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 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 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!
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