Disney Vacation Club – PixiePlanner

Walt Disney World Mobile Ordering Explained

One of the greatest recent changes to come to the Walt Disney World Resort is the ability to order and pay for your food ahead on the My Disney Experience mobile app. With most Quick Service restaurant locations now participating throughout the resort, you can now spend less time in line ordering and more time making those precious Disney memories! Today I’m going to talk about how you can place your order and the experience we had with mobile ordering on our most recent Walt Disney World trip Walt Disney World trip.

Although we love eating at table service locations throughout the resort, its not always feasible or time effective to eat at these restaurants on a daily basis. Often we enjoy taking food back to our room after a busy day, or eating lunch in the parks and that is where mobile ordering has saved us lots of vacation time indeed! During our stay at the Polynesian Resort, Captain Cooks participated in the service as well as Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and we took advantage of the mobile ordering at these locations every day. On every occasion apart from one, our order was ready within a minimal wait time. On the occasion that it wasn’t, we had to wait just as long as waiting in line to order would, but the restaurant was exceptionally busy and management at the location did apologise for the delay.

To start a mobile order, you first need to ensure that you have downloaded the My Disney Experience app to your mobile device, which can be found in the app store or Google store. Next you can either tap the + icon and select “Order Food”, or by selecting Dining in the drop down menu when using the map of the location you are in. From there, you can select the restaurant and tap on “Order Food”. The next page that opens up will allow you to build your order, listing the food and drinks available at that location. You can also customise certain menu items to your liking. Once you have selected your items, tap the basket icon at the top right of the page which takes you to your order summery. If you have a card linked to your My Disney Experience account it will show up here as a payment method, or you can add a new card as payment. Currently, you can only pay for your order using a credit card, debit card or Disney Dining Plan.

Once you arrive at the restaurant, tap on “I’m Here, Prepare My Order”. A notification will then be sent to the app when your food is ready to collect from the window and enjoy!

All this talk of Disney food is making me hungry for sure!

Alannah x

A Magical Surprise Stay At Disney’s Polynesian Resort

The biggest surprise of our last Walt Disney World trip was of course Quinn finding out about our stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Today I’m going to talk about how we managed to keep it a surprise and what magical little treat was waiting for us at Orlando International Airport.

Our Little Peter Pan’s favourite resort is the Polynesian and last time we stayed there, he got sick and we spent two days in our hotel room. Not the best memory to have of your favourite place, so Kevin and I really wanted to make it up to him. We told him that we were going to stay at Pop Century, not a total lie as we were for the last two nights until we swapped it out for Grand Destino at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

As we were staying on the Monorail loop for most of our trip, we didn’t hire a car and booked Disney’s Magical Express to take us to the Polynesian. Our plan was to check in at the Magical Express desk and when we got in line, point out to Quinn that our bus wasn’t going to Pop Century but Polynesian instead!

Upon arrival at Orlando International Airport, we collected our luggage (after an hour delay due to lightening!) and made our way down to ground transportation. As we approached the desk Quinn called out to Boomer, a Minnie Van cast member who had driven us around Walt Disney World! He came over and gave us the best news, he was driving us straight to the Polynesian in his Minnie Van! We were all very surprised and extremely grateful! The Minnie Van Service Airport Shuttle picks up or drops off between Orlando International Airport and any Walt Disney World Resort hotel.

This was our first experience in a Minnie Van outwith Walt Disney World and it was magical! Boomer helped us with our bags, made us feel comfortable and best of all, was in on the surprise for Quinn! Inside the Minnie Van, Boomer put on the TV which was showing movie shorts for Quinn to watch. There was a selection of super cute Disney World books for us to read including It’s a Small World and Haunted Mansion. Snacks and drinks were plentiful and included a selection of coke products, Smart Water and Ghiradelli chocolates and candy. Boomer spoke about the upcoming attractions and what is new to the Walt Disney World Resort since our trip in January. Quinn’s little face was a picture when we pulled into the Polynesian and he discovered we were staying there! You can watch his reaction here and subscribe to my Youtube channel Pixie Planner to watch our current vlog series from the trip. A new video is uploaded each Sunday at 7pm UK time. We can’t thank Disney enough for gifting us this extra pixie dust to our trip!

In true Polynesian style we were greeted with some leis and stopped by the front desk to collect our Annual Pass Magicbands that had been delivered. Our room was located in the Pago Pago building which we love as its next to the pathway to the Transport and Ticket Centre making it easy to get back from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The new East Pool is right around the corner with the pool bar and soda machines which we use a lot. The DVC studio rooms in Polynesian are our favourite as a family as there is so much space and make us feel so comfortable. Quinn visited the Lava Pool and Kiki Tiki’s Splash Play, we ate dinner in Ohana’s and brought back a Captain Cook’s to our room each night. We had the most wonderful four night stay!

Is Polynesian your favourite Walt Disney World Resort hotel? I would love to hear all about your Disney Resort adventures!

Some items in this post are gifted, as stated. As always all views and experiences are my own.

Alannah x

A Room With The Most Magical View At Bay Lake Tower

Now that my Little Peter Pan is back off to school, I have a little more time to write about our wonderful experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort last month. Today I’m going to talk about our seven night stay in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which included a Lake View and a Theme Park View Studio.

Bay Lake Tower is fastly becoming our little family’s favourite Disney Vacation Club Resort to stay at each trip and although it’s not one of our home resorts, I really hope it will become one in the future! Our stays are becoming much more frequent and we love it’s close proximity to Magic Kingdom and the ease of walking to and fro there. The views are second to none, if like me you could admire Cinderella Castle all day and take in the bustle of Seven Seas Lagoon. As if being located right next to your favourite theme park isn’t enough, its also the resort that Quinn’s favourite, the Monorail passes through and there’s also plenty of entertainment on offer.

On this trip, Quinn enjoyed taking a lot more time than usual to unwind in the Community Hall drawing, playing with the toys available and watching a Disney movie. We also took the time to experience table tennis, mini golf and some courtyard games out by the pool. Kevin and Quinn hired a Sea Raycer to explore Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon for an hour while I watched from the balcony which was wonderful. A little down time for me while the boys were having fun! We visited our favourite, Top of The World Lounge to watch Happily Ever After which was as magical as ever and as it was so hot, Quinn cooled down in the pool almost everyday.

For the first four nights we stayed in a Lake View Studio which was located on the eleventh floor of the inner rim. We requested a high floor and fell in love with our view of the pool, Bay Lake and the Orlando Skyline which lit up beautifully at night. The best part about our entire stay this trip was of course the Theme Park View Studio that we moved to from our fifth night onwards. Of course I cried as it was another Disney dream of mine to stay in a room with such a magical view!

Our room was located on the seventh floor, giving us views across Magic Kingdom, Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand Floridian and Contemporary Resorts. Quinn spent our entire stay waving to the Monorail which was magic in itself! As well as taking in the sights of Magic Kingdom, we could also hear the sounds coming from Main Street, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire and Move it! Shake it! MousekeDance it! Watching Happily Ever After from a different perspective on our balcony is an experience I will never forget and the best part of course was being able to tuck Quinn into bed a few minutes later!

Do you have a favourite resort? I would love to hear all about it!

Alannah x

Five Non Character Restaurants You Should Visit At The Walt Disney World Resort

A few weeks ago I shared our little family’s top five character dining experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort and today I am going to talk about our favourite non character dining locations. As much as we love character dining, there are so many fantastic food options across the resort and we definitely like to eat! So let’s not waste any time and get straight to my top five, in no particular order again as I couldn’t possibly choose!

Ohana Dinner at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Ohana’s has been and probably always will be one of our most favourite places to eat as a family. The restaurant that of course means “family” in Hawaiian culture is filled with the most delicious Polynesian offerings served family style to your table. The warmed pineapple coconut bread is fantastic and sets the scene for the delicious offerings to follow. Starters include mixed green salad, honey glazed chicken wings and pork dumplings. Main course offerings of shrimp, chicken and steak arrive at your table on skewer from the fire pit, accompanied by stir fried vegetables and my absolute favourite, noodles in a pineapple and teriyaki sauce. Dessert is arguably the most popular in the whole of Walt Disney World, banana bread pudding served with warm caramel sauce. The ambiance provided is perfect to unwind in after a busy day at the parks and the light festivities include live entertainment, storytelling and games for children to participate in. We usually visit Ohana once per trip, quite often returning for a second visit due to its superior quality. Ohana also offers a character breakfast which is also served family style and you are joined by Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. The current price for dinner is $46 plus tax and gratuity and $26 for children plus tax and gratuity, or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Plaza Restaurant Lunch or Dinner at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

The Plaza is possibly one of the most underrated full service restaurants located within the Magic Kingdom park. It has been a reoccurring tradition for us to eat lunch here on the first day of each trip, then periodically throughout our stays. The restaurant its self is quite small and the menu is perfect park food mainly limited to soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches, but its all so that we can leave room for the most delicious desserts! Who could say no to bottomless milkshakes and the irresistible ice cream flavours served directly from the Plaza ice-cream store next door? If you are lucky you may run in to the Citizens of Main Street who often stop by at a lunch time with some magic! The Plaza has recently started to serve breakfast that we have yet to try. The current price for lunch or dinner ranges from $15 to $35 plus tax and gratuity, or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Lunch or Dinner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This unique restaurant based on a 1950’s drive-in movie theater sure takes fun to a whole different level! At Sci-Fi you can dine from the comfort of your vintage car while enjoying movie clips on the big screen. This is one of my Little Peter Pan‘s favourites due to the setting and the ambience of the restaurant. Sci-fi is known for its delightful milkshakes, Oreo being my absolute favourite! Also on the menu are burgers, sandwiches, pasta, ribs and salads. When we ate here on our January trip, Kevin ordered a salad that was literally the size of him! He said its was absolutely delicious but be warned, the portion sizes here are on the larger side! Sci-Fi is very popular, so ensure you create a reservation well in advance to avoid disappointment. The current price for lunch or dinner ranges from $15 to $35 plus tax and gratuity, or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Boma Flavors of Africa Breakfast at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

Situated in the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma is a buffet style restaurant serving possibly the best breakfast in the whole of Walt Disney World. It’s diverse menu offers a wide variety of African and American food and one of the best juices on property, Jungle juice! The food is freshly prepared behind the buffet and immedietly served and Omelettes can be made order. Look our for the Simba waffles as well as the customary Mickey ones, Quinn loves those! The restaurant theme is that of an African marketplace and is surrounded by beautiful woodwork, animal carvings and water features. Boma also offers a Dinner buffet which is just as unique and delicious. The current price for breakfast is $25 plus tax and gratuity and $14 for children plus tax and gratuity, or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria Lunch or Dinner at Disney’s Epcot

If like us you love Italian food and pizzas the size of the table you are sitting at, then look no further than Via Napoli. Without a doubt, the best pizza in the whole of Walt Disney World can be found right here. The large restaurant includes an open air cooking area and three wood burning ovens that Quinn used to be petrified of as a baby! Aside from the fantastic pizza with the best tasting dough ever, Via Napoli also offers a variety of soups, salads, pasta, chicken and steak. The current price for lunch or dinner ranges from $15 to $35 plus tax and gratuity, or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

I can’t wait to be back immersed back in the magic of Walt Disney World in a few short weeks, eating our favourite foods! Where are your go to restaurants located?

Alannah x

Creating Our Walt Disney World Fastpass+ Selections

This coming Tuesday we can make our Walt Disney World Fastpass+ selections for our upcoming trip and I am so excited about it! As we are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, Caribbean Beach Resort this trip, we can book Fastpasses for our entire fourteen night stay sixty days in advance.

For those of you that aren’t familiar, Walt Disney World’s Fastpass+ reservation system allows you to create a time to and turn up to a select attraction of your choice with little or no wait. The specified time will be within an hour window, so if you book Splash Mountain at 10am for example, you will have until 11am to ride or the Fastpass will then expire. When you arrive at your selected attraction, ensure that you enter via the Fastpass+ line, tapping your Magicband or park ticket (Mickey to Mickey!) on the reader at the FP+ Return Entrance and enjoy the ride or show! Three selections can be made per day for a park of your choice and once the three pre selected Fastpasses have been used, additional reservations can then be made one at a time from a kiosk located within the park or by using your mobile device. Fastpass+ selections can be made through the My Disney Experience App or on Walt Disney World’s website. Selections can currently be made sixty days prior to your check-in date with a resort hotel reservation or thirty days in advance with valid theme park admission. If you are visiting from the UK, bear in mind that the selections will only become available from 7AM US Eastern Time on the sixty or thirty day mark.

If you like to plan every detail of your Disney trip like I do, then I would highly recommend booking your selections as early as you can. They can be altered at any time if your plans change, or you snag that last minute dining reservation, so I feel like its always better to have them as a base for your day. If you are a frequent Walt Disney World visitor, like us you may already have your favourite rides that you book each trip or you may be looking to pick up one of the sought after attractions currently Slinky Dog Dash, Flight of Passage or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. My advice to you would be to prioritise the ones most important to you and your party, book those first then go back to fill in your vacant days to avoid disappointment. Although it appears obvious to book only the big ticket rides, sometimes all attractions can have a long wait time depending on crowds, so its very important to book what you would like to ride and not just what you feel is best to. I wouldn’t want you missing out!

This trip we are very much looking forward to Slinky Dog Dash. We were lucky enough to have two Fastpaseses for it back in January, but we would love to ride it when its dark! The park we spend the most time in is Magic Kingdom and our trips are usually filled with lots of Quinn’s favourite Peter Pans’s Flight and our family favourites Space and Thunder Mountain.

What’s your go to attraction or favourite ride? Leave me yours in the comments below!

Alannah x

Top Five Character Dining Experiences At The Walt Disney World Resort

With our October Walt Disney World trip fast approaching and our advanced dining reservations made, I thought I would share my top five character dining experiences. Our little family love this stage of our countdown as it means we get to re visit our favourite dining spots and try out some new ones. Although I have been visiting Disney World for most of my life, there are still many dining experiences and restaurants we as a family have yet to encounter. So here are my top five, in no particular order of course as I couldn’t possibly choose!

Bon Voyage Breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno, Disney’s Boardwalk

Situated on Disney’s Boardwalk, Trattoria al Forno is such a unique character experience filled with wonderful food and the most amazing characters. Where else can you find two of the most adorable Disney couples, Ariel and Eric and Rapunzel and Flynn together at one location? Breakfast is chosen from a selection of entrees and also includes a selection of fresh fruit and pastries. The Tangled and Little Mermaid themed pastries come served in a frying pan and are are the highlight of the meal for me! I always go for Tower of Pancakes as my entree, so yummy! I love the more formal feel at Bon Voyage and its the perfect location to Disney Bound to mark the occasion! The current price of the character dining is $59.99 per person plus tax and gratuity and $35 for children plus tax and gratuity or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian and Spa

Breakfast or dinner at 1900 Park Fare is always filled with plenty food and entertainment with the characters that attend and isn’t that what we look for at Disney? I always recommend the dinner and breakfast buffet here as in my opinion, it serves the best all round food. The choices cater for everyone and my favourite macaroni and cheese on property is served here during dinner! During breakfast you are joined by Alice and Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. Each character visits your table as you dine and each day, one of the characters meet in the foyer for additional photo opportunities with a Disney Photopass Photographer. At dinner you have the pleasure of being joined by Cinderella and Prince Charming, Drizzela and Anastasia Tremaine along with Lady Tremaine. After eating, I would highly advise checking out the wonderful resort that is Grand Floridian and all it has to offer. The current price of the breakfast is $35 per person plus tax and gratuity and $20 for children plus tax and gratuity or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan and for dinner, $50 per person plus tax and gratuity and $27 for children plus tax and gratuity or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Storybook Dining At Artist Point With Snow White, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

I wont go in to too much detail about this restaurant as I wrote a whole post about our wonderful experience which you can read here. All I will say is that Storybook Dining is a whole other experience that you really need to try out for yourself if you haven’t already. You wont be disappointed!

Be Our Guest Restaurant At Magic Kingdom

After all these years, Be Our Guest is still one of the most sought after reservations on Walt Disney World property. With breakfast and lunch also available at the restaurant, please note that Beast only meets guests during dinner. Be Our Guest has to be the prettiest and most spectacular restaurant ever, it truly is like walking into a fairytale! During dinner you are seated in either of the three dining rooms, the Ballroom, the West Wing or the Castle Gallery. No mater where you are seated, you are invited to explore the restaurant after your delicious prix fixe three course dinner. The highlight of the meal is meeting Beast in his study and of course the Grey Stuff, have you tried it? It’s delicious! The current price of the character dining is $60 per person plus tax and gratuity and $36 for children plus tax and gratuity or two table services for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Minnie’s Seasonal Dining At Hollywood and Vine, Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If it’s character meets you are looking for, then Hollywood and Vine is the restaurant for you! Available for both lunch and dinner buffet, the theme changes with each season so expect to see Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy in their precious outfits from the Silver Screen right through to Halloween and Holiday themes. Upon arrival, one of the characters will greet you on entering for a photo opportunity with a Disney Photopass Photographer, then the others will visit your table as you dine. The food here is probably my least favourite from my top five, but the desserts are delicious and the character interaction for my Little Peter Pan more than makes up for that. The current price of the character dining is $60 per person plus tax and gratuity and $36 for children plus tax and gratuity or one table service for those using the Disney Dining Plan.

Please note that all character experiences are subject to change and reservations are highly recommended. Also take in to consideration that valid theme park admission will be required for all in park dining.

Did I mention any of your favourite’s?

Alannah x

A Magical Evening Aboard The Pirates And Pals Fireworks Voyage

One of my Little Peter Pan’s favourite special events at the Walt Disney World Resort is the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage. It’s hard to believe that the cruise was one of the first special events we ever brought Quinn to back in 2013 and he loves it just as much as he did back when he was two! Today I’m going to talk about our most recent Voyage during our trip in January where Quinn, Kevin and I were lucky enough to be invited along to by a friend.

The cruise sets sail nightly from the Contemporary Resort and provides a fantastic entertainment including a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from Seven Seas Lagoon and Quinn’s favourite part, the characters! We were staying at Bay Lake Tower, so with a short ten minute walk and we were at the check in desk on the second floor. We were met by a Cast Member who gave us our pirate bandanas and assigned us a row number on Hook’s boat for the evening. Depending on demand Hook and Smee each have a boat, but this evening there was just the one. We went on a little scavenger hunt around the third floor of the Contemporary to which Quinn received some pirate treasure upon completion which was right up his street! We had a little time to spare, so we found the colouring station that had been set up and Quinn happily coloured until the doors to the opened.

Pirate Patch welcomed us in and announced that some special guests would be joining us, Captain Hook and Smee. Quinn ran over and immediately started interacting with Hook! I love how much he adores meeting with the characters at Walt Disney World and Hook and Smee are certainly two of his favourite characters. A Disney Photopass Photographer was present and took lots of fun shots for us which was wonderful. After Little Peter had battled the pirates, it was time to grab a snack. Available on the evening were chips and salsa, fruit, pretzels, cotton candy, cookies, mini cakes and a selection of ice cream bars. Drinks included water, coffee, lemonade and pirate punch. There was a large treasure chest filled with chocolate coins and Quinn had the time of his life playing along with Captain Hook and Smee as they hid and stole one another’s coins! The atmosphere was very relaxed and the characters went around dancing with the children to the pirate music playing in the background.

Pirate Patch gave a five minute reminder to anyone that needed to use the restroom before boarding the boat, as important to note there are no bathrooms on board! Quinn was announced as Flag Bearer and First Mate to our surprise! We have been on the Pirates and Pals Voyage many times before and he has never had this opportunity, so to say he was delighted was un understatement! We headed to the boat dock and Quinn walked with Captain Hook bearing his flag, if only Peter Pan could have saw him! Hook and Smee waved us goodbye as we headed out to Seven Seas Lagoon. As we sailed around the resorts, Pirate Patch lead the singing and cracked some funny (or terrible) jokes.

It was then time for the breathtaking view of Happily Ever After fireworks. It truly is a wonderful experience and brings me to tears each time. Walt Disney World means so much to our family and knowing we had to say goodbye the next day made it a very emotional evening. As the boat headed back to the Contemporary, Captain Patch hosted a quiz with a treasure chest filled with prizes which he handed to all the children on board. There was time for just one more treat but I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise as to what or who it was!

Pirates and Pals Voyage is currently $75 plus tax per adult and $45 plus tax for kids aged 3-9 but prices are subject to change. It really is a night of swashbuckling fun and we cant wait to join the adventure again soon!

Alannah x

Christmas Eve Magic At The Disney Vacation Club Holiday Dinner 2018

On Christmas Eve we were lucky enough to attend the Disney Vacation Club Holiday Dinner in The Fasntasia Ballroom at Disneys Contemporary Resort. We had high expectations for the evening having attended the event the previous year and thoroughly enjoyed all it had to offer.

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A post shared by ✨Alannah & her Little Peter✨ (@littlepeterpan_)

Aside from the wonderful food, the main reason we attend DVC events is for our love of the unique character offerings available. This event was a little on the pricey side at almost $80 plus tax and gratuity per adult and $40 plus tax and gratuity for children, but it was our little family’s Christmas treat and seeing Quinn’s eyes light up whilst interacting with the characters made it all worthwhile.

As we entered the ballroom, the Voices of Liberty were performing holiday songs and it felt very festive and magical. Meeting Mickey and Minnie in their festive outfits by the fireplace was our first stop, followed by dinner at our appointed table. The tables were set beautifully with the floral centrepiece designed to take home with you that evening. The food was served buffet style and dedicated servers visited each table taking drink orders. The theming of the food for the event was “Holiday dishes from around the world” with traditional food such as pot roast, chicken and vegetables on offer. There was a separate food section available for children which included chicken nuggets and Mickey-Roni and cheese. The desserts were a highlight for me, particularly the cheesecake which was to die for! After dinner there was a hot chocolate and warm apple cider station you could visit and add whipped cream, marshmallows and even candy canes!

To our surprise, Pluto and Goofy arrived wearing their adorable holiday outfits from Hong Kong Disneyland. My Little Peter Pan couldn’t wait to fly over and give them both the biggest hug. They played and threw snowballs at each other and it was the cutest thing! As an added surprise, Donald and Daisy then arrived also in their outfits from Hong Kong Disneyland. Donald gave Quinn the biggest hug and they flew together before posing for a picture which was adorable!

We have two upcoming Disney Vacation Club events to look forward to this year during our trips, Moonlight Magic at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon. I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Alannah x

Starting the New Year Off With Magic At Bay Lake Tower

As sad as we were to leave Animal Kingdom Lodge on January 1st, we were very excited to continue our stay at another of our favourite resorts, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Bay Lake Tower isn’t one of our home resorts, but we have made so many magical memories here it will always feel like home to us. With it being a short walk away from the Magic Kingdom we were ready to spend as much time in our favourite park as we possibly could. Of course my Little Peter couldn’t wait to adventure with Peter Pan!

This was our third stay at the resort and our first time staying in a room in the inner circle. Im not going to lie, it was a little disappointing at first after previously staying in rooms with the most incredible views over the resort, the Monorail and Magic Kingdom. But after waking up on our first morning and watching the incredible sunrise over Bay Lake, I realised how lucky we were to be experiencing another part of this wonderful resort. The room layout in Bay Lake Tower is probably one of my favourites, particularly with the kitchen in the studios. It provides lots of storage and the perfect little area to do your hair and make up in the morning!

Quinn couldn’t wait to channel his inner Prince Charming and visit the Cinderella Gingerbread Display on its last day of the season. I much prefer the Cinderella theme with the Castle in comparison to last years Frozen theme and it smelt incredible! The Cast Member who came over to talk with Quinn told us that none of the gingerbread goes to waste. I love the minimalistic approach to the holiday decorations at The Contemporary Resort. The oversized wreaths are gorgeous and of course as is the impressive outdoor tree.

One of our favourite things to do at Bay Lake Tower is to visit Top of The World Lounge for dinner, drinks and to view the Fireworks from the rooftop. Its the perfect place to relax, unwind and chat about the days adventures. The light menu includes flatbreads, nachos, pulled pork sliders and the most impressive seven layer cake. I Love a glass of wine or Prosecco, while Kevin likes to sample the specialty cocktails and Quinn the non-alcoholic cocktails. The view of Happily Ever After is incredible and is always a tear jerker for me! The best part is then being able to carry a usually sleeping Quinn from the lift back down to our room.

We have two more Walt Disney World stays to look forward to this year and I cant wait to see whats adventures are in store at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Village.

Alannah x

Our Magical Christmas at Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney depression has hit hard since our return from the Walt Disney World Resort two weeks ago, so I thought I would share the first part of our wonderful three week stay. We arrived December 23rd and stayed during Christmas, New Year and into January. It truly felt like we were there a lifetime during most magical holiday season but never wanted it to end!

As we arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge to check in, I cried with happiness at returning to the resort so close to our little family’s heart. The tree looked even prettier than I had remembered from last year and with a choir performing, the Jambo House Lobby fell still and was pure magical. Quinn turned to me with the biggest smile and suddenly all that mattered was that he was back in his happy place and I couldn’t wait to see what adventures lay in store for both him and us.

Much to my Little Peter Pan’s delight, our room was in the perfect location overlooking the Uzima Springs Pool in the Giraffe Trail. The weather was beyond lovely during our stay, so luckily for Quinn he got to explore the pool quite a few times. Watching the sunrise and set is one of my favourite things to see at each Disney resort and the view from this room did not disappoint. I love the layout of the DVC rooms at Animal Kingdom Villas and as I’ve said before, the only thing missing for me is the pull down bed that provides just that little bit of extra space.

We weren’t on any Disney Dining Plan this trip, but we couldn’t resist getting our hands on the Christmas themed resort refillable mugs which we use quite frequently during our Walt Disney World stays. As we were out at the parks for the most part of the day, we enjoyed ordering dinner from The Mara and bringing it back up to our room most evenings. We ate breakfast at Boma – Flavors of Africa which all three of us love for the great selection of foods available. As its such a large restaurant, last minute breakfast reservations can often be picked up at Boma from the My Disney Experience app.

Santa paid a visit during our stay of course and left some gifts for Quinn. The smile on his face says it all! On New Years Eve we arrived back to the lobby just in time for the countdown to midnight. It was such a wonderful experience for us to ring in the New Year at a different home resort, as last year we spent it over at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. We said our heartfelt goodbyes the next morning as we continued our wonderful travels on to Bay Lake Tower at Disneys Contemporary Resort , but we will soon return in October for another magical stay.

Alannah x