Disney has updated the Disney Dining Plan for 2012! The great news is that they have added more restaurants giving you even more options.
Here are the additions to the 2012 Disney Dining Plan:
New Table Service Dining Locations Include:
Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney
House of Blue at Downtown Disney
Paradiso 37 at Downtown Disney
Portobello at Downtown Disney
Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
T-Rex at Downtown Disney
Fulton’s Crab House at Downtown Disney-requires 2 table service dining credits
Bistro de Paris at Epcot-World Showcase at France-requires 2 table service dining credits
Wolfgang Puck Cafe: The Dining Room at Downtown Disney-requires 2 table service dining credits
New Quick-Service Dining Locations Include:
Landscapes Cafe at the new Art of Animation Resort
The Paddock Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Katsura Grill at Epcot-World Showcase at Japan
Bongo’s Cuban Sandwich Window at Downtown Disney
Marketplace Snacks at Downtown Disney
The Disney Dining Plan saves 30% over the cost of paying for your meals out of pocket. Now, you can enjoy even more dining experiences.
Contact me today to book your Disney adventure!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Contemporary Resort - Walt Disney World
I was feeling nostalgic today and wanted to write about the first resort I ever stayed in on my first trip to Disney World.
The Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, was 1 of 2 resorts at Walt Disney World when it first opened. It's is the A-Framed silver resort that sits very close to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. The thing I thought was so cool was not only how it looked, but that the monorail traveled right through it. I remember hopping on that monorail and being able to sit up front with the driver. So cool!
The guest rooms recently underwent a major transformation and it has a much more modern look. There are shops and many activities to keep you busy if you decide to take a break from the parks.
The new Fantasia gift shop opened in 2007 with ginor'mouse' (ha..get it?) Mickey ears announcing the entrance.
You can't miss the huge mosaic tile mural on the wall. Have you seen the 5 legged goat? Besides all there is to see, there is some great dining at The Contemporary as well.
One of the most popular places to dine, being Chef Mickeys. This is a buffet style, character meal. My son's first encounter with Dale, (from Chip n Dale) was here. Dale approached him as he was eating, and Jason reached up and honked his nose. Very cute and I was so happy to catch that on film.
Recently the Bay Lake Towers, being part of the Disney Vacation Club have been added to the resort area.
I think one of the best parts of staying here is not only enjoying the beautiful resort, but location, location, location. You can walk to the Magic Kingdom within minutes, or hop on the monorail for easy access to EPCOT as well.
Yes, this is considered one of Disneys Deluxe Resorts, however with the spring discount going on right now, you may be able to make this resort an option for you!
Contact me so we can plan your magical vacation staying at Disneys Contemporary Resort!
The Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, was 1 of 2 resorts at Walt Disney World when it first opened. It's is the A-Framed silver resort that sits very close to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. The thing I thought was so cool was not only how it looked, but that the monorail traveled right through it. I remember hopping on that monorail and being able to sit up front with the driver. So cool!
The guest rooms recently underwent a major transformation and it has a much more modern look. There are shops and many activities to keep you busy if you decide to take a break from the parks.
You can't miss the huge mosaic tile mural on the wall. Have you seen the 5 legged goat? Besides all there is to see, there is some great dining at The Contemporary as well.
One of the most popular places to dine, being Chef Mickeys. This is a buffet style, character meal. My son's first encounter with Dale, (from Chip n Dale) was here. Dale approached him as he was eating, and Jason reached up and honked his nose. Very cute and I was so happy to catch that on film.
Recently the Bay Lake Towers, being part of the Disney Vacation Club have been added to the resort area.
I think one of the best parts of staying here is not only enjoying the beautiful resort, but location, location, location. You can walk to the Magic Kingdom within minutes, or hop on the monorail for easy access to EPCOT as well.
Yes, this is considered one of Disneys Deluxe Resorts, however with the spring discount going on right now, you may be able to make this resort an option for you!
Contact me so we can plan your magical vacation staying at Disneys Contemporary Resort!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Disney Spring Resort Discount
Disney has recently announced it's Spring discount on their Resort hotels through June,14 2012.
You can save up to 35% on many Resort rooms during your stay. There are certain dates that are blacked out so you will want to message me to find out for sure.
If there is a particular resort you've always wanted to stay at, but didn't think you could,
now is a great time to take advantage of these discounts.
And, if you think a better deal may come along...don't worry! I will keep watch on your reservation and adjust it for you.
So why not make your reservation? You won't lose out on anything and all of my services are free!
It's a win - win!
You can save up to 35% on many Resort rooms during your stay. There are certain dates that are blacked out so you will want to message me to find out for sure.
If there is a particular resort you've always wanted to stay at, but didn't think you could,
now is a great time to take advantage of these discounts.
And, if you think a better deal may come along...don't worry! I will keep watch on your reservation and adjust it for you.
So why not make your reservation? You won't lose out on anything and all of my services are free!
It's a win - win!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Enter To Win A Disney Gift Card!
Make Your Holidays Brighter With A FREE Disney Gift Card!
How to Enter
This giveaway is being run using the Rafflecopter form, which should appear below. Just click to enter! If you are having trouble viewing the Rafflecopter form, here’s a checklist to help you out:
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Relaxing at Disney
I've been recently talking to some friends about their Disney vacations and one thing I commonly hear is. 'We are so tired and always on the go. My kids have melt downs and I come home exhausted.'
Yes...this is true for most of us. Vacationing itself can be tiring from all the planning, packing and traveling. Kids can have melt downs anywhere and many times it's because they are tired.
However, your Disney vacation doesn't have to be go - go - go experience! There are ways to stop and relax and enjoy what's around you without rushing to the next attraction.
Here are some ideas. When you are at the Parks and you notice your group is getting tired, or cranky try taking a snack break.
When we are at The Magic Kingdom, we like to stop in Tomorrowland and hop on the People Mover. We've even asked to ride again and if it's not busy, many times the Cast Member will let us. Sometimes we'll grab a Mickey Ice Cream bar and just eat something yummy.
If we are at Hollywood Studios, we head over to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play set area and let them run around. Again, we'll get a snack, and just let our kids play till they are done.
At Epcot, we'll head over the squirting water fountain area and let them get their feet wet.
And while we are at Animal Kingdom we'll head over to The Boneyard and let them play.
Of course it's not always about the kids taking a break. It's good for us too, and Disney offers many other ways to relax while on vacation.
There are many jogging trails at the hotels. If you are a jogger, bring your running shoes if you don't want to miss your workout. Yes, you walk a ton at the parks, but for most joggers, it's their way of escaping and they don't want to miss 'the run.'
You could consider the Spa at Saratoga Springs. The white sandy beaches at The Contemporary. Bike rentals at The Boardwalk or even fishing at Fort Wilderness. Of course don't forget about all the amazing pools!
If you find your group is overwhelmed, try to take advantage of other ways to spend your time while visiting Walt Disney World.
Your time will be magical!
.
Yes...this is true for most of us. Vacationing itself can be tiring from all the planning, packing and traveling. Kids can have melt downs anywhere and many times it's because they are tired.
However, your Disney vacation doesn't have to be go - go - go experience! There are ways to stop and relax and enjoy what's around you without rushing to the next attraction.
Here are some ideas. When you are at the Parks and you notice your group is getting tired, or cranky try taking a snack break.
When we are at The Magic Kingdom, we like to stop in Tomorrowland and hop on the People Mover. We've even asked to ride again and if it's not busy, many times the Cast Member will let us. Sometimes we'll grab a Mickey Ice Cream bar and just eat something yummy.
If we are at Hollywood Studios, we head over to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play set area and let them run around. Again, we'll get a snack, and just let our kids play till they are done.
At Epcot, we'll head over the squirting water fountain area and let them get their feet wet.
And while we are at Animal Kingdom we'll head over to The Boneyard and let them play.
Of course it's not always about the kids taking a break. It's good for us too, and Disney offers many other ways to relax while on vacation.
There are many jogging trails at the hotels. If you are a jogger, bring your running shoes if you don't want to miss your workout. Yes, you walk a ton at the parks, but for most joggers, it's their way of escaping and they don't want to miss 'the run.'
You could consider the Spa at Saratoga Springs. The white sandy beaches at The Contemporary. Bike rentals at The Boardwalk or even fishing at Fort Wilderness. Of course don't forget about all the amazing pools!
If you find your group is overwhelmed, try to take advantage of other ways to spend your time while visiting Walt Disney World.
Your time will be magical!
.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
My New Job?
I probably should have blogged about this sooner. But it just dawned on me that I really should announce on my blog that I am now a Travel Agent.
I'm so excited to be a part of Destinations To Explore. I have received some wonderful support and I can't believe I will be able to do something so awesome as a career! Eventually I hope to have my own website that people can visit to get lots of questions answered. I will have my blog on that website. But until that happens I will continue to tweet and connect on Facebook.
I have struggled with this issue for awhile. What do I do when my youngest is in school all day? I had tossed around so many ideas. I was trying to help people with their Disney Vacations, by giving them great information to help make their trip more memorable. But this is an opportunity to actually plan and book their vacation. I get to be a part of something so wonderful. Making their trips magical!
That's why I can hardly believe I have a job. Should I even call it that? Doesn't seem like doing something you love should be called a job.
But no matter what you call it, I've been extremely blessed to be a part of other peoples lives and still be home when my children are home. I pray I will be successful and give others all they need to make their vacation, no matter where it may be, their best vacation ever!
So...if you have any travel questions. Please contact me! I'll be more than happy to help you.
And remember...quotes are always free. There is NO cost to you!
Oh and thanks to my daughter for showing me a typo on my last blog about the Muppets. I did get the song lyric wrong. But you all probably figured that out too. ;)
I'm so excited to be a part of Destinations To Explore. I have received some wonderful support and I can't believe I will be able to do something so awesome as a career! Eventually I hope to have my own website that people can visit to get lots of questions answered. I will have my blog on that website. But until that happens I will continue to tweet and connect on Facebook.
I have struggled with this issue for awhile. What do I do when my youngest is in school all day? I had tossed around so many ideas. I was trying to help people with their Disney Vacations, by giving them great information to help make their trip more memorable. But this is an opportunity to actually plan and book their vacation. I get to be a part of something so wonderful. Making their trips magical!
That's why I can hardly believe I have a job. Should I even call it that? Doesn't seem like doing something you love should be called a job.
But no matter what you call it, I've been extremely blessed to be a part of other peoples lives and still be home when my children are home. I pray I will be successful and give others all they need to make their vacation, no matter where it may be, their best vacation ever!
So...if you have any travel questions. Please contact me! I'll be more than happy to help you.
And remember...quotes are always free. There is NO cost to you!
Oh and thanks to my daughter for showing me a typo on my last blog about the Muppets. I did get the song lyric wrong. But you all probably figured that out too. ;)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Bringing Back The Muppets
Ok, we are not all too old to remember the Muppet Show when it was on TV. I watched it religiously. I thought the 2 older guys sitting in the balcony were hilarious. Remember their names? I won't keep it a secret. It's Waldorf and Statler. For some reason listening to their insults cracked me up.
Anyway, it's hard to pick a favorite, but they are on the top of my list.
Of course Miss Piggy was someone I think almost every woman wanted to act like at some point. Let's face it, she's aggressive and arrogant. And she really gets away with it. I guess that's what we love about her.
Leave it to Disney to bring back these cute characters. There have been various appearances over the years, but I think this latest Muppet Movie will be very fun!
If you've been fortunate to see the 3D movie at Hollywood Studios, than you probably already love them and can't wait to see this movie.
Even the nail polish company OPI has launched a line of Muppet nail colors. Names include 'Fresh Frog of Bel Air' and 'Gettin' Miss Piggy With It.' The colors are great and full of sparkle!
The Muppet Movie is showing in theaters starting November 23.
It's time to light the music,
It's time to light the lights,
It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight!
Anyway, it's hard to pick a favorite, but they are on the top of my list.
Of course Miss Piggy was someone I think almost every woman wanted to act like at some point. Let's face it, she's aggressive and arrogant. And she really gets away with it. I guess that's what we love about her.
Leave it to Disney to bring back these cute characters. There have been various appearances over the years, but I think this latest Muppet Movie will be very fun!
If you've been fortunate to see the 3D movie at Hollywood Studios, than you probably already love them and can't wait to see this movie.
Even the nail polish company OPI has launched a line of Muppet nail colors. Names include 'Fresh Frog of Bel Air' and 'Gettin' Miss Piggy With It.' The colors are great and full of sparkle!
The Muppet Movie is showing in theaters starting November 23.
It's time to light the music,
It's time to light the lights,
It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Go With What Ya Know or Something New?
I'm talking specifically about hotels. I know I've blogged about this before but I got a Disney brochure in the mail today and I started dreaming of our next vacation. So my first thought was where do we stay?
This was an interesting question to myself because I usually like to 'go with what I know'. And that is the specific hotels I've stayed at during our trip to WDW. But what about all the other amazing hotels? They offer just as many cool things and I'm sure our trip would be just as memorable.
But I have a feeling we'd be comparing everything to where we've stayed before. What if we don't like the pool? What if we don't like the space in the rooms? What if... What if...
We could do that all day. When we think about our past trips, our memories include the experiences we had at our hotel. The pool, the time in our hotel rooms and even the long walk down the hallways after a long day to our room.
So what does your family do? Do you have a favorite place to stay and can't think of going anywhere else? Or is it your mission to stay in every possible WDW hotel no matter what the distance is from the park, or how much it costs?
This was an interesting question to myself because I usually like to 'go with what I know'. And that is the specific hotels I've stayed at during our trip to WDW. But what about all the other amazing hotels? They offer just as many cool things and I'm sure our trip would be just as memorable.
But I have a feeling we'd be comparing everything to where we've stayed before. What if we don't like the pool? What if we don't like the space in the rooms? What if... What if...
We could do that all day. When we think about our past trips, our memories include the experiences we had at our hotel. The pool, the time in our hotel rooms and even the long walk down the hallways after a long day to our room.
So what does your family do? Do you have a favorite place to stay and can't think of going anywhere else? Or is it your mission to stay in every possible WDW hotel no matter what the distance is from the park, or how much it costs?
Friday, November 11, 2011
Disneys Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort is at the southern most time of South Carolina.
Originally Longview Island, it was transformed in 1996 to a Disney VC resort located away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.
It was the second Disney Vacation Club (DVC) to be build outside of Florida.
The island is small but still consists of over 200 restaurants. There are miles of sandy beaches on one side and an inter coastal waterway on the other.
The rooms are 1-3 bedroom villas to make you feel like you aren't completely in a hotel. It's always nice to have little kitchen areas to prepare food.
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Such as bicycling, fishing, swimming, movie nights. And the list goes on. Or just relax by the pool or beach.
No matter what you decide, I'm sure you will have an amazing time at the Disney Resort.
Originally Longview Island, it was transformed in 1996 to a Disney VC resort located away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.
It was the second Disney Vacation Club (DVC) to be build outside of Florida.
The island is small but still consists of over 200 restaurants. There are miles of sandy beaches on one side and an inter coastal waterway on the other.
The rooms are 1-3 bedroom villas to make you feel like you aren't completely in a hotel. It's always nice to have little kitchen areas to prepare food.
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Such as bicycling, fishing, swimming, movie nights. And the list goes on. Or just relax by the pool or beach.
No matter what you decide, I'm sure you will have an amazing time at the Disney Resort.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Disney Pin Trading
Lets face it, we all have our favorite souvenirs when we travel. Our mementos of our trip that we like to bring home are very important. For some it's a shirt. Others its a plush animal or a fan hooked up to a water bottle.
For my kids it's Disney Pins. On our trip about 5 years ago, our daughter quickly picked up on the pin lanyards everyone was wearing.
She had to know what this was about and after asking the Cast Members a few questions, we jumped on board.
We bought her a Tinker Bell lanyard that came with 5 Tinker Bell pins to start off.
The purpose is you can keep your own pins or trade with someone else. If you see a pin you want on another guest, they may or may not trade with you. If you see a pin on a Cast Member, they do have to trade with you. It's much easier to trade with Cast Members.
Not only did this give our daughter some less expensive souvenirs, it also gave her something to focus on while walking through the park or waiting in lines.
We did find out that if you see a pin with a small black Mickey face on it, those are more rare and you may want to grab it. So...this gave her another objective.
She didn't only love the 'hidden Mickey' pins, but those were ones she did look for the most.
On our second trip we took her lanyard back and our middle son was old enough to be interested and his choice was a Stitch lanyard. Now it gave them something to do together. Each of them looked out for the other.
The pins can be individual or 'family pins'. Meaning they come in a set. It's more of a challenge to complete the set.
They are also different prices. Some of the pins are quite elaborate. They move or even have doors that open like the Tower of Terror pin.
On our last trip our daughter was focused on completing her Disney family wearing the Mickey ears.
She did a pretty good job of completing this!
There are pin trading kiosks located everywhere. And a pin trading store at Downtown Disney.
This has become a hobby for serious collectors. Some will bring in books with pages filled with pins.
Our kids have their lanyards proudly hanging in their rooms. I know they will be coming back with us on our next trip. Our youngest will even develop an interest, I'm sure.
For my kids it's Disney Pins. On our trip about 5 years ago, our daughter quickly picked up on the pin lanyards everyone was wearing.
She had to know what this was about and after asking the Cast Members a few questions, we jumped on board.
We bought her a Tinker Bell lanyard that came with 5 Tinker Bell pins to start off.
The purpose is you can keep your own pins or trade with someone else. If you see a pin you want on another guest, they may or may not trade with you. If you see a pin on a Cast Member, they do have to trade with you. It's much easier to trade with Cast Members.
Not only did this give our daughter some less expensive souvenirs, it also gave her something to focus on while walking through the park or waiting in lines.
We did find out that if you see a pin with a small black Mickey face on it, those are more rare and you may want to grab it. So...this gave her another objective.
She didn't only love the 'hidden Mickey' pins, but those were ones she did look for the most.
On our second trip we took her lanyard back and our middle son was old enough to be interested and his choice was a Stitch lanyard. Now it gave them something to do together. Each of them looked out for the other.
The pins can be individual or 'family pins'. Meaning they come in a set. It's more of a challenge to complete the set.
They are also different prices. Some of the pins are quite elaborate. They move or even have doors that open like the Tower of Terror pin.
On our last trip our daughter was focused on completing her Disney family wearing the Mickey ears.
She did a pretty good job of completing this!
There are pin trading kiosks located everywhere. And a pin trading store at Downtown Disney.
This has become a hobby for serious collectors. Some will bring in books with pages filled with pins.
Our kids have their lanyards proudly hanging in their rooms. I know they will be coming back with us on our next trip. Our youngest will even develop an interest, I'm sure.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
My 3 Best Money Saving Ideas for WDW
Ok, I'm sure I've talked about this before, but it deserves to be mentioned again since, let's face it, going to WDW can be pricey.
These 3 tips saved our family lots of money.
1. Take your own refillable water bottles. We purchased ones with water filters in them, so we could refill them at the drinking fountains. You don't need to have filters, but for us, the water tasted a little bit better.
Then we brought the individual packets of Kool-Aid or Crystal Light to flavor it. The Mio liquid drops work well too.
2. Take your own food/snacks. The parks let you bring them in so why wouldn't you? I know it's some times more 'fun' to eat park food. It's something you don't get every day. So, yeah, splurge a little and have a giant (and I mean giant) pretzel every now and then. But if your kids are like mine, they could eat after every attraction.
And, the hotels will even let you mail snacks to your hotel room. They will hold on to the box of non-perishable foods until you check in. Just make sure you have your reservation number on the box. We loaded ours with zip-lock baggies too so they could fill their own bag. I'm sure I put a quart or two of soy milk in there for our son with food allergies. ...it doesn't have to be refrigerated until you open it.
Mailing can be a bit spendy too, but not nearly as much as buying the snacks each day at the park.
3. TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR PARK PASSES on your phone as soon as you get them. We bought our passes from Undercover Tourist. They were a bit less than buying them from Disney directly because they don't charge sales tax. They were made of paper and not the plastic credit card type. So I used this piece of advice.
Good thing I did because on day 2 we were missing one of our kids passes. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I'm guessing we left it behind in a fast pass machine, but not sure.
Anyway, we showed up at Guest Services at Hollywood Studios. They scanned our passes and saw we bought 5 in our 'lot' and found the missing pass. They deactivated that bar code, and issued us another pass. Saved us over $300.00. I can't tell you how relieved we were!
So here ya go. I hope these ideas will help make your next Disney vacation more magical!
These 3 tips saved our family lots of money.
1. Take your own refillable water bottles. We purchased ones with water filters in them, so we could refill them at the drinking fountains. You don't need to have filters, but for us, the water tasted a little bit better.
Then we brought the individual packets of Kool-Aid or Crystal Light to flavor it. The Mio liquid drops work well too.
2. Take your own food/snacks. The parks let you bring them in so why wouldn't you? I know it's some times more 'fun' to eat park food. It's something you don't get every day. So, yeah, splurge a little and have a giant (and I mean giant) pretzel every now and then. But if your kids are like mine, they could eat after every attraction.
And, the hotels will even let you mail snacks to your hotel room. They will hold on to the box of non-perishable foods until you check in. Just make sure you have your reservation number on the box. We loaded ours with zip-lock baggies too so they could fill their own bag. I'm sure I put a quart or two of soy milk in there for our son with food allergies. ...it doesn't have to be refrigerated until you open it.
Mailing can be a bit spendy too, but not nearly as much as buying the snacks each day at the park.
3. TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR PARK PASSES on your phone as soon as you get them. We bought our passes from Undercover Tourist. They were a bit less than buying them from Disney directly because they don't charge sales tax. They were made of paper and not the plastic credit card type. So I used this piece of advice.
Good thing I did because on day 2 we were missing one of our kids passes. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I'm guessing we left it behind in a fast pass machine, but not sure.
Anyway, we showed up at Guest Services at Hollywood Studios. They scanned our passes and saw we bought 5 in our 'lot' and found the missing pass. They deactivated that bar code, and issued us another pass. Saved us over $300.00. I can't tell you how relieved we were!
So here ya go. I hope these ideas will help make your next Disney vacation more magical!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Ever given a surprise trip to WDW?
We did for our three kids about 4 years ago and it was awesome! My neighbors were in on it. They new I needed to spend a few hours to pack so they offered to let my 2 oldest come over and play.
My youngest was only 18 months. That was one of the reasons we decided to go. He was FREE! And still sleeping in a port a crib so we didn't have to worry about an extra bed.
It was mid December and we'd recently had a lot of snow. I remember checking the flight status all day hoping our plans wouldn't be interrupted by the snow.
I got the suitcases packed and loaded in the back of our van. My husband and I had planned on telling the kids we were going out to dinner. Our flight was leaving around 7:30 so the timing was perfect for us. Living near a smaller airport, we don't need to get there 3 hours before our flight.
They had their Nintendo DS's in the car and were content. We were on the interstate heading to the airport when a truck decided to pass us on slick roads. It literally spun around and was driving backwards and we were hood to hood. I don't think I have ever been so scared on the road before. Thankfully his truck spun back around and he ended in the ditch while we all were ok.
Anyway, we pulled up the airport. Our kids looked at us and said, 'Why are we here?' I said, 'We are going to a new dinner spot. It's in Florida at Disney World.'
My daughters jaw dropped. My son looked very confused and then the screaming began.
We had a great time. (of course) I don't think they will forget that moment and if you have the chance to surprise someone in your family on a trip to WDW...I highly recommend it.
And, if you would like help planning, I would love to help you!
My youngest was only 18 months. That was one of the reasons we decided to go. He was FREE! And still sleeping in a port a crib so we didn't have to worry about an extra bed.
It was mid December and we'd recently had a lot of snow. I remember checking the flight status all day hoping our plans wouldn't be interrupted by the snow.
I got the suitcases packed and loaded in the back of our van. My husband and I had planned on telling the kids we were going out to dinner. Our flight was leaving around 7:30 so the timing was perfect for us. Living near a smaller airport, we don't need to get there 3 hours before our flight.
They had their Nintendo DS's in the car and were content. We were on the interstate heading to the airport when a truck decided to pass us on slick roads. It literally spun around and was driving backwards and we were hood to hood. I don't think I have ever been so scared on the road before. Thankfully his truck spun back around and he ended in the ditch while we all were ok.
Anyway, we pulled up the airport. Our kids looked at us and said, 'Why are we here?' I said, 'We are going to a new dinner spot. It's in Florida at Disney World.'
My daughters jaw dropped. My son looked very confused and then the screaming began.
We had a great time. (of course) I don't think they will forget that moment and if you have the chance to surprise someone in your family on a trip to WDW...I highly recommend it.
And, if you would like help planning, I would love to help you!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party
Have I ever been to this wonderful and beautiful event? No...but if I get the chance to go back to WDW in the cold months, I will make sure we buy tickets to this.
I have been to WDW in December, and they spare no expense at decorating for Christmas. It's almost unexplainable. The lights, ornaments, wreaths, poinsettia's, not to mention the characters dressed in winter like costumes.
Well if you have the opportunity to travel to WDW during this time, I recommend checking this party out. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Based on what I've read about and heard from others, it's quite amazing.
Because you need to buy a separate ticket for this, the crowds will be lower. So you may get a better spot to watch the parade. Who might you see? Santa Claus, of course.
The special fireworks display is going on called Holiday Wishes.
There is complimentary cocoa and cookies! And snow falls on Main Street. How awesome is that?
And for someone living in Iowa, I get plenty of cold snow in the winter. Having snow in Florida, would be a welcomed change.
I have been to WDW in December, and they spare no expense at decorating for Christmas. It's almost unexplainable. The lights, ornaments, wreaths, poinsettia's, not to mention the characters dressed in winter like costumes.
Well if you have the opportunity to travel to WDW during this time, I recommend checking this party out. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Based on what I've read about and heard from others, it's quite amazing.
Because you need to buy a separate ticket for this, the crowds will be lower. So you may get a better spot to watch the parade. Who might you see? Santa Claus, of course.
The special fireworks display is going on called Holiday Wishes.
There is complimentary cocoa and cookies! And snow falls on Main Street. How awesome is that?
And for someone living in Iowa, I get plenty of cold snow in the winter. Having snow in Florida, would be a welcomed change.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Disneyland Paris
I just realized that EuroDisney is now Disneyland Paris. When did that name change happen?
Did you know it has more visitors each year than the Eiffel Tower in the Paris area? It had 15 million visit in 2010.
There are many of the same rides you will find at Walt Disney World. Such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Tower of Terror and Aerosmiths Rockin Rollercoaster.
The park offers fast passes and the child switch option. They offer many restaurants. All of which are expensive. There are themed hotels nearby and there are many transportation options. The park consists of 3 parks. Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park and Disney Village.
If I ever make it Paris, you can be we will be checking out Disneyland Paris. I'm sure it's amazing and magical. I may have to brush up on my french...Oui?
Did you know it has more visitors each year than the Eiffel Tower in the Paris area? It had 15 million visit in 2010.
There are many of the same rides you will find at Walt Disney World. Such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Tower of Terror and Aerosmiths Rockin Rollercoaster.
The park offers fast passes and the child switch option. They offer many restaurants. All of which are expensive. There are themed hotels nearby and there are many transportation options. The park consists of 3 parks. Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park and Disney Village.
If I ever make it Paris, you can be we will be checking out Disneyland Paris. I'm sure it's amazing and magical. I may have to brush up on my french...Oui?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Duffy Story
OK, have you seen Duffy The Bear? Do you even know what I'm talking about? Honestly, I didn't pay much attention to him or wondered about him until I recently saw a post about him and thought, I better find out who this mysterious bear is.
The story is so cute, it's made me think we should have one of these bears or better yet, one of our plush Mickeys should have one of these bears.
He was briefly sold and created for the Once Upon a Toy shop at Disney World in 2002 and became more popular after he was given a 'storyline' and name by the Oriental Land executives. He became popular at Tokyo DisneySea Park, and now seems to be a continual part of the American Disney Parks.
The original story is that Mickey was at Disney World holding on to his bear and wishing he could share his experiences with someone. Tinkerbell flew by sprinkling pixie dust on Duffy. Mickey gave him a big squeeze and he came to life.
One of the coolest things that I didn't even realize is that a Mickey shape appeared on Duffy's face and feet. Yep...another hidden Mickey. LOVE IT!
I think the current story is that Minnie created Duffy for Mickey so he would have a friend as he made a long voyage out at sea. Either way, I think it's so cute that Mickey has his friend. Just as our kids and probably yours too, carry around a plush friend or princess who keeps them company all the time, now Mickey Mouse has a forever friend to share in his experiences at the parks too.
The story is so cute, it's made me think we should have one of these bears or better yet, one of our plush Mickeys should have one of these bears.
He was briefly sold and created for the Once Upon a Toy shop at Disney World in 2002 and became more popular after he was given a 'storyline' and name by the Oriental Land executives. He became popular at Tokyo DisneySea Park, and now seems to be a continual part of the American Disney Parks.
The original story is that Mickey was at Disney World holding on to his bear and wishing he could share his experiences with someone. Tinkerbell flew by sprinkling pixie dust on Duffy. Mickey gave him a big squeeze and he came to life.
One of the coolest things that I didn't even realize is that a Mickey shape appeared on Duffy's face and feet. Yep...another hidden Mickey. LOVE IT!
I think the current story is that Minnie created Duffy for Mickey so he would have a friend as he made a long voyage out at sea. Either way, I think it's so cute that Mickey has his friend. Just as our kids and probably yours too, carry around a plush friend or princess who keeps them company all the time, now Mickey Mouse has a forever friend to share in his experiences at the parks too.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Disney's Newest Beach Resort - Aulani
You may have heard about Disney's newest resort in Hawaii. Or maybe you've even had the chance to visit. Either way this tropical paradise should be on your list for your next vacation destination.
Aulanil resort and spa is located in Ko Olina, Oahu. This is on the west side of the island where you will find less tourists and beautiful green mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.
It has all the lush waterways, pools and ocean breezes you want to experience when traveling to Hawaii. At this resort you can snorkel in O'ahu's only private snorkeling lagoon. There is endless swimming, movies on the beach, an award winning spa, and special island excursions. Learn to surf, take hula lessons, and even go on a horseback riding adventure.
If you feel like relaxing, take a break and enjoy the spa while your children enjoy the traditional Hawaiian storytelling at Aunty's Beach House. Your little ones will be safe with certified Disney youth counselors and participate in fun age-appropriate activities.
Even though you are away from Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you can still enjoy your favorite Disney friends throughout the resort. They will be there to welcome you or make you smile at dinner.
So if going to Hawaii isn't enough, you can experience travel in true Disney fashion with exceptional customer service and accommodations in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Aulanil resort and spa is located in Ko Olina, Oahu. This is on the west side of the island where you will find less tourists and beautiful green mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.
If you feel like relaxing, take a break and enjoy the spa while your children enjoy the traditional Hawaiian storytelling at Aunty's Beach House. Your little ones will be safe with certified Disney youth counselors and participate in fun age-appropriate activities.
So if going to Hawaii isn't enough, you can experience travel in true Disney fashion with exceptional customer service and accommodations in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Remembering the 7 Dwarfs
As a previous Disney Castmember, my manager told me I would be asked the names of the 7 Dwarfs many times by guests. She was right.
How were we told to remember them?
2 S's 2 D's and 3 Emotions
Sleepy Sneezy - Dopey Doc - Bashful Grumpy Happy
How were we told to remember them?
2 S's 2 D's and 3 Emotions
Sleepy Sneezy - Dopey Doc - Bashful Grumpy Happy
Monday, October 17, 2011
Food Allergies
Short blog today, but one that needs to be addressed.
My son has food allergies. When we travel this can be stressful. We've learned to adapt and make changes to our plans, but I know sometimes he feels guilty or even left out.
One thing Disney has done is allowed our vacation to be a lot LESS stressful when it comes to this issue.
By providing a refrigerator in our room (Moderate and Deluxe resorts) it has allowed us to have his soy milk and other items available so he always has something to eat. Or we can at least easily prepare sandwiches to take in the park. He loves to eat so a sandwich would be a snack for him if he's feeling hungry. Breakfasts can be difficult when you have a child with milk, egg and peanut allergies. So cereal is always available too with his soy milk nice and cold.
And when we are at the park, it seems as though all the cast members (at least ones we've come into contact with) can help us with the food allergy issue. I think they have a book with the ingredient/allergy information behind the counters to help you. And in our experience, the chef at Boma in the Animal Kingdom has come out to walk us around the buffet to let us know what he can/can not eat. So DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK!
But the best part for him is being able to have rice milk or soy milk ice cream here. He felt included and most importantly felt as if his dietary needs were important.
I love that!
Thank you Disney for making his trip even more magical for all of us.
My son has food allergies. When we travel this can be stressful. We've learned to adapt and make changes to our plans, but I know sometimes he feels guilty or even left out.
One thing Disney has done is allowed our vacation to be a lot LESS stressful when it comes to this issue.
By providing a refrigerator in our room (Moderate and Deluxe resorts) it has allowed us to have his soy milk and other items available so he always has something to eat. Or we can at least easily prepare sandwiches to take in the park. He loves to eat so a sandwich would be a snack for him if he's feeling hungry. Breakfasts can be difficult when you have a child with milk, egg and peanut allergies. So cereal is always available too with his soy milk nice and cold.
And when we are at the park, it seems as though all the cast members (at least ones we've come into contact with) can help us with the food allergy issue. I think they have a book with the ingredient/allergy information behind the counters to help you. And in our experience, the chef at Boma in the Animal Kingdom has come out to walk us around the buffet to let us know what he can/can not eat. So DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK!
But the best part for him is being able to have rice milk or soy milk ice cream here. He felt included and most importantly felt as if his dietary needs were important.
I love that!
Thank you Disney for making his trip even more magical for all of us.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Do Park Changes, change your plans?
Ok, so I asked this question recently and I started thinking about all the changes to DW and DL that are coming up.
Not only are there constant refurbishments going on, but there are lands being constructed and hotels being built.
These are exciting changes. Sure the refurbishments are a bummer sometimes. Especially the major attractions. With Big Thunder going down for many months, it may be hard to adjust your plans around that. If that's one of your favorites anyway. But if I knew we had a Disney World trip coming up, but haven't finalized the details of when. You can bet, I would hold off until the Art of Animation hotel was completed as well as the new Fantasyland. Those are 2 major changes (updates) coming up.
And if we were heading to Disneyland, then I'm sure we would hold off until the new Cars Land was completed at California Adventure. After looking at some photos, it looks like there may be a similar ride to Test Track at EPCOT. You get in a car and speed around a track. I'm thinking you go faster, but not completely sure. I mean, Cars is based around race cars. As opposed to the Tomorrowland Speedway.
Sure, once we get the go ahead to book a trip to Disney we can hardly wait to start checking on flights. But with so many fun changes coming up, maybe it's best to wait. Unless you are one of the lucky ones who can go more than once every year or two.
So, what do you think? Wait? Or just go and enjoy all the wonderful things the parks have to offer now?
Not only are there constant refurbishments going on, but there are lands being constructed and hotels being built.
These are exciting changes. Sure the refurbishments are a bummer sometimes. Especially the major attractions. With Big Thunder going down for many months, it may be hard to adjust your plans around that. If that's one of your favorites anyway. But if I knew we had a Disney World trip coming up, but haven't finalized the details of when. You can bet, I would hold off until the Art of Animation hotel was completed as well as the new Fantasyland. Those are 2 major changes (updates) coming up.
And if we were heading to Disneyland, then I'm sure we would hold off until the new Cars Land was completed at California Adventure. After looking at some photos, it looks like there may be a similar ride to Test Track at EPCOT. You get in a car and speed around a track. I'm thinking you go faster, but not completely sure. I mean, Cars is based around race cars. As opposed to the Tomorrowland Speedway.
Sure, once we get the go ahead to book a trip to Disney we can hardly wait to start checking on flights. But with so many fun changes coming up, maybe it's best to wait. Unless you are one of the lucky ones who can go more than once every year or two.
So, what do you think? Wait? Or just go and enjoy all the wonderful things the parks have to offer now?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
So many hotel choices!
When planning your trip I think one of the biggest decisions is where to stay. I know for me I did so much research on Disney property hotels and hotels near Disney. We considered the Hilton near Downtown Disney (we'd stayed there before). We considered The Nickelodeon hotel because of the themed rooms and pool area. And we almost stayed at The Doubletree hotel (again Hilton which we like) knowing it had been recently remodeled.
But after reviewing Mousesavers.com we saw a hotel near Disney that was similar to Doubletree or Embassy Suites but for much less. We stayed at the Buena Vista Suites for 89.00/night. The rooms were similar to Embassy Suites but much smaller. The breakfast was included in the morning, but on a much smaller scale than Embassy Suites. Overall it was fine. It was clean, and close to the parks and another plus is that there was no resort fee or parking fee.
We planned on being there for 4 nights and then heading over to Disney's Beach Club Resort for 3 nights. We wanted to splurge a little on this vacation and experience another Disney hotel we had never stayed at. I called Disney to make sure a family of 5 could stay comfortably in this room. I saw the pool with the sandy bottom and they had a small refrigerator in the room and we were sold! Plus it was within walking distance to EPCOT, and they offered movies and bon fires on the the beach at night. How amazing is that? So out of the blue one night while we were at the first hotel, my husband says, let's call and see if we can stay one more night at the Beach Club and leave here a day earlier. WOOHOO! You don't have to ask me twice.
It all worked out and the kids were thrilled. We liked the Buena Vista Suites, but we LOVED The Beach Club! And if you've ever stayed there you know why I say that.
Another big plus for us was the fridge in the room. Having a son with food allergies, can make it difficult sometimes to eat out. Keeping his soy milk in the room and cereal, snacks and bagels made our mornings go faster and more convenient so we could get to the parks and do what we came to do!
Here are just a few things to consider when deciding which hotel to stay;
1. Do they charge a resort fee or parking fee?
2. Can you comfortably fit your whole family in the room?
3. Do they have a closet? Sounds strange but I'm pretty sure the Disney Value resorts do not. This can make for a crowded room.
4. Do they include breakfast? This is important for my whole family. They need to eat before the day begins.
5. And of course...How much are you willing to spend?
But after reviewing Mousesavers.com we saw a hotel near Disney that was similar to Doubletree or Embassy Suites but for much less. We stayed at the Buena Vista Suites for 89.00/night. The rooms were similar to Embassy Suites but much smaller. The breakfast was included in the morning, but on a much smaller scale than Embassy Suites. Overall it was fine. It was clean, and close to the parks and another plus is that there was no resort fee or parking fee.
We planned on being there for 4 nights and then heading over to Disney's Beach Club Resort for 3 nights. We wanted to splurge a little on this vacation and experience another Disney hotel we had never stayed at. I called Disney to make sure a family of 5 could stay comfortably in this room. I saw the pool with the sandy bottom and they had a small refrigerator in the room and we were sold! Plus it was within walking distance to EPCOT, and they offered movies and bon fires on the the beach at night. How amazing is that? So out of the blue one night while we were at the first hotel, my husband says, let's call and see if we can stay one more night at the Beach Club and leave here a day earlier. WOOHOO! You don't have to ask me twice.
It all worked out and the kids were thrilled. We liked the Buena Vista Suites, but we LOVED The Beach Club! And if you've ever stayed there you know why I say that.
Another big plus for us was the fridge in the room. Having a son with food allergies, can make it difficult sometimes to eat out. Keeping his soy milk in the room and cereal, snacks and bagels made our mornings go faster and more convenient so we could get to the parks and do what we came to do!
Here are just a few things to consider when deciding which hotel to stay;
1. Do they charge a resort fee or parking fee?
2. Can you comfortably fit your whole family in the room?
3. Do they have a closet? Sounds strange but I'm pretty sure the Disney Value resorts do not. This can make for a crowded room.
4. Do they include breakfast? This is important for my whole family. They need to eat before the day begins.
5. And of course...How much are you willing to spend?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Where are these little princesses coming from?
So after using a Restaurant.com certificate to eat at House of Blues in Downtown Disney, we decided to do a little shopping. We were looking for pins for the kids lanyards and we saw the cutest little princesses walking around behind a Cast Member as if they had just been nominated for Best Little Disney Princess. They were so cute. All of them, about 4, were probably 4-6 years old. They were dressed up in their favorite princess outfit and had their hair done up with sparkles and a little tiara.
Where did they come from? Lexie and I were curious. So we asked around and found out about the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This is an experience for little girls where they can have their hair, nails, and some makeup done to look just like a Disney Princess. There are different packages and I'm sure the experience is magical for them. There are two places Disney does this and I'm sure the appointments book up fast. (Something to consider) One is inside Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom and the other is at the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney.
Why Bibbidi Bobbidi you ask? You don't recognize this phrase? Well let me fill you in:
Where did they come from? Lexie and I were curious. So we asked around and found out about the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This is an experience for little girls where they can have their hair, nails, and some makeup done to look just like a Disney Princess. There are different packages and I'm sure the experience is magical for them. There are two places Disney does this and I'm sure the appointments book up fast. (Something to consider) One is inside Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom and the other is at the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney.
Why Bibbidi Bobbidi you ask? You don't recognize this phrase? Well let me fill you in:
Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
It'll do magic believe it or not
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola means mechicka booleroo
But the thingmabob that does the job is
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola menchicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
It'll do magic believe it or not
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola means mechicka booleroo
But the thingmabob that does the job is
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola menchicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
This is the catchy song the Fairy Godmother sings to Cinderella.
Well while we're on the subject of little Princesses, do you have a little pirate in the house? Disney offers something similar at the Magic Kingdom right outside of Pirates of the Caribbean. This is called the Pirates League. This is where your little one (boy or girl) can transform into a pirate. Disney completes this look with a complete makeover and some training. You get a new 'pirate' name and enter a room where your picture is taken.
Disney just keeps adding on new experiences for your children. I wish the boutique had been there when my princess was younger.
If you think you'd like to take advantage of these opportunities. Make sure you call to get reservations early.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
40 Years Ago
So the obvious thing on the blog today is that my page looks different. My daughter has been helping me figure this layout thing so that I could make it look a little more jazzy. I want this to appeal to everyone, not just current Disney fans, but people who are thinking of going, and looking into it as a vacation possibility.
I'm still wanting to help people plan their trips. Whether it be to WDW or Disneyland. Both places are spectacular and have so much to offer. There are multiple blogs and agencies out there who can help. I'm just someone who can give you more personal attention by doing the busy work for you.
Ok, now as I was updating my blog, I realized that the Magic Kingdom just turned 40 yesterday. And it has changed so much. I remember my first trip when I was about 10. They still had the A rides and the E rides and some in between. I remember Space Mountain being an E ticket and at that time, you had limited tickets for each ride. BUMMER! Now it's awesome that if you want to spend your day going on Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Big Thunder, you can. As much as your day allows.
I remember the characters walking around the park and people would just walk up to them and hope to get a picture and an autograph. Now it's a controlled environment where they are in a certain spot at a certain time and you wait your turn in line to get a picture. While other Cast Members are there to guide you.
There was no EPCOT, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. There were 3 main hotels and that was The Contemporary, The Polynesian, and Fort Wilderness. EPCOT, was a plan Walt Disney had to be built, but the plans were put off after Walt's death. His original plans were altered and EPCOT was built in 1982.
Walt Disney was a pioneer. He was a dreamer. He wanted another place on the other side of the United States where families could come together and have a magical vacation.
I think he was quite successful in that dream.
I'm still wanting to help people plan their trips. Whether it be to WDW or Disneyland. Both places are spectacular and have so much to offer. There are multiple blogs and agencies out there who can help. I'm just someone who can give you more personal attention by doing the busy work for you.
Ok, now as I was updating my blog, I realized that the Magic Kingdom just turned 40 yesterday. And it has changed so much. I remember my first trip when I was about 10. They still had the A rides and the E rides and some in between. I remember Space Mountain being an E ticket and at that time, you had limited tickets for each ride. BUMMER! Now it's awesome that if you want to spend your day going on Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Big Thunder, you can. As much as your day allows.
I remember the characters walking around the park and people would just walk up to them and hope to get a picture and an autograph. Now it's a controlled environment where they are in a certain spot at a certain time and you wait your turn in line to get a picture. While other Cast Members are there to guide you.
There was no EPCOT, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. There were 3 main hotels and that was The Contemporary, The Polynesian, and Fort Wilderness. EPCOT, was a plan Walt Disney had to be built, but the plans were put off after Walt's death. His original plans were altered and EPCOT was built in 1982.
Walt Disney was a pioneer. He was a dreamer. He wanted another place on the other side of the United States where families could come together and have a magical vacation.
I think he was quite successful in that dream.
This is an original map of the Magic Kingdom back in 1971 when it first opened.
I'd say it's changed quite a bit since then.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Stroller rental a life saver!
One thing you may or may not think about when traveling is renting a stroller for your child. Sure you can bring your own, but unless you really need your child to sit in it while in the airport, it can be cumbersome to carry around and check at the gate.
Disney rents strollers and they are quite nice. I think they are 15.00$/day for a single. If you rent multiple days they are 13.00$ for a single. The big down side, you have to drop them off on your way out of the park. And although Disney is very efficient at getting you your stroller, it can still take awhile in line.
The best option we found is using a local stroller rental company. There are a few such as Orlando Stroller Rental and Magic Strollers. These companies charge less than Disney and offer you a very nice single or double jogging stroller with space to put your belongings.
These services not only offer you a great stroller at a great price, but they deliver right to your hotel and pick up the stroller after you check out.
You can check out their websites and reserve right online.
This is a stroller you will have with you your entire trip. If your child falls asleep on your way out of the park, you can keep him or her in it a bit longer as you walk to the bus. If you hop on the monorail or ferry, your little one can stay put!
I would definitely consider this option on your next trip.
Disney rents strollers and they are quite nice. I think they are 15.00$/day for a single. If you rent multiple days they are 13.00$ for a single. The big down side, you have to drop them off on your way out of the park. And although Disney is very efficient at getting you your stroller, it can still take awhile in line.
The best option we found is using a local stroller rental company. There are a few such as Orlando Stroller Rental and Magic Strollers. These companies charge less than Disney and offer you a very nice single or double jogging stroller with space to put your belongings.
These services not only offer you a great stroller at a great price, but they deliver right to your hotel and pick up the stroller after you check out.
You can check out their websites and reserve right online.
This is a stroller you will have with you your entire trip. If your child falls asleep on your way out of the park, you can keep him or her in it a bit longer as you walk to the bus. If you hop on the monorail or ferry, your little one can stay put!
I would definitely consider this option on your next trip.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Soarin'...
If you've ever been on Soarin' at EPCOT, you know it's an amazing experience. I tend to get motion sickness in 'theater in the round' settings and I was nervous about this. But I think because you actually move along with the movie, legs dangling and all, and your senses are engaged in the smells, sights and temperature it's very realistic.
So what's your favorite part of this attraction? Gliding above the Grand Canyon? Rowing your canoe surrounded by huge evergreen trees? Or gliding over Disneyland? It's hard to choose.
I think my son's favorite was flying over the aircraft carrier with the helicopter so close.
Whatever it is, this is a ride worth waiting for and definitely getting a fast pass to do again.
So what's your favorite part of this attraction? Gliding above the Grand Canyon? Rowing your canoe surrounded by huge evergreen trees? Or gliding over Disneyland? It's hard to choose.
I think my son's favorite was flying over the aircraft carrier with the helicopter so close.
Whatever it is, this is a ride worth waiting for and definitely getting a fast pass to do again.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Exhausted...What do we do?
I think if this is your first time or 15th Disney vacation, with or without kids, you find yourself at a point where you just have to stop.
When you arrive you are excited and motivated and can't wait to jump on that first and favorite attraction. It may be day 1 or day 3, but there will come a time, when you are walking behind, who you think is the slowest person in the park, and have to hold back the 'Come on people! Let's keep walking!' comment. It is now you need to realize it's time to sit and re-group.
You want this experience to be memorable and a happy one. It can be very easy to get grumpy and you may find yourself not enjoying anything if you or anyone in your group is overtired.
Find a quiet area to sit. Have a snack and a drink and talk about your favorite rides or what you want to do next. If you don't want to sit outside because it's too hot. Hop on the Carousel of Progress or Tomorrowlands People mover if you are at the Magic Kingdom. Obviously you can't take drinks or food on these rides, but they are relaxing. As well as the Walt Disney Railroad.
Just remember, where ever you are going and what ever your mission is, it will be there in a 1/2 an hour. It may delay your plan a little, but everyone in your group will appreciate the break.
When you arrive you are excited and motivated and can't wait to jump on that first and favorite attraction. It may be day 1 or day 3, but there will come a time, when you are walking behind, who you think is the slowest person in the park, and have to hold back the 'Come on people! Let's keep walking!' comment. It is now you need to realize it's time to sit and re-group.
You want this experience to be memorable and a happy one. It can be very easy to get grumpy and you may find yourself not enjoying anything if you or anyone in your group is overtired.
Find a quiet area to sit. Have a snack and a drink and talk about your favorite rides or what you want to do next. If you don't want to sit outside because it's too hot. Hop on the Carousel of Progress or Tomorrowlands People mover if you are at the Magic Kingdom. Obviously you can't take drinks or food on these rides, but they are relaxing. As well as the Walt Disney Railroad.
Just remember, where ever you are going and what ever your mission is, it will be there in a 1/2 an hour. It may delay your plan a little, but everyone in your group will appreciate the break.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
What's the first thing you do?
You arrive at Disney. Your anticipation mounts at you take the bus, ferry or monorail into the Magic Kingdom. How do you feel? What do you see? Hear? Smell?
For me? I see beautiful flower arrangements and people trying to get where they are going. I hear the Disney music, the train bell clanging and lots of chatter and some kids crying. What do I smell? Mainly just the flowers.
You won't see garbage or grumpy employees. You won't even be able to see Main Street right away. You won't smell food from the restaurants, and dirtiness of any kind. You won't hear screaming from the attractions. (Not even Tower of Terror until you are closer) and may not even hear the monorail until it's almost right over your head. Disney has done an amazing job of letting your senses only experience what they want you to experience at that time.
I always get this huge sense of excitement and anticipation. It may be years before we go back, but when I'm there, it's like we never left. Cast members smile, you try to find the quickest turnstyle, get your bag checked, grab a map and off you go.
If you're following a tourplan, which I highly suggest, you race to get your fast passes and then wait in line for your first ride.
My kids usually can't stop talking, my older two have their pin lanyards on and are checking out cast member pins, while my husband and I are trying to hurry them up.
We usually walk by Goofy, a Princess, or Pluto on our way. A quick and fleeting thought comes over us. Do we stop to get a picture? Nah...we have more important things to do. Fast Pass - Fast Pass - Fast Pass. We have learned we DO NOT go with out a touring plan. What is a touring plan you ask?
Well it's a detailed plan of your day. What ride to go on when, and what fast passes to get.
Now this changes depending on the ages of your kids, what park you are at, and how many days you plan to be there. This has saved us so much time waiting in lines. Now you do have to be slightly flexible. Sometimes you walk by Pirates of the Carribean and there is a 5 min wait. It's not suggested you go just yet on the plan, but why not? It's a 5 min wait. Which usually means you can walk right on. Another great Disney surprise. Many times, but not always the lines are shorter than the time sign reads.
For me? I see beautiful flower arrangements and people trying to get where they are going. I hear the Disney music, the train bell clanging and lots of chatter and some kids crying. What do I smell? Mainly just the flowers.
You won't see garbage or grumpy employees. You won't even be able to see Main Street right away. You won't smell food from the restaurants, and dirtiness of any kind. You won't hear screaming from the attractions. (Not even Tower of Terror until you are closer) and may not even hear the monorail until it's almost right over your head. Disney has done an amazing job of letting your senses only experience what they want you to experience at that time.
I always get this huge sense of excitement and anticipation. It may be years before we go back, but when I'm there, it's like we never left. Cast members smile, you try to find the quickest turnstyle, get your bag checked, grab a map and off you go.
If you're following a tourplan, which I highly suggest, you race to get your fast passes and then wait in line for your first ride.
My kids usually can't stop talking, my older two have their pin lanyards on and are checking out cast member pins, while my husband and I are trying to hurry them up.
We usually walk by Goofy, a Princess, or Pluto on our way. A quick and fleeting thought comes over us. Do we stop to get a picture? Nah...we have more important things to do. Fast Pass - Fast Pass - Fast Pass. We have learned we DO NOT go with out a touring plan. What is a touring plan you ask?
Well it's a detailed plan of your day. What ride to go on when, and what fast passes to get.
Now this changes depending on the ages of your kids, what park you are at, and how many days you plan to be there. This has saved us so much time waiting in lines. Now you do have to be slightly flexible. Sometimes you walk by Pirates of the Carribean and there is a 5 min wait. It's not suggested you go just yet on the plan, but why not? It's a 5 min wait. Which usually means you can walk right on. Another great Disney surprise. Many times, but not always the lines are shorter than the time sign reads.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Going Home
I'm curious. How do you feel when you end your vacation? Are you exhausted and just done with the crowd and want to sleep in your own bed? Or are you ready for one more day knowing it may be years before you go back?
We had mixed emotions. Were we tired? Yes! Did we miss our home and neighbors? Yes! But we were thinking, just one more ride on Rockin' Roller coaster or Test Track. And Cameron just wanted to ride Toy Story Mania over and over. And how can you blame us? The experience is unforgettable and unmatched with other theme parks.
However, all good vacations must come to an end and then we look forward to the next one. We made lots of great memories that we won't forget. We came home on sort of a 'Disney High'. We love to look at our photos and reminisce about our days in Florida.
I love to write this blog and continue to search out Disney deals and ongoing information about hotels, attractions and any changes that happen.
If you read this and would love some help planning your vacation? Let me know! It's a passion I have.
We had mixed emotions. Were we tired? Yes! Did we miss our home and neighbors? Yes! But we were thinking, just one more ride on Rockin' Roller coaster or Test Track. And Cameron just wanted to ride Toy Story Mania over and over. And how can you blame us? The experience is unforgettable and unmatched with other theme parks.
However, all good vacations must come to an end and then we look forward to the next one. We made lots of great memories that we won't forget. We came home on sort of a 'Disney High'. We love to look at our photos and reminisce about our days in Florida.
If you read this and would love some help planning your vacation? Let me know! It's a passion I have.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Our Last Days
I'm curious...how do you spend your last days of your long awaited family vacation at Disney World? We decided to hop around the parks and do our most favorite rides. One of the huge benefits of getting park hopper passes.
On Monday night we decided to take advantage of the Electrical Parade and stay late for the extra magic hours at Magic Kingdom.
We spent the afternoon 'trying' to nap and then a few hours at the pool. After dinner we decided to head to the Magic Kingdom and find our spot on Main Street to wait for the parade. Because our 4 year old didn't nap at the hotel he decided to sleep in his stroller while we waited. It worked out perfectly actually. He wouldn't have wanted to sit that long and while he slept, Matt and I sat on the curb talking to a nice couple waiting next to us about Disney Pin Trading and our other two kids went off to ride a few rides. Yes...I felt comfortable with my 12 and 9 year old heading over to Space Mountain by themselves as long as she had her cell phone to check in. My husband and I sat and shared an ice cream sundae from the Carnation Ice Cream Shop and had time to talk to each other.
The kids showed up, the parade started and we loved it. It wasn't the first time seeing the Electrical Parade, but it never gets old. It's amazing every time.
Then we headed down among the HUGE crowd towards the castle to wait for the fireworks and see Tinkerbell float across the sky waving her wand. It was a long wait, and we were shoulder to shoulder standing with strangers and it was getting HOT. The music started the fireworks began and we quickly forgot how uncomfortable we were. We had never seen such a beautiful fireworks display.
When they were over, we fought against the crowd heading home while we tried to merge with the crowd staying for extra magic hours. We spent our time in Tomorrow Land riding the Buzz Light Year Space Ranger ride and Space Mountain. We had a snack and headed back to our hotel.
We were very tired and were looking forward to sleeping in.
The next morning we were awaken with loud hammers and drills. I guess the hotel started renovations near our room outside. Not happy about this, but what can ya do?
We spent some time at EPCOT that day since it was so close to our room and later that night we packed to leave the next morning. My husband walked over to ESPN Zone at the Boardwalk hotel (to watch the NBA playoffs) while the kids and I relaxed at our room. I went to the front desk to talk about the checking out procedure and when she asked about how our stay was, I told her it was amazing accept for the early morning renovation sounds. What did she do??? Gave us a free night and comped our dinner. WHAT??? I was so happy. Disney has the best customer service. That saved us over $300.00 and I really didn't complain.
Our vacation was close to perfect. The kids still talk about it and we can't wait to go back. Or check out Disneyland sometime.
On Monday night we decided to take advantage of the Electrical Parade and stay late for the extra magic hours at Magic Kingdom.
When they were over, we fought against the crowd heading home while we tried to merge with the crowd staying for extra magic hours. We spent our time in Tomorrow Land riding the Buzz Light Year Space Ranger ride and Space Mountain. We had a snack and headed back to our hotel.
We were very tired and were looking forward to sleeping in.
The next morning we were awaken with loud hammers and drills. I guess the hotel started renovations near our room outside. Not happy about this, but what can ya do?
We spent some time at EPCOT that day since it was so close to our room and later that night we packed to leave the next morning. My husband walked over to ESPN Zone at the Boardwalk hotel (to watch the NBA playoffs) while the kids and I relaxed at our room. I went to the front desk to talk about the checking out procedure and when she asked about how our stay was, I told her it was amazing accept for the early morning renovation sounds. What did she do??? Gave us a free night and comped our dinner. WHAT??? I was so happy. Disney has the best customer service. That saved us over $300.00 and I really didn't complain.
Our vacation was close to perfect. The kids still talk about it and we can't wait to go back. Or check out Disneyland sometime.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Mothers Day
How could I pick a better way to spend Mothers Day than with my kids at Hollywood Studios and then top it off with dinner at Animal Kingdom?
We decided to catch the ferry boat over to Hollywood Studios from the back of our hotel. The kids thought this was so cool to basically have your own boat to drive us over. It was so much easier than catching the bus. Plus it was a beautiful morning.
We waited on our pier behind the Yacht Club hotel, which is right next door, and made a few other stops at the nearby hotels. This being The Swan & Dolphin and The Boardwalk.
We spent another fun day doing the rides we thought were most fun. Such at Rockin Roller coaster, The Tower of Terror and Toy Story.
We had early dinner reservations at Boma so we had to head back to change and catch the bus over to Animal Kingdom.
Boma is one of the top rated Disney restaurants and we had eaten there 5 years prior and agreed. It is AMAZING. The food is buffet style and all African themed.
I HIGHLY recommend reservations months in advance. My son, Jason, has food allergies and one of the chefs comes along and walks us through the buffet to show us what he can/can't eat. Then for desert, they bring him rice or soy ice cream. FABULOUS!
The one and only very big downside...it's extremely expensive. It's about 35.00 per adult and our daughter is officially adult age. I don't remember what the child price is, but at that point it doesn't matter. You are looking at at least 150.00 for a family of five with 3 adults. They had a price increase since we'd last been there. Plus our daughter was younger. We may not go back for that alone. Great food, but Disney is expensive enough without adding an expensive dinner.
We spent our evening back at EPCOT to see the fireworks. They take place in the pond which is in the middle of the park. So there are lots of options to see. We walked around the World Showcase and viewed some of the Country's shops while until we found our spot. We tried on beret's in France and Matt and I shared a beer from England. Then the fireworks began. They were spectacular. But finding your spot means little when someone decides to put his child on his shoulders and walk in front of you. Really? We were all upset by that. Very rude, but what can you do. We huffed a bit and shifted over.
Another great thing about staying at The Beach Club was we turned around and walked to our hotel room. It took about 5-8 minutes. A great feature after another long and tiring day.
We waited on our pier behind the Yacht Club hotel, which is right next door, and made a few other stops at the nearby hotels. This being The Swan & Dolphin and The Boardwalk.
We spent another fun day doing the rides we thought were most fun. Such at Rockin Roller coaster, The Tower of Terror and Toy Story.
We had early dinner reservations at Boma so we had to head back to change and catch the bus over to Animal Kingdom.
Boma is one of the top rated Disney restaurants and we had eaten there 5 years prior and agreed. It is AMAZING. The food is buffet style and all African themed.
I HIGHLY recommend reservations months in advance. My son, Jason, has food allergies and one of the chefs comes along and walks us through the buffet to show us what he can/can't eat. Then for desert, they bring him rice or soy ice cream. FABULOUS!
The one and only very big downside...it's extremely expensive. It's about 35.00 per adult and our daughter is officially adult age. I don't remember what the child price is, but at that point it doesn't matter. You are looking at at least 150.00 for a family of five with 3 adults. They had a price increase since we'd last been there. Plus our daughter was younger. We may not go back for that alone. Great food, but Disney is expensive enough without adding an expensive dinner.
Another great thing about staying at The Beach Club was we turned around and walked to our hotel room. It took about 5-8 minutes. A great feature after another long and tiring day.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day Of Rest
Saturday was a perfect day for us to take a day off from the parks and check out our new hotel and pool. We had decided to check out a day early from our 'off site' hotel and get an extra day at The Beach Club Resort. We had never stayed there before and the kids were so excited to swim and see what this hotel had to offer. We also had to return the car and I figured it would be very stress free, but I had no idea how easy it would be.
We arrived at The Beach Club in the early afternoon and since I had done my pre-check in online I was moved to a shorter line where a Cast member graciously greeted me and gave us our room keys and sent us on our way.
We loaded up our things and I parked the car for a bit, while Matt and the kids took everything on a short hike to our room. We did a garden view room basically because it was the least expensive and we knew we wouldn't be in our room too much anyway. Garden view also means longest walk.
Our room was bigger than a standard room with 2 queen beds and a couch/daybed with sleeping for a 5th person. We were on the main floor so we had sliding glass doors with a little patio and table and chairs.
Staying in a deluxe hotel also gets you a mini-fridge in your room. We had stopped at Wal-Mart on our way and stocked up on snacks, lunch meat, bread, cereal and milk and drinks. Once again, this saved us so much money on food. Our kids love to eat. And eating breakfast in our room everyday or bringing snacks into the parks helped keep them happy and us happy we weren't dropping 20.00 on popcorn, giant pretzels and churos every 3 hours.
After we settled in, I knew I had to take our car back. What made this uneventful situation so nice? I literally took our Alamo rented car 5 minutes down the road to The Swan Hotel and drove up to the main entrance. A Cast Member grabbed my keys, thanked me and handed me a receipt. What??? That's it? No...Thank You! I said. Easy - Peasy.
Then Lexie, who went with me, and myself had a nice 10 minute walk back to our hotel along the beautiful walkways connecting all the hotels in that area. We walked along the waterway and saw the Boardwalk hotel and walked through The Yacht Club which is connected to the Beach Club.
We got on our suites and headed to the pool with the family. This pool is the largest of the all The Disney pools. Complete with 2 water slides, a lazy river and the best part. It has a white sandy bottom and a beach area for making sandcastles. All I can say is our day of relaxing was fabulous.
The evening was spent walking along The Boardwalk hotels actual Boardwalk looking through their shops and watching street performers do magic tricks.
After getting back to our hotel. There was a bon fire on the beach where Cast members were handing out marshmallows and sticks. And if you desire, pull up a beach chair on the beach and watch a favorite Disney movie on the ginormous movie screen under the stars.
This hotel will be hard to beat. Don't know if we'll be able to stay anywhere else after this.
We arrived at The Beach Club in the early afternoon and since I had done my pre-check in online I was moved to a shorter line where a Cast member graciously greeted me and gave us our room keys and sent us on our way.
We loaded up our things and I parked the car for a bit, while Matt and the kids took everything on a short hike to our room. We did a garden view room basically because it was the least expensive and we knew we wouldn't be in our room too much anyway. Garden view also means longest walk.
Our room was bigger than a standard room with 2 queen beds and a couch/daybed with sleeping for a 5th person. We were on the main floor so we had sliding glass doors with a little patio and table and chairs.
Staying in a deluxe hotel also gets you a mini-fridge in your room. We had stopped at Wal-Mart on our way and stocked up on snacks, lunch meat, bread, cereal and milk and drinks. Once again, this saved us so much money on food. Our kids love to eat. And eating breakfast in our room everyday or bringing snacks into the parks helped keep them happy and us happy we weren't dropping 20.00 on popcorn, giant pretzels and churos every 3 hours.
After we settled in, I knew I had to take our car back. What made this uneventful situation so nice? I literally took our Alamo rented car 5 minutes down the road to The Swan Hotel and drove up to the main entrance. A Cast Member grabbed my keys, thanked me and handed me a receipt. What??? That's it? No...Thank You! I said. Easy - Peasy.
Then Lexie, who went with me, and myself had a nice 10 minute walk back to our hotel along the beautiful walkways connecting all the hotels in that area. We walked along the waterway and saw the Boardwalk hotel and walked through The Yacht Club which is connected to the Beach Club.
We got on our suites and headed to the pool with the family. This pool is the largest of the all The Disney pools. Complete with 2 water slides, a lazy river and the best part. It has a white sandy bottom and a beach area for making sandcastles. All I can say is our day of relaxing was fabulous.
After getting back to our hotel. There was a bon fire on the beach where Cast members were handing out marshmallows and sticks. And if you desire, pull up a beach chair on the beach and watch a favorite Disney movie on the ginormous movie screen under the stars.
This hotel will be hard to beat. Don't know if we'll be able to stay anywhere else after this.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Lets See Some Animals - Day 3!
Our third day was spent at Animal Kingdom. If there is any advice I can give about coming here, it's walk as fast as you can to Kilimanjaro Safari's or Kali River Rapids to get on one and get a fast pass for the other.
We hopped on Kali River Rapids first and it wasn't cold...it was FREEZING. You can't take your shoes (or shirt for the boys) until you get on. But then they have this area in the middle of the rafts covered with a heavy cover to stow your belongings and hope they stay dry. If anyone knows me, they know it takes me 20 minutes to get into a pool below 85 degrees. So getting on this ride at 9:30 in the morning was a labor of love for my family. There is no amount of shifting or leaning in the boat that can get you to avoid the inevitable. After getting through the first round. My husband and youngest son decided they were done. I was already soaked, and my other two wanted to go again so we did. The line was so low at this time we were able to stay on the boat.
We had another amazing day here. Our son Jason is a huge animal fan. He has an amazing memory and knows where they live, what they eat, what their scientific names are for the male and females. He just has a passion for it. This combined with adrenaline rushing rides make this a favorite park for him. The Kilimanjaro Safari is a must see for anyone at the park. For other thrill seekers, check out the Dinosaur ride (very loud, dark and bumpy) and Expedition Everest. This roller coaster takes you through the mountain looking for the mysterious Yeti. At one point you are looking up into the sky where the tracks come to an end because the Yeti has tore them apart. At this point you travel backwards down the mountain. Very fun, but made me a little motion sick.
We saw a smaller version of the live production of the Lion King. A great show and also a good rest period. Another great time to rest and let the kids run loose, is the Boneyard. This is an enclosed area where the kids can climb and check out the remains of different dinosaurs. Parents can sit down while their kids take a moment to explore and play.
This park closes earlier. Probably to be respectful of the live animals and give them their 'quiet time'. If you have more than a few days to spend at Disney World, you don't want to miss this park.
We had another amazing day here. Our son Jason is a huge animal fan. He has an amazing memory and knows where they live, what they eat, what their scientific names are for the male and females. He just has a passion for it. This combined with adrenaline rushing rides make this a favorite park for him. The Kilimanjaro Safari is a must see for anyone at the park. For other thrill seekers, check out the Dinosaur ride (very loud, dark and bumpy) and Expedition Everest. This roller coaster takes you through the mountain looking for the mysterious Yeti. At one point you are looking up into the sky where the tracks come to an end because the Yeti has tore them apart. At this point you travel backwards down the mountain. Very fun, but made me a little motion sick.
This park closes earlier. Probably to be respectful of the live animals and give them their 'quiet time'. If you have more than a few days to spend at Disney World, you don't want to miss this park.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
We're going to HollyWood!
Ok, so day 2 was exciting for my oldest kids knowing they were going to Hollywood Studios. The Aerosmith Rockin' Roller coaster is explained by 2 words. ~Crazy Fun~ My oldest son, Jason is a roller coaster fan. The faster the better. This starts off in a dark, but not scary, dark alleyway with trash cans, old road signs and buildings that look like they have been vacant for a long time. Once you are buckled in and the harness comes down over your head, you are immediately jetted off to 60 mph with Aerosmith music blasting in your ears. AWESOME! Another important note, we had a short wait once again with this attraction and Tower of Terror because we followed our touring plans.
I must say before we got on the Rockin' Roller coaster we did almost sprint over to the new attraction. Toy Story Mania 3D. After waiting in the 15 minute fast pass line, we did get fast passes for that night, but I think it was for somewhere in the 9:00 pm hour. CRAZY! This ride must be good. Soon after we got our passes, I heard others say they ran out for the day and the regular line was already at 85 min. It was about 9:30am. We took our chance and decided to come back around the lunch or dinner hours hoping it would be shorter. And it was around dinner. We waited a bit but it was worth it. This ride is a new favorite with everyone. You are wearing 3D glasses, with 4 to a car and moving through this maze of carnival type games. You have a shooter where you pull this string and the 'paint balls' come popping out trying to hit targets. These are moving targets. There are scenes from balloons to plates to flying dinosaurs. All while you are racking up points listening to Woody and Buzz motivate you. The turns are quick and you are shooting as fast as you can. We quickly realized this was Camerons favorite. Very very fun!
Before all of this our day started off a little rocky, but we recovered quickly. What happened? Well, earlier that morning I was getting our backpack ready and realized we were short a park pass. It was one of the kids. WHAT??? How can we lose a ticket? What do we do? Will Disney replace it? How did it get lost? Where did it get lost? Lots of loud discussion was going on right now.
Calm down everyone...I read somewhere during my planning that as soon as you get your passes, TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BACK OF EACH ONE WITH THE BAR CODE. So I did and I had them on my phone camera.
I went to the guest services at Hollywood Studios that morning as they were able to see the 'lot' of thousands we had bought our tickets from and with the photos, they were able to see which one was lost. No problem she said...here is your new ticket. AMAZING! Again, we saved over 340.00$ just by following through on this one little tip.
It pays to research people! Another important tip if you are driving. Take a picture of the parking row number so you don't forget at the end of the day. It's easy to lose track after a long day in the sun. Once again...we had a lot of fun.
I must say before we got on the Rockin' Roller coaster we did almost sprint over to the new attraction. Toy Story Mania 3D. After waiting in the 15 minute fast pass line, we did get fast passes for that night, but I think it was for somewhere in the 9:00 pm hour. CRAZY! This ride must be good. Soon after we got our passes, I heard others say they ran out for the day and the regular line was already at 85 min. It was about 9:30am. We took our chance and decided to come back around the lunch or dinner hours hoping it would be shorter. And it was around dinner. We waited a bit but it was worth it. This ride is a new favorite with everyone. You are wearing 3D glasses, with 4 to a car and moving through this maze of carnival type games. You have a shooter where you pull this string and the 'paint balls' come popping out trying to hit targets. These are moving targets. There are scenes from balloons to plates to flying dinosaurs. All while you are racking up points listening to Woody and Buzz motivate you. The turns are quick and you are shooting as fast as you can. We quickly realized this was Camerons favorite. Very very fun!
Before all of this our day started off a little rocky, but we recovered quickly. What happened? Well, earlier that morning I was getting our backpack ready and realized we were short a park pass. It was one of the kids. WHAT??? How can we lose a ticket? What do we do? Will Disney replace it? How did it get lost? Where did it get lost? Lots of loud discussion was going on right now.
Calm down everyone...I read somewhere during my planning that as soon as you get your passes, TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BACK OF EACH ONE WITH THE BAR CODE. So I did and I had them on my phone camera.
I went to the guest services at Hollywood Studios that morning as they were able to see the 'lot' of thousands we had bought our tickets from and with the photos, they were able to see which one was lost. No problem she said...here is your new ticket. AMAZING! Again, we saved over 340.00$ just by following through on this one little tip.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
!st Day Magic Kingdom
I planned out our week based on touring plans I found on the internet. People have done lots of research of when to go to which park based on the time of year and Extra Magic Hours (EMH). Thats when one of the parks opens either an hour early or stays open late for Disney Hotel guests only. That makes that particular park busier that day.
We decided on Magic Kingdom for our first day. We had a rental car at this point so I knew we'd need to park in the lot and pay. The benefit to this is, you don't have to wait for the Disney bus (or outside hotel shuttle) AND you only pay one parking fee for that day. For example, if you decide to go to EPCOT later you keep your parking receipt and don't have to pay again.
Even the drive in was exciting. Looking at the signs that move with big Disney characters or seeing a larger than life Mickey as you enter the park starts your morning off right.
Then we get to the ferry boat launch to take us over to the Magic Kingdom. This and the monorail are the only two transportation options from the parking lot. This was by far our longest and hottest wait all day. The monorail was closed that morning and we had about a 45 min wait to get on the ferry.
Once we made our way over we knew immediately what rides to hit first and what fast passes to get.
Again, we used our tourning plans for day planning at The Magic Kingdom. It worked wonderful. We didn't wait for more than maybe 25 minutes in our longest line. We were able to do Splash Mountain about 4 times. We used the parent switch option with the fast passes which was also a life saver for our youngest, Cameron.
I had also checked out all the restuarant research to find where we could eat, getting the best and most food for our money. Lunch was at Peco Bills. A decent hamburger place. Love that you get lots of extras to add to your burger. Like sauted mushrooms, onions, pickles...And they give you carrots and grapes with your burger and fries. Most places give you theses extras with your meal. It was more than enough food. And if you don't want to eat your grapes or carrots until later, throw them in your backpack and snack later. They are individually wrapped.
Our day went off without a hitch. It was a wonderful beginning. A few other important things to note. I bought filtered water bottles. Each one came with a charcoal filter sort of like the Brita filters. That way we filled them up throughout the day with water from the fountain and avoided buying the 3-5$ water bottles. And you can bring in snacks to the park. Another plus when going to Disney!
We decided on Magic Kingdom for our first day. We had a rental car at this point so I knew we'd need to park in the lot and pay. The benefit to this is, you don't have to wait for the Disney bus (or outside hotel shuttle) AND you only pay one parking fee for that day. For example, if you decide to go to EPCOT later you keep your parking receipt and don't have to pay again.
Even the drive in was exciting. Looking at the signs that move with big Disney characters or seeing a larger than life Mickey as you enter the park starts your morning off right.
Then we get to the ferry boat launch to take us over to the Magic Kingdom. This and the monorail are the only two transportation options from the parking lot. This was by far our longest and hottest wait all day. The monorail was closed that morning and we had about a 45 min wait to get on the ferry.
Once we made our way over we knew immediately what rides to hit first and what fast passes to get.
Again, we used our tourning plans for day planning at The Magic Kingdom. It worked wonderful. We didn't wait for more than maybe 25 minutes in our longest line. We were able to do Splash Mountain about 4 times. We used the parent switch option with the fast passes which was also a life saver for our youngest, Cameron.
I had also checked out all the restuarant research to find where we could eat, getting the best and most food for our money. Lunch was at Peco Bills. A decent hamburger place. Love that you get lots of extras to add to your burger. Like sauted mushrooms, onions, pickles...And they give you carrots and grapes with your burger and fries. Most places give you theses extras with your meal. It was more than enough food. And if you don't want to eat your grapes or carrots until later, throw them in your backpack and snack later. They are individually wrapped.
Our day went off without a hitch. It was a wonderful beginning. A few other important things to note. I bought filtered water bottles. Each one came with a charcoal filter sort of like the Brita filters. That way we filled them up throughout the day with water from the fountain and avoided buying the 3-5$ water bottles. And you can bring in snacks to the park. Another plus when going to Disney!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Dining and other details
Ok, so now we know where we are staying. We know when and we have our airline booked. But the planning is far from over.
I knew we had to rent a car now because we were staying off property for a few days. Being a Costco member, I knew we could save on car rental. But did you know you could combine discounts if you got special promo codes? I didn't either. But I was thrilled to find that out. Car rental is not cheap.
Two great things with our car rental. 1. We were upgraded to a mini-van when we picked up our car. Again, that space issue is huge with us! 2. I was able to drop it off at The Swan hotel which was right next to us and then then walk 10 minutes back to our hotel. Once we were on Disney property, we had 'free' transportation. We didn't need to pay for a car the entire time.
Stroller rental was also an issue. Cameron was almost 5. He could walk a lot, but I knew 2 things. He would tire quickly and he's too big to carry. And, I didn't want to fly with a stroller.
So with more research, I found a great place to rent strollers. The Disney strollers are great, but you have to turn them in when you leave the park. There is still some walking either to your car or your bus after you leave the park. This company dropped then off and picked them up for free at the hotel. AWESOME!
Our big guy sleeping as we wait for the Electrical Parade in his comfy stroller.
I knew we had to rent a car now because we were staying off property for a few days. Being a Costco member, I knew we could save on car rental. But did you know you could combine discounts if you got special promo codes? I didn't either. But I was thrilled to find that out. Car rental is not cheap.
Two great things with our car rental. 1. We were upgraded to a mini-van when we picked up our car. Again, that space issue is huge with us! 2. I was able to drop it off at The Swan hotel which was right next to us and then then walk 10 minutes back to our hotel. Once we were on Disney property, we had 'free' transportation. We didn't need to pay for a car the entire time.
Stroller rental was also an issue. Cameron was almost 5. He could walk a lot, but I knew 2 things. He would tire quickly and he's too big to carry. And, I didn't want to fly with a stroller.
So with more research, I found a great place to rent strollers. The Disney strollers are great, but you have to turn them in when you leave the park. There is still some walking either to your car or your bus after you leave the park. This company dropped then off and picked them up for free at the hotel. AWESOME!
Our big guy sleeping as we wait for the Electrical Parade in his comfy stroller. Everything else came along great. I used online coupon sites to save money on restaurants near by. Even one at Downtown Disney. The House of Blues had great food and service.
A few important details when planning your dining. You can share adult plates or adults can eat from the kids menus to save money. Most of the time the meals are big enough. You can bring in food to the parks. We brought lots of snacks to help avoid the 25.00 'snack' runs with popcorn and pretzels. And if you want to dine in a Disney full service restaurant, make your reservations IMMEDIATELY. They will book up fast.
We ate at Boma at the Animal Kingdom for the second time. Although the food was amazing. And the chef comes around to show us what is safe for our son with food allergies, it was far too expensive for us. I think the prices had gone up by 10.00/person. We came out of this wonderful buffet restaurant spending over 150.00.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Picking A Hotel
I was so excited to start planning this trip. I love to find deals and save money on our vacations. Somehow it makes it seem more fun knowing I have planned how to get more for less.
The first thing I did was check out the Disney hotels. I quickly found out that our choices were limited with 5 family members. Since Cameron was no longer in a 'crib', he had to have his own bed and there aren't too many hotels on Disney property that accommodate that need within our budget. Another important factor with our family is we need space. I consider our kids pretty typical. They don't like being touched by one another. They don't like to be annoyed by their youngest sibling. And of course they fight over who sleeps where and with who.
So I needed to figure out where we could stay with the most space, again within our budget. We considered the family suites at All Star Music Resort. This is the only Value resort with two rooms that has enough sleeping space for us. But, it wasn't available. I considered a Disney hotel with a trundle but it was pretty small. And then there was the option of adjoining rooms. But by the time you pay for that, you might as well get a Deluxe category hotel room .
After all the phone calls to a Disney rep and checking hotel dates, I ended up booking an off site property that is similar to an Embassy Suites that I found an AMAZING deal on. The room was a bit smaller, but provided enough beds (and TVs) and gave us a hot breakfast each morning. As I was researching off-site hotels I found many of them have resort fee's AND parking fees. (be aware of that when you are searching) That was not something I was willing to pay for. And this hotel did not have that! BONUS AGAIN!
I made some Disney phone calls again to check on hotels for part of our stay. Because we were saving so much on our first hotel, I knew we could splurge a little on the Disney hotel. I even asked what the square footage of the rooms were. Keeping in mind the smallest difference in space was still important in keeping our personal space boundaries.
We decided on a Deluxe hotel that was AMAZING! The location, the space, the beds and pool was everything we were looking for. Why this one over the other Deluxe category hotels? The pool was the deciding factor! A white sandy bottom. How could you go wrong with that?
The first thing I did was check out the Disney hotels. I quickly found out that our choices were limited with 5 family members. Since Cameron was no longer in a 'crib', he had to have his own bed and there aren't too many hotels on Disney property that accommodate that need within our budget. Another important factor with our family is we need space. I consider our kids pretty typical. They don't like being touched by one another. They don't like to be annoyed by their youngest sibling. And of course they fight over who sleeps where and with who.
So I needed to figure out where we could stay with the most space, again within our budget. We considered the family suites at All Star Music Resort. This is the only Value resort with two rooms that has enough sleeping space for us. But, it wasn't available. I considered a Disney hotel with a trundle but it was pretty small. And then there was the option of adjoining rooms. But by the time you pay for that, you might as well get a Deluxe category hotel room .
After all the phone calls to a Disney rep and checking hotel dates, I ended up booking an off site property that is similar to an Embassy Suites that I found an AMAZING deal on. The room was a bit smaller, but provided enough beds (and TVs) and gave us a hot breakfast each morning. As I was researching off-site hotels I found many of them have resort fee's AND parking fees. (be aware of that when you are searching) That was not something I was willing to pay for. And this hotel did not have that! BONUS AGAIN!
I made some Disney phone calls again to check on hotels for part of our stay. Because we were saving so much on our first hotel, I knew we could splurge a little on the Disney hotel. I even asked what the square footage of the rooms were. Keeping in mind the smallest difference in space was still important in keeping our personal space boundaries.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Who Makes the Final Decision?
Well it certainly isn't dad. His intentions were clear but that quickly changed when we started making our plans. Let me explain.
On our last Disney World Vacation, our youngest son Cameron was about 15 months old. We decided to go then knowing our older 2 kids were tall enough, not in a stroller, and past the nap time phase. They would enjoy it AND remember it. Another huge plus...Cam was FREE! If any of you have been to DW before, you know not too many things are free. The water fountain and brochures are the only things that come to mind right now.
So why not right? Lets go. Ok, well on the way home from that vacation, my DH said, "We are not coming back until Cameron is 5."
Alright, I understand. Not only is it very expensive, but we want him to remember the trip and be tall enough to have the choice of going on the attractions as well.
I think my husband and I sort of thought the kids would forget we said that. I mean, it was 4 1/2 years ago. But...they didn't. Why don't they have that kind of memory when it comes to homework?
So the planning started...let's go in September. It will be a lot less crowded and the prices of the hotels are less. Well, September happens to be very busy month for Matt at work. October, there are too many activities they would miss at school. And the summer was too hot. So...let's go in May. WHAT? (says my DH) Cameron won't be 5 until August. That goes against our plans. Let's go next year when he's 5 1/2.
My reply was something of a whinny gasp. How can you start talking about going to Disney World to 3 'Disney Crazed' kids (and wife) but not go for another year??
You can't...
So, who made our final decision? It was the majority. The BIG Disney Fans! 3 kids + mom.
My first reaction, 'WOOHOO, LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!
On our last Disney World Vacation, our youngest son Cameron was about 15 months old. We decided to go then knowing our older 2 kids were tall enough, not in a stroller, and past the nap time phase. They would enjoy it AND remember it. Another huge plus...Cam was FREE! If any of you have been to DW before, you know not too many things are free. The water fountain and brochures are the only things that come to mind right now.
So why not right? Lets go. Ok, well on the way home from that vacation, my DH said, "We are not coming back until Cameron is 5."
Alright, I understand. Not only is it very expensive, but we want him to remember the trip and be tall enough to have the choice of going on the attractions as well.
I think my husband and I sort of thought the kids would forget we said that. I mean, it was 4 1/2 years ago. But...they didn't. Why don't they have that kind of memory when it comes to homework?
So the planning started...let's go in September. It will be a lot less crowded and the prices of the hotels are less. Well, September happens to be very busy month for Matt at work. October, there are too many activities they would miss at school. And the summer was too hot. So...let's go in May. WHAT? (says my DH) Cameron won't be 5 until August. That goes against our plans. Let's go next year when he's 5 1/2.
My reply was something of a whinny gasp. How can you start talking about going to Disney World to 3 'Disney Crazed' kids (and wife) but not go for another year??
You can't...
So, who made our final decision? It was the majority. The BIG Disney Fans! 3 kids + mom.
My first reaction, 'WOOHOO, LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!
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