Magical Blogorail - Favorite Magic Kingdom Land

Welcome to those of you joining me from Manda's Disney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard! I am the Final stop on our Magical Blogorail!


Today we're talking about our favorite Magic Kingdom Land. WOW - now that's a hard choice! There are so many things I could say about each land. Each is so unique and perfectly themed. I adore the retro-futuristic feel of Tomorrowland, the excitement of Frontierland and Adventureland. . .but at the end of the day, I would have to say that Fantasyland is my favorite (what can I say - I'm old-fashioned!)!


Here's why I love Fantasyland:


-It houses such classics as Peter Pan's Flight and it's a small world! They've been there for years and it's like coming home to old friends.


-I love the medieval fair feel! The tents and banners are so fun and festive, and I love the combination of themes.


-I really enjoy people-watching in Fantasyland. I think it's because I consider it the heart of Magic Kingdom, and there's just so much going on!


-You can't beat the entrance - walking through the castle! It's like a royal welcome!


-It houses the rides that are most loved by infants, toddlers, and small children. That's our season of life right now and I can't WAIT to take our family back in January! It makes me smile to remember my daughter enjoying Fantasyland so much.


I think the reason I most love Fantasyland is because of the memories I have there. My most meaningful moments have happened in Fantasyland, from my own childhood to now being a parent. I think Fantasyland is the quintessential Disney World experience. :)


Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Black this month. We will be back in June with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney news, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.




Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Point
3rd Stop ~ Heidi’s Head
4th Stop ~ Mandas Disney Blog
Final Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer

Magical Blogorail - Favorite World Showcase Pavilion!

Welcome to those of you joining me from Manda's Disney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail! 


Today we're talking about our favorite World Showcase pavilion. This is SO HARD for me! I love World Showcase, and there are things about most every pavilion that I enjoy. So, I'm going to cheat and list a few (in no particular order)! ;) 


Canada
My favorite thing about Canada is the beautiful landscaping (modeled after a garden in Victoria, British Columbia), and Le Cellier restaurant! Kurt and I ate there a couple of trips ago and LOVED it. The atmosphere was wonderful (warm, cozy and lit by candles), and I could've eaten a million bowls of the famous Cheese Soup. 


United Kingdom
This pavilion is close to my favorite if I had to choose, because England is so near and dear to my heart. :) I also adore the different styles of architecture that are featured in the buildings (Tudor, Georgian and Victorian). There's also an adorable cottage modeled after Ann Hathaway's (Shakespeare's wife). I love shopping in this pavilion as well!


France
I love to just slowly walk through this pavilion because it's so quaint and romantic. The atmosphere is so pretty. As I've mentioned before, I love to sit and enjoy a pastry from Boulangerie Patisserie. Kurt and I have eaten at Chefs de France and it was wonderful as well!


Norway
This seems random, but I have a new appreciation for the Norway Pavilion ever since we ate at Akershus for a Princess Character dinner! The atmosphere was, yes, very Nordic - and it was awesome! It had a very royal feel to it and the dining rooms were spaced out well. We loved the appetizer buffet and our meals were really, really good. So we're definitely fans of Norway!


United States
My favorite aspect of our pavilion is the entertainment! I adore the Voices of Liberty vocal group (who, in my opinion, should have a longer show all their own), and I always make sure to get to the pavilion in time to hear them. And of course I always enjoy the "American Adventure" show that gives me goosebumps every time. :) 


Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Magical Mousepad. Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Disney Chick

2nd Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

3rd Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer

4th Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

Final Stop ~ The Disney Point

Magical Blogorail - Valentine's Day!

Welcome to those of you joining me from Manda's Disney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail. 


Today we are discussing our "Ideal Disney-Inspired Valentine's Day - Celebrating in the Parks or at Home." I love this topic, because you could do SO many things with it. It got me thinking about the romantic side of Disney World! 


My husband and I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit WDW three times as a couple. The first was when I was pregnant, the second was a trip alone while our little girl stayed home, and the third trip was a big family occasion (and our little girl's first trip!). Now that I can compare trips with and without kids, there are so many differences! Being in WDW with your significant other is so special. Here are some things I would definitely include if I were to plan the perfect Valentine's Day experience!


-The Grand Floridian. We LOVE this hotel! There are others on the Disney property that are very romantic (the Polynesian has the feeling of an island getaway, and the Contemporary is sleek and urban), but we love the traditional feel of Grand Floridian. We love to sit in the lobby and listen to the band play old favorites! (Tip: You most definitely don't have to be a GF guest to sit in the lobby, and you can enjoy the free concert anytime!) 


-While some would expect that I would list Victoria and Albert's Restaurant (located in the Grand Floridian), we actually prefer a little more of a laid-back environment! V&A's is definitely on our Disney to-do list, but we've also eaten at the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary and LOVED it. 


-World Showcase in Epcot is so romantic at night! The lights are fantastic, and I feel like each country is just glowing. A very special thing to do is to stroll through France and eat a dessert from Boulangerie Patisserie. They have little tables outside in the open air, and it is absolutely wonderful to sit and people-watch while you eat a wonderful dessert! 


-One of the most romantic things you can do at Walt Disney World is to walk slowly, take in the details, and stop to people-watch. These are luxuries that usually go by the wayside when you take a trip that includes kids. We love to stop and sit in the middle of Fantasyland, hold hands and stroll through all of the parks, and stop to take pictures of little things like architectural details. These moments also usually lead to great conversation, which is always romantic! 


-A special thing to do in the parks is to buy something special to commemorate your time together. Maybe a Disney Dooney and Bourke bag, or a beautiful piece of art from The Art of Disney. It could be as simple as a magnet for the refrigerator! The point is to take something home that's a tangible reminder of the special memories you created. 


-Learn together. A good example is finding the "Hidden Mickeys" that are all over the parks. As someone who has been to Disney countless times, I think learning/seeing something new is a great bonding experience. Another great example of this is taking one of the behind-the-scenes tours together!


-Watch the "Wishes" fireworks show together. The mix of music and fireworks creates a huge feeling of nostalgia, and for the true Disney fan, it brings tears to the eyes. It's a beautiful way to end the perfect day!




Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Magical Mousepad! Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

2nd Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer

3rd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

4th Stop ~ The Disney Point

Final Stop ~ The Disney Chick

Magical Blogorail - Disney Resolutions

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Black. Enjoy the ride as we share with you our Disney Resolutions for the New Year!


It's fun to think about resolutions or goals that involve Disney! My resolutions won't be completed this year, because our next trip isn't until January or February of 2013, but I'm going to list some things that I eventually want to do/experience in general!


-I can't wait to walk down Main Street USA with Liam for the first time! Evy had such a memorable reaction when she saw it for the first time, and I know Liam will just be in awe. He'll be 2.5 years old at that point, so it will be a fun age! 


-I'm really looking forward to my side of the family going to Disney again together on this next trip. The last time we went together was 2005, and we are way overdue for a trip! I love the dynamic of traveling with a bigger group at Disney just as much as I love a small group. 


-Eventually, a goal I have is to eat at the new Beauty and the Beast restaurant! I'm not sure when that particular phase is slated to be open, but I know it will be spectacular.


-I would really enjoy doing one of the backstage tours that Disney offers. On the next trip that Kurt and I take alone to WDW, I think we'll definitely be doing this. 


-I'd like to try more snacks in WDW. Since we haven't done the Dining Plan before, we haven't tried that many, and it's something I'd like to do.


-My husband and I have had wonderful dining experiences in Epcot, and I'd like to cross more off of my list like England, Morocco, and Italy. 


-Even though I take HUNDREDS of pictures every time we're in the World, I always wish I had photographed more details of the Parks. I'm usually focusing on taking pictures of us as a group or my daughter, but I always come home wishing I had more glimpses of what makes Disney....Disney. That's a goal I can definitely achieve on our next trip! 


-At some point a goal of mine is to start looking more for Hidden Mickeys. I think this is such a fun aspect of the Parks, and I can imagine this would be really fun once my kids are older, and we can make it a family activity together! I love anything that makes each trip unique and different to WDW, and this would give us things to really hunt for.


-I've never seen the Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom, so I would love to check it out! This might be able to happen on our next trip, depending on our schedule. 


I'm excited about these little goals! Making a list gives you fun things to look forward to, even when your trip is a year away (like ours is!). It gives me a little boost to start planning, and I know our next visit to WDW will be extra special no matter what - it will be filled with family and fun!


Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Magical  Mousepad. Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1^st Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer

2^nd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

3^rd Stop ~ The Disney Point

4^th Stop ~ The Disney Chick

Final Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

Magical Blogorail - Favorite Disney Shopping

Welcome to those of you joining me from Manda's Disney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail! Today we're talking about our favorite shopping experiences in Walt Disney World.

As far as atmosphere goes, my favorite shopping experience is Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom! It really does feel like you're walking in a bygone era, and since all of the shops are connected from the inside, it can also be a good "trick" for making your way down Main Street USA during busy times like parades. I love to browse the Emporium - it has just about anything you could possibly need!

As far as practicality goes, I really enjoy shopping The World of Disney in the Downtown Disney area. I've made it a tradition to usually save most of my purchases for this one-stop shop. I have found it to have the best selection, and everything is in one place, which is a time- and energy-saver! They also are home to one of the Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutiques, and if I were in the younger age bracket, I guarantee you that would be my favorite shopping experience! (Who am I kidding? I might go to the BBB myself.....)

In my opinion, there are some hidden treasures when it comes to shopping, and that's in the hotel shops. We love to stay at the Grand Floridian, and they have some really unique and pretty merchandise that can help you rememember your stay there. Even if you didn't stay at one of the deluxe resorts, you can always purchase something to inspire you! :)

Le Chapeau on Main Street USA is the home of the iconic Disney Mouse Ears Hat, which makes this a very sentimental spot for me. I personally think this makes such a cute gift, especially for a new baby (you could include a tag that says "May all of your dreams come true!"). Think of all the Disney memories that are ahead of them! There are many styles to choose from, but I always stick with the classic "Mouseketeer" hat.

However, there's one shopping experience that's my absolute favorite.....and it's anything DISNEY CHRISTMAS! Disney's Days of Christmas shop is located in Downtown Disney, and I absolutely LOVE IT. You are surrounded by Christmas music, cozy decorated fireplaces, trees and ornaments galore. I've bought everything from personlized ornaments (they personalize them on site), books, antenna toppers, and MORE ORNAMENTS here! Besides the merchandise, I really think the environment is what sets this shop apart. It combines my two favorite things, Disney and Christmas, and it just doesn't get much better than that! I also always visit Ye Olde Christmas Shop in Liberty Square, located in the Magic Kingdom. This shop is fun because of its location - I love anything that has a colonial feel, and it's such a quaint shop. While the store is smaller and carries the same merchandise as Days of Christmas, it's always worth a visit!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World! Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
3rd Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
4th Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
Final Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World

Dreaming of Disney - Fun Experiences!

I think that Disney World is a wonderful vacation destination for couples - even after they have children! I know, it's really hard to picture going to Disney World and leaving the kids at home, but I'll be honest - I would love it!

Kurt and I have taken two trips alone to Disney World together, once while I was pregnant with Evy, and then again once she was almost two. She stayed with grandparents and we had a wonderful time together! I mentioned in my previous post that we have a family trip planned for next January (I CAN'T WAIT!!), and I'm always thinking up new plans in my head. Kurt and I talked about how we'd like to return by ourselves to WDW, and that got me planning. We don't have it on the calendar, but I'm determined it will happen! Maybe for our anniversary one year?

There are many things that I'd love to do that are a little easier without kids in tow! Here's what I would love to do for a couples trip:

The Backstage Magic Tour is a 7-8 hour experience that shows you behind-the-scenes views of many areas of the Walt Disney World complex. You get to see the "utilidors" underneath Main Street U.S.A., the secrets of the American Adventure at Epcot, the WDW Nursery and Tree Farm, and several elements in Disney Hollywood Studios. The experience includes lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe. The cost is $229 per person, for ages 16 and up. Theme park admission isn't required or included. Kurt and I love learning about "behind the scenes" magic, so I think we would really enjoy this!

The Richard Petty Driving Experience would be Kurt's dream come true! He loves cars and driving fast (ha!), so I know this would be awesome for him. The Walt Disney World Speedway is the home of the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and there are many packages to choose from. The cost ranges from the $99 Ride-Along, where you accompany a driver and ride the track, to the popular $449 Rookie experience, which lets you drive a NASCAR racecar for 8 laps, to the ultimate splurge, the $2,099 Speedway Challenge (50 laps!). This would be a great way to convince the guy in your life to come to Disney World with you (if he's reluctant!)!

Victoria and Albert's is the ultimate dining experience at Walt Disney World. Located in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, the restaurant "offers a unique dinner menu each night of exceptional, contemporary American cuisine served with unparalleled charm and elegance." I would love to have a 2-2.5 hour dining experience and taste the wonderful creations of Chef Hunnel! There are three experiences to choose from: Victoria and Albert's Dining Room, Queen Victoria's Room, and the famous Chef's Table. This is definitely an adults-only restaurant, perfect for when the kids are at home.

I would love a trip that combined any of these fun experiences, and it proves that Walt Disney World isn't just for kids!

Is It Too Early?

We are planning our next Disney trip! Well. . .I'm planning it in my head. :) We're going to take a family trip with my family to Disney World in January or February of 2013. So we have about a year to go, but the way I look at it - I can start making our reservations this summer, so that makes me happy!

There's going to be the four of us (it will be Liam's first trip!), my parents, and three siblings. It might get a little tricky with my siblings' schedules, but I refuse to go during busy/peak season, and we had a fabulous experience when we went last January (with Kurt's side of the family). I know the weather can be a gamble, but I think it's worth the risk!

I've been thinking through what we want to do the same and what new things we'd like to try:

Keeping the Same:

-We will be flying again. It was awesome to have such a quick trip and the Magical Express shuttle at the airport was indeed magical!

-We will be taking our own stroller. I really enjoyed being comfortable with our stroller and being able to have ease of transportation while on the monorail, ferry, etc. Plus, with two kids, I want to keep them in the double stroller they're used to.

-We will be staying in the Grand Floridian again. We have been saving with this in mind, because to us, it's worth it to work hard and save the extra money for the WONDERFUL convenience of the monorail. It really makes a huge difference, and we're willing to pay a little extra. Thankfully, during value season it's not AS atrociously priced.

-We will be returning to eat at San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot. This is my dad's favorite Mexican food (and he's an expert with Mexican food!), so it will be fun to eat there again as a family.

-We will, without question, go immediately into Fantasyland upon the Magic Kingdom opening for the day. We had such a wonderful experience getting to ride all of the Fantasyland rides all in a row several times before people even figured out where Fantasyland was - ha! Definitely a good plan that we're sticking with.

-We will DEFINITELY be repeating a Princess character meal! Evy was just beside herself with joy when we went last January, and her Princess obsession has only grown since then. I'm not sure if we'll do Akershus or the Castle. Still trying to compare food choices, etc. Since I've eaten at both, and enjoyed both, I'm going to sit down and compare the menus and options in detail.

-We will be taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours again!! This is when we had the most fun and enjoyed the most rides and attractions. We felt like the parks were empty and it was a blast. Again, it's a great bonus of staying at a Disney resort!

-I will definitely be packing Evy and Liam super cute outfits like I did for Evy last time! Most of them will be compliments of Kurt's mom, who can sew like nothing I've ever seen!


Doing Differently/New Experiences:

-We will avoid Martin Luther King Weekend! We had to go during this time last January because of some work schedules, but we noticed a definite increase in the crowds. We chose to leave Magic Kingdom on that Monday because it was just so crowded. Now, everything is relative. Compared to July, it was a breeze, but we just didn't want to fight lots of people, so we went to Downtown Disney for awhile. I really want our whole trip to be low-crowds on this next trip, so we'll avoid the MLK holiday.

-We won't repeat Crystal Palace. Even though Liam (and Evy) really enjoy Winnie the Pooh, it was really crazy crowded and kind of hard to maneuver.

-I want to try Chef Mickey's! We taped a show on TV called "The Best Places I've Ever Been," and several celebrities talked about their favorite Disney moments. One chef took his wife and daughters to Chef Mickey's. Evy LOVES to watch this show, and comments about Chef Mickey's all the time. Plus, I can't lie, the food looks reallllllyyyy good. I love good breakfast food, and Disney also really does buffets well.

-I think this will be the trip for Evy to do the Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique for the first time! She will be at the perfect age (almost 4) and I think she will just be in heaven. Plus, we'll have numerous helpful hands from family members to help juggle the video cameras, Liam, etc. This is another thing Evy has seen on TV, and she just talks about it all the time.

-I think Evy will be more excited to see the fireworks this time - they scared her on the last trip!

-The most exciting thing is that this will be my family's first trip together since 2005, and hopefully a good portion of the Fantasyland expansion will be open! HOW FUN!


I'm sure I'll add to this list, but I love talking about the planning stage of a trip. It's one of my favorite things to do!