Disney Diva Tips

Disney has just announced an all new resort next to Pop Century. The Art of Animation Resort is a value level resort set to open in 2012. This resort will have 4 areas modeled after animated movies including; The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King. The Little Mermaid area will have 864 themed rooms. The Finding Nemo, Cars and Lion King areas will have 1120 family suites that contain both a living room and bedroom. The family suites are a great value option for families of 5 or 6.  The family suites at the All Star Resort typically go for $190 a night. Hopefully all these additional rooms will bring the price down even lower.

What are your thoughts about the 26th Disney Resort? Would you like to try it out on your next visit? Do you like the idea of the suites? Do you think the price will come down now that there will be a lot more of them? Let me know what you think?

The best dinner show on the property (in my humble opinion) is the Hoop Dee Doo Review at Fort Wilderness. The food is good and family friendly and the show is a lot of fun with lots of laughs. I think I have seen it 3 or 4 times and I have enjoyed it every time.

The Hoop Dee Doo Review is located at the Fort Wilderness Campground. The Contemporary Resort and Wilderness Lodge both have a boat that will take you directly there. From all the other resorts it is best to go to the Magic Kingdom and then take the boat from there to Fort Wilderness. (Be sure you don't get on the boat to Wilderness Lodge) Once you arrive at Fort Wilderness just follow the path away from the boat docks and Pioneer Hall, home of the Hoop Dee Doo Review, will be on your right just after Crocket's Tavern and the Trail's End Restaurant. If you drive you will need to park and then take an internal bus to Pioneer Hall.

The meal includes fresh bread, salad, ribs, fried chicken, baked beans, and corn on the cob. Soda, milk, coffee, tea, beer, and sangria are all included in the price. The meal is finished off with the most delicious and my favorite strawberry shortcake (and I don't even like strawberries, weird I know).  The food is good and all you care to eat.

The show is about 6 singers (3 couples) that just arrived on the stage coach. It is a bunch of country western and americana type songs. There is a skit that includes audience members too. It is a great place to go to celebrate a birthday or anniversary since they will recognize you and have you stand (or dance to "Let me call you sweetheart" if its your anniversary or honeymoon).

There are usually 3 showings at 5, 7:15, and 9:30 and is held on Thursday and Saturday nights. This meal will count as 2 table services on the meal plan and will require a credit card to hold your reservation. If you are using the meal plan you will get category 2 or 3 for the 5 and 7:15 show and category 1 for the 9:30 show. Tax and gratuity is included in the price. The price varies between category 1 and 3. Category 1 is the floor in front for $58.99 for adults and $29.99 for children 3-9. Category 2 is behind Category 1 on floor or the center of the balcony for $54.99 for adults and $26.99 for children. Category 3 is the left and right of the balcony for $50.99 for adults and $25.99 for children. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 407-WDW-Dine.
If you like this review check out my review of 'Ohana

'Ohana is one of the places we usually fit into every Disney trip and so do many others I know. It is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House at the Polynesian Resort. If you come by monorail via the MK (the fastest way to get there) you will come into the Great Ceremonial House on the second floor and find the restaurant directly across the building on the left.

There are so many reasons to love 'Ohana. First of all 'Ohana means family in Hawaiian and that isn't lost in this family friendly restaurant. Everyone there will greet you with the welcome of family.

Dinner is served from 5pm-10pm most of the time. The meal is served family style at your table and is all you care to eat. You will start with a salad with honey-lime dressing, coriander chicken wings, and pork fried dumpling. Don't fill up on these delicious starters though. When you are ready they will bring you vegetables (broccoli and peas), Thai  noodles and three sauces including peanut, chimichurri and sweet-and-sour. They will bring around the main course on skewers that were cooked over an oak fire. The meats include sirloin steak, pork loin, grilled turkey, and shrimp (not peeled). They will continue to come around with the meat and refills of anything else you want until you are finished. Be warned, don't over do it,  there is a delicious dessert to follow. The 'Ohana bread pudding a la mode with banana foster sauce is not to be missed. Leave room for dessert. The meal includes soda, milk, juice, coffee and tea. Children can eat from the regular meal or can get chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese,  PBJ, cheeseburgers, or hamburgers. These are served with french fries. This meal is one table service credit on the meal plan or $30.00 for adults and $14.99 for children. Don't forget that tips are not included on the meal plan so you will need to pay for that separate plus any alcoholic beverages you order.

If you are looking for a quiet, romantic atmosphere then you should head over to the Grand Floridian. This restaurants is loud and fun. During your meal you may encounter a few activities for the kids. They often have a ukulele player, hula hooping, a parade with maracas, limbo and coconut races. My kids had a great time. My husband and I took turns going with them so the other could enjoy some food. The waiter made sure I had some fresh from the grill food when I came back too. The kids could go by themselves since you can see them but I wasn't too comfortable with that since my kids were 4 and 2.


The Polynesian is a beautiful resort too. The Great Ceremonial House has lots of foliage and a beautiful waterfall. You must make ADR's for 'Ohana but if you get there early or take the kids for a walk while others eat you can go down to the first floor. In the lobby by the entrance is a small tv and chairs playing Disney cartoons. We found leis there for the kids too. There are a few gifts shops (on both the 1st and 2nd floor) that can be fun to look at too.

If you took the monorail to get there (fastest way from MK) then you might consider taking a leiserly boat ride back. Go out of the Great Ceremonial House out toward the lake. Take the boat launch back to MK. It is a nice ride. If it is around the time of Wishes (fireworks) in the MK then you will be able to see them from the beach at the Polynesian or on the boat itself. This is a smaller boat launch and you will need to fold up strollers.


Please leave comments to let me know if you have eaten at 'Ohana and what your experience was.

There are lots of choices when it comes to accommodations for big families (3 or more children). You can get suites; 1,2 or 3 room villas; or multiple adjoining rooms at any resort. All of the deluxe hotels can accommodate up to 5 in a room except WL and Swan & Dolphin. Of course along with a big family usually comes a tight budget. Here are some suggestions for the budget conscious.

Fort Wilderness Cabins - This is my best recommendation for a  family with 6 or less people. Each cabin is on its own campsite with a parking space. The cabin can sleep 4 in the back room between a double bed and bunk beds. The other double bed is a pull down bed in the living area. The living area has a sofa, TV and DVD player. There is a fully equipped kitchen including full size refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee pot, dishwasher, toaster, cookware and dinnerware for 6. There is also a table inside that seats six and picnic table and grill outside on the deck. The cabins include daily housekeeping and more. This is a great option because you can cook breakfast every day and even lunch or dinner if you want. Groceries can be purchased at one of two trading posts at the resort. Other advantages are the closeness to the MK. I know I am always talking about that but the MK area is really the best when you are traveling with small kids. You can get to lots of character meals from here to. The campground offers lots of fun things to do and a great retreat from the business of the parks. You can fish, rent boats and bikes, enjoy the pools, playgrounds, sing-a-long, campfire and outdoor movies and much more. Two of the dinner shows are here to Mickey's Backyard BBQ and The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue. The cabins are about $270 a night. This is considered a moderate option.

All Star Music Family Suites - This resort is in the value category. Each suite sleeps up to 6 guests. Each suite has a separate bedroom, pull-out sofas in the living room, 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette. This resort is located near Animal Kingdom and is much further out from the rest of the attractions. All Star Music has several pools, playgrounds, a large food court, housekeeping services, etc. These rooms run about $190 a night.

Adjoining rooms - You can also do 2 adjoining rooms at any of the 4 value resorts (Pop Century being the best option). You will not have a mini fridge and the kitchenette like in the suite. These rooms start at $82 a night so that would be $164 a night and you can sleep up to 8.

Generally a baby in a pack and play (provided by Disney for free) doesn't count in your room total.

Remember there are specials and other incentives. Right now there is 20% off moderate rooms and 15% off value. That brings the price between the Cabins and Family Suites closer together. If you are planning to cook and want to save money on meals by eating in a lot it may be best to go with the cabins. If you don't plan on cooking any meals and just want the cheapest price then 2 adjoining rooms may be the way to go. I personally think the rustic appeal of Fort Wilderness and the atmosphere is worth the splurge if you can.



Thanks to Kerry from All Things For Mom for this great topic. You can offer suggestions for great topics too by commenting on this or any post.

If you are planning a trip to Disney, even if its already booked, you need to request a free planning DVD. I actually request one every year. I always hope it will help me get a discount code email. No one seems to know how you get one but the more interest you show the more likely you are to get one. Anyway, you can get your free planning DVD by going here. It is fun to watch with your kids and show them all the things they can expect on their trip. Even if they have been before it is still fun to look at and get ready for the magic!

I already told you my favorite place to stay in Where to Stay and that is Wilderness Lodge. Check out that post to see why. I do understand that people have different needs and driving forces when it comes to picking a resort. First of all, all of my top picks are Disney Resorts. There are so many reasons for this but among them are Disney transportation, Magic Your Way Packages, and a continuation of the magic.

I will give you my top picks for a resort based on who is in your traveling party and lowest cost. I will also give you the rack room rate during regular season. The actual price you pay may be more or less depending on what season you are there (value, regular, peak, holidays, or summer), what night of the week, what view your room has, and a package deal or discount offer. These prices are just meant to be a comparison so you can see the price difference between different options.I have also chosen the standard room at each resort for comparison sake but some resorts offer a variety or rooms and suites.

Families with Young Children would love Wilderness Lodge. This resort is about $300 a night and sleeps 4 plus an infant. Check out my post called Where to Stay for more info on that.

Families with Older Children would prefer the Beach Club or Boardwalk Inn. Both these resorts are considered  Epcot area resorts because that is the closes park. These resorts are located between Epcot and Hollywood Studios and you can access both these parks by ferryboats. They are located on Crescent Lake and there is a beautiful path around the lake for biking and walking. With older children you may not be spending as much time in the Magic Kingdom or hunting down every character meal so you may be happy that you can easily get to two of the other parks. Both these resorts offer awesome swimming pools. The Beach Club has the most elaborate pool in all of Walt Disney World. It is 3 acre swimming area with a lazy river and water slides called Stormalong Bay. The pool even has sand on the bottom. For little ones there is a part of the pool/sand area where they can play and build sand castles. Be aware that Stormalong Bay is only for guests of the Yacht and Beach Club and you will be required to show your Key to the World card (room key) in order to get in. Boardwalk Inn also has a great pool that is a lot of fun with a 200 foot water slide called "Keister Coaster" and it looks like an old wooden roller coaster.  Whichever resort you decided on you can enjoy walking around the Boardwalk where there is lots of entertainment, food, and shopping option. Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn would both be about $390 a night and can sleep 5.

Adults without Children can truly stay anywhere. The best idea is to pick a resort closest to your favorite park. A good choice can be Port Orleans. It is broken into French Quarter (think New Orleans)  and Riverside (the romantic mansions of the south and the rustic bayou). This resort is in the Downtown Disney area and you can get there by water taxi. (You can even just go for a water taxi ride on a nice evening after dinner) All the other parks can be reached by bus. This resort has two areas so there are 2 food courts and lots of  pools. There are beautiful bike/walking  paths around the whole area.  This is a moderate resort so it does not have all the amenities of the resorts mentioned before but is still a beautiful option. A night at the mansion houses of Riverside are about $170 and sleep 4. Be aware there will be two double beds or one king. Of course if money is not an issue then the Grand Floridian or Polynesian are fantastic options also. They are both in the Magic Kingdom area and on the monorail. The GF is $550 and Poly is $425. Both can sleep 5.

Anyone on a TIGHT budget would enjoy Pop Century. There are 4 options in the value category but Pop Century offers the best transportation since you don't have to share a bus with another resorts. The frills are less but there are still pools, a food court, playgrounds and a video arcade. This hotel is in the Animal Kingdom area so transportation to the other attractions may be a bit longer. The best part is you still have all the perks of resort guests. You have Magical Express, extended park hours, and transportation thoughout Disney World to name a few. This resort will only cost about $105 a night and each rooms sleeps 4. Be aware that if the room has 2 beds they will be doubles not queens)

Families of 6 or more have several options. You can stay anywhere by getting two adjoining rooms. Of course that can get really pricey at some of the moderate or deluxe resorts. Several resorts offer villas with 2 or 3 bedrooms. One of the lower priced 2 bedroom villas start at $655 a night, but would include a full kitchen and washer/dryer. All the resorts that have villas are deluxe resorts. There are 2  more economical options. The first is a cabin at Fort Wilderness. They sleep six. Four can sleep in the back sleeping area on a bed and bunk beds and 2 can sleep in a murphy bed in the main area.There is a kitchen, a deck, and bbq. The cabin is nice but the resort is a campground and is more rustic. I grew up going there in our trailer and would love to take my kids there. It is like an oasis in the busy theme park world. There are playgrounds, swimming pools, daily campfire, sing along with Chip and Dale, and outdoor movie, trail rides, pony rides, boat rentals, and lots of trails. Fort Wilderness has a great location right next to Wilderness Lodge. There is a direct boat to the Magic Kingdom as well as to the Contemporary. It is in the Magic Kingdom area which is good placement in Disney World. The cabins are about $325 a night. The cabins are each on their own campsite so it would be hard for one family to be in more than one cabin. If you have more than 6 (unless you are bringing other adults to man the other cabin) the rest of your party would be separated from you a bit. There are also family suites at All Star Music. These sleep 6 also. There is a queen bed, a double sleeper sofa and 2 twin sleeper chairs, 2 bathrooms, a kitchenette, vanity area, table, and chairs. It is really 2 rooms put together into one. These cost about $240 a night. All Star Music is a value resort located near Animal Kingdom. It shares a bus with the All Star Sports and All Star Movies Resorts which can make bus rides even longer.

No matter what resort you decide to stay at you will receive alll the same benefits as every other resort guest. The prices listed are also rack room rates. The best deal may be to get a Magic Your Way plan. These can be bought through travel agents, disney (407-W-Disney), expedia.com, etc. When bundled into a plan with tickets, plus the special offers, you will find your daily rate will be less.

If you have traveled as a family to Disney let us know what resorts worked well for you or didn't.

This article has been moved to Magical Memory Planners.