Lions and Tigers and Blogs, OH MY!

Good Morning! Its nice to know that people are reading the blog. I found out this past weekend that people I don't know in different states ARE reading it. So to all those who have stopped by and taken a gander, I'm giving a big shout out to! Thanks!

If anyone out there that's reading this blog would like to give me any idea on what they'd like me to blog about, this was always the main point of the blog and I hope people eventually do. Would you rather have tips that I know or information about the parks, attractions, or hotels at Walt Disney World? Opinions or facts? Special events? Let me know! I can dish it all out! :)

These two pictures were taken on March 19, 1998, the day I went to the cast preview of Disney's Animal Kingdom. I think its special when people tell me that they were there the year Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or The (formerly known as) Disney MGM Studios (now the Disney Hollywood Studios) opened. Well, I was there as a kid the year the Studios opened, and as a cast member the year Animal Kingdom opened. Being a former cast member and forever Disney enthusiast, I will revel in the fact that I was one of the few thousand (ha) that was able to preview the park before it opened to the general public. It is fun for me to go now, twelve years later and see how much its developed. Like any major theme park, it had its few attractions and kinks to work out. But now its the park that I will recommend to clients as a "must see" with young children.

And that's not even to mention the Animal Kingdom Lodge! Here I go, killing two birds (none endangered species) with one blog. I will blog again and again if you'd like me to on the different resorts and go back and answer any questions you may want to leave in my comments. But Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is fantastic. My husband's personal favorite resort!

If you stay at this resort, I will recommend the "savannah view rooms", you can walk out on your balcony in the morning with you cup of coffee and watch the giraffes, gazelles, and all the other African animals that habitat the savannah graze. They can get very close! They have savannah view rooms with bunk beds which are a big hit with the kiddies (I know, its the little things, right?), and the view is worth the extra $$. But if they're out of your price range, not to worry...there is another savannah viewing area just walk straight through the lobby to the back and go out the double doors. This is for anyone.

Make sure while you're walking around this resort to take a minute and really look at attention to detail. Those imagineers don't play. Its a beautiful resort with a true "thatched" roof. All the materials were flown in from Africa! Pay attention to the music playing in the background and the floor in the lobby. :)

The pool at this resort looks cloudy. Is that water dirty? NO! Of course not! You feel like you're in a watering hole in Africa! Believe me, its not gross...its cool. A huge slide and deluxe level pool in the middle of "Africa" without the mosquitos. :) Two sit down dining locations; Boma, a FANTASTIC buffet and one of my favorite restaurants on property, and Jiko, a more upscale location that has a business casual dress code and is order off a menu. We had my husband's 30th birthday dinner with a big group at Boma and it was such fun!

What I think is one of the nicest aspects of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is that it (like The Wilderness Lodge) is one of the most inexpensive deluxe resorts. The main reason for this is the transportation. Not that its an issue, there's bus transportation to take you anywhere you need to go on property. But it being a deluxe resort and being off the beaten path so to say without any boat or walking option, is made up with a price difference between it and say The Beach Club Resort. Personally, not an issue with me at all! Its a fantastic resort and a great place to stay on your Walt Disney World vacation!

"...And I Fortunately Know A Bit of "MAGIC", It's A Talent That I Always Have Possessed..."

Good evening everyone looking to get their daily Disney fix! I know that there are other sites and blogs that you could visit and I genuinely thank you for stopping by mine! It occurred to me today while I was being my normal multi-tasking self and thinking about what I was going to write about that I have what feels like a million and a half pictures of me with the different characters over the years. I haven't talked about the parks yet, so I thought this might be a nice segway.

I love taking pictures with the characters myself, and I love watching kids take pictures with the characters too. I don't know which is more entertaining to watch...the kids who are like "YAY!!" and don't want to leave them, or the one whose parents are shoving them up in the picture with the tears streaming down their faces scared to death. I've seen it all...either way its memorable.

This picture is not exactly me with a character, my friends and I were having a little fun in October, 1998 at Downtown Disney in The World of Disney Store. That was a fun day. We went all over, and took out boats on the lake there! Good times! You could have them too! Email me! Comment...Ask! :D

A Whole New World

Good Afternoon!! You're on your way!! I'm going to just put it out there. Being on vacation at Walt Disney World is fun. It can be relaxing, energetic, family-oriented, relationship-oriented, whatever you would like it to be. Booking a Walt Disney World vacation (or any vacation for that matter) not so much. It's stressful. I know, I know. I've been doing this for FIVE YEARS and I still learn new things all the time. I think that is one of the great things about going to Walt Disney World, that they're constantly upgrading, changing, and trying to make it a more magical and NEW vacation each time. If you have three years between visits, you will most definitely see new things in the same parks. There are many things in the works at Walt Disney World, there always are.

So back to the stressful part. Yes, figuring out how to get there is stressful, deciding where to stay is stressful, deciding how many days in the parks and the add-on options that would fit your party best is stressful, deciding whether or not to purchase the meal plan is stressful, planning your itinerary to get the dining times at the restaurant locations you want is stressful, I understand...its stressful. But is it worth it?? ABSOLUTELY! YES! That's what there's people like me for! Hahaa!! Its stressful, but I love doing it! I love helping people plan their trips, offering advice, and re-living fun times that I've had to tell them about and in turn create their own fun memories. What a great job!! So you can leave comments on this bog...ask questions, I will be happy to help! :)

YO!

Good Afternoon! I thought the title was appropriate for this blog because of the picture associated with it. The Pizza Planet truck that has the Toyota logo on it and all you can see is the "YO" part in Toy Story. Building on my blog from yesterday but still trying to keep with the point of travel end of it, I look at this picture and remember a time in 1998 when I was 20 years old and just having fun. It's funny though now when I go to The Disney Hollywood Studios and pass the truck that's still there, I think of this picture. The restaurant behind it, Pizza Planet, is a yummy counter service location over by The Muppets attraction that is a popular place for lunch.

I was working there at the Studios on my college program when this picture was taken and this was one of my days off. What better thing to do on days off then go to Disney World? What fun. I'm not really sure where this entry is going today and I will try and write another one tonight. I just saw this picture and thought I'd share. If there are twenty-something's out there that are reading this blog, know that Walt Disney World is for you too, not just families, there are so many great fun things to do with a bunch of friends from college, or a group of girls or guys. :)

A Timeless Tradition

Good Morning! I'm Baaaaaaack!!!

I have always loved this picture. I have always loved this company. I could say I have always loved everything Disney, but let's be grown ups for a moment in the land of make believe and keep in the back of our minds that all in all, nowadays it is a company.

In my opinion, Walt Disney did something beyond what anyone anywhere could imagine or duplicate ever again. He had the unique ability to make everyone, regardless of age, race, or background remember what it was like to feel like a child.

Remember those days? When you didn't have a care in the world? I am aware that there are a great deal of children out there that don't know what its like not to have a care in the world. But you really don't even need to go to Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California, or to any other of the parks around the world to know that feeling. The reason that I am blogging this today is that even though I am a travel agent and the purpose of this blog is to book people's vacations, I thought it would be nice to ask everyone who reads this to stop and think for a moment about why you would be considering this trip.

For me, its a totally different reason than it was twelve years ago when this picture was taken. This is me and my good friend David R. in The Animation Gallery at The Disney Hollywood Studios in 1998 (when this picture was taken it was The Disney MGM Studios). I was on my college program and at the beginning of my career path. I wanted to be a Disney Animator. And what better place to start my journey than at Walt Disney World itself? I had studied art since I was five years old. I had practiced and given it all my available time in my youth. Never in a million years did I ever fathom where that College Program would take me. Orlando, Paris, and back again, I can't imagine the way my life would've gone had I never interviewed in 1997. Yes, as a former cast member I am biased, I love to help people book their Walt Disney World vacations and let them experience the kind of family fun that only a company like Disney can provide.

Last night I had a teary-eyed moment. My children watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for the first time. They have seen other Disney animated classics before, but NEVER had I seen a reaction out of them that I witnessed last night. They pretended to cry along with the dwarfs when Snow White was poisoned by the Queen, were wide-eyed when the dwarfs were chasing the Wicked Queen up the mountain, they were happy when Snow White was awoken by her Prince, and finally CLAPPED at the end of the movie. It truly was "magical". And that was just at home in our living room!!

It always has amazed me how movies that were created 71 years ago can still keep children who are seeing them for the first time captivated like they were brand new and parents just as mesmerized because they are remember the first time they saw it, along with enjoying their children seeing it. Without high-tech special effects, live action mixed with animation, or famous celebrity voices, these movies endured the decades. I look forward to showing my children others and also watching them one day with my grandchildren as I remember my grandparents watching them with me.

And it something that is widely known, next time you're checking in at a Walt Disney World resort, while you're waiting in queue to get your information and you're kids are so excited they're about to burst, send them over to the TV. You can't miss it. It will be where there usually is a small bunch of kids waiting for their parents, watching the cartoons. Not Playhouse Disney or Hannah Montana, but the Silly Symphonies from the 30's; or the Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or Goofy cartoons of the 40's or 50's. That time they're waiting for you to check in will fly by. And the best part for me, what I enjoy is every time I walk through the lobbies of one of the resorts, I look for that nook, that area where the kids are waiting. Take a moment to check out their expressions, they're mesmorized by the cartoons, the 60 YEAR OLD cartoons that are new every year to another child. They're timeless. It can also be summed up by a very popular commercial...

Purchasing a DVD: $20.00

Box of microwave popcorn: $3.50

Gettting everyone to settle down: 30 minutes

Watching your child's face the first time they watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:

Priceless.

OK, I'm finished, that's enough being a grown up for now.... (we'll have no more of that!!) :)

Please Pardon Our Dust...This Area is Being Refurbished For Your Future Enjoyment!

Good Evening! I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be on a brief hiatus for about a week. But do not fear, I will be back by mid-next week with lots to blog about. There are fun and exciting things on the Walt Disney World horizon! I am re-thinking and making plans for this blog...in my head :). Stay tuned and until then...