My Mouse Talk

2012-05-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let my current blog readers I'm now only blogging on my website.

I'm VERY EXCITED to have Big Wish Travels up and running.

Check it out for some new Disney information as well as use my quote form for your next Disney or Universal Studios vacation.

Thank you!

www.believeinmagicvacations.com

Why Use An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner?

2012-03-27T07:07:00.001-07:00

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be overwhelming, but it can also be fun. There are many decisions to make.

-What resort should we stay in,

and what is the difference between Value, Moderate and Deluxe?

-What park should we go to first?

-Where should we eat?

-How many days should we stay?

And so many more!

When you are considering using an agent, one thing you could ask is, when is the last time you've been to Disney World? Disney is timeless, but there are also changes happening all the time to keep it up to date, safe and growing!

Did you know we have agents on site at Disney World (and Universal Studios) almost every day of the year. We travel there for training and our family vacations too. We are up to date on all the changes that occur.

This information is very valuable to you as a guest when planning your vacation.

Our services are FREE to you! Yes, we are paid by Disney because we are Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.

I recently had a guest ask me how much I charge to plan her Disney Cruise. When I said 'nothing' she was very pleasantly surprised. Then I mentioned some of our agents just walked off the inaugural Disney Fantasy cruise so we have first hand experiences to pass that knowledge on to you!

Once you have booked your vacation, I will provide you with extra Magic as well. Some of this Magic includes:

Planning your dining and making your reservations.

Helping your decide what resort to stay at.

Provide you with daily touring plans, so you won't waste your time in hugely long lines.

And, I will help you plan your trip according to your budget.

But the number one thing I will provide for you, that can be hard to find, is EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. I always say, I love receiving great customer service, that's why I love to provide it. And, Disney prides itself on that concept.

If I can't give the answer, I have a wonderful support of knowledgeable agents that can help me.

I will also update your reservation if a better deal becomes available and pass those savings on to you! Some people wait to plan their trip to see if a better offer is released. You won't miss out with this service.

With some great Disney offers going on right now, why don't you contact me for your free - no obligation quote?

Email me at Kimwvacations@gmail.com

Let's plan your next Magical vacation!

Disney Is Not Just For Kids - Here Is Why...

2012-03-13T06:18:00.001-07:00

I think originally Disney used to be seen as just a place to experience with your children. The kids can see Mickey, go on Space Mountain or Small World. You can buy them a plush animal and never go back for another 5-8 years.

In my experience Disney has made countless changes and updates to make sure people of all ages want to return and experience Disney in new ways. Ways they didn't get to experience when their kids were younger.

This post could be pages long on how they do this, but I'll try to give you the condensed version.

Not only have the Disney engineers added new parks and attractions over the years but many of you may not know about all the options outside of the Disney parks.

Lets start with some top nightlife destinations.

DOWNTOWN DISNEY

Here you can check out a Cirque de Soleil performance. Then head over to House of Blues for a concert.

Even though Pleasure Island nightclubs have closed, (yes I personally miss 8 Trax) you can still enjoy some fun bars at Raglan Road Irish Pub or Bongo's Cuban Cafe.

THE BOARDWALK

This has become a favorite for many for so many reasons. Located at The Boardwalk Resort, this beautiful area has many bars and restaurants to choose from. You can catch a game at the ESPN Club where there are more than 100 TV's to catch your favorite game. Atlantic Dance Hall is a high-energy Top 40 dance club. Jellyrolls is a piano bar where you might feel the need to jump into the conga line dancing to Barry Manilow's 'Copacabana'.

EXTREME SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Did you know you can ride in or drive your own NASCAR at the Richard Petty Driving Experience?

Located near the Magic Kingdom parking lot, you can choose your experience depending on your price range.

Of course there is biking, golf and tennis. But did you know you can have an archery guide at the Fort Wilderness Resort where you can take in some target shooting? Or how about horseback riding, fishing and even parasailing on Bay Lake?

With all of these options, there is no shortage of fun at Disney. There are so many more that I didn't list that you could have a vacation without even going into the Disney parks. For me, I don't think I could resist. But for some of you the options are endless!

Let me know if you would like help with your next vacation. I can set up all of your reservations for you and so MUCH MORE!

Contact me for your FREE quote on your next Disney adventure. I'm happy to make your vacation dreams a reality...

New Themed Rooms At Disney

2012-03-12T10:42:00.001-07:00

OK, well let's face it, I think every room at Walt Disney World has a theme.
No matter where you stay, your room's decoration will be related to the name of the resort.

If you are staying at All-Star Sports, you will have footballs, baseballs, and athletic fields painted and scattered around your room. If you choose The Yacht & Beach Club, you will have blues, whites and nautical touches throughout your room. Staying at the Polynesian? Your room will have Hawaiian, and other tropical designs. You get the picture.

But now Disney has taken it a step further and added specialty themed rooms in a few of their resorts. For example, The Port Orleans Riverside, now offers Royal Guest Rooms.
These royal rooms will make you feel like you are staying in a castle. From Aladdin's Flying Carpet rug to a twinkling fireworks headboard your prince or princess will really love these rooms. Although there are over 500 of these rooms available, you can bet they will be selling out fast. It's a great way to add something special to your vacation.

Another option is located at the Caribbean Beach Club. These Pirate themed rooms will make your little buccaneer smile when he/she enters. There are many special touches like the crate TV stands and special ship headboards. Again, these rooms also sell out quickly, but don't add to much extra to your vacation cost.

If you are considering a special room with your next Walt Disney trip, I can help you plan all the details! My services are at no cost to you. Message me for your free quote!

kimwvacations@gmail.com

Free Dining Available to ALL!

2012-03-05T06:12:00.001-08:00

FREE Dining is available to everyone now at Walt Disney World!

If you have ever considered a trip to Walt Disney World, now is a great time to book your vacation.

Free Dining does not come along often and it is a great way to save LOTS of money on your trip.

Dates are limited. Travel between August 25, 2012 to September 29, 2012

If you have a current trip booked for those dates, you can add me as your agent and I will gladly make the adjustment for you and pass along those savings!

email me kimwvacations@gmail.com

DON'T WAIT TOO LONG! THESE ROOMS ARE FILLING UP FAST.

Our First Harry Potter Giveaway!

2012-03-01T05:26:00.001-08:00

Enter to win this Dumbledore’s Army Wand Set straight from Ollivanders Wand Shop at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located at Islands of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentines Day Giveaway - 1 Day Only

2012-02-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

Show your love of someone special with this adorable Mickey Mouse Frame!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disney Changes FastPass System in March

2012-02-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

To anyone who has used the FastPass system at Disney, we know how much time this system can save us in line.

To those of you who don't know about the FastPass system, this is a ticket you receive at an attraction that allows you to return at a later time to limit your time in line. This window of time is an hour long. Typically Disney would allow you to arrive slightly before your designated time, and anytime after your hour. Even hours later!

But now, starting in March, Disney will start enforcing this window of time. They will now allow you to arrive 5 minutes before your designated arrival time, and 15 minutes after your end time.

So if you have a FastPass for Splash Mountain to arrive between 1-2pm. You can show up at 12:55-2:15pm.

What do you think about this? I know it may be frustrating to some. But I think it will overall be great to those who return during their time frame and will have an overall less wait time.

This is scheduled to take place March 7, 2012. So consider this when making your daily touring plan.

New Changes Coming to Disneyland

2012-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

There are some exciting changes coming to The Disneyland Parks this year.

One of which are changes to some of the Disneyland restaurants.
The Carnation Cafe, will once again offer indoor seating. Giving guests more options to enjoy this iconic restaurant.
The Blue Ribbon Bakery is closing to make room for the new Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.

The boundaries of Fantasyland will transform into the Fantasy Faire Experience. Guests will travel through a village square that's surrounded by fairy tale cottages and pavilions. This area will offer guests the chance to interact with their favorite hero or heroine as their stories come alive.

Buena Vista Street is opening at Disney's California Adventure. New shops will offer guests the chance to purchase their favorite Cars merchandise at Oswalds.
A circus - themed toy store called Big Top Toys will have shelves lined with innovative and interactive toys.

Of course we can't forget about Cars Land scheduled to open Summer of this year. One of the major attractions include Radiator Springs Racers located of course in the town of Radiator Springs.

Experience a psychedelic party and fall into the Rabbit Hole in the Mad T Party. Live bands, signature foods, and dancing will let guests experience an upside down world.

If you'd like to plan your vacation and be a part of these new and exciting changes, message me for your free quote!

Disney PIN Codes Released

2012-01-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Disney PIN codes are being released! Everyone gets so excited when that little flyer is delivered by the postal carrier or that e-mail appears in the inbox, but what, exactly, is a Disney PIN and how does it work?

Disney PIN codes are sent out to past guests in the hopes of getting them to book again. These Disney PINs are special offers that will allow guests to save on a Disney vacation. The offers can be anything from Free Dining to a certain percentage off the room rate. These offers can be booked directly through Disney or with your favorite travel agent.

Who Can Use The PIN?

Disney PIN codes are specific to the guest to whom they were sent. Before booking a Disney PIN offer, the agent will have to verify the name of the guest, address and ZIP code. If these do not match, then the PIN is not valid. Disney makes no exceptions to this.

Most Disney PIN codes are valid for up to three rooms. This means that if you’d like to take along friends or family, they can take advantage of the discount, too! The PIN code holder must be the lead guest on one of the three reservations.

I am a past guest, but I didn’t get a Disney PIN. What do I do?

Call Disney or your travel agent! They can check to see if a PIN is available to you. Oftentimes, people either don’t receive or accidentally discard their Disney PIN offer. However, the offer is still in the Disney system and can still be accessed and used.

I checked, but there is no PIN available to me. Why? I am a past guest.

Being a past guest does not guarantee that a Disney PIN will be assigned to you. The PIN codes are not offered to all guests. Don’t take it personally. Disney’s marketing folks offer the PINs based on your past reservations.

If you took advantage of Free Dining before, they may offer it again. If you love to stay at the Polynesian, they may send you the offer for 40% off Deluxe Resorts.

Just because you were not offered the current Disney PIN doesn’t mean you won’t be offered the next one! Keep your eyes open and check back as new codes are released.

Can I use my Disney PIN with other discounts?

You cannot use your Disney PIN with other Disney discounts. Disney allows only one discount per reservation. If you book through Disney, you get one discount. However, travel agents may offer an additional discount on top of the Disney PIN.

This is one of the occasions where booking through an agent can save you more than booking through Disney directly.

I’ve never been to Disney before so I won’t get a Disney PIN. What can I do to save?

Don’t despair! Often, a few months after the PIN is released, Disney releases a similar discount to the general public. Again, here is where a travel agent can help. Your agent will let you know about new Disney discounts as they are released. Many times, the best discounts are not advertised by Disney!

The truth is that there is almost always a Disney discount available whether or not you have a Disney PIN. You just have to know where to look!

Contact me today to save twice with your Disney PIN or to book the guaranteed best deal available to you!

515-720-5220 kimwvacations@gmail.com

January Giveaway

2012-01-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Here is your chance

To Win This Authentic Disney Park

Striped Mickey Mouse Dooney and Bourke Purse!

How to Enter:

This giveaway is being run using the Rafflecopter form, which should appear below. Just click to enter! If you are having trouble viewing the Rafflecopter form, here’s a checklist to help you out:

Try refreshing your browser or viewing it from a different browser.
Make sure you have JavaScript enabled on your computer.
You may need to clear your cache.

Giveaway Rules

The mandatory entries must be completed Other methods of following are there for extra entries, but are optional.
Each entry must be entered exactly as it is stated.
Make sure to leave a VALID email address in the email field so I can contact you if you win.
If you already follow/like someone via Twitter or Facebook the entries still count.
No cheating–I make sure the winner’s entries are done correctly. If they’re not, then a new winner is selected.

GIVEAWAY ENDS JANUARY 31, 2012

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Making the Most of Your Disney Days

2012-01-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

Once your trip is finally planned some of the anxiety wears off, but if you are not a frequent traveler to Walt Disney World, thinking about how to spend you time can be overwhelming.

You may have questions like;

-Where do I eat?
-What time should I arrive at the parks?
-What time should I leave my resort?
-What are Extra Magic Hours?
-Whats the best time to ride Splash Mountain?

Many of these questions are very common and you are not alone.

But...don't worry. I'm here to help. Itinerary planning is one thing I will provide for you on your vacation. It's part of my services when you book a vacation package with me.

I LOVE Disney World. I've traveled there many times when my kids were different ages as well as alone with my spouse. The experiences are different every time, but we make the most of our days following some simple plans and just being prepared.

Do we stray from our plan occasionally? Of course. We have 3 children. But overall, by having our plan and where we want to eat, makes our days go much smoother.

If you are planning a trip, don't worry. I will give you some itineraries for you to follow. I'll even make your dining reservations. If you have questions when you arrive? Please call or email me. I'll be happy to help you or give you some suggestions.

It's good to have a plan, but you do need to be flexible as well.

If I can't answer your questions, I have lots of great resources to find your answer.

My goal is to make your vacation Magical!

Email me for your free quote and take advantage of some great deals going on now at WDW.

kimwvacations@gmail.com

Solo Traveling at Walt Disney World?

2012-01-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, we have no choice, but we are just forced to head to Walt Disney World on our own.

Bummer huh?

Well NO! You can have just as much fun on your own taking advantage of these ideas and still have an amazing time with the 1000's of other Disney fans.

Sometimes we have to go for business or even by our own idea, but you can still have a memorable time.

* If you find yourself with some extra time, take a behind the scenes tour. How about the Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This 3 hour adventure is a guided safari that takes you through the jungle, over a savanna and up-close encounters with some of the animals.

* You won't have to feel alone while dining at some of the finer restaurants. Many offer counters to sit and eat where you can enjoy the company of others.

* You can even enjoy shorter wait times on some of the attractions. Test Track at EPCOT is one that offers 'single rider' lines that will get you through faster.

* Other opportunities might include horseback riding at Fort Wilderness, parasailing at The Contemporary, and even suiting up for an intense spin in a racecar at the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Whatever your reason for traveling solo, you can be sure to still have an amazing experience and you'll be back to your family and friends before you know it.

Let me know if I can help you plan your next trip!

Disney's New Deal

2012-01-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Disney just announced some exciting news if you are considering a trip.

You can enjoy one more day and night of Disney magic FREE when you buy a 3-night, 3-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort hotels before Jan. 31, 2012 (for arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – March 10, 2012).
You don't have much time to book and rooms will fill up fast, so it's good to take advantage
of this great offer right away!

Who wouldn't want an extra day of Magic for FREE?? Plus these dates are before Spring Break
so you can enjoy lighter crowds and beautiful weather.

You could combine this with another Disney offer. Both, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland will be open for 24 hours on February 29, 2012. Leapyear day.... or Leapday?

You could go back to the hotel, get a couple hours of rest, and head back in at 2am! I bet the crowds will be low at that time. How fun.

Wouldn't you like to be there?

Remember, all my planning services are free. Contact me for a free quote.

kimwvacations@gmail.com

Disney Dining Plan Changes 2012

2011-12-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

Disney has updated the Disney Dining Plan for 2012! The great news is that they have added more restaurants giving you even more options.

Here are the additions to the 2012 Disney Dining Plan:

New Table Service Dining Locations Include:

Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney
House of Blue at Downtown Disney
Paradiso 37 at Downtown Disney
Portobello at Downtown Disney
Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
T-Rex at Downtown Disney

Fulton’s Crab House at Downtown Disney-requires 2 table service dining credits
Bistro de Paris at Epcot-World Showcase at France-requires 2 table service dining credits
Wolfgang Puck Cafe: The Dining Room at Downtown Disney-requires 2 table service dining credits

New Quick-Service Dining Locations Include:

Landscapes Cafe at the new Art of Animation Resort
The Paddock Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Katsura Grill at Epcot-World Showcase at Japan
Bongo’s Cuban Sandwich Window at Downtown Disney
Marketplace Snacks at Downtown Disney

The Disney Dining Plan saves 30% over the cost of paying for your meals out of pocket. Now, you can enjoy even more dining experiences.

Contact me today to book your Disney adventure!

The Contemporary Resort - Walt Disney World

2011-12-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

I was feeling nostalgic today and wanted to write about the first resort I ever stayed in on my first trip to Disney World.

The Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, was 1 of 2 resorts at Walt Disney World when it first opened. It's is the A-Framed silver resort that sits very close to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. The thing I thought was so cool was not only how it looked, but that the monorail traveled right through it. I remember hopping on that monorail and being able to sit up front with the driver. So cool!

The guest rooms recently underwent a major transformation and it has a much more modern look. There are shops and many activities to keep you busy if you decide to take a break from the parks.

The new Fantasia gift shop opened in 2007 with ginor'mouse' (ha..get it?) Mickey ears announcing the entrance.

You can't miss the huge mosaic tile mural on the wall. Have you seen the 5 legged goat? Besides all there is to see, there is some great dining at The Contemporary as well.

One of the most popular places to dine, being Chef Mickeys. This is a buffet style, character meal. My son's first encounter with Dale, (from Chip n Dale) was here. Dale approached him as he was eating, and Jason reached up and honked his nose. Very cute and I was so happy to catch that on film.

Recently the Bay Lake Towers, being part of the Disney Vacation Club have been added to the resort area.

I think one of the best parts of staying here is not only enjoying the beautiful resort, but location, location, location. You can walk to the Magic Kingdom within minutes, or hop on the monorail for easy access to EPCOT as well.

Yes, this is considered one of Disneys Deluxe Resorts, however with the spring discount going on right now, you may be able to make this resort an option for you!

Contact me so we can plan your magical vacation staying at Disneys Contemporary Resort!

Disney Spring Resort Discount

2011-12-08T10:39:00.001-08:00

Disney has recently announced it's Spring discount on their Resort hotels through June,14 2012.
You can save up to 35% on many Resort rooms during your stay. There are certain dates that are blacked out so you will want to message me to find out for sure.

If there is a particular resort you've always wanted to stay at, but didn't think you could,
now is a great time to take advantage of these discounts.
And, if you think a better deal may come along...don't worry! I will keep watch on your reservation and adjust it for you.

So why not make your reservation? You won't lose out on anything and all of my services are free!

It's a win - win!

Enter To Win A Disney Gift Card!

2011-12-01T05:23:00.001-08:00

Make Your Holidays Brighter With A FREE Disney Gift Card!

From December 1st through December 10th enter to win a $150 Disney Gift card to spend as you like — online at the Disney Store or in person a the Disney Parks or onboard a Disney Cruise! Entering is easy and free!

How to Enter

This giveaway is being run using the Rafflecopter form, which should appear below. Just click to enter! If you are having trouble viewing the Rafflecopter form, here’s a checklist to help you out:

Try refreshing your browser or viewing it from a different browser.
Make sure you have JavaScript enabled on your computer.
You may need to clear your cache.

Relaxing at Disney

2011-11-29T16:49:00.001-08:00

I've been recently talking to some friends about their Disney vacations and one thing I commonly hear is. 'We are so tired and always on the go. My kids have melt downs and I come home exhausted.'

Yes...this is true for most of us. Vacationing itself can be tiring from all the planning, packing and traveling. Kids can have melt downs anywhere and many times it's because they are tired.

However, your Disney vacation doesn't have to be go - go - go experience! There are ways to stop and relax and enjoy what's around you without rushing to the next attraction.

Here are some ideas. When you are at the Parks and you notice your group is getting tired, or cranky try taking a snack break.

When we are at The Magic Kingdom, we like to stop in Tomorrowland and hop on the People Mover. We've even asked to ride again and if it's not busy, many times the Cast Member will let us. Sometimes we'll grab a Mickey Ice Cream bar and just eat something yummy.

If we are at Hollywood Studios, we head over to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play set area and let them run around. Again, we'll get a snack, and just let our kids play till they are done.

At Epcot, we'll head over the squirting water fountain area and let them get their feet wet.

And while we are at Animal Kingdom we'll head over to The Boneyard and let them play.

Of course it's not always about the kids taking a break. It's good for us too, and Disney offers many other ways to relax while on vacation.

There are many jogging trails at the hotels. If you are a jogger, bring your running shoes if you don't want to miss your workout. Yes, you walk a ton at the parks, but for most joggers, it's their way of escaping and they don't want to miss 'the run.'

You could consider the Spa at Saratoga Springs. The white sandy beaches at The Contemporary. Bike rentals at The Boardwalk or even fishing at Fort Wilderness. Of course don't forget about all the amazing pools!

If you find your group is overwhelmed, try to take advantage of other ways to spend your time while visiting Walt Disney World.

Your time will be magical!

.

My New Job?

2011-11-22T19:53:00.001-08:00

I probably should have blogged about this sooner. But it just dawned on me that I really should announce on my blog that I am now a Travel Agent.
I'm so excited to be a part of Destinations To Explore. I have received some wonderful support and I can't believe I will be able to do something so awesome as a career! Eventually I hope to have my own website that people can visit to get lots of questions answered. I will have my blog on that website. But until that happens I will continue to tweet and connect on Facebook.

I have struggled with this issue for awhile. What do I do when my youngest is in school all day? I had tossed around so many ideas. I was trying to help people with their Disney Vacations, by giving them great information to help make their trip more memorable. But this is an opportunity to actually plan and book their vacation. I get to be a part of something so wonderful. Making their trips magical!
That's why I can hardly believe I have a job. Should I even call it that? Doesn't seem like doing something you love should be called a job.

But no matter what you call it, I've been extremely blessed to be a part of other peoples lives and still be home when my children are home. I pray I will be successful and give others all they need to make their vacation, no matter where it may be, their best vacation ever!

So...if you have any travel questions. Please contact me! I'll be more than happy to help you.

And remember...quotes are always free. There is NO cost to you!

Oh and thanks to my daughter for showing me a typo on my last blog about the Muppets. I did get the song lyric wrong. But you all probably figured that out too. ;)

Bringing Back The Muppets

2011-11-18T13:52:00.001-08:00

Ok, we are not all too old to remember the Muppet Show when it was on TV. I watched it religiously. I thought the 2 older guys sitting in the balcony were hilarious. Remember their names? I won't keep it a secret. It's Waldorf and Statler. For some reason listening to their insults cracked me up.
Anyway, it's hard to pick a favorite, but they are on the top of my list.

Of course Miss Piggy was someone I think almost every woman wanted to act like at some point. Let's face it, she's aggressive and arrogant. And she really gets away with it. I guess that's what we love about her.

Leave it to Disney to bring back these cute characters. There have been various appearances over the years, but I think this latest Muppet Movie will be very fun!

If you've been fortunate to see the 3D movie at Hollywood Studios, than you probably already love them and can't wait to see this movie.
Even the nail polish company OPI has launched a line of Muppet nail colors. Names include 'Fresh Frog of Bel Air' and 'Gettin' Miss Piggy With It.' The colors are great and full of sparkle!

The Muppet Movie is showing in theaters starting November 23.

It's time to light the music,
It's time to light the lights,
It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight!

Go With What Ya Know or Something New?

2011-11-14T14:24:00.001-08:00

I'm talking specifically about hotels. I know I've blogged about this before but I got a Disney brochure in the mail today and I started dreaming of our next vacation. So my first thought was where do we stay?
This was an interesting question to myself because I usually like to 'go with what I know'. And that is the specific hotels I've stayed at during our trip to WDW. But what about all the other amazing hotels? They offer just as many cool things and I'm sure our trip would be just as memorable.
But I have a feeling we'd be comparing everything to where we've stayed before. What if we don't like the pool? What if we don't like the space in the rooms? What if... What if...
We could do that all day. When we think about our past trips, our memories include the experiences we had at our hotel. The pool, the time in our hotel rooms and even the long walk down the hallways after a long day to our room.
So what does your family do? Do you have a favorite place to stay and can't think of going anywhere else? Or is it your mission to stay in every possible WDW hotel no matter what the distance is from the park, or how much it costs?

Disneys Hilton Head Island Resort

2011-11-11T10:30:00.001-08:00

Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort is at the southern most time of South Carolina.
Originally Longview Island, it was transformed in 1996 to a Disney VC resort located away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.
It was the second Disney Vacation Club (DVC) to be build outside of Florida.
The island is small but still consists of over 200 restaurants. There are miles of sandy beaches on one side and an inter coastal waterway on the other.
The rooms are 1-3 bedroom villas to make you feel like you aren't completely in a hotel. It's always nice to have little kitchen areas to prepare food.
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Such as bicycling, fishing, swimming, movie nights. And the list goes on. Or just relax by the pool or beach.
No matter what you decide, I'm sure you will have an amazing time at the Disney Resort.

Disney Pin Trading

2011-11-10T10:52:00.001-08:00

Lets face it, we all have our favorite souvenirs when we travel. Our mementos of our trip that we like to bring home are very important. For some it's a shirt. Others its a plush animal or a fan hooked up to a water bottle.
For my kids it's Disney Pins. On our trip about 5 years ago, our daughter quickly picked up on the pin lanyards everyone was wearing.
She had to know what this was about and after asking the Cast Members a few questions, we jumped on board.
We bought her a Tinker Bell lanyard that came with 5 Tinker Bell pins to start off.
The purpose is you can keep your own pins or trade with someone else. If you see a pin you want on another guest, they may or may not trade with you. If you see a pin on a Cast Member, they do have to trade with you. It's much easier to trade with Cast Members.
Not only did this give our daughter some less expensive souvenirs, it also gave her something to focus on while walking through the park or waiting in lines.
We did find out that if you see a pin with a small black Mickey face on it, those are more rare and you may want to grab it. So...this gave her another objective.
She didn't only love the 'hidden Mickey' pins, but those were ones she did look for the most.
On our second trip we took her lanyard back and our middle son was old enough to be interested and his choice was a Stitch lanyard. Now it gave them something to do together. Each of them looked out for the other.
The pins can be individual or 'family pins'. Meaning they come in a set. It's more of a challenge to complete the set.
They are also different prices. Some of the pins are quite elaborate. They move or even have doors that open like the Tower of Terror pin.
On our last trip our daughter was focused on completing her Disney family wearing the Mickey ears.
She did a pretty good job of completing this!
There are pin trading kiosks located everywhere. And a pin trading store at Downtown Disney.
This has become a hobby for serious collectors. Some will bring in books with pages filled with pins.
Our kids have their lanyards proudly hanging in their rooms. I know they will be coming back with us on our next trip. Our youngest will even develop an interest, I'm sure.

My 3 Best Money Saving Ideas for WDW

2011-11-09T06:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm sure I've talked about this before, but it deserves to be mentioned again since, let's face it, going to WDW can be pricey.
These 3 tips saved our family lots of money.

1. Take your own refillable water bottles. We purchased ones with water filters in them, so we could refill them at the drinking fountains. You don't need to have filters, but for us, the water tasted a little bit better.
      Then we brought the individual packets of Kool-Aid or Crystal Light to flavor it. The Mio liquid drops work well too.

2. Take your own food/snacks. The parks let you bring them in so why wouldn't you? I know it's some times more 'fun' to eat park food. It's something you don't get every day. So, yeah, splurge a little and have a giant (and I mean giant) pretzel every now and then. But if your kids are like mine, they could eat after every attraction.
      And, the hotels will even let you mail snacks to your hotel room. They will hold on to the box of non-perishable foods until you check in. Just make sure you have your reservation number on the box. We loaded ours with zip-lock baggies too so they could fill their own bag. I'm sure I put a quart or two of soy milk in there for our son with food allergies. ...it doesn't have to be refrigerated until you open it.
      Mailing can be a bit spendy too, but not nearly as much as buying the snacks each day at the park.

3. TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR PARK PASSES on your phone as soon as you get them. We bought our passes from Undercover Tourist. They were a bit less than buying them from Disney directly because they don't charge sales tax. They were made of paper and not the plastic credit card type. So I used this piece of advice.
     Good thing I did because on day 2 we were missing one of our kids passes. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I'm guessing we left it behind in a fast pass machine, but not sure.
     Anyway, we showed up at Guest Services at Hollywood Studios. They scanned our passes and saw we bought 5 in our 'lot' and found the missing pass. They deactivated that bar code, and issued us another pass. Saved us over $300.00. I can't tell you how relieved we were!

So here ya go. I hope these ideas will help make your next Disney vacation more magical!