Tips about Christmas, Epcot and Food & Beverage

The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain at Disney Springs now has soy milk for their coffee drinks. It does not show up on the menu. They do not charge anything extra for it. - A. D. Johnson

Christmas - Just a tip for booking the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package: Use the online system and try calling. I called and was told there was no availability for any shows at any restaurant on the two days I was considering. I prepared myself to just make a "regular" dining reservation and stand in the longer line. But when I got to disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ I noticed a radio button that said "Dining Event." And what do you know? "Holidays around the World - Candlelight Processional" was a choice. Looks like you can also book Fantasmic, Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table, etc., which I don't remember being able to book in the past either. I was able to find a TON of choices for the dates and times that the Disney Reservation Center told me were unavailable for the Candlelight Processional -- including some of the "harder to find" restaurants. Cheers! - Gregory

Christmas - Just a tip for booking the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package: Use the online system and try calling. I called and was told there was no availability for any shows at any restaurant on the two days I was considering. I prepared myself to just make a "regular" dining reservation and stand in the longer line. But when I got to disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ I noticed a radio button that said "Dining Event." And what do you know? "Holidays around the World - Candlelight Processional" was a choice. Looks like you can also book Fantasmic, Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table, etc., which I don't remember being able to book in the past either. I was able to find a TON of choices for the dates and times that the Disney Reservation Center told me were unavailable for the Candlelight Processional -- including some of the "harder to find" restaurants. Cheers! - Gregory

Christmas - About the ABC Christmas Parade taping -- it was a wonderful experience from the perspective of someone interested in film and media as a potential career, but if done again I would not stress out as much about predicting the schedule. My family wanted to attend the actual parade, not the castle performances, so we based our park days on Disney's schedule the year before, and everything was opposite. So if you like TV production, definitely go! Just don't get caught up in details, know that things may change from year to year, be prepared for stop-and-go filming, and soak in the experience, because it is pretty cool. - Blake Taylor

Christmas - My 7-year-old daughter and I take an annual trip to Disney to see the Christmas decorations. Since we started in 2006, I have decorated her stroller with battery-operated lights! She loved it and it got a lot of attention. It was also easy to find when you come out of a ride and a cast member has reorganized the stroller parking! - Jennifer M.

Christmas - If you want to see everything decorated for the holidays, consider driving your car or rent a car for Disney World. That's the only easy way to see all of the decorations at each of the hotels and Fort Wilderness. Otherwise, you'll have to see the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary by monorail (or boat), the Wilderness Lodge by boat (from the Magic Kingdom), and then the Epcot hotels (Swan, Dolphin, Yacht & Beach Club, and Boardwalk) by boat from either the back entrance of Epcot or from Hollywood Studios. Don't forget to check out the World Showcase at Epcot where each country shows its Christmas traditions in both decorations and several performances a day of someone dressed in character. And finally, don't miss the Osborne Lights show at Hollywood Studios. - Terri Jensen

ALL PARKS - A great way to save time if possible is to go to the park without a bag. We could not accomplish this on every park visit, but when we would go to Magic Kingdom for a short visit in the morning or evening, we packed small necessary items (camera, lip balm, antibacterial gel) in my husband and son's cargo pockets, wore our Photopass and tickets around our necks and breezed into the parks. - Tanya

We love the refillable mugs at the Disney resorts and find them to be a great value. Before leaving home, I purchase disposable dishcloths and spray them with a foamy dish-washing detergent, let them dry and place in a zipper top bag. Just dampen the wipes to thoroughly clean the mugs with soap and water. Each wipe lasts for several washings. No leftover, sticky residue; just a nice clean mug. Especially great if one member of the family has the sniffles. - Linda Jacobs

Unlike Florida Residents and Annual Passholders who can order Tables in Wonderland cards by phone or mail, Disney Vacation Club members must buy their TiW card in person, at a Guest Relations location. This is important for travelers to Disney's Vero Beach Resort (which takes Tables in Wonderland). You will need to do a drive-by to Disney Springs Guest Relations or another Guest Relations location to get your TiW card. - Donna Fesel

Coronado Springs - The Pepper Market at Coronado Springs is now doing a regular breakfast buffet. No ticket and stamping, it's just pay one price (I think it was $15) and it's all you can eat. - Juli Ruffing

EDITOR'S NOTE: The $14.99 buffet service was tested at Pepper Market earlier this year, and has apparently been implemented full-time now. We have updated menus here:
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm#cs

While visiting the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World last week I surprised my husband with the Mickey Mouse cake for his birthday. The staff put the leftover cake in a box for us. Since my family wasn't ready to return to the Pop Century yet we rented a locker by the entrance for $7.00 plus a $5.00 refundable deposit. It's air conditioned there and the cake stayed cool until we were done for the day. We kept the cake in the refrigerator in our room and nibbled on it the rest of our stay. The cake was great, by the way. - Marion Brandt

ALL PARKS - Just a reminder to check when counter service restaurants close. We were at Disney's Hollywood Studios three weeks ago, counting on eating our meal at one of the counter service restaurants. All were closed by 8:15, except for the one closest to Fantasmic, so we had to eat at Mama Melrose's and pay $150. It was a lovely meal, but we were on the dining plan and had carefully planned when to use our dining credits. - Ellen

ALL PARKS - Just a reminder to check when counter service restaurants close. We were at Disney's Hollywood Studios three weeks ago, counting on eating our meal at one of the counter service restaurants. All were closed by 8:15, except for the one closest to Fantasmic, so we had to eat at Mama Melrose's and pay $150. It was a lovely meal, but we were on the dining plan and had carefully planned when to use our dining credits. - Ellen

ALL PARKS - Just a reminder to check when counter service restaurants close. We were at Disney's Hollywood Studios three weeks ago, counting on eating our meal at one of the counter service restaurants. All were closed by 8:15, except for the one closest to Fantasmic, so we had to eat at Mama Melrose's and pay $150. It was a lovely meal, but we were on the dining plan and had carefully planned when to use our dining credits. - Ellen

Tea drinkers -- I have also brought iced tea mix and made it before we left for the water parks. I filled the container with ice and the mix and some water. If I left it in the locker, in the afternoon when we were leaving it would be very cold and still sometimes had ice left in it. You have custom-made iced tea and it's much cheaper than buying drinks. - Teri D.