Movies to Watch Before you go to DIsney World

We're going to Disney World!! Pretty much the most exciting thing you can hear as a child, or  an adult. You save and plan and plan and plan some more. Now your trip is right around the corner and you want to watch some movies to get you in the Disney spirit!  I have come up with my families list of must watch before a big Disney World trip! We think Disneyland has a different set of movies as different castle means different princess... you get the idea. So lets start with my top Disney movies to watch before you go to Walt Disney World. 

1. The Classic Cinderella

     I absolutely love the new live action version. But the classic 1950 original, produced by Walt Disney himself, is the one to get you excited for your trip.  It is what the castle in Disney World  was modeled after.  The characters you meet in the parks are dressed as if they stepped out of this classic movie.  If you're eating at Cinderella's Royal table within the castle this will get your family excited to meet the Disney royalty.  If your little is being made  into a princess in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, it is located on the ground level of the castle. And you may just hear those most magical words "bibbidi bobbidi boo" all around the Magic Kingdom.  Not to mention the start of every Disney movie shows this castle, it is a must watch! 

2. Lion King

This is a must watch if you're planning on visiting the Animal Kingdom Park. They have an amazing Lion King show here, with an acrobatic performance that will make your jaw drop. The Safari ride has a lot of animals that are referenced from the movie, and if you're lucky you may see Simba. Not to mention the cool Lion King merchandise and music you will hear around the parks. This is a family must every time we head to the Animal Kingdom!  

3. Pinocchio

 Is a 1940 Disney legendary movie. This is not a movie a lot of the younger generation has seen. Maybe it is old fashioned? Or some think it is scary? But it is a true Disney classic, and a work of art. Pinocchio is only the second animated feature film to be released  by Disney after Snow White.  With the start of wishing on stars and everyone's favorite conscience Jiminy Cricket this movie still has staying power. You will hear the music from Pinocchio in the parks and hear Jiminy Cricket asking you to make a wish. If you only watch this once, do it before your next visit!

4. Toy Story

The moment this movie came out in 1995 is was an instant classic. Now with three amazing Toy Story Movies you can watch all three or pick any from this set. I love the first one, and the third gets me every time! Andy giving away his toys, I just can't.  Especially as it came at a time when my daughter was out growing many of her favorite toys. I love the circle of life for the toys.  Now with Toy Story Land open where you will be able to step into Andy's backyard, and eat at Woody's lunch box. This Movie is sure to get you excited to visit Hollywood Studios!

5. Finding Nemo

Is a family favorite. My daughter would watch this on repeat when she was three years old. It not only brings back fond memories but gets me so excited to visit Epcot. In Epcot you can check out the Seas with Nemo and Friends. It is an adorable ride through the movie, and when you come out you're in a pretty cool aquarium. You can take pictures with Bruce, and rest assured fish (and people) are friends. After exploring the aquarium you can step into Turtle Talk with Crush.  The imaginers have out done them selves here this is a very cool experience, and a great spot to cool off on a hot day. 

If you're heading to Disney for any of the holiday season here are my choices for must watch:

Hocus Pocus. This 1993 Halloween movie is perfect to get you excited for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Where you will see the Sanderson sisters perform with some of your favorite Disney villains.  

The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween - Christmas movie. We think this is legit to watch anytime between the two seasons. We love the combination of the two holidays. If you plan to attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party or the Very Merry Christmas Party,  you can meet Jack and Sally. In fact they are super popular characters to meet! Seeing this movie will get you excited for the meet and greets. 

If you plan on visiting Disney World at Christmas time then Prep & Landing it the must watch movie.  In Disney's Hollywood Studios they do a very cool projection show with a Prep & Landing Christmas theme.  Watching Wayne and Lannie  get into Christmas spirit is sure to get you into the Christmas Disney Spirit! 

Ready to book your Disney Vacation? Or have more questions? Contact me for a free no obligation quote. All my travel planning services are always free. When you book your trip through me I can act as your point of contact for all things Disney (no waiting on hold for you!) I will monitor discounts for you, and work with you to personalize your trip. You will be supporting my small business, I add extra pixie dust to make your trip special! 

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Disney Cruise Line - A Magical Vacation for all!!

Disney Cruises offer a wide variety of vacations. They have cruises as short as 3 nights and as long as 14 nights.  The majority of cruises take off from Port Canaveral Florida. Some of the other Ports include New York City, Miami Florida, Vancouver Canada and Barcelona Spain to name a few.

To say they have options on locations and vacations is an understatement!  Disney offers ports and itineraries for everyone.  Lets start with why they are a great option for any family.

1. So Many Things Are Included! 

When you book a Disney cruise every breakfast, lunch and dinner on the boat is included in your price.  Disney Cruises offer what is called rotational dining. Every night you will be assigned a different restaurant to eat dinner at with your group. You will find out your assignment when you check into the boat on arrival day.  Each ship offers a meal at Animator's Palate. On the Disney Magic your other rotational options will be Rapunzel's Royal Table and Lumiere's. On the Disney Wonder your options will be, Tiana's and Tritons. On the Disney Fantasy your options will be, Royal Court and Enchanted Garden.  On the Disney Dream your other two options will be, Royal Palace and Enchanted Garden. 

There are a bunch of other options in between breakfast and dinner.  Something the kids will love is Ice Scream Treats serving delicious ice cream on all the boats! Everyone will love Cabanas serving a buffet style meal for breakfast and lunch, with everything your heart could desire, with plenty of healthy options. Views of the ocean to boot.  For dinner, Cabanas is open as an alternative to the main dining, turning into a table service restaurant for the evenings. 

 Most room service meals are also included. After an exhausting day of sitting by the pool or going on excursions you can chill in your room and order room service. The only items not included in room service would be alcoholic beverages (this is always an additional cost), bottled drinks and some prepackaged snacks are also not included in your cruise pice. Room service is offered for all three meals. I suggest pre ordering breakfast so you can enjoy sunrise on your balcony with your fresh cup of coffee. 

The evening shows are included in your cruise price.  The shows on the Disney Cruises are exceptional. They are Broadway quality and you will never have a bad seat in the house! The Disney difference here is they plan two shows a night. So you do not have to choose between dinner or a show, you can do both! The first show is for those who have the later dinner, the second show is for those who have the first dinner. It is magical the way they have planned it out! 

Disney also has first run movies on board.  Check the daily navigator delivered to your room to check out the movie times and other activities on board. 

Family time is important, but sometimes you want to sit by the pool and read your book while your kids want to be entertained, well Disney has thought of that too.  Kids 3 and older have their own space on the ships, sorry no adults allowed! All the ships offer a  kids club for each age group: The Oceaneer Lab & Club is for children ages 3-12. The Edge is for the tweens ages 11-14, and the Vibe is for teens ages 14-17.  On the Dream and Fantasy the teens have their own small pool and sundeck. The picture below is from the Dream Vibe teens club. 

   If you have children younger than three, no worries there,  Disney has thought of that.  There is a special nursery just for them. It is called  "It's a Small World Nursery" and is available with reservations and an additional cost. 

   Now you grown ups should not feel to left out. Disney has thought of you too with some pretty amazing adult only spaces.  

Each ship has an adult only pool area. On the Dream and Fantasy they have Currents (as shown above) an adult only bar as well as Satellite Falls (as shown below) 

Each ship has a variety of adult only night time spaces as well. These will be included in your cost of the cruise, the things you pay extra for are alcoholic beverages as well as any spa treatments.  

2. Castaway Cay 

 Castaway Cay is Disney's private island located in the Bahamas. This is a very popular stop on most Caribbean and Bahamian cruises.  It is hard to put into words how amazing this island is. Lets start with the only people on the island are the people from your cruise ship plus the amazing cast members.  It will never feel over crowded. 

If you think you will be bored, think again!  They have thought of everything!  Water sports your thing? They have in water playground called Pelican Plunge where you can take a ride on one of the two water slides into the ocean.  Disney also offers a variety of port adventures from boating and fishing to snorkeling there is something for every adventure level. Most port adventures are available for an extra cost. But if you are looking to not spend extra money pull up a beach chair and relax at the family friendly beach. On an adult vacation, yup they have an adult only beach on the island too. Want to check it out but have the kids with you? No worries, they have a kids and teen hang outs. Legit something for everyone! 

  Need a break from the water sports? You can rent a bike or play some games in the shade. With a day at Disney's Castaways Cay you will have had a day in paradise, and will not want to leave! For the day you won't have to. They have delicious places to eat on the island too, all included in your cruise price! This place is pure magic. 

3. The Ships Are AMAZING!! 

I have never seen a cast and crew work as hard as they do on the Disney boats, and their had work shows! When taking my daily walk or run on the deck in the morning I always see cast and crew cleaning and prepping for the day ahead. The boats are always so clean and look brand new. Disney has 4 boats; The Magic (the original) and Wonder are sister ships. They are about the same size and have a lot the same or similar offerings.   The Dream and the Fantasy (currently the newest) are the largest ships. They will have a lot of the same offerings like the AquaDuck. The AquaDuck is an exciting water coaster that takes riders over the edge, up, down and all around the ship. It is so much fun. 

Each boat offers so many fun activities for every age group.  Starting with the moment you check into your cruise you will be handed your first navigator. This will tell you all the activities offered on board that day, and the shows for the week. Each day you will get a new navigator delivered to your room. A cruise traveling trick would be to bring a highlighter so you can highlight what you would like to do, so you don't miss anything! From bingo with the family to karaoke with the adults you will never be bored.

If you are a big smart phone user download the Disney Cruise Line app before boarding. The app will come in mighty handy while cruising. The app will work while you keep your phone airplane & wifi setting turned on while saving you roaming fees. You will not be able to go online as if you were on land but can access the Disney Cruise Line App. This app will not only share with you the daily navigator and deck plans but, you can text your family through the app, this is super handy while calling your kids to dinner! 

4. The Movies & Rooms are Magical

In general cruise lines have fairly small rooms. Disney has larger than the industry average sized rooms. They also have thought of everything (once again) when it comes to using the space most efficiently.  All the beds are raised to store your luggage, and most rooms have a split bathroom. So the kids wont be fighting who gets to brush their teeth first. 

The cast members who take care of your room are absolutely exceptional people too. They are always there if you need anything or have any questions.  

In the movie theaters at select times you can catch first run movies or some very popular classics, but in your room on demand you can find any Disney movie you desire! Have a long day in the sun and need a quiet night, this is a perfect time to call room service and watch your favorite Disney movie on demand in the privacy of your own room. 

5. The Destinations are incredible!!

 I had mentioned at the start of the blog some of the great ports Disney sails from but have not mentioned the amazing destinations they take you to! These pictures can speak for them selves they are so beautiful!! 

Yes, the traditional Bahamian and Caribbean ports are the bread and butter for Disney Cruises, and the ones you will want to be on come mid February (I am talking to you New Englanders).

But when you want to seek other adventures look no further onto a Disney Cruise.

Alaska cruises are top notch and pretty amazing too. Not to be outdone by any of the European destinations. You can visit Norway, and see the locations that inspired Frozen. 

Europe has more destinations than just Norway. You can visit the Mediterranean and see Italy, Spain, and France, or the British Isles and see Ireland, Scotland and Great Britain, or even northern Europe like Sweden Finland or the Netherlands. 

  

The possibilities are endless. Destinations for every time of year and family group you can think of! 

Ready to talk cruises? Have more questions? Want a quote? Contact me -

EMAIL- gbuck@mickeytravels.com 

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All of my Disney Vacation planning is always free, I never charge a fee. When you book a Disney Cruise through me I will send you a Disney gift card with your travel documents. Gift cards start at $50. and go up!

video Video on what is included

Adventures By Disney

Traveling the world can be an absolute dream, but it can also be stressful. Going into unknown territory where you are unfamiliar with local customs or the language, trying to navigate transportation as well as tickets to see historic iconic sights, it can turn a dream trip into a stressful nightmare.
   I remember my own trip to Paris when I was younger. I was traveling with my grandmother to meet my newest cousin. My aunt and uncle were in the Army and stationed in Germany at the time. One day my other uncle and my future aunt took me for an over night to Paris. I was so very excited to visit this beautiful city. I imagined visiting the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower while feasting on wonderful cheese and baguettes. Well, it ended up turning into a trip I will never forget, and not because of the wonderful cheeses and baguettes. We had purchased tickets to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, or so we thought. Only to learn, when we got half way up, they were the wrong type of ticket. We did not speak the language,  and misunderstood a lot. Causing us frustration when we learned we were out of luck and could not go any further. Another mishap was when we took boat tour on the Seine River.  Not knowing the language we were left disappointed with this excursion. With all the waisted time we only got to see the outside of the Louvre, I left disappointed.  There is so much to do and see in Paris, we spent a lot of the time trying to figure out our way and not to mention the language barrier we had a lot of missed opportunities.  This is a frustrating way to visit the world.
This is where Adventures by Disney come into play.  They have thought of everything, and bring the Disney difference! At Disney World you may have experienced wonderful cast members who has gone above or beyond or you may have gone on a Disney Cruise and received the top notch service they are known for.  Adventures by Disney brings it to the next level.  They have expert guides who know the language ,culture and let you experience the world through the eyes of a story teller.

  You will not only get to see and do all the things, like making it to the top of the Eiffel Tower but you will have two expert guides with you. They are there to answer questions, take family pictures and make sure you have the right tickets. When you go on an Adventure by Disney to Paris, you do not miss out on the Louvre, but get a private tour with an art expert. This is something you could not experience on just any tour, but with the Disney difference you can. 

Adventures by Disney are a VIP way to see and experience the world.  You are not just another tourist but can visit like a local. 

One of the newest Adventures By Disney  is a trip to Japan. The newest adventure opens with a welcome dinner and a traditional Samurai Sword performance with photo op. Filled with cultural experiences  you will not leave this adventure disappointed. You can put your culinary skills to the test while learning to make an authentic bento box. 

Where would you like to adventure to? The Amalfi Coast? The Galapagos Islands? South Africa ? or even Alaska?  Disney has so many great locations lets chat about where would be a good fit for your family and start planning! 

gbuck@mickeytravels.com 

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Winter Blues

When February hits I am looking for the escape button on this winter.  It is not that I don't enjoy winter activities, I do but it has been extra cold and icy... so yeah I am done with it. For years we went skiing in northern NH with friends. Those are some of the best memories. We stayed at the Mountain View Grand. I fear telling people about this resort because then it will be so popular I won't be able to afford to go anymore. I have to say it is my families hands down favorite resort we have ever stayed in. Granted we have only stayed there in the winter, but it is always amazing. They have so many activities, you can rent ice skate or bring your own and enjoy their man made skating area. You can rent a tube and enjoy tubing on their property. They have trails to snow shoe, ax throwing (it is a thing) and even dog sledding. Those are just the out door activities, they have a lot inside as well. A small movie theater you can pick your own movie and they even deliver popcorn. A game room, wine tasing and so much more.  Some of the most magical memorable family friend trips happened there.

But alas, this year it was not in the cards, maybe next year. I do miss it!! It is my favorite way to embrace winter! This year I am thankful my daughter and I are having our own little get away.

When I left Disney last year I had been looking for an affordable way to get back, even if it was a very short visit! The flights to get to FL were not bad but what  was making this near impossible was the flight home. After being persistent enough I finally was able to secure a flight home that did not drain our vacation fund.  Our plan is to be in Disney World for two days, one day at Animal Kingdom and then one day enjoying the pool and Disney Springs. After that we're off to visit family and have some relaxation on the beach. 

My daughters favorite park in the world is Animal Kingdom. She LOVES Everest. Which always makes me laugh as she was super afraid of it for a long time, now she could go on it over and over! The animals are also a top priority here. We always make time for the Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls  and of course the famous Safari ride. 

New for us this year will be River of Light. We had missed it the last time we were there. So we made reservations at Tusker House (a favorite of ours) with the River Light dining package, this way we know we will make it, and have reserved seats! So stay tuned for pictures and video. If you want to follow along find me on Instagram: Instagram-MickeyTravels_Genevieve I will be sharing as we have a short adventure!

Where would you adventure off to if you could go anywhere this winter? 

Genevieve Buck MickeyTravels

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Field Hockey

Hello in Disney Travel friends

I am breaking from tradition to see if there are any field hockey friends out there? My daughter has designed this shirt to raise money for a trip and if you like her have trouble finding cute field hockey shirts this is for you!
CustomInk.com

thanks for the support! :)

Let's Adventure Travel !!

Some exciting things are happening here in the world of travel. MickeyTravels has opened a sister agency; Let's Adventure Travel.

This means while I am still your Disney girl, I can book Universal Studios or even a Sandals resort!!  The possibilities are endless!! Where would you like to adventure to next?

While my family absolutely LOVES all things Disney, we also are HUGE fans of Universal. My daughter is one of the biggest Harry Potter fans I know. She wanted to see the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at the age of 4,  thinking it was going to be to scary or she would loose interest, I decided it was a good idea to read the book first.  I had read all the Harry Potter books, and loved the story, secretly I was excited she wanted to get into it. But I did not have high hopes this would last long. Well it has been almost 10 years in the making and she is a big of a fan as ever.

Harry Potter for Halloween (a couple times)

Harry Potter Birthday, yup more than once!

This cake was made by: Sweetened Memories 

(pretty much the most amazing cakes ever)

She has now read the books her self now multiple times. And been fortunate enough to make the trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter more than once. Her first trip was when she was in Kindergarten, yes it was kind of crazy but, we had an opportunity to taker her, so we took it. 

This was one of the most magical vacations. She was in awe when we saw Hogwarts for the first time. She was amazed when we rounded the corner and saw Buckbeak, and he moved! 

At the time, most of the rides she was to short for and Harry Potter was only inside the Islands of Adventure park. But it didn't matter. We took it all in slowly, did lots of shopping, and thoroughly enjoyed all the details that are the Wizarding World. 

The chocolate frogs actually move!! 

She still has this Hedwig, although she is a little more loved... ok a lot more loved now! Alas the sweatshirt is to small but she wore that ever chance she could! 

Although Universal seems to be designed for big kids, they have plenty for the little ones to do. The Dr Seuss area has some interactive water play areas, and a couple rides perfect for the little ones. 

The Joy of Harry Potter 

Curious George is an area over at the Universal Studios side of the two parks. This is also an interactive area perfect for those younger kids! It includes water so watch out for those mischievous little ones trying to spray you. 

I will admit I am a big ride person. I am not always one who wants to sit and watch a show, obviously my daughter differs from me. We stopped to enjoy some shade and watch Animal Actors on Location. Always loving animals this was such a fun show to watch some familiar animals characters doing tricks! 

Keep those autograph books handy from Disney because Universal has some fun and unique characters to meet. At the age of 5 she loved Scooby Doo. She talks about how funny Shaggy was still to this day! 

I look back at these trips when my daughter was a lot younger, and she had a blast, so did the grown ups. Was she young for it? Absolutely, but would I change a thing? Not a chance.  As time is ever fleeting I am so thankful to have these memories with her and that we took these family vacations. I would never change that and look forward to more family adventures, as well as helping you make family memories and adventures too.   

Want to plan your family vacation? Let me know if you would like a free no obligation quote and we can start with your adventure of a life time. 

gbuck@mickeytravels.com
603-370-7503
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