Just a place to lay our head

Well if you missed it, I made the announcement yesterday that Kennedy and I are headed off for a little Mommy/Daughter/Granddaughter time with my Mom.

The trip is kind of a last minute thing as my Mom just found out she's attending a conference in Orlando.  She invited us to come down for a few days after the conference to hang out at Disney, just the three of us and well...Kennedy insisted. I mean who could say no to this face?

Ok so she can't talk yet and she didn't exactly say she wanted to go but a mother always knows :)

Back to the plans...I checked airfare and Tuesday was cheaper than Wednesday (when she gets out of the conference) so I booked it. I told her Kennedy and I will have a little Mommy/Daughter time and just spend Wednesday relaxing before she meets up with us.

It was time to decide where to stay.  I was very tempted by a few choices...Animal Kingdom Lodge, Polynesian...even my favorite the Boardwalk was available.  Here is a list of things I was looking for in the resort we chose:

1) It had to be someplace I haven't stayed yet (that narrows down the choices considerably)
2) I wanted it to be fun and entertaining for a relaxing day with just the baby and I.  Most likely a pool day so it had to be a great one.
3) Since we are having a hang out day, extra activities would be necessary. It wouldn't be a park day so we needed something to do.
4) Cost....not the cheapest but not the most expensive either!

For the sake of blogging (I know...you're welcome) and after letting Kennedy decide, we chose two different resorts!

Resort #1
We decided for our first night we would be staying in a studio villa at Disney's Beach Club.  We chose the studio simply because it was slightly cheaper than the water view room that was available at the Beach Club.  BUT we chose Beach Club for....

Stormalong Bay!!  If you haven't heard, Storamalong Bay is one of the most sought after pools on property. This special pool features a sand bottom and lazy river! It's over 3 acres of pool! Plus a zero entry with sandy bottom. I figure this will be the perfect place for Kennedy and I to hang out. We'll swim and play. Plus we are right next door to the Boardwalk to grab a bit of dinner. I'm really excited to try out this resort and have a pool day!!

Resort #2
We opted to go with a moderate for the remaining 2 nights. Since I've stayed at Coronado twice in the past 6 months I wanted to try another resort out. Port Orleans Riverside had availability.  Even better? Where is the perfect place for my princess to lay her sweet head?  Ok let's stop for a second and have a dose of reality shall we?

Ok better...nonetheless where is the perfect place for this grown up princess to lay her head? Why a Royal Guest Room at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside!! I love the attention to detail Disney has been putting in these themed rooms so I can't wait to check it out!

There it is! Three nights, two resorts and a whole lot of fun!  Next up....itinerary and dining options! Plus preparing to pack our bags!

Trip Announcement!!

It's that time again!! I know what you are thinking...already??  A special opportunity presented itself that I can't pass up!!!

Guess who's going to Disney??

Yup! That girl!  Kennedy and I are going on a special Mommy/Daughter/Grandma trip! It's going to be a short trip in just a few weeks! My mom is attending a conference and we are going to meet up with her for a few days once it's over.

The plan

When: Kennedy and I will be flying down on a Tuesday night since that's the best rate I could get.  We'll be lucky enough to stay until late Friday afternoon.

Where: Stay tuned...I'm pretty excited about the where :)

What: I'm still working out all the details but my Mom is in her conference until Wednesday so Tuesday night and all day Wednesday the babe and I are on our own.    Wednesday night will most likely be EPCOT and Thursday will be either just Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom plus Magic Kingdom.  Friday will be a quick stop at Downtown Disney before our late afternoon flight home!

I'm really excited about this girls trip. My mom and I have taken lots of Mother/Daughter trips but since having the baby we haven't had the opportunity.

Even though it's a few short nights, there is so much to do!!  Stay tuned for some things I hope to blog about when we get back:

-Fantasyland update
-Eating Healthy in the park
-Traveling alone with a baby
-Baby friendly activities and attractions
-A few resort reviews
-Magical Express review (it will be my first time!)
-And much  more!!!

Stay tuned for more posts about our fun Girls Trip!!

Nahtazu!!

Now that all the cruise fun is over, let's get back to Walt Disney World! Today I'm in the mood to talk about Disney's Animal Kingdom!

The biggest comment I get from clients is, I don't want to go to Animal Kingdom because we have a zoo locally.  Guess what? Disney's Animal Kingdom is...Nahtazu!!  Years ago there was an ad that ran on the Disney resort tv's that advertised this fun slogan to let people know just that...it's NOT A ZOO!


Today, let's take a virtual trip around Animal Kingdom!

For today's discussion I'm just going to go around Animal Kingdom. In a later post I'll talk about the idea of "touring plans" and which rides are must do's first!!

As we walk counter clockwise around the park, the first "land" we come to is Camp Minnie Mickey.  This is a great spot for some character interaction. This is an extra special location because here you can meet up with Safari Mickey and Minnie!!  I don't have any pictures from character trails, but here is one from our wedding of Safari Mickey and Minnie!

You can also usually meet Pluto, Goofy,  Tigger, Pooh and even Terk and Rafiki! Years ago I was also able to meet Baloo.

Also in Camp Minnie Mickey is Festival of the Lion King. This amazing Broadway Style show can't be missed!!

UPDATE!! Camp Minnie Mickey is now CLOSED as Disney prepares for Pandora: The Land of Avatar is being built! You can meet Mickey and Minnie at the Adventurer's Outpost.

Festival of the Lion King has moved to the new HARAMBE Theatre!

As you leave Camp Minnie Mickey be sure to check out all the animals located at the base of the Tree of Life.  The Discovery Island trails offer a variety of birds, fish and more! We were lucky enough a few years ago to get a great glimpse of the Kangaroos!

Next up is the small African Village of Harambe...probably one of my favorite spots in all the park.  Disney has paid an amazing attention to detail here.

In Harambe you will find

• NEW! Festival of the Lion King has relocated here to the new Harambe Theatre!
• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Conservation Station
• Tusker House
• Dawa Bar
• Shops, Snacks and More (including healthy snacks like Fresh Fruit!!)
• Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

There are so many reasons I love Animal Kingdom but the Safari is a big one. Disney does such a great job of making you feel like you are on a true African Safari. I think this attraction is why people make the comment about it being Zoo.  The Safari let's you see many animals native to different areas of Africa pretty up close and personal!

After you exit the Safari you have the chance to walk the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.  This is a walking trail where you can view animals like the Okapi, Meerkats, Hippo's AND...Gorilla's!!!

Once back in the village of Harambe you can then take the train out to Conservation Station. The neat part about the train is you'll get some neat a backstage views that you wouldn't normally. Once you arrive at Conservation Station you can experience a petting zoo, get a glimpse inside the Animal Barns via special cameras, meet characters and much more! It's completely interactive and will keep you entertained for quite a while!

Next is Asia. Along the way you'll get great views of the Tree of Life and if you are very lucky you'll be able to meet a few characters and possibly get a glimpse of DiVine!

Asia holds a lot of fun and excitement...some too exciting for me, lol. I will admit I have never seen this show and I never plan to...

That's right...I'm scared of birds. I am and I'll admit it.  Let me know how it is though.

Asia is home to one of Disney's WETTEST rides....Kali River Rapids. This ride is a funny one...you'll either get barely wet or you'll get soaked...I mean like jump in a swimming pool with your clothes on soaked!!

Yak and Yeti call Asia home.  This restaurant, which serves Asian inspired cuisine, offers quick service AND table service!

There is another great trail located in Asia, the Maharajah Jungle Trek. On this trek you'll get to see animals native to the continent of Asia, like Bats, Komodo Dragon and my favorite...the Tigers!

One of the best thrill rides in all of Walt Disney World is located here in Animal Kingdom. Expedition Everest towers above the theme park and before you even approach it you will begin to hear the screams.  This area, much like Harambe has so much detail, especially the queue.

Remember this ride has a height requirement of 44" but if you are brave enough to try it...it's absolutely worth it!

On your way from Asia to Dinoland is Finding Nemo: The Musical! This is a unique, Broadway style interpretation  of the movie. It's a MUST do for my family!

The last "land" we'll travel to is Dinoland but don't forget, on the walk from Asia to Dinoland is Finding Nemo the Musical.  This is a unique representation of the Movie and I highly recommend stopping by!

Now Dinoland tends to get complaints from a lot of people but I think it's important to know the backstory to this unique land. The story begins with the Dino Institute (now home to DINOSAUR!)  Dino Institute was began by a bunch of students who took over a roadside stand.  Next Door, Chester and Hester, owners of the Gas Station decided to cash in and create a small carnival in the parking lot in order to take advantage of those visiting the Dino Institute.

Dinosaur can be scary attraction...even for the bravest adult (height requirement 40").   Along with Dinosaur is Primeval Whirl and Triceratop Spin.  There is some great options for food here at Restaurantosaurus and don't forget the Dig Yard....a fun and unique playground for the kids.

Back on Discovery Island you'll find more Character Meet and Greets, Flame Tree BBQ (yum) shops and the 3D Attraction It's Tough to Be A Bug. Half the fun of this attraction is getting up close to the tree of life where you'll find over 300 animals carved into the trunk.

This was just meant to be a fun overview of Animal Kingdom, but please remember...Disney created this park for you to explore. Spend time walking around, following the paths and ALWAYS pay attention to the little details! 

This was just a brief overview of one of my family's favorite parks! It's a fun park to explore, has unique food, rides and shows.  I would highly recommend giving it a try!

Walt Disney World Land And Sea Vacation

Here are links to the entire recap of our most recent vacation.

Day 1-Arrival Day
Day 2-Part One and Part Two
Day 3-A Bit of Everything and a Bonus Post
Day 4- Part One, Party Two, Part Three, Dinner and a Show
Day 5- Part One, Part Two and Senses Spa
Day 6- Castaway Cay and Our Last Night
Recap

Trip Recap

Well it's come and gone.  This was one of the best trips we have every taken.  I want to do a bit of a recap today.

Positives

• The Earmarked Conference was amazing. Disney really knows how to put on a great show while providing important information and amazing support!
• Organized!!  Everything was so perfectly organized...everything from collecting our bags to the amazing IPads we were given to use over the course of the week
• Coronado Springs....if you've every chatted with me about your Disney Vacation you'll know that this is my favorite Moderate Resort.   I love the atmosphere, location and much more! We've stayed twice in the past 6 months and there are still thins I haven't seen/done. If you have some free time I highly recommend visiting the resort.
• The Fantasy...it's been almost a month since we've returned and I think we manage to sneak it into a conversation at east once a day.  We were absolutely WOW'D by everything...the decor, service, food....it was all just so amazing!!
• Quicksilver Transportation....I would recommend them any day!  They were on time, courteous and I'm so glad we opted to hire them!

Negatives

• Honestly there aren't many!    Everything was great about the trip.  We of course ran into a few crabby cast members but we've noticed that trend over the years
• The crowds!!  UGH if we can help it we'll NEVER travel during peak season.  Of course if that's the ONLY time you can travel it's doable. We don't usually have a detailed plan of attach but this time of year it's essential.

Tips

• Even if you aren't a planner extrodinaire, you have to have some kind of plan!  Using a Disney Travel Agent like myself can help you with dining reservations, which parks to avoid each day and more!
• Be sure to pack travel size toiletries for your last morning on the Cruise Ship.  All of your luggage will not only be packed the night before but taken too!
• Use online check-in for both Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line. It made things fast and easy!
• Keep in your carry on all your confirmations, airline info, etc...make sure it's easily accessible.
• Check all your ID prior to traveling...be sure nothing has expired!
• Use Garden Grocer for things like bottled water, snacks and more.  Bottled water is expensive and can really add up.
• We really missed the dining plan!  Our meal at La Hacienda was over $150 (with drinks and appetizer)!!   It's a great savings!
• 3 nights at Disney is not enough...not even close...especially during Spring Break.  We got to see a lot but not nearly everything we would have liked to.
• Early Extra Magic Hours during peak times are so important! We got to ride all of our must do's at Animal Kingdom before 9 a.m.!!

I hope you enjoyed reading along!  I had fun sharing our experience with you...now it's time to get back to regular posting!  Remember if you are a client and want to share pictures from your trip, be a guest blogger or more, contact me at Amanda@livingwiththemagic.com.com

Day 6 Part 2- Our last night

It was getting that time...it comes in every vacation. That time where you are forced to pack your bags and thinking about that flight home. We definitely weren't ready...and on a cruise it's far worse. It was only about 4 p.m. in the afternoon and we were packing our bags. We wanted to have everything ready to put outside our stateroom before we went to the show. In my attempts to pack more minimally I hadn't brought things like travel size shampoo and conditioner that I could use the next morning.   Things to remember for next time...so we packed our bags and got ready for dinner.

The first place we were headed was the atrium to check out a few characters before the show.

After the show we did a bit of shopping and then headed off to dinner. We were very excited about visiting Animators Palette after hearing how amazing it was. The boat was a bit rocky this night and we could actually see it swaying during dinner!!

On our way to dinner there was some partying going on in the DLounge!

Since we were a little early we stopped in the Pub for a few minutes.

Finally it was time to eat! The detail in this restaurant was AMAZING!

One of the best parts of this restaurant was the placemats.  We were instructed to fill in our stick person and we'd see them later on the big screen!

While I was very excited about seeing this restaurant, I wasn't thrilled with the menu. First of all, hubby and I don't eat seafood and most of the appetizers were seafood:

 There was however an interesting dish...this was corn three ways!   I was scared to order it but it was honestly really good! I would definitely order it again! Popcorn soup, carmelized popcorn and a spiced cornbread.

Dinner was also pretty great!

It was finally time...we got to see our characters come to life!! It was very neat!

I'm a sucker for chocolate molten cake!

After dinner we went back to the atrium for the character farewell. It was fun seeing all the characters come out.

Next up...debarkation and a recap of our trip!!  Thanks for following along our photo journey! I hope you got a good sneak peak at what the Disney Fantasy is all about. It was an amazing cruise and we can't wait to plan our next one!

Day 6-Castaway Cay

Good Morning everyone! I hope that you all have better weather than I do right  now. It's a gloomy rainy day...a perfect day to talk about Castway Cay!!

This morning started with something I will honestly never forget. It was the last morning of the conference and we were scheduled to be in the theatre at 8 a.m.  I won't bore you with all the details but what I will share with you is an amazing bit of Disney Magic that was brought to the stage. I didn't have my camera with me but here is a few pictures I found online:

That's right!! CUBBY AND KAREN were brought out!  Pretty amazing huh? It was such a neat experience to listen to these two talk about the Mickey Mouse Club Days and Uncle Walt.  Even cooler was at the end of the conference Karen and Cubby joined our hosts and guest speakers along with the Cast Members that coordinated the whole conference...and we got to sing the Mickey Mouse Club theme song!! I will NEVER forget it!!

After we were dismissed I went back to the room to grab the gang and head off to Castaway Cay.  Before I get to that, while I was in the theatre a little birdie told me that there was a reason the Dream wasn't returning the Fantasy's horn the night before.  The Dream was actually going to show up at Castaway Cay!!!  I couldn't wait to get off the boat!!

We decided to walk but there is a shuttle to take you to the various beaches.  I'm so glad we did because this is when the two ships went back and forth in a horn battle! It was pretty amazing!

We plopped our stuff down and decided to explore the beach a bit.  

We then wandered up to grab some drinks...and ice cream...and lunch lol! I know these are Lauren's favorite set of pictures. While we waited in line, Goofy and Donald came out and started dancing with the kids. Again, a bonus to a Disney Cruise Line Vacation...the characters are everywhere and there are tons of these intimate moments!

After lunch we explored a bit more and Eric and I decided to brave Pelican Plunge!

We did it once...and that was enough.  We don't go to the Ocean....well ever, lol. The salt water was a bit much for us!

After a bit more exploring....we went back to the boat. I know what you are thinking....we were so excited to get on the Island and we were heading back already? I'll admit it...we aren't lay on the beach kind of people.  We had no desire to just lay in the sand.  We did however want to go play on the ship and ride the Aquaduck a few more times!!

Once back onboard we road the Aquaduck a few more times before grabbing some drinks and lounging the Quiet Cove pool! Here is where Patrick got a hold of the camera again...he calls this Gorilla's in the Mist...thanks Pat.

After some much needed relaxing it was time to get ready for dinner!! I can't believe it's almost over! Our last night, here.

Day 5 Continued

Since the first part of Day 5 was rather short, I thought I'd throw in another post for today!!  On the schedule for Saturday  night was the Royal Court for dinner and a show.  Both Saturday and Sunday we have no show pictures and I can't remember which was which. They were both amazing; Alladin and Disney's Believe.   I think I prefer Believe over Aladdin but it's so close!

On a side note...my hubby said one thing he just LOVED about the ship is the intimate character interaction. There was rarely lines and the characters were out every night!

After the show we went up to Deck 11 to check out the beginning of the Pirate Party.  This is a super fun party and LOTS of people were dressed for the event. I couldn't resists grabbing a drink with light up ice cubes.

And Lauren and Pat couldn't resist a little pre-dinner Ice Cream...we were on vacation right!?

The first thing we noticed when we sat down was some Pirate bandana's...in case we didn't dress up.

I wish I could remember what we had for dinner but I honestly can't...and there are no pictures believe it or not! I do remember really enjoying this restaurant.  Next up was dessert!

Can you spot the funny princess detail in this picture?

Our head waiter did a great job of keeping us entertained.  He gave us a puzzle that took us until the following night to finish!

Peanut Butter Mousse....all I can say is WOW.

Sweet Temptations: A trio of Peanut Butter Mousse, Mango Cheesecake, and Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brûlée

 Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brûlée: With Almond Biscotti

After dinner we were making our way back to the Pirate Party when a few funny things happened.

#1- Rumor was it that we could view the Disney Dream out many of the windows. She was pretty far way....but stay tuned!!

#2- The elevators were massively crowded with everyone trying to go upstairs.   We had the bright idea to walk up 2 flights and take the elevator DOWN to the first floor, then back up.  Pretty smart since the elevator was almost empty. We had a few other people join us that were just as smart and had the same idea. Somehow we ended up in this crazy Pirate elevator...all laughing and giggling about how smart we were.  When the doors opened back on the main atrium level and the elevator was already full, we all yelled ARRGHHH!! It was just one of those very fun and spontaneous moments.

So now more fun! Not only were we able to see the Dream, but we were going to watch fireworks from their ship and then they were going to watch them from ours!!

After the fireworks both ships went on their way...but they got SOOOO close to each other that some people (AHEM) needed to go to the front of the ship and check it out. The Fantasy began to loudly sound her horn (in a few different tunes) but the Dream never answered her.  Luckily there is more to that story in Day 6!

Tonight our plan was to end in Oh La La!  Lauren and I adored this place and have been dreaming of going back.  The menu is full of Champagne Cocktails!

We found this little guy after retreating to our room!

Tomorrow stay tuned for some amazing Castaway Cay pics, a fun surprise and our last night on board! For Castaway Click here!

Day 5

Well after several posts it's finally time for Day 5, our second day onboard the Disney Fantasy. If you are new to the blog, WELCOME!!

I have kind of posted about this morning before but I'd like to take a minute to talk about it again.  Saturday morning Lauren and I scheduled pedicures at Senses for 9 a.m.  Unfortunately my internal Mommy clock didn't know I was on vacation and I woke up a 7 a.m.   I quietly got dressed and decided to grab my camera and check out the ship.  I'm so glad I did this instead of trying to go back to sleep.  The ship was a ghost town and it was a pretty cool experience.

I then decided I needed some caffeine so I stopped by the Cove Cafe. I was surprised that it too was empty!

After some much needed alone time, I went back to the room to get Lauren. You can read more about Senses Spa and our experience here.

After the Spa we went back to grab the boys and spent the rest of the day at the pool...oh and trying the AquaDuck!!  What an amazing experience!! We rode it several times but I want to share something very important we learned.

Our first ride on the slide Lauren was asked to remove her prescription sunglasses. When she explained they were prescription and that she can't see a thing without them she was told ok.   Later we got in line again and Eric and I realized that Lauren and Pat didn't follow us.  When we got off the slide we found out Lauren wasn't allowed on because of her sunglasses, and they were pretty stern about it.  I spoke with the CM who insisted NO glasses were allowed on the slide for safety reasons.  I understood but explained not only was she just allowed through but as we were chatting a woman with glasses was allowed on the slide. He said prescription GLASSES were ok but not sunglasses. We ultimately spoke with a manager.  The end result...there is no consistency in the rule and Lauren was told she had to put her regular glasses on if she wanted to ride...even though her regular glasses were much looser fitting and she feared the might lose them.  The manager was pleasant but the rule was a lot of BS.  No two people had the same answer.

We don't have a ton of pictures from this day as we spent most of it relaxing by the pool, having some lunch and a few drinks.

Next up...another show and more food!  BONUS....something very special happens our 2nd night aboard. Don't miss it!

For the next day, click here!

Enchanted Garden and Wishes

Happy Hump Day Everyone!! If you are new to the blog...welcome!!  I've reached almost 650 fans this week so it's been pretty busy over on Facebook!!

Today I want to talk a little bit about dinner and the show. When I left off we were enjoying the Sail Away party.  It was time to go back to the room and get ready for the evening. We were scheduled for the late seating of dinner which means show first! We were a bit nervous when packing for the evenings after what I had read online.  The rule is business casual...no shorts or tank tops.    I think we did pretty good and we felt like we fit in with everyone else :)

Wishes is described as: Wishes is a Broadway-style production that takes place in the Walt Disney Theatre. During this heartfelt musical, celebrated Disney Characters reveal the secret to growing up—while staying young at heart.

I thought the show was cute, a little Tweeny, but cute. I had high hopes because of the name. As always, Disney does an AMAZING job with these type of shows no matter what the plot is.

After the show we had some time before dinner. They recommend you don't show up right way because...well everyone does lol.  We headed out to Deck 4 to watch the sunset.

It was time to head to dinner.  Tonight we were scheduled for the Enchanted Garden and I was really looking forward to it. This restaurant changes from day to night and is inspired by Versailles.

One thing both my husband and I were worried about onboard the ship was dining. We knew there would be a TON of food but we don't eat Seafood and we aren't always the most adventurous.  So far so good!!

Dinner was really good and the restaurant was a lot of fun. The change from day to night was more subtle where we were seated but in the main part of the restaurant it seemed more dramatic.

After dinner we headed upstairs to check out the night sky and figure out where we would get some drinks.

We decided to try La Piazza tonight.   I wish I had taken a picture of the menu because for the life of me I can't remember what these drinks were.  Hubby got a rum and Coke and I believe Lauren's was a Bellini but who knows what I had!

We returned to the room to find a Swan towel animal and some chocolates, along with tomorrows Navigator.

Here is how the family stateroom gets set up a night. I think it's a great idea for families but for 2 couples it wasn't the best option lol.

To read the next day, click here!

Day 4- Part 3 More Onboard fun

When I left off we just gotten to our room. After we unpacked we went off to explore the ship a bit more and find our Muster Drill station.

Lauren and I were very excited to check out the bars and lounges in person as we had read so much about them online and checked out their menu's.  

Located on Deck 4 we started with DLounge is a fun and exciting space for families in the evening. We didn't stop here during the sailing but we passed one night and saw some fun things like Karoke!

Next up was Europa; a group of lounges and bars each with a special European theme.  We entered through La Piazza.

We then moved on to Oh La La!

It was SO gorgeous!!

Skyline...this one we didn't get to during the sailing either but I love that the skyline behind the bar changes!

O'Gills Pub was closed for a private event so we didn't get a chance to peak in.

We then set off to find our Muster Station.

We were at station G!

The Muster Drill went quick and was super informative...but it was time to PARTY!!!  We were dismissed and we headed upstairs for the Sail Away Party!

We got off the elevator on Deck 11 as we stepped outside we were handed Champagne in special Disney Fantasy Inaugural Cruise glasses! We decided to let Pat take our picture since he doesn't drink...

The first two photos were fine...I honestly don't remember what happened here. It's ok to be jealous of my obvious dance moves.

We took the stairs up one flight to get a better view of the party!

All of the Cast Members were great performers.

Next up...dinner and a show! Click here!

Senses Spa

Happy Friday everyone!!  I have a pretty busy weekend so I want to get one more post in before Monday. I hope you are all enjoying the photos of the cruise as much as I am.

I had previously mentioned that Lauren and I took a tour of the spa, Senses.  When you board the ship many things like the Spa and other areas of the ship are open for you to explore. It's a nice way to check things out.  We loved the tour so much that we planned a few things for Saturday.

The first room on our tour surprised us both...the Smile Spa where you can get your teeth whitened...who knew?

 Up next, the Barber Shop!

Also a salon for the ladies. You can get everything from a Shampoo and blow out to color, cuts....you name it!

Up next is the pedicure and manicure stations.

On Saturday morning, Lauren and I had appointments for Fire and Ice Pedicures:
This super rejuvenating pedicure will warm your senses and cool your tension. Savor the sublime as your feet and lower legs are soothed with our cooling gels and then warmed with a heated stone massage. This combination of hot and cold, plus aroma-therapeutic ingredients promote healthy-looking skin and nails.

We loved our pedicures and to this day, mine still hasn't really chipped. They looked gorgeous and after a whirlwind 3 days in the parks, it was amazing to have a pedicure and leg massage.

My only slightly negative comment is the pedicure did end up costing us more than we planned.  Be sure when you are asked about options you inquire about the price. We both chose the no-chip paint option which we were unaware cost an additional $25.  Still very much worth it though!

Lauren and I both agreed that for such a short vacation, we wouldn't be visiting the next location but on a longer cruise I would love to come and work out here!

There was not just equipment here in the fitness center but many classes offered as well.

Another surprise to me was the Chill Spa...a spa just for the teens!!

On a longer cruise, I would also LOVE to come here...this is the couples Spa Villa.  It was amazing! You can choose from 120 or 130 minutes. This includes everything from massages to wraps and more!

 The next room was where you can get massages, wraps and firming treatments.

One of our favorite experiences while on board was in the Rainforest room.  Senses offers multi day passes but you can also head there anytime and ask about a one-day pass.  After our manicures we went back to grab the boys, have a swim and some lunch.  Afterwards we went to the Spa and purchases our day passes (I believe it was about $27 per person).

We were provided wristbands and brought back to the lockers to change.   Our wristbands had an electronic chip that allowed us access to the Rainforest room for the entire day.

Once we were changed into our swimsuits and robes we were given a bag with 4 different scrubs and scrubbing pads. We were instructed to start in one of the 3 saunas (Hamam (steam bath), Caldarium (steam room) and Laconium (dry sauna).)

Lanconium was first. This was a dry sauna with heated benches and a large window overlooking the Ocean. This was our day at Sea and it was unbelievably relaxing.

Next we tried Caldarium...we found this to be a bit too hot for our liking and only stayed for a short time.  We ended with a trip to the Hamam. I think this room was supposed to be the hottest but it was rather cool (we didn't complain lol).  This is the room were you are instructed to use the scrubs. We had a variety to choose from (Vanilla, Lavendar, Chocolate...and I think something citrusy)

After we were all scrubbed up, it was time to try out the showers.  There are 4 showers to choose from; Tropical Thunder, Water Fun, Rainforest and Cool Mist.  Each shower is tiled in a different color and has several buttons to try different water temperatures and pressures. That is coupled with lights and smells...let's just say it was pretty heavenly!

Once we were rinsed off (we smelled amazing by the way!) We headed straight out to the private Grotto.  Here you'll find heated benches to relax on (with reading lights!)

We skipped the benches and decided to soak in one the private hot tubs overlooking the ocean.

I can't say enough...this was an AMAZING experience. For the price, you can beat the experience. We can't wait to go back and try it again!

Day 4- Part 2 On Board

I know, I left you hanging in my last post. We were standing there, just about to set foot on the Fantasy for the first time It was truly an exciting moment!   On the Disney ships (can't speak for others since I've only cruised with Disney) as you board they announce your name. They ask you first what you'd like to be announced as. We just used our last names but later on we heard some pretty funny groups board...even some fairly familiar Mousekeagents, hint hint!

The first thing we decided to do was to  head upstairs and eat. There were a few people at the pool and wandering around already, but we were HUNGRY!!!

We were fascinated by the photo system. We came across these huge bookcases full of photo albums, all colored and numbered. The end of the bookcases had  a screen that said tap your Keys The World Card here to find your photo folder.

We later learned, in the evenings they unlocked the cabinets and you could go find your photo album and view the photos that had been taken of you and your family on the ship.  So cool!

We made our way to Cabanas, not after being stopped for antibacterial wipes.  This was frequent on the ship and I'll be honest...I love it. I'm no germaphobe at home, but I've heard scary stories of illness on board ships so I really liked that for every meal they were handing them out.

This was my only meal at Cabanas but the rest of my group did go later on. Cabanas serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We stuck to our rotational dining (more on that later) but we really enjoyed our first lunch here!

There was so much variety!!

As usual, my favorite part might have been dessert.

After lunch we decided to explore the ship. The stateroom wouldn't be ready until about 1:30 p.m. We started off right on Deck11. Deck 11 is where you'll find Cabanas, Mickey Pool, Donald Pool, and the Quiet Cove area for adults.   You'll also find Nemo's Reef Wet Play area for kids 8 and under.

This is the area just outside the Quiet Cove Area. This area is for those 18 and older only.

Patrick was extremely excited about the self serve ice cream. He gave most of the kids a run for their money on how many he ate over just 3 days.

Just beyond the walls for the Quiet Cove are several chairs for lounging and this fantastic hot tub with a plastic wall on the window side!

We spent quite a bit of time here....there are 2 sections to the main Quiet Cove Pool.  One that is only a few inches deep and has bar stools.

Right beyond the pool is the Spa and some Concierge level rooms. We decided to send the boys exploring while we took a tour of the Spa. I'm going to save the Spa for a separate post as we took a lot of picturews

It was almost time for our room to be ready so we went down to Deck 6.  They were a little bit late in opening up the hallways to access our rooms but remember that the 1:30 time is just an estimate! Those Cast Members are working their tails off to get our rooms ready in such a short amount of time!

We loved the location of our room. It was Stateroom 6084. We were midship and pretty close to the Elevators. This stateroom is a category 5D Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Veranda.

The bathrooms in the staterooms are split. It's a great idea and came in very handy especially with 4 adults!

The bathroom closest to the bed has a sink and shower.

The bathroom closes to the door has a sink and toilet.

Checking out the Verandah!

We were so excited to see these....Wave Phones!! There are 2 in each stateroom. They work on board the ship and allow you to call each other. Way to go Disney!

Our Personal Navigator and dinner tickets. I'll also be doing a separate post on the Navigator :)

Next up...more exploring the ship, the Muster Drill, Sailaway Party and more! Click here to move on.

Day 4- Part 1...it's time to cruise!!

It's finally time!! It's the time you've all been waiting for! Our trip to Walt Disney World was officially over and it was time to head off to Port Canaveral.  We were left with instructions the night before to leave our luggage in our room.  They were going to be serving Continental Breakfast in the courtyard of the Ranchos building and someone would stop by and get our luggage. The next time we'd see it was on the ship!

We were surprised to see how long the breakfast line was! It moved pretty quickly though.

Patrick sporting his official Disney Earmarked Conference Fantasy Inaugural Cruise credentials! Whew! That was a mouthful!

I wasn't an Adventurer's Club fan...I actually had never been (came close once) but we had a special guest for our time on land :)

There was a pretty good spread of food.  It was enough to fill our bellies until we got on the ship!

We were all designated a boarding time.   Once we were verified, our ID checked and wristbands given, we were allowed to board our motorcoach to the Port.

Goodbye Walt Disney World!!

The ride was pretty uneventful. I think they said it was going to take almost an hour and a half. I think we were just so excited that before we knew the bus driver announced that we'd soon be able to see the Fantasy on the horizon!

To say that the Fantasy is a big ship....that's an understatement. She was HUGE!!  We were completely in awe.  After we got off the bus we had to go through Security and then get on the tall escalator leading to the main portion of the building.

We got yelled at for taking these because we were technically still at Security.

It was time to check in. We had done online check-in but we still needed to fill out a form basically stating that none of us were sick.

We got in line to check in. You can see here there are two separate lines; one for first time guests and one for Castaway Club members.

Before we got in line we were given a Boarding Card.  We were there pretty early in the day and got number 4!

There wasn't much of a line and we were quickly ushered to the desk.

We provided our online check-in form as well as our ID.  We also hadn't previously filled out our airline check in paperwork as it wouldn't let me online.

I love how EVERYTHING was detailed with Fantasy Inaugural logos.

Soon we were checked in and given our keys!

I love the entrance to the Gangplank!

We were about to go find seats when who should show up...Captain Mickey!!

Later on Minnie came in to relieve Mickey...we didn't wait in line again though.

After taking a potty break and updating Facebook, they were soon calling boarding numbers. Before we knew it, Number 4 was announced and it was time to board the ship!

Before boarding they took your picture in front of this great backdrop...I'm still bummed we didn't buy it :(

 Up next...it's time to explore!!  Come aboard the Disney Fantasy with us! Click  here to move on!

Day 3 Bonus! Mickey Mail

I've mentioned before that we have a tradition when we are at Disney. Several years ago on our first trip to Disney together, the hubs and I stopped in the Art of Animation store at EPCOT.  He was so intrigued by the artist they have there and that he could get a personal drawing (you can also buy one pre-drawn). If you ever meet my husband he can talk to just about anybody...about ANYTHING.  Especially at Disney.  Well got to talking with the artist, who's name is Eddie by the way,  and found they have a lot in common.  We purchase our very first drawing (Mickey playing golf) and framed and hung it right away.

This has become a tradition, not only in getting the picture but having Eddie draw it.  Eric was so excited as this was our first visit where he didn't have to remind Eddie who he was but he knew him right away!!

So we went ahead and ordered one but had to ship it home because of time restraints.  Well imagine my surprise yesterday when UPS dropped off this.

After removing the bubble wrap there was even more wrapping. What did we order?

Once I got to the envelope I realized it was our picture.  They took extra precautions to be sure it arrived safe and sound!

Every time we order a picture, we try and theme it to our trip. We have a Bride and Groom Mickey and Minnie, a Cinderella for the babies room and even a Santa Mickey.  This time...Dory!!

We were thrilled that they are doing 2 colors now!

You can customize the picture with a phrase or saying of your choice.

Hope you enjoyed and I'll see you back here on Easter!! I am unofficially dubbing next week Disney Fantasy week! The cruise pictures will start on Monday!

Day 3- A bit of everything

Faster then we knew it, Day 3 was upon us and our last full day at Disney. Well it wasn't actually a full day for me as I was attending the conference this day.


I won't bore you with too many details but I will say it was AMAZING!!   I don't have any pictures but Disney does an amazing job with their events. This was not the first event I have attended over at Coronado Springs. If you ever have the opportunity be sure to go!!  The day was full of fun and information.    The cast of the Adventurer's Club attended as well as many important Disney Cast Members. The day concluded with a Pixar cast member sharing with us a lot of the details that have been put into various attractions around the world including the new Cars land at Disneyland and the new Art of Animation.  Let me just say WOW!!!

While I was attending events, the rest of the gang was at Hollywood Studios.

We met up back at the hotel room to get ready for our night out at EPCOT.  This was one thing we were all really looking forward too!  Not only do we love eating and drinking around the world BUT it was also the Flower and Garden Festival.

As we were walking toward Canada we came across these sweet little baby ducks and their Momma.  There were so many people and they were having trouble finding their way!

Our first real stop was in France for some slushies and pastries. We don't normally do dessert before dinner but we were all pretty hungry and dinner wasn't until 8 p.m.

Grey Goose slushies!!

Next stop...Bellini's in Italy. They also serve Gelato here which is both a great idea and a horrible one.  We got in line behind about 20 teenage girls who were all buying their own gelato. It took FOREVER to get our drinks!

We were so excited to come across this new mini-stand of sorts, Haiti!

After our whirlwind World Showcase tour we arrived in Mexico for dinner. We still had about 5 minutes so we wandered inside the pavilion.

We were seated rather quickly once we checked-in. Our seats weren't GREAT but they weren't bad. Lauren and I were able to move to the table behind ours once Illuminations started.

We all shared the Chorizo Queso as an appetizer and then each couple got the Mixed Grill.  For the 2nd time in a row...it was amazing!!  We would go back to this restaurant over and over!!

We didn't get pictures of dinner but we did of our drinks!

I can't say enough...we love La Hacienda de San Angel. The food is amazing as is the wait staff. Our server was kind enough to bring us Churro's for dessert when I asked about them, even though they were only on the kids menu!!

We took our time wandering out of the park so that the crowd for the bus wouldn't be too crazy.

Day 2-Part 3....a Magical Ending

I think it's finally time to wrap up Day 2! When we left off the boys had just taken a cat nap and we were Magic Kingdom Bound!

But first we wanted a little something different than your normal Magic Kingdom food. Plus we hadn't had a Pina Colava yet...our favorite drink! Since we were doing mostly counter service food and not going to Ohana we had to improvise!

We stopped in at Captain Cooke's for some dinner. While we haven't stopped talking about the food...the cast members were incredibly rude!!  At Captain Cooke's you order via an electronic screen but once your done there is still a bakery case plus drinks and other quick items to choose from. We were debating on some other items and I think we were rushed to the register at least 6 times. We kept explaining we weren't done yet. I think they are used to people being confused about where to go after you order but SHEESH!!

This is the Pork nachos with a Dole Whip in the background. The Pina Colava came from the pool bar...oh so yummy!!

After a wonderful dinner we hopped on the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom.

We decided to grab Space Mountain Fast Passes and then check out Fantasyland some more.

Haunted Mansion had a 30 minute wait but we wanted to check out the new interactive Queue.

The new queue was great. It was frustrating that people complained and tried to rush through it though. There are two lines so if you don't want to play, stay right.

Now for some reason the boys convinced us to ride Splash Mountain despite our Kali River Rapids arguments.  Frontierland here we come!

Ok so I know you noticed in the above picture Splash Mountain looked normal right? Well when we got there...there was NO water running. We were confused and decided there must be something wrong (duh right?)

But after a few minute a loud announcement came on that said stay seated and stand clear of all animation as it would be moving shortly. Then the water came on! It was very neat to watch!

Remember the girls back at the agency gave me a gift card for a Dole Whip...well it was time to redeem!!

This was a cupcake we got back the Polynesian and hadn't eaten yet. It looks a bit worse for wear but it tasted good! It got mixed reviews in our group but was pretty tasty!

I'll try not to go overboard but here are a few  castle photos from the "Magic, Memories and You" show and Wishes. Lauren takes a million every trip and I love them all! It was super crowded so we were off the right of the castle near the Plaza.

 It's usually a good idea to hang back after the fireworks and this time was no exception! It seemed there were millions of people exiting the park!

This picture was close to an hour after the park closed. Remember, Main St. stays open an hour after the park closes.

We were doing a little shopping when I heard the Kiss Goodnight Start. It's a cute little bit where an announcement is made regarding the park while the castle twinkles. It reminds me of my days working on Main St.

The park was almost empty and we only had about 5 or 10 minutes but we wandered up to the castle and Lauren got these amazing shots.

And these. Main St is probably my favorite place in all of the world :)

Up next...our last full day at Disney before we cruise!

Day 2- Part 2

Ok when we left off Lauren had just finished screaming her head off at Dinosaur right?   Well we decided to grab something to eat before our Everest fast passes were up.  We went to a little coffee stand that is located across from Yak and Yeti. Be forewarned while the Iced Chai's are amazing...the small is rather large!! After we shoveled in some food it was time for more Everest!!

After Everest we decided to go talk a walk on the Pangani Forest Trail.  I love watching the Tigers and Bats!

If you follow my blog you might know my love of these...these are Tibetan prayer flags.These flags are placed outside of homes and places of spiritual practice and are said to carry the prayers along the wind. I think they are so beautiful. You can find them at Everest too.

I convinced everyone to ride Chester and Hester's with me. This ride is akin to Mission Space for me. I can't get anyone to ride it more than once!! I love it though and we laughed hysterically through the whole thing.

It was time for lunch and we had all been craving Flame Tree BBQ.  Lauren and I shared an amazing Pulled Pork Sandwich and Onion rings while the boys got ribs.

After lunch  Lauren and I finally gave in...the boys were wanting to ride Kali River Rapids. We weren't thrilled with this plan. If you never done it before, chances are you either get SOAKED (like jumped in a pool with your clothes on) or barely wet at all. Eric offered Lauren his hat to help protect her head...it was pretty funny.

We grabbed a few soft pretzels and began making our way out of the park.  We stopped in a few stores and decided it was nap time :) Well 2 of us did anyway...

I'm going to skip ahead just for the end of this post.  After naps we were headed back to the Magic Kingdom but not after a stop at the Lobby to pick up hubby's lost cell phone.

Up next...the craziness of the Magic Kingdom during Spring Break!

Day 2- Part One

I hope you are all enjoying the posts! I know I am!  I have to say it's a bit exciting when I get an email from Lauren saying that another day of pictures has been uploaded. I can't wait until we get to the cruise pictures!  Just a reminder, anyone in the Seattle area looking for a photographer should contact Lauren!!

Ok back to the trip!!  Our first full day was planned for early extra magic hours at Animal Kingdom. The plan was to get all of the big attractions done in the first hour (at least once).  

Our game plan was to head to the Safari first then over to Everest!

The safari was one of the best we'd been on. We saw at least a half a dozen Giraffes, the baby Elephant, Cheetahs and BOTH lions! It was great!!  Now it was time to make the trek over to Everest.

Festival of the Lion King is one of our favorite things to see.

We managed to ride the Safari, Everest and Dinosaur before the park opened. Still to come...another ride on Everest, Pangani Forest trail, Chester and Hester's, Kali River Rapids (oh my) AND lunch!

Day 1- Arrival day

Good Morning and Happy Monday!!  Who's ready to start? I know I am!!!  I'm going to back up a bit and start with the night before our arrival day...as that's when the trip started for some of our party!

Let's recap shall we??

We were all scheduled to be at Walt Disney World from March 20 to the 23rd where we would then board the magnificent Disney Fantasy for 3 amazing nights!

Our trip began Monday evening.  My hubby and I left the baby in the very capable hands of my parents and left for their house. We did a bit of a switcheroo as our house is closer to where they work and their house is closer to the airport.  We had a nice date night at Buffalo Wild Wings before trying to get some sleep.

Lauren and Patrick began their trip on a Red Eye to Washington. Both Lauren and my hubby have some fear of flying. So while we at dinner I read updates like this one:

Here we go! Oh so anxious! — at Seatac International Airport. Lauren

Oh and a bit of  a side note...throughout this blog you'll see a variety of pictures.

-Pictures I took on my point and shoot Canon

-Pictures I took on my phone

-Pictures Lauren took on her phone

-Pictures Lauren took on her on fancy shcmancy camera (I'm sure she'll tell you what kind if you ask,lol)

So back on track!  Patrick and I both got our respective spouses on the plane and we landed in Orlando safe and sound!  We met up at Baggage Claim.  Now I think I mentioned before that we opted to take Magical Express...well since I've spoiled my husband with rental cars each trip he wasn't exactly thrilled with that idea. Instead we booked a trip with Quicksilver Tours and Transportation. I can't say enough good things about them!!  They were prompt, on time and fast!  They were especially helpful later when we discovered my husband lost his phone in the car. They had returned it to our resort later that evening!!

We were quickly whisked off to Coronado Springs.   

Check-in was super speedy as we had already done online check-in.  We were in Building 7b in the Ranchos.  We began the trek back to the room. Now let me say the room wasn't FAR, but if I had kids it would have been a little bit of a walk.  There was a bus stop very close to our room but by the time you wait for it, you could have walked!

After we dropped our bags off we returned to the lobby to grab some lunch. I had to check in to the conference but couldn't do so until 2 p.m. We started out at Cafe Rix and even though there wasn't many people the wait for food was more than 15 minutes. We opted for some pre-made wraps and bottled water.   

It was just about 2 p.m. so we went to check in to the conference.  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that all of my conference "goodies" came in this amazing bag!

Now that I had this great bag, we had to stop back at the room to drop it off. On our walk there somehow the discussion came up about how Cast Members will never "point" you in any direction or TO anything. I explained to everyone that as a CM we are always trained to use two fingers or your whole hand as it's more polite.  Here is Patrick demonstrating, lol.

Now remember we hadn't been gone that long but when I got back to the room I was shocked to find this!

This amazing gift bag was left for me by a few of the other agents at Mouseketrips. It included a great bag, a bar of Mickey Soap, a 2012 Disney Cruise Pin and gift card for some Dole Whip (picture coming later!)

It was finally time to head out to the Magic Kingdom!! Yay!!

Once we arrived hubby and I had to go to Will Call while Lauren and Patrick were meeting up with a friend who is a Cast Member. We spent the first hour or so exploring the park and getting some insider info...haha just kidding.  We did have fun just exploring though!

A little sneaky peak of Dumbo!!

We don't normally travel during Spring Break and aren't used to the crowds. We thought our best bet was to ride Pirates. As we ventured over there we noticed some things we aren't used to...like a 75 minute wait for It's A Small World!!! YIKES!!

After Pirates we made our way to Pecos Bills for lunch. 

Once we finished lunch we wandered over to Tomorrowland.  That's were we witnessed this...it's some kind of dance party with VERY loud music. During the day it was tolerable...at night...well we disliked this very much. It was too much like a night club for teens. It seemed very inappropriate in the Magic Kingdom.

The wait on everything was pretty  long but we decided to snag some Fastpasses for Buzz while we went on Carousel of Progress.

After Carousel of Progress we learned Patrick had NEVER been on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority...the Peoplemover!

It was going to be a very early morning so we decided to leave for the night.   I love Lauren's pictures with the light.

All the people who drove and are headed back to the parking lot via the Ferry.  For once we were glad to be taking the bus!

We went back to the resort and spent a little time at the pool before hitting the hay for the night!!  Next up...Animal Kingdom for Early Extra Magic Hours!