Feature & Review on an Etsy Blog!

Last month I was approached by a fellow blogger who blogs her reviews on Etsy Disney and jewelry based products. She wanted to do a review on my Ellegant Decor Disney World Parks Cards! I was so excited and flattered to hear that someone wanted to review them. Feedback is great and it would give me exposure to potential customers looking for custom products for their Disney vacations. 

She posted her blog article on the Disney Parks Cards and I am so excited to hear that she really liked my product! I hope she does a follow up article on how she enjoyed/used them at Magic Kingdom. 

Woo hoo!

Last Day of Annual Passes :(

After a fun breakfast at Hollywood Studios, we headed over to the Animal Kingdom for the morning/afternoon. Mom and Dad haven't really spent a lot of time in the park and we thought this would be fun for them to see. 

We are so proud of Mom who rode on Expedition Everest! Got to love the pictures Disney takes. 

We also rode Dinosaur and I still get scared during the ride! You would like after riding this several times that I would know when the dinosaur pops out! Maybe next time. We also rode the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride and walked though the Pangani Forest Exploration.

For lunch we ate at the Flame Tree Barbecue which was so delicious! Christopher and I split a combo platter and it was plenty of food for two.

After lunch we headed back to the resort and relaxed for a bit at the pool. Later in the afternoon we decided to walk over to Epcot and enjoy the night there. We split a fish and chips in England, then walked over to France for a Croque Monsieur, Bordeaux and a coffee flavored mousse. All was delicious.

We then strolled around the entire World Showcase. We rode the Three Caballeros ride once more and Spaceship Earth. Then we caught Illuminations. We could watch it every night and still be impressed! 

We then walked back to the Boardwalk. Christopher enjoyed a cigar and beer and I got a slice of pizza and a margarita. We relaxed and people watched for the rest of the night. It was very special. 

Mom and Dad decided to have dinner at the new Italian restaurant on the Boardwalk and enjoyed it very much. They then met us out afterwards and we hung out with our drinks. A great way to end our stay at the Boardwalk. 

Our 4 Park Challenge Day!

During this trip we did a 4 Park Challenge. Our goal/rules of the challenge: go to each park in one day, enjoy at least 3 attractions per park, and eat at least a snack at each park. And....we did it! It is definitely exhausting, but added a different element to our trip

Our first park was Animal Kingdom to capitalize on the extra magic hours in the morning. We were able to ride Expedition Everest TWICE, walked on Kilimanjaro safaris and walked through the Pangani Forest Exploration uninterrupted. We grabbed breakfast at a kiosk and enjoyed some espresso and a croissant.

Next park: Magic Kingdom! We rode Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and the WDW Railroad. We had lunch at Friars Nook (Christopher wanted the pot roast macaroni and cheese) and I shared a pepperoni pizza from Pinocchio's Village Haus. 

Next park: Hollywood Studios. This is our least favorite park, so finding things to do that we both liked was hard. We rode Star Tours, walked through One Man's Dream and then did the Star Wars Lego Experience since it was Star Wars weekend. For our snack, we had a Mickey Ear Ice Cream to help us cool off. 

Since we were making excellent time, we decided to walk back to our resort and take a little nap. It felt so awesome to put our feet up and relax. We probably would have made it through Epcot, but we would have been a little grumpy.

After our nap it was off to our final park - EPCOT! We rode Test Track (thanks to our free fast pass from the ride breaking down), The 3 Caballeros and Mission: SPACE. 

We then relaxed until our dinner reservation at Spice Road Table. We had some celebratory drinks - Christopher picked up a beer from England and I had my favorite martini - no surprises there.

Dinner was delicious but the service was awful. We ordered our favorite pitcher of sparkling sangria, baked brie, calamari and mixed skewers. And of course we finished with coffee and dessert. We caught Illuminations from our table and had a great view of it. We also ran into my co-worker Titi! It was her first trip to WDW and she was having a great time.

And because we are crazies, we ran back to the resort, dropped all of our stuff and ran over to Hollywood Studios to catch Symphony in the Stars. It was so much more huge from outside of the park. We definitely have a new appreciation for the fireworks show.

So...WE DID IT! The 4 park challenge was fun yet exhausting. Definitely not to do with young children, but I would say pre-teen, teens could handle it.

Saturday Breakfast & Epcot

Saturday morning we had breakfast at The Grand Floridian Cafe to catch up with Mom and Dad on their date night and to share with them ours. They had a lovely time at the California Grill. Our breakfast was delicious as usual. Christopher got his fill of steak and eggs and I got the breakfast platter (I like a little bit of everything).

We then made our way to Epcot via the monorail. We went on Imagination with Figment, walked through Innoventions plaza, did Ellen's Energy Adventure and waited in line for Test Track only to have it break down right when we designed our car. Bummer! But we did get a free fast pass to use whenever we would like.

We checked out some of the gardens during the festival. We then walked around World Showcase Lagoon catching the last weekend of the Flower & Garden Festival and all of the fun treats.

We ate a spicy pineapple hot dog, blueberry pomegranate margarita, the lucky combo in China, a beer flight in Germany, Maple Bacon stout from the Smokehouse (while catching the new acappella act perform too - they were AWESOME!) and of course a trip around the world would not be complete without a Grey Goose Grand Marnier martini!

We had a very nice afternoon walking around. We then refreshed ourselves and walked over to the Beach Club for dinner at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. I had a burger and Christopher had a turkey sandwich. Mom and Dad both had burgers and of course we all indulged in a sundae. It was so cute inside and we had fun selecting tunes from the juke box.

After dinner, Christopher and I walked over to Hollywood Studios to catch Symphony in the Stars. We had some time to kill so we waited and rode Star Tours and had a flight sequence we have not seen before! It was our favorite yet. We then staked our spot on Hollywood Boulevard for the show and fireworks. It did not disappoint. So incredible to have the fireworks go off to the Star Wars score. Christopher videoed it so we can watch it again and again. 

Tips for Making the Most out of the Disney Dining Plan

I am often asked questions by family and friends about the Disney Dining Plans. My family has used the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) for a couple of trips. We enjoy it, but have learned several tips and tricks along the way. I thought I would share them with you all as the fun summer vacation season is almost upon us!

Meals: Basics on how they work, and how to make it work for your budget

-          First and foremost gratuities are NOT included except as noted in the dining plan brochure. These generally include In-room dining, pizza delivery, the dinner shows and Cinderella’s Royal Table.  Make sure to budget for the anticipated gratuities. We forgot about this point the first time we used the dining plan in 2012 and did not budget for it. So now that you all know, you don’t have to ask the uncomfortable question to your fabulous server.

-          It sounds silly but make sure to check the listing of participating restaurants, as sometimes restaurants are added or dropped from the list. Use this link, which takes you directly to the Disney Dining Plan page for the most up to date information.

-          Some special menus (like prix fixe) and menu add-ons (like adding on a lobster tail) will not be included in the dining plans. The menu will note an up charge and you will be required to pay that additional fee.

-          Each of the meals includes a non-alcoholic beverage. If you don’t want your drink, order a bottle of water and take it to go!

-          Looking for quick service but want something more “exotic” than the frequently menued chicken fingers and burgers? Several resort food courts – Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation), Everything Pop (Pop Century), Pepper Market (Coronado Springs), Mara (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Contempo Café (Contemporary Resort) – offer ethnic or more exotic food options.  I LOVE the tie dyed cheesecake at Pop Century and the Beignets at French Quarter. (Desserts – I know, but still – so delicious!)

Snacks: Mickey Ice Cream? Dole Whip? Food & Wine Festival? Oh Boy!

-          Leftover snack credits? Don’t let them go to waste! Disney offers several opportunities for you to spend those unused snack credits to bring some of the Parks home with you. Most of the resort food courts offer “packable food” for any quick service credits that are left over. These meals make for great meals on the go when you have to travel home. I like to think of it as my last little piece of Disney meal magic. Also – did you forget to buy your best friend or sibling a souvenir? Use your unused snack credits to get them a Mickey themed snack like a rice krispy treat or coconut ears.  

-          If you are vacation during either the Epcot Food & Wine Festival or the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, your snack credits can be used for most “tasting portions” offered in the kiosks around the World Showcase. You can get the most bang for your credits doing this. For example, during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, in previous years the Maine Lobster Roll could be redeemed using a snack credit, saving you $9.75! That is like having a meal but only using a snack credit – SCORE!

Other Tips & Tricks to get the most out of your plan

-          You can use the meal credits whenever you want during your Walt Disney vacation. For example, if you’re on the regular dining plan and you want to eat two table service meals one day and three quick service meals the next day, no problem. Or if you want to use up all of your snack credits in one day, that is okay too.

-          The dining plan includes dessert with both lunch and dinner. Keep in mind this level of heavy eating could make it difficult to walk around the parks. An alternative to heavy desserts like cake, pie and other Disney delicacies is to order fresh fruit instead. Most restaurants and quick service will offer fresh fruit that you can take to go as your dessert. Then you can snack on an apple or banana later in the day when you may get hungry.  Meal and snack all in one! You guys know me and how I love deals.

-          If you are on the regular meal plan, you may want to consider sharing a quick service meal. Last trip Christopher and I split a half chicken dinner at Cosmic Ray’s and it was more than enough food for the two of us. The chicken was generous and it came with a potato and vegetable sides. Other places that offer larger meals are Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom (1/2 chicken & ribs combo – for the meat lovers) and Sunshine Seasons at Epcot (Asian combo that allows you to pick two entrees and two sides – oh boy!)

Dining with kids? Here is the scoop to maximize your credits

-          Most quick service locations have a set kids menu and options are pretty limited. A few restaurants do not have a separate kid’s menu, which means they can order any combo or entrée on the menu with a child credit. These include: Casey’s Corner (Magic Kingdom), Catalina Eddies and Toluca Legs Turkey Company (Hollywood Studios), Sommerfest and Yorkshire County Fish Shop (Epcot). BAAAM – getting more for your buck never felt so good!

-          Kids’ selections at some sit-down restaurants can be limited. A couple things to keep in mind:

o   Ask for alternatives. If your kids don’t like anything on the kids menu, ask the server if they can have a child-sized portion of something from the adult menu. Not every time, but often this can be accommodated.

o   Ask to see the chef if your child has allergies or a dietary issue where eating off the regular menu might be tricky. A better option is to contact Disney before your trip to alert them of the dietary issue (407-939-3463). Disney is very good at accommodating these issues.  You may have also heard some buzz about Disney’s special allergy menus. Remember – it never hurts to ask!

o   You may find that buffet locations, where the selection is broader, can accommodate the pickiest of eaters and everyone in your party can be satisfied. And some buffet locations also offer character dining! BONUS. Our favorite? Tusker House in Magic Kingdom. This is one of the few locations guests can meet Daisy Duck!

But I saved the best tip for last…the #1 tip I have for using the Disney Dining Plan is to prepare your dining game plan BEFORE you arrive at Disney. Seriously, if you don’t want to be disappointed at the end of your trip or upset because you did not use all of your credits for dining and snacks, put together a plan ahead of time to make sure you will use all of your credits. To help you with my #1 tip, use the Ellegant Décor Disney Collection Dining Planner. This way, you can get an idea of how many meal and snack credits your family will have and where you can use them prior to your trip. At the end of our first trip using the dining plan, we did not use 2 of our dining credits – doh! We were disappointed in ourselves for wasting the meals and the money! So learn from our mistakes.

And since Disney vacation season is upon us and many of you are day dreaming and planning your next trip, Ellegant Décor is offering 10% off ALL of their Disney Planners (from the VALUE to WALT and the Dining Planner) now through April 30^th! Just use the code “APRILSHOWERS” at checkout! And for a limited time, the WALT planner will include the Dining Planner for FREE. Gosh I LOVE deals.

Now I am hungry thinking about all of the delicious Disney food! Happy Planning!

Making way for Updated WDW Parks Cards!!

I have ONE full deck of Disney Parks Cards in stock and would like to make room for the updated sets I have been working on! To help clear out the last set, I am offering FREE SHIPPING to the customer who purchases the last set.

Have a Disney World vacation coming up? These decks are perfect for your family to use on your vacation and learn more about all of the magic that surrounds you on your trip.

Our Disney December Trip - Day 2

Day two of our Christmas Disney trip started with a delicious breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Oh my goodness the food was delicious! It was so good, Christopher made us another reservation on our last day for breakfast. Christopher ordered the steak and eggs. He said this was the most amazing steak and eggs he has ever had for breakfast. The Bearnaise sauce they used was perfect. I ordered the traditional Mickey waffle with bacon - yummy!

Then off to Magic Kingdom we went! It was a fun morning of walking around the park, using our fast passes and waiting for some character meet and greets.

On addition from the previous day was the GIANT Christmas tree in the middle of Town Square! It had been magically put up over night. We asked a cast member why that day (seemed odd) and they said they finished taping the Christmas Day parade for ABC yesterday and that if we were here for the Festival of Fantasy parade yesterday, we could be on TV!!! How cool was that? We caught most of the parade Christmas morning and did not see ourselves in it, but that is okay - knowing we were there alone is pretty darn cool.

Of course Christopher packed his Bills flag...it is now a vacation tradition.

Not very scary Christopher...got to practice your mean pirate face. But we did think of Bruce while we were on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

We got to meet Woody & Jessie. Very cool meet and greet. They were a lot of fun to interact with. Fun Disney myth - Woody and friends will NOT fall down if you shout "Andy is Coming!"Andy is now off to college.

After spending the morning and early afternoon at the park we headed back to the resort to relax for a bit before we headed back to the park for our Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets.

We caught all of the special ticket events, including the Frozen show where Elsa freezes over Cinderella Castle. All of the beautiful icicle lights were amazing. The pictures do not do it justice.

There were several special character experiences. We chose to wait to meet ALL SEVEN DWARFS! They were so much fun and worth the wait in line (about 90 minutes).

The firework show was absolutely fantastic. We were both so mesmerized that we did not take any pictures of the show. But trust us - it was amazing. Next we waited for the second showing of the Christmastime parade. While we were waiting, it started to "snow" on Main Street USA! It was magical (or soap - whatever you want to call it).

My favorite part of the parade, besides seeing all of our favorite characters was the nutcracker band that ushered in Santa himself! They were so cool playing the instruments and marching.

I would hands down do this event again. Definitely worth the price and we took advantage of all of the free hot cocoa (it was really cold!) and snickerdoodle cookies we could get our hands on!