Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

One thing Disney does really well is themed resorts. Not only are their resorts all differently themed and put together, but they also have different price ranges. There are some very affordable options, more moderately priced ones, and then the luxury resorts. No matter where you stay on Disney grounds…you’re guaranteed to have a magical stay.

Today we thought we would take a look at one of Disney’s most well-known luxury resorts…The Polynesian Villiage Resort. The Polynesian Villiage Resort has been a long time favorite since 1971. If you’re looking for an island getaway in the middle of Disney, consider this resort! You will feel like you are in the south pacific as you are surrounded by island ambiance and decor. Why don’t we take a closer look at what all this island-inspired resort has to offer?

Overview

As we said, The Polynesian Village Resort has been around since the early 1970s. One of the most unique aspects of this island-inspired resort is that they offer both normal deluxe rooms as well as bungalows that can sleep up to 8 people. The resort also has a monorail stop which allows for quick transportation to places like the Magic Kingdom.

The Polynesian Village Resort takes you to a tropical haven full of Disney magic. The resort is adorned with Polynesian architecture, statues, and decor to make you feel like you have truly stepped into a beautiful beach getaway. From the giant tiki statue to the lava rock water feature…the island feel is involved in every single detail. Nothing goes unnoticed in a Disney resort.

Rooms

While you have some choices between what kind of room you want, all rooms with come with some standard things like a hairdryer, free WIFI, coffee maker, and a mini-refrigerator. There are standard rooms, and rooms with views such as the lagoon view, theme park view, pool/marina view, or garden view. The standard rooms come with the typical 2 queens or one king. Most standard rooms sleep up to 5 people. No matter if you choose a standard room or a bungalow, you’re comfort is all but guaranteed in a Disney resort.

Recreation

There is plenty to do while staying at the Polynesian Village Resort. From boat rentals to campfire activities, this resort is equipped with many fun options. There are movies under the stars, pools, a marina, fishing, campfires, jogging trails, and volleyball! If you are wanting a more relaxing day away from the parks, this resort has lots of options.

If you enjoy Disney movies, make sure to catch their showings on the Great Ceremonial House Lawn. There is nothing better than stretching out of the grass and enjoying a Disney movie during a warm Florida night.

The Seven Seas Marina is a lakeside marina that is open to guests. You can rent equipment for your favorite water time activity or even book a private cruise. You can rent motorized boats to have your own adventure on the Seven Seas Lagoon!

And for all our swimmers there is the Lava Pool and the Oasis Pool. The Lava Pool includes a 142-foot slide and a zero-depth entrance (meaning it is a gradual entrance similar to a beach). The Oasis pool is tucked inside a lush, beautiful garden which provides a tranquil area to swim.

Dining

You won’t go hungry at the Polynesian Village Resort by any means! From small bar areas to themed dining, there are many choices when it comes to grub. If you want to do a character breakfast with Lilo & Stitch or a festive Polynesian themed meal, make sure to make reservations at ‘Ohana. The Oasis Bar & Grill is open for lunch and snacks! They serve healthy salads, fish tacos, tropical cocktails and much more. This is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat.

There is also the Pineapple Lania where you can grab the world famous Dole Whip and Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace where you can listen to live music and cool down with a fun, tropical drink. If you want to fully immerse yourself in the Polynesian culture, make sure you get to Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner. You will get the full experience of an island luau where you will dine on an authentic all-you-can-eat dinner. This dinner is full of entertainment as well! From hula dancing to fire dancing, you won’t want to miss all the action! These are just a few of the yummy dining options, contact us for a full list!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has a lot to offer. Whether you are a family, single, or with your significant other…this is a great resort to book for your next vacation. We’d love to help answer any questions you might have, let us know!

8 Disneyland Attractions

While we’ve talked about Disney World many times, we can’t forget our other coast destination- Disneyland. Many things are the same in the two locations, especially the classic Disney magic! While some of the classic rides are the same…there are some differences between the attractions in Disneyland and Disney World. Today, we are sharing a few of our favorite Disneyland attractions!

These are ones that are different from Disney World or not even at Disney World. That way you get a good idea of what both parks have to offer! Let’s look at 6 Disneyland attractions.

6 Disneyland Attractions

Jumpin’ Jellyfish

Jumpin’ Jellyfish is located in Paradise Park Garden at Disney California Adventure Park. You will be able to fly high in the sky on a colorful and exciting jellyfish. As your feet dangle, you will be taken into the air and experience small drops. There are 12 different brightly colored jellyfish that you can ride on and it takes you approximately 40 feet in the air. The ride lasts for about  90 seconds and is perfect for little kids and tweens. But parents enjoy it as well!

• Must transfer from wheelchair or ECV
• Rider switch is available
• Must be 40 inches to ride

Alice in Wonderland

Located in Fantasyland in Disneyland park, Alice in Wonderland is a fun ride for kids, tweens, teens, and even adults. Ride along in an oversized caterpillar into the crazy world of Alice in Wonderland. You’ll be taken through curves as colors and songs swirl around you. Prepare to see your favorite characters like Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and even the Queen of hearts. This ride opened in 1958 and has been a favorite since!

• All heights can ride
• Slow, dark ride
• Must transfer from wheelchair or ECV
• Handheld captioning available

Incredicoaster

In Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure park, there is a fast ride perfect for thrill-seeking teens and adults. You will join your favorite Incredibles as they race to stop baby Jack-Jack as he makes a mess of things. This is much like a typical coaster but full of Disney magic and the famous Incredibles. You’ll experience big drops on this thrill ride.

• Must be 48 inches to ride
• Single rider offered
• Rider switch offered
• Must transfer from wheelchair or ECV and should consider health issues before riding

Radiator Springs Racers

Hop over to Cars Land in Disney California Adventure to ride on this Pixar’s Cars inspired ride. Enjoy the well-known desert scenery from the Cars movie as you zoom around and meet some of the movie’s favorites like Mater, Sally, Luigi, and Doc Hudson. If you love Epcot’s ride, Test Track, this ride is very similar but with a Cars theme of course. You will experience small drops in this dark, loud ride.

• Must be 40 inches tall to ride
• Single Rider offered
• Rider switch offered
• Must transfer from wheelchair or ECV

Snow White’s Scary Adventure

Perfectly placed in Fantasyland in Disneyland park, Snow White’s Scary Adventure takes you along the dark forest as you escape the Evil Queen. This slow, dark ride is perfect for all ages but keep in mind- it might be a little scary for some little ones! You will ride through the forest in mining carts and will see some iconic moments from the movie. This is an exciting 2-minute ride!

• Any height can ride
• Must transfer from wheelchair or ECV
• Indoor, dark ride
• Original 1955 ride

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!

Rising far about Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure park is the Guardians of the Galaxy ride. This ride is definitely for our thrill-seeking friends who love big drops! Replacing the famous Tower of Terror, this ride has a similar raise and drop model. You will join Rocket as you work to rescue the other Guardians of the Galaxy from the Collectors fortress. The ride has 6 different storylines to keep you entertained each time you ride it! Your free fall drop sequences are bound to be different each time- they have to keep us on our toes!

• Must be 40 inches to ride
• Rider switch offered
• Must transfer from wheelchair or ECV
• Health should be considered before riding

Which of these rides sounds the most exciting to you? We love them all!

 

8 tips for traveling with your dog

If you have any dogs in your life, you’ll know that sometimes you just want to bring them along on a vacation. There is nothing harder than dropping your pup off at the boarders when you’re heading off on a fun getaway.

For those of you that are considering taking your pup along with you…there are a few things to know before you do. Today, we are sharing a few tips for traveling with your dog that will hopefully help you feel a little more prepared next time you let your doggy friend tag along with you. Above all, consider your dog’s personality and before planning to take them on a vacation. If you decide that they are capable of handling the trip, then here are a few tips to help things go a little smoother.

Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Tip #1 Pack their shot records and keep them close by

This might not be something you ever need to actually show people but it is better to be prepared. It’s not something you would always think of bringing, but keeping their shot records is always a good idea. You never know when someone or somewhere you stay/go will require documentation of their shots and medical history. Better safe than sorry!

Tip #2 Bring a harness/collar that you know will be safe and secure

There is nothing worse than your dog getting free no matter where you are, but especially somewhere new and on vacation. We suggest bringing a harness/collar that you know they can’t get out of easily. That way you aren’t constantly worried about them getting free. Also make sure that the harness/collar you use is tight but not overly tight, of course.

Tip #3 Think ahead and search for pet-friendly hotels

If you don’t do some research beforehand, you might end up staying in a hotel with a $100 pet fee a night and a $125 cleaning fee. Some hotels are extremely pricey when it comes to staying with pets. But not all are that expensive! That’s why we suggest you do some research and think ahead to where you will be needing hotels so you can book pet-friendly hotels. For instance, most, if not all, La Quinta’s are very pet-friendly and don’t charge anything for pets under a certain weight to stay. You will be less stressed and spend a lot less money if you look into what hotels would be best to stay in with your pup. And guess what?? Disney now offers some pet-friendly hotels too! So contact us if you want help booking a Disney trip with your pup! 

Tip #4 If you’re driving, make time for some quick potty breaks and a chance for the pups to run around a bit

For those of you that would be driving, make sure to schedule in some stops so that you can let your pup get out to potty, stretch their legs, and maybe grab a drink of water. It’s so easy to want to drive with as little stops as possible so you get to your destination, but traveling with a pup will call for a few more stops. Don’t make your pup wait too long to potty!

Tip #5 Search for nearby dog parks

Chances are your dog will have some built up energy after spending so much time in the car, so, look for dog parks around where you are staying! There are even some gas station chains that have dog parks at their service stations which would allow your dog to run around for a few minutes while you can fill up the car. Most towns should have some kind of dog park and this allows your dog to have a chance to run for a little bit off the leash like they would be able to at home.

Tip #6 Bring a comfort of home for them

Just like you would bring a pillow from home or your child a favorite toy, we suggest you bring along a comfort of home for your pup! If your dog has a favorite blanket, toy, bed, etc. we recommend packing it if it’s something that can easily be taken with you. Especially if the dog will be in a hotel by themselves at any point, having some smells of home might keep them calmer and more settled down.

Tip #7 Make sure they are properly and obviously, ID’ed

When you are traveling with a dog, the biggest tip is to make sure they are properly and easily ID’d if some sad reason they get separated from you. Even if they are microchipped, it might be a good idea to put a normal tag that is easily seen on their harness so that they can quickly inform you that they’ve found your pup. Also, make sure that the number is accurate and correct to the number of the phone you are traveling with- aka- no home phone numbers while traveling. You want anyone to be able to contact you easily if your pup gets away from you.

Tip #8 Bring extra medication and food in case of a trip extension

If your dog takes any kind of medication or eats a special food….make sure to pack extra! You never know when something might come up and you might have to stay another night. Just like you pack some extra medications for yourself in case that happens, remember to do it for your dogs as well!

Did you find these tips helpful? Have you ever traveled with your pup? Let us know in the comments!

Ultimate Guide to Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is a favorite park for many people. We’ve chatted about this park a few times before but today we are going all in! Hollywood Studios is packed full of entertainment, attractions, character experiences, and more. Because it is so full of great things, it’s easy to overlook a great part of Hollywood Studios.

We never want that to happen! Today we are sharing a quick but helpful ultimate guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This post will end with a document check-list you can print out and use while you are planning your day at Hollywood Studios. The post should have pretty much every event and attraction there is at the park but, of course, things in Disney are subject to change. There are also a few exclusive VIP opportunities that you can message us to learn more about.

Let’s look at everything Hollywood Studios has to offer you and your family.

Entertainment

The entertainment that Hollywood Studios provides is nothing but magical. From fireworks to live stage shows, Hollywood Studios offers many different kinds of entertainment. For instance, the classic live show that has been around for man years in Beauty and the Beast. You can enjoy the story we all love and know as a live stage performance in Hollywood Studios. This park is also home to one of the famous firework shows, Fantasmic. Fantasmic is a nighttime firework show with dancing water, pyrotechnics, and laser lights. Here is a list of entertainment:

• Beauty and the Beast (Live Show)
• Fantasmic (Firework Show)
• For the First Time in Forever: Frozen sing along (live show)
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (live show)
• Jedi Training Academy (Live Show)
• Citizens of Hollywood (Hollywood Boulevard)
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Animation Courtyard)

 

Character Experiences

Character experiences are one of Disney’s timeless traditions. There is nothing more special than meeting your favorite character in person. Hollywood Studios is packed full of character experiences. For our Star Wars friends, you can meet BB8, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and watch the First Order March. But there are many other experiences available. For the younger Disney fans, you can even meet your Disney Junior Pals! Here is a list of the character experiences:

• BB8 Astromech on Duty
• Celebrity Spotlight
• Meet Disney Junior Pals
• March of the First Order
• Minnie and Mickey Starring in Red Carpet Dreams
• Star Wars Launch Bay: Encounter Kylo Ren
• Star Wars Launch Bay: Meet Chewbacca
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

 

Attractions

Hollywood Studios has some of the best thrill rides. If you enjoy a high thrill level, you have to visit the Sunset Boulevard where two of the most well-known rides in Disney World Rock n Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. We have briefly talked about some of the best of Hollywood Studios in a previous post so make sure to take a look! But Toy Story Land is now open and ready for you to enjoy! Toy Story Mania is a ride that allows you to blast away the moving targets. Think of them like virtual carnival games! But you will be playing inside Andy’s room. Here is a list of the attractions:

• Alien Swirling Saucers (Toy Story Land)
• Muppet Vision 3D (Grand Avenue)
• Rock n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith (Sunset Boulevard)
• Slinky Dog Dash (Toy Story Land)
• Star Tour- Adventure Continues (Echo Lake)
• Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard)
• Toy Story Mania (Toy Story Land)
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Sunset Boulevard)
• Walt Disney Presents (Animation Courtyard)

 

Dining

Hollywood Studios is not lacking dining options! There are many options from fast counter service to themed dining. If you’re looking for a more upscale dining option, stop at the Hollywood Brown Derby which is considered fine dining. But you will enjoy the American cuisine in the Golden Age of Hollywood themed decor. This would be a perfect dining option for couples or adults. The menu includes braised beef short ribs, pork belly pastrami BLT, and blue lump crab crispy wontons.  Woody’s Lunchbox is a new quick, counter service dining option that even takes mobile orders! This unique counter service offers things from lunch box tarts and a banana split parfait to sandwiches and even adult drinks. Woody’s Lunchbox is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you can always grab a snack or treat from it.

• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• 50’s Prime Time Cafe
• ABC Commissary
• Backlot Express
• Baseline Tap House
• Cataline Eddie’s
• Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
• Dockside Diner
• Disney Early Morning Magic
• Fairfaxe Fare
• Hollywood Scoops
• Hollywood & Vine
• KRNR the Rock Station
• Mama Melrose’s
• Oasis Canteen
• PizzeRizzo
• Rosies All-American Cafe
• Sci-fi Dine-in Theater
• Trolley Car Cafe
• Tune-in Lounge
• Woody’s Lunch Box

Below is a printable checklist to use when you’re heading to Hollywood Studios! Just so you don’t miss anything, of course. And click here for a map of the park. We hope you enjoyed this Ultimate Guide to Hollywood Studios. 

All about the Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom! Disney World meets the wilderness. The most recently built park, Animal Kingdom opened in April 1998. This park opened up a whole new world to Disney goers and was unlike any other park.

At over 500 acres, Animal Kingdom is also the largest Disney World park and has over 4,500 cast members to date just in this park. Obviously, Animal Kingdom is full of over 300 species of animals and holds about 2,000 animals. Just to finish explaining this park in numbers, Animal Kingdom has over 4 million trees, ferns, bushes, vines, and more. If you spend even a minute in the park, you will see how much detail went into all of the aspects of the park. Disney is always all about the little details and this park is no different. Each decor element is researched and done with the most accuracy. Animal Kingdom is comprised of 5 different areas in the park: Africa, Asia, DinoLand USA, Discovery Island, and Pandora the World of Avatar.

Park ”lands”  overview

Africa takes you into the wildlife of Africa. A recreated African village allows for fun and authentic look into this continent. One of the biggest attractions in the Africa area of the park is the Kilimanjaro Safari. You will hop on an open-air safari vehicle and drive into the recreated lush African savanna for an 18-minute ride. This attraction puts your up close and personal with some amazing animals such as gazelles, giraffes, warthogs, flamingos, and many more. Kilimanjaro Safari is perfect for all ages- bring on the whole family!

Asia has many different attractions to help you step into the many aspects of Asia. From the rapids to the rainforest, Asia has many different things to offer. One of the most popular attractions in Asia is Expedition Everest. This runaway coaster brings you to the edge of the rapids and many more places. Expedition Everest takes you through the famous Himalayan Mountains as you try to stay away from the Abominable Snowman. This coaster is for all riders 44 inches and up.

Dinoland USA is the best land for all you dinosaur experts out there! There is a dig site for the kids, a stage show with original songs, and a whirling coaster. If you enjoy adventure and learning about those dinos, make sure to spend some time in Dinoland. Dinoland is full of great attractions from The Boneyard to the Primeval Whirl and TriceraTop Spin. If you are over 48 inches, you can hop on the Primeval Whirl for a spinning good time. This spinning and sliding coaster takes you back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. 

Discovery Island is home to what is probably the most known element of Animal Kingdom- the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life also has a theater that plays a funny 3D show. This famous attraction celebrates all living creatures big and small. The tree is this parks iconic symbol like the Magic Kingdom has the castle. And not only does the tree look impressive, but it also has the theater built into it.

Pandora is a newer land that celebrates the well-known film Avatar and embraces nature. One exciting attraction in Pandora is the Avatar Flight of Passage. This attraction brings rides and 3D action together to create one exciting attraction. Hop onto the back of a flying banshee and take off on this interactive 3D ride. This thrill ride is open for those who are 44 inches and taller.

Fun Facts

The first animal born in Animal Kingdom was a large African Antelope which is called a Kudu.

Animal Kingdom runs a Disney Conservation Fund and it has raised more than $70 million dollars to help over 600 nonprofit organizations.

One of the leading zoo hospitals in North America is located right inside Disney World in the Animal Kingdom.

Like we mentioned before, over 4 million plants, shrubs, and more were planted inside Animal Kingdom. You’re surrounded by many different kinds of greenery all the time.

The floating mountains in Valley of Mo’ara are actually about 130 feet above the valley floor.

There are 325 animal carvings on the Tree of Life. It took 10 artists and 3 Imagineers about 18 months to create all of the intricate carvings on the tree.

There are over 103,000 leaves on top of the Tree of Life.

Are you wanting to plan a fun trip to Animal Kingdom? Let us help you plan the perfect vacation!