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Category Archives: Organization and Plannning

INNER MOUSE 13 – PLANES, TRAINS, AND MOUSE MOBILES

by JL Knopp (NDM#1) | @jlknopp1 | Published: Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Disney Driven Life brings you the thirteenth episode of inner mouse. In this week’s show, Nicole, Scott, John, and JL discuss modes of transportation within the Walt Disney World Resort and how to make your personal vehicle Disney-esque.

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Also posted in DDL Video, inner mouse, Lifestyle, Vidcast | Tagged antenna toppers, automobile, bumper sticker, car, car accessories, disney mania, inner mouse, license plate, radio disney, rearview mirror ornament, train, vehicle, vidcast, window cling
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INNER MOUSE 12 – CROUCHING MOUSE, HIDDEN TREASURE

by JL Knopp (NDM#1) | @jlknopp1 | Published: Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Disney Driven Life brings you the twelfth episode of inner mouse. In this week’s show, Nicole, Scott, John, and JL discuss hidden things that can be found in a Disney Driven Life when one makes the effort to look a little harder. No topic is safe as Team inner mouse jumps from the elusive and rare Neurotic Disney Granddad to Hidden Mickeys found in your bubble baths.

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Also posted in DDL Announcements, DDL Video, inner mouse, Lifestyle, Travel Reports, Vidcast | Tagged Animation Academy, Club Cool, Cosmic Reid, Discovery Club, Disney's Ladybug Release Program, Disney's Wine Walk, El Pirata y El Perico, Hidden Mickey Guidebook, inner mouse, Kim Possible Mission, Neurotic Disney Granddad, Pinnochio's Village Haus, Pirates and Pals Firework Voyage, The Enchanted Grove, The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, The Lunching Pad, vidcast, Writer's Stop
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST REVISITED

by John M. (NDD#172) | Published: Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Recently, my 18-year-old daughter, Lauren, returned from college for her first visit home. The highlight of the visit was our family’s first viewing of the re-released Beauty and the Beast DVD. The Disney version of Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991, roughly one year before Lauren was born. It quickly became her favorite movie–at least until the release of The Lion King in 1994.

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Also posted in Disney Vacation Club, Relationships | Tagged Beauty and the Beast, Disney Vacation Club, family stories, Organization and Plannning, Relationships
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BUDGETING HELP FROM TOURINGPLANS.COM

by Mark J. (NDD#102) | Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The key to accurately planning future expenses is to keep track of current expenses. (That’s true for any budgeting, not just Walt Disney World vacations.) I’d like to share with you a resource that I use to help me with my vacation budget planning.

You can download trip planning worksheets from www.touringplans.com absolutely free. I’ve been using these worksheets for several years now and love them. They come in different sizes, from 8 ½ x 11, for use in a 3-ring binder, down to day planner size. I use the day planner versions, and keep them in my fanny pack while at the park.

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Also posted in Finance, Lifestyle | Tagged Organization and Plannning, Saving money
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MORE MAGIC PLEASE!

by Stuart S. (NDD#47) | Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010

Since 2006 my family has been going to Walt Disney World every other year with the last visit this past July. That is going to change at least for me and my wife as we will briefly visit the parks before and after Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio Show Dream Cruise.

Like so many others I feel very fortunate to have any time at all to spend in the parks and on property. While I am grateful for that time it’s never enough. Each time I visit Walt Disney World it becomes more difficult to leave. With each succeeding trip it gets harder and harder to be away from the most magical place in the world. I find myself longing for the day I can return and plotting my course of action to bring me back to the land of hope and dreams.

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Also posted in Relationships, True Confessions of a Neurotic Disney Mom | Tagged More Disney magic, Organization and Plannning
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A DISNEY “STAYCATION”

by Mark J. (NDD#102) | Published: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A couple of months back, it looked like my wife might have to have some minor surgery; nothing too serious, but it would require some recovery time before she could return to work. As a result, she would have to use the vacation time she would need for our Disney World trip. We probably weren’t going to get to go to our favorite vacation spot this year.

I was explaining this to my son, then 9, when he had a stroke of genius. “Well, maybe if we can’t go to Disney World this year, we can have our vacation here. We could play Toy Story Mania on the Wii on the day we were going to go to Hollywood Studios.”

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Also posted in Finance, Lifestyle, Relationships | Tagged Disney Staycation, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom
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INNER MOUSE 10 – NOT SO SCARY INNER MOUSE PARTY

by JL Knopp (NDM#1) | @jlknopp1 | Published: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Disney Driven Life brings you the tenth episode of inner mouse. In this week’s show, Nicole, Scott, John, and JL discuss Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, a Halloween celebration held in Disney Parks. Come hear team inner mouse’s opinion on the parade, shows, and other events that Disney puts out for this annual party.

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Also posted in DDL Video, Disney Reviews, inner mouse, News, Travel Reports, Vidcast | Tagged Boo To You Parade, candy, costumes, Hallowishes, Haunted Mansion, inner mouse, innermouse, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, MNSSHP, vidcast, video
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A RESORT FOR EVERY SEASON?

by Natalie H. (NDM#268) | Published: Sunday, October 17, 2010

Did you know that there are 25 different Walt Disney Resorts?!? With so many resorts to choose from, where do you even begin?! For myself, I tend to start off by thinking of how much time we will spend in the room. If we will be spending a bit of time in the room relaxing, I typically decide to spend that time in a more spacious moderate or deluxe resort. However, if I know we will be spending all of our waking hours in the parks, I tend to decide on a value resort.

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Also posted in Disney Reviews, Resorts | Tagged Caribbean Beach Resort, Deluxe, Disney World, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Moderate, Resort, Walt Disney World, Wilderness lodge, Wilderness Resort and Campground
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CELEBRATING AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

by Stuart S. (NDD#47) | Published: Thursday, October 14, 2010

As many of you know my wife and will be sailing on Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio Show Dream Cruise on February 27, 2011. We plan on arriving a day early in order to spend time at Epcot in Walt Disney World.

While Lou has planned pre- and post-cruise events one of our fellow cruisers, Nolan, @NWinTN on Twitter has planned a lunch at Via Napoli. So, this past Friday while I was having a late dinner with my family I tweeted how I was thinking about the Via Napoli lunch. That caused a small exchange of tweets between me and Tammy, @voyageofariel on Twitter. Tammy and her family will also be on the cruise and she too will be at Via Napoli for lunch but she is also celebrating a very special day, her birthday.

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Also posted in Relationships | Tagged cast members, Celebrating pin, celebrations, Disney Cruise Line, EPCOT, Via Napoli
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GO AHEAD, DECORATE YOUR WINDOW!

by Natalie H. (NDM#268) | Published: Sunday, October 10, 2010

I listen to many a podcast and read many posts on boards where people are looking for ways to add a little something extra special to their vacation. Often times this is because the person is celebrating something special, such as a birthday or anniversary. Other times people may want to bring some of the holiday fun they enjoy at home to their vacation spot in Disney World. I had such an occasion on a recent vacation with my son and husband, as my son was turning 4 years old. I felt that this year, my son was old enough to appreciate the celebrations that surround a birthday and wanted to do something special for him. Also being aware of his young age, I wanted this something to be inexpensive, yet memorable.

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Also posted in Disney Reviews, Finance, Resorts | Tagged birthday, Christmas, Disney World Resort, hanukah, Holiday, Save Money, Something Extra, Walt Disney World
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DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS – BOB JACKSON

by Natalie H. (NDM#268) | Published: Sunday, October 3, 2010

This past week, I traveled to Disney World. Along my journey, I decided to visit Port Orleans. My son and I had been at our resort, All Stars Movies, and were in the line to go to Magic Kingdom when we decided to change to go to Downtown Disney (MK was closing in an hour for the Nights of Joy!). So we headed on to Downtown Disney. After a short while there, I remembered some of my good friends on Twitter had mentioned going to visit the show by Bob Jackson at Port Orleans Riverside. The show is at no cost and is located in the River Roost Lounge where tables are available.

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Also posted in Disney Reviews, Resorts, True Confessions of a Neurotic Disney Mom | Tagged Bob Jackson, Entertainment, French Quarter, Port Orleans, Riverside, Show
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A GOOD DISNEY DEED

by Stuart S. (NDD#47) | Published: Thursday, September 30, 2010

Every time I go to Walt Disney World, I buy a t-shirt. On our last trip, I bought two t-shirts, a golf shirt, and a sweat shirt, so it’s not unusual to spot me in Disney gear on any given weekend. Well this past weekend, I was in a local store wearing my Disney golf shirt minding my own business when a woman approached and asked me which Disney store I bought it in. I told her I bought the shirt at Mouse Gear in Epcot. When I said that, her eyes opened real wide, and she had this silly grin on her face. She said she’s a single mom to a young boy who is thinking about taking him for his and her first ever Disney vacation.

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Also posted in Relationships | Tagged Caribbean Beach, Disney dining, Disney Dining Plan, EPCOT, Free Dining, French Quarter, Organization and Plannning, Pop Century
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DINING WITH CHARACTER – 1900 PARK FARE

by Natalie H. (NDM#268) | Published: Sunday, September 26, 2010

There have been recent announcements about free dining for dates from 10/2010 to 9/2011! (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/) What great fun dining is in Walt Disney World, and when it is free, it is even better!

One of my favorite dining experiences was during a breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. This restaurant is located in the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, one of Disney World’s monorail resorts. The ability to use the monorail makes visiting this restaurant more accessible to more guests. Assuming that the guest is using Disney transportation, they simply need to travel from their resort to the Magic Kingdom, and then take the monorail to the Grand Floridian. If the guest is instead traveling by car, the Grand Floridian is located in the Magic Kingdom resort area per the Walt Disney World signage.

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Also posted in Disney Reviews, Fitness, Resorts, Travel Reports | Tagged 1900 Park Fare, Alice in Wonderland, character dining, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
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INNER MOUSE 6 – EAT, DRINK, AND BE DISNEY

by JL Knopp (NDM#1) | @jlknopp1 | Published: Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Here is the sixth episode of The Disney Driven Life’s broadcast, Inner Mouse. In this week’s show, Scott, John, and JL announce that Nicole has become a permanent member of Team Inner Mouse. Together they discuss Disney’s Food and Wine event as well as how to incorporate the Disney brand into cooking at home. Hilarity ensues when they hit on people with moxie, grandmothers’ dogs and chicken “that is so there.”

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Also posted in DDL Video, Disney Reviews, Fitness, inner mouse, Lifestyle, Relationships, Special Needs, Travel Reports, Vidcast | Tagged cooking, food, Food and Wine Festival, inner mouse, innermouse, vidcast, video
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MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN

by Stuart S. (NDD#47) | Published: Thursday, September 16, 2010

One of the events I’ve always wanted to attend at Walt Disney World is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party not just to see the special events but to get my hands on all that delicious Disney candy. Unfortunately for me this will not be the year I finally get to attend one.

The name of the party tells you the theme for this separate admission event. It’s a friendly fright fest where guests are allowed to dress up in costume and join the Halloween havoc. There are candy stations set up throughout the Magic Kingdom awaiting guests who are out to trick or treat.

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Also posted in News, Travel Reports | Tagged afraid, Disney News, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Halloween, Magic Kingdom
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KNOW YOUR WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT AREA

by Natalie H. (NDM#268) | Published: Sunday, September 12, 2010

During my recent stay to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, I was visiting in my own vehicle rather by my normal mode of transportation from the airport, the Magical Express. Now I have been to the Walt Disney World Resort area many, many times, but typically by way of Magical Express, so I had never really paid attention to how we even got to the resort! (I was all too familiar, though, that when standing on the bus from the Magic Kingdom to the Pop Century, you were in it for the long haul!) I had observed that when driving close to a park area, all of the resorts that were located in that park area were noted on a Disney sign.

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Also posted in Disney Reviews, Resorts, Travel Reports | Tagged Driving in the World, Magical Express, Rental Car, Resort Area, Resorts
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REMEMBERING WHY

by Stuart S. (NDD#47) | Published: Thursday, September 9, 2010

This time of year has been a particularly difficult one for me ever since September 11, 2001. It is this time of year we remember and mourn all those who were suddenly and cruelly taken away from their family and friends.

In a September 13, 2009 article I posted to my own blog I mentioned how in early 2000 my then employer temporarily relocated our company to the 106^th floor of tower two in the World Trade Center as our mid-town headquarters was undergoing a major refurbishment. The plan called for the construction to be completed and for us to return to the mid-town location in late September 2001. I was never comfortable in the World Trade Center but I was able to block out and put my fears aside. Fortunately for us things didn’t go as planned and after returning from a vacation to Walt Disney World with my family in early July 2001 I was back in my mid-town office.

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Also posted in Relationships, True Confessions of a Neurotic Disney Mom | Tagged Airline Security, Organization and Plannning, September 11
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BABY CARE CENTERS

by Amy E. (NDM#242) | Published: Friday, September 3, 2010

Large cushioned changing tables, comfy rocking chairs, and nice high chairs. No, I’m not discussing the selection at the local baby superstore. These are some of the amenities available for infants and toddlers at the Baby Care Centers at Walt Disney World theme parks.

All of the restrooms at the World, both men’s and women’s, are equipped with changing tables. Many are stainless steel so they are sturdy and easy to clean. However, sometimes you (or your child) need to take care of diaper duty in a more relaxed environment than a busy park restroom. Head straight for the Baby Care Center. Here you will find large changing tables with huge paper liners, a shelf to set your things, convenient trash receptacles and facilities to wash up.

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Also posted in Parents, Relationships | Tagged baby, bottle, changing, diaper, feeding, nursing, potty-training, preschoolers, theme parks, toddler
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LE CELLIER TO BECOME A SIGNATURE RESTAURANT

by Ashley R. (NDW#43) | Published: Thursday, September 2, 2010

I’ve been hearing rumors over the past couple of months about an immense revamp to one of the most popular restaurants in Walt Disney World. Le Cellier which is in the Canada pavilion at EPCOT is thought to be switching to Signature status for the Disney Dining Plan. It is true! I called the Disney Dining line tonight and the castmember I spoke with confirmed starting March 1, 2011 Le Cellier will become a signature dining restaurant for dinner only. Lunch will remain 1 table credit. This means you will have to use two table service credits instead of one in order to use the dining plan at this restaurant. I also hear that there will changes to the menu and more tables will be taken out to make the atmosphere more intimate.

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Also posted in Fitness, News | Tagged Disney Dining Plan, EPCOT, Le Cellier
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RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE

by JL Knopp (NDM#1) | @jlknopp1 | Published: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

A couple of our very own NDDs were selected to participate in the filming of this promotional video with their families in tow to cheer them on. If you stay alert you’ll be able to spot some familiar NDDs, NDMs, NDTs, and NDKs. Vroom!

Also posted in DDL Video | Tagged Richard Petty Driving Experience
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