Tag Archives: vacation

Rides and Attractions

3 Reasons Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Rocks

When you visit The Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a ride not to be missed.

It sits in Frontierland at the back, left of the park and is most quickly found by hanging a left at the park hub and walking through Adventureland.

Considered a roller coaster or thrill ride the kids need to be 40″ to ride, but the coaster has no inversions or super steep drops.

There are three things that make this a great ride and an absolutely must-do attraction.

Continue reading 3 Reasons Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Rocks →

Parks

6 1/2 Reasons to Love Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party

Walt Disney World has really embraced the idea of the hard ticket event as of late.  One of the first forays into this type of special event was Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

This event is a fun Halloween party for the whole family that embraces the lighter side of the holiday.  You will find special parades, fireworks, candy, snacks, and merchandise all meant to embrace the whimsical side of Halloween.  As a first tip, don’t skip the Haunted Mansion on this visit – it is definitely even a little more spooky than normal during this event.

This year the event runs on select dates from August 25 – November 1 and the times for each night are 7 pm – midnight.

Image courtesy Disney Photopass

Continue reading 6 1/2 Reasons to Love Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party →

Dining

4 Best Places to Grab a Drink at Epcot

Epcot is a great place to spend a relaxing day.  It isn’t just all about rides and shows here.

There is definitely not only a great food scene (arguably the best food on properly lives here), but also a good assortment of watering holes and places to find libations of all kinds.

We will be taking a much deeper look at getting your drink on at Epcot in future articles, but for now, we are focusing on the  best full service or spirit-equipped bars.  You can pick up beer and wine throughout the park, but if you prefer something more complex, you need to know where to stop to find the best adult beverages. Continue reading 4 Best Places to Grab a Drink at Epcot →

Parks

When I Took My Nieces to Magic Kingdom

Some events are once in a lifetime kind of things.

They are rights of passage that don’t come with do overs.

For me, just this week, I had the chance to take my nieces to Walt Disney World for the very first time.  With special permission from their parents, we planned the girl’s first trip to Magic Kingdom and as I write this article, they are still sleeping off the 13 hour adventure. Continue reading When I Took My Nieces to Magic Kingdom →

Travel Tips

Understanding the Magical Express

When I first started going to Disney, I wish someone would have walked me through the Magical Express and given me some tips about making the most of it.

In a nutshell, Disney’s Magical Express will pick you up from the Orlando International Airport and take you to your Walt Disney World resort. Now if this sounds like a really great deal, then you’re absolutely right. It is! Continue reading Understanding the Magical Express →

Dining, Entertainment

6 Reasons You’ll Love Disney Springs

Most folks are laser focused on getting to the parks and enjoying the Disney magic when they head to Walt Disney World.

The parks are magical.  The resorts are relaxing.  There is fun around every corner.

That includes the Disney Springs area of the Walt Disney world Resort as well.  Formerly knows as Down Town Disney, this area started life as a shopping and entertainment district that was meant to bring a sense of night life to the family-friendly fun zone.  Consisting of 2 distinct areas:  Marketplace and Pleasure Island, there was a certain buzz of a late night club scene there.  But recently the entire area has been re-branded and has become even more fun and hip with great places to eat and enjoy a night out.

Now known as Disney Springs (as of 2015), there are 4 sections or districts:   Continue reading 6 Reasons You’ll Love Disney Springs →

Dining

Must Visit Table Service Restaurants at Epcot

When you think about culinary experiences, Disney has much to offer.  They run the gamut from the humble corn dog to Kobe-style beef tenderloin.  As far as food goes, Walt Disney World really does offer something for everyone.

That said, some parks and resorts have a little more culinary swagger than others.

Some are designed for speed and utility rather than experience – and those are necessary features for locations like Magic Kingdom and Pop Century that have large capacities and get very crowded.  They also serve the need for budget conscious diners whose first priority is value.  These locations serve food that is usually hot, fast, and as economical as resort food gets. Continue reading Must Visit Table Service Restaurants at Epcot →

Rides and Attractions

The 10 Best Rides at Walt Disney World

There are many reasons why folks love to visit Walt Disney World.  Some folks love the weather.  Others go for the characters.  I personally love the food.  But all of those are different stories.

Because many visit The Walt Disney World Resort for the rides and attractions.

I wanted to share my thoughts on the 10 best rides at WDW.  These are the ones (for the most part) that you’ll want to use a Fast Pass to secure so that you don’t find yourself in a line stretching for hours (leaving you more time to enjoy more rides).

Time to sail away on Peter Pan’s Flight

 10. Journey into Imagination With Figment (Epcot):  This one will truly cause some discord, as this is a re-imagining of the original ride.  I really do love this dark ride as it has a catchy tune, great characters, and honestly does inspire me to be more creative.  This ride inspired me to write my book and sometimes I hum the theme song when I am trying to complete a task requiring a little imagination. Continue reading The 10 Best Rides at Walt Disney World →

Uncategorized

5 Reasons to Start Your Vacation at Magic Kingdom

Whether you have children or not, Magic Kingdom in absolutely the first place you begin your Disney vacation.  It is quintessentially Disney and really does evoke that feeling of being on vacation.

There is something truly magical about a visit to this park and it continues to surprise and delight.  Of all the parks, it is the most kid-friendly and does have the closest connection to the classic Disney characters and settings from their animated films.

Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney… and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn — together.

-Roy Disney, October 25, 1971

Continue reading 5 Reasons to Start Your Vacation at Magic Kingdom →

Uncategorized

Welcome to Let’s Go To Disney

Thank you so much for stopping by.

I am a super fan of Walt Disney World.  I am a believer in the vision of Walt Disney.  I wanted to share my views, ideas, thoughts, and musings about all things Disney, so here we are.

Just a bit about me.  I am a 25 year veteran of restaurants and retail.  I am a professional chef turned Food and Beverage Executive, Star Wars fan, Bourbon lover, and published author.  I love to write and tweet about all things Customer service, food, and Disney.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts and observations – and I look forward to making new friends and connecting with all the amazing Disney fans out there.

Best Wishes,

Tony Johnson

Disclaimer:
Let's Go to Disney does not represent the Walt Disney Company in any way and is not employed by or affiliated with Walt Disney.  While the information contained within the site is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this website is correct, complete, and/or up-to-date. The materials contained on this website are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal or other professional advice on any subject matter. Let's Go to Disney.com does not accept any responsibility for any loss which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site.  Be sure to check all posted medical information regarding rides prior to riding any rides or attractions. All Disney parks, attractions, lands, shows, event names, etc. are registered trademarks of The Walt Disney Company.