Have a question about planning a trip to Disney or something you’ve read here? Hopefully this blog can help! We’ve visited every Disney resort around the world, from Walt Disney World to Tokyo Disneyland, have stayed in nearly every Disney-owned hotel in the world, and have dined at the majority of Disney restaurants.
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Thanks,
Tom Bricker
Tom, trying to reserve the Rivers of Light dinner package for our stay this coming mid-July. However, the computer will not let me book any Rivers of Light package after June 30 of this year. No dates after June 30 are “live” on the Disney World reservation calendar for the Rivers of Light restaurant package. Any idea why, is this offering being discontinued after June 2017?
Many thanks to you and Sarah for all the great DW insights and advice, Howard
Not sure how much help I can be, but I did speak to a Disney representative and asked this very same question. She was not fully sure why it would not go past June 30, but she said it may have to do with the Pandora opening and seeing how things shake out with that. I am not sure if that is really true as Pandora opens in May, but it should not have anything to do with the show being discontinued or anything like that. All she could really tell me was to keep an eye on it for the next month or so.
Thanks very much for the information/insights. Having kept at it, I did see that the July Rivers of Light dining package did go “live” on the computer on April 1. However, I tried booking it at the Tusker House for the July date Im interested in, as well as every other day in July, and all responses were “no tables available.” Either its totally booked, which is doubtful since it just became available, or something else is going on. I called but the Disney rep did not provide any insights or assistance other than to keep trying. Huh, frustrating at best!
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My family is making our first trip to WDW in May of 2018. Normally we would not be able to afford a trip like this but a family member is giving us a week at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for free. We will be arriving on a Saturday night and departing Saturday night. We are saving for 2 years for this trip and still are going to be on a very tight budget. Staying at a time share is going to allow us to eat breakfast at the resort and pack lunches to take into the parks so the only meal we will be purchasing each day will be dinner. I had initial thoughts of renting a car which would cost around $200 for the week but I read that it might be cheaper to Uber into the parks. The family member giving us the time share told us that they usually drive into Disney Springs and take the free bus service to a close hotel and then transfer to the theme parks. I read in your blog that this is an idiotic idea and now im concerned. The thought of paying $20 a day for parking adds $100 to the trip but I guess would allow us to get in and out quicker. We have children who love water parks so we are purchasing the Park Hopper Plus for 5 days since we plan to do all the parks and the 2 water parks. I need to find ways to trim money but at the same time not be adding wasted time to the trip. 2 Uber trips a day would be at least $20 so basically the same as paying for parking. Should I skip he car rental and Uber? I think I am going to need a car to get from the airport to the time share and to get to the grocery store for food. Transportation and wasting time and money are my biggest concerns. Any thoughts or helpful hints??
3211 E. 35th St. Ct.
Hi there! I have a (first time) trip planned to Disney Tokyo/Sea in May and will be staying at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Quick question, do you know if it’s common practice for the hotel to charge additional fees upon check-in for incidentals like it is in the U.S.? Just trying to figure out what credit cards to bring.
Thanks!
Tom, GREAT blog by the way. You have become my go to source of info on Disney World, and we will be visiting again this summer, our 3rd visit in the past 4 years after not going for almost 20 years. Boy did having a granddaughter change everything!
We are considering spending most of one day Hollywood Studios, having an early dinner, and then heading over to Epcot for their wonderful fireworks show.
I thought I had seen somewhere on your blog that you can walk from Hollywood to Epcot. Is that doable, or am I have another senior moment?
Thanks, love your style!
Yep. You can walk from the International Gateway entrance/exit in World Showcase, along the BoardWalk, turning left at the end (you’ll see a sign) and along a side walk all the way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s right along the way route the boats take. Pretty easy and often faster than the boats!
there was no image to click on but please send my dvd. Please and thank-you
We are staying at the Caribbean Beach December 21-28, 2017 and I just received your email about maybe avoiding it for construction in Centertown. When I contacted them, they said the construction should be completed in the Summer. Is there more construction? Help cant decide if we need to find another hotel. Thank you.
It’s possible they are not yet offering room changes for that late in the year. Construction should be completed by late December, but you should monitor the situation to make sure it isn’t delayed.
I just received this for September
Thank you for choosing the Walt Disney World® Resort as your vacation destination! We recently announced that exciting changes will be made at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, beginning with a reimagining of the Resort that will add even more amenities to the centralized dining and shopping marketplace. While we recognize this will cause a degree of disruption to your stay, we are making every effort to ensure that your visit to Walt Disney World is magical.
Beginning in May 2017, the following venues will be unavailable due to refurbishment: Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters at Old Port Royale, Banana Cabana Pool Bar and Calypso Trading Post. There will be a variety of dining options available to you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Centertown, a dining location, will serve an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet for breakfast and dinner.
A selection of grab-and-go meals will be conveniently available for purchase throughout the day in three new island markets located in the Aruba, Jamaica and Martinique regions of the Resort.
Additional a la carte offerings will be available at mobile food vending locations.
In-room dining will remain available. The menu includes pizza, sandwiches and pasta.
Disney dining plans will be accepted.
We will make every effort to assist you with your dietary needs.
During your stay, you will be able to make a splash at Fuentes del Morro Pool — our feature swimming location — or at one of our leisure pools. Additionally, recreation activities and entertainment will be available.
Please note that noise will be heard while our Resort is being reimagined, but noise should not be heard from your Guest room between dusk and 9:00am daily.
As a thank you for your continued patronage, you will receive a Disney Gift Card value of $75 per room for each night of your stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. For your convenience, you do not need to contact us in advance; we have already arranged for your gift card to be available at the resort upon check-in. This gift card can be used at participating Walt Disney World Resort Food & Beverage and Merchandise locations. For complete terms and conditions, please visit DisneyGiftCard.com.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your original booking agent.
For reservations made through Disney Reservation Center or disneyworld.com, please call 407-939-1822 between the hours of 7:00am-11:00pm (ET).
For reservations made through Disney Vacation Club® Member Services, please call 800-800-9800 or 407-566-3800 between the hours of 9:00am-7:30pm (ET) Monday through Friday or 9:00am-5:30pm (ET) Saturday and Sunday.
If you booked your vacation through a travel agent, please contact your travel agent directly.
Should you have any questions or concerns once you arrive, General Manager Sheryl Koenes and her team at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be happy to assist you.
We look forward to hosting you as our Guest and wish you a truly magical stay!
Sincerely,
Disney Destinations, LLC
I would like a dvd sent to my granddaughter who we are taking to Disney World in April.
Sopie DeVore
134 WF Brodgon Lane
Broklet, Georgia 30415
Thanks so much!
Gail Craine
Tom – Your blog provides a wealth of information and has been a great resource for me in planning my Disneyland visit (it is my first!). My ex-husband and I are running the Disneyland Half Marathon in September 2017 and we had planned to stay in a Disneyland resort hotel so that we could be close to the start line and to the park entrance. In reading your list of hotels, I see you have high praise for the Park Vue Inn. Since we are no longer a “couple” we like to stay in suites where there is a closed off bedroom and a fold out sofa or other additional bed, and the Park Vue has such a room. However, we are concerned about how far of a walk we will have to the race start line if we stay there. Can you help me out? Is the walk from the Park Vue closer, farther, or about the same as if we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel? Thanks again for your great blog!
The walk from Park Vue Inn to the race starting point is much farther than the walk from Disneyland Hotel. (On the other hand, the walk from Park Vue to Disneyland itself is actually shorter than the walk from Disneyland Hotel…)
Tom
It was my privilege to meet you at Disney last week. We were there only for two nights and I saw you taking pictures at Narcosse’s, then introduced myself at California grill. Couldn’t resist going over and saying hello. My wife said I looked like a stalker, but I had to say hello because I so very much enjoy your blog and and photography. You do great work.
You asked if I liked the food at the California grill, and it was very good and they have a large selection of good wines. But one huge complaint… I’m a steak guy, and they don’t have steak – just a tiny filet.
Nice to meet you–you didn’t look like a stalker at all (says the guy who was taking pictures of a restaurant interior with people in it…)
Thanks for the feedback on your meal. Did you try that filet? Last time I had it, it was exceptional. Smaller, to be sure, but that’s the ‘fine dining’ nature of California Grill.
Hope you had a great trip! 🙂
My wife did get the filet, she was very happy with it. Very tender, and very flavorful. She had the filet at Narcosse’s the night before and preferred the one at California grill. My brother in-law is a huge wine enthusiast, and was in heaven with the selection there. Next time we go, it’s the Yachtsmen (Or maybe Shula’s) for me. We mid-westerners like our Rib-eyes, ya know!
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Hey Tom,
My husband and I went to Disney World for the first time last September for our honeymoon. We both had the best time. I was in charge of all the planning, which i enjoyed very much, and I cant tell you how helpful all your blogs and articles were. I love reading every post you make just to keep me from missing it all too much. Thanks for everything and if y’all ever need some travel buddies from Texas, we would love to get a taste of what y’all do.
Hi Tom!
Awesome site and blog! I recently came across your site getting some info about the runDisney events. You have a lot great tips and information. It’s sooo good that I’ve open almost all of the links you provided in an infinity amount of tabs on my browser. Do you have link to a shopping list in Amazon by any chance? This will definitely help me keep all the items I wanted to get based on your recommendations and a good “shopping list” to reference from time-to-time. Specially for the runDisney event.
Thanks for all these info!
-Rocky
Hihi Tom! Loving the blog. Am looking at proposing in Tokyo Disneyland as well.
May i enquire if there should be anything I should look out for or any tips/advice?
Thank you so much in advance!!
Can i get a printable version of your packing list?
Coming in Jan 13th through 16th, doing one park a day, which park would you recommend on which day? Last minute decision to come and fast passes are hard to get? Thank you so much, just found your site and will spend a lot of time reading.
Hi cant seem to get onto free cd site are we entitled to get one in australia. Thanks
I have loved reading so many of your reviews. They have helped me in planning our upcoming visit in July 2017. My daughter is obsessed with Elena of Avalor. Have you noticed when and where she can be seen? We have park tickets for 7 days with park hopping, making it easier to perhaps be where we need to be to see her.
I wanted to thank the both of you for all the wonderful information you provide. My mom and I went to Disneyworld the first week of December and had an amazing and magical time. I read so many of your blogs and used them to plan majority of our vacation. Without a doubt they helped my mom and I to have to best trip possible. I appreciate everything you guys do and enjoy looking at your instagram photos daily. I already want to go back to Disney, so it allows me to live vicariously through you!
Tom…
Just wondering if you were looking at the Irix 11mm or Venus 12mm, any thoughts?