Offsite Guests Testing FastPass+ for Animal Kingdom, and a New Lineup at Hollywood and Vine

If you follow my Wish Upon A Star page, you know that on Wednesdays we do a little thing called "What's New Wednesday". I polled a couple of clients this week and we decided together that I would also start posting WNWs here, so they'd be easy to find if they got lost in FB space!

Here's what's new this week:

Starting TODAY at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the FastPass+ system will spread its wings even

Goofy's Candy Co Pineapple Spear - Like Heaven on a Stick

One of our favorite going-home rituals of Disney World is to stop at Downtown Disney and do some shopping. A little stop at World of Disney, some Christmas ornament shopping at Disney's Days of Christmas, and yes, a stop at Goofy's Candy Co.

yada yada 2

Here is something really funny: I was testing out a new password-protected part of the site and made this post as a test. Well, let's just say it was late at night and I forgot to remove the yada yada post. I wake up to find someone had +1'd it! How funny is that?!? 

Now I can't take it off. Just because it's funny! I have the best clients on the planet. Seriously.

°o° ~ Karen

Public Outdoor Ice Skating at Disneyland's Downtown Disney

Looking for something fun to do at Disneyland? Try out Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink in Downtown Disney! How cute is this? Check it out here:  

ºOº ~ Karen 

What to Expect From Disney's Magical Express

One of the questions I always get in the travel planning process, especially for first-time-by-flight arrivals is "How does Magical Express work?"  Well, it's actually... pretty magical! 

At the airport:

Plan A: Before you leave home, take your bright yellow luggage tags and wrap one around each

What to Do with Your Disney Pictures

I admit it; I'm a photaholic. I take HUNDREDS of pictures on our Disney trips, especially those trips we took earlier on. Now, we highlight/photograph new experiences, but I'm also taking hundreds of photos for chronicling events via blog posts, and including unique angles, as well as those new experiences.

Thousands of pictures later... well... I completely give up - I mean REALLY, truly, give up on

Service at Be Our Guest

It's no secret that Florida weather is hot, day in and day out. It's also no secret that Be Our Guest is the most popular restaurant in Magic Kingdom (and arguably, Walt Disney World). Its reservation-only dinner service combined with quick-service lunch make it appealing to everyone on the dining

Even The Bathrooms Are Magical

One of my favorite newly constructed themed areas is the Rapunzel themed area in New Fantasyland inside the Magic Kingdom.

The tower itself has been up for awhile, peeking out from atop the construction wall. When it was revealed, guests literally were immersed in the Tangled village, dancing among the lanterned village "shops".

Still Working On The Railroad: Construction News

I love how the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride is coming right along. We're slightly ahead of schedule, which (fingers crossed) maybe means we could open before originally projected dates? On time, yes. But early? How fun would that be?

Here are the latest pictures, taken from just in front of Beast's Castle,

Snack Review: Powdered Sugar Dusted Corn Nuggets

About the snack:
One word: Yummmmm! These little bites of yummy goodness are basically a bite full of sweet creamed corn, battered and deep fried to a golden brown. They're pulled out fresh and piping hot, then dusted with sugar. I know what you're thinking... Ewww (because that's what I thought too!) but they're quite delicious! If you happen to bite them, but not eat the entire nugget, it's great that the corn doesn't run out of the nugget "shell".

Meal & Restaurant Review: Wolfgang Puck's Cafe

My family almost always drives to and from Disney, reserving air travel for quick trips only. That said, not having to catch a flight means we have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to our departure day breakfasts and try to mix it up to keep informed for our travel clients.

We love Cape May as a send off, and for Fast Food, our favorite is the McDonalds at exit 74 on I-4. (Have you seen the menu? What DON'T they have? Seriously.)

Scotland Featured in 2013 Food & Wine Feastival

During the 18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 27 – Nov. 11, 2013, Disney chefs will debut authentic tastes of Scotland at the 46-day festival.

Traditional flavors will pair with beers, meads and Scotch at the new Scotland Marketplace designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Scottish officials were so impressed with the hit Disney film, “Brave” that they contacted festival planners about participating in this year’s festival.

How To Get To Downtown Disney

On a recent trip to Disney World, we had just checked out and were on our way back home. As usual, a quick trip to Goofy's Candy Store in Downtown Disney was in order.

Eat to the Beat, at Disney's EPCOT

Every year, coinciding with the Food and WIne Festival at EPCOT, Disney invites some wonderful musical acts from the 70's, 80's and 90's to perform for you for FREE with your park ticket admission!  You simply come in, enjoy the park, and enjoy your show, with our without snacks in hand!  

Daily show times for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series take place at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM.  

New acts this year include the Go-Go’s, Edwin McCain, The Manhattan Transfer, Wilson Phillips, Spin Doctors and

WIlderness Explorers at Animal Kingdom

Does your inner boy scout love to explore? Did you LOVE the movie "Up"? Well now YOU can be a WIlderness Explorer, just like Russell! Discover the nature all around Animal Kingdom, as your "Troop Leaders" (aka Cast Members) assist you in taking on challenges and activities around the park.  

Like Russell, you can earn badges for tracking animals, learning animal communication methods, or learning about African culture, exploring dinosaur fossils, or even recycling!

Earn all of your "badges" as you head through the park this fall. (And moms who like to keep moments, let me just say you have a FABULOUS scrapbooking opportunity.) ;-)

Night of Joy 2013

Disney's contemporary Christian music event is back for another year, September 6th and 7th! Night of Joy (which has really evolved to be TWO nights of Joy - how awesome is that?!?) is celebrating it's 30th year!!! Held inside the Magic Kingdom, performances from your favorite contemporary Christian artists will take place at several stages onsite between 7 pm and 12:30 am, after the early closure of the park to non-ticketed guests. Yes, you CAN ride some of your favorite rides between jam sessions! 

Check out this lineup: 

Friday, September 6

• Skillet
• MercyMe
• Michael W. Smith
• Stephen Curtis Chapman
• Audio Adrenaline
• Mandisa 
• for King & Country
• Moriah Peters
• We As Human
• City Harbor

Saturday, September 7

• Newsboys
• Toby Mac
• Francesca Battistelli
• Building 429
• Group 1 Crew
• Matthew West
• PLUMB
• Jamie Grace

I cannot believe this lineup! And if that's not enough, Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith will perform together live, on the same stage! Woooo hooo!  

So here are the details about this event:

Night of Joy tickets are a special ticket. They get you into the park starting at 4 pm. You do not need to use your regular ticket to get in IF you are coming after 4 pm, but you MUST have a night of Joy ticket.

Prices are: $55.00 (plus tax) per person (all ages) for one night, with group tickets starting at $51 (plus tax) per person (all ages). Tickets for both nights are $99.00, plus tax for one person, and $94.00, plus tax per person for groups.

If this is ALL YOU, get your tickets early - they sell out in advance!

ºOº Karen

7.30

The Pixie Pot

This weekend we were moving some family photos from one photo album to another. Page after page of sweet pictures of my babies with Mickey, Minnie, and every Princess you can imagine. I can tell you where every picture was taken, and which trip it was. For our family, and because Disney is a business for us, six months is a long time to go without a trip to a Disney theme park.

BUT WHAT IF WE NEVER WENT TO DISNEY?

It has had me thinking for awhile, "Man, if only I could give back, maybe even send one family." But a Disney trip is expensive. It's something some families can't even consider, even if they could get time off work, or they could somehow get down there, they couldn't eat, or get in the parks, or sleep in a hotel. And it reminds me "for whom much is given, much is required"... Meaning, we are given so much so we can share with others.

That's when I came up with it. Of course! I teach my kids this concept daily, why wouldn't it work for me? Thus was born: The Pixie Pot. What if I took a few dollars for every traveling client, and put it in a pot? We'd hardly even miss those dollars! But week after week, month after month, the Pixie Pot would get bigger and bigger, until eventually there's enough to send a very deserving family to Disney. And that family wouldn't have to worry about what to eat, or where to stay, or how to get into the parks. Poof! Their life, Pixie-fied!

I'll be announcing ways that you can nominate a family. And of course I'll have a few rules (like... Mission: Mouse extended family members aren't eligible, and that the winning family has to take an actual trip, not cash value, etc). I'll post those as we go.

But for now, I'm excited. I can't wait to see the Pixie Pot funds grow, and more importantly, I can't wait to give some sweet family who has had to tell their kids no time and time again, that yes, they really can go to Disney World. That they can leave their worries and cares behind for just a few days.

And with that, my friends, "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing". ~ Walt Disney


XOXO,
Karen

Monstrous Summer 2013 - Part 2 of 3 - Who to see, what to know, andwhere to go this summer at Disney...

Be sure and check out Mike and Sully's Monsters University Stage Show at Hollywood Studios. This Homecoming Party features the monsters of rock, Scare Supply, and are joined by our favorites, Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sulley" Sullivan!

You can catch this crew all summer long, along with "campus" cheerleaders who will teach you the Monsters University fight song!

How To Budget And Pay For Your Disney Vacation

As die-hard Disney fans, my family has been to Disney World more ways than I can count. Not times. Ways. You see, a trip to Disney World (or Disneyland) isn't cheap. Some families are lucky enough to go annually, and some save up for that once-in-a-lifetime trip. For us, we go based on our budget. That means sometimes we stay in a moderate resort onsite during a free dining promotion, and yes, we have stayed at the (literally) $20 a night hotel and driven to the parks each morning, we have stayed at local timeshares, and even rental houses nearby.  Here's how my family budgets for our semi-annual trips - hopefully some of these will help you too!

1) Choose the time of year you'd like to go. This can be based on temperature, crowd level, your personal work vacation schedule, and cost. Working with a vacation planner (like me!) can help you pick the best time of year to go. You can literally vary THOUSANDS of dollars, all things being equal, just based on the time of year you go.

2) Once you have your dates set, ask yourself how are you going to get there? (Your vacation planner can help with this too.) For some families, flying makes sense. For those with frequent flyer miles, or those close to their favorite major airline hub - I won't keep it a secret, I do fly a lot, and Southwest is my favorite airline - and a low number of family members, it may make more sense to fly. For instance, if it costs $211 round trip for three family members to fly to Orlando, that's a total of $633. However, if your family has four children, that flight just became $1200. It's not for me to judge whether that expenditure is affordable or not, so for other families, driving makes more sense. Depending on where you live and the gas mileage of your vehicle, driving can cost between $150-300 total. Your travel planner can also create a spreadsheet that tells you if you'd save the most money driving your own car and renting. If I am going to Disney on business, I will fly, but for my family, driving is always more budget-friendly for us.  Similarly, if you live in Washington state, it may be more budget-friendly for you to go to Disneyland in California, than Disney World in Florida.

3) Time of year, check! How to get there, check! Now, where to stay: Never assume that staying at a Value resort on property is always the most affordable - it truly depends on the promotions being run at the time you arrive. Let's say Guest A wants the dining plan, and to stay on property. They choose to go starting September 1st, and stay at Pop Century, with a dining plan.
Guest B goes one day later, and upgrades her resort to a moderate resort, and the same dining plan.  She saves literally $600 over Guest A!
Guest C goes one day later, and chooses a value resort during free dining week, and upgrades to the same dining plan. She saves $700 over guest A, AND $100 over Guest B! Working with your travel planner will help you with saving the most money you can. All of these families had the same age and
number of guests, and it's hard to imagine the same family can save that much but it's true. And remember, what's good for one family isn't perfect for another. An on-the-go family may be much happier with a quick service dining plan and may feel as if they've bought more than they needed with a plus dining plan.  You can bring in many a goldfish cracker and water bottles in a collapsible ice cooler, that will help stretch your hard-earned dollars even more and complement that dining plan you've chosen.

3B) Don't overlook Good Neighbor hotels, especially at Disneyland. Good Neighbor hotels are hotels that are near Disney property, still come with many of the vacation package perks, such such as Extra Magic Hours, where you can go to one of the Disney parks earlier than the rest of the crowd not staying onsite, and usually come with shuttle service to the parks. Typically, if Disney is offering a sale promotion, onsite properties will be more affordable, but if there isn't a sale, and you're open to a Good Neighbor hotel, be sure and ask your travel planner to check for you.

4) Saving for your trip: If you have already saved up the money to go, congratulations! If you haven't, here are a few trips to put a little extra back each month.

• Do you have a daily expenditure you can cut back on? For example, do you have a $5 coffee that you buy every day, where you can substitute it for a $2 daily drink? Or that $5 drink once a week? 
• Can you cut back on services? For instance, getting a slightly slower internet speed, or bundling services for telephone and internet may save you money. 
• What about personal shopping, can you freshen up existing wardrobe pieces with accessories, scarves, and belts in pops of color instead of buying a new wardrobe for a season or two? 
• What about the kids - we all know they grow whether we want them to or not. Is there a mom-swap club near you that swaps good-quality kids clothes, or a consignment shop that would help you stretch your clothing budget for a season? 
• And lastly, can you cut back on eating out while you're saving for a vacation?
• Once you have that money saved back, put it away so you don't spend it!

My friend Renee says "the best way to save money is not to spend it". It's true! If you want to save towards that vacation, cut back just a little bit in other places and you'll be there in no time.

5) Paying for your trip - one of my very favorite things about a Disney vacation (which is true with most Good Neighbor hotels as well, but NOT true with staying at any other type of property offsite) is that you just need a $200 deposit to reserve your vacation. You can then make payments using your saved money as often as you like until 45 days before you depart.  At that time your full balance is due. But what better way to take what can seem like a huge figure and make payments on it, interest-free, rather than placing the entire balance on a credit card at one time and making interest payments on it?

So there you have it. Work with your travel planner (that's me!) to choose the best dates that can literally save you hundreds of dollars, don't overpay by paying for someone ELSE's perfect vacation - pay for what's right for you, save for your trip, and by all means, take advantage of Disney's wonderful payment plan option. And hopefully, I'll "See Ya Real Soon".

°o° ~ Karen
Mission: Mouse Blog
5/27

Star Wars Weekends 2013 - Part 1 of 3 - Who to see, what to know, andwhere to go this summer at Disney...

Part 1: Who to See...

You know it, you love it - Star Wars Weekends is back at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Who to see: Actors and voice actors from Star Wars amd Star Wars: The Clone Wars are back for this annual event. Each weekend, the following stars will appear as well as your hosts, James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein.  Here's a list of scheduled celebrities for this year's event:

Weekend I (May 17–19)
Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)
Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Captain Rex – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Weekend II (May 24-26) - Also Memorial Day Weekend, AND 24-hr day weekend
Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok – Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)
Jim Cummings (voice of Hondo Ohnaka – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Weekend III (May 31 – June 2)
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok – Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)
Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar – Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)
Sam Witwer (voice of Darth Maul – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Weekend IV(June 7-9)
Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian – Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca – Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Tom Kane (voice of Yoda – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Things to do: 

1) Take your photo with a “life-size” rancor. For you Star Wars newbies, a rancor is a giant beast, and Jabba the Hutt’s prized pet in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. 

2) See “Obi-Wan & Beyond” (each event day), a special show which stars James Arnold Taylor. 

3) See a martial arts demonstration by the actor who portrayed Darth Maul in the special show “Visit to the Maul” (Weekends I and II) featuring Ray Park.

4)  “An Ewok’s Tale – my short story” (Weekends II and III) stars Warwick Davis. Guests get a unique look into the fascinating world of this Star Wars legend.

5) Catch Chip and Dale dressed as Ewoks, and even grab a photo with them.

6) Permanently cast yourself in stormtrooper gear. 

Yes, D-Tech Me is back, an experience where you can literally have your own likeness made into a 3-D figurine. A few simple 3-D full-face scans later, and voila! You have a permanent Stormtrooper in your mailbox a few weeks later. For hard-core fans, this one-of-a-kind souvenir is more valuable than a Picasso print!

Make sure you arrive early, as the shows do fill up quickly, and lines will form early for celebrity autographs. (And send me a picture of your D-Tech Me figurine! I might just feature it on my Facebook page!)

Now We're Getting Somewhere...

Guess what, guess what? I'm super excited to share with you that as Mission: Mouse seeks to become a solid, respected brand, we now have an official logo!

I'm so excited about it! The logo itself was born one night while I was doodling some ideas, and my friend Kristin over at Iwancio Inspired Design (http://www.facebook.com/iwancioinspireddesign) helped bring it to life and turn it from a stickie note drawing to a trademarked logo!

I cannot wait to share some of the other things going on behind the scenes (pay no attention to the girl behind the curtain) but it's all in due time.

For now, I hope you love our new logo as much as I do!

With faith, trust, and pixie dust,
Karen

New Disney World Sale Released for Late Summer...

Eenie Meenie, Miney Mo. To Which Disney Resort Should I Go? Not sure which Disney Resort is right for you this Fall? Will certain specials steer you one way or another? Here's a little insight to help you decide.  Disney has released their Disney-Visa-Cardholder-Only discount for hotel rooms for the late summer.  Need details? Here you go: Save up to 30% on Walt Disney World Resort hotel stays, most nights 8/15/13 – 9/28/13. Discounts off basic room-only rates vary based on the resort. 

• 5% off – all Deluxe suites, All-Star Movies, Animal Kingdom Lodge (savannah view and Club Level), Animal Kingdom
• 15% off - Art of Animation (all room types except the Little Mermaid rooms), All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Pop Century
• 20% off - Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans-Riverside, and Ft. Wilderness Cabins as well as Wilderness Lodge
• 30% off – Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard/pool view rooms), Yacht and Beach Club, Beach Club Resort Villas, Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and Contemporary resort and Bay Lake Tower.  

The fine print: Ft. Wilderness campground, some 3-bedroom villas and the Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation Resort are not included in this offer. Some resorts, room types and date combinations will not be available. If you don't have a Disney Visa, don't worry. Non cardholders can have these sale rates in just a few days. 

Now I know what you're thinking. "Karen, I want an entire package. not just a room." No worries! I can add tickets and your choice of dining plan, which will still save you money overall.  

More fine print: You have to book by 7/31/13.  If you're choosing room-only, you need only pay for one night's room and tax up front, and the rest is due upon arrival. If you choose to do a full vacation including tickets and dining, the full balance is due 45 days prior to arrival. Still confused? Just contact me and I'll help you choose the right resort for your family. See ya real soon!

°o° ~ Karen

The Best Hot Chocolate Ever (aka, How You Can Consume 27,000 Caloriesin a Weekend While Staying at a Disney Resort's Concierge Level)

I don't know about you, but every Disney trip I've been on is the best diet ever! I go, eat pretty much whatever I want, and then *poof* come back from my vacation 10 lbs lighter. It's amazing! Well, that is, until my last visit, when I came back a pound worse. How does that even happen?

You see, I am a self-proclaimed hot chocolate connoisseur. I love it. I can tell you what brand it is while drinking blindfolded. I have tasted everything from Swiss Miss to Starbucks, to locally-made $12 hot chocolate. On a recent visit however, I discovered the creme de la creme of all hot chocolates. The best cocoa cocktail I've ever tasted!

Staying on the concierge level has many perks, like the time I forgot to pack a toothbrush, and one was there waiting on me, along with toothpaste, which has an amazingly light minty flavor.

Not so overpowering that it knocks you out, and oddly, makes you brush for even longer than usual because it's so mild and refreshing. ((Where was I? Oh yes, hot chocolate.)  Part of the concierge level perks include turndown service, and your own resting place - a locked, limited access lounge area with televisions, refreshments, maps, and a personal concierge available to plan any missed details. In the morning, you'll find breakfast foods on the buffet bar, and in the afternoon you'll find snacks and munchies.

It was there I made what shall forever be known as "the best hot chocolate ever".  The recipe is simple: Take the provided paper pup. Pour in one packet of hot chocolate, plus a tiny bit more from a second packet. Save packet in your purse for your next cup. Go to hot water machine and begin filling cup with hot water. Notice that next to the hot water is a frothy steamed milk spout. Hmmm. Stop water. Start adding frothy steamed milk instead of water. Notice hazelnut syrup bottle. Nuts and chocolate go well together, don't they, Self? Yes, I think they do. Add a splash of hazelnut syrup. Stir. Blow off to cool. Sip. Faint.

Yes, it was that good. I am certain the cocoa itself was rich, but adding the cappuccino milk made it light and fluffy, while the hazelnut syrup adding a different taste altogether. I could have skipped the parks and just made cup after cup of cocoa all day. Just kidding. Who would do that? But I did find myself making a cup each morning before going to the parks, as well as one for the road on the day I left. So there you have it. An alternate reason to stay at the concierge level: the ability to make simply the best hot chocolate ever. Don't say I didn't warn you.

°o° ~ Karen

Top 10 Ways to Announce "We're Going to Disney World" to Your Children

Sometimes, you get to be a famous football star, and upon winning the Superbowl, announce to the universe from deep within the confetti blizzard: "We're Going to Disney World!"

And then there are the other 313,914,040 or so of us who did NOT win the Super Bowl. 

What in the world are you going to do to tell your family? Or do we tell your family? If you don't tell your kids, and they're young enough that they can't spell, you resort to spelling each time you talk with someone about your upcoming trip. "We're going to D-i-s-n-e-y in March. Suzie has a reservation at the C-a-s-t-l-e for breakfast." Sometimes, my travelers and I come up with code words, and even safe words that the parents will say when an unexpected child pops into the closet where the parent is hiding during our call.  (Let me just tell you, that is hilarious when it happens.)  Some of you do tell your children, and in fact, use that as bribery for the next nine months or so. As one client shared "Mickey doesn't let children in who can't be nice to their brothers." Perhaps not, but I can in fact, personally attest to the fact that you can find a time-out corner at Disney World.

So besides bribery and hushery, how would you break the news to your children that you're going to Disney? Here are the top 10 ways to tell (or not tell) your family about their upcoming trip:

10. The Daisy / Countdown Chain. These are fun for littler kids who don't have an exact concept of time. You simply make a paper chain, and for each day that passes, they can pull one ring off the chain. Be forewarned, this method is super fun, but don't be surprised if you catch your tot trying to take two off at once to make the event get here quicker!

9. Goodie Bags/Boxes. Some parents will gather up a collection of Disney goodies and put them in a box addressed to the kids and let them open it. Who doesn't love mail? Even as a grown-up, I love getting paper things in the mail that don't require a response in the form of a check! And if we grown ups love it, you know the kids do too!  I have seen them include everything from a life-size Mickey-shaped balloon, to plush toys, and even Mickey-shaped treats.

8. Phone calls.  Some parents like to involve others in their crimes of deceit. Such as having Cinderella make a very sweet phone call to tell your princess the news, or even having a character send them an invitation.

6. Incorporate the goodies that your travel planner (that would be me, wink, nudge) sends you. You may have a different travel planner - I can't tell you what she'll send you, but I usually send a few goodies for each child, just to get them excited, and it may or may not (wink, nudge) include some of the things in this list!

5. Going TODAY. I recently got so tickled at a client who videotaped her kids from inside their vehicle which was parked in the airport parking lot. The dialogue was a bit like this: "But where's our stuff?" (Peek into package tray area, then wide-eyed shock, then "AHHHHHH!!"

4. Just Got Here. And then there are those of you who can REALLY keep a secret. The kids don't have a clue until you literally pull up in front of your resort hotel. Having done this before myself, I can tell you how we did our trip. We simply packed the kids up in their pj's and said "Buckle up". That was about 9 pm. Next thing you know, they woke up to bright sunshine and asked "Why are we still in these seats?"

3. Lies, Lies, and more Lies. Is it fair to say 99.99% of us have incorporated some little white lie into our vacation plan? From the explanation to why you're getting on a plane, to possible threats of leaving one or more children at home due to behavior unacceptable at the Happiest Place on Earth, to even stretching the truth (just a little) about how far off the trip is, you use your childlike reasoning skills and catlike reflexes to keep sprinkle your own version of pixie dust over your family vacation.

2. Scavenger Hunts. I applaud you! To devise an entire hunt with clues and cards, and hiding places is amazing! 

 But when you end up with a final shot like ((this one)), every second was worth it! (By the way, I think this is my favorite client photo!)

1. The "Family" Trip. Some of you tell your kids very early on! You research together, plan what to wear to each park, and even look online together at your must-do ride list. They are as much a part of the trip as you are, right down to the planning. You are my clients who, at the end of the day, I'm not sure who is more excited, you or them, because as a family you've just had so much fun in this planning process!

As for my hubby and I, we're a number 5, number 4, and okay, maybe number 3 kindof family. We enjoy picking the kids up at school at noon, telling them we're going for a ride and ending up at Disney. (Although the time hubs told the kids we were taking Aunt Char to work (who we also picked up to come with us on that trip) and she worked far away led to them thinking for a few days that she worked at Disney World!) We like covering our ears when they see the first Disney billboard in Florida and realize we are not, in fact, just heading to a Walmart far away because ours is closed. There is no right or wrong answer for each family. What's perfect for you will be perfect for you, and you'll know it when you see it.

As for me, I'm busy plotting how to get a new passport photo made for my hubby without his knowledge so I can surprise my "chief surpriser" with a surprise of his own. Wish me luck!

°o° ~ Karen 

Service Review: Special Dietary Needs

Let's say you're in your hometown about to go out to eat, and someone in your party has a food allergy. What do you do? Bring your own food for them? Limit them to just one or two items to choose from? Or tell them where you're going in advance so they have plenty of time to look at the menu and determine if they should just stay home?

Let me tell you a little about what it's like to eat with Disney and have special dietary needs. You see, I can tell you not because I have special dietary needs, but because I was able to see first-hand the Disney treatment of that type of need.

On a recent trip, I was traveling with Debi, a fellow travel agent. Debi is allergic to nuts. At our first restaurant, Boma, we alerted the hostess staff at the front desk that one of our members had a food allergy. It ends there, right? Wrong!

Next thing you know, we were getting a personal visit from Chef Matt.

Matt was ah-maze-ing! He asked Debi what she was allergic to, and didn't just tell her what she *could* eat, he walked her up to the buffet and pointed every single side dish, main dish, and dessert out to her. And for those dishes that sat really close to a food with nuts on the bar, he brought out her very own dish of that food, specially prepared, and guaranteed to not have any wayward nuts from the dish next to it.

Not to mention he was just a sweetheart! He also stopped back at our table several times - almost as many times as our waiter - just to make sure we were okay and Debi was getting enough to eat.

Now Matt was a gem, for sure, and I thought surely this was special treatment and not all Disney table service restaurants are this way. Au contraire. We ate at Flying Fish the following day.

Again, as we sat down, one of the fabulous chefs from back behind this counter came right out to us, advised Debi of everything she could eat, and then even made something special for her off the menu!

So rest assured if you have special dietary needs, Disney will be sure you do get to eat from their fabulous restaurants, and not have to bring your own food from home! It's just another little-known sprinkle of pixie dust that Disney bestows upon their travelers to make every bit of a vacation truly magical.

Now that you know about this service, if you DO have special needs, please let me know! I can send a special form to the restaurant that lets them know you're coming ahead of time, and they'll already have special items ready and waiting for your arrival, prepared just the way you need them. I'm giving this magical Disney service review five magic wands for service, professionalism, and keeping guest safety number one.

I've Been Working on the Railroad...

One of my to-do items for my recent trip was to scope out the current level of construction on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride. For those of you who rode Snow White's Scary Adventure while it was open, you can see just by looking at the coaster rail that this ride is VERY different.

Imagineers have designed an amazing ride system that allows each mine car to individually swing back and forth as the train twists and turns along the track. I for one, cannot wait to see another true coaster ride open at the Magic Kingdom, and these rails just make me want to whip out my calendar and plan a trip for opening weekend.

Here's a sneak peek. Mind you, if I were five feet taller, you'd have a much better peek but as it is, you'll just have to oooh and aaah along with the rest of us who can barely see over the top of the imagineering wall.

See ya real soon,

Karen

The First and the Last

One of my favorite things to do is people watch. There's something settling about losing all sense of time while sitting on a park bench as people stroll by. Disney World is no different. Today I had the fortunate pleasure of being one of the first ones in the Magic Kingdom, and one of the last to leave.  Normally, my family would be with me, and our agenda would not include people watching, nor would we close down the park at the end of the day. Today, however, was much different.

I started with a Keys to the Kingdom Tour that began right as the park opened. Our task was to be in the park before our tour departure time.  Let me just say that standing outside Guest Relations when those fireworks go off in the morning is no less than amazing. I liken it to the Running of the Bulls. You either run with the group, move out of the way, or face certain trampling. I fully intended to take a picture of the people coming in, but that's just it – if you blinked, you missed them! They were in and gone, strollers wheeling at break-neck speeds, undoubtedly off to Space Mountain and New Fantasyland.

We let them go by and started our tour. Once it was over, I had several other things on the agenda, including stops at Hollywood Studios, the Boardwalk, and EPCOT. My traveling companion opted to call it a night at 10 pm, but for me, that was the perfect time to head back to the Magic Kingdom. Most people were trickling out, not in, and I found myself standing in a nearly empty Magic Kingdom, staring at the beauty that lives within the walls. I walked back to the jungle cruise – a completely different experience at night than it is during the day – and over to the dualing Dumbos. But my favorite shot of the night was coming out of the back of New Fantasyland.

I was the last one off Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, and even then I was the only person in the entire ride queue. I could walk slowly on purpose and enjoy the details in this shot...

this one...

and this...

(Can I just say that I think that the backside of the castle is ah-maze-ing?!)

One cannot be the last person out of the Magic Kingdom and not be in awe of the dream that Walt began. Each detail - these finials in front of the castle could be round, but they aren't - they're pumpkin carriages.

When the children are tired, and the families are leaving, to stand around and capture the very essence that is Disney is amazing.

And that's just it. To be the first is exciting, exhilarating, and energetic. But to be the last... to bid adieu to the Magic Kingdom as it rubs its eyes in preparation for a night's slumber is in fact, magical.

Thanks for a beautiful evening, and don't worry, Walt. I'll see ya again, real soon.


ºOº Karen
4.7

New Testing at Test Track

You already know that EPCOT's Test Track has undergone an amazing new refurbishment, but have you heard the latest news?

Today on Test Track, I ran into Cast Member Jesse. Jesse was holding this sweet board, can you see what's on it?

First, note the new plastic cards. They're park tickets, and they replace the PAPER tickets you're used to if you stay offsite (or if you're an annual Passholder). Aren't they pretty? And check out the new Minnie character. So excited for a girl-card! Check out the back of the card.

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Do you see the My Disney Experience logo, mid-bottom? I'm sure you are wondering what the two have to do with each other. Well, check it out.

When the Test Track refurbishment first opened, there were two different but similar experiences. For guests in the stand-by line, you would come in, get a plain white card on a rubber band string, and head to the design area where you designed the "car" that you are testing. You choose your color, choose the features of your car, then load the car you've designed onto your plain white card. Just before you board your vehicle, you load the newly designed vehicle, and board your custom car. Sweet, right? 

The refurbishment made the complete ride experience much more personal. You are no longer riding en masse on a course chosen by GM. Au contraire. Now you're riding in a car YOU designed, racing against everyone else, vying for the top score to beat at the end of the race.

Two big differences are currently in the works. First, instead of using the generic white card to design and track your car, NOW your park tickets or your Key to the World card (with the My Disney Experience at the bottom) will do the same thing. Second (are you paying attention?) Currently, there are two ways to design your car. The full configuration takes place on the stand-by side, while FastPass guests only get to choose two aspects of the configuration. Today, Test Track was testing full configuration ability for BOTH stand-by AND FastPass riders! Plans for implementation are in the works pending feedback from today's testing! Is that awesome news, or what? Stay tuned for that awesome modification to the FastPass experience!

To-Do List, Mission: Mouse Style

When it comes to making lists, I'll be the first to tell you, I'm the bomb! (I didn't say accomplishing the things on the list, just making the list.) Normally, I don't have a to-do list when I go to Disney World.  Our family picks one or two things we've never done before, and at least two new restaurants we've never eaten at, and as long as we get those things done along with our regular ride plan, we're one happy family!

My next business trip (yes, that sounds funny) to Disney World is in just two weeks! This time, no hubs and kiddos, it's just me, combined with our agency owner, Debi.  The negative side – if there can be one – It's just two days!! What's a girl to do with only two days at the parks? Why, check out all of the things that are on your list of things to do, of course!

Here's what I've got so far:

1) Debi won't be there until the late morning, which means I'm on my own for the first part of the day. I have always wanted to go on the Behind the Seeds Tour - the one they tell you about as your boat floats around the inside of the Living With the Land ride. I admit it, this is not the most thrilling ride at EPCOT, but I love it! Plants growing upside down out of sprinkler hoses? Giant pumpkins suspended from the sky? Absolutely fascinating! So why haven't I done the tour yet when I have hundreds of pictures of various plants from every boat ride we've taken? One, my family only humors me when we ride this ride - I think they'd all rather be on Test Track, but hey, they things you do for love, right? And two, folks usually assume "Private Tour at Disney = $$$. Seriously folks, this tour is just $16. SIXTEEN DOLLARS! For $16 you bet your sweet patooty, this girl is going on that tour, and I will love every minute of it!

2) Characters in Flight.  My hubby doesn't do well with heights. Need I say more? I, on the other hand, cannot wait to hop in this giant balloon and take panoramic pictures from all around the skyline!

3) Stop by Caribbean Beach Resort for the sole purpose of buying a Chocolate Chunky Monkey cupcake from the food court. Chocolate cupcake, filled with bananas and a luscious cream, topped with a peanut butter frosting drizzled with chocolate... Yes I am making a special trip just to get a cupcake. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.

4) Spend an evening at Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing Along. They hold this sing along nightly at Fort Wilderness behind the Meadow Trading Post. Basically, they bring the campfire, you bring the marshmallows, hot dogs, and sticks and your best sing-along voice. (You can buy a stick if you forgot to whittle one before you came, or if you just can't find one on the ground.) It's followed up by a movie – Disney,  of course – about 45 minutes later. There's no particular reason this is on my list of things to do again, especially since the kids aren't with me, other than that it's a nice, warm and fuzzy thing to do, and yes, I do enjoy the quiet side of Disney in addition to the exciting, fun things. And of course, I want to make sure nothing has changed.  

5) Be Our Guest for lunch! I am very fortunate. I've been to Be Our Guest Restaurant not one but THREE times! The first was for an Agent Training week in November. The second was in December for our family trip, and the third was on a return business trip.  All of these have been by chance - the first was during Sneak Preview week before New Fantasyland opened officially. We went with several agents - oh what a fun night that was!

The second was on the night of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. You could only make a reservation if you were staying for the party, which we were. And the third was the result of waiting, and waiting, and waiting. (Have I mentioned the French Onion Soup? No? It's terrible. Don't get it. That leaves more for me.  Hee hee hee.) Seriously, the soup is amazing. BOG is now one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property, which says a lot! That said, as fortunate as I am to have eaten so many times, especially since it's currently more desirable than a meal at Cinderella's Castle (don't believe me? Try making a reservation for both and see which one pops up first!), all of my meals have been dinner. I've never eaten for lunch, which is a Quick-Service meal, no reservation required! Get outta town!  Definitely have to compare for my clients. So yes, this is on my list of things to do. Have soup for lunch. Followed by a Monkey cupcake. Divine.

6) The Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Magic Kingdom Park. A gift from Debi. I like to think I know a ton about the parks, Walt, and Disney. But I would never assume I know everything, and I love getting to see and hear insider info from the parks. 

7) Check out the refurb to the queue on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to see if it's complete yet!

8) Take pictures of the Mine ride and see how it's coming along.

9) Check out Hollywood Studios for the latest reimagineering of Disney Jr, Live on Stage! to see the newest additions of Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First.

Whew. That's all I have so far. (And of course, ride some rides, grab a Dole Whip, and a few other things!) But every day I think of something new to add to this list, and I have to remind myself it's just two days!  Which begs the question: If you had just two days, and could do/see anything you wanted, what would you pick?

ºOº Karen
2/23

Perfect Timing!

I am so excited! Guess what's being released THE day of my next trip to Disney World? New park maps!  Ta daaaa!  Here's a sneak peek:

The good news is... guess when they're being released? March 3rd!  The GREAT news is... guess when my next Mission: Mouse trip to Disney World is? March 3rd!  GET OUTTA TOWN!  Coincidence? I think not!

My purpose for that trip is to catch some of the behind-the-scenes excursions and events that I haven't been able to do so far. (And yes, maybe even a few things that our family wouldn't normally do, like Characters in Flight, since several of my family members have height issues.)

So wish me safe travels, and look for those new maps coming your way soon!

ºOº Karen

The Art of Over-Communicating

Each day, I learn something new from a client. I like to think that I am the one educating you, but more often than not, you end up educating me! This week's lesson came from Heather, who is admittedly, a bit OCD when it comes to her travel. Thanks to her needs, I have found myself OVER-communicating to ALL of my clients, and you love it! Before I would have shied away from all the extra methods of communication, I am finding you LOVE to be kept in the loop on just little behind-the-scenes actions that I am taking on your behalf. So thank you, OCD Heather, for helping me be a better agent for EVERYONE!  ºOº Karen