What's your favorite?

When recently asked about my favorite resort for families at the Walt Disney World resort, I only had to think for a second. I love all the colors and giant statues of the value resorts as much as the next person, but those rooms can get really crowded, and fast. I'm also a park person. While the deluxe resorts have a TON of really great features and fantastic theming, I'm not at the resort enough to enjoy them. That is why it was easy for me to select Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Cabins as my current Favorite.

Fort Wilderness is located on Bay Lake, and just a short boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom. Fort Wilderness gives families room to spread out and relax with a living room, private porch area in addition to the bedroom. Each cabin is approximately 500 square feet, almost twice the size of a standard room at a moderate or value resort. It also allows mom and dad to stay up later to prepare for the next day without waking the kids in the bedroom. The cabins also sleep up to six, so this is ideal for families with 3 or 4 children wanting to be close to the magic and escape the “busy” feel of some of the other resorts.
There are 407 cabins at the resort, in addition to almost 800 campsites. The size of the resort is large enough to warrant an internal, easy to use, bus system to get you from one end to the other. The bus drivers are always willing to answer questions and help you get to your destination. Golf carts are also available for rent to families that prefer to have more freedom to roam around the campground.
There are several things that make this resort a great deal for busy families. One of them being a multitude of low cost recreational activities for children and families. In addition to two pools (one with a slide featuring an icon from River country) and four different playground areas, there is also a petting zoo and pony rides offered at the Tri-Circle D Ranch.
Not to be missed is a nightly sing-a-long with chip and dale before the movie under the stars. The sing-a-long and movie are completely free and a great way for kids to unwind toward the end of the day. There are also options for older children, such as tennis, bike rentals, fishing, archery instruction, horseback riding, basketball and tether ball courts. There’s even a segway tour for adults and older teens.

Renovated in 2009 the Meadows swimming hole features a large children’s water play area complete with children’s slides. There is also a small wading pool for smaller children. The main pool added a slide and a hot tub area. There is a smaller swimming pool. A second swimming area, the Wilderness pool also recently underwent a refurbishment.

Dining at Fort Wilderness provides more unique family fun. All of Fort Wilderness’ dining options participate in the dining plan Trails End Buffet offers a variety of american fare and is one table service credit. The two other main dining options at the resort are both 2 table service credits, but include much more than dining. The long running comedy Hoop-De-Doo Revue runs 3 times a night and provides a family style, all you can eat dinner while enjoying singing and dancing to keep everyone entertained and laughing. One other unique dining option offered at Fort Wilderness is Mickey’s Backyard BBQ. Another all-you-can-eat experience, this one is outside and features Mickey and pals as the hosts. Here you’ll experience singing, line dancing, rope tricks and provides interactive fun.

The only drawback to staying at Fort Wilderness is the lack of counter service dining available. There are a few snack venues, and groceries available in the gift shops. If you’re a family on a budget, and decide not to go with a dining plan, you also have the benefit of a kitchen in your cabin. Mousekeeping comes by daily to run your dishwasher, so families can continue to relax and enjoy themselves. Families on the dining plan can also utilize the kitchen, keeping late night snacks and drinks in the room.

Overall, Fort Wilderness Cabins are a great value for the money. They provide unique dining experiences, a wide variety of recreation options for family members of all ages, as well as space to spread out, relax and truly enjoy vacation. The beach is also a prime viewing spot for the electric water pageant that runs nightly through Bay Lake.

I would highly recommend this resort to families with 3 or 4 children, or families who enjoy being outdoors and experiencing a more secluded, relaxing resort experience.

Right now, with the spring room special (January –June), families can save up to 20% on the cost of the cabins, making it an even better value for the money. You’ll also get all the Magical Memories free services, including dining recommendations and reservations, customized itineraries to meet the needs of your family, tips and tricks for using the fastpass service, preferred fireworks viewing and much, much more. We even provide on-call service during your vacation if a problem does arise. If you book any 2012 trip during the month of January, you also are eligible for a gift card to celebrate Magical Memories 5 year anniversary! Feel free to request a quote on the right if you want more information.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

There's been a lot of talk about the fantasyland expansion, with people taking pictures over the wall while riding Dumbo (guilty), to WDW railroad riders straining for a better view. We're all excited about Dumbo moving (and doubling in size), the skyway area being re-done after sitting empty for so long, and exciting new rides in the biggest expansion to date.

However, behind the seens other people are talking. There's something else coming to the Magic Kingdom, and it sounds like it will be ready to go long before Dumbo takes his next flight. Guest testing for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, an interactive scavenger hunt of sorts through the Magic Kingdom has been testing for a few months, with guest testing starting last week. Here's a great article that shows a little bit about the game and how it will work. Check this out!

I'm excited to see how this works once it is up and running at full speed. It looks to be a great new addition to "magic" at the Magic Kingdom.

Merlin the Magician is taking on apprentice Sorcerers, are you up to the challenge of top secret missions, fighting villains and saving the day? Sorcerer training takes place at Firehouse on Main street. On your next visit will you be the one to save the day?

Adventure takes on new meaning with a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

One of the top questions people ask when planning a Disney vacation: “We won’t miss much if we skip Animal Kingdom will we? Isn’t it just like the zoos we have at home?” Many people have this misconception about Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They may have heard from friends that “it’s only a half day park” or “it’s just like the zoo”. Neither of these statements comes close to describing the detail and excitement that can go into a day at the animal kingdom. Aside from the thrills of Expedition Everest and Dinosaur, the animal kingdom offers some of the best shows on property, Finding Nemo-the musical and Festival of the Lion King. Often overlooked because of its location in the character greet section Camp Minnie-Mickey, Festival of the Lion King is an interactive engaging show featuring incredible acrobatic and musical talent.
You could spend a day just taking in all of the details of the different lands and enjoying cultural nuances along the way. From up close looks at the iconic tree of life, to wildlife walks throughout the park. You won’t want to miss a ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris, where you are transported to the Harambe Reserve for up close animal viewing and perhaps a few surprises along the way.
If you’re traveling with little ones, you could stop by the above mentioned meet and greet areas to say hello to Disney favorites. The tree of life hosts the fun “it’s tough to be a bug” experience, engaging all of your senses. There is also triceratops spin, a ride similar to Dumbo with a prehistoric twist. Tucked in the back corner of the park is the conservation area known as Rafiki’s planet watch. A peaceful train ride takes you to the conservation station where there are lots of interactive activities for children as they learn about the environment. One such activity, designed with boys in mind boasts the title “match the feces with the species”. This overlooked area of the park is a great location to get special attention from cast members, and even occasionally meet characters such as Rafiki and Jiminy Cricket.
It may be tempting to cut out animal kingdom with so many things to do and see at Walt Disney World, but you would be missing out on some of the greatest adventures anywhere on property. Animal Kingdom may not boast as many rides and thrills as the other parks, but provides hours of quality adventure and excitement for anyone taking the time to seek it out. What adventures will you seek out on your next trip to Animal Kingdom?

Let me tell you...

My love for Disney started on my first trip for my tenth birthday. My friends laugh, because I can still pull out that first autograph book relive that first trip. Since that time, I've made several more trips and I fall in love all over again as we pull through the gates. I get tears in my eyes on the boat over to the magic kingdom and believe that Walt Disney world really can be the most magical place on earth. I live with my wonderful, patient husband and beautiful daughter in the heart of the midwest, Kankakee, Il.

I am excited to work with busy families who want to create memories and relax together without having to worry about all the details. I enjoy helping them create one of a kind getaways that are stress free and remind every family member, young and old, that magic is all around us. I have helped plan trips for adults and children with special needs, adults with mobility issues, young couples, and families of toddlers and teens. I love being able to share my attention for detail and introduce others to the magic of Disney.

Disney's question of the day...

Today, Disney posed this question on their facebook page. It received over 2000 responses and 1000 likes in an hour. So, it must be a pretty good question. So, here it is:

It’s the first Friday night of a brand new year! I wish I was spending it on ___________ , my favorite Disney attraction!

If I were filling in the blank, I would probably have to say "Living with the Land". I know. Dorky boat ride. I'm not really into farming or anything like that, but I love seeing the greenhouses and things in various stages of growth. I remember taking my sister-in-law on this attraction during her first trip. Her response "I love this. It's like the discovery channel, only fun". This is a long running family joke because both of our husbands LOVE to watch hours of discovery channel.

If you were to fill in the blank, what would you say?

Welcome!

I love hearing people’s stories. I love engaging with other people and learning more about what their experiences. So often, we go through life not paying attention to everyone else, even though we are all part of ONE big story. Disney is a place that lives stories.

Once in a lifetime trips. Family Vacations. Weddings. Reunions. Celebrations.

That’s one of the reasons for this blog. To share my story, and more importantly, to hear yours. To engage, and create memories together by crafting perfect vacations to meet your needs.

Every week, in addition to any regular posts, I plan to run two features starting February 1st. The first is Magical Mondays-I’ll share a Disney picture from my trips, and the story or some information that goes along with it. I want to hear your stories too, and feature them along with your pictures as well on occasion. The second feature is FUN FACT FRIDAYS. I’ll share a Disney fact or bit of trivia, and then again share some information or thoughts on the fun fact. I’ll also ask a question relating to the post, giving you an opportunity to share your experiences as well.

I don’t want this to be some boring informational blog, like Disney, I want information to be fun! Welcome to this journey through all things Disney! Planning a Disney Vacation couldn't be easier, or more enjoyable! Thanks for joining me!

Magic Kingdom Memories

This is one of my favorite videos. LOOK HERE! For just a few minutes I'm transported to the magic kingdom. One of my favorite magic kingdom memories is from when we took my brother and sister-in-law for first time. She had to go to emergency services, and while my husband and I were waiting, we spent hours exploring main street. It was nice to be able to relax at the start of our day, and see all of the details main street has to offer. From trolley singers to the castle show, parades and barbershop quartets, we just it all in, as if we actually lived on main street. Did you have any magic kingdom memories brought to life with this video?