Take Perfect Pictures On Your Next Disney World Vacation

We have some AMAZING tips on how to take perfect pictures on your next Disney World vacation, or any other vacation. Although we highly recommend a Disney World vacation! LOL!

Best Camera? Your Phone!

Honestly, the best camera you can own now a days is on your phone. Yep, if you have one of the latest and greatest I-Phones or better yet an Android, then you are good to go. Both phones have their advantages when it comes to getting a perfect photo. I personally LOVE the android, but that is just me. You can work with your favorite go to device.

Our phone cameras have lots of cool features that will allow us to set timers, edit photos, retake a photo if needed because we have access to viewing them immediately. If little Billy’s eyes were closed on the first picture you snapped, you will be able to delete it then retake the photo.

If you are not phone savvy or just don’t like to use your phone, you can always bring a digital or disposable camera as well. Most digital cameras give you the ability to view photos just like the phone. Allowing you to retake if needed. If you love the element of surprise and go with a disposal camera, your pictures may or may not be the perfect photo you hoped for. 

Patience

Yes, I know you have places to go, rides to get on, all of the Disney food to eat. But when getting those special once in a life time photos you must have a little bit of patience. If you have a spot you are wanting to take a photo, you may have to wait on other guest to clear out. Maybe the sun is not setting in the right place at the time. This can cause a glare. Since it is Florida, it may even be raining.

You may even have to wait on little Suzy to stop pitching a fit before snapping that picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle. No one wants a red faced puffy eyed photo. It seems silly, but patience will actually help you get a perfect photo. 

Timing

Timing is everything. If you want a perfect picture with little to no other guest in the background it is all about timing. If you want a family picture in front of the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, don’t go straight there as soon as the park opens. Why? Because every one else is going straight there as soon as the park opens which means both a long wait and lots of other people in your photo. 

We have found that mid-day is the best time to get photos in front of the Tree of Life because the crowds are much lower. Every one is out exploring the rest of Animal Kingdom. Which means less of a wait plus you have a better shot at getting just you, your family and the Tree of Life only in the photo.

After the park is closed is another great time to snag those must have photos with little to no one else in them. The Parks close at a specific time and while it is time to start heading out if you hang back just a bit you can snag some really awesome photos.

Group Photos

You may be wondering how you can get everyone in the photo. Well, if you are using your phone you can always set it up on a tripod then set the timer. Using the tips above such as waiting on lower crowd times and along with patience will allow you to take perfect pictures! You can get some pretty awesome group photos in front of the most sought out locations.  

Keep in mind that Disney World does NOT allow selfie sticks. Tripods that can fit inside your backpack that do not extend over 6 feet are OK. Be sure to check out the full list of items allowed and not allowed inside the Disney World theme parks. 

Disney’s Memory Maker

If you do not want to deal with tripods, group pictures or even individual pictures, then Disney’s Memory Maker is the way to go. All of your pictures will be taken by a Disney Photopass Photographer. Disney’s Memory Maker can be added to your Disney World vacation package. The advanced purchase price is $169. If you decide to add on the Memory Maker after you have arrived at the parks, the cost is $199.

A special benefit you will get with the Disney’s Memory Maker that you will not be able to get on your own is photos from the rides. You will get the priceless scared face captured of Dad while riding Tower of Terror after he told everyone he wasn’t afraid. The wide-eyed happy face your kids will have after they score big on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. These special moments can only be captured by Disney’s Memory Maker.

Take Perfect Pictures! 

Whether you choose to take all of your photos on your own using our tips or you use Disney’s Memory Maker, we hope that all of your photos come out perfect. But more importantly, that special life long memories are made on your Disney World vacation.

We would love to hear about any tips you have when taking a perfect photo at Disney World. Come on over to Facebook to talk about it by joining us in Disney Express Lane.

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Easter Egg Cake Pops with a Disney Spin

Join us on another Disney inspired baking adventure, just in time for the Easter holiday!

Allergy Friendly

If you have a food allergy, then you probably know finding sweet treats that are gluten free while at a Disney Park can be a challenge. Now, there are some out there to be found but not quite as many as we would like. So, this specific recipe is geared toward those of us with a gluten allergy. BUT don’t worry, you can still use this same recipe using regular ingredients.

What You Will Need

We need to get all of our ingredients together before we start. Grab a pen and paper or just screen shot this section of the blog and head on out to the grocery store. I use both Betty Crocker and Pillsbury products. I shop by sale or whichever is available at the time. There are several other brands available that will work just the same.

Cake Pops

• 1 Box – Gluten Free Cake Mix – (Sub for Regular if desired)
• 2 (16oz)- containers of Gluten Free Frosting (Sub for Regular if desired)
• 10 to 12 Ounces gluten free semi-sweet baking chocolate

Decorating

• Food Coloring 
• 1 pack – Lollipop Sticks – (optional) 
• Sprinkles, Decorative Sugars, Marshmallows, Mike & Ike Candies (or jellybeans), decorative eyes, gels, and any other items for decorating you desire.

Instructions

First, prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. I just used a square cake pan. You can use any size pan you would like. I don’t suggest a cupcake pan unless that is the only one you have available. Only because we will just be crumbling up the cake in the next steps.

While the cake is baking, go ahead and prepare your decorations. Mix up different color frostings. Place marshmallows and candies in a bowl for easy access and so you don’t get frosting all over the bag while decorating.

Prep 

Once the cake is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 30 minutes. Place the pan on a counter or cooling rack. You don’t want to leave it on top of the warm oven. While the cake is cooling line two baking sheets with parchment paper. You will need to place these in the freezer later so use this time to make sure there is space in the freezer for the pans to sit flat.

Next Steps

Once the cake has cooled, in a large bowl crumble the cake with your fingers.  Add half a can of the frosting and press the cake together using a spoon. You will want to add more frosting as necessary until the mixture is smooth.

Shape the mixture into egg shaped pieces. You can make other shapes or just round as well. Place each shaped piece onto the baking sheets you prepared earlier. Once you have shaped all of your cake mixture place your pans in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Or up to a few hours if you plan to decorate later.

Using Lollipop Sticks

If you are planning to use the lollipop sticks you will need to prepare them before you begin decorating. First, you will need another cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. In a microwave safe bowl, melt 10 ounces of the semi-sweet chocolate on high for 30 seconds at a time. Stirring in between until the chocolate is melted and smooth.

Stick the tip of one side of the lollipop sticks into the melted chocolate. Place them on the lined cookie sheet and freeze for one minute until the chocolate is set. If you are not using lollipop sticks just leave each egg on the cookie sheet.

Let’s Decorate

Now, for the fun and messy part! Decorating. I don’t know about you, but I like recipes that are fun and easy. To decorate, I just simply frost each egg and then used the gels, candies and marshmallows to create eggs that represent some of my favorite Disney characters. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Trust me, unless you are a professional chef who has been trained, they are likely not going to be perfect. That is ok, just go with it have fun and let the kiddos make a mess all while you create some Easter memories. Place any left over cake pop eggs in an air tight container and store in the freezer.

Easter Egg Cake Pops With A Disney Spin are such a cute way to incorporate a little Disney into your Easter holidays! If you enjoyed this recipe you may want to also want to give our Dole Whip Cupcakes a try!

We would love to see your egg cake pop decorations! Snap a photo and come share it with us over on Facebook at Disney Express Lane. 

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Tiffins Restaurant At Disney’s Animal Kingdom

On our last trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, we booked a late dining reservation for Tiffins Restaurant. Before we dive into the dining review let me share the benefits of making a late dining reservation. Well, first off by late I mean booking a time right at or close to that day’s park closing time.

Choosing a Later Dining Time

On this specific day Disney’s Animal Kingdom closed at 5pm. We booked our reservation at 4:50pm. So why do we do this? Well depending on the time of year, the restaurants usually are not as crowded during this time because most people are already heading out of the park. With less people in the restaurant, it gives you more of a VIP experience. Another reason to dine at this time is it really gives you the freedom to sit back and enjoy your meal. No feeling rushed to get back out and experience the park attractions.

While you are dining, the crowd is heading back to the resort buses, their cars, or other modes of transportation. If you are not a big fan of crowds or waiting in long lines to leave the park, this is another reason to book a late dining reservation. Once you are finished with your meal, coming out of the restaurant into an almost empty park is something everyone needs to experience at least once at each of the parks. 

Now, The Good Stuff

Now, let us talk about Tiffins Restaurant. The restaurant itself is themed to celebrate global discovery. Created by the same imagineers and animal experts that built Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Inspired by actual notes and field sketches of the Imagineers artwork, photographs, paintings & sculptures can be found throughout the restaurant. Tiffins Restaurant has three elegant dining rooms honoring Africa, Asia, and some of the world’s most exotic animals. Asia (the Trek Gallery), Africa (the Safari Gallery), animal species found in the park (the Grand Gallery). Please note, this restaurant IS a signature dining experience.

We dined in the Safari Gallery. Tucked away in a corner booth we were able to take in the sights and sounds of this amazing dining room. We started with a signature bread which was gluten friendly with a Red Pepper Hummus, Spicy Coriander Yogurt, Ginger-Pear Chutney as well at the Tacos a plant based Tinga (shredded beef) cheese, avocado & a pickled slaw on a corn tortilla with a squeeze of lime for additional flavor. Of course, we have all had tacos before but these were very unique to the culture and tasted very good.

Dinner for me was the Shrimp & Grits. A gluten friendly meal that had Jumbo shrimp topped with heirloom tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon pepper jam on top of a nice warm bowl of grits. This meal was really good I really enjoyed the flavor of this dish it was also very filling. My husband had the Lobster Mac n Cheese he said it was different but good this was the first time he had tried mac n cheese with lobster added.

Tiffins Desserts

We were really too full for desert but because we were celebrating my birthday this trip, we had on our celebration buttons. Our server brought out a special birthday dessert on the house. Passion Fruit Tapioca Créme a Chocolate Crumble, Citrus Fruits, Coconut Crème. This is a gluten friendly dessert and it was super delicious.

My Opinion On Tiffins Restaurant At Disney’s Animal Kingdom

I think this restaurant is more of a choice for a date night or an all-adult trip. Kids of course are welcome (there is a kid menu the menu items are not the usual items you would find at other restaurants). The items here are special and unique to the Tiffins Restaurant. Overall, we enjoyed our experience at Tiffins Restaurant at Disney’s Animal. We will definitely dine at this location again so we can try some of the other amazing dishes as well as dine in the other two dining rooms.

Not hungry for a sit-down dinner? Check out Nomad Lounge located right next to Tiffins restaurant. You can dine on small plates as well as grab a beer, glass of wine or a specialty cocktail. If you are heading to Disney World without a dining plan, click the link to learn some great tips!

Have you dined at Tiffins Restaurant yet? We would love to hear about your experience. Come join us over on Facebook at Disney Express Lane to share your thoughts.

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Romantic Date Nights at Disney

If you think about it, romance and Disney World go together like, well, like Mickey and Minnie!! Grab your Mickey or Minnie and have some romantic date nights at Disney World!

Mini Golf

Game on. Challenge your significant other to a fun, friendly round of mini golf. There are two mini golf locations available on Disney World property and both offer two fun uniquely themed courses. We love to play mini golf at night under the stars. It just gives it a more romantic vibe. The cost at both locations is $14 per person plus tax. Our favorite is Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course located next to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. Santa Claus himself had a hand in creating two amazing 18-hole courses. A Summer course and a Winter course. We like to play each course in the season that they represent.

The other location is  Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf located next to Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. This 18-hole miniature golf adventure is based on the classic animated film Fantasia. While we find it to be more romantic at night, this course is beautiful to play first thing in the morning. 

Disney’s Boardwalk

Take a nice stroll along the water’s edge at Disney’s Boardwalk. Enjoy a slice of pizza together at Pizza Window or a sweet treat at Boardwalk Bakery. Stop off for some shopping at Disney Characters Carnival or the Screen Door General Store. Take a nice relaxing boat ride across Crescent Lake over to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for a night cap at Ale & Compass Lounge.

Movie Under the Stars

Don’t feel like going out exploring? Keep date night at your Disney Resort. Each night a Disney movie is shown out on the lawn near the pool areas. Be sure to ask for a schedule of times and movies when you arrive at your resort. Make it fun! Mobile order dinner from your resort restaurant take it out with you to the movie showing. Find a space away from the crowd to make this romantic date night a picnic along with a movie. Tip: Pack a small blanket to bring with you to sit on.

Resort Hopping

Explore other Disney World Resorts with your significant other. While we love resort hopping during the holidays, resort hopping can be fun anytime of the year. Each of the Disney World Resort hotels have their very own unique theme as well as activities and dining. Make your date memorable by experiencing some of the amazing recreations. In the cooler months we love the rocking chairs at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Sipping on a cup of hot chocolate while sitting in front of the beautiful fireplace located in the resort lobby. In the warmer months we love to enjoy a Pineapple Dole Whip at Disney’s Polynesian Resort while sitting on the beach taking in the amazing view of the Magic Kingdom while just talking and enjoying each others company.

Traveling with Kids

You may be thinking all of these options sound great, but we are traveling with young kids, so how can we have a romantic date night? Select Disney World Resorts have Childcare Services offering in-room babysitting for children 6 months to 12 years of age. A fee does apply. This service is provided by an Independent childcare provider Kid’s Nite Out. Fun filled activities like Arts and crafts, reading and playing games are among the entertainment provided. Be sure to plan ahead. Advance reservations are recommended (It is advisable to book your childcare reservation at least 2 weeks to 30 days in advance). Booking in-room childcare reservations can be made up to 3 months in advance by calling (407) 828-0920.


We hope this helps to give you some ideas for your next Disney World date night.  We have many more ideas to come. In the meantime, we would love to hear about your Disney World date night ideas. Come on over to Disney Express Lane to share them with us. 

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. While we love this cold treat, I want to share with you a new twist on this oh so famous dessert. Dole Whip Cupcakes! Yes, I said cupcakes.

Dole Whip Cupcakes

While searching the internet looking for a fun Disney inspired treat to make for my parents 45th wedding anniversary, I came across (in my opinion) THE best cupcake recipe ever! So, how do you make these yummy Dole Whip Cupcakes? First, gather your ingredients. Of course, I made ours gluten free but you can make these using a regular cake mix as well.

Cupcakes

• 1 box yellow cake mix (I substituted with a gluten free mix)
• 1 cup crushed pineapple with juice
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
• 3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325°. Line two cupcake pans with cupcake liners. This recipe will make approximately 24 cupcakes. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix cake mix with crushed pineapple, oil, and eggs. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared cupcake pans and bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean.

While the cupcakes are cooking and cooling, it is time to make the frosting. It is best to go ahead and lay the two sticks of butter out to let them soften while you prepare the cupcake batter.

Frosting

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Small pineapple wedges, for garnish. I just used canned pineapple tidbits that I had on hand already

In a large bowl, combine butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, pineapple juice, and vanilla. Using a hand mixer, beat until smooth. Add remaining 2 cups powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

You can then transfer frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Let the cupcakes cool before frosting. Swirl the frosting on using the pastry bag or you can just frost them with a spoon like I did and garnish each cupcake with a pineapple wedge or tidbit.

Make them as decorative as you would like. But if you are like me, it is all about how they taste more then how they are presented especially if you are just baking them to eat at home. We just frosted, added a pineapple tidbit and enjoyed.

My family loved these! They are so good and are very addictive. You will not be able to eat just one. I cannot wait to make them again soon. Do you have a favorite Disney inspired recipe? Come share it with us over on Facebook at Disney Express Lane.

Are you looking to make a trip to the magic soon? Let one of our friends over at Walt Express Travel help you!

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I Love the fact that the restaurants on Walt Disney World property have such a great variety. When we are in our hometown, it is just your normal fast food joints and big chain restaurants. At Disney World, you will find just about anything your heart desires. There is so much culture outside of the everyday American dishes. Disney Springs’ Morimoto Asia is a MUST for my family and I am going to tell you why!

Disney Springs’ Morimoto Asia

On our most recent trip, we added a new restaurant to our list. Disney Springs’ Morimoto Asia is an amazing restaurant owned by Japanese master chef Masaharu Morimoto. He has been acknowledged as one of the most inventive forces in Asian cuisine. He has chosen The Landing at Disney Springs as the venue for his very first “Pan-Asian” restaurant.

The Location

Located right across from Raglan Road, you can not miss this beautiful two-story restaurant. As you walk in the décor is breathtaking. Twenty foot long chandeliers, beautiful flowers, and Asian inspired artwork throughout. This restaurant has two dining levels. We dined on the ground level which gave us great views of the entire restaurant. A fun little fact about the second level is it offers a sushi bar and lounge with a VIP separate entrance for guest seeking a late-night meal.

• New Normal Tip: We dined here during the “new normal” so guest were being seated at every other table. Face coverings were required at all times when not eating. If you get up to go to the restroom or anywhere else in the restaurant your face covering must be on.

The Experience and Dinner

The staff was very friendly and attentive to my gluten allergy. Our waitress immediately let the chef know as well as pointed out the safe entrées that could be made gluten free. To keep things as touchless as possible, we scanned the QR code provided on the table to view the digital menu.  

We started with the Edamame topped with sea salt. Great shareable item to pair with any entrée.

I went with the recommendation from our waitress and ordered the Morimoto “Buri Bop”. This Korean-style yellowtail rice bowl was served in a 400 degree clay pot and was finished with a egg yolk right at our table. Also served with a gluten free soy sauce. This was an enjoyable experience getting to hear the details and history of the dish explained as it was being prepared for me to eat. After the dish was left for me, I was able to continue to cook my fish to my liking. I have to say this is the first time I have experienced cooking fish myself at a restaurant. This dish was delicious and I highly recommend trying it.

My husband chose the Tonkotsu Ramen, which is a rich pork broth with egg noodles, roasted pork, soy marinated egg, woodear mushroom and pickled ginger. He said it was very good, but it was a very filling dish! Leaving no room for dessert, unfortunately.

No Desserts For Us

Again, we were too full for the desserts, but Morimoto Asia does have several to choose from. Yuzu Pie, Mochi Mochi & Churro Fondue to name a few. A selection of cocktails, beer & wine are available. For example, the Sake Sangria & Morimoto Soba (beer) are two fan favorites here.

Quick Service Available

If you are looking for a quick and on the go meal, Disney Springs’ Morimoto Asia has a quick service! AND, Morimoto Street Food is available with a convenient walk-up window. Grab quick bites like Chicken Wings, Shrimp Chips & Dip, Beef Bulgogi Nachos. As well as a variety of Sushi rolls or Noodles.

Overall, this was a great dining experience and we really enjoyed the atmosphere and food. We will for sure dine here again so we can try some of the other amazing entrees. If you are a fan of Asian food like we are, you will want to add this one to your must do dining list!

Do you have a favorite restaurant at Disney Springs? We would love to hear about it over in our Facebook group Disney Express Lane. Did you know that we have friends over at Walt Express Travel that would love to help you plan your next trip? Not sure you are ready to visit the magic? Click this link for reasons YOU NEED to go NOW!

A special THANK YOU to our friends, Vince and Tammy, for sharing some of their pictures on one of their last visits to Disney Springs’ Morimoto Asia! It’s on their favorites list, too!

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While it is still an exciting time to visit Disney World, we understand that not everyone can or wants to go to the Disney parks right now. So, we wanted to share some ideas with you on how you can have a Disney Style Not So Scary Halloween at home. As always, we are here to help you get your DISNEY FIX, even if the fun is at home this year!

Disney Style Not So Scary Halloween At Home

As you may have heard, this year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World has been cancelled. Halloween fun will continue down Main Street U.S.A., but it will just be in a different way this year. Of course there are decorations throughout, as well as the yummy sweet treats we all love to eat. Mickey & Minnie and all their friends will pop up from time to time in parade cavalcades all dressed up in their not so scary Halloween costumes. All while dancing and celebrating to our favorite Disney Halloween themed music. So, if you are missing the Spooky magic this season, we are here to help you create it at home.

Make Your OWN Decorations

This will be fun for the whole family! Use your imagination to create your own or check out some super easy crafts from Disney Family. Our family likes Mickey’s Halloween Bat Mobile, Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghost, or Disney Villains Halloween Banner. After you have designed your decorations, hang them throughout the house. You can even string up orange and purple lights to give it an even spookier feel. Of course you can always add in Disney merchandise decorations you may have from the parks or find some on Shop Disney.

Play Disney Themed Halloween Music

Give your home a not so scary party feel by playing the music that we hear while visiting Disney World during the Halloween season. You can purchase a Disney Halloween Party CD or look up Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parade sound track over on You Tube. Disney Halloween music will get everyone in the house in a holiday mood. 

Make Some Disney Inspired Sweet Treats

Alright we have the decorations up and the Halloween music on, so it is time to get on our festive aprons so we can make up some delicious sweet treats. There is no such thing as too many sweets so let us head back over to Disney Family to try a few. Our family is looking forward to making Mickey Mouse Halloween Cupcakes, Evil Queen’s Villainous Apples & Sparky Cake Pops There are many recipes to choose from.  I plan on sharing our creations over at Disney Express Lane once we make them. So head on over and join us! Feel free to share your Halloween treats and ideas with us too!

Make A Disney & Halloween Themed Movie Night

Now that we have set the Not So Scary Halloween mood in the house and we have our favorite sweet treats made, it is time to grab a blanket and cozy up on the couch for a Disney Halloween Movie Night. Some of our favorites to watch this time of year is The Haunted Mansion, Hocus Pocus & The Nightmare Before Christmas. There are many, many more Halloween themed Disney movies as well. Just search for titles on the internet or on Disney Plus. Another idea is to watch videos of past Disney Halloween Fireworks from inside the parks on You Tube.

Make Your Own Trick or Treat Stations

A fun part of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is trick or treating around the Magic Kingdom. Bring this fun activity into your home by setting up trick or treat stations throughout your house. You can choose just a few rooms or utilize them all. Either way, the kiddos will enjoy dressing up and going around the house to collect candy or other treats. You can get creative with these stations. Not all of them have to be candy. Maybe add some cute stickers or fun little holiday toys from the Dollar Tree.

A Little Different, but STILL FUN!

The holidays are different this year because we all need to stay socially distanced. That does not mean that we cannot still have fun while making new memories. We hope these ideas help you to create a fun Disney inspired Halloween! Don’t forget to come share your creations and ideas with us over at Disney Express Lane. We can’t wait to see how you are celebrating! We hope you get to enjoy some Disney Style Not So Scary fun at home or in the parks this year! If you are heading to the parks, be sure to find out about these 5 things you will NEED to bring with you!

We also have some amazing friends over at Walt Express Travel that would love to help you plan some magic.

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no surprise that we can expect some changes to get used to while visiting the Disney World theme parks. Check out these changes to know about when visiting Disney World Parks. Know BEFORE you go.

Visiting Disney World Parks

I was excited to have the opportunity to be at Disney World on the reopening weekend. There are some changes you will need to get used to if you are visiting Disney World soon. Don’t worry, the MAGIC is still there!

5 Changes To Know About

1. Mobile Ordering: It is strongly recommended and preferred by Disney World that all guests use the mobile ordering system. This can be found on your My Disney Experience App. All quick service locations will have a sign in front of the restaurant with a QR code that you can scan to view the menu to order from. Keep in mind, some restaurants are limited or have been adjusted accordingly due to availability. You will be asked to wait outside of the restaurant until you receive a “ready” notification on your My Disney Experience App. When your mobile order is ready to pick up, it will let you know the window number to pick up your food. A Cast Member will help guide you to where you need to go. There are two exceptions to skipping the Mobile ordering. If you have to pay cash or you have a food allergy. Simply let a Cast Member know. They will direct you where to go. NOTE: You can still ask for free ice water at quick service locations. Just speak to a cast member and again they will direct you.
2. As of right now, you can no longer go inside a restaurant just to sit in the AC. You will only be allowed in IF you have ordered food at that restaurant. Think of it as preferred seating for paying guests. Because of social distancing, tables are spaced out. This makes the seating areas at half capacity. So unless you are dining, you are not allowed to just go sit at a table and cool off. If you need to take a break from the heat, find an indoor Relaxation Station.
3. Social Distancing Markers: Anywhere that you have to stand in line, you will see markers on the ground guiding guest where to stand until you get to your turn. You will have to stay focused and make sure you are standing on your marker. For years, we have been used to just moving up in line and being next to other guests without even thinking about it. Now we have to be more mindful to make sure we are keeping that 6 foot distance. Disney World has the markings to help us do that. If you move up in line and find a mark is missing, just make sure to stand at a distance from the party in front of and behind you.
4. Disney Transportation: Lots of changes have been made to Disney Transportation right now. Bus wait times can be a little longer than we are used to. This is because the capacity has been reduced to help keep everyone distant and safe. When the bus door opens, don’t be so quick to board. We were used to doing that in the past but now the driver will need to seat parties according to capacity. The Parking lot trams are not running so self-parking guests will have to walk from the parking lots to the park entrances. Social distancing and capacity limits are also set for the monorail and watercraft. The Monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot is currently unavailable. This is because there is no park hopping in 2020.
5. Park Hours: The park hours have been reduced from what we are used to. With no fireworks or nighttime entertainment in the parks, they have been closing earlier. Since we can not park hop once we leave the park for the day, we have to find other entertainment. Of course, there is always shopping & dining at Disney Springs. You can also spend more time at the resort pool or stop over for a round of mini golf. With this slower time right now, it is kind of enjoyable to experience other things around Disney World. Extra sleep is also a bonus. Before all of these changes, we stayed out in the parks until midnight or later.

Changes And Visiting Disney World Parks

Things are definitely different but a lot of fun memories can still be made at Disney World right now even in this crazy new world we are experiencing it in. While it is different and we sure do miss the fireworks, take advantage of this “new normal” and enjoy experiencing Disney World in a new way. Will you be visiting a park in 2020? Thoughts, questions or concerns? Come on over to Facebook and join us at Disney Express Lane! We would love to hear from you and your thoughts on visiting Disney World parks!

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After months of being closed due to Covid-19, we are all excited that Disney World will be opening soon! Disney World is doing their part to make sure the parks, resorts and other guest areas are as safe as possible. We have 5 things you NEED to bring with you that could help keep you and your family extra safe during your next visit. Honestly, you should be bringing these things with you on ANY trip! Welcome to the NEW NORMAL.

5 Things You NEED

• Easy to clean backpack: Bring a backpack that can easily be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe. Our backpacks really do touch a lot of things when we are in the parks. We sit them down on the floor or seats of rides, on tables, benches, on the buses, monorail, boats and even the ground at times. While we definitely need to be cleaning them down more now, we really should do this on any vacation. Think about it, there are always germs.
• Disinfectant Wipes: Sure, bringing disinfectant wipes in your backpack to Disney World seems a little strange, but it really is a great idea. Travel size packs are typically available, but we know that they have been hard to find right now. You could also place some disinfectant wipes in a zip lock bag if you have them available at home. Can’t find any wipes? Don’t worry you can DIY!.
• Hand Sanitizer: This is always good to have on hand so you can use it quickly. Disney World will have hand washing stations and sanitizing stations all through the parks & resorts. Of course there are the bathrooms, but having a travel size hand sanitizer in your backpack will come in handy. Especially when you cannot access one. You may be waiting in line at a ride or for transportation and need to sanitize the kids hands or even your own. Having a travel size sanitizer handy will give you peace of mind and keep everyone safe.
• Face Coverings: Make sure to pack plenty of face coverings for everyone in your travel party. Whether you are bringing reusable or disposable face coverings, be sure to bring several per person. You will want to change them out throughout the day. Place clean face coverings in a zip lock bag to keep them dry & clean until you are ready to use them. For reusable face coverings, bring extra empty zip lock bags marked “dirty” so you have a place to put them as you change them out. It is going to be HOT in Florida and a face covering is may be uncomfortable. We have some tips on how to make it a little more bearable.
• Wet Wipes: These are great to have for cleaning up the kiddos after a delicious ice cream! They will also come in handy when you want to cool down. You can use these to wipe your face, neck, arms, etc. Wipes will help you feel refreshed especially using them in between changing your face covering.  

The NEW Normal

These 5 things you need can help keep your family safe now during the “new normal” visits back to Disney World. All of these items can be brought with you at any time for any Disney World vacation! Let’s be honest, there are always a lot of germs at the parks. We must bring face coverings now but hopefully we will not have to keep these on our list for very long or for all our future Disney Vacations. Stay safe friends and have a magical time!

What are some things you bring in your backpack to keep you safe while visiting the parks? What would you like to add to our 5 things you need list? We would love to hear what you bring with you. Come join us over at Disney Express Lane to let us know!

The post 5 Things You NEED To Bring On Your Next Visit To Disney World appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

5 Things You Need To Do NOW

If you have a reservation at a Disney World Resort during the initial reopening of the theme parks, there are some things you need to know. Some of these things you can even do before you go. You can even start today! We want you to be able to plan accordingly for your family to ensure that you have the best “new normal” magical experience possible.

1. If you are traveling from out of state to Florida, you will need to make sure that you have reviewed any advisories or restrictions that may be in place for travel to Florida. You can visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/travelers/ for information.
2. You will need to have a confirmed room reservation for your stay. Make sure to link your reservation to your My Disney Experience account so that you can receive important information prior to your arrival. It is important to have the latest version of the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device, with location services and notifications enabled. This one is VERY IMPORTANT. With the new PARK RESERVATION SYSTEM in place, you will need to be sure your room and tickets are properly linked to your My Disney Experience.
3. Disney’s Magical Express Services will be available if you will be arriving/departing from Orlando International Airport. Due to the current situation, many airlines have modified their flight schedules. You will want to make sure to check your flight information. If you plan to use Disney’s Magical Express service, be sure to let your travel agent know as soon as possible so they can get this set up for you. If you are not traveling through an agent you can call (407) 939-1936 to make arrangements.
4. To help with Physical distancing efforts, it is strongly recommend that you use Online Check-In Service in advance. This can be done through the My Disney Experience app or website, simply by clicking ONLINE CHECK IN. When your room is ready, your Disney Resort will send you a room-ready notification. You can use either a MagicBand or the My Disney Experience app digital key feature to enter your room! I really like this feature. We have used it several times before all of these changes. Automatic Check Out also known as Express Resort Checkout, will also be available on the day you are scheduled to checkout. You’ll be automatically checked out of your room. There is not need to visit the Front Desk (unless you have unresolved charges to your Disney Resort hotel folio). This amenity has previously been available, but is really great for social distancing.
5. A new feature will be coming to the My Disney Experience App starting June 22nd. Virtual Chat With a Resort Cast Member. This feature will allow you to chat with a Resort Cast Member for assistance during your stay. This new feature will offer convenient support nearly anytime so there will be no need to visit the Lobby or stand in line.

Do Your Part!

Do your part to stay safe! As an extra layer of precaution, check the temperatures of everyone in your party including yourself before leaving home. If anyone is sick please, reschedule your trip for a later date. It may be a good idea to bring your thermometer to keep check on your family at the resort before leaving for the parks. As a reminder, all guest will be screened prior to entry of the theme park. Anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be directed to another location and will not be allowed to enter the parks. Anyone traveling with guests who displays fever will also not be allowed to enter the park.

Are you patiently waiting to revisit the magic? Visit our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and stay up to date on all of the Disney World happenings!

The post 5 Things You Need To Do Before Your Next Disney World Vacation appeared first on WaltExpress.com.