Happy New Year!!!

Welcome back to Living With the Magic! I'm so excited for 2014 and all it has to offer! Whether you are planning a Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line vacation, you've come to the right place! Be sure to check out all my links including:

• About Me
• WDW Trip Reports
• Disney Cruise Line
• Show Some Love (Reviews)
• Disney Brides
• Itinerary Planning Services (for guests staying off property or at DVC Resorts)

Also be sure to check me out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Disney Wonder to Alaska 2013

It's a little over due but I wanted to recap our Alaskan Cruise this past summer.  Lauren and I both answered a few questions about the cruise and below you'll find all the links to our planning and trip report.

1) What was your favorite part?

Amanda- The scenery! Growing up in Upstate NY we have our fair share of amazing landscapes but Alaska was like nothing I had EVER seen before! It was amazing to walk outside and see ice blue water and amazing mountains.  My husband and I aren't really warm weather people so the cool, crisp temperatures didn't bother us at all!

Lauren-My favorite part was being able to see the landscape from the ship! It was amazing being able to go out on deck and see beautiful mountains surrounding the ship. Also, it was fun searching for wildlife (even if we had the worst luck spotting whales!).

2) Were you happy with your stateroom or do you wish you would have upgrade?

Lauren- I was happy with out stateroom. I did not feel like I was missing out by having an inside stateroom.

Amanda-I think for us, traveling as 2 adults and no kids it worked out fine.  I think for our next Alaskan Cruise (and there will be a next one) we'll spring for an Oceanview room. I would love to be able to see the scenery as we float by but don't necessarily need the verandah (or the price tag).

3) Would you buy the wine package again?

Amanda-Since only 2 of us drank the wine, probably not. We left with an entire bottle!

Lauren-I might really think about how much we can drink and order a day less but I think I could take or leave it. I had horrible heartburn during that trip so I had a hard time drinking anything and if I did not have that problem we may have been able to drink all the bottles we purchased. I do like that you do not have to order a wine package with as many days as your trip!

4) What excursions do you wish you had done?

Lauren- I wish we could have done the train in Skagway. Other than that I don't feel like we missed out with not doing more than one excursion. Our one was amazing!

Amanda-There are a few that I wish we could have splurged on.  One morning we watched the helicopters take off and thought that must be an amazing sight. I also would have loved to take a train ride as well as the sledd dogg experience.

5) Any additional thoughts?

Amanda- We loved this cruise more than any other we've taken.  Traveling to Mexico was nice but hubby and I both agree that cruising to Alaska is top on our list (besides a Mediterranean cruise).

Lauren- I want to go again!! Oh, I also loved the entertainment cast members on our cruise. I think I remember them the most out of all the cast members. It may have been that we just spent a lot of time with them being that we played nearly every single game of Bingo!! Another tip - don't play all the games of bingo.

The Disney Wonder to Alaska
Trip Announcement
Alaska Here We Come

Trip Planning
But Alaska is Cold!

Off we go!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3, Part 2
Day 4
Day 5

Day 6
Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Talking Mickey Mouse

During our Very Merry Girls Getaway we made it our mission to meet more characters than we normally do. Usually we have our husbands with us and unless we are meeting Princesses's, they aren't too keen on the idea.  When we were able to snag a FastPass+ to meet Magician Mickey at the Town Square Theatre we were so excited!

Upon arrival we had a fairly short wait.  We waited in a queue outside the actual room where we met Mickey. We were then brought in, in groups of 10 or so.  We got to see  Mickey interacting with families before we met him.

Mickey said Good-bye to the guests that went in front of us and we were given STRICT instructions to wait.  After the guests left, Mickey turned to us and started talking.  The dialogue seemed unique to us, but at the same time it seemed canned and forced. I think we mostly giggled and smiled at Mickey.  We got our photo and ended up scooting out of there. The whole interaction to me was quite awkward.   The conversation didn't flow like it does when you meet Cinderella or Rapunzel.  I think Mickey's interaction with the kids was much smoother but still something about it seemed off. I definitely prefer my characters to NOT talk.  The other thing that I find odd is that NO other characters talk yet. I think it might be tricky to explain to my child why Mickey talks but Pooh doesn't.

This was the best picture we got with Mickey..obviously we weren't sure where to look.  Not only was this experience a little odd, the interaction with the Photopass photographer left something to be desired.

We didn't take any video but here is a video from Disney Parks Blog showing the new talking Mickey.

Disney Memory Maker to replace Photopass+

Memory Maker
Now Everyone Can Be in the Picture! Buy in Advance and Save!
(Official Link from Disney: https://mydisneyphotopass.disney.go.com/memory-maker/)


Imagine having your magical vacation moments captured—with everyone in the picture! With Memory Maker*:

-You get all the photos of everyone in your travel party taken by our Disney PhotoPass photographers at hundreds of locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

-Whether you pose in front of Cinderella Castle, share a hug with Mickey, or let us capture your fun family moments throughout the theme parks, all those great shots are yours.

-Even attraction photos are included, like that amazing shot of your plummet down Splash Mountain!

-Forget about having to purchase each photo individually, because you get digital copies of all of them to download and share with family and friends.**

The cost will $149 and can be purchased through your My Disney Experience account.  

The "window'" begins 3 days after you purchase.  If Memory Maker is purchased at the advance purchase price, any photos taken within 3 days from the date Memory Maker is purchased will not be included.

 You will have 45 days from the time the picture is taken before it expires.

Thanks for stopping by Living With the Magic! I'm currently at the Happiest Place on Earth for our first ever Girls Getaway! I'm joining one of my best friends Lauren Kennedy from Focus on the Mouse for 4 fun filled HOLIDAY themed days at Walt Disney World. Be sure to follow us on Instagram!

Amanda-http://instagram.com/livingwiththemagic
Lauren-http://instagram.com/focusonthemouse

Holidays Around the World

One of  my favorite Christmas Events is Holidays Around the World! During this event you can travel through the countries in World Showcase and learn about how they each celebrate the holidays in their own unique way!



Here's a list of what you might encounter:
American Adventure 
Meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, celebrate the traditions of Hanukkah and discover the spirit of Kwanzaa.
Canada 
Follow the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs on a musical tour as you explore seasonal customs of the Great White North.
China 
Watch the agile Monkey King weave his tall tale with twists and turns celebrating Chinese New Year.
France 
Discover the magic of Père Noël and the joy of the season through a Christmas letter from a child.
Germany 
Listen as Helga tells the story of the first Christmas tree and the tale of her first Nutcracker.
Italy 
Meet the kind-hearted witch La Befana who arrives on the eve of the Epiphany to grant gifts to good children.
Japan 
Hear the fascinating story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year.
Mexico 
Celebrate with Los Tres Reyes Magos, the Three Kings, as they tell of their journey to the Posada and traditions today.
Morocco 
Join Taarji, a Moroccan drummer, as he reflects on family traditions commemorating the holiday of Ramadan.
Norway 
Spend time with Sigrid and learn about Julenissen, the Christmas Gnome.
United Kingdom 
Share in the vivid stories of Father Christmas, dating back to 15th-century England.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

It's been a while since I posted but today I have something special I want to share with you. Let me start at the  beginning. I'm incredibly lucky to have a very supportive husband.  Since I set out on this journey to be a Disney Travel planner more than 3 years ago (it actually started long before that), he has been my #1 fan (probably tied with my Mom).  

 Part of the job requires that I stay up to date on all things Disney related and what's better than actually visiting the park?    In our family we usually have 3 types of trips:

1) Family vacations where EVERYONE goes

2) Hubby and Wifey vacations...these are the ones where Kennedy stays home with Nana and Papa

3) Mommy only working trips (this is where the super supportive Husband and Mom come in!)

With my husbands school schedule getting more and more intense (he's becoming a Special Education teacher) it's becoming more difficult for us to take vacations together...couple that with baby #2 on the way and well we don't have any vacations together in the foreseeable future. When I found out Lauren was going to be in Disney this fall for some training I knew it was the perfect opportunity for a working trip. I'm lucky to have an amazing family so Kennedy is well taken care of (and more than likely spoiled) while I'm gone!

Back to my original topic, when I take these kind of working trips, it's often on a budget.  We don't get the dining plan and the trips are usually pretty short.  We try to make the most of our time there so we can catch up on all things new and that would interest YOU!  So when it came to the Christmas Party we had kind of tabled the idea.  I've been before but Lauren never had. It can be pricey (at over $60 a ticket) so it wasn't a front runner.

The more and more we talked about this holiday themed trip and how we NEVER get the chance for a girls trip, much less during the holiday season, we knew we had to plan on going.  So we opted to skip a few table service meals (that we had been to anyway) and book the party instead!  

I understand when families go on a budget and it's hard to decide what to keep and what to cut.  I wanted to share a bit about the Christmas party and why we feel it's so worth the money!

1) To say Lauren and I love the Christmas season....well that would the be understatement of the century. It runs a very close second, if not a tie, with our love of Disney. The Christmas party combines all of those things!  From a special Christmas parade (with Disney Characters) to fireworks, snow on Main St., cookies and hot cocoa and so much more it's the perfect combination of EVERYTHING we love!

2) Just like evening Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom, attending the Christmas party means being in the Magic Kingdom at night with less people. It's just kind of a magical time to walk around the parks, ride select attractions and enjoy our favorite place!

3)Extra Magic Kingdom time is NEVER a bad thing! With your party tickets you can get into the park starting at 4 p.m. even if you don't have a park hopper and didn't plan on being at the Magic Kingdom earlier that day. At 7 p.m. they'll start kicking everyone without a ticket out of the park.

Needless to say we are pretty excited about this addition to our itinerary. We did cut out two table service meals (Mama Melroses and Whispering Canyon) but we think we made a pretty good swap!

Top 5 Table Service Restaurants for Breakfast

As promised here are my Top 5 Favorite Table Service locations!


1) Kona Cafe!!  This restaurant is a must for us most trips.  They have a unique menu offering including Macadamia Pineapple Panckaes,  Kona Coffe and my all time personal favorite...TONGA Toast.   This is a small LOAF of sourdough bread stuffed with banana's, friend and dusted in Cinnamon and Sugar. It's as good (and fattening) as it sounds. If you don't have time for a full sit down meal, Tonga Toast is available at the Polynesians Quick Service Location, Captain Cooks.

2) Boma is a must do on any Disney trip I take with my husband. It's the perfect mix of american food with a few exotic offerings, plus how can you beat all you can eat? We love the custom omelettes as well as goat cheese scrambled eggs, mini chocolate croissants, fresh fruit and more...not to mention my all time favorite Disney breakfast sausage. Oh and don't get me started on the juice!

3) Looking for a quiet breakfast location close to the Magic Kingdom? Try out the Grand Floridian Cafe. While they  no longer service this amazing stuffed croissant they have a ton of great  and simple options like  Steak and Eggs, Buttermilk pancakes and Mickey Waffles. They also offer some different options like Lobster Eggs Benedict and Citrus Pancakes!

4) You didn't think I'd leave character dining off the list did you? I'm not a huge fan of Character dining but my daughter and I really enjoyed 'Ohana.  I think part of why I loved this experience is that the food is all served family style so you don't have to worry about missing character interactions while you are filling your plate at the buffet! Plus Lilo and Stitch were a ton of fun and not the normal characters you run into!

5) I'll throw one more Character meal on my top 5...Cape May Cafe. The things I loved about this meal included the quiet atmosphere, the character interaction but most importantly the French Toast Bread pudding! I'm a sucker for bread pudding! The buffet was simple, not a huge number of offerings but everything was very good and it didn't feel as time consuming as other character meals.

Girls Getaway Trip Planning-Itinerary and Dining

With a little less than 5 weeks to go, I thought I would share with you today some details of our plans! This trip was VERY different not only from most trips we take but from most trips I plan for my clients.  Here are a few reasons why:

1) No children
2) No husbands
3) No dining plans
4) I'm pregnant

Not only that but we are trying to squeeze a lot of things into a limited amount of time!  It's a tough combo between what we can do, what we want to do and only having 4 days to do it!!

So let's jump right in! Lauren is attending an amazing Travel Agent training and we decided to sneak a few days in ahead of time as long as she's flying to Florida anyway!




Arrival
We originally planned to arrive on Thursday but after doing a little digging we found that if we flew in a night early we'd save money AND get more time at Disney!  We'll be arriving later in the day so our plan is to pick up our rental car and grab Earl of Sandwich before calling it an early night. I'm very excited for a Holiday Sandwich!

Day 1
Our first day will be a Magic Kingdom day, the best way to start off our trip!  We'll be taking things slow and doing all the things we miss when we rush around the parks trying to hit up all the big attractions. Plus we'll be taking lots of pictures AND we bought Photopass+  so we can come back and report how we like it.

The park closes early for the Christmas Party and we have special plans. We are having dinner at California Grill. It was already one of our favorite restaurants so we can't wait to see the renovations!!

Day 2
Today we originally had other plans but once I found out I was pregnant we had to do a little adjusting.  Since I can't ride many things at Animal Kingdom we'll just be heading there for the morning.  We'll spend some time seeing the shows, checking out the animals and of course eating!

That night we have plans to start the Christmas fun by going to Hollywood Studios for Osborne Family Lights and dinner! Lauren has never seen the lights and they are one of my favorite things that Disney does so I'm very excited about this!

Day 3
We have another Magic Kingdom day planned PLUS we have FastPass+ reservations for Be Our Guest. I've toured the restaurant but never eaten here and Lauren has never done either.  Magic Kingdom is our favorite so we had to plan 2 full days here (although we might decide to sneak over to EPCOT later)

Day 4
Our last full day will be spent experiencing Christmas at EPCOT. As much as I love Magic Kingdom, I really love how EPCOT does Christmas. I wish Candlelight Processional had already started but we are still hoping to catch as much Christmas as we can by touring World Showcase. We'll end the trip at one of our favorite restaurants, La Hacienda for Illuminations.

Day 5
I have a late flight today and Lauren doesn't need to check-in to training until late afternoon so we have plans to head to the Wilderness Lodge for breakfast before I go.

On top of our specific plans, since we are taking things slowly we'll try and fit in some resort touring as well.  I'm excited for a relaxing weekend of eating and hanging out with one of my favorite people. We are also excited to try Photopass+, test out MagicBands and more!  We'll be bringing back tons of information and pictures!

Trip of A Lifetime- Day 9

It was finally time...our last day on the Disney Wonder. Even writing it up now I can't believe how fast the trip went by!

For our last day there aren't too many photos.   We spent some time in the gift shop picking up some souvenirs. Not these...

Today was the last and final BINGO of the trip. We started out the morning with breakfast and the $10,00 Jackpot BINGO and final BINGO was at 3:00 p.m. Don't ask Lauren about it as she's still a little bitter we lost the whole thing by 1 number ;)

To try and make ourselves feel better we went upstairs for some food...and ice cream.

We did catch the Magic Show that afternoon which was a nice way to fill our day.  Hubby and I spent some time up on deck enjoying the view one last time.

I even recorded my first video for you! Hubby and I should have practiced using the video before we left...

So did hubby, lol!

Before we knew it was time for our last dinner. 

We had an entire bottle of wine leftover that Lauren took home.

We loved the farewell parade with all the servers showcasing their countries flags!

Our servers came over to say Good-bye. There were hugs shared and quite possibly a few tears. One of our favorite parts of a Disney Cruise, especially longer cruises, is how well we get to know the Cast Members and how attached we become.

After dinner we spent some time looking at all the photos we had taken. I really wish we had budgeted more because the photos are pricey!!  This is the one we selected to purchase and it came in a nice Vinyl book with a gorgeous photo of the ship. I think it's the epitome of the trip.

 After we were done, we were ready for the Till We Meet again "show". This where everyone comes out and says Good-Bye in the main atrium. I will be honest...there were MANY tears shed during this.  The video is a bit long but worth viewing!

There are many opportunities for meet and greets.

Well that's it for the trip! I'll be doing one more post with a recap of our thoughts on the trip as well as uploading Personal Navigator's from the trip as well! I hope you all enjoyed!

Trip of a Lifetime-Day 8

Today was our last port day and we'd be in Ketchikan. We we woke up to our first day of bad weather. It was raining pretty hard and since we had no specific plans, we laid low for the morning.

There was a Double Up Jackpot Bingo at 10 a.m. so after breakfast that's where we headed. That's where you could find us most days, lol.

After another round of losing BINGO, we  decided to play another round of Chip It Golf (DH loves golf, the rest of us weren't that great).

Despite the rain we decided to bundle up and head off the ship.  We didn't have specific plans for the day but really wanted to explore the town.  The ship was pretty empty at this point!

I have to say that when I think of going to Alaska, Ketchikan was it. This town was everything I was hoping to see in Alaska (albeit a little Touristy).  We loved exploring!

We even got to see Santa Clause! I sent out a few postcards and we bought a few Christmas Ornaments.

How could we not stop in a shop called Ketchicandies??

We of course had to grab some as souvenirs.

A lot of the shops had the same touristy kind of gifts but we had a lot of fun exploring and even brought a few gifts home :) Not these....

It was still really overcast so you couldn't see much but I can't express how much I loved this little town.

My favorite gift from this trip was my Whale Tail necklace that hubby bought me :)

It was still raining pretty hard and we were soaked and a bit chilly.

Upon returning to the ship we were greeted with hot chocolate and cookies! YUM!  We headed upstairs to have lunch and had beautiful views of the rain and Ketchikan.

After taking some hot showers we got ready for the evening. First up was a Ventriloquist show that was pretty hysterical.

After the show we all headed outside as it was time to pull away from our last port.  The sun had started to come out and I couldn't believe how gorgeous Ketchikan was!

 We even had some special appearances as we pulled away from town!

We headed back in and tried to catch a few more special friends!

It was time for dinner and for tonight's menu was the Taste of Alaska!

I think Tritons is one of my favorite restaurants! It's so pretty and soft :)

After dinner the lobby had a piano player and some character meet and greets.

Poor Stitch was all alone and no one was in his line.

So he decided to join some friends!

I had been looking forward to Match Your Mate for the last few cruises.  We never seemed to catch is so we were sure to show up early and snag seats!

It was hysterical! I'm so glad we finally caught it!

It was finally time for bed. Only one full day left on this amazing trip!

Character Dining Pro's and Con's

When making your choices as to where to eat during your Disney vacation, many people automatically jump to character dining. It's what Disney shows you in commercials, it's what all your friends come home talking about and you just know you HAVE to book it!  Today I'm going to talk a little about the pro's and con's of character dining to help you decide if character dining is for your family!

Lots of characters
I think the first obvious pro to character dining is, well the characters! It's true! By booking a character dining experience you can guarantee that you'll see some characters up close and personal. There is a variety of experiences available including:
-Princess
-Pooh and friends
-Mickey and friends
-Playhouse Disney

Time Consuming
While these experiences can be a great and intimate way of meeting the characters, keep in mind they can be time consuming. Character dining can often take 1.5 to 2 hours and depending on what time of day you've booked, that's precious park time!  If you are traveling during a slower season, meeting the characters in the park might be a quicker experience!

Quality of food
The quality of the food at character dining restaurants can be hit or miss depending on the location and meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner).  Many folks visit these restaurants simply to meet the characters regardless of how good the food is. Personally I've been happy with the few character meals we've been to, but they've all been breakfast. Do you research beforehand and know what to expect.

Location
Many great character dining experiences take place at some of Disney's Deluxe resorts. What a great excuse to check out some amazing locations and they are often very easy to get to from one of Disney's main theme parks (like Disney's Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Beach Club)!! You'll of course still have options within the theme parks for convenience but don't forget those outside the parks too!

Cost
Depending on if you are on the dining plan, the cost of character meals can be a bit daunting. They also might not be the best bang for your buck on the dining plan. For instance a character breakfast will run an adult approximately $25-$28 plus gratuity, although dining at Cinderella's Royal Table will cost you nearly double that!  Dinner's at most character dining locations will be closer to $40 per person.

Will your kids like the Characters?
In order to get into the most popular character dining locations, you'll need to book several months in advance (often 6 months!). For first time visitors, especially those with small children, you may not know how they'll react to the characters. For this reason I often suggest not booking EVERY meal a character experience just in case they don't warm up to the idea.

Early 2014 Discounts

Ok it's time again for more discounts!

Stay, Play and Dine
Travel dates: January 5 – March 5, 2014
This offer is a discounted offer where it appears Adults pay the same price as kids.

Discount Requirements

• Minimum 3 night stay
• Maximum 14 night stay
• Minimum 2 day park pass must be included in the package
• Dining Plan must be included in the package
• Guests staying at a Walt Disney World value resort must purchase the Quick Service dining plan or better
• Guests staying at a Walt Disney World moderate, deluxe or deluxe villa resort must purchase the Disney Dining plan or better

This discount excludes rooms at Art of Animation, Villas at the Grand Floridian, 3 bedroom villas, suites and the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness.

This offer must be booked by December 31, 2013. Not all nights or resorts may be available. At this point, it does not appear that any nights have been blacked out, but many nights around the Walt Disney World Marathon and President’s Day Weekend may be difficult to find. Availability is extremely limited, act quickly for best availability. Please note that you must check in by March 5, 2014 in order to qualify for the discount. If you check in March 5 or earlier, you should receive the discount for your entire stay, based on availability.

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Room Only Discount
Travel Dates: January 5 – April 2, 2014

Walt Disney World has released a special discount where you can save up to 35% off of your room only reservation at select Walt Disney World resorts during the travel dates listed above. Again, this discount should be made available to the general public next week.

Percentage Savings:

• Save 35% at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Boardwalk Inn, Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard and pool view rooms only), Wilderness Lodge (standard and woods view rooms only), Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, Polynesain, Contemporary, Grand Floridain and Beach Club Villas.
• Save 25% at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (savanna view and club level rooms only), Animal Kingdom Villas, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, the cabins at Fort Wilderness, The Villas at Wilderness Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge (courtyard view and club level rooms only)
• Save 20% at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, All-Star Music Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
• Save 15% at Disney’s All-Star Art of Animation Resort (Family Suite Rooms only)
• Save 5% at Disney’s All-Star Movies resort, Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Bay Lake Tower.

This offer must be booked by December 31, 2013.  Please note that dates between March 6 – 13, 2014 will be discounted at lesser rates than listed above. These dates are not blacked out, but not all resorts may be available with discounts during these dates.

Guests can book either a room only reservation or a package reservation including tickets and dining plans, though only the room portion of the package will be discounted. The dining plans will be at full rate. Availability is extremely limited.

Trip of a Lifetime-Day 7

We still had a full 3 days ahead of us, but Friday was a day we had all been looking forward to for a long time. Today was our day in Juneau!!  The day started pretty early because we had an excursion scheduled!  First up, breakfast!  We grabbed breakfast at Beach Blanket Buffet per the usual.

The view was gorgeous! This was another morning that the longer we sat outside, the more the clouds cleared and the mountains came out!

After a quick breakfast we headed off the ship. There is a shuttle bus that takes you into town which was pretty quick!  We had to meet our group at 8 a.m.  I'd like to take a minute to stop and take about excursions.  For this trip we decided, due to costs, to only book one excursion. We all agreed on what we wanted to do most and started to research.   We found that by booking directly with the tour company we would save a ton of money.  We felt comfortable doing this due to our location, but I will warn you to be cautious who you book with.  Also keep in mind that if you are NOT booked with a Disney excursion, the ship does NOT have to wait for you.  Hence the reason we booked an 8 a.m. pick up!

We were meeting our group at the Mount Roberts Tramway.

After we met up with our group it was off to find our bus. For this particular excursion we chose Juneau Tours. I spoke with someone many times beforehand and they had great customer service and their price was also great.   Depending on the weather we were told we'd be picked up and head to the Glacier first or Whale Watching.

 Luckily for us we headed straight to Mendenhall Glacier. Our bus ride out was fantastic!

Our great bus driver who had moved up to Alaska for the summer to drive the shuttle!!  The ride out to the Glacier wasn't too long and we were given a time to meet back at the bus and were on our own for exploring.

I've said it before...Lauren takes AMAZING photos but no matter what, this picture doesn't do it justice. It was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen!

We LOVED watching the Eagles!

A video with an awesome view of the falls!

Soon it was time to head to the bus. We could have spent more time here but it was finally time to go Whale Watching!!   When we arrived at the boat many people headed downstairs (to keep warm) but being from NY we didn't mind the chill and we knew we'd get a great view by sitting upstairs.

The Whale Watching experience was AMAZING. We were out on the boat for quite a while and they really went out of their way for us to see the whales. The views were just gorgeous and while we weren't lucky enough to see any breaching, we saw tons of Whale tales!

We had to stay a certain distance from the whales so it was hard to get a close up shot even with Lauren's zoom lense.


We were pretty exhausted afterwards so we decided to skip more sightseeing and head back to the ship. By the time we docked the sun had come out and we had even more spectacular views then when we left.

It was time to say Goodbye to Juneau!

After some downtime, we got dressed for dinner and a show. We started at our favorite spot, Cadillac Lounge. I wish we got pictures but one of the most amazing moments was sitting in the lounge, listening to the music and watching the porpoises jump beside the boat in the wake. Unbelievable!

Dinner tonight was in Parrot Cay (my least favorite restaurant but the food was pretty good that night). Tonight was Pixar night and while we didn't make it downstairs to see the characters, the 3-D menus was pretty fun!

We were so hungry that we must have skipped photographing our entree's but here is dessert!

 Today was a pretty exciting day for another reason.  Lauren and I had signed up for a Martini tasting!  The tasting cost us $20 per person and we met up in Cove Cafe.  We were given several Martini's right off the bat and then we'd all taste them together as we were told what was in them.

The aftermath!  They were all good even though we definitely had our favorites. There were even leftovers from people who didn't show up!

It was time to call it a night. Saturday would be our last port day as our 7 night cruise was coming to a close. 

Food and Wine Festival 2012

Here's a look back at Food and Wine Festival 2012!

The day we visited Food and Wine Festival, we spent a bit of time in Future World with our then 16 month old.    After a bit of touring we decided we needed a snack...I know, we are wierdo's. We knew we had endless options awaiting us in World Showcase. In our defense we hadn't gotten our favorite snack the entire trip!



Doesn't it look amazing!?? It was so worth t!

It was time to start...now if you think this report is going to be an in depth report with detailed food pictures...you have come to the wrong place. For one, we were traveling with a baby...for two, it was HOT. I mean H-O-T...HOT!! We ended up a little dehydrated and lost our appetites. Plus I think we are pickier eaters than I'd like to believe. We love touring EPCOT and unfortunately didn't get the chance this trip...this is more like the Speed Around the World version!


We picked up a "passport" where you can get a stamp at each Food booth you go to. We started using it but once I realized we would not visit each stand I gave up.



Our first stop was Greece. I had the Spanakopita and hubby had a chicken dish. Apparently he didn't realize it would have Dill on it but it was pretty tasty!



Unfortunately I don't have pictures but we did manage to stop in Canada. This was my favorite stop along the way. Hubby had sausage with Corn Polenta and a Moosehead Beer while I had the mushroom filet. I really wanted the soup too but it was soooo hot!

Next stop was the Caribbean. We decided to head the OPPOSITE way around World Showcase so we back tracked a little. Here we enjoyed a Jerk Chicken drumstick and Empanada...I love empanadas!!

We continued on but I wanted to take a picture of the outdoor seating area at La Hacienda.

This was about Noon...check out those crowds!

If we've ever chatted you'll know this is my FAVORITE place to eat!

Believe it or not...I don't think we stopped again until China...no food or anything!

We ALWAYS shop in China :)

Hubby always stops to see this Giraffe...someday it will make it home with us.

After China we took a little detour off the Food and Wine Festival path to hit up some Hand-Crafted Caramel Treats! Oh I'm so glad we did! This was our first stop here since the shop opened a few years ago.

We decided to purchase one of these...Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookie.

It was HEAVEN!

I'm now realizing this isn't so much Food and Wine Festival with a little EPCOT thrown in, but the exact opposite lol. Sorry about that but stick with me!

Isn't Germany pretty?

Italy was up next and we had our eye on a Chocolate Canoli. Hubby loved it but I thought it was ok...growing up I had way better!

I wanted to take a peek at the new Wine Bar in Italy but the baby was sleeping and the line was out the door!



If you haven't tried Via Napoli yet...you must!



We ran into these lovely ladies on our way out. This is what I love about EPCOT! There is so much to do and see and EXPERIENCE! Unfortunately it was hard with just the two of us, a sleeping baby and the HEAT. I wish we could have spent more time here!!



We finally gave up for a while when we reached the American Pavillion. We were hot and deyhdrated and needed to sit. Here is my little pet peeve....we are EPCOT during Food and Wine Festival and I can't tell you how many people where here eating Hot Dogs!!  There is so much to sample and try...branch out a little :)


By the time we go to Japan the skies were so dark! We decided to high tail it out of there!

Of course we had time to stop and listen (or watch) Mo'Rockin!

Belle and the Beast were out in France. Hubby wanted to stop and show the Beast his new tattoo but the rain clouds were looming overhead.



We were on our way out and I felt bad that we barely tried anything at the Festival so we decided to get a few drinks back at the Caribbean Booth. These drinks were so amazing we went back and got seconds...which wasn't a good idea as we were probably a little dehydrated.

A Dragon Berry Colado and a Cherry Limeaid

Getting seconds was probably a mistake as we were enjoying them the skies opened up and we got stuck waiting out the rain for a little bit. Had it just been hubby and I we would have made a run for it, but we had our daughter who was getting over a double ear infection.

I hope my run around World Showcase gives you a bit of an overview of World Showcase and Food and Wine Festival. I know it was picture overload...and I have more if you want to see something specific.

Girls Getaway-Surprise Update

This trip has been a long time coming. Lauren and I have been trying to plan a trip together for YEARS.  One thing or another always got in the way; just life stuff like babies, weddings...her moving all the way across the country. We knew sooner or later we'd make it.  We had dreams of a weekend full of eating, drinking and taking pictures (without Mr. Stingy Pants complaining).

Well I threw Lauren one more curve ball recently...it wouldn't be a girls weekend with just the two of us.  I knew she'd be disappointed a bit, but I also knew she'd be really happy when I told her who'd be joining us.

That's right! Kennedy is going to be a big sister!  We are beyond excited and I'm even more exciting to be heading to Disney for a little R&R!  I'll be in my 2nd trimester by then and hopefully beyond the nausea and exhausting. Lauren will be taking over drinking around Disney but there will be plenty of treats in store for both of us!

I recently wrote a post about traveling to Disney while pregnant that you can read here. Let's talk a little bit about how our plans have changed and what we'll be doing!

1) Taking it easy!  We decided to fly in a night early to avoid some of the rushing around. We'll get in pretty late but it will allow for a good nights sleep and for us to start fresh the next day.

2) We'll be renting a car. This is a personal preference but since we know our way around so well and we'll be doing a bit of park/resort hopping, this makes life easy!

3)More dining! I mentioned before that we chose a value resort so we could put more of our budget toward dining. Now even more so than before, we'll be taking time out of our day to relax and enjoy a great meal!

I'll be posting more soon about our itinerary plans, dining choices and more! Thanks for reading!

Girls Getaway Trip Planning-Resorts

Since this was a relatively unplanned, last minute trip, Lauren and are left with few options for our upcoming trip.   Even as travel agents, we often agonize over where to stay and what the best value is. We found ourselves in the same position a lot of clients do; moderate vs. value.

Here's the scoop:

Who: 2 adults...no kids or husbands this time

When: Middle of November

Why: 1st EVER Girls Getaway

How long: Just 4 nights

Our dilemma is this...we've spoiled ourselves. We are so used to staying Deluxe or Moderate that the idea of a value resort is a little scary. Mind you we've stayed value plenty of times...in fact our first ever couples trip was at Disney's Pop Century!

Let's go through our Pro's and Con's of Moderate vs. Value!

1) Location, Location, Location! Personally I love the location of all the moderates. Coronado Springs is about as far out as you get and you are still relatively close to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.  The value resorts are somewhat split with the All Star Resorts being very close to Animal Kingdom and Pop Century and Art of Animation being a bit more centrally located but closer to Downtown Disney

2) Size of the rooms!  With the exception of the family suites at All Star Music and Art of Animation, the value resorts are going to have rooms that are on average around 260 sq ft. The Moderate resorts are going to be a bit more generous at 315 sq ft.  Also keep in mind that 3 of the 4 moderate resorts have been upgraded with Queen Beds (Caribbean Beach has not).

3) Amenities at the value resorts are going to be scarce. They offer the basics; a food court, several swimming pools and usually a pool bar.  There are a few things the moderates have that the values don't have including a Table Service restaurant, awesome themed pools with slides, and usually at least one bar.  Some offer even more like Rix Lounge at Coroando Springs that offers drinks and food, or the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside with the amazing entertainer, Ye Haa Bob Jackson!

4) When you arrive at a value resort, there is no doubt you are at Disney! Everything is bright, loud and over the top!  The colors are vibrant and the characters and icons tower above you.  Not so much at the moderate resorts. Their themeing is much more subdued and delicate. You won't find giant character or neon colors.

For our trip we definitely lean more toward a moderate resort. Even though there is just two of, we love the idea of having Queen Beds. We also love the "Grown Up" feel the moderates have over the values.  Although when it comes down to it, you really can't beat the price of a value and with the schedule we have, we'll mostly be using the resort for sleep! You'll  have to stay tuned to see what resort we pick!

This blog is dedicated to you!

Happy Labor Day! First I'd like to apologize for the lack of posts lately.  August was an off month for me and I had a serious case of writer's block. I'm ready to get back on track and provide you some great blog posts and video's this month!

Last night I was thinking about all the blogs that are out there that focus on Disney..and there is A LOT. Sometimes, it's just information overload and the worst part is the information isn't always consistent. For a family that travels to Disney just once in their lifetime, or maybe even infrequently every 5 years or so, a lot of that information isn't relevant to their vacation. Disney is constantly changing and moving forward. For folks that aren't Disney addicts, it's hard to keep up with an ever changing "world".

That's where I come in. I like to focus on the simple things, the most important aspects of a first timer's vacation. Today I want to talk about my Top 5 Most Important tips for first timers!

1) Walt Disney World consists of more than 20 resorts to choose from in 4 different categories. Everyone has their opinion on which resort is best and you will hear from friends and family which resort you just HAVE to stay at.  Be sure to check the amenities at each resort and find one that fits your family.  Each resort offers a unique theme, amenities and location. There may in fact be more than one resort that fits you families needs and budget but remember you can only pick one.

2) Take the good with the bad! People will more than willingly share their negative reviews to anyone who will listen, while those with positive reviews don't always share so willingly.  Seek out opinions of those you trust; close friend and family or the help of an expert (Like a Disney travel planner) and take online reviews with a grain of salt. Keep in mind Disney is pretty quick to fix any serious issues.

3)Don't hide behind your camera or cell phone. It's easy to get caught up in taking a  million photos of Little Susie with Cinderella, or Instagraming your breakfast. Come out from behind the camera and LIVE the memories that you are making.  Disney's Photopass service makes it easy to let someone else capture the big moments like your's son's first Roller Coaster Ride, or the baby's first time meeting Piglet.  For just $149.00 you can purchase Memory Maker that comes complete with all your photopass pictures PLUS select character meal and attraction photos....and now video's on select attractions!

4) Don't over plan...but plan to have fun!  With a place like Walt Disney World you need to have a plan in place. You need to know what you are paying for and when you be at each park, restaurant and resort. Get an overview before you go of where things are in relation to each other. I like to provide my clients with a simple overview of each park that let's them know which attractions are MUST DO's first thing in the morning, what can wait till later, and what they should schedule Fast Passes+ for. You don't want to spend your vacation like a Sergeant shouting orders at your family from your minute but minute itinerary.  Half the fun of Walt Disney World is the exploring...it's stumbling up on those amazing little moments that just can't be planned.

5)  The internet can be  scary place when researching a Walt Disney World vacation. Walt Disney World  is 47 square miles! That's the size of a small city! And with 4 main theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping and entertainment district, golf courses, spas....and more, there is more to do that you can fit into your 3,4 or 7 night vacation.  Each park is filled with hundreds of things to see and do from shops, to shows, to attractions! You can't do it all in one trip!  Take your time and HAVE FUN!!!

Gluten Free Dairy Free at WDW

I want to take a quick moment today to share one of my favorite Disney websites!  Gluten Free Dairy Free at Walt Disney World is an incredible site with a wealth of information! If you will be traveling with anyone who has special dietary restrictions, be sure to check it out!  

Also, if you are going to be at Walt Disney World on October 13th, don't forget to buy your tickets to the Gluten Free Dairy Free Dessert Party at EPCOT!

Something new!

Hello everyone! I'm excited to announce a fun new project coming to Living With the Magic!  In the upcoming weeks I'll be introducing Vlogs to the site!!  For my first video, I'd like to take questions from all of you!  Do you have questions about a Disney vacation? Working with a Disney Travel Planner? Advise on best places to eat?  You ask it and I'll answer it during my first ever Video entry!!  Feel free to comment here with your questions, over on my Facebook page or by emailing me at amanda@mouseketrips.com.

Port Orleans French Quarter Overview

In 1992 there were two individual resorts called Dixie Landings and Port Orleans Resort. The two resorts had very similar styles and were situated on neighboring pieces of property.  In 2001 these two resorts officially merged and produced Port Orleans Riverside (Dixie Landings) and Port Orleans French Quarter.  When I'm recommended resorts to my clients I often recommend Riverside over French Quarter, but not because I don't love it....in fact it has a lot of better things to offer!  There are 2 downsides to booking at French Quarter:

• The discounts are often very limited or non-existant
• Due to the small size of the resort, the few discounts that are often sell out fast

Despite those facts, this is a gorgeous property boasting just over 1,000 rooms!! Let's take a tour!

From waltdisneyworld.com

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Resort hotel, where cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms evoke the Antebellum era and colorful Mardi Gras characters and jazz keep things lively. Then stroll along the Sassagoula River to Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, home to Cajun and Creole specialties. (All photos today are from www.waltdisneyworld.com)

Location
One of the great things about both the Port Orleans Resorts is their location.  Situated just a few minutes from Downtown  Disney (via both bus and boat), the are very centrally located on property. You will be looking at taking bus transportation everywhere but Downtown Disney however you won't be on the bus very long. Another perk about French Quarter...there is only one bus stop vs. the other three moderate resorts that have multiple.

Amenities

Unlike it's sister resort, Riverside, there are a few amenities that French Quarter lacks. The great thing is, it's  a short walk over to Riverside and guests can share the amenities at both resorts! French Quarter does NOT boast a table service option, but does have a fantastic food court with it's signature treat...beignets!  There is a bar area called Scat Cat's Clubs but if you are visiting with family I highly recommend walking over to Riverside to see Yee Haw Bob! On select nights at the River Roost Lounge you can catch this awesome man and his hysterical FAMILY Friendly show!! Check out his video on YouTube!

Other fun amenities include:

• Horse Drawn Carriage Ride
• Bike Rental
• Pirate Adventure (ages 4-12)
• Movies Under the Stars
• Cajun Campfire
• Playgrounds
• Kayaking
• Fishing

Plus I have to point out that French Quarter has one of my FAVORITE pools!!

Rooms

Hands down the rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter beat the rooms at Riverside (with the exception of the Royal Rooms). Ultimately you are looking at the same amenities but just different decor. These rooms all sleep 4 (some rooms at Riverside can sleep 5) and will have 2 Queen beds.

Themeing

Here is another place I think French Quarter "wins" over Riverside. The themeing here is more of a New Orleans/Mardi Gras themed but with beautiful quiet gardens and fountains. I think both resorts are so calm and peaceful, which is important to my family after a long day at the parks!

Overall you can lose when it comes to either resort! They offer great amenities, are very centrally located, and budget wise fall right in the middle!

My Disney Experience Part 2

Back in February I posted about the My Disney Experience on the Disney website (check it out here).  Now with the rolling out of the Magic Bands as well as Fast Pass+ I wanted to take another look at it.  There are lots of websites reviewing the in-park experience but everything starts at home, with your account at www.waltdisneyworld.com.

The first thing I want to address is, do you actually need an account? What about people who don't have smartphones? Or older generations that aren't that comfortable using a computer (or smartphone)?  The answer is NO, you do not need to do anything in advance if you choose not to.  This is intended to make for a better experience during your vacation, and I highly recommend it, but it's not necessary. In the future when Disney does away with the traditional Fast Passes, you will be at a disadvantage to not booking your Fast Passes in advance but you will be able to do this via kiosks in the park.

Ok so let's start at www.waltidisneyworld.com.  We'll assume you've already created a basic account (name, address, email, phone number, birthdate, etc).  What's next?

First you can link your resort reservation.   Simply hover your mouse over the My Disney Experience for a list of options to appear!

See My Reservations? Here is where you will link your resort reservation number, as well as dining. For most clients, when you log in, nothing will be linked. Just click on Link a Resort Reservation.

Not only should you resort reservation appear once you are done, but you should also see the next section populate with your ticket info (this is important for Magic Bands).

The next stage is important. At this point you may or may not see your dining reservations linked depending on who made the reservations.

• If you made them online, they should all be listed
• If you made them via the phone, you might have to manually enter them if you did NOT provide an email
• If you travel agent made them, they may or may not appear

Family and Friends

Since we are all learning this new system together, there are lots of possibilities. Going forward I will request all of my clients to send me a friend request so that I may make their dining reservations for them and they can appear online!  This is an important tool not only for your travel agent but also if you are traveling with extended family and friends. By sending each other invites, you can all share your dining reservations and itinerary and be able to access it anywhere in the park...even if you aren't together!!

Head back up to the My Disney Experience button but this time click profile!

See Family and Friends? If you want to add someone (like me, your travel agent) click Add a Guest!

Be sure to click Invite to plan and share! Now I will be able to make dining reservations for you and they'll automatically appear on your list!!

My Itinerary

Once you have linked everything, you can also go in and set your itinerary. As far as I can tell this is just something fun, but if you are traveling with a large group it would be nice to have everyone be able to view the days plans from their individual smartphones or tablets (which park, what restaurant, etc). Just click on My Itinerary from the My Disney Experience Menu.

My Magic Bands and Cards

I like this section because if you have linked a Package confirmation number, your cards should already be loaded but if you have some older paper style cards, you can also add them here!  As of right now, if you haven't been selected to test out the Magic Bands this option won't allow you to select anything. All you can do is view your tickets.

In the future (or if you have been selected for the test) you'll be able to order your Magic Bands in advance.

You'll see a list of everyone in your party's name (the names have been whited out here). They will all default with grey bands (my client already picked their colors). To pick your color and customize the name, simply click update!

Once you click update you can choose the color and name! This way if all the kids want the same color, their names will be imprinted on the underside so you can tell them apart!

If you have ordered them far enough in advance, they will be shipped right to your home!  Once you arrive at Disney your Magic Bands will be used for everything from gaining park access, to paying for meals and merchandise and  as your FastPass!!

FastPass+

I know there has been a lot of mixed feelings about this feature but honestly after walking through it with a client, I really love it!  This client was so happy that we reserved some of her favorite attractions in advance! She also loved that she was given 4 options as to which time slots were available and she could pick what worked best for her family.

You'll start by selecting the date you want to make your FastPass+ reservations for.

 Next you'll select which family members you'd like to make the reservation for. If you are traveling with other groups of friends or family, here is where it becomes important that you are all linked!

Next up simply choose the day you'd like to pick times for.  In this case the client has inputted her itinerary so the parks are prepopulated. If they are NOT, you will be given the choice to pick a park.

Next up, ride options...no times yet so just pick the attractions (and possibly show, parade and fireworks) you'd like to see.

Once you have selected your favorite attractions, you'll be given some options for times. The Best Match option comes up first but select Option A, B or C for alternates.

 That's it! You'll do this for each day! Also you are not locked into this times. Feel free to log in anytime to make changes....even via your smartphones and tablets from WITHIN the park on the same day!

As with any new technology or procedure at Disney, it's a learning process for everyone. We are all learning this together and learning as we go! I have high hopes for this system and anything that makes my Disney Experience a better one, I'm all for that!