Animal Kingdom Lodge

Hello, and happy July, my friends! I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe Independence Day, and that the kids are getting excited to return to school in the coming weeks.

Speaking of school- I know that for some of you, pulling your children out of school is not an option for your Walt Disney World vacation. Honestly, my parents never pulled us out of school to go on trips. However, if that is at all a possibility… you are going to see much more reasonable prices, and typically see lower crowds than when school is out. In February, we were able to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, a deluxe resort, for just $57 more TOTAL than I was originally paying to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, a moderate resort, for 5 nights. When school is in session, the difference in price is going to be MUCH greater.

(The mat welcoming us into Animal Kingdom Lodge)

(The majestic AKL lobby)

We ADORED Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL). This was a bucket-list resort for me, and it was so much fun to get to check it off the list! I had always told myself that whenever it was that I stayed at AKL, I was going to spring for a savanna-view room. Well… the price difference was pretty significant between a standard view and a savanna view, and so we did the standard view. Sure, in a perfect world, it would have been lovely to wake up and go out on the balcony and see the animals. I will mention that there are some standard view rooms that have a partial savanna view, and in fact, we were originally given one of these rooms. However, when we arrived (arrive early in the day for your best chance of a switch), I asked if the room we were assigned to had a bunk bed, and it did not. So we asked (never a guarantee) to be switched to a room with a bunk bed- and it was worth it for my son. He LOVED the bunk bed so much. Six months later, he is STILL talking about the bunk bed at AKL.

(My son adored playing up on the top bunk!)

Our room was directly off the main lobby, which was amazingly convenient. AKL is a BIG resort, and sometimes there can be QUITE a trek to get to the lobby from your room. Our view from the balcony was the front of the resort, which was absolutely fine. We saw animals from all of the lookout points at the resort.

(The view from our standard view room)

(One of the many look-out points that I enjoyed- on this evening, I could both hear the music from the nighttime water show Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom, and see fireworks from Disney's Hollywood Studios)

This brings me to our favorite things about this resort. Obviously, the animals were our number one favorite thing- they are what make this resort so unique, and so popular. It was such a treat to watch the giraffes eat their lunch just minutes before we enjoyed our own lunch. One night I went out and viewed the animals at night with night-vision goggles, which they had to use, free-of-charge, every evening during our stay. Jambo House, where we stayed, had slightly different animals than Kidani Village, the Disney Vacation Club building of AKL, so we were able to check out different animals the day we went over to Kidani to use the pool. 

(My husband and son watching the giraffe eat lunch before we enjoyed our own lunch on arrival day)

(What a gorgeous creature!)

(Pink flamingos near the pool)

Some of our other AKL favorites:

-The Mara, the quick-service location, had some really great choices! Everything we’ve had from here has been excellent. I want to also point out that when we visited in November with my parents (we were staying elsewhere but came for a quick dinner at The Mara), they split a bottle of African red wine and HIGHLY recommended it! They said the quality of wine was excellent, especially considering what they paid for the bottle.

(Zebra Domes are a Disney fan favorite- you can find these in the refrigerator at The Mara)

(The bottle of wine my parents really enjoyed at The Mara)

(One of my favorite Disney lunches was this amazing fried chicken sandwich from The Mara)

-The pools at both Jambo House and Kidani Village were both so much fun! My 4-year old son, who LOVES water slides, enjoyed both the water slide at Jambo House and Kidani Village very much. Kidani had a very small toddler slide as well as a large water slide. Jambo had one decently-sized slide. Both were very close to the savanna, so while we dried off we were able to enjoy animal-viewing.

(Enjoying the pool at Jambo House on arrival day)

(What a pretty sight! One of the most uniquely-themed Disney resorts for sure!)

(Uwanja Camp water play area for kids at Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village)

-The cast members, some of who are native to the country of Africa, were all outstanding. We really enjoyed all of our interactions with everyone. One morning, my son had woken up on the wrong side of the bed, and was just not happy as he and I made our way to The Mara to pick up breakfast to enjoy back in our room. The cast member working at the register noticed and told him that he could pick anything out, free-of-charge, to take back to the room with him. The Disney cast members really try hard to bring a smile to EVERYONE in the family!

(Being pregnant on this trip, I could not enjoy an alcoholic beverage poolside with my husband. The amazing cast member at the Uzima Springs Pool Bar made me a delicious non-alcoholic treat to enjoy, and told me that if I did not love it, she would keep making me something different until she did find something that I loved!)

The only downside to staying at AKL, in my opinion, is the location. It did take some time to get over to the Magic Kingdom, even on the days we took a Minnie Van (which you can read about here). If you plan on spending a lot of time at the resort (which you could absolutely do, there are so many activities here!), then this wouldn’t be much of an issue. But if you are using the resort for more of a ‘it’s just a place to shower and lie our heads at night’, then this may not be the resort for you.

We did enjoy breakfast at Boma one morning, the all-you-care-to-eat buffet at AKL. There is also a dinner buffet that my husband personally doesn’t care for, but that is a fan favorite of others. I hear so many great things about Jiko as well, the Signature dining location at AKL. Over at Kidani Village, on my radar to try on a future visit is Sanaa, which offers African favorites as well as beautiful views of the savannah.

(Enjoying breakfast at Boma one morning)

One more thing that I’d like to mention is that there are a few different restaurant tours offered at AKL (along with many, many other activities offered). I had great intentions of doing one of these free tours, and I just ran out of time. But I would HIGHLY suggest making some time to enjoy a restaurant tour during your stay!

(One of my favorite activities at AKL was using the night-vision goggles, offered for free every night on the savanna!)

(Of course there is a walking trail between the two AKL buildings, but we preferred the complimentary air-conditioned shuttle which transports guests all day long between Kidani Village and Jambo House)

I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about one of Disney’s best-themed resorts. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at dana_w@wishingonastartravel.com.

Thank you and Happy Travels!

Disney Travel Agents

Happy summer everybody!

I hope you are doing well. I have been enjoying time with my family, as I’ve been on maternity leave following the birth of my son in April. We’ve been having a lot of fun planning our next few Walt Disney World vacations and searching for which Disney Cruise we’d like to do when our infant son gets just a bit bigger.

(We are dreaming up where our next Disney Cruise Line vacation will take our family of four!)

(Our son keeps asking us 'When are we taking our next Disney Cruise?')

This month, I would like to cover my thoughts on why it is beneficial to use a travel agent when planning your Disney vacations. In the past I have used AAA to book Walt Disney World vacations, and a travel agent friend to book our most recent Disney Cruise Line vacation.

First, let me mention that the great thing about using a travel agent who specializes in Disney is that they typically are experts on the subject. Before an agent sells Disney vacations, they must take courses from the College of Disney Knowledge and pass a test on all things Disney. Most independent travel agents also work for a larger business, which provides additional resources to you and your agent if need be.

(Most Travel Agents specializing in Disney Destinations spend a lot of their time doing 'Disney research' to be able to best help their clients!)

The best news of all- your favorite Disney blogger has become a travel agent! If it is Walt Disney World you are looking to visit, then I am your gal. I have been to Walt Disney World many, many times- I have been to every Disney resort multiple times, I am familiar with every restaurant on property (there are well over 100!), I have been on nearly every attraction and seen nearly every show on property, and there aren’t many questions that stump me. I have also visited with just my husband as a young couple, and as a group of multiple families with children of varying ages. I’ve done Disney in so many different ways, and I can definitely recommend the best options for your family or group!

(Have a 4-year-old boy? You won't want to miss Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, one of my son's favorite rides at Walt Disney World!)

If it is Disney Cruise Line that you are looking for, I would love to help! I sailed on a 7-day cruise with a Star Wars Day at Sea last February with my family, and this trip was unbelievable. We enjoyed impeccable service, an exquisite atmosphere, fun activities galore, and of course- Disney Magic. There are so many memories that stand out from this trip, but one of my favorites is leaving for dinner one night, and our room host Filip tells us that he will have a surprise waiting for us when we return to our room that evening. When we returned later that night, we saw that Filip had placed Cars bedding on my son’s bed! Camden had brought his Lightning McQueen suitcase with him on the trip, which Filip had undoubtedly seen, and decided to make a little magic for our son, which he LOVED.

(Everyone we've ever met on the Disney Cruise Line has gone above and beyond to give us a truly magical experience!)

Many travel agents, such as myself, will get up at 5:45 in the morning to secure your dining reservations and Fast Passes, so that you do not have to worry about doing this (yes, EVEN the morning after the 4^th of July, which I am doing for a client next week!). I take a LOT of pride in my small business, and I truly want each and every client of mine to love Disney as much as I do. If a client asks for a specific document- such as a client who recently asked me for a list of the best Disney snacks to use her Disney Dining Plan snack credits on- I get right to work on making a detailed list to send out. 

(A BEAUTIFUL- and delicious- cupcake I enjoyed at the Grand Floridian!)

(One of my favorite Disney snacks- a Magic Cookie Bar!)

I do it all- I will spend hours on the phone, as I did earlier this week, calling Disney to apply new promotions which are released to try and save my clients money. I am available during your vacation via telephone or text if you think of any questions- even ones just as simple as ‘I’m eating dinner at Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge, what is the fastest way to get back to the Grand Floridian?’ No question is too big or too small. I also am happy to work with any budget- from $2,000 (or less!) to $20,000, I can help you create the perfect trip for your family.

(Say you are here, and are wanting to get back to your resort, the Grand Floridian. Just call or text me and I'll get you there!)

Finally, before you head out on your trip, I will send you your custom itinerary so that you do not miss a thing! Your itinerary will include your Fast Pass reservation times, advance dining reservations (ADR’s) and confirmation numbers, extra experience times and dates, theme park hours, and more!

(What time is that FastPass for Under the Sea again? Have no fear, your itinerary is near!)

One final thing that I’d like to mention is that even if you have already booked your Disney vacation, it may be possible to still use a travel agent. It is possible for your reservation to be taken over by a travel agent if you have booked within 30 days, and if your trip has not yet been paid-in-full. Some travel agents will also assist you with your planning and itinerary-building, even if your trip has already been booked and paid, simply by charging a small planning-only fee for their work.

(I can even tell you about my favorite places to relax, have a drink... put together new Lego sets, and more!)

I hope that this post has been informative and interesting! Please feel free to contact me at any time via email at dana_w@wishingonastartravel.com. Happy Travels!

Disney Fine Art Photography

Hello!

Here in Indiana, it went from winter straight to summer- we really didn’t get much of a spring this year, unfortunately! Spring is my favorite season, and so I did miss the mild weather- but since we had such a long winter this year, the summer weather is making me VERY happy! I hope you all are enjoying being outdoors as much as my family is!

And speaking of outdoors- last November, my husband, son and I tried out the Disney Fine Art Photography service for the first time, where we took family photographs both indoors and outdoors at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. I was extremely happy with how they turned out- my main goal was to have a few nice photos to put on our Christmas cards, which we did, and more! Let me lead you through the process of using this service.

(We got several slightly different family photos in this beautiful location at the Grand Floridian)

I first heard about this service while perusing some Disney pages on Facebook. A user had posted the family photographs that they had received after using the service, which they highly recommended. I went onto the Disney Fine Art Photography website (www.disneyfineartphotography.com) to check it out for myself, and was delighted to find that they had some affordable options. The package that we ended up purchasing was the Mini Portrait Session, which is a 20-minute session with a Professional Photographer. We were given a choice of several resorts (I believe that at this time, you may now select any of the resorts for your session), and we chose the Grand Floridian, as this is our favorite resort to visit. This package costs $180 plus tax, and immediately after the session, the images are reviewed with you, and you are given a flash drive with all of the images and a Copyright release. There is a 1-hour photo session as well, but for those of us with younger children, I would recommend the 20-minute session. Even though the 1-hour session includes both a photographer and an assistant, and enhancements to the images, I didn’t expect that my 3-year old would last much longer than 20 minutes, and I was correct. You can see from the image below that he was done taking photos, and he was ready to move on to something more fun!

(This is our son's 'I'M DONE' pose!)

I was given a choice of times to select for our session, and I selected the latest appointment of the day, which on this day, was 4:00pm. I was hoping to avoid the hottest part of the day, as my husband and son do not do well in the heat, and I knew I wanted some outdoor photos taken if it didn’t rain. Unfortunately, as you can see from the photo above, the sun was still BRIGHT at 4:30pm, and so these photos didn’t turn out as I had hoped. In the future, I think I would select a morning session- perhaps this way we’d be able to avoid the glaring sun.

(That Florida sun is BRIGHT!)

We showed up to the Grand Floridian via Minnie Van (read my post all about the new Minnie Van service HERE), and promptly at 4:00pm, our photographer met us at our meeting point, the grand staircase in the lobby of the Grand Floridian. We first had a discussion of what we were looking to get out of the session, which did not count towards our 20-minutes. I wasn’t sure how many locations it was possible to visit in our 20-minutes, but I explained to her that there was a location upstairs that I loved, as well as a few places outdoors that I wanted to try to visit. We also wanted to get a few photos of our gender reveal for social media- I was 16 weeks pregnant on this trip, and our ultrasound would be in just a few short weeks, so we had purchased Mickey and Minnie rattles, and wanted the appropriate image to send to friends and family after our ultrasound. 

(The 'It's A Girl' photo that we did not end up using)

(The 'It's A Boy' photo that we sent to family and friends and posted on social media after my ultrasound)

Per our photographer’s recommendation, we took photos on the grand staircase here at the Grand Floridian. I don’t love that we are higher than the photographer, and I think this made for an unflattering angle- I actually debated sending these photos back to Disney to be retouched- which you may do for a fee (specifically, I wanted them to edit out my double chin)- but ultimately, I decided that I was happy with so many other images, so I left these alone (I also am not liking my awkward poses, and of course, those cannot be edited out!).

(The first photo we took during our session)

(On the Grand Staircase at the Grand Floridian)

The next location was one I chose after seeing photographs in this spot on Pinterest, and I love how the photos turned out! Our photographer was having trouble with the lighting, and so this photo of me is actually a fluke- I was simply waiting for her to find the right settings on her camera, and this is the result of that!

(Waiting for our photographer to find the right settings on her camera)

I love how the family photos in this spot turned out!

(One of my favorites!)

(Another photo that I love)

We quickly headed outside to the next spot that I had hand-picked, and again, I adore these photos!

(A beautiful Florida day)

(My sweet family)

(Love this one!)

This is also where our photographer had chosen to do our gender reveal photos, as seen above- I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do with the rattles, and so this was her idea- I absolutely loved how these turned out! She also suggested taking a few maternity photos with my son here, and I think they turned out so well! Our photographer truly had some creative ideas!

(A sweet maternity photo with my son)

(Showing off my son's silly side!)

After we finished in this spot, I asked our photographer if we could go over to one more spot- we only had a few minutes left in our session, but she agreed, and we quickly headed over there. I loved that you could see the castle at Magic Kingdom from this spot, and I was hoping that a monorail would go by while she was photographing us. Unfortunately, the monorail went by as we were finishing. In the second-to-last photo, you can see Camden pointing, and he was pointing at the monorail making its way to the Magic Kingdom. I would actually do another photo session at the Grand Floridian specifically for this photo, but I would be sure to do it in the morning, when the sun would not be in our eyes, as these photos did not turn out well due to the glare in our eyes.

(Camden sees the monorail approaching!)

After our session, we went into the lobby of the Grand Floridian with our photographer, where we sat down and she spent a few minutes uploading the images. She then showed us the photos on her laptop, and we ‘oohed and ahhed’ over the images. She gave us a flash drive with all of our images and a Copyright release, and we parted ways. The entire experience lasted about an hour.

Overall, there were eleven photos that I absolutely LOVE, and several more that I really like (out of 31 total). Since my goal was simply to get a few photos that I really liked for my 2017 Christmas cards, I’d say the photo session was a major win! My husband and I would highly recommend this service for those looking for some beautiful family photos taken on Walt Disney World property. Be sure to check out the Disney Fine Art Photography website for more information, or feel free to email me with questions. Happy Travels!