So This Is Love...

If you are like me and are in love with all the classic Disney love scenes and Disney kisses, you might be craving some romance at Disney World. But, if you are also like me, romance is more than a mere proposal; romance can be found any and everywhere. A man much wiser than myself, suggested that I write about how I would plan a romantic day a Disney World, similar to the one we shared not to long ago. So here it is.

(No need to close out of this blog gentlemen, there is no proposal or proposal ideas, just some cute ways to spend time with your sweetheart.)

So let's begin:

Park hopping is one of my favorite ways to spend time at Disney World and probably the best way to cover a lot of romantic ground. My boyfriend and I spend the majority of our time at EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom because it has some of our favorite attractions, shows, and restaurants. So we are going to make this first suggestion: pick your favorite park or parks.

Now we can really get started. Once you have picked your favorite park or parks to visit on your special day, the planning can begin. I am going to make two park plans revolving around the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

Magic Kingdom:

Never underestimate the power of holding hands as you walk down Main Street U.S.A at park opening. It is a simple joy and pleasure that is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a special moment. Make sure to ask one of the Photopass cast members to take your picture on Main Street because pictures are some of the best souvenirs to bring home. If you are also fortunate enough to arrive at the Magic Kingdom early enough, you can even watch the sunrise over Cinderella's castle together or sunset later in the evening. Don't forget to get that picture of you both embracing or kissing each other with Mickey ears.

I would also suggest sharing some sweet treats together, like ice cream, in your favorite land or your favorite spot in the Magic Kingdom. I have two favorite spots in all of the Magic Kingdom that might seem cliche but are great rest stops.

My first favorite spot is at Cinderella's fountain in Fantasyland. She is my favorite princess from my favorite love story of all time and this spot really shows some magic. Not only can you sit alongside the fountain and enjoy a picture and a snack, but you can spend time with your Prince Charming or your Cinderella. I also find romance in reading the plaque to one another. It is a great reminder of the love story both of you are sharing and creating with one another.

                                                                         

Next suggestion I have is a visit to Cinderella's wishing well.

Hopefully you remember those pennies so you can make a wish together. When my boyfriend and I met in 2007, I wished in Cinderella's fountain that one day I would be able to go to Disney World with him and share the magic. My wish came true in 2009 when we took our first trip together. Ever since then, this wishing well became a must-go-to stop during every vacation. I suggest making wishes together as a part of your romantic day. Maybe you will wish to return together or even wish for a short wait-time for your favorite ride. Who knows? That's the fun!

Of course my next suggestion is ride your favorite ride together. My boyfriend and I have so many favorite attractions that it is sometimes hard to choose, but there is one in particular that we really enjoy riding together at the Magic Kingdom. Our favorite ride to enjoy together is: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

This is where you might be thinking "a thrill ride is your favorite attraction to ride together?! Why not the carousel?" It is no secret that I am a giant chicken and I am very afraid of roller coasters, but this is one that I actually love! No scary drops or scary heights so it is great in my eyes. My boyfriend is more adventurous and dare I say brave, so there are a lot of thrill rides at Disney World that I will not accompany him on ever. But this is one that we do go on (willingly) together. On those banks and turns I like to make silly noises, just laugh, and playfully scream. In fact, it is something that we ALWAYS do now and probably couldn't do without. I will probably never forget the first time I made these silly noises and made him laugh and smile so hard on this ride. So this is our ride. I highly suggest finding an attraction you love together and ride it as much as you can. Maybe even snap a picture of you both on the carousel or on any of your favorite attractions to keep the memories alive.

It is also just fun to ride any ride outside at night, like Dumbo or the carousel . It is just fun to see the stars and enjoy a classic attraction.

At night, don't forget to grab your favorite spot for Wishes! the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom. There is nothing more romantic than holding hands or sharing a kiss during the Wishes! fireworks show. It is a great way to end your night with a bang and illuminate all those lovely feelings of warmth and love.

EPCOT:

When you make your way to EPCOT, take the monorail there. It is just fun to take the monorail in general, but this is quite possibly our favorite monorail ride in the world. It is just fun to get a glimpse of all the fun things you are going to do together, plus is it just a pretty scenic ride. The monorail really gets you excited for all the goodies you are going to enjoy.

What kind of advice-giver would I be if I didn't say to pick your favorite restaurant or type of cuisine you would like to enjoy for a romantic lunch or dinner?  EPCOT is so wonderful because you have Future World and World Showcase so why not enjoy some tasty food in a beautiful setting. A personal favorite of ours is Les Chefs de France. The duck is unbelievable, their version of macaroni and cheese is to die for, there is great wine, and did I mention the really tasty and delicious desserts? We also really love the San Angel Inn in the Mexico pavillion for its ambiance and food. It is romantically dark and lit with beautiful lights and is right next to the water. But honestly, you cannot go wrong with ANY restaurant in World Showcase.

And since we are on the topic of food, I must share another great tip. If you are not a big sit-down restaurant person and you just want to snack around the world, there is plenty of romance to be found snacking as well. The fish & chips in England with a nice Pub beer is a great option, or my favorite is grabbing a glass of champagne and pastry in the France pavillion. There are plenty of places to rest and snack in France by the tables and chairs next to the champagne cart and by the pastry shop, or you can even grab a seat on the foutain and enjoy your treat.

Once you are done eating or even thinking about food, there is nothing more romantic than a stroll around World Showcase hand-in-hand. Take a stroll through Morocco, Canada, Italy, Japan, China etc. and just enjoy the world around you. You wouldn't want to miss these beautiful spots especially if your sweatheart really wants to go to a certain country in the future. But if walking around World Showcase seems dauting or it is just too hot, no fear! There are great water taxis that go to and from World Showcase and Future World. They even drop you off in front of some of your favorite places. Get a seat in the back so you can feel the breeze and get a good view with your sweetie.

In Future World you will want to of course ride your favorite attractions together as you would have done in the Magic Kingdom, but I would also suggest truly exploring the Seas with Nemo and Friends. You get to take a great ride under the sea in a giant seashell and then visit some of your favorite underwater animals up close and personal. And since food is a main theme of EPCOT right now, you can also find the Coral Reef restaurant and actually dine underwater with the fish! (no scuba gear required) You can dine right next to one of the largest fish tanks in the world while spotting some of your favorite underwater animals and enjoying some great food and desserts. Did I mention the desserts?! If I had to recommend anything I would say get the "chocolate wave" and split it. If you are chocolate lovers, there is nothing better at this place.

 

My final tip for romance in EPCOT is of course to watch Illuminations Reflections of Earth together. You can pick out a spot around your favorite country and watch the fireworks hand-in-hand.

 

Of course this would not be complete with a few silly romantic goodies you can do around the Disney World Resorts.

Buy Mickey ears together. There are so many great styles you can match, compliment each other, or go wacky and get your own unique ones. You will have a great souvenir, cute pictures, and a great memory.

You could also take a stroll around the beach at the Polynesian Resort and catch Wishes! at night. Or make a dinner reservation at Ohana and ask to sit by the window to watch Wishes! from high above.
 

Relax in your hotel's jacuzzi and pool. Order some pool side drinks and take a load off. If you are fortunate enough to be staying at a resort with a beach, it is also very romantic to find a hammock at night and lay together just the two of you and enjoy each other.
 

 

If you love the Disney Hollywood Studios and enjoy the cheesy silly things in life, you can enjoy and watch the cheesy horror movie clips at the Sci-Fi Dine in Theatre with burgers and milkshakes.

If you are also fortunate enough to stay at an EPCOT resort or are heading to an EPCOT resort or a day/night on the Boardwalk, take a stroll through the International Gateway. There is a wonderful array of international music and brings you right to the France pavillion. Hold hand of course to be extra romantic.

I would also suggest enjoying the free perk,s like buttons! At City Hall at the Magic Kingdom or any Guest Services desk, you can get free buttons to celebrate anything. Anniversaries, engagements, my 1st visit (if you guys are visiting for the first time), or a simple "I'm celebrating" button and you can write in whatever you would like (and there are so much more). Just tell a cast member what you are celebrating or ask for a specific button and just wait for the magic to unfold.

Take a ton of pictures! There are Photopass cast members who will always take pictures of you both at any place or just ask another fellow vacation goer and they would be happy to take your picture. It is truly the best souvenir.

Lastly, magic and romance can happen anytime or anywhere at the Disney World Resort. Keep your eyes and heart open and you never know what magical romance can emerge.
 

Under the Sea: How to beat the heat at Disney World

It is not surprising that Disney World can get pretty darn hot in the afternoon or during the summertime. Luckily though, there is no better place than Disney World to cool off and have fun!

Like Sebastian sang to Ariel

"Darlin' it's better down where it's wetter

Take it from me.
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devoting full time to floating
Under the sea"

So of course this is the first tip to beat the heat: go swimming! As I mentioned before when noon rolls around the crowds get pretty heavy and it is the heat of the day. This is a combination that can and will test not only our patience, but our sweat glands, which is why I suggest taking a break in the day to go swimming.

Many times, because most people are in the parks during the day, the resort pools are relatively empty mid-day, so take that mid-afternoon break from the parks and take a dip in the pool. There are so many great resorts with themed pools and pool areas, so splashing around is even more fun at Disney.

Now you might be saying "wait a minute...aren't there water parks at Disney World?" Of course there are! Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are great options for making a splash and cooling off.

It is just important to remember that the water parks do get pretty busy early in the day so when you plan to visit the water parks, make sure to put it in you itinerary. I highly suggest water parks in the summer and just spending at day at one of them. You will have to get there early to stake out the perfect spot, but if you love water and water slides, these water parks are not to miss.

Also it is important to remember that buying admission to the water parks can be expensive so if you are considering going to a Disney water park, make sure to add them added to your park tickets and your budget.

Probably the second greatest way to cool off are those sweet cool treats. What are probably the most popular treats are the mickey premium (mickey mouse shaped vanilla ice cream bar covered in chocolate) and dole whips. Aside from the Dole whips, which I will address later, Mickey premiums, frozen bananas, ice cream sandwiches, and the like are never too far away and are available in every park. You will just have to eat them quickly if it is really hot outside because they will melt.

Special to the Magic Kingdom is the ever delicious and refreshing Dole Whip. Visit Aloha Isle in Adventureland to grab one of these sweet cool treats. It is a soft serve pineapple sorbet that can be served as is or as a float with pineapple juice (they also have orange and vanilla available). Its cold, tasty, refreshing, and inexpensive.

But there are more sweet cool treats to be found at all the other parks as well. EPCOT is home to Club Cool which is not only air conditioned, but has many varieties of Coca Cola products from around the world.

Another really fun tip as well as a good cool down are the water rides at Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom. Never underestimate the power of a good water ride. I would suggest either timing your water attraction in the heat of the day (probably using a fastpass to reassure you don't wait long) or riding the ride before you take a break because you will need to dry out (wet clothes all day is not fun to play in). Remember you can and will get wet on these rides, which is the point.

If you are not a fan of water rides nor do you want soggy clothes all day, don't forget about inside attractions like those found at EPCOT or Disney's Hollywood Studios. There are a ton of indoor air conditioned attractions with indoor queues. Also, Disney sells mister fans which can also provide some relief walking around in the heat of the day.

The best option you have is to stay hydrated. I cannot reiterate enough that water is your best friend at Disney World. You can carry a water bottle or buy water at the parks; either way, your body needs water. Now you might say buying water can be expensive if you are doing it all day, but remember you can refill those water bottles any time during the day at any water fountain. And now for the tip that may save you from dehydrating and tons of money:

***Disney Secret***

If you go into any quick serve meal place and ask for a cup of ice water, it is FREE! I know, I've done it and might I say it is probably one tip that has saved me and my family from melting in the Florida heat.

The last tip to staying cool is dressing properly. Reflective clothing, which is light colored, is your best friend. Wearing black or dark colors is only going to make you cook in the Florida sun. And hey, if you do not have a lot of white t-shirts, this is a great opportunity to buy some new Disney ones.

Whether you are eating a Mickey Premium or splashing in the pool, these cool tips should bring a lot of fun into your Disney trip.

The Lion King Advice

What The Lion King Taught Me About Disney:

Remember that opening scene from The Lion King?

You know you can't resist trying to sing those infamous words "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!" at the top of your lungs. Well I think many of us fellow Disney lovers recognize that this is the best and only way to begin your day at Disney - with the sunrise.

While many people see vacation as the sleep in and do nothing kind of trip, Disney is the exact opposite. The best advice anyone could offer is to make sure you wake up early for not only park opening, but also extra magic hours (if you are staying on property). You might be scoffing at this point thinking that vacation is supposed to be restful, but trust me this is the best way to do Disney.

To get the most "bang for your buck" and to in my opinion, get the best Disney experience, you need to start your day early. Not only can you beat the crowds on some of your favorite rides/attractions, but you also get to witness some extra Disney magic!

One of the BEST examples of this is at the Magic Kingdom: 

If you get to the park 12 minutes before the Magic Kingdom opens you could be a part of the Welcome show and open the park with a little faith, trust, and pixie dust. This is something for everyone to enjoy and not just Disney resort guests.

It is also just exciting to open the parks with your friends, family, and kids. You can do a countdown out loud, be one of the first people on your favorite attraction, or grab a fastpass for a popular attraction to avoid wait-times.Also, if you are travelling with young kids or if this is your first time, getting to the parks early helps you avoid the crowds and long lines.

 

First, if you are an on property guest you can participate in the extra magic hours which is available for any Disney resort guest. The park is open 1 hour early and sometimes 3 hours later than normal park hours , which is a great advantage for those of us who can't ride enough rides.

Secondly, getting to the parks early lets you get on all the attractions you want that may have long lines during the day such as Dumbo, Soarin', Expedition Everest, Toy Story Midway Mania, etc.

Now you might be thinking that you're going to get pretty tired running around any and all of the Disney parks, especially if you get up early. No worries! By noon the lines will get pretty long because those who slept in will have arrived as well as annual passholders and other guests. This is the perfect opportunity for you to take a break and nap! If the parks are open late, it is raining, or it is just hot, taking a break to nap and recharge is another great tip from Simba and friends. After all, in the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.

If you can't or do not want to go back to the resort to take a nap, you might want to find a quiet place in the park to hydrate, have some food or ice cream, and just rest your feet. You can avoid melt-downs and just feeling overwhelmed if you take a break. Or you can go back to your hotel and enjoy some swimming time in that Florida sun.

 

I cannot stress it enough that getting to the parks early and staying late is the BEST way to do Disney and taking these breaks will not only make it easier but more enjoyable to accomplish a fun-filled jam-packed Disney day. 

The last thing the Lion King taught me about Disney is no stampeding!
 

 

No matter how popular a ride is, there is no need to run, push, or compete with guests. You are not only putting yourself in danger but others and kids as well. Many guests cannot resist running for attractions like Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios or Soarin' at EPCOT, but I assure you that if you get there early you will be fine. You will even be able to get fastpasses AND hop in line. So take it slow, not only for the little ones feet, but for your safety an convenience.

Don't be afraid to wait an hour for a popular attraction or just grab a fastpass. Many of the lines move faster than you think and sometimes the lines can be really fun, especially because some of the lines have interactive queues.

 

After all, it is all about Hakuna Matata and that means no worries. You will get to do everything you want to do if you get there early and stay late, take advantage of fastpass, have a good attitude, and take those much needed breaks.

Once Upon A Time & In the Beginning

Once upon a time...

There was a little girl who was touched by Disney Magic. At the young age of 4, she met her childhood hero, Cinderella, spun in Alice's tea cups, toured the world and the future, and flew over Neverland.

After that initial sprinkle of pixie dust, planning trips to Disney became a thing of excitement. Where would we go? Who would we see? Where should we eat?

Planning became a part of the magic of Disney.

This blog serves as a Disney enthusiast's perspective on planning a Disney vacation/experience that will create memories that will last a lifetime.

There will be advice, memories, and tricks of the trade to making a Disney trip the most memorable and enjoyable for the kids and the kids at heart.


Here is the first piece of advice: Always do your research before choosing dates to visit.

Whether you are going to Disney World for the first time or even with small kids, you want to make sure you go when there are small crowds and is less busy, that way you do not have to wait too long for rides, battle crowds leaving and entering the park, or even need to pick a spot for the parade hours in advance. Some of those busy times:

• February - President's Week
• Mid March to Mid April - "Spring Break"
• May- Memorial Day weekend
• November - Thanksgiving Weekend
• December/January - Christmas through New Year's Day

But this is not to say that these "busy times" are not special or enjoyable. During the busiest times of the year, Walt Disney World extends park hours, has extra parades, and even extra fireworks shows.

If you do choose to go to Disney World during these busy times it is important to remember to take breaks during the day. Swimming, naps, shopping, or dining can not only help you beat the heat, but also give your feet and mind some comfort from not standing in line constantly waiting.

There are of course days at Disney World that are least crowded, mostly when the kids return to school in the fall and spring, as well as the weeks between major holidays, such as the weeks after New Year's Day up until President's week and the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

***Special fun-filled fact***

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas still have that Holly Jolly spirit. Most, if not all of the Christmas and holiday decorations are up. You can still get that Christmas and holiday spirit experience without those major crowds.

There are also special events to research such as Cheerleading/Dance competitions, Flower and Garden and Food and Wine Festival, Night of Joy, and Grad Night to name a few.

A great resource to use is

 http://allears.net/pl/events.htm 

This website lists all special dates for the entire calendar year and I highly suggest using it for your disney planning.



 

I hope this starts off your planning in the right direction and that you look forward to more posts for further tips, advice, memories, and tricks of the trade coming soon.