The Pirates League.

Y'all.

Out of all of the "extra" experiences we've done over the years, The Pirates League just might be my very favorite.

I didn't know much about what to expect when I made the reservation for my four-year-old son, Buddy, but I assumed that the experience would be right up my pirate-lover's alley.  I couldn't have been more right!

The Pirates League is located inside the Magic Kingdom, very near Pirates of the Caribbean over in Adventureland.  I was pleasantly surprised that all six of us were allowed in to witness Buddy's transformation!  Unlike Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, there is no limit to the number of guests allowed in with the pirate-to-be.

From the minute we walked in, we found the whole experience to be warm & welcoming, in a pirate sort of way. :)  We felt right at home with the easy conversation, gentle teasing, and jovial atmosphere that permeated the place.  Buddy spun a ship's wheel to determine his new "pirate" name (Frances Sailmonger) and was then escorted to his seat.

We LOVED Buddy's "Pirate Master!"  She was excellent at engaging our entire family in the experience, but went out of her way to make sure Buddy felt extra special.  Her quick wit had all of us laughing constantly, and the way in which she interacted with the other Pirate Masters and their Pirates-in-Training added such a fun group element.  It was as if everyone in the entire room was part of a big, fun family dinner.

There were a variety of pirate faces from which to choose, and Buddy quickly decided on the "Blackbeard" style.  Regardless of the make-up chosen, all pirate packages included a sword & sheath, a pirate bandana, an earring, an eye patch, a Pirates League pouch, a pirate coin necklace, a pirate's key, and a large, printed copy of the Pirate's Oath, personalized with each child's newly given pirate name (totally frame-worthy).

The transformation was amazing!  It was as if my Buddy was given a totally different persona.  He loved it!

With his transformation complete, Buddy was asked to recite the Pirate's Oath and was then greeted with a loud "Yo Ho!" from the room as he was officially given the title of "pirate."  (Actually, his Pirate Master stressed the fact the he was merely a "First Mate," which meant my husband & I outranked him--and thus Buddy would need to follow our orders throughout the day.)

Our experience ended with a trip through a "secret" door, which led to Captain Jack Sparrow's treasure room!

Once inside the treasure room, Buddy was able to "search" for his treasure (the pirate coin necklace) and sit in Jack Sparrow's chair for a few pictures.

It was such a great morning for our entire family!  We truly felt as if we'd been welcomed into a Pirates League, and Buddy was SO EXCITED to have a sword, sheath, and pirate key (and an earring!).  

Pirates League packages average about $50 (the most expensive is $100), and include Mermaid options as well!  In fact, after witnessing the mermaid transformations firsthand, both of our girls (ages 5 & 9) declared their desire to participate next year.  While the minimum participation age is three, there is no maximum age, and we saw quite a few adults working with Pirate Masters while we were there!

Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made 180 days in advance.  As always, I'd love to help your family book & plan a custom Disney trip!  Please don't hesitate to let me know how I can help! :)

Tusker House.

As far as "table service" (or sit down) restaurants go, the options can sometimes seem limited when visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom.  Unlike Magic Kingdom & Epcot, Animal Kingdom's physical location does not provide easy access to a variety of resort dining, and there are not as many choices inside the park as some other places.  

While there are two phenomenal table service experiences within the gates (Yak & Yeti and Tiffins), the menus don't always appeal to our kiddos, leaving us with two Animal Kingdom "go to" restaurants: Rainforest Cafe and Tusker House.  We love them both!  Today we'll take a closer look at Tusker House.

Tusker House is the only restaurant inside Animal Kingdom that provides a character experience. Goofy, Daisy, Donald, and Mickey are decked out in their best safari gear and visit each table to give hugs, take pictures, and sign autographs.

Tusker House serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (buffet-style), and much of the food is prepared with an African twist (although corn dog nuggets and macaroni & cheese can be found as well!). We've found that the restaurant's menu allows our family to be adventurous in our eating, knowing that there will definitely be something we'll enjoy even if we end up not liking the new food we've tried (although we typically find most of it to be delicious!).  Sweet plantains, spit-roasted bone-in ham, curry chicken, mojo pork with spicy mustard, and beef bobotie have become some of our favorites!

The restaurant is located toward the very back of the property, near the entrance to The Festival of the Lion King and Kilimanjaro Safari.  Early breakfast reservations (at least an hour before the park opens) can allow your family to enjoy the meal, meet the characters, and be among some of the first in line to ride the Safari, but you'll need to be sure to arrive at the park early enough to make it through security and complete the trek back to the restaurant in time for your reservation!  (Valid theme park admission is required to dine at Tusker House.)

We LOVE the breakfast buffet, but prefer to eat as late as possible (typically around 10:30-10:45ish), so we often time our meal with the start of The Festival of the Lion King, which allows us to finish eating and immediately head over to see one of the best live shows in all of Disney World.

The breakfast buffet costs around $30/adult ($18/child), while lunch is about $38/adult ($23/child) and dinner averages $42/adult ($25/child).  You can also pay for the meal with one (1) table service credit per person on the Disney dining plan.

If you're looking for a fun character dining experience that offers a little more variety than your standard buffet, Tusker House would be a great spot to try!  I'd love to help your family book & plan a Disney trip-- tailored specifically to your desires and budget--with as little stress as possible.  Please don't hesitate to let me know how I can help!