The announcement....

While it wasn't about a fifth gate, a new ride or new resort, Disney did announce today that the 2011 theme will be "Let the Memories Begin!"

Disney has set up a new website, www.disneyparks.com/memories, where you can upload pictures and movies of your WDW trip.  Disney will use some of these pictures in their print and TV ads.  Plus, starting in January, some of these pictures will be illuminated onto Cinderella's Castle in WDW and "it's a small world" in DLR.

Are you excited about this theme?  Personally, I miss the Year of A Million Dreams!  

A Major Disney Announcement Today!!

I'm excited!!  Today at noon, Disney is making a major announcement concerning the Parks!  I've read all kinds of speculation from a new nation joining the World Showcase to a new DVC resort to a new park in Europe.  We shall see in just a few hours!

What is the right age for Disney?

What is the right age to take your child to Disney?  This is definitely one of the questions I hear most from moms considering a trip to WDW or DLR.  So, what IS the answer? 

From my experience, there is almost no wrong age for a child to be at Disney!  Now, I wouldn't take a newborn, and I wouldn't take a really young one in the peak of the summer, but I've definitely seen my share of young babies in the park.  As a mom, though, I couldn't imagine dragging such a young child through the park, especially in the very hot and humid summer months.  It's not fun for the child, and it's definitely not fun for the parent.  But I swore up and down I'd never take a baby to WDW, and there I was in 2008 with a 10 month old, and it was really amazing to see her experience WDW.  We've also found that our favorite age to take a child has been when they are three, since the experience constantly changes.


A lot of making this determination depends on the child, of course, especially if there are any special considerations necessary.  However, for most children, I think most parents are just hesitant to take their child for a myriad of reasons, including that they are too young to remember the trip, that they will have to go back to the room to take a nap, etc.  And from my experience, a lot of these concerns come from a parent's fear of the unknown.  

One of the most important considerations is just be willing to rest during the day.  Have lunch, go back to the room, chill, sleep, swim, whatever; then head back to the park around dinner time.  You will feel better, your child will feel better, and you'll be in a better mood.   This is, hands down, one of the biggest reasons we stay on property.  We don't have to worry about travel time sucking away our precious time.  In fact, this has led us to stay at a monorail resort our last two times at WDW, and one of the deciding factors in staying at GCH on our recent Disneyland trip.  Rest is so important.  You don't want to be That Family - kids are screaming and whining, parents are rolling their eyes and yelling at the kids and everyone is hot and miserable.


If you're thinking about taking a baby, you should know about the Baby Care Centers, especially in WDW.  Each park has its own Baby Care Center, which is a nice, quiet, air conditioned little slice of heaven.  There's a private area for nursing, a waiting area for dad and the other kiddos with a TV, clean changing areas, things for feeding - mircowave, high chair, etc.  If baby has a blow out or you are out of supplies, they have some available for a nominal fee.  


Don't be afraid!  Make sure you know what Disney offers.  Consider staying onsite.  Know your family's limits.  But have fun!


Any questions you want to see answered about little ones at Disney?

What do all those little letters mean?

The more you look at any travel site about Disney World or Disney Land, you will be bombarded with acronyms.  Here's a list to help you get started.  It's a work in progress - I'm sure I'll be adding to it as time goes on!

Walt Disney World
WDW - Walt Disney World
MK - Magic Kingdom
DHS - Disney's Hollywood Studios
AK - Animal Kingdom
FW - Future World
WS - World Showcase
SSL - Seven Seas Lagoon
CM - Chef Mickey's (or Cast Member, depending on the context)
BL - Bay Lake
ME - Magical Express
EE - Expedition Everest
KRR - Kali River Rapids
TL - Typhoon Lagoon
BB - Blizzard Beach
DDP - Disney Dining Plan
TS - Table Service
CS - Counter Service
ADR - Advance Dining Reservation
MYW - Magic Your Way



Resort Abbreviations-
Poly - Polynesian Resort
WL - Wilderness Lodge
WLV - Wilderness Lodge Villas
POP - Pop Century Resort
POFQ - Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
PO - Port Orleans Resort
CBR - Caribbean Beach Resort
CS - Coronado Springs Resort
BC - Beach Club Resort
YC - Yacht Club Resort
BW - Bordwalk Resort
BWV - Boardwalk Villas
BLT - Bay Lake Tower
GF - Grand Floridian Resort
CR - Contemporary Resort
FW - Fort Wilderness 
SOG - Shades of Green

Disneyland
DLR - Disneyland Resort
DCA - Disney California Adventure
WoC - World of Color
GC - Grand Californian Hotel
DLH - Disneyland Hotel
PPH - Paradise Pier Hotel
DL - Disneyland Park
DTD - Downtown Disney
GRR - Grizzly River Rapids

Abbreviations Used By Both
PoTC - Pirates of the Caribbean

IASW - It's a Small World

HM - Haunted Mansion

BTMR - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

FL - Fantasyland

TL - Tomorrowland

DTD - Downtown Disney
CM - Cast Member

So, why am I doing this?

To know me is to know that I love Disney.  Not in some kind of obsessive, overcrazed way.  But I get the Mouse.  I get the appeal.

Growing up, it was pretty common for us to go to Florida with my grandparents for a week long vacation.  My grandparents stayed at the same hotel in Ormond Beach for 30+ years, every year, without fail, until my grandmother's health prevented her from making the trip.  They'd have a room, we'd have a room.  My parents would usually say we weren't going to Disney that year, we're taking a break.  But about Tuesday, I'd get the itch, and so did they.  We'd go over for a day, sometimes two or three, and hit the parks.  Some years, I'd feel extra lucky.  We'd go down a few days early, stay in the World, then head to the beach.

Then a funny thing happened.  I grew up, went to college and got married.  Suddenly, I'm off the parental payroll!  I have my own bills!  And, gasp, a kid!  The in 2006, I fell victim to a very well done ad campaign by Disney - a family of four can spend a week for something in the neighborhood of $1500.  Score!  We were only a family of three at the time.  The more we investigated, looked and planned, by the time we booked, what we chose was WAY more than $1500.  But that was okay, as it was our first week long trip since our honeymoon.  What an amazing trip this was!

And here we are.  Four years later, and I'm totally sucked in again.  I swore I'd never take a baby, and there I was a few years ago, running around with a 10 month old.  I love planning our trips so much, and I have stored so much information away.  I love talking about planning so much that people have emailed me, had me over to their house and talked to me for long periods of time just trying to get a grasp on this massive place called Walt Disney World.  I'm starting this blog to help others, help my friends and help myself by giving me an outlet to share.

Now we're planning a trip to Disneyland, and I couldn't be more excited!

Welcome, and I hope you find this blog useful and entertaining.