Disney World Vacation Planning Blog

Our Disney Cast Members offers tips on Disney World vacation planning

Extra Magic Hours at the Disney Theme Parks - August 1

Disney is offering Extended Extra Magic Hours to give you more time to enjoy the Disney Theme Parks.  The Extra Magic Hours are a special perk just for guests that stay at one of the 23 Disney Resorts.  If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you can visit a select Disney Theme Park one hour in the morning before the gates open or up to 3 hours in the evening (after the gates close).  This is a great way for you to save time waiting in lines and avoiding extra crowds.  It is a wonderful benefit to consider when deciding on your hotel.  If you stay at a Disney Resort, you can enjoy this free perk that will save your family time waiting in lines. 

Cinderellabration at Magic Kingdom - August 5

This year is one of the most magical times to visit Walt Disney World with the Happiest Celebration on Earth. Each park has a new attractions including Lights, Motors, Action! at Disney-MGM Studios, Lucky the Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Soarin at Epcot. One of the best new attractions is Cinderellabration at Magic Kingdom. This is a great show for all of the little Princesses that visit Disney World.

The new Cinderellabration Show at Magic Kingdom is right in front of the castle and is the perfect chance to see all of the Disney Princesses. You can see Cinderella as she becomes a true Princess. Your other favorite Princesses like Snow White, Jasmine, and Aurora are there to help her be crowned a Princess. Disney has a bunch of shows during the day and you can always get a great view for this show.

You may want to make this Princess Celebration even more magical by booking a breakfast or lunch with Cinderella on this same day. You can have lunch or dinner with Cinderella inside her castle at the restaurant called Cinderella's Royal Table. This is an extremely popular meal and sells out in less than 2 minutes exactly 90 days prior to arrival so plan early.

Character Dining at Walt Disney World - August 7

The best opportunity to get personal time with your favorite Disney Characters is with a Character Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner. These are usually the memories most people think about when they remember their Disney World vacation. Your kids can get pictures and autographs or just get a hug from Mickey Mouse, a Disney Princess, or even Winnie the Pooh. There are lots of different Character Dining to choose from but be sure to make an Advanced Dining Reservation to guarantee your favorite restaurant. Many of the popular restaurants book up before your vacation.

A few of my favorites include Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom, O'Hanas at Disney's Polynesian Resort, and Donald's Breakfastosaurus at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The Character Meal at Crystal Palace features the Winnie the Pooh Characters at Magic Kingdom. The buffet is an all you can eat meal with lots of options. The dessert bar (for lunch and dinner) is amazing! They will even bring you a recipe copy of your favorite menu item. This is a great Character Dining for kids of all ages especially the pre-schoolers. You are also located right at Magic Kingdom so it is a nice break from the rides and heat.

O'Hanas at Disney's Polynesian Resort is one of the best Character Breakfasts but is not one of the most popular ones. It is a hidden secret among the Character Dining! This breakfast features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Friends with a beautiful view of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. This family style breakfast has a fun Hawaiian Theme where all of the kids get shell leis and your favorite Disney Characters are decked out in Hawaiian shirts and dresses. It's a great breakfast and fun way to meet your favorite Disney Characters! Admission is not required for this Character Breakfast so it is a good one if you are spending the day at a Waterpark or just at your Disney Resort.

Donald's Breakfastosaurus is a loud and fun Character Breakfast with Mickey Mouse, Donald, and Goofy at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. This breakfast is a great way to kick off your day at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The breakfast starts up to 1 hour before the park even opens so you can get a head start on everyone else. You can enjoy your breakfast and then when the park actually opens, you can hit a few rides before the crowds. The breakfast buffet is wonderful with everything from fresh fruit to Mickey Mouse waffles. This is a loud restaurant so it recommended for older kids (5 and up). It's a great way to visit with your favorite Characters and get a head start on the Theme Park.  You can call 407-WDW-DINE to make your reservations at least 90 days prior to your date.