Disney Recipes: The GREY STUFF!

We know you want to be in Disney World every single day. We totally get it! So do we. Sometimes you just need a little Disney magic in your life and we are here to help with that. By making some of these delicious treats at home, it’s a total WIN-WIN! You get some family togetherness and you also get to have all the Disney World feels. I promise, this one is super easy and you may have everything you need on hand to get started.

All About The Grey Stuff

Everyone knows about the “grey stuff” or better known as the delicious topping to the “The Master’s Cupcake”. This deliciousness was made famous by Disney’s own “Beauty and the Beast” many, many years ago. This delectable dish is now served at Be Our Guest (better known as The Beast’s Castle) in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Did you know that you can order the grey stuff for breakfast, lunch or dinner? Yes, I said even breakfast! Just head on over to Fantasyland and find your way to the Beast’s Castle.

Be our guest
Be our guest
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin ’round your neck, cherie
And we provide the rest
Soup du jour
Hot hors d’oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff, it’s delicious
Don’t believe me? Ask the dishes

You know the song, so go ahead and sing it while you whip up a batch of this yumminess. Or better yet, watch the Beauty and The Beast movie while you recreate this dish. Now, without further ado, the dining room (or Walt Express, we should say) presents: The Grey Stuff!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:1]

Disney Recipes: The GREY STUFF Tips

• You don’t have to have a fancy cake decorating set. Simply grab a plastic baggie (not the cheap ones-they burst easily) and a tip. Snip the plastic baggie and place the decorating tip in the corner that you just snipped. Easy Peasy!
• The “grey stuff” is also great on cupcakes. Of course, we prefer it best straight off the spoon. Grab your napkin, cherie!
• Be sure to refrigerate as soon decorating is done.

The post Disney World Copycat Recipes: The GREY STUFF! appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

I think often about, why we are so fond of our Disney memories as a family. Especially when we get eye rolls from some people as we mention our next Disney adventure. Or when we are asked: aren’t you a little old for that? Or: didn’t y’all just get back? Or: Aren’t the kids getting tired of it?

I am sure you have heard them all too!

I am sure my reasons are the same as many but, since my family and I started frequenting the Mouse’s House, I have had the opportunity to watch others and their special moments at Disney too. My three kids make LOTS of memories but, I have realized there is so much more to Disney than just my memories and all memories are amazing in their own right. I was reminded why I started this blog in the first place: the MEMORIES! As I watch, I see the memories unfold right before my eyes.

I See:

• The kids wave with excitement as they get a glimpse of their favorite hero or princess as the parade goes by on Main Street U.S.A.
• The 60-year-old seeing the castle for the very first time and amazed with excitement.
• The 20-year-old taking a million selfies to get the perfect one, so they can tell everyone where they are and be proud of it on Instagram.
•  The Princesses young and old standing in line to get their favorite princesses’ autograph. Some aren’t accompanied by a child, they are the child!
• All of the people wearing their celebration buttons. Some wearing buttons celebrating 50 years of marriage, some a birthday celebration and some celebrating being Cancer Free. All are milestones to be proud of! ( I will be wearing my special button our next trip that says: Celebrating Heart Health. 🙂 I will be the proudest of that one, since I just had my final (God willing) heart surgery in February! You can read about my heart journey, HERE if you would like.)
• Couples holding hands and making memories together with and without the kids. Reminding each other of what being together is all about.
• The moms that cry as their child hugs Mickey at age twelve and remembers the magic that only Mickey can bring to their preteen.
• The dads wearing the Disney shirts and silly goofy hats just to get a good laugh from the kiddos on their magical trip.
• The kids dressing as their favorite princess or pirate and grinning every step of the way.
• All of the kids exhausted at night asleep in the stroller or in mommy and daddy’s lap while dreaming of the magic.
• The moms that get misty eyed as they see the castle, whether it’s their first or 31st time seeing it, it’s unforgettable.
• The grandparents seeing Disney through their children and grandchildren’s eyes in the same visit.
• Generations of families getting together to reminisce about days gone by.
• The 2 grandmothers that cannot be out done by each other, so they both get on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with their mutual grandchild. (True story: Best memory I have ever had at the Magic Kingdom. Even 33 years later, it still gets me misty eyed.)
• Families sharing a moment together for a split second and putting away their differences as Mickey walks by and snaps a pic with them.

Bonus

• Cast Members interacting with the guests and becoming true friends that they still talk to until this day.

Magic Is Real

Pretend is real!

Whether we are young or old, Disney takes us back to childhood, the childhood we never had, the childhood we wished we had or the childhood that gave us so many wonderful memories. Disney IS our childhood! We all just want to be kids again and Disney takes us there.

So, that is why I love Disney so much! Thank you for sharing your memories with me in the parks (I promise I am not a stalker, just a people watcher ;-)) and thank you for sharing your memories with me here on this blog. I love getting emails and private messages that you share with me about your magical vacation. Everyone has a different outlook on their Disney vacation and I love seeing it from each of your perspectives.

Share Your Memories With Us

Don’t forget to join us on Instagram! We would love to see your Insta Stories and see your memories too!

I look forward to making more memories and watching as you share yours with me. Keep the emails coming, I love reading! Thank you again!

Also don’t forget to join Disney Express Lane Facebook Group, so we can all chat about your memories, Disney tips & tricks and so much more! See ya there!

The post 15 Reasons the Magic is Still Alive at Walt Disney World appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Pongu Pongu: A Pandora-World of Avatar Snack Review

Are you ready for a party in your tummy and on your taste buds? Or at the very least are you dying for a drink to cool you down on a hot Orlando day at Animal Kingdom? Lucky for you the geniuses at Walt Disney World have created a location in Pandora that can literally be translated into “party party” and I’m pretty sure they mean party for your taste buds.

Location

You can find Pongu Pongu in Pandora-The World of Avatar; the newest section of Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. To get to Pandora, head to the left at the Tree of Life. The entrance to Pandora is just past Tiffins. When you enter the land, you can stay to the right to find this little gem. It’s nestled between Wind Traders (the souvenir shop) and Satu’li Canteen.

Offerings

Pongu Pongu has several beverages to cool you down in the constantly sweltering heat of Animal Kingdom. You can choose from one specialty non-alcoholic beverage, Night Blossom or water. There are three different alcoholic choices which include the Mo’ara Margarita, Mo’ara High Country Ale, and Hawkes’ Grog Ale. There is also one snack item, Pongu Lumpia, which is similar to a dessert spring roll. The Night Blossom, Bottled Water, and the Pongu Lumpia are all covered as snack credits on the dining plan.

An Honest Review

For this review, I tried the Night Blossom. I wanted to try the Pongu Lumpia, but the filling was cream cheese and chunks of pineapple. I don’t do well with large chunks of anything, so I decided to pass on that. The Night Blossom, on the other hand, has my name written all over it.

Night Blossom

This drink is a frozen, layered, non-alcoholic beverage that hits the spot on a super hot day. The layers taste like a combination on green apple, pear, and I’m pretty sure the tangy base is a pinkish/purplish limeade. On top you will find passion fruit flavored boba beads. I honestly thought these were just for decoration, but the cast member assured me they were worth trying. She was right! The little beads burst under pressure and the taste is pleasantly sweet, but not overly so. They are also slightly cool, which makes them even more refreshing.

This drink is honestly now my favorite frozen drink in all of Animal Kingdom, maybe all of Walt Disney World. The taste is tangy, yet smooth thanks to the mixture of flavors. It’s refreshing in so many ways that I find myself craving one every time I find myself out in the heat. The only downside to this drink is the paper straw. It made enjoying the boba beads very hard, but it’s easy to get over that when you know Animal Kingdom is protecting the environment and the animals with these straws.

Needless to say, those straws fit the overall theme for Pandora as well. So, I simply turned up the cup and enjoyed them and prayed I wouldn’t be wearing the majority of them. I can say I was mostly successful, except for one remnant that ended up on my lip for a WHOLE LIVE FEED video. Oh well, you live, laugh, and learn.

 Pongu Pongu: A Pandora World of Avatar Snack Review

Overall, I thought this small snack and drink stand was a fantastic addition to this new land. I was there very early to ride Flight of Passage and I was not ready for a full meal yet. A snack and refreshing drink were on my wish list when I exited that amazing ride and Pongu Pongu mostly delivered. The cast members were friendly and helpful and the service was quick. There are plenty of areas to sit carved into the rocks and areas around the stand and you can also find a seat outside of the Satu”li Canteen if it’s not crowded. If it’s lunch time or dinner time, you may not be allowed to sit there. I do wish I had tried more offerings, so I will be back. Of course, I will certainly be back to explore all of Pandora-World of Avatar.

Looking for more snack options in the Animal Kingdom? Find them HERE!

Let us know if you have tried the drinks and the Pongu Lumpia. Tell us which is your favorite in the comments section below or join us in our Facebook group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and talk about everything Disney!

The post Pongu Pongu: A Pandora-World of Avatar Snack Review appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Breaking News: Makeovers for Jasmine and Friends

There have been lots of costume changes recently for many of our beloved Disney princesses. The most recent changes were with Mulan in Epcot and Pocahontas in Animal Kingdom. Both saw more modest costumes over their previous versions and changes to accessories. However, the most recent princess costume change has really made a stir with many Disney enthusiasts. Jasmine is the latest to receive a makeover, so let’s take a look at the changes.

Here’s What We Know

The newest costume for a princess debuted this past week. Jasmine modeled a new look on the night of the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The new costume is a dress with sheer sleeves, a high sheer neckline, and a long dress over pants. It appears to be a pretty shade of green with gold embroidery and other accents on the chest and throughout the front portion of the dress. There is also a gold belt slung loosely over the hips (although this belt looks sadly out of place and not quite up to Disney costume standards, in my opinion).

Jasmine is still wearing her hair in much the same way and is also still sporting gold earrings as she did with her previous outfit. However, the earrings and hairstyle are about the only things that stayed the same. Gone is the harem style outfit with billowy pants and cropped bikini style top in vibrant sea green.The new outfit more closely resembles the style and modesty of Jasmine’s engagement outfit in the original Aladdin. In the movie, that dress also has full length sleeves and is floor length with pants underneath. Aladdin has also seen a change to his costume and is wearing a traditional headdress and ornately embroidered long jacket and pants. It appears that with Aladdin and Jasmine, Disney is going for more formal attire.

Why the Change?

There has been much speculation that the costume was changed because of guest complaints about Jasmine showing too much skin. However, the word from cast members is that Disney is simply trying to create costumes that are more historically accurate.

What do you think about the slow changes that are going on with costumes in Walt Disney World and Disneyland? Do you prefer the old costumes that resembled the movie or do you like the idea of Disney costuming paying closer attention to the time period of the characters? Weigh in on our Facebook group Disney Express Lane Facebook Group and to discuss many other Disney related topics. Of course, we welcome your comments below as well.

Picture Credit: Danica Taylor instagram @danicalovesdisney. Thank you Danica for allowing us to use your picture. Thanks to Kenny at www.kennythepirate.com for the tips on this new character change.

The post Breaking News: Makeovers for Jasmine and Friends appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

http://https://youtu.be/JtOZdJDYxjM

Dining with Dinosaurs

T-Rex is my son’s top pick when we are planning a Disney vacation. I don’t know if the reason is the interactive theme, fun gift shop, or the lure of the chocolate extinction dessert. Regardless, eating at this restaurant is one of the few requests he makes each trip, so T-Rex it is. I mean, isn’t that was Disney is all about, making wishes come true?

T-Rex is located in Disney Springs near The Lego Store and the newest retail shops. We typically choose to go on arrival day because it gives us time to explore the rest of Disney Springs. We prefer to do a late lunch, because the crowds get really crazy if you wait until a typical dinner time. T-Rex is open for expeditions for lunch and dinner. However, don’t go looking for a Pterodactyl omelette, because T-Rex has yet to master the art of breakfast.

Dinos, Dinos, Everywhere

T-Rex is all about bringing what was once extinct back to life, but not in the way the scary Jurassic Park series did. Although Disney doesn’t own T-Rex, this restaurant uses animatronics to make their decor come to life. T-Rex is full of some of the coolest dinosaurs in all shapes and sizes that actually move and “talk”. There are four themed areas throughout the restaurant. You can ask for the undersea area which includes the bar area and a stunning salt water tank. Watch out for the gigantic octopus that moves above, but check out the beautiful fish tanks nearby too. There is also a forest area, a meteor shower area, and the ice cave area. My children love the ice cave area because it is constantly changing colors, however my food always looks a bit off because of the lighting.

This restaurant is VERY loud and it can be very overwhelming, but my boys love it now that they are a bit older and overstimulation is not as big an issue. My husband and I actually love to walk around the restaurant and read the plaques about the different dinosaurs with our boys. My children love the Triceratops, but T-Rex totally freaks my youngest child out and has since he was a baby. Walking around or visiting the gift shop is always a great way to pass the time with rambunctious children while the grub is prepared.

Speaking of Grub…

Ok, peeps. It’s time to get real and talk about the eats. I mean, that is why you read a dining review, right? Ok, so let’s be real. T-Rex is not fine dining. It’s themed dining, but themed dining doesn’t just mean cool surroundings. At T-Rex, it also means that you are going to get a lot of food and if you choose wisely, it’s likely to be pretty tasty. T-Rex is part of the Landry’s group and this means that the menu isn’t very unique. While the flavors are mild, the dishes do all have cutesy dino-inspired names like Mega-Mes-O-Bones (ribs) and Neanderthal New York Strip. At one time they offered an amazingly tasty Cretaceous Chicken Fried Steak with white gravy. That bad boy was so big that it literally hung off the edge of the plate and it was so tender, juicy, and perfectly spiced. But sadly, some moron decided to take it off the menu. Bring it back, Landry’s!!!! Sorry, I’m still a bit peeved they took off our go-to meal at this place. If you would like to take a gander at the menu, you can find it HERE.

Little Bites

I’m guessing that if you are reading this review you either have children or you are a kid at heart. One of the reasons our kids love this restaurant is because of the great children’s menu. The children’s menu has more choices than most of the other Disney restaurants. That’s because almost all of the selections are things that my super picky eaters love. They have Prehistoric Popcorn Shrimp, Jurassic Chicken Tidbits (in dino shape!), Paleo Pizza, and so much more. And whatever you do, do not forget the adorable souvenir cups that are filled with your child’s favorite ICEE flavor. It even comes with a small dinosaur toy in the bottom. We use them a lot at home and store a snack in the bottom. Of course there is also a dessert section, but skip the kiddie choices for dessert and go for something so much better on the adult menu.

Go Out With a Bang

No matter what, you can not skip dessert if you are a chocolate lover. There are several dessert options, but the only one you even need to worry about is called Chocolate Extinction. Y’all, this is a thing of beauty! It’s dense chocolate fudge cake, served with four scoops of vanilla ice cream and whipped topping. The best part is the sauce and the candy crumbles on top. I’m not sure if it’s crumbled up Butterfinger or Heath bars, but who cares? All I know is I want another one right now, so let’s go to Disney Springs and get one! Who wants to come along? The menu says it feeds four, but we have shared it with ten people and still had some leftovers.

Video: T-Rex: Dining with Dinosaurs-A Disney Dining Review

Overall, my family thinks this restaurant is a fun break from character meals. While the food is average, the theme and overall feel of the restaurant makes it a great addition to our list of must have reservations. On the Disney Dining Plan, it’s a great value. This is especially true if you order the steak and the chocolate extinction. If you aren’t on the dining plan, I recommend using a Landry’s card birthday credit to help curb the cost. You can also split meals here because the portions are huge. If your family doesn’t mind loud noises and you like themed dining, don’t miss T-Rex. It’s pretty hard to beat dining with dinosaurs.

Is T-Rex a family favorite? If so, we would love for you to leave a comment below or you can join the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to share your Disney Springs dining experiences. We discuss dining and many other Disney related topics every day and would love for you to join the club.

The post Video: T-Rex: Dining with Dinosaurs-A Disney Dining Review appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

My family has always called me a penny pincher and my friends call me “ole cheap butt” (but they use a more crass term that I won’t say on a family blog-lol). So, it comes at no surprise that when we started planning our first Disney trip, I researched and read everything I could to find out how to do Disney as cheaply as possible. Since that first trip, we have been on half a dozen Disney vacations as a family and I have about a dozen under my belt total. I have learned so much about how to keep the spending down while keeping the fun quotient HIGH. Instead of making you do the research too, I’m giving you my cheat sheet below for saving money at Disney.

Drive

Instead of booking that flight, think about driving instead. Yes, I said drive to Disney. The first time we went to Walt Disney World, we booked flights because we had a wedding to attend that would cut into our vacation time. That flight cost the three of us about $1,200! The next time we went, we rented a car and drove to our happy place. Even after paying for a hotel half way down to Florida, factoring in the cost of the rental, gas and eats on the way down and back, we still saved a solid $500+! Now I don’t know about y’all, but I can think of a LOT that $500 can buy at Disney or back home. If you can drive your own car, that will save you even more money. If you need to rent a car, Priceline usually has an option for you to bid on a car class of your choice. You can also check out employee perks to see if your employer offers discounts on car rentals. As a teacher, I found some great deal and discounts on the NEA website!

If You Must Fly…

If you simply can’t see driving as an option, then look for ways to save on a flight. My first recommendation is to book in advance. Do not wait until a month before your trip to book a flight, as those prices will not be economical. Also, book with a discount airline if your local airport has them. Airlines like Jet Blue and Frontier can save your family some major moolah if you can book through them. If you are considering booking with a discount airline, it is wise to check on the extra charges they add that are not included in the fare such as fees for checked baggage and compare the price plus the added fees to airlines that include those fees in the price of booking.

You can also use websites that help you track deals such as Travelocity’s FareWatcher. Travelocity has an option for you to track flight prices by going to the “flights” tab and then to the “low fare alert” and then click on “get email alerts”. Once you sign up for the flights you are looking for, it will email you when a flight price has come down so that you can book. There is also a site called Yapta.com. This site is great for those of you who have already booked your flight, because it will alert you when the price on your flight has gone down. Then you can contact your airline to see if they offer a program that will allow you to receive a refund or credit with their airline.

Finally, do not forget to use your points to help discount your flights! Many airlines have a frequent flier program that can really help reduce costs on flights. There are also many airlines that offer credit cards with great sign up offers. Then you can use the points/rewards to receive a discount. I recommend Southwest and the Chase Disney Visa.

Disney Visa

Speaking of the Chase Disney Visa, this little gem can save you some cheese in the parks too. Not only can you cash in your rewards on flights, you can also request that they go to a gift card that can be used all over the parks. The only place that I found that wouldn’t take it was a random small kiosk in Epcot. It was accepted everywhere else I wanted to use it. The Disney Visa can also be used to save you 10% on any purchase you make at shops that total over $50 before tax. Just present your card and ask if they will apply the 10% discount. The Disney Visa can also help you score discounts at select table service restaurants. We received 10% off of our Hollywood and Vine dinner on our last visit, and that saved us a solid $15.

Landry’s Select Card

Speaking of dining, if you like to grub at T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, or Yak and Yeti; then you need to sign up for a Landry’s Card. The initial cost is $25 but it is a one time fee for the life of the card. The great thing is that as soon as you purchase it, they give you a $25 credit to use on future purchases. Once you sign up, you can enter your birthday and you will receive a $25 voucher to use at any Landry’s location. I have a birthday in May, but I actually signed up for June because that is the month we typically vacation. The birthday certificate is good for one use anytime during your birthday month and fifteen days afterwards. Also, you earn points each time you give them your card when you pay (1 point for every dollar spent on pretax amounts). After you earn 250 points, you will receive another $25 credit to your card. The best part is that you can stack the discounts/credits! The last time we went, I used my birthday credit and the $25 credit and our $100 meal was instantly half the price! Man, I love saving money.  I have included a little screenshot of my current account so that you can see how those rewards really stack up.

Buy Gift Cards in Bulk

Many people know about this tip, but I would rather go ahead and share it just in case someone out there doesn’t know about it. Buy gift cards in bulk at your local discount grocery store like Sam’s Club. It’s pretty typical to get a three pack of $50 Disney gift cards for $143. I have bought these to pay off my trip, give us spending money, and for gifts. It’s a huge price saver! You can also use your Target Red Card to get a discount, but this one has gotten a little tricky over the years and requires a bit more effort than just buying them at Sam’s Club.

Skip the Park Hoppers

I know some of you really enjoy the park hopper option so that you can go to any restaurant you like. Some of you love it so that you can have a morning at one park and then catch your favorite fireworks at different park. However, the freedom to roam comes with a hefty price tag. For a one day ticket, you are looking at over $35 extra per ticket. For a two day or three day ticket, you will see the price go up to over $52. Any ticket with four days or more will cost you almost $64 per person. Now if you are a family of four with five day tickets, you can save over $250 by skipping that park hopper option and just planning your days out a little better. Oh, and did I mention you won’t be quite as exhausted from all of that travel? That’s a win for my family!

Skip the Special Parties

I know, I know. I am taking all the fun out of your trips, but skipping those expensive hard ticket parties can really save you some money. Think about it.. one party ticket to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party can run you anywhere from $72 up to $105! With a family of four, you are looking at up to $420 just for a party! Now don’t get me wrong, I love those hard ticketed events as much as anyone. They offer some of the best parades and gorgeous fireworks as well as lower crowds. But let’s face it, if you need to penny pinch, then hard ticket parties are not the best value for your family. Instead, enjoy the activities around your hotel that are free or head to the parks during a regular day at a much lower price point.

Take a Day Off

Yes, I said it. Take a day off from the parks. I am terrible at taking my own advice, but I finally did this last year and I will now ALWAYS schedule a pool/resort day. This can save you about $12 per person per day, but honestly it will mostly save you sanity and save your feet too. My kids are always begging for more pool time and this gave us a day to try a new restaurant, have a leisurely day at the pool, and sleep in! When I asked my kids what their favorite part of that trip was, the answer was Space Mountain and the pool! So there you have it, go ahead and schedule that day off from the parks. You can leave me a comment when you get home to thank me. 😉

Book a Value Resort

Booking a value resort can save you a LOT of money. Most standard value rooms can be reserved for around $100 per night. Compare that to around $200 or more for a moderate resort and up to $600 a night for deluxe resorts. By booking a value resort, you can save so much money. For most people, the resort is just a place to rest and shower. If that’s the case for your family, book a value resort and take the money you save to the bank or use it at the parks.

Cut Food Costs

When you are ordering quick service meals, ask the cast member to hold the sides. By ordering only the burger and asking them to hold the fries, you will save a dollar or two here and there.  You can save yet another couple of dollars by asking for a cup of water or by bringing your own water in the parks. If we are on the Disney Dining Plan or If we do want the fries or sides for a meal, my family will often split a meal. This helps us to curb our desire to overeat and saves us money. Plus this helps us spread our dining credits a good bit when we choose the Disney Dining Plan.

You can also cut back on cost by sharing meals at table service locations.The only place this won’t work is a buffet. You can also order an appetizer and dessert if you aren’t on the dining plan. I find that the appetizers and desserts are often the best things on the menu and ordering the two together keeps me from overeating and having tons of leftovers.

Finally the best way to cut costs on meals is to skip them all together and simply snack. I kid you not, snacking in Walt Disney World is the crown jewel in dining. My family planned only two sit down meals one trip and the rest of the vacation we snacked. To this day, that is still my favorite trip because we didn’t have to stop in the middle of all the fun to make it to a dining reservation. Instead, we stopped every few hours to grab a snack or two that we shared with everyone and then we went straight back to the fun. It was inexpensive and we made so many memories that trip.

The Cheap Girl’s Guide to Disney Planning

There are so many more tips that I would love to share with you to help you save money, but these are the ones that I think you can use the most. At Walt Express, we truly want to help you find a way to make your dream vacation come true. If you are here, then it means that Disney is likely that dream. Chime in with your own money saving tips below and join our Facebook group Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss this and many other Disney related topics.

The post The Cheap Girl’s Guide to Disney Planning appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Picking the Best Spot

Have you ever stood on Main Street waiting for the fireworks to begin and had the sudden itch to run away? I always swear that I am going to brave the crowds, pick out my spot early, and watch Wishes from the perfect view on Main Street. And then the crowds begin to amass and Monty Python’s skit “Run Away” starts running through my head and I find myself with the uncontrollable urge to bolt. Now don’t get me wrong, I know Disney World is crowded and I am well prepared for it most of the time. However, after a long day during a busy period I have a tough time managing my anxiety around such large groups of people. So what do I do when the crowds are just too much, but I still want to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks? I head straight out the exit and hop on a ferry or Friendship boat, that’s what!

The Ferry is the Answer

Most people don’t realize it, but you don’t have to be surrounded by thousands of people just to get a good view of the fireworks. If you just want to get away, hopping on one of the ferries is the best way to view the show without tons of people crowding you. Watching the fireworks from the ferry is also great on those nights when it feels super hot or humid outside. It’s hard to beat watching the fireworks on a slow moving boat with the wind stirring a gentle breeze to cool you off after a long day in the park. Have I mentioned that you can sit and watch the fireworks too? I know, shut the front door! If you take the TTC ferry they will even let you ride it back and forth until the show is over. Just let the attendants know before you hop on the ferry and they will be happy to let you enjoy the ride for as long as you like.

Or Take a Resort Cruiser or Launch

If you don’t mind a slightly more obstructed view of the fireworks, you can also take one of the boats to one of the resorts. There are four different resort launches and you can choose to go to the Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Grand Floridian/Polynesian, or Ford Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge/Contemporary Resort. If you have strollers, wheelchairs, or ECVs in your party you will need to board one of the cruisers, like the one pictured. Please note that the route to Grand Floridian/Polynesian Village does not allow you to roll a wheelchair, ECV, or stroller onto the vehicle. Everyone in your group must be able to transfer out of their chair and into the boat. The boat has a couple of steps that each person must navigate as well on that route, which can be tricky holding a stroller or for those with mobility concerns. Our family aways waited for the cruiser because we could often leave the stroller open. It’s important to note that you will still need to move the child from the stroller as it’s against safety regulations.

Sweetening the Deal

The best part about taking the Cruisers and Launches to a resort is that you can watch the fireworks while you are on your way and then hop off to enjoy the resort. My family has enjoyed a boat ride to the Polynesian Village Resort and a late meal at ‘Ohana. We have also just headed over for a drink at the Tambu Tambu lounge in the same resort when we didn’t want tons of dining reservations. I highly recommend the Lapu Lapu (you can get it at both ‘Ohana and Tambu Tambu with or without the alcohol), but good luck pronouncing it correctly. If you prefer a longer boat ride, I recommend taking one of the boats over to Wilderness Lodge. That ride takes about 12 minutes or so and you will arrive at one of the most relaxing and beautiful resorts around. Definitely walk around and enjoy the scenery and stop in for a wind down and some of the best appetizers at any bar in the Territory Lounge.

Now that you have heard all about my strategies to avoid the crowds and still enjoy the fireworks, tell us about your favorite way to escape the crowds.  Sound off in the comments section or join us at Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss this and many other Disney related topics.

photo credit: Hallowishes via photopin (license)
photo credit: Pure Magic via photopin (license)

The post Fireworks from the Ferry: Fireworks Viewing Locations appeared first on WaltExpress.com.