Tag Archives: Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween

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Magical Halloween Fun

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What an incredible evening we had at Magic Kingdom last night! Mike, James, Ida and I had dinner at Be Our Guest. It was so delicious! I highly recommend the filet mignon for a main course which comes with mashed potatoes and al dente green beans. My starter of cheese and fruit was perfect for the meal that followed. And the dessert was just plain fun! A mini white chocolate “Chip” cup filled with “the gray stuff”, a raspberry macaroon with raspberry jam and fresh raspberries, and a chocolate truffle. So cute and so sweet and so delicious!

And that castle! Just Holy Wah! It is truly an enchanting place to dine. Ida was nervous about Beast, so she was happy to only see him from across the room. She liked the big music box with Belle and Beast dancing. And she thought the rose was very pretty.

Then James and Ida legged it for the bus back to Old Key West Resort. Ida has a cold and was tired and a bit cross. But in her defense she has a nasty cold that she has been fighting all week. Bless her little heart!

Jake, Eliza, and Linnie spent the evening at the resort as Linnie has her first case of the flu. They took her to Urgent Care earlier in the day (a four hour ordeal) and got her a prescription and some pain meds. She seems quite a bit more herself this morning, but will have a quiet day today.

Our evening continued with rides: Mad Tea Party, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We did quite a bit of Trick or Treating, and received a mountain of candy. We caught the end of the Hocus Pocus Spelltacular, just in time for “I Put a Spell on You.”

We ended our evening by finding a spot on the bridge between Tomorrow Land and the central hub. Emi went to Plaza Ice Cream and picked up some treats for us to enjoy as we sat and passed the time. We watched Boo to You Halloween Parade. And finished off the evening with HalloWishes fireworks. We had a great time just being together in such a beautiful place.

Feeling very blessed this morning! Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Initial Packing and Preparing

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Only 33 days to go and I’m flipping out on my way to seeing Mickey!

Today I’ve been digging up suggestions online for packing for Disney World (Thank you to wdwprepschool.com!). What goes into my checked luggage?  What do I need to fit in my carry on?  What will fit in my purse? Today I will put things I’ve purchased in advance into my suitcase. I’ll spend some time thinking about the logistics of what to pack where.

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/tickets (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, 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 my beautiful granddaughters AND my beautiful spouse all in the same room in just 33 days!  What a blessing that will be!

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

Donna

PS: I won! Thanks to magicoftmrw for the exciting win! I won “a bag of goodies and trinkets from the Disney World Resort Parks. PLUS a surprise from this years Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!” See the website below.

GIVEAWAY

And the winner is . . . . .

September 16, 2018

Congrats Donna!! And the winner is…. DONNA!! Congrats:) 🎉🍾🎊🎈 Thank you to everyone who participated!:) Be on the look out for a random giveaways on this blog!! pic.twitter.com/PKqwOGFpY8 — magicoftomorrow (@magicoftomorro1) September 17, 2018

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My Ten Must Dos at WDW

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Only 34 days to go until we travel to Walt Disney World. It is creeping closer and closer. Yay!

Here are the 10 things I am the most excited about for our trip to Walt Disney World in October:

#10 Riding it’s a small world.  It is my favorite ride!!

#9 Celebrating our unbirthdays with “the dip” (see below) and birthday cupcakes.  Woo hoo!  Happy unbirthday to us!

#8 Exploring EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival.  Looking forward to tempting tidbits of tasty treats.

#7 Experiencing Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood and Vine, Halloween Edition for the first time ever.  I mean, Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Daisy in their Halloween costumes! Plus the food looks yummy.

#6 Spending the better part of a day at Disney Springs exploring and shopping.

#5 Eating at Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. This is by far my favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World.

#4 Experiencing Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween.

#3 Spending plenty of resort time and pool time at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.  It is, seriously, my Happy Place.  When I’m chilling at Old Key West I can actually feel all stress leaving my body.  It is the ultimate in relaxation for me.

#2 Meeting and greeting Mickey at Magic Kingdom. I am so ready to shake Mickey‘s big, white-gloved hand and get a picture with him and my family.

And the #1 thing that I am excited about…Looking at the faces of my husband and children and their spouses and children and spending some quality time together in this beautiful place.  This will be a family reunion extraordinaire!

Meet you at the Kingdom.

Donna

*The dip: In a pie plate spread 8 oz. of cream cheese.  Next sprinkle 6 to 8 cut-up green onions on top.  Then spread a can of No Bean chili on top.  (We usually make a second dip with Vegetarian chili with lots of beans.)  Finally sprinkle 8 oz. of grated cheddar cheese on top.  (We prefer sharp cheddar.  The shaper the better.)  Microwave for five minutes and serve with your favorite chips.  (We usually heat it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes instead, because it seem to hold it’s heat longer.)

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So Much Better

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Hiya Dear Readers,

Just want to drop a note to let you know that I am feeling so much better. It’s been seven weeks since my stroke. I spent six nights in the hospital in England. Since I’ve been back in the USA I’ve seen my GP, had blood work done, am currently 24 days into wearing a heart monitor for 30 days, have done a sleep study, have had an echocardiogram and have attended two of three scheduled diabetes education classes. (I have one more class in two weeks.) I will see a neurologist in two weeks and a neuro-opthomologist in three weeks. (I have some residual vision issues.) Then I will breathe a sigh of relief and bask in having gotten through all of that. Whew!

Anyway… I can tell I’m feeling quite a bit better, because I’m back to making plans for our next trip to Walt Disney World. We’ve bumped up our dates from October 2018 to the end of September 2018. Jake, Eliza, Mike and I had such a wonderful time when we went in the fall of 2015, so we thought we’d try fall again. Historically the end of September is a bit less busy than October, so we’ll try that. We can still enjoy The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party while we’re there. The temperatures will be nice for some major pool time. I get so excited thinking about it! And then to have Emi, James and baby Ida there with us will be beyond anything that I can even imagine!

Disney World is so different from when we first started going there around 1990-ish. It’s almost too much for me now…almost. There are so many changes. Some favorite attractions have gone away to make room for new ones. There has been major construction of hotels adding many more rooms to the World. They built a whole new park, the Animal Kingdom. They have built another water park, Blizzard Beach. I miss the “intimacy” of the 1990’s World, but it doesn’t diminish my love for the new World.

My absolute favorite thing to do at Walt Disney World is to spend time with the family. I love hanging out at Disney’s Old Key West Resort at night and just chatting about our day. I love sitting at a great Walt Disney World restaurant (especially Olivia’s Cafe!) and sharing a meal with the fam. I love checking out the looks of awe and wonder on their faces while we watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom. I even love looking at their tired faces on the bus back to Old Key West.

I can call and make our reservation for a grand villa at Old Key West on October 23rd of this year. We already have our 5 day Park Hopper passes. I can make our breakfast/lunch/dinner reservations starting March 28, 2018. I can order our tickets for Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in May of 2018. I can make our FastPass choices beginning July 26, 2018. Then it’s nothing but keep power walking to be ready to go.

I take nothing for granted. But Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, it will be a major Jarvi/Carmichael reunion and celebration. Just to be together with these people that I love in this place that I love is bliss!

I’ll write again soon.  Thanks for reading, Dear Friends! Meet you at the Kingdom!

Donna

 

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What to Pack So that I Don’t Overpack

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Day 427 in flipping out on my way to seeing Mickey

Three days to go!!!!  Today I’ve been 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 this has been!  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, sunscreen, vegetarian chili, aloe, toiletries, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, 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 my beautiful spouse all in the same room in just three days.  And Daniel C. will join us at the table for dinner that first evening at Olivia’s Cafe as we celebrated our Unbirthdays together.  What a blessing that will be!

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

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Top 10 Things I Am Excited To Do at Walt Disney World

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Day 386 in my excitement on my way to meeting up with Mickey

Here are the 10 things I am the most excited about for our trip to Walt Disney World in October:

#10 Riding it’s a small world.  It is my favorite ride!!

#9 Celebrating one year’s-worth of birthdays with “the dip” (see below) and birthday cupcakes.  We have been saving up to celebrate our birthdays together in Florida.  Woo hoo!  Happy birthday to us!

#8 Exploring EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival.  Looking forward to tempting tidbits of tasty treats.

#7 Experiencing Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party for the first time ever.  See comment from number 8.

#6 Spending the better part of a day at Disney Springs exploring and shopping.

#5 Eating at Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. This is by far my favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World.

#4 Experiencing Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween for the first time ever.  I have my costume now.  I ordered it from the Disney Store.  I will wear a Mickey Mouse Skeleton Tee and a Minnie Mouse Ears Headband.  🙂

#3 Spending plenty of resort time and pool time at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.  It is, seriously, my Happy Place.  When I’m chilling at Old Key West I can actually feel all stress leaving my body.  It is the ultimate in relaxation for me.

#2 Meeting and greeting Mickey at Magic Kingdom. This has been the driving force behind this blog.  I am anxious to shake Mickey‘s big, white-gloved hand and get a picture.

And the #1 thing that I am excited about…Looking at the faces of my husband and children and their spouses and spending some quality time together in this beautiful place.  This will be a family reunion extraordinaire!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

*The dip: In a pie plate spread 8 oz. of cream cheese.  Next sprinkle 6 to 8 cut-up green onions on top.  Then spread a can of No Bean chili on top.  (We usually make a second dip with Vegetarian chili with lots of beans.)  Finally sprinkle 8 oz. of grated cheddar cheese on top.  (We prefer sharp cheddar.  The shaper the better.)  Microwave for five minutes and serve with your favorite chips.  (We usually heat it in the oven t 350 degrees for 30 minutes instead, because it seem to hold it’s heat longer.)

 

 

 

 

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Reserved! (Reservated? Twitterpated?)

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Day 251 in the reality of Disney Dining Reservations and meeting up with Mickey (5 months and 27 days to go)

OK, so I was up at 4:30 am this morning ready to get online and make our meal reservations for October.  The online reservation system opens at 6:00 am Eastern Time, which is 5:00 am Central Time.  Am I tired now?  Oh, yeah!  But I’m jacked to have made the reservations.  It’s always a better idea to make reservations and then cancel the ones that you cannot do.

My plan for today is to share  the reservations that I was actually able to make:

Tuesday, October 13–Fly to Florida.  Dinner at Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort (Our home away from home)at 7:15 pm

Wednesday, October 14–Breakfast at The Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom at 8:15 am.  I had hoped for Cinderella’s Royal Table, but it wasn’t available.  I can’t be too disappointed though, because the Crystal Palace is beautiful and elegant and…oh who am I kidding…Winnie the Pooh is there!!

Thursday, October 15–Dinner at California Grill at the Contemporary Resort at 5:25 pm.  I had hoped to eat at Be Our Guest Restaurant that afternoon, but it wasn’t available.  (Fear not though it’s a-comin’.)  We have an early dinner so we can head to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween.  Woo hoo!

Friday, October 16–a day out of the parks.  Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at 10:15 am and Dinner at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.  This is Mike’s favorite restaurant in Walt Disney World.  He and I have been there three times, and each time it has been a delicious, memorable, special experience.  Every time we’ve been there he has said, “We have to bring the kids here sometime.”  Maybe this will be the time.  But they are free to completely plan their own day, as they wish.

Saturday, October 17–Lunch at San Angel Inn Restaurante at EPCOT at 12:30 pm and Dinner at Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  I had to swap out 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because of no availability  (But it’s coming later.)

Sunday, October 18–Lunch at Yak and Yeti at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at 2:00 pm.

Monday, October 19–a day out of the parks.  Mike and I will have Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at 10:15 am and Dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at  Downtown Disney Area at 7:15 pm. The kids plan to go to Universal Studios this day, to experience all the Harry Potter-ness of it.  😉

Tuesday, October 20–Lunch at 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 12:40 pm and Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom at 4:55 pm.

Wednesday, October 21– Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at 8:00 am.  Then we fly home.

So there it is in black and white, dear readers.  It should be fun!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Scare Me, Mickey!

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Day 244 in my hankering for hauntings at the Magic Kingdom when I meet up with Mickey (6 months and 4 days to go)

As I was eating my lentil soup at lunch today, I was checking out Facebook.  I was just about finished eating when I saw a post from Disney Dining that said “Tickets on Sale Today for Hard Ticket Events.”  And below it said, “Tickets on sale today for Mickey’s Fall Events!  GAH!  I quickly swallowed the last of my soup and made a mad dash for my office.  I logged onto My Disney Experience and booked our tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on October 15.

That was not my plan for today to get ready for Walt Disney World in October, but it quickly became my plan!

This trip has always been something to look forward to, but now with my health issues, it has become a finish line of sorts.  When we are there and celebrating being together in the Happiest Place on Earth, I will be beyond the moon!  Woo hoo!

And speaking of health issues, my doctor called with good news for a change.  My thyroid biopsy shows that the nodules on my thyroid are benign.  What a lovely word…benign.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Harsh Realities and Happy Planning

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Day 81 in my migration toward meeting Mickey

Well, I danced like no one was watching last night.  It was fun…and tiring, but it was good to do it.

I don’t know how hard is too hard to push myself physically.  As soon as I push through the pain to walk further, my hip starts aching something fierce, my knees start snapping at me, my back throws in the towel and my upset stomach rears up.   I end up so sore and feeling so lousy that I am absolutely discouraged, so I end up taking several days to recover enough to be able to do it again.  I haven’t “listened” to my body for years.  Now I am hearing it loud clear.  And it is saying, “Slow and easy wins the race.  Rome (nor this gargantuan body) wasn’t built in a day.  Patience is a virtue.”  I know, right?  My body speaks in clichés…who knew?  But it is very clear to me that I need to take it slowly.

So today’s plan is to spend some time putting together our dates for the trip to Walt Disney World.

  1. What date can I call and book our rooms at Old Key West (11 months prior to check-in)?
  2. What date do I make our dinner/lunch reservations?  (180 days prior to check-in)?
  3. What date do I book Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween tickets?
  4. What date do I reserve our Magical Express ride from the airport to Old Key West and back?
  5. When do I purchase my Tables in Wonderland discount card?  (A discount dining perk that saves 20% on most meals)
  6. When do I register for my Fastpass+ choices? (60 days prior to check-in?)
  7. When shall I book our flights?

Much to do, but it’ll be fun research while I wait for my spine to quick clicking when I walk.  This getting older is not for the faint of heart.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Resources for Disney Research

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Day 45 in my travels toward all things Theme Park, but especially Mickey

Today’s plan was to do some more research.  There was a really interesting post on Facebook today by TouringPlans, called “A Guide to Walt Disney World Attraction Vehicles and Seating: Magic Kingdom.”  It describes all the seating at all the attractions in the Magic Kingdom Park.  It makes it easier to decide which attractions to try and which to pass.

I highly recommend TouringPlans.  It costs to subscribe, however, you can check on historical attendance dates.  So say I want to go to EPCOT on the 5th of October.  It will show how busy EPCOT has been on October 5th for several years back.  And it shows the same info for the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  And there is a lot more information there, too.

Also, Disneyphiles, I super-highly recommend WDW Magazine which is available as an app.  Again there is a subscription fee, but it is amazing!  I just watched the entire train ride for Hogwarts Express at Universal Studios, and the Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Parade.  Just the best!

That’s is for today.  But I am still off sugar, moving more and making the best, healthiest food choices that I can.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

Pilgrimage to better health to meet Mickey. A 14 month Quest.