Friday Photo

This week Disney released concept art for the upcoming "Festival of Fantasy" parade, due to hit the Magic Kingdom in Spring 2014. So, instead of just one Friday Photo, I'm giving you a bonus. To see the entire group of artist concept drawings (which look amazing!), visit the Official Disney Parks Blog.

 





 

Thursday's Tip

My best (and most broad) WDW vacation tip is to be prepared. The more planning you do in advance, the less time you'll spend hemming and hawing once you arrive at the Disney Parks--and the more time you'll have for fun! So this Thursday's Tip is a variation on a theme: prioritize your top attractions and structure your touring plan around them.

Here's an example: On our last trip, the new Little Mermaid and Belle attractions were not yet open in the Magic Kingdom, so those will be at the top of our list. But we'd really also love to try to eat at Be Our Guest. And, of course, we don't want to miss "Mountains" either. Fortunately, our Magic Bands will allow us to pre-select Fastpasses for 3 attractions. Because they were at the top of our list, we chose Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and Thunder Mountain Railroad (an old favorite). We've also been able to secure a lunchtime "Fastpass+ Direct to Table" seating for Be Our Guest (it's a pretty cool pre-order setup, and we're excited to see how well it works). With those plans in place, we'll likely head straight for Splash Mountain to get Fastpasses  (or ride) as soon as we enter the park, then continue through the rest of the park and using our pre-selected Fastpasses.

If you aren't lucky enough to have the Magic Bands, head to one of your top destinations to ride first thing in the morning, while another member of your party heads to a different favorite to snag Fastpasses for the group. If you choose the fastest "runner" who knows his or her way around the park, they can likely catch up with you before you even board your first attraction (especially if you're lugging small children and/or strollers, etc.). That way, you're sure to at least conquer your two top attractions with little or no wait time.

The worst mistake you can make is deciding to wait until the line dies down at your must-see attraction. It likely won't happen, if it's a popular one, and Fastpasses might be gone for the entire day before 10 a.m. To avoid disappointment, structure your day around your favorites or the most popular attractions, and add in the rest once you have those secured.

 

Free Shipping and 25% Off Costume Shop

Now through September 29, you can save 25% off selected costumes and accessories and get free shipping on your entire purchase at DisneyStore.com with a Costume Shop purchase. Just use the offer code TREAT at checkout. There are some great choices, but shop soon before they run out of your favorite!

 

And the Countdown Is On!

We are less than two weeks from our next Walt Disney World vacation! Woohoo! Usually by this point, I am in full-on planning mode. This year has been a little different. We have had so many loose ends from a variety of things that it has been hard to nail down specific plans. But just the week, I got our Magic Bands linked up to our tickets and secured Fastpasses for each day in various parks. We have friends returning today who also tested the Magic Bands, so I'm hoping to get some feedback on how well they worked before we go.

Something else we're doing differently this year is attending a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. We've been dragging our feet about purchasing tickets (waiting on other things to be scheduled) but it looks like the party will be our first official day in the Parks this trip. I'm super excited to share our family costumes with you--they are so fun! And we got most of them at Good Will or from our own closets, so they were very affordable. And I even coerced my parents into dressing up, which was no small fete--especially for my dad. They are gonna look great too!

We'll also be eating at a few restaurants we've never tried--and a few favorites that are worth visiting again. We'll be seeing some of the New Fantasyland for the first time, and we're definitely going to try to see the Princesses in the new Fairytale Hall. But most of all, we're excited to see our cousin Camille, who works in Guest Relations! She is a rock star to my Disney-loving girls. :-)

We'll be staying at Pop Century this time. Haven't been there since our first visit with our oldest daughter in 2005. We were in All Star Movies--the only Value we've never stayed in--but changed our reservation after realizing the closed food court at All Star Sports would likely mean more foot traffic and possibly fuller busses at ASM. We tried to book a moderate, but couldn't get two rooms for the dates we needed, so we're trying Pop again. It was brand new and very crowded when we were last there, so hopefully it will be less chaotic on this visit.

If any of you have planning questions you'd like me to answer as I prepare for this trip, fire away! I have covered how I pack and plan in previous posts, but I'm happy to revisit those things...and they continue to evolve year after year as our children grow and our needs change.

 

Hidden Mickey Monday

It's my birthday today! I have been busy answering text messages and Facebook posts from sweet friends...when I really should be working on my travel reviews for Trekaroo and my blog posts for this site! (Or my plans for our upcoming Disney trip in two weeks!) So, I truly apologize to all of you if I neglect Affording the Mou$e a bit over the next couple of weeks. I'm sure I'll be back in full force with tons of new material after our trip.

In the mean time, enjoy this Hidden Mickey, courtesy of my dad. Yes, he sweated a Mickey. A little gross, sure, but a happy discovery nonetheless.

Friday Photo

OK, this isn't actually a Disney World photo...but this Minnie costume was purchased there! (The shoes came from the Disney Store and I purchased regular gloves and drew on the spots.) We are cleaning out a few things and getting ready for a yard sale tomorrow morning. One of the hardest to let go is this darling little outfit. It's in near perfect condition, as my youngest outgrew it so quickly. BTW, the shoes still light up--cute and safe! It's been in the closet for a few years because I was in denial. How cute is it, seriously? Hope it finds a happy new home tomorrow.

Disney Homeschool Days

In exactly three weeks, on October 9, our family will be gathering in Disney's Hollywood Studios with other homeschool students and parents from around the country for one of our favorite events at WDW--Disney's Homeschool Days. Although it's becoming more popular each year (as is homeschooling, which is growing at a rate 7 times faster than public school enrollment!), this has been one of the best kept secrets at Disney World. And, hey, let's keep it that way, OK? Just between you and me, I kinda like the low crowds. ;-)

What's so great about homeschool days? Well, for starters, it's the best field trip ever! As homeschoolers, the world is our classroom, and in this case the World is our classroom! (Get it?) The presentations are amazing! You get behind-the-scenes perspective from a panel of Disney experts, and you learn a ton of fun Disney trivia. And it's fun to be with like-minded families that have a similar perspective. Sure, there are all different kinds of homeschoolers, but we have that one big thing in common. Oh, yes--there's also the little matter of the great discount tickets to Walt Disney World. That's pretty cool too. In fact, hands down, Homeschool Days are the best priced tickets I've found anywhere--better than Undercover Tourist, better than AAA, better than Disney's other educational programs. Yes, even better prices than employees get (aside from free passes, of course).

So if you homeschool, you owe it to yourself to check out Disney's Homeschool Days. Typically this event is in the fall (usually October), but it has been in January also. And they don't typically announce the dates until about 6 months out. Check the Disney Youth page often.

 

Princess Fairytale Hall Now Open...Sort Of

It's what we refer to in the Disney universe as a "soft opening," but the Princess Fairytale Hall meet-n-greet opened this past weekend to some guests. From the photos I've seen, it's absolutely gorgeous--far more elaborate than past homes of the princesses.

Guests can expect to see all the regulars on a rotating basis: Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, even Mulan. Conspicuously missing from the hall (at least from photos/video I've seen) are Belle and Ariel, presumably because both of these princesses have their own dedicated areas in the New Fantasyland.

I can't wait to take my little princesses to see all their favorites!

 

Hidden Mickey Monday

We found this Hidden Mickey last week while visiting the Infinity Science Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast:



 

Friday Photo

In honor of Friday the 13th and the "Unleash the Villains" Limited Time Magic, I chose this pic of one of our favorite Disney Villains:

We're Participating in the Magic Band Test

I've been a bit MIA from the blogosphere this week as I was traveling through the Mississippi Gulf Coast, reviewing hotels and attractions for Trekaroo. Trekaroo is a travel site that specializes in family travel. Most of the reviews are user-driven (meaning family travelers like you and me review destinations, attractions, restaurants, hotels, etc.), but there is also editorial content. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a Superoo--a reviewer who has the opportunity to review destinations in exchange for free passes, stays, etc. Long story short, we were able to spend three days at the beach, enjoying all the Biloxi area has to offer, for the cost of our gas and a few tips here and there. I'm in the process of writing my reviews, but I'll be sure to share those links with you once they are up on the site.

All that to say...I haven't been giving Disney much attention this week. However, while we were away, I did receive an email invitation to test the new Magic Bands and the MyMagic+ program on our trip to WDW next month! I was so excited that I ordered our Magic Bands right away--and they arrived on our doorstep the day we arrived home! Here they are:



We have all our reservations (resort and dining) synched through My Disney Experience. At this point, I have only been able to synch up MY park ticket and not the rest of the family (seems to be a snag with ordering tickets through the Homeschool Days program...they have different kinds of reservation/confirmation numbers), so I have yet to choose our FastPass+ options. But I'm going to give them a call today to see if I can resolve this. We have friends doing the test this month, so I'll be anxious to see what they think. I'm still skeptical about the program, but excited to get to test it!

Friday Photo

We are packing for a little beach getaway, so I have sun, sand, and surf on the brain. Here's an appropriate Friday Photo:


 

Prince Eric's Village Market Now Open

Offering healthier alternatives than you might be used to seeing in the Magic Kingdom (compared to, say, the Premium Mickey Ice Cream Bar or the countless varieties of cupcakes around the park), Prince Eric's Village Market opened today in the New Fantasyland area. Here are a few of the menu items you can expect to find:

• fresh fruit


• fresh veggies with dip


• hummus and chips


• Greek yogurt


• Odwalla beverages

Disney has been beefing up (so to speak) the presence of healthier and allergen-free fare over the last few years, which makes this health-conscious Mom-of-a-food-allergy-kid very happy. That said, I still caution parents to read labels and check the fine print. The bulk of the items at the new Animal Kingdom Garden Kiosk, for example, are gluten free--but that doesn't mean they are necessarily  free of other allergens. Same goes for Baby Cakes in Downtown Disney. In fact, most of BC's baked goods would be classified as "processed on shared equipment that also processes nuts." All that to say, just because something is sold in a "allergy-friendly" kiosk or market, it isn't necessarily safe for all food allergy sufferers. You can never be too careful when it comes to food allergies.

We're looking forward to trying some of Disney's healthier snacks on our next visit!

 

Food and Wine Festival Prep Underway

Kiosks are beginning to appear throughout the World Showcase in Epcot in preparation for the 2013 International Food & Wine Festival. The event begins officially on September 27 and runs through November 11 and features food from around the globe, special culinary events and discussions, and an "Eat to the Beat" concert series. Here's the lineup for that:

Sept. 27-29: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Go-Go’s
Oct. 2-4: Air Supply
Oct. 5-6: Sister Hazel
Oct. 7-9: Sugar Ray
Oct. 10-11: Edwin McCain
Oct. 12-13: Manhattan Transfer
Oct. 14-15: Wilson Phillips
Oct. 16-17: The Pointer Sisters
Oct. 18-20: Night Ranger
Oct. 21-23: Boyz II Men
Oct. 24-25: Survivor
Oct. 26-27: 38 Special
Oct. 28-30: Smash Mouth
Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Spin Doctors
Nov. 2-3: Christopher Cross
Nov. 4-5: Hanson
Nov. 6-8: Dennis DeYoung
Nov. 9-11: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

You can get full details on the Festival and all the surrounding events here.

 

Night of Joy Coming to MK This Weekend

The annual Night of Joy (which is actually two nights) will be coming to the Magic Kingdom this weekend, September 6 & 7. The hard-ticketed event will feature some of the most popular acts in Christian music. One night tickets are $55 in advance ($65 at the gate, if available) and two-night tickets are $99 (advance purchase only). Group discounts are also available. The shows start at 7:30 p.m. and run until 1:00 a.m. (I haven't heard the specific time when guests are allowed into the park, but it's typically a few hours prior to the actual event.) Here are some of the acts performing:

• Friday, September 6: Mercy Me, Steven Curtis Chapman & Michael W. Smith, Skillet, Mandisa, Audio Adrenaline, For King and Country, Moriah Peters, We As Human and City Harbor


• Saturday, September 7: TobyMac, Francesca Batistelli, Newsboys, Matthew West, Group 1 Crew, Building 429, Plumb and Jamie Grace

For more information, visit www.nightofjoy.com.