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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Disney Bucket List Review!

Welcome to those of you joining me from yourfirstvisit.net and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the final stop on our Magical Blogorail.

In today's loop, we are discussing our Disney Bucket Lists! As you know, Disney Parks offer a variety of activities that stem far beyond just its theme parks. From putt-putt, to parasailing, to the Richard Petty Driving Experience, there are a plethora of activities to choose from. Not to mention, it's nearly impossible to experience all the amazing offerings within the parks in a single visit. Couple this with the fact that Disney Parks are consistently offering new adventures, and you can easily see just how quickly one can establish a Disney Bucket List. Especially if your a FAITHful Disney Fan ;-)

This post is particularly special to me, as it was this very subject that lead to a series of conversations, that would eventually lead to my joining the Magical Blogorail, this past June.

This is a re-post of my original bucket list, complete with a few revisions of activities I have had the opportunity to check off the list!

ºoº Go sans children- Looking forward to being able to experience a bit of the magic without packing and repacking diaper bags, completing a stroller search and rescue mission after every attraction, and not having to share my Dole Float ;-) Luckily, this wish will come true in October, when my Husband and I run the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. This adventure was everything I could have wished for. Not to mention, I had a few additional surprises that were not a part of my original itinerary. For example, I meet up with Deb Wills and the Allears.net gang, hung out with some special friends at the Moms Panel Meet & Greet, and experienced World Showcase like few get to do with an Epcot Segway Tour. If you haven't had the opportunity visit a Disney Park without your kiddos- add this to your list! 



ºoº Chef's table at Victoria & Albert's- This is a tough ticket! First, you must call V&A's directly for a reservation, and you can't call in until 9am, so much for being the early bird. Even if you get through, they only have one seating a night for ten, and you must have at least two in your party for a Chef's table ressie. My attempt was futile for all nights of our October stay, but I did snag the Queen Victoria Room! The QVR offers the same menu as the Chef's table, but in an intimate room with just two to four tables! What a great experience to have post 1/2 marathon, and on our last night in Disney! Better yet, being joined by friends! Where do I begin with this one?! This dining experience was not only a highlight of this particular trip, but has earned its way to the top of my list of highlights-period! A true once-in-a-lifetime dining experience! 


ºoº Craig Carroll's Cocoa Beach Surfing School @ Disney's Typhoon Lagoon- Cowabunga Dude!! So can't wait to ride the waves of the EAC-I mean the TL wave pool. This 2.5 hour land/water lesson occurs in the park before opening! That so totally rocks dude! 

ºoº La Nouba in Downtown Disney- Be prepared to be amazed! Booked for the September 30th show! 
WOW! This was fantastic! A true feast for all your sense! Be careful where you chose to sit however, or you too, my find yourself serving as good fodder for clowns! Luckily, I'm a good sport and played along!

ºoº World Showcase during the Food & Wine festival- Ok, I have already done this one, but...I have always had children in-tow, drastically reducing the ability to really, really enjoy ;-)
First stop.... Grand Mariner orange slushie!! My favorite food offering for this year's festival.... the Kalua Pork Slider from Hawai'i! 



ºoº Parasailing @ Disney's Contemporary Resort. Wow! Can you imagine flying 450 feet above the "World"? How about 600 feet? Well, you can! The adventure begins at Sammy Duval's Water Sports Centre @ Disney's Contemporary Resort Marina. This is a wet-free adventure and opportunities take flight every 30 minutes- weather permitting. This is way-cool! Had the opportunity to check this off my list with my son, as we experienced this adventure together with a tandem ride. I wasn't quite sure if he would be nervous about this experience, so we opted for the 450 foot adventure. I will say this, I am consistently reminded by said son, "We should've gone 600, Mom!". 




ºoº To go alone- Yeah, I could totally be ok with exploring the "World" all alone. Besides, I have met so many fellow Disney FANatics, it seems like someone I know is there everyday!
While I'm not sure when I'll ever get to go solo, I will get to go with a friend in just a few short weeks, as we participate in WDW Marathon weekend. So, this kinda counts, right? 

ºoº Disneyland Paris- Oh Oui! Je peux rever (I can dream)!

ºoº Disney World Moms Panel!- Last on the list, but first in my heart, the opportunity to represent the Disney World Moms Panel. As a 2011 semi-finalist, I'm ever "hopeful" for the opportunities that lie ahead. And as Walt reminds us, "If you can Dream it, you can do it". This stays in the bucket for another year. As always, I remain consummately hopeful that good things come to those who wait.....patiently! Only time will tell when I will be blessed with the amazing opportunity of checking this one off. I will admit, I sure like the way this backdrop looks behind me :) 



As always, I welcome all future opportunities of being able to check a few more off the list. However, like life, all our bucket lists should evolve with new adventures and new dreams. Whatever happens to be on your bucket list- never give up on the dream that you will be able to check a few of them off your list! 

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Teal this month. We will be back Tuesday, January 24th with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic , you can make your way over to the Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard. 
2nd Stop ~ The World of Deej
3rd Stop ~ YourFirstVisit.Net
Final Stop ~ The DisneyFAITHful

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Food!!! Wine!!! No Kids!!!


Walt Disney World Resort® is undoubtedly considered a vacation destination of choice among families. And while I absolutely love going with the brood, I had to wonder if going without them could still be amazing. In short, the answer to that question is, "ah, yeah, are you kidding, going without the kids means I get to BE a kid!" all while enjoying grown up activities. So, let's take a peek at a perfect WDW afternoon just me & the hubby!

Series 2: WDW with my Husband:

Wake up to the peace and quiet of a Boardwalk/Epcot view, order in-room breakfast & enjoy it on our balcony.

Head to the pool and not worry about where the little ones are!

Enjoy a slow stroll from the Boardwalk to Epcot.
Funny every time ;-)

Spend the rest of the day sampling, sipping, and strolling World Showcase
during the International Food & Wine Festival! THIS is the absolute best part!





And to conclude the perfect grown up afternoon... Illunimations, Reflections of Earth!

Food!!! Wine!!! No Kids!!!

Stay tuned! Tomorrow....I go solo!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

All In A Golden Afternoon!


Welcome to those of you joining me from Yourfirstvisit.net and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

Today we are discussing our vision for a perfect afternoon in Walt Disney World. And while I consider ANY afternoon in which I am on property to be perfect, there are those days that are practically perfect in every way. So what would my "Golden Afternoon" look like? Let's take a peek!

Series 1: with my family:
There is no denying Disney Parks are bursting with magic! But with the family in tow, park days can be long and stressful. So when it comes to a perfect afternoon with the family, it's usually what we call our "Resort Day". This is our chance to slow things down, and enjoy the many wonderful amenities offered at Disney's fine resorts. As DVC Members, our options abound in selecting some of Disney's finest accommodations. So here's how our day would go.....

Enjoy Breakfast with some real characters......

Make a splash in our favorite Resort pool.......

Pedal around a bit........

Sink a putt, or two.......

Have a Disney Date Night!

And my perfect afternoon "Wishes" have come true!

All in a Golden Afternoon!

Stay tuned to the DisneyFAITHful as the "Perfect Afternoon in Disney World" series continues Thursday, when I discuss a perfect afternoon in Disney just me and the hubby. Friday, we take a look at my perfect afternoon solo!

Thank you for joining me today! Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Many Adventures of a Disney Lovin' Spectrum Mom. 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ YourFirstVisit.Net





Friday, October 21, 2011

#FF Friday Follow!

Hello DisneyFAITHful! It's Follow Friday and DisneyFaith needs your help. I have the opportunity to offer my followers the chance to win a $20.00 Disney gift card! Unfortunately, I can not proceed with the giveaway until my blog reaches 50 followers!

So... if your a Faithful Disney Fan, I encourage you to follow my blog and journey along with me as we have a little Disney fun! You will also have the opportunity to journey along with me as a member of the Magical Blogorails Teal Loop. So hop aboard with DisneyFaith, it's free to follow & you have a chance of earning a $20 Disney gift card, that's five Dole Whips, people!

As always, remember....
"Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas."

Friday, September 30, 2011

"Walk This Way" To My Favorite Disney World Attraction!

Welcome to those of you joining me from Magical Mouse Schoolhouse and those of you just hopping aboard, I'm the 2nd stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop.

Hi! My name is Dylan, I'm 8 years old, and I love Disney! Just like my mom. But today I'm going to tell you all about my favorite attraction in Disney World, Rockin' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios! I like Rock n' Roller Coaster because it's super fast and super cool! My favorite part is the very beginning when the ride launches you out.

I didin't always like RRC. My first ride was in the very very back, and it was very very loud, and I was only 6. I didn't try it again until I was 8. I was still a little scared and actually got out of line. A nice man took me to the exit where my mom would get off. When my mom was done and met me at the exit, I decided to give it another chance. A nice Cast Member lady named Kitty heard me say I was ready, and she took us through a special hallway back to the front of the line! Kitty also gave me a special FastPass that I could use on any ride in Hollywood Studios that I wanted!! Mom says this is called a "Magical Moment". Another nice Cast Member put us in the middle, she said it wasn't as scary there. So I rode it and I loved it!! Now its my favorite attraction. I still don't like how loud they have the crazy music. But I do like seeing my photo at the exit. I think everyone should try RRC at least one time.

My Rockin' Roller Coaster special FastPass for being brave!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Blogorail Loop is Ramblings, Reviews & Reflections. 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard.


Final Stop ~ Return to Disney

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Dream Anniversary!

                                                  
Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Teal. Enjoy the ride as we share the ways to Celebrate Special Occasions in Disney!


Any opportunity to vacation where Disney is a destination is Magic in of itself. Couple that with celebrating a special occasion while visiting, and it's not just Magic, it's Magical! So follow along as the Teal Loop takes you through celebrating some of life's magic moments- Disney style! I take the helm this week, celebrating an Anniversary aboard the Disney Dream!


Ohhh, the majesty of life aboard the Disney Dream! Just one step into Her Atrium from the gangplank and you already feel spoiled! But what happens when they know you're celebrating a special occasion on board? You feel guilty over the level of spoiled-ness! At least, I did. Having celebrated my 12th wedding anniversary this past May aboard the Dream, I speak first hand about the amazing level of care and attention to detail one will receive. 







Our special day began in Senses Spa & Salon, located on Deck 11, Aft. Here we received our first couples spa treatment, The Ultimate Indulgence. Upon checking in, we were whisked away to a private couples treatment Villa. These well-appointed rooms are designed for couples- and include- a private veranda, hot tub, showers, and staff. After a quick consultation we are escorted to the veranda to begin our first treatment, foot bath massages, ahhhh. Next, we are given a 25 minute soak in our private hot tub. Once this is complete, we are escorted back into our treatment room where we enjoy the therapeutic benefits of a massage and facial. While this was no doubt relaxing, I apparently harbor a great deal of tension in my shoulders. This "tension", or lactic acid build up, had literally hardened into small pebbles which where quite painful to massage out- who knew!! The last moments of our experience are spent back out on the veranda overlooking the beautiful Atlantic ocean. As we relax together in our chaise lounge chairs- a surprise- we are served champagne with a beautiful fruit platter, and extra chocolate covered strawberries! Included was a note card which read: Happy Anniversary! A pretty sweet beginning to a wonderful day on the high seas!












**Intermission** We grab the kiddos from the Oceaneer Club and hit the Aquaduck!


Bonjour! Bienvenue a Remy! Ah, our special day has brought us to the culinary masterpiece of the Disney Dream's signature dining experience, Remy. We begin with a Taittinger Champagne Cocktail mixed tableside. Which I enjoy, the Husband, not so much. We are greeted by our wait staff and introduced to the menu. Intriguing! I make selections from both the French & American offerings, and hope for the best. As a special anniversary treat, we add the wine parings for each course. For the full experience, I highly recommend the wine pairing option. Interacting with the sommelier was both educational and entertaining. Ok...things get hazy after a couple of courses, however, my French, got better ;) Lastly, dessert! Along with our dessert selections we are presented with an additional surprise; what a pretty sweet ending to a wonderful day on the high seas!








Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The many Adventures of a Disney-Lovin' Spectrum Mom . 


Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ 
The DisneyFAITHful





Monday, September 26, 2011

Magical Monday! There's an app for that!

What's new in the magical world of Disney today? How about- Disney Store goes mobile! That's right, now you can feed your Disney Store shopping obsession right from your ipad & iphone! This new app has the same features you love about the Disney website. You can narrow your search by size, color, even categories! Need to locate the nearest store? It can do that, too! This app even has the capability of allowing you to select favorite items and share them through social media outlets! Great idea when needing to get Grandma a Christmas list! And, you wont even need a new login , you can access the app via your website login information! So, don't delay, Disney Store Mobile is ready for you to be their guest, today!




The Disney Store Mobile app is available at the app store, or by visiting m.disneystore.com.


Happy shopping!


~DisneyFaith ºoº

Monday, August 22, 2011

Getting a 'Physical Education' Disney Style!

Welcome to those of you joining me from YourFirstVisit.Net and those of you who have just hopped aboard.  I am the Final stop on our Magical Blogorail loop.





"Mousercise, Mousercise, everybody Mousercise, says Mickey when you rise, come on everybody Mousercise!" 


We all know the importance and value of getting an education. But it needs to extend further than just being "ready to learn to get some knowledge". What about a 'Physical Education'?  Neglect the very vessel that embodies your mind, and all that accumulated knowledge was for not. After all, the mind is the hardest muscle to work past, whether your reading Shakespeare, or running a marathon! 


If you've spent any time at all in any of  Disney's theme parks, you can conceivably see how educational opportunities abound. Whether its World Showcase in Epcot, The Keys to the Kingdom Tour in Magic Kingdom, or learning about the magic of movies in Hollywood Studios, a Disney World vacation can offer the opportunity to learn anything offered in a conventional classroom. And 'PE' is no exception. 


So where does Disney World enter into the equation of EARning a Physical Education? Easy! And, It's the magic of healthy living! Run a Disney Family 5K! Throughout any given year, you'll hear a lot of information regarding Disney's major runDisney events geared for adults. In fact, Disney's Marathon Weekend is increasingly receiving media attention surrounding it's full and half marathon challenges. And now, they are extending the weekend's appeal by offering the 'Goofy Challenge', the opportunity to run both the half and full marathons, back to back! But what about the families? This is where the 5k runs come in.


As a participate of a runDisney Family 5k, the first step before the race is to obtain your participate race packet. This requires you attend the Health & Fitness Expo, offered at either the Wide World of Sports in WDW, or the Disneyland Hotel in the Disneyland Resort. At these Expos, families learn the latest  information in health & fitness products, as well as seminars from experts in nutrition, running safety, and injury prevention. Just as important, children get to experience what it's like to participate in a race event. I can guarantee they wont remember what happened in class last week, but they will remember what it was like as they stood at the starting line of Disney's Royal Family 5K! Six months after our first runDisney Family 5K, my children remember with uncanny detail the events of that day. From properly affixing their bib numbers to their shirts, to the O' dark thirty wake-up time, to the feeling of crossing the finish line, these moments are forever etched into their memories as favorite WDW moments! And it didn't matter how fast we finished the run, what mattered was the instant love for participating in a challenge such as this as a family. What mattered, was the camaraderie they experienced with total strangers trying to complete the same journey. And what a new perspective to gain on your favorite Disney theme park. I will never forget the scene when we entered World Showcase from a back entrance of Epcot, and all 1.2 miles of World Showcase was a sea of families running/jogging/walking together. It was amazing! Here are some photos of our experience running the Beauty & The Beast 5k this past February. 

                                   Arriving at the WWOS to obtain our race packets!

                                     A look inside the Expo at the Jostens Center.

 Dylan crosses the finish line in Disney's Royal Family 5K, February 26th, 2011

                                Daddy gets jog stroller duty with the littlest competitor. 

                                              Madison runs with all her might!

                                              Epcot at 5:30am, aka, O'dark thirty!

            Getting ready to start! The 2011 race theme was Beauty & the Beast.

Mommy completes Disney's Princess Half Marathon!

Hopefully, you're beginning to contemplate a Physical Education-Disney style! Here are a few tips to help get you running in the right direction!


1. Select the runDisney race right for your family.
Remaining 2011 & 2012 Race schedule:
September 3rd, 2011- Star Tours 5K- Sold Out-DL!
October 1st, 2011- Disney's Halloween 5k- 72% full-WDW!
January 6th, 2012- Disney's Family Fun Run 5K- 52% full-WDW!
January 27th, 2012- Neverland Family Fun Run 5K- DL-*Night run.
February 25th, 2012- Royal Family 5K-WDW.
September 2012- Disneyland Family 5K TBA
October 2012- Halloween 5K-TBA


2. Get the family moving, now!
Training programs for 5K's are prevalent. With such options as couch to 5K, and my favorite
by runDisney running consultant, Jeff Galloway, Jeff Galloway's 5K Training. ANYONE can be ready to run in 6-15 weeks!


3. Make it fun!
Create family running shirts! Ours read, The Royal Dority Family, on the front, the back read, Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme.
You could even have fun by wearing a full costume, although covering your face is prohibited.


4. Watch videos of past races on the runDisney web-site. 
No one can sell it like Disney can! By watching the race promos, you're sure to encourage the family to just keep running ;-) 


5. Raise money for a charity as incentive to train & follow through.
By creating accountability not only to yourself and family, but to the community, you increase your chance of a successful finish.


6. Communicate with your child's educators!
As you can see from the race schedule, most races occur while schools are in session. By communicating in advance with the teachers & school administration your plans for participating in such an event, you're less likely to encounter problems from missed days. And, I'm sure this is an event your child's teacher would like to have shared in the classroom. 


In closing, there is just no substitute for a good education! We must continue to soar to new heights, learn new things, and continue to challenge our knowledge base. With that, we must challenge our bodies, too. And though Walt himself felt books contained more treasure than all the loot on treasure island, he also reminds us, "The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing". Why Walt? "Because it's Kind of fun to do the impossible!". 

"Mousercise, Mousercise, everybody Mousercise, says Mickey when you rise, come on everybody Mousercise!" 

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Teal this month. We will be back September 27th with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops. 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ The Many Adventures of a Disney-Lovin’ Spectrum Mom


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Everything AND the "Kitchen Sink"!

This tasty nugget, known as the "Kitchen Sink," can be found at
Beaches & Cream, located in Disney's Beach Club Resort. 

Friday, July 29, 2011

Dare to Dream!

If there is one thing you can count on from Disney, it's the hope that dreams CAN become reality! No one understood that better than Walt, often reminding us, "Dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them". So, the only thing left to ask is...do you have the courage? Do you 'Dare to Dream'? 

If the answer is "yes", or maybe you need some encouragement in pursuit of your dreams, I have just what you need! Announcing the next installment of Disney On Ice's magical productions!
Disney on Ice
presents
Dare To Dream


Off the heals of the last production from Disney On Ice, Toy Story 3, Disney invites you to experience all the pageantry, fantasy, and beauty of all your favorite Disney Princesses as they hit the ice. You wont want to miss the opportunity to get 'Tangled' up with Rapunzel, or be transported to the bayou with Tiana. And who can forget the incredible story of Cinderella, the ultimate tale in having Faith in your dreams. You'll be moved, inspired, and full of Pixie Dust by the end of these enchanting stories. So, don't miss out! Dare To Dream will be coming soon to a venue near you!

For more information on Dare To Dream, please visit

DisneyFaith ºoº