Welcome Aboard!

You've seen them everywhere..Disney Cruise ships that is!  There are constantly commercials on tv, or someone you know sharing a photo of their most recent trip...or your favorite Travel Expert telling you what a great deal you can get on Disney cruises right now (wink, wink), but you aren't sure where to start! You don't know what's included or where to start.  I'm here to help!!

Where to start

The beginning of course!! Let's talk about your options...there is three ways to go about selecting your first 

cruise:

1) Pick the ship you wan to sail on! There are 4 ships (currently) to choose from; Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy. They each offer different amenities. The Magic and the Wonder are sister ships and the smaller of the 4. The Magic just was completely reimagineered from top to bottom in the fall of 2013.  The Fantasy and Dream are the bigger ships and offer similar amenities to each other

2) Select your destination! Have you always dreams of going to Europe? How about Alaska? Or maybe  you just want to park yourself on a beach somewhere? Disney offers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12 night sailings (depending on your destination)

3)Trying to save a bit money but not flying somewhere? This year Disney sets sail from Port Canaveral, Miami, Galveston, Vancouver, Barcelona and Los Angeles!

Ok I've picked my cruise...what now?
Now it's time to select a room! Disney's system for "naming" rooms can be confusing (that's where a good travel expert comes in!) so let's just go over some basics!

Inside Stateroom- These rooms are the smallest that the ships offer. They will have no windows and sleep 3-4.  Newer ships offer "magic portholes" to give you a feeling of having an exterior window

Oceanview Stateroom- These rooms offer 1-2 windows and a split bathroom Most sleep 4

Verandah Stateroom- These rooms offer a private verandah as well as split bath and sleep 4-5

Concierge level and suites- Concierge level rooms offer a wide variety of extra amenities.  Several suites are also available.

I'm trying to decide which room fits our budget but, what's included? How much extra "stuff" am I going to pay for?

Great question! Included in the price of your cruise is:

• Your Stateroom Accommodations
• All food (except special adult dining experiences)
• Entertainment on board (family friendly activities, adult nightlife, Broadway style shows and more!)
• Complete access to the Kids Clubs (the nursery for little ones under 3 does have a cost)
• Swimming pools
• Taxes and Fees

So what do you still have to pay for?

• Excursions
• Spa Treatments
• Alcohol
• Fountain drinks (only if you purchase them through Room Service or at a Bar)
• Nursery (for little ones under 3)
• Adult Only Dining Experiences
• Transportation to and from the port
• Gratuities

Pretty good deal right? Disney Cruises have so much to offer that even without all the added expenses it's a great deal!

I still feel kind of lost...I've selected my stateroom and sail date but I'm reading things online like what I'm supposed to pack, which excursions to book, what documentation I need...

Whoa, whoa....slow down! Take everything one step at a time! I'm going to cover all those topics in the upcoming week! Plus you can always book your Disney Cruise with a Travel Expert...someone you can personally email or call and ask all your questions to!  The internet can be a scary and overwhelming place when it comes to Disney Vacations!

My top 5...

One of the most controversial topics when it comes to Disney is hands down FOOD!  I'd like to share with you my favorites when it comes to Table Service, Counter Service and Snacks!  Feel free to agree or disagree..there is no right answer!

In no particular order....

La Hacienda De San Angel

I'll keep this short since you've heard it a million times from me. I LOVE this restaurant. I have been here more than half a dozen times in the last 2 years or so. I'm always impressed by the service here.  They are always so attentive and friendly.  While I will admit I get the same dish every time (The Mixed Grill for 2), the quality is fantastic...and consistent! We have NEVER had a bad meal here. Plus if you plan for dinner around 8 p.m. you'll get a view of Illuminations with the lights turned down and music piped in.

Grand Floridian Cafe

Ok I'm going to let you in on a little secret. The Grand Floridian Cafe! It's tucked away on the Main Floor of  the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. It's quiet, peaceful and has amazing food!  On our last trip here the group deemed this restaurant as having the best steak of the trip!  Plus it's usually pretty easy to get into.  Oh and don't forget about the service! Top notch! This is a must do for us!

Mama Melroses

I'll admit this one might seem kind of a cheat since Hollywood Studios isn't known for it's amazing dining options but I really do love Mama Melroses! I would probably describe the service as adequate but I blame that on too many people with too few dining choices.  The menu however is delicious and we always enjoy it here.  Bonus is that this is one of the restaurants available with the Fanstasmic Dining Package!

The Wave

This restaurant gets mixed reviews but I'll be honest that I've enjoyed every meal I've had. I love the rotating menu's and wine list. Plus the servers are always very attentive. The decor is calming and peaceful, which is nice if you are trying to escape the hubbub of the Magic Kingdom. Plus the desserts all come in tiny trio's...what's better than one dessert? THREE!

Ohana

I think this restaurant falls on lot of people's over rated list. Not for us though! Another must do is Ohana.  Our only complaint in years past is that we feel rushed. We find if we don't make early reservations that this problem gets solved pretty easily. We love that it's served family style and we get to try a little of everything. Plus the live entertainment is fun for the whole family. End the evening with Banana Bread Pudding...'nuff said.

I hope you enjoyed my Top 5!  What are your favorite Disney restaurants?

All photos from www.waltdisneyworld.com and are property of The Disney Company.

New Countdown

I'm excited to announce we have a new countdown!!  We are going to Alaska in just 44 days!

We ended up getting an amazing deal (Remember to watch for my cruise deals of the day on Facebook) and couldn't pass it up!! I'll be blogging more soon about the trip...we have a lot to do in just 44 days!!

A little Magic

Magic Kingdom might be the one place on Earth that I could go to every single day and never get tired of.  Anyone who has been there can recount the story of the first time they walked down Main St. USA and saw the castle. It's a once in a lifetime experience that you never forget.  You comb through pictures online, your kids (or you) watch the Disney Vacation Planning DVD over and over, but there is no experience in the world like walking under the train station, round the corner on Main St. and seeing it stand before you

Some of us are lucky enough to be a part of the magic. To live every day watching face of those seeing the castle for the first time and be a part of Disney vacation memories.  For a brief time, I was that lucky.

There are certain sounds and smells that transport me back to the time in an instant.  Every trip we take we walk into the Confectionery just so I can smell it!  The Confectionery is where I watched my first dress rehearsal of the Easter Parade.  The Market House where I worked is where I saw my first Disney bride transported to the Castle in Cinderella's Coach...

where I awarded countless Mickey stickers for winners (and losers) of intense Checker games, where I helped a lost child reunite with her mom, a man plan his perfect proposal and the fiance that came back to share her ring. Those memories are filled with hope, dreams and magic.  

I recently got to tour the new Fantasyland and because the park wasn't open yet, we entered through a backstage entrance.  I was instantly transported back to those amazing days. Being on an empty Main St. is one of the best feelings!  If you make an early breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace or Cinderealla's Royal Table you'll get this view too!

The new Fantasyland is everything it should be. The attention to detail was amazing and I can't wait until it's completed. It looks like it has always been there.  

I'm sad about the loss of Snow White's Scary Adventure, Toontown and Ariel's Grotto, but this new Fantasyland is way more cohesive.  More importantly I feel like this new addition is more true to Disney than past projects.  It's not just some new Pixar name slapped on a ride (The Seas with Nemo and Friends...) but true Disney magic. Isn't it amazing that more than 75 years after the movie, Snow White is getting a major attraction?

In light of recent events, I just wanted to take a moment today to share why I still believe in Magic. We are a Disney family through and through, not because we like some vacation destination but because it's something we believe in. For a small moment in time, we can live in a world of make believe where dreams come true, where fairytales come true and you leave your worries and cares at the gate. It's a world of magic and make believe, something that I'm not sure exists in the world we live in anymore.

If you have ever been lucky enough to be hanging around Main St. or the castle right at closing, you've seen the Kiss Goodnight.  In all my time at Disney, these quiet moments are my favorite.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of everyone here at the Magic Kingdom, we thank you for joining us today for a magic gathering of family, friends, fun, and fantasy. We hope your magical journey with us has created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Walt Disney said that the Magic Kingdom is a world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, magic and make believe are reborn, and fairy tales come true. The Magic Kingdom is a place for the young and the young at heart. A special place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams can come true. Until we see you again, have a safe trip home. Thank you, and goodnight.”

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

Welcome to Living With the Magic!! This week I'm participating in the Wordless Wednesday Blog hop, hosted by Focused on the Magic!

This week's theme is Flora, Fauna, Fantasy, 15!

Let's celebrate with flora, fauna and fantasy pictures from all the Disney Parks in honor of Animal Kingdom's 15th Anniversary and Earth Day

Art of Animation Resort Tour-Part 2

When we left off, we had just walked past the Cars section and around the main themed pool in the Finding Nemo section over at Art of Animation. Next up we'll head to the Lion King section and take a peak inside the suites!

Since this was a resort tour, I was with a large group. I'm going to throw in a few pictures from Disney's website so you can get an overall feeling of how big the suite it is, but I think it's important to see the non-professional, realistic photos I took.

I will be honest and say, that the themeing in this section of the resort was not my favorite. I really thought it lacked something.

So to get started, here are two photos from Disney's website. While the rooms are a great size, I think Disney does an amazing job of making them look even larger in their photos.

When you first walk in you'll see the dining room table. I love this for two reasons. One I think the the little tables in the standard rooms (moderate and value) are just too small!

And number 2...is it's a bed!! What a brilliant idea!

 Next up is the hall bath. Remember all standard value rooms just have one sink so there isn't much of a change here, except the suite has TWO bathrooms!

 You can buy the shower curtain!

Now onto the living room where you'll have a small kitchenette.

Along with a tv, dresser, and a pull out couch.

The Master Bedroom was my favorite. As a family of 3, I love that hubby and I would have our own space and the baby could sleep in a separate room.

 Next up we'll move on to the Little Mermaid Section.   I won't spend too much time here because honestly they are just standard value rooms with a fun decor. I did really enjoy how they themed this section and took far too many pictures!

The room is pretty standard of any value resort with some special touches.

Pretty standard bathroom set up.

Overall I really love this resort.  For families of 5 or 6 it's a really great option. The suites are a tad expensive and you an usually do 2 standard rooms cheaper BUT keep in mind that the suites are eligible for discounts (Standard Little Mermaid rooms are not) but you won't get the great living space or kitchenette!  For families like ours, we would love the extra space for our little one without having to splurge on a villa!  The resort is just beautiful and it has a lot of perks that other value resorts don't, like the extra themed pools and the amazing food court!  Even if you don't get a chance to stay here, I would highly recommend a visit!

Kennedy Update

First of all I'd like to thank all of your for your kind words, emails, thoughts and prayers.  I can't express how grateful I am to have such amazing people in my life!

Many of you have emailed asked for an update on Kennedy's condition.This morning my brave girl had a CT scan so we could get a better idea of what was going on. The original diagnoses came after a Chest Xray looking for pneumonia, so they needed a better idea of what exactly was going on.   Kennedy did amazing (I think I cried more than she did).

This afternoon we received a surprising  call from the surgeon's office. Kennedy was misdiagnosed with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. What they have now found is she has a Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia. I don't know much yet but what this means is her stomach has squeezed through her diaphragm up into her chest next to her esophagus. 

This new diagnoses will still require surgery as well as a week in the hospital, followed by a feeding tube in her stomach for 2 months.  I don't know that we received good news per say, but this procedure will be done laparoscopically which is far less invasive, and for that we are thankful. Surgery will happen in 2 weeks so please continue to keep my sweet girl in your thoughts.

Guest Post From J.R. Day 3, Part 2

 Ahhh….Art of Animation. So much to look at!

Even the bathrooms are works of art.

The only issue I had were all the unrulely children, running around. Kind of like this boy who pushed his way past me, yelling, and booked it out of the restroom, and into the neighboring arcade before his adult could catch him. I guess lots of kids are to be expected at a value, especially one so heavily themed and geared towards kids, but I was use to Pop Century, where I hardly see kids of this magnitude or caliber. Maybe decades aren’t crazy kid friendly? I don’t know. Honestly, that picture I took of the front desk doesn’t even show the chaos that was near the arcade and gift shop area. I should have taken a picture, but I think I was busy dodging running children.

We really wanted to check out the rooms, so I spoke to a CM, who informed me we just missed the resort tour they do daily at 12:30pm. We decided to take advantage of the food court while we were there, so it wasn’t a wasted trip.

I love all the details. So much to look at.

Strangely empty...with lots of options.

The food was pretty yummy and I enjoyed the calming environment, which was a huge change from what we saw in the lobby. I think this, and all the art on the grounds, was the saving grace. I left still feeling excited about our fall stay here.

After lunch, we headed back to Animal Kingdom Lodge, took a nap and got ready for dinner at Artist Point. We ended up running late, and had to wake up Hana to go. Something we would regret later. My mom had yet to see the Wilderness Lodge resort, so I was excited for her. I think it is gorgeous. Sadly, she only got to see it at night. She did love the lobby and wandered some more after dinner.

This was our first time at Artist Point, and the food didn’t disappoint. However, I couldn’t make an early reservation, and Hana didn’t nap so well, so she was just far too tired to behave.

Luckily, after a bottle, she zonked out and slept for the duration of our dinner. Poor thing.

As for our food, I had the Filet Mignon, which came with a hazelnut crunch donut filled with sweet potatoes. Honestly, I just wanted the donut. My husband had the scallops, which the risotto it came with was delicious.

My mom jumped out of her comfort zone and had the Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin. I really liked hers.

For dessert, we had the Orange Blossom Lace Cannoli. My mom’s family is Italian and takes certain things very seriously. One being cannoli filling. It came as no surprise that she was disappointed at the lack of authenticity with this. However, I told her it was an interpretation of a cannoli and not meant to be traditional. All that matters is, it was pretty darn good. She agreed to disagree. Anywho, another night going to bed stuffed.

Art of Animation Resort Tour-Part 1

While we didn't get the opportunity to stay at Art of Animation this trip, we did get the amazing opportunity to tour the resort.

While the lobby was pretty standard of a Value resort, in many ways it wasn't. The colors were just amazing!


Directly outside the main building you'll find the Nemo section. This is currently the most popular of the suite buildings. I think it's not only because of it's proximity to the lobby, food court and transportation but because of it's beautiful themeing!

 You'll find all the Disney resorts heading in this direction. In order to access the pool you'll need your room card.

I love that you access your room (Suites Only) from INSIDE the building, unlike the other value resorts where it's set up motel style, from the exterior (Little Mermaid Section is still like this)

If you exit the back of the main building and head right, you'll see the Cars Section.

In Part 2 we'll go INSIDE one of the Lion King Suites as well as the Little Mermaid Standard Rooms.

Remember that time?

Every trip to Disney we've taken as a family, we buy the same souvenir. The same souvenir? That's crazy!!  Well a few years ago we met someone very special...his name is Eddie.

Eddie is a cast member at the Art of Animation shop in EPCOT's future World.  He embodies everything Disney is about. We love stopping in to see him and chat.  He and my husband could talk for hours!!  

It's been a unique and fun experience getting a picture drawn by Eddie every trip. They each evoke a different memory and it's something we really treasure.

There was...

That time we took our first trip together

That time we planned our wedding (Hubby's favorite character)

That time we got married

That time we had a beautiful baby girl

That time Kennedy's went to Disney for the first time

That time we sailed on the Fantasy (Inaugural sailing)

That time we had a Nana/Mommy/Daughter trip and got Daddy his first Father's day gift

That time we went to Disney with the In-laws

Which leads us to the super fun package we got in the mail!

We opened the box..

And pulled out the paper...

And pulled out the bag...

 And took off the bag...

And removed the bubble wrap!

And opened the envelope to find...PLUTO!! This year Walter got his very first Eddie drawing!

I hope you enjoyed seeing one more of our family's traditions. What is a tradition you have when you visit Walt Disney World?

Late Animal Kingdom Day

Every time I visit Animal Kingdom it's bright and early in the morning. It's what I recommend for my clients too. Not only because it's a great time to see the animals but because this is a park that I really love and I think it deserves enough time to see it all. 

Because this trip was for business, we were busy from bright and early in the morning until late afternoon. For that reason we didn't arrive at Animal Kingdom until about 4:30 p.m. after spending the day on the Disney Dream!

The park wasn't too busy which was really nice. If the park is open until 8 p.m. this is a great time to visit!

The details of this park is one of the reasons I love it so much!

There are more than 320 animals carved in the Tree of Life! If you have time, it's fun to pick them out!

First stop was Dinoland! I hear a lot of people complain about this section of the park, Hester and Jester Dino-Rama especially! I think this is such a fun part of the park with an awesome back story!

I might butcher this story a bit but here goes...Dinoland was a small town where some scientists just happen to unearth some Dinosaur fossils. A bunch of grad students got together to purchase the land to dig some more. They founded the Dino Institute (Dinosaur!).   Chester and Hester were two locals that decided to cash in on the Dino Institute and set up a carnival in the parking lot (check out the parking lot lines on the ground). I think it's such a creative idea!!

After Dinoland it was off to Everest.  I think this area is tied with Harambe as being my favorite place to walk around in Animal Kingdom. Check out that detail!

We had a little time to kill before our dinner reservation so we decided to head to Pangani Forest Exploration trail.  On our way there we ran into a little show. The dancers were amazing!

We were finally ready for dinner. We had dinner reservations at Yak and Yeti. I've had the counter service here, but not the table service.  We checked in and just as we sat down at the bar they called our name.

First up were our drinks...sooo yummy!

We had a late lunch so we decided to split the lettuce cups and pot stickers. We made a great choice!

For dessert we had the Fried Won Tons

Overall I really enjoyed this restaurant! The food and service was great and the restaurant was really cool. The themeing was awesome AND if you are there late in the afternoon, you can request to head upstairs to watch it! Just let your server know so they don't think you abandoned your table.

By the time we were done, it was time to head to the Magic Kingdom (park was closing).  The sunset was gorgeous!

We had a very short visit and didn't get to see everything this trip, but we had a great dinner and enjoyed walking around. For those who think this park is no more special than your local zoo, you have to give it a try! Trust me!

Animal Kingdom Lodge Review

We were lucky enough to be put up at Disney's Animal Kingdom lodge during our travel agent training.  Arriving the night before, my roomie and I decided that we would stay at the lodge as well. Our first night was spent in a Studio Villa and the rest of the week we were in a standard room.

Let's start with our villa! I checked in online and under the request section, it was populate with Savannah view and Arusha view. I figured what the heck, and checked the boxes. Our villa was booked as a standard view.

Check in was extremely easy! I just showed ID and was given my room card.  Once my roomie showed up, we made our way through the lobby to our room. We were super lucky that we were upgraded to a Savannah view facing Kidani Village!

I really love the Studios vs. Standard rooms because they have more  of a divided space instead of 2 Queen beds (if your kids don't mind sleeping on the pull out couch).

After checking out the room, we decided to explore the resort a bit before dinner at Jiko.

I don't have any pictures but later that evening we had dinner at Jiko. It was very good! The service was amazing and we had a really great time. Even if you aren't staying at the Lodge, this is definitely a meal I would recommend.

The next day we checked out of our Villa and into a standard room. I didn't take a picture ( you'll see why in a second) but from WaltDisneyWorld.com-

Now our room was a FAR walk to the lobby...let me show you.

But the walk didn't matter too much for us...because when we got to our room, look what we saw!

Yup! Giraffe's! At one point there was 5 of them (plus a few zebra's, antelopes and an Ostrich!)

Overall I loved the resort as usual. It's a gorgeous property with lots of fun activities and wonderful places to eat. We enjoyed by Jiko and Boma during our stay there. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again, even without having a Savannah view!

Kingdom Camera Rentals Review

If you are a regular around here, you'll know that I have some amazing photos...you also might know that I did NOT take those photos, one of my dear friends Lauren Kennedy did. When I had the opportunity to try out a "big girl" camera on my last trip, I jumped at it!

Introducing Kingdom Camera Rentals!

This is an amazing, local Orlando company that allows you to rent camera's and camera equipment for your vacation. This is a great alternative, if you are like me and just getting used to your point and shoot.  You can select from 3 basic packages:

For the week I was in Florida, I sold the Adventure package. This came with a Nikon D5000, a Memory Card and camera bag.

Here's how it works! Head to their site to see if the package you are interested in is available for your dates (pricing is listed).

Once you have arrived in Orlando, Kingdom Camera will contact you. I texted with them as I was on Magical Express.  The were waiting for me in the lobby when I arrived at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  They quickly showed me how to use my "new" camera, had me sign that I had received the camera and off they were!

On my departure day they again texted with me and we met up in the lobby to make the exchange. It was seriously easily and I loved using the camera for the week. My photos are far from the professional level but I loved all the options and my pictures came out great. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again in a second. Their customer service is amazing and the prices are reasonable too!  All the pictures I'll be posting over the next few weeks were taken on the D5000 that I rented from Kingdom Camera Rentals. Be sure to check them out on Facebook and tell them I sent you!