From Orlando to Anaheim

2,500.
That's how many miles separate Walt's biggest dream from his most daring. One started out as an orange grove in southern California. The other as a cow pasture in central Florida. People thought he was crazy when he bought the first one, and a genius when he bought the second. I think he was probably a little bit of both.

Most Disney kids in the good ole USA grow up one of two ways: The kids in the western half of the country are raised at Disneyland, and the ones in the eastern half are raised at Disney World. It's just a geographical fact of life. That's why I can count on one hand, the number of people I know that have been to Disneyland. Around here, it's a small group. And I'm about to be a part of it.
Oh. Em. Gee.

This year's family vacation to Alaska (yeah, we're driving to Alaska lol) comes with a return trip right through the heart of southern Cali, just a stone's throw from Anaheim. I was surprised at how little begging was required to get my mom to allow me a little Disney indulgence. One day. She said I can have one day. And you can bet I'm going to make every second count.
But planning a trip to Disneyland is nothing like planning a trip to Disney World. That's the lesson I am quickly learning. There are only two theme parks (both within walking distance of each other), but there is so much crammed into this tiny area that I get lost just looking at the map. The scheduling is totally different than I'm used to, and the park website doesn't have any of the handy tools that I swear by. That's when I realize that I am a WDW kid, and I am not a pro here. I am a 100% Disneyland ROOKIE!
So now I find myself in the shoes of all the friends who ask for my help in planning their first trips. I'm anxious, a little nervous, and slightly overwhelmed. But despite all that, above everything else, I am EXCITED!!
Walt Disney is my hero. His story is my inspiration to keep chasing dreams and never give up on myself. And now, like in Marceline, I will get the chance to walk in his footsteps. I will get to stand in the same spot where he stood under Sleeping Beauty's castle, watching all the magic he had created. I'll get to feel that magic for myself in Walt's original magic kingdom. I know it will be a day I'll never forget....
If I can survive the planning! :) Get ready for more Disneyland planning posts!

 

Photo from the fabulous photogs at the Disneyphotographyblog.com. They have lots of amazing Disney parks cover photos you can download. (I just added some text to this one of Sleeping Beauty's castle.) Check them out!

 

Cutting Costly Corners

What's the most frequently asked Disney question?....

 

"How do I save money on my trip?"

If there is one bad thing about a Disney vacation, it is the price. Yes, they are expensive... or they can be. Believe it or not, you can go to Disney World without having to drain your kids' college savings. My parents are the masters of planning a vacation on a budget. (They had to be with a daughter who just HAD to visit Mickey every single year. LOL) They've passed their secrets on to me, and now I'm sharing a few of them with you :). So here are my tips for cutting costs at WDW.

1. Timing. You can save a lot simply by choosing the right time of year to visit. Disney's value season is January to March (excluding holidays like New Year's and MLK Day). In February, a family of four can vacation for 4 days and 3 nights for less than $1000. The prices get higher as summer approaches, then drops again slightly as school starts, before reaching its peak around the holidays. Going during the value season also means much lighter crowds and almost no waiting in line.

2. Picnics. Food in the parks is expensive, even for just a snack. That's why we always like to bring our own. Pack a cooler of sandwich meats and drinks for a parking lot lunch while you're at the parks. It gives you a break, and saves a lot of money. You can also bring cereal bars and muffins for breakfast. This way, you only have to worry about purchasing one meal a day. You can also bring snack bags into the parks with you, so you'll have something to munch on inbetween.

3. Hotels. There are four different price levels of hotels to choose from. I've covered all of them in detail in previous posts, but I realize I didn't really give you much on my opinion of which is best. To be honest, while the deluxe resorts are AMAZING, I can't justify paying such a high price for a room that I'm hardly ever in. We love to spend as much time as possible in the parks, so we're basically only in the room to sleep. While the rooms at the value resorts are much smaller, they are MUCH cheaper and we're too busy having fun to care how big our room is. This, of course, is just a personal preference. If having a spacious hotel room is very important to you, then you might want to spend the extra money for a moderate or deluxe resort.

4. Avoid the unnecessary. This one is also a personal preference. Disney loves to push their dining plans by claiming they will save you a big percentage on food. And they do....if you like to eat a four course meal three times a day. We tried the dining plan when they first came out, and found that it was entirely too much food. Normally, we would never eat that much (and therefore, spend that much). Plus, we spent so much time eating that we weren't able to do all the attractions and shows that we wanted. I'll admit, it was nice to just swipe the room key and know the expense was already covered, and we got the chance to try a lot of amazing food. If you're going to do a dining plan, I recommend the Quick Service plan that includes two quick service meals a day. That is plenty!

5. Watch the mailbox. Disney almost always has some sort of special deal going. We get teasers in the mail all the time. The offers are so tempting, it's really hard to ignore them! You can go to the Disney website and sign up for the mailing list. You'll also get special offers through email.

6. Shorten your stay. Despite what Disney tries to tell you, you don't have to have a whole week for a vacation. Four to five days is really all you need. (Don't get me wrong though. I'd live there if I could!) That gives you an entire day for each park (plus extra magic hours), and an extra day to do anything you missed or want to do again. Cutting your days can save you hundreds per person.

7. Disney Rewards. If you have a Disney Visa card from Chase, you can earn enough reward points to pay for your vacation. I was out of pocket only $400 for our trip in February because my husband and I have Disney credit cards with reward points. It does take a while to save enough points (depending on how much you use your card), but it is such a great feeling to know you'll be able to treat yourself in the end.

8. Start a Disney Fund. Paying for a Disney trip isn't hard if you save for it one dollar at a time. I am always putting money back, even if I have no idea when I'll be returning. When you book your trip through Disney, you can also make interest-free payments to pay for your trip. You can make payments every month, every other month, or however often you wish. 

Too many people use money as an excuse not to go to Disney. But if you just play it smart and take your time, there is no reason why you can't afford a few days of unforgettable memories. A Disney vacation is worth every penny it costs and more. You can't replace the moments of magic you'll come back with. 
Until next time!

Disney magic in Marceline

Most people have never heard of Marceline, Missouri. It's just a tiny farm town smack dab in the middle of the state, with little more than a Dollar General store. But this little map dot has one big thing to brag about: it is Walt Disney's hometown.
Walt once said that the happiest time of his life was spent in Marceline. Although he only spent five years there, he never forgot a moment of it. If you look hard enough, you'll see little bits of Marceline in many of Walt's films and other projects. He often looked for inspiration in his childhood memories, and gathered even more on his return visits later in life.
The first time I read about Marceline, I was intrigued. The way it was described, Walt's hometown didn't sound much different from my own. What could be so wonderful about it that made such an impact on Walt? Just two days ago, I found myself walking right in Walt's footsteps, on the very ground where his imagination began to bloom. I can't begin to explain to you how it felt. In researching the town before my trip, I found a lot of other Disney enthusiasts saying that after visiting Marceline, they felt closer to Walt than ever before. Now, I do too.

The Disney family home in Marceline. This is the house where Walt lived from the age of 5 to 10. He and his little sister Ruth once drew pictures on the side of the house with tar. Their father, Elias, wasn't thrilled.

I felt like I knew the place the moment we entered the town limits. On our way into town we passed this beautiful red farmhouse on the right, and I knew instantly that it was Walt's. The family that owns the house now, also runs the town museum dedicated to Walt and the Disney family. Inez, whose daughter lives in the house now, was our tour guide in the museum. She and her family hosted Walt when he returned to Marceline for the first time in the 1950s. It was so amazing to talk to her. She told story after story about what a wonderful person Walt was. She even had my mom and I in tears at one point.

The Walt Disney Hometown Museum is still a work in progress, but there are some wonderful stories and artifacts from the Disney family. Most of the exhibits were donated by Walt's sister, Ruth. She saved everything from letters, to report cards, to orginal Mickey Mouse dolls, and even the television Walt sent her so that she could watch the opening of Disneyland. The most interesting things to me, were the original drawings for the "Marceline Project." Walt wanted to build another (small) amusement park in his hometown. Sadly, he died before the project could get off the ground, but I think the town still holds onto the hope that one day his dream will be realized. I'm certainly with them on that!

Exhibits in the museum also highlighted the partnership of Walt and his brother Roy. These two really were peas in a pod. Neither one could have been successful without the other.

We ate lunch on Main Street, USA... the orginal Main Street, that is. Walt wanted his theme parks to have an all-American Main Street, just like the little town he grew up in. Many of the buildings in Disneyland and Disney World were inspired by real buildings in Marceline (like the Uptown Theater, where Walt watched movies as a boy). My favorite feature is the street clock. It always catches my eye in the park, and it was the first thing I noticed on Marceline's Main Street.

Our final stop was my favorite: Walt's Dreaming Tree and the Disney family barn. These were two of Walt's most favorite places. The Dreaming Tree is where he spent hours drawing and daydreaming under its shade. Even when he was older, he always made time to sit under it when he came back to Marceline. It continued to inspire him all those years later. I took a few moments to sit under it myself. Although the tree is diseased and dying (it was also struck by lightning), it was a truly beautiful and peaceful spot. In those short moments, I was inspired.

 

Although the tree is dying, Walt's grandchildren didn't want the story to die with it. Brad Lund (Walt's grandson) planted a new tree (a sapling from the original Dreaming Tree) next to the old one, allowing the storying to live on for future generations.

Just down the path from the Dreaming Tree is the Disney family barn. Walt called this his "Happy Place." He loved the barn so much that he recreated it at his home in California. As a boy he once organized a circus of farm animals in the barn and charged the neighborhood kids a nickel each to see it. After his mother, Flora, had discovered what he'd done, she made him return every cent.

The original barn rotted down, but volunteers rebuilt it for visitors to enjoy. When you visit, you can leave a message for Walt on the walls. I read many of the notes and smiled. There are more Disney lovers like me than I realized.

Of course, I had to leave one too. There was so much I wanted to say, but I decided to keep it simple.

My experience in Marceline was absolutely wonderful. It was easy for me to see why Walt loved it so much. It's not that it was really that much different than any other small town, even my own, but the people of Marceline have something that so much of the rest of the world lacks: the magic of kindness. That's really the spirit of Disney, and it is everywhere in Marceline. The people there love and respect Walt so much that they go to great lengths to keep his story alive here. And they have succeeded. I've always thought that Walt's presence would always be strongest in Disneyland or Disney World, but I was wrong. Walt is in Marceline, and so is his magic.

New Fantasyland grand opening is just around the corner!

I'm so sorry I've been terribly slow about getting this information out on my blog. I'll be honest, I didn't even know Disney had announced opening dates until a couple weeks ago (where have I been?! lol), although I have been closely following all the of the "sneak peek" photos being posted to the Disney Parks Blog and Facebook page. Everything is looking so gorgeous! I can't wait to see it in person and capture all the details with my camera. But until I can get there, I'll happily share some of Disney's photos with you :). In case you've forgotten what the finished expanision will look like, here's the latest rendering from Disney:

 

The Storybook Circus area (far right) is already open. Prince Eric's castle (which features the Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction), the Beast's castle (which features the Be Our Guest restaurant), and Belle's Village (which features Enchanted Tales with Belle) will open December 6, 2012. Princess Fairytale Hall (the new meet-and-greet area for all the princesses) will open in 2013. The final area (which features the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction) will open in 2014.

 

Now, on to the pictures!

Inside the Be Our Guest restaurant. The restaurant featured three different dining areas straight from the movie: the ballroom, the West Wing, and the gallery.

A view of the Beast's Castle from Belle's Village. The castle houses the Be Our Guest Restaurant.



A look at one of the shops in Belle's Village. The village will feature gift shops, as well as Gaston's Tavern where you can grab a quick bite to eat.
 

This is what I am most excited about: Prince Eric's Castle! The castle houses the Little Mermaid themed dark ride that takes you through the story of Ariel and all her friends.



Detail of the que for the Little Mermaid ride.



I don't know about you, but I am so ready to explore the new area! I'm sure we'll have plenty more photos to share after the opening. Until then, just use your imagination ;).

 

See ya real soon!

 



My Mini WDW Commercial ;)

Gosh, it feels like forever since I've had time to be on here. I just got caught up on work, so expect some more posts in the next couple of days! :)
For now, I just wanted to take a minute to share something with you. I've been playing with an online slideshow maker that many of my wonderful photographer friends love. I've enjoyed making slideshows ever since I purchased my very first photo editing software, which also came with a video editing program. Unfortunately, I have had a chance to update the video portion of the software... or to play around with video much at all really... but I'd love to get back into it and learn more about it. I'd love to be able to interact with you guys more that way. I love to write, but when it comes to Disney, I'd really rather talk :). LOL
Anyway, here's a short peek at my sisters-in-law's very first WDW visit. Let me know what you think!

See ya real soon!

 

Make your own slide show at Animoto.

To FASTPass or not to FASTPass? That is the question.

Since the first Disney theme park opened in 1955, waiting in line has been part of the Disney experience. Sometimes the wait is short (for smaller attractions like It's A Small World or Country Bear Jamboree), and sometimes it's long (for the bigger attractions like Space Mountain or Tower of Terror). For the most part, the waiting has never bothered me; I know that my ride experience will be worth every moment I spent in line. Of course, there are those times when I wouldn't mind getting in a little quicker: when it's an extra hot day, or when we're trying to make a dinner reservation. But you can't exactly cut line, can you? If you have a FASTPass you can!

What exactly is FASTPass?
To combat long wait times for its more popular attractions, Disney introduced the FASTPass program in 1999. Guests with FASTPasses are given a specific time window to ride a particular attraction with little or no wait.

How to you get a FASTPass?
To obtain a pass, just look for the FASTPass kiosk at the attraction. It's usually near the entrance. There will be a sign above the kiosk letting you know what time frame you can use the passes (it will be a one-hour time window, such as 12:30 to 1:30). To get a pass, isert your theme park ticket into one of the machines and it will give you a FASTPass ticket. When your return time comes, you'll enter the FASTPass line at the ride entrance, and a cast member will ask to see your pass.

Is FASTPass available for all attractions?
No. FASTPass is available at the most popular (or newest) attractions. These are the ones like Tower of Terror, Rock'n Rollercoaster, Expedition Everest, Star Tours, Kilamanjaro Safari, Mission Space, Test Track, Soarin', Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and a few others.

On which attractions is FASTPass the most useful?
If I use a FASTPass, I use it for these attractions: Rock'n Rollercoaster, Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mountain, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, and Expedition Everest. Everything else generally has a comparable Stand-by wait time.

Is FASTPass always the best idea?
This can be a subject of debate for Disney enthusiasts. Some people swear by it. They get FASTPasses for all the major attractions and claim they spend almost no time in line. I am not one of those people. I seldom ever use a FASTPass, and here's why:
Reason #1: I don't like having to plan out which attractions I'm going to do at specific times.
With FASTPass, you have to be at a certain attraction at a certain time in order to use it. Although one hour seems like plenty of time, I'm usually on the other side of the park by then, doing other things, and I don't like having to backtrack to somewhere I've already been.
Reason #2: Sometimes the FASTPass line is longer than the Stand-by line. Some people might argue with me on this, but I promise you, I've seen it with my own eyes on more than one occassion. This was especially true when FASTPass was new. Everyone thought they had to get it, and so the FASTPass lines filled up while the Stand-by line was fairly empty.
Reason #3: If you know what you're doing, you don't need it. For first-time guests, or those who are still learning their way around the parks, I actually do recommend using FASTPasses for certain attractions. For example, getting a FASTPass for Tower of Terror and then getting in the Stand-by line for Rock'n Rollercoaster is usually a great plan. By the time you're off the coaster, it will probably be time to use your FASTPass. (Plus these attractions are right next to each other, so no backtracking). Over the years, I've developed a routine, or method, to which attractions I do and when. I usually don't wait in line for more than 30-45 minutes, and that's fine for me. Like I said before, I don't mind the wait. I know it's worth it.

Now, I'm sure that last paragraph has you saying, "OK, Miranda. Share your secrets!" LOL I promise, I will... in another post ;). For now, I'm calling it a night. Sweet dreams everyone!

Capturing the Magic: Character Greetings

The first time your child meets their favorite Disney character is a moment you want to capture for years to come. Of course you're going to get that picture of everyone smiling and looking at the camera, but what about all those in-between moments?
The characters at Disney parks are always in the mood for playing, giving hugs and kisses, or telling a good story. There's more to a meet-and-greet than just the autograph book and the photo. It's all those other moments of laughter and smiles that you'll really remember, not just the "Say Mickey!" photo moment.
When I was younger, my parents were pretty good about capturing those candid moments on camera. If you look a the photos of my very first character greeting, you'll find the best shots aren't the ones of us looking at the camera, but are of me cowering on my mom's shoulder and refusing to let Tigger tickle me. We still laugh about how shy I was (it didn't take long before I got over that and was tickling right back :) on that first visit. Now, I have a great memory to share with my own children, especially if they're nervous about meeting anyone.
So when you're next in line to meet Mickey, or Belle, or Tink, or Goofy, remember to always keep the camera rolling (or clicking!) to capture every wonderful moment. I practiced this in February when my younger sisters-in-law were meeting all the characters for the very first time. They both wore their "1st Visit" badges every day, and the characters always noticed. It provided for some great memorable moments, like with Buzz and Woody:



Some tips for capturing these great moments:

• Turn off your flash. Great moments are gone in an instant, and if your camera is too slow, you won't get the shot. Turning off your flash can help speed up your camera (it also saves your battery). However, if you are at an indoor meet-and-greet (like Buzz and Woody, Mickey, or Tinkerbell) you will probably need to turn your flash on since these areas tend to be a little darker. For outdoor greetings, you shouldn't need a flash.
• Step back. Let the moment happen. The characters have their own  great ways of encouraging interaction. It may take a minute for the child to get over being starstruck, but the characters are super patient. By the time you leave, your kid will have a new best friend, and since you've been taking photos the entire time, you'll have great images of it.
• Jump in! Don't forget to jump in the photos too! The characters love to interact with parents and adults as well as kids. February was my first trip being the "adult." I mostly tried to sit back and let the girls have the spotlight and enjoy their first visit, especially with the characters. But I quickly learned that the Disney gang was not going to let me be ignored. Both Brandon and I were literally pulled in by the characters more than once (I didn't need to much prodding though! :). It made the girls laugh and made more great memories for us.
• Badges. If it's someone's birthday, anniversary, or first visit, make sure you ask a cast member about getting a celebration badge that let's everyone know you're celebrating. If you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you'll probably be asked at check-in what you are celebrating. Even if you're not celebrating anything specific (like we usually are), you'll still get an "I'm Celebrating" badge. You can write anything you want on these badges. For example, in February I celebrated my 15th WDW visit, but they don't make badges for that, so a super sweet cast member made one for me from an "I'm Celebrating" badge. When I met Peter Pan an few minutes later, he noticed and commented on it. (By the way, meeting characters is awesome, no matter how old you are. This was the first and only time I've ever met Peter, and I was so EXCITED! He was awesome!)

Every Disney character is unique. They each have brilliant personalities (which has made them so successful for so long), that always shine through when you meet them. Over time you begin to feel like you know them. Like I know that Goofy loves to tickle, or that Minnie will blow me a kiss when we say goodbye, and Mickey will always give the BEST hugs.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite images of my sister-in-law Ashley and Mickey. This is one of those moments that she'll treasure for years to come, and I'm so glad I was able to capture it for her.

Until next time, keep shooting!