What to Pack?

So, you're going to Disney World.  What to pack?  This is a question many people ask when they are planning there trip.  Here's my two cents:

1.  TENNIS SHOES - I have always worn my flip flops at Disney World.  I love flip flops.  I wear them every day.  Plus, if you get wet, soggy tennis shoes are no fun.  Well, this year, I decided to listen to my husband and give the tennis shoes a try.  I will never wear flip flops at Disney World again!  My feet and legs were so much happier wearing tennis shoes all day!  I highly recommend tennis shoes for a day in the parks!

2.  Extra Clothes - I usually pack two sets of clothes per day for us.  We go to the parks in the morning, and come back in the afternoon to rest/swim/whatever.  You don't want to put on dirty clothes when you're going back out in the evening.  So I make sure we have extra sets of clothes for the days we are going to be in the parks.

3.  Poncho/Rain Coats - We usually take ponchos in our backpack to the parks.  It is Florida, and you never know when you're going to get caught in a rain shower.  We have used our ponchos every year.  Unfortunately, the first year, we didn't bring them and had to buy them in the park.  OUCH!  Bring your own!

4.  First Aid Kit - I don't bring anything major, just a little something with band-aids and some antiseptic.  We have lots of scrapes and blisters, so band-aids are a must!

5.  Camera- Duh!  You're definitely going to want pictures/videos of those magical memories!

6.  Backpack - I mentioned this already, but we always take a backpack into the park.  It can be a bit cumbersome, but we've tried taking smaller bags, and have just found that the backpack works best.  We can bring our ponchos, first aid kit, camera, bottles of water, snacks, and whatever else we might need.

7.  Sunblock - Again, this is Florida.  You're going to need sunblock!

8.  Medications - Of course, if you take daily medications you'll want to take those, but I learned to always bring Tylenol/Motrin as well.  Our daughter caught strep throat last year at Disney World and we had to carry the children's Tylenol around in our backpack!  We also bring allergy medicine, just in case!

9.  Hand Sanitizer - I ALWAYS keep this in my backpack at Disney World.  There are gazillions of people there and if you have kids, they put their hands on everything!  And usually you're stopping to eat while you're in the park, so you'll want the hand sanitizer nearby. 

Of course, if you forget something, there are plenty of places inside and outside of Disney World where you can get what you need.  The most important thing is to have fun!  So don't stress about this part!  You're probably going to forget something, and it is going to be okay! 

Until next time...
Disney Diva

Special Events

There are a number of special events that happen at Disney World seasonally.  They are fantastic, and if you happen to be there during one of these events, you'll definitely want to take part!  The one I can't wait to see for myself is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!  You must have a special ticket for this event, and they have offered discounted tickets to Disney Visa cardholders for events like these in the past.  But it is completely magical!  Holiday parades, characters decked out in their holiday best, free hot cocoa and cookies, snow on Main Street USA...It is not to be missed!  Staying on the topic of Christmas, Epcot also has a candlelight processional that I hear is amazing.  Celebrity hosts narrate the Christmas story with a mass choir to create an unforgettable holiday experience.  This event does not require a ticket, but you can get reserved seating with a lunch or dinner package.

In the Fall, Magic Kingdom also offers Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  This is another ticketed event where kids (of all ages!) can dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom.  Characters are decked out in their Halloween attire and villains who are scarce at other times of year make special appearances.  There is a Boo to You parade featuring the Haunted Mansion characters as well!  It is all a bit of not-so-scary fun!

There are other special events held around the year.  Magic Kingdom's Night of Joy is coming up soon on September 9-10 featuring Christian music artists.  They also host the marathons in January and February, Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival has amazing topiaries in the Spring-last year they had Lightning McQueen and Tow-Mater right at the entrance to World Showcase...so cool! And of course, Epcot's Food and Wine Festival in the fall where you can enjoy food and drink specialties from around the world!  Hollywood Studios has Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights at Christmas with millions of lights, and in the summer, Star Wars Weekends for the Jedi in your family!

To find out more about special events at Disney World, click here.

Have you attended any of these events?  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time...
Disney Diva

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Walt Disney World has just announced free dining dates for October 2011-March 2012!  Like the last free dining promotion, if you stay at a value resort, you will be given the Quick Service Dining plan, and if you stay at a moderate resort (or above), you will get the regular Dining Plan (which includes table service meals).  Quick note:  2012 Quick Service Dining Plan only includes 1 snack per day instead of 2.  If you've been thinking about planning a Disney Vacation, but have been waiting for a good deal, here's your chance!  Rooms designated for promotions are limited, so call soon to get the resort of your choice!  Packages must be booked by October 29!  You can find more details here.

Happy Planning!

Until next time...
Disney Diva