Thursday's Tip

We go to Walt Disney World every year...and on rare occasions, twice a year. It's something we look forward to for months. In fact, as we're leaving the greater Orlando area, we're already planning what we'll do and where we'll stay on our next trip. There are some days when we desperately wish we could snap our fingers and be back at the most magical place on earth! So, if you're like us, let me offer a few tips that help us quench our WDW cravings and squelch out those "we miss Disney World" blues:

• Watch our home video of previous Disney vacations. This is definitely our favorite! We re-live memories and look forward to re-visiting our favorite spots on our next visit.


• Flip through our Disney vacation scrapbooks and souvenirs/memorabilia. We get a "snapshot" of the fun you've had, and it's fun to remember where we collected all our "treasures."


• Watch a Disney planning DVD. While there's not a ton of new information for us as Disney veterans, it's still fun for us to see our old haunts and see a glimpse of what's new or coming soon. If you don't have one yet, order yours (it's free!) here.


• Cook something from an original Disney recipe! We've made Tonga Toast (Polynesian), Chocolate Mousse (Epcot, France), and Cheddar Cheese Soup (Epcot, Canada) at home, and there are dozens of other favorite Disney recipes available online (a quick web search produces multiple sources).


• Plan! Believe it or not, the "chore" of making our Disney plans (Resort reservations, purchasing tickets, ADRs, etc.)  actually helps me look forward to our next trip.

Do you have any unique ideas for keeping the Disney magic alive at home?

Partial Menu for Be Our Guest Restaurant Released

We now have a little more insight into what the upcoming Be Our Guest Restaurant might be like. Apparently, it will act as a quick service meal for lunch (with guests ordering at kiosks and being served food at tables) and a table service meal for dinner. You can check out the Official Disney Parks Blog for details about the menu and atmosphere.

Be Our Guest is expected to open around the Christmas holidays this year!

New Costumes at DisneyStore.com

Who's excited about Halloween? Granted, it's only June, but if your kids are like mine, they start planning their costumes for the next year before they've even sorted their Halloween candy. True to form, the Disney Store has once again re-invented some classic costumes and introduced a few brand new ones. I always love seeing what direction the princess costumes take each year, and I'm happy to report that I really like what I'm seeing for 2012! I'm especially in awe of the Rapunzel costumes--both the purple one and the wedding dress. But I'm guessing my girls will fight over who gets to be the newest heroin, Merida, this year.

You can check out all the new (and old) costumes here and here.

This Makes Me Happy!

Just got the mail. I'm always excited when Mickey sends me something. Anyone know what this is?



You can get your own here.

Updates Around the World

A lot has been going on at Walt Disney World, so I thought it was time for an update post. Here's what's happening:

• Phineas and Ferb/Agent P's World Showcase Adventure opened in Epcot on Saturday, June 23.


• Dumbo now has double the capacity, with the second of the double spires opening last week in the Magic Kingdom. In addition, the new FastPass system, allowing children to play while they wait, is now in place.


• Right next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (MK), a meet-n-greet with the cuddly bear and friends recently opened. The photo op replaces part of the interactive queue.


• The Casey Jr. Splash & Soak area in the new Fantasyland (MK) is now open for business. And just in case you get a bit too wet, there's a circus-themed cart selling beach towels nearby.


• Brave was top at the box office for its opening weekend, bringing in $66.7 million.

Those are the highlights for the last week or so!

Hidden Mickey Monday

The party store had a Hidden Mickey for sale--only $6.99!

OPI Introduces Vintage Minnie Mouse Nail Lacquers

I love OPI nail polish. Not only are there super fun colors, but it's high quality, long lasting nail lacquer at an affordable price. So I was thrilled to flip through a magazine yesterday and see an ad featuring four Vintage Minnie Mouse colors of OPI polish. Go here and click on the Minnie icon at the bottom of the page to virtually "try on" these four colors: "Nothin' Mousie 'bout It," "I'm All Ears," "If You Moust You Moust," and "The Color of Minnie."

Brave Opens in Theatres Today!

 ©Disney Co.

Are you going? I really want to, but my girls are staying over at their grandparents'--would it be wrong to go without them? Probably. Hopefully we can fit it in later in the weekend.

Thursdays Tip

I know I have shared this tip before, but it's an important one...worth repeating. When you purchase your tickets--as soon as you have them in hand--make a copy of the very lengthy identification code (numbers and letters) found on the back side. This is your lifeline if you happen to lose a ticket while on vacation. You can take a digital picture if your camera is good enough (mine isn't), or you can type the code into your cell phone for safe keeping, or you can simply hand copy it onto a piece of paper. Just make sure that you don't put the code in the same place as your tickets--you don't want to lose both at the same time.

So what happens when you lose a ticket? I just so happen to know because it has, in fact, happened to us. Simply go to Guest Relations and give them the code. They'll do some fancy typing on their fancy computers and within minutes you'll have a replacement ticket!

Here's another helpful tip: tickets that are purchased together in a single transaction are actually linked together in the Disney computer system. (You may notice that when your family enters and re-enters the Parks with multi-day tickets, it doesn't really matter which member of your party uses which ticket.) So, if you neglect to follow the tip above, and not everyone in your party loses their tickets, you can simply give the Cast Member in Guest Relations a ticket from another member in your party, and they can do the same fancy magic typing and produce a replacement ticket.

"Monsters University" Trailers

Catch a sneak peak of the trailer for Monsters University here.

Make It at Home: Tonga Toast

One of our favorite Disney World food items that we only recently discovered (we'd been hearing about it, but didn't try it until our last trip) is Tonga Toast. It's served at both the Kona Cafe and at Captain Cooks in the Polynesian Resort. Basically, it's a amped up version of French toast, with bananas stuffed inside. The slices they serve at Disney are about 4 inches thick, so it's a very filling breakfast. An adult and child can easily share a serving.

I decided to try making it at home this morning. It was actually much easier than I expected, and it was a huge hit with my girls! Here's the finished product:



Follow this link to the recipe--yes, it's the official Disney version--and try it for yourself.  Your taste buds will thank you!

The Ultimate Hidden Mickey

So, apparently NASA has made a big find on the planet Mercury: a Hidden Mickey! This story is beyond cool. I have to give credit to my husband for finding this for me. Check out the full story here.

Hidden Mickey Monday

The girls had a little snack that reminded them of Mickey. (BTW, in just 3 months, we'll be hanging out with him in person!)

Friday Photo

OK, so I know the final 2012 Star Wars Weekend was last weekend, but I still love this cute pic of my little fan at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Make sure you hit this perfect photo op near the Star Tours attraction on your next visit!

"Newsies" (and Others) Coming to Blu-Ray

With the stage show earning 2 Tony Awards this week, it's perfect timing to release the Disney film Newsies on Blu-ray! Newsies: 20th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray] will be available in stores on June 19, but you can pre-order it from several outlets, including Amazon.com.

Also coming soon to Blu-ray are Treasure Planet and Home on the Range--both available on July 3. And for the fall, you'll see these favorites get the Blu-ray treatment: Pocahontas 2 (8/7/12), Lady and the Tramp 2 (8/21/12), The Tigger Movie Special Edition (8/21/12), The Rescuers 2 (8/28/12), The Aristocats Special Edition (8/28/12), Hocus Pocus (9/4/12), The Great Mouse Detective (9/18/12), and Cinderella Diamond Edition (10/2/12).

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip is more of a discussion. I'll give you a topic: Extra Magic Hours. While some families love to take advantage of this time when the Disney Parks are open only to Resort guests, others find them not worth the effort. I'm going to share my strategy for finding--in the words of Disney's own Hannah Montana--"The Best of Both Worlds." Hint: it involves Park Hopping.

If you have young children, you know that getting up early isn't usually a problem (my youngest is still up by 6:00 a.m. most days), so you're family is a perfect candidate for enjoying morning EMH. If you're in the Magic Kingdom, head straight to Fantasyland, and you could have your top attractions under your belt by the time the gates open to the general public. But by around mid-morning, you might find that those lighter crowds have become unbearable. No worries--you have a Park Hopper, right? Just hop on over to one of the less crowded Parks for the rest of the day.

But let's say you have teenagers who are NOT getting out of bed an hour early...even for Mickey. Your family might prefer evening EMH. Basically, use the reverse strategy as above: start your day in a less crowded Park, then Hop over to the Park with EMH just a bit before it closes to the general public. Enjoy the late night light crowds!

Many of the Parks with EMH stay open into the wee morning hours, so evening EMH are not always a great option for families with small children. (Although, with a hefty afternoon nap, some kids are good to go a lot longer than you might think.) And if you don't have the Park Hopper option on your tickets, I recommend scheduling your Park days to avoid EMH, since you could end up in heavy crowds and be stuck without the option to go elsewhere.

Extra Magic Hours can be a great option if you learn how to navigate them in the way that best works for your family.

UPDATE: OK, so obviously, I put the date in wrong and posted this a day early. Ooops...totally my mistake (can't blame the machine). So, enjoy Thursday's Tip a day early!

Disney Parks Merchandise Preview

Yesterday was a big day in our household: my youngest celebrated her 6th birthday. And breaking a long streak of Disney (usually Princess) themed parties, she decided to have her party at Chuck E. Cheese, with a Pink Panther cake. (She has eclectic taste.)

All that to say, I didn't get a chance to share this merchandise preview with you. It comes straight from the Official Disney Parks Blog, and there are some super-cute items coming to the Disney Parks very soon. Who can resist a Dole Whip T-shirt...or a crystal ball featuring the infamous Madame Leota? But my very favorite are these adorable pins featuring shoes that the Disney Princesses might wear under those poofy dresses. I'll take a pair of Rapunzel's in a size 7 1/2, please!

©the Disney Co.

Most of these items will be arriving at Disney Parks in the fall (just in time for our vacation, I hope!).

Hidden Mickey Monday

We found this one while shopping at TJMaxx...it's some sort of kitchen rack:

Friday Photo

We are out of the stroller stage these days. But this Jeep stroller was definitely one of the best light-weight strollers for park hopping. It has a large canopy, and two small clip-on bags that can hold items such as sunglasses, wipes, even diapers. I don't miss pushing a stroller around the Disney Parks, but I do sometimes miss the convenience of hanging my bags on the handles!

Thursday's Tip

In the age of cell phones and technology, this Thursday's Tip may seem a bit "old school" for some of you. But technology can fail...batteries go dead...cell service is spotty. My tip? Always choose an "if we get separated" meeting spot for each Park. Sure, most of the time you'll discover the other members of your party rather quickly. And, if not, you can make a call and locate them. But on more than one occasion my husband and I have encountered technical difficulties and become frustrated when we weren't able to locate each other. Having a designated meeting spot when that happens can keep a minor inconvenience from becoming an entire wasted day.

Choose a site that is centrally located, unmistakable, and very specific. ("Near the castle hub" is waaaayy too broad, and "by the train station" could land you Frontierland or Main Street USA.) As a safety net, make sure young children both know your designated meeting place and have your cell phone number either memorized or printed somewhere on their person or clothing. Train children to find the nearest Cast Member if they find themselves separated from you.

 

 

Wednesdays with Walt

"I do not like to repeat successes, I like to go on to other things." --Walt Disney

Character Changes in Animal Kingdom

Apparently, it's time to do the "Character Shuffle" at Animal Kingdom. Thumper, Miss Bunny, Daisy, Meeko, and Timon are all leaving for now. (Good-bye, friends!) King Louie and Baloo can now be found at Camp Mickey Minnie, in the area previously occupied by Goofy. Goofy now greets guests in Dinoland.

Having trouble finding your favorite character? Some are listed on the Times Guide, but you can also ask any Cast Member. Even if they don't know off the top of their head, most can radio and find that information for you. You can almost always find Mickey and his closest friends somewhere nearby, but be aware that by no stretch of the imagination are ALL Disney characters in the Parks. They are rotated in and out frequently, and some of the more obscure characters can only be found at special events. So don't miss an opportunity to have your pic taken with, say, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, 'cause you don't know when you might see them again!

Hidden Mickey Monday

Here's another unique Hidden Mickey from the party store:

Summer Refurbishments

There are a few refurbishments scheduled for this summer:

• American Idol Experience (Disney's Hollywood Studios) will be closed for two days, June 14 and 15.


• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom) will close briefly June 27-29.


• Liberty Square Riverboat (MK) will undergo a brief refurbishment August 4-10, reopening on August 11.


• The Country Bear Jamboree (MK) will be closing August 22 for a lengthy refurbishment, reopening on October 18.

Remaining closed for refurbishments already in progress are:

• Test Track (Epcot), expected to reopen late November.


• Habit Heroes (Epcot), with no reopening date given.

And, finally, we're excited to welcome back Thunder Mountain Railroad, after a rather lengthy refurbishment. And we also sadly said goodbye to another original attraction this week: Snow White's Scary Adventure. We'll miss you, Snow.

New WDW Ticket Prices, Effective 6-3-12

You can find the new list of Walt Disney World ticket prices at this link. If you have a trip planned in the near future, buy your tickets TODAY to get current (cheaper) pricing.