T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Top Vacation Memories

I read an article recently that said family vacations have a long-lasting impact on kids’ happiness – and I couldn’t agree more. It can be a lot of planning and packing, and it’s not cheap to go away as a family – but it’s worth it in the long run. A chance to disconnect from work and the pressures of “adulting” is something we ALL need every now and then

For me, some of my best family memories are of the trips my parents and I took to Walt Disney World when I was a kid – those good times have stuck with me, and I hope my son can say the same when he grows up!

He talks about the trip still, and how much he loved the rides and characters – and how he can’t wait to go back:

Hopefully we can take him back soon – since I have science on my side, I think convincing my husband should be easy, right? Read more about the impact family vacations have on kids Here

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Oddball Favorites (Toddler Edition)

When preparing to take my 3 year old son to Walt Disney World for the first time, I had an idea of what he might like/dislike as far as rides, dining, and characters – and many of my instincts were spot on. But – there were some things I couldn’t have predicted that he would just love:

 

He was obsessed with the Huey/Dewey/Louie and Donald statues outside of our hotel room at the All Star Sports Resort – he insisted on visiting them every time we came or went

 

He really enjoyed watching the Star Wars show at Hollywood Studios – longest he has sat still in forever ha!

 

I was not prepared to ride Dumbo 4 times in a row – but it was a trip favorite for sure – he loved that he could “control” the up and down motion of the vehicle – and there was no line so it was easy to ride over and over!

 

Roasting marshmallows at the nightly hotel bonfire – I mean – ok, most kids love s’mores, but most aren’t patient enough to roast the marshmallows themselves, but he loved it, and of course enjoyed the end result, too!

A few things he did NOT love: “Real” characters – he was dying to meet Ariel, but when he went into the grotto and saw she was a real person (not a covered face like the rest) – he wanted NOTHING to do with her! Slinky Dog Dash, Mission – Space and Dinosaur were all rides he was definitely not on board with – although he said afterwards he liked it, but I could tell he was scared at the time!

It just goes to show – you gotta try everything, and you might just be surprised at what you like (that you maybe didn’t think you would!) Now only if I could use the same theory with my son on vegetables, hmm…

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – My Top Fastpass+ Picks – Animal Kingdom

For the past few weeks, I have been talking about my top fastpass+ picks for each of the Disney Parks – So far, I have covered the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot, and this week I will round out my lists with the final park – Animal Kingdom! Admittedly – Animal Kingdom is not my favorite of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. BUT – it DOES have some amazing things to offer for animal lovers, and I know that my son will ADORE it – as he is SUPER into the zoo and any and all animals right now. So here they are – our top Animal Kingdom Fastpass picks:

First up on the list HAS to be the Kilimajaro Safari ride – as it will give us all a chance to see some animals, and to learn more about them too! Plus – we don’t have to walk – which is a plus in my book (call me lazy – but it’s really for the kid – better to save his little legs and get him the chance to ride around and see some animals he’s never seen before!)

To say my son is into dinosaurs is an understatement – he loves them so much he even has his own giant T-Rex pool float. So naturally, Dinosaur is on our “must ride” Fastpass+ list – I hope it doesn’t scare him – am hoping he is intrigued more than frightened

Meet & Greet with Mickey & Minnie – might not seem “fastpass” worthy to some – but – again – my son is 3, so – meeting Mickey and Minnie is pretty much top on his Disney wish list, so I want to make sure he gets to do it!

Obviously, these Fastpass+ picks are chosen mainly with my almost 4-year old in mind, since it’s his first trip, I want to make sure he is seeing things tailored to his interests, and I really hope he loves what I picked!

What about you – what are your and your family’s must-do Fastpass rides/attractions at WDW?

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – My Top Fastpass+ Picks – Hollywood Studios

Last week I talked about how my Disney vacation is coming soon (under 100 days now!) and that I was working on my top Fastpass+ picks for the Magic Kingdom. Since then, I have been doing even more planning – and have finalized our top Hollywood Studios Fastpass+ Picks:

Slinky Dog Dash has been under construction since last fall, and will finally be opening to the masses at the end of this month along with the rest of Toy Story Land. I am REALLY REALLY hoping to snag fastpasses for this – as my son loves Toy Story, and he especially loves Slinky Dog – so fingers crossed we can get this one!

Star Tours – This is one that everyone in my family will love – my husband love Star Wars (and the ride), and my son is a big fan of it too – he hasn’t ridden it yet since this will be his first Disney World trip – but I have a feeling he will love the experience – the 3-D glasses, boarding the “vehicle”, the droids, etc

The Tower of Terror is one of my personal favorites – I remember waiting in line for over 2 hours when it first opened – and then boarding that creepy “Service Elevator” for the journey into the Twilight Zone…I love all thinks horror so this is right up my alley. My son also enjoys creepy/spooky stuff, so I am hoping he likes this – it might end up being a bit scary for him as he is only 3 – but I am hoping he is at least willing to try it!

Stay tuned next week for more of my Fastpass+ picks!

TGIF!

 

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – My Top Fastpass+ Picks – Magic Kingdom

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a YEAR since I booked our Disney World vacation – and that our countdown until we head to WDW is just over 3 months now! Time flies – and while I am not wishing away the summer, I am starting to get SUPER pumped and antsy to head back to Walt Disney World!

One thing that will help me feel even closer to the Mouse is making my Fastpass+ reservations online. This is something you can do 60 days in advance if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort (or 30 days in advance if you are staying off site), and for those of you not familiar, it’s basically a way to “reserve” a spot at popular attractions. You pick them (3 a day can be reserved ahead of time), and then go to the ride at the appointed fastpass return time – whereupon you are whisked away into the MUCH shorter “fastpass” line – therefore avoiding a super long wait time. Genius, right? Read more about it here

Needless to say – I have been thinking about my Fastpass+ selections for a WHILE – mulling over which would be best at each Park, and which my son would like best too (since this will be his first WDW trip!). I have managed to narrow down my selections somewhat – and am pretty solid on My top Magic Kingdom Fastpass+ Picks:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – This kid-friendly roller coaster is one we haven’t gotten to experience yet (since it opened after our last WDW trip) – but since it is pretty new, we know that a Fastpass is a MUST to avoid the Standby lines (which can get LONGGGG)

Peter Pan’s Flight – This is a personal favorite of mine – the flying ships I especially adore! It just reminds me of watching the movie as a kid and being so amazed at it all. I hope my son finds it as magical as I do! Even though it’s not a new attraction at all – the lines for it can be long (not sure why?) – so that’s what made me add it to the “must fastpass” list

Thunder Mountain – I was a bit apprehensive about adding this one to the list – as it is more of a “thrill” ride, and I worry my son won’t like it as much or it might scare him – BUT – it IS train themed, and I think that’s a major selling point for him – so I figure – why not give it a go?

There are others that I would like to use Fastpass for – Space Mountain mainly – but my boy is just about an inch shy of being tall enough, and I don’t want to assume he will grow an inch by September (although – who are we kidding – he will probably grow WAY more than an inch by then ha!) – so we will have to wait and see on that one. Plus – I don’t want to traumatize him (the way my dad did to me when he took me on Space Mountain when I was 4) – I have recovered luckily, but it can be a scary ride for a little person!

What about you – what rides are your absolutes for Fastpass+ selections?

Stay tuned here next week when I talk about more of my Fastpass+ Picks
TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Woody Has Arrived At Toy Story Land!

Only 64 more days until the GRAND opening of the highly anticipated Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – June 30th will be here before we know it!

The construction is coming along – and this week one REALLY important piece arrived:

There’s a new Sheriff in town! Standing at nearly 20 feet tall, Woody is posed right at the entrance to welcome you to Toy Story Land! Woody will be right in front of another popular Toy Story character’s attraction – The Slinky Dog Dash – which has been under construction since last fall

I can’t wait until June 30th to see pictures and videos of the finished product – and then to actually visit in person in September!

TGIF