DDC Goes to Disney

60 days prior to your arrival date you are able to make dining reservations. You can read more about that process, and at the 60-day mark, make reservations using this link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/#/reservations-accepted/

Please note, our schedule is dance heavy AND our parades are weather dependent. If an event is pushed back due to inclement weather, it might require you to modify your dining reservations. Please be flexible when making your dining plans and flexible throughout the trip.

My family has been to Disney World a few times and we’ve got a list of Table Service restaurants we love. There are a ton of options (Quick Service and Table Service), and you are welcome to eat anywhere, but these are a few we have enjoyed:

Animal Kingdom– Nomad Lounge, Tusker House, Rainforest Café is fun too. There are several food carts with fresh fruit and great Quick Service options in AK too.

Epcot- San Angel Inn, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Princesses), Garden Grill and we’d love to get to Space 220 and Le Cellier Steakhouse soon! There are a ton of food options as you walk around the World Showcase and Connections Eatery (QS) recently opened and looks great.

Magic Kingdom- Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen, The Plaza, Tony’s Town Square and for characters we have done Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table and The Crystal Palace. There are several good QS options too!

Hollywood Studios- The Brown Derby, Hollywood and Vine, Mama Melrose, Sci-Fi Dine-In and the new Round Up Rodeo is opening March 23, 2023 in Toy Story Land. ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, and Woody’s Lunchbox are good for QS, plus Galaxy’s Edge area has lot’s of cool dining options and experiences.

Resort Restaurants-

• Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Cape May Café at Beach Club
• Whispering Canyon Café at Wilderness Lodge
• Chef Mickey’s at The Contemporary
• Grand Floridian Café at Grand Floridian
• Kona Café at Polynesian
• O’hana at Polynesian
• Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary
• Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White at Wilderness Lodge
• Topolino’s Terrace at The Riviera
• Trattoria Al Forno on The Boardwalk

I hear great things about but have not been to California Grill at The Contemporary, Boma at Animal Kingdom, Beaches and Cream at Beach Club and Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach.

I would suggest watching this You Tube video about  Genie+:

If you booked and purchased the regular package for this event (without adding on days) you will receive a 4-Day Park Hopper Pass to use during our trip July 6th-10th. I would suggest using your 4-Day Park Hopper Passes on July 7th, July 8th, July 9th and July 10th.

July 6th is considered “Arrival Day” and while we may have a rehearsal that evening, a Park Hopper Pass will not be required to enter the rehearsal space.

July 10th is considered “Departure Day” but if our Magic Kingdom parade were to be reschedule due to inclement weather earlier in the week, we would need to use the morning of July 10th as a rain date for that parade and would need a Park Pass.

If you have more specific questions about your Park Hopper Pass or to add days to your package, please contact Dance The World directly at 1-800-222-4432.

It is up to each individual family to arrange their own transportation to Walt Disney World. You have the option of driving, going by train or by plain. Personally, our family typically flies American Airlines out of Philadelphia into the MCO Airport in Orlando.

If you are flying, it is best to get a MORNING flight on July 6th so that you are in Walt Disney World by 5pm. There is a strong possibility we will have a rehearsal that night.

If you are flying, it is best to get an EVENING flight home on July 10th. We may need to hold the Magic Kingdom Parade that day if we experience inclement weather earlier in the week, causing a rain delay.

If you are flying to MCO Airport, you will need to arrange your own transportation to Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World. There are a few options: rent a car, get an Uber or use Mears Connect transportation. Miss Dina uses Mears Connect when traveling to WDW. Use this link to get more information and schedule your shuttle service: https://www.mearsconnect.com/

Yes. Please know this is only a preliminary schedule and could be updated at anytime. When we have a final itinerary from DTW, I will be sure to share!

July 6th REHEARSAL – World Showplace – Epcot at 7:00pm

July 7th DISNEY SPRINGS PARADE (DDC dancers ages 7-9) 11:00am

STAGE SHOWS (All DDC dancers) – Individual Studio Time TBA World Showplace – Epcot 2-8pm

July 8th MAGIC KINGDOM PARADE- 2:30pm

July 9th GALA 5:30-8:30pm

July 10th Departure Day (if a parade is rescheduled earlier in the week, it would happen this day so please book the latest flight out if possible).

The Gala will be held Thursday, July 9th at the World ShowPlace in Epcot from 5:30-8:30pm, followed by Epcot Fireworks Spectacular.  The cost is $89 per person. You must contact Dance The World to add this to your package. This is a dinner buffet dance party with character appearnces and director award presentations. In previous years DTW said to dress up for this event but this year it says “Casual Attire…you’re in Disney!”

• Red costume for parades
• Red shoes for parades
• DTW tote bag
• Tan tights
• At least one backup pair of tan tights
• Any undergarments needed for the parade performance
• Makeup supplies (more info on this coming soon)
• Hair supplies (more info on this coming soon)
• Costume for Epcot Showcase (more info on this coming soon)
• Tan tights
• At least one backup pair of tan tights
• Tan jazz shoes (Younger dancers will definitely wear tan jazz shoes. Older dancers will most likely wear half soles…but I’m still working that out)
• Any undergarments needed for the Showcase performance.
• DDC Disney shirt if you decide to purchase one (optional)

Yes! Be on the lookout for DDC Disney T-shirts when we advertise for our recital T-shirts. We are excited to offer this this year. In 2021 I felt like we needed matching shirts 😊 It would be wonderful for our performers to be able to look out into the crowd and see our DDC families. This is not mandatory, but an option this year.

Please read the dates and times carefully. This schedule is subject to change at Miss Dina’s discretion.

• Saturday, January 28th 2-3pm
• Saturday, February 11th Ages 7-9 1:30-3:00pm and Ages 10+ 2:00-3:00pm
• Saturday, March 25th Ages 7-9 1:30-3:00pm and Ages 10+ 2:00-3:00pm
• Saturday, April 1st Ages 7-9 1:30-3:00pm and Ages 10+ 2:00-3:00pm
• Saturday, April 29th Ages 7-9 1:30-3:00pm and Ages 10+ 2:00-3:00pm
• Saturday, May 20th Ages 7-9 1:30-3:00pm and Ages 10+ 2:00-3:00pm
• Saturday, June 3rd Ages 7-9 1:30-3:00pm and Ages 10+ 2:00-3:00pm
• Saturday, June 17th ALL PERFORMERS 10:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesday, June 21st ALL PERFORMERS 4:30-6:00pm
• Saturday, June 24th ALL PERFORMERS 10:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesday, June 28th ALL PERFORMERS 4:30-6:00pm
• Saturday, July 1st Last Rehearsal at DDC! ALL PERFORMERS 10:00am-12:00pm

Please email Miss Dina at missdina@doylestowndance.com if your child needs to miss a rehearsal. Missing one or two rehearsals is fine. We can work with your dancer to get them caught up. The goal is not to miss 3+ rehearsals. This is a dance trip so we have lot’s to learn and rehearse and we need all 28 performers to be working hard!

Once the costumes and shoes arrive, we will have a fitting at the studio. If your dancer needs a different size costume, we will call the costume company and request they do a costume exchange. If your dancer needs a different shoe size, we will need to do this in Florida. There will be a designated time and place for any necessary shoe exchanges. You MUST pack and bring the costume and shoes you receive from Dance the World, even if a shoe exchange is needed.

Miss Dina’s family decided to add on a day at the beginning and at the end of our trip. We will also attend the Gala! Miss Dina and her family opted not to do the Universal passes, the water park passes, or the Master Class Workshops.