A few weeks ago, I posted an article aimed at those of you travelers looking to plan your first ever Disney World trip. I covered three very important topics… requirements, when and how long, and tickets. In this second part I am going to go over transportation, accommodations, and the ever important itinerary.

Accommodations

I am pretty sure that almost anyone that looks at a list of possible accommodations in the Orlando area will be totally overwhelmed. There are so many options! Off property, on property, vacation homes, motels, hotels, value resorts, and even cabins! In order to make the big decision of where you are going to rest your head, you want to look at your options in categories and then break it down from there.

First off, if you have no interest in renting a car, either because you are petrified of driving around an unknown area, or because you do not need to go off of Disney property for anything, you probably should look at accommodations available to you right on Disney property. Disney hotels also work well for families looking to camp. When you are looking at on property versus off property, the major differences lie in what discounts and special perks you get from staying right with Disney. Disney offers guests staying right on property benefits like free parking at the Disney theme parks, shuttle service to and from the parks, a “magical” bus shuttle to and from Orlando International Airport, room charging privileges, package pick-up at resorts, and the ability to add-on one of the controversial Disney Dining Plans.

Staying off property usually works well for folks traveling minute, because most of Disney’s steep discounts must be booked months ahead of time. Dining at the Disney theme parks and resorts is really expensive for the most part, so if you are staying off-property you really have the advantage to hit up far less expensive restaurants. Transportation to non-Disney theme parks and other area attractions will probably be easier if you are not surround by the Disney bubble. If off-site accommodations sounds like your thing, I seriously suggest picking up a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and check out the in-depth reviews of many hotels, motels, and vacation homes that can be found off of Disney property. No, I do not get paid to plug the book. I actually think that the Unofficial Guide excels in this topic, since most other guide books only cover reviews of on-site resorts.

If you have decided to be surrounded by the Disney magic 24/7, you have to choose from one of Disney’s incredible resorts. This is no small task. Trust me. Just think of it this way, you usually get what you pay for. While one size does not fit all in terms of Disney resorts, there are very few guests that end up truly hating the resort that they choose. If your budget is what matters to you most, go with a value resort. That is a no brainer. If you want more than just a place to rest your head and if you are willing to throw extra money into your hotel, examine your choices in the moderate and deluxe categories. Most people worry that once they are willing to pay over $300 a night for a hotel room, they are going to regret it. However, I really believe that you will be happy with whatever resort you choose. None of the deluxe resorts repeatedly get horrific reviews, so you really do not have much to worry about. I suggest you go to YouTube and watch resort tour videos to get a good idea of what each hotel’s vibe is like. Try not to stress about it too much, because no matter what you choose, you are going to be in Disney World and that is the most important part.

Transportation

You are faced with a few big questions when it comes to transportation in your Disney World trip. The first is, how are you going to get to Disney World? If you are really cool and can teleport, then by all means, do so. However, if you are an average human like the rest of us, you are either going to be flying to Florida or driving.

In most cases, driving is going to be your least expensive option. While gas prices are always on the rise, some people choose to caravan with another family and split the cost of gas and a rental vehicle. Often times, a family can rent a van, plus pay for gas and still come out of trip spending less money on transportation than if they flew to Disney World. This option allows you to have freedom to travel outside of the Disney World Resort to visit other area attractions and restaurants. While some off-site accommodations provide free shuttles to Disney theme parks, not all do. So, you will need to think about renting a car if this applies to you.

Flying is the best way to get your Disney vacation started as soon as possible. There are some serious benefits to flying to Disney World other than just getting the magic started quickly. Once you arrive at the airport, you actually do not need to rent a car or hire a car company to transport you to Disney World. Disney provides a free shuttle service to and from Orlando International Airport for anyone staying on Disney property. Whether you use it or not, you essentially pay for it when you book your hotel room. The downside to using Disney’s Magical Express is that you have to depend entirely on Disney’s internal busses to transport your family around Disney property. If you are in a hurry or think might get impatient waiting for a bus, you could find Disney’s busses frustrating since they are not always the most dependable. It is pretty hard to know if you are going to wait two minutes or twenty minutes for a bus. When it is nearly midnight, you are exhausted, and all you want to do is get back to your hotel room and sleep, waiting for a bus sounds like absolute misery. However, for some people, this small inconvenience is well worth the money you can save from not having to rent a car.

Keep in mind that even if you choose to drive your own vehicle to Disney World, this does not mean you are required to drive your own car to get to the parks and back to your Disney resort (provided you stay on property). If you feel uncomfortable driving around the sometimes confusing Disney World roadways, you can always use the internal bus system.

Itinerary

I was told by a reader of the TouringPlans blog that they find creating an agenda the biggest challenge in planning a Disney World trip. I totally understand this. Even after planning what feels like a million trips, it still is in no way a simple process to figure out my agenda. I will tell you about how I personally plan, and you can decide from there what tips you would like to incorporate for yourself.

First, I lay every bit of information out in front of me. I print out park hours for my vacation dates. I also jot down the recommended “best park” and “worst park” for each day based on the crowd calendar. At this point, I usually have not made any Advanced Dining Reservations yet. I only book those once I know what park I would like to start my day at. If I have the park hopper option, obviously I have a little bit more flexibility when it comes to booking my dining reservations. When going online or calling to make my dining plans, I try to match up the “best park” for an given day to a desired restaurant. Simple enough, right? Wrong. Sometimes I do not always get my way and can only get a restaurant reservation that I want for a day that does not work with the schedule I have laid out in front of me. Here is where your own judgement comes into play. What matters more to you? Sticking to a schedule with the presumed lowest park crowd, or nabbing a coveted Disney dining reservation?

Some of you might be wondering why I only care about documenting where I would like to start each day at. I have come to realize that you cannot always predict how fast or slow you will get done with a park on any given day. You also cannot predict the weather very far out. Sometimes things happen and you want to spend the afternoon finishing up attractions at another park that you might have skipped for whatever reason. Sometimes you discover that you really enjoy a nighttime show and would like to see it again, but you will have to travel back to a park you already visited. That is why I prefer to only note where I would like to start each day. I always pick each of the four major parks as my “primary” park at least once. I like to get the morning experience and nighttime experience of each park, even if that means not doing it on the same day. This is a definite benefit of adding on the park hopper option to your theme park admission ticket.

Once all of my Advanced Dining Reservations are made and I know what parks I will be starting my day at, I type up a helpful piece of paper that I literally take with me everywhere during my trip. The paper lists my travel dates, primary park, any special shows or activities planned, and any dining reservations for the day, along with the confirmation numbers. I put it in a page protector just to keep it relatively crinkle free, even if I have to fold it a bit to fit it into my bag. I carry it with me so I can pull it out in case I ever ask myself, “what park will I be at on Friday?”, or if a restaurant cannot find my reservation.

Everyone plans their trips a little bit differently, but I just wanted to give you a glimpse on how I like to keep my head on through the excitement of Disney trip. I would love to hear about how all of you are organizing your schedules!

Traveling to Disney World for the first time is a big daunting task for a lot of people, but it does not have to be. Everyone seems to have the one thing that trips them up in their planning. In the comments section of my previous post, many of our awesome TouringPlans readers shared what their travel struggle tends to be. Hopefully, my tips and tricks helped you out and answered some of your burning questions! If not, please let me know so I can help!

A First-Timer’s Guide to Planning a Disney World Trip – Part Two is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Over the past few years writing for the TouringPlans blog, I have been honored to get to help so many people from all walks of life plan Disney World trips for their families. In helping folks, one thing that I notice time and time again is how overwhelming planning a trip to one of the world’s most popular travel destination can be, especially for someone preparing for their first visit. Many people do not know where to start with planning. Some prospective visitors end up either giving up or making rookie mistakes which they pay for later on.

Many of our posts here at TouringPlans aim at Disney World guests who are already seasoned veterans. I imagine that for a first timer, the nitty-gritty details seem unimportant when you are trying to just figure out how the heck to get to Disney World. The next two posts of mine are for those of you that still need those trip planning training wheels. Get out a pen and piece of paper and let me walk you through the basics. 

Requirements

Every family has some kind of requirements or “givens” that are known from the get go. These are things that cannot usually be changed. First thing you need to do is write down your requirements. A usual requirement for most families is a budget. Maybe you have saved up for this trip or maybe you are preparing to save up and need to know how much this is all going to cost you. If your budget is entirely unlimited, you are one of the lucky ones. However, if you have some boundaries, write down a number that you would like to stay under. I would say that if you are willing to give and take a little bit, almost anyone can afford a trip to Disney World. What you can afford is so important because everything is affected by your budget.

Next up, determine if you have a specific range of days that you must travel in, whether it be because of work, school, or any other number of reasons. If sticking to a tight budget is your top priority, consider being very flexible with your travel dates. You can save perhaps the largest amount of money this way.

Another common given is whether you are going to be flying or driving to Florida. If you are not sure, I suggest that you use an online map, such as MapQuest or Google Maps to determine if driving is a feasible option for your family. If it is, you might want to think about renting a larger vehicle to provide some more comfort for the drive. If you are like me and you know that you need to fly to Disney World because of distance reasons, investigate what it is going to cost you by using Kayak.com or another airline price comparison website. Keep in mind that some of the comparison websites sometimes do not include Southwest and/or smaller airlines.

The final given that I suggest you determine right away is if your family would like to travel off Disney property at any point. Many visitors would like spend a day at the beach or at a neighboring theme park such as Universal Studios or Sea World. Eventually, this will become relevant to certain aspects of your planning experience.

When & How Long

The time of year that you travel often determines what kind of vacation you will have. For instance, some people despise extremely hot temperatures. If that is you, avoid the summer months all together. Next, take a look at a yearly event calendar for the Disney parks and see if anything pops out at you as an interest. Christmas? International Food and Wine Festival? Star Wars Weekends? If your budget allows, choose the time of year that interests you most. Keep in mind that certain times of the year are busier than others. Special events and holidays usually draw in larger crowds. While you will always be dealing with other guests and lines no matter what time of year you go, you can avoid utterly painful crowds by not traveling to Disney World when it is at it’s busiest. There are down sides to the slower or “value” season as well. Sometimes the most popular and beloved attractions are down for a period of time due to refurbishment. Many first timers would be completely crushed if they missed out on riding Splash Mountain. You can pretty much guarantee that popular attractions will be open when the parks are busiest.

Certain days of the year are traditionally cheaper to fly on, such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fridays and Sundays are most commonly the expensive travel days of the week. If you are planning on a full week of vacation, consider flying out on a Tuesday and back on a Tuesday. When airlines have big sales, there are usually days of the week that are blacked out. The days that will save you the big bucks are typically mid-week.

You need to determine your desired length of your vacation. While I like to suggest an entire week for a first-time guest, some of you might have a different number of days in mind for whatever reason. Less days usually means less expense overall and less potential for park “burnout.” However, by only giving yourself a short period of time to visit, you run the risk of missing out on some attractions, or even entire parks. Rushing to get things done means that you might not have the relaxing family vacation you imagined. Trips longer than just a few days allow you enjoy the parks at a slower pace without worrying that you are going to miss something that you expected to experience. It is best to try and strike a balance between how many days you can afford and how many days will satisfy your families needs.

Tickets

Disney lingo comes into play pretty heavily when talking about park tickets. Disney using the term “Magic Your Way” is a fancy way of saying that you can pick what you want. It all starts with a basic one-day ticket and you add what you wish from there. The more days you wish to play, the less it is to pay per day. Simple yes and no questions will help you figure out exactly what type of ticket you need for each member of your family.

Do you want to park hop? Park hopping allows you to travel from park to park on the same day. There are four major Disney theme parks that encompass the Disney World Resort. If you want to visit multiple parks on the same day, you will need to add the park hopper option to your Magic Your Way base ticket.

Do you want to visit one or both Disney water parks? Are you interested in DisneyQuest? If so, it is probably in your best interest to add on the “Water Park Fun and More” option to your Magic Your Way ticket.

Do you intend to revisit Disney World within the year? There are times that it makes more sense economically to purchase a ticket that allows you access to Disney World parks for an entire year instead of just the length of one visit. If this sounds like a possibility for you and/or your family, look into Disney’s Annual Passholder program.

Once you know what kind of ticket everyone in your party needs, I suggest that you figure out take a look at TouringPlans.com’s Ticket Calculator to determine where it would be cheaper for you to purchase tickets from. Most of the time it is a better deal to purchase tickets online before your vacation from a reputable company that is authorized to sell real Disney World park tickets. Also, keep in mind that you can upgrade any Magic Your Way ticket as long as there is still one unused day available on the ticket. This means you can add more park days or upgrade your ticket to include the park hopper option even after you have already purchased your initial ticket.

Hopefully I have not totally lost any of you along the way in this edition of Disney World 101. Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have regarding what I have covered in this post. Trust me when I say that there is no such thing as a dumb question.

What are you finding to be the most difficult part of planning a Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comment section below and hopefully we can be of some help!

A First-Timer’s Guide to Planning a Disney World Trip – Part One is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Before I even get started on this review, there is something you should know about me. I am having a not-so-secret love affair with Mexican food. I own up to it 100% and, no, I will not stop. I love Mexican food so much that someone can just say the word “salsa,” and I begin salivating. Luckily, my love of Disney and Mexican food and drink meet when I get to Epcot. Epcot is blessed with a pretty decent Mexican quick-service restaurant, two unique table-service restaurants, and an out of this world tequila bar. Most of us have at least one Mexican restaurant relatively close to our homes, and most of the time the menu is fairly Americanized. With Disney’s restaurant, La Hacienda de San Angel, I believe they are trying to bring something different to the plate (hardy-har-har) than what most of us are used to.

I experienced La Hacienda back when it first opened in 2010. My experience the first time was a little bit rough. The food quality was not really the problem. I had issues with the amount of food we got for such a high dollar amount. On top of that, I also felt that the service was really poor. I figured that since it has been a few years since it opened, I would give it another shot. This time I took a different approach. My husband and I decided to only order off the vegetarian menu to keep the cost down. That way, if we were disappointed with the meal, we would not be out a lot of money.

After a very exhausting and stressful travel day (we had a McAllister moment running in the airport), my husband and I were sure glad to be in Disney World. Upon arriving to Epcot around 6:00 pm that evening, we high-tailed it to La Hacienda to see if we could get a walk-up reservation. Turns out, they were so slow that night that they told us to just come back whenever we want to eat, and they would get us right in. It totally worked, and this time I decided not to request a specific location of the restaurant because last time when I requested “by a window” they insisted that all of the tables were by a window, only to shove us in a corner with an 8×10 viewing portal that was a good eight feet away from our table.

I actually really liked where they sat us this time. It was at a table in the middle of a section that was surrounded by windows, giving us a perfect view of the World Showcase. La Hacienda is quite large and has different rooms of varying size. Booths and tables, large and small, are scattered throughout. To be honest, some seating locations have a better view of World Showcase and Illuminations than others, so be aware of that if you make a reservation during the nighttime fireworks show. The decor is very “modern Mexico” with colorful art and unique light fixtures standing out from the muted walls.

Our waiter was on the dry and boring side but, we cannot all be super cool and witty, huh? Since my stomach felt a little off from traveling, we decided to skip the adult beverages. However, the menu is impressive. Obviously the margaritas are the real highlight here, and the variety of flavors allows for everyone in your party to find something that they will like. La Hacienda also offers a small selection of respectable tequila, as well as wine and beer.

On our last visit, my husband and I shared the “Del Mar”, a seafood entree large enough for two people to share. While it was delicious, the price was steep at $49.95. Looking at the menu, I realized that La Hacienda uses a lot of things in their cooking not typically found in most Americanized Mexican restaurants… cactus leaves, roasted corn, and pine nuts. My local Mexican restaurant pretty much sticks to queso and red sauce for everything. This was a welcome change from the norm.

Before our entrees were brought out to us, Matt and I enjoyed the most amazing chips and salsa. While the tortilla chips were average, the two types of salsa were not. The green salsa was slightly sweet and pretty mild. On the other hand, the red salsa had a rich, smoky quality, allowing for the salsas to balance each other out really nicely. Sadly, we did not get to enjoy it long before our food came out.

My husband’s entree of choice was the Tacos de Vegetales. The three tacos were full and of a decent size. He was really pleased with the flavor that the tacos had. I tried a bite and totally fell in love. Before even trying mine I thought, “I wish I had ordered that.” The roasted corn was so delicious.

The first thing I noticed about my entree was the mound of cabbage on top. Not that I do not like cabbage, it was just a bit much for such a small dish. The enchiladas were really tasty once I got past the cabbage. While the enchiladas were on the small side, I also got rice and beans. The rice was a little dry and pretty plain, in my opinion. However, the beans were really flavorful and not too thin, my biggest pet peeve about beans in Mexican restaurants. My husband took a bite of my enchilada and absolutely loved it… even more than his taco entree. It took only a few more bites for each of us to decide that we were longing for what each other had. A little entree switch-a-roo took us from content to ecstatic with our meal.

My husband and I walked out of the restaurant totally stuffed and satisfied in almost every way. That was a pretty big step up from our first trip a few years ago. Unfortunately, I hear this restaurant is pretty hit and miss with the Disney community. I am curious to see what our blog readers have to say about it.

Have you been to La Hacienda recently and had a wonderful experience like me? Are you thinking of visiting sometime soon? Drop us a line in the comment section!

Dining Review: La Hacienda de San Angel is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Back when I was a teenager and went to Disney World once a year, I would always walk by the France pavilion and imagine that I could someday eat French food in a faux French bistro in the middle of a theme park. I never had the extra money as a teen to dine at any sit-down restaurant at Disney World, so now that I am a money making grown-up, I get to try all of the restaurants that I want. I took a few semesters of French in high school, so recently I figured I would brush up on my skills at Epcot’s Les Chefs de France.

My husband, Matt, and I were enjoying a lovely day at Epcot and got hungry for an early lunch. We did not have any reservations and had fully intended on getting counter-service for lunch. However, we walked by Chefs de France and glanced at the menu. We both agreed that it was fairly reasonably priced. We inquired inside very soon after it opened about getting a reservation. The very nice staff told us to come back in a half hour, and they would be happy to seat us without a reservation.

When my husband and I came back to the restaurant, we waited only a minute and then were escorted to a table in the sunroom, facing out toward the wall of windows, giving us a great view of park guests strolling by. The restaurant is quite nice, but I did not find it intimidating. The walls and ceilings are made up of creams and golds, with dark wood dining tables. I really loved seeing the tables all set up with wine glasses and cloth napkins… so theme park fancy!

Our waitress was really sweet and helpful. We felt like we got the best of the bunch with her. She took our drink orders and let us look over the menu for a few minutes. Matt decided on the Mahi Mahi Sandwich, and I very easily opted for the Vegetarian Lasagna. I have a serious obsession with lasagna; however, most times I avoid ordering it at a restaurant because I fear I will not like it as much as I like my own homemade lasagna. I must have been feeling super risky that day.

Before our entrees came out, our waitress brought us a fresh baguette and some very generic butter. I was hoping for a little more adventurous butter, but I guess everything cannot be exactly as I want it, right? The baguette was very warm and hard to stop eating. Matt and I did end up waiting a little longer than normal for our entrees, but we did not mind since we were not in a hurry. Matt’s Mahi Mahi Sandwich had a really fun presentation. I love when the fries are not just thrown onto a plate. There was a fairly large cut of fish on the sandwich, along with nice thick bread. Matt said that while it was flavorful and filling, it was not his favorite meal he has had on Disney property.

My entree, on the other hand, is definitely in my top five meals I have ever had in Disney World. The lasagna’a presentation was so beautiful that I did not want to ruin it! Thin slices of tomato and zucchini created a little wall around the lasagna, which sat in a relatively thin tomato sauce. The veggies inside were plentiful and delicious. My favorite part of the dish was definitely the cheese on top, but that is because I am a cheese-o-holic and should probably be in treatment for my addiction. Matt tried the lasagna, and I think he loved it so much he wished he had ordered that, as well. For $15, I definitely felt like I got my money’s worth.

As we were paying for our meal, our waitress told us to sit tight for a few minutes because Remy from Ratatouille would be coming by our table soon. We are big Ratatouille fans in my family, so this was a real treat. Armond, the maitre d’ that brought Remy around to every table, was hilarious and made the experience even more fun. When he asked if I would like a photo, he began posing with my husband. When Armond revealed Remy, the little mouse squeaked and looked around. I think that Remy makes this relatively tame restaurant more interesting for children.

I was so pleased with my visit to Les Chefs de France that I will definitely be back! Have you ever dined at Chefs de France before? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comment section below! 

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I sort of have a love/hate relationship with Disney Hollywood Studios’ popular restaurant, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. Over the years, I find myself going back over and over, hoping that each visit will be better than the last. I often find myself disappointed with one thing or another. However, a few weeks ago I decided to give it another shot on a whim after completing the 5K during Disney’s Marathon Weekend.

The retro-themed restaurant is popular with solo travelers and families for many reasons. American fare such as hamburgers, fried pickles, and milk shakes are among the options on the menu. The restaurant will never win awards for creativity. It is about as dependable as it is predictable. I think many families choose the restaurant because they do not have to wonder what something is on the menu. However, the basic American menu makes guests wonder if they could get the same food (but for a lot less money) at a counter-service restaurant.

My husband and I were lucky enough to secure a lunch reservation soon after Sci-Fi opened. We came back a few hours later, and we were ready to eat! After a short wait, we were seated at the front of a lovely green Bel-Air style car. In my opinion, Sci-Fi has one of the most immersive atmospheres of any restaurant in Disney World. Themed like a 50′s drive-in movie theater, you dine under the shining “stars” as you watch incredibly campy movie clips on a giant theater screen. The car booths are a little bit cramped, and the lighting is horrifically dark. I understand the concept is dining at night, but it is incredibly difficult to see the food in front of you.

Thankfully on my last two trips to the drive-in, I have had fantastic service. Both waiters were attentive without being intrusive. First off, My husband and I knew that we wanted to share the Spinach and Artichoke Dip. When browsing the menu, I inquired about the Vegetarian Sheppard’s Pie. Since it is a newer menu item, I had not read any reviews of it before. Our waiter told me that it is their standard vegetarian burger patty, mashed potatoes, and cheese on top. I thought it sounded a little bit too simple, but I was willing to give it a shot. I encouraged my husband to try the Vegetable Burger since I liked it so much on my last visit.

The Spinach and Artichoke Dip had a pretty decent flavor of mixed cheeses. My husband and I devoured it. We did agree that the size was rather small for the price that we paid. Now, I hate to say it, but I was right about my entree choice. The Vegetarian Sheppard’s Pie was probably the laziest meal I have ever had on Disney property: mashed up veggie burger placed into a dish with instant mashed potatoes and two American cheese singles melted on top. I really wish I could say that the flavor made up for the lack of effort in preparation, but I cannot. I swear that there was something really off, flavor-wise, about this dish. My husband did not seem to have a problem with it. However, he is known for throwing almost anything in our fridge into a tortilla and calling it gourmet, so maybe he is not the best judge of my dish.

My husband really enjoyed his Vegetable Burger. It is larger than other standard veggie burgers that you find on Disney property, and is also served with a good amount of veggies on top of the burger itself. What made the burger stand out was the balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top. Yum! The burger was served with really delicious sweet potato fries. It was clear that my husband won the battle of the entrees, especially given that his Vegetable Burger was slightly less expensive than my strange pile of mush.

We decided to skip dessert on this trip, despite the fact that the tasty milkshakes were calling to us. One thing I will say about Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant is that the menu gets changed up more often than at other Disney restaurants. I am not sure if that is due to constant misses with the entrees or just because Disney keeps looking for cheaper options on their end.

Overall, this visit to the drive-in for lunch was much like my previous experiences, sort of a hit and miss all around. If you decide to dine there for yourself, I suggest sticking with basic menu options and asking questions about preparation to determine if an item will be worth the cost.

Have you visited Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant lately? Please share your experience with us in the comment section below! 

Dining Review: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

This year, Disney World celebrated the 20th anniversary of the always exciting (and exhausting) Marathon Weekend. Many events were held over the course of four days that drew in people from all over the world. It was a great weekend for the motivated runners and supporters.

Back in August, I made the decision to not only attend Marathon Weekend for the first time, but actually participate in a race. For months, I had been seeing my friends train for and successfully complete races that they never thought that they would be doing. I wanted that accomplishment for myself! My husband, Matt, and I decided to train to run 3.1 miles in the Family Fun Run 5K event. We started the training with an 8 week Couch to 5K program. Never running more than a mile in my life (and never willingly), I was absolutely petrified at what I was going to be doing.

Before I knew it, my husband I arrived in Disney World just days before our big run. We chose to stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, which was also a big hit with other runners. Immediately, we were surround by “real runners” which only made me feel like more of an amateur. Here I was, nervous to run 3 miles, and others were preparing themselves for a race far more challenging. What was I so afraid of?

A big part of Marathon Weekend was Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo, held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Expo was where runners picked up their race packets, as well as any merchandise or gear. In order to get to the Expo from Magic Kingdom, my husband and I had to hop a bus to the Contemporary, and then get on a different bus to get to the Wide World of Sports Complex. Once at the Expo, we discovered a lot of people, all wanting to do the same thing as us. While there was seemingly a lot of chaos, the volunteers placed throughout the field house helped us find our way. Luckily, going at mid-day seemed to work well in terms of packet pick-up lines. We did not have to wait at all, and within minutes of arriving in the packet pick-up area, we were free to go. However, we could not leave without seeing running guru Jeff Galloway speak. It was really exciting for us to see an Olympian talk about his passion for running.

The night before our race, I was a nervous wreck. I kept reminding myself that it was just a “fun run” and I should not be taking it so seriously. It was overwhelming for me, a girl who has always despised running, to know that I was going to accomplish a race with other runners, and in the end someone was going to give me a medal. Despite a relatively sleepless night, my alarm went off at 3:30 a.m., and I felt ready to get on with it.

By 5:00 a.m., my husband and I were on a bus, headed to the starting line. Through all of my anxiety, I could not help but be really excited to run through my favorite theme park in the entire world… Epcot. With loads of Porta Potties lined up and big white bag check tents in our sights, we knew we were in the right place. We quickly got through bag check and made our way to the corrals. I felt like all of the runners were cattle. The fast cows went to corral A, and the rest of us fell behind in corrals B, C, and D. Disney provided everyone with some pre-race entertainment, lots of group dances, and appearances by Mickey and Minnie.

In about an hour, all the cows filed into their proper corrals, and the real fun started to begin. The first runners in the Family Fun Run, the wheelchair division, got a glorious firework filled send-off. Corral A started a few minutes after to the same exciting start. Then it was our turn, corral B. It was getting real now, and I was just ready for it to be over with. Fireworks filled the air in front of us, and we were on our way!

Our goal was to just keep running and not get trampled in the sea of people. A lot of people in our corral seemed to be going the same general speed, save for the usual speed demons, which made it easier for us to run together and push on. About a half mile in we encountered our first characters… Chip and Dale! I was bound and determined to get my photos with characters on this journey, so we waited in about a five minute line and posed quickly with our furry friends. This line really seemed to move quickly despite how long it was. At this point, I realized that the fastest runners were probably finishing the entire race already. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t running for them; I was running myself. Once I let that go, I started to actually have fun.

After entering Epcot, we encountered lots of characters in fun outfits, all themed to the countries where you could greet them. Daisy looked adorable in Norway, so we had to get a photo with her. Once we made our way to America, we saw Goofy in cute colonial garb. Matt and I entered this line only to realize it was not moving at all. I figured we should probably keep running and leave Goofy in our dust. Of course, I had to stop and take a quick photo in Morocco, one of my favorite pavilions. The sun was shining by the time we came upon Pluto, sporting a beret in France. The absolute cuteness of his outfit required us to stop for another photo opportunity, no matter how long the line was. A long stretch of the course was around mile 2. I started to get tired and just wanted to finish this thing. Coming up on Canada was so exciting once I saw Donald Duck! We entered his very long line, only for his greeter to tell us he had to step away for a few minutes. Once again, we did not want to wait and just moved on.

Trust me folks, at this point, I was zonked. I knew the end was so close, and there was no stopping me now. I found myself passing people left and right. With only a few short walk breaks in Future World, my husband and I made our way to the front gates of Epcot when we started to hear some blaring music in the distance. A cast member cheering us on said loudly, “That music that you hear is the finish line!” I gasped out loud and thought to myself, “You have got this!” Upon turning a corner, we could see the finish line in the distance. Matt took my picture by the 3 mile sign, and then it was time for the big finish. We held hands and slowly jogged over the finish line, enjoying every bit of the accomplishment we felt. I was absolutely giddy and so proud of everyone around us finishing. After about 30 seconds, I let out a huge sigh, and then started crying tears of joy. We kept walking on down the pathway and proudly received our super cool rubber medals. Realizing it was the first time I had ever gotten a medal put around my neck, Matt snapped a picture to capture my happiness.

After runners were finished, Disney volunteers handed out water, sports drinks, and snack boxes. We also had the opportunity to get our photo taken in front of a finisher sign with our medals. I swear, I could not stop smiling. I wanted to go up and hug everyone and congratulate them. I finally understood why so many people sign up to run at Disney races! All of the hard work pays off the second that you complete that race. No one cares how fast you ran or if you have the hottest running shoes. The only thing the people around you care about is if you had an absolute blast.

The next day I saw so many different people of all shapes and sizes wearing the Half Marathon medal around proudly. It was truly inspiring to see so many people doing something that benefited their health and self-confidence. The vibe was so positive and uplifting! Then on Sunday, I was able to root for my friends who ran the full Disney Marathon via Twitter. I cannot tell you how proud I am of everyone for accomplishing something that so many people will never even think of doing. When you combine the joyful feeling of the Disney parks and the endorphins created by accomplished runners and their proud families, you get a vibe that cannot be shaken.

Before the 5K, I had told myself that I would never run another race again. I believed that the training runs in 20 degree weather were not worth it. I believed that the stress I put on myself was not worth it. However, after seeing so many other people kick so much tail during Marathon Weekend, I started to get a crazy idea in my head. I just might want to run again. Not only do I want to run again, but I want to train for my first Half Marathon. I am sure I will regret my decision many times during my upcoming training, and I am sure I will want to give up. Still, I just cannot seem to shake that desire to feel accomplishment on an even bigger scale.

If you have ever considered signing up for a Disney race, I whole-heartedly encourage you to do it. While running is not exactly fun for most people (like me), getting to complete a run with other Disney fans just like you seems to make it all worth it.

Did you participate in Marathon Weekend? Are you interested in maybe running a race at Disney World someday and have questions? Drop me a line in the comment section so we can talk about it!

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It is a brand new year. Many folks all over the world are counting down the days until their 2013 vacation to Disney World. Some are even visiting for the very first time! Whether you’re a novice, or a veteran, the planning experience can be incredibly stressful at times. The number one thing that people tend to have anxiety about is what it is going to cost their family to make the pilgrimage to the Disney parks.

Last week, Erin Foster wrote an awesome article for the blog about how to determine if certain vacation options are worth the added cost or not. She touched on the fact that we all have different needs and different wants. It is important to consider that with a little pre-planning and compromise, everyone can save money at Disney World in some way. Why keep the blinders on and spend more money than necessary?

Most pieces of advice that I want to offer up to you all are as old as time, while some are suggestions you might not have ever considered before. I am the queen of penny pinching, so I feel that it is my duty to pass on my little words of wisdom. Hopefully, first time planners will be able to use at least one thing I mention.

1. Say ‘No’ To Disney Vacation Packages
Vacation packages are Disney’s way of offering you convenience while hiding the discounts that are available. Unless there is some sort of major discount offered to the general public for a package, do not even consider it. For most times of the year, Disney provides discounts on “room-only” reservations for their hotels on property. By purchasing your park tickets and lodging separate, you are able to take advantage of discounts as they emerge. Even if, at the time of your booking, no discount is available for the resort of your choice, you can always add it later, should one be offered.

2. Buy Discounted Park Tickets
Believe it or not, this exists, and is legit. While there are many sketchy faux ticket brokers online and near Disney property, there are a handful that are totally and completely trustworthy. I absolutely love Undercover Tourist and have used them before myself. Buying from places like that can really save large families a ton of dough. Combine that deal with the discounted room I suggested above, and you are good to go with extra money in your pocket.

3. Consider an Annual Pass
Planning to visit the Disney parks more than once in 2013? Do you often space your Disney trips out almost exactly one year apart? Think about crunching numbers to see if an Annual Pass can save you money on park tickets. I wish I would have done this back when I only visited the parks once a year. Say your family likes to visit in the fall during Food and Wine Festival. If you all purchase an Annual Pass for your trip in November of 2013, you can use them again for another week long trip in October of 2014, before the passes expire.  This also gives you a reason to sneak in an extra “couples only” or “solo” trip somewhere in between.

4. Consider One Park Per Day
Eliminating park hopping is one of the easiest ways to save a huge chunk of change, especially if you have a family. I crunched some numbers to give you an example. A family of four, 2 adults and 2 children, will save $242.84 by not adding the Park Hopper Option to their base tickets in 2013. A while ago, I wrote a comparison article on park hopping that might be worth checking out. Think about all the things your family could do with an extra $242.84 to spend. You could take a behind the scenes Disney Parks tour, enjoy a nice dinner, or maybe spend the day enjoying water sport activities and miniature golf.

5. Vacation Homes
I know many folks that dream of inviting their extended family to Disney World with them. However, staying on Disney property with over ten people can be tricky to plan, as well as being very expensive. Luckily, there are really nice vacation homes that are very close to the Disney parks and can sleep a large number of people. Even with renting a few mini vans, you can save money.

6. Avoid the Disney Dining Plan
I hate saying this. I really do. I used to be an advocate of the plan. However, the prices have increased so much that unless your needs and wants fall under a certain umbrella, it is a waste of money. Take a look at an article I wrote last year where I outline the major disadvantages of the Disney Dining Plan. In lieu of the pre-paid plan, I suggest you budget your meals ahead of time and load up a Disney Gift Card.

7. Airline Sales
Periodically throughout the year, airlines offer up big deals on flights. A lot of the time, the deals take place right after a major holiday. Constantly looking at flights from multiple airlines out of multiple airports can help you find the best price. Southwest Airlines had a 40% off sale for only 24 hours last fall. I was able to save a couple of hundred bucks on flights for my husband and I by taking advantage of this. Checking websites frequently is time consuming, but once you nab a deal, you will see that it is all worth it.

8. Order A La Carte
Food is the one thing that most people cannot save money on upfront. I sort of love the challenge of finding ways to “cheat the system” in terms of dining. It was not until the last year that I learned that you are not locked into combo meals at Quick-Service restaurants. For some reason, it never clicked with me before. How many times do you not finish the mountain of fries with your burger? A lot, right? The savvy way to get around the combo meal is to only order what you really want. It sounds easy enough but so many people do not realize that this in an option. Over the course of a week, you might be surprised to find how much money you saved on meals.

9. Free Water
Back when I first started taking trips to Disney World, I had no idea that I did not have to keep refilling water bottles at drinking fountains every time I got thirsty. Any Quick-Service restaurant will give you a large cup of water free of charge if you ask for one. If you are one of the many folks that love carrying water bottles, but hate Disney drinking fountain water, you can always get a cup of free water and refill it in a restroom.

10. Restaurant Coupons
If you are renting a car, consider driving off property for a couple of dinners. The steepest discounts are often found at restaurant coupon sites like Restaurant.com. Grab these discounts when they run sales and you could feed your whole family for far less than if you ate on property. Just make sure that you look up these restaurants ahead of time to ensure that they have good reviews. No discount is worth inedible swill.

11. Self-Made Autograph Books
On my very first trip to Disney World, my sister-in-law surprised me on the plane ride with a blank hardcover book and a load of Disney stickers. I spent the rest of the ride decorating what would become my character autograph book. To this day, I still have that book and look at it every once in a while with a big smile on my face. I have always thought that when I have kids, I will do the same thing for them because it brings back such great memories for me. On top of the happy-memory benefit, it is a little bit of a money saver as well, especially if you have a lot of kids. Those cookie cutter autograph books that are sold in the parks are pushing $10 just for the basic ones. Head to your local dollar store instead, and grab some small plain books that will work all the same. Stickers and other fun decals are not costly at all and give kids something fun to do when they get antsy in the car or on a plane.

12. Pre-Purchased Kid’s Souvenirs
You know the ridiculous sticker shock that you get when you see that it can cost $20 for a Mickey Mouse shirt that your kid just HAS to have? Yeah, you can avoid that buying Disney clothes ahead of time before your trip. Try hitting up sales in stores or online at The Disney Store or Target. Let your kids pick out their own outfits for your upcoming trip. By the time your trip rolls around, the kids will probably forget about what you bought and will get really excited about their new clothes.

13. Save Time, Save Money
Time is money, people! The longer you wait in line for anything, the more money you are wasting. That being said, I seriously suggest using the tested Touring Plans right here on this website. Long before I ever started writing about Disney, I used them when touring the parks to save time. I figure if I spend nearly $100 for a single day in the parks, I need to be getting my monies worth. It makes sense why some people get frustrated after their first trip and moan, “The lines were so long all of the time that we only rode three things and then left.” With that experience, you will truly feel like you got jipped out of your hard earned money.

That is my list, folks! I really want to hear some of your ideas. Drop me a line in the comment section!

13 Ways To Save Money At Disney World In 2013 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Earlier this year in January, I took my very first solo trip to Walt Disney World. I learned two valuable lessons on that trip. Number one is that solo trips rock. Number two is that traveling to Florida in January is absolutely fantastic. Up until then I had only traveled to Disney World in the spring, fall, and early summer. There are so many benefits to making a vacation work in the month of January.

The most obvious reason for traveling to the parks in January is that the weather tends to be much more comfortable. With an average high in the low to mid 70′s, you will not have to worry about sweating your tush off when you are just sitting still. It can actually get quite cool in the morning and evening. It is important to remember to pack a sweatshirt or jacket, and maybe even a hat and gloves. During my January trip, I found myself wearing jeans most of the time and only needed a sweatshirt for when I was watching nighttime fireworks. The best tip I can give you when packing is to be prepared.

With school back in session after the holidays, January tends to be really forgiving when it comes to crowds. The only major exceptions to this are the first week of the month when the holiday travelers are still lingering, and during Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend. When the parks tend to be less busy, Disney offers some great discounts and promotions to get people to visit and stay on property. Aside from the couple of holidays and Marathon Weekend, the entire month is considered a value season.

Less travelers means a better chance of nabbing those coveted Advanced Dining Reservations. If you think that you do not need a reservation during low crowd time periods, think again. Disney’s most popular restaurants are still a challenge to get an Advanced Dining Reservation for. However, do not lose faith if you do not succeed. Make sure to try getting a walk-up reservation as soon as your choice restaurant opens. With less people to compete against, that means that it will also be easier to pop into restaurants and bars that do not allow reservations. So, if you pined over a tasty margarita from La Cava del Tequila during the Food and Wine Festival, but didn’t want to wait in line to get in, January is perfect.

Keep in mind that it is always smart to utilize Disney’s FASTPASS and TouringPlans.com’s step-by-step touring plans, even when it is less busy in the parks. There is no use wasting your precious vacation time standing in unnecessary lines. Hopefully, you might feel less pressured to get your every move exactly right when using a touring plan, given that overall length of the lines should be much shorter than usual. January is a great time of year to ride your favorite attractions over and over without having to wait an extreme amount of time.

The only major holiday you will encounter is New Year’s Day. Crowds are absolutely nuts around that time, but there is a huge plus to braving the large masses. Holiday decorations usually remain up through the first week of January. Try arriving at the tail end of the holiday season. As the week goes on, the crowd level should decline. The other super exciting Disney event going on in January is the ever-popular, Marathon Weekend. Runners young and old from around the world take part in a variety of events. Even I will be running in my very first race ever next month!

It is worth mentioning that there is a slight downside to visiting Disney World at a less busy time of year. The park hours are shortened and nighttime shows are often limited. Disney also tends to refurbish attractions during January and February. So, if missing a key attraction will break your trip, think about waiting until a refurbishment is complete.

How many of you have ventured to Disney World in the month of January? What was your experience like? Drop us a line in the comment section!

Why to Visit Disney World in January is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

In my third and final in-depth evaluation of the 2013 Disney Dining Plan at Walt Disney World, I am going to analyze the least expensive plan option, the Quick-Service Dining Plan. In 2013, this plan costs $37.58 for an adult and $14.32 for a child, per night. Every guest staying in the same room (on Walt Disney World property, of course) must be on the plan, with the exception of children under 3 years old. Children under 3 are free to share from another family member’s plate at no additional charge or a separate meal can be purchased. Per night, each guest using the Quick-Service Dining Plan will receive two Quick-Service meals and a snack. Each guest will also receive a refillable mug that can be used only at the resort he or she is staying at for the length of the stay.

The Quick-Service Dining Plan is often seen as the time and money-saving plan. This plan does not include a sit-down meal; however, that does not mean a family cannot pay for one out of pocket. If you think your family is more of a “one sit-down meal a day family,” you might want to think about the standard Disney Dining Plan. If you are thinking about pricing out the Quick-Service Dining Plan for your family to see if it is a good fit, consider your family’s eating habits. How many full meals do you like to eat a day? Do you often order dessert and a soft drink with each meal? Does your family ever share meals?

Let us take a look at how a family of four (two adults and two children) does on the Quick-Service Dining Plan at the Magic Kingdom. This family is my favorite kind of family. They are very money-savvy and like to get the biggest bang for their buck. To do this, they are going to eat breakfast in their room before heading out to the Magic Kingdom for the day. My prototype family is also going to try to order more expensive options off of the Walt Disney World restaurant menus as they dine throughout the day.

Lunch at Pinocchio Village Haus

Adult 1: Barbecue Chicken Flatbread – $9.69, Chocolate Cake – $3.59, Water – $2.50 = $15.87
Adult 2: Caprese Flatbread – $9.69, Chocolate Cake – $3.59, Water – $2.50 = $15.87
Child 1: Macaroni and Cheese Kid’s Meal = $5.49
Child 2: Cheese Pizza Kid’s Meal = $5.49
Total + tax = $45.49

Dinner at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

Adult 1: BBQ Rib Meal – $10.69, Carrot Cake – $3.59, Water – $2.50 = $16.78
Adult 2: 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken – $9.69, Gelato – $3.29, Water – $2.50 = $15.58
Child 1: Chicken Nuggets Kid’s Meal – $5.49
Child 2: Turkey Sandwich – $5.49
Total + tax = $46.15

Snacks at Aloha Isle

4 Dole Whip Floats at $4.49 each = $19.12 (including tax)

• Disney Dining Plan paid for $110.76 worth of food
• Family paid $103.80 for the Quick-Service Dining Plan
• Family saved $6.96
  

In this situation, the family could not have done things much better while using the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan. Yet, they only came out $6.96 ahead. Had this family ordered a few less expensive options or passed on dessert, they would have lost money. You will notice that I did not include the cost of the refillable mug in my figures. Reason being, the refillable mug is only worthwhile if you use it, and not just use it, but use it every day. The longer your vacation, the more potential value you can get out of the refillable mug. However, if you are staying four nights at Walt Disney World and only one member of your party uses the refillable mug every day, the savings are nonexistent.

One thing to keep in mind when looking at potential savings for the prototype family is how they would eat if they were not on the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan. The cost of the 4 desserts ordered at lunch and dinner totals $14.06. If this family ordered the same things as I listed above, sans dessert, it would be cheaper to pay out of pocket than to use the Quick-Service Dining Plan. If the family’s children happen to be finicky eaters and prefer to eat off of their parents plates, you could save the cost of 4 kids’ meals. All of these alternatives result in a higher savings than choosing the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan.

The bottom line is that your family could very easily lose money using the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan, so you want to really think about it before adding it your vacation package. Many times, people only use the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan when traveling during a time of year when the popular “Free Dining” promotion is taking place. The way I look at this is that if you are going to book a full-price Magic Your Way vacation package anyway, you might as well add the “free” Quick Service Plan and get some food out of it. However, sometimes a room-only discount at Walt Disney World can save your family more money. The only way to know for sure is to crunch the numbers for your family, and purchase the Walt Disney World vacation package that works best for you.

To see an analysis of the Basic Disney Dining Plan, click here. If you are interested in crunching numbers for the Deluxe Dining Plan, click here.

I’m curious to find out how many of you have used the Quick-Service Dining Plan at Walt Disney World and how it worked for your family. Will you consider using the Quick-Service Dining Plan in the future if the price of the plan increases? Let us know in the comment section!

Analyzing Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan for 2013 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

I remember the very first time my husband and I went to Walt Disney World together. We were just engaged and it was his first trip ever to a Disney park. I was insanely nervous that he was not going to “get it.” His first attraction was Spaceship Earth, and five minutes in he turned to me and said, “this is so cool!” From then on I never doubted his love for Disney World. We even honeymooned there! It is, without a doubt, my favorite place to spend time together. Sadly, my husband and I have not been to Disney World, just the two of us (cue Will Smith song) since our first anniversary trip in 2008. In a few months we are going to finally be getting away together for five days of romance and Disney magic.

My upcoming trip inspired me to write about things that I find romantic about Disney World. Keep in mind that my advice is pretty budget friendly. You do not need to spend a ton of money to have a fantastic time with your significant other. All you really need is a little creativity and time set aside in your vacation for  some romance.

Photo Opportunities Around the World Showcase – I love this idea the most simply because it is 100% free. Anyone will tell you that Epcot’s World Showcase is one of the most romantic places in all of Disney World. A great way to commemorate your “travels” is to ask a cast member or fellow guest to take a photo of you and your sweetie in each country. Order prints of the photos when you get home and put them in a frame or photo album. Surely you can trick someone into thinking you were actually in Paris!

Private Tequila Tasting – This one takes a little pre-planning but is absolutely worth it. My favorite bar in Disney World, La Cava del Tequila, offers a one-of-a-kind experience. If you contact them via their Twitter or Facebook page, they can set up a private tequila tasting for you, your loved one, and their Tequila Ambassador. Learn about how tequila is made and the importance of it in Mexican culture. If your only experience with tequila has been body shots at the local bar, you owe it to yourself to enjoy the educational and, yes, sensual experience of a private tequila tasting at the beautiful La Cava del Tequila. To find out what these tastings are like, read my review of the wonderful tasting I enjoyed back in January. Also, if you are looking for a romantic proposal idea, the folks at La Cava del Tequila can help you out. Think of a rose petal covered table at the twilit San Angel Inn with a talented mariachi band playing just for you, or maybe a lovely surprise engagement at La Hacienda de San Angel while enjoying Illuminations just outside of your window.

The Disney World Version of “Dinner and a Movie” – How about dinner at my personal favorite Disney restaurant, Jiko? It is quiet and intimate with a superb wine list. After that, a stroll outside of Animal Kingdom Lodge to look at the animals roam. Nothing says romance like nighttime binoculars! If exotic animals do not trip your trigger, try out dinner at one of Grand Floridian Resort‘s fancy restaurants followed by a walk on the beach to the Polynesian Resort. Lay in a hammock and enjoy watching Wishes from across the Seven Seas Lagoon. If a full dinner at a nice restaurant isn’t in the cards for your pocketbook, just get appetizers and dessert! No one will judge you. I promise!

Magic Kingdom Resort Hopping – The resorts surrounding the Seven Seas Lagoon have some wonderful bars that everyone should experience for themselves. Start out at one and make your way around. No need to worry about drinking and driving because you can just use the monorail as your mode of transportation. Many of the bars have unique drinks made only at that location, so be sure to give those drinks a try. If you time it right, you’ll be able to watch Wishes as you sip.

runDisney… Together – My husband and I started training for our very first race together during Disney World’s Marathon Weekend. During our training, we have really worked on words of love and encouragement. We are looking forward to running through Epcot and then crossing the finish line together. Disney races are meant to be a fun experience and not all about winning. Almost anyone can train to run a 5K race. The only thing better than accomplishing something for yourself, is doing it with someone that you love.

My list just scrapes the surface of romantic Disney ideas. I would love to hear the things that you have come up with! Drop us a line in the comment section!

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