How To: Grilling Corn on the Cob

This is a particular favorite in our house and people have asked a couple of times how we do it so here it is...

Start by washing and then soaking the corn for about 30-45 minutes...

Then, carefully peel the husk back but be sure to not accidentally pull the husk off. Remove all the little corn hairs...

Add butter and seasoning...we generally just throw a little salt and pepper but a dash of paprika can be yummy and a good complement to red meat...

Next, rewrap the husks...

Inevitably, while you were pulling the husks back in order to remove the corn hairs and season, one of the husks of at least one of the cobs, came off. Now is when you'll use that little rebel. Pull a thin strip of husk...quarter inch or so works great...and wrap it around the tip of the husk...

Double knot the strip of husk-it can be tricky but a single knot just won't keep the husk closed at all...

Grill for about 30 minutes, turning regularly...every ten minutes or so seems to work out well...

Don't panic if your knots come off toward the end of your grilling time. They do that. A lot. The trick is to keep them on as long as possible to keep the moisture in. Your husks will turn black and some of the corn may get scorch marks but they still taste great...

Enjoy.

Disney World Free Dining 2013

The announcement many were waiting for (and some thought might not happen) came this morning...the 2013 Free Dining offer at Disney World.

This year's offer is more limited than the past but will still help many take a trip of a lifetime they may not otherwise have been able to afford.

Dates:

September 2nd-25th

*so long as you have at least one overlapping date, you can get the free dining offer for your entire stay

Resorts:

All Disney owned and operated Resorts EXCEPT FT. WILDERNESS CAMPSITES, 3-BEDROOM VILLAS, and LITTLE MERMAID ROOMS AT ART OF ANIMATION.

Value Resort guests will receive the QUICK SERVICE PLAN which includes 2 quick service meals, 1 snack and a free refillable mug per person per room.

Moderate and Deluxe Resort guests will receive the BASIC DINING PLAN which includes 1 table service meal, 1 quick service meal, 1 snack and a free refillable mug per person per room.

*guests have the option to upgrade to either the basic or deluxe plans by simply paying the cost difference

For more information on exactly what the Dining Plans cover, visit our Disney Dining Plan page.

WHAT'S REQUIRED?

You must book a stay with at least 3-nights and 2-days park tickets.

HOW TO GET IT?

Just call 407-WDW-7675 and ask to book a Magic Your Way package which includes resort stay, park tickets (park hopping and water park upgrades available) and of course the free dining plan. A $200 deposit is required at the time of booking and the balance is due 45 days before you check-in. If you already have a trip planned, call the same number, have your reservation number available and simply ask to add the free dining offer to your vacation.

ALTERNATIVE OFFERS:

If you've decided that the dining plan doesn't work for your family for whatever reason, but are hoping to still save some money while staying on-property, Disney is also offering a 30% off room discount for most resorts. THE OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED. Depending on the number of people in your party and the cost of the resort you are staying, the 30% off may be a larger discount.

Freedom Isn't Free

I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July. I really wanted to write about our plans but in addition to splashing in the kids' pool, taking some holiday pics and grilling steaks, we spent the night eating and blowing things up with some Army friends as a surprise birthday/4th of July party with some of the guys Joshua deployed with. 

It was good to get together especially because the birthday boy (aka Hopper) is a guy whom Joshua hasn't seen since Hopper was seriously injured and air-lifted out. He and his wife have been in my prayers for months. I know that they've both struggled with the injury but they're really an inspiration in strength. Our nation's birth and growth continue because of the sacrifices of men and women like Hopper and their families. 

Infant Heimlich Saved Our Daughter

We had another terrifying moment with our daughter last night. I've said it before and I'll say it again...she's going make me go gray way too young.

We had a pretty busy day...a 30 day post-deployment yellow ribbon event (scheduled two and a half months after they returned because that's just how the Army works) aka death by power point, which meant that the girl was up for almost 13 hours straight because she refused to nap while in her class all day. She also didn't nurse much (she's been on a bit of a nursing strike) and barely ate while there so by the time we got home we had a very sleepy, very hungry little girl. Thankfully, much like her brother, she handles frustrating situations fairly well so we made a quick dinner and sat down. We gave her small pieces of bread (something she's had several times before) and she started out just fine but then about ten minutes into dinner she began choking.

It wasn't the gagging, coughing, gasping kind of choking babies and kids do from time to time when they eat too fast or don't chew enough. It was a heart-stopping silent choking. She just sat there with her mouth open, her arms out-stretched and her lips quickly turning dark purple. I yelled for Joshua, ripped her out of her high chair, flipped her over and started using the heel of my hand to hit between her shoulder blades. It didn't do anything. After three or four good hits, Joshua was there and grabbed her from me. He also tried hitting her back to dislodge the food but it didn't work. So he turned her over and squeezed her between her rib cage and bellybutton and the bread came flying out. She screamed from fear and probably pain but overall she was fine. We opted to end dinner since it was clear she was too tired to even chew.

Years ago, when I took an infant CPR class, I never thought I'd have to do the heimlich maneuver on our nearly 11 month old daughter but I'm glad that both Joshua and I knew the steps. If you don't know how to do the heimlich on an infant, take a couple minutes and go HERE to read how to do it properly-it's a simple step by step guide. Also, for all my fur-mommies out there, I found a site that details the steps to doing the heimlich on your dog.

We joke about how our daughter's first birthday party will have a Survivor theme because she's a bit of a daredevil and her brother loves her a bit too strongly sometimes but last night made that joke a little too real for me. 

Disney's Monorail Resorts

Disney Deluxe Resorts...Monorail Edition

FINALLY! 

Earlier posts detailed Disney's Value Resorts and Disney's Moderate Resorts and I'll post more soon about the rest of Disney's Deluxe Resorts and DVC Resorts.

This week we're going to start covering the deluxe resorts. There are so many amenities and extras with these, I thought it best to split them up. First, we're going to go over the monorail resorts because often times first time guests planning a vacation will know only of the monorail resorts. So, which resorts are on the monorail? 

The Grand Floridian

(photo credit: infobarrel.com)

The Contemporary

(photo credit: wikipedia.org)

The Polynesian

(photo credit: disneypicture.net)

Firstly, it should be noted that the monorail resorts are the most expensive resorts at Disney World. For a family of four, it can range anywhere from $315 per night (weekday nightly rate in the value season at Contemporary in a standard room) to $3,210 per night (during the holiday season-December 21st-31st in a Grand Suite on the Club Level at the Grand Floridian). Although, across the board, a standard room will generally cost you around $500-650 per night. 

(photo credit: worl.nycsubway.org)

The Disney World monorail connects the three deluxe resorts, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and the transportation and ticket center (TTC). There are two routes: the express which only connects the Magic Kingdom to the TTC from which you can switch trains and go on to Epcot, and the resort line which not only services the Magic Kingdom and TTC (again, from which you can transfer to a train to Epcot) but also each of the three monorail resorts. The monorail itself is almost silent and has been in operation since 1971. Major changes were made in 1982 when Epcot was added, 1988 when the Grand Floridian was added, and 1989 when the "modern trains" began being used. The monorail runs almost completely silent so don't worry about train noise disrupting your stay at one of the monorail resorts. It should be noted that as convenient it is to be on the monorail, you only have direct access via monorail to two parks. You will still have to fold up the strollers and pack into either a Disney bus or your own vehicle to get to either Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom.

The Grand Floridian

(as seen from the ferry between Magic Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge)

The most recent addition to the monorail resorts, The Grand Floridian is beautiful. Inspired by San Diego's Hotel Del Coronado, the Grand Floridian has gorgeous verandas and dormers with it's stark white paint and red shingled roofs, it's a stunning image of Victorian architecture. It's also Disney World's most expensive and some might argue most luxurious resort. That being said, don't worry if you're a t-shirt and shorts kind of Disney vacationer. You won't be out of place. It's still a Disney resort and as such is very family friendly. Also, don't let the Victorian atmosphere fool you, it's not a stuffy or snooty resort-we're a t-shirt and shorts kind of family and although this is one resort we would probably not pick for a long vacation (more for budget considerations than anything else) but a long weekend would be great. 

If you are planning on visiting The Grand Floridian with your kids, be sure to pick up an activities guide when you check-in. Such activities include the Lady Bug Release, Adventure Time, Arts and Crafts as well as the popular (read: make a reservation 180 days in advance) Pirate Adventure and Wonderland Tea Party. The Pirate Adventure takes little pirates (ages 4-12) out on a search for treasure on the high seas (aka various marinas on the Seven Seas Lagoon). The adventure lasts two hours and is available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays from 930-1130 and only costs $36.21. The kids must be fully potty trained (no pull-ups) and will be given a snack and beverage so if your little one has an allergy, be sure to mention it when you book your reservation. The Wonderland Tea Party is hosted by Alice and the Mad Hatter. The kids (aged 4-10) play games, decorate and eat cupcakes and drink "tea" (juice). They also do some arts and crafts-usually making a mug that they then get to take home. The party lasts an hour and I've been told that the photopass picture that is taken of the kids with Alice and the Mad Hatter can be added to your photopass card. The cost is approximately $42.50. Both the adventure and the party are available to all Disney guests and not just Grand Floridian Resort guests but it is a convenient perk if you're already planning on staying there. Additionally, the Grand Floridian offers a drop-off childcare program called the "Mousekeeter Club" only available to Grand Floridian resort guests and guests who have booked a dining reservation at one of The Grand Floridian's restaurants. There is a minimum of 2 hours and a max of 4 hours per visit and children must be potty trained and between 4 and 12 years old. The cost is $11 per hour and includes dinner for the child. Also, while there, kids are free to play board games, video games, watch movies or create an arts and crafts project. You can book the Pirate Adventure, the Wonderland Tea Party or the Mousekeeter Club 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

The resort itself has 900 rooms separated in categories both by price, size and view. You can either have a garden, lagoon or even a Magic Kingdom view. They have a gorgeous Victorian style with meticulous detailing. Where The Magic Lives provides a much more detailed account of each of the many, many rooms available including lots of pictures.

One of the most popular aspects to the resort, the spa, is unfortunately not currently open. Disney is doing a fairly extensive refurbishment and the spa will remain closed throughout 2012. I will update this post when the spa has reopened. 

The Grand Floridian is home to some of the most popular restaurants at Disney. They are...

Victoria and Albert's-Disney's most expensive restaurant...dress code and age restrictions-10yrs and up strictly enforced. Expect to spend at least $125 per person (plus wine pairings, upgrades like kobe beef or caviar, tip and tax) in the main dining room for the 6 course fixed price menu-which will be personalized with your name and whatever occasion you are celebrating to take home

Citricos-famous for their seafood and often compared to the Contemporary Resort's California Grill (a signature meal on the Disney Dining Plan)

1900 Park Fare-Character Buffet...Mary Poppins for breakfast and Cinderella for dinner (table service meal on the dining plan)

Narcoosee's-a waterfront restaurant featuring seafood and steak dinners (a signature meal on the dining plan)

The Contemporary Resort

One of Disney's original two resorts, The Contemporary Resort is a stone's throw from Magic Kingdom. In fact, if you have to inclination, you can actually walk from the lobby of the the Contemporary to Magic Kingdom in just minutes. It's location is obviously the biggest draw for the Contemporary and although some would argue it lacks the thematic elements that other Disney resorts have, the Contemporary has recently be refurbished and is still bringing people in from around the world with it's futuristic styling. Even if you don't reserve a room with a Magic Kingdom view, you can watch Wishes (Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks show) from the Contemporary either on the 4th floor observation deck (open to the public) or while dining at California Grill on the 15th floor observation deck. We've never caught the show from the 4th floor but twice we booked dinner at California Grill (around 8pm so we could eat dinner, watch the show and come back to our table for dessert). The music is broadcast through speakers on the deck and it's truly magical.

Recently the Contemporary joined the ranks of a select few resorts...the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resorts with the addition of the Bay Lake Tower. The tower is attached to the main Contemporary building with a long walkway. The DVC is a great time-share type program that I'll go into in more depth in another post.

The Contemporary offers several recreational options including tennis courts, a fitness center, white sand beaches overlooking Bay Lake (no swimming in the lake), an arcade, two pools (which optional cabana rental), fishing excursions, movies under the stars by the pool or on the beach, parasailing and the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage (once only available to Grand Gatherings).

The Pirates and Pals Voyage sails Friday through Monday nights (Tuesday nights have been added through June of 2012 with no word on if it will continue the traditional Fri-Mon schedule afterward) leaving just over an hour before the fireworks are scheduled to begin. Captain Hook and Mr Smee will be your guides on land (where there are snacks and beverages) and on sea. The boat can accommodate up to 60 people but doesn't always fill up. Prices currently listed are $53.99 (plus tax) for guests 10 years and up and $30.99 (plus tax) for guests 3-9 years. You can book 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-PLAY (sign language interpreters are available so long as you notify Disney of this necessity at least 14 days in advance and the boats are all wheel chair accessible-you just roll right on).

Other fun options at the Contemporary Resort include a couple of great restaurants. I already mentioned the California Grill and I really can't recommend it highly enough. There is a dress code (no where near as strict as at Victoria and Alberts...just no cut off jeans or tank tops) and it is closer to fine dining than most of the restaurants at Disney World but it's still very family friendly and most importantly the food is amazing. If you are a fan of sushi or steak, you'll love it! Just be sure to book your dinner at 180 days out so you can make your reservation fall in place with the fireworks. It's a must do at least once. California Grill is on the dining plan as a signature meal.

(who says 14 months is too young to meet the mouse?!)

Another fun restaurant is Chef Mickey's. It's a buffet restaurant where the characters come out and meet you. They stop at each table and give the kids a chance to have pictures taken or autographs signed which can be super helpful if you go at a busier time of year and don't want to wait in line for the kids to meet all the characters. Just keep in mind that you may want to get the kids to eat as much as possible BEFORE the characters start coming out or you may end up leaving with hungry kids. Breakfast prices: $17.03 ages 3-9 & $30.88 ages 10 and up (plus tip, tax is included). Dinner prices: $20.23-$22.36 ages 3-9 & $41.53-$45.79 ages 10 and up based on the time of year (plus tip, tax is included). Chef Mickey's is a table service meal on the dining plan.

The Polynesian

My personal favorite monorail deluxe is also one of the original two resorts, the Polynesian is engrossed in its tropical theme with over 75 varieties of tropical and subtropical plants and picture perfect waterfalls inside a 3-story atrium. Bamboo tiki torches light the walkways between the Great House (lobby, front desk, shops, restaurants) and the eleven different "longhouses" which house the 847 rooms available. Although the Polynesian is a gorgeous deluxe resort, it's clearly the most casual and family-oriented. 

(my boys)

The volcano-themed pool is a particular favorite with kids. It's 40 feet high and includes a waterfall and tubular water slide. It is a zero-entry pool and there is a water wheelchair available to help you enter the water. Additionally, you can enjoy fishing, boating, water-skiing, and parasailing on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Unique to the Polynesian, a torch-lighting ceremony welcoming the night includes traditional fire-knife dancing and authentic drumming and chanting.

The Polynesian has both one of the most popular family restaurants as well as one of the most popular dinner shows. The restaurant is called 'Ohana (which translated means family in an extended sense-meaning blood, adopted and "intentional" family) and offers traditional Hawaiian food served family style. Breakfast has more "Americanized" food in addition to some tradition breakfast items and is a character meal with characters from Lilo and Stitch. Dinner is full of fun with story tellers and coconut races (kids race around with brooms trying to get coconuts around the room fastest). Both breakfast and dinner are on the dining plan as a table service meal but out of pocket would cost:

Breakfast: $12.77-$14.90 (based on the season, including tax but not tip) for children ages 3-9 and $22.36-$26.62 (based on the season, including tax but not tip) for adults

Dinner: $17.03-$19.16 (based on the season, including tax but not tip) for children ages 3-9 and $35.14-$39.40 (based on the season, including tax but not tip) for adults

(he's a BIG fan of the Polynesian Resort)

The dinner show at the Polynesian is Spirit of Aloha Luau. It's a signature meal on the dining plan and is both entertaining and delicious. I wrote a much more extenssive post about it specifically and you can go HEREto read more about it. 

If you're plan is to spend much of your time relaxing at the resort but you still want easy quick access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot (read: you don't have to fold up those blasted strollers), the Polynesian might just be the resort for you.

Up and Down

Without going into details that may cross that ever important OPSEC line, the last few days have been an emotional roller coaster. We've been given dates and locations...had those dates and locations changed...and changed...and changed. STUPID BROKEN PLANES. Most of it was expected...but no less stressful. I finally gave up yesterday, went to the store and bought a 6-pack and cookie dough which I plan to eat in it's entirety without baking (no judgments please). Between that and the retail therapy...I had to buy some new unmentionables...I'm surviving the pre-homecoming jitters. Speaking of buying those fun little clothes, after I dropped off the boy for a playdate, I discovered I should have found someone to watch the girl also because every time I tried something on, she thought it was time to nurse which of course slowed the whole process down dramatically.


Anyway, I don't have this week's Disney post ready and I just don't have the time or mental clarity to work on it so I'm skipping this week. Sorry. I promise that I'll have the first half of the Disney Deluxe Resorts done and ready for you next week...we're going to cover the monorail resorts first because those are often the ones people think of when they think of Disney Resorts.


Here's hoping that I'll have pics to post soon of our family together again.

Disney World Free Dining 2012

THE 2013 FREE DINING OFFER HAS BEEN RELEASED.

***Update: The free dining offer has been extended to include later 2012 dates. It requires a 5 night stay and must be booked by Sept 29th (although I recommend booking much sooner as resorts are filling up fast). The dates are as follows...

September 30th-October 4th

October 19th-November 1st

November 9th-15th and 23rd-29th

December 10th-13th

A three night minimum stay is required. If you're dates are off, you can still get the free dining offer so long as you have at least one overlapping night within 3 days of the dining offer.

Also, the offer is currently (Monday, July 9th) offered only to guests with a Disney Visa Card, however, the offer is expected to be made open to the general public on Thursday July 12th.***

Ok. It's official. Today (March 5th, 2012) Disney opened up the free dining offer to the general public (American public only so far...international guests have not yet been included) if you book by May 18th (although you will need to book much sooner than that because the rooms are going fast) for stays between August 25th and September 27th. Don't worry if you're entire stay is not within those dates...just one overlapping night within three days of the offer and you can get the offer for your entire stay. Also, keep in mind you can only have one discount at a time so you can't combine the current military discount and the free dining offer...just one is permitted and for the record, free dining will almost always save you more but do the numbers for your group and see for your self.

The way the free dining offer works is this...IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO GUESTS STAYING AT A DISNEY OWNED AND OPERATED RESORT. So, you are ineligible if you're someplace else like Shades of Green. It is a package inclusion...meaning you have to book a package...resort AND park tickets so if you're a season pass holder, you'll be required to buy TWO days worth of tickets...no more, no less are required. 

If you stay at a Disney Value Resort you'll get the quick service plan (details on the exact differences on the plans can be found on my Disney Dining Plan page) for free.

If you stay at a Disney Moderate Resort EXCEPT FT WILDERNESS CAMPSITES or a Disney Deluxe Resort, you'll get the basic dining plan for free.

Either way, you can pay the difference to upgrade your dining plan...say from the quick to the basic if you're staying at a value resort or from the basic to the deluxe dining plan if you're staying at a moderate or deluxe resort.

A family of four staying at a moderate resort for 6 days, 5 nights could easily save over $600 with this great deal. Check it out and book today. In order to get the free offer YOU HAVE TO CALL IN. You can't book it online. The number is 407-939-7675. Expect the wait time to be significant. I called at 6am (my time...7am Orlando) to add this deal to our current package for a trip we had already reserved within the time frame and was on hold for 40 minutes before they got to me but within ten minutes I had the free dining and saved our family a significant amount of money. Disney phone lines are open every morning at 7am EST and stay open until 10pm EST.

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue

The last but certainly not least (in our opinions) of the signature dinner shows is the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue. I've already covered the Spirit of Aloha Luau and Mickey's Backyard BBQ but this week I'm going to tell you about our favorite Disney World dinner show.

The Hoop Dee Doo is one of the longest (if not the longest...can't seem to get a straight answer on that one) continuously running musicals in American history. It's a an old-fashioned, foot stomping musical comedy with buckets (literally) of food. Something like 10 MILLION people have been to the Ft Wilderness show. The show includes some audience participation and is a favorite with older kids who will be able to understand some of the jokes. The last time we went we had a 7 yr old girl, 3 yr old boy and two infants. Of course the infants had no opinions. The 3 yr old loved the food and thought the dancing and clapping was fun but after a full day in the parks, he didn't have the attention span to actually watch the show. The 7 yr old enjoyed it but was sleepy towards the end.

The show starts out with a song and as the servers take drink orders. Unlimited draft beer, sangria, wine, coffee, tea, milk, juice, lemonade and soda pop (the root beer is excellent and served in a frosted mug) are all included in the cost of the show...specialty drinks and bottled beer can be purchased separately. 

On the menu:

Salad

Bread with honey butter (so good!)

BBQ Ribs

Fried Chicken

Baked Beans

Mashed Potatoes 

Strawberry Shortcake

Something I want to point out is that although the food is served family style, you can always ask your server to bring more of one item or less of another. Our family doesn't eat pork ribs so whenever we go we just make sure to mention it and that we'll just like more chicken instead. Also, this is one of the most accommodating restaurants when it comes to a food allergy. I've seen the chefs come out personally and talk to a table to see what they can do. I have heard that it's not uncommon for the head chef to call you at home before your trip if you mention a food allergy when you make the reservation so that they can be prepared to give you something that not only works with your food allergy but also is yummy. I've see the gluten-free food (people next to us a couple years ago had a young girl with celiac's disease) and it looked great. She was served everything the rest of us got, she just had gluten-free versions served separately. 

Show Times

There are three shows nightly that each last just shy of 2 hours. Recently show times have changed and are now daily...
4pm
6:15pm
8:30

Reservations
 Reservations are accepted 180 days in advance and although it might seem crazy to book a dinner show six months out, it really can be necessary especially in the busier times of year when the shows book up fast. 

Because the show is at Ft Wilderness, you can either get there by boat from Magic Kingdom or by vehicle (your own or Disney bus) but remember if you drive or take the bus, you will then have to take the internal bus system at Ft Wilderness from the parking lot to the pavilion. The internal bus ride will take about 10-15 minutes depending on how many stops along the way are needed for other passengers. We've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for an internal bus to  pick us up but since it can add almost half an hour to your travel time, be sure to leave the parks or your resort with enough time.

If you attend the earliest show, you'll be out early enough to hop on the ferry boat and head back to Magic Kingdom for Wishes, the nightly fireworks show in Magic Kingdom. If you opt for the second show, you might make it out in time to go to the beach at Ft Wilderness where the ferry boat docks. There are hammocks and white sand to lay out on and watch Wishes.

Price

Any one of the three dinner show times can be purchased with either credit at at the time of booking or you can opt to use Disney Dining Credits. If you use credits, remember that the show will charge TWO table serve credits per person because it's a signature meal. If you're paying out of pocket for the show, there are three price options based on where your table will be in relation to the stage. 

Category 1 seating is directly in front, center stage and costs $67.99 for adults (10 yrs+) and $34.99 for kids (3-9 yrs).

Category 2 seating is on the sides and behind the Category 1 seating and in the center of the balcony seating and costs $62.99 for adults (10+ yrs) and $30.99 for kids (3-9 yrs)

Category 3 seating is in the balcony on the sides and costs $58.99 for adults (10+ yrs) and $29.99 for kids (3-9 yrs)

The costs listed include tax and gratuity. As always, any children under 3 may eat for free with a paying adult. 

Although Category 1 seating is not technically allowed with dining credits, we've been on a couple different occasions during slower times of year when we booked Category 2 seating with dining credits but had a table almost directly in front of the stage. A lot of that sort of thing will depend on how many people on in your party and how early you book your reservations.

One of our favorite ways to do Hoop Dee Doo is to book it for our first night...especially if we're not going to make it into the parks that day based on our travel itinerary. It's a great way to kick off a Disney World vacation and a particularly fun way to introduce Disney to anyone going with us for the first time.

Mickey's Backyard BBQ

Our family has had the pleasure of participating in Mickey's Backyard BBQ twice so far. We love it and more importantly, our son loves it! The show includes rope tricks, country music from a live country-western band and line dancing.

Like Disney's other two dinner shows, the Spirit of Aloha Luau and the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, the BBQ can be purchased with credits from Disney's Dining Plan or you can pay out of pocket when you make your reservations...up to 180 days in advance (highly recommended). If you're not using dining credits, the cost for the dinner show is $59.99 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $36 for children (ages 3-9). Children under 3 are welcome to share with someone else in the party. The BBQ is set up buffet style with long picnic tables around the room. 

The most important thing I can tell you about the BBQ is that unlike the other dinner shows, the BBQ seating is NOT pre-arranged...it's first come, first serve meaning that if you want a good seat, you HAVE to get there early...like REALLY early. The show starts at 6:30 but I would recommend getting to the pavilion no later than 5:30...5 would be better. Also keep in mind that the show is at Disney's Fort Wilderness resort and NOT at Wilderness Lodge (a common mix up). Once you arrive at Fort Wilderness, either by your own vehicle or by Disney bus, you'll have to use the resort's internal bus system to get to the pavilion. It WILL take longer than you expect to get there so be sure to leave early. Also, since the show is in a pavilion, there is a chance that it will be canceled due to weather. It's covered so there's some protection but just be aware of the possibility.

Don't worry about what to do to keep the kiddos busy when you arrive early...Disney has horseshoes, sidewalk chalk, hoola hoops and even some of the characters come out for meet and greets before they open up the pavilion. If it's warm/hot out they'll also serve lemonade to keep everyone well hydrated.

The biggest reason to arrive early is to get a good seat for the show but don't worry too much if you don't get a table right at the front because the best part about the BBQ is that the characters will dance with your children and not just in front of the main center stage. There are painted squares around the pavilion. Each of the squares is where the characters will all rotate and dance with kids in addition to the center area. The characters that come are Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale. They will NOT go table to table so be prepared to go to them. 

Warning: there will be children (and their parents) who are pushing and want to get autograph books signed-which btw, is not encouraged but they usually clear out early. There are three different "dance sets" so don't panic when the characters leave to take a break after the first set-they will come back. It's a good time to get some food and drinks. Speaking of which, the BBQ offers a couple different salads, cole slaw, beans, mac n cheese, corn on the cob, cornbread, bbq chicken, ribs, hot dogs and hamburgers. Dessert is terribly good...freezers FULL of ice cream bars. It's one of my husband favorite things. In addition to the lemonade, iced tea, beer and wine are available and included in the cost of the show. When you go to get an alcoholic drink, the table is on the far end of the pavilion, away from the other drinks and you are permitted to take two at a time but may return for more but please drink responsibly. Also, if you're on the young-ish side, you should know that the BBQ is one of only two places at Disney where I've been carded which at this point in life is a compliment but it can be a pain if you forget your ID.

One of my concerns the first year we took the boy was that he was going to be too intimidated to dance with the characters because he had only just turned two and hadn't had a whole lot of experience with things like that. He was a bit nervous but as long as we were with him, he LOVED it. Our friends went with us that year and they had two girls 8 and 6 and a 4 yr old boy who all really enjoyed it. 

This year we returned-the boy was 3yrs old. In addition to our son, our daughter (2 months) and two of their cousins (7 yr old girl and 6 month old boy) joined us. Our son (loud, typical boy) and the 7 yr old (who is a somewhat shy little girl) had a blast. As for the babies, our daughter slept through most of it because we had a table closer to the back and the 6 month old surprisingly loved it and refused to miss any of it by sleeping. We were able to nurse both babies at the show without a problem (although we both used nursing covers).

The show technically ends at 8pm but you're free to leave whenever you are done. It's a very laid back dinner show with some really fun entertainment. I recommend it especially if you have kids in the 3-9 range.

Disney's Spirit of Aloha Luau

One of our favorite things to do when we're at Disney World is to catch at least one of Disney's three dinner shows: Spirit of Aloha Luau, Mickey's Backyard BBQ and Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue.

All three shows can be paid for with credits from the Disney Dining Plan. If you're not using the dining plan, payment is required at the time of booking (up to 180 days in advance...highly recommended as shows can sell out especially at busier times of the year). All three shows include entertainment, food and drinks...including some alcoholic beverages for the adults in your party. This week I'm going to cover The Spirit of Aloha Luau and the next couple weeks will cover the other two dinner shows.

If you're staying at a Disney Resort, pick up your tickets at the concierge desk before going to the show to save some time. Don't worry about arriving extra early to get a good seat-they're assigned before you arrive. When you check in at the Polynesian Resort's dinner show, you're greeted with a lei and a photopass cast member is on hand to take your picture.

(the boy was sleeping in his stroller so we got a shot of just the two of us)

The dinner starts with some yummy coconut pineapple bread which was really yummy. Drink orders are taken...specialty drinks are an extra fee but there's some fun ones like Pele's Fire Punch served in a coconut shaped like a monkey that you get to take home...

The food was served family style and included the yummy bread, mixed greens, pineapple, BBQ pork ribs, roasted chicken, fried rice, and veggies. Dessert was a big hit as the Kilauea Volcano Delight (kind of like a chocolate puddling) came out on trays with smoking volcanoes. 

(he ate an entire volcano himself...at 14 months)

The show tells the story of a couple in love and includes traditional dancers and a fire thrower. 

The cost of the show varies based on your seat and the time of year. For children (3-9 yrs old) the price ranges from $29.99-$36.99. For adults (10 yrs and up) the price ranges from $58.99-$71.99. The prices include tax and gratuity. Children under 3 are permitted to eat off their parent's plates.

There are three categories of seating. We were in the second category and had great seats. It seemed like there were some third category seats that I would've been disappointed if we had ended up with but since we didn't sit there, I can't really comment on how good the view was. Also, if you plan to use the dining plan, be aware that it will cost 2 (two) table service credits per person and will only allow you to have category two or three seating. If you want category one seating, you'll need to pay out of pocket. 

To be honest, we enjoyed the Spirit of Aloha Luau but it isn't our favorite dinner show. We much prefer the other two shows but if you have a school-aged child, they'll have a great time.

Sunday Morning

I miss our Sunday mornings. This morning I woke up to realize that there's a limited number of Sunday mornings left until Joshua gets home. Holding onto that fact...he's going to be home soon...is like holding onto a life preserver. We've made it over ten months now but it's been just "making it." It hasn't been the life we had before he left or the life we'll have when he returns. It's been an interim of survival. There have been happy moments and good memories but nothing compared to what a simple Sunday morning will be when he's home...

As the official night owl of the family, I'll sleep in and wake up to the sounds and smells of Joshua cooking the only meal which has always been his...homemade waffles, scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. The boy will no doubt be on a chair "helping" while our little princess will be in her high chair watching everything. I'll take two waffles but struggle to finish just one because as yummy as they are, I can never eat very much that early in the day. Joshua will laugh at me but then finish my plate without complaint. Then, he and I will snuggle on the couch and watch the CBS Sunday Morning News with Charles Osgood while the kids play (hopefully in another room...or quietly...both would be awesome but I'm trying to be realistic). We'll stay on the couch up until the last possible moment and then the madness will set in as we try to get dressed, get the kids dressed and make it on time to the late service at church.

It probably sounds boring to most people but it's one of the things I miss and look forward to most. In the meantime, the boy and I are having toaster strudels and pre-cut grapefruit for breakfast, I'm DVR-ing the Sunday Morning News and yet we're still going to have madness as I try to get dressed, get the kids dressed and make it on time to the late service at church.

Disney Dining Plan

***If you're already familiar with the way the Disney Dining Plans work, scroll down to the bottom for tips on how to make the most of your dining plan credits or go HERE for information on the 2013 FREE DINING OFFER***

2013 UPDATE:
The biggest change in the dining plan (other than cost which we have updated below) is that the popular Epcot restaurant, Le Cellier is a full time signature restaurant. No longer just a table service at lunch...if these terms confuse you...keep reading, we break it all down.

When you start planning a Disney World vacation, especially your first, one of the biggest questions that you will need to answer is how and where you'll eat. IF you stay at a Disney-owned resort (not just at a resort/hotel which is on or near Disney property) AND you purchase a vacation package with a resort stay and park tickets, you'll also have the option to purchase a Disney Dining Plan. The dining plan (actually there's three different plans) is one of several benefits to being a Disney Resort guest but I'll cover the resorts and their benefits in another post.

As I mentioned, there are technically three different plans and it can be a bit confusing so I'm going to attempt to break it down as succinctly as possible. They are the QUICK SERVICE PLAN, the BASIC DINING PLAN, and the DELUXE DINING PLAN. I'll go into the differences and details of each plan and approximately how much they cost (Disney prices are always subject to change and usually if there's a change, it's upward) but first an overall explanation of dining at Disney World.

Disney World offers three different meal options (plus, all the snack opportunities...can't forget the Dole Whips and Mickey Ice Cream Bars) and all three (as of 2012) include a complementary refillable resort mug (for ALL dining plan participants).

The first type of meal is what's called a QUICK SERVICE MEAL. It's essentially a fast food style restaurant...sometimes with seating inside, sometimes outside...with much better quality food. Quick service (sometimes referred to as "counter service" because you order at a counter) restaurants don't require or accept reservations. Each of the four main theme parks, both water parks and Downtown Disney all have several Quick service restaurants.

The second type of meal is what's called a TABLE SERVICE MEAL. It's a sit down meal with servers like you'd have at home with any normal restaurant except with Disney World's table service meals sometimes have characters like Mickey and Minnie (Chef Mickey's, Donald's Safari Breakfast, Garden Grill to name a few) or the Princesses (such as Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot's Norway) and RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST. I cannot emphasize this enough. Currently, Disney World will take reservations 180 days in advance for the general public and if you're a Disney Resort guests you can call 180 days before your check-in date to make reservations for your entire stay. You can now make a reservation either online at Disney Dining Reservations or by calling Disney World's direct line for dining at 407-WDW-DINE between 7am and 10pm EST. It cannot be overstated how important reservations are at some of Disney World's more popular table service restaurants. I've known people who have waited just a couple days to call and make their reservation but the restaurant they wanted on the day and time they wanted was already booked up so be sure to call as soon as you can.


The last type of meal is a variation of the table service meals called a SIGNATURE MEAL. A signature meal is an extra special meal...either a higher end restaurant (such as California Grill or dinner at Le Cellier) or has something extra about it like a special character experience (for example, a special photo package and dining inside Cinderella's Castle at Cinderella's Royal Table with several of the Princesses in the dining room going from table to table) or a dinner show (like our personal favorite the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue). Signature meals absolutely require advanced reservations and if you are not planning on using a dining plan to pay for your meal, expect to pre-pay with a credit or debit card when you book the reservation.


Ok...still with me?


Now that you understand how Disney World categorizes the various meals they offer...here's how the dining plans work...


Adults are considered anyone 10 yrs and up for dining purposes
Children are 3-9 yrs
Children under 3 may share off anyone else in the party's plate


All credits are per person and are based on the number of nights in your reservation NOT THE NUMBER OF DAYS


Credits can be used all at once or spread out and do not need to be used up on a daily/nightly basis


Credits are kept on your "Key to the World" card which is also your room key AND your park ticket


Tax is included but gratuity is not included (except for some specialty meals such as a dinner show like Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review). An 18% gratuity is automatically placed on any party of 6 or more at all table service restaurants


Everyone in a resort room must be on the same dining plan


The QUICK SERVICE PLAN:
(per person 3 yrs and up per night of stay)
2 Quick Service Meals (either a complete combo meal OR an entree, dessert  and a non-alcoholic drink)
1 Snack credit (ice cream, chips, veggie dish, etc...generally anything under $4 is the rule)


Each person on the quick service dining plan will also receive a free refillable resort mug.


Current pricing for the quick service plan:
Adults (10yrs and up) $37.58/night of stay
Children (3-9yrs) $14.32/night of stay


The BASIC DINING PLAN:
(per person 3 yrs and up per night of stay)
1 Table Service Meal*  (entree, dessert and a non-alcoholic drink...unless otherwise noted on the menu, appetizers are NOT included on the dining plan)
1 Quick Service Meal
1 Snack credit


*Guests with either the Basic Dining Plan or Deluxe Dining Plan (details below) can exchange 2 Table
Service Meal credits for 1 Signature Meal per person.


Current pricing for the basic dining plan:

Off-Peak Season:
Adults (10yrs and up) $55.59/night of stay
Children (3-9yrs) $17.16/night of stay

Peak Season:
Adults (10yrs and up) $56.94/night of stay
Children (3-9yrs) $18.16/night of stay




The DELUXE DINING PLAN:
(per person 3yrs and up per night of stay)
3 Meals (EITHER quick service OR table service)
2 Snack Credits


Adults (10yrs and up) $85.52 off peak season or $89.52 peak season

Children (3-9) $23.79 off peak season or $25.79 peak season


Extras:
Pizza Delivery (not offered at all resorts):
2 Table service credits are required for each meal and includes the gratuity. Included is: 2 non-alcoholic drinks, a pizza and 2 desserts




Room service (not offered at all resorts):
2 Table service credits are required for each meal (just like a meal at a signature restaurant) and includes the gratuity. Each meal includes an entree, dessert and drink (children 3-9 also receive an appetizer)


Wine & Dine Plan (optional add-on that can be added to any package plan):
$39.99 per night per room and must be added for the entire length of stay
1 bottle of wine per room per night from a select wine list. Locations and wine lists are subject to change and wine is subject to availability.
2 wine credits may be exchanged for one bottle of wine with in-room dining or one bottle of wine at a signature restaurant.




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If you are visiting Disney World during the Food and Wine Festival (generally the very end of Sept through the first week of Nov), having a dining plan is great. You can use snack credits at the various extra country pavilions-often for small meal samples normally higher than the typical $4 limit. (You cannot, however, use a snack credit  for the wine samples).


Don't waste snack credits just to get water...all the snack vedors will give you a free cup of water and there are water fountains all over the parks (although many would say and I would agree that the tap water doesn't taste very good so consider bringing flavor packets).


Call to make dining reservations at the 180 day mark...it cannot be said too many times.


Be sure to keep your restaurant reservation confirmation numbers...either jot them down or just store them in your phone...it doesn't happen often, but sometimes Disney loses a reservation or gets the number of guests wrong.


Don't let food allergies keep you away from dining at Disney World. All of the table service restaurants will accommodate you and most of the quick service restaurants have large binders full of food allergy alternatives that they can offer.


Vegetarian and kosher meals are also not hard to find at most Disney World restaurants.


At the end of your vacation, if you still have snack credits available (as we always do), you can go to your resort's gift shop and exchange them for great little souvenirs for kids in your life...like a large (approx 5") lollipop or a box of Minnie's Cookies.


Whichever dining plan works for your family and whether or not you get it as a free package inclusion, you'll love all the great dining opportunities found all over Disney World. We've loved everything from having steak at Le Cellier to watching fireworks from California Grill to seeing our son dance with Mickey and the gang at Mickey's Backyard BBQ.