birthday party. The girls dressed up like princesses, we painted tea cups, and I just knew it wouldn't be complete without serving the "grey stuff" for dessert. I searched for a copycat recipe and there were tons out there, all consisting of the same basic ingredients, pudding mix, whipped topping, chopped Oreos and milk. It was a very easy recipe to make and everyone loved it. Since that 4th birthday party 7 years ago, we have made this dessert numerous times. It's been used to top brownies and cupcakes, taken to dinner parties, served to celebrate special occasions and most recently it was requested as an end of the first week of school treat. I have tweaked this simple recipe to what my girls believe is the best version of the grey stuff. They said it's even slightly better than what is served at Be Our Guest in Walt Disney World! I like my version because it's easy, doesn't leave any partly used pudding pouches and makes enough for leftovers. We have found that it takes even better the next day. Here's what you'll need: 15-17 Oreo cookies chopped in a food processor 2 1/2 cups of milk 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix (5.1 oz box) 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz box) whipped Topping (16 oz) white sugar pearl sprinkles for decoration mixing bowl Here are the 4 simple steps you need to follow. In a mixing bowl whisk milk and both boxes of pudding. 2. Fold in chopped Oreos. 3. Fold in whipped topping. 4. Serve in bowl or teacup, or on top of brownies or cupcakes and top with pearl sprinkles. Optional So here's a secret tip.This is an optional add on, if you are looking for a more perfect match to what is served in Walt Disney World, and you are willing to get an extra ingredient. The grey stuff you are served at Be Our Guest does have a deeper color than the copycat recipes provide. I reached out to one of my favorite clients, who also happens to be a Washington D.C. pastry chef, to get some advice on matching the color a little better. He suggested adding in a little dark cocoa powder to give that rich grey color! Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.