Photo Flashback! Anticipation

Tink and Minnie excitedly looking for a bus to the Magic Kingdom.

Photo Flashback! A Father/Daughter Shot 34 Years in the Remaking

My first trip to Walt Disney World was in May 1979.  I was three years old.  One of the pictures DisneyDad has been able to find from that visit was this gem of the two of us with a rather quiet fellow. 

DisneyDad and Amy on Main Street USA in May 1979

We couldn't pass up the chance to recreate this photo with my mini-me, Tink, who has just celebrated her 4th birthday and 6th Walt Disney World vacation.

DisneyDad and Tink on Main Street USA in May 2013

Not as cute as we once were, but a photo I'll cherish just the same.  A PhotoPass photographer took this with my camera and really seemed to enjoy being a part of this special photo.  If nothing else, it was a break from his normal routine.

DisneyDad and Amy on Main Street USA in May 2013

Thank you, Dad, for a lifetime of fun memories!  I look forward to many more!! ~Amy

Magic Kingdom Silhouettes, A Family Tradition

Silhouettes are one of the unique souvenirs available to you at Walt Disney World.  The one on the left above is of me at age 3 on my first WDW vacation.  The one on the right is of my daughters and was done in May 2012.  Tink was also three years old and Minnie was 11 months and enjoying her first visit.  I plan on having the girls sit for these from time to time.  It will be a fun way to watch them grow.

I was surprised at how quickly the artist worked.  We didn't have to wait long at all and with two squirmy little girls right before a parade in wicked heat, that was a blessing.

The silhouette of two faces is about $17 and you get two mirror image copies.  That's not bad for such a personalized item.  If you'd like their oval frame, it is reasonably priced but I chose to frame it myself.  The backing paper is a standard 5x7.  

Our silhouette was done near the Christmas shop in Liberty Square.  There is also a cart on Main Street and I believe one in France at Epcot and at Downtown Disney. 

The Disney Parks Blog had a nice post on this topic including a video.

Have you had a silhouette done of yourself or your family? Is this a must-have souvenir for you?

~Amy

Photo Flashback! This Morning is Looking Up

 

Doesn't just the thought of the balloons on Main Street U.S.A bring a smile to your face?

Magical Blogorail: What's that Smell? WDW Scents We Love and Loathe

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Red.  Enjoy the ride as we discuss the Disney scents that have ingrained themselves in our memories, either for good or bad.

At Walt Disney World, the Imagineers try to engage as many senses as possible.  You are encouraged to see, hear, and touch the attractions to really take in the story.  Some parts of the World also include scents, intentional or otherwise, that are an important part of the experience.

When I started training as a Cast Member in Disney College Program, we took a walking tour of the Magic Kingdom as a part of a course known as Traditions.  I thought it was so cool (and just a little sneaky) that the aroma of freshly baked cookies from the Main Street Bakery as you walk down the sidewalk really comes from cinnamon and vanilla oils.  Think giant air freshener.

My family spends most of our vacations at Walt Disney World and we adore Disney transportation.  No, it's not super fast but we love letting someone else do the driving, getting dropped off at the front, riding the monorail and boats, and just generally relaxing.  As such, diesel bus fumes smell like vacation to me.  Doesn't matter where I am, if a bus goes by, instead of hating the stench, I'm wishing I was getting on a Disney bus to anywhere.  Along those lines, that kind of musty smell in the monorail welcomes me home as I say "por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas."

I hope my Oklahoma friends aren't offended by this one because I say it with love.  Prior to marrying my husband and moving near Tulsa, Oklahoma, for his new job, I can't say that I had ever smelled a skunk other than when Figment causes trouble at the Imagination pavilion.  Our house in Oklahoma was in an area where growing suburb meets pasture land and the smell of skunk was frequently in the air.  (Tip for life: if you ever accidentally hit a skunk with your car, go straight to the nearest car wash.) So now when Figment is being a little stinker, I get a little homesick for my Oklahomies.

Disney isn't known for their coffee but on our trip when I was expecting Minnie, I could not tolerate the smell of coffee at all, despite normally being a coffee junkie.  I remember having to literally run past a coffee cart in Animal Kingdom because the aroma was so strong.

I asked DisneyDad what scents would make his list and he answered with the following:
Spaceship Earth - Rome burning
The Land boat ride- citrus
Pirates- water
Main Street - popcorn
It's Tough to Be a Bug- Clair de Roome
I'd add the pie fragrance in Mickey's Philharmagic to this list as well as the citrus scent in Soarin'.  Also the roasted nuts carts anywhere.


A dear friend answered the same question for me.  She said:
"I love the smell when you first walk onto Main Street.  The smell of sweets and innocence!"
"Animal Kingdom used to have this really 'wild' smell like you were really in Africa."
"The smell walking into the Polynesian lobby is like walking into paradise. Smells flowery and relaxing."


The idea for this month's topic came from Disney's recent announcement of air fresheners for your car based on favorite Disney Parks snacks.  These include turkey leg, candy apple, Mickey ice cream bar and Mickey waffle and they are scheduled for release in August.  I find these amusing but I know I won't be buying one on my upcoming trips.  What do you think of the air fresheners?  Do you have one?  What scents have I left out of my article above that always remind you of happy times or send you running far away?

Air freshener photos from Disney Parks Blog

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is My Dreams of Disney.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Growing Up Disney
2nd Stop ~ My Dreams Of Disney
3rd Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay
4th Stop ~ Colorado Mountain Mom
Final Stop ~ A World View

Photo Flashback! Sea Base Alpha

This shot was from my first or maybe second trip to Disney and I loved Sea Base Alpha! This Deep Ocean Diving Suit mock-up really kept me entertained. What do you remember about Sea Base Alpha and the Original Living Seas? Hydrolators anyone?

Photo Flashback! Like Mother, Like Daughter: Ear Hats Over 30 Years Apart

I guess some things are just always moments you want to capture, like your daughter watching a Magic Kingdom parade.  We've done it again, but these two shots were not planned.  I was looking through some of Dad's old photos and realized the one of me looked familiar.  

Tink watching Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! at Magic Kingdom, May 2012, Age 3

Amy watching the 3:00 parade at Magic Kingdom, May 1979, Age 3

Update: A few readers have expressed an interest in the 1979 Magic Kingdom parade.  Follow the link to see Mickey, Minnie and Donald by the firehouse.

Happy Father's Day: The Men of the Growing Up Disney Family

Happy Father's Day to you all from Growing Up Disney!

As a tribute to the wonderful men the girls and I are blessed to call our own, I'd like to share a few special photos with you.  (I wish I'd thought to do this for Mother's Day.  I'll have to find a Queen Day or something to celebrate my mom.)

DisneyDad with Minnie and Tink on Main Street USA, May 2012 

My husband, Andy, with Minnie, Spring 2012 

Andy and Tink at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, January 2012 

Uncle Chris, Old Key West, April 2010 

Andy's Dad, Jim, at Tree of Life, October 2007

Andy and his brothers, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, April 2005

DisneyDad and me, Main Street USA, May 1979

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--My close encounter with Carbonite

My appointment was scheduled for 8:25AM on Saturday to have the Carbonite Freeze done on my pretty face. I was fairly optimistic about it all. I would sit for what I was hoping would be some kind of high-tech laser scan of my face. Then a few weeks later I would have myself all fixed up like Han Solo and all I would need is someone to try to rescue me from Jabba and life would be complete.

When I arrived at the park the day prior to my appointment, I went over to the former “Sounds Dangerous” to see what was outside as far as samples of the product were concerned. I was somewhat unimpressed by the models they had on display but that was in direct sunlight and I was moving on to meet people so it wouldn’t be until in the morning that I would see these again.

The "freeze" chamber

Next day: 8:00AM.  Arrive at park but miss rope drop by a couple of minutes…. That stinks, but on to my destination. When I get to the CF I was greeted and welcomed to look around at the more elaborate displays. My beard was a big concern to me because of what it may look like on the finished product. There was one on display of the product creator and his had a beard. Well to me it looked odd, it showed up as just a darker area on the face so when the CM came to get me I expressed my concern that I didn’t think that it looked very good and was this the finished product? She told me yes and looked somewhat panicked and left to get me the supervising Imagineer. While I waited, I was handed a model I could hold and examine. Here I was able to feel the weight and the finish.

When I met the Imagineer, we talked for a few minutes about the materials used, overall cost involved, the unique printing process involved (yes I said printing process) and just the general coolness of the idea. Still I wasn’t feeling impressed, the money didn’t bother me. At 100.00 dollars it isn’t small change but considering the total cost of a trip to Disney World you can spend 100.00 bucks before breakfast. Back to the matter at hand… the Imagineer and I were soon joined by another and they invited me inside to see the process and told me to take all the pictures I wanted. Now we’ve gotten this far and I haven’t even told you my criticism so here it goes as I told the Imagineers.

Likes:

·         Price, 100.00 dollars to have my face on some merch… not bad.

·         The size of the statue is good at around 9 inches. Perfect to see detail.

Dislike:

·         The finish. The finish wasn’t smooth and you could clearly see the lines from the resin gypsum printing. (it is printed on a 3D printer and built one layer at a time, awesome process but generally not used for finished products but for prototypes)

·         Materials: I understand that the cost is driving the material but for my money getting my face on something I want it to look nice. The movie props are smooth and finished. I suggested a lacquer finish and even some painting would make them look better to smooth out some of the details. Even better would be a cast model. Yes, again I understand keep costs down.

·         The process wasn’t actually a scan but a series of pictures that were then composited together. This is a cheap way of getting a result but nothing as accurate as a laser image scan.

products with packaging

packaging

the "freeze" chamber

Overall I agree it is an impressive product and there were tons of happy people having their pictures taken for the memories. The reason I was given for the some of what I called “short comings” was this was a new product that had never been tested on this scale and, if it did well, improvements would be made and it would be back next year. So I will definitely be back next year to scope out the improvements.  

For the official news Check the Disney Parks Blog for their description of the experience.

Photo Flashback: Fantasyland Carrousel Then and Now

Then - 1979

Amy~ May, 1979

In May 1979 Amy rode Cinderella's Golden Carrousel in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World for the first time.  In May 2012 we took Tink and Minnie on the same ride, now known as Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.


Now - 2012

Tink, Minnie and DisneyDad~ May, 2012

To me it is a wonderful experience to have taken my daughter and granddaughters on the same ride at the Magic Kingdom 33 years apart.  Amy was 3 when she took her turn on the magical horses.  Tink had just turned 3 and Minnie was almost 1 in this picture.

Now for a bit of Disney Trivia:  The Carrousel was built by Italian woodcarvers at the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1917.  It was first located at the Detroit Palace Garden Park before being featured at Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey.   Each of the 90 horses are unique.  It's technically the oldest attraction in Fantasyland and it began its run in the Magic Kingdom in 1971.

--DisneyDad

Guest Post: Why We Never Tire of Walt Disney World

Please join me in welcoming our latest member of the Minnie Moms.  Danielle is a DVC member and although she lives in Canada, she and her family still visit the World quite often.  Read on as she introduces herself and shares houghts from her most recent Walt Disney World Vacation.  Danielle, we are so glad to have you onboard! ~Amy

Hi! I’m Danielle, from Ontario, Canada and a self-professed Disney addict! My husband and I started visiting Walt Disney World in 2007 as a couple (after I converted him) and have been returning with our two children multiple times per year ever since. We became Disney Vacation Club members in 2010 and it has been the best decision we have ever made! We have fallen in love with our home resort, Animal Kingdom Villas. When I’m not helping my husband with his dental practice, or engaging in mommy duties, I am glued to my favourite Disney blogs for all the latest WDW news. You can follow me on Twitter at @DreaminofAKV and read my column, The Fairytale Family, about travelling to WDW with young children at StudiosCentral.com.  (Amy's note: Since Danielle wrote her intro she has started her own blog.  You can find her at Life As A Disney Mommy.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been coming to Walt Disney World since I was a child, but my visits became more frequent after I got married. One trip was all it took to get my husband on board and he was converted. We have been coming two to three times per year since 2007. This is partially due to the fact that in 2010, we became Disney Vacation Club members. We have been truly blessed to be able to vacation at the Most Magical Place On Earth as often as we do.

Of course, not everyone sees it as a "blessing". We often hear, "again?!" or "aren't you sick of that place yet?!". Yes, it becomes annoying feeling like you have to defend your vacation choices, but I decide to try to enlighten people with my answers instead.

I tell them it's not just about the rides. It's about the feeling I get when I step on the Magical Express and all my worries and stresses of the real world vanish. It's not about seeing people dressed up as stuffed animals. It's about seeing my daughter's eyes light up as she approaches Mickey, thinking she is about to meet one of her best friends. Surely, you can never grow tired of those special feelings and experiences.

Of course, when traveling with children, it is about the rides and characters in their eyes. The beauty of beginning their Disney trips when they are young is that you can watch them grow a bit each vacation. My son, Max, is currently 19 months old, but has been to Walt Disney World five times. He has always been afraid of the characters, but this trip, something changed. For the first time yet, he approached Princess Tiana on his own and handed her a flower that he picked. That, to me, was Disney magic. On our first trip with Max, he was afraid of the Uzima Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We spent most of our pool time that trip holding him above water. This trip, he was happily diving about, not caring whether we were there or not. My daughter, Claire, rode Splash Mountain for the very first time this trip! Although she has been to Walt Disney World eight times so far, she is just at the very beginning of her thrill ride adventures!

I am happy to explain this all when people ask. To my family, Walt Disney World is not just a theme park, but a wealth of memories that we add to each and every trip. Creating memories as a family will never grow old for us.

Quick Tip: Christmas Cards and Vacation Postcards

I love getting Christmas cards from family and friends. Here's a lovely way to display them in your home.

I simply tied a long piece of red satin ribbon around a kitchen cabinet door. It is anchored by a bit of sticky tack (that gum-like stuff we all used to put things on our dorm room walls.) Wooden clothespins attach the Christmas cards to the ribbon.

I need to do another cabinet door for the other cards I have now and will add on as we receive additional cards.

I'm thinking about doing something similar in my laundry room to display photos of the girls, artwork, vacation postcards, etc. Since the cards or photos are held on by clothespins or other small clips, it will be easy to add or change the photo gallery.

For really crafty types, you could do this while on a Walt Disney World vacation. At resorts with kitchen cabinets, such as DVC, you could display the maps, stickers and other small items you gather each day. For studio-style rooms, tie or hot glue a section of ribbon on a small metal ring (or just tie one end of the ribbon into a loop.) Take along a Command hook so you can hang it without damaging the wall.

--Amy

Update: Here's the final result. I love seeing all these joyous wishes and cute faces while I work in the kitchen.

Magical Blogorail: Welcome Home!

Welcome to those of you joining us from Meet the Magic.  This is the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

MY FAVORITE WDW RESORT: WELCOME HOME!

My favorite Walt Disney World Resort is definitely Old Key West. My parents bought into the Disney Vacation Club in 1993 and at the time, Old Key West WAS the Vacation Club. The other resorts didn’t come along until later. Even once other DVC properties became available, we still always prefer to stay at OKW.

Granted, Old Key West lacks some of the pizzazz other resorts offer. There aren’t huge waterslides, you can’t walk to Epcot or visit a rooftop bar with Magic Kingdom views, and no giraffes will pass your veranda. However, Old Key West appeals to those looking for a little more relaxed atmosphere. It is themed like Key West after all and relaxation certainly rules in the Keys. The buildings are painted in pastel shades with white gingerbread trim that occasionally includes everyone’s favorite mouse. The lush landscaping continues the tropical island vibe. Inside is the true asset of this resort. SPACE! Old Key West’s villas are substantially larger than the other DVC properties. The DVC studios/villas all include essentially the same amenities but OKW’s offer more floor space and room to spread out. My family stayed in a 2 bedroom at Saratoga Springs during part of our last trip. While this is still far larger than an average hotel room, it feels cramped in comparison to Old Key West.

I also enjoy visiting the table service restaurant at Old Key West, Olivia’s. Again, it’s nothing flashy, but I’ve always had a nice, relaxing meal here. Reservations are available and I would suggest them, just to be on the safe side, for larger groups but we’ve always been able to walk up and be seated fairly quickly. At dinner, they serve yummy coconut pineapple bread while you wait on your meal. Chris discovered a burger on this bread at lunch on our last trip. My toddler is really hard to feed on the go since she favors fresh fruit and vegetables above all else and she loves Olivia’s fruit salad and carrots/green beans. If you ask DisneyDad where he wants to go to dinner, he’ll usually say Olivia’s and I don’t just mean when we are at WDW. It’s his go-to answer for that question.

Old Key West is on the canal leading to Downtown Disney and you can take a boat to and from the shopping and dining area. I usually prefer to take a bus over and then return leisurely by boat. This proximity to Downtown Disney is also nice for joggers. The OKW grounds themselves are good for a workout or you can catch the path at the back of the property and head to Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney. It’s interesting to see that area so quiet early in the morning.


One of Disney’s golf courses runs through the property and the buildings are situated so that the patios or balconies have pleasant views. I love when we get a villa overlooking a pond with a fountain. It’s so nice to go out and spend a few minutes on the patio/balcony listening to the water and drinking a cup of coffee in the morning. And speaking of coffee, like other DVC properties, Old Key West has a fully equipped kitchen in the villas (studios have a kitchenette.) We don’t cook much on vacation, but it’s helpful to have breakfast in the room before heading out for the day.

Living room of a Grand Villa

Over the years, we’ve stayed in all sizes of accommodations. Studios, one bedroom villas, two bedroom villas, and in 2010 the three bedroom grand villa. Each has its own advantages but of course, the grand villa outshines the rest. With two stories, three bedrooms, four full baths, a large kitchen and dining room, and a two story living room, it would be my choice for each trip if it didn’t cost so many points. We normally get a two bedroom and it’s so nice to stay in the same place each time. I know exactly where all my things should go and can get settled in quite quickly. It really feels like home away from home. I’m kinda sad that they are refurbishing the rooms. The new colors just don’t look right to me.

Aunt Suzie and Mom at the pre-wedding welcome party

With all these years of visits, there is also a sentimental component to my choice. I remember being a young teenager checking my look, complete with belt pack, in the full length mirror of the second bedroom and watching a friend mug for the camera in the entry way in his Steak N Shake hat on our high school graduation trip. I remember celebrating Christmas in the living room of an Old Key West villa during my semester of WDW College Program and giggling with three of my best college friends in a studio during our January break. I remember countless nights of wanting to throw a pillow at my brother sleeping in the next bed and taking a nap in my cozy queen bed after completing the WDW marathon. I remember Mom hosting a welcome party in the kitchen and living room for family who had arrived for our Disney wedding and having my hair and makeup done at the kitchen table by Rex. I remember taking a photo on the balcony before leaving for our honeymoon and another before leaving for dinner at Jiko for our fifth wedding anniversary. I remember sleeping on the pull-out bed on the trip when I told Mom and Dad I was expecting my first child and the look on their faces at the patio table at Olivia’s when I told them another was on the way. I remember Mom overfilling the dining area cabinet with our favorite goodies and making more sausage balls in the kitchen when we ran out of our favorite breakfast treat. I remember how delighted we were to get 2 two bedroom villas next to each other and directly across from the Hospitality House on the wedding trip and how much my in-laws enjoyed their villa. I remember having breakfast at Olivia’s with friends and family before leaving for our Disney cruise honeymoon and even remember the days when Olivia’s had Pooh and friends at a character breakfast. I remember my daughter making a huge mess of her first birthday cake at the dining table in the grand villa and biting into her first Mickey ice cream bar in the living room of the grand villa as if she did that all the time.

"Tink" and her Mickey Mouse 1st birthday cake

Old Key West is a special resort to me and my family and certainly one I would recommend to others. If you’d like a little extra breathing room at the end of the day, this just might become one of your favorites as well.

Click here for an index of DisneyDad's articles on Disney Vacation Club.



Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom's Love of Disney.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:


Here are our links for the week:


1st Stop - Meet the Magic
2nd Stop - Growing Up Disney
3rd Stop - A Disney Mom's Love of Disney
4th Stop - Days in the Park
5th Stop - Crystal and Bryan's Disney Blog
6th Stop - Disney Babies Blog
7th Stop - MousekeFoodie
Final Stop - Cooking with Mickey