After my first entry in my in preparation for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration about visiting Walt Disney World solo with kids, I thought it’d be fun to highlight my personal top 5 experiences for first timers. Since there are 4 theme parks at Walt Disney World, I could be here all day giving you a top 5 for all of them, so this list will just cover The Magic Kingdom park.
Places to Stay
Solo Parent-friendly Disney World Planning
As a Florida resident living within 10 minutes of the magic, I will admit to taking a day trip or two with the kids while my husband was at work, just because we could. Some of my favorite memories are of the times I was able to say “Guess what? We’re going to Magic Kingdom today!”. I’ll also admit that once we were about to walk through the gates, I was a bit worried about whether I’d actually be able to pull it off by myself or not. With the upcoming third annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in April, where bloggers AND their families are invited for an incredible 3 days of social media conferences, entertainment, and dining as only Disney can provide, I thought I’d share some tips and ideas for the non-blogging parents that might want to venture out in the parks with the kids.
- 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.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom – this all-new interactive card game can keep your big or little kids entertained for hours. You’ll travel around the lands of the Magic Kingdom defeating villains with spell cards and earning your way toward a Master Sorcerer ranking.
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.
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 Disney Junior show.
Disney Junior–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, Little Einsteins, and of course, Jake and the Never Land Pirates will be on hand for the fun.
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.
- 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.
Check out my other entry for the Disney Social Media Moms – Must-Do Disney Firsts. See you in April!
Disclosure: I am a former 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!)
Disney Dooney & Bourke Black Wonder Multicolored Mickey Bags
PART TWO in the Disney Dooney & Bourke Handbag series:
If you have been following the mania that is Disney’s collaboration with Dooney and Bourke with its first foray into Disney park-themed designer handbags, you’ll know by now that there’s a new kid on the block – and his name is Mickey.
Dooney & Bourke has now come out with a new style and color for the winter – PVC-coated black cotton design with bright multicolored Mickey Mouse silhouettes and black leather straps.
Take a look at the new designs –
WDW Moms Panel 2010 Training – Part 1 of Many!
Alright, I’ve waited long enough for this update! The truth is, in addition to heading back to Disney World 2 days after returning from training, and then getting sick and having a sick baby to take care of, the thought of trying to put back into words all the the amazing sites, experiences and emotions I felt during the 5 days of training was just a tad overwhelming! But I’m finally here and figure if I break it down into days, I can tackle it. It’s just too good not to share, right?
On the day I was supposed to drive up, I got cold feet. I know, most people would have killed to be in my shoes, both being close enough to drive to Walt Disney World and being picked to be on this amazing panel…but I still got nervous. You see, there’s a reason why I write a blog and don’t host a pod cast or web cast or anything else involving face-to-face interaction. I am in fact, pretty shy. There, I said it. I wasn’t always this way, my 1st grade report card lists me as a “Social Butterfly” and as a result I was separated from my best friend for 2nd grade. It isn’t even because of all the moves my family made over the years, deeming me the eternal ‘new kid’ – I actually had no problem making friends and keep in touch with many of them from all the way back to grade school. This really started in college but is also a combination of being nervous about speaking in front of people. Let me digress a bit…
What I’m Looking Forward to at Disney Moms Panel Training!
You may have noticed I have not been blogging much lately. Part of it is because I’ve just been in this sort of limbo of anxious anticipation which is causing me to have nothing to say! I know, shocking – enjoy it while you can! 😉 I’ve almost felt guilty about my leaving on Friday to attend what I imagine might rank up there with marriage and childbirth as far as life-changing memories go – Disney Moms Panel Training. Then today, less than 24 hours away from when I’ll arrive, he received a call this morning that he has a job once again! Thank you ALL for your support and prayers during this difficult last month. The guilt is now transforming to excitement again and I thought I’d write a little list of what I’m anticipating the most during the next 5 days.
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!
La Cava del Tequila – A New Way to Experience the SPIRIT of Mexico
Now that Epcot’s 14th Annual International Food & Wine Festival is coming to an end (November 8, 2009 is the last day), you may fear that your chance to sample international spirits is gone for another year. This is not the case because a new little spot opened up during the festival – La Cava del Tequila inside San Angel Inn at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion. Here you can experience an endless array of tequilas from rare to common as well as beers and specialty margaritas. In addition you can enjoy tapas-style food items as well, to form the perfect pairing to the spirits available. The full menu is available at The Disney Food Blog, who’s updates on twitter first informed me of the margarita I wanted to try – the Aguacate.
Grim Grinning Ghosts, Come Out to Socialize!
“When hinges creak, in doorless chambers. And strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker, where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present. Practicing their terror, with ghoulish delight!
…Your cadaverous parlour, betrays an aura of foreboding, almost as though you sense a disquieting metamorphosis.”
With these famous lines from one of Walt Disney’s greatest attractions, the Haunted Mansion, I thought I’d celebrate Halloween in ZannaLand by sharing some photos of our family during our visit to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. Don’t forget to check out my other Halloween posts showcasing the Headless Horseman ride, part one of the Boo to You Parade, part two featuring the Villains, and the Halloween Castle!
Chapter 2 of the Cinderella Story-Disney Moms Panel Round 3
You know how some blogs or websites have ‘Tag Clouds‘ where they list the words entries are tagged with, and the words used most often are bigger and bolder than the others? If my life had a Tag Cloud, the biggest, boldest words would be Disney Moms Panel. I swear it’s like those words are just hanging in the air above me everywhere I go, like some human Sims character or the “I’m Thinkin’ Arby’s” commercials. It’s become a part of me now, and pretty much everyone I know realizes that. I don’t personally think that’s a bad thing…just the way it is!
I wasn’t kidding when I wrote back in July that I was going to Do What I Loved and make it my goal to be on the Disney Moms Panel. My determination was strengthened in August when my family was able to enjoy the Mickey Moms Club Illuminations Party, put together by the Moms Panel cast members. My excitement then bubbled over as the date to apply approached and the 2010 Disney Moms Panel search began.
The funny thing was, in all that talk and excitement and hoopla, I never really thought my chances of making it into the Moms Panel were any greater than anyone else’s. In fact, so many others seemed to have such a huge online following as well as the knowledge and passion Disney was looking for. Still, the dream was there, the wishes and hopes were always with me. So of course when I first heard I hadn’t made it to the second round, I was crushed. The thought of having to wait an entire year to begin this quest again seemed so insufferably long, and heartbreakingly sad.
Then, as in all good fairy tales, something magical happened. A single glass slipper appeared on my foot, in the form of the email from the Moms Panel telling me I was meant to receive the “Congratulations, you made it to the second round” message all along. I had now become a part of something amazing – my very own Cinderella Story. If you recall, all of Cinderella’s family were already AT the ball when her Fairy Godmother arrived…just like what happened with me, it felt as though all my friends had already gone on to the ball without me.
The next few days seemed like a dream as I composed my answers, took my headshot picture, and hit ‘submit’. My friends and I waited patiently (and not so patiently) for news of when the next round’s finalists would be announced. Detectives all across twitter were scouring for significant tweets that might give us some clue we could go on. Of course at the end of the day, it’ll happen when it happens and no amount of willing it otherwise will help – but excitement and speculation are just part of the fun, I think. Thanks to twitter we all came to the conclusion that the finalists had been chosen in a big team-wide meeting held at Disney World on October 22nd. Then we all had to wait on pins and needles for the 27th to arrive, the date we had been told we would be notified about the next round.
I kept busy with my son’s 1st birthday party on Saturday, the 24th. Family and friends joined us for the fun-filled day full of frosting and presents. Sunday my good friend came over and decided to cook Beef Wellington! Who am I to say no to that? None of us had ever attempted to make it but it made for a fun night as she tried to figure it out (and succeeded!). I made super easy appetizers that don’t require worrying about beef being cooked enough! 😉 Monday, the 26th was my 13th wedding anniversary, so again, I was distracted by that celebration. Before I knew it, it was Tuesday the 27th.
Memories of Disney Wedding Magic
Thirteen Fifteen years ago today, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle to greet my Prince Charming and begin our fairy tale life together. Of course, it hasn’t always been a fairy tale, I’d be a little scared if it was! Our story began a lot more than 13 15 years ago too…almost 19 21 years ago, this long-haired boy that played guitar before school in the auditorium, asked if I’d go out with him. I said yes, and have been saying yes ever since. He told me he loved me the first week we met. Never having had a boyfriend before, I was a little dumbfounded by what to reply and simply said, “okay…” Soon, however, I fell in love with his every breath. He asked me to marry him less than a year later, when I was still 17, giving me a tiny diamond he got at the mall. I said, “yes, but…not for a while!”.
Years passed and we were inseparable, despite many predictions we wouldn’t last 6 months. In 1995, I convinced him to pack up and move 1500 miles away to Orlando and work at Disney World with me. He had only ever moved once in his life, so this was a huge deal. Soon we decided that the time was right and he took that tiny diamond and added it to the diamond from my mom’s engagement ring and added a new diamond on the other side, creating a past, present and future ring that held so many memories, with the promise of many more.
While working at Disney World, we had seen the building and opening of Disney’s Wedding Pavilion. On our days off we’d head over to check it out, and dream of the ultimate Disney wedding. We were unable to afford a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, and also could not get a priest to perform the ceremony outside of a church, so we decided to have our reception at the WDW Dolphin instead. It was much more affordable for us, and still gave us the special magic of a wedding at Disney. Planning the wedding was so much fun, and the staff at the Dolphin really took care of everything, we just had to decide what we wanted to eat and what kind of cake we preferred.
There were a few mix-ups along the way from the other vendors, but the Disney part was perfect. One issue was the florist who assured us he could find delicate tiny pale pink tulips to match perfectly with the Stargazer Lilies in my bouquet. When we arrived at the church, the tulips were HUGE and a deep dark pink. Nothing we could do at that point! The other issue was the balloons. Keep in mind this was the mid-90’s (as the pictures of my poofy veil will reveal!) and I guess balloon arches were pretty popular, at least in my mind. I had this vision of a cool twisted archway of pink and white balloons framing our head table. When we walked into the reception hall, there were *single* balloons arranged in a sort of arch shape against the wall behind the DJ. I can laugh about it now. The issues definitely did not ruin the day, though, we had amazing food at the Dolphin, the cake was heavenly and I think everyone had a great time at the party.
We loved being able to take our families around the parks before the wedding too. That year was only the 1st annual International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot so we were excited to share that new experience with our friends and family.
Our rehearsal dinner was held at Chef Mickey’s, and as you can imagine that was anything but quiet and reserved. We were so well taken care of and everyone had a blast. I can’t recommend Chef Mickey’s enough for a large group – you’re just bound to have fun-and get completely stuffed before the big day!
Just a few of my treasured moments from October 26, 1996…
After the ceremony, I remember making the driver pull over (the photographer was following behind us) as I wanted to get a picture in front of the waterfall on the road approaching the Swan and Dolphin hotels. The sun was in our eyes, we were hot and squinting, but it was perfect and that backdrop is one of my favorite photos from the wedding.
Our first dance was to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra, inspired at the time by the recent remake of Father of the Bride. If I couldn’t have Franck plan my wedding, I could at least dance to the same song! I’m glad we went with it though, because it was a timeless choice and hearing it today instantly brings back memories of 13 15 years ago.
Thirteen Fifteen years ago seems both like an eternity ago and just yesterday. An eternity because SO much has happened in our lives. We’ve bought and sold 3 4 houses, moved 10 11 times to 3 different states (26 times and 5 states for me alone), have 3 amazing children and a wonderful family as well. I couldn’t ask for anything more and feel like the luckiest girl in the world, today and every day. There are many more parts to this wedding story, but I will share those another year…and my dream is to renew our vows at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, completing the circle of Disney magic started so many years ago! Happy Anniversary J, I love you!
On Raglan Road…A Little Bit O’ Dublin in Orlando
On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.
—On Raglan Road, Patrick Kavanaugh
This popular Irish poem was in turn made into a song which many have covered, perhaps none so well as Luke Kelley‘s original. Such a beautiful song crafted from words that sweep you up and place you in another time…
One half of my mother’s side is from Ireland, County Leitrim and also the Isle of Man, so I’m told. Growing up where I did in Massachusetts, you were pretty much Irish or Italian for the most part (and I married an Italian). So Irish culture, customs and history have always been a part of my childhood and interests. I’d love to trace my ancestry and of course visit the beautiful countryside that Ireland is known for.
That said, the cooking going on at Raglan Road Pub in Downtown Disney, is nothing like my grandmother used to make. (Thank goodness!) Nan was known for boiling pretty much everything she prepared, and seasonings were never to be found. But we cleaned our plates every holiday in her house – we knew better than to complain! Raglan Road Pub, by comparison, takes some of the great dishes Ireland is known for and puts a gourmet twist to their preparation, leaving you satisfied and planning your next visit back.
This was our family’s second visit, the first time being a few years prior. We loved it then, but our children’s palates were going through a particularly picky phase, so we held off returning until now. Both of the older children had a wonderful time this visit and it’s now a favorite among all of us. I’d like to share some of our favorites from Raglan Road’s creations with you: