Movin with Mickey Update!

Happy Monday, folks; hope you all had a great weekend!

This will be a quick post, but I wanted to update you on my Movin with Mickey progress. I was able to get in quite a few steps on the cruise so it really bumped up my total! Right now, I'm over 390,000 steps.

I did pretty good on my cruise in terms of getting in exercise and eating well. I still had dessert, ice cream, etc but I also kept an eye on the choices I was making. I came home the same weight as I left, which I consider a win!

I will update you more in another post on my other goals and how those are going, but I wanted to get the steps update out right away this morning.

Have a magical day!

Trip Report - Hawaii bound on the Disney Wonder - Thursday, September 10, 2015

Today was our third (out of five) sea days and guess what was on the plan? 

Relaxation. Yes, I know you’re surprised! :)

After having breakfast with Michelle at Beach Blanket, I got ready for the day and decided I’d like to see the newest Avengers movie in the Buena Vista Theatre.  I’d seen it at home when it was released, but thought it’d be a nice way to spend the morning. 

As I rounded the corner to the theatre, I smelled that “you’re at a movie” smell - popcorn. YUM. I couldn’t resist, and bought some popcorn in a reusable Disney bucket. For $7.50, you got the popcorn and bucket, with refills at $3.50.

The movie was about two and a half hours, so then it was time for lunch! :) (are you sensing a pattern here…..eating and eating and more eating). They were having a BBQ as another lunch option, but the crowd was pretty good-sized so I decided to just do the regular lunch buffet.

After some couscous salad and veggies (OK, OK, I had dessert too….I’m on vacation!), I decided to make my way to Deck 10 to read my book. And there I stayed for about 2 hours. HEAVEN. Michelle recommended a book to me and so while the internet was at a cooperating point, I was able to log into Amazon and purchase it, and download it to my Kindle. Score! :) it was a super relaxing afternoon; I was on a chaise on Deck 10, facing the ocean and just reading and watching us sail peacefully across the Pacific.

Some people have asked about the sea conditions as you cross the open ocean. We had AMAZING weather and it’s been such a calm passage. I haven’t noticed any difference between this cruise and when we’re sailing towards the Bahamas or Caribbean. As I sat here writing this, I was watching the ocean and it was just perfect; small waves here and there, but quite calm. There had been some hurricane activity in the area last week and so we weren’t sure if we would need to go off course and sail around storms, but so far so good.

After a quiet and calm evening, I did some more reading in the room when Michelle and her son went to a movie. Michelle and I then had a fabulous dinner at Palo - antipasti, appetizers, that amazing Filet and of course, the Palo Souffle. We rolled ourselves out of Palo and right into bed. With full bellies, we were asleep in no time!

LIVE from the Disney Wonder - Tuesday, September 8th 2015

Today was our first of five at sea days. These days are my absolute FAVORITE of any cruise itinerary; honestly, if they could do an itinerary where they just sailed around nowhere and you had all sea days, I would book that in a hot minute.

We all slept really well. I am still getting used to the time change, and so I did wake up early, about 4AM (which is 6AM at home). However, I was able to get back to sleep until about 8:30AM so that was great. I’m trying to get on the current time sleeping-and-waking schedule and so far, so good. Once I got up, I went and grabbed some coffee and Michelle and I sat on the balcony, chatting for a few minutes before it was time to get ready for Palo brunch!

Oh Palo brunch…..you guys, seriously ~ I could go ON AND ON. It’s so delicious. At $30/person I feel like it’s well worth it. There are so many great options - fruits, savory items, caviar (YES), pastries, desserts as well as made-to-order items that you can have as well. Michelle and I decided to split a pizza (they will do half and half if you want to try more than one flavor), I got Eggs Benedict (the BEST) and Michelle chose the Chicken Parmasan. You also get a complimentary beverage like a mimosa or sparkling wine and of course soda, tea, coffee, etc are included. Michelle knew (name) from past cruises and so we requested him. Another excellent DCL server! Really, these folks are amazing.

It was a nice leisurely meal, and we were there about an hour and a half. After eating, we decided to visit the cruise shopping options. There is a SUPER CUTE Mickey and Minnie graphic for these Hawaii cruises and I wanted to get a Tervis cup with that graphic. I like having a larger cup to fill up at the beverage machines vs their smaller cups they provide and figured they’d have a special one this cruise, so I didn’t bring one from home. I’ll probably go back and get a magnet and that’ll be the extent of my souvenir shopping.

After changing out of the dress I wore to Palo, I decided to go up the adults area on Deck 9 and do some blog writing. Another thing I love about cruising is all the uninterrupted writing time I have, and so far this cruise has been no exception.

I spent a nice hour or so writing blog posts, and then decided to head to the room for a bit. Having a balcony is SO nice, it was great to spend some time out there with my Kindle and read, watching the ocean go by…..bliss.

Dinner tonight was at Animator’s Palette, one of my favorite menus of the cruise. Michelle and I split the pasta pursettes, which is right up there for me as one of my favorite DCL appetizers EVER. I also had the squash soup, and the beef tenderloin. I typically don’t choose red meat but decided to go out on a limb today and was so glad I did - it was delicious. We also saw the special show they do at Animators with a special guest - Mickey Mouse! This is my favorite incarnation of Mickey Mouse and so I always love this show.

I ended my night in the Rainforest spa, in the saunas and showers. SO relaxing. I also discovered they have the facial cleaners and toners that they use in the spa, free and available for our use.

We ended the night by watching movies in the room, and drifted off to sleep. We got a notice in our room that we were to turn our clocks back an hour before we went to bed - getting closer to that Hawaii time zone!

Thanks for reading; I apologize that my internet has been spotty and I’ve not been able to post live blogs as I would like, so these are a few days behind “real time”. 

Have a magical day!

LIVE from the Disney Wonder ~ Hawaii Cruise, Embarkation Day!

Hello from somewhere in the Pacific Ocean! :) I was hoping to post every day but our internet out here on the Pacific has been spotty. I'll post updates when I can; and when we get to Hilo, HI on Sunday, I'll have even better signal so hopefully I can post some more blog updates. I will also be posting more photos to Facebook and Instagram, so stayed tuned for those!

On Sunday AM, I flew out early from Des Moines and arrived in Vancouver about 11:30AM local time. Michelle (my agency owner) and her son also arrived about the same time, which was great. We went through security and customs at the airport, grabbed our bags, and then got on the train to go from the airport to downtown Vancouver, and the Pan Pacific Hotel.

A quick note about the Vancouver airport; if you’re flying in from the US, you will go through a customs line in order to gain entrance into Canada. Once you get off the plane, customs is the first thing you do (and I didn’t see any chances to visit the restroom before you get in line, so you’ll want to do that on the plane before you disembark). The line can look long, but it moves pretty fast. They have these pretty neat self-serve machines where you scan your passport, answer some questions and then a receipt is printed out. You get in another line (which also moves pretty fast) and then show that receipt and your passport to one of the Canadian customs agents. From there, you are right at baggage claim and then it’s a very easy walk to the train, taxis or shuttles. I would say it took about 15-20 minutes to get through customs.

We then exited the airport and went to the train station; it’s about $6 US to get a train ticket, and it only took about 20 minutes to arrive at the Waterfront station. From there, it was a quick 5 minute walk and then we arrived at the Pan Pacific!

Seriously, you guys - if you sail out of Vancouver, you HAVE to stay at the Pan Pacific. The location can’t be beat; the cruise port is RIGHT at the hotel, so you just go downstairs to do your check in and go through security. They even have a service where they’ll come and get your bags from you, and transport them to baggage services for you! You just attach those baggage tags that come in your documents and they’ll grab them for you. 

The price for a room is about $250-300 per night, but for convenience and ease it can’t be beat. You’re also very close to lots of eating and shopping, as well as places like Stanley Park, so if you’re looking for things to do in the days before you sail there is plenty to do. 

When we arrived Sunday night, we chose to stay pretty close to the hotel and relax; we knew we’d have a busy day on Monday so we wanted to stay close. Michelle and I did end up walking to a market/grocery store that’s about a 5-10 minute walk from Pan Pacific, and getting some snacks and extras we forgot to pack. We then all turned in early, and were getting SO excited to cruise!

Coming up next - Monday: cruise embarkation day!

Bon Voyage! Vancouver and Hawaii, here I come!

Hello, friends! Today is the last blog entry before I leave on my Vancouver-Hawaii adventure on the Disney Wonder. I am leaving home tomorrow afternoon, with an early flight to Vancouver on Sunday morning.

I will be doing a post each day about what happened the previous day, so be sure and stay tuned for those!

I will also be sharing LOTS of pictures and videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so be sure you're following me there (those links are on the top of this page).

Once we get to Hawaii, I'll also be doing LIVE Periscope videos from the islands, as well as Disney's Aulani Resort, so make sure you're signed up for Periscope if you're not already.

I'm pretty excited to take this journey and am equally excited to have you along!

Have a magical day!

Expenses on a Disney Cruise - Making your Vacation Budget

REAL soon is right!

It's just a short two weeks until I cruise on the Wonder. As I posted a few weeks ago, I'm finalizing my plans, packing list, etc.

Another item that's always on my pre-vacation list is finalizing my vacation budget. Some items are fixed and some expenses are varied, so let's talk about those.

Fixed expenses can include:

 - Your cruise fare.

Yes, you have to actually pay money to cruise. I know, I know...what a bummer. :)

 - Travel expenses to get to the port.

Whether you fly or drive, you'll have some expenses in getting to the port before your cruise. This may include plane tickets, pre and/or post cruise hotels, gas, parking fees, food while on the road, etc. I always estimate on the high side, and add in 10-15% extra for unexpected expenses.

 - Gratuities and tips.

Some might say these aren't in the Fixed category, but I feel they're so important that they're always in that column of my vacation budget. With Disney (and many other cruise lines), the set tips for your cruise are added to your onboard account. You can always increase or decrease those amounts, but please plan on paying those. I've always had exceptional service on cruises and I want to convey that thanks to the stateroom attendant and dinner staff.

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Now let's talk about those expenses that you CAN have, but certainly aren't necessary. Depending on my budget for the cruise, I might add some of these extras into my vacation.

Your extra expenses might be:

 - Excursions

Whether you do excursions through the cruise line or on your own, you can spend some big bucks. I usually pick one (maybe two) excursions over the course of the cruise. For instance, in Honolulu I really want to see Pearl Harbor, so that's my excursion for this cruise.

Also, you can do a little research and see if there are cheaper options to tour the ports, or if there are other reputable companies running less expensive tours. Just be sure that if you decide to walk around or book an excursion through another company that you do your research and keep safety in mind.

 - Spa treatments

The spa on Disney Cruise Line is a magical place, but that magic comes at a price. If you're looking to cut down on expenses, I would stay away from the spa treatments.

If the spa is your "thing" on a cruise, and you're on a tight budget, consider having your spa treatment(s) stand in for excursion and/or souvenir expenses. I did this about a year ago, and had the BEST hot stone massage of my life. It was heaven. SO worth it!

 - Alcohol or extra food charges (such as Palo) 

On DCL, all of your food is included with the exception of some of the Signature dining offerings such as Palo. Palo is adults-only and offers both brunch and dinner. It's $30/person and VERY much worth it, I think. I always include at least one Palo meal in my cruise budget! On the Dream and Fantasy, there is also Remy, a very fancy French restaurant that is $75/person.

Of course, alcohol is also an extra expense. Disney recently revised their carry on policy for alcohol; you can no longer bring on liquor but you can, at embarkation and each port, up to two bottles of wine or champagne or 6 bottles of beer per person over 21. If you like to have a glass of wine or beer during the day and would rather not pay the cruise prices, feel free to bring some on board with you. (They ask that you only consume it in your room.)

 - Souvenirs

I try and limit myself to just a few souvenir items on vacation. On the cruise, I'll typically buy a small commemorative item, such as a pin, a magnet, etc. If I see a really cute DCL Tervis cup that I love, I'll buy that too. On a cruise of this length (10 days), I'm planning on spending less than $50 on souvenirs.

I used to buy a lot. A LOT. And then I moved and started to sort through all the crap (I mean, priceless treasures) that I'd bought over the years and realized that I just don't need all of it. A few small tokens and reminders of the trip work great for me.

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One of my favorite aspects of a Disney cruise are all the free activities that you can do, without spending another dime. You can see the Broadway-caliber stage shows, go to cooking demonstrations, trivia, and fun classes like learning how they fold those sweet towel animals, all for FREE. It's very possible to not spend a fortune in on board charges, and you can still have a GREAT cruise.

What extras, if any, do you budget for on your cruise vacations?

Have a magical day!

Movin' with Mickey Monday - Update + My Healthy Cruising Plan

Hello, everyone! Hope you all had a magnificent weekend! If you followed along on our Facebook page, you saw ALL the great and wonderful news coming out of Anaheim and the D23 event. I'll do a recap later this week, but it's time for a Movin with Mickey progress report so I didn't want to neglect that.

I wanted to give you a general update on how the Movin with Mickey is going - short answer, it's great! In the last 6 weeks I've lost over 9 lbs so that's been great to see. Some of my clothes are starting to get loose, which is always fun!

I am not doing so great on my plan to do yoga a few times a week but am planning on doing that this week. I always feel great after I do it, I just need to make the time.

I also wanted to give an update on how I'm planning on following my eating and exercise plan while on Disney Cruise Line. For those of you who might not know - in early September I am going on a 10 night cruise on the Disney Wonder from Vancouver to Honolulu, Hawaii. I want to enjoy my vacation but not put myself behind fitness and eating wise, so here is my plan:

* Walk around Deck 4 every day for 2-3 miles.

On the Classic ships (the Wonder and the Magic), three times around Deck 4 is a mile.  It's also one of my favorite parts of DCL, such a great place to relax and watch the world go by. I plan on walking every morning or at some point during every day, as both a way to relax and get in some exercise.

* Make sure I get all my fruits and veggies in during the day.

At meals and for snacks, I'll make sure I continue to choose lots of fruits and vegetables like I do at home. One of the great things is not only are there lots of healthy choices available in the dining rooms, you can also get walk-up fruits and veggies as well from the quick service locations on deck.

*ENJOY myself on vacation!

I am not using vacation as an excuse to go wild and throw away the progress I've made - but I also realize that vacations are special, and so I'll enjoy the treats I'll have. Some of my favorite breakfast items on DCL are the Mickey waffles and the Eggs Benedict. I will still enjoy those, but perhaps every other day instead of every morning. I also plan on having a dessert at dinner each night, so perhaps I'll not have the soup or appetizer course each night as well. I'll continue to make good choices while not stressing out about it, because where's the fun in that?

How are you all doing on your fitness and health journeys?

Have a magical day!

The Next Adventure!

from http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/explore-map/

Today I wanted to share with you my next adventure! I'm pretty excited and can't wait to tell you all about it.

From January - early April 2016, I'll be living in Fort Myers, Florida! I'll be staying with my sister (my aunt and uncle also live there) and am very excited. This has been in the works for the last few months but now I've got all the details worked out so I wanted to keep you all in the loop.

I'm so incredibly excited, I could burst.

I'll be able to do a lot of cool things this winter; I'm so excited to share those experiences with all of you. I'll be closer to the theme parks (not just Disney but also Universal, Sea World, etc) and so can bring you even more up-to-date news, pictures and videos. I also want to explore other Florida vacation spots and attractions, too, and share that information with you. I've got all sorts of ideas in mind, but I'm really open to any of your ideas and hope you'll share with me the types of things you'd like to see.

I'm also collaborating with my friend Krista and the Living the Dream Podcast team and will have many more opportunities to bring you along on some awesome media experiences including meet and greets with Disney royalty, movie premiers, openings of new attractions, etc.

I'm very excited to bring you along on this new adventure! Stay tuned for more info!

Have a magical day!

The Pool at Disney's Grand Californian

One of my favorite parts about staying at the Grand Californian at Disneyland was the amazing pool area. I didn't get to spend nearly enough time out there this trip, but trust me - I'll be back! So many great places to lounge, read, watch the kids, etc. It's a large pool area; there are three separate pools, including a waterslide, a hot tub and a shallow area for little ones who like to splash around.

You can also rent poolside cabanas for the day! I neglected to check the price but they looked awesome; a nice covered place to sit, beverages, towels, etc - perfect for a hot California day!

What Disney resort pool is your favorite?

Have a magical day!

My reivew of "The Wisdom of Walt" by Jeffrey A. Barnes

"Big dreams require big canvases."

As I started reading Jeffrey Barnes book "The Wisdom of Walt - Leadership Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth", this particular sentence on page 51 hit me upside the head. Like all good advice, it's succinct but powerful. Not only did it resonate with me, it also set the stage for the remainder of the book.

Mr. Barnes is an author, professional keynote speaker and university professor who gives a wonderfully unique and interesting perspective about using lessons from Walt Disney's life, and the creation of Disneyland, as inspirations for success.

With chapters titled "Taking Care of Your Team", Listening to your 'Walter Ego'", "Using Forced Perspective" and my personal favorite, "Telling Stories," Mr. Barnes relays how you the reader can gain leadership skills by using the lessons of Walt Disney and the creation of Disneyland.

One of my favorite sections of the book is Chapter 6, "Mastering the 4 Cs" of Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy." I've re-read this section a few times - SO many great lessons.

I also really enjoyed that Mr. Barnes gives you space within the chapters to write down your own ideas and thoughts; this was a nice surprise, something you don't see in other books. He asks questions related to the chapter material, and then encourages you to think about what you just read and apply it to your own life. I jotted down some of my own notes; it'll be very interesting to read those a year from now, 5 years, etc and see if any of the answers have changed, or what action steps I was able to put into place.

Some of you might wonder if this book is a good fit for you; I would argue that we're all working towards a goal. Maybe you're working on accomplishing a dream and are looking for some inspiration as you start your journey. Do yourself a favor, and pick up this book!

There's so much I could talk about in relation to the book but we'd be here all day (and for quite a few days, actually). If you're a Disney fan and always like learning more about the history of Disney (from Walt's life to the theme parks), this book is for you. If you're someone who's looking for a "how-to" to jumpstart moving towards your goals, this book is for you. Even the non-Disney fans (or perhaps, not as passionate fans) in your life will really enjoy "The Wisdom of Walt." I plan on sharing it with my parents, my uncle and brother, as I think there are great principles and ideas they could apply to their particular businesses.

As Mr. Barnes states, "Reading this book will change the way you see and experience Disneyland. Instead of being a place of escape, Disneyland will become for you a model of success. Learn how the Park can challenge you to live your dream, inspire you to take action, and teach you how to create your own magic so that every day for you is as fun as a day at Disneyland."

You can purchase the book through Mr. Barnes' website www.thewisdomofwalt.com or on Amazon. Please treat yourself and pick up this book - you'll be glad you did!

Have a magical day!

I was provided a complimentary copy of Mr. Barnes book for my review. All opinions are my own.

it's a small world - Disneyland style

One of the things I was most excited about seeing at Disneyland were those attractions that are also at Walt Disney World. I knew there'd be some similarities and differences, and I was looking forward to checking those out for myself.

When I arrived at Disneyland that Saturday, May 30th, I got checked into my hotel, freshened up a bit and then headed right over to Disneyland. I couldn't wait to get in my first Disneyland attraction.

So I went over to it's a small world!

The difference from Walt Disney World is apparent right away; the loading for the attraction is outside, so as you line up and step into your boat for the Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed, you're in the nice California sunshine.

The building that houses it's a small world is ADORABLE. I loved it. Similar in color scheme to its counterpart at Walt Disney World, but with enough differences to still be brand-new to me.

Riding the attraction itself was very cool - it's the small world you've come to know, but with some important differences. In the midst of the animatronic children/dolls that are familiar, you see some of the Disney characters! I didn't know about this difference beforehand, so it was cool to ride it for the first time and check out how the characters were represented. You'll see Cinderella, Nemo and Dory, Woody and Jessie, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, and so many more. When I rode later in the week with my nieces and nephews, my niece and I tried to make up a game and find as many characters as we could.

As our cruise was nearing an end, the ending was also a bit different. At Walt Disney World, you see "Goodbye" in various languages; here at Disneyland, it's post cards from all over the world, letting people know what a great time they're having at Disneyland. Super cute!

I have to say, after going on this attraction - I prefer the Disneyland version over the Walt Disney World version! Having the characters represented is a lot of fun. Next time you're on the attraction, see how many you can count.

Have a magical day!

Dining Review: World of Color Dining Package

As we were planning on June 2015 Disneyland vacation, my cousin and I knew we wanted to see World of Color, the AMAZING nighttime show at California Adventure. (Don't worry, I'll dedicate a whole post to that incredible-ness later.) In reading about the show, I knew how popular it was, and since we had three little ones with us, we wanted to avoid waiting in a line or jockeying for space in what I knew would be tight quarters.

I'd read about the World of Color dining package, and that seemed to be the best bet for us. After consulting the menus and dining options, we chose lunch at Wine Country Trattoria, located near the entrance to Cars Land in California Adventure. (You could also chose to eat dinner.)

We arrived on time for our reservation, and we seated shortly. The format for the meal is prix fixe - for about $40.00 per adult and $20.00 per child, you get your choice of soup or salad, an entree and then a desert sampler. There is also a kids menu with many standard choices - pizza, sandwiches, pasta, etc.

There were many delicious choices and we all tried to pick something different, so we could sample each other's meals.

I chose the salad and it did not disappoint. It was delicious and fresh, and the perfect meal starter. My cousin and her husband both chose soup; one getting the tomato and another the Italian wedding soup. I like the wedding soup the best - the little meatballs were delicious and it was all well-seasoned.

For the main meal, I chose the Potato Gnocchi. Oh MY this was so good - cooked perfectly and a large portion, as well. My cousin's husband chose the salad with sautéed shrimp, and once word got out how good those shrimp where, I think he only had one or two for himself!

My cousin Kim chose a special that wasn't listed on the menu; a pasta with broccoli, which she liked. In tasting the entrees, however, we agreed that my Gnocchi was perhaps the best of what we'd gotten. In the picture below, the items are: Gnocchi at top left, salad at top right, shrimp salad at bottom left and broccoli pasta at bottom right.

I didn't take pictures of the kid's meals but they enjoyed them; they each had a mini pizza and a side of vegetables.

Finally came the grand finale - the desserts! In looking at the menu, we thought we each had to choose something but they bring you a sampler platter with one of EACH of those amazing offerings listed on the menu - DROOL. We had a tiramisu, macaroons, panna cotta and a lemon creme puff. They give a full platter to each two adults, so we ended up with two platters of desserts which was more than enough. All of us, kids included, sampled a little bit of everything. As I gravitate towards fruity things, my personal favorite was the Lemon Cream Puff.

At the conclusion of the meal, our server came to our table with 6 FastPasses for the World of Color show. He told us where to go and the return time for the FastPasses.

However, here's a tip - go EARLIER than they say. On the tickets was printed a time of 8:45 PM, as the show starts at 9PM. However, lines start to form about 7:45ish and they start letting people into the WoC viewing area around 8PM. Ask the cast members where the line is forming for the dining packages, and they'll tell you where to go. This means that you'll be at the viewing area about an hour before the show starts, BUT you'll also have a better chance of standing right near the front. The WoC dining FastPasses are the very front of the viewing area and it's first come standing area only but the view cannot be beat. You will get a bit damp (as they project the images onto water) but it's so worth it.

I would do this again in a heartbeat; in fact, when I go back in November I plan on doing it again and trying another of the restaurants offered.

Have you done this dining package before? What did you think?

Have a magical day!

How to be a Considerate Theme Park Go-er (or, Be Gone, Selfie Sticks!)

Let's talk about this picture for a second. I was trying to get my nephew to laugh so I though "let's take a selfie, he'll think that's cute." Yeah, he for sure did NOT. His thought bubble is, "Lady, you are NUTS." As I don't have a selfie stick, you'll have to deal with this terrible selfie picture instead. You're welcome, America.

This week, word came down from On High (as in the Disney World powers-that-be) that starting the end of this month, selfie sticks will not be allowed at Walt Disney World. Previously they'd outlawed the sticks on rides, but now they'll be enforcing the "no selfie sticks" rule at the parks in general. RIP, selfie stick. You'll be missed (that was sarcasm, by the way).

We had a nice discussion on the Facebook group a few days ago about this topic. In addition to talking about selfie sticks, other Theme Park Pet Peeves came up and I thought, what a perfect topic to chat about on the blog this week.

So, without further ado: some ways to NOT be "that person" or "that family" at a theme park.

* Your stroller is made to carry your children through the parks, not as a battering ram.

I sympathize with stroller-users; I've pushed them through the parks and I know that sometimes it can be a pain to navigate through a store or down a crowded street after fireworks. However, that's not an excuse to use your stroller as a battering ram. Mistakes happen and if you clip someone's ankles or feet, please say you're sorry.

And in the interest of fairness - non-stroller people, please don't dash or cut in front of those with strollers. Let them into the traffic pattern. Same goes for those in wheelchairs or on scooters. WAY too many times I've seen a stroller or scooter just have to sit there because people wouldn't let them join the traffic flow. Don't be a jerk, 'k?

* If you need to have a conversation, consult the map, etc - move to the side of the pathway.

This is probably my #1 pet peeve when I tour the theme parks (although it happens in other places, as well). Let's say your group is heading towards a ride, and are unclear about its location. Instead of coming to a dead stop in the middle of the street, please move to the side and have your discussion there, not right in the middle of those who are trying to get by.

The step-sister to this pet peeve are those who walk 7 and 8 people across, taking up the whole walkway so everyone has to move at their pace. At most, you should be walking 3 side by side. Any more than that, create some rows, people.

* Your iPad needs to stay in the hotel room.

I love the iPad as much as the next person. At this point, I should give Apple instructions just to charge my credit card anytime something new comes out because there is a 98.7% chance that I will love it. But you know a place your iPad doesn't belong? At the parks, especially on the rides and during shows such as the fireworks.  It's super inconsiderate to those around you when their view is blocked because you want to take video of the fireworks.

* When looking for a parade or fireworks watching spot, don't weasel into someone else's spot at the 11th hour.

These stories are legendary among Disney park go-ers and it happens a LOT. You and your family find your parade spot and you've been sitting or standing there for a while (I've seen people at Disneyland getting their spots ready at 2PM for an 8PM parade. Not me, folks - not me. Phew that's commitment!) Then, 5 minutes before the parade starts, a group comes around to fill in the 1/4" spaces around you and pushes their way to the front.

C'mon, now; that's just craziness. Simple kindness should dictate that unless you've put in the time to get your spot, you don't get to strong arm your way into those spots. If you want a prime viewing location - get their early. (Or in the case of some of the parades at Walt Disney World - get a FastPass+. You have a special viewing area AND don't have to get there hours ahead of time to get your spot. Problem solved.)

* But in relation to the above....please don't send one or two people to save spots for 8-10 people. Not cool.

Saving a spot for 1-2 people? Completely kosher. Expecting someone to hold down the fort for the whole group? Yeah, that's an issue.

I understand that sometimes you save a space for someone because they're on a ride, or getting a snack, or in the restroom, and they'll be back to your spot in minutes. But please don't try and save dozens of spots for people who are going to show up minutes before the parade or show starts.

This should go without saying, but the same applies to rides as well. I saw more than one instance at Disneyland earlier this month where 2-3 people would be in line, and then moments before the boarding started on the attraction five or ten people would show up and have to shimmy their way through the line to get to their group. That's just insanity. Not only is it disruptive to try and get past others as they're waiting to get on, it's also super rude. Either line up with your group, or don't line up at all. Easy peasy.

And don't even get me started on people who leave their towels on pool and deck chairs for hours at a time. I could go on all day....

The takeaway from all this? Please be considerate. If we all thought about how our actions affect other park goers, trust me - things would go a LOT more smoothly.

What are some of your theme park pet peeves? Please share below in the comments and on social media!

Inside Out - The New Pixar Classic?

pixarpost.com

This was the opening weekend for Pixar's newest film, Inside Out, and you know that I was in that theater. I couldn't wait to see it - from the early reviews it looked like another hit for the studio that brought us Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and a myriad of other new classics.

I always have high expectations when I see a Pixar film. In my opinion, they are the kings and queens of Hollywood - a studio where story is paramount. Where it's not just about cheap, two second jokes that become insufferable after the 2nd time you hear them (I can only take so many fart jokes.). It's not about pandering to kids (or adults!) or cranking out another movie because it's been a few years and its time. Storytelling is the steam that drives the Pixar locomotive; it's the "something special" that sets them heads and shoulders above the rest.

So what did I think of Inside Out?

You did it again, Pixar. You did it again.

If you're not familiar with the story line, Inside Out takes us inside the head of an 11 year old girl named Riley, as she navigates young adulthood and moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. We get to see her five emotions - Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness and Joy. I would call Joy the second protagonist of the film; she in a sense narrates the story, and her mission is to make sure Riley's life is happy and always filled with joyful moments. But as we learn, Joy isn't the only emotion that Riley feels or should feel. Without giving away the story line, you learn how every emotion is important to Riley.

I cannot say enough good things about this film. I'd read so many glowing reviews in the weeks and months before seeing it, I was honestly a bit nervous. What if it doesn't measure up to my already sky-high expectations for a Pixar film? As it turns out, I had nothing to fear (see what I did there?).

I REALLY want to talk specifics of the film that I have been thinking about over and over again in the last 48 or so hours, but I don't want to spoil any of it for you. What I do want to touch on is the idea of core memories. At the beginning of the film, we learn that every day, every moment, an emotion is experienced. All those emotions are stored in Long Term Memory, but there are 5-6 very special memories. Those are called Core Memories. The memories and moments that happen when you're very young, and shape and color every experience in your life. Your relationship with your family, what makes you laugh, what makes you upset, etc. In the last few days I've really reflected on that concept, and what are my Core Memories. What are yours?

People have asked me if Inside Out is a "kids movie". I struggle with that answer, because while I think kids will really enjoy it, it's not your "typical" animated movie. The best way I can describe it is to think of the movie Up, which Pete Doctor also directed in addition to Inside Out. Both are similar in that they're cerebral films - they get you to think and ask questions but in a beautiful way that's still very entertaining. I had the same reaction to Inside Out as I first did when I saw Up. Do you recall that flashback scene (with ZERO dialogue, by the way) with Carl and Ellie, where Carl is remembering their first meeting as children, their marriage, and her passing? I remember watching that scene and thinking (between my ugly-cry tears), holy crap. I'd never seen anything like it from an animated film.

Pixar has changed the game of animation. No longer it a medium that's just for kids, or even geared towards kids. I saw just as many childless adults in Inside Out as I did families.  I had a very similar experience when I first saw Toy Story 3. At the very end of the film, I was trying to deftly wipe away the crocodile tears going down my cheeks and turned to see that each of the 6 other adult women that I was with were all crying too. (Pixar and Kleenex really should partner up - that seems like a missed opportunity.)

The following quote from Nick Schager of the Daily Beast (from his article here) best sums up why I loved Inside Out. Nick writes, "For the past twenty years, Pixar has reigned supreme in the animated realm, in large part because its movies aren't simply witty, or beautifully crafted, or light years more clever than their competition - they also, at their finest, tap into profound questions about what it means to be a child, and what it means to begin becoming an adult. Pixar is a studio interested in creating stores about the most essential, and universal, of human experiences. And in that respect, Inside Out may be its crowning achievement to date."

Couldn't have said it any better, Nick.

Have you seen Inside Out? What are your thoughts?

Have a magical day!

Who Loves an Alex and Ani bracelet? This girl.

So I know I'm super late to this party but I've fallen in love with these sweet and fashionable bracelets. Those of you who are "in the know" take one glance and know immediately what I'm talking about.

Alex and Ani!

Alex and Ani are not newbies to the jewelry business, but in the last few years have become very familiar to the Disney fan community with their adorable Disney offerings. You can see a few of the many I have, including the adorable "Whistle While You Work" bracelet that was released for the new live-action "Cinderella" movie.

They're fun, easy to wear, and are good not only for casual wear but also add lots of sparkle and fun to your dressiest outfits, too.

I also love them because they very easily adjust to your wrist size. I have a hard time finding bracelets I like because I like one that wears more like a bangle, not something that's super tight. These totally fit the bill.

The Alex and Ani bracelets are also an awesome way for us Disney fans to show our "Disney Side" in a perhaps not-so-obvious way. People admire them but might not realize until closer inspection that they reflect Disney characters, movies, etc. If you're someone who likes to be a bit more subtle about your Disney fan-dom, I would check these out.

And don't be afraid to mix your Disney Alex and Ani bracelets with their non-Disney line (of which there are SO MANY CUTE ONES, you really need to check them out). I often wear my Cinderella and Anna/Elsa bracelets with my birthstone and letter K ones. Oh, and you remember those "rules" about only wearing one metal at a time? Those days are gone, my friend - - feel free to mix your silvers and your golds together! At the same time! Just think of the opportunities.

You can find Alex and Ani online at https://www.alexandani.com/. I'd love to see your A&A arm candy - post a picture on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and tag me so I can share with everyone.

Have a magical day!

Sunday with Friends - Mindy Walbesser

Hi, everyone! After a long hiatus, Sunday with Friends is back! Today we're chatting with one of my friends and Mouse World Travel co-workers, Mindy.

Take it away, Mindy!

* Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Mindy Walbesser.  I live in Northern Virginia with my husband of 29 years and my almost 13 year old daughter Heidi.  I have two grown children, Lily, who lives 2 blocks away, and Max who has moved to Kansas from Central Florida.    I love all things Disney, and have been visiting the Disney Parks in Florida since I was about 8 or 9 years old.  We went shortly after the park opened for the first time, but I'm not sure exactly when that trip was.  I went sporadically over the years, and did not start going regularly until 2007 after we bought into the Disney Vacation Club.    I have been an agent with Mouse World Travel for just over 4 years now.  I have enjoyed helping people plan their Disney vacations, but after much discussion and debate with my family, I've made the decision to step out of this job at the end of the year when my last currently booked client travels.  I plan to stay involved in the Disney community in some way, but I haven't worked out any future plans.  I will most certainly maintain and treasure the friendships that I've made in this job.

* What is your favorite time of year to visit the Disney parks or sail the Disney Cruise Line?

As a DVC member, and I will continue going on plenty of future Disney World vacations.  We own at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and at Bay Lake Towers.  I have yet to be able to stay at Bay Lake Towers.  We got in with a reservation for a studios once, but then my son and his girlfriend decided to join us for that portion of our stay, but when I called to upgrade from the studio to a 1 bedroom, nothing was available except at Old Key West, so back to OKW we went.  I also tried to get into Bay Lake Tower for January 2016 when I will be joining my sister to cheer her on as she runs the full Disney marathon on her 50th birthday.  Even though it was still home resort priority, there was nothing available, so I had to book my other home resort, Saratoga, which is fine, we totally love that resort, but some day, I'd love to stay at my other home resort. 

My favorite time of the year to visit Disney Parks is definitely during the spring Flower & Garden Festival.  Although we had a great time at Food & Wine, and truly love visiting any time of the year, there is just something so refreshing and renewing about visiting EPCOT when its at its most beautiful with all the extra topiaries and displays, after just having gone through a cold and gray winter that just isn't quite over yet here in Virginia.  The weather can be all over the place during spring break, and the Flower & Garden festival, but our last visit March 29 through April 4th had the most perfect weather ever.  It was upper 70's to low 80's with sunny skies and no rain.  It was a little hard to get out to the parks in the morning as I sat on my balcony drinking my coffee enjoying the relaxing pace as I golfers zipped by in their carts. 

We have only had an opportunity to sail on 1 Disney Cruise Line sailing, but it was an amazing experience.  We did the New Year's 5 night Castaway Cay double dip.  There is just something about dancing in a conga line behind Goofy, as he's dressed in top hat & tails on the deck of the ship on New Year's eve that just can't be beat anywhere.

* If you have to pick your favorite attraction at Disney World or Disneyland, what would it be?

If I had to pick just one favorite attraction at Walt Disney World, it would be a hard choice, there are so many that I love, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, at EPCOT Soarin' and Test Track are such a close tie.  At Animal Kingdom the Kilimanjaro Safari is wonderful, but I think Kali River Rapids might edge it out on a hot day.  I remember when Animal Kingdom used to have late magic hours, and we'd wait until the end of the evening and we would ride Kali over and over and over until we were soaked.  The cast members wouldn't even make us get off and get back on.  At Hollywood Studios, Toy Story is a lot of fun, but the old back lot tour will probably always be a favorite of experiences past, along with the Stars & Motorcars Parade.  Oh yes, and SpectroMagic… oh how I miss it.  As soon as I heard that tune..it was instant transportation to a very happy state of being.  I have never been much of a rollercoaster fan, so the mild family coasters and great fun for me such as the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  I have never tried Rock n Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror or Expedition Everest.  I did ride Space Mountain once..and that was plenty. 

* Tell us about one of your favorite moments from a Disney vacation.   

One of my favorite memories of a Disney vacation was when we were there with very good friends of ours, and my husband took my friend's son over to ride some big rides, I don't even remember where they went.  It was myself, my friend Yehudit, her daughter Ariella and my daughter Heidi.  We were at the Magic Kingdom, and it was really late..I want to say close to 2am.  I don't even remember if it was extra magic or regular.  I'm thinking that was the regular hours.  We were so exhausted and having such a good time.  We went to the Magic Kingdom Bakery to get a cinnamon roll to share, and as the park was closing soon, the cast member started to scoop all the dripped off sugar glaze from the try onto the few remaining cinnamon rolls.  My friend is NOT a regular sweets eater, and she was just aghast, thinking the roll as it was, was indulgent enough.  We were just laughing ourselves silly because we'd gotten to the point of being slap-happy talking about here we were in the middle of the night at Magic Kingdom eating this sugar covered treat, which is something that we never ever would be doing anywhere else.  Now, before each Disney trip, I tell my friend that I will have a cinnamon roll for her. 

Another of my best memories is when we went down to Disney in 2010 to celebrate my son and his twin best friends all earning their Eagle Scout rank together.  I'd made them all a promise the year before, that if they all earned their Eagle rank, I would take them all to Disney World.  The stipulation was that they HAD to all make the rank.  If one of the three of them didn't, we wouldn't go.  So all three boys earned their Eagle Scout rank so we all went.  We stayed at Saratoga Springs in a 2 bedroom with my friend Ariane, her husband Jeff and their 3 boys, including their twin Eagle Scouts.  We had such fun.  Also at that time, my friend's sister in law and her family and her brother and his daughter were also there, so one time we all went as a big group to Animal Kingdom, and then all out to dinner to T Rex to celebrate her younger son's 14th birthday.  A particularly great memory from that trip was when just us girls, including my daughter, my friend, her sister in law, and her sister in laws daughter, who is the same age as my daughter, went to high tea at the Grand Floridian and then relaxed together at the GF pool afterwards.  It seems my happiest memories at Disney World  involve being there with family or friends. 

* If you had a friend visiting a Disney park or sailing on Disney Cruise Line for the first time, what tips(s) would you give them?

If I had a friend visiting Disney Parks for the first time now, I'd advise them not to stress about not getting that perfect ADR, or about not getting a fastpass+ for something.  It will not ruin the vacation.  That might cause them to miss other special moments that just might make their trip.  I'd tell them to just keep trying to get the dining, and continue to inquire about cancelations even while onsite.  I'd advise them to make the most of every moment and enjoy the experiences as they come.  We've met and talked to some interesting people in line without fastpasses that we wouldn't have had we gone through the fastpass line.  We've found last minute tables at restaurants we never realized would become favorites because we didn't have an ADR.  Happy surprises are around every corner at Disney World. 

Thanks for sharing, Mindy!

If you'd like to be featured on a Sunday with Friends post, please email me at katie@mouseworldtravel.com - I'd love all of our friends to meet you!

Have a magical day!

2016 Walt Disney World vacation packages - Available for booking on June 22nd!

Good morning, friends!

Today, Disney let us know that the 2016 Walt Disney World vacation packages will be ready and available for quoting and booking on Monday, June 22nd.

I have already reached out to those of those who wanted information about 2016, but if you're looking to travel to Walt Disney World next year and we haven't spoken yet, please reach out to me. You can email me at katie@mouseworldtravel.com, and we can start to chat about your trip, resort, dates, etc.

On the 22nd, I will be ready to go bright and early, so if you're interested in a 2016 vacation please reach out, and I'll have you on my list for a no-obligation quote.

Have a great Thursday!

Top 5 Reasons This Walt Disney World Veteran Fell in Love with Disneyland

I've been going to Walt Disney World pretty regularly since the last 90s. After my first trip to the World when I was in high school, I was hooked.

I always knew I wanted to visit Disneyland but I'd never made it a point to go out there. When I was deciding on my next vacation, for whatever reason Walt Disney World always won out, and I'd say to myself, "One day I'll get out to Anaheim."

As you know, that "one day" came last week and can I tell you, I CANNOT BELIEVE that I didn't make it a priority to get out here sooner.

After an incredibly fun and successful first trip to Disneyland, I wanted to do a comparison between the two. Not a "this vs that" type of post, but one that lays out the Top 5 reasons that I, a Walt Disney World veteran with approximately 30 trips under her belt, fell in love with Disneyland.


1. Disneyland was Walt's park. The nostalgia is off the charts, folks.

Disneyland can boast something that Walt Disney World can't. Although Walt was a part of the creation of WDW, he passed away before the park was completed so he was never an actual physical presence in the parks. To be able to walk down Main Street, and think, Walt walked here. To ride it's a small world and know that Walt rode it, too. To watch kids laugh on the carousel and know that he watched his own grandkids on the same one. Ladies and gents, it made my heart soar.

2. The proximity of resorts to both theme parks CAN'T BE BEAT.

I stayed at the Grand Californian and let me tell you, was SO glad I did. At most, I was a 5-10 minute walk (10 minutes if I was very slowly strolling) from my hotel to both parks. Actually, I was much closer to California Adventure because there's an entrance from the Grand Californian into that park.

Having stayed there, The Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier are also on my list. Both are also a short walk from the parks and allow you the same "close to the magic" experience.

It was incredibly nice to be that close to both theme parks. Now, you can have sort of this same experience when, for example, you stay at the Beach Club or Boardwalk resort and their proximity to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. But there's no resort on WDW property where you can walk to all the theme parks, so that was huge.

Staying onsite can be pricier than staying at one of the myriad of hotels in the general area of Disneyland. However, for all my future trips I will plan on staying on-site for the sheer convenience of time and energy. It was amazing to watch the Disneyland Forever fireworks show on Main Street, and then be in my hotel room 10 minutes later. Not on a bus 10 minutes later, not waiting in line 10 minutes later. I was in my room. Amazing.

3. Disneyland is NOT just a two or three day vacation destination.

One opinion that I kept hearing was that Disneyland was, at most, a three day vacation. You needed to go to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm, etc in order to really make the most of a week and make your travel to Anaheim worthwhile. Now, nothing against those destinations at all but after having been at Disneyland, I could have easily stayed another day. I had an awesome time at the parks but didn't have a whole lot of time to explore my resort, or stroll around Downtown Disney. Next time (in November! Eeek!!) I'm planning on being here an entire week.

4. Three Words, people: World of Color.

I might cause a minor Disney fan revolt by saying this, but the fireworks shows and parades aren't usually on my must-do list. (dodges flying objects.) I enjoy them, but I'm not a person who will sit on a curb for two hours to get a viewing spot before a parade. They're fun, but no thanks, man. There are other things I prefer doing instead.

I knew I wanted to see World of Color at California Adventure. I'd read about it and seen clips of the show and from everything I'd heard, people raved about how awesome it was. We decided to do a WoC dining package (more on that in another post!) to get FastPasses for a special viewing area. The appointed time came, we got in our AWESOME location to watch and waited to be dazzled.

And dazzled we were. There aren't words in the English language that can adequately convey the rush of love and emotions I had when watching this show. It's been recently re-done a bit for the 60th Anniversary and it's just AMAZING. I won't tell you every single detail because A) we'd be here all day and B) I want you to experience it for yourself.

And when they played a version of the song "Forever Young? Tears, tears everywhere.

5.  Foodies - you won't be disappointed.

Disneyland is no slouch in the food department, either. On this trip I had my first churro; it was delicious! I wore most of the sugar on my shirt, but it was very yummy. I also enjoyed a Disneyland corn dog; I can only assume they put actual magic in that batter because GOOD LORD it was amazing - and I'm not really a hot dog fan. If you're a soup person, you MUST go to the Pacific Warf Cafe and enjoy their Clam Chowder or Broccoli Cheese soups. TO DIE FOR.

Needless to say, there will be many posts on this here blog solely about the food because y'all, it was stinking good. Many times we had "progressive dinners" and shared food so we could all sample a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Nom nom nom.

So there you have it - some of the many reasons I fell in deep, passionate, abiding love with Disneyland. I'll be back in November and can't wait to experience it all again!

Have a magical day!

It's Giveaway Time!

Happy Monday, everyone! To start off the week with some fun, I'm doing a giveaway on my Instagram account. I'm at @MostDelightfulPlace; the link is also at the top of this page (with my other social media links).

Be sure and follow me on Instagram so you can enter to win this AWESOME Disneyland 60th Anniversary pin! Entries will be taken until 5PM central on Tuesday, June 9th.

(Open to US residents only, entrants must please be 18 years or older.)

I share lots of fun pictures on Instagram of my Disney travels, and would love you have you follow along!

Have a magical day!

Disneyland....here I COME!

The appointed day has arrived, folks. As you're reading this, I'm on a plane to California, on my way to see Disneyland for the FIRST TIME.

To say I'm excited is a bit of an understatement.

I'll not only be seeing Disneyland and California Adventure, I will also be there during the 60th Anniversary events which look just incredible. Talk about picking a good time to go!

Factoring in transportation to the Grand Californian hotel, I estimate that I'll be walking into Disneyland around 2:00PM PST. Be sure you're following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as I'll be posting a LOT of videos and pictures during the week.

Speaking of videos, if you're not signed up with Periscope yet - do it. Not trying to be bossy but if you want to see LIVE videos from Disneyland, this is the place to see them. The app is free (and now available for Android phones as well as in the Apple App store!) and you sign in with your Twitter account, or create a new account. Couldn't be easier, and then you'll be able to walk along with me through Main Street, ride attractions, saunter around Downtown Disney, etc. You know you want to!

I can't wait to bring you all along with me!

Have a magical day!