Since I first posted about our experience on social media, I have had so many questions about it so I decided to answer some of them in this blog post.

Galactic Starcruiser – Is it worth it?

10,000% yes!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Star Wars movie. I may have, back in the 80’s, but I really don’t have a clue about the storyline or characters. However, it was by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

What’s it like? It’s kind of hard to explain without giving away too much. The best way to describe it is part dinner theater and part name-your-own adventure. It’s an immersive experience that you can be involved with as much or as little as you’d like. In many regards, it’s like an ocean cruise (in space). Your accommodations and meals are provided. You get to meet some of the crew, and you decide how to spend your time – at leisure or fully immersed in the classes and planned events. 

You don’t need to know much about Star Wars to ‘get’ it. The Cast Members are incredible. They draw you in and you become part of the story. The basic premise is you board the Halcyon for a cruise to Batuu. Things don’t quite go as planned. You communicate with the captain and other officials from the ship with an app (Disney Play) that gets activated when you board. Your adventure is dictated by how you respond. My husband, son and I each had different storylines and missions.

How is the food?

The food was fabulous! A lot of it looked different and kind of funny (hello blue shrimp 😳). One of our table mates was a 7-year-old boy. He asked for “normal” food and was brought standard kid food without an issue.

All of your food and non-alcoholic beverages are included. The dining room is set up with a buffet for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, it becomes a regular dining room with a plated meal.

My son (who is 8) tried almost everything. Just like at home, there were things he liked and things he didn’t like. Our server was great and brought us more of the things he loved. I don’t eat gluten, and my husband and son can’t have shellfish. They accommodated us beautifully and without issue.

Do you have to dress up?

The short answer is no. I would guess that 60% or more were dressed up. There were more on the first night than the second. I had heard (and I agree) that costumes make you more memorable to the Cast Members. However, if you don’t want to dress up, no one cares. We saw everything from costumes to no costumes to Star Wars t-shirts. There were people dressed up as specific characters but most were like us – looking like we were from somewhere in the galaxy. We had fun with it. We wore the same outfits both nights and wore our “street” clothes on our excursion to Batuu. When you’re trying to decide on costumes, just do what feels right for you.

Do you get to pick which parks to visit?

Technically, I guess you could, but your voyage only includes admission to Hollywood Studios. It’s important to remember that this is an immersive experience. You are part of the story, so you are given missions to complete. Many of them are on Batuu (aka Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios)

You can begin to board your transport to Batuu as early as 8am on day 2, and you must return by 4pm. We headed over at 8:15. The transport is themed in typical Disney fashion, but I’m pretty sure we were in the back of a box truck. 🤪

Since we didn’t have another Hollywood Studios day planned for this trip, we quickly rode Slinky Dog, Toy Story Mania, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, all by 10:20. Then we headed to our reservation at Oga’s Cantina, which was part of our story.

After completing our missions at Oga’s Cantina, we used our Lightning Lane entrances for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance.

We then did a few more quick missions (scanning QR codes around Batuu to collect supplies) and headed back to the ship a little before 1pm. They have activities onboard all day, and my son wanted to participate in the Droid racing. (He came in second behind the only adult participant) 🙄🤣

After that we headed back to Batuu for a few more missions. Activities onboard really kicked into full swing at 4pm.

So to answer the question, you really wouldn’t want to visit other parks during your stay as you’d miss out on the experience. After talking to others on our voyage, we learned that we were the minority in leaving Batuu to ride other rides, but it worked for us.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely! Our story would be different so we’d probably have a totally different experience. It was so much fun and unlike anything we have ever done before.

If you’d like to take a voyage on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, contact me today!

Our family recently experienced the two-night adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Disney World. Walt would be over-the-moon excited about what his creators and imagineers have come up with as it is truly out of this world (yes, puns intended). 

I couldn’t help but notice the parallels between the Starcruiser and a Disney ocean cruise. Once we stepped onboard, everything was included: meals, accommodations, entertainment, character greetings and endless activities. We even had a ship orientation, Captain’s reception, and everyone’s favorite – the muster drill.

While there are many similarities between a cruise and the Starcruiser, this was like nothing we have ever experienced. It was part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role playing and so much more!

Every guest creates their own story based on the decisions they make, and our personalized itinerary was kept updated in our Play Disney Parks app via communication from the crew and characters. 

You may wonder what kind of decisions have to be made. There are many. For instance, will you hide a stowaway to help the Resistance? Prove your mettle to join an elite smuggling ring? Bring the stolen ship aboard and watch out for the First Order? Each decision takes you down a different path. You can make decisions as a family or let each person create their own story.

Some of the activities offered include Lightsaber Training, Bridge Training, Sabacc Tournament, Droid Racing, and Model Ship Building. 

The 2-night experience includes an excursion to Batuu. Your missions throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge—including your adventures on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run—will influence events back on the ship. You’ll be able to enjoy one-time entry to these attractions during your excursion to Batuu. It’s all connected—and all part of your personal Star Wars story.

Guests onboard are encouraged to dress the part. Dress in your Jedi best, or dress to impress in your Coruscant best. No need to worry if your costume closet is a bit bare at home. There is a shop onboard the Starcruiser. 

Even the dining is immersive. On the first night, you’ll enjoy an expertly curated menu of delicious dishes from around the galaxy while engaging in unique experiences that continue your Star Wars story. And there is a special musical appearance by a galactic superstar. On the second night, you’ll enjoy The Taste Around The Galaxy where you’ll learn the name, inspiration and ingredients with the serving of each course.

To book your trip to a galaxy far, far away, contact me today!

There’s nothing more special than seeing our children (or grandchildren) light up when they see those loveable Disney characters. Character dining at Disney World has always been a favorite among guests because they get the chance to get up close to their favorite characters for a laugh or a hug. 

Disney has just shared some great news – more character dining experiences are returning! Here are the characters and dining locations where you’ll find your favorite fare and special characters:

September 20 – Winnie the Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom Park (lunch and dinner). Feast on options like Carved Prime Rib, Seasonal Ravioli, and Peel & Eat Shrimp in this greenhouse-inspired beauty.

September 27 – Lilo and Stitch at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (breakfast). Enjoy tasty treats like the Pineapple Coconut Breakfast Bread and Mickey Waffles, and sip on the iconic Lilikoi Juice and the yummy Moana Smoothie.

October 4 – Minnie and her friends at Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort (breakfast). Enjoy your morning favorites at this feast, including the mouthwatering Salted Caramel “Beach Buns.” And what breakfast is complete without the famous Mickey and Minnie Waffles?

These character dining locations join other newly returned experiences, like the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. What a wonderful way to enjoy one of your meals while visiting Walt Disney World!

With the steady return of live entertainment to Walt Disney World Resort, park guests are once again creating special moments with their favorite Disney characters. Let’s kick things off with some exciting news for Magic Kingdom Park

  • Encanto’s Mirabel made her debut in the “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade” on June 26! According to TikTok, the fans went wild!
  • July 6th – the always iconic Minnie Mouse will join Mickey Mouse in Town Square Theater once again. Both will be decked out in their EARidescent fashions designed specifically for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, and they will be ready for hugs and photos.
  • July 10th – keep an eye out for familiar Fantasyland friends Peter Pan and Snow White as they greet guests at Magic Kingdom Park once again.
  • July 31st – look for the Harmony Barber Shop to begin creating magical memories on Main Street again!
  • Aug 25th – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will soon welcome young guests once again for royal head-to-toe transformations. (Only the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Resort locations are reopening at this time)

At our beloved Ft.. Wilderness

  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is stomping at Pioneer Hall once again!
  • July 6 marks the return of Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where you can join the nutty friends for a campfire celebration followed by a Disney Movie!!

At Hollywood Studios

  • July 17 – Star Wars Launch Bay Reopens! A celebration of the legendary space saga, Star Wars Launch Bay is your place for a warm embrace with Chewbacca, a face-to-droid encounter with BB-8 or a run-in with Darth Vader himself for those brave enough.

And those are just the next few weeks! We have even more fun, hugs and memories on the horizon. In the coming months, a visit to Magic Kingdom Park will bring chances to meet Aladdin, Jasmine, Merida, Pooh, Tigger and Storybook Circus pals like The Great Goofini in Pete’s Silly Sideshow. Your favorite toys will be ready for playtime in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Donald Duck and friends will rejoin their prehistoric party at “Donald’s Dino-Bash!” in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

When it comes to holiday magic, nobody does it better than Disney, and I am thrilled to announce the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park! The party kicks off on November 8th and runs through December 22nd. This separately ticketed event is scheduled on 24 select nights. Here’s what’s in store:

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration – a variety show Mickey and his pals at the Cinderella Castle stage

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks – castle projections, fireworks and seasonal songs

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade – Santa with Mickey Mouse and friends

Special treats – complimentary cookies and hot cocoa throughout the park

Jingle Cruise – the Jungle Cruise transformed with yuletide cheer

Holiday makeovers for some of your favorite attractions – Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Mad Tea Party

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas – dance party on the Rockettower Plaza Stage

50th Anniversary celebration keepsakes and photo opportunities – themed for the holidays

Tickets are limited and go on sale on July 7th, so in between trips to the baseball field and the pool, you’ll want to check your calendar.

As they say, April showers bring May flowers and May brings . . . thoughts of Halloween. Not what you were thinking? Since May is halfway to Halloween, you might want to start thinking about it because Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is returning to Magic Kingdom Park this fall during their 50th Anniversary celebration.

Attendees are invited to wear their favorite costumes and enjoy exclusive entertainment, Disney villains, frightfully delicious menu items and more. New additions to this year’s party include event-exclusive step-in photo opportunities and a Halloween-themed 50th Anniversary celebration commemorative print on the reusable trick-or-treat bags.

Tickets go on sale May 18th and sell out quickly for this limited-capacity event. The fun begins in mid-August on 4 select nights. There are 13 dates in September and 18 nights in October, with the final party on Halloween night.

Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing tickets as early as May 12. Prices range from $109-$199.

While you may be enjoying the scent of spring blooms, take a few minutes to dream of pumpkin spice and buy your tickets before they sell out. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled springtime activities.

The Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration is the gift that keeps on giving! To make your magical evenings even more special, Disney is bringing back a new lineup of Appetizing Occasions. From sweet treats to international fare, there’s no shortage of options for making the most of your nighttime spectacular experience.

Disney Enchantment, a brand-new, dazzling nighttime fireworks spectacular, debuts Oct. 1 at Magic Kingdom Park. Watching the show at one of several different dessert party options will put you right in the middle of the magic. Talk about icing on the cake! If you prefer a viewing party in Magic Kingdom Park, Disney has three offerings in Tomorrowland:

Disney Enchantment Pre-Party. Sweeten your evening at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant with 50th anniversary-themed desserts, a variety of cheeses and beverages, with selections of beer and wine included. Then, before the show begins, Cast Members will escort you to a reserved standing viewing location in one of the plaza gardens with prime viewing of Disney Enchantment.

Disney Enchantment Treats & Seats. This party also includes 50th anniversary-themed desserts, a variety of cheeses and beverages, with selections of beer and wine included. Experience the fireworks views from the comfort of dedicated reserved seating at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant

Disney Enchantment After-Party. Like the Disney Enchantment Pre-Party, this experience includes reserved standing viewing of Disney Enchantment in one of the plaza gardens. After taking in the sights and sounds of the spectacular, visit Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant for a spread of 50th anniversary-themed desserts, a variety of cheeses and beverages, with selections of beer and wine included.

If you prefer to view fireworks outside of Magic Kingdom, you may enjoy Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise. You will set sail from the Transportation and Ticket Center on one of the iconic ferryboats for a magical evening on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Once onboard, taste a variety of bite-size signature sweets including build-your-own mousse, key lime tarts, cupcakes and specialty beverages with and without alcohol. Kids can even participate in an ultraviolet scavenger hunt. During the cruise, guests can observe the Magic Kingdom Park fireworks accompanied by stunning water views.

Looking for a little more than dessert? How about dinner with a show? Harmonious, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks, will soon light the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT beginning Oct. 1. With choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers in a 360-degree view, Harmonious shows how Disney music and stories have the power to bring people from all around the world together to unlock the magic of possibility. Two delectable World Showcase restaurants are offering an unforgettable dining and viewing package:

Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package. Dine under the stars on the patio at Rose & Crown Dining Room, which serves classic British fare, while you sit back and enjoy the wonder of Harmonious. This package features a prix-fixe menu including one appetizer, entrée, dessert platter and unlimited beverages. 

Spice Road Table Dining Package. Dine in the covered, outdoor dining area reminiscent of the cafes from the Moroccan seaside with a stunning view of Harmonious. Spice Road Table offers a variety of Mediterranean small plates, including Grilled Lamb Kefta, House-made Hummus Fries and Spiced Chicken. The Spice Road Table Dining Package includes two small plates, a dessert platter and unlimited beverages.

Advance reservations are highly recommended for all dessert parties and dinner packages and can be made on DisneyWorld.com or the My Disney Experience app. For experiences located at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT, valid theme park admission and reservations are required.

The much anticipated Star Wars hotel, the Galactic Starcruiser, officially takes off March 1, 2022. Reservations open October 7th for Club 33 members, Disney Vacation Club members, and Annual Passholders for arrival dates March 1 – May 4. Reservations will be available for everyone else on October 28. 

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a revolutionary new 2-night experience where you are the hero. You and your group will embark on a first-of-its-kind Star Wars adventure that’s your own. It’s the most immersive Star Wars story ever created—one where you live a bespoke experience and journey further into a Star Wars adventure than you ever dreamed possible.

Arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort terminal, board a launch pod and rendezvous with the magnificent Halcyon starcruiser. Stay in a cabin or suite with an exquisite view of space. Throughout the ship, you’ll interact with an eclectic collection of characters, sit down to exotic galactic cuisine and perhaps even plot a secret mission together.

As the itinerary continues, you’ll take the story further and deeper. Choose your path. Seek out the inner workings of the legendary starship, learn the traditional art of wielding a lightsaber and even jump on a transport to the planet Batuu—where your mission continues at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

While we don’t yet know prices for all dates, these reservations are likely to fill up quickly, especially for the first few departures. Contact us today to be notified as soon as more information becomes available.

Open up the app and make sure you are signed in. You will know you are signed in if it says your name on the home screen.

Click on the magnifying glass in the bottom right corner.

Type in the name of the restaurant and click on it when it appears.

When the restaurant pops up, click on Reserve Dining. It’s on the middle bar just to the right when this screen appears.

Select your party size, date and time. If you enter Lunch or Dinner only a few options will pop up. If you enter a specific time, more available times generally appear.

Click on an available time.

Your name and contact info will appear.

Scroll down to confirm your stored cred card info. Check the box I have read and agreed to the Guest Policies.

Once you click Reserve, a confirmation screen will appear. X out in the upper left corner and repeat the steps again.

Log into your My Disney Experience account and click on Reserve Dining under the My Disney Experience tab.

You can make reservations a couple of ways. The fastest way is to search for the restaurant you want under Search Within Dining.

Click on Check Availability after the restaurant page loads.

Enter your date, time and party size. If you enter Lunch or Dinner, only a few options will pop up.

Click on an available time.

Your name will appear as the person who will manage the reservation. You do not need to assign the reservation to other guests. You can go back and do that later.

**If you are splitting your reservation into two parties, this is where you will select someone in your party other than yourself as the person who will manage the reservation when you book it. On your second reservation, you will select yourself.**

Your stored credit card info will be confirmed.

Check the box I have read and agreed to the Guest Policies.

Once you click Reserve, a confirmation screen will appear. You can scroll down and click Make Another Reservation or scroll up to the top and search for another restaurant to make your next reservation.