Disney

Disney Story Rooms

Filed Under: Disney, Travel September 16, 2019

Staying in a Walt Disney World Resort Story Room

Part of the fun of staying on a resort at Walt Disney World is that the fun doesn’t stop when you leave the park. While all the resorts have their own touch of Disney Magic, the ones below are known as Disney “Story Rooms” giving you the full immersion into all things Disney! The current story rooms are located in Value or Moderate category Disney World Resorts.

Art of Animation

Here, you’ll be surrounded by some of your favorite stories!

The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at the Art of Animation is definitely cute, and any Little Mermaid fan will love it! Throughout the resort, there are giant characters (including Cars, Lion King, and Finding Nemo). It can feel a little spread out but there’s always something cool to look at right around the corner!

Finding Nemo Family Suite

Cars Family Suite

Lion King Family Suite

The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms

This is one of the first rooms that we stayed in at Walt Disney World with the kids. In part, because my daughter loved Ariel. The rooms are colorful and fun.

Caribbean Beach Resort

Pirate Rooms- These rooms make you feel as though you’ve set sail! They include ship-themed beds and other swashbuckling touches from light fixtures to special artwork. The Caribbean Beach Resort is considered to be a moderate resort.

Port Orleans Riverside

Royal Guest Rooms-These rooms are fitting for a Prince or Princess! These rooms have custom drapes, linens, ornately decorated beds and headboards that glitter with a fiber optic “fireworks” display.

The lawn is incredible and picture-perfect. There are different areas to the resort including the Mansion rooms.

On the table in the rooms are letters (part of the table decor, not something you can actually pick up) that is a welcome note from Princess Tiana.

The bathroom sink area is separated by curtains, that feel very “royal” and add to the theme of the room.

Headboard at Port Orleans Royal Room WDW — Headboard in Royal Room

Port Orleans Riverside ‘Royal Guest Rooms’ is by far one of my favorites. The headboards are absolutely amazing and you feel as though you are staying in a palace room. They have fiber optic lights inside that cause them to be animated with fireworks and fireflies. The resort grounds feature the Sassagoula River, bridges and lush green lawns. It’s truly amazing and feels like you’ve walked into a story. The resort transports you to a new place and is pretty even to just go out for a walk.

More Disney Resorts

Feeling Fancy at the New Gran Destino Tower

Filed Under: Disney, Travel August 26, 2019

Feeling Fancy at Disney’s Gran Destino Tower

A Luxury Feel at Moderate Prices

The Gran Destino Tower is the newest part of Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort. The tower is the new front entrance of the hotel and feels much more like a deluxe resort than a moderate resort. We had previously stayed at the Coronado Springs Resort about six years ago and I swore it off, it was by far my least liked option. However, we had seen some pictures of the renovated resort online and decided to try it. I am so glad we did!

The outside of the hotel amazed the kids with my eight-year-old commenting, “It looks so fancy!”

Disney did a fantastic job of blending the modern, contemporary design and old-world traditions as they tell stories of adventurous world travelers, innovative artist, and enchanting storytellers. There are incredible details throughout the hotel. The Gran Destino is actually inspired by a short film that was created by Walt and famed artist Salvador Dali, “Destino” which they show in the lobby. It’s very abstract artsy and makes more sense once you’ve seen the hotel.

For our stay, we decided to try out the resort’s Club Level which until now was exclusive to Disney Deluxe Resorts. The tower’s club is called ‘Chronos Club’. It’s staffed by cast members who assist with planning and includes a continental breakfast, snacks, appetizers at night and desserts.

Upon check-in, a cast member walked us over to the elevators and up to the Chronos Club so that they could show us the lounge. The cast member that assisted us was Charmin, he was very helpful and kind! I love that cast members take the time to engage the kids too and then listen to them as they sometimes ramble on.

Elevator Gran Destino Tower — You select your floor on the elevator screen and it will tell you which elevator you’ll be on.

We received our Magic Bands once we arrived

The club level had a chest of games and toys that kids could play with while in the lounge. It was a rainy weekend so they came in very handy! Charmin had suggested the “Disney Meme” game as a fun one to play so when we went back later that night we decided to give it a try- and he was so right! It was hilarious! It’s even more fun with little kids who can’t read yet because sometimes it winds up being perfect.

Buzz Lightyear Disney Meme — Get it from Amazon

Club Level Goodies

When you stay club level there is a continental breakfast, snacks during the day, small bites for lunch, appetizers around dinner and then desserts afterward. There is also drinks available in a cooler all through the day.

Breakfast Club Level Lounge — Bacon fans. Can you tell?

Club Level Gran Destino Breakfast Offerings — Breakfast foods

All of the cast members we came in contact with at the Chronos Club were amazing. One of our favorites was Susan, who so graciously listened to and interacted with the kids as they shared their favorite Disney movies as well as tales of school starting soon. She even remembered us the next day to ask how our time at the pool had been. I can honestly say before we left the kids had definitely made friends with her and hopefully we’ll see her the next time too.

The hotel grounds are beautiful and of course, Disney manicured. The pool has one of the longest Disney resort slides; “The Jaguar” which includes a Jaguar over top of you as you go down was a lot of fun. It feels like you are on vacation in a far-away place, not just Florida.

Beside the pool, there is also a playground, some outdoor games, and an arcade. The kids enjoyed running around the playground. One night after a pool visit, we decided to go into the arcade and check it out. The kids had a blast playing the various games.

Three Bridges- Villa del Lago

Sitting at Villa del Lago in the center of the lake, Three Bridges is a restaurant where the storytellers meet and share meals and stories. It is a casual, outdoor, open-air lounge serving Spanish inspired meals. It is said to have been inspired by the dreamers, adventurers, and explorers. It’s definitely a cool atmosphere, although I’ll be honest that the kids weren’t totally impressed with the food itself. As with the resort itself though, the restaurant has special details woven throughout of the storytelling of these dreamers, adventurers, and explorers.

A Fun Stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower

It was a fantastic, fun stay at Gran Destino Tower. We had previously stayed at Coronado Springs about six years ago and I swore it off, but with the updates I have to say, I’m pretty confident we’ll be back again!

Planning a Disney Vacation? Check out Fairytales Journey Travel! It’s 100% FREE to work with one of their agents!

Looking For More Disney Club Level Options? Check Out This Post on The Grand Floridian Resort Club Level

Rapunzel's Breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno (Walt Disney World)

Filed Under: Disney, Travel August 7, 2019

Rapunzel Breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno

One of the easiest ways to get character interaction at Disney World is through Character Breakfast. You get to east, characters come around to your table and take pictures as well as sign autograph books. It’s a lot of fun.
As I’ve mentioned before we are all BIG Rapunzel fans. Many times when we go down we visit Trattoria Al Forno’s Bon Voyage Adventure’s Breakfast also known to my family as the Rapunzel Breakfast. Also at the breakfast is Ariel and Prince Eric and of course Flynn Ryder (Eugene).
Trattoria Al Forno is located on Disney’s Boardwalk near the Boardwalk Resort.

Trattoria al Forno Disney Review

The menu has changed some from the last time we were there for kids, (a very good change) where they can choose an entree and then two sides. Previously the steak was part of the Royal Breakfast and came with eggs in the shape of a fish. My kids aren’t fans of eggs so it was always a big deal to have them on the plate (they were a weird texture too).

At the table, they bring you a small cast iron frying pan (Tangeld Movie Reference) filled with pastries. My favorite is the Rapunzel Sun and the confetti muffins. The frying pan is refillable also. Be warned though, it’s very easy to fill up on these delicious pastries and be too full for breakfast!

The sun is a crispy pastry with powdered sugar on it. It’s delicious!

The kids always try and fill up on these muffins. They are sweet and tasty but defnitley something I have to limit if I want them to eat their actual breakfast.

The kids totally love steak for breakfast. I love that the steak they bring isn’t fatty and we basically just have to cut it up and let them eat it. For their breakfast they do just stick with the steak and sausage which may not look like a whole lot but it’s more than filling for them.
I love the breakfast food there. I’m not much of a breakfast person so that says a lot. The Tangled Eggs are my favorite!! It’s eggs with basil, and a Sunday gravy (marina like sauce) with seasoned potatoes. It is absolutely amazing!

The Characters at Trattoria Al Forno

One of the best parts of breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno is the characters. As I mentioned earlier, characters come around to each table, are very chatty, take pictures and sign autographs. This makes it so much easier than waiting in lines to see them at the park sometimes. Plus it gives you some time to sit and relax while you wait on them to come around.

TIP! Did you know that you can ask Flynn what’s in his satchel?? It’s pretty interesting! I won’t spoil the surprise!
They have an “Adventurer’s Parade” where the kids line up and follow the characters around the dining room dancing and twirling napkins. My kids always have a ball with this.
Another great thing about this breakfast is that it is outside the park so even if you won’t be going to one of the parks you can still enjoy seeing the characters- bonus win!

Looking for some places to stay near the Boardwalk? Check Out my reviews on the Beach Club and Boardwalk Resorts!

Rapunzel’s Breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno (Walt Disney World)

Filed Under: Disney, Travel August 7, 2019

Rapunzel Breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno

As I’ve mentioned before we are all BIG Rapunzel fans. Many times when we go down we visit Trattoria Al Forno’s Bon Voyage Adventure’s Breakfast also known to my family as the Rapunzel Breakfast. Also at the breakfast is Ariel and Prince Eric and of course Flynn Ryder (Eugene).

Trattoria Al Forno is located on Disney’s Boardwalk near the Boardwalk Resort.

Trattoria al Forno Disney Review

At the table, they bring you a small cast iron frying pan (Tangeld Movie Reference) filled with pastries. My favorite is the Rapunzel Sun and the confetti muffins. The frying pan is refillable also. Be warned though, it’s very easy to fill up on these delicious pastries and be too full for breakfast!

The sun is a crispy pastry with powdered sugar on it. It’s delicious!

The kids always try and fill up on these muffins. They are sweet and tasty but defnitley something I have to limit if I want them to eat their actual breakfast.

The kids totally love steak for breakfast. I love that the steak they bring isn’t fatty and we basically just have to cut it up and let them eat it. For their breakfast they do just stick with the steak and sausage which may not look like a whole lot but it’s more than filling for them.

I love the breakfast food there. I’m not much of a breakfast person so that says a lot. The Tangled Eggs are my favorite!! It’s eggs with basil, and a Sunday gravy (marina like sauce) with seasoned potatoes. It is absolutely amazing!

The Characters at Trattoria Al Forno

TIP! Did you know that you can ask Flynn what’s in his satchel?? It’s pretty interesting! I won’t spoil the surprise!

They have an “Adventurer’s Parade” where the kids line up and follow the characters around the dining room dancing and twirling napkins. My kids always have a ball with this.

Another great thing about this breakfast is that it is outside the park so even if you won’t be going to one of the parks you can still enjoy seeing the characters- bonus win!

Looking for some places to stay near the Boardwalk? Check Out my reviews on the Beach Club and Boardwalk Resorts!

All About The Princesses at Walt Disney World

Filed Under: Disney, Travel August 5, 2019

Where You Can Find Disney Princesses

Wondering where you can find Princesses at Walt Disney World in Florida? I’ve got you covered! Below you’ll find where you can visit your favorite Disney Princess!

Magic Kingdom Park

Princess Fairytale Hall
Meet Rapunzel & Tiana ~or~ Cinderella & Elena in the Magical Fairytale Hall.
You will also find Cinderella’s glass slipper on display here. You get to pick a line; Rapunzel & Tiana or Cinderella & Elena. You will have to start over and go back through to meet the other set. You can get fast passes for this character meet and greet. If you really want to meet them, I’d recommend the Fast Pass, sometimes the line can be quite long! Rapunzel is super chatty and adorable and Tiana is a southern princess that will have you convinced that you can just come on over for some gumbo! Cinderella is classic and very sweet of course, and Elena which is the newest princess is very nice!

Enchanted Tales with Belle
Have a magical time meeting Disney’s Belle and Lumiere. This is so much fun and interactive also!! Kids (and adults) are able to play “parts” as the Lumiere puts together a re-creation of Belle and the Beast’s story. You can get a fast pass for this one as well, however, because of the setup, you don’t really need one.

Under The Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
Take a ride with Ariel and all her friends and never even get wet!

Ariel’s Grotto
Venture into a seaside grotto, where you’ll find Ariel amongst some of her treasures. She is always happy to make new friends – especially human ones. You can use a fast pass to meet Ariel, I’ve found though that this line typically moves pretty fast.

Meet Merida at Fairytale Garden
Meet the adventurous Merida, and she might even let you shoot her bow and arrow

Festival of Fantasy Parade
Princesses galore in this spectacular procession at 3pm every day!

BONUS: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Doll up your little princess at this enchanted beauty salon. (Ages 3-12) You won’t meet a Disney Princess you’ve seen in a movie but your princess can become a princess herself! Check out my review of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!review of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Animal Kingdom

Pocahontas at Character Landing
As the solo princess at this park, Pocahontas will be so excited to hear all your travels!
Make sure to say “Wingapo!” when you greet her!

Hollywood Studios

Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Join Ariel and a few of her friends in this live puppet show extravaganza. You won’t meet Ariel but it is a fun ride to go on!

Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
You will be swept away in the fairytale when you watch as Belle saves the
Beast in this Broadway-style musical

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along
Watch as the story of Anna and Elsa comes to life with this fun sing-along. This is one of our favorites!! And occasionally it changes, it’s not always the same dialog/jokes. Everyone loves the songs from Frozen!

Princess Sofia
Head to Animation Courtyard to see Disney Junior Pals, and look for
Princess-in-Training Sofia just outside the doors of Stage 5

Fantasmic!
This nighttime spectacular features several Disney princesses!

Epcot

Princesses at the World Showcase
Travel around the world and meet several of your favorite princesses!
Check daily times on your app or pick up a Daily Times Guide at the park
(Notable: Aladdin/Jasmine in Morocco, Mulan in China, Belle in France, Snow White in Germany, plus other characters in other lands)

Frozen Ever After
Set sail aboard an ancient Norwegian vessel where you will find fun, adventure and Olaf, along with Anna and Elsa

Princess Storybook Dining – Akershus Hall
Various princesses mingle around your table during your meal.
(Usually Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Jasmine. Sometimes Ariel and Mulan appear, Cinderella makes rare appearances)

Meet Anna & Elsa at Royal Sommerhus
Anna and Elsa are waiting to meet you at the Norway Pavilion. Make sure you bring warm hugs with you!!

Who’s Your Favorite Disney Princess to See?

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Overview

Filed Under: Disney, Kids, Travel July 8, 2019

The Magic Of The Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Experience

A Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Overview

Want to give your little one the royal treatment? Look no further than the Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique experience! This post will help you get a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique overview and be ready for your experience.

While visiting Walt Disney World we made an appointment at Disney Springs Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique. A few years ago we did the one at the Magic Kingdom park inside Cinderella’s Castle which was a great experience, although a little crowded.

What is Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Experience?

Remember the Fairy Godmothers three magic words that transformed Cinderella from maid to beautiful princess? This is the Disney real-life version. At the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, your child gets their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training to give them a royal makeover. The Fairy Godmother doesn’t allow them to use scissors, so no worries there! Your child will choose a hairstyle, will get makeup, nail color and accessories. There is a location in Cinderella’s castle as well as one in Disney Springs. The Disney Springs Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is roomier than the Castle location and now that it has it’s own space (previously it was inside World Of Disney) it makes it magical.

Before you see the package prices, I want to mention something very important. You can do the base package (starts at $64.95) and bring your own princess dress. That’s what we did and there is absolutely no difference in the experience you receive. You still go to the dressing room and change as you would if you bought the dress. If this is a once in a lifetime trip you are creating I can understand wanting to do the max package. It’s a lot to put out though if it’s not a super special trip. You can even opt not to do a dress at all and just wear regular clothes. Let’s face it- It’s Florida…hot…and humid, so there’s no judging.

Don’t forget these Must Have Disney Items to take with you!

Packages Offered at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

The cost can vary for your visit. There are various packages offered that you can choose from that fall into every budget. Below are some of the information on the packages offered at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for your Disney Princess

The Crown Package($64.95 + tax) includes hairstyling, makeup with a face gem, nail polish, princess sash and cinch bag. Every package includes these items.
The Courtyard Package($109.95 + tax) adds on a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique T-shirt and tutu.
The Castle Package(starting at $199.95 + tax) adds on a princess costume of your princess’ choosing and accessories (excluding shoes).
The Deluxe Castle Package (starting at $229.95 plus tax) includes hairstyling, makeup with a face gem, princess necklace, sash, cinch sack and Deluxe Disney Princess gown of your choice (excluding shoes) … plus a coordinating boxed accessory set!
The Princess Signature Dress Collection(starting at $450 + tax) features a princess gown made with heirloom-quality fabrics, a crystal tiara and organza garment bag.
The Minnie Dot Package(starting at $124.95 plus tax) Unique Minnie Mouse hairstyling, Minnie dot dress and matching bow, Face gem, Princess cinch sack, Nail polish
The Disney Frozen Crown Package(starting at 114.95 plus tax) Anna or Elsa hairstyling with braided hairpiece, sparkling snowflake hair accessories, shimmering makeup, face gem, Princess sash and cinch sash, nail polish, 12 Inch Olaf plush toy
The Disney Frozen Package(starting at 164.95 plus tax) adds on Anna or Elsa dress to the Frozen Crown Package

For Boys:

The Knight Package($19.95 + tax) includes hair styling with gel and mighty sword and shield
The Deluxe Knight Package($79.95 + tax) Knight costume, hair styling with gel and mighty sword and shield

Our Experience at the Disney Springs Boutique

For our visit, I found this dress on Amazon, which worked perfectly for a “Belle” dress as well as the gold sparkly shoes. It worked out perfectly!!! Plus is was much cheaper than buying a dress there. I highly recommend a dress like this or bringing your own Disney Princess dress from home. My son didn’t change clothes, he doesn’t really care for ‘costumes’ so we did the base knight package. He loved his sword and shield. At first, he was cranky because he had gotten up super early to drive down but the Fairy Godmother-in-training was an absolute pro and talked him right through it. “Do you like frogs?” she asked. He gave a smile and a mumbled “yeah.” She explained, “Well we use frog slime to put in your hair so that the dragon scales stick and then you’ll fool dragons into thinking you are one of them!” That was it, he was hooked. She told him it was helpful if he had to fight a dragon or if he wanted to train one.

You actually go into the dressing room regardless if you’ll be changing or not so the Fairy Godmother-in-training can show your child what they’ll do with their hair and then there’s a special visit from the Fairy Godmother herself (via the mirror).

Why You Should Consider The Disney Springs Bibbidi Bobbidi Location

While the Magic Kingdom location is definitely an experience that’s worth having, the Disney Springs location has much more room and since being renovated to have its own building it is equally as special as the Magic Kingdom location. Plus! You don’t need a theme park ticket. That means if you want to plan a fun day that is Disney involved you can do it without visiting the parks. There’s lots of shopping, things to look at, and even a movie theater on site at Disney Springs.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for Boys

I want to point out that Bibbidy Bobbidi Boutique has some adorable packages for boys. My son thought he was going to hate it and initially tried to refuse doing it. Once he was in there and they started talking about dragons and dragon snot (hair gel) he was all in. It was one of his favorite experiences and we’d do it again. The shield and sword that he received was very sturdy and something that he still plays with.

Things To Know Before You Go

Reserve Early – Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. You can make them by phone or online.

Time Required- 30 to 60 minutes depending on the package

Hair- Arrive with clean and brushed hair

Cancellation- A valid accepted credit card is required when booking. A $10 cancellation fee is applied for no-shows or if the reservation is canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment.

Ages- 3 to 12

Want more Disney Fun? Check out the post below!

Taking Your Toddler to Disney

For more creative fun check out: Tie-Dye Mickey Shirts at the Grand Floridian

Staying at Walt Disney World? Learn more about The Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, Florida

Staying at Disneys Beach Club Resort

Filed Under: Disney, Travel June 18, 2019

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a deluxe resort located near Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and Epcot. It shares its amenities with the Yacht Club Resort, which is a very similar hotel (and connected to the Beach Club). The resort has a New England theme to it with lots of cool, light/pastel blues and greens colors throughout. One of the best parts about the deluxe resorts, this one included is the space available inside the room. It is especially nice when you are traveling with small kidstraveling with small kids because it gives them room to spread out and gives room for all your stuff.

Inside The Room:

Two queen beds
Dresser with 4 small-size drawers
Table with 2 chairs
Couch with sofa bed
Full-length mirror (on bath door)
WiFi wireless Internet access
Flat-panel TV
Mini fridge (dorm style, under the counter)
Coffee Maker
Ironing board and iron
Hair dryer
Digital thermostat
In-room safe
Mini bottle of H2O-brand shampoo, and bar soap

You can walk to Epcot, The Boardwalk and even Hollywood Studios as well as get boat access to these locations. It’s a leisurely walk around to the resorts on either side, which is a nice option if you don’t want to wait on the boat.

The biggest draw of Disney’s Beach Club Resort is Storm-Along Bay, their pool. It is a sprawling pool complex that is 3 acres in size and has sand at the bottom (which is insanely cool). There is also a lazy river, incredible water slide and great places to hang out and relax. The sand at the bottom of the pools gives it a very beach life feel. There is another area of the pool that is shallower where kids can play in the water or up on the sand and build sandcastles.

Sandy Pool at Disneys Beach Club Resort — One of the best parts of Disney’s Beach Club Resort is the sand, giving a literal beachy feel to your pool experience

Slide Stairs to Water Slide at Disneys Beach Club Resort — The wooden shoot on the right? That’s part of the water slide!!

The Pool- Stormalong Bay

The resort’s water slide is crazy! The only complaint that I have is that you have to leave the gated pool area to go across the way and then up the ladder to the slide. Disney or not, I’m not quite comfortable enough to just let them run out where I can’t see them. Needless to say, there was a lot of me walking my daughter over and watching her walk up the stairs until it was her turn to go. Even with that though, it’s the kind of pool that is relaxing and fun enough to spend the day at.

A Great Option For Epcot Resorts

While we’re very much Magic Kingdom people, the hotel gives great access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. That means easier access to events such as The Flower & Garden Festival and Toy Story Land. Soon, you’ll be able to add Star Wars land to that list. It’s also a great hotel if you’re a Florida Resident just looking for a “staycation” where you want to hang out at a nice resort.

Whether a Florida resident, an out of towner visiting Disney World or wanting somewhere fun to stay near Orlando, this resort is a lot of fun!

Looking for other Disney Resorts?

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Wilderness Lodge

Is Disney’s Contemporary Resort Outdated?

Filed Under: Disney, Travel March 8, 2019

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the original hotels from when the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. The exterior still has the same look and feel, which I think sometimes makes it seem older or outdated. I stayed there with my parents and siblings in the early 2000’s and remember that it was fun. It was the first Disney Resort we had ever stayed at so it was pretty awesome. For my son’s birthday he picked the Contemporary to stay because he loves the monorail and what could be cooler than the monorail running right through the hotel?

We are Florida residents and annual passholders so we’ve stayed at a lot of the Disney Resorts. From value to deluxe. I was a little nervous about the Contemporary because it had been so long since I had stayed there and I was afraid it would be out dated. The inside area where the gift shops and Chef Mickeys is doesn’t seem to have changed all that much.

I can let you know that the rooms are definitely not outdated. They have a nice amount of room in them and are very modern and up to date. My favorite part of this resort though is that in the elevator, a character announces what floor you are on when the door opens. I’m not sure why this is the only resort with that feature but I love it.

Our room overlooked Bay Lake and the pool which sort of looks like a hidden Mickey. Although it would have been awesome to have a view of the park and castle, our view was absolutely beautiful. Also, with this room, we had a great view of the Electrical Water Parade.

The pool area also has a hot tub and then a splash pad for kids. At night on the area to the left of the pool, there’s an area where they show movies at night. It was a little chilly outside with the wind but we got to enjoy Mulan. There’s something fun about being able to watch movies outside.

For transportation, you can use the boat, monorail, bus, or walk to the Magic Kingdom. You can also use the boat to go and visit Ft. Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge. Personal note, walking does take away from the magic a little but that’s just me. Now if you’re leaving the park of an evening and transportation is busy, then it can be much more convenient to just walk over. I’m a big fan of staying in the Magic Kingdom resort area because when you have small kids it makes it so much easier to hop on the monorail or a boat to get to the park. It saves a lot of time too rather than trying to get everyone in the car and then from the parking lot to the park.

The Verdict On The Contemporary Resort

We LOVED it!!! We all agreed we’d stay there again if the option was available. Our favorites are still the Polynesian and Wilderness but the Contemporary has a lot to offer as well!

Check out our stay at the Grand Floridian Resort.

Do you have a favorite Disney Resort?

Fun Disney Fall Recipes

Filed Under: Disney, Mommy October 16, 2018

Enjoying The Fun Of Disney Food At Home!

Disney Inspired Recipes!

Looking for some new recipes to try this fall? Check out these fun Disney (and Disney inspired) recipes so you can have Disney food at home! These are inspired by characters such as Rapunzel, Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Bambi and restaurants like Ohana!

Rapunzel’s Squash & Hazelnut Soup

Rapunzel is one of my favorite Disney characters! Definitely my favorite princess! I think it’s the no shoe thing 🙂 If you recall from the movie she loves Hazelnut Soup. Check out this recipe from Disney- Squash Hazelnut Soup. Also, don’t forget to check out my review of Rapunzel’s Breakfast!

Not a squash fan? Check out this alternative Hazelnut Soup recipe! It’s Hazelnut and parsnip!

Pumpkin Muffins

I love muffins because they are easy to make and easy to store! You can have them for breakfast or for a snack!

Cinderella’s Dreamy Pumpkin Waffles

What does Cinderella love in the fall? Pumpkin Waffles of course!! Get the recipe from Disney Parks.

Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake

Get the same fantastic Liberty Tree dessert right at home! What could be better than some warm toffee cake?

Mickey Cupcakes

These cupcakes are not only adorable but easy to do!! Mommy Mouse Clubhouse has you covered on your Fall Disney Cupcakes! From Candy Corn to Pumpkin!

Ohana Pineapple Bread Pudding

Ohana is one of my favorite Disney World restaurants. This Ohana inspired desert will have you feeling like you are right there!!

Sweet Potato Harvest Casserole (Bambi Inspired)

Since I’ve had multiple not so healthy options, here is an adorable more healthy option to try as well!! Check out this yummy sweet potato harvest casserole that will make you feel like you’re right there in the Hundred Acre Woods with Pooh and friends!

Want More Disney? Check out these post!!

Visiting Disney During The Holidays

Mickey Tie Dye Shirts

DIY Mickey Mouse Tie-Dye Shirts

Filed Under: Disney, Kids Crafts August 10, 2018

DIY Mickey Mouse Tie-Dye Shirts

Disney Resorts have lots of activities that you can participate in during your stay in addition to visiting the parks. Most activities are free, and some include a fee (which you are made aware of ahead of time). During our stay at the Grand Floridian, we decided to do the tie-dye shirts by the pool.

It was $18.11 to do the shirt. I’ll be honest- I thought they were giving me adult and kid prices; $18 for adults, $11 for kids- they weren’t that’s the price per person regardless of age. I had already said yes when they gave me the full total and while I could have changed my mind I didn’t. It was fun, so I don’t have any complaints. We would have winded up spending it one way or another so a shirt they get to wear and remember making at Disney was worth it.

Lucky you though, I’m sharing how we did it in case you want to have some Disney DIY fun at home!

Make Your Own Mickey Tie Dye Shirt!

Step 1: Take white shirt and place Mickey head template on the inside.

Step 2: Trace with chalk

Step 3: With rubber bands, pinch up the section of one ear and wrap the rubber band around it. Repeat this step with the other ear and then the face portion of Mickey.

Step 4: Wrap rubber bands down the shirt

Step 5: Get some gloves and dye in squirt bottles

Step 6: Pick one color to do Mickeys ears and head with. This is important because otherwise, they will look like three circles and not Mickey Mouse.

Step 6: Add colors to the other sections of your shirt. Avoid using the Mickey colors directly around that section. You can use them down a section or two.

Step 7: Wrap the shirt in plastic wrap tightly and let it sit a minimum of 24hrs and a maximum of 3 days. The longer it sits, the brighter the colors will be but more than 3 days and the colors will start to bleed together.