What To Expect At A Disney World Resort Hotel

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

You have your trip to Disney World all booked and ready to go. And, you aren't just going to the parks; You are going to be staying "on property." But, what's the big deal about actually staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, right there on the Disney property?

How about swimming and recreation? At each and every Disney Resort Hotel, you'll find multiple themed pools, water play areas perfect for even the youngest of guests, and playgrounds. There is also plenty of fun and games when Disney Resort Cast Members lead group games live Trivia, Bingo, and many more! At night, enjoy nightly Movies Under the Stars. Those are just some examples of the many fun, complimentary experiences that you'll find available at your Resort Hotel.

What about food while you're away from the parks? Well, there are plenty of delicious eats at your Disney Resort Hotel. Some hotels boast Counter-Service dining locations with extremely large selections of food, from pasta to hamburgers, steak to seafood. You'll discover the specific choices at your Resort when it's time for you and your family to stop by and eat! Hotels in the Moderate and Deluxe categories include a Table Service restaurant in addition to their Counter-Service spot.

We've already talked about the sheer size of the Walt Disney World Resort. Staying at a Resort Hotel means that you will have access to free transportation that runs every 20 minutes, like clockwork, to get you from one place to the next. Each and every Resort Hotel provides Motor Coach service. However, your vacation travels may take you to locations that also offer Boat and/or Monorail service, as well!

And, of course, we can't forget about the Legendary Customer Service that Disney is known for, world-wide. When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you know that everything will be done right and with a smile. Because that's the way that Magic happens!

And those are just some of the incredible features of a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Next time, we'll talk about some of the other benefits, away from your hotel itself, that you will receive when you stay, "on property!"

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What Is Disney World?: The Theme Parks

"We're thinking about taking the kids to Disney World." Sure, it's easy to say. And, maybe it's not all that hard to get in touch with a Disney professional and book that reservation. But, what exactly is this Disney World that everyone is talking about. Where are you going? What should you expect when you get there? It's an amusement park, right? An amusement park with a big castle in the middle. Princesses. Toy Story characters. And Mickey Mouse. With hotels next door. So, what exactly is Disney World again?

Disney World, or the Walt Disney World Resort, is located in Central Florida, just a short drive from the Orlando International Airport. And it is huge! In fact, it is its own city (or two cities, to be specific), with its own working government. You'll know that you've arrived at Walt Disney World when you notice the road signs change from their usual green that you'll find in any other locale to purple, just after you drive through the large, overhead, Walt Disney World arch. Now, you're in Disney World!

But, when people talk about going to Disney World, they're not just planning a trip into Disney's city limits to fill up their gas tank or to buy a soda. They are, more likely than not, talking about the Disney Parks experience. There are 4 main theme parks within Walt Disney World and, when you plan a vacation to Disney, your package will include Park Tickets that are good for entrance into any one of those parks on any given day. The parks are:

Magic Kingdom - The home of the world-famous Cinderella Castle, this park is what most people think of when they mention "Disney World." It's the one with the classic rides, like Dumbo, Peter Pan, and it's a small world. The Magic Kingdom is where fantasy becomes reality and your dreams will come true.

Epcot - There is so much to discover at Epcot, with its enormous golf-ball-looking park icon, is home to 2 distinct areas. Future World is where you can learn about technological innovations that are continuing to help our world and community grow and develop through rides, interactive games, and attractions. But, perhaps, Epcot is most well know for the World Showcase, which is home to 11 different sections, each themed like a different country of the world. Here, you can learn about their cultures through films, live performances, and even a boat ride through Mexico. You can also taste some of the most delicious food and drinks from around the world at Epcot.

Hollywood Studios - Formerly Disney-MGM Studios, this park is themed to take us back to the heyday of Hollywood, in the 1920s and 1930s. Guests have the chance to jump right into the movies through the rides and shows available here. And the day ends in one of the most incredible nighttime shows, Fantasmic!, starring Mickey Mouse (as well as a host of other Disney Heroes and Villains),  featuring fireworks, incredible stunts and effects, a fire breathing dragon, and enormous movie screens made out of spraying water.

Animal Kingdom - Disney World's newest theme park certainly has live animals, although it is not a zoo. That's because the lions, elephants, giraffe, etc. are not in cages. They are out in the open air, ready for you to drive right past, for example, on the Kilimanjaro Safari. Every visit is an adventure, including live Broadway-style musicals, thrill rides, and tons of hands on education, themed around our one world that we all share. As Russell from Disney•Pixar's UP says, "The wilderness must be explored!"

Map of the Walt Disney World Resort, with the 4 Theme Parks highlighted

Okay, you get it. There are 4 parks. They each have their own unique theme. So, maybe you plan a vacation that includes a day at each park. That sounds easy enough. But, then, what makes Disney World so big that it's its own city? Remember I mentioned those "hotels next door." They definitely go a long way toward that and we'll chat more about those next week!

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Go On A Hidden Mickey Hunt!

Have you ever gone on a Hidden Mickey hunt at one of the Disney Parks? It can be so much fun and a great way to pass the time while walking from one location to another, waiting on line, or whenever you'd like a fun and different activity to do! Just what is a "Hidden Mickey?" It's a representation of Mickey Mouse that has been added, most often very subtly, into the design of a Disney attraction, product, resort, etc. It can take the famous tri-circle form of Mickey's head and ears, be a profile of Mickey's head in silhouette, be shaped like his entire body, or it can take any other form under the sun, so long as it's recognizable as Mickey Mouse. True Hidden Mickey's at the Disney Parks were very intentionally placed by Disney Imagineers as attractions, etc. were being designed and built. However, there are also unintentional Hidden Mickey's that pop up, as well. Some of my favorite Hidden Mickeys that my family and I have found over the years include:

This silhouette of Mickey's head can be seen on this planet both in the queue
as well as toward the ride exit on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

Check the ground outside the Dumbo attraction for this manhole cover and
elephant footprints that make up our tri-circle Hidden Mickey.

At Animal Kingdom's Finding Nemo: The Musical, you can find this
Hidden Mickey on the wall, next to the stage.

As you walk past Min & Bill's Dockside Diner at Hollywood Studios,
you'll see this Tri-Circle Hidden Mickey form as the sign comes into
alignment with the portholes on the ship. Intentional?

I found  this one outside the restrooms closest to
Toy Story Midway Mania. It's a light in the floor. There were many lights,
but only one with bulbs in this Hidden Mickey pattern. Since the takingof this picture, however, the bulbs have since been replaced with one,
non-Mickey shaped light. I guess it was an unintentional one, after all.

Love looking for Hidden Mickey's? Then consider stopping by the Wilderness Lodge. This Resort Hotel has a whole Hidden Mickey Hunt game, complete with clue sheet, that you can take part in, anytime!

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My Favorite Family Rides at the Magic Kingdom | views from a 10-year-old

Magic Kingdom has lots of rides for the family. Also, it has shows and parades. Here are some of my favorite rides:

Fantasyland

"it's a small world"

• Peter Pans's Flight - This ride takes you for a flight over London and through Neverland. The reasons that I like this die are when you fly over London, it looks so cool. Also, I love how the flight through Neverland tells the Peter Pan story, and you get to fly in a pirate ship.

• it's a small world - This attraction premiered at the New York World's Fair. It takes you on a boat ride throughout the world. I love this attraction because of the nice, smooth boat ride, and the way each country looks. This ride has hundreds of animatronics. I love all of them. They're just so unique. This ice is also a good place to rest your feet.

Story Book Circus

Dumbo The Flying Elephant

• Dumbo The Flying Elephant - In this ride you can control your own elephant in flight. I love this ride for the nice view it gives you. I also love that you can control your own Dumbo. This ride also has a nice breeze and is really fun for everyone.

Tomorrowland

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - In this ride, you have to defeat the evil emperor, Zurg, and shoot his Z's. I like this ride because you can shoot the Z's, and spin around in a space cruiser. Also, you're in space, and you can see what rank you go with your scores. It's really fun and exciting for the family.

• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - Takes you on a tour of Tomorrowland. It also takes you inside Space Mountain and gives you a peek at Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. It shows a model of Progress City, the inspiration for Epcot. It's also a good place to rest your feet. The transport is comfy, and I love the whole ride.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Walt Disney World Railroad

• Walt Disney World Railroad - This steam train takes you on a ride around the Magic Kingdom and through the lands. My favorite things about this ride are you get to go through Splash Mountain and view some other rides. I like that because you can either take a short ride or ride it all the way around. It's also a very relaxing ride.

Adventureland

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - In this ride, you can control your own carpet on a magical flight over Adventure Land. I like this ride because you can control the carpet in two rows. One makes it go up or down, and the other tilts it forward for back. It's really cool! This ride gives you a good view of Adventureland. It also has a nice breeze. This ride also has a spitting camel outside. It's really fun.

• Pirates of the Caribbean - This boar ride take you so you can view some pirates and, maybe, Captain Jack Sparrow. I like this ride because I like seeing al the neat pirates, and there is also a little waterfall which is very fun. Also, you get to spot Captain Jack Sparrow. Also, there is a really neat building on fire.

Liberty Square

Haunted Mansion

• Haunted Mansion - In this ride, you board a Doom Buggy and encounter some spooks for a ride around a haunted mansion. My favorite things about this ride are I like all the special, spooky effects, and all the spooks singing. Also, I like the things that pop up, and your ghost host.

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Tips For Booking FastPass+ Reservations - Plus My Own Pics!

MyDisneyExperience FastPass reservation screen

I booked FastPasses for my own Disney Vacation last night, so I thought that I should share a little bit about my experience. First, it's important to remember that Walt Disney World Resort Guests can begin booking their entire trip's worth of FastPass+ Reservations up to 60 days prior to their vacation. And, when I say they can book them up to 60 days in advance, I mean they definitely should book them at that point in time. So, for me, yesterday marked 61 days before my trip. At about 11:45pm EST, I hopped onto my computer, navigated over to the MyDisneyExperience website, and waiting for Midnight. Because, of course, at Midnight is when 61 days becomes 60. Again, this is all based around Eastern Standard Time.  So, if you're, say, in California, you would look to start booking at 9pm your time (since that would be Midnight EST).

Now, when Midnight did come around, I didn't actually begin booking my FastPasses from Day 1. I started with the final day of my trip. Why? Because, when you book FastPasses, you can lock them in for up to 10 days of your vacation at a time. That means that, while I first had access to my Day 1 last night (60 days prior), anyone whose first day is 70 days out or less has already had access to the FastPasses for that day! So, super hard to get reservations, like the Anna & Elsa Meet and Greet at Magic Kingdom, have more of a likelihood of being gone by that point. So, the later in my trip that I start booking for, the fewer other Guests who have had prior access to that day's worth of experiences. This strategy works especially well if you have, at least, a 10-day vacation planned. Because, then, you'll be among the first people to get to book for that day. As it stands for this trip, I am only going to be at Disney for 7 days and, so, by the time I popped on at Midnight, Anna & Elsa Fastpasses were already gone (as were FastPasses for the Festival of Fantasy Parade and the Main Street Electrical Parade). I'll probably keep checking for those Meet & Greet FastPasses as we get closer, especially at 30 days prior to my trip, as well as on the morning that I would like those reservations for. Why 30 days? Non-Resort Guests (including Guests with Day Passes as well as Passholders) can begin booking then, and Disney does like to keep some availability for those folks. The same holds true for the morning of. Worth a shot, right? And, remember, this is just for FastPass. If there is something that I really want to do, but haven't been able to get a FastPass for, I'll make sure that I head straight to that attraction or experience at Park Opening on the day of, and get in the Standby Queue.

I'd like to share, with you, the FastPasses that I did book last night. It is, by no means, the end all and be all when it comes to what you should book for yourself and your family. It is a combination of the experiences and times that work for me and mine - but it does give you a really good idea of my "Must-Dos," at any rate! I'll also include the couple of Dining Reservations that I booked all the way back at the 180-Day mark, as well as some thoughts and notes, to give you an even better picture of how we've arranged our days, with those included.

Day 1 (Magic Kingdom):
- We're driving to Disney World, and expect to arrive at Magic Kingdom around Noon.

• 12:50pm-1:50pm - Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
• 2:05pm - Lunch at Tony's Town Square Restaurant
• 2:30pm-3:30pm - Meet Tinkerbell at Town Square Theater

- If we arrive at Magic Kingdom early, we're just planning on hanging out in that Town Square Area. There are lots of other characters available to meet there, like Mary Poppins, Princess Aurora, Snow White, Marie from The Aristocats, and Pluto. There are also some fabulous shops to check out in the area. The point is not to wander too far. We're just there for lunch that day, and then it's back to the hotel to swim and relax for the "official" start of our trip, the following morning.

Day 2 (Magic Kindgom):
- Watch the Welcome Show at Park Opening

• 9:30am - Breakfast with Pooh and Friends at The Crystal Palace
• 10:45am-11:45am - Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• 1:35pm-2:35pm - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• 4:35pm-5:35pm - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Day 3 (Animal Kingdom):

• 12:10pm-1:10pm - Meet Mickey & Minnie at Adventurer's Outpost
• 1:45pm-2:45pm - Kilimanjaro Safaris
• 2:55pm-3:55pm - Expedition Everest

Day 4 (Epcot):

• 9:15am - Breakfast with Goofy & Friends at Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club Resort (walking distance from Epcot's International Gateway Entrance.
• 11:00am-12:00pm - Test Track
• 12:20pm-1:20pm - Meet Disney Pals (Mickey & Friends) at the Epcot Character Spot
• 4:04pm-5:05pm - Spaceship Earth

Day 5 (Hollywood Studios):

• 11:05am-12:05pm - For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• 1:55pm-2:55pm - Toy Story Midway Mania!
• 4:50pm-5:50pm - Star Tours

Day 6 (Magic Kingdom):

• 10:40am-11:40am - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• 11:50am-12:50pm - Enchanted Tales with Belle
• 2:45pm-3:45pm - Space Mountain
• 4:00pm - Dinner at Be Our Guest

Day 7:
- Getting up, packing the car, swimming, and heading home! Of course, I'll make sure that I call the great Disney Reservations folks to find out about any possible Bounceback Offers.

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10 Great Walt Disney World Tips For Families

Sometimes, after getting back from a Disney Vacation (especially while waiting for and flying on their homebound planes), my Disney Families enjoy sharing a couple of tips, thoughts, and suggestions that they found especially helpful over the course of their trip. Here are some great ones from a wonderful family!

• Fanny packs work great for the kids. They could hold their own stuff, but not complain about it.
• Buy a balloon. Most expensive balloon you will ever buy at $12, but you will always find your stroller quick. Takes some dealing with if it's windy, but it was worth it to us. Plus, we gave our balloons away when we left, and the parents were so happy!
• Character dinners are totally worth it. Saves tons of wait times in the park, meeting characters.
• Downtown Disney has lots of picture opportunities, and it's great for shopping.
• Download the [My Disney Experience] app. Totally worth it for wait times and dining. We planned where we wanted to eat and what in advance. Saves tons of time, which is precious in Disney because it is so hard to do all the things you want to do.
• We bought a rechargeable battery pack for cell phones. Get one. Trust me.
• Gift Cards worked out great. The kids knew exactly how much they had to spend and there was no begging for other things because we told them, up front, that once it was gone, that was it. We also made them wait a few days to decide, so they were really sure they were getting what they wanted.
• I wanted to find something cheap and easy for the kids to do or buy and to take home as a memento. I thought about the pins, but they wouldn't wear them. We found the [pressed] penny machines and collectors books and the kids loved it. They searched out shiny pennies so they looked better and it was fun and cheap to do.
• The Art of Animation Resort was amazing!



Cars Area at Disney's Art of Animation Resort

• Disney is all about being with your family. You better really like them because, trust me, they will test you to the point where you want to pop them one and, because you really, really love them, you won't.

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Follow Me In Disney World!

My family and I are off on our Walt Disney World vacation! This one is going to be extra special because, as an added bonus, I will be attended some exclusive Disney Travel Agent meetings, trainings, tours, events, etc. I'll be updating this post with the most recent pictures from my trip, so definitely stick around. For more info. about what I'm up to and to join the Disney conversation, find me on Facebook!

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Can Day Guests (Park Tickets Only) Book FastPasses In Advance?

Mickey Touchpoint for FastPass+

Sometimes, families that I work with are just looking for Disney Park Tickets, as opposed to a full-on Disney World package. Maybe they are staying at an off-property hotel, maybe they will be visiting family in the area... who knows? With the new My Magic+ system, though, there are a couple of things that I like to let them know about, to make sure that they get to take advantage of one of the biggest perks - booking up to 3 FastPass+ reservations ahead of time!

Day Guests (that's what Disney calls our families who have only park tickets) can begin booking their FastPass reservations up to 30 days in advance of their trip. So, you are going to be a Day Guest, then you should consider purchasing your tickets at least 30 days in advance of your trip. Even though you buy the tickets ahead of time, you won't be receiving them until you pick them up from the Will Call window at any of the Disney Parks. You will, however, receive a confirmation number upon completion of your purchase. That number is going to be important, because it's the one that you will link to your Disney Account. Once you've got it, you can simply head to StartYourDisneyExperience.com, select the Link Tickets, and put in you ticket information.

I mentioned that one of the most significant reasons that this is such a solid plan is your ability to book FastPasses. But, why? Well, because every other Disney World Guest who does go through the process of linking their reservation or their tickets to their My Disney Experience account can do it. That means that, if you don't, the thousands of them will have first crack at some of the busier rides such as The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom), Soarin' or Test Track (Epcot), Toy Story Midway Mania (Hollywood Studios), and Kilimanjaro Safari (Animal Kingdom), just to name a few. Even forgetting about them, while locking in your ride times a month before your vacation may seem like a lot, it's totally better having to focus on running to rides and grabbing FastPasses inn from the time your day begins. You can learn even more about the new FastPass+ System in this Beginner's Guide To FastPass+.

Enjoy!

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How To Find Disney's Magical Express At Orlando International Airport

One of the things that I get asked all the time, as a Disney Travel Agent, is how to get from the Orlando airport to your Disney World Resort Hotel. And I love getting to answer that question, because it's a super easy one! Disney's Magical Express is a complimentary service that will take you from the airport, straight to your resort hotel. If you're using a TA, make sure they have set it up for you, if you are booking your vacation yourself, go ahead and give Disney a call to let them know that you'd like to take advantage of it. All they'll need is your flight info, so they know when to expect you.

Once you've landed in Orlando, you'll just be following the "Ground Transportation" signs from your gate, straight to the Magical Express Welcome Center. Here are the details, straight from Disney:

The Disney’s Magical Express Welcome Center is in the Main Terminal Building on the B side, Level 1 in the Ground Transportation area. Take the tram from your aircraft gate and you will arrive on Level 3 of the Main Terminal Building. Proceed to B side and take the elevator or escalator down to Level 1. If you need to pick up your luggage, remember to stop on Level 2 at baggage claim. Once you check in at the Disney’s Magical Express Welcome Center, we will direct you to your motor coach. [Map Available Here]

Did you notice where it said, "If you need to pick up your luggage...?" Another complimentary service that Disney provides for its resort guests is Magical Luggage Pickup/Delivery. When you are signed up for the Magical Express, Disney will send you sticky luggage tags, to wrap around the handle of your checked baggage. Simply put them on your bags, and check your luggage at your originating airport. Then, you can forget all about 'em. Disney has fairies that will come and grab your bags for you and deliver them straight to your resort hotel room, so you don't have to! If you do choose to take advantage of this fantastic service, definitely make sure that you have everything that you need in your carry-ons. It can take up to 3 hours for your bags to make it to your room (fairies are small and bags are heavy). Also, please be aware that this service is available between the hours of 5am-10pm.

Don't have those luggage tags to put on your checked bags? No worries! Simply hang onto the claim numbers that you receive when you check your bags at the airport. You can give those to the great folks at the Magical Express Welcome Center and they will take care of everything!

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Fun Things To Do While Waiting To Meet Merida

One of my favorite places to visit at the Magic Kingdom is Fairytale Garden. It's just to the right of Cinderella Castle, where you can meet Merida from Disney•Pixar's Brave. But, while I love Merida, there is actually something else that makes this little area super fun for my family. While you are waiting to meet the Princess, kids are actually encouraged to hop off line to color some Brave-themed pictures as well as to take a turn at practicing their archery skills with a family-friendly bow and arrows! Plus, Merida is just a great, down-to-earth kind of Princess, who has lots of fun stories to tell (Ask her about what happened when she tried to teach Abu - Aladdin's monkey friend - how to use a bow and arrow). If you go to meet Merida early enough in the morning, you may even catch her "crowing." Peter Pan tends to shout out his loud, cock-a-doodle-doo sound, as he passes both Fairytale Garden and the Mad Tea Party ride, where Alice in Wonderland has her Meet & Greet. Both Merida and Alice are fun-loving types, who enjoy crowing right back at Peter!

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"Toy Story 2" Movie & Snack Night

As it turns out, counting down the 100 Days To Disney is a very busy and tasty undertaking! Recently, we decided to add one of Disney's most successful movie franchises into the mix. The sequels in this series are so fantastic, actually, that we didn't even watch the original as a part of our Movie and Snack Night but, rather, the second movie in the series - simply because we wanted to see more than just the first set of characters. Okay, enough beating around the bush, let's talk about:

Toy Story 2

This is the first movie on our list that is not part of Disney's official Animated Feature collection. That's because the Toy Story movies are actually Pixar Animation Studios films. While Pixar is now owned by the Walt Disney Company (they weren't at the time to Toy Story 2's release), they continue to keep their animation studios relatively separate, though they are both run by Chief Creative Officer, John Lasseter. Toy Story 2 was released in 1999, and continues the story of Andy's toys - Buzz, Woody, and the gang. This sequel introduces us to new friends, Jessie the cowgirl and her horse (technically Woody's horse, I suppose), Bullseye.

Posing with Buzz & Woody
at Hollywood Studios

Toy Story characters and attractions can be found all around the Disney Parks, making this movie  a great one to watch before a trip to Disney World! In the Magic Kingdom, Woody and Jessie love meeting with guests next to the Splash Mountain queue in Fronteirland. And, when I say "next to the queue," I totally mean it. You're not going to be able to find the line for this meet without going underneath the overpass that separates the Splash Mountain line area from the rest of the park. It's the one that also has a small playground for little ones under there. Just head through and look to your left - you'll find it! Buzz Lightyear meets with his loyal fans in Tomorrowland, right next to his own ride - Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This attraction gives you the chance to blast away at the Evil Emperor Zurg and his minions! The Toy Story fun doesn't stop when you leave Magic Kingdom. At Hollywood Studios, you can enjoy the ever-popular ride, Toy Story Midway Mania. This attraction is a carnival-themed, 3D, interactive adventure for the whole family. Just across the way from this one is a great opportunity to meet best friends, Buzz and Woody, together in front of a super fun, Andy's Bed backdrop. There are also some fantastic photo opportunities along the line for this meet, so that's a good time, too! Looking for a place to rest your head that is also Toy Story themed? Disney's All-Star Movies Resort has a whole section featuring many many larger than life statues of the lots of our Toy Story favs, including Green Army Men, Buzz, Woody, Bo Peep, and more!

Since we picked Toy Story 2, we had to go with a snack right out of the movie itself: Cheese Puffs! If Toy Story series too, after all! If you remember, Al, from Al's Toy Barn, can be seen with his orange cheese-coated hand dangling over a upside-down bowl and a minefield of cheese puffs all over the floor, below, as he sleeps on the couch with Woody's torn arm in his pocket. If you've ever had cheese puffs,  you know that they can make you awfully thirsty. And, so, we added some lemonade to tonight's snack. To keep with our theming, we dropped some food coloring in, to turn the lemonade green, and taped on some alien eyes for good measure. The three-eyed, green aliens are some of the heroes of the series and it was nice to give credit where credit is due!

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Hidden Mickey Hunt At Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Did you know that you can go on a Hidden Mickey Hunt at Disney's Wilderness Lodge? It's one of many great fun (and free) activities just waiting for you at Walt Disney World Resort hotels and you can check it out, even if you're not a guest at the Wilderness Lodge! If you're staying at another Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you'll be able to drive right into the parking lot, without any worries at all. Not staying on the Disney Property? Typically, you won't have any difficulties here, either. The only time that you won't be able to park in the lot is if it is simply too crowded to fit non-Resort guests. You can, of course, also take Disney Transportation to get to the Wilderness Lodge. Hop aboard the Disney Motor Coach from any of the Theme Parks or Downtown Disney or take the boat over from the Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary Resort, or Fort Wilderness. However you get there, make your way up to the Concierge Desk and let them know that you'd like to hunt for the Hidden Mickey's. The Cast Member will give you a sheet filled with clues to help you on your quest to find the Hidden Mickey's at both the Wilderness Lodge as well and it's Villas!

Wait a minute! Just what are these "Hidden Mickeys?" A Hidden Mickey is a depiction of Mickey Mouse that has been subtly added into the design of a Disney attraction, product, resort, etc. It can take the famous, tri-circle form of Mickey's head and ears, a profile of his head in silhouette, his entire body, or any other form under the sun, so long as it's recognizable as Mickey Mouse.

The Wilderness Lodge Hidden Mickey Hunt will take you all around the resort, from it's dining areas, to the pool, and so much in between. It's truly a super fun way to spend a couple of hours. Plus, when you finish your search, you can bring your completed clue sheet back to the Lodge Desk for a special prize! My kids had an absolute blast. I do have to admit that I did some searching around on the internet for pictures of some of the Mickey's that we were having trouble finding, so I could guide my kiddos in the right direction and keep things moving along at a speed that was fitting for a 9-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 3-year-old. In that same vein, I'd love to share some of the pictures that we took with you! They're not all the best pictures, and they'll still require you to do a whole lot of hunting on your own, but they are a good jumping off place (and the best I could do with all of my own kiddos in tow!)

In the Lobby, above the giant fireplace, on the right hand side.

Behind the Concierge Desk in the Lobby.

You can see Mickey driving the bus in the front window!

The tri-circle Hidden Mickey is on the bottom right of the white rock at Firerock Geyser.

The frontmost horse's bottom has this Hidden Mickey, located on the ceiling of the Territory Lounge.

Check out the pot in this map outside the Territory Lounge.

The fireplace in the back room of Whispering Canyon Cafe.

They just love hiding in stone at the Villas!

This profile Hidden Mickey is along the ceiling "calendar" in the rotunda at the Villas.

The corner of a picture frame in that same rotunda.

We found 4 of these guys (one was behind a tapestry) on the walls, by the elevators, in the Villas.

The ol' hallway baseboard, on the righthand side, just past the laundry room.

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"The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh" Movie & Snack Night

As we make our way further along our 100 Days To Disney countdown, we decided to pair a classic movie with a delicious snack, borrowed straight from Walt Disney World itself! You'll see which tasty treat and understand why it goes so well once we talk about the movie and why it's a great one to prepare your family for Disney:

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The 22nd Animated Feature for the Walt Disney Company, this 1977 film is actually a compilation of many different adventures starring Winnie the Pooh. Hence the title, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The three animated shorts (all based on the original Winnie the Pooh stories, written by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard) are Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (in which Pooh attempts to get honey from a tree inhabited by bees, and featuring the sequence in which Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's front door), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (in which a storm floods the Hundred Acre Wood and Piglet must be rescued), and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! (in which Rabbit tries to un-bounce Tigger).

This is such a perfect movie to watch before a trip to Disney World because Pooh and Friends can be found in all sorts of places at the Walt Disney World Resort. The most obvious, perhaps, is on the ride, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This ride became a part of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom in 1999, when it took the place of the Mr. Toad's Wild Ride attraction. Winnie the Pooh is a slow moving ride that takes you on a trip through scenes from the Pooh Bear movie, while riding in a honeypot. It also features a super fun, interactive queue, to keep little ones busy while they're waiting in line. Just outside of the Pooh ride, you can actually meet Winnie the Pooh and Tigger (other friends, such as Piglet and Rabbit, also appear from time to time), take pictures, and all of that good stuff. The Hundred Acre Wood Friends are also available for a Character Dining experience at the Crystal Palace, also located in the Magic Kingdom. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this one isn't just Pooh and Tigger. Piglet and Eeyore are also on hand. And, in our many experiences here, the characters happen to be super fun at this location - possibly the most fun of all the Character Dinings on the Disney property. They are just overall fun, sill, and goofy... the last time that we were there, Tigger grabbed our autograph book and started having a conversation with us by writing his end of it down on the pages. Talk about feeling like the characters make time for you! Pooh and Tigger have another dining that they like to participate in. This one is over at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort - the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, also featuring fellow United Kingdom friends, Alice in Wonderland; the Mad Hatter; and Mary Poppins. Winnie the Pooh (and Tigger too!) are also available to meet with you at Epcot's World Showcase, in the United Kingdom.

Everyone knows that bears love honey and no bear loves honey more than Pooh Bear. That's why this movie's snack absolutely had to feature something with honey. And, where better to look for something that will remind us of our Hundred Acre Wood Friends then in Disney's wooded Resort, Fort Wilderness? The Trail's End restaurant at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground serves a delicious Sticky Bun Sundae that we decided to replicate for our Winnie the Pooh snack. Since the sundae's at Trail's End are served in mason jars, we decided to go ahead and use mason jars for ours, as well. 16 oz. jars were the perfect size for our family. Here's how we put them together, from bottom to top:

• Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream
• Caramel Syrup
• Little Debbie's Honey Bun (warmed up in the microwave for 10-15 seconds)
• Another scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream
• Whipped Cream
• Some more Caramel Syrup on top

Technically, Trail's End adds some chopped pecans on top of the sundae, but my family opted to skip them. With nuts or without, they are the perfect fix for a rumbly in your tumbly!

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5 Things To Keep Your Kids Entertained At Epcot's World Showcase

One of the concerns that I hear from my Disney Families is, "I would love to check out the World Showcase at Epcot, but I'm worried that my kids will be bored." Fortunately, one of the things that Disney does best is tailor experiences to the whole family, so you can be sure that there is plenty to keep kiddos interested in while traveling around the 11 countries that make up Epcot's World Showcase, giving us grown-up types the chance to enjoy sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and then some from countries like Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada.

5. Attractions
Did you know that there are actually 2 very popular rides at the World Showcase in Epcot? You can find the Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Amigos in the Mexico Pavilion. This boat ride gives you a glimpse of some of the architecture, music, and culture of Mexico, while also following the story of Donald Duck. Donald is eluding his friends, José Carioca, and Panchito, who are searching for him so that they can perform in a scheduled concert.

Another World Showcase ride in the Maelstrom, in the Norway Pavilion. Maelstrom is another boat ride, but this one will send you along a river, teaching you all sort of interesting info. about Norwegian culture... until you meet up with the trolls of Norway legend, who perform a magical curse, sending you and your boat backwards, and eventually forward again, down a mini-drop waterfall!

UPDATE: As of October 2014, the Maelstrom is no longer in operation. In it's place, Disney is working on a Frozen-themed attraction.

4. Characters
Disney Friends abound at Epcot's World Showcase. Seriously, they are all over the place:

• Mexico: Donald, wearing his Mexican clothing.
• China: Mulan
• Germany: Snow White
• Morocco: Aladdin & Jasmine
• France: Aurora, Belle
• United Kingdom: Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh & Tigger

The Times Guide is super helpful here, as the characters are not out continuously but, rather, each on their own set schedule.

3. Kidcot Fun Stops
Each of the countries in the World Showcase has a Kidcot Fun Stop station, where children can color a cardboard cutout of Duffy the Disney Bear or Agent P that they receive from a Cast Member who is actually from the country that you are in. The Cast Members at those Kidcot Stations love answering questions and chatting about their native lands. Plus, they'll even draw their country's flag for your kiddo to keep, as well as provide a country-specific stamp.

2. Passports
There is even more fun to be had by purchasing a World Showcase Passport while you're at Epcot. The Passports comes with stickers representing each country. So, go ahead and hang onto those stickers, handing them out to your kiddos when they have met certain criteria that you set forth - simply reaching the country, exploring a particular aspect of the pavilion, learning how to say, "Hello," in the country's language from the Cast Member at the Kidcot Stop, etc. And, speaking of the Kidcot Stations, feel free to ask the Cast Members to stamp the passports instead of the cardboard cutouts, if you choose. Plus, there is plenty of room in the booklet for them to even write a little note in their language, or for you own children to document a little of what they find by checking out different aspects of each country themselves.

1. Agent P's World Showcase Adventure
This interactive adventure stars the lovable Perry the Platapus, from Disney's Phineas & Ferb, as Agent P, trying to stop the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz' latest schemes. When your kids sign up for this adventure, they'll be handed a cell-phone type device, on which the Good Guys will keep in touch with them, giving them clues and riddles that your children will have to solve before moving on. Each Adventure takes place in one of the World Showcase countries, and you can definitely ask the Cast Member that you sign up with to set you guys off on a mission in a country of your choosing, if you have somewhere specific that you'd like to be in mind. The adventures last for about 30 minutes each.

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