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Racecation lately?

Have you ever paired your vacation with a conference or trade show you are attending? Perhaps you take vacation before or after visiting out-of-town friends or family? I have done both of these things. I figure that if I am already in the area why not take advantage of it, especially when part of the trip is already paid for by your company. This same holds true when someone is either doing a triathlon, a bike race, or really any type of endurance race. These are called Racecations, a play on words of race and vacation. I find it to be very catchy.

With Life is Better Traveling, we do a lot of group travel and multigenerational travel. I had a good friend of mine contact me recently because she is going to run the Disneyland Paris Half-Marathon in September 2016 and wanted to put packages together to sell to friends and those who follow her blog, Powered By Bling. She previously ran the Princess Disney Half-Marathon in Walt Disney World and loved the energy of the people running the race and, of course, being in Disney. She took her family with her and stayed a few extra days after the race to enjoy the parks. She took a racecation!

After working with her over the last several months, I decided to talk more with her about her love for endurance races and Disney. Her excitement and energy for both made a light bulb go off in my head, why not start a new travel company under Life is Better Traveling, called Magical Racecations. We will just pair vacations with someone’s endurance race, triatholon, or any other race they may be competing in. My friend loved it and couldn’t wait to be a part of this new team.

Welcome Cassandra Burke one of our new independent contractors for Magical Racecations, where we Pair Your Vacation Perfectly with Your Race. Below Cassandra has written a few tips on What to Consider When Planning a Racecation. You can also find these tips on her website at www.PoweredByBling.com

Make sure to read more about Cassandra below…click here.

Join Magical Racecations on our social media sites for daily updates on Disney Races, and other amazing tips.

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Our Team and Contact Information:

Cassandra Burke, Racecation Consultant for any endurance race including Disney – cassandra@magicalracecations.com

Kathie Murray, Racecation Consultant

for Disney races –

kathie@magicalracecations.com

Mary Yohannan, Owner

and Groups Coordinator-

mary @magicalracecations.com

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation. Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs.

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Druids and St. Patrick, oh my!

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Every year on March 17th we celebrate St. Patrick’s day, but do most of us know the history behind St. Patrick’s Day? We probably did at some point, but it has slipped from our memory. Well, the Irish have been celebrating this day for over a 1,000 years! It is the religious feast day and anniversary of the death of St. Patrick dating back to the fifth century. St. Patrick was a key influencer in converting the pagan Irish into Christians, supposedly converting several thousands. With the conversion of so many people, St. Patrick had many legends around him and became one of Ireland’s most well-known saints. Even though Ireland is where St. Patrick did all of his work, the day is observed by many religions all around the world.

Here are some fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day

1. Wearing Green – It is customary to wear green and shamrock related paraphernalia. The green is not because it is in the Irish flag or because the countryside is so lush in green color. The shamrock is green and it is believed that St. Patrick used this three-leaved plant to explain the Holy Trinity. Many times when you see St. Patrick portrayed in pictures you will see a cross in one hand and a shamrock in the other.

2. Parades – this is a newer tradition upon which the Irish themselves did not do until the 20th century. The parades are really a way for everyone to come together as most parades have a variety of organizations in them.

3. The food and drink! – Let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a good pint of stout. Ireland is known for their amazing ability to brew Guinness and when people think of Ireland they either think Guinness or Waterford. Meat pies are also a well-known staple in the Irish diet. So if you head out this St. Patrick’s day for an authentic Irish meal, make sure to try one of these delicious dishes.

Enjoy yourself this St. Patrick’s Day or St. Patty’s Day and now you know why we celebrate this day every year!

Photos by our clients: James and Christine Sterganos on their Best of Ireland 14 Day tour.

Find out THIS about each Greek Island…

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One of my favorite places to help plan a vacation is to Greece. Yes, it has a bit to do with me coming from a Greek family, but also my experience of personally having been to many of the islands. When I first started traveling to Europe, my husband and I picked a 12-night cruise around the Adriatic, Aegean and Mediterranean seas. It was so magical to see the various countries and islands in this area.

One thing that stood out the most to us was how different the cuisines from one island to the other were. With the freshest ingredients to make sure any palate is completely satisfied, each island has their unique flavor, seasoning, or way of cooking. Some islands prefer more of a sour taste to their food, and some island like to add more seasoning. I equate this to the way various states in the United States make barbecue, vinegar versus seasoned versus smoked.

I recently came across this amazing article that helps you really understand what I am talking about. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and next time you eat some Greek cuisine you may know where the owners of the restaurant are from in Greece!

CLICK FOR GREEK CUISINE ARTICLE

Remember, Life is Better Traveling is always here to help you plan an amazing vacation to Greek islands whether it is via cruise or island hopping. Give us a call when you are ready to plan.

Windmills, Lions, Beaches, OH MY!

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When you think of Greece you think of the iconic white-washed walls and grey cobblestone streets. You dream of sunny weather, clear water, good food, and Greek Yia-Yia’s (Greek for Grandmother) inviting you into their home for some dancing and fun. OPA!

Well, when you visit the Islands of Greece you can get this experience minus the Yia-Yia inviting you into their home. One of my favorite Greek Islands that I visited was Mykonos. The moment we stepped into Old Town I felt like I was transported into a Greek Island photo that I see on the wall in the local Greek Restaurant. White-washed buildings with grey cobblestoned streets. The streets were just wide enough to fit a small car through, but you won’t see cars on these streets.

Mykonos offers a variety of things to do on the Island including enjoying one of the many beaches. Of course, I wanted to see the iconic windmills. The windmills look down a small part of the Island called Little Venice. Little Venice is a tiny quarter of trendy boutiques, churches and whitewashed fishermen’s houses lining the seafront in Mykonos’ Old Town.

The four signature windmills up on a hill overlooking Mykonos Town are the most well-know and signature to the Island. Capped with wood and straw, the three-story conical windmills were built by the Venetians in the 16th century to mill flour. They remained in use until the early 20th century.

Did you know that there are actually two dozen windmills on the Island? The Bonis Windmill overlooking Little Venice houses a folklore museum, while others around the Island now serve as very unusual homes. The views from the windmills over Little Venice and the harbor are stunning, especially at sunset. Sailing into harbor, the windmills are one of the first sights of Mykonos.

Even though the windmills may attract you to this Island, there are many attractions to see including the Terrace of the Lions which are dedicated to the Greek God Apollo. Originally in 600 B.C. there were up to a dozen big squatting guardian cats lining the Sacred Way. If you were to visit today you would see only seven remaining due to weathering. The current lions are replicas, with the originals preserved in the site’s museum, a short walk east of the terrace near the visitor pavilion.

If you are thinking of taking a trip to Greece you may want to consider adding Mykonos to your list of Islands that you visit. With several amazing beaches, museums, sites, and over a dozen windmills to see you will not be disappointed nor will you go away with an empty stomach!

If you are thinking of taking a European vacation, make sure to include Rome in your itinerary so you can experience the magnificent of this museum. Simply email Mary and we can start to plan.

Remember, a Life is Better Traveling Travel Agent is here to help make your next European vacation amazing!

Which type of road trip does your family take?

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When my husband had the opportunity again to speak at a conference in Charleston, South Carolina we instantly decided to turn it into a family vacation. We had taken the family two years ago when he had the opportunity to speak and we had so much fun. Deciding to go again was an easy decision. The tough part was getting there. Flying to Charleston from Pittsburgh is easy as they now have direct, non-stop flights, but we decided to take an adventure. A road-trip adventure.

What comes with a road-trip? There are two ways to do a road trip. The first I like to call the “Just Go” road-trip which doesn’t involve much planning at all. If you don’t like to plan, then this may be the option for you. The “Just Go” road-trip involves leaving very early in the morning, way before the kids are even awake. You can leave at 1am or 4am, just anytime before the kids would wake up for the day. The night before you simply put the kids into their clothes they are going to wear the next day and let them sleep in them for the night. When it comes time to leave, you move them from their beds into the car and “Just Go!”

With the “Just Go” road-trip you can plan to stop along the way or you can drive straight through depending on how long it will take you to get to your destination. Driving straight through is the goal, but as with many kids, the constant asking “are we there yet” can be a big reason to add in a stop or two along the way. My recommendation for kids six years of age and under is to try to stop every four hours when they are awake. Four-hours is a good amount of time that allows you to cover a large distance. This amount of time also helps get the kids out of the car to expend some of that built up energy.

The other type of road trip I like to call the “Scenic” road trip. With the “Scenic” road trip you build in more places to stop and see various sites along the way. This type of road trip takes a lot more advanced planning. The planning that is involved includes mapping out places to visit along the way with shorter breaks in between, usually 2 to 3 hours in the car before a stop. Each stop is something fun for the kids to do like a zoo, museum, battlefield, caverns, a farm, an Amish market, or the world’s biggest ball of yarn.

The “Scenic” road trip also involves sleeping at various motels and hotels along the way until you get to your final destination. Depending on the areas you will be stopping, you want to make sure the accommodations receive good reviews from other families who have stayed there. You don’t necessarily have to stay in the same area as one of your stops. If you plan to be in that area late, then it is a good idea to stay there. If you decide that you want your road trip to be a “Scenic” road trip, you can easily map it out on Google Maps and find local hotels and sights. You can also contact a travel agent to help you come up with a plan.

You can also do a combination of “Just Go” and “Scenic” road trips. There really is no right or wrong when planning a road trip as long as you are planning it to fit your family’s needs. Just remember, Life is Better Traveling!

Stay tuned next month for more on my road trip adventure to Charleston and my family’s adventure.

Is Hawaii safe to visit?

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Are you thinking of taking a Hawaiian vacation but aren’t sure if the recent volcano eruption will make for a bad vacation? Are you concerned all the Hawaiian Islands are affected? At Life is Better Traveling, we are here to help you get a better understanding of what is going on in Hawaii so you can make an informed decision to book that vacation.

If you haven’t been following the eruption going on the past few weeks, the beautiful volcano of Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii is very active right now. This volcano is the most active of the five volcanoes that make up the Islands of Hawaii. It is located on the southern part of the Island of Hawaii, and this Island is the most southern of all the Islands. But how does this effect the other popular vacation Islands like Maui and Oahu?

Picture by: Pixabay

With increasing concerns from travelers and people who are looking to book their upcoming vacation to Hawaii, Governor David Ige and State Department of Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler have officially released a statement to answer questions to your concerns.

Dr. Pressler commented, “The air quality for the vast majority of the Hawaiian Islands is clean and healthy. The emissions from Kilauea volcano are a non-factor for Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai. The weather is beautiful and warm with cooling trade winds everywhere in Hawaii and is exactly what travelers expect when coming here for a relaxing and fun vacation experience. This includes Hilo, Pahoa and the Kona and Kohala coasts on the Island of Hawaii.

“The areas where precautions are required for people are in lower Puna where lava is flowing and downwind from there on the Island of Hawaii, particularly if they have respiratory problems. Because of heavy emissions of vog, as well as occasional bursts of ash plumes from the Kilauea summit, the southeast portions of the Island are also routinely experiencing concerning conditions. Those visiting areas south of Hilo should stay alert for air quality updates, especially when wind conditions change. Fortunately, when trade winds are blowing, the vog and ash routinely move in a southwesterly direction and out to sea away from the Hawaiian Islands.”

Governor Ige stated, “Hawaii’s air quality is being closely monitored on a continuing basis by scientists, meteorologists and the Hawaii State Department of Health. This team of experts says the air quality in the Hawaiian Islands is safe for residents and visitors, except in the affected areas.

Two other topics that I want to alleviate people’s concerns about are laze and the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. Laze is a natural reaction that occurs whenever lava flows into the ocean as it is doing now and has from time to time over the past 35 years. This is all part of nature’s way of creating new land for life to grow. Laze is limited to the area where the lava meets the ocean and is not a danger to people who keep a safe distance away.

“At the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, the state is actively directing protective actions to reduce the risk from lava flows moving nearby. The underground wells have been sealed and secured minimizing the threat to the safety of people and communities.

“The bottom line is that there is no reason for travelers to avoid making their vacation plans in the Hawaiian Islands due to safety concerns because of Kilauea volcano.

Visitors will be welcomed with open arms and treated to the hospitality, aloha, warmth and natural beauty that is found everywhere in Hawaii. The only area to avoid is lower Puna where the eruption is ongoing.”

Picture by: Pixabay

For the latest update on air quality in the Hawaiian Islands, please reference the State of Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard: http://www.ivhhn.org/vog/

If you are thinking of booking your next vacation to Hawaii make sure to contact one of our Hawaiian Destination Specialists, Mary Yohannan or Sonja Hester. We are here to book all components including hotel, air, transfers, inter-Island flights, excursions, and travel protection. Don’t book it all alone, have an expert make sure you will have the most amazing time in Hawaii.

Remember, a Life is Better Traveling Travel Agent is here to help make your next vacation amazing!

What a GEM on the Adriatic Sea…

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This Old Town in port has Old World charm with one of, if not the oldest pharmacy’s in the world. This city has been a maritime city for centuries and due to its easy access to the sea, became one of the wealthiest port cities in Europe. Over the vast years Dubrovnik has seen its fair share of destruction but you wouldn’t even know from the city’s beauty and charm.

When we awoke in the morning the ship was still coming into port and we were able to get some beautiful and very scenic photos of Croatia’s coastline. I wasn’t really sure what to expect of Croatia. The stories that I heard were the days when it was part of Yugoslavia, which was not always a good time.

But the beautiful coastline melted away any apprehensions I had about visiting this country. The ship we were on was too big to dock at the port so we had to be tendered into the port by life boats. It was good to know that they worked.

Once we got off our tender we entered through the gates into Old Town. Now a word of warning: we were offered bathrooms right before going through the gates. These bathrooms were more traditional for the area, nothing more than holes in the ground with stainless steel foot-grips. Not a wonderful experience. Once we got into Old Town, modern facilities were available. So I recommend holding it if you can! Now back to walking through the gates, I felt like I had gone back in time. The light colored stone buildings one on top of the other lining the cobblestone streets was like something out of an Audrey Hepburn movie. This is not what I expected at all. It was beautiful and it looked so well preserved! We were there so early in the morning that nobody was on the streets yet except the local cats. Yes, I am a cat person so there will be pictures of cats in my blogs.

Since not much was open yet, we were told to walk around for about 30 minutes and then our tour would start. This is the point where I start walking around as fast as I can while taking in the sites. You never know where these tours are going to take you so I always sneak off to get into some stores or get some unique pictures of the architecture. There were so many narrow alleyways with steep staircases to get to the top. Each alleyway had an array of shops, restaurants, eateries, and apartments. Again, nothing was open so I couldn’t get any good shopping in yet.

The tour started in front of Onuphrius‘ Fountain. This is a beautiful large stone fountain that people congregate around through out the day to get pictures, relax, or fill up their water bottles. Which I personally would never do in a foreign country. We headed into the Franciscan Monastery which is one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe. When you walk in you can see the set up of the pharmacy and they still have some of the tools on display. We also walked the inside court yard area of the monastery, which is beautiful. The blooming flowers and well manicured garden just made for a picture perfect morning. There really isn’t much else that we ventured into here, but we did enjoy reading some of the burial markings of old monks. We then made our way back out to the fountain and down Stradun. This is the main street. There are a lot of great little stores that have anything from jewelry to knick-knacks. There was also a fresh produce market going on in the square. There were fresh figs threaded through some yarn that looked like a necklace. They were the biggest figs I have ever seen. There are many days that I kick myself for not trying them.

It was now time to leave the city center and start our bus tour. We did a lot of driving around and the scenery seemed very bare. It almost was desert-like to me but this changed when we came upon our restaurant. The restaurant was far from the port but lush with trees and a small stream going through the center of the property. The ambiance of the restaurant was beautiful and the food was really good too, typical lamb and potatoes but it hit the spot.

After leaving the restaurant we headed back to the coast but further south. We hit a nice resort area where apparently a lot of celebrities like to go for peace and relaxation. There were a lot of boats on the water but we didn’t see a lot of people swimming. The water was really choppy that day but it was this beautiful deep blue color that I have never seen before in my life. We took the mile walk around the lagoon and noticed that there were several beaches. Well, not exactly what we would call a beach. Their version of a beach at this lagoon was large rocks. Apparently you just jump off of them to get into the water. Some of the rocks had ladders attached to them so you could get back out. I think I will stick with the sand.

I call Dubrovnik a hidden gem because its’ beauty and charm were something I really didn’t expect. Places like this, the ones that truly surprise you, are the ones that remind you how much Life is Better Traveling.

Kids Cleveland… so many activities

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A few weeks before school started our family decided to take a day trips outside of Pittsburgh. We thought it would be a fun way to end the summer and I was excited to go somewhere new. We had heard amazing things about Cleveland, Ohio. After looking up a few places to take the kids, we packed the bags and the car, and were on the road early one Saturday morning.

As a family who frequently drives on the Pennsylvania turnpike and stops at their service plazas, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the Ohio turnpike service plazas. They were fairly new, clean, spacious, and had a Panera. I am always up for Panera Hazelnut coffee and a scone! In addition, there was plenty of space for the kids to run around to get their legs moving.

We decided that our first stop in Cleveland would be the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we wanted to take advantage of the weather. As we are members of the Pittsburgh Zoo, we always ask a zoo if they reciprocate their membership. Unfortunately, they said they recently stopped reciprocating with the Pittsburgh Zoo. Noteworthy, as a result of being a member of the Pittsburgh Zoo, some zoos do reciprocate giving you free or up to 50% off admission . The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has various activities you can pay extra to do. We really just wanted to see the zoo and not do all the other things, so we paid for the basic entrance fee. This gets you into the zoo and the rainforest dome.

We expected to be at the zoo for 2 to 3 hours, because it typically takes us that long to go through a zoo. We were there for 5 hours! The zoo is spread out over several acres of land, and some areas you will have a nice walk to get to them. Our family’s personal favorite section was the tree house with the snake slide. Be careful though, you do come down quite fast and wearing shorts can give you a nice brush burn. Also, there is a really cool surprise at the bottom of the slide!

One thing that was really a nice touch was the design of the facilities. A lot was taken into consideration to make you feel like you were in that part of the world. Each enclosure was conducive to the natural habitat of that respective animal. The rainforest is at the entrance of the zoo, so we decided to do this after the zoo. We really enjoyed the rainforest and the animals inside. However due to a long day in the sun, the hot environment was too much for our family. Most note worthy about this zoo, there is a lot of walking involved so if you have little ones I highly recommend bringing a stroller.

Our day trip was spent mostly at the zoo, as a result we didn’t get to do other activities. Our hopes of getting to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium which was built in a historic powerhouse on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River, did happen. Next day trip to Cleveland! Other activities that you can do with the kids in Cleveland include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Cleveland, and The Christmas Story House and Museum.

We had an amazing day trip even though we left early in the morning to get there at a reasonable time. We could have done more museums, but we really did enjoy the zoo. I can’t wait to go back, and this time we may even stay for an entire weekend. Remember, Life is Better Traveling.

Tell us what your favorite Cleveland Kid’s Activities are, or where in Cleveland you like to take your family…

Inside tour of Buckingham Palace

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The best time to visit Buckingham Palace is in the summer months…

A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of England’s most famous landmarks, Buckingham Palace. This royal palace has served as the official London residence and administrative office of the British royal family since the 19th century. However, access to the public is limited and exclusive but worthwhile for those who arrange a visit.

Year round you can always view the palace’s opulent exterior through the gates. The best time to visit Buckingham Palace is during the legendary Changing of the Guard ceremony when the royal guards change shifts. This tradition that dates back from 1689, and eventually moved to Buckingham Palace in 1837 when Queen Victoria started to use the palace. The best time to see this 45-minute ceremony would be on a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at 11:00 am but can be canceled in bad weather.

If you are visiting London in the summer months, you can get a peek into some select state rooms. See the Throne Room, stroll through the palace gardens, and admire masterpieces by artists such as Rembrandt and Canaletto in Queen Victoria’s Picture Gallery. The palace interior is only open to the public during summer, from late July until the end of September, with tours running daily from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (until 6:30 pm in September). You’ll want to book this coveted experience in advance with our travel agency.

Things to Know Before You Go from Viator.com

The palace is a must for history buffs and royal enthusiasts.
Pair a stop at Buckingham Palace with the Changing of the Guard ceremony and afternoon tea for a quintessential London experience.
Tours of the palace interior are only available in summer from late June to late September, while the queen is on holiday in Scotland.
If the Royal Standard flag is flying atop the palace, it means the queen is in residence; otherwise, the Union Jack flag is flown.

Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?

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Disney Dining Plan, Is It Worth It?

Disney easily comes up in conversations with random people I meet, but when they find out I am a travel consultant they always ask me if the Disney Dining Plan is worth the money. I have read so many different opinions on various Disney blogs, Facebook pages, and travel agent outlets about people’s views on this subject matter. It seems like people are split, some love it and some say it is a waste of money. Well, several family trips with the dining plan and hundreds of clients who have been on the dining plan, the verdict is in, and we all think YES!

For my family we choose the Disney Dining Plan which includes 1 quick service, 1 table service, and 2 snacks per person per night of stay and 1 resort refillable mug. The refillable mug can only be used at your resort but a nice tip is to take it with you to the parks to hold your Free ice water. With each table service meal, we were able to choose one entrée from the menu, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage. When you choose an entrée you are not limited to a select menu specifically for those on the dining plan. You receive the same menu that everyone receives and get to choose any of the entrées including steak or salmon. Dessert at Disney is fantastic! It is gourmet and no matter what you choose it will not disappoint. However, having dessert every day could be a lot for some people, as it was for me. There is a little known fact that isn’t shared by the wait staff, but some restaurants now allow you to substitute your dessert for an appetizer. You have to ask your server when you sit down if this is one of the participating restaurants and which appetizers are included, but you may have an option of a salad instead of the that rich chocolate cake.

Quick service meals are just like the combo meals that you get at any of your local fast food places, and snacks include a variety of foods including popcorn, cookies, cupcakes, fried rice, Mickey soft pretzels, a banana, or the famous Mickey Mouse ice cream bar.

Now the Disney dining plan was the perfect amount of meals and snacks for my family, but some families have teens or growing, hungry children who eat a lot more or need more snacks, so purchasing another plan to fit their family’s needs would be a better option. On the other hand, if you have members of your party who do not eat a lot of food, not including small children, any dining plan might be too much food for you and your family. We always advise our clients to know what is best for you and your family, so we can make sure to fit your needs.

So are you ready to find out if the dining plan is worth the money? For a family of four ( 2 adults and 2 children under age 9) going to Disney for seven nights, who elect the Disney Dining plan, it is a little over $1100. Now that is just for the Dining plan, not including park tickets or resort stay. For four people on this seven-day Disney vacation, it comes to around $40 per person per day. One character meal is around this same cost, if not more, so if you do one character meal you have paid for your entire day right there!

Even if you are doing non-character meals, your meal cost with entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage can easily reach the $40 to $50 range per person. When you look at the numbers you really see that you are paying for table service but getting a quick service meal and two snacks for free. I, personally, find that the dining plan is worth the money and saves me time when we are there. My meals are planned out, they are paid for, and everyone is happy because the food is so good.

Now, one thing you must know is that tip/gratuity is not included. The suggested tip is based on your total meal cost prior to deducting your plan. It is up to you, how much you want to tip unless you are a party of six or more than 18% is automatically added to your bill. Also on your bill will be the total remaining allotment of your meals. If you had six table services to start and just finished eating, then your bill will show that you have five remaining. You can always get your entire amount of allotted meals from the concierge or guest services at your hotel. It is important to note that meals do not roll over after your stay. If you don’t use them up you will lose them so I highly recommend planning out your meals for each day you are at Disney. Also, the meals are to be used at your discretion. If you want two table service meals on one day and two quick service meals another day, it is up to you how you use them, but again, use them up!