Showing posts with label rmh travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rmh travel. Show all posts

Monday, June 11, 2018

Planning Guide for those visiting Disneyland for the first time.

Planning a trip to Disneyland for the first time can be overwhelming.  When to go, where to stay, how long to stay are commonly asked questions. Then there will be things you might miss. Well this page is going to hopefully help you not to stress out. Don't worry if you are still feeling overwhelm. RMH Travel host a planning Facebook Group that will hopefully answer your questions. In fact you were probably guided here from the group because you asked a commonly asked question when it comes to planning a Disneyland vacation. But if you weren't direct here from there and would like to join, click here.

When to go?


Most often the question is put, when is the best time to go to Disneyland? Well that is a loaded question...when is best for one family may not be best for another.
There are several factors you have to consider. Most people would say they want to go when the crowds are low, but there is some draw backs to that. What are they? Well, Disney knows when its harder for families to travel, so they strategies too. When they know the parks will be emptier they schedule maintenance for their rides, they limit park hours, they offer discount on 1 day tickets, and finally they don't have fireworks. Some people schedule their vacation based only on the crowd calendar and then are disappointed when their favorite ride is down or that there are no fireworks schedule. They also feel the park is still crowded, and relatively speaking, it is because with less rides open there are less places for people to be, and with shorter park hours there is less time to ride what is open. With that said here is a crowd calendar I created that averaged out the crowds of the parks for the last 8 years to predict how crowded the park will be in the future...check out our crowd calendar. And here is some interesting facts to consider when choosing when to visit.
  • From Memorial Day to Mid August it is consider Summer time at Disneyland Parks and they have nightly fireworks and start operation on summer hours with longer park hours and more shows schedule.
  • Christmas Time is consider the week before Christmas until the Friday after New Years this is very premium (packaged) time to visit Disneyland, they have longer park hours, extra shows and of course nightly fireworks.
  • Spring Break is the week before and after Easter they have nightly fireworks and longer park hours.
  • Fireworks are displayed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights year around, weather permitting. Park hours are also generally longer on these days thru out the year, because they attract more of a crowd. So week days would be less crowded but you will miss fireworks, of these three days I find Sunday to be best if you want to catch the fireworks off season.
  • September and parts of  January and February are consider the lowest crowd times and the park hours are general 10-8 and more rides are down for refurbishment.

Overview of the Parks

Disneyland Resort (DLR) is made up of 2 them parks, 3 Disney owned hotels (soon to be 4), and Downtown Disney. Everything that is officially part of Disneyland Resort is consider within walking distance.  See the map above to show you an aerial view of the Resort.

Disneyland (DL) is the original park built by Walt Disney himself and opened in 1955. There are 8 lands (in 2019 9 lands) and over 55 attractions:
  • Main Street, U.S.A. (has 6 attractions)
  • Adventureland (has 4 attractions)
  • Critter Country (has  3 attractions)
  • Fantasyland (has 15 attractions)
  • Frontier land (has 7 attractions)
  • Mickey's Toon town (has 8 attractions)
  • New Orleans Square (has 3 attractions)
  • Tomorrowland (has 13 attractions)
  • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (hasn't offical said how many attractions coming in 2019)

Disney California Adventure Park (DCA) opened in 2001 and had a "re-opening" in 2012. There are 7 lands and over 40 attractions:
  • Buena Vista Street (has 4 attractions)
  • a bug's land (has 6 attractions) (will be closing in Sept 2018 to make way for Marvel Land opening in 2020)
  • Cars Land (has 4 attractions)
  • Grizzly Peak (has 3 attractions)
  • Hollywood Land (has 11 attractions)
  • Pacific Wharf (has 1 attraction, and lots of yummy food)
  • Pixar Pier (has 12 attractions)

On average, it takes 3 to 4 days for a family to be able to enjoy all the attractions at both parks. Most family spend 2 days at Disneyland and 1 day at California Adventure Park. Some feel it is essential to park hop as the parks are close to each others, other find that it was a waste of $50 per person (what the current price for park hopping is). For first timers that are going for several days, I often tell them, you can leave off the park hopper for now and always add it later to your tickets if you feel you want the feature.

Where to Stay?


You have two options when choosing where to stay at Disneyland:
Disneyland Resort Hotels-There are 3 hotels Grand California Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Disney Paradise Pier Hotel.  Staying at one of these three hotels have many perks including amazing Disneyland service, Extra Magic Hours, yummy character dining options, and package delivery from the parks to your hotel. (so you don't have to carry those packages around!) And Grand California Hotel & Spa has its own private entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. These hotels are consider Deluxe, or 4 star hotels and the price to stay at them is very high end.  Click here to learn more about these hotels.

Off-Site Hotels- Off-site options are typically much less expensive than Disneyland Resort Hotels. Some are just as close to Disneyland entrances as the Disneyland Hotel or Disney Paradise Pier Hotel, and the hotels are more budget friendly. To learn all about the different hotel options, please click here.

Still overwhelmed with which hotel choice to choose from, I can help you out. Fill out my easy to use quote form, (you have to be in the US sorry for those not in the US) and I will be happy to put together a package for you. I work with Disney directly to get the best packages for my clients. My prices will never be more than their price is and sometimes I have special extras that Disney doesn't even offer. To learn more about why you should use my services, please click here.

Dining Options


Disneyland Resort has over 30 restaurants to choose from while staying at the resort, click here to view all of them. You can book your dining choices 60 days in advance of when you wish to travel. To book a reservation, you can do it online or call 714-781-DINE(3463). Please note that Disney ask for a credit card to hold the reservations. There are so many great choices.

Character Dining
Currently they have 4 Character Dining options. Goofy's Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel is the only character meal that is open for both brunch and dinner. The other character meals are for breakfast only. They are Minnie's Breakfast at the Plaza Inn inside Disneyland,  Surf's Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends (starting July 10, 2018 it will be Donald Duck's Seaside Breakfast) is located at Disney's PCH Grill inside Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, and finally Chip 'n' Dale's Critter Breakfast (starting July 10, 2018it will become Mickey's Tales of Adventure Character Breakfast) and it is located at Storytellers Cafe inside Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa Hotel.

Signature Restaurants
The most popular dining spot at Disneyland is the Blue Bayou Restaurant because it is located inside Pirates of the Caribbean ride. At Disney California Adventure Park Carthay Circle Restaurant is consider the top spot to dine. (I certainly love to get The Carthay Circle Manhattan). Please note that alcohol is not served inside Disneyland park (unless you are part of Club 33) but is served at other locations. At Disney California Hotel and Spa a very romantic spot to dining is the Napa Rose. (it is rumored that the chef that caters Club 33 also oversees Napa Rose). At the Disneyland Hotel Steak House 55 is the signature restaurant.

Club 33-is a private club that cost thousands of dollars to join, and has a LONG waiting list to join, and what you get is to eat at this exclusive restaurant which is discreetly located above Cafe Orleans and The French Market restaurants in New Orleans Square. You have to know someone that is a member to get invited. NO I am not a member.

Dining Packages
Disney offers several Dining packages where if you eat at one of their restaurants you will get exclusive or VIP seating for certain shows and events. Currently packages:

There are many dining options, Disney is really great at catering to those with food allergies, its always nice to give them ahead up when make your reservations if you have any food issues.

Magical Extras


The most popular extras beside Dining packages which you can read about above, is for little girls ages 3-12 and a visit to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disneyland. They also have boy packages but they aren't as popular. For older clients, Disney offers several tours, check them out here. During the fall season, Disneyland also has special night time Halloween Parties, to learn more about this event, click here. Disney California Hotel & Spa is a full spa and does offer Spa treatments, you can learn more about them by clicking here. There are random magic extras and of course when they are announce, I post them on Disneyland Planning Facebook group. If you haven't join it yet, I suggest you do.

Make a plan or go with the flow?


There are so many ways to go to Disneyland. Some people need a plan. I am honestly a more go with the flow type of person. But I provide my clients that book vacations with me, a  great excel sheet that helps them to customize their vacation for their families. (My prices are the same as booking with Disney. If you would like a free quote, please click here.) Even though I am not providing a detail tour here, and the reason is because I honestly feel that every family would need their own. Also, the ones that are posted on other sites...let me tell you I have followed them and so it seems does EVERYONE else, talk about crowded! But I will give you all a few tips on how to make your own plan.
  1. Check out Disney website and look over all the attractions. Note which ones have FastPass options and which ones have height requirements.
  2. Start early-The earlier in the day the less crowded the park is. Its a given. Disney sometimes lets you partly in 30 minutes before the park offical opens and you can line up and start planning even more.
  3. Use FastPass system. Disney now has the MaxPass, which allows you to select FastPass from your phone, it cost extra. Check out our FastPass for more information.
  4. Relax! Its supposed to be a vacation. Things will probably go wrong, kids if they are with you will have a melt down. But, overall hopefully you will make amazing memories.
  5. And the last tip I am going to post here that is a BIG money saver for many. Disney allows you to bring in a cooler the size of 6 pack, inside the cooler or outside the cooler you are allowed to bring in your own food and drinks. Just no glass, knives or alcohol.

Walt Disney World Pros...First Time to Disneyland


Disneyland is a different kettle of fish from Walt Disney World. Yes they have some things in common but deep down they are as different as apples and oranges.  Here are some common questions I have come across when a family is booking Disneyland for the first time instead of Walt Disney World.
  • Dining plans- Disneyland does NOT offer any type of dining plan, they do offer dining vouchers for their character meals that you can buy in advance and it does give you a bit of a discount. (you may buy as many as you like but usually they need to be bought in connection with a package deal)
  • Booking dining - Most WDW pros know the 180+10 rule about booking dining and they are up at 5:45 am EST the day they can book dining hoping to get that premium dining option, or to get dining at ALL. Disneyland does not have 180+10 rule, they have a simple 60 days in advance rule, and except for holiday times or the hopeful first dining slot, you usually don't have to be up at 6:45 am PST exactly 60 days in advance to get your dining choice.
  • FastPass+ - There is no scheduling FastPass 60 days in advance, or 30 days. At Disneyland they have machines near rides where you can get return times, and this feature is free. Or they have MaxPass which cost $10 per person per day.  MaxPass allows you to book your FastPass from your phone, but you have to have your ticket activated ie be inside one of the parks. With MaxPass you are allowed to only select 1 attraction at a time (in either park), but if the attraction you selected is more than 90 minutes away, you may selected a second FastPass at the 90 minute mark. The app of course tells you this. I kind of feel that its like selecting that 4th FastPass at WDW. Its all done from your phone, and has many of the same properties except for when you select a FastPass choice that is more than 90 minutes away. Learn more about FP.
  • EMH - Disneyland only offers Deluxe hotels, so they have made deals with 'Good' Neighbor Hotels. Because of this Disneyland also has two types of Magic Hours, both are in the morning only. One is for their hotel guest only and its call Extra Magic Hour (this one allows guest to visit Disney California Adventure Park 1 hour prior to park opening on Sun, Mon, Wed & Fri and they may visit Disneyland 1 hour prior to park opening on Tue, Thru & Sat, and they are allowed to go daily for the length of their stay). The second program Disney offers is for those who purchase 3 day or more park tickets (this includes the Southern California CityPass), this is call Magic Morning and it allows those with this ticket a one time entrance to Disneyland on either Tues, Thru or Sat.
  • No Bus - Everything is within walking distance (except for some of the good neighbor hotels).
  • Rides - Rides at Disneyland and WDW are different even if they have the same name, they are different. Some are not MAJORLY different, just the ques are different and some are very DIFFERENT. RMH Travel did a blog about all the rides at both parks in 2017 (so some rides are missing) comparing the rides from WDW and DL.
If you would like guidance and free quote for booking your Disneyland or Walt Disney World Vacation, please consider booking with RMH Travel. We help you as much or as little as you want when you book with us. And booking with us is JUST like booking with Disney because we book your trip thru the Disney web site. You will get an email from DISNEY, and all the same things you get when you book with Disney....but you also get someone that can help remind you or even book some of the things you need to book for your trip.  Want to learn more about why book with us, click here.
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Sunday, May 7, 2017

5 Reasons why Disney crowd calendars can be off or seem off when they aren't

This year more so than any other year I have read and even had some people call up my business to yell at me that my crowd calendar was wrong. To see my crowd calendar, please click here.  The ironic annoying part is these people didn't book with me, so they just called to yell that I offer free advice and I have even explained how I came up with the number. The strange thing is most of the time when I fact check with the figures of how packed the park was...I am usually not that far off on my numbers. (there were honestly a few days in January I was way off but I contributed that to the first time a lot Annual Pass holders were blocked for the holiday and they needed their Disney fix and flooded the park as soon as they were allowed to go again, so that is the first time in history this happen so of course it made my calendar wrong since my calendar is based off of PAST crowd levels, this was a new event that was unexpected, I don't even think Disney expect it.) Anyways, why it feels more crowded at the parks.

1. The biggest change is the amount of area Disney had to shut down in order to work on Star Wars land. I don't think people take in to consideration how much of an area Disney had to block off to star building Disney, and with this area cut off, the attractions and the walking path that was alleviated when this area was open is now not there. Think about it, those big ships can hold a few hundred people, and the train around the world can too, then the island, last but not the least the petting zoo and walking path even took some of the crowd. (Though maybe not much, as it was my favorite spot to head to when my autistic son wanted some quite time to unwind and I miss it dearly.)

2. Annual pass holder...as my opening paragraph said the new tier system affect the crowds in ways that couldn't have been predicted.  But not only is the new tier system affecting the crowds, there are probably over 70,000 annual pass holders within 20 minutes of Disneyland park, and if all of them showed up in the evening the park would be at 70% full, and they are constantly asking in groups if the park is empty, and I swear when one says yes about 1/2 of the jet down to the park and then they are all on social media complaining that its packed now. The data I am given gives the average crowds in the park during the day. Its an over all average, they extra people showing up in the last hours usually aren't factored in.

3. Disneyland has caught on to the patterns of crowds, and their new tiered system for 1 day tickets are bringing more of a crowd. They did not have 1 day, (except for the crazy raining days) where the park was at 10%, this was a first in a few years, so that affects my calendar but even then I was usually only off by a point. Disney is doing what they really wish for...they want their park to never be empty.

4. Adding to the value days, Disney knowing its a value day and they schedule most of their ride maintenance or (refurbishments) for these times. So, we have Disney offering people to come in for a cheaper price...thus adding to the crowds, then they shut down more rides, limiting what people can go on. We already touched on this with star wars land, and how that area being closed off has affect crowds but even without Star Wars Land,  the yearly ride maintenance shut downs have affect crowds but not to this extend as it has this year. Or perhaps its the last reason...

5. This is my own opinion but frankly I find that peoples attitudes have affected peoples perceptions of things. It has been debated often in the "Disneyland" annual pass Facebook fan site what is considered an empty park and the opinions vary largely. And many people see the park at 2 and thinks I'll be able to walk on everything. That isn't the case, at least not for all the rides. Plus, there have been some studies that show people in theme parks tend to bunch up in certain areas and one family may be saying gee I am walking on everything today and another will be at the park and claim they had to wait 20+ minutes for everything. Why is that? I really don't know, but I know it happens more often than not, is it perception? luck? or something else? I am not sure. I'll love to hear your opinion.

Either way, please know I am providing this data out of the kindness of my heart. It is based on PAST HISTORY. History I guess changes more now than ever or perhaps its just perceptions. I really wish I had a crystal ball to truly predict the best times to go to Disney but I can't I can just give my best educated guest based on past history.  I provide this information in the hopes of families booking their Disney vacations with me so I can support my son. So with that said...here is my pitch for why you should used me as your travel agent.

I would like to inform you that when you book with RMH Travel it doesn't cost one cent more than booking direct with Disney, in fact your statement will look the same because you are booking with Disney, but you are allowing RMH Travel to book it on your behalf and in return Disney will give me a small commission that goes toward supporting my family. But if you book direct, Disney just pockets that money, so please when you book your vacations, please consider booking it with me.




I promised to make your vacation even more magical and to take your Disney vacation to a whole new level. As your travel planner, I am here to help you every step of the way with as much or as little help as you wish for.  Whether this is your first time going to a Walt Disney Park or your 100th time, I am here to help make your vacation a magical one.
For you free no obligation quote, please click here to be taken to my website. 
If you would like to join a FACEBOOK planning discussion group, I invite you to join one of the groups I run: 
 
You can also check out my website: www.RMHTravel.com, 

On my web site you will see that I work with many suppliers not just Disney to book magical vacations to many destinations and I try to make each and every vacation I plan and book a magical one, whether its to one of Disney's many parks, or taking a trip to the Bahamas I am here for you. 

Please comment and subscribe to my blog for further updates!
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Monday, May 30, 2016

For the first time ever, experience the magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom at night beginning May 27!

 

Tree of life
©Disney

First-Ever Night Experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Begin May 27

Beginning May 27, the park will awaken at night with new rich experiences under the stars and one day later, on May 28, The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic live show will debut at the park.
Tree of Life
©Disney

 Beginning May 27, animal spirits will be brought to life each night by magical fireflies that reveal colorful stories of wonder and enchantment along with other amazing sights at the tree.
Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Night
© Disney

After the sun sets, you’ll also be able to explore Kilimanjaro Safaris and see the nighttime behavior of the wildlife and better tune into the unique vocalization of the animals like never before. Among the new experiences, the village of Harambe in Africa will become the place to enjoy “Wildlife Parti” and the spirited community of Discovery Island will come together to celebrate their love of the natural world with the Discovery Island Carnivale.
First-Ever Night Experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Begin May 27
© Disney

And the park’s Discovery River will awaken at night and become a stunning stage for performances of the limited-engagement show The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, inspired by the hit live-action film Disney’s The Jungle Book. Shows will feature memorable moments from the film, including the iconic Shere Khan, and will be filled with music and special effects that celebrate the movie and classic songs, infused with an Indian influence.
FastPass+ and dining packages for Disney’s Animal Kingdom night experiences will become available beginning tomorrow, May 21.
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Want to book a Walt Disney World Vacation?
Contact RMH Travel for your free no obligation quote.
Book a 3 night stay or longer with tickets and get a $25 gift card, plus autograph books for the children. Just say you saw this blog!
Click here to be taken to our easy to use form for your free quote!
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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Fun Fresh Weekends at Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Fun Fresh Weekends at Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

The Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival is now in bloom at Walt Disney World® Resort. With fresh, farm-to-table flavors, vibrant gardens, interactive playgrounds and rocking entertainment the Festival boasts fun-filled exploration for every age and interest.
During Festival weekends, you can celebrate the great outdoors at nature-themed events, including:
Art in the Garden Weekend: April 1-3, 2016
You can view nature through the eyes of “Plein Air” artists and discover one-of-a-kind Disney works of art on display around World Showcase.
Outdoor Family Fun Weekend: April 8-10, 2016
Families can enjoy the benefits of sharing quality time together at select Festival gardens. As a bonus, animal specialists from Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park will be on hand at the Festival Center to share how bugs play an important role in helping a garden thrive.
Earth Day Weekend: April 22- 24, 2016
Guests can take part in interactive activities, discoveries and more as they celebrate the place we all call home! Plus, they can learn about the efforts to protect coral reefs and other marine life at The Seas with Nemo & Friends―a special tribute to the amazing creatures that dwell in our vast oceans.
Florida Fresh Weekend: April 29- May 1, 2016
You can explore the bounty of the Sunshine State from Apalachicola to Zellwood at this Festival Center-based event.
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs: May 6- 8, 2016
Guests can marvel at amazing flora designs that defy description inside the Festival Center from 10 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Plus, each weekend you can reach for new horticultural heights by visiting the Festival Center for inside tips, DIY inspiration and top gardening trends. The Festival Center is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the event.
And, don’t forget … pop bands with hits spanning the decades take the stage every Festival weekend for the Garden Rocks Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre. Blood, Sweat & Tears featuring Bo Bice, Bad Company, former lead singer BRIAN HOWE, Georgia Satellites and Darlene Love make their Festival debut this year.
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs now through May 30, 2016. Admission to Epcot is required. While most Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival events are included with your theme park ticket, many experiences require a separate purchase or a separate admission fee. Availability is limited for some experiences. Events may be rescheduled or cancelled at any time.

Want to book a Walt Disney World Vacation?

Contact RMH Travel for your free no obligation quote.

Book a 3 night stay or longer with tickets and get a $25 gift card, plus autograph books for the children. Just say you saw this blog!

Click here to be taken to our easy to use form for your free quote!
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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

A look Inside Deluxe Resort Disney's Contemporary Resort

A Look Inside
Deluxe Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Picture
©Disney
The Contemporary Resort is one of the tow original Walt Disney World Hotels. It is located between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom park, or you can catch the Resort Monorail as it breezes through the iconic A-frame Contemporary Tower. Described as ultra-modern with award-winning dining, white-sand beaches, spectacular views and dazzling pools. This resort has one of the lease amount of colors, the only real source of color in the atrium is a 90-foot mosaic depicting Native American children and nature.  The off-white central tower is augmented by a three-story Garden Building.

The 4th floor of the Tower is known as the Grand Canyon Concourse where you will find a variety of shops and restaurants as well as the monorail station. There is also a walkway to Bay Lake Tower (a DVC Resort). The Contemporary offers many recreation options and also houses large convention facilities.

There are several big advantages to staying at this resort. The first is location, location, location! As one of the monorail hotels the Contemporary Resort is very well located. The Magic Kingdom is only a short monorail ride (or walk) away and getting to Epcot simply requires transferring from one monorail to another one at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). In addition, the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts are easily accessed by the monorail and the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness are just a boat ride away. There are several dining options within the resort itself, and as we already said it boost one of the largest selections of recreational activities. The second biggest draw is the rooms at the Contemporary Resort are among the largest at Walt Disney World.

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©Disney
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©Disney
Disney's Contemporary Resort's Rooms Most of the Contemporary rooms are 394 square feet, which makes them some of the largest standard rooms in Walt Disney World, and have two queen-size beds, a daybed, and a table with two chairs.

Each Disney's Contemporary Resort room is furnished with the following:
Picture©Disney
  • Two queen beds
  • Dresser with medium-size drawers
  • Table with 2 chairs
  • Nightstand digital alarm clock
  • Full-length mirror (on bath door)
  • WiFi wireless Internet access
  • Flat-panel TV
  • Mini fridge
  • Coffee Maker
  • Ironing board and iron
  • Hair dryer
  • Digital thermostat
  • In-room safe
  • Tiny bottle of H2O-brand shampoo, and bar soap
The mini-fridge is a dorm-style unit that sits under a counter or desk. It's more like a beverage chiller than a refrigerator in that it'll keep drinks cool, but you're not going to freeze Popsicle or make ice cubes in it.

The Contemporary Resort has two sections. The Tower is 14 stories tall and has approximately 500 guest rooms. The Tower rooms have 2 views, Bay Lake or the Magic Kingdom/parking lot. The South Garden Wing is located to the south of tower has approximately 250 rooms. The Garden rooms have either a water, garden or parking lot view. With that said which is better, the Tower or the Garden Wing? That depends on your taste. The Tower rooms are much more convenient to the shops, restaurants, front desk and monorail station. The rooms in the South Wing are closer to the marina and swimming pools. The Tower room are more expensive and some have complained of the noise from the monorail.

Concierge Services

The Concierge Floors - 12 and 14. Concierge services are identical on the two floors, the only difference is the 14th floor has suites.

The 12th floor Atrium Club Concierge and the 14th floor Tower Club Concierge offer the same services and food items. There is a nightly turndown service, and they leave a little chocolate Mickey (solid chocolate) on your pillow every night. The concierge is available from 7am to 10pm to make dining reservations, plan outings, answer questions, everything
Picture
©Disney
Contemporary Pools

Contemporary has two pools. The largest, The Feature Pool, sits in the middle of the Contemporary tower and the Garden Wing. There is also a hot tub, kiddie pool and water player area.

The other smaller pool, the Bay Pool is located near the Feature. This pool is considered a "quiet pool," meaning that loud play and splashing around are discouraged.

Contemporary's pools range in depth from around 3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 9 inches. Pool are open every day, including during winter. The pools are heated to 82°F/28°C throughout the year. We've swum in temperatures as cold as 40°F/4°C; the water was fine, but getting out was a shock. Contemporary also has a hot tub located near Silver Creek Springs Pool.

Feature Pool has one water slide that all ages are free to use. Guests can find showers, storage lockers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. Pool hours are at least 10AM to 10 PM, extending to as much as 8 AM to 12 AM during busy times. Feature Pool will have lifeguards during the pools' operating hours.

Restaurants and Dining

California Grill-High atop the Contemporary Resort, the award-winning California Grill sets the standard for Disney dining. But expect a boisterous crowd-the noise level makes quiet conversation difficult. Still, the view from the 15th floor is stellar, one of the best spots for watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks. It's so popular that the Grill no longer allows just anyone on the elevator for a ride to the top - you must have a dinner reservation. A show kitchen is the centerpiece of the airy dining room

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©Disney
Chef Mickey's is an all-you-can-eat buffet with that features a colorful, open dining room with the monorail running overhead, this is one of the most popular Disney-character restaurants-mostly because you're guaranteed an audience with Mickey Mouse, who dons a chef's toque and visits every single table for photos. (Goofy, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto are on hand, too.) The buffet circles the center of the room. It's loud, crowded, busy, and fun for families. We rarely see anyone here without kids in tow.
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The Wave...of American Flavors-On the first floor of the Contemporary just past the front desk, The Wave has one of the coolest lounges at Walt Disney World. This hip spot has the feel of an upscale coffee shop. Many of the items on the list are Organic including their beer and coffee. The Wave also serves up unusal drinks like the Antioxidant Cocktail and Supercharged Tropical Smoothie. With health breakfast buffet options of multigrain pancakes, make-your-own muesil. As well as healthy options for lunch and dinner.


Contempo Cafe-is the resort's conuter service restaurant. You place your order on a touch-screen kiosk, you can’t make modifications to your order on the touch screen but if you would like to 86’d the tomato on your sandwich just walk up to the pick-up window and ask. The food is made fresh and is tastier than most quick service restaurants. The seating area can be quite noisy with sounds from the nearby Chef Mickey.

Viewing the Fireworks from The Contemporary

Magic Kingdom Fireworks can be easily viewed from the resort. One of the Best spots for this is the 15th floor California Grill Lounge but you must have a dining reservation to view from this location. The music which accompanies the fireworks is piped into the lounge so guests don’t miss a thing. Guest with Tower Rooms facing the Magic Kingdom can also view the show from their terraces. If you are a guest on the 14th floor Concierge, you can watch the fireworks from the balcony off the lounge.

Actives to do
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Pirate and Pals Cruise-Take an unforgettable moonlit cruise of Seven Seas Lagoon, meet fearsome Never Land pirates and enjoy a fireworks finale.
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Contemporary Resort Campfire Head down to the beach for a fun evening of storytelling and s’mores around an open fire.

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Electric Water Pageant-Great sea creatures and twinkling flags cross the lagoon to electronic tunes in this playful nighttime water parade.The best viewing spot from the Contemporary of this water pageant is the beach on the Bay Lake side of the resort.
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There is also parasailing, personal water craft rentals, wakeboarding, motorized boating, fishing, tubing, beach volleyball, tennis, basketball, and jogging trails. Movie under the stars and a game station arcade are also available.
Shops

Bayview Gifts - The front section, just off the escalator, offers refrigerated chocolates and fudge, homewares and photo collectibles. The middle section offers Ladies casual fashions, watches, jewelry and framed art collectibles. The end section offers men's fashions.
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Fantasia - Offers Disney character merchandise and clothing. A wide selection of pins is located in the center of this shop.

Fantasia Market - Offers a variety of reading material (newspapers, magazines, etc.), liquor and refrigerated items. This shop also stocks health and beauty items guests may need.
Commuting Times to the Parks
Park Commuting Times
Resort Transportation
Magic Kingdom 12 min
Epcot 21 min
Hollywood Studios 29 min
Animal Kingdom 25 min
Ready to book your Walt Disney World Vacation?
Contact RMH Travel today!

Free Quote Form
email: info@RMHTravel.com
Phone: 818-903-0382
website: www.RMHTravel.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/RMHTravel
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

When should I book my Vacation? ~The Answer

When to book your vacation? Try­ing to fig­ure out the ide­al time to book your vacation and get the best deal is like try­ing to pre­dict a sports score: All you can do is look at the stats and make an educat­ed guess, and that is where a great Travel Agent comes in handy. It is our job to look at the constant changing stats and we are trained, learn from experience, etc when to book a vacation and get the best deals.

More often than not...book EARLY. Most vacations offer early bird specials and with cruise and certain hotels you get to pick the best cabin or room, as you are one of the first to book. Also, when booking with a Travel Agent, and booking early more often than not, if there is a better price before your final payment, we can get the better price.

Sometimes a Travel Agent will tell you to hold off on booking because they are aware of a sale for your particular destination. For example:


For Cruises a big sale blitz happens in late Oc­to­ber and again in Jan­uary and Febru­ary (dur­ing what the cruise in­dus­try calls Wave Sea­son, when many pas­sen­gers tend to plan and book peak-pe­ri­od cruis­es). Spe­cial deals sud­den­ly ap­pear, in­clud­ing for sum­mer itineraries pop­ular with fam­ilies in the Caribbean, as the lines look to get more busi­ness on the books. Best time to go for the best price, depends on your destination: Caribbean would be hurricane season (June to November) but the draw back to that is you may not make ports and there are no refunds if they don't. Alaskan the best rates are the first and last cruises. For the other choices, cruises are usually all in season so the best prices are booking early.  Cruises sometimes offer last minute deals, but with these come draw backs, first the best cabins are gone, second you have to pay in full, and third if you have to fly to make the cruise the price of a last minute flight cost more, usually not saving you much.
 
For all inclusive vacation in the Caribbean or Mexico, book about 11 months in advance. You won't find deals during the most popular time winter break, but you also won't find any rooms if you don't book early. As for the best time to go? For the best deals, book your vacation or the hurricane season (June to November),  which can bring discounted rates up to 60 percent off their high-season counterparts. But, with hurricane season comes risk, be flexible, and buy insurance. Spring and fall offer some discounts (minus spring break, which is an expensive time to go again). Last minute deals can be found for all inclusive but the cost of flights book so close to your vacation often counter any last minute deals.

For Walt Disney World there is a double edge sword, you want to book your vacation at least 185 days in advance, so that at 180 days you can book your dining choices, but if you don't care where you will eat (you don't have a daughter that MUST EAT at Cinderella's Royal Table, or you aren't dying to trying Be Our Guest) then I suggest waiting until a deal comes out before booking your vacation, most deals come out about 90 days in advance. Some deals aren't really deals, for the summer they offer up to 30% off some resorts but that price is still higher than the same room non- discounted in September (but they are still cheaper than booking last minute where you won't get even 30% off). There best deals are usually for the month of September, parts of October, November, and December, with occasionally good deals in parts of January, February and March.


Booking your vacation can be stressful for some, there is lots of research that goes into finding the prefect deal when you can travel. Let RMH Travel take the stress out of booking your vacation, contact us and we can set you up with the perfect destination, resort or cruise ship. More often than not you will also find extra amenities added to your vacation that you won't find anywhere else. Let our expert staff help you.


Contact us today

wwww.RMHTravel.com
info@RMHTravel.com
855-RMH-TRAV

or you can fill out one of our easy on-line forms for a quicker quote

general vacation or all inclusive
Cruise
Walt Disney World
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Monday, July 28, 2014

Disney's Boardwlk Inn- A look inside Disney Resort

A look inside Disney Resort

Deluxe Resort

Disney's Boardwalk Inn

© Disney
The Boardwalk Inn captures the feel of the ‘20s and 30s Eastern Seaboard. The Board walk, is on Crescent Lake, and features upscale restaurants, and galleries, a brewpub, and an ESPN sports bar.  In the evening, an adult night club with dueling pianos and a DJ dance club join the lineup. There are also shops, and a wide range of actives that differs from day to day. (see actives section on here for more information.) The biggest draw is it is within walking distance to Epcot, where even more dining options are available.

PictureLobby ©Disney
The Boardwalk Inn captures the feel of the ‘20s and 30s Eastern Seaboard. The Board walk, is on Crescent Lake, and features upscale restaurants, and galleries, a brewpub, and an ESPN sports bar.  In the evening, an adult night club with dueling pianos and a DJ dance club join the lineup. There are also shops, and a wide range of actives that differs from day to day. (see actives section on here for more information.) The biggest draw is it is within walking distance to Epcot, where even more dining options are available.
The Boardwalk boost 378 rooms and 532 time-share Villas. The lobby has a beautiful furnishing, whimsical carousel rugs, interesting models of roller coasters and carousels, and music that will take you back to the Great Gatsby era. The window seats along the hall of the lobby are inviting conversation areas. The chandeliers and hard wood floors add an air of elegance to this lively, fun at hear resort.  Outside the lobby is a wonderful deck with chairs to sit back and people watch.


Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort’s Rooms

Most of the Boardwalk Inn rooms are 371 square feet and have two queen-size beds, a daybed, and a desk with three chairs. Both the Boardwalk Inn and the Boardwalk Villas have studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas. Standard rooms can accommodate 4 guests. One-bedroom units can accommodate up to five people and two-bedroom units can hold up to 9 people with a sleeping chair in the living room.

Each Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort room is furnished with the following:
Picture©Disney

  • Two queen beds
  • Dresser with 3 medium-size drawers
  • Love seat
  • Table with 2 chairs
  • Nightstand digital alarm clock
  • Full-length mirror (on bath door)
Picture©Disney
  • WiFi wireless Internet access
  • Flat-panel TV
  • Mini fridge
  • Coffee Maker
  • Ironing board and iron
  • Hair dryer
  • Digital thermostat
  • In-room safe
  • Tiny bottle of H2O-brand shampoo, and bar soap
The mini-fridge is a dorm-style unit that sits under a counter or desk. It's more like a beverage chiller than a refrigerator in that it'll keep drinks cool, but you're not going to freeze popsicles or make ice cubes in it.
©Disney
Room Types

·  Water View: Some rooms in BoardWalk Inn have a view of Crescent Lake, but at the BoardWalk, the "water" part of "water view" can mean Crescent Lake, the canal, or a small pool.

·  Standard View: Standard rooms generally have unremarkable views of landscaping or parking lots. The view from your window for the most part includes landscaping and trees.

·  Concierge: offers deluxe rooms with added amenities: robes, TV speakers in the bathroom, deluxe nightly turn down service, and continental breakfast buffet. Most rooms are on the 4th floor. Concierge level guests also have their own private lounge (the Innkeeper’s Club) Epcot’s IllumiNations can be seen nightly from the balcony in the concierge lounge.
PictureGarden Suites ©Disney
·  Garden Suites: are designed for HONEYMOONERS but can easily accommodate a family of four and are two stories. There are 14 Garden Suites and all but three have private entrance courtyards. The three that do not, have private balconies. The yards are separated by white picket fences that are about 3 feet tall. Each of the front yards are individually landscaped. At the gate entrance to the yard, there is a small decorative bird hours with the room number on it. These front yards lead to the one and only entry way of the suite, and are being grown into manicured rose gardens.

The first floor has a TV, ½ bath, bread bar and a queen size sofa bed. The 2nd level loft, in most cases, overlooks the lower level which create a very large, vaulted ceiling effect. The three with private balconies have more of an actually separate second level. The second level features are elevated king size bed, TV and a full bath with a giant Jacuzzi tub that will easily accommodate two people, and a mini TV for viewing while in the Jacuzzi tub.

  Pools
Picture©Disney
BoardWalk Inn has two pools. The largest, Luna Park Pool, sits in the BoardWalk Villas section of the resort near the lobby at the front of the resort. There is also a hot tub, kiddie pool and water player area.

The other smaller pool is located at the far east side of the resort wing of the resort. This pool is also a basic concrete pool and is considered a "quiet pool," meaning that loud play and splashing around are discouraged.

Luna Park Pool has one water slide that all ages are free to use. Guests can find showers, storage lockers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. Pool hours are at least 10AM to 10 PM, extending to as much as 8 AM to 12 AM during busy times. Luna Park Pool will have lifeguards during the pools' operating hours.

Playgrounds at Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort A small playground set is located near Luna Park Pool. The set has a small plastic slide and a couple of sections with a few steps for toddlers to go up and down. Safety seems to be Disney's concern here - there are no swings, and the entire area is covered in a springy, poured rubber surface.

DINING
Picture©Disney
  The ESPN Club is a sports club with sports aplenty on the TVs that dot the establishment. The food is standard sports club fare such as burgers, sandwiches, drinks, appetizers, and desserts. The atmosphere is fun and inviting to families for lunch and dinner.

The BoardWalk Bakery offers baked goods, espressos, and cappuccinos, 6:30am to 11:00pm. Expect long lines in the morning, especially before Kouzzina opens.

Kouzzina offers Mediterranean cuisine in a lively atmosphere. Breakfast and dinner are served. Open 7:30 am to 11:00 am and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 P.M.

Boardwalk also has a Pizza Take Out window. Open noon to midnight.

Seashore Sweets serves hand-dipped ice cream, salt water taffy, candy, chocolate and cookies. Open 1 p.m. to 11:00pm.

The Flying Fish Cafe presents diners with fresh selections of seafood and steaks. There is an open kitchen there you can watch the chefs work their magic. A great place for a special meal. The Flying Fish is only open for dinner hours. Open Sunday through Thursday 5:30 to 10:00 P.M. Open Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 10:30 P.M.

Big River Grille and Brewing Works is a must for any ale or micro-brew fan. Big River has tempting selections of beer breads, sausages, gourmet burgers and salads. A lighthearted atmosphere for a casual meal. Open 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Dine in or out on the Boardwalk.

Leaping Horse Libations at Luna Park is a great place for a sandwich or hot dog, generally open 11am til dusk.

There are also several carts along the Boardwalk, mainly open in the evenings such as the Boardwalk Hot Dog Cart and the Italian Ice Cart.

Picture©Disney
Night entertainment for those over 21

Guests over 21 can enjoy Jellyrolls, a bar with dueling pianos and audience sing-alongs. The stage is raised and has large mirrors behind the performers and a lightshow happens as the pianists take turns playing and engaging the audience. This location is very popular so it is recommended that you show up early if you want a table.

Guests 21 and over who enjoy dancing should check out the Atlantic Dance Hall, which is nightclub that plays songs from the ‘80s, ‘90s and today. Atlantic Dance Hall's hours depend on the season but they are usually open 9:00 PM to 1:45 AM.

Actives
Picture©Disney
 The Boardwalk offers a wide range of activities that differs from day to day. Seasonally, you will find midway games, jugglers, entertainers, hand wax molds, food vendors, magic shows. Bike riding along the Boardwalk is a popular past time. At night, the night clubs and restaurants spring to life and bring with them music, laughter, and people.

Getting to the theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney Disney provides free bus service from Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort to Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and Downtown Disney/Disney Springs. Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort's bus stops sit along the front wall of the lobby, between the lobby and check-in parking lot. Each theme park has its own bus stop somewhere along the wall. Animal Kingdom's bus service is shared with Blizzard Beach, while Downtown Disney/Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon also share a stop and service.

Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios can also be accessed by boat from the dock near on the BoardWalk. Boat service may be suspended during thunderstorms, so if it's raining or looks like it's about to, Disney will provide buses.

After Epcot World Show Case is open you can also take a short 5-10 minute walk from your resort and enter Epcot through the World Show Case entrance making it a great dinner option. 
©Disney
Commuting Times to the Parks
Park                Commuting Times
                           Resort Transportation

Magic Kingdom         19 min
Epcot                           12 min
Hollywood Studios    26 min
Animal Kingdom        20 min

Ready to book your Walt Disney World Vacation?
Contact RMH Travel today!

Free Quote Form
www.RMHTravel.com
email: info@RMHTravel.com
Phone: 855-RMH-TRAV
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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Beach Club Resort-A Look inside Disney Reosrts


A look inside Disney Resorts
Deluxe Resort


Disney's Beach Club Resort

Disney Beach Club is a smaller resort with only 583 rooms. It is one of the resorts that has lots of business conferences hosted here as they have several conference facilities. The resort is styled after the New England seaside at the turn of the century and the seashore theme is evident throughout the resort. The Beach Club is joined in the center with the Yacht Club. Together they share Stormalong Bay and transportation facilities.  There is a quiet serenity to the Beach Club in the early morning.
The biggest advantage to staying at the Beach Club is its proximity to Epcot (only a short walk away).It is adjacent to the Yacht club and across the water from the Boardwalk area, giving this resort a wide range of dining and recreational options without ever entering a motorized vehicle.
What are the Rooms like?

Rooms Set up

Most of the hotel rooms are 381 square feet and have 2 queen-size beds, a daybed, and a desk and a chair.  The rooms have a small safe in the closet to store valuables. You will also find a small refrigerator, minibar, hairdryer, and iron and ironing board. Rooms have a lot of drawer space. Beach Club rooms are decorated in soft green and blue tones. Some rooms have balconies. 

The Beach Club consists of a long main building with several wings protruding toward Crescent Lake. The main building and the various wrings range from three to five stories. Most rooms have balconies or on the ground floor, patios. Balconies are about 6 inches deep. Top-floor rooms often have enclosed balconies inset into the roof. Unless you’re standing, visibility is somewhat limited from these balconies.

Standard Rooms and Preferred Rooms, Standard Views and Pool Views

 Disney knows that some hotel rooms are better than others. Most people want something pretty to look at from their hotel room window. To capitalize on this, Disney categorizes all of Beach Club's hotel rooms based on what you see from inside the room.
Here's the system Disney uses:
  • Garden View: Garden View rooms make up the majority of rooms at Yacht Club. The view from your window may include landscaping and trees, other parts of the buildings, or maintenance areas.
  • Lagoon or Pool View: At the Beach Club, anything wet counts, whether it’s in front of you or so far to the side you have to crane your neck. If somehow you can glimpse the lake, a creek, or a swimming pool, you have a water view. First floor rooms here tend to have views of the backs of lounge chairs sitting around the pool, so upper-floor rooms generally have better views. Some rooms facing southeast look on to Crescent Lake. 
  • Standard View: Standard rooms generally have unremarkable views of landscaping or parking lots.

Recreational

one section of the pool

The Beach Club Resort shares restaurants, pools and other amenities with the Yacht Club Resort and Beach Club Villas. 


The pool Stormalong Bay is supposed to be the best pool on Walt Disney World property. Stormalong Bay has sand in the bottom of the pool and there is actually several section to the pool; the Beach Clbu and Yacht Club section are separate and different so be sure to try both. There is a deep circular area with jets that push you like a river current around the pool. There is also the larger area where the water slide empties out. (One of the best water slides there are.)In addition, the *sinking sand* area delights both kids and adults. There are several “hot Tube” located in secluded locations around Stormalong Bay. A separate wading pool area with said is located near ShipWrek water slide entrance for small schildren and includes a kids water slide. StormAlong Bay is over 3 acres large. 
Wading pool with Slide


There is a beach shack which rents tubes and noodles, suntan lotion, film and you can get your towels here. (Towels are free, the other items are not.)
Other options you can do at Beach club is water volleyball, campfire sing-along and movie under the stars. Be sure to request a Recreational Activates flyer when you check in for dates and times of these actives. 

There are also two lit hard surface tennis courts available complimentary to Beach Club and Yacht Club guests. 

Ship Shape Health Club is located between the Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts next to Laffertyu Place Arcade and open from 6am to 9 pm. 


Restaurants

The Beach Club resort area has quite a variety of restaurants to fit your dining needs. 

Beaches and Cream is a '50s type hot shop serving burgers, hot dogs, soups, grilled cheese, and of course ice cream. It is small and noisy but fun. There are a few small tables and chairs outside Beaches and Cream you can also sit at.

Most popular desert at Beaches and Cream~Kitchen Sink~

Beach Club Marketplace - Opened April 2005 and offers some made-to-order sandwiches, as well as prepackaged sandwiches and salads, desserts and drinks.

The Cape May Cafe hosts a daily character breakfast buffet (7:30 - 11:00) featuring Beachy Goofy and his friends. This has to be one of the largest amounts of breakfast foods I've ever seen. In the evening, the Cafe hosts a Clam Bake buffet. Folks seem to love the Seafood Buffet!

For an evening cocktail, Martha's Vineyard has a full-service bar offering wine flights. The lounge is located behind Cape May Cafe, next to Ariel's Private Use Room.

Hurricane Hanna's is a poolside full-service bar which also serves food (burgers, hotdogs, etc,). Hurricane Hanna's is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. during the summer; 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. during the winter.

Less than a two-minute walk away is the Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club. The Captain's Grille serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Yacht Club also has the Ale and Compass Lounge where you can get alcoholic beverages during the day. Within walking distance are the Dolphin/Swan, Boardwalk and all the Epcot restaurants.

Transportation

Commuting Times to the Parks
Park
Commuting Times

Resort Transportation
Magic Kingdom
23 min

Epcot
8 min (by foot no transporation)

Hollywood Studios
26 min

Animal Kingdom
24 min




Ready to book your Walt Disney World Vacation?

Contact RMH Travel today!

Free Quote Form
email: info@RMHTravel.com
Phone: 855-RMH-TRAV
Web Site: www.RMHTravel.com


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