Official “Mousekatots” cover. (Art created by Theme Park Press.)
A little over a year ago, while stuck in traffic, Kevin and I were listening to a Disney themed Podcast.
The guest on the show was talking about how they wrote a book about Disney through a company called Theme Park Press. I sat there, while getting frustrated with the traffic, and thought that I could do that. I could write a book about Walt Disney World.
I then decided to combine my two loves, Walt Disney World and my daughter, and contacted the publisher at Theme Park Press.
And now about a year later, the rest they say is history!
Now I am super excited to say that “Mousekatots,” your official guide on how to do your Walt Disney World vacation with minimal meltdowns, is officially on sale!
Available in both Kindle and paperback, “Mousekatots,” leads you through every step on planning a memorable Walt Disney World vacation with your toddler.
How to get groceries and diapers to your hotel without a car? We have you covered. What important trick will make getting your toddler dressed in the morning a flash? We have the answer! What do you do if your child gets separated in the parks? Read inside “Mousekatots!”
“Mousekatots” also has all the height information, breakdown of all the attractions and menus for all the restaurants in the park.
So, if you want to make your vacation smoother and really have the opportunity to have everything planned so you can relax and enjoy watching your little Mousekatot in the parks, then please consider picking up your copy of “Mousekatot” today.
Your support would be appreciated in helping me make our dreams come true!
The Disney World Resort is probably the biggest playground in the United States. All of the attractions make days fun and nights exciting.
However, when you have a Mousekatot in tow that is spending a lot of time either in a stroller, holding hands and in line contained for most of the day, it is a good idea to take them to a safe place to let them run a little wild.
The imagineers foresaw this need and built several fun and unique playgrounds to accommodate the overactive imagination and abundance of energy that toddlers are blessed with.
Here is our Mousekatot Tot Five best playgrounds in Walt Disney World:
1. The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort
This is probably the most expansive and developed playground that WDW has to offer.
Themed like a dinosaur dig, this playground offers a multi-level maze, a place where tots can pretend to excavate fossils, play musical bones set into a hillside, a Jeep to climb and play in, several interactive exhibits and a paradise for parents featuring large fans, shade and music.
This area is open for children 10 and under.
2. Port Orleans-Riverside
Photo courtesy of buildabettermousetrip.com
Nestled among the shaded walkways that lazily wind around the Port Orleans Riverside Resort is this relaxing playground for kids.
The two areas, one for tots and ones for bigger kids, makes this a great playground for families that have children of varying ages.
The shade and the quiet atmosphere make this playground one of the best.
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge
Photo courtesy of Allears.net
The deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World are known for have amazing amenities. This often includes gourmet dining options, lavish pools with exotic themes and bigger playgrounds.
This is the case with the playground at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Featuring three different play structures complete with slides and corkscrew fire poles, this playground offers a wide variety of options for your little one to run wild.
4. Fort Wilderness
Photo courtesy of Touringplans.com
While Fort Wilderness’ playground is on the smaller side it still offers a lot.
Several slides, monkey bars and bridge will help your Mousekatot get some much needed physical activity with plenty of wide open space to run around.
If you combine the playground with all of the recreational activities like volleyball, basketball, and tennis it will provided an afternoon full of physical fun for the entire family.
5. Coronado Springs Resort
Photo courtesy of Disboards.com
Second only to the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom when it comes to theming is the playground at Coronado Springs Resort.
Themed like ancient ruins, the playground gives kids the chance to swing, climb and slide just like Indiana Jones.
The close proximity to the pool is an added benefit that enables you to make a day of it with your Mousekatot.
What do you look for in a playground? Leave your comments below.
If you saw one of my recent posts, you would have seen that our family is starting to dip our toe into the world of camping. (This is a big step for someone who squeals and runs away whenever a bug is near.)
Because of this I have become obsessed with Walt Disney Resort’s Fort Wilderness and the prospect of camping there sometime. So now seemed like the best time to take a little more in-depth look at the resort and what it means for your Mousekatot.
History
The resort opened in November 1971, a little more than a month after the opening of the Contemporary Resort and Polynesian Village.
It is considered in the Magic Kingdom Resort loop and is adjacent to Bay Lake, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the abandoned waterpark, River Country.
The Feel of the Resort
The resort is designed with a rustic feel in mind. It is so expansive it has its own internal bus system to take you to various spots inside of the resort.
Photo courtesy of WDWinfo.comAccommodation Options
The resort has three major ways of staying on property.
The first is tent camping. People can bring their own supplies and tent and pitch it right on property. But this is still not completely roughing it. Each campsite comes equipped with a sandy area for the tent, a concrete pad for a car, water and hose and electricity.
The second option is for people who have RV or trailer campers. Disney allows people to choose from a variety of options for this campsite including complete hookups or none. For those who want to stay in an RV, but don’t own one, there are a few companies that will rent you one for the week and have it ready and waiting for your arrival.
The third option is to rent a cabin. Disney offers adorable cabins that are perfect for larger families. They come equipped with a complete kitchen and gas grill.
Photo courtesy of 1923mainstreet.com
Dining Options
Fort Wilderness is host of some of the most popular dining options within the resort including two different dinner shows, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review. This is also home of the Trails End Restaurant.
Your little Mousekatot would love to attend Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and meet with Mickey and some of his pals at this special character breakfast. This dining experience requires two table service credits if you are on the dining plan.
Also, if your Mousekatot is on the loud side and you are concerned about them being too noisy at a restaurant, Trails End is the perfect place. For those that want to get in on the act, the meal is almost a show in itself that requires loud and silly audience participation.
Photo courtesy of diningatdisney.comOptions for Fun
There are several options that make Fort Wilderness a perfect fit for a family with a younger child.
The first is the Campfire Sing-Along with Chip ‘n’ Dale where a wonderful cast member leads an old fashioned campfire sing-along, complete with s’mores, that include a special appearance with the two world famous chipmunks. Following the sing-along there is a movie shown on a screen under the stars.
While this event is free to anyone, it is a lot more convient to attend if you are already staying on the property.
Also, you will want to head to the fort’s beach and look out for the Electric Water Pageant that takes place on Bay Lake.
There are also two playgrounds, for your tot to burn out some energy, and two swimming pools. In addition, there are recreation activities that might be found at traditional campgrounds including fishing, horseback riding, canoes, kayaks, bikes and more.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World ResortCampsites all decked out
One of the things that makes the resort so special is that people really go all out to decorate their site around the holidays. It is pretty common place to see intricate Halloween and Christmas decorations around the campsite.
The best way to take it all in is to rent a golf cart ($62 per day) and drive around to see all the different displays at night.
Photo courtesy of AllEars.netIf you are curious about what Fort Wilderness has to offer, take a boat over from the Magic Kingdom and check it out. Schedule either a dinner or a visit to the campfire to see if the resort is for you.
Would you ever consider camping at Walt Disney Resort? Leave your response in the comments below.
Anyone who has a food allergy or dietary restriction has heard of the legendary chef TJ Sudiswa.
Recently he was honored at the FARE National Food Allergy Conference in Orlando with the Outstanding Professional award for all the work that he has done to help those with food allergies at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Chef TJ is currently cooking up delicious creations at Trails End and Hoop Dee Do Musical Review, both at the Fort Wilderness Resort.
Being a newcomer to the vegan community I quickly learned about his impressive creations that would often make omnivore dining companions drool with envy including homemade soups, cheese bread, nachos, dessert towers and more.
A wonderful blog for the vegan community, Vegan Disney World, shares their experience at Trails End with Chef TJ. Just try not to get too hungry while reading it.
Photo courtesy of Vegan Disney World.
I can tell you, I have our October reservations booked and I can’t wait to experience this dining masterpiece.
Mousekatots 