Pirates! Aarrghh!

I LOVE PIRATES!! I'm so glad this year that my minis decided to participate in pirate fun!

If you have a pirate-lover, some of these are must dos!

• Pirates of the Caribbean: You will probably want to use a FP+ for this. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride is fun and can get crowded, especially because it is currently closed and will reopen mid-September. If you time it right, you may not need to use your FP+, but schedule it just in case. The ride is a dark ride in a boat. It can seem creepy to some kids, mostly because of the darkness or scary looking pirates. Nothing pops out at you or makes scary noises. It is just dark. *Stroller parking is to the left of the pirates ride and is not covered. However if it is raining, you could camp out in the gift shop or near the bathrooms, since they are inside.

• The Pirate’s League: This is a fun dress-up opportunity for boys and girls, but your pirates must be at least 3 years old to participate! This is similar to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique but cheaper. The package/character choices include: Jake, Mermaid, Captain Hook, Empress, & First Mate. We were visiting my favorite gift shop (read below) and my oldest began interacting with two workers dressed as pirates. Apparently the Pirate's League was slow that day and after she played with them for a few minutes, they offered to take the girls over and turn them into pirates for free! WOOHOO! So, if there are workers dressed in full pirate garb wandering around the gift shop, they may be slow and you may be able to get an opportunity like we did! They were awesome (not just because we got it free), but they really did light the "pirate spirit" in my kids!

• The pirate gift shop is my favorite gift shop in DW!!! They have so many funny and unique items that you can’t find anywhere else! They also have super clean bathrooms!

•  The Captain Jack’s Pirate Tutorial is a cute show that is offered hourly and is across from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. A few kids will be selected to come up and sword fight with the pirates (foam swords of course). At the end of the show, any children watching can come up and get a pirate scroll and practice their pirate talk (or just get a scroll).

• A Pirate's Adventure: we have never done this and if you have young ones under 5, they probably wouldn't enjoy it to much either! From what I understand, it's like a treasure hunt all around Adventureland. Probably much more fun for older kids. 

• Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage: we have not done this yet but it is definitely on our to-do list! This costs $69/adult and $41/child ages 3 or over. This is a boat trip with Captain Hook & Mr. Smee will refreshments that gives your awesome seats to view the fireworks and the electrical water pageant. You typically won't have a chance to see/interact with Captain Hook or Smee any other time except during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and a few other random events.

Disney Junior at Hollywood Studios

Are your kids really into Disney Junior?? Well then, you need to head over to Hollywood Studios! We've done all these Disney Jr. events at Hollywood Studios repeatedly and hope these hints help!

• Disney Jr. Play & Dine at the Hollywood & Vine Restaurant is amazing and very cost effective - consider this a MUST if you have a Disney Junior lover! Depending on your meal plan package, this may be a character meal that you want to pay out of pocket for because it is cheaper! The breakfast is buffet-style. We always plan it around 10 am, because we eat enough (and get our money’s worth) to serve as a brunch. This allows us to save our meal plan meals for lunchtime. The brunch-time seating is great because we fill up between 10-11am and don’t have to fight the typical lunch crowds. This is a great meal with younger kids because the 4 characters (currently Doc McStuffins, Jake, Sofia, & Handy Manny) not only come to each table for pictures/signatures/to talk, but they also constantly have dance breaks where the kids can go up and dance with the characters. Mine loved to do the “Jake and the Neverland Pirates” song, because it taught them lots of movements.

•  In the Animation Courtyard, you will find on the right hand side, the Disney Jr. characters for autographs and pictures.  Jake, Sofia, & Doc McStuffins all have designated spots. However, if it rains steadily, they move the characters behind the Art of Animation building on the back left side (not sure if this will continue after the Magic of Animation closes on July 12). If this area is still open, there is covered stroller parking in the middle! This is great during the rainy season!
  

• Stroller parking is in the middle of the Animation courtyard and has always proven safe. However, no shade is offered, so your stroller will bake. If this is where you park it and it's super hot, cover your seats with the shades or a towel/poncho. If the Magic of Animation corridor is still open, directly into the Magic of Animation building area you will find covered stroller parking. Not many people know about this and it is covered (so in my book that is golden!).

• The Disney Junior - Live On Stage! is NOT worth a fastpass (aka FP+)! Unless it’s crazy busy at Hollywood Studios, you will get in. This is a puppet show that is set on a higher-up stage, where the guests sit on the floor, as to not see the floor of the stage. My kids always love this show. It’s a great quick (like 20 minutes) show that is in air conditioning! Different parts of the show include the kids dancing and catching confetti or bubbles. But grown-ups, you will love the AC!!

A tip when choosing your seating section is to sit next to the tape on the aisle (towards the middle) and not sit behind a tall person. Your kid can’t stand during the show, so make sure they can see or put them on the aisle.

• The Little Mermaid show on the left side is NOT worth a FP+. We love this show and is a must see if you have Little Mermaid fans, but every seat in the show is a good seat, so there is no need to waste a fast pass! Plus, the fast pass people typically wait in a small pre-show room, that while air-conditioned, becomes standing room only as they pack more people in.

• The gift stores in the Animation courtyard is one of the best “baby” toy/clothing stores in the entire Disney World (aka DW). This is also the best place to get anything Disney Junior. Attached to the left of the gift shop is an outdoor princess gift shop - and make sure you stop there! It is one of the only places to find princess stuff in Hollywood Studios, and usually has a good selection.

Introduction

Hey everyone!

I keep getting asked by others for advice with their Disney trips, so I finally decided to just put all my nuggets of info on a blog. That way people can pick and choose what info they want / need. If you have more specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask me!

I'm a mom of two girls, ages 3 and 5, and have been to Disney World 4x in the last 4 years! The first trip was when the girls were ages 2 and 4 months, and both still free (woohoo!).  What started out as a one time thing, keeps reoccurring because we can't stay away.

Disney is magical!

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything, but I hope some of my tidbits of info that I've learned along the way will help your family have a more magical vacation.

-J.B.