We pack the whole day through...!

Hi Everyone!

So Kristin and I leave for our next Disney vacation in less than two weeks and we spend most days reminding each other of the countdown! Kristin has already started packing and continues to add things as she sees fit. Because of her constant enthusiasm, I thought it’d be the perfect time to write a post on packing for Disney World. You’d think that packing for this vacation would be the same as packing for any other, but trust me when I say it isn’t. We’ve experienced so many changes in weather all in one trip, that we feel it best for you to be prepared in some way for every kind of temperature fluctuation or sudden slam of precipitation.

As I mentioned in our planning post, it’s really important to check the weather before you pack. When my best friend and I went a zip-a-dee-doo-dahing down to Florida in May of 2009, I did NOT check the weather forecast. Subsequently, I spent the whole 5 day vacation soaking wet from the rain; let’s just say I should not have brought that white skirt. So if you’re like me and enjoy keeping a bit of mystery about your under garments, I suggest checking the weather.  For this up-coming trip, Kristin went a bit all out and consulted the Farmer’s Almanac. If you’re not that dedicated, I suggest checking your online weather service of choice a few days before leaving. Always remember that Florida is subject to radical changes in weather and nothing puts a damper on a vacation faster than being grossly unprepared for the elements.

Regardless of what the weather predictions are for your trip, there are a few non-essentials that suddenly become necessary when you’re going to Disney World.
    1. Bathing suit: Yes, you will want to bring one with you even in the winter. Some pools are heated. Most resorts have hot tubs. And nothing feels better than relaxing in a soothing pool after a fun-filled day, morning, or evening in the parks. The best thing about WDW pools? Your hotel may have more than one pool: one main pool with all of the hulabaloo of a water slide, and a second “quiet” pool. The “quiet” pool means that there are generally less people in the pool and they may remain open when no life guards are on duty; you swim at your own risk, but you can swim at any time of the day. I like getting up early at least 1 day of my trip to swim laps with the ducks. It’s a great way to start your day.
    2. Sweatshirt: Say what?  You call “crazy”? Well, hear me out. During the winter months, the temperatures drop significantly at night time. While on most days you can walk around in a light sweater and a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt is going to come in useful after the sun goes down. And yes, bring one in the summer. I cannot count how many sweatshirt my parents purchased for me in the middle of July. Rainstorms pop up so frequently in WDW and the air conditioning is constantly on full blast. If you don’t mind carry the extra item and the weather forecast calls for rain, lug it along. Even if you don’t bring it to the parks with you, the hotel rooms can get pretty chilly. You, or your always cold, “should have been born on the surface of the sun” companions, will be happy for the cozy addition to your suitcase.
    3. Umbrella: This is an arguable “always bring” item. Carrying an umbrella through the parks can be very annoying and I do not recommend bringing one with you every day. However, Disney umbrellas purchased in the park are on the expensive side and carrying an umbrella with you on a day that a storm is predicted will come in handy. If you hate getting caught in the rain, or if you’re traveling with someone who hates getting caught in the rain, this is a must have.  If you don’t care about being wet all day, cold after ducking for cover in a heavily air conditioned shop, or about your hair and/or make up getting messed up for the day, leave the umbrella at home. Save the room in your suitcase for something more useful to you.
    4. Extra socks: Are you a sneakers person? Do you have kids? Then this is an essential item for you! Nothing bites the big one more than walking around in wet squishy socks (unless it is walking around in wet, squishy underwear). Stick an extra pair in some one’s bag when you go to the park; water rides, unexpected rain storms - you’re going to want those dry socks.

Bags:   Carrying a purse gets heavy and annoying; a smaller bag will allow you to carry only the absolute essentials into the parks and it will help you get through security faster. OR if your party is into sharing, bring 1 or 2 small drawstring backpacks that everyone can toss their stuff into. Pass the bags off during the day so that everyone gets a few hours of bag free fun.  Just a word of advice, each park now has security check points at the entrance.  Everyone has to open every compartment of each bag they are carrying and allow a security officer to examine it.  Take the smallest bag you can carry, if you don’t need it, don’t bring it.  Not only will it speed up your time at security, but come late afternoon, you’ll be happy you aren’t lugging around a huge bag.

Cosmetics/Hair Care: BE FRUGAL! Take only what you will absolutely need.  Try and aliquot your hair care products, moisturizers, facial cleansers and other liquid cosmetics into smaller travel size bottles (you can find them at any beauty supply store).  This is will save you time and luggage space.  Also, if you must bring large bottles of liquid products, put them in a secondary Ziploc bag.  I brought a bottle of heat protector a few years ago.  It opened in my suitcase and not only did I have to wash everything, it ruined my favorite red cocktail dress. 

I have been blessed with perfectly straight, unfrizzable hair, so all I take is a small bottle of styling spray, a hair tie, bob pins and a comb.  Hair dryers are provided in all rooms.    I am a makeup person.  I collect it, wear it, play with it, I just love it.  However, you do not need it!  Here is what I carry in my Disney makeup bag: tinted moisturizer (with SPF); under-eye concealer; a fine particle finishing powder; one or two eye shadow quads; eye liner; bronzer/blush; lip balm (with SPF), lip gloss and mascara…THAT’S IT!  For all you makeup lovers, I know this may sound minimal; you will be thanking me at the end of your vacation when you don’t come home with a face full of blemishes.  One more tip…dental floss!  You will be eating and drinking all day.  Carrying a tooth brush and tooth paste is not always practical, but dental floss will not only help you remove bits from between your teeth, but in the event you feel your mouth is stanky, try chewing a small piece then tossing it.  GUM IS NOT SOLD ANYWHERE ON DISNEY PROPERTY!

One last very VERY important note:  BRING SUNSCREEN!  You can buy it at every gift shop at the resort, however if you can bring it, then definitely supply your own.  Even though it is in the United States, do not forget, Florida is a sub-tropical climate.  The sun is very strong, even in the winter.  Lather yourself and your kids up before you head out to the parks.  There is nothing worse than a sunburn in Disney World…I speak from experience.  If you ignore every single piece of advice we ever give you on this blog, please do not ignore this one…you need to protect your skin. 

Dinner Clothes: When people think Disney World, they think long lines, fun rides, humidity, French fries and Mickey Mouse. But what about fine dining and a night life? WDW plays host to some of the world’s best cuisine and most beautiful restaurants. (It’s true! Just ask Samantha Brown.) Because of this, I highly recommend bringing “dinner” clothes: a nice dress, a pair of slacks, anything a little bit nicer or a little bit cleaner than the clothes that you’re planning on frolicking through the parks in. Some restaurants on prem have dress codes requiring more formal attire, while others don’t. However, taking the time to change from your “running around the park” clothes to your “enjoying some fine wining and dining” clothes can do wonders for your mood and energy. It gives you the time to cool down, and relax; taking the time to ready yourself for dinner can really let you determine how the rest of your vacation should proceed in order for you to thoroughly enjoy it.

Ok, ladies, here is a tip just for you: BRING DRESSES!  The dress is a glorious thing in the hot, humid, Floridian weather. They’re light and airy, they dry quickly and best of all, they take up minimal space in your suitcase. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that there is no place for pants in WDW: getting in and out of the rocket on Space Mountain in a skirt can be tricky; however, when the rest of your party is complaining about their wet pants an hour after getting off of the Kali River Rapids, your dress in going to be comfortable and ready for another excursion through those twisty, turny water ways. Another great thing about wearing a dress to the parks is that it severely cuts down on sweating. With a dress, you minimize the extraneous layers of overlapping clothing.  An added bonus: if you are not interested in taking the time to leave the parks to prep for dinner, wearing a dress to the parks is a sure fire way to be prepared for any dining experience on prem. Well, except for maybe Victoria and Albert’s. 

Another great tip for women: BRING EXTRA PANTIES!!!  Children's underwear and men's boxers are readily available for purchase in every gift shop.  However, adult women's underwear is very hard to come by, so unless you are a free spirited bird who won’t mind going commando, bring extra panties!

All in all, try to minimize the number of “duplicate” items you bring: ie bras, shoes, purses. You can assign these things to different outfits and significantly lighten your load. If you’re particular about washing clothing between wears, there are laundry facilities in every hotel or you can always hand wash things in your bathroom sink and hang them to dry over night. Bring travel size cosmetics or plan to use products provided by the hotels. Bring only 2 or 3 pairs of pajamas with you and wear them multiple times. Lastly, be honest with yourself. We’d all like to think that we really are going to get up and work out before our day starts. You know yourself better than anyone else; if you’re really not going to make the effort to get up and exercise, leave the running shoes at home.

That’s all for now. If anyone has any additional tips for packing for WDW, let us know. We’d love to hear your ideas and expand our own pool of tips. TTFN!

Mobile Magic App - Disney World on the Go!

Hello fellow Mousecapaders!  I am super duper psyched to be writing my first blog post.  

I downloaded the Disney Parks Mobile Magic App and I have to say…it rocks!!!!!  The application is broken down into two general categories, Walt Disney World and Disneyland.  Each park is then broken down into sub-categories.  For Walt Disney World, you will find:  Magic Kingdom; EPCOT; Disney’s Hollywood Studios; Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Typhoon Lagoon; Blizzard Beach; Downtown Disney; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; Dining Guide; Recreation Guide and Disney Resorts.  The information available is given in real time and includes a map of the resort, current attraction wait times, Fastpass availability, general park hours and any special events happening in the park that day such as parade times, show times and fireworks specials.  You can find out where and when there will be character greetings, which restaurants are located within the park, even the weather forecast for that day!  After spending some time exploring this application I have found three features I really love:

1.  You can explore the resort and discover important information like transportation to and from which theme parks, the type of recreation offered at each resort and the dining options.  You can even load in the days you will be visiting the park, and the resort hotel you are staying at.  
2. The Dining Guide is absolutely fantastic!  You can either search for a specific restaurant, or do a search based upon mealtime; cuisine; location at the resort (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT etc…) dining experience or price range.  Once you pick a restaurant, you will be given a description of the food, ambience, and price range.  You can also use the “Getting Here” feature to determine the quickest way of getting to the restaurant.  If you need a reservation, just click the blue “Reservation” button and your phone will automatically call the Dining Reservation line.
3. If you click on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you get all the information options you do under the other theme parks, with one fabulous addition…ANIMALS!  This tab takes you to a map that tells you which live animals are available to see in each individual land.  For example, say you are walking around “ASIA” and you want to know which animals are around you, just click on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, then Animals, then Asia and then <BOOM> you instantly know which animals are available for viewing. 

Now, that being said, this is not a live all end all app.  You do not have access to photos of the resorts or theme parks, and the attraction wait time information is limited to phrases like “high demand” (you do not get wait times or Fastpass distribution times in minutes or hours).  When you are loading your app, it will tell you for best performance the app will need to access Location Based Services (LBS) on your phone.  If you choose not to utilize the LBS, the app will work just fine.  You will have access to all the same information.  Unfortunately for any AT&T or T-Mobile users, the application, which was released in 2009, is available for Verizon wireless customers only.  I was able to download the app to my phone for free, so any of you who don’t have it….GO GET IT!   

I highly recommend this application.  The app is quite easy to navigate and is an incredible resource for any first time visitors, or for people who have limited time in each park and want to get the most out of their stay.  Basically, Disney has done a fantastic job jam packing all their website information into one easy to access application. 

I would first like to thank all of you for taking the time to read my post and I hope you find it helpful.   Have a magical day! 

Much Love,

Kristin

Luggage, Cameras, Away!

Hello Everyone.

Kristin and I are anxiously awaiting our upcoming trip to Disney in September. We are so excited - the only way to keep it under control is watching Disney themed videos on YouTube. (Thank you, YouTube, for so lovingly feeding our addiction.)

Preparing for vacation can be daunting, especially when you’ve never visited a place before. Disney World is no exception. In fact, Disney World can be incredibly overwhelming because of all of the options you have in merely planning your stay. As Kristin and I approach the departure date for our 26^th (?) trip together, we’ve been reminded of just how hard this planning can be. Here are some suggestions which have made our planning experiences easier and we hope they will work for you too!

The first thing we always do when we’re planning is consult a Disney vacation planning DVD. You can request these online for free and they produce a new one every couple of years to include recent additions, new promotions and upcoming attractions and events: we requested our newest DVD almost a year before our projected visit. At best, this new DVD is disappointing with obnoxious hosts and an un-engaging format; however, it can give you an idea of what time of year you’d like to visit, where you would like to stay and which key attractions you do not want to miss. (If you can get a 2009 DVD, I would highly recommend it. This DVD, although slightly outdated, has much more information, much more personality and gives you a much better idea of what WDW is all about.)

Our next recommendation is to go to disneworld.disney.go.com and check out the specifics on hotels and room rates. EVERY hotel offers different accommodations and, subsequently, a different range of rates. (Always remember that rates are lowest during the week and increase slightly over the weekend. This is very much the norm.) If you have a small budget, check out the value resorts. If you have been saving for years for this trip so that you can go “soup to nuts,” definitely check out the deluxe resorts. It is always a really good idea to have a firm "top 3" before you call to book your vacation. If you just call up and choose on the spot, you may not get the exact kind of hotel you’re looking for.

ALWAYS call to make your reservation. The website offers a reservation service that you can use; however, it’s not the same as interacting with the employees of Disney. The call center is open 24 hours – Walt Disney World caters to people all around the world. The people on the other end of the line walk you through the reservation process, answer ANY question you may have and can even make dining reservations for you at any restaurant on premises. The call is quick and easy. Most people are probably thinking “oh, I’ll be on hold forever. The website is much easier.” Fear not, the WDW operators are responsive, thorough and quick. They do not mess around. Oh, and they’re friendly. They are some of the friendliest people you’re going to meet throughout your Disney experience. Trust me. You’ll understand when you call.

Keep an eye on airfares. As we are all painfully aware, fuel costs are yo-yoing like a politician during election season and the best thing you can do for your vacation budget is to limit the amount of money you spend on transportation. We keep an eye on these rates for months. Sometimes we luck out and watch the rates go down and then pounce. Other times, we see them go up a bit, panic and then pounce. Maybe we don't have mad skills at getting the best airfare rates, but we highly recommend shopping around and watching the trends in pricing before reserving your seats. From the airport, getting to WDW is the easiest - peasiest thing in the world: Disney’s Magical Express.

This is going to sound so incredibly lame, but it’s so incredibly true. May 2009 was the first time I had ever utilized this amazing Disney amenity, and it made me feel like the Disney magic enveloped me as soon as I stepped on board. When you book your reservation, let them know that you are planning on using the service; they're going to ask you for your flight numbers. If you don't have them, hakuna matata! You can always call back and update your flight information OR you can just walk up to the desk when you get to the airport and check in. From your gate at Orlando airport, you take the monorail to the main terminal and head towards side B. From there, follow signs to your magical transport. Once you find the magical express check in you will get on a designated queue and wait in line, true to Disney style. Everyone going to your resort (and a couple of others) file on board, sit down and are immediately greeted by the sounds of Disney. (If you bring carry on luggage, not a problem, just pass them off to the bus driver and he will stow them for you.) A welcome video begins once you are on the highway and reminds you of all the fantastically awesome, wonderful things you are going to be encountering in the parks and, if you’re lucky enough to have a bus driver who likes to be a part of the show, the driver begins whipping out his/her massive amount of Disney Trivia. (What is Cinderella’s castle made of? It looks like brick, but guess again!) Checking your baggage? No problem! Just continue right from the plane to the Magical Express. You’re going to receive luggage tickets in the mail that are marked with your name and which resort you’re staying in. After your plane lands, a Disney employee will collect the luggage for all Disney guests on that plane and load it on to a bus. Your luggage will only be delivered to your resort much later than your arrival, BUT you won’t have to wait at the baggage claim. Convenient, right?

If you aren’t planning on flying and prefer to drive, the highways through Orlando have specific exits for Walt Disney World. The place is massive, after all. We can only speak of experience driving from the North East, but Disney World is definitely hard to miss while driving.

Some great tips for first timers traveling to Disney:

1.     There are certain times of the year (the off-seasons) when hotel rates are lower and crowds are minimal. We consider this the best time of year to go. If you're lucky, and persistent enough to call 5 or 6 times, you will be able to keep track of hotel discounts and may be able to snag an enviable rate. Sometimes, you can even upgrade to a better hotel for the same amount you're already paying. It's all about luck, persistence and current occupancy levels.

2.  The Disney store sells Disney park passes! You can purchase any type of pass at any Disney store prior to ever leaving for your trip. Florida sales taxes are applied, but that is one line you can cut out and skip on in to the park.

3.     Keep a watchful eye on the weather a week before you leave. Florida weather can be extremely fickle (we’ve been there in January when the weather was colder in Orlando than it was in New Jersey!). Pack accordingly. WDW has tons of clothing stores, but everything is Disney themed. If you don’t want to make expensive clothing purchases to adjust your wardrobe to the climate, keep  a watchful eye. On the other hand, ALWAYS bring a swimsuit. A good number of the hotels have an open hot tub, which is always relaxing after a long day riding roller coasters.
 

4.  You can check into your hotel at any time. I swear! This is no joke. WDW, like any other resort, has a standard official check in time; however, if you arrive early and want to get a full day in at the parks, you can check in before your room is even ready. Carried your bags on the plane? Once again, not a problem. WDW has excellent bellhop services. Leave your baggage with them, and they will deliver it to your room when it is ready.

5.     If you are checking your luggage and using the Magical Express, you're going to want to bring essential items (i.e. medicine, cameras, a change of clothes, etc.) on the plane with you. This is especially important if you're planning on going to the parks before your room is ready for check in. There is no way to speed up your luggage, sorry.

6.     Check out allears.net for resort reviews. This is one of our favorite sites. You can read reviews of every resort from anyone who has ever stayed there and has ever visited the website. I completely disagree with many of them (Polynesian Concierge service has always been incredible to me), but other reviews hit the nail right on the head. You can get a lot of other really great tips and reviews and news updates on allears.net. They keep track of which attractions are being updated, which concerts are playing at the American Pavilion, and so much more. We love it!

7.     It may be a good idea to at least take a gander at the park maps prior to leaving for vacation. Going into a Disney park can be disorienting- there are so many things happening at once. Getting a general idea of the layout of the parks will make your visit a little bit less stressful.You can find artists' renderings online and I'm pretty sure you can get copies of the maps at the Disney store as well.

8.     When you’re making your reservation, make sure you let them know if you’re celebrating anything or if anyone in your party is a first time visitor. You may get some little surprises throughout your trip.

That’s all for now. If we come up with some other really great planning tips, we’ll let you know. Check out Mommy's Thoughtful Spot for a new post about planning your trips with children. We’ve reached the final month countdown until our next visit and we’re getting incredibly excited.