Tips for Distance Learning/Remote Working while at Disney World!

Are you still working from home and are your kids doing distance learning school? Well, then you just might be the luckiest family on earth!

If you don’t have to physically be on campus for school or in your office, then who’s to say where you get your work/school done? Why not get your assignments done during the day and then instead of hanging out at your house for the millionth night in a row, you just pop over to a Disney park for the afternoon and evening? Talk about a reason to whistle while you work!

So if you are smart enough to decide to do this, you might be looking for a few tips to help it go smoothly. I’ve got a few ideas…

Wouldn’t this make a great office view?!?

Wouldn’t this make a great office view?!?

Get Your Work Done Early

This is no time to dilly dally. Unless you have specific hours that you have to be logged in, why not get your work done early? The faster you can get your stuff done (and still do it well…), the more time you’ll have to play. Even better - if you can do your assignments anytime, do them in the late afternoon/evening and rope drop the parks each morning! You’ll beat the crowds and depending on the time of year, beat the heat.

Pick your Resort Wisely

If you have multiple family members that will be working and schooling, it might be worth paying a bit extra and staying in a villa with separate rooms. That way you’ll have a little privacy and quiet, especially if you have to be on video chats.

We were really lucky once and were able to stay in a villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge. With the separate bedroom and living area, there is plenty of room to work. Oh, and if it were me, I’d work out on the amazing balcony!!

Bring Plenty of Juice

No, I’m not worried about you staying hydrated - although you do have to keep an eye on that in the summer! I’m talking about battery power. Don’t forget to bring your power cord for any devices you’ll be using in the room. And you for sure want to have a portable charger if you’ll be on call or need to do anything in the parks. Using the Disney app takes a lot of battery power and add to that any work you have to do and you just might have your battery die on you if you’re not careful.

Also, if there is anything major that you MUST do at a specific time, be sure to log on a bit early to make sure you have a good connection. Disney wi-fi isn’t up to par with the rest of Disney’s services so you might need to try a different location or call the Help Desk if you can’t connect. Don’t wait until the last minute to do this.

Don’t be Sneaky

Be sure and let your work/school know that you’ll be traveling. It’s great to have a backup person that you can call if you get caught up in the magic of the parks and end up being a little late to work. And most teachers would rather know that you are out of town and might be a little late on assignments. Easier to let them know ahead of time then have to explain it when you’re already stressed about missing a deadline.

MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ALL…

Sorry for yelling, but please hear this part!! Make sure you have a travel agent that can help with all Disney specific issues so you don’t have to worry about anything. Luckily you know just the person that can help - ME!

There are some great specials right now - take advantage of it and enjoy remote work/school more than you can imagine! Also, read here if you have safety concerns about traveling right now… http://www.tripsbymouse.com/blog/2020/9/9/yes-i-took-my-kids-to-disney-world-during-a-pandemic-heres-why-id-do-it-again-in-a-heartbeat

Call me!



Yes, I'm Dopey. Are you?

I’m just putting this out there now - I WILL run the Dopey Challenge at Disney World. Don’t worry about the fact that I’m planning a bit ahead. With all that we have going on raising our boys, I know it won’t happen right away. So my plan is to do this the year after Luke graduates - in January of 2027. Yeah, yeah, I know I’ll be a bit older then. So if you see me out running now, give me some encouragement - I’ll be in training for the next 7 years!

So for you non runDisney peeps, you may be asking what on earth is the Dopey Challenge?

Glad you asked - it’s running 48.6 Miles in 4 consecutive days! Day one is the 5k, day two is the 10k, day three is the half marathon and day four is the full marathon!

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Complete all 4 Walt Disney World Weekend races and earn not only the 4 individual event medals, but both Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge Medal and Dopey Challenge Medal—for a grand total of 6!

You also will receive 6 participant shirts!

I don’t know about you, but 6 medals and 6 shirts is quite a bit of incentive for me to be in a little bit of pain for 4 days.

Look at all that bling!!

Look at all that bling!!

So who’s with me? Start running now!

When the time comes, you'll need to register for the Dopey Challenge, which includes all 4 races, in order to be eligible for the Challenge Medal. And shockingly there are a lot of weirdos like me that think this sounds like a good idea so it does sell out.

Are you interested in a runDisney event? Let me know and I’ll add you to my list to keep informed of the deadlines. And of course, I’ll plan and book your trip for you for free!!

Behind-the-scenes Tour at Disney World Shows Holiday Transformation!

Want to see how Walt Disney World Resort is transformed for the holidays? Now you can during this behind-the-scenes tour!

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Explore this winter wonderland—brimming with dazzling displays, delectable treats and pure Disney magic!

During this festive and fun-filled 3-hour tour, you'll see firsthand the incredible artistry and logistics that make Walt Disney World Resort even merrier and brighter at this time of year.

You’ll:

• Discover how the Holiday Services Designers use themes to fashion the distinctive decorations that “deck the halls” throughout the Resort.
• Visit the Floral Department for an up-close look at the special displays created just for the season.
• Join a Disney Springs culinary artist to whip up a mouthwatering seasonal treat of your own.

In addition, each Guest will receive an exclusive holiday keepsake!

This tour is $149 per person. Theme Park admission isn’t required or included. If you are interested, let me know and I’ll get it booked for you!

A Review of Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

On my recent solo trip to Walt Disney World, I stayed for the first time at one of Disney’s Value resorts - the All-Star Sports Resort. We have been very lucky in the past to score some great deals and have always stayed at Moderate or Deluxe resorts. Going alone and knowing that I would have very little time at the resort (remember my 23.75 hour day?), I decided to go as least expensive as possible.

I have no regrets! All of the Disney resorts are safe, clean and have amazing customer service. The Value resorts don’t have quite the same level of amenities (no table service dining, no slides in the pool, smaller rooms), but not spending time there, I didn’t miss any of that.

I’m not one to do table service dining at the resort - honestly I want every moment to be at the parks. But even if you’re a table service kind of person, don’t knock the quick service until you try it. They have a wonderful perk - mobile ordering at the food court! I was able to place my order for MICKEY WAFFLES in my room and by the time I walked to the food court, it was ready. If that’s not good news, I don’t know what is.

If I were planning to have a resort day or had kids with me that wanted to have a pool day, I would probably lean towards the Moderate at least, but I was sure happy to spend the money I saved on other things!!

All-Star Sports is wonderfully themed - I was in the football section. I meant to get over to the baseball section and grab some pics as that’s my favorite sport but completely ran out of time!

My only complaint is that although it’s highly themed, it’s not highly “Disney” themed. On the bus to the parks, instead of Disney music, they play marching band type songs. Not a huge deal, but if you’re expecting to stay in the Disney bubble, it can be a bit jarring.

Here are a few pics of the resort…

I would definitely stay here again! I’m hoping to hit every resort at some point so it may be a while but I’ll be back!

Want to plan a visit to Disney World? Give me a call! My trip planning services are always free and I can make sure you stay in the resort that is right for your family.

That Time I Went To Disney World by Myself... AGAIN...

Here we are again. I know you’ve heard my stories of going to Disney by myself but those times involved a training class so I really couldn’t take my family. This one’s a bit different. I wanted to be at Walt Disney World on the Opening Day of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I was able to score some great deals on hotel and tickets and had points for my flight. So for a solo trip it was super cheap. Once I started pricing adding the boys in, the price skyrocketed (most of my travel agent perks can’t be used for family).

So I made them a promise to take them back in a year or so once the newness of Galaxy’s Edge wore off a bit. Back when I booked this, the talk was pretty much that the lines would be so ridiculous that I may not get on the attraction or even into the land. Knowing that waiting in a line for an entire day would be torture to all but me, I decided to book my trip alone.

I know I could have just gone for that one day, but really, who are we kidding? If I’m going all the way to Florida, I’m making it worth my while. I got there 3 days prior to the opening and spent every possible moment in the parks. I did shows and rides that we typically don’t do as a family. In fact, I probably spent over a third of my time doing things that the boys wouldn’t have been interested in. That helped ease the guilt a bit!

Although I truly did miss them all, I’m thankful to have had the time to explore on my own. I learned even more about my favorite place on Earth and made the most of my trip. There are a few downsides to traveling alone - mainly having no one to ride with and visit with! But there are a lot of upsides to it also. Today I’ll list those for you!

I know a normal person probably won’t schedule a solo vacation to Disney World, but you never know when you may have a conference or a reason to be there alone. Do me a favor and if that happens, call me to talk about how to have a great trip by yourself! Check out my pics of the fun I had alone and then keep reading below those for the reasons you’ll want to do just that…

Your Schedule

When you go with family or friends, you can’t do whatever you want whenever you want to. Unless you’re a bit of a bully. Everyone should have input on what to do. And if you’re the type like me to want to go from open to close (and beyond), going alone makes that easy. I got 3 hours sleep one night, up for 23.5 hours the next day and then 4 hours sleep the next night. I can handle that at least for a few days at Disney. My kids would have melted down along the way.

Price

Obviously one person is cheaper than a family when you’re talking hotel, flight and tickets. But the food costs are much less also. And I skipped a few meals and had snacks instead. Much easier on your own. Since I was alone, I also decided to do an After Hours Party. At $125 a ticket per person, that adds up to A LOT for a family. While it’s still a lot for just me, I felt like it was totally worth it. I’ll devote an entire blog post to this miracle of a party coming up!

Work

If you have a job that requires you to check-in while you’re gone or do some remote work, you have the freedom to do that without worrying others are waiting for you. I had some sweet clients that were in the midst of dealing with the incoming hurricane and I was able to sit on a curb in Toy Story Land and work on that for them. I would have felt awful if my boys were waiting on that curb the whole time with me.

Less “Stuff”

By less stuff, I mean there is less to carry around. But also, less to buy (I can sometimes stop myself from wanting souvenirs). When a rainstorm hit, I only had to worry about one poncho. And security was a breeze due to the little amount I carried with me.

No One to Make Fun of Me

Ok, so to balance out the “lonely” times where I wished I had a buddy to sit next to me on a ride, or talk about something amazing I just saw, there were times when the boys would have made fun of me for sure. I love to pose for ALL of the Magic Shots and Character Meetings (they don’t). And I always get teary-eyed and sometimes flat out cry during the fireworks. (That’s some sort of weird trick Disney does because fireworks most definitely don’t normally make me cry).

Less Stress

I’m that weird Mom that is convinced I’m going to lose a kid every time we’re in a large crowd. Yes, they are too old to get lost and all have cell phones but it’s a phobia I can’t shake. No worries about that when you’re by yourself!

No Mousekeeping

Probably the most surprising thing as I normally don’t even consider it, is that I used the option of refusing Mousekeeping (hotel room housekeeping) and instead they gave me a $30 gift card. With 3 boys, we’d be in a filthy pit after a few days. By myself I was able to keep the room clean on my own (as I was rarely there) and brought home a sweet sweatshirt instead.

Please call me when you’re thinking of a trip - solo or with 50 of your closest friends. I truly love helping everyone have a Magical time and I don’t charge a penny for it!!!



10 Incorrect Disney Myths

With something as large as Disney, there are bound to be countless rumors and myths. Today’s post will cover 10 of the most widely believed, yet false tales… Have you heard other myths? Put them in the comments!!! And if you haven’t been to Disney in a while (or ever), call me to get a trip planned for you. Without seeing it for yourself, who knows what you’ll believe!!

Myth: Cinderella Castle Can be Quickly Deconstructed Before a Hurricane

Walt Disney World has closed down several times due to hurricanes but the Magic Kingdom’s centerpiece can’t be taken apart to prevent it from being damaged. Despite the castle’s magical appearance, it’s a building like any other..

Myth: All of Walt Disney World is Built on Top of an Underground City

This one has a bit of truth at its core, since the Magic Kingdom is built on top of a series of underground tunnels known as Utilidors. However, outside of the area underneath Spaceship Earth at Epcot, the system wasn’t replicated in any of WDW’s other parks.

Myth: Walt Disney is Frozen

After Walt Disney succumbed to cancer in December 1966, rumors spread that he had been cryogenically frozen, with the hope being that he could be “thawed” out when a cure was discovered for cancer. In later years, this myth evolved into the idea that Disney’s frozen body was kept in various places, including underneath Epcot. However, it’s flatly untrue. While Walt did apparently show some interest in cryonics, the first human being wasn’t cryopreserved until 1967, the year after Disney died. Walt’s remains were actually cremated and interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Myth: Paramedics Will Only Declare Someone Dead Once They’re Off Disney Property

Once again, this urban legend — that medical teams won’t/aren’t allowed to declare someone dead until they’re off Disney property in order to uphold the company’s safety record — is completely untrue. In fact, in the 60-plus years since Disneyland opened, there have sadly been documented deaths on Disney property, including inside the theme parks.

Myth: Cast Members Portraying Toy Story Characters Will “Drop” to the Ground Any Time Someone Says “Andy’s Coming.”

In the past, cast members portraying Toy Story characters would drop to the ground and lay still like the film’s characters if a guest said “Andy’s coming.” However it was never an across-the-board policy that happened every time, and after an internet meme of a character laying on the ground went viral in 2013, Disney put a stop to the practice entirely for safety reasons.

Myth: There’s a Fully Constructed, Yet Unopened Boat Ride In Epcot’s Germany Pavilion 

While there were originally plans for a Rhine River cruise attraction at the back of the pavilion, the construction never began as some believe. The only physical remnant of the original plan is a foyer and mural-covered wall at the location of the planned entrance gate and loading platform near the pavilion’s Biergarten restaurant. 

Myth: Walt Disney is One of the Singing Busts in the Haunted Mansion Graveyard Scene

The busts are actually the Mellomen, a popular singing group who sang in several Disney films, as well as numerous Elvis Presley films. The specific members immortalized in the Haunted Mansion are Thurl Ravenscroft (often mistaken for Walt), Jay Meyer, Verne Rowe, Bob Ebright, and Chuck Schroeder.

Myth: The Dream Suite in Cinderella Castle Was Initially Designed for the Disney Family

Walt Disney did have an apartment above the fire station in Disneyland, and a suite was being constructed for Walt and his family in New Orleans Square prior to his death — this space went on to become the Disney Gallery and later the Disneyland Dream Suite. Walt died before proper plans of WDW had been made, however, and no lodging was ever planned for him in Orlando. The Cinderella Dream Suite was instead constructed in the mid-2000s as part of the Year of a Million Dreams promotion, carved out of a space previously used for storage and as the headquarters of the Walt Disney World phone system.

Myth: There is a “Club 21” at Walt Disney World

For years, it’s been rumored that WDW had a version of Disneyland’s famously exclusive – and expensive – Club 33 called “Club 21” which is completely untrue. However, Disney is currently constructing real Club 33 locations in all four Disney World parks, which should end the “Club 21” myth once and for all.

Myth: There’s Always a Vice President Animatronic on Standby at the Hall of Presidents in Case of Assassination

It’s unknown what, if anything, Disney would do in the case of a presidential assassination, as one has never occurred while the Hall has been open.

Five Fun Secrets of the Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion was one of the original rides at Magic Kingdom’s opening day on October 1, 1971. It’s the home of “999 happy haunts” - but of course there’s always room for one more!!

Poor Ryan thought he was going to become the 1000th resident ghost in the Haunted Mansion.

Poor Ryan thought he was going to become the 1000th resident ghost in the Haunted Mansion.

The Imagineers certainly had fun creating this attraction, and snuck in a few fun details. Watch for these on your next trip…

A Missing Engagement Ring

The Imagineers didn’t go overboard in telling the story of the Haunted Mansion - they left it fairly vague which adds to the mystery. The legend you’ll hear most often is of the engagement ring. Supposedly the attic bride threw it off of the balcony after murdering one of her husbands. The reality is that it was a scrap of metal left over from an old gate removal. At one point, the attraction received a refurbishment and the metal was removed. Guests were so furious that when the queue was redone in 2011, the Imagineers added a real engagement ring. Look for it as you weave through the entrance line – it’s in the part of the line where you’ve wrapped around and the “head” statues are on the other side of the fence. It’s tucked in between a wall and a nearby trash can. If you can’t find it just ask a Mansion Maid or Butler. They’re always DYING to help out guests.

Madame Leota’s Tombstone

If you get the feeling you’re being watched while in line, you just might be right. Right before you enter the building, look to the graveyard on your left. Watch Madame Leota’s tombstone for a moment and she might spring to life. And yep, this is the same Madame Leota from the seance room inside the Mansion!

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A Haunted Game Piece

Look up to the rooftop of the Mansion. Notice anything? The cement ornaments on top are chess pieces! Marc Davis, an Imagineer that designed the Mansion was a fan of the game. While working on the attraction design, he often left chess pieces laying around the model and one night left them on top of the model. They must have liked the look of it since they made it onto the actual attraction! Be sure when you leave the attraction to ask the PhotoPass photographer for the “Magic Shot” with the hitchhiking ghost!!

Meet Your Host, Your Ghost Host

Most people love the chilling voice of the Ghost Host (and many will recite the stretch room speech by heart). But guess what? You can actually get a glimpse of the Ghost Host on the ride! His portrait hangs in the Mansion. Look for it after you pass the casket with the hand coming out of it as your doom buggy has turned backwards. It’s hanging on the right just before you swivel back around and see the grandfather clock.

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Mr. Toad in the Graveyard

One of the attractions that people miss most from Disney World is Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. I was lucky enough to get to go to Disneyland recently where the attraction still exists and rode it there. Not quite as terrifying as I remember it being when I first rode it at the age of 10, but still fun!! It was replaced at Disney World with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (there’s a nod to Mr. Toad in that ride also). The Haunted Mansion Imagineers included poor Mr. Toad in the special pet cemetery at the graveyard. Look to the left as you’re exiting the attraction (he’s at the far back left).

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Do you have other attractions you’d love to know the secrets of? Or do you have secrets of your own to share? Put it in the comments!

And one thing to not keep secret - if you let me help you book and plan your Disney vacation, you’ll be getting my expert service FREE OF CHARGE!! Give me a call!

Is it a Cold, the Flu, a Virus?? I Can't be Sick, I'm at Disney World!!

This time of year, it seems like everyone I know has a family member that is sick, was just sick or is coming down with something. And while Disney World is truly Magical, sometimes you can’t Wish away an illness. So what happens if you get sick while at Disney World?

If it’s a true emergency, of course call 911 and alert a Cast Member. We witnessed a man collapse on Main Street once and it was amazing how quickly Cast Members took over in clearing out the area and helping him.

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For minor ailments, look for the First Aid stations. At each one, there is a licensed nurse. They have sample sizes of medication to get you through the day. If you need more than just a sample, they do have full-size items for purchase. Some of the things they treat are:

Fever – The station has thermometer strips available to take temperature. They can get you some fever-reducing medicine and even have beds to lay down on if you need to rest.

Common Cold – First Aid offers samples of cold medicine, cough drops, and packets of tissues.

Headaches – Headache treatments include samples of Tylenol/Ibuprofen, Powerade (to help with dehydration), damp cloths, and best of all, air conditioning. Sometimes the heat is the culprit and just getting a drink and cooling off a bit can work wonders.

Insect Bite / Allergic Reactions – All First Stations are equipped with EpiPens.

Eye Irritation – Stop by First Aid and they can flush your eyes. They even have contact solution if you forgot to pack yours in your handy backpack!

Cuts / Blisters – Band-Aids and bandages are stocked in all stations. 

All First Aid Stations will store refrigerated medication for you. If you plan to spend the day in the park and need to access your refrigerated medication, simply stop by First Aid as you enter the park. This saves a lot of time from having to navigate back to your resort to get to your medication.

If you are a diabetic or have another condition requiring daily injections, these can be administered at any First Aid location. Special containers for disposal of hypodermic needles are provided

First Aid Stations at Walt Disney World can be found in the following general locations: 

  • Magic Kingdom, located between The Crystal Palace and Casey’s Corner.

  • Epcot, located in the Odyssey Center between Future World and the World Showcase (in between Test Track and the Mexico Pavilion.)

  • Hollywood Studios, located in the Guest Relations building on Hollywood Boulevard (front entrance).

  • Animal Kingdom, located at Discovery Island.

Have other concerns about traveling to Disney World? Please call me! I’ve been there - I’ve done it all (mostly). I would love to help you have a stress-free vacation and it doesn’t cost you a penny!!!