WDW Daily News

I am admittedly not a Star Wars fan. I’ve seen all the movies but they never moved me in the way they have many of the fans and rather than insult the fandom I just sort of stayed away from all things Star Wars. I had my first Star Wars Disney experience a couple of years ago when May the 4th was a limited time magic event and lets just say the experience was less than magical for me. It left a nasty taste in my mouth with anything Star Wars related in the theme parks and from then on I swore off Star Wars…until this past weekend. I decided to try out Star Wars Weekends. I’d never been and I kept seeing my friends posting pictures on facebook of their experiences and it looked like fun so I decided I’d give it a whirl. I  only had one day off that week so I was only going to be able to go that one day but I figured one day would be enough to accomplish a lot. And boy did I accomplish a lot.

When I arrived I grabbed my map and I headed towards the back of Hollywood Studios. I knew most of the characters were meeting there and character meets are my favorite so I decided to see how many I could get. Can I mention that it felt like Tattooine and it was stupidly hot that day?! I hopped in line for Eowk Chip and Dale and I had a fun time with them, but in the 20 minutes I waited for them I think I sweated over two gallons so I headed over to One Man’s Dream to cool down. One Man’s Dream is admittedly my favorite thing in Hollywood Studios. I love all the models and the film is so moving. I’ve recently really gotten into learning about Disney history so it was the perfect place to spend about 30 minutes in the air conditioning.

After that I ventured out again and decided to wander around Pixar Place. I saw Mase Windu- his line was very long so I decided to skip it. I saw Darth Vader- his long was insanely long so I skipped it. I saw Boba Fett—his line was crazy long so I decided to skip it. All the lines were insane and admittedly I was getting discouraged. This wasn’t fun. As I headed towards the streets of New York I saw Cinderella’s Carriage was still there. I’d seen the film 4 times so of course I stood in line to get my photo with that. And then I skipped over to see Mr. Gold’s Pawn Shop window. I know this is about my Star Wars Weekend Experience but I spent a good 15 minutes looking in that window. As a fan of Once Upon A Time that display made my heart happy. I headed back up to Hollywood Blvd where I met up with a friend and we headed into the Great Movie Ride.

It was my first time riding it since the update and while there were some things I really enjoyed (the new end film) I missed the old ride a fair bit. I’m not overly fond of the new audio spiel but the Mary Poppins bit in the very beginning was still there and that is my favorite part of the whole attraction so I was happy. At this point we headed into Darth Maul and I met…a Jawa. I didn’t actually know what a Jawa was (it’s a trader) but the Jawa I met was amazing. She traded really fun items with my friend and it took  a selfie with me. On a side note for my friends that SnapChat Jawa’s have the power to sign your snapchats which is pretty awesome!

I got to see the creator of Her Universe, though I didn’t get to meet her, seeing Ashley Eckstein was pretty amazing! I love her clothing line and I had no idea she came to Star Wars weekends every year. Fashion and Star Wars- this is something I can get into. My spirits were up. I headed off to my Hollywood and Vine dining for the what I thought was going to be the highlight of my day. On Star Wars day 2 years ago I REALLY wanted to meet Jedi Mickey but I didn’t get to. Fast forward two years and he was the first character I met in my dining experience. He was the perfect gentleman I might add and I had a blast. It was my first time eating at Hollywood and Vine and I really enjoyed the experience. It is buffet style dining and for the Star Wars events the food is themed with fun star wars names. My favorite was the dessert bar. I had a Yoda, Darth Vader, and Jabba the hut cupcake. All three were delicious. I had real food too, but why go with real food when you can stuff your face with as many desserts as you can handle?! In the dining experience you get to meet all the Disney Star Wars Characters- Leia Minne, Darth Goofy, Storm Trooper Donald, Ewok Chip and Dale and Jedi Mickey. To me the experience is well worth it because you are guaranteed all those characters and its in the AC. I loved the experience and I will definitely do that again next year!

After my dinner I met up with my friends again. They had gone to the Frank Oz lecture and told me they cried their eyes out at how amazing it was. I didn’t realize you could go to shows like that at star wars weekends but now I know and I’ll be trying for those next year. We wandered for a little bit before heading over for fireworks. I experienced some true Disney Magic and I got to watch from the VIP section. The view was amazing! While we were waiting for the show to start we noticed a few more people walking in. We looked over and Ray Park was there! Ray Park aka…DARTH MAUL! He was lovely. He took photos with me and my friends and wished us a great night! It got even better. We stood feet away from Frank Oz aka YODA AND ALL THE MUPPETS! I didn’t get to meet him but I was five feet away and that was more than enough for me! Then to top it all off I got to meet John Arnold Taylor the voice of Obi Wan Kenobi in the Clone Wars! What a way to end my Star Wars Weekends Experience!

So needless to say though it started off a little rocky my star wars weekends was PERFECT! I can not wait to go again next year and do all the things I didn’t get to do this year! So thank you Disney…you made a Star Wars fan out of this girl

Yes, I know this is a silly topic, but it’s exactly what happens every time I start to pack for a trip to Disney World. For my husband, this is no big deal. He grabs whatever and throws it into the bag and he’s done. I, on the other hand, over think and over pack every single time. Maybe you can help me out. Let’s talk about how to dress for the parks.

First and most importantly you want to dress for comfort. That’s different for everybody, and I haven’t quite mastered it. My first thought is shorts and a top. This is my basic outfit unless we visit in the winter months, and for the most part it’s comfortable… until I get on a water ride. Then, it’s hello chaffing town (TMI?) Then, there are the shoes. I used to wear flip flops with no problem, but have recently started having nerve problems in my feet. But that’s not too difficult a problem to fix. I now make sure to pack a good pair of sneakers. All of this seems really logical right? You want comfortable clothes that aren’t too hot and reliable footwear. But that’s not good enough for my mind… I don’t want to just be comfortable. I want to look good!

After I’ve gathered my most comfortable clothes into a mountain on my bed, I start weeding through them trying to find things I feel confident in. Being self conscious isn’t a problem for everyone, but it really is for me. So feeling confident in what I’m wearing plays a big part in my packing process. I’m not saying I’m wearing my Sunday best and doing my hair and makeup every day, but I do want to look back at our pictures and enjoy the memories, not remember how much I dislike myself. By the end of this process, I usually have 3 more outfits than necessary and they’re all very similar, Disney or skulls.

So now that I’ve tried on all my clothes, narrowed down my clothes, and probably cried at least once I start think accessories… yes I accessorize on vacation! Now, I don’t mean matching necklaces and earrings.  I’m talking about all my awesome Disney swag that I get weird looks for wearing back in Tennessee. My three favorite park accessories are my Maleficent light up horns, Minnie Mouse ears, and Mickey ear top hat. At this point, I reevaluate what I’m packing to make sure that one of these will match.  (How many people are shaking their head at me right now? )

I know this is a ridiculous article. What you wear is not where near as important as where you are. Sometimes I struggle with this concept with my body image issues. Being in Disney makes me forget those problems, but looking at our pictures sure do bring them back. So yeah, I probably do spend more time picking out an outfit than I really should, but I’m just trying to create the most magical experience I can by dressing comfortable and confidently.

How about you? What’s your perfect park outfit? Let’s talk on Twitter @hoodie_life.

After many trips to the World, I can’t help but think about the places inside the Magic Kingdom that would make lovely homes for those of us who just can’t get enough of the magic. After a brief conversation with my husband, we came up with a few potential locations for our future dream home as long as Disney doesn’t mind us moving in.

1. Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island: This location would be ideal because it is off the beaten path, and you could have some privacy here from the many crowds that populate the Magic Kingdom. The areas on the upper level of the fort could be converted into living quarters, and the audio animatronics in the various barn spaces would have to find a new home. The bedrooms could occupy these barn spaces, and you could expand the bathrooms that already exist. I would leave the guns in the rifle roost, but I would make sure that they each make the satisfying shooting noise that they are each supposed to make when you “shoot” them. You would have to have your own boat transportation for getting to and from this island, or you could create a secret tunnel under the Rivers of America, so you could escape at any time if necessary. If you set up a viewing area, you could even enjoy the Wishes fireworks from high atop the fort. Clearly, the fort would be a wonderful place to live as well as offer a unique view of the Magic Kingdom.

2. An apartment on top of the Plaza Restaurant/Ice Cream Parlor: My husband would love to live in this area because he cannot get enough of that waffle cone smell that emanates from the ice cream parlor. This would also be a prime location for fireworks as well as parade viewing. Who wouldn’t want to live on Main Street? You could pop into the Plaza for a daily ice cream treat or a tasty hamburger. After all of those calories, you will have to do some serious exercise, but you could just keep walking around the park because you would already be home!

3. The second floor of the Columbia Harbour House: If you have eaten at the Harbour House, you have probably noticed the spacious area on the second level of this restaurant. This area could easily be converted into a home. You would have excellent views of Fantasyland as well as Liberty Square. The second floor is huge, so you could have many rooms. I would keep the nautical theme and the background music. I love to listen to the sea shanties because they remind me of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. If you get hungry during the day, you could go downstairs for a hummus sandwich and an apple dessert treat. In addition, you could easily visit the Haunted Mansion for a quick ride or the Hall of the Presidents. This would be quite a centrally located home.

4. Swiss Family Robinson Tree House: Now, this is an obvious choice because it is already set up to be a home, a primitive home, but a home nonetheless. This house would offer excellent views and photo opportunities as well as an endless supply of Swiss Polka music. Yes, I would leave the Swiss Polka playing, all day, all the time. It is just that awesome! Some of the rooms would need to be closed in and modernized for our comfort, but this would not require too much work. Plus, who wouldn’t want to live in Adventureland with an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom? With regard to the prime location of this home in Adventureland, you would also be able to frequent Aloha Isle so that you could purchase daily Dole Whips.

5. The Formerly Burning Settler’s Cabin: Now, this is definitely a fixer upper, but it is already set up as a house, and it has a lovely forest surrounding it. Back in the olden days of Disney history, this cabin used to perpetually burn, but now the fire has been extinguished. As a result, we could move right into this cabin. It is a little small, but we could do some additions. Like the fort, we would need to have a secret tunnel in order to reach the cabin, and we would also have an excellent view of the fireworks at night. As the riverboat passes on the Rivers of America, we could stand out in front of our homestead and wave at all of the passersby. We could become castmembers and dress as residents of our pioneer cabin. This would definitely be fun. We would have a place where we could live, work, and play! It’s our own version of EPCOT.

I hope you have enjoyed my look at potential Magic Kingdom homes. Where would you choose to live? Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

In my mind, there is a spectrum of Fastpass+ users: on one side, there are the people who don’t use Fastpass at all. These Disney guests either don’t care or don’t know what Fastpass is, and if they choose to ride the more popular attractions, they’re probably going to be waiting in lines for 45 or more minutes. On the other end of the spectrum, we have what I call the ultra-planners. These are the moms/dads who plan out where the family is going to be every hour of every day. Fastpasses are booked 60 days in advance, times guides are planned out on spreadsheets- these people go the whole nine yards. Although I’m not saying that it’s bad to be an ultra-planner or not use Fastpass+ at all, I aim to be somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Fastpass+ is a great system if you use it correctly, so here are just a few tips on making the most of Fastpass+ without going to the extremes.

1. Use the option to change experiences/times for Fastpasses. Disney offers Fastpasses in groups of 3 Fastpasses per park per day. However, sometimes the times or attractions offered to you aren’t ideal. This is where you use the option to change times or the experience for your Fastpass. What I usually do is choose the group of Fastpasses that has the most of what I had in mind, then I go back to each individual attraction and check to see what times are available. If you’re lucky, you can choose just about any time that you want to experience the attraction, especially if you’re booking at least a week in advance.

1. Download the MyDisneyExperience app. Although Disney offers Fastpass+ kiosks in the parks, there are sometimes long lines just to get to the kiosk to choose your Fastpass+ experiences or change times. If you have a smartphone, I would definitely recommend downloading the free MyDisneyExperience app, which is how you can choose Fastpasses, manage dining plans, see your available park tickets, and view reservations. It’s a lot easier and faster to use your own phone to schedule a Fastpass than to use the in-park kiosks, and you get more time to make sure you’re getting what you want.

1. Don’t use Fastpasses up on unnecessary attractions. Sometimes, I wonder why Disney even offers Fastpasses on some attractions. Many attractions at Disney rarely have long lines, and sometimes the Fastpass line is just as long as the regular line is. Some attractions that I would recommend not using a Fastpass on are: Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Mickey’s Philharmagic, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, MuppetVision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. These attractions almost never have long wait times, and for most shows, the Fastpass line just ends up meeting up with the normal line.

1. Schedule Fastpasses for earlier in the morning first. If you want to take a chance at getting more than 3 Fastpasses in one day, it’s best to schedule your first three Fastpasses for morning/early afternoon. Then, after you use up those Fastpasses, you’ll get a chance to schedule additional Fastpass+ reservations using your MyDisneyExperience app or the in-park kiosks. Although choices might be limited, there’s always a chance that you’ll be able to score a great Fastpass!

1. Realize that you won’t get everything done. So many people try to cram as many experiences into their short time at the parks, and honestly, I think it takes a lot away from the experience. Although I can understand that going to a Disney park might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some, or just an every-five-years experience for others, rushing off from one attraction to the other leaves no time for recognizing the intricate details that Disney works so hard to create and just simply enjoying one another’s company. We always try to slow it down while we’re at the parks, and I’ve found that this often makes a more memorable experience than ultra-planning ever will.

All of us at WDW Daily News want to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July!!  Have fun and be safe.

If you’ve been a Disney fan for any length of time, I bet these initials look familiar to you.  Wait. What?  You don’t know?  Well let me help you out.  These are two of the most popular events at Walt Disney World – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  But which one should you plan your vacation for?  Let’s talk about them for a minute.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom is a treat for everyone.  You’ll see kids of all ages dressed up as their favorite Disney character.  The Villains get a chance to shine in the Mickey’s Boo to You Parade, as well as in Hallowishes.  There are pumpkins, and scarecrows, and silly spooks everywhere. Cookies, drinks and candy are free to everyone who attends.  This is a separate ticketed event, however, and the party runs from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Also during the time of year for MNSSHP, The International Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT is also taking place.  There are so many wonderful and unique food and drink experiences from around the world.  If you are on Disney’s Plus Dining Plan, using Snack Credits for these tempting tastes is a great way to use them.  There are also plenty of culinary demonstrations to attend as well, some at no cost, and some requiring reservations and a fee.

Now for MVMCP: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is also a separate ticketed event in Magic Kingdom, like MNSSHP, but with a quite different feeling.  You’ll hear Christmas Carols, and munch on hot chocolate and warm cookies. There’s even snow on Main Street.  Grab your place for Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmas Parade, then stay for Holiday Wishes.  The Characters are all dressed up in their holiday finest, and Christmas decorations abound.

Now, if you’re the house on the block that has the biggest and brightest Christmas display, you’ll definitely want to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.  The millions of Christmas Lights are choreographed to familiar Christmas songs.  It’s truly amazing.  There’s even “snow”! Be on the lookout for Mulch, Sweat and Tears singing their version of your favorite Christmas tunes.

So, did I make the choice any easier for you?  Well, I know what to do…..how about planning a Walt Disney World vacation during the Fall Season 2015, then a Christmas vacation in 2016.  You can then decide for yourself.

Happy Deciding.

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, especially when on vacation.  I enjoy every meal when I am on vacation, but I must admit I enjoy breakfast the most.  I have my favorites at each Park, but my newest discovery is great for breakfast.  Animal Kingdom’s Pizzafari, located on Discovery Island as you enter the Park and head to the left toward Africa, is an excellent breakfast option.

Pizzafari is a quick service location.  There are four dining areas, each themed differently.  The walls are painted with brightly colored murals depicting different animal themes, camouflaged animals, animals that carry their homes, animals that prowl at night, and animals that live upside down.   The chairs and tables are painted to fit into the themed areas.  I recently had breakfast sitting on a large colorful insect!   It is a visual delight and there are many hidden Mickeys to be found, but the breakfast food is what I want to tell you about.

The menu is not overwhelming, and offers many varieties of breakfast options.  There is the Bounty Platter with eggs, bacon and sausage, breakfast potatoes, French toast sticks and a biscuit; the Breakfast Croissant, a toasted multigrain croissant with egg whites, spinach, provolone and vegetable chutney served with breakfast potatoes; a Breakfast Burrito with sausage, eggs, cheese and vegetables packed inside; Kid’s Breakfast Pizza and a Kids Breakfast Platter.  My husband and I have had the Bounty Platter and the Breakfast Burrito and found them to be plentiful, tasty and worth the price. There is enough on the Platter that I usually end up with my husband’s French toast sticks!  And since we usually ask for cups of water, we can eat for around $18.  I only wish there was salsa to go with the Burrito.

There is plenty of seating available.  There is a patio with outside seating in addition to the indoor themed rooms.  There are restrooms located inside too. The times we have visited, shortly after Park opening, there has been little waiting in line and we were able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading on Safari.  I am not sure how the crowds or the menu at lunch would be as we have not eaten there for lunch.  I do recommend stopping by there for breakfast, there’s something for everyone to eat and look at!

Two years ago I was not a runner. Not even close. I had just had my fourth baby. Okay “just” really means one year prior to that, but in mommy time that year goes fast! I looked at the photos from her practically perfect Alice in Wonderland themed first birthday party and realized that my “baby weight” had become “actual weight”. I did not like myself in those photos. I’ve struggled with weight my entire life, so I know how difficult it is to lose, and I knew I needed some real motivation.

For a huge Disney Parks fan, what was better motivation than dressing like a princess and running through Cinderella Castle? My best friend convinced me that it was possible to go from couch potato to finishing Disney’s Princess Half Marathon in 8 months. I bought a used jogging stroller, a Couch to 5K App for my phone and some new gear. I remember when after the third week, the App wanted me to run for 5 minutes without stopping. I just knew I could not do it. I was scared. I decided to do the prior week’s 3 minute run for a second week in a row because I was chicken. But the following week, somehow, I ran for those 5 minutes. The beginning was tough. Thinking about running for 5, 10 and even 20 minutes without a walk break was intimidating. But I had already signed up for my race, and I told everyone I was going to do it, so there was no backing out now. In fact, I convinced my equally out of shape mother to do the race with me. She admitted later that she thought it was 13 kilometers not 13 miles!

One of the reasons I love runDisney events, is that you don’t have to consider yourself a runner or be super speedy to have a successful race. For folks who may find a local half marathon intimidating, a runDisney event is welcoming to slower participants. For runDisney endurance events such as 10K’s and half marathons, participants must be able to maintain a 16 min/mile pace. With some training and effort, many people can maintain this pace with a fast walk or run-walk-run technique. Many people like my mom. Did I mention she is turning 67 this month? The middle and back of the pack of these events is full of fun loving folks in tutus and costumes having fun. If you feel like you don’t look like a runner, “Hakuna Matata,” because you’ll fit right in!

After two years with that used jogging stroller I have lost 40 lbs, and mom and I have completed three runDisney Half Marathons. We just returned from Disneyland’s Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend with not just our Tinker Bell Half Medals, but our 2015 Coast to Coast Challenge Medals. And if we can do it, YOU can do it!

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited about the future of Disney and television. There are so many good shows on ABC right now, DuckTales is getting a reboot, and there are talks of potential Star Wars and Marvel channels in the future?! Disney, you’re speaking to my soul! But, all of this thrilling talk of the future has me reflecting on past.

The DuckTales reboot announcement happened on my birthday, and it absolutely made my day. I loved DuckTales as a kid, and for years have been dreaming of an old school Disney Channel. My dream channel would include Goof Troop, DuckTales, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, and Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers, just to name a few. If Disney is considering Star Wars and Marvel channels, could my dream channel be somewhere in the making?! A girl can dream. Until then I’ll just dust off my old VHS tapes and hope they wear out anytime soon.

Are you excited about what’s coming to a TV near you? Tell me about what you’d like see on the Marvel and Star Wars channels and what your dream throw back station would include.

Let’s talk on twitter! Hit me up @hoodie_life

I recently returned from my very first trip to Disneyland and my experience was nothing short of amazing; so much so that I will be taking a totally unplanned trip back to California in November. Rather than bore you with every single detail of my trip I’ll share various stories about my experiences while I was in the park that started it all! I was given the chance to do so many different things while I was there including running the inaugural Pixie Dust Challenge race during Tinkerbell Marathon Weekend, but more special than earning 4 amazing medals, I was able to do something even more special: I got to do a tender ride on the Disneyland Railroad.

I had hoped I would get the chance to do a tender ride while I was in the park, but I had intended to do it later in my trip, not on my arrival day! When I arrived to Disneyland and finally entered the park the train was my first destination. When I started my journey as a cast member my first location was on the Walt Disney World Railroad, so it is only fitting that I visit our sister railroad first. I had only gone up to the train station to say hello to the cast and take a few pictures, but when I mentioned that I operate the engines in Florida they were more than willing to share all sorts of amazing stories of their experiences! Not only that they asked if I wanted to do a tender ride. OF COURSE I WANT TO DO A TENDER RIDE! For those unaware riding in the tender means you’re in the cab basically. At Walt Disney World the only opportunity to go in the cab if you aren’t a cast member is to take the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour, but because of the way the engines at Disneyland are made its possible to bring guests up there.

I waited about 15 minutes for the train to return and I was taken to the front of the train. It was so cool getting to ride in the cab of the EP Ripley and chat with the fireman and engineer operating that day. They were so kind in answering the 900 million questions I answered about the day to day operation, how their trains worked, just everything. It was so amazing to get to see the differences and similarities to the railroads in both parks and it was cool to share stories. Plus I have to say our friends at Disneyland have a bit of an advantage—it’s not nearly as hot in the cab of their trains as it is in the ones at Walt Disney World.

The whole experience was just amazing, but I have to say that getting to do my tender ride in the EP Ripley is by far one of the most precious Disney experiences I will ever have. If you’re not familiar with the trains at Disneyland, here is a fun fact. The EP Ripley was Walt Disney’s favorite engine. On opening day there is a lovely photo of Walt Disney driving in one of the trains…that train was the EP Ripley. So when I was in the cab of that train…I was able to touch a train seat that Walt actually occupied. As a person that loves Disney and a cast member that is literally the most amazing thing in the world. I am so grateful for the experience I had on the Disneyland Railroad. It set the tone for the most amazing Disney trip I’ve ever had! Until next time friends… All Aboard!