Author: Nancy

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of February 7, 2011

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Greetings Disney friends! I hope that you have had a magical week! This week’s blog round-up has a wonderful collection of just the sweetest Disney articles around (in honor of Valentine’s Day on Monday, of course!), as well as some great information, updates, and just plain fun.

Let’s begin with our friends at Chip and Co. Ken shared a great Oldies But Goodies – Moderate Resorts, A Very Viable Option For Us . In addition, our friend Brenda has a new weekly column: Wednesday with Walt: Our Family Motto. Lastly, Chip himself has a new Baby Princess at home, so all of us combined to create a joint post in her honor: How to Get Your Child Ready for Disney FROM BIRTH!

Disney Dispatch is one of my favorite sites for the funny, interesting, and always entertaining view of Disney. With talk of “love” this week, I share Because I Stinkin’ Love Disney World

Disney Driven Life provided some interesting posts as well with GEOGRAPHY DISNEY STYLE and  ORGANIZING YOUR RESORT ROOM. Then be sure to read A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES… PART 1 for the very touching beginning to a story. I am looking forward to Part 2.

If you have always wondered what it is REALLY like to eat in Cinderella’s Castle, then don’t miss this from Disney Food Blog: Review: Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast. Plus, AJ shares important updates: 2011 Disney Dining Plan Changes

WDW Fan Zone had some very interesting posts this week, as usual. Where to Find Characters has great information for anyone in search of their favorite characters. And we also learned how Epcot’s United Kingdom compares to the “real thing”. Lastly, in  Walt Disney’s Gift – Memories Througout the Generations, Disney Mom’s Panel member Suzanna shares some of her most special Disney memories.

Then to conclude this week’s collection, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I offer this quite amusing post from the The Disney Chick: Three Disney Characters I’d Rather Spend Valentine’s Day With (Now admit it: You are imagining right now, which ones YOU would like to spend time with….aren’t you? Aren’t you??) 🙂

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I hope you have the chance to spend Valentine’s Day with those you love.

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of January 31, 2011

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Happy Saturday Disney friends! It’s the Super Bowl weekend here in the US: will you be watching? Here at the Affordable Mouse House we are excited to cheer on our Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow! And speaking of Super….(you knew it was coming, didn’t you??)….I have some SUPER Disney blog posts for you this week. 🙂

So before you get the wings, nachos, and beer ready (or whatever your beverage of choice will be), relax for a few minutes and take a look at all the points scored by these great Disney bloggers:

Let’s start off with our friends at Chip and Co: Debra shared some great souvenir ideas at Downtown Disney: Create-Your-Own & Customizable Souvenirs and Gifts. Meanwhile, Ken discussed something that everyone should try to do at the parks, no matter your age…but ya gotta get there when they open…Disney’s Animal Kingdom Opening Ceremony – Kinda’ Fun (And note that each park has their own version!) Then Lisa shared why Disney never gets old, as she looked at all the things at Walt Disney World that will be new to her on their next trip (which we hope is soon Lisa!): Doesn’t Disney World Get Old?

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Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of January 24, 2011

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Happy Saturday Disney friends! Who’s got awesome plans for the weekend? Hope that your weekend will not consist of more show shoveling: enough already! Whether it does… or whether it’s a lovely day in your neck of the woods….either way, you can make it a better day by strolling through the Disney blog-world with me. I have some interesting, informative, and just plain fun blog posts for your reading pleasure today. Relax a bit: you’ve earned it. And enjoy!! 🙂

I always have such a hard time choosing from the many entertaining posts over at Chip and Co.! But these are a few that especially jumped out at me this week. For those of you who may be DVC members….or are considering a DVC purchase, you will want to read this post from our friend Lisa, who wrote an honest piece about her thoughts regarding the latest news from DVC: Changes are Coming to the Disney Vacation Club. On a lighter note, Mike shared a favorite in Walt Disney World Epcot: The one ride I MUST ride (which is not what you might think….and is also one that I love too!) Lastly, Brenda has exciting news! What a Thrill – A New Trip is In the Works

I loved this post from the Disney Driven Life: THE BACKPACK. We had a “Backpack” for years, although it was my DH that carried it, bless his heart. 🙂

Disney Food Blog had a couple of posts that I especially enjoyed. First, Chef Big Fat Panda showed how to create a great Disney recipe in: DIY Disney: Coconut Curry Chicken Soup from Boma And then we learned about some new Disney Food Trends: Flaming Desserts! Now who doesn’t love a little fire with their dessert?

Our writer Kelly had some great things to share over on her blog, Disney Guru: I always love her Money Saver Monday!! This week we learned how to Get More Bang for your Buck at Character Breakfasts. And Tuesday’s top 10 things I miss at Disney World make me think of what I am missing most. Right now, it may be sunshine and warm(er) weather. Oh, and the Cast Members. And Soarin’. And Mickey bars…… 🙂

Growing Up Disney discussed a subject that many wonder about if they have little ones: Minnie Moms: Ideal Age for a Child’s First WDW Visit

Apparently Relocated Tourist is also missing Disney (of course they are moving there, lucky them!), but Amy had some great ideas to Let Disney Free You from the “Blech”. Then, if you have ever been at Disney World during a holiday, you will enjoy her ideas for Decorating Your Resort Room

The Disney Blog provided lots of great information on the latest Disney construction news: Magic Kingdom Update

Last, but definitely not least, WDW Fan Zone has great articles every day: I hope you stop by! Stuart had a great story of a conversation with a certain, very special man in Something In The Night . And then April provided a fun and easy project if you like to do trip countdowns:  We’re Going to Disney Countdown Chain. It’s adorable, and is a great way to help little ones know when you leave!

So that’s it for this week everyone. Have the best weekend ever! 🙂

Disney World Ride-Wimps Can Have Fun Too!

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I have mentioned in the past that I do not share my husband and daughter’s fondness for thrill rides, and am in fact, a pretty major ride wimp. 🙂 There are *some* thrill rides that I will do, like Test Track or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, because they involve speed but no big drops. But for others, it’s just not happening for me….and that’s ok, it’s all good. They do the ride, and I do something else….

That “something else” is an evolving thing for me, and is in fact, one of the things I enjoy the most at Disney World. This is not to say that I don’t love doing things with my family….but an hour here or there to just explore to my heart’s content, doing just what *I* want, is pretty darn awesome.

So today, I want to share with you a little of how I spent my time this past trip at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while DH and DD were riding those Thrill Ride Twins: Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Let’s explore a little!

Sunset Blvd., the street leading to the Twins, is a fascinating place to wander around. I have always loved how each of the stores has a very unique “personality”: it is fun to browse around in each because you will find some items that you may not find elsewhere.

Love the Disney villains? Visit the Villians in Vogue store for things to commemorate your favorite anti-heroes, as well as Fantasmic items.

Are you a big movie buff? Check out the Legends of Hollywood store or the Planet Hollywood Super Store for things related to all kinds of movie-related (including Disney themed) items.

Looking for jewelry? Check out Sunset Club Couture. And if you are on a budget, no worries, you will find inexpensive items along the way.

Be sure to check out the architecture and details all up and down the street that are all meant to convince you that you are in 1940’s Hollywood: movie theatre, signage, old cars, and even a Victory Garden. Plus, there is the Beverly Sunset sweet shop with fudge and your favorite Disney-themed candy. 🙂

I popped into Starring Rolls Café, as usual, for a latte and one of their pastries.

Sometimes I will skip breakfast at the resort altogether and just do breakfast there: they have a great selection and the tables outside are perfect for relaxing a bit. There are also benches all along Sunset Blvd, which is a great place to people watch.

And by people watch, I am referring to the “residents” of Hollywood who are Disney castmembers who will just spontaneously start a conversation with each other, bringing guests into it, and just having a merry old time in the process. Stop and watch one day: I once spent close to 30 minutes enjoying the Hollywood Police Officer stop various guests, making sure they were obeying the “laws”. Of course, his “laws” were a bit, um, unusual, which made it even more fun to see people’s reactions to being cited for “wearing a shirt from an Unapproved Theme Park”….. 🙂 Other times you will find filmmakers in search of aspiring actors: Be careful, or you might find yourself auditioning for a role, whether you want to or not! It’s all in good fun, and a fantastic way to spend some time!

(Thanks to Brenda for the DHS residents of Hollywood pictures!! 🙂  )

My new favorite place is the Writer’s Stop, which is on the other side of the park, over on the Streets of America.  It was here that I went in search of the renowned Carrot Cake Cookie, and while I found the cookie, I also found a lovely, quaint, and honestly hidden little coffee/book shop where you can find all kinds of Disney-related books. You can get a latte or coffee here as well, and curl up in a cozy chair to read, relax and rejuvenate for a bit. Add in the Carrot Cake Cookie and its pure heaven. Our writer Kelly recently wrote a great review of the Writer’s Stop on her blog, Disney Guru: be sure to check it out to learn some fun facts about this lovely little store!

I always have a GREAT time while my family is off thrilling it away, and I usually smile to myself when we are reunited, because for some reason they are sorry for me! They think I am “missing out” and they feel guilty for leaving me while they are “off having fun”……

They don’t believe me when I tell them that I had fun too….but that’s ok with me. It’s my little secret. 🙂

Now you know it too!

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of January 17, 2011

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Greeting Disney Friends! How is Ole Man Winter treating you? While here in the mid-Atlantic we have been spared the worst of this year’s snowstorms, I can see that is not the case for many of you. So warm yourself up this morning with a cup of hot chocolate and a few of this week’s best Disney blog posts. 🙂

From our friends at Chip and Co: Lisa discusses which rides to think twice about with preschoolers in Rides to Miss with Little Mr and Miss . Meanwhile, Mike shares his favorite ride at the Magic Kingdom (and I share his fondness for this ride): Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom: The one ride I MUST ride. Finally, Anonymous has a head’s up for those hoping for additional dates for Free Dining this year: Disney Confidential — The End of Free Dining for 2011?

Have you seen the new production with Cinderella’s Castle for the Memories and You celebration this year? Disney Every Day provides a video, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to watch it. After seeing this, I am far more impressed than I thought I would be with this promotion: Video – The Magic, The Memories and You World Premiere at the Magic Kingdom

Looking for vegetarian options when planning your meals? Disney Food Blog has some great tips: A Vegetarian in Disney — Tips From an Expert

Kelly gave us a great review of Pop Century last week. This week she shares more information at her blog Disney Guru: Tuesday’s top ten reasons to stay at Pop Century

And for those of you who want more information about Pop Century, Pop Century Fan Site has a list of rooms and areas you might be interested in:Pop Century reader-recommended room numbers and areas to request

Wondering about the new Fantasyland expansion? Chris has the scoop at Everything Walt Disney World: Fantasyland Expansion Update!

Speaking of the Fantasyland expansion, how do you feel about Snow White’s ride closing? James at Mouse Planning is a little sad…and tells us why: Snow White still lives, fairest in the land…

Lastly, I am honored to be one of the contributing writers for a wonderful new Disney site, WDW Fan Zone. This week, my first article was posted: Affording a Disney World Vacation: Making the Magic Happen

That’s it for this week friends. Stay warm, dry, and SAFE! Have a magical weekend! 🙂