Archive for the 'Tips' Category

Help me plan my Disney vacation!

Published
by
Amber
on June 21, 2008
in Q&A and Tips
. 0 Comments

You’ve decided that the Walt Disney World® Resort is where you’re going for your next vacation.  First let me say that’s a great choice!  You do a little research to pick your hotel and look at ticket pricing.  Quickly you become overwhelmed with the myriad of options that you have to choose from.  Value or Deluxe?  One park per day or hopping?  Dining plan or pay out of pocket?  Summer or fall?  YIKES!

Let me help.  I will listen to what you want out of your upcoming vacation.  I’ll work with you to find out your family’s likes and dislikes.  Then I’ll guide you toward the best choices for each piece of your vacation.  Sometimes a dining plan is best but sometimes it isn’t.  Maybe you have the misconception that Epcot® is only for adults.  Do you need help understanding how to travel to the Theme Parks from your hotel?  What restaurants are a must?  Do you need dining reservations?  Maybe you’ve got a special tour in mind.  Visiting for a honeymoon, birthday or anniversary?  Let me make it extra special!

I want to help you have the magical vacation that you deserve and are paying for.  I don’t charge any extra fees for my service and I won’t push you toward anything that you don’t need.  What do you have to lose?  I love all things Disney and want to share the happiness that I feel when vacationing there with others.  Please don’t be the person arriving at the restaurant with no reservations, upset that you can’t get in to dine there anytime during your vacation.  Don’t be the one complaining during your trip because you didn’t know about this or that.  I can help you get the most out of your experience and have the ‘never want to leave’ feeling when it is time to go back home.

Visit my ‘contact us’ page or just send me an email to amber@gotothemouse.com.  No need to be overly formal.  You’ll be working with a live person who loves helping others plan trips to the most magical place on Earth. 

Making dining reservations for Disney restaurants 180 days in advance?!?

Published
by
Amber
on April 2, 2008
in Tips
. 0 Comments

The food and dining options at the Walt Disney World® Resort are world-class and can’t be beat.  With new package options that include meals, more people are enjoying the restaurants on property than ever.  What that means to you is that making advance reservations for your sit-down (also called table service) meals is very important.  You can make these reservations by phone up to 180 days in advance of the date you’d like to dine.  Certain restaurants are very popular and securing a reservation at those locations can be impossible if not booked early. 

GototheMouse.com’s free personalized service includes working with you to determine where you’d like to dine and making the necessary reservations for you.  This saves you a great deal of time and long distance charges. 

We want to make your Disney experience as magical as possible and working with you to reserve those special meals is another example of the level of service you’ll get by making your travel reservations with us!

Quick tips to share…

Published
by
Amber
on January 27, 2008
in Tips
. 0 Comments

Download my tips list here!

I’m always thinking of tips to share with those planning a Disney vacation.  Some of my favorites are:

  • Don’t forget to set Resort Hotel wake-up calls!  These are free and a great way to start your day!
  • Some Resort Hotels offer special activities for their guests.  Inquire at the Front Desk or check the information sheet that you are given at check-in for more information.
  • Take naps or rest during the early afternoon.  This will keep you and your family refreshed and ready to enjoy your vacation.  There is no sense in rushing through your trip!  I suggest making a list of the must-do’s before you leave and focus on getting those done.  Everything else you fit in will be icing on the cake!
  • Try new things!  Whether it be an attraction that is normally too scary for you or a cuisine that you’ve never tried, go for it!  You might be pleasantly surprised!
  • Avoid the Theme Park closing rush.  Take your time when exiting at closing time; you’ll be glad you did.  I recommend either leaving while the final show or entertainment is being presented or hanging out for a little while when the crowds rush the exit gates. 
  • Use Disney transportation wisely.  Allow plenty of time to travel to your destination, especially travel between Resort Hotels. 
  • Take advantage of Resort Hotel package delivery.  You can purchase items in the Theme Parks and have them delivered to your Resort Hotel’s gift shop for pick-up. 
  • If you have young children, rent a stroller.  You’ll be glad you did and so will they.  Inquire about multi-day rentals for money savings.
  • There are many free things to take advantage of such as talking to people from different countries to learn about their homes, beautiful landscaping, building a free plastic robot, children’s activities, autographs, beautiful sunsets, romantic settings and unparalleled service.  Enjoy!

Extra items to add to your Disney packing list

Published
by
Amber
on January 27, 2008
in Tips
. 0 Comments

Disney packing list- click here to save and print!!

We all know the basics to pack for any vacation.  Add in the seasonal items such as warmer clothing for the fall/winter nights and summer sun protection for the steamy summer months and you’re covered.  I’ll bet that there are several things that you’d never think to take on a Disney vacation that I personally can’t live without.  Here are some of those items:

In General: Paperwork with all hotel and flight information, contact numbers, dining reservation times and numbers, cameras and memory cards, camcorder, cell phones, chargers, batteries, toll money if applicable, extra credit card (one to use in case something were to happen to the card you normally use while on vacation), ID for each adult, comfortable shoes, small bills for tipping.  If you like to send postcards back to family and friends at home, I suggest printing address labels with their information before leaving home.  Then you can just stick the labels on your postcards, write a message and send them off — a super time saver!

For your room: stain remover stick for pre-treating clothing mishaps, bag for dirty clothes, bag for wet bathing suits, small pair of scissors/nail clippers (to remove event bracelets and cut off price tags), flip flops to wear to the pool, clothespin to fully close bedroom curtains, nightlight, zippered baggies (large and small, you never know when you’ll need one of these).

For the Theme Parks: bookbag to carry during the day to keep your hands free, washcloth in a zipper bag to wipe down your face on hot days, water bottle(s) to fill each morning, water-misting or handheld fans to cool you during steamy afternoons, ponchos for sudden rainstorms, motion sickness medicine, neck wallet to allow for easy access to room keys/tickets/etc., coins for penny machines (2 quarters and one penny per smashed penny; we keep these in tubes), baby wipes for sticky moments, glow bracelets/necklaces from the local dollar stores for evening events (great way to keep your family members visible), autograph alternatives (cheap art canvases make great items to use for character signatures, retractable permanent markers or other large markers, put all in large zippered bag with your name and cell phone number on it), bandanna or other item to use as a stroller tie-on if you rent Disney strollers (to make them easier to identify in the sea of strollers).

First Aid: miscellaneous over-the-counter medicine (headache, upset stomach, pain relievers), small first-aid kit with bandages, moleskin to prevent blisters.

If you have young children who are still using sippy cups, I’d bring along a bottle brush, small bottle of dishwashing liquid and a small roll of paper towels.  That way you’ll be able to get the cups clean each day.

On all of your important electronic items, please write down the serial numbers and models of the equipment in case you were to lose them.  I also suggest putting an address label on the item with your cell number and/or taking a picture of a card with that information on it before you leave home.  Disney is great about returning items that have been found so don’t hesitate to check their lost and found if something you own gets misplaced.

Also note that the Theme Parks do not allow rolling backpacks or wheeled/rolling shoes.