~ Jan. 22, 2009
Destination Disney-Main Street USA

This week's Destination Disney meme is Main Street USA. I was thinking about what unique photos I have of Main Street that I haven't shared already. I finally found what I was looking for. On March 4, 2005 we were at the Magic Kingdom celebrating Aaron's 12th birthday. We were leaving the park just before 5pm to go to dinner and downtown Disney. When we were at the end of Main Street near the flagpole, we noticed a small crowd gathering.

At 5pm everyday at the flagpole there is a flag ceremony. I am a very patriotic American-to the point of being sappy. We stopped to watch. The honor guard, a select US Military veteran and the Disney World marching band are the cast for this ceremony. Once the flag is taken down and folded, it is presented to the "Veteran of the Day" as a thank-you for their service. It is a beautiful ceremony and a unique happening on Main Street.

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~ Jan. 15, 2009
Destination Disney-Favorite Souvenir

This is another tough one. We aren't big souvenir people. My first thought was my pictures were my favorite souvenirs because they remind me of all the great memories we make at Disney World. Then I asked my family for their ideas and they all had the same answer, pins. My boys have been collecting and trading pins for years. We all have multiple lanyards of pins, my sons even have hats they wear with lots of their pins on them. Some of our lanyards are extra special. In 2001, back when passholders received some cool perks, Disney World gave special passholder lanyards to every seasonal or annual passhoder. Jordan and I have the most special lanyards in the family. We each have "Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Play It" lanyards. The only way to get these was to get into the hot seat at the Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Play It attraction at Disney MGM Studios. I got into the hot seat once and made it to 32,000 points (I got out on an astrology question-and I told them astrology was against my religion so I didn't feel bad). I won a special lanyard a pin for each point amount I had passed, a 1000 point winner baseball cap and a 32,000 point winner polo shirt. Jordan made it to the hot seat when he was only 10 years old. He won the landyard, pins and baseball cap. That attraction no longer exists so that makes those items even more collectible.

Our boys have earned a lot of their pins too. We use their love of pin collecting to entice them to try new rides. (This worked especially well when they were younger. Aaron has now ridded on every ride in all 4 parks except for Mission Space and Tower of Terror. Jordan still hasn't ridden those to or Rockin' Roller Coaster. On our trip in December 2007 Jordan earned his most recent pin for a ride I haven't ridden yet...Expedition Everest.

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~ Jan. 8, 2009
Destination Disney-Favorite Photo Op

Everywhere you look at Walt Disney World there is a great photo op. Since we go to Disney World so often and we have most of your typical Disney pictures with the characters and the iconic buildings, I often seek out other things to photograph. I like to photograph Disney food. This is an ice cream sundae from The 50's Prime Time Diner at Disney's Hollywood Studios, it even has caramel corn and M&Ms on it!

Once we happened to go to Disney's Hollywood Studios during one of the Star Wars Weekends. We are not Star Wars fans but we did find it kind of cool that there were armed Storm Troopers on the roof of the entrance to the park.

Here is a photo of a character that in 36 year of visiting Walt Disney World I can never remember seeing her out giving autographs. During the 2007 Food and Wine Festival Marie from The Aristocats was in France at Epcot.

I love taking candid photos at Disney to counter all of the posed pictures we seem to take there. This first one is of my son and 2 young girls from our church. He was in 7th grade and they were in 1st and 2nd grade at the time. They were moving out of Florida and had never been to Disney World and their parent's hadn't been in 15+ years.  They were going for 4 day right before they moved.  We joined them for the 1st day at the Magic Kingdom to show them the ins and outs of Disney World. My son, Jordan, was actually the tour guide for the day and when I looked up he was holding each young girl's hand and telling them where we were heading next and what we would see when we got there. It is just a precious photo.

For his 14th birthday, my oldest son wanted to get his hair done at the Harmony Barber Shop in the Magic Kingdom. This is not an easy feat. They do not take reservations and they have limited hours. One the last day of his birthday trip he and my father headed to Magic Kingdom (and left the rest of us to pack and load the cars), to try to get his hair cut. They succeeded in their quest. Aaron got a pixie-dust covered faux hawk.

Lastly, sometimes the slower modes of Disney transportation are the best. The Friendships that travel between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot's International Gateway are a wonderful way to relax and rest your feet between parks. Here my son Aaron and my niece Alexandria are doing just that.

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~ Jan. 2, 2009
Destination Disney-Planning Strategy

When it comes to our Disney trips, the amount of planning depends on the type of trip we are taking. The majority of our Disney trips are 3-day weekend trips with just the 4 of us or my family plus my parents. For these trips the only planning I do is visit Mousesavers to check for room codes before booking our hotel room. As the date nears I consult the Disney Park Hours Calendar to check out park hours, fireworks times and extra-magic hours. Then I plan a general schedule of which park which day or part of day and then that is it until we arrive.

We have also taken 3 Disney trips with extended family and had 10-12 people in our group.  This requires a lot more planning to keep everyone happy.  I planned these trips via e-mail. Some of the tools I use are listed above and others are AllEars, TheMouseForLess, and Walt Disney World Live Entertainment Schedule.  Large trips are the hardest to plan but you can have a great time IF you plan in advance and make sure you plan some time apart from the others in your group.

I love to help people plan their trips to Walt Disney World.  If you have any questions, or would like some help just ask.

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~ Dec. 13, 2008
Destination Disney-Christmas

Christmas time is the best time to visit Disney World. From December 1-December 18 the crowds are smaller but the Christmas spirit is huge! This is only the 2nd out of the last 10 Years that we haven't visited Disney World in December and we are all feeling a little homesick. The hard part about this post is that I have soooooo many pictures I could include. I tried my best to cut some out but it was hard.
Christmas has to start on Main Street USA.  The street is decked out in miles of garland and hundreds of wreaths. Christmas of 2007 the Magic Kingdom debuted the Ice Palace. They covered Cinderella Castle in millions of white twinkle lights.  It is beautiful! They added even more lights for 2008. If you are a huge fan of Christmas decorations, Disney World offers a Yuletide Fantasy Tour for guests ages 16+ on selected days in November and December.  The cost of the tour is in addition to your park admission. We gave my dad this tour as a Christmas gift a few years back and he still talks about it today! The most exciting part of this tour is a trip backstage to the Holiday Services Warehouse where Disney Cast Members create the Christmas decorations for all the parks, stores, restaurants and resorts years before they are used.

Next it is over to Epcot where we are greeted by Christmas topiaries.  The World Showcase is an amazing place to learn about Christmas traditions from all over the world. At the American Adventure Pavillion, there is a huge Gingerbread House that is actually a kiosk where they sell gingerbread cookies!
The highlight of Christmas at Epcot is the Candlelight Processional.  I know I have mentioned this before but it isn't just a show, it is an amazing mass choir, full orchestra, herald trumpets and a celebrity narrator reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 and worshipping God in song.  We have attended this event many times and have seen several celebrity narrators including Phylicia Rashaad, James Avery, Sandy Patti, James Earl Jones and Monique Coleman. You usally have to stand in line for over an hour to get a seat to this show but, I promise you, it is worth the wait.
This was our 2004 Christmas card picture taken at Epcot in the Living Seas Pavillion.

Heading to MGM Disney Hollywood Studios brings the excitement of The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights. I'll admit I liked this better before they tore down the backlot.  I really enjoyed seeing all the house facades and yards decorated like a suburban neighborhood. The Osborne lights are still impressive and the "dancing" feature that was added in 2006 is cool.

I hope you get to experience a Disney Christmas!

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~ Nov. 29, 2008
Destination Disney-Thankful Photos

This was a tricky category for me because I don't visit The World during the Thanksgiving holiday-due to the crowds.  I do have a few pictures of things I'm thankful for.


3 Generations having fun at Disney World.


The magical power of a wish.


Happy Thanksgiving!!

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~ Nov. 16, 2008
Destination Disney -Epcot

Epcot is a great park.  I have a lot of great memories.  Great rides back when the park was EPCOT Center and the Epcot stood for Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow.  Epcot opened October 1, 1982.  Classic Attractions The World of Motion, Horizons, Spaceship Earth, and Journey Into Imagination have all been part of the Future World landscape. In the World Showcase features 11 country pavillions, shopping, restaurants, shows and a few rides. One of my favorite things about Epcot is that this park hosts 3 of my favorite annual celebrations.  In the spring is the Flower and Garden Show, fall brings the food and wine festival and Christmas means the Candlelight Processional.

Ok some pictures to show you what I mean:


This is me with the Beauty and the Beast topiary during a Flower and Garden Show.
Below is a Tinkerbell topiary.



The other fun thing at the Flower and Garden Festival are the Flower Power concerts.  We have seen Davey Jones in concert twice!!

I love the Food and Wine Festival because it is educational AND my boys are actually willing to try different foods during the festival.  Here is an empanada from the 2007 festival.


For me, Christmas season doesn't  start until I have been to the Candlelight Processional.  The script is Scripture and the mass choir and orchestra are amazing.  Over the years we have seen several different celebrity narrators including Phylicia Rashad, James Earl Jones, Sandy Patti, James Avery and last year Monique Coleman.


My favorite new, well not really new-remade, attraction is The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends.  The new ride uses amazing technology to show video and make it look like it is in the aquarium tanks. You also get to ride in Clamobiles.

After the ride you MUST see Turtle Talk with Crush.  This is the most amazing interactive show. If you love Crush please don't miss this.


Well they say a picture is worth 1000 words and I could add a lot more pictures, I hope you get to experience the fun that is Epcot.

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~ Oct. 31, 2008
Destination Disney-Dress-Up

This was a tough category for me. I had to really get creative for this one. We go to Walt Disney World almost every December to drink in all the Christmas joy.  When we got home from Disney in 2006 hubby made me a Mickey Mouse Christmas wreath. So he....here it comes...dressed up our house!!

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~ Oct. 19, 2008
Destination Disney -Magic Kingdom Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is my favorite park.  It's ok to call me a purist.  My first trip to the Magic Kingdom was in 1972.  My family flew to Florida from Massachusetts and spent a week, one day in each land! We traveled down 2 other times before we moved to Florida in 1980.


Cinderella Castle is  the Magic Kingdom's icon.  This isn't a great picture but it is a picture of the Christmas light that were added to the castle last year.  They say this year there will be even more lights on the castle!


In December 2003 there was an exhibit of Mickey Mouse statues that had been designed by celebrities or Disney icons.  They exhibit wasn't in Florida long but we were able to go see them.  The top one was designed by Annette Funniciello and the one on the bottom was designed by Elton John.


One special thing to do is get a haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street.  They don't take reservations so you just have to go and wait.  Well, Aaron wanted to get his hair cut for his 14th birthday.  He and Poppop headed to the Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning-while we packed the vans, and got Aaron's haircut.



He spent all day at the Magic Kingdom with pixie dust in his hair!  He even rode Space Mountain.  There is so much gel and hairspray holding the pixie dust in that it took 3 shampoos to get it all out.

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~ Oct. 3, 2008
Destination Disney-"Starstruck"

This one was easy.  Last December, we were blessed to be in the audience for the television taping of the stage performances for the Disney World Christmas Parade.  It was a long day.  We stood in the same place for about 6 hours.  It rained on and off all day and the rain delayed the taping.  We did get to see some great stars.

Like Miss Patti Labelle.  She was wonderful.


The big opening production number took hours to tape because it kept raining and the dancers couldn't risk slipping and falling.

Cheryl Burke and Drew Lachey

Julianne & Derek Hough


Mark Ballas & Sabrina Bryant


The next weekend we were at Epcot for the Candlelight Processional-an amazing presentation of the Christmas story from the book of Luke (yes the narration is Scripture) and the music is amazing.  The narrator we saw in 2007 was Monique Coleman.


In other years we have seen Phylicia Raschad, James Earl Jones, Sandy Patti and James Avery.

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~ Sep. 18, 2008
Destination Disney- Hollywood Studios

The Studios has never been my favorite park.  It has grown on me over the past few years. My 2 favorite attractions no longer exist the "Backstage Pass Tour" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Play It" are both gone.  I actually got into the hot seat at the Millionaire game!  I reached 32,000 points before I used my final lifeline (phone a complete stranger).  My stranger was no help so I told the host I was a Christian and astrology was against my religion and I would be happy to take my prizes and leave.  I got a lanyard with a pin for each question level I got right, a 1000 point baseball cap and a 32,000 point polo shirt.  A few years later my youngest son got in the hot seat when he was there with my parents, he got the lanyard, pins and baseball cap.  Both of these attractions have left to make room for "Toy Story Mania".  I am very excited about this attraction and I can't wait to get to ride it.



I am also sad that Saturday is the last day for my favorite live show "Beauty and the Beast" finishes it's long run this Saturday, September 20, 2008.  Unfortunately, that also means "Four for a Dollar" , the opening act at this theatre, no longer has a home a Disney.     


On one of our 2007 trips to the World, my boys (in orange) got to pose with Mater!


Christmas 2007 the Studios added an amazing concert/worship experience to the holiday season.  Each evening the Harlem Gospel Choir performed 3 exciting shows.


The annual Christmas celebration at the Studios is, of course, the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  This must-see walk through is one of the high lights of our Christmas season each year.  It even snows on the Streets of New York!




Nothing is more exciting than Christmas lights!  You can't help but smile as you walk through

I have ridden Rockin' Rollercoaster a few times; I have never and will never ride Tower of Terror. I enjoyed the Stars and Motor Cars parade and I look forward to the Pixar parade.  Other favorites are the Animation tour, Lights Camera Action Extreme Stunt Show.  The 2nd best night time show is at The Studios...Fantasmic.  They are cutting back to only 2 performances a week so make sure you plan your schedule around catching this amazing show!!

My big hint for The Studios is a restaurant.  The best place to eat and relax is the Sci-Fi Diner.  You need to make ADR's to guarantee a table (request to sit in a car-it is even more fun).  If you have never been to Sci-Fi...they have old school sci-fi movies playing on a big screen.  It is dark and relatively quiet in this restaurant.  It is a great place to eat, relax, cool off and recharge in the middle of a hot day in the park.

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~ Sep. 6, 2008
Destination Disney-"Cool"

How do I define cool????



One way I define "cool" is awesome.  Wishes is my favorite fireworks show ever.




Another "cool" is cold.  The first weekend in December 2004 was very cold at Disney World.  We Floridians froze and even wore gloves at night!



August 12, 2004 we visited the Magic Kingdom.  We had evacuated from west central Florida to Walt Disney World.  The park had undergone its hurricane preparation.  We thought it was "cool" to see things tied down and we took a lot of pictures of that kind of thing.

Well, Hurricane Charley took an unexpected turn and came straight to Disney World.  We hunkered down at Pop Century and rode out the worst hurricane we have ever weathered (we would have been safer had we stayed home). Anyway the next morning we headed to Epcot.  We saw lots of downed trees like the one here but no major damage........COOL



for the Destination Disney meme hosted at homeschoolblogger.com/reviewsbyheidi

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~ Aug. 23, 2008
Destination Disney- Animal Kingdom

Here are my entries for the Destination Disney meme that is hosted by -http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ReviewsbyHeidi.


Primeval Whirl-My favorite Roller Coaster!!  Myself, Ron, Jordan and Poppop Schultz enjoy a spin!

Bug eyes!! It's Tough to be a Bug 4D movie.  Everyone loves this attraction (except Jordan)


Expedition Everest...I have yet to work up the courage to ride this one.

Eeyore, Alexandria, Jacob and Jordan..Say Cheese!

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