La Hacienda De San Angel

With the help of my good friend and amazing photographer, Lauren Kennedy, I'm going to do yet another review of La Hacienda De San Angel.  If you are wondering WHY I'm reviewing this restaurant again... well it's simply because we love it!

If you haven't read any of my other reviews, here they are:

December, 2011

March, 2012

When it comes to choosing restaurants at Disney, we often have our favorites. La Hacienda has definitely  made the list for three important reasons:

-Food (most important)

-Ambiance

-Service

Every single time we visit this restaurant, our experience is relatively the same...extremely consistent. The food is fabulous, the service outstanding, and how can you beat watching Illuminations with dessert?  I'm getting a head of myself...

We arrived at the restaurant, after a quick stroll around World Showcase, at about 8 p.m. for our 8:15 p.m. reservation.

After a few Bellini's and a brief ride on Gran Fiesta Tour (Kennedy loved Donald!!) we were checking in...unfortunately the Cast Member couldn't find our reservation. Luckily they weren't too busy and not only were we seated, but we had amazing views of the lagoon.

I ordered a frozen margarita and we put in our order for the La Hacienda:

Mixed grill offering New York Strip, chicken al pastor, chorizo and vegetables, served with beans 

and fresh salsas 

For us, this is the perfect meal. My favorite is the chorizo...oh so yummy!  Plus it's served with tortilla's, blackbeans and corn. It says serves two, but my Mom and I aren't huge eater's so we couldn't eat the entire thing.  The meal is a great mix of everything. The steak and chicken are super moist and tender, and the corn is sweet and spicy (But not too much....I'm a baby when it comes to spicy food).  

On a side note, my baby girl was overtired and not feeling well at all during this meal.  I was up and down a lot with her to make her happy. The server was amazing and so accommodating. She checked on us a few times on her way to the kitchen and when Kennedy was happy at the table, she interacted with her a lot. I couldn't be happier with the service!

Port Orleans Riverside Royal Guest Rooms

I know everyone is probably out enjoying the beautiful weather for the Memorial Day Weekend (unless you are from Canada...HELLO!!!) but I thought I would get these up because there are a few of you looking for them.

When we were researching resorts for this trip we knew we were going to stay Moderate.  I've been to Coronado Springs twice in the past 6 months and I'm not a fan of Caribbean Beach.  That left Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter and when I saw the prices for the Royal Room I snagged it! During  non-discounted times, the Royal Rooms can run about $30-$40 more than an average room.

We were lucky enough to stay in the Oak Manor, just a bridge away from the main lobby and super close to a quiet pool! I LOVED the location...Seriously couldn't ask for a better spot!

The courtyard outside our building.

We were on the 2nd floor in Oak Manor.

Everything had the touch of a princess!

I was impressed the minute we opened the door to our room.

I loved the bright blue of the bedspread!

More Princess art but this one was kind of 3D

Everything was so regal!

One of the reasons I love moderates is for the double sinks!

All the fixtures were gold

I loved the rug pattern in the rug. The baby even tried to grab the tassels lol!

The Prince's even made a debut!

We were given a letter from Tiana when we checked in. I love that it was part of the table too!

The baby loved the headboard...and the fireworks!

More details of the bathroom...the floor was this gorgeous Royal Blue!

That matched the counters...

I love the H20 Products!

Overall we loved everything about this room! It was perfect for the 3 of us, in a great location and was just gorgeous. For the price difference per night, I would highly recommend it if you are traveling with a little princess!

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside General Overview

Happy Friday everyone! Memorial Day weekend is upon us and I'm hoping for beautiful weather for everyone!

Since we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside for a few nights, I have a ton of pictures. I'm going to split up the report into a two sections. Today I'll do a general review of the property and the next post will be on the Royal Guest Rooms.

Since we were leaving one resort for another, I called Bell Services pretty early in the morning (around 6:30 a.m.) to grab our bags.  We were headed to breakfast and EPCOT and wouldn't be back in time for check-in. They assured me that my bags would be at Port Orleans between 1 and 3.  Don't forget if you are using this service, it's customary to tip $1 per bag.

After an eventful morning we walked over to the Swan and Dolphin to meet my Mom who was dropping off her rental car and joining us for the last 2 days of our trip. Now since Disney doesn't offer Resort to Resort transportation you'll have to make your way to a theme park to catch a bus (or use a taxi).  Since we were at the Swan and Dolphin we decided to take a boat to Hollywood Studios and see an old friend before catching our bus.

After a quick stop at Hollywood Studios we hopped the bus and were at Port Orleans in no time!

The lobby was under a bit of construction.

I hope you enjoyed this brief tour!! Up next...Royal Rooms!

Disney's Beach Club Villas

If you've spoken with me before, you might know that Disney's Boardwalk is my favorite resort.  I love the ambiance of the resort...everything from the decor to the music.  Plus it's within walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

The same can be said about Disney's Beach Club (and Villa's).  The resort, built in 1990 with the Villa's being added in 2001) is themed after turn of the Century New England Seashore. This resort boasts 583 guest rooms and 205 Villas as well as a Convention Center.

This post won't be super detailed on all the in's and out's of the resort but simply as a guest staying at the resort for the first time. I've visited this resort many times for dining and just general wandering so I was very excited to stay here!
If you missed my previous posts, my main reason for staying here was for Stormalong Bay. I was traveling alone with a 10 month old and loved the idea of a pool day.  Stormalong Bay is incredible for little ones!!

We arrived at Disney's Beach Club around 4:00 p.m.  Check in should have been relatively easy but there was supposedly an envelope left for me that no one could find.  Later it turned up in my stateroom and it was a One Day pass to Wide World of Sports. Yay.

I was a tad nervous about staying at the Villa's since I'm used to places like the Boardwalk or Wilderness Lodge where the walk is super long! I was pleasantly surprised at how close our room was to the lobby!!

I had arrived received a text that our room was ready but since we used Magical Express our bags were not there yet. I had a pretty cranky baby on my hands by this point and packed my camera...so I apologize in advance for the cell pictures of the room!

After we checked in we decided to explore a bit before we met my Mom for lunch. Since I still didn't have my camera I won't torture you!  We ended up meeting with my Mom and walking over to Disney's Boardwalk for lunch...post for another day :)

The next morning we headed off to Ohana for breakfast and then spent some time in EPCOT before starting our pool day!

Stormalong Bay was amazing!  Although I found most of the Cast Members to be a bit rude, we had a great time.  The zero entry was so much fun as Kennedy could sit on the shore and splash.  The water around the area was only about 2 1/2 feet deep so I felt really comfortable by myself with the baby.  We didn't even get a chance to head over to the Lazy River or try the slide so I'm definitely excited to go back one day.

 Wondering how the Beach Club stacks up to the Boardwalk for me? Let's do Pro's and Con's!!

Pro's
Great location
Beautiful resort with similar themeing to the Boardwalk
Great counter service location

 Stormalong Bay!

Very laid back and calm...the whole resort was relaxing!

Instead of being AT the Boardwalk, I get a view of it!

Con's
Remember how I said Laid Back and Relaxing? I miss the hustle and bustle of the Boardwalk!
Check in rubbed me the wrong way...not enough NOT to return but still a Con.
I had to walk to the Boardwalk...ok I'm stretching here!

Ultimately, I would stay at this Resort over and over!  It was a great stay and I really enjoyed it...more so than I thought!  I still love the Boardwalk so I don't know if I would chose the Beach Club over it, but it's a close runner up!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles...and buses, monorails and boats!

I understand the rising cost of a Walt Disney World vacation...I really do.  So when something is offered as FREE it' very enticing...and some people are understandably a little skeptical.  Often times, FREE means you get what you pay for.

But let's back up a bit!  When planning my most recently Walt Disney World vacation a few things came to mind.

#1- Try new things to come back and share with everyone
#2- Make this trip as easy as possible as I was traveling alone with a 10 month old a lot of the time

I would say about 90% of my clients chose to use Disney's Magical Express...and 99% of them do so due to cost. Let's review the service and then I'll get into my actual experience.

Before you leave home you should receive some official Disney Documents from me, your Disney Travel Expert :) Included in these documents, along with coupons and vouchers is going to be your yellow, Magical Express tags and Vouchers.

Before you leave home be sure you attach BOTH of these to your luggage. If you don't want to use the complimentary Mickey ones, just be sure your bags are clearly labeled with your name.  These tags should be on your luggage before it's checked at your home airport.

If you do not have these tags prior to your trip...DO NOT PANIC!  Make sure you still have some sort of luggage tag with your name clearly displayed and check your luggage as normal. Be sure to hang on to your Baggage Claim Ticket...you'll need that later!

When you arrive at Orlando International Airport, simply head to Terminal B, first floor (Ground Transportation).

*Note...if you'd like you can get your own luggage and bring it with you.

Follow the signs for Magical Express. There should be a Cast Member waiting to direct you but if you attached those pretty yellow tags when you left home, you'll proceed to the podiums where a Cast Member will scan your vouchers (that came in your booklet) and direct you to which line.

If you did NOT have the yellow tags, but still had a reservation, simply head to the Counter. Here is where they will take your flight info and Baggage Claim Ticket.  After they are done, they'll direct you to the podium where you'll get checked in.

I believe I only had about 10 minute wait before our bus arrived BUT we then sat there for quite a while waiting for the bus to fill up. Obviously during peak times this won't be as much of an issue.

Keep in mind the buses do stop at multiple resorts and you may not be first to be dropped off. On my last trip to Disney's Beach Club, it was almost exactly 2 hours from touchdown until I was in my room.

The services was not incredibly fast, but it was easy to use.  Traveling by myself with a little one meant I didn't want to have to bring her stroller AND a car seat. By using Magical Express and Disney's Bus system, I didn't worry about that. It was quite time consuming however and I still prefer either renting a car (I prefer Alamo) or using Quick Silver and getting a town car service.

On the return trip remember that Magical Express will pick you approximately 3 hours prior to your flight time. I'll talk a bit more in another post about using Airport Check In prior to departing your resort.

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I'll admit...we normally rent a car when traveling to Disney.  We find it easy and faster than using Disney's bus system. I know the area fairly well from my Cast Member Days and we like to just jump in and go rather than waiting around in the heat for a bus.  But remember when I said 90% of my clients chose Magical Express? That means no cars for them either!

This trip, because I was leaving the car seat at home, that meant we'd be using Disney's Bus system as well. I'm no stranger to the bus system and during off peak times I don't mind it at all...but you need to do your homework.

At the Value Resorts, they have one main bus stop for all the buses. They run approximately every 15-20 minutes (key work is approximate).  The Deluxe Resorts typically have a main bus stop as well (but not all). A few of the Deluxe Resorts and most of the Moderate Resorts have multiple bus stops.

What does this mean?

It means a few things:

• If you resort has multiple stops, know this ahead of time! You may be the last stop to be picked up (and the bus might be full) OR if you are getting on at the first stop, you may have some time before the bus actually leaves for the park!!
• When booking your room, know the options! It might be worth walking down to the Lobby and the 1st stop but what about when you come home after a long night?  Preferred rooms are closer to the lobby and therefor the buses too!

Know before you go! I heard so many people complaining about wait times and stops. If you don't want to wait, either rent a car or stay at a resort that has one Main Stop.

While most resorts simply use the buses there are some other options as well.

• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian Resort and Contemporary Resort share a Monorail System.  There are TWO monorail lines; a resort loop and an EPCOT loop.  You must switch monorails if you are going to EPCOT.

• Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Campground as well as the Grand Floridian and Polynesian have a boat service to the Magic Kingdom

• Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, Boardwalk and Swan and Dolphin have boat services to EPCOT (International Gateway Entrance) and Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Of course there is always walking!  Disney's Contemporary offers a walkway to the Magic Kingdom and while a bit further you can walk to Disney's Hollywood Studios from  Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, Boardwalk and Swan and Dolphin and a shorter walk to EPCOT.

In the end it's important to do your research.  Next time we will most likely be opting for a rental car but that's not for everyone.  Some enjoy sitting back and letting someone else drive and take care of their luggage while others prefer to take matters in to their own hands (ahem...control issues?).

We're back!

Hello and Happy Monday!!  I'm back and ready to share everything I saw, learned and experienced last week.  Since our trip was so short, and kind of all over the place, I've decided to do our trip report in an unconventional way. I think this will make it easier to reference certain topics later.  I'd love feedback once it's complete! Please let me know if it's helpful to you!

Here are the topics I'll cover (I'll come back and update so there are live links once I'm done):

Transportation
Disney's Beach Club Villa's
Disney Port Orleans Riverside
Royal Guest Rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside
Restaurant Reviews
          La Hacienda De San Angel
         The Wave
         Big River Grill and Brewing Works
         Ohana (Breakfast)
Disney's Animal Kingdom-Africa
Three Generations of Disney Girls
Top 10 Hints and Tips
Traveling with Small Children

The Weekender Review

Hey everyone!  Can you believe I leave tomorrow? Me either! So much left to do today!  Since I promised a post on packing...and well I'm not even close, I figured I give a pre-review of my new carry on bag, The Weekender by Vera Bradley.  I'll take lots of packing pictures today and get that up before we leave in the morning so stay tuned!!

Let me first start off by saying, I didn't use to be a "bag" girl. Most of my purses/handbags came from Target. Then on our honeymoon, hubby got me my first Disney Dooney.  It was wonderful! I couldn't believe how durable and sturdy it was compare to the junk I had been buying! I carried that bag for almost a year, which is so rare for me!

Then I got pregnant and began searching for a diaper bag that was both useful and looked nice.  One day my mom came over to visit and she surprised me with a beautiful Vera diaper bag.  I was never really into Vera; the prints just never did anything for me and I thought they were kind of expensive.  But this bag was gorgeous, and again like the Dooney, it was very durable and put up with a lot...plus it's super easy to wash!

Since I'm trying to limit my bags, I knew I needed something that would hold all of our items, not just the diaper bag. I stopped in a local store to check out the Vera bags and fell in love with the Weekender, although I wasn't ready to buy just yet. I came home to hunt for a pattern I really loved.  That's when I found Symphony in Hue. I LOVE IT!

So here is a quick pre-review and then I'll post once we get back how it did.  These bags range from about $70 to $100 depending on the print and where you find it. I purchased mine on Ebay.

I love the size! It's slightly larger than my diaper bag which should hold a change of clothes for both of us, my cell, wallet and Nook plus all her baby items.

 18 ½" x 12 ½" x 8 ½" - 6 ½" handle drop - 48 ½" removable strap

It has two big pockets in the front...great for putting things you need to get to quickly.

The back has a large zipper compartment. This is usually where I keep my wallet so it's secure but again, easy to get to.

Nice and large!

There are 4 pockets inside, 2 on each side.

Bonus! It comes with an extra long strap which should make maneuvering a baby and the bag easier!

Right now there are a few older prints on sale both on the Vera website and on Ebay so look around. I knew that I was going to be using this bag for a while and wanted to really love the print so it was worth it tome to spend the extra $20 or $30.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for live updates!

I wish I was a little bit taller

Good Morning! Just 3 days left before our mini trip and we couldn't be more excited! The weather is calling for high 80's during the day with scattered Thunderstorms so just as expected!

One of the advantages this trip, and traveling with a baby, is that we can't do the big rides.  What? Doesn't that sound like a good thing?  Don't you like skipping Rock N' Roller Coaster and Everest?

Ya...me either.

I'm going to miss all the "big" kid rides that I love but with just 2 adults and limited time, it just doesn't work out.  Since Kennedy tops out at just around 30" she still just too short for many rides.


It's kind of a blessing in disguise though. Without riding those, that cuts down on our waiting in line time by a lot! We  get to focus on the shows and just wandering through the parks. We get to take our time and visit characters and watch the parades. A completely different experience for us.

When traveling with a small child, any ride that doesn't have a height requirement is OK!  That leaves us plenty of options!

Our first official night with all three of us will be spent in World Showcase. This is mostly for the adults and since Kennedy is so little, we have minimal entertaining to do. If you have older kids don't forget that World Showcase has a lot to offer!  There is the KidCot Fun Stops plus movies, shows and lots of other entertainment in each country.  You can also buy a "passport" and let your kids travel from Country to Country meeting cast members!

For our morning at Animal Kingdom, we have a lot planned!!

• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Pangani  Forest Exploration Trail
• Maharajah Jungle Trek
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo the Musical
• Triceratops Spin
• Character Meet and Greets

We have too much scheduled for our morning at Animal Kingdom but as you can see there are lots of options for our little one.  Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite parks and there is just so much to do!

Magic Kingdom will be loaded with fun things for us to do! I just wish we had an entire day there!   It will be hit or miss since we will be arriving later in the day but here are somethings we'd like to do.

• Dumbo
• Snow White (closing May 31)
• Small World
• Carousel
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Parades, Shows and Character's!

I really think she's going to love meeting the characters this time around so again, we have more on our plate then we can possible get done but it's good to have options!

Because this trip is laid back...and super quick, we don't have a list of MUST DO's or anything pressing which makes it a unique trip for us. It's going to be fun to just explore and wander where ever we want! I haven't done that since I was a Cast Member on my day off!

Remember Disney once said, "We believed in our idea - a family park where parents and children could have fun- together.".  There is something for everyone at Disney! You just have to know where to look (or who to contact...like me!)

I'm taking a blogging break for Mother's Day tomorrow, so Happy Mother's Day to all my readers!  Monday I'll do one more blog on packing before we leave! Be sure you are a fan on Facebook  and Twitter (not sure how much I'll keep up with Twitter but it's something I'm going to try!) as well as following the blog. I'll be posting LIVE next week!

For the ladies

Good Morning and Happy Friday!! Just a few more days until we are in Sunny Florida!! Although that seems like an understatement bases on recent weather forecasts lol. HOT HOT HOT!!

Today's post is for the ladies. I'll admit it...when I'm on vacation I am slightly high maintenance. There I said it! I know there are a lot of women who go on vacation, leave the make up at home and throw their hair up into a ponytail.

That's not me.

But let me explain!  I'm not super high maintenance in that I'm putting on a full face of make up or anything.   Let's start with Makeup since I'm hoping that will redeem me!

I try to keep it simple with makeup. If I know hubby and I are going out for a nice dinner or something, I may throw in eyeliner or lipstick but for the most part I stick to this. I love Bare Minerals foundation. It's night and light plus I can bring it in my carry on if I had to.

Ok let's talk hair...this is where the high maintenance part comes in.   I have a secret....I have curly hair.  It's not something I talk about and you'll rarely see me with my hair curly but it's the truth!! LOL!!

On a good day, with no humidity, I can manage to get my hair pretty darn straight. Take our wedding day.  March 3, 2010....it was a COLD Florida day, perfect for straight hair!

How do I do it?  I use a straightening cream, blow dry with a round brush and then flat iron it.  Then add more product  lol! I do this on vacation too...unfortunately the Florida heat often has other ideas...

So for this trip I decided to give in. It's going to be HOT and HUMID.  I'm not going to mess with packing all my products, brushes and flat iron, just for the curls to win!

So here's my plan. I'm bringing the following:

That's it, my plan to stay sane and make vacation as easy as possible!

As for packing, this is a short trip and I know it's going to be HOT so I can avoid packing the just-in-case jeans and sweatshirts.   I'll throw a few pairs of shorts, cropped pants along with a few tanks and maybe a sundress in the mix. Plus my bathing suit for our pool day!!

What's your vacation style?  Do you pack all your normal cosmetics or go free?

Traveling in Style

Good Morning! I wanted to say thank you to everyone who left comments, emailed me or left comments on Facebook regarding my stroller purchase. I didn't think we'd be ready so soon for a new stroller and was overwhelmed by all the choices!

Let's review my list of wants in a new stroller:
-Lightweight
-Easy to fold by myself
-Reclines for her to nap
-Not going to break the bank

I thought that I was going to find 3 of the 4 items after doing some research. Everything that fit the first three categories was way above my price limit. We already have one stroller and someday....far down the road, we are more than likely going to have to purchase a double stroller.  After looking through everyone's recommendations and SCOURING the web, I decided to purchase....

The City Mini!!

I was so excited to find a used one on Cragislist for only about $125 but that fell through pretty quickly.  I kept searching and finally my hard work paid off.   I ended up purchasing a brand new, black and pink City Mini on http://www.albeebaby.com/ for only $149 plus shipping!!  I was hesitant about shipping and didn't know if it would make it in time for our trip. I purchased the stroller on May 4th and yesterday, in the smallest box ever, my stroller arrived!!

I obviously haven't used it yet...but nonetheless I'm LOVING it! I wanted to give everyone a quick overview of the features and when I get back I'll give it a full review.

I'm probably starting backwards here but this is the stroller put together. I literally unfolded it out of the box and popped the wheels on. Easy assembly!

I love how upright the seat is. We are so used to the travel system that doesn't sit up all the way.

I didn't mention this above, but an extra large shade was also on my wish list for naptime. This one is HUGE!

Plus it has TWO viewing windows on the top that have covers.

There are actually two pockets here but I couldn't get a picture of the first that's actually on the inside just above her head. It will be a perfect spot for my phone and keys.  I also love this pocket and all the storage space underneath.

This is the stroller full reclined. I love that it goes all the way down. Many of the lightweight or Umbrella strollers didn't.

And even better?  Shade protection!! You can also see in this picture I had some helpers coming to join me.

Shade closed and full reclined...ready for nap mode!

Apparently it's also a great place to play hide and seek!

My favorite part? Folding it!  There is one handle on  the seat, right underneath where her little bum goes. You pull up and voila! Folded stroller! Look how compact!

I can NOT wait to use it! I hope it's as great as all the reviews. So far so good!!

As far as luggage, I wanted to minimize what I bring. My plan is one medium size suitcase plus a carry on.  Her diaper bag is great, but it just fits her stuff...I need a little room too!  We stopped at the mall the other day to check out some new Vera Bradley bags and I ended up getting this one:

This is the Vera Bradley Weekender. It's a tad bigger than my diaper bag but still has lots of pockets and a great strap! Hopefully it will arrive in time...I'll take some actual pictures once it arrives!

I hope you enjoyed my review of the City Mini! Coming up next...a special post for the ladies!

There's a rumbly in my tumbly!

Good Morning! I hope everyone is having fun entering the Avengers Giveaway! If you haven't already done so,  be sure to go here and enter!

With less than a week to go before our mini-vacation, I realized I hadn't yet shared our dining plans or our final itinerary.

Tuesday
We are scheduled to land around 2 p.m.and we'll head straight to the Beach Club via Disney's Magical Express.   I don't how the baby will be, so I didn't make any definite plans. I was thinking we'll possible do one of three things:

-Beaches and Cream for some burgers before we have an early night.
-Walk around Disney's Boardwalk for a little shopping and dinner
-If she's really up for it, head to Downtown Disney for some shopping and Earl of Sandwich (YUM!)

The Boardwalk at night is so pretty and can be a lot of fun!

If it ends up being an early night I'll probably grab a glass of wine and my Nook and have some Mommy time on the balcony while she sleeps.

Wednesday
I have a special treat for Kennedy today! We are heading to the Polynesian for a little character breakfast with Mickey!!  I contemplated which Character dining to do, but a few things were considered:

-A buffet would be tricky as it's just her and I
-We have park hoppers but since we were planning a pool day, it would be a little time consuming
-Availability of course!

Ohana fit the bill perfect! This Character breakfast is served Family Style so I don't have to worry about juggling Kennedy and my food! Plus I think she's going to love it!

After breakfast we are going to take the monorail to EPCOT. I'm super excited to surprise hubby with our traditional picture, even though he's not going to join us. I'm thinking maybe a Princess or Minnie Picture.  Then we'll make our back to the Beach Club for some naps and swimming!

Today will be a tricky day as Kennedy usually takes a 2 hour morning nap and nothing in the afternoon. I know a lot of people like to stick to their same at home schedules while they are vacationing but it's not super important to me. Kennedy does really well when we are out and about and will sleep anywhere.

Wednesday evening we are going to spend some time exploring World Showcase...

 Ending with dinner at La Hacienda De San Angel. I know I've recommended this location to many clients. I can't endorse it enough! This will be our 3rd visit in just six months!

I love wandering EPCOT in the evening!

Thursday
Today we have to plans:

Plan A- Animal Kingdom in the morning for some shows and the Safari, followed by the Magic Kingdom in the afternoon.

We can't miss the Tumble Monkey's!

Plan B- Magic Kingdom all day :)

We also have two reservations booked today; Yak and Yeti and the Wave. I'm excited to try some new locations. We won't eat at both of these restaurants though. We have one booked for lunch and one for dinner and will most likely cancel one the night before.

No matter where we end up during the day, we will see Wishes before heading home. If Kennedy stays awake long enough I'm sure she'll love the Main St. Electrical Light Parade too!


Friday
Friday we make our return home. We have some time to spend in the morning and will most likely hit Downtown Disney. We love Wolfgang Express for breakfast and we love to shop...it works perfect!!

Next up...what stroller did we end up buying? Plus a few client trip reports, packing woes and more!

Just the two of us

There are a lot of adjectives I can use to describe my daughter...easy wouldn't be one of them.

On the other hand, she does really well whenever we go out. She loves to go shopping and is always interested in what's going on around her. That's the major reason I'm not too worried about traveling with just her and I.

We learned a lot of things when we brought her to Disney the first time.

• We didn't need half as much stuff as we thought
• She napped pretty much every where and still slept most of the night

• She LOVES parades

• She'll sleep through fireworks
  

With that being said, I'm even more excited to take her this time. She's not walking yet so she'll still pretty much be bound to the stroller but she's so much more interactive then she was back in November. Some things I'm looking forward to doing with her.

• Swimming in the pool. Bath time is one of her favorite things and she could splash in the water for hours!
• A character meal (more on this later). She just loved Mickey, Minnie and Pooh back in November and she loved the Easter Bunny in April so I think this will be a big hit!

• The music, lights, colors....she's so interested in the world around her and I think that everything is really going to keep her attention!!

There are some things I'm concerned about, mostly the airplane.  We spend a lot of time just the two of us but that involves hanging out at home with her bff Walter...

or going to Target, not flying 2 hours away. I have traveled alone a lot in my life, but this is an entirely new ball game! But no worries, we have a plan!!

Packing

I'm a self admitted over packer...I try not to but I'm always worried I'll forget something.  My husband says if I do, don't worry I can just buy it there...but this time we have no rental car so I can't just pick it up!  Since we are only at Disney for 3 nights I plan on bringing:

• One medium size suitcase for both mine and Kennedy's things
• One medium size carry on....this needs to serve as my purse and a diaper bag.
• Stroller

It's going to be tough but I think I can do it!  Since I'm using Magical Express I just need to worry about my luggage from the car into the airport, then it's just me, the babe, the stroller and our carry-on.

Now one of the reasons I'm a bit worried about packing is, Kennedy still needs quite a few things that could easily warrant her own bag:

• Diapers...I know it's only 3 nights but we get there fairly early on Tuesday so I need 4 days worth of diapers
• Formula. She's still having bottles every 4 hours and due to some tummy problems, she's on super expensive hypo allergenic formula
• Wipes..nuff said
• Snacks. She doesn't eat baby food so mostly I'm not worried about meals. Disney has enough choices that she'll be fine, but I usually bring with us some veggie sticks or Pirate Booty to keep her happy . I want to try to squeeze a bag in.

I'm debating over using Garden Grocer for these items. A few problems, first they don't have my formula. I have an email in to them asking. Second is, it would obviously be more expensive then just bringing the stuff with me but diapers, wipes and formula can take up a lot of room, even for just 3 days!  I've begun researching a few companies that specialize in delivering products for children and babies, as well as using Amazon.com Stay posted!

I'm excited for my baby girl and I to hit the road on our own (so to speak)!  I think this trip is going to be a lot of fun and she is really going to enjoy herself. Stay tuned for more tips and hints about traveling with a little one when we return!

T Minus 10 Days and Counting...and the great stroller debate!

This trip is kind of surreal to me for a few reasons. First is that the trip is coming up so fast! I don't believe I've ever planned a Disney trip in just 2 weeks!  Second is because the trip is so short.  I know it's going to just fly by!

Today I want to talk about strollers.  When we took Kennedy on her first trip to Disney, we used our travel system:

We used this because it was an easy way to get her car seat to Florida since we were renting a car.   She's almost outgrown the car seat at this point and only uses it in the car, not the stroller.  She loves her stroller but it's a bit bulky and I don't know that I can handle folding it up with her in one arm.  Traveling with just her and I is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

I've been shopping for a new stroller anyway. The travel system is great but sometimes I want something a bit more compact and light weight. I've had lots of recommendations from friends and family but have yet to buy something new.

Chicco Liteway

City Mini

Combi

Maclaren

I want something that's easy to fold up, but sturdier than an umbrella stroller. Good shade coverage and a
little storage space wouldn't hurt either!

I also like that our current stroller reclines so she can sleep.

I'll be going through security by myself and will need to get all of our stuff, plus the stroller up on the belt while holding the baby.

I'll be posting more later about traveling alone with a baby but in the meantime, what's your go to stroller?

To EMH or Not to EMH

That is the question! Of course EMH standing for Extra Magic Hours.  If you search among the many discussion forums, or even just google the topic, you'll get 10 different answers to this questions. Today, I'll give you my view!


There are two basic theories when it comes to Extra Magic Hours

1) Go to them....you'll beat the "regular" crowds
2) Don't go to them, but go the day BEFORE. In theory the park may be quieter because everyone is planning on EMH.

I know simple right...go or don't go?

Ah, if it were only that simple I would have to write about it today!

For my family, and many of my clients, I break it down into a few categories that seem to work best.

1) EMH in the morning for Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom
2) EMH in the evening for Magic Kingdom
3) The rare evening EMH at Animal Kingdom

I know, but what about EPCOT and Hollywood Studios? I'll get there...


Let's start at Animal Kingdom!

Personally Animal Kingdom early morning EMH is the best way to use Extra Magic Hours. Typically  this means the park opens at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.  I would highly recommend trying to arrive by 7:30ish.  For early EMH the following rides are open:

Expedition Everest 
DINOSAUR Kilimanjaro Safaris  
It's Tough to be a Bug! 
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

I know it doesn't look like a lot but did you realize that Animal Kingdom is the largest of all the park? Granted much of that includes the vast savannahs but it can still be quite time consuming!    


Most people are going one of two ways when the park opens; to the left for the Safari or to the right for Expedition Everest.   I believe either way works but we typically like to head to the Safari first, and our reason? Fast Passes.  

Since Disney is now enforcing the Fast Pass rules we like to arrive at Everest a bit after opening.  Usually the line is only about 10-15 minutes.Once we have waited in line, gone on the coaster and wandered through the gift shop, the Fast Pass time is late enough that we can work it into our schedule and come back later.  

Then we like to head over to Dinosaur.  After that the park is probably getting ready to open and we can spend the rest of the day leisurely exploring Animal Kingdom the way it's mean to be explore!

Next up is Magic Kingdom, the other park I think early EMH is a great idea, especially with the Fantasyland project going on.  The first place we head is Fantasyland before the lines get out of control. I love Peter Pan as much as the next person but I will not wait 70 minutes for it!

After Fantasyland we'll head to Space Mountain but by then it's most likely that the park is open.  You could always swing by Space Mountain first but again with the Fast Pass rules being enforeced it's likely the time will be too early.

Here is a list of Early EMH rides that will be open at Magic Kingdom.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin 
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant 
"it's a small world" 
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 
Mickey's PhilharMagic 
Peter Pan's Flight 
Space Mountain
Stitch's Great Escape! 
Tomorrowland Speedway

So why no EMH at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. It's not that I'm opposed to them but I can guarantee you I won't be getting up to be at the parks at 8 a.m. EVERY day, so I pick my top two and the two I think are the best use of time.

Ok so not too many early mornings...but what about evenings?  I think Hollywood Studios is a great evening EMH for the older kids. But since so many attractions here are shows, the list is a bit limited as to what is open.

Muppet*Vision 3-D
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours
Toy Story Midway Mania!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

I kind of feel the same way about EPCOT.  In the morning the only real benefit is Soarin', especially with Test Track closed right now.  Evenings at EPCOT are often spent in World Showcase but for EMH that wouldn't come into play.

Living with the Land 
Mission: SPACE 
Soarin' 
Spaceship Earth 
Test Track

I love Living with the Land as much as the next person, but I don't need to spend time during EMH to ride it!

I added in evening EMH at Animal Kingdom even though it's not really done much anymore, if at all. One of my favorite memories was walking around Animal Kingdom while it was dark, after dusk. My husband and I had a blast riding Everest at night at going on Kali River Rapids 3 times in a row because there were no lines! If it ever happens, I highly recommend going!

I hope that gives you a brief insight into Extra Magic Hours.  This isn't by any means a hard and fast rule, but so far it's worked really well for us.  

What do you think about EMH? Does your family go?

You can't do it all

The understanding was, if we went on this trip it was just to go spend a few days with my Mom. The fact that it was at Disney was a bonus.  We will only have 3 nights and 2-day park hoppers so we aren't going to see everything....or even close to it!

Nonetheless, I can't change my personality so I present you our itinerary.

Tuesday: I am scheduled to arrive at 2:10 p.m. and the babe I will head to the resort.  After we check in we'll grab something to eat. It's been years since I've gone to Beaches and Cream so I think we'll either do that or head over to the Boardwalk before the baby heads to bed.

Wednesday: Pool day!  I'm torn as to whether we'll try Cape May for Breakfast or head over to EPCOT for some pastries in France!

We'll also be heading here for dinner tonight so I'm thinking we might just wait.  I'm not sure how the two of us would do alone at a Character breakfast, especially a buffet but I'm still thinking about it. There is also the idea of heading over to Captains Cook for some Tonga Toast!! Hmmmm.....

We'll wander around World Showcase tonight for some dinner, Grey Goose Slushies and Illuminations

Thursday: It's a no brainer for us to spend our one full day at the Magic Kingdom.

We considered splitting up and doing Animal Kingdom for half the day and Magic Kingdom for the other half...it's still up in the air.  For now, we have dinner reservations at the Grand Floridian Cafe but if we split the day we are thinking about trying Yak and Yeti.

Friday: We leave :(

So as you can see nothing is set in stone except some quality family time. I'm excited to be spending some down time and sharing everything with the baby!