Thursday, July 19, 2012
Friday Photo
This is, hands down, the hardest puzzle I've ever attempted. Not because it has so many pieces (it's only 500), but because of the sheen to the pieces...it's almost impossible to be certain if a piece truly matches. I never did get the last 3 pieces to fit! And you may not be able to see this from the photo, but it's missing a piece. So, here's a Friday Photo of my almost finished puzzle. I think I'm giving up for now.
Thursday's Tip
OK, so here's the "duh" tip of the century: when touring the Disney Parks, wear comfortable shoes. It's a given, right? Everyone knows this. But what constitutes comfortable is different for everyone. I cannot imagine wearing flip-flops all day long, and yet I see countless park-goers doing just that. Some guests are big fans of Crocs. (Personally, I just can't get past how they look, but my children seem to enjoy them.)
For most of us, athletic shoes are the way to go. More specifically, I wear running shoes because they tend to have great arch support and be vented near the toes, keeping my feet cooler. (The irony here is that I almost never wear athletic shoes in my "regular" life. During the summer, I tend to wear sandals, flip-flops, or pretty heels if I'm dressing up. And in the fall/winter months, I either wear boots or some sort of loafers.) But I do encounter one problem with my running shoes: water. As we all know, it rains often in Florida. And the Disney Parks also have a few fun attractions that will get your feet wet. So, on any given day in the Parks, I end up with wet feet...and that is no fun! While I typically pack a spare pair for the following day, I'm still stuck with wet feet for the day.
In search of the perfect pair of shoes, I have tried on more than a few styles, and I think I have finally come up with my new favorite pair of Park touring shoes. Mine are Sketchers, but I've seen similar styles in other brands. I gave them a test run this past week at Holiday World (yes, it rained and, yes, we got very wet on a few water rides). At the end of the day, my feet were tired, but not more than expected after a day of walking. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Here they are:
They cost around $50, but I got them on a BOGO half off when my husband bought some new shoes too, so they were a pretty good deal. (I buy cheap fun shoes, but I don't skimp when I know I need quality and comfort.) Like flip-flops, I don't need socks--and there's nothing worse than wet socks! But like athletic shoes, they cradle your feet and stay on well.
I still plan to pack my favorite pair of running shoes as a backup. I find my feet actually feel better when I rotate two pairs. But I think I'm a convert--I'm hooked! So, how about you? What are your favorite comfy shoes to wear in the Parks?
For most of us, athletic shoes are the way to go. More specifically, I wear running shoes because they tend to have great arch support and be vented near the toes, keeping my feet cooler. (The irony here is that I almost never wear athletic shoes in my "regular" life. During the summer, I tend to wear sandals, flip-flops, or pretty heels if I'm dressing up. And in the fall/winter months, I either wear boots or some sort of loafers.) But I do encounter one problem with my running shoes: water. As we all know, it rains often in Florida. And the Disney Parks also have a few fun attractions that will get your feet wet. So, on any given day in the Parks, I end up with wet feet...and that is no fun! While I typically pack a spare pair for the following day, I'm still stuck with wet feet for the day.
In search of the perfect pair of shoes, I have tried on more than a few styles, and I think I have finally come up with my new favorite pair of Park touring shoes. Mine are Sketchers, but I've seen similar styles in other brands. I gave them a test run this past week at Holiday World (yes, it rained and, yes, we got very wet on a few water rides). At the end of the day, my feet were tired, but not more than expected after a day of walking. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Here they are:
They cost around $50, but I got them on a BOGO half off when my husband bought some new shoes too, so they were a pretty good deal. (I buy cheap fun shoes, but I don't skimp when I know I need quality and comfort.) Like flip-flops, I don't need socks--and there's nothing worse than wet socks! But like athletic shoes, they cradle your feet and stay on well.
I still plan to pack my favorite pair of running shoes as a backup. I find my feet actually feel better when I rotate two pairs. But I think I'm a convert--I'm hooked! So, how about you? What are your favorite comfy shoes to wear in the Parks?
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Ever-Dropping "Value" of the Dining Plan
TouringPlans.com has a really enlightening blog post about the diminishing value of the Disney Dining Plan over the years since its debut in 2005. This story also gives a detailed explanation of why the DDP may not be the best deal for every family (yes, they even crunched the numbers), and bring up points that you might not have considered.
I contend that, even when it's free--yes FREE--the DDP is not the best deal for my own family. We always get a room-only discount (either a PIN code or a discount for the general public) and we also get our tickets either from an approved vendor or through Disney's YES programs. We would never eat enough as a family to justify having the DDP. (That said, if my husband and I ever get to go to WDW on a romantic getaway without the kids, we'd definitely consider it as a splurge!)
I contend that, even when it's free--yes FREE--the DDP is not the best deal for my own family. We always get a room-only discount (either a PIN code or a discount for the general public) and we also get our tickets either from an approved vendor or through Disney's YES programs. We would never eat enough as a family to justify having the DDP. (That said, if my husband and I ever get to go to WDW on a romantic getaway without the kids, we'd definitely consider it as a splurge!)
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hidden Mickey Tuesday?
Yesterday our family took a little jaunt to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana--thus, the reason for my absence on the web. (Here's a bit of trivia for you: Holiday World is the oldest theme park in the United States, opened in 1947.) But although I wasn't able to get a post up, I still had Mickey and my readers on my mind! Here's a day-late version of "Hidden Mickey Monday" that came straight from Holiday World. Enjoy!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Disney Exhibit Heads to Reagan Library
If you're reading this, it's pretty obvious that I'm a Disney fan. (Duh!) But you might not know that I'm also a huge Ronald Reagan fan--in fact, my eldest daughter is named after him. So I was super excited to read that "D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives" is headed to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library in Simi Valley, California. The largest ever exhibition of Disney archival material will open Friday and will run through April 2013. While some artifacts have been featured in other collections/exhibits, there are a number of items that have never before been presented to the public.
For more information, or to plan your visit, click here.
For more information, or to plan your visit, click here.
Friday Photo
Today's photo post is a little different--because it's not my photo and I didn't want to use it without permission. So...I'm going to link you to the Walt Disney World Facebook page, so that you can see it for yourself. You gotta admire the originality! Totally wicked and totally awesome!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Free Fall Dining for General Public
I told in this post about the free dining discount for late fall, which was at that time only available to Disney Rewards Visa cardholders. Good news--now it's available to everyone. Same rules/blackouts/etc. apply as mentioned in the previous post. Happy dining!
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