Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: The Letter I



Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: The Letter I



The view from Italy

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped  over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Focused on the Magic

Monday, February 25, 2013

Getting There is Half the Fun


Ok, maybe not actually getting there- but the planning is a big part of any trip to WDW. As with many fans, it first started long ago, while getting ready for one of my first trips. What? I have to make restaurant reservations ahead of time if I want to eat in the parks? Huh…ok, I’ll look into that. A few quick internet searches later had me gulping and wondering what I had gotten myself into. I had no idea about the depth and breadth of planning resources available online. I dove in and read everything I could get my hands on, and the rest, as they say, is history. I quickly realized that for me- getting ready for a trip is almost as much fun as the trip itself. Disney plusses the magic by providing great resources on all aspects of trip preparation.  Along with Disney’s main website, they also offer the Disney Parks Mom’s Panel, a great resource with a panel of experts ready to answer any and all planning questions. In addition to the official Disney sites, there are countless forums, blogs, and websites to aid in planning. I’ve made some great connections in the Disney blogosphere and twitterverse, and I’m always amazed at the generosity and support in the Disney fandom. Whatever kind of information or planning help you’re looking for- it’s out there! A blogroll sharing some of these helpful sites is in the works for my sidebar.

As of this writing, I am four days out from what will likely be my last trip to WDW for a while. This is a short trip- just four days- but I plan to make the absolute most out of it! I’d show you my spreadsheet, planning lists, ADR chart, and time schedules, but I think I might scare you away…

Instead, I’ll show you something I find invaluable. As I start my packing, I have to to put a plug in for something that changed my travel system in a profound and positive way: packing cubes. It's hard to explain how & why they’re so great, but they make it easy to pack and super easy to keep organized. They are zippered pouches, in various sizes, that go right into your luggage. Everything stays where it should, and they allow me to pack much more in a small space than I'm able to without them. Oh, but whatever you're thinking about them right now- they're WAY better than that. A review I once read about them sums up my feelings well: I used to think, “what could I possibly need these for”? Then I tried them, and now I think, “I can’t believe I used to pack like a caveman”.  

Try them, and you’ll see what I mean…

Have you ever used packing cubes?

(No disclosure necessary- I'm just a big fan!)

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: History


Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: History




Le Chapeau history.
When did LeChapeau- the hat shop on Main Street in Magic Kingdom- stop selling these hats? 


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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped  over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Focused on the Magic


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

The official dates for the 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration were recently announced by Walt Disney World. This year’s conference will take place May 9-12 (Mother’s Day weekend).

The event, first held in 2010, has become a highly-coveted conference for members of a wide cross-section of the blogging and social media communities. Registration for the conference is by invitation-only. The event is expected to feature dynamic speakers who are experts in blogging, marketing, publishing, and business fields- along with a heaping dose of Disney magic. Details have yet to be released, but the blogging and twitter communities are abuzz with excitement, watching for information and invitations.


Those interested in getting the inside scoop can follow the official twitter feed at twitter.com/DisneySMMoms, and follow the hashtag #DisneySMMoms.
Have you been part of this exciting event in the past? Are you hoping for an invitation this year? Tell us about it in the comments…

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Love is in the Air


Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: Love is in the Air



...kissing swans at Beach Club...



Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped  over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Focused on the Magic

Plus the Magic at the Grand Floridian


Welcome Guest Blogger  Amy Simpson Swiss as she shares her Grand Floridian experience...


Sometimes, Plussing the Magic can come in the form of realizing a long-standing Disney Dream.  

The story begins more than 20 years ago, during one of my very first trips to Disney World. I boarded the monorail- a thrill in itself, as I felt I was stepping into the future – and glided, like magic, towards the grandest, most extravagant hotel I’d ever seen. A Victorian gingerbread house brought to life - The Grand Floridian. First impressions often last forever, and so it was that these first glimpses, through the monorail glass, of that stunning fairytale building burned forever into my memory. I didn’t get any closer than that first glance, but that was enough to plant the seeds of my dream. I knew that someday, someway, I wanted to come back, and stay at the most enchanting hotel at the most magical place on earth.


Since then, I have been back to Disney many times. I’ve visited Disney on a shoe-string budget, and I’ve traveled first-class all the way – and everything in between. I’ve stayed off-property occasionally and also at many wonderful Disney Property resorts, but I’ve never returned to the Grand Floridian. The time has never been right to fulfill that dream – until now. This past weekend, at long last, the dream came true. This, for me, was the ultimate way to Plus the Magic- fulfilling that long-held dream at last, and doing Disney in high-style, at it’s flagship resort.  

So, admittedly, all this sets up some pretty big expectations. Would the Grand Floridian live up to my expectations? The short answer is – YES. The longer answer is: Yes, yes, yes!  

How exactly did the Grand Floridian Plus the Magic? Details, details, details. Here are just a few examples...

Friday, February 8, 2013

Favorites on Friday

From time to time on Fridays, we feature various favorites from Disney Parks- favorite foods, favorite attractions, favorite spots, and more. This time, it's a combination: Favorite Spots and Favorite Foods...

Tucked away above the Japanese pavilion in Epcot is the Katsura Grill- one of my favorite places to head for a bite to eat. More than just a quick service eatery, this area is one of my favorite little getaway spots in all of Epcot. Many people pass right by, never looking up and beyond the koi pond. Follow the path upwards to find a semi-secluded oasis. It's not really hidden, but it just feels...different up here.

Often without a crowd, this vantage point offers some amazing views of the pavilion and of the people strolling the world showcase down below. (Shhh...there's even a bathroom that not many people seem to be aware of). There are tables tucked away in the back corner, tranquil streams and rock formations, and inside the Katura Grill...the delicious morsel known as okonomiyaki:


Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake, made from a batter filled with cabbage and other vegetables. Preparation of okonomiyaki varies by region and by restaurant, and can often include some kind of meat or seafood. The okonomiyaki  at Katsura is vegetarian. The pancake is grilled on both sides, then topped with a rich  brown sauce. The sauce is hard to describe- somehow tangy, sweet, and savory all at the same time. And no, that's not icing- it's a mayonnaise-like condiment, decoratively finishing the dish. Rich, indeed.

This portion is a great size for sharing as a midday or late night snack. The pancake is thicker than it appears in this photo- it's probably over half an inch thick. It's quite filling- enough to share, unless you plan to make a meal out of it.

The next time you find yourself high above the Japanese Pavilion, I urge you to give okonomiyaki a try... and let me know what you think about this tasty morsel from Japan!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: February Calendar Shot


Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: February Calendar Shot


A slightly different take on the calendar shot- an actual calendar...

My countdown calendar- the sweetest February calendar of all.

When the month is over, I'll be there...


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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped  over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Focused on the Magic