iPad App Reviews: My Numbers, ABC Numbers, and Baby Explorer

GIVEAWAY DETAILS BELOW!

I am proud to share reviews of three more fun and educational children's apps from Punflay.  This time Tink and I tested iPad apps.  The larger screen of the iPad really lends itself well to games for little ones.  Thankfully my parents don't mind the kiddo playing with their rather expensive toy. 

First up is ABC Numbers.  This new app incorporates the previously released My Numbers app along with a really well done game for teaching letters.  Below is the first screen and the large buttons make it easy for little ones to choose a game.

Here are a couple of screens from the ABC portion of the game.  You run your finger along the letter wheel to select a letter.  If you touch within the oval containing the letter and picture, it says "La, L, Ladybug" in this case.  In the white box toward the bottom of the screen, the child can practice writing the letter by tracing within the outline.  The color of the "ink" can be changed by touching the blue, green, or red dots below the writing box.  My 16 month-old daughter's favorite part was the star on the right.  If you pull down on the ring, the star sings the ABC song.  It's really cute and just like a real pull-string toy, if you pull the string halfway, it only sings half of the song.   

For the numbers portion of the app, here is the screen you'll see.  The color of the buttons can be changed using the wheel in the upper right and the item to be counted is selected along the bottom of the screen.  Touching the musical note allows the user to choose one of three songs or to have no music at all.  The game itself is a pretty simple counting game.  In this case, the 8 button was pushed.  Eight flowers light up.  If you touch an unlit flower, it will count 9 in a pleasant child's voice.  If you choose a lit flower, it will say 7 and the flower you touched will no longer be highlighted.  It's a good game for practicing counting to ten.  I like that it also counts backward as this allows you to work on basic addition and subtraction with your child as well.

This is the intro screen for the independent My Numbers app if you choose to buy (or win!) it separately.

Tink loved Baby Explorer!  Here's the start screen.

This game is like a high-tech version of one of the many plastic toys you have, without the "cluttering the floor" aspect.  Starting from the left, the butterfly can be pulled down and it bounces back with a cool springy noise.  The wheel on the bottom spins and the 4 colorful rings slide back and forth.  Moving to the top right, the child can push the four buttons to get a corresponding noise.  Tink really liked this. 

The coolest part of this game is the center of the screen, which contains 5 games.  The wheel at the bottom right changes the game.  For the egg game, you touch the egg repeatedly, cracking it a little more each time.  Eventually a new friend pops out.  Pictured here is the duck but this one contains some surprises.  The bubbles and flowers games are similar.  The child can pop the falling bubbles or flowers.  Tink particularly liked the flower version and the notes played when the petals fell.  Another game lets the child help a frog jump from lillypad to lillypad and the final game moves three jumping fish. 

Again, Punflay has designed apps for children that are both educational and fun.  They've provided enough variety in each app to allow it to appeal to children for months or years to come.  We've really enjoyed playing with these apps.  In particular, Baby Explorer held my 16 month-old's attention for a long period of time and at that age, that's an accomplishment.  She'll get to play with these apps again at 18 months of age when we see my parents at Walt Disney World.  I look forward to seeing how her interaction with the games improves.

Click here for my review of two children's iPhone/iPod apps from Punflay.

Punflay has their educational apps (iPhone/iPod/iPad) on sale this week.  One of them is even free.  Check out their site soon.  The sale ends September 16.

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Ready to enter to win My Numbers for iPad? You get one entry for each of the following. Please note each as a separate entry in the comments section below so I know what you have done.  Don't have an iPad?  Feel free to enter and gift the code to a friend who does.

Mandatory Entry: Briefly tell me why you think your child (or grandchild or you) will enjoy My Numbers.  No other entries will count if you don't do this one.

Extra Entries: (If you are already following me through any of these channels, just note that. Hey, free entry!)

• Become a fan of Growing Up Disney blog on Facebook.
• Follow Disney4Babies on Twitter.
• Follow Growing Up Disney publicly on Google Friend Connect (see widget at right.)
• Subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog.
• Send a tweet about this giveaway (one per day). Feel free to copy and send this: "RT @Disney4Babies Visit http://www.growingupdisney.com/ for a #giveaway of a great children's app from Punflay, My Numbers #Disney #iPad"
• Blog about this giveaway.
• Add Growing Up Disney to your blogroll.

This contest ends at midnight Central time on Monday, September 20. The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries.  You'll be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Good luck!

 

Disclosure: I received apps from Punflay for reviewing purposes. No monetary compensation was received or offered. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts on these products.
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And the winner is comment #3, Bill.  Congrats!  I'll be contacting you shortly.

Weekly Round-up: 9/11/10

We've had a super week at Growing Up Disney.  Here's what we were up to.

Mommy Monday:  Amy participated in the Back to School Blog Tour with an article about fall events at Walt Disney World.

Team Tuesday:  Cast Members are a big part of what draws us back to WDW over and over.  The Growing Up Disney family shares a few of our favorite interactions.  Thanks to the readers who added their own stories.  Let's continue the Cast Member celebration!

Photo Flashback!:  This week's photos showcase the powerful silverback Lowland gorillas at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

Guest Post:  One of our Minnie Moms, Heather, shares her tips and tricks for Walt Disney World touring with a small child.  I'm so glad she's had a generous dose of the kool-aid.

A Walk around the World with Ridge:  Need a break from commando touring?  Check out a few of Chris' favorite spots for a little down time.

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--Take A Break

So inevitably while running 90 to nothing through the Walt Disney World theme parks, you come to a point where you need a break. Whether is caused by exhaustion, too much family togetherness, or a combination of those things, you’ll need to find a little peace and relative quiet, if not quiet relatives. I’ll share a few of my favorites.

Magic Kingdom: If you are keeping up with us here at www.growingupdisney.com, you might have an idea of where I like to go to take a break, Aloha Isle. Who doesn't like Dole Whips? Once you have the Dole Whip in hand, there is a covered area as you are heading towards the restrooms/pass through to Frontierland. In this nook are usually some tables and chairs. It is just off the beaten path but in a place where for some reason most people tend to not see it. That makes it a perfect place to have a rest, a Dole Whip or a Coke and a smile.

Disney's Hollywood Studios: Usually mid-afternoon, when there is the break between the lunch and dinner crowds, I like to head over to Dad's Den, which is the bar/waiting area for the 50s Prime Time Diner. Sit down here and have a Dad's Electric Lemonade and talk with the bartender for a while. They usually have some really good stories. If you're lucky, one of the Streetmosphere performers might just stop by and start up a private show.

Epcot: At Epcot there are just too many good places to take a seat or a nap. If I am in Future World, I like to ride Ellen's Universe of Energy. Most of the time you can get an entire row of the ride vehicle to yourself. However, since they ask you to refrain from eating, drinking or flash photography, just make your way over to the Fountianview Cafe and make time for some ice cream, pastries, coffee, soft drinks. This café has a great view of the fountain and is a nice place to relax. In World Showcase there are many places to have a drink or snack and plenty of benches all over. Growing Up Disney did a team post about our favorite Epcot snacks.

Animal Kingdom: This park is huge, so find a bench and have a seat. I like to watch the shows or take one of the nature walks to relax a bit. Next time I want to make an effort to see Flights of Wonder. In all the years the park has been in operation, I always just walk by and never stop.

So with the literally hundreds of nooks and crannies of Walt Disney World, where do you like to take a break? In the parks or out, let us know.

Guest Post: Heather's WDW Travel Tips

Last November my family traveled to Walt Disney World as a family of 3 (well, 4 if you count that I was pregnant in 2nd trimester.) The vacation was everything we hoped for and we are returning this October for another trip. We really tried to maximize time in the parks as well as enjoying our great stay at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort.

Time to Go: We decided to try for fall given that it is Value season and hotel rates are at the lowest of the year. We did a 5 day/4 night trip during the second week of November. Weather was in the 70-80s so we could still enjoy the pool. If I were to do it over, I would have gone before daylight savings time ended. Once it got dark, it was hard to be motivated to get out again. The only day the parks were even remotely crowded was Veterans Day. We typically had no more than a 15 minute wait for attractions. Using the FASTPASS system was a lifesaver. It prevented us from spending oodles of time in line. I did bring line-waiting supplies like bubbles and loaded some games on our iPhones.

Travel: We opted to take the overnight Amtrak Silver Star Line train from Raleigh to Orlando for around $200.00 round trip for all 3 of us. I think our 3 year old son loved riding on the train as much as he did WDW. We took a town car for less than $100.00 round trip. If we had flown, we would have been eligible for the Disney Magical Express since we were staying on Disney property.

Food: We took advantage of a promotion offering the Disney Dining Plan for free. We estimated this saved us around $500-$700. I printed off the listing of restaurants, character meals, and options and then researched each restaurant we were considering. We had two character meals which normally would have cost us $20-40 per person if we had not had the plan. I also researched where we could get the most "bang for our buck" and quickly realized that a $4.00 milkshake and a $.99 soda counted the same in snack credits. Having a fridge in our room was a major help storing extra water and juice boxes to offset food costs.

Wingin' It: Once we were back in the room each night, we planned the next day and repacked the backpack. I researched what attractions were most appropriate for our son’s age and considered the scare factor. There is a great table in the guidebook The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I was the map queen and planned how to see the most with the least amount of walking. We made a list of which attractions were the most important to us and which were ok to skip for each park, grouped by area. I included an estimate of when we wanted to be back at the resort for naps so we could be on time for each night’s dinner reservations.

Stroller/Bag: We took a cheap umbrella stroller that I clearly marked as ours. I didn’t care if I left it at the hotel not to carry it back home at the end of the trip. You can rent strollers for $15.00/single per day at Disney but you can't take them on Disney transportation, even the train that encircles the Magic Kingdom. We also carried a well-organized backpack that Bill and I traded carrying.

Capturing the Disney Magic in Photos: We took advantage of the Disney Photopass system that allows Disney photographers to take pictures at famous landmarks. They scan your card and then you can view the images online up to 30 days after you return home. If you buy a package, it's worth it or if you want to create an online book to capture your trip. We got a few great shots that we might order but only if we didn't also get a good picture on our own. (Amy’s note: The Photopass photographers can also take pictures with your camera.)

Using your cell/texting to avoid waiting in line: Many times we split up to get a FASTPASS for a ride which we expected to have a line. We researched which rides had FASTPASS and tried using the system at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park on our first full day there. I highly recommend learning this system to see the most and wait the least amount of time. Many times Bill and I took a picture of a line, emailed it, and made a judgment call about getting in line. We also often saved a place in line while someone hit the bathrooms and then texted where we were to catch up. While we didn't use the pre-set touring plans in the Unofficial Guide, I did look at them and if it was peak season I would have definitely used them.

Souvenirs: Bill took Ben to the Disney Store at home and let him pick out a plush Mickey to take with him on the train and sleep with at night. I went to Target the week before to get blister treatments and other first aid stuff, a glow stick/flashlight necklace for Ben to keep him occupied while waiting at night and then hit the dollar bin where they had tons of Mickey themed things.

We are so very excited to be going back during the Food and Wine Festival. I hope these tips will prove helpful and maximize your Disney experience.

Contributed by Heather V. of Raleigh, NC.  Wife to Bill, proud mom to Ben and Ian, and creator of Freeze Ahead Frenzy.  She's also one of our Minnie Moms.

Photo Flashback! Gorillas

One of the silverback Lowland gorillas in the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

The males were not paying attention to the humans but were intensely
aware of the activities of the females on the other side of the bridge.

Team Post: Best Cast Member Experience

Amy:  As a former cast member, I am going to refrain from choosing one person, but send a big thank you to all of the Walt Disney World Cast.  Every day, many thousands of people go to work while the guests play.  It's generally a wonderful place to work but it is still work.   I think the cast is the true magic of Disney.  I've been to other parks and other vacation destinations but no other place has their people so personally invested in the experience of the visitors.  Be sure to be generous with the thanks on your next visit.  

DisneyDad: We have had two cast members that really stand out in our memory. Since we have been DVC members since 1993 and have been going to WDW since it was just a Preview Center, we have had wonderful experiences with many, many cast members. Two that Tinker Bell had sprinkled extra Pixie Dust on really stand out. The first was a waitress at Olivia’s at The Vacation Club Resort (now Disney’s Old Key West Resort). Wanda Bradburn is my first choice. Wanda was selected as The Gold DREAM Pin Cast Member of the Year (DREAM – Disney Resort Experiences Are Magical) for 1993, the year we became DVC members. Back then, the DVC quarterly new letter for Summer 1993, Vacation Magic, included her picture and an article about her. Her story began:

“Everybody knows Wanda. She’s the cheery spirit of Olivia’s….” And that was the absolute truth. We met Wanda when we first toured The Vacation Club and had lunch at Olivia’s and saw her on many successive trips to WDW. Not only did we remember her, but she remembered us. She was lots of fun, once she even followed us out of Olivia’s just to tell us a joke. Her story continued: “Wanda is a backbone asset to the fun, friendly feeling that is Olivia’s.” I don’t know what happened to Wanda, but we still miss her when we eat at Olivia’s.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of the second cast member. He was working at EPCOT when my wife met him near park closing time outside of MouseWorks. Besides working at EPCOT he also worked at the front desk at Disney’s Old Key West Resort where we were staying. My wife likes to talk to the young people who work at WDW ever since our daughter worked in the Magic Kingdom in Disney’s College Program. In talking to this young man, my wife, who always rides one of the Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECV), was explaining she was waiting for her husband (me) who was in MouseWorks shopping. She explained to him that she did not like to ride the ECV in any of the stores as she did not want to bump into anyone or anything in the store. They talked for quite a while as I was shopping. He thanked her for her thoughtfulness in not taking the ECV into the store, especially at park closing. When he found out we were staying at OKW he said he would do something special for us. We didn’t actually expect anything, but the next day he had a floral arrangement sent to our room. We enjoyed the flowers through out our trip and still have the vase as a reminder of our nameless cast member who had that extra Pixie Dust.

Ridge:  Most cast members want to make a difference in your vacation experience. I have had several times were cast members were just doing their jobs, no more, no less, and I can't hold that aginst them. However, the memorable times have been with the cast members who are really looking to spread a little extra magic. There was my outstanding Jungle Cruise Captain Chad (which I have video of that I hope to post one day) and there have been outstanding bus drivers. One of the most intesting coversations I have had with a cast member has to have been with "Mark". I say Mark with quotations because ashamedly I forgot his name. On the same day that I took the picture of Amy having some ice cream and missing Baloo and king Louie, we meet Mark. He was a manager in park security, he introduced himself and asked if we were enjoying our stay, if there was anything special that brought us down. He laughed when we told him we had annual passes and a four day weekend, what else would we do? Seeing how he was a manager of security and I have a degree in criminal justice I asked him questions about security, how to get in, hours worked, how they work with the local police and numerous other boring questions to most other people. He was excited to get to tell someone about his job and was really glad that I was eager to know about how I could one day do something similar. I really thought highly of his willingness to share information, and I was really excited to hear it. Having someone on the inside give real non-sugarcoated information about the happiest place on Earth makes you remember how many people are never seen, but are working to make your stay enjoyable.

Let's make this a celebration of great Cast Members!  Please share your experiences in the comments below.

Great minds think alike.  Bruce of Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World recently did an interesting post on Cast Members.

Back to School Blog Tour

For those with school age children, the phrase “back to school” reminds them of everything they have to deal with in the early days of the new school year: new clothes, new schedules, new teachers and homework, football games, and maybe a little anxiety about it all. For the rest of us, this time of year holds the promise of cooler weather ahead and for Disney fans, lower crowds at the parks. Generally, school holidays are the busiest times at the parks. If you can avoid these times (summer, Spring and Fall break, and Christmas break) you’ll be rewarded with shorter lines and, usually, resort hotel discounts.

Fall is a great time of year at Walt Disney World. Depending on your travel dates, you can experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Festival of the Masters, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the everyday magic of not-so-crowded parks.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Trick or treat with your favorite Disney characters. Held in the Magic Kingdom on about 20 nights during the fall, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is fun for all ages. The park is transformed into a slightly spookier version of itself. In addition to candy, you'll be treated to the very special "Boo to You" parade and Happy HalloWishes fireworks and other special surprises. Separate admission is required and the cost ranges from about $53 to $65 per adult, depending on the day and if you qualify for any discounts. Kids tickets are $47-$58. My brother Chris and I will be attending this year's party and blogging live from the event on October 26, 2010.

Festival of the Masters: November 12-14, 2010

Downtown Disney is home to this annual art festival which attracts over 150 national and local artists. Unique to the event is the showcase of chalk artists. It's Disney, so there will also be great food, music, and children's activities. One of our Minnie Moms is attending this year's festival and I look forward to her report.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is one of the best events hosted by Walt Disney World. This year's festival is appropriately titled, "Celebrating 15 Years of Delicious Discoveries." The 2010 event begins on October 1 and ends on November 14. The majority of the food marketplaces and demonstrations are found around World Showcase Lagoon. This year there will be 27 International Marketplaces selling beverages of all types and small plates of all sorts of food. There is not a separate admission fee for the festival; it is included with your Epcot park admission. Some seminars and demonstrations are free and others at an additional cost. There are a phenomenal number of events held during the 7 week festival. I encourage you to browse through the Festival Guide to see what is offered during your visit. It's a wonderful opportunity to sample a cuisine that may not be readily available to you at home.  For more information on the festival, check out our EIF&WF Research Center.

To those of you who have found your way here via the Back to School Blog tour, welcome! Please leave a comment and check out a few pages.

If you are a regular here, check out other great blogs on the tour through these links: Living My MoMent and The Work at Home Woman

Weekly Round-up: 9/4/10

Thanks for joining us for another fun week at Growing Up Disney.  If you missed anything this week, now is a great time to catch up. 

Mommy Monday  Amy announced a new feature on Growing Up Disney.

Team Tuesday  The first team post from our Minnie Moms

Photo Flashback!  The carousel from 1979, Amy's first Walt Disney World visit

Guest Post  Bruce shared a touching tale about vacation and a new family and how the one strengthened the other.

A Walk Around The World with Ridge  Chris educated us on more great iPhone/iPod apps.  This time he tackles photo apps.

We wish you a magical weekend!

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--The continuing saga of apps....

What good would the nice new iPhone 4 camera be without some great editing apps to really take full advantage of your pictures on the go? There are effects, cropping, coloring and collage apps just to get started. Now there are tons of apps out there, some are paid and some are free. I prefer the free apps because be honest who doesn't like to get free stuff...

One of the coolest apps that I haven't been able to use on a large scale is Autostitch. Autostitch is an app that allows you to take multiple pictures of an object from different angles or perspectives and then it will blend these photos together into one. The effect is something just a little different than a panorama. If you need/want such an image, this is an awesome way for the iPhone to accomplish this trick. I need to appologise for not having a cool picture to show off. The only thing I have used it for is to take a picture of my livingroom in my condo. I doubt anyone cares to see that, so I'll revisit this one when I get to Disney in 50 days.

Photo Mess is another app that I am really digging right now. Photo Mess allows you to make simple collages. If used in conjunction with some of the other photo editors, some really neat effects can be achieved.

Adobe offers us Photoshop Express. Something great about this app is that it has eliminated a photo cropping editor and a some subtle effects apps from my phone. So you want to adjust the exposure, saturation, tint, contrast or make it black and white? Done. Want to turn your picture into a sketch, sharpen or soften the focus, also done. Want some nifty pre-programmed effects? Also done. Then once the picture is the way you like it, Photoshop makes it a one button process to post to Facebook or twitpic. Pretty cool.

Then the last one I will bore you with is Tilt Shift Generator. If you are familiar with Disney then you might have seen the end of the Christmas parade last year where you could still see the people moving but the buildings looked like they were toys. Well that is what this app can do for your photos. I have tried it on a couple shots I have taken at Disney World in the past and the effect is pretty cool. It doesn't always work out just right but you have to play with it until it looks right to you. The app changes the focal points within the picture blurring parts of the picture and sharpening others. This app is the only one that was paid and at .99 cents on iTunes, it was worth it.

There are so many photo apps available and what I have listed above is only a few of the apps I have on my phone now. Once I have a more time to use the others I'll be glad to share what I find out. So I recommend Photoshop for sure, it's free and does an excellent job of editing your pictures straight from your phone or iPod and even iPad has an app. Photo Mess is also free and makes some pretty decent pictures and worth giving it a try. Tiltshift is pretty specific and the results may vary. At .99 cents it by no means breaks the bank but I can't see as it is a must have.

Do you have a favorite app for photos?

Guest Post: The Best Thing I’ve Ever Seen at a Disney Park

The question was asked, “What's the best thing you’ve ever seen at the Disney Parks?” What a great question. There are so many fascinating things in the Walt Disney World Parks that someone could go on for hours telling all about wonderful things to see in each park. But thinking about this question a little deeper, I thought past the parks themselves and then it was an easy choice at that point. The best thing I ever saw in a Disney Park would be this picture here:

This is my son; he is now 14 years old and a fine young man. When this picture was taken, he was 9 years old and he wasn’t my son yet.

When I first met John, he was 8 years old and he and his mom had been on their own for about 6 years. I met John’s mom while we were working together and friendship grew into a very happy relationship. At that time, John was a very shy, quiet boy who had a great smile and was very excited to have a man in his mom’s life. John and I hit it off very quickly and became friends almost immediately. John’s mom (my wife) and I are both teachers and during our first summer off together, we travelled to visit friends and family to meet people we hadn’t yet met. Our second summer together, when John was nine, we went to Disney World. I’m not saying that Disney made us a family, but I think it helped solidify our relationships.

We were very lucky in the fact that I had a Disney Vacation Club Membership, and my future wife had a free week at a condo that was trying to sell her a time share, so we took a two week Disney Vacation. It was our first time in Disney together and we all were a little nervous about what to expect. I had been to Disney World quite a few times in my life before Heather and John, but this was something new for me and for them also. Once we got there though all worries were quelled and we all had a great time.

I remember our first night of that trip as if it were yesterday. I remember we had gotten into our condo, found a supermarket, had something to eat, and then headed to The Magic Kingdom. When we first arrived, it was dusk and the lights throughout the Happiest Place on Earth were just coming on. We strolled up Main Street USA and went past the Castle into Fantasyland. We went through a couple attractions and had a good time, but John was a car nut at that time. He would read everything about cars he could get his hands on. So, the obvious attraction for us to ride was the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. We stood in line and I videotaped John as we waited. He was jabbering on and on, as I would learn he does when he is excited. When we got close to the boarding area, the Cast Member measured John and said he was tall enough to drive the car. You would have thought he had been made Mayor of Chocolate Town, the way his eyes lit up. We then asked if he wanted one of us to ride with him or did he want to go by himself. The poor kid’s head almost blew off at the thought of “driving” his own car without his mother or me with him. He chose to “drive” by himself and we got in the car in front of him. Along the way we called out to him in the dark and he yelled back, laughing the entire time.

When we exited the ride, he was bubbling over with excitement. He wanted to do it again. The line was long and it was late, so we told him later in the trip we would do it again and we did, but that first time “driving” by himself, and seeing the smile on the little man’s face, and knowing that I helped put it there is the best thing I ever saw in a Disney Park.

Heather and I were married the next year and as a “Family” we have been to Walt Disney World almost every year since then. We enjoy being together and even at 14, John still wants to hang out with us when we are there. This past summer we went with another family, John’s best friend’s family, and the boys only went off on their own once. I credit this not only to the fact that they are both great kids that enjoy their families but also to the Magic of Disney. The Magic of Disney helped make us a family and we look forward to many more memories like this.

John and I, 5 years ago and today:

Contributed by Bruce G., husband to Heather, proud father of John, and creator of The Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World

Photo Flashback! Cinderella's Golden Carousel 1979

Mom and I on Cinderella's Golden Carousel in May of 1979. 

This opening day attraction was recently renamed as Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.  For now, it's the jewel of Fantasyland, with its beautifully painted horses, lights and mirrors.  Truly an American attraction, it was built in Philadelphia in 1917 and delighted children in its Detroit and New Jersey homes before being restored and Disney-fied.  The next time you are in Fantasyland, take a few minutes to admire the adornments on its 90 horses.  Then take a ride and feel like a kid again.

Minnie Moms: First Attractions

Amy: Tink's first attraction had to be "it's a small world."  I love that ride and yes, even the song that you just can't get out of your head.  I sing it to her occasionally at naptime.  This attraction is classic Disney and what little girl wouldn't love room after room full of dolls?  My husband, Dad, Chris, Audrey, and I rode "it's a small world" together after a late breakfast at 1900 Park Fare.  I guess the combination of a full tummy, being comfy in Daddy's arms, and the gentle boat ride was the perfect set-up for a nap.  She saw about 75% of it before falling asleep.  I really appreciated Audrey's Entourage on this trip.  When we emerged from the ride into the bright sunlight, Uncle Chris had retrieved the stroller and Granddaddy took her off for a nap behind the Christmas shop while the rest of us headed off for Haunted Mansion.

Disney.com has some great history on "it's a small world."

Corby: We took our son to Disney World for the first time in September 2007. He had recently turned 4 years old. In one word the thing that stands out most to me about this particular trip is…characters!!!!! I should have known since he had a love for all things plush that seeing real live stuffed animal looking characters would be his dream come true! The other word that comes to my mind that trip is…hot! It was in the middle of September and I’m pretty sure it was at least 120 degrees! He and I waited in line after line to meet the characters. We bought an autograph book and had each character sign it and I took a picture as well. He absolutely loved it! I’m pretty sure we met every character that trip from Mickey to Horace and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum! We invested in the Disney fan that sprays water and drank many frozen drinks that trip. Seeing the joy on his face was absolutely priceless and worth every moment, no matter how hot and sweaty those moments were!

Heather: Our first family trip to Disney was last November around Veterans Day. We took our then 3 year-old after much planning and debating how to get the most out of 5 day trip via train from Raleigh, NC. The first night we arrived at we wanted to do Magic Kingdom and let Ben see the castle before any rides. Luckily we got there in time for the early showing of the SpectroMagic parade. We found our spot along the parade route and watched his eyes light up with joy at seeing all the characters he recognized from multiple viewings of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He is partial to Daisy Duck so when she appeared in an array of light and waving to the crowd, his heart melted. My husband have both done Disney as kids and again as a married couple but this was a very special trip to be able to see Disney through the eyes of a preschooler. We are returning with our now 4 year old and 4 month old baby in late October in time for the Food and Wine festival as well as Mickey’s Halloween party. Our 4 year-old will be sporting a pink Daisy Duck lanyard for some pin trading with Dad.  We are excited for our family to experience the magic of Disney again.

Janine: What am I most looking forward to showing Felicity (F) at WDW? Well it’s a tough choice between visiting the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (BBB) at the Magic Kingdom (MK) or taking her on the Haunted Mansion (HM). I can’t even watch a video of BBB on YouTube without filling up with tears. Just the thought of my little Tink being made into a full-fledged princess for the day warms my heart beyond imagination. But I also can't wait to take her on Haunted Mansion as not only is it my favourite ride at MK (and of course MK has to be her first park), it was also my first ride. Thankfully Ddaddy’s first ride no longer exists (ExtraTerrorestrial) as there’s no way I would take her on that!

So it’s a choice between taking her into the castle to meet her fairy godmother and be made up to look even more beautiful than she already is (and making both mommy and daddy weep with joy) or riding though the HM with our ghost host hoping not to join the 999 spectres!

You may be thinking HM would be a little scary for a tot but you see I doubt we’ll be going to WDW until F is 4 and I think by then, being our kiddo, she’ll be more than ready. We love Halloween so she’ll have already seen a few ghouls and ghosties! I love the thought of sitting with her in the doom buggy and singing along as we make our way through the house. Id love to see her face when she realises we’ve picked up an extra passenger at the end!

But … no, the BBB has to win as the thing I am MOST looking forward to doing with her. Just the sight of F all dressed up with glitter in her hair and waving a wand … sniff, the keyboard is going to get damp in a minute as I sit here thinking about it! Her nursery is already decorated with princess and it will be the theme of her first birthday party. So although it isn’t actually a ride or attraction this is the thing I dream about doing with F when we get to WDW, except for her first steps on Main Street of course … but that’s a whole other story.

Kelly: My son Shawn’s first attraction was Buzz Lightyear at the Magic Kingdom. He was 5 the first time we brought him to the House of Mouse for a two week vacation and we had a blast. My son already loved Buzz Lightyear the character so it was not to hard to get him on the ride, add in that he could shoot things and that was all he needed to hear. We must have ridden that ride a million times over the course of the next two weeks but it was worth it! As I think back and remember it now he had this silly look on his face and was so happy to go on it over and over. At the time he was an only child and was loving all the attention but little did he know his brother was on the way. I hate to admit it but even back then he beat me a few times and now that he is 11 he beats me even more. It has become a competitive sport with my sons and husband, with my husband usually winning. I pulled out my Disney Picture Album from that vacation and pulled out a couple of my favorite pics to share and I as went through them it brought back such fond memories for me.

Click here for more info on our Minnie Moms.  Please let us know if there is a topic you'd be interested in seeing or a trip planning question we can answer for you! 

If you have a first attraction story you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it.  Please leave a comment below.

Introducing the Minnie Moms

I am so excited to announce a new feature on Growing Up Disney. If you’ve been reading us for a while, you are familiar with our team posts where Ridge, DisneyDad and I discuss a particular topic. I’ve assembled a team of moms to give you multiple points of view and help answer your questions regarding planning your Walt Disney World vacation. The five of us are all from different places, with different numbers and ages of children, and different Disney experiences. These “mom” posts will run on one Tuesday each month, beginning tomorrow.

Meet the Moms!

Amy: I married my Prince Charming at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion in 2005 and my daughter, Audrey, celebrated her first birthday at WDW in April 2010. All her grandparents live far away so my kid is a road warrior. I am a stay-at-home mom and love it, although I miss my work friends. Outside of my Disney blog, I maintain a blog about Audrey for our family and close friends. I love travel in general and have visited 13 countries. I am a really good cook and make a great cup of coffee.

Corby: My name is Corby. I’m married with two children, a son Banks, who recently turned 6 and a daughter Henley, who is almost 3 months old. We reside in Atlanta, Georgia. As I mentioned on a previous post, I grew up going to Disney World since I was born and raised in South Florida. We took our first family trip in September 2007 and I guess you can say we got bit by the Disney bug. This November will be our 5th trip in three years. In my free time I love to sew, embroider, entertain, and most importantly spend time with family and friends. I love talking Disney and thoroughly enjoy planning our vacations there. I hope I can pass on some helpful information so that others will find their vacations as magical as I do! (Note: Corby is now working with Travel with the Magic and loves helping plan Disney vacations!)

Heather: I am a work at home mom to two wonderful boys and married for 14 years to Bill. Our son Bennett (Ben) is 4 and Ian is 4 months. My husband and I met in college and moved to the Raleigh area in 1999 where he works in IT and I teach high school Government and Economics online. I have kept a personal mommy blog entitled Pieces of Me since 2007 after a competition with another blogging friend to post our summer “to do” lists online. I love keeping a digital journal of mommyhood and am in the process of starting a freeze-ahead blog called Freeze Ahead Frenzy. I hope it will be a resource for other busy families looking for shortcut cooking strategies and a place to share your favorite freeze-ahead dishes. I am honored to join with Amy and other college friends on the Minnie Moms to bring tips and advice on how our family has enjoyed Disney.

Janine: My family consists of myself, my husband, and my daughter, Felicity, aged 7 months. We live in Swindon, England.  My husband and I have been to WDW 10 times between us, having been 3 times in the last 4 years. We both love WDW and Florida with my husband being a big Rays baseball fan too. My favourite park is Magic Kingdom and my favourite ride is Tower of Terror. We are hoping to return in 2014 with Felicity and will be staying onsite this time. We are really looking forward to Chef Mickey’s and getting all the autographs for her at the character meetings.

Kelly: Hi, I am Kelly H Russo and I am a married mom of two sons. My family and I live in Massachusetts and my sons are 11 and 6 and have been going to Disney for over 6 years. We are seasoned Disney travelers and I would love to share my knowledge and experiences to help others with traveling, planning and more. I am a Disney vacation planner with Travel with the Magic! I get to help people book magical vacations to Disney and make sure they get the best deal and help them make magical memories!

Please let us know what questions you'd like us to answer!  Are there any topics of discussion you'd be interested in?  Let us help you!

Weekly Round-up: 8/28/10

It's been a great week at Growing Up Disney.  Thanks for joining us! 
Click the links below to be taken to any of this week's articles.

Mommy Monday:  Amy asked for reader advice on choosing a toddler harness for traveling with her daughter.

Team Favorites: The Growing Up Disney family discussed their favorite non-character restaurants in the Walt Disney World theme parks.  This sparked some great feedback on the blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Flashback!: Ridge shared a picture that proves you need to be aware at WDW.

Guest Post: Kelly Russo educated us on how a travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation much easier.

A Walk Around The World with Ridge: Three entertaining apps were highlighted by Ridge.

We're looking forward to next week and the launch of a new feature on Growing Up Disney.  Have a magical weekend!

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--Time Waster Apps

I have lots of apps for my iPhone but some of the best are time wasters that have no other purpose than to help me pass the time. Here are just a few of my favorites for entertainment while in line at Walt Disney World or really anytime you are waiting around.

Angry Birds: I don't know if you have played this game but it is a simple formula that proves to be highly addictive. The premise: you are birds who have your eggs stolen by a spherical, green pig-nosed creature. Naturally you being a bird, are angered by this theft. What are you to do about it? Well how about flinging your body at the enemy and destroying everything in your path? I know, fun right? With 165 levels active (30 more are coming soon) and at least 14 bonus levels you unlock from simple tasks and just pure Easter egg hunting, it is sure to keep you busy for quite a while. It is available for 99 cents for iPod/iPhone and $4.99 for iPad. If you just want to try it out, there is a free version available on iTunes.

Fantastic Contraption: Another game I am hooked on is Fantastic Contraption. It is $1.99 on iTunes and is a game made for those inquisitive people who love to solve puzzles and to build unique locomotion devices to move an object from a starting area to a designated finish. This one requires a little more concentration than some other games so I don't know that I would play this one while standing in line. This is more of a “take a break, sit down and rest the feet and frustrate yourself for a while” game. There are 45 levels to choose from and it you can even edit your own.

Hidden Mickeys: Now the last app I want to discuss is Steve Barrett's Hidden Mickey's. Yes, this one is only really good while you are in the parks. Now I say that, yes, you can use this app anywhere; however it has been designed, much like the book of the same name, to be used in the parks. I have traveled with the actual book before and really enjoyed the hunt. Now with the iPhone app and the use of location technology, it is a more interactive and immersive experience. You earn points for finding the hidden Mickeys. It comes in at $5.99 on iTunes. I like this app because it makes you examine the lands and attractions a little more closely than usual.


Regardless of your type of phone or handheld game, please use them wisely. Please step to the side if you feel the need to stare at your phone more than your surroundings. Just have a little decorum and try not to impede the flow of traffic. Disney is a busy place and I like to use my phone, almost too much, but I will always get to a stopping place before being lax about where I am going. You never know when the international double wide strollers of death will dart in front of you or knock your heels off.


Do you have a favorite time waster? What is it and where do you use it most?

Guest Post: Travel Agent 101

(Amy’s note:  I asked Kelly to write this as an educational piece about how a travel agent can help you plan your Walt Disney World vacation. I have to admit I didn’t know just how much they could offer so I figured others might benefit from this information as well.)

Are you thinking of planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, Disneyland or even sailing away on a Disney Cruise Line vacation? If so, you should considering using a travel agent. I know what you are thinking “Why should I pay for a travel agent?” Well you don’t have to! Planning a Disney Destination vacation can be overwhelming so why not use the free services of someone who knows all about Disney and loves it! At Travel with the Magic, we have experienced Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line and are College of Disney Knowledge graduates. We do not charge for our services.  We do more than just book your vacation; we offer personal concierge services such as:

• We offer itinerary planning

• We monitor the discounts so that you are getting the best deal even after you book your vacation

• We will make your Advance Dining Reservations

• We set up transfers through Disney, a private service or book your car rental
• We send out your documents USPS priority mail at no charge to you
• When you are away should there be an emergency we are here to help
• We have experience with Groups and Grand Gatherings
• We offer FREE onboard credits when you sail in the Disney Cruise Line
• We are always available to you even during your vacation by phone, email and fax
• We send out a Welcome to the Magic Packet once you are booked with information to help you begin planning

Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom

Now you still might think there is a catch but there isn’t! All of our services are free! If you book a Disney vacation package with us, Disney pays us after you travel and it doesn’t increase the cost of your package to use our services.

Wouldn’t be nice to have someone handle it all for you? We call Disney so you do not have to wait on hold when that new deal comes out and we will call Disney dining for you as well. Have you tried to call Disney at 7am to get that Princess breakfast only to be told it is sold out? We can help with that! Want to plan a special meal, order a cake, or book a tour? We can do all of that as well. Maybe you just want advice but like to book your own dining, then that is fine as well. You are in control and tell us what you need help with. We are here to help make sure you get the best deal and have a magical vacation. We love Disney and helping others so it’s a win-win for everyone. We work for you, if there is an issue after you arrice then contact us and we will advocate for you so that you can go and enjoy your vacation. If you have already booked your vacation with Disney we can still help you. We can takeover your existing reservation and you can still use our FREE services. So choose us and let us add some Magic to your vacation! If you have any questions please contact us toll free at 1-800-670-4312 or email us at info@travelwiththemagic.com.   We look forward to helping you!

Contributed by Kelly H. Russo,

owner of Travel with the Magic.

Photo Flashback!

On a trip back in 2007, big sis and I were hanging out at Animal Kingdom having some ice cream in Africa from Tamu Tamu refreshments. As you can see you never know what you will see hanging out in Africa or rather "not" see (Amy) at the Animal Kingdom. I was too busy laughing at the absurdity of the moment to bother to tell her that Baloo and King Louie were right behind her.

Team Favorites--In-Park, Non-Character Dining

Ridge: My favorite in-park yet non-character meal spot is The Hollywood Brown Derby. It would have to be one of the best in-park places to get a steak, other than Le Cellier. The steak pictured is no longer on the menu but it was fantastic. It was served with a wasabi emulsion, soy reduction and a reduced pan sauce. The large yellow object was a fried plantain and the steak was cut on the bias and plated with smashed potatoes to hold them in their positions. But enough about those delicious morsels...if you're into that sort of thing.

The Brown Derby is designed after the famous holder of that moniker, which is actually a chain in Hollywood, CA. The Brown Derby restaurants became synonymous with the golden age of Hollywood in the 1920s-1940s. Everyone who was anyone in show business went there. So at the Hollywood Studios the recreation of the original seemed only natural, back when it was a working studio, to bring a bit of class to the park.

Lunch is served from 11:30-3:30pm and dinner is from 3:30- until park closing. One of the eye-catching new items on the menu is the Duck Two Ways: duck with a vanilla-white balsamic melon pear salad and a braised leg with a ginger-carrot puree and natural reduction. Loch Daurt Salmon sounds intriguing: glazed with Scotch whisky over arugula, watercress, local peaches, blue affine, walnuts and a fig and orange blossom honey dressing. Don't forget the signature desert, Grapefruit cake, yellow cake with layers of grapefruit cream icing. It is really good if you are into little morsels of deliciousness exploding in your mouth.


DisneyDad: Over the years my wife and I have had some wonderful and not so wonderful experiences at restaurants in the parks at WDW. My favorite place to dine is always the next place we have reservations. As menus are always changing, I'm always a little disappointed that my favorite dish from my last visit isn't on the menu this trip but then again there is always something new to try. On our last trip we had a very good experience at the Coral Reef Restaurant at the Living Seas Pavilion at EPCOT. We had a table for two next to one of the expansive windows that overlooks the aquarium. We dined on seafood as fish, sharks, turtles, and an occasional diver swam past our table.

Another EPCOT restaurant we enjoy is Le Cellier Steakhouse at the Canadian Pavilion. The steaks here have always been excellent. Apparently I'm not the only one that thinks so as it can be difficult to get reservations here as it is a very popular place to dine. At the Studios I enjoy the food and ambiance of The Hollywood Brown Derby. The drawings on the walls are fascinating, taking you back to an earlier era of Hollywood. The last time we were here a pianist accompanied your meal with some old standards and Disney classics to help make your dining experience more enjoyable. At the Magic Kingdom Cinderella's Royal Table (aka King Stephan's Banquet Hall) use to be a wonderful place to dine. The atmosphere was wonderful and if you had late reservations, it was a fun place to watch the fireworks. It has been changed from a dining experience to just another character meal.


Amy: I got my husband involved in brain-storming for this question and we came up with the following list: Tusker House, Mama Melrose, SciFi, Coral Reef, and Le Cellier.

Tusker House: We went here for lunch last April. Other than date night at Jiko, this was our best meal of the trip. We’re big fans of Boma and this is pretty similar cuisine. My little girl ate better here than anywhere else. The grown-ups enjoyed the seafood stew, salmon, curry dishes, and the carving station with unique sauces for the meat.

Mama Melrose: This was one of my husband’s picks. We went here for lunch in 2006 and were on the Disney Dining plan. He remembered a pleasant atmosphere, good iced tea, and solid Italian food. At the time, DDP gave us each an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. DisneyDad, Mom, Andy, and I each got something different and then we’d all try it. We haven’t been back but I also remember it fondly.

Sci-Fi: I love this place. The menu is never quite what I expect but this is a case where the atmosphere trumps all else. It’s so much fun to go sit in the old cars and watch the cheesy science fiction B-movie clips. It’s usually my top pick at the Studios and I look forward to taking my daughter here. If you’re looking for a foodie experience, go to Brown Derby, but go to Sci-Fi for some unique fun.

Coral Reef: This place has been hit or miss over the years. This was our last meal before heading for the airport on the 2006 trip and that time was marvelous. There were six of us and we had one of the large curved booths overlooking the ginormous aquarium. I still remember the lobster bisque, blackened fish served over grits, and the chocolate wave. The food was wonderful, the service was good, and the atmosphere was fun but refined and relaxing. Fast forward one year. My in-laws joined us for the annual October trip. I had planned everything as was so excited to take them to Coral Reef. The service was incredibly rushed, the food was not good, and it was too noisy for us all to talk. I was so embarrassed that I wanted to crawl under the table. I sincerely hope that was just a bad night since our first trip there was phenomenal.

Le Cellier: My husband lit up when he added this one to the list. This was another Disney Dining plan experience and Andy and Chris were trying to see how much they could “spend” if we had been actually paying for the meal. They both had a great time and a truly delicious meal. I’ve been 3 or 4 times and I really enjoy Le Cellier as well but I feel that it is a little over-hyped in the Disney community.


So that’s what the Growing Up Disney family recommends. What about you? What’s your favorite restaurant in the parks, excluding character dining?

Toddler Harnesses for Travel

I have a very curious and confident little girl. She and I will be flying to Walt Disney World alone in a couple of months to meet up with the rest of the Growing Up Disney family. There is no way I am going through multiple airports with her without a safety harness. I know some people don't like baby "leashes" but I see it as a way to give her a little freedom while keeping her safe (and keeping my own sanity.)

I'm looking at a several different models/styles and would love to hear from you regarding what you've used and whether or not you liked it.  I've added some Amazon links so you can see examples of the different types.

1. The backpack/buddy style:
These harnesses add a tether to a small backpack. Some are in the shape of cuddly animals or favorite Disney characters. Basic animals are available at the local superstore, while more exotic animals and Disney characters are sold online and cost a bit more.  Others in this style have a backpack similar to the older kids, as shown in the second image. In most cases, the tether (tail) is removable and the backpack can be used separately. 



2.  Harness only style:
These consist of a harness that fits on the child's upper torso and a tether.  These are inexpensive and take up the least space in a diaper bag.  However, they do look the most like the dreaded "baby leash."

3.  Wrist to wrist style: More geared to older children, this type of safety tether attaches parent and child with a strap that is worn on the wrist by both.


4.  Convertible:  I found one safety product that claims to work in 5 ways depending on your needs.  The child's end can be looped around the chest, the wrist, clipped to the child's belt loop, or looped up for the child to hold on to.  Yes, that's 4.  The photos on Amazon only show those options and that's all I think of as well.  Still a potentially more flexible product.

I am leaning toward a backpack buddy.  I'd like to get a Disney one, of course, but the Mickey looks huge and I'm not sure the Disney name is worth the extra cost.  Tink likes to play with some of my small purses so I think she'd like the bag.  Regardless of what option we go with, I'd like to get it early so we both have a chance to get accustomed to it.

What have you used on your travels?  What did you like or dislike?  Thanks so much for your help!

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Thanks to Elizabeth for sharing this harness.  http://www.childharness.ca/
If you need a harness suitable for older children with special needs, check into this one.

Update 9/20/10:  Reader Cody and I are each testing out Kinderkords with our kids.  Me with the one kiddo and Cody with triplets.  We both love the concept but the quality is just not there.  I've spoken with the inventor/owner and the product is being licensed out and a new version should be available soon.  If the kinks can be worked out, this is a great product.  The child won't trip over the retractable cord, it's versatile, comfortable and easy to use.  It's also small enough to toss into your diaper bag to use any time.  I'll do a full review after my October trip to WDW.