New information about Vacation planning fees - Starting November 1, 2016

2016 has been an awesome year. I've loved working with you and your wonderful families. I love it when you send me pictures when you get home and tell me all about the great time you had, and I'm honored and flattered when you pass my name along to your family and friends who are looking to travel.

As my business grows, it's time for me to adjust my travel planning fees.

The process of planning a vacation goes beyond making the reservation. This can include my expertise, making dining and FastPass+ reservations for Disney vacations, speaking with the vendor if/when changes need to be made, monitoring current discount offers, double-checking existing plans when new information is released by vendors, creating custom itineraries, etc.  I also keep informed on changes and updates with different companies and destinations, take courses to stay up-to-date on their offerings, and attend site visits, conferences and take many vacations at my own expense to learn more about these places, so I can pass along the best information to you.

My new fee schedule reflects the time and attention I give to each family, because I truly want you to have a wonderful vacation!

Starting with vacations booked on November 1, 2016, below is my adjusted planning fee information.

A $250.00 planning fee will apply in the following instances:

* Room and ticket package vacations to Walt Disney World

* Room and ticket packages at off-site Disneyland resorts

* Hotel only bookings

* Package vacations (including but not limited to cruises, tour group vacations and all inclusive resorts) where the package is less than $2,500

If you are a previous client, the fee in the above instances will be $200.00

In addition, in honor of the brave men and women who serve in our nation's military, I will not have a planning fee for active members of the military and their immediate families.

Please do let me know if you have any questions. I am looking forward to an awesome 2017!


(Please note - this post was updated on 12/1/16 as I no longer assist with off-site Walt Disney World vacations. If you want to stay off-site and work with an agent, I can direct you to another Mouse World Travel agent who books those vacations.)



(The travel planning information above is for my business only and does not apply to every agent within Mouse World Travel.)

Dining Plan Review Part 2: Quick Service Credits

Happy Monday! Hope you have a fun week ahead of you. I am cramming lots of stuff in the next two days because Wednesday morning, I am leaving on a jet plane to go back to Iowa. I'm going to visit with family, see my niece for the first time (they have been in Hawaii for a few years and she was in her mommy's tummy last time I was there) and throw a baby shower for my sister in law. Then I go to NYC where I board the Disney Magic for a Canadian Cruise. It'll be a fun and whirlwind few weeks.

Today I want to talk about the Quick Service credits. I am going to do a similar breakdown as I did with the Snack credits. I am going to tell you what I ordered and if I "saved" money or not.

The dollar amount threshold for Quick Service credits is $18 (in terms of what you'd need to hit price-wise to at least even out on the dining plan) and so I am going to use that for the information below.

With Quick Service credits, you get a meal and a drink if it's breakfast, or if it's lunch and dinner you get a drink, your entree and a dessert item.

So without further ado - here is what I got.

* Tangierine Cafe - Morocco pavilion, Epcot

This was DELICIOUS and as you can see, lots of food. I got the Vegetarian platter which features hummus, tabouleh, lentils, falafel and olives served with fresh bread. I also got a bottle of water, and baklava which if I remember is your only choice there for a dessert item.

But when in Rome, right? Who would go to Morocco and not get baklava?!

Here is the price breakdown:


$18 if paying cash
Quick service credit on dining plan
$18 cash price - $18 quick service credit allowance = $0 break even


* Sunshine Seasons - Land pavilion, Epcot

My next quick service meal was probably my favorite of this vacation. I haven't been to Sunshine Seasons in a year or so, and so I was looking forward to it. This meal was wonderful and did not disappoint.

The best part? They have Perrier there and you can use it as your beverage credit on the dining plan! SCORE. That alone will make me choose it again and again. As someone who doesn't drink pop, I get a little bored with bottled water for the quick service meals so this was a nice alternative.

Here is what I ordered (and sorry, I don't have a picture; I took a video but no picture.) I got the spicy fish tacos, a Perrier and a key lime pie tart. Which was wonderful!

$19.29 if paying cash
Quick service credit on dining plan
$19.29 cash price - $18 quick service credit allowance = $1.29 in extra value

* The Daily Poutine, Disney Springs

This is one of the newest food offerings at Disney Springs. It's a walk-up kiosk where you can get all sorts of varieties of poutine (fries with gravy or sauce and toppings).

It's hard to tell from the picture, but you get a very large bowl which is nice. They don't have a dedicated quick service menu per se, but they told me I could get two beverages  as they don't have a dessert option (one as my beverage credit, and another as my dessert credit). I chose the All Day Breakfast Poutine.

You guys. It was INCREDIBLE. Oh my gosh, so good. It featured tator tots (instead of fries) and sausage gravy, cheese curds and a fried egg on top.

This was an unconventional choice for the quick service credit but I had been wanting to try it, and I just wasn't feeling Earl of Sandwich, which is my usual go-to.

So here are the numbers:

$14.50 if paying cash
Quick service credit on dining plan
$14.50 cash price - $18 quick service credit allowance = -$3.50 in value

So clearly, this is not the best use of a credit; as the poutine on its own was about $9, I would in the future just pay cash for it out of pocket. But it is large enough to share and would be a great little pick-me-up to share with a friend.

* Columbia Harbour House, Magic Kingdom

CHH is one of my favorite Quick Service locations at Walt Disney World. The food is always good, there is plenty of seating inside and  it's a nice place to sit and take a load off while you're touring Magic Kingdom.

We ate here the night of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, around 6PM. I chose the Anchors Aweigh Sandwich with chips (which is a tuna salad sandwich), a bottled water and a seasonal cobbler which was blueberry.

I love getting this sandwich because it's not too much mayo; I love a tuna sandwich but often when you get them at restaurants they are too full of mayo and that's not something I like. But this is PERFECT.

Here are the details:

$17.50 if paying cash
Quick service credit on dining plan
$17.50 cash price - $18 quick service credit allowance = -$.50 in value


So what was the final verdict?

$18 quick service allowance x 4 credits = $72 in quick service allowances
$69.29 had I paid for the meals in cash
Difference of -$2.71

If I had it to do over again, I would have not had the poutine as my credit, although it was very very good. It just wasn't a good value for the credit and thus skewed my overall savings to the negative. However, as I said in the snack post - I prefer doing the dining plan mostly because I am pre-paying for my meals and in that of course, it was a success.

Coming soon - the Table Service credits!

Have a great day!

What I'm Reading - And Want You to Read Too! (Giveaway time!)

Hey guys! You get two posts in one day. LUCKY YOU.

I am a voracious reader; I always have been. When I was younger our town library was only about 7-8 blocks from our house and I would walk back and forth, and back and forth on those sidewalks multiple times a week. I remember walking down the street with my arms overloaded with books, all genres. Mystery, fiction, non-fiction, historical works, etc.

I then parlayed that love into a degree in English literature, where for the last two semesters of college I basically just read and wrote papers. A DREAM. (No, that is not sarcasm. I love to write a paper. I would write a multi-thousand word essay over taking a 10 minute multiple choice test, all day long.)

I am always reading more than one book at a time. Anyone else? Right now, on my Kindle, I am in the midst of five books. Yes, five.

So today's post about what I am reading will be a bit different. I am going to make recommendations to you, and also we're going do a giveaway for the books! YAY! To enter, please share this blog post with your people. You can text it, email the link, share it on Facebook, on Twitter, on SnapChat...whatever floats your boat. You will get one entry to each person you share it with. I will be able to see the Shares on Facebook, but I can't on your other platforms or with email or your texting, so that will be on the honor system.  Just email me with how many people you sent the link to and I'll get you entered! (katie@mouseworldtravel.com) Giveaway ends on Tuesday, September 20th at Noon Eastern. (You can choose whatever book of the three you would like to read, if you are chosen. I will pick THREE winners.)

OK on with the show, as they say.

* Love Warrior - Glennon Doyle Melton

You guys. YOU GUYS. I have loved Glennon for years and have been reading her Momastery blog and following her on social media for a long time. She's a great lady and a wonderful writer, and her new book about her struggles with addiction and in her marriage will break you wide open. But in the best way possible.

I am also listening to the book on Audible and I love hearing her voice, telling her story.

Oh, and the book was chosen as a must-read by someone kinda famous. Maybe you've heard of her? Oprah.

Her other book, Carry on Warrior, is also worth your time and a read.

She deals with hard stuff; this is not a light and fluffy book. But as Glennon says, life is Brutiful (brutal and beautiful). This book is both.

You can buy it on Amazon - the link is HERE.

* It's Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn't Choose - Melanie Dale

Melanie has a distinct writing voice; she is both poignant and serious, while also being funny and goofy and silly. Her love language is movie quotes and fart jokes. She is a gem.

I was introduced to Melanie's books by listening to the Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast, and was drawn to her candor and way of storytelling. In her latest book, It's Not Fair, she talks candidly about her struggles and her journey through those.

It is based in faith but does not come off at all preachy or "this is how you fix it." She gives her experience, some practical ideas and tips, and clothes it all in a unique combination of intense and light.

Melanie also has a podcast, Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, that is also worth a listen.

To buy It's Not Fair, go HERE.

* Modern Romance - Aziz Ansari

OK so I have a confession. I have not actually read this book yet.

BUT I have heard Aziz do many interviews and podcasts on the book, and I've read the bit you get for free on Amazon, and I'm super intrigued so I am 97.8% sure I will love it. It's on my Kindle as we speak.

Aziz Ansari is a comedian and writer, and you probably know him best for his role as Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation. (Who else loved that show?!)

Aziz talks about how, as a comedian, he could have pretty much written any book. Most comedians write books that are essentially their comedy routines, and so while funny are predictable and not very interesting.

But after thinking about the topic of dating (and especially dating in our modern world), he was inspired to dig deeper into the topic. He talked to people of all ages and backgrounds, and worked with a NYU sociologist to really dive into what marriage and romance is now, juxtaposed with what it was 30, 40, 50 plus years ago.

I think this will be super interesting and a fun read. You can buy Modern Romance HERE.

So there you have it - three recommendations from me. Remember - if you want to be part of the giveaway - the instructions are above.

Have a great rest of your day!

Dining Plan Review Part 1: Snack Credits

Hey guys, happy Friday! I hope you all have fun weekend plans ahead. I'm headed to my sister's house tonight, then this weekend will be getting myself ready to go gone for almost 3 weeks. I'm going back to Iowa to see family, then heading on the Canadian Cruise with Disney Cruise Line in early October.

I wanted to do a review of the dining plan and how I used it for this most recent vacation. I kept all my receipts, and also notes about what I would have paid out of pocket for the same items.

I also took pictures of how I used the snack credits, so you could see those items.

I've been doing the dining plan on all my personal trips; not only because it does save me money on what I choose to order, but also because I like the pre-paid aspect of it. I like being about to pay for as many of my vacation items as possible before I arrive, and the dining plan lets me do that.

So, to recap: for 2016, the Disney Dining Plan includes per person, per night of your stay:

* 1 refillable mug (you can use at your resort or the water parks for things like soda, tea, coffee, etc)
* 1 snack credit
* 1 quick service meal credit (which is a beverage, entree and a dessert for lunch and dinner; breakfast is your entree and a beverage.)
* 1 table service meal credit (which is a beverage, entree and a dessert or a buffet)

For today's post we'll be examining the Snack credits, and then I'll talk about the other items on later posts.

I found an article online that gave a good benchmark; they said you should aim to keep your snacks at $5 or more, as that will give you the most value for the dollars you paid for the dining plan. So keeping that in mind, I am going to assume that each snack credit costs $5 and base my savings (or not) on that dollar amount.

Ice Cream small bowl from Ample Hills at the Boardwalk Inn: $6.89 if paying cash
Snack credit on dining plan
$6.89 cash price - $5 snack credit allowance = $1.89 in extra value

Ample Hills is one of the newer offerings on the Boardwalk at the Boardwalk Inn. Anyone can go there; you don't have to be staying at the hotel, and the Boardwalk is a great place to shop, people watch and grab snacks as well as meals. With the dining plan, a snack credit gets you either a cone or a bowl; I chose the bowl as it was hot that day and I wanted to keep the melting to a minimum.

You can a decent amount of ice cream; I got a lemon sorbet and it was two very decent sized scoops. But at almost $7, that is pricey if buying on its own.

Candy Corn Ice Cream Cone from Storybook Treats, at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
$4.19 if paying cash
Snack credit on dining plan
$4.19 cash price - $5 snack credit allowance = -$.81 less value

I'm a firm believer that even on the dining plan, you should order what YOU want, even if it's not the best dollar to credit conversion. Yes, I lost money on this item but I won't get it again for that reason. I felt it didn't taste at all like candy corn and was just a very basic vanilla flavor. After I took the picture, the ice cream also fell and so they gave me another cone. I ended up throwing it away, though, as I didn't want to eat something I wasn't really into.

Fruit Tart from Starring Rolls Cafe at Disney's Hollywood Studios
$4.79 if paying cash
Snack credit on dining plan
$4.79 cash price - $5 snack allowance = -$.21 less value

Even though this was a "loss" dollars wise, I still LOVED it and thus felt it was a good value. I had two snack credits left as I was getting ready to leave and drive back to Ft Myers, so I got the fruit tart and a cupcake (below) to take home.

When I talk to many people on the dining plan, they end up having extra snack credits at the end of their vacation and so often I hear people will load up on bagged candy and other treats to enjoy at the airport, in the car or once they get home. It's nice to take a bit of Disney home with you and have a treat later that reminds you of your vacation!

I would get the tart again; it was nice and light and there was the slightest layer of chocolate between the cream and the tart shell and so it complemented the fruit very nicely.

Goofy Cupcake from Starring Rolls Cafe at Disney's Hollywood Studios
$5.59 if paying cash
Snack credit on dining plan
$5.59 cash value - $5 snack allowance = $.59 in extra value

The cupcake was huge, as are most of the cupcakes you find on Disney property. For this reason, I find these great to share; sharing also lets you stretch those snack credits!

It was very tasty; a yellow cake base with a vanilla frosting, and cute Goofy ears and hat. A basic cupcake, nothing fancy...but that tasted delicious.


So to recap....here are the dollars and cents:

$5 snack allowance x 4 snack credits = $20 in snack allowances
$21.46 value had I paid in cash for the snacks
Difference of $1.46

Now, this is not a giant savings - but I also didn't choose snack items based solely on their cash price. That is a great way to use the dining plan and perfectly acceptable but not what I did this time around. That being said, every little bit of savings is a good thing - and I do like pre-paying for as much of my vacation expenses as I can going in.

In the coming days I'll be posting about the quick service and table service credits, and how those dollars worked out in comparison to what I would have paid in cash.

Thanks for reading! Have a great day!

Frozen Ever After - Hit or Miss?

Earlier this week I got a chance to do the new Frozen Ever After attraction at Epcot. It was a total fluke, really. I was at Epcot with Mouse World Travel owner (and my friend) Michelle and we happened to be on the MyDisneyExperience app, updating a dining reservation for the next day. We were checking FP+ and then boom! I saw one so I grabbed it. About 15 minutes later, Michelle found another single time slot that was overlapping, so we could go together. SCORE!

The attraction is pretty new, within the last few months. Since it's both new AND features the juggernaut cash cow Frozen, it's been a huge draw at the parks. When I make FastPass+ selections for clients, often we have to grab whatever is available at 60 days out and sometimes I am not able to get them. To say they are in demand is a bit of an understatement.

(This is the same attraction, if you'll remember, that had 4 and 5 hour waits earlier this summer. No ma'am - no thank you. Not waiting in a line like that for ANY attraction.)

They re-purposed the Maelstrom attraction/ride at the Norway pavilion at Epcot and so it was the same ride track as Maelstrom, but of course themed for Frozen. 

I was very happy we were able to do it - because it was in such demand, and I hadn't done it yet - but I thought, it'll probably be a "meh" or just OK and I won't think too much of it. 

You guys - I LOVED IT. Freaking loved it. It was incredible.

The characters and scenes were gorgeous. The music was perfect. The little touches from Disney that we've come to know and love were in abundance.

I didn't get very good pictures but I'll share the ones I do have. It was just perfection, and after experiencing it I can see why people are loving it, beyond that it features the Frozen characters.

Michelle took a video and we're getting those worked up to put on our Mouse World Travel YouTube page; I'll be sure to link it when we have it ready.

Don't wait in a 4 hour line to ride this - because that is just insanity - but if the line is not too bad and/or you can get a FP+, please add it to your list. You will not be sorry!

My Un-Recommend List: Movie Edition

Hey guys! Sorry I didn't write every day for the past few days but now I am home from being at Disney World for the long weekend and am hitting the ground running.

So you know when I do those lists about what I am reading, listening to, watching, etc? Today I am going to go to the flip side of that and tell you what NOT to watch, movie edition.

This is not meant as a slam to any of the actors, directors, writers, script supervisors, craft services, etc people on these films. Sometimes you make something that doesn't hit it out of the park. (Not that I am speaking from experience, or anything like that.....) Sometimes you have a stinker film in the midst of some really great ones you've done.

And let me also say, before we get started: I am not a movie snob. Not every movie needs to be Citizen Kane and 90% of the time, I just want something interesting and entertaining. It doesn't always need to speak to me in a deep way, or teach me a lesson about humanity. More often than not, I just want to laugh or cry or be, as I said, entertained for a few hours.

But these films did not deliver for me on ANY level.

* Money Monster - starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts

Oh where do I begin....

I rented this the other night as I like the Clooney and Roberts, and figured the premise of it looked interesting. In a nutshell - a guy takes a TV show host (Clooney) hostage during a live broadcast. OK sounds good enough, right?

Oh, people....don't waste your time OR money.

The plot holes in this were so huge you could drive a Mack truck through them. It lacked build up and character development. The action went from 0 to 60 in seconds with no introduction, no building of the tension.

And not only that - but the plot itself was completely implausible. So many things happened that I looked at and thought, I know it's just a movie but no way would they do that, and the police do such-and-such, etc.

In the end, I truly did not care what happened to Clooney or the other characters in the film. Something tells me that was not the goal of the filmmakers.

Save your money and move on to something else. Trust me on this.

* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - starring Tina Fey

I really wanted to like this. Tina Fey is generally pretty funny and I had high hopes.

Tina, why did you let me down, girl?!

Again, I feel like I have to reiterate - I am not a movie snob. I didn't expect this film would win Oscars; I just thought, maybe it'll be funny and at least won't make me regret spending the $5 on the iTunes rental.

Wrong again, Katie...wrong again.

You know you are in trouble when, in watching the first 20-30 minutes, all of the funny parts in the film were in the trailer. Bad sign, folks.

To me, it tried too hard to be funny, and touching, and serious, and hilarious. I think I understand the vibe they were going for, but they just didn't get there. It also bounced around too much and didn't take the time to explore characters and relationships; they had too many storylines and angles going, it was hard to get invested in the characters.


What movies have you seen recently that were a big Fail for you?

9/11: Never Forget

Hey guys. I hope you've enjoying your weekend.

I didn't want to let September 11th come without talking about it here on the blog. We all have our story of "this is where I was on 9/11" and this is mine.

I was in the first semester of my sophomore year at the University of Iowa. Each morning, as I got ready for class, I would have the morning news on in the background. I turned on the TV and saw the footage after the first plane hit the tower. Of course, most of us watching didn't realize what was happening yet. I thought - Oh no, how sad. Probably a private plane or helicopter that crashed into the building. Maybe, I thought, the pilot had a heart attack and the crash was unavoidable. Of course tragic, but terrorism was the absolute LAST thing on my mind.

That is, until I saw the 2nd plane hit as I watched live. And in a second, I knew this was not an accident.

The rest of the day was a blur. We heard about the third plane hitting the Pentagon, and then how the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. I just remember feeling scared, and numb. I remember how none of us wanted to be alone, and so nearly all the girls on our dorm floor crowded into one room, and watched TV all day.

So tomorrow we're at the 15 year anniversary. I still can't watch documentaries about 9/11, or movies such as Flight 93. My deepest love and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones, and those who lived on the East Coast on that fateful day and lived through the nightmare.

But do you know what I also remember, as vividly as the terror?

I remember how you could NOT find an American flag anywhere. Every flag, from tiny ones that kids wave at parades, to giant ones you'd fly on top of buildings, were sold out. In every single store. They were flying from people's cars, homes, businesses, porches. It was an incredibly powerful visual image.

I remember how tender and kind everyone was to each other, in the weeks that followed.

So tomorrow, please say a prayer for the victims, their families, the first responders, and those who lived in NY, DC and PA during that terrible day. Keep them close to your heart and in your mind as you go about your day.

God bless you all. And God Bless the USA. We will never forget.