Some of the best counter service restaurants in Disney World are easy to get to.  They don't even require a park ticket.  My favorites are in the three deluxe hotels just outside the Magic Kingdom.  There are many fantastic food offerings within and around the theme parks of Walt Disney World.  So, it is very difficult to make a selection of only the best restaurants.  Taking into account accessibility, theming, and guest comfort I've listed the five best counter service restaurants at Disney World.

Captain Cooks

The Counter Service Offering at the Polynesian Village Resort gives the other restaurants some stiff competition.  The convenience and accessible menu, combined with great food preparation  make it one of the best quick service options on property.  The food tastes great and the breakfast menu includes the famous Tonga Toast.  There's also a late night menu, which easily makes it one of the best counter service restaurants at Disney World

Gasparilla Grill

Gasparilla Grill is another fantastic entry among Disney's many fantastic resort counter service options.  The menu is not huge, but what is offered are creative and well prepared dishes as well as made to order options.  The counter service restaurant is recently renovated and it's now a top notch food stop worthy of its place within the Grand Floridian resort.

Contempo Cafe

Contempo Cafe, in some ways is just your standard quick service food location, but it does the premise so well, it consistently excels.  Like Chef Mickey's next door, the little cafe has no ceiling so it is wide open to the cavernous Grand Canyon concourse.  Watching the monorail pull in and out of the station overhead builds excitement.  This cafe has a wide array of good cooked to order food and grab and go options, especially the dessert.

Restaurantosaurus

Not all of the best counter service restaurants at Disney World are part of the resort hotels.  some of them are in the parks themselves, though it's hard to rank them or settle on a particular choice among them.  Restaurantosaurus stands tall among the rest due to the intricacies of the theming, the accessibility of the food, and the guest comfort level due to the amount of available indoor seating.  This restaurant is a gem.  The food is less exotic then you will find in other areas of animal kingdom, but that's one reason it's a sure bet for families with picky kids.

Columbia Harbor House

The most consistently outstanding counter service restaurant I've encountered anywhere in Disney World is Columbia Harbor House.  Not to detract from the many wonderfully themed an well executed restaurants around World showcase, but Columbia Harbor House just nails theming and has a menu that is not as pinned down to a particular ethnic cuisine.  The cast members are really on the ball and are able to courteously keep large crowds moving.  Plus, despite the locations popularity, there is always plenty of seating on the second floor where you can dine quietly and enjoy the historically themed surroundings.

Others?

With all the great options out there, what didn't make my top five that you wanted to see?  Let me know what your favorite counter service restaurant is in the comments.

If you are one of the lucky visitors who are going to Walt Disney World this Holiday season you are going to have an amazing time.  While you are there, make sure you don't miss out on these festive Christmastime opportunities around the resort. Here are ten Disney World holiday activities not to miss.

Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs

The last couple of years Disney Springs has had this free exhibit and it keeps getting bigger.  This year there will be 25 uniquely themed Christmas trees on display to track down and admire.

Window Shopping at Disney Springs

While your are in Disney Springs you have got to take the time to do some window shopping.  Disney is very familiar with window dressings and displays for passing guests.  It's another reason to take in the sights of Disney Springs during the holiday season.

Visit Santa Downtown Disney

You can visit Santa in other places in Disney World as well.  Most notably at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party.  However, this meet and greet location is the only place in Disney World to meet Santa that you don't have to buy a ticket for.  It also has arguably the best backdrop for photos.

Resort Lobby Hopping

The deluxe resorts always pull out all the stops when it comes to holiday decor.  They are known to have elaborate gingerbread displays and it is worth taking the extra time to travel around the property to see how the various themed hotels take on the task of decorating for the holidays.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

The ultimate Christmas Party takes place at Magic Kingdom after normal operating hours on select dates.  Check the party nights against your vacation dates and try to arrange for the party while you are there.  The event requires a separate admission, but you do not need to purchase a general admission ticket if you only wish to attend the party.  The exclusive event offers the Once Upon a Christmastime parade, as well as other exclusive shows, dance parties, free treats and more.

Festival Of Holidays

Travel the world and get a sense of how different countries celebrate Christmas by traveling the World Showcase.  Like the Food and Wine Festival, food kiosks will be set up around the park.  There will also be international representations of Santa Claus and informative entertainment.

Candlelight Processional

Epcot is also home to the Candlelight Processional in which an orchestra and choir assist a celebrity narrator in presenting the Biblical story of Christmas.  Notable narrators include, Gary Sinise, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jodi Benson.

Jingle Bell Jingle Bam!

Prep and Landing fans you are in for a treat!  This holiday spectacle takes place in Disney's Hollywood Studios.  In it the Elves must track down Santa as several exciting scenes project onto the Chinese Theater.

Seasons Greetings

Stroll down Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Hollywood Studios for even more seasonal fun.  Tower of Terror is transformed into several entertaining Christmas scenes.

Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

If you are not able to see this exclusive Christmas parade in Magic Kingdom during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you can still see it during regular park hours beginning December 22.  Just be prepared for the heavy attendance and stake your viewing spot well in advance.

Disney Dining has become an attraction of its own for some travelers who visit Disney World.  Nobody does themed dining like Disney.  Disney World is the only destination with so many themed dining options to transport you to another place and time.  Here are the top ten themed Disney World restaurants.

Biergarten

This restaurant embedded in the back of the Germany Pavilion at Epcot will completely enhance and change your perceptions of this remote corner of the World Showcase skyline.  The indoor location is set outdoors in the evening time.  the food is all you care to enjoy and there is plenty of live entertainment.

Satu’li Canteen

This quick service dining location in Pandora, the new Avatar themed land in Animal Kingdom, single handedly set the stage for the "build your own _____" trend that guests are loving right now.  You are put in control of the composition of your meal by building a bowl to your liking.

San Angel Inn

It isn't the best restaurant in the World Showcase, but it's still pretty good.  The food is actually delicious and pretty standard Mexican food.  The service here is also very good, but the real reason this venue is such a winner is the outdoor candlelit ambience and the serenity of a slow moving  boat ride that moves along beside the dining room.

Jungle Navigation Co

The Skipper Canteen in Adventureland expands on the fun of the Jungle Cruise and the Adventureland theme in fun and beautiful ways.  If Adventureland is your favorite land in Magic Kingdom, you will love the Skipper Canteen.  The restaurant is full of details and references to other Disney Parks as well if you take the time to explore.

Restaurantosaurus

A quick service restaurant near Dinosaur in Dinoland USA, Restaurantosaurus is full of backstory and Disney charm.  This lived in environment tells the story of students working at the institute next door.  The restaurant does a lot to enhance the underrated and deeply under appreciated story of Dinoland USA.

Art Smith's Homecomin'

Speaking of underrated, maybe I should say understated.  This might not seem like themed dining as we know it, but there is a very cohesive theme to Homecomin' that is evident in the restaurant's name the locally sourced ingredients and decor.  This love letter to Florida offers up some first class comfort food in the middle of Disney Springs.

50's prime time Cafe

One of the best known and best loved themed Disney restaurants.  This Hollywood Studios cafe offers home cooking in a 50's style household.  The servers will tease you like you're family, so bring a sense of humor and wash your hands before you eat.

Sci-Fi Dine in Theater

This is especially exciting for kids because you get to eat in a convertible and watch cartoons and movie clips on a big screen.  The setting is a drive in theater and the food is like that of your standard neighborhood grill.

Be Our Guest

This magical restaurant transports guests to the Beast's castle, in the heart of New Fantasyland.  The restaurant offers immersive in world theming and e fine dining Prix Fixe menu at night.  Two of the themed dining rooms offered are the ballroom and the west wing, which offers timed special effects.

Cinderella's Royal Table

Dining inside the Cinderella Castle and meeting the princesses is a Disney experience not to be missed.  The castle theming makes the elegance shine I a truly memorable dining experience.  This is terrific for families with children who really want to meet the princesses, or just as a romantic couples dinner.  The menu offers a perfectly moderate variety, so there is a=something anyone will enjoy.

The Disney Dining Plan, certainly has its flock of loyal followers.  Some of the plans biggest advocates claim that it is a good value.  Others insist that it is only good value if you wait to take advantage of the Free Disney Dining Plan.  However, is Free Disney Dining actually free?  What do you get on the plan and how does it work.  More importantly, does it save money.

What's the Free Disney Dining Plan?

The free Disney Dining Plan is a promotion during slow season to get more people to stay in the hotels.  The regular Disney Dining Plan is offered as a free add on.  Normally the plan is a prepaid extra.  The Dining Plan differs by resort based on which tier you are staying at.  The value resorts feature quick service.  The moderate resorts incorporate table service; and the Deluxe resorts have a plan that is good for any food service place you wish to dine at.  You are allotted credits for meals based on how many nights you stay at the hotel, and not the number of days.

What's Included in the Free Disney Dining Plan?

Disney Dining Plans whether they are prepaid or not offer guests the ability to order whatever they like with no variance in charge.  Table service credits include dessert and now, even alcohol.  In addition to full table service meals, quick service entrees are included with a quick service credit. Snack credits are also provided and you get a refillable mug that is good for unlimited use at any of the Disney World resorts.

What's Not Included in the Free Disney Dining Plan?

Tips are not included under the plan.  Also, the number of meals under the plan does not allow for three meals per day.  You are likely to wind up paying for additional meals during your stay. This is especially true considering that some table service venues require the use of 2 meal credits rather than only one.

What's the Catch?

The primary catch in accepting the free Disney dining offer is that you can't use it with any other offer.  The free dining always comes along at a time when there are other better promotional offers on the table.  Dining expenses are highly variable, but Disney prices the Dining Plans at a very high premium, which makes getting a value from the plan difficult to do.  Even without paying for the plan the cost can likely be higher than if you got a better deal on your hotel and choose to pay as you go.

Is Free Disney Dining Worth It?

The Free Disney Dining Plan has some psychological benefits for some who feel more free to order whatever they want off the menu.  But the true test of the plan's value lies in how much money you would save by taking a different offer.  There is always a cost associated with the Disney Dining Plan, even when it is billed as a free extra.  The limited credits and the cost conversion still make it very difficult to do better than you otherwise would do on your own.  To estimate your food budget compare the prices at your choice restaurants and compare dining credits.  Disney World offers all of this information freely on their website.

Saving money at Disney World is not a big deal.  It's easy to do, but it's most often not what you would expect.  A lot of people think saving money at Disney happens at Disney, as in the choices you make while inside the parks and resorts.  In actuality, like a lot of other aspects of Disney vacations, your success depends on how well you plan ahead of time.  Here are some outstanding Disney World budget tips to help you plan your next vacation.

Evaluate Funds

The first step to budgeting at Disney is having a budget to work with.  Ideally you want to spend even less than what you have budgeted for, and this is easy to do.  The first step is to determine how much you have, or are willing to spend on your vacation.  Using that number, you can start throwing together some basic figures like the cost of discounted tickets from online sellers and the nightly costs of hotel rooms.  without doing a whole lot of in depth research you can come up with a framework of how many nights you can afford and how many park admissions to include. 

As Disney World budget tips go, a good place to start is by comparing the costs of deluxe, moderate and value resorts and how they stack up against your length of stay and your budget.  Pick the closest package you can get and then scrap a night or downgrade to a lower their hotel. The reason for this is because there are going to be more expenses to plan for and you'll want to make room.

Identify Costs

Consider your food costs and research where you plan to eat.  Disney lists all of it's menus and Prices, so you can come up with an accurate budget for food.  Counter Service restaurants are cheaper and have the most flexibility for budgeting meals.  One of the best Disney World budget tips is to use Disney's complimentary Transportation.  Even if you need to use an Uber or Lyft from time to time, you will still save a load of money on getting around.  Disney handles transport to and from the airport for free and uses buses, boats and monorails for transportation on property.

Prioritize Splurges

While on vacation you will want to make certain allowances despite costs.  If you don't you will feel held back and enjoy yourself less.  It's important as you plan to acknowledge what is important to you so you can allocate spending to those more important matters and make your budget cuts elsewhere.  You may prefer to drink alcohol, or abstain from alcohol depending on your preference.  You might plan a big extravagant meal and balance it out by having groceries delivered to your hotel for picnics. 

One major splurge is where you stay.  If you prefer to have more to spend inside Disney World you should consider staying just outside of it.  There are better priced options that are still within walking distance of Disney property and they can really free up your spending money.

Plan Daily Spending

One of the best Disney World budget tips I can offer is to pay as you go.  In just about every instance prepaid plans will end up costing you more money.  If you can do the Disney Dining Plan within your budget and you are not concerned with saving additional money, that is one thing, but remember that even that does not cover all of your meals and you will most likely wind up paying out of pocket. 

Planning daily spending instead will keep you on track and under budget, especially if you round up in rough figures.  This is the best way to be pleasantly surprised when your bill comes the night before check out.

Use Imported Goods

If you follow along with us on Instagram, you know we go down to Walt Disney World where we’re annual passholders about three to four times per year, and we’re planning to go to Disneyland California one time per year, as well. So, that means a lot of hotel arrangements every couple of months!

Because we’re always traveling into Disney, we get asked a lot by family, friends, and followers about the best places to stay when planning a Disney trip. So, I decided to write about all the hotels (both Disney and non-Disney) we’ve stayed at when visiting the most magical place(s) on earth and give you the pros, cons, and star ranking (1-10) I feel it warrants based on a few quality ratings.

I’m going to start off the blogs with one of our most recent stays: The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

First off, this hotel is seriously gorgeous. You drive up to a beautiful entrance, well decorated, with an inviting water fall to set the tone of posh tranquility.

The lobby is a sight to behold with it’s wide open space, modern flare, and windows that face out to its expansive pool.

The staff was also very friendly and helpful. All that being said, let's dive in!

Here’s my pros and cons:       

Pros:

• Lobby is gorgeous
• 24-hour cafe
• Immaculate pool
• The room is nice, plenty of space
• Top-notch bathroom
• Has a Disney Store in the hotel
• Room service was quick and had a great breakfast option
• Shuttle to the Disney Parks and Disney Springs comes about every half hour

Cons:

• The pillows were pretty uncomfortable, either too flat or pretty lumpy
• View was okay at best: we paid for a Disney Fireworks View, and while we could definitely see fireworks and the park (Hollywood Studios) off in the distance, much of the view was the roof of the lower levels of the hotel. Just kind of ruined an otherwise nice view of the pool, grounds, and park
• Room location can really suck: if you got the room we got, you’re stuck alllllll the way at the end of the building. It took a solid five minutes to literally just get outside the hotel
• Room service pizza was one of the worst pizzas I’ve ever had. Personal opinion, sure, but a *correct* opinion no doubt
• Not a Disney Resort

All-in-all, it was a good stay. My cons are rather minimal and it was a very nice hotel. Seriously, I could see myself chilling on a couch in the lobby with a fresh cup of coffee with an extra shot of espresso from their 24-hour cafe reading a newspaper twitter while soaking in the morning sunrise overlooking their immaculate pool if I had any chill in me. It’s a rather serene environment.

The biggest con keeping me from staying there again is that it’s not a Disney Resort. It was nice, but it just lacked that Disney Magic (I know, I'm an absolute cliché, but I feel how I feel). Every time we went to the hotel is was more like leaving Disney than it was returning to our hotel. At a Disney hotel, you always feel connected to the magic, and that was a major factor in my enjoyment of the hotel. If that isn’t high on your list of priorities, though, I recommend giving this hotel a shot! You'll get a 4-Star hotel at a very reasonable price with tons of amenities.

Hotel Quality:                          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disney Convenience:            ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Room/Bathroom Quality:    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bed/Bedding Quality:           ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: 7.75 Stars

Great news for Disney Fans.  Lots of things are in the works as Disney nears some major milestones, but some of the most anticipated changes will be coming to fruition at some point during 2019.  Disney World 2019 is just the beginning of a whole new era in Disney theme parks. 

Galaxy's Edge Opens!

We have been waiting for only a little over a year since it was officially announced, but now Star Wars Land will finally be here.  This new land marks a pivotal change in Hollywood Studios thematic infrastructure and is the most highly anticipated change since New Fantasyland was built at Magic Kingdom.

Galaxy's Edge will be a galactic outpost in the world of Star Wars with a changing narrative that is designed to be highly interactive.  You will get to fly the Millennium Falcon in a ride unlike any other to date.  You will also get caught in the crossfire of a galactic battle against the First Order.  The new land is going to be full of surprises and new technology as of yet unseen in any other theme parks.  It is the single best reason to get to Disney World in 2019.

Skyliner Transportation System

Disney's new Skyliner system is set to debut next year.  The new transportation system will connect guests at some moderate and value resorts to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  The luxury gondolas will feature high tech materials and ventilation systems for comfortable transit on an overhead cable.

All New Night Show  at Epcot

In October 0f 2019 a new show will debut on the World Showcase lagoon.  It will be an overnight replacement of the opening day nighttime spectacular Illuminations and will completely change the feel of the World Showcase at night.  Drones and projection mapping are expected to be used in addition to some favorite Disney characters.

More New Attractions

In addition to Star Wars Land in Hollywood Studios, there will be even more changes unveiled throughout the year.  Beginning with Municiberg in January Pixar will begin popping up in more places throughout the park.  The Incredibles themed interactive area will replace the old Pixar Place behind the Chinese Theater.  Lightning McQueen will be training racers in a new show near Tower of Terror, and Mike and Sulley are returning to One Man's Dream to meet with guests. 

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is also expected to open in May 2019.  This exciting new dark ride will feature a new brand of as-of-yet unseen technology.  The ride will be housed in the Chinese theater, the former location of The Great Movie Ride.

Magic Kingdom will also be debuting a new show along the lines of Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It!  The new celebration will be titled Move It! Shake It! Mouskedance !t!

New Hotels

Additional new arrivals for the year of 2019 will be the expansion of Coronado Springs resort and the all new Disney Vacation Club resort the Riviera.  Besides the construction finally being over, 2019 is your chance to experience these brand new changes for the first time.

So, not sure if you've seen, but the new Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was just released! As you can imagine we are so

super

daggon

friggin

hoping it turns this series around after that last one...JJ Abrams, you're our only hope!

It looks like Lando, Leia, Palpatine (??) are all in this one. Hopefully they'll try to  gravitate away from the old characters somehow and make way for these new guys, which would mean actually creating a new story line. A guy can dream, right?

Anyways, for everyone who hasn't had a chance to see it yet, here's the trailer, let us know what your opinion is:

If you follow along with us on Instagram, you know we go down to Walt Disney World where we’re annual passholders about three to four times per year, and we’re planning to go to Disneyland California one time per year, as well. So, that means a lot of hotel arrangements every couple of months!

Because we’re always traveling into Disney, we get asked a lot by family, friends, and followers about the best places to stay when planning a Disney trip. So, I decided to write about all the hotels (both Disney and non-Disney) we’ve stayed at when visiting the most magical place(s) on earth and give you the pros, cons, and star ranking (1-10) I feel it warrants based on a few quality ratings. 

I’m going to start off the blogs with a classic: Disney’s All-Star Resorts.

If you live out-of-state, staying at one of the All-Star Resorts is pretty much a rite of passage. It’s the most inexpensive Walt Disney World resort most of the year. Sometimes it gets so booked up that something like Pop Century may actually be less expensive than an All-Star Resort, but that’s rare. We’ve stayed at every single one of the All-Star Resorts at one time or another, they all are the same in my book (leave a comment if you have a different take on that, I’m more than willing to change my mind!), so I’ll give them the collective review.

Pros:

• The theming is incredible at all of them. I mean just look at those pictures above! 
• Dining is pretty good. Lot of food selections and a large space that doesn’t make you feel crowded
• Has an arcade outside the dining area
• You’re never too far from dining or the main entrance of your resort (for bus transport, concierge, check out, etc.)
• A lot of Disney Shuttles (obviously)
• Magical Express to and from Orlando Airport
• Inexpensive (relative to other Disney hotels and at certain times of the year cheaper than some surrounding hotels)

Cons:

• Beds are firm and many times a double (not a queen-size). A little small for me (our king size at home has spoiled me)
• Bathroom is rather small and plain
• Room size is on the smaller side
• Shuttles to and from the park can get SUPER crowded, meaning you may end up waiting for a second bus before you get on, and you may still end up having to stand the whole ride

The All-Star resorts keep me feeling the magic even after I leave the parks, which I really like. I have always enjoyed the dining at these resorts, as well. It’s nothing special, but they have all the options I want and then some, which is good for me because I’m picky and hate feeling like there’s not enough options for me to choose between (even though I pretty much get the same thing every time, I’m just weird like that). I will say, it’s not my favorite of the Disney Resorts, but it’s a classic and always can get us to the parks when we plan a last-minute trip and need somewhere inexpensive to stay!

Hotel Quality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Disney Convenience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Room/Bathroom Quality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bed/Bedding Quality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall: 7 Stars

Epcot is huge.  It's basically two parks combined.  The Sprawling hub and spoke modeled Future World, and the World Showcase wrapped around a lagoon can be daunting.  These guidelines simplify the experience and maximize your time. They're all you need to know to get the most out of Epcot in just one day.

Budget your time

Epcot's Future World opens at 9:00.  World Showcase opens at 11:00. The park usually closes at 9:00, but be aware of Extra Magic Hours if you are a Disney Resort guest and schedule your Epcot park day accordingly to get an extra two hours.

Get there early, plan to deal with long security lines and be prepared for baggage checks and screenings.  Plan to spend about 90 minutes in future world and start heading down toward the World Showcase as it prepares to open.

Plan to spend a minimum of six hours in World Showcase before returning to finish the night in Future World.

Use the layout

Start on the left and hop in line for Test Track, followed by Mission Space if you are so inclined. I always ride it at least twice.  It's my favorite attraction in the park, but it can make people sick and unfortunately (or fortunately, if you like short weight times) it is not a crowd pleaser.

If you have time and the wait is under 30 minutes for Spaceship Earth, get in line, but get to World Showcase by 11:00.

Go clockwise around the lagoon and don't backtrack.  Mexico, Norway, America, France and Canada are the only five out of eleven World Showcase Pavilions with attractions.  Most are continuously running shows between 15 and 30 minutes in length. Mexico has a 7 minute boat ride, and Norway has Frozen, which will eat up a lot of your time in the queue unless you have Fastpass.  The ride itself is only 5 minutes long.

Some Pavilions like Germany, Morocco, Italy and Japan can be experienced very quickly unless you plan to stop for a large meal.  They mostly feature just food and shopping. You can explore and enjoy each one at your own pace. It should take a minimum of six hours to complete the loop and head back to experience Future World West which has the final three pavilions.

Uses Fastpasses...or don't

Attractions you should use Fastpass for based on usual wait times are Test Track, Frozen, and Soarin'.  but you will have to choose between them and you won't be able to secure another one until the first is used.  Since Fastpass dictates the times you can experience the attractions, you should adjust your timing to fit. If you have a Frozen Fastpass for 1:00 you should stay in Future World until around 12:00 instead of 11:00.  You may come across a short standby line when your Fastpass time isn't up yet. If this happens, take the standby.

Only Eat at quick service

There are some good table service restaurants in Epcot.  A couple of them are flat out amazing, but dining in a restaurant can be a major time killer.  In order to maximize time and increase the potential food stops in different locations, only dine at quick service restaurants.  This is a great way to get the most out of different kinds of cuisine and experience more of all the pavilions in a short period of time.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will cover a lot of ground.  There is so much detail in Epcot that there is always something new to discover.  But if you have only one day to squeeze it in, this is how to see and do as much of the park as possible.

Casey’s Corner- This one is probably my favorite. We get the mini corndogs and fries. This is good meal packed with giving you energy to keep going. It’s also delicious and must have every time we are in Magic Kingdom. This is one is located on Main Street.

Pinocchio Village Haus- We love the flatbread pizzas they have here. It’s so delicious, but they are huge. We usually split them because it’s so much food. Plus, you want to make sure you don’t have too much if you get sick on rides. This restaurant is right next to Its A Small World ride.

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café- This is a Mexican restaurant if you are wanting those tacos. We get the nachos because you get put extra fixings on them. All of the food is good, but the nachos are our go to of choice. This one is tucked behind over by Pirates Of the Caribbean.

Cosmic Rays Starlight Café- This is a good place if you are wanting a quick burger and fries. They also have grilled chicken sandwiches if you are looking for something a little healthier. This is located by the Mad Tea Party Tea Cups ride.

Columbia Harbour House- We don’t go to this one often as they have more seafood entrees. They do have Chicken breast nuggets if you want those instead while the rest of your party wants seafood. This one is located by Haunted Mansion.

If you have favorite quick service restaurants in Magic Kingdom, let us know! We always like looking for more places to eat!

So here is what we would do. To get the Disney feel, go to Magic Kingdom. There is plenty to do there and this way you are not trying to navigate more than one park a day.

Download the MyDisneyExperience app on your phone. This way you can see wait times for rides and see what fastpasses are available.

Rides to try: Space Mountain is a roller coaster in the dark. Super fun! Usually there are a couple fast passes for this, so try and get them.

Haunted Mansion is a classic ride. I would try and go on this ride closer to the evening. It’s much more fun at night.

Pirates of the Carribbean- a wonderful ride for all to enjoy. You ride in a boat and go through the story.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train- If you can get fastpasses for this, definitely do it. It’s a roller coaster that goes through the story of Snow White and is just a fun roller coaster all around. Stand-by wait times is usually two hours, so if you see a fastpass, grab it while you can!

Buzz Light Year Ranger Spin- A fun ride where you have to help Buzz defeat Zurg and you are in competition with who you ride with. Go help Buzz!

Peter Pan’s Flight- This ride is one of the original from when the park first opened. Fast passes are hard to get so if you see it, take that opportunity! Otherwise, Stand-by wait times is also 2 hours.

It’s A Small World- This is right across from Peter Pan and is also one of the originals. Definitely a good one to see during your time here.

Big Thunder Mountain- A fun rollercoaster for everyone!

There are shows at the castle and dance parties in front of the castle with characters that you can participate in. I always do!

Festival of Fantasy Parade is also a must see. Check your MyDisney App for times as they can change daily.

Happily Ever After Fireworks- Definitely got to see this show ending your evening at magic Kingdom. It’s a fun time for all to see the castle lit up and to watch fireworks over the Castle.

We hope you enjoy your day in Disney! If you have other rides to add to the list, let me know! Read my blog about the best restaurants in Magic Kingdom for your day there!

For years, I have wanted to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and this was finally the year.

Magic Kingdom at this time our year is just my favorite. The decorations are just insane. You truly get into the Christmas spirit being in the park. So what makes this party so special. There are a couple things:

Special Ticketed- with it being a special ticketed event, the crowds are typically a lot less hectic the during the day. Meaning it’s easier to go on more rides and overall just enjoy the Christmas spirit without many people to move around.

Special Show- There is a special show at the Castle that involves Mickey and many of his friends for the holiday spirit. Else also does a special show an light ups the castle with snow! Very cool experience!

Special treats- There are special Christmas treats throughout the park that guests can enjoy. I won’t give the treats away to keep it a surprise,  but they are yummy and it adds to the experience to the parks.

Parade- Now I could go on and on about this parade. Once Upon A Christmastime Parade is by far one of my favorite parades at Disney World. There is snow blowing, characters dressed up in Christmas attire, and of course Santa on his sleigh is always a sight to see.

Characters- There are more characters out than usual and you want to make sure you see them. Many of them only come out for special occasions like this and you definitely want to get pictures. Hint: You may see the Seven Dwarfs somewhere. A very rare sight.

Fireworks- Disney is known for their fireworks show, and nothing but the best too. End the night with wonderful Christmas fireworks over the castle to end the perfect evening. Definitely want to get some photos of those too! Be ready with your camera!

I loved everything about this party. Christmas is my favorite holiday and this party is the perfect event for those who love getting in the holiday spirit! Make sure you schedule a trip for this show! This special event happens select evenings in November and December.



Why drawstring bags are a better choice than a full sized backpack when trekking through the Disney Parks.

I am a classic over-preparer. Whether it’s a week vacation or a weekend getaway, I pack like I’m never coming home again. I guess I just don’t like the feeling of regret from not bringing something with me on the off chance I want to wear it. And yes, this is Nick writing, not Lete. She packs less than I do…

So when it comes to going into the parks at Disney, you’d think I’d be all about the full sized backpack to carry things around in, but I’m actually not. I’ve tried the full sized backpack and let me tell you, it is not fun to walk around the parks all day with a massive heat satchel on your back. Not only that, some rides are kind of small (like one of my favorites, Space Mountain) and a full sized backpack would make for a pretty uncomfortable ride. That’s what brought me to purchase a drawstring bag.

But what about the things? All the things? How can I carry everything I ever wanted and more? Well, surprisingly, you can carry a lot in a drawstring bag. I was able to fit five shirts (#allthemerch), a rain jacket, a water bottle, earphones, a battery pack for my phone, a camera lens for my phone, purell, my wallet, and napkins and still had a little room to spare.

The storage is definitely adequate, but there are three main things I love about carrying that bag as opposed to a full sized zipper backpack:

1.    Lightweight. Keeps me from bringing and carrying too much.
2.    Compact. Fits easily at my feet on all the rides.
3.    Secure. A little tough for someone to try and steal from you without you knowing.

Let’s break those down a little.

 1. So yes, I can carry a lot in my drawstring bag, but it prevents me from over packing (which I will do if given the space), and that keeps the bag from getting too heavy. Which is great when you’re walking 10+ miles a day in the heat. Also, I’m no longer the mule for everyone else’s stuff. Mo’ bag, mo’ problems.

 2. Remember Space Mountain? Yeah, drawstring bags fit perfectly under the lap bar at your feet. It’s pretty wonderful. I never worry about my bag being too big for any ride.

 3. Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I stand in any line with a backpack I feel like someone is sneakily unzipping my pockets and taking things out. That makes me hold items like my wallet, phone, earphones, etc in my pockets so I know they’re safe. That’s not comfortable. With a drawstring bag it cinches shut. You have to lift the bag up and pull apart the ends to open it and grab something inside. I’d have to be pretty distracted not to feel that, so I feel safe keeping my valuables in my bag. That frees up my pockets for more important things, like my hands.

I love my drawstring bags and that’s why we decided to put our Disney inspired designs on drawstring bags. We think they are just perfect for the parks and we think you’ll find the same to be true! Everything I mentioned fitting into the bag was put into my treat yo self bag, and all the bags are the same size. So before your next trip to Disney, be sure to treat yo self to a better bag for trekking through the parks.

The grupohefestos signature drawstring bags, only €14.99!

Edit: Blog updated April 2019 to reflect new pricing in WDW

A financial guide on when it makes sense for you to stop buying tickets and get your Walt Disney World annual pass.

When the time came for Aleta and I to decide whether we should get an annual pass for Walt Disney World or if we should just continue to purchase tickets every time went, we took our time to make our decision. In the end, I think we ended up giving ourselves a good one to two whole…seconds.

All right, it was a particularly easy decision for us. We live in Maryland, sure, but we go to Florida often. I have been going to Florida at least twice a year since I was born; and since Aleta and I got married we have been going to Disney every time we went to Florida. I also had a general idea about how many days we would need to spend in Disney throughout the year to break even on the passes, so we just went for it (#noregrets).

Although I have previously done a little math about the breakeven point (I figured it would be about 7 days in Disney to make it worth it), I have been wanting to break the numbers down even more. Thus, this blog post; because I decided that if I am going to crunch the numbers, I might as well do it not only for my own edification, but for others as well! 

via GIPHY

1. General Admission Ticket Pricing
2. Are you a Florida Resident?
3. Out-of-Staters

Disclaimer: I will just be using the basic annual pass (The Disney Platinum Pass) compared to general admission tickets with park hopper (park hopper is necessary to make sure the tickets are equal, i.e. they both get you into the four main parks). I will not be including taxes and fees or pricing for the water parks, as it adds a few too many ripples, and I do not feel every scenario needs to be explored for the sake of the annual pass decision. The differences are very minute for some of those factors, so it would not change much either way.

Disclaimer out of the way, let’s get to it!

1. General Admission Ticket Pricing

Below is a table with the ticket prices for Magic Kingdom and the other three parks (different pricing) and their variations. Here are what general admission tickets will cost you when you just go one day at a time (not multiple days in a row).

2. Are you a Florida Resident?

If you are a Florida resident, why do you even need this explained? Go get an annual pass!

All right, fine, we will take a quick look at the numbers. The Disney Platinum Pass is only €749 per year per person for Florida residents. How does that compare to the single day park hopper option? Well here is a nifty table for you:

If you are just going to Disney on days where you can get value ticket pricing (which is typically during the week) then it will take you until the fifth visit for you to save money by getting the annual pass. But essentially, if you plan on going to Disney World five or more times, it is totally worth the purchase.

In addition to that, Florida residents can also have their ticket broken down into monthly payments so they do not have to come out of pocket for the entire pass right away. Being in Florida has its perks, like being the state where Disney World is. Good enough perk for me, but you also have those other things I just mentioned, so go out and get that annual pass!

 3. Out-of-Staters

Now that we have seen how good the Florida residents are living, time to look at the out-of-staters’ costs.

The cost for an annual pass is €894 per year per person. To get a good comparison, I do not feel that using the single day ticket pricing model is a great representation of how we would purchase our tickets to Disney. If you are out of state and are contemplating an annual pass purchase you are probably looking to go for a few vacations throughout the year, not just a day here and there. So, I am going to base everything on three day stays; long weekends, essentially.

The reason multiple days makes a difference is because you get a discount per ticket when you buy for more than one day at a time (but they must be used within 14 days of your first use, you cannot buy a 10-day pass and use it 10 different months throughout the year). Prices range from €109 for a one-day ticket to €44 per day for a 10-day ticket. A three-day ticket costs €104 per day per person. Soooo, time to table it up:

After two three-day weekends, you are €132.20 away from breaking even on the annual pass. Just throw in one additional day at any ticket price (value, regular, or peak) and you are pretty much good to go!

Just because I love tables, I am also going to show you where you break even on a few other scenarios (tables.are.awesome):

via GIPHY

The main take away from these tables is this: if you plan to vacation in Disney more than one time per year, at least about three days per stay, you will find the annual pass to be worth it. But just to make sure you have no doubts, here is one more thing to help you feel even more confident in your purchase: memory maker is an additional €169 per stay at Disney. If you are an annual passholder, memory maker is included. So, add €169 to each of those stay...Yeah, pretty worth it now, right? Thought so.

Also, you get discounts on hotels and purchases throughout the park as an annual passholder, meaning you break-even quicker than what I just showed you. But to break down those numbers would require a much more in-depth analysis and I think you get the picture.

via GIPHY

I hope this helped you make your decision! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more tips and information on Disney! If you have any suggestions for another topic you would like me to discuss, by all means, let us know!