I write this with no clear direction except to say it is about Disney. I might name it differently after I am finished but as of now the working title is "unnamed post".
As I scrolled down my Facebook feed today (Saturday, September 2, 2017) it didn't take long to find an advertisement for something Disney related and in my notifications I had one from Disney FANatics, a group I belong to. This is usually an everyday occurrence for me. I am usually inundated with Disney posts and that is not limited to my Facebook, my YouTube feed, my podcast list all have typical themes either they are on my faith, photography, sports bloopers, and/or old reruns of Hogans Heroes (YouTube only on the last couple) plus Walt Disney World. So it is easy to realize, as I sit here watching my youngest play with his cars, why I don't have Disney on my mind.
I would love to be munching on a Sleepy Hollow Nutella and Fruit Waffle while watching people rush to their first FastPass of the day. A relaxing day at any of the parks would be the ticket to a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Even though that is not going to happen a man can have a fantasy or two can he not?
I am not a "foodie" so I am never going to do a dining review except to tell you what I enjoy, I don't want you to rely on my taste buds to guide you around the parks. However, with that said I can begin to see some resemblance to a pathway for this post and that is FOOD. For as many guests enter the parks at Disney there are just as many reasons why and one of those reasons has to be food. As I have said before in one or possibly more posts the difference between "theme park" food and "Disney theme park" food is like comparing school cafeteria food to grandma's cooking. Maybe not that drastic but you get the idea. All theme parks (Disney included) charge more for their food than do places outside the gates so cost is not a comparison here. Where the difference lies is in the quality.
The big question you must ask yourself when thinking about WDW is did you come to eat or did you come to experience the attractions and every once in awhile have to "refuel". Unless you are on some kind of a fast you need to eat. If you choose to go and sit down (Table Service) for a meal at one of the many nice restaurants in anyone of the WDW parks plan on staying a minimum of one hour at that establishment. Compare that to a "Quick Service" meal where you order at a window and pick it up and either sit down at a nearby table and eat or stroll and eat (depending what you are eating). The time commitment for "Quick Service" meals is not as restraining to other plans you may have.
My family and I went to WDW this past June and did something that we never did before for a vacation lasting more than two days which was go sans dining plan. We ate mainly "Quick Service" except one time at the ESPN club on the Boardwalk. I don't have the receipts with me but I can say I suggest a dining plan of some sort even if it is the Quick Service plan. I say this not because of the savings of dollars but because of the ease of mind of not worrying about paying for food while on vacation. Disney has now added a feature on the My Disney Experience app for your phone and or tablet which keeps track of your dining plan credits.
Okay now I go off my food path and into photography. I have written ad nauseum about this before but hey, it is my blog so there. I am one of those guys who feels naked at the parks without my camera (and no I don't mean an app on my phone). There are some etiquette lessons to observe when photographing the parks. One is don't hog the area, there are others trying to get the same shot and although you paid a lot of money to be at WDW so did everyone else there. Two is stake your parade or parade spot early if planning to photograph. Allow the Disney Photo-Pass photographers to do their job. When the attraction says NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY don't use your flash or any other artificial light except the light of the attraction. Your tablet should not be held over your head (and in front of the faces of people behind you to use as a video camera of attractions such as the fireworks or parades. As I mentioned that please be considerate to those behind you, I have no problem of putting kids on your shoulders but make sure by doing that you are not blocking the view of those who are in wheelchairs or other people behind you. Limit your gear to camera, and a few lenses (I have a 24-105 plus a nifty-fifty for low light shots plus my 70-200 for parades and Animal Kingdom safari shots) and maybe a portable tripod. (I only have one for fireworks which I don't take in with me to the park except MK where I put in a locker until I am ready to set up my gear) All my gear (minus my tripod fits comfortably in my only bag I bring into the park which also stores pull-ups and wipes for my son and fits on the back of his wheelchair. I should also point out I don't always take a flash with me except for those days I would need it for fill to take away the harsh shadows. Also make sure you have extra memory cards and batteries. Nothing is worse than having to miss photo opportunities. With that said always have a place (ie laptop or the Cloud) to unload your pics to. I usually unload them onto my laptop when I get settled in my room and then charge my batteries as I sleep.
In conclusion, I will leave you with the knowledge that I just added to my post title and I probably will have a few more like this in the near or not so near future. Remember it is 114 days until Christmas and to have a Magical Day...
