Blog - Page 4 of 11 - Buster and the Banshee

DISNEY 101: Walt Disney World Dining

Disney 101dining, walt disney world

For some (including Buster and the Banshee), dining is a key part of a Walt Disney World vacation. It isn't just a way to fuel up, but it is an attraction in and of itself. Disney is known for having some really tasty meals across a variety of different cuisines. It doesn't matter if you like Italian... or barbecue... or burgers... or seafood... or just chicken fingers. You can find something for everyone! In this article, we will discuss the basics of dining at Walt Disney World. If you are interested in reading other articles in our DISNEY 101 series,…

Six Flags Sued Over Disability Policy. How Will This Impact Universal and Disney?

WDW With Disabilitiesdisabilities, disability access service, walt disney world

Previously, I had written an article about a new process that Universal Studios and other theme parks had implemented to handle disability accommodations. In a nutshell, Universal, Six Flags, Sea World, and others now utilize a third party company, the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), to certify that the person's disability accommodation request is valid. The process that the IBCCES uses involves uploading a statement from your medical provider regarding your disability and necessary accommodations. That means that Universal Studios, Six Flags, and others are no longer just taking your word for it. They want proof!…

Free Dining Offer is a GREAT Deal (Maybe)

Archivedining, disney dining plan, trip planning, walt disney world

If you have read my previous article on the Disney Dining Plan, you know that I am not a huge fan. From a pure financial standpoint, most people are better off paying for meals out of pocket. You really have to work to come out ahead. Despite that, the Disney Dining Plan remains a popular option. What is even more popular is Disney's Free Dining offer. Pre-COVID, Disney offered a deal where, if you paid full price for a WDW vacation package (resort + tickets), Disney would give you either the Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan…

Best Genie+ Ride Selections For Each Park

Archivegenie+, rides, trip planning, walt disney world

Throughout its history, Walt Disney World has had a number of different "skip the line" schemes. First it was "FastPass", where you had to retrieve a paper pass at the ride entrance to get a return time. Then, the next iteration was "FastPass Plus", where you could reserve your return times in advance online. Now we have Genie+. Each scheme brought with it its own strategies for maximizing their benefit. I still remember how people "rope dropped" the Toy Story Mania FastPass ticket machines at Hollywood Studios, since they ran out of return times so quickly. If you were to…

Get Ready for Park Reservation, Park Hopper Changes Starting January 9, 2024

Archivepark hopping, park reservations, trip planning, walt disney world

Earlier this year, Disney announced that they were doing away with park reservations at Walt Disney World for most guests, starting on January 9, 2024. They followed this announcement up with news that the 2pm restriction on park hopping was also going away. As you can imagine, the elimination of both park reservations and the 2pm park hopping restriction were met with much rejoicing in the WDW fan community, as both of these policies were about as popular as The Black Cauldron. Since January 9, 2024 is almost upon us, I thought it would be useful to review these two…

Banshee’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Refurb Recommendation

Archiverides, walt disney world

[Say that five times fast!] So Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is offline for repairs again. And seemingly it's down until Summer 2024. That got me thinking: Banshee, would you re-theme it while it's down? If so, what would you do? If the repairs are so extensive that the coaster is down for six months, then I think now is the perfect time for a re-theming. Now hear me out… I love the ride as is. I like Aerosmith and the high energy music. But as Steven Tyler says in the pre-show, “hold on… I love that idea!” And I have seen multiple ideas people have…

Walt Disney World Attraction Access For Those With Mobility Issues

WDW With Disabilitiesdisabilities, walt disney world

Our Little Banshee usually tours Walt Disney World in a wheelchair with me, Buster, pushing her. Although she is generally able to walk on her own, because of her Phelan-McDermid Syndrome she has low muscle tone and her coordination is not the best. Spending a complete day walking in a theme park, especially one as big as Walt Disney World, would be a challenge both for her and for us. This gives us quite a bit of firsthand experience with navigating the attractions with someone with mobility issues. This article will provide an overview of what you can expect at…

DISNEY 101: Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Disney 101parks, trip planning, walt disney world

DISNEY 101 is our ongoing series where we talk about the basics of some aspect of a Walt Disney World vacation. You can read more of our previous DISNEY 101 articles here. In this installment, we will provide an overview of the main reason why people come to Walt Disney World: the theme parks! Walt Disney World is pretty unique among theme parks. It isn't just one park. it is an entire entertainment complex. There are four theme parks, two water parks, and a dedicated dining and shopping district (which some people might consider to be a theme park in…

Planning an EPIC 25th Wedding Anniversary Trip!

Archivetrip planning, walt disney world

2024 is a special year for Buster and the Banshee. In March, we will be celebrating 25 years of marital bliss! To commemorate a quarter century together as a married couple, we will be taking a trip to, where else.... Walt Disney World! Why Walt Disney World? There are a couple of reasons why we have decided to celebrate in Walt Disney World. First, one of our first big trips as a couple was to Walt Disney World, back in 1997. Banshee has just graduated from veterinary school. She had always wanted to go to WDW but never had that…

Tips for Having a STRESS FREE Walt Disney World Vacation

Trip Planningtrip planning, walt disney world

Vacations, especially Walt Disney World vacations, are supposed to be fun. However, if you spend any time reading WDW message boards, Facebook groups, blogs comments, etc, you would think that planning a Walt Disney World vacation is anything but. I frequently see posts where people are frazzled about doing the wrong thing. Somehow, they have convinced themselves that just one misstep is going to absolutely RUIN their vacation. I get it. For most people a Walt Disney World is not cheap. That puts a lot of pressure on oneself to make sure that you are absolutely getting the most for…