Thursday, August 9, 2018

A Guide to Animal Kingdom Table Service Restaurants


Animal Kingdom table service restaurants offer some of the most unique styles of food on the Walt Disney World Resort.

This Guide will give you a quick glimpse at the restaurants.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant


Theme: Nepal
Location: Asia
Food Style: Pan-Asian
Dinner Style: A la Carte
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit

Click here for reservations or to view the menu.

Tiffins

Theme: Travel
Location: Discovery Island
Food Style: African, Asian, South American
Dinner Style: A la Carte
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 2 Table Service Credits

Click here for reservations or to view the menu.

Rainforest Cafe

Theme: Rainforest
Location: Entrance Plaza
Food Style: American
Dinner Style: A la Carte
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit

Click here for reservations or to view the menu.

Tusker House

Theme: African Safari
Location: Africa
Food Style: American and African
Dinner Style: Buffet
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit
Character Meal: Members of the Fab Five (Donald, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy) in Safari Gear

Click here for reservations or to view the menu.

Which is your favorite Animal Kingdom table service restaurant?

Written by Jennie Thomas


Jennie is a Vacationeer with Ear To There Travel who loves Expedition Everest and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

To Request a free, no obligation quote, click here to send her an email.

Monday, August 6, 2018

Road Trip Fun & Games


Summer vacations often mean road trips. Without some planning, road trips can be stressful, but with a little planning, road trips can be the best part of a trip!

I remember when we were younger, my parents took us on a trip to Grandma's house in the pickup truck and we took the highway instead of the interstate.

As we were driving along, the seat belts in the backseat would pull in a click as we went over the bumps. My brother and I were complaining and my parents kept saying "Push it in and pull it out". After we complained about it probably about 30 times, my little brother announced he had a wedgie and my dad, frustrated by our seat belt complaints, grouchily said "Well, push it in and pull it back out!"

We all just stared at him and started laughing. We talk about that to this day, like 20 years later.

So, how can you make road trips fun?

Games and Snacks!

Some of my favorites are...

1. I Spy!
This is a game best played on a highway, not an interstate, where you describe something you see by color or shape and the other people in the car have to guess what it is.

2. Red Car!
In this game, you count red cars. Everyone can count a red car, but if you pass a church, it clears out the count on the side of the car the church was on. So, if you pass a church on the right, everyone on the passenger side loses all of their cars.

3. The License Plate Game
You get a list of states and cross off the ones that you see while you are driving. Highest count wins!

4. Spot the Car
You get a list of car models and you cross off the ones that you see. Highest count wins!

5. I'm Going on a Picnic
In this game, the first person says "I'm Going on a Picnic and I'm bringing a __________ (something that starts with an A)". The second person says "I'm Going on a Picnic and and bringing a (what the first person said for A) and a _____________________ (something that starts with B)." Then, you continue through the alphabet.

When someone forgets the list, they are out. The games ends when you get to Z or when all but one person is out.

And those are my 5 favorite mostly prop-less car games!

Click here for a downloadable printable of The License Plate Game and the Spot the Car Game.


Have fun road tripping!


Need help planning a place to road trip to?

Email me! I am an agent of Ear To There Travel and I love to help people plan their vacations!

Friday, August 3, 2018

A Guide to Magic Kingdom Rides


I know it's not kosher to call the attractions at Walt Disney World "rides", but I couldn't come up with a way to distinguish between the rides and the shows, so I'm calling them rides.

With this series, we will go land by land, and I will describe the seating arrangements, if FastPass+ is available and what kind of ride you can expect.

Adventureland

Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise is an open air boat ride. You are seated around the edge of the boat and and are guided down the river by a Jungle Cruise Skipper.

You do need to step down into the boat, but they are able to help people with mobility issues.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates is a covered boat ride with bench seating. 3 adults can fit, or 2 adults and 2 small children. You may get some splashing.

You will need to step down into the boat, but if you have mobility issues, talk to a cast member.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Frontierland

Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain is a boat ride with bench seating. 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children can fit across teh bench You will probably get wet, but not soaked.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: Yes, 40"

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
BTMR is a mine train style roller coaster with bench seating and a lap bar restraint that covers both people in the seat.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: Yes, 40"

Liberty Square

Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion is a ride that uses an omnimover system. That means that the ride continuously moves during loading. 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children can fit in each buggy. It can be a bit scary to little ones, but if you ask a cast member to skip the stretching room, which is the scariest part of the attraction.

The ride can be paused to transfer from a wheelchair into the ride vehicle.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Fantasyland

it's a small world
small world is a boat ride with bench seating. 2 adults and a small child can fit in each bench. You do need to step down into the boat to ride.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Peter Pan's Flight
Peter Pan's Flight is a continuous moving ride. 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children can fit in each vehicle. The ride can be paused for transfer.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
7DMT is a mine train style roller coaster. 2 people fit in each row and each person has an individual lap bar. This can be uncomfortable for those of us with bigger thighs.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: Yes, 38"

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Under the Sea is a continuous moving ride. 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children can fit in each clamshell. The ride can be paused for transfer.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh is another continuous moving ride. 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children can fit in each honey pot. The ride can be paused for transfer.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No.

Mad Tea Party
Tea Party is a covered twirling ride. 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children can fit in each tea cup.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Barnstormer
Barnstormer is a kiddie coaster. Two people can fit in each row and there is a lap bar for safety.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: Yes, 35"

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Dumbo is a spinner ride. Two people can fit in each Dumbo. There is a seatbelt for each person.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Speedway is a go cart style ride. Kids can drive, see below for the height requirement.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: Yes, 32" to ride, 54" to drive

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Buzz is a ride that spins you around while you play a game where you use your laser cannon to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg's robots.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: No

Space Mountain
Space Mountain is an indoor, dark roller coaster. 3 people fit in each car in single file.

FastPass+: Yes
Height Requirement: Yes, 44"

Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
Peoplemover is a slow, continuous moving ride above Tomorrowland. 4 adults or 2 adults and 4 small children can fit in each car.

FastPass+: No
Height Requirement: No

And that is it...come back to look for information on shows and character meets in Magic Kingdom.

Written by Jennie Thomas

Jennie is a Vacationeer with Ear To There Travel who loves Expedition Everest and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

To Request a free, no obligation quote, click here to send her an email.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

A Guide to Magic Kingdom Table Service Restaurants


This series will give you all the details of Table Service Restaurants in each of the theme parks to make your dining plans easier. A Table Service Restaurant is a restaurant where you are seated and served by waitstaff.

Main Street, USA

Crystal Palace

Theme: Victorian Greenhouse of the 1800s
Location: Just off of Main Street USA
Food Style: American
Dinner Style: Buffet
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit
Character Meal: Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet


The Plaza Restaurant

Theme: 1900s cafe
Location: Main Street USA
Food Style: American
Dinner Style: A la Carte
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit


Tony’s Town Square

Theme: Lady and the Tramp
Location: Main Street USA Town Square
Food Style: American and Italian
Dinner Style: A la Carte
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit

Adventureland

Jungle Navigations Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen
Theme: Jungle Cruise
Location: Adventureland
Food Style: African, Asian, Latin
Dinner Style: A la Carte
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit

Liberty Square

Diamond Horseshoe
Theme: Old West Music Hall
Location: Liberty Square
Food Style: American
Dining Style: Varies
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit
Note: Open Seasonally, Buffet for Dinner, A la Carte for Lunch

Liberty Tree Tavern
Theme: Colonial Style Inn
Location: Liberty Square
Food Style: American
Dining Style: Lunch is served a la carte. Dinner is served Family Style
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service Credit

Fantasyland


Be Our Guest
Theme: Beauty and the Beast, Beast’s Castle
Location: Fantasyland
Food Style: French
Dinner Style: Prix Fixe, 3 Course Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 2 Table Service Credits
Character Meal: At dinner only, Beast is available for a meet and greet.
Note: Table Service for Dinner Only (Quick Service for Breakfast and Lunch)

Cinderella’s Royal Table
Theme: Cinderella
Location: In the Castle
Food Style: American
Dinner Style: A la Carte Menu
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Dining Plan: Yes, 2 Table Service Credits
Character Meal: Typically, you will see Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, and Snow White. Appearances are subject to change.

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland Terrace Café
Theme: Tomorrowland
Location: Just outside of Tomorrowland
Note: This restaurant is open seasonally, operates sometimes as a quick service and sometimes as a buffet, but is most often used for nighttime fireworks dessert parties.

Which is your favorite Magic Kingdom Table Service Restaurant? Share in the comments below!

Written by Jennie Thomas

Jennie is a Vacationeer with Ear To There Travel who loves Expedition Everest and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

To Request a free, no obligation quote, click here to send her an email.