A Guide To Be a Disney Expert- Disney Cruise and Disney World - 3 Week Vacation

[DoleWhippy]

A Guide To Be a Disney Expert - Disney Cruise and Disney World - Ultimate 3 Week
Vacation! ​

Do YOU want to be a Disney Expert? Well if you do you are in the right place!

A three week Disney Vacation!

Two weeks in Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort! And one week Disney Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy!

We are a Scottish family of 4! My name is Alice a 12 year old girl! My DM (Disney Mum) - 45, DD (Disney Dad) - 46 and DB (Disney brother) - 9/10 (birthday!!!)

What to expect from this Trip Report...

The best tips!

Dining Recommendations

Great Snacks!

What to do and NOT to do!

And LOTS more!
1.... 2.... 3.... DISNEY!

 

[DoleWhippy]

Our Pre-Booking Tips

1. Research and Plan your days and dining places in Disney before you go!

2. Book your dining 180 days in advance! This is necessary for the most popular places!

3. Order your Magic Bands in advance so you get to chose your colour and put your name on it! They will not post this to the UK, however they will be delivered to your Disney hotel! If you do not do this you will receive a grey Magic Band

4. If your flying into MCO make sure you book your free of charge bus service to the resorts AKA Disney's Magical Express, a truly magical bus journey! (On the way anyway!! )

5. If you want to book Pirates League or Bibi Bobidi Boutique experiences (highly recommended!) you can book these 180 days in advance as well!

6. DON'T FORGET TO BOOK YOUR FASTPASSES - As they go quickly!!! E.g.... Anna and Elsa, Seven Dwarfs Mine, Toy Story Mania! they can be booked 60 days in advance to your vacation- Disney Resort Guests Only. If you wait till you get there they might be gone for your whole stay!

 

[DoleWhippy]

A Day Planned With Touring Plans!!!

We love this website called... TOURING PLANS!! (will post a link very soon!!! Sorry for any inconvenience!)

Reasons Why...

1. Accurate Wait Times WEEKS in advance!! So you can plan early!!

2. Busy ness of Parks so you know which Parks to avoid!!!

3. Recommended FastPass + options!!
This is how we avoided the crowds in Disney!

 

[DoleWhippy]

If You Like to take photos with everyone in it, Memory Maker is for You!!!!

There are lots of photographers in and around the parks, (waterparks too!) who take professional photos of you and your family! Even Magic Shots!! Where you can hold tinker bell, balloons and scream at Stitch!!

You can purchase this when your at Disney however its cheaper to purchase it in advance!

The only thing is, you have to download the photos at the end of your vacation... It does take a while however its still a new thing (memory maker) so hopefully they will improve the download system!

Its All Worth It Though!!

 

[DoleWhippy]

This we HIGHLY recommend getting!!! The Disney Dining Plan!!


Each day you receive

1 Snack
1 Counter Service
1 Table Service

and...
1 Free Refillable Resort Mug!

Make sure you leave some cash for gratuities

*This is the Dining Plan not Deluxe Dining Plan or Quick Service Plan

 

[DoleWhippy]

The Day we arrived - Saturday 19th July 2014

We were VERY excited after arriving in Orlando, but Very tired too! So we chilled by the pool at Saratoga Springs ! This is not our first time here at Saratoga so we knew there were awesome pool parties and lots of things to make and do at the Clubhouse near to the pool!

We had been put in the Grandstand stop in Saratoga- we usually request for the Springs as its nearest to everything however we thought the Grandstand was quieter and still vey near so we were very happy!!

We had already ordered our magic bands so we were delighted to be given them with colour and our names on them (Read post 2 to find out more) !

After chilling by the pool we decided to head to Downtown Disney for our dinner! We always walk to DD as its only a 5/10 minute walk- much quicker than grabbing a bus!

When we arrived at DD we were shocked to see that basically all of it was under construction!! We knew it was getting more restaurants and shops but the whole of Pleasure Island was getting refurbished and was incredibly crowded as a result!

We had a debate whether to eat at Earl of Sandwich or Cookes of Dublin! The result... Cooks of Dublin!! This pub is attached to Raglan Road- an Irish themed pub! We always eat here as its very yummy.

I had a breaded burger and chips! Very good and a decent potion I HIGHLY recommend !! I also had a very yummy chocolate chip cookie for dessert yummmmmmmmm!!! Cookes of Dublin is a counter service credit on the Disney Dining Plan *PICTURE COMING!

Also whenever we are in DD we always buy a new vinylmation to add to our collection! We decided to go to D-street to get a Park Star! We were hoping for Trixie (Country Bear Jamboree) but got the Electric Lights Parade figure! If you don't know what vinylmations are they are plastic figurines which you collect and trade! We also traded a few vinyl's at D-Street!

We prefer to trade our vinylmations at the trading post in the market place as you do not HAVE to trade your vinylmations unlike D-Street! Another tip is... if you are wanting an old collection or a cheap vinylmation to trade ... At Fun Finds (a shop in DD) they sell vinylmations for $4!!! ​

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