Blog Posts Tagged Magic

Honeydukes and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes

11/18/2021 • Universal Studios • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, spanning both Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure, dazzles guests with the most authentic and immersive movie-set experience.  Two stores, in particular, allow you to not only bring home some of the magic of Harry Potter...but to physically experience it as well! Honeydukes can be found in Hogsmeade - located in Islands of Adventure. Honeydukes, as you know, is the candy store of choice for all Hogwarts students on their weekend day trips to Hogsmeade in the winter months from book three on. Buildings covered in snow. Cobblestone streets and magical windows. Blink and you may miss Honeydukes!  This lovely candy shop has EVERY candy mentioned in the books, from Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans to the Ton Tongue Taffy that Dudley Dursley could not resist when it fell out of the Weasley Twins’ pockets. Everywhere you turn is more whimsey and lovely […]

Experience the Rainforest on Your Disney Cruise

8/10/2021 • Cruises, Reviews • When you are sailing onboard your Disney Cruise, take time to pamper yourself and make a reservation at the SENSES Spa.  The full-service spa includes massages, manicures, pedicures, and salon services. When cruising, I recommend treating yourself to the Rainforest Deluxe Cruise pass.  This fantastic spa package is available on all sailings and includes unlimited access to the scented showers, aroma steam, sauna rooms, and private jacuzzis.  Depending on your Disney Cruise ship, you can also enjoy the warm loungers that overlook the ocean (Disney Dream and Fantasy cruise ships) or relax and unwind with the tranquil sounds of water in an exclusive relaxation room (Disney Magic and Wonder cruise ships).  This package also includes scented body scrubs of your choice to use to exfoliate while enjoying the Rainforest showers and saunas. No appointments are necessary for you to use your Rainforest Spa package.  Simply check-in with your stateroom key at the […]

Disney Cruise Line – Very Merrytime Cruises

5/18/2021 • Cruises • If you love Christmas and you love Disney, sailing away on a Very Merrytime Cruise with Disney Cruise Line should be added to your Christmas list. I was fortunate to experience my first Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream with my Me and The Mouse team in early November this year. I love the holidays and was so excited to get a jump start on Christmas music, decorations, and holiday traditions. Disney’s expertise in creating a “Magical Christmas” sailing is something I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience. I especially enjoyed the magic of snow in the tropics. Holiday activities and offerings are subject to change by ship and itinerary, but I am excited to share a sampling below: Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party-Where your Disney pals know how to get the holiday party started with dancing and games such as candy cane limbo. Mickey’s Tree […]

Show Your Disney Style – Making Your Own Ears

2/9/2021 • Tips • Mickey Ears – you can find them everywhere at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. They are a fashion statement on everyone from babies to seniors. Some people, including myself, even have a small collection of ears to suit every occasion. Everyone has a desire to look like Mickey Mouse but what do people do who don’t want to blend in with the crowd? Show your Disney style by making your own Mickey ears. This is an easy craft with options for people that are super handy with a sewing machine and those who are close friends of the glue gun. It’s a perfect craft idea for crafty tweens and teens too as you can make a pair of Mickey ears in less than 30 minutes. DIY Mickey Mouse Ears Materials: Headbands {thicker ones work best} Cotton Balls Ribbon Glue Gun Cardboard Sewing Machine {optional} Fabric of choice {enough to […]

The Rider Switch Pass at Walt Disney World

1/29/2021 • Tips, Walt Disney World • Ever wonder if you’ll miss out on riding an attraction at Disney World because you’re traveling with someone either not tall enough or who does not want to ride? No worries! Disney offers a Rider Switch pass for guests in this situation. WHAT IS RIDER SWITCH? Rider Switch (also known as child swap or rider swap) allows an adult who has waited off the attraction with a child or guest unable to ride, the ability to enjoy the ride after the remainder of his/her party returns from the line. REASONS FOR NOT RIDING *Height restrictions *Guests with disabilities *Child chooses not to ride HOW DOES IT WORK? 1. The entire party goes to the front of the line of the attraction they wish to ride (either the standby line or FastPass line, if they have one). 2. Let the Cast Member at the front of the line know you need […]

Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Day Activities

1/26/2021 • Reviews, Tips, Walt Disney World • Are you looking for a new way to experience Walt Disney World on your next vacation? I’d like to recommend spending a day at Animal Kingdom Lodge. This resort is a destination unto itself with most activities are available to all guests and activities are available from morning until after sunset. You can view the animals on the savanna throughout the day and into the evening hours. There are multiple overlooks of the savannas at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. Guides will teach you about wildlife and the African culture. After sunset, night vision goggles will allow you to see the animals from a new perspective. The String of Memories is a favorite activity of children {and parents} that teaches them about African culture and wildlife conservation in a fun and memorable way. You will receive a unique bead as your reward for completing each activity. If you choose to […]

Storybook Dining at Artist Point {Review}

1/11/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Artist Point, located in Disney Wilderness Lodge, is a favorite signature dining restaurant in Walt Disney World. They recently made a change (in December 2018), to a character experience known as Storybook Dining! This new family favorite restaurant will not only delight your taste buds but will also excite the kid in all of us with a unique character experience! Upon arrival, a brief ‘story’ is told of who will visit you during your dinner experience as well as the proper way to address The Queen! Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy will also visit guests with The Queen. You will notice lovely woodland decor at every turn, twinkle lights, and a storybook in the center of the dining room.  A Lazy Susan at your table resembles a great oak tree with leaves designed to hold both your appetizers and desserts! Signed ‘apples’ tie your silverware together. Snow White is introduced […]

Magical Enhancements Coming to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

4/2/2018 • Walt Disney World • To say that there are some updates happening at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a bit of an understatement.  Disney is not holding anything back with all of the enhancements they are making at this resort! A few years ago, the rooms were reimagined with new, refreshed bedding and décor.  It was also one of the first moderate resorts to be able to accommodate up to 5 guests with the addition of the child size pull down bed in some rooms.  It only seems natural that now it takes on giving the main area an exciting new look. We’re about a year into these updates and they are coming along pretty quickly.  Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be reimagined with new additions to the resort’s current marketplace, Centertown, including new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas. This centralized location will offer the resort’s guests more convenient access to services, amenities, […]

Meeting a Disney Legend at the Grand Floridian!

6/29/2017 • Tips, Walt Disney World • What makes Disney so magical? The Cast Members! While Disney would still be an amazing place to visit, it’s the cast members who spread the magic to all the millions of guests who visit the parks every year. For our family, we enjoy meeting cast members and getting to know a little about them and where they come from. These special encounters happen spontaneously throughout the parks and at the resorts and often start with a simple “hello.” My most favorite cast member of all is Mr. Richard who greets guests at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. I’d seen lots of posts on Facebook of photos with guests, so when I pulled up to the Grand Floridian and saw him standing there, I had to meet him. He is quite literally a Disney celebrity or legend! We had a wonderful conversation about his life and where he’s been. Here […]

Disney Resort with the Best View!

5/9/2017 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • During my time as a Cast Member at Walt Disney World, I had a role that allowed me to work in a different resort or park each day. It was great for many reasons, but I especially enjoyed my days at the resorts. I was able to become incredibly familiar with each resort and talk to the guests that visited and stayed at them. I can truly say I think they all have great features in their own way. However, there is one resort that I can say is my favorite: Animal Kingdom Lodge! The resort has many features that I absolutely love, but today, I will tell you three things that I separate it from any other resort on property. Here is why Animal Kingdom Lodge is the top of my list.   Location  Some people will say it’s far away from the other parks, and I respond to that with […]