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.

How much DO you walk at Walt Disney World?

Picture from Fitbit.com

First, I wanted to say - - I haven't forgotten about the Trip Report. :) I hope to get this one finished before I go on the Disney Dream again in January! However, my iPhoto decided to freak out and the pictures I KNEW I took at Splittsville aren't showing up. Grrr - don't you love technology?! So instead, let's talk about walking around the World, shall we?

I have a FitBit activity device that I wear on my wrist; it tracks your steps and activity, and you can also use it as an alarm clock, to track your eating, your sleep, etc. It's a neat way to track just how much you move during the day; as I have a desk job, it really helps me know when I need to get around and move more.

Since I wore it while I was walking around Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line in August/September, I wanted to share with you just HOW much an average person probably walks at Disney, and why it's important to be prepared with appropriate footwear.

I looked at my steps logged on August 31 - September 4th, and each day I walked about 14,000 steps, or nearly 6 miles. Keep in mind - I wasn't killing myself running from place to place, or jogging from one end of Magic Kingdom to the other. This distance came from your normal touring and walking; from your room to the bus stop, from the bus stop at the park to the entrance, around the park, back to the bus and your room, etc.

It's SO important to have appropriate shoes! I remember one trip I took back in college, in the early 2000s. I bought some of the cute (and cheap!) flip flops, the kind that come in 100s of colors, to match my outfits (of course). I found out about 1/2 way through our first day that this was a BAD idea. My feet were killing me, and so after about 4 hours at Disney, I bought a pair of Mickey Mouse Keds-style sneakers and socks.  And lesson learned.

I recently purchased a pair of Sketchers GoWalk shoes and used those for the first time in August/September. OMG they are the BEST - - I will be buying more pairs, for sure. They're cute and stylish but still give you the support you need as you make your way through the World. Please excuse the general state of these shoes - they're "much loved", as you can tell!

I am confident in saying that the average person walks between 5-8 miles per DAY while at Disney World. So how do you get your feet ready for Disney, and keep them in good shape once you're there?

* If you're mostly sedentary at home, start walking a bit more each day to get your body ready for the many miles you'll be logging at Disney.

* Wear comfortable shoes - I cannot stress this enough. Comfort OVER fashion, every time! No one wants to stay in their room because they're in such pain they can't enjoy themselves.

* Be sure to pack some Band-Aids, just in case. I find that on occasion, I get blisters and so having Band-Aids at the ready is a real lifesaver.

*  Closely watch little ones - they're not used to walking this much, either (probably) and so they might need a few more breaks. Depending on the age of the child, you might also consider taking or renting a stroller, even if they don't use one at home. This beats having to carry them! :)

How much do YOU walk and Disney, and what steps do you take to protect your feet?

Have a magical day!

Announcing: My New Referral Program!

Today I'm announcing my brand-new customer referral program and I of course wanted to share the details with all of you!

For those who might be new to the blog - - in addition to writing The Most Delightful Place, I am also a travel agent with Mouse World Travel, specializing in Disney Destinations.

I LOVE helping families plan their magical Disney vacations - - few things bring me more joy than knowing they've had a great time and created important memories they'll cherish for years to come. It's an honor for me to have been a part of that magic!

One of the greatest compliments I receive is when someone refers me to their family and friends; I'm so happy that they were pleased with the service I provided enough to pass along my contact information to their friends, co-workers, etc who are planning Disney vacations.

I have been brainstorming ways that I could say "thank you" to those who've introduced me and my planning services to their friends, and this is what I came up with!

* From November 1st, 2014 until February 1st, 2015, for every new client you refer to me (new meaning they've never used my travel planning services) who books a Disney World, Disneyland or Disney Cruise Line vacation of at least $1,500, I will send you a $20 Disney or Visa gift card upon completion of your referral's vacation!

It's super easy to be part of this referral program - simply send me an email to katie@mouseworldtravel.com, or get in touch with me via social media (links to my accounts are above) and let me know when you've passed my contact information along to your friend(s). I will let you know when they book a vacation, and when I will be sending out your gift card. You can choose either a Disney or Visa gift card, whatever works best for you!

This referral program is not limited to just those of you who've used my services before; even if we haven't planned your vacation yet, you can still refer friends to me and be part of the referral program! AND - if you've been thinking about going to Disney yourself and are looking for a no-obligation quote, please get in touch so we can get started planning YOUR Disney vacation! 2015 Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line packages are now available for booking!

Also - For a limited time (until February 1, 2015) any brand-new client who utilizes my vacation planning services for the first time will be entered into a mega-drawing for a $50 Disney or Visa gift card! Woo hoo!

(Those clients who have traveled with me or referred me to your friends in the last year - never fear - I will be reaching out to you re any applicable referral bonuses, and/or if you're entered in the mega-drawing, so you didn't miss out!)

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you again, and have a magical day!

My Day at the D23 Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit

This weekend, I headed into Chicago to visit the D23 exhibit for of Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, at the Museum of Science and Industry.  The exhibit has been at the Museum since October but closes in a few weeks, and since I hadn't been yet, I wanted to be sure and get there before it closed. 

I am SO glad I went.  It was an incredible exhibit, and as a Disney fan, I was in 7th heaven.

Here are a few pictures from the exhibit; to see more, visit my Facebook page (link above!)

Have a magical day!

Happy Birthday, Walt Disney!

Today is a very special day indeed, as we celebrate the birthday of Walt Disney!

Happy birthday, Walt!

Thank you, Walt, for creating beloved characters, wonderful places to share memories with family and friends, and showing us all that with hard work and a little pixie dust, anything is possible.