Wish Upon a Star

Akershus Storybook Dining Royal Banquet Hall  is such a gem!  Almost like a little-known secret that can rock your world if you have little princess fans!  Many people want to do Cinderella's Royal Table to eat with the princesses, but it books up quickly, takes 2 table-service credits, and can be loud and a little rushed.  While the experience of eating IN the castle can be great, for those who can't or don't want to visit there, Akershus is an excellent choice!! Located in the Norway pavilion at Epcot, Akershus is tucked away and is absolutely delightful!   It is a buffet character meal (we like breakfast best), and various princesses come to your table to meet and greet.    They take their time, make it truly special, sign autographs and pose for endless photographs.  Periodically throughout the meal, they host a "princess parade," where kiddos can go around the restaurant with their favorite princess, waving to the other gu...

Eating at the Crystal Palace is one of our favorite meals on property!   Once you enter, you find yourselves in the middle of a friendship celebration with Pooh and friends!  While you dine on a yummy (and family-friendly) buffet, the characters visit your table for photos, hugs, and lots of interaction!   We have eaten here multiple times, and the kiddos always beg to return!   It doesn't hurt that MY favorite character is none other than the cuddly bear himself!  I highly recommend this meal for those wanting a fun place for a meal in the middle of a day at Magic Kingdom!

When we visited Walt Disney World in 2016, my kids discovered a fun, interactive game called Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.   This game combines role-playing with cards (think Pokemon, Magic, etc.).   Each day when you enter the park, you can visit the "fire station" and request a set of cards for this game.    The Cast Members there will set you up for the game, which is a virtual "battle" against villains in Magic Kingdom.   You visit hidden portals throughout the park and cast spells using your various cards in an effort to help Merlin protect the Magic Kingdom from villains such as Hades and Maleficent.   Each time you cast a spell that is strong enough, you are given clues about which portal is next on your journey.   Some cards are "stronger" than others, and spell cards can be combined to strengthen them.    There are several different missions, ranging from easy to hard.  As you progress through the diff...

If you're like me, you are bombarded with "plastic" payment options!   Many have great rewards or serve as loyalty cards for stores.   I am very selective when choosing any kind of credit card, discount card, or loyalty program.   So, why did we consider a Disney Visa card? There are several perks to owning a Disney Visa card by Chase. Here are some perks I think are worth thinking about! Often times promos like Free Dining are offered to Disney Visa cardholders first, a few days before open to the general public. This means you’ll have better chances at snagging a popular promo. Sometimes, they simply set aside rooms especially for cardholders, making it a bit easier for them to take advantage of th e promotion. You get 10% off purchases of $50 or more in park gift shops and at the Disney Store nation-wide and online You get 6 months no interest on your Disney World vacation package!  (Yes, even when booking with a TA!) Y...

This was our first experience with Chef Mickey's.   We chose to do a late breakfast for several reasons.  1.) We prefer breakfast food,  2.) It's a little cheaper, and 3.) It breaks our morning up a little since we are definite early birds. We have done a LOT of character dining, and I have to say that this wasn't my number one favorite on first impressions.   When we got there, there were 30-40 families waiting to be seated, and it was loud and crowded.   However, we later realized most of them were just early arrivals for lunch.  As soon as we were seated (before we even ordered our drinks or got any food!), the characters started coming around!   We saw them all in quick succession and then settled in to eat.   The food was basic breakfast buffet food, and the coffee was good!  (That's huge!) About 2/3 of the way into the meal, Mickey started a napkin twirling song, which my 10 year old loved.  Even some...