Tag Archives: Mickey Mouse

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Disney Dreaming

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Today I received a package in the mail. The return address showed that it was from Pixie Dust Delivery Service! My heart beat a little faster, my pupils dilated, and I let out an involuntary, “Woo hoo!”

A little over a week ago I messaged Amy at Pixie Dust Delivery Service and requested three, new Old Key West Resort things: a magnet, an ornament, and a shirt. (See photos below this blog.)

I really dig the new emphasis on the lighthouse, the palm trees and of course Mickey and Minnie Mouse! It was a real “treat myself” kind of moment and a much needed shot in the arm to my exhausted-from-working-out body.

You see, even though I’m being careful when I take my walks: knees slightly bent, rolling from heel through toes, tucking my pelvis under, staying as relaxed as possible, and above all breathing, breathing, breathing, I am tired! This is hard, sweat inducing, knees aching, ankles and hips protesting work! At my weight and at my age, a simple walk exhausts me.

This package today helps me to refocus, to embrace this new more active lifestyle, to savor healthier food choices. My trip to Disneyland Paris is ever closer to becoming a reality. And I am renewed in my determination to be a healthier me when I get there.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

P.S. Thank you to http://www.disneyfoodblog.com for the photos! This is my favorite blog, and I check it out every day.

P.P.S. Thank you to Amy of Pixie Dust Delivery Service! I’ve ordered many time from Amy, and she has never let me down. Check her out at http://www.pixiedustdelivery.com.

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Turning 65 at Walt Disney World

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I’ve been thinking about turning 65 years old and becoming eligible for Medicare. It’s a year and a half away for me, but I’d like to celebrate it at Walt Disney World. I turned 60 there, and it just seems like this next milestone would be fun to be there, too. We wouldn’t be using our DVC points, because we’re saving those for Disneyland Paris in 2021. but I’ve always wanted to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter, and this may be the right opportunity to do so. Here’s what Disney has to say about it:

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel, where cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms evoke the Antebellum era and colorful Mardi Gras characters and jazz keep things lively.

We would take in the holiday sites, and go into EPCOT for one day so we could experience the Candlelight Processional.

A candlelight processional at Holidays Around The World at Epcot

Hear the stirring story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator, and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. 

The rest of the time we would wander our resort, walk around and explore Disney Springs more thoroughly, book dining reservations at places we’ve never been before, and chill.
Sounds like fun, right? It’s something fun to think about anyway.
Meet you at the Kingdom.
Donna
P.S. I finally reached the 10 pounds off mark. It took nearly four weeks. It’s a hard win. This is the toughest weight loss ever for me. Perhaps in the long run, it will be the best. Here’s hoping.
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Magnificent Minnie!

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We are tired out! Emi, James, Ida and I opted out of our Fastpasses today and relaxed at Old Key West. Mike went in to Disney’s Hollywood Studio early on his own and walked around, until Jake, Eliza and Linnie showed up. They went to The Little Mermaid and Toy Story Mania!

The rest of us showed up in time for Minnie’s Halloween Dinner at Hollywood and Vine restaurant. It was a blast, and Ida finally warmed up to the characters, especially Minnie Mouse. As we posed with Minnie at the entry Ida kept saying, “She’s very gentle and kind,” to herself as a mantra. I can’t recommend this buffet dinner enough. The food was so delicious, and the characters all made sure to visit each table.

Linnie ended up seeing a nurse at the park and had a bit of a fever so they took her back to the resort to chill out. She seems to be doing a little bit better tonight, and the fever has broken.

What a busy, busy day!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Animal Kingdom Day

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On a cloudy Tuesday we made our way to Animal Kingdom. We rode Na’vi River Journey for the first time. It was magnificent! It was like being immersed in a whole new world. The colors and the vegetation, the huge insects and animals, and the sound track of life in Pandora blended into most memorable moments.

Then it was on to Kilimanjaro Safaris. We have ridden this many times, but because there was cloud cover and it was feeding time, we saw more animals than we had ever seen before. I always love seeing the flamingoes, and there were lots of them out and about. Ida loved the rhinos, with their big horns, instead of noses.

And one of the highlights of the day was a Memory Maker moment. Jake became Rafiki and baby Elinor became Simba. It was magical!

Then we had a delicious dinner at Yak and Yeti. Oh, that mango pie! And we tasted a new favorite: the green bean appetizer. So good!

Another lovely day at Walt Disney World!

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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A Break in the Action

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Today we took a day to chill out and appreciate our resort. It was glorious! Some swam, some rode a bicycle built for four, some enjoyed shopping at Disney Springs.

Then Mike treated us all to an amazing dinner at Artist Point, an Arts and Crafts inspired restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. It was a fun adventure, too, because we took a bus to Magic Kingdom, then transferred to a boat to the lodge.

The food there is northwest inspired. My dinner was buffalo steak and farrow with crispy Brussel sprouts. We enjoyed an artisanal cheese board for starters. Then we capped off our meal with two desserts which we all shared: creme brûlée and wild berry cobbler with coffee. Delicious!

What a lovely, decadent day! I am thankful.

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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Magic Kingdom Day

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Day two of our Walt Disney World adventure has been so incredible!

  1. Character breakfast at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. Ida was completely traumatized by the arrival of Winnie the Pooh. “Too big!” She begged to be cuddled by her mum and hid her face until Pooh went away. Tigger-same thing. Piglet-a little more interested. Eeyore-not so scared, and Ida didn’t hide her eyes.
  2. We rode Peter Pan’s Flight, and Ida and James were a bit scared. “Too dark.”
  3. We rode it’s a small world next. Ida dug it!
  4. We rode Winnie the Pooh. Ida thought it was OK, but a bit too bumpy.
  5. Finally we rode Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid. When we finished, Ida said, “Really cool!” Success at last!
  6. We finished our day with a swim and dinner at Olivia’s.

What an incredible day! What an incredible time with family! What a beautiful place!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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We’re Here!!

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We are at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, all settled into our villa. Thank you, Jesus!! Three years of planning all come down to this day. Our flight was good. The Conch Fritters at Good’s Food To Go were delicious! Our luggage showed up at our room as if by magic. And we’re getting groceries delivered any minute now. Emi, James and Ida are due soon. I am so grateful! More news tomorrow.

Come on down and meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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One Day More

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Tomorrow, tomorrow I love ya. Tomorrow, you’re only a day away…

So today is crazy, busy getting ready to go day. As I sit here watching “The Real”, I am sipping my Airborne which I hope will help to boost my immune system. I don’t want to pick up any nasty germs on the plane tomorrow.

Tomorrow afternoon, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will be sipping a Diet Coke and sharing an order of Conch Fritters on the small boardwalk at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Jake, Eliza and Linnie are scheduled to arrive in Orlando within a minute of our arrival, so there’s a good chance that we will ride the same Magical Express bus to the resort. That would be a little extra magical, right?

I’m packing a swimsuit in my carry on, so if our room isn’t ready when we arrive, I may just take a dip in the main pool. It’s a very nice zero entry (beach entry) pool that I can walk right into. No ladder to climb, nor even steps. My kinda pool!

I can hardly believe it’s here at last. Three years of waiting is down to one day more. I won’t lie to you; I’m feeling blessed!

Meet me at the Kingdom. Tomorrow!

Donna

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Two Days!

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In two days I am going to Walt Disney World! I can hardly believe it’s so soon.

Yesterday, in the nick of time, the rest of our luggage tags for Magical Express came in the mail. We have to attach these tags to our luggage to have it delivered to our room by Disney. Jake’s, Eliza’s and Linnie’s tags had not yet arrived, but they finally showed up. And since today was one of my days watching Linnie for a few hours, Eliza slipped the tags into the diaper bag so they would be sure to make it home with them.

Whew! That is calling it close.

Tomorrow I finish up my packing. My whole day will be dedicated to finishing up with my suitcase, organizing my Disney purse, and filling up my carry-on.

Every vacation I over plan and over pack. And this time will be no different. Every vacation I over think all of this. Too much planning, too much plotting. Too much, period. When all that really matters is occupying the same space as some of my favorite people on the planet. That is what this reunion is all about. Sharing time with those we love. What a blessing!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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What to Pack

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There are only six days until I leave for Walt Disney World. I am flipping out on my way to seeing Mickey.

SIX days to go!!!!  Today I will be digging through closets, finishing up laundry, checking and rechecking suggestions online for packing for Disney World (Thank you to wdwprepschool.com!), chasing down luggage tags, making a list of what I need to pick up from the store tomorrow and adding things to my suitcase.  What an exciting and nerve-wracking day it will be!  What goes into my checked luggage? What do I need to fit in my carry on? What will fit in my purse?

Carry on: swimsuit, extra underwear (always, in case my checked luggage goes missing), meds and vitamins, book for the airplane, laptop and charger, itinerary

Purse: wallet, MagicBands, all Disney cards (Disney Vacation Club Membership, Disney PhotoPass, 5-day Park Hoppers, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween), photo ID, cell phone and charger, insurance cards, taxi confirmation to the airport

Checked luggage: everything else…clothes (including matching family tee shirts), sunscreen, vegetarian chili, aloe, toiletries, taxi confirmation from the airport, day-by-day planner, pain medicine, blister pads, wet wipes.

And on and on and on… I will see my beautiful children and their beautiful spouses and their beautiful daughters AND my beautiful spouse all in the same room in just six days. What a blessing that will be!

Readers, thank you so-o-o-o much for following me on this journey.  Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna