Happy National Pizza Day

February 9, 2019amcoope2 Leave a comment

Did you know that every hour at Disney world, they are cranking out 1200 pizzas an hour… at several locations!?!? That’s a lot of dough! The quick service restaurants use a machine called the “pizzamatic” and can be found at Pizzerizzo (Hollywood Studios) and Pizzafari (Animal Kingdom).

Check out this video of the pizzamatic in action (From the show Unwrapped on the Food Network)-

If pizza is one of your favorites no worries, you can find TONS of places to get a slice of your favorite pie at Walt Disney World!

Check out Trattoria Al Forno at Disney’s Boardwalk, Pinocchio Village Haus at Magic Kingdom, Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom, Any of the Wolfgang Puck restaurants at Disney Springs, Pizzerizzo at Hollywood Studios, Catalina Eddie’s at Hollywood Studios, Tony’s Town Square at Magic Kingdom, Splitsville at Disney Springs, Mama Melrose’s at Hollywood studios, and of course- my all time favorite- Via Napoli at Epcot!

Our pizza from Via Napoli!!!!!

If none of these options sound like the type of pizza you’re in luck. Within a reasonable drive from Disney World Property you can hit up Giordano’s Pizza (THEY ALSO DELIVER TO DISNEY RESORT HOTELS)! They’re a Chicago based pizza chain with STUFFED pizza! It’s one of our all time favorite pizza places. They just added a location 2 hours south of our home and we totally drove 2 hours for pizza. If you are a pizza lover it’s definitely worth checking out!

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Ready to check out all of these amazing pizza places? Be sure to contact Ashley at Charming Travels LLC for all of your Disney Planning needs! Her services are free of charge and helping people plan their magical vacation is her favorite thing to do!

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Fun Fact Friday- Take a Walk in the Park Day!

March 30, 2018amcoope2 Leave a comment

Today is Fun Fact Friday, but also a unique holiday! Last week was “make up your holiday-day” and today is national- “Take a walk in the park day.” Now to a “normal” non disney obsessed person… they would probably assume that taking a walk in the park would mean going to the park around the corner, or visiting your nearest national or metro park (we have a ton of GREAT parks near our home.) To this mouskaholic though, the words “Take a Walk in the Park” immediately makes me think DISNEY parks 🙂 . So for fun fact friday today we will look at the mileage involved in walking through each of the Walt Disney World and Disneyland parks.

Magic Kingdom- If you went all the way around the park with minimal doubling back you’re looking at a minimum of walking 1.85 miles. That does not include the walk to and from the transportation areas, that is simply in the park-

Walking map of Magic Kingdom park if you were to do a single loop of the park- 1.85 miles

Now Epcot is significantly larger than Magic Kingdom. Just to walk around the World Showcase Lagoon in itself is 1.2 miles, and when you add Future World in you’re looking at a minimum of 2.64 miles.

With all of the construction at Hollywood Studios, and it being one of the smaller parks anyway, you’re looking at a much shorter walking distance (again these are just if you were to walk to all the attractions, no going in, waiting in line, no doubling back) . So at Hollywood studios pre-toy story land and pre-Star Wars land you’re looking at approximately a 1.4 mile walk total.

Your second to longest walk comes in around 2.45 miles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This is the largest park in square mileage at Disney, but luckily to explore some of the areas you get special transportation… like the safari area you need to be in the safari cars, and to get to Rafiki’s planet watch you take a train to get out there. This has the potential to be a LOT of walking depending on how you’ve planned your day!

Now let’s head to the park where it all started! Disneyland in Anaheim California!

Disneyland is physically a smaller park, you’re looking at the same amount of walking at you would at Disney’s Magic Kingdom… 1.85 miles, and that is mostly because Toon Town is a little farther out of the way

One of my favorite things that makes Disneyland different than WDW is that you can walk in between the two parks, where the WDW property is so spread out, it makes it nearly impossible (you can walk between Epcot and Hollywood Studios). So let’s take a walk across the esplanade over to Disney’s California Adventure park 🙂

I’m always amazed at how many awesome things they can pack into 1.4 miles, but they’ve definitely managed at DCA 🙂 . Things to keep in mind about walking at Disneyland is the you can walk from your hotel, and you’ll walk through Disney Springs or the main gate to get to either park. While the parks are a little one the smaller side in comparison to WDW, the walking potential is still quite high.

While what I mapped above is just a simple route around each park, there is the potential of doing MANY more miles while you’re there. Make sure you have good walking shoes! Mr. Mouskaholic and I average around 7-9 miles per day when we go! So who is ready to take a walk in your favorite Disney parks?

Ready to take your own walk in the park? Be sure to contact Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your FREE no obligation quote! All of her planning and booking services are 100% free of charge to you!

Happy National Pizza Day- Fun Fact Friday

February 9, 2018amcoope2 Leave a comment

Check out this video of the pizzamatic in action (From the show Unwrapped on the Food Network)-

If pizza is one of your favorites no worries, you can find TONS of places to get a slice of your favorite pie at Walt Disney World!

Our pizza from Via Napoli!!!!!

Tuesday’s Tips- Take an Uber!

March 7, 2017amcoope2 1 Comment

Disney makes getting from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to your resort a piece of cake with Disney’s Magical Express. With this free service you’ll be taken from the airport straight to your resort on a Disney themed motor coach. You won’t even have to worry about going to baggage claim! Disney takes care of that for you as well! Put the special tags on your bags, and they will be magically delivered to your resort after your arrival.

While these awesome perks are magical indeed, they’re designed to keep you on property. A magic bus that eliminates the need for a rental car? Yes perk, but also convenient for Disney to keep you (and more importantly your $$$) in their parks, stores and restaurants. (I’m certainly not complaining either… “All magic comes at a price.”)

There have been plenty of Disney trips that we have taken where we’ve been very content to stay right on Disney property and keep our adventure there, however there are sometimes where it is also nice to get off property to visit other theme parks, and restaurants. While I’m a dedicated “mouskaholic” I also very much enjoy the magic of Harry Potter.

Because of my devotion to this other magic, I have visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. (Shhhh… don’t tell the Disney Gods lol!) We had a few options for getting from Disney to Universal for us, taking an “Uber” was the most economical, and quickest option. If you purchase your Universal tickets through at travel agent, they have the option of selling you tickets that include round trip transportation from the Disney Resort to the Universal resort via Mears Motorcoaches. This isn’t a bad option, but it is time consuming because the bus makes stops at multiple resorts, AND costs $26 per person for the roundtrip transfer. For a family of four you’re looking at $104.00 extra just to get from Disney to Universal. Another option is renting a car… If you’re on a week long trip you’re looking at at around $150.00 – $200.00 (depending on car type and size) for a week long car rental. If you’re only plan is to head to universal or off property once or twice this is definitely not the most economical plan. You could head to the “Disney Car Care Center” and rent a car just for the day, but getting there means taking time out of your valuable vacation time to do so.

So what is the most economical solution that I’ve found? Ride-sharing Apps! I personally have only used Uber, but I know that Lyft is also available in the Orlando Area. Ride-sharing apps base their fares on a combination of mileage and time spent in travel, rather than basing in on per person. So with an UberX you can transport up to 4 people for one low price.

Here is the price (without a surge) going from Disney’s All Star Music Resort to Universal Studios

So for $17.24 you can transport 1-4 individuals to Universal (one way). So even at the round trip price of about $35.00, that’s still considerably less than round trip for two on the Mears motor coaches ($52.00 round trip for 2), and about the same price as a one day car rental, just without the hassle of heading to the Disney Car Care Center.

Here are some other approximations of cost to other popular orlando destinations (Estimates are done from the All Star Music Resort to the destination)

One of my favorite places to eat off of Disney Property is Giordano’s Pizza! It’s deep dish Chicago style STUFFED pizza, and it’s AMAZING (FYI, they also deliver). An uber to Giordano’s is approximately $11 bucks

Giordano’s Stuffed Pizza

An Uber to the Orlando Eye= $14.00

An Uber to Orlando Premium Outlets= $12

An Uber to Seaworld= $13.50

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To use Uber you just need to download the app to your smart phone, and sign up with a valid credit card. If you’re interested in getting up to $15 off your first ride enter this code when you sign up- ashleyf1931ue

Happy Riding!

Do you want more travel tips, and help planning your magical vacation to Disney World, Universal, or SeaWorld? Contact Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for all of your central Florida travel needs! She specializes in Disney and central Florida locations, and her planning services are free of charge!

ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com

Tuesday’s Tip- Traveling with Preschoolers

February 28, 2017amcoope2 Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered if you’re crazy trying to take your preschool aged child to Disney World? There is magic for children of all ages at Disney, including magic for your preschool aged child! In fact, Disney has put together an entire PDF brochure to guide you to a magical trip with your preschooler!

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Click Below to print your own copy!

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If you’re ready to book your next vacation be sure to email Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote. Her booking and planning services are always free of charge.

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Tuesday’s Tip- Using the Baby Centers at the parks

February 21, 2017amcoope2 Leave a comment

High chairs, changing stations, formula, baby food, and toddler sized toilets… these are all things that you can find at the Baby Care Centers at Walt Disney World’s four theme parks. Disney World is a place for families, including those with young children. To make travel easier for all families, they have these centers to accommodate those with younger children.

In each Baby Care Center you’ll find the following

Private rooms with rocking chairs for nursing mothers
Changing room with tables and a unisex bathroom
Feeding area with high chairs
Kitchen with a microwave, oven, and sink
Main room with television, table, chairs, and sofa
Toddler sized toilets
An on-site shop that offers formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, over the counter medication, and clothing for purchase.

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Where are these baby care centers located?

At the Magic Kingdom you’ll find the baby care center between Casey’s Corner and the Crystal Palace (just left of Main Street USA as you head towards Adventureland)

At Epcot you’ll find the baby care center in the Odyssey building. This building is right in between future world, and Mexico, in the World Showcase.

At Animal Kingdom you’ll find the baby care center next to Pizzafari. To to the left of the tree of life to get to Pizzafari, pass it, and it’ll be on the left.

At Hollywood Studios you’ll find the baby care center located in at the front of the park located in the guest relations building.

Worried about cleanliness? No worries at all, each changing table is equipped with disposable paper liners, and dedicated Baby Center cast members will be ready with paper towels and other clean up supplies if necessary.

While you’re allowed to nurse your baby anywhere you like, these areas are air conditioned and equipped for all of your baby needs. This includes pumping. In each of nursing rooms there are electrical outlets for you to plug in your pump.

Do you have an older child that you’re worried about what to do with them while you are taking care of the little one? No worries, the toddler can relax in the small main lounge area. On the tv you’ll find Disney movies, as well as books and coloring pages in the lounge area to keep them entertained.

Follow Confessions of Mouskaholic on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/mouskaholic Twitter-@TheMouskaholic and Instagram- @TheMouskaholic

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If you’re ready to book your next vacation be sure to email Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote. Her booking and planning services are always free of charge.

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Fun Fact Friday- The Size of Walt Disney World

February 17, 2017amcoope2 Leave a comment

27,000 acres of land is owned by the Disney corporation in central Florida. To give you an idea of how much land that actually is… 27,000 acres is 80 times the size of the nation of Monaco, twice the size of the island of Manhattan, and the size of the city of San Francisco. Convert that from acres to miles, and it’s 47 square miles! Keep in mind only 1,100 acres are taken up with the parks, while only 7,100 acres have been developed.

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Walt learned from Disneyland that outside developers and hotels would quickly surround his precious park. He wanted space when he began to plan “Project X” or also known as the “Florida Project.” To get the space needed Walt set up “dummy corporations” to operate under. He knew that once it was announced that they were creating a park that the price of property would skyrocket. So corporations like “M.T. Lott” (get it… empty lot!), “Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation” and several others went to central Florida to purchase the 27,000 acres of land. The first acres of land were purchased for about $80.00 per acre. After it was announced that Disney was purchasing the land, the price skyrocketed 1000% to $8000.00 per acre.

With this land, the Disney corporation was able to create the magical world that we now know as Walt Disney World. Even though Walt died prior to the opening of Walt Disney World, it has been a huge success!

Follow Confessions of Mouskaholic on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/mouskaholic and Instagram- @TheMouskaholic

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If you’re ready to book your next vacation be sure to email Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote. Her booking and planning services are always free of charge.

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Words of Walt- Main Street USA

March 26, 2015amcoope2 Leave a comment

Today’s post is about the first thing you will see when you walk into WDW’s Magic Kingdom, or Disneyland! Main Street USA 🙂

“Main Street, USA is America at the turn of the century- the crossroads of an era. The gas lamps and the electric lamp- the horse-drawn car and auto car. Main Street is everyone’s hometown- the heartline of America.”

Check in tomorrow for some fun facts about Main Street USA!

Main Street USA, Disneyland

Main Street USA- Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

The Quotable Walt Disney compiled by Dave Smith

ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com

The Best Behind the Scenes Tours at Walt Disney World (by budget- part 1)

February 17, 2015amcoope2 Leave a comment

I was going to write about the many “Behind the scenes” experiences at Disney World, but Charming Travels has a well written blog post, so why re-invent the wheel!?! Check out Charming Travel’s blog post on the awesome behind the scenes tours available at WDW (click on the link)

The Best Behind the Scenes Tours at Walt Disney World (by budget- part 1).

8 Reasons to Stay on Property When Visiting Walt Disney World

January 16, 2015amcoope2 Leave a comment

Here is an awesome article on 8 reasons to stay on Disney property from the Charming Travels Blog!

Charming Travels llc

Many times I am asked if it’s “really all that great” to stay on property at one of Disney’s resorts when visiting Walt Disney World. And each time I give them the run down of why it Really Is all that great and advantageous! So I figured if so many people that I talk with are questioning where they stay, others may be too. Disney has so many options when it comes to staying on property that you can find the perfect resort for you and your family/travel party. Without a doubt, I highly recommend staying on site and here are my 8 reasons why:

8. Packages & Discounts

Disney offers Magic Your Way packages that allow you to have all of your plans set up for you before you check in for your stay. Tickets, dining and other add-ins including waterparks, Disney Quest (a multi-floor arcade complex), golf and…

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Walt Disney World

Happy National Pizza Day

Fun Fact Friday- Take a Walk in the Park Day!

Happy National Pizza Day- Fun Fact Friday

Tuesday’s Tips- Take an Uber!

Tuesday’s Tip- Traveling with Preschoolers

Tuesday’s Tip- Using the Baby Centers at the parks

Fun Fact Friday- The Size of Walt Disney World

Words of Walt- Main Street USA

The Best Behind the Scenes Tours at Walt Disney World (by budget- part 1)

8 Reasons to Stay on Property When Visiting Walt Disney World