While You're There Archives - Magically Capable

11Mar 2024 by chicagocraftgal

Disney Dining Reservation System Major Update!

Blog, Disney, Planning, Travel, While You're There, While You're Waiting

The Disney Dining reservation system has received a major update. You can now search restaurants for up to 10 consecutive days for available dining at your desired restaurant. This is huge! (Especially for those who are annual pass holders and/or traveling with large groups like I do with my family of eight.) Break down of how the Disney Dining reservation system update works: From the Disney World page, select "Make Reservations" under the "Things to Do" tab. You are first prompted to select the number of people in your party, and the date you are interested in. Next, select what time of day you are interested in dining. At this point you’ll be able to see available times and locations for dining. Images captured from disneyworld.disney.com website Let’s say you…

25Aug 2019 by Tiffiny

Character Meals

Blog, Disney, Planning, Travel, While You're There

[caption id="attachment_1787" align="alignnone" width="735"] Child walking and dining with Mickey Mouse at a character meal[/caption] Character Meals-What are They? Character Meals are Disney Dining experiences where one of more characters come to your table while you are eating at a particular restaurant. It's one of our favorite ways to fill two needs with one activity--eating and character greeting. How Do I Get a Character Meal? Character meals like all other Disney table service meals require a reservation. You can make a reservation 180 days in advance. If you stay on Disney property, you can make the reservation 180 days out from the first day of your reservation. That means if you are staying for five days starting October 6, and your 180th day out is April 3, you actually can…

01Feb 2019 by chicagocraftgal

Understanding Dining Options at Disney World

Planning, While You're There

Wanting to Eat at the Disney Parks?Then you should know there are two main types of dining options at Disney World: Quick (or Counter) Service and Table Service. What is the Difference? Quick ServiceQuick Service is the Disney Equivalent of fast food, though you can get some healthier (often premade options) depending on the establishment you are eating at. Quick Service meals require no preparation whatsoever. Hungry? Find a Quick Service restaurant, stand in line and order. (Or order online ahead of time through the Disney World app. This is an option at some, but not all Quick Service restaurants). For a list of restaurants which utilize online ordering go here. Table Service MealsTable Service meals require an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) which can happen as much as 180 days…

22Dec 2018 by chicagocraftgal

5 Days of Christmas- Day 3: Disney Lover’s Gift Guide

Blog, Planning, While You're There, While You're Waiting

Have a Disney Lover in Your Life?Do you have someone in your life who loves all things Disney? Trying to figure out what to get for them? I've complied a list of items ranging in prices that would be thoughtful gifts this year. I'm including it as part of my 5 Days of Christmas. 1. Mickey Waffle Iron Disney fans often joke that food tastes better when it is Mickey shaped. This waffle iron helps you bring that magic home. 2. LEGO Disney Castle. This ambitious 4,080 piece LEGO set would proudly be displayed in any Disney lover's home. Standing at over 29" high, this massive set has five mini-figures and lots of fun details inside. For those who want a smaller and more affordable option, the Cinderella Dream Castle…

20Dec 2018 by chicagocraftgal

5 Days of Christmas-Day 1: Visiting the Holiday Light Display on Jeater Bend in Celebration

Blog, While You're There

Merry Christmas! I've had to modify the challenge given to me by another blogger - it's now a 5 Days of Christmas challenge. So every day for the next 5 days I will be posting Disney related crafts and activities until we hit the big day. Today is Day One. Let's get started! Day One - Holiday Lights On Jeater Bend DriveWith the expansions going on in Hollywood Studios the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights was retired. Many people have wonderful memories of the holiday light displays in the Streets of America. I've heard more than a few people wonder where they can see such a display like that. [caption id="attachment_1640" align="alignnone" width="1089" height="722"] The lighted Mickey Mouse in the photo dances and the faces sing. Photo courtesy of briancrawford.com…

04Dec 2018 by chicagocraftgal

News: Spotted in the Parks

While You're There

A new stroller rental company has hit town. Fantasy Strollers provides carriage and spaceship styled strollers for 8 hours starting at $132. They can fit two children up to 95 lbs each. Some carriages will have a bed option. The one below appears to be one of them. I was sent this photo from Epcot (in a favorite quiet spot location). Let me know if this is something you would do for your child. UPDATE: Disney has since put an official ban on large strollers like these. However, last time I was there I did see larger than normal wagon-type stroller which may have just met the size maximum size restrictions. Good luck and see you in the parks!

26Nov 2018 by chicagocraftgal

Understanding MagicBands at Disney World

Blog, Planning, While You're There

Understanding MagicBands Disney World now uses Magic Bands across all parks and hotels. They are an integral part of the park system and you'll need them to access many of the systems at Disney World. What are they? They are adjustable plastic bracelets with a unique RFID chip/radio inside them. The bands are adjustable for even small children by removing the dark grey border around them. They are battery operated. No one is quite sure how long the batteries last. Why do I need one? MagicBands link you and your party to pretty much everything around the parks. It's the key to your Disney resort hotel room, your credit card (you can opt to use it for purchases), your means of utilizing the dining plan (if you have one), your…

26Nov 2018 by chicagocraftgal

Ride Suggestions for those with Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta or Ankylosing Spondylitis at Disney

Blog, Planning, Ride Reviews, While You're There

We have some friends whose eldest son has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone disease). He's had countless surgeries and visits with doctors. Despite all he's been through, he is one of the most cheerful and forgiving people I know. This family inspires me. Their son has some very real limitations and obstacles in his life, but they are always looking for ways for him to do as much as he can. They are the inspiration for this post because every family deserves to have magical memories. As with Autism, there is a spectrum for those with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Some are mildly affected and don't ever really realize they have it. Others are much more sensitive. My friend's son is somewhere in the middle. When they went to Disney, their son was…

09Nov 2018 by chicagocraftgal

Understanding FastPass+ at Disney World

Blog, Planning, While You're There, While You're Waiting

What is FastPass+? FastPass is Disney's reservation system for rides. The system is slightly different in California versus Florida. The system in Florida is controlled through your "My Disney Experience" account on your official Disney World app. It is also called FastPass+ in Florida. Who Uses It? And How Does it Work? Anyone with a Disney World park ticket can use the FastPass+ system. You basically "reserve" a time slot to ride a specific ride during a one hour window on a given day. There are only so many allotted slots per hour reserved for FastPass+. Once those slots fill up, guests either have to reserve an earlier or later time, or go with the standby line. You will still have some waiting in the FastPass+ line, but is significantly…

27Oct 2018 by Tiffiny

Gear for Travel – Autism Hat Tutorial

Blog, Craft Activities, While You're There, While You're Waiting

Has Your Child Ever Had a Public Meltdown? What do you do when you get stares and glares?My fifth child was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD when he was four years old. He is my fourth boy and fourth child on the Autsim specctrum. At that point I dreaded going on outings because one of my four boys would inevitably have a meltdown. I talked to a friend about something I could do that would indicate my child had Autism--especially when we were in the midst of an overwhelm. I had heard of handing out explanation cards, but that seemed to require me to take my attention away from my child in the midst of his crisis. My friend had successfully used Autism t-shirts for her son. I seriously considered…