Super Bowl MVP Parade Today at MK

True to his word, Eli Manning is going to Disney World! (If you didn't see that magical moment yet, you can view it here.)  The Magic Kingdom will host the Super Bowl MVP today for the traditional parade, which will begin in Liberty Square at 1:20 p.m. Eastern. To accommodate the parade, there are a few entertainment changes: There will be no Trolley show at noon. Instead there will be a Dream Along with Mickey castle show at noon, and the 1:15 and 2:15 castle shows have been cancelled.

Hidden Mickey Monday

Can you see it? I saw this one when crossing our church parking lot last week. It's a little hard to see, but if you view it at just the right angle, you can spot Mickey's familiar shadow. Hidden Mickeys are everywhere--you just have to be looking!

Free Disneyland Explorer App for iPad

I'm a Disney World person. World...not -land. But despite the fact that it features Disneyland and not my beloved Walt Disney World, the free Disneyland Explorer app for iPad is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long while.  The amazing graphics and interactive elements are delightful to kids and adults alike! (My nearly three-year-old niece was giggling with delight, eyes popping out of her head with excitement!) We can only hope that a Walt Disney World version will follow soon!

If you have an iPad, go immediately to the app store and download it! You won't regret it. And if you don't...well, that's kind of a bummer for you. Still, you can check out some screenshots here. Better yet, practice saying these words that I taught my niece: "Daddy, I want an iPad for my birthday."

Just Arrived!

I'm super excited to watch Disney's 2012 Vacation Planning DVD that just arrived in my mailbox! If you haven't requested yours yet, go here to do it. (You can request a Disney Vacation Planning DVD every six months.) And, if you haven't requested your free customized Disney Parks maps, you can do that here.

 

Friday Photo

Coming Soon!

Thursday's Tip

Here's a simple but important tip for anyone traveling to one of the Disney Parks: stay hydrated. For those of us not from Florida, the heat can be a bit of a shock to our system. Staying hydrated is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to beat the heat. (That and sunscreen...really important for this pale girl!) But besides the obvious affects of the Florida heat, mild dehydration can cause a myriad of other issues that we don't always thing about: headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and grumpiness. Yes, I said grumpiness--the enemy of any family vacation!

And here's the catch: if you're thirsty, you're probably already mildly dehydrated. So it's best to head off thirst before it hits you. Bring along a refillable water bottle (we love our Britta filter bottle) and fill it up each time you take a restroom break. (By the way, if you find that you're not needing restroom breaks very often, that's another sign of mild dehydration.)  

Here's something else to think about: caffeinated beverages can actually do more harm than good, as caffeine is a diuretic that pulls the moisture from your body. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a Coke at WDW--just follow it up with a couple of glasses of water next time.

Don't let a simple lack of liquids be the downfall of your family fun time. Be smart: hydrate!

VIP Safari Weekend with Jane Goodall

Here's your opportunity to explore Walt Disney World--and Animal Kingdom, especially--with a living legend! Dr. Jane Goodall is considered THE foremost expert on chimpanzees, due in no small part to her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. In partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute, Disney is offering a VIP Safari Weekend with the distinguished scientist, April 20-22. I have no idea what this weekend will cost (honestly, I'm afraid to ask), but it will certainly be a priceless experience for those that can afford it. Highlights of the weekend will include:

• Exploring all of the Disney Parks with Park Hopper passes


• Savannah-view room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge


• Behind-the-scenes animal viewing on the Backstage Safari Tour


• Breakfast with Dr. Goodall and Disney characters at the Backstage Prop Shop at AKL


• Campfire meet-n-greet, featuring s'mores and hot cocoa, as well as amazing stories from Dr. Goodall

Registration information doesn't seem to be readily accessible, but you can learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute here.

UPDATE: I have read from a few sources that the pricing is around $8,500 per adult and $7,500 per child. Yikes! Although I still haven't seen official Disney registration information, you can contact the representative from the JGI via email (azarillo at janegoodall dot org ) or phone (703-682-9288). Space is, obviously, very limited.