Did You Know?

This year, Epcot celebrates its 35th birthday!  Opening date was October 1, 1982.  Here are 4 fun facts about the park.

 

It’s huge - Epcot covers 305 acres.

It is divided into 2 major sections - Future World and World Showcase.  Future World focuses on technology and innovations that make the world a better place.  You’ll find Test Track there as well as Soarin’.

World Showcase brings to life Walt’s belief that our cultural differences enrich us.  Be sure and explore all of the different countries and enjoy the shopping and food that they offer.

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The American Adventure is the Host Nation of the World Showcase.

Imagineers were inspired by colonial American architecture when designing The American Adventure.  Inside, the mulit-media theatrical experience uses a projection screen which is 28-feet-tall by 155-feet-wide.  That’s the largest projection screen ever built!

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Spaceship Earth is an iconic landmark.

It houses an attraction about the history of human communication.  It's 180-fee-tall and is covered with 11.324 alucobond tiles.  Inside, there's a hidden network of backstage corridors for maintenance workers.  It’s so complex that the workers sometimes draw pencil lines on the walls to find their way back from where they came.

Don’t pass this attraction by - it’s a slow moving ride which some people equate to boring.  But I love it - especially the actual smell of smoke when you pass by a burning Rome!

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The Living Seas is an amazing aquarium.


It debuted in 1986 and features a 5.7 million gallon aquarium that is home to over 2,000 sea creatures!  A fun show for guests of all ages is Turtle Talk with Crush.  Be sure and participate in the interactive show if possible!

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Want to discover Epcot for yourself?  Give me a call!  I’d love to help you make the most of your time at Walt Disney World.

Try the Grey Stuff - It's Delicious!

If you’ve seen Beauty and The Beast, you probably know the famous line from Be Our Guest in which the dining room sings about the meal and they suggest you try the grey stuff.  

Wonderfully, at Disney World’s Be Our Guest restaurant, you can do just that.  Trust me (just ask the plates) - it IS delicious!

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There are 3 rooms at BOG - The Grand Ballroom, the West Wing and the Castle Gallery.  We were seated in the West Wing.  

Each room is done in true Disney fashion - you feel like you are truly inside the Beast’s castle.  If you’re seated in the Grand Ballroom - be sure to look for the snow falling just outside the windows.  The West Wing is a dark and mysterious room where you’ll find the enchanted rose.  Also, watch the portrait of Adam as it changes from prince to Beast!  The Gallery features a nearly 7-foot tall music box.

Whichever room you’re in, take the time before you leave to walk through the other rooms.  It’s definitely worth your time.

The food at BOG is considered French cuisine.  Don’t worry though, if you have picky eaters in your group.  My family (including me!) is the definition of picky eaters and we found the food to be great.  You can always get a Mickey Meal for the kid that just won’t try anything different. 

Do save room for dessert!  Besides the grey stuff (have I mentioned it’s delicious?) there are 7 other options!  

We ate lunch at BOG so didn’t get to meet the Beast, but if you go at dinner, you’ll most likely get a chance to take photos with him.  It’s not a “typical” character meal where he goes from table to table.  You’ll get a chance to take a pic with him as you exit the restaurant, but beware that you may have to wait in a bit of a line - just depends on timing as other guests finish their meal and line up.  

If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, BOG is a quick-service meal at breakfast/lunch and a table service credit at dinner.  You can order your food in advance of your trip - keep that in mind as it will save you time once you arrive at the restaurant.  And you know how I am - less time spent eating is more time riding rides!!

This popular restaurant is located in the Magic Kingdom in New Fantasyland.  Even though it opened several years ago, reservations are still hard to come by.  You’ve got to be dedicated and get online at 5am on the 180 day mark ahead of your trip to snag one.  I’ve heard of people just walking up and getting in on the day they’re there, but that’s pretty rare and you’ve got to be willing to be disappointed if they’re full.  When you book your trip through me, I will be the one getting up early to get this reservation for you!

Once you're there - take lots and lots of pics!  I especially love this one of us reenacting the stained glass...

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Have you tried Be Our Guest?  Comment about what you thought!!

Need a Laugh? You've Come to the Right Place!

Read on to enjoy some funny/corny Disney jokes to make your day a little brighter…

Why did Mickey Mouse go into space?

Because he wanted to find Pluto!

 

Why does Tigger always smell? 

Because he's always playing with Pooh!

 

Why is Peter Pan always flying? 

Because he can Neverland!

 

Why does Alice ask so many questions?

Because she's in wonderland!

 

Why was Cinderella terrible at soccer?

Because she was always running away from the ball.

 

How much does it cost a pirate to have his ears pierced?

A buck an ear!

 

What kind of car does Luke Skywalker drive?

A Toy-Yoda

 

Why can't you give Elsa a balloon? 

Because she will Let it Go! 

 

What does Ariel like on her toast? 

Mermalade! 

 

What does Mickey Mouse use to browse the Web? 

An iPad Minnie! 

 

Why didn't Anna & Elsa's parents teach them the whole alphabet? 

Because they got lost at C. 

 

What did Mickey say when Minnie asked him if he was listening? 

"I'm all ears!" 

 

What's Peter Pan's favorite restaurant? 

Wendy's

 

What does Olaf eat for lunch?

Icebergers

 

Why did Jasmine go to the fruit stand in the Marketplace? 

She was looking for a date. 

 

What is Grumpy's favorite fruit? 

Sour Grapes

 

If cinderella’s shoe fit perfectly, why did it fall off in the first place?

 

In the Lion King, what was Scar’s name before he got the scar?

 

What was Captain Hook’s name when he had two hands?

 

If you thought any of these were remotely funny, then you are a true Disney fan!  Contact me for a free quote (for my FREE services, FYI!) and I’ll get you to Disney stress-free.  Then you can ride the Jungle Cruise and hear even more fun (and corny!) Disney jokes…

What NOT to Buy on a Disney Trip

Disney vacations are magical, wonderful, memorable...  and cheap?  No, you've never heard anyone say that I'm sure.  To be honest, trips to Disney are expensive.  You can save money here and there, but as a whole, it does cost a bit more than an average family vacation.  Totally worth it I believe!  

But since the upfront cost of the vacation is a bit higher than other places, it's always wise to look for areas in which you can save money.  I've blogged about saving money before, but in this case I want to specifically talk about items you're better off buying before seeing the "Welcome to Disney" sign, both for cost and convenience.

Ponchos - you may think of California or Florida as always sunny and warm but it does rain.  In Florida, we usually get rained on often.  When the rain starts is not the time to go searching for a poncho.  Besides the ridiculous costs of them at the parks, you don't have them right with you.  I go to the dollar store and buy one per person per day and throw one for each of us in our backpack each morning.  They're lightweight so it's not a pain to carry them around.  And they're cheap enough to be considered a "one-time-use" item so I don't try to fold them up and carry them after it's rained.  We just toss them in the trash and go.  

Sunscreen - along the same lines as ponchos, the cost of sunscreen is crazy.  Besides, I like to put it on before we even leave the room in the morning so that we're set for a while.  And if you have anyone in your group that is sensitive to some ingredients, it's nice to have your own brand that you know works for them.  

Water Bottles and Flavor Packets - I always carry a water bottle for each family member to save us time as well as money.  No waiting in a line for drinks - we can just grab the water from the backpack at any time.  (I bring a sharpie with us to put our initials on the bottles - you might want to do this if you don't relish the thought of sharing your germs.)  The flavor packets come in super handy for kids who may not like the way the water tastes - I don't think it's bad but it may not be what you're used to.  I also have a Diet Coke addiction so need my caffeine fix fairly often.  Did you know they make flavor packets with caffeine?  You're welcome.  Just don't mix yours up with the kids' packets!

Hand Sanitizer - We have a certain germaphobe in our family that won't touch anything that anyone else may have touched.  He doesn't hold the bar on the bus, won't touch handrails...  But at an amusement park, sometimes you do have to pull down on a safety bar or just hang on!  Disney does a good job of providing hand sanitizer throughout the parks but it's just more convenient to carry a little bottle of it in your bag.

Medications and First Aid - Disney also has first aid stations but pretty much just one per park.  If you have a blister, the last thing you want to do is walk back a mile from where you are to get a band-aid.  Carry a few in your bag along with over-the-counter pain medication and you'll save yourself from buying them at sky-high prices in the closest gift shop that is within limping range.  

 

Souvenirs/Disney Merch - While you are going to want to make a purchase of a few Disney souvenirs, you can make your kids happy by sneaking in a few you buy ahead of time.  Just hide them in your suitcase and once they go to sleep at night, put them out and say Mickey left them.  Won't stop every meltdown but if you tell them there might be a prize that next morning, it might curb some of the greedy gimmies.  One thing I never miss out on, though is the Disney candy from Goofy's Candy Co.  Goofy makes the best licorice of all time!  

If you're going to Disney, you'd make me the happiest travel agent of all time if you pick me up a bag of this.  Can't get it elsewhere.  Do yourself a favor and get one for you too!!  :)

If you're going to Disney, you'd make me the happiest travel agent of all time if you pick me up a bag of this.  Can't get it elsewhere.  Do yourself a favor and get one for you too!!  :)

Want to plan a trip to Disney to get me some licorice?  Call me and I'll give you a free quote!!

California Dreamin'

To all of my West Coast peeps - and to my non-West Coast peeps that have West Coast peeps - put the word out to your friends that I’m looking for my first Disneyland booking! I’ve been having a great time booking Disney World Resort stays and Disney Cruises, but I’d love to get on the Disneyland train.

So for the first client that books a Disneyland package (hotel and theme park tickets) with me, I'll throw in a $25 Disney gift card with your package.  Fastest and easiest way to get the word out is to simply share this post!

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And if you're not planning a trip, don’t despair!  If you refer someone to me, you’ll of course be eligible for the $10 restaurant gift card through my referral program.  WIN/WIN.

Get in the Picture - Everyone!!!

Update as of 10/11/2023…. The pricing for Memory Maker has increased to $185 for advanced purchase and $210 if you don’t purchase at least 3 days prior to your trip.

One of the best things about Disney world is their Photo Pass system and Memory Maker.  Here I will explain what these things are and some tips to help you make the most of them.

Disney's PhotoPass Service is the system used to take your pictures in the theme parks, on certain attractions and at some Character Dining locations. Memory Maker allows you to download all of those photos and videos for one price. If you purchase Memory Maker, you will have the rights to use your photos in any way that you'd like, including printing them from any service that you choose. In addition, you will also get on-ride videos and animated Magic shots that are only available to Memory Maker purchasers. 

I love the pictures that are included when purchasing Memory Maker - the Magic Shots are some of my favorites!

I also love the in-ride photos.  My hair is awesome in this pic!  :)  The pics are captured automatically based on your MagicBands.

And I love that in our Disney pics - unlike most vacations - I'm actually in the picture!  On other trips, I usually have the camera because I love torturing my children by making them take a billion pictures (according to them).  It's nice to be able to have myself included for a change.  You also have the choice to download them with frames and stickers which is fun.

If you feel like you've already spent enough money just getting to Disney World and don't want to spend money on your photos, not to worry!  Every single PhotoPass Photographer I've encountered has taken pictures using my own camera or phone.  When I went on my solo trip a while back, I didn't think it was worth the money to just have pictures of me alone so I didn't purchase the Memory Maker.  But I had the photographers take my pics and I came home with a couple hundred pictures.  

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My favorite is this one - when I handed the photographer my phone, he asked if I'd like some candid photos as I visited with Cinderella, rather than just the staged photos.  I said sure and then had a great belly laugh when I flipped through the pics later and saw his "candid" photo.

You also need to only purchase 1 Memory Maker per group if you are traveling with others.  Even if you are on a different reservations, as long as you are linked in My Disney Experience, all pics will be captured and can be downloaded.  I can help you when the time comes to make sure you've got it linked.

Stop and take pictures - always!!  Especially if you've paid for the Memory Maker, you'd be silly not to take advantage of every opportunity.  So when you see a photographer, stop!  Even if you're not buying the pics, have them take one with your camera.

When you get your pics made, ask the photographers if they do any Magic Shots.  Some will offer it and some won't tell you what they're doing - which is fun when you look at your pics later.  But some will just not mention it at all, so be sure and ask.  I think the photographers move locations often and they just don't think about the Magic Shots unless you ask.

Also, ask for some fun and different shots...  your backs as you look up at the castle, getting a kiss on the cheek from Mickey, anything you can think of to make your pics unique and truly a memory you will never forget.

You can save some money on Memory Maker by purchasing it in advance of your trip (at least 3 days in advance). As of this blog post, it costs $169.  If purchased at the parks, it's $199.  Also, be sure to note that your PhotoPass photos and videos expire 45 days from the date they are taken, so you will want to download them before they expire. 

Also, I don't work for Shutterfly or get any money for advertising for them, but they have a really cute Disney theme you can use and once you purchase Memory Maker, you are free to use them in a photo book.  I LOVE our books from our trips - and I catch the kids looking at them pretty often too.

Give me a call if you have any questions about these great services!  I'd love to book a trip for you and give you even more tips to increase the Magic!!

Help!! I've lost my child!!

Losing your child in the grocery store or other smallish area is terrifying.  Now imagine losing them at Disney World with a million people and acres of land.  Not a spot you want to be in.  I've got a few tips to help you avoid this disaster and information on what to do if it does occur.

Prepare ahead of time by purchasing ID tags that the kids can wear.  Especially for younger kids (and even older ones when they're stressed about being lost), this is important as they may not know their parents' full names or phone numbers.  I bought some for our boys that attached to their shoes and the info was written in permanent marker.  I put them on before the trip and we didn't have to worry about remembering it each morning or trying to keep them dry.  It worked out perfectly.  And with MagicBands now, I know a lot of people print their cell phone numbers inside of them.

Have your kids wear the same shirts if possible and wear bright or unique colors so they are easily spotted.  We had a minor scare during a parade when I lost sight of Andrew.  As I was frantically calling his name and spinning in circles, another guest pointed at my other two and said, "If he's dressed like those guys, he's behind that mailbox."  Sure enough, he had gotten scared from the noise of the parade and sat down to cover his ears.  I imagine I would have spotted him in another second but seconds are a lifetime when you're missing your child!

 

Consider the backpack leash.  I know, I know, most people are against them and I've never actually done it myself.  But the people who use them say their kids are happier since they aren't stuck holding a sweaty hand and feel like they have a little more freedom to roam.

When you first arrive at the parks, show them a Cast Member and have them pay attention to the fact that they are wearing a name tag.  If they get lost, they can ask a Cast Member for help.

Take a picture each morning on your phone of your kids before heading out.  That way, if they do get lost, you have a current picture including what they are wearing.  

Have a talk about staying together.  There's so much to see and do that there are times when it's a must to hold hands.  If they know going into the day that they may need to hold hands, you might avoid a meltdown when that time comes.

If you have older kids with phones, talk to them about a meeting spot if you get separated.  Sometimes phone batteries die or you just can't get reception.  Just don't pick Cinderella's Castle as your meeting spot.  Something that large makes it impossible to find someone.  Be specific - meet at the FastPass entrance to Peter Pan's Flight for instance.  Also consider downloading an App such as Find My Friends to keep track of older kids if they are exploring the park alone.

If you do happen to lose a child, don't panic.  Contact the first Cast Member you see.  As per usual Disney standards, they have procedures in place and will help you.  Just remind your child to stay put - no searching for you as you are probably going in circles.  And if they can't locate a Cast Member then have them ask a Mom with a child to help them get to a Cast Member.  

If you have other ideas to keep track of your kids, post them in the comments!!