Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of February 21, 2011

Nancy Disney Fun From Around the "World" , , 1 Comment

Greetings Disney Friends and Happy Weekend! I had a great time touring the Disney blog-World this past week in search of the best, most interesting, most helpful, and most fun Disney blog posts. As always there was lots to choose from, but I think I found a few that you will find enjoyable. 🙂 So sit back, relax with your favorite beverage, and take a stroll with me!

Let’s start out with Chip and Co. It’s always SO hard to choose, as there are tons of fun and informative posts over there. But I especially loved these. For starters, how do you feel about Adults in Costume? Agree or disagree with DragynAlly? Then Lisa chats about the challenges of Traveling Light at Walt Disney World: Mission Impossible? Finally, the very talented Brenda had another touching article in her Wednesday with Walt series: And the Oscar Goes To…

Ever wonder if the rooms at some of the Deluxe resorts are worth the cost? Destinations in Florida takes us on a tour of the Rooms at Disney Contemporary Resort to find out.

Those of you with little ones will especially appreciate this article from Disney Dispatch: Dealing with Disney Trip Anticipation

Brenda had some great suggestions about Disney transportation this week. Disney Driven Life offered some other thoughts too: 3 DISNEY TRANSPORTATION TIPS

I’m ready for spring! And so is Disney World! Disney Every Day offers a look at Epcot’s 2011 Flower Power Concert Series Schedule

Disney Food Blog had a review of a favorite Disney restaurant for many: Review: 50s Prime Time Cafe

And continuing with food, Disney Guru provides a look at a different and fun place to eat, Pizzafari: A Colorful Place to Dine

In case you hadn’t heard, Disney had some news this past week that had the blog-world in overdrive. Disney Parks Blog shares the details of Mickey FASTPASS: Guests Will Be Able To Determine a Time To Meet Mickey Mouse Beginning This Spring at Magic Kingdom

Finding places of “quiet” at Disney World can be challenging but not impossible. The Disney Chick shares a few: Finding Zen in WDW

I love the focus of Magical Mouse Schoolhouse in finding ways to teach with Disney. This week they showed how to incorporate a favorite movie of mine: Finding Nemo

WDW Fan Zone continues to provide some of the most interesting Disney articles around. I loved this suggestion: Lori Loves Tigger’s Tip: FORE! And if you have ever wondered about what to DO with ALL those pictures from your Disney vacations, well look no further. April shares how to get them Off the Camera and Onto the Wall (Hint: It’s CHEAP! and looks fabulous!) Finally, a little article from little ol’ me: No Free Dining at Disney World? No Worries, You Can Still Save Money! 🙂

That’s it for this week folks! Have a magical weekend!

Minnie Minus Mickey: A Single Mom Plans for Walt Disney World

Guest Affordable Disney Vacations, Disney Vacation Planning, Minnie Minus Mickey , , , 7 Comments

Editor’s note: Please welcome our newest writer, Jolie, to The Affordable Mouse writing staff. Jolie is planning a Disney vacation as a single mom, and will be sharing her planning experiences here in a new monthly column. She has some great stories to tell and…well…I think I’ll let her tell you herself. 🙂 Take it away Jolie!

Happy Friday, my Disney friends…or friends-to-be, I should say.  Hi, I’m Jolie, the newest writer for The Affordable Mouse, and I am just thrilled to be here, sharing what I know and what I’m learning!

I’ve had a lifelong love of Disney.  I was fortunate enough to go as a child, and again as a teen with a musical theatre group.  I grew up with the dream of becoming a character at Walt Disney World, and my parents, being the wonderful, amazing people they are, gave me that opportunity when I was barely 20.  I flew down (my super-supportive Dad came along, of course!), auditioned, even made it to the costume fittings (I was JUST the right size for Tweedle-Dum and Dee, go figure), and in my final dance, wearing the costume…FELL.  FELL!  On my Tweedle-Dum bum.  Not only did I FALL, but I fell right on top of a giant Mickey-ears hat, and of course…it broke.  Thank goodness my faithful father was there to support the mass of tears that came out of the audition room!  I was offered a wonderful position at the Boardwalk’s ESPN Club, and I just loved it there.

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Thrifty Thursday: Travel on the Walt Disney World Ferry Boat

Brenda Thrifty Thursday , , , , 6 Comments

Photo courtesy of www.disneyshawn.blogspot.com

Disney’s ferry boat system is one of the great, FREE ways to travel during your visit to Walt Disney World. The ferries are similar to any you would find in any city in America; with an upper and a lower deck connected by two interior stairways. There are three different ferryboats that run from the Transportation & Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom park and back. Although not as much a part of the Disney transportation system that they once were, but I am hoping to encourage you to try this treasure as part of your next WDW trip.

One of the special things I really enjoy during our annual trip is riding the ferry on the way to the Magic Kingdom on our first day in the park. While many people flood to the front of the boat, I like to head upstairs to grab a great spot from which to see the beautiful scenery. The ride reminds me of when I was a little girl growing up in Galveston, Texas. My grandfather was a Ferryboat Captain with the Galveston Island-Port Bolivar Ferry and I spent many hours through the years on journeys across Galveston Bay. My grandpa used to let me into the wheelhouse to sit upon his lap and “drive” the ferry. As the Disney Ferryboat glides through the water toward our most anticipated destination, I reminisce of many special memories and revel in every second of it. For those of you who don’t have special childhood memories of ferry rides, I would like to try to convince you to give the ferry system a try.

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Wordless Wednesday: The Fantastic Fountains of Walt Disney World

Nancy Wordless Wednesday , , , 2 Comments

I sometimes wonder if Walt Disney had a fascination with water. It certainly seems that way to me. Or maybe it’s just me. But with the many interesting fountains, and water areas at Disney World, I am always finding something to make me stop and watch for a minute. These fountains that spring UPwards near the Journey to Imagination Pavilion at Epcot are a perfect example. I just stand there in amazement and wonder: “How do they DO that?”

Magical Meals: A Guide to Affordable Dining at Walt Disney World

Nancy Disney Dining Plans, Disney Travel Guide, Disney Vacation Planning, Saving Money at Disney World, Saving Money on Food , , , , , , 5 Comments

As part of my efforts to provide information for those trying to plan an affordable Disney vacation, a number of months ago I ran a survey asking what you, the readers, needed help with, when it comes to your Disney trip planning.

Overwhelmingly, the response was “We need help with dining”. People wanted to know things like:

  • What types of restaurants and dining places are at Disney World….and how much do they cost?
  • Where are the best places to eat with children?
  • How can you have a character meal? Where are the best ones?
  • Are Advanced Dining Reservations really that important?
  • Can you really save money on food?

And that was just for starters.

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