If you follow my personal Instagram (@victoria.shing), you probably already know that something momentous happened this year - Rachel and Landon got married!

Disney introduced the FastPass system in 1999 as a way for guests to "reserve" their spot in line.  Rather than waiting in an hour-long line, you could get a paper ticket with a return window printed on it.  You were then free to wait in line for other attractions, eat lunch, watch a parade, or even leave the park until your return window arrived and you were then able to enter the shorter FastPass queue for the attraction.

When you think of the Magic Kingdom, or Walt Disney World, for that matter, there are probably two key images that come to mind - Mickey Mouse, of course, and Cinderella's Castle.  Cinderella's Castle is iconic of Walt Disney World and one of the most photographed structures in the world.  Of course, at the end of Main Street, photos in front of the castle most always include strangers in the background, rushing into the park.

A few years ago, I discovered a 'secret' to getting a picture of Cinderella's Castle without a million people in the background - book an Advance Dining Reservation for breakfast in a Magic Kingdom restaurant before park opening.  This trick, of course, will work for all four parks, but early entry into the Magic Kingdom seems to be the most coveted.

There are two restaurants within the Magic Kingdom that serve breakfast, and both are character buffets.  Take note that all reservations for character dining restaurants now require a credit card to book, and if for some reason you do not show for your reservation, you will be charged $20 per person.

Cinderella's Royal Table
This restaurant is actually inside Cinderella's Castle and overlooks the Magic Kingdom.  It also gives you an opportunity to meet the princesses, as they rotate around the restaurant (now for breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and interact with guests.  Of course, the unique atmosphere and character interaction come at a steep price.  Prepare to pay a set price of around $55 for adults, $35 for children (varies with seasonal demand).  There isn't a buffet, but a pre-plated all-you-can-eat meal brought to your table, consisting of traditional American breakfast foods.  The price also includes juices, milk, coffee, and soda, but cappuccino and expresso are an additional charge.  To help justify the cost, you will receive a complimentary photo package consisting of 4 4x6s and 1 6x8 of the photo you take with Cinderella when you enter the restaurant (so make sure it's pretty!). Princesses will receive a magic wand, and princes will get a souvenir sword.



Crystal Palace
This is the less-expensive way to gain early entry into the Magic Kingdom.  Crystal Palace is within an elegant exterior that actually connects Main Street to Adventureland thematically.  Here you'll dine with Pooh and friends.  I took a picture of the sign outside so that I'd remember the prices - when we went last (March 2012, college spring break), breakfast was $22.99 for adults and $12.99 for children - much more pocket-friendly than Cinderella's Table!  It's a buffet-style breakfast, again typical American fare.  However, the specialty here that you must try is actually on the children's buffet - Pooh's Puffed French Toast.  It is delicious!  I also highly recommend their breakfast pizza (also children's buffet).

Crystal Palace before park opening

Now, Disney suggests that you arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your reservation time.  Normally, this is a tidbit of information I choose to ignore, but when entering the Magic Kingdom before park opening, you're going to want to have plenty of time to take pictures in front of the castle and along Main Street.  To enter the park, simply go through bag check and security, then walk to the turnstile on the left-hand side which is marked "Dining Reservations."  If they are letting everyone through the turnstiles (which they typically do at Magic Kingdom in the morning for the rope drop show), then go to the opening at the left side of the train station where they have a rope, and the Cast Member will let you through with proof of your reservation.  I recommend printing out your reservation receipt and having that with you.

Once you get in the park, take your time!  Take more photos than you think you need, just in case some don't turn out the way you'd like.  This is an awesome experience, so take in the atmosphere and capture the moment!


If you are interested in gaining early entry at other parks, restaurants open for breakfast are Tusker House - Donald's Breakfast Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Akershus princess dining at Epcot, and Hollywood & Vine Disney Junior character dining at Hollywood Studios.

Saturday, June 2

Rachel's Graduation Celebration is the trip currently in the works.

And this trip has been in the works since... well, since I graduated from high school.

Rachel loves to vacation, especially cruise.  And she has a group of steady girlfriends.  So, her image of the ideal graduation celebration was to go on a cruise with her five best friends.

The original idea was a mother/daughter cruise.  They had been talking about this for over a year, I'd say.  They even had a meeting near the beginning of the school year with a few of the moms, picked out the cruise with her best friend, then everyone agreed on the cruise.  It was a 7-night eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas.  We knew we needed to book it soon.  So, while we were on the Adventure over winter break, my parents decided to go ahead and book onboard to get the extra cruise credits.

We came back and told them we booked it... and I guess that's when sticker shock set in (they had already seen the prices and hadn't blinked).  Or maybe just conflicting ideas on what this graduation cruise should be.  Whatever the objection, it would've been great to hear this before we went ahead and booked the cruise.

One girl found a compromise - a 4-night Bahamian cruise on the Monarch of the Seas.  This way, everyone's entire family could go (apparently mother/daughter didn't fly with some dads) because it was less expensive.  Then the objecting family suggested that we spend the day we get off the ship at one of the Disney parks.

Now, if you haven't picked up on it already, my family knows Disney.  We are one of those families that vacations there at least once a year.  That never grows tired of the magic.  And I, in particular, am very knowledgeable about Walt Disney World.

So we rolled our eyes at this, and Rachel wants so bad to point out that the price of everyone going on this cruise and to Walt Disney World is going to be about the same as the original 7-night cruise on the Freedom.  Just on a smaller ship, going to less exciting ports, for a shorter period of time.  PARTY!!!!

No, really, party - a short 3/4-night cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Norwegian is essentially a party cruise.

After the initial chaos and frustration, we've actually grown more excited for the cruise.  It will be an experience, for sure.  And it looks like everyone is just going to be doing their own thing (which kind of makes you wonder why we even bothered to plan a big group trip - if it weren't for the children).  Which is good because clearly everyone has a different picture of the ideal vacation.  But the thing that really annoys me is that it seems like we've all forgotten the reason we're cruising - to celebrate our daughters' (err... my sister's) graduation.