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Showing posts with the label Planning Your Vacation

Makahiki Character Breakfast at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

We had the pleasure of dining at Aulani's Makahiki breakfast and it was a delightful, delicious experience! Makahiki is a restaurant at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i. The Aulani Resort is recognizably Disney as soon as you pull into the property. Its well-manicured gardens, water features, and stunning lobby look like a Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World.  As off-site guests to Aulani, (we stayed in Waikiki, but that's another blog) I have some helpful tips for visiting the resort, whether it be for the restaurants, the beach, or both! Makahiki – The Bounty of the Islands is open daily and reservations can be made 30 days in advance. I made my reservation on the Aulani website. There were a few times to choose from. I chose the earliest available that day, which was 8:30 a.m., because we had jetlag from the trip. A friendly Cast Member called me a few days before the reservation to confirm it with me. You can, however, find earlier times on other d

Disney World Parent Hack - Baby Care Centers

Disney World's Baby Care Centers have all the essentials covered when visiting the park with your little one! If you need a quiet place or run out of something, don't stress! The Baby Care Center will most likely have it.  When I visited the Magic Kingdom location I found changing tables, bottle warmers, filtered water, a private bathroom, a nursing room, and a cozy feeding area with highchairs. If you need to escape the crowds or the Florida heat with your baby - pop into one and look around. It's a nice place to take a break. Magic Kingdom's Baby Care Center is adorably themed as Alice in Wonderland. It is tucked between Casey’s Corner and The Crystal Palace Restaurant. It might not be as big as EPCOT or Animal Kingdom's baby spots, but let me tell you, it's an amazing resource while traveling with babies and young children.  Baby Care Centers can be found all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. They're like a little oasis for parents with tiny tots

Renting a Locker at Walt Disney World

Each Walt Disney World theme park and water park has convenient keyless lockers that can be used throughout the day, for a one-time charge—so you can store your personal items with ease. One thing I had never done until my most recent trip to Walt Disney World was rent a locker! It’s easy to rent a locker while at the parks! I wish I had known this earlier, so I wouldn't have carried around extra outfits, umbrellas and merch all those times. Now I know how and where to find them, and will definitely be getting one every time. Magic Kingdom's lockers are located to the right of the train overpass tunnel. Right after you enter, go to your far right. If you have entered the tunnel, you have gone too far. If paying with cash or a major credit card, you may proceed directly to the self-service kiosk to rent a locker. If paying with a MagicBand , MagicBand+ or gift card, visit the merchandise location nearest to the lockers for assistance. There, a Cast Member can process your renta

Walt Disney World Transportation Information

One of the perks of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel is the complimentary transportation and proximity to the parks. Once you arrive at your resort, you have a variety of methods to travel to and from the Disney parks, resorts, and Disney Springs, all included with your stay.   If you have not been before, here is a guide to understanding how Walt Disney World transportation operates. Once you arrive, you'll also find friendly Cast Members who are happy to help direct you, should you have questions while on vacation.  Transportation Basics You can travel directly between: Park to Park:   M ostly by bus. Going between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot is by Monorail, and you also have the option to take the boat, Disney Skyliner or walk between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Resort to Park:  M ostly by bus. Most Deluxe and Moderate Resorts also have an alternative form of transportation for at least one park- such as Monorail, Disney Skyliner, boat, or wa

MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World

If you've vacationed at Walt Disney World since 2013, you're probably very familiar with MagicBands. Well there's a new band in town known as the MagicBand+. MagicBand+ has all the features you've come to love with MagicBands plus some new and improved features to add a little extra magic to your vacation.  As we reviewed in our  MagicBands 101  article, MagicBands and MagicBand+ can be used to open the door to your Disney Resort hotel room, enter the theme parks and water parks with a valid admission ticket linked to your account, check-in at Lightning Lane entrances, add PhotoPass pictures to your account and charge food and merchandise purchases to the payment card on file at your Disney Resort hotel room during your stay.  MagicBand+ adds an all-new touch of magic to your vacation throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. With customizable light-up themes, haptic vibrations and more, MagicBand+ offers a new kind of magical experience.  What exactly are "light-up

Genie+ Services at the Disneyland Resort

If you have been to Disneyland in the past couple years, you may have seen Disneyland's most recent "FastPass" system. For those that have been traveling to Disneyland, it is similar to the Max Pass that was introduced before the pandemic. What is Disney Genie service? Disney's Genie service is a free planning tool that guides you through the Disneyland park while providing tips to help plan your day. Guests can find the Genie service on the Disneyland app. The Genie service was released on December of 2021 shortly after Walt Disney World released their version. The free Genie service acts like your very own virtual assistant and lists forecasted wait times, where you can mobile order, manage check-in and dining reservations. As one enters the park at Disneyland, click on the "My Genie Day" part of the app. When it opens, you can click on Tip Board. The Tip Board has the option on checking out the "Attractions & Shows" where is lists sta