Disney | Love Dwells Here

Jennifer February 16, 2021 Disney

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

With festivals running nearly year-round, EPCOT always has something different going on. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, which runs in January and February, is one of our favorites. Focusing on culinary, performing, and visual arts, this festival is fun for all ages!

This year, the International Festival of the Arts is running from January 8 – February 22, 2021. As with all festivals at EPCOT, crowds are significantly higher on weekends when locals flock to the park, so we recommend doing EPCOT during the week if you can.

In 2020, the girls and I took a girls’ trip to Disney World and visited EPCOT to check out the festival. We had so much fun that this year I brought just the boys.

It’s been a couple of years since the boys visited EPCOT, so in addition to the festival stuff, they wanted to hit the rides as well. We arrived before the park opened – they let people in about 45 minutes early – and after taking a few pictures, made a beeline for Test Track. With one headliner out of the way, we decided to check out the festival offerings.

One of my favorite aspects of the Festival of the Arts is the famous works of art that you can pose inside. The boys LOVED climbing into pieces that they’ve seen or learned about in school and actually becoming a part of the art – at least for long enough to take a picture!

Throughout the park, there are various artists that you can watch as they create their works. We really enjoyed the chalk art and checked back on the progress several times throughout our day at EPCOT.

The chalk art lines the walkways and bridges before you get to World Showcase, and let me tell you, this stuff is IMPRESSIVE!

In addition to chalk art, the International Festival of the Arts is also about culinary art. Since I was traveling with three teen boys, they made it their mission to try as many things as possible.

DECONSTRUCTED DISH Deconstructed BLT: Crispy Pork Belly, Soft-poached Egg, Brioche, Watercress Espuma, and Tomato Jam

Overall, this one was probably a 7/10 for our crew. The flavors worked well together, but we would have liked a bit more toast for dipping in all the egg yolk!

DECONSTRUCTED DISH Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake: Whipped New York-style Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries and Sugar Cookies

This was quite possibly our FAVORITE dish at Festival of the Arts and definitely a 10/10. It wasn’t too sweet, and the sugar cookies added a nice crunch. This one is perfection.

DECONSTRUCTED DISH Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings of London® Chai Tea Shake with Maple Syrup garnished with a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (non-alcoholic)

We all really enjoyed this one, too. It’s definitely on the sweet side, given that it has maple syrup (and candied bacon), and it was a solid 8/10.

REFRESHMENT PORT Lobster Poutine: Lobster, Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, Pickled Jalapeños, and Citrus Cream

This one was most definitely a 10/10. Lots of big pieces of lobster and delicious flavor combos! This was probably the most filling snack that we ordered all day, and the pickled jalapeños offered some serious spice.

During a break from snacking, we watched this guy do this entire painting while he danced around to music. We were in awe of his ability to not only paint exceptionally but to do it while dancing around in front of an audience.

L’ART DE LA CUISINE FRANCAISE Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm Creamy Brie in a House-made Bread Bowl

It’s melted cheese in a bread bowl, what’s not to like?! Another 10/10.

L’ART DE LA CUISINE FRANCAISE Croissant à la Truffle Noir d’Hiver: Black Winter Truffle Croissant

This one was a bit different, and we were most definitely split on liking it vs. not. Overall, I’d say this is a 6/10, but I think you’ll either really like it or really not; there’s not much in-between.

They loved snacking around World Showcase on this trip. We don’t often do festival food with five kids because the cost can really add up, but since this was a special trip (and what we were there for), we tried LOTS. Instead of ordering several of each option, we ordered one of everything we tried, and there was enough for everyone to have at least a bite (but usually more) of each.

VIBRANTE & VÍVIDO: Passion Fruit Mousse with Dragon Fruit Jam

I know everyone has raved about this treat but it really fell flat for us. Even looking past the smooshed presentation of our order, there was something about the texture that none of us really enjoyed. We gave it a 4/10 overall and would not order it again.

VIBRANTE & VÍVIDO: Coconut and Passion Fruit Smoothie (non-alcoholic)

The smoothie, on the other hand, was delicious! Definitely a 10/10, especially considering that you can keep the cute cup!

VIBRANTE & VÍVIDO: Blue Corn Pupusa-stuffed with Cheese and topped with Shredded Pork, Guajillo and Árbol Chile Sauce, Cabbage Slaw, and Aji Amarillo Crema

A little bit spicy, and a whole lotta color, this one was a 7/10 for us. The blue corn pupusa was either overcooked or kind of old because we found it difficult to cut or even chew. But the pork + slaw + sauce combo was spot on.

GOSHIKI Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Cucumber and Seasame Seed over a decorated plate of Wasabi Aïoli, Sriracha, and Eel Sauce

Always a crowd favorite, the sushi donut did not disappoint. It was one of Lexie’s favorites last year, and the teen boy sushi lovers enjoyed it, too. This was a 10/10 for our crew.

FUNNEL CAKE STAND: Red Velvet Funnel Cake topped with Cream Cheese Icing and Pixie Dust

Nick is OBSESSED with all things red velvet, so this was a must-do for him, and he LOVED it – and ate the whole thing! According to him, it was a 10/10.

FUNNEL CAKE STAND: Funnel Cake topped with Oreos and a Slab of Ice Cream (not a Festival exclusive)

The other two are not red velvet fans and opted to share the Cookies and Cream funnel cake which they also loved! Another 10/10 from the teen boys.

Crossing the Delaware with General Washington – and using his phone to check for directions.

KARAMELL-KÜCHE: Caramel Corn (not a Festival treat but a must-do when we’re in EPCOT – check out more of our favorite EPCOT treats!)

REFRESHMENT OUTPOST: Warm Brown Sugar Stuffed Pretzel with Banana Soft-Serve and Chocolate Sauce

At this point in our walk around World Showcase, the teens were not very hungry, which is odd since that never happens at home, where they also eat constantly!. But still, they couldn’t pass the Refreshment Outpost without trying this pretzel, especially since we were all intrigued with the banana soft serve. And it’s a good thing we stopped because this treat was both decadent and delicious- another 10/10.

POP Eats: Tomato Soup with French Onion and Bacon Grilled Cheese

Another hit for our group! The sandwich was grilled perfectly, and the bacon makes the grilled cheese feel a bit more grown-up – but you know we still dipped it in the tomato soup! This was a 10/10 for us though I wish our soup had been served in the decorated can like I’ve seen elsewhere on the internet.

The 3D chalk art is one of the most impressive aspects of the festival. We walked by in the morning, and while we could tell it was a table, we weren’t really sure what exactly the finished product would be. And by late afternoon, it was pretty much done and very impressive. Nate Baranowski does some phenomenal work!

While we loved snacking around World Showcase, I honestly think watching the artists and seeing the finished chalk art was one of my favorite aspects of the festival.

Continuing with the immersive theme of the Festival of the Arts, many of the construction walls around EPCOT (and right now, there are a lot!) are wing walls. There are painted butterfly wings on the walls so that you can stand in front of them and pose for pictures.

They come in varying sizes, so there are butterfly wings for the little ones, too! Disclaimer: This picture was from the 2019 Festival of the Arts. Masks are currently required, even when taking photographs.

Another favorite at the International Festival of the Arts is the giant paint by number mural. You can get a little cup of paint and a sponge brush and paint five squares of the enormous mural. Over the course of a few days, it’s fun to watch the design come together and turn into a work of art. Disclaimer: This picture was from the 2019 Festival of the Arts. Masks are currently required, even when taking photographs.

After you paint your squares, you get a small print (like a postcard) of the image you helped create. Disclaimer: This picture was from the 2019 Festival of the Arts. Masks are currently required, even when taking photographs.

We stayed at EPCOT until park closing, and it was a fun day full of delicious food and beautiful art. In addition to all of the festival fun, we still managed to ride: Test Track, Mission Space, Soarin’, and Living with the Land. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to share the International Festival of the Arts with the boys this year! Have you been before?? What’s your favorite aspect??

Jennifer January 29, 2021 Family

Kids in the Kitchen with Arnold Bread

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Arnold Organic Bread.

Arnold Organic Bread has long been my go-to, and now that they have Arnold Organic White made with Whole Wheat Bread, it’s Ellie’s favorite, too! And her favorites, Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are right on the package, making it a total win with the elementary school crowd!

Ellie has been begging to help in the kitchen more, and now that she’s SEVEN (sidenote: how is that even possible?!), I figured that she’s old enough to use the stove – while supervised, of course! I love carving some time out of our chaotic schedule to spend some one-on-one time with each one of the kids, though at this age, I feel like Ellie appreciates it the most.

Grilled cheese is her all-time favorite lunch, and it just might be her favorite food ever, so it was the clear first choice as we figured out what she could learn to make. And if I’m being completely honest, it’s one of my favorite lunches, too, so it was totally fine by me!

She listened intently to all the instructions before we started. I’ve found that going over the whole recipe before we start, as well as any expectations, makes the whole thing run smoothly and stay fun – whether you’re dealing with kids or adults. And really, who wants to learn to cook if the experience isn’t fun?!

She was SO proud of herself when she slid her perfectly grilled cheese out of the pan, and she was excited to dig right in! White made with whole wheat bread is perfect for picky eaters since it combines a soft, smooth texture, and great nutrition (including vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E).

I quickly whipped up a grilled cheese sandwich for myself and pulled up a chair next to my sweetheart, and we enjoyed lunch together. While we ate, we chatted about cooking and what she wants to learn to make next!

I love that the bread is made with whole grain without any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or high fructose corn syrup, and she loves that it has the delicious white bread flavor. It’s a win-win for everyone!!

Grilled cheese, an apple, and a glass of milk – it’s Ellie’s favorite lunch and one that checks all my boxes – delicious, nutritious, and now, one that she can make all on her own!

Jennifer August 11, 2020 Disney

Tony’s Town Square | Magic Kingdom

One of the oldest restaurants at Magic Kingdom, Tony’s Town Square, is located near the train station on Main Street. This turn-of-the-century trattoria features hearty Italian meals and a cute Lady and the Tramp theme.

While I remember visiting as a teen, we haven’t been in 20 years, mostly due to the subpar reviews I’ve seen online and the fact that there are plenty of other places to eat at Magic Kingdom. But, the current COVID situation prompted us to finally give Tony’s a try. The main factor going for it – it’s the only table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom with outdoor seating – an absolute must for our family right now.

I made a 2pm reservation so that we would get a break from the heat/humidity and our masks at the hottest part of the day. We arrived about 15 minutes early and completed mobile check-in from the My Disney Experience app. After we were all checked in I went up to the podium and requested a table outside on the terrace, and since no one was actually sitting out there (which I found shocking!), I was told it would be no problem. Five minutes later we were seated outside by ourselves in the fresh air.

Rather than using traditional menus, or disposable paper menus, you’re given a piece of paper with a QR code so that you can pull the menu up on your phone. We had several phones at our table so it was no problem to bring up the menus on all of them and share, but I could see it being an issue if you only had one phone- or even worse, no phone! I’m sure that they have traditional menus available just in case that type of situation arises.

Every meal at Tony’s starts with bread service, and oh my gosh was it delicious!! The kids devoured the bread and wanted to ask for more but I opted to skip another round of bread so that they would eat their lunches.

Ellie had fun posing for pictures while we waited for our food. I think she really appreciated the break in the shade and the chance to be mask free for a while.

One of the best things about dining on the terrace at Tony’s Town Square is that you can watch the character cavalcades and the Main Street Marching Band coming down Main Street periodically. Plus, it’s a great spot for people-watching in general as you can watch people enter and leave the park.

Like all Disney restaurants, Tony’s Town Square is operating at reduced capacity. Inside the restaurant, it looked to be about half full, outside on the terrace it was just us and another party of two which was maybe 15 to 20% capacity.

And now, for the food! Not surprisingly, Nick ordered the pepperoni pizza.

But surprisingly, it was actually pretty good. Overall we are not huge fans of theme park pizza, but this one seemed like decent quality and Nick gobbled it up.

Been ordered the spaghetti and meatballs – from the adult menu – and it was delicious. Lexie ordered the spaghetti and meatballs from the kids’ menu, but it didn’t come with very much sauce, so definitely ask for extra if your kiddo likes a lot of sauce.

As usual, Ellie ordered the kids pepperoni pizza and she enjoyed it, she gave me a bite of the crust and I thought it was good for theme park pizza.

Chris was more adventurous with his menu choice, and ordered the Scampi Pasta (shrimp & mussels in an herb butter sauce) which he said was absolutely delicious!

And you can’t eat it in Italian restaurant without getting dessert but our table was split on what to order so we ended up with a few choices. First up, the tiramisu that Nick ordered and said was delicious – I didn’t even get a bite.

One of the options with the kids meals at Tony’s is a cute little ice cream sundae with Mickey sprinkles. I love when dessert is included in Disney kids meals because it’s one less treat I have to pay extra for

We also ordered the cannoli – sidenote, did you know that the plural is actually cannoli and the singular is cannolo?

Overall, we really enjoyed Tony’s Town Square. I wouldn’t say it’s the best food we’ve ever eaten, nor would it be my first choice table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom once this is all over, but everyone enjoyed the meal. The fact that we were able to dine outdoors and still stay in Magic Kingdom is definitely the biggest pro right now. With the limited park hours all around Walt Disney World, gone are the days where I’m willing to head to a resort in the middle of the day for a break since it eats up so much of the available park time. I’ve always felt that dining options are somewhat limited at Magic Kingdom – especially now since not everything is open – but Tony’s Town Square is somewhere that I would definitely go back to again, even once every where is open and things are back to normal.

TIPS FOR DINING AT TONY’S TOWN SQUARE

Reservations are required- you can make them online through My Disney Experience 60 days prior to arrival
Dining reservations will require valid theme park admission AND a theme park reservation
Located on Main Street at Magic Kingdom
If you’re interested in dining on the terrace, you can request outdoor seating at the podium after completing mobile check-in.

Jennifer August 4, 2020 Disney

Magic Kingdom in Our Current COVID World- Is the Magic Still There?

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom reopened on July 11, 2020, following a nearly four-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were there on Reopening Day, and after mulling my thoughts about it for almost a month, I’m ready to share!

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This summer we were originally planning to go on an extensive seven-week road trip of the Eastern US and Canada, but that obviously got canceled due to COVID. When Walt Disney World announced their reopening plans I quickly made hotel reservations “just in case” we decided to go and then as soon as they were released, I secured park reservations. Honestly, I went back-and-forth on the decision until a couple of days before we drove to Florida. Ultimately, I decided to go knowing that we would leave WDW if at any time I didn’t feel comfortable with the situation.

Rather than stay on site (super expensive with so many kids!!), we stayed at the nearby Marriott Harbour Lake, in a 2-bedroom villa with a full kitchen. This set-up gave us way more room to spread out as well as a kitchen where we *could have* cooked meals. We actually ate most meals in our villa, but we splurged and enjoyed take-out most days- it was a vacation after all!

Before leaving North Carolina, I explained to the kids that this trip was going to be VERY different from our usual visits to Disney since entertainment would be limited, I didn’t feel comfortable dining indoors, and everyone would need to wear a mask at all times. With cases rising in Florida and me getting more nervous as the trip got closer, we all agreed that we would give it a try and at a minimum, even if we just hung out at the hotel all day, it would be a change of scenery from our house.

I cannot begin to explain how exciting it was to drive under the Walt Disney World sign again. As an out-of-state passholder, I obviously do not go as often as locals, but just driving under the sign feels like coming home again- and it was even more exciting following such a lengthy closure.

On re-opening day, Magic Kingdom opened at 9am and we were in the line to get into the parking lot at around 815am. In the past couple of years, Main Street opened about an hour before the park officially opened, but that is not happening right now – hopefully, we get back to that soon. Parking was super easy- they’re alternating spaces in order to allow for distancing when you get out of your car. I hope that idea sticks around long-term because it was nice having room to get out of the car and get the stroller set up without worrying about hitting another car.

When you arrive at the Transportation and Ticket Center, new signage directs you to the temperature screening area.

The temperature screening is quick and painless- they use an infrared forehead thermometer and it took maybe five seconds per person- including the time to walk through the tent! The line moved quicker than I was expecting though I could see it getting bogged down a bit as capacity increases.

The girl doing ours was so sweet and explained the whole process to Ellie before she did it – even though Ellie wasn’t the least bit concerned. And yes, we still bring a double stroller even though Ellie is 6 and she’s the only one that can ride in it. The extra seat is great for carrying all of our stuff- like Clorox wipes and my camera gear!

Once you are through the temperature screening and bag check, you can choose between the ferry boat and the monorail to get to Magic Kingdom. We are big monorail fans so we went with that, even though the line looked longer. The monorail queue had clear lines marking where exactly you were supposed to stand to maintain their physical distancing requirements and the area surrounding the railing was blocked off as well to ensure that there was enough distance between parties in the two lines heading up to the monorail platform.

Once you get to the front of the monorail line, your party is assigned a number for a corresponding section on the monorail and while we were there, only one party was assigned per side of the cabin. – there’s a vinyl divider in the middle of the monorail cabin creating two sides. Masks are required on the monorail, just like in the rest of the areas of the resort.

We made it through the tapstyles – which are no longer requiring a fingerprint scan – and headed into the park. Cast members were seen out and about sanitizing railings and that continued throughout our day at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Characters are not at the usual meet and greet locations, but cute character cavalcades are running throughout the parks all day long. There are no posted times for these but when you hear music keep your eyes open because one will probably be coming your way soon. The character cavalcades (with the exception of the one carrying Pooh & Friends) all start in Frontierland by Splash Mountain and make their way to the hub and then down Main Street on the usual parade route.

Just like any day at Magic Kingdom, our first stop was the Main Street Bakery for a quick caffeine fix. The line was physically distanced, and running down the block, but it moved quickly and in an orderly fashion. There’s a CM posted of the door keeping an eye on everything and assisting with the flow of the line.

After we got our coffee, we headed down Main Street amidst light crowds and made our way to Cinderella Castle. Ellie was so excited to be “home“ she ran up the walkway towards the castle.

It’s not a proper return to Cinderella Castle if you don’t take a few selfies!!

I know there has been a lot of debate about mask-wearing and if it’s still worth it to take pictures in the parks – or to have PhotoPass. For our family, it’s still important to have those pictures because it is an accurate representation of going to the parks during the COVID-19 pandemic. While I hope masks are not required forever, and it’s definitely not my preference, I still want to be able to look back on this time and have accurate pictures of what we went through.

The Mickey and Friends Cavalcade is a fun one and Mickey and Minnie are still wearing their 90th birthday outfits. I was so happy to see my fave mouse again!

While I stayed in the hub area and took pictures of Cinderella Castle, the kids made their way to Space Mountain – and Ellie was finally tall enough to ride!!

Masks are required on the rides and I don’t see that rule going away anytime soon. It honestly didn’t seem to bother the kids at all – their masks stayed on fine on every ride that we went on all day.

We don’t usually get dole whip in Magic Kingdom (we usually get it from the Pineapple Lanai at the Polynesian) but it sounded like a refreshing treat on a hot day. Mobile Order was the only way to order food so make sure that you have the My Disney Experience app set up with a payment method ahead of time.

Jungle Cruise added plastic dividers on the benches in order to ensure that parties were separated from one another and they are not letting anyone sit in the center section. As could be expected, boats have way fewer people than normal, but with the limited capacity in the parks, wait times are still relatively short. We’ve always requested a seat towards the front where it is easier to hear the Jungle Cruise Skipper, and depending on the skipper that you get that is even more important with the current mask policy.

As a rule, we don’t visit Walt Disney World in the summer because it is ridiculously hot and humid. We have been in June and it was miserable, so if you would’ve told me a year ago that I would be visiting in July, I would have laughed at you. Seriously though, these personal fans were an absolute lifesaver and probably the item that I would recommend as most important for visiting the parks.

All of the ride queues are supporting these fancy new “please wait here“ markers to maintain physical distancing throughout the queue. Even with the switchbacks, we felt that the Pirates of the Caribbean line was adequately spaced and moved smoothly.

Row 15 for life!! The speed of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a great way to cool off on a hot day!

The Tangled Toilets are one of my favorite areas in the park and I have never seen this area completely empty during the day.

Next up we visited Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Plexiglass was added in the queue in order to minimize contact between people in the switchbacks in addition to the “please wait here” markers.

Ellie made the switch to a disposable mask before we rode and said it was much easier to breathe and wasn’t quite as hot. I definitely think disposable masks are the way to go if you’re doing the park on a hot and humid day.

Like other rides, masks are required on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train- and if you take yours off during the ride, you will not be able to get your PhotoPass picture. An empty row is left between parties so the ride is definitely not running at full capacity. When we exited the ride they announced that there would be a brief delay to sanitize the cars – I’ve heard this happens roughly every two hours.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is one of Ellie‘s favorite rides, so of course, we had to go on it- the fact that there was literally no line was just an added bonus. The rows of horses are marked with a number that is assigned to your party at the front of the line. No longer is there a mad dash to your favorite horse, you can only pick from the ones in your assigned row.

I still let the kids try their hand at the sword in the stone, but their hands were properly sanitized afterward. Cinderella‘s ugly stepsisters were greeting/harassing guests from the back of the castle and it was absolutely hilarious. We probably stood there for about 15 minutes listening to them interact with the (minimal) crowd and this character interaction is one that I hope sticks around for a long time.

Check out those cute kids and the back of Cinderella Castle! I love all of the gold accents on this side and the new paint job made them really pop! We walked through the castle and back down Main Street to Tony’s Town Square for an early afternoon lunch.

Tony’s is is the only table service restaurant at Magic Kingdom that has outdoor seating. At this point, I’m not comfortable taking masks off and dining indoors, so all of our meals on this trip were either outdoors or in our villa. We had never eaten at Tony’s before but were pleasantly surprised – make sure to check out the full review of Tony’s Town Square!

One of the best things about sitting on the terrace at Tony’s Town Square is that you can watch all of the entertainment going down Main Street from the character cavalcades to the main street marching band.

After a (spoiler alert!) delicious lunch, we walked over to the train station to check out the characters on the second floor. Oh my gosh, these characters were probably the highlight of my day! We’ve never been big on character meet and greets – the kids always preferred to use their time on rides instead of waiting in lines to awkwardly meet characters. So unless we just happened upon a character, it was it an exclusive meet and greet at an event, or it was character dining, we usually skipped meeting the characters.

However, the interaction with the characters at Magic Kingdom right now far exceeded my expectations. Pluto played this game of blowing kisses and catching them with Ellie for a solid five minutes before Mickey jumped in on the fun and tried to steal Ellie‘s kisses. She thought it was hilarious and her laughter was infectious, passing to others as they were walking by. I would go out of my way for this type of interaction if it continues when things are back to normal.

As we made our way back into the heart of the park, we stopped for a quick photo in front of the castle. Never in my life have I seen Magic Kingdom this empty during the day.

As is a common occurrence in the late afternoon of a summer day in Florida, gray clouds rolled in and gave way to periods of heavy rain, which quickly cleared out the park.

We rode Haunted Mansion a couple of times in the afternoon – the dark and air-conditioning were a welcome break from the weather. Masks are obviously required, and while we kept ours on, I cannot guarantee that others did the same . . .

During the breaks in the rain, the humidity was HIGH so our portable fans were on in full force. I honestly don’t know why we ever went to the park without them and we won’t be making that mistake again!

This is Frontierland over an hour before park closing. While the pictures I’ve seen more recently definitely have more people in them, I think that the last couple of hours before closing are still the least crowded of the day at every park (except for EPCOT). Most people are getting to the park first thing in the morning and because ride lines are so short, they’re able to accomplish everything that they want by afternoon and the parks are clearing out several hours before closing. The late afternoon thunderstorms are helping clear out the parks, too.

Country Bear Jamboree has the physical distancing thing down. Before you even enter the theater the entire process is explained – there is enough room for parties of four to sit between the “not available” markers and every other row is closed. We split into two groups since there are more than four people in our family and it worked out fine. The staggering of groups also allowed for an unobstructed view and it was the most pleasant viewing of CBJ I’ve had in years!

Hall of Presidents is one of our favorite attractions and we see it nearly every time we’re in the park. I didn’t know until this trip that the last showing is actually at park close so catching that last show is a great way to ensure you’re in the park past closing time if you’re hoping to leave after the crowds or get empty park photos.

The 7pm showing turned out to be a private affair for our group.

Like Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents has seating for parties of four in the same every other row format, and space is marked off to ensure that people are physically distanced.

After coming out of Hall of Presidents, we took our time walking back to Cinderella Castle and had it all to ourselves for a while. I noticed other people coming through the castle from Fantasyland (I assume from the last dinner seating at Be Our Guest) until close to 8pm.

Seeing the park devoid of guests as the sun was setting was a surreal experience. We’ve been in the park countless times as the last guests, but that’s always been in darkness, in the wee hours of the morning, not at 830pm as the sun was setting.

We stopped for a quick picture of Ellie with the Chip & Dale statues in the hub. Sidenote: she calls them Woodnut and Chuck and I have NO CLUE why or where it came from, but it’s the cutest thing. After one of the big kids corrected her, I had to assure her that their real names are Woodnut and Chuck but they go by Chip & Dale in the parks!

Smiling faces on an empty Main Street– and yes, they really are smiling behind their masks because they successfully made it ALL DAY wearing masks in the heat and humidity of Florida in July. We didn’t think the masks were thaaaat bad – I mean, Florida in July is already pretty gross – but we discovered that disposable masks were much cooler than the variety of cloth/reusable ones that we brought.

Also, the kids said that it was worth it to put up with the masks/heat for Magic Kingdom but they vetoed our EPCOT day later in the week because they “didn’t think it was worth it to deal with masks just for EPCOT” (and my kids love EPCOT). I’m guessing the difference in the number of rides between MK and EPCOT was the driving factor in that decision.

Goodnight, Magic Kingdom – Reopening Day was one for the record books. It was such a surreal experience to be back at Magic Kingdom, deep within the Disney bubble, while the rest of the world was in the midst of a pandemic. Even with all the masks, distancing requirements, and handwashing/sanitizer, visiting Magic Kingdom was easily the most normal thing our family has done in the past four months… and yet, it still felt completely weird.

Ultimately, we had a fantastic day. Lines were short, crowds were non-existent, the new character interactions were fabulous, but the whole being at Disney and immersed in magic thing is tough to reconcile with the fact that we’re in the middle of a global health crisis and things most definitely are not normal. I never felt unsafe while we were at Disney (and if I had we would have left immediately), and while the magic is still there, the magic is different.

On one hand, I can say, without a doubt that I am glad we made the drive to Florida and went to Reopening Day at Magic Kingdom. The experience is one that I will never forget and we made great memories. Even though Disney has taken lemons and made lemonade with the whole situation and the magic is definitely there, there is still something missing. My die-hard ride kids probably didn’t miss the parades, the shows, or even the fireworks, but I did. Part of the magic of Disney is from all of those extra experiences so even though the park was less crowded and wait times were low, it wasn’t the full experience.

Should You Visit Disney World Right Now?

To finally answer the question that everyone has been asking, in my opinion, it depends . . .

If you’re a local, an annual passholder, someone who goes to WDW often, and you don’t mind that it won’t be the full Disney experience, then yes, this is a great time to go. Crowds are low- I imagine the last time they were this low was right after 9/11, wait times are short, and there are some fun new character interactions/parades.
If you’re planning your first trip, this will be more of a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or the extras are super important to your family, wait until at least 2021 to go. A Disney trip can be super expensive, and right now discounts are limited, there is no dining plan (the restaurants aren’t even all open!), and you have to wear a mask in the heat – it is not that same trip that you could have taken a year ago or even six months ago. Honestly, WDW will still be around in 2021, plus it will be the 50th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom, and hopefully, things will be a heck of a lot better COVID-wise.
I get that not everyone is comfortable with traveling right now, and I strongly believe in the idea of doing what works for you/your family, no judgment needed. I felt comfortable with the 8-hour drive to Florida because I was driving and could completely control all of our stops- we drove through Chick-fil-A and ate in the car, and stopped at a gas station once to use the bathroom (fully masked and appropriately hand-sanitized). Personally, I’m not at the point where I would feel comfortable flying or doing a longer road trip and stopping at attractions/restaurants on the way.
It should go without saying, but just in case, if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-like symptoms, please stay home and quarantine.

So, have you been back to Walt Disney World?? Do you have a trip coming up soon or are you planning on waiting until 2021 (or later!) to visit?? Share your plans in the comments!

Jennifer July 21, 2020 Disney

Family Dinner at Terralina Crafted Italian | Disney Springs

Conveniently located at The Landing at Disney Springs, Terralina Crafted Italian is inspired by Italy’s Lake District, and with innovative (and delicious!!) dishes from executive chef Justin Plank, there is something for everyone. Terralina has been on our list of restaurants to try at Disney Springs for a while now, and I am so glad that we finally had the chance to go- I can say, without a doubt, that Terralina Crafted Italian needs to be on your Disney food bucket list!

Kids wearing masks outside Terralina Crafted Italian

Thank you so much to Terralina Crafted Italian for hosting us- we received a complimentary meal, but as always, all opinions are honest and my own.

Due to COVID-19, my personal comfort level with dining in a restaurant has drastically changed. For our past trips to Florida, I typically sought out restaurants with indoor dining and cold AC to get us out of the Florida sun and get a break from the heat. However, with all of the unknowns surrounding COVID transmission, I am now much more comfortable with outdoor dining, even though that means no AC. With both indoor and outdoor dining options, Terralina Crafted Italian– a new to us restaurant!- proved to be the perfect choice.

When you arrive at the restaurant, they have distancing lines on the ground (even outside!) to ensure that parties stay away from each other. And as soon as you walk inside to check-in, hand sanitizer is available!

They give you a cute paper bag to store your mask which I absolutely love. I’ve seen other places that give you a plate, but I like the bags so you can store them out-of-the-way and not clutter the table.

Terralina is offering a slightly more limited menu than usual right now but there are plenty of choices to please everyone in your family. Menus are single-use paper to minimize touchpoints- and they make a great souvenir!

We started our meal with the Bruschetta and it was a crowd-pleaser! The tomato, basil pesto, and shaved parmesan were the perfect complement to the crusty bread.

Terralina has two options for outdoor dining: a covered patio, and an uncovered area right by the lake. We opted to dine lakeside and it was gorgeous! Even though the high that day was over 90°, we were all totally comfortable dining outdoors in the evening.

Smiling faces ready for a delicious dinner!

If there’s an interesting fish dish on the menu, that’s often what Nick will get (especially if it’s salmon!), so when he heard that the Catch of the Day was in fact salmon, I knew that was going to be his order.

The salmon was cooked perfectly and served over a creamy bed of saffron risotto with blistered tomatoes and olives. I had to stop him from licking the plate clean – it was that good!

Ellie ordered the Pepperoni Pizza off of the kids’ menu and declared it some of the best she’s ever had. Due to COVID, they’re bringing grated Parmesan cheese to the table in disposable cups, which worked well for her so she could dump an entire cup on her pizza.

Lexie ordered the Italian Grinder with the housemade pecorino-truffle potato chips. She absolutely loved the sandwich but said that her meal was kind of bread-y. After eating the first half of her sandwich, she took the insides out of the second half.

Christopher was originally planning to order the Spicy Capicola pizza, but when he heard that the Pizza of the Week was a salmon pizza, he was intrigued. Oh my gosh, let me tell you, the salmon on this pizza was absolutely amazing- such a great combination of flavors!

I ordered one of their more traditional pasta dishes, the Spaghetti Bolognese, made with beef, pork, and pancetta meat sauce. I don’t normally order spaghetti with meat sauce at restaurants because I am partial to my own recipe, but this was amazing and I am so glad I ordered it. I couldn’t finish it so the kids passed my bowl around, gobbling up bits and pieces.

No meal is complete without dessert so you can be sure that we ordered an assortment- it was for research, after all!

The Gelato Sundae traditionally comes with pistachio, chocolate, and vanilla gelato, but they were fine with the kids mixing and matching flavors (including the flavor of the day- salted caramel) to get exactly what they wanted.

As soon as Nick saw the menu, like before we even ordered dinner(!), he decided he was getting the Chocolate Paradiso cake for dessert.

Easily the best dessert we ordered, the Chocolate Paradiso cake is a chocolate layer cake with chocolate ganache and toffee crunch served with a side of mixed berries. I am not a chocolate cake fan and even I thought this cake was amazing- it was moist, decadent, and completely delicious. Nick deemed this one his favorite cake of all time and he wants to go back again for his birthday- or figure out how to get it shipped to North Carolina!

Ellie ordered the kids chocolate gelato and thoroughly enjoyed it, and now prefers gelato to regular ice cream. Can you blame her?!

Overall, we had a fantastic meal at Terralina Crafted Italian and it will become a regular on our Disney Springs dining rotation. Even with the limited menu, there are still many other dishes that I would love to try, and I can’t wait to go back when they have the full menu! They normally offer cooking classes for kids and adults so once all of this COVID mess is over and done with, I hope they start back up again because that would be fun to do on an off-day from the parks.

Speaking of COVID, Terralina exceeded my expectations on that front. From the physical distancing markers, to the availability of hand sanitizer, to the single-use menus, I wasn’t concerned about our exposure. Masks are required from guests throughout Disney Springs and at Terralina, they’re required until you’re seated at your table. Every staff member we encountered at the restaurant, from the hostess to the manager, was wearing a mask the entire time we were there.

While sitting outside is where my current COVID comfort level is at, I understand that others are completely fine with indoor dining. I did take a quick walk through the dining room, and as I expected, tables are distanced, the restaurant is operating at a limited capacity, and guests and staff alike were complying with the mask policies. I cannot wait to dine indoors once this is over because the open-kitchen concept is one of my favorites.

TIPS FOR DINING AT TERRALINA CRAFTED ITALIAN

Reservations are highly recommended- you can make them online through My Disney Experience or on OpenTable
Pricing is $15 to $34.99 per adult
Located at The Landing in Disney Springs
Parking is free at the Disney Springs parking garages (lime is the closest!); Resort busses and boats are available as well.

Follow Terralina Crafted Italian on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Jennifer June 22, 2020 Disney

Disney World Park Pass Reservation System

The new Disney World Park Pass Reservations System went live this morning and it was not without some serious headaches. It’s not uncommon for the WDW website to crash when new promotions are released- in fact, it’s more the norm- but I was surprised with how long it was down this morning. Luckily, around 8:30am, I was finally able to get our park reservations for our trip next month! But even now, several hours later, people are still reporting issues with getting logged in and being able to secure their Disney Park Pass.

Walt Disney World is reopening in a few weeks (July 11 for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and July 15 for Hollywood Studios and EPCOT) and the new reservations system is now live. For right now, the easiest way to get park reservations is to open an Incognito (Chrome) or Private (Safari) window and go directly to this link:https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-reservations – you’ll likely either get this page:

Or this page:

But don’t despair, you will EVENTUALLY get into the system to get park reservations. Step one is selecting everyone that is going to be in your party- I had no problem combining annual passholders and regular ticket holders into one reservation.

The next step is to select the date you’re interested in and then select a park. Currently (as of today, June 22, 2020), only resort guests can book reservations but that will open up to annual passholders on June 26, 2020, and existing ticket holders with no resort reservations on June 28, 2020. Park reservations will be available through September 26, 2021, based on your Walt Disney World resort hotel stay and ticket eligibility or ticket eligibility window.

Once you select a date and a park, the next step is to select a time. The only choices listed for each park are the posted hours so at least at this point, reservations are not timed.

Then you review and confirm your reservation, including agreeing to all of the T&C + COVID liability waiver.

And finally, success and a confirmed Park Pass Reservation!!

The Disney Park Pass Availability page allows you to check park availability dependent on your ticket/resort standing so you will know if there are reservations available before you buy tickets. I know that there were a lot of concerns that people would have to buy tickets before having access to the system and would potentially purchase tickets for dates that no longer had availability so this should assuage some of those fears.

Are you planning to visit WDW in the next 15 months?? Did you try and book park reservations this morning- or will you be trying later on this week?? Let us know how it went for you in the comments!

Jennifer June 12, 2020 Disney

2020 Disney Military Salute Discounts

Today is the day that so many in the military community have been waiting for– the 2020 Disney Military discounts were announced! For the past decade, Disney has offered fantastic discounts to those that serve our country, and while the prices certainly have gone up each and every year, these discounts are why our family is able to afford to go as often as we do. And NEW for this year, you can get a 6-Day ticket for Walt Disney World!! (updated on June 12, 2020)

2020 Disney Military Salute Update:

Disney has been strangely quiet as to what is happening with the 2020 Military Salute tickets. Unlike regular tickets, the days on the Military Salute tickets can be used throughout the whole year (from January 1- December 18) so there are MANY people that have purchased these tickets and used one or more days but still have availability- my family included! While some ITT’s were offering to refund tickets (and others were closed so there was no way to get a refund), the only word from Disney was that completely unused tickets could be applied towards the purchase of 2021 tickets.

However, today I noticed in My Disney Experience that the kids’ Military Salute tickets have been updated to an expiration date of 09/26/2021. It seems that Disney is rolling out the updates over the course of the day as not ALL of our tickets show the updated expiration date yet. Thank you, Disney, for doing the right thing and ensuring that our military families have a little more time to use their Disney tickets!

First things first, in order to purchase these tickets you must be an “Eligible Service Member”: active or retired US military (including active/retired National Guard, Reservists, US Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of PHS and the Commissioned Corps of NOAA). Spouses and Unremarried Widows are able to use their spouse’s discounts. Valid ID is required to purchase and you can either get your tickets at Shades of Green (only WDW tickets but it’s tax-free!), your local ITT, or at the parks.

2020 WDW Military Salute Tickets

The Military Salute tickets are valid for admission from January 1, 2020 through December 18, 2020 with NO blockout dates. As usual, tickets are limited to 6 per Eligible Service Member/spouse. Unlike traditional Disney tickets, Military Salute tickets don’t expire until December 18, 2020, so you can use your days however you want throughout the year. Plus, Memory Maker is available for $98.

6-Day Military Salute Tickets

Park Hopper: $301 plus tax
Park Hopper Plus: $351 plus tax

5-Day Military Salute Tickets

Park Hopper: $283 plus tax
Park Hopper Plus: $333 plus tax

4-Day Military Salute Tickets

Park Hopper: $265 plus tax
Park Hopper Plus: $315 plus tax

2020 Disneyland Military Salute Tickets

The Military Salute tickets are valid for admission from January 1, 2020 through December 18, 2020 and the ONLY blockout date is April 12, 2020 (Easter Sunday). Just like at WDW, tickets are limited to 6 per Eligible Service Member/spouse and Military Salute tickets don’t expire until December 18, 2020, so you can use your days however you want throughout the year. Plus, the Disney PhotoPass Collection is available for $49.

4-Day Military Salute Tickets

Park Hopper: $204 plus tax

3-Day Military Salute Tickets

Park Hopper: $184 plus tax

2020 Military Resort Discounts

The resort discounts at WDW and Disneyland are a great way to try out the deluxe resorts or even to save some money on your value stay! In years prior, resort discounts were a set percentage off of the rack rate but now they’re done on a sliding scale. Currently, those discounts are UP TO 30% off at Values, UP TO 35% off at Moderates, and UP TO 40% off at Deluxe resorts.

Walt Disney World

US military members can SAVE at most WDW resorts between January 1, 2020, and December 18, 2020 (blockout from April 5-18, 2020).
You must call 407-939-7825 to book (or to apply the discount to your current reservation)
This offer is limited and availability will go fast!

Disneyland

US military members can SAVE at all three Disneyland resorts between January 1, 2020, and December 17, 2020 (NO BLOCKOUTS!).
You must call 800-642-5392 to book (or to apply the discount to your current reservation)
Like at WDW, this offer is limited and availability will go fast!

So tell me, are you planning a 2020 Disney trip to take advantage of the new military deals?

Jennifer May 27, 2020 Disney

Walt Disney World Reopening Plan

Have you heard the news?! After being closed for over two months, Walt Disney World announced their proposed reopening plan to the Orange County Task Force this morning and we couldn’t be more excited! As of right now, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are set to reopen on July 11, 2020, while EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are planning to open a few days later, on July 15, 2020.

Not surprisingly, masks and temperature checks will be required. For the time being, there will be no parades, fireworks, meet & greets, playgrounds/splash pads, or really anything where crowds will form.

There will be an Advance Reservations System in place for a reservation to enter a specific theme park and info on that will be available in the future. Capacity will definitely be limited within the parks as well as for transportation systems throughout the resort.

WDW is also implementing a Social Distance Squad Cast Member position and their entire job is to remind guests to social distance. Increased hand sanitzer and hand-washing stations will be set-up throughout the parks.

DVC Resorts and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground are planning to reopen on June 22, 2020, and other resorts will likely follow.

Personal opinion time: I’m really excited that they’re opening in July and not in June like Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld. I think this gives WDW wayyyy more time to train staff, ensure that distancing can be enforced, and allows them to see how the local numbers change following the reopening of the Orlando area.

With all that info, what are your thoughts?? Are you planning a WDW trip for this summer??

Jennifer March 4, 2020 Disney

Disney World Height Requirements

While most rides at Walt Disney World are available to everyone, there are a few at each park with a minimum height requirement in order to ensure the safety of all guests. These restrictions are not in place to negatively affect your trip but rather to make sure that everyone stays safe. Even if your child isn’t tall enough to ride EVERYTHING in the parks, there is still plenty to do– and it just means you’ll have to come back again! ???? Over the years, our kids have gone from “too short” to “tall enough” and each time they’re able to ride something new, it’s magical! Ellie just made it over the 40″ mark for our big trip last summer and was SO. EXCITED. to finally go on the bigger rides! Unless it’s listed below, you can safely assume that the ride has no height restrictions in place– and if you sign up for our email list, you’ll get a free printable version of the Disney World height requirements!!

Magic Kingdom Height Requirements

Barnstormer 35″: This stunt plane (kids) roller coaster flies over Fantasyland and is the perfect first rollercoaster experience for preschoolers. NOTE: This ride has a single lap bar that will only pull down as far as the biggest person.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 40″: The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness is a runaway mine train with high speeds and narrowly escapes falling boulders and exploding dynamite. Some parts of this ride are in the dark, and it can be scary for some younger kids- ours have all LOVED it! NOTE: This ride has a single lap bar that will only pull down as far as the biggest person, and there are some instances of airtime, so hang on to your kiddo if the bar isn’t down far enough!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 38″: Like Big Thunder, this ride is also a mine train, but much smoother and not as intense. There’s also a great view of Fantasyland and Cinderella Castle as you’re headed down the mountain. NOTE: This ride has individual lap bars, so your kiddo will be nice and snug!

Space Mountain 44″: Take a ride through outer space on this thrilling ride in the dark. Some kids may be frightened by the dark and seemingly high-speed, but this one is actually slower than the Monorail- it just doesn’t feel like it! NOTE: This ride has individual lap bars, and riders sit by themselves.

Splash Mountain 40″: This is not your typical log ride! Join Br’er Rabbit as he looks for his “laughing place” and float past 100+ audio-animatronics before plunging nearly 50 feet into a briar patch. NOTE: You WILL get wet!! Typically, the left side of the last row stays the driest, though.

Tomorrowland Speedway 32″ (54″ to drive alone): At Disney World, the kids are able to get behind the wheel and drive a race car along a miniature motorway. With a working steering wheel and gas pedal, they’re in control (provided they’re 54″ and can drive alone) as they navigate the course.

TRON Lightcycle / Run 48″: With the highest height requirement in the park, TRON Lightcycle / Run takes you on a exhilarating journey across a world with no horizons.

EPCOT Height Requirements

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 42″: The newest ride at EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy packs in the thrills as you take off on an intergalactic chase through space and time.

Mission: SPACE 40″ GREEN and 44″ ORANGE: With two missions to choose from, there’s something for everyone on this space exploration simulator! The Orange Mission is a journey to Mars and uses a centrifuge to simulate the speed and G-forces of space travel. The Green Mission orbits the Earth and is family-friendly- since it does not spin, it is much less likely to cause motion sickness.

Soarin’ Around the World 40″: Here you can see the wonders of the world while flying high in this aerial adventure. Everything from the IMAX screen to the smells to the score is phenomenal on this one! NOTE: There is a second loop for the seatbelt to go through if your child’s head is not above the red arrows on the seat.

Test Track 40″: You get to design your own virtual concept car while you’re waiting to board in both the regular and Genie+ lines, and then take it for a drive on the test track. This high-speed adventure (it’s the fastest ride at WDW, after all!) is a can’t miss attraction, and our kids LOVED it as soon as they were tall enough to ride! NOTE: The ride vehicle seats six, so if your party is larger than that, you’ll get split up.

Animal Kingdom Height Requirements

Avatar Flight of Passage 44″: This incredibly immersive simulator allows you to board a banshee and fly over Pandora, and it’s kind of like a combination of Soarin’ and Star Tours times 1000. Flight of Passage is still one of the most popular rides at WDW and often has a standby wait time of several hours, so definitely try to get Genie+ for this one! NOTE: There’s a test seat before you enter the line, so if you’re unsure of the seat (it’s like riding a motorcycle), you can try it out ahead of time!

DINOSAUR 40″: If you’ve been to Disneyland before, this ride is like Indiana Jones with dinosaurs- in fact, it even uses the same ride vehicles! Along with 11 of your closest friends, you board a Time Rover and embark on a thrilling journey through the late Cretaceous period. There are dinosaurs, meteors, and lots of loud sounds in the dark, so it can definitely be a scary one for kids. NOTE: The Time Rovers feature individual seatbelts, so little ones are buckled in tightly.

Expedition Everest 44″: This train goes to the top of Mount Everest before encountering a broken track and plummeting BACKWARDS into darkness. While in the dark, you encounter the Yeti several times before escaping the mountain and arriving safely back in the Tibetan village. NOTE: This high-speed coaster has fast drops, goes backward, is partially in the dark, and features the Yeti (who is known to scare small children). It does have individual lap bars, so you’re held in nice and tight.

Kali River Rapids 38″: Embark on a whitewater adventure through the Asian jungle where you will almost certainly get wet– and maybe soaked- as you travel through rapids and down a waterfall! The rafts on this water ride seat 12, so if your party is smaller than that, you’ll be grouped with other families. NOTE: Kids between 38-42″ are given a wristband at the entrance to the line because they need to sit in a modified seat with a safety bar. Not every raft has the modified seats but those that do, have two seats with a safety bar so that you can ride with two kids that are between 38-42″.

Hollywood Studios Height Requirements

Alien Swirling Saucers 32″: This spinning adventure features the aliens from Toy Story along with some pretty groovy music.

Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run 38″: Guests have the opportunity to fly the Millenium Falcon on a thrilling smuggling mission.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith 48″: Board a limo with Aerosmith and race through the dark streets of Los Angeles on this high-speed coaster. This is the only ride at WDW with inversions (and boasts the highest height requirement in the parks) and also features state-of-the-art sound with Aerosmith songs playing loudly. NOTE: This one has shoulder restraints due to the inversions (2 loops and a corkscrew).

Slinky Dog Dash 38″: This family-friendly coaster is another great option for your kiddo’s first roller coaster experience. Hop aboard Slinky Dog and enjoy the twists and turns (as well as a few great hills!) in Andy’s backyard. NOTE: Slinky Dog Dash has individual lap bars, so kids should feel secure with how far it comes down.

Star Tours- The Adventure Continues 40″: Embark on a mission aboard a Starspeeder 1000 on this 3D simulator ride. This intergalactic adventure features your favorite Star Wars characters, as well as a unique story every time you ride (up to the 54 possible combinations)! NOTE: Like most simulators, this one has individual seatbelts. If motion sickness is an issue for your family, ask to sit in the front row.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance 40″: Join the Resistance in an epic battle against the First Order on the newest ride at Hollywood Studios.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 40″: Venture back in time to Halloween 1939 and take a trip up (and down!) the Hollywood Tower Hotel elevator. Unlike a typical drop zone ride, this one drops you, then sends you back up, and you continue dropping and rising before plummeting to the ground. NOTE: This ride has individual seat belts, but due to the dropping nature, you still float out of your seat a bit.

Tips for Dealing with WDW Height Requirements

Most rides in the parks are designed for the whole family to enjoy, but there are a select few in each park with a height requirement to ensure guest safety.
If your little one is close to a cut-off (35, 38, 40, 44, 48 inches), practice how to stand up straight before your trip. They have to actually bump their head on the measuring guide or obviously be taller than it, but we’ve found that some kids duck to fit under the guide and end up looking shorter than they actually are- and missing out on the ride.
Rider Switch is an option at every ride with a height restriction, so make sure to utilize it if you have little ones. To take advantage of Rider Switch, the whole family goes up to the Cast Member at the ride entrance and asks for a Rider Switch (or Child Swap) pass. Parent 1 and the big kids (or just Parent 1!) then proceed through the line (Genie+ line if you have a Lightning Lane) while Parent 2 waits with the little kids. After Parent 1 rides, Parent 2 can enter using the Genie+ line (or sometimes the ride exit) with up to two additional guests and ride while Parent 1 hangs out with the little ones. This allows both adults to enjoy the attraction, and the big kids may even get to ride twice!
If your kiddos aren’t quite tall enough to ride everything on this visit, it just means it’s time to start planning the next trip for when they’re a bit taller. Our kids love getting measured to see if they are tall enough for the next height milestone, and it gives them something to look forward to between trips. Plus, it’s a good way to convince them to eat their veggies– since we all know that’s what makes you tall enough for the rides at Disney World!!!

Have you used Rider Switch before?? Do you have any tips for dealing with the height requirements at Disney World??