Author: Nancy

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of December 13, 2010

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Greetings Disney Friends and Happy Holidays! How’re those Christmas preparations coming along? I know we only have a week and there’s tons to do, but here’s a reason to take a break from the festivities for a few minutes: Enjoy some pretty cool Disney blog posts from this past week!

Let’s start with news from the Disney Parks Blog about the New Fantasyland Expansion Update . Then enjoy some seasonal inspiration for DIY (Disney-ize It Yourself) Holiday Hostess Gifts

Some of my favorites from Chip and Co included this helpful post from Ken: Best Things I Love About Disney – Disney’s Magical Express as well as one from Allie that I relate to: Why I Love the Epcot Resort Area. Then, if you will be visiting Disney World over the next couple of weeks, you will want to know Where to find Santa Claus at Walt Disney World

Stuart at the Disney Driven Life wrote a touching article this week about Walt Disney’s ultimate vision for his parks…and anyone who has ever visited Disney to just “escape” for a few days, will appreciate his thoughts: BUILDING A DREAM

Over at the Disney Food Blog there were the usual informative posts, including this Guest Review of Grand Floridian Cafe. I also enjoyed learning about these Swan and Dolphin Holiday Treats. And if you have a little one who will only eat chicken nuggets, be sure to learn where you can find Disney Food For Families: The Fab Four of Kid Food — Pizza, Pasta, Hot Dogs and Chicken Nuggets

Kelly over at the Disney Guru shared some really helpful information in two of her posts this week: Money Saver Monday!! Pack those personal items and save more money and Tuesday’s Top Ten First Timer Tips

Lastly, Studios Central had a very interesting article about Why Hollywood Studios for New Years is the best option. It isn’t where we have celebrated New Year’s Eve in the past, nor will we be there this year…but he makes some very good points!

Alrighty everyone, that’s it for this week! Now, back to work: if you’re celebrating Christmas, you have a week to finish getting ready! 🙂

Wordless Wednesday: It’s All in the Details

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I often feel when I am at Disney World, that I just don’t know where to look first, as there are a seemingly countless number of fascinating visual experiences, all competing for my attention. But I usually find that, if I can stop and take the time to *really look* at some of the most insignificant things, I am rewarded with some pretty cool surprises. Take the Christmas tree at Epcot’s World Showcase: what seem to be, at first glance, just a bunch of Christmas balls, are actually miniature globes, ornaments featuring the national flags of different nations, and my personal favorite, holiday greetings in many different languages. Next time you visit Walt Disney World, make it a point to check out those details: you may be surprised at what you actually find.

Disney Holiday Gift Giving: Traveling Essentials

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Wondering what to give a friend or family member who is planning a big vacation to Disney World (or anywhere else for that matter)? Or perhaps it is you taking the big trip and people need gift ideas for you? Either way, Christmas gifts are the perfect way to help make future traveling a bit easier, less stressful, and just more fun. Here are few of my favorite travel essentials that will make great gifts for anyone:

A GPS: Anyone planning a big drive to Walt Disney World…or who will be renting a car at Disney World needs to have one of these. Those of us who grew up with “maps” are especially in awe of how helpful a good GPS can be. And if you have an older one like we do, this is the perfect time to upgrade to a new model, as the prices are rarely cheaper than you will find right now.

DVD Player: Road Trip! Few words strike more fear into the hearts of parents everywhere than these two little words. Mental images of backseat fights, and threats of “Don’t make me come back there!” immediately come to mind. Of course there are a number of ways to make the time pass (and I’ll talk about another one shortly) but one of the most successful is movies. Having a car DVD player can save everyone’s sanity….and with some well-chosen Disney movies, you can get everyone “in the mood” while you’re at it!

But what if you’re not driving, but still want to keep the troops entertained while waiting in the airport…or even on the flight? Well how about a Portable DVD Player to the rescue!!

And to make sure that everyone is happy when your kids want to watch Monsters Inc. 4 times in a row, don’t forget the headphones. 🙂  Just sayin’.

Travel Kiddy: Back in the day, before it was possible to bring movies along with you in the car to entertain the kids, I made a trip to the toy store before every trip, to make a travel fun bag for our daughter. Filled with lots of fun games and things to keep her entertained, the travel fun bag made our trips much happier for everyone. Even now, while movies are great, there will be times when it’s time to turn the thing off and do something else. And Travel Kiddy is the perfect solution: travel fun bags already created, filled with hours and HOURS of entertainment for little ones and big ones too! The Travel Kiddy site is divided into different ages, and even includes a section for puzzles and games for older kids and adults. Not sure what would be best for someone else? They even sell gift certificates. This is a great site with tons of great travel items already packed and waiting to leave on vacation with you. No need to make your own. 🙂

So there you go, gift suggestions for making the trip to Walt Disney World happier for the kids….and therefore happier for the adults. Whether it’s for your family, or for someone on your gift list, I hope these gift suggestions will help. Happy shopping! 🙂

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of December 6, 2010

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Greeting Disney Friends! Today’s tour of the Disney blog-world finds several winter and Holiday related posts, some new ways to make your Disney vacation more affordable, and some articles that are just plain fun! I had a blast reading all of these this week and I hope you will too! So get a great big glass of eggnog (spike it if you wish 🙂 ) and sit back and enjoy your weekly round-up of Disney fun!

Starting with our friends at Chip and Company, Brenda (yes “our Brenda”) had two awesome articles about how she keeps the Disney spirit alive at home: My Disney Dream Office and A Very Merry Disney Christmas…at Home!

And Ken had another installment in his series Oldies But Goodies – Keeping The Vacation Affordable (thanks for the shout-out Ken!)

Disney Dispatch offered some great park-touring Tips from the Disney Diva: My Favorite Things, Episode 03

Have you seen how cold it has been in Walt Disney World this week? Fortunately, if you are going and you forget a hat, the Disney Parks Blog has a few ways for you to stay warm: Winter Hats at the Parks: Do You Have a Favorite?

Kelly over at the Disney Guru had some interesting things to share this week. You can find out just how “Disney” you are in Tuesday’s top ten signs you are a Disney geek (and evidently, I am a pretty major Disney geek…. 🙂 )and in Keeping Up With The Magic she had some great ideas on how to keep your Disney vacations fresh (and I learned a few new things too!)

Disney Food Blog gave me some inspiration for our trip in a few weeks. I think my husband is going to enjoy the Holiday Brewer’s Collection Booths in Epcot and this post just added to my already lengthy “must eat” food list: Things I Learned at the Funnel Cake Stand

Growing Up Disney also had multiple helpful articles this week. Team Post: What’s the Best Age for a Child’s First WDW Visit? provided some great guidelines. And if you have ever wondered what would happen if you or someone in your group became sick or injured while at Disney World, then you will want to read Wow, am I glad you’re here!

Shannon at Meltdown Free Disney has an extremely timely post for how to handle things when your kids ask the “big questions”. In Getting Real About Pretending she shows how to handle the situation with gentleness and understanding.

You may be walking a lot at Disney World, but many want to keep to an actual exercise schedule. Pop Century Fan Site has some suggestions if you are staying there: Exercise at Pop Century Resort

In the spirit of the season, Traveling Mamas has some great ideas for Affordable Travel Gifts

Looking for some Holiday fun to share with your family? WDW Daily News tells us how Disney Online Puts Fun and Ease into Holiday Planning with the New ‘All Things Merry: A Guide to the Holidays’

Finally, we were pleased to be part of the latest Disney Blog Carnival #14 where you can find even MORE great Disney bloggers, blogs, and blog posts.

Happy reading and happy weekend! 🙂

Wordless Wednesday: Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

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A highlight of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the weeks leading up to Christmas is Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Disney does great parades, and this is no exception. Featuring many of your favorite characters in their finest holiday garb, you will also find ice skaters (yes in Florida, don’t ask, it’s that Disney magic 🙂 ), Marching Wooden Soldiers, and at the very end, Santa himself. And there are great holiday “smells” too…. Of course the castmembers are wearing appropriate festive attire too, including hats, scarves, and mittens, bless-their-overheated-hearts. If you want to see the parade, and will be there during Christmas week, you’re in luck because it is held every afternoon. Happy Holidays!