Exploring the Magic Kingdom all by myself

Why yes, that IS a giant crane behind the castle

Monday, January 18

We're up bright and early (that's the ONLY way to do things while at WDW) - Kevin has to head to a trade show breakfast and I have to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom. I want to be there AT rope drop!

I should mention that it is Martin Luther King Jr day - so I am a bit surprised when I arrive at the MK gates and the crowd is rather small. I'm thinking this could be a good thing! The park opens right on time and I walk in slowly, taking it all in! First things first - I must eat breakfast, so I head into the Main Street Bakery and grab a quick bite to eat.

Then, I head out - ready to explore the Magic Kingdom on MY schedule and and MY pace. This is a new experience...no kids, no husband, nobody is crying or whining or dragging behind. It is pure MAGIC! Within 45 minutes I am able to ride (with NO waits!) Peter Pan, it's a small world, the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The best part of my ride on it's a small world -- I had a boat all to myself! The cast member said "enjoy your private cruise!"

Around 10 a.m., Kevin called and said his seminars were boring and he was headed to the MK to spend the rest of the day with me. (So much for exploring on my own! I'm kidding!!!! I was very happy he was meeting me!). I hadn't noticed that the crowd had grown -- until I waked back to Main Street and it was as though the floodgates and opened. There were people everywhere! It was apparent that today WAS going to be busy!

Once Kevin arrived (around 10:30 a.m.) we headed to Space Mountain to get our Fastpass (return time 2:00 p.m.) and then decided we were going to spend the day doing things we can't/don't do when we have the kids with us -- riding the 'big' rides, etc. First on the schedule - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The wait time was only 30 minutes so we skipped the Fastpass and stood in line -- and we were able to ride in the FRONT car! So much fun!

After the ride, I talked to my Disney Twitter friend Don and we met up with him and his wife Mary at Aloha Aisle for a Dole Whip and some conversation! I love meeting my online friends in real life! It was as if we had known each other for years -- we sat in the sunshine for 2 hours, talking about Disney!

Me and Don enjoying our Dole Whip floats!

After we said good-bye to Don and Mary, we headed back to Space Mountain with our Fastpasses. I think I forgot (or blocked out) how scary this ride is. I was terrified the entire time! But it was fun ... and it is a must do ride when you're at the MK!

One of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat at the MK is Casey's Corner - it's just hot dogs and fries -- but it's so good. Somehow we lucked out and found a table outside just as the afternoon parade was starting!

I have to say this - going to Disney without your kids is such a strange experience - we didn't stand in line to meet the characters, no one had a mid-day meltdown, we didn't feel rushed. But at the same time, we missed the girls terribly and kept repeating "oh the girls would love this!" We've already decided that if we do (1) the trade show or (2) the social media conference next year we ARE taking the kids.

After our late lunch, we headed to the Hall of Presidents and then had another 'first' - we rode the Liberty Belle Riverboat. Then, we decided to take the train from Frontierland to Main Street because we needed to do some shopping! (Yes, I said "needed"!). After much debate we finally found something cute for the girls (who had NO idea we were at Disney World!) and then it was time for Mickey's PhilharMagic (another first for us).

By now it was getting dark which meant it was almost time for SpectroMagic and Wishes. We found a spot in the Hub, grabbed some popcorn and waited for the parade to start. Near the end of the parade I decided we should find a new, less crowded spot to watch Wishes - so we headed down Main Street to the train station and let me say this -- it is just as magical watching the fireworks from that location!

After shedding a few tears (Wishes always makes me cry)....we said good-bye to the MK and headed back to the resort. I had just spent 12 hours at the MK - without an afternoon break - and I was exhausted! Even without the kids, we had managed to have a magical, memorable day!

Finally! A trip report from January!

At Epcot

Yes, I realize it's now February and Kevin and I went to WDW a month ago ... but things have been busy (and I just returned from another trip to Disney!).

So, without further ado....our January trip report!

Day 1 - Sunday, January 17

Our flight to Orlando started out 'normal' - meaning we were squished in like sardines, but excited to be heading to Disney. Then, an hour into the flight we hear an announcement "If there are any doctors or EMTs on board please notify a flight attendant." Oh no. This cannot be good.

A few rows ahead of us we see a bunch of people surrounding a man who seems unresponsive. Then a few minutes later we are informed that we're making an emergency landing in Cincinnati so that paramedics can take the sick passenger off the plane. We land in Cincy and sit at the gate for an hour - and all they serve is us WATER. Yeah, just water. The flight attendants claim they can't give us anything else.

Finally we are back in the air and headed to Orlando once again. And, after the WORST LANDING EVER we're off the plane and headed to our resort.

For Kevin's conference/trade show we are staying at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort - one of the moderate resorts on property. I'm quite excited since we've never stayed here - and I was not disappointed! The grounds are beautiful as is the main building/lobby.

As Kevin is checking in, I head over to the concierge desk to buy park tickets. We know we won't be making it to Epcot anytime before 4 p.m., so I'm dreading spending $79 per person for a 1-day ticket when we're only going for half a day. Imagine my surprise when I'm told that as a conference guest we can buy "after 4 p.m." tickets for $40 a piece!

After taking our bags to the room, we are finally on our way to Epcot.

We wander through the world showcase for a while, stopping in France for a delicious cheese plate (seriously, one of the best things I've eaten at Epcot). Then, we walk over to the Boardwalk Resort, since we have reservations at Kouzzina by Cat Cora - a new restaurant at the WDW resorts.

Let me just say - I loved Kouzzina! The dining room is warm, inviting and looks into the open kitchen! At various times during our meal we heard "OPA!" being shouted in the kitchen.

We started our meal with the appetizer sampler platter. My favorite item was the warm pita bread and the Kalamata olives (they were served warmed in olive oil).


For our main dish, we decided to 'be adventurous' and order something we would not normally eat - the whole fish! Our waitress said this was one of her favorite things on the menu and it did not disappoint! The fish really is WHOLE when it comes to your table - head, tail and everything in between. However, they will remove the head and tail for you and just leave the rest of the fish (which is exactly what we did - I didn't want the fish staring at us while we dined!)


After dinner, we were too full for dessert (plus, I really wanted dessert from France!)...so we headed back to Epcot.

There were two things we really wanted to ride - Test Track and Soarin' - but of course, the Fastpasses were gone for both rides. The wait for Test Track was about 120 minutes (no way I'm waiting that long for anything!), but the wait for Soarin' was only 45 minutes. This was do-able.

We met a very nice couple in line who told us that we HAD to ride in the front row - so we waited with them for that sought after front row seat. It was so worth the extra 10 minute wait! This ride quickly became one of my all-time favorite rides at Epcot!

After Soarin' we had just enough time to wander through the world showcase (not really stopping in any countries) and we made it to France with about 5 minutes to spare before everything closed for Illumiations - Reflections of Earth.

After Illuminations we headed back to the Boardwalk to catch a bus to Downtown Disney (yes, we were trying to fit several days worth of 'stuff' into one day!). I was on a mission - find the Dooney & Bourke Disney wristlet! I knew they were at at least one or two shops in Downtown Disney and no matter how tired I was or how much my feet hurt, I was going to find that purse!

After nearly running to World of Disney, we discovered that the white wristlet was nowhere to be found. However, the very nice cast member said "check TrendD" -- so we ran past the Ghiradelli ice cream shop and finally!!!! I found my purse! I looked at 10 different 'versions' of the wristlet before choosing the perfect one.

Now, we could return to our room.

Mission: Accomplished.

Up next: Rope drop by myself at the Magic Kingdom. And Dole Whip!

Happy New Year at the Magic Kingdom

On New Year's Eve 2001, Kevin and I spent the day at the Magic Kingdom.

We woke up around 4 a.m. and left Tampa around 6 a.m. -- so we arrived at the MK early. And there was already a huge crowd at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) waiting to board the Monorail to the MK. I should have know just how crazy it would be based on the crowd.

We managed to get on the Monorail in an orderly fashion and upon getting through the gates of the MK, we headed straight to Space Mountain. Then we went to visit Pooh and his friends in Toontown - getting our photo taken with Pooh. Of course, I had to purchase Minnie Mouse ears (which I still wear proudly every time we're at WDW).

And somehow, even though it was literally wall-to-wall people that day, I know that we were able to ride everything we wanted and never really had to wait very long. I do remember at one point in the early afternoon we heard Cast Members telling a guest that the park was closed due to capacity and they were diverting people to Epcot.

It was THAT crowded.

Kevin had been planning on proposing to me while we were there .... but instead he had proposed WAY back in October (on the 25th of October to be exact) because he couldn't wait until December 31st! However, in his defense, he did "re-propose" right outside Cinderella's Castle (the site of his original "idea") -- so I guess you could say that I got engaged (for a second time!) at the Magic Kingdom.

One of the best parts of the day was seeing the park decorated for Christmas and the castle draped in lights. I love the MK at Christmas!

Main Street became crazier as the night wore on -- it was getting very difficult to even MOVE by about 10:30 or 11 that night. I know we actually left the park before midnight -- for several reasons. We had been on our feet since 8 a.m. that morning, we weren't staying on property so we had to drive home to Tampa and we had to be up bright and early the next day so we could go to the Outback Bowl and watch Ohio State play.

So, we had our picture taken on the steps of the train station a little before midnight, and made our way to the Monorail, heading back to the TTC.

And as crazy as the crowds were, spending New Year's Eve at the MK was the most magical new year's I've had. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Happy New Year! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and magical 2010!

Roy E. Disney (1930 - 2009)

Rest in Peace, Mr. Disney
Roy E. Disney dies at age 79

Disney's online reservations for dining

I mentioned that Kevin and I are headed to WDW in January, sans kids.

And so, we have decided to spend that first day at Epcot and we thought wouldn't it be nice to have a nice, relaxing, character-free dinner? There are so many places to choose from - but I've been wanting to try Kouzzina by Cat Cora™, and since I know that you really shouldn't just show up at any WDW table service restaurant without reservations, I figured it was about time to make an ADR. (Which is an 'advance dining reservation' in case you were wondering).

Now, you can always call 1-407-WDW-DINE to make your ADRs. If you are staying 'on property' you should always call 180 in advance (meaning, count out 180 days from the day you arrive at WDW and call on that day. At 7 a.m.). If you aren't sure what your 180 day is, check out this site -- you can type in your arrival date and your 'call date' will be calculated for you.

However, I decided to try out the online dining reservations at the WDW web site.

For the table service restaurants at the parks, resorts or other on property locations there will be an orange square that says "Book a Reservation" -- click on that square and you'll be taken to a page where you will be asked to enter some basic information:

- the date and time when you'd like the reservation
- the number of people in your party (adults and children) - please be sure to count EVERYONE, even if there's a baby in the party [Note: if your party has more than 10 people, there is a number to call to make ADRs - (407) 939-5665]

After entering that information, click "check availability". From here you will be taken to a page that shows what times are available and other "options" at other restaurants.

For our trip, I had requested a 6 p.m. reservation at Kouzzina - and was given the choice of 5:20 p.m. or 6:10 p.m. -- and shown other options such as Artist Pointe at the Wilderness Lodge.

Choose the time you want and then you will be asked to provide some basic information - name, e-mail address and the phone number where you can be reached while on vacation. And then, that's it. Easy peasy. You'll be taken to a confirmation screen where you will find your reservation confirmation number. Write down this number!

After making my time choice and providing my cell phone number, I was done! A mere two minutes later I received my e-mail confirmation - which I will be printing and taking with me. Just in case.

The online ADR system is very user-friendly and so much faster than calling and talking to someone on the phone! I will definitely be using the online reservation system again!

- TLC

You're going to WDW without the kids?!?

Kevin & Me, April 2009

Yes, in fact I am.

In 60 days I am headed to the most magical place on Earth without my kids.

And, I am feeling a little bit guilty about that.

Last month, K was invited to a trade show by one of his biggest national vendors. And, the trade show just happens to be in Orlando....at Walt Disney World. Oh, and I should mention -- they are paying for everything - his airfare, hotel, tips, transportation, food. Everything. So, we weighed the pros and cons for, oh, about two hours and decided "let's go!"

But we are leaving the kids at home. Well, OK...we're leaving them with their grandparents, but still. The point is, we aren't taking them when we go to WDW - their favorite place!

The biggest reason...it would be way too costly to take them for such a short trip. We're arriving in Orlando on a Sunday and leaving on Tuesday morning. To buy plane tickets for the kids it would be an additional $300 plus the cost of food and park tickets -- essentially it would be an additional $700 or more and we just can't swing that right now.

So, we'll be staying at the Disney's Coronado Springs Resort (and I'm very excited about this!) and we've decided to head over to Epcot on the day we arrive. Epcot without the kids = we don't have to rush through the countries and/or stand in line to meet the characters. And, we're planning on having a nice 'adult' dinner (read: minus any characters) ... maybe at Kouzzina.

And then on Monday, I will be heading to the Magic Kingdom, alone. That's right...I'm planning on going all by myself to my favorite park in all of WDW. A friend said "um, isn't there a spa you could go to?"....and I'm sure there is, but WHY would I want to spend a day in the spa when I can spend a day at the Magic Kingdom?!?

I plan on riding what I want to ride, walking at MY own pace, stopping when I want to stop. You know, doing what I want to do! And then after lunch, I'm going to meet K at Downtown Disney!

But the highlight of this trip just might be the private party we get to attend on Monday night. We aren't sure what park we'll be going to, but we know it's a PRIVATE party -- which means it takes place AFTER the park closes and it'll just be us and the other 1,000 trade show attendees! (My guess is Disney's Hollywood Studios, because it closes at 7 pm that day...but we'll see. I might be wrong).

Can you imagine? Having one of the theme parks almost entirely to yourself??? It's like a dream come true!

And so, I'll have a trip report in mid-January ... full of tips for traveling to WDW without your kids.

-TLC

The Disney Driven Life ... and me

A friend of mine, J.L., has this amazing web site/blog called The Disney Driven Life - True Confessions of a Neurotic Disney Mom, and one of the many things she does with this blog is give out the titles of Neurotic Disney Mom/Dad/Aunt/Kid/Grandma, etc. Basically if you LOVE all things Disney and are at all neurotic about that love, you too can be crowned a "NDP" (Neurotic Disney Person).

Long story short ... a few months ago I was lucky enough to be named "Neurotic Disney Mom #118" (NDM #118).

[JL and I both made it to Round 2 in our quest to become members of the Disney Mom's Panel....but didn't make it to Round 3. (Personally, I think 2011 is our year for the panel!)].

Last weekend, JL tweeted about meeting someone from Disney Russia via Twitter and I tweeted back something like "cool! I took Russian in college." ... and then, JL asked me to write a review/short article about the first movie produced and released by Disney Russia - The Book of Masters. Oh, and she made me the 'resident Disney in Russia news correspondent' for The Disney Driven Life! (Thanks again, JL!!!)

And so, without any further ado, you can check out my 'guest post' on The Disney Driven Life here.

Quick eats at Walt Disney World

Emma enjoys Cracker Jack from Casey's!

There are so many wonderful and delicious places to eat at Walt Disney World, it's sometimes difficult to decide if you should eat yet another Dole Whip or if you should grab something more substantial for lunch. [Personally, I say there's always room for Dole Whip, but that's another post entirely].

I have a few favorite spots to grab a quick bite at each theme park, and of course, I'm going to share them with you.

And so, in no particular order, my quick/counter service favorites:

Casey's Corner, Magic Kingdom (Main Street USA)
I love LOVE Casey's. The food is so simple, but so good - it's hard to pass up a chance to eat here. And from the lines that are normally found at the counter, a lot of other people love Casey's too! Hot dogs. That's what you'll find to nosh on at Casey's. And french fries. That's about it. Corn dogs are on the menu too. The hot dogs used to be all beef, but I've seen some stories lately that WDW has stopped using all beef hot dogs. Either way, if you're on the Disney Dining Plan and want a good counter service, step up to bat at Casey's and order the hot dog meal - you'll get a dog, fries, a drink and dessert (Cracker Jack is my personal favorite). The bonus: sauerkraut for the dogs and CHEESE for your fries. Kids food choices include the same options - hot dogs , corn dogs, fries, etc. Minimal seating is available inside - a few tables and some bleachers (the theme here IS baseball). More seating available outside - just watch out for the ducks. They beg.

Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, Magic Kingdom, Frontierland
I love their burgers and BBQ pork sandwich. They have a great 'fixins bar' for your burgers too. The last time we ate at PB in 2007 we had more food than we could eat. A fried chicken breast with mashed potatoes was recently added to the menu - sounds good in the fall/winter months, but I can't imagine eating that on a 100 degree day in July! I should also note that PB is one of the counter service restaurants that is participating in the new seating concept being tested at WDW. The idea is this: on busy park days, a greeter will meet you at the entrance to the restaurant and you will be guided to the food line (your ENTIRE party!) and then AFTER you get your food you will be able to get a table. [This means no 'saving' a table with the kids while you send your husband to get the food!]. Kids food choices include burgers and a salad with chicken.

Flame Tree BBQ, Animal Kingdom
We discovered this gem of the counter service world during our last trip (April 2009). At first glance you think "but there's nowhere to sit!"....ah, but there is. One of the best things about Flame Tree is the seating options - quiet, serene and overlooking Expedition Everest. And the food? Oh my goodness. Ribs, BBQ chicken, pork or beef sandwiches - all are delicious. And key lime pie for dessert. You really can't go wrong at the Flame Tree. Kid's options include baked chicken or hot dogs.

Pizzafari, Animal Kingdom
While we have found Pizzafari to be a bit chaotic on busy days, the pizza is good and it's air conditioned! Again, the amount of food is overwhelming (this is the rule rather than the exception at WDW when you're on the Dining Plan). Pizza is good (crust is on the thick, doughy side), the salads were crisp, and oh did I mention...chocolate cake! Kid's options include mac and cheese or a cheese pizza - both served with two sides (including grapes, carrot sticks and/or unsweetened applesauce).

Tangierine Cafe, Morocco, Epcot
This is one of my favorite counter service restaurants in all of WDW. We have never waited in a line here and the food is delicious! Normally, my husband and I will share a chicken and lamb combo platter (the meats with tabouleh, hummus, couscous and bread) and and a vegetarian platter (falafel, couscous, tabouleh, hummus, lentil salad and marinated olives). And of course, baklava for dessert. So much food! Kid's choices include chicken nuggets or a hamburger. The cafe also service Moroccan wine, coffee, sangria and other fresh baked pastries. We make it a point to eat dinner hear each time we go to Epcot and the kids love it too! On our last trip they had a blast dancing to the Moroccan music.

Cantina de San Angel, Mexico, Epcot
We LOVE the Cantina! You will get great food (and lots of it) and wonderful views of the World Showcase Lagoon (all seating is outside for the Cantina - but many tables have umbrellas or are in the shade). Favorite dishes here include the plato combinacion (basically a combo platter with a taco, burrito and quesadilla), the nachos, and the burrito. But my favorite part of my meal at the Cantina .... the churros! Think fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar. They are heavenly. Also a good bet while dining in Mexico - the frozen margaritas. Yes, the cost close to $9 but they are so worth it! After dining at the Cantina, head over to the Gran Fiesta Tour ride in the Mexico pavilion.

Boulangerie Patisserie, France, Epcot
I will admit right now that my favorite item to order here is the chocolate mousse. But if you're looking for a light meal (and one that will fill you up for a while), I would recommend the cheese plate. And then order the chocolate mousse. Or any of the other delicious pastry items available. Then, walk outside and find a spot near the fountain and enjoy your food while gazing at the Eiffel Tower. And you can always wash it down with a Grand Marnier Slush.

Main Street Bakery, Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom
Yes, they really do draw you in by piping the smell of fresh baked cookies out into the street. I love the Main Street Bakery for a quick breakfast at the MK. It's a perfect place to stop and grab a coffee and a croissant, muffin or cinnamon roll (or maybe even a doughnut!) and then take a stroll down Main Street and watch the people rush in. And you can always grab a Toll House cookie as a quick snack.

Aloha Isle, Adventureland and Sleepy Hollow, Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom
There are two things I must have when at the Magic Kingdom: Dole Whip and funnel cake. If you have never experience Dole Whip, you are missing out! What is Dole Whip? Soft serve pineapple ice cream. My favorite is the vanilla and Dole Whip twist or the Dole Whip float. But are divine. There is nothing better than a cool Dole Whip float on a hot summer day. But, funnel cake is a close second! I like to grab a funnel cake from Sleepy Hollow and then find a good spot in Liberty Square to watch the afternoon parade. [As an added bonus, we have had Cast Members hand out free chocolate chip cookies to the kids!].

There are so many great spots to 'grab a bite' at WDW...and these are just a few of my personal favorites. To see menus from any WDW restaurant, I would suggest you visit AllEars.net.

You might notice that I didn't list any quick service places at Disney's Hollywood Studios -- well....I will admit, nothing really sticks out in my memory as a 'favorite' location. We tend to eat at a character breakfast at the DHS and rarely eat lunch while touring that park. However, Starring Rolls Cafe has good pastries, Toy Story Pizza Planet has good pizza, the Writer's Stop has a good selection of pastries too, and the ABC Commissary has sandwiches and hot dogs.

Happy Birthday!

Wishing a very happy 38th birthday to the Magic Kingdom!
The happiest place on Earth deserves the happiest birthday!

And, for some extra icing on that cake, check out this video
on the Disney Parks Blog (which you should certainly add
to your blog roll right now!)

Our first trip to the Magic Kingdom...with kids*

Olivia (age 2) and Mommy with Chip & Dale - March 2006

Our first trip to WDW with kids was in March 2006 when Olivia was 2 years old. We planned the trip at the last minute - after deciding to spend a week in Tampa in early March (it was a great time to go - the college where I was teaching had an early spring break and the crowds at the MK were wonderfully small!).

So, after deciding that we were taking Olivia to the MK for her very first trip, we had a few choices to make: where to stay, what to pack, where to eat. You know...the important stuff! And I didn't have six months (or more) to plan this trip [and that is my normal suggestion - start planning at least six month before your trip -- personally I start planning my next trip as soon as I get home from my current trip...but I AM a bit obsessive about planning].

We decided that we were going to stay at the All-Star Movies Resort and that we'd do a one-day base ticket, but add on the Disney Dining Plan. I figured that way everything would (essentially) be paid for BEFORE our trip and there'd be less to worry about. I called AAA (because we're members) and they took care of the details. And, we were lucky enough to be able to make an Advance Dining Reservation at The Crystal Palace with only a few weeks left until our trip.

We had our "Magic Kingdom Day" planned for the end of our Florida trip, but in retrospect (yes, three years later I'm still thinking about this), we should have done it FIRST. We should have stayed "on property" for two nights - giving us more time to enjoy our resort and RELAX. But we all learn from travel mistakes...and that was mine.

As it is, we arrived at the resort before 7:30 a.m. and were lucky enough to be able to check in (normal check-in time is 4 p.m.). So, we quickly brought the luggage to our room and then headed to the bus stop to get a bus to the MK. We chose to leave our small umbrella stroller in the car and just rent a Disney stroller (again, going against what I now recommend - bring your own stroller!).

This one-day trip was a great learning experience - our first lesson: When a ride has the word "Scary" in it's title, be warned....it probably IS scary.

Exhibit A: "Snow White's Scary Adventure". That was the first ride we took Olivia on...and it was a disaster of epic proportions. She screamed during the entire ride and was afraid of any ride that had even the smallest 'dark part' (including the Pooh ride, the Jungle Boat and the train!). Yikes. Bad, bad parents. However, she did enjoy 'it's a small world'...whew. [And now, her favorite ride is The Haunted Mansion! So at least she wasn't permanently 'scarred' from our bad ride judgment.]

We tried to fit as many experiences into one day as was possible with a two-year-old. We rode all the 'must do' rides, we visted Mickey's Toontown Fair and met Winnie the Pooh and friends (this was before Olivia discovered the princesses), we ate lunch at the Pinocchio Village Haus (sitting at a table that overlooked it's a small world -- the best seats in the house!), we watched the afternoon parade, we met more characters, we shopped, we ate dinner at The Crystal Palace and we stayed to watch Spectromagic.

The only thing we missed was Wishes (and only because we were all exhausted and had to start our drive home to Ohio the next day). Oh, and nap time...who needs it....Olivia took a 20 minute power nap in the stroller outside Cinderella's Castle. [I do NOT recommend this. I always say go back to the resort in the afternoon and REST. But we only had ONE day!].

I think by the end of the day we were all over-stimulated and exhausted and had done more in one day than some families can manage in two or three days. Which brings me back to why we should have done this visit at the START of our Florida vacation. Had we put more thought into it, we could have stayed on property for two nights (instead of just one), and we could have enjoyed our resort and maybe even had half of a day more to spend in the Magic Kingdom. Ah, hindsight is always 20-20, right?

As it was, I started planning our next trip as soon as we packed up the car and headed home to Ohio. We knew we'd be coming back in the fall of 2007 (and would likely have an addition to our family -- as we were planning that too)! And, as planned, our next trip was in September 2007 and our "party" was now a family of four (kids ages 3 1/2 and 8 months). I learned a lot during that trip and during our most recent trip (with a party of 10!!)...and so...sit back, relax and enjoy the next couple of posts -- I'll be sharing my pre-arrival tips and 'while you're at the parks' tips.

- TLC

*OK...so it was really just 1 kid....

Disney celebrates volunteers in 2010

In 2009, Disney celebrated your birthday .... and in 2010, it's time to celebrate the idea of giving back to your community and being rewarded for your hard work and dedication!

Today the Disney Parks announced their new campaign for 2010: Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.

The basics of this promotion are: beginning in 2010, if you sign up and volunteer with a participating organization, complete your day of volunteering, and have that day of volunteering verified, you get a certificate for a free ticket to Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

So, check out the Web site and find a list of participating organizations and get going!

Let's get out there next year and volunteer!

This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to your community - kudos to Disney!

NOTE: Another source for information is the HandsOn Network - an organization that is working with Disney on this endeavor. Check them out here.

For more information, check out this article from the Orlando Sentinel.

Making Memories

The family, with Chip and Dale, at the Magic Kingdom (April 2009)

Earlier today, @DisneyParks on Twitter posed this question: What is your first Disney Parks memory?

I thought about it and came up with several, only one of which I shared.

I don't know how old I was or when I really started remembering our trips, but these are the things that stick out in my mind:

- Driving to Orlando from my grandparent's house in Tampa - the excitement of those 'day trips' to the Magic Kingdom was almost unbearable. I wanted to be there NOW!

- Seeing the first signs for Walt Disney World and then seeing the gateway to the Magic Kingdom (where mom and dad had to pay for parking). We were almost there!

- Getting out of the car, looking around to see where we were parked (Goofy, Minnie, Pluto?) and then hopping on the tram that would take us to the Ticket and Transportation Center.

- Hopping on the Monorail, finally headed to the Magic Kingdom!

- Walking through the passageway underneath the train station and stepping onto Main Street and there it was. The Castle. I was in my happy place. We had made it.

We made many trips to the MK (and later to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios) when I was younger, and the were all magical for different reasons.

A few more memories:

- Riding 'it's a small world' -- this has always been my favorite ride.

- Buying those little plastic fruits filled with juice - I remember oranges, apples and grapes. I am quite certain that I actually collected those for a while.

- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I wish they had kept this ride.

- Pirates of the Caribbean, pre-Capt. Jack Sparrow. My other all-time favorite ride. I actually loved waiting in the queue for this ride -- it's so dark and spooky.

- Riding Space Mountain for the first time with my dad. Scary and fun!

- "If You Had Wings" -- that was a great ride.

- The Skyway (you know, the little buckets on the wire). At the time I loved it . Now, I am terrified of bucket rides.

- The Main Street Electric Parade...I loved this parade, but at the same time it made me sad, because I knew our day at the Magic Kingdom was coming to a close.

- The twinge of sadness I felt as we disembarked the tram and headed to our car, knowing that our magical day was over. But there was also a little glimmer of hope, knowing that another magical day would happen again soon.

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I hope that the tips and information I share on this blog will help you and your family create magical memories for many years!

- TLC

An update on advance dining reservations at WDW

A few months ago, I wrote about making your advance dining reservations (ADRs) for Walt Disney World and mentioned that for resort guests you could make your ADRs 90 days before your arrival at WDW.

Well, as of October 27, the ADR window goes back to 180 days.

That means, if you are traveling to WDW in the spring of 2010 you need to check when your 180 days arrives and call on that day! (Go here - it's a great site for calculating your 180 days).It is possible that October 27 will be a very, very busy day for the ADR phone lines. [Think of it this way: On 10/26 only those people who were 90 days out from their trip are going to be making their ADRs and then the very next day...anyone who is 180 days out from their trip are going to be making that mad rush at 7 am to get ADRs at Cinderella's Royal Table]. Get your dialing fingers ready!

Don't forget, the number to call in order to make your ADRs is 407-WDW-DINE.

You can also make ADRs online here. I haven't used the online booking for ADRs yet (it wasn't quite ready when we booked our ADRs the last time), but it looks relatively simple - click on the orange box that says "Book a Reservation" and then choose the date, time and number of people in your party. It is probably better to be flexible with dates and times in order to get a reservation.

And while 180 days (that's SIX months!) might seem an impossible stretch of time and you might think "there's no way I know what I want to do six months from now at WDW"...trust me, you can figure it out. You can plan it. I've done it before. And, while tcallhe calendars for spring might not be out yet for the parks, but you should still be able to plan most of your meals without a problem.

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

My first* experience staying 'on property' at Walt Disney World was when we stayed at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, one of the 'value' resorts at WDW.

I love this resort. L.O.V.E. it.

There are three All-Star resorts at WDW - Movies, Sports and Music. The resorts are 'neighbors' - that is, they are situated next door to each other - but they are three separate hotels. Each resort has its own pool, lobby and food court. And each has its own theme, represented by over-sized musical instruments (Music), sports items (Sports) and characters/items from popular Disney movies (Movies).

As with any resort anywhere, there are good and not-so-good things about the All-Star resorts in general (even though I've only stayed at the Movies, I think these could apply to all three).

First, let's talk about the good.

The rates
These resorts are very budget-friendly - rates begin at $82 a night.

The resort
The resorts are family-friendly - bright, colorful, and fun. I remember the first time we stayed there, walking into our room in the 101 Dalmatians building and being greeted by movie posters on the wall and 'movie themed' bedding. And let's not forget the extremely tall 'Pongo' and 'Perdita' that stand guard outside the Dalmatians' buildings. [Other movies represented at the resort include Toy Story, The Mighty Ducks, Fantasia, and The Love Bug]. The exterior staircases at the Dalmatian building look like giant fire hydrants (at the Mighty Ducks building - where we stayed in 2007 - they are giant hockey nets).

There are two pools at the resort - one is watched over by Sorcerer Mickey and the other is located outside the Mighty Ducks building and is aptly named, the Duck Pond. It resembles a hockey rink, complete with Goofy playing goalie. As is the case at all Disney resort pools, life vests are available for children at the pools. We discovered that the Duck Pond pool is always less crowded than the Fantasia pool - probably because it's a not in a central location (the Fantasia pool is directly outside the main building (Cinema Hall).

The rooms at the resort are small - 260 square feet - but we managed to survive an entire week in our room with the addition of a stroller, a pack-and-play and a refrigerator. No one was tripping over anyone. And really, you aren't going to spend that much time in your room -- you're at Walt Disney World! [And speaking of refrigerators - if you want a mini 'fridge for your room at the All-Star resorts it will cost you around $10 per day. However, if you have a baby in your group, you may be able to get it at no charge, which is what happened to us. While we were checking, we requested a fridge and our cast member told us he'd give it to us at no charge because we had an infant. That was amazing!]

And I have to mention this: one of my favorite things about the resort is walking past the buildings and see how people have decorated the window to their rooms - they put costumes, plush animals, balloons and other decorations in the windows. It just adds a little bit of magic to your room.

The food
Each All-Star resort has a quick service food court, at the All-Star Movies the food court is the "World Premiere Food Court". You can buy your refillable mugs here - and get them refilled here for the duration of your trip. The food court has five different areas where you can choose from a variety of items including hot foods, sandwiches, bakery items, pizza and salads. The drink station is located in the middle of the food court - with pop/soda machines, coffee, hot water and a mug wash station. You can use your quick service and/or snack options from the Disney Dining Plan at the food court. And, if all else fails and you have a car - there is a McDonald's right down the road.

And now, the not-so-good. [Because this IS Disney, I believe that nothing is ever BAD...but there are some things that might need to be 'fixed'].

The resort
The All-Star Movies is a big resort - it has 10 buildings spread out over a somewhat large area. You might do a lot of walking to get to your room or to Cinema Hall (where you check in/out and where the arcade, gift shop and food court is located). And, as we discovered the day we checked in, you might wait a long time to check in. As in, more than an hour - depending on what day you arrive, what time of year it is, etc. We arrived in late September 2007 and stood in line with two tired, hungry and cranky kids for more than an hour. It was definitely the low point of our trip that year.

That being said, there is a small amphitheater for the kids right next to the check-in area - so the kids can sit and watch the Disney Channel or a movie while mom and/or dad stand in line.

You may also find that the food court is packed on certain days (we found this to be true only once - on the Saturday when we were leaving. It seemed as though the entire resort was leaving with us). Keep that in mind when planning your arrival/departure days. Saturdays are not always the best day to come and/or go.

Bus travel
Know this for the All-Star resorts -- the buses will usually drop off/pick up in this order: Sports, Music and Movies. We traveled at a time of year when the crowds were lower, so this was not really an issue for us, but it's something to keep in mind when choosing an All-Star resort.

The bus stops for the parks are located in the front of the resort - and there is little to no shelter from the elements. You will encounter the longest bus rides to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Our shortest bus ride was to the Animal Kingdom. [Having stayed at a deluxe resort this year, we did notice that the wait times for pick up at the parks was much lower for the Wilderness Lodge than it was for the All-Star Movies.]

We had several experiences at the MK and Epcot where it seemed as though we waited and waited and waited for our bus when all the other resort guests were not waiting as long. Perhaps they have 'fixed' that issue now.

And really, those were my only 'complaints' about ASM - waiting to check in and waiting for buses.

If you're looking for a fun resort that won't break the bank - I highly recommend the All-Star resorts. I think you'll fall in love with All-Star Movies, just as I did. I cannot wait to go back and stay there again!



*It should be noted that while this is 'technically' true, I did stay at the Hilton at Walt Disney World when I was a teenager. But it was with my parents and sister...and I don't have any valuable tips from that stay.

When you wish upon a star....

This post is a bit 'off topic' (there are no tips for a successful Disney trip hidden anywhere)...but since this is my 'unofficial' Disney blog, I figured this was the place to share my thoughts.

I just submitted my application to the Disney Mom's Panel.

My heart is still racing.

If I was lucky enough to be picked for this panel, out of 20,000 applications -- let's just say I would jump for joy. For several weeks.

It would be a dream come true.

But for now, I will take a deep breath and continue to post my tips for you right here!

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

If you're wondering what Disney resort is 'just right' for families, I have a suggestion.

Check out the September 2009 issue of Travel & Leisure. This issue has a bonus section 'Travel & Leisure Family' that lists the world's best hotels for families.

Seven (yes....7!) Disney resorts made the list of the top 50 resorts in the United States and Canada. Six of those seven are located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The seventh is Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa in Anaheim.

Number 13 on the list....Disney's Wilderness Lodge!

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge back in April, and I have to say...it IS a great resort for families. If given the option (and an budget without limits*), I'd stay there every time we visit WDW.

When our Magical Express bus pulled up the front of the WL back in April, I was in awe. It's a beautiful resort on the outside...but when you walk through the front doors into the lobby, be prepared to be amazed!

The Lobby
The lobby is open, airy and features an 82-foot tall fireplace and several totem poles. It is, in a word, breathtaking. A small bubbling brook begins in the lobby and continues outside, flowing into a waterfall and eventually into the resort swimming pool. 'Hidden Mickeys' abound in this resort - be sure to ask the front desk for the hidden mickey "hunt list" and then start searching. We found a few Hidden Mickeys...but never had enough time do find them all.

The Rooms
Our rooms were located on the main floor of the hotel - which was nice ... no elevators needed. We had requestedl 'courtyard' view rooms -- overlooking the pool. If you can, I suggest paying the extra money to get a courtyard view. What an amazing view. I believe that every room at the WL has a private balcony, and that was one of my favorite things about the resort. I loved sitting on my balcony in the morning, watching the resort 'wake up' ... and in the afternoon it was fun to sit out there, soaking up the 'pool atmosphere'.

Overall, the rooms were great. We had two queen beds and a pack-and-play and there was still enough room for all of our stuff, including a double stroller! There was a full-size closet where all the suitcases fit, along with 12 princess costumes (whew! good thing I had somewhere to hang those!). The sink area was HUGE - enough room for all my 'beauty products (what you think this happens naturally? ha!)...and the rest of the family's 'stuff'. And, there was also a dorm size refrigerator -- a definite bonus when you stay at the deluxe resorts.

Be sure to look for hidden mickeys on the carpet in the hallways and on your bedspread!

The Food
You can't write about any Disney resort without talking about the food! And you'll get some good eats at the Wilderness Lodge.

On our first day at WDW we were STARVING when we arrived at the resort after a whole morning of travel, so we headed to the Roaring Fork...the quick service restaurant at the WL. The Roaring Fork serves breakfast items (hot and cold), sandwiches, salads, pizzas and snacks (including the very yummy Mickey Ears rice krispie treats -- my absolute favorite!). My husband and I shared the roast beef and blue sandwich and I'll say it here -- it was divine. My favorite breakfast item was the mix your own cereal bar. Basically you can choose from several types of cereal (frosted flakes, rice krispies, etc.) and the cast member behind the counter will mix them in a nice sized container. All you need to do is add milk.

The Roaring Fork is also the place to go when you want to buy and/or refill your refillable mug. For $12.99 you can buy a refillable mug and then fill it with coffee or pop as often as you want for the duration of your trip (note however, that the refillable mugs cannot be filled at any of the theme parks). This is a great deal and I would suggest it to anyone. We usually purchase one mug ... and my husband and I share it.

The Whispering Canyon Cafe and Artist Point are also located at the Wilderness Lodge. We didn't have a chance to eat at the Whispering Canyon but I know people who have eaten there and they said it was the BEST table service meal they had at WDW. It's on my 'to do' list for 2011. My parents enjoyed a night out at Artist Point and reported that the meal was very good.

The Pool
Ah, the pool...one of the most important locations at any WDW resort. And, I am happy to report, the pool at the WL does not disappoint.

The pool is large, but not too huge...and includes a waterfall and a water slide. There is a separate 'baby pool' -- and my 2-year-old loved that. Another bonus at the WDW resort pools -- life vests are available for the kids. At the WL you need to walk down toward the beach to the rental shack and you can 'rent' (free of charge) a vest for the entire length of your stay. Yes, you can take the vest back to your room every day -- and at the end of your stay, just return the vest to the rental shack. It's that simple.

For the adults, there is a nice pool bar - the Trout Pass bar -- located at the pool.

The Grounds and more....
Personally, I think the grounds of the WL are one of the most beautiful properties at WDW. You really feel as though you've been transported to a national park - there's even a working geyser on site!

The resort itself is located in the Magic Kingdom area of WDW - but it is not a monorail resort.

You could spend a few hours just walking around the resort, taking in the atmosphere, hanging out on the beach at Bay Lake (no swimming!), sitting in a rocking chair outside the lobby .. you know, just relaxing. I saw many families taking bike rides and walks around the grounds when we visited in April....and it looked fun!

One of the things you MUST do is watch the Electric Water Pageant. We walked down to the beach on our second night at the WL to watch the pageant, and it was a perfect way to spend 10 minutes! The pageant floats past all Bay Lake resorts - and you might even catch a glimpse of it as you exit the Magic Kingdom (we saw it on our last night at WDW as we waited for the boat back to the resort).

Transportation to the parks
As I mentioned above, the WL is not a monorail resort.

You can travel to the Magic Kingdom via boat or bus (or car if you have one!). We took the boat and the bus...and discovered that it was often quicker to take the bus. The bus stop is located in the front of the resort - you can reach it by walking out the doors near the Merchantile and following the sidewalk down to the bus stops. The boat dock is located on Bay Lake - walk past the pool and over a walkway to the docks. We waited more than 20 minutes on one day for the boat....but we did discover that on the way "home" from the MK, it was often faster to hop on the boat!

In order to reach Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios or the Animal Kingdom you must take the bus. For the most part, we had good 'luck' when it came to taking the buses and having short trips. We did end up stopping at Fort Wilderness a few times (en route to DHS) and on one of these trips we spent 45 minutes on the bus! But, for the most part you can figure on spending 15 or 20 minutes on your trip to those three parks.

The rest of the story
Well, there you have it...a rather lengthy report on my favorite deluxe resort...one of the best resorts for families. This resort has it all -- location, a great pool, good food, hidden mickeys and enough fun stuff to keep kids of all ages entertained for days!


*Note: the resorts listed in this article are ALL Deluxe resorts. These may not be in your budget, but never fear. A future post will be focused on the Disney Value Resorts, specifically the All-Star Movie Resort - perfect for the family on a budget!

Happy Halloween - Disney style

Happy Halloween!

Yes, I realize it's only September...but if you are headed to Walt Disney World anytime between now and November 1st, you MUST check out Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom.

We were lucky enough to experience the party in September 2007 ... and I wish we could go back every year.

When we booked our 2007 trip, I had no idea what to expect from the MNSSHP. But, the party was scheduled for our last night at WDW and I didn't want to miss out on any fun, so we decided to pay the extra money and was it worth it!

Yes, I said we paid EXTRA money to go to the party.

Let me explain: even if you have a ticket for the Magic Kingdom on the day of the MNSSHP, you still have to buy a ticket to get into the party. It's a special event.

And it really IS special.

The Magic Kingdom is decorated for Halloween with jack-o-lanterns, scarecrows and other Halloween-themed decor. It makes the whole park THAT much more magical.

And, at the party, the characters walk around dressed in Halloween costumes. There is the "Boo to You" Halloween parade, complete with the Headless Horseman (who starts the magic) and a special presentation of "Wishes" called "HalloWishes" -- and the Disney villans are sure to make an appearance.

The best part, in my opinion? Trick-or-treating in the Magic Kingdom! (You don't need to have your own 'trick or treat bag' either -- you'll be handed one as you arrive at the MK!)

Olivia had a blast trick-or-treating with Winnie the Pooh and Alice (make sure to find the walkway between Tomorrowland and Toontown -- it's where the characters from Alice in Wonderland will be located). And, she was able to get her photo taken in front of Cinderella's coach (which was located near it's a small world" in the stroller parking area).

How magical is that?

Halloween is my favorite holiday and to be able to celebrate at my favorite place ... well, it was a perfect end to a perfect trip.

Do they even have a 12-step program for Disney addicts?

Our next Disney vacation isn't until June 2011 - unless of course some miracle occurs and I win the lottery and can finally buy into the Disney Vacation Club, at which time we will be at Walt Disney World ASAP.

Anyway, back here in the 'real world'....

As I said, the next time the party of 10 will be embarking on another Disney adventure is in about 22 months.

So, I'm already planning for that trip. That's not too early, right?

I say it's never too early to plan for your next Disney trip. Heck, I was thinking about what we'd do "next time" while we were still in the parks way back in April!

I already have my spiral bound notebook ready and waiting... and it's quickly filling with notes for that next trip - where we should eat, how many 'table service' meals we should do in one day (uh, that would be ONE per day!), the pros and cons of various deluxe resorts - which brings me to this post. Sort of.

My mom stopped by today and as I sat down at my computer to respond to a tweet, she said "What are you doing?"

"I'm tweeting one of my Disney peeps on Twitter."

"You need a 12-step program," mom said.

"Why? I'm not on Twitter all day." (Nope, not all day.)

"Not for Twitter. You need an intervention because you're addicted to Disney," mom said.

Addicted to Disney? As if that's a bad thing!

I will be the first to admit that I am in all likelihood addicted to all things Disney. [And isn't admitting your 'problem' the first step? haha]. But it's a good thing.

To me, Disney is pure magic. It's a place where you can go and forget all your problems and smile and laugh and wear your Mickey ears proudly and just be happy.

I've been visiting Walt Disney World since I was a toddler (and that was a LONG time ago!). I've spent time at WDW in the middle of the summer with all the crowds, during October when you practically had the park to yourself (this was pre-free dining!), on New Year's Eve (and I vow to never again attempt the Magic Kingdom on New Year's Eve!), and in the late spring (after the Easter week crowds have gone home).

Now that I have my own kids I want to share the Disney magic with them as often as our budget will allow. My husband says "there are other places to visit besides Disney" .... which I'm sure is true and we will make it those places...someday.

For now, I will proudly admit my Disney addiction and will continue to plan our next family trip! [And I will also continue to wish upon a star for that lottery win so that I can buy my DVC membership!]

[If you want a better idea of my love for Disney, I suggest reading this blog post . Mike Scopa, a feature writer for AllEars.net says it best. And while I might not shed Mouse Tears at the same things, I could come up with my own top 10 list!]

*I've always loved Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse and Cinderella. One of my favorite things when I was younger was this Cinderella wristwatch that my parents (or maybe my grandparents) bought me - it had three different bands (white, pink and blue) that you can change to match your outfits, and I loved that watch. I wish I knew what happened to it. I'd love to let Olivia wear it.

**Check out that photo ... don't you just LOVE it when a rainbow appears over the Magic Kingdom!?!

Get to the Point - Part 2

OK, so in the previous post the day-long rainstorm had FINALLY ended (yeah, thanks local weathermen for the original 30% chance of rain predication...guess you missed the mark on that one, eh?) -- and now we were headed back to the park.

Cedar Point isn't the type of park where you need a "gameplan" in order to make your day enjoyable - you either go there to stand in line (a lot) to ride the world famous coasters or you go to wander around and let the little ones ride the kiddie rides. That's about it.

But, I still have a few thoughts about how to make your trip more enjoyable for everyone in your party.

TLC's Top 10 Tips

1. If you have small kids, pack snacks. And sippy cups. There is NO reason to spend a ton of money on amusement park 'snacks' when it's just as easy to pack a tote bag or backpack and fill it with individual bags of Cheez Its, Goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, etc. [OK sure, the brochure says 'no outside food' but honestly, NO ONE checks your bag as you enter the park. And I've never seen the 'food police' walking around confiscating Cheez Its].

2. If you are staying at the Hotel Breakers (or any other resort), pack food for breakfast. At the Breakers your breakfast choices are VERY limited - you can either pay an arm and a leg for some Krispy Kreme donuts and Starbucks coffee ... or ... you can pay and arm and a leg for a breakfast buffet. We've done both unfortunately and I would seriously recommend bringing your own donuts or cereal and milk (especially if you get a room with a 'fridge)! I would also recommend bring some pop and/or bottled water to keep in the 'fridge too. Even if you're only staying one night.

3. Eat the 'world famous' french fries! Seriously. You must do this. Head to the back of the park, near the Gemini roller coaster and buy some fries. With cheese. And vinegar. You can thank me later.

4. If you are a coaster enthusiast...be prepared to stand in line. There is no FASTPASS option at Cedar Point. You will wait. Sometimes for hours.

5. If you go this summer, be sure to stay until 'twilight' so that you can see the new "Starlight Experience" on the Frontier Trail. The CP Web site describes it this way: "Immerse yourself in a canopy of light! Walk the Frontier Trail for a multi-sensory experience, featuring lighted displays, music, splashes of light and over one million LED lights." We made it a point to stay until dark and it was worth it. A nice addition to my favorite part of CP (the Frontier Trail).

6. Visit Camp Snoopy and Planet Snoopy -- if you have kids. Several years ago, Snoopy and friends showed up at CP. These two areas are great for the little ones -- they are full of rides for kids of all ages (and most of the rides are "parent friendly" too). And, if you're lucky, you just might run into Snoopy, Charlie Brown or Linus while in Camp Snoopy. [Camp Snoopy is located near the Gemini, while Planet Snoopy is located off the Midway].

7. Ride the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad. Round trip. It's a nice 15-20 minute train ride. A good way to rest your tired feet.

8. If you're staying at the Hotel Breakers, take some time to play in the sand. Or at least let the kids play. It might not be the Florida coast...but the Lake Erie shoreline is pretty (and the water is clean)..so pack those beach toys and chill out in the sand for a while.

9. If your budget can handle it, I would recommend buying a two-day Ride and Slide ticket. We bought ours at the hotel for $63.99 per adult (junior tickets were cheaper). With these tickets you can visit Cedar Point and Soak City (the water park) over the course of two days. For example: we spent Saturday at Cedar Point and upon leaving we had our hands stamped with a waterproof (but NOT sunscreen proof) stamp. We were able to return to the park after the rain stopped and only had to show our hand stamp. The next day we went to Soak City in the morning and then headed back to CP in the afternoon.

10. Look for bargains when it comes to eating. One of the best deals we found was Saturday night when we were wandering around trying to figure out "what's for dinner?!?" Near the Midway we found a Johnsonville Brats stand and for $5 you could get a bratwurst, chips and pop. That is a good deal! Oh, and there are NO lids available when you buy a pop at any food stand. I find this odd and a bit irritating...but maybe that's just me. If you're looking for somewhere to sit and grab a bite to eat with the kids, try the Joe Cool Cafe - located across from Planet Snoopy. You can order Pizza Hut pizza (yum!) and THEY HAVE BEER (parents, I know you will appreciate this!). It's not really a "bargain" but it's better than grabbing more 'amusement park' food! [I should also mention - there is a certain sub sandwich place right outside Soak City and you will pay $7 for a 6-inch sub and $14 for a footlong sub. There is no $5 footlong at Cedar Point.]

OK...that's all. So, keep your hands and arms inside the ride at all times and enjoy your day at Cedar Point!

(Cedar Point is open until until November 1 this year. Halloweekends start September 18.)

Get to the Point - Part 1

Growing up in Northwest Ohio, the start of summer was always marked by the seasonal opening of Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

And, as a child, we always spent one hot and humid day at Cedar Point - riding the rides, eating the world famous french fries and ending the night with a purchase of saltwater taffy (which would never really get eaten!).

Last summer, we decided to introduce our kids to Cedar Point and, of course, they loved it! We went again last fall for the "Halloweekends" - where the park is decorated for Halloween and there is "fun scary" and "scary scary" stuff for kids of all ages.

Well, this summer we decided to make a mini "staycation" out of our trip to CP - and so, the "party of 10" [from our Disney adventure] headed east toward Sandusky a few weeks ago.

We had reservations at the Hotel Breakers - which is the 'flagship' resort for Cedar Point. It was built in 1905 and well, let's just say it's showing its age. My husband and I had stayed at the Breakers last summer - but obviously we had a room in the "newer" section in 2008 because our room this year was nothing to brag about. It was old. That's all I can say about it.

(The hallway of the Bon Air section of the hotel - where we stayed this year - reminded me of the hallway from The Shining. All that was missing were ghostly children on tricycles calling out "Redrum! Redrum!")

OK, sorry...I digress. All in all, the Hotel Breakers is NOT that bad. It's old, yes, But that gives it a little bit of charm too. The lobby is nice and it IS right on the beach....so it has that going for it. My recommendation if you are going to stay at the Breakers would be to REQUEST a room in the newer sections of the hotel and stay OUT of the older sections.

For the price they charge (a one night stay with park tickets for 4 people in a non-lakeview room with 2 queen beds = $403, according to the CP reservation site) you need to be in a MODERN room. (That price quoted IS in the Breakers tower or the Breakers East section - both of which I believe are newer and include a dorm size refrigerator). [As it was, our rooms were NOT in the newer section and they still cost about $220 a night! That being said, my parents have vowed to NEVER return to the Hotel Breakers.]

A few positives of staying 'on site' at the Breakers -- we were able to get into Cedar Point an hour before the park opened (this is more of a 'good' thing if you're one of the avid coaster riders that swarm to the park every summer). For us, it just meant we could take the kids to 'Planet Snoopy' an hour early. We were also able to buy our two-day "Ride and Slide" tickets at a discounted price as resort guests.

Another 'plus' to staying on site was this -- we could go back to our hotel for a while and rest. This was a saving grace for us on this trip because it RAINED. A lot. I'm talking epic rain here people. My dad spent about $70 on ponchos for the group because it was the ONLY way we could even walk through the park to get to the few attractions that were open during the deluge.

Finally, by 2 p.m. we were tired of being rained on and so we headed back to the hotel to dry off and watch The Weather Channel. Thankfully, by 4 p.m. the rain was gone and the sun was out and we were back in the park!

[As an aside, when it rains at Disney World you can just put on your ponchos and still have enough to do to make the rain seem not so bad. This is NOT the case at Cedar Point.]

Coming up....what to do and what not to do on your trip to Cedar Point.