DISNEY DINKS

Rumours: It's not just a weird 80s nightclub in a Honolulu hotel  Well, the curtain has fallen on one of the most anticipated D23 gatherings in years, and the fallout is pretty stunning. We're here to recap the sturm und drang of one of the most park-and-resort-centric D23's ever, and what it means for your Disneying future.    RUMORS CONFIRMED AT D23 Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land No longer will Toy Story Midway Mania be the sole cowboy patrolling the streets of Pixar Place. Now an entire new world--immersive, because that's the theme of the day, year, decade--is getting built that will make visitors feel like toy-sized entities wandering through an adult-scaled world.  Toy Story Land will feature two new rides: the Slinky Dog coaster (a family-friendly coaster that looks to be more elaborate and thankfully longer than 7 Dwarfs Mine Train) and Alien Swirling Saucers (which could potentially be similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at California Adventure).    The twisty and turny Slinky Dog Coaster Buzz watches over the Alien Swirling Saucers.  Star Wars: Galaxy Edge Hold on to your butts. The clear piece de resistance of D23 was Star Wars Land, err, Galaxy's Edge, which will cause 40-year-old men from here to Timbuktu to screech in wonderment, sell prized possessions, and achieve middle-aged nirvana.  The Land encompasses a never-before scene trading post on the outskirts of the galaxy. This is a somewhat curious decision, as they're not modeling it after a known and beloved entity (a la Diagon Alley), but instead letting the Imagineers invent their own version of the Star Wars universe. Of course, there will be plenty for fans to resonate with either way, but it just won't be on Hoth or Tatouin.  Galaxy's Edge includes two new rides, both apparently screen-based. You can pilot the Millennium Falcon on a secret mission, or be pitted in the midst of a battle between the First Order and the resistance. And there will be characters a-plenty wander about, making the whole experience that much more immersive.  I bet the auditions for Leia are cutthroat.  Nerd everywhere rejoice! You can finally fly the MF!  Outside the First Order ride.  Perhaps the most anticipated creation of the whole Star Wars saga, however, is the hotel. A fully immersive experience, this isn't just a place you sleep and eat breakfast. Instead, you're part of the story, complete with costume, itinerary, and daily activities/missions.  We've heard the hotel is somewhat like a cruise ship--you check in, you get your info, and you only leave the ship for planned excursions. The pricing structure, too, resembles cruising. Rooms are rumored to start at $650 for a single person, and $200 for each additional person. So a couple will be dropping at least $850/night, and a family of four is looking at $1250. So much for appealing to the masses.  So nice to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Kenobe.  We're on a mission!  No natural light, but cool space views!      And finally, the long and never-quite-updated tenure of the Great Movie Ride is fading to black. In it's place will be Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a 2.5D ride based on the Disney Channel's Mickey cartoon shorts. And yes, it will be audience-involved and, ahem, immersive.  EPCOT  It looks like Disney is redoubling its efforts to make Epcot a full-day experience once more. The new park headliner will be Ratatouille in the France pavilion, which is an import in many ways of the ride at Disney Paris.  Complete with a mouse-mobile.  The other big news at EPCOT is a Guardians of the Galaxy ride to replace Ellen's Energy Adventure (sponsored by Exxon-Mobile!). No word yet on the concept, but expect it to be different than Mission Breakout at California Adventure.  Oh, and they updated Mission: Space to make it slightly less horrible. Wheeee!    MAGIC KINGDOM The big news over at the OG is the arrival of the TRON coaster in Tomorrowland. Equally big news is that it won't replace the Tomorrowland Speedway, as previously thought, but will instead be situated next to and behind Space Mountain. The TRON coaster is an import of sorts from Shanghai Disney, where it's far and away a fan favorite.  Nobody's really seen the movie, but that's fine.  Over on Main Street, USA, a new live-action theater modeled after the iconic Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City--where Walt lived after he left Marceline--will be going up. The theater, thought to be able to host upwards of 2000 people, will be located in the backstage area between Main Street and Tomorrowland. Another place to get skunked on Hamilton tickets.  NON-PARK NEWS In an effort to assuage hatred of the bus system and avoid sinking the GDP of China into a new monorail system, Disney will be introducing the Skyliner Gondolas in the coming years. They will be of the hanging bucket variety (not the Swiss Alps variety), and will ferry people between Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and several resorts.  Did you realize EPCOT and HS were that close together?    And in a further effort to assuage hatred of the bus system and also to keep those pesky Uber drivers from clogging up resort reception areas, Disney will be introducing their own line of Minnie Vans to transport families around the World. Rides are a flat fee of $20, which makes them fairly pricey, but worth the convenience for some.  We love a good pun.  And finally, because the thirst for DVC properties is unquenchable, a new DVC resort! The Riviera—15 stories tall with a rooftop restaurant and bar for viewing fireworks--will be built near Caribbean Beach. A bit of SoCal in CenFla.     Oh, and no news at Animal Kingdom, because you know, Pandora.  And over at Universal, Dragon Challenge has been slayed, set to be replaced by a different Harry Potter attraction. Details still to come.    Well, that's it! And yes, it's a lot. Will purists turn up their noses? Will families really shell out over $1000/night to be immersed in Star Wars? Will anyone watch TRON? Only time will tell. . .   

The Best of Disney Dining! All things discussed on this particular podcast can be found on our HOT LIST: DISNEY DINING HOT LIST: DISNEY DINING    

Walt Disney World VS. Disneyland It's one of the long litany of age-old questions. Yorkie or Westie? Broadsword or mace? Waiting for Guffman or Best in Show?  Disney World or Disneyland?  Let's get started!  For starters, let’s talk about size. WDW is 43 square miles encompassing four parks and two water parks (not to mention four golf courses, 27 Disney hotels, 12 non-Disney hotels, and a campground). That’s twice the size of Manhattan and almost the size of San Francisco. Disneyland, in stark contrast, is 500 acres. Two parks. Three hotels. Surrounded by the city of Anaheim. And as long as we’re talking about size: Cinderlla’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom is 183 feet tall. Impressive, iconic, the symbol of the park. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland Park is 77 feet tall. Underwhelming, forgettable, and yes, a little sad. What'd you do with the real castle?                                                                         wikipedia.org   Winner: WDW RIDES UNIQUE TO Walt Disney World Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Great Movie Ride (not for long!), Peoplemover, Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Rock N Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, Tower of Terror. UNIQUE TO DISNEYLAND Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Radiator Springs Racers, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters, Indiana Jones, California Screamin’, Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin, Storybookland Canal Boats, Alice in Wonderland, Grizzly River Run, Snow White’s Scary Adventure, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Best Disney ride ever?                                                                                             wikipedia.org OVERLAPS Pirates (DL much better!) Haunted Mansion (draw) Splash Mountain  (MK better) Space Mountain (DL better) Soarin’ (draw) Small World (we didn’t go on, but apparently DL) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (DL slightly better) Jungle Cruise (draw) Buzz Lightyear (MK better) Winner: Disneyland. TECHNOLOGY Magic Bands, Fast Pass Plus, and wifi in the parks are all huge advantages for WDW. Also, so many rides broken were broken at Disneyland during our trip that it seriously cut into our planning ability and our enjoyment. In three days, we could only ride Radiator Springs Racers once! WDW game changers.    blog.touringplans.com   WDW is the clearcut winner in Technology, and makes one wonder why Disneyworld is so far behind. DINING There are more options, and better options, at WDW. Napa Rose and Carthay Circle are nice fine dining options at Disneyland, but WDW has a dozen comparable restaurants, plus Victoria & Albert’s, which is beyond compare. Disneyland does have Blue Bayou, which is one of the most fun in-park dining experiences you can have.   Victoria & Albert's incomparable plating.                                                         victoria-alberts.com   But WDW in another landslide. AMBIANCE/MAGIC WDW, with all its uninhabitable Florida swampland, is simply more immersive and insular. And in this case, that’s a good thing. You are fully ensconced in the Disney Bubble and reality fades very, very quickly. Disneyland, by contrast, feels more like something to do while in Southern California. You never feel quite so immersed, and you know the mean streets of Anaheim are just a few blocks on either side of you. Disneyland has the original Walt touch, of course, which is meaningful. But given the number of locals who frequent Disneyland, it’s also full of wild packs of teens who have nothing better to do. You're not going to see this unsavory cast of characters at WDW.    academichelp.net Winner: WDW. TRANSPORATION You don’t need any at Disneyland! You walk from park to park in mere minutes. There is a monorail, but it seems almost pointless. Disneyland, why do you even need this monorail?                                 disneyland.disney.go.com Winner: Disneyland, because of pure ease. LODGING Far more options in terms of theming, comfort, location, and everything under the sun at WDW. Disneyland has three hotels—the Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, and Paradise Pier. And lots of people stay off property on the streets bordering the park. One of the many superior lodging options at WDW.                disneyvacationclub.go.disney.com Winner: WDW. Overall, while both parks are amazing and well worth visiting, if you’re going for a fully immersive, week-long experience, Walt Disney World is the clear-cut winner. If you happen to be in Southern California, you should carve your time out for Disneyland, but it’s more like a two-day side trip than a main event. A proper castle.                                                                                                    disneymagic.com    

Of course, we have a philosophy about what to bring with you on your trip and into the parks each day.  Don't miss our HOT LIST: WHAT TO PACK HOT LIST: What to pack While you're at it, don't miss our HOT LIST: MUST-HAVE DISNEY APPS HOT LIST: MUST-HAVE DISNEY APPS    

Monorail Resort Rundown So you’re all-in on staying on-property. But that still leaves you with dozens of lodging options across Walt Disney World. However, we are rather draconian when it comes to where to lay your head. The DISNEY DINKS credo limits you to three choices: The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, and The Contemporary. Why? Because they’re serviced by the only efficient mode of transportation in WDW, The Monorail. The access and convenience the Monorail ensures saves so much time and energy that the additional cost of staying at these properties more than outweighs the savings of staying at a different resort.  But didn't we say to have a car while you're staying at Walt Disney World? And can’t you just drive to all the parks anyway? Well, you still have to park at the TTC and ride the monorail to get into the Magic Kingdom, and you also want to avoid parking at Epcot if you can. Nice try. Just go with us on this one—it's DISNEY DINK law. Accept it and never bring up the fact that the Boardwalk/Beach Club is walkable to Epcot.  Using our own DISNEY DINK-developed 5-star rating system, the below guide and accompanying podcast can help you to decide between the three Monorail resorts of Walt Disney World.  Before we get started, let's review the stats of a couple off-monorail properties. Please note that pricing and travel time estimates are just that. Estimates. None of the below can be considered 100% accurate. Only Disney can be that precise.  Disney's All-Star Music ResortA standard room runs about $100 (value) to $200 (holiday) per night Travel time to the Magic Kingdom about 27-43 minutes Disney's Art of Animation ResortA standard room runs about $150 (value) to $250 (holiday) per night Travel time to the Magic Kingdom about 22-44 minutes Disney's Caribbean Beach ResortA standard room runs about $180 (value) to $300 (holiday) per night Travel time to the Magic Kingdom about 15-32 minutes Disney's Port Orleans ResortA standard room runs about $215 (value) to $320 (holiday) per night Travel time to the Magic Kingdom about 17-38 minutes Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeA standard room runs about $350 (value) to $600 (holiday) per night Travel time to the Magic Kingdom about 19-37 minutes Disney's Yacht Club ResortA standard room runs about $100 (value) to $200 (holiday) per night Travel time to the Magic Kingdom about 27-43 minutes Disney's Contemporary Resort: 3.43 out of 5   The Contemporary Number of rooms: 655 Average night's stay in a standard room: $450 (value) to $650 (holiday)  Travel Time to the Magic Kingdom: 10-19 minutes Room size and comfort: Following an impressive 2013 refurbishment, the Contemporary’s rooms are spacious (437 square feet), sleek, and modern, if a bit cold and impersonal. While one could argue that the aesthetic reflects the overall theme of the Contemporary, one could also ask that if you’re staying at Walt Disney World, do you want your room to feel like a knock-off of the W? But for what they’re trying to be, the Contemporary’s rooms with their flat-panel TVs, futuristic “hearth” feature, clean lines, and above-average bathrooms, are quite nice. Rating: 4.5 Magic: There’s certainly magic to be found in a resort where the Monorail glides through the main lobby several times an hour. And the Contemporary’s famous A-frame profile has certainly grown to iconic status within the Disney empire. There’s something to be said for stepping outside your door and gazing down upon the tracks beneath you. Though it can be a bit jarring to see Minnie trundling through on her way to Chef Mickey’s as well. Rating: 4 Theming: It’s a bit like Ex Machina without the murderous robot. The 14-story open-air Grand Canyon atrium, all balconies and terracing, white rectangles and black lines, is adorned with the 90-foot tall Southwestern-themed Mary Blair mural—the lone outpost of color in an otherwise monochromatic version of the future. Are we at Disney World or an insurance convention? Sadly, both? Rating: 3 Amenities: Dining, shopping, sundries, laundry, fitness center, jogging trails, artificial beach, and boating via the marina are all covered here, and you’ll likely want for nothing during your stay. The waterfront location is nice for viewing fireworks or the Electric Water Pageant. Interestingly, the Contemporary also features the Game Station Arcade, which can be a fun diversion during resort time (though those quarters do add up). Additionally, several boating expeditions depart from the Contemporary, which can be a fun option for families and couples alike. Rating: 4.5 Pools: Like the other Monorail resorts, the Contemporary offers two pools for cooling off and splashing about. The Feature Pool get top billing, and it has the requisite hot tub, kids play area, and a rather underwhelming waterslide. The smaller, quieter option is the Bay Pool. Overall, the pools here feel lackluster and not as special as their counterparts at the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian. They serve their purpose, but don’t really lure you in. Rating: 2.5 Dining: The California Grill is the clear headliner here, serving artfully plated coastal cuisine with a devastatingly good view of the Magic Kingdom and the nightly fireworks show. Chef Mickey’s is extremely popular with the kid set, and you’ll have guests streaming in and out of the lobby just about every day to dine with the characters, which ups the noise and bustle level considerably. We’ve never quite understood the appeal of the Wave (the moderate, table-service option), though Contempo Café is a quality quick-service option. Adults will enjoy Top of the World Lounge over in Bay Lake Tower, where they can relax with a sundowner far from the madding crowd. Rating: 3.5 Grounds: The best thing we can say about the Contemporary grounds is that they’re a 10-minute walk from the Magic Kingdom (making this the best resort for reaching the MK on foot). In true Disney fashion, they’re nicely manicured and maintained, but lack the otherworldly and immersive quality of the Polynesian as well as the capacious, resort-like feel of the Grand Floridian. Mostly you’re just surrounded by a trio of large monolithic buildings. The water views help, but they’re not unique either.   Rating: 2.0 Overall DD Rating: 3.43 If the biggest draw of your resort is that the Monorail passes right through your lobby, then are you a tried-and-true destination or a parlor trick?  Such is the age-old question still confronting the Contemporary. The rooms are nice, if coldly elegant, and the location is hard to beat. But beyond that, it’s not a resort that’s going to sweep you away. But if you’re hoping to take a break from Disney while at Disney, this could be for you.   Disney's Polynesian Village Resort: 4.71 out of 5    Trip Advisor Number of rooms: 483 Average night's stay (rack rate) in a standard room: $500 (value) to $800 (holiday)  Travel Time to the Magic Kingdom: 8-13 minutes Room size and comfort: At 415 square feet, the Polynesia’s rooms are slightly smaller than the Grand Floridian’s, but still quite spacious by Disney standards. They’re also incredibly comfortable and aesthetically appealing, drawing on the resort’s Pacific Island theme and making you feel like you’re entering a fun and well-appointed escape each time you step through your doorway. Rating: 5 Magic: It’s the only resort where you get lei’d upon arrival, which adds an extra touch as you enter the Great Ceremonial House and are greeted by the giant smiling Tikiman holding court at the center of the open-air lobby. The otherworldly aura of the Polynesian grabs you quickly and doesn’t let go, enveloping all your senses whether you’re taking in a luau, lounging by the lava pool, or grabbing yet another Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai. Rating: 5 Theming: The dream of the South Pacific is alive at the Polynesian. From the names and architecture of the 11 iconic longhouses to the island statuary, palm trees, bubbling fountains and brooks, and countless tiki torches dotting the landscape, the Polynesian transports you to another world. More a fun and loving tribute than mere kitsch, the Polynesian succeeds in celebrating the look, feel, and atmosphere of this far-flung corner of the world. Rating: 5 Amenities: You’ll find plenty of shops and eateries throughout the Great Ceremonial House, though no on-site exercise facility (guests can use the Grand Floridian’s if they choose). But in keeping consistent with its theme, the Polynesian excels at outdoor and water-centric amenities, from beaches along Seven Seas Lagoon (featuring beach volleyball) to a full-service marina to lagoon-front jogging trails, an outdoor firepit, and a designated viewing area for the Electric Water Pageant. Kids also find daily (and parent-free) entertainment at Lilo’s Playhouse. Rating: 4 Pools: The Lava Pool and its cascading waterfall and 120-foot slide that travels through the innards of a volcano is the main aquatic attraction at the Poly. It also features an infinity-edge hot tub, the Kiki Tikis splash area for kiddos, and The Barefoot Pool bar for older patrons. The quieter Oasis Pool, nestled in an inner courtyard among longhouses, provides respite for those looking for less hustle and bustle. At night, the many tiki torches lining the pathways to and around both pools create a lovely ambiance and atmosphere. Rating: 4.5 Dining: Dining at the Poly isn’t as fancy as at the Grand Floridian, but it’s still delightful. Kona Café stands as one of the best moderate table service restaurants in all WDW, and Capt. Cooks satisfies your Tonga Toast craving each morning. ‘Ohana is one of the most fun group dining experiences you can have anywhere on property, and the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show is worth doing once. What puts the Polynesian dining over the top, though, are the inimitable Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, a magical lair of fun tropical drinks and tasty small plates, and the Pineapple Lanai, the only place that serves Dole Whips outside of Adventureland. Rating: 4.5 Grounds: Don’t feel the need to pay extra for a theme-park view at the Poly, because the tropical grounds spilling forth in every direction are some of the loveliest at WDW. The property itself is quite expansive—and a labyrinthine, especially if you’re wending your way through on the way to the TTC to catch the monorail to Epcot—but that just contributes to the sense that you’re in a lost world of sorts, a lush island unto itself yet only steps away from the MK. Rating: 5 Overall DD Rating: 4.71 The Polynesian has been a Walt Disney World mainstay since 1971 for good reason—it’s a classic concept that’s extremely well-executed and continually benefits from thoughtful updates and refurbishments. The Poly is by far the most fun, immersive, and magically themed of all the Deluxe resorts, while still offering great dining, comfort, and convenience, and because it checks all the boxes with Pacific-island aplomb, it achieves our highest overall ranking of the three Monorail resorts.   Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa: 4.43 out of 5   Pursuitist Number of rooms: 867 Average night's stay (rack rate) in a standard room: $650 (value) to $950 (holiday)  Travel Time to the Magic Kingdom: 7-10 minutes Room size and comfort: At 440 square feet, the GF’s rooms are the largest at WDW, giving you ample space to spread out, kick back, and relax when you’re not hitting it hard at the parks. The rooms are elegantly comfortable and nicely appointed, if a bit unimaginative. Rating: 4.5 Magic: The Grand Floridian’s “magic” element isn’t your classic Disney magic. Instead, it’s more to do with feeling exclusive—part of a fancy club. Maybe it’s the lobby piano player, maybe it’s the pristine white architecture and noble red rooftops, maybe it’s the snappy staff and well-to-do clientele buzzing about, but the Grand Floridian feels different than any other hotel at WDW. In this case, the magic feels a lot like money. Rating: 4.5 Theming: Modeled after San Diego’s landmark Hotel Del Coronado (which may or may not be a cop-out), the Grand Floridian evokes Victorian elegance with its gleaming white façade, soaring red gables, and gingerbread trim. Inside a five-story open-air atrium shines with natural light and chandeliers, and the scene is one of pure luxury. But it’s not what you would call fun or imaginative or whimsical. It’s very adulty, and perhaps less unique than some of the other properties. Rating: 3.5 Amenities: With the only spa in WDW, a wedding pavilion, five gift shops, a salon, exercise facilities, guest laundry facilities, tennis courts, walking trails, and a marina, the Grand Floridian’s amenities live up to its billing as Disney’s flagship resort. Rating: 5 Pools: The Grand Floridian has two pools—the expansive Beach Pool, which is the more active pool complete with rock formation, waterslide, and waterfall, and the Courtyard Pool, which is designated as the resort’s “quiet pool.” In addition, little ones have a blast splashing in the Alice in Wonderland water play area. Overall, the pools provide lots of square footage though the theming isn’t anything to write home about. Rating: 4 Dining: The Grand Floridian features the best collection of restaurants of any WDW property, headlined by the Grand Dame of Disney dining, Victoria & Albert’s, where you can dine in luxurious style on a seven or ten-course chef’s tasting menu. Fan-favorite Narcoossees and the more subdued Citricos offer two more decadent signature-dining options, and 1900 Park Fare is the resort’s centerpiece for character dining. For fine-dining aficionados, the Grand Floridian extends the best mix of food, wine, and service on property. Rating: 5 Grounds: Lush, meticulously manicured, and expansive, the Grand Floridian’s grounds create a picturesque background for your vacation. The resort takes full advantage of its location on Seven Seas Lagoon, affording great views of the Electric Water Pageant and the nightly fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. Rating: 4.5 Overall DD Rating: 4.43 The Grand Floridian scores high on all counts, with the one exception of theming. In short, it’s the flagship for a reason. You’re going to feel like a VIP staying there, and you’re also gong to pay VIP prices to feel that way. If you can score a deal, it’s well worth it to Disney in the lap of luxury.   In conclusionYou can't really go wrong at any of the three Monorail Resorts. We obviously prefer the Polynesian, as it offers the full monty of what we want out of our WDW experience. The Grand Floridian makes us feel monied and fancy, which is its own reward, whereas the Contemporary leaves us a bit limpid and uninspired. The good news is that the three resorts offer three very different looks, feels, and experiences while placing you in prime position to dominate your Disney vacation. And we fully recommend trying all three of them out for yourself and deciding what works best for you.     

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World and don't know where to start? Check out our podcast below, find deals, build your grid and you'll have a finished plan in no time. Check out part 1 of this discussion at  podcast 2.0: how to plan Step 4: Build your grid   PART ONE: Draw columns. Fill in your dates PART TWO: Add in your siestas  PART THREE: Add in Extra Magic Hours   Disney provides them here for you. They list them out 18 months in advance so no worries on whether or not they'll have your EMH's listed for your trip.  DISNEY WORLD EMH CALENDAR PART FOUR: Pick what parks you're going to visit on which days We usually let the EMH's (Extra Magic Hours) determine what parks we're going to on what day. Sometimes we change it up depending on our dining reservations and extra special activities we have planned. Be flexible and know that you're going to have a couple drafts of your grid before it's all said and done.  PART FIVE: Time to start booking dining reservations Dining reservations open and close at the drop of a hat. There are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of people booking at the same time that you are so if you're not sure if you can work a reservation into your grid, go ahead and book it. You can always move things around later.  Disney's dining reservation platform can be found here.  DISNEY DINING RESERVATIONS A note about club level: We've stayed club level a couple times- no on our dime because there isn't that much of a benefit. The club level staff are lovely and do everything they can to accommodate you but they have the exact same access to dining reservations that you do so they can't pull strings to get you into California Grill for fireworks 2 months out.  We recommend keeping a list of your top disney dining reservations handy to help as you're wheeling and dealing in your grid. Check out THE HOT LIST: DISNEY DINING for our fave spots.  THE HOT LIST: DISNEY DINING We noted on the hot list which reservations are the hardest to come by so definitely try to nab those first and be flexible. Be Our Guest is worth it.  PART SIX: Fill in all the non-reservation restaurants you plan on going to   This will come in handy when it's time to create your daily itineraries on touringplans.com. Of course, these can change at any moment but it's good to have an idea of where you're going to eat even at non-reservation destinations in the parks. There are definitely some duds out there and there is nothing worse than a hangry park partner and the only thing you can find is a turkey leg because you were flippant and thought you would just wing it for lunch each day.  We included non-reservation dining on THE HOT LIST: DISNEY DINING as well for you.  THE HOT LIST: DISNEY DINING PART SEVEN: Fill in some extra fun. Use The Unofficial Guide to help you find extras to plug into your grid. Love mini golf? Spas? Clubbing? Shopping? Go ahead and get it booked an into your grid now.     Our favorite extra Disney indulgence is the IllumiNations Cruise. For about $350 your private captain takes you on a little pontoon boat cruise that ends at Epcot's IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show. You get the best view, enjoy comfortable seats and don't have to deal with the mass exodus at the end of the night. Is it worth the expense? Probably not, but it makes for a fantastic evening that we now do every trip to Disney. These can book up fast and it's best to call (GASP) to make your reservation at 407-939-7529. They accept reservations up to 180 days in advance.  YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR GRID! Hard part is over.      Have you built a grid you're particularly proud of? Post it on Instagram and tag us at @d1sneydinks or #disneydinks so we can check it out!  STEP 5: Start building your daily itineraries at touringplans.comWe know it sounds tedious to know exactly where you're going to be on which day of a vacation, but trust us, it's worth it. Spending time on your touring plans helps you and your travel buddy to decide up-front what rides and attractions are top priority so you don't have that dreaded couple-fight while you're at the parks. If only IKEA had a similar app, it could save relationships! And to be honest, our touring plans go out the window after the first couple hours at the parks but they give us a list to work from. While we're in the parks we're also checking our Wait Times for Disney World app, which is surprisingly accurate, to see where we need to make adjustments to our daily plan.  For more DISNEY DINK must-have apps to have on your phones while in the park, check out THE HOT LIST: DISNEY APPS  THE HOT LIST: DISNEY APPS   STEP 6: Book your Fast PassesIf you're staying on-property and we know you are because you have followed our CREDO, you can book these 60 days in advance. We recommend that you don't wait a single day to get those fast passes booked. Seven Dwarf's Mine Train, both Pandora attractions, Soarin' and Toy Story's Midway Mania all get nabbed super-fast and it's because they're all awesome so don't miss out on a fast pass and risk having to wait in line like a rube.  Book your Fast Passes here.  DISNEY'S FAST PASS RESERVATIONS A note about Fast Passes: We know it's a hassle to have to book your rides in advance. It's annoying that the parks are so busy that you can't just show up and ride what you want to ride. It's a drag. But this is part of understanding that Disney Parks are Disney parks. You have to accept them as they are and find ways to hack them. Fast passes is part of the Holy Trinity of crushing every day at Disney and always will be- until they develop a new system. Need a reminder of what the other two parts of the Holy Trinity are? Here's a refresher for you.  THE HOT LIST: THE HOLY TRINITY OF CRUSHING EVERY DAY AT DISNEY NOW GET PLANNING!     

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World and don't know where to start? Check out our podcast below, find deals, build your grid and you'll have a finished plan in no time.  HOW TO PLAN  Scroll down to Step 4 to hear the second half of the planning proccess, Episide 2.1 The DISNEY DINKS grid. Step 1: Pick your datesSo as DINKS, you've got one big advantage over most Disney goers. It's the NK thing. Unburdened by those little bundles of joy, Walt Disney World is your oyster! You can travel, unfettered, literally any time of year! But wait! That, in and of itself, is overwhelming! Don't worry. Let's start with a simple process of elimination to help us hone in on our best travel times.  Rule #1: Avoid the seasons when kid-laden families flock to Disney So, the entirety of Summer is out. Just strike June, July, and August from your list. Now, some people will tell you that late August starts to see a dramatic lessening of crowds, as many schools are back in session and those that aren't are hunkering down and buying Trapper Keepers. True. But have you even been to Central Florida in mid-to-late August? People have been known to completely liquify, their particles suspended limpidly in the wall of air-water that engulfs the entire state. So unless you're one of those rare people who thrives in the thick, wet, oppressive heat, probably skip August as well.  Next up is Spring (March-April), which is also beset with school-related traps. Notably, SPRING BREAK! Spring Breaks up and down the east coast and across the country vary so wildly that pretty much any given week during March and April has the potential of being besieged by families, teens, and/or both. Also, Easter happens somewhere in there, too. Just avoid.  Look at that--we've already crossed 5 whole months off the list!  Rule #2: Avoid the high holidays unless you're super into being at Disney for the high holidays Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's all fall into otherwise good touring months...but they also attract crowds wanting to experience the parks during these times. And for good reason. Seasonal decorations provide a festive atmosphere, and special events and parades and happenings get people in the spirit. But unless it's on your bucket list to pose under the Grand Floridian Christmas Tree or eat turkey at California Grill, it's best to skip these times as well.  So that leaves us with some nicely narrowed down potential travel pockets. All, unsurprisingly, have their own pros and cons Rule #3: Evaluate the feasible months according to your own tastes and preferences. September is great because the crowds are at some of the lowest levels of the year. Everybody is back in school and nobody is pulling the kids out two weeks in for ten days in Orlando. The downside is that September is still hot, and afternoon thunderstorms still roll in with sound and fury signifying your displeasure. So what you gain in crowd levels you pay for in potential discomfort. Your call.  October is more temperate than September (though it still ain't football weather in Florida), but it's also more crowded. And the closer you inch to Halloween, the more crowded things get. The first two weeks of October tend to achieve a nice mix of good, albeit still warm, weather and not-yet-oppressive Halloween crowds. We like this time.  Pre-Thanksgiving November is real nice, both temperature and crowd-wise. Put it on your short list.  Likewise, post-Thansgiving and pre-Christmas December constitutes a great between-holiday sandwich. The weather is generally sunny and perfectly pleasant, the crowds are pretty low, and you get to experience all the festive Christmas decorations. Of course, since so many people travel either for Thanksgiving or Christmas (or both), it can be hard to fit in an entire Disney World Trip between the two. But if you can swing it, you may be having your best holiday season ever.  January after the New Year's rush (which somehow lasts until the middle of the month) can be cold, then there's MLK weekend, and overall you might as well just wait until February.  That's because February offers the lower crowd levels you want along with (sometimes) climbing temperatures. But a word of caution: President's Weekend, which is President's Full-On Week in some places! SO the first two weeks of February are usually better than the last two weeks. The weather can be hit or miss, but is usually ok.  And that finally brings us to May, which is an overlooked and potentially wonderful month to visit. It's like the October of Spring, with Memorial Day taking the place of Halloween. School is still in session, it's the calm before the summer blitzkrieg, the days are halcyon and bright, and you can sneak in a trip without almost anyone even noticing! The only real caution is that May is summer in Florida, so it's going to start getting hot. Not July or August hot, mind you, but they start Spring Training in Florida in February for a reason.  So there you have it--a plethora of options to weigh, and 6 solid months, along with a few other holiday blocks, to avoid like the plague. Once you take your own personal schedules and preferences into account, you should be well on your way to picking the Disney dates perfect for your best trip evah!  Step 2: Book your resortNow, as Disney DINKS, we certainly enjoy the finer things in life. But we’re also not dumb. So the first rule of booking your Deluxe Monorail Resort (or, you know, wherever you decide) is NEVER PAY DISNEY RACK RATES. WDW offers significant seasonal discounts and special offers all year long. For Deluxe Resorts, this means savings between 25%-35% off sticker price, which makes them still a bit spendy, but much more palatable. Disney often excels at subterfuge (don’t get us started on DVC!), and there’s really no point in trying to divine what dates fall under what price classification (Value, Fall, Regular, Summer, Peak, and Holiday), especially because different weeks might meld together two different price categories. It’s all a bit inscrutable. Luckily there are resources out there! Your best friend in finding the latest and greatest deals is Mousesavers.com. Specifically, follow this resort-specific link to see all current and future promotions. Mousesavers also has a handy dandy link where you can see when Disney historically announces their seasonal discounts (it’s generally the season before they will be applied). If you’re an extreme early planner and want to book a November trip in say, February, not to worry. Disney will honor room deals retroactively once they’re announced (though they will ask for their pound of flesh deposit up front). Just be sure to monitor when the deals come out, then call your friendly WDW agent and they’ll apply your discount. Once we get the straight dope from Mousesavers, we mosey on over to the official Disney website and make our bookings right there. You can also call them (407-939-5277) if you enjoy human contact. Now, you can try for some savings gymnastics by seeing if you can combine a Disney seasonal offer with a concurrent discount from a site like Orbitz/Cheap Tickets. If that’s your jam, go for it. We tend to think the 30% off we usually get through Disney is good enough, and then booking right through Disney makes everything easier—because that’s also your home site for dining reservations, Fast Pass Plus, and checking and updating your daily itinerary. Time is money, and this streamlines the booking process for us. If you book through a third-party site, you’re going to have to do a bit more juggling, so decide if the extra legwork is worth it to you to justify whatever (if any) savings you can find. Anyway, now you've got a place to lay your head! What's next?  Step 3: Purchase your park passesYou’re excruciatingly close now to making your Disney vacation oh-so-real. And when it comes to getting your park passes, you only have to answer two questions. 1)       Single-park or Park Hopper? We pose this as a question, but there’s only one answer for the Disney DINK. If you’re committed to adulting Disney with the best of us, you’re already staying at a Deluxe Resort on the Monorail, you’re already rope-dropping every day and taking advantage of all the Extra Magic Hours. You're going to eat high on the hog at Signature Restaurants. So why on God’s green earth would you limit yourself to a single park per day? It’s almost an insult to even pose the question. So just get the Park Hopper for however many days you’ll be touring. The cost is negligible, and most days you’re going to be hitting at least two parks. You can also play fun and nerdy games like seeing how many days you can hit all four parks. Just like second place is the first loser, a single-park pass leaves us feeling sad and forlorn.  2)       Do you purchase from Disney or from a third-party broker? This answer depends on how much you’re willing to pay for convenience. In pretty much every case, you can score a deal on Park Hopper tickets using a third-party site. Our favorite is undercovertourist. They are 100% legit, and they include all tax and shipping in their prices. For a 5-day Park Hopper ticket, the difference between booking straight through Disney and getting your tickets separately from Undercover Tourist is about $90 (or $15/day). So what’s the advantage of booking through Disney? It’s easier and more streamlined. You just add the tickets to your room during the check-out process and you’re done. No fuss, no muss. You don’t have to visit another site, go through a whole other transaction, fill in your contact and payment info, compulsively check the mail and make sure your partner/roommate doesn't throw out the envelope, etc. Also, your tickets are automatically linked to your My Disney Experience (MDX) account if you book through Disney, which is what you want.  On the other hand, in order to get your tickets loaded onto your MagicBand, you have to manually link them on the MDX website once you receive them. And to us, that’s just one more thing that can potentially go wrong. The last thing you want is a fresh new MagicBand that doesn’t recognize your tickets.  So, in true DINK style, we choose convenience over minor savings and get our tickets through the Disney site. You follow your heart and do what’s right for you. It’ll be fine either way. DON'T MISS PART 2 of HOW TO PLAN! Learn all about BUILDING YOUR GRID by clicking below.  Episode 2.1: Building your grid    

THE DISNEY DINKS CREDO To quote the great Yakov Smirnoff, In Soviet Russia, Disney vacation plans you! It’s true. And even more alarmingly, it doesn’t just happen at Gulag Disney. Every year, thousands of hopeful, hard-working, well-intentioned families descend upon Orlando with dreams of magic dancing in the heads. And yet, far too many of those dreams get deferred, not because of any malice or ill-will or incompetence, but because a Disney vacation, perhaps more than any other recreational pursuit outside of an Everest summit, requires a Spartan dedication to planning, forethought, and anticipation. Over the course of many years and many trips, the Disney Dinks have developed a steadfast philosophy and set of best practices that all but ensure you get the most out of every waking Disney minute. The Dink life is about maximizing experience and enjoyment, about squeezing every drop of essence out of the proverbial Disney stone. A Disney vacation shouldn’t be stressful. But it can quickly devolve if you go in willy-nilly, pie-in-the-sky, footloose and fancy free. So in order to circumvent stress and defer disappointment, we present to you our credo—a tried and true list of philosophies, strategies, tactics, and habits of mind to help guide your own Disney planning. Best of luck in your own planning. But if you’re keeping up, already you should know—if you’re relying on luck, you’re already sunk. Without further ado, we present the Disney Dinks Credo for conquering the World. Guiding philosophiesYou’re already investing a lot of money in your experience—so invest the requisite time as well. The hours you invest in planning now will pay great dividends when you arrive at the parks (plus it’s fun to have an excuse to think about Disney!) Don’t expect Disney to change for you. Accept what Disney is, understand how it works, and then figure out how to make it work for you. Know how to let it go. No matter how hard or how well you plan, sometimes unforeseen events intervene. A ride breaks down or shuts down. You’re stuck behind the same family reunion wherever you go. A storm forces you indoors. When something happens beyond your control, just go with it and don’t force something to happen that the universe is clearly telling you won’t happen. Because if you’re following the rest of our credo, you’ll have more than enough time to make up that ride, that experience, that whatever later. And probably multiple times. The Dink perspectiveOur tips and tricks aren’t purely about saving money—they are about getting the most out of your money. That means we’ll advocate paying more for an amazing experience instead of staying under-budget and having an underwhelming vacation. On a related note, time equals money. So we base our decisions not solely on price point, but on convenience, experience, efficiency, and how something fits or doesn’t fit into our schedule. An hour wasted at Disney is far more costly than an hour wasted in regular life. If you want to relax, go to Jamaica. A Disney vacation is a vertical vacation. A vacation where you set a daily alarm. A vacation where the question “What do you want to do now?” should never, ever be uttered—because you already need to know the answer. Thou shalts. . .Thou shalt stay at a Monorail resort. Yes, other resorts have a lot to offer. But remember time equals money? Only the three monorail resorts put you in the sweetspot to make the most of every day. Thou shalt rope-drop every day. Discipline pays dividends. And as an added bonus, it’s far less hot in the mornings. Thou shalt have a car. Relying on buses is a surefire way to waste hours and hours of time. The monorail is the only efficient form of mass transit at Disney. A car is a lifesaver in getting to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and also greatly opens up your dining options. Thou shalt not purchase a Dining Plan. These things are far more trouble than they’re worth, create oodles of undue stress, and violate pretty much every tenet of Dink life. They also don’t help at Signature Dining, which is where you’re going to find us every night. Thou shalt use Touring Plans. We don’t know much about how those magical algorithms work, but we don’t leave our hotel without them loaded onto our phones (and more often than not mostly memorized). Thou shalt become a FastPass Plus Jedi. Learn the system, know the system, use the system. Thou Shalt exploit any and all Extra Magic Hours. We don’t want to hear “but everyone uses these so does it even help?” Of course it helps. And not everyone uses them. And plenty of people don’t even have access to them. Combined with rope drop and Fast Pass, EMH are part of the Holy Trinity of crushing every day at Disney. Self-careTake a siesta every day. Since you’re hitting it hard from rope drop onward, you need to recharge and refresh otherwise you’ll fizzle out mid-afternoon. An hour or 90 minutes back at your hotel (which can be concurrent with lunch) gets you ready for part two of your day, and also gets you out of the parks during the busiest times (11-2). Stay hydrated. Bring your own refillable water bottle (we like the Bobble brand which has its own built-in filter) and follow this rule: When you’re in line, ABD (always be drinking). It quickly becomes a habit and you’ll feel better for it. Protect your feet. We employ the mid-day shoe change every day. Hit it hard in the morning, come back to your resort for siesta, and put on a fresh pair of socks and sneakers for the afternoon. You’ll be amazed the difference this makes. Find time to relax and eat well at dinner. Will you pay more at the Signature Dining Experiences? Of course. But a) not really that much more than at a moderate table service and b) after a long day of killing it, two hours of dim lighting, relative quiet, and fine food and drink in a nice restaurant as you recount the great successes of the day is just what you need. And if you’re worried about your bottom line, we suggest replacing your souvenir/apparel budget with a fine dining budget. It’s a better use of your cheddar. So this may seem like a lot. But hopefully after digesting our credo, you’ll see it all comes back to a few basic principles. And we can assure you: it works. In the years we’ve been putting these philosophies into practice, we’ve absolutely slayed Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal on many occasions. We’ve had the time of our lives, and we share our experiences in hopes that you will, too. Carry on.       PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN OUR CREDO CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE HOT LIST: PRODUCTS THE HOT LIST: PRODUCTS Check out our TOP 5 Disney mistakes here!  Top 5 disney mistakes