Avoid Family Meltdown!

How to Avoid a Family Meltdown at Disney World!

Cara "chillin" in July

We’ve all been there. It’s hot (no matter when you go WDW can be hot!). You’re tired. Your amazing child is whiney. You are in sensory overload with all of the sights, the sounds, the smells and yes the tastes of the most magical place on earth. And your last nerve has just snapped!

Boom! It’s on! “The next kid that whines is gonna get it!” We’ve heard dozens of parents say this every day of our vacation. Sadly, we’ve said it a couple of times ourselves! We’ve identified the problem, now let’s find the solution!

July photo shoot!

Midday break is a must! No matter how young you are, no matter how in shape you are, no matter how well you’ve prepped your family, you will need a chance to sit and recharge. When my kids were younger we always planned our trips like this:

7:00 leave resort for Magic Kingdom
12:00 leave Magic Kingdom for resort (catch burger in park if we are up to it)
4:00 leave resort for Epcot

Our trips went like this every single time, until recently. Why did you take 4 hours in prime time you ask? Because kids need down time! They don’t need scrunched up in a stroller sleeping in the heat time. They need flat on their backs (or in our babies case on tummy butt in the air) time, in a dark and cool room. We would take a shower, change our clothes and rest ourselves. You’d be amazed and what wetting your hair will do to your body temperature!!!

When I see parents dragging kids around the park, whining, pitching a fit, screaming, or just walking very tired I want to take the parent and square up their shoulders and say listen to me now. You will thank me later. We all need that midday break now. It’s a given! I did mention we did this until recently, I’ll discuss that another day. Until then remember this, you are on vacation and you don’t have to do every single thing to prove you had fun at Disney!

Happy Planning!
Mia

www.mackeymousetravel.com

Be Our Guest Review

Be Our Guest

Lunch Review

I wasn’t too sure about the new Fantasyland restaurant Be Our Guest. I had read a little about it, had clients try it but I guess until you can do it yourself you really don’t know. First it happens to be the coolest themed restaurant on Disney property, any Disney property. The gargoyles, the knights in shining armor (the noise they make) and the 3 different dining rooms all make this a very inviting place to visit!

We were walking past the Beasts castle when we decided to get some pictures. Two cast members were at the podium by the restaurant and welcomed us and invited us to go in. Woohoo! It was empty and we could roam around!! The detail is incredible. We took a look around and decided we had to try it for lunch!

We came back a few hours later and there was indeed a line. That’s ok, we had the time and really wanted to try it. We waited about 30 minutes which really isn’t bad and it was well worth the wait! The knights were waiting for us, still sleeping and making all kinds of noises lol. Once we were through the knights we entered a room full of kiosks. Here is where we ordered our lunch using a touch screen kiosk to make our selections and then off we were to find a table.

A cast member was waiting to let us know we could choose a table in any of the 3 dining rooms. We chose to go into the Rose Gallery and what a fabulous room it is! We acted like tourist and took lots of pictures but noticed a server never came by. We had already gotten our drinks before we sat down, but still no one came by to find out what we had ordered. About 10 minutes after we sat down a server came by with a cart, checked our receipt and gave us our order! How amazing is that?! They hadn’t asked ahead of time what our number was or what we had! They just wheeled over to

 us, checked our receipt to make sure what they had is what we had ordered and presto got my sandwich!

We asked a cast member how that was possible and they explained that our magic band sends out a signal that their carts picks up. When we ordered our food at the kiosk, even if using cash or credit card and not the food plan, we touched Mickey to Mickey basically giving our magic band number to the computers that were on the server’s carts. Very cool technology and very efficient too!

The food was delicious and very plentiful! I highly recommend it even if you have to stand in line to wait! I haven’t had the pleasure of dining there for dinner, although a friend has. She tells me that for dinner you will arrive at the front and proceed like you would at any sit down restaurant at Disney World. So no magic kiosk or magic band talking to the magic carts. I might stick with my earlier plan of only doing Be Our Guest at lunch so I can see that cool technology at work again! What about you? Do you plan on trying Be Our Guest soon?

Mia

Cruising and Passports

Cruising and Passports

Cruising has become an extremely popular vacation in the past few years. With all of the changes in our national security people are confused about the need of a passport on a cruise vacation. Years ago you didn't need a passport to take a cruise to the Caribbean. As long as you returned to the port you left from.

After 9/11 things changed. Our border security was tightened and more regulations put in place. You can still cruise without a passport, but its not a good idea! Three years ago we did it! We went on the Disney Wonder and you didn't have to have a passport, an original birth certificate was all you needed. Now, you can still use your birth certificate but it won't get you back in the U.S. if miss the ship, or something happens medically and you are transported to a hospital.

Protect yourself and your family. Get a passport. There are now two options when getting a passport. You can get the Passport Book which is the full passport. You can fly anywhere in the world, cruise on any cruise ship and cross any borders you want (as long as you don't need a visa to visit that country too!).

The Passport Book costs $110.00 plus a processing fee of $25.00 if you don't apply yourself online and/or are getting a renewal passport. There is an alternative to the Passport book. The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

The price for the Passport Card is $55.00 for first time adult passport applicants or $30 for an applicant that has held a passport before. That is a great savings if you never plan on flying to Europe!

Still confused? No worries! Consult a travel professional before making any decisions. It could be a savings and certainly a savings of your sanity!!

Refillable Mug Changes at WDW Might Be Coming!

Disney's Rapid Fill 

Last weekend we took a long weekend and headed to our favorite place on Earth! You Guessed it Orlando! I did some research and photos while Steve took the kids to Blizzard Beach (look for a blog soon!). He mentioned something to me that might be coming true at the resorts at Disney World sooner rather than later.

In my weekly reading of all things Disney I ran across an article about Disney's Rapid Fill coming to the resorts. What does that mean? When you are at the water parks you can purchase a refillable mug for a set price. It has a bar code on it that you have to scan each time you refill before the machine allows you to refill your mug. This cuts down on guests bringing their mugs from 1992, which irritate me to death!! But I digress!

Apparently plans may be in motion for this system to be installed at all of the resorts on Disney property. All Star Sports Resort has

been the test resort and it must be working well for Disney! Taking away the opportunity for entire family's to bring their mugs from
their visit 5 years ago and cheating the system. So be mindful before you pack those mugs with the intention of getting free soft drinks that Disney may be one step ahead of you ;)

Mia
MackeyMouse Travel

Payment Plans for Vacation

Payment Plans for Vacation

When Cara was young we had a small pop-up camper. We loved our camper! We would go camping every weekend and I could put it up by myself! Once I bought her actual play clothes (she was my first and I should have bought stock in Gymboree!), she could get out and tromp around in the creek or pet the bunnies, try to feed the peacocks. So many amazing memories! One day I was talking with my dad about camping and I said Cara just loves it! He said I know why, because she has you and here daddy 24/7. No phone, no tv (although we had tv with a DVD player because she needed her shows!), just us playing, relaxing and enjoying and growing. I miss those days!

Blink and 9 years later and an addition of a little brother we don’t camp much anymore. Too many things to do, too many irons in the fire! I’m sure like most of you, we try to schedule family time, maybe a family movie night, a girl’s day or a boys going to the game, but it’s not the same.

Sometimes the time isn’t always the issue. These days it’s hard to scrap together a large chunk of cash at once! That’s where MackeyMouse Travel can save the day! We can offer low deposits and monthly payments, giving your wallet a rest and allowing you to pay CASH for some much needed family time!

How can we do that? MMT has partnered with suppliers who offer our clients the best service and the best options for your family’s budget. Our largest supplier (well outside of Disney!) has now lowered their deposit to $150! Even on packages that include air!!!! Unheard of!!

Sit down tonight and talk to your kids, talk to your family and decide where you can reconnect together! Is it going to be on the beaches of the Caribbean with oodles of kid’s clubs activities? Or is it going to be on a ship at sea, where you can opt for a formal night for that family portrait? Or what about a magical trip to Walt Disney World where your princess can ride on daddy’s shoulders wearing her tiara and princess dress?  Where ever your dreams take you, MackeyMouse Travel is ready to help you plan it! Contact us today so we can get that vacation planned!

Trips with low deposits:

Walt Disney World - $200.00

Disney Cruise Line – Percentage of cruise fare

Most Major Cruise Lines - $100.00 - $200.00 per person

All Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean - $150.00

Night of Joy 2013

Night of Joy

 

September 6 & 7, 2013!

For two nights, some of the most popular acts in all of Christian music will be cranking out the tunes, sharing the word and soothing your soul with their unforgettable songs.

From freestyle rap and hip-hop stars to hard-hitting, high-energy rockers, there's a performance in store for every kind of music fan. So get ready, cause this is one faith-infused fest that'll have you "praising" the roof!

Two Legends, One Stage
See Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith perform together live, on the same stage!

It's an evening of enlightening proportions—experience the sound, the spectacle and the magic of their individual ministries as these two icons of Christian music perform their own solo sets. Then, watch as they make Night of Joy history and share the spotlight together in service of a much more powerful purpose!

The complete line-up includes:
Friday, September 6: Mercy Me, Steven Curtis Chapman & Michael W. Smith, Skillet, Mandisa, Matthew West, Audio Adrenaline, Moriah Peters, We As Human, City Harbor

Saturday, September 7: TobyMac, Francesca Batistelli, Newsboys, Britt Nicole, Group 1 Crew, Building 429, For King and Country, Jamie Grace


Go as a Group and Save
Celebrate the spirit of the occasion by coming together as a congregation and reap the rewards! From fellowship with fellow Christian music fans to special benefits like early admission, go as a group and get even more "joy" from this magic event.

Contact us today for information on tickets and lodging! Make it a family or church event to make it more magical!

www.mackeymousetravel.com 

mackeymousetravel@yahoo.com

Mia

Coronado Springs Resort - A Look Inside

A Look Inside the Resorts at WDW

Moderate Resorts

CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT

COPYRIGHT: DISNEY

Disney's Moderate Resorts offer uniquely themed environments inspired by places near and far. They're the perfect combination of value and amenities. These Resorts feature incredible pools with fun slides, sit-down restaurants as well as food court dining and on-site recreation.

COPYRIGHT: DISNEY

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – This resort’s 1,917 moderate-price guestrooms are inspired by the American Southwest and regions of Mexico and encircle a 15-acre lagoon. Palm-shaded courtyards and Spanish-style haciendas create the perfect climate for relaxation. Soak up the sun or splash in the pool, designed as an archeological dig site with a five-story Mayan pyramid. The Resort features colorful plazas and picturesque vistas reflecting the beauty of Mexico and the American Southwest.

COPYRIGHT: DISNEY

There are three “quiet” pools, and a five-story Mayan pyramid serves as the splashy centerpiece for a family-fun pool with a water slide. Dining includes the Maya Grill full-service restaurant, Pepper Market dining court, Rix Lounge, Laguna Bar lounge, Siestas Cantina poolside bar and limited room service. Special services include in-room coffee makers and ironing equipment, La Vida Health Club, hair-styling salon, bike rentals, watercraft rentals, arcade, sand volleyball court, kiddie pool and playground. A 220,000-square-foot convention center.

Recreation

• 4 Pools       
•  Feature Pool: 5 story Mayan pyramid, 123 ft water slide
•  Child pool
•  Whirlpool spa
• Children's playground
• Arcade
• Jogging trail
• Marina/boat rental
• Volleyball
• Beach area
• Bike rentals
• Health club
• Massage services

Food

• 1 Food Court
• Pepper Market
• 1 Full Service restuarant
• Maya Grill
• Pool Bar
• In-Room Dining: 7am to 11pm and 4pm to 11pm
  (limited menu)

COPYRIGHT: DISNEY

Rooms

• 1921 Guest Rooms
• Disabled accessible rooms available
• All rooms non-smoking
• Buildings offer elevators and stairs

Check In/Check Out

3:00 PM / 11:00 AM

 

 

 

Coronado Springs is Disney’s first moderate priced convention resort. There are many conventions scheduled every year which can cause congestion in public areas. But, often times, the Coronado will have rooms when other moderates are sold out. Also have your travel agent check to see if the price of a moderate is close to the price of a value resort. It doesn’t happen very often but you might find it within a couple hundred dollars and well worth the upgrade!



COPYRIGHT: DISNEY

COPYRIGHT: DISNEY

COPYRIGHT: DISNEY



Families Are Time Starved

American Families are Time Starved......

Is Yours?

Contact us today to find out how you can connect with your children today! mackeymousetravel.com

Is your Travel Agent Biased?

Is Your Travel Agent Biased?

I just read an interesting article encouraging me to be biased. At first you might think this a strange concept. We are trained and taught to believe that being biased is unacceptable and down right rude. But, in the instance of picking the right vacation for your family, a little bias is in order.

I love Walt Disney World. I love the resorts, I love the attention to detail, the Disney Service, the desire to make sure that every day of my vacation is the best day yet. With that, when I am asked why should I pay more to stay "on property", I have to fall back on why I love Disney so much. I usually use the normal canned answer of, free Disney transportation, extra magic hours, package delivery and on and on.

But what I really need to say, is I love Disney. I wouldn't want a vacation just like the one I took when we went to visit Aunt Gladys in Omaha and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. While there is nothing wrong with Holiday Inn Express or Omaha, I specifically chose Disney World for the magic and enchantment of the entire destination. The resorts on property that Disney owns and operates are as much a part of that experience as the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Castle.

Not convinced yet? Disney has 3 categories of Resorts (plus the Home Away from Home resorts) that can meet any budget. Each resort has a unique theme that Disney carries through the entire property. If you choose the new Art of Animation Resort, you will live, if only for a week, in the world of Pixar and their most popular movies; Cars, Finding Nemo and The Lion King. Each building, each hallway, each room is decorated to reflect the world of the movie down to the light switch! Everywhere you look, you will see parts of the movie.

I worked for The Disney Store for 2 years in the mid-nineties. I learned so much more about Disney and the philosophy of Disney Service. There is on stage and off stage. We, the guest, are always on stage so everything we see is part of the "play" and considered in production. Disney and all of their cast members know this and work extremely hard to make sure our part of the production is flawless.

Does that mean we will have a vacation without hiccups? No, I don't think that is even humanly possible! What it means is, if something doesn't go right, Disney will do everything in its power (and its a mighty power!) to make sure they can correct the situation. Even if a simple heart felt "we apologize" with nothing monetarily attached is all you receive, it is 100 times more then what most hospitality companies will do for its guests. Disney truly believes you are their guest, just like when you visit Aunt Gladys in Omaha, you are visiting your cousins in Orlando. No one does it like Disney.

So the next time you are thinking about a trip to Disney, don't be bamboozled by a few dollars off your "hotel" stay. Choose to be enwrapped in Disney Theme, Disney Service and Disney Family and stay "on property".

MackeyMouse Travel is a graduate of Disney Knowledge and Disney Genius. We work hard at staying educated at all Disney has to offer. Call or email us for a free no obligation quote today. Remember, to use a travel agent is free, but our knowledge and bias is priceless!

20th Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is Set

20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 6-May 19 Celebrates with New Blooms, Food, Music, and ‘Oz’ Playground

A blooming bounty of festival firsts will welcome Disney guests to the 20^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 6-May 19, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort.  First, the news:

• Epcot chefs will cook up first-time festival food and beverage fun, with special cooking stations offering exclusive-to-the-festival bites along the park’s World Showcase promenade.
• A new circus-like “Land of Oz Play Area,” based on the Disney fantastical film adventure “Oz: The Great and Powerful” to be released in March 2013, will debut a kaleidoscope of interactive fun.
• Disney topiary experts will grow, shape and manicure a Fab Five Disney character topiary with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck (with Daisy Duck in a cameo) featured in a celebratory floral cookout scene in living topiary color at the park’s front entrance.
• New illuminated gardens in the park’s Future World and World Showcase will cast a colorful glow over each festival evening.

Throughout the 75-day garden party, guests will discover festival surprises around every corner including new topiary triumphs, colorful garden displays, a butterfly bounty, HGTV celebrity designers, interactive gardening seminars and whimsical children’s play areas.  On weekends, top Flower Power rockers of the 1960s and ’70s will perform.

Every Friday through Sunday, HGTV design celebrities will host Festival Center seminars.  During opening weekend, March 8-10, Chris Lambton of “Going Yard” will appear; other designers scheduled to take the stage include Brandon Johnson of “My Yard Goes Disney” and Meg Caswell of “Meg’s Great Rooms.”

For more information contact MackeyMouse Travel today! Great deals are available!!

Taking the Disney Guest Experience to the Next Level

Taking the Disney Guest Experience to the Next Level

As a valued partner we’re always excited to share information with you. We’d like you to be among the first to hear from Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, on how we plan to enhance the Guest experience. Our efforts are driven by a fundamental desire to exceed our Guests’ expectations, and we aim to make your job, as one of our valuable travel professional partners, better as well.

At Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we continually push the boundaries of creativity and innovation to deliver the best possible experience for our Guests. We’re always looking for ways to take what we do and do it even better. Over the past few years, we’ve devoted considerable time and resources to create a more immersive, more seamless and more personal experience for each and every Guest who spends time with us. I know there’s been significant speculation about these efforts among our fans, so we’re pleased to give you a glimpse into the work we are doing to take the entire Disney Guest experience to the next level. Some of these initiatives are more apparent and can already be seen by our Guests – like our interactive queues at Walt Disney World® Resort and the Enchanted Art on our cruise ships – while others are more behind-the-scenes and are focused on “how” visitors plan, access and enjoy their experiences with us. Over the next several months, we’ll be rolling out a collection of tools at the Walt Disney World Resort called MyMagic+ that will give Guests more opportunities to customize and personalize their entire visit. Like most people who visit Walt Disney World Resort, my family and I have our “must-do” attractions, and as the father of three boys, those attractions often end with the word “mountain.” Now, rather than dashing as a group, or even splitting up to gather FastPasses, imagine booking guaranteed ride times for your favorite shows and attractions even before setting foot in the park. With MyMagic+, Guests will be able to do that and more, enabling them to spend more time together and creating an experience that’s better for everyone. A major component of MyMagic+ is the new My Disney Experience website and mobile app, which gives Guests planning their trip the latest information on all Walt Disney World Resort has to offer. We know that some people like to plan every aspect of their Disney vacation in advance while others like to plan very little, letting their day unfold spontaneously. No matter where Guests fall in that spectrum, My Disney Experience gives them the flexibility to plan as much or as little as they’d like to create the exact Disney experience they want. They can book dining and other experiences and reserve times for their favorite attractions, shows and more through an enhanced FastPass system, FastPass+. Once they arrive, they can use their smart phones to spontaneously change their plans in the moment, exploring our parks at their own pace and getting the most out of their visit. This collection of tools is another step forward in the ongoing evolution of our Guest experience, giving us even more ways to help friends and family create the unforgettable Disney memories that they want most. We’ll be testing, adjusting and adding features to MyMagic+ and My Disney Experience over time and will continue to make improvements based on our Guests’ feedback. We look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead! Linking the entire MyMagic+ experience together is an innovative piece of technology we developed called the MagicBand. Worn on the wrist, it will serve as a Guest’s room key, theme park ticket, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPass card and optional payment account all rolled into one. We’ve began testing certain aspects of MyMagic+ in Florida last month and the early reactions we’ve gotten have been fantastic. MackeyMouse Travel is a partner with Walt Disney Resort. We work closely with our clients to make their vacation the best it can be. The only way we can do that is to have clients who entrust us with their vacation plans. Give us a try!! Contact Mia or Steve today to find out more, ask us any questions and let's get the Planning Started!!!

Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade

Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade

Take in this dazzling and delightful parade as it winds its way from Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.®, to Frontierland®. Discover your favorite Disney Characters, feast your eyes on the major floats, move your feet to upbeat music and set your imagination soaring!

 Show Length:
Approximately 15 minutes* standing in one location.
*Parade actual start and end time will depend upon chosen spot along parade route.

Viewing Location:
Begins in Frontierland®, moves into Liberty Square® and then to Main Street, U.S.A.®

*Parade my start on Main Street and follow the route through Frontierland, map inserts should tell you during your visit.

Viewing Dates*:
Daily (weather permitting). Please check Daily Times Guide upon entry for start time.

 We have found the train depot is a great place to see the afternoon parade! Most of the floats are tall so being upstairs doesn’t hinder your view at all!!! MackeyMouse Travel will send you on vacation with a great list of tidbits like these!! Contact us today so we can help you plan your next Magical Vacation!! mackeymousetravel@yahoo.com or 770.490.5974.