Hey guys! As you know we just got back from our August trip to WDW and we got to experience some awesome new things along the way. That is one of the greatest things about Disney is that it’s never the same vacation twice. I think NDL’s (non-Disney lovers, a breed of person I just don’t understand) wonder why we go to the same place every year. But it really never is the same place, is it? SO without further ado, the things we experienced for the first (or first-ish) time this year and absolutely loved:
Toy Story Land The brand spanking-new land in Hollywood Studios is open for business and we had so much fun hanging out, riding rides, and eating food. Slinky Dog Dash is a great family coaster. We simply love the Slinky Dog cars and the narration from the springy pooch himself. Alien Swirling Saucers was also a fun carnival-type ride. While it’s nothing Earth-shattering, the ride vehicles are adorable and the music is an awesome touch. The food we tried was really enjoyable and creative (love the pop-tarts!) The only downside was the well-publicized lack of shade, so we suggest visiting early in the morning and then definitely hitting it again after dark.
Mobile Ordering This was rolled out sometime in 2017, but we couldn’t take advantage of it on our last trip because it wasn’t yet dining plan-compatible. Well, now you can order from several quick-serve restaurants around the parks and pay with a credit card or deduct a credit from your DDP. Mobile ordering is a game changer. While waiting for the parade or queuing for a ride, open the My Disney Experience app, find the restaurant you want, order what you like and pay. Let the app know when you arrive to get your food and pick it up. It is so great. Bypassing the line for Dole Whip made me feel like such an insider!
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party I cannot say enough about this Dessert Party. We splurged as a birthday treat for myself and it was worth every penny. Seating, check. Air conditioning, check. Cocktails, check. The chance to heckle Stormtroopers, you betcha. I liked the fact that we could walk around Star Wars Launch Bay (where the party is held,) do character meet and greets and come back and eat and drink some more. It felt more like a party and less of an unbridled hour of shoving sweets in my face. And we ended the evening with a great view of the fireworks show.
Snacks What would a trip to Disney be without trying out the latest snacks? Well, we didn’t get to try everything, but the stand out of what we tasted was the new Peter Pan float at Storybook Treats. Lime Dole Whip with Sprite was a welcome treat in the heat of a sweltering summer day. We got to sample the Edna Mode crepe sundaes which are part of the Incredibles Summer Expo in Tomorrowland and the Not-So-Poison Apple Cupcake, available for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. That was one sweet but tasty seasonal cupcake. Definitely set aside some room on your gift card for sampling Disney snacks. You won’t be sorry.
New Disney Dining Plan Hmm, I’m starting to realize that most of these are food-related. Oh, well. This is the first year the dining plan includes alcohol and specialty drinks. It was really fun ordering the fancy fruity cocktails I usually never allow myself due to the outrageous cost. I think this is a good move for the dining plan and if you plan to pay for the plan, you really only get the best value out of it if you plan to order wine, beer, or cocktails. The only downside was eating at Be Our Guest, which only serves alcohol at dinner. I felt we weren’t getting a good value for our quick-serve credit, since soda and tea are the only beverage choices at the Beast’s castle. Still a great place for lunch!
The Stables at Fort Wilderness We have avoided going to Fort Wilderness in the past because we heard stories about how it was really inconvenient to get around with the internal bus system. Well, I really wanted to try Trail’s End, the buffet restaurant in the “town center” of the campground, so we chose a non-park day to mosey on over and check it out. First of all, what a great restaurant! But, I’m trying not to make this list all about food, so I’ll focus on what we did after eating. We walked around and visited the Tri-Circle-D Ranch stables, where the horses that pull the Main Street Trolley as well as Cinderella’s ponies are kept! There’s a great display about Walt’s love of horses and a gorgeous calliope. If you’re looking for a quiet, peaceful way to spend the afternoon, it’s worth the trip over to Fort Wilderness. And the busses run very frequently, so it’s not really inconvenient at all!
Well there you have it; our top new experiences for 2018. There are even more new things that we didn’t get to try (such as the new bird show at Animal Kingdom with characters from Up) but that’s always how it is. There’s so much to see and do at Walt Disney World, that you will never get to experience it all. And that’s the beauty of it. Have you tried any of these experiences? What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear your comments!
The Budget Disney Diva 