We've never had opportunity to participate in any of the special, backstage tours at Disney; though it's something I would certainly like to do sometime.  The DISboards has a great chart with information about all the  various tours you can take part in, including days, times, and prices.  Be sure to check it out.

Have you taken any of these tours?  If so, we'd love to hear about it.  Post on your blog and sign the Mr. Linky below.

We enjoy the Imagination pavilion at EPCOT.  The Imageworks: "What If" Labs is an interactive wonderland, full of fun stuff for both kids and adults.  We usually avoid Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (no mice or snakes for me!) but we love Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

On our last 3 trips to Disney, I had DisneyQuest on my "to do" list, but we've just never managed to squeeze it in to our busy schedule.  To me, it seems like it would be a great rainy day activity; but if everyone thought that way, it would certainly be packed on a rainy day.

Our friends, Gabby & Abe, did sneak out on a date night this past January.  They enjoyed supper at Planet Hollywood, before going on to see a show at Cirque du Soleil.  Personally, I'm too cheap; but they said it was well worth the $$$.

My very first trip to Disney was in the late 80's.  I believe it was January of 1987.  I posted a picture of me and my brothers on that trip here.  This was the trip that instilled in me my love for all things Disney (including the Birnbaum's Guide).  It's also the trip that spurned my planning obsession (and it's been downhill ever since!)

2 years later, I experienced my first "on my own" trip - even though my parents and  brothers were vacationing there at the same time, my BF and I had a room to ourselves and did our own thing.  I shared a picture from that trip here.

I shared a picture of our first trip together (as a family) here (1999).  That trip was more of a spur-of-the-moment trip - my parents had received a monetary gift and shared enough with us for a trip to see The Mouse.  Even with only a few weeks, I was able to REALLY plan!

There's something special about the first trip - no matter what the circumstances.  I still remember things about my first trip, and each time one of our kids experienced her/his first trip.  On our trip in January, not only were we able to see Disney for the first time through Ian's eyes, but also through the eyes of our dear friends who traveled with us. 

Please share your first Disney trip story with us, along with pictures!  Then, sign the Mr. Linky below with a direct link to your DD post.  Can't wait to hear about YOUR first trip!

On our last trip to Disney, EPCOT was so full that we didn't get to take our family pictures in every country, as we had originally planned.  During the trip before that, we did get our picture in all the countries, but in most of them we are wearing the dreaded yellow rain ponchos - so they are simply not worth displaying here on my blog!  So, for this post, you'll have to put up with my Germany ramblings (straight from Birnbaum's Guide) and hope that some of our other DD participants will have some fun pictures to share!

The "Germany" of EPCOT is inspired by various towns and areas in Germany - such as the Rhine region, Bavaria, and the German north, Frankfurt, Freiburg, and Rothenburg.  The stair-stepped rooflines, towers, balconies, and arcaded walkways add to the German charm and make this area of EPCOT's World Showcase look authentic.

If you schedule your time in Germany so that you are  there on the hour, you can hear the glockenspiel at the rear of the plaza, as it chimes a melody composed especially for Disney. 

Some of the things that Germany is famous for - that you can find here in the Germany pavilion - are teddy bears (Der Teddybar), clocks and watches (Volkskunst), crystal items (Kunstarbeit in Kristall), Chocolate (Sussigketen), wine (Weinkeller), and glass & porcelain (Glas Und Porzellan).  Interesting to us homeschooled parents who are always looking for the educational value in everything - notice some words here which may be the roots of our American versions?

Please share your favorite things about Germany (along with pictures).  Sign the Mr. Linky so we can all visit your blog!

On our most recent trip to Disney, we only spent a partial day at Animal Kingdom.  I've already confessed that it is not my favorite of the Disney parks; but, since I love all things Disney, I do enjoy it.  One of the favorite areas of the park for the little ones is Dinoland U.S.A.  Our day was winding down 'til we finally "landed" in this section of the park.  We were walking in a clockwise direction around the park - so after riding Everest - we stopped off to see Finding Nemo - The Musical.  This attraction is rated one of Birnbaum's Best and we had been checking it out on YouTube and were anxious to see this one.  Maybe it was because it was closing in on the end of the day and we were all tired, or maybe it was because I was holding a squirming 2 1/2 year old on my lap the whole time, or maybe it was because it was 30 minutes long and we were sitting toward the back of the theater - but I thought it dragged out just a bit much.  The whole concept of it is amazing - just LONG!

I love Liberty Square because it houses one of my favorite attractions in the Magic Kingdom (The Hall of Presidents) and because it reminds me of one of my favorite periods in history (the colonial era - reminiscent of Williamsburg or early days in Philadelphia).  I was told that the Liberty Bell on display here was actually cast on the same mold as the original Liberty Bell (which we got to see a few years ago in Philly).

And, I must confess --- this is another destination on the Disney property that I have never had opportunity to visit.  It's been on my LIST the past 2 times we've traveled down to Disney, but we've just never found the time to actually get there.  It will definitely be on my list next time too - one of these days...

In the meantime, I'm hoping that some of you Destination Disney pros can help me out with this one.  Tell us about your experiences with Disney Boardwalk - what you like, what you don't like, share pics, etc. 

Don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky below with a direct link to your Destination Disney post so we can all stop by, visit, and say "hi"!

Let me preface my post today by saying that we have NEVER stayed ON Disney property.  Though my post might come across as being an anti-on-site person, that's not really the case at all.  We always look at the pros and cons before each trip, and always end up with the most cost-effective option for our family at the time.  (One of these days, though, we're staying on-site - just to say we did!)  So, I'm anxious to hear your stories about both on and off-site accommodations.

I don't even remember where we stayed on my family's first Disney trip.  Being a planner and having a very good memory, this rather surprises me.  I can only say that it's proof that the Disney park experience far outweighs any excitement (or lack thereof) over where you lay your head each night.  It's been our experience that we go and go and go ... during the day, so much so that we basically crash at night (and it really wouldn't matter where - so long as it's clean!)

During our 2nd trip, we had reservations in a suite at Days Inn (Main Gate?) in Kissimmee - right beside Old Town.  We stayed there one night, until my BF & I realized that we could be staying in 2 separate room at the Knight's Inn across the street for less money.  I think we paid like $30 a night!  It was at that time that we realized that the area is so absorbed with hotels that they are always competing to offer the best prices.  People who think a Disney vacation is unreachable should really check into it - you can stay down there for so cheap!

When we went in 1998, we stayed in a cheap hotel (maybe Travelodge) along the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway - farther away from the parks that Old Town.  Definitely cheap, but certainly "nothing to write home about". 

In 2005, Brian's boss blessed us by offering up his timeshare for the week.  I'd love to share pictures, but that would mean digging out that falling-apart scrapbook (so depressing), so I'll just let you imagine them.

This past January, we felt like we were "moving up in the world", as we rented a home from Florida Dream Homes.  I would highly recommend this option!  They were easy to work with and extremely accomodating.  We paid $99 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home (splitting that between two families made it more affordable than most hotels - and we had all the comforts of home ... and more!)

Here is one of my favorite "scenery" pics from our last trip (I have to admit, most of my pictures include people!).  It was taken between The Land & The Seas: