First-Timer Tips: Disney's Magical Express

Disney's Magical Express

Complimentary airport to WDW transportation and luggage service for Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Guests

I love Disney's Magical Express.  Once you've booked your flight into Orlando International (MCO), call Disney or your travel agent with your travel dates and flight numbers.  A few weeks prior to your vacation, you will receive a booklet and some luggage tags in the mail.  Attach the tags to the handles of your suitcases and pack the booklet in your carry-on bag.  Check your luggage at your home airport and you won't see it again until it appears in your room a few hours after your arrival in Orlando.  How cool is that?!?  The Disney team collects all of the tagged luggage and delivers it directly to your room. You don't need to be there to receive it so you can start having fun right away.

Back to the booklet in your carry-on, that is your ticket to get on the bus to Walt Disney World.  After you arrive at MCO, follow the signs to Terminal B, Level 1 and go all the way to the end of the hall.  Check in there with the Magical Express Cast Members and they will direct you to the proper waiting area for your resort.

You'll wait a few minutes here.  I've never waited very long but I suppose it could be up to 20 minutes or so.  From here you board a motorcoach (think comfy seats) and head to Walt Disney World.  The overhead screens will show a Walt Disney World informational movie.  Ok, let's be honest, it's a commercial but I still always enjoy it. The bus will stop at several resorts but they are located near each other and people will only be exiting the bus so the stops are reasonably quick.  

Be sure to pack anything you'll need for the first few hours in your carry-on since you won't see your luggage for a while.  The Disney information says 3 hours but I'd be prepared for longer than that, just in case.

On the day before your departure, you'll find envelopes hanging on your door handle.  Read the enclosed letters carefully and make sure to note the time to catch the bus back to the airport.  They are typically pretty punctual and won't wait for you for long.  Pack this letter and your Magical Express booklet in your carry-on again, as you'll need one of them to board the bus.  

For domestic flights with most airlines, you can check your luggage at your resort.  Simply take your bags to the airline check-in desk, usually located near the front desk/entrance of the resort.  You'll need the same information as if you were checking bags at the airport.  The only difference is you'll be more likely to be greeted with a smile here.  They can accept bags up to three hours before your flight, after that, you'll need to take them with you to the airport.

If you have a little time to kill on departure day and need to keep the kids occupied, check out the coloring and/or TV areas available at your resort.  Old Key West has a nice room called Community Hall with arts & crafts, games, and movies playing, as well as cartoons on a continuous loop near the check-in desk.  

At your designated time, board the bus to Orlando International Airport and head home.  There is another movie as you leave to help pass the time.  I've seen the security line wait as long as 30 minutes at MCO, but Magical Express gets you to the airport about two hours before your flight so no worries.

  

I hope this information helps as you plan your Walt Disney World vacation.

Disney pros, do you like Magical Express or do you prefer to rent a car? Please leave a comment below.  I prefer Disney transportation and letting someone else do the driving.

Flying Alone with a Toddler and a Preschooler....Again

In January my girls and I flew to Walt Disney World to meet my best friend for a girls' vacation.  In May we repeated the journey, this time to visit with Granny and Granddaddy at their second home.  With a little planning and a little luck, flying went well.  May was Tink's fourth flight to WDW and Minnie's second (sixth and fourth trips, respectively.)  My husband couldn't join us on either holiday but is a good sport to go to work while we play.  He thinks we should travel while we can before the girls are tied down to school.  But I digress....(and aren't I lucky?!?)

Here are my top ten tips on flying with small children.

1. Think Outside of the Box

We live in Eastern North Carolina and there are a few small regional airports available to us.  However, I book us on flights with Southwest out of Raleigh/Durham.  For one, their prices tend to be a little lower and the lack of bag fees helps since we are absolutely checking luggage.  Secondly, from this larger airport, we can get a direct flight from RDU to MCO.  Yes, we have more travel time on the road but driving in the van is much easier than flying in terms of the girls.  We leave nice and early and with any luck, at least one of them will nap on the way over.  My husband and I used this trick before kids as well.  We lived in Tulsa but drove to Kansas City for a direct and less expensive flight.
  

2. Stick to the Schedule

If you have multiple flight times available, I find that working around mealtimes and naptimes is helpful.  For older kids, killing some time on the flight with lunch might be good, but I'd avoid it with the little set if you can, too messy. We get to the airport in time to have a meal right before we leave so we don't board with empty tummies or low blood sugar.  And I've been fortunate that Minnie napped on both return flights so those were easy after take-off.

{I started this article prior to our trip in May.  That journey that makes me giggle a bit at my previous advice.  It's good advice but there weren't as many flight times this go-round so we ended up with a 10:30 am departure, landing just after noon in Orlando.  That doesn't sound so bad but we all were up earlier than usual and it just didn't work for meal or nap times. We were all in meltdown by the time we boarded Magical Express.  They behaved well on the flight but it fell apart later and honestly it was as much me as them.  Thankfully, Minnie finally got a nap and I let Tink play with some electronic device while I enjoyed the relative quiet. Given the options, we did the best we could but I shouldn't have planned a dinner for that evening.  I'll chalk that up to being overly excited and optimistic.  May just proved that a good flight time can really help.}

3. Cheat

Yes, I know children aren't supposed to have much "screen time" but if you have any electronic device, load that bad boy up with kiddo stuff.  Thanks to getting direct flights our time in the air is pretty short and I see no harm in watching a movie or playing a game or two.  I look for new games and shows prior to our trip.  The girls each have a set of headphones and I bought a splitter so they could both listen to the same show.  We should practice with the headphones at home more before the trip.  Neither of my girls has been all that interested in headphones as a toddler but Tink did well with hers.  We are an iFamily and I traveled with an iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch as well as Tink's LeapPad loaded up with a new TinkerBell book she had not seen previously.  And just to cover my bases, I pack an external battery in my carry-on.

I also carry candy.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Ha ha.  Kidding.  My stash of Smarties and some small clearance priced Easter packs of jelly beans saved the day on several occasions.

And lest you think I just fill my kids with sugar and give them electronics, we do carry healthier snacks (natural applesauce and raisins), paper, pens, stickers, and a new trick in the old diaper bag...pipe cleaners.

4. Use All Available Resources
My preschooler is quite easy on an airplane but the toddler is a bit more of a challenge.  It's a strange environment and she doesn't want to follow the "get on the plane and sit down" rule.  When we managed to score a free seat for my lap child, that little extra bit of space was really nice.  While the rest of the plane was finding seats, Minnie was rearranging the magazines from one seat back pocket to another and getting out some last minute wiggles.  In May we had full flights both directions so we had tighter quarters.  I tried my best to keep her occupied before takeoff with a faceless air-sickness bag puppet (note to self: have a pen ready next time) and looking for puppies and kittens in the SkyMall catalog.  And that box of jellybeans may have come out...

5. Cups and Snacks
I carry a sippy cup on the plane for each girl that is about half filled with water, after security, of course. They can drink from them during takeoff to relieve ear pressure and when the apple juice comes around later, I have lidded cups ready to go. And it goes without saying but pack plenty of snacks.  Goldfish, raisins, cheese sticks, applesauce pouches, Mickey fruit snacks and peanut butter cups (jif to go, not reese's) have all worked well for us.  Be sure to carry something for yourself too.  That tiny pack of pretzels won't improve anyone's mood.

6. Stroller
My husband thinks I should check our stroller with the luggage.  Granted I don't particularly need it in Raleigh since so far they have been kind enough to let him have a pass to help us to the gate.  But I know the baggage crew is working fast and furious and I prefer not to have my stroller among the items they are throwing about so I gate check our strollers.  Plus, it's REALLY nice to have the ability to corral one or both of the kids.  My sanity is worth lugging carrying the stroller with me.  The line for security in Orlando can be a half hour and having the toddler safely in her stroller is a big help.  I would be a wreck if I had to fight to keep both girls in line for that long plus deal with our luggage, paperwork, etc.  My strollers fold easily and go through the x-ray machine without issue.

In January, we had a City Mini Double from Simple Stroller Rental waiting at Old Key West for us so I took my smallest stroller, a Maclaren Volo.  Minnie had a place to sit in the airport and it turned out to be a great back-up to the full-sized double.  Last fall, I broke down and bought ANOTHER stroller.  It's a Joovy Caboose Ultralight and was a steal at nobetterdeal.com.  This is a fantastic Disney stroller for my girls and worked great in the airport.  For the trip home, I made the stroller smaller by putting the canopy and snack tray in my checked suitcases.  Tink didn't need to ride after we arrived at RDU which allowed the stroller to also be a handy luggage cart.

7. Go for the Burn
We all know keeping kids cooped up for too long is a recipe for disaster so I try to let them burn off a little energy when they can.  Going for a walk in our terminal and finding an unused gate for some playtime have worked for us.  Also, don't forget that most, if not all, of the WDW resorts have places for kids to color and/or watch movies.  My kids enjoy coloring at Community Hall or watching old cartoons in Papa's Den at Old Key West while waiting for Magical Express.

8. Ask for Help
I don't know what the rules are on this but so far Southwest Airlines has allowed my husband to go to the gate with us on the three times I have flown alone with one or both girls.  I'm fairly sure we have reached the limit since Minnie will soon be two, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

This was just offered to me, but Southwest also allowed me to skip the main line at ticketing in Orlando since all I needed was a boarding pass for Minnie.  Our luggage had been checked at Old Key West.  I was sent to the upgraded area and only waited a minute or so for the next employee to be available.  If someone is working at the beginning of the queue, ask very nicely and see what happens.

9. Deputize Your Older Children
Tink has recently turned four and wants to do things for herself and be a helper.  I told her that I was going to need her to be a good listener and help me at the airport.  She carried her preschool backpack with a few toys for herself and little sister.  Tink held Minnie's hands while I was putting the stroller on the security conveyor belt.  I really appreciated my little assistant.

10. Take a Deep Breath
Even if the kids are going nuts and you can't wait to get to your destination, know that in the grand scheme of things, this is likely a very small portion of your trip.

That's my list.  What did I miss that works for you?  Please share so we can all learn from one another. Thanks! ~Amy

Girls' Trip Day 1: The Adventure Begins

The first day of our trip went really well. We had a direct flight from Raleigh to Orlando and the girls behaved nicely. We had a row to ourselves and they enjoyed getting snacks and juice. They watched Cinderella on my iPad for most of the flight. Tink was a champ. Minnie got fidgety at the end but it's hard to contain a 19 month old for long. An iPod Touch in a Fisher Price case and a few silly songs from Mom certainly helped.

We met up with my bestie, Amy S., near the Magical Express area. We waited about 10 minutes for a bus but the girls were thrilled to see Aunt Amy so it went by quickly.

Once at Old Key West, we got checked in (score! First floor room so I don't have to carry the stroller up stairs!), borrowed DVDs, bought dinner from Goods to Go, groceries from the general store and picked up the stroller loaned to me from Simple Stroller Rentals. (I am very pleased with it so far. Full review after I get home.)

Amy's suitcase was already here when we arrived at the room!

After dinner and a little settling in, we took a boat to Downtown Disney. It was packed. Somehow I've never gotten Ice cream at Ghirardelli before. We tried twice but the lines were too long for the kiddos. The highlight of the night was making shirts at Design A Tee. We'll wear them for our princess breakfast on Thursday.

Despite plans to the contrary, we stayed out too late and both girls fell asleep on the bus home. Tink crawled in the stroller when we got off the bus and went right back to sleep. She stayed in the stroller until I moved her to the bed about an hour later after I had unpacked and gotten Minnie and I ready for bed. Minnie happily watched Lady and the Tramp while I unpacked suitcases.

We didn't have the best night of sleep but I have plenty of coffee and another plan to get us home earlier tonight. Today we are off to a late breakfast at Chef Mickey's and then to Magic Kingdom to meet more friends.

Nine's Disney Adventures Continue: Tink's First Trip from the UK to WDW Part 1

Many thanks to Janine for sharing her family's Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World experiences with us! This latest installment is her trip report from her WDW visit this fall.  

We have fairly recently returned from our first trip to WDW with our 2 year old daughter, Tink. My husband and I have each been several times before but this was to be the first taste of America for the smallest Pipe. She had been to Disneyland Paris with us in June for a very quick 2 night visit.  Tink both thoroughly enjoyed it (we rode IASW about 1,000 times) and was over-awed (she literally screamed when she saw King Louis and Baloo).

 
We booked the WDW trip back in March for September 22 through October 6. This was a short time period of planning for us, but the holiday was very much a last minute decision. We last visited in 2009 when I was pregnant with Tink and didn't think that we would be able to afford to return until a planned family visit in 2014. But sometimes life deals you a card which makes you think just go for it, and so we did.

Being old hands at Florida holidays made the planning and booking process a lot easier. I still laugh when to think of when the Travel Agent phoned me trying to sell me some tickets to Universal. No thanks I said, we won't be going this year. But do you know about such and such they asked? This is my 5th and my husbands 7th visit I replied. Oh was the answer, well you probably know more about it than me then. Teehee.

We booked the flight, hotel and car hire through said Travel Agent but online rather than in the store which allegedly saved us some time and money. We booked the tickets to WDW through Disney directly but bought the 14 day Hoppers which are only available for UK customers. We opted to upgrade our flight to Premium seats which meant we had a dedicated check-in, extra baggage allowance, complimentary food and drinks etc. Well worth it with a pre-schooler as it was her first flight and 9.5 hours of sitting down with nothing to do was not going to happen! She actually did pretty well on the flights, refused to sleep the whole way there but made good use of watching Mickey on the iPad and playing with the huge bag of surprises I'd brought for her. Luckily she did sleep most of the way home, thank goodness as it was an over-night flight! There was one small child who was really wailing for part of the flight and I just felt so sorry for them and their parents, it can't be any fun with a grouchy child and disapproving looks from fellow passengers. We put her in her PJs and made sure she had her favorite pillow and blanket and that really helped too. We also brought her bed time sippy cup so she could have her usual milk and hot chocolate, so she had all her bedtime signals. I really think this worked more than anything to get her to sleep. A big tip was to buy toddler sized head phones. The ones provided on the plane would have been way too big and hers were pink, just what every 2 year old princess-in-training wants.

We booked a Dodge Caravan as we wanted plenty of space even though it was just the 3 of us. We really liked this car and would happily have one again. It just about fit all the stuff we carted around with us each day! We chose to take our car seat and stroller rather than hire them Stateside as Tink likes what she knows and knows what she likes. As the stroller is a Maclaren Volo it is really lightweight and folds up super quick anyway. Having a stroller was a Godsend, even when Tink didn't want to use it we laden it up with the bags in the Parks so we could carry extra stuff without worrying about the weight.

As this was a quickie/cheapie holiday we did not stay on-site at WDW but just outside in Lake Buena Vista. We stayed in the Clarion Inn on Palm Parkway and were about a 2 minute drive from the first WDW sign and just over 5 from DTD. The hotel was perfect for us as we had requested a ground floor room, lots to do and places to eat with in walking distance and a very short drive to the Parks. It might not have been as fancy as some of the WDW hotels (Oh Grand Flo I dream of staying in you one day) but it did us fine for what is was needed for and we would happily return.

Contributed by Janine P. of Swindon, England. She is a proud wife, mommy to Felicity and one of our Minnie Moms.  Check out her monthly series which followed her as she planned her family's first trip to Disneyland Paris.  Learn more about Janine here.

Please join us again soon when Janine shares fun memories and lessons learned about time in the Disney Parks from this most recent adventure.

Saving Money on Your Flights to Walt Disney World

Don't forget to keep an eye on sales even after you book your flight.  I made air reservations for us in August as soon as our January dates were confirmed.  Flying alone with two little girls, the nonstop flight was a necessity.  While I got a good price initially, the sale out today from Southwest was even better.  I went online and "changed" my flight, keeping the same dates and times but selecting the new lower prices.  Now Southwest's rules don't allow them to send me a refund check on the particular tickets I purchased, but I do have a $64 credit with them toward a future trip.  Not sure if all airlines do this but it's certainly worth checking out.

~Amy

A Double Stroller with Options for Walt Disney World

Before Minnie was born, I started shopping for a doublestroller.  We already had two single strollers (Maclaren Volo and Bob Revolution) that we loved but with the girls only 25 months apart, Tink would still be young enough to need a seat too.  I wanted one stroller that would do it all but alas, that just doesn’t seem to exist.  We live in North Carolina with nice weather and lots of festivals so a Bob Dualie (clearance priced!) won out.  Bob makes a fantastic stroller.  They are easy to push with large seats, huge canopies, excellent suspension, and infant car seat compatible.  The weight isn’t really that bad since most double strollers are heavy; but it’s the overall size that makes it a less than ideal Walt Disney World or general travel stroller in my opinion.  Granted, we saw lots of Big Bobs at the parks in May but mine won’t be joining their ranks.  We now drive to WDW and we own a minivan but even with the wheels removed, Big Bob still eats up a lot of space.  I take it shopping but it’s really designed to be an outdoor stroller.  While jogging, it doesn’t feel nearly as tank-like as it does in the post office.  Plus, even on sale, Bobs are pricey and stroller theft does occasionally happen.

These concerns sent me back to stroller shopping around Christmas.  I knew we would be going to Walt Disney World this year and in years to come.  Minnie didn’t need much so if I found THE smaller double stroller, I’d put it on her Christmas wish list.  I found several great models but with so much already invested in the three strollers we had, it seemed wasteful to buy another. I still keep an eye out for a steal on a Maclaren Twin Triumph, a City Mini Double, a Combi Twin Sport, or maybe a Joovy Caboose Ultralight. 

One morning in December, I checked Craigslist and happened to find a used Maclaren Quest listed for $20.  Needless to say, I called.  The seller told me about the stroller and said she had received another call on it but she would be home that morning if I wanted the first look at it.  I rounded up the girls and drove the hour to her house.  The stroller definitely showed some wear and tear but the frame and seat were in good shape and I handed over the money.  The Quest has a reclining seatback and extendable footrest, both of which make it great for my smaller child.  It weighs about 12 pounds before accessories.  The foam on one handle has some damage and I’m thinking about wrapping the handles with bike tape in a bright color before our next WDW trip.  That will serve double duty as it will also help us find it faster in the stroller corrals.  I already owned a seat liner that fit nicely, provided a bit more padding and covered the sunscreen stains I couldn’t wash off.  I bought a sunshade and cupholder from Amazon.  We've used this stroller quite a bit for preschool, errands, etc.

So why did I buy another single stroller? Well, I also purchased stroller connectors from Amazon for $10 and viola, a double stroller.  The connectors work best when the stroller frames are alike or very similar in size.  Since my original travel stroller is a Maclaren Volo, it matched up nearly perfectly with the Maclaren Quest.  Now we have a lightweight double stroller for travel that gives us flexibility.  Tink is three and most of the time thinks she is too big for a stroller.  Minnie is 14 months old and while she is a great little walker, a stroller is a must for Disney days.  For shorter outings, we can just take one stroller.  In May, we went to Downtown Disney on our first night and left Tink’s stroller behind in the room.  We only took one stroller to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well since most of what we would do with the kiddos was toward the front of the park.  The caveat with that statement is that my mom gets around Disney World on her scooter and Tink thinks riding with Granny is the best thing ever. 

Why have the second stroller when it is empty most of the time?  One word: naptime.  Tink still needs an afternoon nap but won’t take one willingly.  We won’t be making the trek back to Old Key West for an afternoon break because it would be a waste of time for my family.   We do take a break, but it’s either a visit to a resort or pushing the girls until they fall asleep in the stroller and then relaxing wherever we happen to be.  We normally travel with a group so there is always someone willing to sit with the sleeping child and people watch. That brings me back to another benefit of the two-stroller system.  It’s likely that the girls will nap at different times.  If we want to go in separate directions with strollers, we have that option.

The stroller connectors come in a set of three and the instructions show where to place them.  Inevitably the front wheels will occasionally tangle up.  I found this happened much less frequently when both girls where riding and therefore there was weight in the stroller.  It just takes a little time to get used to taking turns a little easier to keep the wheels apart.  However, it’s simple to disconnect them by leaning the stroller back a bit and gently shaking.

Two single strollers connected together is wider than a standard double stroller but you can rarely take a stroller inside at WDW so it wasn’t an issue.  We kept them separate until after we entered each park.  It was easier to go through the front turnstiles with my dad and I each taking a girl and her stroller.  Tink hated riding in the stroller on those mornings but it was nice to have her safely contained as we waited through bag check and entrance lines, as well as on a packed ferry to Magic Kingdom.  We also split the strollers and Dad and I each pushed a girl one day to lunch when we had all gotten too hot, tired and hungry.  I did run into a couple of spots where the combined strollers were either a little too big or just barely fit.  In those cases, we got through but it’s really not a big deal since I could always just unhook them and push them through separately if I had really needed to do so.

My dad was kind enough to do most of the stroller pushing during our trip in May.  Toward the end of the week, I asked him if he would have preferred the double Bob over the connected Maclarens.  He’s a tall man, so his answer was just “which has the highest handles?”  I’m closer to 5’5” so all of our strollers work for me height-wise.   I was pleasantly surprised with how well the connected stroller handled.  Other than the occasional wheel lock-up, it pushed great. 

Our next vacation is planned for November and this time we’ll have 5 adults and 2 kids.  If Tink doesn’t want to sit in her stroller as we enter the park, that’s fine because we will have enough hands to take care of kids and gear.  We’ll still have her stroller for nap purposes.  I wish we could figure out a way to attach one folded stroller to either the open stroller or Mom’s scooter but it’s just too big.   With the stroller connectors in place, the extra stroller rides like a sidecar to Minnie’s stroller and can always carry my backpack. 

I’ve recently scheduled a trip for January for myself, my two girls, and one of my best friends, also named Amy.  She and I will be using Disney transportation for the whole trip so we’ll need to get the two girls and two strollers on and off buses, etc.  Thankfully the Maclaren strollers are lightweight at 8 and 12 pounds and I think I can handle that better than one behemoth.  I’m flying and meeting Amy in Orlando so I’ll have the girls by myself in the airports and on the plane.   I have flown alone with Tink before so I am aware of how I’ll need to prepare.  I’m planning on checking the heavier of our two strollers with our suitcases.  We’ll take the smaller one with us through security and gate check it.  I have considered checking them both or just renting a double stroller for this trip but I think it will be worth it to be able to corral at least one of the girls in the airports.  Tink will get out a little energy by walking, which will hopefully help her sit still on the plane.  I can keep her close by having her hold her handle on the stroller.

I’ve really been thinking about a sit and stand type stroller for flying, visiting family in DC, errands, etc.  Again, I can’t justify buying another stroller but I have gone to test drive some just for the fun of it.  I didn’t care for the Baby Trend or Graco versions for my purposes.  I’d like to test out the Joovy Caboose Ultralight but I’ll have to do that some time when I am over in Charlotte as there isn’t a nearby store that sells them.  We tend to travel with the single Bob and Tink has figured out that she can jump on the front for a ride.  Minnie's legs are getting too long for this to work much longer since she's discovered that she can kick big sister.  Which brings me to another bonus of traveling to WDW with two single strollers...separating the kids.  The stroller connectors keep the seats apart so it's like having two captains chairs in a van.

We've been taking more family walks getting ready for our November trip.  I've taken the single/double stroller, which reminds me just how much I like this set up.

Nine's Disney Adventures Continue: Up Next, WDW!

So, here we are at 47 days to go until our next and (UK) Tink's first visit to WDW.  We've ticked a few more things off our to-do list so things are coming along nicely.

In case you didn't follow my Disneyland Paris plans, here is a brief synopsis.

First trip together

Myself, my husband (DH) and our 2 year-old daughter (DD), Tink, will be travelling to Florida on 22nd Sept thru Oct 6th. It will be DH's 7th and my 5th trip to WDW but the first time in America for DD. We took her to DLP in June and she loved it. She adores everything Disney and talks about the upcoming trip on a daily basis.

So far we have -

Booked flights and upgraded to Premium seats. This comes with all the usual First Class perks, extra room, first on/off the plane, dedicated check-in, extra luggage allowance, more food and unlimited drinks etc. The sole reason we've upgraded is the time we hope it'll save at the airports. We also have use of the lounge for free at Sanford coming home which will make leaving the US a little easier.

Booked the hotel. The Clarion Inn in Lake Buena Vista which is a Disney 'Good Neighbour' hotel. I still need to email them this week to confirm the request for a ground floor, car park facing room, rather than the I-4. It's our first time staying in LBV but we've heard only good things about this family style hotel.

Janine and Felicity at Disneyland Paris

Booked car hire and upgraded to Fully Inclusive insurance package and intermediate sized car.

Booked Disney park tickets - we've got the 14 day park hopper tickets which are only available in the UK. Tink is still free as only 2 years old.

Got our ESTAs (Visas) as we now have to apply online before we travel. We have thankfully been approved, phew!

Got some dollars and are busy saving every penny to get some more.

Checked all passports are in date.

Travel insurance sorted.

Made sure we've got plenty of shorts and tee-shirts to wear. I don't know about the US, but the UK shops now have their winter stock for sale ie jeans, sweaters, coats etc. Not good when you suddenly realize you only have one pair of shorts to take to Orlando in the September heat ... Luckily anything we haven't got now we know we can buy Stateside, and it gives us the perfect excuse for a shopping trip. I can't wait to visit those Outlet Malls!. Tink of course has several new outfits bought especially for this holiday including a couple of gorgeous Minnie dresses for when she meets her. I'm still trying to find a Princess outfit to fit and not too fussy for the parks.

Most toiletries purchased already, courtesy of working for Avon and getting some great bargains!

New 'park' bag bought - a Kipling ... Not sure if these are available in the US but they are very popular amongst UK WDW fans as they have so many pockets and seem to be just like Mary Poppins bag, seriously, the stuff you can shove in them is awesome!

New waterproof sun hat and sunglasses for Tink. She'll be getting some new trainers (sneakers) but we'll leave those until just before we go as her feet grow all the time.

Touring Plans and The Dibb Busy Day Guide consulted. We have made a MAJOR decision. We are not doing Magic Kingdom on our first day. The reason? When we did DLP Tink loved the Disneyland Park so much she cried when we went to the Studios. So we have decided to leave MK until last, so she can experience each of the other parks first before she becomes obsessed with MK, Fantasyland and it's a small world in particular! It will be tough for me not to see The Castle on my first morning though *gulp*. We've decided to do Hollywood Studios first as we know Tink will love Toy Story Mania (DH will run straight there after rope drop), Playhouse Disney Live and Beauty and the Beast. We plan to just spend a couple of hours there on the first morning, it'll no doubt be tiring (there is a 5 hour time difference) and overwhelming for Tink to start with.

And that is going to be the theme of the holiday really. We will try to get to the parks for rope drop each day because we know that madam will be up early for a while whilst she adjusts to US time. Therefore it makes sense to get to the parks as early as possible. But because she still has a daytime nap, and only does this in her crib (never sleeps in stroller and very rarely in the car) we plan to just spend a couple of hours in Disney then head back to the hotel for a rest. We will then pop back out in the afternoon but this might be to a mall or DTD, something less hectic than a park again for the first few days. As she gets used to the time difference and the heat we hope to extend the time we spend in the parks or go back in the afternoon but there is no pressure. We just want to enjoy ourselves in our Happy Place and get some great memories of Tink's First Visit to The Mouse.

Check back with me next month when I talk about what attractions we hope Tink will enjoy and what dining arrangements we are making!


Contributed by Janine P. of Swindon, England. She is a proud wife, mommy to Felicity and one of our Minnie Moms.  Check out her  monthly series which followed her as she planned her family's first trip to Disneyland Paris.  Learn more about Janine here.

• New Series from Nine
• Part 1: Questions
• Part 2: When to Go?
• Part 3: Where to Stay?
• Part 4: Where to Eat?
• Holidays at DLP
• Part 5: Dates Booked
• Part 6: Attractions at Disneyland Park
• Part 7: Walt Disney Studios
• Part 8: Almost Ready!
• Part 9: Last Minute Preparations
• Nine's Report on her First Disneyland Paris Visit

A Walk Around The World With Ridge: Solo Trip Advice

I love traveling alone, especially to Walt Disney World. In the last few years I have traveled to WDW 7 or 8 times. Now my situation is different from some.  I have plenty of friends I can hit up once I get there but I don’t have to do so if I want some time to myself.


Here are just a few of my ideas for a fun solo trip to the world.

I like a mix of half structure and half free-to-go-where-the-wind-takes-me. So depending on your personality your experience may vary.

out of the window from Feb 2012

Travel:  Not everyone likes to fly.  Me, I love it and have a license from our government that says I met the basic proficiencies of the FAA to call myself a private pilot.  So I will hop on a plane in a second and bingo, an hour and a half later I am waking up at Orlando International Airport. Southwest is my carrier of choice because they seem to have a friendly staff and cheap fares.  However if driving is your thing, I have done that more than my fair share too. From Birmingham, Alabama, it’s a solid 10 hours in the car. Before I had a bad back that doesn’t like sitting still for very long (my apologies to anyone that sits next to me at the movies, movement is a necessity or pain sets in), I would drive, getting up before the sun even thought about it and heading out so I would get as much daylight as possible. If you want steady driving, I75 south from ATL will take you all the way there. If you want something a little more scenic from Birmingham, try highway 280 south, till it becomes 82/520 in GA then when you get to Tifton, Georgia, you get on 75 South again and move right on in. Amazingly these two paths from Birmingham are almost the same time wise. I love to fly!

Planning: If you are going to plan out a day, then please take advantage of the resources available to you. A wealth of knowledge is out there. My favorite two sites for planning info are Allears.net and touringplans.com. Both are packed with information and touring plans.com has a book called The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and I got to be a fact checker/research person in the 2011 guide. Check page 11 for my nameJ. 

When planning out my day for my first solo trip I wanted to have some projects to fill up my day with photography. I was doing it for several reasons. 1) I wanted a catalogue of pictures to use for the site 2) I needed to practice with my camera 3) I made sure that I documented the things I was doing because no one would remember them for me 4) it made me look at things like I hadn’t before.  I think Disney is one of the best places for people wanting to practice photography because you’ll never see most of those people ever again and you can get away with being as silly and artsy as you want to be. I’ve lain down on the ground to get an angle I wanted since what did I care what they thought? 

fun pic I took in Africa of Tamu Tamu Refreshments

Also on a first solo trip you need to decide what is it you want to accomplish: time in the parks, exploring resorts?  What is it that you want to do that you have never done because someone was with you and didn’t want to do it? I highly suggest the Keys to the Kingdom tour. Tours are wonderful ways to have fun while still technically alone, you are in a group and everyone cuts up and has a good time. The tour guides are wonderful and usually very funny and will keep you on your toes. A tour I am saving up for is the Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  It is pretty pricey in the peak seasons and you have to try and do it early or else the animals are all napping.  Check out my trip recap with the Keys tour.


A nice perk for the attractions are the single rider lines. If one is available, use it and cut that wait time down.

End of Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Dining: We have to eat right? Well, when I am alone I sometimes forget then have low blood sugar hit me while standing in a queue that isn’t moving. So decide early if there are any ADR’s you want to make. Never be afraid to have a meal anywhere by yourself.  The cast members see it all the time and you deserve you enjoy yourself as much as possible. I recommend Via Napoli as a great spot to dine alone. If you want some interaction, Oktoberfest in Germany is family seating so you will not be alone and if you’re like me then it is a great time to chat up families from all over the globe. I met a family from Leeds, England, and the father and I talked about Football (soccer) and the differences in our countries. It was brilliant. However if you aren’t wanting to take lots of time out of your day of adventure, try some quick service or a snack you have never had before. Sit on a bench and people watch, catch your breath and just listen to the park in action. It’s a weird cacophony of sounds.    

Transportation: Late night leaving the parks… ok this one works best at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. When you are waiting on that bus to take a million tired cranky families back to the resort, I keep a few bucks just for a taxi. They take credit cards too; I just like dealing with money sometimes. Nothing is really much more than 10-15 dollars and the high end is going back to the resorts that are the farthest away like AKL. I have used cabs on several occasions where I might have been an extra hour just waiting to get on a bus. Now at Magic Kingdom the taxis are found over at the Contemporary and I do not actually know where they are at AK, since that park closes early I have never been on a packed bus. Check out The Great Escape.

Minnie Moms: Do Not Forget to Pack...

This month I asked our Minnie Moms this question: "What can you absolutely not forget to pack for your family's Walt Disney World vacations?"

Amy: When I asked this question of the Moms, I was thinking in terms of tangible items but now my best answers to this question are your sense of humor, a good night's sleep, and a hot cup of coffee.  You can get just about anything else at a Disney gift shop or at the local superstore.

Keeping your sense of humor is essential.  I am guilty of letting myself get too tired or hot or hungry to deal well with little ones.  I've given myself a "do better slip."  Learn from my mistakes.  Guess what? Meal times are crazy at home with small children and they will only be worse when you are off schedule and in a very busy new place.  Just roll with it as best you can.  If your child makes a mess, bring an extra set of clothes, clean up the table as best you can and offer the Cast Member who helps you the biggest thank you.  If your child doesn't want to eat the meal you have paid too much for, maybe next time get yourself only a salad or a soup and share the kid's meal.  (That worked great.)

It's so tempting to run as hard as you can at Walt Disney World.  I frequently try to share the message of SLOW DOWN!  If you are taking very small children to a Disney park, you are more likely to be a frequent guest so don't try to see it all.  This last trip, Tink did more than she has on her previous trips but still far less than an adult could do.  Baby Minnie didn't take in many attractions at all.  I am looking at it as adding a little each visit.

And along with the slow down idea is getting everyone into bed at a decent hour.  Even more than the kids, you need your own rest.  They can always sleep in a stroller but you will be the one who is really busy.  Patience and sleep go hand in hand.

If you can't accomplish the sleep request, at least fake it with a good cup of coffee.  Many thanks to my father for bringing his Keurig along on our Hilton Head and WDW vacations this year.

Corby: This topic comes at the perfect time for me as I am packing today to head to Disney World! There are quite a few things that I can't go without and each time we go to Disney, I learn more and more about what needs to come with us and what doesn't. I'm a very light packer (my husband packs way more than I do). I try to keep things to a minimum because I don't want to schlep the kids, luggage and other miscellaneous objects to and from the car/hotel/parks. I figure if I need something that badly, I'll be able to find it in Orlando nearby. So, as I was packing, I narrowed it down to 3 items I simply cannot go to Disney World without. There are more items on my packing list but in order to keep this list condensed here we go with my top 3 all time favorites!

1. My beloved City Mini Stroller. I can't say enough good things about it. It's lightweight and collapses easily when we are getting on and off buses/boats. It has ample storage space and perhaps most importantly it can maneuver easily in the parks. My rule for children traveling to Disney is if they can fit in a stroller, even if there legs are dragging on the ground, bring a stroller! They may look ridiculous but if it keeps me from listening to whining then I say it's well worth it!

2. A small backpack is a must do. I need something that will carry items needed and leave me hands free for dealing with kids.

3. A changing kit. I randomly came upon this on our way down to Disney at a Walmart. I love it because I LOATHE public restroom diaper changing tables. Ew. At least with this kit I can put my daughter on it and have wipes, diapers and ointment all located inside the kit. It even has little plastic diaper bags to place soiled diapers in. It collapses easily, has a handle easy for carrying and can fit in my storage space under the stroller.

Natalie: For the past 6 years, I have fiddled with, hated and loved a wide variety of strollers for my son. My son's first visit to Disney World was when he was 3 months old. I brought along with me a baby carrying harness but quickly realized that even a 3 month old child was too heavy to carry for very long.  Quickly I realized that I would always need a stroller to help me out with the gear and my son. I looked to rent a stroller from Disney but found that the price to rent a stroller was too high for me per day. Instead, I brought along my stroller from home.

As the years have passed, my mother often asks me why it is that I still take the stroller for my 6 year old son. However, it never fails that somewhere along the day, my son becomes very tired from all of the hours of walking and asks to sit in the stroller for a while. If I was not still pushing around the stroller, I would need to return to the room or actually sit down instead of head on to the next attraction!

Now that my son is actually approaching the time when he may state, "I am too big to ride in a stroller", I am beginning to reevaluate who really needs the stroller! I admit it! I use the stroller to hold my stuff that I simply must have at the parks. The list of items hung on the stroller includes but is not limited to a camera, cooler, lunch items, a handbag, purchases, etc. If I am not taking a stroller to the parks, where will all of these items go? I suppose it will have to be carried by me! I guess I will worry about that later when my son declares he is too big!


Janine: The really boring answer to the one thing we couldn't forget (well, can I make it three?) are our passports, airplane tickets and credit card. Without these we wouldn't even get past London let alone into the US.  But everyone travelling into America needs those so it's not very personal.

I thought about saying our camera, but although I'd be upset, you can always use Photopass and even buy a new one if you really needed to.

Suntan lotion and hats, sun glasses and water misters are imperative when you're used to the dreary English weather, but again, could easily be bought Stateside.

It would be annoying to leave our 14 Day Disney Ultimate tickets at home as they are only available in the UK and it would be expensive to re-buy them at the TTC, but not impossible.

I wouldn't like to be without my itinerary as it is precisely planned using good ol' Touring Plans and the busy day guide on UK Disney Forum, The Dibb. But as we mainly plan to go with the flow, again, it wouldn't be the end of the World.

So, what one thing could I not forget, could I not even imagine being without at The House of Mouse?
My family :-)  Although DH has joked about sending me off to WDW on my own, I couldn't go without him or Tink.  He is the very reason I visited in the first place and, to me, a holiday in our Happy Place just wouldn't be the same without my husband and daughter.


Danielle: What is the one thing you can’t forget to pack for your family for a Walt Disney World vacation? For my family and I, that’s an easy one: hand sanitizer! Now this may be of varying degrees of importance for different people, depending on your level of, shall we say, germ “sensitivity”. I will be the first to admit that my husband and I are slight germophobes! So, what are two germophobes doing taking their children to Walt Disney World, you ask? Well, our love for the Disney magic that WDW promises outweighs our mutual phobia. What makes touching an infinite amount of lap bars, high chairs, play structures, and public transportation easier on us, though, is our hand sanitizer! BUT – you don’t have to share our “sensitivity” to see the benefits of hand sanitizer. When Suzie is demanding popcorn RIGHT NOW, hand sanitizer steps in where a bathroom would to clean her hands before eating. When the bathroom is out of soap (I know, I know, this is almost unheard of in WDW, but still!), hand sanitizer assures you at least that partial feeling of cleanliness after using the facilities. Did that man just cough all over the lap bar after getting off the ride and now you have to sit in his seat and use that same bar? Hand sanitizer will be there for you when you exit that ride! Ok, ok, so maybe these instances aren’t of critical importance to everyone, but why risk getting sick when you’re in the most Magical Place on Earth? Even if you don’t have a fear of germs, doing your part to ensure a healthy rest of vacation for you and your family surely must be at the top of your list! ;)

Thank you Corby, Natalie, and Janine for joining me on today's post.  And please help me welcome Danielle, the newest member of our Minnie Moms! 

Sad To See It End

My stay at Old Key West has been an absolute blast. This was my first time back "Home" in 8 trips over 2 years. Now I'm on the ME bus back to the airport.

It was a whirlwind adventure doing 24 hours at Magic Kingdom and seeing so many twitter friends who have become real life friends. I also met lots of new friends.

My last morning here in the World I went back to BabyCakesNYC the icing filled cookie sandwich is soooo good. Tweet them at @DTDBabyCakesNYC and tell Emily how awesome it is!

I went shopping/buying at the Art of Disney and went a little crazy, thank goodness for my Premium AP discount and Bridget the cast member who took care of me and helped me so thoroughly. It was a real pleasure to speak to her. Go by the Art of Disney and say hi to her, she really was wonderful. She even listened to my Disney Story and I gave her a GUD button for her trouble, hope you read this!

I spoke to another Cast Member at Old Key West when I picked up my bags from bell services. I believe her name was Kate. Her tag was partially covered by her hair and my fault for not asking. She too was a pleasure to talk with and also got a GUD button for taking a moment to listen to me :)

So all and all it has been a fantastic time here at Disney, the next few weeks will be going over pictures and writing down my thoughts. Hopefully I'll be able to tell a few funny thoughts to get you all to laugh along with me and count down the days till I come back in May.

But as much as I want to stay, I'm excited to get home and see my beautiful friend Michelle and see Wicked with her tonight.




- Posted by Ridge using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Walt Disney World

Greetings from Magical Express

I Love to Fly!



After a wonderful flight where I got a much needed nap I landed 1 hour and 20 minutes from gate to gate. It was smooth sailing all the way and my Magical Express experience is off to a great start.




As I walked up to the holding area to wait on a bus I was quickly grabbed and put on a bus that was ready to leave. So here I am on way to Old Key West and enjoying the 30 minute ride to Old Key West. :)




- Posted by Ridge using BlogPress from my iPhone

Minnie Moms: Biggest Disney Splurge

Natalie: This year, I took the plunge and purchased my top dollar Disney splurge, thus far. My family and I took a cruise aboard the Disney Dream. When I heard that Disney would be introducing new cruise ships, I could not resist. I had been on several cruises through the years but had never been able to take one aboard the Disney Cruise Line. I had wanted to take one of these cruises with my son, in hopes that he would enjoy cruising as much as I always had.

We booked our vacation aboard the Dream and were so excited to see what Disney had in store. Our room was one of the great inside rooms with the virtual porthole. We enjoyed sitting looking at our virtual window see what was going on outside and being occasionally greeted by a Disney character. The room was spacious and much nicer than what I had thought we would experience being in an inside room.

We quickly found that the Oceareer's Club was everything we hoped for. My husband and I found that we felt comfortable leaving him there to the Cast Members' care. My son found that he loved the Club so much that he often preferred the fun there to time with his parents!

My family found that Castaway Cay was our favorite part of the entire vacation. The island offered many unforgettable experiences for all of the family from snorkeling to water fun with the Club to water slide excitement. It was so very nice to have all of these offerings without paying extra for their enjoyment.

I hope to again board a ship owned by the Disney Cruise Line. If I do, I hope it is as exciting an experience as it was the first time!

Photo from DisneyStore.com

Amy:  My biggest Disney splurge of something just for me was my WDW 40th anniversary Dooney & Bourke tote. Thankfully, my brother purchased it for me on his 20% premium annual pass discount. Even with that and the fact that I was using Christmas and birthday money, I still had a hard time justifying a purse so expensive. I'm deep in the world of diaper bags and don't have an opportunity to carry a purse often. The 20% off finally twisted my arm and Chris was gracious enough to be my personal shopper and stop by World of Disney. Now I am really thrilled with the bag. It makes a lousy diaper bag but I carry it from time to time anyway just for the fun of it.  The pattern shows images from years past at WDW but isn't specifically marked for the 40th or for 2011, so it won't be dated and I should be able to use it for years to come.  Now they've tempted me with the new Minnie Mouse line of Dooneys but that will have to wait.


Janine: My answer to my biggest Disney splurge is quite simple and short - the holidays themselves.

As you will probably know by now, we live in the UK.  Therefore when we make a trip to the US, whether it be to Florida or elsewhere, we usually stay for 2 weeks.  So that's Trans-Atlantic flights, 2 weeks hotel accommodation, 2 weeks car hire, park tickets (both WDW and ahem, all the other Orlando Parks and Busch Gardens) for 14 days, spending money for food, sundries and souvenirs to cover whole fortnight, extra stay in a hotel in St Petes, tickets to the Rays, clothes money (we stock up on things like trainers, jeans and Abercrombie etc. as they're sooooo much cheaper in the US) and any other little treats that we can think of while we're there such as tickets to Cirque de Soliel.

So, all of that adds up to roughly about £5-6,000. That's about $7819-9382. Wow. That's a BIG spend ... Oops. No wonder we've only been 4 times in 10 years (with 3 other trips to America too ...). Hmmmm, now I know why DH says if I wanna be a stay at home mummy we have to wait until 2014 to go back lol.

I can't think of any single huge purchases that we've made whilst at WDW to add, asides from every time we got to World of Disney the bill ends up in triple figures. I think the most expensive items that we've bought have probably been clothing, I have a lovely Tink hoooded sweater from Tinks Treasures that was $65 and I know DH has a Jack Skellington baseball shirt which was around the same price. Funny how I would balk at paying the equivalent price in pounds in a High Street shop in England but in Disney I'm like, wow, what a bargain! That's how Disney make their money I guess?


Thanks to our regular contributor, Janine, and Natalie from Meet the Magic for joining me today.  Please visit the Minnie Moms page for past articles and more information about these fabulous ladies. 
~~Amy