Disney Dreaming

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I’m busy here planning our next trip to…Where else? The most magical place on Earth–Walt Disney World in Florida! We don’t usually go away in the summer due to Dennis’s job, and this year is no exception.  It’s actually worse because he and my brother are buying Dennis’s company. See me if you need a mover in Northeast Ohio or Northwestern Pennsylvania–I happen to know a few. Here’s a link to Dennis’s company and another to my brother-in-law Mike’s company.

Background

Anyhow, last November I talked Dennis into upgrading our seven day park hopper tickets to annual passes. We had a trip planned for fall with Aubree and Jeremy and the kids, so it just made sense. The annual passes include free parking (not that we drive if we can help it), discounts on merchandise and dining, occasional hotel discounts, and Memory Maker (downloads of all the photos taken by Disney’s PhotoPass photographers). It was actually less than two single day admissions each for the two of us to upgrade.

I don’t recommend buying Memory Maker in advance if you plan to upgrade. Cast members are reluctant to apply the purchase price to the passes. However, they did eventually apply the $169 advance purchase price ($199 regularly) to our passes because we hadn’t downloaded any of the photos yet. You can upgrade at any point during your trip by just paying the difference between your ticket types; we chose to do it our first day and were able to take advantage of all the discounts.

Surveys

Now, Dennis sometimes thinks I’m crazy, but when I’m in the parks and there’s a person with a survey, I stop and answer all the questions. It doesn’t take long, and I’m convinced that it’s how Disney gets addresses to send special offers. I could be wrong, but if I am, please don’t burst my bubble. As always, on my last trip, I stopped and took the few minutes to respond to the man with the iPad. Lo and behold, a few weeks later, I received a special offer in the mail. Free dining or a significant resort discount at one of the resorts!

Looking back at the hotel from the Arusha Rock savanna area

As you know, we have passes this year. Our tickets are good 365 days a year (actually in Disney it’s 366 for some reason).  We don’t need park tickets–we paid for those back in November. And, Dennis has always wanted to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I really didn’t have to twist his arm. Much. I was able to book a long weekend at Dennis’s dream hotel with free dining for less than the cost of three regular nights room cost.  Woohoo! We’re going back to Disney!

Dennis’s Dream Hotel: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animals on the Savannas

Click here to watch a video and see how amazing the Animal Kingdom Lodge truly is!  You’ll understand Dennis’s fascination. The lodge consists of two different areas: Jambo House, the original resort, and Kidani, the Disney Vacation Club property. While we’ve taken the DVC tour, we haven’t been convinced quite yet. Maybe if we were twenty or thirty years younger and the kids were still young… Jambo House opened in 2001, and looks out onto savannas containing nearly 100 animals including bongos, elands, zebras, kudus, impalas, giraffes, gazelles, and wildebeests and 130 birds (flamingos, cranes, hornbills, ostriches, pelicans, and more). We can’t wait.

The great thing about having passes is that we will have time to experience the resort. Since we did a big trip a few months ago, we’ve seen almost everything and can just go revisit our favorite rides and attractions. If we want to go to Animal Kingdom and just ride Flights of Passage (awesome ride, by the way), we can. I don’t know that I could justify the money for a regularly priced room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge if we were going to be in the parks all day. That’s why we usually go to Pop Century for a third of the price.

Amazing Restaurants

The lodge is known for its dining, and while we are staying there, I’d like to experience the various restaurants. There are six different places to eat, ranging from quick service at the Mara to the signature restaurant Jiko.  After a lot of consideration (and input from Dennis), I decided to upgrade our free regular Disney Dining Plan which consists of two snacks, one quick service meal and one table service meal each night to the deluxe dining plan which includes three meals (table service or quick service) and two snacks. New for 2018: one alcoholic beverage is included for each meal. We’ve never done the dining plan because it doesn’t save us money, so I’m excited to try it.  I’m not sure we’ll be able to eat that much food, but we’ll try. As of now, we have reservations for the Festival of Fantasy Parade Dining Package, Sanaa at Kidani Village (I’ve heard amazing things about their bread service), Boma (the lodge buffet) for both breakfast one day and dinner another, Jiko, and the Boathouse in Disney Springs. Jiko and the Boathouse are signature restaurants that require two credits each, but we still have credits to spare.

I’m so excited! I can hardly wait!

And Aubree, someday, I promise, you can stay here too!

If you’re planning a trip to Disney with more than four people, click here for tips about finding the perfect accommodations for your family.

Want to know which three books I use to plan my Walt Disney World vacations? Click here to find out!

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