By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist to Disney Destinations and beyond Today I’m highlighting a Deluxe resort that sits alone in its uniqueness: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Animal Kingdom Lodge is perhaps one of Disney World’s most stunning resorts, featuring a fabulous African theme. From the moment you step into its massive lobby, you’re transported to another world. But what makes it unique? Let’s talk about some of its highlights: An African Savanna: That’s right—Animal Kingdom Lodge features its own African savanna, with wild animals ‘roaming free.’ If you upgrade to one of AKL’s Savanna View rooms, you can watch wildlife from the privacy of your own balcony. While room view upgrades aren’t usually my thing, this is one exception I’ll ALWAYS make. Because of the lodge’s unique horseshoe shape, all savanna view rooms have a fantastic view. If a Savanna View room isn’t in the cards for you, there are plenty of public viewing spots where any resort guests can spot animals. An insider tip: at night, the resort will provide you with night-vision goggles.
Exceptional dining:AKL’s signature dining Jiko—The Cooking Place is not only its best restaurant, it’s arguably one of the best restaurants on Disney property. Featuring unusual fare that you won’t find on most menus, Jiko is an adventurous eater’s paradise. Because of its somewhat remote location away from the other resorts, it’s usually not too difficult to score a last-minute reservation. AKL’s Boma—Flavors of Africa buffet is no slouch either. It features adventurous African and Asian fare along with more traditional American dishes. In particular, Boma’s breakfast buffet is not to be missed. A quieter lodging option: Animal Kingdom Lodge is divided into two sections: the main building (Jambo House), and the Kidani Village building a short walk away. For a quieter experience, consider booking a Kidani room. You’ll have access to all of the amenities of the resort, but be in a smaller, quieter building. It’s a particularly good option if you have a car, as parking is located directly underneath section of the building so you’ll always be a short walk from your car. Kidani features its own pool and restaurant as well. …and so much more: There’s so much more that makes Animal Kingdom Lodge great—multi-bedroom suites, a fantastic pool, and unique activities not available at other resorts (like the Sense of Africa tour). You could almost make Animal Kingdom Lodge a destination unto itself and never set foot in a theme park. Are there any drawbacks?: Sure. As with any resort, it has its quirks. Because it’s located in a remote corner of the Disney World property near Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, bus transportation times can be a bit long to get to the other parks. For most AKL fans, the utter beauty of the resort makes that a trade-off they’re willing to make. Some guests may find the resort a bit dark—artificial lighting is kept to a minimum outside to enhance the African savanna experience and encourage animals’ normal rest cycles.
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By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
One of the first choices you need to make when planning a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation: where to stay. The number of choices can be overwhelming, which is why enlisting the help of a Disney travel specialist can save lots of time and frustration spent researching. With over 25 on-property resorts, there’s almost bound to be an on-property option that’s right for most groups— but, occasionally, there are times when staying off-property can be a better choice. While these lists are by no means exhaustive, here are just a few of the more valuable pros for staying on-property vs. off-property: Pros of staying on-property
Pros of staying off-property
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-- Riverside
By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist Today I'm taking a closer look at a Walt Disney World® moderate resort: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-- Riverside. Themed after picturesque New Orleans, this resort has several unique features that make it a great value in the moderate category. Lush, manicured walks wind through the stately Magnolia Bend Mansions, down to the quaint Alligator Bayou. Enjoy the tranquility and hospitality of a picturesque waterfront resort that embodies the traditions born of steamboat travel, garden parties, mint juleps on the front porch, and life along the scenic Sassagoula River. A huge plus for larger groups: Port Orleans— Riverside is one of the only moderate resorts that sleeps five people in a standard room. Some standard rooms have two queen beds as well as a smaller pull-down bed suitable for a young teen or smaller child. Port Orleans— Riverside offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including exceptional swimming pools, children’s playgrounds, jogging trails, and even cane pole fishing at the Fishin’ Hole. For swimming fans, Port Orleans— Riverside is the only on-property resort that allows pool-hopping. Guests at Port Orleans— Riverside may hop to its sister resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-- French Quarter, and use its fabulous Doubloon Lagoon pool in addition to Riverside’s own Ol’ Man Island swimming hole. For princess fans, Port Orleans-- Riverside offers Royal Guest Rooms with a plethora of special touches from past royal visitors such as Tiana, Jasmine, Belle, and Cinderella. The lushly-decorated rooms, which sleep four, feature lots of special touches designed to make you feel like royalty. A Mouse Master Tip: While the Port Orleans resorts have their own dedicated bus line, for a relaxing scenic trip to Disney Springs, take advantage of the Sassagoula River Cruise ferry! By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Originally printed in the June 2016 issue of NW Kids Magazine I visit Disney (both Land and World) a lot, and friends often ask what the perfect age to take your kids is. My answer: any age. Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort aren’t just for young kids. While there certainly is something to be said for taking your 4-8 year olds who see Disney parks with wide-eyed wonder, those same parks can be just as exciting for toddlers and teenagers. Babies/toddlers “Why should I take them now? They won’t remember it!” That’s the number one statement I get from parents thinking about a Disney trip with younger kids. I’ll let you in on a secret: it isn’t all about the kids. Disney vacations are about creating magical family memories. You’re creating and strengthening a bond with your younger kids when you soar through the air for the first time on Dumbo the Flying Elephant or buckle in for their first magical journey on Peter Pan’s Flight. While they might not remember their very first trip, YOU will—and you’ll have lots of pictures and memories to share with them as they grow older. Disney parks are extremely baby- and toddler-friendly, with lots of rides, character meets, and shows with no height requirements. You’ll find Baby Care Centers in every park with plenty of feeding areas, child-size pottys, and private nursing areas. These quiet centers can be an oasis for over-stimulated children needing a mid-day break. Preschoolers/Elementary Kids “They’re the perfect age! I want to go now!” This seems to be a ‘magical age’ to take kids to Disney parks. For preschoolers and early elementary-age kids, everything around them is absolutely real. They don’t doubt for a second that they’re meeting the Mickey Mouse and the Anna & Elsa. For older elementary kids who may have started figuring things out, they’re now hitting that magical height of 46” when they can ride almost everything in the parks. Speaking from personal experience, there’s nothing like seeing your daughter proudly walk up to Space Mountain, have a Disney cast member declare her tall enough, then launch into a space adventure only dreamed about back when she was still a ‘little’ kid. Tweens/Teens “My kids are too old for Disney!” Here’s another Disney secret: they’re probably going to love it. Walking through those turnstiles and down Main Street reignites the childlike wonder in most tweens and teens. You may find your nostalgic teenager wanting to rub shoulders with Mickey Mouse or take a selfie with Ariel. Even if they don’t shave off a few years of attitude during their trip, tweens and teens alike will still revel in the glory of such thrill rides as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, and Space Mountain. They may also enjoy the freedom to explore the parks on their own for a bit, something they may have wanted to do for years when younger. Best ways to enjoy the new nighttime show at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme ParkBy David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
The Jungle Book-Alive with Magic opened Memorial Day weekend to mixed reviews. It's a different kind of nighttime show compared to nighttime spectaculars like the Wishes fireworks show in the Magic Kingdom® Park or IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth in Epcot®. This limited-engagement show, infused with Bollywood style and based on the new hit live-action film The Jungle Book, requires a unique approach for the best possible experience. Somewhat like Fantasmic!, performance is a big part of show. Complex dance numbers take place on barges moving on Discovery River, combining with fountain and lighting effects as well as water screens and projection to create a truly unique experience. Because the seating area was designed for the yet-to-debut Rivers of Light show, sight lines for this limited engagement show can be challenging. You essentially have two options to get the best views: 1) Book a FastPass+ reservation for the show, AND show up at least 30 minutes prior to show time. This will get you seated in the best viewing area on the Asia side of the River. 2) Book a Dining Package AND show up at least 30 minutes prior to show time. This will get you seated in the best viewing area on the DinoLand U.S.A.® Land side of the River. If you're not seated in one of the first two rows, you'll probably have a better view standing in the back of the viewing area than in the middle rows - the rake of the seating is not steep enough for this show. Tusker House dining packages cost $37+tax & gratuity/adult for breakfast; $49+tax & gratuity/adult for lunch or dinner (or 1 Table Service Dining credit). The packages are the same great character dining experience as the regular meal at Tusker House, just restricted to more limited times. The best cash value is the Tiffins dining package, for lunch or dinner. The whole menu is available, and unless you order the vegetarian option, the prix fixe dining package option, priced at $67+tax & gratuity/adult for lunch and dinner, is less expensive than ordering the same items but NOT getting the special seating for the show! Have you seen The Jungle Book-Alive with Magic yet? Let me know what your experience was like! By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Now it's time to say goodbye to.... Soarin' Over California. The revamp of Soarin' Over California, entitled Soarin' Around the World, makes its debut at the grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland on June 16, 2016. The very next day, it will debut at both Disney California Adventure® Park and Epcot®. FastPass+ reservations are available now for the Epcot version. This is going to be a big change-- while I'm certainly going to miss soaring over Yosemite, the Pacific Coast, and the Golden Gate Bridge, the new experience promises to be an excellent replacement. While Disney is holding some of its cards close to the vest until the debut, they've promised we'll soon fly over the Sydney Opera House, the Great Wall of China, and the (real) Matterhorn. When brainstorming which world locations the new version might include, I've got to confess that last one never entered my mind, but it makes perfect sense! Now, not only can we ride Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland® Park, but we can also hop over to Disney California Adventure Park and soar over the real thing! While I'm sad that I may not get to experience Soarin' Over California again, I certainly had a nice send-off for my last ride: my daughter and I rode it as part of our California Story guided tour at Disney California Adventure Park. Not only did we get to skip the line, but we also got a ton of interesting trivia from our tour guide as we waited to board our top row center seats. For instance, did you know that several components of Soarin' Over California are CGI? I had no idea! What world landmarks are you hoping to fly over when Soarin' Around the World makes its American debut on June 17? Yet another delay for Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park4/7/2016 By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Rivers of Light, the new nighttime spectacular at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, was set to debut on April 22. Disney Parks Blog recently announced, though, that the debut will be delayed, with no further announcements regarding a revised debut date until mid- to late May. The delay is disappointing for sure, particularly for guests who've already booked trips based on the previously-announced debut date. But I'm certain it will be worth the wait and the frustration-- Disney seems to have spared no expense in their efforts to turn Disney's Animal Kingdom into a full-day park (finally!). Gone will be the days of the park closing at 6:00, leaving guests scrambling to hop to another park to get their nighttime entertainment fix. Once Rivers of Light debuts, guests will be able to choose from nighttime offerings at all four Walt Disney World® Resort parks, which could alleviate nighttime crowding resort-wide. For more information on the delay, please visit Disney Parks Blog. I'm delighted to bring you the debut of my new site, The Mouse Master. When you come here, you'll not only find the latest news about Disney Destinations, but you'll also find a great resource for planning your own vacations. Stay tuned for the latest news, specials, promotions, and commentary on Disney Destinations!
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AuthorI'm David Platt, your Mouse Master Disney Destination specialist. I'm delighted to bring you the latest news on Disney Destinations. Archives
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Telephone412-654-5869
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david@themousemaster.com
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