Beyond Rides at WDW

 

With your Walt Disney World ticket purchase, you receive access to more than just rides. Enjoy all of Walt Disney World has to offer, possibly giving you the chance to explore sites & sounds that you otherwise would not have. Disney offers Broadway style shows, Arcades, Themed Lands, etc. Dining is also a favorite activity amongst my family, from fine dining to yummy snacks like Mickey Bars, Dole Whips, Lefou’s Brew or try a caveman treat, the infamous Jumbo Turkey Leg (just not in front of me, yuck). Go for it, guilt free-because you’re at Disney World of course!

Let’s not forget my fave thing while at Disney- SHOPPING at all the Disney themed stores or take it all in & relax on a bench while taking pictures of your family & surroundings. Another perfect thing to do while enjoying your time- find Hidden Mickey’s, make it a contest with your family (My family is very competitive, kids unfortunately win with Hidden Mickey’s.) If at Magic Kingdom, Roam Magic Kingdom Park in search of clues for “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom” or EPCOT’s Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure, it’s a lot of fun for the entire family.

• If you have a blog or enjoy writing- find a nice little corner or hidden spot to write about your experiences. If you’re pregnant maybe this would be great info to add to the baby book or in general about your family’s experiences. Maybe tweet, FB, Instagram & all forms of Social Media about your vacation, make peeps jelly that you’re at WDW, that’s always fun (muhaha).
• Character Meet & Greets for the kids, just you or with family & add these to the vacay scrapbook.
• If you have great chops, try out for American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, blow them away-great bragging rights too!
• Maybe enjoy Food & Wine or The Flower & Garden Festival during your dates of travel- the special events are a terrific way to enjoy Disney differently. They run throughout the year and you can pop over to; https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-events, for current dates for special events, maybe even the Concert Series depending on your dates.

 

• The Individual entertainment that Disney provides such as; Magicians, Citizens of Main Street at Magic Kingdom, The Dapper Dan’s or JAMMitors at EPCOT.

• Don’t forget about the fabulous parades at all four theme parks, my faves are at the Magic Kingdom and also remember the fireworks at both MK & EPCOT.

• The list goes on & on. Let me know what you like to do outside of rides at a Disney Theme Park, I’d love to hear. Wait, I thought of one more bonus you gain from NOT experiencing the rides- plenty of time-because you didn’t have to wait in the queue lines. WOOT!

Previously published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/ and you can find me on  http://dawnsdorkydiary.com/.

Aloha from the Polynesian Islands By Tamela Hansen

     Have you been swept away to the Polynesian islands lately?  If not, then make a reservation at Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show!  This is the perfect show for all ages.

     Make sure to make reservations 180 days in advance.  You have to arrive 1 hr early to this amazing dinner show.  The minute you exit your, monorail, boat, or bus you will be wisp away to the islands!  Everything from the tiki torches, the lush greenery, and the beautiful waterfall will make you feel as if you have arrived in umbrella drink paradise!  After the beautiful walk to dinner you will be greeted with a leis in the island way.  Make sure to take the opportunity to make a family memory with a beautiful photo.  Now have an island drink and take in the scenery.  There are so many areas to take a great photo or a selfie!

     Then off to dinner and start with a fresh salad with seasonal veggies, honey lime vinaigrette, and delicious pineapple coconut bread!  Mmmm!  The little ones and kids at heart will be invited up to learn how to hula dance before the show.  Then the show will begin. Auntie Wini will invite you to join her in a fun filled luau to welcome a local girl who has been living on the mainland. 

     While you enjoy authentic dishes such as island pulled pork, BBQ ribs, roasted chicken and polynesian rice the island dances will capture the attention of all ages!  The dances are so beautiful and unique to each Polynesian island. The show stopping fire knife performer will keep you enthralled!  Then on to dessert!  You will enjoy warm pineapple bread pudding with caramel sauce.  Also, sodas, lemonade, coffee and tea are included.  For those 21 and older you can enjoy wine or beer included with your dinner.  They also offer several cocktails and a tropical rum punch in a hand carved coconut keepsake that is extra yummy!

   

     So if you are ready to show your Disneyside in the islands, why not make a reservation for Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show!  Just remember to Always Show your DisneySide!!!

Dining For Less at Walt Disney World

 Dining for Less Cha-Ching at WDW

For breakfast I suggest eating a granola bar or pastry in your hotel room, bring them from home or stop off at a local Target- 3200 Rolling Oaks Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34747, (321) 677-3971) or Wal-Mart Supercenter- Kissimmee 3250 Vineland Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746,407-397-1125 for breakfast items, drinks, snacks and Disney souvenirs at a huge discount.

Magic Kingdom- I would grab some yummies at Main Street Bakery, for starters a Starbucks, Venti White Chocolate Mocha & a breakfast sandwich or a delicious house-made Disney sweet, you’re spending somewhere between $10 to 15 bucks. At DHS- Starring Rolls Café is my choice; my family might grab a croissant or apple turnover for under $7.00, any grab & go type of food. Over at EPCOT- Fountain View in Future World has Starbucks espresso and specialty beverages or just fill up on warm and tasty treats like Artisan breakfast sandwiches and house-made Disney sweets. While at the Animal Kingdom- try Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery.

*I would definitely save my largest meal for lunch, it’s usually less expensive during lunch hours and you could experience upscale dining without spending all your cha-ching, maybe try “Be our Guest” a quick service dining facility at Magic Kingdom with fine dining appeal, based off the popular tale Beauty & the Beast. Here you have a choice of three enchanted rooms & meals under 15.00 pp. Try the Speedy Salads and Sandwiches, Quick Quiche or the Chefs fave 8-hour-braised pork & for the little beasts, they’ll love Mickey meatloaf or whole-grain macaroni. Lunch time at DHS- 50’s Prime Time Café, it’s a stick to your ribs kind of lunch with a 50’s theme & fun lovin’ family humor. EPCOT-is a great place for Sushi, Sunshine Seasons- has an inexpensive selection, gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, and wood-fired entrées. Animal Kingdom-Tusker House hosts “Donald’s Dining Safari Character Buffet” 11am-2:45pm, with the price being a bit steep at $30 to 59.99 pp, but it’s a character buffet with African influences and it will definitely fill up the hungry hubby’s out there.

*Dinner at Magic Kingdom, I would grab a combo-style meal at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland, they have a terrific “toppings bar” so you can make the simplest item on the menu go a lot further. I like the 1/3 Angus Cheeseburger-$10.79 served with fries or apple slices or the Taco Salad-$8.79 & add some hot cheese, caramelized onions or Pico de Gallo, yummy to my tummy. I particularly like to dip my fries in the hot cheese, always a late night family fave! At DHS- the Hollywood Brown Derby $15 to $29.99 per adult from 3:30-9:30pm. Enjoy a nice signature dinner with herb-roasted rack of lamb over buttermilk blue cheese-corn pudding, desserts & more. EPCOT- Rose & Crown Pub, fish & chips with a beer, simple & tasty! Animal Kingdom-Flame Tree Barbecue for none other than yummy barbeque.

 These are just a few suggestions for daily meals at WDW. By no means are they the cheapest for dining, but they offer a nice value for your money. Happy Eating*O*

Previously published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/.

Tips for Parents and Little Ones Visiting Walt Disney World

Tips for Parents visiting Walt Disney World with little ones

• Have a strategic plan before your trip; Disney is not the place to wing it, as I’ve often said. Research the attractions, layout & meet & greets ahead of time. I promise the proactive approach is the only way to see WDW efficiently & will cause less headaches & aggravation. Trust me….
• Minimize those meltdowns by NOT Park hopping on your first trip. Try to concentrate on one park a day. Disney World is too large & getting to & fro is more time consuming than you might think. Take breaks & rest. Keep your routine as close to normal even on vacay.
• Adults can ride big rides, even if the little kids can’t- Disney has a system called “Rider Switch” that will allow the older members of your family to ride while the younger riders wait. You simply tell the Cast Member at any ride that has a height requirement that you’d like to do a Rider Switch. They’ll give you a Rider Switch pass (which works like a FastPass) so that after you ride, you can hand it to the other half of your party and they can ride without waiting in line.
• Nursing mothers or parents of small children; WDW has baby care centers available at all four theme parks. Open during regular park hours, each full-service facility is complimentary to use. Also a comfortable setting for a child who’s misplaced his parents, lost children will be looked after until a parent arrives.
• Bring snacks that they can snack on such as fruit snacks, apples or gold fish to keep their energy going or NOT, lol. You are allowed to bring food items; such as light snacks or foods that do not require heating into Disney theme parks. The Security Cast Member at the initial bag check will allow or disallow your food items when you enter the park. I’m sure they’ve seen it all, I bet it would be quite funny to hear all of the things peeps thought they could bring into the parks & a little scary too.

• Waterproof Sunscreen & please reapply.
• Make sure if your child has disabilities you have proper identification Walt Disney World provides Guests with disabilities -the Disability Access Service Card. It helps the guest and a number of people from his or her party—to schedule a return time at a specific attraction. For more information-guests should visit the Guest Relations Lobby located at the entrance of each theme park. 
• Safety, please watch your children closely. It’s a new exciting environment & they’re more prone to venture off- check into http://www.safetytat.com/or a dog-tag type necklace with parents name & number for security.
• Make sure you have proper medicines & prescriptions with doctor’s name & phone numbers with you while traveling.

• Be patient & enjoy your kids at their very age~ soon, very soon, they’ll be at a new stage in life & might not have the same likes & dislikes as before, so enjoy them in the moment. Originally published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/.

Check out this information and much, much more on http://dawnsdorkydiary.com/ & http://www.mqpodcast.com/.

Have you Conquered Disney Quest? by Tamela Hansen

     Yeah, it's summer and it's time for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation!  It's Orlando, Florida and it can get Hot and it can get Rainy but Walt Disney World offers many options for the entire family to have an amazing adventure every single day, no matter what the weather is!  I love the water parks but what about those rainy days?  Well, Disney offers several great activities to do.  I'm not a gamer at All but Disney Quest is awesome to me!

     Many people may walk past this big teal building with squiggly lines on it, at Downtown Disney, wondering what is that place!  Well give me a few moments and I will show you how your family can make special memories at Disney Quest.

     We have thoroughly enjoyed Disney quest with our toddlers and family members in their later years.  There are so many fun interactive games to play that include the entire group or family.  One of our favorites is Pirates of the Caribbean, Battle for Buccaneer Gold.  On this interactive game one person guides the ship as the rest use their cannons to destroy the pirate ships and gain the gold!  It is so fun because it is in 3-D and you feel like you are moving!  Pirate ships are attacking you from all directions and it really requires team effort. 

     Another one of our favorites is the Virtual Jungle Cruise.  This ride is based on the Jungle Cruise.  You will ride an inflatable raft down a prehistoric river and try to avoid volcanoes, cliffs, and dinosaurs.  Be careful you might get wet!

     On Cyber Space Mountain Bill Nye the Coaster guy will help you design your own roller coaster, then it is your turn to ride your coaster!  Make sure you don't miss Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride!  On this ride you're on a search to find the magic lamp and save the genie.   While wearing your 3-D headgear you can look at your friends to your right and left and see one another as monkeys! 

     Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters is a must do!  This ride is so much fun! One person drives and one person loads the asteroids. This is so funny because it requires so much team effort and you have to hit your opponent on the star to gain points and send their Astro Blaster into a spin!  Be careful because you may be the one spinning!  It's just so much fun I have enjoyed this with my kids for years and ones of all ages!  You will find yourself laughing so much it is hard to drive your Astro blaster or load your asteroids!

     My family has enjoyed Mighty Ducks pinball.  In this game you are a human pinball and you are slamming into walls and other pinballs.  Even if you are someone like myself that deals with mobility issue, watching your friends or family members participate in this game is an amazing experience!  The facial expressions they will make will keep you in stitches!

     My favorite thing to do while my hubby and sons play the vintage and newer video games is Animation Academy.  With various sessions through the day, an artist will come out and display in a big screen how you can draw your favorite Disney character.  You have a light pen and a computer screen for you to follow along as the artist gives you directions.  FYI Donald Duck is the easiest!

     Of course, as with the entire Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Quest dining is delightful.  They even offer cool comfortable seating with interactive games at your table.  Also, following Disney's rule of thumb there's a gift shop as you exit Disney Quest.  Everyone will want to pick up some small memorabilia from the special memories that you have made!  Ya Gotta Love Gift Shops!

     So this summer when you're at the Walt Disney World Resort and maybe it's a little to hot or too rainy or you want to take it a little bit easier.  Don't forget to check out that big building with the squiggly lines at Downtown Disney you won't regret Disney Quest!  It may just become your newest must do!

 MAKE SURE YOU SHOW YOUR DISNEYSIDE!

Be blown away at Typhoon Lagoon by Tamela Hansen

     As the summer warms up everybody wants to cool down on their Walt Disney World vacations!  The parks offer several areas with cooling mists and water rides, but my favorite thing to do in the summer is going to the water parks at Walt Disney World!  We love Typhoon Lagoon!

     Typhoon Lagoon offers so many fun activities for the entire family just like Blizzard Beach but with a different twist.  A typhoon hit Walt Disney World and left this awesome water park behind!  This is the only place you can swim in one of the largest wave pools, ride water slides, float down the lazy river, and swim with shark!  Yes, I said swim with sharks and Wow what an experience!                                                                                             For the Shark Reef experience, you may know how to swim, but I recommend grabbing a life vest to make the experience even more enjoyable.  Through this adventure you will find yourself in chilly and very deep water. To keep the fish from being spooked you can not kick your feet to swim.  You are only allowed to use your arms to guide you over stingray, tropical fish, and of course Shark!  Brace yourself they are real!

     Of course a family favorite is always Castaway Creek!  This lazy river will meander through misty rain forests, a hidden grotto, and a few more surprises along the way.  With leaves falling everywhere you get the feeling of floating down a creek back home!

     You have to go and ride Crush 'n' Gusher. This has the best variety of water slide roller coasters I've ever experienced.  You have three slide options Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher, and Pineapple Plunger.  So to get the full experience you have to ride them all!

     Gangplank Falls is a must do for all families.  This is a ride we have done with our children since they were toddlers.  It is so much fun to slide down and get wet with the little ones. Now that my children are getting bigger I think it may be even more fun with teenagers.

     Humunga Kowabunga are three water slides that reach 30 miles per hour!  All three are identical and you can even race to the bottom.  To all girls "beware of the bathing suit"!  These are very exhilarating slides and just a complete blast!

     Of course you're at Walt Disney World so the toddlers are never left out. There is a very special place just for children ages 2 to 5 to enjoy their own water adventures. This area is called Ketchakiddee Creek and your toddlers will love it.

     Now, while walking around Typhoon Lagoon you may hear some roaring and crashing but no it's not dinosaurs it,s just a massive wave pool!  As one of the world's largest wave pools this pool holds 3 million gallons of water! When the roar of the waves come hold on tight, your either riding the wave or get knocked down!  Either way you're gonna love it!

     Typhoon Lagoon is a must do summer adventure at Walt Disney World!  It offers all the conveniences you need such as lockers, refillable cups, tasty food, souvenir stores, in case you forgot something, and a few surprises around every corner.

     The dining at Typhoon Lagoon does not disappoint!  Just like all of the Walt Disney World Resort the food is scrumpdiddlyumptious!  If you are on the Disney Dinning Plan you can always use it at the water parks.  Don't forget to stop and satisfy your sweet tooth with an ice cream pail or a Mickey bar and for the adults maybe a frozen cocktail or draft beer.  It's all part of the Disney experience!

     So if you're visiting the Walt Disney World Resort this summer make sure you put Typhoon Lagoon on your list of must do's!  You won't regret it, but you're Gonna Get Wet!

Kids Love to Cruise with Disney

The whole family loves cruising with Disney but specially the kids!  Disney offer so many fun, exciting, and adventurous opportunities for all ages!  Disney makes it easy for your kids to have a blast even without mom and dad!

When you board the ship you have the opportunity ,as a family, to explore all of the youth activities before the ship sets sail.  The ship offers It's a Small World Nursery or Flounders Reef nursery for children ages 3 months to 3 years.  For children ages 3 years to 12 years the ship offer the Oceaneers Club and Laboratory.  Tween ages 11 through 14 can have a blast at Edge.  Finally your teens ages 14 to 17 can get to know more teens on the ship at Vibe. Your young ones may even get a picture with their favorite character!
  
The younger cruisers can enjoy Goofy golf (No pun intended), basketball, soccer, ping pong, and shuffleboard.  The ship also offers an arcade and some nights free arcade play time.  As a family you can enjoy family games and family dancing at the D Lounge or Studio Sea.  My favorite things are the Bon Voyage and Pirate on board deck dance parties! 

My kids enjoyed the Edge so much that we had to pull them away every night to go to bed!  They did so many cool activities with the kids such as a scavenger hunt that brought them throughout the ship to solve puzzles and each puzzle told the kids where to go and what to do.  They played Gender Wars Boys vs Girls!  The girls had to answer questions about the boys and the boys had to answer questions about the girls!  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall!  They also played "Who can make the worst drink", and the cast member had to drink it!  My kids team won that because they put hot chocolate, creamer, lemonade, water, and Dr Pepper together and it made the poor cast member gag!  They also had video game tournaments, make a pizza night, and matching games.  With every adventure there was a prize to be won! 

As parents who love our children and love to be with our children Disney has provided a wonderful tool called Wave phones.  You automatically have two that come with your stateroom but for a small fee you can add more to link together.  This provides communication between you and your children throughout the day and evening. As you're young cruisers meet other young ones on the ship they are able to use their Wave phones to communicate with one another.  Disney has definitely done their part to make sure that all young cruisers have an adventurous voyage!

So don't worry if your family will enjoy Disney Cruise and don't worry if they're too young or too old because Disney offers something for everyone!  When cruising with Disney everyone will have their own adventure and the memories you will make individually and as a family are limitless!  All that's left is for your family to pick the date of your "Bon Voyage"!  Happy Sailing and We'll see ya real soon on the open sea!

By Tamela Hansen

Mickey & Minnie's LOVE Story

In 1928 Mickey Mouse was born on a train from New York to L.A.; he popped out of Walt Disney’s head and onto his drawing pad. The intention Walt had for Mickey was simple, simply to make peeps laugh. Mickey Mouse far surpassed his intention which brings me to his vivacious “GIRLFRIEND” Minnie Mouse. She first appeared in 1928, in “Plane Crazy”. Minnie’s trademark outfit is a red & white polka-dot dress with white bloomers, high heels & matching bow. Minnie has gone by many aliases Princess Minnie and Maestro Minnie to name a few. Some even believe her “real name” is Minerva Mouse, but the Walt Disney Company has her name registered as the one & only Minnie Mouse. Her best gal pal is Daisy Duck & of course her main squeeze is numero-uno himself “Mickey Mouse”. In the September 30, 1933 issue of Film Pictorial magazine, Walt Disney addressed the most asked question “Are Mickey & Minnie married?” his response NO but “in private life, Mickey is married to Minnie.” So yes & no is the answer, I guess it’s whatever our imagination wants for them. Mickey’s creation was born out of necessity to replace Walt’s previous star Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. But Mickey could not fill the void alone, thus Minnie was created to be the impetus for Mickey, she was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Mickey & Minnie were not an item right away, probably had something to do with Minnie’s independent demeanor; Gloria Steinem ain’t got nothin’ on Minnie, lol! The 1929 animation short “Mickey’s Follies” portrayed the moment that Mickey Mouse first expressed his feelings toward the high-heeled vixen “She is my little Minnie Mouse.” It was also Minnie’s first song appearance with “Minnie’s Yoo-Hoo”, this song firmly established Mickey and Minnie as a couple & them living happily ever after. "I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse."
—Walt Disney

True Facts:

The actors who voiced Mickey and Minnie — Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor — were married in real life.

Minnie was originally voiced by Walt Disney. 

Both of Minnie’s parents are farmers. 

Minnie is actually the one who introduced the character of Pluto in The Picnic. 

WANDERING ON THE DISNEY WONDER !

WANDERING ON THE DISNEY WONDER !

Woo Hoo!  The Hansen family enjoyed another Disney vacation!  We spent Spring break on board the Disney Wonder! 

   The Disney Wonder is a beautiful ship and perfect for every age in the family.  The staterooms are nice and roomy!  We enjoyed one of the Deluxe family veranda rooms.  There are so many cute hidden mickeys throughout the room. 

   We have traveled on the Disney Dream and that ship is beautiful also but the Disney Wonder now holds a special place in my heart!  This ship offers so many on board activities that you cannot do them all in a week!  The onboard theaters were amazing we even caught a 3-d movie!  My kids thoroughly enjoyed the Edge and the wave phones. They enjoyed the freedom of the ship with scavenger hunts and onboard activities with friends they made for a lifetime.  My husband and I enjoyed the adult area with the pools and live music and just relaxing in the Sun!  The on deck basketball, soccer, and ping pong kept everyone in the family busy. 

     I can never get enough of soaking up the Sun so I really enjoyed doing that while my children and husband were entertained.  I enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends.  Between lying in the Sun, meeting fellow Sun lovers and eating dinner with an adorable family, we made friends and enjoyed interacting with them every day throughout the day on the ship. 

     Our excursions were awesome on the islands we explored and Disney always makes it so easy to get from the boat to your final destination.  It was so fun to run into people from the ship on the islands!  The best part about cruising with Disney, well at least one of the best, is after a long day walking around on the island shopping they greet you back to the boat with a cool towel and hand sanitizer!  I just Love that!

     We ate, we partied, we danced, we drink, we shopped, we met characters, we played, we swam, we met friends, we made friends for life, we had family pictures taken, and we participated in a Game Show!  The Game will have to be a different article!  Don't miss it!  It is HILARIOUS! 

The worst part about a Disney cruise is leaving the ship!  The experience was so fun and so enjoyable for our entire family that you just don't want to say goodbye!  We say, "See you real soon"! 

     So if you're contemplating a Disney cruise don't think any longer!   Just figure out a time and a budget that works for your family, if it’s a 3 day or a 14 day, just do it, book it and do it!  Trust me, once you cruise with Disney you will cruise again with Disney!

FREE Resort/Restaurant Tours at WDW

Wilderness Lodge- "Wonders of the Lodge"

*Offered at 9am Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This tour includes information about the architecture and how the Lodge was built, they also school you on the artwork, totem poles and the paintings located at the Wilderness Lodge. If interested call WL-407-824-3200

The Fort Wilderness Campground- “Campfire Program”

*No admission fee and its open to all WDW resort guests.

*It begins around 7 p.m. during the Fall/Winter season and 8 p.m. after the time   changes in April through the summer.

*Held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area.

*Chip and Dale make an appearance to visit & sign autographs.

The program begins with a sing-along led by a Disney Cast Member and a marshmallow roast around campfire rings. You can bring your own marshmallows or buy them at the Chuck Wagon. They also have available for purchase; pizza, hot dogs, candy, nachos, juice, popcorn, sodas, coffee, beer and other refreshments at the Chuck Wagon.

*The sing-along lasts about 40 minutes. Next, a Disney animated feature or two, depending upon the season, shown on a large outdoor screen.

*In the event of rain, the sing-along is still held on the porch of the Meadow Trading Post.