Tag Archives: Walt Disney World

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Magical Express Madness

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Day 403 in my stumbling toward meeting up with Mickey

Today I signed Mike and myself up for Magical Express, the Disney-provided (free) bus from Orlando International Airport to Disney’s All Star Sports Resort and then back to the airport again at the end of our brief December vacation.  And…I screwed it up completely.  Even though I entered that there will be two adults traveling, somehow at the end it only showed Mike as registered, with no mention of me.  So tomorrow I’ll call and try to get this all straightened out.  Sheesh!

And now I just want to mention my frustration at trying to book dining reservations for the December trip.  Minnie’s Holiday and Dine Dinner is completely sold out while we are there.  This is supposedly one of the least busy times of the year at Walt Disney World, and still no openings.  ARGH!  I’m starting to believe that there is no such things as “least busy times” at Walt Disney World.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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December Dining

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Day 400 in my planning my way to meeting up with Mickey

Today’s plan was to book some dining reservations for our December trip to Walt Disney World.  Here’s what the plans are:

  1. December 6–Dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby and a leisurely afternoon and evening strolling around Disney’s Hollywood Studios and taking in the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights and perhaps Fantasmic!
  2. December 7–Dinner at Rose & Crown Pub at EPCOT followed by Candlelight Processional.  And an afternoon and evening of EPCOT touring.
  3. December 8–An early dinner at The Wave…of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort followed by Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.  I would have liked to have dinner at Magic Kingdom, but there is not one available reservation for that afternoon/evening.  However, I have a soft spot for Disney’s Contemporary Resort, so I’m happy to have an excuse to visit there.

What a fun day this has been!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Generous Gift

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Day 399 in my incredible journey to meeting up with Mickey

OMGoodness, I am blown away.  I just had a phone call from a dear person gifting me and Mike three nights at a Value Resort at Walt Disney World in December in celebration of my 60th birthday.  We are booked at the All Star Sports Resort on December 6, 7 and 8.  WOW!  I can’t even believe it.  I will be at Disney World twice before the end of this year.  Incredible!

Today’s plan is to book some dining reservations and purchase tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  How fun!  I am completely overwhelmed by this gesture, and very, very excited about Disney World all decked out for Christmas.  Holy wah!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Booking a Ride

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Day 398 in my journey to meet Mickey

Today I booked our taxi cabs to and from Midway Airport, with American Taxi.  Woo hoo!  $65 one way, so $130 round trip.  That seems like a lot of money, but to park our car at Midway Airport for 8 nights would have cost us $1 less ($129).  So we decided to save ourselves the aggravation of driving ourselves in Chicago traffic and take the cab.

I makes me really appreciate Disney’s Magical Express which is the free bus service from the Orlando Airport to Old Key West and back.  That really is a great perk for staying on property.

Even just booking the taxi was exciting.  Our family reunion trip is only one month and two days to go.  Bring it on!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Un-laboring on Labor Day :)

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Day 394 in my relaxing my way to meeting Mickey

According to the US Department of Labor website:

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

Happy Labor Day!  I celebrated with a Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) and a Salted Caramel Cake-pop.  I have an early pass for  a PSL from my Starbuck’s app.  They officially start selling them on September 8th (tomorrow).  This will be my only PSL until we travel to Walt Disney World where I will order one at the Magic Kingdom and happily sip it there.  It was a delicious “holiday” treat, and now I’m back to sugar-free until our trip in one month and six days.  (OMGoodness!  It’s getting so close now!)  Yippee!

Well, done, Starbuck’s!  I hope the labor of making the PSL and the cake-pop was USA labor.  Buy American!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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The Return

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Day 392 in prepping to meet Mickey

Today’s plan was to read the fall version of Disney Files Magazine.  It is the official magazine for Disney Vacation Club members.  The cover features a picture from the new Kingdom Keepers book The Return.  See below.

The Return (Kingdom Keepers #8)

With the defeat of the Overtakers behind them, the five teenagers known as the Kingdom Keepers should be celebrating. By all accounts, they saved Disneyland from certain destruction. Why then did their mentor leave one last puzzle for them to decipher? The Keepers must solve a puzzle of the past, or be crushed under an evil that makes the Overtakers seem like gentle souls.
I thought the series was finished.  I am very excited about this preqeul/sequel (and how is a book a prequel and a sequel??).  So this will be my first souvenir from our trip this October.  I will make my way to The Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and purchase a copy.  Yay!
Meet you at the Kingdom!
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Force Friday

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Day 391 in dreaming my way to meeting Mickey

Today is Force Friday, and so I say, “May the Force be with you.”  Today’s plan is to remember Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Here is what Touring Plans says about the ride:

Description And Comments

Based on the Star Wars movie series, this was Disney‘s first modern simulator ride. Guests ride in a flight simulator modeled after those used for training pilots and astronauts. You experience dips, turns, twists, and climbs as your vehicle goes through an intergalactic version of the chariot race in Ben-Hur. The ride film is projected in high-definition 3-D and has more than 50 combinations of opening and ending scenes. You could ride Star Tours all day without seeing the same film segment twice.

I can’t wait to ride it in October!!  We have a Fastpass+ booked for it.    So in honor of this special day, I am going to watch Star Wars tonight, and dream Skywalker dreams tonight.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I’m pretty jealous of Daniel right now who is there is experience the excitement first hand!

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Check!

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Day 389 in planning my way to meeting Mickey

Today I checked into Disney’s Old Key West Resort.  I had completely forgotten that I could check in online 60 days before my arrival date.  I am 41 days out.  I have two words to say to that:  WOO HOO!  It was exciting to say the least.  Now when I arrive on October 13th, I’ll show my ID at check-in, and off to my room I’ll go.  Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to my room I go.  *whistle* heigh-ho, heigh-ho…

I am so ready to be there!  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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Taco-licious!

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Day 385 in healthy eating on my way to the Magic Kingdom to meet up with Mickey

Today’s plan was to write up this week’s menu and get my shopping list ready for tomorrow.  Done!  Yay!  So since that’s already behind me let me share tonight’s dinner recipe with you.  It’s from my favorite cookbook: Betty Crocker’s 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.

Quick Taco Skillet Casserole

Prep time: 25 minutes-Makes 6-1&1/3 cup servings-3 Carb Choices

  1. Ingredients:
  2. 1 lb. extra lean (at least 90%) ground beef
  3. 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
  4. 1&1/2 cups uncooked instant brown rice
  5. 1 cup chunky-style salsa
  6. 1&1/2 cups water
  7. 1 can (14.5 to 16 oz) diced tomatoes, or whole tomatoes, cut up UNDRAINED
  8. 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, UNDRAINED
  9. 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • Directions:
  • In 12-inch skillet or 4-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain well.  Return beef mixture to skillet.
  • Stir in remaining ingredients.  Heat to boiling over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium high; cook 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until water is absorbed and rice is tender.  Stir before serving.

It’s just that easy.  And it is so tasty!  Try it; you’ll like it!

Meet you at the Kingdom!