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!

Movin with Mickey Monday - Jennifer Mixdorf from Essentially Mixed

For this month's second Movin with Mickey installment, I had a reader get in touch with me and ask if she could share about her family's journey to health with essential oils.

I myself have been using oils for about a year now and really like them. Jennifer from Essentially Mixed (link here) has written up some good information and FAQs regarding essential oils that she'd like to share. Take it away, Jennifer!

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My family discovered essential oils a little over a year ago and have completely fallen in love!  I wish I had learned about them sooner!  As a pharmacist, I was always skeptical of anything not main stream but little did I know how wide spread their use is and how much my family could benefit from them.  I am so happy that I trusted my good friend and became educated on essential oils.  Essential oils fit right in with my family’s goal of a healthier, more natural lifestyle. I truly believe everyone at least should take the time to learn about them!  So why should you consider essential oils for your family?  Here are some great questions I hear that will help you answer that question!

Q:  Aren’t essential oils like voodoo? [Katie's note - I totally thought this when I first started using them.]
A:  I think everyone is leery about something they are uneducated about.  Essential oils have been used throughout history for their health benefits.  There are references of their use throughout the bible (there was a reason they brought Jesus frankincense!).   I love having something natural and safe for our bodies!  You will be shocked at how effective they are!

Q: Can’t I just get essential oils at my local health food store?
A:  You could but I made the personal decision that I want to use the most pure and potent oils available.  The majority of oils you can find at local stores have additives of unknown sources added to them.  They are required to only have 5% be essential oil.  I have chosen to use oils that come from indigenous sources and have rigorous testing done on them to guarantee 100% purity.  I am completely confident of using my chosen brand on my boys without worry.

Q: How would I know what to use and how to use them?
A:  There are so many great resources out there that give you a step by step guide.  I personally have some great reference books I keep on hand.  I have a great facebook group for anyone on my team that is an amazing resource.  You can post any question and get an answer right away!  The only thing you can do wrong is to not use them!

Q: Aren’t essential oils expensive?
A: I am a total advocate for promoting and maintaining good health.   I would rather spend money now than spend a lot more down the road.  That said, they are relatively cheap.  With high quality oils you only need to use 1-2 drops at a time.  That comes down to pennies per dose!  I can use oils for an upset stomach for 25 cents!

Q: Are you sure they are ok to use on my kids?
A: Yes!  I can speak from personal experience that I have never had an issue using essential oils on my boys.  Since children’s skin is more sensitive than adults, you just need to dilute the oils (mix some of the oil with a carrier oil, I use fractionated coconut oil).  I love to have roller bottles of prediluted oils for my kids, they are so convenient!

I would love to share more information with you and how your family can implement natural health solutions!  Email me for more information!


~ Jennifer Mixdorf
njmixdorf@gmail.com
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I love to feature readers and guest writers on the blog, so don't be shy ~ if you would like to be featured on a future Movin with Mickey post, please get in touch at katie@mouseworldtravel.com.

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!

Getting my ducks in a row for my Disney Cruise

Hi, all! I realized it's been about a week since I chatted with you here (oops!) but wanted to give you the scoop on what I've been doing.

It's about 4 weeks until I leave from Vancouver on the Disney Wonder for my 10 night cruise to Hawaii, and as a consummate planner, you know I'm already getting my ducks in a row for vacation. I wanted to share with you some things I do, and some of the things I like to bring along with me when I go on Disney Cruise Line.

* Cash in my spare change jar for room service and baggage tips.

I have a coffee cup near my desk where I put my change, and in a few weeks I'll go the bank and cash that in. I don't pay with cash all that often (I use my debit card more often) but I typically find myself with at least $40 in change when cruise time comes around. I like to get that mostly in $5s and $1s so I can have tip money ready for baggage helpers at the airport and hotel, and also for room service on the cruise.

* Finalize my packing list.

As I've mentioned before, one of the oddities about me (hold your laughter, I know there are more than a few!) is that while I LOVE to vacation, I HATE packing. Seriously one of my least favorite things to do. So thus the next item on my cruise-prep list.

I am going to *try* to pack for about 2 weeks in a carry-on bag. I know. Hold me.

But seriously, when I pack a ton of clothes I never wear half of them so I don't feel like lugging around a giant suitcase, and I also would prefer to save the $50 in checked baggage fees. During the day, it's swimsuits, tees and shorts, so that's easy. At night, I do like to dress up for dinner but I'm planning on packing 3-4 skirts and pants, and 3-4 tops, in coordinating colors and patterns, so I can create multiple outfits from just a few pieces. In terms of shoes, I'll bring 2 pairs of sandals, one pair of walking shoes and also a pair of dress shoes.

I am also planning on doing laundry at least once during the 2 weeks so there's no need to pack tons of clothes.

I like to have a list (because, well do you know me at ALL?!) as it makes packing easier, quicker and even less painful. No muss, no fuss. No last minute "should I take that?!" decisions. Just use the list, baby.

* Load up the Kindle.

Probably my favorite vacation activity is reading. I don't find myself doing a lot of (for fun) reading during my normal schedule/life so knowing that I have all that free time to get into some great books is really fun. I'm going to peruse some of the new releases to see which one(s) will be added to my cruise reading list. If you have any favorites, I would love to get some suggestions!

I also really enjoy audio books; those are perfect for the plane, in particular. I have a few credits burning a hole in my Audible.com account so I'll find a few gems there, as well.

* Round up the fun little cruise "extras" to spiff up my stateroom.

On Disney Cruise Line, your stateroom doors are magnetized and so lots of people (me included!) like to bring items to decorate the door. I LOVE the magnets from Hair Majesty Boutique on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HairMajestyBoutique); I have a few already, and am thinking about getting another one or two to add to my collection, probably the Hawaiian/beach Mickey and Minnie. They're a fun way to spruce up your space, and also help you spot your door (especially in those first few days when you're getting your bearings!).

Just make sure they're magnets and NOT adhesives, as this will ruin the doors (and you'll get a nice, hefty cleaning/repair bill from Disney!).

How to do get ready for cruising?

Have a magical day!

Movin with Mickey Monday - Progress Report

Happy Monday ~ Hope you all had a nice weekend!

As part of the Movin with Mickey series, I want to check in with you all once a month on my personal progress and how I'm doing with my own journey to better fitness and health.

First, I'm tracking my steps using a FitBit and for the month of July, I walked a total of 134,435 steps. I'd like to get that closer to 200,000 steps each month (which is an average of 6,600 steps per day) so that is my goal for the month of August.

Weight is also coming off, which as been encouraging to see. I've lost about 6 pounds since July 1st, and have lost a total of 17". If losing weight is part of your fitness goal, make sure you take measurements in addition to your weight. There were a few weeks in July where maybe I'd not lost weight (or lost very little) but when I measured, I'd lose a few inches each week.

I've noticed that my energy level has gone way up this month, which has been awesome to see. I'm really seeing a difference in how I feel now that I'm not eating processed foods or tons of sugar. All very encouraging!

I'm starting to live by the 80/20 rule. That is, eating well 80% of the time and allowing yourself the 20% for treats, special occasions, etc. You have to live and so there will always be birthday parties, weddings, holidays, etc but if you can commit to making good food choices during most of your week, you're in good shape.

My goals for the next month are the following:

 - Walk an average of 6,600 steps per day
 - Start doing yoga again 2-3 times per week. I really enjoy yoga and I always feel good afterwards, so I'm going to add it in a few times a week.
 - Start adding more variety of fruits and veggies to my diet. I am kind of in a blueberry / pepper /  mushroom / lettuce rut with my fruits and veggies, so I want to branch out and add some more this month that are not my "norm."


What are your fitness goals? How'd you do in July? Please comment or share on our social media pages.

Have a magical day!