The Force Awakens at Disney.....Well kind of

This weekend the net came alive with the announcement of the long rumored Star Wars Lands at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney's Bob Iger took to the stage at the D23 Expo to make the announcement official after an early "leaked" post on the same day on the Disney Parks Blog. "We are creating a jaw-dropping new world that represents our largest single themed land expansion ever. These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”said Iger to cheering fans.

While this announcement has been anticipated for well years, and it really is something to excited about; don't hold off on those vacation plans quite yet because the announcements were purposely vague and no time frame was given for the opening of the new Star Wars lands. So why get everyone in a frenzy and slightly Awaken the Force?  Well Disney has been under enormous pressure to find something to be an answer to Universal's extremely successful Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando and soon Hollywood plus well there is the those new movies that are coming out....

Here is what we know about Star Wars Land:
Theses items have no time frame
1) There are more rumors than facts circulating right now.
2) At Disney World it will go into Hollywood Studios and be 14 acres.
3) At DisneyLand it will be 14 acres also
4) It will be anchored by 2 new attractions.... that is right 2 new attractions
5) Star Wars Jedi Academy will get re-imagined which means Darth Vader is out(boo)
6) We got a couple nice looking concept art of what the lands may look like.

Without a doubt these are things to get excited about but as we had learned with the New Fantasyland and Avatar, things will change, not necessarily for the better, and this will take some time to build.

Here are some things that got buried under the giant news of the Star Wars land that you really should be excited over as they will be here much much sooner than Star Wars land!

Star Tours will receive an update in 2016 to add new destinations and characters from Star Wars: the Force Awakens!


In late 2015, we will get the Star Wars Launch Bay that will showcase a preview of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the Episodes I thru 6 VI. We don't know how long this attraction will stay open though.

In Spring of 2016, Star Wars Weekends appears to get a new name "Season of the Force" at Hollywood Studios and will also now happen at Disneyland. DisneyWorld will get a "new" Fireworks display scored to the Star Wars Movies on Weekend Nights. Disneyland will get an "overlay" Space Mountain as X-Wing fighter and new food experiences.

Disney World's Hollywood Studios will get Toy Story Land. It will feature a new family roller coaster that Andy assembled and teacup style ride based on the Alien Claw Game. This will take place in Andy's Back yard and will be an 11 acre expansion.

Disney's Animal Kingdom will get Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris that will bring African Wild Dogs and Hyenas to a new expanded layout. Special lighting will be added to extend in the twilight hours and will open in the Spring of 2016.

Rivers of Light will debut in the Spring of 2016 bringing the next generation of nighttime shows to the Animal Kingdom. The will light the Animal Kingdom up and will be a sight to see!

Pandora- the World of AVATAR got an official name and we got a peak at the  new attraction for this land. Avatar Flight of Passage. No opening date.

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World will get a much needed new Restaurant Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant  in Adventureland.This will come in late 2015 and as the story goes, the skippers of the Jungle Cruise will moonlight here as waiters and there will be several theme rooms including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Hmmm this sounds like the old Adventurers Club from Pleasure Island.... I mean Downtown Disney.... I mean Disney Springs.... That is right folks.. Starting  right now Downtown Disney is Disney Springs.


And Finally both Epcot and Disney California Adventure will get Soarin Around the World as and updated version the popular soarin rides.

Over the next few months and years.... yes years... will get more info on the  Star Wars Themed Land and Disney is doing their best to keep your interest in their parks until the the lands are finished(or even started). Personally as a fan of Star Wars I am excited, but I am extremely glad and more excited that there are more experiences and attractions coming to the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resorts sooner than later.
What are you looking forward to? 

Free Dining at Disney! FAQ

Free Dining at DisneyWorld. It is one the most sought after promotion Disney has released in the past.There are also a lot of questions that arise from it and a lot of wrong information out there about it. So here are some of the Frequently Ask Questions I get about Free Dining at DisneyWorld.

First let me say, I  do not have inside information. I am going on experience and fact. Based on that I can give you some educated fact and opinion.

What is Free Dining at Disney World?
Free dining was/is a Promotion that  Disney began to use to promote their dining plan and to get people to DisneyWorld in the lower  crowd times of year. It was also designed to make it so that visiting DisneyWorld would make it more probable for you to  stay on site and not stray to other attractions in the area.  The promotion and the dining plans have changed since they were originally released. The dates in the past few years have been limited to the fall months but when it was first was released it was it was available in the winter months. Basically, free dining is as follows: 1) stay on-site at one of the qualifying  Disney Resorts for a specific length of stay and ticket length and 2)get a Dining plan for everyone on your package for Free. The dining plan would be based on the level of resort that you say at.

 Is Free Dining really Free? 
This is a question that people struggle with. The simple answer about free dining being free is  yes it is.
The more difficult answers come from  how far in advance you have booked your package.  There have been years when  if you booked as early as possible and the annual price increase hit, if you applied the Free Dining Discount, the package actually cost more. That sure doesn't sound free to me. Booking early did save people more money than those that waited for the actual release of the free dining promotion. Now to save money for those early booking people, the room only discount was able to be applied and it did save them some, but not much money.

There are some that also argue that Disney takes the room rate to full price for Free Dining promotion and they make up their cost there. What do you mean takes the room to full price? When Disney list their rooms rates, they will say rooms starting at $89 a night to $199 a night.  $89 a night would be the seasonal slow rate and full rack rate would be the $199 a night.

In my opinion even doing with the room at full rack rate, you can still come out a head with free dining depending again on how early you have booked**This is especially true if you book the room without a dining plan and your agent applies the promotion and there is no cost change in your package!( It can and has happened!) This will depend on room option, resort, and number of people traveling with you and their ages. This leads to the next question!
**What a lot of people don't realize and are not told is, if you book early and a price increase hits when applying the discounts or promotion your package now becomes subject to those price increases. So sometimes leaving the package alone is a better savings than applying the discount. So if you can book as early as possible!

Who saves the most with Free Dining if it is offered?
The more adults( people 10 and over) you have staying in the same room and the longer you stay(usually you can get free dining up to 14 days) the more you save. Again it depends on the resort level and room type you are staying in. For example a Family of 5 adults staying in a Moderate resort could save about $61 per person per night with the current dining plan pricing if they are given free dining.  If there are only 2 people in the room, the saving is obviously less or if there are children under 10 since the child cost of the Dining plan is considerably less.   Now a good travel agent would compare offers or opt to leaving the package alone if there were multiple offers out there to see what would save a family and have no difficulty explaining that to a client.

Last  year(2014) I had a client booked for Arts of Animation Little Mermaid rooms with no discount paying for the Dining plan with a family of 5. Arts of Animation is a value resort and the Little Mermaid rooms have not yet been part of any promotion. When the offer came out, I compared the deals, saw that moving to the Suites would cost them more money but thinking outside the box, looked at Coronado Springs resort and got them a larger room at the Moderate resort and saved them over $1000 to give them truly FREE dining!

 Is Free Dining Guaranteed? 
ABSOLUTELY NOT!  There are many reasons why free dining is not guaranteed.  First and foremost the head honcho of Disney Bob Iger has publicly stated that they want to start to ween people off discounts. Secondly, Disney reserves the right to limit the time frame a promotion is offered and the number of rooms at each resort. Last years promotion saw a huge change to the free dining promotion by reducing the number of dates and the number of rooms on the promotion. One of the main staple resorts for a family of 5, Port Orleans-Riverside, was not included and there were agents guaranteeing that resort would be available.

My Travel Agent said they would automatically apply it to my reservation, so that means it IS guaranteed right?
Again ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!! If you have a travel agent that is guaranteeing you free dining or any promotion, DROP THEM ASAP!!!!!!  As a Travel Agent myself, I promote discount monitoring. Just because I offer it doesn't mean you will get a discount. It really depends on how many rooms are offered in a promotion, the dates, the restrictions, and if it is truly a deal for you.  

NO travel agent gets priority on a discount. When a discount is offered, we all call in and we are all thrown in line. Each phone call get answered  by a cast member and we take time to see if the offer is good deal. Sometimes by the time we get through, the rooms are already full at the resort our clients are staying at. It is just luck of the draw. I will continually try back to see if for some reason there is a cancellation to see if I can get it applied all the way up to my clients travel date. Many agents give up after the first attempt.

 I tell my clients to be comfortable with Non-Discounted Package Price they are booking and look at a promo or discount that is released as bonus if they qualify for it . If they are really dead set on getting the offer, I tell them to be extremely flexible in their travel and resorts they are willing to stay at. This may require them to wait on airfare if they are flying and doing so may cancel out any discount that is applied to a package.

Just this Week(April 1st, 2015) Disney released an function for travel agents to make changes to a package online. If you do not have a good agent that knows what they are doing, this can cause them to really screw up your package and trip if they don't understand the discounts and go in and just apply the discount. 

Trust me there are a lot of agents out there that have no clue what they are doing! Shop around and look at testimonials of agent! Interview the agent, after all they are working for you if you book with them!

My Agent says they are EarMarked and have a special line to call in to get the Discounts so they have priority right? 
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!! They have special number to call alright... any Disney Travel Agent that knows it can use and every single agent no matter what phone line they use get put in the same line no matter what line they call. Plus an EarMarked agent does not mean you are getting the best agent possible, more on that another time!

 I got a Pin Code for Free Dining so yep I am getting free dining right?
Nope.  Pin codes are codes that Disney will send to you to try to get you to come to Disney during a specific time with some enticement. Sometimes they are released before an offer is open to the public, sometimes at the same time, other times weeks after the promo. There are usually a broad range of dates and many black out dates with it. If you get it before a promo is released to the public you have a better chance of getting the promo, but again it might not be the best deal for that travel time. Disney wants your vacation dollars so they are "personalizing" an offer for you and it really isn't random either. You have signed up for something Disney and you matched their magic algorithm to get the offer.

 There is this guy on Facebook, in a forum,  on this website that says they have inside information on what the  hotel capacity are and when, how many rooms, the magic express laying people off,  and what the offer details are; why don't you?
Easy answer... This "Guy" is full of s***.  Disney does not go around bragging about how many people are in rooms to the general public or even to many cast members that aren't at management levels.  Why? Because Disney is a public owned company that has to answer to shareholders on wall street and having some loose cannons saying we don't have a high attendance or rooms filled to a certain level could cause investors to loose confidence in the company. We do hear about how room capacities have been/are during shareholder meeting and quarter earnings. Plus it is illegal to release such data before those meetings and earning reports.

So the magical express is laying off people.It was a big news story because of the amount of people they are laying off.  This is an outside company that contracts with Disney. They do more than just the Magical Express. They may have been top heavy and had to shed some people to keep their company in the green.They maybe loosing the contract to do the Disney Magical Express. They may be loosing business in is other areas because of the SunRail.  It may or may not be associated with the attendance at Disney parks..... based on the numbers Disney has been sharing with Wall Street, I doubt this has little or anything to do with attendance at the parks and hotels. I would look more at the amount of people flying in to Orlando compared to those deciding to drive.

AS far as the promotion dates and details.... it is easy to guess when the offers will be released based on historical releases of past deals. There are a few sites out there what will throw dates out  and then constantly change them until they get it right. When called out about it, ban you from their Facebook page, mailing list, etc.

In the last few years, all agents have been lucky to get 24 to 48 hours notice about a promotion. Occasionally an over zealous District Manager will prematurely release information to an agency then get a huge smack on the wrist for doing it..... if not loosing their job.  Again, that "guy" with inside info posting it on all over the world wide web is full of s***.  That person(s) are just trying to get you to go their business so they can get your business.  If you are going to use a Travel Agent, do not use them because love to post rumors. Use them because they are good at what they do and know what they are doing!

Will Free Dining be released this year?
Possibly with a heavy lean to more than likely. Historically the signs point to yes. You will know just about the same time I will know.

When will it be released and what will it be?
Historically right around the end of April to June is when it has been released. It will be when Disney is ready to release it. What it will be we, won't know until Disney officially releases details of the offer.  One of those "guys" last year released a bunch of wrong information before the official details were released and caused a lot of problems for their clients. When they were raked over the coals they blamed it on their clients and changed or deleted all of their post with the wrong information.... Sorry once something is out there on the web.... someone is gonna find it!!!

More than Likely Disney Visa Card Holders will get first shot at the deal for a few day before the general public gets the offer.These offers may or may not be the same.


Be patient, be flexible, and most of all be comfortable withe price you book your vacation as no promotion is ever guaranteed!

Thanks for reading!

Staying On-Site at Disney World: A little known but important benefit

There are many benefits that Disney publicly advertises to entice guest to stay in the on-site resorts, but there are some benefits Disney doesn't advertise. One of these unadvertised benefits is a great perk that gives on-site guest an advantage they may not even know they are receiving. That benefit kicks in when the parks reach capacity.

How does it work?
When a park reaches capacity, Disney goes into what as know as Phase Closures. There are 4 Phases of closures that have been determined to try to maintain guest satisfaction. Notice I mentioned the word try because when a park gets to these levels, there will be dissatisfaction resulting from the waits for rides,food, restrooms, and attractions. Some people have been able to get their hands on the actual policy Disney has and implements when capacity is reached and phase closures kick in. Others, like myself, have learned from experience what is part of a phase closure and who will benefit and who will be denied entry.On-Site Guest will be some of the last people affected by the Phase of Closures.

Why is this important?
Well we are quickly approaching the Holiday season and the Grand Opening of the New FantasyLand. During the Holiday season (especially New Year's Eve) the parks are sure to reach capacity. These next few months is also the time of year several families book their Spring Vacations. The Spring break time is another time when parks tend to reach capacity. It is important to note that phase closures also apply to the Water Parks and the Water Parks generally reach capacity much quicker than the 4 major parks!(It is no fun at all to be in the water parks when they are at capacity, if there is a phase closure, hit the hotel pool instead.)

Below is a breakdown of what happens for each Phase of Closure based on experience and what has filtered out to travel agents by those that have seen the actual policy.

Phase 1
Guest will be turned away at the Parking Lot Toll Plaza if they have:
A 1-Day 1-Park Ticket
No admission ticket
Cast Members using Main Gate &Silver Passes
YES DISNEY WILL TURN YOU AWAY!!!

Guest that can enter during Phase 1 are:
Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
Those staying at a Disney Resort(including the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard
hotels)
Annual Passholders and Premium Annual Passholders
Those re-entering the park that day.
Those "hopping" from another park.
Those with in-park reservations or reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
The Pirates League.
Those arriving via Disney transportation

Phase 2
Guest that will be allowed to enter a park include:
Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard
hotels)
Guests with dining reservations
Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
The Pirates League
Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted.
Annual and Premium Annual Passholders

Phase 3
Admission is limited to:
Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard
hotels)
Premium Annual Passholders
Guests with dining reservations
Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
The Pirates League

Phase 4
Closed to all guests.
Aspect of these closures can be changed at anytime by Disney.

What is important to note is, if you are traveling to see all that Disney has to offer and can't pass up that great deal to stay at an off-site location; the only thing you might see is the toll plaza and cast member telling Sorry Folks We're Closed. Please don't go Clark Griswald on that poor Cast Member! So if you are planning to head to a Disney Park during the busy season, plan on experiencing crowds and rest assured it is a very wise choice to stay at an on-site resort.

Sorry Folks We're Closed

Have you ever been at a Disney Park when it was in a Phase Closure? Tell us your experience.

Top 11 Reasons to use my Services and Some Frequently Asked Questions.

Top 11 Reasons You should use my Services

11)   I do not add cost to your vacations. My planning services are FREE! That's right FREE!

Firehousefamilyvacations.com

10)    I make it easy to get a hold of me! You can always reach me via Email, phone, text message, or Facebook message. Sometimes I even Skype or Google Hang out with people.  I try my hardest to get back with people within 24 hours! My promise to you is, if I say that I will get you something by a certain time, I will get it to you on time, or sooner!

9)   I’m constantly monitoring for discounts that would apply to your Vacation. I put in a great deal of time researching promotions to see if you are really getting a discount or if it is just some marketing ploy to try to get you to book. That's right sometimes that big flashy promo is really no deal or savings. If you already have booked with me and a promotion with savings comes out that you qualify for, I will apply it to your Vacation. Once I get it applied to your Vacation, I will send you an email telling you how much money you’ve saved.(Please remember sometimes if you book a vacation, there can be restrictions that make changes unavailable or the new promotions may have restrictions you may not qualify for the promotion or discount. I will do my best to let you know if that would be the case when you book your vacation.)

8)   I’ll provide you with detailed assistance that you deserve and again that assistance is FREE! That includes everything from booking, monitoring for discounts, determining the best time year for you to travel, parks hours and refurbishments, to helping you determine which theme parks to visit on which days. I can also provide touring plans to maximize your time enjoying attractions, rides and shows, helping minimize your time standing in line.

7)  I have experience traveling with kids, large groups, adults only trips, and alone at various different times of the year. I also have been to theme parks with peak crowd levels that cause closures due to capacity and in the "off season" lighter crowds. Let me put that experience to work for you!


6)    Advanced Dining Reservations(ADRs) at Disney can be confusing and time consuming. We can discuss what you are looking for in meals and make a plan. Then you can sleep in and I will get up early when you hit your 180 day mark and Advanced Dining Reservations become available to make those reservations for you. Once they are complete, I will send you an email with the list of dining experiences that have been booked for you. If at any time you wish to make changes up, until your arrival, I can assist in making any changes that you  prefer along the way based on availability.

5)    If you are considering a Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, or Busch Gardens vacation; there’s so much to do between the resort hotels and the theme parks than anyone could possibly experience all in one vacation. I have a vast first hand experience with all the theme parks in Central Florida and other theme parks across the country and will help you weigh your options and prioritize your choices so that your vacation fits your needs and wants.

4)    I love Disney, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and all of Central Florida.I will always provide a  honest, and direct opinion of particular resorts, attractions, restaurants, and add on experiences. If I think something is a waste of your money or time, I will let you know.

3)    There are always "urban legends" about what Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, or the cruise lines offer. I will give you the facts and research any questions you may have to get you the right answer. Not only do I have an expansive knowledge of the the theme parks and resorts, I also have vast network of resources to assist me that many other agencies don't have!

2)   There are many Vacation options that can be confusing or even missed, with that, I understand that vacation budgets can be tight. I also understand that sometimes you might be in the beginning stages of making a vacation budget.  I can work with you to see what you want out of a vacation so that budget can be established and/or try to stay with in your established budget. If it is a spontaneous trip, large group/family reunion, or a trip that is years in the making, I will work with you to help you find what is right for you!

1)   Unlike many agencies, I don't look at you as a client or commission check. I view you and treat you as a friend or family. I enjoy hearing about your vacation, experiences, and want you to enjoy your vacation!

The Current Hogwarts Express...Stay tuned something wickedly new is coming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I see many other agencies posting or bragging about the number of Clients they are booking and when they are going on Facebook or their personal websites, Why don't you?
A: I respect the privacy of the people I book vacations for. I believe it is up to the person traveling to post if they are going on vacation and whom they have booked through. I also do this for the safety of those that are on Vacations. Unfortunately there are opportunists out there that do scour Facebook to find vacant homes to break into and posting that someone is on vacation could give them that information. I will only post what my clients give me permission to post and then I will not identify them by full name.



Q: Other agencies have a testimonial page, why don't you.
A: I am in the process of constructing a testimonial page to add to my website and will not post fake testimonials to try to entice people to book with me or use my services. Until I do get this page added to my website, I would be more than willing to contact my previous clients to see if they would give me a recommendation to you.

Q: Other agencies post deals and promotions before you do, why is that?
A: Posting a promotion before it is officially announced can is just asking for trouble. The people that are posting may not have the information correct and/or be completely wrong about the promotion that is coming out. Many Agencies lose their partnerships for jumping the gun on posting before an official announcement.


Q: Why did you get into the business and why do you specialize in what you do?
A: A couple of years back, I booked through a large national company that will stay unnamed  and was given extremely poor service. I walked in and told them what I wanted. They gladly took my money and gave me wrong information. They had no experience with the dining plan and the agent was confused when I asked if they could help with dining reservations. They got on the phone to see if they could do that and their answer was that they think they could, but it would cost extra. The agent was also telling my girls about attractions they could experience at Disney that were actually part of Universal. This left a bad taste in my mouth. So after several discussions with my wife, we  decided it was time to open up shop and to give it some personal character based on my profession of being a firefighter. I specialize in Central Florida and the Theme Parks because they have something for everyone. I love traveling there and some day hope to live there. I knew I could help people plan their vacations and have been successful at doing so.


Q: Why don't you post more cruise deals on your Facebook page or web page?
A: There are so many promotions that run with cruise lines and many times the promotions have very small windows for booking or a lot of restrictions to them.

Q: I emailed you but never heard back from you?
A: Sometimes my Emails end up in spam folders based on your email providers settings. Please make sure you add Matt@Firehousefamilyvacations.com to your safe list so it doesn't end up there. Make sure you check your spam folder at least 24 hours after you contact me to make sure the email has not end up there. If you prefer to be contacted by means other than email, please let me know.

Matt's Firehouse Family Vacations  Epcot 2013

The Disney Dining plan! 2013's Plan in action!

One of the most common questions I get when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Vacation Package for a client is, "Is the dining plan worth it?"  To be honest with you, there really is no simple answer  because every family eats differently. Disney recognizes this and has come up with some cookie cutter plans that try to appeal to a broad audience. This is great for some families and not so good for other families. I am not going to debate the the pro and cons of the plans in this post because I did that  a while back in another post that you can access by clicking here.  While the plans have changed slightly over the years, the pros and cons have pretty much stayed the same.

Can the Dining Plans save you Money? Yes! Can a Dining plan waste your Money? Yes!


So that we are all on the same page, here are the current prices and a little video Disney has put together to tell you the benefits you get with a dining plan.(price can change at anytime and dining plans can be changed at anytime by Disney) I have also included short break down of what each plan includes for 2013! The breakdown below can be found just about every where you look when looking for information on the dining plans, but not many sites actually put the plan in action for you.

Quick-Service Plan
Price Per Night 2013
Adult (Ages 10+) $37.58
Child (Ages 3-9) $14.32

The Quick Service includes the following for each resort guest:
2 Quick Service Meals per night stayed
Each meal includes an entrée or complete combo meal, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage
1 Snack Option per night stayed
1 Resort Refillable Mug for the length of stay

Standard Plan- This plan is suggested by Disney and Myself
Price Per Night 2013
Adult (Ages 10+) $55.59
Child (Ages 3-9) $17.16
***During Peak Season (typically summer and holidays), prices increase for the Basic Standard Plan to $56.94/night for Adults 10+ and $18.16/night for Children ages 3 to 9****

The Standard Plan includes the following for each resort guest:
1 Quick Service Meal per night stayed
Each meal includes an entrée or complete combo meal, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage.

1 Table Service Meal per night stayed
Each meal includes an entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage, or, if eating at a buffet, the full buffet.
1 Snack Option per night stayed
1 Resort Refillable Mug for the length of stay

Deluxe Plan
Price Per Night 2013
Adult (Ages 10+) $99.97
Child (Ages 3-9) $26.84
****During Peak Season, prices increase for Deluxe Dining Plans.to $102.27/night for Adults 10+ and $28.91/night for Children ages 3 to 9.****

The Deluxe Plan includes the following for each resort guest:
3 Meals per night stayed, which can be any combination of Table Service Meals and Quick Service Meals
Quick Service Meals include an entrée or complete combo meal, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage.
Table Service meals include an appetizer (lunch and dinner only), entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage, or, if eating at a buffet, the full buffet.
2 Snack Options per night stayed
1 Resort Refillable Mug for the length of stay


Now that we have the details down, it is time to put the standard Dining plan into action!

Here is a good tip: While there are some exceptions to the rule, Table Service meals used for lunch are a waste of money. You get more bang for your table service meals during breakfast or dinner. 

I am going to use the dining plan I have set up for my family to show how you can use the standard dining plan.
Being the outstanding planner that I am, for our trip at the end of March through first week of April, I made our table service reservations right at the 180 day mark when they became available to get the times and restaurants we wanted. This is the peak season and the longer I would have waited, the less likelihood I would have gotten restaurants or time we wanted. The wild cards in our dining plan here will be our daily snacks and quick service meals. Since we are only getting 2 meals a day, we are going to supplement our dining plan with some items in our room to get those of us in our family that want 3 meals a day that "extra" meal. We are using a personal shopper that will deliver things to our room from the grocery store, beating the high cost of the onsite gift shop. We prefer to use Orlando Theme Park Shoppers. For about $35, they are delivering us groceries  that will supplement that extra meal for our 8 night/9 day visit. Their delivery will consist of  some snack items but mostly breakfast items. It will save us money and time in the mornings.

Day 1 is going to be a quick service meal for us based on our arrival time. So lets say because of our arrival time we are going to eat dinner at the food court of our resort.
Hypothetically, 2 from our family will get Carved Roast Turkey served with two sides that would cost out of pocket  $10.19 a meal. Another family member decides to get an Angus Bacon Cheese burger with Fries for $9.39 and then the final member(who is a child) decides to get a pepperoni pizza for $5.99.All meals come with a drink and desert. This meal would cost right around $36 out of pocket if we were not on the dining plan. Today we opted out of a Table Service meal because we are going to use a 2 table service meal credit dining experience later in the week.

Day 2 For breakfast, those that choose to, will be having bagels with cream cheese, granola bars and some bananas that have been delivered to us by Orlando Theme Park Shoppers.
Today hypothetically we are starting the day at the Animal Kingdom and will be using a quick Service meal at Flame Tree Barbecue (Great quick service meal highly suggest this place) for lunch.  1 adult choose the Rib and Chicken combo for $11.99.  Adult #2 orders The Pulled Pork Sandwich for$8.99 and Adult # 3 gets the 1/2 Slab of Ribs for $11.69. The child gets the Hot Dog for $5.99(the hot dog is enough for an adult) all meals  include a drink and desert. Lunch out of pocket would cost roughly $39, but we are on the dining plan and it already paid for!

Two Quick Service meals from Flame Tree barbecue

For dinner we are going to the very popular O'hana's at the Polynesian and this is a table service meal. This is family style all you care to eat meal is offering carved meat and other goodies brought to our table. This will run $59.99 per adult and slightly cheaper for children. This meal will be about $220 out of pocket but since we are on the dining plan, I will be responsible for the tip and any alcohol we may decide to purchase. We will be leaving stuffed.

Day 3 Today we are going to do breakfast in the room again and then another quick service meal for lunch that  will cost us about $40. Dinner is going to be a Character Dining Experience at Chef Mickey's which is a table service meal. This a buffet style meal all you care to eat. Again this meal will cost us $59.99 per adult and slightly less again for the child, putting us back at $220 for the meal. Again since we are on the Dining plan, I will only be responsible for the tip.

So you get the idea here that things are expensive out of pocket and paying for the dining plan in advance can lessen the burden on you paying out pocket while on vacation. The only thing you have to really worry about is choosing how you want to spend your dining credits for each category(a vacation planner like myself can help you choose really good meals), the tips, alcohol, and anything you may went to add to the meal i.e appetizers. For the rest of the post, I am going to skip putting in projected cost out of pocket. 

Day 4 We are going to shake thing up a little. Not only are we doing a table service meal for breakfast. We are doing a table service meal that will cost us 2 table service meal credits per person. We are having the Signature Dining experience/Character Dining at Cinderellas Royal Table! This plated meal, NOT all you care to eat.This a great location plus we get some one on one time with the Princesses when they come to our table for autographs and photo ops. Our princesses might not be so charming with the early morning wake up call to get here.
Later in the day will probably use a snack credit for something to munch on then have an early quick service dinner at which ever park we end up at for the evening. We love to park hop.

Day 5 Tonight we are dining at EPCOT for another great Character Dining experience table service meal at the Garden Grill Restaurant in the Land Pavilion  It is another all you care to eat family style meal and character meal with the added bonus of a restaurant that slowly turns while you dine! We will probably grab a quick service meal in the World Showcase for lunch and use a snack credit for Churros to watch Illuminations.

Intergalatic tunes from Sonny Eclipse

Day 6  Our table service meal will be at The Crystal Palace for dinner, another all you care to eat Character Dining experience. Again this morning, breakfast will be in the room and we may opt for an early quick service lunch at the the Magic Kingdom. One my Favorites is Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland  Not only is there a decent selection of quick service meals here, there is a great topping bar and you get entertained while you eat from Sonny Eclipse!

Day 7  We will be experiencing  the brand new Be our Guest Restaurant for dinner for our table service meal. We aren't sure what to expect here, but hear great things about it. During the day, if you want brave long lines, this restaurant is quick service meal. I hear it is great and maybe one of the days we are in the Magic Kingdom, we may try out the quick service offerings. This morning we be opting for a quick service meal at the food court of our resort.

Day 8 Tonight we will be dining at the Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano with and it will include the Fantasmic! package for our table service meal. What is the Fantasmic package? Well you will get your normal table service meal with reserved seating later in the evening at Fantasmic! We will probably have a quick service meal for lunch at  Typhoon lagoon today. We will also probably use some snack credits here for some treats while we wait for Fantasmic! to start.

Day 9 is our departure day. If we have any quick service meals left or snack credits left, before we head to the airport we will use them up at our resort. If we don't use them, we lose them. This is one way the dining plan can "lose" you  money.

So if you are keeping score, here is summary of the highlights of our Standard Dining Plan.
4 Character  meals
1 Fantasmic! Dining package meal
1 Signature Dining Experience that takes 2 table service meals.
Half of our Table Service meals are all you care to eat.
We haven't used many of our snacks or maybe we will along the way.  

Here is a tip: if you have snack credits at the end of your trip, stay away from bottles of pop and bottled water. Why you ask. You can't get past security with them at the airports and they will end up being put in the trash!

In my opinion, this is a lot of food to consume and more food than I normally would consume while at home, but then again, We are on Vacation.

While this is not an all-star line up for the dining plan, it more than meets my families needs and we save money and time in the mornings by using Orlando Theme Park Shoppers for breakfast items.

I hope that sheds a little more light on the value you can get with a dining plan and may help you choose one way or the other if you want to use it during your vacation. No matter how you look at it, using a Dining Plan or not using the Dining Plan will make Disney money no matter what, so ultimately it is your choice as to when they get your money.

I choose to promote Orlando Theme Park Shoppers because they offer excellent service at an affordable price. Orlando Theme Park Shoppers does not offer me any incentive to promote their business. I gladly promote businesses I believe in and never seek anything from them in return and believe word of mouth is one of best forms of advertisements. 

Tell us your experience with your dining plans at Disney.

Disney Cruises: What your cruise fare gets you!

Lets face it, there is a misconception out there that Disney Cruise Line® cruises are for only kids. That could not be further from the truth! Disney Cruise Line® is an award winning cruise line that caters perfectly to adults, children, and families! There is something for everyone on these luxury ships! You really can't go wrong when choosing a Disney Cruise!
Here is a sampling of the awards that Disney Cruise Line®  has recently earned:

The  Disney Fantasy®, recently earned the top honor of Best Large Ship, Large Ship Best Cabins, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms and Best Service in the Cruise Critic 2013 Cruisers’ Choice Awards.

Disney Cruise Line® was recognized as # 1 in the Large-Ship Cruise Lines for Families category in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2012, for the fourth consecutive year.

Disney Cruise Line® was recognized as the #1 Cruise Line in the Large-Ship category in the Condé Nast Traveler 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards.

That is a lot of #1 especially with all the choices that are out there for cruise vacations. So what do you get with your basic cruise fare on this amazing fleet of ships?

After you choose from the large variety of  itineraries  that Disney has lined up, your basic cruise fare will get you:

• A stateroom that the rest of the cruise industry envy!
•  Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, along with soft drinks served at meals and at the beverage station on Deck 9
• Snacks and ice cream where they are offered on  the ship!
• All onboard activities and entertainment!

That is right just about everything on board is included in your fare

What will cost you extra:

• Port adventures 
• The spa or salon on the ships
• Phone calls and Internet usage(make sure your cell phone plan can make international calls)  
• Professional Photos taken on board and in port.
• Video games
• Alcoholic beverages(every cruise line charges for alcohol)

Want to know more?  Check out this video to see all the details that go into your cruise with Disney!

Disney Cruise Line® may not have mammoth fleet like other cruise lines, but their 4 ships dazzle everyone that steps onboard! Once you take your first cruise with Disney you will  want to continue to come back again and again! Check out the video below to see Disney's spectacular  fleet that make dreams come true!

Have you sailed the high seas on the Disney Cruise Line®? Tell us your experience!
Need a quote or to book a cruise on this amazing line of ships? Contact me today for your FREE, NO OBLIGATION quote!

Need something Special on your Orlando Vacation?

Challenges arise when traveling when it comes to bringing the stuff you want with you. As all air travelers are aware, there are strict guidelines for carry-on and checked luggage. Passengers may not carry any liquid or gel over 3.4 ounces including shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and Snow Globes, yes Snow Globes! Most of the theme parks have them for sale. Then there are the times when traveling you forget something and walk down to your resort's gift shop to be limited with over priced merchandise that is not your brand! You may even have a special diet that can sometimes be a hassle. This should not be an obstacle and  ruin your vacation. The perfect way to hurdle this obstacle and carry on with your vacations is to use a personal shopper.

What is a Personal Shopper?

Many personal Shoppers specialize in buying grocery items and delivering them to you at your resort. I prefer to use personal shopper that does more than that! That is why I choose Orlando Theme Park Shoppers. They do more than just grocery shopping. They can make Gift Bags for special occasions, grab that special souvenir you forgot to buy at the parks (if it still available) and ship it too you, grab those items you forgot or could not bring on the plane, and also deliver the groceries you want and the brands you want right to your resort.

How does Orlando Theme Park Shoppers work?

At least 7 days prior to your visit, orders can be sent to Orlando Theme Park Shoppers' email or Facebook page.  They will send you a quote (cost of items, sales tax, 18% service fee, $10 delivery fee) back to you. At that time they will send you a way to make payment to them  that is secure and then will purchase your items for delivery to your resort. Upon delivery of your items to your resort, they will notify you through email and Facebook to let you know your items have arrived to bell services/front desk of your hotel. The great thing is that all onsite hotels in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® RESORT and UNIVERSAL ORLANDO® RESORT are equipped to keep any perishables cold for you and have mini fridges in the rooms. Orlando Theme Park Shoppers handle emergency orders as well for an additional $15 fee that can be filled that day!

Suggested items to get from Orlando Theme Park Shoppers?

Have Orlando Theme Park Shoppers grab you a case of water for the warm sunny days, suntan/sunblock, Baby items, Ponchos, souvenir you forgot to buy, breakfast items, fresh fruit, juice, shampoo, sports drinks, the list goes on and on.

Orlando Theme Park Shoppers can make your vacation simpler and reduce your stress so you can enjoy your vacations more!
Make sure you stop by and like their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoThemeParkShoppers

Disney's "New" Technology to Enhance your Vacation!

This will be an important Icon
for your Next Disney Vacation

Updated Monday 1/7/2013 at the bottom of the post
This new program has been officially named MyMagic+ Experience.

There are many benefits to using a travel agent when you go on any vacation. Disney in the near future will introduce some "New" Technology to enhance your vacation that maybe confusing. A travel agent, like myself, will help you understand and help you utilize this technology to get the most out of your Disney vacation(for free even).Disney has been quietly working for a number of years on "new" technology to make your vacation extremely unforgettable. How quiet you ask? Unless you are directly involved in the project, the project doesn't exist. The only idea that something was going on was/is the massive dollar amount that has been spent on "something" keeping profits down in the year end reports to stockholders. How big of a dollar amount? It has been estimated that Disney has spent close to $1.5 billion dollars on this project  nicknamed by insiders as NextGen. My personal speculation is that NextGen has been in the works since before My Pal Mickey made his debut(click here to learn more). It appears as 2013 approaches, we are inching closer to the big reveal of what NextGen is and how it will enhance your vacation experience.

Pieces of NextGen began to emerge from secrecy and were installed around the Walt Disney World resort in the spring of 2012. While not ground breaking, these first pieces of technology came in the form of WiFi.  People in the resorts that it began to pop up in were overjoyed that they now had FREE  wireless connections for their laptops, tablets, and Smart Phones. Of course there were others that grumbled that it was about time. Then with the opening of the Arts of Animation Resort, a larger piece of the mystery of NextGen came to light. All of the locks at the Arts of Animation Resort were RFID locks. Those locks began to spread to every resort  and every guest room, one resort at a time. This process is still ongoing.

What is RFID? 

This is the quick and dirty look at  RFID. RFID or Radio-frequency identification is a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency(RF) to transfer data from a tag to a sensor. This RF allows for automatic identification and tracking. It is speculated that Disney's RFID tags require no battery and are read at short ranges. The tag contains SECURED electronically stored information which can be read from up to several  yards away from a DISNEY sensor. Disney will be able to personalize RFID tags with specific information. This technology is not new, it has just become more affordable. It was invented in 1945 and began to have larger uses in the 1970's. 

Why it is important?

Disney's Point of Sale RFID Scanner

Disney is not stopping at door locks that use RFID technology. Test began at EPCOT using RFID Tickets. Disney removed a section of Turnstiles at EPCOT, gave a certain amount of test subjects RFID stickers to place on their tickets and told them when you go to EPCOT, walk near a specific entrance point to enter. It was virtually a barrier free entrance staffed by Cast Members that could rectify any problems that could occur. This meant no hold ups from  strollers being manipulated through gates and tickets having to be re scanned over and over causing lines to form.  Disney says it went off without a hitch. Since this original test,they have successfully tested at The Hollywood Studios and The Magic Kingdom.  So if you are keeping track, with RFID you can open your resort door and get into the theme parks with it. It doesn't stop there! A while back Disney did a small test with a certain mouse at his Town hall Meet-n-Greet. That test included a Talking Mickey Mouse......that could identify children by name.....Kid's and adults alike light up when they meet the mouse, but imagine their surprise when he knows your name without you telling him. Of course, the information on your RFID device is doing that seamlessly. Other aspects of RFID appear to incorporate payment options, pre-ordered meals, and FastPass+. More to come on those at a later time.

Disney's FastPass+  RFID Reader

 Wait a second, I thought you this was a quiet project that didn't exist how do you know so much?? 

I have been following this for a while, because it intrigues me. The possibilities seem endless on how RFID could be used with other technologies and the personalization that can come from them. Disney began to unveil how some of the technology will be used in a place most people over look. I guess you can say hidden in plain site.
   Over the summer, Disney released a new phone app called My Disney Experience. With that app, in the terms of agreement that many people don't read, there were many features of Disney's NextGen Technology that you had to agree to. Yes, you should read the terms of agreements! I was able to get some hands on experience with the app on my vacation to Walt Disney World in September. It worked wonderfully when connected to Disney's FAST WiFi network. Once off  WiFi, it was sluggish and not worth a damn to be bluntly honest. So as you can gather the WiFi is important.

When it came to RFID, Cast members and test subjects began to relay their experiences online in forums and videos( yes there were some hoaxes out there but there is also solid evidence). I also had my own experience with RFID in September when I wanted to check out the Big Blue pool area at the Arts of Animation Resort. Well, since I was not a guest at the resort and had no RFID "key", the only view I got of the Big Blue was from the fence surrounding the pool. Simple, yet effective. Think of the safety measure that has for kids that may sneak away from their parents! No Key, No Entry! I know its not a novel idea here, but most pools around the Disney Resorts aren't fenced in and pool hopping used to be a favorite past time.

A" Blogosphere" controversy arose over another test that Disney attempted with the use of RFID. This test involved limiting guest of abuse of refillable mugs and pop purchases at one of the All-Star resorts. Lets face it, many return visitors bring back their refillable mugs from trip to trip. Some people even take them into parks or keep their other cups through out the day hitting unmanned soda fountains and getting free refills. Clearly when a refillable mug is purchased, it is noted that it is to be used for your length of stay at the resort you are checked-in to. Disney came up with this crazy idea of keeping guest honest by placing an RFID tag in the Refillable Resort mugs and cups purchased at the All-Star Resort. The soda fountain would only activate when the RFID tag was recognized. The Tag would expire in x amount of days, meaning if you came back months later, you had to buy a new refillable mug like the original program intended. CURSE YOU DISNEY for making people follow the rules! As you might suspect, if every soda fountain had this technology across the resort, it could save Disney money in the long run and "virtually" stop theft or bending of the rules.

I will take Blue....

Personalized "Magic Band"

The biggest piece of information to date fell into place in October when Disney filed with the FCC to be able to use RF devices and Wall Street wanting some answers from Disney's CEO Robert Iger. To appease Wall Street, Mr.Iger gave out just enough information to get them off the companies back. From that information surfaced pictures of the "magic band". It is a wristband that looks to be your room key, credit card, theme park ticket, FastPass+, dining plan, and identification. Then Last weekend, Disney selectively rolled out a new website for Walt Disney World(go ahead check to see if you were lucky enough to get it) that you had to have an account for called My Disney Experience....Yep Same name as the app. Right there in the Terms and Conditions again, that most people probably skipped over, Disney displayed what technology they will use and how it will work for you and them!

The big reveal date has not been announced by Disney yet. More than likely it will be a gradual roll out like the RFID locks at the resorts. Many details are still under lock and key but will leak out when more testing is done. A big detail still be determined is if any of the NextGen initiative will cost anything extra for you or if it would be included in your vacation packages. There is some speculation that some resort levels(moderate and deluxe) may have some perks added to entice you to stay there. Then there is that pesky wording in the terms of agreement that state "Depending on the Experience benefits you have purchased..." which opens the door to speculation that you will have to purchase certain items on top of your package or ticket.

Disney is not the only resort in Orlando eyeing RFID, Wifi, and other Technology to enhance your vacations. Last week Universal Orlando introduced an RFID refillable mug for their Coke Freestyle Machines. Darn you Disney for making Universal Orlando return visitors honest!!!! Universal Orlando also is currently looking to expand WiFi throughout their parks and resorts. There are even rumblings RFID technology might show up in a game or experience for the Harry Potter Expansion. That could give some interesting interactivity with those nice expensive wands people purchase!

As with any new program there will be a learning curve and growing pains.Some people that wear tinfoil on their heads and produce conspiracy therories will make up hoaxes and urban legends about what is to come. There are even those that are already making plans to break the system.( I prefere to enjoy my vacation, not get banned from Disney) Things will change and be tweaked. As for me, I am glad Disney's NextGen is ready to break out and enhance Vacations!
What are your thoughts on the enhancements on the way?

Officially announced enhancements by Disney 

• Hidden sensors will read MagicBand data, providing information needed for a personalized greeting: “Hi, Angie,” the character might say without prompting. “I understand it’s your birthday.”

• The Under the Sea attraction features a robotic version of Scuttle the sea gull from “The Little Mermaid” that will be able to chitchat with MagicBand wearers.

• An online options menu will offer various controls: Do you want park employees to know your name? Do you want Disney to send you special offers when you get home? What about during your stay?

• MyMagic+ will allow users of a new Web site and app — called My Disney Experience — to preselect three FastPasses before they leave home for rides or V.I.P. seating for parades, fireworks and character meet-and-greets.

* Disney plans to introduce collectible sets of MagicBand accessories and charms.

The  system will be available at no additional cost. The basic MagicBand RFID bracelet can be upgraded to a customized band, such as a Princess band, for an additional fee. This is only a cosmetic change however, and does impact the actual experience.

Guests will be able to use kiosks inside the parks to choose FASTPASS+ experiences as well as using smartphones or websites.

The system is opt in, and is not required. However, if you do not use 'MyMagic+' you will not be able to use FASTPASS+.

Stay tuned right here and I will get you the latest and greatest information on the new experience!

Adam TheWoo

Want a unique look at DisneyWorld or Universal Orlando? Have you ever wondered what happened to old attractions like River Country or maybe the Nickelodeon Studios? Were you able to capture your 24 hour marathon at the Magic Kingdom on February 29th,2012? Maybe you wish you could find locations that some classic movies were filmed? One such man is doing that this very moment and you can share in his  adventures. Adam TheWoo is the adventurer that does things most of us only dream of and Youtube is his current venue!

Wonder what Adam TheWoo is filming today...another amazing video

First let me warn you his videos are awesome, but what Adam does is not necessarily authorized and you probably should not try them on your own. It is also important to note that from his own bio on his webpage  he makes it very clear "I will NEVER break into a place, steal anything, spray paint walls or destroy anything. I am completely opposed to all these things!"

Adam has amassed over 11,000 Youtube followers and that number is climbing everyday! The adventures he embarks on gives some really cool perspectives on some great locations and abandoned places.

Adam TheWoo on Location at Universal Studios
taking time chat and pose for a picture with Me

I was fortunate enough to happen upon Adam's Youtube channel about a year and half ago and even more fortunate to run into him in September when he was preparing to make a new video at Universal Studios. Occasionally in his videos you can see him wearing one of our Matt's Firehouse Family Vacations t-shirts.:) It was great to meet him in person and see how he films his adventures. The day I was able to meet him, he was able to capture an experience with his camera that many people's pictures(including mine) can't do justice. You can check out that experience by clicking here, then check out some of these great videos. 

EPCOT 30th adventure

River Country

24 Hours at the Magic Kingdom

Nickelodeon Studios

Jurassic Park Triceratops Attraction

These are just a sampling of the videos that  Adam does and there are more to come. Adam is currently on road filming more amazing videos and could use your support. Follow him on twitter, and like him on Facebook to see where he is going next.

The View Has Changed.....2012

In 13 months the view from the Contemporary Resort Hotel's roof has changed once again 

This is how it looked in August of 2011

Click on Image for larger picture

This is the same view from September 2012. Slightly different angle and zoom.

Click on Image for larger picture

The New FantasyLand has grown and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster has risen.

Click on Image for larger picture

Click on Image for larger picture

The view is sure to be different in March of 2013. With the California Grill closing for an overhaul we hope we are able to get up there and get some more pictures.

Want to see this view  looked in 2003 click here

Before there was NextGen there was and is Pal Mickey

NextGen is the new buzzword around the Disneysphere and Disney is sinking major amounts of money into this project. The entire scope of the project is only known to those  directly involved in the research and implementation,  but pieces of information have found their way into blogs and guesses have been made to what it will entail.We have begun to see some testing of some of the features the NextGen project will have like  FastPass+ and the new phone App My Disney Experience but there really hasn't been a time table set for a complete roll out of the project yet. There are rumors and some facts presented that NextGen will run on the newly installed WIFI in the parks & resorts and that it will also use RFID technology. RFID technology is in full use at the new Arts of Animation Resort and RFID locks are starting to make their way into other resorts. The NextGen project has been heralded as something that will make guest experiences much more entertaining and save them time; increasing their satisfaction and overall experience at the Walt Disney Resort.While this project has been in the works for a number of years, I would argue the first piece of NextGen was tested and still can be found in use today at Walt Disney World in the form of Pal Mickey.

Pal Mickey 1.0 We have the first version. He is a small guy.

So what is this Pal Mickey? It was a neat little souvenir I picked up for my daughter back on one of trips in 2003…. It is a small plush Mickey Mouse that contains a microprocessor, a speaker, is powered by three AA batteries, and has an infrared receiver in its nose. This infrared receiver would allow it to communicate with a few hundred infrared transmitters around the parks and resorts on the Disney Property. When certain transmitters were in range Mickey would start to laugh and vibrate. You would then have to press his belly or squeeze his hand  so he could tell you  information about the immediate area, a parade, showtime reminders, tips on what costumed walkaround characters may be nearby, and attractions with short queue times. Kind of like a phone app without the phone.

 Pal Mickey was discontinued in October of 2008 and can still be found on eBay for purchase. Why is that important? There were three version released of Pal Mickey, all are said to still be able to work in the parks to this day. So in theory, if you bring a Pal Mickey into any of the Disney World Parks in Orlando, he should still work. Once you leave the park and are at home, Pal Mickey doesn’t become a mute useless souvenir. If you squeeze his hand or push his belly, he will tell jokes and play a few programmed games. He is supposed to have several hundred pre-recorded phrases, ours just keeps telling the same joke over and over.

His clip was just like a Cell phone belt clip, just with a Mouse hanging from it. 

Pal Mickey is a really cool idea and pricey souvenir. He looked stylish on your belt or hanging form a lanyard but the clip that allowed you to do this was not the most comfortable  He  provided some nice entertainment in the lines and through out the resorts. In my opinion, Pal Mickey could easily be considered NextGen 1.0. Why do you ask? Pal Mickey has been rumored to be able to track each individual device so it wouldn't play the same phrases over and over again also in theory tracking where you were in the park. This tracking is something that some people are  worried about the with use of RFID technology by Disney, because they could be able to track where you are on the resort and see what your spending your vacation dollars on. Practice for NextGen? Probably not, but a cool feature.If Disney is tracking me on property, more power to them. Maybe it could be used to track lost child? I am cool with that type of use.
Our Pal Mickey won't be joining us on our Adult trip this fall but may become a stowaway in one of our kids' suitcases for our spring break trip. Do you have a Pal Mickey? Have you brought him back to the park recently?