The Best Mobile App for Walt Disney World

Remember Pal Mickey? He was the GPS enabled plush toy that guests could purchase or rent at Walt Disney World. While walking around the parks, Pal Mickey would point out things of interests, give updates on where characters could be found etc.

Pal Mickey, is now a thing of the past and a new age of in-park technology is being ushered in. While there are a number of iPhone apps for Walt Disney World, few are actually "must haves." Most are based on theme park maps with GPS capability. The maps that Disney hands out for free are just as good. Others offer dining options but once again, you'll be able to find plenty of places to dine right on the park map, free.

The mobile app that scored the best was "Lines" availabe on any web enabled mobile phone. Let's take a closer look at Lines and 2 other honorable mentions.

LINES

This app comes from the folks at the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and TouringPlans.com. Lines is based on years of research, as well as live updates, and it's closely monitored by the staff that operates it. There are many things that make this the Best Mobile App:

• Right now, it's free.
  
• It's available on most web enabled mobile phones rather than just one i.e., iPhone etc.
  
• Accuarate wait times for attactions, based on years of research as well as live updates.
• Future park hours so you can plan in advance
  
• Daily park hours and Extra Magic Hours
  
• FASTPASS return times
• Single Rider line information (if they're being used or not)
  
• The TouringPlans.com Crowd Calendar for each park
• Attraction closures and refurbishments
• Updated daily, even thoughout the day as necessary
• The ability to send in current wait times right from the parks
  

It's truly a wealth of information and easy to use. Oh, and for iPhone users who really prefer having a button on thier home screen, here's how to create one:

1. In Safari, go to m.touringplans.com
2. Touch the plus sign "+" on the bottom of the screen,
3. Select "Add to Home Screen"
   
4. That's it! You have a button just like you do for your apps.

Other mobile apps available:

Mobile Magic (the official app from Disney)

• Availabe to Verizon customers for $9.95
• It's available on other wireless carriers but it's scaled way down
  
• GPS so you know where your standing. Maps are available too.
  
• Attraction wait times and FASTPASS times are also available

WDW Wait Times (iPhone App)

• Attraction wait times updated by other guests inside the theme parks. If no one sends updates, times are then estimated.
• It's free, with advertisements, .99 without on-screen ads
  
• "Near Me" feature that shows attractions close in proximity to where your standing

Best Disney World Restaurants for Thanksgiving

Liberty Tree Tavern Magic Kingdom Park
This authentic New England themed restaurant serves up turkey dinners all year long. The food is generally good, nothing surprising about comfort food, but you’ll find it hard to believe your in a theme park and not a local tavern somewhere in Massachusetts. The restaurant is a re-creation of an 18th century American inn, with six small dining rooms with Colonial artifacts.




Diamond Horseshoe Review: Magic Kingdom Park
When Liberty Tree Tavern fills up, Disney occasionally opens Diamond Horseshoe. It’s the same menu as Liberty Tree, same kitchen too. The old stage show featuring can-can dancers is long gone but Disney fans can reminisce. Make a reservation at the podium and you’re chances of actually getting a table are quite good. Just be prepared for a noisy environment and tables that are squished together.



Trails End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Just a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom this buffet style restaurant offers a rustic atmosphere and hearty menu. Corn bread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, chicken , and turkey, are among the offerings. Best of all, it’s somewhat overlooked and not quite as difficult to get into on short notice.



Whispering Canyon at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort
A family style restaurant that offers a lively atmosphere. Both your server and the atmosphere will be memorable! Be sure to walk about the resort taking in the holiday decorations. It’s truly one of the best! Whispering Canyon is famous for their skillets, meals served in real cast iron.



Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
This is one for the adults who want a gourmet holiday. This is fine dining experience is rustic yet refined and well worth festive price tag of about $50 per person.

The Best Holiday Experiences: Magic Kingdom Park

Although Disney celebrates the holidays throughout the entire resort, the Magic Kingdom is one of the best parks when it comes to special events and decorations. November 10 marks the first of 19 select nights when Disney hosts Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This year an all new show, A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas! is being offered on stage plus some other changes.

Cinderella Castle Dream Lights
During “Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season,” Cinderella Castle beams brightly as the evening is capped with eye-popping fireworks orchestrated to classic holiday music.




NEW A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas!”
To welcome the winter wonderland season, Stitch, Buzz Lightyear and Mike Wazowski will host a rockin’ Christmas party in this new stage show as part of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select evenings at Magic Kingdom. This interactive musical revue features “songs of the season” in the style of today’s hottest Radio Disney hits.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
This year there are19 select evenings when the theme park hosts the long-running Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” “Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season” fireworks spectacular, plus special shows featuring Disney characters decked out in their holiday finest, carolers, festive tree lightings and more.



Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season
Eye-popping fireworks orchestrated to classic holiday tunes that completely surround the Magic Kingdom.



Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
A musical parade that celebrates the festivities with dancing snowflakes, marching toy soldiers, a horse-drawn sleigh, enchanting floats and spirited characters all proceeding through the streets of the theme park

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates are: Nov. 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29 and Dec. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18. Advance tickets are suggested as some nights are expected to sell out.

The Best Photos: Arrive Early

I have so many photos of Walt Disney World that I can't even tell when they were taken anymore. The few times that I didn't bring a camera, something remarkable happened and I was furious. Like the time I was on Splash Mountain and it was evacuated. Or the time the door was left opened to the Veranda Cafe in Adventureland by maintenance workers. It was a rare sight since the cafe had been closed for several years. Always bring your camera, even if your a veteran Walt Disney World visitor.

If you're tired of the same photos, make note that some of the best photos that you can take at Walt Disney World are those that are unique.

One way to get rare/unusual photos is to make advanced dining reservations or special tours that begin prior to park opening. For example, if the Magic Kingdom doesn't open until 9 a.m., then make a reservation for Crystal Palace for 8:30a. You'll be granted special access at the turnstiles while everyone else is waiting. Once inside, you'll be able to take plenty of photos without anyone else in them.

The same is true for tours. Many tours, like the Simply Segway Tour at Epcot, are offered before the parks opens. Be sure to arrive 15-20 minutes before your ADR or tour reservation so you have time to take some photos.

I love photos of Walt Disney World with no one else in them because they are so rare. It also makes you feel like a VIP, for a little while. I should note that Walt Disney didn't like pictures of Disneyland taken before the guests arrived. He felt that people gave the park life. While I agree to some extent, I also think having people in the photos can distract us from aprrecaiting the fine details.

Here are some photos that I was able to take before the parks opened officially.

Epcot Monorail Station Prior to Park Opening

Spaceship Earth, Epcot

Innoventions Plaza, Epcot for the Segway Tour

Adventureland, Magic Kingdom

For more rare, unusual photos of Walt Disney World, visit my Flickr Photo Gallery

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Best Disney Resort Hotel Lobbies

• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Boardwalk Resort
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
  

It's worth taking some time during your Walt Disney World vacation to stop and explore some of Disney’s resorts. While all are unique and well-themed, there are a few that are truly exceptional. The resorts on this list have a wow factor when you first walk in and are rich in detail. If you arrive in the middle of day and aren’t ready for the parks, or if you just need a break from rides, take some time to explore some of these resort hotels. Feel free to walk through the lobbies, have a seat, or even take walk outside to see the grounds.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge



Although this one is a bit out of the way, it is definitely worth the trip. Pay particular attention to the hand-carved wood and leather furnishings, imported woods and the faint smells of a wood fired oven. The finest, authentic African architecture and design will leave you feeling like your in Africa and not central Florida. The spectacular theme immerses guests in an environment inspired by the picturesque beauty of an African wildlife reserve. Cultural representatives from Africa are on hand to point out the many displays and hidden details throughout the lobby. Best of all, there are plenty of quiet areas that allow visitors to step outside onto balconies overlooking the breathtaking savannahs where more than 200 animals roam.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

From the moment you enter, music from old western movies surrounds you in the main lobby. The music makes the lobby feel as expansive as the wide-open prairies of the old west, as depicted in classic movies. A grand, log-framed main lobby with soaring six-story-high bundled log columns help support roof dormers high overhead. Multicolored wood and stone floors below show incredible detail. Four massive chandeliers with torch-cut scenes of Indians and buffalo, topped with glowing teepees, are the centerpiece lobby along with two 55-foot-tall handcarved totem poles -- the "eagle" and "raven" -- were inspired by Northwest Indians. Head out back for a volcanic meadow with babbling brooks and geysers shooting misty streams up to 100 feet into the air. Or better yet, arrive after dark to explore the winding paths around the courtyard softly lit by rustic lanterns. Visit during the holiday season to see some of the best resort decorations anywhere at Walt Disney World.



A majestic, 82-foot-tall, three-sided stone fireplace re-creates a 2-billion-year geological record of the earth with fossilized remains of prehistoric animal and plant life. Colorful rock strata layers are re-created in the proportions they occur in the Grand Canyon.


Disney's Boardwalk Resort

Like all deluxe resorts at Disney, there is incredible attention to detail. Elaborate trim work around the ceilings and floors, large murals depicting the the golden age of boardwalk entertainment, and artifacts from an era gone by. In fact, the artifacts include an authentic miniature carousel designed in the 1920s by premier carousel craftsman M.C. Illions as well as a vintage scale model of the Flip Flap, the
world's first loop-the-loop roller coaster. Take a rest in the Bellevue Lounge in the large couches surrounded by bookshelves loaded with period toys and books. Head outside to the Boardwalk, almost a theme park in itself.




Disney's Grand Floridan Resort & Spa

Disney's Grand Floridian is yet another resort set during the turn-of-the century. Enter from the Monorail platform, something that seems odd since you're taken back to the year 1900, but somehow it works. From the second floor, take a moment to look down at the bustling lobby below. The antique-style bird cage elevator, the detailed carpeting, and the grand piano which is often being played. If you have time, catch the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra play on stage situated on the second floor balcony over the main lobby. They play big band era music as well as some Disney classics.
During the holiday season, the lobby is home to a real gingerbread house and one of 7 very tall, Icon Christmas trees.

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Best Magic Kingdom Attractions at Night

Visiting a Disney theme park at night brings about an entirely new experience. Lighting is something Disney does well, and they use it set a mood, tell a story, or to focus your attention. Of course, the nighttime headliner shows such as Wishes in the Magic Kingdom, Illuminations at Epcot, and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios are all worth seeing. But when the sun goes down, a few attractions in the Magic Kingdom seem to take on some extra special character.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at night

One of the best attractions to see at night anywhere on Walt Disney World property is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It can be seen almost as well as Cinderella Castle from outside the park (it stands at 197 ft. tall) and definitely draws people into Frontierland. But at night, the strong orange lighting brings out an almost eerie feel. The dramatic blue lighting simulates moon light which would be bright out in Monument Valley. It’s a great ride but the attention to detail in lighting, make this a must-see!

Tomorrowland Entrance at Night

Swiss Family Treehouse isn’t exactly FASTPASS worthy but it’s a great experience at night. First, the pathways are illuminated by dimly-lit lanterns, which use the MAPO flicker. This effect was created by Disney Imagineering and it’s used to simulate an actual flame inside the light. MAPO flicker lighting can be seen throughout Disney World, especially at the Wilderness Lodge Resort. In addition to it’s lighting effects, the Treehouse is relatively overlooked by most Guests so you’ll likely have it to yourself, which also adds to the adventure. Most of all however, is the view from the top. You’ll have an unobstructed view of Cinderella Castle and Tomorrowland, both are breathtaking at night. It’s not the best spot to catch Wishes because you won’t be able to see the entire display, but it’s a great feeling to have your own little spot. Despite this view, most people will just walk right past it.

The Haunted Mansion at Night

It’s always night at the Haunted Mansion, or so the legend goes, but it’s especially spooky when the sun goes down. In fact, there are people who won’t visit the Mansion at night because it’s too creepy. There is something incredibly eerie about it during evening Extra Magic Hours too–say midnight or 1 a.m. Before heading into the Mansion, take a moment to notice the details outside. Notice how the rest of the park feels so far away. Tom Sawyer Island has long been closed and sits dark, the Liberty Bell is in port sleeping for the night, and so the nearest signs of civilization is all the way over in Frontierland. Be sure to watch the windows too. Lanterns and shadows swiftly move about on occasion, perhaps it’s Master Gracey moving about.

Another attraction that is completely different at night is the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland. The Jungle Cruise is filled with suspense that doesn’t exist during the day. Heading into the Mekong River tunnel in the dark with only the boat’s lantern for light is so realistic, you’ll find it hard to believe you’re not really in Asia.

Astro Orbiter at Night

The planets on Astro Orbiter spin close to your rocket to give the illusion that you’re flying faster than you actually are but it’s the view of Tomorrowland from up above that makes this a must-see. Tomorrowland is one of the best themed lands at night and seeing it from a rocket ship is really a unique experience. You’ll also catch a glimpse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which is a rare to be able to see outside the park.

Best Magic Kingdom Nighttime Attractions
Astro Orbiter
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Swiss Family Treehouse

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