tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20496140014251281802024-03-12T18:28:36.580-07:00i love walt disney worldThis blog is all about the things I find fabulous at Walt Disney World! Read, comment, and enjoy!The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-21334992024443738772013-05-21T14:41:00.001-07:002013-05-21T14:41:17.959-07:00Thoughts on Star Wars Weekends...First off...WOW! I hadn't been to SWW in about six years, and I could not believe how much more crowded and popular the event had gotten. Back in the day, when I went, there were a few limited edition pin sets, and now there is an entire "Darth Maul!" Six years ago, you had to get outside an hour before hand to make sure to get an autograph, and now, people are getting there at 3 AM to get wrist bands and fast passes for a guaranteed meet and greet! <br />
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Based on that, my first tip for anyone visiting is GET THERE EARLY, especially if you want to get an autograph! And I don't mean an hour early--I mean EARLY. Especially if you are visiting on a weekend with a "big star." Darth Maul and Boba Fett were on our weekend, so the lines were extremely long. It didn't help that DM was only doing one session a day, whereas most stars do at least two. The lines for both celebrities were outside the gates, and wrist bands were available for a guaranteed meet and greet. You could opt to wait stand by, but if you did that, there were no guarantees. You could waste a large chunk of your day hoping to get to see someone only to find out it wasn't going to happen. <br />
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My second tip is HAVE PATIENCE. Lines are long, unless you get there right at opening. If you get there after 11, expect extremely long waits. <br />
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There were 3 lines outside the gates. Two were for the two different celebrities and one was for the exclusive merchandise. We were there on day 1 and day 2 of the event. The line for the merchandise was a 2 hour wait most of the first day. On the 2nd day, there was no wait to get in to the merchandise tent. But the line to check out was about an hour. If you are wanting one of the special name tags, expect at least an hour. If you are wanting to do the storm trooper or the carbonite figures, make an appointment. People without a reservation were not getting in. <br />
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Lines for characters are (surprise!) long. We went to Chewy first thing and waited. The park opened at 8, and he didn't come out until 9:40. Because of his delay, we were lucky and were given a "front of the line pass" to see any other character. We chose Darth Vader. Word on the street was Chewy and Darth were the longest waits, though it seemed to me SW Minnie and Mickey were the longest. At peak times, you are easily looking at 2 hours to see your favs. There are a few characters walking around--Storm and Clone troopers, Sand People, and Jawas. However, they don't come out until after 11. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowd at park opening--MADHOUSE! </td></tr>
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Another change that was a "thumbs down" in my opinion was the switching of characters. What do I mean by this? Take C3PO and R2D2. They were inside the merchandise tent and were routinely switched with Luke. There was absolutely no schedule as to who would be inside the tent at what time. We waited three times, and wound up with Luke every time. It was very frustrating. It was the same way with Boba and Jengo. If you were in a 30 minute line, waiting to get Boba, he might leave before you got to the front. The last time I went each character had a specific schedule so you knew when you had to be there to get each one. Much easier for the guests and much less frustrating. We never did get Boba or C3PO and R2. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our son, Camp, with Darth Vader</td></tr>
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I will say that every character played their part and did a great job. It was hotter than Hades out there and they were all jumping around, posing, and interacting with guests. <br />
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We didn't do either of the shows, because again, the waits were ridiculous, and it was too hot to stand outside in line with a 7 month old who inherited his Dad's pasty skin. <br />
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We did get a special Darth Vader cupcake inside the merchandise tent that was unbelievably delicious. And my husband did pay to have a storm trooper made in his likeness. Yes, we had an appointment. We didn't buy any exclusive merchandise, as the storm trooper was his big splurge. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vader Cake</td></tr>
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Oh, and if you get a chance spend some time watching the characters at the opening of the park and on the stage in front of the Sorcerer Hat. The storm troopers are especially funny. I love how the writers gave them so much personality! <br />
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Good luck, and may the force be with you! <br />
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<br />The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-50252621992503529792013-05-07T17:34:00.001-07:002013-05-07T17:34:32.102-07:00Coolest App Ever! Okay, I am totally in love with this new app Disney Memories HD. It's FREE, yes I said FREE on the Google Play Store for Android phones. It's a photo app. Basically, on the right half of the screen, there is a Disney character. You position your child on the left side of the screen, and voila! Instant photo with Mickey, Donald, whoever. There are LOADS of characters to choose from. And if that's not enough, you can deck your subject out in Mickey ears, sunglasses, all kinds of accessories. There are even borders to add onto your photos. And you don't have to take a photo--you can always use these on an existing photo. Again, I say, AWESOME. <br />
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I'm figuring this might come in handy just in case Captain Cranky Pants is afraid of characters. I'll just snap a few of these and no one will be the wiser. <br />
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We are still tinkering with it, but I'm going to share our first attempt here with you. Hopefully, with some practice we'll get it perfected before we head to the World! And of course, we won't be taking Camp's picture with him in his exer saucer. <br />
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The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-69726982843699166262013-05-02T07:04:00.002-07:002013-05-02T07:04:54.023-07:00Almost here!Time has gone by so fast! It's almost time to leave for the World! Little man turns 7 months on Sunday (Cinco de Mayo), and we think he may be cutting teeth. What a fun 21 hour trip this is going to be. <br />
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I, being the Disney fan I am, wanted to make sure he had some "first trip to Disney" duds. A wise person on the passporter boards suggested I not invest too much in onesies, because if my son was anything like hers, I'd be covering all of those onesies with bibs due to an onslaught of slobber. Smart lady. <br />
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I visited my local craft store, went a little overboard, and $40 later--voila! I now have some of my very own bibs. I don't think it would be too hard for most folks to figure out it's little man's first Disney trip, since he is only 7 months old, but now they'll know for sure. And I'll have a great memento to keep to remind us of his first Disney trip! <br />
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<br />The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-79263742868332530092013-03-17T17:58:00.001-07:002013-03-17T17:58:28.303-07:00Can someone help explain it to me? I love pin trading. I have a great time doing it, and I hope it is still around when my son is old enough to trade pins. But I have not been able to get into the Vinylmation thing. I get it--like how it works--but I don't really get what the fuss is about. They seem like a pain to lug around the parks just to trade.<br />
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Do you trade the vinylmation figures? And if so, what keeps you trading them? The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-24715602181986099562013-03-14T18:57:00.002-07:002013-03-14T18:57:36.606-07:00I heart EpcotSo, I was going to make a few of my dining reservations yesterday, and I realized we'd be spending most of our time this trip at Epcot. When I think about it, I think we spend a lot of our trip time at Epcot. It's mostly for the food. I like a lot of the restaurants around the world, but a lot of our favorites are at Epcot. Of course, we love just about any of the "fancy schmancy" restaurants in World Showcase. We try to eat, at the very least, at one of those during our trip, usually two. But we also love Garden Grill and some of the "faster food" places in the other countries. <br />
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This time around, since we are traveling with a six month old, we didn't want to book too many dining ressies. But when it came time to pick 2, guess what? Yep, both at Epcot. We're headed for Le Cellier to get the cheese soup and Garden Grill to get a nice, family style meal and visit some characters. Provided our little guy isn't traumatized by people dressed up in larger than life, overwhelming costumes. We shall see. <br />
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If you could only pick 2 restaurants around the world, where would YOU choose to eat? The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-22037685553690362322013-02-17T18:51:00.001-08:002013-02-17T18:51:39.236-08:00For the win! Buzz Lightyear TipI am super competitive. About everything. Even when it's something I've never done before. I still want to win. So, nothing made me happier than when Disney opened Buzz Lightyear. It's like a game and an attraction all in one. But even at Disney, I still want to win. Things get ugly when my competitive nature comes out. <br />
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I figured out early on that the items that were farthest away to shoot, moving, or just plain difficult, got me the most points. Only problem is, if I'm riding with someone who wants to control the car with the joystick, I can't always shoot those. And I have to be honest and say, I'm not really the best shot. <br />
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But I read a new tip recently, and I'm dying to try it out. Apparently, if I just hold the trigger on the gun in the shooting position, it continuously shoots. I'm already dreaming of the points I can rack up to beat my hubby on our upcoming trip. Any readers out there who can confirm this strategy will get me a win? I figure it's worth a try!<br />
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I also figured I'd pass it on. Now, if I can just figure out a way to beat everyone at Toy Story Mania, my life will be complete. <br />
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The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-15357815490621103052013-02-04T19:35:00.000-08:002013-02-04T19:35:26.017-08:00Budget Dining Tip! <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a tip I read a long time ago from a book, or on the internet, or who knows where. But it's one my family uses as much as possible. It doesn't work every day, because well, some days your touring plan might now allow for it. But if you want to save a little on dining, even if it's only a couple of days on your trip, give it a try. Hey, at Disney prices, skipping a full sit down meal could easily save a family of 4 $100-$150, which isn't chump change! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I always make room for some granola bars in my luggage, whether I'm driving or flying. In the morning, we wake up, head to fill up our refillable mugs, and munch on our granola bars while we wait for the bus (I have to eat first thing when I get up, so I need something to munch while en route to breakfast). Then around 10:00, we have a somewhat large "brunch." If you want to do a character breakfast, get the latest time you can. Proceed to eat like a pig. It's vacation. You can do it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We've found if we eat a late breakfast, we can then hit a slightly earlier dinner--say around 4, and we wind up able to skip lunch altogether! Of course, I have a back pack full of snacks, just in case anyone gets hungry between 10 and 4. We are early risers, so we are usually back in the room by 9. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It may not work for your family, especially if you have very young children who have to eat often and can't do an adult style pig out on the buffet. But it's saved us quite a bit of money over our years of touring. A few extra dollars in my pocket means more Dole Whips for me and more souvenirs at Tatooine Traders for my hubby! </span>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-33564499178556013042013-01-24T16:55:00.003-08:002013-01-24T18:16:00.533-08:00Monster's Inc. Onesies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I cannot get enough of the Disney onesies for babies! I loved the last collection, and I think I love this new one even more. For boys there's a Winnie the Pooh (so not my favorite) and this Monster's Inc. line. I think it's a must have for my trip in May. Only problem is, I'm not so sure what size to buy. Why do these little buggers grow so darned fast? <br />
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If you don't have a Target near you, you can also purchase these online. $9.00 for 2. Can't beat the price. Oh, how I love Target! <br />
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If you're interested in purchasing via online, you can find them <a href="http://www.target.com/p/disney-newborn-boys-2-pack-monster-s-inc-bodysuit/-/A-14279075#prodSlot=medium_1_11&term=disney+bodysuit">here.</a>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-30994562819365693932013-01-23T19:16:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:16:12.508-08:00Such a long time! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh my goodness! It has been a year since I last posted. But I have a good excuse, I promise. It took me 9 months to grow this little guy, and it was exhausting, but he arrived in October, perfect and amazing. Being a first time Mom, he has sucked up a lot of my time. But since I'm planning his very first trip to Disney in May, to Star Wars Weekends no less, you should see me posting again. I am sure I will be focused on facts and tidbits around traveling with a six month old. And please, if you have any tips for me, share them! I've been to Disney many times, but I have a feeling this trip will be a completely different adventure.<br />
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Of course, he won't remember it, but we will! So, I want to make sure I plan the most magical of magical trips. <br />
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I look forward to getting back to writing and sharing all the things I learn about Disney! <br />
<br />The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-52817993615319859462012-03-08T17:52:00.001-08:002012-03-08T17:54:28.274-08:00Cutest proposal!Had to share this one in case you haven't seen it. I'm wondering if that's Lindsay in the front. <br /><br /><a href="http://bitsandpieces.us/2012/03/07/splash-mountain-proposal/">Splash Mountain Proposal</a>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-88116654889328818582012-01-30T07:57:00.000-08:002012-01-30T08:05:03.537-08:00Meet the characters!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxnc9L8EHtSCI5orIh2d0U25aqy1ggYN6e90bS1omt-PJ5hFoLNeToZ5zoWlfeRiXa7hBvVrT4z4NdVOkNxlSx5suCi481azAvpfVyyJE9HwUbHDxVGnoBQIiY7PusE7rwMy8M7cOg26R/s1600/P1050586.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxnc9L8EHtSCI5orIh2d0U25aqy1ggYN6e90bS1omt-PJ5hFoLNeToZ5zoWlfeRiXa7hBvVrT4z4NdVOkNxlSx5suCi481azAvpfVyyJE9HwUbHDxVGnoBQIiY7PusE7rwMy8M7cOg26R/s320/P1050586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703456694144997010" border="0" /></a><br />If you are traveling, with or without kids, it is likely meeting the characters is on your ever growing "to do" list. Make sure you carve out ample time to do this, as the lines can be long. If there are certain characters you want to see, make a list, and devote your character waiting time to them. Some of your more popular characters, like Mickey Mouse, or Cinderella, can be up to an hour wait. Plan accordingly.<br /><br />If you want to help the line move more quickly, and make it as easy as possible for your favs to autograph your book, be prepared! Bring retractable pens, and have your autograph book open to the page you want them to sign. The characters have big hands--most without fingers--and flipping pages or fumbling with small pens is very difficult for them. Check out Tigger in the photo--he has to hold the book up high, and he doesn't have any fingers to hold a small pen.<br /><br />As I've mentioned in a previous post, you can find autograph books and large pens or markers on Disney property. But if you want to plan ahead, check out etsy for made to order autograph books, or even make one yourself before you go.The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-36045920485430702062012-01-04T12:13:00.000-08:002012-01-04T12:20:22.523-08:00February 29thThey're calling it "One more Disney Day," and honestly, I can't think of a better way to celebrate. Yep, it's February 29th. Once every four years, we get one whole extra day. It makes sense to use it to do something you love. And if I had my way, I'd use it to be at Disney World, as I can't think of anything I love more. (Don't tell my husband).<br /><br />Here's how it works--both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will open at 6 AM on the 29th and stay open until 6 AM on March 1st. If you're going to be anywhere near Lake Buena Vista or Anaheim, eat your Wheaties that morning and pack your backpack full of 5 hour Energy. I'd be the nut job who'd be trying to spend the entire 24 hours in the park just to say I did it! I'm sure I'd look like the walking dead, but I know I could make it. *Sigh* if only I weren't stuck in Oklahoma getting ready to leave for Hawaii. <br /><br />Anybody want to trade me a 24 hour Disney excursion for a trip to Hawaii?The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-52183142686378057732011-12-29T10:38:00.000-08:002011-12-29T10:43:10.498-08:00New Year ResolutionsNope, I'm not going to share mine here. Because if I do, then someone can hold me accountable for them. But I do like to write them down and tuck them away in an envelope until the end of the next year. It reminds me of all the things I planned to accomplish but didn't. Like this year, one of the things on my list was to make my very first quilt. And guess what? Yep, I didn't cut a single square. <div><br /></div><div>This year, I'm going to add a little Disney fun to my New Year's Resolution and write them on this cool Mickey template you can download for free at the link below. The kiddos will love using it to record all of their plans for the 2012 year! Hang them on your refrigerator or the bulletin board in your office as a reminder of what everyone wants to accomplish by year's end. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy New Year! There are only a few days left in 2011. Not too late to complete one of the things on your resolution list for this year!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://family.go.com/printables/article-1031806-mickeys-new-year-wish-list-t/">Click here to download the template</a></div>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-31263461458613564942011-12-27T13:52:00.001-08:002011-12-27T13:54:52.008-08:00New book!I didn't ask Santa for too many Disney items this year. Though in hindsight, I wish I would have asked for some Disney giftcards for my upcoming trip to Aulani! I did, however, get a real live paper book--one with pages you can flip and everything from my sister. (Believe me, I looked, and I couldn't find the little bugger available for the the Ipad or Kindle). <div><br /></div><div>It's <u>Hidden Mickey: Sometimes Dead Men Do Tell Tales</u> by Nancy Temple Rodrigue and David W. Smith. I am always quick to want to read anything about Disney, but a fiction book that touts itself as an "action adventure mystery"? How can I pass that up? </div><div><br /></div><div>So, if I'm absent the next few days, you know what I'm doing--reading. I'll let you guys know how it turns out! And if anyone has read it, please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought of it! </div>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-74034030710570814642011-12-23T10:23:00.000-08:002011-12-23T12:13:28.931-08:00Thoughts on Disneyland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKg9KDV_Bllfu4wy1SDHxJDm-fB7K8ldmEvDrUwhXFWYoqOuGQHH7LMX69QjoekZnAla3Im2cxUd_rg0acsIiIC2As-JhI1E-yuplfEftF0ahdzgZwaoYW7WaDi_NWT9KtiyUU6D-2hGY/s1600/P1020808.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKg9KDV_Bllfu4wy1SDHxJDm-fB7K8ldmEvDrUwhXFWYoqOuGQHH7LMX69QjoekZnAla3Im2cxUd_rg0acsIiIC2As-JhI1E-yuplfEftF0ahdzgZwaoYW7WaDi_NWT9KtiyUU6D-2hGY/s320/P1020808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689394246971262706" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, what a long time it's been! But I promise, I'll be back big time in 2012! It's one of my New Year's Resolutions! And with two trips planned, one to Aulani, and one back to the world for Food and Wine Festival, there will be lots of research and updates to talk about.<br /><br />But for now, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on my recent (okay, not so recent--back in October) trip to Disneyland with my niece and sister. That's us in the fair godmother costumes (handmade by moi)!<br /><br />Happy Holidays to everyone! 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name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>I love Disney World.<span style=""> </span>It’s my favorite place in the world.<span style=""> </span>And traveling there in October is my favorite time to go.<span style=""> </span>Both the Food and Wine Festival and the Halloween festivities make my heart skip a beat.<span style=""> </span>So, I’m sure you’re wondering why I’d taken four of my precious vacation days and spend them in California, at Disneyland right smack dab in the middle of the month?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Simple answer.<span style=""> </span>Disneyland is different, and yet so much the same.<span style=""> </span>It’s like Disney World lite.<span style=""> </span>First, Disneyland only has two parks vs Disney World’s four.<span style=""> </span>You can get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time without returning from vacation feeling like you need another vacation.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn and go until midnight to see and experience everything Disneyland and California Adventure had to offer.<span style=""> </span>Four days allowed us time to do everything, and I do mean <i style="">everything</i>, with a few hours break to lay at the pool.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Second, the California park has some attractions WDW just doesn’t have.<span style=""> </span>Of course, there are some of the originals like The Matterhorn and the Storybook boats, but there’s also Indiana Jones and that crazy ferris wheel at California Adventure (trust me, it’ll make you scream more than Tower of Terror).<span style=""> </span>And some of their classics are a little different, too.<span style=""> </span>Haunted Mansion gets a make over by good old Sandy Claws AKA Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas during the month of October.<span style=""> </span>And Tom Sawyer Island is turned into a Pirate’s Lair.<span style=""> </span>And last but not least, in good old Disneyland, Liberty Square doesn’t exist.<span style=""> </span>Instead, you get a chance to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of New Orleans.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I think the theming<span style=""> </span>at Disneyland is simply much more elaborate than at “the world.”<span style=""> </span>It surprises me every time I go, because the park is situationed right in the middle of the city, with no lagoon around it.<span style=""> </span>You park and walk right up to the gate.<span style=""> </span>But once inside, it’s easy to buy in to being in New Orleans or Frontierland or Adventureland.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">And the cast members—super nice.<span style=""> </span>I dare say we were treated better at DL than at WDW.<span style=""> </span>We had a little bit of trouble checking in as my sister had purchased her tickets online at a non-Disney retailer, and even though it was totally not Disney’s fault, they still gave us a fast pass to use at the attraction of our choice for our inconvenience.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Finally, don’t forget the beignets!<span style=""> </span>There is a great little place right off the Haunted Mansion which often has a jazz band and “just like New Orleans” beignets.<span style=""> </span>They’re <span style=""> </span>something you just can’t get at WDW, so I make sure and enjoy them every time.<span style=""> </span>.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Now, I’m not saying I’ll be quitting my annual (okay, sometimes twice annual) trips to Disney World.<span style=""> </span>But every once in awhile it’s nice to go back to where it all started.<span style=""> </span>Especially when you only have a few days to spare, and you really want to feel like you can accomplish everything on your “to do’s.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>In fact, I got to live out one of the items on my bucket list on this last trip—ride the Davy Crockett canoes.<span style=""> </span>I’ve always wanted to paddle the rivers of America, and on a gorgeous Saturday in October (when the park was at 94% capacity, mind you) I got my chance.<span style=""> </span>My niece and I sweated it out while circling Tom Sawyer island.<span style=""> </span>Another Disney memory made and cherished.<span style=""> </span></p>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-24333633260554381082011-08-21T05:46:00.000-07:002011-08-21T05:51:50.223-07:00Disneyland Fantasy FaireI know, I know. This blog is supposed to be about loving Disney World. But honestly, how can you love one without the other? It's true, the World is so much bigger, and packed with so much more to do. But DL is the original, and it's much more manageable for a weekend getaway. Plus, there are some different attractions, like the Matterhorn, and some spins on your old favs you won't get to see at WDW.
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<br />Plus, I'm going there this October in lieu of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party, which I usually visit every year. My sister, niece, and I are still trying to pick our costumes.
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<br />That being said, I'm DL obsessed right now. I haven't been in a few years, and I want to know what's new, and am trying to find out all about the DL Halloween party.
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<br />In my reading, I caught sight of this juicy tidbit. I'll have to put it on my calendar to make sure and visit in another few years to check it out. What little princess doesn't want to visit a fairytale village?
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<br /><a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/new-fantasy-faire-experience-coming-to-disneyland-park/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DisneyParks+%28Disney+Parks+Blog%29">Tell me more about the new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland!</a>
<br />The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-57526862098287470902011-08-02T12:36:00.000-07:002011-08-02T12:45:25.288-07:00Staying offsite?I never stay offsite. EVER. Since the very first time I stayed on property, I just cannot make myself do it, even if it is less expensive. <br /><br />That being said, I know there are people who do stay off property. I don't discriminate, so I wanted to share a tip from someone I know who stays off site frequently. She has 2 kids, and she recognizes that those kids might need a nap in the middle of the day. Smart lady, I say. BUT they usually take the shuttle to and from the hotel, and they don't want to waste valuable park time communiting to take a nap. <br /><br />Both of her little ones are still stroller age, so she hops on the monorail and takes it over to The Polynesian or The Grand Floridian. She finds a secluded spot, parks the strollers, and she and her husband bring out a book. (Yes, she has a husband, but he has not been mentioned as of yet, because let's be real--how much do the husbands do with the planning!) They let the kids take a nap while they relax a little and read. <br /><br />This same plan could easily be used in one of the parks, depending on how cool it is outside. Every parks has plenty of nooks and crannies to tuck away in while your little ones take a brief and much needed siesta. <br /><br />Of course, if you stayed on property, you could easily take the bus back. :) But then again, I'm a little biased, in case you hadn't noticed.The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-74297316647756629622011-07-04T17:52:00.000-07:002011-07-04T18:02:31.318-07:004th of JulyI must confess, I have spent very few 4th of Julys at Disney. Why? One, it's hot. Two, it's crowded. And three, I'm a savvy traveler. But alas, my parents were not. When my sister and I were around eight and eleven, we made our first trip to Disneyland together. Her mom and my dad were fairly recently married, and it was one of our first big family vacations. And it was over the 4th of July. <br /><br />I remember two things from that trip like it was yesterday. One, the brand new, super spectacular Star Tours had opened. Neither my sister, nor I, really gave much of a hoot about Star Wars. I know, it's blasphemous. But it's the truth. And we really didn't give enough of a hoot to warrant a two hour wait. Most of which was outside. Did I mention it was the 4th of July? A two hour wait to an 8 year old and an eleven year old, both who have ants in their pants (I had more ants than she did), seemed like a four hour wait, which was equal to an eternity. But our parents didn't care. They made us wait. I don't remember much about the brand new super spectacular Star Tours itself. (Of course, now I've written it at WDW a billion times). What I do remember is waiting in that horribly long and hot line with my new sister.<br /><br />The second thing I remember is "oohing and aahing" over fireworks from the river boat. From that moment on I became forever ruined for a local fireworks display. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, will ever compare to Disney fireworks. It can be at WDW or DL, either one, but there is no fireworks display like a Disney fireworks display. I rarely rush out to see one of our local fireworks shows, because I know I'm just going to leave in disappointment, and it will make me miss Disney.<br /><br />So, whether you're spending this 4th of July standing in long hot lines at a Disney park, or you're at home wishing you were, hope you have a great one!The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-84751282344035430942011-06-19T14:13:00.000-07:002011-06-19T14:24:46.929-07:00Happy Father's Day!For all of you dads who've<br /><br />bought Mickey Bars<br /><br />listened to melt downs on a hot summer Disney day<br /><br />waited in a 2 hour long line for Dumbo<br /><br />paid a small fortune for your family to visit Walt Disney World only to have your kids want to spend all day at the pool<br /><br />planned for a year with your son/daughter, getting them all excited to experience Space Mountain for the first time, only to find it closed for refurbishment<br /><br />weathered a mid day Florida rainstorm just so your family could ride all of their favorites with little to no wait<br /><br />put your daughter on your shoulders when you felt like you could barely stand yourself, so she could get a better view of the parade<br /><br />calmed down a screaming child after Snow Whites Scary Adventures or Dinosaur!<br /><br />witnessed a full on melt down because Cinderella had to "go in for a break" right before your family got to the front of the line<br /><br />HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! <br /><br />And especially to my father, for taking me to Disney so many times and forking over the cash for me to get married there--I hope your day is everything you want it to be!The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-58570096384669192472011-05-19T13:56:00.000-07:002011-05-19T13:58:53.738-07:00Cinderella themed wedding!If you've never checked out the Disney Wedding blog, you need to! It features weddings both at Disney and around the world that use Disney themes. I particularly love this one! How cool is it to have a tattoo artist at your reception? Such a beautiful theme!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.disneyweddingblog.com/2011/05/wedding-spotlight-brittney-chris.html">Click here to view the photos!</a>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-43656751496723237162011-05-18T12:52:00.001-07:002011-05-18T13:05:18.740-07:00Most popular questionPeople often ask me what is the most popular question I get when helping plan Disney trips. And here it is..."We want to see everything! What's the best way to do it?"<br /><br />I get it. You've spent a fortune. You may only go this once. You want your child to get to experience everything. Heck, YOU want to experience everything. <br /><br />But let's stop right here...and this is exactly what I say to my clients. There is just no way you can see everything. I have gone to Disney at least twice a year for the last 2 decades, and there are still things on my to do list I haven't completed. <br /><br />If you go in thinking you can see and do everything, you will only set yourself up for disappointment as well as a very exhausting trip. Nobody has fun when they're tired!<br /><br />Here's what I suggest. Get a handy dandy Disney World travel book. Of course, Passporter is my favorite. Go through it. Read about the attractions. Consider the age groups of everyone traveling in your party. Mark those attractions in green (or with a star) that you MUST see. You don't have to go off the ratings (Passporter has great ratings), but choose the ones you want to see. There are some really great attractions that might be considered a C ticket, so don't skip those based on what others have rated them. <br /><br />Then go through and mark in a different color the things you'd really like to see. Do the same with the restaurants and shows. If your kids are old enough, make a night of it, discussing each attraction and getting everyone's vote.<br /><br />Once you've done that, you can begin to make a plan. You won't see everything, but you'll see everything that is important to YOU. And skipping some things only gives you a reason to visit again!The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-13623307895820811302011-05-12T06:04:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:37:24.329-07:00Test Track Hidden Mickey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSiX3JDQTVmsAF8yNfH4mKR6EA8Tqw_DHWvywwCdREydnpoQlXCGYdhkl1aj9VKzcMJ0FTqbYvZCZ7056ut_Er453QPzhsMAC5b-zIbiwKFxZ5n9KLcNAP_ycwNzA1wnl043xasMXAHzc/s1600/hiddenmickeytt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSiX3JDQTVmsAF8yNfH4mKR6EA8Tqw_DHWvywwCdREydnpoQlXCGYdhkl1aj9VKzcMJ0FTqbYvZCZ7056ut_Er453QPzhsMAC5b-zIbiwKFxZ5n9KLcNAP_ycwNzA1wnl043xasMXAHzc/s320/hiddenmickeytt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605815610930303634" border="0" /></a><br />This one is a small one, so I cropped and blew up the photo so you could see it, and it's still very small! As in a lot of my hidden Mickey photos, we are moving, so I'm not really the worst picture taker ever, though it does seem like a lot of my shots are blurry!<br /><br />This one is found on Test Track, on one of the white dry erase boards. See if you can spot it as your car speeds by it. A good tip: always look at the dry erase boards on any attraction, if they have them. Even if there is no Mickey, there is often some other little Disney detail. And it's all of those little details that keep me going back year after year!<br /><br />On a side note--what about those gorgeous Disney Dream photos with the celebrities in them? I love the one of Queen Latifah as Ursula! She looks fabulous! They are in all of my magazines (Disney must have spent big bucks on the inserts, because they are EVERYWHERE), and they make me happy every time I see them. Which one is your favorite?The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-85253814054691861352011-05-09T11:59:00.000-07:002011-05-09T12:01:54.803-07:00Stitch attack!I had to share this photo for all of you Stitch fan. It made my Monday!<br /><br /><a href="http://co124w.col124.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0">Stitch!</a>The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-43286472087684851392011-05-06T06:59:00.000-07:002011-05-06T07:04:02.715-07:00Counting sheepJust one of the ways I know I'm addicted to Walt Disney World.<br /><br />You know how people count sheep to help them fall asleep? I navigate the Magic Kingdom in my mind. I start out entering and walking down main street and then turn to the right, entering Tomorrow Land. I imagine each ride as I encounter it on my walk. Usually, I fall asleep by the time I hit Frontier Land. <br /><br />This may not work for everyone, as I know some of you who are addicted to Disney might get too pumped up at the thought of your journey around the Magic Kingdom. And instead of sleeping, might have to get up and peruse some of the Disney chat boards to get a fix. But it works for me! <br /><br />Happy Friday!!!The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049614001425128180.post-853160629993690182011-04-24T14:57:00.001-07:002011-04-24T14:57:55.509-07:00HAPPY EASTER!A very happy Disney Easter to all of my readers who celebrate the holiday! And for those of you who do not, a very happy Sunday! Whatever it is you are doing today, I hope there is Disney magic in it!The Mad Hatterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248952626917873418noreply@blogger.com0