Disney World... The SCARIEST Place on Earth??

Although in my mind, Disney World is most certainly NOT a scary place, there are some scary elements to be aware of if you're heading there with small children.  

There are some obvious scary things that parents are prepared for like thrill rides intended for adults.  A few off the top of my head are the Tower of Terror, Mission: SPACE, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster...  

But there are a few rides that you think of as family friendly that just might make smaller ones a bit nervous.  I love the Haunted Mansion, but as a kid that one can be a little spooky.  Check out one of my favorite videos of Luke's reaction when he was 3.

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And it's not just my goofy little kids that have been known to be nervous on this ride.  I love this picture while on Haunted Mansion - Ryan looks a little nervous.  But check out the kid in the Doom Buggy next to us.  His Dad just decided it was too much and covered the kid's face.  Hilarious! (Maybe not to the kid).  I would still recommend this ride to families, but just know it's dark and spooky and think about if your child could handle that.

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Another potentially scary part of the parks is the noise of the fireworks shows and parades.  Andrew hid from us once (causing ME to be terrified) during a parade because he didn't like the noise.  And he likes looking at fireworks but the noise bothers him.  Wish I'd have thought back then to take ear plugs along to help him enjoy these parts more.  If you have one that is nervous with loud noises, plan ahead and take those ear plugs.

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Dark areas, even those that have no scary elements, can bother a lot of kids.  We let the boys take tiny flashlights with them the first time they went and if they got nervous in a dark part of the park, they could turn them on for a minute to calm their nerves.  I would also recommend taking a nightlight for your hotel room as those are either pitch dark at night or you have to leave the bathroom light on which seems super bright!

Security can also be an issue for some children.  Something about the officers in uniform and everyone crowding around can cause anxiety.  Mention it to your child ahead of time so that they are prepared for it.  And once in a while, there will be a security dog on duty.  If your child is afraid of dogs, letting them know that one may be nearby may help.

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Of course, I've seen tons of kids that have a complete meltdown when approached by Characters.  The good news is that most characters now have Meet-and-Greets and are rarely just out wondering in the parks.  But once again, just prepare the child in advance.  The characters are awesome though about realizing that the child doesn't want to be approached and you'll probably not have any problems in this area!

Please give me a call if you're thinking about a Disney trip.  I have a list of rides and how my kids handle them that can certainly help when you're planning.  And remember my services are always FREE to plan and book your trip!!

Be One of the First to Enjoy Disney World's Toy Story Land!

This Summer, Get Ready to Play Big in a New Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Toy Story Land opens in just 95 days people!!  Want to be one of the first to check it out?  Call me!  I'll get you set up with reservations and tickets.  And if you want to be one of the first to enjoy the new rides in the new land, you'll definitely want a FastPass.  The new attractions will be the most popular at the parks this summer and you don't want to waste your time standing in line! Disney hasn't released information yet on when FastPasses will be available, but based on past new attractions, I'd expect them at the 60-day out mark.  So you've got about 35 days to get booked and then we'll be able to get that FastPass!

Here's a glimpse at all of the fun to be had in the new land...

Attractions:

Slinky Dog Dash - 

Andy’s assembled his Mega Coaster Play Kit—and Slinky Dog is gonna take you on a wild, toy-filled adventure as you stretch Slinky Dog’s coils to the limit across Andy’s backyard! Come along for a roller-coaster-style ride as he bends and twists and stretches his way all throughout this new land.  Make no mistake, it’s one wacky attraction… and fun for the entire family!

Alien Swirling Saucers - 

Blast off on an interstellar romp, set to an out-of-this-world beat!  Inside a play set that Andy won at Pizza Planet, the Aliens have powered up their flying saucers—and they’re ready to spin you on a wild ride into space! Hold on for some wild fun as your toy rocket takes off, all while electronic space music provides an intergalactic soundtrack.  And if you’re really lucky, you might just get “chosen” by the claw. Oooooo!

Toy Story Midway Mania - 

Step inside Andy’s room and wind your way through a toy treasure chest of classic playthings. Pass a Candyland® game box, Viewmaster® discs, crayon drawings and a Scrabble board before picking up a pair of special 3D glasses for the fun to come.  Climb aboard an early 20th-century-inspired Carnival Ride Tram and grab your spring-action shooter. With 3D glasses on, glide into the Toy Story Midway Games Play Set and take aim at stationary and moving 3D objects in a variety of fast-paced games.  This popular ride may not be new but it never gets old!

Food:

Woody's Lunch Box - 

Lasso your hunger with a meal from Woody’s Lunch Box!  During your upcoming Toy Story Land adventures, be sure to drop by this food stop for a toy-riffic meal! Dishing out all sorts of tasty treats for “honorary toys,” Woody’s Lunch Box features classic American fare, old-fashioned soda floats and other Toy Story-themed specialties.

Character Encounters:

Inside this new land, you’ll have the chance to encounter some of your favorite characters from the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” films, including Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl!  And keep an eye out for the Green Army Men - one of the most fun character encounters out there!

Thinking of going to Disney World later in the summer or even this fall/winter?  Now's the time to firm up your plans so that you can have me get the dining reservations you'd like.  Remember those are available 6 months out.  Contact me today!!!

 

Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Disney's EPSN Wide World of Sports Complex

Champion Stadium at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is home to Atlanta Braves Spring Training in 2018 and 2019.  

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Atlanta’s spring training home schedule is a great one with games against clubs like the Nationals (Feb. 26, March 1), the St. Louis Cardinals (March 3, 17), the New York Yankees (March 9, 24) and the 2017 World Series Champion Houston Astros (March 8).

I haven't personally attended Spring Training in Florida but have had the good fortune to spend a few days at the Cactus League Spring Training in Arizona.  It's a really fun atmosphere and my boys LOVED it.  Spring Training is a time where the rules are a bit more relaxed, the players talk to the fans and it's just a great way to watch a baseball game.

The Florida league (called the Grapefruit League) is a similar setup and the best bonus is that you can also go to Disney World while you're there!!  Also while at the game, Disney character appearances and special moments such as kids running the bases after every game are some of the in-game entertainment opportunities that make Braves spring training at Disney a unique experience.

It's best to buy your game tickets ahead of time although they will be available at the gate if not sold out.  Good news - parking is free!!  Be sure to get there early for the best chance at catching practice balls or snagging an autograph from your favorite player.

Don't wait too long though to check this out...  The Braves announced recently that 2018 and 2019 will be their last seasons at Disney.  The Braves have held spring training at the Walt Disney World complex since 1998. But with many of the other major-league teams having moved out of Central Florida, the Braves reached a deal with Sarasota County to relocate to North Port, which will have a new 9,000-seat stadium, 6 1/2 practice fields and 55,000-square feet of clubhouse and fitness center space.

Call me today and I can set you up with a great time at Disney while you're enjoying some Braves baseball!!  Tomahawk chop!!

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FYI, if you are just in it for baseball and not Disney (WHY???), then here is info on how to get tickets...  Braves fans can purchase individual spring training game tickets at www.espnwwos.com/braves, through Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Box Office. Tickets range from $15 (general admission berm seating in left field) to $59 (lower level reserved seats).  But you should make a trip of it - I'd love to help you get it all planned!!

Then and Now

When you take a trip to Disney, there are always new things to experience and see.  But today's post will take a look at some of the pictures that are my favorite because each time we go, we get to do something we remember and love.  

I drive the family crazy by making them take pictures we've posed for in the past or by making them recreate a memory from a previous trip.  These are some of my favorite pictures!  Scroll through them to enjoy my pics of Then and Now...

When you're ready to make these memories for yourself - please let me know!  I'll plan and book a Magical trip for you with no cost to you!!

Want to Know Where to Get the Best Pics at Disney World?

If you're anything like me, you have what you think of as an excellent memory.  But then you see a picture of something and realize you had forgotten all about that moment.

So to make sure you have a lasting memory of the fun you had on vacation, you'll want to have a lot of pics from your trip.  In this post, I'll let you know about some fun and new Photopass experiences and some pics you don't want to miss.

First, the pics you have to have...

In my book, if you don't get a family photo in front of the Castle and a family photo with Mickey, you've completely failed and will need to redo the whole trip!  It was almost a disaster this time as we weren't able to get the Mickey pic until OUR LAST DAY.  Trust me I was stressed about it.  The problem is that our usual plan of meeting Mickey first thing in the morning never panned out.  Both days that we started at Magic Kingdom didn't work - one was race day so we weren't there at rope drop and the other was the day that it was just Luke and I while the others played golf.  Now that Mickey has some cool technology that allows him to interact with the guests, the line gets crazy long.  So while I normally don't recommend a FastPass for a character meeting, if you're not going first thing, you might think about doing that.  I've heard rumors that they may discontinue the technology and just have standard photo ops which would speed up the line but that's not been verified yet.

Other pics that I love are those that you can only get if you purchase them through PhotoPass.  If you do Memory Maker (read more about that here), you can get all of these pics for one price.  If you don't think you'll want them all, you can purchase them individually from the website.  I love the Magic Shots and the in-ride photos.  Here are some of the new ones they offer since we were last there:

I love that each time we go, there is something new we haven't done or seen.  The Hitchhiking Ghost is one of my favorite pics from this trip!  And the addition of the in-ride photo at Pirates of the Caribbean is fun.  I'll admit that the Lantern pic is one of my most and least favorite pics.  The lighting makes me look 1,000 years old - yes, let's just say it's the lighting.  But you know how I love Tangled so the boys went and rode a couple rides while I waited in line for this.  Beware, the line is long since they only do this shot after dark and it seems to take people FOREVER to get together and smile, but I love it.  To get this pic, just head to the restrooms in Rapunzel's area (I still can't believe all she has are restrooms!!) sometime after dusk.  

Sadly one pic that I had heard rumors of before we went was a Magic Shot one with a Giant Dole Whip!  They are supposedly near Aloha Isle but I was never able to find a photographer there.  If you go, check for yourself and send me your pic if you get one!!

And lastly, don't forget to take lots of pics with your phone or personal camera.  As much as I love the PhotoPass pics, you can get a lot of really memorable ones yourself and they're free!  Also, don't underestimate your kids' photography skills.  Luke and Andrew took a lot of pics for me when I was on a ride or just not with them.  The first one in this group is one that will always remind me that Andrew had a broken finger and his cast REEKED of the nastiest odor ever! 

The next one is a really fun picture that you can ask the balloon vendor to help you with - they won't let go of the balloons, but they will move out of the shot so it looks like you've got the whole bunch.  

The next one is a benefit of early morning dining reservations.  A picture in front of the castle alone!  It's rare to get a pic without a throng of people in your shot.  And the last one is special to me since it's a pic of my race medal.  I love the castle in the background.  You can do this with anything you'd like - a new souvenir, a child's favorite stuffed animal...  I wish I'd had somebody's Flat Stanley with me on this trip!  

As much as I love being at Disney World, I know that memories fade.  These pictures won't and they'll bring me joy forever.  Let me help you plan a memorable trip so that you can get your own awesome pics!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disney's Contemporary Resort - Is It Right for Your Vacation?

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On our recent trip to Disney, we stayed at Disney's Contemporary Resort.  In today's post, I'll talk about the pros and cons of staying at this Deluxe category resort.

First, the good, or really, the GREAT things about this resort:

The proximity to the Magic Kingdom!  It's NEXT DOOR!  The main reason we chose this resort is that the Magic Kingdom is our favorite park and we end up there almost every day.  You have a couple of options to get to Magic Kingdom - the monorail which comes through the lobby of the hotel and a walking path which is about a 10 minute walk.  I think I did it in 5 minutes because I was a bit excited to get over there!  

I took this looking over the railing just outside our room inside the resort.

I took this looking over the railing just outside our room inside the resort.

The walkway starts just past the bus stop.      

The walkway starts just past the bus stop.      

I was always torn on whether to take the monorail or walk.  The truth is you'll walk A LOT at Magic Kingdom and adding more steps to your day may not work for you.  But the benefit is that you don't have to wait in any lines for transportation, security is at a checkpoint along the way for bag checks and we were always the ONLY PEOPLE in line there so never a wait.  

But if you do think you should save your steps, the monorail is a fun way to get to the Magic Kingdom.  Just be aware that the ride to the Magic Kingdom is longest on the way there - it stops at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian before getting to Magic Kingdom.  On the way back to the Contemporary, though, you're the first stop.  If you're leaving at a non-busy time (not park closing, after fireworks...), I'd probably take the monorail back.  But if you want to stay until the park closes, you'll be in a long line of others getting on the monorail so I'd suggest walking if you can handle it.

Another great thing about this resort is the view you'll have (if you get a Theme Park View).  Normally a theme park view is an added cost but we were pleasantly surprised (OK, I freaked out!) to have one this time even though we didn't book that room.  I didn't want to spend the extra money considering I want to be in the parks the entire time and wouldn't enjoy the view much.

Well, after staying in this room, I was totally spoiled.  Look at our view!!

I never expected to be in the room to see Magic Kingdom's fireworks but as it turned out we saw it on 3 different nights.  We were too tired to stay in the park til fireworks on the day we ran the half marathon.  And then a couple of other times we just happened to get back to our room in time to see them.  And although I would prefer to be in the parks for them just because of how awesome they are, they're pretty darn good from a distance.  You can even hear the music coming from the park!

The resort is close to EPCOT also and again, you can take the monorail there which is convenient.  My only complaint is that you have to go through security twice to get to EPCOT.  Since you have to transfer monorail lines at the Ticket and Transportation Center, they have no way of knowing that you went through security at the Contemporary.  The lines went pretty quick but a bit frustrating to do it twice.

The only other complaint I have about the resort is that it's loud.  Chef Mickey's is in the lobby area and they open pretty early for breakfast and are open late for dinner.  So when kids see Mickey and squeal, it's pretty easy to hear.  I tend to be up early and late so not a big deal but if you have little kids that are trying to sleep it might be an issue.  We were on the 10th floor and Chef Mickey's is on the 4th.  But with the open lobby, the sound travels up.  

All in all, I LOVED it and would definitely stay there again.  I have my sights set on the Polynesian for my next trip (have you heard they have Dole Whip on site?), but once I check out a few more resorts, I'd love to stay at the Contemporary many more times!

I'd love to chat with you about which resort would be best for your family.  Every situation is different!! 

Here are a few more pics from our room/the resort: