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Category Archives: Activities

Golfing in a Winter Wonderland

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Laura Posted in Activities .

A lot of people don’t even realize that Walt Disney World has two putt putt golf sites.  They do.  And they are a blast.  When I was in Florida for my 30th birthday, we decided to check out the Winter Summerland one.  It has an overall Christmas theme and has two different courses; one summer and one winter, naturally.

It's golf time!

It’s golf time!

When we arrived, we decided to try out the winter side.  Since it was February and evening, there weren’t a lot of people there, which let us take our time and we used those extra minutes to goof off and snap pictures.  It started out normal enough:

Let me show you how the pros do it

Let me show you how the pros do it

As we made our way around, we took a lot photo opportunities because each hole you get to play is fun.  Obviously someone put a lot of thought into the decorations and obstacles.

I'm usually skating on...

I’m usually skating on…

One of the most fun holes to play on this course features Frosty the Snowman.  Frosty likes to play a prank on unsuspecting guests who come near him, but I won’t ruin the surprise.

Favorite hole on the course

Favorite hole on the course

Since there weren’t many others playing, we finished rather quickly and decided to play the summer course as well.  Even though the winter side is my favorite, the summer one is still pretty great.

Yeah, putt putt!

Yeah, putt putt!

Here is a nice bonus of getting a Magic Your Way package for your vacation; each room will get two vouchers good for two rounds of miniature golf before 4pm.  Check it out one morning before hitting a park or two; it’s a nice little family detour.

No, thank YOU!

No, thank YOU!

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Traveling with munchkins

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Laura Posted in Activities, Downtown Disney, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Resorts .

Bringing a small child to a theme park can be challenging to say the least, but it’s not impossible if you have a decent (but flexible) game plan beforehand. I’m an adult and I still get tired walking around Disney all day;  especially sautéing in that Florida weather.  There isn’t a lot of shade at any of the parks and being outdoors for hours can suck your energy away faster than a child.  Having a toddler can be stressful and a little overwheming, especially for first time visitors so I thought I’d put together some helpful suggestions so you don’t feel the need to pull your hair out or have your own (inevitable) tantrum.

First of all, plan to go for as many days as possible.  I’ve done 4 Disney parks in 1 day, but am also a veteran and know exactly where all my favorite rides are in each one to beeline and avoid stores and character meets.  Allowing 5-7 days is optimum because you can split up some of the days with downtime at the pool or Downtown Disney or even just napping and relaxing at the hotel.  Park hoppers are a great addition to your base tickets because they allow you to break up the day with (ALL IMPORTANT) naps and snacks; and that’s just for the parents.  With a park hopper, you can go early (let’s face it; you’ll be up that early anyway) and getting to the park when it opens ensures you’ll get on at least a couple rides without fastpassing everything.  Then as the day gets hotter and the parks get more crowded, you can bail out for a bit, head back to the hotel, and stay inside for a few hours.  Head back to the park in the late afternoon when everyone has time to regroup and is happy again.  Use your dining plan to enjoy a lovely dinner without being sweaty and exhausted from being outside all day.

Mmm, now that sounds like vacation.

I would definitely recommend bringing a stroller with you.  Maybe your child has been walking independently for a long time and you think a child leash would be sufficient,  but trust me- if I was with a group that had a stroller they would be pushing ME back to the hotel.  With all the excitement, he/she will probably crash early or at least need a place to get away from the sunlight for a while.  It also helps to have something to carry the inevitable souvenirs you’ll be toting back, along with your sanity.

For rides, your best bet will be in Fantasyland; there are several attractions that are safe for kids at two.  If you’re like me and have older rides you just HAVE to do before you leave, Disney offers “trading off” for parents.  When you approach the ride, let the attendant know you want to switch off / trade off and they’ll give you instructions.  Basically, the family stands in line together and when you get up to the front, one parent can ride while the other monitors the kid(s).  When the other parent gets back, the one waiting can hand over the kids and take his/her turn.  The downside is riding alone, but the positive is only having to wait in line once.  Hollywood Studios has several shows to entertain and there is a Toy Story that is a blast.  Keep in mind it’s one of the most popular rides and typically has wait times over 60 minutes.  If you can’t Fastpass it, I would skip it altogether.  I can’t tell you how tough it was when my husband and I stood in line for over an hour and watched parents slowly lose their minds due to restless children, potty breaks, crying, etc.  Over time, they began dropping out of line like flies with equally as upset children, cursing their Disney trip and everything and everyone else in sight.

Be smart.  60 minutes is a LONG TIME to stand in a small, cramped area, even for older kids.  Toddlers are like the Terminator; there’s no reasoning or bargaining.  Once they begin a meltdown, it’s going to be all downhill from there and no one wants that to happen in a queue line.  Be sure to check out the character dining in the parks- most of them take the dining plan and usually one of the best memories for the kids.

Resort wise, I would recommend the value resorts first; most of them are decorated and themed for younger kids, plus they’re great for new families without a lot of extra income to spare.  If you want to spring for something a little more expensive, check out the deluxe resorts.  Villas have kitchens to wash out sippy cups and keep toddler snacks, the Animal Kingdom Lodge has safari animals in the back and rooms with balconies to view the area, and the Polynesian is only a short monorail ride to Magic Kingdom.  For the families traveling with a little royal, make sure you head to Downtown Disney where you can sign her up for a princess makeover, if she is at least three years old.  Prices range between around $60-200 based on the different packages they offer.

Any other tips for me?  I’d love to hear them!!

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Hello World!

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Laura Posted in Activities, Downtown Disney, Restaurants .

Hay everyone! This is my very first travel post on this site and I am so excited!  My name is Laura and I am the owner and operator of this domain.  Here is my story about getting started with this amazing company:

Towards the end of March, my husband and I flew down to Orlando for a wedding, but had to include some extra days to see some sights. One of our absolute favorite places to go is Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney. We have to eat there every time we go down! (We are very serious about our sandwiches)  We actually planned our entire day around going to DD for our subs.

It was a little rainy when we got there, but after about twenty minutes, a monsoon came through! We ducked in to the Splitsville bowling alley to wait out the storm but after thirty minutes of non-stop pouring, we figured we would cut losses and go bowling.  Our beloved sandwiches would have to wait; umbrellas were being pulled inside out in the storm!

This isn't magical weather!

This isn’t magical weather!

Bowling was a two hour wait (!!), so we grabbed a table and had some pre-lunch snacks to waste a little time.  Our food came so fast and our waiter was so on top of things, the “time wasting” didn’t take as long as we had hoped. The rain continued the entire time, so we didn’t feel bad about hanging around, but we were starting to go a little stir crazy.  The only real waiting area they have started leaking when the hail started, so all the seats were soaking wet.  We ended up just leaning up against a wall until our name finally crept up to the number one space.

What a lovely view of a three month along pregnant lady...

What a lovely view of a three month along pregnant lady…

Since there were only two of us, we had plenty of time to play multiple games and take our time.  My husband hated the shoes since they don’t lace up (velcro, what what), but that was the only complaint we had the entire time.  After that, it was SANDWICH TIME!!

Happiness: a montagu with mayo instead of mustard

Happiness: a montagu with mayo instead of mustard

While walking around, we kept noticing people who were wearing their MagicBands and I couldn’t help but wonder about them.  The last time I stayed at a Disney resort was a few years ago (perks of dating someone who lived in Orlando is saving money on hotels / food!), so I had no idea what they were about.

We ended up sitting down and people watching while we waited for a t-shirt we had made in Disney Design-A-Tee to be completed.  I kept thinking about each family who walked past and how long each had been in Florida and how long they were staying.  Everyone seemed to be…content.  They were just pleased to be there, even though it had been pouring rain only a few hours before.

As soon as we got back to my in-laws house, I started googling information on becoming a Disney travel agent.  Just like that.  I wanted in and wanted to be a part of making those people feel good to be out in even the worst weather because they were on vacation.  Low and behold, I came across Fairytale Journeys who put me on the path to Disney College of Knowledge so I could help clients become just like all those families I saw that day- HAPPY!

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About Me

Hay, I'm Laura! I'm a Georgia girl who loves talking about all things Disney; I work as an independent contractor for Fairytale Journeys, ready to help you plan your magical vacation. Come on along with me!

Free quote? Email me at: mrslauraotoole AT gmail.com

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