Tag: toddler vacation

Nature Calls

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in camping, family, family fun, Family Vacation, Home, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Vegan

Every once in awhile you just have to get away. You need a break from the day-to-day grind of mundane tasks.

Since it has been awhile since we have had a mini-vacation we decided to go camping for a weekend.

If you have read my previous post reviewing Old Millstream Campground you will know that I am a little timid when it comes to the great outdoors.

So we decided to stick with familiar territory and rent a cabin for a few days at a local campground. This way we won’t spend a lot of time driving to our destination and will be able to be close to home as well.

Since we are going to be leaving in a few weeks I have been trying to accumulate ideas and lists for what we need and things we can do while we are at the cabin.

Being that we aren’t going to be that far away, I have imposed a one backpack per person rule. (Lily will get two one with stuff she needs and the other one for fun stuff.) But, this makes me think that I am going to forget something. Luckily, there is a Walmart and grocery store close by.

I came across this really great website/blog called Beyond the Tent and they have this really great simple camping check list.

Simple Camping checklist
Photo courtesy of Beyondthetent.com

Our cabin also comes with a fire ring and grill so we are trying to find some different recipes to follow  that utilize our cast iron skillet and a griddle.

I am thinking campfire griddle cakes for breakfast and some kind of veggie foil packet for dinner, but I am still open to trying some different things.

The thing about us is that both Kev and I are vegetarians (Lily isn’t) so we are looking for some recipes that are sans meat.

While I didn’t find a lot of interesting Youtube videos about specifically vegetarian camping (minus the one included below), but there were a few interesting vegan camping videos like the one below.

Do you have any tired and true camping recipes. Feel free to share them below in the comments.

Visiting the Mouse on a Mouse Sized Budget

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family, family fun, Family Vacation, preschoolers, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

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Walt Disney created Disneyland with the principle that it was for everyone. That it would be a place that families could come together and enjoy the parks as a way of bonding.

Yes a Walt Disney World vacation can be expensive. You can spend a lot of money on a vacation, but it can also be done while being budget conscious as well.

Here are 10 money saving tips for your Walt Disney World vacation.

1. Be Seasonally Smart

If you are able to be flexible with when you can take your vacation, you might want to look at the off season. This is typically during the month of January. Bonus: if you go early enough in the month you will still be able to check out all the Christmas decorations at the parks and resorts.

2. Be Resort-ful 

Your resort choice can have a big impact on the final dollar amount of your trip. If you are looking at your resort as a place to just sleep and you plan on spending most of your time at the parks then you might want to stay at a value resort. While a rate for a value resort might hover around $120 a deluxe could be over $400.

3. Choose the Right Dining Plan

We are big supporters of the Disney Dining plan. For us it makes sense, but this isn’t the case for everyone. If you do decide that you are going to purchase a dining plan, you might want to buy the Quick Service dining plan that allows you two quick services, a snack and refillable drink mug. Also, remember that the snack can be any single serving item so you can get a pretty hefty snack and make it your lunch for the day.

4. Shop Around

There are plenty of travel agencies and vacation packages out there for Walt Disney World. Do your research and compare prices. Last year we were able to find a really awesome deal for the Beach Club Resort with tickets, dining plan and airfare through Southwest Vacations for a great price. This deal wasn’t found anywhere else.

5. Buy Gift Cards to pay off your vacation

A lot of grocery stores offer fuel perks for purchases that you make in the store. A lot of these places offer Disney gift cards. If you purchase the amount of gift cards that you need to pay off your trip you will get a lot of money back that you can use to get a bunch of free gas.

6. Go for buffets (especially if you have a Mousekatot under 3)

Buffets are the way to go when you are trying to get the most bang for your buck in Walt Disney World. These are often character meals and you get a wide variety of food that will most likely please everyone in your party, Also, if you have anyone under the age of 3 they will get to eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal.

7. Assess the Park Hopper

For an added fee Walt Disney World offers guests the opportunity to add onto their ticket a park hopper which lets them visit as many parks as they want in one day. This means that with out the Park Hopper you can only visit one park each day. If you think that you would only be interested in visiting one park each day only, then skip the added cost and opt out of the park hopper.

8. Take Off Days 

If you are staying for a long period of time you might want to skip buying tickets to the parks every day and spend a few days at the hotel pool or visiting Disney Springs. These are either free or included with the price already and can save you some extra change.

9. Rent DVC Points

Walt Disney World has a “timeshare” program called the Disney Vacation Club. Instead of buying a particular property, DVC members purchase points that can be used at any of the DVC resorts. When a member can’t use their points they have the option to rent out their points through a third party company. If you are someone that wants to stay at a deluxe resort this may be a way of doing this that will save a little bit of money.

10. Order in

If you plan on being at Walt Disney World for a week or more you might want to have groceries delivered to your room. This way you can eat your breakfast before heading out and this can save you some money. Places like GardenGrocer.com or even Amazon Prime can deliver groceries right to your resort. You just need your name and the address for the resort and the groceries will be waiting for you at the front desk.

These are just a few tips for you to save money on your Walt Disney World vacation. Just like everything else you need to find out what works best for your family and adjust accordingly.

For more tips on saving money and planning your Walt Disney World vacation with toddlers pick up a copy of Mousekatots available as both paperback and ebook.

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Tour the Empire

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

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Jedis and padawans are going to want to pay a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year as new Star Wars themed events and tours debut this year.

Recently, a variety of events have already been rolled out including:

  • Star Wars Launch Bay: A space that celebrates all things Star Wars including authentic replicas, making of “Rouge One” footage and a “Meet the Makers” film.
  • “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away,” currently a daytime show at the studios will see the addition of AWR Troopers from “Rouge One.” A new sequence has already been added to the show.
  • “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” that during the holidays joined the popular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” will continue to be shown throughout the year.
  • Randomized tracks will return to Star Tours–The Adventures Continue attraction. Instead of the ride starting at the same planet of Jakku, it will be randomized to start and end at different locations. Through out the year, scenes from “Star Wars: Episode VIII” will be added.

For those who live and breathe The Force, the ultimate tour has been created.

This seven hour tour completely immerses the guest in the different experiences available in the park.

According to a release from Disney here is what will be included in the tour:

  • “A Star Wars “all-in-the-know” tour guide”
  • “Priority boarding for Star Tours — The Adventures Continue”
  • “Encounter two Star Wars characters (Chewbacca and Kylo Ren) at Star Wars Launch Bay”
  • “Screening of “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi”
  • “Enjoy Star Wars themed menu items during dinner at Backlot Express”
  • “A spot in the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party, which includes themed sweets and specialty beverages, as well as reserved viewing for the Star Wars: A Galacic Spectacular fireworks show”

For the younglings (ages 4-12), who are a part of the tour, they can also train to harness The Force in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

The cost of the tour is $129 per person (with taxes and gratuity included) and will be offered Mondays and Saturdays.

Book your reservation by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.

Are you looking forward to these new additions to Hollywood Studios? Leave your comments below.

Let me leave you will a little taste of the regular March of the Stormtroopers:

 

 

The Bite: Cheshire Café

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

The Magic Kingdom has several charming places that are hidden away in plain sight.

One such place is nestled in Fantasyland near the boarder between this land and Tomorrowland.

It is called Cheshire Café and looks like something straight out of a storybook.

This little kiosk, that resembles a little cottage complete with sundae shop chairs and decorative umbrellas offers an assortment of light breakfast options and quick grab and go snacks.

This location does not participate in the Disney Dining Plan, but nothing is more than $5.

This restaurant would be the perfect place to grab a quick, toddler friendly breakfast before you take on the attractions in Fantasyland.

Menu items include:

  • Assorted Cereals with Milk
  • Muffins
  • Whole Fruit
  • Simply Orange Orange Juice
  • Minute Maid Raspberry-Lemonade Slushy
  • Mocha Iced Coffee
  • Hot Tea
  • Smartwater
  • Minute Maid Lemonade Slushy
  • French Vanilla Iced Coffee
  • Nestle Hot Cocoa
  • Coffee (regular and decaf)
  • Dasani Bottled Water

 

*Insert shameless plug here*

For more tips about other restaurants that would be a good fit for your Toddler as well as to what attractions will be a hit with your Mouskatot, pick up a copy of Mousekatots today.

They make wonderful Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.

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Pandora is Sooner than Expected

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

This past weekend Bob Chapek, the chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts unveiled and offered a tiny peek into Avatar’s world of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that is set to open Summer 2017.

The information was announced as part of a D23 convention held in Orlando.

One of the photos that was shared showed a bridge that leads into this ever growing, imaginative world.

pandora-bridge
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

According to a release from Walt Disney World, D23 host Jeffery Epstein said that the story behind the bridge is that it was built “during a time when a destructive company called the RDA-Resources Development Administration came to Pandora. Now that they are long gone, nature is breaking down evidence of their presence. This bridge will soon serve as an entry into the base camp of Alpha Centauri Expeditions, the eco-tour group that will host explorers on their Pandora adventure.”

Once inside the world of Pandora, guests will have the opportunity to experience two exciting attractions: the Na’vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage.

The Na’vi River Journey, will be an all ages attraction through a beautiful bioluminescent forest.

At the conclusion of the attraction, guests will be greeted by a Na’Vi Shaman, which some people are calling one of the most sophisticated AIs ever created. You be the judge:

Avatar Flight of Passage will have guests in flight high above the jungles of Pandora on a Mountain Banshee.

In addition to the attractions there will be the Satu’li Canteen, the main restaurant of Pandora that will highlight Na’vi art and cultural items and Windtraders, a store that sells Na’vi cultural items, science kits, toys and more.

For those wanting a refreshing beverage, they can stop at Pongu Pongu.

Are you excited to take your journey to Pandora starting this summer? Leave your comments below.

Skyward Spectacular

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World
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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World (Photographed by David Roark.)

Walt Disney was known for making the impossible possible and making dreams come alive.

Just when you thought Disney possibly couldn’t make their night time show more spectacular, they come up with a show that blows the socks off.

In a special media preview event at Disney Springs, that had all of social media buzzing, Disney unveiled a preview of “Starbright Holidays — An Intel Collaboration.”

According to a release from Walt Disney World, there are 300 Intel Shooting Star show drones that comprise this one-of-a-kind shows that are offer displays that are similar to 3D fireworks in the sky.

In addition to the drones there was music that is choreographed to the show in the sky.

This aerial artistry is part of several Holiday themed events taking place at Disney Springs, a prime shopping and dining destination at the Walt Disney World Resort.

“Starbright Holidays — An Intel Collaboration” will join other holiday enhancements at Disney Springs, including a brand-new Christmas Tree Trail, special seasonal entertainment, meet and greets with Santa, and festive décor throughout all four neighborhoods — Town Center, The Landing, West Side and Marketplace,” said a release from Disney.

Here is a brief first look from Disney Parks at this amazing show. This video only shows the tip of the iceberg as to what this technology can do in the future for entertainment at the resorts.

What are your thoughts about this new sky show at Disney? Leave your comments below.

Memory Maker: Worth the Money?

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is all about creating memories that you will remember for years to come.

If you are anything like me, you will want a more concrete reminder of your wonderful and magical vacation. Between photographs and videos you are able to chronical the vacation and have it to look back on for years to come.

Unfortunately, there is always that one person that is never in all of the photos: the family photographer.

Disney saw this as a problem that they needed to solve for their guests and started to offer Photopass Photographers.

Situated at various picturesque locations throughout the park, at character meet and greets and more are these photographers that will take your photo, scan your Magicband and put all of your photos together on a cloud where you can access them to download, print or plaster on a variety of products. It is free to take the photos and look at them online. But, if you want to print or download there is a fee.

If you want to purchase a lot of these photos, it can become expensive and money can quickly add up.

Fortunately, there is a product that makes this process easier and offers your more bang for your buck: Memory Maker.

In a previous blog post I talked about how the Memory Maker works and the price point.

Now, after our recent trip to “The World” we had the chance to test out the Memory Maker and I have to say that I was very happy with the purchase.

We went through the My Disney Experience App to purchase it. I would recommend this rout because it will automatically link to your account. (We didn’t know this at first and spent a lot of time checking at our hotel’s front desk and with a Photopass kiosk to see if it was connected.)

After you take a few photos, you will see them on your app and they will have the Photopass watermark over them. I saw this and thought something went wrong with our Memory Maker. After some time, you will be prompted to follow a few commands that will activate the Memory Maker. From this point on the photos will appear without the watermark.

If you have other people connected to your account as “friends” on My Disney Experience they will be able to see the photos, but it will have the watermark.

If you have Memory Maker you can also add the on ride photos to your downloads by going to the photo kiosk and taping your MagicBand to the proper Mickey circle that corresponds with your photo.

My final verdict is that the Memory Maker is worth the price. The photographers are great and will let you take your own photos as well. The photos are great quality and now everyone can be in the photo together. We were so happy with the results we also opted to purchase the $29.99 archive quality DVD of our photos.

Does the Memory Maker sound like something your family would benefit from? Leave your comments below.

Back to the Grind and Looking Toward the Future

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

After seven wonderful days at the Happiest Place on Earth (AKA Walt Disney World) we are back home.

We have settled back into our jobs and our routines and have begun the process of trying to get over our “vacation hangover.”

There were lots of memories made and lots of fun had by all. I also had the opportunity to refresh my ideas for the blog and what the future of Mousekatots looks like. While nothing is concrete at this time, I can say the future is going to be bright.

Look for reviews of a few nightlife spots, Disney products, restaurants and more as well as sharing even more tips and tricks on traveling to “The World” with a toddler.

It is also going to be time for our Mousekatot’s third birthday (time has flown) and she said that she wanted a Mickey and Minnie party, so look forward to some plan along with me blog posts complete with some multimedia additions.

As always, you can find me all over social media including the Mousekatots Facebookpage, Twitter @DareDomesticate and Snapchat GhostHost28.

Tomorrow’s blog is going to take a look at a fairly pricey service that is offered at Walt Disney World and I will let you know if I think it is worth it. Until then, I will leave you with a photo that perfectly sums up why we do Disney every year.

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Pixie Dust Starts at the Airport

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

 

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World

The build up to a vacation of Walt Disney World is exciting!

You count down the days, make your FastPass+ reservations and plan your dining experiences. So, you are anxious of starting your Disney vacation as soon as you can.

Luckily, if you are flying to the resort, you can experience your first taste of what it means to have a magical experience.

Say, hello to “Disney’s Magical Express.”

After your plane lands you can go straight to the area reserved for Disney’s Magical Express.

Once you arrive here and you scan your Magic Bands, you are then funneled into a line based on what resort you are staying at. (This service is only available for those who are Disney resort guests.)

You will then be told what bus to board. You will most likely be on a bus with people from a couple other resorts, but don’t worry you will make it to your resort.

 

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Photo courtesy of WDW for Grownups

My favorite part of the whole Magic Express experience is that your luggage arrives from the airport magically in your room.

No waiting at baggage claim for your luggage, no need to drag it through the airport, it just shows up in your room.

Also, thanks to the ability to do online check-in before you leave, you can head straight to your room without having to go to a front desk to check in.

After you do your online check -in you will receive a text message with your room number once it is ready.

But, as with any type of air travel, keep your important items like jewelry, medication, special clothing like running gear and Halloween costumes, with you in your carryon.

Have you used Magical Express before? Leave your thoughts below.

For more tips about navigating Walt Disney World, especially if you have a toddler in your family, pick up a copy of Mousekatots available in Kindle and paperback formats.

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Disney FAQ: Hurricanes

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

 

 

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All eyes are currently on the weather as people watch to see what will happen with Hurricane Irma that is schedule to hit land sometime tonight or tomorrow.

One area for concern seems to be central Florida, which is the home of Walt Disney World.

While people know that weather can dampen their Disney vacation, it is good to know what happens if there is a hurricane projected to hit the area during your vacation.

Luckily, Disney makes safety its top priority and has addressed issues that may arise during the unpredictable hurricane season.

Q: What happens if a hurricane warning is called within seven days of my planned vacation?

Disney A: Disney’s response is that if the National Hurricane Center has issued a warning for either your hometown or the Orlando area, you can call in advance to reschedule or cancel your vacation package and most room only reservations (booked through Disney) without the Disney fees imposed. This does not include any third party products such as airfare, rental cars, etc.

This also includes Disney’s Vero Beach Resort of Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort.

Q: If I need to reschedule due to a hurricane, will I be guaranteed my same accommodations?

Disney A: Disney says they cannot guarantee the availability of similar accommodations for your newly scheduled travel days. However, all of the money that you paid for your accommodations, theme park tickets, dining plans and other Disney services will be applied to your future trip.

Any discounts or special offers that applied to your original reservation will not apply to your new reservation. This includes, if you were getting the free dining plan offer during your original travel dates, and rescheduled during a time that is not offered, you will need to pay for the dining plan.

Q: Will Walt Disney World close in the event of a hurricane?

A: The short answer is yes. If history is any indication, the parks have closed at least four times due to anticipation of hurricanes: Sept. 15 in 1999 for Hurricane Floyd, Sept. 4-5 2004 for Hurricane Francis and later in the same year, Sept. 26 for Hurricane Jeanne. Hurricane Charlie in 2004 was also responsible for a multi-day closure.

Q: Does Disney have an evacuation plan in place?

A: Yes. Disney will evacuate because safety is their top priority. You can believe that Disney has a plan in place to handle this in an orderly and timely manner. Here is a video of the evacuation of the parks for Hurricane Charlie:


Q: I am stuck in a hurricane at Walt Disney World, now what?

A: No one wants to be in this position, but find comfort in the fact that Disney will do whatever they can in their power to make sure that you are safe and comfortable.

TouringPlans.com, a wonderful website, said in a post that on-property guests have participated in movie marathons and ate from sandwich buffets while waiting it out. If things get really dangerous guests will be asked to evacuate their rooms and move to a protected, interior ballroom at the hotel.

And, you can find comfort in the fact that Walt Disney World earned the Storm Ready designation from the NOAA, which makes it one of the safest places in the United States if a storm would strike.

Have you ever been to Walt Disney World during a hurricane? Leave your comments below.