MEMORABLE MONDAY

Well, here we are at Monday again.  The last Monday of July for 2012 to be exact.  Time for our segment of Memorable Mondays.  We are featuring myself today.  The story and pictures below are from my first trip to Disneyland in 1978....my first and ONLY trip to be exact.  Thinking it's time to take a trip out west again in the next couple years.

When I was 19, I had an eventful summer.  A close friend got married in May 1978.  At that wedding, I met the man I would eventually re-meet 28 years later and marry him in 2009.  I slipped and fell in the garage at my house and broke my wrist and got a cast, only to have that cast removed one week before I stood up as maid-of-honor at my best friends wedding in August.  A week after that I left for a trip to visit an old friend in southern California.  This would be one of the most memorable summers of my life.  I spent 2 weeks with her, and during that time we took a 4 day trip which included a visit to Disneyland. 

Keep in mind, that my first trip to a Disney location was Walt Disney World in 1976, so I was constantly comparing the two parks.  One thing I did notice, was that Space Mountain at WDW was much more exciting than at Disneyland, at least it was back then. 

Here are a couple pictures from that time.  The first one is when we were exiting the park, and the other one is after I got home.  I was with my giant Mickey (that got his own seat on the plane during our trip home), and my Mickey ears! 

If you would like to share a "memorable" trip to any Disney location, please send a story and attach your pictures in an e-mail to me.  Send to Disneynut1958@gmail.com.  See you all again next week!

My Top 5 "To-Do's" at Walt Disney World That We Have Never Done Before- Part 4/ Disney's Animal Kingdom

Good Sunday to all my Disney fans!  It is, once again time for my weekly feature My Top 5 "To-Do's" at Walt Disney World That We Have Never Done Before.  This week we are on part four.  I actually had a hard time coming up with a list for Animal Kingdom, as we did almost everything there that we really wanted to do on our last trip.  But, I did come up with 5 things.......so, here we go!

#5 - Shop at Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures

This small shop is themed as a type of roadside souvenir stand and featured reptiles and prehistoric animals.  Thinking this might be a great place to pick up some Christmas gifts for my 2 great nephews who are 4 and 6.  The focus in the stand is an assortment of wacky items strewn about the little shop.  

#4 - African Entertainment

We have listened to the African inspired music floating around the Harambe area before, but have never really taken the time to stop and listen.  This time we will.  The bands that play music to entertain guests can be found around the park at different times during the day.  Check the times guide for details when you get to the park.  

#3 - Flame Tree Barbecue

From what we have been told, this location has some of the best food at any Animal Kingdom park restaurant.  We love BBQ so this is really some place we want to try.  We will be using this as our lunch stop and will be pretty hungry after our morning tour.   (will get to that in a minute!)  They have BBQ sandwiches and platters, (all wood roasted) Beef Brisket, St. Louis Ribs and pulled pork.  I want to sit at the table along the river.  Seems very peaceful!

#2 - Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade

Hopefully we can stay in the park long enogh to see this parade on our next trip.  We had dining reservations too early for dinner last time and had to leave the park before this parade started.  Not this trip!  Our ADR's at California Grill are not until 7:20pm!  I can't wait to see the stilt walkers and the puppets.  Many of my favorite characters are in the parade as well, even "old Rafiki"!  My husband loves to say that name! ;-)

#1 - Wild Africa Trek

As we prepare for our next trip, we were trying to make a decision about different tours that we might like to take.  The article that follows, is the one I wrote for disneybythenumbers.com.  

After we come back from this trip, I will be writing a review of the "trek" and posting some pictures as well.

 http://disneybythenumbers.com/blog/blog_files/9ff018be447b5a55c84be4af5306ff42-2096.html

 Below is the Disney website information on this tour.

Once-In-A-Lifetime Experiences
Dozens of massive Nile crocodiles patrol the jungle riverbed. Mammoth hippos move deftly underwater. You are there to see it all!
Adventurers are fitted with an expedition harness that attaches to an overhead track. Once your group reaches the riverbank, get a stunning look at the hippos, just 10 feet below. After a seemingly precarious trek across a rope bridge dangling over a throng of enormous crocodiles, experience another unbelievable view as you hang over the crocs' riverbed lair!
VIP Safari
Enjoy a brief hike onto a sweeping African savanna for a VIP safari, including a visit to an exclusive safari camp with incredible views of everything from towering giraffe to powerful rhinos.
True Life-Adventure
Wild Africa Trek is a jaw-dropping journey only a few Guests get to experience. The expedition is a true encounter with African creatures in their native habitat. Come with us on this Disney True-Life Adventure!
Photography
A Disney photographer captures your experiences along the way. When you return home from your visit to Walt Disney World Resort, you'll receive a photo CD in the mail, so you can relive your wild adventure again and again. Photo CD is included in the cost of the tour.




Well, there you have my list for Disney's Animal Kingdom of things we want to do there that we have never done before.  Come back next Sunday, when we will cover "My Top 5 "To-Do's" That We Have Never Done Before-Outside the Parks".  See you then!

 

My Top 5 "To-Do's" at Walt Disney World That We have Never Done Before- Part 3/ Hollywood Studios

It's Sunday boys and girls, so that means it it time once again for the next installment if our feature "My Top 5 "To-Do's at Walt Disney World That We Have Never Done Before".  This week we will be talking about Disney's Hollywood Studios.
I know there will be many "gasps" and "huh's?"  at the things I have not done, especially when we reach my #1 pick.  Many of my visits in the past have been limited time wise, or having kids in tow who are too tired for later evening events.  So, let's begin!

#5 - Studio Backlot Tour

No, we have never done this "tour" before.  When my kids were younger, they had absolutely no interest in this at all.  I put it at #5, because I am really not sure if I want to spend 30 minutes of my valuable time  doing this.  I want to do STAR TOURS as least twice, and Toy Story Midway Mania at least twice, so I am iffy with this as best.  Any feedback yeah or neigh would be greatly appreciated from my readers. 

#4 - Eat at Backlot Express

Never had the opportunity to take in a meal at this location, but will be doing it this time.  I have heard some great things about the food here, so really want to try it.  Besides the food, I want to take in everything this place has to offer with all the great things to see.

Backlot Express Daily Menu

Menu updated: April 14, 2012

Entrees

1/3 lb Angus Onion Straw Bacon Cheeseburger
with House Sauce, served with Carrot Sticks or French Fries
$8.79
Chicken Breast Nuggets (8 pieces)
served with Carrot Sticks or French Fries
$8.19
Hot Dog
with Carrot Sticks or French Fries
$6.79
Southwest Salad with Chicken
Mixed Greens, Crisp Corn Tortilla, Black Bean Relish, Avocado and Cilantro Vinnigrette
$8.29
Grilled Turkey and Cheese
Multigrain Ciabatta, Argula and Red peppers served with Carrot Sticks or French Fries
$8.99
Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
Basil Asiago Artisan Bread, Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Zuchini, Tomato, Watercress, Cheese, Sun-dried Tomato Paste with Carrot Sticks or French Fries
$8.99

This looks like a great menu to me!!!

#3 - Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

GASP #1------I hear it!  NO!  I really have never ridden on T.O.T.!!  I am a big chicken!  I admit it.  But I tell you what.  After all the cool things I have discovered about this attraction in the queue area, I have to at least go through it.  I could go out the "chicken door" if I can't bring myself to actually go into the car for the ride......but, since my friends 4 year old grandson went on this.......not once, but TWICE......I feel like I cannot let myself be shown up by a 4 year old! 

#2 - Dine at Hollywood and Vine

This will be a first for us.  It really sounds like a "me" kind of place.  The Art Deco facade takes guests back into the 50's type diner with it's stainless steel and pink accents.  I can't wait to see the huge 42x 8 mural that features Hollywood landmarks like Disney Studios, Warner Brothers, the Carthay Circle Theater and Columbia Ranch.
We will be having dinner at 5:30pm.  Dinner is "character free" except for my husband, (because he is a real character!)  We got an ADR with the special seating for FANTASMIC! later that evening! 

#1 - FANTASMIC!

GASP #2!!  Yup, I hear it!  You are saying, "What does she mean she has never been to FANTASMIC! before??"  No, we really have not, and I am sorry to say that.  Our last trip was in 2010 in early February, and the show was not running at that time because of weather related issues.  It was very chilly and rainy that week so no FANTASMIC! period.  This trip however, we will be seeing it, and have priority seating with our ADR at Hollywood and Vine like I mentioned above. 
I am so excited to see this, I can't even explain it.  Seeing videos, and pictures no way do this justice.  So, I am anxious to see it in person!!

Well folks, there you have my list of  top 5 "To-Do's" at Hollywood Studios.  Join us next week as we cover the last park we will visit, which is Disney's Animal Kingdom.  The following week we will cover things we want to do that are not in the parks.  Until then, may your week be MAGICAL!

Memorable Monday!!

Good Monday to all!  It is once again time for our Memorable Monday segment here at the "Disney Tidbits" blog.  Today, we feature my dear friend Cathy Cole.  The submission she sent is about her son, and I can see why events like this, will always hold a dear spot in her heart.    

Cathy shares:

Time has left me with more than a few really good memories of Walt Disney World, but one high on my list, is of sharing a special day in the "World" with my son.

His band has been fortunate and good enough, to be accepted to play in pre-parades two years in a row at Walt Disney World.

You can imagine how exciting is was to see my son in uniform, marching down main street and in front of Cinderella Castle, with his band! This was such a thrill, I can't even say.

Just this past March, they were invited to perform in the pre-parade for the Electrical Light Parade! What an honor!  While I don't have a good quality picture of that, I do have one of the first year they played, right in front of the castle (my son is the tallest Sousaphone in the center of his row). 

Naturally, I shouted cheers for him and the band, and then ran from my place to beat them across the bridge to  Frontierland to watch them  again.

Disney was so wonderful to the kids. They each got a souvenir reminder of their trip. Last year, it was a back sack with musical symbols on it. This year, they got a pin and certificate. Their band got a really cool trophy with Mickey Mouse on top.

Better still, the kids, and we parents, saved and fund raised so that they could spend that day having fun at the park, as well as a night in a moderate hotel, and the next day at a park as well.
The kids had a blast, and have memories of a life time.





I'm so glad that Walt Disney World allows performing groups these opportunities, and so happy that my son got to participate.

Thank you Cathy, for sharing this great story and pictures with us this week!!  

If you want to share some great memories and pictures with the readers of this blog, please send your story and pictures to me at Disneynut1958@gmail.com.  Please send the photos as an attachment.  Thank you!!

Want to share a memorable Disney moments with us?

Would you like to share some of your memorable Disney moments with us via words and pictures?  Well, we would love to see them!  We will feature you in our Memorable Monday segment here on this blog in the upcoming weeks.  What we need from you is 2-3 pictures from a memorable trip to any Disney location, and a short story to go along with those photos. 
Please send the pictures as an attachment to: Disneynut1958@gmail.com.  I will contact you after I receive them, and let you know what week you will be featured. 

I look forward to seeing those smiling faces!!

My Top 5 "To-Do's" That We Have Never Done at Walt Disney World Part 2- EPCOT

Wow!  Sunday again.  This last week really flew by.  Last week we focused on the five things on our "To-Do" list at Magic Kingdom.  This week, we cover the places we have never been at EPCOT.  Some of you may be surprised by the things I put on this list, others who know me well, will not be surprised at all. 
So, here we go with this week's list. 

#5 - Mission: SPACE

One of my very favorite movies of all time is "The Right Stuff".  Do I think I have it?  Not sure.  I have always been interested in space travel, and at one point in my life wanted to be an astronaut.  Well, my math skills are severely lacking without the aid of a calculator, so I figured that was not the right career path for me! (good thinking on my part.)  Also the fact that I used to get car sick, and sick on roller coasters and anything that twirled me around also would have kept me out of the space program.  That still did not dampen my interest in astronomy.  Now, getting to Mission Space.  I am going to admit that I really don't think I can handle the orange version of this attraction.  If I make the decision to go at all, it will be the "lite" version which is the green version.  Will I turn green?  That is the ultimate question.  I would love to get some feedback from my readers on these thoughts.  Have you done Mission: SPACE?  Which version did you go on?  Did you get sick?  The advice is, "guests must be free of back and heart problems, motion sickness and other physical limitations".  Do I even want to attempt this at all?   Let me hear from you!!

#4 - THE QUEEN'S TABLE

This is a shop in the United Kingdom pavilion of World Showcase that I did not venture into on our last trip, or ever before.  After all the things I have read about this little store, I definitely will be shopping there.  Reviews say, "this is one of the loveliest shops in all of Epcot.  Inside the shop, you will find a room called "Adams Room", which is embellished with elaborate moldings, and a crystal chandelier.  The shop sells handbags, perfumes, soaps and other fragrant items. They also sell Belleek pottery (made in Ireland) and other brands of fine china are sold in "The Queen's Table". This shop also carries native music and books from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Scottish or Welsh tartans and ties are found here, as well as, bagpipes and the Welsh "Love Spoon."

To brew the perfect English tea, first you will need a fine china tea pot and perhaps a tea cup. Why stop there though, when you could get a milk jug, sugar bowl and even a napkin holder.

  Another must see with this shop is the small and serene Britannia Square outside of the shop farthest from the promenade.  this place is right up my alley.  I love purses...and perfume and pottery!! 

#3 -FRIENDSHIP BOATS

Although they are not great time-savers, Epcot's Friendship Boats transport guests across the World Showcase Lagoon. There are two routes:

• World Showcase Plaza (Canada side) to Morocco
• World Showcase Plaza (Mexico side) to Germany

For nearly all guests, taking the boat is far slower than walking. However, guests on the Friendship Boats get to sit in air conditioning. Take the Friendship Boats if you need a break or a different perspective on World Showcase.  I want to see what it looks like from the water.
Note that different Friendship Boats take guests from a dock outside Epcot's International Gateway to and from Disney's Epcot Area resorts , we want to take one over to the SWAN and DOLPHIN Resorts to see what they are like.   It is usually faster to walk to the Epcot resorts, but I think it will be fun to take one of the boats.

#2 - DER TEDDYBAR

Anyone who knows me well, is aware of the fact that I am a sucker for a Teddy Bear.  Losing my beloved teddy that I had possessed from birth, by leaving him in a hotel room at The Sorrento  Hotel on Miami Beach at the tender age of 5, has haunted me to this day.  Of course my parents made phone calls to the hotel after we came home to find he was not in my suitcase.  The are sure that he made his way to the home of the housekeeper for our room, and was never to be seen or held by me again.  My Mom said to me, "maybe the little child had no other toys to play with and this would now be their comfort in the middle of the night".  This held no consolation to me.  I just wanted my "pal" back.  I had other bears after that, but none could ever compare.  So, needless to say I have great interest in checking out this shop.  Now that Duffy the Disney Bear is sold here, I am sure one will be coming home with me!

Hidden Mickey Alert: Check the iron work holding the hanging baskets near the teddy bear shop.









Der Teddybar....will I find a replacement?

This is me at age 1, with my now lost teddy!









#1 - EPCOT FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

This will be our first time attending this awesome event.  I have heard so many great things about it, that my mouth is already starting to water!  We are planning on "Sna-lunching" our way around World Showcase.  "Sna-lunching"?  Is this really a word?  Well, it is since I just made it up!  We are going to have snacks, and lunch at the booths of the festival.  We have our 7:15pm dinner reservations for Tokyo Dining so we can get our sushi fix...and this is one of our favorite places to dine in all of Walt Disney World, so we can't pass on having dinner there on this trip as well. I am a wine drinker, not to be confused with "wine-o"..let's make that distinction right now!  My husband is a beer drinker, so he is anxiously awaiting this trip to try some interesting beers from around the world. We both can't wait to try a little food from this country, and a little from that country.  This will be a fun day indeed! 

Check out the Disneyfoodblog.com  for more details about this event!!
 http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012-epcot-food-and-wine-festival-marketplace-booths-and-menus/

Well, that about wraps up this weeks edition.  Join me next Sunday as I will be covering My Top 5 "To-Do's" that we have never done at Hollywood Studios!  See you all then!

MEMORABLE MONDAY!

Hello folks!  Another week has passed, and it's time for another installment of MEMORABLE MONDAY!
This is a segment where we feature a member of this blog covering a memorable trip to a Disney park, or other Disney destination.  This week, it's my turn once again. 

The photos are from our last trip to Walt Disney World, which was our belated Honeymoon trip.  We had a blast, just the 2 of us!  The pictures I have placed for today, are my favorites from Animal Kingdom.  It was a first visit to Animal Kingdom for both of us, and we absolutely loved it!!

These first two pictures are from Camp Minnie Mickey.  Miss Bunny and Thumper are so adorable!!  And, of course the main mouse in his camping gear!
Mickey is so cute!!









The next  picture is my favorite picture from the entire day!  Two of my very favorite characters of all time!!  Can you tell I am happy here????

The next picture is very funny to us.  My husband swears that "Liver Lips" was hitting on me, and this is the facial expression he got after he found out I was a married woman!  ;-)  Let's make no mistake here though..... Liver Lips is on the right side of the picture!  

The next picture is Paul and I with one of his favorite characters!  He just loves saying the name Rafiki for some reason.  Besides, The Lion King is one of his favorite Movies!

The next picture was one of my favorites also.  I had been to Walt Disney World many times up to this point, but the elusive Jiminy Crickett was never in any of my pictures because he was just so hard to find.  I received a tip from a friend and they told me where we would find him.  Who would have guessed that Jiminy would have been at Rafiki's Planet Watch!!  So, my quest was complete!  We found him, and I was thrilled!

Our next picture that I am sharing is Paul in front of Aladar.  I love the movie Dinosaur, and this was a great photo op!  We really had a blast at the DINOSAUR! attraction as well!!

The very last picture I have, is not of us,  but it IS our very favorite thing we DID at Animal Kingdom!  EXPEDITION EVEREST is the best ride/roller coaster I have ever been on !  It's not all that wild and crazy (well...just a little!), but it was just so much fun!!  Now, of course for those of you who know me well, are aware that my very favorite attraction will ALWAYS be Pirates of the Caribbean, but this one comes in a VERY close second!!  We cannot wait to ride on this attraction at Animal Kingdom in just a few short months!!

Well, there you have our very special visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom.  I have to many picture from that day, but wanted to share some of my favorites with you. 
If you are interested in sharing some of YOUR memorable pictures and a story that goes along with them, please submit them to me as an attachment in an e-mail and send them to Disneynut1958@gmail.com.  Please put in the subject line "MEMORABLE MONDAY".    Thanks, and see you next week!

My Top 5 "To-Do's" That We Have Never Done at Walt Disney World

Good evening!  As we continue making our plans for our quickly approaching trip to Walt Disney World, I have come to realize that there are SO many things I/we have never done there.  That being said, I have made the decision to divide this feature by parks, and "other" as the list is pretty vast.  To me, this is hard to fathom since we have done as many things over my years of traveling to Walt Disney World.
 I feel I can't count the new updated Dumbo, and Storybook Circus or TheBarnstormer since they are new, even though I cannot wait to ride those attractions!!
So here we go!

#5 -  Magic Carpets of Aladdin
We have never been on this attraction in Adventureland.  Do I hear a "gasp?"  Well, it's true.  The "Carpets" have always seemed a bit too much like Dumbo to me, so I have always taken a pass on it.  Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean have always been more my kinda thing.  Gonna ride a magic carpet on this next trip though!!

#4 -  Have a Nutella Waffle at Sleepy Hollow
Since these are new to Sleepy Hollow since our last trip in 2010, I can't really feel super bad about never tasting one.  I really do look forward  to tasting this delectable treat and have it for breakfast, or a late afternoon snack!

#3 - Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Yup!  Your see it correctly.  I have never been to this attraction.  I love Sully and Mike, as Monsters, Inc. is one of my favorite Disney/Pixar films.  I can't wait to be in the middle of 400 other people all laughing at the same corny jokes and silly slapstick as we are!

#2 - Mickey's Philharmagic

GASP!  I do hear you!!  No, I have never been to this attraction either.  My favorites in Fantasyland have always jumped out, and prevented me from venturing over to Philharmagic.  Sadly, now that Snow White's Scary Adventure is a thing of the past, it will give me more time to see other things.  I really look forward to the 3-D special effects in this animated film.  I can't wait to see this 150 ft. wide screen!  Putting this into perspective,  that is almost as big as the lot our house sits on!  Amazing!

#1 - Liberty Belle Riverboat

Yes, once again it's true!  I have not, (since my first trip in 1976 and all those after), EVER been on this!!  What's wrong me me you ask?  Not a thing.  Only thing I can say it when I was younger, I thought it looked boring.  The 17 minutes ride would have seemed endless to me, when I could be doing so many more things like going on Haunted Mansion 3 times!  Well, now that I have matured (just a bit), I think this will be a lovely way to spend 17 minutes of my life. 

So, there you have them.  My top 5 "to-do's" at Magic Kingdom.  Join us next week as we will reveal my choices from EPCOT.   See you then!

California Grill to close for refurbishment 1/6/13!

According to the Disney Parks Blog, the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort will be closing on January 6, 2013 through late summer 2013. A total facelift will happen, and a menu revamp as well. For myself, I am just glad this is not happening now, as we have reservations for a wonderful dinner there on our trip in October.

Chef Brian, when will California Grill temporarily close? *** Chef Brian: We’ll close on January 6, 2013, and we’re all so excited about the new look – I can’t wait to share the plans! *** And when do you plan to reopen? Chef Brian: Late summer 2013. **** Are you making big changes to the menu? Chef Brian: We’ll be tweaking the menu, but we’ll still focus on a fresh, seasonal menu with top-of-the-line sushi. You can still look for creative flavors and techniques, and sophisticated cuisine – I’ve got a great group of chefs in my kitchen and a great crew in the dining room, and we all plan to return. *** We heard the private dining rooms may go away? Chef Brian: No, we’ll continue to use the two private dining rooms for personalized catering for groups and parties. *** Are you getting a new onstage kitchen? Chef Brian: We’re so excited about enhancements to the interactive kitchen – we’ll be able to give a fresh spin to California Grill classics, and add some cutting-edge new selections to the menu.

Check out DISNEYsSENCE by Eleonora Duvivier

I have become acquainted with a lovely woman who is a wonderful artist, and her use of words is like butter. She has written a book, and it includes her beautiful artwork of Walter Elias Disney. If you are a fan of the man himself, you will truly cherish this book. You can order a copy at the following link: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3344534

Eleonora Duvivier is a member of this blog site. I would appreciate it if you would check out the site above. We all must try to help each other succeed. It is what God wants us to do. Thank you.

Ready for a Disney cruise?

If you are, I am the one to contact! Send me an e-mail at kris@mickeytoday.com. I will be happy to get you a no obligation quote for the Disney Cruise Line sailing of your dreams!

I'ts MEMORABLE MONDAY!!

Welcome once again to our Memorable Monday segment.  I love reading the stories that are sent to me, and the great pictures that come along with them. The smiling faces can brighten up ANY gloomy Monday.  So, this week, our feature member is Jamie Robbins Longoria.   I have had the pleasure of meeting Jamie in person twice now, and her adorable daughter.  This is what Jamie sent to me:

 

 

Hi everyone! My name is Jamie Robbins Longoria and I am from Chicago, IL! I recently returned home from a VERY special Walt Disney World trip! May 22-28th, 2012, I was fortunate enough to visit WDW with my 5 year old daughter, Kayla, and my mom, Sandy, for a 6 night/7 day visit! We stayed at Port Oleans French Quarter, which is a beautiful resort! This trip was extra special because I WON it thanks to WDW Radio & Mei/Mousefan Travel during Lou Mongello's 40 Hour show back in October 2011.

 

This is the link to the blog post I wrote after winning the trip!

 

http://mydreamingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/11/40-hour-box-people-contest.html

 

 

The trip was just incredible! I could probably go on and on about everything we did and expereinced, but I will share a few of my highlights!

 

 

I was most excited to visit The Magic Kingdom and see the new Storybook Circus and ride Dumbo, both at night and during the day! It was all that I expected and even more! I took so much video of it and pictures, and only half was open when we visited. I can't wait to go back now that both spinners are open and see how that is! I loved showing Kayla and my mom all the details in the new area! I loved trying to peek over the wall at the Beauty and the Beast & The Little Mermaid areas, and just tried to imagine how Fantasyland will look once those areas open!

 

We visited a couple days after Flower & Garden Festival ended, but were still able to see many of the displays around Epcot! Everything was so beautiful! I have always loved Epcot and the floral displays just made it more beautiful! One of the nights we visited, after riding Journey into Imagination, we wandered over the the jumping water area, and I watched Kayla play in the water and just smiled. Years ago, my mom watched me do the very same thing and it was just so heartwarming to see my daughter enjoy an area that I loved growing up (and still do!)

 

We also got to enjoy Star Wars Weekend #2 over at DHS, and that was so much fun! I would recommend definatly arriving early though for the SWW parade and Hyperspace Hoopla, or else you may not get to see or enjoy them! I had always wanted to visit during SWW and it was so much fun. We didn't even get to see or do everything that is offered, but we did get to meet a few characters, ride Star Tours, made our own droids, and saw part of the parade and Hoopla, not with the best views though! We are already planning on going back next year to fully enjoy it! 

 

 

One of the most memorable moment of the trip was meeting Lou, Deanna, and the kids at Downtown Disney! We spent about 20 minutes with them, talking and taking pictures! It was a dream to actually meet Lou and hug him and tell him thank you in person! I have been listening to his podcasts each week and watching his live shows, and was so geeked out! I kept thinking "OMG I am meeting Lou! I can't believe it!"  I gave him a small gift, a Chicago "Windy City" Vinylmation, which he loved! It was just a small token of my appreciation for everything he does, not only covering Disney news, but also offering encouraging thoughts every day, which always seem to come at the right time for me! 

 

 

 

I was so excited to meet up with many of my online Disney friends in person during the week! I felt truly accepted and had such wonderful conversations with everyone, with whom before had only communicated with on Facebook. It is amazing how special the Disney community is and how it brings people together! I have never felt so happy and had so much fun than I did with my friends in WDW!

 

I loved seeing the smiles on Kayla and my mom's faces as we visited the parks, visited our friend Mickey and all his pals, and spent time at our resort! I loved the fact that I am creating traditions with Kayla that will be carried on for so many years to come, such as eating at Crystal Palace or riding Tower of Terror! I loved the feeling of peacefulness and being "home" while on WDW property! I can't wait until I am able to live down in Florida and truly BE home!

 

 

Thank you Kris for allowing me to share my trip! 

 

Thanks again to Jamie for sharing this great story!!  If you want to share a "Memorable" story at a Disney park or cruise, please send me some pictures and your story to: Disneynut1958@gmail.com.  Thanks, and see you all next week!

Baby Okapi born at Disney's Animal Kingdom!

According to the story below posted on Allears.net, a baby Okapi was born at Disney's Animal Kingdom on June 21st.  Here is the story:

The cast at Disney's Animal Kingdom is happy to announce that late last week -- on June 21 -- they welcomed a new okapi calf to the family. The female calf has been named Nafuna, an African name meaning "delivered feet first."
First-time mom Zawadi and the calf, who weighed 35 pounds at birth, are doing very well and are being monitored closely by the animal care team in their backstage home at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The calf's dad, Akili, lives at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, where guests also can see okapi on the resort's savanna.
Guests will have two opportunities to catch a glimpse of the okapi calf a couple of months from now, when she goes out in the park's Ituri Forest. Guests can see okapi when they ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition and when they travel the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.
In the wild, the okapi is considered rare, and they are threatened by habitat loss due to logging and human settlement, as well as by hunting.
Okapi fun facts:
-- The okapi’s stripes work as camouflage when hiding in the partial sunlight that filters through the forest canopy.
-- Okapi are typically solitary animals, living alone or in mother-offspring pairs. They are extremely wary and secretive, making okapi very difficult to observe in the lowland rainforest of central Africa where they make their home.
-- The okapi's gestation period is about 14 months.
-- Adult okapi can reach weights of 550-720 pounds, with females typically being larger than males. They can live over 30 years in zoological facilities.
-- Normally silent, female okapi vocalize with a soft "chuff" during courtship and when calling to their calves. There are infrasonic qualities to their call, which are below the frequency that the human ear can pick up.

 I think Okapi are fascinating animals.  I can't wait to see how much this little lady will have grown when we see it in October!!