travel guide

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ at Disney Springs

Published on November 12, 2018 in Orlando/Walt Disney World by Crystal Boston

If you are looking for comfort food and a fun atmosphere, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is the place!

I have experienced Chef Art Smith’s Homcomin’ at Disney Springs several times and every time was a great experience with a welcoming host/hostess, friendly servers and amazing food too with the vast majority of ingredients sourced from local Florida farms, ranches or fisheries.

This dining venue offers both inside and outside options for dining or if you just want to stop in for drinks at the Southern Shine Bar offering signature moonshine craft cocktails!

While the majority of the menu is more traditional southern comfort food offerings it does offer healthier choices too. The Bunch of Puppies are a tasty start and served with pimento cheese and red jalapeño jelly. Main Entrees include such dishes as Art’s Famous Fried Chicken and Shrimp & Grits with the Spinach & Kale Chopped Salad with chicken for a healthier option.

And don’t forget dessert – the Hummingbird Cake is always a favorite!

Be sure to add this dining experience to your “must do’s” for your next visit to Walt Disney World Resort! Walk-up Guests can sometimes be accommodated, however, reservations are accepted and recommended. Reservations are currently available via your My Disney Experience account and some Dining Plans are accepted.

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Minnie Van Service – Walt Disney World Resort

Published on August 29, 2017 in Walt Disney World by Crystal Boston

Have you heard about the new Minnie Vans at Walt Disney World? I recently had the opportunity to experience this new way to get around property.

*UPDATED: September 17, 2018 – Check back for future updates. With the new Minnie Van service, all vehicles are driven by Disney Cast Members and the vans are owned and operated by Disney. Service is offered from 6:30 am – 12:30 am daily (subject to change). Currently, you use your Lyft app to request a ride. Disney has a fleet of Minnie Vans and offers rides from all resorts and locations on property, and plans to add the service to the My Disney Experience (MDE) app. It’s a good idea to have a Lyft account already set up on your phone before arriving for your vacation. New pricing went into effect mid-September 2018 – The flat rate of $15.00 plus a per mile fee will get you anywhere on property and, if you would like to tip your Disney Cast Member, tipping is also available through the Lyft app. See below for sample pricing from three resorts on property to Magic Kingdom.

Note: Once on Disney property, your Lyft app should offer the Minnie Van service as a vehicle option – scroll through the regular Lyft options to “MORE”. If you don’t see the Minnie Van option, just inquire at the front desk, any Cast Member at Bell Services or the front lobby desk can assist you with set up and questions. Once you are set up with the service, you are ready to request your first ride!

You should plan to reserve your ride about 15 minutes before your preferred pick-up time as wait times can be 15-20 minutes. The standard Minnie Vans will seat up to 6 guests and all carry 2 car seats and each will accommodate rear facing up to booster.

Vans are configured with bucket seats in the front row, captain’s chairs in the second row, and a third row bench seat that is best suited for your little ones or smaller adults. All vans offer phone charging via USB ports, and rear seat climate controls to help you adjust the temperate to your liking. And our driver even had Disney music on the radio!

If you require a mobility van, which will accommodate one mobility scooter/vehicle and up to a total of 8 guests, you will need to ask the front desk to request this type of van for you. There are 2 mobility vans currently in the fleet.

The Minnie Vans will only provide service on Disney property and they will make multiple stops if needed – for example, if you originate at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and you have friends staying at Pop Century that you would like to stop and pick up – as long as you are all going to the same destination and you all fit in one vehicle you’re set! The Minnie Vans will also make quick stops (around 5 minutes) at non-Disney locations on property, such as gas stations and McDonald’s. **UPDATED**The Disney Minnie Van service, is also now available for travel to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO) for guests staying at any Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Unlike the regular Minnie Van service, however, Minnie Van airport shuttle service reservations must be made by calling 407-WDW-PLAY, not through the Lyft app. The shuttle service is available for flight arrivals from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and for flight departures from 9 a.m. to midnight. Each Minnie Van can hold up to six passengers and eight medium-sized suitcases. Up to three complimentary car seats can also be provided and ADA accessible vehicles are available. The price is $150.00 one way.**UPDATED** If you are headed to experience the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, your Minnie Van will drop you off right at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort so you can skip the bus. At Magic Kingdom, they drop off and pick up at Bus Stop #8 in the bus loop – however, the Lyft app will show Ticket & Transportation Center.

At the larger resorts, the Minnie Van will pick up and drop off close to your room. And, if you take a Minnie Van to a destination on property from your designated originating resort you can absolutely request a return ride! If you happen to lose any items during your Minnie Van ride, they will try to get your Lost & Found items back to the location closest to where you were dropped off or originated from.

I would definitely suggest trying the Minnie Van service, especially for early morning dining reservations, signature dining experiences where you a bit more dressed up or getting back to your resort at park closing after a full day of parks. It’s quick and convenient and, well, it’s just FUN to ride in that red polka dot Minnie Van!! I invite you use my offer code for discounted rides with Lyft. Lyft: WISHWITHCRYSTAL – Redeem offer at https://www.lyft.com/invite/WISHWITHCRYSTAL *UPDATED: September 17, 2018 – Check back for future updates.

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A few words about a guy I never met … Steve Birnbaum

Published on August 5, 2016 in Walt Disney World by Doug Wilcoxon

After my wife and I spent two days at Walt Disney World on our honeymoon, we bought a 1987 Birnbaum Guide to Walt Disney World. Why 1987…? well that was the current year. We were enthralled by the content and colorful pages and also enjoyed reading the various insights to the World. We spent many happy hours paging through our new found treasure and learning about the attractions we had missed and snippets from behind the scenes… and I liked the pictures.

Should we have bought the book before the trip? Probably so, but we didn’t know it existed, and the Walt Disney World portion of the trip was a last minute decision. Once identified though we scooped it off the shelf and devoured the content.

In that guidebook, Stephen Birnbaum’s introduction made a lasting impression on me. I can’t remember the intro in its entirety, but I recall the part that stayed with me. He talked about the excitement his wife exhibited when he mentioned the new travel writing gig for Walt Disney World. Though a seasoned traveler the idea of a trip to Walt Disney World generated a thrill about the trip that was not to be missed.

I have seen that thrill played out again and again with friends planning trips. We loaned out our Birnbaum book to friends planning trips, and purchased a new guidebook each year to read about the World updates. It became our “thing”, whether we were going to Walt Disney World or not. It was a good way to include the kids in the trip planning and build excitement for the upcoming family vacation. We collected more Birnbaum guides without realizing we were collecting, only noticing our bounty when the Birnbaum Guide had its designated area in the bookcase. Unfortunately the 1987 book was loaned out one too many times, but it will always be the link to our first visit to Walt Disney World.

If you are planning a Disney trip, as a start The Birnbaum Guide is a good and fun place to begin. It became a part of our family vacations and you might want to make it part of yours too.

This link takes you to a good article on Mouseplanet.com that provides some background about Steve Birnbaum.

Last, but not least. Planning is key to the Walt Disney World Vacation. It isn’t just a place to drop in and hope for the best. Every so often you might hear reference in some Disney advertisement regarding the Keys to the Kingdom. In my opinion, the key to this Kingdom is planning. Talk with a vacation planner I trust with my own vacations and who knows the ins and outs and ups and downs of Walt Disney World, visit my friends page Wish With Crystal. Your vacation will be better.

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