August Refurbishments for DHS

Disney's Hollywood Studios has at least two refurbishments scheduled  for August. The first, for Toy Story Midway Mania, will be brief: August 16 through 28. Still, if you have a vacation planned at that time, it's a bummer. This is, hands down, our family's favorite attraction! An often overlooked attraction, One Man's Dream, will undergo a lengthy refurbishment August 16 through November 2. I'll be the first to admit that we have passed by this one on more than one trip. But if you've never taken the time to visit this exhibit, it really is worth devoting an hour to it (you can do it in less, but you can really absorbit in an hour). This one really is a must-see for any Disney-phile, a hidden gem among the other high-profile attractions at the Studios.

Disney Hosts Homeschool Days in September & January

"Schoooool's...out...for...summer! Schooooool's...out...for...ever!" This is the song we were singing in earnest a couple of weeks ago when my daughter finished her last day of public school. Yes, we've joined the ranks of those who take the road less traveled--the road of home education. Or, as I like to say, we've joined the "crazy homeschooling cult." ;-)

So, in preparation for our next trip to Walt Disney World, I started thinking in terms of educational opportunities there and how we could turn our vacation into a learning experience for Reagan. I did a simple internet search to see if other homeschooling families had blogged about their Disney learning experiences, and I happened upon a fabulous discovery: Disney hosts Homeschool Days!

Under the umbrella of Disney's YES (Youth Education Series) program, Homeschool Days offer educational opportunites in the form of exciting, hands-on presentations, as well as deep discounts on park tickets for the whole family (no minimum number of guests, as is the case for some of the YES programs). They also happen to fall during two of the least crowded times of the year--September and January. (Traveling off-season to WDW is one of the many perks of being a homeschooling family!)

We're attending the upcoming Homeschool Days on September 8 & 9 this year! You can register or get the full run-down of presentations offered and ticket prices here. The next session of Homeschool Days will be January 24 & 25 of 2011. Registration and details for that event will likely be available after the September event.

This appears to be one of Disney's best-kept secrets. After a comprehensive web search, I found very few Disney fan sites (even the really BIG ones!) that made any mention of this bi-annual event. While homeschoolers make up only a small segment of the school-aged population (best guesses are somewhere around 3% in the US), our ranks are growing every year. I expect this even to become more popular as the homeschooling population grows. But for now...let's keep this our little secret, OK?

I'll see all my fellow homeschooling peeps in September!

Friday Photo

Did you know that It's a Small World boasts an actual working cuckoo clock of sorts? Every fifteen minutes, guests are treated to a little something extra from the clock tower in the ride loading zone. Next time you visit (if the attraction isn't closed, as it will be for our next visit...*sigh*), be sure to stop by this iconic attraction on the quarter hour!

Create the Toy Version of You!

Disney/Pixar has launched a new site that allows you to create the toy version of yourself. With a similar look and feel to the avatar creator on the Wii gaming system, the Toy Story Toy Creator allows you to select the specific features you want--hair, eyes, clothing, etc.--and create a custom creation to save, print, or share. Tons of fun for kids or adults! Here's mine--what do you think?

Thursday's Tip

When our family goes on vacation, we go from living in a comfy house with multiple rooms to living in one room. And though the moderate and deluxe rooms at Walt Disney Resorts are roomy, the value resorts can be a bit cramped with four people and all the "stuff" that comes with us. Here are a few Thursday's Tips to help with organization:

• Assign everyone his or her own clothing drawer and unpack immediately.


• Set your empty suitcase on end with it zipped up, except for about a six inch section on the top end. Then, each day, you can stuff your dirty laundry back in the suitcase. When your week at WDW is finished, you're already packed! (This also prevents the bulging dirty clothes bag that inevitably falls over and spills out repeatedly.)


• Buy an inexpensive over-the-door organizer to hold shampoo, deodorant, and other hygiene items, keeping the counters from being over-stacked.


• Take collapsable bins to keep papers and other items tidy.


• Use the free safe that each Disney resort room offers. Not only will it keep your tickets, wallet, keys, etc. safe, but it will also keep you from losing them!

Disney Uses New Facebook Ap to Sell TS3 Tickets

The perfect marriage: social media and entertainment. Now, thanks to a new Facebook application created by the Walt Disney Company, you can log onto the social networking site, make plans to see Toy Story 3with your friends, and buy your tickets without ever leaving the site. The ap, Disney Tickets Together, is designed to let you invite friends to the movies by alerting them when you purchase tickets. So, your whole group of friends can meet up for your favorite flick--and nobody gets left out!

You can check it out here if you have a Facebook account.

Start Planning Now for Marathon Weekend in January

In January, Walt Disney World hosts its annual Marathon Weekend. In addition to a traditional 26.2 mile marathon, they also host a Princess Half Marathon, Goofy's Race and a Half (yep, that's a full marathon PLUS a half--or 39.3 miles!), as well as other short races for the whole family. Races tend to fill up fast (the half marathon is already half full!), so it's a good idea to register as soon as you know your plans. This year, if you finish the full marathon, you'll get a day in one of the Disney Parks for free!

And here's something fun--you can help choose the medal design for the marathon. Click here to cast your vote today!