Disney photo pass info

Ok,
now to talk a bit about Disney’s photo pass service.

Disney has a group of photographers all over “the World” ready to take your picture for free with no obligation to purchase ,they will take pictures with their camera and yours if you ask(a good way to get a shot of everyone in your group) (they are not all professional photographers)..They do a fantastic job.

How it works,

Have your photo taken and get a Disney’s photo pass card. The card has a code on the back that the photographers scan at each photo spot and links all the photos together...copy down the code or take a pic of the code with your camera; cell phone in case it’s lost you’ll still be able to retrieve the pictures later.

You can have as many cards that you want so don’t fuss

 digging in your bag for it, they’ll give you a new one when needed...

     Where to find the photographers???

...well usually in all the spots where the icons of Disney
are found,

the castle, main street USA, the rose garden,
epcot globe, tree of life, tower of terror,
Sorcerer Hat etc...Also at character meet and greet
spots. Areas can be found on the Disney park maps
...dining locations have some as well
(usually for offered pkgs)...you can buy a private
 photo session at the resorts

(moderate-deluxe resorts)

Want some Disney magic...you can have Disney characters magically superimposed on your photos...
examples...tinker bell at the magic
 kingdom(main street. ,or by castle),
baby samba at animal kingdom
(by tree of life),stitch at MGM/Hollywood
studios(sunset blvd),Minnie, Mickey and
Goofy Soarin(fountain stage &world
showcase plazas),fairy wings(pixie hollow)attractions/rides also do pictures,(test tract ,
rockin roller coaster,for example),dining
packages are available(example Cinderella’s
royal table,chef Mickey's).

They will be put on www.disneyphotopass.com and a 30 day deletion countdown clock
 will begin..(  they will be deleted at  midnight ex:date 12/12 /09 ..It will expire at the
 start of 12/12/09 not end so the real expiry date is 11/12/09 by midnight :)...

 So make sure you remember to check for

them online when you get home...you can view

 them in the park almost

immediately....

To view your photos in the parks go to the photo centers

near the park entrances.

Some of the photo pass products include...

Prints, video cds, photo cds, photo books etc...

(The web site often has discounts)

Tips...

use your camera as well as the photographers when

possible to get as many shots as possible so you don’t

miss that one great shot better several good shots then

one where someone has blinked,

 ask the photo pass person to take several pictures just in

case

.....mark down those photo card numbers in case lost..

Contact info at the website bottom or here. wdw.photo.imaging

@disneyworld.com or

 call and leave a voice mail at 407-560-6068

I hope this will help you with your trip

photo  planning. I love to take lots of

photos (3500 on a 10 day trip) so bring

 lots of memory cards or more film than

you’d ever dream of needing..The details

 will surprise you; you’ll want to take pics

of those as well not just of the castle and family

 .....happy photo taking....these

photos are ours from photo pass over

 the years....

Meeting Disney Characters-Tips for face time

Hi guys,
 I’m switching over to Disney mode :)
...today I want to share with you how to get a bit extra face time
with the Disney characters, especially your favorites. The thing I
did was make my own character T-shirts..(See pics)...I bought
cheap T's on sale, bought iron on transfer material for dark t-shirts,
looked up on the net for our fav characters pics / and /or used pics
 of us with the characters from previous trips..put tiltles around the pics
..like my first disney trip or me and my pal mickey, my 2008 Disney trip, etc
..you get the idea..i then printed it off on my computer onto the iron on
material then ironed it onto the t-shirt..(cheaper than buying t-shirts
there if budget is a concern...
As you will see in the pics it got the characters interacting with us
even more than normal
and if they hold you there
you feel less bad that you’re
holding up the line:)

Tink took time to comment on each of the 4 pics on my sons shirt especially

 warning him to not let Mickey see the pic of Minnie kissing him....

later at mgm Mickey saw the t-shirt picture and made signs ,

--i'm watching you.

which had everyone laughing and my son actually blushed which made

it even funnier(he was 16)...

Minnie let him know how pleased she was to have her picture on his shirt and

that she remembered him from the year before..

Mickey was saying oh no dale will be jealous that only chip is on the shirt

(and when he showed up ,he pretended to be hurt)...

Mulan commenting on how she like the pic and

was chip his favorite..

Dale pretended to be upset and left the picture we had to coax him back..and say he was to busy and popular for us to get a picture with him last time.... it was great fun ..and gave us lots of time for pics....( chip and dale always spend the most time with people)....
so you might want to give it a try when you go(I made one for each of us for each park day).....

Spectromagic Parade-layout-trip Tip

                      The Magic Kingdom has a beautiful lighted parade called Spectromagic (it doesn’t go on every night so watch for the dates...so worth it).The floats have half a million beautiful coloured lights and miles of fiber optics cables , a wonderful peacock, Mickey, Cinderella’s carriage and many other Disney characters ...


                      A very good place to sit is on the right side of the Castle on the sidewalk edge...Take your pictures facing the castle to have it in the background...makes for very nice backdrop... (You’ll need to get there to stake a spot 1 ½ - 2 hrs ahead of time and I’m not kidding)(Make time then to rest, enjoy the castle and have a night snack to pass the time, meet your neighbours from around the world...we met some lovely people)...

Disney-And I think to myself what A Wonderful World,Cricut-George and basic shapes

                                              This layout was done using Cricut's -George and basic shapes for my title “and I think to myself what a wonderful world"...indeed it is, a favourite part of my world...I love this spot near the rose garden to take pictures. As you can see you get the beautiful castle in the background...I used Bazzill paper, and Sandy lion’s Disney stickers for the layout

Disney Dining plan?

Disney Dining Plan....???


What is it? Should I? Is it worth it? Will I save money? I can only give you my opinion on this subject. Things you’ll need to consider are

(1) How many meals do I want paid ahead of time so I don’t have to think about the cost once I’m there? All three meals or just lunch and dinner/supper? Snack costs?

(2) Do I have younger children (too young for fancy sit down meals) or teenagers (able to sit and enjoy a 5 star restaurant?)

(3) Does having to be at a certain part of the park or resort, at a certain time bother me? Or do I want the freedom to go where I wish when I wish with no reservations to go to (in case the kids are too tired to eat or to irritable to sit at a fancy restaurant? And I’ve opted to pay the extra for the standard plan verses quick service plan...and lose money)(quick service plan= 2 quick service meals)

(4) Am I on a budget?(park meal costs add up quickly and can be pricey)

(5) Is the dining plan free on the dates I plan to go (typically mid Aug-early Oct but can sometimes be extended like this year till mid Dec prior to the holiday season)( all prices go  up at holiday seasons but your dining plan cost stays same/day so you save even more than anyother time )

If you have younger children and fancy restaurants are not the best plan I’d advise getting the quick service plan...it’ll meet your needs and save you money.

If you have teenagers ( my son was 14 the first yr we went ) who can sit and behave well in a nice restaurant then you will definitely get a deal with the standard (i snack-1 quick and 1 table service)or deluxe dining plans( 3 meals included but costs much more)...some of the nicer restaurants can run into $100 plus tip for each adult( kids over 10yrs)..But the meals are to die for....

(So you’ve paid aprox $49Can/day for the standard meal plan...getting you a snack (anything under $4..great for water in the parks or a quick item like grapes/muffins to eat on the go or for a light breakfast) plus your lunch meal($15-25) plus a fancier sit down restaurant that might cost over $ 100 (you can plan fancy at noon and quick later as well)

.... Sound like a deal??? Well it is don’t you think ...Epcot has wonderful ones like Les Chef du France...resorts like Contemporary have the private dining room with full window views of the castle ( uses 2 meal credits for this but so worth it if you plan your Res time about 30-45 mins before the fireworks...they have a private roof top viewing area and the music from the fireworks is piped in from the wishes fireworks in Magic kingdom so you can hear and watch it(check out videos on YouTube)and we were on the dining plan and got window side seat(all seats have decent view)(dress code for this one..Most don’t) ....I will be letting you know my opinions on the ones we’ve been to as we go along

.... (Food pics/restaurant pics/scrap layouts like my Chef Mickey’s one to follow)

...please let me know if you have any questions I might be able to answer for you

... (We buy our plan as an add on cost from our travel agent...We choose where we are eating...I’m not sure what other pkgs deals offer on their plans ... so choose wisely and ask lots of questions on what you are getting)......

Now as for making your dining reservations...get up early on the 90th day before your trip(you'll have to check but at times you can book at 180 days ahead)... (use a countdown gadget or calendar to keep tract...also fun for kids) and start calling or booking online( I found it to slow)phone was actually easier....they book up fast ..In mins sometimes...so CALL on the 90th day( or sooner if allowed).....if you can’t get a certain time or restaurant book another spot (have a list made out ready to go when you call (http://www.intercot.com/  has a dining reservation sheet to plan your days/times) of 1st, 2nd choices...including name of  place,preferred time ,alternate time choices..wanted lunch but switch to dinner in order to get in etc..)( it helps to know the park hours and which park you’ll be going to on which day, when you book..Park hours come out 3 months ahead of time...if you don’t plan ahead you maybe at one park and have to travel to get to your planned restuant..If you plan, you can be in the park or near that spot so you’ll save time...give yourself plenty of time to get to the restaurant and be there 15-20 mins before your res time) then call back and try again to see if anyone has cancelled...change the old res to your new time.....if you wanted a character meal and its booked up solid..Go to the restaurant the day of and try sometimes people don’t show up (kids tired cranky or leave for another park, run late etc) and you might if you are lucky still get in....

Well that’s all for today..more to come later on this subject..I hope this is helpful to you...This is only my point of view ...you’ll have to judge for yourself...choose carefully..have fun..
               ***ps: the dining goes by nights stayed at resort not days....ex 8 night stay equals 8 days of meals...but usuall works out as 1/2 of arrrival day and departure days are lost and make up for that 9th day missed..

A Princess Kiss layout

   Even teenage boys can enjoy the magic king dom..    My son got a   "gift" from sleeping beauty in the form of a kiss on the cheek..He had lipstick on his cheek for about 20 mins before we told him..He was such a good sport standing in the princess line with his mother (he is my one and only child)...but i think in the end he didn’t mind lol..The princesses hold court behind the castle in toontown,

Near Mickey’s/Minnie’s house..The line will look long but moves quickly..Best times to go ..First thing in am, during parade, castle stage show or fireworks...lines much shorter at these times...

This is the resulting layout..I used K&Co chipboard letters and Jolee's boutique 3d dress element and the Cricut George and basic shape cartridge to make all the hearts..I don’t remember where i got the flowers ...

cricut-Mickey font,George-Disneys Animal kingdom (Tigers) Layout(Trip Tips)

These are layouts from Disney's Animal kingdom park..Asia section -Tigers..I used cricuts mickey font,and George and basic shapes.The picture perfect circle is K&company(another fav)....The tigers are best seen early morning before it gets to hot out...if you go first thing(after you go to the safari ride which i suggest you do first).. when everyone else is on Everest or safari ride... is best....The Safari ride should be the first thing you go to..... as it fills up quickly and the animals are out before the heat as well...it has the Fast pass option on this ride (go more than once to ensure you get pics of each animal)...

cricut-Mickey font-Chef Mickeys Layout (DisneyWorld / Trip Tips)

For this layout I used cricut's mickey font.. in silouhette for the title,trimmed the pics to match the scalloped paper,some disney brads I ordered off ebay(another
of my favs)....
   We just love chef Mickeys..its located in the contemporary resort by the magic kingdom( not in the park so no park admission needed).It's  buffet style with  lots of variety geared tokids. The characters make the rounds to each and every table and sometimes more then once.they take the time to take a picture with each member at the table if you wish...We go every time...it's a bit loud  as its meant for the kids but lots of choices for the adults as well in this buffet ..plan to book well in advanced..booking usually starts 90 days in advance and books
quickly..ex ,i called on the 90Th day pre- our Nov 27Th /09 visit,first thing in the am and could only get a 9 pm time( prior to this we called at the 90 day mark and got in 5-6 pm..its a great way to start your Disney vacation as arrival day you don't wont to pay for a park ticket and only have half a day to use it and you'll be tired from the plane trip..this way they get a small jump start/taste of Disney the first day and you can either go to a park or back to the hotel/pool and rest until the next day your first full park day....

cricut-Mickey Font-Meeting Mickey layout (MK/ToonTown/ Trip Tips)

    I made this ..Meeting Mickey layout ..with the help of my Cricut mickey font cartridge and swirl stamps from Autumn Leaves clear
 stamps swirls V1 by Rhonna Farrer..
this picture is taken in the judges tent
behind the castle in the Magic Kingdom..Mickey and other characters( fab 5) are there throughout the day( best times to go...early am..during the parade or during the fireworks..less crowded)