Category Vacation Tips

10 Magical Things to do at Walt Disney World without a Theme Park Ticket!

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In our house we love all things Disney! But most of all we love visiting Walt Disney World. My family and I like to visit multiple times a year. Since my husband is in residency and we are on a tight budget, Disney vacations for a family of five can get costly quick, so I have to get creative. Here are a few budget friendly ideas that are sure to bring that Disney magic to your vacation just without the additional theme park ticket cost!

 Spend the day relaxing by the pool– The number one complaint I always seem to have about our vacations is I always wish we had more down time. So make sure to plan a day to do just that. Pool days are my favorite days to sit back and relax! Be sure to pack a bag filled with drinks & snacks. Don’t forget the sunscreen and some pool toys for the kiddos! The one benefit for staying on Disney property is they have the best pools (in my opinion). They also have life guards and cast members who have all kinds of fun events and pool activities. My kiddos have made Mickey Tie-dye t-shirts, played bingo, and have played Disney trivia. The amazing pool bars are also a huge benefit, too!

Spend the day at Disney Springs– I love to shop and ever since Downtown Disney has become Disney Springs it has nearly doubled in size and doubled in fun! We have gone at least a dozen times and still have not seen or done everything they have to offer. Disney Springs has a little of everything for everyone in your family. They have several toy stores for your kiddos to choose from. They also have amazing boutiques for the fashionista in your family. For the little ones in your family they have a carousel and a small train they can ride for a small fee. For the adventure seekers in your family, be sure to check out Characters in Flight. If you love bowling and billiards be sure to check out Splitsville, which is a luxury bowling alley. Maybe you are in the mood to kick back, see a flick and grab a bite to eat? If so, then head on over to the AMC theater in Disney Springs. For the car lovers in your family you can ride in a vintage amphicar at the Boathouse. These guided tours are the thrill of a lifetime as they drive on land and into the water. As you can see, there is a little something for everyone!

Go miniature golfing– Disney has two miniature golf experiences just outside the parks. Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf is located in the Epcot Resort area just outside the Walt Disney World Swan hotel. This course is great for families and beginner golfers. I love the Fantasia theme, it makes you feel like you stepped into the movie! The Winter Summerland miniature golf is the second course. My family loves this one because you can choose either the winter side or the summer side. Both take you on a crazy adventure that lead you to Santa’s workshop in the end. My kiddos love the magical surprises you come across as you make your way through the course.

Check out the Disney Resorts arcade– All Disney Resorts have arcades. Now I know what you are thinking, I must be crazy listing this as a suggestion. But on our most recent trip to Disney the weather was not the best and this was a great way to entertain the kiddos for a few hours. They even have a few massaging chairs for the adults to relax in while the kiddos are off playing games. We also found that not all the games cost money, which is always a plus when you’re on a budget! We found a few that were free of charge and those ended up being my kids favorite games. Disney uses an arcade card system which is usually located at the entrance of the arcade. You can load cash or card onto an arcade card which is then used to swipe at all the arcade machines. These arcade cards can be reused so be sure to hold onto them for future use. Some of our favorite games were pinball and the air hockey table!

Ride the Monorail– My kids love to spend a few hours every Disney vacation riding the monorail. We have to do it every trip we take. My kids love to stop at all of the monorail resorts and go into all of the shops. Plus, the views of the Magic Kingdom and the Disney Resorts are spectacular. It is such a magical and unique element that only Disney offers. Another fun up and coming ride is the new Disney Skyliner! We still have yet to ride it, but if you have then it let us know if you enjoyed it in the comments below!

Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing Along at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Explore other Disney Resorts– If you are looking for a fun way to add a touch of Disney to your vacation be sure to explore the Disney Resorts. You can grab a bite to eat, shop in the resort boutique, rent bikes, or even take a stroll to take in the unique Disney decor. Some of my favorite resorts to explore are Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort. I love Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort because it’s one of the only places to get a Dole Whip outside the parks! Right now, if you head on over to the Barefoot Pool bar you can even check out the Lime Dole Whip Margarita which features Disney’s Special Heart of Te Fiti Lime Dole Whip with margarita mix. I can’t wait to try it myself on our next trip! I love Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground because they offer an archery experience (which makes me feel like Merida, from the Disney movie Brave!). They also offer Horse-drawn carriage rides, pony rides and wagon rides. Be sure to check out the Chip ‘N’ Dale Campfire Sing-A-long, for some good ole’ fashion fun roasting marshmallows over the campfire. I also love Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge because it feels like you just stepped into the heart of Africa with the exotic animals to view on the savannah and the spectacular African decor. Don’t forget to grab a Zebra dome and some Jungle Juice in the quick service on property called the Mara. While you’re exploring the resorts be sure to check out the amazing restaurants on property.

Go For a Round of Golf– Tee off and hit the greens! Disney has four gorgeous golf courses on property:

  • Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course
  • Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course
  • Disney’s Palm Golf Course
  • Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

Disney offers discounts for Florida Residents, Annual Passholders, Cast members, DVC as well as Resort Guests. They also offer FootGolf, which is a 9 hole course that is like traditional golf but instead of a golfball you use a soccer ball.

Run in a Fun Run at select Disney Resorts– As you all know there is nothing I love more than running and Disney. Well I am here to tell you that select Walt Disney World Resorts host Fun Runs pretty much all time! (how cool is that, right?!?) Here is the list of resorts that participate:

  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Resort
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter Resort
  • Disney’s All Star Movies Resort

Be sure to check with your resort for times and weekly schedules as well as Fun Run fees!

Rent a Boat or Sea Raycer- Set sails on Seven Seas Lagoon! I will be honest this is a bucket item for us. Every trip we talk about renting Sea Raycers and we never have enough time but that is not going to stop me from telling you all about this nifty little activity! The Sea Raycers seat up to two people and cost $32 plus tax for 30 mins. Drivers must be at least 12 years old and at least 5 feet tall. There are two kinds of boat rentals you can rent in Disney. One is the Boston Whaler Montauk. This love boat seats up to six people and costs $45 plus tax for 30 mins. Drivers must be 18 years of age. Lastly, you can rent a Sun Tracker Pontoon boat which seats up to 10 people for $45 plus tax for 30 mins. Drivers must be 18 years of age. Disney also offers Specialty Cruises but those are very pricey and I could never afford them on a residents budget.

Jellyrolls dueling piano bar located at Disney’s Boardwalk

Check out Disney’s Boardwalk– Our favorite time to head to the Boardwalk is just after dinner once the sunsets, this is when the fun is just about to begin on the Boardwalk. You never know what kind of entertainment you will find from magicians to jugglers. You can even have a caricature artist draw a picture of you to capture the magic! My daughter loves to get her hair wrapped and beaded by the hair wrappers. They also have some carnival games, for a fee of course! One of my favorite things to do on the Boardwalk is grab a slice of pizza from the Boardwalk Pizza Window the head on over to the Boardwalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas stand and grab myself a frozen strawberry margarita! (They are sooo good!) Then my husband and I like to get a sitter and head on over to Jellyrolls which is a dueling piano bar (Don’t be fooled by the name, trust me this place is rowdy and a ton of fun!) They do have a cover charge of $15 and doors open at 7:00pm. If you love to dance head on next door to the Atlantic Dance Hall where you can dance the night away… well actually only on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:00pm-2:00am. The Boardwalk also has restaurants and shops so while you are there, be sure to check them out!

I hope you enjoyed my tips and I can’t wait to hear what your favorite non-Disney park day things your family enjoys to do! Be sure to check out my article, What’s in my Disney Park Bag for Disney packing tips! I hope you have a magical trip!

Happy Travelin’

Disclaimer: This article is based on my opinions and is not affiliated or being endorsed by Walt Disney World or any other Disney company. If you are looking to rent a boat please contact Walt Disney World, as I can not rent boats on your behalf.

The Traveling Fab Five hosts a Disney Kids Family Vacation Party

llmckenzi Leave a comment

Besides traveling my next favorite hobby is party planning! I love to plan, decorate and host events. Who doesn’t love hosting a good party, am I right?!? Especially parties that are Disney themed. This past spring I was selected to host a Disney Kids Party for Walt Disney World. The theme of this party was a Family Vacation Party. It was to show our family and friends how much fun Disney Kid vacations can be at Walt Disney World. This was a dream come true for me since Disney runs through my veins and our favorite place to travel is to… you guessed it, Walt Disney World!!! The event was held at my home in South Carolina and I had the pleasure of inviting all my Disney loving family and friends.

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You are probably wondering how do you get chosen to host an event like this. First off, I have no idea how Disney selects people to host. That being said, your first step is to head on over to Ripple Street (also known as House Party) and sign up (it’s free!) to host events for brands like Disney. Once selected to host, you will be able to complete brand activities to help you get picked to host other events in the future. So what are you waiting for go sign up and start hosting your next sponsored event!

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Prior to the event the Walt Disney World Company sent a party pack planning box to my house. Inside the party pack, to my surprise was an American Tourister Sofia the First suitcase filled with a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal, Mickey Mouse gift bags, coloring activity books, sunglasses, and all sorts of Disney decorations! My kiddos were over the moon with this Magic Mail. We couldn’t wait to share all of these treats with our family and friends.

@TravelingFabFive

The morning of the party fell on the same day as my husbands graduation from Medical School. Yayy, Congrats babe!! With that being said, most of my party prep had been done the night before! As our guests began arriving at our house they were greeted by Mickey Mouse and our autograph book. Even though the characters could not make it to our event we made sure to get their autograph’s ahead of time. Once our guests signed the autograph book they grabbed a pair of Mickey or Minnie Mouse ears and joined in on the fun.

Our guests then headed on over to our very own Disney inspired photo booth where our guests could try on different Mickey, Minnie and other Disney character hats, headbands, and sashes. Say Cheese!

Once all of our guests had arrived we handed out lanyards for everyone to wear with Disney pins (from Disney Parks, purchased on our last trip) on them and we pin traded with each other. This is one of our favorite things to do in the Walt Disney World Parks so it was important for us to show our guests how much fun it can be to trade with one another. In the Parks we love to seek out cast members that have pin trading lanyards or boards!

After pin trading was over we had our guests find 25 hidden Mickey’s that were carefully placed throughout our home. My family and I love how Disney Imagineers hide Hidden Mickey’s throughout the Walt Disney World property. It is so fun to try to find them all! When our guests had found all the hidden Mickey’s they received a special surprise… Mickey candy bracelets! Yum!

My favorite part of the day was when we took our guests on a virtual tour of Main Street U.S.A. and stopped at our favorite shops and restaurants to try our favorite Disney Park foods. First stop Main Street Confectionery for some Mickey shaped rice crispy treats and delicious Mickey inspired baked goods. Next stop was a popcorn cart for buttery popcorn that melts in your mouth. We then headed on over to Casey’s Corner for hot diggity dogs. Our guests could choose what special toppings they wanted to put on their hot dogs such as cole slaw, pulled pork and the creamiest mac n cheese! All of these special treats sure made my guests thirsty so it was a good thing we had plenty of Jungle Juice for them to enjoy!

Before our guests packed up and headed home we gave them goodie bags filled with all the treats that the Walt Disney World company had sent over in our party pack. The kids loved that they got to take home a piece of the magic from this special day. My family and I had a blast hosting the Disney Kids Family Vacation Party for Walt Disney World company. We loved sharing our love of the Disney Parks and magic with our friends and family. Stay tuned for more hosted party events!

Happy Travelin’

Disclaimer: This party was sponsored by Ripple Street and the Walt Disney World Company. The only materials provided for the party were those given in the Party Pack we received. All opinions are my own and were not otherwise compensated for. 

8 Fabulous Tips for Surviving Road Trips with Kids

llmckenzi 2 Comments

On the road again…

After moving south for medical school, my husband and I thought we would never be able to afford to travel until after he graduated. Boy, were we wrong! We have traveled more during medical school than we have at any other time in our lives. Prior to med school we agreed that we would not just put our life on hold and try to enjoy this new life adventure to the fullest. We saved as much as possible and with the help of these eight simple tips we have been able to travel the East coast on a budget!

Tip 1- Drive– We found that we could never afford five plane tickets on our budget so we drive everywhere. It only costs us one tank of gas to get to Florida from our home in South Carolina and it costs us three tanks of gas to drive home to Massachusetts. As you can see driving is a no brainer.

Tip 2- Bring your own food– I cannot even begin to tell you how much money we save when we bring our own meals from home. It saves us time because that is one less stop we need to make along the way.

Tip 3- Play car games– Growing up we did not have fancy electronics to keep us entertained when taking long road trips. Even now, my kids and I enjoy taking a screen time break to play some good ole fashion road trip car games. One of our favorites is the license plate game where we try to find the most unique license plate states. You can even pass the time with a game of eye spy! This game is a favorite of my younger kiddos since they can’t read license plates yet.

Tip 4- Pack a potty seat– I know this tip is more for potty training but I have found that sometimes your kiddos just have to go and there is no potty in sight for miles. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times the potty seat saved us from a potty disaster!

Tip 5- Bring grocery bags and Zip-lock bags– Now is the perfect time to make use out of all those grocery bags that you have stored away. Grocery bags come in handy to control the trash chaos that can happen in the back seat on a road trip. You can never bring too many! I will never forget what our car looked like after our first road trip. It looked like a tornado passed through my car! Zip-lock bags are my best friend when traveling because when it comes to road trips my kiddos cannot stop snacking and they never seem to be able to finish anything. Using a zip lock bag I can just bag it and save it for later. They also double as storage for car chargers or cords and are great for holding small toys with little pieces that you don’t want to lose in your car.

Tip 6- Bring muffin tins– Muffins tins are perfect for travel because they are small enough to place on your child’s lap but also the holes are deep enough that you can put snacks and meals in them. A bonus tip: Muffin tins double as additional drink storage, so you’re welcome! We also like to use these special travel divider plates that I keep in our car year round. It is perfect for travel because it has a food separator to keep your condiments from spreading into your other food.

Tip 7- Bring pillows and blankets– I hate sleeping in the car without a pillow. It is so uncomfortable! I never leave for a road trip without bringing my pillow from home. I also bring blankets to layer on us since it is easier than driving in hot stuffy jackets.

Tip 8- Drive at night– My husband loves to drive at night. With less traffic and cars on the road it saves time getting to your destination. It makes the trip go by faster because we put the kids to bed in the car then when they wake up in the morning we are almost to our destination. He loads up on coffee and snacks and will pop in an earbud to listen to podcasts to keep him alert and pass the time.

Hope you enjoyed my road trip traveling tips! For more traveling tips be sure to check out my article “Ten Fabulous Traveling Tips.”

Happy Travelin’

Traveling to Walt Disney World with FPIES

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As many of you may know my youngest was diagnosed with FPIES (Food Protein Induced Entercolitis Syndrome) as an infant. FPIES forever changed our lives. The outside world suddenly became a terrifying place to bring my infant son because all it would took was a single crumb to turn our day into a medical nightmare. The FPIES foundation was not only an amazing resource but also a ray of light in the darkness of this disease. They became our only support and guided us to where we are today. I am forever grateful for them, their support and their resources. 

Recently, the FPIES foundation reached out to me and asked if I was interested in writing a blog article for them about traveling with FPIES. Not only was I honored to have the opportunity to give back to them for all they have done for us but they also asked me to write a Disney article! (One of my favorite subjects!) Please join me in spreading FPIES awareness. I hope you enjoy my article Traveling to Walt Disney World with FPIES

Happy Travelin’

Traveling on a Med Student Budget

llmckenzi 1 Comment

 

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I am a stay at home mama on a limited budget. We are constantly cutting corners to stay afloat. Medical school was not built for families, especially one like ours with children who have medical problems. We live off student loan checks that only come twice a year and a per-diem paramedic job that my husband has on the side to help us get by. So now you are probably wondering how we manage to travel so much on a shoestring budget. Well let me tell you it’s not easy!

  • We budget. I know this is a given since we are in medical school but everything we do is budgeted for. We even budget on vacation. It’s important to make a plan of all your travel expenses including hotel, food, and souvenirs. We even try to over budget in order to make sure we have some room for unplanned necessities.
  • We put a little bit aside each week. Taking as little as $25 out of your paycheck every other week can add up to $650 at the end of the year! That can easily pay for a relaxing getaway or a fun family weekend.
  • We stay with family whenever possible. Not only does that save us on hotel cost but it also fills our “home sickness” gap since we live in SC and most of our family live up north.
  • We drive everywhere! Our mini van was the best purchase we have ever made! It can easily turn into our home away from home when traveling. Plane tickets for a family of five would cost a fortune. So we drive, and if we can’t drive or afford to fly then we don’t go. Someday my husband and I dream of traveling the world on a “Doctors salary” but until then no First Class for us!
  • We bring food from home! Not only does this save us some serious cash but also since I have two children with food allergies it gives us the peace of mind that everything they eat is safe. We always make sure to pack breakfast and snacks since those are the most convenient meals to travel with. We do enjoy eating out every once in awhile but only if it’s in the budget! Another way to save some money while on vacation is by splitting or sharing meals. We can order two adult meals and it will easily feed four of us. We also eat a lot of pizza when traveling because a large pizza will feed us all, and it is so cheap!
  • We use travel points from our credit card. We put gas and groceries on our credit card each week then pay it off. By doing this we earn points that we use to pay for things like airfare & hotels. We love using the Disney Chase card because we can convert our points to Disney dollars and use it when we vacation in Disney. Nothing makes a Mickey bar taste sweeter than knowing it was purchased using your free credit card points!
  • We use websites like Priceline, Orbitz & Hotels.com. Last year we had to travel to Boston quite often because of my son’s medical condition. Over the course of a year we stayed in over ten hotels. If you book ten hotel nights using the Hotel.com website you earn a free night stay. We just recently used our free hotel night and stayed at a gorgeous hotel in Charlotte, NC. Priceline comes in handy when we have an idea of where we want to stay but also a price point to stick to.  It has been super helpful to be able to stay on budget while finding fabulous four and five star hotels. Priceline is also good for last minute travel deals. Orbitz is a great tool because you can earn Orbucks. Every time you book with them you can earn a number of Orbucks, then you can use the Orbucks to pay for future travel on the Orbitz website. You have to sign up to earn rewards though!

My husband and I made a pact prior to him starting medical school that we would never get too busy making a living that we forgot to make a life.  Now go out and see the world! Go to as many places as you can! You can always make money but you can’t always make memories (especially Disney memories)!

I look forward to hearing other ways you and your family save on travel!

 

Happy Travelin’

 

Disclaimer: These are my own opinions and experiences. I do not work for Disney, Orbitz, Priceline, or Hotels.com. I do not receive compensation of any kind from these companies. 

World of Snacks: Magic Kingdom Edition

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One of my favorite things to do while on vacation is eat! It is one of the few times of the year when you can “cheat” and stuff your face with all things sweet and savory without feeling guilty about it! Every time I travel to Disney with the Fab Five we look forward to those morning, afternoon & late night treats. Here are some of our favorite treats that you won’t want to miss the next time you are at Magic Kingdom!

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Dole Whip: This is a classic Disney treat that will keep you cool on a hot day. Dole Whip is a cross between soft serve & Gelato and comes in Pineapple & Orange flavors. You can get it alone in a cup, twisted with vanilla soft serve or as a float (which is Dole whip in a cup with pineapple juice). Our family favorite flavor is the Pineapple Dole Whip. It’s fresh, fruity and makes a great midday snack! You can find Dole Whip at the Aloha Isle stand or at the Sunshine Tree Terrace, both in Adventureland. If you can’t make it over to Magic Kingdom you can also find this treat at the Pineapple Lanai over in the Polynesian Village Resort.

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Waffle Sandwich: This little hidden gem is not to be missed! You have your choice between two kinds of waffle sandwiches: sweet & fruity or sweet & spicy! The sweet & fruity sandwich consists of fresh fruit with a Hazelnut Spread on a fresh waffle. The sweet & spicy consists of a breaded chicken breast bathed in a sweet and spicy special sauce with creamy coleslaw and fresh arugula (Note: the picture above was ordered with coleslaw on the side). It’s a party in your mouth! Both sandwiches are quite large, so you may want to split it with someone! Our family favorite is the Sweet & Spicy Chicken Waffle sandwich. While considered by Disney as a snack, we often get as our full lunch. You can find these at the Sleepy Hollow refreshment stand just before you enter Liberty Square. There is a catch though: these amazing sandwiches are only made from 11:00am- 5:00pm!

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Le Fou’s Brew: My little Disney Addicts are obsessed with this drink! Le Fou’s Brew is a frozen apple & marshmallow drink topped with a passion fruit froth. Now the description may not sound like much but I assure you it is a taste sensation! It comes in a souvenir Gaston or Belle mug however you can also get it in a regular plastic cup for half the price. You can find this treat at Gaston’s tavern over in Fantasyland. It pairs well with a cinnamon roll which you can also find at Gaston’s tavern. The cinnamon roll is warm and moist with gooey icing and the slightest hint of maple that explodes with deliciousness in your mouth. It is quite large however and is best shared with others. We love to grab a Le Fou’s Brew & a cinnamon roll before grabbing a seat near the fountain just outside the tavern to watch the Wishes Firework show!

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Mickey Pants Ice Cream Sundae: Let me tell you this ice cream sundae is quite the treat and you get a unique Disney souvenir out of the deal. The Mickey Pants Ice Cream Sundae is extra special because you can only find it at the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor in Magic Kingdom. It comes with one scoop of vanilla ice cream, one scoop of chocolate ice cream & one scoop of strawberry ice cream. It is then topped with hot fudge, strawberry & caramel sauce. It is covered in whipped cream, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and of course a cherry on top! The last time we picked up one of these treats we were able to customize it with vanilla & Oreo ice cream, covered in hot fudge, whipped cream & a cherry on top. The Mickey Pants Sundae is actually a spin-off of the “Kitchen sink” ice cream sundae which literally has every ice cream flavor & topping in it that you can think of… Hence the name! The Kitchen sink can only be found at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Update: Beaches & Cream Soda Shop now also sells the Mickey Pants Sundae!

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Popcorn: I know this one doesn’t sound very unique but let me tell you, Disney’s popcorn is the best! It can be found at multiple places around the park. Let your nose be your guide! Disney likes to pipe in certain scents around the park so you will smell this salty buttery treat from a mile away! I love that Disney has such unique containers for their popcorn. My favorite container is a mine train cart that resembles the mining carts you would find at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride over in FantasyLand. Recently Disney has launched this amazing deal for popcorn lovers like me. You can buy a special refillable popcorn bucket and have same day unlimited refills for a small fee at any popcorn cart located in any of the parks. Just make sure to leave room for more park treats!

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Cotton Candy: This treat is a favorite of my Disney Daughter. Once you enter Magic Kingdom and start to walk past the Confectionary it is the first thing you smell. The sweetness just spills over into the streets and takes over your senses! The cotton candy is sweet, fluffy and light as air. It comes in many different colors and can be found in bags or plastic containers. If you’re looking for some Disney Magic, go to the Confectionary on Main Street at night before the Fireworks and head on over to the cotton candy booth. Sometimes they hand out free samples of freshly spun cotton candy but only if you say the secret word (no worries if you don’t know the word, there is often a clue that is a dead give away).

So there you have it! These are just a few of our favorite sweet treats found at Magic Kingdom! I’d love to hear about your favorite treats, so leave me a message in my comments section! Be on the look out for my next World of Snacks article featuring another amazing Disney Park! Until next time…

Happy Travelin’

 

 

What’s in my Disney Park Bag!

llmckenzi 2 Comments

My family & I LOVE to travel, especially to Disney! Our favorite thing to do is wake up early and head to the park before it opens to get the best view of the park opening show. Then we spend all morning and most of the afternoon at the parks. We usually will break in the late afternoon and head back to our resort for a swim and some dinner. Then back to the parks we go, for the evening and for the fireworks! It’s not unusual for us to spend ten hours a day in the parks. In our past trips our park bag used to have everything but the kitchen sink in it! However, over the years we have downsized a bit and only carry the must need essentials. I thought I’d take a minute and share with you what we carry in our park bag!

1. Ponchos- This is a must have if you are traveling to the South where a chance of rain can make Niagara falls look like a leaky faucet. We bought these Disney ponchos at a Target outside of Disney World for less than $5! The quality is great and more than half the price you will pay in park.
2. Sunscreen & Hand Sanitizer- Living in the South I have learned not to leave the house without these! Let’s face it… It’s Florida. It’s called the Sunshine State for a reason. It gets super hot (even in the shade!) so make sure you protect your skin! The best time to reapply is while you are waiting in line for rides or shows. It kills two birds with one stone! Not only are you killing time, but you are protecting yourself from a sunburn! Trust me, nothing ruins a vacation like a bad sunburn! Now Disney may be one of the cleanest vacation spots I’ve ever been to but let’s face it.. Germs are everywhere and you can’t always get to a sink to wash your hands. That’s why I never leave the house without packing some hand sanitizer. Trust me, you will thank me later!
3. Water Bottles- In Disney you will easily walk an average of six to eight miles a day so make sure to keep hydrated! One of the great things about Disney is that you can go to any Quick Service restaurants and ask for a cup of ice water for FREE! Yeah you read that right, I said FREE!! How awesome is that!? My family and I like to fill our water bottles up with ice before we head out to the park so it can melt all morning & when you are ready to rehydrate it has melted into ice-cold water. If you don’t care for tap water, you can buy a water bottle with a built-in filter at your local Target or Wal-Mart.
4. Head phones- Anytime we go some place where there may be loud noises, loud music or fireworks these are a must for our kiddos. We carry these small compact Kids Noise Canceling Headphones in our bag. I bought them on Amazon and they were a steal ($15) for how much we use them! My son even prefers to wear them on airplanes too!
5. Post-lts- Post-it notes are not only great for writing down notes and reminders but also a lifesaver when you are at a public restroom with automatic toilets. If you place a post-it over the sensor it won’t flush while your little one is trying to use the potty. This little trick was a life saver since our daughter was terrified of automatic toilets! Post-its are also great for kids to draw or write on when you’re at a restaurant or waiting in the long line. My kids & I love to kill time by playing tic tac toe on them!
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6. Portable Fan- We got this particular fan as a gift but you can find them in the parks for about $20. Once again that Florida sun can be brutal! These come in handy to help cool our kiddos down, so we can keep truckin’ along through the parks. There is nothing worse than your kiddos melting down because they are literally melting! If you are looking to spend a little less, I also found a similar fan at Babies R Us for half the price. The best part about these fans is that they can clip onto anything!
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7. First Aid Kit- This is a must especially for long park days. I bought this at target for $1 but you can make your own at home with a ziplock bag, band aids, blister band aids, & some Neosporin. Even though you’re on vacation… accidents happen, so I like to be prepared! On a few occasions now I have made the mistake of wearing the wrong park shoes and boy was I glad I had blister band aids on hand! Another pro tip is to throw in a few extra ziplock bags so you can take home any left over snacks you might not finish in the parks.

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8. Portable charger- I bought this one at Target for $5 but Disney now has portable charger stations throughout the park. For $30 you can buy a similar charger and once the battery dies you just bring it to one of these charging stations and Disney will replace it for free! Disney also has designated charging locations where you can just bring your phone charger and plug it in to charge while you rest your feet and enjoy some good ole people watching! One of my new favorite spots is in Magic Kingdom next to Rapunzel’s Tower in Fantasyland. There is an area next to the bathrooms with benches and tables to relax, grab a snack and charge your phone. While you are relaxing you can also try to find all the Hidden Pascals!
9. Trading Pins & Lanyard- My kids love to trade pins with cast members in Disney. They usually start off the day wearing their lanyards but end up taking them off pretty early in the day. I keep them in our park bag so if they decide to do an impromptu trade with a cast member we already have them on hand! A great tip is to buy used pins on eBay before your trip for a fraction of the price! Fair warning though: If you are going to trade pins bought outside of the park then make sure they are authentic Disney pins or cast members won’t trade with you!
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10. Pen & Autograph Book- Getting character autographs at Disney is a must! Every trip we take to Disney we make a special book and fill it with autographs. It is a nice souvenir for each trip! A great tip is to pack a larger pen or Sharpie since some characters can’t hold the smaller thinner pens with their big awkward character hands. We bought this Mickey pen on our very first trip! My husband couldn’t believe I spent almost $10 on a pen but we have used it for every trip and it works the best for characters of all types to use.
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I know what you must be thinking…. Our park bag is not very pretty! However, it is the most comfortable bag to carry on your back all day and night. I recommend finding a bag that is not only comfortable, but one that has plenty of pockets and storage space as well as one that is durable enough to handle the hustle and bustle of park days and the crazy Florida weather. Hope these tips will help you pack a great park bag for a magical trip!
Happy Travelin’

Disney tips for kids with food allergies

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  1. Plan ahead! You can never be too prepared for a trip. There are so many great tools out there to help you plan ahead such as websites and books. Two websites I find to be most helpful are the Disney World website which lists their menus and answers most questions you have. They also have a separate website called the Moms panel which is a group of moms and a few dads who frequent Disney so you can ask them questions and they do their best to answer it in a reasonable time. Another website I find helpful is Allears.com It is not owned by Disney but it is just as helpful as the Disney website.

 

  1. Once you make your reservations online or over the phone you can add any allergies to your reservations to give the restaurant a heads up on what to expect.If you are making a reservation online once you get to the last page before you confirm your reservation, this is were you can add special requests. Click on the add button and it will take you to another screen.Screen Shot 2016-07-05 at 5.52.53 PMOnce you are on the Special Request Screen you can add your allergy requests by checking off the boxes that pertain to you. Also if you need more assistance you can e-mail Disney at SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com or call (407) 824-5967Screen Shot 2016-07-05 at 5.53.48 PM

On our very first trip to Disney World I had e-mailed the chefs ahead of time to make sure they knew we were coming. This was super helpful when dining at O’hana. The Chef said she was able to put aside a brand new waffle maker just for my son to make sure it would not be cross contaminated for him! I have also called Disney before (the number listed above) to order special cakes for special occasions.IMG_2726

 

  1. Tell your server you have an allergy in your party. Disney is so wonderful when it comes to accommodating you and any food concerns you may have. Just be sure to remind your server so the chef can come out to the table and speak to you. Once the Chef comes over, you can let them know all your allergies. They will do their best to create something for you. I have been to a few restaurant’s that were unable to make my son anything because he has so many allergies. But this is very rare & luckily I had already brought a back up meal for him just in case Disney was not successful in accommodating him. So when in doubt bring a meal or snack from home. Disney allows you to bring food into all of their parks & most restaurants. We have never had an issue bringing special food from home for our boys with allergies.

 

  1. Be sure to write down any names of Cast members that went above & beyond for you and your party so you can let Disney know at the end of your trip. Disney loves to reward the cast members who made your trip extra magical.

Happy Travelin’

 

Jet Lag = Melt Downs

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My goal is to give you tips on how to travel with kids so I wanted to share a story with you and give you 4 quick tips from my most recent trip to California with my four year old.

Tip 1: Some airlines offer great deals on flights for “Black Friday” aka the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Last year, on a whim, I decided to take them up on this great offer and purchased a round trip ticket from Boston to Los Angeles for a steal of $250! That’s right I said round trip! I have yet to find an offer as great as this one! The downside to this deal is that you need to plan your trip anywhere from ‘as soon as possible’ to only three months out. Due to my budget I chose to book our trip on the very last week I possibly could in order to save up some extra money for spending.

After calculating the numbers (2 adults + 2 kids= $1,000 for plane tickets) my hubby and I decided that since the trip was to visit my best friend that I should be the one to go. Then after numerous discussions about how much I would miss my hubby and my children we made another decision to make the trip a girls weekend for my four-year-old daughter and myself. The next day I was so excited to tell my daughter the great news! Finally she would be going on a plane again… (my daughter thinks plane trips are the coolest thing in the world!) This brings me to my next tip.

Tip 2: Don’t hype up a trip to a four year old that is over 100 days away. It will only lead to him/her asking you everyday “are we leaving today?” My advice is to create a countdown calendar when the trip is 30 days away. This way he/she can visually see how many days before your big trip and this will help keep you sane!

Tip 3: The day before you leave make sure you give your kids a late morning nap especially if they have to wake up at 3:00am the next morning. Also, put them to bed an hour early. Trust me, you will thank yourself when you have to wake them at the crack of dawn!

On the morning of our trip, my biggest fear was airport security. To my surprise the security guards were AMAZING! They were so nice to my daughter and could tell she was nervous so they made sure that she didn’t leave my side. Next we boarded the plane, which was also a pleasant experience, because some airlines will let you board after first class with kids under 5 so you can get settled and not hold up the boarding process. The flight was 6 hours long (which feels forever especially when you did not get any sleep the night before. Tip 3 would’ve come in handy right about now!) I came prepared with toys, games, movies, books, and magazines for her and my own entertainment.

After landing in LAX and rushing through the airport to baggage claim my daughter mentioned she was hungry. I told her we would get some lunch soon which I quickly forgot about in the hustle and bustle of the airport. My best friend picked us up and our trip began without missing a beat. Our first stop was Hollywood Blvd for some star searching and shopping. At this point I am exhausted (there is a 3-hour time difference) but I am eager to see what the Hollywood fuss is all about. Soon we came across the Disney Soda Fountain & Studio Store and that’s when I have the fabulous idea of ordering us some ice cream for lunch (it is vacation of course!). We eat, enjoy then carry on. Our next stop was the Santa Monica Pier, which brings me to the greatest tip in the world!

Tip 4: Make sure to plan or pack healthy snacks, meals and stay on a schedule!  After parking at the pier, my daughter throws the most dramatic temper tantrum that I have ever seen her throw. Which then made me realize it is 2:00pm (when in her world is really 5:00pm EST aka dinner time) and all she has eaten all day was a piece of a muffin and some ice cream. So frantically I run up and down the pier looking for a quick bite to eat. I was able to get her to eat a few bites of a burger and some fries. About 20 minutes later the second meltdown began which would have been avoided if I had followed my own tip and stayed on our Eastern Time zone schedule!

Before the Meltdown….

Fortunately the next day was a new day and I made sure that I was going to stick to our normal schedule with plenty of healthy snacks and meals for the rest of the trip! Hope these tips help you on your next trip!

Happy Travelin!