I love Disneyland. My love for Disney reaches far beyond the park. I love anything that is connected to the name Disney. One can’t help but think happy thoughts when you hear the name Walt Disney. When there is anything Disney related I really try to check it out. Recently we decided to take a trek out to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA. The Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit were there for a limited time and I had to see it before it was gone.
When one thinks of visiting Disneyland, it instantly brings up the thought of family. A day in the park with family includes strollers, meeting characters, juice boxes and tired kids holding a plush and dozing off while heading back to the bus that takes you to your hotel. You have thoughts of planning your trip like a well oiled camping adventure. You can’t forget the extra shoes, or the bib or heaven forbid the container of Goldfish crackers! Rarely do adults even dare to dream about what it could be like going to Disneyland WITHOUT children. It’s like the unspoken rule that has been ingrained into our brains, Disneyland without children is absolutely not allowed. What if……..just what if you jumped out of the box and grabbed your sweetie and headed the the Happiest Place on Earth sans children? What would that date be like?
Millions of families from all across the globe travel to Disney World each year for fun and entertainment. Whether you plan to board theme park rides, watch shows, or visit some of the local attractions you’re sure to have a great time. But for parents visiting the park with babies and infants, keeping everyone happy can be a challenge. Your baby might not be ready to enjoy the main attractions but Disney World offers some great facilities that should make your trip a lot of fun, even with a baby in tow.
The Bag
Sure, you could just use any bag that’s lying around the house. However, it’ll be a lot more fun if you purchase the kids Mickey Mouse backpacks to hold their tools. If that’s not in the budget right now, have them make their own bags. They could make small ones with paper bags, or they could use fabric markers to decorate their own bookcase.
I receive many questions as to what my deal is with Disney and Disneyworld (especially now that I am writing for this site): why spend all the money on those trips each year, and, last but not least, are you serious? After I share this little story concerning the first day of school maybe it will help some to understand.
One of my son’s sixth grade teachers gave her class a “Get to Know You” survey, and she gave it to them to take home for a parent signature to ensure no unwanted information became teacher knowledge. One of my son’s answers I will share at the end of this post but the two primary answers I’d like to share are his responses to 1) What is your favorite place? 2) What is your favorite memory?
The other day while I was watching the news I saw a story highlighting a new trend that truly saddens me. I am referring to the trend of tween girls posting videos of themselves online asking if they are pretty or ugly. I went online, watched some of the videos, and read several of the comments posted under them. One nasty comment said “Yikes….. just had to stifle my vomit…” That was how I felt as I read the majority of the comments and watched some of the videos. I heard these girls saying things that I thought when I was younger, almost verbatim, about people calling them ugly and their insecure thoughts of themselves. Many of the comments were profane, mean, and downright hateful. One said that one of the girls was “a hideous grotesque demonic looking monstrosity.” However, some were even more disgusting; inappropriate to say to anyone of any age, but pedophilic due to the age of the girls. I found one comment that encouraged a girl to “just go ahead and end your life.” The more I watched the videos and read the comments, the more I knew that I needed to speak up.
With a website address that contains TheEnemyIsGood, a lot of people ask Connie M. which enemy is that? Connie laughs and points out how her blog started with a typo, she meant to nab “The Enemy is Food.” But with her new blog formally titled “Life is a Journey” in place, Connie was ready to blog, and embrace what she loved.
“The blog originally was started as a way for me to make a food diary but I gave up that idea when I realized that I am a sensory person and loved the sight, smell and taste of food. So…instead of trying to lose weight by dieting, I embraced my love of food but developed a new respect for it,” Connie said. “Slowly, I began to write less and less about food and now only occasionally include a photo of something I am enjoying on one of my little exploratory trips around Southern California. Or Disneyland!”
With a passion for Disney, what pursuits does Craig Duncan squeeze in between a full time job and family? How about working on ‘They Disney Brit’, the UKs largest and longest running Disney podcast, the ‘Destination Disney’ radio show and the ‘Eye on Orlando’ radio show both of which are aired live on Florida radio shows. Then there is ‘Mousemeets’ which is UKs Disney annual fan convention and ‘Mousemag’ a free bi-monthly magazine all about Disney written by the Disney Community for the Community. “We have also done something different with our associated web sites. We have made DisneyBrit.com one of the best sources for Disney related news anywhere in the world. EyeonOrlando.com is a pure Orlando holiday portal.”
Photo Credit: Molly B. Mickey and Friends banner supplied by Discount Party Supplies, 2012 Mickey banner hand made and supplied by Kush Event Planning
Besides actually being in Walt Disney World for New Years Eve, I’m not sure if I can think of any better way to ring in the New Year, then to do it Disney Driven Life style, and throw a Mickey Mouse themed party for the little ones, celebrating the birth of 2012! I truly envy those of you who were lucky enough to be within arms reach of my favorite castle on the eve of 2012, but I guarantee you that our little soiree was just a tad less crowded. Probably just as noisy though!
Photo Credit: Molly B.
Everyone knows I love Disney, but something that everyone doesn’t know is that I LOVE fairies. Especially Tinkerbell. I happen to be on the smallish side, blond haired and blue eyed. So growing up, my dad gave me the nick name “Tink”. Also, fairies (especially Tinkerbell), only have room for one emotion at one time. So they are either VERY happy and pleasant, or VERY upset and not very pleasant to be around. I might be able to admit that this also describes myself. (Only a little! ….) My love for Tinkerbell has lasted since I first watched Peter Pan at the ripe old age of 5, right up to present day, and I now have the honor of raising my own tiny little blond haired, blue eyed Tink!
Photo Credit: Molly Beckley
Are your children the type that get the smallest little prick of a scratch and scream out “MOM! I need a Band-Aid!”? Mine are. Band-Aids are used like stickers in this house. I have to hide them so we actually have them when they are really and truly needed! And what could be better to a Neurotic Disney Kid who is Band-Aid happy then ones decorated with Mickey Mouse?! Ppsshh, not much.
Photo Credit: Disney
Well, the big day is almost here. I’ve been counting down for what feels like months and I am now officially one week away from setting sail on the Disney Dream. This isn’t just my first cruise on the Disney Cruise Line, it’s my first cruise…ever. I’m filled with excitement and to be quite frank, nervousness. You see, I am prone to getting motion sickness. I’ve always wanted to do a cruise but my fear of being out in the middle of the deep blue sea and getting sea sick has always gotten the best of me. Honestly, I think I would be perfectly content just getting on the boat and staying right there at the port. But since I am a Disney Destination Planner now, I decided I needed to experience sailing on the Disney Cruise Line at least once in order to be able to sell it to the best of my ability. Rough job, I know but someone’s got to do it.
Photo Credit: Molly Beckley
Photo Credit: Meija Eller
There is something unfathomable about the fulfillment of a dream.
I have spent so many years dreaming of wearing a real wedding gown; of standing on the beach of Disney’s Polynesian Resort sharing vows, that when the time was close at hand, I almost couldn’t comprehend it. Why do dreams seem as unattainable as the stars?
Photo Credit: Mark Jeffries
One of every parent’s worst fears is that someday their child will say or do something so despicable that it will bring shame to the family name. Others in the community will look at them and say, “What kind of parents raise such children?” This happened to my wife and me on our recent trip to Walt Disney World.
We were about midway through our two-week vacation, and already planning our next trip. I’m sure you do it, too. “Next time, we’ll have to make sure to do this attraction, since it was closed this trip.” “Let’s eat at that restaurant next time.” “Would you like to try this resort next time?” I asked my daughter one of these questions, I can’t remember which one, when she responded, “Can’t we go somewhere besides Disney World next year?”
Photo Credit: Molly Beckley
“Jake, what kind of cake would you like Mommy to make you this year?” I asked my soon to be 5 year old. “Epcot, Mom.”, he replied. Beads of sweat started to form on my brow. I had made all of children’s birthday cakes every year of their lives. And when they are old enough to talk, I make them per their own requests. I had already made Jake both a pirate hat and pirate map cake in June for his birthday party with friends. I had been wondering what was stirring in that sharp little mind of his in regards to his birthday cake to be enjoyed with family. “You want me to make you an Epcot cake.” I retorted, as more of a statement than a question. “Yes, Mom, that’s what I want!”. I decided at that moment that if Jake wanted an Epcot cake, an Epcot cake he was going to get. This was going to be no easy undertaking. When most of us think of Epcot, we think of that giant silver golf ball that is Spaceship Earth. And I knew when Jake said that he wanted an Epcot Cake, what he really meant was that he wanted a Spaceship Earth cake. My son is like me in many ways, and one of these ways is that his favorite of all the Disney parks is Epcot. It is strange for a child not to have the Magic Kingdom as their favorite park, but when I was a little girl, I always felt most at home in Epcot, and Jake, a budding Imagineer, really enjoys the more educational feel of this park.
Photo Credit: Chris Ridgeway
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is a great place for small children. I also happen to think it’s an excellent park for adults, too, but that’s a different post. I’ll summarize that thought for now by saying this isn’t an “in your face” park. You need to slow down, take in the details, watch the shows, and not just run from ride to ride in order to appreciate this park.
Photo Credit: Jeff Beckley
I can not imagine my world without Mickey Mouse. He has been a part of my life since the age of 3 when I first lay eyes on him while in Walt Disney World for the first time, and I am privileged to have been able to pass the love for this amazing pop culture icon down to my 2 little boys.
Mickey is a part of our every day lives in many ways. I must admit I have logged an awful lot of time on the telephone with Mr. Mouse. If my husband could take a look at my imaginary phone bill he would probably be alarmed that I might be being unfaithful to him with old Mickey! How many of you have said “If you don’t stop that right now, I am calling Mickey!” If you have never used this threat than you are a better Neurotic Disney Mom than I, because when my boys are getting a little out of hand I have been known to throw this statement out at them. If they don’t stop what ever naughtiness they are into at the mere mention of these words, then the phone gets picked up, some random numbers get punched, and I have a conversation with Mickey about how naughty children are not by any means allowed at his home. The conversation is always ended with “Yes Mickey, thank you, I will tell them what they have to do to redeem themselves.” My almost 5 year old looks so forward to his trips to Walt Disney World every summer, so whatever Mickey says, goes! If Mickey is not happy with his behavior then you better believe it is getting turned right around! At least for a couple minutes…
Photo Credit: Corby C.
So you have done everything to plan for your trip to Disney. You’ve researched the weather, picked out your clothes and packed your bags accordingly. It’s Florida! The weather’s probably going to be warm and sunny right? Well, not always. Weather can be unpredictable, especially in Florida. We’ve learned this the hard way, and now I’m passing some tips on to you so hopefully you won’t have to!