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!!

Some (Most Likely Unintentional) Creepy Things at Disney World

Being the Happiest Place on Earth, you might think there’s nothing creepy about it. But there are a few things!!

Obviously, attractions like The Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror are intentionally creepy. But even within those rides, there are extra creepy items. I can give myself nightmares if I hear “Hurry Back” at the end of the Haunted Mansion too late at night. After exiting the Tower of Terror, you just might notice this ventriloquist’s dummy.

Disney’s Boardwalk resort has a couple of creepy things that aren’t supposed to be creepy at all. These chairs sit on either side of the Boardwalk lobby’s fireplace. Referred to as “Nanny Chairs,” they were historically found on carousels and gave adults a place to sit while the children rode the horses. I’ll just stand, thanks.

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The other fun but creepy touch at the Boardwalk is the huge clown slide at the pool. I don’t have a clown phobia but this guy looks a bit too much like the clown from It to me. At least it spits you out - if you had to enter the slide through his head, there would probably be a lot fewer kids enjoying this slide!

Here’s something that should give you the creeps. While it is COMPLETELY AGAINST THE RULES, some guests still think it’s okay to sprinkle their deceased relative’s ashes at Disney World. The most common attempts are to sprinkle them outside of their Doom Buggy on the Haunted Mansion or outside of their boat on Pirates of the Caribbean. If caught, the ride must be stopped and cleaned. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us! *Side note - I’d want to be sprinkled in the water surrounding the Castle, but that’s just me…

Speaking of Pirates, it’s not necessarily a creepy ride. With the song that makes me bob my head and sing along, it actually seems pretty cheerful to me. But did you know that one of the skulls is an actual human skull? Yikes!

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And lastly, not many people think of “it’s a small world” in a creepy way. Some find the song annoying but that’s about it. Well, if you’d like to keep it that way, don’t read the novel Kingdom Keepers! It’s a fun book, but the dolls come to life and attack some kids. Think about that the next time you have a delay in the ride and your boat floats in one room for a while…

Want to see all of these things? Of course you do! CONTACT ME! It’s always free to use my services…

Disney Acronyms - The List is Here!

Have you ever heard a couple of true Disney nerds have a conversation? It’s filled with plenty of acronyms that the casual guest may not understand. Here’s a list to help you get in on the conversation!

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Some of these vary depending on the nerd of course, but if you’re talking to this nerd in particular, you’ll know the lingo…

ADR – Advance Dining Reservation

AK (or DAK) – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

AKL – Animal Kingdom Lodge

AoA – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

AP – Annual Pass or Annual Passholder (I WISH THIS WERE ME!!!!)

ASMusic – Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

ASMovies – Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

ASSports – Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

BBB – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

BCR – Beach Club Resort

BLT– Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary

BOG – Be Our Guest Restaurant

BTMR – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

BWI – Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

CBJ – Country Bear Jamboree

CBR – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

CM – Cast Member

Cont – Disney’s Contemporary Resort

CoP – Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

CRT – Cinderella’s Royal Table

CSR– Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort 

DAK (or AK) – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

DCA – Disney California Adventure

DCL – Disney Cruise Line

DDP – Disney Dining Plan

DHS – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

DL – Disneyland

DLH – Disneyland Hotel

DLR– Disneyland Resort

DME – Disney Magical Express

DS – Disney Springs

EC – Epcot

EMH – Extra Magic Hours

F&G – Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

F&W – Epcot Food & Wine Festival

FEA – Frozen Ever After

FoP – Avatar Flight of Passage

FP – FastPass

FtW – Fort Wilderness

GF – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

GS – Guest Services

HEA – Happily Ever After Fireworks Show

HoP – The Hall of Presidents

iasw – “it’s a small world”

JC – Jungle Cruise

KJS – Kilimanjaro Safari

LBV – Lake Buena Vista

LWTL – Living with the Land

M&G – Character Meet and Greet

MB – Magic Bands

MDE – My Disney Experience

MK – Magic Kingdom

MNSSHP – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

MVMCP – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

OKW – Disney’s Old Key West

PH – Park Hopper 

PoC – Pirates of the Caribbean

POFQ – Port Orleans French Quarter

Poly – Disney’s Polynesian Resort

POP – Pop Century Resort

PORS – Port Orleans Riverside

PotC – Pirates of the Caribbean

PP - Peter Pan

QS – Quick Service (dining)

RnR – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

RoL – Rivers of Light

SDD – Slinky Dog Dash

SDMT (or 7DMT) – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

SoG – Shades of Green Resort

SSE – Spaceship Earth

SSR – Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

SWGE – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

ToT – “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”

TS – Table Service (dining)

TSI – Tom Sawyer Island

TSL – Toy Story Land

TSM – Toy Story Mania

TT – Test Track

TTA – Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover

TTC – Transportation and Ticket Center

WDTC – Walt Disney Travel Company

WDW – Walt Disney World Resort

WL – Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

WoD – Disney’s World of Disney

WWoS – Disney’s Wide World of Sports

YCR – Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Anything I’ve left off?? Comment and let me know!

When you’re ready to have your “let’s go to Disney” conversation with me, give me a call!! There are never any fees - you pay the same if you book with me or book on your own. Why wouldn’t you get free help?!

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.

Skyliner - Opening Date Announced!!

On September 29, Disney Skyliner gondolas will take flight and officially begin transporting guests around Walt Disney World Resort.

This state-of-the-art transportation system offers a new way to experience the resort with amazing views only available from the sky. Disney Skyliner connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort scheduled to open in December 2019.

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Some Disney Skyliner cabins feature graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters. Disney stories taking flight with guests include:

  • Mickey Mouse

  • Minnie Mouse

  • Pluto

  • Chip & Dale

  • “Coco”

  • Goofy, Pete, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow

  • “Finding Dory”

  • Haunted Mansion

  • “Monsters, Inc.”

  • Pirates of the Caribbean

  • “Ratatouille”

Guests aboard Disney Skyliner will travel quickly across the sky, with rides approximately five to 15 minutes in length, depending on the destination. • Disney’s Caribbean Beach to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 5-6 minutes • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Disney’s Pop Century Resort or Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: under six minutes • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Disney’s Riviera Resort: about 5 minutes • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to International Gateway at Epcot: approximately 15 minutes • Disney’s Riviera Resort to International Gateway at Epcot: approximately nine minutes.

There are more than 300 cabins, each with bench seating that can comfortably accommodate up to ten Guests, including those traveling with wheelchairs or assistive devices.

Although they won’t have air conditioning, the cabins were specifically tailored to provide a comfortable ride for guests in the Florida climate, with cross-ventilation for sufficient air flow and reflective windows to prevent direct sunlight.

I am BUMMED that these won’t be open yet on my trip in August, but I’ll just have to go back! Let me book and plan your trip for FREE and then be sure to brag to me how you got to ride these before me. I promise I’ll try not to be too jealous!!

Do You Want to Spend the Night in Cinderella's Castle?

Last week I talked about the amazing Specialty Suites at Disneyland. This week, I’ll tell you about special rooms at Walt Disney World!

I can’t imagine getting to spend the night in Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. And sadly, I don’t imagine it will ever happen for me. As of now, the only way you can stay there is if you’re invited (usually for celebrities) or you win a contest. But you can bet I’ll keep hoping it happens. Here are a couple of pictures from lucky ducks that have seen the suite…

Below are other rooms that regular peeps like me can actually book… I’ve included the one at Wilderness Lodge mainly due to the bedding options. You can get bunkbeds! When you have 2 kids that nearly kill each other shoving each other in the bed, you really appreciate an easy bed time. Each in their own bed!! This option is also available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. And bonus there, you can see animals from some of the rooms!

Of course, this is only a small sampling of rooms. There are a LOT of options depending on what you and your family need. Please give me a call if you’re thinking of taking a Disney trip. I will help you get the room that will work best for you and make your trip as Magical as possible. My services are FREE!!



5 Crazy Facts about Disney World's Trash!

Disney World has an average annual attendance of 52 MILLION visitors! So of course, that means a lot of trash is generated. Here are some amazing facts about all of that trash…

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1 - AVACS - You’ve probably heard that a lot of the behind-the-scenes work at Magic Kingdom takes place below the park itself. It’s built on top of a series of utility corridors or “utilidors” that house many of the operations that keep the park running smoothly.

The AVAC system — Automated Vacuum Assisted Collection System — was imported from Sweden. It’s basically a series of large tubes that hang from the ceiling of the utilidor. It moves trash around the park through pneumatic tubes at 60 miles per hour to a central collection point located behind Splash Mountain where it is processed, compressed or recycled. There are access points all over the park and the garbage is actually “sucked” into the tubes. The vacuum is created by two motors and exhausts and the tubes themselves are 20″ in diameter.

2 - AMOUNT OF WASTE - An average of more than 80,000 pounds of garbage run through the AVACS every day. And that’s just at the Magic Kingdom! According to a report from the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which oversees Disney World operations, more than 110,000 TONS of solid waste were discarded in 2017.

3 - GARBAGE TRUCKS - Who is taking care of all this trash? That falls on the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s 35 solid waste transfer vehicles. In 2017, these vehicles made an average of 191 pick-ups per day. Keep in mind these are full-size garbage trucks that would be full each pick-up. That’s a pick-up every 7.5 minutes on average!

4 - CUSTOM TRASH CANS - Walt Disney World trash cans have become such a crucial part of the Disney experience, that they even sell merchandise designed around them.

Walt himself wanted to make sure the park was clean and tidy. Typical trash cans at the time were simple round, open receptacles that led to foul odor and trash spilling out - far from clean and tidy.

Trash can inspired salt/pepper shakers!

Trash can inspired salt/pepper shakers!

Walt came up with a solution - the covered bin with a swinging lid. This would contain the trash out of sight, and control the smell. Disneyland was the first place to use these trash cans, but Walt never patented the idea because other manufacturers told him they were useless.

The trash cans are themed appropriately to the area of the park they are in. They are part of the decor and actually FUN to look at. This makes you more likely to walk up to a trash can and use it.

5 - PERFECT PLACEMENT - Besides the perfect designs for trash cans, Walt knew they had to be perfectly placed in order for people to use them. He decided to station a trash can every 30 feet.

There are a few different versions of the story of how Walt came up with this exact measurement. The first is that it’s how long it took him to finish his hot dog as he walked from the stand. When he was done, he needed a trash can to dispose of the wrapper. The second is that Walt and his team removed all of the trash cans on Main Street and then handed out candy and snacks to people as they entered the park. They then watched and counted how long people would carry the wrappers and paper before giving up and dropping them, and it was around 30 feet.

Who knew that trash could be so interesting?? Remember that I will plan and book your Disney trip for free and leave you with time on your hands to read about things like garbage!

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!

Winter Snow Storm Predicted to Hit Disney World This Week!

Wait, what?? Snow at Disney World? I might be a little confused - although it’s supposed to snow in Oklahoma tomorrow, none is predicted for Orlando. According to rumors, it’s only actually ever snowed at Disney World twice - once in the late 70s and once in the late 80s but not enough to stick either time.

So if you want snow, Orlando is probably not the best option for you. However, with the possibility of snow here, I’m dreaming of Disney World and the warmth of it all - along with a warm hug from Olaf!

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Not everyone wants to be quite as toasty warm as I do, though. So if you’re one of the people looking to stay cool on a Disney World trip, here are a few tips for you.

First off - go during cooler weather!! October/November are beautiful and have fewer crowds. January, February and early March (avoiding Marathon weekends and Spring Break) also have fewer crowds but you’ll run into a bit more rain then. Still, that helps keep it cooler.

If you do happen to go in the hotter months, there are plenty of ways to cool off. When we were there a few years ago, they had a Frozen themed “snow” playground. It’s not there anymore but you never know when something like this will pop up!

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Of course, there of tons of refreshing treats (DOLE WHIP, ANYONE??) to help you beat the heat. And don’t forget about Club Cool in Epcot where you can drink all you want of the complimentary sodas from around the world!

Look for water areas to help your kids cool off. There are misters scattered around and plenty of fountains to run through. And sometimes just the “feeling” of being cold is all you really need - it’s a frame of mind!

I love how almost all of the queues for attractions are indoors or in the shade. Stick to the rides that will keep you out of the sun. A great spot for this is in Norway at Epcot. Even in the summer, you feel like you are in the snowy mountains. Be sure to visit the Frozen Singalong at Hollywood Studios for an indoor snow storm! Or take a trip to visit the Yeti on Mt. Everest! I tend to black out on that ride but based on the shakes I get, I think it cools me off…

You may not always get perfect weather on your trip, but with some advanced planning we can make sure you have the best time possible. Please give me a call if you are thinking about a Disney (or Universal!) trip. I can’t wait to help you have a Magical time!!