There has been an influx of visits in the last couple of days due to interest at the disboards and other various websites.  I would like to welcome you and quickly explain the purpose of this website and several of its less obvious functions.  First of all, easyWDW.com is just over five months old and very much in its infancy.  There is a lot of content I have planned in the coming days, weeks, months etc. and I would invite you to return and check for updates in the future.  Unfortunately, I am a good 10-15 years behind the more established websites and can only do so much myself.  Ideally, the goal is to become an online guide book of sorts where you can come to answer the majority of your questions about where to stay, what to eat, what attractions to see, what theme parks to visit and so on.  Rather than only have a few words on a subject, I try to create original content with multiple points of view.  Some of my favorites include “A How-to Walkthrough to Drinking Around the World at Epcot’s World Showcase” and the “Disney World Calendar of Crowds, Cost, Weather and Events.”  The “Is It Worth It?” section also has a variety of articles including information about the Candlelight Processional, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the No Expiration Ticket Option, and other topics.  I have many more planned in the future.

One of the more helpful features of this website is the Crowd Calendars and Best Parks to Visit category to your right.  You’ll find detailed information on a day by day basis of the resort room cost, historical high and low temperature as well as the chance of precipitation, crowd level estimation, best theme parks to visit, which theme parks to avoid, extra magic hours schedule, Fantasmic times, ride closures, and special events.  In addition, be sure to click the “Continue Reading” button below the picture of the calendar to read a description of why the Parks are recommended the way they are and under what circumstances you should act differently.  Visiting the recommended Parks will help you avoid the crowds and have a more pleasant touring experience.

Feel free to have a look around and check back for updates.  Thanks and enjoy.

FAQ:

I already have 300 Disney websites bookmarked.  My husband/wife/mother-in-law/dog already makes fun of me.  I just can’t bookmark easyWDW I’m sorry!!!

Let me suggest that you create a new folder in your bookmarks titled something like “liverwurst recipes” or “mole removal pictures” and put all of your Disney websites in that folder.  You could title easyWDW “liverwurst sandwich on pumpernickel” and be good to go for the foreseeable future.

You seem like a nice guy.  But can I trust you?  Where does all of this information come from!

That depends.  Do you have a history of trust issues?  I will always be there for you.  I promise.  All of the information on easyWDW is created from scratch based on the experiences of myself and others.  I always try to offer multiple perspectives and don’t drastically change reviews based on one bad experience.  There is a comments box on almost all posts.  Please share your own experiences with others if you would like.  Every opinion will help people decide what’s best for them.  The whole purpose of this website is to help people  make informed decisions about what is most likely to work for them.  Very little about Disney World is “set in stone.”  There is no true “best resort” for everyone and no “best restaurant” for all tastes, budgets, likes, and dislikes.  I will always try to present factual information that will help you decide what is right for you and your group.

Where are the ads?  Don’t you want me to purchase a vacation from a travel agency that is quasi-owned by you?  Don’t you have some affiliate links you would like to trick me into clicking?

No, not at this time.  EasyWDW.com is completely ad-free.  There is no cost for any of the information, nowhere to input any personal information, and no button that automatically charges your credit card every time you click into a category.  I would like to have an email newsletter at some point in the future.  At that time, you may opt to add your email address.  I am completely independent from the Walt Disney Company and have no relationship with any advertisers, travel agencies, or any other companies.  I don’t push the Candlelight Processional because I get paid every time someone purchases a package.  I recommend it because I think it may improve your vacation experience.

I am so happy I found this site.  Are there more like it?

Absolutely.  There is a wealth of information to enjoy beyond the standard MouseSavers, Allears, WDWinfo fare.  Check out the Disney Bloggers Collection at http://disneybloggers.blogspot.com.  It’s a list of more than 200 independently run blogs that cover a wide range of fascinating topics.  It updates itself automatically whenever a new post hits the internet so you can always keep up to date with the latest news.  Also check out http://www.dismarks.com.  It’s sort of like a Digg.com for Disney related stories.  You can vote on your favorite stories, submit articles you find interesting, and quickly find the most helpful information.

This doesn’t make any sense to me.  Can you help?

Of course.  If you see something that doesn’t make sense or would like to know more about a subject, please post a comment directly on the post or send me an email at the address located in the “about me” section above.  One of the problems with writing about Disney World is that people have vastly different levels of knowledge.  There are many people that can rattle off the entire menu at Le Cellier by heart and others who have no idea if Splash Mountain is a ride or a brand of portable misting fan.  I always try to offer background to a subject in a way that will keep it interesting for people who “know it all” while at the same time providing a basic structure for those who are just starting out on their Disney learning expedition.  I am not always successful and it’s okay if something doesn’t make sense to you.  Please make me aware of any problems and I would be happy to correct them.

August 6th Update: Disney has extended hours at the Magic Kingdom from 10pm to 11pm on August 11th and 12th and added an 11pm Main Street Electrical Parade on August 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, and 14th.  I always recommend viewing the second Parade because it will be less crowded than the first.  Also consider heading to one of the headlining or Fantasyland rides during the first parade because a lot of people will be away from the rides and waiting on Main Street.  Consider a Parade viewing spot in Frontierland or Liberty Square.  Both lands are much less popular than Main Street and you’ll be able to get a better view of the Parade with a shorter wait.

July 21 Update: I Made some significant changes to the August 2010 Crowd Calendar because Disney released new hours and added a second Fantasmic show and evening parade at the Magic Kingdom on a lot of dates.  The recommended Parks haven’t changed, but I also updated the explanations to be more clear.  The revised calendar is available here.

I have updated the look of the site a bit.  Hopefully this iteration will be easier to read/navigate.  Everything appears like it’s in its proper place.  I’ll be changing the main page in the coming week to show site updates etc. rather than the 1 million page scroll-a-thon it currently is.  I’m not particularly savvy technology-wise unfortunately.  I would love to make this site non-Wordpress based, but don’t really know where to start.  If you or someone you know designs website you are welcome to refer them to me at the email address located in the “about me” page above.

I am currently working on the December 2010 crowd calendar, which should hopefully be completed by Wednesday.  I’m not sure how long it will take to get through December 20-30, but hopefully I can make it through at a decent pace.

Take care, Josh

August 6th update: I have made a substantial update to the Disney World Calendar of Crowds, Cost, Weather, and Events.   It now includes:

• A new section for openings and closures of rides, restaurants, parks, etc.
• A new section under each month outlining the best week to visit
• Added links to each “day-by-day crowd calendar,” with the best theme park to visit each day along with daily cost, average temperature, chance of precipitation, estimated overall crowd level, extra magic hour schedule, Fantasmic schedule, special events, dates of important promotions, and ride closures and openings.
• Instead of a “forward looking” outlook, more emphasis on 2010 and 2011 dates.
• Updated/edited various sections

I have also updated each of the articles in the Tickets category to reflect the new pricing that went into effect yesterday.  This include:

Disney World Magic Your Way Base Ticket Introduction

Is the Disney Water Park Fun & More Upgrade Worth the Cost?

Is the Disney No Expiration Ticket Upgrade Worth the Cost?

Is the Disney Park Hopper Ticket Upgrade Worth the Cost?

I have added the January 2011 (it’s weird typing 2011, try it) Crowd Calendar and updated each of the crowd calendars for the other months. They now include a new line at the bottom with important ride closures and openings, promotion start and end dates, event information, and other pertinent information. You can find them to your right under “Crowd Calendar and Daily Best Park to Visit.” I’m trying to come up with another way to present it because the calendars seem a little “busy” now. I’ll be working on a couple articles to add to the “Is Is Worth It?” category in the next couple days because I don’t think I can bear to look at Microsoft Publisher or CPanel’s Legacy File Manager until at least Thursday. February 2011 will probably take a few days and then it’s on to some recommended touring plans and March 2011.

The site seems to be coming along okay, although I honestly don’t know what to expect. From April 1 to April 30 I had 839 total visits with a total of 1,398 pageviews. So far in the first three days of August I’ve had 890 visits and 2,240 page views. Progress, I suppose, but I think we’re still a good 500,000 off MouseSavers. I’ll be doing some “site optimization” in the next few days which will hopefully make the site easier to navigate. If you hadn’t noticed, there are a lot of categories to your right.

Until next time. Take care, Josh

Updated May 5, 2012 with 2012 dates, pricing, and information

What is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (often abbreviated to MVMCP) is an after-hours “hard ticket” event held at the Magic Kingdom on select dates each holiday season.  When I say “hard ticket,” I mean that you will need to purchase an additional ticket to attend (prices below).  Magic Your Way Tickets, Annual Passes, etc. will not get you into the Party.  The Party runs from 7pm through 12am.  The Magic Kingdom does not completely close prior to the event.  Instead, visitors who have tickets will trade them for a wristband that indicates they are attending the Party.  Those without tickets will be asked to leave and there will be attendants checking wristbands throughout the evening, including at each of the ride entrances.

Continue reading “Is 2012 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party MVMCP Worth the Cost?”

Food Type: “French”

Location: Center of New Fantasyland straight back behind Cinderella Castle. In between Enchanted Tales with Belle and Belle’s Village.

Dining Plan: 1 Table Service

Cost:  Appetizers: $5-$16; Entrées: $17-$33; Kids: $9 – $11.

Discounts: 20% Tables in Wonderland.

Continue reading “Be Our Guest Restaurant Dinner Review”