Welcome to my refuge :)

Disney has become a daily retreat for me. We may only spend 10 days there a year (more if I'm truly blessed), but I have found that making Mickey a part of my daily life makes me feel much better. So I'm running with it! Luckily I have a patient husband and a laptop computer that allows me to do endless searching and planning. This blog is developing out of that. You are welcome to come along for the ride and offer your advice. I don't claim to be an expert, just a lover of the experience!

Right now whenever a post says "Update" that means it is a 2011 trip update and if you click on the tab with that date on it you can read that update.



Sunday, July 31, 2011

Update:How to Open Hollywood Studios

Update:How to Open Hollywood Studios - July 4

More to Come...

Update:Transformers 3: Good Time for a Nice Long Nap

Update:Transformers 3: Good Time for a Nice Long Nap- July 2

More to Come....

Where I've Been

I'm not all done with my travel blog! I just took a break for a few days to get my Picaboo book done. A Picacaboo is similar to a Photopass book but a lot more cost effective if you use a lot of pictures and you have a $35 for $100 Groupon like I did. Right now my book is almost complete and it is 101 pages. I could never afford that in Photopass .

It does however have Photopass photos in it because I earned a photopass CD doing blogs so the pictures are mine. Best of both worlds. It's been a TON of work but also fun too. I believe we will have a great keepsake of our trip to remind us of everything and actually use those photos you sometimes take and never look at again.

I promise to return to the Disney blogs soon. Getting a house ready to sell has me bogged down to but this is my stress relief!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Keeping Your Feet Happy at the Happiest Place on Earth

You walk a lot in the parks. You want to keep you feet happy. These are the things you need to do it.

  1. A good pair of walking shoes- I recommend a pair of tennis shoes you've worn often for at least 3 months prior to going so you are sure they are a great fit. Don't buy new shoes and find out they aren't. I also shake my head at the whole flip-flop thing. I wore them in the airport once and ended up with a chronic foot problem. How people put several miles a day on in them is beyond me.
  2. Well-cushioned socks- They absorb some of the shock from walking and keep your feet comfortable in those perfect shoes.
  3. Foot powder- Amazingly in Florida you sweat everywhere. A little powder in your socks can help control a lot of problems.
  4. Band-aids- Band-aids help out with the little problems that might develop on your toes and heals.
  5. Moleskin (and scissors)- This stuff works wonders both in the area  of prevention and when a problem develops. This time around, I made a poor choice in shoes and ended up with blisters on both heals. Without moleskin, I don't know how I would have walked each day. Take enough of this. It's not cheap at your hotel gift shop.
I hope this helps to keep your feet happy and healthy (and that I remember this list next May!)

Update:Dinosaur- Just Say No

Update: Artist's Point - June 29
Update:Dinosaur- Just Say No- June 30

More to Come...

Update: Dine With An Imagineer

Update: Dine With An Imagineer - July 6

More to Come...

Update: Mad World

Update: Mad World - July 3

More to Come....

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Already Thinking...

Just so you know as I plug away, finishing up with 2011's trip, I am seriously already thing about 2012. I think I have the dates in May narrowed down and there have been some exciting things mentioned (and not by me) as far as plans. The trip may be a bit shorter but I'm not giving up the better part! I'll let you know more when I do. 180 days is around my birthday in November!

Friday, July 22, 2011

My Mousekeeping Staffs Answer to Towel Animals?

I love towel animals. I wanted them badly. I was prepared to tip well in the hopes that it would help.

It was not meant to be.

In 10 days at the Pop Century hotel, room 3151 was never gifted with one while I was there. Maybe my window decorations scared them away. I don't know.

What I did get was soap and shampoo. It has Mickey on it. It is cute. I have A LOT.

My basket, once returning home
How much you ask?
  • 28 facial soap
  • 26 shampoo
  • 29 body soap
This does not include this soap and shampoo we actually used while there.

This is why my luggage was just at the weight limit.

Thank you Mousekeeping but I still wanted a towel animal!



Update: The Best Safari EVER

Update: The Best Safari EVER --June 30

More to come...

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Finally...

I'm finally getting all of my pictures  (some were on cell phones, others were downloaded on to the wrong computer ... So I can finally write and include the pictures I want to include. The only ones I can't include yet will be the PhotoPass pictures as I don't have my disc yet. I am however hoping to send for it by the end of the weekend. I need those pictures to do a photo book I'm doing of the trip. We did a pretty good job taking pictures thins time, although there are a lot of food pictures. Of course we did eat a lot!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

My Top 10 Rules When Visiting Disney

I needed a break from updates and I had made this list as the trip went along. I'm sure there are more than ten but I think this is a good start.


  1. No matter how it flushes, flush the toilet before you leave the stall. No one wants to after you.
  2. Please wash your hands in the restrooms. There are a lot of us there and it's plain gross if you don't.
  3. When entering an attraction, please go all the way to the end of the row (as directed) so people don't have to climb over you.
  4. Let people take their pictures. By the same token, don't take forever to do so.
  5. Umbrella use should be kept to a minimum and not infringe on others. (And yes, when I am hit by umbrellas more than 10 times in a day, they are infringing on my rights.)
  6. No matter what language you speak, use these three phrases often: "Thank you", "I'm sorry", and "Excuse me."
  7. Please get your party together before getting in line. Line jumpers are annoying.
  8. Please don't smoke outside of smoking areas. There are some of us it makes ill and we avoid those areas.
  9. Once the attraction begins, end cellphone communication so those around you can hear the show.
  10. Remember for me this really is the Happiest Place on Earth and any distraction from that notion is not allowed. Have a Magical Day!

Update:Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

Update: Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride --July 8

More to Come...

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Friday, July 15, 2011

Update:Short Note about Window Decorating

Update :Short Note About Window Decorating-- June 29

More to Come...

Update:Marceline to Magic Kingdom

Update: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour-- July 8

More to Come...

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Update:Tom Sawyer Island Looking For A Paintbrush

Update:Tom Sawyer Island Looking For A Paintbrush Losing  a Husband --July 3

More to Follow...

Update:I Don't Do Ponchos

Update: I don't Do Ponchos

More to Come...

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Update:Back in Wisconsin

Update: Back in Wisconsin on July 9

More to come...

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Update: Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey is updated on July 6.

More to come...

PhotoPass Work

No time for updates today- I worked on PhotoPass pictures most of the day. I have almost a month but want them done sooner so I can get the disc back and use the pictures in a Picaboo book I've pre-purchased. I started with around 91 shots. I currently have 415 shots and have several more to do yet. I add most backgrounds to most pictures and I like black and white too. It should give me a lot to work with along with my personal shots. I wish there were more but that's something I will be recommending to Disney World that they could improve upon. More photographers in more areas would be great!

Back to the entries tomorrow...

Monday, July 11, 2011

Update:CRT

Cinderella's Royal Table update is now done on July 7.

There is also an update about sleeping in on July 9.

More to come...

We're Home!

After 10 days we are home and we had the most amazing time. I can easily say this was my best trip ever for so many reason but mostly because I got to spend a lot of quality, romantic time with my husband for our 12th anniversary. It really was close to perfect and over the next few weeks I'll share the details on the daily pages with you.
Today, as much as I miss Disney, I'm glad to be back and away from the people, buses, and all the rest that start to get to you after 10 days. I love it there but will love it again next May even more because we've taken a break. Yes, you heard me right, I said next May. As much as I love July, I want to go to Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival and we have Annual Passholders that to make good use of we need to use earlier than when we went this year. A little change should be good.
So as I make changes to the other pages, I will post a brief note here, so all are aware of the updates. A lot happened in 10 days so it may take me a while to get all the updates done. Thanks for your patience.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Blogging on Vacation

I have so much I want to tell you! But being on vacation and blogging are a tough mix. I would love to be up-to-date on telling you about things but I haven't had the time. When we're not in the parks, I'm getting some desperately needed sleep. The only reason I have time to write this is we changed our schedule and took a day off to rest.
I have kept a notebook to remind me about each day so I'll be able to go back and do some great blogs on all we did. It just has to wait until I get home and have some time!