It's a Candy Cane Castle!

It’s no secret that I love Christmastime. It’s the perfect time of year for me – everything is sparkly and festive (it’s so much easier to get away with sparkles everywhere now!), you can walk around singing songs and no one thinks you’re crazy…and you can be EXTRA cheerful (hopefully people will be extra cheerful back!). I’ve said before that Walt Disney World during the holidays is just magic times ten. The spirit of the season is amped up and you find little details and cheer around every corner.

That is part of why I love Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. I’ve shared more reasons why on TampaBay.com’s mom blog, Whoa, Momma! It’s an annual tradition for my family and the holidays officially start when you see the castle glittering in Dream Lights and see the Once Upon A Christmastime Parade. In addition to reading about it, my friend and video correspondent Nicole Siscaretti has captured some of our favorite moments from our most recent Very Merry Party to share here:

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10 Tips for Taking Newbies to Disney World

At some point in your Disney-filled life, you will accept an incredibly scary challenge: taking someone to Disney World for the first time.

Now, let me begin by stating I will primarily focusing on adult touring. While taking a child to Disney World for thefirst time is likely one of the greatest things you will ever do, taking another adult that doesn’t quite appreciate Disney the same way you do can be a real challenge.

A few years ago, my wife and I took two of our best friends to Walt Disney World. We have been dozens of times and go several times each year. After hearing us rave about Disney, they decided they wanted to tag along for a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Our friends, also married, flew down to Orlando and met us for the second half of our vacation. They were both making their first-ever visit to Walt Disney World. During this trip, I learned some valuable lessons for making the trip enjoyable for you and the first-timers.

1. Lower your expectations of your friends.
The bottom-line: your friends will never love Disney as much as you do, no matter how much you want them to. Despite gathering dozens of fastpasses, buy them free Dole Whips and locating the perfect spot for fireworks, it’s likely not going to happen. Instead of expecting your friends to reach your high level of Disney fandom, just do your best to show the first-timers the “best of the best.”

2. Take it slow!
One mistake I have made is feeling obligated to show the first-timers EVERYTHING. While it is well known being at the gates at 8 a.m. is the best way to get the most out of your day, your friends don’t know this. You can recommend getting up early by mentioning shorter wait times, but ultimately, I would leave it up to the first-timers to decide if you will be at the park for rope drop.

3. Do the parades!

We have seen most of the parades several times. However, with first-timers, you must hit the parades. While I’m not a huge fan, I know that parades are a big part of the Disney experience and what people expect when they visit the parks.

4. Make a list of the “best of the best”

I always write down the must-do attractions for each park. Then, before the trip, I go over the list with the first-timers and find out what they are most interested in. If your friends don’t ride roller coasters, there’s no need to have them speed walk to Everest at 9 a.m. An itinerary is also a good idea when planning the trip. While your friends will likely make fun of you, I find it necessary when taking first-timers.

5. Know the first-timers   

Before the trip, talk to them about their expectations. You should have a clear understanding of what they expect, their knowledge of Disney, dietary expectations, cost limitations, etc. Talking before the trip will help you avoid unnecessary stress while at Disney World.

6. Be knowledgeable

I find that first-timers really appreciate those little “secrets” about the parks. Share your knowledge!

7. Be cliché

Buy the Mickey hats, get your first-timers the “first visit” pins, ride ‘It’s a Small World.’ Do all the cliché things to help fulfill the first-timers’ expectations of the Disney experience.

8. Pick the perfect time of year

If possible, be sure to pick a time of year that is best for the first-timers. If possible, pick a time of year that has low crowds and cooler temperatures. If the first-timers are less about rides and more about the experience, consider going after Thanksgiving so they can see the Christmas decorations at Disney World.

9. Bring snacks into the parks  

While this seems like an obvious tip for everyone, I find that first-timers always have a hard time with the cost of food inside the parks. By packing snacks, it can help offset that frustration when the first-timers realize food inside the parks can be expensive.

10. Don’t stress out!

Planning a trip for other people is always stressful. However, if you clearly understand the first-timers’ expectations, you can better plan a trip that is fun for all. If you get stressed out, so will everyone else. As always, never forget – you’re at Disney World!

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What are your top tips for traveling with newbies? Share them below! Big thanks to Scott for sharing his thoughts with us today. Be sure to follow Scott on twitter ( @scgustinwdw & @thesocialmouse ) and check out TheSocialMouse.com.

Now usually, I am a photo-holic and take pictures of any and everything when I visit a place for the first time. However in this instance, I was so completely overwhelmed by the experience, that I found myself without photos of a lot of what we saw when I returned home. (I still have quite a few, and I’ll be posting them over the next few weeks.)

Nicole and I on "it's a small world" Where else but Disney could we get away with those hats?? (photo by Becky Staudt)

That said, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve seen tons of photos of Disneyland, even ride videos, but nothing compares to walking down Main Street, U.S.A. that first time and seeing it all before you in living, breathing color. So while I’m still sharing our memories here with you, my real purpose in writing this post is to implore, even beg any Disney fan that has not yet made the pilgrimage to the “motherland” to do so. If you’re anything like my friends and me, it will change your life.

Now first, a little backstory. I decided to make this journey westward thanks to an amazing friend of mine, Nicole Siscaretti. She is not only a wonderful, caring person, but she’s also going to be a star some day, so you can watch these videos and say later, “ahh, I knew her when…” Nicole was part of our team for the D23 WDW Scavenger Hunt we did a few months back and it was then that I really got to know what a special person she was. After spending the last few months hanging out and “planning” our conquest of Disneyland (I say that in quotes because this was probably the least planned trip either of us had ever taken), she is like a little sister to me. In addition, she loves making fun videos on her iPhone andlooks WAY better on camera than me, so I’m pleased to be able to share a highlight reel of our Disneyland adventures thanks to her.

Before sharing her Disneyland video, I must explain one other thing. Nicole actually embarked on a quest that most people don’t even dream of – visiting all 6 Disney Parks in the US in one day. Nicole had asked me to join her and I was all set to do so before a last minute meeting had to happen at 9 on the morning we left for California. So I got to take the easy way out and only went to the 2 west coast parks. Nicole persevered and accomplished her goal. You can see her Six Parks One Day adventure on YouTube!

And now, without further ado, here are just a handful of our amazing Disneyland memories, shared with local Florida friends, west coast friends and new friends from all over! Disney fans may recognize the famous Scott Otis (@otisney on twitter) and the equally famous Michael Crawford from ProgressCityUSA.com (@ProgressCityUSA on twitter), two great friends from whom we were lucky enough to get amazing Disneyland history and backstory as we toured the lands!

I hope you enjoyed our video and if you’ve never been, do make plans to get to Disneyland some day soon, it is simply incredible!

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Billed as “The Ultimate Fan Event,” D23 Expo 2011 takes over the Anaheim Convention Center Aug. 19-21. Falling somewhere between the chaos of Comic Con and the intimacy of the All Disneyana Show & Sale, this official event is a chance for Disney to connect with fans and showcase the new and forthcoming products in all its business lines, from film, television, and radio to theme parks and consumer products. Whether you were at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009 or this will be your first time, here is an overview of everything you need to know about D23 Expo 2011.

Anaheim Convention Center in 2009

D23 Expo Show Floor

Located in Halls A, B and part of C, the D23 Expo Show Floor is where you’ll go to see Imagineering’s handiwork in the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Pavilion, track down rare items in the Collectors’ Forum, purchase official Expo merchandise in the Dream Store, and visit the booths and exhibits of Disney’s various business lines. The show floor is open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm daily, with a one-hour head start for D23 members beginning at 9:00 am.

Welcome Center
In addition to acting as an information booth and membership desk, the Welcome Center will host meet-and-greets with artists, authors, actors, filmmakers, and Disney celebrities including Don Hahn, Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, and Dave Smith. Note that these take place in the Talent Round-up area across the aisle, not inside the Welcome Center itself.

Welcome Center in 2009

Disney Consumer Products’ Disney Living Pavilion
This is where you’ll find a showcase of the latest Disney merchandise, appearances by celebrity designers and artists, story time with Disney Publishing, and a performance by American Idol‘s Constantine Maroulis and Rock Star Mickey. This massive pavilion, which spans the lower quarter of Hall A, also houses “pop-up” locations of the Disney Store and A Small World Village (more information on these in the Shopping section, below). Additionally, there will be toy demos, mini-beauty treatments at the Disney Beauty Lounge, and party ideas at the Disney Celebrations exhibit.

Disney Channel & Radio Disney Pavilion
You’ll hear this pavilion before you see it because it’s the site of a nonstop series of dance parties, concerts by Radio Disney favorites, appearances by Disney Channel stars, and meet-and-greets with Disney characters. This is also the place for “Perry-Oke” sing-alongs at the Phineas & Ferb Platy-Bus.

The Platy-Bus at Comic Con 2011

Disney Interactive Media Group
Check out the latest Disney videogames and meet Epic Mickey game designer Warren Spector on Friday and Saturday afternoon.

Walt Disney Studios In-Home Entertainment
This is the place to see Blu-ray 3D in action and learn about movie-viewing on mobile devices.

Inside Tides – Pirates of the Caribbean Film Prop Collection
Located next to the Walt Disney Animation Studios booth, this collection of props and costumes from the fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise offers the rare opportunity to actually photograph items from the Walt Disney Archives.

Disney Corporate Citizenship
The hub for Disney’s charity and environmental initiatives offers the opportunity to volunteer just a few minutes of your time at the Expo to make a big difference in the community.

Disney Corporate Citizenship booth in 2009

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Carousel of Projects Pavilion
Probably the most entertaining area of the show floor, this pavilion spotlights the work of Walt Disney Imagineering at the parks around the world. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the work on Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land and the Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom and have a chance to talk to real-live Imagineers about the projects they’ve worked on. There will also be exhibits on the inner workings of Audio-Animatronics, and last time there were meet-and-greets with advanced AA figures Wall-E and Lucky the Dinosaur. Elsewhere in the pavilion, you’ll find displays by Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club and Adventures By Disney.

Radiator Springs model and Lightning McQueen Audio-Animatronic at D23 Expo 2009

Collectors Forum
This area serves as a catchall for independent vendors of Disney art and collectibles, fan sites and message boards, and Disney travel agents. It’s also the place to meet Disney celebrities like Bill Farmer (Goofy), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Margaret Kerry (Tinker Bell), and Susan Egan (Megara, Belle on Broadway) at the Disneyana Fan Club booth. An outlet of the United States Postal Service will be handy for those who’ve gone on a D23 Expo shopping spree.

Disney Desk – Park Ticket Sales Center
Disney will be selling Expo attendees discounted “Twilight” tickets to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that are good after 4:00 pm or 4 hours before the park closes, whichever comes first. Rates are $55 for a 1-day, 1-park Twilight ticket (vs. $80 for a full day) or $70 for a 1-day Twilight Park Hopper (vs. $105 for a full day). A full-day Park Hopper can be purchased at $8 off the regular adult or child price. Disney will also sell multiday Park Hoppers for $25 off the 3-day price, $30 off the 4-day price, or $35 off the 5-day price for adults and children.

D23 Arena

The 4,000-seat arena hosts all the major Expo events, from the Disney Legends Ceremony and 3-D screening of The Lion King to the presentations by Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. The Studios presentation is the one to hit for celebrity sightings, with Jason Segel, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, Willem Dafoe, Kelly Macdonald, Jennifer Garner, Sarah Silverman, and cast members from Marvel’s The Avengers on tap at press time. Fans of the Disney princesses will want to check out Friday morning’s 2011 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which honors the women who provided voices for Ariel, Belle, Jasmine and Tiana. The Walt Disney Parks & Resorts presentation will provide a look at upcoming projects at Disney parks around the world, although last time the promised surprises were the same information that had been floating around the Internet for weeks or months already.

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts presentation in 2009

You only need to wait in the ginormous arena queue if you absolutely have to get a seat in the first few rows. Also, attendees will be required to turn over their cell phones, cameras, and other recording devices on the way in to the Walt Disney Studios presentation. This creates long lines before and after the event; allow extra time or find another place to stash these devices so that you can skip the check-in lines.

Second Floor

You’ll need to travel upstairs to see the various seminars, panels, and events with Disney celebrities, plus the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. For a complete schedule, click HERE to download the official D23 Expo 2011 Guide Book.

Stage 28
The majority of the historical and Imagineering seminars at D23 Expo 11 will take place inside Stage 28. These are the kinds of presentations found at D23′s Destination D events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World: in-depth examinations of the development of parks and attractions, plus interviews with the people who were there. Stage 28 was frequently packed to capacity at D23 Expo 2009, so be sure to get in line early.

Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives
Located in the middle of the second floor is the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit. This year’s will be twice as big as it was at the inaugural D23 Expo, packing in 12,000 square feet of costumes, props, artifacts, photos, and memorabilia from Disney films, TV shows, theatrical productions, and Walt Disney himself. Also inside the exhibit this year is the D23 Fan Art Gallery, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the movie 101 Dalmatians. (Shameless plug: My husband created the winning art piece, Tiki de Vil!) Note that photography and videography are prohibited inside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives.

Outside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit in 2009

D23 Expo Live Auction Preview Room
If you don’t want to pay $45 for a ticket to the D23 Expo Live Auction on Saturday night, you can preview the lots on the second floor of the convention center. Up for live auction are original attraction vehicles, props, art pieces, tours, and experiences—a complete list can be found at HERE. To see a few of the silent auction lots, click HERE.

Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily's Hatbox Ghost for the D23 Expo 2009 Live Auction

Third Floor

There’s only one venue on the third floor of the convention center, and that’s…

Stage 23
Not to be confused with Stage 28, this theater hosts mostly screenings and events for the first two days of the Expo, including the Pixar shorts collection, the Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix concert, the Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament and the D23 Expo Live Auction. On Sunday it becomes home to the kinds of theme park history and Imagineering seminars found on Stage 28, like “Imagineering Cars Land” and “The Making of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.” Although it can hold 1,500 people, Stage 28 (then known as Walt Disney Studios Theater) was often packed to capacity in 2009, so get in line early for hot-ticket presentations featuring popular names.

Shopping

Disney provides numerous “shopportunites” at the expo, including plenty of limited-edition and exclusive merchandise.

D23 Expo 2011 Dream Store
This is the place for limited-edition Expo merchandise, theme park products, jewelry, ACME art, and autograph sessions. Each day will see the release of items themed to a specific Disney classic: 101 Dalmatians on Friday, Dumbo on Saturday, and Alice in Wonderland on Sunday. Last time, Disney handed out tickets to those in the pre-opening line that allowed them to return at any time that day to pick up the limited-edition items they wanted. While certain products remained available throughout the Expo, others sold out to those at the front of the line, so be sure to get there early if these are important to you. A partial list of D23 Expo merchandise can be found HERE.

D23 Expo 2009 Dream Store

Mickey’s of Glendale
Although it has been a fixture at the Disneyana Fan Club’s All Disneyana Show & Sale for a few years, Mickey’s of Glendale makes its D23 Expo debut in 2011. This satellite location of the employee store at Walt Disney Imagineering will be inside the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Carousel of Projects pavilion selling WDI-exclusive apparel, accessories, pins, and art, plus merchandise inspired by the projects on display in the pavilion. Pin collectors, take note: There will be several limited-edition D23 Expo pins sold only at Mickey’s of Glendale. Also, they usually have a few bins of $4 and $5 WDI pins that make great traders.

Disney Store
The Disney Living Pavilion is the site of a 1,500-square-foot pop-up Disney Store, which will kick off its 25th anniversary celebration with a D23 members-only presentation at 9:00 am on August 19. The first 25 people in line will receive a commemorative pin. Additional members-only opening ceremonies will be held at the same time on Saturday and Sunday. Note that only 500 of the Disney Store 25th anniversary Vinylmation figures will be sold at the Expo, but 2,000 more will be available to D23 members online.

There were plenty of limited-edition Vinylmation figures left on the last day of D23 Expo 2009

Walt Disney Archives Treasure Trove
Adjacent to the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit is the Walt Disney Archives Treasure Trove, which will sell reproductions of and pieces inspired by items in the archives, limited-edition merchandise from the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World and 20th anniversary of The Rocketeer, and assorted other leftovers from previous D23 events.

A Small World Village
This pop-up shop features apparel and accessories for children, toddlers, and babies inspired by Mary Blair’s concept art for the “it’s a small world” attraction. Sponsor Nordstrom will also offer Basq NYC skincare for new moms and TOMS shoes for kids.

Dining

All concessions are handled by Aramark, whose food you may recognize from arenas, convention centers, and stadiums across the country. If you have special dietary requirements or are just a fan of fresh food, you may want to explore the options right outside the convention center in an area known as CenterWalk.

A complete list of dining locations and menu items can be found in my article “Dining Options at the 2011 D23 Expo” on The Disney Food Blog.

Touring Tips

• It’s a Disney convention, but it’s still a convention. Disney may have reinvented the amusement park business, but its approach to conventions is strictly by the book. Expect many of the less-than-thrilling aspects of a theme park visit (lots of walking, long lines, overpriced food) combined with familiar convention touchstones like counter-programmed seminars, bad fluorescent lighting, and huge corporate booths shilling the latest and greatest products.

• It may feel crowded. In 2009, D23 Expo drew almost 40,000 people over four days. This year, they’re expecting 45,000 people over three days. This may be especially noticeable at the two counter-service restaurants around lunchtime, so you might want to eat at off hours.

• Expect to wait in line. Unfortunately, Disney’s FASTPASS does not extend to D23 Expo. Lines form hours in advance for popular seminars (especially the ones featuring Imagineers), the sale of limited-edition merchandise, and presentations in the arena.

• Know when to get in line. Although D23 Expo officially opens to D23 members at 9:00 am (10:00 am for the general public), Disney is expecting lines to begin forming out front by 5:00 am. These will mostly be people waiting to line up for merchandise vouchers from the Dream Store and those who want floor seats in the arena. The first group will be ushered into the lobby at 6:45 am, with the rest entering by 7:00 am. At 8:00 am lines will be divided into one for the store and one for the arena, and at 8:30 am the latter will be allowed into the arena. There is no need to wait in either line if you’re not interested in limited-edition merchandise or don’t care where you sit in the Arena.

• You can’t see it all. D23 head Steven Clark has said that the Expo is scheduled so that fans will feel like there’s too much good stuff to see and do. This means that popular presentations are often counter-programmed so that it is impossible to see them all. Be prepared to make tough decisions between certain panels and presentations, especially those that require a long wait in line.

See you at the Expo!

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Carrie is the author of PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons, a guidebook and bridal organizer for weddings and honeymoons at Walt Disney World and on the Disney Cruise Line. You can read her account of the inaugural D23 Expo in D23 Expo The “All-Lines, No-Rides” Disney Experience! and follow her adventures at D23 Expo 2011 as @lurkyloo on Twitter.

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Echoing through the air, a beautiful rendition of “Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby” serenades a starry eyed child sitting high in the swinging chair.  Just a few minutes earlier, a story about the big fish caught last week is followed up with talk of the weather.  From the ornate carved woods and the checkerboard floor to the good conversation abound, you have been taken back to a place gone by.  It is a quaint barber shop with a harmonious barber shop quartet nestled on a familiar street.  It’s not Mayberry. And it’s not Floyd Lawson standing behind the chair with his scissors in hand. It is much more. It is the Harmony Barber Shop.  Many families around the world have visited this fine establishment to experience the time-honored tradition of a haircut in the Magic Kingdom.

The bustling Harmony Barber Shop

The barber's chair awaits a child

Emily enjoys the view from the window of the Harmony Barber Shop

Considering Walt Disney’s fondness of a hometown Missouri barber shop, Main Street, U.S.A. would not be complete without this hidden gem.  Discovering the essence of an old-timey barber shop in today’s world where a quick 5 minute cut at a SuperCut is just status-quo would certainly make Walt proud.  Even the barbershop quartet, the Dapper Dans, is occasionally on-hand to treat guests with their excellent four-part harmony.  Here, anyone is welcome to take a seat in the barber’s chair and be exposed to some magical hair treatments.  Matter of fact, about 400 guests of Walt Disney World experience the Harmony Barber Shop each week.

With the Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A.

Located just past City Hall on the corner of Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom, the Harmony Barber Shop offers the traditional haircut, as well as a variety of specialty menu treatments.  While the barbers have a license and usually years of experience, they are indeed Cast Members and are experts at entertaining children and comforting them during the process.  Hours of operation are 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week.  Walk-ups are always welcomed, but advanced reservations can now be made thru Walt Disney World Reservations.  Ask for a booking via “Children’s Activities”, otherwise the Cast Member may have a hard time locating it.  They accept 2 reservations at the top of each operational hour and 2 reservations at the half hour.  The 2 reservations per half hour are given priority, then walk-ups are taken on a first come, first serve basis.

For some children the first hair cut can be scary, Cast Members try to comfort the child with toys, bubbles and Mickey Mouse stickers. Pictured here is Blaise before his first hair cut.

A standard haircut for an adult is $19 and children 12 and under is $15.  The barbers always offer some special pixie dust to top off the new do for no additional charge.  To add a little festive color to your current style or to your freshly cut hair, add $5 for the color gel.  Men can also get a beard or mustache trim for $10.  Now, the Harmony Barber Shop’s most famous treatment is the “First Haircut” and rightly so.  People have been known to delay their child’s first haircut for months so that they could do this world renown experience on an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World.  To the delight of the children, they are treated to fun with pixie dust, bubbles and Mickey Mouse stickers till their hearts content.  After the first haircut concludes, the child is awarded a certificate and a “My 1^st Haircut” embroidered Mouse Ears.  Then to finish the show, pictures are taken with the ubiquitous “big red scissors” and Mickey cape.  The “First Haircut” with all the special extras is $18.

Noah was mesmerized by the Mickey Mouse stickers during his first hair cut.

More than anything, the Harmony Barber Shop leaves an indelible memory for so many guests.  From a first hair cut to a fun punk hair-do with pixie dust, the transformations that occur on a daily basis at the Harmony Barber Shop are a perfect example of the campaign “Let the Memories Begin.” The change in appearance of its patrons is no less dramatic than the change in their spirit. It’s a homey, personal memory that is so rare while vacationing, but is so perfectly composed at the Harmony Barber Shop.  Here are a few more of the thousands of memories that have been culminated over the years.  Don’t miss John Eric’s story at the end.

Special Occasion Hair Cut with Pixie Dust.

Having never had my hair cut in a barber shop before, my 40^th birthday trim in the Harmony Barber Shop was a refreshing treat on a scorching June day.

Celebrating my 40th Birthday with a trim!

Jeff celebrated the finish of the 2011 Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge with a new cut.

Pixie Dust.

What fun to walk around the Magic Kingdom with a Pixie Dust Do!

The Tinker Bell Up-do with Pixie Dust

Spiked to perfection after a trim.

Barbara created super spikey hair to the delight of Wyatt

First haircuts, Harmony style.

Getting the first hair cut

Covered in Mickey Mouse stickers for the first hair cut

Walt Disney World Moms Panelist Leslie helps entertain her son during his first hair cut on his very first birthday!

The finale of the first hair cut experience... Pictures with the big red scissors and Mickey cape

The famous "First Haircut" Mickey Ears

A Celebration of life.

John Eric Bartels’ mom and dad had always dreamed of having their son’s hair cut at the Harmony Barber Shop.  In April 2008, Jay and Alisha took their son John Eric to Walt Disney World for some much needed magic.  Fighting a battle against Stage IV Neuroblastoma Cancer, 22 month old John Eric didn’t have hair to cut.  However, the dream of having their son encounter the Harmony Barber Shop was important. With love and compassion, the Cast Members gave John Eric a special, one-of-a-kind treatment.  After the lavishing of the Mickey Mouse stickers, a unique “Hidden Mickey” was painted on the back of his head.  John Eric watched contently looking in the mirror as the barber worked her magic. He was so proud of his “Hidden Mickey” that he wore it for several days.  The heart and soul of John Eric and his parents were lifted that day by their amazing experience.  Jay and Alisha will always be grateful for this memory.

John Eric loved his experience at the Harmony Barber Shop

Getting bunches of Mickey Mouse stickers

John Eric getting his "Hidden Mickey"

John Eric loved his "Hidden Mickey"

This article is written in memory of John Eric Bartels (June 18, 2006-May 16, 2008)

John Eric with Pluto

The day in the Harmony Barber Shop will always be a cherished memory.

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Many thanks to Mary Jo for sharing these wonderful photos and family stories with us. In addition to being a wonderful mom of two adorable Disney kids (Emily and Wyatt above), you can find Mary Jo on twitter at @MoJoDisney, on facebook, and hanging around the WDW Radio team, where she is a member of the WDW Radio Running Team, Finisher of 11 Disney Running Races (including Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge)! She just came back from the WDW Radio Disney Dream cruise – maybe we can convince her to come back and write about that here too!

Let’s start off with OhAmanda and her Rapunzel’s Golden Hair Birthday Party. You have to check out all of the unique touches and parts of the party that linked back to the Tangled storyline. Just precious!

{Click photos to enlarge}

Instead of lanterns, they released balloons with lights inside. HOW COOL!

Remember one of the Pub Thugs wanted to bake cupcakes??

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Ok, next up – UP! This UP themed birthday party from Wendy Updegraff completely blew me away. Get it? Balloons? Blew away? Sorry…just look at these unbelievable photos. I think this made even Martha Stewart jealous!

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Photographer Jessica Claire shared not one but TWO amazing Alice in Wonderland-themed birthday parties. I would live in these pictures if I could!! Be sure to head over to see the rest of Annabelle in Wonderland and Nicola’s UNbirthday.

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While we’re looking at Alice in Wonderland themed ideas – check out OhAmanda‘s Ace Party (as in Ace of Spades!) for her little guy:

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Here’s another of OhAmanda‘s masterpieces – her Snow White birthday party - complete with Seven Dwarfs mine and Wicked Queen’s punch!

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Be sure to check out OhAmanda.com‘s Pirate themed birthday party and Muppet Puppet Party too! I need her to plan my next birthday I think.

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If traditional Disney is your thing, I’ve got two Minnie Mouse themed birthday parties to share with you. One from At Second Street blog and the other from Two Parts Sugar as shared on DisneyEveryDay.com. Seems like Disney parties are on everyone’s mind this month! Check out these adorable ideas:

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Hey Howdy Hey, here’s another great party! Check out this Toy Story Jessie-themed party from Beth Kruse!

I hope you enjoyed these party-inspiring photos and blogs! All photos are copyright their original owner and just shared here to spread the magic. For even more fun (and easy to create) birthday party ideas, check out FamilyFun.com. If you have a Disney themed party that you went all out for, let me know!

Ready for anything with Mickey stickers!

It’s not news to any regular readers that we go to Walt Disney World…a lot, nor that we have 3 children. My oldest son is about to turn 12 this weekend, my daughter is 10 and my youngest son turned 2 the end of October. While we have visited the barber shop in the Magic Kingdom many times, in both its locations, we had never experienced a “first haircut” there. With our first child, the thought just never occurred to us and we took him to a local kids hair cutting place. With our daughter, well, we just never really cut her hair until she was about 4 anyway! So since we now frequent Disney a lot more than “normal” with the blog and Moms Panel and twitter meet-ups etc. It seemed only natural to experience this rite of passage, well, the right way.

Now what’s changed since our last visit, aside from the new location, is that you can now actually book appointments at the Harmony Barber Shop. Since this is such a popular attraction among those who know the Magic Kingdom, the wait time can get quite long in the shop. Simply calling 407-WDW-DINE will secure you a spot in the barber’s chair. Walk-ins are still available but will be taken when available around those with appointments. Our time was for 11am on a busy Saturday, and despite the line out the door, the wait wasn’t too bad for those without appointments. These dual-skilled cast members/stylists know their stuff and do it efficiently. The “First Haircut” package is $18, a child’s haircut is $15, Adult haircut is $19 and colored hair gel and pixie dust is $7.50

Giovanni is pretty good around people he hasn’t met, as long as we introduce them and ask him to say hi. He’s been known to give a high-five or two as well. However, we’d never been in a situation like this before where something was happening TO him, aside from doctor visits of course. I think Gio definitely prefers getting his hair cut after this. As luck would have it, we were assigned to Michal, who is known pretty much world-over as THE barber at Harmony (as evidenced by his appearance on the Disney Parks Blog). I have no doubt the other cast members are just as proficient and we have in fact gone to others in the past, but having known of Michal since my brief days of working on Main Street, U.S.A. selling t-shirts and watches as a merchandise hostess, I was excited. I remember seeing him in the break-room down in the tunnel or in passing on my way to or from my post at Disney Clothiers, Main Street Athletic Club or Uptown Jewelers. He always had a smile or a wave. I can’t even begin to imagine the number of hair cuts or styles he’s given in his many years at the Magic Kingdom but it was an honor to know he’d be the first person cutting our last child’s hair.

Doling out the stickers

Which brings me to my next worry, Gio’s hair. Those who have seen pictures know of his curls. They also know that he gets mistaken for a little girl and called Princess more times than I can count. But that’s okay. I know he’s my little guy and after cutting off both his older brother and sister’s curls, I want him to keep them as long as possible! I explained this to Michal and he assured me his curls weren’t going anywhere. Whew!

We started in by lifting Gio into the little kid-bench part of the barber chair and Michal began saying his hellos and covering Gio in Mickey stickers from head to toe. (Well, not head, that wouldn’t be good!) He put some on his siblings and Dad and me too, just to keep him occupied and entertained. Gio was already clutching his mama elephant and baby elephant toys, so between that and the stickers, I think he was distracted enough to not really notice what was actually about to happen. To him, it seemed like this nice man was just covering him in stickers and combing his hair.

Getting ready to cut...

The challenge: Don't lose the curls or give him a mullet!

A few strategic snips later and the hair was out of his eyes but his curls were still in-tact. Michal carefully saved aside his cut hair and brought out the kid-sized Mickey Mouse ears with “First Haircut” embroidered on them. He did it! Michal then filled out the certificate so we can save it with all the other precious memories we have.

Checking out the Mouse Ears and in the mirror!

I actually shared this photo on the Disney Parks “Let the Memories Begin” site, to let Disney know how special the memory was to us.

First Haircut Mouse Ears!

The Mouse Ears didn’t stay on too long “I no like it…” but we got some pictures anyway and we have them to show him when he’s older too. Daddy then got his hair cut too to round out the day. It’s such a fun, happy place where everyone walks out with a little bit of pixie dust (even if it’s the kind that you can wash off).

On one of our favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom...

I also wanted to share our previous memories of the barber shop, when our two oldest visited a few years back. Christian was donning a mohawk back then, which he wore at his own request from age 5-8 off and on. He had wanted one since he was about 3 and I finally relented when he was 5. As my mother always says (and I’ve said many times myself after hair fiascos) “it’s only hair.” Anyway, his mohawk had started growing out, so he got it trimmed and then covered in red gel, while his sister, Sophia got some gel and pixie dust over her long hair. They were around 5 and 6 at the time and going through a period of bickering (well, I guess that period hasn’t ended yet!). When they walked out of the barber shop, they both marveled at each other’s new looks and were pretty in awe of themselves. In fact, the experience rained down such peace and, yes, harmony on the day that they actually HELD HANDS down Main Street, U.S.A. It’s one of my favorite memories of my family at Disney.

Thanks to Disney, we have these amazing moments captured forever in our hearts and minds. Cast members, wide-eyed children (and adults too), and pixie dust make memories to last a lifetime. Great thanks to Michal and all the Harmony Barbershop cast members for the magic they spread each day.

I was really impressed with the facilities at the Best Friends Pet Care, which opened this week. Situated across from Port Orleans Riverside on Bonnet Creek Parkway, the newly built Best Friends Pet Care replaces all other Disney kennels throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. With facilities for over 300 pets, this one new location will be able to comfortably accommodate all of Disney’s four-legged visitors. Whether you are just dropping your pet off for a day visit, or an overnight stay, they will be given as much attention as if they were a human guest at one of Disney’s deluxe resorts.

Here are some of the facts about the Best Friends Pet Care and its services:

Splash park and fenced dog walk trail to the right

Check-in area overlooking the grooming room

• Boarding rate: Standard $37 / Resort Guest $34
• Daycare rate: 6 hours or less $16 / More than 6 hours $27

• Boarding rate: Standard $40 / Resort Guest $36
• Daycare rate: 6 hours or less $18 / More than 6 hours $30

• Boarding rate: Standard $59 / Resort Guest $53
• Daycare rate: 6 hours or less $30 / More than 6 hours $53

Best Friends Pet Resort Vacation Villas

Viewing in the Villas that day was Lady and the Tramp

• Boarding rate: Standard $76 / Resort Guest $69
• Daycare rate: 6 hours or less $46 / More than 6 hours $69

VIP suite, ready for its next guest

I loved this little bulldog. Normally those doors are open for outside access.

VIP Suite outdoor access - private, covered, secure and with a play set!

Doggie Daycare and play group area.

Outside area for Doggy Daycare, with pools.

KITTY CITY. I could say it all day.

Kitty City play area.

A la carte offerings for cats include:

Pocket Pets area.

Purina food is provided for dogs and cats, or owners may bring their own. Owners may come throughout the day to enjoy the Play Park with their dogs or play with their other animals. Grooming prices and Pocket Pet boarding prices vary depending on the animal and services provided. Pricing and other details are available at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877/4-WDW-PETS. Best Friends Pet Care resort is located across from Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 32830.

Will you bring your pet to Best Friends Pet Care? I’d love to hear how they like it! More pictures of the Best Friends facilities may be found at my flickr page.

Mee-YOW!

]]> http://zannaland.com/pampered-pets-disney-best-friends-pet-center/feed/ 7 http://zannaland.com/disney-food-blog-aj-wolfe/ http://zannaland.com/disney-food-blog-aj-wolfe/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:40:22 +0000 Suzannah DiMarzio http://zannaland.com/?p=2445

For those of us on twitter and facebook, this is how we recognize AJ

When first stumbling upon the Disney fan-site blog-o-sphere, one site stood out and instantly became a favorite. That would of course be the Disney Food Blog. I know I am not alone in loving this site and the wonderful person behind it, AJ Wolfe. It’s funny that since AJ has chosen to be for the most part completely anonymous on the internet, I actually spent the first 6 months or so I communicated with her, thinking she was a he! I actually think that’s a great testament to the power of her factual reporting and her blogging prowess. Of course, when I was lucky enough to meet AJ in person back in February, she couldn’t be a more stereotypically sweet and ladylike Southern lady! {Even though she’s technically a New Yorker, having only relocated to Texas a year ago – she’s just that charming!}

AJ was kind enough to let me post as a guest author on her site back when I was just getting started, and I appreciated that so much. Many of my blogging friends have contributed to her site as well, once again proving that there is no end to wonderful Disney food topics! I thought it’d be fun to get to know AJ a little better and discover some of the background behind her passions. So without further ado, here’s AJ –

Tell us a little bit about your background – how did you become a certified Foodie? How did Disney get into the picture?

My hobbies have always included writing, travel, and food, and I’ve been a Disney fan since I was knee-high. The Disney Food Blog is the perfect marriage of all of my passions! I eat a lot and love to try new things.

When did you first visit a Disney Park? Do you happen to remember your first Disney dining experience?

To my parents’ certain dismay, I don’t remember my very first trip. We’d do the overnight drive to a Florida beach for Spring Break every fewyears, and Mom and Dad would make the requisite pilgrimages to the Magic Kingdom and what was EPCOT Center at the time.

I can remember clearly stopping at the Worldkey kiosks in EPCOT to make dining reservations at World Showcase restaurants when we arrived. I didn’t understand what “French” food was at Chefs de France, and I was mightily turned off by the cottage pie at Rose and Crown!

One food memory that will always stick with me is of a little clear plastic box filled with tiny tarts candy. Disney sold them at MouseGears in Epcot, and you could get other types of candy besides tiny tarts, but I coveted that little box with the Disney World logo on it and all of the rainbow-colored candies inside. {I have to interject here and say that I share both of those same memories! I loved the WorldKey kiosks and remember fondly my dad talking to the reservation agents on the screens! I, too, remember getting one of those clear plastic boxes at the (then) Centorium. Fun times. ~Z}

How did you come up with the idea for DisneyFoodBlog.com? I have to admit, Disney Moms Panel Erin and I have discussed both wishing we’d thought of your brilliant idea!

There was a site a few years ago where a couple of Disney fans would document their meals from their trips to Disney World. I visited that site every day, even when it wasn’t updated for weeks or months, and couldn’t wait to see a new restaurant discussed. I also had all of the message board “food pics” threads bookmarked! But it wasn’t filling the need.

I wanted to see lots of pics of Disney food, but I didn’t want to have to scroll through hundreds of message board pages or wait for months for website updates. I envisioned a website that would easily be MY favorite thing on the internet if it existed, and my husband and I created it.

I do try to share an honest view of what’s great, and what could be improved, in Disney restaurants. I have been amazed by how many of my reviews have been corroborated by readers. I started the site to share photos of Disney food, but the reviews are really helping people plan their trips!

What has been your favorite dining experience thus far at a Disney park? Which experience surprised or exceeded your expectations?

That’s a really difficult question to answer; I’d have to say that my favorite meal is always my *first* meal — the meal I have when I first arrive in a Disney park on the first day of my vacation (and, as readers of Disney Food Blog know, that distinction usually goes to Liberty Tree Tavern).

I’ve been surprised and delighted by many Disney restaurants and individual dishes, but recently I was really thrilled with a meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby. I guess I didn’t know what to expect of the restaurant; the menu didn’t thrill me, and I’ve always chosen other Hollywood Studios restaurants over spending the money and taking the time to eat at the Derby. But this place is truly outstanding and deserving of accolades. We’ll be back again many times.

Is there a dining location or item no longer available in the parks or resorts that you sorely miss?

I mourn every day the loss of the potatoes at ‘Ohana and the fried Boursin cheese at 50′s Prime Time Cafe. There are many others, but these two top the list. My husband would have me add the Beef and Barley Soup at Le Cellier.

What type/genre of food do you wish Disney would offer? Either just a dish, a specific restaurant or even a country represented at F&W…

It sounds way too standard, but it would be wonderful to have consistently good pizza in Disney World. My fingers are crossed for the new Italy pizzeria!

As a foodie – is there anything you *don’t* like, or refuse to eat? What’s your guilty junk-food pleasure??

I like to think I’ll try everything once. And my guilty junk food pleasures are splayed all over the blog — cupcakes, chocolate, hot melty cheese on french fries, popcorn, cookies, ice cream sundaes, shall I go on?

I know you run and you took part in the Expedition Everest 5k – what are some of your other hobbies and interests?

That race was so much fun! I’m also a big fan of hiking, and I’m a novice paddler (but I love it!). I’ve always got my camera with me, so I like to think of myself as an amateur photographer. And when the option presents itself to travel anywhere, I take it!

What is your favorite Disney resort? Attraction?

My favorite Disney resort is the one I’m staying in at the time. I’ve answered this question differently every time I’ve been asked, but the truth is I’m happy anywhere as long as it’s near a Disney park! Favorite attraction varies as well, but I usually stick with Space Mountain.

Can we get an interesting fact or bit of trivia about you?

Interesting fact: I put ketchup on everything.

…

So there you go; a little insight into the foodie behind the blog. Big thanks to AJ for taking the time to talk with us and sharing some of the fabulous Disney food pictures you can find every day on her site. With features like in-depth photo reviews, Disney food “throw-downs“, incredible coverage of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, even discussions about dining at Disney with dietary restrictions -  you’re guaranteed to walk away from your computer hungry. Be sure to add the Disney Food Blog to your daily reads, so you don’t miss out!

What’s your favorite Disney food experience? I’d love to hear it!

I know my family and I have wanted to become Disney Vacation Club members since its inception, way back when Old Key West was simply called Disney’s Vacation Club Resort and was the only option to buy into. It’s just not been in the cards for us to purchase, although we almost took the plunge a few years back when we did the tour and presentation when Kidani Village was being built. We still hope to be members some day soon, especially with our family of five (six when my mom comes with us) it would make perfect sense. But – is it really right for us? Is it right for you? What exactly do all the points and home resorts and…well, I should really just let Katie tell you. Please give her a warm welcome and just maybe she’ll come back and tell us other fun stuff about Disney!!

DVC 101: The Ins, Outs, Ups and Downs of Discovering Disney’s Best Kept Secret

New to Disney's Vacation Club? Click here to view the official info dvd direct from Disney!

Owning the Disney Vacation Club may be a dream of many Disney fans.  It’s like owning Mickey Mouse, right? Well the truth is, the Disney Vacation Club, albeit magical, is a long term commitment and takes plenty of research. And right here, right now, I want to help you with that. Yes you. Should you buy into DVC? And should you buy resale or through Disney? And how many points? And what should your home resort be? And what is the square root of pi?  We are going to figure this out for you today.

Should I Buy?

First things first: you need to ask yourself a couple of questions. Will you be traveling to Disney at least once every other year? Can you plan trips in advance? Are you okay with giving up bargain hunting for the sake of timeshare ownership? Are you financially able? Answer these honestly and from the heart. And pending you answered “yes”, it is time to figure out just how to buy into the Club.

Resale vs. Disney

So you have decided to buy and now it is time to discover the best price. The first thing you’ll want to consider is if you want to buy via a resale outlet or through Disney. Resale outlets are brokerage firms selling contracts for DVC members who do not want them any longer. In essence, you bid on a contract and then it is submitted to Disney for review. If the bid is too low, Disney will buy the contract themselves and you are back to square one. This is called right of first refusal. Fear not, your real estate agent will coach you through the process. So why purchase resale?  There are a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, Disney is currently only selling and promoting certain resorts. And second of all, you can get a good deal from those sellers who really need to get rid of their contract. Now that you know there are two avenues to purchase DVC let’s take a gander at some of the factors you will consider that will steer you into the direction of where and who you want to purchase from.

Home Resort, Booking Windows, Contract Life and Dues

A DVC member buys into a home resort. They can have multiple home resorts as well. What is a home resort? Well it simply means the resort you have a booking advantage at. A member can book at their home resort 11 months in advance and at 7 months a member can book at any DVC resort with ease. Let’s quickly name the DVC resorts you can own at.

On Walt Disney World Property:

Bay Lake Tower

Animal Kingdom Villas

Beach Club Villas

Boardwalk Villas

Old Key West

Saratoga Springs Resort

Villas at Wilderness Lodge

On Disneyland Property:

Grand Californian Villas

Off Disney Property:

Hilton Head Island Resort

Vero Beach Resort

Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii

So do you care about your home resort? You may. For busy times and popular times with DVC members (early December and October), home resort may be pertinent. For example, I recently could not get into Beach Club or Boardwalk Villas at 7 months for October because of the popularity of staying there due to Food and Wine. If Beach Club was a home resort of mine I could have booked it at 11 months. On the other hand, you may not care where you stay or you may tend to always book vacations not that far in advance. You will most likely be placed in a larger resort (Saratoga Springs or Old Key West) and have to waitlist for a room at another resort. If this does not matter to you buying resale may be the way to go as you can get fantastic deals on resorts like Saratoga.

Another thing to consider is the lifetime of contracts of each resort and the dues per point of each resort. They differ and you should inquire about them through Disney. Some home resort contracts end in 2042 while some end in 2057. It may matter to you how long your purchase will be in effect. One thing I want to state: many will tell you to buy a cheap resale at Vero Beach or Hilton Head and book a WDW resort at 7 months. This may work, however, I am a DVC blogger who will tell you I would not recommend this.  And again, if you always go to WDW don’t buy Grand Californian Villas. If you always go to WDW at least own a home resort there, regardless of what it is, just in case. Also consider dues. Hilton Head and Vero may both have a cheap contract price but the dues are considerably more than other resorts. And remember for the life of the contract you pay dues per point every single year. This is an important factor.

Currently Disney is selling Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas, Grand Californian Villas and Saratoga Springs Resort. If you are purchasing Bay Lake, Animal Kingdom or Grand Californian it may be best to purchase through Disney. If you are purchasing Saratoga or want another home resort, resale may be your best bet. Also consider that Disney does wonderful and easy financing and with resale it is much harder to finance.

How Many Points? Use Year, Banking & Borrowing

So by now you may have decided if home resort matters to you, what home resort you would like, and if you want to buy through Disney or a resale outlet. We have come pretty far. But now I want to touch base on possibly the most important “point”! How many points do you need? DVC is not a regular timeshare in that you do not buy a week a year, in a certain resort, in a certain room type. You buy an allotment of points and you can use those points at any resort, in any room type, in any way you wish.  So if you know your family goes every year in August and would like to stay in a one bedroom, purchase that amount of points plus a few extra in case of point chart reallocation. If you go at various times, in various room sizes, and at various resorts, you may just want to buy an allotment of points (the minimum is 160 through Disney), and see how you can use them. Every year you will get your allotment of points put into your account on your Use Year date and you can use them the way you would like. Your Use Year is simply your DVC anniversary and it can be any month of the year. For example, every December I get my allotment of 220 points deposited into my account for use.

But what if you go every other year? Or what if one year you want to have a large grand gathering? And goodness, what if one year you can’t go? Don’t fret. Because Disney allows you to bank points you don’t use into the next use year or borrow points from the next year into the current one.  If you go every other year what you would want to do is purchase ½ the points you need for your stay and then bank and borrow your way into your every other year amount you need!

What You Didn’t Want To See: Cost

So what will this cost you? That’s easy, your home and first born. Of course I’m kidding! But I will not sit here and tell you DVC is cheaper than the value menu at McDonald’s. It certainly isn’t and even after your initial purchase you pay dues every year that annually increase about 2-5%.  Your cost will vary on the amount of points you buy and what resort you buy at. It will vary if you buy through Disney or resale. But here is a quick example so you can get a general idea.

160 points at Animal Kingdom Villas through Disney will currently cost you:

160 points X the base price per point of $112 = $17,920. Subtract an incentive discount of $12 per point that is 160 X $12 = $1,920.  $17,920 – $1,920 is  $16,000. If financing, 10% is due. Consider Animal Kingdom Villas has a due of $4.9496 per point. So your annual dues this year will be $791.94, which you can also pay per month.

So there you have it, readers. So much information that you currently need a coffee and a Tylenol. We’ve discussed the general DVC information and believe it or not there is still so much to talk about! Did you know you can book other resorts, places, and even cruises with DVC points? And did you know you could rent your points out for money? But let’s save that for next time.  Oh, I forgot one thing. The square root of pi is 1.77245.

…

Katie Siloac is a devoted blogger, Disney lover and tech fanatic. After enjoying fan websites and Disney podcasts for years, joining the Disney Vacation Club pushed her into her passion of blogging about anything and everything Disney and DVC. You can find her on http://thedvclife.com, her photo blog http://disneyinmylife.com and on her podcast Betamouse where she joins her other co-hosts in talking about Disney and technology at http://betamouse.net.

…

Being a Florida resident for the better part of the last 15 years and a cast member a few times, my knowledge was gained just by going to the parks and experiencing all the changes and history – as it happened. I realized during the Moms Panel application process that there is a whole other world of Disney fans out there who have completely different skill sets regarding our favorite place.

For the most part, when we weren’t living in Florida, we planned our trips on our own – sometimes through Disney directly, other times through a travel agency where we’d do a whole “Orlando vacation” package. So I never really sought out sites like MouseSavers or the forums that exist, because I wasn’t looking for tips or tricks. I learned very quickly that these other sites are full of very passionate people devoted to saving people money on their trips, getting the most out of their vacations to the world, and chatting with others about those vacations and the tips and tricks they’ve learned. It really was an eye-opening experience as to just how many people are out there sharing their love of one common place – Walt Disney World.

In addition to the sites and forums, there are countless podcasts out there, many of which keep those not in the parks going until they can return to the World. When I first started on twitter, I saw so much discussion of podcasts that I went to iTunes, typed in “Disney World” as my search word and just downloaded ALL the podcasts it returned. Then, I tried to listen to some. I discovered that some were really out of date and others were really not that interesting, and I became overwhelmed. I decided – ok, I’m not a podcast person and just tended to gloss over any mentions I saw of them on twitter. Embarrassing, I know!

Well, then I started connecting with more and more Disney fans on twitter, and actually getting to know some of these podcasters and online radio show hosts. Then I started listening to some. It was wonderful to have this other way to connect with people that were just as passionate as I was about Disney World and all it embodies. I heard some podcasts discussing the history I had experienced as a child – they were there too! They remembered the same things I did! While I am definitely a person that embraces the things that make us all unique, there is definitely something comforting in finding the common experiences that tie us together.

So, I thought I would gather together a list of all the active and interesting podcasts out there because I thought, “well, maybe if *I* was clueless/overwhelmed about podcasts, other people are too!”. So I asked for help on twitter. People are very passionate about their favorite podcasts! Then a friend pointed me in the direction of a blog that did exactly what I was hoping to do. Rather than re-word what’s already been done, I thought I’d just share the link here.

Without further ado, here is Mush’s Blog on Disney Podcasts 101. He lists descriptions of each, and even categorizes them by subject matter, since there are planning podcasts and music podcasts and trivia podcasts and more! {You can also follow @cemushr on twitter to see when the latest updates are made!} Another site to check out is the Disney Podcast Directory, which updates regularly and has a quick-subscribe section to get all your podcasts in one place. {Follow @DizPodDir on twitter for updates on his updates! }

Now before you run off to read his blog, I’d love to hear from YOU here! If you have a favorite Disney podcast or you ARE a Disney podcaster that would like to see your show featured here on ZannaLand, let me know in the comments or email me (zanna@zannaland.com)  and let me know – I’d love to spotlight your show here.

Stay tuned for an upcoming spotlight on the Daddy of all podcasters (and trivia guru and interviewer and audio guide master and on and on!!) – Lou Mongello and his famous WDW Radio show. Lou has been generous enough to give us some great items for a GIVEAWAY too – so keep watching for that feature article!

Special thanks to Rikki Nibs of the Be Our Guest Podcast (one of my favorites and you should DEFINITELY check that one out!) and CrashRick for their great help with gathering info for this blog!

1. Get Mouse Ears at Chapeau Hat Shoppe – This quaint little shop almost hidden on the right as you walk down Main Street, USA is the spot where you can get your very own personalized Mickey Mouse ears. It is sort of a right of passage to get mouse ears with your name embroidered on them right before your eyes, and definitely a perfect memory for your little ones as well. The best part is that over the years they’ve come out with so many different styles and colors, you are bound to find one that matches the personality of everyone in your party.
2. Get your picture in front of Cinderella Castle – There are few more iconic picture backdrops than Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Fortunately, Disney realized this and set up Photo Pass cast members at various spots on Main Street leading up to the castle, so there’s no need for photos with mom or dad stuck behind the camera. Even better, you can then use your Photo Pass card throughout your entire visit and keep adding great souvenir pictures along the way, with no obligation to purchase anything. You can print them out in the parks, or wait until you get home and add your own pictures to the mix, with borders and special Disney touches to make them unique.
3. Have a Dole Whip – You know my feelings on Dole Whip. I feel this is a definite right of passage and am shocked at how many people have missed this little gem! However, if pineapple is not your thing, you can replace this must-do with the equally famous Walt Disney World popcorn or a Mickey Mouse head-shaped premium ice cream bar, both found at carts throughout the park. No matter what you choose, take pictures – and enjoy!
4. Experience Wishes Nighttime Spectacular – Replacing Fantasy in the Sky as the nighttime fireworks display at Magic Kingdom, Wishes becomes an instant favorite of all who watch it. The music and effects are just the perfect end to a magical day at Magic Kingdom. There is no need to be directly in front of the Castle to see it, you may view it all down Main Street and at other locations, as long as you have a good view of the Castle, you will most likely see the best parts of Wishes. Of course right by the Hub in front of Cinderella Castle are the best viewing areas, but don’t feel as though you HAVE to stake out a spot there ages before Wishes starts. What I like best about Wishes is that each time I see it in a different location, I notice something new. Sometimes it’s fun to be right under Tinker Bell’s flight path as she starts off the show, other times I love viewing it from the bridge by Crystal Palace or the bridge leading to Liberty Square.
5. Ride It’s a Small World – Yes. I said it. This oft-derided classic attraction may have a song that gets stuck in your head, but you can’t visit the Magic Kingdom and not experience It’s a Small World. Honestly, it really is a fun ride that your children will love and if you sit back and let the message sink in, it is a message we all need to remember. IF you really and truly do not want to ride “the happiest cruise that ever sailed” you can replace this attraction with any of the other equally-legendary choices at the Magic Kingdom. Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Teacups, Space Mountain…there are just too many to list! Chances are when you get home, someone is going to ask you, “Did you ride….” and you don’t want to disappoint them do you?

I hope this list gets you excited to take part in all that the Magic Kingdom has to offer and maybe even come up with your own Top 5 Must-Do’s for a first-timer. Remember, after your first visit, you’ll be the experienced one ready to share your memories with everyone you meet!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, but the post written here comes from my family’s personal experiences and opinions over the years. I am not a Disney employee and the opinions expressed here are my own, not those of the Walt Disney Company. I am attending the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration by my own means, and not as a Walt Disney World Moms Panelist. (I do, however, encourage you to visit the Panel for any Walt Disney World vacation planning questions. The moms are a wealth of Walt Disney World knowledge!)

• A good thing to keep in mind for the parent planning to “go it alone” is that sometimes the hardest part of being by yourself with the kids is just the getting TO the fun parts. It’s a lot more difficult to be the only one in charge of parking the stroller, getting kids in and out of a stroller, and keeping them entertained while waiting for an attraction, show, or their favorite character. You may not be able to stake out that perfect spot for the parade 30 minutes before it starts and keep the kids happy. As long as you are aware of that going in and have a plan to handle it, you should be fine.
• If your children aren’t stroller-aged and you are perhaps concerned about getting separated, there are things like Lost & Found Temporary Tattoos where you can write your cell phone number on, and I’ve even known parents to write their number in Sharpie on a child’s arm. Of course make sure you let them know a location to meet if you do get separated and explain that all cast members will be wearing name tags. When I was a cast member we were all hyper-vigilant about lost children and the few times I encountered one they were reunited almost instantly. There are few places I feel safer than Walt Disney World.

For those who may never have been to the Walt Disney World Resort, let me quickly sum up all there is to do. There are 4 theme parks, each chock full of attractions (rides), shows and character greetings as well as other special experiences like fireworks, parades and even just happenings on the streets.

The Magic Kingdom – this is what many people think when they think “Disney”. All of the classic rides, attractions and of course Cinderella Castle are here. What you won’t find is the park teeming with Characters ready to pounce on children that may not be ready for such an experience. You can find loads of your favorite characters here, but you go to them – or you can just watch them interact from afar. You’ll also find rides for all ages here, but the ones I’ll list below are geared more toward the pre-school & toddler set.

Now you are pretty much covered at Magic Kingdom because you walk in and the kids are already amazed by the ride into the park; either by Monorail or Ferry boat. If you decide you might as well see some attractions while you’re here,  here are my picks for keeping the kids in check with only one parent:

It’s a Small World - never fails to deliver awe-inspired faces from little ones. I can’t tell you how many pictures I have of all three of my children looking up, mouth open, eyes wide – just taking it all in. Plus it’s a boat that you can all most likely fit into vs. some of the rides where parents with more than 2 kids may have to separate into two ride vehicles.

Mickey’s Toon Town Fair – Even if you aren’t here to see the characters in the Judge’s Tent or ride Goofy’s Barnstormer, just touring Mickey and Minnie’s houses and Donald’s Boat is a great treat for the kids. It’s also a great place to catch the Walt Disney World Railroad and take a trip around the Magic Kingdom, with stops in Main Street, Frontierland and Toon Town.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic – this is one of the most kid-friendly 3-D movies Walt Disney World has to offer. The sights and sounds come to life with scents and other surprises as Donald searches for Mickey’s famous sorcerer hat. Directly across from Philharmagic is another fun favorite, Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel. The line is never really too long here and it’s pretty easy for one parent to stand between a couple of royal riders and still get some great pictures in the process.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – this relatively new attraction is always a riot for the kids. Corny jokes abound as well as some fun audience interaction. Guests can text their favorite jokes in as they wait in the pre-show area and their joke may appear during the show. I had one of mine picked once and my kids thought I was famous!

Epcot – Some of you may remember this as “EPCOT Center” in the 1980s. Epcot has kept up with the times and still offers a Disney twist on learning and the educational side of theme park rides and attractions. In addition, Epcot features the World Showcase with 11 countries offering unique peeks into their culture and dining.

Head to The Seas With Nemo & Friends to meet Crush

Turtle Talk with Crush – this attraction is found within the Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion at Epcot. After enjoying the adorable ride with Nemo and Friends through the 5.7million gallon salt water tanks full of tropical sea creatures, head over to Turtle Talk in the Sea Base area. This attraction is great for kids because they get to sit up front – no adults to try and see over! They get a front row seat as the adults sit behind them on benches. I’ve not met a child that wasn’t amazed that Crush was talking right to THEM, asking and answering questions.

Living With the Land – this boat ride through Epcot’s amazing experimental gardens and growing methods keeps kids on the edge of their seat as they spot the Mickey-shaped pumpkins and see tomato roots taller than they are. If your little ones are not quite at the height requirement for Soarin’ next door, this is a fun alternative in the same pavilion. Something to keep in mind, strollers are not allowed inside The Land pavilion so you will need to be able to take the kids out.

Kidcot Fun Stops – since you’re in Epcot, head over to the World Showcase for kids activities designed to help them learn a little something about each country they visit and take home their own souvenir mask that they helped decorate. Check out the park map or just ask a cast member where the Kid-cot activity is in each country.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – (formerly known as the Disney MGM Studios) Here you will find a taste of the Hollywood that never was, and always will be. While the park features some fun movie-themed rides and attractions, you will also find the thrill rides Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as well as the popular Playhouse Disney show.

Playhouse Disney–Live on Stage! – at Hollywood Studios, this show is sure to get your little ones feet moving to the music of their favorite Playhouse Disney characters come to life. Their favorites from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins will be on hand for the fun.

Pixar Place leads the way to Toy Story Midway Mania

Toy Story Midway Mania – this amazing addition to the Hollywood Studios is great fun for slightly older kids. Families can take part in a friendly competition in midway-style games that come to life with 3-D glasses and characters from the Toy Story movies. Things to note are that it is a VERY popular attraction, so unless you arrive early or get a Fast Pass you may have quite a long wait. The good part about this is the queue is chock full of toys and games that are sure to keep kids busy with a game of “I-Spy”. The other reason is that the way the ride vehicles are set up, you sit two in front and two in back, so if you have more than 2 little people and are alone, you might have to separate a bit. If you have older kids, it should be fine. Definitely be sure to check this out during your visit, just keep the popularity and set-up in mind.

Muppet*Vision 3-D – this hysterical 3-D movie always makes my kids laugh. All their favorite Muppet characters come to live and there are even some surprises which turn it into a 4-D experience.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – This is a park of discovery. Not only can you ride a safari or trek through jungles to view animals, you can ride a roller coaster through Mt. Everest and celebrate with the Lion King and Nemo. This is one of my favorite parks and I think sorely underrated. Even just walking around there are so many things to observe and enjoy. I could spend a week in Pizzafari just looking at the decor. There are endless learning opportunities in Animal Kingdom.

Festival of the Lion King -  Oh my goodness I could talk for days about this show. It is so fun, so interactive, so uplifting and enjoyable. Little ones are able to dance around in the middle of the show, which brought me to tears even before I had kids, so now I’m a mess when I see it. The show really is amazing and I urge you not to miss it!

Affection Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch  – take the Wilderness Train to Rafiki’s Planet watch to experience the park’s petting zoo as well as see some unique scenery on the way to and from the stop. It is a bit of a trek from the train station to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, but worth it for the experiences that await.

Finding Nemo The Musical – I have not yet seen this, but have heard nothing but praises for how great the show is. I’ve heard the music and performances are just amazing. It’s definitely on my list of things to see!

If you’d rather save the major attraction-riding for when the whole family’s together, perhaps some of Walt Disney World’s other activities would be fun to try. Right at the Polynesian Resort, where guests of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration will be staying, guests can rent boats of many different sizes and zip around Seven Seas Lagoon enjoying the scenery.

Another fun idea is one of the two miniature golf locations Disney World offers. Fantasia Gardens, near the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts is themed, as the name indicates, to the Disney animation masterpiece Fantasia. The other course is at the entrance to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park but entrance to the park is not needed, just to the golf course. Winter Summerland takes the Blizzard Beach theme of winter-in-the-middle-of-Florida to a whole new level with two holiday-themed courses. A Winter Course with a snow theme and a Summer Course with a sand theme. Our family had a fabulous time when we went.

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  One of the beaches at the Polynesian Resort

  
  

  Whatever you decide to do keep in mind that sometimes what you don’t do can make the trip. Don’t worry about trying to fit in every attraction or show. Sometimes the best Disney memories consist of hanging out in the resort, enjoying the pool and Florida sun (which hopefully will have returned by February 10th!) If you are relaxed, your children will be relaxed too.

• Take the planning time before your trip to explore the Disney World site, check out the attractions you feel are “must-do” for your family. It could be the favorites that you need to line up early or get a Fast Pass for, or maybe the wonderful shows and character greetings Disney World has to offer. What works for you is what matters. The purpose of this post was just to highlight some of the attractions I feel would be easiest to maneuver with only one parent – hopefully this list will serve as a stepping-off point as you discover the rest of the World.

Stay tuned this week as I post another entry for the Disney Social Media Moms – Must-Do Disney Firsts. See you in February!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, but the post written here comes from my family’s personal experiences and opinions over the years. I am not a Disney employee and the opinions expressed here are my own, not those of the Walt Disney Company. I am attending the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration by my own means, and not as a Walt Disney World Moms Panelist. (I do, however, encourage you to visit the Panel for any Walt Disney World vacation planning questions. The moms are a wealth of Walt Disney World knowledge!)

a pic I took for my friend Amanda Tinney's blog (DisneyEveryDay.com) and it seemed to fit today's post! Click to see her cool project!!

Of course, this is all just speculation about ‘hoped for’ activities – we will not get our itinerary until we check in tomorrow. There are trip reports and blog entries accounting for past year’s training events, but I have successfully avoided reading any of them – on purpose. I didn’t want to have any expectations going in and risk disappointment by thinking ‘hey, they did that last year!’. That is not to say I’m expecting to be disappointed – of course not! Anyway, I just thought I’d note a few things I’m hoping we get to experience.

• Riding Expedition Everest – even thought we live an hour away and have annual passes, I still have not gone on this ride! I’m not a roller coaster enthusiast, but I’ve done all the other coasters at Disney, so I’m sure I can handle this one, and it looks so scenic and exciting too!

• Seeing inside the new Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I’ve seen tons of pictures of this newest DVC offering, but it’s one of the few resorts I have not been able to tour yet. I’d love to see it in person!

• Heading back into the Tunnel (ok, the Utilidor) under the Magic Kingdom. I have no clue if there would ever be a need for the Disney Moms Panel to tour the Utilidor, but I have to admit, I kind of miss it and would love to see my old stomping grounds again.

• Checking out Pirates League or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Ok, so this is probably a long-shot because I doubt they are going to take the time to make-over all of us as pirates or princesses, but I think it would be SO cool to do!! I’ll probably do this with my daughter when we make it back for our girl’s day out trip at some point soon.

• Touring the Cinderella Suite in the Castle. Again, longshot maybe because this suite and staying in it are no longer part of the current Disney World promotion to visit the parks…and there are way too many of us to stay overnight IN the suite, so I’m not even asking for that, but just to be able to walk inside – see the twinkling lights in the ceiling over the bathtub…sigh…every princess’ dream!

No matter what we see or do (or eat) I have no doubt it will be an amazing trip of a lifetime. I have not been without family on a trip since my junior year trip to Europe in high school – and even then, I had my best friend with me – this time it’s ALL new people! Luckily I feel like I know many of them already and I know we’ll be into trouble in no time. I have never been away from my kids – they’ve had sleepovers but that’s it, and the baby, well…I really hope he remembers who I am when I return!! I will miss my husband and kids so much but I know they are wishing me well and so excited for this new adventure. I can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get back!

Pain and Panic from Hercules on the back of the first Villains float

Villains storm Main Street-Can you name them all?

Jafar and Maleficent share the stage

The hound from Haunted Mansion-I don't feel as bad for this one, I can't see his ribs!

This one picture below is from 2007, I couldn’t capture any of the sparks on my camera this year but wanted to include it in the pictorial salute!

My favorite scene-The Gravediggers spark some fun!

Gravediggers head back to the Mansion

Ghoulish party-goers dance onto the scene-I love the moves they do!

Zombie jamboree!

I this is a tad blurry, but I thought it made them look like 'real' ghosts!

Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey on this float?

I love how they move too, they look just like the ride!!

I loved this door to the Haunted Mansion so much, had to take a picture!

The door means we have now survived the Villains, zombies and hitchhiking ghosts and our reward – CANDY! Goofy’s Candy Co. friends hand out candy to parade watchers while his candy machine float blows bubbles and the yummy scent of candy wafts over Main Street!

Cast Members let us know to get our bags ready for candy!

Candy is on its way!

Bubbles! This finale smells delicious!

If you ever have a chance to visit Magic Kingdom during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties, take it! I always say the parade alone is worth the ticket price. Disney doesn’t end it there though, their performance of Hallo-Wishes fireworks is truly amazing. Watch anywhere from Main Street for the best views. I’ll post more pictures from Hallo-Wishes this week as well as our costumes for the party – so check back!

I hope you enjoyed the photo tour of the Boo to You Parade! Whether you’ve seen it in person or Boo to You is new to you, I hope this brought a little magic onto your monitor. What was your favorite part?