Disney Planning Spreadsheets…Can’t Live With ‘Em or Can’t Live Without ‘Em?

Howdy! My husband and I just finalized plans for an impromptu trip to WDW this year with friends, including one that has never been to The World. For me, vacation planning starts with one thing….My Disney Planning Spreadsheet. For someone who loves working in spreadsheets at her day job, there is no better way to plan a Disney trip. I love working in it, tweaking the events and park plans until everything is just right!

So what’s in my Disney spreadsheet? Well, let me tell you!

I like to make a high-level plan for each day. I start by checking the daily park hours and Extra Magic Hours (“EMH”). That usually dictates our primary park(s) for the day. I am a big believer in the Park Hopper, but we usually focus on 1-2 parks a day. This is especially critical with My Disney Experience and the 60-day lead time for FastPass selection.

I make one column for each day. Under each column, I list the highlights of the day. That includes dining, special events, transportation or any EMHs we are taking advantage of that day. Including confirmation numbers never hurts! Here is a screenshot of my Disney Planning Spreadsheet from a Christmas visit a few years ago.

I think spreadsheets come in especially handy when planning visits for groups. Coordinating this year’s trip with friends means making plans at night after work. Our Disney Planning Spreadsheet is a way to keep track of what each person wants to accomplish on the trip. We’ve all picked 2-3 attractions or dining locations we want to experience while the rest of the time is just enjoying the Parks.

Do you use your own Disney Planning Spreadsheet? What else do you like to include? Let us know!

You can read more from Jess at merchmouse.wordpress.com

Quick Service – Part 1

 Quick Service – Part 1

Pizzafari

The Animal Kingdom is home to Pizzafari. As the name implies, they serve pizza. They are open for lunch and dinner. They serve personal size thick crust cheese, pepperoni, meat lovers and vegetable pizzas with a Caesar salad on the side. Not only is the pizza really yummy but the salad is excellent. They also serve a meatball sub, a romaine salad and pasta with sauce. The children’s menu offers mac & cheese, cheese pizza, uncrustables and pasta.

The food is good and the restaurant itself is fun and brightly decorated. There is plenty of seating and Cast Member are often seen coloring pictures with children or leading a Congo line. This is a great place for a cool down relaxing meal before trekking off into Africa.

Tangerine Café in Epcot’s Morocco

Inside Epcot’s Morocco is a gem that is hidden in plain sight. The Tangerine Café has some of the best food that I’ve had in all of WDW. It’s refreshingly different from anything else I had enjoyed. It’s wonderful fresh food simply prepared to be a filling and surprisingly delicious meal.

I had the Shawarma Chicken Platter and it is literally enough for two adults. The meat was moist and flavorful and the combinations of hot and cold food and spices really worked. The hummus was creamy and the pita was warm. The wraps (lamb, chicken and falafel) were also generously sized.

There is seating outside and inside but it’s open to the hustle and bustle of Epcot. Adjacent is also a coffee bar with pastries. Don’t skip it!

The Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

Think “upscale deli” and that’s what you’ll get at The Artist’s Palette. The food is freshly prepared to order in front of you and will often be delivered to your table if you not ready when you pay for your meal.

We had the Caprese Flatbread pizza and the Spicy Italian Beef sandwich. Both were wonderful light meals along with fountain soda and light lemonade. There are multiple yummy looking deserts to choose from including cupcakes. The general store and gift shop are all connected so you can mix grab and go items with your order.

The seating area is accented by colorful lighting fixtures that feel like artwork. There is a drawing station for younger kids but they won’t kick you out if you’re older (don’t judge). Tables can be hard to find and seating can get tight but you can always bring your order down a few steps and eat by the pool.

T-Rex at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs)

T-Rex is a dinosaur themed restaurant with attached gift shop in Downtown Disney. It is operated by the same company that manages the Rainforest Café. It has much the same feel and a variation on the menu. We went with a 10 year old boy and he was completely fascinated by the whole experience. He loved the sounds and sights and even ate some food.

The atmosphere is fantastic. They did a great job in making you feel like you are in the Dinosaur ride from Animal Kingdom. The dinos move and make sounds and it’s a completely immersive experience. We were in the ice age room and it was chilly, nice touch.

We had the Prehistoric Pasta with Chicken (also available with shrimp), the Bronto Burger and the Boneyard Buffet. All the meals were pleasantly presented and tasty. The portions were very good but the pricing I felt was just a little high. For desert I had the Cosmic Key Lime Pie and it was fantastic!

I thought it was a little loud in there and a little pricy but it was overall a fun time and I would go again!

Coral Reef Restaurant – Future World Epcot

The Coral Reef Restaurant is located in Future World in Epcot. It is adjacent to The Seas with Nemo and Friends. It’s to the right of the Nemo entrance and can sometimes be overlooked.

The interior of the Coral Reef is slightly dated yet still charming. You definitely get the under the sea feel with the tank open for viewing of all seating. It is really cool to see a turtle swim by as you are enjoying your meal. The seating is a little tight together. The servers really have to work at not bumping into one another.

The food is fantastic! We had the Baked Cheese Manicotti with Maine Lobster Tail and the Grilled New York Strip Steak. They were both cooked to perfection and were beautifully presented. This has been one of the better meals I’ve had in the Parks. The lobster was not overcooked and the steak was moist and not overcooked even at medium well. I could have gone for seconds!

We ended the meal with the Turtle Cheesecake with Caramel and Vanilla Panna Cotta Tart with Key Lime. They were as delicious as they were pretty! A wonderful way to end a meal.

I would definitely go for another round at Coral Reef. I left there full and satisfied! I would give this a 4 out of 5.

PD

New Disney Merch App Changes Everything

This. changes. everything…As reported by wdwmagic.com, Disney is planning to release an app called “Shop Disney Parks” that allows you to buy Disney merchandise from any Disney-operated store at Walt Disney World at home! This means no more regret after you leave the Parks because you passed on that special item. You’ll also be able to use the app in the Parks to browse and order merchandise and have it delivered to the gate so you do not have to lug it around all day. Building upon today’s popular package delivery system, you will have the option to order merch from the app while at the Parks and have it delivered directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room. For the APs and DVC owners out there, this app will apply discounts via your My Disney Experience app, making getting your merch discounts easier than ever!

This really is a game changer. Now we can order and ship that special parks-only merchandise directly from Walt Disney World beyond the current DisneyStore.com offering. It’s yet another great way to stay connected to the Parks. I, for one, cannot wait for this app to come out!

The Little Things In Life

Tags

Dining, Disney, food, friendship boats

Last week I did something that I haven’t done in a really long time, I visited a book store.  Now personally I am not and have never been a really strong reader, but as I was driving past the local mall I was drawn to a Barnes and Noble.  My ever growing collection of Disney based books has mostly come from Amazon for the reasoning that the B&N in Dayton, Ohio doesn’t have a dedicated Disney section.  So I wandered around and found myself in the travel section and all at once a blast from my childhood caught my eye.

There it was, the rectangular wonder that is the Birnbaum’s 2015 Official Guide to Walt Disney World.  I still remember the day that my parents told me about our first trip to WDW and gave me the 1997 version which I read over and over again both before and after our trip.  I memorized every word of that guide from the letter from the editor to the coupons in the back.  That guide was marked, highlighted, and eventually started to deteriorate under the wear and tear it went through.  At that time it was my only known source or pictures and descriptions of everything at WDW.  Sure the Disney Channel would play some specials that would briefly give you glimpses of Pirates of the Caribbean or Spaceship Earth but nothing about all the other shops, rides, attractions, accommodations, or restaurants that you’d encounter while visiting.  I also tried to do some research on the internet before the 1997 trip but my two older sisters often tied up the phone lines which made the Birnbaum’s Guide my best choice.

Today, I have a firm grasp on what’s going on at WDW and where things are located thanks to previous experiences, websites, podcasts (shameless plug for Enchanted Tiki Talk), and the unending social media outposts dedicated to Walt Disney World however seeing the 2015 version on the stand was too much for me and I just had to buy it.  Upon leaving the store I found it funny that I traded $15.95 for 355 pages of information I already know.  The real draw though isn’t the words on the pages but as a remembrance of the happiness that my 1997 copy brought me.  Maybe I’m just a sentimental person but I find a lot of enjoyment reading the 2015 copy and seeing a lot of the same factoids and descriptions that were in my 1997 copy.

At this point in my Disney obsession most of the information in this guide is basic knowledge but I do recommend it for the first time trip taker because it is an innocent guide that is free of the preformed opinions of the masses that the internet offers.  Right now for me it serves as a nice reminder that I will get back to Orlando as soon as my daughter is out of diapers (my wife has been very strict about this policy).

If you want any of the coupons from the back of my guide follow me on Twitter at TerriblePirate7 and I’ll be happy to mail them out to you.

The Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Tags

DDP, Dining Plan, Disney, disney dining plan, food

We were missing New England the other day and decided the best thing to do about that was to go to Disney World! We went on the MDE app and got same day lunch reservations for Captain’s Grille at the Yacht Club Resort. Who says you have to plan in advance?

We headed down a few hours early so we could walk around BoardWalk (with it’s super creepy clown pool), Beach Club and Yacht Club. They are beautifully situated around Crescent Lake and are a nice little walk to Epcot’s International Gate entrance.

Stepping into the Yacht Club is very much like walking into Newport, RI. I’ve spent so much time there and Disney really has achieved that feel here. From the lighting (my obsession) to the wainscoting, the interior is dead on New England. I even like that the Cast Members are dressed in their nautical gear.

I always get smug when I’m about to try “authentic” NE Chowder (translated from chowdah). I am most often completely let down. Some restaurants may have the texture of the potatoes right but where’s the hint of pork? Don’t even get me started on the consistency! Well I can happily report that they pretty much nailed it. I would say it’s as good as you’ll get up north. Great job on something that is really a challenge. Because I’m picky, I would say the color was just a tad off. Didn’t effect the taste.

The Lobster Roll (translated from lobstah) was perfection. I would say it was one of the best I’ve ever had. The roll was toasted, the lobster moist and the dressing lightly used and thin. This came with fries that had their own dish so it wouldn’t get your sandwich warm. Perfection!

We didn’t have desert as I was saving myself for Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club Resort. No, we didn’t have the Kitchen Sink, it would be way too much for two people.

I look forward to visiting the Yacht Club or as I will rename it – Newport South.

PD