With news last week of the Live Action Lilo & Stitch finally starting the casting process, I got a little bit excited. Most of you know that I leave a part of my heart in Hawai’i every year, and this Disney classic brings me right back there in-between visits. With the remake moving forward, what better character to learn to draw this week than that mischievous pal himself, Stitch?
Make this a family weekend challenge and see who can draw the most accurate likeness; someone might have a hidden artistic talent that will surprise you. Bonus points for anyone who posts their efforts on our socials!
Need some Inspiration? Here is a picture of this happy little guy for you to keep in mind as you draw.
This guide goes over a variety of more budget-friendly accommodation options, both Disney and non-Disney, so you can see what option works best for you.
Value Resorts
Disney’s Value Resorts are the least expensive options for staying “on property” at Disney World. Many of them have more strong Disney-theming than other Disney resorts, so if you’re traveling with kids, these may be a great choice.
All-Star Sports
Disney World’s All-Star resorts are three Value Resorts with bright decorations and plenty of massive statues that fit the theme. The All-Star Sports Resort not only has areas dedicated to a variety of sports (with huge fields to boot), but it also has two pools, a food court perfect for picky eaters, and other fun amenities.
All-Star Sports Resort
Rooms here are around $200 per night, but we’ve seen them as low as $132. Each area has a different sports theme, like football, surfing, or basketball. The rooms are fairly basic, and if you want to see one up close check out this room tour! If you’re sporty or have kids who are, this could be a good option for your trip.
All-Star Movies
The All-Star Movies Resort is where you’ll find giant replicas of characters from a variety of Disney movies. One thing that guests love about this resort is its inclusion of classic Disney films, like Fantasia and 101 Dalmatians. It even has aFantasia-themed pool with Sorcerer Mickey!
All Star Movies
The average price here is around $200 as well, but you can save even more by booking in the off-season.Value Resort rooms are smaller than other resorts on Disney property, so keep that in mind when choosing where to stay (see what a room is like at All-Star Movies here!). However, if you are mostly using your room to crash after a long day in the parks that might not be a big issue!
All-Star Music
The final of the All-Star trio, All-Star Music is near Animal Kingdom and has areas themed to different music genres. From Broadway showtunes to jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, there’s a little something for everyone here. If you find yourself needing a day at your resort, All-Star Music has plenty to keep you and the kiddos busy, like their pools, arcade, and even movie nights under the stars.
All-Star Music
One thing you may want to check out here are their family suites. These suites sleep up to six, have two bathrooms, and also include a kitchenette perfect for crafting your own meals. We did a tour of one of these suites, so you can see what they look like here. The suites can cost as low as $300 a night, which is a pretty good deal considering how many people you can fit inside!
Pop Century
This Value Resort is themed after different eras of pop culture. If you’re traveling with people from a variety of generations, they will get a kick out of the fads from each decade featured at this resort. Disney’s Pop Century Resort has three pools, each themed after a different decade, and you can even enjoy Movies Under the Stars at the Hippy Dippy Pool (for the 1960s, of course!).
Pop Century
There are plenty of Disney touches too, with Disney movies from each decade included in the decor, so if you’re looking for a Disney resort to stay at this will fit the bill. Another great thing about Pop Century is its Skyliner station, giving you a fun option for getting to and from the parks. Again, the rooms themselves are pretty small, so if you’re used to a lot of space, prepare yourself. To see what their rooms look like, check out our room tour here!
Art of Animation
Do you love The Little Mermaid? Then the Art of Animation Resort is for you! This resort has plenty of character (literally). Tons of Disney movies are represented here, but the standard rooms are all Little Mermaid themed. You can also enjoy other characters at their Finding Nemo pool or Cars pool, or take a walk on their trails.
Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation
Art of Animation is a little bit more expensive than the other Value Resorts. This resort was refurbished in 2021, so many of the rooms and amenities have been updated. They also have family suites, and you can check out a tour we did of their Lion King suite here.
Bonus: Camping in Fort Wilderness Campgrounds
For those who are used to roughing it or may want a change of pace, you can skip the usual hotel option and instead opt to camp! At Disney’s Fort Wilderness, you can book a space and stay in your tent, RV, or trailer, whatever works for you. This is one of Disney World’s most economical options.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Fort Wilderness has plenty of places to eat, relax, and have fun, so you aren’t completely giving up the Disney amenities when you stay there. They even have WiFi! The cheapest option is a standard tent campsite, which starts at just a little over $100 per night. Even their priciest lot (which comes with extra amenities and a meadow view) can be rented for as little as $190 per night. To learn more about camping at Fort Wilderness, this post covers what you need to know.
Other Resorts
Moderate Resort: Coronado Springs
The next step up from Value Resorts at Disney World are Moderate Resorts. While they aren’t the cheapest option, there are some that cost less than others and may appeal to those who want something a little nicer. The Coronado Springs Resort and Grand Destino Tower are inspired by the Hotel Del Coronado in California and its Southwest American and Mexican atmosphere. This is a beautiful resort with gorgeous decorations, elegant dining, and amenities like a 24-hour fitness center.
Coronado Springs Dig Site Pool
Coronado Springs is also home to the Dig Site Pool which features a massive 50-foot replica of a Mayan pyramid! If you prefer more mature theming or are looking for a more upscale stay without blowing your budget, you can stay here for around $300 per night on average and take advantage of their many amenities. The Grand Destino Tower, which opened in 2019, has plenty of space, and you can see the room tour we did right after its opening here!
Deluxe Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge
Looking for a more unique stay? Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge isn’t your usual hotel — here you are essentially sharing your hotel with wild animals! Animal Kingdom Lodge is right next to the Savanna where giraffes and other creatures graze. Granted, this is a Deluxe Resort, so it isn’t cheapest on property. But if you are looking to spend more or splurge for a special occasion but don’t want to commit to the top of the price range, Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great choice.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
There’s also wonderful dining options here too; one of our favorite eats in Disney is the bread service at Sanaa. One unique feature at Animal Kingdom Lodge is their Starlight Safari, which takes you around the Savanna to get an up-close view of the animals. The average price per night here is around $480, putting it on the lower end of the Deluxe Resorts when it comes to price. We toured Animal Kingdom Lodge when it reopened in 2021, and you can see what we thought here!
Disney Vacation Club – Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Our pick for best value when it comes to Disney Vacation Club options is also at Animal Kingdom Lodge! These are villas and have plenty of room for a group of guests. You will get the same amenities as other Animal Kingdom Lodge guests, but you will stay in Kidani Village, the DVC villas at the resort.
The rooms continue the safari and jungle theme from the rest of the resort, and some even have views of the Savannah. The studios are the least expensive options, but they do have villas in several sizes, up to a 3-bedroom option. Like other DVC villas, these rooms have kitchenettes for cooking, which is another great way to save money.
Non-Disney Hotels
You don’t have to stay at a Disney-run hotel, and often just by making the switch to an off-property hotel you can save a lot on accommodations. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up ALL of the perks you are used to! There are several hotels that, while technically on Disney property, aren’t run by Disney, and they’re called “Good Neighbor” hotels. These hotels are run by other companies but with their close proximity to the parks, Disney includes some of them in perks like free park transportation and Early Theme Park Entry.
Shades of Green
Many of these resorts are in the Disney Springs area and have the added benefit of being walking distance to the shopping and dining district. Before booking, be sure to check the hotel’s website or call ahead to learn about what Disney perks they offer. One Good Neighbor hotel many guests love is the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. This hotel is managed by Marriott Bonvoy, which gives guests the benefit of using their Bonvoy Rewards and accruing points on their account with their stay.
Swan & Dolphin
Here you can pick from the Swan Resort, Dolphin Resort, or the Swan Reserve.The Dolphin Resort is the least expensive and averages around $500 per night, but can be as low as $200 in off-peak times. These are definitely more upscale hotels, but to get this level of accommodation at an official Disney resort you’d be paying MUCH more. There are of course other options, like the Holiday Inn at Disney Springs which averages around $150 per night. There’s also Shades of Green, a resort for military personnel (active duty, reserve, and retired). Besides these, you can also try out vacation home rental services like VRBO or AirBnb. These can be great for saving money, plus they’re better for larger groups or those who want to eat most of their meals outside of the parks.
Other Tips
No matter where you stay, hotel prices are going to be higher during busy seasons. Summertime is going to be busier than fall, and around the winter holidays you’ll see prices go up, too. You can cut down on costs by choosing to go on vacation during the off-season, like in February or in early October. Another way to save is by checking out special offers and discounts — sometimes Disney has promotions, and other hotel chains have rewards programs that allow you to accrue points to use on future trips. If you are a member of AAA, you can often get discounts at a variety of hotels, and many also have military discounts, as well!
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
There are plenty of ways to do a Disney trip, so don’t feel pressured to stay at the most expensive resort. You can often get an even better experience at cheaper options (and you’ll surely feel better knowing you stayed on budget!). For more information about Disney’s Value Resorts, you can read this post to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
If you’re like us, your calendar is probably FULL of important dates and times that you need to remember to be a productive member of society. But, have you marked your calendar for one of the most important upcoming dates — March 1st??
The Flower & Garden Festival Is Almost HERE!
That’s right, March 1st is a HUGELY IMPORTANT date for Disney fans. Whether you’re heading to Disney World or planning on getting cozy on the couch, there are two BIG reasons you might want to mark your calendar!
EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival is the highlight of the spring season for Disney World, and for good reason! The 2023 Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 1st through July 5th and we’re about to spill all the details we have so far about this festival!
We’re very excited about Disney’s “new” booth — Brunchcot! It’s a mash-up of different brunch-themed dishes from other booths at the festival. We also have the COMPLETE lineup and dining information for the 2023 Garden Rocks Concert series that returns for the 2023 Festival!
We are eagerly anticipating the return of the Mandalorian and Grogu and cannot wait to see where these next stories take the beloved characters of the show!
So get ready for March 1st, because it’s going to be a big day!
Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!
It’s been nearly three years since Disney World’s historic closure and reopening, but we’re finally starting to see the parks returning to more normal operations.
Princesses we’ve previously seen here include Cinderella (of course!), as well as Ariel, Jasmine, Snow White, and Aurora — they do tend to change from time to time, so you might even see a surprise princess you weren’t expecting to see!
Advance dining reservations for both character dining experiences are now available, but as these are two VERY popular spots, you’ll want to try to make those as early as you can. You can do that as early as 60 days before the first day of your Disney World trip. We’ll also be sure to let you know if the menus change at either of these spots (and we’ll let you know what the Chef Mickey’s buffet menu is once we’ve seen it), so stay tuned to DFB for more.
We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off!
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Signs and decorations near Refreshment Outpost, also known as the African Outpost in EPCOT, have been updated to be more culturally sensitive.
Source: Disney
Village Traders and Wachongaji Wood Carvings are next to Refreshment Outpost. This old photo by Disney gives a glimpse of their old decorations.
Signage at both stands was updated last fall to no longer look like caricatures of African architecture made out of painted planks of wood.
Village Traders is also now Amani Village Traders. The inside of the store hasn’t been open for a while, but there are merchandise carts outside currently selling cooling products and the new CreativeSoul Photography Disney Princess dolls.
We noticed some new decorations on the side of Amani Village Traders, next to the closed doorways.
This poster advertises Amani Village Market Tours “all day most days.”
Above the poster is a carved giraffe head below a shelf of cups and a plate.
On the other side of the doorways are two new sculptures of a rhino and a lion.
The poster beneath these sculptures reads, “See The Mara” and “Glorious river excursions by way of watercraft”.
It shows elephants visiting a waterway and a hot air balloon floating above. Maasai Mara (also known as The Mara) is a real wildlife reserve in Kenya and The Mara is a quick-service restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Above is a photo of the caricature carving that the sculptures and poster replaced.
Painted and carved wood walking sticks and staffs are also displayed on Amani Village Traders.
Next door, the Wachongaji Wood Carvings sign now looks like a carved piece of wood.
The small water tower above Refreshment Outpost was damaged during last fall’s hurricanes, but has been fixed.
My spidey sense is tingling, so it must be time for another Disneyland Merchandise Update! In this Update, we’ll go web-slinging with Miles Morales, swim under the sea with Ariel, and explore tons more new merchandise from the Disneyland Resort. Let’s dive right in! Part of Her Cozy World A new merchandise collection inspired by […]
Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” were among the top winners of the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, which held its live final ceremony in front of an audience for the first time in three years on February 25. Because the awards encompass so many categories, there were several smaller ceremonies held during… Read More »Marvel’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ and ‘Abbott Elementary’ Win Big at 2023 NAACP Image Awards
Wow! Check out this lineup. This is pretty amazing! Princess Nite Disney hosts Disneyland After Dark events throughout the year. On March 7 and 9, Disneyland is hosting Princess Nite. This is a special ticketed event to celebrate Disney’s leading women and their shared values of bravery, beauty, and grace. The event takes place from […]
Hello World Travelers! Join us around the neighborhoods of EPCOT discovering new topiaries, Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie ears, and more. Let’s get going!
Before we jump into our loop of EPCOT, we always take a moment to admire Spaceship Earth.
Today’s moment of Zen is brought to you by this pristinely organized wall of plush.
A new sensory friendly “Toy Story” youth shirt can be found in Creations Shop.
Disney Critters are now featured on a set of 4 metal plates. These plates would be great for camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds.
We spotted Remy giving us the “chef’s kiss” as we shopped at Creations Shop.
Chewbacca also reminded us to stay strong on our journey through the crowds of EPCOT.
EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival begins next Wednesday. Global Gardens have begun to spring up. We saw this one taking shape behind the popcorn stand in World Celebration.
It looks like it will hold bird houses.
Even more topiaries have taken their place around EPCOT. Mickey and Minnie are having a picnic and are joined by Chip ‘n’ Dale, and Pluto. Last year, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale were located in the America Pavilion.
Butterfly topiaries have been placed in the World Showcase Promenade.
The huge Goofy topiary is at the end of the World Showcase Promenade this year. Last year, he was placed at the entrance of the park.
Disney Traders has been taken over by all things Marvel. Today, we noticed that four new banners are hung around the center of the store.
The are a play on travel advertisements.
Have you ever noticed a small wooden statue of Kristoff on the side building of Frozen ever after?
Even Sven makes a debut.
Two new advertisement posters have been hung in the Amani Village, otherwise known as the African Outpost. We also noticed new signs for the Amani Village Traders and Wachongaji Wood Carvings.
Kermit and Ms. Piggy topiaries have moved from the Germany pavilion to in between the Morocco pavilion and the France pavilion.
We got a surprise visit from Merida! She was out for a stroll because her father invited all the suitable princes to meet her.
On our way out of EPCOT, we saw “The Lion King” topiaries. They are in the same spots as last year at EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival.
Thanks for joining us around EPCOT today, and we’ll see ya real soon!
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One of the entrance structures of Universal Studios Florida has been completely removed as the entire area is updated. New ticket scanners were installed at the park’s exit recently and these are now being used as a temporary entrance.
Here is a look from inside the park at one of the entrance structures surrounded by construction walls a few days ago.
And here is the current view from outside the park. The awning that covered the old ticket scanners is gone. The area remains surrounded by construction walls decorated with movie posters.
The walls extend all the way to the guest services building.
This area is beyond the iconic Universal Studios Florida entrance archway and ticket windows.
The other awning entrance structure remains and is open.
The two are separated by a gate, which is sometimes open as an entrance, too.
The entrance structures have brown shingle roofs and sandy-white columns.
Completely new entrance structures may be built.
Half of the exit is open and using the new ticket scanners to let guests inside.
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