Why Disney World is Near to My Heart

Tonya Cox
Tonya@wdwtravels.com
1-740-388-8806

There are many things that I love about our family vacations at Walt Disney World in Florida. There are so many that I could ramble on and on about it forever, but I promise I won’t!
As a family, we have traveled to Disney three times. We have stayed both on and off site. We have seen lots of fireworks, street parades and ridden lots of rides. We have met characters, and had our pictures taken with several as well. What really gets me excited is the feeling I get when we pass through the entry way of Disney property, the look on my daughter’s face the first time she saw a Disney Princess in person, the way my son explains his first ride on Space Mountain and how my husband grins when he gets up to dance and sing “I’m a Little Teapot” at a restaurant in front of 100 people. We do things together as a family, just the four of us! These memories and experiences are ones my children want to share days, weeks, months after we’ve unpacked all the suitcase and returned back to our normal routine. People sometimes look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them we are planning our next trip to Disney, many times because it's immediately after we got back from a trip! There is something truly magical about a trip to Disney. Yes, it takes a certain degree of planning, if you want to maximize your time there. What restaurants do I want to visit? Which parks do I want to see, on which days? Do I want to be at the park when it opens or when it closes? The list of questions can go on and on. But no matter how hot the day is, or how crowded the bus is on that day, the kids wake up the next morning talking about yesterday and what we are going to do tomorrow. They enjoy Disney, and in turn we all enjoy Disney!
I’ll tell you something else that makes me love Disney: when someone who has gone before asks me a question, and then I can offer them information that will make their trip even more magical. The look on their face is worth it! “OOOOHHH that makes sense now!” they will say. The sights, the sounds, the joy in someone’s face when Mickey Mouse waves at them during the parade, those things all make a vacation to Disney magical. This year, I had the opportunity to watch the closing flag ceremony held at the entrance of Main Street. A group of three young boys said The Pledge of Allegiance, the Main Street Band played patriotic music, and a WWII Veteran was the “Veteran for a Day.” At the end, the veteran was presented with the flag that flew at Magic Kingdom that day! That was something to enjoy. Something that I personally enjoyed our last trip was some of the new restaurants we tried, especially Captain’s Grille, located at Yacht Club Resort. The atmosphere was laid back. We were not rushed during any part of our experience; the food was excellent and our service superb! The final thing that makes me love Disney is the fact that it caters to all generations. Young, old and everywhere in between, there is something to enjoy at a Disney Park or Disney Resort. In fact, "something for everyone" is my new motto for Disney!

First-Time Visitor Tips for Walt Disney World

So, you’re planning your first trip to Walt Disney World? Congratulations! You’re about to go on your most exciting trip ever! But, you’ll need to know a few things before you go…some things that can make your Disney Vacation so much more enjoyable.

First-timers can get confused very easily. There is so much information available, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many things to consider when planning your first trip- when to go, for how long, where to stay, etc… There are many special events you’ll want to consider (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Epcot Food & Wine Festival and more!) throughout the year. Your personal taste will determine what time of year is best for your visit.

Know your budget and have a plan. Be prepared for expensive water and pretzels. Have an idea of where you’d like to eat and how many meals you’ll need for your party (Your travel agent can book those meals right away to ensure availability). Also, realize that even though you say you won’t buy many souvenirs, it will be hard to pass up that adorable stuffed animal or Mickey t-shirt. Prepare yourself for Disney prices before you visit.

Speaking of prices, simple items like sunscreen, batteries, diapers, etc. are available at the resorts, but you’ll pay a premium price for them. If you visit during the spring or summer, remember that you’ll be in Florida. It’s called “The Sunshine State” for a reason! Remember to pack being conscious of the weather, and you’ll avoid having to buy them once you arrive. While packing, consider taking a backpack or small bag that will fit items like an extra bottle of water, sunscreen, wallet, etc. However, your bag will be inspected at the entrance of every theme park. Choose a backpack or diaper bag that is easy to look through and doesn’t have too many compartments. Yes, they will look through every single zippered section!

Staying on Disney property will ensure that you’re able to take advantage of the free transportation to and from all theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney, as well as the Disney Dining Plan. If you stay off property, make sure that they have a good shuttle system. One thing you will learn is that time is precious and you don’t want to spend most of your time on buses, en route to the action!

The weather can play a huge role in deciding when to visit. If you despise the heat, the summer would probably not be ideal for you. Other people don’t mind the heat and like the business of the parks. A good tip for first time visitors (and for veterans as well) is to bring ponchos! Most rides stay open while it’s raining and people will be looking for shelter. But not you! Put on a poncho from the Dollar Store and you won’t even notice! You can still enjoy the parks in the rain. In fact, the parks were built with Florida weather in mind. There is plenty of overhead shelter so leaving the park isn’t necessary…and you could even end up walking right onto some rides with no waiting!
Know the park hours and parade/show times. Your travel agent will be able to provide this for you as well as the best places to view parades and what special events are going on in the parks. Being prepared will eliminate last minute scrambling for a spot. Each park has what they call Extra Magic Hours. This allows guests staying at a WDW Resort to enter a park 1 hour early or stay 3 hours after closing on certain days. It pays for you to know which days are EMH days before you arrive. This way, you can avoid a crowd or that park for the day, if you choose. Or you can take advantage of the extra hours and enjoy more time in the parks.

Develop a strategy on how you will approach each park. To say the parks are huge is an understatement. They can be pretty overwhelming. Wear comfortable shoes! Check out the maps ahead of time and focus on one section at a time. Going back and forth between sections of the park is not only time consuming but tiring. Familiarize yourself with the Fast Pass system. This allows you to come back to a ride at a certain time and move to the front of the line…a huge time saver!

You will need time to rest and take a break from this enormous World. When the urge strikes you, sit down. There are benches everywhere. If you have young children, even if they’ve been out of your baby stroller for a while, consider renting a stroller inside each park. These strollers are hard molded plastic, and even children who are 5 or 6 (sometimes older) could benefit from a ride in the stroller. (And, it will probably save a tantrum or two when they tire out.) Use your break time to enjoy a Mickey shaped ice cream or a turkey leg. Kids and adults alike will need some rest time. Taking advantage of your resort’s amazing pools or taking a power nap will recharge you for some night time fun!

Since you’ve never been to Disney before, you may not know where to expect character sightings. Even if you have been, they can still surprise you anywhere. If you have your heart set on a photo with the characters it would be smart to have your camera ready at all times. There are also Character Meet and Greet locations in each park. These will be noted on your park maps. Encounters can be quick, and if you aren’t prepared you might miss it altogether. Cameras and autograph books should be readily available…not buried in your backpack.
The most important tip I could give would be to just soak it all in and have fun! I could write a book about all of the ways to enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World, but so many people already have! I’ll bet you already bought a Disney guide book (or 2, or 3). If not, I strongly suggest doing so. If not, you can always contact your WDWTravels agent with questions. Remember, at WDWTravels, we will customize a care package for you, with all the information you’ll need to have the most magical vacation ever. We are happy to help!
Have a MAGICAL first trip!

Picture This!

PICTURE THIS!

This article is for all you moms out there who are the picture TAKERS on your family vacations. You know who you are...the ones who would much rather be behind the camera than in front of it, the ones who dodge the camera, the ones who shove taller people in front of you in photos. I know who you are because I am one of you. I know that feeling of dread when someone takes out the camera or camcorder. I know that feeling of dread when the family vacation rolls around and knowing you are expected to be in those photos.

I am calling on all of you (myself included) to change your ways. Let me tell you why. What I know to be true about our family vacation pictures is that you can tell how I felt about myself physically based on how many photos I am in during any particular vacation. As our oldest child prepares to leave home in the next year or so, I sadly realize how few pictures I am in with her, our other kids, or my husband simply because I did not like the way I looked. I think this is true for most women whether they think they are too heavy, they had a bad hair day, they don't like the way their outfit looks on them (and on and on and on....)...I now so regret how few pictures over the years I am in. The reality is that no matter what I thought to be true in the years where I am not in the photos, the reality is exactly the opposite. As women, we are much harder on ourselves than anyone else is. 

I literally have thousands of photos of my family at Disney World over the years. Truthfully, there are probably no more than 100 of them with me in them. That spans 23 vacations over the past 16+ years. It is actually very sad and embarrasing when I actually see it in print. I can't tell you how many times my kids or husband have begged me to be in a photo with them and I simply say no. Why? Because I hate to be photographed. It's ridiculous really. I am not wanted by the FBI and I am not so grotesque that I would break the camera. But even if I were, I should still want to be in those pictures with my family. But I don't. I am afraid of looking like a dork, or fat, or a million other things that are utterly stupid. I know I am not the only one. I know there are those of you who are reading this and going "That is totally me".
What is wrong with us as women? Our kids certianly don't see those things that we think we see when we see a picture of ourself. They simply see their mom. The one who makes them cookies, who cheers them on at their ballgames or recitals, and who tucks them in at night. They just want to be in the picture with their mom. And what about our husbands? I am certain they don't see what we think we see either. They see the woman they fell in love with and married. Their partner in life and the mother of their children. What they want are FAMILY pictures to remember those wonderful moments in life. That means everyone in the photo.
So what brought me to this big epiphany? A few big moments in life, I guess. As I said before, our oldest is only a little over a year away from leaving home. Where have all these years gone and how did they go by so quickly? Turning 40 this year probably plays into it as well. As we age and especially as our kids hit their teenage years, I think we all become more aware of our own mortality. If something were to happen to me, what tangible memories will I have left behind for my children or husband? As you can tell, it certianly wouldn't include many photographs. Photographs and video images have the ability to take a memory and bring it to life. It can take you right back to that very moment in time no matter how many years ago it was. A memory in your head, no matter how bad you don't want it to, will eventually fade. 

Geez, so that sounds like kind of a downer. But that is not my intention. I hope just the opposite happens! I want us moms to get excited about being in those vacation photos. Not only do I want you to get excited about it, I want you to actually DO it. Have fun in those photos and remember why you are doing it. For those very few vacation photos I am in with my family, they are some of my favorites. They chronicle the growth of my kids and of us as a family. They will forever be around. 

There is a great service that Disney provides called PhotoPass – this is a great way to make sure mom is included in the family pictures!! :)

 

Disney’s PhotoPass presents Walt Disney World guests with a way to capture treasured moments. Using professional digital equipment, photographers take photos of guests throughout the theme parks. Instead of receiving a paper claim ticket, guests receive a Disney PhotoPass that links all of their vacation photos together into one online account for easy online viewing and sharing. Guests can use one PhotoPass for their entire vacation or get a new PhotoPass each time they take a photo. 

MouseSavers.com readers report that the quality of PhotoPass shots is highly variable, since some of the photographers are better than others. Occasionally there is a glitch and photos are lost by the system (or the photography equipment fails). So if it is really important to get an excellent shot of a particular event or experience, be sure to take your own photos, too!

Although Disney’s PhotoPass replaces the old photo system at Walt Disney World Resort, guests are still able to view and buy their vacation photos at Disney Photo Centers throughout property.

Better yet, instead of having to wait in line at a Photo Center for their photos, guests can view, share and order their photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com. At DisneyPhotoPass.com, guests can also add decorative borders and other Disney-themed elements to their pictures. There is no charge for obtaining a PhotoPass or viewing or sharing your photos online. The cost of ordering prints from DisneyPhotoPass.com is similar to the cost of buying the same photo at a Disney Photo Center.

Be aware that the photos are taken off the web site exactly 30 days after they are taken, so don't wait too long! 

You can purchase all of your PhotoPass photos on one CD. The CD grants you a copyright release so that you can print the photos yourself. It can be purchased at three Walt Disney World locations: Camera Center at Epcot, M. Mouse Mercantile at Grand Floridian and Toontown in the Magic Kingdom

History of Walter Elias Disney

Why is Disney so magical?  What makes us feel like we are wrapped up in inviting arms when we travel to Disney destinations?  The only way to answer these questions is to take a look at the history of Walt Disney the man.

Walt Disney was born in 1901 in the Midwest and moved to Kansas City with his parents as a child.  In the early 1920’s he began his first cartoon drawings called Laugh-O-Grams and eventually moved to California where he started up the Disney Bros Studio with brother Roy and married wife, Lillian.  In 1927 Walt had developed a character called Oswald the Rabbit, whose rights were later stolen from him by Charlie Mintz of Universal Pictures.

On the train home from the meeting in which he lost his signature Oswald Rabbit, Lillian helped him come up with Mickey Mouse… and a star was born! Walt went on to build a successful studio with Mickey Mouse, silly symphony and feature movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

In the early 1940’s Walt would take his girls out to play every Sunday and wondered why no one had created a place that both parents and kids could go to have fun together.  Only July 20th, 1955 his dream finally became a reality when Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.  The opening day was featured on TV and brought quite a crowd.

Walt continued to make movies such as The Shaggy Dog, and in 1964 Mary Poppins.  He began to develop the well known Animatronics for The 1964 Worlds Fair also.  The prime attraction was The Carousel of Progress which documented American progress through the decades.  Today an updated version of the original is in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Florida.

During the 1960’s Walt also bought up lots of land all over the nation, but his most important project was known as The Florida Project.  Under several names he bought up parcels of land in swampy central Florida in order to build a new theme park.  He didn’t want to make the same mistake with Disneyland and allow the outside world to infringe on his magical world, and so bought up enough land to isolate the theme park.

While developing his new Magic Kingdom in Florida and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT, Walt fell ill with lung cancer and died on December 15, 1966.

The company Walt had founded with brother Roy picked itself back up and opened Walt Disney World in 1971 with The Magic Kingdom.  Later they opened Epcot, but not as Walt had envisioned (an actual community people would live and work in), but rather as a theme park that focused on the Future and a World’s Fair theme, two things Walt loved very much.

Walt was dedicated to entertainment and as a Dad wanted somewhere to take his kids that everyone would enjoy.  His movies, animated shorts and theme parks showed his joy for life.  That joy has entered  our hearts and gives us that tingly fuzzy magical feeling we come to expect at Disney destinations.  Walt is truly an inspiration to enjoy life and  have fun!

Disney World Park Hopper Perks

by Jeri Hall
Jeri@wdwtravels.com
Toll Free: 1-800-423-0796
Cell Phone: 419-236-2564



One of the ticket options that Disney offers is turning your Base Day ticket into a Park Hopper. A lot of people are confused by the ticket options. What is the difference between the two? A Base Day ticket allows you entry into one theme park (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios) per day. Adding the "Hopper" option lets you go in and out of two or more parks in the same day.

What are the perks to this Hopper Pass? Why would you want it? How much will it cost you? All very good questions. The perk to the Hopper Pass is that you can "hop" from one park to another on the same day. You might be interested in the Extra Magic Morning Hours at Magic Kingdom, but you would like to dine in Epcot that same evening. The Park Hopper option allows you to do just that. Without it, you would have to spend the whole day in Magic Kingdom if that is the park you were in that morning.

Why would you want this Park Hopper option? Flexibility is it's greatest feature. You may need only half a day to complete a park you have already started; Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios might only be showing at 7:30 pm on the day you have decided to be in Animal Kingdom; or you may simply want to do only a few attractions at a couple of parks one morning. This pass lets you do all of that. During busier seasons it's also a great option allowing you to visit multiple parks in one day and avoiding some of the crowds on certain days or certain times.

Okay...it sounds like a really great feature but you are wondering what it's going to cost you. Believe it or not, it is a really affordable option. It costs just $52.00 to upgrade ANY ticket from a Base Day ticket to a Park Hopper. It doesn't matter if it's a 1 day ticket or a 10 day ticket. Obviously the more days you have on your ticket, the better the deal. Is it a necessary feature? Absolutely not. For those who are on a tighter budget, the Base Day ticket will work just fine with the right amount of planning. Not sure how to plan your days? That is where an agent who specializes in Disney can be of great help. And the best part? Our services are free. Even if you have already booked a vacation, feel free to contact us. If you did not book through another travel agent, we can transfer your reservation. You reap the advantages of a travel agent who will help you plan every aspect of your Disney vacation at no cost to you.

So you are still wondering, "Park Hopper, no Park Hopper? What do I do?". Contact me; I would love to help you decide what works best for you.

Give a Day Get a Disney Day

By Angel Lanier
1-877-DIS-KNEE
angel@wdwtravels.com

I am very excited to share with you a new promotion from Disney!
Give a day. Get a Disney day.

Beginning January 1, 2010, you can volunteer at one of several official participating organizations and receive a certificate for a one-day FREE admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Park! Children as young as 6 years old can participate. However, children ages 6-17 must be accompanied by an adult when volunteering. Volunteer opportunities are available in The United States, including Puerto Rico, and Canada. You must reside in either of these as well in order to sign up. You can receive 1 ticket per person for the year regardless of how many days you volunteer. But hurry, the tickets are limited, and could possibly run out before the deadline of December 15, 2010.

You can sign up online and select from a list of eligible volunteer opportunities with participating organizations. After you complete your volunteer activity, your service will be verified and you will receive email instructions to print vouchers that can be redeemed for your free ticket to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park.

As with promotions in the past, if you already have a multi-day pass or annual pass, you can either receive Disney's Special FASTPASS cards for certain attractions for you and up to 5 additional members of your party, receive a collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins, or you can choose to donate your free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney Parks. You can also upgrade your free ticket to another ticket type of greater value, like a multi-day pass or annual pass.

Most participants will receive their redeemable certificates within 2 weeks of completion of service. However, it is always a good idea to apply in advance. There are a few block-out dates as shown below:
• Walt Disney World Resort: March 29 - April 8 and July 4, 2010
• The Disneyland Resort: February 13-14, March 21, June 21-22, July 4, November 21, December 11-12, 2010.

There are many opportunities for you to serve your community. If you don’t find what you are looking for, expand your search to your closest big city. Donating blood is even an option for those over 16! Opportunities are limited for children, so hurry and volunteer today!

Florida Resident Perks

Florida residents have the advantage of Disney World being right in their backyard! It’s like having your own personal playground!! Who wouldn’t love that? But getting discounts, too, how lucky are you!!! Throughout the year there are many discounts offered to Florida residents for Disney World and Disney Cruise Line.


ON LAND, Disney World offers Florida residents discounts on resort accommodations, tickets/annual passes, vacation packages and special events.

By staying at a Disney resort you can save between 35%-45% on your room with benefits that include extended theme park hours, complimentary parking and guest transportation, spectacular pools and beautiful resorts right in the middle of the magic.

There are many choices for tickets! Right now you can purchase a Disney Play 4 day pass for only $164 per person, plus tax! This pass is exclusive to Florida Residents and can be used for four admissions to any of the four theme parks, one park per day. You can use this any four days for up to 6 months after first use. You can also buy 1 day, 3 day and up to 7 day passes at a discounted rate.
You can add the Water Park & Fun option to your 1-7 day base ticket for just $25 per person, plus tax, that’s a 50% savings! Besides the two water parks this gives you unlimited access to Disney Quest, Disney Wide World of Sports and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course.

They also offer Annual passes, which are a tremendous savings and right now they are giving three extra months free when you purchase it by Dec. 31st. Some of the benefits of this are unlimited admission to all parks, free parking, merchandise discounts, special offers and exclusive events.

If you would rather a complete package, Disney offers those to Florida residents, too! The current deal is buy 4 days get 3 free, with tickets included! This offer will be ending soon, but there are always new similar deals offered for Florida residents. You can also add the Disney dining plan to any package. There are 3 Dining plans to choose from to customize your needs and it’s a way to make your vacation all-inclusive. Just arrive and enjoy, it’s that simple!



BY SEA, Florida residents can take advantage of special rates on Disney Cruise Line. Taking a Disney cruise is just a short drive away to Port Canaveral, where Disney Ships are docked and ready for a journey like no other! Embark on an unforgettable Disney Cruise to the Bahamas and Caribbean on select dates. There are 3, 4 and 7 night cruises to choose from with 3 magnificent ships and plenty of excitement for all! There are character experiences, deck parties, dining, entertainment, live shows, pools, theaters and youth clubs. There are activities for all ages! Not to mention beautiful beaches and fun in the sun!
You can receive a $25 on board credit to use toward a wide array of onboard activities, souvenirs, spa treatments and dining at Palo. This offer is only available for a limited time! This Disney Cruise line special can be combined with all other offers, but is for new bookings only!

For all of these great Florida resident perks you will need to show proof of residency. Proof of residency includes a drivers license, military ID, state issued card, voters registration or Florida College ID.

So, whether you choose LAND, SEA OR THE BEST OF BOTH (DISNEY) WORLDS, it’s easy to see there is no other place more magical to be!!!

DAD, DAUGHTERS & DISNEY

After careful planning, the long awaited day had arrived. We were so ready for Disney World; me, my dad and my two sisters. My dad and sisters had never flown nor had they been to Disney World, so we had a good reason to go and celebrate. You don't really need a reason to go to Disney, just the word Disney is a reason to celebrate.

My most recent trip to Disney, I did celebrate it with my sisters and our dad in November 2009 and all the Christmas decorations were up and so pretty. That will certainly get you in the Christmas spirit. What a wonderful feeling it gave me to be able to share this experience with them. I have been to Disney several times in the last year, but this was my favorite. It was a chance for me to make a magical memory, they would never forget.


From the airport, we boarded the Magical Express and headed to the Pop Century Resort. They loved the idea of not having to deal with luggage. When we arrived, I had already checked in online, so there were no problems, everything went well. We found our rooms to be very nice and accommodating. It wasn't very long until our luggage was delivered to our room. There were towels on the beds in the shape of Mickeys and everyone thought that was cool. I had requested adjoining rooms so we could have more of a family feeling and it was granted. Disney has a way of making you feel very special and there are so many extras and different touches you can add to your vacation to make it extra special. The Pop Century has a very nice food court. There was a wide variety of foods to choose from, and something for everyone. Our package included the Quick-Service meal plan, but I decided to upgrade to the regular dining plan and was very glad with my decision. It gave us a chance to try many different restaurants, at all the parks. I made all the reservations prior to our trip and did not have any problems what so ever.


We planned to go to Epcot on our first day. It was very nice to have Disney transportation. It was so easy just to walk out and get on the bus and not have to drive yourself around in all the traffic and deal with parking. We got a chance to eat in Canada at the LeCellier Steakhouse and the food was just fabulous, such great service! We enjoyed all the sights and even Dad did the rides. He loved Soarin. There is something for everyone at Disney. We continued the day at Epcot and finished it off with the Illuminations. It was a wonderful experience, just gorgeous.


We managed to enjoy all the parks, fireworks, food, and all the dancing lights. My family also loved Downtown Disney. They liked the busy feel and also enjoyed eating at Captain Jack’s.


My family commented on how everything was so coordinated and well planned and thanked me for such wonderful memories. We are still talking about our trip and already planning to go again.


There are a lot of things in life to celebrate, just life itself, and what a way to spend it, I can’t think of any better way to spend it than with family, friends and loved ones at Disney World.

SpectroMagic

by Laura Mims
laura@wdwtravels.com
1-800-218-4507



Spectromagic is a beautiful semi-nightly parade in Disney’s Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World. Focusing on the night aspect, the parade uses over 1 million points of fiber optic light to create a magnificent magical display. Don’t miss Chernabog fanning out his wings from The Night on Bald Mountain Fantasia sequence and also the most powerful villain in The Kingdom Keepers series.
There are also beautiful butterflies and even Scorer Mickey all lit up in hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights!
Watch for the lights to transform from multicolor to beautiful pristine white with the flick of Practical Pig’s paintbrush from one of Disney’s Silly Symphony episodes. Many other traditional characters also join Mickey at the end of the parade. The music score is written by John Debney and you will be humming it as you leave the park that night.


When looking for a place to view the parade, my favorite area is Main Street. Depending on how busy the park is, find a spot on the sidewalk 1-2 hours before the parade starts to get prime seating. While waiting, you can enjoy the Main Street atmosphere. One of my favorite spots is to sit in front of the confectionary store while waiting and smell the sweet sugary scent of cookies and candy while enjoying Main Street music. You can even make friends with other guests waiting with you! The second best spot, and generally less crowded is to find a place in Frontierland or Liberty Square. Sometimes, during busier periods, there is a second showing, which will usually be less crowded. Check your park guide map for parade times.

Military Travels to Walt Disney World

Let me start by saying thank you to all of those that have served, or are currently serving. Your selflessness is what continues to keep this country free. Also, I would like to thank all the families of military members. We are often overlooked, but our job is just as stressful and important as those who serve!
My family had the splendid opportunity to travel to the World this past May, taking advantage of the special Military Deal that Disney is currently offering. It was absolutely wonderful! The military offer includes a free five day ticket for the military members. This ticket includes both the park hopper option and the water parks and more option. The member also has the opportunity to purchase up to five additional companion tickets for $99.00 each. These tickets are for park entrance only, but can be upgraded to park hopper and/or water parks and more for $24.00 per upgrade.



This spectacular deal allowed not only my husband, children (1 and 3) and I to experience the MAGIC, but also gave us the privilege of bringing my parents along as well. This, in turn, made mine and hubby’s part of the trip even more special. We were able to leave the kids with my parents and stay out later and do a bit more than if we did not have that option.


Making this trip even more meaningful, is the news that my husband will again be deploying overseas in just two short weeks. Now I know that my children can carry the special memories that were made while in Disney through the tough times of Daddy being away.


Thank you Disney for your Military Appreciation!

A Celebration to Remember!

On our most recent trip to Disney World, we celebrated my twin daughters 6th birthday. We have celebrated many things at Disney this year…Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, My Brother’s Wedding, which was awesome, but this was by far my favorite! After all, this was for our two little girls. It was a chance to make a magical memory they would never forget!


We moved to Florida less than a year ago from New Jersey. This would be their first year since they were born without a big “Family Party”, so my husband and I wanted to make it special. What better way to do that then celebrating in Disney. So, with everything set we hopped in the car and headed for the most magical place on earth. It’s only a short 2 hour drive for us, so we were there in no time. Of course, to my girls it felt like forever, because they were so excited about the days ahead.

We arrived at the Boardwalk Villas (We are DVC members, but anyone can stay at the Boardwalk Inn) and checked in with no problem. When we opened the door to our room my daughters were pleasantly surprised to find that Mickey decorated the room for them with balloons, banners and a stuffed Mickey and Minnie. WOW! They felt special! . Disney has a lot of extra touches you can add to any vacation package to make any occasion extra special. I also requested a garden view room and that is what we received. It was actually a view of the gardens in the courtyard and a semi-view of the actual boardwalk…very nice! The Boardwalk has great restaurants such as the new Kouzzina by Cat Cora, ESPN Club and the Flying Fish Cafe’. For a sweet treat they have Boardwalk Bakery and Seashore Sweets. They also have nightclubs and shopping, too! There is a fun clown pool with a waterslide and daily activities to enjoy as well. My favorite part, you can take a short walk or boat ride to Epcot, this was great, especially with the magic hours.

The “Big Day” was finally here! Our daughters were so excited…Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom and then Chef Mickey’s for Dinner….What a Birthday!
With Disney’s birthday promotion this year my daughters were able to each get $68 dollar fun cards to spend as they wanted to, we have annual passes, so instead of the free day in the park they chose the fun cards. Which was great….they love to shop!

First, we arrived at BBB where the girls were transformed into princesses. They picked out which princess they wanted to be, Kathy wanted to be Princess Ariel and Alyssa wanted to Princess Jasmine. 

So off they went to get their attire on and their fairy godmothers in training styled their hair, put makeup on them and did their nails, with great detail! They ended by adding some glitter, can’t have enough of that! They had the girls close their eyes and make a wish. With a magic wand in hand they sprinkled glitter and said; “May all your dreams come true”. Then they turned them each around to see how they looked in the mirror. They ended with a photo shoot with some awesome keepsake photos. I literally had tears in my eyes seeing how excited they were. I have to say they loved every minute of the attention they received throughout the day. It was a great experience and well worth it!

After spending the day in Magic Kingdom we headed over to the Contemporary Resort for their birthday dinner at Chef Mickey’s. This is one of our favorite Character dining’s. We usually go to the buffet breakfast, which in my opinion is the best, but let me tell you the dinner was just as good! We ended their birthday with a special cake and a visit from Mickey! It was a magical day never to be forgotten. We spent the rest of our vacation enjoying all the parks and of course we talked about our next trip on the car ride home. 

There are so many great reasons to celebrate! Pick one and make it a Disney Vacation to remember!
WE DID!

No Worries.........Dining is FREE!!!!!

Buy this Disney vacation package with hotel and Theme Park tickets and get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan FREE!
You can get FREE dining when you book a full price Walt Disney World vacation package for check-ins most nights 9/27/09-12/17/09 (11/25/09-11/28/09 may be blacked out). To qualify, you must purchase a vacation package that includes at least 3 consecutive hotel nights at an official Walt Disney World resort, plus at least a one-day theme park ticket. You must use your Disney Rewards Visa to book and pay for the package.
With this offer:
· If you stay in a Disney Value resort, you get the Magic Your Way Plus Quick Service Dining package for the price of a regular Magic Your Way package. For those staying in a Value resort, this deal saves a family of four (2 adults, two kids ages 3-9) $77.96 per day -- the cost of adding the Quick Service Dining Plan to a basic vacation package.
· If you stay in a Disney Moderate or Deluxe resort, you get the Magic Your Way Plus Dining package for the price of a regular Magic Your Way package. For those staying in a Moderate or Deluxe resort, this deal saves a family of four (2 adults, two kids ages 3-9) $101.96 per day -- the cost of adding the regular Dining Plan to a basic vacation package.
To qualify, you must purchase a regularly priced Magic Your Way package consisting of at least a 3-night stay at an official Walt Disney World resort hotel, PLUS at least a 1-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket.
If you want, those staying in a Value resort can upgrade to the regular Dining Plan for just $10 per adult per night and $2 per child (3-9) per night, or to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $42 per adult per night and $12 per child (3-9) per night; those staying in a Moderate or Deluxe can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $32 per adult per night and $10 per child (3-9) per night.
(The upgrade fees represent the usual price difference between the various dining plans.)
You can also add the "Wine & Dine" Plan to this package, at full price.

Starting up

SO here it is The offical Blogger for WDWTravels- An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
All of our agents love Disney vacation and hold each vacation close as if it was their own.