All Things Disney

We all have a Disney friend, or should a say a Disney fiend!

Anyone who knows Kerry Tuttle knows she is obsessed with all things Disney! I don’t know that I have ever seen Kerry when she wasn’t sporting some sort of Disney clothing, handbag, or accessory.

So I was super excited to sit down with Kerry, and pick her brain about Disney. I hope you enjoy my interview with Kerry, and I know you will glean some great tips and ideas for your next trip to the most magical place on earth!

**I’ve sprinkled in some items on Amazon that you may want to order for the Disney fanatics in your life!**

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

Interview with Kerry Tuttle, The Queen of Disney

When and how did your love affair with all things Disney begin?

I never went to Disney World growing up. We decided when Lexi (Kerry’s daughter) was 2/12 to go to Disney, along with my twin sister, Kim, and her husband and 3-year-old daughter.

We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort and the kids loved it! There is something so magical about seeing a child light up. I fell in love with Disney right away.

We have not been to Disneyland in California, but Lexi may look at colleges in California so it might be in our future!

My family has now been to Disney World about 15 times. We go at least once a year. Sometimes we stay outside of the property and just go to the theme parks for a day and other years it’s all Disney, all the time!

Does your family share your love for all things Disney?

Absolutely! We all fell in love day one and have stayed in love with Disney.

Lexi never really wanted to go anywhere else on vacation. She loves tradition so there are some things we have to do every time we go to Disney.

Until 3 years ago we all had to have breakfast with the princesses.

When she started 8th grade we thought she had become too old, but she was upset that we weren’t planning to have breakfast with the princesses!

She also loves the Living with the Land ride at Epcot, which is all about agriculture.

Which theme park is your favorite?

Epcot is our favorite. We just love the World Showcase and going around to all the different countries.

Shopping, eating, and talking to the native people of those countries who work there. We always make time to talk to the staff.

The Magic Kingdom is a close second. It is the quintessential Disney experience.

The past several years we went in October. This was a really good time to go back when most schools didn’t have the balanced calendar (which includes a long fall break).

We also really like Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival held September through early November.

What are some of your favorite rides, shows, and Disney characters?

Our favorite show is Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. This is a camping site with cabins and hookups for RVs.

It is behind the Wilderness Lodge, and it’s a dinner show. It is the exact same show and script every year, based on an old west revue. It’s corny, and we have gone multiple times. It’s good family-friendly fun, and the food is delicious; fried chicken and cornbread.

We are not roller coaster people, so we don’t like the big rides at Hollywood Studios, but we do ride the mountain coasters at the Magic Kingdom.

Test Track is a favorite. This is one ride we will stand and wait for at Epcot.

We do like to use the Fast Pass system. It used to help a lot, but now they limit the number of rides you can ride with Fast Pass, so it’s not as helpful now. And you have to get them ahead of time online.

We like to take advantage of parade time to go on rides instead of watching the parade since the lines are shorter.

Winnie the Pooh is our favorite character. Pooh was Lexi’s first Disney interest.

Where do you stay when you travel to Disney?

We have stayed in many different places, including the Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronda Springs Resort. We have stayed at The Contemporary Resort, which is great, but noisy.

Wilderness Lodge is a favorite. We like that it is a bit more secluded, and you don’t have people coming from other resorts. The pools are fantastic, and you can take a boat straight to the Magic Kingdom.

We also have a timeshare at Orange Lake Resorts. When we stay there we don’t spend all of our time in the parks, so it’s more relaxing. We just hang out at the resort and the pool and play mini-golf.

When we stay at the Disney resorts we are on the go all the time and hitting all the parks. Normally we go to Florida for a week, usually spending 5 days at the theme parks. We usually visit one park a day, rather than park hopping.

When Lexi was younger we would stay for the fireworks, but now we usually like to beat the crowd out of the park. When we stayed at The Contemporary we had a balcony that looked out, and we could see Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. It was fantastic!

If we stay at a Disney resort we always take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. These are either before or after regular hours, offered only to people staying at Disney resorts, so there are fewer crowds.

Another way to beat the crowds is to buy tickets for the experiences that happen after the park closes. We do this for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. With our party tickets we get into the park at 4pm and it closes at 6pm for anyone who doesn’t have tickets.

This party usually has lots of little kids, so the bigger rides aren’t as busy. And everybody wears costumes!

Any special dining experiences or food you would recommend at Disney?

I recommend Breakfast with the Princesses in Epcot at the Norwegian restaurant. You can purchase these 180 days in advance. And I suggest you buy them way ahead of time.

Le Cellier Steakhouse at Epcot in Canada is another favorite.

We have used the Disney dining plan. If you are doing a lot of character meals, the dining plan saves money. You are on vacation, so it’s nice not to think about paying every time you eat, just enjoy!

My family has never gone to Disney at Christmas time. We would really like to go then, but it is difficult with the holidays and family events.

We were there during the anniversary of Disney, and staff would pull people out of the crowd and give them special experiences.  Lexi got to go in the confectionery and decorate cookies and rice krispie treats. They have amazing desserts!

I have several Disney cookbooks and recipes. The cold strawberry soup at The Floridian is really good. I ate it there at a character dinner with Cinderella and her sisters. I’ve made it myself at home, and it turned out great.

(Gift Suggestion…perfect for the Disney fan who likes to whip up some magic in the kitchen!)

Walk us through your planning process for a trip to Disney.

Airfare is where we start. We usually fly Southwest, so we look at their fare calendar and look at the timeframe to see which days are least expensive.

We drove twice this year, but it’s so long. My family prefers to fly.

Every 2-3 years we try to stay on a Disney property and the other years at our timeshare, based on availability.

I go online to book the resorts. We are Disney Visa cardholders, so we get discounts in the mail. We also buy theme park tickets online as well as fast passes and dining reservations.

I am the vacation planner for my family, and we usually go with my sister and her family, so she and I plan the trip together.

As a self-proclaimed Disney expert, what tips can you share with Disney novices for planning a magical vacation to the happiest place on earth?

Go in with a plan. Talk to people who know Disney. They can help you figure out what might be peak times for certain rides.

Make sure you look at the parade schedule. It can be a big disappointment if you can’t get to certain rides because of the parade.

When Lexi was little, we would get up and go to a park early in the morning, then head back to the hotel and nap. After getting some downtime, then we would go back when everyone had more energy.

Share a favorite Disney memory that stands out in your mind.

My sister and I went to Disney for our 40th birthday, with the whole family. We had dinner at the French restaurant at Epcot. Our husbands had them make special cakes for us.

 

We have never been to Disney without kids. We would like to go just as a couple sometime, but Lexi (who is now 17) gets upset at that idea!

My husband and I will probably sneak away to Disney once she goes to college!

What unique Disney souvenirs have you picked up?

My sister and I both got princess tiaras for our 40th birthday. We wore them all day! I still have it in my bedroom.

I like buying Dooney and Bourke handbags, and Disney t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters.

(Consider adding this to your own wish list on Amazon!)

Usually, I prefer clothes that are not overtly Disney. I actually don’t own any Mickey ears!

(Ok, someone really should buy Kerry some Mickey ears on her next birthday! If your family will be heading to Disney in the coming months, buy everyone Mickey ears now on Amazon and let the vacation anticipation begin!)

The second Christmas tree in our house is all the ornaments we have collected on trips to Disney. We get one dated ornament every year we go.

(Start your own collection of Disney ornaments today. Find all your favorite Disney characters perfect for trimming your tree on Amazon!)

Most people think I have plenty of Disney stuff! I like to bring back Disney stuff for others, and I usually get stuffed animals or toys for my nephews.

(Young or old, we could all use some snuggles with a cuddly Disney friend from time to time!)

Lexi still has the Cinderella Castle we got at the parks when she was 4 or 5.

(Do you have a little princess in your life that would love a Cinderella Castle this Christmas, but can’t get to Disney World this month? Look no further than Amazon!)

Do you look for Hidden Mickeys?

Disney has such a great overall branding structure, so even in places where you don’t expect to see a Mickey head you can find them all over the park. You can spot Hidden Mickeys in the way flowers are arranged, among carvings in wood, assembled in the rides, on the boat ride in Mexico…all over the place!

(This guidebook will help you discover the magic and fun of Hidden Mickeys, perfect for your next trip to Disney World!)

Would you recommend this destination to others?

Absolutely! I think families would enjoy Disney World the most. Especially with children who are elementary school age. We do want to try Disney as a couple sometime, and we know it will be a different experience.

Anything else you want to share with people who may be planning their first or next trip to a Disney theme park?

My advice is to just have fun. You hear about making sure everything is planned ahead of time, but you also need flexibility as well.

If you don’t know where to start, find a Disney travel agent, but I really enjoy the planning part. It can be overwhelming. Getting help is recommended.

Now everyone seeks me out for advice when they are heading to Disney World. Just have a plan, and bring your patience.

The service at Disney is excellent. They make sure you have a magical experience from beginning to end. They have always been quick to handle any problems we have had.

 

We also love Disney Springs. You feel like you are in Disney, but there are also restaurants and shops that aren’t Disney specific and musicians playing. It’s just a fabulous atmosphere.

Even when trying to stick to a budget, we would spend whatever to make sure we can go, but maybe go for a shorter amount of time. You could even stay at hotels with Groupons.

If staying off property, we just uber so we don’t have to mess with parking and pay $25 to park.

Disney has done a great job of making a vacation affordable, with their value resorts. And the amenities are great…pools, arcades, recreation. You get the Disney experience without being at the parks every day.

Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation?!

I hope you enjoyed Kerry’s tips and years of Disney wisdom! Comment below and share your favorite Disney World experience. Or ask any burning questions about planning a Disney World vacation, and I will consult with my Disney expert!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

 

Traveling Tanya is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to my email list (at the top of the screen) so you will never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips!

Pin It For Later!