Category Archives: Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – A Feast for the Senses

Posted on by

Welcome Show at Magic KingdomWhen I daydream about being at Walt Disney World – which I do often and for extended periods of time (Don’t you?) – Magic Kingdom is one of my favorite places to bring to mind.  It’s easy, thanks to my memories of those incredible, magical Disney details, to recall certain sounds, sights, smells, flavors and feelings.  What makes my family passionate about our favorite vacation destination is how easy it is to re-live (in our memories) our happiest Disney moments!

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – A Feast for the Senses

Take all those favorite moments and add them together.  It’s easy to imagine myself in each of my favorite Magic Kingdom locations.  Here’s what’s going on in my mind:

The cool, humid air inside the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean – Often a welcome respite from the Florida sun, the smooth feel of the plastic seat when I board the boat, the smell (OH, that smell!) of the water as the deep, eerie voice warns, “Dead men tell no tales“.   Then I can see, perfectly in my mind, all the best (to me) moments of that attraction!  The dog with the jail key and the pirates behind bars whistling and coaxing him, the pirate on the bridge with his dirty food and hairy leg, so many great details!  “We wants the redhead!”IMG_4466

See how easy it is?  Engage all your senses in your memories and it’s the next best thing to being there!  Let me get you going with a few more iconic Magic Kingdom moments, categorized by sense involved!RM-Magic-Kingdom-Autumn

Sight – Main Street U.S.A.’s colors, signs, window decorations…the motion of the crowd and the Main Street Vehicles against the backdrop of Cinderella Castle.  Imagine the glint of light reflecting off the castle’s turrets or the details that are lit up in the queue for Space Mountain – oh, wait! How about Space Mountain itself – the exterior is an awesome sight.  As is the sheer magic of Big Thunder Mountain!!!RM-Space-Mountain-Sign

Sound – The Dapper Dans, Casey’s Corner piano player, the screams and booming whoosh of the Splash Mountain logs plunging into the briar patch!  Do you know that weird clicking sound in the first part of Haunted Mansion?  I love that sound!  How about the radio voice in the queue for Jungle Cruise?  Wonderful!  Doesn’t Jiminy Cricket’s voice make you SO happy during Wishes?  I also adore (beyond a reasonable amount) the prospector’s voice on Big Thunder – “…hang onto them hats and glasses, cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” The Red Rock of Big Thunder Mountain

Touch – My kids have always made fun of me for my need to touch store merchandise as I shop.  I can’t help it – how things feel is part of the experience!  Take the seats on The PeopleMover – not only are they a beautiful blue, they feel great!  I also love the smoothness of those clam mobiles in Under the Sea – Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Fantasyland.  Have you ever noticed the contrast between the felt part and the ears on a classic Earhat?  Part of what makes a churro a great snack is the crunch when you bite into it!  Same with the outside of a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar.RM-Churro

Taste – Doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Magic Kingdom popcorn, Dole Whip, Citrus Swirl, churro, ice cream, turkey leg, Mickey pretzel or hotdog – everyone has their favorite Disney foods and Magic Kingdom offers plenty of the good stuff!  Personal favorite – the sweet and spicy chicken waffle at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square.RM-Sweet-&-Spicy-Chicken-Waffle-Sandwich

Smell – I’ve already mentioned the water smell in Pirates, but how about that delicious smell on Main Street? The exhaust from the Tomorrowland Speedway? The pies in Mickey’s PhilharMagic?  What are your favorite scents in Magic Kingdom?

Hopefully by now you’ve got the hang of this total Magic-Kingdom-memory-by-senses thing and are completely immersed in happy memories!  Now it’s your turn!  What special things make your pixie-dusted vacation memories special?   

 

 

 

Fitbit Review – Getting Ready for WDW!

Posted on by

I’ve had a Fitbit Charge HR for about three weeks now.  I’d wanted one for a long time, but was hesitant about spending the money – I want to lose a few pounds and keep track of my diet and exercise, but I was certain I could rely on free diet and fitness apps to get the job done.  I was wrong.Fitbit App

Fitbit Review – Getting Ready for WDW!

After packing on the pounds stress eating this year, I was down to some pretty slim pickings in my closet.  I do NOT want to buy bigger clothes.  I know when I’m at a certain weight I feel great and am comfortable in both my own skin and all the clothes in my closet.  I was ready to be that weight again, but lacked the right motivation to get there.  We’re also getting ready for a Walt Disney World vacation right after Christmas – I want to be prepared for all the walking involved!  Enter the Fitbit Charge HR.Fitbit Charge HR

As a birthday gift, it might not sound very exciting, but Raymond knows me well and he knows when I’m not happy with myself, I’m like Alice in Wonderland and I lose my “muchness”.  Ramping up my exercise and dropping the extra pounds is the solution for what’s dragging me down.  The best thing about a Fitbit is that it’s very much a one-stop shop for tracking activity, sleep, heartrate, calories in and out, and even water intake.Fitbit-App-Tracking

So, a few weeks in and I’ve been very diligent about utilizing all the features to the fullest extent.  I let the app know my weigh loss goals and it automatically determines my calorie goal each day – which differs based on my activity.  I pay more attention to the amount and quality of sleep I’m getting – how this device knows exactly how many minutes I’m sleeping along with the number of times I wake up or am restless is mysterious and COOL to me!  I added friends within the app who also use Fitbit to see how my daily steps compare to theirs.  The app even awards badges when certain mileage or flights-of-stairs milestones are reached.  I’m just a bit competitive, so these features are perfect for me!Fitbit Badges

The result?  My daily running mileage is up – which is great since I’ve got the Glass Slipper Challenge ahead of me in February.  I’ve lost 8 pounds so far, which is about 1/3 of my goal and I feel like my willpower has gotten a much-needed injection of strength.  It’s early days yet,  but the features and benefits of my Fitbit have been worth what Raymond paid for it.

Do I feel like I can keep going? Absolutely!  I’ll let you know when I’ve reached my goal.

Do you have a Fitbit? How’s it been working for you?

Glass Slipper Challenge Prep

Posted on by

Running-Race-BibsThe Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend kicks off in just 75 days.  This fall, my son, Joseph, has been my faithful training buddy – I’m seriously indebted to him!  Long run after long run, Joe’s been there for me all the way.  Every time I asked him to train for and run a race with me, he said yes.  We ran 5K’s a 10K and a half marathon – his first, on November 15th.  All to help me get ready for a special weekend in February – one that he will not be attending.  That alone has made me feel especially loved!  I’ve invited him to join me in 2017 and, of course, he said yes.

Today for the Friday Five, I thought I’d list my five favorite training necessities for…

Glass Slipper Challenge Prep

The Glass Slipper Challenge invites runners to complete both the Enchanted 10K and the Princess Half Marathon.  It comes with an extra medal – and a great sense of accomplishment.  You can read about my 2015 experience here (10K) and here (Half Marathon).

Here are my five most important training necessities:Running-Through-History

A Strong Support System – Joseph keeps me company and encourages me on long runs while Raymond gets us to our favorite route.  Every weekend, at least once (sometimes twice), we drive 45 minutes to the Vicksburg National Military Park to run while Raymond rides his bicycle.  We have no hills where we live (unless you count overpasses), but the park is extremely runner and cyclist-friendly while offering a variety of options for racking up hilly mileage.Running-Nike-Fans

The Right Shoes – I’m a Nike fan.  Over the years I’ve tried some other brands to consistently disappointing results.  I’ve had my gait analyzed to determine the best brand for me and…Nike!  I buy a whole size up and add my favorite Lynco orthotics.  No matter what brand of shoe you like the best, it’s super important that you have good footwear for training and racing.  Be sure to buy a new pair every 300-500 miles.  I keep a training log that helps me keep track of mileage – otherwise, I’d keep the same pair of shoes forever.Running-Age-Group-Award-Winners

Excellent Socks – The older I get, the more this matters.  I have more trouble with my feet than I do with any other running ailment.  I’m picky about my socks!  Hands down (LOL), my feet are much happier when I’m wearing my Balega Socks – I swear by these babies for all long runs and races.  I found them five years ago (Raymond bought me my first pair) and have been a huge fan ever since.Running-Age-Group-Awards-5K

A Training Plan – There are excellent plans for every race distance available free on the internet – find and follow one that’s right for you based on your level of running experience.  Having the proper base mileage is as important as building your weekly mileage gradually to avoid injury.  Pick a plan and stick with it!Running-Dirty-South-Half-Marathon

Happy Listening – There’s no way I could log all the necessary training miles without my favorite tunes and podcasts.  I typically start with a podcast episode or two then switch to music for the last third of my long runs.  I’m not sure how or why that works best for me, but it’s now part of my routine and I have to do it that way.  Sometimes Joseph and I ditch our ear buds and just listen to my iPhone out loud together.  which reminds me – get a good armband phone holder.

Your turn!  I’d love to hear about your must-have training items.  Also, if you’ve got any costume suggestions for me (I’m not into sparkly tutus or princess-y themes), I’d appreciate the help!

 

Busiest Time to Visit Walt Disney World – Into the Fray!

Posted on by

IMG_0059Ask any good source of Disney travel advice and they will all tell you NOT to visit Walt Disney World during certain weeks of the year – if you want to have a great visit, avoid Spring Break, Easter week, Thanksgiving week, and the week between Christmas and the New Year.  We’re ignoring this most important cardinal rule of Disney vacationing and bucking the system!  Raymond and I are headed to Walt Disney World on December 26th!

Busiest Time to Visit Walt Disney World – Into the Fray!IMG_0988

Why?  Why would we do this?  Glad you asked!  We could both get off work!  It’s as simple as that.  I get more flexible vacation days than Raymond does, but he’s always off (his work shuts down) from Christmas Eve through New Years Day.  We’re going to Walt Disney World because those days were available for us to be off at the same time and we couldn’t think of a better way to spend them together than at our favorite vacation spot!

We know this will not be without challenges!  We know we’ll need to keep a few things in mind to make this trip fun, relaxing, and worth the effort – oh, and it will take some effort to navigate the insanely crowded conditions we’ll be facing.  Here are the top five strategies we plan to employ:IMG_0971

  1. Patience – Lines will be long, pathways congested, attraction wait times ridiculous!  Knowing this going in will help us have realistic expectations and make it easier to practice patience – Raymond has always been much better at going with the flow than I have – it’ll be time to show that, after 26 years of marriage, he’s finally taught me a thing or two.  Maybe.  I hope.IMG_0970
  2. Flexibility – This is something we’re normally very good at in our day-to-day lives.  At Disney World during the Christmas season, it’s going to be imperative that we embrace spontaneity and be willing to abandon FastPasses in favor of not being late for our dining reservations (see #4).CoP-Christmas1
  3. Fewer “must-do’s” and More “off-the-beaten-path” Plans – The only must-do we’re counting on is seeing the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights one last time.  We have booked 3 FastPasses per day, but know that it may not be possible to actually reach them all during the allotted time period.  I promise to try not to be disappointed.  I’ll gladly resort-hop to see all the wonderful holiday decorations if the park crowds become unbearable.
  4. Plenty of Time for Dining (outside the parks) – We are booked solid dining-wise.  After we booked all our dinner reservations, we went back and added a couple of lunches.  The only in-park dining we have planned is at 50’s Prime Time Café in the Studios – all other restaurant reservations are in the resorts or at Disney Springs.IMG_1135
  5. Finding the Magic – We’ll focus on being in the moment, soaking up those awesome Disney details, appreciating the Cast Members and the challenges they face when the crowds are über crazy, enjoying being together and ending the year in a place that holds such incredible memories for us!

Stay tuned to Facebook, Twitter, and Periscope – We’ll keep you posted on how we do with The Plan!  Do you have any words of wisdom for us?