Disney Blog Hop - Disney Firsts

Hello! It's Thursday and that means Disney Blog Hop hosted by Babes In Disneyland. You should visit Lisa's blog it's full of lots of great info, especially if you have younger children. You may also want to check out her book while you are there, she is offering a discount right now.

The topic for today's Disney Blog Hop is Disney Firsts.  I thought about posting about my first Disney movie Sleeping Beauty. She is my favorite Disney Princess you know.

Then I thought I may post about the first Disney ornament I bought for my Christmas Tree, it was Mickey made of wood and hand painted. Then I thought, no that's just not right either.

Then I decided to write about my first trip to Walt Disney World. Really didn't like that idea either, you guys heard a lot about it in my The Good, The Bad and The Ugly post. Finally I decided to tell you what I am going to do for the first time when we go to Disney World next month. Thanks for the idea Beth.   ;0)

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• Pirates of the Caribbean - Love these movies, but have never ridden the ride.
• Soarin' - We were in WDW in 2003, Soarin' opened in 2005.
• Tower of Terror - I am not a thrill ride person, I am going out on a limb and trying this one.
• Yacht Club Resort - Last visit we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and loved it. This time we are changing it up and staying at the Yacht Club Resort.
• Typhoon Lagoon/Blizzard Beach - In 2003 we were at WDW in January, not exactly waterpark weather. This time we are definitely trying them out. If you have been let me know your favorite.
• Coral Reef - We had reservations last time, but the lovely family we were with didn't want to eat there.
• Fantasmic - My hubby isn't much on the shows, but Dakota & I have talked him into Fantasmic this trip.
• IllumiNations - If you read my post about my first trip you know I missed fireworks due to being sick. I am really looking forward to seeing them this time.
• World Showcase - The day I got sick was out Epcot day last time. I am very excited about visiting all of the countries this time.

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Reading all the firsts I have on my list you would think I didn't do much on my first trip wouldn't you. I can't wait to get there and blog all about it!

*Picture of Barbosa is from www.intercot.com .
**Picture of IllumiNations is from www.wikipedia.com .

DOUBLE DIGITS!!!

Look over there at my Countdown to Disney I am down to Double Digits!! 98 days until my Disney Vacation!!  I am doing the happy dance right now. You wish you could see me don't cha?  I think I was 204 days away when I first posted it here, I was just waiting for my 180 day mark so I could start making ADR's. Time has really flown by since then. Now that spring is here and school will be out in less than two months I am really getting excited. I still have a ton to do. Yesterday I got a nice little envelope in the mail from Walt Disney World with a video and info specific to my resort and package. I was so busy last night (watching the Braves and Dakota was playing guitar with one of the neighbors) I didn't get the chance to watch and read everything. So guess what I'm doing tonight. Anyway, just sharing my joy at being less than 100 days away from my vacation to The Happiest Place On Earth!!

Reasons I Love Disney A-Z..."W"

"W"
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney - (December 5, 1901- December 15, 1966) Walt was truly a pioneer in the animation field, and he faced a lot of adversity along the way. One of the things I admire most is the fact that he never lost faith that what he was doing was right, no matter what obstacles stood in the way. We could all learn something from the positive attitude, and we should all have as much confidence in ourselves and our ideas. I think Walt the man was so much more than the movies, television, merchandise, theme parks. One of my favorite Walt Disney quotes "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
Walt Disney World - Covering approximately 21 square miles, Walt Disney World is home to the largest and most visited recreational facility in the world. Located in Kissimmee, FL is has 4 Theme Parks, 2 Water Parks, 23 Resort Hotels, and 2 Health Spas. Tired yet? The thing I love most is it is exactly what Walt wanted, a living breathing growing theme park, just look at what is happening now with the changes going on at Fantasy Land. Disney World is ever changing and that is part of Walt Disney's dream. I am sure he is smiling down on all the changes as they happen.
Wake Up Calls - Wake up calls at a Disney World Resort are a real treat, most of the time you get Mickey Mouse when you answer the phone, occasionally you do get another character but that's great too!  Even if you set the alarm clock while you're at Disney World make sure you get a wake up call too!
Wedding Pavilion - I cannot imagine getting married at Disney World, I would be so happy!  The wedding pavilion is located beside the Grand Floridian and Polynesian on it's own private island in the Seven Seas Lagoon. It is extremely elegant, and tasteful and Disney really knows how to do everything right, you don't have to worry about anything. Your family even gets a Disney Vacation when they come to the wedding!! If I were getting married again this would definitely be what I would do, you can reach the Disney Wedding Planners at 312-939-4610. Here's a video from Disney's website these weddings are incredible, and no Disney doesn't know I am posting here I am just a sucker for weddings! http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/video/index#floridaWishes
Wendy (Peter Pan) - Wendy, her stories were the whole reason Peter came to London. Tink, the mermaids and even Tiger Lily were jealous of her, no wonder she didn't care for Neverland much.
Winnie The Pooh - Everyone's favorite friend from the Hundred Acre Wood, enough said.
Woody (Toy Story)- The Rootin' Tootin' leader of Andy's toys. How could you not love Woody? Woody loves Andy so much and he is Andy's favorite toy, along with Buzz, and they do make an awesome duo. He wants the toys to all stay together so badly and he is so valiant in how he tries to save Wheezy and gets captured by the Toy Barn guy, but that's another story.
Will Turner - I do love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and the story line with Will and Elizabeth have a good deal to do with that. Of course, Orlando Bloom isn't bad to look at either...
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress - This show was actually created by Walt himself for the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. It's located in Tomorrowland in The Magic Kingdom, the fascinating thing about the show is that the audience actually rotates around the stage, they learn how technology has made our lives easier and more comfortable decade by decade. The show lasts just over 20 minutes.
Walt Disney World Railroad -  Lilly Belle, Roy O. Disney, Roger E. Broggie and Walter E. Disney, these are the four trains of the Walt Disney World Railroad. Walt loved trains, and these for trains are all pulled by fully restored antiques steam engines dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The trains will take you for a 20 minute scenic trip around the Magic Kingdom with stops at Main Street U.S.A. and Frontierland.
Walt Disney:One Man's Dream - I'm really looking forward to this attraction, I am such an admirer of Walt's. There are photographs, audio interviews and memorabilia that tell his story in this self guided tour. I am excited to see the models for Main Street USA (California) and Sleeping Beauty Castle in particular. There are over 400 artifacts in this attraction, including a desk from Walt's second grade classroom.
Wilderness Lodge - This deluxe resort is where we stayed on our last trip in 2003. We even had a view of the geyser from our balcony. I love the rustic look to everything, the exterior reminded me of a huge log cabin with a green metal roof. We chose to use the ferry boats to get to almost everywhere we had to go, it was so convenient and buses were readily available.  The rooms were very comfortable, they have 727, and the 7 story lobby was amazing, there was an 82 foot stone fireplace with rocking chairs. There were two 55 foot totem poles in the lobby, they were pretty incredible. We would definitely stay again, we are just trying out a resort we haven't stayed at this time.
Wishes Nighttime Spectacular- The spectacular fireworks show at Disney's Magic Kingdom, there really is no better way to end a day at Walt Disney World. Jiminy Cricket hosts an amazing fireworks and lights display synchronized to Disney music with 

I Am A Disney Blog Junkie!!!

I have a confession to make. I read lots of Disney blogs every day, and I "Like" lots of Disney stuff on Facebook. You see my new addition to the blog, over to the right, there are some of the blogs I frequent. Oh there are lots more, and there will definitely be additions to the list. Most of the time I just do a generic search for Disney or Disney World or Disney Vacation and see what comes up.  I also love all of the Disney history you can find on the blogs out there.  I find the ones I like the most are created by real Disney fans, not travel agents who are giving you tips in hopes of getting business along the way.  And not the blogs by someone who's hoping to sell a guidebook.  It's the simple blogs by a Mom or Dad who just loves Disney and taking their family there on vacation.  The person who blogs just for the pure Love of Disney!  It's where they say I remember walking down Main Street with my little boy ... or I remember the first time I rode Tower of Terror!  The truly heartfelt stories and memories of their time in the parks. While I do appreciate the advice on remembering to bring comfy shoes and sunscreen to the parks and to get a FastPass to Soarin' I am now ready to read about the fun I am going to experience in about 160 days.  Now I really need to find a good Disney food blog I still a have a couple of ADR's to make...

I Blog For Me, If You Are Reading That's Icing On The Cake..

I am a realist, I know that only on a rare occasion does someone other than myself actually read my blog. You see, truth is I write everything here for myself. Don't get me wrong I would love to have a million followers and have Disney ask me to blog for them. But, I am enjoying planning my vacation and as I write my posts it will be here for me to remember long after our vacation is over. And by writing it all down here I am not bugging my friends and family with Disney info and boring them to death. As Disney fanatics well know, not everyone is as crazy about the "World" as we are. You see, I could look at Disney Guide Books and Disboards, Zannaland, Allears, ect. for hours on end, much like my daughter can shop for a Coach purse or MAC makeup. I guess what I am saying is by having this blog I get to "talk" about Disney to my hearts delight, but I am not bugging the people I love.


Now in the same breath I have to tell you I am very much aware of the Disboards, Passporter and Allears Disney fans who post their "Pre Trip Reports" on their websites. I haven't had much luck with forums. You see I was never the popular kid in school, but you popular kids needed kids like me who were happy being followers and wall flowers-we were the kids who made you popular. Just sayin. Things haven't changed much since high school, I'm not the popular kid on the forums, I'm more the lurker type, and Pre Trip Reports are just popularity reports. Talk about pressure, you have this fear of "What if no one reads my post?", "What if no one follows my Pre Trip Report?", "Is the name of my report catchy enough to draw in readers?" Way too stressful, know what I mean?


Great things is, unless I choose to click the "Stats" tab at the top of my Blogger page I will never know how many people read about my "Adventures in Disney World Vacation Planning", and sometimes ignorance is bliss. Today I may want a million readers, tomorrow I may not want any. So for today thanks to all million of you for taking a few minutes to humor me and read my rambling thoughts.