Friday, September 27, 2013
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, September 26, 2013
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
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!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, September 23, 2013
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.
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, September 20, 2013
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.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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.
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.
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